The Salopian no. 157

THE SALOPIAN
TITLE HERE
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Issue No. 157 - Winter 2015
T
he death on Friday 11th December of Michael SchützerWeissmann has formed a melancholy coda to the Michaelmas
term. For his family, for the English faculty - which Mike headed
for 17 years from his arrival at the school in 1988 - for generations
of former pupils, and for the whole current school community, the
loss of an extraordinary man, whose humanity, wit and wisdom
enriched so many lives will be irredeemable.
In Mike were wedded harmoniously a towering moral strength
with the deepest humanity. Prodigiously well read, and a profound
thinker on matters both spiritual and temporal, he combined
the scholarship of a don with a disdain for pretentiousness and
intellectual humbug. An innate respect for his fellow men – I
never heard him speak ill of anyone – was, perhaps ironically,
allied to a Swiftian sense of satire. Nowhere was this seen to better
advantage than in his now rather poignantly named Shakespearian
pastiches As You Leave Us and Lots Leave us Lost written for private
performance at leaving parties for fellow English Faculty members
held at Marycourt, a frequently-used haven for so many of us from
the hurly-burly of day-to-day Salopian life.
Countless Salopians owe much of their ‘real’ education to time
spent in his architectural seminars, the legendary Building Society,
tapping into his vast knowledge of French wine, or, in the case of
the School’s Roman Catholic contingent, simply chatting to him
over lashings of bacon and eggs in Marycourt after early Sunday
Mass in the Cathedral. In so many ways Mike was paterfamilias to
the Common Room as well as to his extensive family, to whom we
send our warmest good wishes.
David Gee’s City on a Hill, published in September and reviewed
by both Martin Knox and Professor Colin Leach in the following
pages, implicitly invites readers to reflect on change and constancy
in the Salopian scene. The idea that the “The One remains, the
many change and pass” - a spell well-known to anyone brought up
at the knees of Frank McEachran – lies at the heart of this portrait,
written by a man whose understanding of Shrewsbury is unrivalled.
Values held dear by Mike Schützer-Weissmann - decency, humanity
and gratitude for the gift of life - are unchanging. Never indeed
have they seemed so important than today, when we consider the
wider world beyond the bounds of Shrewsbury School.
Within the Shrewsbury microcosm, we can see those values
illustrated in the heartwarming tale accompanying the adjacent
picture, which I feel Mike would have enjoyed. The first two are
evident in the actions of the sheep’s rescuers, the last, one must
assume, is being instinctively felt by the sheep himself, if only he
were able to articulate it.
I will leave readers to extract whatever symbolism they can from
the front cover photograph. The platform seems solid enough, but
perhaps it might be better just to enjoy the view!
Front Cover: Guyana Expedition 2015, Kaieteur Falls.
Inside Front cover: As members of the newly relaunched Rovers Club kayaked and canoed down
the Severn on Field Day, a drowning sheep was spotted in the river standing neck deep in the water,
which he looked as if he had been in for several hours, unable to climb up the steep bank to his
home field. Manhandled into a canoe, he was released up a rather easier bank on the opposite side
of the river which he eventually scrambled up, gradually regaining strength in his legs.
The farmer will wonder how his opposite-bank-neighbour’s sheep has ended up in his flock: there
are no bridges between Montford Bridge and Welsh Bridge along this 17km stretch of the river!
CONTENTS
Academic News 4
City on a Hill
6
Salvete8
Valete9
Spanish Study visit to Argentina 12
Classics Trip to Greece
13
Drama14
Evensong at The Queen’s College 16
Leavers concert
17
House Singing
18
Shrewsbury in Malawi
18
Expedition to Guyana
19
Pringle Trophy
23
Old Salopians in WWI
24
Life beyond Shrewsbury
26
Relaunch of the Rovers
28
Cricket29
Tennis37
RSSBC38
RSSH41
Athletics44
Equestrian Success
45
Hockey46
Shrewsbury School Foundation
47
Director of the Salopian Club
48
Salopian Club Events
49
News of Old Salopians
51
Arts & Activities Committee
55
Old Salopian Biologists
55
The Making of a Runner
56
Sponsored charity row
57
Cycling across Europe
58
Old Salopian Football
59
Old Salopian Yacht Club
61
Sabrina62
Old Salopian Hunt
64
Old Salopian Golfing Society
66
Saracens69
Publications71
Obituaries72
Editor
Richard Hudson
Churchill’s Hall, Shrewsbury School,
Shrewsbury SY3 7AT
01743 280630 [email protected]
Assistant Editor
Annabel Warburg
Obituaries Editor
Martin Knox
Salopian Club
Nick Jenkins (Director)
Old Salopian Club, The Schools,
Shrewsbury SY3 7BA
01743 280891 (Director)
01743 280892 (Administrator)
mail to: [email protected]
Design: www.grand-design.eu
Print: www.lavenhampress.com
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SCHOOL NEWS
Academic News
Exam results
This year, we celebrated our best ever A Level results, with
86.1% of the exams awarded the top A*, A or B grades and
25% of all exams gaining the top A* grade. There were
many individual success stories, not least the 19 pupils
who gained at least three A* grades and the 55 pupils who
gained an A* or A in all their subjects.
Both last year’s joint Heads of School, James Plaut and
Esmé O’Keeffe, gained an A* in each of their subjects. James
was studying English, Geography and History, whilst Esmé
studied French, History, Latin and Spanish. Impressive too
was the performance of Ronald Chen who gained six A*
grades, in Maths, Further Maths, Biology, Chemistry,
A.Arridge (Rb)
T.C. Breese (PH)
G.W. Cabral (Ch)
N.J. Chen (I)
X. Chen (MSH)
A. Chumbala (SH)
T.H. Dodd (Rb)
F.T. Galbraith (EDH)
Physics and Chinese. All 12 pupils with offers from
Oxford or Cambridge Universities achieved the required
grades to meet their offers.
The School’s AS results from the Lower Sixth pupils
were also impressive, with 65% of grades achieved at
A or B grades. 38 pupils gained A grades in all their
subjects and 80 gained nothing less than a B.
Lower Sixth Examination prizes were awarded to the
following candidates who achieved outstanding scores
in their AS subjects:
S. Hazar (I)
B.G. Jones (S)
L.B. Kell (EDH)
T. Lam (MSH)
K.L. Lee (M)
L.J. Mattinson (Rb)
H.A.P. Newbould (Ch)
O.C. Papaioannou (EDH)
It was also another strong year for GCSE results, with
64.3% of the exams awarded an A* or A grade and over
a third of all exams (34.8%) awarded the top A* grade.
Six pupils, Nicholas Davis, Mathew Hedges, Ben Jones,
Andrew Kim, Fintan Simmons and Thomas Tulloch, each
gained 10 straight A* grades, and 30 pupils gained either
A* or A grades in all their subjects. Thomas Tulloch’s
other major achievement during the summer was winning
H.F. Partington (PH)
A. Pototskaya (G)
M.R. Pownall (MSH)
B.E. Sansom (PH)
V.U.Taujanskaite (MSH)
A.Vechamamontien (M)
Y. Xu (EDH)
T. Zhou (EDH)
a European gold medal as part of the GB eventing team.
(see page 45)
After the GCSE examinations, Honorary Scholarships
were awarded to: R.W.A. Carter-Motley (Rt), M.W. Hedges
(Rb) and A.D. Howells (MSH) and Honorary Exhibitions
were awarded to: E.M.C. Plaut (S) and M.J.B. Yale (S).
GCSE Examination prizes were awarded to candidates with an outstanding number of A* grades:
R.A. Arkwright (O)
A.J. Aslam-Baskeyfield (Rb)
W.S. Bedson (Rb)
J.S. Bray (Rb)
E.L. Chapman (Rb)
P. Cope (Ch)
N.W. Davis (PH)
B.M.W. Jones (Rb)
E.G. Kerr (EDH)
H. Kim (S)
R. Lim (MSH)
J.J. Mattinson (Rb)
M.H.J. Morris (Rb)
S.K. Randawa (MSH)
M.J.B. Redhead (MSH)
L.H.E. Robb (MSH)
S.T.F. Russell (Ch)
F.J.J. Simmons (Ch)
R.F. Smith-Langridge (EDH)
C.M. Speed (I)
A.K.C.O. Stock (I)
J.S.Thevathasan (PH)
A.J.Thomason (Rt)
T.A.W.Tulloch (Rt)
S. Williams (O)
SCHOOL NEWS
Academic Extension Programme
The Academic Extension Programme is
a new initiative, designed to challenge
academically ambitious pupils to think
beyond the confines of their studies
and to broaden their horizons. It is
compulsory for Academic Scholars but
it is also open to any pupil; we are
delighted that a considerable number
of other intellectually curious boys and
girls have chosen to take part in this
year’s programme, which focuses on the
Middle East.
At the beginning of the Michaelmas
term, a group of Fourth and Fifth
Formers were given an overview of
the complexity and diversity of the
various modern conflicts in the region,
starting with the Iraq Wars, through to
intervention in Afghanistan, the rise of
ISIS and the current migration crisis.
Each pupil in the group was given a
copy of Mohsin Hamid’s The Reluctant
Fundamentalist, which was the topic
of discussion in the second half of term.
In November we were delighted to
welcome Major General Richard Nugee,
Assistant Chief of Defence Staff and
Defence Services Secretary, who gave
a fascinating lecture on ‘Should Britain
intervene against the Islamic State?’
Next term we look forward to a talk by
Tim Marshall, former Diplomatic Editor
of Sky News, who will offer his unique
viewpoint on the situation that the
Middle East faces.
Omnibus Gladstone Competition
Guy Cabral (Ch UVI) beat stiff
competition from Classics pupils
across the country in September to
come runner-up in the Omnibus
Gladstone Competition - the
UK’s premier national Classics
essay writing competition. His
essay was on the importance of
the Vindolanda Tablets, a set of
wooden ‘booklets’ considered to be
the oldest surviving hand-written
documents in Britain. They were
discovered near Hadrian’s Wall and
give a unique insight into frontier
life on the northernmost edges of
the Roman Empire.
On hearing the good news, Guy who is applying to read Classics at
Oxford - said, “It was a complete
surprise and I am absolutely
delighted to be runner-up. It was a
fascinating process to delve into the private and personal correspondence
between Roman soldiers and their families; it showed me that in many
ways, people have not changed that much over two millennia.”
International Young
Physicists’ Tournament
Shrewsbury School
represented the UK
once again in the finals
of the International
Young Physicists’
Tournament in Thailand
in July. Competing
against 26 other teams
from countries all
over the world, they
returned home with a
bronze medal.
Cambridge Chemistry
Challenge 2015
At the end of the Summer
term and after a busy AS exam
schedule, a group of Lower
Sixth students entered the 2015
Cambridge Chemistry Challenge.
They performed remarkably well,
amassing a total of eight Gold,
20 Silver and 27 Copper medals
– which topped even last year’s
excellent results.
Set by an experienced team of
teachers and university chemists, the
paper is designed to be accessible
to Lower Sixth students but also to
take them significantly beyond the
syllabus and encourage them to
think about science in the way they
would at university. It is endorsed
and sponsored by St Catharine’s
College, Cambridge.
Mathematics Challenge
Competitions
Chloe Chen (MSH UVI), Tom Dodd
(Rb UVI), David Gao (I LVI) and
Evelyn Xiong (G LVI) triumphed in
the Regional Final of the Senior Team
Maths Challenge at Keele University on
18th November. They now progress to
the National Final, which will be held
in London on 2nd February 2016.
Chloe Chen also achieved the School’s
top mark (115 out of a possible 125)
in this year’s Senior Mathematical
Challenge paper. A total of 126
Shrewsbury pupils across all five year
groups sat the paper this year; 115
of them performed well enough to
place themselves in the top 60% of
the country and receive a certificate.
A special mention should go to Tianci
Wang (SH III) who was amongst the 19
Gold certificate winners; an impressive
achievement for a Third Former.
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6
SCHOOL NEWS
CITY ON A HILL A Portrait of Shrewsbury School
by David Gee, with Foreword by Eric Anderson;
Greenbank Press (2015); xv+316 pp. Hardback, £25.00. ISBN 978 - 0 - 9523699 - 8 - 1
Martin Knox
(Staff 1971-2003) writes:
Everyone knows the story of David
Gee, who came to Shrewsbury in
1958 for a term’s teaching practice and
stayed for a lifetime. The headmaster,
J.M.Peterson, impressed by the energy
and enthusiasm of the young History
graduate, offered him a permanent
position which he was only too
happy to accept. Nearly six decades
later, the fire still burns. In a Dayboys
production of The Mikado, David once
played the part of Pooh-Bah, “Lord
High Everything Else”, an apt term
for one who has served the School in
many roles, all of them with success.
His latest triumph is this wide-ranging
survey of Shrewsbury School life in a
period which he is uniquely qualified
to chronicle. As he points out in the
preface, the second half of the twentieth
century has been erratically served
when it comes to maintaining detailed
records and he has spent many, many
hours piecing together a jigsaw puzzle
of facts and opinions into a coherent
picture.
In the last edition of The Salopian,
David spoke of how the book came to
be written and outlined the structure
he has adopted, treating each facet of
school life under a different heading,
rather than presenting a chronological
narrative. With apologies to those who
missed it, I will avoid repetition of what
he had to say, other than to stress that
City on a Hill is not an autobiography.
Indeed, in places the author even
refers to himself in the third person.
It is, however, unmistakeably David
Gee’s book, imbued as it is on every
page with the values which he holds
dear and which he believes flourish at
Shrewsbury as nowhere else.
Well he would, wouldn’t he? An easy
jibe, but one which does not hold, for
David is too much the historian to rely
on his own uncorroborated opinion
to make his point. In the chapter on
the ethos of Shrewsbury, he quotes a
number of distinguished witnesses, all
testifying to the qualities that make it
no ordinary school. Speaking for myself
(and not claiming distinction), I share
David’s view that personal relations
grow in a richer soil on Kingsland
than elsewhere and that within the
gates a bond of uncommon loyalty is
forged. Like him, I formed this opinion
early and have not since had cause to
change it. Forty-five years ago, life at
Shrewsbury was not like the fictitious
world of “If”, but it was no easy task
to persuade the sceptical outsider.
We must be grateful to David Gee for
producing such a well-researched,
deeply considered account of how the
School has evolved in his time.
City on a Hill is a handsome volume,
for the production of which
congratulations go to Richard Hudson
and his Greenbank Press. They have
provided a frame worthy of the portrait
painted by the tireless historian. Many
Old Salopians and past and present
members of the Common Room have
made contributions, too, for, prodigious
though David’s memory is, he does not
know everything and does not pretend
to. His thoroughness and his humility
have combined to give us an insight
into just about every activity promoted
by the School during the period. Of
particular interest are the interviews with
all of the surviving Headmasters and it
is only a pity that Donald Wright, who
was at the helm during the turbulent
sixties, died just before David started
work on his project. The reader is left in
no doubt, however, about the value of
that great reformer’s contribution.
One does not have to have known
the men concerned to enjoy the
four sketches of Common Room
“characters”, chosen for their eccentric
approach to the profession on which
they made their highly individual
mark. Unorthodox, idiosyncratic, even
subversive, they could scarcely be less
like the author, who nevertheless treats
them with admiration and affection.
David is himself conservative in his
ways, a man who sees no reason why
today should not be like yesterday and
expects much the same of tomorrow or so he would have us believe. Behind
the routines and the favourite sayings,
however, lies more than a hint of selfparody, as there is in his affectation of
mystified ignorance of the topics of the
day. In fact, he has his finger on the
pulse like no-one else; were it not so,
he could not have written this book.
It might be supposed that a necessarily
retrospective work would be smothered
in nostalgia, that the past would be
preferred to the present at every turn.
It is not like that. True, there are times
when it can be discerned that the
passing of one tradition or another is
lamented, but for the most part, David
Gee is content to record that at a certain
time, people spoke and behaved in a
particular way. That they no longer do
so is not of itself a bad thing. In the
Wessex novels, Thomas Hardy depicted
customs and crafts which had gone for
ever. His manner was wistful and yet
he was mindful of the hardship which
had gone with them. So, too, do we
find here a realistic appraisal of life at
Shrewsbury. The Old Days were not all
“good” and this history is mercifully free
of the attitude so readily adopted by
Old Boys - of any school - that “it never
did me any harm”.
Many readers are likely to turn to the
area of greatest interest to themselves
and the format allows this kind of
selective approach, but I caution
against neglecting any chapter, for
much of the pleasure to be had in
reading the whole lies in discovering
unfamiliar aspects of the little world
that is Shrewsbury School. Inevitably,
the author’s preferences are reflected
in where the emphasis is placed.
Events which bring the whole school
together are especially admired, be they
traditional or innovative. The Speech
Day tent is an example of the latter, but
the Call-over is a re-enactment of an
ancient ritual (with the practical purpose
of ensuring that everyone stays till the
end). The Tucks, Sponsored Walks, the
St Mary’s service are further instances of
ways of fostering the community spirit
which is such a central theme of City on
a Hill. While it is true that they are all
compulsory, it is worth noting that the
last time Shrewsbury reached the final
of the Boodles ISFA Trophy, the turnout
in support (a hundred miles away) was
90%. No other school comes near.
SCHOOL NEWS
A glance at the index section (David is
very fond of tables and indexes) will
reveal just how thorough and how up
to date is the coverage. Famous names
from the past are there, certainly, but
so, too, are the men and women, the
boys and girls who are responsible for
carrying on the Great Tradition. They
will find their efforts appreciated and
their achievements applauded.
The period under review has had its
moments of controversy and these are
dealt with even-handedly and with
restraint, as one would expect from a
writer sensitive to the feelings of others.
One would seek in vain for gossip and
speculation in City on a Hill.
De Salopia nil nisi bonum. Shrewsbury
may have given the world “Private
Eye”, but nothing could be further
from its ethos than this text, which
is a celebration of common purpose
carried out with goodwill. There have
inevitably been frustrations, tensions
and disappointments along the way,
and sometimes darker clouds have
gathered; it could scarcely be otherwise
in more than half a century of human
endeavour, but Shrewsbury School has
overwhelmingly been a happy and
successful example of its kind. With
good cause has David Gee followed the
advice of St Paul to the Christians
at Philippi:
“… whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good
report, if there be any praise,
and if there be any virtue,
think on these things.”
Professor Colin Leach
(O 1945-51) writes:
Those with very long memories
may recall that, in 1932, a book was
published under the title Shrewsbury:
The Last Fifty (later wisely changed
to “Recent”) Years, chronicling the
period since the momentous move to
Kingsland in 1882. It was an important,
even crucial, move, amounting, indeed,
to a new Foundation: but it was not a
“revolution”, and the school of Butler,
Kennedy and Moss had changed its
location but not its modus operandi. By
now, of course, we are all familiar with
the phrase “Public Schools’ Revolution”
– there has even been a book with
virtually that title - and in this excellent
book David Gee has shown how, at
Shrewsbury, the latest 50 years have
indeed constituted a “revolution “ rather
than a more decorous, Darwinesque,
“evolution”. Of course, even a revolution
will be foreshadowed, and although It
was with the arrival of Donald Wright
in 1963 that the major changes were
instituted, David shows that in the
closing years of Peterson’s long reign
there were already harbingers of what
was to come; the early chapter called
“The Public School Revolution” neatly
sums up what may be described as
“Before and After”. As the reviewer can
vouch, a boy arriving at Shrewsbury
in, say, 1950, would have found a
school that was well-nigh identical to
the one that his father (shall we say)
had entered in 1920: but by 1980, that
could no longer be said, and even less
could it be said by 2010, or today. It is
David’s achievement – and it could have
been done only by someone who was
permanently on the Site – that he shows
in riveting detail how the “old order” has
been swept away, both in and out of the
classroom. “Douling”? The Pink Book?
Compulsory Corps? The School’s arcane
vocabulary? Hall Crier? Hall Constable?
Colour Exams? All these, and much
more, are gone, and have been replaced
by a regimen more in keeping with our
times – especially with the introduction
of girls, a subject of the highest
importance which is covered by Jeremy
Goulding in his contribution to A View
from the Pentagon (see below). Here we
are taken, in no fewer than 33 chapters,
into (eg) the expansion of the Site (new
buildings), The Bloxham Report, The
Basic Year, Academic changes (the reign
of classics ended long ago, but there
is very much more to it than that, as a
full chapter shows), and Administrative
changes, largely brought on by the
“deluge” of government directives: the
five admin staff of 1954 had become
60 by 2014 – and 43 members of
Common Room had become 123: huge
changes, even allowing for a larger
school. Thus, it is unsurprising that fees
have risen so sharply: hard to believe
that, in 1945, fees were just £180 per
year! As to what the future will bring,
David is, as ever, keenly aware of the
problems and challenges that may lie
ahead, not least with the demise of so
many Preparatory Schools: the analysis
on page 107 is essential reading.
Will the School become ever more
international? (The location of the
Schools has many advantages, but also
some disadvantages, especially with
the number and lengths of “half-term”
breaks).
But this long (and superbly illustrated)
book is far from being a mere assembly
of facts: for example, we are given a
splendid chapter on “Four Salopian
Characters” – Hugh Brooke, Frank
McEachran, Mark Mortimer, and Michael
Hall, all of course well known to the
author. Individual Headmasters are given
their say – including, rather bravely,
the most recent ones (Simon Langdale,
Ted Maidment, and Jeremy Goulding)
– or are assessed in A View from the
Pentagon (it is here that, rightly, David
also pays tribute to that most Salopian of
Salopians, Michael Charlesworth, who
must himself have regretted many of the
changes which surrounded him); there
is a shrewd chapter on the growing
importance of Dayboys, in terms of
numbers, organisation and identity, in
which David himself played a major
part; as for Music, Drama, Visual Arts,
Craft, Design and Technology, where
would they have been fifty years ago?
David deals generously with Chapel,
The Shewsy and Sports, less so with
the Library (adequately dealt with in
earlier histories): financial matters, too,
fall outside the author’s self-imposed
remit. The many Appendices provide
enough information to satisfy the most
gluttonous fact-hunter (the Carmen
Salopiense is there, but not Mark
Mortimer’s indecorous parody). And
although the Contents page is helpfully
complete, your reviewer would have
welcomed an Index.
In his Preface, which is itself of the
greatest interest, David tells us, among
much else, that it has been his aim to
“focus on the visible, daily life of the
school” (and) “the personalities who
have created, sustained and transmitted
its distinctive ethos”: he has succeeded
triumphantly, while being fully
conscious of how, in the world of the
email, the “smartphone” , the internet
– and long exeats - maintaining our
ethos will be no easy matter: much time
has passed since the Bloxham Report
(in which “Hartfield”, ie Shrewsbury,
featured so prominently), actually
captured the School’s ethos with no
little acuteness. Again, “rolls” have to
be maintained – and so do academic
standards (again, see the chapter on
Academic Changes). All this and much
more will be found here, and it is
tempting, if irrelevant, to wonder how
former Headmasters would view the
huge changes of the latest 50 years:
the reviewer, without any mandate to
speculate, suspects that John (Lord)
Wolfenden, at least, would be looking
upon them with a benign eye.
Of course, the natural “constituency”
of the book’s readers will come from
Salopians, whether present or past, but
I have no doubt that it will be studied
keenly at many other schools as well.
This book has clearly been a labour
of love, by a man who has devoted
his working life to the School, and
where he has himself played a deeply
important and distinguished role. There
is much more to be said: but I conclude
by congratulating him warmly on what
will surely be a lasting achievement.
Floreat Salopia!
7
8
SCHOOL NEWS
Salvete
Morgan Bird joins us as
teacher of Philosophy and
Theology from the Royal
Grammar School Guildford
where he was teacher of
Religious Studies and Head
of Young Enterprise. He
has been heavily involved in playing
rugby at a high level throughout his
school and university life and has also
coached and refereed the game. In
athletics, Morgan has been coaching
long jump and javelin. Morgan still has
a keen interest in the Arts (he has an Art
Foundation Diploma), and headed up
the Photographic Society at RGS.
Andrea Bresso is our
Hispanic Fellow for 201516. Andrea has a degree
in Law and is a Junior
Associate at a law firm.
She has been working in
Argentina as a SpanishEnglish translator. In her spare time, she
enjoys hockey and swimming.
Emma Davis joins us as
a new teacher of Girls’
Games. She holds a PGCE
in Physical Education
and a BA Hons in
Physical Education in the
Community from St Mary’s
University College, Twickenham. She
was previously Head of Girls’ Physical
Education & Sport and Head of House at
Bedstone College. She has participated
in hockey, netball, cross-country and
athletics to a high level and has a vast
selection of coaching qualifications in a
wide variety of sports and recreational
activities.
Sara Fletcher joins us
as part-time teacher of
Biology, from New College
Sixth Form in Wellington.
She has a BSc Dual
Honours in Neuroscience
and English Literature from
the University of Keele and completed
her PGCE at the University of Chester.
She enjoys running and competes in half
marathons regularly; she is also keen on
netball, hockey and rounders.
Patrick Graham is our
2015-16 Graduate Sports
Coach - Rowing. Patrick
was M2 Rowing Coach at
New College Oxford last
academic year. He has
rowed for ten years, representing Great
Britain v France at the age of 16. He has
a BSc in Sport, Coaching and PE from
Oxford Brookes University.
Mai Le is the new
Harvard Fellow for this
academic year. Mai has
a degree in Organismic
and Evolutionary Biology
and spent ten months in
Germany as part of the
Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange.
Mai played division 1 Varsity soccer and
for a semi-professional team whilst in
Germany. She has also been involved in
coaching soccer as well as debating,
a cappella singing and ballroom dancing.
Harry Mackridge joins
us as Head of History
from the Merchant Taylors’
School. He has a first class
MA in History from Corpus
Christi College, Cambridge.
At Merchant Taylors’
School, Harry was also Oxbridge and
Enrichment Coordinator as well as i/c
Debating, in which he led the school to
the national finals at Cambridge. He has
also been involved in coaching football
up to 1st XI level, as well as cricket with
the juniors. He was also charity fund
raising co-ordinator.
Kimberley Onions is one of our
Graduate Sports Coaches.
She has a BSc in Sport
& Exercise Science from
Heriot-Watt University. She
coaches netball and has
been involved in athletics,
running and gaelic football.
She has also been involved in charity
work and has formed a long-term
relationship with a mental health charity.
Ben Purser returns
to Shrewsbury, from
Claremont Fan Court
School in Surrey, as fulltime teacher of Art. Ben
taught in our Art faculty
on a part-time basis from
2008-13. He has a MA in Fine Art from
the University of Wales and a PGCE
from the University of Buckingham.
He is a keen chess player and enjoys
mountaineering and football.
Lauren Walker is one of our Graduate
Sports Coaches for this academic year,
with a degree is in Sports & Exercise
Science from Manchester
Metropolitan University.
Lauren has been playing
football for Aston Villa’s
Women’s Super League
team and has been a
county tennis player and
a keen participator in athletics and
cross-country. Lauren has also been
working as a Sports Scientist at Stoke
City Football Club.
Nicholas Welch comes
to Shrewsbury as full-time
teacher of Mathematics
from the Abraham Derby
Academy. He has a BSc in
Mathematics and a PGCE
from Warwick University.
Nick was head of Key Stage 5 in his
previous post as well as the annual
Maths challenge and is keen to be
involved in Shrewsbury’s UKMT Maths
challenge. He ran the badminton club
and is an amateur astronomer. He also
enjoys playing the trumpet.
Stephen Wilderspin joins
us as Head of Football
and teacher of PE, from
Thomas Telford School
where he was Director of
Football and BTEC Sport
Programme Leader. He
has a BEd. (Hons) in Physical Education
and Geography. He was also teacher
i/c Extra-Curricular Physical Education
Programme in his last post, as well as
i/c Cricket. He is part of the England
Schools U18 International Football
Management team and has coached at
Shrewsbury Town FC.
David Wray joins us as
teacher of Chemistry. He
has a 1st class MChem from
St John’s College, Oxford,
where he completed a
Master’s project in organic
synthesis. He joins us from
the University of Manchester following
completion of a PGCE. David has
extensive experience of working as a
private tutor and he has been a Program
Assistant for Oxbridge Academic
Programs. During his time at Oxford,
David rowed, coxed and coached at the
St John’s College Boat Club. He has also
been a keen amateur boxer while at
university. He rose rapidly through the
ranks of the Air Training Corps, which
he attended up to the age of 19.
SCHOOL NEWS
Valete
Struan Hellier
The following is the text of the leaving
tribute given by Second Master
Mike Tonks:
‘Struan has fulfilled a multitude of
roles here at Shrewsbury. He joined
the ‘Faculty of Fun’ way back in 1999
as a raw recruit to teach ‘A’ Level.
Three years later he was appointed
Head of Faculty where he guided
a disparate bunch of ‘philosophic
wannabees’ with a firm but gentle
touch. During this time he brought his
own personality and intellectual stamp
to the department and this included
a move away from the traditional
New Testament studies toward a
combination of Philosophy of Religion
and Ethics. In 2005 he took the plunge
into Housemastering at Churchill’s
Hall. Here again his calm, methodical
and measured approach was hugely
appreciated by pupils and parents
alike. In 2007 he moved across to Port
Hill where he was Housemaster until
2011. The challenges of running a day
house are different to those involved
in boarding but Struan’s easy manner
and openness of approach ensured the
House was hugely successful.
Struan was then appointed Head
of Sixth Form, a role that he has
undertaken for the last four years.
Working closely with the other Heads
of Section, this initiative has been
invaluable in providing an additional
layer of support for pupils and
Struan has worked terrifically well to
encourage all members of the Sixth
Form to greater independence and to
manage the transition from school to
higher education. In addition to all the
above he has made time to support
the Outdoor Pursuits programme,
umpire cricket and keep goal for the
staff football team.
As I think most of you know, Struan
has taken the decision to step away
from teaching, for a year at least. He is
off to pursue a Masters based in both
Canterbury and Paris – messy job but
someone’s got to do it! Struan will be
a huge loss to the school but it is my
sincere hope that he finds his way
back to the classroom or perhaps a
lecture theatre/seminar room at some
time in the not too distant future.’
You may not know this but Struan
has had a number of letters published
in the Times. My personal favourite
was his response to one individual,
clearly a young earth creationist, who
believed the world was only a few
thousand years old. Struan’s letter
reads thus;
Laura Whittle
‘Sir,
Like Matthew Hyde I too have yet to
read a well referenced and reasoned
refutation of James Usher’s thesis that
the world is only about 6,000 years
old. Then again, I have yet to see a
formal refutation of my son’s thesis
that Noddy really did go to Toyland.
Scientists always seem to avoid the
really important questions.’
I stood here two years ago and said
a few words by way of farewell to
Chris Conway. At that time I described
Chris as one of the standing stones
of Shrewsbury school, one who
has provided strength and stability
to the community. In a very similar
way Struan too has been at the
very foundations of life here in the
Shrewsbury School of the 21st century.
He has fulfilled many different and
highly significant roles and I suspect
he possesses an almost unique insight
into Salopian life.
Struan is the sort of person whose
glass is always half full. Whatever
the situation he sees the positive, the
possible, the productive and how to
move forward. Then again years of
being a Liverpool fan I guess you have
to find some way of looking on the
bright side of life.
Nothing is ever too much trouble
for Struan. A genuinely rare breed.
A compassionate gentleman with a
powerful mind – quite simply, an ideal
colleague. Ask his students and they
will speak to his clarity of thought and
his incisive mental faculties. His patient
approach that ensured every member
of the class whatever their ability was
actively engaged in the process.
The following is the text of the leaving
tribute given by Director of Studies
Martin Cropper:
‘Laura arrived at Shrewsbury School
aged 17 for her History interview with
Mike Morrogh. However, this wasn’t an
attempt to be Shrewsbury’s youngest
ever Head of Faculty, but rather a trial
Oxbridge interview while she was
at Shrewsbury Sixth Form College.
She arrived for real in 2006, and in
the subsequent nine years, a defining
feature of Laura’s commitment to the
school has been the sheer quantity
of different areas of Shrewsbury
life that she has been involved in:
trips to the Battlefields, Italy, Berlin,
Paris; four visits to the Shewsy, the
Edinburgh Fringe, and Medic Malawi;
running Charities, staging the first two
fashion shows, helping to run Quod,
involvement with Community Action;
netball, boys’ rowing, girls’ rowing,
playing the flute in the orchestra;
running School Debating for five
years and editing the Public Nose;
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10
SCHOOL NEWS
Professional Development mentor,
Assistant Housemaster of School
House and … Head of History.
I remember overhearing some of my
Fifth Form set talking a few years ago
about teachers. They were comparing
notes on their most organised teacher,
and alighted on Miss Whittle. But
let’s turn the clock back to 25th April
2007, in the week of Laura’s first
school inspection. Not surprisingly,
she had a meticulously prepared
lesson for Period 1, and was lucky
enough that the inspector decided
to attend that very lesson. Less lucky
was the fact that Laura, of all people,
had overslept and didn’t turn up to
the start of the lesson. She eventually
arrived some time into the lesson to
find the inspector sat at the back. But
half the class were missing. A happy
ending though – the pupils were so
astonished that she wasn’t there that
they had gone off in search of her,
and the inspector ended up forming
a positive impression of how caring
Salopians were towards their teachers.
In 2011 she was appointed Head
of History in succession to Mike
Morrogh. Numbers taking History
have hit record numbers, and she has
successfully introduced the Pre-U.
The profile of the faculty has been
high, with a strong series of trips and
lectures, and plenty of pupils going on
to study History at university. As Head
of Faculty she has combined a passion
for the subject with a keen eye for
detail on the administrative parts of the
job and a very supportive approach to
those working in her faculty.
We have enjoyed her own writing over
the years. When Mary Sidney Hall was
opened, Martin Humphreys asked her
to write an article on Mary Sidney,
which was published in the Salopian.
And then there is the weekly bulletin
for lower school tutorials this year.
I had asked her to instigate this last
September and had suggested that she
got her Public Nose team to write it. A
week into term, she sent me the draft
of the first week’s article on Scottish
Independence, which was strikingly
impressive. The email correspondence
went as follows, and reflects Laura’s
positive, can-do approach:
writing and it was fun to do. Glad you
liked it!”
In the past couple of years she has
extended her academic role, joining
the Academic Committee and taking
a leading role in the Sixth Form and
lower school essay competitions that
have been created in the past three
years. Outside of school, she has been
involved with Pre-U examining.
Even though Laura was pretty much
straight out of university when she
applied, perhaps it’s not surprising
that her CV was already very full.
Amongst other things, she had been
involved with running her college
May Ball. This should have given us a
clear idea of how well she would be
suited to working in the Shrewsbury
Common Room as she elaborated by
saying, “Worked closely with jugglers,
magicians and comedians.”
I suspect we have each of those here!
July 11th saw Laura’s marriage to
Nick Wakeling, formerly of the English
Faculty at Shrewsbury. We were
disappointed when Nick left us for
Charterhouse, where he is now Head
of English, and we are disappointed
again to see Laura following in his
footsteps to join the Charterhouse
History department.
We wish Laura and Nick every
happiness in the future – and if it turns
out that Shrewsbury does a better line
in jugglers, magicians and comedians
than Charterhouse, we would be
delighted to welcome them both back
here in the future.
Steve Biggins
Laura – “Is this the kind of thing you
imagined?”
MC – “It’s terrific. Precisely what I
wanted. It’s very impressive for a
pupil. Or did you write it yourself?”
Laura – “…I wrote it myself. The
pupils wanted to write about other
things, so I did it. To be honest I enjoy
Tom Taylor, Robin Moulsdale, Robin
Trimby, Mark Dickson, Mark Lascelles
… all hard acts to follow, but Steve
Biggins had an outstanding five years
as Master in Charge of football at
Shrewsbury School between September
2009 and June 2015, achieving an
incredible amount in his time, leaving
football at Shrewsbury in very rude
health indeed. Steve arrived with a
flourish and won the Boodles and
Dunthorne ISFA Cup in his first year in
charge of the team. This was a squad
that played attractive attacking football
and had a wonderful cup run including
a memorable semi-final victory away at
Millfield on penalties. The final was a
fine occasion; a magnificent 3-0 victory
over Repton at Milton Keynes Dons in
front of the whole School. Those that
witnessed this knew that it was the
start of an exciting era for Shrewsbury
School football. Steve took great pride
in improving the technical abilities of
each player and instilling in them the
fundamentals of the game. His sides
were always composed on the ball and
understood their game plans. Steve was
a fine school master too and his teams
always played in the right spirit. He was
a calm but authoritative presence on
the touchline (under the watchful eye
of his ever present wife, Wendy) and
he had a knack of winning tight games
with the nous gained from a hugely
successful professional playing career
with Shrewsbury Town, Derby County,
Oxford United and a spell in Sweden.
Statistical analysis is now king in the
modern professional sports era and
Steve’s “opta index” stats would rate
very highly in terms of his “win ratio”.
Coaching in schools is about more than
this though, and Steve had the gift of
creating teams that were greater than
the sum of their parts and bringing
enjoyment and a sense of purpose to
every training session.
Steve could only be described as the
consummate professional in terms of
his attention to detail in preparation
of his teams, but also in his care and
concern shown to colleagues and the
way that they prepared their teams and
got their boys to play football. He was
always on hand in the common room
to discuss the merits of 4 4 2 versus, 4
5 1 or 4 3 3 and ever ready to supply
coaching drills to enhance various
aspects of performance. An innovator
too, he introduced heart rate monitors
in training, video analysis of matches,
swimming pool cool downs after
games, the use of a sprint coach in preseason training, improving nutritional
advice for players and helping boys
to pursue their dreams of football
scholarships to the USA. Pre-season
camps were successfully introduced
to rotate yearly with overseas tours
that included Valencia, Villa Real,
Barcelona, Sweden and Qatar. Teams
also got a chance to play on the indoor
pitch at St George’s Park, a real thrill.
SCHOOL NEWS
Steve was an excellent administrator,
very able at organising the day to
day detail that goes into running
a successful football programme
including the allocation of pitches
for House matches, liaison with
groundsmen, the ordering of new kit,
the sorting out of the very intricate
fixture list, liaising with KH over food,
the organisation and payment of
referees, plus dealing with parents and
their concerns over their sons’ progress
in the football teams.
At all times Steve remained enthusiastic,
upbeat and positive in his dealings with
his colleagues, staff and boys and had
an infectious enthusiasm, evident even
on a cold muddy day in November.
The following is the text of the leaving
tribute given by Head of Mathematics
Jerome Armstrong:
‘Mike arrived at Shrewsbury in
September 2009. He has been a huge
asset to the Maths Faculty with all
year-groups and abilities, not only
keeping the very brightest further
mathematicians on their toes - that’s
no mean feat - but also motivating
his fair share of bottom sets to thrive
at GCSE. He is a perfectionist in his
work, deeply committed to both
his subject and his pupils, and very
highly regarded by both. I also am
very grateful to him for running the
Powell Prize in Mathematics with such
enthusiasm for the last four years.
Steve has retired from teaching and
running football, but is still very much
part of the football fabric at Shrewsbury
as coach of the U14A team. It has
been a huge help to our new Master
in Charge of football, Steve Wilderspin
to have Steve on hand to help pass
over the admin, but also to know that
the key age group of the U14As is in
incredibly safe hands as Steve is acutely
aware of what “the end product should
look like” in the 1st XI and therefore
has been a huge boost to our coaching
structure.
He was a most caring tutor in
Oldham’s Hall, offering countless
trips and meals along with regular
academic guidance. He has given
his time to many Talargerwyn trips
and acted frequently as either the
Oldham’s or school photographer
at a number of events. Many of
you will have seen Mike’s stunning
panoramic montage of the quarry
taken from the top of the main
school building during the deep
freeze of December 2010.
There are exciting times ahead for
Shrewsbury School football, but the
foundation and the groundwork laid
by Steve Biggins is there for all to
see and he can leave the post with
his head held high, knowing that he
made a huge difference to football at
Shrewsbury School.
During his first year as a live-in tutor,
he put his ninja skills to good use
one night which has gone down in
legend. A certain little miscreant was
after his Assassins target at 2 am.
Water-pistol in hand, he searched
for an open window in Oldham’s
to climb through. He chose poorly.
Within seconds, the intruder had
been disarmed, defenestrated,
depostored and stuck into a triple
headmaster’s detention.
Will Hughes
Mike Wade
Mike has been running the Silver
Duke of Edinburgh Award since
his arrival, running three or four
expeditions a year. In addition, he
has helped on Outdoor week and
the Bronze weekends. Nick David
and Jo Billington have greatly
valued his services; he has been
deeply committed to the award, and
his support has been beyond the
call of duty.
On the diving front, he has been a
very active instructor with Rhodri
Burke and the sub-aqua club,
undertaking many dives at Stoney
Cove. He’s probably the most
widely-travelled of any of the team,
and has been diving all over the
world, including the Great Barrier
Reef, the Far East and the Red Sea.
His contribution here will also
be greatly missed, as will that to
hockey, a sport he has coached
regularly these last six years under
the pseudonym
“Darth Wader”.
Mike is moving to Surrey to care
for his father. We will miss him
enormously, and wish him all the
very best for the future.
Angeles Martinez
Angeles (Angie) was a first-rate
Hispanic Fellow who made an
enormous contribution to the Spanish
Faculty and more widely in the School,
not least as a dedicated tutor in MSH.
In her primary role of preparing the
Sixth Form students for their oral
exams she remained cool, calm,
collected, and above all cheerful even
when flogging the same old questions
and topic areas, and occasionally an
ill-prepared if not quite dead horse.
Angie was a great help in other areas
of Faculty life and it was great fun
working with her, not least when
videoing bespoke listening materials
and watching her try to avoid the
giggles. Angie will be sorely missed
when she returns to Argentina and
we wish her all the very best for the
future. I don’t think she’ll miss our
climate - in my mind’s eye I shall see
her shivering and asking me if the
temperature will ever rise - though I’m
sure she’ll be back for a real ale or pint
of Guinness at some point or other.
Stuart Cowper
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SCHOOL NEWS
Spanish Study Visit to Argentina
During recent years, we have built up a strong exchange partnership with San Bartolomé School in
Rosario, Argentina. During half term, 15 pupils spent a week there enjoying warm hospitality from
their host families and exchange partners, and a hectic schedule of linguistic,
cultural and social activities.
by two days in Buenos Aires. In this
fascinating capital the group enjoyed a
historical tour of the city, a tango show,
a visit to Eva Peron’s resting place and
the national museum of fine art.
The partnership with San Bartolomé
has evolved into much more than
an opportunity to perfect Spanish
language skills. Lasting friendships
have been formed and another
A
s well as bilingual lessons and
sports activities at the school,
special highlights included an
Argentinian football match at Rosario
Central’s stadium, ‘cowboy’ horse riding
at a country estancia, tango dancing
lessons and an Argentinian empanada
cooking class.
A day spent at the Desafio Foundation
project, which helps children from
shanty towns integrate better into
society, was a valued addition to the
party’s schedule during this fourth
Argentina trip over the last six years.
The week in Rosario was followed
generation of Spanish pupils has been
inspired to consider Gap year work
at San Bartolomé School and Latin
American travel.
Particular thanks to Grove Matron
Maureen Donahue for accompanying
and a huge well done to all pupils who
participated wholeheartedly.
Mike Wright
SCHOOL NEWS
Classics Trip to Greece
Despite the rigours of the Tucks and House Singing on the last day of the first half of term, 12 Classicists
and two members of staff managed nevertheless to reach Athens by mid-morning the next day. There
they enjoyed lunch by the Acropolis and a visit the Acropolis Museum in the afternoon.
From Delphi we travelled on to the
Peloponnese and the advantage
of visiting Olympia on a rather
damp morning was that we had the
running track to ourselves. It was also
fascinating to find out about the use of
the site over time and see where the
Olympic Flame is lit in modern times.
The Parthenon in all its glory
The group then travelled to Delphi and the mysterious power of the place was
felt by all. Its position nestled on the side of Mount Parnassus emphasised the
effort undertaken by all, ancient and modern, who travelled to consult the Oracle,
participate in the Games or merely visit the sites.
The Temple of Apollo, Delphi
Exhausted, we returned
home the following day
having increased our
knowledge of Greece,
with our appetites
whetted for more!
Sarah Latcham
Angus Kincaid trying out the acoustics at Epidauros
Warming up at Olympia
As we travelled deeper in the
Peloponnese, we travelled further back
in time from the Classical to the Homeric
period. This included visiting Mycenae,
the home of Agamemnon, and Tiryns,
where Diomedes lived. For a ‘modern’
slice of history we explored the Palamidi
Fort (a Venetian fort built between
1711 and 1714). The final classical site
we visited was Epidauros where we
were treated to Angus Kincaid (Ch LVI)
reciting ‘The Jabberwocky’ to test the
acoustics of the theatre.
The group at Delphi - Back Row: Mr Matthew Clark, Lucas Paul (Rb V), Victor Scheibler (I V), Guy Cabral
(Ch UVI), Sam Russell (Ch LVI), Lexi Bothamley Dakin (G IV), Livi Bothamley Dakin (G IV), Eric MyintMaung (Ch IV) - Front Row: Will Sturrock (M LVI), Fintan Simmons (Ch LVI), Jetty Russell (G IV), Rosie
Smith-Langridge (EDH LVI), Angus Kincaid (Ch LVI)
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SCHOOL NEWS
DNA Junior School Play
Dennis Kelly’s DNA is a hugely challenging play, both for the actors and for the audience.
It tells the story of a group of teenagers whose lives are turned upside down the day that they accidently
commit a murder. Part thriller, part comedy, part meditation on modern adolescence, it follows the
group as they attempt to cover up what they have done, and ultimately,
are led deeper and deeper into their deception.
T
he action takes place in a disused
quarry, which has been colonised
by students from the nearby school.
Niki Holmes’ extraordinary set, built
by Kieren Harding and painted
by sixth form art students Erin
Leatherbarrow, Sarah Jackman and
Meg Elliott, reflected the incipient
violence of the play. Festooned
in broken dolls and daubed with
gothic graffiti, it provided the perfect
backdrop for the unfolding story.
The play was written in 2007 – since
then, Facebook, Instagram and
Snapchat have become ubiquitous in
teenage lives. Director Helen Brown
chose to reflect this in the screenshots
that were projected across the stage,
showing how the real world functions
in parallel to the cyber world, and
sometimes, what is recorded becomes
more real than what actually happened.
The appeal of the play rests on the
realism of its characters: to anyone who
spends time with teenagers, each of
the characters is instantly recognisable,
from the glamorous ‘Mean Girls’ to the
geeky misfits. The core of the play is
the relationship between Leah (Tilly
Reynolds) and Phil (Angus Warburg).
Tilly captured Leah’s nervous insecurity
perfectly, giving her speeches both
humour and pathos.
Kelly borrows the convention of
a chorus from Greek tragedy, and
provides a laconic commentary on the
action from the perspective of Mark
and Jack (Freddy Williams and Harry
Wasdell), They provide the voice of
the insiders, in contrast to the outsiders
they victimise and eventually destroy.
Otto Rothwell Hurley played Brian with
endearing innocence and vulnerability,
while Aaron Clark’s brutalised Adam
was genuinely unnerving.
This was a convincing performance
from a very talented young cast; the
senior actors should look to their
laurels as this group progress through
the school.
Richard Hudson
SCHOOL NEWS
POSH
chilling violence as Alistair. The
characters outside the club were played
with sympathy and understanding
by Dan Iles, Emily Skelton and Tash
Tudor. It is through their eyes that
the audience see the club, and the
growing contrast between the boys and
their ‘honest, decent, hard-working’
counterparts.
‘Posh’ by the British playwright Laura
Wade, is a controversial play to stage
in a public school: after all, the object
of its satire is us. Julian Chesshire’s
production was brilliantly provocative,
forcing its audience to question all of
it presumptions and prejudices. The
play is a thinly veiled fictionalisation
of Oxford’s Bullingdon Club, a student
drinking society that counts some of
the most powerful men in the country
among its members. Re-imagined as the
Riot Club in the play, the club hosts a
group of wealthy, entitled boys on the
verge of becoming Men Who Matter.
Over the course of an evening, the
boys get drunk, expound their political
views and eventually act on those
views – resulting in the murder of their
landlord and the rape of his daughter.
The characters are gradually exposed
as weak, shallow and utterly selfish;
if the play is holding a mirror up to
its audience, it is not a mirror that we
want to look into.
The production demonstrated some
incredible ensemble work from the
members of the club; all ten actors fully
inhabited their characters throughout,
and gave the piece real dynamism
and energy. It is difficult, in such a
production, to single out particular
actors for praise, but mention must be
made of Harry Lane Fox’s perfect comic
timing as Toby, and Julian Chesshire’s
The dinner is framed by the presence
of Jeremy, an ex-member of the club,
now in the House of Lords, who keeps
an avuncular eye on the club’s doings.
Played by James Fraser Andrews of
the English Faculty, he reminds the
audience that the club cannot be
explained away as a group of silly little
boys making mistakes: membership of
the club confers entry into the highest
echelons of the Establishment.
This was one of the finest pieces of
student theatre I have seen, made
all the more impressive by the fact
that it was directed and produced
by the students themselves. It did
everything that good theatre is
supposed to do: it engaged us,
entertained us, and made us question
who we are and what we do.
Helen Brown
Rehearsing Great Expectations
The musical - a challenging
commitment? Yes. An adaptation
of a well known and well loved
depressing novel? You bet. A
production involving the best of
Shrewsbury’s artistic and musical
talent? Sure. What am I doing here?
I’m in the mist of contemplating
such questions when the shout of
‘No jazz hands!’ floats over the music
and curtails someone’s overzealous
attempt at Las Vegas showmanship.
We have been rehearsing hard
for weeks and have just reached
the first tap number. If you are
reading this and can tap dance
then congratulations; for you have
reached a level of coordination that
some of us can only aspire to. Yet,
in the face of adversity, the cast
are enthusiastic and determined;
slowly getting the hang of it while
Mr Moore, unperturbed by the
apparent chaos on stage, jazzes his
way through the ragtime rhythm.
After practising for a while our
perseverance pays off and to our
own surprise we realise that we
look like people who actually know
how to tap dance and I suppose
now we do.
One of the greatest things about
the musical is that it involves almost
every artistic discipline; from the
creation of the set to the singing
of a ballad. It is something which
not only many different people get
involved in but also furnishes them
with a toolkit of new skills. Once
again, my contemplation of the
benefits of the musical increasing
our knowledge of useful things such
as tap dancing and consequential
wondering about when and where
I could ever use this skill again, is
interrupted by the proclamation:
“We are going to learn a new
number!” Learning a new song or
“number” is always a fun experience
as people have to make a choice.
Whether to read the music or the
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SCHOOL NEWS
words. There are some talented
people among us that can do both
and hats off to them but for most of
us the decision runs along the lines of
‘I could mumble the tune’ or ‘I could
sing a tune to the words’. This leads
to some interesting results. Luckily this
situation doesn’t last for long as the
tunes are memorable and soon we
are belting out the new song.
Dr Brown, Mr Moore and Miss
Archer have more than matched
the cast’s enthusiasm and this has
helped navigate us through the busy
preparations. It is not easy coordinating
a cast of 30 people through a complex
theatrical production but we can have
no complaints in the way that they
have done it. Dr Brown sets the scenes
and helps us deepen our character’s
individual personalities. Mr Moore
spends his waking hours working on
one song or another and giving time
with those who need to grapple a new
‘number’. Miss Archer walks through
her coordinated choreography while
people look on with expressions of
bemused anticipation.
achieve the most complicated musical
that Shrewsbury has ever put on in the
shortest amount of time that we have
ever had. It is odd that even as he says
this that he sounds upbeat. Yet, as I
look around I realise that the cast, far
from looking despondent, are just as
upbeat as Mr Moore. I think to myself
‘what a bunch of loonies’, but I am
one of them and what can I say? Tap
dancing is fun.
Fintan Simmons (Ch LVI)
I snapped out of my daydream thinking
about the merits of having experienced
members of staff leading rehearsals in
general when it occurred to me that I
really should be concentrating on this
one. Mr Moore, addressing the cast, is
describing how we are attempting to
Evensong at The Queen’s College, Oxford
On Wednesday 30th September, the Chapel Choir travelled to Oxford to sing
Evensong in the beautiful chapel of The Queen’s College
The 70-strong choir was in very
fine voice and the unaccompanied
Bogoroditsye Dyevo by Rachmaninov
provided a wonderfully atmospheric
start to the service. The Magnificat
and Nunc Dimittis by the 17th century
English composer Adrian Batten
showcased several of the School’s finest
singers who took the solo parts, and
when the congregation joined the choir
in the final hymn, the body of sound
was stunning.
The service was attended by over
120 of the wider Shrewsbury School
community who filled the chapel,
and a dozen of the Old Salopians
who are currently studying at
Oxford University enjoyed meeting
The Queen’s College, Oxford
their former teachers who had
accompanied the choir to Oxford.
After the service, the choir enjoyed
a well-deserved meal in the college
dining hall, while the Headmaster and
senior staff hosted a reception in the
college. The fine early autumn evening
meant that guests could enjoy their
refreshments in The Queen’s College
Fellows’ Garden.
It is hoped that the wider Shrewsbury
community, to include Old Salopians,
parents and friends of the School, will
wish to support other forthcoming
musical events, and the presence of a
large audience or congregation really
heightens the experience for the
pupils taking part.
The Choir will sing Evensong in
Manchester Cathedral at 5.30pm on
Friday 29th January with a reception
afterwards; there will be a Chamber
concert in the Holywell Music Room
in Oxford at 7.30pm on Friday 12th
February, with a reception beforehand;
and on Sunday 28th February at 7.30pm,
the School Symphony Orchestra and
Choral Society will perform Verdi’s
Requiem at Birmingham Town Hall.
For full details please see the School
website www.shrewsbury.org.uk/
shrewsbury-music.
Martin Cropper
SCHOOL NEWS
Leavers’ Concert 2015
for encouraging real singing. Harry is going on to take a
leading role on the London stage, well deserved. In addition
to the solo numbers, three of the performers came together
for an extra item, in which Ed Carroll’s baritone was heard to
particular advantage.
Dan Lo gave us a rare opportunity to hear the Maidment
Building organ, before the leader of the school orchestra,
Calvin Chan, stepped up for a solo item, a Chaconne by
Tomaso Vitali. It was obviously composed as an opportunity
for display and Calvin threw himself into it with all the
confidence which he has developed over the year. One could
even sense that he blossomed within the performance, as
he became more animated with every trill brought off. The
audience responded rapturously to Calvin’s bravura finale. He
was to be heard again in the mellow composition for string
ensemble with which the concert ended.
Calvin Chan (I)
N
othing quite marks the passage of time like the
annual Leavers’ Concert, for the echoes of the New
Boys’ evening (as it then was) have no sooner died
away than we find the same performers on stage to bid
goodbye. In the case of Sixth Form entrants, they seem
to have been here but a matter of weeks. In that short
time, however, they not only learn a great deal, but they
perform – frequently and rewardingly, none more so than
the ubiquitous Henrike Legner, whose singing and playing
have been such a feature of recent concerts. She led the
way on Monday last with a reprise of her soprano solo
in Bach’s “Jauchzet Gott”, first performed with the String
Ensemble at the Wigmore Hall in March. As before, in this
and two further Baroque items, there was some confident,
stylish singing and playing.
It was farewell, too, to one who may reasonably be described
as the finest musician ever to have attended Shrewsbury.
Much praise has been heaped on Galin Ganchev over the
past five years, all of it merited. Great has been the sense
of wonder in audiences large and small at his scintillating
technique; his profound musicianship has brought tears
to many an eye. He signed off with a Humoresque by a
fellow Bulgarian, Pancho Vladigerov, which only the most
accomplished could attempt. Much use was made of the top
end of the keyboard, with intermittent cascading to the other
extreme. It sounded at times as if the composer had wilfully
created an obstacle course to trap the soloist.
Galin emerged unscathed, effortlessly, it seemed, though
it cannot have been. After the concert and the general
congratulations which followed, Galin was presented with a
large portrait of himself by Jane Robbins, an unprecedented
gesture by the Music Department, honouring a special
talent. In time to come, people may read this and wonder
what the fuss was about. To them I repeat what I wrote in
2011: “You will think that I exaggerate. You should have
been there”. Those fortunate enough to have been there in
the intervening years will know what I mean.
Martin Knox
Charlie Davis and Finn MacCormack were joined by JFM
for a pleasing example of chamber music, the sonata for
clarinet, cello, and piano by Brahms, which was followed
by a saxophone solo (about time we had one) from James
Plaut, who has not let his year as Head of School stop him
developing his musical talent.
There was more saxophony in the second half, when a
quartet (of whom only Alex Bird is leaving) played an
arrangement of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. The different
moods of the piece were captured in a beautifully blended
performance. The supply of wind groups of varying size, but
uniform excellence, seems to be inexhaustible. We also heard
Dominic Dootson at the piano in Beethoven’s “Moonlight”
sonata, played with a delicate touch and a fine sense of the
arching structure of the movement.
The rise of singing has often been noted in recent times and
there were offerings from Harry Al-Adwani, Teddy Briggs,
Ed Carroll, and Jess Walker, all of whom reached out to
the audience and created a sense of theatre – and not a
microphone to be seen! Full marks to the Music Department
Galin Ganchev
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SCHOOL NEWS
House Singing
This year’s House Singing
Competition took place
in front of the customary
packed House on Friday,
16th October. Hopes and
expectations were as high
as ever, and the main prizes
were awarded as follows:
Overall:
Emma Darwin Hall
Entertainment:
Mary Sidney Hall
Unison Song:
Emma Darwin Hall
Most Improved House:
Ridgemount
Part Song:
School House
Most Outstanding Soloist:
James Fearn (Ingram’s Hall)
Best Arrangement:
Alex Bennett and Angus Hay
(Radbrook)
Shrewsbury and the Shewsy in Malawi, July 2016
Since 2010, Shrewsbury School
has been supporting the work of
Medic Malawi, a charity based in
Shrewsbury which supports a hospital
in Mtunthama, serving 100,000
people in rural Malawi, a clinic and
nutrition centre, two schools and an
orphanage.
In July 2012 and again in 2014, a
group from Shrewsbury travelled to
Mtunthama to spend time working
alongside staff in the projects, helping
with the daily routine tasks and
making friends with many of the
children who live there.
When they visited in 2012, the
Shrewsbury students asked what
was needed next, and when told ‘an
eye clinic’, they stood in the space
where the walls would be. Two years
later, the money for that clinic had
been raised at the School, through
an African Ball, non-uniform days,
cookie sales and sponsored events.
When the next group arrived in
2014, they were proud to see that the
Shrewsbury School Eye Clinic had
been built. Trachoma and cataracts
are now treated here, two of the
preventable eye problems which are
all too prevalent in Malawi. Patients
arrive at the clinic unable to see and
leave with their sight restored.
The next trip to Malawi takes place
in July 2016 and will be a joint
venture between the School and
Shrewsbury House in Liverpool.
Sixteen Salopians will be joined by
five young people and two members
of staff from the Shewsy.
The Shewsy have been busy
fundraising for the trip, doing regular
bag-packing at local supermarkets
and running a tuck shop in the
Youth Centre. There are also plans to
sell sweets around the doors in the
local community and to organise a
‘sleep in a box challenge’ during the
winter, when the girls will sleep out
overnight with cardboard boxes and
sleeping bags, gaining an insight into
what it would be like to be homeless,
raising awareness of homelessness
and raising funds for the Malawi trip
at the same time.
SCHOOL NEWS
Biology Department
Expedition to Guyana
American Pygmy Flycatcher
G
uyana is the eighth leastpopulated country in the world
with a population of just 735,554, 90
per cent of whom live on the coast.
85 per cent of Guyana is covered by
natural rainforest which is contiguous
with the forests of Suriname, French
Guyana and parts of Columbia,
Venezuela and Brazil. This vast area,
the Guiana Shield, is the world’s largest
tract of undisturbed tropical rainforest,
boasting very high biodiversity and
holding 10-15% of the world’s fresh
water. Large numbers of species are
endemic (live nowhere else) and the
area contains 278 species of mammal
(148 of which are bats), 1004 species
of bird, 269 species of amphibian,
2,200 species of fish and 15 – 20,000
species of vascular plants. Darwin
said in his Voyage of the Beagle that
“nothing can be more improving to
a young naturalist than a journey in
distant countries” and while Darwin
never made it to Guyana, it is clear
that few countries can offer more
exciting opportunities to a biologist or
adventures to a young traveller.
It was with this in mind that 22
Salopians and four staff members
travelled to Guyana in July to
contribute to conservation work in
the protected Iwokrama Forest and
in the area around Surama village.
The objective was to work alongside
scientists to gather data contributing to
an annual monitoring programme used
to understand changes in abundance
and diversity of wildlife, as well as the
effects of “reduced impact logging”.
The expedition started with a great
adventure – a day trip to Kaieteur
Falls – one of the world’s greatest,
most unspoilt and least known
waterfalls. The falls are about 60km
from the Brazilian border and not far
from Mount Roraima, the inspiration
behind Conan Doyle’s Lost World. At
251m they are four times higher than
Niagara Falls, twice as high as Victoria
Falls and about 100m wide. A group
of Salopians visited the falls exactly 20
years ago, where they celebrated the
60th birthday of the legendary Salopian
Schoolmaster Michael Hall. The falls do
not form part of the Operation Wallacea
itinerary but having been inspired as a
member of that group of Salopians in
1995, I was keen to return and ensure
that a new generation of Salopians
had the same experience. The journey
involved chartering three light aircraft
and flying from Georgetown for about
an hour across an endless expanse of
rainforest. The excitement was tangible
as we circled the falls and watched the
water tumbling as if in slow motion
into a huge cloud of spray through
which rainbows arced. Once on terra
firma, we toured the falls taking in
Richard Case (PH 1991-96) at the Kaieteur Falls during the School’s 1995 expedition to Guyana. He is
now a Biology teacher at Shrewsbury, Housemaster of Radbrook, leader of the School’s 2015 Guyana
Expedition and author of this article. The 2016 expedition group are pictured at Kaieteur Falls on the
front cover of this magazine.
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SCHOOL NEWS
different views as well as the unique
flora and fauna which included giant
bromeliads containing endemic golden
frogs and carnivorous plants. There
were no safety barriers, no shops and
we were the only people there. It
was such a privilege to see the falls as
Charles Barrington Brown might have
seen them when he discovered them
in 1870 – that’s something none of the
other great waterfalls can offer and an
experience none of us will forget.
After returning to Georgetown, a tenhour drive south took the group to
Iwokrama Research Centre where three
days were spent training to gather the
skills to gather data accurately, sleep
safely in the forest in hammocks and
use machetes (or cutlasses as they
are known). The health and safety
presentation we had on arrival was
pretty sobering given the long list
of incredibly scary things that could
happen to us but ended with cheerful
reassurance from Scot Sveiven, a
specialist on forestry and our superb
expedition leader. An excellent series
of lectures by the resident scientists
enabled us fully to appreciate the
importance of the work we were
doing. The Centre was situated in a
clearing surrounded by rainforest on a
broad sweep of the mighty Essequibo
River which was 200m wide even
though we were 200km from the sea.
From the moment of our arrival, we
were surrounded by wildlife with
woodpeckers, macaws, parrots, hawks,
giant cane toads, howler monkeys
and agouti at the forest margins as
well as caiman in the river. Walking
at night revealed a different set of
organisms including a beautiful but
very dangerous fer de lance snake well
camouflaged on a tree trunk.
A further three-hour drive south in
two Bedford four-tonne trucks took
the team to Surama, an Amerindian
village belonging to the Makushi
Tribe which has set up an awardwinning ecotourism project to bring
income to their remote community.
We spent the following three days
carrying out surveys for mammals,
bats and herpetofauna. The mammal
day involved walking along a transect
(a straight line through a habitat)
recording evidence of mammals
including their tracks with jaguar
expert, Matt Hallett. Matt is studying
for his PhD at the University of Florida
and has built up an extensive network
of camera traps to study the behaviour
and distribution of jaguar. He had
unbelievably sharp eyes and his
tracking skills were truly impressive.
Each group spent the afternoon setting
up camera traps with him, which
revealed the many details which need
to be considered when locating a
trap. The work of the bat groups was
nocturnal so their morning was spent
hiking up Surama Mountain – a steep
climb in stifling conditions but well
worth it for an amazing view over the
forest and rare sightings of macaws at
eye height. In the evenings mist nets
were opened and checked every hour
Finn McCormack handling a cat-eyed snake
into the small hours and bats caught
were bagged and taken back to camp
for identification, weighing, and wingclipping with bat expert Stef Bonat.
The area has one of the highest levels
of bat biodiversity in the world and
one group was lucky to catch a rare
Hugo Moran counting dung beetles
vampire bat, although it escaped from
the mist net before it could be bagged.
The herpetology groups walked along
transects by day and night attempting
to catch any snakes, lizards and frogs
spotted. Peruvian herpetologist, Alfredo
Martin Beraún Rivera did most of the
catching but he let us handle the nonvenomous species such as the Amazon
tree boa, blunthead tree snake and
cat-eyed snake. During downtime in
the heat of the day, cool drinks and
comfortable hammocks in the bar of
Surama Ecolodge provided a chance to
rest and rehydrate.
The team then walked deeper into the
jungle, spending a further three days
at Carahaa Landing – a jungle camp on
the banks of the Burro Burro River. As
river levels had risen due to the daily
torrential showers, we had to take to
boats to make our way through the
flooded forest. The camp had an opensided wooden structure in which many
SCHOOL NEWS
hung their hammocks. A few opted to
build bashas in the forest as we had
be taught, with a tarpaulin roof. At
Carahaa Landing each group surveyed
birds, forestry and dung beetles. The
bird groups were up at 5:15am to open
mist nets and checked them every hour
until 4pm. The birding was brilliantly
led by Guyanese ornithologist Meshach
Pierre who proved to be an excellent
and engaging teacher. Each bird caught
(except hummingbirds which are
too fragile) was bagged and returned
to camp for ringing. One of the
highlights was catching the magnificent
Amazonian royal flycatcher which,
when captured, initiates a mesmerising
display, erecting its colourful crest and
slowly tilting its head from side to side.
Scott Sveiven led the forestry surveys
and took each group to find the
incredible yellow-banded poison dart
Amazonian Royal Flycatcher
frog with its striking black and yellow
aposematic colouration to warn off
predators. Entomologist and genetics
expert Dan Fitzpatrick led the day’s
“poo crew” to catch and identify dung
beetles. The beetles were caught in in
pitfall traps baited with human faeces.
Tom Sykes with a Manakin
The final three days were spent
carrying out a survey of aquatic fauna
on the Burro Burro River, sleeping in
primitive jungle camps. Drifting down
river was uncomfortable but a fantastic
experience. The boatmanship displayed
by our guides to negotiate fallen trees
and navigate through the flooded forest
was impressive, as was their ability
to spot wildlife. At times we had to
crouch down to pass under huge logs
blocking our route and machetes and,
at one point, a chainsaw had to be
deployed to overcome the obstacles.
Four species of Kingfisher darted ahead
of us, macaws flew above us in pairs
squawking noisily, capuchin monkeys
jumped up and down on their branches
glowering with rage at our intrusion
and at one point, giant river otters
glided across the river. Our stay at
Sandstone Camp proved eventful
when a fer de lance was spotted by
a guide in the camp, just metres from
where we had dined. Too dangerous to
relocate, they sadly had to kill it using
a long stick cut at one end into a sharp
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SCHOOL NEWS
Yellow-branded Poison Dart Frog
Jess Moeran admiring a giant millipede
wedge. The chief guide, famed for his
unerring aim, aimed to hit just behind
its head but missed, and the snake
struck three times in rapid succession
covering a surprising amount of ground
as it did so. Fortunately all were at a
safe distance and the guide didn’t miss
his second attempt. Minutes later a
second snake was found at the edge
of the camp which was also killed.
Everyone kept their eyes peeled after
that, particularly when walking the
20m trail to the long drop in the dark.
During the night, our guides set up nets
and caught some huge piranha and
payara which also known as a vampire
characin due to its fearsome fangs that
particularly when salted and cooked on
the fire. After a final night at Surama,
we returned to Georgetown for our
flight home.
Such trips can never be 100% risk free,
despite exhaustive and meticulous risk
assessment and careful management
to control risk. One boy managed to
fall into a septic tank when it collapsed
under his weight. Fortunately, he
managed to avoid complete immersion
or injury (apart from some grazes) and
recovered swiftly after a very thorough
shower and disinfection of his grazes
by the expedition doctor. A few of the
party also became ill to varying degrees
Brazilian Wandering Spider
can grow as long as six inches. Both
made excellent eating. Our second
camp was less eventful and we were
able to bathe in the river and relax
once our surveys had been completed.
A number of the boys were shown
huge beetle grubs living inside palm
nuts by the guides who insisted that
they were good to eat. The grubs were
used to good effect by WMS as bait
but they did taste surprisingly good,
Joe Davies with a huge Black Piranha
on their return with histoplasmosis,
despite not being exposed to any
obvious source of infection (it is usually
encountered after visiting bat caves).
Fortunately, all have now recovered.
We encountered numerous hardships
ranging from heat rashes caused by
the intense heat and heavy humidity
to insect bites, deep mud, dodgy
tummies and grim long drop toilets.
With the exception of histoplamosis,
I think all would agree that without
the challenges, the expedition would
not have been nearly so rewarding
and all those on the team endured the
hardships with dignity and patience.
They really proved themselves to be
worthy ambassadors and it was clear
that they relished the opportunities they
had to learn to gain new biological
knowledge, memories for life, insights
into a little known country and a new
appreciation of the world and their
place in it. Where next? Galapagos and
Ecuador 2017!
SCHOOL NEWS
Royal Marines win the Pringle Trophy
For the third time in 15 years the Shrewsbury School Royal Marines section has won the highly
prestigious Sir Steuart Pringle Trophy. Last year they came second by just a few points.
The two-day competition is held each
year at the Royal Marines Commando
Training Centre in Lympstone, Devon,
and aims to bring together all the
Royal Marine Detachments in the
country from 18 schools, including
Charterhouse, Harrow, Rugby,
Winchester College, Pangbourne and
Canford. The teams are treated as if
they are in their 28th week of recruit
training and are assessed across 12
stances, including battle exercises,
section attacks, battle first aid,
endurance and drill.
The Shrewsbury team had worked very
hard in preparation for this competition
and had put in many hours of early
morning and late night work. Their
Commanding Officers Lt Tom Corbett
and Captain Jonny Longfellow were
delighted at the news of the win. It
is worth pointing out that much of
the training is delivered by the senior
cadets themselves, with CCF officers in
an oversight role.
Sgt Ben Remnant, Senior Cadet in
charge of the Pringle Trophy team,
describes the competition:
Having risen at 0500hrs on the first day,
we ate swiftly and then took transport
to our first checkpoint. We then had
a short march to our 0730 stance. On
arrival, however, there was no stance
to be found and valuable time was
spent trying to locate it. (We were
later told that the Corporal hadn’t set it
up in time.) We then moved on to the
next one: Section Attacks. This went
successfully, with the Corporal’s only
pick-up point being that the FSG (fire
support group) hadn’t followed the
proven route taken by the assaulting
fire team. We then settled into a good
rhythm and the round robins of tasks
were swiftly over.
With hindsight, we felt that the
Leadership stance had gone poorly.
Having moved a casualty from our
current location to Gibraltar rock a
kilometre away, the Corporal running
the stance had debriefed us by saying
that we had lacked urgency and he was
surprised that our time had been so
swift. On the other hand, in our debrief
after the First Aid stance we were told
that there were no pick-up points and
the Corporal was happy to mark us
20/20. On return to camp there was
a brief interlude to shower and eat,
and we turned our attention to our
half lovats and injuries (the majority of
which hadn’t been picked up during
the day, but had been caused by rather
a violent glow stick war on Friday
night) in preparation for drill and the
Back Row L-R: Capt Longfellow, Cadet Craik, Cpl Hayward, Cpl Morris, Cadet Hardcastle, Lt Corbett.
Front Row L-R: Sgt Bambridge, Sgt Gilliat-Smith, Sgt Remnant, Sgt Lechmere, Cpl Hartwell
endurance course, which would take
place on Sunday morning.
With a routine established the previous
day, we rose and dressed into our
half lovats for our drill test at 0730hrs.
In drill you are marked on unity and
precision, and we felt confident that we
were in a better state than in previous
years, as we had spent a minimum of
ten hours practising on Porthill tennis
courts. The Corporal seemed pleased
with our efforts and also tested us on
our corps knowledge. We then moved
out onto Woodbury Common where
we were timed as a team round two
miles of the endurance course, which is
one of the four commando tests at the
end of a Marine’s training. If he fails,
he has to retake the whole course in
a new batch of recruits. We overtook
Sherborne School and were hot on the
heels of Royal Hospital School and so
felt that we had posted a competitive
time to retain the trophy that we had
won last year.
Prize giving was at 1300hrs, when we
were awarded first place in both the
First Aid and Leadership stances, and
were placed first overall. After a quick
debrief and photo, we left Lympstone
as a tired but immensely proud and
pleased team.
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SCHOOL NEWS
Old Salopians in World War 1
Each week on the School website we publish the names and short biographies of the Old Salopians killed
100 years ago during the First World War, and these are included in the weekly eNewsletter sent to
all staff, pupils and current parents. This is part of a four-year project in collaboration with St Chad’s
Church in Shrewsbury. A short Service of Remembrance is held at St Chad’s every Wednesday at 5pm,
when the OS names are included among others from Shropshire whose
100th anniversary of death falls that week.
The following Old Salopians will be
remembered at School and in St Chad’s
between January and June 2015.
Corporal Harold Garnock Potts,
M2/098045, Army Service Corps.
Churchill’s, left in 1901 and was
admitted solicitor to a practice in
Broseley, Salop. Died in the United
Kingdom, 6th February 1916, aged 32.
Buried at Broseley Cemetery, England.
Grave C.E. I. 433.
Lieutenant John Frith Sidebotham,
6th Bn. King’s Shropshire Light
Infantry
School House, Praepostor, Cricket XI
and Fives VI, left in 1910 and was on
the staff of Messrs. James Greaves,
East India Merchants, of Manchester
and Bombay. He went up to Hertford
College, Oxford and twice captained
the lacrosse team against Cambridge.
He enlisted in 5th K.S.L.I. and was
gazetted to the 6th in January 1916.
The Salopian remembers him as “one
of the most modest boys and men.
But his friends here and the staff of
the School House and the boys at the
Mission in Liverpool* knew his value
better than he knew himself”. He was
“a very loyal Salopian, who taught,
without knowing it, the power and the
honour of an entirely unselfish life”.
Killed in action by a shell explosion
during a bombardment in Belgium,
12th February 1916, aged 24. Buried
at White House Cemetery, St. Jean-LesYpres, Belgium. Grave III. Q. 4.
* Shrewsbury House, inaugurated only
a few years earlier by the Revd Digby
Kittermaster
Captain John Arthur Walker,
10th Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Moser’s, “a quiet, unobtrusive boy”, left
in 1909 for Trinity Hall, Cambridge, and
at the outbreak of war at once joined
the O.T.C; he was gazetted November
1914 and promoted Captain July 1915.
His Commanding Officer said, “He
was beloved by both officers and men.
His was one of those rare natures
that one could not help loving”. His
Chaplin also wrote, “As a friend his
loss is inestimable and as a soldier he
was a born leader of men the memory
of whom should ever be a source of
inspiration to all who knew him”.
Killed in action by the explosion of
a shell while encouraging his men in
Belgium, 19th February 1916, aged 24.
Buried at Reninghelst New Military
Cemetery, Belgium. Grave I. B. 8.
Lieutenant Gilbert Kingsley Lloyd,
2nd Bn. King’s Shropshire Light
Infantry
School House, left in 1889. Served
through the South African War with
the Shropshire Imperial Yeomanry as
Lance-Corporal in charge of a machine
gun (Medal, 3 clasps) before going
to Saskatchewan, N.W.T. Canada.
Commissioned into the K.S.L.I. and
gazetted to 2nd Lieutenant, he saw
much fighting in France. Died in
Salonika, Greece, of appendicitis, 21st
February 1916, aged 35. Buried at
Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria,
Greece. Grave 1804.
Captain Alfred Henry Parsons,
2nd Bn. 9th Gurkha Rifles.
School House, left in 1900. B.A., Keble
College, Oxford. Present with his
Regiment at Festubert and Givenchy
Wood. He was severely wounded
in January but returned to his duty;
and then was killed in action in
Mesopotamia 8th March 1916, aged 33.
Remembered on Basra Memorial, Iraq.
Panel 51.
Second Lieutenant Richard Arthur
Maurice Lutener, 6th Bn. King’s
Shropshire Light Infantry
School House, left in 1914 for Keble
College, Oxford. Commissioned in
December 1914, he went to the front in
July 1915 and was shot by a sniper in
Belgium, 6th April 1916, aged 20.
Buried at Essex Farm Cemetery,
Belgium. Grave I. B. 4.
Lieutenant Arnold Mathews,
14th Bn. Cheshire Regiment.
Baker’s (now Severn Hill), Huntsman,
Football XI, one of the best runners
the school has seen and Head of
the Science Side. He left in 1913 for
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge with
a science scholarship and was there
awarded the Careswell Scholarship.
Along with many other OS he enlisted
in the ranks of the 5th Bn. K.S.L.I.
but after a few weeks he obtained
a commission to the 14th Cheshires.
“Unassuming and quite regardless of
himself, he gained the sincere esteem
of his contemporaries” – The Salopian.
He took part in the fighting on the
Tigris front on 5th and 9th April
and died of wounds received, in
Mesopotamia, 14th April 1916, aged 21.
Remembered on Basra Memorial, Iraq.
Panel 14 and 62.
Lieutenant David Henry Carmichael
Monro, 29th Bn. Canadian Infantry
(British Columbia Regiment)
School House, left in 1903 for Oriel
College, Oxford. He was called to the
Bar in Lincoln’s Inn, and then joined
the Nigerian Civil Service. Retiring
after three years due to ill health, he
then joined the Canadian Army in
1914, going with them to the front in
September 1915. Died of wounds in
Belgium, 4th May 1916, aged 31.
Buried at Reninghelst New Military
Cemetery, Belgium. Grave I. B. 18.
Captain Victor Eustace Reynolds,
10th Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment
(Prince of Wales’s Own)
School House, left in 1896 to enter
Slade School of Art and then worked
for some years painting in Paris and
Florence. He took the post of Art
Master at Haberdashers’ Aske’s and
Life Master at evening classes in
Lambeth Art School. He enlisted on the
outbreak of war and obtained his 2nd
Lieutenancy in May 1915, gaining rapid
promotion. “He married a daughter of
the Late Frank Holl, R.A., and leaves a
little son” – The Times. Killed in action
in France 4th May 1916 aged 36.
Buried at Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery,
Armentieres, France. Grave IX. G. 2.
Second Lieutenant Edward Pitcairn
Jones, 5th Bn. attd. 9th Bn.
Rifle Brigade.
School House, Head of House, left in
1915; exhibitioner to Oriel College,
Oxford.
SCHOOL NEWS
The OTC in 1916
From The Salopian: “Initially he
showed talent as a rower but this was
swiftly cut short for medical reasons;
he narrowly missed out getting his
School Colours for football which was
a shame due to his ‘natural activity’.
…He was entirely fearless and
unselfish and there was no one whose
respect he did not win… He died of
a very painful wound, but he found
time to think of everyone but himself,
making light of his own sufferings and
facing death with perfect readiness
and absolute faith.”
Died of wounds in France 13th May
1916 aged 20. Buried at Avesnes-LeComte Communal Cemetery Extension,
France. Grave I. A. 19.
Lieutenant Colonel Alexander
George Stuart, 40th Pathans, I.A.
and G.S.O.I
Churchill’s, left in 1890 for Trinity
College, Dublin. The Salopian
comments: “His contemporaries will
remember him, somewhat frail in
body, but with the spirit and qualities
of a true Irishman and deservedly
popular with all who knew him.”
He received his first appointment
to the Royal Scots in 1893, was
gazetted Captain in 1900, transferred
to the Indian Army in 1904 and was
promoted Captain in 1912.
He held Staff appointments in India
(Medal and clasp), and after the
outbreak of war was mentioned
in dispatches for gallant and
distinguished service. Killed in action
in Belgium 4th June 1916 aged 43.
Buried at Westouter Churchyard And
Extension, Belgium. Grave II. F. 6.
Captain Leslie Woodroffe MC,
14th Bn. attd. 8th Bn. Rifle Brigade.
Master from 1909, with a 1st in Mods.
and a 2nd in Lit. Hum. from University
College, Oxford. He took a keen
interest in the OTC (Captain) and had
been a considerable time at the front,
gaining the MC at Hooge. From The
Salopian: “Few men of his age had a
larger circle of acquaintances, and it
may truly be said of him that all his
acquaintances were friends… It is no
surprise to us that at Hooge, where he
won the Military Cross, he was as calm
as if on parade in the stress of that
disastrous day… His keen interest in
all that concerned the life of others…
won for him his unique place in our
affections. It is impossible to imagine
a better friend, or a more loyal servant
to this School, and the thought of how
well he was known and loved here
cannot but be some consolidation to
a family which has to mourn for three
sons whose lives have been given
for their country.” Died of wounds in
France 4th June 1916.
Buried at Barlin Communal Cemetery
Extension, France. Grave I. J. 66.
Private John Furlow McConnell
Sergeant, 20660, 10th Bn. Canadian
Infantry.
Ingram’s, 2nd VIII colours, a nephew
of the Housemaster, he left in 1910
to go to Canada. He enlisted at the
outbreak of war. Killed in action
in Belgium 5th June 1916 aged 23.
Remembered on Ypres (Menin Gate)
Memorial, Belgium. Panel 24 - 28 - 30.
Second Lieutenant Arthur Chaplin
Banks, 2nd Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
Pickering’s (now Churchill’s) Head
of House and Football 1st XI. He
left in 1914 for Sandhurst. His
commanding officer wrote, “I have
lost one of my most gallant officers,
and a born soldier. The enemy blew
an enormous mine, followed by a
terrific bombardment. They lifted the
barrage and made a strong infantry
attack. They got a real bad beating.
Your son had his platoon up and went
for them. He had killed four Germans
himself before he was killed, and they
were all lying together. I have reported
his gallant conduct to my Brigadier.”
Killed in action in France 22nd June
1916. Buried at Gorre British and
Indian Cemetery, France.
Grave II. A. 1.
Captain Edward Maurice Gregson,
4th Bn. The Loyal North Lancashire
Regiment.
Moser’s, left in 1906 to become
a Surveyor and Mining Engineer.
Gazetted to 2nd Lt in 1914 and
promoted rapidly, he took part in the
fighting at Festubert and he met his
death leading a reconnaissance party
near Rivière, Arras. A message to his
father from his fellow officers read,
“We are all very proud of him and of
all that he did on that night”. Killed in
action in France 28th June 1916
aged 27.
Remembered on Arras Memorial,
France. Bay 7.
For more details about the School’s
commemorative project, which
includes a link to the St Chad’s
website, please see
www.shrewsbury.org.uk/osww1
25
26
SCHOOL NEWS
Life beyond Shrewsbury
Dympna Nightingale, Higher Education and GAP year adviser, talks about her demanding role in
guiding Shrewsbury School pupils to the next stage of their education.
many parents, university decisions
can be a minefield. It doesn’t matter
whether you have already had older
children going through the process –
every case is different and we have
all got to remember who is actually
going to university! It is the students
who must take on the responsibility
and be proactive about what they
want to do when they leave school
and get excited. So much information
is available, and so many careers
events and talks organised for them;
fortunately, I have to say the majority
of students are aware and on board.
A
typical day in the life of Higher
Education Adviser… Hold on,
there isn’t a typical day!
What I love about my role in the
Careers Department is the variety:
the challenges, the highs and lows –
and the stress! Employed as a music
teacher many moons ago meant that I
only came into contact with musicians
and never got the chance to meet the
rest of the School. Since taking on the
role of Higher Education Adviser, a lot
of my work now is dealing with the
pupils, sometimes as year groups but
mostly on a one-to-one basis. It is so
enjoyable to have these conversations
and get to know the pupils better and
understand their decision-making in
the process. I also get to meet lots of
parents which I very much value.
Leaving school and finding that
‘next step’ is a worrying, exciting,
frustrating time for all concerned.
There are no right or wrong answers,
but in the Careers Department we
hope that pupils and parents alike
feel that we are approachable and
that they can ask us at any time for
help and guidance.
Most of my work is UCAS-based.
(UCAS stands for Universities and
Colleges Admissions Service; and this
is the central organisation through
which all applications are processed
for entry to higher education in
the UK.) So attending conferences,
visiting universities, keeping in touch
with Old Salopians and getting their
up-to-date perspectives on courses
and institutions is important. For
Over the last two years, the
proportion of Shrewsbury School
students going on to Higher
Education in the UK has been about
94%. For many pupils, making a
decision about which course to study
is the difficult one. If they get this
right, the university choice will fall
into place with purposeful research,
Open Days, and use of our latest
resource Unifrog, to which all our
Sixth Form have access.
I encourage the pupils to understand
the higher education ‘jargon’ and
know the difference between
single honours, joint honours and
sandwich courses and the thousands
of variations of modules as well. It is
also important to know what kind of
universities there are. Russell Group
(24), for example, are the traditional
red-brick, while the 1994 Group (11)
are research-intensive universities,
and the Million+ Group (19) tend
to be the former polytechnics from
before 1992, which have a more
hands-on approach.
The top ten choices of courses among
Shrewsbury School pupils applying
through UCAS in 2014 were: History,
Human and Social Geography,
combinations within Business and
Admin Studies, Classical Studies, Law,
Management Studies, combinations
of Social Studies/Business/Law
with languages, English Studies,
Chemistry, combinations of three
subjects, or other general courses.
Many Shrewsbury School pupils also
apply for traditional disciplines like
Medicine, Law, History, English
and Languages.
There is, however, a growing trend
of applications for Psychology,
Sports Science, Fashion, International
Relations, Politics and Music
Technology. The ‘newish’ disciplines
are degrees in Events Management,
Renewable Energy, 3D Product
Design, Hospitality and Creative Arts.
The top ten university choices by our
students in 2014 were Bristol, Oxford,
Manchester, UCL, Durham, Oxford
Brookes, Exeter, Leeds, Warwick
and Kings College, London. Other
university acceptances were Bristol
UWE, Cardiff, Imperial College,
Reading, Edinburgh, Southampton
and York.
As part of the Careers programme
at School, I invite speakers from
different universities and institutions
to speak on a wide range of
disciplines; this usually works out
at an average of 16-18 talks during
a pupil’s Sixth Form. I feel it is
important for pupils to attend as
many of these talks as possible: even
if they are interested in only one
course, they may at least use these
talks as a way of finding out more
about what a particular university
is like and what it can offer them.
There’s always a chance to ask that
burning question.
The first talk in the Careers
programme is usually a general one
on university and what is it really like.
For Michaelmas 2015 I invited James
Seymour from Aston University, an
Admissions Tutor with many years of
experience. I have also invited back
Old Salopians to review their first
year at university and speak about
the ‘ups and downs’ of it all, what
tips and hints they would give to the
present Sixth Form.
It is amazing how quite a number
of pupils have concerns and
wobbles about the practicalities
of going away to university, how
they are going to manage their time
effectively and responsibly and
be successful. Obviously it is not
‘cool’ to discuss this with their peer
group, but in a one-to-one chat I
hear it all. So I hope that by listening
and encouraging, I can dispel the
SCHOOL NEWS
fears. University is not for everyone
though; so having the Careers Fellow
in place to seek guidance and look
at all the alternative options is
paramount and vital.
I try and visit as many UK universities
as I can and one question I ask is
why students occasionally leave
before completing their courses.
The two main reasons seem to be
that they are not enjoying the course
and homesickness. Pupils need to
investigate all areas of the course
before they list it as one of their five
choices on their UCAS forms: the
modules and how they are delivered
and examined; the opportunities
to link to other disciplines; the
chance to learn something new;
the opportunity to study abroad.
Homesickness was not an answer I
expected, but I do understand that
pupils need to feel as if they belong
and fit in.
In addition to the Michaelmas term
Careers talks, I also run two major
conferences on ‘Studying in the
USA’ and ‘Studying in Europe’;
these take place in alternate years.
There is a growing interest in both
the USA and Europe because of
possible scholarships (USA) and less
expense (Europe). Last year 28,640
UK students went abroad, either to
study or take up an internship as part
of their course. They include 15,566
students on the Erasmus Project.
Professor Rebecca Hughes, the British
Council’s Director of Education,
said: “This latest evidence confirms
that a growing number of the UK’s
students are recognising the huge
value to be gained from international
experience. The UK needs graduates
who have the skills and confidence
to compete globally and can compete
against foreign talent that may speak
more languages and have wider
international experience.” We ran our
first European Conference in June 2015
with representatives from Holland,
Bulgaria, Switzerland and Spain.
One of the most popular destinations
is Maastricht University in the
Netherlands, and the five most
popular USA universities are Harvard,
Columbia, New York, University
of California Berkeley and Yale.
Maastricht charges fees of around
£1,500 a year, whilst Trinity College,
Dublin levies a service charge of
£2,500 a year and is ranked as one
of the most prestigious universities in
the world.
I have visited a number of institutions
in Europe, looking at international
courses taught in English. They are
worth considering: the positives are
lower grade entry requirements,
lower costs and more contact time
with lecturers. The negatives: they
kick more students out at the end
of first year and there is sometimes
a greater bout of homesickness, as
Dutch students go home at weekends
and therefore there are fewer
students around.
I also did a tour of nine USA
universities and colleges last October
to get a feel for different American
campuses. I was very impressed with
the student ambassadors I met there,
how enthusiastic and informative they
are on the campus tours, and it was
wonderful to have the opportunity to
network with Admissions Tutors and
make good contacts. If pupils are
even remotely thinking about going
to university in the USA, we run a
SAT programme at School during
the Michaelmas and Lent terms,
which is delivered by the Harvard
Fellow. (SAT stands for Scholastic
Aptitude Test; the SAT is one of two
admissions tests – the ACT (American
College Testing) being the other –
required for admission to most US
universities.)
Finally, every university has a Careers
service and it is important that pupils
check this out early. When I was
at university, the norm was to start
thinking about a job in the third year,
but now many employers make job
offers to their second year summer
vacation interns. So pupils need to
get ahead of the game in terms of
networking, work experience and
internships from their first year at
university. Those opportunities will
make all the difference on a CV.
As I write, I would like to take this
opportunity to bid farewell to Dr
Kate Daubney, the Careers Fellow,
as she leaves to start a new chapter
of her life. She has been a fantastic
and tremendous colleague to Karen
Scimia and me in the Careers
Department and an absolute fountain
of knowledge, guidance and wisdom
on preparing pupils for the world of
work. She will be missed and leaves
huge boots to fill.
Dympna Nightingale
27
28
SCHOOL NEWS
Relaunch of the Rovers
In May 2013, when we proudly reported the news that Adam Booth (PH 1995-2000) had reached
the top of Mount Everest, Adam responded by thanking the members of staff who led the Rovers, the
School’s mountaineering and adventuring club, for ‘lighting the flame’. On 3rd November, we were
delighted to welcome Adam back to Shrewsbury to kindle that flame in a new generation of Salopians,
as the historic Rovers - first formed in 1934 - was officially relaunched to the whole School.
the 1953 Expedition, who formed the
first summit pair with Tom Bourdillon.
They got to within 300 feet of the
summit of Everest before faulty oxygen
equipment forced them to withdraw. A
few days later, second pair Hillary and
Tenzing made history.
Martin Hansen and Adam Booth
A
dam recalled his own sense of
excitement when, at the age of
15, he attended a similar relaunch
of the Rovers. Inspired by Master-inCharge Mr Hansen’s vivid descriptions
of climbing Ben Nevis, he signed up
immediately for the Rovers and spent
the next few months learning the
basics of climbing and mountain safety,
leading up to his first Rovers Expedition
– the climbing of the Three Peaks,
Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon.
A new and life-changing passion had
been born.
Further trips followed during what
became one of the golden period
for the Rovers, travelling to remote
locations to take on challenging
mountains, typically camping at a
high altitude on the way to a summit.
They scaled the highest mountain in
the Picos De Europa, Spain and the
following year climbed Galdhøpiggen,
the highest mountain in Norway.
In 2013, Adam climbed Mount Everest,
reaching the summit on 13th May, sixty
years almost to the day after the first
successful ascent by Sir Edmund Hillary
and Tenzing Norgay. On hearing the
news, Mr Hansen expressed the utter
delight and pride of the staff who had
been part of the Rovers. “The news
that he’s summitted Everest has quite
stunned us. The pupil has certainly
exceeded the Master.” At the Rovers
relaunch on Monday, Adam paid
special tribute to Mr Hansen, who
still teaches at the School, for the role
he and the Rovers had played in first
inspiring him with a love of mountains
and mountaineering.
Some of Adam’s inspiration has also
come from two Old Salopians: Sandy
Irvine (S 1916-21), who famously took
part in the 1924 Everest Expedition with
George Mallory; and Sir Charles Evans
(DB 1932-37), Deputy Leader of
Adam spoke of his sense of
connection with those other Old
Salopians and their experiences on
Everest, and in a few brief sentences
and images he was able to convey
something of the scale of their
achievements. He spoke about his
own experiences entirely modestly,
however. So it was perhaps not
until the end of his talk, when he
showed a five-minute film of his final
gruelling hours of climbing Everest
and euphoric arrival on the roof of
the world, that his audience caught a
proper sense of the sheer enormity of
his own achievement.
Current Salopians keen to follow
in Adam’s footsteps and join the
relaunched Rovers have some exciting
expeditions to choose from later this
year, including an introduction to winter
mountaineering in the Cairngorm
Mountains during February half term for
Fifth and Sixth Formers; a Junior Rovers
Adventure in North Wales for Third and
Fourth Formers in March; and an 11-day
expedition in July called ‘Land, Sea and
Skye’ - sailing, hillwalking, mountain
biking and climbing in the Cuillin
Mountains on Skye.
Annabel Warburg
SCHOOL NEWS
Cricket
Following our winter tour to the UAE and South Africa (see summary below) the 2015 season ended
on a very high note, when we beat Eton College on the final day thereby retaining the Silk Trophy for a
record-breaking third year running, after what may be best described as a mixed season. But whilst we
did not fare well in cup competitions, elsewhere we played consistently well.
(A more comprehensive report can be found on the Sports section of the school website).
Shrewsbury School Cricket Tour to UAE & South Africa-December 2014
1st XI Played 12 won 11 Lost 1 Drew 0
U15 XI Played 12 won 6 Lost 6 Drew 0
The School’s cricketers had a highly successful tour of the United Arab Emirates and South Africa in December 2014. It was the
second time they had visited the UAE and the fifth time the School had visited South Africa. It was the longest tour (6th to 23rd
Dec) undertaken to date and included some 24 matches in total. All matches were played in perfect conditions and none lost
to the weather. In all, 29 boys travelled and the group was comprised of a 1st XI and a U 15 team who had been practising at
least twice a week in the Neville Cardus Indoor Cricket Centre since October 2014 to prepare for the tour. The 1st XI won 11
of their 12 games during their two and half weeks away. The U15s, being less experienced and much more of a developmental
squad, still managed to win half of their 12 games, with 3 of those losses going down to the last over.
1st XI
ALL MATCHES Played 27 WON 18 Lost 6 Drawn 2 /
Cancelled 1
•50/40 over Matches Played 16 Won 12 Lost 4 Drawn 2 / Cancelled 1
•T 20 Matches Played 4 Won 3 Lost 1
• U17 Cup Played 4 Won 3 Lost 1
9th April Shrewsbury v St Edward’s WON by 3 wickets
St Edwards 207 for 5 (C. Cooke 3 for 27)
Shrewsbury 208 for 7 (G. Hargrave 100 n.o.)
Pre-Season Festival (Shrewsbury)
10th April Shrewsbury v Worksop WON by 94 runs
Shrewsbury 220 for 8 (Panayi 48 Lewis 45)
Worksop 126 (Home 5 for 21)
11th April Shrewsbury v Worcestershire Academy
LOST by 9 wkts
Shrewsbury 186 for 9 (Adair 48 Lewis 42)
Worcestershire Academy 190 for 1
12th April Shrewsbury V Millfield Match Abandoned
Shrewsbury 218 for 8 (Westbury 106)
Millfield 189 for 3
15th April Shrewsbury v Myerscough Old Trafford
WON by 77 runs
Shrewsbury 239 for 9 (Home 49, Adair 70)
Myerscough 162 all out (Westbury 3 for 18, Home 3 for 34)
26th April Shrewsbury v M.C.C LOST by 10 runs
MCC 218 for 6
Shrewsbury 208 for 8 (Adair 77)
29th April Shrewsbury v Free Foresters WON by 64 runs
Shrewsbury 212 for 7 (Hargrave 51)
Free Foresters 148 all out (Adams 3 for 18, Westbury 4 for 20)
2nd May Bromsgrove v Shrewsbury WON by 100 runs
Shrewsbury 229 for 6 (Adair 83 n.o. Home 55)
Bromsgrove 129 (Home 4 for 39)
3rd May Shrewsbury v St Mary’s Walsall HMC T20
WON by 9 wkts
Mary’s 75 for 6 (Cooke 3 for 8 including a hatrick)
Shrewsbury 76 for 1
6th May Shrewsbury v Denstone Match Cancelled
8th May Shrewsbury v Ellesmere U17 Cup WON by 9 wkts
Ellesmere 107 for 8 (Cooke 5 for 22)
Shrewsbury 108 for 1 (C.Home 45 n.o.)
9th May Shrewsbury v Repton WON by 42 runs
Shrewsbury 227 for 3 (Westbury 111)
Repton 185 all out (Lloyd 3 for 30, Home 4 for 40)
13th May Wrekin v Shrewsbury U17 Cup WON by 8 wkts
Wrekin 103 for 6
Shrewsbury 104 for 2
18th April Bloxham v Shrewsbury T20 WON by 128 runs
Shrewsbury 190 for 6 (Westbury 66, Humes 37 not)
Bloxham 62 all out (Lloyd 2 for 2, Home 4 for 9,
Durman 3 for 2)
16th May Shrewsbury v Sedbergh WON by 10 wkts
Sedbergh 153 (Brunskill 3 for 26)
Shrewsbury 154 for 0 (Westbury 101 n.o. Lewis 51 n.o.)
19th April Shrewsbury v Warwickshire CB XI
WON by 30 runs
Shrewsbury 219 for 3 (Westbury 108, Lewis 44 n.o.)
Warwickshire 189 for 9
20th May Shrewsbury v Denstone HMC T20 WON
by 6 wkts
Denstone 97 for 8 (Jacob 4 for 16)
Shrewsbury 100 for 4
22nd April Shrewsbury v Shropshire CB Development
XI WON by 8 wkts
Shropshire 158 for 7 (Jacob 3 for 24)
Shrewsbury 160 for 2 (Adair 68 n.o. Hargrave 57)
22nd May Shrewsbury v Saracens XI
LOST by 3 runs
Saracens 222 for 5 (Panayi 3 for 33)
Shrewsbury 219 for 6 (Hargrave 76 n.o.)
29
30
SCHOOL NEWS
3rd June Shrewsbury v Myerscough Preston U17 Cup
WON by 7 wkts
Myerscough 160 for 7
Shrewsbury 163 for 3 (Garrett 63 n.o. Panayi 56 n.o.)
5th June Shrewsbury v Malvern HMC T20 LOST by 29 runs
Malvern 149 for 4
Shrewsbury 120
24th & 25th June v Uppingham (Two innings)
Match Drawn
Shrewsbury 299 for 7 dec (Westbury 112 Hargrave
41 Lewis 40)
Uppingham 161 (Panayi 3 for 47)
Uppingham (Following on) 316 (Lloyd 3 for 43)
Shrewsbury 120 for 4
27th June v Brighton GS Melbourne T20 WON by 24 runs
Shrewsbury 137 for 8 (Westbury 57)
Brighton 127 all out (Lloyd 3 for 19)
6th June Shrewsbury v Malvern WON by 80 runs
Shrewsbury 222 for 3 (Hargrave 59, Lewis 80 n.o.)
Malvern 142 all out (Home 3 for 27, Westbury 4 for 22)
SILK TROPHY
13th June Manchester GS v Shrewsbury WON by 1 run
Shrewsbury 207 for 3 (Westbury 100 Adair 58)
Manchester GS 206 for 6
19th June Shrewsbury v Sedbergh U17 Cup LOST by 3 runs
Sedbergh 236 for 9
Shrewsbury 233 for 4 (Adair 60 Panayi 54 n.o. Hargrave 53)
20th June Shrewsbury v Bedford LOST by 8wkts
Shrewsbury 107 all out
Bedford 110 for 2
29th June v Oundle WON by 106 runs
Shrewsbury 233 for 7 (Westbury 57, Hargrave 73)
Oundle 127 all out (Panayi 4 for 13)
30th June v Hilton College Durban LOST by 84 runs
Hilton 257 for 9 (Lloyd 4 for 42)
Shrewsbury 173 all out (Hargrave 48)
1st July v Eton College WON by 6 wkts
Eton 238 for 9 (Durman 3 for 23 Lloyd 3 for 25)
Shrewsbury 239 for 4 (Lewis 74 Hargrave 68 Panayi 39 n.o.)
WISDEN STATS 2015 40 & 50 over Matches
Bowling
Overs
Maidens
Runs
Wickets
Best Bowling
C. E. Home
104
10
413
28
5-21
G. D. Panayi
155
20
554
29
4-13
O. E. Westbury
139.1
21
569
28
4-20
D. J. Lloyd
199
28
663
31
4-42
P. J. Jacob
69
3
311
12
3-24
D. L. Durman
67
6
282
10
3-2
C. E. Cooke
106
8
512
12
3-27
Batting & Av
Inns
NO
Runs
Highest
100s
O. E. Westbury 55.15
21
2
1048
112
6
G. P. Hargrave 49.46
17
2
742
100*
1
G. P. G. Lewis* 35.64
21
4
606
80*
H. R. D. Adair 34.00
22
3
646
83*
G. D. Panayi 26.69
16
3
347
48
C. E. Home 26.44
13
4
238
55
1st XI Player Reports
George Lewis (Captain) had a good tour of South Africa
in December and grew into his job as Captain as well as
improving his batting throughout the 2015 season. His final
innings against Eton helped us retain the Silk Trophy and
will live long in the memory of those present that day.
Batting more at 4, he illustrated greater consistency and
adaptability than in previous seasons. George’s presence
was vital and he cemented together any cracks that
appeared. He leaves us with the distinction of winning three
Silk Trophies and a HMC T20 National title. The contribution
made by George and his elder brother Henry has been
outstanding during the past six years.
SCHOOL NEWS
Oliver Westbury (Vice Captain),
our leading run scorer, has played for
the Shrewsbury School 1st XI for two
seasons. In that time he has scored
nearly 1900 runs. In the current season,
he scored 1124 runs in all forms of
cricket including six centuries (scored
against Millfield, Manchester GS,
Repton, Sedbergh, Uppingham and
Warwickshire Academy) at an average
of nearly 47.
who bowled with greater control than
in previous seasons. His selection for
the Silk Trophy campaign was as much
about his potential as about his results.
He certainly gave his all during the
season and was rewarded with a Silk
Trophy title.
Charlie Cooke did extremely well in
South Africa and started the season
well. He supported Panayi and often
out bowled him when the ball swung.
His contribution in the early part of
the season was very important but
communication issues and firmer
grounds reduced his impact. He will
need to be even more committed if he
is to make the team this summer with
much more competition around for the
seam bowling slots.
He has also taken 30 wickets with
his off spin at an average of 22 this
season and was selected to play for
the MCC Schools XI v ESCA XI at
Lord’s and now moves on to a winter
in Perth and a year in the Worcester
Academy where he will try to secure a
professional contract.
Jamie Humes had a challenging
season after a slip in a warm-up
curtailed his contributions and although
not at his best, did much to bolster
the final push towards the Silk Trophy
triumph. At his best, for us, he was a
first class wicketkeeper and batsman
(one of the very best we had at school
since I have been in charge) but with
a preparation schedule that was too
relaxed and disjointed throughout
the summer he rarely produced what
he was capable of. Nevertheless, his
contribution to our successes over
recent years is noted and respected.
Dan Durman, after a very positive
winter tour, was not the ever present
player we had hoped for last season
but still made an impact and can be
proud of his contribution to the 1st XI
over two years. He is a skilful cricketer
who batted, bowled, fielded and kept
wicket well during his career. I hope
that he continues to apply himself and
thereby achieve the sort of bowling
performance that kept us on track in
the Silk Trophy this past summer.
Charlie Adams had an outstanding
winter tour and brought stability to the
team’s lower order. He often played
a vital batting role in ensuring we got
a total or slowed down the progress
of the opposition. Strong and reliable,
Charlie always gave of his best and
despite his lack of real opportunities as
the season drew on, he was always a
key player in the team and a resolute
character.
Fred Earlam did not travel on tour
but found the zeal to compete for
a place in the spring. He added to
our fire power and from time to time
showed us what he was capable of.
Fred proved to be a gifted stroke player
measure of penetration, but I will be
looking for far more this time around.
He is an experienced campaigner and
he must seek to influence matches at
this level with the ball, bat, and in the
field. With 31 wickets in the longer
format matches, his contribution was
telling and I would ask that he continue
to delight us with his very positive yet
relaxed application.
George Panayi, already in his
third season in the 1st X1, took on
more responsibility than before and
produced a number of all round
performances to attract the attention of
national selectors. A great winter tour
in South Africa with us was followed
by another one for the England U17s
in the UAE where he gained even
more admirers. His batting came to the
fore this season and I look forward to
much more of the same this coming
summer. His role as Captain will put
more pressure on him but I am sure
he will thrive on it and prosper as
he did in the final day of the season
victory over Eton.
Harry Adair started the season very
well indeed, but became less influential
as the sun appeared higher in the sky.
We missed his dynamic input after the
initial sprint and I hope that he can
return next season with greater maturity
and plenty of fast and exciting runs
throughout the summer. As in previous
years, I know he will put in the hours
of preparation required and I truly
hope that he will he deliver from April
to July both with bat in hand and in the
field where he has the athleticism to
influence a match.
Dan Lloyd continued where he had
left over in December. With the ball in
hand he offered us control and some
George Hargrave illustrated his class
with bat in hand, time and time again
throughout the season. His final innings
for the school against Eton highlighted
his growing strength, excellent
technique, mental strength and
increasing authority. He certainly built
on his Bunbury reputation and looked
like a professional in the waiting. Asked
to do more wicket keeping in 2015
than he, or we, thought, he coped well
with the work load, but further work
on his technique and communication
will help him become a better all round
batsman wicketkeeper this year. We
look forward to more of the same.
Charlie Home performed
exceptionally well with the ball and
looked very accomplished with bat in
hand. Much more was to be expected
from him over the coming two
seasons but his unforeseen departure
to Wrekin College has robbed us of
seeing him develop even further here
at Shrewsbury School and reduced
our options for a future captain.
Nevertheless, his tireless work ethic
and passion should drive him along
his cricketing pathway if he can gain
greater independence and learn to
plough his own furrow.
Patrick Jacob returned from South
Africa well ahead and despite a season
on the fringes he has proved to be
one of the most committed cricketers
at school. His fielding is ungainly but
incredibly effective, but he really does
need to offer greater control with his
bowling and work hard to be mentally
stronger when asked to bat.
Andy Barnard
31
32
SCHOOL NEWS
SILK TROPHY SUCCESS
The 1st XI won the Silk Trophy for the third year running and
also became the only school to do so in the 25 years of the
competition.
Following a good win over Oundle on the first day by 106
runs, we then lost to Hilton College, Durban on day two
by 84 runs. Consequently, we needed to beat Eton well on
day three.
Eton batted first and looked set for a large total after a good
start by our bowlers, particularly Dan Lloyd. A good Eton
partnership in the middle overs was curtailed by some good
bowling (Dan Durman and George Panayi) and catching
towards the end of their innings. Nevertheless they finished
with a fairly healthy 238. A steady start by George Hargrave
and Oliver Westbury was brought to an early end when
Westbury (1124 runs this season) was caught behind. Harry
Adair gave the innings some momentum and Hargrave
moved the ball around well, but when Adair was out there
was still much to do. George Lewis (captain and winner
of two Silk Trophies) came in and immediately took the
initiative against all bowlers, playing strong shots as well
as late cuts and sweeps. Hargrave continued to prosper,
particularly against the quicker bowlers, but one too many
pulls saw him caught off a skier. George Panayi joined Lewis
and consolidated for a while and saw the run rate rise from
5s to 7s with some 7 overs to go. All of a sudden Panayi
found the measure of the Eton bowlers and, in the flash of
his bat, he took 20 off an over and the game swung our
way. Both batsmen relaxed a little and with 3 overs to go we
only required 2 runs. The ball, having been smashed to the
boundary was lost, so a new ball arrived. Unfortunately, it
was a nearly new ball and George Lewis edged to slips to be
out for a fantastic captain’s knock on 78. Fred Earlam came in
and scored a single to secure the historic win. It was our best
batting performance of the season and the team, depleted by
some late withdrawals, must be roundly congratulated on a
magnificent win.
The Silk Trophy Winners
1990
Radley College
1991
The Antipodeans, Australia
1992
Eton College
1993
Eton College
1994
Queen’s College, South Africa
1995
Eton College
1996
Eton College
1997
Festival Cancelled (Rain)
1998
Eton College
1999
Eton College
2000
Maritzburg College, South Africa
2001
Kearsney College, South Africa
2002
Eton College
2003
Eton College
2004Oundle
2005
Eton College
2006
Shrewsbury School
2007
Eton College
2008
Eton College
2009
Shrewsbury School
2010
Eton College
2011
Eton College
2012
Festival Cancelled (Rain)
2013
Shrewsbury School
2014
Shrewsbury School
2015 Shrewsbury School
From L to R - BACK ROW Mr A Barnard (Master i/c Cricket), Daniel Lloyd, Dan Durman, Jamie Humes, Charlie Adams,
Charlie Cooke, Mr P Pridgeon (Cricket Professional) FRONT ROW Harry Adair, Oliver Westbury, George Lewis (Capt.), Fred
Earlam, George Panayi, George Hargrave.
SCHOOL NEWS
2nd XI
Played 8 Won 3 Lost 3 Abandoned 2
This year’s 2nd XI shaped up to be another strong team at
the start of the season, with Freddie Adair as captain and
many of the bowlers from last year returning to the side.
However, it was the batting that was likely to make or break
the season, especially with Reiss Rashid injured and with the
loss of Freddie Earlam to the 1st XI early on. Unfortunately
the fixture list was curtailed by the proliferation of exams
and by some cancellations for weather, so only six out of
eight matches were completed. Six boys represented the side
on six or more occasions, including Nick Pearce, Freddie
Rowley, Paul Sharpe, Henry Newbould, James Harris and
Antony Koch de Gooreynd.
The first fixture saw the team make the epic journey to
Millfield on the second Saturday of term. It was a damp day
with a dubious forecast, so the match was shortened to a
T20 format on arrival. Shrewsbury won the toss and elected
to bat. Making a disappointing start, the team slumped to 64
for 7 after 11 overs, with only Freddie Adair and ‘on-loan’
Charlie Adams making it to double figures. However, positive
batting from Nick Pearce (17 from 13 balls) and Pat Jacob (30
from 16 balls), able supported by Antony Koch de Gooreynd
(9 from 16 balls) took the score to a respectable 137 for 9
after 20 overs. With the weather closing in, Shrewsbury took
to the field in buoyant mood, which improved significantly
when Harry Schofield took a sharp slip catch fourth ball of
the Millfield innings off the bowling of Nick Pearce, who then
bowled the number 3 with the last ball of the over to leave
Millfield on 2 for 2. Unfortunately at this point the heavens
opened and rain put an end to the match.
In the second match, Shrewsbury faced a XL Club side
that boasted two ex-international cricketers. The XL Club
won the toss and elected to bat on a fine, if chilly day, on
Chances. Shrewsbury started well bowling tightly and fielding
superbly. The XL club were restricted to 69 for 3 after 20
overs of the only declaration game of the season. However,
Shrewsbury were unable to get the breakthrough they need
to remove the ex-professionals and as the innings wore on,
the concentration of the fielding side waned, allowing the
batsmen to capitalise on some loose bowling and progress
to 216 for 3 after 38 overs, when they declared at tea. Paul
Sharpe was the stand-out bowler with 1 for 30 off his 8 overs.
In response, Shrewsbury made a positive start reaching 64 for
1 after 10 overs. Several batsmen had starts, Freddie Rowley
(30), George Birt (23) Harry Gregson (22) and Freddie Adair
was perhaps unlucky to be given out LBW for 30. However,
wickets fell regularly and although the run rate was fine,
Shrewsbury fell short, ending up 184 all out after 31.1 overs
and losing by 32 runs.
In the next match, Shrewsbury welcomed Bromsgrove on
another very dark and wet Saturday. Again, the match format
was reduced to T20. Bromsgrove won the toss and put
Shrewsbury into the field on Senior. Having got to 47 for
1 after 6 overs, Bromsgrove were in a strong position, but
excellent bowling from Freddie Rowley 4 for 15 from 4 overs
and George Birt 2 for 2 from 2 overs, reduced them to 127 all
out in 19.5 overs. Shrewsbury made light work of the chase,
with captain Freddie Adair in ebullient mood, smashing a
powerful 63 not out from 44 balls, ably supported by Henry
Newbould 18 from 35 balls and Freddie Rowley finishing a
good day on 31 not out from 21 balls. Shrewsbury won by 9
wickets with 4 overs to spare.
Further rain meant the cancellation of the match against
Wrekin, so the next visitors to Senior were Repton. Again
the opposition won the toss and elected to bat. Repton
were in a commanding position at 69 for 2 after 17 overs,
but once the number 1 and 3 batsmen were dismissed, the
innings capitulated. Repton finished on 126 all out after 35.1
overs with two wickets each for Henry Craig, Rishi Trivedi,
Freddie Rowley and George Birt. In response Shrewsbury
suffered their own collapse as the top order misfired badly,
only Henry Newbould making any impression on the score
with 20. With the score at 50 for 7 the game seemed to
be irretrievable, but just as they had done at Millfield, Pat
Jacob (33) and Nick Pearce (34) saved the innings, while
Rishi Trivedi and Antony Koch de Gooreynd saw the side
home with one wicket to spare. So Shrewsbury claimed an
improbable win by 1 wicket.
The final match of the first half of term saw Shrewsbury
host Sedbergh, who had not lost a game since we last beat
them in 2012! Unfortunately the fixture coincided with the
beginning of AS exams and a significant loss of players to
the 1st XI, which meant the 2nd XI lost captain and top runscorer Freddie Adair, as well as wicketkeeper and opening
batsman, Henry Newbould and our saviour from the Millfield
and Repton games, Pat Jacob. On a damp day, stand-in
captain, Freddie Rowley lost the toss and Shrewsbury was
asked to bat. As usual Sedbergh bowled tightly and there
were few loose deliveries to capitalise on. Scoring was slow
and the Shrewsbury batsmen failed to apply themselves on
a slow wicket. When Harry Schofield was narrowly run out,
after looking in good touch and Charlie Cooke played a wild
stroke and was caught, the score was 56 for 7. A low score
looked inevitable, but a final wicket stand of 41 between
Ben Sansom (6) and Paul Sharpe (30), helped Shrewsbury to
a modest total of 109. Sedbergh were positive in reply and,
once the opening batsmen had established a partnership,
took only 18 overs to reach their target.
On the Saturday after Exeat, the 2nd XI travelled to Malvern
to contest what always proves to be a close fixture. Bolstered
by the inclusion of Fred Earlam, but without a few of the
more experienced senior players due to Exam Leave, the
young team batted well, posting a huge target of 275 for 4
after 40 overs. Fred Earlam, opening the batting, scored 113
from 62 balls and was ably supported by Harry Gregson who
scored 74 from 66 balls. James Harris posted a useful 34 from
27 and Antony Koch de Gooreynd chipped in with 15*. In
reply Malvern made a strong start, getting to 97 after 12 overs,
before losing their first wicket. But three wickets apiece for
the spinners, Ed Moore and Fred Earlam helped Shrewsbury
to dismiss the home side for 220 in 30 overs.
Rain put paid to the following match against Manchester
Grammar, so next up was a long journey to Bedford. On a
grey and showery afternoon it was a desperate shame that
we were not blessed with clement weather, as a potentially
competitive match was abandoned after only 12 overs.
The final match of the season saw the visit of several familiar
faces in a strong Saracens team, led by George Thomason.
The 2nd XI made a good start with Antony Koch de
Gooreynd leading the way with two catches in the first few
overs to dismiss Jamie Bird and the dangerous Matt Gregson.
Then Harry Croft and George Hanmer pushed the score on
to 85 before the next wicket fell. With the score on 132 for 6
after 21 overs, Shrewsbury had a good chance to contain the
Saracens innings. However, a 150-run partnership between
Steve Barnard (94 from 59 balls) and Henry Blofield (50*
from 51 balls) helped the visitors to 301 for 7 from their 40
33
34
SCHOOL NEWS
overs. Chasing such a large score was always going to be
challenging against such a strong side. The opening pair
of Paul Sharpe (37) and Harry Schofield (16) made a good
start, but when Fred Adair and Fred Earlam failed to make
and impact, the score slumped to 79 for 4 before a flurry of
wickets left the 2nd XI 101 all out.
So it was a disappointing end to a season which was blighted
by weather and exams. Cricket is a game which tests skill
and concentration and it was not easy to get any momentum
with such a staccato rhythm to the season. Yet there were
highlights to savour; Fred Earlam’s excellent performance at
Malvern stands out, but the recovery to win against Repton
was also sweet. It was a pleasure to work with such a willing
U17 XI
U17s School Sports Cup
1st Round Shrewsbury v Ellesmere
(Home)
Ellesmere 107 for 8 (Cooke 5 for 22)
Shrewsbury 108 for 1 (Home 45 n.o.)
2nd Round Shrewsbury v Wrekin
(Away) won by 8 wkts
Wrekin 103 for 6 (Lloyd 2 for 18)
Shrewsbury 104 for 2 (Hargrave 37 n.o.
Panayi 35 n.o.)
3rd Round Shrewsbury v Myerscough
(Home) won by 7 wkts
Myerscough 160 for 8
Shrewsbury 163 for 3 (Garrett 63 n.o.
Panayi 56 n.o.)
19th June Shrewsbury v Sedbergh U17
Cup lost by 3 runs
Sedbergh 236 for 9
Shrewsbury 233 for 4 (Adair 60 Panayi
54 n.o. Hargrave 53)
U16A XI
Played 6 Won 4 Lost 2
A most encouraging season with a
hard-working and committed group of
boys. Paddy Jacob, George Hargrave
and Charlie Home spent much of
the time playing in the 1st X1, but
group of boys and testament to their commitment that,
despite the increasing pressure of exams, they were keen
to pull on their whites for the team. Leading batsmen were
Fred Earlam with 124 runs at 41.3, Fred Adair with 109 runs
at 27.3 and Paul Sharpe, who started the season at number
11 but finished with 86 runs at an average of 43! Leading
bowlers included George Birt with 7 wickets at an average
of 8.4 and Freddie Rowley also with 7 wickets, at an average
of 14. Many of the Lower Sixth worked hard to improve in
the second half of the season and with more maturity and
the lessons learned from this year, they will provide a sound
foundation for senior cricket at Shrewsbury next season.
Matthew Barrett
this provided good opportunities for
others to come in take their chance.
The side was well captained by Harry
Gregson who proved to be a force
with both bat and ball. Other notable
batting performances came from Dan
Orchard, Josh Malyon and Oliver Dixon
who all played some quality innings
at times. The pick of the bowlers was
Ross Orchard who bowled with pace
and accuracy. Arthur Price produced
some decent spells of off-spin and
George Pearce and Joe Thevathasan
probed away with their seamers. The
team fielded very well as a unit and
there were some excellent run outs and
catches. It is hoped that this group of
players will continue to train hard and
enjoy their cricket as a number of them
could play at a good level in the Sixth
Form.
U16B XI
Played 2 Won 1 Lost 1
The first was a (by now) traditional
T20 fixture at Bedstone. We were never
sure what a good total was on this
ground; while our run rate was always
sound, we did lose wickets rather too
regularly, particularly of our potentially
destructive batsmen, and slowed down
in the final overs as a result. We ended
up getting to 91. George Pearce 20 off
20 balls, Tom Atkin 17 from 14,
George Chaplin 16 from 18.
We started to defend this total with
energy, not giving width. But, unlike
us, Bedstone’s numbers 2 & 3 hung on
(George Pearce bowled their #1 for 1
run). Bertie Calvert came into the attack
and was the pick of the bowlers (his
first over was a maiden) but it was too
late as Bedstone were already 74 off 13
overs. Bedstone won by 9 wickets with
more than 4 overs to spare. George
Pearce 4 overs 15-1. Bertie Calvert 1.2
overs 6-0.
After exams a hybrid As/Bs team
headed down to South Shropshire
again, to play a mixed Lucton/Ludlow
team. It soon became clear that we
were rather strong for them, so Harry
Gregson was retired for scoring too
fast while Dan Orchard remained,
aiming to make his first 50 playing
for Shrewsbury School. Sadly on 44
he tried to get there in one shot and
was bowled. Having reduced the
match to 16 overs each way we scored
141. Gregson 35 (ret). D.Orchard
44. G.Pearce 21*.We then kept the
opposition to 76. T.Atkin 2-0-8-3.
J.Malyon 2-0-6-0. A.Price 2-0-15-2.
J.Thevathasan 3-1-17-1.
B.Calvert 3-0-11-1.
U15A XI
Played 21 Won 15 Lost 6
I have never before started a review of a cricket season
with a quote from G. K. Chesterton. Until today.
“There are two ways to get enough. One is to continue to
accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less.”
In today’s materialistic society, there may well be some
truth in that statement. However, in the quest for sporting
satisfaction, our desires this year were left, in some
senses, unfulfilled.
Let us get the disappointments out of the way early in the
piece. The U15s finished the season with a sole trophy to
show for their efforts – the Shropshire ESCA T20 title, won
by defeating a strong Ellesmere College side that had beaten
them in the County Final 12 months previously. We were
caught in a three-way tie at the end of season festival at
Uppingham, eventually missing out on the trophy due to
run rate, and lost to Malvern College in the semi-final at the
Midlands T20 Finals day.
I often despair at football managers blaming their most
recent defeat on everything from the fixture schedule to the
alignment of the planets, but in this case there are some
significant mitigating circumstances. The 12-man squad we
took to the U15 festival at Uppingham contained seven
SCHOOL NEWS
by the experience of a Christmas tour to Dubai and
South Africa, they are now a group containing some high
quality cricketers.
The bowling group had relied heavily on Garrett last year,
and his absence presented an opportunity for others to
seize. Tom Brunskill emerged as the leader of the attack,
taking 33 wickets at 11.79. He was economical, penetrative
and dependable, and was one of several who deservedly
earned a call up to the 1st XI later in the season. Lucien
Whitworth improved immeasurably and deserved more than
his still impressive tally of 14 wickets at 12.29. He has good
control, moves the ball both ways, and will gain more pace
as he matures. Rob Ford was the definition of endeavour,
working hard on all aspects of his game, and finished
with 24 wickets at 22.75. His commitment in the field was
exceptional. Ed Stapleton possesses real pace, and if he is
prepared to work hard then he can improve significantly.
U14s (who will benefit hugely from the experience), and
contained only one of our first choice seam bowlers. Had
we had just one of the six first choice players who were
absent available to us, our defeat by Eton (they chased our
total 9 wickets down from the last ball of the game) would
surely have been reversed, and we would have returned
home as comfortable champions.
Having worked so hard to reach the Midlands T20 Finals
day, it was, in all honesty, galling to be forced to contest the
title with a side shorn of a further three players from earlier
in the week in Uppingham. Huge thanks goes to those who
stepped in at the last minute to enable us to field a side.
The fact that we reached 149-9 in response to 174, set by
a Malvern College side featuring three Midlands batsmen,
whilst missing an incredible EIGHT first choice players, is a
credit to the boys involved, as it is to the quality of cricket
at Shrewsbury. The scheduling of the latter stages of this
competition needs to be looked at in future, as with a full
strength side, and without a whiff of arrogance, we could
have been national champions.
The 15/6 win loss ratio was in itself impressive, given that
injury deprived us of the services of our best batsman and
our best bowler for virtually the entire season. Jamie Crawley
missed eight weeks due to a hamstring injury, while a stress
fracture of the back limited George Garrett to a solitary spell
of three overs during the whole campaign. I am not sure how
many school sides could have coped with that sort of loss as
well as we did.
The fact that we did was down to a huge amount of skill,
commitment and hard work from the boys. Huge strides were
made by many of them, and their attitude and application
during what was a long, hard summer, was faultless. Buoyed
As far as the batsmen go, it is very pleasing to report that no
fewer than nine players recorded scores of 50 or more – an
impressive achievement. Jordan Zaza (528 @ 31), George
Garrett (468 @ 36), and Lysander Adair (403 @ 31) were
the heaviest scorers over the season, but special mention
must also go to Daniel Humes (352 @ 27 as an U14, as well
as some top quality work behind the stumps), and Jamie
Crawley (344 @ 43 in only 11 innings). Tom Brunskill also
added 320 runs @ 27 to go with his efforts with the ball.
I must also take time to write about our captain George
Garrett. During what was an incredibly frustrating time
for him personally, he scored runs consistently, captained
intelligently, and was an absolute pleasure to be around - as
were all the boys. In his final game on tour before injury
struck, he knocked over the top order of a top quality South
African side, taking 5-10. It does not take much to imagine
what he would have done against far lesser batsmen had he
been fit this summer.
While the issue of availability eventually robbed us of more
silverware, it did afford me a chance to see more of next
year’s squad in action. While there is plenty of work to do,
there is also much to look forward to.
Despite my mentions of disappointment for not finishing
the season with more trophies, the primary aim will always
be player development. We will often rotate the batting
order in order to give chances to other players, and we will
regularly expose bowlers to bowling at different stages of
the innings. As a result we will occasionally lose matches,
but this is all part of the learning process. In terms of their
progression this season, there is an enormous amount for
the boys to be proud of, and the lessons they have learned
over the past few months will stand them in good stead for
the future. There is every chance that as many as eight of
this squad can now press on and look for a 1st XI place.I
would like to finish by thanking Andy Barnard and Paul
Pridgeon for all their support during the season, as well as
Andy Richards and his team for providing facilities that are
absolutely deserving of the term “First Class”. Our young
cricketers really do have the privilege of playing on some
fantastic pitches.
Going back to G. K. Chesterton – in a sporting sense, while
we must accept that sometimes we do not get all we want
or deserve, the fire will always burn within, and we will
never desire less.
Adam Shantry
35
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SCHOOL NEWS
U15B XI
Played 10 Won 8 Lost 2
Will Shawe-Taylor (O) and James Argyle (M) were our
opening batsmen and were consistent across the term,
starting innings off with patient productivity. Harry Wasdell
(Rt) contributed plenty of runs as well as proving to be an
organised and methodical captain. Matt Clay (I) and Zak
Nicholas (R) were our mid-order big-hitters. Humphreys
(Rt), Sykes (Rt) and Wasdell (Rt) provided the seam bowling,
with varied success, and Greetham brought some beguiling
spin to the attack. A very successful term overall and some
especially impressive wins over the likes of Bedford, Millfield
and Malvern. Sedbergh was our only ‘block’ defeat when the
team was much weakened by depletions to the teams above.
U15 Girls XI Cricket
Played 14 Won 11 Lost 3 Drew 0
The U15 Girls had a brilliant first season. It started at the
end of the Lent Term with the Lady Taverner’s Indoor
Tournament where the girls progressed to the County Final.
Unfortunately, the very busy end of term logistics unsettled
any decent preparation and the girls were narrowly defeated
in the group stage. As the summer arrived the girls played
five school fixtures and finished the year by competing in the
Shropshire Cricket Board U15 Tournament.
Qualifying Tournament Results
Shrewsbury School v Meole Brace
Shrewsbury School: 86-3 (8 overs)
Lizzy Ware 15 retired, Mimi Ashworth 15 retired,
Phoebe Wasdell 17 retired
Meole Brace: 43-4 (8 overs)
Emma Graham 2 wickets, Sophia Breese 1 wicket,
Rosie Davis 1 wicket
Shrewsbury School v Mary Webb
Mary Webb: 62-5 (8 overs)
Emma Graham 1 wicket, Sophia Breese 3 wickets, Phoebe
Wasdell 1 wicket
Shrewsbury School: 63-4 (6.2 overs)
Emma Graham 10, Sophia Breese 14 not out,
Mimi Ashworth 8
Including the two tournaments, the girls played a total of 14
matches and won 11.
The most exciting match played was when the girls lost
to Moreton in the School Sports National Cup in a closely
fought contest. The game started well enough with the
opening bowler Emma Graham (MSH) taking two wickets
in the first over. Millie Home of Moreton then put on 63
n.o. and Moreton’s final score was 151-6. The heavens
opened during Shrewsbury School’s innings and while
Sophia Breese (EDH) made an excellent 52 n.o., we
could only manage 144 in reply. The conditions really
did work against us on the day. After this loss, there were
substantial victories against Charlton School, Bromsgrove
School, Malvern College (U16) and Shrewsbury High
School. Special mention goes to Sophia Breese (EDH)
who scored 103 in 4 innings and Nina Lange (G) who
scored 40 off 12 balls against SHS. With the ball, Phoebe
Wasdell (MSH) had figures of 38-6 and Rosie Davis (EDH)
40-6. Nina Lange also took some rather special, athletic
catches and she will be sorely missed next season. This
all bodes well for the future of girls’ cricket at the school.
Shrewsbury School Girls XI - From L-R Back Row: Tilly Reynolds, Sophia Dixon, Nina Lange, Libby Hedges, Lizzy Ware,
From L-R Front Row: Sophia Breese, Katie Oswald, Mimi Ashworth, Emma Graham, Phoebe Wasdell, Rosie Davis
SCHOOL NEWS
Tennis
This term was the first term of tennis
where we integrated the new junior
girls into mixed squads at U15 level
based on standard of play. This was of
mutual benefit to both the boys and
girls and allowed for more competition
in squads.
and Henry Clay were unable to
produce the good form of their lower
sixth year and struggled to contribute
enough set wins. Close losses against
Warwick, Cheltenham and Uppingham
resulted against very beatable
opposition.
The most successful pair for the
first VI this year were Charlie Davis
(O UVI) and Ollie Pumphrey (O, U6).
This pair started the season as 1st pair
of the second team but progressed
dramatically and fully merited their
1st pair status by the end of the
term. Deserving of a special mention
is Alex Loumidis (Rt III) who won
both the U15 and U18 school tennis
tournaments beating Lucas Paul (Rb
IV) in one final and Charlie Davis
in the other (see photos). Alex has
played a lot of competitive tennis and
his shot selection and range of shots
are well beyond what you would
expect from a 14-year-old. Alex has
also played in all the 1st VI matches
this year. The team as a whole did not
perform as well as anticipated. The
team was massively weakened by the
long term injury of Alex Webb and
were further weakened by the loss
of Jack Fox for most of the term with
a wrist injury. This meant that Alex
Loumidis lacked a regular partner.
Unfortunately Captain Tom Robinson
The best school tennis team this year
were the U15A team who registered
excellent wins against Ellesmere,
Uppingham, Malvern, Warwick and
Cheltenham. The seven 4th formers
who played so well for the team
were Lucas Paul (c), Tom BromleyDavenport, Jom Umpujh, James
Gisbourne, Ally Harris, Mungo
Hargreaves and James Powell. Great
things are hoped for from this group of
players who make up the best seven
players from a single year group in my
eight years in charge of tennis.
On the girls’ side Nina Lange (G III)
and Tilly Reynolds deserve a mention
for winning the Rugby Tournament
U15 and for getting to the semi finals
of the Midlands U18 girls tournament.
The final of the Rugby Tournament
was very memorable as Nina and Tilly
saved four consecutive match points
and six consecutive points in total to
win the trophy. They showed a terrific
mental strength that all the boys could
learn from.
Player of the year was Charlie Davis
(PH UVI) who played with tenacity and
full commitment. Next year’s captain
of tennis is Jack Fox (PH LVI). A Junior
first was awarded to Alex Webb for his
superb play in third and fourth form.
Ridgemount won both senior and
junior tennis competitions beating
Port Hill and Rigg’s in the finals
respectively. Ridgemount were also
House squash champions, beating
Severn Hill in the final.
Myles Harding
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SCHOOL NEWS
RSSBC
The Summer term provided the usual frenzy of racing and training for the Boat Club, with crews
from various age groups racing every weekend. After productive training camps in France for the
Seniors and J16s and Pangbourne for the J15s, the boats got their first taste of sprint racing at Holme
Pierrepoint, Nottingham in a private fixture with King’s Chester. With two coach loads of pupils
and two fully laden trailers, the match provided a great opportunity for our novice oarsmen to get
acquainted with the venue and the logistics of getting attached onto stake boats and racing six abreast.
The crews raced in a time trial over 1750m, followed by seeded 2000m side by side finals.
To finish off, the crews raced six abreast in two 500m races, which produced some exciting finishes.
T
he second weekend of the term
saw crews competing at both the
national Junior Inter Regional Regatta
(JIRR) and the Birmingham Regatta.
Highlights included a medal-winning
performance by the J14 boys’ quad at
JIRR and the first-ever win for the J14
girls at Birmingham.
Girls’ Quad Birmingham Regatta
the event, Elite Eights, and the J18
Eights event.
On the second May Bank Holiday
weekend the Boat Club had 14 crews
competing at the National Schools’
Regatta. There was a strong showing
across all of the age groups, with 12
crews reaching semi-finals and seven
crews going on to make the finals of
their events and claim a spot in the
top six in the country. The best result
came from the J14A Octuple, who
won a tremendous bronze medal in
what is always a tightly contested
event. Congratulations to the crew of:
Ben Holehouse, Petr Rostokin, Elliot
Crossley, Alexander Davies, Josh Evans,
Edward Hart, Jack Lockett, Adam
Pattenden and Boss Lertthundorn.
fastest eight, coxed four, pair and scull
at the Regatta to claim the Senior Victor
Ludorum, alongside wins for the 2nd
VIII and J15 Four.
1st VIII Chester Regatta
J15 Four Chester Regatta
J14 Quad JIRR
The first May Bank holiday weekend
saw five Shrewsbury crews race at
the Wallingford Regatta. The pick
of the results came from the 1st VIII
who won their heat in an impressive
fashion, beating Abingdon’s, Radley’s
and Hampton’s 1st VIIIs in the process.
Unfortunately weather conditions
deteriorated through the day, which
meant the finals were unable to be
raced and prizes were awarded based
on times. So the crew didn’t get to race
the final and lost out on time to the
winners of the other heat, St Paul’s, by
three seconds. The 1st Girls’ Quad also
had an excellent result, coming in third
overall in their event.
The 1st VIII continued their promising
form at the Bedford Regatta where
they recorded two encouraging wins
by winning both the premier race of
J14 A Octuple National Schools
The 1st VIII put in a strong showing
with a gutsy row that saw them sitting
in 2nd place for most of the race in a
very competitive field. Unfortunately
they slipped down to 5th in the closing
stages of the race. Results in brief: J14A
Octuple 3rd, J14B Octuple 3rd in Semifinal, Girls J14A Octuple 6th in SemiFinal, Girls’ J15 Scull 26th out of 45 in
Time trial, J15A VIII 5th in Final, J15B
VIII 6th in Semi-final, J16A VIII 4th in
Semi Final, J16B VIII 5th in Final, 3rd
VIII 5th in Final, 2nd VIII 6th in Final,
1st VIII 5th in Final, Girls’ Quad 4th in
Semi Final, 1st Four 4th in Final.
The second half of term saw a
successful day’s racing at the Chester
Regatta. The School produced the
Henley Women’s Regatta
The Senior Girls’ Quad took part in the
time trial from which 19 entrants would
be reduced to 16. The crew was the
third fastest down the track, putting
them in strong contention in the event.
Their first side by side race was against
a composite crew from Doncaster,
Bradford and Lincoln Rowing Clubs.
The girls stormed down the first
500 metres of the course, putting
themselves in a strong position and
enabling them to lower the rate and
control the remainder of the race and
secure an ‘easily’ verdict. As the crew
boated for their second round against
Staines Rowing Club the heavens
opened, drenching the course in a
heavy rain storm. The girls were not
deterred by the soggy conditions and
once again put on a display of strong
oarswoman-ship, leading the race from
start to finish and winning with a lead
of three and a half lengths.
SCHOOL NEWS
2nd VIII at Henley
The win against Staines saw the crew
take their place in the semi-final against
Surbiton High School, bronze medallists
from National Schools. The girls knew
this would be their toughest race of
the weekend and charged out of the
stake boats level with Surbiton. At the
barrier Surbiton took a length on the
Shrewsbury crew and despite holding
them at this length throughout the race,
they were not able to take back the
distance and lost to Surbiton by one
and a third lengths.
Henley Royal Regatta
The Senior Girls’ squad has continued
to grow in strength and performance
over the past three years and the
Girls’ Quad made history this summer
by becoming Shrewsbury’s first ever
girls’ crew to qualify for the Henley
Royal Regatta. They faced a crew
from Henley Rowing Club in their first
round race in the event and although
they put up a good show, they were
unable to turn over the well-drilled
Henley crew. Despite the loss, their
qualification for the final was a
tremendous result that provided an
extremely positive end to the season,
along with the crew’s result at Henley
Women’s Regatta.
Girls’ Quad at Henley
when needed and were sluggish out
of the starting blocks, with Hampton
creating clear water between them
through the first timing marker. The
crew held their rhythm and closed
the gap through the middle of the
race but struggled to overhaul the
Hampton crew that were growing
with confidence as the race drew on.
Hampton held on to win by threequarters of a length. The result was
bitterly disappointing for the 1st VIII
who had covered a significant number
of miles on the water and time in the
gym in preparation for the Regatta.
St Paul’s School, 2nd at Schools’ Head
and National Schools, produced a
storming final to turn over the Schools’
Head, and National Schools winners
Westminster in the final.
The boys’ 1st VIII were drawn against
Hampton School for their first round
race at Henley, having been knocked
out by Hampton in the second round
in 2014. The crew had had the better
of Hampton throughout the season and
were hoping to repeat their positive
run on the hot and humid Wednesday
afternoon of 1st July.
Home Countries Regatta
Paddy George, George Patterson,
Toby Thomas, Charlie Johnston,
Freddie Bonthrone, Abigail Reynolds
and Lettie Tay were all selected to
represent Wales at the Home Countries
Regatta held at Strathclyde Country Park
in Scotland in the summer holidays.
Despite some very encouraging speed
shown in the lead up to the event, the
crew did not manage to reproduce it
Athol Hundermark
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SCHOOL NEWS
Victoria, Sabrina and Williams
Sculls 2015
This annual early season tester from the
Greyfriar’s Bridge to the Priory Stone
saw competitive racing at all levels, and
a chance for those who had trained
well over the summer to show the
improvements they had made.
Patrick George (M) earned the Victoria
Sculls (J18) title, ahead of Lower Sixth
entrant Matt Rowe (SH) in second and
Henry Thomas (Ch) in third. In the
equivalent girls’ competition, Lower
Sixth Former Alys Howells (MSH) won
ahead of Sian Hinton (G) and Abi
Reynolds (G), who both raced in the
RSSBC quad at Henley Royal Regatta in
the summer.
The Sabrina Sculls (J16) was won by Ed
Lewis (Rb), second placed Max Craik
(PH) and third placed Bryce Rutter (PH)
were mere seconds behind him. Eleanor
Fox (G) was the fastest Fifth Form girl in
a time that placed her 4th amongst the
Sixth Form.
*** we are currently researching the
history of the VSW Sculls, so if any
OS remember what the course was
in their time, or have any old results
sheets lurking at the back of the
wardrobe, please could they contact
the master i/c House Rowing,
Rob Wilson ([email protected])
Tessa Scott-Bell
Eleanor Fox
Alys Howells
Izzy Lewis
Ed Lewis
Patrick George
Adam Pattenden
Adam Pattenden (S) and Tessa Scott-Bell
(MSH) won the Williams Sculls (J15).
Adam’s impressive performance placed
him 8th overall.
Louis Nares (Rb) and Issy Lewis (EDH)
won the Junior Williams crowns.
Moser’s Hall and The Grove took the
team Senior Challenge Sculls titles.
Bumps 2015
The ongoing domination of the Bumping Races by Rigg’s Hall in
recent years continued this year with Rigg’s I claiming the Head of
the River trophy for the seventh year in a row (another new record).
They also claimed the headship in divisions two and three. Whispers
on the towpath suggest that this run may end next year, but these
rumours have been flying around for at least five years now!
Emma Darwin Hall finished as the highest girls’ house, but The Grove
will be hot on their heels next year.
Rigg’s also claimed the Leadbitter Cup, and The Grove the Birt
Trophy – both awarded for points earned in rowing competitions
throughout the year.
SCHOOL NEWS
RSSH
“That has to be one of the best days of my life,” says Henry as we sit around a campfire under an
African starlit sky. That morning we had been up at first light for a 10km run in a remote corner
of Kenya, a herd of zebra and antelopes cantering alongside us as we’d moved as a pack across the
Laikipia plains, giraffe and elephants looking on inquisitively as we crossed the finish line. It was
breathtaking - not least because we were running at 8,000ft altitude - and for each of us a truly
memorable experience. Later that afternoon we had hopped on the back of pickup vehicles and
travelled to a nearby conservancy where cameras had clicked enthusiastically as a vast array
of impressive African beasts passed before us, culminating in the rare sighting of a cheetah kill
right in front of the group. A quick dip in the swimming pool of Shrewsbury parents Aidan and
Claire Hartley at their home- Palagalan Farm- and then down to the campfire for
T-Bone steaks and boerewors. What a day indeed.
T
he Hunt had initially travelled
to East Africa in October 2013
following an invitation from the club’s
first Coach in Residence, Ethiopian
legend Sentayehu Eshetu, who had
spent a week at Shrewsbury the
previous year. He had suggested that
we follow up his visit with the ‘return
leg’ and stay with him in the famous
‘Town of Runners’: Bekoji in Ethiopia.
The inaugural trip had proved such a
success that we felt compelled to offer
the experience once again, this time to
a new group of Salopian runners eager
to embrace new challenges and reach
new heights in their running.
the training base for the likes of Mo
Farah and Paula Radcliffe in the past,
and in fact, the week after we left,
over a dozen of the UK athletics team
moved in for their three-month training
block in Kenya. It is an inspiring place,
and has been the breeding ground for
countless Olympic gold medalists and
world record holders, not least 800m
world record holder David Rudisha
who went to the local St Patrick’s
school. The school has more Olympic
medalists than most western nations!
If it was heights they were looking
for, it was heights they got, with
much of our time spent running
at an altitude ranging from 8,000ft
in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley to the
lung-bursting 10,000ft in Ethiopia.
The impact of training at this height
is quite significant, and it is not easy
running in those conditions. We were
asking a lot from our young up-andcoming runners, but it is to their great
credit that they rose to the challenge.
The self-proclaimed ‘Town of
Champions’ is home to literally
thousands of full-time athletes, and
there is a unique thrill in training in
the same small town as so many of
the world’s best athletes. One morning
during our stay we were able to meet
one such athlete following his morning
gym session at the Lornah Kiplagat
Centre- Emmanuel Mutai. With a time
of 2.03.13, Mutai is the second fastest
man ever over the marathon distance
yet took the time to speak to our young
runners and was remarkably humble in
describing his career.
The majority of our time in Kenya was
spent in Iten to the west of the country,
staying at the internationally-acclaimed
Lornah Kiplagat Centre. This has been
Amongst the highlights of our time in
Kenya would be training on the
famous Kamariny track that has as its
backdrop a good few thousand-foot
drop down into the Great Rift Valley
with views across the escarpment for
hundreds of miles. We were challenged
in our running, taking on some long
distance runs through the forests of Iten
and in speedwork sessions, and indeed
some quite tortuous core sessions led
by top Kenyan 800m runner Timo Limo.
Similarly, when we travelled north to
Ethiopia, we were put through our paces
in the town of Bekoji where we were
reunited with Coach Sentayehu Eshetu.
A track session just about killed me as
I was cruelly placed in the elite men’s
marathon group by Coach (was it
something I had said?) and, without even
time to question the sanity of the decision
was forced into embarking upon the
session of 5 sets of 5 laps run at 3min/
km pace. I managed one set before
genuinely believing my lungs were about
to explode. I quietly drifted down into
a more realistic group and hoped that
nobody had noticed.
Our runners were hugely impressive in
the way in which they coped with the
demands placed upon them.
They earned the respect of the Bekoji
athletes (approximately 100-150 turn up
for every session) when they completed
Coach’s grueling endurance run in the
eucalyptus forest, and in turn, we were
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SCHOOL NEWS
hugely grateful for the warm welcome
we received from the Ethiopian athletes
and the town itself. Greeted with
cheers of ‘Farangi!’ wherever we went
(‘foreigner’) there was sheer delight
in the faces of the town’s residents
(especially the children) whenever we
ran past them. This is a rarely-visited
part of Africa where foreigners are very
rarely seen. Yet there was no hostility,
only hospitality of the very best sort.
It was an eye-opener for our students
to see a town where horse and cart is
the main form of transport, and where
electricity cannot be relied upon (one
of my favourite memories of the tour
was eating a version of what we might
call ‘pizza’ in candlelight following
a whole-town blackout, listening to
the mellifluous jazz of Charlie Parker
from one of the boy’s iPods). We saw
- both in Ethiopia and Kenya - a level
of ambition and determination that is
rarely seen in the western world. They
have so little, yet dream big. There is
an incredible belief that anything is
possible. That hunger to succeed is
contagious and the young Salopians on
our tour were moved and inspired by
the people who they met.
Perhaps most memorable and inspiring
of all was our visit to the Restart Centre
in Gilgil, home to just over 100 orphans
and street children from the surrounding
area. Set up by Mary Coulson in 2008
in the aftermath of horrific post-election
violence, this is a quite remarkable
place. It was the third time I had
personally visited the Centre and each
time I have left feeling humbled and
inspired in equal measure by both Mary
and the Restart children. Many have
been subjected to the most appalling
something of a ‘vintage’ year group, and
we weren’t to be disappointed.
At the Restart Centre
violence and abuse, many have had that
most basic need - a mother and father
who love them - taken from them. Yet
these are some of the happiest, vibrant,
and resilient young boys and girls you
are ever likely to meet. Now housed in
an impressive new facility in Langalanga,
somebody has made sure that the
Centre’s motto has been repainted on
the walls of the new building - “Think
Not What You Are, But What You Can
Become”. It was a message that our
Hunt runners took to heart, and I have
no doubt that their experiences in East
Africa over half-term will not only stay
with them for a lifetime, but impact
upon who they will become. The eleven
boys and two girls who travelled with
us were a great credit to the School and
were terrific company throughout the
trip. It was an absolute privilege to take
them there.
Third Form Race
Looking further back to the start of
the School year, the Michaelmas term
got off to a flying start with the annual
Third Form Race on the first weekend
in September. This year’s race was set to
be a cracker with many assembling on
the startline having already shown their
mettle in Shrewsbury’s Prep Schools’
Cross-Country Championships. We were
quietly optimistic that this could be
At the Huntsman’s rallying cry of “All
Hounds who wish to run - run hard,
run well, and may the Devil take the
hindmost!” there was a stampede of
runners sprinting towards the Moss
Gates in an attempt to establish an
early lead. With Huntsman Oscar
Dickins (joint Huntsman this year with
Ben Remnant) running as ‘hare’, it
was Severn Hill’s Sam Western who
unsurprisingly emerged at the front of
the pack by the Maidment Building. In
the chasing pack, amongst others, was
Sam’s former classmate from Birchfield
Lilian Wilcox who was comfortably
leading the girls’ race. These were leads
that both Sam and Lilian held for the
entire race with Sam coming home for
his first ‘kill’ in a swift time of 8.16 over
the Benjies course, nearly 30 seconds
ahead of Thomas Jackson (Rigg’s) in
2nd with a time of 8.44 and Severn
Hill’s Leo Walton in 3rd (8.48). Lilian’s
winning time of 9.29 placed her 13th
overall in the field - an outstanding
achievement - with Laura Elliot of The
Grove in 2nd (10.28) and Mary Lees of
Emma Darwin Hall just behind in 3rd
with a time of 10.34. The team event
was won by Rigg’s Hall for the second
year in a row with Emma Darwin Hall
being crowned victors in the girls’ event.
The times across the board were very
swift indeed, and compared to previous
years suggests that the years ahead for
the Hunt look very promising indeed.
We are beginning to see the fruits of the
Prep Schools’ Championships where
many who compete in our event are
keen to join the School and our special
running club.
SCHOOL NEWS
Behind Dickins and HuxleyFielding was perhaps the surprise
of the day, with Ridgemount runner
Harry Adair completing the podium
and narrowly edging out last year’s
winner Charlie Tait-Harris. Like
the leading Riggites, Severn Hill
seemed to opt for ‘coupling up’,
with Scott Hatton coming home
alongside Tait-Harris in 5th place.
The Tucks
Of course, the major focus of the
term is the annual Tucks race, which
once again proved a high-octane
affair with the top athletes in the
School competing for the laurels.
Uniquely, of course, the whole
School take part in the race, with
both pupils and staff toeing the line
and tackling the mud, stiles and
tarmac of the three-mile course.
Dr Gee was first out of the blocks
an hour or so before the official line,
but given this was his 55th time he
had run in the Tucks, we allowed
him this concession!
As the hooter sounded for the start
of the official race, the anticipated
frenetic sprint start was once again
seen, with all 130 of the 1st Wave
runners bidding to get out quickly
and squeeze through the small gap
at the end of the field first. There
were a few fallers at this stage in
scenes reminiscent of the Grand
National, but thankfully no injuries.
The big hitters amongst The Hunt
were out in force in a bid to bring
home the Hector Rose Bowl for the
winner of the boys’ race and the
newly-gifted Mobley Cup for the
girls. The first winner of the latter
was - appropriately enough - this
year’s Captain of Girls’ Running
Olivia Papaioannou. Despite a
niggling Achilles injury the week
before, she put in a commanding
performance and ensured that her
name will be etched on to this
new trophy, which has kindly been
donated by the Mobley family in
recognition of the achievements
of their daughter Tory, last year’s
Captain of Girls’ Running. Behind
Olivia was the ever-improving
Passy Goddard of The Grove and,
impressively, Third Former Lilian
Wilcox in the bronze medal position.
This is an outstanding effort from
someone so young and bodes well
for the future.
In the boys’ race, the Rigg’s duo of
Oscar Dickins and Freddie HuxleyFielding worked well as a pair
together to break up the field and
ensure that a Rigg’s runner would
bring home the Hector Rose Bowl
for the first time since 1998. In the
end, it was Huntsman Oscar Dickins
who broke the tape first for the
‘kill’ in a very quick time of 17.41
(the fastest time in the modern era
was George Mallett’s 17.20 in 2011),
with Huxley-Fielding just behind
him. After a year of injury, it was
wonderful to see this talented runner
back in form, and this bodes well for
the Hunt’s season ahead.
The team event was therefore in
the balance and with three runners
in the top ten, Rigg’s were hopeful
of bringing home the Mallett Team
Trophy as well as the Hector Rose
Bowl. However, it wasn’t to be,
for in a very close affair it was
Severn Hill who emerged top by
just 6 points, with all of their eight
‘counters’ coming home in the top
40. Churchill’s completed the team
podium in the boys’ race, whilst
in the girls’ event The Grove were
crowned team champions for the
second year in a row.
It has been a busy and exciting
term of running and with The
Paperchases, the Old Salopian
Race and the Shrewsbury Relays
to come, there is plenty more still
to come. There is an optimism in
the air about the season ahead
and with a depth of talent that
surpasses all previous seasons, this
is perhaps the most exciting Hunt
squad for a generation. There is
a shared sense of belief, a shared
sense of ambition, and we are all
committed to our goals. Watch this
space…
Peter Middleton
L-R: Lillian Wilcox, Pascale Goddard, Olivia Papaioannou, Oscar Dickins, Harry Adair,
Freddie Huxley-Fielding
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SCHOOL NEWS
Athletics
With temperatures climbing into the mid-20s at times on Tuesday 23rd June,
conditions were very pleasant for spectators but not necessarily ideal for the
competitors in the School’s fourth Sports Day since it was resurrected in 2012.
Nevertheless, the performances on the day were very impressive indeed, and a
number of School records were broken. The atmosphere of cheerful enthusiasm
and a general ethos of ‘pitching in’ for the team made for an extremely
enjoyable event.
The main trophy winners are
listed below.
and her part in The Grove’s winning
4 x 100m team.
In the Junior Boys’ event, School House
took the Junior House Trophy just one
point ahead of Rigg’s Hall.
The Inters Victor Ludorum went to
Angus Drummond for his Long Jump
gold, his High Jump silver and his part
in the Oldham’s 4 x 100m bronzemedal-winning team.
The Junior Victor Ludorum –
calculated according to the individual
who managed to score the most points
for his house – was deservedly won by
Matthew Brinkley (SH) for gold medals
in the 100m, 200m and Javelin (with
a record-breaking distance of 33.25m)
and a silver in the 4 x 100m.
The Junior Victrix Ludorum went to
Claire Richards (G) for her three gold
medals in the 100m (joint with Daisy
McMullen), 200m and the Long Jump
The Inters House Trophy was
claimed by Severn Hill, just one point
ahead of Oldham’s.
Pascale Goddard’s three gold medals
on the track (200m, 800m – setting
a new Senior Girls’ record – and
1500m) earned her the Senior Girls’
Victrix Ludorum, which made a huge
contribution to The Grove’s overall
House win.
The Senior Boys’ Victor Ludorum
went to Gene Ratanadaros for his two
golds in the Long and Triple Jumps,
his 4th place in the High Jump, and
his part in achieving a 4th place for
Oldham’s in the 4 x 100m relay.
The Senior Boys’ House Trophy
went to Radbrook, winning by 15
points ahead of Severn Hill.
Severn Hill had the last laugh, however,
as they claimed the Tisdall Trophy
– signalling their victory across all age
groups with the highest combined
points total of 329, 16 points ahead of
School House in second.
Ian Haworth
SCHOOL NEWS
Equestrian success
Shrewsbury School’s horse riders have been achieving success on a national platform
in recent months, both as a school team and as individuals.
Championship on a collective score of
138.7, 16 penalty points ahead of silver
medallists France. In the individual
competition, Thomas finished in 4th
place, less than one penalty point
behind the bronze medal winner.
Scott Walker, Jack Ashworth, Lily Freeman-Attwood and Thomas Tulloch
A
t the National Schools’ Equestrian
Championships in October,
Jack Ashworth (S LVI), Lily FreemanAttwood (EDH III), Scott Walker (M V)
and Thomas Tulloch (Rt LVI) beat 17
other school teams in the 1m 10 Team
Showjumping Championship – the
biggest class of the first day of the
competition – to claim the national
title. Scott Walker also jumped in the
Individual 1m 10 Championship and
only narrowly failed to make it into
the Final.
In the 1m Jumping with Style
Championship class the next day,
Thomas Tulloch finished 2nd on
Kildun Marathon from 32 individual
competitors. He then went on to claim
the national title in the 1m 10 Jumping
with Style ‘Special’ class on Spirit VI,
which showcased the top 20 who had
qualified in the previous classes.
Two weeks earlier, Lily FreemanAttwood came fourth in the 138cm
event at the Horse of the Year Show.
During the summer, Thomas Tulloch
led the British eventing team to gold
at the European Pony Championships
in Sweden. The GB team finished the
Thomas was kept very busy competing
throughout the 2015 season, successfully
juggling his training and competitions
alongside his GCSE exams and his other
sporting commitments as a member of
the School’s Football and Rugby U16A
teams. In June, he won the Charles
Owen National Pony Championships for
the second year running.
He is currently at the very top of his
sport and has been selected as one
of 50 ‘Rising Stars’ for the prestigious
Jaguar Land Rover Academy of Sport
2015. This is a special mentoring and
education programme for young
athletes aged between 12 and 25
who have reached an elite level in
their sport. The Academy’s aim is “to
recognise, celebrate and inspire the next
generation of British sporting heroes by
giving them the opportunity to work
with and learn from the best British
sportsmen and women”. It also brings
with it a SportsAid Bursary to help with
equipment, competition and training
expenses. Former SportsAid recipients
include Sir Chris Hoy, Jessica Ennis Hill,
Tom Daley and Ellie Simmonds.
Thomas also achieved the notable
distinction of gaining ten straight A*
grades in his GCSE exams.
Thomas Tulloch
Thomas Tulloch (on right) proudly displaying his
European Pony Championships gold medal.
45
46
SCHOOL NEWS
Hockey
Sixth will have the opportunity to train
and compete in Valkenburg, Holland in
the week.
1st XI Hockey Squad 2015:
Amy Mobley, Jess Moeran, Imogen
Evans, Sophie Cormack, Emily
Skelton, Sarah Jackman, Jemima Price,
Nell Kirkby, Poppy Holbrook, Katie
Edwards, Morgan Butler, Amelia Binns,
Molly Beharrell, Sasha Lo, Caroline
Reid, Maddie Phillips, Ruchi Scott.
1st XI
The 1st XI squad have made steady
progress all season with their new
coach, Emma Davis. At the beginning
of term, she introduced a new playing
formation and set of tactics which
the girls took some time to adjust to.
However, things have really started
to click with the 1st XI and they have
certainly started to work well together
as a unit and produce some great
performances.
There are a number of new faces in this
year 1st XI and a few of them are new
to hockey. Yet they have worked hard
all season to refine their skills and earn
their place in the team. This season
the squad has been captained by Amy
Mobley (EDH) and Jess Moeran (G).
The girls have worked closely with Miss
Davis to push the squad.
On 9th November the girls travelled
to King’s High School for Girls in
Nottingham for the Midlands Regionals.
In their first match against Oakham,
they started slowly and although they
picked up the pace, at half time they
were down 2-1. This was a frustrating
game as the girls managed to get
within their attacking D but struggled to
convert goals. The final score was 1-3
to Oakham. A slow start but the girls
were determined and playing well.
Their second match versus King’s High
was a dip in the day, with the final
score 5-0 to King’s. But their third game
versus Solihull was much better – the
final score being 2-0 to Solihull. There
were a strong side but the girls raised
their game and played their hockey.
The Shrewsbury defence put in a strong
performance to survive a number of
short corners. Even though the girls
lost this game they were in high spirits.
They played well as a squad and
supported play when required.
Their final game versus Nottingham
High School resulted in a win for
Shrewsbury (2-0). They found their
rhythm and the hockey on display was
great to watch.
The girls have gone from strength to
strength this season and with wins over
Oswestry School (5-0) and Bedstone
College (3-0), the girls are in high
spirits. There are some very strong and
talented U15s and U14s developing
through the School – it is an exciting
time for hockey at Shrewsbury. With
the new hockey astro due to be
complete and in use by September
2016, this will mean that we will be
able to provide more specialised
training and matches.
In August 2016 the School’s first full
Hockey Tour will take place. Girls
between Third Form and the Lower
Junior Hockey
During the October half term exeat,
Lilleshall National Sports Centre
hosted the Shropshire County Hockey
Tournaments for U14 and U16 teams.
A number of our regular players were
unavailable to play, so we fielded just
one mixed Third and Fourth Form in
the U16 tournament. Despite only
having 11 players and all the girls
playing at a higher age group, the team
performed exceptionally well, winning
through to the final, where they just lost
out 0-1 to a strong Moreton Hall side.
This meant that Shrewsbury qualified
for the Regional Midlands round at this
age group for the first time.
The U16 Midlands tournament
took place at Repton School on 5th
November. We drew our first game
against Leek High School, won the
second game against Nottingham High
School 1-0 and lost the final one against
Repton 0-2. Although we just missed
out on qualifying for the next round
on goal difference, this was a solid
performance from our young team.
All the girls involved are still eligible for
this tournament next year, when
we hope to go one step further.
SCHOOL NEWS
Shrewsbury School Foundation
Shrewsbury School Foundation is grateful for your tremendous support.
Hodgson Hall
Hodgson Hall was officially opened by the Hodgson Family
on 3rd October 2015, Old Salopian Day, following over
two years of fundraising by the Foundation in support of
the Headmaster’s ‘2020 Vision’ School Development Plan.
Joining the Foundation were donors from far and wide who
supported the building of Hodgson Hall.
On behalf of the School, the Headmaster formally thanked
the Hodgson family for the generous donation that had
made the building possible. Howard Hodgson’s warm and
amusing speech centred on the wonderful time his daughter
Eliza (EDH 2011-13) had while she was at Shrewsbury.
He also expressed his delight at having discovered that he
is a descendant of the first Earl of Shrewsbury, Roger de
Montgomery (d. 1094).
The Hodgson Family
This was followed by the unveiling of an impressive
board where the names of donors to Hodgson Hall are
recorded (pictured below left) and a cornerstone (below
right) dedicating the building “to all the teachers who have
inspired and all the pupils who have been inspired at
Shrewsbury School”.
Grateful thanks were given to all the donors to Hodgson Hall,
and in particular those who had sponsored the classrooms
that have been named in honour of former masters of the
School: Richard Raven, Reverend Hugh Brooke, Laurence
Le Quesne, Dr David Gee, Lyndon Duffield, Mark Mortimer,
Robin Moulsdale and Gordon Woods.
.
“This building is dedicated to all the teachers who have inspired and all the
pupils who have been inspired at Shrewsbury School.”
Telephone Campaign
Chatri Design Centre
The Foundation is pleased to report that the second phase of the 2020 Vision plan
(which includes five phases) is currently being built on the site of the former Lyle
Building to house the faculty of Computer Design and Technology.
The Foundation would like to thank all parents and Salopians who have already
contributed to the essential works being carried out which will undoubtedly have a
great impact on teaching and learning at Shrewsbury School.
We are delighted to report that this
summer’s Telephone Campaign raised
£120,000. During the course of three
weeks in July, a team of eleven Sixth
Formers and recent leavers spoke to
almost 550 Old Salopians and parents.
The telephone campaign is a great
way for us to stay in touch with the
Salopian Community and makes a
significant contribution to Shrewsbury’s
Annual Fund, helping to support
bursaries for boys and girls who
could not otherwise afford to attend
Shrewsbury School, and projects that
will benefit all pupils at the School.
The Foundation would like to thank all
of those who spoke to our callers, and
in particular those who chose to make
a gift to the Annual Fund.
47
48
OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
From the Director of the Salopian Club
Salopian outreach continues
apace and across the globe
Salopians have been gathering,
or planning to gather, in places
as far afield as Bangkok and
Hong Kong in the East and
New York in the West. Closer
to home, Britain has been well
covered this year, with dinners
in Chester, Birmingham,
Cambridge and Cardiff,
and there have been record
attendances at Henley and
London events.
Meanwhile, as our Sports Clubs
continue to play an encouragingly
active role, the Salopian Arts and
Activities Committee is embarking
on an ambitious winter programme
of events involving Salopians in the
arts – theatre, opera, choral singing,
an orchestral concert with the School,
and a repeat of the Young OS Open
Mic Night. Another activity planned is
a World War Two Battlefield Tour to
Normandy from 15th to 19th September
2016. All these events will be publicised
on our website.
Our careers programme will be
invigorated with the arrival at the
School of the new Careers Fellow,
Catriona Dry, to carry on the good
work of her predecessor, Kate
Daubney, in helping young OS with
careers advice and assistance through
the Salopian professional networks.
Finally, we welcome Sir Peter Davis as
President of the Salopian Club in 2016;
he takes over from Sir Eldryd Parry.
Sir Eldryd has been indefatigable this
year in his support and representation
of the Club at both the School and OS
occasions, culminating fittingly with
an OS dinner in the place of his birth,
Cardiff. He departs with our admiration
and enormous gratitude.
Eldryd, diolch yn fawr.
Floreat Salopia
Nick Jenkins
Tom Lloyd (Rt 2009-14) has been awarded the Sidney Gold Medal, the School’s highest academic prize. The presentation ceremony took place at City Drinks in
London on 19th November.
SIR PETER DAVIS
Peter Davis was born in the Wirral and
brought up there and in Denbighshire.
He was educated at Shrewsbury School
(O 55-59), and for many years he was
a Trustee of the Shrewsbury School
Foundation. He is to be President of the
Salopian Club in 2016.
After starting work at 17 in Lancashire,
in sales and marketing, he ultimately
became Chief Executive of three major
FTSE companies – Reed International/
Reed Elsevier (1986-1994), Prudential
(1995-2000), and J Sainsbury plc
(2000-2004). He has also been a nonexecutive director of a large number
of major companies and an investor
in a wide range of young businesses.
He has been Chairman of Business
in the Community (1996-2001), the
CBI Finance and General Purposes
Committee, the Welfare to Work New
Deal Task Force (1997-2000), and the
Government’s Employer Task Force
on Pensions.
Outside the world of business,
Sir Peter has been Chairman of Marie
Curie Cancer Care (2006-2011),
(where he is now Life Vice President),
Pro Chancellor of Bangor University
(where he is now Deputy Chair of
Bangor University Council), a Trustee of
the Royal Opera House and Chairman
of the Royal Opera House Foundation,
a Trustee of the V and A, and on the
board of Welsh National Opera (until
recently chairing their Advisory Board).
In 2000 he was awarded an honorary
LLD (Doctor of Laws) degree by the
University of Exeter, and in 2003 the
annual Gold Medal by the Chartered
Management Institute. He was made a
Fellow of City & Guilds in 2004 and
is also a Fellow of the Royal Society
of Arts.
Sir Peter is married to Sue and has two
sons and a daughter.
OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
Salopian Club Events
Old Salopian Day 2015
Old Salopian Day on 3rd October was
another great success, with around 150
Salopian Club members and guests
coming along to enjoy the programme
of events and take a stroll around the
site on what turned into a beautiful
autumn day.
The main focus of this year’s event was
the opening of Hodgson Hall, the new
academic block, designed by Adrian
James (S 1976-80). Champagne and
canapés were served and speeches
were made by the Headmaster, Mark
Turner, and by Howie Hodgson, whose
generous donation made the building
possible. A number of the classrooms
are sponsored by Old Salopians in
honour of some of the most inspiring
teachers in the School’s recent history,
some of whom were present. The
guests all welcomed the opportunity to
explore the building, which is bright,
airy and spacious.
Later on in the afternoon, the lecture
theatre at Hodgson Hall was put to
excellent use for a talk on ‘Rowing the
Atlantic’ by Alex Bland (Rt 2000-05).
Alex was half of a duo (the other half
being Harry Martin-Dreyer (also Rt
2000-05), who spent 50 days rowing
across the Atlantic from Gran Canaria
to Barbados, completing the challenge
on 1st February 2014. They raised over
£200,000 split between the charities
JDRF, which supports research into
curing type 1 diabetes, and Cure
Leukaemia. A number of OS described
his illustrated talk as the highlight of
the day.
There was a wonderful atmosphere
over lunch in KH, where everyone
enjoyed a carvery buffet. The
Chairman of the Salopian Club, Peter
Stewart, gave the welcome speech
and introduced The President of the
Salopian Club, Sir Eldryd Parry. Sir
Eldryd treated the gathered guests
to one of his inspiring and heartfelt
speeches, thanking the Club staff for
their work over the year and also
taking an amusing look at an old rule
book and some of the punishments
given out in the past. How things
have changed!
The buzz of chatter dispersed slowly
as people walked out into what had
turned into a glorious afternoon. The
houses were open for visits, as was the
Ancient Library and the Art Department,
and there was also a great turnout for
the OS football matches. Dr Gee was
signing copies of his book ‘City on a
Hill’ in the Moser Library.
All the football matches were
tightly contested encounters and it
was heartening to see so many OS
footballers returning. Meanwhile the OS
girls played a 9-a-side hockey match,
followed by a netball match. It was
nice to see more girls back as they are
starting to finish university so are more
able to attend. The hockey was a close
game, with some flowing hockey.
The OS team just came out on top,
but there were a few controversial
umpiring decisions! The netball was
won by the OS team who were solid
from defence through to attack.
We were fortunate that the world
renowned choir Tenebrae were
performing that same evening in the
Chapel. Tenebrae are managed by
Henry Southern (G 2003-08) and the
event was sponsored by Richard Baker
(DB 1953-58). A number of OS stayed
on to watch the performance, which
was truly sublime and was set off
perfectly by the Chapel’s candelit and
atmospheric backdrop.
For some Old Salopians this had
been their first visit to the School
since leaving and for others this is an
event they look forward to year on
year. We love having the opportunity
to entertain so many of the School’s
alumni at one time, and the smiling
faces, the obvious affection between
friends and the glimpses into new
associations and connections being
made make the event so very
worthwhile. We also welcome ideas
and constructive feedback, if anyone
would like to offer any for next
year’s planning.
49
50
OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
Henley
The Henley Royal Regatta, one of the
highlights of the sporting summer,
was blessed with beautiful sunshine
this year and the Sabrina gathering on
Saturday 4th July saw record numbers
of Old Salopians turn out to soak up
the atmosphere. The venison burgers
went down a treat and the fizz was
flowing, enabling some 240 guests to relax
and enjoy the occasion.
Unfortunately the Sabrina boat, rowing
for the first time ever as an VIII in
the Henley Royal Regatta, had been
narrowly edged out in qualifying (by less
than a second). However the spectators
were treated to a demonstration of
rowing at its finest, with a ‘row past’ by
the 1st VIII of 1960 - the self styled ‘Old
Men’s Boat’. The 1960 1st VIII (pictured
right) have had a commemorative
medal struck, which will be displayed
in the Sabrina cabinet in the Pentagon
at the Schools. The 1955 1st VIII also
attended the lunch gathering.
OS Summer Party
On Saturday 5th
September the young
OS gathered for a
summer party at the
Grand Union Pleasure
Garden in Brixton.
There was a good
turnout of around
80 young OS (plus
the odd young at
heart guest) and by
all accounts a great
evening was enjoyed
by all.
Many thanks to Hugh
Faith (O 1997-2002),
Felicity Davies (MSH
2008-10) and Henry
Unwin (Rt 2001-06) for
organising the event,
and to Kit Oates (PH
2000-05) for the great
photograph.
OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
News of Old Salopians
1930 - 1949
Raymond Worrall (SH 1938-42) was
appointed to the rank of Chevalier
in the Ordre National de la Légion
d’Honneur at a ceremony held in York
on 8th November 2015.
Brian Fawcett (DB 1943-47) wrote
to tell us his family news. His three
children all graduated with first
class honours in Physics from UCL
or Imperial College. Of his nine
grandchildren, one is at Oxford
reading Chemistry and one has just
been accepted for Oxford Medical
School. One more is studying medicine
at Sheffield and another is already
qualified and working as an A & E
Registrar in Bristol. So one-third of
his grandchildren will be medics. His
youngest granddaughter is a talented
musician and dancer and his other
grandchildren are either at university
or have already graduated. He has four
great-grandsons.
1950 - 1969
Tony Duerr OBE (Rt 1951-56) writes:
“Apart from a short spell at Cambridge
and an even shorter time in National
Service, I have spent my entire working
life in our family food manufacturing
business, of which I am still Chairman
(duerrs.co.uk). The business is now
unbelievably 135 years old, thanks to 80
years with an Old Salopian managing
director!
I retired at 60, leaving my two sons
to deal with the demands of the
supermarkets. We now produce around
400,000 units per day of jam, peanut
butter and cranberry sauce.
Happily Mark (Rt 1977-82) and brother
Richard (Malvern) have done really well
and I am so proud of them. Sadly there is
not enough money in the food industry
for the fourth generation of Duerrs to
attend Ridgemount! I have sadly had
to give up golf due to a back problem
and have recently been diagnosed with
Parkinson’s, but life goes on.
Richard Hayes (M 1952-57) is now
living in Shrewsbury having ‘retired’
in 1999 from parochial ministry in
London, ending with two churches in
Lombard Street in the City. He is now
enjoying assisting in three villages in
deepest rural north Shropshire.
Richard is Chairman of the Friends
of Lord Hill’s Column – a superb
Doric monument (43m) surmounted
by a statue of Wellington’s friend
and most trusted general, Rowland
Hill of Hawkstone (5m), which is
now needing to be replaced. Richard
proposes to walk in April 2016 with
one or two others from Lord Anglesey’s
Column in Llanfairpwllgwyngyll in
Anglesey along Telford’s A5 Holyhead
to Shrewsbury road (it has a pavement)
ending at Lord Hill’s Column, which
was completed in June 1816. They will
wear the uniforms of the period of
regiments commanded by Hill, and the
intention is to raise public awareness
and cash to assist Shropshire Council
in the work of replicating the statue in
Coade artificial stone. ‘Retirement’ is
proving to be most fulfilling.
some 300 schools nationwide and
with its growth accelerating, it aims
to double this over the next two
years and then reach 1000 schools
by 2020. Its start-up grants go to
schools which undertake to make
Classics permanent after the twoyear grant period and they are spent
on retraining non-Classicist teachers
to enable them to teach Classics as
well as their regular subject. Modern
textbooks and teaching styles are a far
cry from the grammar-intensive days
of yore, and pupils have been taking
to it with impressive enthusiasm;
second year cohorts are frequently
much larger than the first.
CFA is a ‘Robin Hood organisation’,
raising funds from the better off and
awarding them to those in need. Its
supporters enjoy themselves; recent
fundraising events have included
a gala dinner addressed by Boris
Johnson and a retrial of Socrates in
the Supreme Court with one of the
Law Lords presiding.
The charity may be of interest to OS
whether as potential donors or, for
erstwhile Classicists, as mentors to
CFA’s teachers. To learn more please
write to [email protected].”
Peter John Robertson (Ch 1953-58)
and his wife, Rosalind, are living an
hour and a half south of Ottawa,
in the village of Morrisburg, where
they look across the St Lawrence
River towards upstate New York.
He retired from university teaching
(English Literature) and is now in
semi-retirement estate planning as a
Chartered Life Underwriter.
Nicholas Barber (SH 1954-58)
wrote to tell us about a national charity
he chairs.
“For anyone interested in raising
educational standards in Britain’s
schools, you may like to know about
Classics for All. Founded by Dr Peter
Jones, familiar to some as author of
the Spectator’s Ancient & Modern
column, CFA provides grants to
state schools to introduce Classics,
typically Latin, and so address the
fact that only 20% of state schools
offer Classics compared with 80% of
independents. Although only five years
old, CFA has already grant-aided
Charles I G S Edwards (R 1955-60)
married Miss J J Boston on 9th
September 2015 at Chelsea Registry
Office.
Michael Clower (Rt 1957-61)
was named South Africa’s Racing
Journalist of the Year at the Equus
Awards Ceremony in Johannesburg
in August 2015.
51
52
OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
David Wynn Millward (Rt 1957-62)
lives in Llangynyw, mid-Wales and has
been included in a new Welsh Arts
Council publication, ‘Post-War to PostModern: A Dictionary of Artists
in Wales’.
He studied Law at Queen’s College,
Dundee, University of St Andrews
1963-66 and went on the Royal
Academy Schools, London 1971-74,
where he won the Griffin Prize 1972,
Print Prize 1972, 1973, Connoisseur
Prize (Oil Painting) and the Landseer
Scholarship 1973. After some years
spent working as a copywriter/
visualiser for an advertising agency in
London and then as a freelance artist
and cartoonist, he arrived in Wales
in 1980. In 1982 he set up summer
schools in painting, with permission
of the Secretary of State for Wales and
Peter Greenham, then Keeper of the
Royal Academy Schools. Commissions
include Deri Woods Park, Llanfair
Caereinion 2000; Welshpool High
School 2003-04. Group exhibitions
include Summer Exhibition, Royal
Academy, London 1985; Royal West of
England Academy, Bristol 1985, 1986.
One-person exhibitions: Oriel Davies,
Newtown 1976; Oriel Ty Cornel,
Meifod 2000, 2001; Screenprints:
Caereinion Leisure Centre 200306; Montgomery Landscapes and
Faces 1969-2006. The first book he
wrote and illustrated was The Feast
of the Balloon Fish King (1971). He
has subsequently illustrated a great
many children’s books. Collections
include Brecknock Museum and
Art Gallery, Brecon; Royal Gwent
Hospital, Newport. His work has been
purchased by the Welsh Arts Council.
Robert Crabtree (I 1957-61) writes:
“After thirty-something years, I
retired in 2007 from being a full-time
vigneron and winemaker here in South
Australia. I then moved to the city
and went back to university. Working
in the Department of International
Politics, I was awarded my MA at the
University of Adelaide for a thesis on
self-determination in Abkhazia. I then
went on to work for a PhD on the selfdetermination of the island of Mayotte
and its becoming a département of
France. This was awarded to me last
month, so I have joined at 71 the ranks
of older Old Salopian Doctors. I was in
Ingram’s from 1957 to 1961 (with little
distinction or enjoyment, I have to say).
I owe a huge and continuing debt,
however, to two great teachers who
awakened intellectual curiosity and
academic interest: Michael Hart and
Arnold Ellis.”
Timothy Bigland (Rt 1960-64)
emailed to tell us that since he retired
in 2005 he has developed an interest
in bird watching. “Earlier this year 99
Little Terns fledged in an enclosure on
Gronant Dunes, which is adjacent to
a LNRR on the Dee Estuary. 135 pairs
of Little Terns scraped 135 nests in the
sand, with 424 Little Terns there at a
given time. It is believed that Sand Eels
were plentiful this spring in the Dee
because the colony thrived to become
the biggest in the UK. At Point of Ayr
there were two additional Little Tern
Sternula Albifrons fledglings.”
Dr Robin Brooke-Smith (S 1961-66)
writes that the Kindle and Hardcover
Editions of Storm Warning: Riding the
Crosswinds in the Pakistan-Afghan
Borderlands are available on Amazon
and through the publisher I.B. Tauris.
1970 - 1979
Matthew Bowcock (Ch 1970-74)
was awarded the CBE in the Queen’s
Birthday Honours 2014 for Services
to Community Philanthropy. He was
also recently appointed as a member
of the Governing Body of Arts Council
England for a five-year term. His wife
Helen was awarded the OBE.
Nick Randall (O 1972-76) saw his
daughter Victoria married on 16th May
2015. The couple’s “go away” vehicle
was PER65 – Michael Hall’s old 1955
Land Rover. It was driven by Andrew
Racz (G 1992-97) and Victoria was
accompanied by her OS brothers, Philip
(O 1999-2002) and Christian (O 200712), so it was a truly Salopian event.
Paul Vlissidis (Rt 1974-79) writes
that “it may interest my fellow OSs to
know that I am currently appearing
in the Channel 4 show Hunted. I lead
the cyber team (I have been doing
cyber security for 20 years) tracking
the ‘fugitives’.”
Richard Stone (O 1977-82)
had the very good fortune to be
married to Yuliya Teplyuk on 16th
April in the Seychelles.
Mark Williams (Staff 1977-86)
Former Mathematics Master & Masterin-Charge of Cricket and Fives at
Shrewsbury, Mark has recently retired
from Eton College and has taken up the
position of Laws of Cricket Advisor with
the MCC at Lord’s.
1980 - 1989
Revd Steve Davies (R 1979-83)
followed up news of his engagement
in the last edition of The Salopian:
“Please find photographic proof of two
astonishing events in July, the wonder
that Miss Julia Briggs was willing to
marry me and the fact that there was a
day last summer when the sun shone
gloriously throughout.” Now living in
Royal Leamington Spa, Steve continues
to combine working as a teacher
with being Academy Chaplain at
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC.
Charles Hill (SH 1980-84) writes:
“On 1st September I was given a
new posting as Chief Superintendent
for Local Policing West - giving
me responsibility for policing in
Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford
& Wrekin. On almost the same date my
eldest daughter, Jenny, joined the Sixth
Form at Shrewsbury, in Mary Sidney
Hall. So once again I will be paying
regular visits to Shrewsbury - both
to see Jenny and to ensure that West
Mercia Police continues to look after
everyone in Shropshire.”
OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
Simon Frew (PH 1982-87) continues
his travels. He is now in Thailand and
visited Shrewsbury International School
in Bangkok while there. His role as an
Ambassador for Four Seasons Hotels
continued, with him helping to open
their employees’ Sports Day in Chiang
Mai, Thailand. He plans to visit Hong
Kong, Perth and Bali next and to be
back in Shrewsbury at Christmas. You
can follows his travels on his blog:
http://www.sifrew.com/
Justin Bayliss (O 1985-90) reports
that he completed a bicycle ride from
Paris to Nice in order to raise funds for
a breast cancer charity.
1990 - 1999
Rob Barber (SH 1995-97) announces
his engagement to Charlotte BennettDiver on 16th December 2014 in Kalk
Bay, Cape Town. He and Charlotte
have run Golden Africa in Botswana
for the last 12 years, a company
running bespoke safaris throughout
Botswana. The website is www.
golden-africa.com and they would
be happy to extend discounts to Old
Salopians and their families wishing to
come on safari with them.
Freddie Mason (O 1997-2002)
proposed to Sophia Hargreaves in
October and is delighted to be able to
announce their engagement.
Siôn Charlesworth-Jones (SH 19982003) and his wife Kathryn welcomed
their first child, Olivia Rose, on 18th July
2015, weighing 8lbs 6oz.
Jonathan Beeston (Rb 1995-00)
was married on 13th June 2015 in the
Chapel of St Mary Undercroft in the
Palace of Westminster. He and his new
wife Fiona held their reception in the
House of Lords. They are now living
in Corfu.
Dr James William Brooke-Smith
(Rb 1992-95) is now Assistant
Professor of English Literature at the
University of Ottawa.
Richard Nichols (S 1998-2003) was
married to Sarah Lagar on 20th June
2015. He is now working as a lawyer
for Clyde and Co. in Manchester.
James ‘Bomber’ Ashcroft (SH 199297) and his wife Anna celebrated the
birth of their second son Guy Mallory
Ralfe Ashcroft on 23rd March 2015. After
a number of years working as the News
Editor on Shooting Times magazine,
James went into the art world and
worked on Bond Street in London for a
leading contemporary gallery. He now
runs his own art consultancy business in
London, Ashcroft Art.
Jack Fanning (O 1997-2002) is
assistant professor in Micro-Economics
at Brown University, Providence, USA.
He was married to Courtney Sanks on
4th July 2015.
Jon Pendergast (PH 1993-98) and
his wife Jen welcomed their second
child into the world over the summer.
Dominic Rilian Pendergast was born
on 31st May 2015, a little brother
for Sebastian. Jon and Jen are still
living in Toronto Canada, where
they moved five years ago as part of
Jon’s work assignment for SunGard
Data Systems. Jon has recently been
promoted to head up SunGard’s
global professional services business
for trading book risk management.
2000
Will Bannister (Rt 2000-05) is
delighted to announce that he is due to
marry Jennifer Lawrence early in 2016
and that they are expecting a baby boy
at a similar time. He is working in the
wine trade and is always happy to help
any Salopians with any requirements
that they might have.
53
54
OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
Remembering the Queen’s visit to
Shrewsbury, October 1952
Kit Oates (PH 2000-05) has a
new exhibition running from 18th
November until 6th January at Gallery
101, Salvation Army International
Headquarters, 101 Queen Victoria St,
London, EC4V 4EH. Re:Generation is an
exhibition of portraits of tenants from
the South Kilburn housing estate, North
West London. The estate is undergoing
regeneration, placing its residents
and the area in a transitional period.
The images were originally installed
on tower blocks in the area, which
are due for demolition. This striking
series of portraits captures the different
generations living on the estate.
J
Max Emmerich (Rt 2008-10) is in his
third and final year of clinical medicine
at Oxford University, having spent his
three pre-clinical years at Trinity College,
Cambridge. He has just been awarded
the Peter Fan Senior Scholarship by St
John’s College for academic excellence
throughout his time at medical school.
He has also just won a £2,000 grant
from the Oxford University Clinical
Academic Graduate School to fund a
ten-week stint as a visiting researcher at
Harvard Medical School, where he will
be working on melanoma cancer stem
cells (and see p55).
Ali Webb (S Hill 2008-13) writes: “I’m
currently working as a freelance filmmaker with Fulwell 73, a production
company in Camden. I recently filmed
a cycling documentary in the Canadian
Rockies with some friends, raising
money for two hospices. Three guys
cycled 2000km from Calgary to Tofino
and I’m currently editing the film which
we hope will inspire others to live a life
of adventure. Our website is
www.tofino2015.com.”
ust before the beginning of the
Michaelmas term, the Marketing
office at Shrewsbury was contacted
by Gareth Owen, a journalist working
for ITV Central News, asking for help
with a feature he was putting together
to mark the day on which the Queen
became the longest reigning monarch
in British history. Searching for a
Midlands focus, he had come across
some evocative Pathé news footage
of the Queen’s visit to Shrewsbury
School in October 1952 – her first
visit to the region as Queen. Might
the School be able to find someone
who was there that day, and could he
come and film an interview with them
on the Queen’s Terrace?
We were hugely grateful to David
Longrigg (Ch 1949-54), Adrian Struvé
and Jane Tupper, all of whom agreed
at very short notice to come and be
interviewed – David Longrigg even
travelling all the way from Oxford.
He was 16 years old at the time of the
Queen’s visit and recalled taking part in
the whole school PE display on Central
and playing football with the 1st XI on
Top Common. Adrian Struvé had just
begun his third year as a master at the
School (he would remain here until his
retirement in 1986) and recalled the
excitement and sense of honour felt by
the entire school community.
Jane Tupper is the daughter of A.E.
Taylor, who was Housemaster of
School House until his sudden death
in March 1952, one month after the
death of the Queen’s own father. Jane
had returned from university to help
her mother organise the lunch for the
Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh,
which was served in School House. She
has particularly strong memories of the
occasion and was deeply impressed by
the Queen’s bearing during the occasion
– her sense of humour, her evident
enjoyment of the day and the interest
she took in the people she met. She
was touched that, on being introduced
to her, the Queen immediately realised
the connection with another young
member of staff she had met earlier in
the morning – Jane’s fiancé, the Revd
Michael Tupper (whose obituary is
published on page 82).
The recording of the ITV Central
interview may be viewed on the School
website: http://www.shrewsbury.
org.uk/news/remembering-queensvisit-shrewsbury-school-october-1952.
It includes extracts from the Pathé
newsreel that captures some of the
excitement of the Queen’s visit: http://
www.britishpathe.com/video/queen-atshrewsbury
Also on the School website is a gallery
of photos of the Queen’s visit and a
series of accounts of the day, including
one written by David Longrigg: http://
www.shrewsbury.org.uk/page/queensvisit-shrewsbury-1952
L-R: Jane Tupper, David Longrigg, Adrian Struvé
OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
OS Arts and Activities Committee
The first full meeting of the recently
formed Arts and Activities Committee
took place on Saturday 3rd September,
at The Curtains Up in London. The
meeting was well attended by some
of our most artistically gifted and
knowledgeable OS and was organised
and chaired by Peter Fanning. A
number of interesting and exciting
ideas were discussed, from a joint
School/OS ‘scratch’ orchestral concert
to a possible arts bursary fund for OS.
Details of some of the planned events
are listed below. Further details
of many of these projects will be
available shortly.
Friday 15th January 2016 7.30pm
for 8.00pm: An open mic evening
at The Horse & Stables, 124
Westminster Bridge Road, London
SE1 7RW
Following this year’s very successful
gathering, Old Salopians young and
T
old are encouraged to return to this
friendly venue, either to participate
musically or simply to enjoy the music
provided by others. Anyone who is
interested and willing to participate
should contact Ali Webb
([email protected]).
Wednesday 3rd February 2016
5pm: Evensong at St Paul’s
Cathedral
Two Old Salopians are currently
members of the Choir of St Paul’s
(Patrick Craig and Martin Oxenham),
whilst Mark Oakley is a Canon at the
Cathedral. The service will be followed
by a tour of the Cathedral and a
gathering at a nearby hostelry.
Saturday 6th February 2.30pm:
‘The Mikado’ – English National
Opera
Fergus Macleod will conduct a revival
of this much loved Gilbert & Sullivan
production by Jonathan Miller. Old
Salopians attending this performance
will be invited to an after-show
gathering (location tbc) to meet Fergus
and to discuss the production. Wives,
partners and children are all welcome.
Saturday 12th March:
Concert performed by a joint
orchestra and choir of Old
Salopians and pupils from
Shrewsbury School, in the Alington
Hall, Shrewsbury
Old Salopians will be warmly
welcomed to come and play with
pupils from the School in a concert
for choir and orchestra. A rehearsal
will take place in the afternoon,
followed by a concert in the evening.
Accommodation may be available for
participants. Further details to follow.
Darwin Society Biology Research Evening
hree Old Salopians returned on
18th September to Shrewsbury to
give talks to the Darwin Society on
the theme of research in biology.
Max Emmerich (Rt 2008-10) is close
to completing his clinical training
after studying Medicine at both
Cambridge and Oxford Universities.
He spoke about his experiences of
research projects and internships at
every stage in his education, from
school holidays and Sixth Form
options through to vacations during
university and the intercalated courses
that are on offer to those enterprising
enough to search them out. Max
stressed the role of luck in hitting on
areas of biology that turn out to be
significant - in his case this was a type
of membrane-bound pigment that has
become an important research tool.
He also stressed that to a large extent
one makes one’s own luck by being
persistent and resilient.
William Jones (Rt 2003-08) is currently
working towards his PhD in the
Department of Ecology and Genetics
at Uppsala University, Sweden.
He spoke about the classic route
into a career in scientific research
and teaching through a Masters
degree followed by a doctorate. Not
surprisingly given WIlliam’s lifetime
interest in ornithology, his research
field is the evolution of flycatchers,
with summers spent collecting data
on an island in the Baltic.
He conveyed very convincingly the
excitement of research into ecological
and evolutionary processes where
there are many unanswered questions
and where human influences on
climate are having marked effects.
Nick Zoulias (PH 2000-05) completed
his first degree and PhD at the
University of Manchester and is now
doing post-doctoral research at the
University of Sheffield. He explained
the bifurcation in careers after a
doctorate, with some moving away
from university and into commercial
or other applications of science and
others wanting to stay at the cutting
edge of pure research. He has chosen
the latter path. His field is the control
of plant development. Nick spoke
eloquently about what he has
discovered about gradients of
signalling molecules and how they
cause plants in the Asteraceae (daisy
family) to produce three types of
structure in their inflorescences. His
research now concerns how genes
are switched on and off as a result
of these gradients to cause observed
patterns of development.
A capacity audience of Sixth Form
pupils and teachers listened with
rapt interest to all three of talks, so
we hope to hold another Biology
Research evening in the future. Any
Old Salopians who would be willing
to contribute are encouraged to get in
touch with the Head of Biology [email protected].
Andrew Allott
L-R: William Jones, Nicholas Zoulias, Max Emmerich and their Biology teacher Andrew Allott
55
56
OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
James Humpish - the making of a runner
W
hen joining Shrewsbury School
in 2008, I was far from the fittest
Third Former. Coming 103rd in the
New Boys’ Race and 500th in my first
Tucks run, the original plan was not to
involve myself with the Hunt. I think
at the time the feeling was mutual;
the Hunt probably didn’t want too
much to do with me either. The Benjy
course is about 2.25km and at the
age of 13 I could take that on in just
about 16 minutes – the length of time
it would take most to do the course
in a brisk walk.
By the time I had
left Shrewsbury
in 2013, I had
brought my
Benjy time down
to 8 minutes and
12 seconds (I
can remember
every one of
those seconds
vividly) and I
had participated
in Shrewsbury’s
first ever half marathon, finishing in
the top 100 out of approximately 3,000
(a position better than my New Boys’
Race!) in 94 minutes.
What had happened?
The answer to that question is
incredibly hard to pinpoint. I can
remember towards the end of my first
term signing up to do regular sessions
with the RSSH, who were just about
to begin their reformation under the
newly-arrived Mr Middleton. But I’m
not exactly sure why I did. I can just
remember the first session having to
run 4 kilometres continuously, with Mr
Middleton there to make sure I didn’t
lag, and finding it incredibly painful
and rather embarrassing. But for some
reason I didn’t give up. It was also
before the time when sport was made
compulsory in autumn 2009. If I had
wanted to, I could have dodged sport
for just a little longer. The inspirational
tutelage from Mr Middleton must have
had a lot to do with it. The feeling of
going just a little bit faster than last
week must have had something to do
with it as well. Having the support of
my friend and the 2013-14 Huntsman,
Ed Mallett, must also have helped a
great deal too.
Some improvement came quickly,
which in retrospect isn’t too surprising
as it couldn’t have got a lot worse! By
Fourth Form I could run for a nice
little while, having learned some routes
that would later become symbolic of
my time at Shrewsbury – the Berwick,
the route to Haughmond Hill and Lyth
Hill all became routes I could do in my
own spare time by the end and served
to relieve the tension I was building in
tackling A-levels. As I developed and
grew older, I tried to deal with running
and how to get to grips with it. I think
the trick to it was that it wasn’t really
a physical challenge. It was obviously
physically demanding, and my current
physique is incredibly grateful for that.
But it was a challenge of character.
It required as much emotional and
intellectual strength as it did physical.
The final time I ran a Benjy, it felt
surreal because I didn’t have to think
about my direction in the slightest,
only my speed, because the reactions
to the route were second nature. I’ve
worked out I must have done the
route near enough 500 times in my
five years at Shrewsbury.
I really loved the Hunt and the spirit
of it and I’d really love to be able to
give a full account of why I joined
and why I grew to love it, but I don’t
feel I can. It just happened. I felt
better about myself after a run and
more so when I had improved my
time. I liked the effects of running
much quicker than I liked running
in itself. I think it might not have
been until Lower Sixth that I enjoyed
running for the sake of running.
Then I don’t think it was until Upper
Sixth that I actually realised I’d actually
gained some competence in running.
In January 2013, Mr Middleton took
me aside and I thought he was going
to give me a target for my final
running season; something relatively
straightforward like a sub-9 minute
Benjy. In actuality, he had taken me
aside to tell me that he was making
me the captain of the 2nd VIII. I was
no longer a distant follower in the
Hunt, but I was actually taking a lead
in it!
As months became years in the Hunt,
strangely I had learnt to love crosscountry running and it had learnt to
love me. I was never going to be the
greatest runner in the world, but to
make it something I could do when I
had once been its antithesis had been
something that transformed my whole
attitude to sport.
I ran the half marathon in my last
week at Shrewsbury – a fitting
conclusion to my time at the School.
I had thought then that that would
probably be my final formal running
event and from then on I could
comfortably retire from competitive
running and keep it casual.
Since leaving Shrewsbury, I’ve been
a student at the University of York,
studying Philosophy, Politics and
Economics. It’s a fantastic city for
running – there are some great routes
out into the countryside and following
the Ouse has taken me on sights not
unlike the ones the Severn took me
once upon a time. But there was
something missing in the way I was
running; I wasn’t pushing myself the
way I used to.
Quite late into the game – about two
months in advance – I decided to run
the Yorkshire Marathon. The most
I’d really ever run before registering
was about 25 kilometres – and that
was only because I had got lost
once. Supporting the Jane Tomlinson
Appeal, in October 2015 I ran the full
42.2 kilometres (or as I prefer to think
of it – 19 Benjies!) in 4 hours and 12
minutes. The speed it took me to do
the full marathon was in fact, I think,
run consistently at a speed above my
New Boys’ Race.
Seven years since joining the RSSH,
a few people have taken an interest
in my journey as a runner. I think my
determination to run stemmed from a
hope to be a little healthier and a little
fitter, but as I got into it, it became
more of a race. Every week I wanted
to race the person I was the previous
week and not worry about what
everyone else was up to.
The Hunt has allowed me to go from
the Third Former who barely finished
the New Boys’ Race to a passable
marathon runner who’s at a quandary
as to where to
take his running
career next. The
Hunt let me look
at my past record
on running and
has prompted
me to always run
hard, and run
well, and may
the devil take the
hindmost!
OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
Robin Hope’s Sponsored Charity Row
In June this year, Robin Hope (Ch 1956-60), assisted by a hand-picked group of maturing oars-people,
rowed the 1895 double skiff ‘Tara’ from Cookham to Oxford and back to Henley – a distance of 110
miles and 33 locks – to raise funds for the Felix Fund.
T
he Felix Fund exists to support
any military personnel who
have conducted or assisted with
Explosive Ordnance Disposal duties.
This includes ammunition technical
officers, ammunition technicians, ECM
operators, drivers, infantry escorts,
weapons intelligence specialists, dog
handlers, searchers or other military
personnel involved in EOD duties.
The charity also supports their families.
“Cookham to Oxford includes many
lovely parts of our river, with the
Whitchurch to Goring Reach being
particularly attractive in my view.
Coming into Oxford by river is also
quite special, with the gracious towers
to the right as one approaches Folly
Bridge. The weather was reasonably
kind with some drizzle and short
sharp showers, but no stair-rods in
midstream. On three upstream days we
experienced stiff headwinds and, such
are the perversities of British weather,
those same reaches downstream had
an average headwind. All in all an
enjoyable few days with good boating
friends, and the chance to experience
different parts of the river from our
base in Cookham.”
“So far we have raised some £8,500
– and with reservations about
Scull, Pole and Paddle being used
for personal charitable efforts - if
anyone wishes to increase the total,
this can be achieved through the
JustGiving page www.justgiving.com/
CharityRow2015.”
57
58
OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
Cycling across Europe in a superhero costume
Will Hodson (Rt 1990-95)
Yes, I have just spent the last four and half months of my life cycling over 8,000km from London right
the way across Europe to Istanbul…in a superhero costume. I’ve also been carrying a cuddly toy worm
with me. He even has a name. His name is Dave the Worm and he is in fact the mascot of the charity
Parkinson’s UK. My father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s shortly after I left school and part
of my world cycle is about raising £100,000 to help them and a number of
other charities continue their life-changing work.
I
stanbul is not the finishing line for
me though. In fact, I’ve got around
another 92,000km, six more continents
and five more years of pedalling to go.
So this really is just the beginning.
This first leg of my
#7ContinentsWorldCycle (everything
has to have its own hashtag nowadays,
doesn’t it?) has been a complete blast.
From the moment I left Tower Bridge at
the end of May to the day I touched the
water of the Bosporus river in Istanbul
in the middle of October, this has been
a whole lot of fun. A dream trip in fact.
And if this trip is about anything, it’s
that with a bit of hard work, you can
achieve incredible things.
This is the main message I talk
about when I visit different schools
on my travels; the idea that
#WeCanAllBeHeroes (there’s that
hashtag again!) - whether it’s not giving
up when things get tough, or a simple
act of kindness. Heroes come in many
shapes and forms.
I used to be a primary school teacher
in London and engaging children from
all over the world with the journey is
really important for me. At the very
least, by the end of the five years of
the adventure I hope children will have
learned the names and locations of the
seven continents. I also hope they’ll
have picked up some confidence and
see that if I can make my own personal
dream come true, then they can in turn
realise their own dreams if they put the
effort in. I also hope people might see
that the world is not primarily full of
dangerous people who are ‘different’
and pose a threat to any visiting
foreigners. Sure, there are some bad
guys everywhere in the world, but the
vast majority of people in every single
country (that I have been to so far
anyway) are kind, helpful and tolerant
– hopefully like you and me.
I regularly post stories and pictures
online featuring the kind people (or
everyday heroes as I call them) I have
met in each country I have visited.
Most recently in Turkey I have been
given a house to stay in for a few days
after just a 30-minute conversation
with a guy on a ferry boat across the
Bosporus. I was also given a Toblerone
and a can of RedBull by another guy
in a car through his car window later
on that same day. This is the kind of
stuff that happens pretty well every
day in my strange world. The best way
I can describe it is that it kind of feels
like it’s my birthday every day. It really
is amazing how kind people are…
everywhere. This is what I experience
anyway as I cycle from A to B each
day. Maybe it’s the bike, as I think
people appreciate the effort you are
going to. Maybe it’s the superhero
costume, which is undoubtedly a
good ice-breaker, especially with any
slightly moody border guards. But
I like to think that anyone visiting
these countries would get this kind of
treatment. Just learning a few words (I
try and learn at least ‘hello’, ‘thank you’
and ‘please’ in each language) goes
a long way, and a smile… everyone
understands a smile!
So, I’ve now got a couple of weeks
off the bike in Istanbul. I am doing a
few repairs and upgrades to my bike
- appropriately called a KOGA World
Traveller. I’ve also got to buy some
warmer clothes for what I’m calling this
‘hilly and chilly’ next section across Asia
from Turkey to Tokyo that will start
towards the end of November. A pair of
thermal superhero pants are top of the
shopping list.
Stay tuned via my SuperWebsite
www.supercyclingman.com to see
how the ride across Continent No.2
(Asia) goes. There is a live map on
the website which shows exactly
where I am in the world.
You can also follow the round
the world cycling adventure on
Facebook and Twitter. And if you
would like to donate to help me
towards my fundraising goal of
£100,000 for Parkinson’s UK and
several other charities, my website
includes a link to my Virgin Money
Giving donations page.
Stay super and remember…
#WeCanAllBeHeroes!
Will / SuperCyclingMan
and Dave the Worm
OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
Old Salopian Football Club
Pictured: OSFC 2nd XI - front row, left to right: Charlie Parry, Mark Tomley, Luke Gerrard, Guy Williams, Jack Brydon, Ben Cooke, Will Speer. Back row, left to
right: William Alexander, Oliver Black, Ed Taylor, Nick Corlett (c), George Blakemore, Tom Cox, Freddie Young.
I
n what is the 1st XI’s third
consecutive season in the top flight
of the Arthurian League, the team has
made a robust start to the season,
at the time of writing sitting in the
comfort of mid-table and with it all
to play for heading into the winter
months of November and December.
The team has registered wins against
King’s College Wimbledon (x2) and
Chigwell, whilst also registering a
surprising win in the AFA Cup with
only ten men on the day (and with the
fixture, rather exhaustingly, going all
the way to penalties). Turning up with
ten men doesn’t happen all that often,
but it is no coincidence that the steely
Salopian determination never fails to
manifest itself in these fixtures. The
squad is arguably more settled than in
previous years as younger members
of the squad - Messrs Blofield, White,
Bradshaw and Pilkington spring to
mind - are able to turn out more
consistently and undoubtedly add
a great deal to the squad’s overall
performance.
It has been a solid but not spectacular
start to the season for the 2nd XI.
Having amassed six points in their
opening five matches, the side is
looking up not down and will look
to turn draws into wins in their
upcoming matches against Old
Harrovians and Old Haberdashers.
Inspired by precocious new signing
Oliver Black, and having secured
a lucrative sponsorship with Vimto
(see photo for the squad’s new kit),
the squad are still aiming to finish in
the top two positions that would see
them promoted to 2nd Division of the
Arthurian League.
Unfortunately the Cup run was all
too brief; the side fought well but
were ultimately undone by a moment
of individual brilliance from the
opposition in the dying minutes of the
game to snatch a 3-2 victory in what
was an excellent game of football.
The Vets continue to put in impressive
displays and will look to go deep into
the later stages of the Derrick Moore
Veterans Cup.
Hot off the press for this report is the
news that the 1st XI are through to the
second round of the prestigious Arthur
Dunn Cup. We were drawn against
old foes Malvern and summoned to
‘their place’ for the mouth-watering
encounter on Saturday 31st October.
1-0 down at half time to a, shall we
say, fortuitous goal, the side emerged
for the second half revitalised and
having adopted an attacking 4-3-3
formation. We found ourselves in
total control of the game as both
momentum and the score sheet tilted
in our favour: 1-2 to the Salops after
60 minutes, with credit to Adam
Parker and Tom Kelly for saving
Salopian blushes. Wave after wave of
Salopian aggression proved too much
for the Old Malvernians, who could
consider themselves lucky to have
only conceded three OSFC goals in the
second half. 1-3 to the Old Salopians
was the final score, with Tom Kelly
completing a brace for the final goal.
With Charterhouse already out of the
competition, the door is ajar for a
Salopian push for the famous Cup.
If you are interested in playing for the
Old Salopian FC in London, there are
two teams that train on Tuesdays and
play on Saturdays at our home ground
in Barnes Bridge. Please contact
[email protected].
The end of season OSFC dinner will
be held on Friday 13th May 2016 in
Maida Vale, London; always a fantastic
evening. Please get in touch with
[email protected] if you would
like to attend any of the Club’s social
events – all welcome.
Richard McGarry
59
60
OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
Tour Report - Berlin 2015
discontent from the locals to an
OSFC 1st/2nd finish, a hasty retreat
by the victorious touring party was
quick to follow.
After an evening celebrating the first
silverware of the year, the 8.30am
coach journey to our 2nd Tour game
on the Sunday morning was a little
muted. Back playing in their first
11-a-side game for over four months
and sore from over six hours of
football the previous day, the Old
Salops were understandably a little
rusty. We soon found ourselves 3-0
down by half time. However, after half
time, the dramatic turnaround was
complete, with Rory Griffiths (who
arrived at the ground a Salopian-esque
90 minutes late) running rings around
the previously formidable opponents
and turning a deficit into a 4-3 victory
– his week’s worth of tardy book was
waived on this occasion.
M
uch like the fields of Glastonbury
being laid to fallow every
few years, the tradition of the Old
Salopian Football Club’s annual tour
to mainland Europe had been put on
hold for the previous three seasons.
This year the OSFC Tour was very
much back on the agenda. On the
August Bank Holiday a spirited touring
party of 19 Old Salopians left Gatwick
bound for Berlin, looking forward to
shaking off the cobwebs of a wedding
-and-stag-laden off-season - and
getting some much needed pre-season
fitness under their (strained) belts.
After spending the first evening
following the advice of talismanic Nick
Corlett, the Salops were well and truly
acclimatised to the local conditions by
the time the team bus departed the
hotel at 8am the following morning.
The squad were looking forward to
their first taste of German opposition,
with only a couple of the touring party
suffering from any serious jet-lag.
Two OS teams had been entered into
a 7-a-side tournament that Saturday,
with each team playing a total of
10x15 minute games in a leaguestyle format. Conditions were not
favourable to the British tourists, as we
were faced with an uncharacteristically
German 30 degree sun, some less
than objective refereeing and, more
worryingly, a tempting German
barbeque catching more than one
hungry Salopian’s attention. However,
fuelled by Bratwurst and Diet Coke,
the two teams did themselves proud,
swatting aside every team that they
came up against, with the likes of
George Wade-Smith, as ever, light
on his feet and returning veteran
Hamish McKenzie tickling the onion
bag with regularity. The crunch game
arrived when the two OS teams met
one another, with the inevitable result
being a nervy 1-1 draw with chances
for both sides. In the final two games
Team 2 - perhaps weighed down by
the impressive intake of processed
meat - found results harder to come
by. Team 1 took advantage by
winning their final two games and in
doing so secured the famous ‘Golden
Ananas’ Trophy. Given the burgeoning
Staying true to absorbing as much
local culture as possible, the
afternoon was spent celebrating
another Tour win in a traditional
German Beer Garden, with inevitably
yet again more Bratwurst. Indeed, as
well as the football, over the three
days in Berlin the team took in the
fallen Wall, the Brandenburg Gate
and were particularly fascinated by
resident local guide Oliver Heywood’s
lessons on ‘queuing etiquette’. The
victory on Sunday capped off a
thoroughly enjoyable tour and that
evening the whole squad relaxed on
the banks of the River Spree, mixing
with the locals and enjoying some
light music and dancing.
As a proud former winner, it was my
honour to present Alistair Hutchinson
with this Year’s TC award; in the
future I am sure he won’t forget to
pack his razor. Rory Griffiths was the
unanimous choice for Player of the
Tour, scoring wherever he went. Well
done to both of those players.
What was especially pleasing was
bringing together six different year
groups of Old Salopians. Everyone is
already counting down the days until
the next tour in August 2016!
Floreat!
Rob Hawkin
OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
Old Salopian Yacht Club
L-R: Mark Telfer, Matthias Borstell, Will Collins, Johnny Moulsdale, John Newton, Tim Becker, Kurt de Freitas, George Hall, James Pitt, Rupert Tildesley - and
photographer James Heaven (out of shot)
O
nce again, the highlight of the
OSYC’s year was participation
in the annual Boarding Schools Arrow
Trophy regatta at Cowes in October.
Always a popular event, both on and
off the water, Shrewsbury has entered
at least one crew for the past ten
years and will take over running the
event in 2019.
The weekend started as usual with
a late evening passage from Port
Solent to Cowes, and an impressive
but futile effort to leave Tim Becker
on the dockside, followed by dinner
in a local curry house allowing crew
members ranging in age from their
early twenties to an undisclosed
upper limit to form close bonds
ahead of the next day’s racing. We
hand over at this point to our matchday commentator and enthusiastic
crew member, James Heaven, to
report on the weekend’s racing.
“This year saw the return of Rupert
Tildesley to the helm, alongside James
Pitt as Skipper and Tactician, the
dream team that had delivered the
Charterhouse Trophy in recent years.
With only one boat entered into the
competition this year, consolidating
experienced crew drawn from previous
years’ racing, as well as a number of
new members, confidence was high
going into the weekend. In the first
race, despite a disastrous start, a gamble
to the opposite side of the course saw
us fight back from last place up to 8th.
Unfortunately this impressive recovery
turned out to be our best result of the
series. Despite determined teamwork
and some superb starts, we found
ourselves simply overhauled on boat
speed, despite our best efforts to rectify
the situation. We suspected that the
large picnic and full fridge of cold beer
may not have helped, but it did soothe
our concerns, along with the excellent
company and glorious sunshine we
enjoyed for the whole weekend.
Relaxing later that evening, we
observed the leading crews frantically
polishing their hulls of weed and
considered how distasteful it was
to be seen to be taking these things
too seriously, whilst at the same time
plotting to do the same next year. It
seems things are getting quite serious
and we came away this year agreed
that it was far more amusing being in
the top 5 rather the bottom 5 at the end
of the day. Your old school needs you!
Please contact David Richards and join
us next year, when we will try to enter
two boats and make at least one of
these quietly, distastefully, competitive.
All welcome.”
James modestly declines to
acknowledge his lead contribution in
the stocking of the beer fridge, and
neglects to mention the enjoyable
Saturday evening dinner in the
RORC’s Royal Corinthian Yacht Club,
enthusiastically supported by our
crew, but we echo his exhortation
to Salopians who would like to take
part next year to contact the Secretary
([email protected]).
Experienced racing yachties are of
course especially welcome but we have
room for enthusiastic sailors with any
level of experience. As ever, a cheery
spirit, well-formed winch-grinding
muscles, and an ability to hold a steady
glass are the core qualifications for
Salopian yachting.
Beyond the Arrow, we continue to
encourage yacht-owning Salopians
to offer cruising and racing places
on their boats to our members. Will
Collins deserves special mention for
his generosity in offering crew places
on his yacht Dogmatix in the JOG
racing series. Several club members
have joined Will during the season,
even including the Secretary who took
part in a bruising but enjoyable race to
Alderney in June.
We remain very grateful to the Salopian
Club for their financial support,
enabling us to sponsor participation
by our younger members to a very
considerable extent.
L- R: James Pitt, Rupert Tildesley, Johnny Moulsdale, Tim Becker, Kurt de Freitas, David Richards
61
62
OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
SABRINA
Sabrina Club AGM Election of new President
Rowing news
After missing out at Henley Royal
Regatta by such a small margin,
the majority of the crew are back
in training for another crack at the
Thames Cup in 2016. It is so important
that the basic training is done now in
preparation for next year. Circuits are
taking place on Tuesday evenings at
school, with a personal trainer giving
the guys (plus Lettie and Sonya!) a great
workout, and outings are arranged for
most weekends.
The first Head race took place on
31st October at Chester, where our
boat came in 2nd and 4th overall in
the two divisions, so certainly a step
up on where we were last year –
especially with having to pull their
coxing coach down the Dee! Onwards
now to Wallingford Head at the end of
November.
Many thanks to RSSBC for their
support; also thanks to our new Sabrina
President, Miles Preston, for his input.
Sabrina Competitors
A Hagger, J Russell, R Shropshire,
J Kynaston, P Wood, R Homden, P
Randall, Miss L Tay, P Graham (Staff),
Miss S Milanova (Cox, Staff), P Manser
(Coach)
Future Racing (TBC)
20th February Worcester HOR
27th Feb Runcorn HOR
12th March North of England (Chester)
19th March Head of River (London
Tideway)
Other Sabrina News
Tom Marshall (SH 2007-12) is
taking a year out from his studies at
Harvard, where he has been rowing
The Sabrina AGM was held in the Pugh Boathouse Club on Saturday 3rd October.
Many Sabrina members attended. The Club presented Martin Slocock with a special
oar blade in thanks for the huge contribution made during his Presidency between
2011 and 2015.
The Club elected Miles Preston as the new President. Miles was a member of the
1st VIII in 1967 and 1968, the latter year as Captain of Boats. Also coached by
Roger Blomfield, Miles was a member of the School’s coxless four that was selected
as the GB entry for the 1968 FISA International Youth Regatta (fore-runner to the
World Junior Championships), winning a Bronze medal. Miles subsequently rowed
for Leander Club, where he was a member of their 1969 and 1970 Thames Cup
winning crews at Henley Royal Regatta.
in their Varsity Lightweight Eight, to
train at Caversham with the Senior GB
Lightweight Squad. At the recent British
Rowing Championships he won a silver
medal representing Molesey BC in
Open coxless fours alongside Mo Sibhi
and George Nash (both from the World
Championship winning GB 8). They
were beaten to the gold medal by a
Leander 4, crewed by the likes of Pete
Reed and Stan Louloudis (also from the
GB 8). Bronze was won by another
Leander 4 featuring Will Satch and Alex
Gregory (also from the GB 8!). Not bad
for a lightweight!
Lettie Tay (MSH 2013-15) competed in
the most recent Senior Women’s trials in
Boston, Lincs, where she came 9th out
of the U20s group. Lettie is also training
with the Welsh squad in Cardiff. She
won in her single at Chester, making
her the first female Sabrina winner!
OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
Bevan Crew Reunion
At noon on Saturday 30th May,
Sabrina Club members and their
families assembled on the banks
of the River Severn at the School
boathouse to celebrate Nick Bevan’s
outstanding contribution to rowing at
Shrewsbury between the years 1973
and 1988. Blessed with sunshine and
no wind, around 60 (many more
wrote letters of support but were
unable to attend) gathered for a
picnic supplemented by traditional
Pimms and other refreshments and
food provided by Sabrina Club in the
Bowring Clubroom.
As President of the Salopian Club and
past President of the Sabrina Club for
many years, it had been Nick Bevan’s
wish to bring together immediately
after his Presidency all those whom
he had coached during his long stint
in charge of RSSBC’s top crew. Nick
Bevan’s highly successful record
and huge contribution to rowing at
Shrewsbury has been acknowledged
in many ways, but this was the way
he wished to celebrate those years,
gathering together crew members
he coached and their families in a
relaxed familiar environment.
He was also keen for those wishing
to do so to take to the water again
and many took up this opportunity in
an eight, a pair and single scull. The
1978 crew were the most organised,
with the majority taking to the water.
With many attending having gone
on after school to row at university,
clubs and even the Olympics, the
standard of rowing for scratch crews
on the day was pretty impressive and
certainly received rapturous applause
from families and friends on the bank.
Many had not been back in recent
times to see the impressive Ergo
Room where much of the hard
work is now done in training and
the quality of boats and equipment
in the Boathouse needed to remain
competitive at the highest level.
Nick’s widow Annabel Bevan,
together with their children Emily and
Oliver and Edward Bevan, attended,
catching up with many familiar
faces, all of whom had a soft spot
for Nick - NVB. The President Martin
Slocock said a few words and Oliver
displayed fantastic vintage footage
recently found of NVB as a pupil at
school at Shrewsbury.
The day passed far too quickly, with
many staying on late to make the
most of the occasion, idyllic setting
and familiar company. Nick would
have thoroughly enjoyed the day!
63
64
OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
Old Salopian Hunt
S
ome of us have our names engraved
on RSSH silverware, which I
sometimes get to present to today’s
winners. For instance, in the middle of
March, Steeplechases involve a large
number of girls and boys who run hard
for the best time and to be winning
House. I have had the pleasure of
pointing out the engraved names,
which have all become members of
The Old Salopian Hunt.
In September I witnessed Sam Western
(S) win The Third Form Race and was
able to congratulate him as he starts
his progression through the years,
undoubtedly as an important new
member of The Hunt. Consequently,
I would lay bets that he will join the
OSH in five years’ time! Even when the
OSH meet the RSSH on Saturday 5th
December this year, it is apparent that
this annual interaction is as important as
ever and shows that the Hunt becomes
part of your life for life.
On Sunday 21st June 2015, the third
Shrewsbury Half Marathon was held
and Team Shrewsbury once again put
in a superb performance, with Peter
Middleton (Master in Charge of the
Hunt) finishing 2nd (for the second
year), followed by one of this year’s
Joint Huntsmen, Oscar Dickins (R) at
30th and then our own Tom Cousins
(PH 2007-12) at 36th. The team of
about 30 boys and girls of all ages
completed the course, amongst some
1,092 finishers. Photos can be seen on
the Old Salopian Hunt Facebook page
and all the results can be found on the
‘In The Running’ website.
With regards to the OSH Facebook
page, photos and comments are always
welcome and anyone can join the
group to keep in touch with the Club.
In addition, the updated OSH website
page can be found by going to
www.shrewsbury.org.uk/page/os-hunt,
where all details and news of the OSH
are listed, including the OSH tie, men’s
and ladies’ OSH running vests and the
new silk OSH scarf.
In the last edition of The Salopian
(Summer 2015, Issue No.156), I had
the pleasure of including recollections
from Bob Dowty (SH 1945-50),
which everyone I have spoken to
has enjoyed reading. Sadly, I have
to report that Bob passed away on
the Isle of Man on Tuesday 28th
July 2015, after a short illness. As a
Huntsman for the 1949-50 season, he
will be remembered by the Hunt. (see
obituary on page 73)
Every generation of Shrewsbury School
pupils will recall that great test of
‘athleticism’ known as THE TUCKS.
Some will tell stories of how they
OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
avoided it or found short-cuts or even
ran all five in their time! Dr David
Gee has completed 56 of them and I
have just done my 6th, albeit 45 years
since my previous, but was pleased
to be in good company, including
Richard Hudson (pictured above),
who will remember that in 1970 we
started off through the Moss Gates
and had three All-Ups before the
Run-In from Tucks Bridge.
The Tucks has evolved so that all now
compete, including the Headmaster
and the Chaplain (above right) and
many others on the Staff and beyond,
amongst the whole School in this
exciting and colourful spectacle. Even
though my distinctive OSH running
vest was the only one in a sea of 700
or so runners, it did get round Pulley
Common and back to Meole Brace,
with me still inside it. I can highly
recommend that my fellow Club
members consider coming along next
October to join in this event and to
increase the presence of our colours
of Green & Gold.
Peter Birch (DB 1966-71)
65
66
OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
Old Salopian Golfing Society
“Let us now praise famous men…” At
the AGM on 2nd October, the following
were elected Vice-Presidents of OSGS:
Sandy Bell, Robert Lanyon, William
Painter and Anthony Parsons. This
foursome join the celebrated company
of Tony Duerr, former President of the
Society, who has just presented the
Duerr Tankard, for the winners of the
annual match that is played against
Malvern at Blackwell.
It is with enormous disappointment
that I report a defeat by one point in
the match on 11th October. The pain
is all the more excruciating, as after
15 years of fierce rivalry, Shrewsbury
lead the series 12-3. With silverware at
stake, we were defeated 4.5 to 5.5. The
tankard is beautifully engraved with the
names of the two Societies and Tony’s
initials – and to which we should add
OBE, awarded for services for eating
for England.
The OSGS team, with points won in
brackets, was as follows:
Angus Pollock (2): Harry Lewis (1.5):
Charles Hill (1.5): Bill Russell (1.5):
Tom Price (1): Martin Cars (1): Andy
Pollock (0.5): James Skelton (0):
Rupert Haines (0):
Charlie Stockbridge (0)
Battle will be resumed on Sunday,
9th October 2016.
Our photo of John Parker sandwiched
between Charles Shaw and James Shaw
is an indication of the revelry enjoyed
after lunch.
The main Senior team event in our
Fasti is the G L ‘Susie’ Mellin Salver,
where Shrewsbury has an excellent
recent record.
We have won the Salver six times
in the last 13 years as well as being
losing finalists on two other occasions,
mostly under the captaincy of Peter
Worth’s redoubtable predecessor,
Christopher Wallace.
Peter Worth reports: ”I thought you
would like to know we won the
Mellin, lost in the second round of the
Burles (for over 65s) losing a play off
on the 19th and Tim Lewis and John
Parker qualified in the Bunny Millard
(for over 75s) but lost on the 19th after
a great tussle against Downside who
were holders.
Our photo shows OSGS Captain Angus
Pollock smiling through gritted teeth at
the winning Malvern Captain.
On 11th September, Charles Tustain
snatched the Tony Duerr Silver Salver
(presented in 1997) from the grasp of
Nicky Renton, on a count back on the
last 3 holes at Worplesdon. The course
and the weather gods were smiling,
as well they might at the venerable
company that assembled: three scions
of the incomparable Shaw dynasty,
aided and abetted by Nick Oldham and
Julian Sterck, Mellin winner in 2014 but
NFI for the winning team in 2015: Nick
Renton and his father Tony from Royal
Mid-Surrey.
We played well to get through to the
Mellin final against Loretto where
James Shaw and Will Painter, who were
unbeaten having played superbly, won
yet again in the country. Allan Wright
and I ran out of steam and shook
hands on the 16th. This left Pollock and
Smith who had won all their matches
so far, to recover from 1 down with 2
to play. They halved the 17th in par
and won the 18th when the opponents
tugged their second shot into the
rhododendrons on the left. Down the
19th they went - 2 good drives but both
second shots were short of the green
leaving a chipping and putting contest.
Our President played a wonderful shot
to 4 feet. Loretto were a little further
away with a very makeable uphill
putt. Loretto missed and Andy Pollock
sunk a brilliant putt for the win. West
Hill looked after us extremely well
as always but we did miss Anthony
Parsons who was paying a short visit to
hospital. We look forward to his return
next year”.
The 4th Annual Triangular Challenge
took place at Tandridge GC on
24th April.
OSGS side came an illustrious third, by
a narrowing margin.
The actual aggregate scores for the four
pairs in each team were:Old Alleynians 163 pts
Old Tonbridgians 162 pts
OSGS 158 pts (this would have merited
a win in the last two years)
The OSGS side was Peter Renshaw,
Donald Shaw, Michael Smart,
Stephen Shaw, James Shaw, Peter
Jeffrey, Ian Falconer and Adrian Cooper
(the OT non playing Captain who
stepped in for us in view of an OS
withdrawal that morning).
In the Schools Putting competition
on 3rd June at Royal Wimbledon, a
tiger team of Will Hawksley, Simon
Shepherd, Jonathan Howse and James
Pollock (Captain) came 3rd on our
qualifying day with 30 pts. This is our
best ever performance and marked
a fitting swansong for James Pollock,
who has assembled our teams in recent
years, with a marked blend of patience
and competence, intrinsic to the
Pollock clan.
Manfully, David Warmington raised
a team of 8 Salopians to play in the
Public Schools Meeting at Little Aston
on 24th June. Although we were the
lowest handicapped team, we came in
on 11th place with a score of 83 points
against Uppingham’s winning 110 (3
pairs counting).
Our President, Anthony Smith and Mark
Ferguson won the best gross score
prize with a magnificent 78. A case of
class will out for our President even
OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
paired with a fiery partner, whose email
address is Fergmonster.
Team scores were;Antony Smith &
Mark Ferguson 34 points
Richard Bevan &
Neil Crawford 24 points
Martin Cars &
James Mainwaring 25 points
Jonathon Hope &
Robin Sharp 21 points
OSGS Match versus Old
Cholmeleians on Friday 3th July
At Hadley Wood: OSGS Team Captain
Simon Shepherd (O 77-82) writes:
I am pleased to report a resounding
success for OSGS, by quite a large
score, to not very many; we now stand
2 – 1 in the series, in our favour. John
Bolton and I will chase the OCs a
little harder next year to put out some
stronger opponents.
Simon Shepherd. There were strong
performances from John Godby and
the most improved golfer, Leigh
Whittingham who has gone from a
24 handicap to being worthy of 15.
The length of his driving was much
admired though we haven’t yet been
able to find out his secret! The other
team players were Robin Humble,
Patrick Carr and Charles Shaw.
Worfield: Winner of the Todwick
Tankard: Dan Durman, on his OSGS
debut spread-eagled a very select field,
with 38 points. Runner-up was Michael
Roberts with 34 points. Jonathan
Perkins struck his 6 iron at the 3rd
hole (145 yards) to within six inches
of the flag for Nearest the Pin prize
with Robert Lanyon closest to the hole
with his second shot at the 18th (320
yards). Meetings Organiser Charles Hill
won the prize for the longest drive
on the fairway. Mark Davies provided
five bottles of wine for prizes, with
the generosity of a Riggite, where
else? One of these went to Gaby
Byrne (EDH 2012-14) who travelled
down with her father Jim from Royal
Birkdale to sample the delights of
Worfield. Another prize for outstanding
effort went to Hugh Ramsbotham,
former President of The Salopian
Club. The open-handedness of the
proprietor of Worfield Oliver Eaton
(Rt 85-91), was, as usual, magnifico.
Jonathan Russell, non-playing
Captain, reports in all modesty on the
whitewash of the Old Reptonians at
Worplesdon on 15th August.
“We won the match 8-0, thus retaining
our bragging rights having won by a
point last year. The stars for us were
Nick Renton and, making his debut,
The final is always at risk of the
weather, but fortunately, although
cloudy and cool, the match was
played in dry conditions, with the
breeze increasing as the round
progressed. Both finalists have single
figure handicaps (nine and eight), so
there was only one stroke to be given
– by Malcom.
He did not get off to the best of starts,
and his ball found steep bunkers with
unerring accuracy on all the even
numbered holes on the front nine. Not
surprisingly, Geoff playing steadily was
three up at the turn.
Perhaps Malcom’s fortunes can best
be demonstrated at the short 12th
hole. Here he hit a glorious tee shot
into the wind, straight at the distant
flag. Unfortunately he hit it so well
that it cleared the green and pitched
into the grassy bank at the back of
the green, never to be seen again. A
hole that might have been won was
inextricably lost.
Congratulations go to Geoff Thomas,
a first time winner by the margin of 4
+ 3, and commiserations to Malcom,
who has promised to try and make it
third time lucky in the future.
Our thanks go to the Council of
The Royal Birkdale Golf Club for
generously allowing the Society to
play the final on their magnificent
Links. Also thanks to Jonty Campion
for representing the family at the final.
The 4th August marked a special
pilgrimage to Crawford Country,
otherwise known as The Alwoodley
GC, lying tranquilly on Lord
Harewood’s Wigton Moor, nobbut
a pitch and a putt from the hum of
traffic in the city centre of Leeds. The
members had the nous to anoint Neil
Crawford as this year’s Captain, in
the footsteps of his illustrious father
Michael, who was Club President. The
members have shown additional nous
to elect John Smith to succeed Michael
as President.
The course was in magnificent
condition. The company was glorious
including Neil Crawford, James
Crawford, Henry Crawford (son of
James Crawford) and the prizes were
awarded by Hazel Crawford.
and the 2006 President of the Welsh
Ladies Golf Union.
STOP PRESS: The Campion Trophy
Final 2015.
Anthony Smith, President of OSGS
writes:
This year, by dint of the Secretary’s
hard work, it was possible to play the
final before the clocks went ‘back’ on
23rd October.
Malcom McMullan, who was a losing
finalist in 2012, and Geoff Thomas
were the protagonists. The latter was
accompanied by his mother Chris, a
former Welsh Ladies International,
The Fasti for 2016 is available on the
next page
Tim Lewis – Honorary Secretary –
Old Salopian Golfing Society
[email protected]
Tel: 01491 641651
67
68
OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
OS Golf Fasti 2016
DATE
EVENT
COURSE
ORGANISER
Halford Hewitt Draw
East India Club
Andy Pollock
Sun 13
Halford Hewitt Get-Together*
Woburn
Andy Pollock
Thurs 17
Spring Meeting (South)
Denham
Anthony Parsons
Fri 1
Spring Meeting (North)
Hoylake
Robert Lanyon
Thurs 7 -Sun 10
Halford Hewitt Cup*
Sandwich/Deal
Andy Pollock
Fri 22
Triangular Match
Tandridge
Stephen Shaw
Thur 28
Match v The Schools
Hawkstone Park
Gerald Smith
Sat 14
Grafton Morrish Qualifying*
Olton (Solihull)
Andy Pollock
Wed 18
Scottish Tour
Luffness New
Tim Lewis
Thurs 19
Scottish Tour
Muirfield
Tim Lewis
Fri 20
Scottish Tour
Gullane No 1
Tim Lewis
Thurs 7 - Sat 9
Peter Burles Salver (65 and over)*
West Hill
Peter Worth
Thurs 7 - Sat 9
Bunny Millard Salver (75 and over)*
West Hill
Peter Worth
Fri 8 - Sat 9
G.L.Mellin Salver (55 and over)*
West Hill
Peter Worth
Fri 22
Match v. Old Cholmeleians
Hadley Wood
Simon Shepherd
Thurs 4
Yorkshire Meeting
The Alwoodley
Peter Ambler
Sun pm 7
West Country Tour
Westward Ho!
Paul Nichols
Mon am 8
West Country Tour
Saunton
Paul Nichols
Tues am 9
West Country Tour
Saunton
Paul Nichols
Sat 13
Match v. Old Reptonians
Worplesdon
Jonathan Russell
Sun 21
Match v.ORs & OMs
Little Aston
Charles Tustain
Mon 22
Old Schools’ Competition
Trevose
Bill Higson
Fri 7 - Sun 9
Tony Duerr Silver Salver
Worplesdon
Tim Lewis
Sun 25
Midlands Meeting and AGM
Blackwell
Charles Hill
Fri 7 - Sun 9
Grafton Morrish Finals*
Hunstanton/Brancaster
Andy Pollock
Sun 9
Match v. Old Malvernians
Blackwell
Angus Pollock
Fri 28
Guests’ Invitation Meeting
Ashridge
Dan Graham
Robert Walker Foursomes Cup
New Zealand
Tim Lewis
JANUARY
Wed 13 6pm
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
Sat am 5
* By Invitation only - Members are asked to contact the Organiser for any event in which they may wish to play.
OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
Saracens
T
he Saracens enjoyed another
successful year in the Cricketer Cup,
reaching a third semi-final in four years.
The campaign began in early June with
a comfortable victory at home to the
Haileybury Hermits. Batting first, the
Saracens posted an enormous 312-7.
Ben Williams crashed a magnificent
122 and was ably supported by Steve
Leach (61) and Ben Chapman (47). The
Hermits never got going in reply and,
tied down by spinners Henry Lewis,
Matt Gregson and Henry Dawson, fell
191 runs short.
A much sterner test awaited in Round
2, when the 2014 beaten finalists, the
Bradfield Waifs, travelled to Shrewsbury
intent on exacting revenge after an
agonising last over defeat in the 2012
semi-final. On this occasion, the
Saracens batted first and began well.
Henry Lewis (64) laid the groundwork
for a big Saracens’ total with a
composed opener’s knock, building a
threatening second wicket partnership
with the expansive Ed Pollock (57).
Indeed it was a mark of how well these
two had played that the boundaries
dried up almost altogether when they
both departed, such that the Saracens
ultimately had to settle for a total of 250.
For much of a hot afternoon this looked
as if it might not be enough, as the highquality Waifs batting line-up kept wickets
in hand whilst scoring with relative ease.
However, a pair of remarkable slip
catches from Ian Massey (one of which
would be amongst the finest ever seen
on Senior) seized back some crucial
initiative in the middle overs, and when
the pressure ramped up in the final
ten overs James Aston and in particular
Henry Blofield (3-37) kept their nerve
to see the side home by 11 runs.
The quarter-final tie, away to the St
Edward’s Martyrs, was no less closely
fought. The home side had first
use of a very dry wicket, and had
progressed relatively serenely to 116-2,
until spinners Matt Gregson (2-39)
and Henry Blofield (3-22) turned the
game decisively, helped by a fiery
spell in the middle of the innings
from Steve Barnard (2-52). Gregson
in particular was very tough to play,
as he extracted exaggerated turn out
of the fast-deteriorating wicket. The
Martyrs were bowled out for 190 in
43 overs. The Saracens’ reply began in
spectacular fashion, with a succession
of boundaries from Steve Leach (29
from 13), Jack Brydon (a comparatively
sedate 10 from 11) and Ed Pollock (17
from 9). When Pollock was out to the
first ball of the 8th over, the scoreboard
read 76-3, and the nervous tension
amongst the Saracens’ support was
palpable. The President was pacing!
Thankfully, after the storm came the
calm in the form of Ben Williams (64)
and Henry Lewis (28), who together
with Ben Chapman (17*) showed great
skill and poise on a turning wicket to
lead the Saracens into the semi-finals
with over 16 overs to spare.
Sadly for the Saracens, the semi-final
was, much like the previous year’s
fixture against the old enemy, ultimately
a one-sided affair. After rain had
postponed the fixture by a week and
caused the venue to be changed to
Malvern, a somewhat depleted side lost
the toss and were invited to field. The
Saracens acquitted themselves well in
the first hour, despite being hampered
by the early loss of wicketkeeper
Jack Brydon, who injured himself in
appealing for a leg before decision
(given not out); and having reduced the
Old Malvernians to 68-3, were well in
the game. However, we were unable
to split the fourth wicket pair of Craig
Wood (90) and Will Gifford (101), who
built a match-winning partnership of 135
and put some tired Saracens’ bowling to
the sword in the final overs, as the Old
Malvernians finished on 260-7 (despite
Ali Pollock returning well-deserved
figures of 4-53). This was to prove too
many for the Saracens, who despite at
drinks being exactly level with the Old
Malvernian score (99-3) collapsed soon
afterwards, to finish on 146-9 (with
Brydon incapacitated).
My thanks to all who played and
supported the team this year (and in
particular to the two more experienced
Saracens, Harry Lewis and Angus
Pollock, who did both in the same
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OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
day at Malvern when injury struck!).
A document recently circulated by the
Cricketer Cup committee detailing the
records of the 32 schools over the past
5 years shows the Saracens currently
sitting 2nd in the league table. This
reflects the consistency of the present
squad of players and the quality of
cricketers presently being produced.
On that basis, hopefully another win
cannot be too far away…
Saracens’ Devon Tour 2015
The annual cricket tour to North
Devon was yet again an overwhelming
success. In keeping with trends from
the previous few years, we were
delighted to welcome back a strong
group of recent leavers and that was
bolstered by debutant tourists Sam
Welti, George Hamner and last year’s
captain of cricket, George Lewis. This,
combined with the key ingredient
of ‘senior pros’ who between them
boast an extraordinary wealth of tour
experience, meant that 2015 truly was
an unforgettable tour.
The first game of tour was on Monday
with the first of two consecutive oneday games against North Devon CC.
On a damp wicket the Saracens were
asked to bat first against a formidable
North Devon XI which included Craig
and Jamie Overton, who have both
just played a full season for Somerset.
Despite debutant George Hanmer
being dismissed first ball, by lunch the
Saracens were in control at 110-2 with
Sam Welti batting nicely and Richard
McKay, who was dismissed just before
lunch, getting the tour off to a flyer!
Some good bowling meant it was slow
going after lunch and the Saracens lost
quick wickets. A partnership between
Henry Lewis and George Thomason
steadied the ship and, with some good
hitting as the time for a declaration
approached, the Saracens finished on
225-9 declared.
Enter Steve Barnard with some
extremely hostile fast bowling, reducing
North Devon to 20-3. The Sarries were
on a roll. The game then went through
a slow phase, but when the Saracens
struck at 110-5 it brought the Overton
brothers together. When they quickly
put on a stand of 60 the game looked
over; but when George Lewis bowled
a leg-stump full toss that Jamie Overton
hit straight into the safe hands of Scott
Corbett, it was back in the balance.
Some quality fast bowling from Barnard
backed up by wily spin bowling from
Scott Corbett and George Lewis did
what was required and North Devon
were bowled out 5 runs short.
The Monday evening was a fantastic
affair and buoyed by our win the tour
was delighted to welcome back many
an old face. Most notably it was an
absolute privilege to see Sir Eldryd
Parry back in Instow. North Devon
CC kindly played host to 50 Saracens
young and old.
After the euphoria of Monday’s win,
and the celebrations to boot, there was
a certain lull in the camp on Tuesday
morning. North Devon fielded a slightly
weaker side but it still included Craig
Overton and the club pro. North Devon
batted first in the scheduled 40-over
game and after some effective new
ball bowling from Will Mason and Sam
Welti, at lunch the game was delicately
poised at 100-4. Two more quick
wickets followed, with Mark Prescott
and Matt Gregson bowling well. This,
however, brought the North Devon
combo of Craig Overton and the South
African pro together. It was the pivotal
part of the game, but the less time
spent discussing it the better. It only
has to be said that the final 17 overs
saw North Devon reach 335-6, leaving
the Saracens a mountain to climb. The
charge was led by Will Mason, who
batted beautifully for 119, and he was
supported with an extremely mature 50
from Steve Barnard. However, needing
120 from the last 10 overs and despite
a late flurry from Matt Gregson and
George Lewis, the Saracens finished 20
runs short. Despite the disappointment
of our well-documented winning streak
against North Devon coming to an end,
it was a fantastic game of cricket with
well over 600 runs scored in the day.
With Wednesday comes the fixture
against the Somerset Stragglers at the
picturesque ground, Valley of the Rock.
The Saracens won the toss and elected
to bat first in a 30-over game. Mark
Prescott got the team off to a flyer with
a fluent 63 and he was ably supported
by the in form Mason. However, some
good spin bowling combined with
some careless shot selection meant
the Saracens stuttered in the middle
overs and lost a flurry of wickets in
quick succession. Fortunately tour
veteran Ben Chapman showed his
experience and, batting with the tail,
guided the Saracens to a competitive
165. Despite Valley of the Rock being
an immensely fast-scoring ground, we
felt early wickets could bring us right
into contention. George Thomason
obliged! He took 4 wickets in 5 overs
in what was a superb spell of bowling.
The Stragglers responded well and
dominated from then on, making
great use of some mediocre bowling
and extremely short boundaries. The
Stragglers won, having lost 7 wickets
and with 2 overs to spare.
After a long week and two close
defeats, it could perhaps be said
that the wet and gloomy Thursday
morning that greeted us reflected the
mood in the team. The usual Thursday
arrangement is the T20 day played
between the Saracens, North Devon
and the Brasenose Strollers. However,
in light of the bad weather, the decision
was made for the Saracens and the
Strollers to play a straight 40-over game.
The Strollers batted first and it did not
take them long to take advantage of
the weary unit that was the Saracens.
Despite some good spin bowling from
Steve Barnard, the Strollers amassed a
total of 255 which was an enormous
feat in the conditions. The Saracens put
up a brave fight and although finishing
30 runs short, there were notable
batting performances from George
Lewis and George Thomason, who
both played exceptionally well in the
circumstances.
Overall on a results basis it was a
slightly disappointing week, with 1
win and 3 defeats. However, every
game was extremely competitive and it
was a week enjoyed by all who came.
The Saracens openly welcome anyone
who would like to come to Devon
on the 2016 tour (week beginning
Monday 8th August).
OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
Old Salopian Freemasons
The Old Salopian Lodge has had a very happy year, under
the Mastership of W.Bro. Nick Randall (O 1972-76). He
has now handed over the Mastership to W.Bro. David
Westwood (Ph 1978-83). The Installation meeting was a
memorable occasion.
very little in over 200 years. The Lodge supports a special
bursary fund, incorporated into the Salopian Foundation.
Our next meeting is on Wednesday 17th February 2016,
at our usual venue, the City University Club, 50 Cornhill,
London EC3V 3PD.
We continue to have four meetings per year, three in London,
and one at the Schools. Last summer’s gathering was in the
clubroom of the School Boathouse, and open to all. Dr Gee
gave a very fine presentation of his now-published book.
This was followed by an excellent lunch. The view over the
river was greatly enjoyed by all, including visitors from the
Masonic Province of Shropshire.
Alternatively, please see details of our governing body,
United Grand Lodge of England at www.ugle.org.uk - @
UGLE_GrandLodge
OS Lodge is undoubtedly an interesting and alternative way
of keeping in touch with Old Salopians, and supporting the
Schools at the same time. Charity, as well as Fraternity, is a
fundamental tenet of what we do, the principles of which are
illustrated in the various ceremonies, which have changed
Also - www.londonmasons.org.uk - http://shropshiremasons.
org.uk - @MetGrandLodge - @ShropshireMason
Likewise, the Order of Women Freemasons www.owf.org.uk
If you are interested in finding out more, please contact the
Secretary, Chris Williams (R 1978-83) on 07956 964937 or at
[email protected]
Publications
Adam Baldwin (S 2001-06)
Heroes and Villains of Finance
Published by Wiley
Paperback and e-book ISBN:
9781119038993
People both inside and outside the
world of finance are perpetually curious
about the larger-than-life characters that
built, shaped and continue to populate
the industry. Heroes and Villains of
Finance is a fascinating dive into the
history of money as an institution,
highlighting the 50 most significant
figures who, rightly or wrongly, are
responsible for the financial landscape
we live in today. The book reveals how
their impact reaches far beyond the
financial system itself and has helped
shape the course of human history.
British Government and has over 100
publications in scientific journals and
textbooks. In the 1960s he worked as
a professional clarinet and saxophone
player, touring, broadcasting and
recording with Charlie Galbraith’s All
Star Jazz Band, Mick Mulligan and
George Melly, and the London City
Stompers. This is his third novel, set in
a world of drug crime and tangled love
affairs in the corridors of Whitehall.
Sir John Stuttard (SH 1958-1963)
Travels in a Lifetime
ISBN-10: 0993374905
Emeritus Professor Martin CraigDowner (DB 1944-49)
The Scenes Behind the Power
Published by Mardi Books www.
mardibooks.com and ebook available
from Amazon
This autobiographical work records
Sir John Stuttard’s experience of travel
in the 50 years from 1964 to 2014.
His experience was typical of many
of his generation: few countries and
geographical areas were too dangerous
or out of bounds, and travel was,
relatively, much safer than it seems
to be 50 years on when this book
was written. Sir John’s accounts of his
foreign journeys provide a picture of
the environment in which adventurous
travel in the second half of the 20th
Century could take place. They
include descriptions of performing
Shakespeare in Soweto, hitch-hiking
from Johannesburg to Salisbury (now
Harare), a year in Borneo, travelling
on Kitchener’s train from Khartoum to
Wadi Halfa across the Nubian Desert,
travels in Ethiopia, East Africa, India,
Burma, Malaysia, Jordan, Russia,
Estonia, Finland, Romania, China
(where he spent five years) and a
10,000-mile journey in a vintage RollsRoyce from Peking to Paris, through
Tibet, Pakistan, Iran and Turkey.
Martin Craig-Downer made his name
as a distinguished scientist for the
Sir John says that the book was written
for his grandchildren, but it has been
“This book is a marvellous introduction
to a gallery of fascinating figures from
the world of Big Money. The author
has chosen a brilliant collection of
crooks, entrepreneurs, philosophers,
economists and bankers. These
highly readable short lives provide an
excellent education to any reader who
wants to understand the personalities
who shaped today’s world of
investment.” - Luke Johnson, Chairman
of Risk Capital Partners, former
chairman of Pizza Express and Channel
4 Television, Financial Times columnist
and author of Start it Up.
suggested as a ‘good read’ by the
London-based Travellers Club. It is
available on Amazon.
Forthcoming Publication
The Divided Self by Peter
Fanning
Published by Greenbank Press
Available from the Salopian Club
from June 2016 (Price £20.00)
Peter Fanning’s account of life at
Shrewsbury School is a personal
tale. Moving from his early days
as Head of English, ‘The Divided
Self’ goes on to chart the changing
fortunes of the School under the
leadership of four distinguished and
diverse Headmasters.
The creation of the Grove,
Shrewsbury’s first new Boarding
House for 70 years, features both
the trials and triumphs equally.
Then from the Senior Master’s
viewpoint comes an intimate
account of the tense and dramatic
period when Governors first
admitted girls, thus ending a
450-year tradition of boys only
education.
Dramatic tales of the high and lows
of life on the Edinburgh Fringe
highlight the author’s ‘Other Self’,
as a director of theatre, placing
Shrewsbury’s reputation firmly
on the national stage. Above all,
‘The Divided Self’ is a warm and
entertaining portrait of what it was
like to live and work at Shrewsbury
from 1980 up to the present decade.
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72
OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
Obituaries
Professor J H Appleton Mr J C Chavasse Mr R Dowty Mr J H C Edwards The Reverend R L Edwards Mr J Egerton-Williams Mr R W Foster-Pegg Mr J P France Mr H S Gibson Mr A J A Gillan Mr N P B Green-Price Mr W R Grey Mr W B Hill Mr D R Howl Mr C R P Jones
Mr P J Lawn (SH
(SH
(SH
(SH
(DB
(I
(Rt
(Rb
(R
(Rt
(I
(SH
(SH
(S
(S
(G
1933-38)
1938-43)
1945-50)
1949-54)
1936-40)
1929-32)
1933-37)
1984-89)
1963-68)
1938-42)
1941-44)
1934-38)
1946-51)
1950-54)
1966-69)
1988-93)
Professor Jay Appleton (SH 1933-38)
Jay Appleton was born in 1919 in Headingly, Leeds. His
father was a Curate in the Church of England, who had
returned from service as an Army Chaplain in poor health,
as a result of which he was transferred to a rural parish
in Norfolk. Remote as it was, their new home presented
challenges for the family, but Jay was to learn to cope,
whatever the situation, a quality that stood him in good
stead at various times in his life. That his clergyman
parent was a more than useful amateur engineer and
inventor meant that some of the developments of the
early 20th century came to the village of Stibbard sooner
than they might have done. On journeys across England
from Norfolk to Lancashire, Jay showed an interest in his
surroundings which marked him out as the geographer he
eventually became.
A scholarship for the sons of clergy made possible Jay’s
entry to Shrewsbury as a boarder, where he joined his
cousins from Wigan. The journey to school and back was
long and arduous, but far from being put off, the young
Jay developed a life-long enthusiasm for railways. He did
well enough at Shrewsbury to win a place at Oxford, but
not before he had accomplished the remarkable feat of
teaching himself enough Greek in six weeks to enable him
to qualify for a pass in School Certificate, in those days an
essential requirement.
When war broke out, Jay was confronted by the moral
dilemma of one who wanted to fight against the enemy,
but who could see the possibility of receiving an order
that in conscience he could not carry out. Assigned to
a non-combatant unit (and therefore not armed), he
demonstrated the extraordinary courage required in Bomb
Disposal. There could hardly have been a more dangerous
posting in 1940.
Vice-Admiral Sir J S C Lea Mr J E Levetus Mr G D Lovett Mr A Metcalfe-Brown Mr R J Moore Mr B B Overy Dr P Owen-Lloyd Dr A M M Plumptre Mr D H Roberts Mr M A Schützer-Weissmann Dr V Simons Mr C H Smith Mr C Vaughan Mr E J Warburton Rev J R V Woods (Rt 1937-41)
(Ch 1938-42)
(I 1950-53)
(SH 1948-52)
(R 1947-51)
(DB 1939-43)
(S 1944-49)
(SH 1942-46)
(Rt 1958-62)
(Staff 1988-2015)
(JHT 1939-43)
(Rt 1949-52)
(S 1953-58)
(I 1951-55)
(R 1945-50)
In 1942, Jay met his future wife, Iris, and they were
married the following year. Leaving the Army in 1946,
he sought an outdoor life and turned his hand to fruitgrowing. Soon, however, he was struck by the symptoms
of severe arthritis, which forced him to abandon life on the
land and return to academic life. He applied for a course
in Geology at Newcastle University, but before he could
take up the place, the course was discontinued, and he
enrolled on the Geography course. In the meantime, a
remarkable thing had occurred; the extraction of a tooth
had cured his ‘arthritis’ for good! By such an accident
of fate did the potential farmer become a distinguished
geographer.
He made such a favourable impression that he was offered
a post at the University College of Hull, where he was to
remain for thirty-five years. He was a popular lecturer and
an able administrator, acting for many years as Admissions
Officer. He was an early advocate of what has come
to be known as the Gap Year, believing as he did that
prospective students would benefit from seeing something
of the world they intended to study. His interest in
railways came into play in a report on the use of disused
lines (of which, post-Beeching, there were many). His
proposals became government policy.
In 1975 Jay published a book, ‘The Experience of
Landscape’, in which he propounded the theory that
people have an innate desire to live in an environment
where they can observe without being seen. This he
traced back to early man in the ‘hunter-gatherer’ stage. It
was at once a novel idea and an influential one, and his
subsequent writings on landscape aesthetics were widely
taken up by landscape architects.
Retiring from Hull, where he had become a Professor, he
took up writing poetry, though very late in life. He was
OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
involved in a project started by Simon Warner, a landscape
architect, which culminated in an exhibition at the Royal
Geographical Society. In a final demonstration of the
‘can do’ mentality, he managed to attend the opening in
Kensington. It was a triumphant occasion at the end of
a long career. Jay Appleton is remembered both for his
academic distinction and for his devotion to the family for
which he did so much.
Ian Boston (R 1952-57)
things made of wood or leather, but his main passions were
birds, the countryside and nature conservation, and music.
Appreciative of anything from the early Renaissance through
to Gilbert and Sullivan, Ian sang in choirs throughout his
life. He became much involved in running the local Wildlife
Trust and Choral Society, and was Church Warden at his
church in South Cockerington for many years.
Ian Boston was born in Liverpool in February 1939 and
brought up in Cheshire. He left Rigg’s as Praepostor and
Head of House, and then went to the Leather Sellers’
College in London. He spent several years in the West
Country working for a glove manufacturer in Yeovil, where
he met his future wife Margaret, before joining the family
tanning business in Liverpool. In 1975 he moved to Louth
in Lincolnshire, to manage another tannery in the group,
and subsequently bought it when the parent company went
into liquidation in the late 1990s. This is now one the few
tanneries still in operation in the UK.
Ian was an enthusiastic cricketer in his early days and
maintained that interest all his life. He also enjoyed good
art and loved the visual and tactile qualities of beautiful
Robert (Bob) Dowty (SH 1945-50)
Robert (Bob) Dowty, who died on 28th July 2015 at the
age of 85, was a well-known figure in the Isle of Man,
where he had a long-standing connection with the sport of
motorcycling. Born in Douglas in 1931, he was educated
at the High School in the island’s capital, before moving to
Shrewsbury just after the end of the war. He enjoyed his
time in Shropshire and right at the end of his life he spoke
with fondness of the Hunt runs through the countryside.
After Shrewsbury, he did the statutory two years of National
Service in the Royal Artillery, a connection he maintained
with a further voluntary 12 years in the Territorial Army, just
one example of his public-spirited contribution.
On leaving the Army, he spent two years learning the motor
trade with Humber in Coventry, prior to returning to the
Isle of Man to start up his own business, the Island Garages
group, which he was to run for the next 30 years.
Even before he had left school, he had fallen for the sport
of motorcycle racing, a day at the Manx Grand Prix having
cast its spell. When he was old enough, he bought a
Douglas 90 plus model, which he raced for the first time
in 1951. He then invested in a more powerful machine,
a Manx Norton, which he named ‘Sally’, on which he
competed, with some success, as an amateur rider, both in
the Island and in mainland UK. In 1959, the combination of
an accident in a race and the responsibility of impending
marriage brought his career as a competitor to an end,
but he remained an active supporter as an administrator.
President of the Manx Grand Prix Riders Association and of
the Southern 100 MCRC, at his death he was honoured with
a page of tributes in a local paper.
On selling his garage business, he took on a number of
directorships, working well into his seventies and finding
time to do much charitable work. He was also a Justice of
the Peace and for a time was Chairman of the Isle of Man
Magistrates Association.
He was a selfless, humble, gentle man with a wry sense
of humour and a gift for being able to get on with anyone
and everyone he met, being genuinely interested in them.
He was liked and respected by all and much loved by his
large extended family. He died just before Christmas 2014,
leaving behind his wife Margaret, daughter Mary, son and
daughter-in-law Adam and Anitha, and grandson Akil. He
will be very sadly missed by family and friends alike.
Busy and generous with his time though he was, Bob
Dowty never neglected his family and he is remembered
with the warmest affection. Holidays in France brought
particular joy, as he could combine his love of the
countryside with uninterrupted family time.
He lived long, he achieved much, he enjoyed life. These
were the words with which his son John opened his funeral
address. That this life was of benefit to others is abundantly
clear from what has been written and said about him. “Sad
passing of a good friend to motorcycling,” ran the headline
in the ‘Isle of Man Examiner’. Not only motorcycling has
cause to mourn.
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OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
Chris Dumbell (JHT 1940-44)
His cousin writes:
There must have been something very special in the gene
pool of the Dumbell family. Many of the finest attributes
of Chris’s father, Philip Dumbell and his mother Marjorie,
a creator of beautiful things, particularly needlepoint, were
manifest in Chris. Philip Dumbell had a long and fruitful
life, surviving well beyond his three score years and ten,
and Chris equally had a splendid innings, which sadly
ended on 18th August 2015.
It could all have been very different. A cutting from The
Times dated 10th July 1956 reads:
A propeller tore loose from a Trans Canada Airline’s
Vickers Viscount on the way from Chicago to Toronto
yesterday, killing a woman passenger and injuring five
others. The pilot made a safe emergency landing at
Windsor, Ontario airport.
Like a soldier returning wounded from the battlefield,
Chris was reluctant to talk about the accident. Suffice it to
say that the lady who perished was seated in the row in
front. Chris and his pregnant wife Donna were amongst
the injured. Both had poor chances of survival and were
on life support. Recovery and convalescence took some
time and Chris was left with a leg injury which necessitated
long-term changes to his life. He gave up skiing, played
more golf and bridge and took up gardening seriously.
Never did Chris complain about his condition; he accepted
it and got on with life.
It was in the summer of 1951 at a large party at the
Dubuque Golf and Country Club that Chris first set eyes on
the pretty young lady who subsequently became his wife.
Chris and Donna became engaged after two months and
were married on 29th December.
Dubuque became virtually a second home to Chris and
Donna. They built a home on the outskirts of the city
overlooking a gorgeous piece of the Upper Mississippi
River and made probably over 200 round trips to the City.
Through Donna’s family connections and involvement
with the University, Chris and Donna were well known in
Dubuque. They were good friends of the Arboretum and
designed an exquisite garden for it.
Chris’ father sent him to Iowa to work as an apprentice
at a John Deere plant. Here he was tasked with learning
about US manufacturing technique and practices,
experiences which later contributed most usefully to his
working life at Turner Manufacturing.
The family firm had been created in the 1890s by Chris’s
grandfather. It started out making rather unreliable motor
cars. When Chris joined it was a more broadly based
engineering company. With Philip Dumbell as Chairman,
Chris and his brother Roy steered Turner Manufacturing to
a very successful stock market flotation in 1968.
The company sadly is no more. Having once been one
of Wolverhampton’s finest employers, when full control
passed to Dana Corporation, conditions changed. Not
wanted as a hands-on manager, Roy did not stay long.
Chris relocated to another office, travelled extensively for
a short period and was then happy to leave. Dana itself
subsequently failed.
Retirement from Dana released Chris’s energies for his
other interests and activities. In Public Service he was for a
number of years a Magistrate and Chairman of the Bench.
With Donna he travelled more and enjoyed many happy
holidays with his family at their house in the Algarve.
Photography was one of his many pleasures and trips
were always well researched and recorded in albums.
Chris, Donna and family moved to Lower Hall in Worfield
in 1964. The house was in need of some repair and the
garden mainly grass, open space and a virtual wilderness.
Whilst it took vision and some professional input to create
the structure and planting, the garden is essentially the
life’s work of Chris and Donna.
The garden was for Chris one of the great loves of his life.
Whereas some home owners cannot wait to sell off the
excess garden or tennis court for a building plot, Chris
continued to add acreage to his pride and joy. Using his
knowledge of engineering, maximum use was made of
the Worf and river vistas. The garden has been visited and
enjoyed by literally thousands of people from the UK and
abroad. During the the weekend of 14th/15th June 2015,
1,400 people came to celebrate a World War 1 display and
other artefacts in the Garden Room at Lower Hall. Before
any visit, Chris would be out early, making sure that the
garden was looking its pristine best. He and Donna were
perfectionists.
Chris was, over many years, a generous and silent
benefactor to the village of Worfield. The Church, where
Chris worshipped, benefitted usefully from events,
including garden openings at Lower Hall. He was a longserving Vice President of the Worfield Cricket Club, life
member of the Bowling Club and Vice President of the
Royal British Legion. All of these received his generous
financial support.
Chris took particular pleasure in allowing couples married
in the church to be photographed in his garden. He also
liked to receive children from the school on to the lawn
to be taught and to sketch. On special occasions the
Dumbells shared their good fortune exclusively with the
inhabitants of Worfield, including a memorable Millenium
party held on New Year’s Eve 1999 with a spectacular
firework display, and a few years later a special event to
celebrate 50 years of Dumbells in Worfield.
More recently Chris was outstanding in his support and
devotion to Donna. Nothing was too much trouble for a
man, of whom his Commanding Officer in the Navy wrote
in 1947: “He is very keen and conscientious, cheerful
and capable and has conducted himself to my entire
satisfaction.”
Quite regularly he would power up his trusty Jaguar and
set off for London SW3. He was a fast driver and to be a
passenger in the back of his car was a testing experience.
He and Donna both derived much pleasure from their
London life, which included regular visits to Cadogan Hall
for concerts.
Chris was devoted to his children, grandchildren and
enlarged family and they have been lucky to have
benefitted from his zest for life wisdom and generosity.
A great life well lived.
OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
John Edwards (SH 1949-54)
John entered School House Shrewsbury from Packwood
Haugh in 1949 and clearly enjoyed his time there. His
passion for rowing was paramount, especially the days
away rowing at regattas.
John possessed a special wit and humour much enjoyed by
his school mates and even prompted his House Master, Mr
Anthony Chenevix-Trench, on one occasion to remark to
his parents that if all else failed, their son would find work
on the stage. As it turned out, he became an auctioneer and
was never happier than on the rostrum with an appreciative
audience.
Sight problems prevented him doing National Service, so
he went to London College of Estate Management followed
by a year’s practical with Russell, Baldwin and Bright,
auctioneers in Leominster. Eventually he joined his father in
the family firm Campbell & Edwards in Llandrindod Wells.
John soon settled in with the way of local farmers and
buyers at weekly livestock markets in Builth Wells, Rhayader
and Penybont and in his prime would carry a ‘poor trade’
which would be admired by all.
“He appeared to have complete mastery and control over
the auction, an incredible memory for names and kind
words, or the occasional ‘put down’ for those who deserve
it, always with his special sense of humour.”
As new sheep breed societies developed and sheep
numbers increased, John decided to move the large annual
Richard Foster-Pegg (Rt 1933-37)
Richard Foster-Pegg was born in Derbyshire, son of the
chaplain to the Duke of Devonshire at Chatsworth.
During the Second World War he worked as an apprentice
engineer at Rolls-Royce and was involved in the
development of the Merlin engine for the Spitfire and of
early jet engines and turbines. In the 1950s he worked as
a mechanical engineer for the Canadian Government on
coal-fired gas turbines at McGill University and later for the
Bechtel Corporation and for Westinghouse as a designer
of advanced power plants. He acted world-wide as a
Keith Fraser (O 1950-55)
A tribute written by John Lavelle (DB 1950-56):
Ian Grant Keith Fraser; four very Scottish names. His family,
luckily for us, decided to settle in Shrewsbury, moving from
the Scottish borders where they had been evacuated, and
thus began a friendship which endured more than 70 years.
Keith was born in Guernsey, but the family had to abandon
their home and all their belongings, bar one suitcase, to flee
autumn ewe sales to the Royal Welsh Showground at
Llanelwedd. Each of these sales took several days to set up
on different sites on the showground, involving extra staff to
erect sheep pens, co-ordination of catalogues and so on.
These weeks heaped a large amount of strain on John, but
he also took some pride in knowing that at one time they
were the largest sheep sales in Europe.
In 1965 his father retired and Campbell & Edwards merged
with Russell, Baldwin & Bright across the border in
Herefordshire. John became a director and at boardroom
meetings became famous for his ‘one liners’, as well as
‘adding enthusiasm and inspiration to his colleagues’.
John helped create the auctions at the Royal Welsh Winter
Fayre which was on a par with Smithfield’s Christmas
Fatstock. Yet some of John’s happiest working moments
were conducting furniture sales in the local Church Hall,
which were for many regular attendees a social occasion.
They didn’t come to bid, but to enjoy John’s kindly banter.
He was much missed by the farming community and
buyers from many parts of the country when he took early
retirement, and he had always been a much loved and
respected employer.
John died in March 2015 and is survived by his wife Brenda.
They lost their beloved only child, Caroline, in 1978 when
she was only 13½, leaving a gap in their lives that could
never be filled.
consultant and lecturer on power generation, as well as
working for the Department of Energy as a designer.
He was a member of the British Institute of Mechanical
Engineers, the Institute of Energy and the American Society
of Mechanical Engineers and had numerous patents in the
design of turbines for electric power generation.
He died on 20th April 2015 aged 95 and is survived by
Frances, his beloved wife of 67 years, his daughter, Perri,
five grandchildren and one great-grandson. His son Timothy
pre-deceased him.
the Channel Islands. Before embarking on the last boat to
leave, his father drove the family car into the sea to avoid its
capture by the Germans.
We were at Prestfelde Prep School together and then at The
Schools. Although Keith’s home, Red Roofs, overlooked
the School Site, he was a boarder in Oldham’s. An above
average wing half, he played for the School 1st X1. I
don’t remember him as a serious cricketer but he was a
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challenging opponent at beach cricket in Anglesey, ably
supported by the Coopers. He was also an above average
squash and fives player.
National Service followed in the Royal Navy and he saw
active service in the Suez Canal aboard HMS Theseus.
A return to academia found Keith studying history at
Christchurch, Oxford.
When my father retired from dental practice, he decided to
downsize from the Town Centre. We moved to The Rocks
overlooking the old Shrewsbury Golf Club. Who were our
next-door neighbours? Keith and his delightful father, Ian,
who had recently retired from his ophthalmic practice on St
John’s Hill, where we had also lived.
Qualifying as a solicitor via a firm in Liverpool and the
Guildford Law School, Keith joined Dennis Salt, the oldest
firm of solicitors in the town. They eventually merged with
Wace Morgan, which involved an office move from 10
Belmont to 2 Belmont to become Wace Morgan Salt and
subsequently Wace Morgan. Keith was Senior Partner from
1995 until his retirement in 2002. He had been President
of the Shropshire Law Society, was extremely popular and
in consequence had a vast array of clients; in every way a
solicitor of the old school. Upon retirement he was actively
involved in witness support at Shrewsbury Crown Court and
also on the Alms House Committee of the Drapers’ Company.
Bill Grant (SH 1962-66)
Bill Grant, who died suddenly while
coaching rowing on the River Wear,
was born in Sunderland in 1947
and spent most of his life in the
North East. He was brought up in
Whitburn, where he lived with his
younger brother and sister, Jim and
Jann. He went as a boarder to prep
school at Knaresbrough in North
Yorkshire. A school report from this time shows that while
he achieved 95% in maths (a trait inherited by all three of
his children), in English he only scored 33%. Apparently
there were problems deciphering his writing even then! The
rest of his school days were spent at Shrewsbury, where he
started to row and also coach. Bill was extremely shortsighted and a sport in which someone else tells you where
to go was probably beneficial.
He did an engineering degree at Durham followed by a
master’s in Business Studies. He continued his rowing both
for the college and the university, competing at Henley
twice and thus becoming eligible to join the Leander Club,
a membership of which he was very proud. During the
summers he worked for Brathay Outdoor Centre and took
surveying expeditions to Norway, Iceland and Greenland.
Bill ran the family jewellery business after his father’s death
until he retired in 2007. From 2000-02 he was Chairman
of the National Association of Goldsmiths, a role which
his father had also held. He was a member of two livery
companies and enjoyed attending their formal functions
in London and as a Freeman of the City of London was
entitled to attend the election of the Lord Mayor.
Keith had two great passions in his life other than his family
and his professional career: golf and Shrewsbury Town FC.
Keith was involved in the Golf Club’s move to Condover,
but before that, in 1970, he had been Club Captain. He
was President in 1983. Playing in the final of the Club
Championship in 1969, which he won, his opponent’s
caddy was one Jane Hindley – who later became his wife.
He also won the President’s Putter three times and played
county golf for Shropshire on many occasions. Father and
son are to be found on many of the honours boards.
Ian McIntosh tells me that he and Keith were about to
celebrate 70 years of continuous support of The Town.
We certainly all went together to the two Wembley play-offs
against Bristol Rovers and Gillingham. We lost both. At least
in the season we have just finished, we gained automatic
promotion. Keith was delighted.
Our thoughts are very much with Jane, Rachel and Jason,
Simon and Leyla and their respective children, Jo, Harry,
Ben and Zahra. The numbers attending the funeral service
were a tribute to Keith as a husband, as a father, grandfather
and as a friend. He was indeed a pillar of the community
he served and he leaves it enriched in so many ways. For
myself – my thanks for 70 years of wonderful friendship.
Bill loved sailing and achieved his day skipper and coastal
skipper qualifications. On a sailing course in Salcombe
in 1987 he met Jenny. They conducted a three-year
relationship 350 miles apart and Bill spent many hours in
his BMW on the M1 and M5. Never one to make life easy,
he drove south to meet Jenny’s parents the day after the
hurricane in 1987.
Bill and Jenny married in 1990 when Bill was 42. They
had three children, Richard, Catherine and Emma, and
Bill delighted in their progress through school. All three
children became Sea Scouts and Bill became District
Treasurer for the Scouts for a while.
The church was always important to Bill. He served on
the PCC in Whitburn, became Churchwarden there and
was pivotal in building a meeting room within the church.
Not satisfied with this, when he moved to the church in
Cleadon, he joined the PCC and became involved in the
design and building of the Chapter House here. Bill went
on to join Deanery and then Diocesan Synod and finally
Bishop’s Council. He was also Chair of the Redundant
Churches Committee.
Once in charge of the family business, Bill had no time to
row himself but he maintained an interest and attended
Henley regularly. In fact we believe he only missed 1990
when he was on his honeymoon and 1994 when, with a
child of 23 months and another of one month, permission
was refused! After retiring, he again became an active
member of Durham Amateur Rowing Club (DARC)
and bought a sculling boat. He obtained his umpire’s
qualifications and more recently was working towards his
level 3 coaching. These activities involved power boat and
first aid courses which he enthusiastically organised for
OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
other members of the Club as well. After the death of his
friend he took over the job of Boat Warden. Bill spent many
hours in Durham each week and was very happy cycling up
and down the towpath, shouting at people.
Bill was a kind, funny and very gentle man. He was easily
moved to tears but renowned for his unmistakeable,
infectious laugh. He was also very frustrating - there can’t
be anyone who knew him well who hasn’t asked a simple
question requiring a yes or no answer and five minutes
later, after an explanation of the theory and possible
consequences of various actions, still had no idea whether
the answer had been yes or no!
He was meticulous in everything he did, very much an “If a
job’s worth doing it’s worth doing properly” sort of person
and many of us have benefitted from this attention to detail.
Robin Grey (SH 1934-38)
Robin Grey grew up in Cornwall, messing around on boats.
The reason he went to Shrewsbury was that his family
home bordered on to Clement Attlee’s estate and he was
friendly with the Atlee boys who attended Shrewsbury.
Remarkably, fast forwarding to Cape Town 60 years later,
where Robin’s teenage grandson was living, a family by the
name of Attlee moved in next door with their teenage son.
They were apparently related to the same Attlee family and
the two boys became firm friends.
A year or so after Robin finished school, World War 2 broke
out and he enlisted in the Royal Navy. By the end of the
war he was second in command of a small submarine called
HMSub Shakespeare and had seen some exciting action in
the Far East. Although he had some positive experiences
during the war, such as shore leave in Ceylon which was a
place he loved, he was a pacifist and abhorred the idea of
the war.
Denys Haughton Jones (DB 1942-46)
Denys was the middle child of William and Gertrude Jones.
His father was a pharmacist and ophthalmic optician with
a number of chemist shops and ophthalmic practices in
Shrewsbury, including on High Street and Pride Hill.
During National Service, Denys was stationed at
Lossiemouth where he was a photographer with the Royal
Navy. His recollection was of being warned that to lose
his camera out of the aircraft whilst on flying missions was
even more serious an offence than that of a rifleman soldier
losing his rifle. He had a lifelong interest in and love for
photography. Of Lossiemouth all he would ever say was
that it was the only place he could remember where the
wind could blow you back uphill on a bicycle!
Following National Service, and after qualifying as an
ophthalmic optician, he entered into partnership with his
But Bill had a constant optimism that people would benefit
from knowing how to do things properly, and it is a mark
of the huge generosity of his character that he would pour
so much energy into helping people without ever worrying
too much about whether they would appreciate it as much
as they should.
His memorial service was attended by more than 300
friends, including Michael Wright and other Salopians with
whom he had maintained a lifelong friendship.
At a well attended ceremony in September at DARC, his
sculling boat was presented to the Club by his family and
formally named after him by one of his long-term rowing
and mountaineering friends, Nigel van Zwanenberg (S
1962-66). Bill was a very kind and loving husband, an
inspirational father and a true and loyal friend.
Once the war ended he married his sweetheart Margaret,
left her with his family and went off to scout around
Southern Africa, then sent for her once he had chosen
where to settle. She travelled on one of the last commercial
flying boats to make the trip, mooring overnight off the
coast of Italy, then on the Aswan Dam, then Lake Victoria
and finally arriving on the Vaal Dam near Johannesburg.
They subsequently settled in Cape Town where Robin
started a successful small business which he ran until he
was into his late seventies.
Having retained his love for the sea, he sailed his yacht
Swansong in Table Bay and further afield several times a
week for many years. He and Margaret always felt England
was their home and returned to visit friends and family
annually in their last 40 years together.
At the age of 94 he became very frail and having put all his
affairs in good order, took the step of ending his own life,
two years after his beloved Margaret had passed away.
father. In due course he took on the practice from his father
and branched out to run practices in Welshpool, Newtown
and Bishop’s Castle in addition to the Shrewsbury practice
at 108, Abbey Foregate. He served on the Shropshire
Ophthalmic Committee, including a period as its secretary.
Denys had a love of travel and much enjoyed driving
through Luxembourg, Germany, Austria and Italy where he
made many friends. With his wife, Hazel, they visited their
friends on the continent throughout their married life and
continued to enjoy these trips during retirement. In their
earlier years Hazel and Denys were members of Shrewsbury
Operatic Society, Hazel as a performer and Denys working
backstage. Denys had a love of music and over the years
built up an extensive and wide collection of music.
He died on 6th January 2015, one week short of his 86th
birthday. He is survived by his wife, Hazel.
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Dr Philip Heal (R 1946-51)
Philip Heal was born on 21st July 1932 in Exeter, where
both his parents were GPs. He went to Twyford Prep
School in Hampshire aged eight and then on to Shrewsbury.
He was a keen cross-country runner and rower at school
and was House Captain of Cross-Country and Athletics. He
was made a Praepostor and was a member of a number of
societies and committees. After leaving Shrewsbury, he went
on to St John’s College, Cambridge to read Medicine, where
he met and married his wife, Diana.
their families and 11 grandchildren. He was also a much
devoted lover of boxer dogs! He died suddenly at home on
7th April 2015, sitting in his chair after driving home from
Hereford following a happy family Easter weekend.
After house jobs in St Thomas’, Exeter, he did three years
colonial service in Uganda, running an up-country hospital
in Masindi. On return to England in 1962, he joined his
parents’ practice before doing courses in anaesthetics and
obstetrics. He was then a founder member of a large GP
group practice in St Thomas’, Exeter until he retired in 1992.
His hobbies were sailing, walking and painting. He made
expeditions to Everest Base Camp, the Ruwenzories and
Atlas Mountains. He was a very proud father of his sons and
David Howl (S 1950-54)
David Howl’s life is an example of triumph over adversity,
of turning misfortune to advantage. As a result of a road
accident when he was 22, David had his left leg amputated
above the knee. Despite this he became an excellent skier
and eventually a guide for blind skiers. He was one of
the four people at the inaugural meeting of the British Ski
Club for the Disabled on 23rd October 1974 and was at
the Second Olympic Winter Games for Disabled in Oslo
in 1980. He also rode regularly and loved walking and,
when terrain allowed, driving in Snowdonia and over
the Shropshire hills. He was a great promoter of sport
for disabled people, making the most of his abilities and
encouraging others to do the same.
with a determination not to be defeated. He learned to draw
and travelled all over the West Midlands and Shropshire
recording buildings and local scenes of interest. He
wrote prodigious letters and diaries and most pages were
embellished with one of his sketches or cartoons.
He also wrote a history of Parkdale in Wolverhampton,
where he lived most of his life. Parkdale was planned in
the nineteenth century as a recreational area away from the
pollution of the many factories, and it was largely David’s
persistent efforts and research that prevented the large
Victorian houses being demolished and the destruction of
the central gardens and sports area by developers. It is now
a conservation area and may be considered a memorial to
the strength of character that David displayed during his life.
As if one setback was not enough, he became ill with
Hodgkins Lymphoma, but again he faced pain and hardship
Vice-Admiral Sir John Lea (Rt 1937-41)
Vice-Admiral Sir John Stuart Crosbie Lea, who has died at
the age of 91, had a distinguished career in the Royal Navy,
stretching from active service in the Second World War to
retirement in 1980. He was born in 1923, in India, where
his father was an officer in the Indian Army, and where his
education began. After a few months in Australia, a country
which was later to win a place in his heart, his parents
separated, his father returning to India and his mother
taking the children to England and prep school. From
Boxgrove School in Guildford, where he found stability
at a turbulent time, he went to Shrewsbury, where he
initially followed the traditional Salopian Classical syllabus.
When war broke out, however, he was determined to join
the Royal Navy, and therefore switched to Science, Maths
and Mechanics. He won a place at the Naval Engineering
College in Plymouth from where, in only his second year
as a student, he was sent to sea for training. Aboard HMS
Sheffield, he saw action off Italy and subsequently visited
the severely damaged island of Malta. Later in the year,
he was on the cruiser Glasgow in the Bay of Biscay when
OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
it engaged a number of German destroyers. It was, he
admitted, a frightening experience. Unfortunately for him,
his period of service was too short to qualify him for a
campaign medal.
In 1946, he emerged from college as a qualified submarine
engineer, in which capacity he served in a number of
vessels. Graduating from the naval staff college, he was
steadily promoted to posts of greater responsibility including
a spell in Whitehall in the Operations Division of Naval
Staff. Here, as elsewhere, he proved to be a successful team
player, a man who got on with people and who retained
a sense of humour under pressure. His personal qualities
were to be of particular value when, in the rank of Captain,
he had the task of preparing the Faslane Nuclear Submarine
Base, which involved negotiating with the representatives
of the civilian workforce which was operating along with
Naval personnel. The project was completed in time.
He later became Commodore of the Barracks in Portsmouth,
re-named HMS Nelson at his suggestion. From there he
moved through various Ministry posts, before retiring in the
rank of Vice-Admiral and with a knighthood.
family environment that had been lacking in his youth. A
practical man, he loved to create or mend artefacts, he was
a keen gardener, and when his wife suffered a stroke, he
applied himself to cooking. Involvement in the Hayling
Island community included work for the local church and
membership of the Hayling Horticultural Society, of which
he became President.
An avid cricket enthusiast, he was a member of the MCC
and followed England on tour, was elected President of
Navy Boxing, and followed rugby on television with an
ardour that was just short of participation.
Invited to become a liveryman of the Worshipful Company
of Plumbers, he was to serve a term as Master, just one
more example of his natural gift of leadership.
In spite of the many demands of his career in public life,
Sir John found time for his family, and was a most devoted
father and grandfather. The collection of tributes from his
grandchildren, published at his memorial service, is a very
moving record of the contribution to their lives of a man of
many talents. With justifiable pride, his eldest son spoke of
“a life truly well lived”.
Springfield, his home from 1951 on, was a very happy
place, where Sir John was determined to create the stable
Charles Lepper (Staff 1987)
Although Charles Lepper taught English for just two
terms at Shrewsbury, from January 1987, he made an
unforgettable mark, both in the Common Room and with
his pupils. Cheerful, humorous and scholarly, he acted as
an interim between the departure of David Smith and the
arrival of Stephen Holroyd.
Charles had been a professional actor, performing at
Stratford with John Gielgud, before losing much of his
hearing and being obliged to leave the stage. But the
theatre’s loss was undoubtedly a gain for the world of
education. There followed a stay at the Crypt School in
Gloucester and later at Bradfield College, where he was
appointed Head of English. A notably sparkling teacher,
he enhanced the role with his many widely acclaimed
productions of Shakespeare and later with the celebrated
Bradfield Greek Plays. On reaching retirement, Charles
Lepper continued to perform his own one-man adaptation
of Charles Dickens’ novels.
A dedicated freemason, Charles happily joined the
Salopian Lodge, continuing as a member for many years.
The coat of arms of Shrewsbury School remained on a
shield in Charles’ rooms until his dying day. No one who
encountered him will ever forget his joie de vivre, his
generosity and love of theatre and literature. He died on
27th January 2015, aged 92.
John Levetus (Ch 1938-42)
The youngest of three, John Levetus was born on 22nd
July 1924 to Edward, an import-export merchant, and
Gertrude (née Ashton), a former schoolteacher. The family
lived in Hampstead Garden Suburb and made many
enduring friendships with neighbours who shared their
interest in the arts.
John performed well at Shrewsbury School, leaving in 1942
with Higher Certificates in Latin, Greek, and History and
Ancient Literature, and a distinction in Scripture Knowledge
(Greek Text). After a year in the Territorial Army, he served
in the Army Intelligence Corps in Britain, India and Ceylon
from 1944 to 1946, learning Mandarin at the School of
Oriental and African Studies.
John then took a two-year History degree course at New
College, Oxford, graduating in 1950. After qualifying as
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a solicitor in 1954, he spent the next thirty years as a
conveyancing solicitor for the General Post Office and,
after the split, British Telecom, commuting from Hampstead
Garden Suburb (he could do a first-class impression of a
Northern Line train) and later Colchester. He was respected
as a hard-working and competent colleague.
the company of his brother’s family nearby. He became a
stalwart of the North Oxford Association community centre,
serving on the management committee for more than
twenty years and cheering up dull meetings with apt quotes
from the masters of comic verse, and staffing the reception
desk with characteristic patience and courtesy.
John Levetus spent his working life as a solicitor in
London before retiring to Oxford. He never married but
had strong ties with family and friends who remember
him with much affection for his courtesy, quiet humour
and remarkable memory.
In December 2014, John was admitted to hospital with
problems walking, associated with sarcoma. He moved into
a nursing home but became ill a few weeks later and died
on 9th February 2015.
Retirement at the age of 60 brought John a new lease of life.
He moved to Oxford to enjoy the cultural life of the city and
Henry Oxenham (Ch 1943-47)
A family tribute read at his funeral by his son, Hugh.
My father was born on 13th April 1929 in Northfield, then
a Worcestershire village not yet engulfed by Birmingham.
Both his parents came from Wales, his mother Gwyneth
from the Vale of Clwyd and his father Bert from Aberdare.
His father worked for a firm of Chartered Accountants in
Birmingham. His sister Jane was born two years after him.
At the outset of war he and his sister were evacuated to
north Wales to live with their grandparents to escape the
bombing of Birmingham. With the war still on and reaching
the age of 13, his parents did not want him to return to
Birmingham so he was sent as a boarder to Shrewsbury
School. He enjoyed his time at Shrewsbury for he was a
keen and talented sportsman, playing soccer, cricket and
athletics. He was good enough at soccer to be selected for
Public Schools soccer matches in London.
After school he was called up for National Service in 1948
and commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal
Artillery. He had the good fortune to spend some of the
time stationed in Gibraltar; it was an experience that made
a big impression on him and in later life he would mention
his time there, including hitch-hiking trips through Spain
with friends.
He had an offer of a place at Clare College, Cambridge
and after National Service he went there to read Economics
in 1949. After University he became an articled clerk in
Birmingham, training to be a Chartered Accountant. He
worked at various clients on audits – I remember him
mentioning the big BSA factory in Small Heath and the
British Rail works in Derby, then making the last the steam
engines.
In 1956 he married my mother Joan and they settled in a
house in Selly Oak, Birmingham. They had three children
in the next few years – first my sister Susan, then me
(Hugh) then my sister Helen. With a family he needed a
less itinerant job, so in 1963 he took a job with a small
manufacturing and civil engineering company at Tipton in
the Black Country. He worked from then on for the same
firm until he retired, not unusual in those days.
In retirement Henry became involved in the Housing
Association movement. Another activity he loved, a shared
interest with my mother, was their involvement in the
Birmingham Ramblers Association. Almost every week of
the year, for many years, whatever the weather, they would
travel with 50 or so other people by coach to a ramble and
walk ten or twelve miles. He was the treasurer of the group
for many years and led many walks, often recruiting me to
help him carry out the reconnaissance of a new route.
When his wife’s health declined and she had to have full
time nursing care, she went to Horfield Lodge (nursing
home) in Bristol so as to be near my sister Helen. My father
sold the family home and moved to a flat in Bristol. He
had been diagnosed with cancer but he then had a few
good years in Bristol while the cancer was in remission. He
became a volunteer helper at Horfield Lodge and engaged
in various groups and activities with the University of the
Third Age. He continued to pursue his great interest in
history.
When he became more unwell, he too moved into Horfield
Lodge and finally into St Peter’s Hospice. My sisters and I
would like to thank the staff at both places for the great
kindness and care they gave to Henry in his final months.
We believe he could not have been anywhere better.
OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
Julian Plowright (I 1956-58)
Julian Plowright was born in Youlgreave, Derbyshire and
attended Shrewsbury School for two years from 1956.
The following obituary was published in the Newport
(Rhode Island) Daily News:
Julian had lived in many towns throughout the counties of
England before moving permanently to the U.S. in 1990.
He had visited Newport a few times prior while working
with the BOC ‘Around the World Alone’ yacht race as their
film director. He was a crackerjack electrical engineer and
mechanic, who worked for a number of years at KVH
Industries as an International Sales Manager and then as
Estate Manager with his wife, Clare, at ‘Miramar’ on Bellevue
Avenue and most recently as owner with his wife of the
Newport retail garden shop, ‘mini-SCAPES’.
He was an avid licensed amateur radio operator and
member of the ARRL Radio Club of Newport County.
He just recently passed his second examination, which
gave him an important License Upgrade. This ‘hobby’ was
just one example of Julian’s many interests and talents. He
Richard Senior (O 1944-49)
Richard was born in June 1931 in Alderley Edge. When he
was two, the family moved to the outskirts of Llandudno.
Richard was sent to what seemed to be the best choice of
prep school in the region, Woodlands, where, sadly, bullying
made him deeply unhappy. In spite of this, he did well
academically and Richard passed on to Shrewsbury, but with
no expectation that his life would be any pleasanter.
Richard‘s first term at Shrewsbury began late: in May 1945,
Hitler’s generals had just capitulated, and the School let
everyone celebrate at home. When term did start, to Richard’s
astonishment, he found life at Shrewsbury fulfilling and
enjoyable; no sign whatsoever of bullying, so he could relax
and enjoy what the School had to offer. Richard looked back
on his four years at Shrewsbury and Oldham’s as among the
happiest of his life.
Except for Maths, which always remained a closed book to
Richard, he enjoyed learning, especially languages. Richard
knew that cricket was not for him, so for the summer he
opted for the ‘tub club’, starting out as cox, and graduating,
as he grew, to being an oarsman. He rowed bow for two
seasons, then bow in the School third eight. He was part of
the School shooting team, was awarded School Colours, then
trumped this by coming sixteenth in the Ashburton Shield at
Bisley. He finally shot his last pheasants at Christmas 2006.
Richard was taken immediately into the School Choir, as he
would delve deeply into all aspects of whatever caught
his attention – he was in constant contemplation of many
subjects – always ‘working out’ something in his very active
and creative brain.
Julian loved people, his family, and all categories of
music. He was a parishioner at St John the Evangelist
and thoroughly enjoyed their choir music and Father
Humphrey’s sermons. He loved his movie nights with Clare
and jaunts to Ft. Adams and Glenn Park with their two fourlegged kids, Mirabelle and Maximus. He cherished his visits
from his daughter Sophie and his long chats on the phone
with his brother and younger sister, all of whom he adored.
His personal reflection was – “I am not a complex person as
some seem to think, I am a simple man with simple wants
and needs, but always good music, good food, and drink”.
Julian passed away on 19th August 2014, from the effects
of cancer. He was the husband for 23 years of Clare Cooke
Plowright, who survives him. He is also survived by his
daughter, Sophie Calder Plowright, recently of South
Carolina, his brother, Chris Plowright of Ottawa, Canada,
and his sister, Georgina Plowright of England.
could sing in tune, sight-read and had a good treble voice;
in the course of time, he was appointed Vice Choregus.
Richard had begun piano studies aged four, and had already
passed Grade Four by the time he arrived at Shrewsbury.
His ongoing piano lessons took place in Alington Hall,
where he could hear the School Brass Band working nearby.
Attracted by the big brass sound, Richard knocked on the
door and tentatively asked if he could join the Band. When
F.W. Allsebrook found that Richard mastered the correct lip
and tongue technique quickly on the tenor horn, produced
a lovely tone and could play anything put in front of him, he
was promoted to playing cornet. By the age of 15, Richard
was the School’s youngest leading cornet, winning the Silver
Bugle title. He also was lead and solo trumpet with the
School Orchestra, culminating in him soloing in Haydn’s
Trumpet Concerto at the End of School Concert in summer
1949. It could be during this same concert that Richard
memorably played the Posthorn Galop, using Allsebrook’s
own real posthorn and wearing hunting pink, though this
item is not listed on the official programme.
Friendship with N.L. Williams in Mosers, who played the
accordion, led to Richard’s fascination with this versatile
but rather neglected instrument, from which he picked up
a thorough grounding in harmony. The accordion offered
Richard a totally new view of music, as it separated the
melody line, played by the right hand on a short keyboard,
from the rest, which is played on a series of buttons with the
other hand, a brilliant training for Richard’s professional life
to come.
J. Barham Johnson, Richard’s piano tutor, wisely realised
that Richard was destined for what was then considered an
unconventional career in music. This came about following
a visit by the legendary pianist Alfred Cortot. Richard, as
the School’s star pianist, was invited to sit in on Cortot’s
rehearsal and at the end was called over to be introduced
to the great man. Inspired, Richard began to cultivate his
own style, in Cortot’s mould. The following term, JBJ heard
Richard sight-reading the Chopin second scherzo in B flat
minor that Richard had heard Cortot perform; JBJ recognised
that Richard had an innate understanding of the music.
Improvisation was officially considered unscholarly, however,
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82
OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
so music lessons were moved off the school campus by the
unconventional JBJ to his home, out of authoritarian earshot,
and now entailed improvisation and modern (jazz) chord
progressions.
On leaving school, Richard was accepted by the British
Schools Exploring Society for the summer trip to Arctic
Norway. Call-up for National Service came next and he
successfully made his way through to a commission in the
Queen’s Bays, and served his time with tanks on Lüneburg
Heath. This was followed with a spell in the family firm,
Arnold Clayton, in Manchester, and then a move to London
on his first marriage, where he was employed by his fatherin-law as an insurance underwriter. But Richard’s real calling
was still a few years away.
Shrewsbury and JBJ in particular had already given Richard
the background he needed for his future career as a
professional musician, but his niche did not appear until
the pop music scene underwent its transformation at the
beginning of the sixties. Richard was introduced to an agent,
who told him that the electronic organ was now the thing.
Richard did not need telling twice; as a child he’d fallen
in love with the sound of the theatre organ, which he’d
first heard live in a Llandudno cinema, whilst waiting for a
showing of Walt Disney’s ‘Fantasia’. Thereafter he had avidly
scanned the Radio Times for all broadcasts labelled ‘Theatre
Organ’, and sat, ear glued to the radiogram’s speaker, till he
knew the names of every player, and could recognise the
individual sound of each and every theatre organ in the UK.
As his career took off, Richard was being paid good money
to play the modern electronic version of these theatre organs,
which he boosted with the new Moog synthesiser. Richard
became one of a small but significant number of publicschool-educated musicians in the new, swinging pop world
of the sixties. His background was neither a handicap nor a
help in this egalitarian milieu; what mattered was being able
to play the dots at sight, to meld with the other musicians,
and to showcase the lead-artists to best advantage. He had
the gift of conjuring up the music on the spot, with never a
rehearsal or run through. It was always live, exciting, with the
high voltage energy of walking a tight rope, which is what
thrilled the audiences.
For the next thirty years, Richard’s life revolved around his
evening job as resident backing-organist at various different
venues, as he was head-hunted by one club after another.
Mostly the duo of Richard and his drummer were backing
young artists who were on their way up, many of whom
The Revd
Michael Tupper
(Staff 1948-79)
Michael Tupper, who died
on 10th December 2014
aged 94, was one of the
stalwarts of the staff for
31 years, from September
1948 to December 1979,
for ten of which he was
Housemaster of Oldham’s.
Already ordained when he
came to the School, he was
also in fact if not in name
Assistant Chaplain, a firm
subsequently made it big on TV: Sandie Shaw, Georgie
Fame, Ken Dodd, Roy Castle, Faith Brown, Danny Williams,
Nancy Whisky and many more. This life-style lasted till the
late 1980s: by then it became clear that the end was in sight,
as stars who didn’t know Richard had taken to travelling
with their own backing tapes. They had learned from bitter
experience that there were few musicians of Richard’s calibre
who could give them decent support. Finally Richard gave
notice he would quit the next time an artist came with a
backing tape; this life-style was now over.
To supplement his income over these decades, Richard
‘daylighted’ at various jobs. These were usually selling, a skill
he had discovered he had a knack for during his brief trial
in the family firm, Arnold Clayton. Later, came buying and
selling pianos for Dawsons of Warrington.
Richard was an enthusiastic and competitive bridge player,
and wherever he lived, he sought out bridge clubs to play
duplicate. Living in the Home Counties in the 1980s, he
founded two new clubs, one of which is still known as
Richard’s Bridge Club. He authored a book on ‘How to Start
and Run a Bridge Club’ for the English Bridge Union.
In his later years, Richard set up online self-help groups
for people world-wide who suffer from CFS/ME, a muchmisunderstood illness, with a separate group for their
carers. This grew out of his caring for his wife, Annabel,
who eventually died of her illness, the first official death in
the UK from CFS/ME. She died, harrowingly, by starving
herself to death at home, ignored by the NHS. Richard
went on to counsel CFS/ME sufferers and their carers right
up to his last days.
Following the trauma of Annabel’s death, Richard, aged 72,
decided to take a year-long round-the-world trip, on his
own. He spent six months in Christchurch, New Zealand,
where there was a thriving duplicate bridge club, and
he was offered a number of residencies playing piano.
Returning from this voyage, Richard spent his final ten years
in Glastonbury with two pianos and a modern Hammond
organ. Here he was able to explore the piano duet and
two-piano repertoire with his second wife Susanna and, at
last, to relax into jazz improvisation on the Hammond for
his own pleasure. Richard is survived by Susanna, by his
five children and eleven grandchildren, and by his younger
brother Michael.
Susanna van Rose
and undaunted advocate for Christianity in a time of
great change.
Michael Heathfield Tupper was born in April 1920 in East
Sheen, Surrey, where his father was the vicar. His mother,
unusually for a woman of her generation, was an Oxford
graduate. Both parents were progressive for their time
on social issues, and their strong religious faith meant that
Michael and his two sisters grew up in an active Christian
environment.
Michael was only 11 when his father died; but thanks to a
Clergy Bursary he was able to go to Marlborough College.
He then read Theology at St Edmund Hall, Oxford, and after
graduating trained for ordination at Ridley Hall, Cambridge.
After a curacy and three years as Chaplain at Monkton Combe,
OLD SALOPIAN NEWS
he was appointed to Shrewsbury by Wolfenden in 1948.
It is his work in Chapel and religious teaching that should be
recorded first: it was a contribution of the utmost importance
to the life of the School Community. There was in that
sphere of School life more change in his time than perhaps
in any other: there was uncertainty and experiment, and the
ministries of four successive Chaplains differed in their styles
and emphases. Throughout that time Michael stood firm
and resolute. His faith was clearly proclaimed; the standards
by which he lived were plain for all to see; and he did not
hesitate to speak up for what he believed to be right, even if
sometimes unpopular.
For ten years he was Housemaster of Oldham’s, not the easiest
of years – 1962 to 1972 – when the School was experiencing
both the difficulties caused by the changing mores of British
Society in the 1960s and also the force of the reforming energy
of Donald Wright. Many old members of the House will testify
to his pastoral care and thoroughness, and perhaps above all
to the security of knowing that there was a steady hand at the
helm. One of his Heads of House was Michael Proctor, now
Provost of King’s College, Cambridge. His boys will remember
too with gratitude all the work done by his wife Jane in those
final years of House catering, when Housemasters’ wives
were still hotel keepers at a time when hotel staff had become
almost extinct. He had met Jane Taylor when in his earlier
days he was resident House Tutor in School House, where
her father Tom Taylor was Housemaster from 1948 until his
sudden untimely death in 1952. He and Jane married in 1953.
In other ways too Michael played his full part in School life.
In the Sixth Form his Divinity teaching pointed a path for
many to follow into an understanding of the Christian faith,
and below the Sixth his teaching as a form master raised the
morale of the strugglers and brought results which surprised
even the boys themselves. Michael was also an energetic
Glynn Yeoward (I 1944-48)
Glynn was one of the more senior members of an
extended ‘Salopian’ family. He followed his father Cyril
Herbert and cousins Michael and Richard Ainsworth to
Shrewsbury. Michael was one of Shrewsbury’s more
prominent cricketers, and Glynn felt it was a hard act to
follow. Subsequently, he was joined by younger brother
John Cyril (later High Sheriff of Shropshire c.1982), sons
Robin (I 1968-73) and Andrew (I 1970-75), and grandson
Christopher (O 2007-09).
Glynn’s main loves and achievements at school were football
and cricket. He was in the 2nd XI football and was in the 1st
House final winning team one year, playing in the forward
line with Robin Moulsdale. He claimed on the same evening
to have fought in the 1st House boxing final, losing against
Brian Hutton, later Lord Hutton (of Iraq Inquiry fame).
After achieving his School Certificate, he joined the
Coldstream Guards for National Service, including guarding
Windsor Castle at the time of HRH Prince Charles’ birth.
Following a brief spell working in Canada, he became a cub
reporter on the Hereford Times, and subsequently became
the news editor in the Birmingham Post. In latter years, he
took to writing, completing a number of books mixing fact
with fiction on subjects such as the Roman occupation of
Shropshire. He continued to play football and cricket (with
Ludlow Cricket Club) for as long as possible, and was a
regular on the Shropshire cricket scene.
House rowing coach, he sang regularly in the Concert Choir,
he was in demand as a football referee who could be relied
on to keep a firm grip on the game, and he was a major link
between the School and Shrewsbury House in Everton, where
he was a familiar and much respected figure.
On retirement Michael and Jane moved to Bayston Hill, where
he had already become involved in parish affairs. His energy
was still undiminished, and in retirement as a non-stipendiary
curate he joined the vicar in fostering a flourishing parish.
The congregation outgrew the small village church, and they
raised the money to build a large new church more central
to the modern housing. Those were happy and fruitful
years. As he wrote at the time: “We are trying to combine
faithfulness to the unchanging truths of the Gospel with
courage to experiment with contemporary ways of worship
and communication.”
Also in retirement, he and Jane went regularly to Jerusalem
for two or three months at a time to take his turn as chaplain
at the Garden Tomb, ministering to the many pilgrims and
tourists who visit. In total they did thirteen spells of duty
there. When Michael died, Jane received a phone call from an
Arab street vendor in Jerusalem who spoke to her for twenty
minutes in tribute: Michael’s influence extended beyond the
bounds of the Garden Tomb itself.
In his last years he became increasingly frail and was cared
for and nursed with unstinting devotion by Jane, so that with
the help of visiting professional carers he spent almost all that
time in his own home rather than in hospital. He leaves his
widow Jane, two daughters, a son, five grandchildren and
three great-grandchildren.
Luther’s words spoken at the Diet of Worms in 1521 could
aptly be applied to Michael: Hier stehe ich. Ich kann nicht
anders. Gott helfe mir.
In 1953, he married Susan Isobel Garbett, niece of the then
Archbishop of York, and is survived by three children,
Robin, Andrew and Sarah, and three grandchildren,
Georgina, James and Christopher.
83
SALOPIAN CLUB COMING EVENTS
More details can be found on the Salopian Club website: www.shrewsbury.org.uk/page/os-events-0
Sporting fixtures at: www.shrewsbury.org.uk/page/os-sport (Click on individual sport)
Except where stated, email: [email protected]
All Shrewsbury School parents (including former parents) and guests of members are most welcome at the majority of our
events. It is our policy to include in all invitations all former parents for whom we have contact details. The exception is any
event marked ‘Old Salopian’ which, for reasons of space, is restricted to Club members only (e.g. Birmingham Dinner).
Supporters or guests are always very welcome at Salopian Club sporting or arts events. Emails containing further details
are sent out prior to all events, so please make sure that we have your up to date contact details.
Date
Event
Venue
Friday 15th January, 7.30pm for 8.00pm Young OS Open Mic Night
The Horse & Stables, 124 Westminster
Bridge Road, London SE1 7RW
*Wednesday 20th January 5.30pm
Salopian Club Committee Meeting
London
Friday 29th January, 5.30pm
Chapel Choir Evensong at Manchester
Cathedral, followed by a reception at
the National Football Museum.
Manchester Cathedral M3 1SX
Contact: [email protected]
Wednesday 3rd February, 5.00pm
Choral Evensong at St Paul’s Cathedral,
followed by a tour of the Cathedral
and a reception
St Paul’s Cathedral, London
Saturday 6th February, 2.30pm
OS Fergus Macleod conducts “The
Mikado” at the ENO, followed by an
after-show gathering and a chance to
meet him.
London Coliseum WC2N 4ES
Friday 12th February, 7.30pm
School Concert at the Holywell
Music Room, Oxford, preceded by a
reception at the Randolph Hotel
Holywell Music Room, Oxford
Contact: [email protected]
*Tuesday 23rd February, 6.00pm
Salopian Club Sports Committee Meeting
London
Sunday 28th February, 7.30pm
Shrewsbury School performs
Verdi’s Requiem.
Birmingham Town Hall B3 3DQ
Contact [email protected]
Saturday 12th March
Joint OS/School Concert
Rehearsal in the afternoon, followed
by an evening concert.
Thursday 17th March
Schools’ Head of the River Race gathering
The Blue Anchor, Hammersmith W6 9DJ
Friday 18th March
Shrewsbury School Parents’
Association Ball
Shrewsbury School
*Thursday 14th April
OS Birmingham Dinner. Tickets will
be available via the website in the
New Year.
St Paul’s Club, Birmingham B3 1QZ
Friday 13th May
OS Football Club Dinner
London
*Sunday 26th June
Moser’s Reunion Garden BBQ
Shrewsbury School
Saturday 2nd July
Speech Day/Henley Royal Regatta
Shrewsbury/Henley
*Thursday 15th – Monday 19th
September
World War Two Battlefield Tour
Normandy
*Saturday 1st October
Old Salopian Day
Shrewsbury School
* Salopian Club sponsored events
RSSH, Kenya, October 2015
Alington Hall, Shrewsbury School