A Life in Showbiz

By Robin Hawdon (B 52)

Robin Hawdon, perhaps known as Robin Oldroyd (B 52) to his school contemporaries, is world-renowned as an actor on screen and stage and as a playwright, director and author. Becoming well-known to British TV viewers over two decades, Robin’s acting career began in the 1960s with appearances in a number of British television series, such as the ITV sitcom Chalk and Cheese where he costarred with Michael Crawford, as well as roles in feature films. In 1969, he starred in Zeta One as a spoof James Bond and played the male lead in When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth in 1970.

Robin’s career has also taken him to the London stage and provincial theatre companies, playing everything from Hamlet to Henry V and Henry Higgins. In the 1980s he founded the Bath Fringe Festival and became director of the Theatre Royal Bath. Initially, writing supplemented his acting, but in time it has dominated his career, turning out a number of plays including The Mating Game, Don’t Dress for Dinner and God and Stephen Hawking. In 1980, Robin stopped acting in order to focus on his writing and directing career and his plays have been seen in over 40 countries, in 30 different languages. He has also written a number of highly acclaimed novels including Number Ten (Downing Street), A Rustle In The Grass and Survival Of The Fittest. So, you can imagine how delighted we were when Robin got in touch to share his experiences of life in showbiz, especially for those budding actors out there perhaps considering a similar path...

It was taking part in an Uppingham production of Shakespeare’s Richard II that prompted me to decide I wanted a career in the theatre. That naïve teenage decision led me to 60 years of work as an actor, director, playwright, producer, theatre manager, and most other things you can think of, in the most precarious of professions.

After school, I turned down a place at Cambridge in favour of going to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). In retrospect, considering the dominant strand of my career has been as writer, this was probably a mistake. You can learn just as much about stage craft at university as at drama school and gain a far wider experience in other fields at the same time. Many illustrious showbiz names graduated from university.

I was quite successful as an actor over 20 years, working in rep, in the West End, on television, and even having a brief spell as a minor film star. Acting, whilst you are in work, and especially whilst a freelance bachelor, is great fun. A life of camaraderie, travel, romance and occasional glamour. However, it is an interpretive art, not a creative art. And, once I had a family, it became extremely disruptive at times. Always waiting for the phone to ring, never knowing when the next job would come, and when it did, it meant I was often away from home for long periods, leaving my other half to handle all the domestic chores!

Fortunately, I had always combined my acting work with playwriting, and whenever the performing work dried up (along with

Robin with Victoria Vetri in When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth, 1970 the income), I was usually saved by having a play production on somewhere. Many actors do not have a second string like that, and the strain on finances, marriage partnerships, and mental wellbeing can be heavy, which is perhaps why so many show business marriages break up.

I learned, gradually through my career, that the creative work of playwriting (and eventually novel writing also) is considerably more fulfilling and rewarding, if equally perilous. Provided you are reasonably successful at it, you can live and work wherever you wish, you can stay occupied even when unemployed (a writer can always write, an actor needs a job!), and a successful play, TV script, or book can bring in income for years to come. Some of my very early comedies still earn me money decades later!

The work of a writer can also lead on more easily to other fields such as directing, producing, agenting, and even theatre managing, all of which I have dabbled with.

So, if contemplating a career in showbiz, think carefully on these things before taking the leap. The great art of performing will always draw the more extrovert personalities, but one needs to examine the pros and cons coolly and objectively before embarking on it.

Robin has produced a series of ‘How to’ guides with invaluable tips and advice for new and aspiring writers – available to read via his blog at robinhawdon.com.

CLUBS & SOCIETIES

Uppingham Veterans Rifle Club

By Jonathan Hull (F 74) and James Watson (L 88)

This year’s activities have been rather more subdued than normal with restrictions curtailing participation in sports.

With only days before an imminent national lockdown, members of UVRC ventured into the Rutland countryside to return to Uppingham and shoot in the annual .22 match against the School. Social distancing (although not the 2m rule at that point) was already a term we were becoming familiar with and usual handshakes were replaced with elbow bumps. Several senior members of the club had decided to stay away as a precaution.

In the range, the School again showed us how important practice is, particularly with the smallbore discipline (some UVRC members claimed it was 20 years since they had picked up any rifle, others only a year since shooting smallbore and there were further excuses about forgetting glasses, etc.). Once the scores were in, the School team had amassed a total that equated to a lead of almost three points per person, beating the Veterans soundly. Top scores on the day came from Abi Howe (Fd U6th) and Hugo Turnbull-Hall (WD L6th) with an impressive 97 out of 100. The School team of 12 beat the UVRC team of 12 by 29 points.

The OUs then retired to commiserate over afternoon tea in The Falcon and a beer in The Vaults, missing our usual side entertainment of Six Nations matches due to their postponement, before gathering again in the Kendall Room for a meal with members of the School team.

As we then moved into lockdown, three of the club members had their trip to shoot in the South African Championships cancelled and the sport then shut down in this country for what would normally be the ramp up to the main season.

As August arrived, we were able to venture back out onto the ranges, with suitable restrictions, as it is an outdoor sport. The annual (151st) NRA Imperial meeting matches were conducted in mid-September (normally July) and we enjoyed an Indian summer with no rain and mild, if not warm temperatures, accompanied by fickle winds. Once again lack of practice in the main showed and of those who were able to turn out, Reg Curtis (F 76) was our top performer, ahead of John Webster (C 70) and Antony Ringer (B 79), winning the Club Championship for his first time – no mean feat as in 44 years of competition only 10 people have won it. Chris (M 92) and James Watson (L 88) won the Families pair competition, unusually the only silverware to be collected by club members.

As we venture into the winter quiet period, we can only hope that things will have reached a stable point with the pandemic allowing for a return to the sport in 2021 and continued success for the club.

OU Masonic Lodge

The Mason’s Gates, donated by the Old Uppinghamian Lodge

By Adrian Lewthwaite (M 76)

It has been a busy year for the OU Masonic Lodge with the launch of our website at oulodge4227.org. The site contains useful information on our activities, news for members and details on how to join us.

Despite being unable to hold any meetings after January, we have been in regular contact via Zoom. Plans are underway for our Centenary Celebrations in September 2021 to which an open invitation will be shared with the OU community at a later date. One of our members, Simon Mercer (SH 79), has very kindly donated a large quantity of single cask 13-year-old whisky which will be available to purchase. All profits will go to the School’s bursary fund which the OU Lodge contributes to annually. As part of our 100th year celebrations, we also plan to hold a dinner at the Cavalry and Guards Club in April, Covid-19 permitting. Every year, the OU Lodge Prize for Community Service Initiatives is awarded on Speech Day. This year’s winner, Niamh Timpson (C U6th), chose for the donation to be made to Emmaus, a charity which supports people who are homeless.

I am sorry to report the deaths of three of our members, John Mitchell (B 44), Ian Oliver (WB 48) and Robert Greenly (F 55). Their obituaries can be found in the In Memoriam section of the magazine; our condolences go to their families and friends.

We have been delighted to welcome many newcomers to the OU Lodge over this past year. If you would like any information on joining or on the work of the OU Masonic Lodge, please contact me on adrian.lewthwaite@btinternet.com.

OU Shoot

OUs had great fun at the annual shoot, held at Gilman’s Farm, Glaston, Rutland, in December 2019, with all staying at the King’s Arms Inn the night before. Any OUs interested in hearing about future occasions should contact Shoot Captain, Julian Tolhurst (C 86) on julian.tolhurst@apatchy.co.uk.

L to R: Mark Wheeler (B 85), Myles Bray (C 86), Dave Tinney (WB 84), Julian Tolhurst (C 86), Will Streeter (Hf 86), Simon Bray (Fgh 86), Andrew Philpot (M 84) and Nick Burgess (B 68).

OU Fives

By Nick Preston (C 74)

The Annual OU versus the School match took place on Saturday 7th March. Nick Preston (C 74), Adrian Lewthwaite (M 76), Clive Smith (M 68), Ashley Friedlein (C 85) and Edward Timpson (LH 87) featured for the OUs and all of the games were more closely fought than ever as the School Fives players continue to get stronger.

The day before, the School had arranged a top-class exhibition match with four of the leading players of today, including the World Champion and three Kinnaird Finalists, to demonstrate the game at its highest level to the School’s Sports Scholars. It was a great way to enthuse more players to take up the game.

The Annual Jesters versus the School match was held in February and included a very strong turn out from Uppingham including Nick Preston, Adrian Lewthwaite, Clive Smith; Uppingham parent John Lloyd-Jones (Eton) and members of staff, James Holroyd and James Birch. Several visitors were also hosted including Nic Walker (Charterhouse), Stephen Kelly (City of London) and Richard Dennis (Berkhamsted, who is also Clive Smith’s Fives partner from Cambridge). It was another successful event with plenty of laughter on the courts between points, which enabled the Jesters to regain their breath.

The Annual Fives Dinner had to be cancelled this September, but plans will get underway again as soon as circumstances allow.

Further information on OU Fives and where to play Fives in London can be found on the OU Fives Network hosted on Guild (https://guild.co/app/ guild/411/feed); Guild was set up by OU Fives player Ashley Friedlein. If you’d like further information on how to get involved, please contact the OU Team.

Finally, my huge thanks go to James Holroyd (Master in Charge of Fives) for his invaluable assistance in arranging matches and making the OUs and our guests feel most welcome.

OU Golfing Society

By Alan Thomas (H 62)

Golf was in the first wave of sports allowed to re-start after the lockdown and OU golfers have enjoyed being able to play again, although clubs are not yet back to normal and the social activities that accompany OUGS golfing fixtures are restricted. Most OUGS events scheduled for 2020 had to be cancelled or deferred but the following report covers those able to take place late in 2019 and early 2020, and after our restart meeting in mid-September with full Covid-19 precautions in place.

Captain’s Meeting and AGM 2019 Chris Flather (M 67), OUGS Captain for 2019, held his Captain’s Meeting in October 2019 at Ilkley Golf Club. Thirty-four OU golfers attended the weekend, accompanied by 18 spouses/ partners. On the Saturday, the Acorn Trophy (best net score) was won by Tom Hayes (SH 74) and the Lee Tankard (best gross score) was won by Ewen Wilson (M 85). Other prize-winners were Eric Auckland (C 53), Jeremy Cooke (WB 67), Richard Bernhard (B 64), Roderick Rhodes (Hf 68) and David Downes (L 59). On Sunday, the Christopherson Rosebowls were won by Simon Moffatt (H 74) and Roderick Rhodes (Hf 68).

All OUGS members were shocked and saddened by news of Chris Flather’s death in April 2020, after a short illness, just six months after his successful Captain’s Meeting, described above. Please see Chris’s obituary in the In Memoriam section of the magazine. He will be greatly missed by his many friends and family.

At the AGM, Simon Moffatt (H 74) was confirmed as Captain for 2020. David Downes (L 59) continues as President. Simon’s captaincy has been extended to 2021, since activities this year have been so restricted, and his Captain’s Meeting at Royal Cromer Golf Club has been deferred to the weekend of 18th and 19th September 2021.

Chris Flather presents Acorn Trophy to Tom Hayes

Ewen Wilson receiving the Lee Tankard

OUGS officers at the AGM, wearing their newly commissioned OUGS blazers

Scratch Team News

The Halford Hewitt, Grafton Morrish and Queen Elizabeth Coronation 2020 competitions were unable to take place. The Bernard Darwin was postponed to late October.

In the Grafton Morrish 2019 Finals, the OU team, comprising Damian Pitts (Hf 91), Ewen Wilson (M 85), Eddie Allingham (H 81), Henry Short (Hf 07), Andy Hancock (WD 08) and Patrick Charlton (WD 82), beat Woodbridge in the first round but lost to Malvern in the second. Malvern subsequently advanced all the way to the Final, but then lost to Birkenhead.

Queen Elizabeth Coronation At Royal Burgess Golfing Society in Edinburgh, the 2019 OU team of Sam Debenham (C 90), Edward Allingham (H 81), Duncan Wood (LH 98), Archie Warman (M 06), Henry Short (Hf 07) and Peter Crocombe (B 03) lost to Glenalmond in the first round. The eventual winners were Merchiston.

Area Meetings and Matches The Society usually has an enviable fixture list of 36 inter-school matches and area meetings at wonderful courses around the UK, open to OU golfers of all abilities. Regrettably, almost all 2020 events were cancelled, with the exception of the below:

Northern Public Schools: The Birkdale Bucket this year was won by Giggleswick. Uppingham’s team of six eased their disappointment at their below-par 4th place with a supply of bespoke beer, generously provided by the Leatherbritches Brewery, owned by Eddie Allingham (H 81).

OUGS Restart Meeting: 19 OU golfers attended a weekend at Royal Cromer Golf Club, accompanied by eight spouses/partners. Bubbles for golf and dining ensured social distancing rules were maintained. Saturday’s individual stableford competition was won by Damien Pitts (Hf 91) in the single figure handicap group and David Downes (L 59) in the 10+ handicap category. Sunday’s four ball competition, played in high-low handicap pairs, was won by Damien Pitts and Richard Murmann (H 55). The Captain decided that John Hudson (WB 65) had earned the putting prize by holing an extremely difficult 10-foot downhill putt for a gross birdie. The weather was kind and the event was enjoyed by all. The general consensus was that Royal Cromer GC and the Seamarge Hotel will make an excellent venue for Simon’s Captain’s Meeting in 2021. OUGS Eagles

Back Row – Sam Charlton (M 12) and Chris Leonard (LH 07). Second Row – Stuart Lloyd WD 74), James Lloyd (OP), Simon Moffatt (H 74), Henry Short (Hf 07), Edmund Northcott (B 03), Duncan Wood (LH 98), Rowan Northcott (B 05). Front row – James Over (WB 07), Peter Crocombe (B 03), Archie Warman (M 06), Danny Mills (B 06), Justin Colver (Fgh 06), James Ridgeon (Hf 07), Tom Lloyd (OP). Absent from the picture was Thomas Stevens (C 00).

The OUGS is keen to bring younger players into the society, an initiative supported by the OU Association. The group was formed in 2019 with an inaugural meeting at Royal Wimbledon GC and named the OUGS Eagles. A significant number of younger OU golfers have been welcomed into the society, including recent school leavers.

A new weekend golf tour in East Kent was added to the calendar this year, playing at Prince’s GC and Royal Cinque Ports GC, home of the Halford Hewitt tournament. The format was similar to that used in the Ryder Cup, with two teams selected from the pool of players by team Captains, Simon Moffatt (H 74, 2020 OUGS Captain) and Peter Crocombe (B 03). Two Old Peterites, Tom and James Lloyd, joined the OUs as local members. The format was 18 holes four ball at Prince’s on Day 1, followed by 9 holes singles at Prince’s and 18 holes foursomes at Royal Cinque Ports on Day 2.

The final result was a draw and the introduction of the live scoreboard on players’ phones kept everyone on tenterhooks until the last putt was sunk. Both Prince’s and Royal Cinque Ports are wonderful examples of true links courses, while The Lodge at Prince’s was an excellent venue for accommodation and a dinner held on the first night. The Eagles plan to repeat the event next year and invite new OUGS members under 40 years of age to join them.

Another OUGS Eagles fixture included Royal Wimbledon GC on 18th October 2020, where 15 Eagles played with five local OU members. Future OUGS Eagles meetings will be graced by a splendid bronze eagle trophy, presented by David Hopkins (WD 60), with an oak plinth and trophy box specially crafted by Andrew Morgan (Fgh 74).

OUGS membership

Since the end of lockdown, there has been a surge of interest in golf across the UK. Applications for golf club and golf society memberships have soared.

If you are an OU golfer, whatever your handicap, OUGS Hon Sec, Martin Walker (L 67), would love to hear from you either by telephone on 01143 487005 or 07765 441375 or by email to martin.walker53@sky.com. Membership is only £10pa (free for under 25s) and we hope that our excellent fixture list will resume in 2021.

For further information about joining the OUGS Eagles please contact Stuart Lloyd on 07841 506683 or stuartnlloyd@mac.com.

OU Cross Country

By Iain Wakefield (WB 82)

This year’s OU cross country event was one of the best we’ve had in recent years. Most of the OU team arrived ‘old style’ in a minibus, well rested and thoroughly prepared for what has become a permanent fixture in the OU sporting calendar. The OUs competed very well against the School team and a wide variety of other school teams also taking part. The course remains one of the most challenging on the circuit, featuring a fast ‘top’ section around The Middle, complemented by the tough technical section into The Dell and down the Cinder Track.

The race was followed by the most outstanding dinner, held in the Kendall Room. The OUs, as per tradition, awarded a prize to the first Uppingham girl home in the women’s race. The prize is in memory of Georgie Bealby (Fd 85) and was awarded to Amelie Goetz (J U6th), who went on to be placed in the top 80 at the English Schools National Cross Country Championship.

Our thanks to the School for inviting us and for hosting such a wonderful evening. We very much hope we can race again in 2021.

If you’re interested in taking part in the next OU cross country event, please email ou@uppingham.co.uk for more details – all runners welcome.

Nat Woodcock (WB 83), Andrew Reeves (L 86), Andrew Lockhart (guest), Tim Betts (guest), Nick Paget (guest), Iain Wakefield (WB 82), and behind, John Clargo (guest), Chris Philpot (B 82), Charles Bond (C 82), Alex Macfadyen (M 13), Noah Short (WB 13), Christian Bostock (Hf 13), Freddie Comber (Hf 13), Nazar Efendiev (Hf 14), Ben Lee (Hf 13) and Tom Holmes (M 14).

OU Sailing

By Emily ‘Lara’ Johnston (J 03)

After the OU Sailing team’s success in the 2018 Arrow Trophy Competition, with Uppingham taking the Charterhouse Bowl, there was much to live up to for the crew entering the October 2019 race. Twentytwo schools assembled at the start of what was forecast to be one of the bleakest October weekends on record. Despite the ominous weather, as OUs assembled in Port Solent, spirits and anticipation were high. This was going to be a great weekend.

Chief organiser, David Gavins (LH 73) had pulled together an excellent mix of Old Uppinghamians, each bringing a whole range of skills and experience to the F40 yacht. On Friday night, the team all enjoyed a curry and a beer at Spice Central on Cowes, reminiscing about Uppingham myths and legends and swapping stories from the differing years spanning from 1970 to 2009.

Our fearless captain John Tildesley (WB 72) had navigated us through gale winds and crashing waves on the crossing over to the Isle of Wight the afternoon prior, but in contrast we awoke early on Saturday morning to be greeted by mirror-still waters and barely a breath of wind.

Nevertheless, the breeze eventually grew and the first race got underway. The newbies learned quickly from the old hands. Alexander Fahie (F 02) and

Charlotte Morton-Haworth (L 99), Emily ‘Lara’ Johnston (J 03), John Tildesley (WB 72), Mimi Poskitt (L 97) and Alex Fahie (F 02)

George Gavins (LH 04) became masters of the main, with the always calm, Nikki Mallett (Fd 75), perfectly coordinating and trimming the jib. Having flown all the way from Edinburgh, David Wells (H 80), proved to be invaluable with installing and raising the spinnaker; alongside Mimi Poskitt (L 97) who was a retrieval queen and meticulous at re-packing the spinnaker ready for the next race.

Preparations for the second race got underway with Simon Ward (F 75), Nick Walker (WB 70) and Charlotte MortonHaworth (L 99) running the cockpit and Lara Johnston (J 03) craning over the front of the bow shouting distances to the start line back to the helm and crew. We crept perilously close to the line and when the horn blew and we crossed, the radio sounded that there had been a false start. We looked around at each other, wondering if we had chanced our luck a fraction too much... as it happens it was Radley that had crossed early, so we all sighed with relief and continued racing towards the first mark. We were getting the hang of this now. The fleet’s confidence and competitive spirit built as the races continued. By the third race, there was an atmosphere of no-guts-no-glory on the water that hadn’t showed itself before. This was it; the teams meant business. We came up on the start line with boats flying across port and starboard like never before. The inevitable panicked shouting that comes before a yacht pile up could be heard up and down the start line from all the schools. Despite calling “starboard” and forcing St Swithun’s and Stowe to tack off their preferred course, we ultimately found ourselves on the receiving end and had to do the same. Our wise skipper, John, decided to go south and bring us back up through the line instead. As fate would have it, it set us up for a cracking start, albeit slightly inadvertently, and we made excellent progress round the course.

It had poured with rain the entire day but this didn’t dampen spirits. On Saturday night, all the schools came together for a wonderful evening of celebration. The Uppingham team stood proud on the stage to receive the Charterhouse Bowl. The next morning we set off to go again but as fate would have it, it was deemed too windy to race after a couple of hours sailing. Credit to the superb organisation of the Arrow Trophy.

Instead we sailed back across the Solent with the fleet and moored up in the same marina we had left just a couple of days earlier. As we all stripped off our wet kit, and unloaded the boat, we said our goodbyes. What a fantastic weekend it had been despite the weather and up and down racing – I haven’t laughed that hard in ages – what a great bunch of OUs.

With much regret, given government regulations which would impact significantly on the sailing and social programme associated with the event, the Arrow Trophy’s Management Committee decided to cancel the 2020 competition. We look forward to hearing from our OU sailors in the future when plans can resume. If you’d like to get involved, please contact David Gavins (LH 73) on david.gavins@btinternet.com, he’d love to hear from you.

A message from David Gavins (LH 73), in tribute to Nikki Mallett (née Hargreaves, Fd 75), who passed away in May from lymphoma. A full obituary is provided in the In Memoriam section of the magazine. “I knew Nikki at Uppingham, where we coincided for four terms, and have got to know her even better over the last three years, as a key member of the OU Sailing Association crew. She was a wonderfully calming influence in the 2017, 2018 and 2019 Arrow Trophy competitions. Nikki was game and brave; thinking things through; acting quickly when needed and great fun off the water and at OU Dinners. She will be greatly missed.”