The Reigatian 2021

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 2021 RGS RECEIVES SOCIAL MOBILITY AWARD Lives transformed: Reigatians Paul, Sayinthen and Prutha explain the true impact of RGS’s commitment to social mobility

“The bursary I received – provided through the generosity and love of the amazing Reigatian community – will shape the rest of my life” Prutha Vyas (’20)

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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

PHOTO WITH THANKS TO RALPH JAMES

CONTENTS

09 12 14

WELCOME

Notes from the Headmaster and the Head of Foundation

CHANGING LIVES UPDATE

RGS WE CARE

From Foodbank collections to COVID testing our focus on community outreach continued in 2021

NIGHTINGALE FESTIVAL

Discover how Broadfield Lawn was transformed for an epic night of music and a chat with Dame Judi Dench!

FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES

20

LEAVE A GIFT IN YOUR WILL

From a charity golf day to the Robin Bligh Memorial Lunch, 2021 was packed with COVID-safe events!

38 40 44

Leave a gift to RGS in your Will and help a child start their journey with us

NIGHTINGALE GIVING DAY

Over 36 hours, our amazing community helped us raise an incredible amount

24

REUNION EVENTS

26

RGS PROFESSIONALS

30

OVERSEAS REIGATIANS

34

AWARDS AND HONOURS

53

08

Get an update on the Changing Lives and Nightingale Fund bursary campaigns and hear from former bursary recipients

18

23

FEATURE ARTICLES

We were delighted to bring together members of our Reigatian community

Read snippets from interviews with RGS Professionals and reports from events

From Rachel in Dubai to Chris in Oz – find out what life has been like in 2021

Several Reigatians received notable awards, while others graduated from university in 2021

RECOLLECTIONS

Reigatians explain how their time at Reigate Grammar School led to rewarding careers and shaped their lives

49 50

SOCIAL MOBILITY AWARD

Thanks to the support of the Reigatian community, in 2021 the school received recognition for the RGS We Care initiative and the impact of our bursary campaigns

CANADA BY CANOE

Roger Portch (RGS 1956-1963) shares his adventurous trip paddling the South Nahanni River

TALKING ABOUT MY GENERATION

Three generations of the Elsey family compare their experiences of Reigate Grammar School in the 1940s, 1970s and 2000s

THE VOICE OF FORMULA ONE

F1 commentator, Ben Edwards (RGS 1978-1983) walks us through his exciting 30-year career at the pinnacle of motorsport

SUCCESS ACQUIRED!

Just eight years after leaving RGS, Tom Holland (RGS 1998-2006) founded his marketing company

SPORTING REIGATIANS

Explore some of the amazing sportsmen and women past and present and discover which high achievers to watch out for!

60

FROM THE ARCHIVES

63

REIGATIAN NEWS

66

OLD REIGATIAN SPORT

55

SCHOOL VISITS AND SPEAKERS

We chart the inception of the original (unheated!) outdoor swimming pool

From experts to young entrepreneurs, we share insights from our community

Sporting achievements from our local rugby, hockey, netball and cricket teams

2021 was packed with virtual careers events, talks and a few school tours

72

SCHOOL NEWS

76 78 80 86 88 90

STAFF LEAVING

Highlighting achievements across the school and internationally

Bidding farewell to RGS staff

PUBLICATIONS

From children’s fiction to business books

OBITUARIES

Paying tribute to friends we lost in 2021

BIRTHS AND MARRIAGES

Celebrating new arrivals and wedding news

MERCHANDISE

Treat yourself or a friend to a unique gift

MEET THE FOUNDATION TEAM

We’re here to help – from finding lost friends to work experience introductions

COVER PHOTO: TIM CANTRELL (RGS 1978-1982)

04

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 21

WELCOME FROM THE HEADMASTER

L

ast spring, schools were closed, there was another national lockdown, GCSE and A level exams had been cancelled (again) and, most of all, children in schools up and down the country were being robbed of chances to learn about themselves and the world as they were forced to study from home.

It is utterly inspiring to be back in our schools – almost back to normality. As I sit at my desk, I can hear children playing football in the playground, laughter as they chat over lunch, hurrying to lunchtime clubs and activities and then on to afternoon lessons – be that Games, Electives or an academic subject. Carpe diem could probably be the motto for every school in the country at the moment!

The last year or two has reinforced the importance of being part of – and playing a part in – a community. Again and again

the wider Reigatian family has risen to the challenge with staff, students, families and alumni making RGS We Care such a success. It is what we do: helping the vulnerable and connecting lonely members of our community. I have lost count of the foodbank drop offs, collections for Stripey Stork, Loveworks and others, donations of ICT equipment and PPI equipment, loans of minibuses, phone calls to the elderly, cards and messages that members of the Reigatian community have generated simply to do our bit. In the worst of times we have seen the best of people.

In this edition of The Reigatian magazine you will see that RGS has been awarded the School of the Year Award for the fourth time! We have been recognised previously for our pastoral work, for our community engagement, for our overall educational quality and now for our

“It is utterly inspiring to be back in school – almost back to normality.

As I sit at my desk, I can hear children playing football in the playground, laughter as they chat over lunch, hurrying to lunchtime clubs and activities and then on to afternoon lessons – be that Games, Electives or an academic subject. Carpe diem could probably be the motto for every school in the country at the moment!”

work in social mobility at the SOMO Awards 2021 – for our bursaries and partnerships programmes.

Relishing being back at school, students are fully embracing everything that makes up a Reigatian’s day. From countless successes on the sports field, courts and swimming pools to RGS Drama’s productions of Oliver! and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. We have seen the highest ever number of students taking part in RGS Music’s In Concert series at Dorking Halls and Carols by Candlelight in the autumn term. With the Cabaret Night and Choral Concert this term, culminating in RGS in Concert at Cadogan Hall, London, there is so much to look forward to.

Dr Martin Luther King Jr said, “Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” I could not agree more.

Whether you are a former or current student or parent, whether a friend of RGS or community partner, we are all connected by a common set of values and shared understanding that there is so much more to being well educated than a fist full of exam certificates. So, we are all Reigatians: part of a global village.

It is an honour to be Headmaster at Reigate Grammar School and to be part of this Reigatian family. I hope that you enjoy the magazine, full of adventures and news, with familiar school references, some remarkable stories and a few surprises. The Reigatian magazine captures the optimism, energy and can-do approach that typifies the Reigatian students and the school ethos every day – carpe diem.

Shaun Fenton OBE, Headmaster

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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

FROM THE HEAD OF FOUNDATION

H

ow do we the measure the impact that education has on our lives?

In his compelling new autobiography, Ticket to Ride, Sir Peter Lampl (RGS 1959-1964) explains “With this move to Reigate, and the golden ticket of a place at its Grammar School, my horizons had completely changed”.

Peter describes his journey from humble roots to becoming one of Britain’s most influential philanthropists, having built a personal business fortune, only to give it away for the benefit of others. By founding the Sutton Trust (suttontrust.com), Peter has devoted his time and energy to promoting the value of educational opportunity and putting social mobility at the heart of the national conversation.

We hope, therefore, that Sir Peter Lampl will be proud to have learnt that his alma mater was named School/College of the Year 2021 by the UK Social Mobility Awards.

The front cover of this year’s edition of The Reigatian magazine is significant in that we celebrate both the importance of our philanthropic work, but also its impact. You will read more from Paul, Sayinthen, and Prutha (p10), but it is amazing to share with you the wonderful success of our Changing Lives social mobility campaign, having now supported 79 children to date. It also demonstrates the importance and value of an engaged and socially conscious community. Reigatians make up a broad church, but at their core is a deep sense of moral purpose, compassion, and altruism.

Community engagement is a core priority for the RGS Foundation, and is at the centre of all we do. In 2021, we were faced with the enduring challenge of the COVID pandemic and a universal need for stoic resilience and sensitive support. The RGS We Care initiative (p12) continued to be an important framework for our response. Special thanks and praise should go to everyone involved with the various activities, ranging from foodbanks and appeals for clothing and toiletries to supporting refugees, the isolated, and the vulnerable. There are so many goodwill stories. I’m particularly thankful to Cath D’Arcy (RGS 1984-1986) for providing over 4,000 meals to vulnerable families during February half term 2021 – one of the

Read more about Sir Peter Lampl’s new autobiography on page 78

Peter Harrison will live on through the incredible legacy of the Sixth Form centre which bears his name

A memorial lunch in October was a fitting tribute to former Teacher and Scout Leader, Robin Bligh

The 2021-2022 RGS Foundation Ambassadors – Anton P, Jamie D, Elliot F, Jessica G, Maddy W and Holly T – embraced their roles and have been an incredible asset, helping at numerous events and supporting other RGS Foundation activities

many acts of kindness from our caring Reigatian community.

Alas, the pandemic as well as other causes have taken away many loved ones this year. We do remember. A particular mention should go to former parent and benefactor, Peter Harrison (p80), who has given so much to Reigate Grammar School through his charitable Foundation. A big figure within the local community, Peter will be greatly missed, though his legacy will live on at RGS. Another memorable figure from our school community had his life celebrated this year. Robin Bligh (RGS staff 1953-1994), had such a significant impact on many Reigatians over many years, and it was

wonderful to see so many return to RGS, along with Robin’s family, for a memorial lunch in his honour (p21). We are especially grateful to Robin for his generosity in leaving his estate to Reigate Grammar School to ensure that through a gift in his Will, there will be Bligh Scholars attending RGS in perpetuity. Indeed, Robin was one of the founding members of the 1675 Society by indicating his wish to support the Foundation through a legacy.

During the pandemic we have all stood behind the NHS and other key workers in respect for their amazing work and commitment. It is pleasing to know that our continued work and activities linked to the Nightingale Fund have been well-received.

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T H E R E I G AT I A N 2 0 21

WELCOME FROM THE HEAD OF FOUNDATION

With a window of hope appearing during the late summer, we were able to host our very first Nightingale Festival (p14) on Broadfield Lawn to raise funds for this important appeal. It was uplifting to welcome nearly 500 supporters to the event, which was kindly endorsed by local resident, Dame Judi Dench. We are very grateful to our valued sponsors, parents and staff who gave so much to make this event a huge success, but also a huge thank you to the many others from our community who help us achieve impact with our Changing Lives social mobility campaign. We could not do it without you!

I wish to praise my team: Jonny, Clare, Catherine and Nikki who work so passionately for the Foundation, they are amazing, and give so much. Special mention should go to Nikki for producing such a high-quality, professional publication which highlights our special community so well.

I am proud to share this edition with you, and hope you enjoy the variety and diversity: from reunions, memoirs and our international community, to sporting excellence, awards and tributes... there

is even an homage to the old swimming pool! We welcome new arrivals, celebrate marriages, and even acknowledge Reigatian dynasties such as the Elsey family (p40).

Indeed, we wish Mark Elsey (’78) well as he takes over as Chair of Governors. I would also like to thank the outgoing Chair, James Dean, for his support over the years – please read his message below.

Finally, reflecting on Sir Peter Lampl’s quote, horizons can indeed change with the opportunity of a first-class education.

Our commitment to social mobility and educational opportunity will continue to provide a springboard to success for many.

This is illustrated so well by young Reigatians, Tom Holland (’06, p49) and Sayinthen Vivekanantham (’09, p8 and 10), who have demonstrated their entrepreneurial spirit, blended with community action and philanthropy, by becoming the youngest members of the Henry Smith Club (p68) to provide life-changing opportunities to others.

Once a Reigatian, always a Reigatian!

Sean Davey, Head of Foundation

STEPPING DOWN AS CHAIR

James Dean (Parent of former students and former Governor) I stepped down as a Governor at the end of 2021, after nine years on the board.

Hindsight reveals that 2012 was a smart time to join RGS! Shaun Fenton started as Headmaster a few months before I became a Governor, with a clear brief to improve academic performance; RGS having slipped down the league tables. It took me a while to realise that Shaun’s ambitions went much further.

Indeed I don’t think he cares much about league tables. Shaun loves to challenge the team around him and sets the bar high. After nine years of watching RGS grow, I am no longer surprised when yet another award appears! Shaun knew all along that he would motivate his team to create, in my opinion, the best mixed day school in the country.

At Reigate St Mary’s, Marcus Culverwell has kept the prep school at the top of the pack, adapting to the needs of pupils and parents. Chinthurst joined the RGS Group 6

in 2017 with a clear plan to turn the school around including, critically, Cathy Trundle’s appointment as Headmistress.

Pupil numbers have risen and the school is buzzing and genuinely co-educational.

There are so many other achievements.

The International Schools programme was started with three schools now open or at an advanced planning stage.

The Foundation launched the Changing Lives bursary campaign, hitting ambitious

Not only did the Nightingale Festival provide an epic evening of entertainment, it also raised over £40,000!

The Elsey family: Peter talks about RGS in WWII, while Jaci was among the second cohort of girls to join the Sixth Form

targets ahead of schedule. 79 children have already benefitted, helping RGS maintain its position and purpose as a school for local children. The Harrison Centre was completed and clever changes to existing buildings have improved their use, with plantings to transform what was previously a very utilitarian estate.

It’s quite a list and I haven’t even mentioned COVID yet! When lockdown struck, all three schools went into overdrive to deliver virtual schooling.

While Governors worried about loss of pupils as a recession loomed, numbers in fact went up – recognising the very high quality of provision. Meanwhile, very careful cost management allowed some fee reductions and the Foundation responded with the RGS We Care community outreach programme.

Outstanding leadership has made the RGS group of schools stronger and on track to succeed long into the future, whatever further twists it may bring.

It has been such a privilege to witness.

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T H E R E I G AT I A N 2 0 21

SOCIAL MOBILITY SOMO AWARD WINNER 2021 We are delighted to announce that Reigate Grammar School was named School of the Year at the UK Social Mobility Awards (SOMOs) ceremony on Thursday 14 October 2021.

T

he SOMOs (somo.uk), now in their fifth year, were set up to recognise and celebrate the people and institutions dedicated to leading the way in advancing social mobility in the UK. Reigate Grammar School has received School of the Year accolades four years in a row, including for its work on pastoral care and community engagement, and now for its whole-school commitment to promoting social mobility.

Over 170 children currently receive some form of financial support at Reigate Grammar School, and the RGS Foundation raises millions of pounds through philanthropic giving to provide life-changing bursaries through the award-winning Changing Lives campaign.

In response to the pandemic, in 2020, the school launched the Nightingale Fund, providing bursaries for the children of low-paid NHS and front-line workers: part of our thank you to NHS heroes.

The RGS We Care project (p12) aligns the values and priorities of our wider Reigatian community. Over the last 18 months hundreds of students, staff and parents helped, volunteered, donated food or clothes and, in one way or another, were part of a national response to COVID – we recognised that those who were already less advantaged became even more vulnerable. These are the Reigatian values. The school provides support and opportunities to children around the community in sport, careers advice, art,

Celebrating success – former bursary recipient, Dr Say Vivekanantham with Henry Smith Club President, Sir Peter Gershon music, drama, maths, literature and more.

Students also came up with ingenious projects to increase support for local charities, Stripey Stork, Loveworks, The Children’s Trust and others. Activities included a Christmas run to Santa’s Grotto at the North Pole, foodbank collections, donut days and more.

Tunde Banjoko OBE, Founder of the UK Social Mobility Awards, added, “We are

“To receive such an award by a national body is truly wonderful and recognises our collective efforts, whilst further fuelling our passion to make an even greater impact. Reigate Grammar School, by design, is engineered to provide a transformational education.

It is our responsibility as a Reigatian community, to ensure that such opportunity is available to children from all backgrounds.”

Sean Davey, Head of Foundation 8

delighted that the UK Social Mobility Awards show that there continues to be positive activity being conducted across the country, as corporate Britain comes together to drive forward social mobility.

However, as much as has been done, we still have significant work to do, as, when it comes to social mobility, there is no limit to better. I would like to congratulate Reigate Grammar School for winning.”

“The children and adults in our school were determined to show that whilst our doors were closed, our hearts were still open. This defines who we are as a school.”

Shaun Fenton, Headmaster

T

he 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 meanstested 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.

Target for 2025 – the school’s 350th anniversary

The award-winning Changing Lives campaign launched in 2014 and has supported 79 children to date. To celebrate the school’s 350th anniversary in 2025 we set ourselves a target of having 50 fully-funded Changing Lives bursary students in the school at any one time. With your help, we have achieved this target three years early!

1675 SCHOLARS CURRENTLY IN THE SCHOOL

BETWEEN JANUARY-DECEMBER 2021, WE RAISED

OF WHICH OVER

WENT TO THE

WHAT AN AMAZING COMMUNITY NEW BURSARY STUDENTS JOINED RGS AT THE START OF THE 2021/22 ACADEMIC YEAR

FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE SUPPORT

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

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

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T H E R E I G AT I A N 2 0 21

SOCIAL MOBILITY

FIRST-HAND IMPACT

“Since leaving RGS, I graduated as a Doctor from Imperial College London. Alongside my medical work, I started a small business in property development, which has now grown into a full-time career. My main focus is on a technology venture called Homey aiming to digitalise the conveyancing process, to make it cheaper, faster and easier. The grounding and support I gained from RGS helped set me on a career trajectory that I may otherwise have been unable to reach.”

Dr Say Vivekanantham (RGS 2002-2009) Former bursary recipient, Founder of Homey

“For seven years I experienced an environment that encouraged me to work hard and back my own abilities. I met people at RGS who will be friends for life and would never have realised this world existed had it not been for the Changing Lives programme. Since graduating, I am following my entrepreneurial interests back in Reigate – I doubt I would have had the confidence or opportunity to do this at any other school’.

Paul Marshall (RGS 2010-2017) Former bursary recipient, Mechanical Engineering graduate

“My seven years at RGS has undoubtedly had a massive impact on my life. My education here really made me realise what I am capable of, and the teachers, staff and even my other classmates all led to my decision to study medicine. Without such a challenging, yet rewarding, environment I can safely say I would not have even considered such a demanding career, let alone pursued one.

RGS has made me realise a lot about myself, especially my passion for medicine, but what I am most proud of are the connections I made during my time at the school. I would argue that a good community is one of the most important parts of a school, and I am grateful to have been – and will forever be – a part of the wonderful RGS community.

I am excited to see where my medical degree leads me in the future, hopefully, towards a career in neurology – perhaps in the UK or abroad! Due to the skills I have gained during my years at RGS I feel fully equipped to aim high and pursue any career path I set my mind to.”

Prutha Vyas (RGS 2013-2020) Former bursary recipient, medical student

SUPPORTING FRONT-LINE STAFF AND DEVELOPING THE MEDICS OF THE FUTURE Now in its second year, we are proud to report that the Nightingale Fund is currently supporting three children from disadvantaged backgrounds, including one in the Sixth Form.

Established in 2020 to recognise the outstanding work of front-line staff in the NHS, care homes and the emergency services, Reigate Grammar School has prioritised 10 assisted places (bursaries) specifically for the children of health workers, such as nurses, paramedics, care workers, porters and cleaners.

The Nightingale Fund supports local families by: n Providing bursaries to the children of key-worker children at various

entry points throughout the school

n

Providing bursaries in Sixth Form for children who specifically wish to follow A level courses to access Medicine and related studies at university

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

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

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PHOTOS: TIM CANTRELL (RGS 1978-1982)

How does the support of the Reigatian community make a difference? Three former bursary recipients share their gratitude and explain how their lives have been transformed.

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

You can change a child’s life 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.

T

ogether 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.

“Disadvantaged young people and children living in poverty have been hardest hit by COVID and could face consequences that affect them for years.

Around 4.3 million children – almost one third of children in the UK – were living in poverty as of March 2020. This is an increase of around 700,000, or 3.7 percentage points, from March 2012.

Even before COVID-19, pupils who have spent 80% of their schooling in poverty were a shocking 22.7 months behind non-disadvantaged pupils on average” Social Mobility Commission, State of the Nation 2021

Power in numbers

65 28

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 in 2013 as a Changing Lives bursary recipient.

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 didn’t have the typical introduction to university 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 2013-2020)

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. Scan the QR code, visit rgs.foundation/support-us/donate-now/ or call us on 01737 222231.

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T H E R E I G AT I A N 2 0 21

RGS WE CARE

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT Throughout 2021 Reigatians have continued to pull together to help local families in need. Indeed, the compassion and generosity of the Reigatian community has been overwhelming.

Spring term FOODBANK COLLECTION On 6 February, Reigate Grammar School, in partnership with local charity, Loveworks, once again held a successful foodbank collection.

The pandemic has had a huge impact on families within our communities, many of whom have been hit by unemployment and the lack of food security that brings.

Through the RGS We Care initiative, we have worked with local agencies to support the most vulnerable in these difficult times.

Although the cold weather threatened to put a dampener on the day, once again our Reigatian community came together to help those in greatest need.

Over three hours, the playground saw a steady stream of cars. Almost 100 families generously donated full boot loads of food and the quality and quantity of the donations was astounding.

COMBATING HOLIDAY HUNGER In response to the foodbank appeal, Cath D’Arcy (RGS 1984-1986) reached out, offering to help feed local children through her company, The Vegilantes (thevegilantes.com). We were astounded when she said that she would donate and deliver 2,000 meals for two, providing

4,000 dinners for vulnerable families during the February half term.

On Friday 12 February, we delivered The Vegilantes meals to six local primary schools: Salfords, Furzefield, Lime Tree, Dovers Green, Sandcross and to Loveworks. These meals were distributed to families who were facing food poverty.

Cath D’Arcy, business partner Riley and an incredible development chef, Sanjay, set up The Vegilantes in 2018. None of them were vegan but they were all passionate about food quality and nutrition. Having all lived in Asia, they were well aware of the limitless possibilities of plant-based eating. So, they set out to create a range where plants were the hero, but quality, nutrition and taste were as good as – if not better than – the meat-based products available in the supermarkets (it helped that Sanjay has headed up several Michelin-starred kitchens!).

In May 2020 they launched The Vegilantes nationwide with Morrisons. The initial six products, which included the A Z*nger (which fans say is as good as the KFC chicken original), were so successful that Morrisons asked for six more lines!

We cannot thank Cath, Riley and Sanjay enough for helping us to provide these meals to our community.

Left: RGS hero, Cath D’Arcy, The Vegilantes CEO

Above: Face masks were sent to older Reigatians as lockdown measures eased Right: Vegilantes food boxes were distributed to local families in February half term

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SCHOOL UNIFORM APPEAL In March, most of us were celebrating news that schools were re-opening, but for some families this presented yet another challenge. Many found that their children had outgrown their old uniform and they did not have the money to replace it. Our appeal for donations of school uniform resulted in over 250 items!

A huge thank you to all the RGS parents who donated school trousers, skirts, shirts, jumpers, school shoes, trainers, football boots and other items, for our outreach work with local charity, Stripey Stork.

Summer term TEEN CLOTHING APPEAL On 24 April, in partnership with Stripey Stork, RGS once again transformed the playground into a drop-off point for donations to support local families.

We all know how quickly children grow out of their clothes, but for some families, this presents yet another burden on strained finances.

As children aged 11 to 16 tend to have fewer clothes and wear them for longer, there are less available to pass on.

A steady stream of parents seemed only too pleased to relinquish themselves of their children’s unwanted jeans, trousers, leggings, shorts, skirts, dresses, tops, shirts, jumpers, hoodies and pyjamas. We also received a huge number of both fiction and non-fiction books for young people to keep and treasure.

Donna Pariser, Community Ambassador at Stripey Stork was hugely impressed with the quality and amount of donations: “I wanted to say a huge thank you. We filled eight cars full to the brim. Just before the collection we received a referral on behalf of twin 14-year-old boys. They had moved in with their Nan and she has been struggling, got into debt and had been relying on the Foodbank. There isn’t any money for clothes for the growing boys, so it was wonderful to know we definitely had stock and would be able to help!”

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

Above: Donations of school uniform, sports kit and other essentials Right: The Stripey Stork team at the drive-through drop-off of teen clothing

RGS We Care 2021 January • Remote learning resumed • RGS minibuses and volunteers helped take local people over the age of 80 to vaccination appointments • COVID testing began for the children of critical workers and for staff across RGS, RSM and Chinthurst schools February

Above and left: Collection of toiletries for local families and again for Afghan refugees

TOILETRIES FOR TEENS Following the teen clothing collection, Stripey Stork reported how desperately low its stock of toiletries was.

When finances are tight and every penny counts, items like toiletries can seem like luxuries, but of course we all know how important it is to be able to access these items – they have a huge impact on wellbeing and self-esteem. We’ve seen a big increase in requests for toiletries since the start of the pandemic and we’re so grateful to our community for helping us to make sure that families don’t have to go without these essential items.

Over 800 items were donated – including toothpaste, deodorant, face wipes, moisturiser, body wash, shampoo and conditioner – enough to fill two of Stripey Stork’s large donation trollies!

housing. In this time, they could not leave to go to the shops to buy provisions.

Stripey Stork highlighted this urgent need for toiletries, nappies and more.

Within hours of circulating this request, donations started arriving! In all, we received an overwhelming haul with over seventeen boxes of items collected. We are so grateful to all those who supported this initiative.

In 2021, we trialled an outreach elective where current students spend time each week with the Stripey Stork volunteers, with a different challenge set at each session. The sessions have been productive and fun, and students have contributed lots of good ideas. The Afghan refugee appeal helped these young people see how much these items were needed and the immediate impact they had... a really rewarding project for all involved.

• Foodbank collection – in partnership

with Loveworks • In partnership with The Vegilantes, over 4,000 meals were delivered to families in need for February half term to help combat holiday hunger • Over 200 volunteers offered to deliver Pulse Oximeters to local COVID patients – in partnership with NHS Heartlands Clinical Commissioning Group March • In partnership with Stripey Stork, over 250 items of school uniform were donated to families in need • School reopened • Nightingale Fund face masks were sent to Reigatians aged 70 and over April

• In partnership with Stripey Stork, we appealed for teen clothing

June

• We collected over 800 toiletries to

be distributed through Stripey Stork

October

• We collected 17 boxes of toiletries for Afghan refugees

Autumn term SUPPORT FOR AFGHAN REFUGEES In October, the crisis in Afghanistan resulted in many families arriving in the UK with no personal items. They were having to quarantine in hotel rooms for three weeks, before being moved to temporary

RGS WE CARE – CAN WE HELP?

The RGS Foundation team is still coordinating outreach efforts.

If you know someone who might benefit from our support, please email foundation@reigategrammar.org or call 01737 0222231.

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On Saturday 11 September, Broadfield Lawn was transformed for an epic evening of entertainment!

With sensational music, delicious food, and drinks flowing, a fantastic time was had by all. With the generous support of sponsors and guests, the Nightingale Festival raised an incredible £43,400!

The final act of the night, JJ Rosa absolutely rocked!

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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

H

ead of Foundation, Sean Davey opened the event by welcoming guests, thanking our main sponsor, Ralph James Estate Agents, and introducing the first act…

Artaca, featuring RGS students, Omar A, Annis W and Taylor S and former student, Oscar L-D (RGS 2018-2021), kicked off the festival in style, with a mixture of brilliant covers, such as Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit, as well as some catchy original songs.

Their new single, In The Plains, was released through AWAL (Artists Without a Label) in December 2021.

Next up, Chas and Dave tribute act, Gertcha, brought a bit of the East End to Reigate! It was good to see that a couple of audience members had come prepared for a cockney knees up by donning their flat caps!

Erasured transported us back to the ’80s and ’90s with iconic pop classics such as Sometimes and A Little Respect. Singer, Mark, added a bit of glamour, firstly with a full set of white feather wings, but it was his gold top and hot pants that drew whoops of delight!

Sean Davey returned to the stage to thank the organising committee of current parents: Lisa Pierre, Lisa Perowne, Marycarmen Mancilla Vazquez, Louise Hodges, Jo Walsh, Jane Wood, Jill Brady and Shrilla Banerjee. He then introduced

Headmaster, Shaun Fenton, who highlighted the important role of the festival in raising funds for the Nightingale Fund and the life-changing opportunities this provides to local children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

We were then proud to welcome to the stage Sue Jenkins, Director of Kaizen at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.

Sue spoke about the challenges faced by her colleagues throughout the pandemic, and reinforced how well-received the Nightingale Fund initiative had been.

Dame Judi Dench endorses the Nightingale Fund Then it was the moment we’d all been waiting for… Sean Davey welcomed Dame Judi Dench to the stage. After some light-hearted banter about the TikTok videos she made with her grandson during lockdown, and her rapping experience with grime MC, Lethal Bizzle, Judi then revealed why she is so passionate about endorsing the Nightingale Fund.

She explained that her Father and brother had both been Doctors, and that coincidentally her Headmistress at school had been called Florence Nightingale!

She encouraged everyone to look for the good that has come from COVID – the sense of community, with neighbours and strangers going out of their way to support one another. We are so proud to have Judi’s support.

PHOTOSWITH THANKS TO RALPH JAMES

The event kicked off with the fabulous band, Artaca

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T H E R E I G AT I A N 2 0 21

WITH THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

The London Soul Band had everyone on their feet

Back to the party!

As the sun began to set, we returned to the music, with a blend of reggae and blues from RGS parent, Tim Hain, and his band, Jam Side Up! Playing some amazing classics, including Bob Marley’s Jammin’, as well as an original song written especially for the occasion: Reggae on the NHS. The London Soul Band turned the energy up a notch higher and had everyone on their feet, belting out floor-filler favourites, such as Bruno Mars’s Uptown Funk and Stevie Wonder’s Superstition.

Closing the show in style, was the incredibly talented JJ Rosa, whose rendition of Prince’s Purple Rain was truly breathtaking.

Making the event special We would like to say a few special thank yous. Not least to the RGS Estates team who worked tirelessly to set up Broadfield Lawn and return it to a working school for Monday morning! Also to award-winning chef, Luke Hardy, and the team from Chartwells Independent for the delicious range of food provided.

Tom Hughes (RGS 1996-2002) from Dragonfly Studios delivered exceptional sound in spite of the pressures of a tightlypacked schedule. Thank you to Gary 16

Beestone Events for sponsoring the stage.

Thanks also to local company, Lovely Eira, who provided make-up bags for the festival packs, and Buckland Pool & Building Company for its sponsorship.

The beautiful marquee decorations were thanks to RGS parent, Lisa Pierre and fabulous flowers were provided by Jill Brady. The marquee was also where guests could enjoy a glass of Champagne Dumangin J Fils (a huge thank you to RGS parent and fifth-generation Champagne producer, Gilles Dumangin for his support) and Silent Pool Gin and tonic, as well as a novelty photo booth, courtesy of Events

by Helen! Guests drank the beer bar dry, but Pilgrim Brewery were on standby and quickly delivered additional stock!

In the chillout tent, the amazing team from Ralph James offered guests hair braiding, temporary tattoos and festival make-up courtesy of MAC Cosmetics.

Congratulations to Joanne Bletcher (current parent), who won a spa hotel stay at South Lodge courtesy of Ralph James.

Finally, we would like to say an enormous thank you to all those who bought tickets and came along to eat, drink and dance the night away in support of the Nightingale Fund – you were the stars of the show!

Raising a toast at the Nightingale Festival (l-r): Natalie, Marie-Elise, Thomas, Joanna and Carol

PA RT N E R S H I P PRO M OT I O N

IT’S IN THE DETAIL

Ralph James is not your typical estate agents. The team has a passion for architecture and aesthetics, but also for people and communities. This year, RGS forged a new partnership with Ralph James and it got off to an exciting start!

F

ounded by Thomas Cullum Cina in 2015, Ralph James opened its first office in Redhill, and quickly became a leading agent for the RH1 area. The Reigate office opened in 2018 and Dorking is set to open in early 2022.

The team’s compassionate approach, love of design, and desire to rethink the way property is managed and marketed, means they go further in every area.

A small, independent business, Ralph James is proud to champion the local community, raising awareness for charities, undertaking fundraising activities and creating lasting relationships – such as its partnership with Reigate Grammar School.

With only 14 employees across its two branches, the team is made up of local residents who are active members of the community. With offices as informal as your

home, the team promotes a welcoming and compassionate approach, intentionally setting themselves apart from the typical, corporate agencies. The team knows that property is usually a seller’s largest asset, as well as being their home, so understands the emotion involved and the importance of trust when instructing an agent.

Being a part of the community is about more than stamping the Ralph James name on an event through sponsorship. Ralph James is an active member of the community, which uses its network to spread the word about the things it cares about. It carefully selects organisations with which to build relationships, that will benefit local residents, now and in the future.

Thomas and Director, Ashley, felt that working with the RGS Foundation was a no-brainer as we share the same values.

Caedi, PA to the Director and Head of Operations: “My colleague Ashly and I were set the task of planning, organising and setting up for the Nightingale Festival, which was an amazing day. Being something completely new to us, it was a real pleasure to work alongside the RGS team, especially Catherine. We really enjoyed working with such an amazing local school and learning about what the fundraiser meant to the potential students who would be lucky enough to have their education funded.”

Ashly Rose, Marketing Manager: “With values I can really get behind, I’m proud to promote everything Ralph James does. I was new to the company in 2021 and my role is an unusual one, but that is another example of Ralph James doing things differently. Having the opportunity to get involved in events such as the Nightingale Festival isn’t something I’d find at another estate agency!

We feel such pride seeing the success of the event and we’re excited to be involved in more in the future.”

Follow Ralph James on Instagram: @ralphjamesestateagents or visit the website: ralphjames.co.uk.

Marie-Elise, Sales Agent: “I really enjoyed being part of the Nightingale Festival. From the minute we arrived to set up, there was an instant community feel. We could tell the organisers had put their heart and soul into the event and emotions were running high! But then, the event was to raise money for a great cause. A community is not just about being geographically connected, it’s also about being responsible, and everyone plays a crucial role. It was so lovely to see local residents come together to celebrate and raise funds.”

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FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES FOUNDER’S DAY

4 MAY 2021

TUESDAY 4 MAY

For Founder’s Day 2021, we asked Reigatians to send us photographs featuring a piece of RGS memorabilia! Here is a small selection, but thank you to all those who got in touch. It was amazing to see the variety – from signed rugby shirts and school ties to school reports, whole-school photos and old yearbooks.

Our friends at Pilgrim Brewery produced a batch of Henry Smith Founder’s Ale, helping to raise £3,325. Foundation Ambassadors shared a virtual assembly with the whole school, highlighting our long history.

We invite you to join in with this year’s Founder’s Day celebrations on Thursday 5 May 2022 by sharing memories and memorabilia from your school days. Email foundation@reigategrammar.org.

Scott Michael (RGS 1991-1998)

Clive Russell (RGS 1958-1965)

Roger Tharby (RGS 1950-1957)

Roger Ballisat (RGS 1958-1965)

CHARITY GOLF DAY THURSDAY 24 JUNE

The RGS Foundation was delighted to welcome 22 pairs to the new venue of Reigate Hill Golf Club for the Charity Golf Day, sponsored by Devine Homes.

The event raised an incredible £8,300 for the Nightingale Fund.

After buying mulligans, raffle tickets and selecting their ‘silly strings’ (varying lengths of string that can be used as a shot on the green), teams headed off to the first tee.

On the eighth hole, players inched their way towards the nearest-the-pin trophy.

Joe Armiger was convinced he’d won, until Richard Read (parent of former student) hit an amazing hole-in-one!

At the start of the tenth, players eagerly refuelled at our refreshments stop, which was sponsored by Surrey Bubbles.

Early in the competition, Sean Davey (Head of Foundation and parent of former student) set the target for the longest drive on the 14th but lost his crown following a belter of a shot by Oli Jones (’97)!

Thanks go to John Munday (’90 and parent of former students) of Paragon Building Consultancy for sponsoring the nearest-the pin and longest drive holes.

With everyone enjoying a drink and dinner outside on the clubhouse veranda, it was over to David Hylton (parent of former students) to scrutinise the scorecards.

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The team competition proved tight, but with an incredible score of 80 points, trophies were presented to Alex Dalley (’95) and Stuart Mills (’03).

The raffle was drawn, after which, Jonny Hylton, (’99) RGS Foundation Associate Director, whipped up excitement for the three auction prizes, which included: a hotel

stay from Pebble Hotels (thanks to Ted Kennedy, parent of former student), one day’s self-drive hire of a classic Ferrari or AC Cobra courtesy of RNG Classics and three-nights hire of a portable hot-tub thanks to Surrey Bubbles.

With prizes awarded, Sean Davey, gave a heartfelt speech highlighting the impact that the Nightingale Fund has already had.

Finally, Chair of Governors, Mark Elsey (RGS ’78 and parent of former students), underlined the value of the work of the RGS Foundation and added his thanks to all those who had so generously supported this fabulous event.

Barry Devine of Devine Homes, presenting Champagne and trophies to the winners of the team competition, Stuart Mills (left) and Alex Dalley (right)

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

RUN REIGATE SUNDAY 19 SEPTEMBER

JOEY BENJAMIN MEMORIAL MATCH SATURDAY 23 JULY

In July, Reigate Priory Cricket Club hosted a match to pay homage to Surrey and England Cricketer and Reigate Grammar School Coach, Joey Benjamin (RGS staff 2001-2019), who sadly passed away in March 2021.

Two showpiece 20/20 matches took place.

The first was a fine display of youth cricket between a RPCC U19 team and an RGS U19 team. RGS fought valiantly but were eventually bowled out for 152 with Ed McTavish top scoring with 29 off 19 balls.

Between matches, former England and Surrey players, Michael Carberry, Mark Butcher, Scot Newman, Neil Kendrick and Gary Butcher, regaled the crowd with tales of Joey, to the delight of the audience.

The second match, between an Old Reigatian XI and an RPCC XI, was for the inaugural Joey Benjamin Memorial Trophy.

RPCC batted first and were off to an electric start as Llama first teamer Matt Hutcheon hit George Elliston (’17) for 22 off the first over. The Llamas continued at quite a rate and Andy Delmont was the

mainstay of the innings, scoring 81 before falling to OR’s skipper Phil Davies (’08), who returned 3-23 as the Llamas posted 189-8 off their 20.

The ORs, in reply, couldn’t have asked for a better start as Llama first XI player Luke Haughton (’14) and David Gent (’15) put on 116 for the first wicket as they gave the crowd some much-deserved entertainment.

The Llamas pegged it back with regular wickets but current Llama 2nd XI skipper Jon ‘Smudger’ Smith (’06) knocked off the winning runs in the 20th over to take home the Joey Benjamin Memorial Trophy for the Old Reigatians.

The day was a fitting tribute to someone who has had a massive impact on so many young cricketers in Reigate. Huge thanks to Jon Smith for organising the event.

A massive thank you to the 23 students, parents, staff, former students and parents of alumni, who helped raise over £2,300.

First Form pupil, Sophia P (below) said, “I really enjoyed Run Reigate and, knowing I was raising money for such a worthwhile cause, really motivated me – especially on the hills. I was happy to complete the 5k in 25.22, a personal best and was delighted to achieve fourth girl in the U15s.”

Congratulations also to another pupil, Sam B, who came fifth in the U15s (aged just 12 at the time) and 11th overall, with a time of 21.48.

DREAM STEAM SOCIAL WITH JOE MARLER

RIDE REIGATE

THURSDAY 5 AUGUST

Somewhat ironically, this cycling event was nearly cancelled due to the fuel crisis, with emergency and maintenance support vehicles unsure whether they would make it! Fortunately, things eased just in time and the sun came out for a beautiful ride through the Surrey and Sussex countryside.

We were delighted to have eight cyclists take on the 50k or 100k challenge as part of team RGS, raising £700 for the Nightingale Fund. Current parent, Matt Jones, said, “The weather was lovely but the course a little hillier than I expected! All in all, it was a thoroughly enjoyable Sunday morning with the added benefit of raising some money for a worthy cause.”

SUNDAY 3 OCTOBER

Rugby legend Joe Marler headlined the annual Dream Steam Social at Steam Wine Bar, which raised an incredible £13,000 in aid of the Nightingale Fund.

Widely regarded as rugby royalty, Joe has played 72 times for England, 220+ matches for Quins and toured New Zealand in 2017 as part of the British & Irish Lions squad.

He is one of the busiest rugby personalities in the game, so we were thrilled to gain his support for the night. Fresh from his Man of the Match performance in the Gallagher Premiership final (where Quins overcame Exeter Chiefs in a thrilling comeback), Joe had been granted some delayed paternity leave following the birth of his fourth child so was able to enjoy the night without the fear of pre-season training the next day!

Not one to mince his words, Joe gave

the audience an honest and eye-opening insight into his time at Quins, stories of scars being healed by butter (don’t ask!), on-field battles with Alun Wyn Jones, and even his own personal struggles around mental health. Joe also kindly donated a signed 2017 Lions jersey for the auction, which sold for £2,200!

Our brilliant host was Stephen Chenery (RGS 1982-1987) who kept Joe in check and ensured that all Reigatians were happily fed and watered.

Finally, our huge thanks go to Tom Holland (RGS 1998-2006) and his company Acquire for sponsoring the event.

Want to take part in Run or Ride Reigate to raise money for the Nightingale Fund?

Register your interest by emailing foundation@reigategrammar.org.

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LEAVE A GIFT IN YOUR WILL AND CHANGE A LIFE FOREVER

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 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 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 £2m 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.

Ways to leave a gift in your Will

We would advise you to speak to a solicitor, who 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

•

•

gift). All or part of the net residue of your estate 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.

What to do next

Read our supporting documents.

These provide suggested wording, explain how to amend an existing Will and has information on related areas such as reducing your tax. Go to the website: (rgs.foundation/support-us/leave-alegacy) or contact us to request a copy in the post (01737 222231).

Contact the Foundation team.

We 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, to maximize the impact on your financial arrangements and help amend your Will.

Reigate Grammar School has partnered with Morr & Co to provide legacy guidance. Contact Morr & Co for advice on writing a Will by calling 01737 854546 or go to morrlaw.com/giftsinwills.

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“My support of the RGS Foundation is given with the hope of enabling promising young people of modest means to benefit in the way that I have. It is a cause very close to my heart as I was one whose life was truly changed by my time at the school and for that I have always been extremely grateful.”

Peter Clarke (RGS 1945-1950)

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

ROBIN BLIGH MEMORIAL LUNCH SATURDAY 9 OCTOBER

We were pleased to welcome over 80 Reigatians back to the school to remember the incredible dedication of former RGS teacher and 16th Reigate Scout Leader, Robin Bligh (RGS staff 1953-1994).

Former Scout, Bob Bayley (RGS 1957-1964) was just one of the guests to pay tribute to Robin

Guests included former students and RGS colleagues who wanted to pay tribute to this great Reigatian for his rugby and cricket coaching, Maths teaching or his leadership of the 16th Reigate Scouts troop. We were pleased that many of Robin’s family members were also able to join us to hear just how many lives Robin has changed over the years.

In advance of the event, we invited Reigatians to send us tributes and were amazed to receive so many heartfelt memories and words of gratitude. Many of these, along with photographs spanning four decades, were displayed around the venue on the day (if you would like a copy, email foundation@reigategrammar.org).

Guests enjoyed a wonderful lunch and the chance to catch up with friends.

Lunch was followed by speeches, led by Headmaster Shaun Fenton who underlined the value of giving students a broad education beyond their academic studies – something that Robin fully recognised and which remains a key value of the school to this day.

Robin’s brother, Bernard, spoke on behalf of the family to thank everyone for attending. Frankie Bligh, one of Robin’s nieces shared a fabulous memory of an exchange, in which Robin had told her to type a sequence of numbers into her calculator: 46178. He then said, “Turn the calculator upside down!” (see right).

Robin Bligh Bursary Fund To honour this fine Reigatian, and to provide a lasting legacy in his name, the RGS Foundation, in collaboration with the Bligh family, has established the Robin Bligh Bursary Fund. This aims to provide a life-changing education at Reigate Grammar School to disadvantaged children from the local area.

By joining others who have already pledged their generous support for the fund, you will help fund a Robin Bligh Scholar at RGS. Donate online using the QR code or via rgs.foundation/ support-us/robin-bligh-bursary-fund or by cheque (posted to the address on the back cover).

“Being a Scout was a large part of my life at the School. It gave me a wide range of things to do and, looking back, on how to cope with them. This is something I wish to commemorate by giving my support to the Robin Bligh Bursary Fund.”

Ian Whiteman (RGS 1953-1961)

Another of Robin’s nieces, Juliet, explained how it was as she grew older that she came to really appreciate her Uncle Robin’s qualities. Nephew Sonam and niece Hazel then gave a witty summary of the 10 life lessons gained from their Uncle Robin!

Several Reigatians shared their own fond memories: Dick Mantell (RGS 1962-1970), Peter Burgess (RGS 1967-1974), Steven Robinson (RGS 1961-1969), John Manfield (RGS staff 1979-2010), David Payton (RGS 1970-1977) and Bob Bayley (RGS 19571964), who removed his jumper to reveal his old Scout shirt, decorated with a vast display of badges – thanks to Robin.

Finally, Chair of Governors, Mark Elsey (RGS 1974-1978) thanked everyone for coming and Head of Foundation, Sean Davey, introduced the newly-launched Robin Bligh Bursary Fund, which will provide life-changing opportunities for deserving young people for many years to come. While Robin’s legacy will live on in the skills and wisdom that he passed on to thousands of RGS students and Scouts during his teaching career, through this fund, he will continue to have an impact on even more young people – far beyond his own lifetime.

Thank you to everyone who helped to make the event so special – it was a fitting tribute to a truly great Reigatian.

Photographs from the lunch can be viewed at rgs.foundation/gallery and we thank Sixth Former, Marie-Guilaine J for capturing the event.

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FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES

REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICE THURSDAY 11 NOVEMBER

Students and staff gathered on the playground – like so many generations before them – to remember and give thanks for the sacrifices made by so many in conflicts over the years.

The sun shone over a calm playground as the whole school came together to commemorate this important event in our national calendar.

Reverend Phil Jackson (RGS staff 2017-present) led the service, with readings by students Ethan E, Elliot D-G and Head Girl, Jasmine F. The CCF parade was led by CPO Esther W and the Drum Major was WO1 Noah Fenton.

All participants – readers, choir singers, musicians, wreath parties, CCF Corps of Drums and buglers performed brilliantly.

While unable to invite groups of guests on site again in 2021, we were honoured to welcome Lieutenant Colonel Ashok Rao (RGS 1987-1995), a General Practitioner in the British Army, to represent the Reigatian community. Ashok read the moving words of the Act of Remembrance.

HENRY SMITH CLUB GATHERING TUESDAY 23 NOVEMBER

Having been unable to hold our annual dinner again in May, Henry Smith Club members enjoyed an informal gathering on the 22nd floor of The Shard.

HSC President, Sir Peter Gershon 22

With magnificent views across London, guests were treated to delicious canapés and refreshments. Our thanks go to Rob Pierre (RGS parent), HSC member and Jellyfish CEO, for hosting this event at his impressive office venue.

HSC President, Sir Peter Gershon (RGS 1958-1965), welcomed guests and highlighted the significant impact of the Henry Smith Club on the Changing Lives campaign; supporting 12 scholars at RGS and raising in excess of £1m, an impressive achievement.

Head Boy, Tom D, Head Girl, Jasmine F, School Chaplain, Phil Jackson and guest of honour, Ashok Rao laying a wreath in the memorial garden The solemn bugle call of The Last Post signalled the two-minute silence. Following Reveille, the Polyphony sang Abide With Me and the wreath-laying party departed.

Headmaster, Shaun Fenton concluded the service with a prayer.

One of the highlights of the evening was hearing from one of our first bursary recipients, Dr Sayinthen Vivekanantham (RGS 2002-2009). Sayinthen expressed his gratitude for the support which enabled him to attend the school. After leaving RGS, Sayinthen went to Imperial College London to study Medicine before becoming an Academic Doctor in the field of AI and machine learning. Sayinthen spoke of his passion for entrepreneurialism and soon realised that the medical world could not satisfy his burning commercial appetite.

In 2020, he put his medical career on hold to start up Homey, a new initiative that looks to streamline the home-buying process. An impressive young man who will continue to do great things!

We hope to host the HSC annual dinner in May 2022 – details to be confirmed.

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

£105,139 RAISED THANK YOU!

For 36 hours – between 00.00 on Thursday 16 and 12.00 on Friday 17 September 2021 – Reigatians from across the globe came together for Nightingale Giving Day. As a community we raised a staggering £105,139 from 363 donors!

H

ot on the heels of the Nightingale Festival, the excitement ramped up again for Nightingale Giving Day! Members of our global community once again showed their incredible generosity, helping to unlock five challenge gifts, writing messages of support and engaging with us through our various social media channels.

As part of wider activity in the school, our team of amazing RGS Foundation Ambassadors sold Krispy Kreme donuts on the day, raising over £915.

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 as well as on the RGS app.

We’d like to extend a huge thank you to all those who made a donation and 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 scan the QR code.

We were thrilled to receive a video from British icon and local resident, Dame Judi Dench, in which she called on the Reigatian community to support Nightingale Giving Day. Watch her message at bit.ly/3GDPS9c

Foundation Ambassadors, Elliot F, Jessica G, Jamie D and Maddy W, ready to sell Krispy Kreme donuts!

“What a great initiative – we are so happy to be part of this community. Good luck!”

“Keep up the amazing effort. I am very proud of the achievements of the school I was privileged to attend seventy years ago”

Camila Diniz (current parent)

Ian Howick (RGs 1950-1957) 23

T H E R E I G AT I A N 2 0 21

REUNION EVENTS

The Class of 2017

GRADUATION BRUNCH CLASSES OF 2016 & 2017 SATURDAY 4 SEPTEMBER

To kick off the new academic year, we were delighted to welcome the Class of 2016 (postponed from 2020) and the Class of 2017 back to school for their Graduation Brunch reunions.

There were squeals of excitement as over 100 former students and staff reunited to catch up on each other’s news.

The event began in the Peter Masefield Hall with teas, coffees, and a feast of croissants, sausage and bacon baps, fruit and other treats. A presentation of old school photographs elicited a few chuckles!

Guests included Head Girl, Megan Woods (’17), and Head Boy, George Elliston (’17), and House Captains, Ailie McGilligan (’17), and Ciaran Nestor (’17).

We were also pleased to see RGS heroes, Hannah Garmston (’16), who worked on the acute COVID ward at East Surrey Hospital at the height of the pandemic, and Ollie Driscoll (’16), who was one of our RGS We Care volunteers, collecting and delivering shopping to local Reigatians.

After picking up a glass of bucks fizz, we

The Class of 2016 headed outside to the terrace by the Harrison Centre for speeches.

Headmaster, Shaun Fenton, began by toasting the Classes of 2016 and 2017.

He then ran through some of the exciting changes that have happened in recent years, not least the opening of the Sixth Form centre which guests had been promised, but narrowly missed seeing come to fruition! He touched on the challenges of COVID, with lessons delivered via Microsoft Teams, and Music and Drama departments coming up with creative alternatives to large-scale performances.

There was much laughter and nodding as Mr Fenton mentioned the joy of welcoming the new First Form students to school,

with skirts down to their shins and blazers that they will grow into by Third Form!

Finally, he underlined the important message from the school song (guests looked a bit nervous that they would be asked to sing!) – of being a Reigatian Pilgrim on a journey of noble purpose.

Head of Foundation, Sean Davey, then spoke about the value of connecting and engaging with the wider Reigatian community – through LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and the Reigate Grammar School app – for introductions and support.

Guests then toured the Harrison Centre, which they were all quite awed by! We said goodbye before former students headed into Reigate to continue catching up!

NAG’S HEAD FLYERS ANNUAL DINNER MONDAY 27 SEPTEMBER

John Atkins (’68), Netti Atkins and Christopher Kingham enjoying an evening of merriment 24

The Nag’s Head Flyers, named after a pub in South Earlswood, is made up of RGS boys who started in 1961 plus some hangers-on. The ‘gang of four’ leading Flyers has been Richard Jopling (’68), Chris Berry (’69), Tony Earl (’69) and Graham Brown (’68). 54 years since most of them left school, they still meet for an annual dinner.

The 2019/20 Presidency was held by David Bleasdale but, due to Covid, his term was extended to 2021 and the dinner was held on 27 September at the Richmond Harbour Hotel. The day before was spent visiting the Barnes Wetlands centre followed by a pub lunch. That evening, Graham Brown ran the now annual general knowledge quiz, the prize for which is the much sought-after Holey Scarf, won this year by team Wesley after some creative marking by team Jopling! With thanks to Duncan Wesley (RGS ’66).

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

Are you getting together with former school mates? Or is there an event you’d like the Foundation to run? Let us know!

Email foundation@reigategrammar.org.

10 (AND 11) YEARS ON CLASSES OF 2010 AND 2011 THURSDAY 14 OCTOBER

It was wonderful to see former students from the Class of 2010 (who sadly missed out in 2020 due to COVID) and the Class of 2011 reunited for their 10 Years On reunions. They have packed a huge amount in between the ages of 18 and 28/29, from completing degrees and winning industry awards, to travelling, getting married, having babies and much more besides! Thank you to Stephen Chenery (’87), of Steam Wine Bar, for hosting this brilliant event.

OLIVER! CAST AND CREW REUNITED 1981 AND 2001 PRODUCTIONS WEDNESDAY 1 DECEMBER

With RGS school productions rivalling the West End for quality and excitement, we were thrilled to secure some VIP tickets for the 2021 performance of Oliver!.

Cast and crew from the 1981 and 2001 productions caught up before the show.

“I haven’t seen a production of Oliver! since before I was in it.

So much of it felt familiar, but it was such a fresh take on the show that I was immersed. I was blown away by the talent – the whole spectacle and theatrics were incredible. It was fantastic to catch up with Laurence after the show and it was a pleasure to see a few old teachers, although it’s still a bit unusual to give them their first names, even after so many years! And big love as ever to Miss Branston who hasn’t changed at all – definitely one of my favourite teachers from my time at RGS.” Alex Lear (RGS 1996-2003)

Director of Drama, Sarah Branston (RGS staff 2001-present), took on Oliver! as her first big production on joining Reigate Grammar back in 2001 (vowing in The Pilgrim of that year, never to tackle it again!).

Old school friends, Laurence Anderson (RGS 1996-2003), who played Mr Bumble, and Alex Lear (RGS 1996-2003), one of the Bow Street Runners, enjoyed being reunited.

The choreography for the 2001 production was crafted by Susie Wesson, née Kümpel (RGS staff 1999-2010), who couldn’t believe that Alex Lear wasn’t still 16 years old!

We were pleased, too, that Helen Mumby (RGS 1995-2002), who played Nancy, managed to attend the Saturday matinée.

Interestingly, 20 years seems the preferred gap between performances, and we were delighted to welcome cast

and crew from the 1981 production, too!

John Manfield (RGS staff 1979-2010), who played a Bow Street Runner, Robert Cole (RGS 1977-1984), the Artful Dodger, and Graham Best (RGS staff 1975-1993), Producer, joined the 2001 guests in the Headmaster’s study for pre-show drinks and canapés. Feedback was hugely positive, with Graham Best reporting, “Reviewing the Situation was a particular highlight – both the superb performance, and singing

by Eibhlin G, but also having the lone violinist alongside. I know those words so well, but I was really moved by this scene.”

Photographs from the 1981 and 2001 productions can be found in the events gallery at rgs.foundation/gallery. An excerpt from the 2021 production can be viewed online at rgsdrama.net/final.

Don’t miss out on future reunions – if your email, phone or address details change, let us know! Were you in a school play? Send us your photos and programmes. Email foundation@reigategrammar.org.

1981: Mark Dixon (RGS staff 1977-1981) as Fagin with his gang of pickpockets

2001: Alex Dungate (RGS 2000-2008) captivated audiences as Oliver

2021: As an interesting twist, two female students were cast as Dodger and Fagin 25

T H E R E I G AT I A N 2 0 21

RGS PROFESSIONALS Read the full interviews on our website at rgs.foundation

SPOTLIGHT ON...

RGS Professionals members work across a wide variety of sectors. In 2021, we caught up with some of them to hear about their career journeys, ambitions, challenges and advice.

Here are some snippets from those interviews...

DR ANDREW SELMAN

(RGS 1990-1997) As a Paediatric Cardiac Anaesthesia Fellow at Great Ormond Street Hospital, Andrew is familiar with working under pressure to treat the sick. During the first wave of the COVID outbreak, Andrew was in the ICU at St George’s Hospital, Tooting. Andrew believes that working with sick children is one of the best jobs in the world.

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SOPHIE EDWARDS

(RGS 2008-2015) On leaving RGS, Sophie completed a BSc in Human Biology at Loughborough University, followed by an MSc in Public Health at the University of Bristol. Since graduating in 2020, she has been working as a COVID-19 Health Protection Practitioner for Public Health England.

We caught up with her to discover what this role entails and how she got there.

PAUL HOWARD

(RGS 1989-1997) Based in Hong Kong, Paul has more than a decade of institutional sales experience in Executive Director roles at both Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs.

Despite this, in 2018 he completed an MBA! In July 2021, he joined cryptocurrency firm BlockFi and was also named one of Asia’s youngest Managing Directors of a Fortune 500 company.

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.

RGSP CHARITY GOLF DAY MONDAY 27 SEPTEMBER

It takes more than a fuel crisis and a night of thunder and lightning to put off the RGS Professionals golfers!

We were delighted to welcome both familiar faces and a few new players to our eighth annual RGS Professionals Golf Day at the Royal Ashdown Old Course on Monday 27 September.

After a damp start (and bolstered by bacon butties), our teams of four set out to their various holes for a 10am shotgun start. The wind, on top of the heather, humps, hollows and streams added a bit of extra challenge – especially for those new to this magnificent course in the heart of the Sussex countryside.

The Thunderball Challenge returned for 2021, running alongside the main game to add an extra bit of excitement!

Only one team returned their ball back to the clubhouse, the remainder donated their yellow ball to the countryside, forfeiting their chances of success!

The winning team was Ed Forsyth (RGS 2003-2008), Jonathan Gale and James Feneley (RGS 2003-2008).

The Nearest the Pin competition on the sixth hole went to Toby Chandler, whilst the Longest Drive competition on the 12th was won by Duncan Letchworth.

Congratulations to them both for showing

 Reigate Grammar School Professionals exceptional skill (and a smattering of luck!).

Players were met at the 14th hole by the Foundation team’s Clare who offered an additional Par 3 Challenge: Can you get your ball on the green in one shot? Just under a third of all players achieved this feat, winning a goody bag of wine and beer.

Food and much-needed refreshments were delivered by buggy throughout the round, after which players headed back to the clubhouse to freshen up and compare scores. We completed this wonderful day with a sumptuous three-course dinner, raffle, auction, and, of course, the awarding of winner’s prizes!

Congratulations to our team competition winners, who were new to the RGS Professionals Golf Day this year – Ashly Bone, Thomas Cullum Cina, Paul Baker and Chris Stamp, from Ralph James Estate Agents. No doubt we will be seeing them next year as they attempt to retain their trophies after such a great start!

The day raised an incredible £6,500 for the Nightingale Fund, so a huge thank you to all our players and prize donors for making the event such a brilliant success.

Would you like to play in 2022?

This year’s RGS Professionals Golf Day will be held on Monday 26 September at the Royal Ashdown Old Course.

To register your interest, please email foundation@reigategrammar.org.

FESTIVE DRINKS

TUESDAY 7 DECEMBER In the midst of rising COVID cases, the RGS Foundation was pleased to be able to host a magical outdoor event for its Professionals members.

There is something quite wonderful about a crisp winter’s evening lit up by festoon lighting, and Pilgrim Brewery proved the perfect venue for this COVID-friendly event!

Guests enjoyed mince pies, stollen bites and lebkuchen alongside awardwinning beers and other tipples. Having the school’s Polyphony choir treat us to some beautifully-sung carols really did warm the spirits and created an enchanting atmosphere.

As always, it was wonderful to catch up with Reigatians, many of whom were back in the UK from overseas, or back in Reigate for the Christmas holidays.

REIGATIANS NEED YOUR HELP!

Winners of the team competition: Ashly Bone, Thomas Cullum Cina, Paul Baker and Chris Stamp, from Ralph James Estate Agents

From university students seeking placement opportunities to current students eager for work experience and young Reigatians graduating university – our community is more important than ever. 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.

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T H E R E I G AT I A N 2 0 21

SAME TEAM OF EXPERT SOLICITORS... NEW NAME! Morrisons Solicitors has served generations of Reigate families for hundreds of years. In January 2022, it rebranded to Morr & Co, building on its heritage, while reflecting the modern, progressive nature of the firm, with community still at its heart...

M

orr & Co has been a valued supporter of Reigate Grammar School and the Changing Lives campaign for several years and is currently funding a bursary student at the school.

It also supports the RGS Foundation by providing expert guidance on our gifts in Wills programme and by hosting RGS Professionals events.

With its head offices in Redhill, and seven other offices across Surrey, Hampshire and South West London, Morr & Co has been one of the leading law firms in the area for almost 300 years.

Since 1729, when Michael Barnes opened a legal practice at 46 High Street, Reigate (now Island House), Morr & Co has been growing and adapting; expanding into new areas, developing its people and offering a wider service range.

Paul Harvey, Managing Partner, Morr & Co

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In recent years, Morr & Co has grown through natural development and through acquisition. Now it represents a broad and loyal client base across the region, who remain at the forefront of its work ethic and values.

Having worked under the name Morrisons Solicitors for the past 40 years, it was time for the firm to change its name to reflect this evolution and to bring its group of brands across the region together. And so, in January 2022, the firm became Morr & Co – with the same team of expert solicitors, just under a new name.

Paul Harvey, Morr & Co’s Managing Partner, joined the firm in 1988 and has been instrumental in making Morr & Co one of the leading law firms in the region.

We caught up with Paul and asked him about the changes.

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

Tell us about the evolution of the firm and its name.

“It’s not the first time we have changed our name. It wasn’t until 1812 when George Morrison joined the firm, that ‘Morrison’ appeared in the company name.

Since then, there were various name changes, all centred around the Morrison name, before we changed to Morrisons Solicitors in 1978. With the company’s 300th anniversary approaching, we have taken the opportunity to modernise once again, while retaining an unbreakable link to our origins and heritage.

Over the past 20 years in particular, Morr & Co has seen enormous growth, both organically through the acquisition of talented lawyers and support staff, as well as more recently through mergers with other respected law firms.

At the end of 2018 the firm merged with Harrops & Hepburn Solicitors in Oxted and then, in 2019, with Wheelers Solicitors, acquiring their offices in Fleet, Farnborough and Ash Vale.

With both acquired firms having such great reputations and strong brands in their respective regions, it was important at the time for us to keep their names, whilst integrating them into the Morrisons Group. However, we are no longer separate firms and the time has come for our name to reflect the way in which we work – as one, united firm.”

Why did you choose ‘Morr & Co’?

“The firm had been known affectionately as ‘Morr Law’ for many years, so the new name represents that familiarity and respects our history. In addition, the ‘& Co’

recognises the unification of our brands and the company of talented individuals we have across the business and the regions they serve.

I passionately believe that everybody in the firm has a very important part to play, and the ‘& Co’ represents just that. We’re in this together. We are a team. We share our core values.

In order to deliver an amazing service to our clients, the company we keep is important to us; so much so it’s now part of our name.

Morr & Co feels like a natural progression for the business. There’s a familiarity about it and a connection to our past and our rich heritage, but it’s also progressive and takes us into the future.”

What can we expect from Morr & Co in the future?

“We have supported generations of local residents and businesses with their legal requirements – we have the depth of knowledge, capabilities and resources of a large firm, but we have worked hard to retain the approachability of a local practice.

We will continue to play an active part in the communities in which we operate.

Our team supports many local charities and causes, including the Reigate Grammar School Changing Lives campaign, by sponsoring a student at RGS. This is part of who we are and that won’t be changing.

Whilst the visual part of our business has changed, such as the letterheads and the office signage, I want to assure everyone that there will be no changes to the quality service that clients receive,

Louise Fegan (RGS 1987-1989), Partner in the Corporate team at Morr & Co: “It’s an exciting time for us at Morr & Co. We are looking forward to the future and excited about where these changes can take us, but we will always take pride in our origins and remain a key presence in the local community, including of course our continued support of RGS and its fantastic work in Reigate and the surrounding areas.”

nor to our commitment to support those in the surrounding areas.

We hope that our clients and communities will come along on this journey with us, and see us as a modern, progressive law firm, which is moving forward, and responding and adapting to change, to provide the services they need from us today, and in the future.”

The law firm for business and life For all your personal and family law needs

Supporting corporate and commercial clients

Morr & Co can support individuals and families with advice and solutions across a range of areas: Wills, powers of attorney and private client services; probate and estate administration; buying and selling property; dispute resolution; employment; family; personal injury; clinical negligence.

Morr & Co helps businesses realise exciting new opportunities as well as resolving issues when they arise. Morr & Co’s team of solicitors provides expert advice on commercial property, corporate and finance, commercial services, dispute resolution and employment law.

morrlaw.com 01737 854500 info@morrlaw.com 29

T H E R E I G AT I A N 2 0 21

THE REIGATIAN NETWORK 1

OVERSEAS REIGATIANS With global gatherings on hold for a second year, we caught up with some overseas Reigatians to get a glimpse of life in their part of the world

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MIA FRANCIS

(RGS 2010-2017) NEW YORK, USA

What made you choose to study at a university in the USA? From a young age I had my heart set on living in the US. When I started to look at universities, I only focused on American ones. Not once did I apply, visit or research UK universities! I chose Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin because a liberal arts school enabled me to explore every subject of interest before dedicating myself to a career path. I also appreciated how close I was to family in Chicago, and wanted the small town college experience.

Any highlights or pros and cons?

One highlight was being part of the LU dance team, and performing at football and basketball games. I loved supporting the teams and watching games. Another highlight was the annual concert called LUaroo. Over Memorial Day weekend, the university hosts a three-day concert and everyone parties before final exams. An unexpected con was finding out how much I don’t like snow! Snow days sound great until it’s the middle of April and there’s 4ft of snow. Another unexpected realisation was how much I missed living in a city. The small town experience was great for the first year, but I always longed for more to do.

Any advice for others considering taking the same path?

Do it! I encourage everyone to spend time living in another country. It has truly been the best experience, teaching me amazing things and giving me unique opportunities.

Make the most of every trip that RGS offers!

And if applying to a US university, dedicate time and energy to the process.

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Tell us more about the work experience and volunteering you’ve undertaken My field of interest is studio art. As a sophomore, I took a semester off to complete an internship with Disney, working at Walt Disney World in Florida as a Photopass Photographer. I developed my photography and editing skills, whilst being at the centre of making magic everyday! I learnt technical skills and made a lot of great connections in the entertainment industry.

In my junior year I took the position of the Arts Advocacy Service Corps Program Coordinator in the Community Engagement Center at Lawrence University.

I volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club three times a week, and worked with the children to incorporate an arts programme focused on their needs and interests.

What prompted the move to New York and what does the new job entail?

I first visited New York on an RGS History and Politics trip in Sixth Form, and I knew then that I wanted to live there someday. As soon as I graduated, I followed my dream. I spent my summer working at the Museum of Art and Design in Columbus Circle, and have now taken a full time position in the design department of Estée Lauder. I now work as a Make-Up Artist, developing my creative artistry, whilst establishing myself in the beauty, theatre and TV industry.

I am excited at what the future holds!

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PAUL HOWARD (RGS 1989-1997) HONG KONG

During the ’80s my father did some work in Southeast Asia. Inspired by exotic tales of his travels, I read books on Japanese culture and then chose to work at a company who had offices in Asia with the idea that I would relocate. I also started a post-grad in Japanese whilst working in the City and kept pestering my manager to relocate me! Eventually it paid off!

For two years I worked as a Computer Programmer in Tokyo. The company culture was incredibly male dominated, with smoking on the trading floors, and tannoy announcements every few hours reminding employees on correct work etiquette! An opportunity came up in Hong Kong and I arrived here 20 years ago with two suitcases and a few hundred pounds of savings.

I live with my wife, two children and two dogs in Hong Kong, but the rest of

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

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my family are in Nutfield and Cambridge.

Covid has disrupted the era of affordable air travel but also brought about a work-fromhome culture meaning spending time back in the UK with family is now professionally more acceptable than ever before.

Before my peers were married with children, many Reigations were able to visit.

Mike Jerome (’97), Paul Kerbegian (’97), Shenth Ravindra (’97), and Rowan Nash (’97), came to visit Japan and we went on some fun cycling escapades around Kyoto, caught a Sumo wrestling tournament and went clubbing in Tokyo! I caught up with many of the Class of 1997 in 2014 thanks to Andrew Murray. He organised a surprise trip with Nick Halford, Nick Martin and James Casbon for my birthday. James Hirst (’97), frequently visits and, in 2017, I had fun showing him around town and going to the local Clockenflap Music Festival.

Life in 2021? The populace lived through SARs, so were attuned to coping with pandemic measures. But restrictions on travel meant we were confined to Hong Kong or faced a three-week hotel quarantine on return. We have beaches, forests, and so much diversity in such a small area there are definitely worse places to be.

What do I miss? For years, Hong Kong operated as a ‘grey’ area where British and Chinese cultures met. That has ebbed recently so I miss the values from the UK that made Hong Kong unique. The territory is entering a new chapter now but is still a jewel in China’s crown.

RACHEL ARMSTRONG (RGS 2000-2004) DUBAI

Having qualified as a solicitor with DLA Piper in August 2013, I was approached by a law firm in Dubai about joining their intellectual property practice as a newly qualified lawyer. It seemed too good an opportunity to pass up, so we made the decision to move and have not looked back. I have lived in Dubai for over eight years now and I still very much enjoy it here.

My parents are still in Reigate and my sister lives in Kenya, so the family gets a lovely variety of holiday destinations.

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I’ve met up with a few Reigatians since living here: Kerry Patterson (’04) spent a few years in Dubai and I am delighted that she still has close ties here and opts to spend a good portion of her leave visiting Dubai each year.

The best thing about living here is definitely the weather! But one thing I wish I’d known before relocating is that there is such a thing as ‘cloud seeding’, which is intentionally making it rain!

After a strict lockdown (February to May 2020), Dubai steadily reopened, and we were back in the office from early May 2020. Overall, the UAE has navigated the pandemic due to strict enforcement of safety measures such as mask wearing in all public places and social distancing.

This has allowed life to proceed largely as normal for the most part.

The thing from the UK that I miss the most is The Grumpy Mole in Tadworth!

CHRIS THORPE

(RGS 1977-1983) SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

I’ve been living in Sydney, New South Wales since 1986. I originally set out backpacking around the world when I was 19 – looking for adventure, palm trees and tropical sunshine! When I arrived in Sydney on a 30°C day, with clear blue skies and stood on Bondi beach with sand between my toes, I realised I was home! I’d only arrived three hours earlier, but I just knew this was where I wanted to stay.

My parents moved over to Sydney 18 years ago and live five minutes away which is very convenient. They love getting to see their grandchildren and their favourite son (their only son)!

With the pandemic, it’s been extremely challenging to see extended family back in the UK, especially with Australia’s tough border closures but now things are opening up, so a trip back to the UK is on the cards.

Since living here, I’ve met up with Neil Brett (’80), who lives in Sydney, and Chris Smedley (’85), who now lives in Brisbane.

The best thing about living here is the weather. The all-year climate, the ability to often wear a T-shirt and shorts in winter.

Being a sailor, the amazing Sydney Harbour – one of the best in the world – is a real

highlight. It’s a huge playground and I couldn’t see myself living anywhere else.

As to the pandemic, Australia had low case numbers in the first half of 2021 and we were nearly back to normal. In July, however, we entered a severe lockdown lasting four months. We were restricted to a five kilometre radius from home and lots of other restrictions. Luckily, things are starting to open back up again as we have very high vaccination rates.

What do I miss most about the UK? Country pubs and the buzz of London would definitely be a couple of things that I miss at times... I definitely do not miss the weather!

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T H E R E I G AT I A N 2 0 21

OVERSEAS AMBASSADORS

Our Overseas Ambassadors 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.

GREGG TURNER

MIKE LLOYD

RYAN YOUNGER

RAY BUCKETT

MATT FALKNER

PAUL THORNTON

KARL HACKETT

ED KIDD

DAVID MYCROFT

CAMPBELL STEEDMAN

NEIL BRETT

STUART DONALD

BEN JONES

LAWRIE WEBB

CHRIS SMEDLEY

(RGS 1990-1998) SWITZERLAND VP of Sponsorship, CAA Eleven

(RGS 1976-1981) VANCOUVER, CANADA Senior Aviation Security Manager, G4S Secure Solutions

(RGS 1970-1976) SEATTLE, USA Retired

(RGS 1987-1994) TEXAS, USA Chartering and Derivatives Manager, Vitol 32

(RGS 1981-1986) NEW YORK, USA Managing Director, Weild & Co; President, Jigsaw Ventures LLC

(RGS 1988-1995) DUBAI Director - Middle East, TBH

Parent of former student DUBAI Head of Corporate, UAE, Squire Patton Boggs

(RGS 1969-1977) HONG KONG Partner, SkyTxB (transactional banking)

(RGS 1983-1991) SINGAPORE Head of Petrochemical Trading, Freepoint Commodities

(RGS 1982-1990) PERTH, AUSTRALIA Chief Advisor, IS&T, Asia Pacific West, Rio Tinto

(RGS 1973-1980) BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA Mortgage Manager, CSC Home Loans

(RGS 1978-1985) BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA Managing Director, Queensland Fertility Group

(RGS 1961-1966) MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA Territory Manager, LaCorium Health International

(RGS 1990-1998) AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND Director, Argyle Estates Ltd; Co-Founder, FireForm Ltd

(RGS 1977-1978) AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND Managing Partner, Agrifrontiers

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

KEEP UP-TO-DATE! DO YOU HAVE THE REIGATE GRAMMAR SCHOOL APP? Download the Reigate Grammar School app to receive up-to-date news, watch live-streamed events, connect with friends, access exciting resources and much more...

Watch live events

Join live-streamed events, from the choir singing at the RGS Professionals festive drinks to the Remembrance Day service.

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

Share memories

Share photos of school memorabilia, comment and connect with other members of the Reigatian community.

The RGS app provides an interactive mobile platform that enables you to: Stay up-to-date with the latest news – all at your fingertips Tailor your newsfeed to receive only the information that’s relevant to you – whether you’re a current or former parent, former student or a member of staff (past and present) Receive push notifications about upcoming Foundation activities

• • •

Take a virtual tour

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

Download the RGS app today!

To access the app, simply scan the QR code or search for ‘Reigate Grammar School’ on the App Store or Google Play. Set up your account, indicating your relationship to RGS to help tailor the messages you receive.

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AWARDS AND HONOURS HSJ PARTNERSHIP AWARD: ELANOR BOND In response to the COVID pandemic, Elanor Bond (RGS 2006-2013) worked as part of a multi-sector team to set up a new NHS Hospital in just 35 days. The new NHS Seacole Centre, established at Headley Court in Surrey, went live on 4 May 2020 with 130 acute beds and capacity for up to 300. The project was awarded an Health Services Journal (HSJ) 2021 Partnership Award for its contribution to the pandemic.

Headley Court was an ex-military rehabilitation facility, but the buildings had been empty for two years. The site required a complete transformation, including new wiring and drainage, restored electricity and water, IT systems, ward configuration and redecoration.

Not to mention recruiting a new clinical workforce and implementing a new hospital operating model.

Working with Epsom & St Helier University Hospital NHS Trust team, Elanor’s job was to write the hospital’s operating manual. This document defines scores of processes, from referring and admitting patients to transferring and discharging them and everything in

between – as well as processes to ensure dignity for the deceased and their families.

Working with more than 15 clinical and support service leads to collate the information needed, Elanor wrote the final manual in just two weeks.

Elanor said, “Building hospitals normally takes years, so there was a lot of pressure to open the hospital safely as well as on time. It was only once patients started

arriving that any of us stopped to think about what we’d achieved. It was an amazing team to be a part of and a project I’ll remember forever. To win an HSJ Award was fantastic recognition of the small part we played in the COVID response.”

Elanor is continuing to support the pandemic in her role as NHS Head of Strategy for North East London Clinical Commissioning Group.

BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR (ASIA PACIFIC): CHRIS THORPE In October, Chris Thorpe (RGS 1977-1983), CEO and Founder of Leading Edge Data Centres (LEDC), was named the APAC (Asia Pacific) Business Leader of the Year at the W.Media Cloud & Datacenters Awards.

Chris founded LEDC to revolutionise the data-centre industry in Australia. Regional Australians struggle on a daily basis with network connectivity with slow, unstable internet access. Chris believes that everyone in Australia deserves digital equity – that is, the ability to compete on the same playing field as metropolitan cities. Data centres did not exist in regional Australia, so he has created a new market.

Since 2019, he has built three Tier III data centres, with another 23 in the pipeline, to be built over the next three years.

The APAC Business Leader of the Year 34

award demonstrates Chris’ visionary leadership in this sector. One of his main strengths is his ability to share his vision and to partner with the right companies to support the design, build and operation of the data centres. He engaged closely with stakeholders in each regional city, as well as strategic partners and also built trust with regional councils and stakeholders, who have been wary of people promising connectivity and never delivering.

Chris also demanded that LEDC build sustainability into everything it does, and is now leading the way in Australia for sustainable data centres.

We congratulate Chris on his prestigious award – as a visionary leader he has put himself on the line to prove that regional Australians deserve more.

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

FORBES 30 UNDER 30 ACCOLADE: EMMA BATES

Emma Bates (RGS 2005-2012) made it onto the Forbes 30 under 30 2022 list.

In October 2021, Emma launched Diem, an alternate social network for women and gender non-binary individuals. Diem celebrates knowledge-sharing over performative sharing, enabling members to feel comfortable having candid conversations about everything from birth control and sexuality to finance and investing. The platform allows for open discussion, connection, and provides resources from knowledgeable thoughtleaders including doctors, financial advisors and household names.

Prior to founding Diem, Emma led Brand Partnerships and Marketing at direct-to-consumer travel brand, Away – joining the New York-based company in 2016 and seeing it through to a $1.5bn valuation in under three years. Emma emigrated to New York City after graduating from King’s College London in 2015 with a BA in War Studies – her entry into marketing was somewhat untraditional, teaching herself at university by starting a blog, age 19, that grew to 100,000 readers. Emma is a gender equality activist who is passionate about building solutions for underrepresented communities to gain power, money and access to equal opportunity.

MEDIA LEADER OF THE YEAR: ROB PIERRE Current parent, Rob Pierre, Co-founder and CEO of Jellyfish, won Media Leader of the Year in the Media Week Awards 2021. Jellyfish, which can be described as a ‘digital partner’ to some of the world’s leading brands, has grown an average of 45% annually over the last eight years and recorded significant revenue in 2020.

The business, launched in 2005, has 2,250 employees across 40 global offices.

Over the last year, Rob has spearheaded a number of initiatives, including free digital marketing training for those on furlough. Providing support to the industry and the wider community, Jellyfish donated over £8.5m-worth of online training during lockdown.

Rob has also furthered Jellyfish’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, launching employee resource groups, including Jellyfish in Colour, SheUnit, and Parents and Pride, aimed at helping individuals to connect, and to ensure that every voice has the opportunity to be heard and amplified.

Judges said that under Pierre’s leadership, the agency’s performance had been ‘outstanding in the face of challenging times’. They praised the global training initiative for those on furlough, the agency’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and the strong business results.

UK POLITICAL CARTOON AWARDS RUNNER-UP: JAMES MELLOR

Cartoonist, James Mellor (RGS 1994-2001), received the Runner-up Award for the best Pocket Cartoon of 2021 at the UK Political Cartoon Awards. The Awards are sponsored by Ellwood Atfield, and facilitated by the Political Cartoon Gallery and The Professional Cartoonists’ Organisation. They mark the important role political cartoonists play in terms of maintaining freedom of speech and a free press – in the UK and around the world – by showcasing the best published cartoons from the year. James’s work, published in Private Eye, saw off cartoons by 29 of the UK’s other top cartoonists and he finished second only to the Daily Telegraph’s Matt Pritchett.

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 with all the details.

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T H E R E I G AT I A N 2 0 21

UNIVERSITY HONOURS 2021 Congratulations to all those who graduated in 2021 – we wish you all the very best of luck with your future careers.

Remember to join the RGS Professionals group on LinkedIn for networking and support across a variety of sectors.

 Reigate Grammar School Professionals

Anna Anderson (RGS 2011-2018) University of Cambridge Natural Sciences (Biological) BA 1st

Peter Doherty (RGS 2010-2017) University of Bristol Aerospace Engineering Integrated MEng (Hons) 1st

Rupert Heap (RGS 2010-2017) University of Leeds Civil and Structural Engineering BEng (Integrated) 1st

Max Baker (RGS 2010-2017) University of Manchester Electrical and Electronic Engineering BEng (Hons) 1st

Charly Earnshaw (RGS 2010-2017) University of Nottingham Architecture BArch 1st

Daniel Heron (RGS 2011-2018) Newcastle University Chemical Engineering BEng (Hons) 2:1

James Bennett (RGS 2010-2017) University of Oxford Biochemistry Mbiochem (Integrated Masters) 1st

Shay Fernando (RGS 2006-2013) Royal Veterinary College Veterinary Medicine BVetMed

Tom Hindle (RGS 2015-2017) University of Edinburgh Chemistry BSc (Hons) 2:1

El-Eden Biney (RGS 2014-2016) University of Plymouth Dentistry Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BSD)

Mia Francis (RGS 2010-2017) Lawrence University, Wisconsin Liberal Arts, majoring in Studio Art BA (Hons) Cum laude

Oliver Brooks (RGS 2010-2017) University of York Business Management BA 2:1

Edward George (RGS 2010-2017) Durham University Business and Management BA (Hons) 1st

Olivia Burgess (RGS 2011-2018) Open University Psychology BSc (Hons) 1st

Isobella Gillespie (RGS 2010-2017) Durham University Modern Languages and Cultures (Spanish and Italian) BA (Hons) 2:1

Cian Clancy (RGS 2010-2017) Trinity College Dublin History BA (Hons) 2:1

Thomas Hobden (RGS 2015-2017) University of Bath Mathematical Sciences BSc 2:1 Claire Hunt (RGS 2012-2017) University of York Business and Management BA 2:1 Lucy Kerr (RGS 2010-2017) University of Bath Integrated Masters in Pharmacology MPharmcol (Hons) 1st

Hannah Gin (RGS 2015-2017) University of Leeds Economics and Geography BA 1st

Eleni Kiromitis (RGS 2010-2015) University of Portsmouth Biomedical Science BSc (Hons) 1st

Joe Gregson (RGS 2010-2017) University of Portsmouth Business Economics BSc 2:1

Katherine Lyon (RGS 2010-2017) University of Oxford Chemistry MChem 2:1

Matthew Crighton (RGS 2011-2018) University of Exeter Economics BSc 1st

Clara Grinyer (RGS 2010-2017) University of Oxford English Language and Literature BA 2:1

Aaisha Majid (RGS 2011-2018) Queen Mary University of London French and Politics BA 1st

Katerina Davidson (RGS 2010-2017) University of Delaware Advertising and Interpersonal Communication BA Summa cum laude

Rory Haughton (RGS 2010-2017) Leeds Beckett University Sports Business Management BA (Hons) 1st

Paul Marshall (RGS 2010-2017) University of Exeter Mechanical Engineering and Management BEng Upper 2:1

Alexa Dewar (RGS 2010-2017) Kings College London Law Masters Merit

Laura Hawrych (RGS 2011-2018) University of Cambridge Geography BA 2:1

Jon-Joe McGrath (RGS 2010-2017) BIMM Bristol Music Production BA 1st

John Clayson (RGS 2011-2018) Bartlett School of Architecture University College London Architecture BSc 1st

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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

CLASS OF 2021 RESULTS

Despite another difficult year, over 97% of students from the Class of 2021 have accepted places at world-class universities such as the Russell Group, Oxbridge, medical school, Princeton in the USA as well as a prestigious degree apprenticeship with UBS Bank. Over 99% of students achieved A*-B and nearly 90% achieved A*-A.

UNIVERSITY HONOURS SUPPLEMENTARY YEARS GRADUATED IN 2020

Leo Nasskau (RGS 2012-2018) University of Oxford Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) BA 1st

Harriet Tagart (RGS 2011-2018) Durham University English Literature BA (Hons) 1st

Ciaran Nestor (RGS 2010-2017) University of Bath Chemistry BSc 2:1

Elise Teale (RGS 2010-2017) Manchester Metropolitan Politics BA 1st

Megan North (RGS 2010-2017) Bournemouth University Business with Marketing BA (Hons) 2:1

Mahin Uddin (RGS 2011-2018) University of Bath Pharmacology BSc 2:1

Georgina Robinson (RGS 2015-2017) University of Warwick Economics and French BA 2:1

Katie Wall (RGS 2015-2017) University of Bath International Development with Economics BSc (Hons) 1st

Charlotte Rowland (RGS 2011-2018) University of Birmingham Geography BA 2:1

Henry Watson (RGS 2010-2017) University of Cambridge (Gonville & Caius College) Modern and Medieval Languages BA 1st

Kirath Sanun (RGS 2010-2017) University of Sussex Mechanical Engineering BEng 1st

Sean Watters (RGS 2012-2017) University of Bristol International Security MSc

Tom Schlaefli (RGS 2009-2016) Imperial College London Geology MSci 2:1

Emily White (RGS 2014-2018) University of Nottingham Veterinary Medical Sciences BVMedSci 1st

Oliver Simms (RGS 2010-2017) University of Cardiff Human Geography BSc 2:1

Maddy Withers (RGS 2010-2017) University of York Music Psychology MA Distinction

Lucy Simpson (RGS 2010-2017) University of Leeds Geography BA 2:1

Megan Woods (RGS 2010-2017) University of Bath Management with Marketing BSc 2:1

Alex Skinner (RGS 2010-2017) Durham University Marketing and Management BA 1st

Oliver Wright (RGS 2012-2015) Royal Agricultural University Real Estate BSc (Hons) 2nd

Benedict Springbett (RGS 2012-2018) University of Cambridge Linguistics BA 1st

We endeavour to obtain as many university honours as possible. If you did not appear this year and would like to feature in a future edition, email foundation@reigategrammar.org.

Joshua Bickley (RGS 2009-2016) University of Liverpool BSc Pharmacology 1st Alexandra Clark (RGS 2010-2017) Durham University BA Geography 2:1 Oliver Driscoll (RGS 2009-2016) University of Exeter BSc Economics and Finance 2:1 Sophie Edwards (RGS 2008-2015) University of Bristol MSc Public Health Merit Georgia Graham (RGS 2015-2017) University of Exeter BA International Relations 2:1 Molly McNevin (RGS 2009-2014) Nottingham Trent University BSc (Hons) Television Production Technology 1st Angus McMillan (RGS 2010-2017) University of Birmingham BSc Business Management with Marketing 2:1 Adeline Mirauta (RGS 2009-2014) University of East London BSc Biomedical Science 1st Richard O’Connor (RGS 2009-2016) University of Bath BSc Business Administration 1st Leo Sargent (RGS 2011-2016) University of the West of England BA Economics 2:1 Sean Watters (RGS 2012-2017) University of Bristol BSc Politics and International Relations 2:1 Jordan West (RGS 2010-2017) Cardiff University BSc Politics and International Relations 2:1 Josephine Wood (RGS 2010-2017) University of Bristol BSc Biomedical Sciences 2:1 GRADUATED IN 2019 Poppy Martin (RGS 2009-2016) University of Sheffield BA Politics and Philosophy 2:1

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CANADA

BY CANOE Following a school reunion in 2005, Roger Portch (RGS 1956-1963) discovered that his former classmate, Doug Dew (’63) shared his ambition to explore Canada’s South Nahanni River. Fate had other ideas...

1

(l-r) Martin Jordan is a retired army officer, Roger Portch, Wayne Jones is a bushcraft expert and Jim is an experienced and accomplished canoeist

W

hen Doug Dew, Norman Hartnell and I left RGS in 1963 we had no expectations of meeting again. Doug emigrated to Australia, Norman joined the RAF and I went to study Physics at Reading University. In 1975, Norman and I bumped into each other at British Airways’ HQ (having both joined the airline as pilots) and a firm friendship was formed. It was a further thirty years before the next chapter unfolded.

In 2005 Doug returned from Australia and he and I linked up again at a Scout reunion dinner. After Norman, Doug and I attended an RGS reunion for 1960’s leavers, a wonderful dinner party followed, rich with memories and nostalgia. During that evening, Doug and I discovered that we shared an ambition to explore Canada’s South Nahanni River. Fate, however, added an unwelcome twist. In 2009, after months of careful planning, on the eve of departure, Doug’s daughter became ill. Happily, she made a full recovery and Doug and his wife made their own descent of the South Nahanni the following year.

Setting out The South Nahanni River, rises in the Canadian Yukon Territory and flows south-eastwards through the Northwest Territories. With its mountains, canyons, rapids, wildlife and isolation, it has a status for canoeists that is close to mythical; many aspire to paddle it, but few are fortunate enough to do so.

My fellow canoeists, Wayne, Martin, Jim and I carried our gear and two canoes one kilometre from Rabbitkettle Lake, where our floatplane dropped us off, to the river and set off on our 370km journey.

Under grey skies and gentle rain, we took those first liberating paddle strokes.

The current flowed powerfully and, as our canoes slipped through the water, the river unravelled in front of us in all its beauty.

The forest on the left bank gave way

to the steepening rocky slopes of the mountains over which we had flown.

To the right it stretched for miles, rising gently to distant hills. We camped that night on a sand and gravel island decorated with small aspen trees whose leaves were already turning autumn yellow.

Approaching Virginia Falls It took two and a half days to reach Virginia Falls, with easy paddling through wonderful scenery and long evenings spent eating and chatting round an open fire – it was nothing short of idyllic.

We approached the take-out above the falls more than a little carefully, as it was situated frighteningly close to the lip. I’ve seen many of the world’s great waterfalls and countless pictures of Virginia Falls, but nothing prepared me for the reality. Twice the height of Niagara, a mixture of savage power and breathtaking beauty and truly untouched by the hand of man. I stood on a rock, not a metre from the river’s edge and watched, mesmerised as the entire river flung itself into the spray-filled void.

The following morning, there was a palpable tension in the air as we breakfasted, washed up, broke camp, packed and completed the two kilometre walk to the canyon below the falls. As we loaded the canoes and fitted the spray decks, we were chilled by a fine spray.

Only the first few hundred metres of the

river were visible before the canyon took a sharp right and disappeared from view, and we’d discussed endlessly how to negotiate this stretch. It wasn’t that the rapids looked particularly tricky, it was simply the speed and power of the current, together with the consequences of a capsize that intimidated us. The canyon was hundreds of metres deep with no way out and, even with wetsuits on, there was no guarantee that we’d be able to drag the canoe to a bank before succumbing to the cold water.

Time to trust our planning Martin and Wayne went first with Jim and I watching and filming. Moving away at a startling speed, they made it look perfectly straightforward. Encouraged, Jim and I took a deep breath and pushed off.

In any adrenaline-filled pastime there is a balance between apprehension and excitement. Too much excitement and fear starts to cloud the senses. Too little, and the thrill and intensity is lost. Somewhere down that first section of rapids the balance shifted and I knew that this trip was special.

The South Nahanni has four canyons numbered upwards, as they were discovered by explorers travelling upstream.

Over two days we negotiated the third canyon, then the second, the Gate. Here the walls rise vertically out of the water for 2,000 feet creating an impressive spectacle.

We camped here and climbed to the top of the left ‘gate post’ to admire the view.

Over the next seven days we paddled on through the second and first canyons – the deepest and most spectacular. We survived the last unexpectedly tricky rapid, bathed in a sulphurous hot spring, marvelled at glorious sunsets and even saw a black bear! We finally reached the First Nation settlement of Nahanni Butte just as the rain returned after ten days of glorious sunshine.

Truly the trip had been a privilege.

Have you been on an incredible adventure?

Let us know by emailing the team at foundation@reigategrammar.org.

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Three generations of Elseys have been through RGS: Mark, Jaci, Isabel, Peter and Hamish

TALKING ABOUT MY GENERATION In autumn 2021, former student and former parent, Mark Elsey (RGS 1974-1978) took over as Chair of Governors. Together with wife Jaci, whose own family attended Reigate Grammar School, the Elseys make up quite a dynasty of Reigatians! We spoke to all three generations to see how their experiences of school compares.

Peter, you joined RGS in 1941 – what was it like to be at school at that time?

Peter: School life then needs to be viewed against the background of food rationing, limited entertainment (occasional cinema visits) and shortages of all sorts. Despite this, there was a universal determination to succeed. Most of the younger teaching staff had joined the forces but those who remained were experienced, dedicated and, I believe, did a good job.

The majority of pupils joined the Army Cadet Force or Air Cadets – the absence of holidays was compensated for by annual summer camps at Charterhouse School, Hayling Island and the Isle of Wight. These were enlivened by the liberal use, on exercises, of blanks and thunderflashes 40

(like large fireworks simulating grenades).

I doubt these would be countenanced in today’s world of health and safety!

We were hardly troubled by air raids until the advent of the flying bombs in 1944, when, for three months (from June), about 100 pupils were evacuated to South Wales, there to enjoy the hospitality of the Welsh, with no schooling and apparently very little food rationing! Life returned almost to normality with the autumn term, and entirely with Victory in Europe in May 1945.

What were your highlights from RGS? Mark: When I joined, it was like something from a Charles Dickens novel – a Victorian institution with a sort of faded grandeur.

I joined in Fourth Form, having come from

a modern school in Bath and it was a shock.

The school was largely dominated by rugby, which fortunately I enjoyed, and this was definitely one of the highlights for me! We had one of the best school teams in England and regularly competed against some of the top schools in the country.

Many of my good friends I met at school – Duncan Matthews (’78), Keith Dawson (’78), Stuart Donald (’78), Nick Torlot (’77) and David Payton (’77).

It was also a very cosmopolitan school, with children from every walk of life (although no girls). This changed when RGS first became independent. I welcomed the mix of people and the insight this gave you into society. The school is certainly more ethnically diverse now. One of the challenges is to be more socially diverse and the work of the Foundation, and the Changing Lives bursary campaign, are key in addressing this.

Jaci: I joined the Sixth Form as the second year of girls – there were five in Upper Sixth and 10 in my year. Having come from an all-girls school, and even though I have two younger brothers and an older sister, it was a shock! I was very shy and my parents thought going to the Grammar would make me brave!

On my first day we had to stand up in assembly (in the old Sixth Form centre) and introduce ourselves, which was excruciating.

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

PHOTOS WITH THANKS TO SIXTH FORM STUDENT, MARIE-GUILAINE J

Jaci: “I think it was very disruptive having girls first join and there were lots of silly things. For example, if you were going up the stairs, the boys felt they should let us girls go first, so they would suddenly stop and stand to the side. But I didn’t want to be singled out!”

After that, l went to my classroom. I walked in, my fellow classmates stood up and, in my shock, I tripped over the blackboard feet and landed on my face – much to the horror of everyone in the room. There were only two girls in our class and we were definitely something of a spectacle.

The girls’ common room was upstairs in Cornwallis. When I first joined, the boys were allowed in there – Mrs Kitteringham (RGS staff 1973-1995) acted as a chaperone, but then we were given a space of our own.

The worst thing was that there was only one female student toilet in the whole school – in Cornwallis. This meant the girls were permanently told off for being late!

It did get better and I made some good friends in the three Alisons – Blaxill (née Whitworth, ’79), Booth (née Louis) and Scopes (’79) and my cousin, Nikki Emmerton (’79).

Hamish: Like Dad, sport was a huge part of my life at school, playing both rugby and cricket. I was fortunate enough to go on a rugby tour to South Africa in 2008 and a cricket tour to Barbados in 2009, both amazing trips for different reasons. In South Africa, we stayed in a shanty town outside Cape Town, which really showed us a completely different side of the world. My best mate, George Wheeler (’10), and I stayed with a family who had one bed in the house. They said, “You have our bed tonight, we’ll sleep on the floor; you have our dinner, we’re not going to eat”. We were thinking, “No, we can’t do this!”, but they were hosting us and gave us no choice.

What I miss most are lunchtimes spent chatting with my mates in the Sixth Form centre or in PMH. I’m fortunate to still be very good friends with a dozen or so schoolmates – when we get together now it still feels exactly as it did 10+ years ago.

Isabel: Six of my best girlfriends are from school and we’re still really close: Wakana Yasuda (’13), Camilla Esmund (’13), Anmol Patel (’13), Imogen Knibbs (’13) and Amber Charitos (’13). Like Hamish, we get together when we can, but we’re all busy. Whenever we do meet up, we always end up reminiscing about our school days.

For me, music and drama were at the heart of the school and we had fantastic teachers. Mr Rushby (RGS staff 2003-2017) headed up Music and Miss Branston (RGS staff 2000-present) headed up Drama. The

plays were such hard work, and it was tricky balancing everything, but they were so much fun and I made my friends for life there.

Music tours were amazing. I went on choir tours to Vienna, Rome, Washington and New York with my best mates and we had so much fun. We sang in some of the most amazing venues, including the Vatican and Washington Cathedral. Our parents came too (they weren’t allowed on rugby tours!).

Any favourite subjects and teachers?

Hamish: Being an Accountant, maths was a key subject and there were some real characters in the department. John O’Hara (RGS staff 1990-2008), who also led DofE, managed to keep students’ attention by feeding us Penguins! He also dedicated five minutes of every lesson for jokes! If you were in his class for three years, you’d hear the same ones about 10-15 times!

Mrs Stephens (RGS staff 1984-present) in the Sixth Form – her energy was incredible and somehow she managed to make quadratic formulas interesting. Dai Bader (RGS staff 1982-2019) was a good character, who coached me on the rugby field. Ed Wesson (RGS staff 2006-2010) was great in the History classroom and on the cricket field. Chris Morgan (RGS staff 2003-2008) coached me in both rugby and cricket and also took our GCSE PE class – we had two hours of basketball on a Wednesday, which was carnage! As a passionate Welshman, all sorts came out of his mouth when he wasn’t happy with the standards we were setting!

Mark: The educational style was quite different to now – we still had the cane and if you were caught talking at the back of the class, you would find a blackboard rubber come hurtling your way! Cedric Harrald (RGS staff 1965-1984) was a disciplinarian, but didn’t use physical coersion. He was ironic, fun and authoritative, unlike others who would threaten violence to keep you in line. This was a generation of people coming out of the war and looking for what to do next and deciding to teach. Some were very good, some less so.

I took Chemistry to Fifth Form, but I had a teacher who was so upset with the class that she banned us from doing any practicals for a whole year. When I turned up at Governors, she was there – Dr Knapp (RGS staff 1973-2004 and former

Governor)! I’m not sure she remembered my incident with the Bunsen burners!

Jaci: Dr Knapp interviewed Hamish and did remember Mark! Dr Kornell (RGS staff 1969-1985) was my Form Teacher and he was a darling – he had the nickname ‘Chopper’, although I don’t know why.

When I joined, Mr Gutridge (RGS staff 1932-1984) was still there and I remember my Father saying “Goodness, he taught me”!

Isabel: Mr Rushby and Miss Branston – who was a force to be reckoned with. I did Chemistry A level with Mrs Hanlan (RGS staff 2003-2012) and Mr Welch (RGS staff 2010-present) who were the dream team!

I wouldn’t have got an A without them.

Mark and Jaci, were any of your teachers there when Hamish and Isabel joined?

Mark: Quite a lot of the sports department were long-serving, including Alan Reid (RGS staff 1971-2017), Martin Russell (RGS staff 1975-2021) and Stuart Nicholson (RGS staff 1979-present). David Jones (RGS staff 1975-2013), taught me French and Dr Knapp, Chemistry. It was interesting to see them. Some had aged better than others!

Jaci: Richard Rooth (RGS staff 1970-2008) was still there for a while and Andy Whiteley (RGS staff 1978-2015).

How do you think your experience differed from that of other generations?

Peter: There is no comparison – the war meant that in our family, mine was a unique experience although shared with my brother, Gordon, who was three years younger.

Mark: I’m not sure the school had changed an awful lot since our parents’ time. We’ve certainly seen more significant changes in the last 40 years than in the previous century.

When I joined, it was a very traditional grammar school, with sport and the CCF as the principal non-academic activities – and the facilities were pretty poor. We played rugby against Millfield – which had an incredible sports complex. When they came to us, they had to change in Wallfield Art College with one shower. They never got over the shock, which is why they never scored a point against us!

Jaci: Girls did sport at home because we didn’t have any changing rooms! I happened to ride, so I used to go riding. We did take part in CCF which was fun – marching around the playground in boys’ uniforms!

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T H E R E I G AT I A N 2 0 21

GORDON ELSEY (RGS 1944-1950)

PETER ELSEY (RGS 1941-1948)

MARK ELSEY (RGS 1974-1978)

HAMISH ELSEY (RGS 2003-2010)

m JACI ELSEY, NÉE EMMERTON (RGS 1977-1979)

ISABEL ELSEY (RGS 2006-2013)

Mark and Jaci, you met at RGS – were you childhood sweethearts?

Jaci: We met at school and went out for a while before breaking up. But we stayed in contact and our parents were friends.

Mark: She dumped me! We had 13 years apart – it clearly took her a while to work out what ‘good’ looked like!

Is choosing RGS for your children something of a family tradition now?

Peter: Given my own experience, there was no question that Mark, then 14 and having passed the 11+ on our return from Bath, would follow in my footsteps. At the time (1974) there were no girls at RGS, so my daughter, Sarah, went to Dunottar.

Mark: We looked at Caterham, Dunottar and Woldingham. Lots of people from The Hawthorns went to Caterham. We didn’t have a particular allegiance to Reigate Grammar – if it had been the same as when we’d been there, I certainly wouldn’t have sent my children there. Fortunately, it had improved a lot. At that stage, it had become a good school for an all-round education, and it was local and convenient.

But critically, all the parents we knew said that their children were happy at RGS. Jaci: A lot of friends from The Hawthorns went to Caterham. But it was good that we went with a local school, given the number of times I had to drop forgotten rugby kit or Food Technology ingredients into school!

Hamish: It was great being local – we became the hub, with friends staying round and we had some memorable parties!

It has become a tradition! If circumstances permit, I would happily send my kids there.

The school has massively improved and the facilities have definitely gone up a notch.

I still have memories of swimming in the spring in the baltic outdoor swimming pool

DOUGLAS EMMERTON (RGS 1939-1945)

JAMES EMMERTON (RGS 1977-1982)

SOPHIE EMMERTON (RGS 2011-2018)

RACHEL EMMERTON (RGS 2013-2020)

and our dodgy science labs where we didn’t know if the gas taps leaked!

Isabel: I would absolutely love to send my children to RGS if I’m living in Reigate.

What do you think an RGS education might look like in the future?

Hamish: Tech will have an increasingly bigger role to play, whether that’s on the education side or on the administrative side.

We work with a lot of education companies and the focus now is on making teachers’ lives easier – reducing the time they spend marking, lesson planning and doing admin.

The other question is how we embrace technology as a medium for delivering education. Obviously, it’s such a massive part of everyone’s lives, but does that mean that kids should use it at school?

Year-on-year grade inflations, make it increasingly difficult to stand out in university and job applications. So, I think there will be a shift towards life skills and preparation for the workforce to differentiate yourself.

Isabel: A huge part of my job is going out to schools and teaching students how to network and interview. This really needs to start at school-leaving age. I certainly could have done with that guidance earlier than my third year at university!

Mark: Technology, and the way we teach, is evolving – COVID may have accelerated certain trends, for example, the potential for virtual learning. While there were a lot of downsides from COVID, I hope there will be some upsides as we look to learn lessons.

I lived through the computer boom, when everyone warned that we’d have too much leisure time, but machines created more work! We’ve now entered the age of communication, which is already affecting us for good and bad. The challenge will be to help children manage the huge increase in

Mark: “I joined the school in 1974 and it went independent as I started Sixth Form. It was a radical change and a brave decision by Governors. Other than some transition arrangements for existing pupils, they had to rely on attracting a whole new generation of fee-paying students. But without that decision, RGS would have ceased to exist.”

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ANDREW EMMERTON (RGS 1977-1984)

JENNA EMMERTON (RGS 2011-2016)

information inputs and outputs and balance that with the rest of their lives.

Hamish: A lot of jobs may not exist in the future, in manufacturing, insurance and accounting, for example. I can see auditors and accountants being wiped out because you can get perfect information from a computer. You might need a person to sign it off, but that’s still a lot fewer human jobs.

The curriculum will need to adapt to the world, and this will likely mean an increased focus on technology-based skills.

Mark: Whatever changes are made, I hope we continue to provide pupils with the fundamental skills to enable them to meet whatever challenges life proffers. Being able to count, think logically and laterally, express yourself clearly and communicate effectively are the basic building blocks on which the majority of careers can be based.

Mark, you have been a Governor since 2012, what significant changes have you seen?

Mark: I have been fortunate to see the school transition from a good school to an exceptional school, offering one of the best all-round educational experiences in the country. We took over Chinthurst prep when it was in challenging circumstances and now it is thriving. The Foundation has created a connected worldwide Reigatian community, with events and initiatives and a variety of fundraising platforms that are changing the lives of an increasing number of disadvantaged children. We have a fantastic new facility in the Harrison Centre and a new sports hall complex in planning.

And we also have RGS schools in China and Vietnam, with further schools planned in other countries. So not very much really!

What has been the greatest challenge?

Mark: The last 18 months have undoubtedly been a challenge, with the school shutting its doors for the first time in its history. As my Dad tells me, even WWII was less disruptive than COVID! The school has done a fantastic job of keeping education alive in difficult circumstances. Children have continued to be educated to a very high standard, which unfortunately has not been the experience

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

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

across the country. Having to do in-person and online lessons at the same time put a lot a strain on staff. While people think that teaching online was easier, it actually proved harder. They had to completely redesign their lessons. It’s also harder to engage with students and you don’t pick up those important soft signals. Our staff worked miracles to transform the educational model in a matter of weeks – with great results.

Huge credit to the team for that.

I hope there will be positives that we can capture and build upon, particularly in terms of technology, that will hopefully allow us to offer a broader, more flexible educational model and increase efficiencies. COVID has definitely been the biggest challenge of my governorship. The government can force you to shut, but can’t force you to open or stay open. Ultimately, the Governors had to weigh up the risks and decide whether it was safe for pupils and staff to operate.

What are you most proud of?

Mark: I’m incredibly proud of the COVID response; the commitment and ingenuity of the staff deserves enormous praise.

But there are lots of other things...

As I have already mentioned, the last 10 years have seen the school become hugely successful academically, whilst also offering a breadth of activities in the wider educational sense. It’s to the credit of the Headmaster, the leadership team and the rest of the staff for driving that forward.

The other thing I’m most proud of is the rise of the Foundation. We’ve gone from having no connection with former pupils, parents and stakeholders, to creating a network of engagement with the Reigatian community, which is fantastic. Not just in terms of making the school an important place to go, but for people to be a part of, as much or as little as they want to be, forever. It provides continuity and connections to people around the world.

This has also provided a great platform to launch appeals like the Changing Lives campaign. This has helped us to increase inclusivity and social mobility with more than 50 1675 Scholars now in the school.

The Nightingale Fund is another great example of finding a way to make a real difference. This has resonated with many people and has been a great success.

These are all part of the same journey

to connect with both our wider Reigatian community and with our local community.

At a time when there are so many divisive forces in the world, it is great to see the school helping to bring people together.

In autumn 2021 you took over as Chair – is there anything you would like to see happen over the next five years?

Mark: The Head and senior leadership team have principal responsibility for driving the school’s agenda – we are here to guide and help them get there. That said, the senior leadership team inevitably looks shorter term, whereas the Governors also look to the long term. A clear priority is to maintain and build on our all-round educational success. This is tricky when we are already close to the top of league tables, but you can’t stand still, so we continue to challenge ourselves to improve on outstanding!

It’s important to continue to embrace diversity – especially social diversity – and the role of the Foundation and the Changing Lives campaign are key to helping us broaden our inclusivity.

We have some exciting plans to develop the estate and further improve the facilities, but this takes time, money and planning.

These require a long-term view to bring to fruition, but it’s important to make sure that the fabric of the school is fit for purpose.

When I joined the board, we didn’t have any international angle. We now have three schools in development in China and two in Vietnam and are also looking at other countries. This not only allows us to leverage the strong international demand for UK education, bringing financial benefits to current and future pupils in the UK, but also takes education to the world and connect people and communities globally. With so many things driving countries apart, it’s good to use education to bring people together.

I will keep asking myself, “Are we making everyone in the Reigatian community happy?”. If pupils, parents and staff enjoy their time at school; if we continue to connect our community across the globe, evoking happy memories and a sense of belonging; create further memorable moments and the ability to join together to make a difference – that must be a good thing. If at the end of my term, we have continued to build a happy and engaged RGS community, that’s not a bad legacy to have.

GRANDFATHER AND GRANDSON ATTEND RGS 61 YEARS APART John Bastone (RGS 1958-1960), joined RGS when the structure of education was very different to modern times.

His chosen career path was technical rather than academic, requiring a STEM-based syllabus. At that time, there was another school more suited to this so he left RGS in the Third Form. He succeeded and became an apprentice in the Royal Navy, rising to a Petty Officer within two years. Swapping one uniform for another, he left the Navy and became a Police Officer and later a Paramedic until retirement.

He has never forgotten his time at the school and regularly compares notes with his grandson, Jonathan F, who joined RGS in 2019. With John based in Somerset, they have regular Facetime conversations.

The comparisons they make are between the different subjects studied now compared to the ’50s, how the school and site have grown, but class sizes are much smaller, how lunches are different with a modern menu (food availability and menu choices obviously weren’t quite the same post-war!). They laugh at how sports have never been either of their forte. Jonathan is now in the Third Form, so had a normal induction into life at RGS. He loves it and has matured in the time he has been here.

The resemblance between the two is uncanny – it’s clearly more than just the name Jonathan that they share!

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BEN EDWARDS (RGS 1978-1983)

THE VOICE OF FORMULA ONE Driving his first car aged eight, and competing in his first competition whilst still at school, Reigatian, Ben Edwards took his passion for motorsport and built an incredible career as one of the leading figures in the world of F1 commentary.

What are your stand-out memories from your time at RGS? I joined Reigate Grammar in Third Form, which was a bit of a challenge because there was already a flow to the class, but a few others joined at the same time, and I probably got on better with them.

I received a scholarship, which was just as well as my Mum would have struggled to pay the fees. My parents had divorced a few years before and I don’t think my Father contributed much. Mum was a farmer with a smallholding, which was a wonderful place to grow up. She mainly bred horses, but also had cows and grew hay, but there was never much money.

I used to keep a diary. I looked through it recently and it made me laugh. In February 1981, I’d written “I’m thoroughly pissed off with school”! Reigate Grammar was important to me and there were some great teachers, but my passion was already motorsport and I really wanted to get through school so I could pursue that.

Are you still in touch with any Reigatians from your era?

Not many, but the main one is Mark Garner (‘83). Funnily enough, he also grew up on a farm. We both enjoyed driving and, in 1981, took part in a national competition for young drivers – those too young to have a licence. It was an auto-test competition, which meant you had to slalom between cones. It was great fun and we both got to the national final, although Mark did better than me! Looking back at my diary from that time, we had asked the Headmaster, Mr Ballance, if we could use the playground to practise on and he came back and said yes, which, when I look back, was amazing. The cars were Mini Metros, which were supplied by British Leyland as some sort of promotion.

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Were there any teachers who inspired or helped you?

The Head was one of the most impressive and influential teachers from that time.

Dan Clark, my Maths Teacher was a real character. I got an A in Maths, despite never being particularly good at it! Another was Mr Harwood who taught Chemistry – I really enjoyed his lessons and felt I’d let him down when I only achieved a C! How did your love of motor racing begin?

It began at a young age, sitting on my Mum’s knee and steering the tractor or Land Rover on the farm. I loved it! The first time I actually drove a car myself – reaching pedals was pretty hard – was when I was eight years old. We’d spent all day getting hay in from one of the back fields and our old Renault 4 was up in the field. Everyone else was going back in the tractor or on the trailer with the hay, so there was nobody to drive the Renault. Mum said, “You can drive the car back, Ben”. That was great!

My first car was a Mini that had failed its MOT, which I saved up for and bought when I was 12. I had several other cars before I was old enough to take my test and drive on the road. I didn’t go racing with friends, but there was one field on which we made a bit of a track, so we used to drive round and round that. Even though I’d been driving for years, I was pretty nervous when I took my test, and my three-point turn was a bit of a mess!

In 1982, while still at RGS, my Aunt introduced me to a friend’s son – a mechanic who was an engine builder for Formula Ford cars. I asked if I could help him at weekends, so I started out initially just polishing bodywork and making tea.

I had been to a couple of races before that: the British Grand Prix in 1979 – my

Father was based near Silverstone and he got tickets for my brother and I. I worked for this chap at weekends throughout my final year at Reigate Grammar, then full time in the year before university. Initially it was voluntary, but he didn’t feel comfortable not paying me for all the hours I was doing. Instead of money, I said, “How about you count up the hours and let me have a drive around Brands Hatch in one of your cars?”. And he agreed!

Did you know what you wanted to do when you left RGS? By the time I was doing my A Levels, I certainly knew that I wanted to somehow make a living out of motorsport.

I studied Maths, Physics and Chemistry A Levels and my plan was to do a Mechanical Engineering degree, but I got to University College London (UCL) and hated it! By then, I was so immersed in motorsport and struggled to get back to studying. I also didn’t enjoy living in London, which was a stark contrast to the farm. I talked it over with my Mum, who was fantastic. She was disappointed, but could see how unhappy I was, so I left after a term and a half.

I went back to my previous job and started doing a bit of racing through the owner’s contacts. I also became an instructor at Brands Hatch (before I’d even done much racing!). At one point I trained Jackie Stewart’s son – I didn’t know it was Paul at the time as he came in under a pseudonym. He and his Dad set up their own successful racing team though – I competed against them a few times.

I couldn‘t afford to race as much as I’d have liked – in my first two years I drove five races a year out of 12. But then I was fortunate to have help from an ex-racer.

A new championship had started up and he offered to buy the car (about £8k) on

2012 BBC F1 crew (l-r): Jake Humphrey, Ben Edwards, Lee McKenzie, Eddie Jordan, Gary Anderson, David Coulthard, Jennie Gow and James Allen

the condition that if I won, he got the prize money (about £5k). He bought the car, I won and he ended up with the £5k and the car to sell, so it wasn’t a bad investment! It gave me a huge opportunity.

What is your favourite F1 circuit?

Spa in Belgium is probably my favourite circuit because I have raced there a few times and won a race there. Commentating there is always fabulous – seeing a Formula One car go around Spa is a joy as it’s such a big open space in the countryside, with lots of elevation changes, which I love.

Motor racing is expensive – is anything being done to widen access to young talent from disadvantaged backgrounds?

In the karting world, a few things are being set up by ex-Formula One guys. But more still needs to be done. I was lucky that I managed to raise some sponsorship, which could have been down to my ability to communicate. The sort of money you need now to race is horrendous. Even in karting, to get to the highest levels, you need hundreds of thousands of pounds. But a few avenues are beginning to open up.

Can people plan for a career as a commentator?

I receive emails from 15-year-olds who want to become a commentator. More often, it’s someone who wants to be a journalist, but is good at communicating verbally, so find themselves commentating.

My route was different – I was a racer at a national level and I think that experience helped. I didn’t have journalistic experience, although research comes naturally to me.

But it isn’t the sort of career that you think, “Right, this is the plan... do this, do that and you’ll become a commentator”. If

you speak to David Croft from Sky, he’ll tell you the same thing – most commentators have come up via very different routes.

Is there anyone who inspired you?

Murray Walker – probably more from his Rallycross days. He started doing Formula One for every race when I was about 12, so I grew up listening to him.

But there are all sorts of commentators that I’ve picked things up from over the years. I always loved listening to Bill McLaren, the Scottish rugby commentator.

While motorsport is my thing, I love good commentary, whatever the sport. Equally, there’s always a bit at the back of my mind whenever I’m watching anything that asks, “What do I think of this commentary?”.

I remember listening to an incredible female commentator covering Wimbledon on the radio. Tennis is a particularly hard sport to cover, because you have to describe the type of shot, explain where the ball lands, etc. She was brilliant.

You have had a hugely successful 30-year career, is there anything you would do differently?

My dream was to become a professional racing driver, but when I got offered the Formula One gig at Eurosport, I had to make a call. At the time, I was still competing in the odd race, but sponsorship had dried up. I felt I still had further to go and was considering touring cars, but when I was offered the F1 gig, I thought, this is my new career now, and I love doing it.

Realistically, it’s difficult being a professional racing driver and being paid a wage for it.

What are your career highlights?

It’s hard to separate out key moments, but obviously when Damon Hill won the Championship in 1996 and Murray Walker

delivered the famous lines, “I can’t talk now, I’ve got a lump in my throat.” I didn’t have the relationship with Damon that Murray had, but had met him professionally, I was commentating for Eurosport at the time.

We all knew that Michael Schumacher was the stronger driver, but Damon held on when it mattered and took the title. It was very special to see Georgie, Damon’s wife, and all the celebrations.

The first year that I came back to the BBC, commentating the last race of the 2012 season in Brazil. That was fantastic – Vettel and Alonso were contesting the championship and Vettel got knocked into a spin on the first lap, but he came back and won the title. It had been a year with so many different winners.

So, looking back, I’d say that my first year back in F1 and, ironically, 2021 have probably been the most exciting. I did a couple of races last year, while people were isolating, so I’m glad I’ve still been involved.

You have seen some tragic events – how do you deal with that?

Some of the most difficult ones for me were in what was called Champ Car Racing, now Indy Car. I travelled to quite a few races and there were two key ones.

Firstly, the fatal accident for Greg Moore.

My co-commentator, Jeremy Shaw was a friend of his. It had been a huge accident, but the race continued (they are long races). We learnt during the race that Greg had died. My co-commentator managed to carry on, but he was bereft. As a commentator it can catch you out, for example, with the Senna accident in 1994 – it didn’t seem that bad, so we all thought that any minute he’d step out of the car.

You have to keep calm – something I certainly learnt from Murray – don’t try to predict what is happening, just report what 45

T H E R E I G AT I A N 2 0 21

Left: Racing the Formula First at Brands Hatch Right: Tiff Needell handing Ben the trophy for winning the Formula First Championship in 1987 Right: Commentating on F1 with John Watson in the mid 1990s

is known – it’s too dangerous to speculate.

The other Champ Car race was in 2001.

It was just after the 9/11 attacks and all the American’s were understandably in shock.

Alex Zenardi, former champion and one of the guys I most respected in motorsport, made a mistake coming out of the pits and got hit side-on. It was clear that he was injured, but we found out several days later that he had had both legs amputated.

He has come back to many a race as an amputee and is an absolute inspiration.

Are there any personalities in the F1 world who have inspired you?

Working with John Watson, former Grand Prix winner, at Eurosport at the beginning of my F1 career – he introduced me to so many people. Gary Anderson, who worked his way up from being a humble mechanic on tractors to being Technical Director in Formula One. He designed the original Jordan car – I worked with him at the BBC in 2012 and we became great friends.

There have been others over the years who have influenced me, but those two are the key characters.

What advice would you give young Reigatians considering a career in sports journalism?

If you have a passion for sports journalism, there will always be opportunities (it might not be paid!). The first thing I wrote was for a vintage car club magazine. My father had bought a vintage car, which I loved, so I wrote a piece that was published. Seeing my name in print gave me confidence.

Look for routes further down the scale, perhaps with social media – something youngsters are very good at. Build a social media following, come up with interesting stories and get yourself out there!

I was fortunate enough to follow my 46

passion. Sometimes successful people say that, and you think, “Yeah, okay, it worked for you and now you’re a superstar”. But open the door in your head to possibilities – that might be in a slightly different direction than you anticipated.

Is F1 as crazy on the inside as it appears from the outside?

Whether you’re a driver, engineer, medic, in hospitality – whatever job you do – it’s incredibly pressured. It’s highly competitive, because everyone wants the best person for the job, so you always have to run at your peak. I didn’t feel under threat, but it took over my life, though I loved doing it.

COVID had a bit of an influence on my decision to step down – I enjoyed spending time at home in lockdown – but I had already been talking to the team about not wanting to travel to as many races.

What impact has COVID had on F1?

The sport has dealt with it well. Unlike football and tennis, where crowds make a huge difference to the atmosphere, this hasn’t mattered as much given that you can’t hear them over the engine. It has also been well organised and only a few drivers and staff had to isolate. Having to stay confined in one hotel for two-to-three weeks, then having to isolate when they came home was difficult. All the testing and paperwork has been hard, especially with a 23-race season in 2021.

With the move towards carbonneutral road vehicles, what are your predictions for motor racing?

Formula E shows that electrical power can provide good, fast cars and is fun to watch.

But I can’t see electric and petrol racing side-by-side for a long time. The problem with electric power, as you will see by the

fact that they are much shorter races, is they simply don’t have the power-toweight ratio and duration capacity as petrol-powered engines.

F1 has some great plans, with more climate-friendly fuel coming in soon. The next change to engine rules in a couple of years will be key. I think it will still be hybrid because the only way to deliver the performance and duration of a race with the current technology is to improve the electrical power within the power unit, but you still need the fuel to power the internal combustion engine. They are also looking at other options, such as hydrogen fuel. It’s not ready yet, but when they take the next step, a decade or so from now, this might be an option.

You decided to hang up the mic at the end of 2020, what’s next?

I’m offering myself up as a stand-in or for one-off events, which has worked well in 2021 with COVID. I have done a bit for Channel 4 and Radio 5 Live.

I want to do more writing – I already write a column for GP Racing Magazine.

I’m just keeping my eyes open for opportunities. My wife and I run an event-based motorsport business, Entreprix (entreprix.co.uk). We backed off this while I was doing F1, because I was away so much, so if she’d been at events at weekends too, we’d never have seen each other. There is some potential to expand this business, but my wife has been teaching yoga for some years, which she enjoys.

For now, I’m just looking forward to life being much more home-based, with less jet lag and time to go for walks in the local countryside with my new puppy, Bracken.

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Tom with fiancée, Rea

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rom joining the Lower First in 1998 to leaving the Upper Sixth in 2006, I was fortunate enough to spend eight happy years at RGS. After A Levels, I went to Manchester Metropolitan University to study Business Management with Marketing, which was a four-year sandwich course.

During my placement year, I was lucky enough to work for Starcom Mediavest in Manchester in the digital marketing department, specifically looking after PPC (pay-per-click) for a few of their brands.

Between graduation in 2010 and launching Acquire in 2014, I worked for a couple of full-service marketing agencies and Europe’s largest marketing network.

It was there that I decided to approach two industry elders and ask for a very small investment to cover a year’s rent so I could launch Acquire (and still have somewhere to live without a salary!).

We’ve spent seven years developing and growing Acquire into one of the top performance marketing agencies in London, with a superb team and amazing international clients. We’ve just opened our first international office in Dubai, and we’re now expanding our global reach to include Australasia.

Which teachers had the biggest impact on you?

So many! From Viv Godbold (RGS staff 1996-2018) and Martin Russell (RGS staff 1975-2019) to Matthew Buzzacott (RGS staff 2000-present) and Matt Clark (RGS staff 2001-2008), I had some amazing teachers. Those are the four that stand out the most, both for rugby coaching, Latin/ Classics lessons, and Buzzy was my (very patient!) Form Tutor, too.

Is there a particular trip/event/story from RGS that still sticks in your mind?

Without doubt, the 2006 South Africa rugby tour. I was fortunate enough to go

With Fudge on Founder’s Day 2020

SUCCESS ACQUIRED! With a shrewd commercial focus, Tom Holland (RGS 1998-06) has grown Acquire Performance Marketing from start-up to being a renowned leader in the affiliate marketing space. We caught up with him to hear about his journey and his time at RGS... on a school ski trip too, which is a very close second, but the SA tour will forever stick in my mind as one of the best experiences of my life.

From the rugby to the culture, seeing the divides in society and trying to help make a difference wherever we could. It was a special tour, with great friends and superb teachers/coaches.

Who are your closest school friends?

There are a few who I still see very regularly! Most of my closest friends now I met at RGS, most of whom I’ve been friends with for 20 years! Tom Dumas (’06) and Josh Tuppen (’06) will be the best men at my wedding (postponed to December 2022 because of COVID). Matt Wilkinson (’07), Oli Ferguson (’06) and George Dinsdale (’06) are all ushers. I feel very fortunate to have made such great friends back in the day!

During the pandemic, what has been the impact on your business?

As a digital performance marketing agency, we’re in a fortunate position. Where brands were having to close high street shops, they kept their online budgets the same – or increased them. This meant that we were able to help our brands maintain – and even grow – their digital presence, limiting the damage the offline side of the business was causing.

I will never underestimate how lucky we are to have been busy working when a lot of the world around us was struggling.

What do the next few years hold?

Expansion! We’re hiring for our HQ in London, pitching for international business from our Dubai office and ensuring we’re still striving to be the best service-led performance marketing team in the industry. I’ll be basing myself in Dubai but travelling to the UK regularly to catch up with my MD and London team, and updating them on my international efforts.

You have become very involved with the RGS Foundation over the past few years, what was your motivation?

I’m incredibly proud to be the youngest Patron and able to help a student each year who would otherwise not be able to attend RGS for various reasons.

My Dad was made redundant at one point during my school career. My parents were going to have to withdraw me, but were invited in for a meeting with the school, which kindly provided financial support to allow me to finish my schooling at RGS. Looking back, we were down to our last pound, and I didnt realise how lucky I was that I was able to finish my education. I always said that one day, my aim was to help someone else in a similar position. I’ve been a Patron for a few years now, and I’m fortunate to be able to give something back to someone who needs it more than I do.

We would like to thank Tom for his support of the Changing Lives campaign.

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FEATURES WITH THANKS TO FOUNDATION AMBASSADOR, ANTON P

SPORTING REIGATIANS

Sport has always played a significant role at Reigate Grammar School. Explore some of the amazing sportsmen and women past and present and discover which current students – and recent leavers – you might want to watch out for!

Sir Thomas Henry Cotton MBE (RGS 1918-1918) GOLFER Henry Cotton is associated with the history of British golf since the early 1900s. Born in January 1907 in Cheshire, Thomas (latterly known as Henry) moved to London and he later attended Reigate Grammar School.

Soon after leaving school, Henry started his career as a professional golfer, joining his younger brother Leslie as assistant teaching professional at Fulwell Golf Club, Middlesex.

In 1925 Henry travelled to Scotland to try to qualify for the Open Championship, but sadly his scores fell short. This did not stop Henry and his perseverance prevailed.

In the 1930s and 40s, Henry achieved fame following three victories in The Open Championship (1934, 1937, and 1948).

During a record (at the time) perfect round of 65 during the 1934 Open Championship, the Dunlop golf company launched the famous ‘Dunlop 65’ ball in Henry’s honour, which is still in production to this day.

Henry was awarded an MBE following

his charity work during World War II whilst he served with the Royal Air Force, raising money for the Red Cross by playing exhibition matches.

Towards the end of Henry’s competitive career, he was a member of four British Ryder Cup teams, and served as captain of the team in 1947 and 1953.

In the early 1950s, when he stopped playing competitive golf, Henry became a successful architect of golf courses, including designing the Penina Golf and Resort and Pestana Alto Golf on the Algarve, Portugal.

In 1952, Henry set up a Golf Foundation, a charity that encourages young people from all backgrounds to enjoy the playing and personal benefits of golf.

Henry was knighted in the New Year’s Day Honours of 1988. Sadly, he died on 22 December 1987, just days before it was publically announced, and before he could accept the honour in person.

Laurie Reed (RGS 1948-1953)

OLYMPIC RUNNER Born in Dulwich in May 1936, Laurie Reed was a British middle-distance runner who competed in the 1960 summer Olympics in Rome. His passion for athletics began at Reigate Grammar School, which he joined in 1948, making a name for himself as one of the fastest junior middle-distance runners in the country at the time.

During his time at RGS, Laurie’s achievements included holding the school’s record for the mile and representing Reigate Grammar at the All-England School’s Mile Championship, where he finished as runner-up.

Laurie left school in 1953 and his international athletics career began four years later in 1957. He quickly demonstrated his talent by winning the 3,000 metres at his first international competition in France, shortly after his 21st birthday. He went on to compete

Jack Fairman (RGS 1922-1923) RACING DRIVER

British racing driver, Jack Fairman, competed in 13 Formula One Grands Prix. Born in Horley in March 1913, Jack was educated at Reigate Grammar School and went on to study at Chelsea’s Automobile Engineering Training College before joining Daimler in Coventry as a fitter. It was here he became a test driver.

In 1934, he competed at Brooklands and, by 1939, he was a well-renowned driver in the amateur racing community. WWII disrupted Fairman’s career, as he joined the Royal Tank Regiment and fought on the beaches of Normandy. He resumed his racing activity once the war was over and in 1949, he finished eighth in the 24 Hours of 50

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

OTHER NOTEWORTHY REIGATIAN ACHIEVERS

Neil Mantell (RGS 1965-1973) RUGBY

throughout Europe, attending athletics meets in countries such as France, Sweden, Poland and Germany over the next three years. Despite his obvious talent and potential, however, Laurie’s career was often hampered by injuries.

It is a testament to his natural ability that, in 1960, he was invited to represent Great Britain and Ireland in the 1,500 metres at the Olympics in Rome. Many of the team suffered due to the extreme Italian heat and British athletes only claimed two gold medals, finishing 12th in the medals table.

Many believed that their performance had been affected by the fact that their bodies had not been given sufficient time to acclimatise to the conditions – insufficient

funds meant that they had travelled to Italy much later than they would have liked. Despite only finishing ninth in his heat, and thus not progressing to the next round, Laurie always considered it a huge honour to have represented Team GB at the Olympics. A few weeks after the Games, Laurie beat Herb Elliott – the 1,500 metres gold medallist in Rome – in a cross-country race on Farthing Downs.

Laurie went on to run three London Marathons, the last just a month before his 50th birthday, with a time of 2 hours 46.49 seconds, less than 40 minutes short of the world record, which at that time was held by Carlos Lopez.

Laurie sadly died in Oxted in May 2018.

Having, I think, been the first Reigate Grammar School pupil to represent England Schools, I then joined Rosslyn Park and represented England U23s.

I was selected for the 1975 England rugby union tour of Australia and was capped in the first test in Sydney (England won four of the eight matches).

I was there or there abouts on the England scene for the next decade or so but, unfortunately, there was a certain Bill Beaumont who was vying for the same position. I did represent England against Canada, Tonga and the USA but caps were not awarded for these matches back then.

I played for the Barbarians, captained Rosslyn Park and Surrey and latterly, after moving up north, captained Nottingham.

Jonny Hylton (RGS 1992-1999, RGS staff 2014-present) RUGBY

Le Mans race. Two years later, Jack partnered the infamous Stirling Moss at Le Mans, where the pair led before a broken oil pipe forced them to retire.

His engineering expertise and consistent driving style made Fairman an ideal candidate for Formula One teams looking for a test driver, and he played a significant role in the development of Connaught’s Formula Two and, later, Formula One cars.

In 1953, Jack made his Formula One debut, retiring his HWM-Alta at the British Grand Prix with a clutch failure.

That same year, Jack raced a Connaught at the Italian Grand Prix (finishing 19 laps behind the race winner!). Jack’s most successful season in Formula One came in

1956, when he took his Connaught to two points finishes and claimed 10th in the World Championship. Jack continued to compete in Formula One until 1963, but his most notable achievements came whilst driving Jaguar and Aston Martin sports cars. At Jaguar, he assisted in the development of the D-type, receiving an award at the 1957 Race of Two Worlds event in Italy. In 1959, whilst representing Aston Martin, he shared victory with Stirling Moss in the Tourist Trophy at Goodwood, before hanging up his helmet four years later to turn his attention towards his engineering company.

Fairman died in February 2002. In 2007, The Jack Fairman pub opened in Horley on the site of his first garage.

“After leaving RGS in 1999, I attended Loughborough University before signing with Wasps (2000-2003), I then moved to Worcester Warriors (2003-2006), Cornish Pirates (2006-2007) and Newbury Blues (2007-09) after finishing my pro career at Esher (2009-2013). I also represented England U16, U18, U21, Students and England 7s, where I was fortunate to play all over the world including Dubai twice, winning once and beating Fiji in the final in the middle of the desert in front of 35,000 (mostly) English supporters singing Sweet Caroline!

In 2014, rugby referee and Head of Foundation, Sean Davey approached me about returning to RGS. I love being back and am passionate about the work we do and the impact we have.

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Rob Field (RGS staff 2018-present)

HOCKEY I loved hockey from an early age, but didn’t realise I could pursue it as a career until university. That’s when I started coaching and playing alongside my studies.

I felt incredibly proud representing Scotland. It happened really quickly – I had a conversation with the coach about joining the squad, did one training camp and made my debut two weeks later. Unfortunately, due to COVID my friends and family couldn’t be there.

Balancing hockey and work can be difficult – especially during the international season.

Training for Scotland is usually in Glasgow and, depending on what competition is coming up, can involve frequent weekend camps. It means being really organised with work and I often have to take stuff with me to do on the plane/train.

Will Beer (RGS 1999-2005)

CRICKET I have fond memories of RGS. The school was really understanding of my ambition, allowing me time off to attend training and play matches. Playing for the first XI at Hartswood toughened me up! It was my boyhood dream to play professionally and I am proud to have done so for 15 years.

I have been involved in four trophywinning teams in my career at Sussex and I am currently Sussex’s all time leading T20 wicket taker. I am just starting to prepare for life after cricket, as such, I have recently started a job as a Business Development Executive for a financial planning company (running alongside my cricket). I have also started my qualification to become a regulated Financial Planner so, hopefully, once I finish playing cricket, I can slip seamlessly into a life in financial services!

Tilly Hooper (RGS 2009-2016)

POLE VAULT I have been around pole vault from an early age as both my parents represented Great Britain in the event.

At junior level I have won six England athletics championships and, in recent years, I have won the British Athletics European Trials and medaled at the Indoor British Championships in Glasgow.

Setting a personal best of 4.20m in 2021 has meant I have been accepted onto the England Athletics Senior Talent Programme. I hope, with support from this programme, to qualify for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham later this year. Unfortunately, due to injury I was unable to represent England last summer at the Loughborough International, but I hope that over the next few months I can begin competing internationally.

HIGH ACHIEVERS

There are too many Reigatians to note in three pages, from those with Oxford or Cambridge Blues, to others with regional successes and many more coming up through the ranks. We have aimed to cover a range of activities. Please email us if you have a sporting success to share: foundation@reigategrammar.org.

Jack Ellis (RGS 2008-2013)

Issy H (Class of 2022)

My passion for skiing came from my parents.

My Mum was skiing obsessed, so from a young age, family holidays were always to the mountains rather than the beach!

Joining a ski academy in Austria in my GCSE year, I raced all over Europe. We skied in the morning, trained in the gym after lunch, then went to an Austrian school in Saalfelden to work for a few hours! I studied Chemistry, French and Economics A Levels, and my teachers were very supportive. They sent me work via email which I would complete and send back.

Competing with some very talented athletes everyday meant I was lucky enough to be selected for the U21 Great Britain Development Team and the U21 England Team! Sadly, I am no longer skiing. having decided to focus on my university studies.

I have recently competed at the British National swimming championships, but after winning several medals internationally at Biathle events, I decided triathlon was the route to go down. I’ve been a part of the Southeast Regional Triathlon Academy since 2018 and I am now part of the England Next Generation programme. Recent successes include: first place at the national triathlon series Aquathlon, winning the British junior mix team relay; winning a bronze medal at the international Super League Triathlon in Jersey. This season’s goals are to race in the European Triathlon Cup and to hopefully join the British Olympic Triathlon squad at Loughborough University where I can progress to the next level in my career. Beyond that is a dream that’s slowly becoming more and more realistic.

SKIING

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TRIATHLON

Harriet Mitchell (RGS 2008-2015) England and GBU23 Hockey Ellie Green (RGS 2012-2019) Harlequins Rugby and England 2021 Women’s Six Nations squad Lizzie Hanlon (RGS 2014-2019) Exeter Chiefs Rugby Owen Knowles (RGS 2013-2020) Wales National Champion, record-holder and GB qualifier, swimming CURRENT STUDENTS TO WATCH: Toby S (’22), Swimming; Eva M (’23), Team GB Pentathlon; Rory C (’23), Scotland Squash; Scarlett W (’24), Skiing; Sophia C (’24), England U16 squad; Henry R (’24), Football, AFC Wimbledon; Gabi H (’25), Team GB Pentathlon; Anna M (’25), Tennis; Tabitha L (’26), Team GB Gymnastics pathway; Eddie B (’28), Team GB Gymnastics pathway; Caelan D (’28), Sussex Golf

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

RECOLLECTIONS & MEMORIES RGS: AN EXCELLENT PREPARATION FOR LIFE

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didn’t have lessons on citizenship or even sex education, although I do recall one afternoon with the Biology Master, Mr Horton, in which he did his best to initiate us into the mysteries of girls. Nothing much about the plumbing, mostly about what a very different species they are from men!

A richness of education Looking back at those few years, it is the sheer richness of the education provided at RGS that stays with me. Quite apart from the subjects we studied, there was the musical input of Mr Thompson (who was actually the Woodwork Master!). His most informative music lessons, and the excellent choir that he ran, introduced me to the world of classical music, and for that I remain grateful to this day. I still sometimes find myself singing catches from the oratorios that he trained us to sing in the choir!

Then there was the physical side of education. I lived in Horley and cycled the five miles to RGS with my neighbour and friend Malcolm Palmer (RGS 1945-1951).

The route included the challenge of Cockshot Hill, as well as the hill up to the school itself, so this gave us a basis of fitness upon which the PE built. Andover did not play rugby and I was not greatly encouraged by what I saw of it at RGS. Mercifully, there was an athletics option that suited my physique. I recall many happy afternoons on

A grounding in problem solving It was ways of thinking that are the most enduring aspects of the Maths and Science training I received at RGS. In Sixth Form, many of the Maths lessons were in the form of problem classes. A problem would be written on the board and all of us, the teacher included, would try to solve it.

Applied Maths was taught by ‘Nubby’ Atkinson, a man of less than average stature with a bald head. He would stand at the board, quietly reasoning his way into the problem whilst tapping his pate with a ruler!

‘Happy Jack’ Coupland dealt with Pure Maths; faced with a near-intractable problem his attitude was to laugh at it and declare what fun we would have with it. I found this very positive attitude extremely helpful as it took away my fear of failing and gave me the confidence to strike out on my own in such things, a gift that stood me in good stead in my scientific career. Mr Lewis (Physics) had an MSc in Theoretical Physics: the ease with which he handled the more mathematical aspects of the physics syllabus again contributed to the relish with which I would later approach such things myself. I owe an immense debt of gratitude to these men for the philosophical attitude I absorbed, as much as for the syllabus they covered.

Finally, I have the happiest memories of the Air Training Corps (ATC). It was worth working at Morse code and meterological things to get the occasional flight from Merstham Airfield. There was an annual camp at Cranfield at which we went aloft in a Harvard trainer, a Prentice trainer, and an Anson. The latter was a navigational flight in which the windows were covered, and we were expected to plot the course of the aircraft from data issued at intervals. After an hour we were asked the position of the plane. I had it over the Wash. In fact we had been circling the airfield! Thank you RGS for a fantastic start in life!

DAVID ADAMS (RGS 1947-1951) fter WWII, my parents returned to Surrey and I arrived at Reigate Grammar School in 1947. My Father’s employers had moved their London staff to Hampshire during hostilities, therefore, I began my secondary education at Andover Grammar School.

Andover used a different numbering scheme to RGS and nobody spotted the difference. Consequently, I was ‘promoted’ by a full year, entering the Fourth Form at RGS instead of the Third. I wondered why I was so far behind the rest of my class! I ended up in form 4C rather than in the ‘A’ stream that I had been in at Andover. This proved a blessing as the A stream majored on arts subjects, whereas the C stream did more science – that was fine by me!

Due to the mistake in placing me in the Fourth Form, I was still only 17 when I sat my A Levels. Back then, universities gave preference to ex-servicemen and I could not get a place that year. Thus, I spent an enjoyable third year in Sixth Form.

the sports field which, in those days, was under Reigate Hill, near the railway station. I ran many a cross-country race from there, around the lower parts of Reigate Hill, often with my classmate, Maurice Rogers (RGS 1948-1951). We were given to exploring a bit on these outings and, on one occasion having slightly lost ourselves, returned to the pavilion so late that only the now fuming/ worried Games Master remained.

In 1949 there was a PE staffing problem.

Our usual teacher vanished and in his place there appeared the awesome figure of Dan – he insisted that we call him Dan. He was an elderly, retired, ex-Navy PT Instructor, heavily built with enormous cauliflower ears, hands the size of dinner plates, and a nose reminiscent of a lump of modelling clay cast aside after several unsuccessful attempts to turn it into a camel! He wore a battered navy-blue trilby and had certainly never seen the inside of an academic institution before.

We were in awe of him. His lessons were brilliantly organised and we soon realised that he knew his job like no other PE Master.

At the end of each session every muscle ached! He also taught us boxing, inviting us to hit him as hard as we could whilst he defended himself with one gloved hand that he lazily shifted to parry our puny best shots. We loved that man!

‘Sarge’, the Caretaker, was also an ex-serviceman. He ran the firing range in the loft space over the science labs, and taught us how to shoot – just another aspect of an unusually rounded preparation for life. We

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T H E R E I G AT I A N 2 0 21

RECOLLECTIONS & MEMORIES

MY CAREER STARTED IN AN RGS LAB PHILIP ASHURST (RGS 1949-1956)

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hile Britain was still recovering from the effects of war, in 1949, a shy and nervous 11-year-old presented himself at RGS. I was placed in form 1C, at the far end of a long corridor, adjacent to what was then the Art room.

I had always been interested in Science and particularly Chemistry. Obtaining information was much more limited then, with no internet, so my knowledge was gleaned from books, which were few and far between. It was especially exciting in those first few weeks to attend Chemistry lessons!

Developing a love for lab work

Our teacher was Mrs Doris Knight, I think the only female teacher in RGS at the time, and she inhabited one of the two laboratory buildings in what was then the playground. I have a vivid memory of the first practical work she set. We were each given a mixture of sand and salt and challenged to separate them using only water, a Bunsen burner and an evaporating dish. I was hooked!

Later memories of school Science take me to the main Chemistry labs on the first floor.

There were long wooden benches with bottle racks in the centre and sinks at each end with three or four working either side.

Drains from the end sinks flowed into a central sump under the benches and one favourite end-of-term prank was to pour hydrochloric acid down one sink and 880 ammonia solution in the other. After a few seconds a cloud of ammonium chloride fumes appeared and the entire top floor was enveloped in fog!

I successfully obtained the required A level passes in 1956. University was the next step but, as my father had died a few weeks after my 16th birthday, my mother was unable to afford the parental contribution.

Fortunately, within a radius of a few miles of Reigate there were some cutting-edge research laboratories, which included Brockham Park where much of the early work on the development of penicillin was taking place. I opted to apply for work in what was then the research facility of Vitamins Ltd. The establishment, Walton Oaks, was centred around a country house 54

in spacious grounds with its own farm.

Work was focused on understanding the chemistry and metabolism of vitamins – in particular vitamin E and the synthesis of vitamin B6. I was appointed there as a Junior Research Chemist. In parallel, I started studies for an external University of London BSc degree in Chemistry, for the first two years at Ewell Technical College and later, Regent Street Polytechnic in London. It was a long slog, five years of day release coupled with up to four evenings each week. The benefit of a day job in a research laboratory was apparent as my acquired knowledge of organic chemistry, and particularly in materials found in plants, often exceeded that of the lecturers!

Success was realised in 1961 but for a career in research, a PhD was essential.

The Brewing Industry Research Foundation, now part of CampdenBRI, had a vacancy and I was fortunate to be appointed to the scientific staff to work on the chemistry of brewing ingredients, particularly hops. The then Director of Research was an eminent chemist having previously been a Professor at Imperial College, London, involved in the early work on penicillin. With his support I registered as an external PhD student at the University of London. Another five years passed before the degree was achieved, together with the professional recognition as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Decisions decisions!

I was offered the opportunity of a postdoctoral appointment at the University of Surrey as well as setting up a new team in a Reigate-based business to make extracts of hops. In many ways the latter had greater appeal, not just in the technical aspects of the research but working within strict budgetary limitations and other constraints.

That move helped me gain a much greater understanding of the possibilities offered by materials found in plants. Five years later, an opportunity arose to move overseas with a

three-year UK government-sponsored post at the Scientific Research Council of Jamaica.

Here, I led a team working on the chemistry and business opportunities offered by local spices and fruits. Following that, and back in the UK, I worked on the development of consumer food and drink products – an ideal base to progress into the business of developing and producing plant-based flavourings and extracts for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries.

Consultancy and voluntary work

In 1982, it became apparent that the knowledge I had gained was helpful in business settings and I began consulting.

Over 38 years later – with several hundred clients in over 60 countries worldwide and 25 specialist books and book chapters written – my services are still called on.

During the latter part of the Cold War, I was recruited as a Scientific Advisor for the UK Warning and Monitoring organisation. In the 1990’s I was invited to become a Justice of the Peace for Herefordshire. Fifteen years on the bench, the last three years of which as Chair, was one of the most rewarding activities of my life. An appointment as a Non-Executive Director and Chair of Audit of the local NHS Primary Care Trust provided insight into the outstanding work of local GP surgeries. My work in the county was honoured by my being appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Herefordshire.

Looking back, a career that started in an RGS chemistry laboratory in 1949 has led me to travel from the USA and Caribbean to the deserts of Saudi Arabia, from New Zealand to China and sub-Saharan Africa, I encourage today’s students to find and follow a path in science.

“I remember my first Science lesson. We were each given a mixture of sand and salt and challenged to separate them using only water, a Bunsen burner and an evaporating dish. I was hooked!”

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

MEMORIES OF AN 11+ LAD ROGER PEARSON (RGS 1949-1954) In 1949, I scraped though the 11+ exam and interview and was lucky to be offered a place at Reigate Grammar School – me a young lad from a modest single-parent home in South Park. My mother’s pride was bearable, but I was horribly embarrassed when my entire primary school applauded my achievement in a morning assembly.

Somehow my widowed mother, who worked in a laundry at the time, scraped together enough money to kit me out and I set off on my bike up Cockshot Hill, known for politely doffing my school cap to any old lady I passed.

I detested Mr Bedwood, the Maths Teacher, who would tweak ears or throw the blackboard duster at inattentive boys.

Mr Thomson, the Music Teacher, would rehearse us mercilessly to sing the Hallelujah Chorus. Us adolescent boys struggled to find the higher notes with voices on the brink of breaking. His favourite phrase, when our efforts were a little feeble was, “Open your mouths and let the sound come out”. I am still ambivalent to Handel’s masterpiece!

Mr Emery, the History Teacher, was a

character. He had seen service in the war, wore tweeds and drove a Bentley.

History lessons were not always about history. Often, he would draw a diagram of the combustion engine on the blackboard and talk about cars. No lesson plans in those days! Miss Knight, the Biology Teacher, tried to teach a class of 13-yearold boys the basics of human biology – I’m not sure who was more embarrassed!

My only encounter with the Headmaster, Mr Holland, was getting the cane after being caught in the cloakroom of the local girls’ school, trying to pinch their hats.

My memories of my time at Reigate Grammar are mixed. Not naturally academic, I struggled with the schoolwork, as my positions in the class will testify.

However, I enjoyed the sporting side of school: rugby, cricket and running. A rugby injury to my fingers took me out of the game for a while (I have two bent fingers as a result), but my time was usefully spent in the school gardening club whilst recovering.

My main claim to fame came on Sports Day 1953. Run on grass and without proper shoes with spikes, I broke the 1924 school record for the mile. Somewhere, this was

recorded on a board in the school.

I remember taking part in the coronation pageant at Reigate Priory. The weather was unpredictable on the day, but undaunted and dressed as Lord Effingham, I marched out of a wooded area to the strains of Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance.

Outside of school I played for a local football team and for Surrey boys, once coming up against a young Jimmy Greaves!

When not playing sport, I attended the local Sea Cadets, was an errand boy for a local grocer’s shop and a paper boy. I wonder when I ever found time to study!

Sport and Sea Cadets shaped my career, and after leaving school in 1954, I joined the Navy to train as a Marine Electrician.

I continued to play football until I was nearly 40. Although I did not appreciate the opportunity at the time, I am grateful for the time I spent at RGS and look back on those days with pride.

I WOULD LIKE TO COMPLAIN! ANDY HOWLAND (RGS 1975-1982) Many years ago – from 1975 to 1982 – I attended RGS and had a great time and solid education. I was in Northdown House and although I made it to Prefect, after about a week, I went to the Headmaster, Mr Ballance, and asked for it to be rescinded! This was primarily a case of not wanting to snitch on my friends and fellow pupils. You see, Mr Ballance instilled in me two great principles that have stayed with me since school days: honesty and integrity. One of the duties of a Prefect was to ensure the best behaviour of fellow pupils. This included patrolling Broadfield Lawn, where there was a dip at the far end and a large tree – ideal for

hiding behind to have a smoke! I knew this but couldn’t bring myself to ‘dob’ in my friends. I also couldn’t do the bus stop patrol as I was just as big an offender as everyone else for pushing my way on board in order to get home early on the 410 bus. Hence my handing back the badge of honour. Mr. Ballance said it was the first time a Prefect badge had been handed back in! He did, however, allow me to keep the badge for prosperity.

So why the complaint? In 1975, the school celebrated it’s tercentenary and amongst many celebrations including a 300 -mile relay marathon throughout the night.

The school sold celebratory merchandise and I have used a leather key ring since then and it has finally broken, so who do I complain to after nearly half a century?

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RECOLLECTIONS & MEMORIES

FROM ROCK STAR TO PR

GEOFF LAWRENCE (RGS 1958-1964)

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n a brisk January morning in 1958, my Father told me to get ready to go. The exam wasn’t for two hours but he was insistent. So we headed off to Reigate Grammar School. As we passed the entrance, he drove straight on.

I said, “You’ve missed the turning!”, but he continued down West Street and we found ourselves at Reigate Heath Golf Club. “Let’s go for a walk”, he said.

I don’t remember a word he said during that half-hour walk, but I recall the underlying message: “This is an important day so I am taking this special time to tell you we love you, we have high hopes for you and we know you have it in you to succeed. On the other hand, should you fail, that is not a problem. We know you will do your best and if that is not enough, so be it.

Life doesn’t stop here with the 11+. It is a big step forward for sure but there are lots of other options if you don’t make it.”

The sense of warmth and the promise of continued non-critical love had a profound

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effect on me. No-one in our family had been to grammar school before and the level of expectation was high and I was feeling the pressure. But my Father’s words acted as magical balm and left me feeling relaxed yet positive. It was a tour de force in parenting for which I am constantly grateful.

Starting school the following September was bewildering and exciting, with new timetables (rolling six-day weeks of lessons), new rules (stand up when a master enters the room, no hands in pockets, no running indoors), new people to meet, group dynamics to play out and some growing up to be done. I loved it!

Being at ‘big school’ was exhilarating.

I learned my way tentatively through the first year, only starting to feel comfortable in the Second Form when we had some juniors below us. I had one talent in the First Form (beyond football at lunch times) and that was Latin.

Our Latin Master, Mr Burrows, seemed unaware that I had learned Latin for over a year at prep school. In his eyes, I exhibited what he saw as a precocious gift for the subject. The wheels came off in the second year though when I got as far as I had reached in my prep school. The master couldn’t understand my sudden intellectual collapse. I remember him writing on one of my submissions, “Can this be Lawrence?”.

My days of Classics stardom were over.

I’m sorry to say that I never encountered the inspirational teacher that others recall from their school days. One man came near – Mr Paxton. He taught us English in the Fifth Form, at which I excelled, and his attitude was positive and encouraging.

Otherwise teachers were very rigid. Two teachers (whose nicknames were Taffy and Holy Joe) used to say, “I won’t teach you that at this stage because you are too young to understand it”. That infuriated me – where was the aspiration and ambition?

Extra-curricular interests I was far more interested in the social side of life than in working hard – illicit smoking, the girls at the County School and music were my main interests. In the Fourth Form I formed a band, The Sabres, with some school mates which became quite popular locally. We started out at the Market Hall in Redhill as support band to the top-of-thebill acts, then scaled it up to support star names such as The Searchers, Merseybeats, Four Pennies and Marianne Faithull at bigger venues around the the Southeast. We also played the legendary 2i’s Club in Soho birth place of British rock and roll. We weren’t good enough to top the bill, but then, our singer, Mike King, got us on to the debutante’s circuit and we played many mansions and marquees over the south of England (often midnight to dawn). This proved both pleasurable and profitable, earning £30 a booking between four of us plus food and drink. Two of these gigs a week meant that we were each earning the national average weekly wage (£15) for two nights work – while still at school!

Inevitably my schoolwork suffered and the train hit the buffers when I took my O Levels. I needed five passes to enter Sixth Form but I achieved only three so I was put into the infamous Remove. This meant another year of Fifth Form in the hope that I might get enough O Levels to get into the Sixth Form (which I did). I just could not contemplate the ignominy of joining up with the successful pupils from the year below.

Besides which, the band was earning reasonable money, so I left RGS and went semi-professional (I say semi because I had a job as well). It was fine for a few years but I became tired of jogging along at a lowly musical level so I gave up the band and went to London to find my fortune!

I started at the bottom in publishing in a firm called Fountain Press in Chancery Lane

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

NURTURING A LOVE OF HISTORY Above: Geoff adopted this hair style just before joining RGS, using a product called Tru-Gel Left: The Sabres promotional shot in 1963, featuring Geoff Lawrence, Chris Giles, Mike King, Phil Brown and Bari Sparshott and became their Publicity Manager within a year. From there I moved to the smallest multi-national company in the country at the time, Letraset. After some years I was promoted to Communications Director. I got a lot of experience at that company and received a lot of good training which gave me the confidence and the opportunity to set up my own company in 1979 – Lawrence Publicity. A one-man band PR consultancy which lasted for twenty years.

Additionally, I joined forces in 1988 with a business colleague to form a successful marketing agency, Lawrence Cheung, from which I retired a happy man in 2010.

Over the years, The Sabres played occasional gigs but sadly our singer died five years ago which brought that to an end after more than fifty years. Musically, I had also devoted my efforts to a jazz duo (sax and guitar). We play at clubs and venues around London including the Savoy, Simpsons-in-the Strand, Ministry of Sound, RIBA, Emirates Stadium, Colony Room, French House, Ronnie Scotts (upstairs!), Black and Blue and have had a number of residencies including Gerry’s Club (Soho) and the Jazz Café (Newington Green).

Looking back, it is the boys I met at school that have had the long-term influence on me. I have stayed in touch with many over the years: Jeff Addison (’65), Mike King (’64), Bari Sparshott (’65), Tristram Breaks (’66), Joe Turner (’65), Barry Morgan (’65), Frank Van Loock (’65), Graham Samuel (’65), Brian Mann (’65), Drew Baker (’65), Sir Peter Gershon (’65) and Sir Peter Lampl (’66).

I have visited RGS a couple of times in the past few years. The differences are obvious – the presence of girls and no bike sheds!

But, I was aware of a more generous ethos which permeated the school. I was deeply impressed and immediately signed up as a bursary donor. Floreat RGS. You gave me an excellent start in life. Thank you.

RAKESH PATHAK (RGS 1986-1993)

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ne of the things that got me thinking about RGS again were your podcasts on Spotify – one of them featured Martin Hetherington (RGS 1986-1993 and staff 2011-present) and Anna Hetherington, née Rose (RGS 1991-1993 and staff 2018-present), both of whom are now teachers at RGS, and were in the same year as me back in the day.

Also, I think it must be the onset of middle age as increasingly, I find myself reflecting quite a lot about my school days, which shaped me much more than I appreciated at the time.

After leaving RGS, I went to St Edmund Hall, Oxford to study Modern History and English. I then did a PGCE at the Institute of Education and got a job teaching History at Forest School in 1997. I taught there until 2006 and have been Head of History at Felsted School in Essex ever since. I got married to Katherine (a crime fiction author) in 2003 and we have two children (and a disobedient dog!).

I started my 25th year as a History Teacher in September 2021 (it’s still a great job most of the time even in the midst of a pandemic!). My interest and aptitude in the subject were really nurtured at RGS, especially by Graham Best (RGS staff 1975-1993), with whom I am still in touch.

What I took away from Graham’s lessons

was the way in which he (effortlessly it seemed to me!) created a warm and happy environment. Here was a teacher who was always going the extra mile, whether coaching me for the Oxford entrance exam or running numerous trips – the highlight being a trip to Paris linked to our study of the French Revolution.

I should also give recognition to two teachers from the English department, who really influenced me. Mr Carpmael (RGS staff 1974-1989) taught me English lower down the school and I remember him fizzing with ideas and enthusiasm; every lesson was an adventure. I also owe a lot to Mr Worthen (RGS staff 1987-2008), whose rigour and dedication set a great example for us to follow. I can still quote some of the Chaucer that he taught us! I have done my best to try to incorporate elements of all three teachers into my own teaching; I am not sure how successful I have been but one of the best things about teaching is that you always get a blank slate each September.

I have lots of other fond memories from my school days. I was in one of the writtenfrom-scratch drama productions in the late 1980s about the Knights of the Round Table, Excalibur III. I got to sing a song dressed as an Arthurian knight. There was also a Brecht play and then Measure for Measure in the Sixth Form, both of which I really enjoyed and probably set me up for teaching (which in some ways is really just a branch of acting!). We also did some improvisational stuff in the style of Whose Line is it Anyway?, which was popular at the time. I also got involved in the Christian Union and this definitely set me on the path to becoming a Christian in later years.

I would love to say that I was a great sportsman, but I was inept! I did, however, play a bit of cricket, an occasional game of hockey and even once, unbelievably, a D team game of rugby! I have remained a bit of a cricket bore and in 2021 I even wrote a mini-book on cricket which I have used to raise some money for the Trussell Trust.

It is clear that, in recent years, RGS has become a more progressive, outwardlooking and community-focused school and this can only be for the betterment of the school and its pupils.

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RECOLLECTIONS & MEMORIES

GOVERNING – AND RELINQUISHING – HONG KONG CLINTON LEEKS (RGS 1966-1971)

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he British were once considered quite good at managing retreats – after all, since Dunkirk and the later winding up of the Empire, we have had plenty of practice! When I joined the Hong Kong government in 1975, straight from Oxford, there was an unspoken assumption that Hong Kong was one place from which we would not need to retreat.

92% of the territory was held by the UK on a 99-year lease from Imperial China, and Mao Zedong’s new regime seemed happy to leave things as they were.

So I was taught Cantonese and put to work as an Administrative Officer. I helped run Hong Kong’s biggest new town (half a million people, soon heading towards a million); I managed the food markets and the abattoir; haggled over civil service

Top: Clinton (left) and a colleague as the airport building got under way Above: An aerial shot of the airport construction nearing completion 58

pay-grades. In 1980, we faced a new crisis with hundreds of thousands of Chinese immigrants seeking better lives in Hong Kong by climbing the border fence or swimming the bays to enter illegally. We tightened up controls, built a better fence, introduced a new secure identity card and negotiated a deal for those caught to be safely returned to the communist mainland. That went so well that I was put in charge of a bigger problem, running the camps established for the thousands of Vietnamese who had been fleeing to Hong Kong since the Fall of Saigon in 1975, while we hunted for new homes for them in the West. I have written about that tragic episode in past RGS magazines.

Negotiating our retreat Meanwhile, Mrs Thatcher had officially visited Beijing and explained that the UK proposed to continue to run Hong Kong after the lease ended in 1997, to safeguard its way of life and prosperity. The Chinese made clear that was not their plan, and two years of fraught Sino-British negotiations began, to come up with a plan that could protect the future of Hong Kong when the British left. I was involved because of my responsibility for the border and relations with the British Garrison. We came up with a detailed agreement which everyone, including Hong Kong, welcomed. I was then loaned for two years to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London to help implement it.

I was back in Hong Kong by early 1989, working as the Governor’s Private Secretary, when new storm clouds gathered. A huge new influx of Vietnamese was under way – now no one would take them overseas, and the people of Hong Kong had lost patience. Huge student demonstrations for more democracy in China were crushed in Beijing, and Hong Kong people began to clamour for more local democracy before China took over in 1997. I was put in charge of the Vietnamese problem again and flew to Hanoi to negotiate and implement a programme of safe returns of those determined by international law to be non-refugees (the huge majority). Meanwhile, the Hong Kong government announced a new programme

Clinton escorting the Prime Minister of Canada, Brian Mulroney, and his wife around a refugee camp of reforms, to rebuild local confidence – a bill of rights, more university places, more democracy, more British passports, and a plan to massively upgrade Hong Kong’s infrastructure in preparation for 1997.

Building an award-winning airport The key to the last of these was a huge new airport, the same size as Heathrow.

Meanwhile, the last British Governor, Chris Patten, had just arrived and Beijing was making clear it did not approve of his new democratic plans. It showed its displeasure by blocking international finance for the airport. We went ahead anyway, borrowing from Hong Kong’s reserves and building a 3,000-acre airport in the sea, linked to central Hong Kong by one of the world’s biggest road and rail suspension bridges. I regularly briefed the Chinese government, local politicians and the media on progress.

We opened the new airport on 6 July 1998, soon after Hong Kong’s peaceful return to China, and I ran the opening-day press conference in the new terminal. The airport has since been often voted the world’s best.

After that, it was time to return to the UK with my family and begin a new life back home. For all of Hong Kong’s difficulties over the past two years I still adore the place, above all the energy and drive of its people, and cannot wait to resume my regular visits once COVID restrictions end.

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SCHOLARSHIPS AND TITANS PETER TAYLER (RGS 1962-1970)

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eading and remembering about Aubrey Scrase and Robin Bligh in recent editions of The Reigatian made me appreciate the incredible long-lasting benefits of scholarships, potentially through several generations.

It would be wonderful if the philanthropists who set up such awards could see the benefits that they endowed – almost a century after they were awarded. It is also essential to acknowledge the role that great figures, the titans, play in facilitating the maximum yield from the gift.

Grasping opportunities Both of my parents were born in the Great Depression between wars. My father was brought up by a divorced single mother who had a remarkably tough life working in a factory in Doncaster. He was able to win a scholarship to a major choir school and then a scholarship to read Medicine while Head Chorister at King’s College, Cambridge. The head of the choir school was a titan who provided an environment where it was possible to thrive, despite the privations of 1940. We heard much about the teaching and school life that formed so much of his development.

My mother was the daughter of a pitman. I was told that she was the first from her high school to go to university.

She won a scholarship to study Physiology.

Both of my parents took part in a major nutrition study at Cambridge to examine how the wartime rationed diet could be designed to maintain sound physical health.

This experiment was run by another titan

with an extraordinary range of abilities.

He flew aircraft off the front of cruisers in 1916 and survived to become a professor.

Undoubtedly, the monies from the scholarship funds enabled my father to leave Cambridge to be a GP and my mother to be offered a chair in physiology.

I feel, however, that this would not have been possible without the titans in their lives acting as a catalyst to their successes.

Five children later (four sons having been to Reigate Grammar School and a daughter) their family had accumulated five medical degrees and a degree in Electronic Engineering as well as five Oxbridge places.

My siblings and I were certainly grateful for the benefits that our parents could give us, but our success was catalysed by the incredible encouragement given by a number of charismatic teachers during our years at the school: the titans.

The titans of teaching Mr Lewis (Physics) certainly stood out as a titan – he was able to teach and make scientific thinking exciting. Aubrey Scrase (Latin) was instrumental not least for making Latin fun! This was no mean feat in itself, but he also introduced us to opera, ballet and theatre. The very quiet, and in many ways unassuming, way in which Robin Bligh introduced us to the dark arts of calculus and integration was valuable in itself. But he also gave us the great advantage of acquiring life skills and standards from the Scouts that have enabled all of the children, now retired or approaching retirement to lead rewarding lives, but also ones which have probably given much back to society in a variety of ways – both socially and at work.

The power of philanthropy This account has two purposes. Firstly to underline the long-term benefits of scholarships and philanthropic giving.

I would like to have been able to thank those who made it possible for my parents to benefit from an excellent education.

I hope they would feel their provision of the scholarships was worthwhile.

It is not just a way to get a child to school or university, but also gives recipients benefits which have an impact on future generations.

The second point is that it was, however, not just the scholarships that my parents received that led to their success, but the titans of teaching and learning that they came across who helped catalyse the processes leading to success.

In my present position I can now only help with one stage of the process. The other stage of catalysing progress is in the hands of the successors to men, and now women, who have the ability to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Lewis, Scrase and Bligh to teach and inspire in all aspects of life.

Was there a particular teacher whose influence set you on a path to success?

Please share your memories and career journeys – call 01737 222231 or email foundation@reigategrammar.org.

Help change lives for generations to come As Peter has highlighted – giving disadvantaged children access to an outstanding education can have far-reaching benefits for more than just that one individual.

From giving a modest monthly gift (see p11), to leaving a legacy to RGS in your Will (see p20), together, the Reigatian community transforms lives.

For more information, email us at foundation@reigategrammar.org, call 01737 222231 or visit rgs.foundation/support-us/donate-now/.

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FROM THE ARCHIVES WITH THANKS TO ARCHIVIST, PETER BURGESSS

Above: The site suggested for development was part of the Headmaster’s garden and to the west of the main buildings

THE SWIMMING POOL 1960-2009 The current RGS swimming pool is an impressive and much-loved facility in the school, however, it owes its origins to the incredible ambitions of Headmaster, Holland (RGS staff 1947-1968).

Parental contributions required!

For those who weren’t around in the 1960s, this was when the Headmaster decided to donate his lawn to build an outdoor swimming pool. The cost of this was originally estimated to be approximately £10,000 (not including the value of the land).

The Headmaster estimated that, with roughly 1,000 boys in the school, if every family sent him a cheque for £10 that would cover it! He may also have been appealing to local prep-school families! It didn’t go quite as smoothly in practice. Remember that it was not a fee-paying school at the time, and a large proportion of pupils came from relatively needy families (although we lived comfortably enough, we certainly didn’t all have cars or telephones, and central heating was extremely rare!).

Various fundraising efforts were undertaken. My own mother made a cake which was raffled. There was a Fair at Broadfield, where the photographic society made people pay for dreadful portraits, which, of course, they did not see until later!

The swimming pool fundraiser was largely a co-operative effort to improve the facilities. Moreover, at the time, newly-built secondary modern schools often had better physical facilities than older schools like Reigate Grammar, to the extent that less academic parents sometimes chose them for that reason.

Roger Moreton (RGS 1958-1965) 60

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eadmaster TW Holland joined Reigate Grammar School in 1947, as one of only two Headmasters appointed during the period when the school was state-funded. While Howard Ballance, his successor, is remembered for facilitating the survival of RGS beyond 1976 as an independent grammar school, Holland, on the whole, has a much less tangible legacy. There is, however, one notable exception to this – the school swimming pool.

While we cannot be certain when the idea of a school swimming pool was first conceived, it was at the Old Reigatian Association annual dinner in February 1957 that the Headmaster stated that, “We can see the possibility of a swimming pool in the school grounds. It is, of course, only a possibility, for the reason that it will cost a great deal of money and we do not yet know how this is to be raised.”

Mr Holland once again referred to his ambition to have a school swimming pool at the Speech Day in July 1957. He said he had a good estimate of the cost of the project, and had been talking to parents, since it would be by appealing for donations that a significant amount of the costs would be covered.

Planning for the pool begins

A year later, the plan for the new pool was welladvanced. The proposed location was within the school gardens, to the west of the main buildings and above the Headmaster’s house. Promises of donations from parents and others amounted to over £3,000, with expectations of a further £1,000 in the pipeline. From the Headmaster’s Speech Day report in 1958, we know that the estimated cost was around £7,000 – a huge amount in the 1950s.

Up to this point, the school had been allowed use

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of the public swimming bath in Castlefield Road every Friday afternoon, when First Formers could use the pool, or a sports event might be arranged, such as a competition between school houses or with a team from another school. This regular use of the public pool was at risk of being stopped or curtailed, so the provision of the school’s own pool could not have been more timely.

The expectation was that, with its own pool, the school would improve swimming standards and win more competitions, as well as finding it much easier to teach basic swimming skills, and life-saving techniques.

A committee of parents and teaching staff was created to consider the pool design and how best to raise the required funds. A pool as long as and slightly wider than the Reigate Corporation swimming bath was envisaged, at 75 feet by 35 feet (23m x 10.5m approximately), with an up-to-date purification and chlorination plant to keep the water clean. As originally proposed, no heating was

planned, and it was expected the pool would be comfortable enough to use from the beginning of May until the end of September. The idea of enclosing the pool in a building was dismissed as being too expensive, since it would add a further £10,000 to the cost of the project.

Top: Students enjoying the pool (circa 2000)

A fundraising strategy is formed

Above right: The site in 2008, prior to the building of the new indoor pool

For raising money, appeals continued to be made to parents, and the Old Reigatian Association was also approached, and a summer fair planned for 1959. It was stated with confidence that the pool would be completed by the summer of 1960, which meant that the required funding would have to be in place 12 months beforehand. Half the cost had been met by the summer of 1958, so the expectations of the committee were easily justified.

The committee anticipated that the new facility would allow the boys to be able to use the pool at least once a week, in games training periods, and probably also to have a quick dip at the end of each

Above left: Poolside crowds squeezed onto the grass at an inter-House gala (circa 2000)

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FROM THE ARCHIVES

PE lesson. They also expected the pool to be available immediately after the end of the school day for those who wanted to use it. It was also suggested that the pool could be used during the summer holiday break, however, supervision of such use might be a challenge.

On the afternoon of 30 May, 1959, a summer fair was held on Broadfield Lawn to raise funds for the project. The programme included the Corps of Drums of the Guards’ Depot, Caterham and there were displays of fencing and Scottish dancing, archery, model railways and side-shows and stalls of all kinds.

The event was organised by George Gutridge (RGS staff 1932-1984), and was a resounding success. In all, including takings on the day, the sale of programmes and the income from a prize draw, the fair added £1,144 to the fund. In June, the project committee agreed that there was now enough money in the bank to start work on the ground.

The (old) new swimming pool opens

1959 was a year of change at the school. A new dining block and laboratories at Broadfield were completed and in use, and Cornwallis was soon to be made ready to accommodate more classes.

The order to have the pool built was placed at the end of September, and work commenced in mid-October. The builders were Gilliam and Co Ltd, and they aimed to have the main construction work completed before the frosts of January arrived.

The drive to raise the balance of money required to pay for the new swimming bath continued into 1960, and it was with great pleasure that the Headmaster could write in the summer of 1960 that, with the help of the bank and the Foundation Governors, the construction was completed and the pool opened. The latter contributed £200 to the cost of a changing hut to be erected next to the pool. The new swimming pool was in constant use during the summer, both in school time and for voluntary bathing after school. It was also kept open for the use of boys on certain days of the week during the summer holidays.

Over the next couple of years, payments continued to be made to the fund until the bank overdraft had been paid off, and in 1962, a School Improvements Fund was established, and the first target set was to raise the cost of installing heating for the swimming pool. The loss of three swimming matches with other schools early in the 1962 season was attributed to the lack of practice sessions while the pool water remained below 16°C. Halfway through the term, the pool temperature had risen by a few degrees, and the pool could be used again.

A gas heating system had been installed by the summer of 1964.

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Above and right: The indoor pool was completed in 2009 (for those curious to see what the current RGS swimming facilities look like!)

#ThrowbackThursday memories In February 2021 we posted the main photo overleaf on social media and received over 80 comments! A huge thank you to all those who shared your memories – we’ve included a few of our favourites below. If you aren’t already following us, join the Reigatian Community group on Facebook, follow @foundationRGS on Twitter and/or rgsfoundation on Instagram.

James Abdool (RGS 1984-1989) End of term swimming instead of Maths lesson with Mrs Stephens, née Chaplin (RGS staff 1984-present) in July 1985 Gary Wilson-Poe (RGS 1976-1984) It could be a bit bracing. Sometimes teachers might scrub a class and let us swim. Didn’t happen that often but always had swim kit just in case.

Nicky Pasquier (RGS 1984-1986) Goodness I learnt to do Eskimo rolls from a canoe in that pool!

Tim Bowling (RGS 1982-1989) Loved the outdoor pool. My last day at school in the summer of 1989, everyone jumped in fully clothed! Great memories.

Alison Dénecé (current parent) I remember swimming in many galas here!

Nicholas Berry (RGS 1992-1999) Freezing cold! I remember that I was once accused of throwing a worm into the pool – possibly by Martin Russell! I got a detention and he sent me into the pool to fish it out! He asked me if I gave it the kiss of life. Needless to say the worm was a gonner but it taught me a valuable lesson... worms can’t swim!

Martin Russell (RGS staff 1975-2019) Yup Nick, it was me as I was so proud of that pool and I had to clean it and keep the pH levels correct, which meant coming in from Wimbledon early before morning swimming at 7.30!

The kiss of life was just my sad sense of humour!

Derek Twine (RGS 1962-1970) Straight away I can smell again the chlorine in the water and the bleach in the wooden-hut changing room from the 1960s... but we did have our own pool and we won many competitions, so hooray for Reigate Grammar!

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REIGATIAN NEWS GRENFELL TOWER INQUIRY: EXPERT WITNESS No-one could forget seeing the horrors of the Grenfell Tower disaster unfold in June 2017. The Inquiry into what led to the loss of 72 lives continues. In May 2021, Reigatian, Jonathan Sakula (RGS 1963-1970) was invited – as a facade specialist – to give evidence as an expert witness. We asked Jonathan about his career and role in the Inquiry.

PHOTOS: ISTOCKPHOTO AND AILSA BARRY

How did you come to be involved in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry?

Having been extremely moved by the tragedy, especially working for 25 years in the cladding field, I had been following the Inquiry closely, and had read the Phase 1 report. Then, I received an email asking if I would be interested in being the expert witness. My role was to advise on the state of knowledge in the cladding industry in the years preceding the fire (2012-17).

A lot of evidence had been given to the Inquiry by the architects, contractors, cladding contractors and manufacturers.

What the Inquiry wanted to understand was what would those involved have been expected to do? What would have been considered reasonable practice at the time?

A huge tragedy can occur... and did. That will heighten people’s awareness of their responsibilities. In addition, there has already been a tightening of regulations and it’s likely that further changes to industry practice will happen, around building safety.

You’ve had an incredible career – are there any highlights?

For the first part of my career, I worked quite a lot on Middle Eastern projects.

At around 25 I wanted to get involved in projects relating to human development.

An opportunity came up in Tanzania developing small-scale factory projects using volcanic ash and lime – as used by the Ancient Greeks and Romans!

After that, I returned to Arup and worked on the British Library development near Euston. An opportunity then came up to do some feasibility studies in the South Pacific, and another looking at sisal-cement roofing in Africa. Arup then offered me the chance to run its Zambia office (at the age of 30!). I came back to London, met my wife, Ailsa, and we lived in London for the next 25 years. I rejoined Arup, working on some large, multi-disciplinary projects,

You gave evidence to the Inquiry.

Can you summarise your findings?

There had been several major fires in the UAE and other places in the years preceding the Grenfell Tower disaster. Clearly cladding on buildings had the potential to go up in flames. Somehow, people didn’t sufficiently appreciate from this the very real risk to life.

By 2012, it was normal for a façade consultant to be appointed on large or complex buildings. If the architect A Grenfell Tower lacked the expertise or had any Inquiry podcast is doubts, they should have considered available. Follow the appointing a façade consultant to link below to hear provide independent advice, free Jonathan give evidence: of commercial interests. apple.co/3u5Igco While cladding was an important (31 mins) factor in terms of how the fire propagated, it was by no means the only issue. The Inquiry is looking at the whole picture. It’s complex and a lot of unfortunate things came together to create a perfect storm.

What changes do you hope to see as a result of the Inquiry?

The most important thing to come from this is that people will realise to a greater extent their responsibilities.

notably leading the engineering team for the Spitalfields Market redevelopment.

In 1992, Arup formed Arup Façade Engineering, specialising in the ‘skin’ of buildings. It involves everything from structure, materials, weatherproofing and thermodynamics, to fire and acoustics, as well as having an interface with the architectural aesthetics. It also presented quite challenging technical problems. At this time, there was considerable growth in IRA activity in London, so I was inspecting the facades of buildings for bomb damage. I was involved in developing blast-resistant designs for facades for significant public buildings.

I led the engineering team for the bronze façade of Portcullis House. The design life is around 250 years, which is an incredible legacy, though I doubt future generations of my family will ever know I was involved!

I left Arup in 1997 to join a specialist firm that had a reputation for the structural use of glass. I went on to became something of a specialist in that field. In the 2000s I also started doing some expert witness work.

More recently, after six years with Buro Happold in London and a stint in New York, I left full-time employment in 2017. My wife, Ailsa, was offered a job in Ottawa, so we decided to move to a rural village in Quebec. I put out feelers to former clients and picked up work on legal cases requiring expert technical advice.

Any advice for those considering structural engineering careers?

If possible, get sponsorship preuniversity. Having an appreciation of architecture, even an internship at an architect’s will be beneficial. In England, there is often a division between architecture and engineering, but a few universities (Leeds and Bath) now offer joint courses. People emphasise the importance of maths, but computers do most of the hard graft now. Indeed, an ability to draw is just as important and good analytical skills are vital.

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REIGATIAN NEWS

STUDYING FOR A DEGREE APPRENTICESHIP I chose to apply for UBS’s Global Banking degree apprenticeship course in January 2021. Apprenticeships have always interested me, and I have always considered them as a valuable option as a school leaver.

I applied for several apprenticeships, but the Global Banking one stood out and excited me the most. After the application, testing and interview process, I received my offer in April and decided straight away that I was going to go for it.

I chose the apprenticeship route over university as I believe that three to four years of industry experience at such an early point in my career would benefit me more than the traditional university journey. I also love pushing myself and learning every day and being in an environment such as the Investment Banking division at UBS certainly allows me to grow and develop every day.

So far, both the workplace and university elements of my apprenticeship have been great, and I am really enjoying the opportunity. I study with Exeter University on Wednesdays, then work (on site) in the office the other four days. UBS was amazing at helping me to settle in and my team has

been very welcoming. In addition, the University of Exeter Business School has delivered the lectures and content very well and has also ensured that I was managing the balance of working and studying.

The other bonus is that I am being paid for the work I do and UBS covers all my academic fees (university expenses and professional exam costs).

I’d recommend applying for a few apprenticeships as you learn so much just through the process. It will also help you realise whether it is the right path for you.

Going into the programme, my biggest concern was whether I would miss out on the social side of university life, however, I could not have been more wrong! I am living at home, but plan to move to London soon, which is exciting. I don’t feel as though I have missed out as I’m not actually at home much at all, getting early trains, then getting back late after dinner/drinks after work. I also use most of my weekends to visit friends at university, so have been able to experience lots of different universities. I have also met lots of friends at work too. I think one of the biggest stereotypes of work is that you

won’t have fun, but in actual fact, working in London I’ve had so much fun and opportunity to socialise.

I highly recommend the apprenticeship route to anyone who might be interested in an alternative to university. Not only do you achieve professional qualifications and a degree, but you also gain invaluable on-the-job experience. The satisfaction I get from working at a company such as UBS is everything I could have wished for when starting and I am very happy that I have taken this route.

Jack Grant (RGS 2014-2021)

GETTING STARTED IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE Although I enjoyed creative subjects such as Music, Art and English Literature during my time at Reigate Grammar School, I am about to pursue a more scienceand clinical-based route.

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When the pandemic hit back in March 2020, my gap-year travel plans were washed down the drain, but, with the help of Mr Buzzacott (Head of Careers), I secured a place on a Get Started in Health and Social Care programme with the Prince’s Trust.

The programme provided me with skills in interviews, teamwork and basic life care. On completing this, I secured four interviews and accepted a job as a Healthcare Assistant in an NHS care home for disabled adults with no mobility and limited verbal communication.

On one of my first days, I noticed a card from Reigate Grammar School, which had been delivered alongside a supply of PPE face shields. It was then that I realised that the face shield that I had been wearing whilst protecting my colleagues and residents had been made by the RGS community! It was so surreal to discover a strong link between my school and my first full-time job and that RGS was still with me, even in my next step.

Working through COVID as an NHS keyworker, where you are responsible for the quality of life and wellbeing of residents, is a challenge that I can’t put to words.

Despite the trials of the COVID, I consider my colleagues and residents to be my second family – we have all seen each other through so much and there were plenty of occasions where I spent more time with them than with my actual family.

My greatest achievement of 2021 was securing a place at King’s College London to study a BSc in Adult Nursing. This would not have been possible without the Careers department at RGS. On the run up to my UCAS application, I received excellent help from the staff at RGS with interview practice and forming my personal statement.

As I begin this next chapter, I am proud and grateful that Reigate Grammar School helped me on this journey.

Ruby Eustace (RGS 2013-2020)

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MAKING A SPLASH! In 2020, Leo Sargent (RGS 20112016) graduated from Bristol with no idea what to do next.

One year on, aged just 23, he had founded a successful hot tub hire business! We caught up with Leo to discover just what a monumental journey it has been.

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e were tipped off to Leo’s success by a colleague, who had booked a portable hot tub for her husband’s 50th birthday. The charming young man who arrived to set up was none other than former RGS student, Leo!

Life after RGS I wasn’t convinced that university was the route I wanted to take, but was encouraged to apply. I was offered a place at Bristol and, on a bit of a whim, went to study Economics for four years. In my third year, I worked in the Finance department at Amazon, which was a great experience, but made me realise that I didn’t want to be in an office crunching numbers all day.

In May 2020, I graduated over Zoom, which was quite anti-climactic. I had no idea what I wanted to do next. I’d thought about going travelling, but obviously that wasn’t an option. So, in June 2020, I began working at a COVID-testing site while I figured out my next move.

By December, while chatting with some friends one night in the pub, the conversation turned to how people are

Prices start from just £159

Leo (right) and business partner, Luca, with their new Bubbll-branded van! stuck at home and someone suggested that we hire out hot tubs.

It’s a little-known fact, but portable hot tubs are almost impossible to buy! We finally found one on Ebay and started by hiring it out to friends and family. It was quickly in high demand, so we bought a second, but by January interest was continuing to grow.

My partner, Luca and I were still juggling the hot tub hires around our day jobs, but became incredibly busy very quickly. Luca was working on a temporary contract which ran until May, and we had talked about dedicating ourselves to the hot tub business from June, assuming it continued to grow. Within two weeks, we had so many orders that we both resigned from our jobs, knowing we needed to chuck everything we had at the business!

Business is booming We quickly had to scale up! We started with just Luca and I, but by April we had two vans, 60 hot tubs and a storage unit.

Luca’s mum runs our cleaning team, Luca’s girlfriend oversees the admin and helps with set-up. We have bookings up to eight months ahead and we’re already seeing repeat business. There is very little competition locally, so while we do expect

things to slow down once lockdown restrictions end, we’re confident that demand will continue.

Plans to expand In November 2021, we moved into a new warehouse, which was a big step and means we can scale up much more easily.

In January 2022, we changed our name to Bubbll – to reflect our plans to expand into London, Sussex and Kent – with new name, logo and website (bubbll.co.uk).

We are also about to hire a lot more staff!

It’s been an exciting journey, if something of a steep learning curve!

Nothing in my degree course prepared me for running a business. Likewise, Luca studied Sport Journalism, so both of us have had to learn on the job. We’ve had several offers of investment, but for now we’re going to see how we get on. I certainly can’t imagine ever working in a 9am-5pm office job now!

Why not treat yourself or the family to a unique, at-home hot tub experience?

With an amazing selection of hot tubs for hire, make any celebration that little bit more bubbly!

The Bubbll team supplies and sets up all the equipment – just sit back and enjoy the bubbles! www.bubbll.co.uk 01342 393000 65

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REIGATIAN SPORT 2020-2021 RUGBY The 2020/21 season at Old Reigatian RFC was a strange and difficult one, with both playing and social plans hit

by COVID. It is safe to say that it has been one of the most challenging periods of our 95-year history.

Fifty years ago we ran six senior male sides on a Saturday, but that was all. No Sundays, no minis and juniors, no touch rugby, no ladies and girls teams. We are now approaching thirty sides of mixed formats, age groups and genders. Under normal circumstances this can be a juggling act! To get through this period of uncertainty has been an achievement by all involved.

Under RFU guidance we continued training through ‘touch’ and ‘ready for rugby’. Being able to train in person made a massive difference to members’ mental and physical wellbeing. That said, the use of Zoom calls, virtual training sessions and team challenges proved just how adaptable our members and players are!

Our 1st XV Captain, George Wheeler (2003-2010), handed over the reins to Reilly Franklin-Talbot for the 2021/22 season. At the time of writing the team is sitting at the top of the table in London two South West, which is a great place to be!

We must reflect upon the club members that we have lost over the past year. Sir Peter Harrison (see obituary p80), Ray Hamps (see obituary p84), Chris Venn, George Crowley and Richard Woodford were all unique and talented characters.

They shared a common trait, they were all ‘Club men’ through and through. We will miss them all and cherish their memory.

We now look forward to the

future and continue to go from strength-to-strength. Our members, supporters and volunteers make us the club we are. They have stuck with us through the uncertainties and for that we thank them.

New members are very welcome to join ORRFC. For more information, visit oldreigatianrfc.com.

ORRFC’s new Captain, Reilly Franklin-Talbot

With thanks to Kate Birinder-Ross, ORRFC Hon Secretary

CRICKET The Old Reigatian Cricket Club community got back into the swing of things with a couple of fixtures this year against Merstham CC and the inaugural Joey Benjamin Memorial Cup match against Reigate Priory CC. The news of Joey’s passing came as a shock for the ORCC community, and there were some lovely tributes paid to a man who brought so much happiness to former RGS cricketers.

The match vs Merstham was run

by Laurie Nicholson (RGS 20042012) and was a good match that saw the ORs win by 42 runs, the skipper 66

himself top scoring with 48.

The showpiece match of the year was the Joey match against Reigate Priory (see write-up on page 19).

It was a wonderful day, paying tribute to a great man, and provided an opportunity to catch up with many thankful Reigatians.

If you are interested in playing for ORCC, please send an email to pjbd@hotmail.co.uk or call 07446 055543.

With thanks to Phil Davies (RGS 2001-2008), ORCC Chairman

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HOCKEY The 2020-21 season seemed unlikely to start up after December 2020, but the restrictions eased, and we played in April and May. The league schedule did not apply so we just played as many missed matches as we could.

There was no league table. We then moved straight into summer matches in a league arranged by Epsom HC, which we won.

The national league structure was again revised, starting in the 2021-22 season. No longer do the 1sts play in the South League and the 2nds and 3rds in the Surrey Open, with opponents in Surrey or nearby. The south-east is now divided into three groups, Invicta, Martlets and Oaks and we are in Oaks, which includes a number of Hampshire teams. The 1sts are in division one, with no wins and three draws out of 11 matches, the

2nds in division three with nine losses out of nine, and the 3rds in division six, with two draws out of ten matches (results as of December 2021).

We regret to report the deaths of three long-serving members of ORHC. John Earl (RGS 1959-1967) had been Secretary and 3rd XI captain. He died after many years in care, following a stroke (see obituary p85). Tony Sperrin (RGS 1967-1974) and Ric Inglis (RGS 1972-1979) had

each made over 300 appearances and Ric was playing until a couple of years ago (see obituary p82).

The Club is always keen to recruit new members of any age and ability.

If you would like to return to hockey, please contact Rob Evans on 07718 128575 for more details or visit the website: orhc.info.

ORHC’s 1st XI vs Old Georgians 3rds (result 1-1) from November 2021

With thanks to Ian Whiteman (RGS 1953-1961), ORHC Treasurer

NETBALL After such a successful season in 2019/20, Old Reigatians Netball Club has further strengthened its squads and continues to have high membership numbers, and enjoys welcoming new players each season.

Like most sports, the pandemic put a strict halt on playing netball, so last season saw the leagues on hold whilst training was allowed to re-start towards the end of spring 2021. Many new players joined the club last year, including more former RGS pupils and ORNC now has three full squads.

This current season, the B team is going from strength-to-strength after being promoted to Division 8. It is currently sitting top of the division, with seven wins from seven matches, playing some truly fantastic netball.

This team is very ambitious and has the skills to gain a further promotion this season. The A team is performing well in Division 4, sitting middle of the table halfway through the season and has had some great wins against Cobham and Whyteleafe so far.

The Met team is also doing well and ORNC has really strengthened the team with depth and versatility in the squads and will look to continue this momentum into the second half of this season. The club looks forward to building on its success.

ORNC always enjoys welcoming new members and is open to all.

For more information, please email oldreigatiansnetball@hotmail.co.uk.

With thanks to Charlotte Frith (RGS 1999-2006), ORNC Chairperson

Left: From October 2021, the A team (pictured top) and B team (below) players 67

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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 significant wealth through the acquisition of land and estates in 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.

The school’s very foundations are built on philanthropy. Through the Henry Smith Club, you can help us to continue this support for hardworking, talented local children who lack the financial means to experience the educational excellence that RGS offers.

“I would not have been able to attend RGS without the generosity of the kind donors who helped fund my education.

As soon as I was able, I wanted to give back; to give others the same opportunity. When I saw the great work that was being done by the HSC, I was eager to contribute, given that it’s a cause to which I can personally relate, having been supported by the school on multiple occasions.”

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Henry Smith Club members together provide a lifechanging place at RGS. Could you be one of them?

Dr Say Vivekanantham (RGS 2002-2009), Former bursary recipient and HSC member

Membership of the HSC 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.

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

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

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SCHOOL VISITS VISITING SPEAKERS Access to careers advice from our extensive network of Reigatians is one of the greatest benefits we can offer current students. Lockdowns and social distancing did not stop the flow of careers events and speakers at all in 2021 – if anything the programme was even broader than usual. We are hugely grateful to all of those who took part last year.

TEDxYOUTH@RGS Thirteen speakers gathered around the digital campfire to share their insights on everything from conflict to social anthropology to architecture on the evening of the 29 June in the Old Library at RGS. The many hours of rehearsals and coaching undertaken by students paid off as the quality of the speeches was not only impressive, but inspirational.

Responding to the theme “What we have learned” ensured that students assembled their own views on a range of topics, beginning with First Former Sofia M’s “What we’ve learned in lockdown”. Sofia reflected humorously on the nights of playing board games and family walks, showing that what should have been a trial ended up being a benefit for many.

Andie Fullalove, Head of Public Speaking and Debate at RGS, reported, “I have been working with young speakers for over 15 years and tonight’s performance included some of the most capable, original and uplifting speeches I have ever heard”.

Third Formers Dahlia A and Fazeeha M shared reflections on the war in Syria and Islamophobia, tackling sensitive issues in a positive and personal manner. Allie A too was able to lift the lid on many things we take for granted in product design but perhaps should not.

Our Lower Sixth also featured: Charlie H’s speech on the ethics of ‘The Nudge’ again made us consider our choices. Lucy B’s speech on Vernacular Architecture and Felicity S’s speech on the remote population on the North Sentinel Island gave us a breadth of culture on unusual, little-studied subjects.

We were delighted that three of our Upper Sixth students returned to share insights on topics which

Keynote speaker, Matt Lowe spoke passionately about the importance of persistence and resilience

they have pursued in their own time. Ved N’s warning of the economic consequences of not engaging with Gen Z was motivating, as was Charlie J’s speech on biological determinism and the consequences of this ideology. While Grace B inspired new lines of thinking on gender politics, amalgamating science, literature and political thought.

We were delighted to have, as keynote speaker, Matt Lowe (RGS 1992-1997), Founder and CEO of performance.io. Matt’s inspirational presentation underscored our values of persistence and resilience in reaching the heights of success, along with a little bit of play and maverick thought. Matt was deeply complimentary of the Reigate community, expressing real admiration for our students’ ability to make, “Such an extraordinary range of topics so interesting”.

Overseeing TEDxYouth@RGS was the student events team, who delivered an exceptionally highquality performance with skilled transitions, ensuring the event had a professional flow as well as an exceptional content in the shape of our speakers.

Feedback was hugely positive, with one sudent describing her involvement as beneficial, saying that she learned lots about a variety of topics.

We look forward to inviting more Reigatians to deliver face-to-face talks in 2022 and beyond.

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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.

THE EXTENSIVE CAREERS PROGRAMME

Below: Oxbridge talk with Lucy Davies (RGS 2019-2021), who is reading History at Oxford; and Harry Armstrong (RGS 2014-2021), who is reading Law at Cambridge Bottom: Environmental evening, with slides from one of the presenters, Sophie Emmerton (RGS 2011-2018), outlining her course in Enviromental Science at York

On 2 February the University/Careers Convention ran online. Mr Buzzacott (RGS staff 2000-present) introduced the event, explaining how students can make themselves outstanding candidates for university. Mrs Budden (RGS staff 2017-2021) delivered a presentation on Oxbridge admissions and Phil Day (current parent) on ‘Finding the career path that suits you best.’ Two further talks explored gap years and US university admissions.

On 30 March, RGS held an Engineering Evening, organised by Miss Vaughan (RGS staff 2014-present).

James Hawrych (RGS 2009-2016) gave a presentation on studying Engineering at Oxford. We also had fantastic presentations from Phil Tarrant (parent of former student) and Phil Wilbraham (current parent) on their careers in the engineering industry. Finally, Natalie Jones (RGS 2003-2010) spoke about the Dyson degree, as an alternative to university.

WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS There was an excellent workshop on CV and cover-letter writing from Abby Cox (current parent), interviews evenings, an MMI event for medics, UCAS days, careers profiling and follow-up interviews for students in the Fifth Form

and the Lower Sixth and much more, including: Suda Perera (RGS 1997-2004), Lecturer in Development Studies, presented ‘Why humanitarian work does not always solve the problems that it seeks to address’, ‘The Ebola crisis’ and ‘What is Development Studies?’  Jerry Ostrowski (current parent) on ‘Hostage negotiation’ and careers in the police  Dr Chris Pook (RGS 1977-1985), on ‘Working in the government office of science’. This included his work with Patrick Vallance during the Covid crisis  Oliver Harris (RGS 2015-2020), James Gerrard (RGS 2014-2020) and Annabel Plummer (RGS 2018-2020) on their time at Douse Associates, a financial services and marketing firm in Dorking  Charlotte Michel (RGS 2001-2008) on careers in TV and media  John Stanton (RGS 1997-2002), Lecturer in Law at City University, on routes into Law  Stuart Frith (RGS 1998-2006) on careers in accounting and finance  Jane Marshall (friend of RGS) on writing a personal statement  Sophia Herbert (RGS 2013-2000) and Louisa Grinyer (RGS 2013-2000) on ‘How to make yourselves outstanding candidates for Oxbridge’  Representatives from CGI on technical and business degree apprenticeships  Emily White (RGS 2014-2018) on studying Veterinary Medicine at the University of Nottingham  Henry Jamieson (RGS 1999-2004) on working for government in the civil service  Katy Peters (current parent), from the University of Surrey, on ‘Medical ethics’ 

In June, current university students, Kate Gerrard (RGS 2014-2019), Zoe Boxall (RGS 2016-2018), Max Goldbloom (RGS 2012-2019), Tom Guise (RGS 2013-2019), Yasmin Herbert (RGS 2011-2018), Isabelle Brotzel (RGS 2011-2018) and Ben Silverman (RGS 2011-2018) took part in an online Q&A with Sixth Form students, discussing university life and studying abroad. While Sam Jones (RGS 2011-2018) gave a fabulous presentation about the opportunities for working and studying abroad – Sam has been working in Holland for one of his years at university.

In September, Dr Pat Morgan (current parent) hosted a discussion with prospective medics about current medical issues that are likely to be relevant topics for questions at interview. Later in the term, Dr Andrew Selman (RGS 1990-1997) spoke about his own medical career, but also put questions to our medics about current medical issues.

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SCHOOL TOURS

Sign up to the RGS app and enjoy a virtual tour of the school – see p33

VISIT US VIRTUALLY!

ENVIRONMENTAL AND ‘GREEN’ CAREERS In November, the careers team ran an Environmental evening to explore some of the roles and degree courses that might grow out of the climate crisis.

Sophie Emmerton (RGS 2011-2018) spoke with great enthusiasm about her degree course and subsequent career in Environmental Science. Current parents, Casey Cole and Hugh Unwin, who work within the low-carbon heat and renewable-energy sectors, shared their wide-reaching take on both their own career areas, but also other growth sectors.

The same month, we held practice interviews for Oxbridge candidates and those wishing to study Medicine and Veterinary Medicine. We could not do this without the help of a large number of former students and parents, to whom we are extremely grateful.

Late November, Phil Day (current parent) gave an interesting and insightful presentation on CVs and interview skills. This was extremely well received and is now being used regularly in careers lessons!

HEALTH CAREERS EVENING In December, we ran an ambitious online Health Careers evening, in which we had twelve ten-minute talks on health careers other than medicine and dentistry. A really inspirational set of presentations helped showcase these career areas. Speakers were:  Sophie Holmes (current parent) on careers in clinical psychology  Dr Donna Jessop (current parent), Lecturer at the University of Sussex, on health psychology  Megan Lewis (RGS 2016-2018) on her degree in Speech Therapy  Genevieve Collier (RGS 2012-2019) on her degree in Midwifery  Sally Stimpson (parent of former students) on careers in nursing  Katie Frost (RGS 2011-2016) on her degree in Children’s Nursing  Hannah Garmston (RGS 2009-2016) on her degree and early career in Physiotherapy  Charlotte Bader (RGS 2012-2019) on her degree in Chiropractic Medicine  Dr Myrto Lee (current parent) on careers in the pharmaceutical sector  Mahin Uddin (RGS 2011-2018) on his degree in Pharmacology  Amy Gonzalez, née Taylor (RGS 1998-2000) on her career as a Respiratory Physiologist We are enormously grateful to all those who help enrich the RGS careers programme. There have been so many kind offers – if we have missed anyone, please accept our sincere apologies.

Visitors were limited again in 2021, but we did manage to welcome back a couple of former students. If you would like to tour the school, please email foundation@reigategrammar.org.

Phil Ward (RGS 1972-1979) returned in November for a tour of the school and a chat with Headmaster, Shaun Fenton.

Ashok Rao (RGS 1987-1995), our Remembrance Day guest of honour (see p22), enjoyed seeing his old school again, having not been back in over 20 years.

Steve Lynch (RGS 1980-1984), back in the UK from his home on Lake Geneva, snuck in a tour during the Christmas break. He was particularly pleased to see the many displays around the school promoting inclusion, diversity and compassion for others.

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SCHOOL NEWS CCF WINS MOST OUTSTANDING SERVICE PERSONNEL IN LOCKDOWN AWARD Reigate Grammar School’s Combined Cadet Force won the Most Outstanding Service Personnel in Lockdown (Group). The school was honoured to be the only CCF unit shortlisted in the Armed Forces Community Lockdown Awards – run in association with the Invictus Games Foundation. Contingent Commander, Lieutenant Andy Pruvost (RGS staff 2019-present) said, “I’m incredibly proud of our contingent. They are a pleasure to work with and deserve this recognition.”

The RGS CCF has had an incredible year.

For the first time in the history of the school

we opened CCF to the Second Form, with 20 young cadets joining the contingent. We are also one of the only CCF units in the country, to have both First Sea Lord Cadet (Chief Petty Officer, Esther W) and Lord Lieutenant Cadet (Company Sergeant Major Charlie B).

Without a doubt, RGS CCF is a flagship for the National CCF. With a summer camp in Gibraltar and a winter camp in Canada being planned, who wouldn’t want to be part of the CCF? We cannot wait to see what the future has to offer!

Above: (l-r) back row: Deputy Head, Dr Stones (RGS staff 2013-present), Max W, Jack R, Mr McCarten (RGS staff 2017-present), front row Miss C Gill (RGS staff 2021-present), Miss P Lewty (RGS staff 2016-present)

CYBER SCHOOL OF THE YEAR AWARD The Computer Science department was proud to be nominated and shortlisted for a Cyber School of the Year 2021 Award.

The awards aim to reward those who are committed to cyber education, innovation, cyber-crime reduction and protecting citizens online. Current Sixth Former, Max W, and former student Jack Roberts (RGS 2013-2020) were both shortlisted in the Cyber Student of the Year category.

Both Max and Jack completed their EPQs (Extended Project Qualification) in cyber-related topics.

OUTREACH ELECTIVES This year the school launched Outreach Electives for the first time for pupils in the Third and Forth Form. This proved tremendously popular and pupils have visited local care homes, primary schools, Stripey Stork and Loveworks.

In October, RGS also launched a programme of masterclasses, to provide enrichment support to Year 5 and Year 6 pupils in local primary schools. Mr Marley (RGS staff 2019-present) ran the Maths masterclass, alongside the Royal Institute, with help from fellow maths teachers and Sixth Form pupils. Miss Lewty (RGS staff 2016-present) ran a Creative Coding class with the help of ICT staff and Sixth Formers (pictured). These have been incredibly well-received and the school has received many emails commenting on how valuable the children found these sessions.

The First Form also spent time creating their own personalised Christmas cards for the Live at Home scheme. Cards were designed, written and posted to a vast number of elderly people living alone in our local community.

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ReiMUN The MUN leadership team was delighted to host ReiMUN 25 in person in October, attended by over 200 delegates from schools across the South of England. A day of fruitful debate was chaired by an enthusiastic student leadership team. The guest of honour was James Gater (RGS 1990-1997), who was Secretary General of ReiMUN in 1996 and 1997. James exlained that, as a serving Naval Officer, he has visited 76 of the 193 UN member states. James said, “The capacity to probe, to debate, to call into question others’ views and hold them to account; to haggle, to offend, to gracefully take offence, and to understand whilst not agreeing, are not just techniques for the debating floor, not just things that will get you noticed here. They are the swords and shields of our age.” Mid-way through the Conference, the leadership team staged a mock crisis, in which students were informed that a coalition of the Taliban, China, Pakistan and Iran had invaded Israel with the aim of creating the State of Palestine. Troops (thanks to the CCF!) lined the Sports Hall to maintain order and delegates were asked to arrive at a peaceful resolution. Congratulations to all students for their enthusiasm and commitment!

JUNIOR ReiMUN: In May, RGS held its fifth annual Junior ReiMUN Conference on Microsoft Teams, with over 120 delegates and advisors from across the UK taking part. Sixth Formers, Steven C and Piya P held the roles of Secretaries General. The team spent months in contact with other schools, writing resolutions on a myriad of topical debates, such as de-radicalisation and colonisation of the Moon.

Workshops included How to write a UN Resolution and How to Chair a UN Committee, before delegates began debating.

CRICKETING SUCCESS! Reigate Grammar School is delighted to be included in The Cricketer Schools Guide 2022 for the sixth year running.

To feature in this 156-page supplement, schools submit entries, which are judged against a set of criteria, which includes a compelling commitment to cricket in the curriculum, facilities, fixture programmes and coaching. Also considered, was how schools kept the game alive during the pandemic, and how they look to ensure cricket remains a central part of school life.

We are also thrilled to announce that three students, Emily B, Lily F and Rosie F have been selected for the Surrey girls’ Emerging Player Group (EPG) programme. This enhanced training programme is for players deemed to have high potential, who have stood out within their county age group squad, and provides additional coaching and resources to further aid their development. Only nine girls were selected, so RGS represents a third of the group!

MUSIC We are delighted to report that a full complement of live music-making returned to RGS in 2021. Ensemble rehearsals have been in full flight, with 27 sessions (in excess of twenty-two hours) a week, as pupils eagerly prepare for a variety of performances and events.

Informal concerts have taken place in the Recital Room, giving students the chance to perform to small audiences.

In November, RGS ensembles returned to Dorking Halls for the first time since 2019. For many of our musicians, this was their first live concert as RGS students.

A member of the First Form choir wrote, “I felt quite nervous on the day, but I knew it was going to be amazing. I felt very proud

to be representing the school... I could feel the vibrations of the drums flowing through my body, my favourite part was the drum solo – it took my breath away. I felt very proud when we were singing and, when we finished, everyone clapped... I don’t think the night could have gone better. The music was brilliant, the songs were amazing,

the atmosphere was fantastic. I enjoyed listening and watching everyone and I loved being part of the choir.”

The Music department is a hive of activity. Keep up-to-date with the latest news by following @rgs_music on Twitter and enjoy a wealth of recordings via the RGS Music channel on YouTube.

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SCHOOL NEWS ART, PHOTOGRAPHY AND DESIGN TECHNOLOGY

Jemima H The Second Form art club has been exploring new materials, techniques, and processes.

They produced a dry point etching of natural forms, thinking about ways to ink up, choosing different colours and printing onto marbled papers which they created themselves.

Jonathan G

The Photography department, inspired by artist Olafur Eliasson, set up three coloured lights in the dark room and had people pose against a white background to create colourful shadows and shapes, exploring how distance affected sharpness and distortion.

In the autumn term, DT students embraced newly installed Blender software. This means complex organic shapes can be produced quickly and enables photorealistic renders of the final form. In many cases, this can be outputted to the newly acquired 3D printers.

DRAMA The RGS Drama department began 2021 with a sense of optimism and endeavour, combining new streaming and online abilities with in-person performance. RGS Live continued, showcasing highlights from past productions.

We introduced RGS Masterclass – live, online workshops led by former students and friends from the theatre industry.

In the summer, RGS Drama took over the Headmaster’s garden with a full-scale junior production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Featuring over a hundred Second and Third Formers, the show included live music, acrobatics and brilliant storytelling. The autumn term saw an extraordinary production of Oliver!. Brought up to date with a contemporary twist, the production featured nearly 90 on-stage performers, with 30 more behind the scenes. The cast stepped up to the challenge of entertaining sold-out audiences over six performances, leading to standing ovations each night. Visit rgsdrama.net.

SPORT Reigate Grammar School has continued to focus on two key pillars of sport: engagement sport and performance sport. While not mutually exclusive, engagement sport is our pathway to involve, inspire and support pupil participation, while the performance sport pathway aims to develop athletes to be the best they can be at a competitive level. There are over 50 sports clubs each week with more than half of students having taken part in 2021.

RGS was again recognised in the Top 100 Cricket Schools in the Country by the Cricketer Magazine. In rugby, the 1st XV produced fantastic results – only losing one fixture in the autumn term.

The U14 team won every Saturday fixture and reached the last 16 of the School Sports Magazine national competition. In hockey, students enjoyed specialist coaching, with many gaining successful entry to the England Hockey Player Pathway programme. Netball continues to go from strength-to-strength with four pupils selected for Super league franchises – a school record! We have also had several successes, in both swimming and biathlon competitions.

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RGS INTERNATIONAL

RGS: THE FIRST UK SCHOOL BRAND IN VIETNAM A global epidemic isn’t the best time to enter complex international negotiations, but despite delays and disruptions, wrought by Covid, Reigate Grammar School International has succeeded in establishing a new educational partnership in Vietnam. It is the first of its type between a British school and Vietnam.

A

n official signing ceremony took place at the Vietnamese Embassy in London in September 2021, hosted by Ambassador Nguyen Hoang Long and First Secretary Tran Huong Ly. Joining this special event live from Vietnam was the British Consul General for Vietnam, Emily Hamblin, and our new partners, led by Chairman, Bich Thuy Mai. In his opening speech, Ambassador Long said: “Education is a very important pillar of cooperation between the two countries… this is a flagship project and an example for others to follow.”

Consul General, Emily Hamblin, stressed: “This is a milestone moment for our UK-Vietnam education partnership. We are celebrating the first UK independent school to have a franchise and trademark in Vietnam. High-quality education is needed now more than ever.”

The International School of Vietnam (ISV), in Hanoi, is a not-for-profit establishment that caters for children from pre-kindergarten to Sixth Form and serves both the international and local communities.

Founded nine years ago, under the terms of the agreement, ISV will be renamed Reigate Grammar School Vietnam. A strong IGCSE and A level programme will accompany the

Above: The RGS International team at the signing ceremony hosted by Ambassador Nguyen Hoang Long and First Secretary Tran Huong Ly Right: The team at Reigate Grammar School Vietnam current International Baccalaureate.

Mai Bich Thuy, Chairman of ISV, said: “We believe that this cooperation will open up many learning opportunities, allowing our students to grow, thereby laying the foundation for them to enter world-class universities.”

On signing, Sean Davey, Managing Director of RGS International, highlighted that there were also plans to open an international Sixth Form college in the city in 2023 and, potentially, a third school soon after. He said: “This is a great opportunity for us and it is a privilege to be able to take the outstanding education that RGS provides into a fascinating and vibrant part of Asia.”

Reigate Grammar School Vietnam will now join a family of RGS schools, here in

the UK, in China and Morocco. At RGS, we relish the fact that all of us – our students and the whole Reigatian community – are part of a global family.

In his closing address, RGS Headmaster, Shaun Fenton, said: “It is a great honour to embark on a special journey to make this world better through the children in our care. Today we lay a founding stone for a global village and we prepare a bridge of understanding. We break down the walls of ignorance and prejudice and offer a hand of friendship instead. This partnership between RGSI and ISV is a blend of excellence. Together we can create a new paradigm and a stronger version of international education. Every great journey starts with a single step.”

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LEAVING STAFF We were sorry to say farewell to the following staff in 2021...

MALCOLM CLINE RGS STAFF 1983-2021 Head of Geography If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself?

Grow a beard – I was very fresh-faced joining RGS straight from university, and some students looked older than me. More seriously, I’d say be positive – words of encouragement are far more effective than criticism. Remember that teaching able students is a privilege and watching them flourish brings job satisfaction that many would envy.

What are you most proud of?

I am proud of the successes of the whole Geography team. We are united in our love of the subject; our mantra is to encourage a student’s lifelong interest in the world so they become a force for positive change.

In these exceptional times, this has become all the more important. I am proud to have been involved in trips, and to have met my wife at RGS and to have seen my daughter flourish here as a student, (even if she didn’t opt for Geography GCSE!).

What will you miss the most?

I will miss colleagues, friends and students – and the camaraderie of the staff room. I’ll

miss the banter in the departmental office, the energy, encouragement and humour that keeps you going under pressure.

I’ll miss the interaction with students and having the opportunity to indulge my passion for the subject on a daily basis.

I will miss the trips – such a big part of my time at RGS, from early field trips to Aberystwyth, trekking in Norway and Iceland, to more exotic locations including Belize, Peru and China – unique experiences creating lasting memories.

What will you miss the least?

Technology that complicates life and reduces efficiency. Exam papers that focus more on technique than good geography.

What is your fondest memory?

The biggest argument we had in the department has not been about ideology, curriculum or planning, but whether dendrochronology (the study of tree rings) is a line of evidence for long-term climate change in the Quaternary. Working in the Geography department with such dedicated and hardworking colleagues has been a pleasure and I can’t thank them enough for being such wonderful people.

Any other comments?

I encourage every student to make the most of opportunities to explore; to experience and develop an understanding of people and cultures, to protect the environment and enjoy this wonderful planet. And, when you are feeling under pressure, remember – above the clouds, the sun is always shining!

SAM WOODWARD RGS staff 2018-2021 Director of Sport If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself?

Set better work-life habits. Teach and coach more – spend less time desk bound!

Look after my mental health.

What are you most proud of?

Hartswood developments and improvements of grounds. Introduction of football and golf to all age groups.

What will you miss the most?

Working alongside staff and students.

What will you miss the least?

Emails and meetings, even though both are necessary evils.

What is your fondest memory?

The Dubai cricket and netball tour in 2020.

We came back just as the pandemic was kicking in, so we were lucky to get away.

I have been on a lot of school tours, but the Dubai trip was special as the group of senior students were brilliant tourists!

Any other comments?

My time at RGS has been very enjoyable and I have been fortunate to meet some amazing people. I am extremely grateful for the support I have had from non-teaching staff...

Dawn Holmes, Rob Stannard and Jane Tyson deserve a special mention!

WE ALSO BID FAREWELL TO:

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself?

Relax, go with the flow and don’t worry about any problems that arise. They are all possible to deal with.

STEVE CAREY RGS staff 2011-2021 Porter

What are you most proud of?

Rapport with staff and students. Being on top of my job and being able to say that I joined a good school and left it as an award-winning one.

What will you miss the most?

The staff and students; the work that is varied; meeting and greeting visitors.

What will you miss the least?

Trying to sort out the staff pigeon holes before the start of the autumn term!

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Sidney Biggs, D&T Technician, 2006-2021 Alex Boothroyd, Assistant Head, 2015-2021 – Alex has joined the RGS Shenzhen as Founding Headmaster Neil Buchanan, Assistant Headteacher, 2014-2021 Lucy Budden, Teacher of History, 2017-2021 Peter Chesterton, Chaplain, 2009-2021 Alison Davies, Teacher of Girls Games, 1998-2021 Debbie Hiller, Cleaning Operative, 2020-2021 Sibel Huntley, Catering Assistant, 2010-2021 Huw Jones, Assistant Head, 2013-2021

What is your fondest memory?

Every day was a joy! Great place to work.

Beth Lawson, Marketing/Admin Assistant, 2019-2021

Any other comments?

I shall miss the banter, the friendly staff and the students.

Sarah Lea, Head of Netball, 2017-2021

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ROBERT SHAUGHNESSY RGS staff 2014-2021 Head of English If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself?

Learn conditional formatting in Excel earlier as it really makes things easy.

What are you most proud of?

The team in English – they are a warm, erudite and a genuinely fantastic bunch. I’ve loved working with them and their creativity.

What will you miss the most?

Apart from the amazing people, enthusiastic students and the warmth of the school? The other thing I’ll miss is the flapjack – it’s out of this world!

What will you miss the least?

I’ve had a difficult relationship with ISAMS; unfortunately, my next school also uses it.

What is your fondest memory?

I don’t know where to start. World Book Day and dressing up – Hayley Robinson (RGS staff 2014-2020) and I, as Mr and Mrs Twit; seeing students through from the First Form to the Upper Sixth; the day we moved into the palatial new English Office; they’re all up there.

Any other comments?

I’m humbled to be leaving the school with so many warm wishes and great friends.

JULIAN SERGEANT RGS staff 1992-2017 Chemistry Teacher and Founder of ReiMUN. Exams officer 2002-2017 If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself?

Worry less. Enjoy more. But I probably wouldn’t listen to my advice!

What are you most proud of?

Making Model UN a success.

What will you miss the most?

Students, staff, practical work, experimental demonstrations.

What will you miss the least?

Marking What is your fondest memory?

I have many fond memories – lots of MUN events at Hastings, Croydon, Haileybury and Dublin. The lunch where past and present MUN people came together is a particularly fond one. The students who helped start it twenty-five years ago were there along with others, many talking about how MUN had helped their careers. It was pleasing to find that Ruth Everness (’07), who had been an RGS team member some time back, was then Director of Haileybury MUN. One memory goes back to 2002 at the Hastings conference when a resolution written by one of our students, Emily Dodgson (’02), representing Colombia, passed with 88 for, two abstention zero against. I also enjoyed working with Linda Stephens to make the exams work and had fun blowing up things in the fireworks talks I did!

Susan Lockyer, Senior Science Technician, 2007-2021

Sumbul Mohammed, Exams Officer, 2020-2021

Ivan Padilla Cuesta, Language Assistant, 2020-2021

Martin Russell, Teacher of Mathematics, 1975-2021 Alice Travis, Performance Director of Netball, 2017-2021 Mary Walsh, Teacher of Computer Science, 2017-2021

What are you most proud of?

I am proud of the privileged position that I hold, working with so many teaching and support staff. I feel that I have been able to make the pupil experience a little bit better and that’s what continues to motivate me.

What will you miss the most?

The pupils are great. My favourite this year has been getting former pupils to help with Oxbridge preparation. It was great to catch up with them and hear about their career plans and the companies that they are hoping to work for after graduating.

What will you miss the least?

RAPTER What is your fondest memory?

My favourite part of the year is results day and seeing the happy faces of the students as they receive their grades. I have the privilege of knowing that those anxious, expectant faces will turn to relief and joy as they realise that the doors are open to the next stage of their academic careers.

Nothing will beat the smile of a pupil having opened their envelope to see they have achieved the A in Physics that they worked so hard to achieve.

What are you most proud of?

Spreading positivity, calmness, inspiration and motivation.

Having a strong attitude/mindset.

Lucas Overtoom, Rugby Coach, 2020-2021

Margot Riva, Language Assistant, 2020-2021

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself?

It is going to be tough, but you won’t recognise yourself at the end. Listen, learn and enjoy working in a fantastic school.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself?

Smile more! Laugh more!

Sara Mantle, CCF Admin, 2018-2021

Dr Mathew Purcell, Teacher of Chemistry, 2016-2021

CHRISTOPHER SMITH RGS staff 2017-2021 Director of Studies

SIBEL HUNTLEY RGS staff 2010-2021 Catering Assistant

What is your fondest memory?

The graduation ceremony when I was called onto the stage!

I was so emotional and tearful that my make-up ran down my face and made me look like a clown. I was totally unaware and was still smiling to all the parents who came over to thank me (it was a bit embarassing)!

Any other comments?

Every moment with Sixth Formers was irreplaceable and I am happpy to have been part of the school since 2010.

I hope that giving out positive thoughts, motivation and inspiration was helpful to them.

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PUBLICATIONS

SIR PETER LAMPL (RGS 1959-1964)

DAVID WALLIAMS (RGS 1981-1989)

Ticket to Ride: My Adventures in Making Big Money and Giving it Away These pages track Peter’s varied career, from flogging tickets for one of The Beatles’ first major concerts, to getting caught up in a New York family turf war. At the book’s heart is a clear and galvanising case for strategic philanthropy, crucially with the founding of educational charity, The Sutton Trust. Partly an inspiring memoir, partly an impassioned call to action for social mobility and educational equality, Peter’s autobiography describes how a self-made entrepreneur amassed a fortune and then chose to use it to help others.

Gangsta Granny Strikes Again!

David Walliams returns to the world of Gangsta Granny in his first-ever sequel!

This wonderfully entertaining adventure features many of the much-loved characters from the original cast... Ben is getting used to life without his beloved Granny (the international jewel thief, The Black Cat). Now, only the memory of their extraordinary mission to steal the Crown Jewels lives on. But when world-famous treasures are stolen in the dead of night, the clues point to none other than The Black Cat! But that’s impossible, right?

This laugh-out-loud adventure will have readers on the edge of their seats.

Megamonster Megamonster is an action-packed adventure set on an island in the middle of sharkinfested waters – where the Cruel School stands. The lessons are appalling, the school dinners are revolting and the teachers are terrifying – especially the mysterious Science Teacher, Doctor Doktur. When Larker is sent to the school for pulling a prank, she quickly realises something very odd is going on. Something involving Doctor Doktur, a pair of strange spectacles and a ‘monsterfication machine’. When she finds herself face-to-face with a real life Megamonster, there seems to be no escape – but for Larker, nothing is impossible...

LYNN WILSON (RGS 1959-1966)

DEREK PARLOUR (RGS 1975-1980)

MARK BEASLEY (RGS 1967-1972)

Hail the Bus-Stop Britannia – a History of Redcoat This book records Lynn’s 40-year career with Redcoat, an independent cargo airline which began in 1976 and is still active today, albeit no longer as an airline.

Redcoat is still involved in the aviation world, particularly with freight transportation in West Africa. Proceeds from the sale of this book support a clinic that was set up as a village-to-village project, supported by Redcoat, and which today is a successful and vitally important medical centre in The Gambia.

Successful Outsourcing and Multi-Sourcing Derek has built a reputation in the outsourcing industry, in the UK and overseas, for moving companies away from the old single-supplier sourcing model to one where multiple suppliers are used to deliver a single service. He was persuaded by suppliers and customers to put his experience into print to explain the concept, the advantages, the disadvantages and the best way to approach the model in order to achieve success and deliver the full benefits of multi-sourcing.

Long Drive South Long Drive South is a collection of ten short stories based upon big ideas for unfinished novels. There’s a laugh around every dark corner and a wicked twist to every tall tale. A religious symbol takes on new meaning. A young woman meets her doppelganger. A sales rep has a life-changing experience. A new sausage is launched, with deadly consequences.

The cast list includes a dying rock star, a loathsome food critic, a homicidal business executive and five old friends at a terrifying school reunion.

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KEVIN THURLOW (RGS 1964-1972)

ANDREW COLLEY (RGS 1970-1977)

DAVID ROOME (RGS 1958-1964)

Enhancing Wellbeing and Independence for Young People with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties Bringing together the results of a survey of over 200 schools who teach young people with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD), Andrew Colley explores what wellbeing, community participation and independence mean to young people with PMLD. This unique resource presents many innovative ways in which schools are working to ensure young people with PMLD have lives of value that are as rich and meaningful as possible.

Dancing the Skies On leaving RGS, Group Captain, David Roome, joined the Royal Air Force as a pilot, aged 18. He flew the supersonic Lightning with 74 (Tiger) Squadron in Singapore until 1971. At the height of the Cold War, David worked as a member of the Tactical Evaluation Team, assessing the readiness for war of all front-line RAF stations. He was responsible for planning the 168 aircraft flypast over London in 1990 as part of the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, for which he was appointed an OBE.

TIM HAIN (Current parent)

ALAN BROWNLOW (RGS 1944-1950)

JAMES MELLOR (RGS 1994-2001)

Lap of Honour Lap Of Honour captures a genuine fan’s-eye view of a golden age of motor racing. With 400 photographs spanning 57 years, Tim Hain takes a magical ride back in time with the legendary Sir Stirling Moss, reviving his passion as a ’60s schoolboy photographer and revisiting old haunts and heroes. With contributors like Mark Knopfler, David Coulthard, and Murray Walker, the book was nominated for The Telegraph’s Illustrated Sports Book Award 2020 and is described in Moss’s foreword as, “...absolutely enchanting.

I’m amazed Tim never held a press pass.”

Africa in the 20th Century During the 25 years that Alan lived in Africa, he witnessed major changes of colonies to independence, and respect between nations. Today, the relationships between people of different colours are so important, but sadly, too many still cannot accept this. In many areas of life, it will be the younger generations who will drive change and Alan hopes that this publication will be of interest to them as they continue to grapple with the problems of climate change and countering our apparent fixation on materialism.

Quarantoons: Cartoons from a New Normal Private Eye cartoonist, James Mellor, presents his favourite cartoons from the time of coronavirus. This is the story of how we were locked down and unlocked, tested and traced, then jabbed and pinged. From the satirical to the silly, the cartoons show how our lives have been turned upside down, as we attempt to carry on with a new normal.

In the future, when asked, ‘What was life like during the great plague?’, you can wave this book at them! Find more of James’s work at jamesmellorcreative.com.

A History of Chess in the English Civil Service This book covers over a hundred years of chess in the civil service, with information about the clubs, the individuals, the events they contested, the successes, and the arguments that sometimes resulted. Names of chess clubs bring a whiff of nostalgia, with India Office, War Office and Civil Service Rifles no longer in existence. Leading players served their country not only in their departments, but at establishments like Bletchley Park in the Second World War. Several civil servants represented their country in international matches.

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DEATHS & OBITUARIES SIR PETER HARRISON KGCN CBE (1937-2021) RGS PARENT AND BENEFACTOR Peter Robert Harrison was born in 1937 and grew up in Cheadle in Cheshire. His father, Bob, was a bus driver in Manchester who had been evacuated from Dunkirk, his mother, Molly, a seamstress.

Peter attended Cheadle Primary School, Broadway County Secondary School, then Stockport Technical College, where he was the only boy in his year who played in the Ist XI in both football and cricket. It was during a Scouts trip to the Norfolk Broads when he was 15 that Harrison fell in love with sailing.

He trained as a chartered accountant before an early career with the Ford Motor Company. He moved to Firth Cleveland then Crest Nicholson, the last of which had acquired a marine instruments company called Chernikeef. Peter spotted an opportunity and mortgaged his house to buy out this specialised business. He had seen the potential for its instrument technology to be applied to wider business communications and used it to successfully develop the efficiency of Telex messaging.

In 1987 he saw another opportunity and managed to acquire the UK rights to distribute internet routers developed by Cisco Systems. This business grew so dramatically that a little over 10 years later he was able to sell Chernikeef for a total of £300 million!

With some of this new wealth Peter and his family set up first the Peter Harrison Foundation (peterharrisonfoundation.org) and subsequently the Peter Harrison Heritage Foundation. In the intervening years these two philanthropic organisations have given away well over £50 million to hundreds of charities, with a particular emphasis on the development of sport for people with disabilities, the education of children from disadvantaged backgrounds and the provision of care for children with special needs.

One area where the Peter Harrison Foundation has made an emphatic and lasting impact is that of disability sport: developing facilities and widening opportunities for participation at grassroots club level; sponsoring young 80

The Peter Harrison Foundation made a grant of £4 million to build the beloved Sixth Form centre, which bears his name.

Paralympic hopefuls through the SportsAid Trust; investing in Sports Science at the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport at Loughborough University; and supporting the highest level of performance at successive Paralympic Games through the British Paralympic Association. Peter will be remembered as a champion of disability sport and for using his success to create opportunities which would otherwise not exist.

He was also rightly proud of some substantial investments in education.

Reigate Grammar School is just a few yards from his former Surrey home and the Peter Harrison Foundation made a grant of £4 million to build the beloved Sixth Form centre, which bears his name.

He also initiated a bursary scheme for pupils with academic ability whose parents could not afford the school fees and,

through the 20-year partnership between RGS and the Peter Harrison Foundation, 80 current and former Harrison Scholars have benefitted from his generosity.

Countless more school pupils can visit the Peter Harrison Planetarium at Greenwich to set their sights on the stars, thanks to his generosity.

In 2012, the Peter Harrison Foundation’s trustees helped Peter to establish a separate grant-giving charity, the Peter Harrison Heritage Foundation, with a capital endowment of over £7 million.

This allowed Peter to pursue a more personal range of philanthropic interests, particularly in military and naval history, which fell outside the scope of the older Foundation’s objectives. This led to substantial donations to the Imperial War Museum, to the National Army Museum, to the Fly Navy Heritage Trust for

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restoration of its historic Swordfish biplane, to the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth, to the Bletchley Park Trust, for the restoration of Hougoumont Farmhouse on the battlefield at Waterloo and of historic Clarence House on the island of Antigua, where Peter had enjoyed so much of his sailing.

Sailing was a passion of Peter’s. He sailed across the Atlantic 15 times, won races at Cowes and in the Caribbean, sponsored and led the 2002 British challenge for the America’s Cup in New Zealand. Much of his leisure time was spent aboard his 35m racing yacht, Sojana.

Sailing was not his only sport. He played football as a young man in Cheadle but, coming to Reigate at the age of 40, he turned to rugby. He joined the Old Reigatian RFC, for whom he played first as a winger and then as a prop forward well into his 50s. Through the Peter Harrison Foundation (and personally) he eventually contributed over £5 million to fund the development of new pitches and a splendid clubhouse which the local community is rightly proud of. It is not surprising that he saw sport and exercise as a way of unlocking human potential and believed so much in the value of removing barriers to participation. He maintained his early love of football, too: a passionate supporter of Chelsea FC he became one of the club’s Vice Presidents. Happily, he lived just long enough to watch his team win the Champions League for a second time.

In 2005 Peter was made an Honorary Doctor of Technology by the University of Loughborough in recognition of outstanding service to business, sport and disability. In the Queen’s Birthday Honours of 2010 Peter Harrison was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in recognition of his philanthropic work.

In 2013 he was knighted (Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Nation) by the Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda.

His late wife, Joy, died in 2012. Peter died peacefully at home in Reigate on Friday 18 June. A passionate sports fan all his life he was watching an international football match on television at the time. He was 84 years old. He is survived by his daughter Julia (RGS 1981-1983), son Nick (RGS 1976-1982) and his three grandchildren.

JOEY BENJAMIN (1961-2021) RGS STAFF 2001-2019 We were all stunned and deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Joey Benjamin in March 2021, taken far too soon at the age of 61 (nobody could really believe he was this old; he looked about 40!).

Joey coached cricket at RGS from 2001 to 2019. I can remember being a little in awe on his arrival. I had followed Surrey CC as a teenager, and I had also been in the crowd at his single test match versus South Africa in 1994 (most famous for Devon Malcolm’s 9-57), though it should be noted that Joey himself took 4-42 in the first innings.

So disarming was his personality though, that one soon forgot that he was a highly successful cricketer and just saw him as a friend and a bit of a laugh.

The main image that remains with me of Joey is of him sitting on a bench in the playground, dark glasses on, calling out to students as they passed with comments such as, “Eh, how come you only got six on the weekend. What happened?”. All with that infectious smile, chuckling with them as they tried to explain away their dismissal.

I was often on Games with Joey and remember those lines that he’d say to the students such as, “You need to listen to me or else your batting will be as bad as Mr. Buzzacott’s”!

Joey was very modest. He rarely spoke about his great achievements as a bowler.

If he spoke about his own cricket at all, it was nearly always about his ‘outstanding’ (his words) batting, in which his ability was somewhat more modest in truth. Indeed,

in the address at his funeral, Mark Butcher described his 1,161 first-class runs (average 11.38) as “science-defying”!

He was also a great friend to members of staff who would not know which end of a cricket bat to hold, and I have heard much about his kindness and his willingness to listen. Famed for his inability to use a computer, Joey was quick to recognise the help that the IT Department gave him with bottles of rum for each of them after a trip to the Caribbean.

Most of all though, Joey will be remembered by members of the Reigatian community for his contribution to coaching cricket. Many more have learnt so much from him at Reigate Priory CC (see p19).

I have heard lovely comments from current and former pupils and their parents about Joey’s kindness, sense of fun and encouragement. Many boys and girls have benefitted from his coaching over the years and have gained a great love for the game that will stay with them.

What a character! He is sorely missed.

Obituary with thanks to Matthew Buzzacott (RGS staff 2000-present)

Joey (right) following a match between Marylebone Cricket Club and RGS in 2006. The student (pictured second in) is Jon Smith (RGS 1998-2006), who organised Joey’s memorial match 81

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DEATHS & OBITUARIES

RICHARD ‘DICK’ BASON (1931-2021) RGS 1941-1949 My father joined RGS after spending the first years of the war in Axminster, Devon, where his father’s family lived. Judging by his report card, he was a good student, although he was typically modest about his abilities, saying that ‘what he knew would fill a book and what he didn’t would fill a library’. He enjoyed school productions, appearing in a production of Lady Precious

RICHARD INGLIS (1961-2021) RGS 1972-1979 Richard Inglis was born on 27 April 1961 at Epsom General Hospital. After growing up in Fetcham, he moved to Reigate with his parents, Brian and Jane. In 1972 he joined Reigate Grammar School after passing the 11+ exam, where he would remain until 1979. During this time, he achieved 10 O levels and three A levels.

After RGS, Richard went on to study Mathematics at the University of Liverpool.

Graduating with an Honours degree, he returned to Reigate and decided to go into accountancy, working at Bryden Johnson in Croydon whilst training to become a Chartered Accountant. Richard went on to have a variety of roles until his retirement in 2018, with many of them based in Reigate, Redhill, Crawley and Croydon.

Away from work, sport was a central 82

Stream and also as the Archbishop of Canterbury in Richard of Bordeaux.

Towards the end of his time at the school, he was appointed Head Boy. More than these accomplishments, RGS ingrained in him the decency, politeness, kindness and generosity that marked him out to all that knew him.

From RGS, he won a county scholarship to study English at St John’s College, Cambridge. He was the first person in his family to go to university, something of which his parents were particularly proud.

Before going to Cambridge, he undertook his National Service in the Royal Signals.

After graduating – and marrying Sheila Barnes in 1955 – he worked briefly for WG Pye in Cambridge, demonstrating and selling pH meters, before moving to St Albans to work for Sangers, a civil engineering company, where he was employed on condition he became a qualified librarian!

He returned to Cambridge in 1960, where he remained for the next fortythree years. For thirteen of these, he worked as Superintendent at the University of Cambridge’s Chemistry Laboratories, ensuring they ran smoothly and efficiently. He enjoyed being close to the world of research and new discoveries and was excited to receive, as a leaving gift, a coffee table made of teak from the old

Cavendish Laboratory benches, on which so many ground-breaking experiments had been conducted.

In his forties, Dick joined the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food, where he worked across many different departments, from food subsidies to the National Institute of Agricultural Botany, occasionally supporting ministers in the House of Commons and later becoming a regular commuter to Brussels on the Ministry’s behalf.

Throughout his life, Dick was a great Francophile, a good French speaker, a frequent visitor to Provence and a man whose map of France was determined by the numerous special food and wine experiences he enjoyed. He was an avid reader and lifelong bibliophile, who continued to learn voraciously about subjects such as Wellington and Napoleon, the history of the British in India and his two favourite authors, Rudyard Kipling and Patrick Leigh Fermor, among many others.

Dick was married for sixty-six years to Sheila, who survives him along with his three children, Susan, Richard and Helen, six grandchildren (two of whom were educated in Harpenden under RGS’ Headmaster, Shaun Fenton) and two great grandchildren. He is much missed.

Obituary with thanks to son, Richard

part of Richard’s life. One of his earliest memories was playing rugby at RGS, before taking more of an interest in hockey and tennis as he grew older. Richard went on to play hockey at University and joined Old Reigatains Hockey Club when he returned home. He made 335 appearances for the club between 1979-2019.

Tennis was the other main sport Richard enjoyed and he was a member at Reigate Priory Lawn Tennis Club for over 40 years.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s he won the men’s singles title on three occasions.

His wife Catherine also won the ladies’ singles title in 1991, making them the only married couple at the tennis club to have won both titles.

Richard passed away in late July after a two-year battle with brain cancer. He is survived by his wife Catherine, and two children Jamie and Katie. Having lived in Reigate for so many years, Richard made

many friends with people in the town from all walks of life, and will be fondly remembered by many.

Obituary with thanks to son, Jamie

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ROBERT MUNN (1930-2021) RGS 1940 -1946

MATT BARNAVILLE (1991-2021) RGS 2004-2009) Matt (Barney) joined Reigate Grammar School in 2004 and made an immediate impact, particularly on the co-curricular life of the school. Matt was an inspiration and a hurricane of fresh air. He did not just take part in activities, but always threw himself wholeheartedly into a dizzying number of musical and dramatic success stories.

Matt made swift progress as a musician and seized every opportunity to perform, both in choral and instrumental ensembles.

He was a welcome addition to Lake Garda and Vienna choir tours and relished the opportunity to sing in the beautiful churches and cathedrals visited. Matt was a key member of RGS Singers, Polyphony and also the newly formed Barbershop ensemble.

He found his home in the Music department and could generally be found there – even on the rare occasion when he wasn’t involved in a particular rehearsal. Matt filled the room with laughter and fun. He took his music seriously and worked hard; however, his good humour always made the process an enjoyable experience both for himself and those around him.

Matt was also a gifted actor. Never short on imagination, physically exacting as a performer, with comic timing to envy.

He was an instinctive performer and his musicality and grasp of rhythm inevitably helped him perform with ease. You couldn’t help but smile when he was on stage. Matt gave up vast amounts of time for rehearsals, whether for GCSE and A level Drama or performing in co-curricular shows.

Although it would be easy to talk about Matt’s talents, it is his sparkling personality, wit and cheekiness that most people will remember. His warmth and good humour inspired many lifelong friendships formed at school. Matt lived life to the full with exceptional enthusiasm, always following the things that inspired him and, in turn, he is an inspiration to us all – a talented, warm hearted true original.

Obituary with thanks to Nick Lobb (RGS staff 2004-present)

It is my sad duty to report that my greatest friend and role model, Robert Munn (Bob), died on 5 September 2021 from dementia and old age.

Bob was always a keen sportsman and played cricket and rugby for the school.

After leaving RGS, and completing two years in the Royal Air Force, his father persuaded him to join The Royal Liver Friendly Society as an agent.

In 1963, Bob set up his own business with his partner, selling fancy goods, gifts, and costume jewellery. It was a great success and Bob retired in 1991.

Sport was Bob’s greatest love and he played cricket at weekends throughout his working life. He was a reasonable batsman and spin bowler. In 1967 he won the Ronson Award for the most consistent local club cricketer, with a batting average of 70.5. He also played football for Redhill FC and Reigatians FC. Bob joined Brighton Brunswick Cricket Club in 1970 and retired after 32 years as Secretary. At the same time, he joined the Forty Club and had a very long period not only as a player, but as Dinner Secretary, organising dinners and guest speakers at the Hilton Hotel in London for over 500 guests – a phenomenal achievement.

Bob was also interested in National

REV DAVID KINGDON (1934-2021) RGS 1946-1954 My dear husband, David Kingdon was very privileged to have studied at Reigate Grammar School. David had been evacuated to Islip in Northamptonshire during WWII. While he was away, the family home in Streatham was bombed, killing his father. David did not get on with his maternal grandmother into whose home his mother and sister had moved, so David and his brother went instead to Spurgeon’s Orphanage and, amazingly, he passed the entrance exam for RGS. When he left Reigate Grammar School, David read History at Cambridge University, gaining a 2:1. After Cambridge, he studied for the Baptist ministry at Spurgeon’s College, becoming assistant to Rev W.G. Channon at Purley Baptist Church.

Hunt Racing and attended many different racecourses in his time and, when he moved to Brean in Somerset, became a member of Taunton Racecourse and organised many coach trips around the country for keen horse race goers.

In his later years, Bob continued his involvement with cricket as an umpire, and umpired for RGS as well as Surrey U15’s.

Bob travelled the world umpiring and organised many an annual trip abroad for the Forty Club.

Bob was a true gentleman and packed a lot into his lifetime. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends.

Obituary with thanks to Bob’s partner, John

At the young age of 28, David was asked to become Principal of the Irish Baptist College in Belfast. He served there from 1963-74 and was so loved by his students that many of them kept in touch with him right up to his death.

From 1974-78, David served as CoPastor of Lynnwood Baptist Church, Pretoria. Returning to the UK in 1978, he became Pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Cardigan, Wales. After six years there, David became Theological Books Editor of Inter-Varsity Press in Leicester.

Prior to his retirement in 1999, David was Managing Editor of Bryntirion Press Evangelical Movement of Wales.

In his latter years, David suffered from vascular dementia and was cared for at home by me until his death (I am David’s second wife and 24 years his junior).

Obituary with thanks to David’s wife, Susan 83

JEFFREY BEE (1936-2021) RGS 1947-1953 JOHN ARTHUR MATTHEWS (1937-2021) RGS 1948-1955 John attended RGS in the 1950s, having passed the 11+. He was a keen and very able sportsman, enjoying all the sports on offer, particularly football and cricket which he played in the school teams (he was Captain at some stage), and played all sports, including tennis and squash, outside school.

He continued playing sports even when diagnosed with MS in his 40s. John was a family man, with two children and three step-children, having married again in 1973.

He went to Imperial College to study Electronics, but left to start work with RCA, an electronics firm, before moving north to join English Electric, frequently travelling abroad.

As a result of his work, he became very knowledgeable about cameras. He was also involved in developing the electronic money displays on petrol station pumps which was innovative at the time.

After retiring at 55 years old, he focused on his photography hobby and became the roving cameraman for the local newspaper.

He was invited to be the photographic judge locally in Suffolk, where he and his wife lived, which he enjoyed immensely.

John was able to communicate with everyone, including Prince Philip (whom he met), making everyone feel at ease and always finding something of interest to say.

He is sorely missed by his wife, Pam, and all the family, including grandson, Dominic Maillot (RGS 2009-2016).

Obituary with thanks to daughter, Kate (former RGS parent) RAYMOND HAMPS (1935-2021) RGS 1946-1951 After attending RGS, Ray was posted to Singapore with the RAF for 18 months, having been trained as a Fighter Plotter.

Once back in the UK, he set up his own mailing and storage business, based in London, until his retirement in 1998.

During his time at RGS he played plenty of cricket and rugby and, along with many 84

Jeffrey Brian Michael Bee was born in Nottingham, in October 1936. The eldest of four children, he moved to Horley when his father, Squadron Leader, Percy Bee, left the RAF in 1946.

Jeffrey gained his place at Reigate Grammar School after passing his 11+ exams. His aim was to follow in his father’s footsteps and join the RAF, but was told after his medical examination, that he would not be accepted, as there seemed to be a ‘shadow on his lung’.

Jeffrey wearing his RGS school uniform, aged 13, at the christening of his twin brother and sister in 1949 of his contemporaries at the time, became an active member of the Old Reigatians Rugby Football Club with which he remained involved for the next 70 years!

Described by all his friends as a true gentleman he will be hugely missed by everyone who knew him.

He is survived by his wife Jean, son Ben, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Obituary with thanks to son, Ben

This diagnosis was later proved to be incorrect, but it was too late by then and he had embarked on a different career.

Jeff met Jean, his wife of 55 years, in 1956. They had one son, Philip, and were a devoted couple until Jean’s death in 2013.

Jeffrey’s many hobbies included cricket (which he played enthusiastically for local teams), golf, fishing, learning to play the clarinet and, in later life, his comprehensive model railway. His avid interest in photography led him to his first job at Mallards Scientific Instruments.

Jeffrey later did follow in his father’s footsteps and became a travelling salesman, working for Players and Masters Matches, living in Kent and Essex. In 1970 Jeff moved his family back to Nottingham to start his career with Rizla, where he later took a promotion and moved to Cardiff, retiring in 1993 where he enjoyed holidays, reading historical novels, became an avid gardener and continued to build his model railway.

Jeff remained very interested in RGS and attended reunions whenever possible.

He loved to see and hear about it’s changes, successes and school friends from his past, often regaling the family with stories, of which there were many.

Jeffrey also used this free time to study and pursue his interest for, and gain, a qualification in bookkeeping, consequently working part-time for an accountant and in his late 70s into early 80s, bookkeeping for his grandson, in his health and safety consultancy business.

Jeffrey enjoyed good health until November 2013 when he was diagnosed as suffering from Myeloma and he underwent several weeks of hospitalisation and surgery followed by several months of chemotherapy. Thankfully, he enjoyed seven years of renewed good health, before his passing away in February 2021.

Obituary with thanks to son, Philip

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 EARL (1947-2021) RGS 1959-1967 John Stuart Earl was born on 28 November 1947 to Roland and Betty Earl, and grew up in Reigate, with his younger brother, Tony. He went to Holmesdale School before joining RGS in 1959. His studies at school prepared him for a course in Politics at Liverpool University, and he developed his impressive ability with languages during time at the Università per Stranieri di Perugia before university, and at The College of Europe in Bruges in the year after graduating.

John was an engaging character, and made friends at all stages of his life. He played hockey for the Old Reigatians, and particularly enjoyed socialising after matches. He remained good friends with a number of his RGS contemporaries, for several years, participating in five-day walks with them, in various parts of the country.

A gifted musician, particularly as a singer, John combined that with his love of cricket when he gave a rendition of his trademark Ol’ Man River in the member’s pavilion during a county match at Worcester!

John’s working life was largely in aviation.

Reigatians from the Class of 1966 enjoying a walking holiday together (l-r): James Nicholson, John Earl, Michael Jordan, Adrian Taylor, Neil Foster He worked for Dan-Air, the CAA, including some time as the Airport Manager at Sumburgh in the Shetland Islands, and at British Aerospace as part of the executive jet sales team, a job which involved worldwide travel, which he loved, and which took advantage of his language skills.

He eventually decided on a change of career, and took an Open University degree in English Language. John was training as a teacher, when at age 54, while on a university summer school in Cambridge, he had a stroke, which, very

sadly, left him in a wheelchair, and with impaired speech. He was still good company, and very much enjoyed trips out, particularly if a visit to a pub was included!

He kept in touch with friends during this period, partly through his birthday parties, which were a manifestation of the affection his friends had for him.

John’s fond nieces, Lucy and Natalie have sponsored a Seat of Learning in his name in the Old Library in support of the RGS Foundation’s Changing Lives campaign.

Obituary with thanks to brother, Tony Earl (RGS 1961-1969)

Lee Adamson (RGS 1970-1977) died 14 February 2021

Richard Inglis (RGS 1972-1979) died 29 July 2021

Geoffrey Smith (RGS 1945-1949) died 7 October 2021

John Anson (RGS 1942-1947) died 9 March 2021

Hugh Kearns (RGS 1958-1963) died 6 January 2021

Tony Sperrin (RGS 1967-1974) died 13 September 2021

Matthew Barnaville (RGS 2004-2009) died 18 January 2021

Rev. David Kingdon (RGS 1946-1954) died 30 August 2021

David Swan (RGS 1943-1948) died 30 March 2021

Dick Bason (RGS 1941-1949) died 22 October 2021

Graham Lane (RGS 1963-1970) died 9 October 2021

Graham Tovey (RGS 1946-1954) died 14 July 2021

Jeffrey Bee (RGS 1947-1953) died March 2021*

Leslie John Lund (RGS 1951-1954) died 30 January 2021

SUPPLEMENTARY

Joey Benjamin (RGS staff 2002-2019) died 8 March 2021

John Matthews (RGS 1948-1955) died 9 February 2021

William Baily (RGS 1939-1947) died 14 October 2020

Rex Bowkett (RGS 1942-1947) died 29 September 2021

Bryan May (RGS 1947-1952) died September 2021*

Michael Charles Day (RGS 1953-1961) died 13 September 2020

Julian Bryant (RGS 1963-1970) died January 2021*

Keith McDonald-Miller (RGS 1955-1962) died 5 May 2021

John Dorricott (RGS 1962-1967) died 27 August 2019

John Burgess (RGS 1962-1969) died 11 December 2021

Robert Munn (RGS 1941-1946) died 5 September 2021

Michael Endacott (RGS 1955-1962) died 28 August 2020

John Earl (RGS 1959-1967) died 14 March 2021

Roger Parks (RGS 1967-1974) died 29 January 2021

David Hawkins (RGS 1947-1952) died 11 August 2020

John Eaton-Terry (RGS 1948-1954) died 5 August 2021

James David Payne (RGS 1943-1947) died 3 January 2021

Paul Hermon (RGS 1972-1979) died August 2020*

Raymond Hamps (RGS 1946-1951) died 2 February 2021

Sally Sayce (RGS Governor 2011-2020) died 22 November 2021

David Smith (RGS 1945-1953) died November 2020*

NOTICE OF DEATHS 2021

*exact date of death unknown

T H E R E I G AT I A N 2 0 21

BIRTHS & MARRIAGES

While COVID messed up many a wedding plan in 2020, thankfully, 2021 proved much more successful! A huge congratulations to all those who tied the knot – and a warm welcome to the newest members of our wonderful Reigatian family!

LILY BARNET This gorgeous little smiler was born on 18 March 2021 to parents, Rachel Barnet, née Maddocks (RGS 2003-2010) and Peter Barnet.

PHOEBE ERIN ROBERTS Congratulations to Alison Kirk (RGS 1996-2003) and Phil Roberts, who welcomed Phoebe Erin Roberts to the world on 22 July 2021.

OLIVIA ROSE DICKSON Born on 20 July 2021 to Ian (RGS 2000-2007) and Hannah Dickson, née Woods (RGS 1999-2007). Pictured with big sisters, Poppy and Harriet.

ARCHIE STEWART GEORGE BRAMLEY Congratulations to parents, Kirsty Irvine (RGS 2000-2008) and Alex Bramley who welcomed their new bundle of joy on 22 August 2021.

DYLAN THEODORE WILTSHIRE Arrived on 2 September 2021 (a month early!) to Amanda Wiltshire, née Ingram (RGS 1998-2005) and Paul Wiltshire.

Pictured with older brother, Finlay.

ALBIE SHELDRAKE Entered the world on 16 September 2021 to parents, Amy Sheldrake, née Johnson (RGS 2005-2012) and James Sheldrake (RGS 2001-2009).

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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

Getting married or having a baby in 2022?

We would love to share your news!

Please email the Foundation team at foundation@reigategrammar.org.

After several postponements due to COVID, AMY JOHNSON (RGS 2005-2012) married JAMES SHELDRAKE (RGS 2004-2009) on 17 June 2021, with several Reigatians in attendance: third in on the left, Micheal Sheldrake (’14); second in on the right, Eli Bond (’13); third in on the right, Will Edwards (’08).

KOREN SULLIVAN (RGS 2006-2008) and MARTIN POWELL (RGS 1998-2004) tied the knot on 17 July 2021. Bridesmaids included Rowan Nott, née Sandford (’06), Roshni Hibberd, née Mistry (’08) and Meghan Sullivan (’14). Jason Lundy (’06) was a groomsman.

Other Reigatian attendees (not pictured) included Andrew Powell (RGS staff 1989-2016), Matt Aylwin (’08), Alessandro Darter (’14) and Will Townsend (’14).

RACHAEL HAN, née Pegg (RGS staff 2015-2017) married Li Han on 20 July 2021.

MATT BURNS (RGS 2004-2011) married Lucy Attwood on 24 July 2021. All groomsmen bar one were Reigatians: Tim Beasley (’09), Dan Beasley (’14), Max Callaghan (’11), Marcus Gale (’11), Joe Hallam (’11), Simon Cox (’11) and Alex Brockman (’11). A rousing version of To Be a Pilgrim was sung prior to the photo! Sarah Branston (RGS staff 2000-present) gave a reading.

EMMA BOUCH married ED FORSYTH (both Class of 2008) on 21 August 2021. Guests included (pictured from left): second, Rob Forsyth (’06); third, Sophie Bartlett, née Harding Rolls (’08); fifth, Jenny Snelling, née Shanks (‘08); sixth, Alex Forsyth (’05); seventh, Kirsty Irvine (’08); and Rowan McLean (’08).

PHIL DAVIES (RGS 2001-2008) married Eloise Ottley on 21 December 2021.

Many Reigatians were in attendance, including the two best men, Will Tame (’08) and Will Edwards (’08) and Phil’s brother, Tom Davies (’03).

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T H E R E I G AT I A N 2 0 21

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 an 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

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

£20 each £30 set MINIMUM DONATION

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

PLACING AN ORDER Email foundation@reigategrammar.org Call 01737 222231 or Scan the QR code below or order online at rgs.foundation/support-us/merchandise Please include the following details with your order  Item, quantity, colour and size (if applicable)  Your full name  Delivery address and contact number

£45

MINIMUM DONATION

We offer free UK p&p with each order (exceptions: there is an additional £5 surcharge for umbrella orders – collection from RGS is also available. NightingALE is for collection only) On receipt of payment, allow five working days for delivery.

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.

PLEASE NOTE: Some items have limited stock availability for immediate dispatch.

We will, of course, notify you if the item is likely to be delayed.

£50

MINIMUM DONATION

£10

MINIMUM DONATION

RGS BASEBALL CAP In a navy and royal blue colourway, this unisex RGS one-sizefits-all baseball cap, features the embroidered RGS castle logo on the front, along with ‘1675’ emblem on the back.

£35

MINIMUM DONATION

£2.50 MINIMUM DONATION

RGS SCHOOL PICTURE: A3 PRINT AND A5 GREETINGS CARD Commissioned by RGS and designed by local artist Helena Vaughan (helenavaughan.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.

NIGHTINGALE GOLDEN ALE Our specially-brewed NightingALE from the Pilgrim Brewery is based on the flagship Quest, a vibrant golden ale. Available by the case: 12 x 500ml bottles. 4.3% ABV 89

T H E R E I G AT I A N 2 0 21

MEET THE FOUNDATION TEAM 01737 222231

foundation@reigategrammar.org

rgs.foundation

GIVING LEVELS Below we outline the various ways in which you might consider supporting the work of the Foundation.

We welcome your gifts, no matter how large or small. Please speak to the team or visit our website (rgs.foundation) for more information.

PILGRIM SOCIETY

SEAN DAVEY Head of Foundation spd@reigategrammar.org

JONNY HYLTON Associate Director jdh@reigategrammar.org

CATHERINE HUTCHISON Development Executive cxh@reigategrammar.org

Donate a regular gift – from £10 a month up to £1,675 a year

HENRY SMITH CLUB NIKKI BURCH Reigatian Community Officer njb@reigategrammar.org

CLARE ADAMS Reigatian Community Administrator cla@reigategrammar.org

HOW WE USE YOUR DATA 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 take appropriate and extensive measures to protect your data.

As a member of the Reigatian community, we hold information on you 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 essential services, 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. 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 get in touch at foundation@reigategrammar.org.

CLASS OF EXPLAINED… 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 Fifth 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 1972 (in 2022).

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Give an annual gift of £1,675 (with a seven-year commitment)

PATRON

Patron gifts are one-off donations of £16,750

BENEFACTOR

Complete sponsorship of one child’s full Reigate Grammar School education

1675 SOCIETY Pledge to leave a gift to RGS in your Will

Experience you can trust From a well established firm of Chartered Surveyors providing a comprehensive survey and valuation service for all property types.

Full Building Surveys Homebuyers Surveys Valuations Expert Reports Party Wall Awards Lease Extensions Dilapidations For a full list of the services we offer please contact us manager@briangalesurveyors.com www.briangalesurveyors.com 01737 245 947 Marcus House, 8 West St, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 9BS

WE REACH OUT WE CONNECT WE INFORM WE ASK 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 RGS app

Registered Charity number 1081898.