ONA Magazine - Old Novocastrians` Association

Transcription

16024 RGS ONA Magazine 92_PRINT 12/09/2014 14:15 Page 1
Picture Perfect
Will Nicholls (06-13) describes his passion
for photography and his trip to Cambodia
Also in this issue: Volunteering in Cape Town | RGS in Three Generations | Reality Bites
Issue 92 | Autumn 2014
ONA Magazine Issue 92
Autumn 2014
Contents
ONA Magazine is the magazine
for the Old Novocastrians’ Association
Editor: Jane Medcalf
All correspondence should be addressed
to: The Development Office,
Royal Grammar School, Eskdale Terrace,
Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4DX
Telephone Development Office:
0191 212 8909 email:
[email protected]
The Editor reserves the right to edit, alter
or omit all submissions to the magazine.
Copy may be carried over to the next
edition. The Editor’s decision is final.
Contribute!
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We are always looking for articles and
news from Old Novos to include in the
magazine, so send your contributions,
via email (if possible) to:
[email protected]
or to the Development Office at the school.
Please include relevant pictures if
possible. They will be returned as soon
as the magazine has been printed.
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The deadline for acceptance of copy for the
Spring 2015 issue is 8 December 2014.
Copy may be carried over to a future issue.
Special thanks to David Goldwater (5162) for his research and contributions to the
ONA Magazine, particularly on his search
for A History of the RGS in Its People.
The ONA Magazine is
available online
Please note that the magazine is circulated
both in hard copy and by email to many
members of the Association. Each edition
is added to the ONA website shortly after
circulation. By submitting an article or news
for inclusion the contributor is accepting
that it will be available through both formats
and will also be accessible beyond the
Association membership through internet
search engines or any member of the public
viewing the ONA website.
Cover image: Courtesy of Will Nicholls
ww.willnicholls.co.uk
Please note that the ONA Magazine content does not
neccessarily reflect the views of the school or the ONA
and is based on personal experiences, recollections
and memories of its contributors.
Design www.infinitedesign.com
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President’s Welcome
News and Congratulations
ONA Now and Then
Double Celebration
Reminiscences of an Old Novo
Picture Perfect
A History of the RGS in Its People
Volunteering in Cape Town
Reality Bites
RGS in Three Generations
Obituaries
Welcome
“The Finest School in the North”.
For a change, these aren’t my words, they are taken from the
Sunday Times but it’s always nice to hear when someone shares
your opinions! Once again, the students of the RGS have delivered a
remarkable set of results at both A Level and GCSE. It is important to
recognise, however, that this is also an achievement for the staff, so on
behalf of the Association, I’d like to congratulate all involved for yet
another tremendous year for the ‘School in the North’.
As my two year tenure as President comes to an end, it’s comforting
to know that the school is as good as ever and I’d like to think the
Association is too. We continue to be inundated with correspondence
from our membership, including John Newlands (58-69) who
provides an account of his father Jimmy Newlands (33-39), a
recipient of the Arctic Star Medal for services above the Arctic
Circle in World War II. We are also lucky enough to have heard from
Peter Binder (46-49), perhaps the first German student of the RGS.
And for the budding photographers amongst us, don’t miss pages
8 and 9 where we hear from multi-award-winning photographer,
Will Nicholls (06-13).
This year’s Annual Dinner in Newcastle, to be held on 17 October,
is a great opportunity to return to the alma mater, enjoy some
excellent food prepared by Catering Manager Barrie Bulch and,
of course, have a few drinks with a few old pals. If you need any
further encouragement, then this year will be particularly special;
as the nation remembers those who both risked and gave their lives
during World War I, so too does the school and in conjunction with
the ONA, there will be a short preview of a memorial concert, which
will be held on 1 May 2015.
Before I close my final President’s Welcome, I must mention a few
special thanks, particularly to Jane Medcalf, who started supporting
the committee as I became President and has, amongst many other
things, helped to organise two fantastic reunions. I’d also like to thank
my Vice-Presidents, Chris Rutter (92-02) and Chris Wilson (97-02),
and former President David Goldwater (51-62) for their time and
effort over the past two years. It’s extremely beneficial having that
support, particularly from former Presidents like David, so I will be
sure to offer mine to those who follow me.
Enjoy the Magazine!
David Westwood (95-02)
ONA President
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ONA – Old Novocastrians Association Magazine
Autumn 2014
News and
Congratulations
We are delighted to have heard
recently from…
Iain Herdman (66-76) and Nigel Paton (66-76) from my
own year and Paul Gibson (67-77) and Ian Severs (67-77)
from the year below. Paul, Ian and I had a ‘best men’ pact
which saw us each do the honours for each other over the
years, a plot hatched over a great deal of beer and a toss
of the coin in a pub in Leeds in 1982.
I remain a loyal follower of NUFC despite the current
shambles and a student (rather more studying than in the old
days as some will recall) of the turf (currently taking a break
from pouring money into a pit having previously had shares in
some National Hunt horses with varying degrees of success).
If timing permits I hope to make the next London dinner as it is
now very much within striking distance, hopefully to meet up
with friends old and new.
From L-R: Chris Roythorne (54-64), Judy Roythorne, Gillian
Alan Castree (53-61) writes: My wife Catherine and I have
McKinlay, Mary Franks and Peter ‘Nod’ Dinely (58-64)
completed 51 happy years of marriage, have two lovely
married daughters and two super grandsons. I was assistant
chief constable in Greater Manchester, where I was also
chairman of Sale Rugby Club, then commissioner of police
in Gibraltar for five years. These were two very different
locations and each had its own particular problems.
Following that I was an overseas policing adviser to both the
Foreign Office and the European Union for another five years.
David McKinlay (56-64) who wrote: The 1964 Biology 6th
had a 2nd reunion at Wood Hall, Cockermouth, 16-19 May.
Wood Hall is a fabulous house in a Thomas Mawson garden
owned by Doug Trotter’s son and available for hire. Doug
Trotter (54-64), Chris Roythorne (54-64), Peter ‘Nod’
Dinely (58-64), Mike Rennie (54-64), David Franks
(54-65) and David McKinlay and partners were able to meet.
David Brown (57-65) and Ann Brown were abroad and
David Tomlinson (54-64) and Betty Tomlinson were
prevented from attending at the last minute by sickness.
On the Saturday night we had a ’60s themed evening
(see photo) won by Doug and Carol as Ozzie Osborne
and Biba. We all still get on amazingly well and future events
are proposed.
Michael Ord (66-76) writes: After 33 years working as a
solicitor, mainly in Newcastle I left /retired from private
practice in 2013 to take up a full time position as an
employment judge in the East Anglia region, based in
Huntingdon, but also sitting in Bedford, Bury St. Edmunds
and Norwich, when required. Having lived and worked in the
North East for pretty much all of my previous 55 years this
is a rather exciting personal move. I took up my appointment
in May 2013 and almost exactly a year later completed our
house move (reverting to a bachelor life for 12 months was
less attractive than it sounds).
Allison and I were married in 1983. Sons, Stephen Ord
(95-02) and David Ord (94-04) are now respectively
teaching in Newcastle and banking in Edinburgh, whilst
daughter Josie is reading Geography at Edinburgh. I remain
in close contact with a number of old school friends, in
particular Michael Harle (66-76), Peter Milburn (69-76),
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On retirement, I enrolled at King’s College, London for three
years and gained a degree in Theology. I indulge in a bit of
scribbling and have the occasional success with publication,
notably in natural history magazines, as well as assisting the
British Trust for Ornithology. I added a qualification as a
cricket umpire to my later sports involvements and umpired in
the Surrey Premier League, maintaining my interest in rugby.
I am now studying for a Master’s degree in the Psychology of
Religion at Heythrop College, University of London.
Alan Castree (53-61)
ONA v RGS 1st VII Netball
By Kate Jarvis (02-04)
Our congratulations go to…
Niall Flannery (99-09) who just missed out on a medal
at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games when he
competed in the Men’s 400m Hurdles final.
James Penn (99-09) who achieved a 1st Class Triple
Honours in Modern Languages (French and Spanish) with
International Relations from St Andrew’s University. He was
also awarded a Dean’s Award for sustained academic
excellence.
Ben Pearson-Stuttard (08-10) who also achieved a First
Class degree in Medicine from St Andrew’s University. He
now continues his degree in Medicine at Glasgow University.
Angus Walker (08-10) who gradated this year with a 1st in
Psychology from Edinburgh University, also winning the
British Psychology Society (BPS) undergraduate award for
highest overall grade at his university.
Georgina Orife (née Cook) (02-04) and Ray Orife
(99-03) who were married in August. We wish them all the
very best for their future together.
Harry Goodwin (11-13) Politics undergraduate at Durham
University, who has just been announced as the winner of
the innovation category in the prestigious Jack Wills Young
Brits competition, backed by i. Harry competed against
more than 2,300 16-25 year old UK applicants in a
competition in search of the brightest new talent in the arts,
enterprise, endurance and innovation. Harry is the creator
and editor of the website Omnipolitical (www.omnipolitical.
com), using the internet and social media to engage young
people in politics and debate. As winner of the innovation
category, Harry’s achievements will earn him a cash reward
of £5,000 and professional mentoring from one of the
Judges, Olivia Solon, writer and editor specialising in
technology, science, startups and digital culture.
Harry Goodwin (11-13)
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Autumn 2014
From L-R: ONA Netball team: Holly Clark (06-13), Alex Jordon (02-04), Hettie
Williams (06-13), Kristen Hartley (06-13), Natalie Twaddle (07-09), Sally
Squires (02-04), Amanda Williams (05-07)
Saturday 29 March 2014 saw the second annual ONA
Netball match, which took place in the RGS Sports Hall –
a vast improvement on the frozen, windswept hard play area
of the previous year. Not only this, but there were several
new faces to join the ONA team and most pleasing was the
fact that they were all talented netballers in their own right.
It was clear from the beginning of the match that both
teams were closely matched in terms of ability and by the
end of the first quarter, the RGS 1st VII were winning by
only a small margin at 6-5. Due to some excellent shooting
skills from Holly Clark (06-13) (GA) and Natalie Twaddle
(07-09) (GS) this quickly changed and by the end of the
second quarter, the ONA team were leading with 7 goals
to 6. Superb defending by Hettie Williams (06-13)
(GD) maintained this lead at the end of the third quarter
with 20 goals to 19 and the team were in high spirits.
Overall the match was extremely close, and it must be
noted that due to a shortage of players on the RGS 1st VII
some of the current RGS Games staff were drafted in
throughout the match thus compromising the fairness of
the team selection!
All of the ONA players showed superb skill and
determination to have our first victory and the team
camaraderie was also excellent. It must also be noted that
having played seven-minute quarters the year before due
to inclement conditions, these quarters were all 15 minutes
long and of an extremely high standard. Unfortunately,
several goals from the RGS 1st VII in the closing minute of
the game saw them win the game with a final score of 25-24.
My thanks go out to everyone who gave up their Saturday
morning to play for either team and to Miss Smith and Mrs
Harvey at RGS for umpiring. Third time lucky for a victory
next year…
ONA Now
and Then
central part of the Performing Arts Centre
in his honour: it is now The Miller Theatre.
tortured into making false confessions.
His ‘confession’, clumsily transcribed by
his captors, describes an entirely fictitious
history as a CIA agent. He was among
I was delighted to witness one of those
many thousands executed, a small
rare and momentous occasions when
individual tragedy that brings home to us
three generations of RGS boys visited
the monstrosity and evil of that regime. It
school together. Walter Wood (37-44)
and his son Simon (72-77) joined Walter’s has been suggested that we should create
grandson, Edwin (current Upper Sixth and some kind of memorial to John Dawson
Dewhirst: it’s hard to know what would be
a Senior Prefect) (see page 15). ONA
Committee member and former President appropriate, and we are certainly open to
suggestions, particularly perhaps from
David Goldwater (51-62) presented the
ONs who knew him.
previous issue of the ONA Magazine to
Walter. Walter described being much
inspired by the ‘brilliant’ Michael Roberts I’ll close with one last bit of, fortunately
How good it is to see
happier, history. It was marvellous to hear
(24-31 and 34-41) (see issue 91): that
the ONA Magazine
‘inspiring, unique and eccentric’ teacher of the now fully-restored organ (which is, of
the ’30s and ’40s gave David the impetus course, a war memorial) in use in the May
becoming fatter and
performance of Haydn’s Little Organ Mass.
and motivation to continue his search of
fuller with every issue!
We hope we’ll make good use of the
The History of the RGS in its People
I’m grateful to the
organ now it’s working again, though we
series (see page 10).
don’t sing hymns in assembly nowadays:
ever-increasing number
the instrument has been acknowledged
It was my pleasure to get to know W Ray
of ONs ready and willing Eden (32-37) as a friend, and my sorrow by The British Institute of Organ Studies.
A failed organist myself, I must add that it
to mourn his loss at the start of the year.
to contribute material.
really does sound well now it’s in full
Ray was another of those ONs (so many
of them!) who was larger than life, full of fun working order.
My colleague Jane Medcalf heroically tries and humour, and great company. In his last
And that’s just a snapshot of this
to pack in as many of the offerings as she
couple of years we’d formed the habit of
magazine’s contents! My thanks to all
can: but we hope you will be patient if it
meeting up at the Cherry Tree for dinner
takes a while to get them all in. It’s a nice
and jazz: but I know that my wife and I were contributors and to all who continue
to support their old school: and I hope
problem to have, though, and we welcome just part of a huge circle of Ray’s friends
it and thank you.
with whom he developed various cheerful to see many of you at October’s ONA
and sociable activities in order to maintain Dinner at the school, or at the London
event in March.
In this issue I’ve enjoyed something of
and build friendships. He was a very
a dialogue with my pre-predecessor,
special man whom we miss.
Bernard Trafford
Alister Cox (72-94) (see opposite) (who,
Headmaster
incidentally, celebrated his 80th birthday
Earlier this year we received news of the
recently: congratulations to him!)
strange and disturbing decades-old
tragedy that befell one ON. The state of
I’ve also been able to witness some of the Cambodia is coming to terms with its
terrible history of the ’60s and ’70s under
events recorded in these pages. Wildlife
the regime of the infamous Pol Pot and his
photographer Will Nicholls (06-13) only
‘killing fields’. Bravely facing its darker past,
left the school a year ago, so I had the
that nation is creating museums and
pleasure of seeing him develop (and win
memorials to the victims.
several awards) in his specialist field: his
work is outstanding.
Among them, we have discovered, was
In July I was also privileged to invite my
John Dawson Dewhirst (61-64), who left
predecessor James Miller (94-08), back the RGS in 1964. He was one of a
to the RGS so that we could rename the
number of westerners captured and
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ONA Now
and Then
A letter from Alister Cox
Headmaster 1972-1994
5th March 2014
I
read with huge interest the piece in
the latest ONA Magazine by one of
the original guinea-pigs of the socalled Flyers system (or should it be
Fliers?) – and the accompanying
remarks by Bemard Trafford, another
product (so we learn) of the same
accelerated promotion. I nearly said ‘victim’,
but who am I to pass such judgement on
one who has reached the dizzying heights
of Headmastership of the RGS? I do
however note that he echoes Stephen
Forster’s (63-69) conclusion that the price
paid by some of those chosen for such
acceleration was a certain ‘immaturity’ at
the next stage of their onward progress.
Stephen perhaps rightly dubs it an
‘experiment’, and adds that he doesn’t
know ‘how long it lasted’.
I can claim to know the answer and hope
that the following notes from the depths of
France (where I have now spent 20 happy
years) will be of interest to ONs and others.
It goes back to discussions I had with my
new colleagues when I started at the
RGS in the autumn of 1972. I was
beginning to learn that change was in the
air, and that I would be one of the vehicles
of it, and I can quote with some precision
the note I received from a colleague whose
views I had quickly learned to value: ‘Now
that you’ve agreed to so many timely
changes could you add one other – the
abandonment of the Fliers stream?’ Having
no fixed views on the subject, I listened
hard to all the pros and cons – the latter
including a welter of ‘educational and
administrative problems’, as Stephen
Forster seems to have fully understood,
perhaps through being himself the ‘victim’
of several of them. It was easy to conclude
that the system, if it ever had merits, had run
its course – and I simply implemented what
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Autumn 2014
The Flyers, 1969
show me around, and he had the grace
and good-humour to tell me at once the
undiluted truth. Young readers of this may
be less amused than appalled by this
glimpse of the past: fancy a school’s
In view of the accumulated evidence of its
demerits I remember asking what expected academic reputation depending on the
‘merits’ it was supposed to deliver, and the award of Oxbridge scholarships! It worried
me at the time, and I did my bit in the
answer came in terms of academic
coming years to widen the criteria for such
excellence as judged by the criterion of
judgements. I knew for example that some
Oxbridge entry. That was the era when
bright students stayed on post-A Level for of our brightest students felt significantly
un-impelled to try for them.
that particular high-flying aim (note the
recurring imagery!), exactly as did Stephen
Stephen’s comments are so evocative of
Forster himself, and I was ‘warned’ by my
that period. Yes, in the Sixties life in the
more cautious colleagues that our
RGS Senior School had started with Form
Oxbridge results might suffer in seven
2: the Fliers had to fill out what was called
years’ time, which in fact they didn’t. But
the disadvantages of ‘immaturity’ showed 2.1, and were next year expected to leap
beyond the so-called ‘Removes’, which
themselves from the very start in this race
were only for ordinary mortals; others in
to precocious achievement – except of
Form 2 were in stratified classes below
course for those who suffered the
alternative disadvantage of being dropped them. The abolition of the Fliers stream
back in mid-course: Stephen Forster says (as from 1973, to be precise) was
immediately accompanied by other
it all, and I await with him the thoughts of
others who knew the system and may have reforms, which we never had reason to
regret. To the lovely logic of starting with
things to say on both sides of the debate.
a Form 1 we added an insistence that it
would consist of four un-streamed classes,
There was one amusingly useful PR
and we proclaimed this fact by attaching
outcome of the launch of this system in
to each a House alignment, daring anyone
1963. You have only to imagine its effect
precisely seven years later on the Oxbridge to argue that 1C and 1E and 1H and 1S
were anything other than academically
results: the new generation of Flyers will
equal. I remember recognising that a bonus
have made their bid simultaneously with
in this was the underpinning of that valued
the high-flying products of the year ahead
commodity known as ‘House-spirit’
of them. Not only did this deliver an
(committed though it may be to the idea
unprecedented score in 1969, but this
of non-equality!) On this I read with
came just in time to be included in a chart
of the latest ‘Oxbridge results’ in the third of fascination Bernard Trafford’s comments
in this same rich issue of the ONA
Anthony Sampson’s studies of the
Anatomy of Britain. This came out in 1971 Magazine. He’s so right to doubt that ‘50
years ago’ (but make that 40!) ‘face-paints
and told the world that RGS Newcastle
was currently the No. 1 winner of Oxbridge in House colours would have been
encouraged’. We had not even imagined
Awards! And that was nicely in time to
such things in that dull old world!
impress candidates for the soon-to-bevacant Headship. I commented about it to
the member of staff whose job was to
Alister Cox (72-94)
had become the considered collective
view of the staff who had lived with it for
a decade.
Double Celebration
Arctic Star Medal Ceremony and 90th Birthday Party
By John Newlands (58-69)
M
y father James ‘Jimmy’
Newlands (33-39) was born
in 1924 and attended RGS,
but left early to serve in the
Second World War. As a young
Hostilities Only (HO) rating he served in HMS Kent
on the Russian Arctic convoys, sailing from Liverpool.
This essential war effort involved sub-zero
conditions, the endless task of keeping the upper
deck ice-free and, in my father’s case being
‘battened down’ in the shell room at Actions Stations.
Jimmy was then selected for seaman officer training
and, as a 19-year old Midshipman, to command a
landing craft during the D-Day landings in June 1944.
After the war he returned to the North East to run the
family clothing and retail business, J Newlands &
Sons, retiring in 1989. An avid rugby supporter and
past player, both at RGS and after the war, he
captained Tynedale RFC in the early ’50s and
played for Northumberland as hooker on several
occasions. He now lives in a nursing home in Ryton,
Tyne and Wear.
This year, the UK Government decided to act at last
and approve a medal for those who had served in
the Russian Arctic convoys. It was with great pride
and happiness therefore that a sizeable gathering of
family and friends witnessed Jimmy being presented
with the Arctic Star, at a ceremony alongside
HMS Mersey at North Shields on his 90th
birthday on 27 June. The medal was presented by
Lieutenant Commander David Gillett R.N.,
Commanding Officer, HMS Mersey.
It meant a great deal to my father that he was able
to receive his medal in the presence not just of
serving men and women from today’s Royal Navy,
but of a contingent from the RGS that included
the Headmaster Bernard Trafford and a small
contingent of students, in uniform, from the
Combined Cadet Force. My brother Andrew and
his family were also able to attend, having travelled
from the Turks and Caicos Islands. Our thoughts
went out to Alex (66-69), our younger brother,
who attended RGS, but who died in 2002
following a diabetes-related illness.
I have only recently returned to the North East
myself and now live in South Gosforth. I served
in the Royal Navy as a Weapon Engineer Officer,
retiring in 1994. For the last 20 years I have
worked in the financial sector as an analyst and am
now head of investment companies research at
Brewin Dolphin, dividing my time between the
firm’s London and Newcastle offices.
It is wonderful to be back in the home of the RGS
and of the Magpies.
Above: Jimmy with his great, great nephew Anthony
Wetherell (Year 10)
Left: RGS Contingent: Mansel Wetherell (80-85), Lucy
Barnard (CCF), Lucy Ellerton (Year 12) (CCF), John
Newlands (58-69), Jimmy Newlands (33-39), Anthony
Wetherell (Year 10), Bernard Trafford (Headmaster)
Far Left: Jimmy’s Arctic Star Medal
6
Reminiscences of an Old Novo
I believe I was the first German boy who joined the RGS
after World War II in 1946, having arrived from Germany
in March of that year. By Peter Binder (46-49)
M
y father was half Jewish and had left
Germany in 1938. He was invited by
the UK Government to set up a
manufacture of steel radiators based on
his patents in Washington, Co. Durham.
Although mother and I prepared to join him, we were
stranded in Germany for the duration of the war.
It was not until the last year of the war that the Nazi
Youth hierarchy discovered that I was quarter Jewish
and disowned me as non-aryan, although I had been
confirmed in the Lutheran Church and mother was a
protestant vicar’s daughter.
In order to avoid unpleasantness mother took rapid action
by moving us to a farm in the Black Forest and not returning
to Wiesbaden until sometime before Generals Patton and
Omar Bradley had surrounded the area.
My school days were spent at the Humanistische
Gymnasium in Wiesbaden. My subjects included Greek,
Latin and English, which helped me to pass the strict
Right: School Prefects, 1949
Below: On East/West German border patrol, 1961
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Autumn 2014
interview with Dr ER Thomas. After Matriculation and
Higher School Certificate I left RGS in 1949. With my
father’s naturalization I became subject to the National
Service Act in December 1949.
Returning to Germany in 1950 as a subaltern in the Royal
Artillery may be of interest to other Old Novos of the Cold
War generation (see photograph below).
If you would like to read a fuller account of my
experiences, please visit the ONA website at
http://ona.rgs.newcastle.sch.uk/
Picture
Perfect
Will Nicholls (06-13) describes his
passion for photography and his trip
to Cambodia.
Above: Will’s award-winning photo earning him the title Young British
Wildlife Photographer, under 18 category winner: Red Squirrel, Kielder
Forest, Northumberland
Below: Immature Little Owl
W
hen I first joined the RGS in 2007, I had
just moved from Newcastle to the
Northumberland countryside. The move
into a more rural setting left me
surrounded by the natural world, making
a welcome change from the pub I used to live opposite. It is not
surprising then that I quickly developed an interest in wildlife,
and subsequently wildlife photography.
Having managed to buy myself a very basic camera, I began
to take photos of everything I could see around me. At the time
I thought my photos were fantastic, but in fact they were very
poor! Luckily, I didn’t think that at the time, and continued to
snap away whenever I could. Kielder Forest is not too far from
where I live, and I used to make regular trips to the hide there
to photograph the red squirrels. This endangered mammal is
extremely popular nowadays in the UK, and I was privileged
to be able to take photos of them regularly.
Once my photography had improved, I was encouraged to
enter the British Wildlife Photography Awards in 2009. This
was the first year the competition had run, and it is now an
extremely prestigious event in the wildlife photography
calendar. To my amazement, I was awarded the title of Young
British Wildlife Photographer of the Year! At the time, I wasn’t
keen on the image that won me the award, and it was my
parents that made sure I entered it.
With my confidence boosted, I knew that photography was
something I should definitely stick at. It is a great hobby, as it
gives you a perfect excuse to get outdoors and get fresh air.
Nowadays, my hobby has turned into a profession. I have been
involved in the business side of my photography for around six
years, but I would class myself as a professional for the last
three or four years.
8
I have known for a while that this is the field I wish to remain
in for the rest of my life. My ambitions are to become a natural
history documentary film-maker and presenter. Of course,
this is a very competitive field, but someone has to do it! I love
the natural world, and so I am studying Zoology at the
University of Exeter. Gaining a scientific background to back
up the observations I make in the field is ideal for getting into
the television industry.
This was amazing, as it was only one kilometre from camp.
I then told my guide that I wanted to track them down, despite
the dangers. He agreed, and we prepared to go tracking the
next day. We followed huge footprints through the mud for
over four kilometres, until suddenly there was a huge roar from
around 400 metres in front of us. Adrenaline began pumping,
as we knew we were close. These elephants can move very
fast, and the bamboo we have to spend time hacking through
with machetes is no difficulty for an elephant to trample through.
To further this ambition, I embarked on a solo expedition to
Cambodia at the end of 2013 whilst I was on my gap year.
Using connections I had made whilst networking, I managed
to gain access to protected scientific sites in the forest.
Cambodia has the seventh fastest rate of deforestation in the
world – a shocking statistic. My aim was to create a film
documenting the animals there and my efforts to see them.
We got closer, and suddenly could hear the footsteps
crashing through the undergrowth in front of us. We ran
silently, moving so the wind was in our favour. The guide
pointed to a tree and said “rot”, which means run in Khmer.
This was where we were to go if the elephants charged.
Soon enough, trees began to fall and I caught glimpses of
the huge backs of Asian Elephants moving through the trees.
I have never seen anything so amazing! After a little time, they
However, my plans were soon scuppered by the severity of
the situation the country’s wildlife faces. One location I visited suddenly charged, having smelt us. Thankfully, they were
running away instead of at us!
was a research post deep in the forest in north east
Cambodia. I was based there for two weeks, with the aim of
After this incredible experience, we returned to the salt lick
filming langurs and other primates. Unfortunately, all I could
a few days later to check the trail cameras once more.
hear for the entire duration was the sound of chainsaws.
I spotted tracks just 50 metres from our hammocks, showing
The charity that was supposed to be looking after the area
was employing someone who was cutting down the forest at that the herd had moved right through our camp in the
middle of the night without us knowing! The signs were
night himself, and they were turning a blind eye to the area.
looking promising for results on the cameras. To my joy, the
I pointed this out to the director, who had given me access,
cameras had picked up several shots of the elephant herd,
but they began to panic that I had a camera and could
including video footage of young elephants.
expose the situation. So, I was quickly forced to leave the
area and had to abandon that stretch of the expedition.
This expedition proved to me that exploration and natural
Why haven’t I done anything about this since? Well, if I were history film-making is definitely what I want to be involved in.
I love adventure and jungle environments; living amongst the
to somehow name and shame the organisation, they could
sound of cicadas makes me feel at home, however weird that
face being kicked out of the country altogether – or so they
may sound!
told me – which would be very bad for the wildlife. Whilst
they could be doing things a lot better it seems, no charity
at all would leave a huge part of the country unprotected.
Top: Film capture from a low resolution motion detector camera of young
Asian Elephants
So, I moved on to a new area: the bamboo forests in central
Cambodia. I accessed this area by motorbike, driving
through a foot of mud or more and taking almost five hours
to travel just 10 kilometres. Having never ridden a motorbike
before, I am very pleased that my mum was not there to see
it! Crashing the bike a few times thanks to fallen trees, rocks
and steep drops left me surprisingly un-battered.
This stage of the expedition consisted of myself and a forest
guide moving through the forest to try and film the incredibly
amazing, but dangerous, Asian Elephants. We soon came
across fresh droppings from an elephant, giving an
encouraging sign for the next week to come. We lived in the
forest, sleeping in hammocks between the trees and falling
asleep to the sound of elephants calling through the night
over many kilometres. I quickly picked up some of the Khmer
language (as my guide spoke very little English), and I could
converse about the distance to the elephants.
I set up motion-activated cameras at salt licks, where various
animals come to benefit from the minerals in the ground, and
after the first night they picked up the rear-end of an elephant!
9
Autumn 2014
Bottom: Film still of a Silvered Langur, photographed in Cambodia
A
HISTORY
OF THE
RGS
IN ITS
PEOPLE
by David Goldwater (51-62)
In recent issues, we have
concentrated on individuals who
have left their mark on the school
and much interest has been
stimulated as ONs have recalled
their own personal recollections
of notable staff and pupils.
So regular have been the messages to
Jane in the ON office and to myself,
we thought it might be interesting at
this point to recall some of this
feedback. It also serves the purpose
of connecting more ONs to the
readership at large, numbering a
surprising 5,500+. After all, what is
the purpose of the ONA Magazine,
if not to connect our membership
to our readers?
Sydney ‘Sammy’ Middlebrook (18-58), Senior History
Master and Second Master (from 1950)
David Selley (52-57), now living in Toronto
enjoyed recalling Thomas Tucker Anderson
(24-60), OW Mitchell (48-60) (see issue 86) and
‘Ma’ Steven (31-56) (issue 89). He remembers
OWM sweeping into the classroom clutching his
gown around him. David suggested an article
on ‘his hero and mentor’ Sydney ‘Sammy’
Middlebrook (18-58), Senior History Master
and Second Master (from 1950). Christopher
Dean (45-53) recommended a piece on his
father, George ‘Dixie’ Dean (24-67), who
succeeded ‘Sammy’ as Second Master in 1958.
May I appeal to as many readers as possible to
send in their recollections of these two fine men
who exemplified the best in RGS educational
standards (email ONA office: ona@rgs.
newcastle.sch.uk).
Colin Young (68-75) acknowledged the piece
on John Elders (57-82)(issue 87): Good to see
the old school doing so well. I particularly enjoyed
the piece about John Elders in the current edition.
Without doubt the most inspirational teacher
I had in my time at the RGS – a great leader who
always found time to encourage you to aspire to
a higher level than you believed you could achieve
and, who helped you get there.
Jim Reed (33-40), whose passing at 91 is sadly
noted in the last issue (issue 91), remembered
‘Ma’ Jean Steven (issue 89) as ‘a formidable
woman’. His son Bill, who would read the
magazine to him, recalled his Dad’s friendship
with Gordon Victor Smales (34-40), three of the
four Tulloh brothers, Frank (34-41), Clifford
(35-41) and Harold (35-41) and his time at
Penrith. Keith Phillips (53-62) remembered her
10
huge brass bell and described her as ‘a bit like
Peggy Mount with a hairnet’.
But the most surprising contact was with ‘a near,
but not quite’ Old Novo, Robin Ainsworth,
daughter of the inspirational Jack Wolstenholme
(48-75), (issue 88). Robin’s aunt and Jack’s
cousin was Clara Teunon (57-72), who took over
from ‘Ma’ Steven in the mid-’50s. She wrote that
she is in occasional touch with Brian Varley
(55-63), organist and chamber choir conductor
at St Andrew’s, Bishop Auckland.
Since the last issue, there has been an amazing
reaction from what turned out to be a very
popular piece on the late Michael Roberts
(25-31 and 34-41), the accuracy of which
was underwritten by his sons, particularly the
renowned Sir Adam Roberts, Emeritus
Professor of International Relations at Balliol
College, Oxford. He was born in Penrith in 1940
and lists mountaineering and cycling amongst
his interests, so though not an ON, there
certainly is a connection to the RGS of that time.
Brigadier Arthur Dowell (36-43), head of Eldon
and captain of cricket 1943 writes of Michael
Roberts: ‘in addition to taking chemistry lessons,
he spent the first term of our school certificate
year running an improvised Stock Exchange.
We bought and sold shares in fictitious
companies with names like ‘Aluminium Aircraft’,
‘Bread and Butter Ltd.’, ‘Everyday Appliances’ etc.
I don’t think anyone made a fortune, but it was fun
and his confidence in us was not misplaced: we
all achieved good passes after two terms
instruction, rather than three!’
Arthur also remembered Geoffrey Wheeler
(45-48), whose obituary appeared in the last
issue. ‘After leaving school in 1943, I spent most
of the year on a wartime short course at New
College, Oxford. There followed officer training
in India and commissioning into the Royal Signals
in July 1945. Then came the rather unexpected
end to the war after the dropping of the atomic
bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki…and there
followed two idyllic years in Ceylon and six
months in Burma…then, on my return to the UK
in early 1948, a staff posting as a staff officer in
Catterick, sharing an office with Geoff who was
doing his National Service in the RAEC.’ Through
his friendship with Geoff after the War at
Catterick and his introduction to the Catterick
Amateur Dramatic Society, Arthur met his future
wife of 56 years and he and Geoff remained good
friends throughout the years. Arthur also sent his
good wishes to his school friends John Sinson
(33-43) and Allan Wilson (36-43).
11
Autumn 2014
It was a great surprise to have heard through
LinkedIn from Simon Chester (57-67), a former
partner with a Law firm in Toronto, Canada, now
advising the Canadian Bar Association on
Conflicts of Interest. In his final year at school,
Simon was ‘Plender Librarian’ – one of the
discoveries [he] made in that period, in locked
cupboards under the main shelves, was Michael
Roberts’ collections of poetry and magazines
from the ’30s and ’40s’. He noted that reading the
small magazines and volumes gave him a
different view of the Spanish Civil War and the
advance to WWll.
Frank Simm (36-43) is one of those who
originally suggested a piece on Michael
Roberts. Frank described him as ‘inspirational…’
He also wrote of the mock Stock Exchange in
almost identical terms to his contemporary
Arthur Dowell. ‘Nuclear fission of heavy atoms
had recently been achieved and [Roberts]
explained how in accordance with Einstein’s
equation E=mc2, there was the potential for
a massive release of thermal energy and the
possibility of an atomic bomb. Few realized this
at the time.’ But the main ‘agitation’ for an article
on this unique teacher has come from Walter
Wood (37-44), who came in to school with his
son and grandson, Simon (72-77) and Edwin
(Year 13), reported on page 15 of this issue.
Please note the request for recollections of
Sydney ‘Sammy’ Middlebrook and George
‘Dixie’ Dean. By post, e-mail (see above) or
any other suitable method, noting the deadline
for the next issue!
George Dean (24-67), Science Master
and Second Master (from 1958)
Volunteering
in Cape Town
By Kirsten Clunies-Ross (07-09)
A
fter graduating from Edinburgh, I decided to
take a year out to travel and develop my skills
before starting my career. A couple of my
friends had previously taken part in the
International Citizen Service (ICS) in
Honduras and India and encouraged me to apply. After
a simple online questionnaire and selection day, I was
informed that I was successful and would be placed in
Cape Town, South Africa in April for 10 weeks.
ICS is a UK Government charity that works in partnership
with local charities internationally, promoting international
development, cross-cultural exchange and strengthening
global ties. There are a number of UK charities that work
under ICS and I was chosen by Skillshare International,
Coaching For Hope. This particular charity facilitates
international development by using sport as a tool to teach
children life skills and combat drug abuse, gangsterism and
various other ‘social evils’ prevalent within their communities.
12
Thirteen other UK volunteers, aged 18-23 joined me on the
project. Within the first few days of arrival, we were
separated into five different communities, each of us
volunteering for a different local charity focusing on either
sport, education or disability.
One other UK volunteer was placed with me in Mitchell’s
Plain. We lived with a local family, which helped us to
integrate into the community. During the apartheid, ‘whites,
coloureds and blacks’ were separated into different areas
and today, most of the poorer communities have remained
apart. It was almost unheard of for ‘whiteys’ to be in
Mitchell’s Plain and for this reason, we received a lot of local
attention. I frequently took a taxi bus, the cheapest form of
transport in Cape Town, a 12-seater minibus that packed up
to 25 passengers and certainly would not pass its M.O.T. in
England. When I asked the driver to drop me at Mitchell’s
Plain, the answer was always, “Are you sure my sister?”
The local charity I worked for placed us in different primary
schools during the day to teach P.E. and life orientation.
We also ran some after school sports clubs at the centre we
were based in. Although we were in a coloured Afrikaans
community, I worked in a black Xhosa school. These
children came from one of the poorest areas in Cape Town.
The school in their neighbourhood had flooded, so they
were being bussed to a school in my community everyday.
They lived in a ‘Human Settlement’; what we would call
shacks. Their houses were mostly one room, built out of tin
or wood, fed by an illegal electricity supply, without toilets or
running water. Most of the children’s school uniforms were
torn and dirty. It was rare for any of them to own trainers, so
when we took them for sport, they often went barefoot.
It was a huge struggle to teach the kids at first. The biggest
barrier was that they spoke Xhosa and little or no English.
This made giving instructions very difficult and I often had
to visually demonstrate what I wanted the kids to do. The
school was devastatingly poor, and as the South Africa
Government does not finance sport within schools, we had
very little equipment. In addition, the classes were
overcrowded with a typical class size consisting of around
45 children. When a teacher was absent, which was almost
every day, there were no substitute teachers to fill their place,
so the children were divided into the remaining classes
within their year. It was not uncommon, therefore, to have
over 60 kids per session. With so many children and armed
with only one flat ball, this was extremely daunting when
I first began. You learned to think very quickly on your feet
and use items around you such as empty chip packets,
bricks, or bottles and implement them into your session
as cones or posts.
In some of the classes there weren’t enough chairs so the
smaller children had to make do with sitting on large water
containers. I was shocked to see the little boys and even
girls go to the toilet by the side of the concrete sport area.
I was told that as they didn’t have toilets at home, some were
not familiar with using them. Despite the obvious poverty,
13
Autumn 2014
Above: Kirsten on Safari, walking with lions
Below: Kirsten enjoyed many braais during her 10 weeks
volunteering in Cape Town
there was a lot of happiness in the school. They were
always so excited to be taken out of class. Before our
charity had come to the school, they had never had sports
lessons as there was simply no money. It was an absolute
joy to see them really enjoying themselves and learning
new skills.
Aside from working Monday to Friday, we were able to relax
and socialise with our new local friends, explore Cape Town
and visit our other UK counterparts in their communities. In
my free time I hiked up Table Mountain, took a boat trip to
Robben Island to see Mandela’s cell, went on a safari where
I walked with lions and rode an ostrich, took a wine tour
along the Garden Route, visited the beaches and had many,
many braais (BBQs).
I was very reluctant to leave. I had made some very good
friends and felt welcomed by the community members
and their families, so much so that I intend to go back and
visit in early 2015. I would highly recommend this
experience to anyone looking to do some volunteering
work abroad. This particular programme is very affordable
as you have to raise £800-£1,500 and the charity pays for
your flights, accommodation, food and provides you with
a weekly stipend.
I learnt a great deal and enhanced many of my personal and
professional skills that I will be able to apply to my graduate
scheme with PwC starting later this year. In the meantime
I am off travelling in South East Asia and Australia with fellow
Old Novos.
ONs IN PRINT
Reality
Bites
Michael Young (65-72) faces up
to a life beyond dentistry and the
search to finding his ‘label’.
Michael with his award-winning book: Diagram Prize for the Oddest Title of
the Year 2010. Photo by kind permission of The Yorkshire Post
14
I
’d been taught how to do dentistry at dental school,
but I was not taught how to manage a dental
practice, which if you ever come to own a practice
is something you really need to know about. I
therefore taught myself how to manage my practice
and when I thought I knew enough wrote about it in dental
journals and magazines. Then, after 25 years of being a
dentist, misfortune struck: I was diagnosed with the early
signs of osteoarthritis in my hands and wrists, and was
losing the essential manual dexterity needed to carry out
clinical work. I sold the practice and after a period of not
quite knowing what to do with myself decided to write a
book about practice management.
All in all it took me about four years to put together a
manuscript I thought was ready to submit to a publisher.
The first (and the only) publisher to whom I submitted my
manuscript offered me a contract; six months later the book
was published; a year later it won the Diagram Prize for the
oddest title, which is Managing a Dental Practice: The
Genghis Khan Way. Now I didn’t even know there was
such a prize, but each year the winner receives a great deal
of international publicity, sales rise, and my book and me
suddenly became the equivalent of dentistry ‘A-listers’.
A James Robson (86-93) was in the audience at one of
the first talks I gave to a dental business club meeting in
Oxfordshire. Because of our common interest in dental
business I have also met with Alan Suggett (64-70),
a Newcastle-based chartered accountant and dental
business specialist.
Buoyed up by the success of the first book, I wrote a
second, entitled How to be an Effective Expert Witness,
which I self-published, mainly because I was impatient to
see it in print. The Academy of Experts reviewed the book
and said, “This work deserves to become the vade mecum
for the clinician acting as an expert witness.” With two books
in print I began to think of myself as an author, which was
important because when I’d had to give up dentistry one of
the things I’d struggled to come to terms with was the loss
of what I called my ‘label’.
A couple of years ago the publisher of Managing a Dental
Practice: The Genghis Khan Way asked me if I’d like to
write another book, a practical teaching resource to go
alongside ‘Genghis’. I wasn’t keen, but ended up writing
Developing Your Dental Team’s Management Skills: The
Genghis Khan Way with my wife, whose background was
much more in tune with the subject matter.
“When one door closes, another door
opens; but we so often look so long
and regretfully upon the closed door,
that we do not see the ones which open
for us.” (Alexander Graham Bell)
I was on the verge of putting my non-fiction writing to one side
and concentrating on writing fiction, which I’d always wanted
to do, when I was asked to contribute a chapter to a book
about how to enjoy Dentistry (aimed at dentists, not patients!)
One of my fellow contributors is the dentist Adam Glassford
(84-91). The profit from the sale of this book, Messages from
Dental Masters 2, goes to the charity Bridge2Aid, which
funds the training of local health workers in Tanzania and
Rwanda by British dental volunteers in basic dental skills.
Then, just when I thought I could finally focus on writing
fiction, a publisher asked if I’d be interested in writing a
second edition of my expert book. That was at the beginning
of the year, and after several months of frantic writing a new
edition is in the pipeline, re-titled The Effective and Efficient
Clinical Negligence Expert Witness. It should be out later
this year.
I have managed to write some fiction: a short play, a short
story, and one piece of flash fiction, all of which I’ve selfpublished. I have made a start on a novel and perhaps
sometime in the not-too-distant-future, when I can finally find
the time to finish it, it too might see the light of day. I count
myself very lucky to have been able to pursue a second
career as an author, something I never thought I would ever
do. Having started out as a writer of articles, and then having
moved on to being an author, I wonder if one day my label
will say ‘novelist’?
Details of all of my books, plus information about the
forthcoming expert witness book, can all be found on
my Amazon Author page at amazon.com/author/
youngmichael
15
Autumn 2014
David Goldwater (51-62) with the Wood family, Walter,
Simon and Edwin
RGS
in three
generations
It is a rare and momentous occasion to have three
generations of RGS students in the Main Hall, so
we were delighted to bring together Walter
Wood (37-44), his son Simon Wood (72-77)
and grandson Edwin Wood (Year 13) in a plan
hatched between Jane Medcalf (development
manager) and Simon, former governor and ONA
President. Walter was greatly influenced by
former teacher, Michael Roberts (25-31 and
34-41) and gave David Goldwater (51-62) the
inspiration to write about Michael Roberts (see
issue 91) in his long-running series, A History of
the RGS in Its People. It gave David the greatest
pleasure to meet Walter and to present the ONA
Magazine in which Michael Roberts was featured.
Walter remembers his first Chemistry lesson with
Michael Roberts: ‘He moved around the lab like
a man possessed, reaching for bottles, mixing as
if by accident and producing the most
spectacular colours, fizzes and bangs. We were
on the edge of our stools for the whole lesson’.
Obituaries
Kathy Stapylton (74-01)
Born 1924, died 20 June 2014, aged 89
labels but the preparation of nearly 3,000 envelopes was
entirely in Kathy’s hands. On ‘packing day’ her husband,
Gordon, used to come in to help Kathy and me pack
magazines, with inserts, into the relevant envelopes. Other
packers came in from time to time and it was always a relief
when the boxes were packed ready for the late Bill Innerd
(60-98), the caretaker, to take to the Post Office with a list
of ‘‘x’ for internal post, ‘y’ for overseas surface mail and ‘z’
for overseas air mail’. The number x+y+z always tallied with
the membership number because Kathy had organised it.
After a few years Kathy had developed the skill to write
letters in my style and frequently when I went up to the
ONA office I would find a note saying, ‘You had a letter
from ‘X’ so I have written your reply and it is waiting for your
signature’. Always it was what I would have worded with
my phraseology and was exactly what I would have said.
Kathy Stapylton (74-01)
When I became General Secretary of the ONA I knew
very little about what the job entailed and had to work
my way in, with the help of the late Don Shipley (52-83),
my predecessor. Soon after that Kathy Stapylton was
appointed ONA clerk to work in the office with me. Very
quickly I realised that her job title of ‘ONA clerk’ should
have been ‘PA to the General Secretary’ as Kathy threw
herself into the job with a meticulous head for detail, and
could produce facts and figures from her detailed card
index filing system.
This was, of course, long before computerisation had hit
the school offices and Kathy clung to her old mechanical
typewriter on which she produced immaculate letters and
documents for as long as possible. Eventually she
succumbed to an electric typewriter but was most
offended when it was suggested that she might appreciate
a correcting ribbon. “Why would I want one of those?”
she said. This was a very valid question as she simply did
not make typographical mistakes. For many years after we
both retired we exchanged letters at Christmas. Kathy’s
were still beautifully typed as she freely admitted that her
handwriting was abysmal, and even last December she
wrote (typed) to tell me that she would be 90 this year
and the family were planning a celebration but, alas, it was
not to be.
As Kathy and I worked together for the ONA we gradually
had the year’s timetable built into our minds. The major
operation of publishing Novocastrian News happened
twice a year. Geoff Swinden (69-98) provided the printed
16
Kathy would often speak of her large family and, although
I never met any of them, I learned quite a lot about them
over the years. Never, however, did she allow family matters
to interfere with her job in the office and when I retired
in 1994 I was totally confident that Kathy would support
my successors.
Quite simply, she was my rock and stay for nearly 10 years
and the ONA membership little realise how much she did
for them.
By John Douglas (56-94), Mathematics Master
Kathy Stapylton, with current Bursar, Richard Metcalfe on
Kathy’s retirement day, 2001
University Honours Old Novo
The Institute of Neuroscience at the University of Newcastle
has honoured the memory of the late John Walkinshaw
‘Sandy’ Osselton (36-46) who died in 2009 (see issue
76) by naming the main lecture at the North East Epilepsy
Research Network annual meeting the Osselton Lecture,
‘because of the significant role he played in establishing
EEG as an essential investigation in the management of
epilepsy nationally and internationally’. Also a prize for the
best poster presentation by a research student, the
Osselton Prize. Osselton lecturers have travelled from the
USA, Canada and Australia as well as the UK. The Institute
have also set up the Osselton Fund, a Newcastle University
charity account to support epilepsy research in Newcastle.
By J Christopher Emmerson (36-47)
Michael Ryle Memorial Lecture
It was originally intended to hold a Thanksgiving Service for
Michael Ryle (36-46) who died last December (see issue
91) in London following the one in Somerset shortly after his
death. However the Study of Parliament Group, which
Michael helped found, decided to establish a Memorial
Lecture in his name, and this first one became the London
celebration of his life.
The Inaugural lecture was given on 30 June 2014 by The Rt
Hon John Bercow MP, Speaker of the House of Commons
in the State Rooms, Speaker’s House, House of Commons.
This interesting and provocative lecture can be read at
www.parliament.uk. The Speaker’s House is an impressive
part of Westminster, tall ceilings with elaborate decoration
and the walls adorned with portraits of former speakers.
The room was full of Michael’s friends and family with a large
number there to pay tribute to this eminent Old Novo.
By J Christopher Emmerson (36-47)
17
Autumn 2014
James ‘Jim’ Geddes Sampson (37-43)
Born 13 September 1926, died 3 July 2014, aged 87
My father Jim Sampson (37-43) died in Southport,
Lancashire after a long period of ill health.
As an evacuee to Penrith, he maintained his links with the
school well into his 80s, and was a regular attendee at the
RGS reunions in Penrith.
After school, he studied engineering at King’s College,
Newcastle, played for Old Novos Rugby Club, and reached
the rank of Captain in the TA.
He spent most of his working life as an engineer in the steel
industry, retiring early to Cumbria where he enjoyed a long
retirement. He was very active in the local community in
Great Corby, near Carlisle, establishing a Cumbrian branch
of the ‘Friends of the Northern Sinfonia Orchestra’, raising
the profile of the Orchestra west of the Pennines. In addition
to his passion for music, he was a very active sailor until his
late 70s, being a member of Beadnell, Tynemouth and
Bassenthwaite Sailing Clubs.
He leaves a widow, son and daughter and five
grandchildren, and will be much missed by them all.
By Tony Sampson (63-73)
Philip Metcalf Bolam
L.V.O. (34-39) born 1923,
Duncan Dallas (55-60)
born 1940, died 11 April
died 12 April 2014, aged 91. 2014, aged 73. 1959-60
Head Prefect and captain of
R Alistair L Brewis (46-55) the 1st XV.
born 1937, died 25 July
2014, aged 76.
Donald Gascoigne (36-46)
born 1928, died 2 May
Ronald CM Cooper (38-41 2014, aged 85.
and 44-48) born 1931, died
2 August 2014, aged 83.
Michael Pool Hood
(52-62) born 1943, died
Donald Craig (44-51) born 6 April 2014, aged 70.
1934, died 6 September
2011, aged 77.
Geoffrey Simpson MBE
(49-57) born 1938, died
29 July 2014, aged 75.
ONA
Diary Dates
The ONA Annual Dinner
Friday 17 October 2014
RGS, Newcastle upon Tyne
Guest Speaker:
Tony Boullemier (57-64)
6.00pm AGM – Conference Room
6.15pm Drinks reception/presentation to retiring teachers –
School Hall
6.45pm WW1 Commemoration Concert Preview – School Hall
7.30pm Dinner and speeches – Dining Hall
Tony Boullemier trained at the
Newcastle Journal, worked in Fleet Street
for 12 years, launched and ran his own
newspaper group in the Midlands for
13 years and has written two books since
retiring. He is married with two children.
Price: £30/£25 (£25 if you are aged
25 or younger, or aged 80 and over). The
price includes the drinks reception, dinner,
and a choice of wine on the table.
The ONA is working with the school in its
programme to mark the centenary of the
1914-18 War. In advance of a concert which
is going to be held on 1 May 2015, the Music
Department will present a short preview of
the programme at 6.45pm in the School Hall.
Please try to arrive in time for this.
Dress Code: Formal (Optional Black Tie/
Evening Dress). There will be no fixed table
plan; however, it will be possible to reserve
seats. Tables will seat eight diners, and
parties of less than eight will share the table
with others to complete the octet. If you
would like to reserve seats please contact
the Development Office.
The deadline for bookings is
Wednesday 8 October 2014.
Please note that no tickets will be issued.
Once you have reserved and paid for your
place, we are unable to refund your money.
If you require confirmation of your booking,
please provide an email address.
Carol
Service
Tuesday 9 December 2014
St. George’s Church, Jesmond
Dear Old Novos,
On behalf of the Music Department,
I warmly invite you, your family and
friends to the RGS Senior School
Carol Service which is to be held at
St. George’s Church, Jesmond, on
Tuesday 9 December starting at
7.00pm. The service will last
approximately one hour and will be
followed by drinks and mince pies
in the hall next to the church.
The Service has a collection of well
known carols for the congregation
to sing, as well as special
Christmas choral pieces sung by
the Blue Blazer Choir, Senior Choir
and accompanied by the Brass
Quintet and String Orchestra.
I do hope that you will be able to
come along and join in what
promises to be a joyful celebration
of Christmas and an uplifting end
to the term. The service is free to
attend and seats will be allocated
on a first come, first serve basis.
Yours sincerely,
Zlatan Fazlić
Director of Music

ONA Magazine - Old Novocastrians` Association

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ONA Magazine - Issue 94 - Old Novocastrians` Association