My Trinity, Spring 2023

Newsletter for former pupils, staff and friends

Alumni in the News - page 4

Alumni in the Spotlightpage 8

Memory Lane - page 26

In Memoriam - page 28

Welcome to the second edition of My Trinity. What a fantastic response we had to our first all-digital offering. The archive was delved into, alumni have reconnected or connected for the first time and cross-Atlantic virtual coffee mornings are being arranged as we type. Bringing the alumni community together in this way is exactly what we are here for.

Continuing with the idea that we have a theme for each edition, what better theme to go for than rugby? Following on from a pre-Christmas tour to Thailand and another successful year reaching the National Schools Cup Final, it seemed like an obvious choice. We have brought to you some of the

players and captains from the most successful sides of the last five decades.

Mofe Wilkey (Class of 2015), Joe Baulf (Class of 2009), George Chuter (Class of 1994) and Jerry Bedwell (Class of 1978) have all shared the highs and lows of their school rugby careers and beyond.

We were keen to ask each player if they could win only one match all season, who would you want to beat? If you were a Trinity rugby player, what was yours? Email us here and let us know.

A successful team is nothing without an inspiring and driven coach. Turn to page 15 to read about our Coaches in the Spotlight. From current Head of Rugby – Paul

Roberts to the legend that is Mike Alexander.

A new team member means a new team photo, so let us give a big warm welcome to Panashe Mbanje, our new data analyst, who joined us in January. Panashe is looking forward to meeting you all at one of our many upcoming events.

With best wishes,

3 School News

4 Alumni in the News

8 Alumni in the Spotlight –Mofe Wilkey 2015

10 Alumni in the Spotlight –Joe Baulf 2009

12 Alumni in the Spotlight –George Chuter 1994

14 Alumni in the Spotlight –Jerry Bedwell 1978

15 Coaches in the Spotlight

20 Alumni Return

24 Events

26 Memory Lane

28 In Memoriam

30 Dates for your Diary

Hannah Karpal represents Great Britain in powerlifting

Congratulations to Lower Sixth student Hannah Karpal, who recently represented Great Britain at the European Powerlifting Championships in Poland and was placed 6th overall in her category, a fantastic achievement!

Aston Gayle signs with Crystal Palace FC

Third Year student Aston Gayle has just signed with the U14s at Crystal Palace FC, after coaches recognised the incredible potential in the young footballer.

Lucy Bullock accepts water polo scholarship in San Diego

Congratulations to Trinity student Lucy Bullock who has recently signed a letter of intent to play water polo for San Diego State University from next season. Lucy has been offered a sports scholarship to study psychology there for four years.

Trinity Netballers: UK Top 10

Congratulations to our 1st Netball team who have been blazing a trail for Trinity in this year’s England Netball National Schools’ Competition. The top 18 schools in the U19 category competed for the title, and our Trinity team finished in joint ninth position out of 1,500 teams who entered the competition – we are thrilled for them!

New Australia rugby coach Eddie Jones visits Trinity

Hours before signing his new five-year contract with the Wallabies, ahead of the World Cup 2023 (he’d hinted he had to get final approval from his wife for a new role), Eddie was out on the pitches at Trinity, completely focused on putting our young rugby players through their paces.

For more school news, click here: https://trinity-school.org/news/

Ed Shuttleworth (Class of 1998)

Ed has been appointed the new chief executive of Sport Tasman, one of 14 charitable regional sports trusts that support New Zealanders to be more active and healthy. Ed has an extensive background in sports management, with senior roles at the International Cricket Council (ICC) and New Zealand Cricket.

Alex Willis (Class of 2018)

Alex is in the third year of his farriery apprenticeship and has been selected for the England Apprentice Farrier Team for international competitions in the next year.

In their first competition they competed at the International Apprentice Team Horseshoe Forging Championships, held at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire, against USA, Sweden, France, Scotland, Wales and a team from the British Army. They performed incredibly and came first!

Mike Fleet (Class of 1956)

Mike has written and published a book on the ‘Croydon Harrier’s History, 1920-2020’, all in the aid of charity. All proceeds go to Cardiac Risk in the Young. The charity is very close to the hearts of the Trinity community after we sadly lost one of our pupils, William Lane, to an undiagnosed heart condition last year. You can purchase this fantastic book and donate to a good cause at the same time by emailing Mike at mafleet1@gmail.com. We are looking forward to his next book, which features one hundred works of art by Olympians. If you know someone who could contribute to his next project, please drop him an email.

Archie Pearson (Class of 2022)

Archie, last year’s 1st XV captain, is currently in Australia playing in the U20 colts squad with Manly rugby club. Training is going well and he’s looking forward to getting out there and playing some games.

Alisha Mehta (Class of 2016)

Alisha, who featured in last term’s newsletter, had her first research paper published in the British Psychological Society Journal.

Obi Akubueze (Class of 2022)

Obi recently fought in his first boxing bout at Newcastle University. Great photos and fantastic to see that he is still supporting Trinity (see his boxing shorts!!)

Basit Sheikh (Class of 1986)

Congratulations to Basit (on the right) who recently climbed to the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro! When asked his motivation for attempting such a feat, his response was, “well somebody had to, I suppose”. We have been reliably informed this is the true spirit of a 1986 leaver – do something for no reason!

Adam Constable KC (Class of 1991)

Congratulations to Adam on his appointment as Justice of the High Court.

Adam was called to the Bar in 1995, was appointed as a Recorder in 2009 and took silk in 2011. He has extensive experience in onshore and offshore construction, engineering, energy, shipbuilding and professional negligence cases as both a barrister and an arbitrator.

Simon Dunnell (Class of 1995)

London’s New Year’s Eve celebrations were open to the public for the first time in two years, and it was certainly a night to remember. As a director and board member of Identity, the company behind the event, Simon ensured that the project met the creative, financial, and operational objectives. Read more here:

Oli McDonough (Class of 2007)

Congratulations to Oli for being awarded the Association’s Certificate of Commendation for Adult Instructors of London Cadets. Oli is part of the team leading the cadets at Alleyn’s School as well as being a volunteer member of staff working with our very own Trinity School CCF.

Mofe Wilkey Class of 2015

Mofe Wilkey (Class of 2015) was named as one of the outstanding players in the 2015 1st XV. He went on to play for Harlequins and now works in financial services as a catastrophe modeller.

You were part of the team that went on tour to Hong Kong and Australia. How did this help prepare you for the successful season ahead?

We built life-long memories, visiting countries and places we had never seen before. We played

against very strong rugby teams that had different styles of play to what we were used to. We spent large amounts of time together, which really built the team spirit. Moreover, friendships within the team were strengthened.

Funniest story from the tour?

The team had several on-tour games that started from the moment we stepped on the bus at the beginning of the tour to when we got off the bus a few weeks later. For example, “Simon says” - any action that “Simon” did, we had to copy. There was a particular round that saw all of the team freeze in the middle of the airport, leaving everyone not involved very confused.

What’s the biggest mistake people make with their training?

Not thinking about the aim of the drills or not understanding the aim of their actions while training. Running certain patterns or plays that were designed with a purpose, and then not fully understanding that purpose, can lead to large amounts of wasted time and effort.

You had Mr Liffchak and Mr Beresford-Miller as your coaches. What was the biggest contribution they made to the success of the team?

Yes, I was extremely lucky to have had such great coaches. I think the most important lesson they taught us was trying to make ourselves complete players. Being able to be both physical and skilful, regardless of the position you’re playing, is a mindset that helps at all levels of the game.

You played for the Harlequins after leaving school, how was that after playing school rugby?

I’m very grateful I got the chance. The key differences between school-level rugby and Harlequins was in the speed and physicality of the game and training. Getting to train with the top-level players, coaches and staff helped me develop as a player and person. There was always a massive emphasis on preparation and being able to “do your job”.

Who helped you the most to settle in at Quins?

The strength and conditioning

coaches and Mark Lambert. Stepping up to be able to play at the highest level takes a large amount of effort and work. The workload and required dedication take a while to get used to.

What was it like being part of such a famous club?

At the time, I was very focused on playing and being in form but now, looking back, it was an incredible experience and I’m grateful I got the opportunity.

What skills and values you learnt as a rugby player have you taken into your career?

I think preparation and understanding your role when collaborating are key lessons I make use of today.

One piece of advice you’d give to our current 1st XV?

Don’t take any of the matches or trips for granted. Those experiences

#TrinityGives

are still some of my favourite memories.

The greatest player ever born, in any position, anywhere in the world?

Jonah Lomu

If you could win only one match all season, who would you want to beat?

Dulwich College – the games against them were always very important.

Last month we launched our #TrinityGives campaign which celebrates everything Trinity school has given us, the Trinity community.

We'll be sharing peoples answers on social media over the next few months. Click the link below to let us know what Trinity has given you.

Click here

friendships with past colleagues. Satisfaction at having had a small part in the development of able and achieving adults.”

Tim Cattell (Staff 1977-2002)

Tim Jupp (Class of 2002)

“Lasting

“Life skills, confidence, sense of place. Trinity has been a significant influence on my life”

Joe Baulf Class of 2009

Joe Baulf (Class of 2009) left Trinity to study geography at Southampton University. He is now a partner in the Transaction Services arm of the Capital Markets team at PKF Littlejohn.

You were part of one of the most successful first teams in the history of the school. What made your team so different to those before?

It all stemmed back to the first couple of years at Trinity. We

had a group of boys that started winning from the off, thanks to one Jermaine Alexander and his ability to sprint 100m in under 11 seconds. From there, the coaches at school looked to develop our core skills to complement the team’s natural physical attributes. After completing three unbeaten seasons, the mentality of the team was one of winning and nothing else was acceptable. There were very skilled players throughout the team, but this was underpinned by an extremely solid all-round squad.

How instrumental was your pre-season tour to Australia and Singapore to your success?

The tour was a brilliant bonding experience for a group of players who had already been together for six years. It further strengthened the team spirit while pitching us against some incredibly difficult teams. I don’t think anyone who went on that tour will forget playing in 95%+ humidity in Singapore.

Funniest story from your tour?

The tour was full of some great coming of age antics that I will never forget and that will live in the memories of only those who went on the tour. On one evening while in Singapore, myself and couple of the other lads in the team came across several of the coaches very drunk, wrestling in one hotel room. Safe to

say, the coaches’ memory of this was hazy the next day and training started a lot later than expected.

Any matches from that season that still haunt you?

The first game of the season against Langley Park, losing by one point, will always haunt me and the rest of the team. I still can’t put a finger on why or how we lost that game. Langley had always been a heated game, due to the proximity of the schools, and although we were the better team, the occasion, post a successful tour, got to us and we threw it away.

Former student and England rugby player Alex Codling was your coach. What impact did he have on the team?

Alex was a taskmaster who changed the way we looked at approaching games and preparation leading up to them. That higher level of professionalism spread throughout our training, diet and overall game plan. I personally saw the pack show a much higher level of controlled aggression in games, turning us into a real force to be reckoned with. His arrival also came with great perks, like the full kit sponsored by Canterbury and ex-professionals like Brian Habana coming to help coach a session.

Did you go on to play at a professional level after leaving Trinity?

Attempting to go professional was something I stepped away from when I was 16. Going through the motions and trialling at Harlequins, Saracens and London Irish enlightened me to the darker side of the academy system. Of the guys I played with at school, County and London level, I only know of one who truly made it professionally.

years’ time. Life also does not need to be worked out at the age of 21.

If you could win only one match all season, who would you want to beat?

John Fisher was always the team I wanted to beat. There was an incredible rivalry between the two schools as we played every season. They always had a phenomenal team and beating them in that final year was the crown jewel in my

A lot of the others either fell away beforehand or were dropped due to injuries.

I can’t underestimate enough how much I loved playing for Old Mids, now Trinity RFC, for five years after university. Playing week in, week out with guys throughout the years from Trinity was really special. I still follow the results of the school and the club avidly.

What one piece of advice would you give an 18-year-old Joe Baulf about how to plan for the future or key things to consider?

Say yes to everything, take the risks you were worried about and don’t worry if there isn’t a plan. The things that scared you will be trivial in 10

mind. A special mention has to go to Whitgift as our true rivals, but we only ended up playing them once over my seven years at Trinity, so it was a battle that was never settled.

The greatest player ever born, in any position, anywhere in the world?

At the time I was at Trinity, Jonny Wilkinson reached the pinnacle of rugby by winning the World Cup in the way he did and he will stand for me. However, as the greatest player ever, I would have to say Richie McCaw. Seeing the way he led and routinely won with the All Blacks was pure mastery of the game and he defined a group of players that changed the way rugby was played at the time.

George Chuter Class of 1994

George Chuter (Class of 1994) left Trinity to go to university with the intention of becoming a teacher. Halfway through his time at university the game went professional and he was immediately snapped up by Saracens. After Saracens, he went on to, play for the Leicester Tigers and was part of the club’s successful era during the 2000s, winning multiple Premiership and Heineken Cup titles. The pinnacle of his career came when he played for the England national team, earning 24 caps between 2003 and 2011.

Since retiring, George has remained involved in the sport and works as a coach and as a public speaker at Under the Posts Ltd.

How did Trinity prepare you for playing rugby at a professional level?

While the game was still amateur when I was playing at the school, I learnt quite early on what it would take to become a good rugby player. A few teachers were still playing a good level of rugby locally, and I tried to gather as much from them as possible. We

also had access to a decent gym and underwent a pretty good introduction to weight training that would become a very important part of professional rugby. And finally, the great New Zealand All Black captain Wayne Shelford came to the school one year, to run a coaching session with the First XV. Although I wasn’t old enough to be playing for the team yet, I heard stories of the training he ran, and some of the advice he gave the players and coaches, and I took a lot of that on board and put it to good use when I was starting to take rugby seriously.

Your greatest try?

I didn’t score lots of tries, unfortunately! However, the ones I did score tended to be more than just a rolling maul try where everyone else did the work. I scored one of the quickest hat-tricks in Premiership history when I scored three tries in the first 34 minutes of a game against Rotherham, which was memorable. But my favourite try was the only one I scored for England. It was in my first start, against Australia in Melbourne. I took a pass from the scrum half at a ruck, threw a huge dummy, and ran in from about 40 metres out. I wasn’t going very fast, but it felt like I was at the time!!

The tackling height is being reduced this summer in the community game. Many players say this will change the game as we know it. What are your thoughts? How will it impact those players that then go on to play professionally?

I think it needs to be said that this is just a trial of changing the tackle height. If things don’t work, the RFU can still change things back to the way they were. I do think that encouraging the tackler to go low is not a guarantee of avoiding injury to the tackler. It may reduce tacklers making contact with the head of a ball-carrier, but it may also increase the instances where a tackler may get their head in the wrong place and catch a knee to the head. I think it is a strange move to concentrate on the tackle to make the game safer, when far more injuries probably occur in rucks where players are

less in control of their actions due to the frantic and fast nature off breakdowns. Also, the new regulation does not apply to the professional game, so we won’t see how it works on televised games.

Trinity is on a winning streak now. How seriously do people watch our success in terms of identifying future professional talent?

Schools’ rugby has always been an important tool in developing future professional players. I think you can identify talents and abilities, as well as character traits, that will be beneficial in a professional environment. However, it’s also worth noting that young players, particularly young male players, can change and develop in drastically different ways between school and senior rugby. A player who is perhaps bigger, stronger, or faster as a youngster, will not necessarily continue to be superior as their age-group gets older. This is why I believe it is essential for school-age players to be very strong in basic skills and techniques. Tackle technique is a great example of this. A player who learns to tackle properly from an early age will likely avoid injury and be a far more effective tackler when they get older, compared to a player who is just big and strong for their age and gets away with just grabbing other players. This is where schools can really help players become good professionals.

One piece of advice you’d give to our current 1st XV?

The best advice I can give is to enjoy the sport. If you are not enjoying it, it will be very difficult to get better at it. Rugby can give you so much, so don’t take it so

seriously that you miss out on the fun. When you are training and playing, there is a time to be serious and concentrate. But there is also time for enjoying what you do.

If you could win only one match all season, who would you want to beat?

At Leicester, our biggest game of the season was the local derby against Northampton. The clubs are only about 35 miles from each other, and in the border areas between the two counties, even families have split loyalties! Although I grew up in London, I played for Leicester for 14 years, and the derby week was always the most important fixture of the year, especially for the fans. And fortunately, I beat Northampton more than I lost to them!!

The greatest player ever born, in any position, anywhere in the world?

In my opinion, the greatest player to play the game is New Zealand All Black Richie McCaw. He had no weaknesses to his game, he was a great captain, probably could have played in most positions on the field and was never injured in over 140 Test matches. Incredible record! Oh, and he won the World Cup twice as captain, back-to-back.

Jerry Bedwell Class of 1978

Jerry Bedwell (Class of 1978) captained the 1978 1st XV team, which scored 488 points against 89, and was arguably the best team the school had produced at the time - although proponents of the 1948 and 1960 sides may disagree! Whatever the merits of the case, the 1978 side had a superb season. The Daily Telegraph correspondent pointed out, on more than one occasion, that the success was based on an experienced, strong pack. Since leaving here in the late 1970s Jerry went on to study Law at Hull University and has since owned a string of successful small businesses.

At what age was it becoming evident that your year group had the makings of a winning 1st XV?

If the truth be known, my year group was not the best. It was not uncommon for us to be under our posts before we had even touched the ball!

When the year below came into the Sixth Form and we joined forces, we began to win. A year later (I did 3rd year sixth), we had a special side.

Who were the other stand-out players/stars of your team?

There were several . . . Mark Johnston, Dave Tutt, Bob Steadman. But we had a great team spirit with everyone contributing - and Ian Cheyne was a great coach.

You lost one match in the 1978 season, are you over it yet?

No . . . it still rankles! And it’s not just me! Whenever I meet old team mates, the subject still crops up!

Did you consider playing professionally?

There was no professional rugby in those days and I was far from being good enough. But I did continue playing for the old boys (OMWRFC as it was then) working my way down the sides.

What are the main factors of success, applicable to the business industry you went into, that you have learnt from your experience as a rugby player?

I have been fortunate to have my own businesses, albeit small ones, but the lessons I learnt from captaining the school team had a useful application to the staff I employed. Treat everyone differently and learn what is needed to get the best from each individual. One piece of advice you’d give to our current 1st XV?

Train hard, enjoy the game and don’t spend all evening in the Surprise pub after the game!

If you could win only one match all season, who would you want to beat?

Whitgift or Old Whitgiftians!

The greatest player ever born, in any position, anywhere in the world.

Gareth Edwards. I am old enough to have watched him at Twickenham when younger!

Trinity in the National Schools Cup Final

We are very proud of the way that our Boys’ 1st XV Rugby squad have played this season. Despite the loss against Oakham in the recent final at Twickenham, they fought right to the end and scored some great tries. It was a memorable occasion for students, staff, parents and alumni to enjoy, with nearly 500 supporters at the ground, and many more watching at school and elsewhere. They have had a remarkable two years, with some nerve-jangling victories, and we have greatly enjoyed watching them. Our special thanks go to their coaches Ian Kench and Paul Roberts, who lead our rugby across the school, and all the other staff, parents and students who have been so supportive.

Ian Kench, Director of Sport

Sean King, Class of 2005 and incoming Director of Sport, reflects on the contribution Ian Kench, outgoing Director of Sport, has made to the school over the years.

When tasked with replacing Ian, it became clear very quickly that it was quite simply impossible. Ian is one of a kind and, in my opinion, one of the very best in this industry.

He would deny being the catalyst for our most recent rugby success,

highlighting all those who had come before him, Alex Codling and Aaron Liffchak to name but two, and while of course they played their part, he has expertly refined our programme to be one of the most successful in the UK.

Teams personify their leadership over time and Ian’s influence is obvious in our first team - dogged and organised in defence, and slick and well-prepared at the setpiece. Most of all, and the thing that he will be proudest of, he produces good people, who make telling contributions around and in every area of school life. It would be wrong to focus solely on Ian’s contribution to the top end. The energy and enthusiasm he gives to those who are new to rugby is infectious and I’m sure a huge number of students would highlight his impact as being the reason they initially enjoyed playing rugby and continued to do so, regardless of the level, as they moved through the school.

As Director of Sport, Ian has overseen and guided an incredible period of success both in physical education and sport. The number

of students selecting to study physical education at GCSE is three times where it was a decade ago and the same can be said for those who continue to study the subject at A-Level. Our practical PE programme has constantly been reviewed and amended, with the pupil experience, regardless of ability, being at the heart of any changes.

As a head of a “minor” sport, I have felt not only supported but empowered by Ian to ensure that we are giving our students the best possible experience and opportunities. It is fitting that in his final year, we have seven teams from five different sports all having reached the latter stages of their respective national competitions, with one already securing the National Title at the time of writing this article.

We’ll miss you mate, nobody more so than me. We are all major beneficiaries of learning and working with you and your influence on Trinity will endure. No matter what you do next, you will always have a family here that will welcome you with open arms.

Trinity rugby coaches

The success of a team is a complex interplay between the players and coaches. While talent and skill are essential, teamwork, strategy, leadership, motivation, adaptability and resilience are also critical factors in determining a team’s success. We interviewed some of Trinity’s finest coaches from the last six decades.

their students. We are constantly reflecting and discussing how to improve, how we can adjust our sessions to get the most out of each particular group of students. I myself have improved so much as a coach from just being around a special group of people and having the opportunity to learn with them. If there has been one thing that has set the senior teams apart over the past few years it has been their love for the game and how much they enjoy playing with, and being around, one another. That culture has been fostered by our coaches, but it has been driven by our students, who I know are keen to pass it on to future year groups.

There is something special about seeing the two year groups come together and how, in the space of a few months, students can go from barely knowing each other to building life-long friendships. I look forward to seeing this year’s Lower Sixth take the lead next year.

The international schools competition in Thailand looked to be a tough gig, but what were the highlights from the coaching staff’s point of view and lessons learnt?

Paul Roberts, Head of Rugby 2017 – Present

We have seen results improving year by year, particularly the 1st XV, so what has been the reason for this and what have been the key coaching successes that have been introduced over the past few years that are producing these results now?

I think this is the result of a lot of hard work from coaches and students over many years. From a coaching perspective, I cannot overstate how incredible the coaches we have at Trinity are. They absolutely love coaching rugby and give everything to

How do you go about blending the Lower and Upper Sixth students into a cohesive and successful squad?

This is a tough one to answer: I think this is driven very much by the students themselves. Ultimately, I think the responsibility is on the Upper Sixth; they have to take the lead in making the younger year feel welcome. Having had a year of senior rugby and being in the Sixth Form under their belt, they have walked in the younger year group’s shoes, and they understand how much the previous Upper Sixth did to support them. If the Upper Sixth do their job well, the Lower Sixth will appreciate it and recognise that is their turn to take the lead the following year.

To have the opportunity to go and challenge ourselves against the best schools in the world was a special experience for the boys and staff. There were some incredibly tough games, but you wouldn’t expect anything less and we learnt a lot. The highlight for me was seeing our group go through some adversity and watching them stick together to work through it and come out as a more closely knit group because of it. From a coaching perspective, getting to see other exceptional teams from across the world train and play, and then to sit down each evening with their coaches and discuss ideas, had me noting down plenty of new ideas on the plane home.

The greatest player ever born, in any position, anywhere in the world?

Ardie Savea

Grant Beresford-Miller, Rugby Coach 2005 – present

What do you look for in stars of the future and how early on can you pick them?

It all depends on what position they play, when you start to think about physical attributes, but I think the things that has stood out for me during my time as a coach at Trinity, is that we look at their coachability - are they willing to listen to feedback and act on it to get better? Are they always looking to improve themselves? I remember when Gabriel Ibitoye came to Trinity, he had never played rugby before and he ended up playing England U18. He had the perfect mix of incredible physical attributes and a fantastic attitude towards the sport. He was incredibly coachable.

How do you structure the rugby coaching for the various age groups and abilities and rules for junior, middle and senior?

I think it has changed quite a lot over the years since I have been here, but I think the change that has made the biggest impact on our rugby is the introduction of game play in all of our sessions. It is not always full contact game play, but the main thing is that it allows the students to make decisions for themselves.

What are the key messages or values that you instil across these groups?

That playing rugby, or any sport for that matter, is about enjoying it, playing with a smile on your face, and trying to improve in some small way at every single training session. By doing that, you’re always getting better and you’ll be a better player as you move forward.

The greatest player ever born, in any position, anywhere in the world?

You can’t look past Jonah Lomu.

There have been some incredible players over the years, but I think that he is the one that had the most profound impact on rugby. An incredible player!

How do you build and maintain team cohesion and morale?

Cohesion and morale are a lot easier when you are winning and/or putting in good performances. So, the better job I can do as a coach - the more I can get the players to buy into working hard for each other and seeing the bigger picture and leaving the shirt in a better place - the more likely they are to show cohesion when the tough times come.

Aaron Liffchak, Director of Rugby 2010-2017

What’s the biggest challenge you face in schools’ rugby now?

Keeping parents focused on the benefits playing rugby (in all its forms) brings, rather than the negatives. From a management perspective, having academic teachers buying into taking a team and giving up their Saturdays.

Are there any coaches from other sports that have influenced your own approach?

I’ve been lucky, I’ve worked with multiple England coaches over the years. The most consistent trait they all have is work rate, they don’t know when to stop. Early mornings, late nights, it’s all about being better.

If you could change one law in schools’ rugby and one in the first-class game, what would they be and why?

The driving maul . . . it’s such a boring part of our game both in the school game and first-class game.

The greatest player ever born, in any position, anywhere in the world?

Jonah Lomu, the first true rugby super star!

As you went up the first-class ladder to international level, what were the biggest hurdles you faced at each stage and how did you overcome them?

The level of competition for places increased as you progressed through the first-class ladder and on to being involved and playing at international level. You must have confidence in your own ability first and foremost and be prepared to keep improving your game on a technical, physical and mental level. The second is injury; you can go from being a central part of a team to being on the sidelines through injury and feeling very much on the outside. The mental strain of this is probably the thing that people don’t see. You have to be open and find ways of staying integrated in the group in any way that you can, e.g. helping the team prepare for a game or coaching younger players.

Which do you consider to be your best ever game and why?

Playing for England v Barbarians 2002. I had just come back off a really good season with Harlequins and there were some noises that I might get called into the squad. I remember getting a call from Louise Ramsay (the then team manager) while leaving the Harlequins training ground in Aldershot. I went from being called up into the squad to being selected in the team by Clive Woodward. Playing against the

likes of Jonah Lomu was a dream come true and in front of a full house at Twickenham is a moment I will never forget. Seeing my family in the stand singing the national anthem will live long in the memory. We won and it was then announced that I was in the touring party for the tour to Argentina.

With the concussion protocol now in place, do you think this alone is enough to provide safety for players or what changes would you like to see introduced at the top level and through the club and community levels?

Yes, but the sanctions around high tackles and forceful contact to the head need to be strong to be an effective deterrent.

The greatest player ever born, in any position, anywhere in the world?

Jonny Wilkinson - the consummate professional both on and off the field. An absolute gentleman who always delivered in the big moments and someone whom his teammates always held in the highest regard. A legend of the game.

Mike Alexander, Teacher and Rugby Coach at Trinity, 1974 – 2013

Tell me about your time at Trinity as a rugby coach?

Life at Trinity for me started in 1974 and ended in 2013. At the start, the first team was coached by Dick Boetius. I joined Ian

Alex Codling, Class of 1992, Director of Sport at Trinity 2007 –2012 and former England player

Cheyne in running the U16 team. Within a year or so, Ian and I were running the 1st and 2nd XVs.

Later Ian and I coached the 1st XV together until he retired, when I became the master in charge of the 1st XV. While in charge, I was lucky enough to oversee two unbeaten seasons with a very strong fixture list.

How did you work with students to develop their skills and tactics on the field?

The key to success even in weaker years is selection and a game plan that suits your selection. The plan could either be forward or back-focused, or even the “switch” game plan for lighter but very mobile teams. The best teams are a melt of all styles, personified in recent years by the term “total rugby”.

A key to selection, and thus game plan, is watching and nurturing players from the JBugs upwards. It is surprising how a moderate player in the junior school can become a first-class 1st team player.

How did you think your coaching style and approach would be different if you were coaching today?

I hope my coaching style would be the same now as it was when I started - being student-centred. Being a school master not just a teacher is also important. Trying to get the best out of a player whether he be ordinary or exceptional, and then meld them into a team who play for each other without the pressures to succeed at all costs.

Also, Ian Cheyne and I were the first to introduce the “tour”. Ian’s first was to a very rainy Peterborough. Gradually, I began

to go further afield culminating in a tour to South America and then a “world” tour.

The greatest player ever born, in any position, anywhere in the world?

As to greatest player? An impossible question to answer, but heroes from my youth: Colin Meads, Barry John, Gareth Edwards.

Tournament at the Rosslyn Park 7s two years ago and this year will be our third year entering the world’s largest school rugby tournament. Last year, we won our group and got through to the Cup quarter-finals with some very impressive performances. This year, the Upper Sixth girls have the benefit of experiencing the tournament last year and will be joined by some very capable Lower Sixth girls who have taken up the sport.

Some of the girls have enjoyed playing so much that they have now joined rugby clubs outside school. I look forward to seeing the continued growth of girls’ rugby over the next few years.

Stacia Long – Head of Girls Games

Girls’ rugby at Trinity has been growing for the past couple of years and we now have 30 girls playing the 15-a-side game and rugby 7s. We hold weekly training sessions where the girls are introduced to rugby skills, tackling, game understanding and set piece.

We began by entering the Girls

The greatest player ever born, in any position, anywhere in the world?

Jonah Lomu. He was a freak of nature – in terms of his size -and this combined with his ability to accelerate and move at such pace was incredible to watch. He was skilful and brought rugby to a new global audience. He defines my memories of watching rugby growing up –generally watching him mow down England players in the process of scoring simply brilliant tries for fun!

Economics Society - A Talk by Joe Charuy and Nathan Thomas (Class of 2017)

What steps do you need to take from being a student at Trinity to becoming an analyst at a top bank or investment management company?

Thank you to Trinity alumni Joe and Nathan who gave an insightful talk to 30 Sixth Form students on how to nail that graduate role. Joe is currently an analyst in the Equity Research division of Bank America and Nathan is an analyst in the Fixed Income (Rotational) division of Fidelity International.

From attending Insight Days and networking events at university, to spring week, summer internships and making the most of a placement year, they provided our students with top tips and strategies to realise their career aspirations. Our Sixth Form students were particularly engaged and inspired by Joe and Nathan as they were speaking from very recent experience.

This is another fantastic example of our younger alumni giving back and sharing their expertise with current Trinity students. Contact Joe and Nathan on My Trinity, our alumni networking platform, www. mytrinity.org.uk

Thank you to the legendary Mr O (Head of Economics and Business Studies) for inviting them back.

Trinity Spotlight Careers Talk - Elliot Burnett (Class of 2009)

Elliot was Head Boy at Trinity and left the school in 2009. He chose to study history at King’s College London and then took up an undergraduate internship with financial services company J P Morgan. This led to his selection onto their graduate scheme, a move to energy trading and an overseas secondment with another leading energy player. He then spent a period learning wider business skills at the helm of a successful start-up company before moving onto Shell as Head of Commercial Asset Optimisation UK.

Talking through his own career choices reassured our Fifth Year and Sixth Form students that it is possible to navigate their way to exciting, international and rewarding jobs like his from a variety of A Level subjects and post-Trinity choices, including apprenticeships.

International Women’s Day with professional sportswoman Kira Chathli

International Women’s Day was an inspirational and reflective day for Trinity School and we were privileged to welcome professional cricketer Kira Chathli (Class of 2017), who currently plays for Surrey, South East Stars and Oval Invincibles.

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day was #EmbraceEquity and Kira tackled headon the challenges in women’s cricket, and also the progress that has been made. Kira explained her sporting week, which included skills, fitness training and, most importantly, recovery. She also asked the audience the question “what makes a great athlete?”. There were some great answers from the students: competitiveness, commitment, passion, resilience, drive, self-confidence and humility – all of which Kira has in abundance.

There are, sadly, still so many barriers facing women and girls – but at the same time there are lots of organisations out there doing great work to support women in sport. One of the organisations highlighted by Kira was ‘Take Her Lead’, whose mission is for cricket to be a place where every woman and girl can fulfil their potential and thrive, within the game and beyond.

After the presentation to the students, Kira led the girls’ cricket team in a coaching session in the Sports Hall, followed by a game of cricket - a great end to the day.

A Talk to MDV Society - Angela Chen (Class of 2020)

Angela left Trinity in the middle of the pandemic in 2020. A very driven young woman, she set her sights on obtaining a place to study dentistry and was back to share how she successfully gained a place at King’s College London. Angela gave a great presentation and went into detail on how she had researched through UCAS, visited universities, used social media and utilised Unibuddy, an online university portal.

But it’s not just about gaining the right exam results. Confidence, patience and compassion are all key skills required. Unfortunately, a lot of people are scared of the dentist! It’s their job to convince them there’s nothing to worry about.

Angela left the group feeling empowered about how to make more confident decisions regarding their career choice. Thank you Angela.

Trinity students meet with alumni studying in Cambridge

Trinity students recently visited Cambridge for a walking tour of the city, visiting popular tourist locations, including a tour of Clare College. After 2 and a half hours, they were exhausted and ready to eat. Over lunch, Donna had arranged for them to meet up with three current Cambridge undergrads, Kiran Patel, Sally Edser and Varun Ravikumar, who were on hand to answer questions about their course, the application process, and university life in Cambridge - an early and valuable introduction to networking with the alumni community.

Mr Flanagan’s Physics Christmas Quiz – Alumni vs Students

The annual Physics Christmas quiz took place on Thursday, 15 December. Mr Flanagan had prepared a page of rigorous questions that challenged our alumni and students and left a few of them ‘scratching their heads.’ Despite their varying performances, every team was awarded an ‘A’ for effort. The enthusiasm and good humour with which all the participants entered into the friendly competition made for a truly enjoyable lunchtime event.

Computer Science Club – A talk by George Ogden (Class of 2022)

Should I study Computer Science at university?

George may have only left in the summer, but it was great to welcome him back to the school to talk to our students who are considering studying Computer Science. George is currently studying at Cambridge and gave an interesting presentation on the course syllabus, and how he loved A-Level Maths.

In his spare time when he is not studying, George is a freelance AI developer. This allows him to apply his knowledge and creativity to other people’s ideas and problems. An inspirational talk by a former student.

House of Lords Trip

The Trinity Bursary Fund has had a positive impact on the lives of so many of our students so we were absolutely thrilled when a former student, Temi Ladega, kindly donated a prize he had received from the Amos Bursary charity for two of our students to enjoy a breakfast meeting with Lord Dr Michael Hastings CBE at the House of Lords.

Lord Hastings made the students, Daniel and Sam, feel at ease straight away, laughing and joking with them as he gave them a tour of the House of Lords. They all enjoyed breakfast in the House of Commons staff canteen (sausage, scrambled eggs and beans for the boys). Once they had cast their nerves aside, they actively engaged with Lord Hastings, asking questions, and discussing politics, environmental issues, and current affairs.

Mrs Donna Lewis, Alumni Relations & Services Manager, accompanied the students and was delighted to introduce them to her friend, Lord Graham Tope CBE. Lord Tope is an Old Whitgiftian and advocate for educational equity, and was very interested to read Trinity’s 2022 Supporters’ Impact. Over light refreshments in the House of Lords Tea Room, Lord Tope listened and offered advice to the students and was interested to hear about the transformational opportunities of a Trinity bursary.

What did the students take from meeting Lord Hastings and Lord Tope? That these two gentlemen are both ordinary individuals who have had great vision for the education of our young people while also doing extraordinary things for their communities.

Thank you to Lord Hastings and Lord Tope for hosting the students, Daniel and Sam, and for taking the time to show their support for Trinity School’s mission to assist more students through the Trinity Bursary Fund.

Founder’s Day Supper - 24th March 2023

On Friday 24 March the Trinity Club welcomed alumni, former members of the common room and guests to their annual Founder’s Day Supper held in TCH. This year the bust of John Whitgift took pride of place on the stage to oversee the event.

Master of Ceremonies for the evening was the ever-entertaining and stylish (his burgundy velvet jacket was the envy of many) Paul Petty (Class of 1983) who ensured everything ran smoothly and to time.

As well as marking the founding of the John Whitgift Foundation, the evening recognised the enormous contribution the 2023 Chairman, Sanjay Bowry (Class of 1981), has made to the Trinity Club over the years. He has played in every hockey team at the Club from 6th XI to the 1st XI and it has been commented that he never looked out of place in any team! He joined the Old Boys Council in 1998 and chaired this body for 15 years, becoming it’s longest serving chairman since 1945.

Grace was said by Izzy Crispin, our Head Girl, before we all sat down to a magnificent three-course meal provided by Holroyd Howe and ably assisted by a team of our Malawi student volunteers.

After the meal our Head Boy, Aarav Ganguli, gave a speech about the sporting and academic achievements of the school over the last year and the positive impact Trinity has had on his life. This was responded to by Headmaster Al Kennedy who reiterated the ethos and values of the school. And who can forget Andy Thompson (Class of 1972), rounding off the evening with his one-man comedy show?

With 70 years between our oldest and youngest alumni, it really goes to show that this was an event for the whole alumni community. We hope to see many more of you next year on Friday 22 March – pop the date in your diary now!

Mitre Society lunch date with former Headmaster, Robin Wilson

Many of you will remember Mr Wilson from his time as Headmaster of Trinity from 1972 to 1994. Jason and Donna were thrilled to welcome Robin and his wife, Caroline for a Mitre Society lunch date. Robin and Caroline were fantastic guests and regaled us with stories of our former students (some good and some not so good!) Robin and Caroline have very generously declared a gift to Trinity in their Wills. Our benefactors automatically become members of The Mitre Society, which enables us to thank them during their lifetime and celebrate their relationship with the school.

We are deeply grateful to all those who choose to remember Trinity in their Will. Whether it is a donation to our Trinity Bursary Fund, or for other priorities, these gifts will make a real and lasting difference to future generations of Trinity students. We count on the generosity and support of our alumni, parents, and friends to help meet our priority needs.

For more information on how you can remember Trinity in your Will, please contact Jason Court at: development@trinity.croydon.sch.uk

Drinks with Alumni based at Nottingham 8-10 february 2023

Donna recently had the pleasure of hosting a drinks event at the Slug & Lettuce, Nottingham for former Trinity students currently studying at the Nottingham and Loughborough universities. The event brought together a diverse group of talented individuals, all united by their passion for success and their desire to make a positive impact within the Trinity community.

One of the most striking things about meeting these outstanding young people was the sense of community and camaraderie that was palpable around the table. Donna discussed the opportunities for them to support some of the current Trinity Sixth Formers and they were all genuinely excited about the prospect of helping others in the community succeed. The group were all invested in the idea of acting as mentors or giving advice on university and subject choices, and there was a real sense of mutual support and encouragement.

It was a powerful reminder of the importance of community, and of the incredible potential that our young people possess to achieve great things for themselves and others.

Alumni and Parent Networking Event at the East India Club

The “big” event at the end of February was our alumni and parent community drinks party at the prestigious and historic East India Club. More than 80 guests came together to reminisce and discuss their challenges and successes. It was good to see so many brilliant alumni in one space and witnessing the connections and networking take place affirmed the mission of the Alumni and Development department! There’s no denying the power a strong professional network can have over your career prospects, and we hope all our guests recognised that this evening.

Let’s continue to grow our alumni network. Sign up to My Trinity, our alumni and professional services networking platform, on www.mytrinity.org.uk

Thank you to everyone who showed up! If you haven’t already, please sign up for the next Trinity alumni networking event at the Oxo Tower on Wednesday 26 April.

Thank you to Dan Fearon Photography for capturing all the excitement at the East India Club.

A lively Trinity U25s Alumni Christmas drinks

We were thrilled to welcome back over 140 Trinity alumni from the Classes of 2017 to 2022 at the end of December for our annual U25s Christmas drinks, the liveliest event in the alumni calendar!

The Sixth Form Centre was packed with old friends catching up, and it was exactly what was needed after the disruption of the last two years. There was music, drinks, laughter and gossip in abundance as well as a very entertaining 360-degree video booth for everyone to enjoy.

All photos and videos from the night are available to view on www.mytrinity.org.uk

The Boetius Centre – a fitting and lasting reminder of a great character

Dick Boetius began teaching at Trinity in the 1970s. It was in his early years at the school that Dick developed a lasting interest in outdoor pursuits. He not only enthused generations of students with the love of the outdoors, but gave even the least capable a sense of achievement.

After retiring from teaching in the 1990s he started working with disabled children and partnered with Dorton House School for the Blind. Many joint trips to the Brecon Beacons helped challenge students’ perceptions of disability.

Dick’s greatest ambition was to leave something for future generations of young people to be able to enjoy the outdoors and share his ideals of challenge and teamwork. With the generous legacy he left Trinity when he died in 2013, the school were able to purchase a centre close to his beloved Brecon Beacons to ensure students for years to come would benefit from the life-changing experiences he championed. After renovations were completed in 2015, the Boetius Centre was officially opened. A very fitting and lasting reminder of a great character and something he would be very proud of.

This year, for the first time, we are also opening bookings of the centre to our Trinity community.

The Boetius Centre is a perfect base to explore the surrounding areas for all ages, and we can provide lots of recommendations. Please contact Assistant Bursar Mrs Lake for more information, prices and availability: jel@trinity.croydon.sch.uk

Did you know you can access our digital archives? Each year we upload more and more content. The latest addition is the OMWA magazines from as far back as the 1960s.

The archives will give you access to old magazines, photos, school productions etc.

The login details are as follows: For the username: guest id: trinity

Enjoy your trip down Memory Lane!

Do you remember these school magazines from the 1970s, 1980s and 2000s?

Trinity School Digital Archives

Sadly, we lost dear friends from our Trinity community in recent months, and they have very much been in our thoughts. As we remember them here in this special In Memoriam tribute, we honour the unique contributions and lasting impact they made on our school, extending our deepest sympathies to their families, friends, and loved ones.

We invite you to join us in this tribute and celebration of their lives, as we keep their memory alive and honour the indelible mark they left on the Trinity School community in Croydon.

Jonathan King (Class of 1972)

Jonathan joined Trinity School from Harvey Grammar School, Folkstone in June 1965 and was a member of Worcester House. He was one of those who started school life at North End and, after a few weeks of the summer term, moved up and started the autumn term at Shirley Park.

He was a keen sportsman and represented the schools in many sports from the U13 teams right through to the first teams of rugby, hockey, athletics, and squash – winning colours in all four sports. He also represented the school at junior harriers and cricket, as well as becoming House Captain and eventually School Captain in 1972.

Jonathan maintained his full school engagement by being a member of the history, geography and economics societies and was also on the committee of the Cove Society, a member of the CCF and a popular member of the dancing classes.

He left Trinity in 1972 to read history at Cambridge and, when back, during the holidays, played rugby for the Old Mid-Whitgiftian Rugby 1st XV, even stepping in to take over captaincy when injury struck his colleague.

In recent years, Jonathan has been an active and successful member of the Trinity Golf Society and returned to the school last year for his milestone reunion.

Andrew Hillburn (Class of 1977)

Andy was ‘a very studious and conscientious student’, as reported by Robin Wilson in a reference letter. He was a member of Worcester House and played in all the sports house teams through the year groups, achieving Half Colours for his solid performances in the second row for the 1st XV. He also made a significant contribution to cricket at Trinity, not on the field as a player but as ‘a very conscientious scorer for the 1st XI,’ said Barry Widger.

Andy added other interests to his portfolio at Trinity, being a member of the philatelic, economics, history and film societies as well as being a Senior Prefect and member of the Sixth Form Council, a task that he took very seriously, especially when refereeing the Sixth Form Council football tournament – no one argued with Andy’s decisions!

Andy played for the Old Boys 1st XV after leaving school and then skippered the B XV for many years before injuries forced him to step back, take up refereeing and become the ‘Man in Charge’ (allegedly!). He was a London Society qualified Ref.

After Andy left Trinity in 1977, he studied for his Economics and Social History degree at Exeter University, before taking up a job at the Land Registry in Croydon, a job he held for the rest of his days.

John Bartle (Class of 1954)

At the age of 10, John started at Whitgift Middle School in central Croydon. Many of those he met at school became lifelong friends, including Derek Cooper, John Armfield and John Starling to name just a few. At school John developed a passion for sport, especially cricket, rugby and athletics and was in many of the school sports teams.

Although John worked full time and had a busy family life, he always had time for the OMWA/TMWA and the clubhouse was like a second home to the whole family. As well as playing cricket and rugby he took on various organisational and administrative roles including bookings secretary, ground & general committee chairman, bar treasurer, 400 club organiser, cashier, chairman of both the Cricket Club and The Mitre Players and, indeed Chairman of the OMWA/TMWA between 1993-97.

Having discovered his thespian side with The Mitre Players, he specialised in policeman, vicars, animals and generally being in the back row of the chorus. In recognition of all his hard work at Lime Meadow Avenue, John was made a Vice President of The Cricket Club, The Mitre Players and the association.

Dates for your diary

Summer 2023

Saturday 15 April 2023

Evensong

Ely Cathedral

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Wednesday 26 April 2023

My Trinity Careers

Networking Event

The Oxo Tower

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Thursday 27 April 2023

Laurence Watchorn

Artist in Residence Show

Trinity School

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Wednesday 3 May 2023

Mitre Society Lunch

The Savile Club, London

Friday 5 May 2023

Mitre Society Lunch

Whitgift Almshouses

Wednesday 24 May 2023

Trinity Golf Day

Croham Hurst Golf Club

Sign up here

Saturday 8 July 2023

Milestone Reunion

Trinity School

Please click on a decade or ‘class of’ year to book your tickets:

1940s

1950s

1960s

1973

Saturday 8 July 2023

TPA Proms

Trinity School

Wednesday 16 August 2023

Past Parents Drinks

Trinity School

Sign up here

Autumn 2023

October 2023

Reception for Supporters of the Trinity Bursary Fund

November 2023

My Trinity Careers Networking Event

Remembrance Day Service

TPA Ball

December 2023

U25 Xmas Drinks

Spring 2024

February 2024

London Drinks Event

March 2024

TPA Quiz Night

Founder’s Day

Designed by Tom Simmons - John Whitgift Foundation