Page 1 - Front Page - Old Clayesmorian Society

Annual Magazine 2009
In this edition....
Hugh Thompson’s senior gap year
The birth of the Clayesmore Cormorants
Bristol and London regional reunions
News from the Spinney Trust
plus all the regular features
www.ocsociety.co.uk
Contents
Features
Meet the OC Committee - 6
Bristol & London Reunions - 10
75th Anniversary Celebrations - 12
Clayesmore Lecture 2007 - 16
Hugh Thompson - Senior Gap Year - 17
Spinney Trust News - pull out centre section
The Birth of the Clayesmore Cormorants - 40
Regulars
The Chairman’s Letter - 3
From the Headmaster - 4
Prizewinners 2008 - 5
2008 AGM & Dinner - 8
OC Days at School - 9
Leavers Destinations 2008 - 14
Letters to the Editor and Society - 20
Diary Dates 2009 - 25
WATN - 26
Obituaries - 32
OC Contributions - 38
OC Golf Report - 39
Cormorants Tour 2008 - 42
Financial Report 2007 - 44
AGM Minutes 2008 - 46
From the Editor
Dear All
It hardly seems possible that it is already time to be
compiling another OC newsletter; this year as elected
Editor and with the very welcome and invaluable help
of Louise Smith, the Development Office Assistant, who
was introduced to you in the summer newsletter.
Louise has done all the layout and artwork on this year’s
publication and, as I am sure you will agree, it is better
than ever before.
One of the most enjoyable parts of being editor is
reading all the notes, comments and letters from our
members throughout the year. I have not had space to
include all of these, but I would like to thank everyone
who has taken the time to contact me with their good
wishes, thoughts, views and news.
Committee have decided to accept the Headmaster’s kind
invitation and hold the event at the school this year. It
promises to be a really superb evening and we hope that
many of you will be able to attend. As always, we will hold
the AGM immediately before the dinner and will be voting
on some amendments to the rules of the society. Full
details of these, in addition to the agenda, a formal
invitation and a returns slip are included elsewhere in this
newsletter.
Finally, as always, do let us know of any changes in your
contact details or of details of any OCs who have lost
contact with the school and who might like to be reunited
with us. If at all possible please use the website to do this.
which you can find at www.ocsociety.co.uk. Alternatively
you can write to the Society c/o The Development Office,
Clayesmore School, Iwerne Minster, Blandford Forum, Dorset
As you know 2008 saw the 75th anniversary of
Clayesmore’s move to Iwerne Minster and this occasion DT11 8LL.
was marked in many ways throughout the year. It
Best wishes to you all,
therefore seems fitting that one major break with
tradition in 2009 will be the changed venue for the
annual dinner in January. After much deliberation the SarahJane Newland (1980-1984)
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The Chairman’s Letter
As I hope will be evident from the activities that have taken
place in 2008, your Committee has been busy and you will
see from this newsletter that more is planned.
The main emphasis over the year has been on building the
partnership with the School in the running of OC matters,
primarily communication and events. Some invaluable work
has been done by Louise Smith of the Development Office
and Mark Farrand in amalgamating members’ contact details
with the records that were kept so meticulously for so long by
John Grant. All are OCs. Going forward Louise will be the
keeper of these records and if you are not hearing from us, or
are not hearing from us in the mode which suits you best, do
please contact her. Louise’s details can be found elsewhere
within the magazine.
The events held over the last 12 months have included not
only the three OC days at Clayesmore, a golf day and
Cormorants’ cricket week, but two October receptions for
OCs and others within the Clayesmore community in Bristol
and London. We hope to organise other regional events in
2009 and if anyone has suggestions for these, do please let us
have your ideas.
Sadly, we lost a very prominent OC in July, Ron Spinney. As
many of you will know, Ron was a former Chairman of the OC
Society and more recently he chaired the School Council. He
did both very effectively. Ron also had a hugely successful
career in the property industry. The Daily Telegraph
described him as “one of the commercial property industry’s
grandees”. We will all miss him greatly.
The annual dinner in January will be held at the School. I
know a number of you will be sad that we have broken the
tradition of holding it at Simpson’s – I myself have some
regrets – but the overall feeling has been that retaining the
dinner at the same venue represented poor value for money
and it has become inconvenient for the increasing number of
OCs local to Dorset. I hope everyone, but particularly the
latter group, will show their support for a Dorset dinner and
that there will be a really good turnout.
You will read Peter Fleming’s notice about OC finances and
the change, following the new partnership, in funding of the
Society. I know from speaking to many of you that some will
wish to continue making a contribution, notwithstanding the
new financial arrangements. There is absolutely no pressure
to do so, but should you choose to do this it will of course be
very welcome.
Something your Committee would much appreciate views on
is what such money should be used for. The Society has a
reasonably sized reserve at present and if this does grow it
will be an increasing issue.
I would like to thank the Committee for their efforts over the
year, especially coming after such a difficult period. We
should be particularly grateful to Peter Fleming, our Secretary
(and temporary Treasurer), and SarahJane Newland, Editor of
this magazine, for their sterling contributions, and to Mark
Farrand for maintaining the website so efficiently at all hours of
the day and night. I would also like to take this opportunity to
extend our thanks to David Anderson for his long and tireless
service as President and to Stephen Levinson, who stood
down from the Committee last Summer.
Finally, I would like to thank the Headmaster for so willingly
and generously devoting time to OC matters. Regular visitors
to Clayesmore will know that a very warm welcome is always
afforded by Martin to OCs, and if you have not been back for
some time I strongly recommend you experience this. You will
find a vibrant and successful school, an impressive portfolio of
achievements and new buildings, and food which is a
thousand times better than when you were at Clayesmore!
I hope you enjoy the magazine and I look forward to seeing as
many of you as possible in 2009.
Andrew Beaton (1964-1969)
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Headmaster’s Letter
Dear Old Clayesmorians,
This has been one of the busiest periods I have
known in terms of Old Clayesmorian activity. I am
writing this on 12th November, and yesterday,
Clayesmore stopped for a short Act of
Remembrance, as we always do these days, to
remember the eighty OCs who died in the two world
wars and in more recent conflicts. Our principal
chapel services, incidentally, now take place, for the
senior school, on a Friday in the late afternoon, and
for the prep school, at mid-day every Saturday. Both
of these occasions last week were Remembrance
services and we were delighted to have as our
speaker on Friday, Major General Patrick Cordingley,
DSO, who commanded the Desert Rats in the first
Gulf War. On OC day on 12th October, we held a
service of thanksgiving for Ron Spinney, who died in
the summer. Ron put a huge amount back into his
old school as Chairman of Council, and it was good
to have a chance to pay tribute to him properly.
Stephen Levinson gave a most eloquent homily at
the service, and Lieutenant Colonel John Garnett,
known universally in OC circles as “Boot”, I believe,
read one of the lessons.
On a less sombre note though, we have had three
different gatherings this term including those at
Bristol and in London to which your chairman has
referred. From my point of view, these were very
successful and it was particularly good to meet at
both events, along with many old friends and familiar
faces Old Clayesmorians whom none of us had met
before who were re-connecting with Clayesmore after
a gap of many years. It was also excellent that several
different generations were represented at both –
particularly at the London event. A very warm “thank
you” to all those of you who made the effort to come
to these events. As Andrew Beaton has said, with
Society and School working together, I am sure that
we will want to develop these regional activities more.
We are very much looking forward to hosting the
Annual Dinner on 24th January, and I hope that those
of you living nearer to Iwerne Minster than London
will try to come and take advantage of the reduced
costs. It will be a super meal, I promise, and I think
we could have a really convivial evening.
4
Above:The new Everett Building in the Prep School.
Clayesmore is in excellent spirits as I write this. We
have 426 pupils in the senior school this term, 150 in
the sixth form, we recorded our best ever A-level and
GCSE results last summer and we have the busiest
open day we have ever had. We have just opened a
fabulous new building at the Prep School which is to
be named after Dick Everett, founder of the
Clayesmore Preparatory School in 1929. I am sure that
he and Tommy would be very proud of this fine new
teaching block which incorporates two science
laboratories in addition to four other classrooms and
second storey staff accommodation. In addition, our
Independent Schools Inspectorate inspection last
October gave the school a ringing endorsement on
every front which is hugely encouraging and gratifying.
May I just close with a big “thank you” to those of you
who support the work of the Spinney Trust? Through
the work of the Trust, current and leaving pupils are
able to undertake some really worthwhile projects
which otherwise they would struggle to pursue. It is a
most worthy cause and I commend it to you if your
cheque book is within reach!
I look forward to meeting many more Old
Clayesmorians during the course of 2009 and Eleanor
and I extend our very best wishes to you all.
Yours sincerely,
School Prizewinners 2008
The OC Prize 2007
awarded to a pupil who has represented Clayesmore or taken
the name of Clayesmore to a wider audience
Edd Goates
Edd was selected as HM
Lord-Lieutennant’s cadet for Dorset this
year. This is a post that requires Edd to
attend county functions and royal visits.
One of his most recent duties was to
attend a visit by HRH The Earl of
Wessex to Bovington in his role as
Honorary Colonel in Chief of the Royal
Wessex Yeomanry.
James Gilroy
James was a well liked and respected head of house in Manor,
but it was his efforts to raise funds for the gap year trip he is
currently making to South Africa (see the Spinney Trust report for
more details) that brought him into contact with local charities
and communities outside Clayesmore. He participated in several
outward bound, climbing and leadership activities and the school
received many reports from the leaders of these, commenting
upon his responsible and friendly nature. After his gap year
helping disadvantaged children in South Africa James hopes to
study outdoor education at Stirling University.
The Scadding Prize
Awarded to a pupil showing artistic flair and
excellence.
James Potter
James concluded his time at Clayesmore with a
grade A in A level art, and particularly enjoyed
working in the ceramics studio, and studying the
History of Art. Significantly, he always enjoyed
weaving together practical and intellectual aspects
of the syllabus; the ideas for this piece were inspired
by drawings made in the Louvre museum in Paris in
November 2007. James always made his work with
great skill and thought and is a worthy winner of the
Scadding Prize. Such a combination of idea, and
skill, and subtle juxtaposition (the museum stands
are also part of the piece) speak of a rare ability!
The Young Award
For perseverance
Samantha Guyatt
Charlotte Hewett
Charlotte won a music
scholarship at Clayesmore and
has performed in a great variety
of productions, from amateur
dramatics to music festivals.
Her stage work has seen her
involved in Lark Rise, Fable
Maker and South Pacific and
she has also performed in two
operas; Dido and Aeneas - in
which she played the principal
role of Dido, and Antonio, in
which she sang the lead
soprano.
She particularly enjoys musicals and recently played the role of
Crystal in Little Shop of Horrors. In 2006 Charlotte won ‘The Two
Moors Festival’ sponsored by Classic FM. Since then she has
competed in the music festivals at Salisbury and Bath enjoying
many sucesses in both.
Despite the amount of solo work she undertakes, Charlotte also
loved being part of the school choir as a chorus member and as
a soloist.
In September 2008 Charlotte began attending The Royal
Northern College of Music in Manchester, where she is studying
Singing.
The Miller Award
Awarded ‘not to a high flyer, but to one of the passive
audience who sat patiently and watched as others were
recognised at Speech Day, whilst feeling that they had
done as much as they themselves could”.
Edward Old
The Luboff Prize
Awarded in memory of Andrei Luboff to pupil/s who have
shown oustanding talent as an actor or in a backstage role.
Flora McKechnie and Joshua Cheung,
Pictured below in the Spring Term 2008 production of
“Little Shop of Horrors”.
Meet your committee
Peter Fleming - Secretary
(1958-1962)
(pictured right)
Piers Sabine - President
(1956-1960)
Andrew Beaton - Chairman
(1964-1969)
For most of my working life I
worked in commercial
property, as a property
development surveyor identifying and
implementing development
opportunities for offices,
factories and warehouses
and subsequently leasing
those buildings for occupiers
and then selling the property
to an investor such as a
pension fund.
Elected to the Committee in
January 2008. I am a director
of a real estate fund
management business and
have kept in touch with the
School since leaving via
Cormorants cricket. I live in
south-west London and enjoy
watching cricket and rugby, at
which I often encounter other
OCs. I am keen to see the
Society regain its momentum
and, above all, resume having
some fun.
My hobbies are golf,
watching rugby, gardening
and growing vegetables and
walking (wonky knees
permitting). Also,
importantly, spending time
with my wife, 2 daughters,
one son-in-law and two
grandchildren, one of whom
is named Piers.
Hugh Thompson
(1959-1964)
(pictured above right)
After Iwerne went to Keele University, a freelance career
in mainly financial journalism was highlighted by
columns in the Guardian, Sunday Times, Telegraph and
Times. Also edited trade papers Publican, TV Weekly and
Loss Adjuster. Current work status-self unemployed.
Spent most of 2008 on senior gap year world trip with
wife. Looking forward to reinventing himself and testing
the life begins at sixty theory. After ten years on the
Committee glad to see things on a sound and
professional footing and hopes to help set up more
cultural and sporting links between OCs and School.
6
Peter followed his elder brother
Robin to Clayesmore in 1958 after 3
years at Charlton Marshall. He left in
1962 and took up a lifetime career in
investment banking. He has recently retired from Barclays
Capital (Nice timing! Ed) and now spends his time boating,
motoring, cooking and traveling. Peter joined the Committee in
2006.
Sarah Jane Newland
(née Kennard)
Editor of the Newsletter/ OC
School Liaison (1980-1984)
(pictured left)
After leaving Clayesmore I went to
Royal Holloway to read Zoology
and then completed a PGCE at
Cambridge University.
Unfortunately, I decided I hated teaching after my first year
and ran away to join the Royal Navy. This was great fun for a
few years, after which I left and became a full-time mum.
About 7 years ago we all (husband, 3 children and dog)
moved back to Iwerne Minster and I found that I really did
like teaching after all, as long as it was at Clayesmore.
Mark Farrand - Webmaster
(1978-1981)
(pictured above right)
On leaving Clayesmore I joined
National Westminster Bank
where I spent a number of
years in High Street banking.
In the 1990's I moved to what is
now known as RBS Global
Banking and Markets, working from their UK Operating
Centre in Newcastle Under Lyme. Here I was
predominately involved in backoffice operations for the
banks Money Market deposits, with particular emphasis
on testing of computer systems. This year I joined RBS's
Global Treasury Fund as Client Service Director, working
with the London based sales team, however still based in
Staffordshire.
Hobbies include IT, photography, travel, golf, watching
most sport, and encouraging my 18 year old through
university!
Louise Salmond-Smith
(née Thompson)
(1989-1994)
BA (Hons) in Music from
the University of East
Anglia, holder of the
Britten-Pears (96-97) and
the Hansell Stevenson
(97-98) Scholarships.
MMus in Performance and
Educational Composition
from University of Hull.
Performed worldwide
including Boston´s King´s
Chapel, the Aldeburgh
Festival and perfomed
with the Orquesta de
Cámara de Chile. One half
of musical duo
Baroquenroll.
Worked as a teacher for
many years, including
Head of Music at The
Grange School, Santiago,
and now running the
Music Manifesto’s National
Singing Programme "Sing
Up!" in Lincolnshire,
training teachers in 350
Primary Schools across the
county.
Vicki Brewis Hon Ladies Sports
Secretary
(1997-2001)
Was at Clayesmore Prep
then left Clayesmore for a
year and rejoined the
Senior School in year 10.
Left school in 2001 and
took a gap year working
and travelling in NZ. Went
to the University of
Southampton in 2002
where I studied BSc in
Sports Studies, graduating
with a 2:1. Went on to
complete my PGCE in
Secondary PE, however
didn't go into teaching! I
now live in Amesbury
working in Devizes at the
Emergency Control Centre
as a Control Fire FIghter
and I am also a retained
fire fighter on my days off!
I play hockey for Salisbury
HC and that’s about all I
have time for!
Hamish Dow
(1973-1978)
Alastair Deighton
(1989-1994)
Since University, Hamish
has spent his Career in
Sales in the Technology
Sector. He still manages
to turn out every
Saturday for his Hockey
Team, and has three
young girls. He has been
on the OC Committee for
the last 10 years.
Married with one daughter
(b.2007), living in Taunton,
remain passionately
interested in ale, pies and
the music of Herbert
Howells. Work as a
Chartered Surveyor for
Smiths Gore. Play cricket
for Blagdon Hill and rugby
for Wellington.
Emily Edgell
(2000-2007)
Studying Media and
Culture at Bath Spa
University
Michael Phillips
(1995-2000)
(pictured left) After leaving Clayesmore, I went up to St Andrews
University, where I graduated with an MA (Hons) French with
Linguistics, but along the way studied a significant amount of
Physics and Maths. Training as an accountant, I started with
KPMG and am now with Accenture. I am quite involved with the
local Conservatives and have sat on both the executive of
Conservative Future Scotland and on the regional organisation.
My hobbies are running, swimming, travelling, reading and
current affairs.
Richard Carr
(2000-2007)
Gareth Griffiths
(1990-1992)
Richard has spent his time since leaving Clayesmore
travelling around the USA and working to fund future
plans. He is currently working as a Teacher Assistant in
New Zealand where he anticipates he will stay until
some time in 2009 before returning to the UK to study
Geography at Southampton University.
7
2008 AGM & Dinner
The Old Clayesmorian Society
Annual Dinner
19th January 2008
The Annual General Meeting and Dinner was held on Saturday 19th
January 2008 at Simpson's in the Strand.
David Anderson stood down as President of the Society after many
years in that office. Fulsome praise was made of David’s long period of
service on the Committee and his commitment to the Society. During
the dinner which followed, a presentation was made to David in
recognition of this.
At the AGM, the following were elected as officers of the Society:
Menu
Potted Duck with Plum Chutney
Grilled Sourdough
****
Slow Roasted Rump of Lamb with Rosemary Jus
Casserole of Mixed Beans
President Piers Sabine
Chairman Andrew Beaton
Editor of the Newsletter SarahJane Newland
****
Treacle Sponge with English Custard
****
The changes to the Rules necessary to enable implementation of the
New Partnership, which were set out in detail in the recent Newsletter,
were adopted without dissent.
Coffee and Petit-Fours
Clockwise from top left: Piers Sabine (’56-’60) presents David Anderson (’41-’45) with a gift from the
Society, Louise Salmond-Smith (née Thompson) (’89-’94) and Andrew Curtis (’73-’78),
OC Society President Piers Sabine, OC Society Secretary and Treasurer Peter Fleming (’58-’62),
Christopher Morrall (’96-’99) and Rob Farley.
The AGM and Dinner will be held on
Saturday 24 January 2009 at Clayesmore.
Please see enclosed invite
for further information
Above: Goodbye for now SImpsons
OC Days Summer & Autumn 2008
The Summer OC Day was held on Sunday 18th May and over
sixty Old Clayesmorians from across the years returned to
Clayesmore. As well as the traditional OC vs 1st XI cricket match,
there was the inaugaral OC Alun Pugh Challenge, which was won
by Louise Salmond-Smith (nee Thompson) (1989-1994) with the
impressive score of 103 out of a possible 151.
The cricket was won by the OCs, with a winning margin of nearly
100 runs (final score OCs 251-4 (T Lack 58, A Dike 65, M Spraggs
62), Clayesmore all out for 156 (T Sutton 48).
An excellent lunch and tea provided by Neil and his team added
the finishing touches to a wonderful day.
Above - Hugh Blandy (2000-2005), Ed Thompson (1997-2003)
and Henry Langdon (2000-2005)
Above - the Editor and Committee study the Alun Pugh questions.
The Autumn OC day was held on Sunday 12th October at which there was a Service of
Thanksgiving held to commemorate former pupil and Chairman of the Governing
Council, Ron Spinney CBE. The service was conducted by the Reverend Peter Smith
and the Headmaster, Martin Cooke, and was attended by Mrs Lu Spinney and Ron’s
daughters, Amelia and Belinda, as well as his step children William, Claudia and
Marina, current and former pupils, staff, governors and friends. The choir, directed by
Keith Pigot, sang “Locus Iste” by Anton Bruckner and the final movement of Karl
Jenkins’ Requiem, “In paradisum.” Stephen Levinson, OC and former member of the
Governing Council, paid tribute to Ron’s stewardship of the school during his time as
Chairman and, as his own tribute, the Headmaster played an arrangement of Edward
Elgar’s Nimrod on the organ. The lessons were read by Colonel John Garnett, OC, and
Chairman of Council, Dr Richard Willis. An obituary for Ron may be read on page 36.
Left: Colonel John Garnett (1953-1958)
Above: Mr & Mrs Jeremy Spoor (1948-1954) and Mr John Dukes (1948-1954)
Regional Reunions October 2008
Bristol - 22nd October
The first of two regional events was held at Goldbrick
House in Bristol on Wednesday 22nd October. Some 30
OCs attended and with year groups from 1939 to 2007
represented it really was an event for all ages. Another
event is planned for 2009 - for further details keep
watching the OC Society website at www.ocsociety.co.uk
Clockwise from top right:
Eleanor Cooke, Lucy Young (’02-’07) Will Miles (’02-’07)
Andrew Beaton (’64-’69), David Anderson (’41-’45)
and John Field (’73’-76)
Will Clive (’90-’96), James Clive (’93-’98), Stephen Byrne and
Andrew Guthrie (’59-’61)
Rebecca Robertshaw (’00-’05) and Louise Millard (’04-’06)
Alec McCallum (’39-’44) and Andrew Beaton.
10
London - 30th October
A London reunion was held on Thursday 30th October
at the Mayfair officers of Killik & Co. Again there was
widespread representation from across the years. Our
thanks to Mr Paul Killik, a school governor and OC
who kindly invited the society to hold this event at his
offices.
Clockwise from above:
Will Miles (’02-’07) and Keir Holman (’02-’07)
(l-r) Hannah Newton (’96-’98), Peter Hetherington (’93-’98),
Toby Conlon (’93-’98), Nicholas Obileye (’93-’98),
Kelvin Barker (’93-’98), Adam Shelley (’93-’98),
Simon Chilton (’93-’98), Tom Eales (’93-’98), Louise Smith
(’94-’98)
Martin Scovell (’53-’56), SarahJane Newland (’80-’84)
Tom Tait (formerly Tietz) (’37-’39), Joanna Hine (née Tietz)
(’81- ‘83) and William Crossley (’46-’52).
11
Clayesmore celebrates 75 years at Iwerne Minster
Charity Walk
Sunday 20th April
1933
2008
One beautiful Sunday morning in April over 600 walkers arrived at
Clayesmore fit and raring to go for their three, six or ten mile hike
across the mighty Hod and Hambledon hills in aid of local, national
and international charities. Old Clayesmorians, parents, friends and
pupils from both the Prep and Senior Schools took part in
Clayesmore’s 75th Anniversary walk to help celebrate the School’s
arrival at Iwerne Minster all those years ago.
The irresistible aroma of sizzling bacon and sausages – a hearty
English breakfast with all the trimmings prepared by the School’s
caterers was served to everybody – and the promise of scrumptious
scones and clotted cream for tea may have had something to do with
the beaming smiles of everybody who arrived bright and early on
Sunday. However, at the end of a day of kind weather and beautiful
scenery, the overwhelming opinion from all the families with tiny
children, the youngsters, teenagers, teachers and OCs who joined in
was that it was the spirit of community, the pleasure of a being
outdoors and the idea of celebrating a significant milestone in
Clayesmore’s history that made the event special.
School charities for this year including the Hope School in Sudan,
Muscular Dystrophy, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, Oxfam, the
Weldmar Hospice and Canine Partners will benefit from the £7,000
raised by the walk in sponsorship and entry fees.
12
Above: Almost half way!
Right: Walkers on the six mile route
prepare for the off.
75th Anniversary Promenade Concert - July 2008
This year’s traditional Hampers and Champers
Concert Band evening was given a make-over in
the style of the Last Night of the Proms. The bust
of Alexander Devine looked down on
proceedings with a diverse programme of
performances from the Clayesmore Concert
Band and a number of soloists and groups,
including the King’s Singers, and one of this
year’s OC prize winners, Charlotte Hewett, led the
singing of “Land of Hope and Glory” with union
flag waving and applause from the audience of
pupils, parents, staff, friends of the school and
OCs.
13
Leavers Destinations 2008
Amandeep Ahlwalia
BUWE - Business Accounting and
Finance
James Gilroy
Thomas Assal
Edward Goates
BUWE - Architectural Technology
Giles Baggott
Kingston - Music
Madeleine Bailey
Nottingham - Modern Languages
Harry Bolger
Bournemouth - Art Foundation
Sophie Bower
BUWE - Business Management
Tasmin Bright
Nottingham - Architecture
Caroline Brunsdon
BUWE - Business Management
Ekawudh Bunnag
Kingston - Video Technology
Daniel Burgin
Loughborough - Geography
Stirling - Environmental Science
Queen’s Belfast - Politics
Arabella Gourlay
Drama Application 2009
James Graham
Cardiff - Business Management
Hannah Green
Southampton - Geography
Samantha Guyatt
BUWE - Radiography
Jonathan Harding
Birmingham - German
Jac Heale
Loughborough - Business Management
Charlotte Hewett
Royal Northern College of Music - Singing
Mark Jeffers
Jack Cannon
Engineering application - 2009
Olivia Cheung
Louie Kerlogue
Nottingham - French and German
Bournemouth - Art Foundation
Nottingham - Art History
Anna Cooke
Falmouth - Art Foundation
James Cooke
Loughborough - Manufacturing and
Mechanical Engineering
Julian Davies
BUWE - Business Studies
Henk Krakers
UWIC - International Business Management
Olivia Ladbroke Chartres
Wimbledon - Art Foundation
Claudia Legg
Stirling - French and Spanish
Stephanie Mella
Bath - Aerospace Engineering
London Veterinary School - Veterinary
Science
Anna Farley
Charlotte Mitchell
Jake Dixon
Wimbledon - Art Foundation
Durham - Modern Languages
Emily George
Rachel Morrell
Reading - Law
Alexander Gilroy
RAC - Rural Land Management
Plymouth - Psychology
Edward Old
Family retail business
Timothy Penny
Central Lancashire - Web and
Multimedia
James Phipps
Family property business
James Potter
Bournemouth - Art Foundation
Hugo Purdue
To join Navy early 2009
Angad Rekhi
Imperial College, London - Electronic
Engineering
Thiti Sirichotekunakol
King’s College London - Engineering
William Slinger
Nottingham - Physics
William Steevenson
BUWE - Business and Property
Samantha Tarleton
Voluntary Work
Anne-Rose Toms-Whittle
Drama Course 2008
Medicine Application 2009
George Trenchard
Porton Down - Engineering
Ryan Walker
Bristol - German and Russian
Stephanie Wedge
Farnham - Art Foundation
Rory White-Andrews
Durham - Law
William Yeoman
BUWE - Built and Natural Environment
14
Recent University Results
Congratulations to the following OCs on their recent degree results. Emily Philips (2001-2003) (pictured top left) - Emily left
Clayesmore in 2003 and took an Art Foundation course at
the Bournemouth Arts Institute. Following this she moved
to Winchester Art College and gained a First Class
Honours degree in Textile Design. She also won the award
for the ‘best degree show exhibition’.
Sarah Farley (2002-2004) (pictured middle left) - has just
completed the fourth year of her Bachelor of Veterinary
Science with 2 more years to go. However, Sarah’s fourth
year at Liverpool has been intercollated meaning that she has
taken a year out of the veterinary course to take a Bachelor of
Science in Conservation Medi-Science in which she has
gained a First. Sarah’s thesis was on the carbon footprinting
of a veterinary practice and the research for this degree is
seen as new and ground breaking.
Piers Gordon-Brown (1999-2004) (pictured middle right) - has
gained a First in Biochemistry from the University of East
Anglia.
Alexander Stuart (2003-2005) (pictured top right) - has
obtained a Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours in
Earth Sciences from the University of Cardiff.
Jess Groling (2003-2005) (pictured bottom left) - has recently
gained a BA with First Class Honours in Geography at the
University of Durham and moved to Leeds in September
2008 to start an MA in Activism and Social Change in the
Geography department. Jess gained 100% for one of her
finals papers and she was the only person in her year of 120
students to do so. It is understood that Jess was the first
person ever to gain 100% in a finals paper at Durham.
Former Clayesmore head girl Ella Braillard (1998-2003)
(pictured bottom right) - has graduated with First Class
Honours in Economics and French fron Hatfield College,
University of Durham.
Tarn Sirishotekunakol (2000-2005) gained a BSc (Hons) in
Mathematics with Management Studies from UCL.
Justin Morton (2000-2005) gained a BSc (Hons) in Earth
Sciences from the University of Plymouth
Additionally, James Slack (2004-2006) has been awarded an
exhibition from Emmanual College for the academic year,
2008-2009.
Don’t forget to keep us updated with your university results - visit
www.ocsociety.co.uk
15
The Clayesmore Lecture 2007
Johnson Beharry VC
In a humbling, harrowing, yet utterly inspiring diologue
with journalist and author, Nick Cook, the first recipient of
the Victoria Cross since the Falklands War told a spell
bound audience of pupils, staff, parents and distinguished
guests of how he, single-handedly, saved his colleagues
from certain death not once, but twice in May and June
2004.
Stephen Byrne, Housemaster of Wolverton House reviews
the 2007 Clayesmore Lecture:
If you had chanced upon Clayesmore Sports Centre on the
evening of 19th October, you would have witnessed a large
crowd assembling in smart dress for the 34th Clayesmore
lecture, amongst the throng being Lord and Lady Colfox who
attended the first one in 1969. This occasion broke with
tradition in that it took the form of a dialogue and featured
the exceptional 27-year-old soldier Johnson Beharry. He is the
first recipient of the Victoria Cross since 1982, the first living
recipient since 1969 and one of only eleven people alive
today who have been awarded this medal, a symbol of
extreme courage, bravery and fortitude in the face of danger.
“Maybe I was brave, I don’t know. At the time I was just doing
the job – I didn’t have time for other thoughts,” he is quoted
as saying. Beharry spoke with great modesty, calmly relaying
the tale of his life as if it were a totally usual one.
The life story of Johnson Gideon Beharry is remarkable for his
undeniable bravery in the face of extreme danger, but also for
the fact that he has transcended racial and social stereotypes.
“Private Courageous” (Daily Telegraph, 18 March 2005), he
was born into poverty in Grenada in July 1979, moved to the
United Kingdom in 1999 and joined the British Army in
August 2001, serving in the Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment
in Kosovo, Northern Ireland and Iraq. In May 2004 he was
driving a Warrior 30-tonne armoured vehicle that had been
called to assist a foot patrol caught in a series of ambushes
and dealing with roadside bombs, landmines and hand
grenades. Although the vehicle was damaged and several of
the crew injured Beharry drove on, pulling his colleagues
from the vehicle when still exposed to heavy enemy fire. The
following month, at Al Amarah, his Warrior was ambushed
and he received serious head injuries; Beharry drove his
fellow injured servicemen to safety before losing
consciousness himself. He required brain surgery, from which
he was still recovering when he was awarded the VC in March
2005. He was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal in
September 2006 for “distinguished and exceptional service.” “I
was happy to lose my life and save the guys,” Johnson Beharry
told us.
In April 2007 it was reported widely that the BBC had backed
down from a proposed ninety-minute dramatic
16
Above: Johnson Beharry VC with OC Edd Goates,
HM Lord- Lieutenant's Cadet
representation of Beharry’s story. The Daily Telegraph of 7
April 2007 indicated that there had been fears that such a
project could “spark accusations of cowardice and alienate
[those] opposed to the war in Iraq.” The Beharry story
continues to rumble – his portrait, by Emma Wesley, was
presented to the National Portrait Gallery and it was he who
carried the FA Cup onto the field at Wembley prior to the
2007 final. And what advice does he have for the younger
generation, for those who sat entranced through this
55-minute dialogue? “Live with the pain and don’t let it
burden you”, he said. And of school, “always find some way
of skiving!”
There are certainly local connections with the Victoria Cross.
Introduced in 1856 to reward acts of valour and of
conspicuous gallantry, the Victoria Cross has been awarded
on 1,356 occasions, but only fourteen times since the end of
World War Two. One early recipient was Philip Salkeld
(1830-57), the seventh child of the rector of Fontmell Magna
who, as a Lieutenant in the Bengal Sappers and Miners in
the Indian Rebellion of 1857, helped blow up the Kashmir
Gate in Delhi. Salkeld’s grave stands tall and proud in the
graveyard at St Andrew’s church in Fontmell. His sister Sarah
married Henry Syndercombe Bower of Iwerne Minster
House, now the main building of Clayesmore School; their
great-great-grandson was Clive Rice, the captain of the
South African cricket side during their extended period of
enforced political exile through the late twentieth century.
The only Clayesmore pupil to receive the Victoria Cross was
Geoffrey Heneage Drummond (1886-1941) who, as a
32-year-old lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve,
helped rescue numerous colleagues after an attack off
Ostend in 1918. Despite the injuries he suffered in the
attack, he took his motor launch alongside HMS Vindictive
and rescued forty men, though some later died.
All members of the audience were greatly touched by
Johnson’s quiet and unassuming manner during the talk
and afterwards as he firmly shook their hands, his campaign
medals all the while tinkling gently against his Victoria
Cross.
“Who knows history who only history learns”
Hugh Thompson (1959-1964) fills in the gaps with a trip round the world.
I was good at history. A good A level led to studying
history at Keele at a time when very few left
Clayesmore for university. Like all good educations
the interest never left me and has remained
throughout my life and career as journalist . But how
little I knew.
My senior gap year, round the world trip, which
started in January 08 and is still going on at the time
of writing shows what every student always finds that
the more doors they open the more there are to open.
First stop Argentina where we stayed at John Packet's
(59-63) wonderful boutique hotel “Rick’s Place” in
delightfully bohemian San Telmo, Buenos Aires. After
a few days my wife and I moved round the corner into
a studio flat. The hotel is actually on La Defensa. This
was named after the locals in that narrow street in
l806 and 1807 poured hot water, human refuse and
anything else they could lay their hands on as the
British red coats so arrogantly strutted up the narrow
cobbled way. Today in the main baroque church in
this street are the tattered captured flags of the British
regiments who took part in those misguided
adventures.
In the UK we are rarely taught of the impact of the
Spanish and Portuguese on the world and are pretty
dismissive of the French. Who can comprehend such
a knowledge gap after they have been to South
America or to Vietnam, not to mention Sri Lanka
where the remains of several Empires, not least
Portuguese, Dutch and British, lie side by side with far
older traditions?
The reason that Britain was encouraged to invade
Buenos Aires in both 1806 and 1807 was that, at the
time, Spain was subjected to Napoleonic rule and not
in a position to defend her empire. Britain had recently
seized the Cape Colony from a similarly weakened
Holland. As well, the merchants of Buenos Aires had
let it be known that they would prefer a more liberal
commercial regime which would allow them to trade
more freely. The Spanish Empire demanded that Lima
in Peru was the hub. But when the Brits turned up, the
mood changed.
The success of the Buenos Aires’ people in getting rid
of the two raiding parties from the then world super
power gave the people such confidence that it was
not long (1810) before they rose up against Spain
itself. However the confidence/ arrogance of Buenos
Aires meant that after independence in 1814, there
was civil war in Argentina between that city and
provinces for many decades.
Over in Chile the whole part of Valparaiso, the
Pacific's answer to Liverpool - a working city in
decline, was a British invention. A magnificent statue
to Wheelwright, the engineer who designed the port
stands today. The fourteen funiculars built to take the
largely British merchants up the hill still wheeze for
the tourists.
Chile's naval tradition is in full recognition of Admiral
Cochrane who the Royal Navy "lent" to mastermind
Chile's successful naval war against Spain.
The tradition continued during Chile's successful
Pacific War against Peru, in which it seized an
enormous amount of territory from both Peru and
Bolivia. That war also spawned an absolutely
wonderful national hero in Alfredo Pratt. The
post-independence wars between the ex-Spanish
colonies can be seen as similar to the tensions
between Pakistan and India after their independence.
Pratt went to the British-inspired Naval College as a
boy.
17
“Who knows history who only history learns”
He knew what the Nelson tradition meant. When his
time came he rammed his smaller vessel against a
Peruvian battle cruiser and when his ship sank, led his
men onto the bigger ship. They were wiped out but his
death and its manner has inspired a thousand streets
and hundreds of squares throughout Chile.
In the south of Chile there is the island of Chiloe. Six
years after the rest of South America became
independent the island held out for royalist Spain. On
rejoining the mainstream it is from there a boat leaves,
captained by Englishman John Williams, to claim the
southernmost tip of South America for Chile. The boat
arrives two days before a French boat arrives and
plants its flag.
Onto New Zealand: the Barry Peninsular in the South,
named after the botanist who accompanied Cook.
Here, two tales of the early 19th century catch the eye.
Before New Zealand became a colony it was the
province of freebooters, speculators, whalers and any
one else after making a quick doubloon not least in
trading in flax with the Maoris. One trader did a deal
for this cash crop which involved shipping a war party
from North Island down to the Banks peninsular,
where they wiped out the local tribe in a revenge
massacre.
About the same time, the French whalers had
convinced their government that the peninsular
(which was originally thought to be an island) would
make a great colony. Two days before the French
settlers arrived, Britain struck a deal with the Maoris
and the colony was established. Incidentally, today
Akaroa on the peninsular does a thriving tourist
business on the back of its French heritage.
Whitby's Captain James Cook, an Englishman who
changed a large part of the world's history, must
surely be the most under-taught hero in the British
Parthenon. More people seem to know details of
Captain Oates' minor but heroic life than they do of
Captain Cook's major and significant one.
The South African (Boer) War was viewed in NZ as
‘Mother Britain’ coming to the aid of beleaguered
settlers which, given the flaky and often brutal
relations with the Maoris, the Kiwis hoped would be
repeated in their domain, if necessary. The memorials
to those who died in the Boer War are far more
impressive down under.
For both Australia and NZ, sending men to fight for
the Empire in South Africa was their first significant
move as separate entities. Until the 1930s the Union
Jack was interchangeable for the Australian flag. The
significance of Gallipoli and other wars in the
formation of these nations,
experienced by me on Anzac Day, was
a real eye opener. When did you last
see UK residents proudly walking
down the High Street holding pictures
of their grandfathers in World War One
uniforms, or hear UK children publicly
weep when they talked of their brave
uncle who fought in Italy in 1944?
In Australia, a major revelation to me
was Kokoda. We have Dunkirk, the
Battle of Britain and El Alamien; the
Aussies have Kokoda. This was the
desperate battle fought in the jungles
of New Guinea between the
Australians and the Japanese in 1942.
At the time, Churchill was demanding
that all Aussie troops should fight in
Southern Europe and the Western
desert. It was almost a sign of rebellion
18
division for the defence of their homeland.
But Kokoda, with its hand to hand fighting
and heroism in the most appalling jungle
conditions, at a time when all conquering
Japan was bombing Darwin and sending
submarines into Sydney harbour, is a battle
etched onto the national consciousness in a
way Dunkirk and the Battle of Britain were
once tattooed into ours.
Our trip then took us to Indo China. The
history of SE Asia and the national rivalries
between Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam
which have ebbed and flowed over a
thousand years can still cause tensions.
While we were in Vietnam, troops were
massing on both sides of the Cambodian
/Thailand border. Eight hundred years ago,
Angkor had to be abandoned because it
was over-run so often by the Thais. These
national rivalries and tensions are as natural
in SE Asia as they were once commonplace
for the armies of France, Russia, Austria,
Hungary and Prussia to be on the move. At
one time the Khmers were the top nation
but now Cambodia is a weak country
sandwiched between the two tigers of
Thailand and Vietnam. Cambodia invited in
the French to defend it against the Thais
and the Americans to defend it against the
Viets.
In living memory, Cambodia has ethnically
cleansed itself of 400,000 Viets and
Vietnam has got rid of 500,000 Chinese.
Historically for Vietnam, its endless and
successful wars against the Chinese have
been far more important than the more
recent wars against France and USA.
And what about the briefly visited island
paradise of Fiji? Just as the present
government of NZ is having to pay out
$100M to the Maoris, for the flagrant abuse
of the original treaties over land and its use,
so the chickens are coming home to roost
in Fiji. Here the colonial deal was that the
Empire on which the sun never set would
import Indians to harvest the sugar crop but
on the condition they would never be able
to own land. Instead, they were given 99
year leases. These are now coming up for renewal and the
original Fijians, anxious since the commercial and other power
has slipped away to the relative newcomers, are now loathe to
renew these leases. Result: tension, coups and the collapse of
the democratic process and a severe setback for the economy. I
could go on. The last four months were spent in the Indian
subcontinent. The wonderful, sometimes tragic, but never dull,
ever-changing saga of India - which mirrors the complexity of the
Hindu legends and the continuing story of Sri Lanka . Both
beautiful countries, but cultures which have the most
complicated historical and religious warts which are only too
visible.
History – don’t you love it? I do. And it just goes on and on.
Part of the world trip involved two months in Sri Lanka where
Hugh and his wife Vivien did voluntary work while staying in
Galle Fort in the south. While there they were handsomely
entertained by international businessman OC Janak Hirdaramani
(1965-1969) at the prestigious Galle Face Hotel in Colombo.
Janak's family business employs 17,000 in four countries, is a
major M&S supplier and includes, not only garment
manufacturing but hotels. - See photograph above.
75
Years on...
Letters to the Editor in response
to last year’s magazine article
Dear Editor,
I have just received the 75th Anniversary edition of the Old
Clayesmorian and have been reading John Shellabear's
recollections of Clayesmore during WW2. I should have started
at Clayesmore in September 1940 but was expecting to be
evacuated to Canada very soon and was excused from starting
that term. In the event, the evacuation scheme was cancelled
after a ship carrying evacuees was torpedoed by a German U
boat. I started school in January 1941.
My memories of Clayesmore during the wartime years differ in
some respects from those of John Shellabear. For instance, I
am quite sure that Mr. Appleby was Headmaster in 1941 and
that Colonel King returned from the Army in either 1942 or
1943. I also remember a German bomber crashing, but it was
in the woods of Iwerne Hill. My greatest claim to fame resulted
from this event. I 'liberated' a drum of machine gun
ammunition, 75 rounds I think. I happily distributed these
bullets to all and sundry. We discovered that one could extract
the bullet from the cartridge case by sticking it into a keyhole
and working the case back and forth until it came loose. The
cordite could then be poured out and ignited, causing an
impressive, but brief, fire. Unfortunately, for me at any rate, the
school authorities got wind of these happenings and carried
out a locker search. This resulted in ten or fifteen of us being
summoned to the Headmaster's study. HM then asked each
boy in turn where he had obtained the cartridges. The answer
was always the same - "Kelley gave it to me". That was the only
occasion I received the painful attentions of HM's cane.
Like John Shellabear, I was a member of the JTC demonstration
platoon. If my memory is correct, this platoon consisted of senior
JTC members who were not considered suitable for NCO rank. In
1944 I switched to the newly formed Air Training Corps. We were
promised a flight in a glider at Tarrant Rushton on June 10th of that
year. Unfortunately for us, all the gliders headed for Normandy on
June 6th.
I was part of a group of four who were keen plane spotters. We
used to follow Wimpey lorries around the countryside on our
bicycles. That way we discovered where a new aerodrome was
under construction. Our favourite destination was Boscombe
Down, where all kinds of secret aeroplanes were to be seen. On
one occasion we were peering through binoculars under a bush
when an RAF MP with an Alsatian found us. He said we would be
shot as German spies, but we managed to convince him we were
just innocent schoolboys. Two of our foursome, John P Potter and
Ken W Ford (later Jenkins}, died within the last year or so. The
other one, and the only one I was in touch with since the war, is
John A. B. May. The last I heard he was in the Nursery Garden
business and had moved from the South of England to Scotland. I
think that was back in the early eighties.
Kindest regards,
John A V Kelley (1941-1944)
Dear SarahJane,
What can I say. There I was in print in the Old Clayesmorian
after sixty years of total neglect. I must apologise for my
recalcitrance over all these years. It is not that I completely cut
my ties with the “Old Country”, nor indeed with Clayesmore, as
I have been in touch with John Lavrin, Michael Gill and
Norman Clark (now Gulliver) and more recently, unfortunately,
his widow, Isabel. Furthermore my nephew Peter attended
Clayesmore before coming out here to Australia.
I can only ask for forgiveness for my sins and as a peace
offering present to the Burney Library the enclosed book that I
wrote a year or two back about my place of work in Australia.
Tarrant Gunville to have afternoon tea at Mrs Ridout’s. I think it cost
the princely sum of one shilling. We also took the risk of being
blown up when we went into Stubhampton Bottom after the army
had been practising there to see if we could find unexploded
ordinance from which we could make fireworks. I got caught (and
caned) for being found with some Sten Gun ammo at one time.
Yes, I have fond memories of my days at Clayesmore and living
much of my time in the Biology lab first under Mr Hillier and then,
on his return, Mr Moore. They kindled my lifetime interest in natural
history and entomology for which I was later fortunate enough to
get paid to indulge in.
John Shellabear’s article about World war II brought back
many memories and I can still taste those hot, straight-fromthe-oven, threepenny pork pies. A taste I have never given up
on, though it is difficult to get really good ones here. Bessie
Rolls’ fresh “crusts” , well buttered with plenty of jam and
served out of the cottage window down near the hotel, are also
remembered.
Unfortunately the 1941-1946 mob are slowly thinning out but it is
still good to be in touch with some of them.
I also recall cycling down to Lulworth Cove with John Lavrin to
collect the famous butterfly, and a trip to the Pitt Rivers
Museum that had me wanting to be an archaeologist. My
favourite pastime on a Saturday was to walk over the hill to
Murray Upton (1941-1946)
20
I trust all is well at Clayesmore and I wish the Old Clayesmorian a
great future and look forward to hearing more.
Yours sincerely
Editors Note - Murray has very kindly donated a copy of his
book “A rich and diverse fauna - The history of the Australian
National Insect Collection, 1926-1991” to the Burney Library.
After reading last year’s article on Clayesmore ‘s 75th
Anniversary, Stener Fangen got in touch. He had been
at Clayesmore from 1932 to 1935 and so had been at
the school in the last days of Northwood park and the
first days at Iwerne.
He was originally down to go to Tonbridge from his prep school in
East Croydon, The Limes, which was run by his guardian.
However Aubrey de Selincourt, Clayesmore’s then headmaster,
did a good sales job and offered a £250 a year scholarship in
recognition of Stener's carpentry ability. So it was off to
Clayesmore he went. “I had made a walking stick with a round
headed knob of various hardwoods,” he recalls. “Nobody asked
how much my prep school master had helped me but it was a
bloody good walking stick and got me to Clayesmore, which I
never regretted.”
As with many 75 year old memories, some of the details have
disappeared but certain emotionally charged highlights - glories
and injustices - remain. Typically, he remembers the sun always
shining and reading a book under one of the big trees on the
front lawn. That is a warm and romantic memory of childhood,
growing up and school days.
He remembers playing against Bryanston Colts and taking six
wickets for eight runs. Who would ever forget such figures? He
was then promoted to the 1st XI where his bowling was “smashed
all over the field”.
Although overall the memories of the school’s influential and
youthful head master Evelyn King are positive, “a great teacher
and a great athlete”, he has other memories too. There had been
a maths test in which some of the boys cheated and although
Stener did not, he was beaten along with the others because he
had the same answers. He swore blind to King that this had been
an injustice and eventually King, having delivered the
punishment, said,” I can’t do anything about it now, but in
compensation I’ll teach you how to play squash.”
A real public school yarn of an injustice committed, a frank chat
between man and boy and the consolation of the headmaster
taking time out to teach the boy a sport! The moral being that a
good man-to-man handshake can solve most of the world’s
problems.
On another occasion, having arrived back at Shillingstone station
(sadly closed in the 1950s) late at night because of disrupted
trains, he not only had to walk to school but on finding it locked
had to break in via the coal hole. This meant leaving black
footprints all the way up to his dormitory. Once again, King felt the
cane should be used on the young man’s back side. But Stener
remembers no hard feelings. “Beating was just part of school life,
you didn’t bear grudges. Though, thinking about it now, King was
quite fond of beating people although he was very good teacher.”
How some things stick in the mind. In a semi-final game for the
school tennis cup Stener remembers not only winning but an awful
row with a boy called Strubel “who didn’t like some of my close
calls”. He went on to lose the final to a much older boy called Hall.
Another lasting memory is of morning services, which were held in
the library. On one particular day a boy named Churchill who had a
beautiful bass voice “sang a song in German which has stayed in
my mind ever since.” One can almost hear the tune drifting across
the drive, the lawn and the ha-ha.
Stener’s parents lived and worked in Bolivia. At the time this was a
long boat trip and a tortuous jungle crossing away so he didn’t see
his parents for nine years. He spent much of his holidays with the
Norwegian side of his family. He left school early after his guardian
died.
During the War, Stener flew in Mosquitoes with the Free Norwegian
Airforce. He spent much of his career as a businessman in Brazil.
His son David Fangen was one of the leading lights at Clayesmore
in the 1960s and his granddaughter Olivia spent a year at the
school.
Some time before I met Stener he had been diagnosed with having
lung cancer. He asked when the article might be published and I
told him in December 2008. His final words to me were “You’ll
probably have a little story about my death by then.”
Post Script: Stener Fangen (1919-2008) died on Wednesday 9th
January two weeks after this interview. His ashes are buried next to
his granddaughter Anna at St Mary’s Church, Iwerne Minster.
Hugh Thompson
75
Years on...
Dear SarahJane
Thank you for sending me the 75th Anniversary Issue of the
Old Clayesmorian. It is very well produced, congratulations!
Unfortunately I shall not be able to come to the AGM on the
19th January as we will be in France, skiing.
When the war started, I could not join the forces, as I was still a
foreigner, but became an engineer, building tanks and bren gun
carriers. I got a scholarship to Loughborough, and qualified as a
Chartered Engineer.
I was at Clayesmore from April 1937 till July 39 which makes
me a very, very Old Clayesmorian.
After ten years in the refrigeration industry, I started (with my
brother) a company manufacturing sterile laboratory ware. Until
then all laboratory produces were made from glass, and had to be
sterilised before every use. We were the pioneers of sterile
disposable laboratory products, and the company is still the leader
in this field. Ultimately we sold the company to a large public
company, and I joined their main board until I retiered 23 years
ago.
I shall always be grateful to the late Evelyn King for offering a
refugee boy from Germany a place at half the normal fee. That
was the most my parents were allowed to transfer under the
strict exchange controls by the Nazi Government.
There is so much of which I am grateful to Clayesmore for.
After 7 terms I took my School Certificate and was specially
proud to pass, with credit, in English language, and English
literature, when 2½ years earlier I hardly spoke a word of
English. (The foreign language taught in Berlin was French). I
knew Macbeth almost by heart, and most of Gullivers Travels
back to front. I learned a lot of practical things like carpentry
and printing. I loved the sports and was in the first VI for tennis
and the athletics team.
I still had a younger brother in Berlin, and did not have the
nerve to ask Mr King if he could also offer a place to him. I
heard the nearest other public school is Bryanston, so I cycled
to Blandford and got an interview with Mr Coade, the
Headmaster. Mr Coade was prepared to take my brother on
similar terms.
Since then I have been as busy as ever and at 86 still enjoy yacht
racing, tennis and skiing.
The Old Clayesmorians I am still in contact with include one
contemporary, Brian Davies, a niece Jo Tietz (now Jo Hine) and a
sailing friend Rikke Dakin.
I wish you, and all at Clayesmore, a happy Christmas and a healthy
and successful 2008.
Keep up the good work at Clayesmore!
Yours sincerely
Tom Tait (1937-1939)
Dear SarahJane
Was intrigued to read the 75th Anniversary Issue Old Clayesmorian and
Letters to the Editor (John Shellabear, Douglas Reed). I was at Clayesmore
at the same time as Shellabear and relate to his recollections.
Reference Evelyn King - I also experienced six of the best (but in his study
and which I deserved!!). Later I painted a wall mural in his London Flat
co-incidentally with his appointment as an MP (about ‘46).
The enclosed extracts - “letters home” from my late brother (James Keith
Innes (mi)) and myself make amusing reading especially the downing of a
German bomber nearby etc.etc. I remember Ballard well! He was a bit of a
daredevil falling down a cliff at Lulworth cove!!
I also enclose a memorabilia magazine which might be of interest and
which seems to have followed me around the world.
I got an art scholarship from Dulwich Prep (then evacuated to North Wales)
and found Clayesmore excelled at Arts/Crafts which was certainly unique
at that time.
I look back on my Clayesmore years with much affection!
Best wishes
22
John Innes (1943-1946)
Extracts from Letters Home
James Keith Innes - 1944-1948
“I went farming and our party picked potatoes.
We had a lecture by Capt Quintin Hogg MP from the
Conservative Party. He came and lectured about it.
The wind has been blowing a gale in the last two days with
several trees down. I played in the under fifteens match against
Canford last Sat. we won 20-3.
I played in two Junior Colts matches last week against Bishop
Wordsworth and Dauntseys. We won both. I have got three
pounds in my PO Savings Account. Could you please send
some more?
I took War Certificate A Part One on Friday and passed. I read
one of the best books I’ve ever read, ”White Fang”. It’s written
by Jack London and although quite old, is really very well
written.
The other day a friend and me went inside the village church
and played “Boogie Woogie” on the organ and signed our
names in the visitors book and dressed as choir boys and gave
sernons - we weren’t caught!
On Saturday, I went with my friend to Eastbury House on
Cranborne Chase. A greyhound ran to us wagging its tail. An
old man appeared and rudely said “what do you want?”. We
said we were from Clayesmore. He changed and asked us to
tea. He showed us around. He called the butler and ordered
tea. He told us the history of the house - how it was destroyed
in 1703 and the ghosts, a man in coat tails who roamed the
house. he asked us to come again.
On Saturday we had a good tea at Mrs Ridouts - a wizard little
cottage at Tarrant Gunville. Some boys have got tame
hedgehogs there which you feed by hand...
I have great fun being a “middle”. My old friends have come up
with me and I have made many new ones. Everyone has been
forced to collect two pounds of blackberries. I went out the
other day and collected tons of mushrooms which Sister
allowed us to fry in the San. I have a hot shower every morning
and we have a good walk over to breakfast on the other side.
Yesterday we saw a very funny film at school “The Boys From
Syracuse”. It snowed again and the electric lights in our dorm
failed. We have got 6 inches of snow and the boys are skating
on the lake.... I enclose a programme of a play we saw last night
“Candida” it was pretty feeble.
About 30 boys were confirmed yesterday and we had dozens of
Old Clayesmorians down to a match... I went for a lovely ride
this morning through the woods. Yesterday I rode bareback
without a halter and got chucked off. The Bird Club is fun. I
have a pet jackdaw.
John G. D. Innes - 1943-1946
The Midget Colts played Canterbury Cathedral School away. We
thrashed them. I was Captain. Gilbert and me scored most of
the tries. We get crusts with jam from Bessie’s Rolls in the
village. They are wizard and only cost 3d. There is not much in
the tuck shop.
The planes came over all night and kept the boys awake in our
dorm. I believe there were lots of gliders from Tarrant Rushton.
Appleby said something big was on. The invasion I think.....
I have done a lot of painting this term. Scadding is very decent
and lets me go to the store room and help myself.
A GI convoy came past school all day and the next. One GI
dropped a gun off his jeep which a boy hid at school.
There are 35 new bugs and two new masters. I wonder what
Burke is like! I am painting a large mural in the Middle common
room in the stable block. On Thursday Mr Knight brought his
Golden Eagle. It flew the length of the hall over our heads and
he told the boys about it.
We had a Field Day on Friday. I loosed off a blank by mistake in
the line. Luckily it didn’t hurt anybody.
I played in the 1st XV match against Dorchester Grammar School
which we won. On Monday I was awarded my 2nd XV colours in
the dining hall. In JTC I took Cert A part 2 and failed in drill.
Will you please send coupons and money for purple stockings.
They haven’t many left. Selfridges is much better than Forsyths.
A Dornier came down somewhere near Melbury. Jim and two
friends bribed the RAF guard with Woodbines. They inspected
the wreck. I had better not say anymore.
23
Letters to the Society
“Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated”
Last year’s magazine reported the death of Adam Covell
(1986-1991). The Society were pleased to learn that this death
had been reported in error, and that Adam was alive and well
and apologises for any misunderstandings that may have
occured.
Dear SarahJane
It was mistakenly published in the previous edition of the OC magazine
that I had died. I can assure all who might be interested that I am not in
any way, dead! I live in London, am married to another OC, Martha, and
have two children, Eliana & Thomas. I am an architect, working for a
developer in the UAE and spend much of my time travelling to Dubai. If
anybody would like to get in touch you can reach me on facebook.
Best
Above: Adam Covell (1986-1991) with wife Martha
(née Revill) (1989-1991) and their children
Eliana and Thomas in Dubai.
Adam
November 2008
Hello SarahJane
Rationale for amending Clause 12(c) of the Rules
I’ve just read the rest of the OC Society magazine and was saddened to
learn that Michael Reeves had died. I met him frequently at the dinner
until I moved to Yorkshire and think you continued to seem him there as
he was a stalwart supporter of the event.
May we make it absolutely clear that we have no
problem with the Spinney Memorial Trust –
indeed, we applaud its work and welcome the
Society providing financial support where
appropriate.
In his days as manager (director?) of the Uxbridge branch of Norman
Reeves Motors, I bought my fist two cars from him - both Ford Anglias first an aquamarine/white 1000cc and later an maroon 1200cc. I can even
remember the reg nos - 1053ML and BMC 500A. It was fun having the
BMC registration on a Ford at that time, but it had to return to the garage
immediately as the horn didn’t work!
Dear Secretary,
Although the Old Clayesmorian Society is not a
registered charity, it seems wrong for it to
incorporate in its Rules one which would not be
permitted by the Charities Commission
inasmuch as one charity cannot give to another
unless their objects are compatible.
Without the proposed amendment, the
Society’s funds could be used for purposes that
neither “enable former pupils to maintain
contact with one another and with the School”
nor “uphold the standing and prestige of the
School”.
Yours sincerely,
Anthony Prewett (Proposer)
Michael Chapman (Seconder)
Though we were never close friends, he was always a very “hail fellow,
well met” and enthused about everything that interested him. In some
ways, a typical dealer from whom you shouldn’t by a car! I only once
visited him and Janet in Aylesbury (I think) and remember a sweeping
drive up to a lovely property.
Regrettably, I have a limited and selective memory of my school days, so I
remember little of him at Clayesmore.
Kind regards
Anthony Prewett (1948-1953)
Dear Editor
Thank you for sending me the latest issue of the Old Clayesmorian. It
makes very interesting reading and you have certainly introduced some
improvements since those bleak war years, which I so vividly remember! I
don’t think I have ever eaten Spam again after having it practically every
day for one term. Or so it seemed.
With best wishes for a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.
John M Gold (1939-1942)
24
News from
The Spinney Memorial Trust, a registered charity,
was established in 1990 by the Old Clayesmorian
Society. Its principal object is to provide bursaries
and grants for the educational benefit of
Clayesmore’s pupils and it is funded by OCs and the
OC Society.
The Trust seeks to support individual pupils in a way
that enables them to do things that without the
Trust’s financial support they may not be able to do.
This year the Trust made grants amounting in total
to £5,500.00 divided between seven applicants
enabling two pupils Tabitha Russell and Pascale
Devlin to attend a Youth Leadership Conference in
the USA, Joshua Cheung to go on a course to the
National Youth Theatre, Freddie Everett to attend an
England Hockey High Performance assessment
camp, James Graham to go on a Church
Community project in Thailand and James Gilroy to
go to South Africa to teach disadvantaged children
in an outward bound school and the final applicant,
Madeleine Bailey, to go to Kosovo to join volunteers
running community projects there.
The Trustees believe that by supporting the School’s
pupils in the way we do we foster a spirit of
individualism and self-reliance amongst those
pupils thus keeping alive the distinctive nature of
Clayesmore’s education.
The School’s founder, Alex Devine, was, we are told,
fond of telling his pupils that they must “think for
themselves” and that is something today’s pupils
definitely need to do in a country where our
political leaders want to micro manage our lives.
The Trust’s work is only possible with the generous
support of OCs - we need to raise at least £6,000.00
each year to maintain a worthwhile programme of
support and that will need the active support of
individual OCs. The Trustees are accordingly
seeking to recruit a team of OCs willing to make a
personal approach to their contemporaries at the
School for contributions to the Trust’s funds. There
is no endowment fund available and so the Trust
depends entirely on the generosity of OCs.
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The Trustees hope that the activities of the Trust
can provide a focal point for OC gatherings
beyond the AGM and Annual Dinner. Interest
from pupils at the School in the financial
support the Trust can offer is growing and so
the Trust gives OCs the opportunity to play a
very worthwhile role in the life of Clayesmore
School.
In this issue:
Keir’s Adventures in Outer Mongolia
Madeleine works with the Balkan
Sunflowers organisation
Pascale and Tabby at the
Global Summit
Richard’s travels in New Zealand
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Keir’s Adventures in Outer Mongolia
In the summer of 2008, OC Keir Holman
travelled to the centre of the Asian world on
an adventure that spanned sixty days and
several throusand kilometres on horseback, by
bus and in a jeep. Staying with local families,
and working for the Mongolian National
Broadcaster, Keir witnessed riots, encountered
fearful beasts, interviewed politicians,
contracted salmonella and found some great
friends. He saw contortionists, communits
and camel herders, and talked to most of
them. He wrestled with cows, sheep and even
journalists, got run over, rioted at, mugged,
bitten, burnt, bleached and bruised and loved
every second of it.
Madeleine Bailey works for Balkan Sunflowers
During the summer of 2008 Madeleine Bailey travelled to the newly independent Republic of
Kosovo. There she found the hills and valleys to the west of Pristina, the capital city, are
dominated by abandoned and destroyed Serb villages and memorials to Kosovo’s heroes, the
liberation army who struggled against the oppressive Serbian regime before becoming the
oppressors themselves.
II
“The two weeks I spent in Kosovo taught me to see the Albanians, the Serbs, and the Roma as
people, not sides. There are no goodies or baddies, simply people, with their own individual
histories, personalities and struggles. Thanks to the Spinney Trust I was able to go to Kosovo
and learn about these people and their cultures and help as much as I could to brighten their
futures. Charlotte Mitchell, another old Clayesmorian and I, volunteered with a charity called
Balkan Sunflowers who work with all three ethnic groups towards a cooperative society
through education. We spent two weeks working in one of their centres in a village called
Plementina, just outside Kosovo’s capital city, Pristina. Plementina is a tiny Serb and Roma
enclave cowering in the sprawling shadow of Obelic, which houses Kosovo’s only source of
electricity, a lignite burning power station, spewing out billowing black smoke and a shocking
stench which seems to choke everything, sometimes even the hope, out of the air around
Plementina. There is a state school in Plementina, but the school has neither the time, nor the
resources to give the children the education they need and deserve. In fact, the children go to
school in shifts, half in the morning, and half in the afternoon, and they attend the BSF (Balkan
Sunflowers) centre during the hours in which they cannot be in school. Although supposedly
catering for the state run school’s shortfall, the BSF centre also suffers from a lack of resources.
Pascale and Tabby attend the Global Young Leaders’ Conference in
Washington DC and New York City
Clayesmore sixth formers Pascale Devlin and Tabitha Russell have spent the
summer discussing national policies for environmental concerns and debating
ideas as a catalyst for global change at the United Nations with 350 other
delegates from around the world.
Both were attending the Global Young Leaders’ Conference held in Washington
DC and New York – a trip organised and arranged by them with funding
support from Clayesmore’s Spinney Trust. The country assigned to them for the
duration of the trip was India and they acted as Ambassador and Foreign
Minster for that country at the daily leadership group meetings.
They listened to speeches at the World Bank, the Department of State and the
United Nations and during the first week focussed on their primary task of
working towards a simulation for peace and security: conflict resolution. Within
their country groups they devised resolutions to a simulated situation in the
South China Sea with regards to a dispute over land claims and the discovery of
oil.
The second week of GYLC was held in New York City. The emphasis for the week
was based on a “global summit” simulation held at the United Nations. At the
global summit the aim was to pass resolutions regarding eight topic areas such
as development and environment. Five of the eight resolutions passed thanks
to some fantastic speeches.
It wasn’t all speeches and debate however; the girls visited the National World
War Two memorials, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Lincoln
Memorial. They also toured embassies including the Saudi Arabian embassy. In
New York they attended a Broadway show, as well as visited Times Square, and
the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) and took a cruise round the Statue of
Liberty. There was even a national delegations rally, where each country group
had to entertain, inform and inspire the other scholars.
Says Pascale: “This trip was the most amazing
experience. Not only were we able to learn about
resolution formation, cultures from all over the
world and current affairs, but we also made strong
friendships and shared many hours of laughter.
GYLC was not only educational but also fun filled,
truly inspirational and memorable.”
Charlotte and I were charged with making this centre look like a
school, and teaching the Roma and Serb tutors who work there how to
maintain a welcoming and studious atmosphere within the centre.
The next day we began the first and biggest mural, a tree. The idea was
that the tree would be painted onto the wall and the children could
each write their names on a paper leaf and add it to the tree, so
symbolising the interdependence of the community. Charlotte’s artistic
skill was put to work while I, along with most of the tutors
endeavoured to mix brown paint using the primary colours.
Unfortunately and extremely bizarrely this turned out to be beyond
our skill.
Working with the children and tutors was enjoyable, and at times
hilarious, but it was hard work, and we ended every day exhausted.
Over the next few days however the tree evolved and we set to work on the other two murals, a Sunflower and a rainbow in the nursery
room. We also made a multiplication square, a calendar in Serbian and three cardboard clocks for teaching the children to tell the time,
along with various other resources which are to us, basic.
I thoroughly enjoyed the two weeks I spent in Kosovo and I hope that the work we did will make a difference to the lives of the children in
Plementina. However I was also troubled by the experience, and shocked to find out that such an open and welcoming society, which on
the surface is not so different from our own, was so riddled with turbulence and fear. Everyone is armed and ready to resort to violence to
protect themselves, and they see violence as their only real way of being heard by their own government and the international
community. Although full of wonderful people, and slowly healing, Kosovo seemed to me, a graveyard, still shivering with the trauma of its
recent history. I’d very much like to thank the Spinney Trust for giving me this extraordinary experience from which I have learnt so much.
III
Richard Carr travels in
New Zealand
Another recipient of Spinney Trust funding last
year, Richard Carr, is currently living and working
at a school in New Zealand before continuing his
travels around the southern hemisphere.
Richard is currently based in a boarding school,
where he is helping look after the boarders.
Following this he is going to work on the
construction a conservation trail, helping to
protect the habitat of endangered animals by
creating a sustainable environment for tourism.
Although Richard has not yet finished his work
and sent the trustees a full report, he has taken
some amazing photographs of this remarkable
country, which we are pleased to publish.
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Diary Dates 2009
Annual Dinner and AGM
Saturday 24th January 2009
at Clayesmore - see enclosed information for agenda and
ticket information
Spring Term OC Day
Sunday 15th March 2009
Hockey and Netball
Lunch in the Dining Hall
Orchestral Day with John Traill
Please see enclosed sheet for further information.
Summer Term OC Weekend
Friday 15th May 2009
An introduction to the OC Society evening for
current members of the Upper Sixth.
Saturday 16th May 2009
Summer Supper Party
Sunday 17th May 2009
Cricket and Tennis
The OC Alun Pugh Challenge 2009
Lunch in the de Selincourt Room
Full details to be published on the website in
due course.
Autumn Term OC Day
Visitors are welcome to the school throughout the year
(though please warn us in advance so we can get the
coffee on!) but planned events such as the AGM and OC
Days are a good way of keeping in touch. Alternatively,
why not organise your own event? The Development
Office would be glad to help those looking to arrange a
school reunion. At the time of going to press, dates and
details of regional events for 2009 have not been
confirmed - visit the OC Society website
(www.ocsociety.co.uk) for updated information. For more
information on visiting the school, attending an event or
organising a reunion, contact either the Development
Office on +44 (0) 1747 813160 or
[email protected] or SarahJane Newland on
+44 (0) 1747 813051 or [email protected]
19th September 2009
Rugby/Football and Hockey
Full details to be published on the website in
due couse.
OCs are most welcome to attend
all school concerts and events please visit the school website www.clayesmore.com or call the
Development Office for ticketing
details on +44 (0) 1747 813160.
25
Where are they now?...................
Grierson, Alec (1936-1938)
Occupation - Retired 2nd engineer
C.E.G.B. (now National Grid) (Magazine
Information Slip)
Wheeler John A (1936-1941)
Occupation - Retired architect - hospital
and school work in New Zealand.
(Magazine Information Slip)
Shiner, Thomas C (1936-1943)
Occupation - Forces to 1948 and then a
chartered accountant - now retired.
(Magazine Information Slip)
Tietz/Tait Thomas T (1936-1939)
See under letters to the editor. (Magazine
Information Slip)
Richmond, Hugh D (1937-1941)
Occupation - Forces (Royal Marines) until
1950, then in family textile firm. Now
retired. (Magazine Information Slip)
McCallum, Alexander (1939-1944)
Occupation - MA(Cantab) - Agriculture.
Colonial Service/HM Overseas Civil
Service, later Food and Agriculture
Organisation of the UN and Agricultural
Organisation Consultant 1986-1992.
(Magazine Information Slip)
Thornbery, Derek R W
(1941-1946)
Occupation - retired teacher and
housemaster. Items of interest: music
(flute, ‘cello and choral music), rugby,
architecture, canoeing and rock climbing.
(Magazine Information Slip)
Tumber, Patrick J M (1942-1945)
Occupation - Retired for 13 years from
Civil Service (Home Office - Courts
Service). Previously in paper packaging.
Items of interest: duty warden at local
church, chair of local community care
organisation. (Magazine Information Slip)
Hodgson, George C (1942-1946)
Occupation - Army Service - Indian and
British Army then sales, marketing and
general management mainly in contract
packaging. Ran own company
representing overseas suppliers of
components for the aerosol industry.
Retired 1995. Items of interest: tennis
until age 69, golf. Involved with local
cancer hospice - raised over £100,000
through charity golf days. (Magazine
Information Slip)
Cameron-Brown, Donald/
Fr Aldhelm (1942-1945)
Occupation - former editor - London
Evening News, and public relations
director in Hong Kong. Retired 1980.
(Magazine Information Slip)
Occupation - entered Prinknash Abbey in
1955, ordained early ‘60s. Abbot for 8
years, then Abbot Visitor for 8 years (a job
which took me round other monasteries
connected with us). (Magazine
Information Slip)
Hall, Keith R (1940-1945)
Innes, John G D (1943-1946)
Gold, John M (1939-1942)
Occupation - retired chief executive and
director of pensions management
company. Items of interest: organist for
20 years of St Mary’s Thorncombe Dorset
and Forde Abbey. (Magazine Information
Slip)
Horsburgh, Andrew G (1940-1944)
Occupation - Retired surgeon.
(Magazine Information Slip)
Kelly, John A V (1941-1944)
Occupation - Retired (14-09-2008)
Upton, Murray S (1942-1945)
Occupation - entomologist. (Magazine
Information Slip)
26
Occupation - Retired 1989. Employed by
multinational companies in management
roles in USA, UK, Hong Kong and
Australia. Finally co-owner of soft drinks
manufacturer in Australia. (Magazine
Information Slip)
Plaxton, Michael R K (1943-1948)
Occupation - Retired family doctor. Items
of interest: still birding after all these years
but overtaken slightly by moth-ing.
Rejection audition to sing 1943 but now in
two choirs. (27-04-2008)
Harvey, John P (1943-1948)
Occupation - Retired 1991. Former
newspaper reporter, insurance clerk and
insurance inspector. (Magazine
Information Slip)
Selfe, Michael A (1944-1946)
Occupation - County surveyor Essex CC
1982-1993, consultant to RAC Foundation
since. (Magazine Information Slip)
Jacobson, Ronald Marcus
(1945-1949)
Occupation - Retired. Items of interest:
my brother, Neville Jason, (known as Jake
mi.) at school at the same time.
(19-02-2008)
Osmond, William J (1947-1951)
Occupation - Farmer. Items of interest:
Dorchester RFC member, Somerset C.C.
Member. (Magazine Information Slip)
Woodward, Nigel P M (1947-1951)
Occupation - Served in Army and Military
Civil Services until retirement in 1998.
Councillor on Purbeck District Council
1999 for three years. Currently work for
charity “Mediation Dorset”. (Magazine
Information Slip)
Holtom, A C Spencer (1947-1952)
Occupation - Retired Army Officer.
Served worldwide, fist with RA then Army
Air Corps. Awarded AFC in Malaysia
(1989). Items of interest: play golf in
retirement, won Iwerne Cup in 2006!
Brother Edwin also an OC and much
better golfer. (05-06-2008)
Seddon, James T (1948-1954)
Occupation - former schoolmaster and
Headmaster - Clayesmore Prep 1972-82
and Durlston Court School 1982-1997.
Three children also OCs and grandson
who started at Clayesmore Prep in
September 2008. (Magazine Information
Slip)
Prewett, Anthony F (1948-1953)
Occupation - Retired - former deputy
secretary. Items of interest: managed
under 15 GB youth American Football
Team in European Championships
2001-2003. Choral singing. Voluntary
work. Foster carer. (Magazine
Information Slip)
Shields, William V (1949-1952)
Occupation - Retired. Former career in
agriculture, retail and tourism. (Magazine
Information Slip)
Where are they now?...................
Simpson, Ewen EM (1949-1954)
Occupation - Retired after 34 years in the
oil business. (18-12-2007)
Rogers, Frederick E (1950-1955)
Occupation - Retired (05-07-2008)
Willcox, Robert D (1950-1955)
Occupation - Retired Military Explosives
Engineer. Items of interest: Cetaceans.
Churchwarder and webmaster.
(03-05--2008)
Munro, W David (1951-1957)
Occupation - Co-principal double-bass,
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
(1964-1972), principal double-bass,
Northern Sinfonia (1972-2004). Items of
interest: officially retired but still
occasional free-lance! Fell-walking,
reading, cricket and railways. (Magazine
Information Slip)
Bazalgette, Richard A (1952-1955)
Hawkins, Revd Peter M
(1950-1955)
Occupation - Retired - living in France.
(25-12-2007)
Occupation - Regular Army before
training to be an Osteopath. Items ot
interest: sport mad! Tenis and golf.
Magistrate for 18 years in Poole. Still
working part time. (Magazine Information
Slip)
Jones, J Mike (1950-1955)
Clay, David (1952-1956)
Occupation - RMA Sandhurst. Regular
army officer (Royal Artillery) 1959-1990
(retired as Brigadier) set up company
building and designing golf courses
1990-2007. (Magazine Information Slip)
Occupation - Retired Health Service
Manager. Items of interest: golf, bridge,
racket ball, travel, bee-keeping, home and
family. (21-01-2008)
Crossley, Adrian B (1950-1954)
Occupation - Now retired after 35 years in
the catering and restaurant business.
Items of interest: have lived in France,
about 150kms from Caen for 10 years,
complete change of life. Used to live in
London, now in country with peace and
quiet - ducks and chickens. To be
recommended - visitors welcome.
(Magazine Information Slip)
Occupation - RMA Sandhurst. 1955-1998
Army - Royal Artillery and Royal Army Pay
Corps, Private - Colonel. Bursar La
Retraite School 1988-1999. (Magazine
Information Slip)
Clifton, Peter T (1950-1953)
Occupation - Retired - previously a
marketing director in the water treatment
industry. (Magazine Information Slip)
Guedalla, Richard S (1952-1956)
Kendall, Kennth O (1954-1957)
Occupation - Retired (04-11-2008)
Grebby, John A K (1951-1955)
Occupation - UK Army parachute regiment.
1963 emigrated to Canada. Shell Oil to
1992. Co-ordinator and umpire - Ontario
Dog Sled Championships. Ski Patrol and
Instructor. Figure Skating Instructor. Tenor
in Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. (See
accompanying photographs) (Magazine
Information Slip)
Scovell, Martin G (1953-1956)
Occupation - Retired Chartered
Accountant (05-06-2008)
Redston, Colin (1953-1957)
Occupation - Retired in 1999 after 30 years
in Her Majesty’s Overseas Civil Service
(HMOCS). Items of interest: Teacher in
Kenya 1967-68. Admin Officer in Gilbert
and Ellis Islands, New Hebrides, Tristan da
Cunha, Falkland Islands and Hong Kong.
(11-03-2008)
Furneaux, Alan A S (1954-1958)
Occupation - I studied agriculture at
Writte Agricultural College, Essex. I am a
Fellow of the Institute of Professional Soil
Scientist and a Fellow of the British
Institute of Agricultural Consultants. I
have been an independent soil and land
management consultant for over 45
years. Items of interest: I still play squash
regularly and generally go on walking
holidays. (Magazine Information Slip)
Parsons, Peter R (1955-1959)
Occupation - Retired (14-01-2008)
Mathews, C W (Bill) (1957-1960)
Occupation - Own wholesale nursery and
garden centre in Colchester until 2004.
Started stone manufacturing and
importing business. Items of interest:
started playing golf to fool my wife into
thinking I was going to retire! Speak
Dutch fluently and phrases in other
languages. Have house in Spain and we
are going back to school to learn the
language properly! (Magazine
Information Slip)
Dadson, Nigel T (1956-1960)
Occupation - Self employed soft furnisher
for 40 years. Semi-retired at this point.
Moved to Nelson (New Zealand) in 1990.
(Magazine Information Slip)
Over 60” of snow fell last winter until
mid-February.
Harris, A G (Tony) (1957-1959)
Occupation: farmer/ airline captain/
commercial property developer and
former amateur jockey (21-12-2008)
Dall, Ian R (1957-1960)
Central Ontario Dog
Sled Championships
January 2008. -36ºC
daytime temperature.
John Grebby in Belleville, Ontario, February 2008
Occupation - ex. R. Steiner (Curatv Eductn)
Teacher, Retired Manager, Surrey CC.
Social Services. Returned UNAIS volunteer.
Items of interest: natural history, fishing,
swimming, reading, DIY, art, gardening,
touring, computer IT, walking (ramble),
music, etc. (01-01-2008)
27
Where are they now?...................
Johnstone, David M (1957-1962)
Cockayne, John D (1961-1964)
Jones/Meredith-Jones, Robin
(1956-1961)
French, Nigel J (1961-1965)
Occupation - Retired. Items of interest:
aviation. (13-05-2008)
Occupation - Professional actor. Artistic
director of New Directions that develops
Christan scripts. Items of interest: married
to actress Christine Way, 2 boys.... Andrew
(31) - Rupert (28). Elder brother Colin Jones
also went to Clayesmore in the 1950’s.
(07-05-08)
Wright, Andrew T (1957-1963)
Occupation: with Department of
International Relations, Hanoi, National
University of Education, Vietnam.
Lawrence, Andy (1958-1961)
Occupation: Musician. Items of interest:
Music - sound engineering, boating.
(17-08-2008)
Occupation - Company Director.
(07-02-2008)
Fangen, David R (1961-1966)
Occupation - Insurance Broker. Items of
interest: moving inexorably towards a
Dorset life. We’ve had a second home in
Iwerne and now Bedchester House for over
20 years and the plan is to settle
permanently. (07-03-2008)
Mycroft, Timothy R (1961-1964)
Occupation - Musician. Items of interest:
toured most of Europe during my career.
The highlight being the Soviet Union in the
Brezhnev Era where I spent two months.
(Magazine Information Slip)
Hardy-Smith, J Andy (1962-1965)
Hanegraaf, Costa (1958-1961)
Occupation: International Company
Management. Items of interest - Officer's
cross of the Hungarian State. (02-12-2007)
Occupation - Banking from junior to
manager, retired in 2004 and now run
Leicestershire County Show. (Magazine
Information Slip)
Hole, James (1958-1962)
Asher, David N P (1962-1966)
Occupation: Government Communications
Officer - (retiring in 2008). (20-12-2007)
Bell, James H (1959-1962)
Occupation - own business selling new
generators. Items of interest: fishing and
shooting. (13.02-2008)
Kemp, Jonathan W M (1960-1965)
Occupation - Stage Manager, retail, MOD
Civil Servant. Retired Oct 06 - result! Items
of interest: lived at Crediton, Cheltenham
and near Winchester for 28 years. CofE
Reader for 12 years. Now moved to the
Marches for some quiet and some walking.
(02-08-2008)
Occupation - husband, householder,
potter and churchwarden. Items of
interest: people, animals, poetry,
history, the cosmos and life in general.
(02-02-2008)
Jaekel/Heffernan, Roderick
Laurence (1965-1971)
Occupation - Currently joint manager of
Winkworth Residental Estate Agents in
the west end of London. Formerly in
hotel management and steward on
ocean going yachts. Former Tory
councillor Royston Herts (1999-2001) .
Items of interest: still playing rugby
every weekend for Hampstead R.F.C in
the front row. (Magazine Information
Slip and 21-08-2008)
Sessions, Laurence N (1966-1969)
Gill, Christopher W (1963-1965)
Occupation - GP based in Christchurch.
Items of interest: retired marathon runner.
(Magazine Information Slip)
Toms, P Francis (1965-1966)
Dawson-Squibb, John-Clive
(1962-1966)
Gamper, Nicholas H (1960-1964)
Kyle, Richard J (1960-1963)
Occupation - Worked in advertising
agencies in Perth, Australia. Sold own
advertising agency and returned to UK in
1996. Now working for local evening
newspaper in Jersey, running their
magazine division. Items of interest: enjoy
golf, walking, travel etc. (Magazine
Information Slip)
Pollard, Michael D (1966-1969)
Occupation - Retired Investment Banker.
(26-05-2008)
Occupation - IT Manager. (01-05-2008)
Varcoe, John N G (1964-1969)
Occupation - Advertisement Manager for
Country Life & The Field magazines
specialising in the fine art & antiques
market. (10-06-2008)
Occupation - Creative director/ partner/
photographer/ painter. Resident in South
Africa for 34 years. If there are any OC’s
coming to Cape Town, SA - would be
delighted to meet them, sure we can help part-time tour guide? (Magazine Information
Slip)
Hawkins, William (1959-1964)
28
Occupation - University Administrator.
(29-09-2008)
Occupation - Retired Company Director - Ad
Agency. Items of interest: travelling, motor
sport F1, politics, local charity work, Vice
Chair Bromley Advocacy Alliance.
(16-05-2008)
Lewis, Nicholas C (1963-1967)
Occupation - Company Director boatyard. (06-05-2008)
Dibben, Edwin R (1965-1969)
Occupation - Farmer (14-01-2008)
Occupation - flight manager at
Heathrow and has married the lovely
lady from the Transvaal.
Occupation - Contracting/farming in Kenya
currently growing 4,500 acres of wheat and
barley in Laikipia District. Working with
small scale farmers trying to ensure food
security/poverty reduction by teaching
conservation agriculture. (Magazine
Information Slip)
Douglas, Roderick (1967-1971)
Occupation - Avionics engineer
employed as a Technical Author at
Continental Data Graphics (a Boeing
subsidiary) in WGC. (22.10-2008)
Crabtree, Timothy C (1968-1972)
Occupation - Company Director
commercial stationery, computer
supplies, furniture and office
equipment. Items of interest: music,
choral singing, opera, ballet, sailing,
motorsport. (14-01-2008)
Where are they now?...................
Fagerlund, Bryan (1969-1972)
Occupation - Sales Manager. Items of
interest: family, sport, travel. (12-04-2008)
Bailey, Andrew J (1969-1973)
Occupation - Retired Chartered Surveyor
and Aerospace Programme Manager.
(12-03-2008)
Shelbourne, Richard J (1970-1972)
Occupation - Landscape gardener. Have
created gardens in UK, France and Italy www.shelbournegardens.com. Moved to
Italy from London in 1991 having bought
and restored ancient farmhouse. Write
gardening column in Valley Life magazine,
in the process of lanscaping own 2½
hectare garden. (Magazine Information Slip)
Fagerlund, Anthony (1972-1972)
Occupation - Facilities Manager Goldman Sachs JB Were. In current
position 7 years and prebiously with UBS
for 10 years. (12-01-2008)
Bowditch, Nigel D (1972-1975)
Occupation - Exhibition contractor.
(16-03-2008)
Winter, David R (1972-1976)
Occupation - Archivist, Bench Joiner.
Items of interest: art and design, joinery,
nature, birds of prey. (12-07-2008)
Furness, Steve (1973-1978)
Occupation - Cruise Industry.
(12-04-2008)
Farrell, Michael E (1974-1978)
Occupation - Compliance Officer /
Owner, Advisor Dutch MoD in US
programs. Lecturer in international arms
legislation (EU & US). Items of interest:
motorcycling, international arms
legislation, flying (PPL), shooting, gun
collecting, dogs. (11-08-2008)
Fowler, Paul A F (1974-1978)
Occupation - Chair in Translational
Medical Sciences, University of
Aberdeen. Items of interest: professional
website:
www.abdn.ac.uk/ims/staff/details.php?id
=p.a.fowler (10-09-2008)
Roberts, Mark A (1975-1977)
Occupation - in computers. Items of
interest: married with a son of nine years
and moved to France some 5 years ago.
Guy, John (1976-1980)
Occupation - Integration Operations
Supervisor. (28-09-2008)
Helm, Atessa (1976-1978)
Occupation - Linguist (06-04-2008)
Magee, Sean C (1977 - 1980)
Occupation - Mastering Engineer at
Abbey Road Studios, St John’s Wood.
(09-06-2008)
Gent/Parnell, Alison S Mrs
(1977-1981)
Occupation - Civil Servant - swimming
pool manager. Girls games teacher. Items
of interest: sport, family, going out.
(24-03-2008)
Chapman, Sara now Lady Apsley
(1978-1979)
Parsons, Nick P (1980-1983)
Occupation - Expatriate Tax Consultant.
(30-01-2008)
Dyer/ Foot, Juliet D (1980-1983)
Occupation - Social work, for Local
authority and NCH Charity. (Magazine
Information Slip)
Gibbins/ Wood, Phillippa Mrs
(1980-1985)
Occupation - Domestic Engineer. Items
of interest: watersports of all
descriptions. (09-01-2008)
Feltham, Mark A (1981-1986)
Occupation - Customs Officer
(22-05-2008)
Vaux, Robina H (1982-1984)
Occupation - Involved in running estate
and founded clothesagency.com. Items
of interest: passionate about countryside
and farming issues, gathered 2,250,000
signatures to try to lobby government to
open enquiry into FMD(2001). Raised £2
million for various charities. Hobbies:
countryside, shooting, stalking,
anti-politically correct campaigner, dogs,
local produce. (Magazine Information
Slip)
Occupation - Exams Administrator. Items
of interest: currently studying towards an
OU degree in English Literature.
(10-09-2008)
Howarth, Angela (1978-1982)
Occupation - Sales Executive working in
Finance and Human Resources.
(18-03-2008)
Occupation - interior designer/ antique
dealer. (27-01-2008)
Jenkins, Rhodri H (1979-1983)
Occupation - Human Resource Director.
(28-05-2008)
Strange, Bryan H (1979-1984)
Occupation -telecommunications
training. (31-12-2007)
Foot, David (1979-1984)
Occupation - Chartered Surveyor,
Property Development. Items of interest:
flying balloons with Mike Howard. All
things equestrian including racing and
showjumping, Captain West Dorset
Hockey Club, game shooting.
(17-08-2008)
Mossadegh, Ramine (1979-1984)
Occupation - Senior Product Analyst, TD
Ameritrade, reporting and modelling.
Items of interest: scuba diving, travelling,
opera, photography, wine testing.
(13-012008)
Bell, David A (1982-1987)
Occupation - Franchisee of Winkworth
estate agency in Richmond, Surrey.
(14-08-2008)
Ball/ Knowlden. Vanessa Mary
Mrs (1983-1987)
Mawby/ Bentley, Joanna Mrs
(1983-1987)
Occupation - Development Manager.
(06-10-2008)
Breadmore, Kathryn (1984-1987)
Occupation - Registered Nurse by trade
but stay at home mum to two boys, age 2
and 4 years at present. (01-03-2008)
French, Nick (1984-1987)
Occupation - Chief Executive of a charity
supporing disadvantaged people Innovate Trust. Items of interest: I have
lived in Wales for 19 years now and have
three children Oliver 14, Flora 9 and
Felicity 8 months. (17-09-2008)
Grimsey, Caroline (1985-1987)
Occupation - Manager with financial
services in Salisbury. (29-04-2008)
29
Where are they now?...................
Khoo, Poh Jin (1984-1988)
Occupation - College Officer and Hon.
Secretary to Khoo Clanshouse and PCS
Temple. Items of interest: food and
beverage tasting, loves to travel and
enjoys walks around the countryside.
(06-02-2008)
Crabb, Andrew M (1985 - 1988)
Occupation - Partner in chain of aquatic
retail shops. (09-04-2008)
Fodio, Haliru B (1986-1988)
Occupation - Civil Servant/ Politician.
(10-03-2008)
Shongwe/ Iordan, Paulette Mrs
(1986-1989)
Occupation - Chef, Gym Instructor.
Items of interest: travelling, reading,
socialising, food and sports.
(31-03-2008)
Covell, Adam (1986-1991)
Occupation - Architect. Items of interest:
I am not dead!!!! - as was reported in the
2008 newsletter. (19-09-2008) - see
article.
Julyan, Barry (1986-1992)
Occupation - Currently technical
business assurance analyst at RIAS Plc.
Run the OC’s hockey team every year
and currently play for Blandford Hockey
Club. I organise and run a 20 team
mixed hockey tournament every year.
(Magazine information slip)
Saxton, Luke (1986-1991)
Occupation - Freelance consultant.
(25-05-2009)
Hicks/Grant, Suzanne Mrs
(1987-1991)
Occupation - worked as accounts
manager in Oxford before relocating to
Isle of Wight in May 07. Now running
holiday lettings business. (Magazine
information slip)
Kube/Hann Sabine Mrs
(1987-1988)
Sharp/ Falzon, Fiona Mrs
(1989-1991)
Occupation - property investment and
business development manager. Now
living in South Australia.
Hewitt/Morge, Anna E Mrs
(1990-1993)
Living in Petersfield, Hants.
Harford, Daniel (1990-1994)
Occupation - retail manager. Living in
Barnet, Herts.
Occupation - Lawyer - German Federal
Criminal Investigation Office. Married
with three children. (Magazine
Information Slip)
Warde, Christopher J (1990-1996)
Risley/Frith, Zara Mrs
(1987-1992)
Occupation - Principal Enforcement
Officer (Development Services), London
Borough of Sutton. (05-04-2008)
Occupation - midwife in Bristol. Items of
interest: skiing and horseriding.
(31-12-2008)
Daniel, Sarah I (1988-1991)
Occupation - Senior Environmental Health
Officer. (27-08-2008)
Hook/ Holland, Elisa J
(1988-1991)
Occupation - Estimator - construction.
Items of interest: figure skating.
(09-04--2008)
Tilbury, Justin (1987-1992)
Occupation - Internal Communications
Consultant. (05-01-2008)
Occupation - Motor yacht captain, based
in Mallorca. (25-02-2008)
Lander, Fiona (1991-1993)
Shelley, J Adam C (1993-1998)
Occupation - Director at Redset - Real
Estate Structured Finance Search.
(07-03-2008)
Niroomand, Ali (1994-1997)
Occupation - Director of Operations at
Cellumatic (29-01-2008)
Sartori, Alex L (1994-1997)
Occupation - a DJ, living and working in
London. (19-11-2007)
Elerd, Gero (1998-1999)
Occupation - Analyst for the Bank of
England. Attended Clayesmore during the
Lower Sixth as a foreign exchange student.
Items of interest: cricket, rugby,
international travel, keen interest in foreign
affairs, particularly crisis management and
the United Nations. (14-06-2008)
Weld, Edward (1998-2000)
Occupation - Digital Media Consultant/
Developer. Items of interest: sailing, rugby.
(02-07-2008)
Yeung, Yui Ka Katie (1998-2000)
Chilton, Simon G (1993-1998)
Married Julia on May 10th 2008 in
Arundel, West Sussex. Many OCs at
the wedding including: Kelvin
Barker, Toby Conlon, Alex Durst,
Rhys Jenkins and Cath Lightbody
Occupation - Membership Assistance in
Hong Kong. Items of interest: Open
University for Business Course at Hong
Kong. (24-01-2008)
Stürner, Tilman (1999-2000)
Occupation - Studing for MSc Sport
Science at Cologne University. (Magazine
Information Slip)
Where are they now?...................
Folliard, Thomas (2000-2003)
Occupation - Student - Southampton
University. (13-05-2008)
Senior, Matthew D (1993-1998)
Occupation - Teacher. Now living in
Melbourne, Australia.
Married Danielle Wheedon in
September 2008.
Sadler, Stephanie (2000-2003)
Occupation - art gallery owner in
Breckenridge, CO, USA opened Autumn
2008. (Magazine Information Slip)
Phillips, Emily C (2001-2003)
Occupation - Textile Designer. Items of
interest: graduated with First Degree
honours in Textile Design at Winchester
School of Art in 2007. (19-01-2008)
Thomson, Edward (2001-2005)
Occupation - Project Manager, ECH.
(26-09-2008)
Above (l-r): Mark Harris,
Matthew Senior, Kelvin Barker
Edgell, C Emily (2002-2007)
Occupation - heading to Bath Spa University
to study Media and Culture in September
2008. (Magazine Information Slip)
Peck, Francesca (2003-2005)
Occupation - at University of Edinburgh
studying Business Studies and
Accountancy. (Magazine Information Slip)
Carr, Richard (2002-2007)
Occupation - currently working in retail
and will be heading off to New Zealand
in August to work in a school for a year.
(18-05-2008)
Left: Richard Carr on Wharaiki Beach,
South Island, New Zealand, Sept 2008
Births
Congratulations to Kirsty
Davis (née Lander)
(1990-1996) (pictured left)
on the birth of Luke on 8th
March 2008.
Congratulations to Emily
Sweetman (1993-1996) on
the birth of Freya on 4th
June 2008, pictured right
with her sister, Willow (born
18th February 2005).
Stocken, Peter (2000-2003)
After passing out of Parachute Regiment Depot at ITC
Catterick life hasn’t stopped. From arriving at my
battalion for the fist day to Christmas leave then on to
complete my British Forces Parachute Wings Course at
RAF Brize Norton. Since March I joined a mortar platoon
which led to pre deployment training in Oman. Went on
to summer leave and then out to theatre with S.F.S.G.
(Special Forces Support Group). So this email is coming
direct from the front lines of Afghanistan. All I can say is
that the stories, films
and books cannot
describe the beauty of
this country.
Unfortunately in the
circumstances there is
a job to be done. We
don’t realise how lucky
we really are as people
to live such a luxurious
lifestyle until you are
face to face with a
harsh reality.
(By email 13-09-2008)
Update your profile at www.ocsociety.co.uk
Obituaries
Fangen, Stener (1932-1933) Died of
cancer 9th January 2008. See article “75
years on a very old boy remembers” by
Hugh Thompson. Father of David
(1961-1966) and grandfather of Olivia
(1995-1996).
Turney, Anthony M K (1933-1939)
Died July 2008
Gray, George B R (1935-1937) OBE
Died 14 July 2008 in North Berwick, aged
88. A ‘Craigender’ (see Spinney‘s Book).
He had been suffering from Alzheimer’s.
A farmer, teacher and family man, he was
awarded the OBE in 1991 for services to
agriculture. A councillor in the Lothian
region from 1974-1982, George was later
deputy lieutenant of the county and
assistant county commissioner for the
scouts. He developed an arboretum and
beautiful gardens at Smeaton and is
survived by his wife, Anne, six children,
seventeen grandchildren and five
great-grandchildren.
Hosking, Guy B L (1935-1941)
Venables Walter Preller
1941-2008
Venables Preller was a colourful example of
an era in Clayesmore’s history that seemed
to produce more than the usual share of
vivid characters, before the more mundane
demands of market forces brought the
school back into the mainstream of
education, with a more effective, though
perhaps less imaginative (and certainly less
interesting), academic focus.
Venables was born In Edgware in 1941, the
middle child of three. His family lived in
London until the end of the war (World War
II, for the benefit of our younger readers),
and then returned to the Gold Coast (now
Ghana, for the benefit of our younger
readers) where his father was a mining
engineer.
At the age of nine he was sent to Hill Crest,
a prep school then perched on a cliff in
Swanage, but now, together with the cliff,
in the sea. He moved on to Clayesmore in
September 1953, where he immediatel;y
made a mark by virtue of three distinctive
attributes:1)
2)
3)
his shock of bright red hair;
his characteristic loping walk; and
most importantly, his name:
Died 22nd January 2008
VENABLES WALTER PRELLER.
Upton, Philip S (1940-1945)
He was the only Venables any of us had
ever known, or even met, and was known
by all only as Venables throughout his time
at school. He later restyled himself as Val, a
bit of a cop-out in my opinion, and a name
that neither I nor his other school friends
ever got used to.
Died 22nd January 2008 after a long
illness. Father of Philip Upton (1966-1971)
and brother to Murray Upton (1942-1945).
See separate obituary.
Metcalf, Robin M (1942-1945)
Died of cancer in March 2007. He was a
retired Electrical Engineer and lived in
Skelbrooke, Doncaster. He left a wife,
three children and three grandchildren.
Morgan-Brown, Alan (1942-1946)
Died on Christmas Eve 2007 following a
long illness. He was a retired Senior
Applications Engineer in computer
controlled test equipment and lived in
Chatham, Kent.
Lavrin, David H (1944-1948)
Died 12 January 2008. He earned a Ph.D
in Biochemistry and worked as a cancer
research scientist in California, Chicago
and Maryland. He is survived by his wife
Asuncion, two children, two
grandchildren and his brother John who
also attended Clayesmore.
32
Venables was a year below me at school,
and I didn’t really get to know him well until
he’d reached the VI Form. In those happy
days, before the clammy hand of Health
and Safety had started to squeeze the
windpipe of creativity and imagination, the
school Science Laboratories were
supervised much more freely and
informally than can be imagined now in the
21st Century. This may be how Venables
made his nitroglycerine. (Actually, in those
days most chemistry sixth-formers made a
bit of nitroglycerine on the side --- it was
very easy to do --- but most of us were
more mindful of how unstable and
explosive a liquid it was.) Anyway, Venables,
as was his wont, went one step further, and
very, very gently pipetted his nitroglycerine
into an empty ink bottle, which he put in
his pocket. Then he walked out of the
laboratory. Unfortunately, as he walked
away the movement caused the
nitroglycerine to explode. Luckily, the tin lid
was facing outwards and the only things
blown off were his trousers. As his children,
Caroline, Simon and Kate will perhaps be
thinking, on such small details as the
orientation of an ink-bottle do our
existences depend.
Venables once confessed to me that one of
his greatest disappointments was failing to
get into King’s College, Cambridge; instead,
he trained as a dentist at the London
Hospital, qualifying in 1965 with BDS
(Hons), LDS, RCS.
His love of music had manifested itself at
school, where he played the piano and
organ, and also sang tenor in the chapel
choir. He also played double bass, with a
characteristically eccentric style, in the
school orchestra, but was never seen to
practise. In London he continued his
musical activities, gaining an LGSM in organ
playing and being the organist at St
Margaret’s Putney. He even for a while
played the organ for services at Brixton Jail
and at St. Ethelburga’s Guild Church in the
City of London.
He also had several piano pupils: Gay
Holmwood, another piano teacher and
great friend of Val’s at the time has sent me
this story:
“He passed on about six of his piano pupils
to me --- covering, it seemed then, the
whole of south London --- Brixton,
Peckham, Dulwich. When I asked him why
they were ALL learning the Toreador’s song
from Carmen, he said “nice tune.”
He worked as a dentist in London from
1965 to 1967. While he was living in
London he met Elspeth, who was at the
Guildhall, fell in love and married her; they
moved to the Old Rectory in Kingston
Deverill. He first worked in Amesbury, then
bought a little terraced house in North Row,
in Warminster, converted it into a dental
surgery and practised there until he retired
two years ago.
He and I go back a long way. Our lives and
paths have diverged and retouched on
several occasions, and so I can offer only a
few selections from an incomplete scrapbook of my memories and those of others.
But these memories are worth recalling,
and while I was writing this I have been
reminded of his genial friendliness and his
unique, often impenetrable, sense of
humour.
Venables was interested in old and imperfect objects: among
the masses of furniture in the Old Rectory were a square piano
and a Steinway grand piano, neither of which worked properly.
Some things must have worked, because Simon, Caroline and
Kate were born at this time,
provided an NHS service for at least 36 years...and has made a
huge difference to many people who went to see him in pain...,
or who had lost their dentures etc.... I’m sure he also gave many
of his patients a musical education (or at least deafened them
with Bach in the waiting room)...”
At this time he was, for a while, a man of property, with houses
in Bath, Weymouth and France (and, for all I know, elsewhere as
well). He even bought the Barclays Bank building in Westbury to
use as another dental practice, storing in its strong room the
liquid contents of a wine-inporting company that he bought at
about the same time. I remember in particular helping him to
dispose of cases of a delicious Tinto Selecto from Spain.
He had a very quirky sense of humour, something that all three
of his children, and their children, really appreciated. He would
often ring up roaring with laughter at a comedy programme and
urging them to switch it on. He spent hours making a DVD
collection of the works of Laurel and Hardy, Will Hay, Charlie
Chaplin etc. for the grandchildren, and they really enjoy watching
it.
He was very interested in interesting old cars, particularly Aston
Martins, most of which, like his piano, didn’t work, or not very
well, or not very often. On one occasion I drove with him down
to Spain in his Aston Martin DB5, of which he was extremely
proud. In Spain we collected my wife Kaye and all drove back to
England together. Venables was at that time, and subsequently,
very interested in stocks, shares and the money market. I had
got used to a strange habit Val displayed on this journey, but on
the way back Kaye was most amazed by it. Wherever we were,
in whatever country, and whatever we were doing, we had to
get to a telephone (these were, of course, the days before
mobile phones) at precisely 6 o’clock every evening for him to
find out the current price of gold.
Alison Purseglove also recalls her first meeting with Venables at
my house in Stourpaine: “I met him first at one of your parties
where there were many ‘artists’ of one kind or another. I asked V
what he did and he said he worked in physical media, largely
ivory and gold and strictly on commission. His clients were
intimately involved with his creations. Took me ages to get there.”
Gay also sent me the following Venables car story. “The
episode after purchasing a Jowett Javelin? [Or was it a Daimler,
as Nick Zelle believes?] As far as I can remember, he bought this
car, took me for a brief trip, dropped me off and then went to
have it filled up with petrol (the days with attendants). After a
few minutes the attendant commented about the petrol going
through the petrol-filling opening and straight on to the
forecourt. Further examination revealed no petrol tank, whereupon the attendant had a suspicion that he was on candid
camera. With much placating by Val saying that he had driven
up to the petrol station, they traced the petrol from the engine
through to the car where there was a jerry can lying on the back
seat. That the car didn’t have an advance and retard mechanism
he only found out when he tried to go up a hill!! A classic car of
which he was immensely proud.”
He was an excellent dentist, although the appearance of his
surgery in North Row contradicted this. Susan Dix, his
receptionist/nurse for his entire working life there, said that
everyone commented that he had the gentlest hands
imaginable. (In fact, as his children will confirm, he was a very
gentle person full stop.) He also treated everyone alike and with
respect, from squire to squaddie.
Alison Purseglove, one of his patients, says this of him:
“He was in every way...a remarkable dentist --- a visit there was
like no other. One came away faintly reeling from exposure to
whatever the latest IT or musical passion was, and also the
gadgets for dentistry (and where he had put them). His
communication system with the Receptionist, or hole in the
floor as we call it, was probably the most efficient anywhere in
the NHS.
He was also a bloody good dentist. The last thing he did for me
was three root canals at the same time and apart from
injections it was almost pleasurable. He was really skilled.”
His daughter Kate adds, “...much of his work lives on in
Warminster...(the undertaker has a number of his fillings for
starters...). Subsequent dentists often admired his work. He
Kate also recalls how they went on fantastic holidays with them
as children:“Now that I have kids myself I am amazed that he regularly took 3
teenagers round Europe in a 2CV! We’ve all had some great
nights out with him --- you could drop him into many a social
situation where others might flounder and he thrived.... The
grandchildren --- Jacob, Eve (mine); Jessica and James (Simon’s)
adored him---as I’m sure Ariel would --- they will all miss him
hugely.”
One more memory of him. I was playing in the orchestra for a
musical in the Pavilion Theatre in Weymouth, and Venables
turned up for one performance. The RNLI was collecting money
for the local lifeboat, and during the interval, as we went to the
bar, he noticed a lifesize cardboard cut-out of a lifeboatman,
standing with legs apart just outside the Gents. For Venables it
was the work of a moment to grab this object and place it
appropriately standing at one of the urinals inside. He didn’t
notice the uniformed Lifeboatman, relieving himself at the next
stall! He later told me that he thought that “that lifeboat chap
didn’t have much of a sense of humour”.
Many of you will have memories of Val which will complement, or
knowing him, contradict my own memories. He was, like most of
us, a mass of different personality strands. As he grew older he
sometimes found it more difficult to communicate easily with his
friends. This must have been a particular trial to him, as he was
exceptionally intelligent, very sensitive and very perceptive.
When his final illness struck, he was clearly and immeasurably
cheered by the love and support of all his family. Both in Bath
and Warminster hospitals he managed, in spite of his condition,
to do things his own way, and in doing so, to challenge the
system. Even at the end he retained great dignity.
R.F. Mash (1952-1958)
Obituaries
Scott, Michael J (1947-1951)
Died 30 May 2008. A former television
producer, presenter, researcher and
director and from 1979 to 1987
programme controller at Granada
Television.
Rathbone, Julian (1948-1953)
Died 28 February 2008 following a long
illness. (see separate obituary).
Walton, David Henry (1948-1953)
Died in his sleep following a long battle
with cancer.
Preller, Venables W (1953-1958)
Died following a short illness May 2008
(see on previous page).
Spinney, Ronald R (1954-1958)
Died 13 July 2008. (See obituary overleaf)
Harden, Christopher F (1958-1960)
The school learned of the death of
Christopher Harden in May of this year. He
was a retired marketing consultant who
had been living in Brixham.
Goumas, Paul (1958-1963)
Died suddenly at his home in Wallington,
Surrey on 16th February 2008.
Reckless, Jonathan (1980-1984)
The Society was informed of the passing
of Jonathan Reckless in August 2008.
Jonathan was understood to be a
cosmetic surgeon practising under the
name of Hamilton.
Phillip Scott Upton
2 September 1926 - 22 January 2008
Philip was born in Penang, Federation of Malay
States, in September 1926. Circumstances lead
the family to return to England in 1929 from
where Philip joined Clayesmore in 1940. It was
whilst he was at Clayesmore that he met the
Law family, whose eldest daughter, June, he
would later marry. After finishing school Philip
taught for a short time in Berkshire before
joining the Indian Army and being posted to
Bangalore. When the Indian Army was
disbanded he joined one of the Dorset
regiments achieving the rank of Captain. He saw active service in Malaysia (the Communist
Insurgency) and was then part of the British Occupation forces in Japan. He was demobbed
in 1948 and repatriated to Australia, to where his family had moved after the war in Europe.
Philip helped with construction of the family home, before attending Queensland University,
where he studied physics and seismology.
The Law family had also moved to Australia and he met June again, marrying her on 1
Feburary 1951. Their first son Peter arrived in December 1952 and daughter Susan in
November 1954. The family moved to America in 1958 where Philip worked at the Lamont
Observatory and accepted a position at Columbia University, New York, to study for a PhD. In
1960 the family moved back to England and settled in Berkshire when Philip was offered a
position in Camberley, Surrey. Their second son Christopher was born in April 1961.
In the early 1970’s the family moved south west to Cornwall, establishing a craft centre at
Coverack Bridges near Helston, and living in a lovely old miner’s cottage in nearby Porkellis.
He did various jobs, including carpentry, but particularly stained glass, being engaged to
restore a number of significant church windows.
Ever the keen sailor, an inherited Scott trait, having built his own kit Mermaid in the garage in
Wokingham and taught all his children the love of sailing, he continued his involvement and
owned several boats, regularly sailing across the English Channel to Roscanvel in France. He
was also very active in the local sailing community acting as Secretary/Treasurer for the
sailing club at Stithians Lake and in Falmouth and was an active member of the Royal
National Lifeboat Institute and the Maritime Trust. For a number of years he was also involved
in disability sailing.
Unfortunately in his final year he spent much time in hospital with intestinal problems.
Although he was allowed to move home for short periods towards the end of 2007, and was
able to enjoy Christmas at home, he was admitted to hospital again on Boxing Day and finally
succumbed to infection on 22nd January 2008. At his request he was cremated and his ashes
scattered to blow in the Four Winds.
Mélaine Lucy Innocent Schreiber
13 September 1976 - 11 August 2008
It was with greatest sadness that we announced the passing of Mélaine Innocent on Monday 11th
August 2008, after a most courageous six month battle against cancer. The Memorial Service was
held on Friday 29th August 2008 at St. Paul’s Church, Ridley Avenue, Ealing London .
There was a wonderful Clayesmore turnout with fellow pupils, and Prep and Senior school staff
joining family and other friends to remember a very special person.
The Order of Service and address may be viewed on the OC website - www.ocsociety.co.uk.
Mélaine's wish was that her ashes be spread at Clayesmore, and this has now been met. There
will also be the planting of a tree to the north west of the main house front steps. I'm sure Melaine
would love this most appropriate site between the Prep and Senior schools, where she spent so
many of her formative years.
Julian Rathbone
10 February 1935 - 28 Febuary 2008
The prolific author Julian Rathbone was a writer of crime stories,
mysteries and thrillers who also turned his hand to the historical novel,
science fiction and even horror — and much of his writing had strong
political and social dimensions.
He was difficult to pigeonhole because his scope was so broad.
Arguably, his experiment with different genres and thus his refusal to
be typecast cost him a wider audience than he enjoyed. Just as his
subject matter changed markedly over the years, so too did his
readers and his publishers.
Among his more than 40 books two were shortlisted for the Booker
Prize for Fiction. Both were historical novels: first King Fisher Lives, a
taut adventure revolving around a guru figure, in 1976, and, secondly,
Joseph, set during the Peninsular War and written in an 18th-century
prose style, in 1979. But Rathbone never quite made it into the wider
public consciousness.
One of the Booker judges of King Fisher Lives, which contains
episodes of incest and cannibalism, was Mary Wilson — the wife of the
Prime Minister Harold Wilson — who was said to be horrified by its
sexual content.
Rathbone did win various other literary accolades including a Crime
Writers’ Association Short Story Dagger and the Deutsche Krimi Preis.
Julian Christopher Rathbone was born in 1935 in Blackheath,
southeast London. His great-uncle was the actor and great Sherlock
Holmes interpreter Basil Rathbone, although they never met. He was
brought up in Liverpool until he was 5 when war broke out and he and
his parents moved to North Wales. He was educated at Clayesmore
School, Dorset, and Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he read
English and took tutorials with F. R. Leavis. Rathbone was far from
being in agreement with the narrow-minded Leavis view of letters, but
respected his intellect.
After university he lived in Turkey for three years where he taught
English and learnt about Third World poverty at first hand. While there
he learnt that his father had died in a road accident — an episode he
later turned into a novel, Blame Hitler (1997) — and returned to
comfort his mother. Back in England he worked as a supply teacher in
London and taught in a Camden secondary school until 1967 when his
first thriller, Diamonds Bid, set in Turkey, was published. He moved to
Sussex and became head of English at a comprehensive school in
Bognor Regis, writing three more books with a Turkish background.
By 1973 he was able to take up writing full-time.
He eloped to Spain with Alayne Pullen, 18 years his junior, who was
later to become his wife, and they lived in Salamanca for several years.
There he wrote Lying in State, an invention about a series of tape
recordings made by Juan Perón, the Argentinian dictator, which he
gave to a friend before he died. This novel, based on a true story, was
included in its entirety in The Indispensable Julian Rathbone
(published by the Do-Not Press), an anthology of the author’s writings,
including extracts from his novels, journalism, reminiscences and
poems, published in 2003.
Rathbone created four characters who were to appear in more than
one book. Inspector Jan Argand was the first in The Euro-Killers (1979),
Base Case (1981) and Watching the Detectives (1983). Renate Fechter,
in charge of a German group of eco-police, appears in Accidents Will
Happen (1997) and Brandenburg Concerto (1998). And Chris Shovelin,
a private eye, appears in Homage (2001) and As Bad as It Gets (2003).
The Joseph of his novel of the same name moves from the era of
the Napoleonic Wars to reappear in the world of German exiles
in Victorian London as Charlie Boylan in A Very English Agent
(2002) and then as Eddie Bosham in the United States in Birth of
a Nation (2004).
Rathbone’s range of subject matter was broad. As a thinker of
the Left with a concern for poverty and class division, an acute
sense of social injustice and a distrust of authority, he examined
the use of food as a weapon of superpowers in ZDT (1986) and
The Pandora Option (1990), and in Sand Blind (1993), about the
First Gulf War, he considered the malevolence of the mighty in
creating conflict to test new weapons and feed their insatiable
consumer needs.
The novel that sold particularly well and that might have made
his fortune had the option for it to be made into a film ever been
taken up was Rathbone’s take on 1066, The Last English King
(1997), about Harold Godwin and the English Saxons’ last stand
at the Battle of Hastings.
Among his forays into non-fiction, Rathbone made a notable
contribution in Wellington’s War (1984) to understanding the
Peninsular War and the genius of the Iron Duke.
What comes across in the writing is a dry, cynical, sophisticated
mind grappling with a corrupt world. James Joyce was his idol,
but Graham Greene was the writer whose influence is most
clearly detectable in Rathbone’s writing. A framed letter from
Greene praising Lying in State hung in his study.
Rathbone was an atheist who, like many a thoughtful human
being before him, had undergone a religious phase in his youth
only to have a sudden realisation, on being dazzled by the
yellow autumn leaves on some chestnut trees, that “this is life. It
begins and ends right here with what you’ve got.” It was an
epiphany, he said years later. “I never worry about whether my
works will be read posthumously.”
Rathbone was a fierce-looking man with a charming manner
and an equable temperament who was popular among those
who knew him. He was a bit of a dandy who often sported loud
ties and a trademark trilby. He relished once overhearing a youth
say to another while passing him in a Nottingham street: “Look
at that; that’s style.”
After Spain Rathbone and his wife lived for some time in France
before eventually settling on the edge of the New Forest, just in
Dorset, where they brought up two children.
He is survived by his wife and their son and daughter.
Julian Rathbone, writer, was born on February 10, 1935. He died
after a long illness on February 28, 2008, aged 73
Reproduced by kind permission of The Times.
Published March 7 2008
Obituaries
Ron Spinney
1 April 1941 - 13 July 2008
Ron Spinney was at Clayesmore between 1954
and 1958. He seems to have been one of those
who breezed through school life. A good all
round sportsman, Victor Ludorum winner,
school prefect, academically able, and full of
enthusiasm. His contemporaries confirm that
he was no plaster saint. He knew how to enjoy
himself, and did…but they say he was one of
those who had a charmed life…one who never
got caught!
He began in a quiet way in the mid 90’s when he agreed to become
Chairman of the Old Clayesmorian Society. One might have wondered
why this high achiever was then interested in a Society where in those
days the most keenly debated business was the menu for the Annual
Dinner (usually pea soup – the real controversy was choosing
between the lamb or the beef). In some ways Ron might have found
leading the OC’s a much tougher job than running a public company,
certainly more irritating. It is often difficult to introduce change to any
alumni association and, if he was anything, Ron was a modernizer.
However he must have slipped up at least once Anyway he did the job gracefully for two or three years and moved
because one of the ironies he treasured was
on, which was sad for the committee which had become used to the
spending so much time in the Headmaster’s
grandeur of his offices in Park Lane and his generous hospitality.
study as a governor: the same room where he
had been beaten many years before.
Ron then joined the Council of the School. He was a Governor from
What is clear that he loved his time at the
school, and felt as many do, that he would like
to put something back. As he did in so many
other ways in his life, he succeeded in his
ambition.
1997 to 2004 and Chairman for most of that time. His time as
Chairman was one of great change and improvement. He appointed a
new Head of the Senior School: he had the courage to make an
internal appointment, rightly judging there was a man of quality on the
doorstep. His work set us up for HMC status and in his time two
wonderful additions were made to campus in the
Jubilee and the Spinney Centre buildings. They
are a real memorial to his drive and ability.
These were large investments for a small school
and it was an immense contribution to the
governing body that his skill and expertise
ensured that these projects succeeded as well as
they did and were both delivered on time and
within our budgets.
His eye for detail was constant and he was very
good at communicating to all governors what we
had to do and what was important. He cut
through many issues to concentrate on what
really mattered, a real leadership quality. All this
was done with great patience, a smile, and the
constant presence of his hand written lists. He
always seemed to know exactly what he wanted
to achieve and how to get there.
In addition, the whole campus and all of the
School’s facilities improved constantly on his
watch. Naturally much of this was also
attributable to the Headmaster, but someone also
has to manage him!
36
The world is full of those who
are spoilt by success: but not
Ron. He delighted in life and
all it had to offer. He never lost
the common touch and
always wanted to know more
about those he met. However
although he had time for
everyone, this was combined
with an objective shrewdness
which enabled him to spot a
note of falseness almost
immediately. His judgment of
others was always penetrating
and perceptive.
He combined these abilities
and high standards with
charm and a sense of fun. He
had the gift for sharing his joy
in life with others and it made
working with him very easy.
He was immensely generous
with his time for those causes
he believed worthwhile;
particularly for the young, and
we are fortunate to have been
one of those causes. All he asked was that in turn the next generation would do the
same for those that followed them.
Clayesmore should be very proud of what it produced in Ron Spinney and very
grateful for all that he gave back.
Stephen Levinson
37
OC contributions
Secrets of the Confessional
O Brother, I have sinned, alas,
And fiddled the accounts,
And not for paltry little sums,
But for sizeable amounts.
It really was an awful lot
(I readily confess),
But to tell you quite precisely,
I couldn’t really guess!
And so I practised spending it,
(It was an awful bore),
And then in desperation,
I gave it to the poor.
I have a fast car waiting,
A latter day James Bond!
With all the usual attributes,
And that includes the blonde!
But all this seems familiar,
(I didn’t like his wink),
It’s not to paradise I go,
They’re putting me in ‘clink!
The hand-cuffs now are coming on,
I hardly can complain,
And all amongst the doom and gloom,
It’s coming on to rain!
It’s grade ‘one’ hospitality,
It makes the whole thing better,
I mustn’t go without my hat,
Please pass me my biretta!
Geoff Gillett (1947-1953)
38
Clayesmore in the Sixties
A lot slower and the students, then. “My goodness this child’s solid bone from
the neck up”, J. D. Spinney.
I shall translate. Exiting the gate at the Middles (Gate) house, behind the
Tuck shop (car park now) an old boy was trimming the hedge with his hook
(sickle). Being worldly wise the student asked why he’d not a red flag or a
road works sign up, to avoid being killed by a tractor, Mini, or Land Rover. His
reply: “T’ain’t no point in that, half of ‘em so asleep they don’t even know
they’re on the road, you!”
On a further occasion, a half-term exeat, asked where I may be proceeding
with my little overnight valise. Explaining London, as my destination, the
retort came: “Lon’on, Lon’on, why would anyone want to go to Lon’on - I ain’t
been to Blandford yet!”
Times were sweeter then. The freedom of ‘60s youth, a complete lack of
today’s commercial pressures; even though expected to obtain two
simultaneous summer holiday jobs to pay for one’s Sixth Form stay, sure left
one’s mark on the school. Perhaps (as joint Capt. of athletics) digging out the
corrugated part of the track, in front of the Head’s (new. then) house, may’ve
been sufficient. But, no, one had to then repair the main building - with PINK
cement, and still there 45 years later, too.
Alastair Graham (1961-1966)
Must Have
Must have... that new car,
With the ‘Auto-Reverse’,
Must have ... more money,
To put in my purse.
I want them all now,
The fun and the passion,
I want them before,
They go out ouf fashion.
Must have... those trousers,
They glow in the dark,
The biggest sensation,
Since Noah built the Ark.
Whether I need them,
I don’t really care,
I want them, I want them,
Because they are there.
Must have... the new treatment,
Must have... the new pill,
That helps you get thinner
And makes you so ill.
But, biggest and best are
My working criteria,
If it’s not what I want,
I develop hysteria.
Must have... a new profile,
For my silhouette,
The one in the mirror,
Is one I regret.
But all this could kill me,
The hassle and strife,
Must have... a new beginning,
Must have... a NEW LIFE!
Must have... the latest,
Kind of thing,
The dress like spaghetti,
All tied up with string.
Geoff Gillett (1947-1953)
OC Golf Report
Swiss based O.C. Sunder Advani (61-65) coincided a
regular visit to London to make his first appearance at the
OC Golf Day at Temple Golf Club near Maidenhead. His
score of 33 points tied with Colin Scragg in the individual
competition. On a count back they were both level over the
last 9 holes and the last 6 and only in the last 3 holes did
Sunder have a better score to win the Iwerne Cup.
It was great to see 27 OCs and friends at the annual Golf
Day on 11th June. As well as welcoming Sunder for the
first time, other newcomers to the day were one of
Clayesmore’s most popular former members of staff, Jim
Tilden, Tony Bright-Paul (43 to 48), Simon Dowse (Max’s
son) and the O.C. Hon Sec Peter Fleming. Tracy Rowe
(84-88) made a little bit of OC history as the first female OC
to play in the event. We were delighted also that newly
elected OC President, Piers Sabine, a great supporter of
the OC Golf Society (OCGS), made a welcome return to the
Golf Day.
Above: Sunder Advani (61-65) with the OC Golf Trophy
In fact, the newcomers flourished this year with Jim Tilden
partnering with Malcolm Peake to win the Fourball
Competition with 41 points. Other winners were John Garnett, Ian Simcock, Charles Scragg, Mike Roe and Charles
Bell. John Ayres from temple GC won the guest prize. We also send our warmest congratulations to stalwart OCGS
supporter, George Hodgson who celebrated his 80th birthday a couple of weeks after the Golf Day.
Julian Bailey (1964-1969)
39
The Birth of the Clayesmore Cormorants
Clive Wilkinson recalls the exploits of August 1960
Clayesmore in the fifties and sixties was a small school with only 216 boys
‘in residence’ - too small a number in many ways to support the number of
sports and activities undertaken and to be competitive with other much
larger schools. Smallness had its advantages too in that coaching staff had
more time to spend on fewer sport participants. Those participants also
tended to play most of the sports - if you had any ability you were unlikely to
be neglected! Just thinking back to those ‘good old days’ I seem to
remember consistently outstanding sqash teams able to take on any of the
really big schools and usually win, national schoolboy boxing champions,
hockey teams that won most of their matches, including wins over the likes
of Millfield, Canford and Bryanston 1st XIs and even a win over the full
Dorset County adult team, great athlectics performances and cricket teams
that were always likely to pull off surprising results. In rugby terms, we
always seemed to be short of choice for bulky forwards but often had plenty
of speedy players outside the pack.
So must of us had been playing all the sports at Clayesmore for five years
together: unsurprisingly we had developed strong friendships and above all
the team ethic. Some had been lucky enough to come from prep schools
where sports had been expertly encouraged - Clayesmore Prep springs to
mind. But those halcyon days were coming to an end in 1960 and the
realisation was that no more would we be able to look forward to countless
more seasons of playing sports together at Clayesmore.
How about one last hurrah? Late one evening, Charles Price, Julian Bates,
Piers Savine and the writer came up with the idea of a cricket tour. Could
we get the entire 1st XI together in the summer holidays? Where would we
go? Who would play us? How would we transport ourselves? Well, ‘where
there’s a will there’s a way’ they say, so many more discussions took place in
February and March 1960. The writer had some holiday connections in
Cornwall and a few ideas of accommodation and potential opponents.
Many letters later, fixtures had been arranged with the Devon and Cornwall
light infantry in Bodmin, Camborne CC, Gerrans CC, Gorran CC and a finale
against Falmouth CC. Accommodation had been arranged in the shape of a
huge fiteen room house, Lamledra, perched on the cliff top at Gorran
Haven. The entire 1st XI had pledged availability for the first week of August
- an amazing testament to something or other!
Now we had further problems. Would we be strong enough? What about
transport? Food arrangements? We had to cast the net a bit wider, but
how? Many of us already knew or had been taught by that fine cricketer and
headmaster of Clayesmore Prep, Hugh Glazebrook and so a deputation of
us went to Charlton Marshall to ask Hugh to join us. To our delight the
answer was immediate and affirmative together with a big bonus of Hugh’s
wife Margaret who rashly volunteered to keep us fed provided we could
make sure their son Simon would be looked after and entertained and of
course they had a car, well actually an A35 van! We also asked David
Watkins, our cricket coach, with the same excellent result - wife Alison and
car. Frank Stones was unable to accept our invitation as he had already
contracted to build the new Jubilee Line during the summer holidays! The
writer’s Dad was pressed into service as umpire (chief qualification being a
car). With Ridge Swatton and Nick Waters having their own cars, we were
all set. John Hardie also had his own transport - a Vespa scooter which
carried him unharmed from London to Cornwall and back!
Most of us travelled on Sunday but one or two didn’t make it until a day later
as a match had been arranged to take place on that Sunday between a
David Watkins XI and Shaftesbury in which one or two Cormorants played.
40
A bit of local exploration was the order of the day - Julian
Bates immediately discovering a harmonium in one of
the lounges on which he proceeded to play rather more
secular music than the instrument was probably used to.
A more serious exploration was to fine the whereabouts
of the nearest pub - just over a mile away at the linland
village of Gorran but the writer had to take his fair share
of stick when we discovered it was closed all day on
Sundays! Luckily, not too far away was a splendid
establishment by the name of the Crown at St. Ewe
which became our nightly haunt from then on in.
First game as Clayesmore Cormorants against D.C.L.I in
Bodmin, flag flying, batting sinking! All out for a score in
the low 120s and lost by 4 wkts. I seem to remember
the Derbyshire duo of William Mathews and Nick Waters
getting the ball to swing and taking a few early wickets.
We put the batting down to a combination of jet-lag and
no practice since the end of term! Eventually ended up
at the Crown to re-group.
Tuesday, baking hot and we were off to Camborne. We
lost the toss and Camborne batted on a rock hard and
fast wicket with an even faster outfield. Camborne had
three brothers Carter playing who some years later were
destined to appear for Troon in three successive Lords
finals in the National Village Cup. At tea, a sumptious
affair with splits and Cornish cream, Camborne declared
at about 185 for 7, David Cook having blasted out a
couple in a fiery opening spell and Piers having clung on
to a screamer off his own gentle off-spinners. Adrian
Draplin and the writer opened and slowly took the score
into the forties before being parted but this merely set
the stage for a hard hitting thirty odd from Ridge
Swatton, a cameo twenty from David Watkins and a
typically dogged thirty from Hugh Glazebrook. With
nearly an hour before stumps, the game looked poised we needed another fifty runs with four wickets left. A
few from Graham Swatton and then a good partnership
between Julian Bates and Nick Waters ensued taking us
to within 15 of the target but a clatter of wickets left us
needing another dozen from the last pair Charles Price
and David Cook. Charles remained not out!
Back to the Crown for a few ‘if onlys’ but we had had a
great day and surprised ourselves and a few others by
getting so close to one of the top sides in the county.
The Wednesday game was scheduled as an evening
fixture at Gorran. Beautiful wicket, set on the highest
point of the ground. If the ball passed a fielder the
inevitable result was a boundary. The Cormorants
batted first and immediately found problems against
Archie Smith, Cornwall’s 6ft 6in left arm quick. He was
quicker than anything we had seen before and was
probably the county’s most successful bowler of all
time. Bowling just short of a length and moving the ball
away, a number of us succumbed to catches behind.
The wicket-keeper, Ken Shearwood had a field day. We
discovered after the game that he always spent his
holidays at Gorran (a ringer) and had the previous year
been Oxford’s keep and also captain of the University
soccer side. The following winter it was interesting to
see that he was on the winning side in the Amateur Cup
final between Pegasus and Corinthian Casuals. Anyway
a few lusty blows from the tail saw us to an almost
respectable 130. Our turn to bowl as the light was
Above - the 1st XI Summer 1960 from back left: Waters, Sabine, Symes, Drapkin, Hedley, Handy.
Front left: Keystone, Bates, Wilkinson C.P., Mathews C.W., Swatton G.B.
beginning to fade and the temperature
dropping. Julian, David, William and Nick
were all able to swing the ball and David
particularly got some bounce but it was the
nagging just short of a length accuracy of
Graham Swatton that took the eye. Wickets
began to fall and we seemed to be in with a
chance. Hugh took three catches behind
and Charles somehow hung on to a full
blooded square cut at point. With only two
wickets to take and Gorran needing
another 20 we fancied our chances but it
wasn’t to be. A Gorran farmer, sleeves
rolled up as far as possible made very
short work of it, depositing the ball a long
way over the mid-wicket boundary three
times in the same over.
and everybody who batted joined in to a
greater or lesser extent. So muich so that
Falmouth employed the old trick of a
flattish off spinner packing the leg side
field and bowling at or wide of the leg
stump. It slowed the run rate and gained a
few wickets as some of us holed out in our
attempts to clear the boundary but runs
still came from the other end. With ten
minutes to go we needed less than twenty
and John was still there trying to farm the
strike. He needen’t have bothered as the
youngest Cormorant, Barry Keystone, took
the matter into his own hands with a
towering straight six and a boundary the
next ball to finish the game, leaving John
not out on 85. The Cormorants had won
their first game by 3 wickets. Back to the
Two matches to go and we felt we hadn’t
Crown for our final evening where a couple
quite done justice to ourselves on the field. of non-cricketing Clayesmorians met up
Thursday dawned grey and thoroughly wet with us - Nick Zelle and John Wilson.
so the prospects for our game at Gerrans
Every Cormorant contributed on the field,
were not looking good. So it proved - no
we had all enjoyed ourselves and the
game. Possibly a good thing as one or two adults who had so kindly done their bit had
Cormorants looked a bit frayed at the
enjoyed the experience and whatever their
edges after the odd excess at the Crown. It innermost fears must have been as
Page
??? pleased with the week as we were.
cleared up in the late afternoon
so we all
went our different ways - a few of us hired a
small boat having assured Margaret that
Over a couple of beers the main talking
we would bring plenty of mackerel back for point was that this tour should lead the
supper. Charles was the guiding light on
way, that next year there must be another
this expedition and we did indeed catch
tour and that provided we could add a
mackerel!
couple of players to the ranks of the
Cormorants from the school every year
Last day of the tour and off to Falmouth.
there was no reason why the Clayesmore
Lovely ground but we lost the toss on a hot Cormorants couldn’t become an annual
summer’s day. Determination to give a
fixture. Little did we know.
good account of ourselves saw a stunning
fielding display, countless runs saved,
outstanding catches held, the best being
Clayesmore Cormorants
by Piers at long on. All the bowlers
1960 Tour to Cornwall
contributed but Falmouth still reached 185
for 9 by the tea time declaration. Falmouth
Clive Wilkinson (Capt), Jullian Bates,
too had the odd ‘ringer’ - Roger Hosen, the
Charles Price, Piers Sabine, Barry
England rugby full back, was their opening
Keystone, William Mathews, Nick
bowler and was due to play for Cornwall
Waters, Ridge Swatton, Graham
the following week. Could we bat properly
Swatton, David Cook, Adrian Drapkin,
this time? The answer was not long in
John Hardie, Hugh Glazebrook, David
coming. Hugh and Adrian opened and got
Watkins, John Wilkinson (Umpire)
us going nicely until Adrian ran himself out,
but this let John Hardie in at number three.
Poor chap, he hadn’t scored a run all tour
but this was his day. Runs flowed elegantly
Played 3 Won 1 Lost 2
41
Cormorants Cricket Week July 2008
Cormorants are cheerful, lucky folk but this Summer we were
unable to completely avoid the deluge which put paid to much of
the cricket season. To get three full games in, albeit with some
disruption on pretty soggy pitches, was quite an achievement.
Sadly, the Twenty20 competition at Bryanston on the Sunday and
our mid-week trip to play the Free Foresters at Seaton were a
washout.
As a result, the week commenced on the Monday with a visit to
Canford. Batting first in a mid-day start, we compiled a
respectable 161 for 7 declared. A 54 run opening stand by the
Deighton brothers, 35 from Guy Hicks and a noteworthy 28 from
Arthur Webb on his Cormorants debut were the highlight. In
response, the Cygnets managed 120, Hicks completing a man of
the match performance with four wickets.
The next day we were at Bryanston, still plenty of moisture in the
sky and, it must be said, not as fresh as we could have been, the
10.30 pm curfew the evening before having been shattered.
The Butterflies put on a massive 296 before declaring six wickets
down, with centuries from Pearce and Jim Denning, who learned
his cricket at the Prep School. The Cormorants’ response was a
painstaking 165, Alex Morgan top-scoring with a stylish 66.
The weather forecast for Wednesday was spot on. Heavy rain fell
from dawn and continued all day. An early morning agreement
with the Free Foresters that we should not make the journey to
Devon left us with a free day, the morning of which was spent on a
Above: Tim Bryson and Andy Dike
visit to the new Dike’s food store in Stalbridge.
And a very fine shop it is too – if you are over that
way, do go there. After lunch, some went bowling
in Yeovil but we all met up again in the evening and
had an excellent supper at The Talbot.
As ever, the week flew by and before we knew it, the last
game was upon us: a resumption of the fixture with Dorset
Rangers. Although we lost, it was very good to renew our
acquaintance with one of England’s older wandering
county sides. In a 40 over game, the Cormorants posted
194 for 9, with fifties from the Dike brothers and 48 from
Bryson, and the Rangers came home comfortably with two
overs to spare and six wickets in hand.
So, not a spectacular week in terms of weather or results,
but a very happy and enjoyable one. It was particularly
good to welcome two new Cormorants, Arthur Webb and
Henry Cossins, and we were very pleased to have Richard
Geffen, head of the Prep School, join the ranks (apologies
again that Jamie Dike ran you out Richard, he
will do this). The usual end of week dinner was held at
The Cricketers in Shroton and Tim Bryson won the
Cormorants Cup, with Arthur best newcomer.
It remains for me to thank the School for the invaluable
facility which is Devine House – without this the tour
could not take place – plus use of the Prep School pitch on
the Thursday, Alastair Deighton for organising the
fixtures and, of course, all the guys who turn out and who
make the week so special.
CORMORANTS CRICKET – 2008 RESULTS
Canford Cygnets,
played at Canford School on 7 July.
Match won
Cormorants 161 for 7 declared
(A Deighton 34, G Hicks 35, Pearce 4 for 59)
Cygnets 120 (Harms 36, G Hicks 4 for 23
Bryanston Butterflies,
played at Bryanston School on 8 July.
Match lost
Butterflies 296 for 6 declared
(Pearce 123, J Denning 107 no)
Cormorants 165
(A Morgan 66, Bryson 32, Jenkins 5 for 39)
Dorset Rangers,
played at Clayesmore Prep School on 10 July.
Match lost
Cormorants 194 for 9 declared
(Bryson 48, J Dike 57, A Dike 63, White 4 for 50)
Dorset Rangers 198 for 5 (Tennon 56, Hara 47)
Andrew Beaton (1964-1969)
Above: Alastair Deighton and Tim Bryson
Above: New Cormorants - Henry Cossins (l) and Arthur Webb (r)
with Justin Morton
Financial report 2007
Income and Expenditure Account
for the year ended 30th November 2007
2007
£
2006
£
Income
Entry fees
Subscriptions
Bank deposit interest
Deferred income
2,757
3,921
1,300
-
8,353
3,977
2,284
3,025
8,008
17,639
4,640
568
1,696
226
335
10,745
3,407
237
491
53
320
5,223
18,210
9,731
£(10,202)
£7,908
£279
£299
Expenditure
Newsletter and Clayesmorian
Post and stationery
Social events (net cost)
Sundry expenses
Accountancy fees
Donantions and sponsorship
Surplus for year before tax
Unreaslised increase in value of Capita Investment
44
Balance Sheet
as at 30th November 2007
2007
£
2006
£
818
(818)
818
(818)
10,000
43,327
7,000
56,112
53,327
63,112
962
-
626
-
(962)
(626)
£52,365
£62,486
Income and Expenditure Account
Balance brought forward
(Deficit)/surplus for the year
60,000
(10,202)
52,092
7,908
Balance carried forward
49,798
60,000
Scadding Fund
Balance brought forward
Interest received
Scadding fund prize
2,486
81
-
2,305
81
100
Balance carried forward
2,567
2,486
£52,365
£62,486
Fixed Assets
Computer
Less: Depreciation at 25% per annum
Current Assets
Capita investment
Cash at bank
Current Liabilities
Sundy creditors
Deferred income
Net Assets
45
AGM - 2008
Held at Simpson’s in the Strand on
January 19th 2008 at 6.00 pm
ballot, as you will know from the Newsletter
was a resounding endorsement of the New
Partnership proposals
Committee
The debate and the EGM process may have
diverted attention away from the day to day
issues of the Society but we managed a full 5. Amendments to the Rules
agenda of OC weekends, Cormorants cricket,
golf etc. With a fresh mandate from the
Stephen Levinson put to the meeting
membership we shall hope to do even better
the Resolution “THAT the meeting
in 2008.
approves the amendments to the
Rules of the Society ( as set out in
During the year, Piers Sabine and Andrew
detail in the recent Newsletter) in order
Beaton were co-opted onto the
to implement the decision of the
Committee. Our Treasurer, William Perks,
membership at the EGM held at Iwerne
resigned in October.
Minster on Sunday 7th October 2007”
Present:
David Anderson, President
Peter Fleming , Secretary
Mark Farrand, Webmaster
Stephen Levinson
SarahJane Newland
Louise Salmond Smith
Andrew Beaton
Piers Sabine
Agenda:
1. Apologies for Absence
2. Minutes of previous meeting
3. Report of Secretary
4. Financial Report
5. Amendments to Rules
6. Election of President
7. Election of Chairman
8. Election of Editor of Magazine
9. Election of Committee
10. Report from Spinney Memorial Trust
11. Any Other Business
The President took the Chair.
1. Apologies for Absence
Hamish Dow, Vicki Brewis, Gareth Griffiths,
Hugh Thompson
2. Minutes of previous meeting
The minutes of the previous meeting were
approved.
3. Report of Hon. Secretary
“It was a busy year for the Committee
following the decision at the last AGM to
hold an Extraordinary General Meeting on
the future direction of the Society.
Your Committee met in full session onfour
occasions and had full Committee
conference calls on two further occasions.
There was also, of course, the EGM held on
the 7th October.
The process of balloting the entire
membership was extremely time
consuming and was accompanied by a
certain level of unpleasantness as the
debate became heated. The result of the
46
In May the Committee voted to suspend the
Editor of the Newsletter, Nick Zelle, from the
privileges of membership. The reasons for
this were explained in detail at the EGM and
in the recent Newsletter and this is
reported to the AGM purely to accord with
the Rules”.
The Secretary then read out a letter written
to Nick Zelle on the 9th December advising
him that an announcement lifting his
suspension would be made at the AGM and
that the full privileges of membership would
then be restored to him.
4. Financial Report
Following the resignation of the Treasurer,
the finances are being looked after by the
Secretary until such time as a new Treasurer
is elected.
The Secretary reported that the draft
accounts were posted on the notice board
but these showed a somewhat inaccurate
picture of the year’s finances because:
(a) £3,500 of the £8,000 agreed in 2006 for
school hymn books was not paid until 2007;
(b) £4,260 was still due from the School in
respect of Summer and Autumn term
entrance fees;
Total cash funds of the Society
currently stood at £53,000. These funds
would of course remain under
the control of the Society under the
New Partnership arrangements.
Adoption of the amendments was
proposed by Colin Jones, seconded by
Michael Beacham and carried.
On the subject of the Rules, Anthony
Prewett tabled a proposal that the rule
permitting the Society to make
contributions to the Spinney Memorial
Trust should be deleted as, in his
opinion, the rule should never have
been passed as he believed it conflicted
with the objects of the Society and the
powers of the Committee.
As the proposal had not been circulated
to members with the necessary notice it
was felt that it could not be voted on at
the meeting.
A compromise position was reached
hereby the Committee agreed to make
no contributions to the Spinney Trust
ahead of the AGM in 2009 and a
resolution would appear in the Agenda
for that AGM.
6. Election of President
As intimated at the AGM last year,
David Anderson confirmed that he
wished to stand down as President of
the Society. Piers Sabine stood for
election. Proposed by Stephen
Levinson, seconded by SarahJane
Newland and carried.
(c) The cost of the statutory notices sent to
members and the whole balloting process of
the EGM had cost in the region of £8,000 and
this had still to be paid.
7. Election of Chairman
One capital payment was made in 2007
being £7,000 to the Spinney Trust. A further
sum of £3,000 was switched from the bank
account to the Capita Scholarship Fund as
part of the amount agreed at the AGM in
2005.
The Society had been without a
Chairman for the last 12 months.
Andrew Beaton stood for election.
Proposed by Stephen Levinson,
seconded by Mark Farrand and carried.
(d) Henry Dryden urged theCommittee to
find an alternative venue for the annual
dinner not least because the drinks had
become prohibitively expensive and
(b) Colin Jones asked if there was any progress in
the package was very poor value for
obtaining a portrait of David Beeby for the
money. This view was clearly supported
School. Louise Salmond Smith said she would
by many members present.
speak to DB about this. The Headmaster
noted that the Chairman of Council had this
(e) Michael Beacham proposed thanks to
matter in hand.
David Anderson for his many years on
the Committee and in the office of
(c) Neill Pitcher asked if the Committee had any
President of the Society from which he
guidance on how subscriptions should be
was stepping down.
directed should members wish to carry on
paying despite them being no longer
There being no further business, the
mandatory under the New Partnership.
President declared the AGM closed at
Should they continue to the Society or be
7.30pm.
diverted to the Spinney Trust or maybe the
Scadding Fund? The Committee noted that a
number of members had expressed the
intention of continuing payment but gave no
directive on how members should act
individually. A note on the issue would be
circulated with the next Newsletter.
Committee. These sentiments were
endorsed by Christopher Slater.
8. Election of Editor of Magazine
SarahJane Newland stood for election.
Proposed by Henry Dryden, seconded by
Mark Farrand and carried.
9. Election of Committee
All Members in Ordinary of the Committee
stood for re-election. Proposed by Henry
Dryden, seconded by Michael Chapman
and carried.
10. Report from the Spinney Memorial
Trust
A brief presentation was made on the
activities of the Trust over the previous 12
months.
11. Any Other Business
(a) Michael Reeves wished the meeting to
record the sterling work and level of
commitment that Nick Zelle had given to
the Society during his many years on the
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2009 Annual
General Meeting of the Old Clayesmorian Society
will be held at Clayesmore on Saturday 24th
January 2009 at 6pm.
AGENDA
Apologies for absence
Minutes of previous AGM
Report of Secretary
Financial Report
Amendments to Rules (See below)
Election of Committee
Election of Honorary Members
Report from Spinney Memorial Trust
Any other business
AMENDMENTS TO RULES
The meeting will consider and if thought fit pass
the following Resolutions which, to be adopted,
require a majority of two thirds of those present
and voting:
Development Director and Development Office
Assistant at the School shall be non-voting members
of the Committee ex-officio.
(b) THAT clause 12(c) of the Rules (reproduced in full
below) be amended to include the wording in bold:
“The Society may make contributions from time to time
to the Spinney Memorial Trust where they are to
be used for purposes which accord to the
objects of the Society and the decision whether
such contributions are made on any occasion shall be
made by the Committee at its entire discretion”.
See letter elsewhere in the magazine addressing the
rationale for amendment (b).
On behalf of the Committee
J P Fleming
Secretary
November 2008
(a) THAT the Rules of the Society be amended so
that any persons holding the offices of
47
Don’t forget to book your place at
at Clayesmore School, Iwerne Minster
on Saturday 24th January 2009
from 6.00 pm
For further information, see enclosed invitation.