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10494 without torn edges:4604 os record new file 18/1/10 09:56 Page 42 MMIX THE OLD SHIRBURNIAN OFFICE OS RECORD SHERBORNE SCHOOL SHERBORNE DORSET DT9 3AP T: 01935 810557 or 810558 F: 01935 810551 113th ANNUAL RECORD E: [email protected] www.oldshirburnian.org.uk Project4:Layout 1 18/1/10 10:21 Page 1 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT cannot believe my time as your morning sheltering in the German President is coming to a close. Can it underground hospital, now a fascinating Ireally be three years since Richard and chilling reminder of the Occupation. Morgan, a retired headmaster of such Actually it reminded me of the San in the distinction and a Governor of Sherborne, 50’s but I had better leave it there! took a stab in the dark and invited a life- long member of the ‘Sam Hey’ club to So now it is all coming to an end, but only succeed him!? How unsure I felt before for me. The OSS I know will continue to accepting. Was it really my sort of thing? thrive and go from strength to strength. Representing the Old Boys of a school Who better to follow me as your like Sherborne rather marks one out as a President than Stanley Johnson? What a member of the establishment and yet plum we have managed to pull out of the actors and entertainers, by their very pie! No more 4e jokes from now on. nature, sometimes rebellious and Scholar, Head of School, winner of questioning, would seem unlikely casting numerous academic prizes, even in the somehow. But all my working life I have XV for two years, Stanley continues to OS RECORD been ready to have a go: indeed when I enjoy a distinctive career. Now he is left RADA in 1962, little did I expect to gearing himself up ready to take over follow such a diverse career path. Just as from me and represent you all as we say farmers, real and fictitious, are required farewell to Simon and, from next to diversify these days, so have I in my September, welcome the new MMIX time as an actor. RADA did not prepare Headmaster, Christopher Davis. I am me for presenting games shows, reading overjoyed that Stanley has agreed to take the news and appearing in panel games, over the reins. I know that, with your but I have already said I was willing to support and backing, like me he will CONTENTS have a go – which brings me back to the enjoy himself a great deal more than he point. probably imagines. President 1 Chairman 2 I said “yes” to Richard Morgan and how So, to all of you, young and old, thank Secretary 2 glad I am that I did. Beautiful as the you for having me, for making me (and buildings of Sherborne are, for me it is Judy) welcome on every occasion and for Headmaster 3 people that make the world go round and was working with Simon Eliot, the laughing at my jokes. It has been The School Year in Retrospect 4 it has been my pleasure and privilege to Headmaster. I have always been rather wonderful. Do keep in touch. Oh, and meet so many OS and their families at the ‘left field’ and did not have a clue how we finally, just to make my time as your Foundation 17 numerous functions I have attended. would get on: not all headmasters make President complete, we did win back the Articles 18 These functions require tact, skill and the easiest of company but I need not Ashes. See you all next year on the Events 24 persistence to arrange: there cannot be a have worried. Judy and I feel we have Upper. finer example of a people-person than formed a close and trusting relationship OS Publications 26 the OSS Secretary. John Harden has with him and his wife, Olivia. At all times, Now I must go back to Ambridge and run Pilgrims and OS Sport 28 guided, organised and arranged my many they have made us welcome and, as with my farm! G Engagements, Marriages and Deaths 31 and varied commitments with such care John, we have become good friends. CHARLES COLLINGWOOD (h 60) and, to my delight, we have become firm Knowing Simon’s love of all things Obituaries 32 friends. Janey Goddard makes her theatrical, Simon and Olivia you are both Old Shirburnian News 34 pairing with John something special. A stars. role like hers is so often filled by the humourless spinster type but in Janey we The various functions I have attended in have real glamour to match her skills. 2009 will be covered elsewhere but I must What fun and laughter we three have just say how thrilled I was at the success enjoyed. Thank you both from the of our trip to Jersey in May. I am told bottom of my heart. that, until a year or two back, numbers attending the OS function were few Heartfelt thanks also to Hugh Archer, OSS indeed. Not this year. The Longueville Chairman. He is an old friend of course Manor Hotel thronged with OS, past, and those of you that know Hugh realise present and future parents, eager to hear that he does not go backwards and is news of Sherborne. Again, well done always there to help the Society move John. Pity you could not have done forward in any way he can. something about the weather: in pouring To be honest, what I really dreaded most rain, Judy and I spent our one free Editors: Janey Goddard and John Harden Photographs: Jay Armstrong Photography, Janey Goddard, Chris Hamon, John Harden and David Ridgway Cover photograph of the Headmaster by David Ridgway 10494 without torn edges:4604 os record new file 18/1/10 09:56 Page 2 SECRETARY’S LETTER he past year has been a busy and The Society is to undergo further change n some ways, the need for Independent happy one in the OSS Office. All in 2010. Come May, Charles Collingwood Schools like Sherborne to justify their TOSS events held in 2009 proved will have completed his three-year term as Iexistence and especially their status as popular and I particularly liked the OSS President. Many of you will have met charities, is welcome. I do believe that, to a contrast between the various gatherings; Charles during his Presidency and joined lesser or greater extent, Sherborne has a bustling marquee on The Upper on OS in the fun and laughter that his presence been fulfilling its charitable objectives for Day, the Genaro Room in the Groucho has invariably guaranteed. Probably not hundreds of years and as the first decade Club packed with OS Media, 100 Old so obvious are Charles’ shrewd of the twenty-first century comes to an Westcottians celebrating their House observations, often made over the end, it seems appropriate that we are bond at the School and past parents telephone on a wet Wednesday morning, being encouraged to analyse and to define meeting up for lunch before giving the 1st about the Society and the School, which the extent of our provision of public XV their support as in days of yore. All have proved so invaluable to me over the benefit. totally different events but bound last three years. I cannot thank Charles together by the same underlying and, equally, his wife Judy, enough for all We are immensely proud of the School’s FROM connection with the School. their help, support and enduring place within the local, national and, THE HEADMASTER friendship. indeed, international communities. Each And if the School was not in good heart, I year we publish a list of all that we do in do not believe that these events could be In case this letter is taking on the form of this regard and I recommend that you go Governors will continue to look for means education is that private schools are the nearly as happy and vibrant. Fortunately an endless lament for those heading for to our website to see the detail of what is of enhancing Sherborne’s income and the best guarantee of independent education’ our School is in excellent heart and for the exit, nothing could be further from the done and how this forms a part of a extraordinary success of the International and ‘their ability to act independently’. In this the Old Shirburnian Society is truth. In the tradition of the Society, Sherborne education. College over the past 30 years and an era of increasingly unwelcome CHAIRMAN’S indebted to Simon Eliot for his leadership Charles Collingwood has chosen his own especially recently, is a shining example of interference in education from central of Sherborne over the last ten years. On successor as President of the OSS who is You will probably be aware that we are the far-sighted strategy to which we can all government, it is this particular quality of REPORT behalf of all members of the Society, it is to be none other than Stanley Johnson seeking to take all of this further in several contribute. The latest initiative is the independence which needs to be our pleasure to thank him and Olivia for (g 58). Charles, in an unusually self- different ways. In particular, we want to setting up of a new School in Qatar in defended. We have no need to be he OS Society has not been immune all their endless support. There are cases effacing moment, did admit that he and admit a greater number of talented boys September 2009 which will be expanding concerned about justifying our existence.