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THE NOTES I WINTER 2020
Sam Hibbs (’01) Stuart House
Spotlight on... In Year 13, you were promoted to the rank of Cadet Regimental Sergeant Major in the Army Section. What did you enjoy about the CCF and what skills did you take from it? I loved it! It got me hooked on military discipline, selfless commitment, integrity, and respect for others. I have just surpassed 20 years of service in the Army Reserve this year and this was all down to enjoying the CCF.
You were the Captain of Stuart House in Year 13. What did you learn from this position and how did that help you in your later life? Yes – I was joint House Captain with Yanoulla Kakoulli. The House Master was Robin Lea. I learnt about public speaking in this position as well as tasting victory (and handling some defeat at the hands of the other houses).
If you were able to turn back the clock and repeat your time at SDC, would you do anything differently? Absolutely nothing; teachers and students alike played a great role in shaping the people we became, and I would not want to change that.
What are your earliest memories of your time at SDC?
What advice would you give to our current Year 13 students about how to prepare for life post SDC?
I joined SDC in 1994. I was in form 1MW (Marcia Whitlock) right up on the Lower School Corridor. The Headmaster was Brian Moore, and the Head of Lower School was Simon Thorogood. Perhaps the most significant thing was that SDC became Co-Ed that year.
Life is not all about academia, but about taking opportunities and living the experience. Wherever you go onto next, take the experience of life at SDC and build upon it, get involved and always build upon making a better you. As cliche as it gets; adorn the white!
What are your fondest memories of your time at SDC?
You have been heavily involved in the Government response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Why is that and what have you been doing?
The shenanigans of the 6th form! The less I say the better; although I do remember some choreographed dancing to a Five track with Joe Lipton, Alex Bird and Alex Thrall, for a charity event in the Great Hall. This went down quite well if I remember correctly!
Who were your most inspiring teachers and what impact did they have upon you? There were many! But perhaps those who stood out the most were Robin Austin, Graham Alderman and Rick Bodenham. They were all firm but fair with us, and if you stepped out of line; standby. This fostered a level of respect that remains with me today.
As alluded to earlier, I am an Army Reservist, and in March I was mobilised in support of the Government response to COVID-19. I found myself attached as a planner and Assistant Joint Regional Liaison Officer to the county of Surrey. I have been working directly with the Chief Constable, Chief Fire Officer, County CEO and NHS as part of the Local Resilience Forum, assisting partners with their operational planning, conducting reconnaissance, and stress testing collaborative plans. It's been a hard time for everyone during this pandemic, but it has been heartening to work with such amazing partners who have been flat out trying to get us all out the other end.
