Issue 46 2018/2019
WELCOME TO THE 2018-19 EDITION OF OU W
e are incredibly grateful to everyone who has contributed to this issue. It is always wonderful to hear from OUs throughout the year, whether booking in for events, sharing news of amazing adventures, charitable activities and special life celebrations or just saying hello. We hope the magazine captures the spirit of our whole OU community and everyone will find something to enjoy in this edition. As always, the Who What Where section shares a wealth of news, achievements and accolades from OUs young to old, working across a whole host of professions and fulfilling many different passions. We are delighted to include more feature articles in this issue including interviews with OUs making waves in business and developments in our School for Life programme. In this centenary year since the end of World War I, we also focus on Uppingham during the conflict and commemorations and remembrance since 1918.
OU is the annual magazine for former pupils of Uppingham School. We also send out an e-Newsletter in the spring – please ensure your email address is up-to-date by emailing ou@uppingham.co.uk. Uppingham School, Uppingham, Rutland LE15 9QE Tel: +44 (0)1572 820616 Email: ou@uppingham.co.uk www.olduppinghamian.co.uk If you are receiving multiple copies of the OU magazine to your household and would prefer only one copy, please let us know.
The OU team look forward to welcoming as many of you as possible to the events planned for the coming year and would love to receive your news to share with the OU community, please email jsf@uppingham.co.uk. Keep in touch and we look forward to hearing from you. Jo Franklin, OU Association Manager and Editor Issue 46 2018/20 19
This year’s front cover features Charles Bowman (WD 75) at the Lord Mayor’s Show on 11th November 2017 as he became the 690th Lord Mayor of the City of London. The State Coach has been used since 1757, making it the oldest working ceremonial vehicle in the world.
Contents
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Welcome
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Photo by Philip Berryman
Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, Charles (WD 75) and Samantha Bowman; Chair of Trustees, Barbara Matthews (SH 73) and Tracey and Richard Maloney at the London Dinner 2018.
MESSAGE FROM THE HEADMASTER
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he Old Uppinghamian community has enjoyed a hugely successful year. Thanks to the generosity of the Lord Mayor of London, Charles Bowman (WD 75), the high point was the annual dinner at Mansion House. In the most glorious surroundings, 350 OUs braved the snow to attend a fabulous evening. Coupled with events at Kinross House in Scotland – courtesy of Donald Fothergill (B 74) – dinners in Hong Kong, Sydney, London, Yorkshire and at Uppingham, the local and global support for the School remains deeply impressive in its scale and warmth. Over the past year, the Trustees have begun to set a course for the School’s long-term future. We aim to extend our bursaries programme to invest in talented young people from across the social and economic
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Welcome Who What Where Uppingham School and the Nation in Arms Lights, Camera, Action… In Memoriam Announcements
spectrum.The success of that ambition will, in part, rest on our projects to open a series of schools overseas during the course of the next five years. Not only will there be a philanthropic benefit from Uppingham’s international schools, but the opportunities for today’s Uppinghamians to learn, visit and collaborate with pupils from across the globe will be numerous and exciting. For the second year running, the School enjoyed a very good year academically. We saw the GCSE results being the best in the School’s history and a continued up-turn at A level. Although we have taken important steps to raise academic performance, this is not at the expense of the School’s holistic philosophy. A broad, inclusive education is the essence of Uppingham.Thus, the wider elements of school life remain at the heart
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A Celebration of Cricket at Uppingham ppingham and U Remembrance Year in the Life of the Lord A Mayor of the City of London Events OU Entrepreneurs
of our vision for Uppingham’s future and, following closely on our recent investment to revolutionise sport, we will recruit a new Director of Music in the coming months. Music is integral to Uppingham and we are proud of our historic reputation as one of the leading music schools in the UK. Maintaining that rich and wonderful tradition will be at the heart of our new Director’s vision for the next phase in Uppingham’s musical life. As ever, our OU team will be organising a full programme of events during the coming year and I hope we will see as many of you as possible at those occasions.The OU community is extraordinarily strong and your support, on so many levels, is always valued and never taken for granted. Dr Richard Maloney
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Clubs & Societies An Island Parish Through the Ages Staff News A Lover of Liberty and Laughter
School for Life
Welcome
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FROM THE OU TEAM
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hilst the world has changed beyond recognition in the last 100 years, there are values at Uppingham which remain unchanged – the importance of community, friendship and sacrifice, and the esprit de corps of a school which values the individual as well as the group. So, as we look back on the centenary of the end of WW1 we are reminded that the death of each and every OU will have been felt throughout Uppingham, as well as by the families and friends of those brave soldiers. This is why it’s important for pupils currently in the School to remember those who died, for, just like the youth of today, those young men who left Uppingham to join the armed forces all had their lives ahead of them, but sadly not the chance to live them. Each term from September 2014 to the present, the School calendar has featured a poppy on the front cover and the names of OUs taken from the Memorial printed on the reverse side. In the last four years every OU casualty from the Great War has been remembered. Due to the superb research conducted by Tim Halstead (Fgh 72) in his book A School in Arms: Uppingham and the Great War we will be adding another 14 names to the Memorial Chapel, taking the total who made the ultimate sacrifice to 460. Tim has contributed two incredibly informative and interesting articles to this issue of OU, for which we are very grateful. As we honour the past we must still enjoy the present and we are delighted that this year has seen some memorable OU occasions both at home and overseas. Our thanks to every OU who attended these events and particularly those who helped make them possible, not least of all our very own Lord Mayor of the City of London, Charles Bowman (WD 75), who facilitated our memorable London Dinner at Mansion House. A particularly moving moment at the dinner occurred when the audience of more than 300 OUs spontaneously broke into heartfelt applause in the name of David Gaine, a much-loved friend, master and colleague whose obituary features later in this magazine.
We hope you enjoy the new look of this year’s issue of OU. We intend on retaining the print version for everyone who would like one but if you would prefer to view it online please let the team know. If you want to keep up-to-date with our event planning and with all of the OU news we receive during the year, do make sure you engage with our social media on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. A full programme of events is planned for 2019 and we look forward to the chance of catching up with many of you, wherever you are in the world.
OU OVERSEAS AMBASSADORS Our enormous thanks to all of the OU overseas ambassadors for their assistance as points of contact for OUs visiting a country or requiring advice. A full list is available on the OU website. OU COMMITTEE 2018/19 Chairman: The Headmaster Secretary: Richard Boston (B 56) Members: Nicholas Burgess (B 68), Mike Higgs (Fgh 69), David Gavins (LH 73), Richard Levell (H 74), Peter Doleman (C 76), Dawn Wilson (Fd 80), Jim Reddy (Hf 89), Emma Way (J 91), Emma Cannings (L 93), Ben Fry (F 96) If any OU would like to join the committee and help guide OU events and activities, please contact Jo Franklin.
Richard Boston (B 56), Lisa Gilman, Jo Franklin, Caroline Webster and Patrick Mulvihill
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Welcome
Who What Where 1930s We would love to hear from our most senior OUs who attended Uppingham during the 1930s. Have you already reached 100 or are you on the way to becoming a centenarian during the next 12 months? Please get in touch with the team on OU@uppingham.co.uk.
1940s John Dagger (WD 41) is now aged 90. After leaving Uppingham, he served in the Coldstream Guards for seven years (two in Malaya 1948-50) and after that he planted tea in South West India for four years. He retired recently after 40 years as a professional genealogist.
Clive Birch MBE (Hf 45) has updated and extended his history of his City livery, the Carmen’s Company, to celebrate its 500th anniversary. Carr and Carman is his 34th book. Others include histories of Buckinghamshire communities, the City, the UK haulage industry, vehicle design – and a novel, A Decent Man. Clive is Senior Past Master Carman, Princess Royal Gold Medallist, and a Trustee of the Carmen’s new 2017 heritage charity, helping to restore a 19th century school building in Fleet Street, to house the company, and to develop its future transport learning centre.
Michael Williamson (M 45) qualified as a solicitor in 1953 at the age of 21, then served two years National Service in the 4th Royal Tank Regiment in Tidworth, after Catterick and Mons, then one year in Germany; after which he joined the family firm in London where he practised for 42 years, before retiring in 1997. Until 1998, Michael Kerr (M 47) was a producer, director and writer for BBC outside broadcasts. He was involved in many state occasions – marriages, funerals, state visits and other public ceremonies, some of them taking him as far afield as the USA, Russia, South America and the Far East. He directed and edited One Man and his Dog in its heyday, and many other series including Favourite Things, Getting Through, My Wilderness Reprieved, and Personal Notes with Andre Previn and other notable musicians.
As a writer, he contributed to many programmes and worked closely on scripts with a wide range of presenters, from David Dimbleby to Terry Wogan. In the 1960s, Michael took a break from the BBC to work in America, joining the production team at PBS, New York’s first and only non-commercial TV station. Even before it went on air, it was an exciting, if sometimes nerve-wracking, experience. Now it broadcasts successfully in the UK too. Michael has written two novels, Benjamin Seven and The Kutzov Haul. He also cowrote a high profile biography, Virtuoso, about the brilliant but troubled pianist, John Ogdon; generous excerpts were published in the Sunday Times, it was dramatised for BBC Two and later for the stage. After National Service, he studied design at the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London, and went on to work at the Old Vic and other theatres before deciding to turn to production. During National Service he learned Russian at the Joint Services Language School and then, at Cambridge, gained an official Russian interpreter’s certificate. His knowledge of the language was a huge advantage when working in Russia for the BBC, especially in the days before glasnost. In retirement Michael has volunteered in various capacities at Chiswick House and its grounds, as well as at a local nursing home; he and his American wife of 40 years, have also indulged their love of travel over much of the world. They have two children and three grandchildren.
Michael is pictured above with Dame Judi Dench (left) and with Margaret Thatcher (right) whilst making Life Behind the Scenes Programmes
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1950s Roger Neill (B 57) has published Divas: Mathilde Marchesi and Her Pupils, which tells the incredible story of singing teacher extraordinaire Mathilde Marchesi who trained more international opera stars than anyone before or since. Roger traces Marchesi’s extraordinary five-decade career and introduces a remarkable cast of characters – Felix Mendelssohn and Franz Liszt, and the pupils who crossed the globe to study with her, including Dame Nellie Melba. He reveals the phenomenally successful singing method that is her legacy; with Joan Sutherland, Kiri Te Kanawa and Meryl Streep all taught by pupils of Marchesi. Available to purchase on Amazon.
Chef and restaurateur Rick Stein (WD 60) was awarded a CBE in the New Year’s Honours list 2018. Rick commented, “I am so proud to receive a CBE for Services to the Economy. I think that the hospitality industry, that I so much enjoy working in, is a force for good not only in the UK but everywhere. To be able to travel the world as a British man, fascinated by the food and culture wherever I go and bringing it back home is a dream job, but also reinforces the importance of everyone sitting down and enjoying good food together.”
Congratualtions to Tim Melville-Ross (C 58) who was awarded a Knighthood for services to Higher Education in the 2018 New Year’s Honours list. In his worldwide wanderings Anthony Goddard (L 59) has made a point of looking up his contemporaries living overseas, catching up with John Denton in New Zealand and James ‘Dinty’ Dickson Leach in Canada (also both L 59).
Above – Patrick and Dido
Above left – Dinty with Anthony Above right – John and Anthony
In May 2018, Bart Hellyer (Fgh 64) was appointed Vice Lord Lieutenant of Rutland, by the new Lord Lieutenant, Dr Sarah Furness, PhD, with the approval of HM The Queen. This follows the retirement in March 2018 of both the previous Lord Lieutenant, Sir Laurence Howard KCVO OBE, and his Vice, Lady Wendy Goldring.
1960s Patrick Barlow’s (Fgh 60) Tony and Olivier-winning 39 Steps is still playing around the world. He is about to direct his play The Messiah on tour and in the West End at Christmas. Meanwhile he is developing a new play The Six Wives and a brand new version of Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
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Patrick Elvin (F 63) lives in Spain and has published two walking books based on Gaucín, a town in the Serranía de Ronda. The books are entitled Walks Around Gaucín and 40 Half Day Walks in the Serranía de Ronda, both available on Amazon. Anyone visiting the area who would like to join him and his walking group, please get in touch through the Facebook page Gaucín Walkers.
Bart has previously served Rutland as the High Sheriff in the Diamond Jubilee year (2012), and subsequently as a Deputy Lieutenant from early 2014. He states: “this promotion is an unexpected honour and I intend to fulfil the role of supporting the Lord Lieutenant to the best of my ability. The Lieutenancy reaches out to and serves all parts of the Rutland community, and I wish to play my full part in carrying on that tradition.”
Jeremy Storey (C 66) has settled into his new life on the Isle of Man after being sworn in as the Judge of Appeal in October 2017. A graduate of Cambridge University, Jeremy has been a QC since 1994 and a Deputy High Court Judge in England and Wales since 2008, bringing a wealth of experience to the role of Judge of Appeal, having practised different aspects of commercial law at the English Bar for many years.
Nicholas Lumley (Hf 68) was spotted playing one of the prison inmates, Old Farmer Jack, in Paddington 2 – well worth a watch if you haven’t seen it! He can also be seen in Mike Leigh’s new film Peterloo which will be in cinemas in November. The film tells the story of the 1819 Peterloo Massacre when British forces attacked a peaceful pro-democracy rally in Manchester. Nicholas is also appearing in the RSC production of Don Quixote at the Garrick Theatre in London from October until February 2019. Below – Nicholas as ‘Old Farmer Jack’ is on the left of the photo
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1970s Anthony Trace QC (WB 72) has produced a Festschrift in memory of the late Jeff Abbott, long-serving member of staff from 1962 to 1989 and Housemaster of West Bank from 1968 to 1983. From immaculately polished shoes, his spidery handwritten letters, lessons in ‘the Dell’, quotes from Alice in Wonderland, his respect for all things Roman to his long-lasting Jeff Abbott from J.S. Finch’s friendships and Game in Season humour, the book provides a fitting tribute to Jeff with a wonderful array of personal accounts and memories. Contributions have been collected together by Anthony from former members of Uppingham staff including Gordon Braddy and the late David Gaine, as well as OUs and notable people including Andrew Gimson (WB 71) (biographer of the former Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson), Leonie Jameson (Fd 75) (Film Producer) and Philip Howard (Literary Editor of The Times). Copies can be obtained from the OU Office priced at £20.00 each (plus £5.00 UK p&p). First edition copies have sold out and only limited copies of the second edition are available, which are selling fast. Anthony has funded the book and all proceeds will go to the Uppingham Foundation. To purchase a copy, please email ou@uppingham.co.uk. Anthony has stopped being a litigator and has changed careers to become a Mediator, practising from 4 Pump Court, Temple, London. For contact details see www.anthonytraceqc.com.
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1980s Andrew Bowles (M 73) became the Master of the Worshipful Company of Masons in June 2018. Andrew trained and qualified as an architect and pursued a career at Sheppard Robson, designing a mix of buildings in the City in his early career and latterly leading projects at over 40 universities throughout the UK and overseas. Since retiring from the partnership in 2014, Andrew has consulted with Loughborough University to create and set up a new course in Architecture. He also serves on the Estates Management Committee at Loughborough and is a member of the Georgian Group’s Casework Committee. Andy Matthews (L 75) set off in June on a 630-mile hike to support Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People. His epic walk along the South West Coast Path started in Minehead, Somerset and from there he walked the stunning coastlines of Somerset, Devon, Cornwall and Dorset to just past Swanage. In terms of total ascent, the walk was equivalent to four times up and down Everest, covering an average of 15 miles a day over 43 days. Andy is a lawyer at Gateley Plc and took six weeks away from the office to complete the challenge. After 13 years with KPMG in Warsaw, then Moscow, Oliver Sinton (LH 77) was invited to join the Prosperity Capital team where he has just had his 10th year. He is located in the Cayman Islands and would love to hear from old friends, email ojsinton@yahoo.co.uk.
Simon Chaplin (M 80) invented and is now manufacturing and selling a seed drill ‘Triton’ – the only seeding system capable of fully effective direct seed drilling into all soils in all weathers. Early customers include Richard Cross (M 74) and Richard Tollemarche (SH 80). www.tritonseeddrills.com In March, Neil Aitken (L 81) played rugby for the Lords and Commons versus the French Senate whilst over in Paris for the Six Nations with Adam Tinsley (C 81). He hopes for more appearances next season and a possible tour to Japan next year for the Rugby World Cup. Neil is Finance Director for Woodfines Solicitors, a growing law firm with offices in Cambridge, Bedford, Sandy and Milton Keynes. He would be pleased to catch up with any OUs in the area and can be contacted on neil.aitken@hotmail.co.uk. Richard Billington (B 83) and Phil Spencer (L 83) joined 30 other intrepid challengers in February for a charity fund-raising ski expedition in Switzerland. The team’s epic tour in Verbier involved a gruelling total of 8,848 metres uphill skiing (the height of Everest) over four days and raised over £1 million for research into paediatric brain tumours.
We are pleased to support OUs with charitable activities through the OU Charity Fund. Contact Jo Franklin at jsf@uppingham.co.uk for more details.
Following the collapse of Lehman Brothers, Jonathan Crick (Hf 83) decided to return to education and gained a first class honours degree in law from the University of London in 2014. He was called to the bar of England and Wales on 26th July 2018 at the Inner Temple. Dr Mahbub ‘Mabs’ M.U. Chowdhury (WB 84) has been Consultant Dermatologist at University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, since 2001. He was recently elected nationally as Academic Vice President of the British Association of Dermatologists from July 2017 to 2019 to lead UK dermatology teaching, education and research. He has lectured and published widely including the BMA award-winning medical student textbook Dermatology at a Glance. Both his younger brothers, Fahmid (WB 89) and Mubin (WB 91), are doing well in Leeds and Leicester respectively.
We love to squeeze a celebrity photo into the OU magazine and last year featured OUs at a dinner with Hugh Jackman in New York, but we think Johnny Hon (H 85) may have trumped us with this great photo of him with Hollywood legends Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. Since running the box office at the Uppingham Theatre back in his school days, Johnny has become something of a major player in the theatre world, with his production of 42nd Street still going strong in the West End after more than a year. Following on from the transatlantic success of his revival of Sunset Boulevard, we understand there are more big shows in the pipeline. We are also delighted that Johnny will be helping Uppingham to upgrade its theatre over the next few years. Below – Johnny Hon (H 85) with Robert De Niro and Al Pacino
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Richard Groome (Hf 86) works in IT Sales for Gigamon and is the Chief Ambassador for the charity ‘Bike 4 Cancer’. Richard has always loved a challenge and endurance events; in June he completed a bike ride covering 280 miles, with 40 laps around Cotswolds lanes, raising money for his son’s school. In the process he smashed the event mileage and lap record for solo riders. On 1st October, Anabel Hoult (J 86) became the new Chief Executive of Which?, the brand name of the Consumers’ Association, taking a leading role in its mission to make consumers as powerful as the organisations they deal with in their daily lives. Anabel joins Which? after working across a range of industries including retail, consumer services, financial technology and the charity sector. Tom Lea (LH 86) and his siblings started looking for good bag-in-box wine about 15 years ago and it just wasn’t available. After trying good BIB wine in Paris a couple of years ago, they went on the hunt again in England, and once more failed to find any, so the business idea sprung up. The BIB Wine Company was launched in May, with the simple idea of making it easier to enjoy great wines, creating a small selection available in the bag-in-box format. All of the wines are from small, independent producers and with Justin Howard-Sneyd, Master of Wine, leading their efforts, they have created a superb and varied range of low intervention and sustainable wines, all notable for their character and quality and packaged in environmentally-friendly and convenient boxes. The BIB Wine Company is a new venture, but the team has already made their presence felt with a very positive full page article by Victoria Moore of the Daily Telegraph and at a number of events around the country. www.bibwine.co.uk.
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Giles Harrison (WD 87) took on a personal endurance ‘Sleepwalk’ challenge in June to see how far he could walk in 72 hours around Richmond Park in London. He covered 140 miles over three days, with only two hours sleep, and raised nearly £8,000 for three charities; The Cure Parkinson’s Trust, Bowel Cancer UK / Beating Bowel Cancer and RNLI Lifeboats. Highlights included walking through the park by moonlight – with just the wildlife for company, 3.00am disco dancing, witnessing the most beautiful dawn, with the sun lifting the mist that had settled across the fields, and the incredible support from wonderful friends, family and strangers along the way. Edward Timpson (LH 87), former Education Minister, was awarded a CBE in the New Year’s Honours list, for his public and parliamentary services. Until June 2017, he was Conservative MP for Crewe and Nantwich and served as Minister for Vulnerable Children and Families; he was also previously Theresa May’s Parliamentary Private Secretary when she was Home Secretary. Ash Amos (B 89) continues to serve in the British Army as Lieutenant Colonel and is settled in Salisbury with his family. In the photo, Ash is with his son Theo.
On 12th September, Uppingham celebrated its 750th Lunchtime Concert, held in the Parish Church for pupils, staff and locals to enjoy. Guests were treated to an incredible finale sung by visiting OUs who had come to Uppingham especially for the occasion. Thank you to everyone for a truly spectacular performance. Back: Tom Bullard (WB 92) Baritone, Jon Bungard (SH 91) Tenor and James Laing (Fgh 91) Countertenor. Middle: Thomas Guthrie (LH 84) Bass, Elizabeth Atherton (J 90) Soprano, Rosina Griffiths (Fd 13) Soprano, Tom Williams (B 91) Countertenor, Adam Green (L 87) Bass and Jamie Conway (WB 11) Baritone. Front: Robin Blaze (Fgh 85) Countertenor and Andrew Kennedy (F 90) Tenor.
Dominic Wertheimer (LH 92) founded Lornham, a private office based in Marylebone specialising in property and lifestyle management. He is also a Director of Barnes Sports Club, plays squash and owns a winning racehorse. Gareth Holwill (B 94) was appointed as Head of Guitar with Berkshire Maestros, one of the UK’s leading music services.
1990s Six years ago, Tim Rees (WB 90) became very ill; modern medicine failed him completely leaving him nothing but his own conviction and a pair of hearing aids! He set about taking a degree in nutritional therapy and has since learned that ‘incurable’ actually means a lack of drugs or surgical options. Tim has managed to reverse his condition and has claimed his life back which he now shares with his incredible wife, Vera, in Ebersberg, Germany, where he works as a nutritional therapist helping others with ‘Damocles’ sword’ dangling above them. Dr Sam Willis (H & LH 90), award-winning historian, archaeologist and broadcaster has written The Spanish Armada: A Ladybird Expert Book. In February, Toby Barnes (F 92) was installed as Master of Neptune Lodge No. 22, under the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Newfoundland and Labrador.
George Riley (M 94) and his band ‘The Reacharounds’ will be performing some of the music in the next Ben Wheatley film, Happy New Year, Colin Burstead. Sam Riley (M 93) is also in the film and is currently working on Disney’s Maleficent 2 for release in 2019. Sam has also completed Sometimes, Always, Never due out at the end of 2018 and Radioactive for 2019. Ashley Grote (Hf 95) ran his fourth London Marathon in April, raising money for the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity. This year he dressed as ‘Bernard the Bear’, the official mascot of the hospital. ‘Bernard’ has always been at the finish to greet GOSH runners, but has never run the race before! Since his first London Marathon in 2015, Ashley has raised over £56,500 for GOSH. The charity is very close to his heart after all the hospital has done for his daughter Emily, who is still receiving care, now as an outpatient.
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Article in Rugby World, January 1999
Mark Soden (WD 97) and Dan Hipkiss (Fgh 98), members of Uppingham’s 1998 unbeaten 1st XV rugby season, have become teammates once again at learning and development company, Cleartrack Performance. On leaving Uppingham in 1999, 1st XV Captain Mark was a professional rugby player with Northampton Saints, making 100 premiership appearances alongside captaining his country at all junior age groups. Further to the inevitable ‘body complaining’, he has progressed to the non-contact world of facilitation, coaching and consulting. An ex-professional rugby player with Leicester Tigers, Bath and England, Dan won four premiership titles and one Anglo-Welsh title and has 13 International caps playing in the 2007 World Cup Final. Dan was forced to retire through injury in 2013 and spent time initially as a project manager in the construction industry before starting with CTP in May of this year.
Enormous thanks to Oliver Duckett (C 95), Chris George (M 00), Stuart Peters (WB 00), Katie Miller (Fd 03), Sam Hunting (M 07) and Rachel Sutton (J 07) who gave up their time to attend the School’s Higher Education and Careers Convention in March. Pupils benefited from their interesting perspectives on routes into their chosen careers as well as advice on work experience, training, interviews and contemporary career issues. If any OUs are keen to visit the School to meet with pupils and discuss their careers, please contact Dan Lovering, Head of Careers, dl@uppingham.co.uk.
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Both Mark and Dan look back at their years spent playing rugby as some of the most enjoyable. In the January issue of Rugby World, back in 1999, the 1st XV team were voted ‘Team of the Month’ for their unbeaten run of nine games. “Playing rugby with my friends for Uppingham was a great experience and being part of the unbeaten season is one of my proudest achievements” said Dan. Cleartrack founder, Mark Soden, is a Performance Coach specialising in leadership, team and individual development. He set up CTP in 2014 and has gone on to excel in delivering leadership programmes to coaches, managers and teams in many Olympic and professional sports as well as to senior management in global multinational organisations. Dan and Mark use their experiences within professional sport to deliver pragmatic, no nonsense leadership performance programmes that enable leaders and teams to perform excellently.
Music producer Sam Featherstone (B 99) recorded, produced and mixed the 10th anniversary album for the classical vocal trio BLAKE. The singers were accompanied by the Central Band of the RAF and the RAF Salon Orchestra; a very special opportunity given that the album was recorded in the RAF’s centenary year. Two tracks also featured the Military Wives Choir and he said “It was a
wonderful project to work on. All the hard work paid off when it went to number one in the UK Classical Album Charts.”
2000s Katie Jane Howson’s (L 01) first experience of photography was in the dark room of the Leonardo Centre and she now runs her own photography business. Katie aims for her images to be fuss-free, honest and emotive. She uses a journalistic and candid approach to capture weddings, parties, corporate and family shoots, allowing her subjects to lead the way and personalities to shine through. She also covers sailing regattas and offers architectural and interior photography for yachts and homes, enjoying the varied creativity of differing genres. Katie would love to hear from OUs looking to source a photographer, whether in the UK or abroad. Do find her on Instagram, or to get in touch please email: info@katiejanehowson.com. The brainchild of Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Spokes (Fd 01) ‘My Friend Charlie’ is changing how Londoners meet and taking the stress out of dating. My Friend Charlie organises and hosts some of the best offline dating events in London for singles in their late 20s to late 40s. “With events ranging from axe throwing to wine tasting, there’s something for everyone so stop swiping and get excited about dating in real life!
Ros Canter (L 02) is enjoying another stellar year as a top level event rider. Having debuted in the British Senior team at last year’s European Championships riding Allstar B, and winning a team gold medal, she has now achieved the absolute pinnacle – and been crowned World Champion. Ros secured selection for this year’s British team with a third place finish at Badminton in May, again riding Allstar B, before matching that result at Germany’s four-star event, Luhmuhlen, the following month – this time riding Zenshera. With both horses on the short-list, it was Allstar B who accompanied Ros to Tryon in North Carolina for the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games. Third after the dressage phase and second after the cross country, Ros piled the pressure on the overnight leader, Germany’s Ingrid Klimke, with a foot perfect clear round in the show jumping, securing the title when Klimke’s horse lowered the very last fence on the course. In the process, Ros led the British team to its first world gold medal since 2010, and the lowest team score in world championship history. It is the first time Britain has won both individual and team gold at a single World Games, and Ros is the first British individual winner since Zara Tindall claimed victory 12 years ago. www.roscantereventing.com
The ethos is simple; create amazing, out-of-the-ordinary events for single Londoners. Instead of feeling forced, the relaxed atmosphere provides the ideal opportunity to meet someone new. It’s offbeat, quirky and fun and gets rid of the need for awkward small talk!” www.myfriendcharlie.co.uk Lucy West (J 01) was a member of the 1st team for all sport she played at Uppingham and her love for it has not changed since leaving. Lucy now lives in London with her husband Will and runs her own business – the Lucy West Tennis and Fitness Coaching brand. She has worked passionately on her business, developing her knowledge in fitness, body conditioning and nutrition over the years as well as being fortunate enough to travel with her private clients all over the world. This year, she launched her Tennis and Wellness Retreats, offering luxury holidays in Europe designed to work the body and rest the mind. www.lucywest.co.uk
World Champion Ros Canter with proud parents, Heather and Barney Canter (L 60)
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Captain George Cazalet (M 02) and Lieutenant Hugo Cazalet (M 07) paraded as the officers commanding No. 2 Guard in this year’s Trooping the Colour on 9th June to celebrate Her Majesty’s birthday. The Coldstream Guards believe this is the first time two brothers have fulfilled the role of Subaltern and Ensign of the Guard; it is certainly a first for Uppingham.
Sarah Borland (Sa 03) confesses she wasn’t the most sporty of souls at School (The Routh was daunting to put it mildly!) but, since leaving Uppingham, marathon running has become something she very much enjoys. So much so, Sarah ran the London Marathon in 2016, the Berlin Marathon in 2017 and the Chicago Marathon in October this year, working towards her aim to complete all six World Marathon Majors.
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Sam Glatman (M 03) made it onto the Forbes list ‘30 Under 30 Asia – Healthcare and Science 2018’ which features young innovators who are re-inventing their industries and driving change across the region. Representing 24 countries across Asia-Pacific – the finalists were selected from thousands of online nominations, researched by a team of reporters and vetted by a panel of expert judges, to make sure they were worthy of a spot on this prestigious list. Sam is founder and managing director of Ko Shwe Ventures, a social enterprise based in Myanmar focused on developing tested and affordable treatments to address oral health problems for betel leaf addicts. The addictive parcels of tobacco and areca nuts wrapped in a betel leaf, leave chewers with stained teeth, sensitivity, inflammation and potentially oral cancer. Sam has partnered with experts to create low cost, mass-market consumer products to improve the health of those affected and is working with individual betel sellers to encourage diversification of income. For more information see www.koshwe.com.
In September 2017, John Wayte (F 04) became UK brand ambassador for Monkey Shoulder, a Scotch whisky produced by independent family distillers, William Grant & Sons UK.
After running the Marathon Des Sables and being inspired by the power of running to bring people together, Charlie Drinkwater (SH 05) is now working for Impact Marathon Series. The organisation is all about supporting communities and leaving a lasting impact on the world, whilst having the time of your life. The company’s mission is to promote the UN’s 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. With four incredible races across the globe, runners are able to raise funds and awareness for charities, projects and communities specific to the race country selected ensuring the biggest impact possible. Impact Marathon Series hold races in Guatemala, Malawi, Kenya and Nepal with various distance options available from 10k, half marathon or full marathon. Good luck to James Arden (SH 06) and Henry Bowles (M 06) who will be running the Malawi 2019 race – if you would like to join them, or take on any of the other races, please get in touch with Charlie on charlie@impactmarathonseries.com.
Max Mossman (M 05) and Hector Turner (WB 06) set off with two friends on a 3,000-mile journey across the Atlantic on 7th January, the first ever attempt at the crossing in a pedal-powered boat. They arrived in Antigua just 40 days later on the 16th February 2018 to a huge welcome. Max has shared the highs and lows of their experience of a lifetime which are available to read on the OU website. His quote to sum up the trip: ‘It’s only an adventure when things start going wrong.’ In addition to all of that, the team have raised over £205,000 for The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust, set up by the family of their friend Charlie who took his own life aged 28 in 1997. The charity works to increase awareness of the warning signs of depression among young people – as well as encouraging anyone dealing with depression to seek help.
Pedal the Pond in numbers: 2,936 miles across the Atlantic 40 days to make the crossing 1,936 hours of pedalling 7,000 calories each per day
45 ft – highest waves 3 knots – average speed 7 stone – total team weight lost
Who What Where 15
Who What Where
Toby Davis (SH 07) and Ben Davis (SH 09), sons of Emma Davis (Fd 82), have been pursuing their passion for motorsport since their early teens. Having come through the junior karting categories, they successfully progressed to 130mph gearbox ‘Superkarts’ at the age of 17. These karts compete in a national MSA championship, on circuits such as Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Donington. The brothers achieved considerable success at national level, finishing 3rd and 4th in the British Superkart Championship in 2012. Ben holds the record for the youngest ever pole sitter at Snetterton (aged 18) whilst Toby won the British Superkart Grand Prix in 2013 and held the lap record at Bishopscourt in Northern Ireland. After around six years in superkarts, they both decided on a move to saloon cars with an eye on the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). This required them to adapt their driving skills and, with a ten-fold increase in costs, develop new skills in attracting partnership. Toby entered a competition (run by Team Hard – a BTCC team) for aspiring racing drivers, testing a range of attributes including driving, fitness and interview skills. He secured the prize of a full season’s racing for 2016 by winning the competition, in the face of 130 other competitors in the VW Racing Cup. He won in his second ever car race at Rockingham and competed at Spa in Belgium.
This year, Toby competed in five of the eight rounds in the VW Cup season; with a podium place in each round – a race win at Rockingham, a second place at Spa in Belgium and three thirds. A few engine problems and shortage of funding meant he wasn’t able to complete the championship but he’s now looking ahead to 2019 as his dream continues. In 2015, Ben gained support to enter the Renault UK Clio Cup finishing an impressive 6th out of 24 cars at Silverstone in his first race. Further support has led to a local sponsor buying him a Renault Clio race car which, with additional sponsor support, he was able to compete briefly in the UK Clio Cup in 2016; but has since been hampered by a lack of funding and sponsorship deals falling through. The VW Cup and Clio Cup are televised; the former is shown on Channel 4 and Motorsport TV with the latter shown live on ITV4 alongside the BTCC with around 40,000 people in attendance. Toby and Ben would be pleased to hear from anyone interested in corporate sponsorship packages to support their progress in the sport. Contact ben@bendavisracing.com / toby.davis@live.co.uk Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @tobydavis34 Clockwise from below left – Toby and Ben with their race cars; Toby and Ben with their Karts at Silverstone; Toby Celebrating in Belgium
2010s Emily Naylor (J 12) graduated from Durham University this summer with first class honours in Geography. Over the next year she plans to travel around Africa and South America, with an internship on a wind farm in South Africa and charity work in both Malawi and Bolivia. Following that, Emily would like to work in the environmental sector and has a particular interest in renewable energy.
This summer Nick Price (WB 12) and Seb Owen (LH 12) took on the Mongol Rally, ‘the greatest motoring adventure on the planet’ and in the process raised money for two charities, CoolEarth and HighGround… “What an experience the Mongol Rally was, certainly not for the faint-hearted. Our journey started on 16th July from Prague and took us through 20 countries, crossing three deserts, three mountain ranges, nine time zones and 16,000kms in a 1.2 litre 18-year-old Fiat Punto named Virgil. Heading east through Europe, we crossed the Carpathian Mountains on the Transfãgãrãsan Highway – the best driving road in the world according to TopGear! On through Bulgaria, Turkey and Georgia we arrived in Baku, Azerbaijan to catch a ferry across the Caspian Sea. The ferry has no set timetable or booking system, so we were very pleased to hook up with Ali Asgarov (LH 16) who entertained us for three days until a ferry arrived in port. After 24 hours at sea plus 15 hours clearing customs, we were in Turkmenistan and drove via Darvaza, a gas crater that has been burning since 1971, and then to Samarkand in Uzbekistan, an ancient trading post on the Silk Route. Next, the infamous Pamir Highway in Tajikistan, breathtaking scenery, complete silence, golden eagles and a great sighting of the Milky Way at 4,600m. A combination of the altitude and terrible roads took its toll on Virgil as we limped through Kyrgyzstan and were finally towed by fellow ralliers to the ancient capital of Almaty, Kazakhstan, where we were able to patch him up. We made it 500km into Mongolia before our Italian teammate’s engine seized and we spent the next 48 hours on the back of a grocery lorry to the capital, Ulan-Bataar! After 56 days on the road, 39 hours spent at borders, six punctures, two new tyres, £60 on ‘coffees’ for policemen and an exhausting 70 hours of towing, we made it to the finish line. Some summer holiday.” Top – The breathtakingly peaceful Pamir Highway in Tajikistan Middle – Hitching a ride on a grocery lorry to Mongolia’s capital, Ulan-Bataar
Who What Where 17
Uppingham School and the Nation in Arms 1914-1918 By Tim Halstead (Fgh 72)
The end of the war for OUs,Ypres 1918
I
n this centenary year, marking 100 years since the end of World War 1, we remember all those OUs, over 460 in total, who made the ultimate sacrifice. Tim Halstead’s (Fgh 72) research for his book A School in Arms: Uppingham and the Great War unearthed a plethora of previously untold stories from the war. In his article, Tim provides an insight into his research. His book is available on Amazon or direct from the publisher, Helion and Company. Many of the writers who wrote so powerfully about the First World War are known for their public school connections: Edward Blunden was educated at Christ’s Hospital, Robert Graves went to Charterhouse and Vera Brittain’s close connections to Uppingham are just three examples. The result has been that their work has sometimes been confused with representing the involvement of the schools they were connected with. This is unhelpful, although understandable, and Uppingham’s involvement extends beyond the three OUs at the centre of Brittain’s Testament of Youth. It must also be pointed out that there is no evidence that Brittain ever claimed it to be an account of the School’s involvement in the Great War. We know, mainly from the work of JP Graham (R 1888) (Teacher 1900-1927, Trustee and chronicler of the School) the basic facts about Uppingham’s involvement. Graham claimed to have records of 2,500 OUs serving in the war. Unfortunately, the whereabouts of these papers are unknown and from available sources 2,343 can be definitely identified. It may be possible to identify some of the missing names but the Great War, as wars tend to be, was chaotic and this makes it impossible to be certain that, even if 2,500 names are identified, they are those on Graham’s list. The war’s chaotic nature is illustrated by the history of the War Memorial in the Chapel which was amended multiple times in the years after its dedication by the Bishop of Southampton in 1921. In the years that followed, names were added, as belated news of their deaths arrived, and names were removed, as old boys believed dead reappeared at the School. This November, a further 14 names will be added to the memorial to take the total believed to have died to 460 but there are probably others whose names may never be recorded on the Memorial. Thanks to Brittain, the eloquent writer, poet and campaigner, the personal tragedy of the loss of her brother Edward (L 1909), her fiancée Roland Leighton (L 1909) and their friend Victor Richardson (L 1909) is well known. There are, however, personal tragedies which are hardly known at all because they did not benefit from such an eloquent advocate. These include the two Hicking brothers, George (LH 1907) and Francis (LH 1911), who were both killed on the first day of the Somme (1st July 1916) aged 19 and 22 respectively. Cyril Huntriss (Fgh 1907), who came to the School in the same term as George Hicking, lost his life, as did his brothers Harold (Fgh 1904) and William Huntriss (Fgh 1901); instead of a powerful personal memoir, their
memorial is a window dedicated to them at All Saints Church, Mattersey, Nottinghamshire. It’s equally important not only to remember the 20% of those who served that died, and whose stories remain untold, but the 80% who survived. A brief study of a few of them reveals that there is more to public school involvement than a combination of callow, naïve and idealistic young men who became junior officers and were sent to their death by callous and incompetent Generals as satirised by George and General Melchett in Blackadder Goes Forth. 1914 to 1918 was the first time that Britain fought a war as a nation in arms and Uppingham’s involvement reflects that. It was, also, not exclusively a young man’s war as is popularly depicted with over 33% of those who served aged 30 or older when war was declared. Within British society, and especially the middle classes, from which Uppingham mainly drew its pupils, there was a strong feeling that when their country was under threat it was their duty to defend it. Men such as Charles Mott (Hf 1884) aged 44, Hugh Peachey (C 1884) also 44 and Hugo Burnaby (R 1887) aged 40 who were significantly older than the maximum age of 30 specified in Kitchener’s call for volunteers in 1914, all enlisted. Although Burnaby and Peachey had served as volunteers in the war, Mott had no military experience. He did not even possess the required abilities needed to ride and shoot before he joined his Army Service Corps unit and it was with some difficulty, especially in the case of riding, that he developed the requisite skills. Like these men who became junior officers, there is nothing stereotypical in the OUs who became senior officers. When war broke out in 1914 Louis Vaughan (Hf 1889) was a Major serving in the War Office but by 1918 he had risen to Major-General and was Chief of Staff of the Third Army on the Western Front. Although unknown, unlike Brian Horrocks’s (SH 1909) role in the Second World War, he is one of the most significant military figures Uppingham produced. Vaughan was responsible for planning and executing the successful tactics of Cambrai in 1917 and the campaign of the Third Army from August to November 1918 (the ‘100 days’) which caused the collapse of the German Army and the Armistice in November 1918. The antithesis of the stereotypical blustering and callous chateau general, Vaughan was a charming and gentlemannered man, who worked with the Third Army Headquarters in a far from luxurious railway carriage. Even from this small sample of OUs, it can be seen that the School’s participation went far beyond the three young men recalled in Testament of Youth. This was a war which was fought by OUs who varied widely in age. The nature of the skills and expertise they bought to the Army were also wideranging. It was a war fought by OUs, following a tradition of defending their country against a threat from abroad.
Feature 19
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION… T
here was excitement around Uppingham when Gregory Nice (LH 02), film producer and director, arrived on site in September to make a short film, Love Have I Known, with scenes set within Uppingham’s iconic buildings. With 2018 being the centenary of the armistice of World War I, it is a fitting time to tell the story of James and Otto – two young friends whose relationship is torn apart by a senseless war. The script was inspired by a conversation Gregory had with a close friend Joseph Gassner (LH 05) – a German student who came to the UK for the Sixth Form. It was with some emotion that they discussed how only one hundred years ago, there was a strong possibility that they, along with many of their close friends, would have been killed in a tragic and violent war. Equally poignant was the fact that they would have been on opposites sides due to no other reason than their place of birth. The film itself is the dramatisation of this dichotomy. We meet James, played by Eugene Simon (Games of Thrones) a witty and athletic boy in his final year of Uppingham School, and Otto, played by Jono Bergmann, his close friend – the son of a German diplomat. With the increased tension of European relationships, Otto is forced to leave school before the year is finished.
Interspersed between these scenes of the boys enjoying their final year of school, we meet James again in 1917, in the build up to the Battle of Passchendaele. He has become increasingly cynical as he faces the impossible task of preparing his men for the upcoming offensive. Ever-present in his mind is the troubling realisation that his good friend Otto could be a short distance away, preparing his own men to defend their positions. Gregory was inspired by artists, such as Christopher R.W. Nevinson (SH 1903) and Percy Wyndham Lewis. Musicians such as Vaughan Williams, whose piece Symphony No. 3, A Pastoral Symphony, was a great influence on Gregory while he wrote the script; films such as Stanley Kubrick’s Paths of Glory and, most importantly, the poetry of Siegfried Sassoon, Wilfred Owen and Roland Leighton (L 1909), with the title itself coming from the first line of Leighton’s poem – Ploegsteert.
20 Feature
Scenes filmed at Khaki Devil trenches in Suffolk
The film crew for Love Have I Known, with Gregory Nice (LH 02) in the white t-shirt
In Memoriam We are sorry to announce news of OUs who have passed away. Our condolences to their families and friends.
Gordon Canti
(Fgh 31)
Jan 2018
Ian Holworthy*
(Fgh 48)
Mar 2018
Terence Leigh-Parry
(B 33)
Dec 2017
Paul Millard
(SH 48)
Apr 2018
John Townsend-Green*
(F 33)
May 2018
Sam Bemrose
(SH 49)
Apr 2018
Edward Jackson
(WB 34)
Feb 2018
James ‘Andrew’ Hall*
(F 49)
Mar 2018
Patrick ‘David’ Horsfall
(Hf 35)
Jan 2017
Christopher Holmes-Smith
(L 49)
Dec 2017
Richard Gimson
(WB 36)
Jan 2018
Roger Gilkes
(LH 50)
Sep 2018
Anthony Tavener
(R & H 37) Sep 2018
John Willday
(Hf 50)
Dec 2016
Stephen Busk
(C 38)
2017
Anthony ‘Tony’ Baden Fuller*
(F 51)
Feb 2018
Peter Skelton
(B 39)
Jan 2018
David Brownlow*
(WD 51)
Mar 2018
Richard ‘Dick’ Catchpole*
(F 40)
Apr 2018
John Dain
(Fgh 51)
Oct 2017
Philip James
(WB 40)
Jul 2018
Mark Bishop
(C 52)
Jul 2018
John Tempest*
(SH 40)
Jan 2018
Simon Charsley*
(WB 53)
Dec 2017
Robert ‘Bob’ Twittey
(WB 40)
Apr 2018
Anthony Diggle*
(F 53)
Nov 2017
Arthur Carter
(M 41)
Dec 2017
Anthony ‘Tony’ Field
(C 53)
Mar 2017
(L 53)
Mar 2018
Geoffrey Fletcher
(SH 41)
2017
Michael Pix
Peter Lees
(B 41)
Nov 2017
Alistair Auckland
(C 54)
Aug 2018
William Bellerby
(C 42)
2017
Desmond Bain*
(Fgh 56)
Oct 2017
Clive Francis
(LH 42)
Jan 2018
Peter Instone
(Hf 56)
Sep 2018
Bernard ‘Joe’ Robertson*
(C 42)
Nov 2017
William ‘Bill’ Monroe
(M 57)
Nov 2017
John Sladden
(B 42)
Jan 2018
George Myers
(SH 57)
Mar 2018
Edmund ‘John’ Wimperis
(LH 43)
Dec 2017
Patrick Helps
(LH 58)
Jan 2018
Jeremy Carter
(LH 44)
Oct 2017
John Moody*
(WB 58)
Aug 2018
John Gibson
(H 44)
Sep 2018
Robert Renwick
(H 58)
May 2018
Michael Tippett
(L 44)
Jan 2018
Tom Ryland*
(SH 60)
Mar 2018
Bansall Williams
(SH 44)
Jan 2017
Julian Spurrier
(Hf 60)
Dec 2017
Peter Willmott
(L 44)
Jun 2018
Nicholas Park
(Hf 65)
Mar 2014
Edmund Preston
(C 45)
Mar 2018
Jonathan Rogers*
(B 66)
Mar 2018
David Abbott
(SH 46)
Jul 2018
Richard Bullivant
(L 71)
2017
James ‘Jamie’ Barber*
(C 46)
Dec 2017
Christopher ‘Peter’ Horler
(H 72)
Jul 2018
Paul Mathers*
(SH 46)
Jan 2018
Daniel Leppington
(F 81)
Nov 2017
John Riley
(Hf 47)
Dec 2017
Jason Brown
(L 85)
Nov 2017
Richard Williamson
(M 47)
Oct 2017
Mark Richardson
(Hf 85)
Jun 2018
Ian Abbott
(SH 48)
Apr 2018
* We are pleased to include obituaries supplied by family members or friends of the deceased.
22 In Memoriam
Obituaries John TownsendGreen (F 33) By his eldest daughter Laura Townsend-Green Our dear father passed away peacefully in Sussex on 31st May in the company of his beloved family and leaving his wife, two daughters and grandchildren. He was born in 1919 in Kensington, London, and was sent to Uppingham from 1933 until 1937, during which time his mother suffered and finally died from cancer. I received the impression from my father that it was a tough school, however, on reading some of his school reports which he had kept, I saw words showing care and kindness from the masters. Our father, being of age at the beginning of World War II, fought as a gunner and continued serving after the conflict in Palestine, Syria and Egypt. After being released from service he followed in the family tradition of several generations by qualifying as a Chartered Surveyor and ran his own company in Fleet Street for 30 years until retirement. He was fortunate to enjoy 33 years of retirement in Angmering-on-Sea and subsequently in a penthouse flat on the coast of Worthing which he adored. His passing was due to heart failure. His remembrance service, which he had planned, was held on 29th June at St Mary’s Church, Goring-by-Sea, and was attended by fellow Uppinghamian, Norman Nash (M 42), who came wearing the School tie. Richard ‘Dick’ Catchpole (F 40) By his son Giles (F 72) Richard E. ‘Dick’ Catchpole died in Norwich on 2nd April 2018 after a short illness. The youngest of three brothers, Douglas (F 30) and Brian Catchpole (F 33), he attended school throughout World War II. His eldest
brother was lost in action at St Valery in 1940 and is recorded on the war memorial in the School library. After National Service, Dick qualified as a dental surgeon at the Royal Dental Hospital in Leicester Square and established a practice in Oundle where he served behind enemy lines for 25 years. He then moved to Norwich, where he worked in the city for a decade, moving to the University of East Anglia Health Centre until his retirement. He was a regular attendee at the Norfolk dinner, where in 2017 aged 90, he was delighted at last to be the oldest OU in the vicinity. He is much missed by his daughters Nicola and Didi, his son Giles (F 72) and many, many friends. John Tempest (SH 40) By his wife Katie Sadly John died on 7th January 2018. He was ill for several months and left us peacefully, whilst at home. John came to Uppingham School in 1940 and resided in School House. He remembered his time there very fondly. As an old boy he retained close contact with the School over many years. He last attended an OU lunch in 2016 which continued to provide him with good memories of his time at the School together with an appreciation, over time, as to how things were changing to best effect. He was always keen to meet with his contemporaries. It has been said by a close friend that he was a true gentleman, who had lovely, effortless and elegant public school manners, together with a sincere and natural charm. I know that the years at Uppingham, during the war period, formed a very important part of John’s life. Professionally he was very successful in business and retired because of ill health in 1994. He had a natural ability to talk with people whatever their background or interests.
Bernard Collett ‘Joe’ Robertson (C 42) By his daughter Ann Joe had many names, Collett to his parents, Don to some, but Joe to most of his family. Born in Newcastle-Under-Lyme in 1928 Joe went to Uppingham from 1942-1947. After National Service he was awarded an exhibition to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied law and engineering. He became a Patent Agent, married Shirley Elizabeth Fry and had two daughters. He moved for a short time to Canada, and then returned to the UK, eventually joining GKN, where much of his work was in the Far East; a challenge that he thrived on. He enjoyed sailing, books, old cars, classical music and good wine and food. For some years he co-owned a yacht and sailed around Britain and France. He was a member of the Bentley Drivers Club for many years and served as Secretary, then Chairman of the Midland Region. He took great pride in a 1938 Bentley that he owned for 40 years. He and long-term partner Margaret took many trips with the club. In his last years he had Parkinson’s disease, that he found an increasing trial. However he remained in his own home until very shortly before his death. James ‘Jamie’ Barber (C 46) By Geoffrey Boston (C 46) Jamie Barber and I were two of six new boys in Constables in September 1946. He was a scholar and chorister. We shared an interest in horse racing and soon became good friends. Most mornings we would go down to Hawthorn’s to study ‘form’ in the Daily Mail. He picked out many more winners than I did.
Obituaries 23
Obituaries
Jamie left Uppingham in March 1951 as a School Polly and House Captain. He joined the regular army, following his father Lt Gen Sir Colin Barber (C 1911), eventually becoming a Major in the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders. From 1978 he was the Handicapper and Director of Horse Racing in Hong Kong. He later retired to St Andrews where he enjoyed playing golf. The notice of his death in the Daily Telegraph included the words: ‘He was a very good friend to so many from all walks of life, a wonderful man and will be sorely missed.’ Paul Mathers (SH 46) By his wife Sheila Paul Frank Mathers died at the age of 84 on 6th January 2018. He arrived at Uppingham in September 1946 and left in 1951. He was a member of School House and Martin Lloyd was his Housemaster. During his last term at Uppingham, he applied for and was awarded a flying scholarship. After leaving school he attained his pilot’s licence and consequently did his National Service in the Air Force. In 1962 we married and then had two daughters of whom he was very proud. Most of his working life, he ran his own textile business in London and in retirement enjoyed gardening, bridge and reading copious newspapers. After 55 years of marriage, his death leaves a large gap in our lives. He always told me how much he appreciated his school years at Uppingham and liked to keep in touch with progress at the School. He was in contact with several OU friends until his death. Ian Holworthy (Fgh 48) By his brother Richard Ian Charles Montgomery Holworthy, died peacefully in his sleep at Newstead House, Hereford, on 7th March 2018 after a long illness. He was 83. After leaving Uppingham he did his National Service with the Rifle Brigade in Germany. On return to the UK he worked for a short time with a local firm of agricultural auctioneers in
24 Obituaries
Herefordshire before leaving to take up a post on a tobacco farm in Southern Rhodesia, where he stayed for the next, sometimes turbulent, 50 years. He returned to Ross-on Wye, Herefordshire, on retirement. He never married. James ‘Andrew’ Hall (F 49) By Graham Bryant (F 49) Andrew, or James Andrew Hall to the publishing world, died on 28th March 2018, aged 82. Andrew showed his promise in the Sixth Form under AJF Doulton, who encouraged him to send one of his weekly essays to The Young Elizabethan magazine, who subsequently published it and sent him 10 shillings, a small fortune in 1953. After National Service, and jobs with Tatler and the Central Office of Information, and then a lengthy stay in Malta, he finally got into writing full time. Starting with several episodes of the old TV series Crossroads, later in his career he wrote for many modern soaps. He was also responsible for many old Sunday night memories such as Tales of the Unexpected, Arthur C Clarke Mysteries and The Invisible Man. Other BBC adaptions included Mill on the Floss, Secret Army, Great Expectations, Dombey and Son, David Copperfield, Brat Farrar, Exploits at West Poley, Prisoner of Zenda and Play for Today. He wrote two children’s books, Fowl Pest and The Curse of Brian’s Brick. The former being nominated for the Smarties Award in 1994 and featured on Jackanory. Adult books included Man in Aspic, Frost, Safe Behind Bars, and Enemy at the Door. His films included Good King Wenceslas, starring Stefanie Powers, and The Snow Queen. He was also a BAFTA judge. His friendship and humour will be sadly missed by me, his sisters Judith and Susan, his partner Raymond, his agent Angela and his many friends.
Tony Baden Fuller (F 51) By Nick Preston (C 74) Tony Baden Fuller saved the game of Eton Fives from disappearing into an abyss when the game’s sole supplier of balls collapsed in 1962. Tony invented a new ball and he revolutionised the way the game was played. Tony’s life-long passions were his family and his love of Eton Fives. His wife, Jane, when asked recently if she had any pictures of Tony playing Fives, remarked that she only ever saw his hands and his bottom! Tony devoted his life to his family, his wife and his two daughters Jo (Fd 88) and Susannah and nothing gave him more enjoyment than taking his grandchildren to the latest Harry Potter films. He was a devout Christian, serving as Chairman of the Deanery Synod and the Bishops’ Think-tank. After completing his National Service at RAF Hendon, he joined Shell and later ICI where he became an early exponent of environmental packaging. But he always had time for Fives, and when the family moved to Warminster, he made the most extraordinary discovery visiting Warminster School and found, to his astonishment, that he had parked on what transpired to be the remains of an historic Fives Court. Anthony Thomas Baden Fuller was born in 1938 on the Kent coast. His parents, fearing Hitler would invade at any time, evacuated him to Tunbridge Wells and from there Tony was sent to Uppingham in 1951. It was here that the young Baden Fuller was introduced to the game of Eton Fives in which he excelled. In 1955 he made the IV and a year later became Captain. He went up to King’s College, Cambridge in 1956 winning a Shell Scholarship where he read Natural Sciences. He won Half Blues in 1958 and 1959 playing in the same team as fellow Uppinghamian J M Watson (SH 50).
In 1962, while at Shell, he became aware of the game’s precarious state with the demise of Jefferies Malings of Woolwich, the sole supplier of Fives balls. He singlehandedly embarked on inventing a new ball. Prototypes were tested at Uppingham by his younger cousin Charles (C 61) often at great risk when the balls would suddenly implode on court covering them with white glue. When he presented his new invention to the Chairman of the Eton Fives Association, he politely asked if he might claim some reimbursement for his time. But the Corinthian spirit that prevailed in the EFA, resulted merely in a polite thank you for giving back to the game what it had given to you! Tony started selling his new ball and, as demand grew, so did the burden. Jane recalled the day when she had to fill her small Mini Cooper with two gross of Fives Balls to take them down to the local post office to fulfil an order. Tony joined the first international Fives tour to Nigeria in 1965. It was in Northern Nigeria where he introduced the new ball, much to the surprise of their hosts. And then the Nigerians introduced their own ball, a tennis ball no less, resulting in matches being played alternately with both ‘new’ balls! While the Nigerians claimed victory, Tony modestly reported that their hosts adopted a very unfamiliar scoring system! What is undisputable is that the Baden Fuller ball revolutionised the game, making it faster with the balls lasting much longer. Baden Fuller was one of the giants of our game and he never lost his passion for his life-long love of Eton Fives. In November 2016, his achievements were publicly acclaimed at the Uppingham Revival Dinner celebrating 163 years of Fives, when the EFA presented him with a tribute for his outstanding achievements. Last year, he was also made a Vice President of the EFA. He was indeed one of the game’s great unsung heroes.
David Brownlow (WD 51) By his son Dominic (SH 83) David passed away suddenly on the morning of 3rd March 2018. A keen hockey player, he represented both Peterborough and East Anglia. After leaving Uppingham he went up to Emmanuel College, Cambridge, before taking over the family farm in Thorney. He was an extraordinarily popular figure amongst his sons’ peers and an ever-present sight on the touchlines of Uppingham, often in a trilby and sheepskin coat, vocally urging the teams on. Following the early death of his wife, Margaret, he retired from farming, settling in Castle Bytham, Lincolnshire. He is survived by his three sons Marcus (SH 81), Dominic (SH 83), Timothy (SH 85) and eight grandchildren.
Professor Simon Charsley (WB 53) Simon was a social anthropologist who made a significant contribution to the understanding of social customs and change. He began life as an Africanist, his Master’s thesis on the Nyakusa of Tanzania impressed the examiner so favourably that in 1969 it was published. He went on to conduct doctoral research in Uganda, where he also worked as a researcher at Makerere University. He was awarded his PhD in 1969 by the University of Manchester. Simon was then on the brink of taking up a UNESCO role in Uganda, when Idi Amin came to power, causing him to change focus. The first of his research visits to India occurred at this point and the beginning of a lengthy interest in the sub-continent. His early work focused on silk production and led to his book on Culture and Seri-Culture (1982), used by policy makers to develop sericulture in India.
During his children’s school years, he became an anthropologist ‘at home’, and contributed to establishing the respectability of the Anthropology of Europe and the UK. He brought his blend of rich data and detailed analysis to bear on matrimony in Scotland with the publication of two books. First came Rites of Marrying: The Wedding Industry in Scotland (1991) which won the Katharine Briggs folklore award. An aspect of this work was subsequently developed into Wedding Cakes and Cultural History (1992). Finally, Simon returned to India and devoted himself to studying the changing nature of caste with a focus on Dalits – those at the foot of the caste hierarchy. Several important articles and two significant edited volumes – Challenging Untouchability (with Gopal Karanth, 1998), and Performers and Their Arts (with Laxmi Narayan Kadekar, 2006) – brought together leading scholars to offer fresh insights into caste and culture today. Simon was employed in the Sociology Department at the University of Glasgow, but championed the teaching of Social Anthropology. His courses gave many students an introduction to anthropology. Dr Andrew Smith, current head of Sociology, recalls that the classes – which he attended as an undergraduate – “were exceptionally engaging, and wonderfully well-structured. He took us through the history of anthropology as a discipline in a way that made the ebb and flow of intellectual development really vivid and meaningful. Above all, he communicated a heartfelt, compassionate curiosity about human beings and their social lives.” Simon was an outstanding teacher, a prolific author and an enthusiastic traveller. He was a mainstay of the Sociology Department in Glasgow until his retirement in 2005. In addition, he held affiliations with the Institute for Social and Economic Change (Bengaluru) and Department of Sociology in Central University, Hyderabad. Dr Simon Robert Charsley died on 13th December 2017 aged 78. He is survived by his wife Jean, son PJ and daughter Katharine, who has followed in her father’s footsteps as an anthropologist.
Obituaries 25
Obituaries
Anthony Diggle (F 53) By his brother John (F 57)
After Uppingham, Anthony was articled and became FRICS. He joined W E Browne in Chester, which merged with Swetenhams, of which he became Senior Partner. In 1988, he led a buy-out by Royal Life Estates, of which Anthony became Director, responsible for surveyors in over 100 former estate agents offices. He was initiated into Cestrian Lodge in 1974, and became Treasurer at a time of financial difficulty, out of which he steered the Lodge. He was much involved for many years, and became eventually Past Provincial Junior Warden; as well as a genial chancellor on family weekends. He was the youngest ever President of Chester City Club; but his major contribution was later as Chairman of the Board when he steered them through a financial crisis caused by the loss of the major tenant. Starting in the early 1970s, he became involved with the organisation that became Muir Group, building social housing in the Chester region. He was Chairman for 18 years, during which their total housing stock rose to 5,000. Never noted at School for much ability on any pitch, he was a stalwart member of Deeside Ramblers Hockey Club, Delamere Forest Golf Club, and a long-standing local shoot. His main sport, with his wife Angela, was sailing – around the UK, Mediterranean and Caribbean; but their major trip was from Darwin to Singapore on a yacht completing a round-the-world circumnavigation. In more than 250 letters of condolence to his wife, the most common adjective was ‘gentleman’. He leaves his wife, Angela, three children, Linda, Tim and Nicola and seven grandchildren.
26 Obituaries
Desmond Bain (Fgh 56)
Much-admired first headmaster at Northcote Prep School and a staunch believer in not giving his pupils homework. Given that Northcote Lodge had no academic record when it opened its doors in 1993, it is unsurprising that parents had reservations about paying to send their children there. With only 14 pupils committed to the first term at the school in Wandsworth, Desmond Bain, was under a lot of pressure to make the newest prep school in the capital a success. “It was a risk for us from a financial nature and for Desmond Bain from a personal one”, said Sir Malcolm Colquhoun of Luss, the school’s founder. Bain was a great raconteur, with an infectious enthusiasm for history, archaeology and storytelling. He ran Northcote like a typical country prep school, which included sporting activities in the park and ensuring that prep work was completed in the classroom so that home was for family time. This proved immensely popular with his pupils. Soon enough there was a buzz around Northcote and its charismatic head. Through word of mouth, the ‘Chelsea tractors’ began to pull up to the door and there were 20 pupils at the school by the end of the first year. Small touches attracted prospective parents. Every Sunday at noon, once they had returned home from church, the Bain family held a drinks party before lunch, with ‘little eats and tasty snacks’. Parents of children at the school mingled with interested parties, who had the opportunity to ask questions about Northcote. “Parents were coming to us,” said his wife, Sally. When Bain took on the post he pledged to give it five years to see his first round of students get into their next public schools. He also hoped this would give him enough time to see the classrooms full. By the time he left in 1998 there were more than 100 pupils at Northcote, while the children he had taken on passed into schools such as Eton, Marlborough and Harrow. Desmond George Uniacke Bain was born in 1943 in Edinburgh. His parents divorced when he was young and his mother
remarried. Desmond, aged five, and his older brother, Angus (Fgh 54), were sent to boarding school in the south of England so their mother and stepfather could go on a three-month honeymoon around South Africa. This was followed by a stint at Boarzell Prep School in East Sussex and he came to Uppingham in 1956. He later gained a degree at a teacher training college near Chichester. At the request of his father, he joined the Royal Navy for a year before returning as a trainee to his former prep school. Posts at prep schools in Putney, southwest London, and throughout the country followed before he became headmaster at Roselyon School in Par, Cornwall, for several years, where he met Sally, who had sent her three children there who Bain then raised as if they were his own. He and Sally married in 1982 and Sally, previously a tennis coach, took on the role of headmaster’s wife. Bain intended to retire after Northcote, but was persuaded to stick it out for two more years by taking on Durlston Court in the New Forest, as interim head. Afterwards he and Sally retreated to Cornwall and settled into a cottage in Fowey, where they remained early risers and made the most of getting out and about in their beautiful surroundings. Desmond Bain, died on 4th October 2017, aged 74. John Moody (WB 58)
John was born in May 1944 in Leeds and attended Uppingham with his brother Barry (WB 62). On leaving, John decided to follow his father into the accountancy profession, starting his career at what is now Price Waterhouse Coopers. In 1970, he accepted a position at Pitney Bowes, taking him to the town of Harlow, though he first secured the hand of his bride-to-be, Joanna, before moving. He eventually became the Managing Director (CEO) of Pitney Bowes, until 1988, when the whole family made the big move to
Connecticut. He took various roles at Pitney Bowes US, including Vice President of Corporate Planning and Development, Vice President of Worldwide Market and Product Management, President of the Production Mail Systems Division, and President of Pitney Bowes US Mailing Systems. Since his retirement in 2003, John divided his time between travel, sailing, rowing, skiing, volunteer work, numerous board and committee member positions, and doting on his two grandchildren. He was both wise and handy, sharing his financial wisdom as a Board and Finance Committee member of the United Way of Coastal Fairfield County, and hammering nails with the Coastal Fairfield County Chapter of Habitat for Humanity. From 2005 up until a week before his passing, John offered his insight to mentor individuals running or starting up small businesses as a Counsellor, Chapter Secretary, and Executive Committee Member of the SCORE Fairfield Chapter. He held a lifelong love of skiing, travelling each year to meet and ski with friends and family at the Beaver Creek Club in Colorado. He alternated roles of Captain and First Mate with Joanna aboard ‘Moody Blues’, their Sabre yacht docked at Black Rock Yacht Club. And when he found he still had free time to spare, he enthusiastically embraced learning a new sport, rowing at Saugatuck Rowing Club since 2009. A much-loved husband, father, grandfather, and brother, John passed away peacefully on 22nd August 2018 with his family by his side. Tom Ryland (SH 60) By Richard Stewart (SH 59)
Tom died on 9th March 2018 after a 20-month battle with leukaemia. Throughout his life he was creative, well-organised and had a great sense of humour. At Uppingham he joined a group adopted by Warwick Metcalfe who was very influential in encouraging Tom to become an architect.
David Gaine was House Tutor and Tom was always very grateful to him for his progressive approach at a time when public schools were slowly moving towards a less hierarchical authoritarian model. Tom conceived and directed the film From Uppingham with Love (now on YouTube). The brilliant piano accompaniment was extemporised by Simon Park (SH 59). There are many great moments in the film, including a scene where a dummy of a fag is thrown off the School Tower only to be run over by the Headman in his car! After seven years training at the AA, Tom entered the architect’s profession, eventually forming his own practice in Hammersmith. He was very active in the local community working on heritage and conservation. After many years on the Committee, he became Chairman of the Hammersmith Association in 2015. Shortly before his death he was awarded the Hammersmith and Fulham Civic Award for his conservation work. He spearheaded the feasibility study of the ambitious A4 Flyunder scheme, sinking the road into a tunnel to reconnect Hammersmith with the river.
Following his time at Uppingham he worked in the shop-fitting industry, initially with the family business and subsequently forming his own successful company. He also had business interests in Devon, purchasing a dairy farm with his younger brother Nicolas (B 68) in a joint family venture. He continued to play club cricket throughout his business career and represented Warwickshire in the ECB 50+ county championship on many occasions. In 2002 he purchased and ran a ski hotel in Chamonix in the French Alps. In June 2016 he was diagnosed with a serious brain tumour. He had remained extremely fit and active throughout his life and fought the condition bravely until the end. Although 65 is a life too short, all his achievements in those years constitute a life fulfilled. He is survived by his wife Céline, children Jamie and Louise from his first marriage to Tina and four grandchildren.
His pride and joy was a 1926 Humber that he rebuilt from a wreck. He is survived by his wife Liz and two sons. Jonathan Rogers (B 66) By his brother David (B 70)
Jonathan lost a 21-month battle with brain cancer in March 2018. He was 65. A keen and talented sportsman, his time at Uppingham was largely marked by his sporting activities. He was a member of the 1st XI cricket team in 1969 and was vice-captain in 1970. He also represented the School at Fives and was Captain of the School football team. In the mid-1970s Jonathan formed and was player/manager of the Old Uppinghamians Football Club that competed in the Arthurian League versus other old boys’ teams.
OU six-a-side team, 1981 Back: David Rogers (B 70), Jonathan Rogers (B 66), David Pattison Front: Peter Walford, Mark Johnson (M 66), Nicolas Rogers (B 68)
Obituaries 27
Announcements Jules Maury (née Butler) (Fd 75) married Patrick Aschan on 15th September at Mosimann’s Club Belgravia with a blessing at Saint Mary’s Fittleworth on the 29th September. The couple honeymooned at Six Senses Zighy Bay Oman and Tuscany. Edward Timpson (LH 87) and his wife Julia were thrilled to welcome Nell into the world on 23rd January 2017, a sister for Sam (aged 14 and now also of Lorne House), Elizabeth (aged 12) and Lydia (aged 10). Edward is enjoying getting back into changing nappies after 10 years at the political coalface. Henry Reynolds (WB 94) became the proud father of his third son in July 2017 when he and Louise Carter welcomed Angus Reynolds into the world. George Riley (M 94) married Rosie Doonan in August 2017, his brothers Sam Riley (M 93) and Jack Riley acted as joint best men. Patrick Vincent Doonan Riley was born on 4th May 2018. Chris Leonard (M 95) and his wife Nicole had a baby girl, Eliana Dalila Leonard, born on 19th January 2017. On 29th March 2018, Elizabeth Menday (L 98) married Robert Beales at The Great Barn near Aynho in Northamptonshire.
28 Announcements
Lucy West (J 01) married the Hon William Dobbs in Old Hunstanton, Norfolk, on 9th December 2017 with several OUs in attendance at their wedding lunch the following day. Above L to R: Tony Keene (WD 47), William Fletcher (B 62), Andrew Riddington (WD 78), Lucy West (J 01), George Riddington (WD 47), David Riddington (WD 49) and Nigel Elgood (H 51)
Jamie Sharrock (M 99) and his wife Camilla are delighted to announce the safe arrival of George Stanley Jeffery Sharrock on 28th August 2018 at 1.04am weighing 8lbs1oz. Fiona Slominska (Fd 99) and Neil Colville welcomed their son, Alastair Henry Iain, on 31st March 2018.
Ella Reynolds (née Rogers) (Sa 01) and her husband Robert would like to introduce Oscar and Ivy born on 1st May 2018. Jo Dickson (née Harris) (J 04) and husband Edward are delighted to announce the arrival of Henry George Dickson, born on 24th April 2018, weighing 8lbs 7oz – a little brother for Andrew.
A CELEBRATION OF CRICKET AT UPPINGHAM Cricket at Uppingham has always been focused around The Upper, and for many evokes memories of basking in the summer sun whilst eagerly awaiting the match tea!
I
n October this year, ex-international cricketer Graeme Swann joined around 100 OUs at a Celebration of Cricket at Uppingham event at Lord’s Cricket Ground. The main feature of the evening was a Q&A session with ‘Swanny’ and the School’s outgoing Director of Cricket, during which they told stories of cricketing endeavour and changing room antics, and shared thoughts on everything from England’s batting order to Australian ball tampering. It was clear from the raucous laughter in the bar after the event that the stories from the Strictly star provoked reminiscence of guests’ own tales of cricketing exploits, good and bad. Whilst fondly remembering the rich cricketing history of the School was one aspect of the evening, much more importantly, the dinner provided the opportunity to look forward to the future of the sport at Uppingham. The Headmaster’s personal love of cricket is matched only by his resolute intention that it should thrive at the School. It is his passion that has spearheaded a range of plans that will see both participation rates improving amongst pupils, and more Uppinghamians going on to play at the very highest levels. More detail on how these ambitions will be achieved will be available in the coming months, but you can
expect to hear about significant investment into girls’ cricket, deepening links with the Leicestershire County side, and exciting restorations and additions to cricket facilities on campus. The most significant of these investments will be the renovation of the home of cricket at Uppingham, The Upper Pavilion. Ninety-five years after its construction, the pavilion is showing its age and the equipment that modern cricket requires, as well as the increasing number of women and girls passionate about the sport, means the space available is too limiting.
Cricket on The Upper Poem, School Magazine June Vol. LXXX1V No 601
Building work to lovingly restore the facility and bring it up-to-date will start in 2019, ready for pupils and OUs to hear leather on willow by the start of the season in 2020. The updated and upgraded facilities will welcome competitions such as the Bunbury Cricket Festival, offer local county sides a training ground across the summer months, and extend the School’s cricketing tradition for pupils for years to come. To find out more on plans for the renovation, please contact Vin Gaten on 01572 820614 or vg2@uppingham.co.uk.
Feature 29
The WWI Memorial, 1921
Uppingham and Remembrance: 1918 and Beyond By Tim Halstead (Fgh 72)
T
he November 1918 edition of the School Magazine had no doubt about what the Armistice meant. It was ‘as final victory as we ever wished for’. This enthusiastic tone was not shared by all those connected with Uppingham, especially those in the armed forces. In the immediate years after the war, the nature of the memorial to those OUs would evolve and change from that originally envisaged. Individually, OUs would be remembered not just through memorials but practical gifts. The news of the Armistice arrived at Uppingham 55 minutes after it had come into effect. The School shared, along with the vast majority of the British population, a sense of jubilation. The chapel bell was rung and pupils and staff quickly gathered for a brief service of thanksgiving, followed by the raising of the Union Jack and the singing of the National Anthem on the Green after which the School joined the town to share in their celebrations. There were no more lessons that day and, in the evening, an impromptu concert was held at which Reginal Owen, the Headmaster, announced all detentions were cancelled. On the Western Front, there was a more sombre understanding of what an Armistice meant; it was no more than a cessation of hostilities while an attempt was made to negotiate a peace treaty. Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Lee (Hf 1890), who was with the General Staff in France, recorded that the whole thing left him cold while Laurence Carr (L 1900), a professional soldier, wrote in a letter that it was not peace and that those whom he was serving with were fed up with the attitude of the country at home. By July 1919 the School Magazine had adopted a more sober tone noting that the signing of the Versailles Peace Treaty had
30 Feature
Construction of the East Block, 1923
been greeted with none of the joy of the previous November and expressed a desire to forget ‘the troubles of militarism’. Before the war had ended, an appeal had been launched with the intention of honouring those who had fallen and offering practical assistance to their sons with the cost of an Uppingham education. In essence, the plan was to build a memorial chapel along with a new hall and classrooms in a memorial quadrangle. The School was falling behind other public schools and the system of private houses where the Housemaster taught in his own house was grossly inefficient. As any OU will know, the distances between some of the houses were considerable. Centralising the classrooms was only part of the answer to this problem but it was an important step. As after the Boer War, the School took the opportunity to use the memorial appeal to fund significant improvements to the School. Over time the purpose of the appeal evolved; having started as a memorial to the dead, by 1919 Owen had announced at Speech Day that although the primary aim of the appeal was for it to be a memorial to the fallen, it would also commemorate all those who had played their part in the war (whether in the military or as civilians). By 1919 parents who had boys at the School were making some of the most generous donations in gratitude for their sons not having to serve in the war. It was not until nearly six years after the end of the war that the appeal was complete with the opening of the Memorial Hall in July 1924, the Chapel Memorial having been dedicated in October 1921. Beyond the School, a number of memorials were established for OUs who had served. The nature of the memorials varied both in their purpose and their form. Church windows were dedicated
Opening of the Memorial Hall, July 1924
as a memorial for not just those who had died but those who had survived. Memorials to OUs were also of a practical nature; different properties were given to house a museum and a hospital; an almshouse and a house for disabled servicemen were built in memory of OUs; and the village of Caddington in Bedfordshire raised funds to build a Memorial Hall in memory of John Collings Wells VC (F 1895). In the meantime, the 80% who survived needed to resume their lives. For some, the effects of their wounds would linger for many years and ultimately lead to their death. A few would find life impossible to cope with but many, although affected by the events of the war, chose to resume their lives as best as they could. Some suffered terrible injuries but were able to make a deep impact in their chosen areas. Godfrey Robinson (C 1911) was seriously wounded when acting as a forward observation officer and lost his sight, hearing and sense of smell. Through innovative surgery, his hearing was restored and he went on to work in the family business and for the welfare of the blind. In 1938, he became Chairman of the National Institute for the Blind and under his leadership it received a Royal Charter. The response of Uppinghamians to the end of the war varied immensely. For those at home it was easier to celebrate than those who were in military service and far more aware of the bitter realities of war. Not for the first time in its history, Uppingham took the opportunity to make remembrance a positive act by expanding and improving its facilities. Individual remembrance for OUs was not only about unveiling plaques and windows but in many cases was a gift for the benefit of the local community.
Feature 31
A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF THE LORD MAYOR OF THE CITY OF LONDON W
e took the opportunity to interview Charles Bowman (WD 75) who, in November 2017, was installed as the 690th Lord Mayor of the City of London. The Lord Mayor is the head of the City of London Corporation, based in the historic financial district of London which is also known as the Square Mile. He serves as key ambassador and spokesperson for and on behalf of UK financial and professional services – a sector that employs 2.3 million people nationwide and forms an important part of the UK’s economy.
What has been your absolute highlight of the year? Given the breadth of activity – one minute engaged in a centuries-old City civic ceremony, and the next, acting as a principal ambassador for the UK’s financial and professional services sector – I am not sure it’s possible to select one absolute highlight. That said, the experience of the Lord Mayor’s Show will always stand out. The Show happens on the second Saturday of November, at the start of the Lord Mayor’s year, and is the largest unrehearsed parade in the world – involving more than 70 decorated floats, including one this year from Uppingham, many thousands of participants and over 200 horses. I shall never forget the sight of my wife, Samantha, and our two daughters, Grace (Fd 13) and Charlotte (Fd Upper Sixth) riding together at the front of the procession – both Grace and Charlotte wearing their Fairfield ties. How many countries have you visited? By the end of my tenure I will have visited somewhere between 25 and 30 different countries. Where would you like to return on holiday? I have enjoyed the international travel and learned much from each visit. I would love to return with the family to some of those countries which we have not visited before – including New Zealand, Peru and Indonesia.
32 Feature
Most interesting food served at an international dinner? I really enjoyed the variety of cuisine in Japan and South Korea. And, wherever I’ve travelled to, I have remained committed to my rule of fruit for pudding, in an attempt to manage the calories. As such, I’ve been amazed to see the different types of fruit served in different countries – some of which I never knew existed. Most well-known personality met? Throughout my mayoral year I’ve been fortunate to conduct interviews with a number of well-known personalities – as part of my Business of Trust Campaign – to understand their views on public trust within society and what business can do to help restore public trust. By the end of my year I will have carried out circa 40 interviews – and the interviewees have included, amongst others, the Mayor of London, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Governor of the Bank of England and Scotland’s First Minister – and for rugby fans amongst you, the former All-Black great, Sir John Kirwan. Most unusual occasion you have attended? Many of the ancient ceremonies which the Lord Mayor attends are unique and unusual. I’ve attended ceremonies where I’ve been presented with a tricorn hat, a pair of spectacles and even a glass of water. The Worshipful Company of Glovers kindly presented Samantha and me with a number of pairs of gloves – including a pair of fives gloves for me. These were put to good use in January when I played for the OUs against the School and competed against our younger daughter, Charlotte.
Throughout my mayoral year I’ve been fortunate to conduct interviews with a number of well-known personalities – as part of my Business of Trust Campaign...”
As your tenure comes to an end, what will you miss the most? The extraordinary team at Mansion House who have supported us this year – including the programme managers, the events team, speech writers, diary management team, the house management teams and many more. They have done a superb job in managing an intense year and it has all been done with a strong sense of purpose combined with fun and good humour. What won’t you miss at all? After spending some 110 days this year travelling to many different countries, it will have to be fighting the jet lag. Greatest personal achievement in the past 12 months? The Business of Trust programme – my mayoral theme for the year. We, at the City of London Corporation, have worked extensively to gather a wide range of public views on what Business can do to improve public trust and I am pleased that so many businesses have engaged with the programme and are looking at ways they can react to our findings in practice with the overarching aim of creating a legacy of “Better Business Trusted by Society”. What next? …a holiday…
Our enormous thanks to Charles for contributing to this edition of the OU magazine and especially for hosting the 2018 London Dinner at Mansion House, it was an incredibly memorable evening for all those who were able to attend.
Feature 33
EVENTS
L to R: OU Golf Society members – David Tate (WD 54), Andrew Renison (F 54), Jeremy Cooke (WB 67), Martin Walker (L 67), Tim Dumenil (SH 66) and John Millard (SH 54)
London Dinner In February 2018 over 300 OUs gathered together at Mansion House, the home of the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Charles Bowman (WD 75) for a truly spectacular evening.
Jo Sanderson (née Bowers) (Fd 77) and Martin Cardoe (Hf 74)
Jennifer Audouy (née Gee) (Fd 75), Dave Turnbull (Fgh 72) and Jules Aschan (née Butler) (Fd 75) Charlie Makin, Paul Hewitt and Andrew Bowles (all M 73)
Mary Woods (née Thompson) (Fd 86), Georgie Chivers (née Browning) (J 86), Katie Witt (J 86), Amelia Courtauld (née Fearn) (Fd 86) and Rebecca Spragg (née Toone) (Fd 86)
Back row: Sophie Freeman (L 04), Rachel Zapolski (L 07), Phoebe Davies (L 04). Front row: Gemma Sutton (L 04), Lucy Arden (L 04) and Laura Christopherson (Sa 04)
Property Dinner Peter Davey (SH 04), John Wayte (F 04), Chloe Mallo (J 07) and Alex Wiffill (J 07)
Ann Duminil (nĂŠe Smith) (Fd 77) and Philippa Blackstone (nĂŠe Hargreaves) (Fd 77)
Tom Scowsill, Will Flinn, Robert Archer-Smith and Tom Core (all SH 06)
Lydia Fisher, Georgina Clifford, Laura McGregor, Rosie McAlpine and Jankee Patel (all L 09)
Held at the Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall in September 2017.
Alastair Allan (F 07), Harry Pruden (F 05), Ollie Mayes (LH 05), Ollie Judd (Hf 05) and Camilla Jerram (L 08)
Michael (B 07), Peter (C 76) and John Doleman (C/B 05)
Byron Fitzpatrick (LH 96), Charlie Thompson (C 96), William Lawson (Fgh 96), Fergus Chamberlain (WD 96), Nick Coupe (LH 99), Richard Hartley (Fgh 96) and Andrew Russell (Hf 97)
Philip Hunter (Fgh 93) and Jonathan Sincla ir (SH 92)
Nick Southern (SH 98) and James Thom son (C 93)
Meadhurst 65th Anniversary Dinner Organised by Peter Owthwaite (M 52) and held at Uppingham in October 2017.
L to R: Richard Williamson (M 52), Peter Owthwaite (M 52), John Harvey (M 53), Basil Frost (M 45), David Hughes (M 53), Daniel Kandaouroff (M 52), Anthony Page (M 53), Graham Hill (M 52) and John Williamson (M 52)
Events 35
Scottish Dinner
Held in March at Kin ross House, one of the most stunning venues in the OU event calendar and the home of Donald Fothergill (B 74) wh o generously opened the door s to OUs and their partner s.
Nick Preston (C 74) , Donald Fothergill (B 74)
Willie Fulton (C 58) and Nicholas Watts (H 57)
60 Anniversary Dinner th
and Richard Boston
Robin Boyt (WD 56) and John Thring (H 57)
Organised by John Edward (WD 57) and held at Uppingham in November 2017.
Morvyn Hood and Jere my
Goddin (Hf 51)
Mike Ogden (WD 59) and David Scott (WD 58)
James Thomas (SH 00) with Dr Richard Malon ey
36 Events
John Edward (WD 57)
Martin Auld (WD 66) and
John Rhind (Hf 62)
and his wife Tracey
(B 56)
Leanne Rhodes, George Thomas (M 97) and Max Rhodes (F 96)
Basil Frost (M 45), David Leather (B 45) and Derek Bunting (B 45)
Speech Day May 2018 at Uppingham. Guests were treated to a spectacular show with music, drama and entertainment provided by Uppingham’s extremely talented pupils. All followed by a leisurely lunch in the Memorial Hall, it was a really wonderful day.
Giles Catchpole (F 72), Nick Ellis (WB 72), Anthony Trace (WB 72) and Simon Whitaker (WB 71)
Jon Vaughan (WD 64) and Tony Waite (WD 62) Back: Robert Kemp (LH56)
Charlotte Trace (Sa 01) with Ruth and Christopher Belk (WB 51)
Yorkshire Dinner Held at the White Hart Hotel, Harrogate in May.
Bruce Robinson (C 45) and David Sutcliffe (B 50)
Jim Bolland (L 52) and Oliver Duckett (C 95)
James Rhodes (SH 76), Simon Rhodes (SH 80), James Kirby Welch (WD 74) and David Lister (Fgh 78)
Over 60s Lunch September 2018 at the Cavalry Guards Club, Piccadilly.
International Events We owe a considerable debt of gratitude to our overseas OU ‘Ambassadors’ without whom worldwide events would be very difficult to organise.
and
hew (C 58) and John Edward (WD 57), Peter Matt Michael Pares (WD 57)
Wilson Lee (F 11), Angel Leong (L 11) and Anthony Wong
David Sneath Timothy Halstead (Fgh 72) and
(Fgh 61)
Mick Adams (LH 71), Mark Glatman (L 69), Jonathan Green (L 77) and James Pearson (F 79)
Hong Kong Dinner April 2018 held at the Hong Kong Club Cullington (L 57) and Barry Moody (WB 62), Graham Simon Anderson (LH 52)
ard Carter (B 69) Julian Wiltshire (H 48) and Rich
Richard Boston with Nathan Louey (M 01), grateful for his gift of an Uppingham Ale (sourced from Edward Allingham’s (H 81) ‘Leatherbritches Brewery’)
A Celebration of 165 years of Eton Fives at Uppingham September 2018 at Robinson College, Cambridge.
Dominque Lee, Anthony Nightingale (L 61) and Jane Chao-Lee (Fd 92)
Uppingham’s Fives revival continues at pace getting stronger each year with more OUs re-emerging on the Fives Courts than ever before and more people attending the Annual Fives Dinner. This year matches were held at Cambridge’s new world class indoor courts with over 30 people playing during the day, with ages ranging from 25 to 75 years old. Over 60 OUs, their partners and Friends of Uppingham Fives attended the dinner in the evening. Our thanks to Nick Preston (C 74) for organising a wonderful occasion
Western Australian Reunions Our thanks to John Bird (L 67) for organising OU reunions during October 2017 and April 2018.
Neil Baird (LH 70), Richard Boston (B 56), Roger Winwood (B 55) and John Bird (L 67) at the reunion held at Cicerollos, Fremantle Harbour, in April (Caroline Winwood kindly stepped in as photographer again). The October Reunion held in the Beehive Montessori School Hall. Roger Winwood (B 55), Peter Wilshaw (C 53), Phyu Bennett, John Bennett (WD 58), Neil Baird (LH 70), Richard Wolskel (M 61), John Bird (L 67) (photographer Caroline Winwood)
A warm welcome from Robin Schall (C 45) and Tom Ray (Hf 00) on Richard Boston’s arrival in Sydney after flying in from Hong Kong
Although unable to attend the get-together, grateful thanks go to Rodney Pepper (WD 49) and his wife Penny for inviting Richard Boston and John Bird to dinner on the previous evening; and to Richard Wolskel (M 61) for meeting up with Richard Boston for breakfast before he travelled on to the Singapore Dinner
Sydney Dinner In April Tom Ray (Hf 00) organised the Sydney dinner generously hosted by John Freeman (B 58) and his wife Ryoko at their home overlooking Sydney Harbour.
Richard Boston (B 56) with Ryoko and John Freeman (B 58)
Chris Chang (SH 95), Amy France (Fd 00) and Gussie Hubbard (L 05)
Max Garratt (WD 93), Nick Fewkes (WD 00) and Ollie Freer (C 78)
Singapore Dinner Ben Fry (F 96), Lewis Hart (M 82), Shonagh Cousins (L 11), Charles Cousins (H 66) and Matt Bird (WD 88)
Following successful events in Australia, Richard Boston swung by Singapore on his route home for a fantastic event held at the Cricket Club, organised by Ben Fry (F 96) and Matt Bird (WD 88).
Our thanks also to Keith Taylor (F 46) for organising lunch at the Harvard Faculty Club in Boston and to Sarah Woodberry (Fd 82) and Toby Butterfield (F 79) for dinner at the University Club in New York, your assistance with the USA events at the beginning of November was greatly appreciated. It is fantastic to see such strong support for all of our international events from OUs around the world.
Left, front to back: Anthony Couse (SH 79), Nick Hutton (L 69), Michael Reghenzani (Hf 96), Richard Boston (B 56) and Shonagh Cousins (L 11). Right, front to back: Charles Cousins (H 66), Ben Fry (F 96), Andy Perkins (C 91), Matt Bird (WD 88), Katherine Clark (L 98) and Lydia Sprake (L 00)
Events 39
MAKING WAVES IN BUSINESS A FEATURE ON OU ENTREPRENEURS There are so many entrepreneurial OUs independently paving their way to success in their chosen industry by designing, launching and running their own businesses. In this issue we celebrate a few success stories and hope to inspire others to take the plunge by showcasing some amazing companies driven by OUs following their passions.
Claret Showroom We interviewed Claire Spencer-Churchill and Alex Lyles (both J 96), owners of Claret Showroom, a fashion brand distribution agency (covering Europe) and founders of Splash Paris, a premium resort wear trade show. The feature offers an insight into Alex and Claire’s business relationship, friendship and above all life at the helm of a fashion agency. Firstly, let’s take it back to your days at Uppingham; what are your fondest memories of the School? Alex – I want to say the beautiful buildings, expansive playing fields and exceptional facilities but in fact it was the evenings of laughing until I cried with friends in my house. Claire and I actually had rooms across the corridor from each other. We turned our desks to face into the corridor and propped our doors open so we could chat during prep. We persuaded Mr Broughton it was a Feng Shui-based move and was good for the mind! Funny that our desks are now even closer. What one thing did you learn at School that you think has been invaluable in your success so far? Alex – Not so much something I learnt, but gained, was confidence. Uppingham was like an un-pop-able bubble. Life after school is far from that of course, but I benefited from an underlying ‘can-do’ mind-set which has helped a lot. Have you always been involved with fashion? Alex – I have, but for me, it’s more the thrill of running a company than the fashion itself. Although I can’t complain, it’s very useful having a showroom of clothes to borrow from when I need to!
40 OU Entrepreneurs
What planted the seed for Claret Showroom? And how long was it from ideas and concept to opening the doors? Claire – Claret Showroom was launched with two brands and grew to eight over three years. The tables turned when we won a contract to have the EU distribution rights to a large Australian brand, Zimmermann. From here the business snowballed and over the following two years we grew this to 10 brands and opened a pop-up showroom in Paris during Fashion Week. We now have 15 brands and a permanent showroom in Paris. We work as distributors across Europe and the Middle East with a warehouse outside London and a bonded facility in Holland. In 2016 we launched Splash Paris which is Europe’s only Luxury Resortwear Tradeshow. There are 18 of us in the team and Alex and I are entering our 12th year of running it. What have been your greatest and toughest moments setting up the business? Claire – Thankfully we were fairly young and naïve when we launched Claret Showroom so were blissfully unaware as to the challenges we were going to face along the way. Maintaining such a great friendship with Alex and launching Splash have been personal highlights. Do you have any links with other OUs in the fashion industry? Claire – Laura May (née Woolley) (J 94) who ran Chloe in Asia and Becks Sainthill (Fd 96) who works for Ronnie Newhouse are both friends. Alex – My husband’s uncle, Nick Fryer (M 76), set up Gun Hill Clothing. They have boutiques in East Anglia and their own brand too. Also Tom Glover (WD 93) of Peregrine Clothing. It’s interesting comparing notes and a nice way to keep in touch.
What skill-set do you think you need to become an entrepreneur? Claire – Decisiveness, willpower and persistence as well as a great partner. Alex and I have been so lucky to have each other. Without Uppingham that would never have happened. What do you enjoy most about working for yourselves? Claire – The exciting challenges it surprises us with, both good and bad. Opportunities come much more frequently than if you were in a set role and I love the variation that brings. You often look back at the end of the year and think ‘who’d have thought that would have happened!’. Can you give us a run-down of a typical day at Claret Showroom? Claire – Every day is different. Our world is very cyclical so, depending on the time of year, we can be thick in selling seasonal collection; organising our trade show, Splash Paris; speaking with new brands to potentially represent them; setting projections; navigating our way through some currency trading or helping brands streamline their distribution process. If you could give one piece of advice to your ‘School self’ what would it be? Claire – When you first enter the work place, be humble, hard-working and learn everything you can. Alex – Get as much work experience under your belt during the holidays as you can find time for. Your CV will stand out to employers if you can show you are a grafter and you will learn skills that no school can teach. One less Ibiza holiday next summer will be worth it!
To read all of Claire and Alex’s interview responses, please visit the news page of the OU website.
MAKING WAVES IN BUSINESS A FEATURE ON OU ENTREPRENEURS
Lylie’s www.lylies.com The UN estimates that nearly 50m tonnes of electronic waste will be generated around the world in 2018. Electronic mining – the process of extracting gold, silver, copper and other materials from discarded electronics is growing in response to the ever-expanding landfill sites bursting with old phones, tablets, computers, etc. ‘Lylie’s’ founder, Eliza ‘Lylie’ Walter (J 09), launched the brand in October 2017 and she is currently the only jeweller in the UK sourcing such material for her collections. Since the launch, her business has gone from strength-to-strength, already being awarded a hallmark by the London Assay Office. On the subject of salvaging metals she said: “The potential in the e-mining industry is huge, a tonne of circuit boards contains 30 times more gold than the same weight of ore. Aside from this, the extraction process has far lower environmental impact and social costs than traditional mining techniques.” That said, extraction is slow and in order to make it environmentally friendly and financially viable, large quantities of waste must be mined simultaneously. Lylie’s talents certainly aren’t restricted to paving the way to a more environmentallyfriendly approach to jewellery design, she creates bespoke pieces for clients ensuring that her materials, metals or stones, are sourced from recycled antique pieces.
Photo credit – Christian Cargill (LH 06)
She hopes in the future that it becomes normal for a customer, when considering the purchase of fine jewellery, to send unworn pieces as well as broken bits to be exchanged for credit against a new piece. Lylie’s advice for anyone wishing to join the jewellery industry: • Be pushy. If you need to email that supplier for the fifth day in a row, do it. • Find something to de-stress. For me it is running and long baths. • Support from mentors has been invaluable and absolutely key to the ongoing positive evolution of the business.
Ember Snacks www.embersnacks.com In September 2017, hungry brothers Jack (Fgh 02) and Harry (Hf 04) Mayhew took a leap of faith and quit their respective jobs in the food and beverage industry to launch Ember. A combined love for quality food and competitive sports brought biltong, a popular South African meat snack, to the brothers’ attention. For regular triathlon racers, air-dried slices of silverside beef came across as a tempting source of protein and a satisfying alternative to the sugar-heavy products which saturated the healthy snacking supermarket aisles. Having spotted a gap in the market, the British-sourced biltong brand successfully secured retail listings in Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Ocado within its first 11 months. Already capturing the pub industry and ambitious to maximize its online sales, Ember is currently undergoing its second investment raise which is off to a flying start.
42 OU Entrepreneurs
MediaDevil
Countrybike
www.mediadevil.com
www.countrybike.co.uk
In 2009, Callum Bush (WB 99) founded MediaDevil – an innovative company producing high quality, handcrafted accessories for phones, tablets and laptops – and in 2011 Vince Cable awarded the company the UK Department of Trade & Investment's 2011 Business Innovation Award.
Tim (LH 87) and Suzy Seddon (Fd 90) are behind a brand-new mobile appbased bike hire business which operates at venues across Kent and East Sussex called Countrybike. Their goal is to make bike hire more accessible to people in the countryside whilst supporting local rural businesses, getting more people into cycling and encouraging more visitors to the area.
One of Callum’s key objectives was recently realised, with the majority of the MediaDevil products now produced, finished or personalised at its headquarters in Wimbledon. As the business has grown and developed, production for other brands has become a key part of operations, and the company makes a range of goods for a number of internationally known British and French luxury fashion brands. It also manufactures and drop-ships screen protector films and personalised phone cases for a UK high street retailer. Having focused the business on product quality and customer experience in the past nine years, for 2019, Callum has turned his attention to market-leading innovation, and recently announced an exclusive rights partnership with the world’s leading (British) manufacturer of the super-material, graphene, which is expected to revolutionalise the materials industry. The agreement covers the technology accessory and audio product sectors and is being promoted by the UK Department of International Trade. The first product, a set of earphones that introduces premium-level audio at a mass-market price, will be released during Winter 2018/19. Further products will follow in 2019.
The business has received great coverage in the local press and BBC radio channels for Kent and Sussex. Countrybike is now set to expand further with many more venues wanting to host the bikes locally and beyond. If you know of any places crying out for bike hire, Tim and Suzy would love to hear from you, email hello@countrybike.co.uk.
So far, their bikes are available at 10 venues ranging from local tourist attractions like castles, through to farm shops and village pubs located close to off-road cycle routes. Tim and Suzy are great advocates for the benefits of cycling for all the family, with time spent away from screens and exercising in the open air promoting improvements to health and wellbeing.
Ethical Angel www.ethicalangel.com In September, Alexander Fahie (F 02) and his team launched Ethical Angel – a social enterprise with a mission to redefine ‘business as usual’, by connecting businesses, employees and the charitable causes that matter to them. It has won praise from the United Nations Association UK, amongst others, for providing a mechanism that embeds purpose within a business through the social engagement of their employees. It’s a tough time for the UK’s 165,000 charities where an increase in demand for their services has not been matched by private and public funding. Alex says, “Ethical Angel’s initiative is not just beneficial for the charity, but hugely so for participating businesses as well. Beyond the advantages of positive marketing, it cultivates an environment that offers employees an emotionally rewarding experience. Connecting staff members to charitable work gives them a greater understanding of societal problems (and how to solve them); it develops skills; and, most importantly, nurtures a feel-good factor in the workplace.
All of which have been proven to result in higher staff retention and productivity.” Ethical Angel shows businesses the return on their social investment, through data-rich reporting. Charles Bowman (WD 75), the 690th Lord Mayor of London, has a common passion for the philanthropic services businesses have to offer and has met Alex and endorsed the initiative, appreciating the value of incorporating charitable work into business. For more information email alexander@ethicalangel.com.
Alex Fahie (F 02) with Charles Bowman (WD 75)
If you have set up your own business and would like to tell the OU community about it, please drop us a line on ou@uppingham.co.uk.
OU Entrepreneurs 43
Coming to Uppingham was the biggest game changer for me.” Kamil Bujel (Hf 13)
LIFE CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES AT UPPINGHAM O
ver the years many OUs have benefited from a bursary that has enabled them to attend the School. However, since the launch of the 1584 Fund in 2016, we have been developing this into a more structured programme and plan. The Headmaster, Dr Richard Maloney, announced his long-term vision for the future of bursaries at the London Dinner at Mansion House on 28th February: For 434 years Uppingham has been able to endure any number of political, micro-economic and macroeconomic challenges. Just as Thring conceived a new way of delivering education and, through sheer force of will, created a truly great school... we want Uppingham to be the first independent school in the UK to select its entire pupil body based purely on talent, regardless of ability to pay.” It will take significant levels of funding (from donations and from other revenue streams) and many decades to achieve this ambition but over the next few years we will see increasing levels of support being given to bursaries. As of June 2018 we had 11 pupils in the School who were receiving 80% or more bursary funding, using the funds received from donations and legacies from OUs and the wider Uppingham community. Three of the recent leavers have agreed to share some of their experiences of life at Uppingham and how they feel they have benefited from their opportunity.
44 School for Life
Kamil Bujel (Hf 13) Kamil came to Uppingham in the Sixth Form from Poland. He was blown away by the extensive new science facilities and gained so much more through his experiences at the School than just his studies. He explains, Through being on house duty or carrying out School polly duties, I learnt important leadership skills. This has driven me to want to make an impact on the society I live in. I understand far more now that even if you are a great scientist you can’t change anything unless you can persuade others and bring people with you. It’s not just about gaining knowledge but being able to use it.” Kamil is now taking a gap year working in South East Asia for an IT company and will be applying to Harvard and Columbia University in America to study Computer Sciences.
Jassica Enum (L 13) My time at the School has helped me build confidence in myself and I now realise that I do not have to fit certain stereotypes. I have been encouraged to develop my leadership skills and particularly loved being President of UppAir, where I produced a radio show, the School playlist and ‘Just 60 Seconds’. If it hadn’t been for Uppingham, I would never have taken part in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, community service, attended special science lectures outside the School or be able to go on a School politics trip to Washington.”
After leaving Uppingham, Jassica has gone on to teach English at the David Li Kwok Po College in Hong Kong (named after Dr. the Hon. Sir David KP Li (H 54), the first pupil from Hong Kong to attend Uppingham) and plans to carry out voluntary work in Lesotho using a grant she received from the Friends of Uppingham. On her return she has been offered conditional places from Liverpool University to study Medicine, and King’s College London to study Global Health and Social Medicine.
Uppingham has provided the foundation to help me reach my aspirations.” Jassica Enum (L 13)
The support we have received from OUs has been an essential part of providing these life-changing opportunities and we are delighted to know that our OU contributors are pleased that their donations are making a difference… Rebecca Askew (L 13) Rebecca, who joined Uppingham in the Sixth Form from an inner-city school in Leicester explained how: Coming to Uppingham was the hardest thing I have ever done and the most I have ever been out of my comfort zone. The teachers and staff have been fantastic at helping me build my confidence and made me realise that I should set the bar high for my future goals. The School has helped me develop every aspect of my life; physically and mentally. There is a great community spirit, which has opened up my understanding of people from different backgrounds and traditions. I now have the ability to speak and engage with everyone. I feel I understand the world and society better. I also benefited from a travel grant, which enabled me to visit an exchange partner where I was able to massively improve my French. I would never have had the opportunity to be able to do this before coming to Uppingham. The School has really encouraged me to be a go-getter and instilled in me that you can open doors.” Rebecca has an unconditional offer at the University of Sussex to study International Development. She also has conditional offers from Warwick University for Global Development and SOAC University of London for International Development. However, before this she is taking a gap year au-pairing in Cannes and will volunteer for three months in a refugee camp in Greece.
Thank you so much for the lovely reports for those pupils that I, amongst many OUs, have helped to fund bursaries for. I spent such happy days at Uppingham myself many years ago, I am really enjoying being able to help fund their time at the School.” Thank you for sending me the information about pupils benefiting from bursaries, and it’s good to know that I am contributing in a very small way to their progress.” Many thanks for the interesting notes on both girls and boys who have been able to take advantage of the Bursary scheme. The reports all contain one particular element; the will to do well however daunting/ different life at Uppingham might have been for them at the beginning of their time at the School. All very satisfying for everyone concerned, well done!” We are very grateful for the continued support we receive from the OU community towards bursaries. If you would like to be a part of changing the lives of these deserving young men and women then please contact Vin Gaten on 01572 820614 or vg2@uppingham.co.uk.
School for Life 45
Join the ‘OU Network for Uppingham School’ on LinkedIn and help to make it an invaluable resource for all Old Uppinghamians to benefit from. Kevin Lee (Hf 04) reached out to the OU Office after completing his PhD in Developmental Biology and Genetics at UCL. He said:
A SCHOOL FOR LIFE By Emma Cannings (L 95) A few years ago, probably over a small glass of vino, Richard ‘Dickie B’ Boston (B 56) convinced me that it would be a good idea for me to join the OU Committee. It was with delight last summer that I realised I may actually be of some use in this role. The ‘School for Life’ proposition that Uppingham has developed over recent years has seen great success in giving OUs the step up they need, whether as school or university leavers, or at the early stages of career development. This has all been ably assisted so far by the OU office and an OU group on LinkedIn (the ‘OU Network for Uppingham School’). The assistance being provided has been high quality, however, the number of OUs being able to be helped has been restricted by the capacity and has relied on the knowledge of individuals to ‘know the right person to speak to’. In this day and age, we need to take advantage of technology and online networks to greatly enhance our ability to truly be a ‘School for Life’. Whilst no expert on LinkedIn, I was able to use some of my experience combined with a spot of research to dig into how this could best be achieved for Uppingham. The set-up of Uppingham on LinkedIn has now been established as a ‘University Page’ which provides more functionality akin to our requirements. Instead of acting like a company more focused at recruiting
46 School for Life
individuals, the university page design allows us to view our alumni. The ability to search by geography, sector and company now offers the chance for OUs to network beyond just happening to know who to speak to. You’ll also be pleased to hear that Uppingham is ahead of the game and other comparable schools are yet to tap into this functionality. Apologies, the inter-school rivalries still get the heart racing! So why write an article about this? Well there is a small ask! Firstly, thank you to all of those who are already part of the Uppingham alumni on LinkedIn :) – to those who are not, please join us.You simply need to list Uppingham School (make sure you select the one with the logo) in your profile under ‘education’. All school leavers are now being briefed and encouraged to set themselves up with profiles on LinkedIn (even the Headmaster has joined!) so the community is set to grow year on year. The great thing about this is that it not only helps the younger generation but also plays into the hands of anyone who is thinking about a change of direction or simply needs some advice in their current field. By harnessing the power of LinkedIn, Uppingham really can lead the way in being a ‘School for Life’.
I was able to connect with invaluable contacts within the OU network in line with my long-term vision. They were incredibly helpful in their careers advice and insightful within their industry. I am very grateful to those who helped me, and I hope to do the same for OUs requiring assistance in the future.” Harry Riddle (SH 12) received a wealth of advice on becoming a pilot from Rick Tatham (WB 77). Rick has flown for 15 years with Emirates and more recently with Korean Air and was delighted when Harry achieved a place on EasyJet’s flying training course in November 2017. Having decided to pursue a career at the Bar later in life, Guy Tinsley (C 82) reached out to the OU team seeking legal contacts. He says: I received frank and tailored advice which has proved invaluable going forward. Coupled with these elements, woven intermittently in the conversation were common memories of people, places and Baines’ granary bread on wooden tables. Our ‘Old School Tie’ is not a Nepotic one: it is a common bond of shared values if not shared views. It is also an opportunity to remember the good times that helped define us. My advice? Don’t be afraid to reach out to the OU network, nor offer it your support. And go to your next reunion: No-one’s aged even the slightest!”
CLUBS & SOCIETIES OU Sailing An OU Sailing Team takes part annually in the Arrow Trophy, a competition between Independent Schools, raced as an annual weekend regatta, in one-design yachts crewed by former pupils. This year’s competition took place on 13th and 14th October at Cowes, Isle of Wight. Due to magazine deadlines we are unable to publish the results here, but a full report is available to read on the OU website. L to R: Charles Bond (C 82), Justin Greer (L 82), Richard Wade (WB 80), Iain Wakefield (WB 82), Andrew Lockhart (OU Guest), Tim Betts (OU Guest), John Clargo (OU Guest) and Christian Wakefield (WB 84).
OU Cross-Country A small but committed team represented the OUs at the annual Cross-Country match on 10th March. The team was greeted not only by enthusiastic opposition, but also by a newly designed course, which was both very technical and challenging (for technical read ‘extremely muddy’). The team performed very well and scored more than a handful of points. In time honoured fashion the OUs awarded the first Uppingham Girl home with a prize in memory of Georgie Bealby (Fd 85) this year won by Freya Radford – and much deserved after a very strong run. Next year’s race will be held in March, please contact Iain Wakefield (WB 82) for more details on iain.wakefield@btinternet.com. We are always looking for more runners (and a few younger OUs!).
The Belvidere Cup took place on 7th April and is the younger brother of the Arrow Trophy, hosted by Royal Thames Yacht Club. The match racing format pitches teams against each other in a round robin of head to head races. Finishing 2nd and 3rd over the past few events the OU team was aspiring to reach the final and have a chance to win one of the most extravagant trophies housed in Royal Thames Yacht Club. The team was made up of Henry Arnold (F 01), Thea Crawshaw (L 05) and two ringers due to last minute drop outs. Going into the event they knew the battle for the final would be tough with Winchester getting through at every previous attempt and Abingdon having also put a lot of practice into the match racing format over the last few years. The OU team saw off Wellington, Pangbourne, Charterhouse, Malvern and Radley with ease, too much in fact. The crunch match against Abingdon came in the penultimate race, the winner making the final. The team found themselves in a controlling position in the pre-start, but sadly made a self-enforced error and ended up back in 3rd place for a second year running. The evening’s entertainment is a very important part of the event and teams left the reservoir for the yacht club in Knightsbridge. The OU team is eager to get their hands on the trophy next time, practice has even been muted. Unlike the Arrow Trophy where an ample number of sailors sign up, the match racing seems to appeal more to the younger generation and it would be great to add some more young sailors to the team. David Gavins (LH 73) would love to hear from any OU sailors – novice or expert – to add to the crew pool for both the Arrow and Belvidere sailing regattas. Contact david.gavins@btinternet.com to get involved.
Call for OU Hockey and Lacrosse Players The annual OU tournaments unfortunately had to be cancelled this March due to the weather. Plans are in place for Sunday 24th March 2019 and we hope you will be able to take part. Round up your fellow teammates, share the date and contact the OU Team on ou@uppingham.co.uk if you would like to be involved – we will ensure you receive more details.
Clubs & Societies 47
The Uppingham Rovers Cricket Club By Hedley Stroud (L 67) The 2018 Uppingham Rovers season will go down in the “Doings” as a memorable one with some very exciting games and tight finishes especially in the Cricketer Cup where, for the first time, since 1997 the Rovers reached the semi-final of the prestigious competition. A comfortable 110-run win in the first round at Highgate was followed by three of the most exciting (and stressful) games The Upper has seen for a long time. Against Shrewsbury a patient 41 from Henry Hughes (M 06) (plus 48 extras) meant that the Rovers posted what was thought to be a below par 153 and with the Saracens reply on 137 for 6 and 149 for 8 the game seemed to be lost. However, four wickets from Archie Stroud (WD 07) earned a historic four run victory amidst great jubilation. St Edward’s Martyrs came to The Upper with a young and talented side and chose to bat first and seemed to be heading towards a more than competitive score on 133 for 5 but this time it was Will Rogers (LH 12) who went through the tail-enders with 3 for 7 spell of just 14 balls and an all total of 155. In reply the Rovers were moving comfortably to a win with Rogers (44) and Hughes (23) taking the score to 105 for 2. Wins never come easily and this soon became 112 for 6 as the middle order was blown away. Captain Chris Bennett Baggs (WB 02) (25) stood firm though at 148 for 8 even he was looking worried but George Loyd (WD 12) with a glorious 4 through the covers brought the victory. The plan was to play the semi-final at Malvern but heavy overnight rain meant that the match was played on The Upper the following Sunday. This meant that Shiv Thakor (Fgh 07) could play for Uppingham and Tom Kohler-Cadmore (currently batting well for Yorkshire) could play for Malvern and these two defined an excellent game of cricket which swayed one way and then another. Thakor (81) and Harry Funnell (Fgh 12) (39) combined in a 79-run partnership and with Alex Collins (B 01) scoring 31 in good time a total of 219 seemed about par. After a quick opening partnership the Rovers
48 Clubs & Societies
The Uppingham Rovers gathered at the ‘Celebration of Uppingham Cricket’ Dinner held at Lord’s on 11th October
Rovers Team Front row: Otto Esse (WB 08), Joe Barnett (B 03), Chris Bennett Baggs (WB 02) (Capt), Tom Kennedy (B 06) and Henry Hughes (M 06) Back Row: Archie Stroud (WD 07), Angus Barton (Fgh 03), Rory Sale (WD 09), Will Hodson (F 96), Shiv Thakor (Fgh 07) and Will Rogers (LH 12)
made an important breakthrough when Hodson (F 96) went through Haynes defences, Hughes ran out the other opener with a direct hit and when Loyd bowled Milton (the current Worcestershire player) first ball the Rovers were on top. At 77 for 4, 143 was still needed but hiding at number 5 was Kohler Cadmore with Ben Twohig (another Worcestershire player) at 6 and these two combined to share a 131 partnership with only a few alarms. However, with just 12 needed Twohig was stumped and then Hardinges (3)
and Gifford (0) fell to Archie Stroud in quick succession. It couldn’t happen again could it? Unfortunately, it was not to be as Kohler-Cadmore was there and with 78 saw Malvern over the line with 2 overs to spare. So a fantastic Cup run ended and the enjoyable season continued with three further wins on the Sussex Tour – our thanks go to Chris Bennett Baggs for his hard work during the year – the future looks bright for Uppingham Rovers Cricket.
It was great to see this famous bunch of Rovers spectating at the Rovers v Shrewsbury Cricketer Cup match. Four of them played in the 1979 Cricketer Cup final at Burton Court, narrowly losing by just five runs against the Old Tonbridgian’s side which included County and Test players. It remains the most closely fought Cricketer Cup final since the School’s cricket records began.
Front: David Stewart (Hf 68) (Rovers President), Nico Williams (President of the Shrewsbury Saracens) and David Ashworth (L 58) (Captain of the Rovers in the 1979 Final and for many other years). Back: Terry Everatt (WB 51) (Leading Rovers’ Cricketer Cup bowler), Richard Boston (B 56) and Hedley Stroud (L 67) (Hon. Secretary Uppingham Rovers)
The Uppingham Veterans Rifle Club URCC Matches Summary 2018
By Emma Cannings (L 95)
Played 8 Won 6 Lost 2
In March, an enjoyable weekend was spent in Uppingham as UVRC took on the School in the annual small-bore match in the mini range. The standard increases every year and UVRC were only just able to squeak a win. This was followed by a sociable dinner in the Kendall Room to recount tales of shooting peaks and troughs.
Herbalife Cricketer Cup 1st Round v Old Cholmelians (Away) Won by 110 runs URCC 264 for 6 (S Thakor 61, C Bennett Baggs 59) Old Cholmelians 154 all out (O Esse 3-25) 2nd Round v Shrewsbury Saracens (Home) Won by 4 runs URCC 153 all out (H Hughes 41) Shrewsbury Saracens 149 all out (A Stroud 5-36) 3rd Round v St Edward’s Martyrs (Home) Won by 2 wkts St Edward’s Martyrs 155 all out (W Hodson 3-23, W Rogers 3-7) URCC 159 for 8 (W Rogers 44) Semi-final
v Old Malvernians (Home) Lost by 3 wkts URCC 219 all out (S Thakor 81) Old Malvernians 220 for 7
The Tour v
Charterhouse Friars at Charterhouse – URCC won by 4 wkts Charterhouse Friars 206 for 8 (B Harris 3-18) URCC 208 for 6 (F Tucker 90, T Kennedy 57)
v
Lancing Rovers at Lancing College – URCC won by 2 runs URCC 219 all out (S Wallis 78, H Preston 73) Lancing Rovers 217 all out (S Debenham 5-34, C Hunter Jones 3-40)
v
Old Eastbournians at College Field, Eastbourne – URCC won by 4 wkts OECC 244 all out (T Kennedy 3-40) URCC 247 for 6 (O Esse 115, A Collins 57)
v
Oundle Rovers at Firle – Oundle won by 30 runs Oundle Rovers 241 all out ( A Lewin 3-39) URCC 211 all out (A Collins 61)
Did someone mention the Commonwealth Games? In April the UVRC full-bore season kicked off in style as Gaz Morris (LH 89) and Chris Watson (M 92) headed to the sunny Belmont Ranges in Australia. Representing Wales in the Queen’s Prize Pairs competition, they knuckled down and returned home with two extremely wellearned silver medals! In June, a small troop of intrepid English shooters headed north of the border to take on the Scots on their home turf. Captained by Simon Belither (L 71), with his trusty Adjutant (Emma Cannings (L 95)) by his side, and John Webster (C 70) shooting, England snatched the Lawrence Match from the Scots by one point. The Imperial Meeting commenced with the Veterans Match, and whilst happily there were no disasters, there was no glorious silverware won this year. The A Team came 6th of 49, the B Team managed 8th of 29, with the C Team a respectable 3rd of 17 in their respective competitions. In the other team competitions, the UVRC Team came 3rd in the Marlingham. In the individual competitions, notable top 10 achievements were Ant Ringer (B 79) 4th in both the Admiral Hutton and Donaldson
Simon Belither (L 71) and Emma Cannings (L 95) at the Lawrence Match 2018
Memorial Final, and James Watson (L 88) 3rd in the Conan Doyle. We had three shooters in the St George’s Final, Chris Watson (13th), Simon Belither (66th), and Ant Ringer (71st). In a crazily blowy Queen’s Final that produced the lowest winning score in recent history, we had four shooters who held their nerve as they wrestled to keep bullets on the target, producing some great performances. Results came in as Simon Osmond (WB 85) in a fantastic 6th, just ahead of Ant Ringer in 8th, then Chris Watson in 44th and Simon Belither at 82nd. In the Grand Aggregate, we had the following individuals placed in the top 50: Simon Osmond 31st, Chris Watson 45th, and Ant Ringer 49th. The National Match was a nail-biting experience for the England management team, Simon Belither and Emma Cannings, as their shooters (including Jonathan Hull (F 74) and Simon Osmond) came from behind to romp into an 18-point victory at 600 yards. Chris Watson represented Wales in the National and Mackinnon, and Great Britain in the winning Kolapore team.
Commonwealth medallists: Gaz Morris (LH 89) and Chris Watson (M 92)
Clubs & Societies 49
OU Golfing Society By Alan Thomas (H 62)
Michael Harrison (WD 57) presenting Richard Boston (B 56) with a donation to the Richard Harman Foundation Award
OU Masonic Lodge By Adrian Lewthwaite (M 76) Having previously disclosed a couple of lesser known secrets of freemasonry, namely it is fun and that various social events are open to everyone, I can now reveal another secret, masons do appear in public dressed in their masonic regalia (masonic aprons and collars). One such occasion is the Lord Mayor’s Show. I was particularly delighted to attend the Procession in November 2017 of the Lord Mayor, Charles Bowman (WD 75). This was followed by a grand lunch at 18th century St Barts Great Hall in the city which was arranged by the Metropolitan Grand Lodge, of which the OU Lodge is a member. The lunch was attended by 50 masons and 100 guests and is well-supported by our fellow Public School Lodges. Continuing with the Lodge’s long tradition of supporting charities with Uppingham connections, this year the Lodge made a donation to the Lord Mayor’s Appeal, in addition to its regular donation to the Richard Harman Foundation Award. The Dinner in Uppingham this year was held in the Kendall Room where we were joined by guests from 10 other Lodges from our network of school and local Lodges. The Lodge meets and dines three times a year in London and once a year at the School. For more information, please contact adrian.lewthwaite@btinternet.com.
50 Clubs & Societies
Martin Walker (L 67) presenting the Lee Tankard to Eddie Allingham (H 81)
The OUGS has over 300 members of all ages and handicap levels. It has an annual calendar of 35 events played across the UK at some of the best courses in the land. The biggest OUGS event of the year is always the Captain’s Meeting and AGM. Martin Walker (L 67) held his meeting in September 2017 at Forest Pines Hotel and Golf Resort in North Lincolnshire, a new venue for the Society. A total of 25 OU golfers and 13 spouses/partners joined Martin for his weekend. The weather was a bit on and off, especially on the Sunday when every element was thrown at the Lincolnshire countryside, but everyone enjoyed the course and the friendly competition anyway. Normally, Martin organises the Captain’s Meeting, but he could hardly be both host and organiser, so Mike Ingham (M 66), the OUGS Treasurer, and Tom Hayes (SH 74) stepped up manfully to run the weekend.
Six trophies were competed for on the Saturday, with Martin’s Vice-Captain Eddie Allingham (H 81) having the lowest gross and Tom Hayes (SH 74) the best stableford score. Other Saturday age and handicap range trophy winners were Jeremy Cooke (WB 67), Andrew Morgan (Fgh 74), Ian Coutts-Wood (L 64) and Derek Bunting (B 45). The Sunday morning competition was won by the in-form pairing of Jeremy Cooke and Ian Coutts-Wood. At the AGM, Eddie Allingham (H 81) was confirmed as Captain for 2018 and Chris Flather (M 67) was elected Vice-Captain. David Downes (L 59) was elected as President for a three year term. Eddie’s Captain’s Meeting was held at Little Aston over the weekend of 20th to 21st October 2018. Ian Coutts-Wood (L 64) is on the left and Jeremy Cook (WB 67) is on the right, receiving the Christopherson Rose Bowls, presented by Martin Walker (L 67), centre
Scratch Team News Halford Hewitt: The OUs played against Liverpool at Royal Cinque Ports in the first round and won 3/2, but ran into the eventual winners, Winchester, in the second round. The five matches were close for most of the round but Winchester seemed to have an extra gear over the back nine and eventually won 4/1. Bernard Darwin: After the triumph of 2017, when Uppingham won this scratch foursomes competition for over-55s for the first time, it was nearly two in a row! The team, comprising Chris Gotla (H 68), Lloyd Wigglesworth (C 72), Nick Freeman (L 70), Mark Proffitt (H 76), Stuart Lloyd (WD 74) and David Pattrick (F 65), beat Marlborough and Radley in the first two rounds and had a comprehensive 4½½win over Malvern in the semi-final but succumbed to Tonbridge in the final. In the Senior Darwin, for over-65s, Uppingham beat The Leys and Clifton in the first two rounds, but lost to Tonbridge in the semi-final. Grafton Morrish: Uppingham lost 2/1 to Marlborough in the first round of the 2017 Finals at Hunstanton. This competition between 159 public schools with Finals at Hunstanton and Brancaster in October each year, was won by Epsom. The OU team has again qualified for the Finals in 2018 and will play Westminster on 5th October. Queen Elizabeth Coronation: Uppingham has participated for many years in this Scottish inter-schools competition, played at Barnton, home of the Royal Burgess Golfing Society, every September. The OU team won once, back in 1997, but were knocked out by Gordonians in the 2017 event, which was won by Stewarts Melville for the third year in a row.
Calling all OU golfers The OU Golf Society (OUGS) holds inter-school matches and regional events at great golf courses near you every year. All ages and handicap levels welcome. Annual sub just £10. To join, please call the OUGS Secretary, Martin Walker (L 67) on 01143 487005 or email him at martin.walker53@sky.com. More details at www.olduppinghamian.co.uk > Societies > Golf Society.
OUGS Midlands Public Schools team: L to R: Martin Walker (L 67), Jeremy Cooke (WB 67), John Hudson (WB 65), Nick Mitchell (WD 70), Eric Aukland (C 53), Brian Cooke (Hf 53) and David Downes (L 59)
Area Meetings and Matches The OU scratch teams may take the headlines, but the vast majority of OUGS golf is a much wider affair, with the focus on friendly competition against other schools and at regional OUGS meetings, with a strong social bias. The Society has a fixture list that is the envy of other schools, at wonderful courses across the length and breadth of the UK. These events are all handicap competitions and are therefore open to OU golfers of any ability level. Area meeting and match highlights so far this year: • The Northern Public Schools meeting at Woodhall Spa was badly affected by snow and restricted to six holes only. Uppingham missed out on retaining the Birkdale Bucket for a seventh year, having been outshone this year by Pocklington. • In the Midlands Public Schools meeting at Little Aston, Uppingham was pipped on countback by The Wrekin for the team prize, but David Downes (L 59) and Martin Walker (L 67) won the best stableford prize. • The OUGS West Midlands meeting at Little Aston was won by Martin Walker (L 67). • The OUGS Merseyside meeting was played at Heswall GC this year and won by Andrew Renison (F 54).
• The London Area meeting at Piltdown was won by Andrew Morgan (Fgh 74) for the second year in a row. • OUGS teams had wins against the old boys of Repton, Eastbourne, Giggleswick, Nottingham and Sedburgh (at Royal Wimbledon) and in our annual match against the Uppingham Rovers at Luffenham Heath. • The annual match against Westminster had to be postponed because Brancaster was under 18 inches of snow, but we lost the re-run in April. • There were losses against Loretto, Westminster, Sedburgh (at Ilkley), The Leys, Old Paulines, Ampleforth, Oundle (at Luffenham) and Old Alleynians, and halved matches against Rugby and Oundle (at Ilkley).
• The team representing the North won the OUGS Inter-Regional competition at Lindrick in July. Finally, there was an even better than usual turn-out of golfers at the OU London Dinner this year. Charles Bowman (WD 75), as the new Lord Mayor of London, hosted the dinner in the spectacular Egyptian Hall of Mansion House – his official residence. Charles’s fame may now have spread much wider, but OUGS members recall him as an excellent golfer, a past Officer of the Society and regular Halford Hewitt team player, whose trademark is a bright pinkshafted putter, won many years ago in an Australian golf event and played with ever since.
Hugh Smith presenting the Aviator Trophy to the Old Paulines Captain, Jon Morgan at Denham GC
Clubs & Societies 51
AN ISLAND PARISH Reverend Colonel Nicholas Mercer (SH 76) took up the appointment of Rector of Christ Church Cathedral, Stanley in January 2018 and shares his thoughts on life in the Falkland Islands.
O
ne of the overarching narratives from my time at Uppingham was that pupils were being prepared, not singularly for a world of work, but also for a world of leisure. Automation, it was then reasoned, would lead to a world where work was increasingly unnecessary and, as such, we would be left with more leisure time on our hands than our parents had ever dreamed of. Sadly, the world of increased leisure, so confidently predicted, seems to have got away. What is more noticeable, however, is a world of second careers. After reaching 50, the modern man or woman is increasingly likely to find themselves doing something completely different for the next chapter of their lives. In my case, after 25 years as a solicitor, I was ordained as a priest in the Church of England. After a curacy in Dorset, I then spent three years at Sherborne School as a Chaplain before taking on my first parish as Rector of the Falkland Islands. This title is deceptively short as the parish includes, not only the Falkland Islands, but also South Georgia, the South Sandwich Islands and British Antarctica. Parish life, in the main, takes place in Stanley which is the capital of the Falkland Islands and is not dissimilar to parish life in the United Kingdom. At the heart of the parish is Christ Church Cathedral, which is the most southerly Anglican Cathedral in the world. Built in 1893, it is the iconic building of Stanley and has an arch made of the jaws of two blue whales next to it. Parish life is like most others but amongst a fiercely patriotic
52 Feature
congregation who are proud to be British and still nervous of South America. The war of 1982 is prominent almost each and every day. At the time of writing this article, I have just completed eight Remembrance Services commemorating the Falklands War. Each major engagement is afforded its own service. However, the really distinctive part of the ministry is the size and scale of the parish. Although there are 2,500 parishioners in Stanley, there are another 500 parishioners across the Islands including 42 parishioners who live on islands off the Island. South Georgia is 900 miles away and four days by sea. The parish of South Georgia is about 10 people strong. I recently visited South Georgia and
Whalers Church in Grytviken, South Georgia
took a service of Holy Communion at the former whaler’s church in Grytviken. When taking a service in Grytviken you have to be very careful of fur seals, elephant seals and penguins on your way into Church. Just outside Salisbury is the parish of Bemerton. This was once the parish of George Herbert who wrote the wonderful hymn “Let all the world in every corner sing”. These words seem so appropriate in this setting, 8,000 miles from home, that I have put them in the porch of the Cathedral. We are at the ends of the earth but it is encouraging to report that Christian witness is alive and well in this part of the world.
Christ Church Cathedral
Through the Ages Over the years, Brooklands has seen eight of the Leather family housed there. In the words of David Leather (B 45) “ensuring this was the best House in the School!”. Edward Thring attracted many like-minded staff to Uppingham who built Houses from their own private funds. Revd WJ Earle built Brooklands in 1861 and was the first of a long succession of Housemasters. During the 51-year time span when the Leather family were resident, there were five different Housemasters, including S St JB Watson (1934-48), J R Colville (1948-60), Dr G A Wheatley (C 37) (1960-75), D E Prince (1975-83) and Richard ‘Tricky’ Boston (B 56) (1983-00).
Brian (B 35)
David (B 45)
Michael (B 49)
Jeremy (B 53)
Peter (B 57)
Simon (B 80)
Giles (B 84)
Hugh (B 86)
Former Housemaster of Brooklands and OU Secretary Richard Boston (B 56) commented: “The photos of the Leather family illustrate the remarkable family traditions that OUs have for sending their sons and daughters to Uppingham and indeed to their old Houses; in the case of The Lodge and Constables of course their daughters maintain the family links! The index of the last edition of the School Roll confirms that families are often drawn back to their old Houses. I noted at least 13 families with five or more members of different generations following each other; in several families the numbers were considerably higher. My brothers, Francis (B 46), Simon (B 51) and myself were all contemporaries of the older Leather generation in Brooklands. As Housemaster of Brooklands I had the privilege of looking after David’s son, Simon, who became my House Captain in his final year, and Peter’s sons, Giles and Hugh”.
Brooklands 1861 when the House was built
Meal time, 1936
If anyone would like to share their stories of family histories connected to a particular House, we would love to hear from you.
Feature 53
Staff Remembered John Watson Housemaster of Johnson’s from 1986 to 1994 By Nic Merrett (former Housemaster of Constables) My introduction to boarding at Uppingham was when John and Julia Watson welcomed me as a Tutor into Johnson’s in January 1990. Anna and I will always be grateful for the warmth of that welcome and their subsequent friendship. One of the cornerstones of the quatercentenary developments for Uppingham was the expansion of girls’ boarding, so the Headmaster, Nick Bomford, appointed John and Julia in early April 1986. They were the first couple employed as a joint appointment, with the responsibility for creating a new boarding house community in Johnson’s. It was also only the second time since 1584
that a Housemaster had been appointed who was not an existing member of the academic staff. Both had proven boarding experience in their former pastoral roles at Bryanston which was to add greatly to the new era of Uppingham boarding. It is difficult nowadays to fully appreciate what a remarkable challenge it was at that time to arrive charged with bringing a fresh approach to a school steeped in tradition and where the existing Housemasters for boys were not altogether accustomed to too much change, let alone more Sixth Form girls! Johnson’s was a new building and the fabric for the modern vision of boarding, but the most important dimension was cemented by the careful and thoughtful approach to developing a community of girls under the Watsons’ care over the following years. This was undoubtedly the most valuable legacy of John’s time at Uppingham – his calm and unflappable belief in the young people in Johnson’s. He and Julia set high standards and supported the girls in their
After leaving Uppingham, John became Regional Director, then subsequently International Director, for ISCO – the Independent Schools Careers Organisation (now Inspiring Futures) and continued to nurture and guide young people in their development through to his retirement in 2016. He was very much the family man, taking pride in his large family and his grandchildren. He bore his illness with great fortitude and dignity continuing to travel and enjoy cultural activities. He was quietly determined to make the most of every opportunity in those final months. Julia and the family were greatly touched by the sentiments expressed in the emails and cards from their previous pupils and colleagues on learning the news of his passing in May.
Mary Lloyd
The Revd John Bainbridge
By Peter Lloyd (Uppingham staff from 1953 to 1988 and Housemaster of Highfield from 1962 to 1977)
School Chaplain from 1973 to 1987
Mary joined Peter in Highfield in 1962, and found the next 14 years in the House hugely rewarding. Being a people’s person, friendships with the young and old meant everything to her. On leaving Highfield, after many theatrical appearances on the Common Room stage, her connection with the School continued when she ran a second-hand uniform agency from her gift shop, Minerva. This was greatly appreciated, particularly by penniless OUs! By now, she had become increasingly involved with Town and County and, coupled with her voluntary work, this culminated in her being appointed High Sheriff of Rutland in 2003. She took to this, as she did to everything, with grace, enthusiasm and a determination to get things done. Her love for Uppingham was only matched by that for India, to which she travelled with Peter over 20 times. For some nine years of these, she and Peter led parties of friends, always with a pervading aura of fun. Mary died unexpectedly and suddenly in January of this year, after a lingering illness for which no cure had been found. She was 83 years young!
54 Staff Remembered
academic work and their diverse extracurricular activities, with customary humour and real interest. His quiet kindness and generosity were hallmarks of his dealings with colleagues and pupils alike.
John came to Uppingham with his family in September 1973, from an inner-city parish in south-east London. He was new to School Chaplaincy and, indeed, comparatively new to ministering to any flock, having spent most of his working life as a regular soldier. In the early seventies, Uppingham was emerging from a period of change. This had affected outlook on religion and moral values of every sort. Nonetheless, he managed to inject a variety of more experimental Chapel Services, changing formats and involving members of staff and pupils, always offering services which were sincere and easy to listen to. John also contributed to School life as an enthusiastic teacher of Maths and Mechanical Drawing, as well as Religious Studies, and he entered into many other activities, none more memorable than on stage in the staff productions. He played the violin in the orchestra and inspired the Model Railway Society with much know-how and keenness; he also ran the Royal Engineers section of the CCF for seven years. John not only focused his pastoral care upon the Uppingham family, but throughout the wider community; in fact, out of 39 churches in Rutland, John preached in 24. He left the School in 1987, returning to Parish work.
Staff News Malcolm Tozer has published an essay on music at Uppingham from Edward Thring’s arrival in 1853 until Paul David’s retirement in 1908. The article entitled From Prussia with Love: Music at Uppingham School, 1853–1908 can be accessed on the website of the Journal of Historical Research in Music Education or by contacting the author at sunnyrest-books@outlook.com. We are delighted to announce that Caroline Webster and her husband Stuart welcomed Neve Amélie Webster into the world on 29th August, weighing 6lb 12oz. We look forward to welcoming Caroline back to the OU office after her maternity leave. Alexis Ffrench released his latest album, Evolution, on Sony Classical/ Sony Masterworks which he composed, orchestrated, produced and performed. Described by Apple Music as “breath-taking….rising to new levels of euphoric beauty and gorgeously orchestrated”, Evolution debuted at Number 1 in the Official Classical Albums Chart – remaining at the top spot for 3 weeks – and made the Top 30 in the full Official Albums Chart.
We are pleased to welcome two new members of the team, Vin Gaten, Deputy Foundation Director and Mira Meisuria, Development Manager covering maternity leave. They both look forward to meeting OUs at the many events planned for the coming year.
Your Privacy If you’ve had any dealings with organisations anywhere in the EU, you will almost certainly have heard of GDPR (the General Data Protection Regulations) which came into force on 25th May 2018. When handling data, even with existing patrons, we need to have a basis of why we want to use this data. Upon review of the data we hold, we consider that our use of your data falls under the basis of ‘Legitimate Interest’. An explanation of what this means can be found in a summary of Data Protection and Privacy Values on the OU website or you can request a hard copy by emailing us. Please take a look to understand how we handle your data. No action is required on your part for us to continue to provide our services to
you. We will respect any preferences you have expressed, and you can change these preferences at any time by contacting us. If you have any questions, please contact Jo Franklin directly at jsf@uppingham.co.uk. The important points to emphasise are that we do not share your data with anybody else for their own use; that your information is held securely; and that you can restrict the processing of your data in any way that you may reasonably wish to. Thank you for your support, and we look forward to continuing to be in touch with you about events in your area, news from the OU community and developments at the School.
Staff News 55
A Lover of Liberty and Laughter David Gaine We received such a wealth of anecdotes and stories recounting fond memories of David Gaine, who passed away in December 2017, we could have filled the pages of this magazine; our enormous thanks to everyone who got in touch. With an abbreviated tribute by Casey O’Hanrahan, written when David retired fully in 2014, we have included a few of our favourite stories but many more can be found on the OU website. By Casey O’Hanrahan David Gaine’s values and virtues remained essentially unchanging throughout his 52 years of service at Uppingham: he was a lover of liberty and laughter, a hater of cant and smugness and self-righteousness. What was also unchanging down the years was the recognition that he was an outstanding schoolmaster: as Stephen Winkley remarked on Speech Day, 1999, “He knows what the job is about. It’s about, and can only be about, the children we look after, the children we serve.” When David arrived at the School in 1962 it was a very different place in obvious – though sometimes superficial – ways from the one he worked at in later years: pinstripes were worn on Sundays; trouser pockets were sewn up on the first night; personal fagging was the norm. On match days, School Praepostors patrolled the touchlines with their ceremonial whips and they were permitted to administer corporal punishment; an opinion poll in the School Magazine of June 1964 announced that a majority of the boys still regarded this practice with approval. Most notably, there were no girls. It is, however, too easy to caricature the past, as if there has been a simple upward progress from the barbarities and privations of yesteryear to the sunny uplands of today’s enlightened world. David was far from blind to the shortcomings of earlier days and recognised that one’s perception of the School as a boy depended then, far more than it does now, on which House one happened to be in. Nevertheless, he found the Uppingham of those days to be immensely friendly, jolly and civilised.
56 A Lover of Liberty and Laughter
By Patrick Mulvihill, Development Director One day, c 2003, Stephen Fry (F 70) came to visit and I had the pleasure of escorting him through to the Headmaster’s study. As we walked through the lobby, David was sitting with a teenage girl and her mother and father. On seeing each other, Stephen and David embraced warmly and exchanged happy pleasantries after having not seen each other in several years. Stephen then turned to the astonished parents and said “you have chosen the right school for your daughter” and walked into the Headmaster’s study, leaving David to resume his no doubt unnecessary pitch for the girl to join Uppingham.”
By every account David was a supreme performer in the classroom, a purveyor of knowledge and wisdom and mirth. You do not need first-hand experience to be sure that lessons with him were never dull or routine, but fun and challenging. He was always something of an intellectual Autolycus, delighting in the unconsidered trifles he might snap up and introduce into the classroom, from the obscurer – and ruder – reaches of Greek and Latin vocabulary; to the fortunes and history of lower League football clubs; anything might be grist to his mill. Although there was much laughter in his lessons, Peter Attenborough, subsequently Headmaster of Sedbergh and Charterhouse, feels that “to dwell only on the laughter is to omit his sensitivity, his eye that instinctively saw someone’s unease, that sensed the vulnerable and felt the hurt. He was deeply serious about his wish for those in his care to make the most of themselves; like Thring before him, he saw the need to find a way of building the confidence of every boy for whom he was responsible, the need to find a latent spark he could kindle.” Tribute continues on page 58
Early 1970s
By Charles Measures (LH 68) Entering Lorne House in 1968 and leaving four years later, I was to have two housemasters during that time, Ian Bridges and David Gaine. Whilst I got to know Ian in situ as it were, I had the opportunity of seeing David around the School before he became my housemaster. My formative impressions were that he not only had a great sense of humour but also a consummate sense of wit. And so it was to prove, David’s sense of humour and wit were to remain during my time at Uppingham. One always felt that he was on the boys’ side and despite the obvious desire for Lorne House to succeed in its own right in the School, David never lost sight of the fact that each boy mattered as an individual and always made himself available to that effect.”
A Lover of Liberty and Laughter 57
A Lover of Liberty and Laughter
After five years as Resident Tutor in School House, David became Housemaster of Lorne House. In many ways he was fortunate to be a Housemaster in that era. Those were the days when a Housemaster had more time to be dealing with his charges face-to-face instead of finding himself glued to his console for hours, trying to keep abreast of the wave of emails from colleagues and parents. As an illustration of a Housemaster’s ability to draw his own boundaries, General Sir James Everard (LH 76) sent me David’s own rules for girls visiting, or rather ‘The Housemaster’s Counterproposal on the subject of Female Persons being admitted to LH’. There are various subclauses that limit the number of boys to whom the privilege shall be granted, but the ‘Counterproposal’ concludes by demanding: “That guarantees be given that there will be no hanky-panky such as if discovered would seriously embarrass the beloved Housemaster further.” The voice of authority is certainly there, but it comes across as something distinctive and personal and entertaining, rather than the necessary passing on of someone else’s edict. The boys of Lorne House knew they were dealing with a human being, not a set of rules and regulations; David was a man of moods and that very element of unpredictability could keep them on their toes. One measure of his success as Housemaster is the number of Old Boys from his years as Housemaster who have chosen to send their own sons to Lorne House. After 15 years in Lorne House, David continued to be publicly prominent as Director of Studies and as Second Master. When he retired from full-time teaching in 1999, he moved into the Tercentenary Block for nine years as Assistant Registrar. These laughter-filled years of office life epitomised David’s ability to move on to new challenges and a new way of life without casting his eye back regretfully on the past. That, of course, is only part of the story. Crucial to David’s wellbeing were two earlier decisions. So much in our lives is the result of chance, but on two occasions David took control of his destiny and shaped it unerringly: when as Director of Studies in 1988 he selected Miss Katharine Smalman-Smith to teach classics and in 1992, when he married
By William Daniel (C 67) It was my good fortune to have been taught Latin by David Gaine, a gifted and witty man, who loved his subject. Frankly, I struggled with Latin but ‘Tubby’ Gaine’s delight in motivating the ‘second set’ to engage with the subject was the work of a great teacher. He was one of a gifted generation of Uppingham teachers and 50 years on, I can still recall his classroom, keenly aware that we would need to be on our toes, but above all looking forward to being in the company of such a delightful teacher.”
By David Gavins and Timothy Scholes (both LH 72) David loved it when Lorne House did well in House competitions and was particularly delighted when we won the House Shout. He was excellent at choosing the correct songs – and was a great singing coach. The songs are still with me today – The Old Superb, Breathe Soft Ye Winds and The Erlking. A stickler for manners, one lunchtime a table of rowdy Lower Sixth boys were bantering away and rudely ignored the master who had come to LH for lunch. David spotted this and rightly said “If you behave like uncivilised, impolite animals you will be treated like them.” He made them eat all their meals for the next three days at a table set up in the garage of Lorne House. To tell you the truth it back-fired – they loved it. The real punishment however was recognising that they had disappointed him.”
58 A Lover of Liberty and Laughter
Norfolk Dinner 2015, with Johnny Vaughan (LH 79)
By Robert Robotham (WD 73) I remember David’s wonderful performance in the staff play ‘Charlie’s Aunt’. He looked tremendous in drag with his renowned spectacles. The catchphrase of the play is ‘… from Brazil, where the nuts come from…’ and I remember this became a kind of catchphrase with David whenever the opportunity came up to say it.”
White Hart 1968 with JS Finch and PJ Attenborough.
1999
David and Katharine at the London Dinner 2016
her – which is not to downplay the importance of Katharine’s own part in these decisions! In addition to personal happiness, marriage to Katharine brought with it a return, in 1996, to boarding house life when Katharine became Housemistress of The Lodge. Of course, living with a House of Sixth Form girls was a very different experience from running a House of 13 to 18-year-old boys, but back in 1999 he referred to “our wonderful girls, who are an (almost!) constant source of pride and joy to us both.” It seems peculiarly fitting that David should once more have found himself in a boarding house for his final months of direct involvement with Uppingham, when Katharine and David stepped into the breach to look after Fairfield. Age, fortunately, had not withered his spontaneous delight and amusement in the presence of the young and his concern for their wellbeing.
By Richard Haigh (SH 66) David Gaine was my house tutor in School House. He must have been in his late 20s but seemed far older to a 13-year-old. I can’t even begin to explain the immense impact David had on my life in those years. He perhaps shaped it more than my parents.
In the words once more of Peter Attenborough, he was “loyal, dedicated and overflowing with fun. He was also the best of colleagues.”
Academically he guided me to the Classics, taught me and steered me to Trinity Oxford. Otherwise he instilled in me a love of The Goon Show and Round the Horne with his frequent quotations – not to mention Shakespeare’s ‘Hark! hark! the lark at heaven’s gate sings, and Phoebus ‘gins arise’. I still have no idea what that means but use it regularly.
Katharine is enormously grateful to all of the many OUs who wrote to her to express their condolences and to record their memories of David – the cards, letters and emails will be much treasured.
David was truly Uppingham’s Mr Chips. Some years ago I got to tell him how much he meant to me.”
At the time of his retirement from teaching he wrote: “If Uppingham is to have any real point it must be to teach the young not only how to get the best A levels, but that each and every one matters to us and to their family and friends, and that as a corollary all humankind must matter to them, and must know that it matters to them.”
A Lover of Liberty and Laughter 59
Thursday 7th March 2019 Returning to the
Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Knightsbridge
Includes:
Pre-dinner drink Three course meal Half a bottle of wine Tickets are available from Jo Franklin 01572 820616 jsf@uppingham.co.uk £95.00 per person (£75.00 for OUs aged 29 and under) (All tickets are subsidised by the OU Association)
Other forthcoming events for 2019 We are planning events throughout 2019 and will be in touch with more details as plans evolve; please look on the OU website for more details. Norfolk Dinner – 17th May at The Hoste, Burnham Market Seniors’ Lunch – 26th September
Events to be confirmed… Colchester Dinner North West Dinner Nottingham Dinner 25 Years of The Lodge for Girls Hong Kong Germany Middle East