The Notes Winter 2024

The official journal of The Dunstonian Association

The Notes

Welcome from the Chair

A very warm welcome to the Winter 2024 edition of The Notes.

A particularly warm welcome to our new members. To those students who recently achieved fantastic results in their A Levels (and GCSE) examinations, we of course wish you every success in your lives beyond the College, but we very much welcome you and your families into the Dunstonian Association. You join over 2,000 alumni members as a broad community of Dunstonians at a particularly exciting period of change, facing an exciting opportunity to formulate a roadmap forward for us and our sports and social facilities at Park

Langley. As referenced with the recent vote on the proposed Constitutional changes, we must ensure our facilities, offering and governance all reflect our changing membership and we need to drive ever closer ties and collaboration with the College to ensure the mindset of being a Dunstonian starts at the earliest age and in support of ‘Albam Exorna’ to ensure the strongest longevity and grass roots support of the Dunstonians.

Reflecting on the past year, thank you for sharing your own stories and photos. You really do make friends for life at school. My congratulations to Peter Foale (’73), David Palmer (’54) and Ted Last (’60) all of whom look fantastic (and comfortable) in their colours blazers.

From the 1954-1974-1984 reunion lunch, to the 30th Co-Ed anniversary, to the 1980 Dyer Reunion Lunch, to Ade Jones ('83) trip to Gallipoli and chance encounters in Costa Rica, as well as the South West lunch reunion, trips to Windsor Castle (congratulations John Broadfoot), and your return trips to the College, thank you for sharing these photos.

A special thank you to all those who have offered support, career advice

and mentoring to students and recent leavers. A fantastic effort and for anyone wanting to get involved, please reach out to the Dunstonian Office.

This is also the moment when I step aside as Chair for others to take the helm to lead the Dunstonian Association and I thank those who attended the recent AGM and supported the nominations for the new committee members. I wish the new Chair Jonny Aucamp ('86), Martyn Wright ('92 ) and Sophie New ('01) every success moving forward and thank them for their support and commitment.

Reflecting on the past three years I set out with an ambition to improve diversity and have a focus on a broader range of events supporting a broader membership. Results have been mixed but please continue to engage, suggest ideas for events and help inspire others. My sincerest thanks go to my fellow Committee members and particularly the Dunstonian Office team, whose energy and resilience is an example to all.

Finally, I wish you all a wonderful, enjoyable Festive season

The Dunstonian Association wishes you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2025

NEWS DUNSTONIAN & Scrapbook

Dunstonians in Gallipoli

Dunstonians Lieutenant Colonel Adrian Jones (‘83) and Alastair Green ('14) both working at Army Headquarters in Andover recently participated in a battlefield study to Gallipoli in Turkey.

Over a five day period in June as part of a group from Army Headquarters visits were made to the main sites of the campaign; Cape Helles, ANZAC Cove, and Suvla Bay as part of ongoing professional study and education.

There was also an opportunity to visit Troy and Istanbul, all in temperatures

ranging from 32 – 38 degrees. Many interesting parallels were drawn between the campaign in 1915 and the current situation in Eastern Europe – the need to integrate across land, air and sea; the introduction of new and novel technology; the requirement to work with allies and a reminder of the ongoing visceral nature of warfare despite the progress made over the last 100 or so years. It also provided a great opportunity to discuss our respective time at St Dunstan’s and the changes (or not) during the nearly 30 years between our attendance.

John Witcombe ('57) thank you card

Every month, we send Birthday Cards to all Dunstonians who have reconnected with us and who happen to have a significant birthday. John Witcombe ('57), Dunstonian based in Australia, was of them and he very kindly send this intricate thank you card to the team.

Thank you John!

Stephen Dyer and the class of 1980 lunching again!

We managed another get together back in August. The fairly usual meeting point being The Bulls Head in Chislehurst followed by the fairly usual eatery known as the Bengal Lancer as you can see from the photo below.

Mostly regular attendees were there with one exception: Arnold Tarling ('80) made his maiden appearance. I think it’s the same for all of us in that we hadn’t crossed paths since we left in 1980. Arnold is a Building Surveyor Specialist and has been an expert witness in several high profile cases so has had a very interesting career. We hope he returns on our next evening out. As always it was good to catch up with everyone and hope to do another in the not too distant future.

In the photo below left to right (all '80): Stephen Dyer, Paul Sibun, Russ Hackwood, Don Lindsay, Arnold Tarling, Clive Archer, Mark Hayford and Iain Blazey.

A chance encounter in Costa Rica

Rupert Gibson ('86) writes: Whilst taking the trip of a lifetime, halfway around the world to Costa Rica, we bump into another English family. Within minutes it transpires that Luke Hutson ('90) (on the right) and I, are both ODs. What a small world!

Mark Pronger and Andy Glynne (both '84)

Andy Glynne and I and our wives last summer in a pleasant little hostelry the Red Lion at Handcross. First time we’d met up in over 30 years (me on the left)

John Broadfoot ('66) receives his MBE

John received his MBE from the Princess Royal at Windsor Castle for services to developing junior grass roots rugby world wide as CEO of the rugby charity SOS KIt Aid.

City Walk 26 June 2024

On Wednesday 26 June 2024, 12 Dunstonians gathered outside the Tower of London on a sunny morning.

Thank you very much to retired Dunstonian and Blue Badge Guide John Woolman ('76) for guiding us through the City, around the boundaries of the Parish of St Dunstan in the East, where St Dunstan's College has its roots.

It was hot (!) but super enjoyable as we learnt so much about the City itself but also about The Great Fire, Pepys, Charles Dickens and St Olave's Church, TOC H and of course St Dunstan's himself as Bishop and then Saint.

The group finished the walk at All

Mike Foster ('68) reminisces

Hallows by the Tower church, which has the most fascinating crypt full of artefacts linked to the College as well as to St Dunstan himself. Dunstonians present were all from the same 1976 vintage apart from one: Mark Newton, Richard Thompson, David Trew, Andrew Yiapanis and John Woolman left the College in 1976 and Stephen Bown in 1961.

“Nice to see the photographs of the CCF dinner recently, what a thoroughly enjoyable evening that was. Having the musicians from the HAC playing enhanced the occasion tremendously: I was reminded of my family connection with the Honourable Artillery Company (in true British style a reserve infantry unit!). My only surviving paternal uncle (3 were killed in WW1) served in the HAC from 1924 until 1936, and then joined the RAFVR. Sadly he was killed in 1943, when the Bristol Beaufighter (a night fighter) he was Radio officer/Navigator in, crashed in Suffolk.

I had been totally unaware of his existence, it was never mentioned in the family (perhaps too harrowing a memory for my grandfather, with whom he shared his name, so I had assumed any reference to A W Foster referred to my grandfather). Only on going through my late father’s navy “ditty box” did I find correspondence regarding this uncle. Thanks to the HAC, the RAF and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, I was able to find out the details of his service and his deathamazing what the internet can reveal.”

Sir Geoffrey Nice ('64) at home

Isabelle Blake-James, Director of Philanthropy and Alumni Relations, visited Sir Geoffrey in his beautiful Kent home in July 2024, on the eve of his 50th wedding anniversary to his wife Philippa.

Recently, Sir Geoffrey has been in high demand for radio interviews in regards to his analysis of the situation in Gaza from an international law point of view. Over a refreshing cup of tea, he reminisced about his time growing up in Bellingham before attending SDC as well as about key teachers who inspired him to apply to Oxford – he went up to Keble College to study Maths but quickly swapped to PPE.

Thank you, Sir Geoffrey, for being such a keen supporter of the College!

Hugh Ogus ('61)

“You were kind enough to arrange a day’s tour for a group of ‘61 leavers at the College in March 2024. My brother Anthony ('63) was also present and we had a thoroughly enjoyable day being shown around the fantastic new facilities, not to mention the excellent lunch and discussions that took place during our visit. To those of us over 80 years old, the changes that have taken place over the last 60 years are truly remarkable and made us all very proud to be called Dunstonians.”

Hugh generously contributed to our Bursary Fund as well as donated some vintage photos from the 1950s.

South-West Lunch reunion October 2024

The annual west country reunion took place on Saturday 5 October at the Winslade Manor restaurant and saw nine Dunstonians attending together with partners. Many thanks to Mike Foster for making all the arrangements

Next year's reunion will be held on Saturday 25 October 2025 so please save the date!

In attendendance were:

Mike Foster ('68), Chris Britton ('63), Noel Rayner ('65), Adrian Delso ('64), David Young ('52), Andrew Mew ('66), Alan Dibley ('56), Steve Baker ('68) and partner Kristina, John Sparks ('61) and partner Maureen.

Update on the Fundraising Ball 2024

In the Summer 2024 edition of The Notes we reported on the success of the inaugural St Dunstan’s Fundraising Ball which raised over £20,000 and enabled a disadvantaged pupil from Lewisham to attend the College in Year 7 from September 2024.

One of the raffle prizes, donated by David Edwards ('83), was a day on the River Thames, won by Zoe Baggi. She and her family duly enjoyed their day on the water.

David Bratby ('74) returns

On Thursday 3 October, Dunstonian David Bratby ('74) set foot at the College for the first time in 50 years.

He enjoyed walking down memory lane around the 1888 building as well as discovering the new Plaza at the back of the Great Hall - with what he recalls as the covered playground and science block "already" being gone as in his mind, they had just been built a few years before he joined the College at the age of 13 from Dulwich Prep' London.

He delivered a lecture to our Art students in David's original Art Room about his artist parents, John Bratby and Jean Cook. Students had researched his parents' paintings

and he was able to have 1-2-1 conversation with each Art student.

After a hearty lunch in the Refectory (Dining Hall), David contemplated going onto the climbing wall near the Sports and Leisure Centre. Our Head of Outdoor Activities, Sam, had a long chat with David who is a very experienced climber but both watched young students racing up and down the wall instead of going on the wall themselves.

The day was rounded off with a coffee in the Head's Office with Nick Hewlett, under David's very own portrait painted by his father when he was 8 years old (above left).

Peter Foale ('73)

“…there was also an exchange on the Dunstonian Facebook page at the end of last week about Harrods being the school uniform suppliers back in the day with the 1971 price list uploaded.

I got my colours in 1972 and I tried to upload the photo to show that my blazer is still a comfortable fit and buttons up after more than 50 years! For whatever reason, Facebook wouldn't let me upload it so I sent it by email instead.

I tend to forget that I must now be an older OD! After all, there have been 50+ years' worth of ODs since I left.”

Older perhaps, Peter, but if the blazer still fits….!

2024

Christmas lectures

The week commencing 2 December saw our annual Dunstonian Christmas lectures with a range of subjects from spies to archives and from business leadership to the artistic world of John Bratby and Jean Cooke. Our grateful thanks are due to Alex Grant ('92), Chris Pearse ('76) and David Bratby ('74), for giving up their time to deliver a marvellous set of lectures.

In December 2023 Sam Hibbs was commissioned as a Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey, a role that provides a unique opportunity to connect and strengthen communities across the county.

As Deputy Lieutenant (DL), he represents the Lord-Lieutenant, the monarch’s official representative in Surrey, and works closely with local groups, organisations, and individuals dedicated to making a positive impact.

Duties include attending local ceremonies, recognising achievements within the community, promoting civic pride, and assisting with royal visits to the county.

The appointment process typically involves identifying individuals with a record of outstanding service to their communities, professions, or the county as a whole. This might include

contributions to charity, public service, business, or other areas that reflect dedication to improving local life. Those identified have their names put before His Majesty The King and if they are ‘not disapproved’ they are given a DL commission which is acknowledged in the London Gazette. The appointment is honorary, and although DLs receive no salary, the position is highly respected and carries specific responsibilities. They serve until the age of 75.

Having been a DL for nearly a year, Sam has already had the honour of presenting Coronation Medals and Chief Scout Gold Certificates, as well as judging various community competitions and awards.

A highlight has been receiving Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Edinburgh, on a visit to a charity in Surrey.

Tony Trinick ('62) donates a new Music cup to the College

Tony generously donated a cup in 1995 to the College when both his sons left the College, but over the years we ran out of space for prize giving music recipients. Tony decided to donate a new stunning cup to the department for “Service to Music”, which is close his heart.

Roy Payton ('53)

Sam Hibbs ('01) Appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey

Roy organised a signing of his book at Lloyds Sports and Leisure Centre near where he lives and raised £200 for Dementia UK.

David Palmer ('54)

I joined the school in September 1945, having just reached 10 years of age. My first day was also the first day back of the school in Catford from its evacuation in Wales. I still vividly remember my first morning. The forming of the pupils into classes was not straightforward. I was put initially into the prep form, then moved to the 2nd form, back a step to form 1, and finally back to the prep form, all in the first hour or so.

When the form had settled down, the teacher who took charge clearly made an effort to learn our names. I was seated in the front row, and was about the fifth or sixth to be asked my name. Each time an answer was given, the teacher added a nickname. When my time came, his response was ‘Peddler Palmer'. Fortunately the added name did not stick!

As a small child I had been given to understand that Palmer was the name earned by those who carried the palms in the Crusades, so it was a shock to think that I could be descended from street hawkers! This uncertainty continued for 75 years before I came to understand that the teacher assiduously learning our names by connective thoughts, must have been about 60 years old, his formative years being in the 1890s.

About four years ago, I came across a reference to the world bantamweight boxing champion 1895-1899, from the East End of London: Pedlar Palmer.

Appeal for the Sports and CCF dinners 2025

For the past few years, in order to further the links between the College and its alumni, we have included a table of Dunstonians at both the College’s annual CCF and Sports Dinners which take place in the Trinity Term. We hope to do the same in 2025.

However, the cost of tickets has risen year on year due to the economic climate directly affecting the catering industry. In order to reduce the ticket price for younger alumni substantially, we are looking for two individual sponsors for £1,000 or more each, which would cover each event separately.

Please email dunstonians@stdunstans.org.uk if you are interested in supporting this worthwhile cause.

Professor Bernard Pearn-Rowe ('67)

One of the best decisions of my life – certainly from a professional point of view – was to migrate to Australia in 1974. Australia has been very, very good to me. But the big downside is that in the days before emails and the Internet, I lost touch with all my old schoolmates. That left a hole in my life that was far, far bigger than I ever anticipated when I was in my 20s. I have particularly enjoyed reading about old schoolmates who have achieved a certain level of fame (or impropriety!)

It gives me pleasure to see that my old mates Bill Castell and Paul Judge have been successful and it takes a while for the smile of reminiscence and old friendship to fade from my face.

Apart from being successful in the discipline that I love – that of general practice – I have a few other achievements that are a little unusual. I was elected Chairman of the Western Australian Faculty, of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, a role that I held for a record four years. Not long after, I was elected President of the West Australian Branch of the Australian Medical Association for a couple of years. The irony of that appointment is that the College and the AMA were bitter political enemies at the time and nobody ever thought that anybody could achieve being elected head of both organisations in succession!

Perhaps the appointment that I value the most was that of Foundation Professor at the new medical school at the University of Notre Dame in Western Australia. Before I accepted the appointment, I was told that I would be given a whiteboard and a significant budget, and after that it was entirely up to me. With the help of two colleagues who were appointed with me, we could design and set up a medical school in precisely the way we wanted, including selection of students and the breadth and extent of the curriculum. That was a huge opportunity! 20 years ago, admission to medical schools depended almost entirely upon academic marks. We felt that academic brilliance was no guarantee of being a good doctor and so we were the first to institute a process of interview to establish each applicant's suitability particularly in the areas of communication, compassion and caring, what became known as the '3 Cs' of Notre Dame .

When I was Chairman of the RACGP, the science of radiology had just reached the point where mammograms could reliably be used to diagnose early breast cancer. I thought it would be great if the RACGP, along with Western Australia’s leading health insurer and the State’s largest private radiology company could cooperate and and offer free annual mammograms to insured women between the ages of 40 and 70 in Western Australia. I persuaded the other parties to get on board, and we launched the largest cancer screening project in Australia. It was so successful that the federal government duplicated it and made ‘Breastscreen’ available to all women in Australia four years later! I can’t remember the precise figures but my state based arrangement screened hundreds of thousands of women over its four years of operation and literally thousands of women had their cancer diagnosed early, and successfully treated. How a good idea conceived, I think, over a coffee can have profoundly good results!

NEWS INSTA From Recent Alumni

Tom (Yuzhang) Wu ('16)

visiting on 4 Sept 2024

“My name is Yuzhang Wu and I left SDC in 2016. I did Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Economics at A Level. I was a blue tie prefect and first Chinese student who completed Gold DofE. Also, I am the second president of Weiqi club (Go). I went to university to read Mechanical Engineering after I graduated from SDC, followed by Nuclear Engineering as my side major in 2017. I completed my Msc at Manchester University as well in Nuclear Science and TechKnowledge. I went back to China as an Engineer for 2 years, then decided to do a second master in Economics at Glasgow University. I am now hoping to get a good job in Shanghai or Beijing in 2025.

I really enjoyed being a student at SDC which provided me with me the chance to go to university in the UK as I would not have had the same opportunity in China.

Buster Francis (23) runs an Olympic Triathlon in aid of Breast Cancer Now

On 27 October, Buster completed an Olympic distance triathlon to raise funds for Breast Cancer Now in memory of his mother. Buster was not only the recipient of the CCF Sword of Honour in 2023 but also captain of swimming in 2022 and captain of Fives between 2020 and 2022.

Great to see you are still active Buster and congratulations for raising nearly £4,000 for this worthy cause!

Aimee is currently studying for a Master in Divinity at the University of Chicago and is really enjoying her time in the USA.

“"I did the challenge in memory of my amazing mum who passed away due to breast cancer. It is not too late to donate for Breast Cancer Now" :

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/triathlon-for-mum

She flew to New York to meet with the Head, Nick Hewlett, and Isabelle Blake-James, Director of Philanthropy and Alumni Relations, when they recently visited the USA for the first alumni reunion taking place outside the UK.

Aimee met another Head of School, Ted Last (’60), who had been Head of School 59 years prior to Aimee!

Aimee Montague ('19)

Christmas Drinks 2024

More and more young alumni are taking the opportunity to stay connected to the College by attending our annual 'Recent Leavers Christmas Drinks' during the week leading up to Christmas.

The Dunstonian Association is delighted to invite you to our

Recent Leavers’ Christmas Drinks (Leavers 2014-2024)

Wednesday 18 December Great Hall 1800-1930 www.dunstonians.org.uk

Thank you to all who attended this year and rocked around the Christmas tree in the lobby, to the sound of Christmas songs, with a glass of fizz in their hand.

Jaideep Israel ('93)

Jaideep runs a large GP practise in SE23 and has kindly welcomed many aspiring medical students from the College for short internships during the past 18 months.

Such experiences are invaluable and eye opening in equal measure. Rebecca Redding, Director of Futures at St Dunstan’s, and Isabelle Blake-James, Director of Philanthropy and Alumni Relations, visited Jaideep in October 24 and met the team behind the scene.

Thank you Jaideep for supporting our Sixth Formers!

OUR CAREER IMPACT ON YOUNG ALUMNI

We have now over 400 alumni volunteers delivering career advice, mentoring, lectures and workshops to our students and recent leavers. It means that our students and young alumni have never been better prepared for what lies ahead after their time at St Dunstan’s.

We encourage all alumni to use the Career Module on SDConnect either to post offers for internships or permanent job vacancies or to look for a job or a mentor in a specific field. It is very user friendly!

“Where is Duckstan in the world?

The winner of the competition who received a £20 Amazon voucher is Lucas Novick who guessed rightly that the picture was taken from Central Park in New York.

Lucas Novick ('22)

"I am in my final year of my history degree at Durham University.

Currently, I am working on my dissertation which looks at how Buenos Aires and Chicago developed in the late 19th century, focusing on their meat industries and their respective roles in the global meat trade before WWI.

Over the summer, I travelled to Japan with my girlfriend and spent a week excavating a Roman fort on Hadrian's wall – we found a 4th century AD shoe!

After graduation, I’m planning to do a PGDL and hope to work as a solicitor for a city law firm."

‘Connecting with a mentor through the alumni network was a valued experience during my search for a trainee solicitor placement. I felt reassured at the prospect of receiving support and encouragement from a seasoned industry professional, both now and in the future. The mentorship programme is an invaluable resource, demonstrating St Dunstan’s commitment to student and alumni growth. I strongly encourage those seeking roles or established in their professions to contribute.’

Iffy Onyearu ('20)

AT THE COLLEGE A NEW PLAQUE

St Dunstan's College moved to its Catford premises in 1888 but originates in the City of London. It is more precisely linked to the Parish of St Dunstan-in-the-East. The church of St Dunstan-in-the-East itself was badly damaged during WWII but its connection to the College site in Lewisham was commemorated with a plaque inaugurated in its gardens on 12 May 1983 - which was also Ascension Day, when Beating of the Bounds takes place.

Anybody can enjoy a view of the plaque in the peaceful gardens at St Dunstan's Hill (far right). Indeed Dunstonian John Woolman ('76) has taken a group of Dunstonians to the gardens for the past couple of years whilst on a historical tour of the City.

To reinforce the special connection between the past and the present, we had the idea of commissioning a replica plaque for the College site. The archives revealed the name of the original carver of the stone, Mr Richard Kindersley, together with his original signed drawing of the 1983 plaque. Mr Kindersley is a world renowned carver and has been involved as recently as a couple of year

ago in the vast carving inscriptions involved in the D-Day Memorial near Arromanches in Normandy.

We made contact with him and he visited the College together with his apprentice, George Edwards, in October 2023.

We decided to commission a new plaque for the College and launched an appeal in the Winter edition of The Notes in December 2023. A generous donor and alumnus came forward in early 2024: we are extremely grateful to Philip Greader ('76) who now lives in Sydney, Australia, for funding this exciting project.

George Edwards carved the writing updated for the occasion on a piece of slate originating from the same quarry in Wales as for the original 1983 plaque and the new plaque was installed at the College on 21 August 2024.

Philip visited the College in September to see the plaque in place.

Thank you very much to you, Philip, from the whole Dunstonian community for such a special addition to the College.

The wording on the new plaque reads:

“St Dunstan’s College dates back to 1446 and is linked to the church of St Dunstanin-the East now part of the parish of All Hallows-by-theTower in the City of London whose parishioners donated the land in Catford where the School has been since 1888. This commemorative plaque is a replica of the one inaugurated on Ascension Day 1983 which now stands in the gardens of St Dunstanin-the-East.”

30th ANNIVERSARY OF CO-EDUCATION CELEBRATIONS

On Saturday 28 September 2024, we welcomed back to the College over 200 Dunstonians and former members of staff together with their families, for a day of celebrations.

The event took over 18 months to organise and special thanks must go to the College's Archivist and Dunstonian, Shea Hollis (née Luke) who was one of the original girls joining the College in 1994. The Commemorative Book Shea put together over many months is also a fabulous keepsake of original marketing materials and interviews weaved into present day interviews by former members of staff.

Guests were treated to a guided tour by our Red Ties, Yasmin, Noah, Izzy and Martha for whom it was the first time they encountered so many Dunstonians at the same time. A complimentary scrumptious BBQ was laid on by the College's very own catering company which everybody enjoyed very much, before listening to speeches by the Head, Nick Hewlett, and the Head of Senior School, Jade Mclellan. Children had a blast on the obstacle course and on the space hoppers too!

Notable past teachers present were Mr Pratt, Ms Emes and Mrs Holmes as Head of Pre-Prep, as well as former Heads of the College, Mrs Jane Davies and Mr Ian Davies.

The highlight of the day was to recreate various group photos on the steps of the College and everybody played their part in making sure a record of the day would outlive us all.

It was by far the most successful Dunstonian event in recent years and we are grateful to all those who came along.

Memories of the St Dunstan’s Pre-Prep and Co-Ed from a Parent and Dunstonian, Desmond Thompson ('78)

I remember receiving a letter from school in 1994, inviting OD’s to a special meeting to meet the new Headmaster. Anne and I were driving to school for the meeting and Anne said, “ I bet you that they are going co-ed” to which I replied, “ Ha, I don’t think so, not St Dunstan’s…..”

At the meeting, we heard about the new vision for the “Family School for the 21st Century” from David Moore the, new Headmaster, and his more than able deputy, Anthony Seldon.

As well as going co-ed they were opening a Pre-Prep department in the Headmaster’s house from age 4 years. Emily, our eldest, was just 4 and we had had a traumatic experience when she was interviewed by the head of a local Girls’ High school earlier in the year who terrified us both.

When it came to her interview at St Dunstan’s, I was mightily relieved to see the familiar face of John Gaskell who had been my Form teacher in Prep 4 when he first started at St Dunstan’s, now Head of the Junior school, taking the interviews.

I explained to John what had happened previously and that Emily was terrified and John simply said, “Well, why don’t you just sit at the back of the room so that she knows you are there?” With that things went smoothly and I knew that we had made the right choice of school for Emily to be followed in due course by Victoria and Matthew.

That interview was the first time that I had been inside the hallowed portals of the Headmaster’s house.

Emily thrived at St Dunstan’s and we are so proud that she was the first daughter of an OD to go all the way through from Pre-Prep to Sixth Form, also becoming Deputy Head Girl.

Another touching memory for me is that when Emily was awarded her academic colours, Simon Thorogood, who started at the same time as John Gaskell and was my Form teacher in Prep 6, (and I think taught Maths to all 3 of the children at various times) asked if he could take Emily to select her colours blazer and present it to her.

Victoria and Matthew also thrived at St Dunstan’s, without living in each other’s shadows and I think that was due to the holistic attitude of the staff who, using the right mixture of discipline and banter, fostered an atmosphere of mutual respect and them developing self-responsibility which gave them the opportunity for each to reach their full potential.

Now, although we have been living in New Zealand since 2011, we still have close links to St Dunstan’s and we enjoyed a special tour of the College when we visited last year.

It is fantastic to see how the College has developed under the new leadership of Nick Hewlett and what a long way things have come since I first stepped off the 75 bus on Catford Bridge in September 1967, following in the footsteps of my two brothers, Alan ('74) and Richard ('76).

Des Thompson ( '78)

'04 REUNION LUNCH

On the morning of 25 October, Dunstonians from 1954, 1974 and 1984 gathered at the College for the inaugural 'Decades Reunion'.

After a welcome coffee, the group enjoyed a relaxed tour of the College led by David Edwards ('83), indulging in waves of notalgia as it climbed the stairs to the top floors, reliving (generally happy) memories of those classrooms.

It then moved on to see the various changes to the old building including those to the old chemistry laboratories and craft shop (all now part of the music and performing arts department). The nostalgia continued outside as the party moved on to the swimming pool, which inspired memories of how pupils used to change in the main building and then had to run across the main playground to the pool, even in February!

The tour finished in the impressive new

Junior School and STEM building, with everyone marvelling at the facilities now offered to pupils and students, especially the Sixth Form cafe and study space, prompting the following comment from one Dunstonian, "If we had had a space like this, I am not sure that much work would have been done!"

It was soon apparent that the one hour allocated to the tour would not be enough but noone seemed to mind being slightly late for their pre lunch drink followed by a splendid lunch in the Great Hall.

A special mention is due to David Palmer ('54), who looked resplendent in his colours blazer (which he subsequently gifted to the College's archives).

Many thanks are due to Rob Mankiewitz ('64) for being the driving force behind the reunion as well as to Isabelle Blake-James and Hannah French from the Dunstonian Office for their usual brilliant organisation.

REUNION NEW YORK

The first official annual alumni reunion outside the UK

Nick Hewlett, Head of St Dunstan's College, and Isabelle Blake-James, Director of Philanthropy and Alumni Relations flew out to New York in early October for the first official annual alumni reunion outside the UK.

The trip was a huge success as nothing beats meeting Dunstonians in person: a Drinks Reception at the Lotos Club on the East side of Central Park saw a dozen Dunstonians gathered for the occasion. Some had flown a long way including Aimee Montague ('19) recent Head of School, who came all the way from Chicago and met fellow Head of School, Ted Last ('60), 59 years apart. We had to immortalise the moment as Ted came wearing his school blazer which was remarkably in pitch perfect condition.

Other attendees included Anthony Smith ('57) who kindly organised a private tour of the Metropolitan Museum for Nick and Isabelle which was memorable as well as Rosie Peck ('09), Sam Cridlan ('86) who flew over from Washington, Mike Davies ('84), David Patterson ('91) and Sam Lewis ('76), part of the Development Board, who flew to New York for the occasion.

Dunstonian Associatio n

The

CRICKET ROUND UP Sport

OD CUACO CRICKET CLUB

OD Cuaco had a solid season in 2024, with all league teams performing creditably and retaining their league status.

Following relegation in 2023, the 1st XI finished mid-table in a strong Division 1 (3rd tier), in no small part due to some excellent performances from incoming captain Chris Webster, including a masterful 130 away at Gravesend. The team continues to blood some young talent and the club expects to bear the fruits of this approach in future seasons. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th XIs all survived in their respective divisions of the Kent League, with the 3s mounting a late charge for promotion, but ultimately had too much to do. The sides benefit from a mix of experience and youth, with the flourishing colts section key to future success. The Sunday Development team (focussed on U21s) also had a successful season, with some excellent wins against big local clubs such as Bromley Common and Hayes.

The club continues to see large numbers of juniors attending training on Sunday mornings and Tuesday evenings, alongside an ever-expanding fixture list. Furthermore, OD Cuaco continues to develop its girls’ section, with specific intra-club friendlies being organised. The annual tour – this year returning to Norwich – was a success, attended

by a range of families and remains a highlight of the calendar. The club culture continues to be extremely strong, with players socialising late into the evenings after games and with multiple supporters coming down throughout the season. The club was particularly gratified to hear that long-serving member, and former Chairman, Howard Smith has been nominated for a lifetime achievement award by the Kent League.

No doubt cricket clubs continue to face challenges, but OD Cuaco CC is planning ahead and continues to provide a hub for cricket-lovers in the Beckenham area. Laurence Sanders (Hon Secretary)

Andy Rouse Chairman, OD CUACO Cricket Club

L

T20 XI after defeating Lordswood From back left:- T Howe (wk), I Loader, C Sanders, K Hammond, N Worsley, A Davison, K Pienaar, W East, C Webster (c), D Baylis, J Sims

2nd XI after defeating Gravesend RFC (League Champions)

From back left:-

Pooley, A Hall, R Loader, K Hammond, L Sanders (c, wk), I Loader, O Colby, C Westmacott, A Arora, H Hamilton, O Jasper

RUGBY

ODRFC Interim Report October 2024

AS reported in the last notes the ODRFC 1st XV were unfortunately relegated down a league to ‘Kent Counties 3’. Whilst some may see this as a negative, the players and coaches see this as an opportunity for the club to re-group, recruit and re-structure. This has seen our long standing head coach Phil Ubee deciding to step down from his head coaching role to retire.

All at the ODRFC would like to thank Phil for all his efforts and endeavour over the years he coached the 1st XV. He is highly regarded by all the players and other coaches and we have been very fortunate to have him, based on the other coaches roles he has had previously. As a Dunstonian, Phil fully immersed himself in the culture and community of the ODRFC.

He has been a regular on ‘Tour’ to Cornwall every year and continues to partake in the social functions the club put on. He has a particular talent for cabaret and would happily be found on the stage entertaining the clubhouse with the many acts he seems to be able to turn his hand to.

The Ubee name has not left us completely however as his son, Mike, has gladly accepted the role as new player coach. We look forward to many years working with Mike and no doubt he will be as successful as his father.

With regards to recruitment we have had the pleasure of welcoming a number of new players to the squad. Including a Dunstonian in Matt Bratt who seems to be a very lively and quick winger / fullback. This hopefully spells good signs as we have been working hard to reengage with the college and forge closer links.

With the season already underway we currently find ourself sitting in the lower half of the table table having won 2 from 6 games. We must mention an outstanding win against against top of the table Tunbridge Judds who have been beating most teams by 30 plus points. There have been a couple of games that seemed to slip away from the team which has been frustrating for all involved.

As always the squad are very upbeat and continue to develop and progress without letting these set backs deter them.

We continue to arrange social engagements for all with 4 league lunches arranged this season (top left).

The 3 remaining are 7 December 2024, 15 February and the 5 April if you are looking to attend please email – events@ odrfc.co.uk

We also see green shoots appearing in the junior section. We have been fortunate enough to have been joined by

an U13 team. The players and parents have been unbelievably enthusiastic and supportive and it feels like we have some very positive momentum. Interesting the two lead individuals driving the under 13 have their children at the college which is a warm reminder of the links between the college and the attraction of the facility at Park Langley.

There are currently 34 children in the squad and they train regularly on a Wednesday and Sunday. Matches are then played on a Sunday when arranged. All are welcome.

The mantra within the junior section is –

‘We want all our children to learn the values the sport offers in a safe, friendly environment, hopefully making friends and having fun’

If you or your child are interested in the junior or senior section of the rugby club please reach out and contact the club or follow the social media pages now on Instagram - @odrfc and @old_ dunstonians_boys_u13_rugby.

Jeremy Scott

Chair Old Dunstonian Rugby Football Club

GOLF

Summer meeting Chislehurst Golf Club

After a very enjoyable visit to Bearsted in the Spring, the ODGS golfing ensemble moved on to Chislehurst Golf Club on 28 June to compete for the Balding Cup. Celebrating its 130th year, Chislehurst benefits from both an OD Secretary (Simon Iliffe '92) and OD Captain (Simon Gander '83), so we were confident of a warm welcome.

Continuing the theme of the improved numbers that we had seen at Bearsted, 23 OD golfers and guests gathered at the club for breakfast before a 9am tee off. Even more pleasingly the group included a number of first time participants including the Club Captain, Andrew Ryle ('96 another CGC member), Victor Fenwick ('84), Brian Collins ('84) and David Edwards ('83). We were joined by two more ODs for lunch Sam Lewis ('76) and Mike Rogers ('69).

Over an excellent lunch the results of a very competitive morning's golf were revealed. While 14 players were within 5 shots of the leading score, and 6 were within 2 shots, the OD winner of the Balding Cup was Ian Pressney ('96) on count back from Jonny Aucamp ('86), though it's possible that Jonny was saving himself ahead of a 200+ mile charity bike ride from Sheerness to Weston-SuperMare the following morning.

Inspired by their morning excellence 14 players ventured out for a further 9 holes in the afternoon, competing for the Penfold-Thorne Cup's. These were won by Jeremy Scott ('96) and Kaan Ors ('91) accompanied by Jeremy's guest Luke Moran.

Taking advantage of the long summer evening the players relaxed on the terrace after the golf, catching up generally, discussing the merits of a well struck 5-iron and the best route to Saunton in Devon on September 3rd/4th for the Autumn Meeting hosted by Trevor "wallet-check" Smith ('75). If you can make it to the north Devon coast we'd love to see you, failing which hopefully at Knole GC in the first week of December.

Other OD attendees (most of whom are in the photo below) were: Sean Malone ('83), Neil Kerr ('83) Keith Norman ('85), Nigel Keess ('77), Terry Giddins ('71), Mark Pearce ('81), Richard Bridges ('86), Stephen Laws ('68), Harvey Raybould ('87) Clive Carpenter ('79) and Stephen Dyer ('80).

We hope to see you soon. Until then may your balls always be long and straight.

Sean Malone ('83)

Dunstonian Golf Society

Devon tour September 2024

The Dunstonians once again made their trip down to Devon and Saunton for an autumn golf tour at the invitation of Trevor Smith and his friends. A fantastic turnout of 12 golfers including 2 golfers of Trevor’s vintage; Douglas MacCabe and Stewart Wilson.

On the first afternoon, following journeys from across the southeast, we played the East course in resplendent sunshine but soon realised that in this part of the world you really can experience every season in one hour let alone in one day. Everyone acknowledged that the golfing challenge playing from the white tees, rather than yellow of our previous visit, proved a more difficult proposition but a single shot penalty placed in the adjacent fairway if a ball was lost in the rough was suggested and unanimously supported. Indeed, the first beneficiary of this ‘local’ rule included the opening tee shot at the first with ‘convenient’ drop onto the women’s tee from adjacent lost ball in the rough. It was much to the surprise of the rest of the group at the starters hut that the player is question was allowed to play the rest of the hole with upright shorts! It must have been the honoured setting of a top 100 course! The quality of the golf improved; Keith Norman won closest to the pin with a beauty that defied the severe slope and tail wind whilst Ian Pressney took the newly acquired Grundy trophy with 35 points.

We retired to the bar to be ambushed by the local seagull (the club provides a water gun to dissuade her on advancing

too frequently) followed by a lovely dinner in town. After hours drinks were taken in our air b and b courtesy of Rob Brophy with much deliberation on all things school related from years past.

The group took to the West course with much gusto following the largest breakfast in the clubhouse spurred on by the touring Titleist pros playing on the adjacent East course. Such was the anticipation that Ian Pressney managed to pop his opening drive less than 5 yards in front of the tee much to the derision of those on the tee. Jonny Aucamp was triumphant with 36 points, which was great scoring in difficult conditions

We left in the early afternoon for our journeys home with fond memories of two great golf courses, fine company with old friends and especially thankful to Trevor Smith for once again inviting us down and to his friends for tolerating questionable golfing skills.

I have included several quotes from those attending for a flavour of the few days and we look forward to seeing as many as possible on 3rd December Knole at the Xmas Fayre.

‘Pleasure to entertain you all, Natural England and Saunton are grateful for your artisan management of the course where the machinery cannot reach.’

‘Still trying to get my head round a thatched cottage stuck in the middle of a council estate.’

‘Great to have an evening to have a few drinks and reminisce (sure sign of getting older).’

‘Yes great value but adding back the cost of lost balls made it a bit more expensive for me !’

‘Thanks everyone for the craic and for positive comments over the 2 days of endurance golf I was playing!!’

‘Can I also add my thanks to everyone for their great company over the two days and particularly thanks to the organisers for all their hard work.’

‘Thanks Trevor for inviting us to play your splendid courses, I have subsequently found out that there are some areas on the courses that have short grass! I hope that our visit hasn’t jeopardised the renewal of your membership.’

‘It was great to score 43 points on such a challenging track, just a shame that it was over 2 rounds.’

‘Thanks Trevor for allowing us all to pull our hair out whilst wandering around in circles for hours on your wonderful Saunton rough. At least I now have better insight into how you lost your hair.'

'What a wonderful few days (ignoring the many lost balls). Great to see everybody.’

Best wishes Dunstonian Golf society

RETURNING DUNSTONIANS

to their alma mater

The College’s doors remain wide open at all times to welcome you back for a tour and a lunch and a chat with our students. We have recently enjoyed welcoming back the following Dunstonians:

• Mr Clements visits the Festival in June 2024 (grandfather)

• Wade Williams ('96)

• Mohammad Chowdhury ('85)

• Brian Wood ('80)

• Robert Brophy ('87)

• Philip Greader ('76)

• Chris Miles ('73)

• Jerry Friend ('63)

• David Bratby ('74)

• Junior Ngoma ('00)

• Peter Belsham ('71)

• John Wall ('68)

Jerry Friend ('63)

Peter Belsham ('71)

Wade Williams ('96)

David Bratby ('74)

Junior Ngoma ('00)

Mr Clements

OD LODGE 5662

Consecrated 24 September 1937

Richard Gilbert ('97) and Stephen Hugkulstone ('04) write:

“Freemasonry is one of the oldest social and charitable organisations in the world, open to those of all backgrounds. It emphasizes personal growth, development and integrity and reinforces the importance of charity and service in the community.

The Old Dunstonian Lodge was established in 1937 and has met continuously since (Covid excepted). We meet four times a year at the impressive Freemasons’ Hall in central London. A formal dinner afterwards is an important part of the experience, concluding with speeches and a moving toast to the College, explaining and celebrating the motto Albam Exorna.

We are an open Lodge, but Dunstonians are particularly welcome, whatever your connection to the College. There are no mixedsex Lodges in England, but the Council for Freemasonry draws together men’s and women’s Lodges and we would be delighted to assist in the creation of a women’s Lodge if there was demand."

If you are interested in finding out more, please visit

https://www.ugle.org.uk/ discover-freemasonry and contact the Lodge Secretary, Russell Mady ('77) at rjmady@ ntlworld.com

Mohammed Chowdhury('85)

Philip Greader ('76)

Chris Miles ('73)

Robert Brophy ('87)

Brian Wood ('80)

John Wall ('68)

The Archives Corner

Our Archivist at the College, Shea Hollis (née Luke, '01), with updates on the latest additions to the archives collection at St Dunstan's College

The Bedminsters

During the summer break, we had a delightful visit from some Dunstonian parents, Jan and Roy Bedminster.

Their sons, Leo and Alex, were pupils at St Dunstan's in the 90s and early 00s and they enjoyed seeing both the progressive changes and all that remained the same since that time and are looking forward to future events and getting more involved.

However, the main reason for their visit was to see if they could unearth a photograph of Jan's Grandfather, himself a Dunstonian in the 1930s/40s who was among those evacuated to Reigate in WW2.

Amazingly, Jan had no idea her Grandfather, Colin Andrews '44, came to St Dunstan's and only found out when they visited on an Open Day in the early 90s looking for schools for her sons and saw a photograph of him hanging on the wall!

It was this photo they were hoping to discover in the Archives and while we don't think they found the exact one, we did come across another one they hadn't seen before, as well as his original school record card, and they were overjoyed.

Bill Tallents –a follow up to the feature in the Summer 2024 edition

Revd Brian Strevens ('67)” remembers:-

“I was in ‘Bill’ Tallent’s class (2C) 1961/2 .As well as being our form master he taught me English and Latin. Along with two sixth form masters, he is the teacher who made most of an impression on my developing character. I still remember him with affection. In an all male environment, which could be hard, he was kind and approachable.

We travelled in the morning on the same train. He came in from outer Kent, usually in the company of Miss Southwell, the School Secretary. He was a great follower of the horses and they were often in deep study - of the Racing Post!

He followed the progress of his former pupils, sending me his best wishes when I was ordained in 1973.

I can still see him now in his characterful sports jacket and bushy eyebrows. A regular Mr Chips!"

Bill Bishop ('71) remembers:-

“Oh, and nicknames - to my cohort he was "Tallywaggles".

I think he taught through to 1965, when I left the Junior school, and was form master to the "A" stream.”

Year 1 visit the Archives Room

In what is now becoming an annual tradition, the entire cohort of Year 1 pupils from the Junior School came to visit the Archives in October. 40 five and six year olds, and their teachers and support staff, squeezed into the Dunstonian Office and Archive room for their session with Archivist Shea Hollis ('01).

They were utterly enthralled by the artefacts and images from St Dunstan's’ College history; asking impressive questions about student life in the past and about the building from yesteryear. The young Dunstonians were especially excited to be able to try on some uniform from a hundred years ago, in some cases.

We finished their visit with a trip to see the new St Dunstan-inthe-East plaque. It was so exciting to see interest in the college heritage, ignited in such young minds!

Archive Appeal

The College’s archives are fragile and some need looking after urgently. We have recently had 1910s black and white College photos professionally reframed but our budget is not stretching long enough to have all photos reframed. We are looking at £2,000 worth of conservation work to be done on such delicate and unique photos and would welcome a generous donation accordingly. If you are interested, please email: archives@stdunstans.org.uk

Budding archivists Poppy and Alma

Members of the College volunteering club have been helping with the vital organising of the archives

Our Archivist, Shea Hollis ('01), is delighted to invite you to an

Open Afternoon 3 April 2025 2 - 4pm

• Possibility of a tour of the College beforehand on request

• Unrestricted access to Archives boxes under Shea’s supervision

• Further date in the Autumn

• Book at www.dunstonians.org.uk/events

Thursday Throwback

Facebook@DunstonianAssociation instagram@dunstonians

Many of you have been reminiscing with our #ThursdayThrowback feature on the Dunstonian Facebook and Instagram pages- here are some of the latest images from the archives shared as part of this. If you haven’t yet, do have a look and get involved!

Surprise Donations for the Archives

The Thrall Family

Nothing excites the Archivist more than arriving on her Thursdays in the College to find unexpected post waiting for her, containing treasures from St Dunstan’s past. One such package was waiting in early October. Inside, eight beautifully preserved photographs of various sports teams and House groups from the late 50s and early 60s.

These had been sent in by Andrew Thrall ('61). Adding to the excitement was some marvellous teamwork between Andrew and his wife Linda. She diligently placed the names of everyone Andrew could recall into individual spreadsheets for each picture, meaning we can identify each person easily. An Archivist dream donation - thank you so much Mr and Mrs Thrall!

Staying with the Thralls and more surprise post, it was wonderful to welcome their son, Alex Thrall ('01), back to the College for the Co-Ed Anniversary Celebration Event. Alex contacted us after the event, to both offer to come and talk with students on Mental Health in Education but also to ask us to pass on a message to a former teacher he was very grateful for, but never had the chance to thank. We won’t share the details here but how special for that teacher to receive such a memory from thirty years before.

Brett Harrild ('78)

Another surprise donation, but this time delivered by hand, was a wonderful collection given Brett Harrild ('78), turned SDC teacher 1985-2017.

Upon arriving at the Co-Ed Anniversary Event, Mr Harrild handed the Archivist a bursting bundle of papers plus his Prefect Tie. It included a huge range of school production programmes, event tickets, calendars, uniform price lists, educational visit letters and much more, all from the 1970s.

One document that particularly delighted our

own Isabelle Blake-James, with all her work in Development, was the 1972 Development Progress Report.

Thank you, Brett Harrild, for this gold mine of seventies heritage.

Announcements

Obituaries

Staff

Billy Ibadulla 20 December 1935 - 12 July 2024

Khalid "Billy" Ibadulla MNZM was a Pakistani New Zealander cricket coach, commentator, cricket umpire and cricketer.

He worked as TVNZ cricket commentator. He holds the record of playing the most first class games (217) before making a test debut for Pakistan. In the end he played four Tests for Pakistan between 1964 and 1967.

He coached some of New Zealand's top cricketers, including Glenn Turner, Ken Rutherford and Chris Cairns. He umpired first-class cricket in England in 1982 and 1983.

He also taught as a Physical Education teacher at St Dunstan's College in the early 1970s. David Edwards remembers:

“His special gym exercise for those of us in the preps was to make us circle our arms very slowly one way then the other, with the circles increasing and decreasing. As we did so Billy would whisper “Peaches and cream, boys, just think peaches and cream….”

1940s

Bramwell Nurse ('40)

Born: 19 May 1921; Died: 8 September 1918.

I would be pleased for you just to record his death in ’The Notes’, but I do not wish, certainly at this stage, to produce a full obituary. The fact is that I know very little about my father’s life in the 1930s and up to his marriage to my mother in 1949. He did tell me a few things about his time at St Dunstan’s , but very little about his time in the RAF during World War 2, when he was, so far as he told me, stationed for most of the time on a small island in the Pacific, confined to administrative (as opposed to flying) duties.

I am not sure when he first attended St Dunstan’s, or indeed whether he was at the School for only his final year (to take what I think was then the ’School Certificate’) or his last two years. I don’t think he was ever transferred to Reigate. He would have had his 18th birthday in 1939, and I think he must have left school in 1939, and then almost immediately gone into the RAF. Unfortunately, the RAF records are not readily available.

My father’s circumstances were unusual. He was the only son of Salvation Army officers. The practice was for SA officers to be sent to different places every 3 or 4 years. My father’s parents were sent (in either 1935 or 1936) to be the officers at Catford Salvation Army. My grandmother used to tell me how she

was able to obtain a bursary for my father to attend St Dunstan’s. I have no school records. He used to tell me about his Rugby when he was at St Dunstan’s.

After the War, he came back to Catford, and worked for his articles as a Chartered Accountant. I don’t think he played any more Rugby, but he did play Football for a short time for Catford Wanderers. He met my mother, who was a nurse and midwife at King’s College Hospital (where I was born in 1950). My parents were married in 1949.

Unfortunately, in the early 1950s my father was severely ill during successive winters, suffering from pneumonia. This was initially thought to have been caused by the London smogs at the time. They therefore moved, in 1952, to Norwich (to where my father’s parents had also retired) where the air was clearer.

My father’s health was still poor each winter, but in about 1955 the cause was diagnosed as being the result of a nose injury, probably due to his Rugby, which had caused bone to block the passageway to his nose and divert mucous to his lungs. He had an operation to clear the airways, and remained in excellent health until very shortly before his death.

He continued his practice as a Chartered Accountant but also became Managing Director of a group of garages in and around Norwich and Ipswich.

1950s

Michael Randall ('53)

Michael Carey Randall died on 23 September 2024 at the age of 89. He was a proud pupil and prefect at St Dunstan’s from 1946 to 1953. His funeral was held on 31 October at Eastbourne Crematorium followed by a service of thanksgiving at Bexhill United Reformed Church and then a celebration at the De La Warr Pavillion, Bexhill.

Michael was born in Sidcup on 31 March 1935, to Elsie and Bert. He was evacuated to Maidenhead during the war and on return he attended Sidcup Hill County Primary School before joining St Dunstan’s in Catford. After three years of National Service in the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, Badger Squadron, he worked in London, where he met his future wife, Brenda.

Michael and Brenda were married in 1962, setting up home in Sevenoaks. Michael was an active member of local churches and church choirs, and a Deacon in Sevenoaks. He loved singing and was part of the Sidcup Operatic Society. In 1986, he moved to Bexhill with Brenda and joined the BLODS, Bexhill Light Operatic and Dramatic Society, where he played many leading roles. He also took up many voluntary positions at the local United Reformed Church from singing in the choir through to church secretary.

Michael and Brenda had two children, Nigel and Heather, and later, five grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren, who he was immensely proud of and enjoyed spending time with.

Michael’s working life started at a shipping agents, and then the shipping side of C.T. Bowring Insurance Brokers. Then in 1968, he started working for the ANZ bank in London, initially commuting from Sevenoaks and later from Hastings for over 20 years. After retiring from banking he took up local jobs at Camtec Photographic Repairs and AVH Rentals Ltd before retiring once and for all.

Michael was immensely proud of his schooling at St Dunstan’s College and loved to reminisce to friends and family about his time there. Not academically the top student, as evidenced from the reports he unearthed in a recent delve into the archives there, he absolutely loved his time as a student and prefect.

He became an enthusiastic member of the Old Dunstonian’s, taking trips down to Emsworth for dinners and get togethers and in his later years the Old Dunstonian Association became a genuine passion for him. In his own words he simply couldn’t get enough of it, with regular visits to the school - for open days, archive days, services at Southwark Cathedral and virtually anything he could get himself along to. Even as recently as this summer he would think nothing of jumping in his car and trekking up the A21 from Hastings to Catford, or getting on the train to London for the next event!

Following the death of Brenda in 2017 Michael continued to live alone at home in Hastings, where he enjoyed an active and independent life up to one month

before his death. He was diagnosed with cancer on several occasions in his latter years, humorously referring to his hobby of 'collecting cancers’, but this did not affect his positive outlook on life. He passed away at a local nursing home in Hastings on 23 September, 2024.

Paul Edward Waters was born on the 21 May, 1939 with the birth being registered in Woolwich and was the only son of Albert Edward (1898-1962) and Florence (nee Scarborough) (1900-1978) Waters.

Paul was the youngest of the descendants of his paternal grandparents, John and Ellen Waters.

He was educated at St Dunstan’s College, Catford, from 20 September 1948 and left on 26 July 1958, having previously attended St Nicholas Primary School in Orpington, where the family lived. He was a member of Lane House.

The St Dunstan’s record notes that he “should make a good engineer”! He took his GCE A-Levels (obtaining 100% in A Level Maths with additional S paper). He told the story that his mathematics teacher had always awarded top marks to the pupil that presented the most mathematically elegant solution to a problem.

At the time he wanted to drive and work on the Bren Gun Carrier, so he joined the College’s Combined Cadet Force and obtained a Basic Military Training Certificate.

He also told the story in 1957 FieldMarshal Montgomery had turned up to Speech Day and gave a book on leadership away as a prize, saying that it was a very good book as he had written it himself. Paul had the impression that Monty was not joking.

Paul developed a love for cars and mechanical engineering from an early

Dr Paul Waters ('58)

age. Having already had a great interest in railways, both went hand in hand.

School was followed by a B.Sc. (Eng.) (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering, University College London, 1961.

After University he commenced work at the Ford Motor Company in Dagenham as a Graduate Apprentice, 1961-63. Continuing to work for Ford from 1963-65 as an Engineer - Advanced Design Packaging for various new models.

His work included drive-line modifications to reduce noise; vehicle handling simulation (developed computer model); he patented a low pedal load clutch release system; and performed improvements to vehicle performance calculations and stress analysis etc. methods.

Between 1977-80 he was an Engineer/Policy Advisor for Noise (NVH) and Emissions. This meant that he was the UK representative to EEC, UN Economic Commission to Europe, and BSI legislation/standards committees. From 1980-1984 he was Engineer/Policy Advisor Car Safety:

He left the Civil Service in 1984 to form two separate companies – PE Waters & Associates and PWA Books (Publisher No. 0-948904-). As PWA Books, Paul was Author, Editor and Publisher of books and articles on South America and Railways.

Paul was Chairman of Trustees of the British Overseas Railways Historical Trust between 1988-97 and 20012022.

Sadly, Paul developed Parkinson’s Disease in early 2021 and began to spend more time in the local hospitals than at home. In late 2023 he moved into a care home in Bromley, but contacted a chest infection in July 2024, was taken to hospital and passed away on 19 July 2024.

By Julian Rainbow

1960s

Brian Burrows ('60)

29 January 1942 – September 2024.

Dr John R Paskins ('66)

John Paskins (1947-2023) was killed on 26 July 2023 when the light aircraft he was solo piloting crashed.

He had completed a successful glider tow and release, and on return and approach to the Darlton Gliding Club the aircraft struck the ground and was destroyed. John was an active member of both the Darlton Glider Club and the Wolds Gliding Club and was a Director of both clubs and also held the role of their Safety Officer.

John left the school in 1966 to enter the Charing Cross Hospital Medical school to study medicine. His medical career progressed to become a

Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and in latter years was based at Doncaster hospital where he was a consultant in emergency medicine.

John leaves a widow and we believe a son who is also medic.

Ian Fugeman writes: “Whilst I have not been contact with John since leaving school, he was one of four of us who entered the Prep school in 1956. The four of us knew each other having all come from the same pre-school in Beckenham.”

1970s

Mark Henderson ('74)

It is with great sadness that I have to tell you that Mark died suddenly of a heart attack on August 11th. Here are some memories from Mike Watson, Alan Thompson and myself.

I first knew Mark at Riverstone School in Lee Green, South East London. I do recall him from those days as a bundle of energy – he always seemed to run, never walk. Aged 8 we both went to St Dunstan’s. The reality was that we certainly knew each other but in true Henderson style, Mark was always the sporty, clever one.

Mark was the middle of the 5 Henderson brothers that left their mark on St Dunstan’s in the 60’s and 70’s. He progressed well up the school, and was always in the Rugby 1st XV and Cricket 1st XI in each year group. He seemed to excel at most things but sport was his thing - be it Cricket, Rugby, Cross-Country he did the lot. At rugby, Mark was a fearless flanker – he was the Duracell bunny before that phrase was coined – he just kept running, tackling and he even had the temerity to handle the ball every now and again! In fact given his good looks and expertly coiffured hair, we always thought he would have preferred to be amongst the glory boys in the backs. Mark, being so slim, meant he felt the cold – my abiding memory is seeing Mark standing on many a wet, muddy rugby pitch, socks down to his ankles with his arms wrapped around himself, shivering.

At cricket Mark was a deceptively fast, whippy medium fast bowler and rather cavalier batsman. His roll of sporting honour at school was quite something:

Cricket - 1st XI for three years, vicecaptain in the third and full colours twice. Rugby – 1st XV and full colours. Cross-country running – 1st VIII for two years, captain and full colours in the 2nd

After school we all went on to play rugby for the Old Dunstonians and yes Mark kept on running. There was little that could take him off a rugby field – there was the famous day he somehow managed to bite through the skin below his bottom lip – yes right through! After having had it sewn up by Dr Thompson, he was back on the field a few minutes later as though

nothing had happened – the scar was there for all to see for the rest of his life.

We shared many things in school and beyond. We spent the best part of 4 months wandering around Europe as part of our gap year – you get to know someone pretty well when you share a tent with someone for that long - I’m glad to say that we must have got on pretty well as we were still talking to each other at the end of it.

Following his father’s family roots, Mark moved to Australia in 1982 and I followed a year later and we shared a flat in Sydney. Rugby and beer remained a constant - the bath being the repository for the used rugby kit…… I have Mark to thank for getting me together with my wife, as we met at his 27th birthday party. Mark remained in Australia, living in Sydney and latterly in Queensland. Although we lived at opposite parts of the planet we always kept in touch. It might be a bit of banter over the latest England / Australia sports results, commemorating a birthday or other family event.

Mark married Sharon in 1984 and they had 3 children. Mark and Sharon split in 2006 and he married Margy in 2010. They managed to avoid any winters for a few years by running gites in France during the summer and returning to Australia for their summer. In later life, Mark and roughing it did not particularly go together. One particular time was when Mark, Mike Watson, Alan Thompson and I turned 50 decided to walk the West Highland Way in Scotland. We turned up with rucksacks; Mark arrived with a large suitcase and a twisted ankle but neither stopped him completing the 96 mile hike!

Mark’s friendly exterior belied a steely determination which held him in such good stead in a so many facets of his life. Mark was successful in a number of different careers. He was always on the lookout for an opportunity – operating marketing, recruitment agency, estate agency and holiday accommodation businesses to name a few. There are so many memories that those who knew Mark will recall and it is so sad that he is no longer with us. Mark is survived by Margy his 3 children and 3 grandchildren.

RIP Mark. From Rob Mankiewitz

ASSURING A BRIGHTER FUTURE THROUGH LEGACIES

For many Dunstonians, your years spent at the College proved to be some of the most enjoyable and formative, fundamentally shaping your future pathway and success, in its many guises.

By leaving a legacy to St Dunstan’s in your Will, you will enable future generations of students to benefit from our acclaimed Renaissance education.

You can decide exactly how your legacy can benefit future generations of Dunstonians by talking to your solicitor. More importantly, a legacy bequest is a gift you can plan at no cost to you during your lifetime. Legacies play an important role in supporting bursaries, small building projects or extra curricular activities at the College.

What a legacy could do for St Dunstan’s College...

£1,000 could fund a bench in memory of a Dunstonian

£10,000 could fund a Commemoration Day or special anniversary for you

“ Value all you have learnt, to enrich the lives of others. ”

Benjamin Chick ('92) legator

£35,000 could help with the refurbishment of the Plaza playground

£1,000 £35,000

£5,000 £10,000 £25,000

£5,000 could help increase our digital archives

£25,000 could help us run our Wellness Centre and welcome a Therapy Dog

HOW TO LEAVE A LEGACY

How do I make a Will?

Making a Will is very important and not as hard as you may think. Remembering a charity along with your loved ones can make a huge and positive impact to those you choose to benefit. As a registered charity, all legacy gifts to St Dunstan’s Education Group (registered charity details on reverse of booklet) are completely free of Inheritance Tax (IHT). Your legacy may even reduce the amount of IHT due on your estate. Gifts in your Will can be of a specified amount (pecuniary gift) or a portion of your estate (residuary gift). Gifts free from restrictions are particularly helpful to the College.

I already have a Will so how do I add St Dunstan’s to it?

Reviewing your Will regularly is important as tax law and circumstances do change. You can always make small alterations to an existing Will by completing a Codicil.

Do I need a solicitor when making or amending my Will or writing a Codicil?

We strongly advise you see a solicitor when seeking to write or update your Will and/or your Codicil. Visit the Law Society website to find a solicitor near you at www.lawsociety.org.uk

I can only leave a small amount. Is it worth it?

Any legacy left to the College plays a vital role in ensuring more children can have access to a St Dunstan’s education. Whatever you can give, you have our deepest thanks.

£100,000 could help us fund one Sixth Form student on a full bursary two years

£100,000

£50,000

£50,000 could help expand our outreach music and Lamda provisions or run our community Bridge school

THE ALBAM EXORNA LEGACY SOCIETY

The Albam Exorna Society was established to recognise those who have left a bequest to St Dunstan’s College in their will and who wish to be recognised publicly. It is our opportunity to thank all our legacy donors during their lifetime.

Membership of the Legacy Society is open to everyone who let us know that they have included a gift to the school in their will and it is entirely optional - we understand you may wish to keep your intention private.

We organise an annual lunch in the Spring for all members, which is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate your generosity as well as share memories from your time at the College with like minded Dunstonians. As a member of the Society you also receive regular updates on how legacies are having a significant impact on the life of students at the College. You will be invited to key events such as Commemoration Day or Remembrance Day.

£250,000 could help with the refurbishment of the swimming pool

£500,000 £250,000 £1,o00,000

£1,000,000 could fund two bursaries forever, as part of our endowment fund

£500,000 could help with the refurbishment of the leisure centre

Mark Pronger ('84) Wilson House

Spotlight on...

Reading the new edition of The Notes I couldn’t help but think that this September it will be 50 years since I ventured into Prep 1.

St Dunstan’s had - and still does - have strong links with my family with my Allardyce grandfather and 3 of my grandmother’s brothers (AHC, JE and ME Heald) also being pupils due to their residence in Brockley as children in the 1920s. So it was destiny I suppose.

I used to catch the 819 from Shortlands, initially with my father (CJT P 57) but then with newly made friends. Excitement if we found an unoccupied ‘box’ compartment and then alighting at Catford before the train continued on something called the Catford Loop. I never once travelled beyond Catford on that train. I still wonder what Denmark Hill was actually like?

Some boys used Catford Bridge station but they must have lived in another country. Walking up Stansted Road past the little newsagents whose takings must have tumbled in the school holidays with no ice pops and trump cards to sell us.

In shorts and with caps on we ventured across the playground, avoiding the concrete pillars of the music and science block and the Fives courts a game played with glove and ball that I had never heard of. And then there was the monolithic cube of the Prep Block planted somewhat randomly it seemed.

We sat in rows alphabetically in the classroom as Denis Fletcher read out our names. I can still recall the first ten today: Beavington, Brown, Caswall, Cooper, Egan, Finch,

Glynne, Hall, Hirst, Hobson… but then it gets a bit hazy.

We would have lunch in the parabolic roofed dining hall later to host Capital Radio DJs for amazing ‘discos’ in the late 70s. The tuck shop with bottles of Coca Cola and Golden Wonder crisps for about 3p.

Art and ‘craft’ in the same room in the block and then ‘Pirates’ for PE across in the gym if we were lucky.

Learning rugby, blue shirts or white? The horrors of Cross Country and then the bliss of cricket. I went up to Prep 4 with Colin Matten and he taught me how to connect with the silence. I just listened for the sound of willow on leather.

I was a tree in the Prep Play The Hobbit and then the usher the following year in Toad of Toad Hall under the direction of Messrs Gaskell and Townsend. To allow every boy to have some role in these productions was really something.

Summer projects requiring us to produce charts on whatever the subject was. I remember writing to the Brazilian embassy for some information on the Amazon river and receiving an amazing amount which I gleefully stuck on and presented as my own work. Well, you would, wouldn’t you?

And to Lower School in the ‘proper’ old buildings. Desks with compass point carvings and ink stains left by boys my father might have known. Bannisters with brass knobs on to prevent certain death from sliding down and woe betide if you were caught running in the corridors.

But it was OK to pile up in the gym changing room corridor trying to squeeze through one door way with a smug Prefect watching as the breath was constricted out of us. Just to get into school. The corridor with Picasso’s Guernica and other artworks and the notice boards by the main door where you’d find out if you’d been picked for the Third XI if you were lucky. And then Assembly in the Great Hall

Masters with cloaks, red hymn books, portraits of previous Heads watching wisely down as Mr Dance sat in his ornate chair.

The benevolence of the great Ken Douie, the Rev Ridley

with his Latin idioms and vintage motorcycle, Colonel Downing for physics, Boggy Evans for Chemistry, the eloquence of DR Norris and the history room, in what was after school a shooting range in the cellar, occupied by the mysteriously dynamic on the squash court ROD Hughes. Lin Ashman and his instruments of torture in his workshop and Frank Stanton’s flamboyant art classes.

And then the Middle School corridor. House rooms, my Wilson had a new carpet, I never knew why, other rooms were wooden floors, probably original. Johnson was half the size of every other room. Ross was by the stairs so Mr Thorburn wouldn’t have to climb too many. Poor man, always slowly negotiating them, I wondered why nobody gave him a downstairs room? And then it became Sixth Form, had I been there too long? I think I had become a little tired of it in my 16 year old maturity. I was really annoyed not be considered to be a prefect. Maybe I hadn’t been noticed ? Or maybe I had and that was the problem.

I managed to be captain of the cricket 2nd XI but we didn’t win many games but that wasn’t the point. Facing Graham Pointer’s left arm fast in the nets meant I knew 2nd XI was my limit.

I failed two out of three A Levels and left school in the summer of 84 with Make It Big and Frankie Says on all the T-shirts. I retook in a London crammer with half a dozen ex-SDC colleagues and life opened up and I moved north.

I’ve never been back. And I miss it. The more I think about those times and those noises, the clicks of heels on marble, the dusty corridors, the smells. I’m sure I could walk through those doors now and be transported back into a time of distant memory.

The more I think the more I remember.

One day maybe….

Ian Tibbetts ('66) Johnson House

Memories of a black sheep...

And so it began. Way back in September 1955, at the age of 7 ¾, I first walked into St Dunstan’s College. Fresh faced and just out of primary school the college seemed a huge formidable building. So many students, masters in black gowns swept by me.

To this day the sight of the main building still gives me shivers. But back to my story. I arrived with cap, blazer and shorts, socks pulled up, shoes polished ready to start.

An interesting point here – I lived in Beckenham so got the train each day with my dad, getting on at Clock House and departing the train at Catford Bridge, then walked to the college on my own. After school I walked back to Catford Bridge and returned to Clock House, where my mother was waiting. I really can’t imagine any child of 7 ¾ doing that these days!

My early years at the college are a little hazy but seemed relatively uneventful. I remember just after I started a teacher by the name of Mr Early (I think – it was almost 70 years ago), pulled me out in front of the class and announced that I was the youngest boy in the school.

My reports during my primary years were not exactly glowing – ‘not trying’, ‘lazy’, ‘poor work’, ‘slow progress’ – in fact that was about the best as it seems some progress made. I jostled for position within the class –bottom or close to it.

In 1960 I moved from the primary part of the College to the slightly more senior part and I think this was when I progressed from short trousers to long trousers and I believe my cap gained a longer peak. I also think this was about the time battle lines were drawn up between me and the college, though it could have been when I hit 2C in 1961.

At this time I had a hairstyle which featured a quiff so wearing a cap certainly didn’t enhance it. The answer I discovered was to break the peak of the cap, which allowed it to droop rather nicely over my quiff. I think the practice was frowned on, but then much of my behaviour was not exactly what St D’s might have expected from their students. In those days there was a sweet shop just down from the college on the way to the station, where not only could you purchase frozen Jubbly’s but also single Woodbines (a make of cigarette) which we would smoke on the train.

Homework was a nightmare as I rarely did it, hoping to copy someone else’s the following day. I think for clarity at this stage I should mention I was not stupid (mentally at least), but I found lessons boring. I enjoyed being the centre of attention- usually for all the wrong reasons. I am a member of Mensa with an IQ of 149 (or was – I stopped paying the subscription but still have the certificate proudly hanging on my wall).

Back to the story. As I progressed towards the inevitable conclusion my behaviour got worse. Almost every assembly ended with ‘and will Tibbetts report to the duty prefect after assembly’. This got to the stage where the boys would say it along with whoever was announcing it. Often it would be the head prefect in his red gown, only a couple of years older than me, but who wielded great power (or should have done – I took very little notice)

Oh – about French. I’m afraid I really couldn’t get on with the accent, and also failed to understand what the point of learning it was (having visited France since I now understand that unlike every other country in the world where everyone speaks English, the French refuse to – I should have tried harder). Anyway, the French master said that if I couldn’t be bothered to try, he couldn’t be bothered to teach me and I needn’t attend anymore, which suited us both. The end came when I wrote a note excusing myself from games on some pretext and signed it as my mother. Obviously this was reported as a serious breach, and my parents were called in by the headmaster, Hecker. My parents were informed that I had now added forgery to my long list of crimes, and it would be preferable if I didn’t return, so in February 1963 at the age of 15, St Dunstan’s College and Tibbetts of Johnson house departed company. At the time of my departure I had accumulated 12 hours masters and 24 hours prefects detention!

My dad who worked in the City managed to get me a job with a firm of Insurance Brokers, and I became a claims broker at Lloyds and remained in Insurance for the majority of my working career.

However, it was only in later years I came to realise what a lot I had learnt from St D’s and I will always be grateful for everything it had knocked into me. I think other schools would have given up. So whilst we did not part on the best of terms, I will always be grateful, and proud to be able to say I went to St Dunstan’s College.

I may not have ‘Adorned the White’ over my Black Sheep persona, but thanks to the college I have had a successful career and continue to have an interest (from afar – well, sunny Shoreham by Sea) in all that happens with the college.

But to this day, the thought of returning makes me very nervous – after all I have yet to complete my detentions!

Memories from Zoe Davies (Emerson) one of the first cohort in the Sixth Form in 1994.

Why did you/ your parents choose St Dunstan’s College for your education?

My brother was already at the school so they knew it and wanted me to have a new experience doing A-levels in a co-ed environment before I went to university.

What was it like arriving at SDC with a handful of girls? It was very daunting not knowing anybody (apart from my brother). There were so few of us that friendships were formed quickly. I was lucky because I became good friends with the girls in my lessons and we got on really well.

How did the male students behave/react?

I think they found it a bit unusual at first but then they carried on as if it was just the norm. I think they enjoyed having new people to entertain, particularly when we had study time in the library!

Do you think all the staff adapted well to the change?

I don’t know how the staff were before the girls started, but I remember finding them very supportive and they seemed happy to have us in their lessons and we were included in the life of the school. They seemed to make a big effort to make sure we were OK and I think for some of them they liked having girls there to expand on things like the sports available.

Was there a lot of extra attention/ any extra pressure, as one of the first girls? Or the opposite, even?

At first I think we did have a lot of extra attention and I felt that we were being looked at quite often as we walked around the school. I found it less pressured than my old school which was a girls’ school, and that was really good for me.

Can you recall a particularly memorable/ funny anecdote?

There are lots of entertaining stories that I can remember. In my maths class I was the only girl and I remember the boys finding it very entertaining to tease me and trap me under chairs so I couldn’t move. It was all done in a really light-hearted way and I remember finding it very funny at the time. We also went on a really good trip to Strasbourg and stayed in the youth hostel. I can remember Dr Seldon pacing up and down the corridors all night to make sure that we stayed in our rooms. I loved going on a netball tour to Edinburgh and being allowed out for the evening with two of the student teachers under strict instructions not to go to a particular part of Edinburgh for fear of what horrors might lie there… no prizes for guessing where we actually went!

Looking back, would you choose SDC again? I would definitely choose SDC again. I had a great time

while I was there and made some really good friends. I found the teachers to be approachable and fun. I felt like I wasn’t just a hidden number at school, but a person who was valued.

Is there anything you would change from your time at SDC?

I think that I’d probably put more trust into the teachers when they were telling me I could do it because I did doubt myself but actually did really well.

What did the experience of being one of the first girls teach you and about your life after SDC and your roles now?

While I was there I found a co-ed environment very useful as it is more representative of the world than the school I was at before. After SDC I went on to do an engineering degree which was very maledominated at the time. Being at SDC meant that I was completely comfortable in that environment and I think it really benefited me in my university education. I loved my school days, particularly being in the Sixth Form at SDC, so following my degree I went on to become a primary school teacher. I was inspired by the teaching that I had had at school and the good relationships I had experienced between students and staff.

Zoe Davies ('96) Usherwood House

Zoe, far left, helping along with classmates, at an NSPCC Children’s party in May 1996

Views from Above Then & Now...

Three different views of St Dunstan's College from the skies...

Taken in 1888 as the site was developing

From 2017, before the new STEM building

A view from 2024, after the building works had been completed

SDC NEWS

Service of Nine Lessons and Carols

On Friday 6 December, the College's annual Nine Lessons and Carols Service was held at St Clement Danes, off the Strand. This year was spectacular given the very special venue which is home to the Royal Air Force, a first time venue for the College. The College's new Director of Music, Mark Dowd, weaved an amazing programme of Chapel Choir and Barbershop pieces, which worked very well.

Given the size of the venue only parents were invited to attend the concert and its pre-drinks reception across the road at Daly's Bar.

Thank you to Jonny Aucamp ('86), new Chair of the Dunstonian Association, for doing one of the readings and to incoming new Chair of Governors, Rupert Evenett ('81) for doing another one.

St Dunstan's marks Senior School Prize Giving 2024

St Dunstan's College marked the annual Senior School Prize Giving ceremony on Saturday 29 June 2024 at the Jubilee Ground.

An important date in our annual calendar, once again our prize-winning students and families were greeted by sunshine, as they gathered at the Jubilee Ground to celebrate their collective achievements. Awards were presented not just for excellence in academic disciplines, but also for modelling our College values, and committing to our broad array of co-curricular opportunities.

The diversity of achievement is a testament to the St Dunstan's education. We were fortunate to be joined by Sir Anthony Seldon, whose inspirational reflection emphasised the importance the next generation would play in shaping our society in the coming years.

Head of School, Rio Myers thanked his teachers and gave a moving account of his time at the school, urging younger students to make the most of the opportunities they are afforded. The ceremony concluded with recently retired Chaplin, the Rev’d Colin Boswell being awarded the Fellowship of St Dunstan's by the Chair of Governors for the lasting impact he has made on the College.

Ralph Salmins ('82) plays the drums at the Festival

Ralph Salmins ('82) came back to Lewisham to support the Catford Weekender in June 2024 which is a new outreach initiative by St Dunstan's College.

Ralph spent the day at the Jubilee Ground where a Big Top had been erected for the occasion and he tirelessly ran workshops for our music scholars, answered interview questions for the Outreach Film the College had commissioned and inspired all the College's young musicians ahead of the Jazz Soiree which was a resounding success.

After an outdoor drinks reception with Dunstonians, Ralph then took to the drums himself for a couple of jazz numbers in the evening, playing alongside our students.

When interviewed about coming back to the College he said:

"It's been really special and magic for me to reconnect with St Dunstan's. I had very lovely times when I was at school and to be able to put back and give back to students and in general help such a wonderful place means a lot to me. I feel very privileged and happy to be involved."

St Dunstan’s College celebrates best results in school’s history

St Dunstan’s College is delighted to reveal that Year 13 students have achieved the best A Level results in the school’s 136-year history. This year, 88% of all grades achieved were A*- B with an outstanding 61% being A - A* and 27% being A*. It is expected that these grades will position St Dunstan’s once again within the best performing schools in the country, based on academic outcomes.

Speaking about the record-breaking results, Head of St Dunstan’s, Nick Hewlett said: ‘The whole St Dunstan’s community is absolutely delighted for our Year 13 students. The outcomes mark the school’s best-ever A Level results on record, and for a second year in a row, outside of the Covid period, and speak to a school culture that has been turbo-charged in recent years, showcasing that it is perfectly possible to obtain outstanding academic results within the framework of a liberal, progressive and Rennaissance curriculum.’

Head of Senior School, Jade McLellan, said: ‘The students have worked tremendously hard over the last two years, receiving relentless support from their A Level teachers and their families. We are so proud that their efforts have been rewarded with these historic outcomes. This year has also seen our highest number of Oxbridge and medicine places gained and five students are joining an elite course at a conservatoire, art foundation course or a drama school. More than two thirds of the students will be joining a Russell Group university and Times World Rankings Top 20 university.

St Dunstan's CCF Corps of Drums take part in Lord Mayor's Music Competition

St Dunstan’s College CCF Corps of Drums participated in the prestigious Lord Mayor's Music Competition in the Guildhall Yard in central London on Sunday 13 October 2024.

The Corps showcased their exceptional musical talents and delivered a standout performance, demonstrating dedication and skill in the face of strong competition.

Among the highlights was Drum Major Marco, who earned the esteemed award for Best Drum Major. Marco’s disciplined leadership and precise commands set him apart, impressing both the judges and the audience. Jasmine also made a remarkable impact with her performance as a bugler, narrowly missing the Best Bugler award by the smallest of margins, Jasmine’s musicality and technical precision were highly praised.

Speaking about the competition, Contingent Commander Davies said: ‘All the cadets have brought great pride to the staff that support them and the College, their performances reflect the hard work and commitment of all those involved in the event and we look forward to their next performance at Remembrance Day.’

Passing on the baton!

Thank you to Dunstonian and former Head Girl, Wui Jin Lee ('18) who came back to St Dunstan's College on a cold November night to judge the College’s annual Sixth Form Symposium organised by Head of Sixth Form Alex Brewer.

Wui Jin was incredibly impressed by the level of maturity contained in our Academic Scholars’ presentations. She said that by reading all the presentations, “she had learnt more on the night than during the past sixth months at work”.

Topics ranged from “The role of AI in product design engineering” to “What factors have changed Senegalese attitudes towards French from 1659 to today” or “Are natural or synthetic perfume ingredients a better option?” and so many other fascinating topics. Well done to all three winners as the competition was tougher this year than ever before.

Rev Douglas Dales (’70) judges House Drama

On 3 October, Rev' Douglas Dales ('70) travelled from Berkshire all the way to Catford to be part of the judging panel for the College's House Drama, alongside Director of Drama, Richard Gregg, and Director of Music, Mark Dowd..

Why, you might well ask? Because the six new Houses, namely Canterbury, Ghent, Stepney, Glastonbury, Mendip and Worcester, all named after places of significance for St Dunstan's himself, were putting on mini sketches about the life of the Bishop who then was made a Saint after fighting the Devil: Dunstan grew up in Glastonbury and subsequently became Abbott of Glastonbury Abbey . Indeed, legend has it that King Edmund experienced a divine intervention while in the Mendip Forest which prompted him to reinstate Dunstan as Abbott of Glastonbury. Dunstan was then Bishop of Worcester from 957 and Archbishop of Canterbury from 960. He was briefly exiled in Ghent during the 950s and is also the patron saint of Stepney.

All Houses had one day only to write their skit, rehearse in the Great Hall and present the final production to their parents that same evening, all in front of the judging panel. It was a feast for the eye and Rev Douglas really enjoyed it! In his own words, "it was a very happy & worthwhile occasion in every way & reflected well the impact of drama & music in the College."

Stepney House won. But this is without mentioning the extraordinary fact that Rev Douglas also became a grandfather once again on that same day he attended the College, to a baby boy named....Dunstan.

Remembrance Day

The Dunstonian community gathered at the College on Monday 11 November for its annual Service of

We were honoured that our guests included Simon and Michael Stanford-Tuck (right), sons of distinguished Dunstonian Wing Commander Robert Stanford-Tuck, DSO, DFC & Two Bars, AFC, World War II fighter pilot, flying ace and test pilot.

The guests gathered for coffee before the service in the Johnson VC Room where archivist Shea Hollis had prepared a wonderful exhibition of StanfordTuck's life and achievements as well as other wartime memorabilia.

The Service of Remembrance followed in the Great Hall, led by the Reverend Colin Boswell, and included the poem "Anthem for Doomed Youth" read by Simon Stanford-Tuck, followed by the Chapel Choir singing "For the Fallen" by Douglas Guest and "Nunc Dimittis" by Charles Villiers Stanford.

The congregation then moved to the front drive where The Last Post and Two Minutes Silence was followed by the laying of wreaths including two by Simon and Michael on behalf of the Dunstonian Association. Our thoughts included memories of Dunstonian Michael Randall ('53), who had attended many such services over the years and who had sadly passed away very recently.

Careers & Higher Education Convention evening

On November St Dunstan's College's Great Hall had a buzz for the College's annual Higher Education Convention which welcomed over 300 students and parents from Year 9 to 13 both from the College and for our partner state Secondary Schools from the Borough of Lewisham such as Bonus Pastor, St Matthew's Academy or Connisborough.

With over 50 delegates representing a wide range of careers—including healthcare, architecture, law, finance, marketing, and engineering—as well as representatives from more than 20 top universities and higher education institutions, the event offered students a wealth of insights into both academic and creative pathways.

A special thank you must go to the dozen Dunstonians who set up stall in the Great Hall representing their own company - some of them for the first time and others for second or even third time running.

In no particular order, our warmest thanks go to:

• Yanoulla Kakoulli ('01) and Emily Redlick ('17) representing Judge and Priestley LLP

• Mark Batchelor ('01) representing his own comany 4TY Ltd

• Stephen Giddins ('02) repressenting RBC Brewin Dolphin

• Frank Collingwood ('66) on behalf of the Association of Taxation Technicians

• Andy Bennett ('01) representing Register Dynamics

• Henry Davies ('89) representing 106 Communications

• Lanre Falase ('03) representing Bolans Architects

• Will Schembri ('89) representing Howden Speciality

• George Zarkos ('20) giving a talk to students

We now over 400 volunteer mentors and career advisors on SDConnect - an invaluable bank of goodwill for our current students and young alumni.

UPCOMING EVENTS

VENUE HIRE

Editorial & Design Team:

Isabelle Blake-James

David Edwards

Shea Hollis

Jo Langthorne

Thank you to all Dunstonians who have generously contributed to the Winter 2024 edition. If you would like to contribute to the Summer edition of The Notes 2025, please send your story or announcement by 1 April 2025 to: dunstonians@stdunstans.org.uk

We are particularly interested in receiving items for the scrapbook as well as announcements of engagements, weddings or births – even going back a few years.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin. The Dunstonian Association has bespoke pages with weekly postings.

Online

Shop...

Thank you to everybody who has already ordered a print, some cufflinks or a tote bag from The Dunstonian Association’s online shop. The range will grow in accordance to demand and we are more than happy to add items to the range when needed. All profits are reinvested into The Dunstonian Association, so that it can run a growing list of events.

The The Notes comes in 100% compostable starch wrap. You can compost it in your garden, use it to line your food bin, or if your council permits, dispose of it in your garden waste.

dunstonians@stdunstans.org.uk

SDConnect www.dunstonians.org.uk