The O
REVIEW
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SPRING 2016 – The News Review for The Old Lancing Club
Mikael Jagfeldt-Goldsmith
Neesha Gopal
David Reindorp
A focal point for the future – a link with the past
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Your contacts news@lancingclub.com
President: Sir Tim Rice Chairman: Andrew Farquharson Treasurer: David Rice Secretary: Anthony Phillips Past President: Rear Admiral Sir Robert Woodard, K.C.V.O Vice Presidents: John Bell Telford Shute Nigel Ventham Capt. Graham Robinson, R.N.
THE CLUB COMMITTEE Elected 2013 Laura Burdekin Mark Truman Julia Benham-Hermetz Elected 2014 Nick Parker Tom Robson
SPORTS SECRETARIES Sports Coordinator: Nick Evans Cricket: Yosef Salameh Debating: Andrew Wagstaff Eton Fives: Richard Black Nigel Cox Football: Duncan Wilks Fixture Secretary: Nick Taylor Golf: Charles Mackendrick Hockey (Men): Tom Phillips Ladies Sports & Hockey: Hannah Cobbold Real Tennis: Harvey Rawlings Rugby: Chris Callaway Shooting: Andrew Morley Squash: Tom Maberly Tennis: Richard Blackburn Cross Country, Swimming and Water Polo: Vacant If anyone is interested in organising these OL sports please contact Nick Evans
The CLUB Review © 2016 The Old Lancing Club
Elected 2015 Neesha Gopal Canon Bruce Hawkins Renjie Chen Timothy Poole
Printed by: Pureprint Group Limited design: apropos-360.com Main front cover image: Canon David Reindorp All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without prior written permission of the The Old Lancing Club. No responsibility will be accepted for any errors or omissions, or comments expressed within the content. Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of the The Old Lancing Club or the Committee. Any services or goods mentioned are not necessarily endorsed by The Old Lancing Club or the Committee.
Editor John Clifford
Your diary of events There is a wide selection of Events during the year for OLs, organised by the Club and the College. The Club, in addition, sponsors selected College events. Please contact us for more details at news@lancingclub.com Thursday 4th February – Dinner at Hood, Streatham, London
The Club Facebook site is active and would welcome your likes and comments. So please get online and follow us through – https://www.facebook.com/lancingclub?fref=ts
Thursday 28th April – Over 60s Spring Lunch – The Athenaeum, London Friday 6th May – The OL Football Club Dinner – Stamford Bridge, Chelsea Thursday 2nd June – The Old Lancing Club AGM and Summer Party, Royal OverSeas League, Park Place, London SW1 Thursday 15th September – The Young OLs Drinks Party, London Friday 4th November – The Old Lancing Club Dinner – East India Club, London Monday 12th December – Carol Service and Christmas Party Chelsea Old Church 2 | www.theoldlancingclub.com
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Future events Dinner at Hood Thursday 4th February Hood is an independent, friendly neighbourhood restaurant and bar nestled like a nugget of Sussex on the Streatham High Road.
The Old Lancing Club
As Hood approaches its first anniversary, the transformation of a once tired Edwardian Chairman’s Report property to a thriving, t has been rewarding to have so many more OLs neighbourhood eatery at events last year: the Summer Party, the Club is complete. Dinner in London, numerous sporting events, Hood joint owner, Robin Frean is a Lancing Old regional events and of course the Young OLs Boy of the Second’s House variety who graced party. the cloisters between ‘96 and ‘01. Robin’s Lancing 2016 hopefully will continue this trend with the achievements were numerous, the most notable being his two years in the 1st XI cricket team first event in Streatham in February, details of where his speed between the wickets earnt him which are on this page. the nickname ‘Gatting’. Hood’s management The Headmaster joined the Committee at its team is completed by Robin’s sister Melanie and September 2015 meeting and offered the Club friend Mike Brown. the opportunity to work closer with the College. On the 4th February, the Old Lancing Club have To quote one senior OL, “This is music to my ears.” A working party was set up after this and organised a dinner at Hood to both support and celebrate it’s outstanding success to date. have been gathering opinions with the desire to move this forward whilst retaining the Club’s There are still spaces available for the dinner and independence. This cannot be a quick process if you are interested in attending please contact and will require various safeguards. I will report Chris Williams, willichristopher@gmail.comor on more fully in further mailings. 07966771635. Further, for more information on Hood please visit www.hoodrestaurants.com Lancing is a very different place from the one I remember as a boy when then it was prominently a British boys’ boarding school mostly paying full fees. It has had to embrace a new structure with a much changed ratio. This now includes many day pupils, almost an equal balance of girls, many pupils from overseas and also help to many through a substantial bursary here is a great team spearheading these structure. The Club will continue to embrace events for you and we want to hear whatever comes our way but at the end of the from you regarding what we are doing and day Lancing is still the place that most of us have what you would like us to do. continued to enjoy. Long may it continue. We have tried to broaden the range I look forward to seeing you at various events, of events to include more regional and Kind regards, Andrew Farquharson different style events. We have dropped having outside speakers and will focus on OLs and Lancing faces who are more relevant to the occasion. All events will be Chairman affordable and sponsored by The Club.
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Events Policy Team
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The Old Lancing Club AGM Thursday 2nd June 2016 6.00pm
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he Old Lancing Club Annual General Meeting will be held at The Royal Over-Seas League, Over-Seas House, Park Place, St James’s Street, London SW1A 1LR on Thursday 2nd June 2016 starting at 6.00pm. All members and their guests are welcome. Nominations, together with a short profile, for the election of new officers of the Club and members of the Committee should be received by the Club Secretary, Anthony Phillips, by 28th April 2016. AGENDA
1. Apologies for absence 2. To approve the minutes of the AGM held at The Royal Over-Seas League, London on Thursday 2nd June 2015. 3. Matters arising from the minutes 4. To receive the annual report of the Club Committee 5. To approve the accounts of the Club for the last year ending 31st December 2015 6. To elect new officers of the Club 7. To elect new members of the Committee 8. Any other business
Past events The Old Lancing Club Dinner – Waterloo 200th Friday 6th November
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elebrating the 200th anniversary of Waterloo, the venue of 16 St James’ Square seemed a good repeat choice for the Dinner with a smaller gathering of loyal Club fans. It was great to see a noticeable increase in support from younger OLs. Pre-dinner drinks were followed by an excellent dinner in the elegant surroundings with wine and a hubbub of cheery conversation flowing.
David Rice • David Lloyd • Anthony Eland
The occasion marked a significant change for The Club Dinner. No more could the Gentlemen visit the cloakroom on arrival and having adjusted the bow tie, regard the spectre before them thinking “Eat your heart out Daniel Craig.” Yes, dress was “Lounge Suits”! I concede that the younger members may well have applauded but for us oldies, there is always that lingering hope of a call from Hollywood. At least, the ladies had a greater degree of freedom when it came to the attire – thankfully! …and there’s more. Indeed, it transpired that there was no Speaker for the evening. The writer has to admit that he is unaware of the reason for this further departure. This placed a heavy burden on your Master of Ceremonies, our Chairman Andrew Farqharson, who also proposed the Loyal Toast. Good I thought! Andrew is bound to harangue us with tales of “the farmyard” (Have you seen his email address?) or alternatively, even “a hazardous holiday trek in a questionable all-roader into deepest Eastern Europe.” No, it was not to be. Instead, we had a pleasant medley covering our welcome, our attendance and departure all amusingly done “in the best possible taste” (and charm). He thanked us for coming, gave apologies for absence, including that of our President, Sir Tim Rice, and also rightly thanked Neesha Gopal and the Events Team for their excellent organisation.
Julianne Evans • Neesha Gopal • Vicky Merison
Brian Woodbridge • Robin Birts
Suzy Parker • Nick Parker
A successful and enjoyable evening concluded with the hardy individuals retiring to the bar for further imbibing and the rest drifting out into the cold London air. Andrew Farquharson 4 | www.theoldlancingclub.com
Patrick Lambert • Diane Smith • Simon Edwards news@lancingclub.com
Henry Speer • Tom Archer • Callum Bowie
Maggie Phillips • Martin Lister
Catherine Hellary • Phil Hellary • Simon English
Tim Poole • Neil Peckham • Mark Rusby • Tony Long • Rob Walker
David Lister
Susan Triptree • Brian Triptree • Roger Overton-Smith 5 | www.theoldlancingclub.com
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Past Events continued
The Old Lancing Club Carol Service Monday 14th December
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ere we were again - two Mondays out from Christmas - to kick off the festive season with the now traditional Club Carol Service at the Chelsea Old Church. This year it was the biggest and best ever – with more than 150 of us in the Congregation and 18 in the choir. The choir led off with the Introit ‘Jesus Christ the Apple Tree’ – then into the processional ‘Once in Royal David’s City’ – and off we went into the traditional format of seven lessons, carols and hymns. Canon David Reindorp (Field’s 1966-71) offered the Bidding Prayer, and Headmaster Dominic Oliver read the first lesson. Hymns, Carols and Lessons followed apace – ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ to a special arrangement by Choirmaster Tom Robson (Teme 2002-07) with leading parts for the ladies and a humming chorus from the men. The choir was superb – and after just one hour’s rehearsal too. Peter Birts (Head’s 1959–64) led the choir with a complicated solo in ‘The Three Kings’. The congregation really belted out the hymns and carols – ‘O little Town of Bethlehem’ was never so deep and dreamless – a ‘shinging throng’ indeed - yet the voices of ladies of the choir soared out of the descant in the final verses – every bit as good as Kings College on Christmas Eve. Ben Cunningham, currently the Organ Scholar at Westminster Abbey, pounded the keys up in the organ loft. This time Canon David himself read from St.John: ‘In the Beginning was the Word …’ then it was time for ‘Hark the Herald Angels sing’ - at maximum volume - and with the Closing Prayers and Blessing, it was all over. Canon David thanked all those who had been involved in setting up the event – Tom Robson and the choir, Ben Cunningham on the organ, Graham Robinson (Gibbs’ 1958–62) and Neesha Gopal (Manor 198385) for the main organisation, Clare Welling from the Foundation Office, for the programmes. By special arrangement with Canon David, John Hall (Old’s 1960-63) was busy taking pictures both during the service and at the reception afterwards. After the service, we all went over to Petyt Hall for mulled wine, cheese nibbles, cocktail sausages and mince pies. We must have been nearly a capacity crowd – next year let’s make it even bigger.
OL Profile Focus Mikael Jagfeldt-Goldsmith, Head’s 2007-10
Neesha Gopal, Manor 1983-85
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aving decided against further education at 18, I was afforded the opportunity to work for a start-up online retail company in the local area. I spent close to three years there and with the help of one other saw the company grow exponentially. I must say I enjoyed every minute of working there! It gave me the hands-on experience of running a business and alerted me to the pitfalls that any new organisation is sure to face. I aim to run my own business one day, and the wide range of skills garnered from this experience I hope will put me in good stead to do that. I have to admit that during these years, it wasn’t all work and no play. The financial freedom allowed me to fulfil one of my passions, which is travel. In 2013, I was lucky enough to visit New Zealand and trekked around the majority of the south island. Later that year my friend
asked me out of the blue “do you want to climb a mountain?” Given that, me and said friend had been training together for some time prior to this I was more than happy to oblige. Six weeks later, we were on our way to Tanzania, and I am pleased to report that we both successfully reached the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. My next overseas adventure came in the form of a real estate position in the Middle East. In pursuit of warmer weather and what I hoped to be a future in real estate, I packed my bags for Dubai. It was certainly an experience, and some invaluable lessons were learned but England beckoned. I returned home December of last year and have remained on the real estate path but have found myself in a commercial position. All in all, things are very positive for me, and I feel there are many positives to come in the future!
The Lancing Lodge Nigel Hardy Fellowship The above fund makes donations to OLs for educational purposes. Over the last eleven years the “Fellowship” has made thirty eight donations to OLs who met the criteria for assistance. Please allow several months as the Trustees who manage the donations need to agree on the application forms, which are available from the Headmaster’s Secretary or from P. G. Cook (Secretary Old Lancing Lodge). 8 | www.theoldlancingclub.com
joined Lancing to study ‘A’ levels in 198385. Manor House was the only girls’ house at the time. It was an interesting period as there were less than 40 girls, and I found my confidence was encouraged to flourish. After Lancing, I worked in various establishments to fund a trip around India before commencing Architecture and Environmental Science at The University of Nottingham in 1986-1989. From there I spent an internship with a large architectural practice in London and before returning to my studies spent six months working and living in Paris. I completed my Part 2 Architectural Diploma studies at the University of Brighton from 1991-1993 and finalised my Chartership as an Architect at Kingston University in 1995. I then proceeded into the demanding world of construction, working with my father’s architectural practice in Surrey for two years. The bright lights of London called, and I spent seven years working with a large central London Architect, during which time I also qualified as a Chartered Project Manager. Looking to further my experience, I moved to an Engineering company in 2003 and specialised in Façade Engineering. I am now working with an international engineering consultancy (Meinhardt Façade Technology) and am Regional Director for their façade engineering team for Europe. It is certainly a rewarding career working with key architects to ensure their vision can be built. I have also just completed an MSc in Façade Engineering at the University of Bath and will be happily graduating In December 2015.
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Life is not all work – although my job is vocational and does take up a lot of my time, I do find time to travel and enjoy including a visit to at least one new place every year. I have been involved in the Lancing Committee for over 10 years and relish meeting old and new Lancing friends. I also appreciate entertaining and cooking – my curries are infamous in South London where I have lived for the last twenty years. My two cats named Rioja, and Shiraz is a give-away for my partiality to a nice glass of wine! I am now looking for my next challenge and am hoping to use my knowledge to mentor those starting in Architecture and Engineering.
David Reindorp, Field’s 1966-71
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went to Lancing in 1966 and joined Field’s House under the legendary Patrick “Tiger” Halsey.
I left in 1971, having been head of House and Deputy Head of School and am rather proud for having got my house colours for running. I might be a bit pushed now! After Lancing, I tried my hand at Lloyd’s of London as a shipbroker but this came to a sad end when my boss, feeling that I needed to find what fired me, then fired me. After various careers including a short stint as a male model (it was a long time ago and I did keep my clothes on), I became a social worker. In 1979 I went up to Trinity College, Cambridge to read theology, prior to ordination in 1983. I have served in a variety of parishes: a huge housing estate, a county town, two villages, and a suburb, before coming to Chelsea Old Church. I am Area Dean of Chelsea and Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London.
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OL Sport OL Golf
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efore memory fades on another year of LOBGS golf let us reflect on what has been a period of beginnings and departures, welcomes and farewells. Let’s start with the most recent event in the calendar; the finals of the Grafton Morrish played over three lovely autumn days at the end of September in Norfolk. New Society Scratch captain, Ross Gilbert, picks up the commentary... ...the team of myself, Justin Higgo, Oliver Kenning, Nigel Munn, Jim Souter and Matt Thompson represented the OLs up at Hunstanton. The weather was kind, and the OLs performed well beating a robust Norwich team 2-1 in round one. A tight-fought victory against an experienced St Edward’s, Oxford on the Friday afternoon (again 2-1) earned a few beers, a curry and the chance to face a tough George Herriot’s team on Saturday, unfortunately the OLs lost 2½ - ½. It was a close game with the first match a half after 18 and the remaining two matches finishing on 16 & 17. George Herriot’s went on to the Semi Final on Sunday only to be defeated by eventual winners, Charterhouse. Overall it was a pleasing and promising performance. A big thank you to the entire team, the Old Lancing Club for their support and those who turned out for Qualifying in May and earned the OLs the right to compete at what is an excellent amateur golf competition. Well done to the scratch team with Ross at the helm for the first time having taken over from Mark Gurney after this year’s Hewitt. Mark had performed the role for more than 6 years but with new responsibilities and less time to play he felt that it was appropriate for him to pass over the reins. Our thanks go to Mark for all his hard work organising the annual Hewitt and Grafton events, and I think I speak for all the guys who have served under him when I say he did a great job in creating a team with real spirit who enjoyed their times together both on and off the course. Of the Hewitt this year we will only make brief mention. In the opening round at a fog-bound Deal, Lancing faced a strong Bradfield side confident after reaching the final in 2014. Mark, sidelined with a back injury, assumed the role of non-playing Captain and concentrated his lower handicaps in the middle pairs while hoping for some fireworks from the talented but fewer tested duos at either end of the line-up. In early play, the plan seemed to be working well with Lancing ahead in two of the three middle matches and level in the third with the other pairs keeping in the hunt. Two influences towards the end of the front nine served to alter the complexion of the match. First, the Bradfield team holed a succession of improbable putts and then the fog rolled in dampening the Lancing spirits a little more than those of Bradfield and resulting in the loss of more holes before play was stopped for the day with Lancing having lost two matches while being down in two others. A gallant rearguard action on Friday morning (with match two going to the 16th and the other two matches finishing level) was not enough to swing the result and Bradfield carried the day but did not progress any further in a tournament eventually won by Eton. The other outing for the scratch team was a 6-man affair in the Sussex Schools Challenge at Walton Heath where Lancing, the defending champions, again performed with aplomb narrowly losing out to Brighton after an afternoon come-back but gaining a creditable second ahead of Hurst and Eastbourne. Moving on to our Society days it was with great pleasure that we welcomed a number of new OLs to both the Spring meeting at Worplesdon and to West Sussex for our guest day in September.
At Worps in tricky conditions in the a.m. singles Andrew Baker’s experience showed, and he led the field home to win the President’s Cup and Captain’s Prize with a creditable 34 points. After a splendid lunch at the top table an abbreviated 9-hole cross country Greensomes was played in improving conditions p.m. in which Nigel Munn and Donald Parvin were runaway winners with an egregious 22 points. By the close, the sun was out, the clouds were receding and we were greeted at the last by a perfect rainbow over the 18th green, a fitting finish to a fine day. At West Sussex, we were once again blessed with a lovely early Autumn day. In the morning singles the quality of play was consistently high with many stableford scores in the 30s but Harvey Rawlings playing for the firsttime shone as bright as the September sun and was a thoroughly deserved winner of the McAlister Trophy for the winning Society member with a brilliant 42 points while Simon Hodgkinson proved the best of the rest with his 36 points pipping a number of others for second spot. In the afternoon foursome after what can only be described as a splendid and extended lunch the quality of golf was a little more patchy but winners Chris and Ian Martin showed no signs of excess and produced a storming 39 point performance to lift the Macadam Trophy 3 points clear of Nick Mukherjee and guest. The expression ‘success breeds success’ was no more aptly demonstrated than by the LOBGS ‘A’ team this year. Coming off the back of an undefeated 2014 (two draws and a win), the troops that turned out for the ‘As’ this year did even better beating both Sherbone at Littlehampton in May and Radley at Woking at the end of June before retaining their unbeaten record with a halved match against Eastbourne at Walton Heath in early August. Thanks to a last gasp win by Donald Parvin and Oliver Harris in the final match LOBGS blushes were spared as we were not required to hand over the Lanbourne Trophy that had gone inexplicably missing since our win last year. We now have another 12 months in which to re-locate it! The Mellin (over 55s), Burles (over 65s) and Millard (over 75s) events at West Hill in July saw three pairs play scratch 4somes knockout in the Mellin with one pair in each of the other events playing scratch 4somes stableford qualifier. Unlike circa 50% of the schools entered Lancing were able to field a full team (well done to match manager Chris Martin). Regrettably, this did not automatically translate into success on the course. In the Burles, having lost to Loretto in the 1st round we were level with Forest when given a concession to the semi final of the Plate from where we were giving a bye into the final by an absent Bedford. In the Final, we narrowly lost, but we can at least say we were there. In the Mellin itself, we again went into the Plate, won the first round but lost in the semis. Chris is always looking for new recruits so if there are any OLs fitting into the aforementioned age categories that are keen to get involved, they should contact him using the details on the OL website. And finally farewells. It was with much regret we heard this year Peter Earl had lost his long battle with cancer while we were also saddened by the news Jeremy Taylor had passed away in early July. Many LOBGS members attended their memorial services; they will be deeply missed.
OL Football (
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he OLs have been competing in the Arthurian League and Arthur Dunn Cup, for independent school old boys’ football sides, for over fifty years. Last year the first team (LOBFC runs three teams - a first, second and veterans team for over 35 year olds) came third in the premier division of the league and lost in the final of the Arthur Dunn Cup 1-0 to Charterhouse whilst the Vets, who don’t have a league to play in, and
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captained by Jon Carr, narrowly lost in the final of the “Senior” Dunn to Eton on penalties. This year, as at Christmas, all three teams are still involved in their respective cup competitions with the first eleven playing Forest at Lancing on January 16th for a place in the quarter-finals and the Vets, now captained by Tim Kemp, already in the quarter-finals having beaten Bradfield 5-0 last Sunday. In the league, a competition which includes almost 40 other independent schools, the first eleven under the captaincy of Sam Salameh are 5th in the premier division and the seconds, under the leadership of Mike Johnson and Sam Graham, are second in the 2nd division, the highest placed second team with only Westminster’s first team above them and several other first teams below them. Off the field, the club has been rejuvenated by the return of Martin Todd to an active role within it as president after many years overseas working for Exxon. He hosted the club’s first annual dinner to be held at Stamford Bridge this year and deemed a great success. This will be repeated in 2016 on Friday May 6th. Any OL wishing to play football under the LOBFC banner should contact Nigel Bennett (naobennett@btinternet.com), age being no barrier to entry! The football club benefits from a kind donation from The Old Lancing Club which is used to fund the travel of some of its younger members to and from football matches. Players from universities as far as Durham and Bath travel to London on a weekly basis to fly the LOBFC flag, all made possible by this funding. LOBFC is always on the look out for more players; if you are interested please contact Chris Williams on willichristopher@gmail.com
The LOBFC on tour in Budapest
OL Squash (
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he focus for OL squash is the Londonderry Cup, a knockout competition for old boys and one of the oldest squash tournaments in the World. Lancing has traditionally been one of the stronger teams in the competition having won more times than any other club, most recently in 2006 and notably having won nine in a row between 1964 and 1972. Now the thirst for the competition is as strong as ever having missed out in the 2014/2015 tournament. The team to beat in recent years has been Millfield that has won five of the last six Londonderry Cups. Lancing Old boys are drawn in the other half of the competition so if we progress as indeed we should, we could find ourselves facing them in the final. Without getting too far ahead of ourselves, interestingly the two teams have never faced each other in the final before! Lancing’s first round in the 2015/2016 competition is against Old Paulines and will be played at St.Pauls in December, date tbc. 11 | www.theoldlancingclub.com
Having recently taken over the captaincy of the team it would be great to hear from anyone interested in playing any OL squash. In addition to Londonderry Cup matches, the club are planning a ‘club night’ to bring a wider group together. The Wimbledon club is likely to be the venue so please contact me if you’re keen on getting involved tom.maberly@img. com or via the OL website.
OL Fives
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ur season has got off to an encouraging start in terms of the fixtures played, including a particularly successful match against Oxford University at Iffley Road. Two or three new members are taking an active part, joining our regular faithful core of enthusiasts and this makes all the difference. Unfortunately, we were eliminated from the Barber Cup in the first round despite fielding our best team, although some players were short of match practice. We were up against a resurgent Old Cholmeleians team. Ashley Lumbard, one of the leading UK lady players, has taken over some of the match management, which makes the task of Club Secretary much more controllable. I am delighted also to report a revival of the Sussex club which plays most Tuesday evenings in term-time at the College. Local adult players join College students for an informal game. Matthew Beard is playing a major role in this and has organised two fixtures against the College. We are delighted to welcome the new master-in-charge, Nat Payne, who is also contributing much to the increase number of College players. We fielded a side throughout the Summer Super leagues at Westway with little resort to ringers, which indicates our slowly growing strength in numbers. For the first time for many years, we put out a pair ( one pupil and one OL) for The Graham Turnbull trophy, and they had a great if exhausting day! We have some good fixtures in the second half of the season, and we are going to field for the first time a team for the EFA Trophy, which is a team-based championship played over two week-ends. We are very grateful to the OL Club for the financial support which it gives us: it has been so useful for allowing players to travel across longer distances to matches. If any OL would like to play Eton Fives for the club (beginners welcome, we will supply gloves and teach you the game), please contact me, Richard Black, on richardblack555@btinternet.com, mobile 07715 179280 home 01932 770325 – you would be most welcome. Fives is a very friendly, social game and players of all standards can play it with enjoyment.
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Julian Langridge getting his eye in again on a hot and hazy evening at Bisley.
OL Tennis
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fter many years of service Richard Rawlings has stepped down as chairman of the OL Tennis club. We are all very grateful for the support he has given the club on and off the court. We were very pleased that Andrew Page agreed to become the new chairman.The season always opens with a match against the school teams on Founders day in May. Other annual social fixtures are played against the Old Carthusians and the Grasshoppers Tennis Club. Next season a fixture may also be played against the Public Schools Old Boys Tennis Club. Harvey Rawlings and Michael Savage represented the club in the 2015 D’Abernon Cup. If you would like to play either men’s or ladies doubles, in any of the fixtures, and play on grass-courts in one of the best settings in Sussex, please contact either Richard Blackburn – Blackburn.r@btinternet.com or Harvey Rawlings – harvey.rawlings@yahoo. co.uk
OL Real Tennis
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he photo below was taken on the Petworth House tennis court at this season’s annual fixture. On the competitive front Andrew Page and Angus Williams paired up to represent Lancing College Old Boys in the Henry Leaf Cup. If you would like to play for The Lancing Old Boys Real Tennis Club please contact Harvey Rawlings 01403 711770 or harvey.rawlings@yahoo.co.uk
Man. Julian, Rex Barrington and I shot together for the College team circa 1970-72 and Julian should gain credit for building up the shooting team and skills that took the College way up the leader boards in Schools competitions for several years thereafter. We look forward to seeing more of these two. I’m sure they have lots to contribute. I need to congratulate Ed Glanville, John Mulcahy and James Pain who made up a scratch team with the Old Bedfordians for the All Day Match and won! My thanks to Ed for doing my job on the day: Rex and I were away shooting the Scottish Open at Blair Atholl and were both called up for duties with the England team. These efforts were subsequently eclipsed by Tom Laing-Baker, who had an exceptional campaign at the Imperial Meeting and was called up as reserve in the winning England team in the National Match. This year the College didn’t do any CCF shooting at Bisley with CTR rifles, but they did make a few appearances with some new and keen faces to shoot their “private” rifles in the civilian competitions. We, therefore, presented the Bates Prize and Old Lancing Tankard at the LCs vs OLs match in June. This turned into a very enjoyable afternoon of 600yard shooting with tea and cakes for all behind the firing point. Sadly, this turned out to be Ian Robinson’s last duty with OLRC as he passed away this autumn. We’ve made a contribution to his obituary elsewhere in this edition of The OL Club Review.
Andrew, Rex and Tom did their bit for England shooting teams in 2015.
OL Rifle Club
Captain’s Report – 2015 Season
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his year we saw a couple of “new” faces on the firing point. The Bates Prize continues to achieve its main aim of drawing talented shots towards the sport and the OLRC. This year we assimilated George Wirgman, who won the prize two years ago to join us at the ‘Vets’. It was also a great pleasure to welcome back Julian Langridge after a few decades away from shooting while he ploughed his furrow in the Isle of 12 | www.theoldlancingclub.com
Ian Robinson’s swansong at Bisley, presenting the Richard Bates prize, Lt Col Peter Bates is holding the jacket. news@lancingclub.com
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David Hare The Blue Touch Paper Review
escribed as a ‘Memoir’ this book covers David Hare’s early years at home and at a prep school in Bexhill, then at Lancing, at Cambridge and on into the world of the theatre, television and film. With as many accidental, coincidental and serendipitous meetings as a John Buchan thriller - with the great and famous (such as Peter Hall, Richard Eyre, Helen Mirren, Tom Stoppard, Frank Finlay, Laurence Olivier, Tennessee Williams; even George Wallace, Sefton Delmer, Georgi Markov and Polly Toynbee) as well as with the giants of his youth (Alfred Hitchcock, Jean Cocteau, Louis Malle and Costa-Gavras) - it reads as a vast sweep of the arts and theatre scene of the late sixties and into the ‘disputatious but creative’ seventies. It is a tale of an angry young man out to smash the system, a socialist and revolutionary from his earliest and most formative days in Bexhill and at Lancing. His experimental touring theatre, Portable Productions, encouraged by Peter Brook and supported by the gift of a typewriter from Olympia and a camper van from Volkswagen, took alternative theatre around the country, to the Edinburgh Fringe and even into Europe. The non-delivery of a promised script forced him to write his first play in just four days - and here he ‘discovered that he could write dialogue’. Subsequently, he discovered that he could also direct stage plays and films – and from these beginnings, he became a leading figure in the world of stage and screen. The book is essentially about change and the transformation of social attitudes – the changes in outlook following the immediate post-war consensus, the changes facing institutions (most notably schools, university, theatre and the arts, the church and of course politics). It might well have been titled ‘The Fall of the Establishment and my Part in it’ (pace: Spike Milligan). Although the story ends as Margaret Thatcher came to power in 1979, his distaste for the lady (and her Conservative predecessors) is a recurrent theme throughout the book. It will be the Lancing connection which will interest most readers. Lancing must have been changing fast just as David Hare arrived there. Evidently, things were rather different under William Gladstone than they had been under John Dancy as we all moved into the Sixties. He lays emphasis on the perceived inadequacy of his background – a ‘fatherless’ boy, coming from a semi-detached home in Bexhill – though Lancing was certainly then a ‘minor public school’, and many pupils must have come from backgrounds not so very different from his own. Gaining an Open Scholarship to Lancing, he seems rather to have missed the point that scholarships were awarded for excellence to intelligent pupils and not (as perhaps these days) to those less advantaged. He was certainly a clever pupil who, by his own admission, became a ‘pseud’ – and he went on to gain an Open Scholarship to Jesus College, Cambridge to study English under one of his school day heroes, Raymond Williams. Describing himself as ‘self-critical, ‘disliked’ and ‘an unpleasant person’, his mother apparently told him she ‘loved him but didn’t like him’. Hare records the usual litany of cold, dirt, food, chapel and the conventions of everyday life, which surround any tale of boarding school. He describes the arrival of a new French teacher Harry Guest who clearly made a big impression on him – and he has kind words for his House Master, Patrick Halsey, and for the Head of English, Donald Bancroft, though he does take a swipe at Bancroft over their differing takes on a skit in ‘Beyond the Fringe’ which they had been to see in Brighton in 1964. Hare describes his time at the Royal Court Theatre and at the Nottingham Playhouse, and his involvement with subsequent productions of alternative, political, revolutionary, scandalous and erotic productions. He recalls the early days of the National Theatre and is particularly grateful to Peter Hall, who kept his play Plenty on after so many critical reviews when it was first presented at the Lyttelton. Plenty was clearly a turning point for Hare, and he has followed this with many more plays, film and television scripts, directing credits and many arts awards. Most notable among these were the trilogy: Racing Demon (1990), Murmuring Judges (1991), The Absence of War (1993) all presented first at the National Theatre. Doubtless there will be further volumes of memoir to follow. Just as Tim Rice had done before him, he fell in love with his leading lady. His two affairs with Kate Nelligan (Knuckle and Plenty) are described sensitively in the book - leading of course to the breakdown of his marriage. He is now married to the Fashion Designer Nicole Farhi. Knighted in 1998, he might well be supposed now to be part of the ‘Establishment’ to which he has spent so much of his life in opposition.
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Obituaries Rupert is survived by his partner Priscilla Campbell Allen. (A more detailed obituary in the Guardian is well worth reading and can be located through the OL Club website)
Alexander Andrew Clive Alexander (Teme 1948 – 53) died on 5th July 2015 aged 80. He was born in May 1935. Following Lancing, Andrew floated between jobs until he became a leader writer with the Yorkshire Post where he made his mark writing on economic issues despite not being an economist. He then tried politics in the early 60’s, standing as Conservative candidate for Colne Valley in the 1963 by-election. He lost the by-election and subsequently lost again at the general election in 1964. Staying with journalism, he made a major move to the Telegraph in 1966 becoming parliamentary sketch writer and gaining significant insight into the workings of the political machine. He moved on to the Daily Mail in 1972 again sketch writing and particularly following Margaret Thatcher. During the 70s he won many press awards and became City editor of the Daily Mail from 1984 to 2002. He was still writing a column for them until 2014. Andrew was a bachelor with a home in Sussex where he entertained his many close friends. (A more detailed obituary in the Daily Telegraph can be located through the OL Club website)
Hughes Rupert Paul Sylvester Hughes (Second’s 1948 – 53) died in August 2015 aged 80. Rupert grew up in Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight where his father was a local vicar. He won a scholarship to Lancing and went on to study classics at Worcester College, Oxford graduating with a first in 1956. Joining the Civil Service, Rupert took a number of postings with the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries and then the Cabinet Office, becoming a highly respected senior civil servant. The most significant change occurred in 1983 when he joined the DHSS. Despite the 1975 Children Act, a highly critical select committee report on childcare law in 1984 led to Rupert chairing an interdepartmental review where his talents came to the fore. He was determined to investigate all aspects of children’s issues, personally engaging with relevant organisations. In 1985 he published a consultation document where its recommendations were largely absorbed unchanged into the 1989 Children Act. It achieved the backing of all the main political parties, passing through both houses with only one minor amendment. At a time when so many serious cases of abuse and neglect were occurring, Rupert Hughes’ efforts to improve childcare law were of immeasurable value. He was appointed a CBE in 1991 and after retirement in 1995 continued to remain active, receiving many honours along the way including an honorary doctorate from the Open University in 1996 for services to children’s welfare.
Robinson Ian Keith Robinson (Sanderson’s 1947 – 52) died suddenly on 20th October 2015 aged 81. Ian was born in October 1934 in Sheffield. From St John’s School he went on to Lancing where he was an accomplished athlete and also a member of the shooting team. His love of shooting continued forever after and he became a longstanding active member and Hon Secretary of the OL Shooting Club. He graduated as a Chartered Mechanical Engineer from Wandsworth Technical College and in 1955 commenced a long career with BP, first testing strategic automotive applications and then facilitating the construction and implementation of Lube oil blending plants across the globe. He retired in 1985 and then devoted much of his time to the dot.com era and the developing computer world, establishing computer workshops locally. He was by nature always striving to help others. In 2004 Ian was given an Award of Council by the Energy Institute following a Citation nomination from Committee of the London and Home Counties Branch of the EI. The following is an extract taken from the nomination letter; …Ian has served the London Branch of the former IP, and now the merged EI, with great distinction
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both as Secretary and Events Co-ordinator over a period of five years. Ian has worked tirelessly and with great commitment, professional integrity and enthusiasm to ensure the success of our series of monthly meetings.
war himself. The family spent the war years in Tasmania, where Jeremy did his early schooling, returning to the UK at the end of the war. Jeremy spent his prep school years in Bexhill before going on to Lancing. He became a House Captain in 1953 and a senior member of the Football XI in 1952 and 1953, in which year he was also Secretary. Jeremy’s son, Christopher, followed in his father’s footsteps in Gibbs’ from 1975-1980.
The fact that everything has been “all right on the night” is the result of Ian’s hard work both upfront and behind the scenes and his close attention to detail. Ian’s unique strength has been his interaction with speakers, the EI’s HQ staff, and members and guests, to ensure high standard presentations, good attendances (routinely >50), and lively networking sessions. Ian passionately believes that the EI’s future success depends on promoting all of these key components.
Selmon Sadly, we have just been advised that John Russell Selmon (Sanderson’s 1947 – 52) died on Monday 4th January 2016, aged 82.
Ian is also actively involved with the EI’s discussion groups and is very supportive of our initiatives to establish local student chapters. Ian had a long and successful career with BP specialising, latterly as the Group’s Senior Consultant, on all aspects of lubricant plant design and operation. For the last 14 years Ian has run his own Consultancy business offering specialised expertise to the lubricating oil industry. Ian is an international expert in his field, he has worked many countries, he has published widely, presented papers to the IP and other professional bodies, and presented lectures to Universities around the world.
He was born on 27th June 1933. He returned to Lancing to become Director of Development from 1990 - 98 and part of the Lancing family, also taking an active role and interest in the Lancing Club. He was Registrar from 1994 – 98, Editor of the Lancing Register (5th Edition) in 1994 and in 1998 Editor of The Lancing Club Newsletter which became the Club Magazine. Many tributes are being paid to him and, accordingly, an obituary looking back at his life and his support for Lancing and OLs will appear in the next issue.
In summary Ian Robinson is an excellent candidate for an Award of Council and I have great pleasure in presenting this nomination. Gopal Srinivasan, Chairman, London and Home Counties Branch. He married Ann Elizabeth Colquhoun in March 1961. They had three children Andrew (Sanderson’s 1976-81), Stephen (Sanderson’s 1978-83) and a daughter Louise. Many memorable holidays were spent by the family in Cornwall, Wales and the South of France. He is survived by his devoted wife Ann, their three children and six grandchildren. His younger brother David (Sanderson’s 1951 – 54) predeceased him, dying unexpectedly in 1999. (A family obituary can be found on the OL Club website)
After National Service, Jeremy started his working life in sales for Truman’s Brewery before taking over a small independent company, Hotlock Food Conveyors, in 1961. Jeremy grew this small company into a limited company supplying not only local authorities, hospitals etc. but also the ‘Meals on Wheels’ service nationwide and the RAF and the military in general. More importantly, the Food Conveyors offices in Maiden Lane WC2 were used as a regular venue for LOBFC Committee Meetings! Jeremy’s involvement with and support for Lancing and OL activities are well known, attending over 50 Lancing events in the last nine years. He served for many years on the OL Club Committee, was President of the LOBFC for several years and sat on the committee for the promotion of the 1848 Legacy Society. A Principal Patron of the Lancing Foundation, he worked hard to encourage OL support for Foundationers’ Bursaries, a project dear to his heart. As a devoted OL and a true gentleman he will be sorely missed by the whole Lancing family. He is survived by his wife Claire, his children Mark and Christopher, grandchildren Fay, Lucy, Henry and Orlando and siblings Gill and Lesley.
Taylor Jeremy Michael Vivian Taylor (Gibbs’ 1949 – 53) died aged 80 in July 2015. He was born in Singapore on the 13th September 1935. Anticipating the fall of Singapore, his father, working there for Shell Oil, managed to secure places for his wife and children on a VIP flight to Australia before becoming a prisoner of
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(A eulogy given by Nick Evans (Sanderson’s 53-57) at Jeremy’s funeral can be found on the OL Club website)
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Football event for your diary
Just a few of our Club venues…
The OL Football Dinner – Friday 6 May 2016 The OL Football Club is, for the second year running, holding their dinner at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge ground. Please keep the date Friday 6 May free in your diaries and more details will be forthcoming soon. Notwithstanding the football venue, the LOBFC welcomes all OLs and their guests to this unique OL occasion.
Topolski Gallery and Bar
16, St James’ Square
Royal Thames Yacht Club, London
Royal Over-Seas League, London
Stamford Bridge, Chelsea.
The Dickens Inn
Diary of Events for OLs in 2016 Contact us for more information: news@lancingclub.com Event
Venue
Date – 2016
Dinner at Hood
Streatham, London
Thursday 4th February
Over 60s Spring Lunch
The Athenaeum, London
Thursday 28th April
The OL Football Dinner 2016
Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge, London
Friday 6th May
The Old Lancing Club AGM and Summer Party
Royal Over-Seas League, London AGM at 6.00pm, followed by Summer Reception from 7.00pm
Thursday 2nd June
The Young OLs Drinks Party
TBC, London
Thursday 15th September
The Old Lancing Club Dinner
East India Club, London Friday 4th November Guest speaker Canon David Reindorp
Carol Service and Christmas Party Chelsea Old Church, London
Monday 12th December