21 minute read
Old Peterite News
from Oct 1995
by StPetersYork
NEWS OF SOME OLD PETERITES
/. F. Blackburn (1936-46: Temple)
John has been living in Thailand but is now hoping to return to York, according to a cutting in the Yorkshire Evening Press in September last year.
P. C. Bagshaw (1976-86: School)
Paul went to Durham University and gained a B.Sc.(Hons.) followed by an M.Sc. in 1990. He then went to Edinburgh University and gained a Ph.D. in Science and Engineering. He is at present working on research for French Telecom in Lannion, North Brittany. From April to July this year he will be at the University of Sydney, Australia, then returns to France.
E. G. Brown (1943-48: The Rise)
From Napier, New Zealand, Gordon sends his kind regards to all OPs who remember him. He was assistant General Manager for the N.Z. Wool Testing Authority, and for the last six years has run a Motel until he retired.
James Burdass (1977-85: The Rise) Karen Clarkson (1983-85: Queen's)
In August 1994 another Old Peterite wedding was celebrated when James and Karen were married in the School Chapel.
James was the Head of School 1984-85 and is a member of the OP General Committee.
We wish them many happy years together.
K. G. Chilman (1912-17: School) and his wife, Connie
have celebrated their seventieth Wedding Anniversary on 26th August 1995.
The Old Peterite Club congratulates them and sends our hearty good wishes to them both.
Daniel Crane (1982-87: The Grove)
Daniel married Diane Isherwood of Grimsby on 15th October 1994. Since taking a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Industrial Food Technology at the University of Humberside, Daniel has worked in the Research Department of Ross Youngs in Grimsby.
Dr. F. J. Gibson (1938-50: The Manor)
John is currently working with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Government of Canada in St. John's, Newfoundland. He is now a well-known authority on salmon and trout, on which he has published extensively.
He is an adjunct professor at the Memorial University of Newfoundland and frequently lectures at conferences around the world.
C. G. Gilman (1975-85: The Grove)
Chris has, on 3rd June 1995, married Denise Meeham. They have just returned from their honeymoon in California.
We wish them every happiness in their nsw life together.
Clive Lewis (1949-55: The Rise) has completed his first
term of office as President of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in July 1994. He is Chairman of one of the country's largest firms of Chartered Surveyors, Erdman Lewis. He is also Chairman of the Merseyside Development Corporation, a Non-executive Director of St. Modwen Properties Pic and Town Securities Pic and President of the Land Aid Charitable Trust. He has recently been appointed as Chairman of the Property Forum run by the Bank of England, being the first nonBank of England Director to hold that post.
M. R. O'Sullivan (1980-87: The Grove)
Mark, who lives in Haxby, York, and Miss Mandy Gray, of Huntingdon Road, York, were married at St. Wilfrid's Church in August 1994.
We wish them a long and happy life together.
M. J. Glen (1972-77: School)
John has been appointed to the Headship of St. Petroc's School, Bude, Cornwall, a co-ed boarding Prep School.
He has been married for four years and has two children. He would be glad to hear from contemporaries.
E. C. Sedman (1951-56: Temple)
Ted Sedman says he thought we might like to know that he has the longest moustache in the U.K. It was measured at the 1994 meeting of the Handlebar Club as having a span of 63" or 1.6 metres. A picture of his 'handlebar' moustache was taken with Ted alongside his trusty bicycle. It appeared in a newspaper and publicised his 250 mile sponsored ride from St. Alban's to Amsterdam on his 52 inch penny-farthing bicycle, made in 1880.
All done for charity.
Mike Shipley (1976-80: Dronfield)
Mike is the Managing Director of Asian Law Journal, a division of the Longman group. After leaving school he took an LL.B. at London University. He married Claire in 1992.
He would be interested to hear from any OPs via GPO Box 9527, Central, Hong Kong.
He also adds that they are always recruiting staff for editing, sales and conference organising, so would be glad to hear from OPs looking for a career in any of those fields.
Howard K Trundell (1947-49: The Grove)
Howard wrote to us in March to let us have his latest address. In thirty-eight years of married life he has moved house nine times, and never let us know! Four children and three grandchildren later, he has decided that he would like to get in touch with the school again. He has recently worked as a financial adviser for Allied Dunbar, after having been with British Rail and before that with Durham Steel and Iron Co.
R. D. Venable (1978-83: Dronfield)
In August 1994 he wrote that he is now married to Teresa, has a son, Zakarie (born 7.10.92) and has been working ir two Southampton schools as a teacher of mathematics for the last six years. He is an active member of the local evangelical church.
Robin Walker (1967-71: Queen's)
Composer Robin Walker has produced a book entitled 'A Book of Song and Dance'.
This was performed for the first time in the Transept of York Minster in September of 1994.
The Revd. T. C. Willis (1944-49: School)
Tom Willis was accorded a spread in the Daily Telegraph on the 20th February 1995. He has, for about thirty years, been the official adviser in this Diocese on the subject of occult disturbances. He was running a course at Wyedale House, near Scarborough, to share with other clergy some of his experiences of such matters.
IN MEMORIAM
/ should, as usual, just point out that we can only print information which we have received. We may not, therefore, do justice to some and would like to apologise to anyone whose friend or family is concerned — Secretary of the Old Peterite Club
J. F. W. Addey (1946-48: The Manor)
John died on 10th September 1994. Many of us who were in The Manor in those days will remember him as a very lively person who lived life to the full. He was in the 1st XI for hockey and took a leading role in several school plays. He later came to be one of the City of London's most influential public relations advisers. His death was reported with a full obituary in the leading newspaper;; of the day.
S. H. Beetham (1936-41: The Rise)
Stanley died on 23rd August 1994. After leaving school he went into the R.A.F. He always spoke of St. Peter's with affection and would have liked to attend some of the OP lunctions. Unfortunately, his health had been deteriorating for some time, and he was not able to be with us. We are grateful to his wife, Jennifer, for getting in touch with us, and we extend our sympathy to her at her loss.
/. Biggin (1930-34: School)
At school J. Anthony Biggin played for the 1st XV and in 1934 was in the Public Schools' Boys Trial. He also obtained his rowing colours and played squash.
J. P. Blake (1943-47: The Rise)
Peter died on 10th March 1995, after a short illness. He was a chartered accountant in Mirfield, and a member of the Old Peterite Lodge.
R. T. Clark (1944-53: Temple)
Richard Thompson Clark died on 29th April 1995, aged 60. His funeral took place in Sheffield on 4th May.
A. J. Collier (1920-24: The Rise)
Albert died on 23rd December 1994. He had been in ill health for some time. He was a member of the Old Peterite Lodge, at which until his illness he was a regular attender. He was a quiet man but had a nice sense of humour. His wife writes, "He missed the Old Peterite Club functions deeply when his illness prevented him from attending. I know that he would like me to give his kind remembrances to those who were his friends in the OP Club."
We would like to express our sympathy to his wife, Brenda, at her loss.
M. I. Daniel (1942-50: The Manor)
Ian died on 21st November 1994, having fought a tenyear battle with cancer. He was an architect, and spent many years in Nassau. After the earthquake in Florida, he spent some time restoring churches there. He returned to Fleetwood, where, just one year before he died, he married his wife, Pat, whom he had met in America.
We extend to her our sympathy at her loss after such a short marriage.
N. J. S. Green (1943-46: Temple)
Neville Joseph Simon Green (I seem to remember we called him Neville at school), died on 26th February 1995 at Queen's Lodge Nursing Home in Harrogate. His funeral was on 2nd March in Harrogate. We extend our sympathy to his wife, Sylvia, and to his family.
J. T. Harding (1933-38: School)
John died peacefully at home on the night of Monday, 17th July. He had enjoyed a good game of golf, retired happily to bed and died in his sleep. A quiet and dignified end for a quiet and dignified man. He was one of the most faithful attenders at all OP and school functions and was always kindly and measured in his remarks about people and events. He was very appreciative of work done and always had a word of encouragement for those who did it. John will be sadly missed, and we send our sincere condolences to his family.
R. H. Harwood (1920-31: Temple)
Richard died on 4th October 1994, aged 84. His wife informed us of his death, and we express to her our sympathy at her loss.
J. S. Lee (1982-86: Dronfield)
We had a very kind letter from his mother last August to let us know that Julian had been killed in a car crash in Italy on 10th August 1993, shortly before his twentyfifth birthday. She says that he always spoke highly of the school and told her that to send him there was the best thing she could have done for him. He worked as a hairdresser in the town of Castel Franco, where he had opened his own salon eighteen months previous to his death. He now rests at St. Giles Church, Grimsby. We thank Mrs. Lee for her letter.
R. T. W. McDermid (1937-47: School)
Canon Richard Thomas Wright McDermid studied History and Theology at Durham University, was ordained in 1955 and spend all his ministry in the Ripon Diocese. He was for twenty-four years vicar of Christ Church, Harrogate.
In 1983 he was appointed an honorary Canon of Ripon Cathedral, and in 1986 a Chaplain to the Queen. In 1993 the Yorkshire Archaeological Society published his work entitled, "The Beverley Minster Fasti".
He retired to Bedale in April 1994 and a terminal illness was recognised in June of that year. He faced it with courage and serenity, and a deep abiding faith which was characteristic of his whole life.
We thank his wife, Joyce, for writing to tell us about him and we express our sympathy to her and the family.
J. V. Rayson (1943-49: The Rise)
John Vincent Rayson has died on 3rd June 1995, aged sixty-one. He was actually organising a display of art at The Yorkshire Air Museum from June 17th to 25th, the proceeds of which were to go to the Motor Neurone Disease Association. He had himself been suffering from this disease since 1993.
He has been considered to be one of the country's leading aviation artists. He did his National Service in the R.A.F., after which he worked in the haulage business, doing painting in his spare time. He men took up painting full-time and opened a gallery in Harrogate.
His aim recently has been to raise money and create awareness for research into the fatal disease from which he suffered and which he bore with great fortitude and determination.
D. O. Shepherd (1936-40: The Rise)
David Owen Shepherd died on 19th March 1995 in a Bournemouth Nursing Home after a short illness. This information was given to us by his brother, Colin Shepherd, also an OP, arid we extend our sympathy to him and to the family.
J. Sproule (1926-31: Temple)
The death of Lt. Cdr. John Sproule in late November 1994 was reported in the Daily Telegraph on 1st December with a full and interesting obituary notice.
John was an ingenious inventor in all things to do with aeronautics. He served in the Fleet Air Arm. After leaving the Navy in 1960, he joined Agusta Helicopters and helped to run their London office. After years of flying, from which he emerged unscathed, he was killed in a road D. H. Tate (1941-47: The Rise)
David Tate died on 9th October 1994. He was a solicitor, working in London. He was married to Norah and they had three daughters.
He used to be one of the best attenders at the London OP Dinner, where we stood in silence to his memory in November last year, and he will be very much missed.
There was always something boyish about his infectious humour and he seemed little changed from the cheerful lad whom we knew at school.
We extend our sympathy to his wife and family at their loss.
DEPARTURE
The departure of the Headmaster, R. N. Pittman, is mentioned elsewhere, but you may like to know that the Old Peterite Club has presented him with a painting of the school, done by Jim Park. It shows the front of the school, taken from the library and includes the window of the office in which the Headmaster has spent the last ten years of his life!
We also gave him a colour photograph of the Headmasters' Board which is in the Stephenson Room. Not many men in this country will have their names on a board beginning with Paulinus!
The best wishes of the Old Peterite Club go with Robin and his wife Laura as they start their 'retirement'.
THE OLD PETERITE LODGE No. 6412
This Lodge of Freemasons was founded by a past Headmaster of St. Peter's, namely John Dronfield, together with Brigadier Claude Cyril Fairweather CBE., TD., DL.
There are about fifty-two Old Peterites, stiff and Governor members, and they represent a wide crosssection of ages, although members must be over Iwentyone years of age.
The Old Peterite Lodge meets in York six times a year, on Wednesday evening.
An Old Peterite, J. M. Raylor, has just retired from the office of Provincial Grand Master in the area covered by the Masonic Province of Yorkshire North and East Ridings.
There is far more open discussion about Freemasonry today than used to be the case, and anyone interested can be given details and may be shown round one of the Masonic Buildings.
Further information can be obtained via the Secretary of the Old Peterite Club, or direct from the Secretary of the Lodge, B. J. Watson, 1 Seawton Avenue, Huntington, York Y03 9JA.
This is a new idea. The Year Reps, have offered to co-ordinate information about OPs who LEFT SCHOOL in the years which they represent. Contact them to organise a group of your year to attend a dinner, tell them about news of OPs in your year, or organise an informal get-together of your own year. The possibilities are endless.
So far, the following have offerd to be Year Representatives for Old Peterites:—
We do not have telephone numbers for all of them this year, but it is a luxury we hope to add in future, if we have their permission.
1930-34 Volunteer Needed
1935-39 Volunteer Needed
1940-44 John Dook — J. M. L. Dook Esq., Tallis, Backsideans, Wargrave Berkshire RG10 8JP. (Tel: 01734-404-130)
1945-49 Frank Newdick — F. N. Newdick Esq., Ball Cottage, Brandsby, York Y06 4RQ. (Tel: 01347-888-615)
1950-54 Tim Beaumont — L. T. Beaumont Esq., Westfield House, Netherthong, Huddersfield HD7 2YJ.
1955-59 George A derson — G. W. A. R. Alderson Esq., 4 de Redvers Road, Poole, Dorset BH14 8TS.
1960-64 Richard Harding — R. D. Harding Esq., Hall Cottage, Foremarke, Milton, Derbyshire DE65 6EJ.
1965-69 John Craven — Lt. Cdr. J. A. G. Craven, Royal Naval Air Station, Yeovilton, Ilchester, Somerset BA22 8HT.
1970-74 Peter Fletcher — P. H. Fletcher Esq., 128 Layston Park, Royston, Hertfordshire SG8 9DY.
1975-79 Mark Burn — S. M. Burn Esq., Lendal House, 11 Lendal, York YO: 2AQ.
1980-84 Volunteer Needed.
1985-89 Jeremy Warren — J. R. B. Warren Esq., 936a Fulham Road, London SW6 5JJ.
1990-94 Cherry Alton — Miss C. E. Alton, Manor Farm, Bilton in Ainsty, York Y05 8NS.
Friday, 13th October
The Tyneside Dinner, County Hotel, Newcastle (opposite central station). Organisers: Richard Pickersgill (Home) 0191-281-8261 : (Office) 0191-261-1841. Michael Jobling (Home) 01661-824-924 : (Office) 0191-261-5298.
Friday, 3rd November
The London Dinner, The East India Club, 16 St. James's Square, London SW1Y 4LH. Organiser: David A. Turnbull (Home) 01276-857-420 : (Office) 01252-27666. Home Address: The Elms, High Street, Chobham, Surrey GU 24 8LZ. Business Address: 88/90 High Street, Aldershot, Hants. GU11 1SS.
Friday, 10th November
The West Riding Dinner, The Bradford Club. Organiser: Bill Hudson (Home) 01943-874-504 : (Office) 01274-732-271.
Date to be arranged — Possibly 22nd March, 1996 The Cambridge Dinner, St. John's College, Cambridge. Organiser: David Coles (Home) 01783-270-364. Address: Rose Farm, Thorney, Cambs. PE6 0QG.
Friday, 17th May 1996
The East Riding Dinner — 7.30 p.m. The Bell Hotel, Driffield (Tel: 01377-256661) Note: This dinner is a week earlier in 1996 than has been usual. It has clashed with the Bank Holiday in previous years. Organiser: David Atkinson (Home) 01377-229279 : (Office) 01482-864-101.
Note ALL Old Peterites are welcome to attend dinners, not only members of the Old Peterite Club. Just write to the organiser and see if there is room. Better still, get a group of your year together, possibly through your Year Representative.
Don't forget, leavers can get a discount for the first FOUR YEARS after leaving school.
This year has been a year of great progress in the Old Peterite Club.
We are in the process of updating our very old address list. A vast amount of work has gone in to this, and we are much indebted to Avril Pedley, the School Alumni Officer, and to Mike Jones for all the work which they have done to modernise the old list of the Old Peterite Club. It is a good example of the way in which, when they work together, the Old Peterite Club and the school can produce some very impressive results. In future we shall be able to communicate using modern technology, and we hope that the benefit to all Old Peterites and Old Peterite Club Members will be felt quite effectively over the coming years.
We now have Year Representatives, the list of them having been published in the Old Peterite Newsletter (The BLUE one!). We hope that they will enable OP Club Members to keep in touch with others of their year, to organise get-togethers of their own and to bring a group of contemporaries to attend the existing OP functions.
We have a new Cambridge Dinner, organised by David Coles. Details in the list of dinners. It may start in a small way, at St. John's College, Cambridge, but we hope that it will grow into a very important feature of the OP Club activities.
We have found someone other than the Secretary to organise the Club Dinner at the Old Peterite Weekend in September 1995, namely Peter Johnston. By the time you read this it will have happened, of course, but do bear in mind the second weekend in September, it is the main Old Peterite event of the year now. Peter's involvement, for which we are most grateful, is another sign that the OP Club is beginning to gain in momemtum.
A group under the leadership of C. W. Thompson is looking at ways of keeping the OP Club up-to-date and ready to go into the next millenium. If you have any ideas, write to him at:— Croft House, Main Street, Milton, Nr. Tuxford, Notts. NG22 OPP.
For the first time in years, two OPs, one in York and one in the East Riding, have come forward to offer to organise something for the OPs in their area. Obviously, we shall be able to give them more support when our super address system is up and running, but it is a sign that more and more OPs are taking an interest and are willing to do something positive. It really is most encouraging.
Silk ties — Club and Broad Stripe varieties, have been much in demand recently. As a result of this public demand, I am currently investigating possibilities and hope to have some for sale soon.
Business — Some time ago, Mike Ranson produced a list of OPs in business. Has it sunk without trace and will there ever be an update, I wonder?
Quite independently, David Turnbull in London came up with the idea that some of the London OPs in business might like to meet together to share ideas at an informal meeting. Several people to whom he mentioned it seemed to think it was a good idea. Whether they still thought it was a good idea the morning after the dinner, that we do not know.
But David would like to know, so if anyone does think that such a meeting might be enjoyable, or even profitable, do write to David and tell him what you think.
His address is given on the dinners page, as the organiser of the London Dinner.
It seemed a good idea when he mentioned it, and raised the question as to how much OPs in other regions would like to do the same sort of thing. It would be good to know about OPs who are active in all kinds of businesses, and it might be to our mutual advantage to have some kind of information available to all OP Club Members. What do you think? If you have ideas about it, do write to David Turnbull, or to the Secretary of the OP Club.
I hope that you will agree that the above progress marks a real awakening of interest in the Old Peterite Club by the Old Peterite Club.
FOR SALE
The following are available from the OP Secrmry, E. G. Thompson at 4 Moor Lane, HAXBY, York Y03
3PH.
Prices marked with * are to be decided when the fust order is placed. Possibly in September. The Secretary will take orders forthwith on a first come, first served basis until the demand is truly apparent. He will notify the correct price to those who have applied and will send the appropriate tie on receipt of the correct amount thereafter.
OP Club Ties £ 6.00 OP Broad Stripe Ties £ 6.00 OP Broad Stripe Ties (Silk) £16.00 (Expectsd Price)* OP Broad Stripe Bow Ties (Silk) £ 6.00 (Expected Price)* OP Thin Stripe Ties £ 6.00 OP Club brooches/Tie Pins £ 4.50 OP Shields £25.00 OP Cuff Links £16.00 OP Cuff Links (Dress, Blue-Black) £16.00
(Please specify as 'BLUE-BLACK' when ordering these, otherwise the light blue will be sent automatically.) OP Club Centenary Spoons £ 2.00 OP Blazer Buttons £ 0.50 OP Club Centenary Brochures £ 0.50 Chronology by'R. D. Harding £ 3.00
A limited selection of items is on sale at most OP Dinners, and all items can be ordered by post from the Secretary. Please send your cheque made payable to 'The
Old Peterite Club, Stock account'. Please add 60p for
postage and packing, otherwise we may be ruining at a loss!
International orders should be paid for in £s sterling only, otherwise it may cost more in bank charges to exchange them than was the amount of the original foreign payment! Please also allow any extra for postage and packing.
Officers 1994/5 The President F. B. S. Harnby, 12 Deva Terrace, Chester, CH3 5AJ. (Tel: 01244-316-806)
President-Elect At the time of going to press, the Office is awaiting the A.G.M. in September.
Past Presidents: J. A. Hanson, C. W. Thompson, P. S. Atkinson, F. N. Newdick, R. F. Harding, D. T. Rumfitt, (With Voting Rights): J. T. Harding, J. A. Denison, E. M. H. Ranson, D. L. Brown, D. Kirby.
Vice-Presidents: The Headmaster, K. G. Chilman, Brigadier C. C. Fairweather.
Hon. Secretary E. G. Thompson, 'West Winds', 4 Moor Lane, Haxby, York, Y03 3PH. (Tel: 01904-768-694)
Hon. Treasurer: G. D. Smith, 7 Harlow Pines, Harrogate, HG3 1PZ. (Tel: 01423-561-761)
The General Committee: Ex-ofilcio:— The President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, The Headmaster, Past Presidents, Vice-Presidents. Elected 1992-1995: V. M. Black, S. M. Burn, G. E. L. Graham, G. Grant, G. M. Shuttleworth. Elected 1993-1996: M. W. Bainbridge, J. E. Burdass, V. L. J. Inness, I. P. J. Leedham, D. Tunstall. Elected 1994-1997: P. M. Darley, D. P. Johnston, M. J. Kent, N. D. Muirhead, R. W. Oliver.
Finance and General Purposes Committee: Ex-Officio:— The President, President-Elect, Secretary and Treasurer, The Immediate Past President. Elected: M. W. Bainbridge, S. M. Burn.
Other Information: Trustees: D. L. Brown, J. T. Harding, J. E. Moore. Auditors: J. E. Moore and partners.
N o el R i c h a r d s on & C o. L t d.
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