Old Pauline News, Spring Edition 2018

Old Pauline News

Spring/Summer 2018

ST PAUL’S SCHOOL ALUMNI MAGAZINE

The World of Diplomacy OPs who have been flying the flag for Britain

Forbidden Technologies

Stephen Streater's rise from freelance coder to leading cloud-based video guru

Aardman's Maestro

Emmy and BAFTA-winning composer Tom Howe scores for Early Man

Iron Man Rohan Kamdar's domestic chores revolution

Contents 2 Briefings

A round-up of Old Pauline news, including Jeremy Gordon-Smith (1990-95) who has just published a book about his great-great uncle’s unusual service during the First World War.

6

Old Pauline News & Profiles

23

Et Cetera

Stephen Streater (1979-83) is revolutionising the way in which video will develop online.

Rev Graham Sawyer (1974-79) Secularist of the Year.

Tom Howe (1992-96) Emmy and BAFTA-winner composes for Aardman.

20

Interview

Rohan Kamdar (2003-08), named in Forbes 30-Under-30 list, is driving the development of 'effie', a device that irons your clothes with a click of a button.

24

Old Pauline Club

People, events and reunions.

16 16

Flying the Flag 8 OP diplomats share their experiences of A brief look into the their time the FCO world of in diplomacy.

Seven OPs share their stories.

Editorial I had the pleasure of meeting Paddy de Courcy Ireland at the Feast Service at St Paul’s Cathedral in January.

As we walked together towards Mercers’ Hall for the Reception Dinner afterwards, he told me a little about his career in the Foreign Office and suggested that I pursue other OPs who have followed similar careers. The special feature on page 16 is a modest realisation of that idea. Some of our most eminent OP diplomats share some of their professional experiences flying the flag for Britain.

We were pleased to able to talk with Stephen Streater who has been ahead of the technology curve for at least 20 years, spearheading the cloud technology that has revolutionised the way that video content can be accessed and edited in real time, something he was told repeatedly could not be done.

We also interviewed Rohan Kamdar, just named in the Forbes 30-under-30 list of young tech entrepreneurs. Rohan plans to overhaul the way we carry out our domestic chores.

At the Old Pauline Club we continue to develop the look and content of the magazine and always appreciate new ideas and contributions. Please get in touch if you would like to be involved – to write, research or interview, photograph or illustrate, the opportunity is there for the taking.

28 34

Obituaries

Old Pauline sports All the action from the Clubs.

39 40

Diary dates

Past Times & Crossword

Simon Bishop (1962-65) opceditor@stpaulsschool.org.uk

Editor and designer Simon Bishop All correspondence to: The Editor c/o The Old Pauline Club, St Paul’s School, Lonsdale Road, London SW13 9JT Copy for the autumn/winter issue of the Old Pauline News, to be published in October 2018, should reach the Editor no later than 17 August 2018.

Contact: opcadmin@stpaulsschool.org.uk

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OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018 1

Briefings A round-up of Old Pauline endeavours

Canterbury Cross

At a ceremony at Lambeth Palace in June last year, the Archbishop of Canterbury presented the Canterbury Cross for Services to the Church of England to George Lings (1962-67) (left).

A Fellow of Durham University, Canon Dr George Lings is an ordained Anglican and a leading thinker on church planting, a process that results in a new (local) Christian church being established, as opposed to church development, where a new service, new worship centre or fresh expression is created that is integrated into an already established congregation.

Until 1997 he was in parish ministry.

He has since been employed by the Church Army (an evangelistic organisation founded in the Church of England and now operating in many parts of the Anglican Communion) to direct its Research Unit, known until 2012 as The Sheffield Centre. He became an honorary Canon of Sheffield Cathedral in 2010.

New Fellow

Double Stroke

Both Cambridge boats were stroked by Old Paulines in the Boat Races this year.

Freddie Davidson (2011-16) in the victorious Blue Boat and (inset) Piers Kasas (2009-14) in the winning Goldie crew.

Professor Martin Price (1969-74) has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, ‘Scotland’s National Academy’.

Director of the Centre for Mountain Studies based at Perth College UHI, Martin has been elected as a fellow of The Royal

Society of Edinburgh for his contribution to public engagement and understanding.

Professor Price said: ‘I am honoured to receive this recognition for my work in communicating science to diverse audiences. Some scientists are excellent researchers, focusing on producing new knowledge; some, like me, focus much of their effort on making sure that science can be understood and used.

This has long been a key principle for me, whether writing, speaking, or organising conferences and other meetings.’

Dr Margaret Cook, Principal and Chief Executive at Perth College UHI, said: ‘I would like to congratulate Martin for his recent election as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Through his life’s work, Martin has provided an outstanding contribution to the field of Mountain Studies.

I am delighted that he has received this recognition of his hard work and dedication.’

New Music

Composer and conductor William Goodchild (197781) has been working on a series with Icon Films for Discovery called Mighty Rivers, with Jeremy Wade, which premiered in the US in April.

He is also working on an independent short film called Bus Stop, which is being produced by Vanessa Bailey.

William will be conducting the Bristol Symphony Orchestra in the summer in what he describes as ‘a fantastic project’, Get the Blessing - jazz meets Bristol Symphony. He is also working with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra as an associate conductor and for CoMA (Contemporary Music For All).

Changes to Data Protection The Old Pauline Club’s policies are changing!

Would you like to continue to hear from St Paul’s School?

The Old Pauline Club cares about keeping in touch with its members. Due to changes to Data Protection Regulations on 25 May, the OPC is updating its Privacy Policy to ensure that members are clear about how their information is used and so that the Club’s procedures are transparent. As a member of the Old Pauline Club, the Club will continue communicating with you and all of its members as it has done for nearly 150 years, following the Information Commissioner’s Office’s legitimate interest route. If you have any questions or want to opt out of receiving communications by phone, email or post please do get in touch with the Club on opcadmin@ stpaulsschool.org.uk.

St Paul’s is keen to keep Old Paulines update to date with information about its events, communications, appeals and ways in which you can support current pupils. After 25 May, St Paul’s will need to have your consent to ensure that we can Est. 1509 continue communicating with you by phone and email.

If you have shared your email address with the School, you should have received an email asking you to tell us how you would you like to hear from St Paul’s (by email and/or telephone) and whether you are happy to continue to receive news about our work and the ways in which you can help. If you are yet to respond (or have not received these emails), please email community@stpaulsschool.org.uk or call 020 8748 9162 as soon as possible so that we can keep you updated and connected with the School. If you have any questions about this, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

2 OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018

A History of Frieze On 19 April, Matthew Slotover OBE (1981-85) (left), co-founder of Frieze, gave a lecture, ‘The History of Frieze’ at the Wathen Hall. This visionary entrepreneurial endeavour began with the launching of Frieze magazine 25 years ago and later the Frieze art fairs in London, and New York. This year Frieze will launch an art fair in LA for the first time. In his talk, Matthew thanked teacher Ed Williams for keeping him on track at School.

The event was organised by the St Paul's Art Association (SPARTA) in conjunction with Frieze, Ali Summers, and the SPS Art Department and Events team.

Refugee Crisis on Lesbos Paul Watkins (1952-54) has paid tribute to his studies in 5/6 alpha with a lifelong passion for Greece. In a recent trip to the Greek island of Lesbos he has reported on the refugee crisis there, centred on the north coast which is separated from the Turkish mainland by a fourmile strait. This hazardous crossing has taken a heavy toll on the refugees, with those who survive it being condemned to confinement in camps in the island and other parts of Greece. Their future is uncertain as all the land borders into

Paul Watkins with past issues of the Anglo-Hellenic Review

other parts of Europe are closed. A full account of his experiences can be seen in the spring issue of Argo magazine, published by the Hellenic Society (www. hellenicsociety.org).

Paul was for 25 years the editor of an older journal, The Anglo-Hellenic Review (1990-2014), published by the AngloHellenic League. His associate editor was another Old Pauline, the distinguished former A G Leventis Professor of Greek Culture at the University of Cambridge, Paul Cartledge (1960-64).

Images in Words: Only History Exists

William Mallinson’s (1965-70) new book of poetry and prose is a vehicle which demonstrates that only history – in its purest form, the past – exists. Comments on each poem, article or story lead to the book’s conclusion that the present cannot exist, since it becomes the past as it happens, while the future is only in the mind. Many of the poems and stories were written on impulse, inspired by various events, but also, subliminally, by writers and poets such as Henry Williamson, Ted Hughes and George Orwell. The book briefly evaluates the circumstances that led to each poem and story. Images in Words will be published

by Cambridge Scholars Publishing on 1 June.

OP LONDON OPs are invited to share their favourite places to eat, drink or experience in the capital. Please send your suggestions to opceditor@stpaulsschool.org.uk This edition's selection by Faraz Aghaei (2005-10)

Where To Eat

St John Bar & Restaurant EC1 Located around the corner from Smithfield Market in Clerkenwell, this delightful little spot is a perfect location for a quick (or long - the wine is very good here) lunch. If you visit St John you'll find the building pretty much as it was found when Fergus Henderson and Trevor Gulliver took it over in 1994. They've painted the walls white, installed a bar and a bakery in two of the chimneys, a kitchen and a dining room in the former packing rooms and a private room in the former loading bay and topped the bar with 20-foot high skylights. The roast bone marrow is the stand out dish at this restaurant, and if you're someone with a sweet tooth then you'll love their desserts menu.

Where To Drink

Ask For Janice Walk past the meat market towards St Paul's and go left. You'll come across an unassuming building with a concrete interior. This stripped back spot has the strongest selection of gin I've ever come across, with over 50 different gins on their menu, along with helpful hints as to the perfect combination of mixer and garnishes. Try the East London Liquor Batch 1 with Lime and Black Pepper. It's punchy.

Where To Visit

Postman's Park This is a small park located to the south of St Paul's and home to George Frederic Watts's Memorial to Heroic Self Sacrifice.

It is a memorial to ordinary people who died while saving the lives of others and who might otherwise be forgotten. If you've got five minutes, definitely do take a tour and have a read.

Some of the stories are sad, some funny, but all are touching.

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018 3

Briefings/My St Paul's Photographing The Fallen

My St Paul’s…

The section devoted to your personal experiences (good and bad!) at St Paul's. Send yours to opceditor@stpaulsschool.org.uk Contributions may be edited for space considerations.

Geography Rocks

Then and now. A composite made up of one of Jeremy's great great uncle's original photographs with one of his own contemporay shots

While working as a therapeutic counsellor in private practice, Jeremy GordonSmith (1990-95), (left), has also had a keen interest in photography and military history. He has just published a book about his great-great-uncle’s unusual service during the First World War.

A

s far as I can remember, my interest in the Great War began in 1991 as I entered my second year at St Paul’s. In the Autumn term we began studying the war which included a memorable trip to the battlefields around Ypres, Vimy Ridge and the Somme.

I was fascinated by the preserved trenches, concrete bunkers and rusted shell cases that still littered the ground, as well as the massive casualties represented by the cemeteries and

memorials. That same year my father found the 1917 and 1918 diaries of my great-great-uncle Ivan Bawtree inside an old bureau. He gave them to me and I began to learn about Ivan’s work as a war graves photographer. The majority of his surviving collection of photographs had been donated to the Imperial War Museum in 1975, so my dad took me there to view them. I was immediately captivated by the images of graves and cemeteries as they were during the war, and of ruins and devastation, particularly around the Ypres Salient which I had just visited. There were also more upbeat photos of Ivan and comrades from the Graves Registration Unit. We took a few poor quality photocopies which I then took to school with the diaries to show my history class.

This impressed the teacher enough to warrant a small exhibition outside the classroom. Twenty years later more material came my way and the IWM digitised the ‘Bawtree Collection’ enabling me to compile a book.

Ivan’s work was largely to photograph and record graves of fallen soldiers on behalf of grieving relatives, travelling around numerous parts of Northern France and Flanders - most notably the Ypres Salient. He was one of only three professional photographers assigned to this task, hired by the newly formed Graves Registration Commission in 1915. This was pioneering work as never before had so much attention been given to the needs of bereaved relatives of war dead. Today, the war cemeteries that Ivan saw spring up across battle-scarred landscapes provide the most widespread and enduring reminder of the scale of loss and sacrifice of the Great War. Photographing the Fallen: A War Graves Photographer on the Western Front 19151919 was recently published by Pen & Sword Books.

4 OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018

I was a geographer and Don Pirkis was our lively, inspirational teacher. One afternoon, he was teaching us geology while holding a large rock weighing several pounds. Don obviously thought that I was either asleep or not paying attention, because he lobbed it accurately across the room onto my table. However, I caught it from the bounce and threw it back to him vigorously, which must have surprised him and everyone else, although he caught it. However, he obviously did not hold this action against me, because at a later date he took me aside and suggested that I might usefully spend my gap year before university doing Voluntary Service Overseas, then a new organisation, and offered to recommend me. As a result, I applied and spent a very happy and formative year teaching in what was then Tanganyika, coinciding with its transition to “uhuru” or independence.

Allen Chubb (1956-61)

Lawyer Turned Author

S

ince retiring after 50 years as a solicitor in private practice in the City and Central London, and having a part-time career as a legal journalist and management consultant to the professions, Michael Simmons (1946-52) has embarked on a new career writing fiction about English law and lawyers. He has been described as an English version of John Grisham. His first book The Lawyer Who Couldn’t Sit Still, about his long and colourful legal career enjoyed very favourable reviews from The Times, The Law Society Gazette and the Solicitors Journal. Michael comments, “It wasn’t really an autobiography, it was more a series of sexy overseas trips!”

Following the success of his first legal thriller, Low Life Lawyer: In the Footsteps of Bechet, which features a jazz clarinet-playing lawyer in the 1960s, his latest novel, Double Exposure, just published by Book Guild, explores the close relationship between a pair of identical female twins who train to become lawyers. Set in contemporary times, the author charts their separate careers and the dangers which beset them. With Russian

opclub.stpaulsschool.org.uk l 020 8746 5390

Whims of the Wimshurst

At a later Apposition than Hugh MacBride is talking about (see Old Pauline News, October 2017) - probably 1956 or 1957 - Colin Harper (1951-57) and I put on another Wimshurst demonstration. Colin’s father, who was a research scientist at Imperial College, suggested a spectacular alternative. We took about two metres of metalised wallpaper, slightly dampened it and attached the Wimshurst to either end. When the machine was cranked up sparks would track from end to end of the wallpaper.

By putting the demonstration at the darkened end of the Physics Lab the sparks appeared to be jumping across the 2m air gap. If you apply Hugh’s arithmetic the voltage generated is apparently enormous A Wimshurst electrostatic and one or generator two of the parents were sufficiently knowledgeable to be impressed or possibly scared. While setting things I made the same mistake with the Leyden jars as Mr Williams and in my case the result was to leave me on my back some way across the lab.

Jeremy Denny (1952-58)

oligarchs playing a vital role amid brutal murders, the story develops into a frantic chase across Europe ending in a bloody battle in a fog-shrouded Italian hilltop village.

Michael enjoyed the Old Pauline Club Annual Dinner held at the House of Lords last year, which no less than six of his School Upper Eighth contemporaries attended. “Of the original nine of us, we lost John Clay (1947-52) recently. He was the only one of us that was spectacularly financially successful with his investment bank in New York. He gave very generously to the School. Peter Needham (1947-52) ended up as a Classics master at Eton.

He translated Paddington Bear and Harry Potter into Latin, which did well. I went into Waterstones and asked for copies and was told, ‘sorry we don’t stock foreign language books!’ David Hunt (1946-52) was head of Classics at Haileybury; Mark Lovell (1947-53) now lives in Montreal

Plane Spotting

It must have been late in one afternoon in mid-Summer 1941, when I was ‘roof watching’, yet listening with approval to A B Cook conducting school community singing below, when I saw at extreme range an unfamiliar twinengined aircraft flying directly in the direction of the mansion. It must have been at least seven miles away by the time the boys below reached the familiar point in Mr Cook’s precision choirmanship of ‘Loch Lomond,’ where the “Bro-oh-oh-ken He-art ‘kens’ nae Second Spring.”

The unidentified flying object’s wings were attached mid-way along its fuselage, and its nose reflected sunlight from extensive glassware. It showed too much resemblance for comfort to the enemy Dornier 17, or 215. It was then possibly four miles from the School.

Should I, or should I not press the alarm button and empty the entire school (within possibly two minutes?) into the nearby air raid shelters? I then noted that, whatever it was, its bomb-doors were not open. Flying at a height of only 300 feet, it was not anyway going to bomb or strafe us. I soon breathed again.

When it was close enough to be

Michael Simmons

and had a very successful career in marketing; Paddy de Courcy Ireland (1947-52) was in the foreign office (see also page 19); Geoffrey Toms (1947-53) moved to the London Museum and now runs archaeology tours; Ian Deane (1947-52) worked in HR for Imperial Tobacco and then moved to Hong Kong before returning home; David Loewe (1946-52) was our sporting star at school and had an interesting career in computers; Michael Jenkins (1947-

identified, I noted its yellowpainted underside, indicating an RAF training or prototype aircraft. And as it flew directly overhead, I saw the yellow, prominent encircled letter P alongside its starboard fuselage roundel. It was in fact a prototype Avro Manchester Mark IA, still on the secret list, flying home to the RAE Farnborough. The tail gunner cheerily waved at me. Still shaking, I waved back in sheer relief.

But, had it been a blue or lightgrey-bellied Dornier, what would have been the outcome had I hit the button?

Would our High Master have written the obligatory ‘Exeat’ for himself, or thoughtfully for the entire school, to head past that ever-vigilant former BSM Hough, our esteemed Head Porter?

And would the revered Mr Oakeshott high-masterly have led, or merely hurriedly followed his charges to shelter? Alas, we shall never know!

John ‘Archie’ Pitt (1940-43)

52) qualified as a chartered accountant and also worked in industry. We also count as fringe members Haward Beckett (1947-53), a minister of the church in Harare, Zimbabwe where he still lives and Ian McColl (1948-51), a surgeon, now better known as Lord McColl of Dulwich. As a group we have kept very active.

We were the first lot taught by Cruickshank in the Upper Eighth.

We were either Cotter or Cruickshank people. Cotter was inspirational but lazy, whereas Cruickshank liked sweat, detail and hard work. So you got Cotter one week and you could play around, but then you’d have Cruickshank and you’d think, ‘Oh no, I’ve got to work!’ It was schizophrenic, we had two ways of working – something that has stayed with me through my professional life.”

Michael adds that he is feeling very chuffed at the moment as his seven-yearold grandson has just been accepted by St Paul’s Juniors. l For more information: www.michaelsimmonsauthor.com

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018 5

Old Pauline profiles

Forbidden Fruits Stephen Streater (1979-83) has come a long way since embarking on his first freelance coding job for Acorn Computers back in the 1980s. Founding Director and now R&D Director of the cloud-based video technology company Forbidden Technologies plc, Stephen is leading the way in which video content can be developed across the web.

S

tephen vividly remembers his interview with world-renowned mathematician, Béla Bollobás, when applying to Trinity College, Cambridge.

Barely acknowledging that Stephen’s A-level in computing was anything to take into consideration, Bollobás was more impressed and interested that Stephen was about to pick up an Acorn computer as payment for his freelance coding work.

He warmed to this entrepreneurial spirit and accepted him on the spot.

At Trinity, and as university grants were abolished, Stephen supplemented his income by designing software for computer games. Surviving on £4-a-week disposable income, he researched what job potentially could earn him the most money. Once he discovered that

surviving on £4-a-week disposable income, he researched what job could potentially earn him the most the answer was to become a company director, his mind was made up.

Stephen studied for a PhD in artificial intelligence at Kings College, London.

Working on image recognition and armed with the new and faster ARM chip, he was able to develop real time video processing and compression. “I thought this was going to be a new area that no one would have explored yet because computers weren’t fast enough. I decided to get ahead while I had the chance.”

Stephen then teamed up with a video

editor and together they founded Eidos, which they floated on the stock exchange, raising £1,000,000. This opportunity overtook his final PhD work – his doctorate is actually a DSc awarded much later for work in video editing. It became the best performing share in the world in the 1990s. But they were fortunate to extract the money.

Days later the brokers they had been using had their accounts frozen by the SFO and their staff arrested! Eidos Edit 1 and Eidos Edit 2 video editing systems were subsequently developed, running on existing Acorn computers. Hundreds were sold to the BBC, universities and other clients.

With the advent of the web, Stephen saw new opportunities for video. “It was obvious that internet video was going to be massive, but there were no tools or infrastructure for it. Using the new language, Java, you could run relevant programs in a web browser.”

Stephen is hoping that Forbidden Technologies will scoop commissions a hundred times larger than before.

When he floated ‘Forbidden’, (the best performing new share issue in the world in 2000), Stephen announced that he was going to make a professional cloud video system, with frame accurate video on the internet via a browser with no installed software. 99 per cent of people who commented on his bulletin board at the time said this was impossible, a fraud.

He was accused of just taking money off people because of the dotcom explosion.

Gradually, over time, the dissenters have changed their views! Now, with 8 million hours of professional video worked on through the platform, the 99 per cent have become the 1 per cent!

With JavaScript now on everyone’s computers, Stephen has patented new cloud-based technology within Forbidden’s Blackbird platform, that can be accessed anywhere in the world to edit, publish or host video, with a frameaccurate player that can be directed

forwards and backwards at double or quad speed, with shuttling at full resolution. “Far better than YouTube!”

With a new CEO hired to pull in some really big deals, Stephen is hoping that Forbidden Technologies will scoop commissions a hundred times larger than before. As part of a promotion push, Forbidden launched its Blackbird suite of cloud video tools at the recent NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) Show in Las Vegas. “We could be looking at billions of users, especially given that IBM has reported that by next year 80 per cent of all content in the cloud will be video.”

So why ‘Forbidden’? “Ah, that’s because with the money I made from Eidos, I could do stuff that you wouldn’t be allowed to do in a normal company!"

So why ‘Forbidden’? “Ah, that’s because with the money I made from Eidos, I could do stuff that you wouldn’t be allowed to do in a normal company!

If you were at a normal company the response to a lot of R&D work would be ‘We haven’t got any money for that’.

Stephen enjoyed playing viola in the St Paul’s orchestra under Robin Wedderburn. Many years later he was advised to join an orchestra that, by complete coincidence, Robin conducted.

“Robin said I was one of the few people who has known him longer than his wife!”

At St Paul’s, Stephen was a chess enthusiast. Later, whilst writing his PhD, he also wrote a chess program which he is refreshing for his current computer which is a hundred thousand times faster than his original Acorn. “It could easily beat me then, thirty years ago!”

Stephen is married to Victoria and they enjoy a busy home life with their three daughters: Sophie (12), Juliette (9) and Emily (6). His father, Ray, is a physicist and emeritus professor of Applied Mathematics at King’s College London. l For more information: www.forbidden.co.uk

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018 7

Old Pauline profiles

Backs to the Future Studying to become a medic, Nick Potter (1983-88) suffered a low back fracture in his spine whilst on a gap year playing rugby in New Zealand. The treatment he received, in particular osteopathy, changed his perceptions of surgery and modern medicine and influenced him to take a different career path. Nick is now Principal and Clinical Director of the Centre for Physical Medicine at the Princess Grace Hospital in London and has become a go-to mentor of performance for high achievers in the City and a host of celebrities.

“T

he best advice I can give Paulines and OPs is to be aware of how long you spend sitting and don’t let stress creep up on you! You are better off getting up every hour and moving for five minutes than you are exercising for an hour at the end of the day. More than 75 per cent of us now spend 7-plus hours a day at a desk, allowing our spines to atrophy. Sitting is the new smoking! Laptops are absolute killers! I see more disc injuries in people using those than anything else. And there are growing numbers of teenagers who suffer from stress-related pain – the combined pressure to succeed and fear of failure – it affects their cognitive ability

Photograph by John Nguyen/JNVisuals

We were never designed to be static or stressed for such long periods of time

experience and measuring it is a predictor of how stressed we are. Most of us in stressful situations take short shallow breaths through the chest rather than the diaphragm. The body is simply going into flight mode, a prehistoric reaction, which means we puff out too much carbon dioxide. This is an alarm state for the brain and says to us ‘don’t think… run!’

Our muscles can’t relax, they are primed.

“People believe that backache is all about our posture and muscles. But it isn’t really. Muscles become tight as a result of your responses to your environment. “A lot of guys I deal with see their bodies as just a means of carrying their brains to meetings! When we succumb to pain, it affects our mood. We become risk averse and less creative.”

Having qualified in 1993 from the British School of Osteopathy, Nick’s

and destroys their creativity.”

90% of the nutrition of the brain is from spinal movement. My point is that we were never designed to be static or stressed for such long periods of time.

Not all stress is bad – it can be good for us, in sport for instance we use it to focus and perform to our maximum but for contained periods. What is not good is when you are exposed to constant lowlevels of negativity and overload. You then secrete cortisol which causes a whole set of important changes in your body, sleep problems, digestive issues, pain and how you store fat in your body. Research shows cortisol is one of the biggest contributors to heart disease and cancer.”

Nick’s own research has convinced him that the way we breathe has a lot to do with the amount of back pain we

8 OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018

Five takeaways 1. You are better off getting up every hour and moving for five minutes than you are exercising for an hour at the end of the day 2. Sitting is the new smoking!

3. 90% of the nutrition of the brain is from spinal movement 4. The way we breathe has a lot to do with the amount of back pain we experience 5. Muscles become tight as a result of your responses to your environment

osteopathic career began in France when he joined F1 driver Alain Prost’s medical team, focussing on performance. He became a Human Performance Advisor for the Institute Biomedical Sports et Vie in Paris where he set up a state of the art performance and biomechanics centre.

In pre-bluetooth days, Nick helped to pioneer new work on the prediction of performance in relation to environment.

His findings gradually migrated to the business world and the ‘corporate athlete’. Currently, he works two days a week as an advisor to traders at a hedge fund, where the employees now have standing desks and breathing monitors.

A lot of guys I deal with see their bodies as just a means of carrying their brains to meetings!

As a result there are almost no back pain issues and they make better decisions under stress.

For those of us who might be seeking some home help for our aches and pains, Nick has designed the Bakpro kit, a collection of ingenious tools combined with a holistic programme of exercises and breathing training to release and relieve tension in your muscles and spine.

He is currently writing a book for Short Books, to be published early next year, about the nature of stress, why we hurt and how it manifests itself in the human body – most importantly, how we can learn to cope with it.

A keen sportsman (rugby, marathon, triathlon), Nick still enjoys running and tennis. He has coached junior rugby at Henley Rugby Club for eight years.

Nick’s brother Charlie (1992-97) became a producer at the BBC working on Newsnight before retraining as a barrister, ending up as a partner at Brunswick, the advisory group specialising in business-critical issues.

Nick’s father, Sir Mark Potter, was former President of the Family Division of the High Court and President of the Court of Protection. l For more information: www.backscience.co.uk bakpro.com

Old Pauline profiles

Not So Pint-Sized Pint-Sized is a new-writing company run in partnership by actor turned producer, Matt Maltby (2002-07). Dedicated to representative theatre, supporting and creating opportunities for writers and directors of every background, and discovering the best in emerging talent, it has become an important hub for literary agents looking for new voices.

I

t is five years since Matt sent an email to a studio theatre in SW1 about his aim to set up the biggest and most respected new writing event in London. “It was ridiculous optimism at the time and when I think about it now, very ‘Pauline’ of me!” Just six months after leaving drama school Matt and his colleague Nick Oliver produced the first Pint-Sized event at the Jermyn Street Theatre.

“We asked a number of well-known writers if they would agree to help as mentors. Playwright Simon Stephens, Artistic Associate at the Lyric theatre, agreed to help, which was pretty amazing.

James Graham, with three shows on in the West End at the moment, worked with us recently. Once we had Simon’s endorsement, we suddenly started receiving hundreds more submissions. We now get well over a thousand applications every time we publish a call-out.”

Every writer chosen to take part in a Pint-Sized event is given a fee and their own dedicated professional mentor, with established writers Timberlake

Our big aim now is to create a more representative and diverse new writing scene Wertenbaker, Dennis Kelly, April De Angelis, Lolita Chakrabarti and Polly Stenham all supporting the project. “We’ve seen the quality of the writing go up enormously and big venues have started to become interested.” Currently established at The Bunker Theatre in Southwark, the next Pint-Sized, in May, will feature five new short plays, embellished with a house band playing tailor-made tracks. Another five plays are scheduled for October.

“All the big literary agents come along to the shows now, and many of our writers have been signed by them. We are working with the Young Vic Fresh Direction scheme

Matt in J B Priestley's Benighted at the Old Red Lion theatre

10 OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018

and BAME and disability-led companies around the country to find directors and writers from under-represented backgrounds whose work we will offer automatic free feedback on. Our big aim now is to create a more representative and diverse new writing scene.”

Since he made the decision to concentrate on producing rather than acting, Matt has also been working on a community project, The Earlsfield Stories, at the Tara Theatre in SW18 – “a slow-burning process over several years that ties together the story of the Mahabharata, the ancient Indian text, with the stories of local people. "Theatre can be a weird game, it’s full of momentum and shifts… it can feel very good, but that doesn’t often reflect your pay conditions!

But I’m happy and making work I am excited by.”

Matt has come across other thespian OPs through his work. “I recently employed Shubham Saraf (2005-10), a brilliant actor who has recently played the lead role in Lions and Tigers at The Globe. I see Joe Bannister (2003-08), who was Orlando in As You Like it at the National and has worked at the Royal Shakespeare Company a lot, and occasionally Ben Lloyd-Hughes (2001-06). I took part in the gala that was held to open the new Pepys Theatre last year. I did a scene with Jonathan Coy (196670) who is a phenomenal actor. We did the penultimate scene on the night, before Rory Kinnear came on. He walked on stage with his hands in his pockets. and said, ‘Hi, I’m Rory… I might as well do a bit of Cyrano de Bergerac as I did it here when I was 15’. He closed his eyes, took one breath in.

Suddenly the whole room seemed to get smaller and he seemed to grow by 20 feet.

It was one of the most extraordinary things I’ve ever seen.”

Matt says his interest in theatre started at St Paul’s, with encouragement from Ed Williams who directed him in the role of Harpagon in The Miser. He claims to have had an unerring winner’s mentality when it came to club drama, coming second in the fourth form, winning in the fifth and again in the lower eighth, when he was directing Joe Orton’s The Ruffian on the Stair. He was on the winning team again when mentoring in the Upper Eighth.

Matt has remained in touch with several OPs who have played 5-a-side football together, and he enjoyed attending the 10 Year Reunion last year. l For more information: www.pintsizedplays.com Contact: matt@pintsizedplays.com

Top Scorer Tom Howe (1992-96) is an award-winning composer who has scored over 70 Emmy and BAFTA-winning dramas and documentaries. In addition to his television successes, which include The Great British Bake Off, Tom has also scored for numerous feature films such as Warner Brothers’ Wonder Woman and The Legend of Tarzan. He recently co-wrote the music for the latest Aardman Animation feature, Early Man.

“T

he day after Aardman asked me, I got on a plane and flew to Bristol. I went down to the set and met everybody – an amazingly nice bunch of people. The love that gets poured in – they only film a second and a half a day!” Since Early Man was released, Tom has again been commissioned by Aardman. He is also currently working on a new major feature film that will have to remain under wraps for now.

Tom grew up in a musical family, Tom’s father played piano and organ in church every Sunday, and his mother played violin and sang in a choir. “I grew up singing in choirs. I also played the piano from about the age of five. Later, I took up the guitar when I went to boarding school. At St Paul’s, I carried on having guitar lessons with George Adie, who also got me into songwriting. He also helped to arrange some of my compositions. I took GCSE Music with Mr Wedderburn."

After St Paul’s, Tom read Human and Economic Geography at Edinburgh, but says he also spent a lot of time windsurfing and playing in bands. “I knew when I left university I wanted to do something with music. I started teaching guitar and piano in schools in London while taking evening classes in orchestration and conducting at Morley College. I also took a performance diploma in guitar and jazz. I then made the decision to become a songwriter and play in bands. I became a session musician and was picked to play on tour with various artists such as Rod Stewart and the Bee Gees.

A pianist I worked with on the London jazz circuit introduced me to an agent who got me work as a session player for GMTV. I used to go there every week and play on the 5.30am slot, with whoever had flown

I became a session musician and was picked to play on tour with various artists such as Rod Stewart and the Bee Gees. in – David Hasselhoff on one occasion. I was then signed to Sony ATV publishing as a songwriter. I went on to work with artists like Will Young, Sarah Whatmore and Jessie J and write songs for things like X-Factor and even had a Number One in Iceland and Sweden with artists Hafdis Huld and Sarah Dawn Finer.

A former colleague at Edinburgh, who was working for Carlton TV, got in touch to ask me for some music for a two-minute show called Your Shout. There was no money in it, but the producer really liked it and more commissions followed. Dan Snow (1992-97) eventually recommended me for the BBC’s How The Celts Saved Britain, which he was narrating. I was given just 10 days to write two hours of music for the programme! That was the

start of my moving away from songwriting and into film and TV composition.

Fast forward to The Great British Bake Off. “I was taken on at a time when no one thought it was going to be the huge hit that it became. The success of the programme led to other offers in the UK. I scored a couple of British films before meeting Harry Gregson-Williams, the Grammy and Golden Globe-winning composer, who had worked on Shrek and the Narnia movies. Harry asked me to join him in LA to co-write for a couple of projects. It was at that point that I thought of moving there as I wanted to concentrate on writing for film.” Tom has now been based in LA for four years, but flies back to London occasionally to record and play.

When he is not busy composing, Tom has his work cut out at home with three children, now twelve, nine and six years old. He likes playing tennis, waterskiing at Lake Arrowhead and skiing at Mammoth Mountain. He also enjoys meeting up with Matt Ross (1991-96), an old friend from St Paul’s, who lives nearby in LA – Matt is now working as Global Head of Brand and Creative Marketing for YouTube TV. l For more information and contact: www.tomhowe.co.uk

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018 11

Old Pauline profiles

To France… the hard way Toby Davis (2000-05), a corporate lawyer for Addleshaw Goddard, gives a first-hand account of his cross-channel swim last year on behalf of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, which raised £10,000 for the charity.

A

t lunchtime on Sunday 6 August last year I finally got the call I had been waiting three weeks for – the weather conditions had cleared, and at 11pm the next day there was a sufficiently clear window for me to start my attempt to swim the English Channel. It takes about 9 months of training to prepare for a solo channel swim, but because the weather hadn’t played ball the last 24 hours or so prior to the swim all suddenly happened very quickly. Thankfully my support crew were primed and before I knew it I was on my support boat, SUVA, we had left Dover Harbour and I was standing looking back at the white cliffs and pebble beach of Shakespeare Beach covered in sun cream and vaseline, ready to start.

I lowered myself off the boat and swam then walked up the beach to the start feeling calm and relaxed, reminding myself to enjoy what might well be a once in a lifetime experience.

Then the klaxon sounded and we

were off - I dived in and swam out to SUVA’s spotlight in the water, which I would use as a marker over the next 6 hours of darkness. ​Around hour 4 progress was more difficult. When I stopped for a feed I had to kick furiously just to stay alongside rather than be swept back towards England. And jellyfish stings to my back, legs, shoulder and most interestingly, across my mouth and nose, helped to jolt me out of any autopilot swimming in the middle of the night.

Around 5.30am we were treated to an amazing sunrise which brought the darkness section of my swim to a dramatic end. To witness that from sea level in the middle of the channel was

Jellyfish stings to my back, legs, shoulder and most interestingly, across my mouth and nose, helped to jolt me out of any autopilot truly spectacular.

After 8 or 9 hours I thought that I might be in the French Shipping Lane and, despite not looking up, was pretty sure I had got a glimpse or two of the French coast on the horizon.

From my previous relay swim I knew that this meant nothing, those cliffs can come into view very early in the swim, but in a painfully Sisyphean way, never seem to get any closer!

Now 10 hours in, every time my brain told me I couldn’t keep up the pace and needed to slow down I could override it and just kick harder – the first time I realised how true the (SAS?) mantra is that “when your mind says you’ve got nothing left, you’ve physically got at least another 40% to give”.

Around hour 13, I asked for a marker

12 OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018

to give me an idea of how close I was to the French coast. My pilot told me I was deep into French in-shore waters.

Shortly afterwards the coast came into view, seemingly within touching distance. But despite being only a couple of kilometres out, I spent another two hours pushing to get in. I had to stop myself celebrating in my head – many

I had to stop myself celebrating in my head – many swimmers still fail to hit the shore from that distance swimmers still fail to hit the shore from that distance. But, finally, I could see the houses on the shoreline and knew I was swimming towards the sandy beach at Wissant. I could start to celebrate.

The last 20 mins were pretty special, just making the most of the experience and thinking about all of the people who had supported me through the months of training. I could walk up the last 50 metres, running and jumping through the waves to finally stand clear of the water. The klaxon sounded the end of the swim. I was mobbed by Alice, my swim buddy, then by French families who had apparently been waiting for us. There’s nothing like a bear hug from a middle-aged French man with a moustache to celebrate the end of 15 hours and 4 minutes swimming!

The adventure was one that I would thoroughly recommend to anyone with a love of swimming, but you’ll need long-suffering friends and family as the time commitment for the training is pretty intensive. My wife, in particular, deserves a medal for putting up with me heading down to Dover every weekend while she put in the significantly harder yards with our 2-year-old and newborn.

I am currently trying to persuade some fellow SPS alumni to make up a relay team for 2020, so watch this space! l For more information: www.cysticfibrosis.org.uk

Old Pauline profiles

Just getting on with life Jane Lambert (1962-67) is a barrister, now based at 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square in London, where she helps small and medium enterprises protect and exploit their investment in brands, design, technology and the arts.

She is also a prolific blogger, with regular posts that include indepth discussions of Intellectual Property and Technology Law. She also has over 10,000 followers on her dance blog, Terpsichore.

Preface

My early interest in dance was aroused, in part, by the extraordinary artworks at an exhibition of Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes

St Paul’s prides itself on being an inclusive and supportive school, and is a Stonewall ‘Champion’ school.

All staff have been trained in Trans Est. 1509 Awareness, including how to confront transphobic bullying; a pupil LGBTQ+ society, PrideSoc, meets weekly and is set to unite with societies at other local schools; all pastoral leads at the school have trained with Gendered Intelligence, to give them the knowledge and skill to support any pupil questioning their gender identity. A pupil in Jane’s position today would receive rather different support and guidance!

I had the pleasure of meeting Jane at the St Paul’s Quincentenary Dinner held at the Guildhall in 2009. It had been 44 years since we had last spoken, back at the old School in West Kensington. I had been unaware that John, as I had known her at School in the 1960s, had been on the complex and challenging journey that is gender dysphoria. The somewhat sportsshy friend that I had known in the 1960s had become the confident woman, Jane, Simon Bishop (1962-65) now before me.

J

ane prefers to avoid being defined only by trans issues, saying she just wants to just get on with life.

An established barrister with 40 years of experience behind her, a specialist in intellectual property, technology, competition and media and entertainment law, she has been cited by Chambers & Partners as ‘especially good at advising new businesses', and ‘is a strong trial counsel’.

“My clients tend to be small and medium enterprises (SME) and I have spent a lot of time advising and assisting artists, designers, entrepreneurs, inventors and their private equity and angel investors and lenders. Advising SMEs – especially startups and those such as inventors, app developers and others thinking of going into business – is a specialisation in its own right. They need specialist advice and assistance just as much as any other business, but they lack the means to bring enforcement or resist invalidity or revocation proceedings.

I have spent most of my career on devising solutions and developing services to meet their requirements, that also fall within their means.”

Jane has also written, or contributed to many books and articles, extensively

14 OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018

on bilateral and multilateral investment treaties. She is also a qualified arbitrator and mediator and sits on the WIPO (UN Specialist agency for IP) and Consensus Mediation panels.

Terpsichore (muse of dance) is Jane’s popular dance blog. The site has been given a Top 60 Ballet Blog Award this year and carries dance news from around the UK and abroad. Jane says her early interest in dance was aroused, in part, by the extraordinary artworks, particular those of Leon Bakst, at an exhibition of Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes, on a School visit led by art teacher Guy Burn. Jane now enjoys reviewing performances around the UK and has herself taken part in live performance and classes, “sometimes with giggly 16-year-old girls.”

“Looking back to my time at St Paul’s, I knew I wasn’t gay. But you know you are trans from birth. The best way to describe how I felt was, if you imagine you have been invited to a garden party where everybody else seems to have something in common. They are all dressed in black tie and you are the only one dressed informally. You wonder when your luck is going to run out and you’ll be spotted for whom you really are. I felt isolated – it was a constant sap on my energy. At School, I tried to disguise my feelings of femininity.

I found the ultra-masculine banter difficult, especially that involving mythical tales of female ‘conquests’. Instead of body contact sports, I chose shooting instead, for which I represented St Paul's at a high level.”

Jane later married, but in her forties says that her symptoms became more critical and she suffered with depression. “It was no longer anything I could control. But I was lucky enough to get good advice and counselling at the Porterbrook Clinic in Sheffield, that both recognised and supported my need to be myself.”

There was no road map for issues surrounding gender dysphoria when Jane attended St Paul’s in the 1960s. She had tried to raise concerns with staff, but the only advice then had been to “just play more rugby!”

The School is now engaging and informing boys about gender-related issues as part of a more holistic approach to their education. l For further information: 4-5graysinnsquare.co.uk/barristers/jane-lambert l For advice on gender related issues: Terrence Higgins Trust: www.tht.org.uk Gender Identity Clinic: gic.nhs.uk

We welcome all Old Paulines to enjoy the Caribbean charm & English country house comfort of Cobblers Cove.

The hotel is surrounded by an exquisite tropical garden set right on the shore. It lies between two sandy beaches and has an award-winning restaurant. All OPs receive a 10% discount & complimentary extras when booking direct. +1 246 422 2291 – reservations@cobblerscove.com quoting OP cobblerscove.com

SPECIAL REPORT OP DIPLOMATS

Flying the Flag Sir Simon Fraser GCMG (1970-74) Over the years many Paulines have been attracted to a career in diplomacy and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).

The job of the diplomat has changed greatly since I started in 1979 – for better and worse - but it continues to offer exciting, challenging and unusual opportunities for adventurous, bright people who are interested in the world.

I spent the first decade of my career immersed in the Middle East. I learned Arabic and worked in the British Embassies in Iraq and Syria. Little did I know how useful knowledge of those countries would be through the rest of my career. After the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, I shifted focus to the future of Europe, and spent 12 years working in the British Embassy in Paris and the European Commission in Brussels, where I developed a deep interest in international economic and trade policy.

I ended my career as Permanent Under Secretary (PUS). I had never expected that and arrived in the top job by a most unorthodox route. I was the first PUS also to have been Permanent Secretary

in a domestic government department (Business), and possibly the first never to have served as Ambassador.

The role of a diplomat is changing.

Capitals now communicate directly and rapidly; ministers can get information from abroad from many sources; other international careers are available; the resources of the Foreign Office have been cut back; other parts of Government are active overseas; and national policy is increasingly conducted through wider international groups.

But in a fast changing and uncertain world we need diplomacy as much as ever. And a Foreign Office career still offers unparalleled opportunities to learn languages, develop deep knowledge of countries and cultures, specialise in a range of economic policy or security affairs, conduct international negotiations, make policy, and meet an extraordinary range of people. You cannot beat it for variety, unpredictability and working with great colleagues.

The Foreign Office is moving forward as an organisation. When I joined I found it stuffy and old-fashioned. Women had to resign if they married; there were hardly any female Ambassadors and you were not allowed to be gay (at least openly). Now it is far more open and diverse. Women account for half the Management Board and a quarter of all Ambassadors. There is no discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation. And the FCO is reaching out actively to recruit people from different ethnic backgrounds and communities.

Although there is much more to be done, the old stereotypes are fading.

16 OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018

Sir Anthony Galsworthy KCMG (1958-63) “I spent some four fifths of my career dealing with China, ending up as British Ambassador in Beijing from 1997-2002. I little thought that this would be the case when I joined from university in 1966: I should like to say that in 1967, when I opted to learn Chinese, it was because I had foreseen the meteoric rise to global importance of that country, but honesty forbids. The truth is that I thought two years of Chinese at Hong Kong University would be fun, and it was.

Early days in Beijing from 1968 during the cultural revolution were fraught, but fascinating; but during my second posting, from 1981-84, Margaret Thatcher visited Beijing, and the Hong Kong talks got under way. This was a situation where Britain was on its own, and a British diplomat could not have asked for a more challenging or historically important task in which to be involved. Much of my next 15 years was spent on this, first in Beijing, then as head of the Hong Kong department in London, and finally as the senior British negotiator in Hong Kong negotiating the handover. There were ups and downs, but the final result was judged a great success: the fundamental purpose of the British side, to preserve the way of life in Hong Kong, was achieved, and in my opinion the formula is still working well. Hong Kong certainly has its problems these days, but for the most part they do not stem from the Joint Declaration.

The highlight of my career has to be the two and a half years I spent as principal private secretary to Sir Geoffrey Howe from

Getty Images with permission

When representing and protecting our nation's interests abroad, Old Paulines have a fine record of service within the Foreign Office. The Old Pauline News is grateful to those who have either written of their experiences or permitted the reprinting of short extracts from memoirs, allowing readers a very brief but hopefully intriguing and sometimes amusing peek into the world of diplomacy.

I did not enjoy every aspect of diplomatic life, and I am glad that I worked in other organisations, but there is no doubt that the Foreign Office offered me extraordinarily rich experiences. How else could I have lived the Iran/Iraq war at first hand; met both Saddam Hussein and Hafez al Assad; visited Nimrud, Babylon and Ur; had dinner with Milosevic; met Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama; flown by helicopter along the Berlin Wall just weeks before it fell; visited Bucharest days after Ceausescu was killed; come under mortar fire in Helmand; met former child soldiers in Sierra Leone; or negotiated with China on European textile import quotas? There have been highs and lows along the way, but overall it has been a huge privilege.

I met almost every major statesman in the world at the time and was involved at the highest level in every current issue.

1986-88. This was in the days when we still had statesmen (typical grumble of elderly diplomat), and domestic politics had not yet obtruded very far into foreign policy. In those two years, travelling with Sir Geoffrey, I met almost every major statesman in the world at the time, including Reagan and Gorbachev, and was involved at the highest level in every current issue. In particular I was heavily involved with politico-military policy, an experience which stood me in good stead when in the 90s I had a spell as deputy under-secretary in charge of defence and intelligence. This was at the height of the Bosnian conflict, and included some fairly hair-raising moments.

One great advantage of a diplomatic career is that it allowed great scope for me to carry on my lifelong interest in natural history and entomology, in the tradition of several members of the old China consular service in the nineteenth century. This led to a fair number of scientific papers, and ultimately a book on Chinese moths.

After five years as ambassador in Beijing, the holy grail for any Chinese specialist, I was quite ready to retire.

Since I left it, the Diplomatic Service has undergone many changes, some in my opinion good, others less good.

The British service has always prided itself on expertise: we are probably the only Western country, for instance, which can say that its ambassadors in Beijing have always been Chinese

speakers. It is usually this which has allowed this country to ‘box above its weight’ in diplomatic terms. The FCO went through a period a while ago where such experience was rather discounted, but I think the wheel has now turned full circle. In my opinion it remains an exciting prospect for any young person. Brexit (on the merits of which I am not going to be drawn!) can only make the task of British diplomacy more challenging, and, for that reason, more fulfilling.”

Sir Brian Fall GCVO KCMG (1951-55) Sir Brian entered the Diplomatic Service in 1962.

His last last three full-time jobs were Minister in Washington, High Commissioner to Canada, and Ambassador to the Russian Federation and, concurrently, to most of the other former Soviet Republics, including Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. That led to a later, part-time appointment as Special Representative for the South Caucasus.

The following extracts are taken from Sir Brian’s recollections of his first posting to Moscow, recorded and reprinted with permission by Catherine Manning (CM) of the British Diplomatic Oral History Programme.

CM: Your first year in Moscow was spent as Private Secretary to the Ambassador and the second working in the Chancery. You arrived in ’65 and that was just a year after Khrushchev was removed, the first dictator who was overthrown and given a flat and a dacha in retirement.

BF: There was a real sense of transition, which was less apparent to me because I hadn’t known the previous thing. But when Khrushchev was around, ambassadors turned up at Kremlin receptions tolerably sober, because you never knew whether Khrushchev was going to form up and start a conversation. That completely disappeared when he went, and it clearly wasn’t Brezhnev’s style. Also, when Humphrey Trevelyan was still Ambassador, Britain and the Soviet Union were Co-Chairs of a Conference on Indo-China which had started in Geneva and involved continuing work, so the British Ambassador in Moscow got to know quite a lot about Indo-China, and had a regular point of contact with the Russians. When the Co-Chair business came to an end, there was a real sense of having lost an important part of the political work of the Embassy.

We also had transition at home, with the Labour Government elected in 1964.

In my two years in Moscow, we had visits from Prime Minister Wilson twice, from Foreign Secretary George Brown at least once, and from Michael Stewart twice.

High level visitors were not put up in the Embassy, which didn’t have enough bedrooms, but were looked after by their Soviet hosts in a large and no doubt well-bugged villa on the Sparrow Hills.

All this gave me plenty of practice in the mechanics of high-level visits.

For the first Wilson visit, the Russians fielded their top-level troika: President Podgorny, Prime Minister Kosygin and General Secretary Brezhnev. We should have known that it was going to be the General Secretary who ended up on top, but this was not then regarded as automatic. Before meeting the Russians, we went down into the safe-speech room and the Prime Minister said, ‘Well, now, what are we going to talk to the Russians about?’ My jaw dropped. I thought the people from London might have worked that out before leaving home.

Travelling was when you did most of your Russian speaking. I went to Samarkand and Bukhara with the Ambassador and Lady Harrison, and I got myself arrested. I had thought it was worth taking a camera on the trip, and I’d never owned one. I was there in the street and saw a nice scene of an Uzbek on a donkey, so I thought, great, I’ll practice. I took the snap, but unfortunately, behind the Uzbek and the donkey, was a row of trees and behind that was a barracks wall: a military objective. I was got hold of and taken to the nearest non-military indoors, which was an Uzbek barber’s shop. The barber was at first was very sympathetic to this poor man who was being pushed

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018 17

SPECIAL REPORT OP DIPLOMATS around by the police, but then he got increasingly frustrated because the affair went on and on, and he was losing customers with a shop full of fuzz.

They told me that I was under arrest. I said that I wasn’t, because I had diplomatic immunity. They said that I didn’t have diplomatic immunity because I was under arrest. Finally, they said, ‘Hand over your camera.’ I said, ‘No, I can’t do that, because if I hand over the camera, you’re going to take really awful pictures and claim that I had taken them.’ Finally, I said, ‘I have to have the film. Then you can have the camera.’ They said, ‘All right then, take the film out.’ But I didn’t know how to do that, and I wound away without pushing the appropriate button. That turned out to be the diplomatic solution, because they were able to explain the lack of evidence in their report by saying that the ‘spy’ had deliberately let the light in to wreck the film!

Sir Robin Renwick KCMG (1951-56) Lord Renwick of Clifton joined the British Foreign Service in 1963.

After postings to Dakar, New Delhi, Paris and later Rhodesia, he became Head of Chancery in Washington then Assistant Under-Secretary of State, FCO, 1984-87. He was made Ambassador to South Africa 1987-91, then to the United States from 1991-95.

The following are extracts taken, with permission, from The End of Apartheid: Diary of a Revolution, published in 2015.

15 June 1990 In each of his meetings with me, I had found Mandela practising his classic strategy of seeking to co-opt me, just as he had his warder in jail and the justice minister… I was his advisor, Mandela kept insisting to me and others. What he wanted to talk about… was how to tackle Margaret Thatcher. He was determined to get her on his side. He wanted her as an ally and not as an enemy.

I suggested that we should have a rehearsal for the meeting. ‘You can be Mandela’, I said, ‘and I’ll be Mrs Thatcher.’

He thought this an excellent idea. There followed an exchange punctuated by much laughter on both sides. Mandela described the efforts he, Tambo and the ANC had made to engage with the government before he was convicted of treason and that all they were demanding now was a fully democratic constitution. ‘You will find us

allies on all that,’ I told him, ‘but you must stop all this nonsense about nationalising the banks and the mines!’

4 July 1990 I saw Margaret Thatcher in 10 Downing Street before Mandela arrived. I asked her to remember that he had waited 27 years to tell her his story. This earned me a glare from the clear blue eyes. “You mean I mustn’t

I suggested that we should have a rehearsal for the meeting. ‘You can be Mandela’, I said, ‘and I’ll be Mrs Thatcher.’ interrupt?” she said. Not for the first half-hour, I suggested. Asked if Mandela was anything like Mugabe, I was able to assure her that I had never met two human beings, let alone political leaders, less like each other.

His (Mandela’s) initial comments lasted, uninterrupted for over 50 minutes, ‘possibly a record!’ Margaret Thatcher concluded the meeting by saying that South Africa was very fortunate to have De Klerk and Mandela at this juncture.

The meeting had gone on for three hours, causing the press assembled outside in Downing Street to start chanting ‘Free Nelson Mandela!’ At his press conference that afternoon, choosing his words with heavy emphasis, Mandela declared: ‘She is an enemy of apartheid.’ l Other books by Sir Robin include A

Journey with Margaret Thatcher: British Foreign Policy under the Iron Lady and Fighting with Allies: America and Britain in Peace and War. These and The End of Apartheid: Diary of a Revolution have all been published by Biteback Publishing. Sir Robin has kindly donated copies to the St Paul’s School Kayton Library.

Matthew Gould CMG MBE (1984-89) When I was Ambassador to Israel, it was clear to me that Israeli innovation had much to offer the UK – if we could persuade Israeli entrepreneurs to make partnerships with British companies, it could give those British companies a competitive edge in the global market. This would be a classic win-win, where both sides would benefit.

18 OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018

But it also became clear that the existing structures for commercial diplomacy did not work for encouraging this sort of partnership. They were focussed either on getting British companies to export to Israel, or getting Israeli companies to invest in the UK. Both were – and remain – important objectives. But we needed to set up a new team, focussed on building partnerships.

It wasn't just the objective of the Hub that was new. It tried a new approach in all the ways it worked as well. We recruited outstanding people from the Israeli tech sector. We brought in leading tech figures from both Israel and the UK to advise it, including OP Saul Klein as the UK Tech Envoy to Israel. We paid for the Hub both out of money from the UK Government but also from sponsorship and other income from companies. And underpinning it all, we had a clear strategy guiding what the hub did, but also what it did not do. This is how the UK-Israel Tech Hub came into being.

After several false starts, it became an important part of the UK/Israel relationship, and it is now being replicated by many others, not least across the UK system where there are tech hubs in at least three other countries with plans to roll them out in five more.

Richard Wildash (1969-73)

It was an intense interest in languages that caused me to travel from an early age, and my Anglo-Catholic parish priest who suggested that I join the Diplomatic Service. As a child, I used to invent languages; with the Foreign Office, I learnt eight. Understanding how a language works is to understand how its speakers deal with the world and other people, and is fundamental to getting inside a foreign culture. My priest’s advice gave me a sense of mission that has never left me. A diplomat can’t be really effective without that sense of “Here I am! Send me!” (Isa 6:8).

In my 42 years in the Foreign Office I’ve served in ten vastly different countries in a great variety of roles, but it’s perhaps Africa, where I’ve lived and worked for 17 years, that remains closest to my heart. All my postings have been enriching, challenging and fun, but my twelve years as Ambassador in three African counties (though accredited to more: I have presented credentials to eight African Presidents) gave me real opportunities to influence the course of events and try to promote better governance and sustainable development. I think I capitalised on at least

some of them; to be told by African decisionmakers and opinion-formers that I had made a difference is one of the most rewarding things to have happened to me in my life.

As a diplomat, of course you serve your country and promote its interests. But you also serve the country where you’re posted: you are its advocate back in London, helping the British Government to understand what your host government wants and why it does what it does; and trying to nudge things in (what you think is) the right direction out in the field. You are a small part of its political and socio-economic history.

As I’ve repeatedly said in countless speeches at all manner of functions over the years, though, at the end of the day international relations aren’t fundamentally about government-to-government business, important though that is: they’re about people-to-people contact – weaving the human fabric. Diplomats are there to facilitate that. When people meet, talk, get to know each other and connect, there is a chance of peace and understanding, and of identifying a common language. Which is where I began… .

Patrick (Paddy) de Courcy Ireland (1947-52) Paddy joined the Foreign service in 1957. He later served in Baghdad, Washington, New York, Kuwait, Casablanca and Jerusalem. He was awarded the CVO in 1980.

The following is re-published with permission from Patrick’s personal recollections.

The Queen’s State Visit to Morocco in October 1980 gave rise to some unusual experiences and insights. I had short notice to take up my post as Consul General in Casablanca.

An important element in plans to develop the economy in the north was the construction of a rod mill in Nador. The consultants were WS Atkins. There was stiff competition for the construction contract between French companies and Davy McKee in Sheffield.

Atkins indicated privately that the Moroccans were a bit fed up with French arrogance, and suggested that the State Visit might possibly provide a suitable occasion for demonstrating that Morocco was not a chasse-gardé français. But success would depend on Davy McKee making a rather more aggressive sales effort than they had up till then.

I accordingly called upon the Director General of SONASID (Société Nationale de Sidérurgie) before my return to the UK. He said that no final decisions had been taken on the contract, and gave a delicate hint that if Davy McKee were to visit in suitable force - and with a suitable financial offer! that could be very much to their advantage.

the director concerned subsequently said that it he had never heard such blunt language from a diplomat.

When I went up to Sheffield, I said that the message I had received in Morocco was that they still had a chance, but they had to get off their a***s (the director concerned subsequently said that he had never heard such blunt language from a diplomat, but had found it most refreshing!). They responded by sending out a heavy weight delegation, supported by Morgan Grenfell.

Inevitably there was much to-ing and fro-ing, but they ultimately came up with a sufficiently impressive package (with a bit of financial support from HMG) to be awarded the contract of some £30 million.

The French had thought that it was all in the bag, and were puce with fury. We just looked smug.

Mark Runnacres (1972-77) I never really intended to join the FCO. I applied so that the rejection, of which I was confident, would mean I had no regrets about not pursuing the “establishment path” when I set off down the unconventional path I had chosen.

I remember vividly receiving the offer (more of an instruction) to join. I decided to take it, reasoning that I could always return to the unconventional path but that this chance would not come again.

I was right. I don’t remotely regret my 25 years in the Diplomatic Service which took me to Paris, the Press Office, the Department for Trade and Industry, the UK Mission to the UN in New York and New Delhi twice, latterly as Deputy High Commissioner, a post which on my first Delhi outing as Third Secretary seemed way beyond my aspirations. I held various other jobs in London all with their own fascination.

Quite apart from the intrinsic interest

of many of the jobs, they all offered the pleasure of working with extraordinarily gifted people, both colleagues in the British Government and the many remarkable people drawn from across the societies in which we were lucky enough to serve. This pleasure was more than doubled by being accompanied by a spouse who took as much, if not more, pleasure in the societies we had privilege to inhabit. I like to think to think that our enthusiasm paid dividends not just for us and our children but for the country too.

I would identify the brilliance of my colleagues as also one of the major challenges of the career: managing young, dynamic and ambitious people is not always uplifting. Equally, trying to drive a new idea through layers of genuinely gifted diplomats to get some traction in policy can make you despondent. The other, rather more strategic, challenge I would pick out was

There is a challenge which should appeal to those now contemplating a career in the diplomatic service. the increasing disjuncture between the job the FCO thought we should be doing from what the British people, including from time to time the incumbent at No 10, envisaged.

We have now seen this played out with the Brexit drama and the enthusiastic popular scorn for “expertise” in which the FCO specialises.

Post-Brexit, these talents would undoubtedly be of more value than ever if the inward-looking dramas of the UK’s last few years could be put behind us. There may be an opportunity to develop a foreign policy and national identity better suited to the realities of the 21st century. There is a challenge which should appeal to those now contemplating a career in the diplomatic service.

For myself, having left the FCO still on the right side of 50, I will be able to look back with great pleasure on a career of two fulfilling halves, first as a British diplomat and then as a British entrepreneur. Both have involved a lot of work but it has been interesting to see how much the skills sets overlap! l The Old Pauline News acknowledges that other OPs have worked in the FCO including Keith Hamylton Jones, Alex Pinfield, Gerard Russell, Jonathan Thomson, Alex KingSmith and William Mallinson. We extend our apologies to anyone who has not been mentioned. Please contact us if you would like an entry in the next OP News published in October: opceditor@stpaulsschool.org.uk

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018 19

Interview

Rohan Kamdar

(2003-08)

Named in Forbes 30-Under-30 list, the annual encyclopaedia of creatives that features young stars to watch across 10 different industries, engineer and entrepreneur Rohan Kamdar (2003-08) is looking forward to launching ‘effie’, the machine that could make ironing your clothes a thing of the past.

How were you selected for the Forbes list?

I have no idea! I got an email from Forbes saying I had been nominated. The media campaign behind 'effie' launched in September last year, so anyone could have come forward on my behalf. It’s a cool thing, and will be very good for me going forward, especially when looking for funding. It’s a bit ridiculous to be on the same list as Anthony Joshua and Laura Kenny, with her four Olympic gold medals!

Were Science and Maths always your strongest subjects at School?

Maths is inbuilt into me really. My A level subjects were Further Maths, Maths, Physics and Chemistry. I always intended to go to university to study engineering. I was probably one of the very few people across the country who genuinely enjoyed taking Design and Technology at GCSE! I did Systems and Control Technology, in which you design and make systems using a range of electronic, mechanical and pneumatic components. When I describe what my job is, it’s pretty much exactly the same as Systems and Control GCSE, except now I’m trying to get paid for it!

Photography by Theo Wood

Did the teaching at St Paul’s help you?

I have nothing else to compare it with, but I will say that the one thing that St Paul’s gave me, and I’ve noticed it in every single Pauline and OP I have met since, is a weird sense of confidence. There isn’t a single individual I know from the School who isn’t bold in some way, be it socially or professionally. You always back yourself to win. I cannot exactly work out why that is.

After St Paul’s you went to Cambridge, MIT and Harvard. Was MIT as intense as it is reputed to be?

At Cambridge everyone complained about how hard we had to work. At MIT they work about ten times harder! It’s a

different education system where they continually assess you. At Cambridge the emphasis was on learning without the additional pressure of being marked. At MIT, your final grade depends on each of your subject grades across the four years.

Each subject grade depends on how well you tackle each weekly problem set. Every weekly problem grade depends on how well you answer each question. Every single question therefore contributes directly to your final grade. You have to work constantly. It made me realise what hard work really meant!

I was probably one of the very few people across the country who genuinely enjoyed taking Design and Technology at GCSE!

How did effie get started?

I always wanted to launch a business that featured home automation of some kind.

I wanted to remove some of the chores we still have to do and that have not evolved in a long time. For many people, laundry often heads that list.

I met Trevor Kerth, my original business partner, after attending Entrepreneur First, a start-up incubator-style entrepreneurial accelerator group. We then attempted to build a prototype of a robotic ironing machine named ‘effie’ (after Fe, the chemical symbol for iron). When you tell people you are building such a thing they will say, “Prove it! I don’t believe it can be done. Show us it works!” Now, here we are three years later. Effie has moved out of my parent’s garage and now has its own

20 OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018

dedicated warehouse unit in Royston, just south of Cambridge, and is on track for a launch next year.

There are some impressive videos online about the effie project Although we are still some way off delivering the product, we wanted people to engage with our progress online by showing videos of the people behind the idea and to introduce the product itself.

We wanted to prove to ourselves that people were actually interested in it.

We had a really good reaction. The idea was to get people to sign up online to register their interest in effie. It would then be much easier for us to have proof of interest to show potential investors.

It took off in a way we couldn’t possibly have imagined or expected. My target was to get 10 million views on the internet with a 100,000 sign-ups over six months.

That would have represented a result and would certainly have been good enough for us. In fact, we actually hit 200,000 sign-ups in a month and to date over 75 million have now viewed the video!

It went global, to places you’d never imagine. We managed to get the Evening Standard and UniLad to post our links and after that it just took off. Suddenly, it was being posted in the New Zealand Herald, Chris Evans was talking about it on Radio 2, and a friend contacted me to say that she had heard about it on a Washington DC radio station, DC101.

That was followed, bizarrely, with a post on the World Economic Forum. Messages started to come in from around the world.

One morning I had emails from Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

Have you had interest from industry?

Industrial ironing machines exist already.

They are huge and can cost £75,000 a piece. Plus you need a full-time worker to run one. Our machines will be different, cheaper and smaller. Our trade-off is that we’ll sacrifice the speed of the larger machines for personal convenience. Our target buyers would typically be people living in the suburbs of London, someone who might be ironing 40 or 50 items every week for their family.

Photography by Theo Wood

Interview Rohan Kamdar (2003-08) Is effie a game-changer?

We’re trying to change the behaviours associated with doing household tasks – in this case how we dry and iron our clothes.

Rather than let the ironing build up over the week, we’re saying that every time you take your clothes out of the washing machine, you can simply load effie, which will dry and iron your clothes there and then, 12 items a time, automatically, at the touch of a single button.

Our first prototype actually consisted of four irons simultaneously working together!

It was pretty cool, it worked, but we had doubts, thought better of it and scrapped it rather than waste months trying to justify it. Effie has come along way since its inception in 2015. By coincidence, each April since, we have come up with a new improved version of the device. This April, effie will be available for pre-order, with delivery on course to be released next year.

We’re currently making sure that the device works for all kinds of shirts made of any material. And we need to spend a lot of time going through regulatory restrictions.

The effie team has now expanded to six, four of whom are mechanical engineers with experience in manufacturing. I work on the embedded electrical system, design the software and run the business. We’re making good progress.

How about fundraising for the project?

For about four or five months of the year we put building aside and seek money for the start-up. That can be frustrating as all you really want to be doing is building the product itself. But financially securing the project is something we obviously need to do. As a hardware business, you are not

Angel investors genuinely seem to like effie. . . once they’ve seen it, they want it! revenue positive until you start selling the product, so we’re always interested in hearing from anyone who could support us at this early stage. Generally, global investors prefer to put finance behind software rather than hardware projects. Because effie is larger than most traditional hardware, that will further reduce the number of potential investors. Angel investors genuinely seem to like effie. It is the kind of product that once they’ve seen it, they want it! However, it can be frustrating when other partners, who haven’t actually seen the product, decide against investing.

Rohan with the effie team in Royston

How much will effie cost?

The target price is £699, but that might reduce over time. Effie will be a premium product along the lines of the Dyson range. Think of it more as a personal laundry system not just an automatic

22 OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018

ironing device. The days of laundry being a chore are almost over!

Did anyone else from the family go to St Paul’s?

My two brothers: Ishan (2001-06), who

Et Cetera

Defending freedom of and from religion

G

is two years older than me, and Shalin (2005-10), two years younger. Both of them now work in the family automotive parts distribution business, having studied economics at Cambridge. My grandfather and father originally set up the business. My dad was also in economics and management. As an engineer, I am, essentially, the black sheep of the family, but my dad thought my route might help us diversify as a family. We are all very supportive of one another. I now have a cousin in the sixth form who thinks I have made it as I appeared on the SPS website!

Time for anything else in your life?

I got married recently and I spend lots of time with family. I like sport and played cricket at St Paul’s, but now I enjoy watching it rather than playing. I have also been asked by schools to come in and talk about studying engineering at university and to explain what engineering is. I like to recalibrate preconceptions and excite greater interest in the subject. l For more information: helloeffie.com

raham was one of two joint winners presented with £5,000 at a special lunch organised by the society. Phil Johnson, the other nominee, is the chair of Minister And Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors (MACSAS), a support group for those who have been sexually abused by ministers or clergy. Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, who won the award in 2012, presented the prize at the event in central London.

The award was announced the day after the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) concluded three weeks of hearings into the cover-up of abuse in the diocese of Chichester. Stephen Evans, the NSS’s Chief Executive, praised Rev Sawyer and Mr Johnson for their “courageous efforts to break the silence that has allowed an epidemic of abuse to take place in the Church of England”.

As himself a victim of sexual abuse within the church, Graham will be giving evidence to the IICSA in the case study of retired bishop and convicted sex offender Peter Ball. “I’m pleased the inquiry will be looking into the culture of the Church of England and how it allowed all this to happen.

I am very humbled to be awarded this prize. When religious leaders are given secular power or one particular religion (let alone one group in one religion) is given a position of privilege by the state, we all too often see an abuse of power: perhaps an example of this is the way that the Established Church of England has treated victims of sexual abuse perpetrated by its leaders over so many years.

I cannot understand why any reasonable person in the UK – whether they be a person of faith or not – couldn’t support the NSS’s principled version of secularism that defends both freedom of and from religion. In today’s modern, multicultural and multi-faith Britain,

with people of no faith as well, we need to send out a very clear message to everyone that all will be treated equally and fairly.”

Graham says he found it impossible to become ordained in England, and that his experience seemed to have left "a big black mark against him" within the church.

Only a move to New Zealand eventually enabled him to be ordained as a deacon.

It was at a seminar in Sydney that he met the former Archbishop of Wales, Rowan Williams, who invited him to join him in his diocese in Pontypool, South Wales, to become a vicar in a group parish. “He has stuck with me through thick and thin and has been a real hero.”

Before his ordination, communications had always been at the heart of Graham’s career. Over the last 30 years he has variously been employed as a teacher, a speech writer, a public relations officer, a newsreader and presenter, an editor, a marketing and PR officer and as the Conservative Party candidate for Barnsley West and Penistone. Branded ‘the most hated man in Barnsley’ at the time, Graham says his politics have drifted leftwards since.

Graham has served in the churches of New Zealand, Australia and Wales, all of which are disestablished. Unusually for an Anglican clergymen, he is also a Quaker.

“I’m naturally contemplative and simple in my lifestyle and I embrace silence. I have a sort of dual nationality.” He is multi-national in the literal sense too, holding Australian, New Zealand and British passports. Graham enjoys travelling, but his great love is film, particularly French film.

Graham says his journey into the church started at St Paul’s, where he was chapel warden under chaplain John Schofield. He says High Master Warwick Hele was hugely helpful to his family at a time of financial crisis, helping him to complete his studies at the School with a bursary award. Graham’s father Anthony Sawyer (1952-54), and his stepfather, Thomas Pick (1949-52), had also attended St Paul’s.

At the time of this interview, Graham was very much looking forward to meeting up with an old school friend, Chris Howell (1975-79), a professor of Politics at Oberlin College, Ohio. Their planned meeting in Paris would be their first since they were both teenagers.

As a parting reflection, Graham believes we should turn the vicissitudes of our lives to good. “I don’t bear anyone ill will. “If I can achieve that with a little bit of humour – then this helps redeem absolutely everything.” l For more information: www.secularism.org.uk

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018 23

Photography by Joel Goodman

The Rev Graham Sawyer (197479), vicar of St James’ Church of Briercliffe, in Burnley, who has campaigned to expose sexual abuse and its cover-up in the Church of England, was named as Secularist of the Year by the National Secular Society (NSS).

The Old Pauline Club Message from the President Providing support in a changing world As an Old Pauline and current St Paul’s parent, I am pleased to have seen how the School has changed over the last thirty or so years. The world that my sons will join as they leave St Paul’s is vastly different from the working world I entered in the late 80s.

The last year has given me an opportunity to see more closely how the School is preparing the pupils for the changing work place and how the OPC can provide support.

When I joined the Old Pauline Club as President last summer, I had three aims: l To ensure the OPC is in a place to support, and perhaps even lead, the

donations to the School’s bursary ambition. l To build a strong professional community network for the benefit of pupils, before, during and after graduation. l To work closely with the School on how we communicate and engage OPs. I am pleased to say we have made progress in all these areas.

In spring this year, the OPC agreed to provide an Old Pauline Club bursary to the School. I hope that this commitment will inspire Old Paulines to contribute to this important project so that other children can benefit from the incredible education that we have all received.

The St Paul’s Professional Networks are booming with groups launched in Real Estate, Finance, Law, Engineering and Research. Arts, Entrepreneurship and Medicine will follow this autumn.

This activity has been key to engaging volunteers. The St Paul’s Community team and I are very grateful to them

A Minute with the High Master The School's programme of activities has undergone some dramatic changes over recent months.

How can the Old Pauline Club best work alongside the School to help it to realise its ambitions for the future?

We have pulled together all the information about extra-curricular and social activities for pupils, parents and OPs; publicised it in a single place; and opened up many of the events to everyone in the community. The purpose is to promote greater cohesion and a strong sense of communal identity. The OPC is an integral and essential part of that: some of its activities will be

restricted to OPs, of course, but some will be open to all and we would be delighted if more OPs attended school concerts, plays and so on.

The High Master receives many invitations to all kinds of events, but do you have any stand out moments from Old Pauline Club events over the past few years?

Richard Chartres, the retired Bishop of London, delivered the Whitting Lecture recently on the subject of Samuel Pepys, which was advertised to the whole community and attracted the largest audience for years, including Rowan Williams. The transformation of the Feast Service is also very encouraging and great fun. After the service Upper Eighth pupils and parents now join OPs for a buffet supper at Mercers’ Hall, thus celebrating the historic links with the Cathedral and the Mercers, and linking

24 OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018

for the time and expertise they readily provide. We are now working to launch St Paul’s Connect in the summer term, a networking platform that will support our professional groups and current St Paul’s pupils.

I am pleased to hear that the summer term St Paul’s Community Events brochure, launched by the School’s Community Engagement team, has met with approval. The brochure has helped both the School and the Club to reconnect with Old Paulines, above all promoting the Club’s events clearly to OPs and showing what a wide range of activities we have to offer. If you have not received a copy, please contact the team on community@stpaulsschool.org.uk Both the Club and the School have made impressive progress this year and I am looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together over the next twelve months.

I hope to see as many of you as possible at the Annual Dinner on 13 June, which this year will return to the School. Why not get a year group together and join us for this important annual event?

Rob Smith (1981-86)

the imminent leavers with the Old Pauline Club.

St Paul’s has been built on a history of giving, from John Colet’s original endowment to the renewal campaign under Martin Stephen. Now that the main phase of the £114m redevelopment is reaching its conclusion, what lies ahead?

There is a widespread appetite to return to the principles of Colet’s vision: preparing pupils to serve society and educating able pupils regardless of means. We are extending our outreach activities with local primary schools in collaboration with SPGS, and providing more opportunities for boys to work in the community. And in the last four years we have doubled the proportion of boys receiving bursaries, admittedly from a low base. The OPC have helped by creating an OPC bursary to help one pupil through the school. Soon we will launch a campaign to have at least 153 boys in bursaries each year, restoring Colet’s original plan.

Professor Mark Bailey

opclub.stpaulsschool.org.uk l 020 8746 5390

Old Pauline Club Committee List 2017/18 President R J Smith Past Presidents D J Cakebread, B D Moss, C D L Hogbin, C J W Madge, F W Neate, Sir Alexander Graham GBE DCL, R C Cunis, Professor the Rt Hon Lord McColl of Dulwich, The Rt Hon the Lord Baker of Dorking CH, N J Carr, J M Dennis, J H M East, Sir Nigel Thompson KCMG CBE Vice Presidents P R A Baker, R S Baldock, J S Beastall CB, S C H Bishop, J R Blair CBE, Sir David Brewer CMG, CVO, N E Britnor, N St J Brooks, R D Burton, W M A Carroll, Professor P A Cartledge, M A Colato, R K Compton, T J D Cunis, S J Dennis MBE, L M Dorfman CBE, C R Dring, C G Duckworth, A R Duncan, J A H Ellis, R A Engel, D H P Etherton, The Rt Hon Sir Terence Etherton, Sir Brian Fall GCVO KCMG, T J R Goode, D J Gordon-Smith, Lt Gen Sir Peter Graham KCB CBE, S R Harding, R J G Holman, J A Howard, B M Jones, S D Kerrigan, P J King, T G Knight, P A Leppard, B Lowe, J W S Lyons, I C MacDougall, Professor C P Mayer, R R G McIntosh, A R M McLean, CLH, I C McNicol, A K Nigam, The Rt Hon George Osborne MP, T B Peters, D M Porteus,

Events 2018 Whitting Lecture

A

n audience of 171, a record attendance for this event, gathered in the Wathen Hall on 6 March to hear the former Bishop of London, Rt Hon and Rt Rev Lord Chartres, give a lecture on one of St Paul’s School’s most revered alumni – Samuel Pepys (1649-51). His talk started with Pepys’s schooldays, then explored his later life and career in detail.

And detail wasn’t spared. For example, we learned that in the mid-seventeenth century the School paid the Cathedral one red rose per annum to allow its boys to pee between two of its buttresses.

The young Pepys was a Republican and a Presbyterian, growing up to believe in reason, courtesy and common sense.

Famously, he absconded from School to attend the execution of Charles I. He was ecumenical in his sympathies. But by the late 1670s, supporting an attitude of tolerance had become politically

The Rt Hon the Lord Razzall CBE, The Rt Hon the Lord Renwick of Clifton KCMG, B M Roberts, J E Rolfe, Sir David Rowland, M K Seigel, J C F Simpson, R J Smith, D R Snow, S S Strauss, A G Summers, R Summers, J L Thorn, R Ticciati, Admiral Sir John Treacher KCB, Sir Mark Walport FRS, Professor the Lord Winston of Hammersmith Honorary Secretary A C Day Honorary Treasurer N St J Brooks FCA Main Committee Composed of all the above and P R A Baker OP Lodge A Riley Rugby Football Club S C H Bishop Editor, OP News T J D Cunis (Archivist & AROPS representative) N P Troen Association Football Club J P King Colet Boat Club P J King Fives (OPRFC) & Membership Secretary N H Norgren Elected T B Peters Cricket Club J Withers Green Social Engagement OfficerElect (To be appointed in July 2018) J Morgan Golfing Society D C Tristao Tennis Club

dangerous during the reign of James II, the last Roman Catholic monarch.

Chartres painted a picture of a man adept at walking a political tightrope as a non-juror, refusing to give oath of allegiance to William of Orange, whilst furthering his career as an administrator for the Navy and as an MP. Pepys was described as ‘a heretic committed to action’ – a civil servant with the perfect qualities to get things done.

Alluding to the candid nature of particular entries to his diary 1660-69, Chartres pointed out Pepys’s attempts to adhere to self-administered ‘oaths’, such as foregoing wine. His roaming eye, however, remained unfettered: “A good sermon, a fine church and a handsome company of fine women”, was one diary sign-off.

Chartres left us in no doubt that Pepys had a great capacity to enjoy life. He drew upon William Blake’s manifesto: ‘When seed time, learn; when harvest, teach; when winter, enjoy!’ as an analogy.

Executive Committee R J Smith Chairman Sir Nigel Thompson Immediate Past President A C Day Hon Secretary N St J Brooks Hon Treasurer S C H Bishop Editor, OP News R D Burton Secretary for Affiliated Clubs & Associations N J Carr TDSSC Ltd Representative J H M East J A Howard Liaison Committee Chairman B M Jones P J King Membership Secretary J Withers Green Social Engagement Officer-Elect (To be appointed in July 2018) Liaison Committee J A Howard Chairman, T B Bain, I M Benjamin, N J Carr, R J G Holman Ground Committee J M Dennis Chairman, R K Compton, G Godfrey (Groundsman), M P Kiernan, J Sherjan Accountants Kreston Reeves LLP Trustees C D L Hogbin Chairman, J S Beastall CB, C R Dring R C Cunis

.

The Rt Hon and Rt Rev Lord Chartres

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018 25

Old Pauline Club events

Feast Service and Supper

T

here was an excellent attendance for this year’s Feast Service, held at St Paul’s Cathedral on 29 January.

194 Old Paulines, family members, current boys, parents, governors and staff gathered for our traditional highlight event that serves to remind us of our city roots and Dean Colet’s original vision for the School.

The choirs of St Paul’s and St Paul’s Juniors, conducted by Director of Music Mark Wilderspin, sang with great musicality and expression. They were accompanied on the cathedral organ by Philip Berg. The congregation joined them for the hymn O Praise Ye The Lord, arranged by C Hubert Parry.

After the service, there was a chance to greet friends and colleagues at Mercers’ Hall in Ironmonger Lane where there was a welcome address from Old Pauline Club President Rob Smith (1981-86) followed by the High Master, who announced a generous gift of rare books: a first cloth-bound edition of Edward Thomas: a centenary celebration, The Poems of Nizami by Laurence Binyon OP and a first edition of Sermons by Artists including contributions by OPs Paul Nash and Eric Kennington, which were presented to the School’s Kayton Library by the Old Pauline Club.

The assembled were then ushered upstairs to the oak-lined walls of the dining rooms of Mercers’ Hall where a fine repast was enjoyed and friendships made across the whole Pauline community. Next year’s event will take place on Monday 28 January.

Launch of the St Paul’s Finance Network

I

n March the St Paul’s Finance Network was launched with a drinks reception at JP Morgan’s 60 Victoria Embankment building. With nearly 180 guests in attendance, the room was buzzing with OPs, parents (current and former) and friends of St Paul’s who worked in the sector and around 50 current pupils interested in joining the sector. Guests were welcomed by Harry Hampson, MD and Head of Strategic Investor Group for EMEA for JP Morgan (OP & Current Parent). Harry noted that this seemed to be a perfect venue for the launch of the School’s Finance Network as the room had once also been the Great Hall of a school. Harry then welcomed The Hon Callum Mitchell-Thomson, Managing Director, Vice-Chairman for JP Morgan and current St Paul’s parent to the stage. Callum gave the keynote

Networking drinks at J P Morgan

speech describing his experience joining the bank in 1996. He talked through the purpose of the network which aims to bring together one of the most influential finance communities. Harry and Callum then took questions from the audience including the work/life balance of a career in banking, how Brexit would affect

St Paul’s Connect

F

ollowing the enormous success of the St Paul’s Professional Networks programme, this term we will launch St Paul’s Connect, a linkedin-style online network which allows Old Paulines, parents (current and former) and staff to connect professionally and socially online.

Have you met someone at a professional

event and forgotten to ask for their business card? Reach out on the platform? Are you looking for some advice ahead of a potential career change? See who is offering advice on the platform. Do you want to connect with your international branch to see what is happening next in your area?

Check out your local group.

26 OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018

finance in London and whether it was important to learn a second language when working in the banking field. The evening concluded with networking drinks where pupils and young OPs had the opportunity to ask further questions and learn more from the experience of the attendees.

opclub.stpaulsschool.org.uk l 020 8746 5390

Speed Networking

O

Alex Wilson (third from left) introduces the panel

Law Evening

O

n 22 February, 175 Old Paulines, parents (current and former), pupils and friends of St Paul’s gathered in the Samuel Pepys Theatre for the Biennial Law Evening. This event, part of our Professional Networks programme, brings together those working in the sector to share their knowledge with our pupils and guide them as they make career choices. The panel, chaired by Alex Wilson, included professionals in various legal roles who shared the stories of their careers with the packed theatre.

The panel included Sam Newhouse (199196), Partner at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Co-Head of Natural Resources, Simon Davis (former St Paul’s Parent), former tenant at 23 Essex Street as well as a Judicial Member of the Parole Board, Oswin Brenner (1991-96),

legal and business affairs consultant, specialising in the music and entertainment industries, Nick Cusworth (1977-81), a top ranked finance silk with an extensive practice in high net worth financial remedy cases and Peter Stovall (2003-08), an Associate at Freshfields.

Following the panel session, guests were invited to dinner where each table was hosted by a professional from the sector allowing pupils and guests to continue conversations. The feedback from this event was incredibly positive and we are thankful to all the panellists and table hosts for the advice and support they gave the pupils.

n Thursday 8 March, the inaugural Careers Speed Networking event took place in the Wathen Hall, giving Fifth Form pupils an introduction to a range of professions. Sixty mentors from across the St Paul’s Community connected with the boys over the course of the lunchtime. The mentors represented a range of jobs, including the CEO of Walt Disney Italy, the EMEA Director of Sales for Apple and Beats Headphones, and the Taekwondo England National Team Coach. This was a valuable opportunity for the boys to gain insights, find inspiration, and to ask those burning questions (though some of the more enterprising boys were disappointed to find their request for free headphones declined!).

The day proved beneficial for the mentors too, who were invited to mingle and network afterwards in the Milton Gallery over a light lunch.

New Master Mark Teeger (centre, 198489) with new Wardens Peter Baker (196164) and Zvi Solomons (1981-85)

The Lodge The Old Pauline Masonic Lodge met at the School in March. A new Master, Mark Teeger (1984-89), and his two Wardens were appointed and installed for the year.

The meeting was followed by dinner in the Montgomery Room. Our lodge was consecrated in 1919. Plans are in hand for a Centenary meeting and dinner to be held at the School in October next year. l Contact our secretary Nigel Young (1964-68) at opsecretary@oldpaulinelodge.org.uk

Reunion

Remove '57

O

n Wednesday 29 November, the Remove '57 gathered for their 60year reunion. Chris Montagnon commented: “There was no lack of conversation: Brexit (of course), politics, House of Lords or not, our old former master MacIntosh, whether there should

Paul Lever is front centre; left to right: John Manches, Tim Razzall, John Govett, Graham Wynd, Robin Anslow (at far end), Chris Montagnon, Andrew Sheer, Chris Rogers and David Clapham.

have been girls in the School, whether those who opted for the Classics VIII would do so again, etc. There was a general feeling that we should have another 'reunion' but in 5, not 10 years, as it would be more likely we should be there!”

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018 27

Obituaries Name

(at SPS)

Dennis Bertuzzi-Amanda Geoffrey F A Best Rex Brown OBE Howard E Barnes Alan D Cameron William Campbell Thomas C Dann Paul A Dare Derek B Davis A H Bernard Dunstan Charles M Eugster John A (Tony) Fernandez Anthony (Tony) E M Fine Robert Friend Michael Gainsborough Andrew V Gillespie David R Griffin Richard H Halberstadt William (David) Harper David M Hendtlass John P Horder Keith H Jones CMG George Kahan John A Kater Adrian M D Lever Philip G F Manning Peter H SMartin Richard N(Neil) McMillan David Pinto Robert A Pollock LAnthony (Tony) Retallack HLM/Former staff Clive Richardson John C P Riddy Rev John V Schofield HLM/Former Chaplain Alan Shotts Sir Ninian M Stephen Marcus (Mark) R J Symons John B Thompson CBE Alan W Waterman Julian P G Wathen HLM/Chairman of Governors

1942-48 1941-46 1945-49 1951-56 1951-56 1947-53 1945-51 1959-62 1941-43 1934-39 1933-38 1937-41 1956-60 1957-62 1951-56 1947-52 1958-62 1958-61 1946-52 1981-85 1950-55 1937-42 1943-49 1952-55 1944-48 1968-73 1963-67 1952-58 1938-39 1954-59 1952-86

1930-2017 1928-2018 1931-2017 1937-2017 1938-2017 1936-2018 1932-2017 1946-2017 1927-2017 1920-2017 1919-2017 1923-2017 1942-2018 1944-2017 1938-2017 1933-2017 1944-2017 1944-2018 1933-2017 1968-2017 1936-2017 1924-2017 1931-2018 1939-2017 1930-2018 1955-2017 1949-2017 1939-2017 1923-2017 1941-2018 1922-2018

1956-59 1949-53 1970-80

1943-2018 1934-2017 1929-2017

1936-40 1937-38 1965-70 1941-46 1939-44 1995-2005

1922-2017 1923-2017 1951-2018 1928-2017 1925-2017 1923-2017

Viera Ghods Section editor vg@stpaulsschool.org.uk Because of space constraints we ask that when submitting an obituary for publication that it be no more than 330 words. Longer obituaries will be edited to fit with author’s permission. * Indicates obituaries also appeared in the national broadsheet newspapers. ** Indicates longer obituaries also appearing on the OPC website: opclub.stpaulsschool.org.uk/pages/obituaries

28 OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018

Rex Brown OBE (1945-49)

Prof Geoffrey F A Best (1941-46) *

Rex was a contemporary of mine over the five years immediately after the end of the Second World War when the School returned to its Hammersmith home.

While we did not share the same scholastic syllabus completely, we became life-long friends. Rex possessed a natural ability to master foreign languages, and this was to stand him in good stead.

After National Service his career was to be spent with BP to the virtual exclusion of all else. He moved into the marketing management and held a series of senior positions overseas; foremost were West Africa and the Gulf area. Following his retirement, he became an active member of the Hampstead & Kilburn Conservative Association, serving as Secretary for a term. He also acted in a similar capacity for the Middle East Association.

Rex and his wife Pauline, who predeceased him, were long term Hampstead residents, where Pauline was active in local affairs. They had one son, Hugo, who now holds a senior position in IT in the City.

Bright as a button, questioning and always imaginative, Rex was a stimulating companion. He was a dear friend and will be sadly missed.

Geoffrey Best, who died on 14 January 2018 aged 89, devotes a whole chapter in his memoirs to his time at St Paul’s, ‘this school of individualists and nonconformity’, where he obtained ‘a good humane education that went well beyond the mere passing of exams’. Switching from Classics after the School Cert year, he acquired the unflagging zeal for history that would bring him academic distinction. Yet he recalls how the School also helped inspire a deep love of the arts – including Art History, which he considered as a possible professional path – that would characterise him for the rest of his life. This was also the time of his only sporting triumph, serving as Secretary of the Fencing Club and competing as finalist in the Public Schools Fencing Championship.

His academic career began in Cambridge. He moved to Edinburgh in 1961, where he became Professor of History in 1966, and to Sussex in 1974 as Professor of History and later Dean of the School of European Studies. From 1988 to 2005 he was a Senior Associate Member of St Antony’s College, Oxford.

He was elected an Emeritus Fellow of the British Academy in 2003.

He achieved distinction in more than one field of study. The first was British Social and Religious History: Mid-Victorian Britain (1970) is still in print. The second was War and Society, his major works being Humanity in Warfare (1980) and War and Law since 1945 (1994), for which he was awarded the Reuter Prize by the International Committee of the Red Cross. In later life he was best known for his work on Winston Churchill: his 2001 biography Churchill: A Study in Greatness, for which the International Churchill Society gave him the Emery Reves Award, followed in 2005 by Churchill and War. He is survived by his wife Marigold, his three children, Simon, Edward and Rosamund, and five grandchildren.

Tony Shadforth (1945-50), friend

Readers will be sorry to learn that L A (Tony) Retallack, who taught Modern Languages at St Paul’s from 1952-1986, died on February 22nd at the age of 95. An obituary will appear in the autumn edition of The Pauline.

Correction In the October 2017 edition of The Pauline the credit for Derek Charman’s (1935-41) obituary should have read ‘Jill Charman, widow’, not ‘Jill Charman, niece’ as it appeared. Our apologies for this error.

Dr Edward Best, son

opclub.stpaulsschool.org.uk l 020 8746 5390

Prof Alan D E Cameron (1951-56) **

Dr Thomas C Dann (1945-51)

Derek B Davis (1941-43)

Alan Cameron died last July in New York aged 79, of pneumonia following an operation. Two years ago, he was active as ever, but a year later he was diagnosed with MND. He was one of the most distinguished classical scholars of today, the author of 10 books and many articles, always original and discussing important topics. His work covered a strikingly wide range, both Greek and Latin, literary and historical, from the third century BCE till the fifth CE, all taken very seriously by specialists in many different subject-areas.

Among many honours, he was elected Fellow of the British Academy in 1975 and won their Kenyon Medal in 2013.

After his time at St Paul’s, he read Greats at New College, Oxford, getting a double first and (uniquely) a Lectureship at Glasgow University before he even had a degree. He also skipped the normal PhD and went straight into producing his first book in 1970. He worked in London University from 1964 to 1977, becoming Professor of Latin at King’s College London, at 36. In these years he was married to a fellow scholar, Averil Dees (now Professor Dame Averil Cameron) with whom he had two children Daniel (another Old Pauline) and Sophie, whose baby son Silas he was just able to meet last year. This marriage broke up and in 1977 Alan took the Latin Chair at Columbia University, New York, where he lived from that time on, productive as ever.

Alan was a paradox: to meet, he was the most relaxed and friendly of men, with catholic tastes, including baseball, opera at the Met and romantic movies, and ready for any new experience; but in his publications, he was seriously combative – destroying misguided arguments with relish and fiercely rebutting critics of his works. His last years were much enriched and supported by his wife since 1998, Carla Asher, who survives him.

Thomas Dann was born on 8 May, 1932 and was brought up in North London, the only child of a doctor and a poet.

Unhappily evacuated to Ebrington in the Second World War, he was pleased to return to London and to attend The Hall School, Hampstead, from where he won a Foundation Scholarship to St Paul’s, a school for which he held a life long affection and pride.

Always wanting to be a doctor since the age of eight, he went on to read medicine at Jesus College, Cambridge. He moved from there to University College Hospital, London, for his clinical training, where he met his wife, Jean.

After a brief spell as a GP, taking over his father’s practice, he went on to specialise in student health medicine, combining his life long passions for medicine and education, with his interest in the health and wellbeing of young people.

He was appointed Chief Medical Officer at University College, Swansea, where he stayed for a decade between 1962 and 1972, gaining his MD in 1963, with a dissertation on ‘The Interrelation of Health and Schooling in School Children’. He then moved to Warwick University to fulfil the same role from 1972, until he took early retirement in 1988.

He went on to work in aviation medicine, having trained in this field in the late 1970s, and continued with his aviation practice until his retirement in 2002.

He enjoyed writing and corresponded regularly with medical journals and The Times. He undertook research into the health and wellbeing of adolescents and university students and he won the Hunterian Society Gold Medal twice, in 1970 and in 1974.

His life-long passions, alongside medicine and education, were music and the arts. He played tennis and cycled into his 80s.

Thomas married Jean, whom he loved dearly, in 1958. They had two children and five grandchildren.

Derek was born in London. He attended Colet Court and then St Paul’s. Derek always enthused about life at School.

He frequently reminisced about playing cricket for both schools, pointing out venues where he used play whenever the opportunity arose. He was also a keen boxer. He excelled academically. He volunteered to join the army in 1944, having been in the CCF at School. He was stationed in England and spent much time driving large vehicles. He then obtained qualifications as a surveyor.

Whilst joining forces with his father, the late Nathan Davis, as property developers, he met Doris and married her in November 1950. They had two children; Terence, who qualified as a valuer in 1972 and emigrated to Australia with his wife, Sue, and two daughters in 1983; and Andrew who has practised as a solicitor for 40 years and whose wife, Alison, and two daughters and son completed the family which was at the heart of Derek’s life and thoughts.

During Derek’s distinguished career, he was responsible for many successful developments. In latter years, after his father had passed away, he undertook numerous valuations for prestigious building societies. Derek retired in the mid-1990s and carried on his sporting interests, as a lifetime supporter of Arsenal and as a member of the MCC enjoying many days at Lords with Doris. Sadly, Doris passed away in July 2011 and at about this time he developed Alzheimer’s and the latter years of his life were spoilt by its terrible effects. All his family deeply mourn and miss him. He was able to see his great-granddaughter and was alive for the birth of his great-grandson, who would both have enjoyed his love and frivolity, as did his grandchildren. He would want to be remembered for his affection for his family and his time at School.

John North, friend

Elizabeth McMeikan, daughter

Andrew Davis, son

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018 29

Obituaries A H B (Bernard) Dunstan (1934-39) *

Dr Charles M Eugster (1933-38) *

John A (Tony) Fernandez (1937-41) **

The artist Bernard Dunstan was born in Teddington on 19 January 1920, the younger of two siblings, to Albert, his father, chief chemist at the AngloPersian Oil Company, and his mother Louisa (née Cheaverley).

At St Paul’s, he was taught by Erik Sthyr whom he remembered with affection. In his final year at School he liked to stay out all day painting on the Hammersmith towpath.

In the evening he would attend art classes at Chelsea School of Art. He won a scholarship to the Slade, after spending two terms at the Byam School of Painting and Drawing in Notting Hill. At the Slade, based in Oxford during the war, he acquired tastes for the work of Rembrandt, Turner, Renoir, Sickert, Steer, Bonnard and Vuillard.

During the war, Bernard was rejected for military service on health grounds, so he joined the Royal Observer Corps plotting enemy aircraft.

After the war, he taught at the West of England School of Art in Bristol. He married his fellow Royal Academician, Diana Armfield, in 1949 and they settled in Kew where they remained, each with their own studios. Bernard held teaching posts at four London art schools and was also given residencies in Perth, Australia and in Wyoming, USA. From the early 1950s, Bernard’s paintings were exhibited by the London art dealers Roland, Browse & Delbanco. In the seventies, he moved to Agnew’s and was also represented in the US by the Stremmel Gallery, Reno, in Nevada.

Bernard published several practical books on painting including Learning to Paint (1970) and Painting Methods of the Impressionists (1976), as well as editing an illustrated edition of Ruskin’s Elements of Drawing (1991), and The Paintings of Bernard Dunstan (1993, revised 2006). He was elected RA in 1968, exhibiting annually at the Summer Exhibition and at the New English Art Club. He was director of the New English Academy Gallery (19872006).

He is survived by his wife and two sons; another son predeceased him.

Born in 1919 to Swiss-German parents, Charles Eugster, a former dentist who had served in the Swiss army, died in April last year aged 97. He proved it was possible to get into fantastic shape at an older age and was a record holder in five athletic events in the 95-plus age bracket. Charles was invited to present a talk at TEDx in Zurich in 2012, which he titled “Why bodybuilding at age 93 is a great idea”.

His book, Age is Just a Number, was published last year.

Having shown little interest in his youth, Charles took up rowing, running and bodybuilding at the age of 85, when he was aware of putting on weight. “I was losing muscle mass; my body was deteriorating and I was very vain. I wanted to turn the heads of sexy 70-yearold girls on the beach!” Charles began a gruelling workout regime and became a fitness ambassador for a gym chain five years later.

In 2014, at the age of 95, he turned to sprinting and was a world record-holder in both the M95 indoor 200m, with a time of 54.77, as well as the M95 outdoor 400m, for which he clocked 2:21.46.

Charles also held British records in a number of other events, including the long jump both indoors and outdoors.

In 2008, Charles won the World Strenflex Decathlon Championships in the 80+ category as their oldest contestant. He was also the reigning Strenflex World Champion in the 80+ category and holder of the Van Der Merwe Cup. He also won over 120 rowing events, including 46 masters gold medals, competing three times at the Henley Royal Regatta.

“The secrets of healthy old living are threefold: work, nutrition and exercise in that order. What I hope to achieve is to change the world. Get a new body and start a new life!”

Charles is survived by his two sons, Andre and Christian.

Tony Fernandez was born in London in October 1923, the son of Dr Thomas Fernandez and Eleanor Christian Lilian Fernandez (née Mayo). Growing up in Chiswick, Tony went to St Paul’s in 1937. He was evacuated to Crowthorne in 1939 and billeted in R E D Brown’s house. He cycled the 35 miles from Chiswick to Crowthorne each term, on one occasion being ‘chased’ by a V1 flying bomb.

Tony attended Trinity College, Cambridge from 1941-42, studying engineering and economics, but left before completing his degree to join the Admiralty, where he used his engineering background to work on gunnery control systems for capital ships like HMS Rodney. After the war, Tony finished his degree at UCL, completing a Masters in structural concrete engineering in 1949.

Tony met his wife, June, in 1946 at Honeybourne, a camp for students set up after the war to harvest crops. They married in 1949 – a marriage which lasted 68 years.

From 1949 until the mid-sixties, Tony held various posts: with Richard Costain for whom he helped build the landing stage at Battersea for the 1951 Festival of Britain; the Colonial Office as chief engineer in Port of Spain, and Trinidad; with Alcan as manager of their Lisbon office and later in Oporto. He joined a subsidiary (Jablo) of Monsanto before setting up his own company, Lowkay Engineering. He patented his invention of using polystyrene shuttering for single span bridges.

Tony loved tennis, joining the Hurlingham Club in 1956. On the International Veterans’ Circuit, he won the men’s 75+ singles title at Alassio, and in 2003 he played for the GB Veterans Team in Turkey. He won the Men’s 80+ Doubles title in 2004 and was ranked 24th in his age group in the world.

Tony is survived by his wife June and by his three children Patricia, Paul and Theresa. He has five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He will be missed enormously by all who knew him but especially by his loving family.

30 OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018

Paul Fernandez (1965-70), son

opclub.stpaulsschool.org.uk l 020 8746 5390

Michael Gainsborough (1951-1956)

Dr Andrew V Gillespie

David M Hendtlass

Michael Gainsborough was born in 1938.

From St Paul’s in 1956 he went up on a scholarship to read Physics at Trinity College, Oxford.

He met his wife, Sally, through a Trinity contemporary. They were married in 1962 by her father, the Right Rev John Hunter, Bishop of George, South Africa, in her uncle’s church in South Harting, West Sussex.

Although offered a research post at the Clarendon, he decided to apply for Fast Stream entry to the Administrative Civil Service, and was appointed an Assistant Principal in the Air Ministry. In 1964, the three Service departments were amalgamated with the Ministry of Defence, which led him into posts with all three Services, the MoD Central Staff and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office where he was appointed Defence Counsellor to the UK Delegation to NATO. In 1994, Michael retired from the MoD as an Under Secretary and became the Secretary, and later a Commissioner, of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. It was an interesting appointment because of the need to modernise the Hospital as well as the involvement with the In Pensioners, and also dealing closely with the Royal Horticultural Society over the Chelsea Flower Show.

Retirement in 2001 enabled him to pursue or rekindle his diverse interests, in science, politics, foreign affairs and military history, as well as walking and bird watching near the family cottage in coastal Suffolk.

Michael was a man of integrity in his career and in his friendships. So many friends and colleagues have commented on his being a great source of wise counsel.

He was interesting to talk to and always interested in others.

Michael died peacefully at home with his family on 6 December 2017 and is deeply missed by Sally, their three children, Kate, Martin and Antonia and their nine grandchildren.

After his time at St Paul’s, Andrew Gillespie trained in medicine at Corpus Christi College Cambridge, and the Royal London Hospital.

His interests originally lay in cancer research and he took his young family to America to take up a two year fellowship at the Sloane Kettering Institute in New York. Thereafter his career was mainly spent in the field of Public Health.

His final post before retirement was at Watford Hospital as Senior Community Medical Officer for Environmental and Community Health.

His interests were science, philosophy, the arts and his family. In recent years he was proud to have published one or two papers in the Philosophical Society Review associated with Oxford University Department for Continuing Education.

He was married for 58 years and had two children and four grandchildren.

For those of us who knew him at Colet Court and St Paul’s, David stood out as original. A conventional life was probably never on the cards for him, but I don’t suppose we gave it much thought at the time. I remember him reading Dickens at age 10 and his precocious creativity: drafting novels by the time he was 12 and well ahead of his peers in the art room.

Almost as remarkable was his ability to achieve single-figure percentages in Maths exams, but he didn’t seem to mind.

David’s undoubted talents propelled him through school to Peterhouse, Cambridge. From then on, the unconventional destiny took over.

David, more than anyone else I have met, was committed to Truth. He would stick to his principles, once adopted, with good humour but generally without compromise, arguing the case enthusiastically with anyone in earshot.

If you agreed with him, there was nothing better; if you disagreed, it was best not to hold back the tide. I still don’t really accept the primacy of Francis Bacon in painting, of Alfred the Great in politics, or of Black Narcissus in cinema, but I will miss being corrected at length for my short-sightedness.

Following his conversion at university, he naturally pursued the implications of Christian faith with the same unwavering dedication; in David’s case this led him down the paths of hardship and tough love that were probably responsible for his shortened life. Looking back, it’s hard to say whether adversity was a choice or unintended consequence, but it’s not surprising that he drew profound inspiration from the similarly inclined philosopher Simone Weil. David’s life and love were the brighter for their brevity, and he leaves behind not only his mother, brother, son, fiancée and friends, but also very large numbers of those who live around us without a voice and whose lives he strove to make richer (or at least more informed).

Sally Gainsborough, widow

(1947-52)

Penny Gillespie, widow

(1981-85)

Rob Stewart (1981-85), friend

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018 31

Obituaries John P Horder (1950-55) * Courtesy Camden New Journal

My brother, John Horder, who has died aged 80, was known as the ‘hugging poet’. He was interested in the teachings of the Indian mystic Meher Baba; Baba’s maxim ‘don’t worry, be happy’ became

John’s favourite saying.

His first published collection was The Child Walks Around Its Own Grave (1966), for which he received two Arts Council awards. A selection, A Sense of Being (1968), was published as part of the Phoenix Living Poets series, and, later, Meher Baba and the Nothingness (1981).

His plays included Cakes and Carrots and The African Who Loved Hugging Everybody. He wrote a reinvention of Rumpelstiltskin which I saw him perform; he had a wonderful stage presence.

John was born in Brighton, East Sussex, son of Molly (neé Rourke) and Ernest Horder. Our mother died when we were both young; John was 12 and I was four.

This had a marked effect on the rest of our lives. We grew up in Coulsdon, Surrey, where John attended Downside school.

Our father, a journalist and PR man, then sent John to St Paul’s. I think he wanted to toughen him up, but it didn’t work.

John went on to Selwyn College, Cambridge, to study English. After national service, he spent a brief spell as an assistant press officer to two Archbishops of Canterbury. In the 1960s he moved to West Hampstead, North London, and became established in literary circles there. He became a freelance writer and reviewer for publications including The Guardian, later The Independent and local Hampstead papers.

He interviewed poets including Philip Larkin and Ted Hughes and became friends with Stevie Smith. In 2002, to mark the 100th anniversary of Smith’s birth, he co-edited Stevie: A Motley Selection.

John was an adorable character. He lived for his writing and his work, almost to the exclusion of everything else.

Visiting John’s flat was an event in itself, one had to climb over thousands of books and newspapers to give him a hug.

Caroline Ford, sister

George Kahan (1943-49)

John C P Riddy (1949-53) **

George was born on 11 June 1931, in Hampstead; his parents were Jewish refugees who had fled from Russia to the safety of Britain during the First World War. He went to St Paul’s during the Second World War and fondly remembered the evacuation of the school to Crowthorne.

His younger brother, Richard, followed him to the school during 1948-53.

After St Paul’s he did National Service as an officer in the RAF, then read engineering at Imperial. He then started work in the family business, timber manufacturing. One of his early roles was to manage the company’s forests in West Africa.

On returning to London he met Avril Cooper, a fashion designer, and at the Flanders and Swann revue At the Drop of a Hat they discovered they shared a sense of humour. They married in 1959 and had one son.

George became the Managing Director of the family business, but his passion was politics. In the 1960s and 1970s he stood for parliament at four general elections as a Liberal.

In 1974 he joined the Civil Service.

He was well suited to the work, having a mind that was unusually quick at seeing though a mass of complexity and identifying the essential nub of a problem. He held a variety of posts, including as Director of Finance for the Department of Employment but his final role was the one which he fitted perfectly, as Director of Conciliation and Arbitration for ACAS, resolving public disputes between trade unions and employers.

He and Avril retired to Sussex in 1991 where they lived happily until her death in 2004. In later years George travelled widely around the world and occupied himself in charitable and community work.

George died peacefully on 1 February 2018. On the previous weekend he ate caviar, drank champagne and celebrated a peaceful life. He is survived by his son Adam.

John was a true eccentric of Falstaffian proportion. He made his mark as a bibliophile, a book collector, and built a private library on the 18th and 19th century history of India. At one time his British India collection was the largest of its kind in private hands.

He scoured second-hand bookshops in order to enhance his collection. He later collected 18th century prints of country houses and cartoons by the great satirists.

By profession John became a university administrator. At St Paul’s, Jonathan Miller, Kenneth Baker, Oliver Sacks and Eric Korn were among his brilliant classmates. He won a history scholarship to Hertford College, Oxford, but before going up he joined that select band of gifted linguists who were taught Russian on National Service. With the RAF, he spent most of his service on flying patrols over the North Sea, monitoring and translating transmissions from Russian spy trawlers.

At Hertford, historians Felix Markham and John Armstrong considered John to be the cleverest and most quixotic of their students. After graduating, he went to India and worked for three years as a factor in Bombay.

In 1961, he returned to Oxford University as an assistant registrar. From there in 1965 with his wife, Felicity Maidment, he went to Ahmadu Bello University in Nigeria as a Deputy Registrar, where he suffered the trauma of witnessing the Ibo massacres.

They returned to the UK to take up positions at the new University of Stirling.

As Vacation Lettings Controller, John also taught courses on Commonwealth literature, before retiring early to Yorkshire.

Regrettably, he never published a book on British India but gave lectures and wrote articles on Indian history. He was one of the last in the long tradition of gentleman scholars, learned, eloquent in style and diction, and captivating in the telling of historical anecdotes.

John Charles Philip Riddy was born on 21 June 1934 and died at home on 29 April 2017.

Adam Kahan (1974-79), son

32 OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018

Brian Martin, friend

opclub.stpaulsschool.org.uk l 020 8746 5390

Rev John V Schofield Chaplain (1970-80)

Alan Shotts (1936-40)

John B Thompson CBE (1941-46) *

Appointed by High Master Tom Howarth, my father came to St Paul’s after two years in Kenya where he was Editor of the equivalent of the Church Times for East Africa and from which he had been forced to resign by President Kenyatta for revealing a corrupt government scheme.

Despite having no job to return to and two small children, my parents decided to return to England overland. This combination of courage, moral conviction and adventurous spirit summed him up.

Despite his quiet, Methodist upbringing in Cheltenham, followed by a scholarship to read History at Jesus College, Oxford and then ordination as an Anglican priest, this was not a conventional clergyman. His zest for life and enquiring mind inspired his pupils to do the same and to question received wisdom of all kinds. Assemblies were as likely to include a slide show of photographs from a camping holiday in France, music, poetry or cosmology as readings from scripture. On returning to school one start of term, the senior management were as surprised as the boys to find the rather characterless 1960s chapel transformed by multi-coloured biblical quotations covering the walls.

As well as teaching History and Religious Studies, he coached rowing and passed on his considerable carpentry skills, even setting up a class for his colleagues. He and my mother Paddy were generous hosts and formed enduring friendships. Inspired by Paddy’s nomadic colonial upbringing, my father left St Paul’s to do an exchange with the chaplain of Melbourne Grammar School in Victoria, before spending a year at a rural Anglican school in Western Australia.

His final post was running Friends of the Elderly, a charity with residential homes, after which they retired to their converted barn in rural Dorset. Although widowed only a few years later, he never ceased to pursue his ministry, entertain family and friends and be a force for good in his community.

Alan spent his early years in Brondesbury Park before moving to Ealing.

He attended Colet Court then St Paul’s and was evacuated with the School to Crowthorne. Due to his slight build he made an excellent cox.

He was declared unfit for the army due to asthma but served in the home guard.

He was also a keen scout leader for many years.

Alan went on to study dentistry and then medicine at Guy’s Hospital. There he continued his love of rowing as cox for United Hospitals. It was also there he met his wife Barbara to whom he was married for over 66 years.

They set up home in Ealing from where he worked as a dentist. His hands-on skills, empathy with children, and ability to adopt new skills, made orthodontics a natural progression, and he was responsible for the smiles of thousands of local children.

He was actively involved in many local social and charitable groups including Round Table and Rotary and the local Kidney Machine committee. Later he focused his charitable and social activities on the Masons: The Lodge of Felicity; later the Dalhousie Chapter; and the Old Pauline Lodge to which he welcomed many new members.

Alan was deeply committed to the Jewish community, a leading light at Ealing Liberal Synagogue, where he served as Chairman, and was later appointed life Vice-President.

After retiring at the age of 70, he took up art. He also enjoyed travelling with Barbara, visiting new places and catching up with family abroad. He embraced new technology with his iPad and posted on Facebook aged 95.

He passed away very peacefully at home with his three children by his side on 1 December 2017 following a diagnosis of oesophageal cancer.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara, children, Paul (1966-70), Jeremy (196872) and Rosemary, six grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

John was at St Paul’s during its evacuation to Crowthorne.

He was Captain of School in 1946 and met Field Marshall Montgomery at Apposition that year. He then studied History at Pembroke College, Oxford.

John began his career in journalism at Truth, a political weekly and later edited another political weekly, Time and Tide.

He wrote a column from New York for the Daily Express and on returning to London became its Drama Critic. He was a Newscaster for ITN before joining the Observer as its News Editor and subsequently as Editor of the Observer Magazine. While at the Observer he was a regular broadcaster on news and current affairs topics for BBC radio and television.

He was appointed Director of Radio at the Independent Broadcasting Authority, and led a revolution in broadcasting in Britain. He became known as ‘the father of independent radio’. His aim, enshrined in the Sound Broadcasting Act of 1972 which he helped to shape, was to end the BBC’s monopoly and build a network of local commercial radio stations still bound by the public service ethos. He oversaw the launch first of LBC, then Capital Radio, both in London, then Radio Clyde in Glasgow, BRMB in Birmingham, Piccadilly Radio in Manchester and Radio City in Liverpool, followed by others in major towns and cities throughout the UK. He called it “radio in jeans”.

On retiring from the IBA, John spent a contented few months as a Booker Prize judge. He also edited The Viewer, a magazine sponsored by the independent television companies. He made cameo appearances in several of his son Barnaby’s films including St Trinian’s and An Ideal Husband and indulged his love of opera and travel. He developed a great love for gardening at his home in the Savernake Forest, Wiltshire.

John died on 18 May 2017, aged 89. He is survived by his wife, Sally, his sons, Piers (1972-76) and Barnaby (1974-78), and his daughter, Eliza, who attended St Paul’s Girls’ School.

Charlotte Schofield, daughter

The Shotts family

Barnaby Thompson (1974-78), son

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018 33

Obituaries

Continued

Julian P G Wathen Detail from portrait by Paul Brason

Chair of Governors 1984-85 and 1995-2000 Although Julian was a son, brother and grandfather of OPs, he was himself, curiously, sent to Harrow. He was a Governor of the St Paul’s for 18 years, chairing the Board ex officio in 1984-85 as Master of the Mercers’ Company and again from 1995-2000 as the first permanent Chairman appointed by the Company.

Julian was brought up in the school world as his father was Headmaster of The Hall School, Hampstead. Julian joined the Army straight from Harrow, fought up through Italy where he was wounded, then served in Greece with stints in SOE in Athens and finally as Private Secretary to the Ambassador.

After demobilisation, he joined the overseas arm of Barclays Bank, working mostly in Colonial Africa. He returned to the UK in 1965 to senior roles before retiring in 1984 as Group Vice Chairman.

Arguably the seminal moment of his career came when he was shot through the lower neck at his desk in the Limassol branch by an EOKA gunman, whom he then chased briefly down the street before thinking better of it. His obituary in The Telegraph aptly described him as ‘the doyen of bush bankers’.

As Chair of the Governors, Julian worked closely with the then High Master, Stephen Baldock, who described Julian as a hands-on Chairman, always well-informed, striking the right balance between letting the executive team get on with it while holding them to account with pertinent questions. He had a sharp insight into people and was well aware of developments at the School and of educational trends. He understood the pressures faced by a headmaster, the dynamics of a staff Common Room and the expectations of parents.

As a mark of the School’s gratitude for his significant work as Chairman, the new Music School, built in 2000 and widely regarded as a first-rate concert hall, was named the Wathen Hall.

In 1948 he married Priscilla who died a few months before he did. He is survived by a son and two daughters.

Old Pauline Sports OPFC

St Paul’s Leavers’ Match School rugby creates its own special bonds and playing in a team with your mates from the same year group is for many one of the highlights of their time at St Paul’s. Each year a team of SPS Leavers, many of whom will have played together throughout their time at the School, plays against a team from the previous year under the captaincy of last year’s School rugby captain. The match provides a last opportunity for the St Paul’s year group team to play together in SPS colours, as well as giving a chance for the previous year’s team to come together again.

In 2017 it was decided to make more of an event of this annual match, so parents and friends of both teams were officially invited, along with School staff and members of the Old Pauline Football Club, the official name of the rugby club for Old Paulines. (The club was founded in 1871, the same year as the RFU – of which St Paul’s School is a founder member – and predates the existence of the Old Pauline Club itself).

Lunch was laid on and the day provided a great opportunity for the whole Pauline rugby community to come together at the impressive Old Pauline ground in Thames Ditton. We were delighted that over 80 parents, friends, Old Paulines and St Paul’s staff were able to come along and enjoy the day.

At first the School team’s superior organisation and, dare I say, fitness, led to a period of initial pressure and two early tries were scored, the first impressively converted by Max Hart.

Gradually the Old Boys’ team, with

Simon Wathen, son

34 OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018

skipper Gregor Lockhart-Smith to the fore, came back into the game and some skilful rugby was played by both teams.

Half time came with the score at 19-0 to St Paul’s and the Old Boys looking to find a way back into the game.

What followed was very impressive as the Old Boys came back strongly, with fly-half Tom Eterovic orchestrating a series of attacks. The School defence held firm, but had no answer to an extraordinary try scored by the Old Boys from a move they had (allegedly) been planning and practising. From set-piece possession the ball was placed on the ground as if for a kick at goal and, as the defence hesitated wondering what was going on, a perfectly weighted and directed crossfield kick landed in the arms of Arun Veniek who scored the try.

Encouraged by the success, the Old Boys pressed hard to get back into the game which became increasingly open as gaps appeared. But defences held firm and the match ended 26-5 to the School team.

It was a hugely enjoyable occasion for players and spectators. Back in the club house OPC President Rob Smith thanked all those involved and drew attention to the excellent facilities at Colets which are available to all Old Paulines. Nick Carr, past OPC President and a former Chairman of OPFC, presented a Man of the Match Award to Jasper Green and everyone enjoyed the hospitality laid on by the Rugby Club.

It is hoped to build on the success of the 2017 event and establish the ‘Leavers’ Match’ firmly in the School rugby calendar. Thanks are due to James

opclub.stpaulsschool.org.uk l 020 8746 5390

Photographs by Peter King

Blurton for bringing such an enthusiastic and skilful School team; to Gregor Lockhart-Smith for organising the Old Boys team so diligently; and to all those at OPFC, notably Brian Jones, John Ellis and John Howard, who helped to manage the day.

We hope to see many of the guys who played on 16 December in the St Paul’s team which is entered into the National

The OPFC needs you!

T

his season has been a mirror of the last few in many ways with great on and off the field club spirit unfortunately not matched by the results for the 1st XV. Although it should be noted that the 2nd XV and Vets have enjoyed very strong seasons and the 2nd XV are still in contention to make their end of season play offs.

Before going into more detail about the season the simple fact is that adult men’s rugby is broadly struggling for player numbers and the OPFC has felt this keenly. Under our new Co-Chairs, Hans Michels and Andrew Riley (who will be formally appointed at the June AGM), and with the support of the clubs General Committee, a lot of analysis has been done on the playing data. One of the things this shows is that in the last 10 years there has been a steep drop in the number of Old Paulines joining the club.

So the club has a simple message for the Old Pauline community. Whether you fancy playing competitive rugby every week with excellent coaching or just want play the occasional game with your friends, the OPFC is the club for you. We have incredible facilities,

Under 21 Rugby Festival at Richmond on August Bank Holiday Monday. Those eligible for the team comprise anyone who left St Paul’s in 2016, 2017 or 2018.

The festival, which was founded 21 years ago by Old Pauline Tim Cunis (195560), provides an excellent opportunity to recapture the enjoyment of playing rugby with School friends in a competitive environment. medical support and a thriving social scene which culminates in an annual tour (this year 40 of the club are heading to Berlin for the 3-day tour). If you are interested in getting involved next year then pre-season starts with touch rugby on Clapham Common from midsummer. To get all the information you need please just email 1st XV captain Tom Roberts: Thomas.Roberts@kantarworldpanel.com

Whether you fancy playing competitive rugby every week with excellent coaching or just want play the occasional game with your friends, the OPFC is the club for you.

In terms of the season at the time of writing, the 1st XV have won two games which is a meagre return for all of the effort that has gone in from captain Tom Roberts and coach Shane Rutherford.

What the results don’t show is the five losses by 7 points or less which have

Teams:

SPS Leavers: Oliver Hill, Ben Smith, Raef Jackson, Fergal Walter, Andrei Williams, Max Hart, Freddie Turley (capt); Constantin Gardey, Remy Arnaud, Harry Strauss, Sam Attfield, Will McGowan, Jon Kim, Jasper Green, Christian Smith, Charlie Howard, Mark Sapper, Patrick Elway Old Paulines Under 19 XV:

Will Saunter, Tom Barnes, Louis Pincott, Aran Veniek, Oladotun Saliu, Tom Eterovic, Louis Richards, Max Marshall, Gregor Lockhart Smith (capt), Jay Atherton, Rob Swift, Eklayva Sharma, Ben Ridley, Oliver Simpson, Carlo Chiesa

ultimately really cost the team in terms of league position. With just two games to go it is still possible for the 1st XV to avoid relegation, so our focus is on trying to finish the season on a high.

Under the leadership of Scott Clee, the 2nd XV have had a memorable season winning many matches by a comfortable margin. They are right in the mix for the end of season play offs which would be just reward for a number of key players who have turned out week in week out for the 2s.

The Vets have had a frustrating season with a combination of weather, opposition cancellations and availability conspiring to limit the number of games played. However there have been some fantastic wins against Old Cranleighians, Esher and Cobham and there is no doubt how competitive the Vets team is when at full strength.

Lastly, our thoughts are turning to next season with plans for a rugby festival at Thames Ditton in early September. Keep an eye on the OPFC website for further information and do get in touch if you want to find out more about how you can get involved in the club.

l For more information: www.opfc.org.uk

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018 35

Most weekends throughout the year will see a full programme of sport at Colets; exciting viewing for spectators, either from the warm comfort of the bar or the extensive outdoor balcony.

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opclub.stpaulsschool.org.uk l 020 8746 5390

OLD PAULINE ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL CLUB

Adapting to demand

I

t has been a challenging season for Old Pauline AFC, with a number of new players added to the squad in response to increasingly inconsistent availability.

With the end of season in sight, the Club will reflect on the positives whilst it adapts to current demand for Saturday football.

The 1st XI hold their destiny in their own hands, with three games to play to secure their place in Senior Division 2 South. Captain Mark Dunkley has done a great job to remain competitive in a strong league, despite a number of good performances yielding little or no luck!

The 2nd XI has established itself in Division 1 South, with a number of good performances under captain Dan Khan.

Victories in the final two games would leave them with an outside chance of automatic promotion.

Life has been tough for the 3rd XI, struggling to find regular availability in a league where the standard demands

consistency. Particular mention to Club Secretary Jack Wellby, who has worked tirelessly to assemble squads from week to week.

The 4th XI has enjoyed a creditable start to life after promotion, at one stage in the hunt for further elevation under captain James Gosling.

Inconsistent availability further up the Club has impacted momentum, but leaves the 4s well placed to build on recent success next season.

Worthy mention to Fixture Secretary Mike Kiernan, who has juggled a number of last minute fixture changes with seemingly effortless ease.

Old Pauline AFC would love to have School leavers, plus those who are about

v Old Thorntonians at Colets

to graduate / have recently graduated, get involved. We boast arguably the best facilities in Surrey and play with an ethos that has earned the Spirit of Football award for the fifth time in eleven seasons. The Club exists for Paulines of all ages – come and be a part of it! l Contact: nicholas.troen@gmail.com

OLD PAULINE CRICKET CLUB

Tour to Cape Town

2018 was set to be a very exciting year for OPCC, as they embarked on their first tour to foreign land in over a decade – Cape Town beckoned! A 10-day trip was selflessly organised by OP Rich Hay, which started on 30 March, with four matches organised on magnificent grounds. Following this, there were a few pre-season matches, including a much-anticipated show down with the School before the season kicked off for real on 5 May. The Club is looking to build on a hugely successful 2017. Chris Berkett led the 1st XI in a far more successful season as they gained promotion to the Championship.

A new nucleus of players, most of whom represented the School at 1st XI level, was central to this success, and the Club finds itself in a really healthy position, with the likes of Ollie Ratnatunga, Jamie Bomford, Rich Hay and Yad Selvakumar joining the ranks as regular performers to go along with the skipper and Vice-Captain, Joe Harris, who have been regulars for several years now.

Big things are on their way in the coming years if the team is able to

Last year's Fuller's Premiership champions

continue to put together such complete team performances as they did last year.

George Waugh did a fantastic job in his first year as 2nd XI captain, as the 2s narrowly missed out on promotion for the 2nd year running. A healthy club certainly means a healthy 2nd XI, and there can be no doubt that the 2s have further promotions in their sites over the coming seasons.

Jamie Lyons continues to run an enjoyable and fun Sunday XI for those looking for some extra middle time or a gentler run out. Jamie’s team also contests the annual ‘Kempton Cup’, a self-pouring teapot, against local rivals Kempton CC. Last year resulted in Kempton coming out victors in a post-season 20/20; this year will see both clubs fight it out in the league

on Saturday, home and away, as well as the Sunday cup.

OPCC headquarters is based in Thames Ditton at Colet’s sports ground – a two-minute walk from Thames Ditton Station which in turn is only 20 minutes from Clapham Junction. The club boasts excellent facilities, including a bar, gym, swimming pool and squash courts as well as the sports fields, providing several activities for friends and families alike.

This year will be the first full season with the excellent new club house with its extended balcony to cheer on the local side and enjoy the afternoon. l If you would like to get involved at any level, be it cricketer or umpire, please contact club captain Chris Berkett on berkettc@gmail.com or facebook.

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018 37

Sport OLD PAULINE GOLFING SOCIETY

A Blast From The Past

I

n September 2017, we repeated our two-night stay, this time at The Wiltshire, which was greatly enjoyed by the Members who played, although it was wet under foot due to the exceptional rain they had had in August and September. We were very well looked after and we will be there again this September.

14 members attended our half day winter Meeting at West Hill in November. Toby Bain had the best score with 37 points to win the Pat Humphreys Salver. Nick Downing had the best gross score on the day to win the Downing Salver and John Cooper won the Kayton Cup for the best score from a player 70 years old and over. The golf was followed by the usual excellent lunch!

Our AGM and dinner were held at the Royal Mid Surrey Golf Club with 25 members present, with 9 members sending in apologies. Hugh Garnham was elected as Captain for 2018 with Jon Morgan as Vice-Captain. We were joined for dinner

by Graham Seel (Master i/c Golf), and Hyun Mo Yang (SPS Captain of Golf) and John Richardson (SPS Golf). After dinner the outgoing Captain, Ian Starr, made an entertaining speech and presented Nick Downing with the Jubilee Salver for the best aggregate points score in our Spring, Summer and Autumn Meetings and also the Cunis Claret Jug for the best aggregate points score in the Spring and Autumn Meetings. Nick retained these trophies he

played at Betchworth Park Golf Club near Dorking. Our Summer Meeting will be at Hayling, the Autumn Meeting and Captain’s Day will be played at Royal Wimbledon and our Winter Meeting will be at West Hill.

Together with our eleven matches, we again have a very active year ahead of us!

In our first match of 2018, we lost 2-4 to The School at Royal Mid Surrey Golf Club.

In the Halford Hewitt at Royal St George’s on Thursday 5th April, we played Chigwell in the 1st round and won 3-2. In the 2nd round we came up against a very strong Ampleforth side who beat us ½-4½ and they then went on to only lose in the final to Winchester.

Our team was Hugh Roberts, Robin Young, Tito Bastianello, Freddie Bastianello, Charlie Prior, Robbie Parker, Chris Cullen, Jamie McFarlane, Max Rose and Nick Cardoza.

COUNTY HONOURS Charlie Prior tees off at the Halford Hewitt

won last year, an excellent achievement!

The Bewshar Bowl for the knockout competition was won by Toby Bain.

In our friendly matches for the rest of 2017, we lost against Fulwell and Old Amplefordians, halved with Old Cholmeleians and had wins against OMTs, Old Haileyburians and Old Uppinghamians.

Our Spring Meeting this year will again be

OLD PAULINE Vs

Dominant at Open Tournaments

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he sole club competition so far this season failed to feature an Old Pauline team, bringing to an end a 7-year stretch holding the Owers Trophy. Nevertheless, OPs have continued to dominate at open tournaments, with seven of the top 10 ranked singles players currently.

Right at the top, two OPs have swept the board in singles success. Out of the eight open tournaments contested so far this season, Dan Tristao has won six, including his third National Singles title, with the other two going to Ed Kay. Ed also picked up his third successive singles victory in November’s student championships, partnering Matt Shaw to success in the doubles, and both feats were repeated three months later at the U25s championships. In doubles, five of the six open tournaments have featured at least one OP winner, with further success coming in the President’s Cup, in which James Tilston picked up his second title in as many attempts.

Our regular club sessions on Thursday nights have been well-attended, and we encourage players of all standards to get involved. l oprugbyfives.wordpress.com

38 OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018

Congratulations to Robbie Lyon (handicap 2) on being selected for the Middlesex scratch side.

Commiserations to Chris Vallender (handicap 7) who has ‘retired’ from the Middlesex Seniors side after 9 years representing the county! l We would welcome new members and details of our activities can be obtained from Neil Fitch on 02392 715232 or n.fitch@ntlworld.com

Dan Tristao – victorious in six open tournaments this season which includes his third National Singles title

Diary Dates 2018 Old Pauline Club and School Events MAY

Wed 23-25 May Drama: The Man Who Was Thursday Time: 19:30 Venue: Samuel Pepys Theatre

Fri 8 Jun 2018 25 Year Reunion Time: 18:30 Venue: St Paul’s School

Tue 9 Jun 2018 Old Pauline Golf Society Alba Trophy Friday 25 May Venue: Woking Rowing: National Schools’ Regatta (Dorney Lake) (until Sunday 27 May) Wed 13 Jun 2018 Venue: Eton Dorney Old Pauline Club Annual Dinner Tue 29 May 2018 and AGM Old Pauline Golf Society v Old Time: 18:30 Uppinghamians Venue: St Paul’s School - Dining Hall Time: 8.00 Venue: Denham Thu 14 Jun 2018 Old Pauline Lodge Meeting Time: 17:00 JUNE Venue: St Paul’s School Fri 1 Jun 2018 40 Year Reunion Fri 15 Jun 2018 Time: 18:30 10 Year Reunion Venue: St Paul’s School Time: 19:00 Venue: St Paul’s School Tue 5 Jun 2018 Old Pauline Golf Society v KCS Old Sat 16 Jun 2018 Boys The Millenium Sundial: 18 Years On Time: 14:00 Venue: Royal Wimbledon Golf Club Time: 14:00 Venue: St Paul’s School Tue 5 Jun 2018 Tue 19 Jun 2018 Old Pauline Golf Society Putting New York Wine Tasting Competition Time: 18:30 Time: 17:30 Venue: Royal Wimbledon Golf Club Venue: Cornelia Street Café Thu 7 Jun 2018 Handel & Hendrix: The aria to the wah-wah Time: 18:30 Venue: Handel & Hendrix in London

Tue 19 Jun 2018 Athens Summer Gathering Time: 20:00 Venue: Balux Café

Shop for OPC Merchandise Online

Thurs 21 – Sat 23 Jun 2018 Old Pauline Golf Society - Cyril Gray Tournament Venue: Royal Ashdown Forest Sun 24 Jun 2018 Old Pauline Golf Society v Old Amplefordians Time: 18:30 Venue: Wathen Hall Sun 24 Jun 2018 Music: Old Paulines and Leavers’ Concert Time: 18:30 Venue: Wathen Hall Thu 28 Jun 2018 Leavers’ Ceremony Time: 17:00 Venue: St Paul’s School - Sports Hall Fri 29 Jun 2018 Cricket: v MCC 1st XI (H) Time: 11:30 Venue: St Paul’s School

JULY

Mon 2 Jul 2018 Cricket: Festival (until Weds 4 July) Venue: St Paul’s School Thu 5 Jul 2018 Old Pauline Golf Society v Mercers’ Company Time: 08:30 Venue: New Zealand Golf Club

Sat 7 Jul 2018 Henley Royal Regatta Drinks Reception Time: 14:00 Venue: St Paul’s Tent, Henley-on-Thames Tues 10 July 2018 Old Pauline Golf Society Summer Meeting Venue: Hayling Fri 13 Jul 2018 Old Pauline Golf Society v Old Lawrentians Time: 14:30 Venue: Walton Heath Golf Club Wed 18 Jul 2018 Old Pauline Golf Society v Old Westminsters Time: 14:00 Venue: Fulwell Tue 24 Jul 2018 Old Pauline Golf Society Summer Meeting Time: 08:45 Venue: St Paul’s School

SAVE THE DATE

Mon 28 January 2019 Feast Service at St Paul’s Cathedral and Mercers’ Hall

Order your Summer (top) or regular OP blazers

Choose, order and pay for your items online.

Try it now!

Go to opclub.stpaulsschool.org. uk/shop/merchandise

Merchandise

OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018 39

Past Times 100 years ago (1918)

From the Front, February 1918 We have received the details of a gallant action by Lieutenant G W De St Legier (1911-14). In an attack his objective was Somme Farm redoubt, or ‘pill-box’.

Following our barrage, when the smoke lifted, he saw a Hun peeping round the redoubt, and he determined to rush through the barrage and surprise the enemy, telling his platoon to follow.

De St Legier, who was dressed as a ‘Tommy’, bayoneted an officer at the entrance and shot the six machine gunners who were working two guns. He immediately set about fortifying the place, ran about the battlefield, and got together 11 Lewis guns from wounded and killed gunners.

Meanwhile, he rendered first aid to many wounded men, there being no stretcherbearers available. At dusk the enemy sent over a bombing party, which was completely destroyed. Later the Huns put up a barrage, and made a counter-attack with about 1,200 men, but the Lewis gun fire decimated them. A tank supplied De St Legier with five drums of ammunition.

After holding his post for 48 hours he was relieved by his brigade, who had no idea of his exploit, and regarded him as missing. His runners had been killed on the way back. He was cheered on his return to his battalion, and was recommended for the VC. Our line was thus permanently advanced several hundred yards.

Crossword

50 years ago (1968)

Extract from High Master, Thomas Howarth's 1968 Apposition speech I hope if I don’t say much about this historic building which we are about to leave that you won’t thereby conclude that I am in any way insensitive to the significance of that particular aspect of this occasion. It is just that I am acutely aware that there are so many of you in front of me who have known and loved it as man and boy, whereas I have known it only six years, that is to say just beyond the life span of a single generation of boys.

Whatever may be the sad destiny of Waterhouse’s great fabric I do not myself think that the school in other respects is falling to pieces.

20 Years ago (1998)

Music overview It has been especially gladdening to see the growth of the half-hour lunchtime recitals: attendance has gradually increased as staff and boys alike have come to see the value of this weekly musical oasis. The main mid-term concerts have presented a broad cross-section of school ensembles; Stephen Thomson's inexhaustible supply of baroque and classical chamber music continues to delight and educate, Chorale and Concert Band flourish under Peter Gritton's imaginative leadership, and Robin Wedderburn works tirelessly to ensure that string players of all

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10 years ago (2008)

The Crucifer of Blood …the actors handled the quick shifts in tone with ease.This was no more apparent than in William Naameh's Sherlock Holmes. William is a natural comic actor blessed with more comic timing than should be allowed in someone so young.

Holmes is described as being 'positively inhuman at times; an 'automaton: remaining aloof and detached from the crimes that unfold before him; William, unsurprisingly, was perfect at capturing this enigmatic quality. In Giovanni's version Holmes is a 'coke-head' who mainlines the white stuff while reclining nonchalantly on his chaise longue, firing out witticisms to anyone who fancies a glimpse at the great mind in action.

Find Your Bearings

By Lorie Church (1992-97)

Lorie studied Classics at Exeter. He has had various articles and puzzles published in The Times and elsewhere. Contact: lorie@journalist.com 1

standards are catered for in both chamber and orchestral music. In the Summer Concert he relinquished his baton to Robin Ticciati and Leo McFall, who repaid his confidence by their assured conducting of a movement each from Parry's 'Lady Radnor's Suite'.

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Clues

Across 3 Produce cage rampage: it's a knockout (4-2-5) 7 One weeps at Desdemona's sad song (6) 8 Fat chance dear former pupil gets put in this corner (2-4) 9 Goddess of the labyrinth distributes denaria (7) 11 A sell-out for Seashell seller (3) 12 Vagabond didn't get round to ring cooker (3) 14 Man is one (yes and no) but Society are many (7) 16 Drawback crossing green light on Mars maybe (3-3) 17 Professional copier to copy another boy's work in this corner (6) 18 Classic car shown by cat on fourth reincarnation? (1-4, 6)

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1 Central parts in clue that is a shambles (6) 2 Anna chose select Mexican dish (6) 3 China operas translated in a manner of speaking (4, 1, 6) 4 Drops early in middle of spadework (3) 5 Courteous chap upset Lee (7) 6 Shot boozer in coffee shop (8, 3) 10 Headwind leeward has taken Peter out (7) 13 Wetlands honeybee centre introduced for too many strokes (of course) (6) 15 Ensure recovery for Old man of the sea (6) 17 Form of Madness in Slovakia (3)

Answers will be published in the eNews bulletin.

40 OLD PAULINE NEWS SPRING/SUMMER 2018

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