Old Peterite News Sam Dickinson (2015) Wins Gold at Commonwealth Games

Tariq Shah (2002) Receives OBE for Services to Charity

“It was a privilege to receive the OBE for Services to Charity from His Majesty The King. The honour reflects the hard work and dedication of the many people who have volunteered and worked in the organisations I have supported. His Majesty and I spoke about the power of relatable role models and the importance of dialogue within and between groups. I am grateful to him for his leadership and guidance around this work over the last decade-and-a-half.

I am humbled to have been recognised in this way, but I am not at all unique. I hope that this demonstrates the impact that all of us can have on the communities we are part of and the places that are important to us.”

Tariq attended St Peter’s from 1996-2002, before heading to the University of Birmingham to study Economics & Politics, and graduating from Emmanuel College, Cambridge, with an MBA. This prestigious honour, awarded to Tariq for Philanthropy and Services to Charity, reflects his extensive work with the Prince’s Trust, The Sleep Charity, Mosaic, and other causes, and his commitment to continuously improving Doncaster, where he was born.

Jeremy Walker, Head Master, added: “Exactly twenty years since he left us, St Peter’s wholeheartedly congratulates

“I was so proud, stood on the podium, singing Jerusalem. We laughed as I was the only one who knew the words which was my St Peter’s education shining through!”

It is such an exciting time for sport at St Peter’s since Old Peterite, Sam Dickinson’s, huge triumph winning Gold in the Mixed Relay Triathlon at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. The Alumni and Development team had the pleasure of catching up with Sam, after his amazing win, and enjoyed congratulating him on behalf of the school. Choosing Sport from an early age, when he and his brother, Tom, were given the choice of sports gear or games consoles, Sam’s story is a lesson in commitment and selfdiscipline, in striving to be the best you can be at what you love.

Head of Manor in 2015, Sam’s success is testament to his hard work and the supportive community here at St Peter’s. He shared his huge appreciation for several staff members who saw his potential and encouraged him to excel at sport.

“I was lucky I had people on my side at school who were good to me. I was absolutely buzzing when I managed to achieve something like that. It makes you look back on everything you have done and everyone who helped you in the past.” Sam recalls teachers Steve and Justine Williams, and Helen Barnard, amongst others, who supported his extracurricular efforts. He particularly remembered the mighty Angela Tooby-Smith who inspired him to run, and Paddy Stephen who took a keen interest in his activities and has kept in touch over the years.

Tariq for this outstanding achievement, so thoroughly deserved. We are delighted this talented individual has rightly been recognised and rewarded in this special way. His many achievements, gained through his unswerving dedication to improving the lives of othersvalues we emphasise every day here at St Peter’s - will serve to inspire current pupils.”

Alongside their construction business, Tariq and his family also run the AHS Foundation, a charity which provides essential healthcare in Kashmir, Pakistan, for 600 people every month and is the only primary care provider for a community of around 10,000 people.

Sam specifically noted his special relationship with Manor housemaster Steve Gwilliams who gave him special permission to use his Wattbike in his dorm. With training taking priority, Sam made the school his own with schedules and arrangements that took him all over the city. Sam went on to study Sports Science at Leeds University where he has gone on to further gain momentum and win competitions for Team England.

Judith O’Reilly (1982) Brings

Her Fast Paced Thriller to York Literature Festival

St Peter’s welcomed OP Judith O’Reilly back to the school library, with the sequel in her Michael North series, set in a challenging, dystopian, political world. In the final night of the York Festival events, it was a privilege to hear Judith share her stories of writing and journalism.

As a female in the world of thriller fiction, a very male-dominated industry, Jude spoke engagingly about character development and how she can use this thoughtfully to challenge expectations and push boundaries in the mind of the reader. Her insight into the creative process of writing a fictional novel was inspiring for the audience at this special public lecture.

Tom Dowdy (2017) Rows the Atlantic for Charity

“35 days battling with sleep deprivation, salt sores, and the constant reminder of how small we are when faced with the physical extremes inflicted by the Atlantic Ocean… What could possibly go wrong?”

Three final year student paramedics are planning to row 3000 miles across the Atlantic to raise money for charity. The team known as Par-OAR-medics comprise Ken Bordt, Ethan Chapman and former Head Boy Tom Dowdy (Grove 2017). They decided to take on the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge, officially known as the worlds toughest row, to raise money for Yorkshire-based projects run by Macmillan Cancer Support, Stroke Association UK and the Ambulance Staff Charity. The trio, all of whom have worked on frontline ambulances throughout the pandemic, will commence their challenge in December 2024 from La Gomera in the Canary Islands and end in Antigua. Between now and then, they have to canvas for support, find sponsors and raise enough money to buy a boat in which to compete. Rowing two hours on and two hours off for 35 days, unsupported, will test the determination and resilience of the rowers like nothing else. You can view the website at www.paroarmedics.com, email paroarmedics@gmail.com or follow on social media for further information.

Nicholas Hopton (1984) Joins St Peter’s on Remembrance Day

Nicholas Hopton (1984), British Ambassador to Qatar, joined St Peter’s to mark Remembrance Day. Nick spoke in Chapel of his wealth of experiences, his role as a Diplomat and ‘peace maker’ and the different ways we all have a responsibility to make a change in our everyday lives.

Politics pupils had the opportunity to share lunch with Nick. Chat flowed effortlessly as Nick quizzed pupils about their time at St Peter’s and their plans for future study and careers. Pupils made the most of in-depth discussions about current affairs and shared their thoughts on politics and law. What a brilliant opportunity for this lucky group of young people.