2004 6/10/05 11:36 Page 1 Abingdon News Lent 2004 The Newsletter of Abingdon School No 3

A New Boat House ...

Matthew Pinsent, the gold medal winning Olympic oarsman, opened Abingdon School’s new boathouse on the 22nd October. It was nearly twelve months to the day since the Friends of the Boat Club decided to raise the money for a boathouse worthy of a school that in 2002 had won the Triple – the Schools’ Head on the Tideway, the National Schools’ Regatta at Nottingham and the Matthew Pinsent at the Princess Elizabeth Cup at opening of the boathouse Henley. It was a chilly autumn evening but this didn’t deter nearly four hundred people from crowding into the riverside site to hear Matthew Pinsent encourage the rowers and talk about the importance of good facilities for success. ... and a New Arts Centre

The Right Hon. Francis Maude (OA 1971), retiring Chairman of the Governors, opened the new Arts Centre on Open Day, the 11th October. A week later, with the paint scarcely dry and in some places not yet applied, the newly named Amey Theatre hosted its first event, a Gala Charity Concert in which musicians from the School joined those from the band of the Royal Logistic Corps. During the first week in December the theatre saw three performances on three consecutive nights of the senior play, The Nativity, followed on the fourth day by a matinee and evening performance of the Grand Opening Concert. Actors and audience alike appreciated the benefits of the extended stage, the new technical gallery, the enlarged foyer and the refurbished cloakrooms.

TASS News p.8 Josca’s News p.9 OA Club News p.11 Francis Maude and the Headmaster, New Arts Centre Mark Turner

1 2004 6/10/05 11:36 Page 2 7

e

u News s s I

| r e t t e l s w e N

Kids’ Lit Quiz n

r What is the name of Tintin’s dog? e

t Which country won the final of the World Quidditch Cup? s

a In which book do we read about the Muggle-Wump monkeys? E Be the team to get the most correct answers in ten rounds of ten questions like h t these and you too could win a place in the National Final of the Kids’ Lit Quiz. u

o This is what the team from Abingdon School did on 26 November when they S

- beat nineteen other teams to win the South of England regional heat. It is

h estimated that approximately eight hundred twelve-to-thirteen-year-olds, from s i schools across the country, took part in the competition, which was devised by W

Wayne Mills, a lecturer in education from New Zealand. Abingdon were one of A

ten teams to make it to the final, which was won by a team from Dunblane e

k High School. a M School Photograph

It is over thirty years since such a massive project was undertaken - a photograph of the whole school – and thirty years ago the school was smaller and didn’t include Josca’s. This time over a thousand boys had to be organised according to size and the colour of their jackets before filing onto the stands and keeping still long enough for the photograph to be taken. The whole operation was carried out with military precision and the resulting photograph is both attractive and a record of Abingdon School on the 8th September 2003.

English Heritage Open Day

The School played its part in English Heritage Open Day on 13 September; the Grundy Library was open to the public, as an example of the work of the Victorian architect Edgar Dolby, and the old schoolroom in the Guildhall was also open. Here Mr Pope and a small group of brave volunteers were one of the star attractions as they acted out life in a Victorian classroom where lessons were learnt by rote and the cane was an ever present threat. Legion XIIII

A gathering of Lower School pupils, together with some from local primary schools, experienced something of everyday life in Roman times when Legion XIIII came to the School in November. They learnt about fashions, food and hygiene from a freedwoman called Antonia and in the afternoon were taught about the military side of life: the strengths and weaknesses of chain mail and how to use an assortment of weapons including a sling and a javelin.

2 2004 6/10/05 11:36 Page 3

News

3rd Year Service Activities Remembrance Day The introduction of a service scheme for all 3rd Years has seen teams of boys tackling a variety of jobs. Many chose the conservation option and have been reclaiming flowerbeds at the Trinity Church in Conduit Road or collecting litter, planting trees and clearing pathways along the Ock Valley Nature Reserve. All boys will take a course in First Aid. Other options include Community Service, the Gardening at Trinity Methodist Church On Remembrance Sunday the CCF CCF, working in the school archives attended the service at Trinity or in the careers library. At work in the archives Church and joined the parade to the Abingdon War Memorial. On Remembrance Day itself a parade was held in front of Main School to Christmas observe the two minutes silence. Over forty cadets from both Army and RAF sections were present at the Tea Party parade, which was commanded by Major Carson. There were carols, quizzes and crackers at the Community Service Christmas tea party on 3rd December. The guests were members of “The Older and Bolder Club”, Nicholson House, Old Station House and Lady Eleanor Court and they were entertained with party games and songs by boys from all years.

Classics Trip To Turkey Kayaking In Vancouver During the autumn half term a party of thirty-three boys travelled to Turkey. The locations they visited ranged in time from Troy to the Gallipoli battlefields. They visited a number of spectacular Romano- Hellenistic sites in particular Ephesus, with Ephesus its theatre where St Paul spoke, Pamukkale, with its sprawling necropolis and hot

The theatre at Pergamum springs, and Pergamum, dominated by its temple to the Roman emperor Trajan. In Seals, bald eagles, black bears and Istanbul the group visited the Blue Mosque humpback whales were virtually and the Topkapi Palace and shopped in everyday sights for the party of seven the Grand Bazaar. They returned to boys who spent three weeks in School deeply impressed by what they Vancouver during the summer had seen. holidays. Starting the trip at Port Hardy, the boys paddled north towards Cape Scott, the most Crescent House northerly point on Vancouver Island. The journey of a hundred and Whilst the rest of us were on our summer holidays the twenty miles took eight days. After maintenance staff carried out a major refurbishment this the group went white-water of the accommodation at Crescent House. The work kayaking on the Chilliwack and included removing fifteen skips of old plaster and Thompson Rivers. The wide-open applying eight tonnes of new as well as rewiring and vistas, gigantic trees and abundant installing a new heating system. This meant that wildlife made a huge impression on when the housemaster, Mr Garnier, held a lunch party the group and some of them are on the 29th November to celebrate Crescent House’s already planning their return. 50th anniversary, the house was wearing its best face. www.abingdon.org.uk 3 2004 6/10/05 11:36 Page 4 4 0

0 Arts 2

7

e u s s I

The Nativity

| r e

t The senior production this term t

e was Tony Harrison’s ‘The Nativity’, l

s a modern re-working of the w

e popular medieval plays originally

N performed by the trades’ guilds.

n In a lively combination of poetry, r

e comedy, music and dancing ‘The t 1. In the beginning s Nativity’ covered the period from a …God created the E

the creation of the world to the world

h 2. Noah and his wife

t birth of Jesus Christ and was by ride out the rains u turns intensely moving and

o 3. Abraham prepares to

S hilariously funny.

sacrifice Isaac -

4. The adoration of the shepherds h s i W

A

e

k Inaugural Charity Concert a

M Gala Concert 6th December The First Orchestra, Brass Band, Chapel Choir, Chamber Orchestra and Big Band all played their part in the Gala Concert, which opened with a brass fanfare, in Gordon Jacob’s arrangement of the National Anthem, and concluded with Elgar’s Land of Hope and Glory. Other highlights included four movements from Vivaldi’s Gloria, Stevie Wonder’s ‘Superstition’, with vocals by On 17 October 2003, in a barely George Potter, and the first completed Amey Theatre, the band of movement of George Gershwin’s the Royal Logistic Corps, together with Piano Concerto in F, Paul musicians from the School, played a O’Donovan as soloist. George Potter selection of musical favourites in aid of Paul O’Donovan the Army Benevolent Fund and the Abingdon Arts Centre Appeal. Abingdon School Film Unit House Shout

Many years ago, during the 1950s and 60s, After an interval of five years the ‘House Abingdon School had a film unit. One of the Shout’ was restored to the musical schoolboy directors, Michael Grigsby, went calendar. Andrew Morris, Director of on to become a highly respected maker of Music at Bedford School, judged this documentaries. He has now returned to his singing competition, which is designed to old school to teach a group of pupils the involve the whole school in music making. theory and practice of film making. It is The results, in reverse order, were: equal hoped that some of the films the boys make fourth, Crescent and Townsend’s singing this year may be included in the ‘YMCA’ and ‘A Hard Day’s Night’; second Mr Taylor and Mr Grigsby retrospective of Grigsby’s work that is being was Elliott’s with ‘This Little Light of Mine’ interview a potential filmmaker held at the National Film Theatre in June. and the winners were Aitken’s who sang ‘Can you feel the Love Tonight?’.

Date For The Diary ... Bach’s B Minor Mass will be performed by the combined choirs of Abingdon and St Helen’s - parents, staff and pupils - on Saturday 6 March 2004 in the Amey Theatre. Aitken’s, winners of the House Shout 4 2004 6/10/05 11:36 Page 5

Sport

The Abingdon School Sailing Club The 1st XV

This season was memorable for the fact that the 1st XV beat both Radley and St Edward’s. In fact they Last summer holidays, Abingdon School sent a team to the 2003 Laser only lost two of their matches. Radial Youth and European World Championships at Lake Garda in Italy. Team coach, Stuart Hamilton, feels At half term a party from the School sailed the ex-French pilot cutter, the that much of their success can be Jolie Brise, in the North Sea. The Club sail up to five times a week on the attributed to their fitness and to the Farmoor reservoir tremendous team spirit, both of which were fostered during their Abingdon School versus - pre-season Italian tour at the end of Badminton Bloxham ...... won . . . . . 8-1, 9-0 the summer holidays. Oratory ...... lost ...... 2-6 Radley ...... won . . . . . 8-1, 9-0 Abingdon School versus - Stowe ...... lost ...... 4-5, 4-5, Radley ...... won . . 16 –15 Malvern ...... won . . . . . 8-0 Cheltenham ...... won . . . . . 5-3 Stowe ...... won . . 20 –5 Radley ...... won . . . . . 7-0, 9-0 Bloxham ...... won . . . . . 9-1, 9-1 St Pauls ...... lost . . 10 - 25 St Anne’s College . . . .won . . . . . 12-4 Bedford Modern . .won . . 30 –11 Stowe ...... won . . . . . 6-3, 6-3 Wellington ...... won . . . . . 13-2 Pangbourne . . . .won . . 32 – 10 Rugby ...... won . . . . . 8-1, 7-2 Warwick ...... lost . . 8 – 12 Cheltenahm ...... won . . . . . 10-6 MCS ...... won . . 17 –7 Abingdon School has a remarkable badminton record: since 1966 it has won St Edward’s . . . . .won . . 13 – 8 far more matches than it has lost. During these thirty-seven years the teams Bloxham ...... won . . 17 – 0 have been coached by Mr Taylor and Mr Macdonald. They attribute the teams’ success to: coaching in the early days by the Ladies World Champion, Cricket Tour of Judy Hashman, and the British Olympic player, Julie Bradbury; Eric Anderson’s decision in the early 1970s that there would be no such thing as Granada and Barbados a minor sport at Abingdon; the continuing influence of players such as 12-27 July 2003 Adrian Luto [OA 1975] who helped build the reputation of the school team; A squad of nineteen boys together a stream of good players from Malaysia and the habit of success itself. with Mr Spratling, and Mr Hibberd from Josca’s, played a total of seven matches against local school and district teams. In Granada they lost Lyn Evans speaking at the the first three games but managed Touchliners’ dinner Touchliners to snatch victory in the fourth. In Touchliners is the name of a new Barbados they won all three group formed by parents to matches with particularly impressive support rugby. It hopes to raise performances under extreme money to help with the purchase pressure in the final two games of of equipment for the sport. The the tour. group was launched at a tea party in September when over a hundred families signed up for membership. Many of these members attended the Touchliners’ Inaugural Dinner on 6 December, which came at the end of a remarkably successful season. Many Upper 6th players also attended, marking the end of their school rugby careers. The speaker at the dinner was Lyn Evans, former Oxford University Director of Rugby and now part-time coach for the RFU. He was able to describe being behind the posts when Jonny Wilkinson dropped THAT goal.

Full details of all results can be found on www.abingdon.org.uk www.abingdon.org.uk 5 2004 6/10/05 11:37 Page 6 4 0

0 From the Archives 2

7

e u s s I

| Headmasters of r e t t e l s w

e Abingdon School N

n r e

t The names of the medieval s

a headmasters have been gleaned from E an assortment of legal records and h

t accounts and nothing is known about u

o them except their names, other than S

John Clyffe who, on 2 February 1538, - was present at the Abbey on the day h s

i Henry VIII’s commissioners came to

W accept its surrender as part of the

A Dissolution of the Monasteries – Clyffe The signatures of the men who petitioned

e signed his name next to the Abbot’s on Oliver Cromwell for the removal of Anthony k Huish as headmaster of Abingdon School. a the surrender document. One of their complaints was that Huish was M It is only in the 17th Century that we “keeping up an old Sup[er]stitious Custome of morning prayer” and encouraging “a come to know more than just the prophane, sup[er]stitious and disaffected headmaster’s name. Degorie Weare, party in the said Towne” in other words that who resigned as headmaster in 1606, he was continuing to take services in the town according to the rites of the Anglican later became Oxford’s first Professor of Church. Among the signatories are the Modern History and in 1626 Principal mayor, Henry Langley, a noted Puritan who had once been a pupil of Huish’s, and of Gloucester Hall, later Worcester Thomas Trapham, Cromwell’s physician, College. who was given the job of sewing Charles I’s head back onto his body prior to its Thomas Godwyn (1608-1625), author embalming and burial. There is a There is a new board over the fireplace of a Roman History specially written for suggestion that the decision to refer the petition to a Committee of the Council is in the lobby of Big School containing use at Abingdon School, became the written in Cromwell’s own hand the names of all the known first Fellow of Pembroke College, which headmasters of Abingdon School. was founded for the education of six What do we know about these men? scholars and seven Fellows, preference The answer for approximately half of being given to those who had been Anthony Huish (1625-1654) was them is – very little. educated at Abingdon School. He headmaster during the Civil War. A retired from school-mastering to Royalist and an Anglican, in a All that can be said about Richard the become vicar of Brightwell-cum- predominantly Puritan and Pedagogue, c.1100, the first name on Sotwell. Parliamentarian town, he was removed the board, is that he is unlikely to have from office following a petition to been the first headmaster. The original Oliver Cromwell drawn up by the School would have been founded to mayor and corporation. The mayor educate the sons of officials at was one of Huish’s old pupils, Henry Abingdon Abbey, and the Abbey was Langley. first founded in the late 7th Century, so the School could possibly date from Thomas Woods (1716-1753) ran a then. AE Preston, an early 20th- fashionable and successful school century historian of the town, believed during the first half of the 18th the School dated from the re-founding Century, attracting pupils not only of the Abbey in the mid-10th Century. from the town but However, it is possible that Richard the also from a number Pedagogue was the first headmaster of noble families in and that the School was founded in neighbouring the 12th Century. This still makes counties. Woods Abingdon one of the oldest schools in gave the School a England. clock, which still keeps perfect time in the school The frontispiece of Thomas library. Godwyn’s ‘Romanae Historiae Anthologia ... For the use of Abingdon Schoole’ Thomas Woods’s Clock

6 2004 6/10/05 11:37 Page 7

From the Archives

Edgar Summers (1870-1883), the first headmaster in the new building, had the foresight to see the potential of the Lacies Court site, which, since the Governors were unable to do so, he bought himself. More than a decade later he sold it on to the School at a discounted price. Part of the science block, the geography and RS departments, Hamilton’s houseroom and the new Arts Centre and Amey Theatre have all been built in what were once the gardens of Lacies Court. Eric Anderson with Margaret Thatcher in 1973 Thomas Layng’s The painted Coat of Arms presented by (1893-1913) Henry Bright Whilst there was a Conservative headmastership government, during four out of the five coincided with years that Eric Anderson (1970-1975) the increased Henry Bright (1758-1774) oversaw the was headmaster, these plans were put intervention of School’s bi-centenary celebrations in Thomas Layng on hold. However, in 1976 the new the State in 1763 and presented it with a painted Labour government’s Education Act school affairs. In Coat of Arms combining John Roysse’s forced the Governors to choose 1913 Layng resigned over the financial arms with those of Bright’s wife. This whether to allow the School to be problems arising from the Board of too remains in the School’s possession taken over by the State or to become Education’s insistence that 25% of and records the first appearance of the independent. They chose places at the School should be free School’s motto ‘Misericordias Domini in independence. aeternum cantabo’ – I will eternally sing whilst at the same time refusing to the praises of the Lord. Bright cover the true corresponded with Samuel Johnson, cost of these who recommended at least one pupil places. to Abingdon School. William Grundy John Lemprière (1913-1947), (1792-1809) was headmaster a fine classical through the two scholar. His World Wars, Classical managed to get Michael St John Parker with Mrs Dictionary was the number of William Grundy Thatcher in 1996 first published in Free Places reduced to 12.5%. The 1944 1788 and went Michael St John Parker (1975-2001) Education Act, which set up Direct on to become an was therefore faced with the challenge Grant Schools, partly solved the indispensable of how to make the School attractive in problem of funding but now 50% of volume in every the highly competitive independent John Lemprière places had to be free. 19th-century schools’ market. Under his gentleman’s James Cobban (1947-1970), Grundy’s headmastership the School embarked library. Lemprière himself was removed successor, determinedly developed the on a twenty-five year building from office for neglecting his duties as reputation of the School, but his later programme resulting in the Jubilee schoolmaster. years were spent battling with the Wing, the Amey Hall, the Sports Hall, Labour Government over its plans to the Greening Wing, Mercers’ Court and William Alder Strange (1840-1868), abolish Direct Grant Schools in its drive the plans for the headmaster during the middle years of to make all schools Comprehensives. new Arts Centre. the 19th Century, carried the name of After more than his great-uncle, John 900 years the Alder, the ‘Fortunate story of Abingdon Cooper’, who won School continues £20,000 in a lottery under its 49th in1767. Strange, a “known” Sanskrit scholar, was headmaster, Mark the last headmaster Turner in the old school William buildings in the Alder Strange centre of Abingdon. James Cobban with Princess Margaret in 1963 www.abingdon.org.uk 7 2004 6/10/05 11:37 Page 8 4 0

0 The Abingdon School Society - TASS 2

7

e u s s I

| r e t t e l s w e N

Gravitass n r e

t The Abingdon School Society is the parent body that supports the School’s aim of educating boys in as full a sense as s

a possible. All parents are automatically members of TASS and the committee includes parents, staff and a governor. E

h t

u Tass Quiz Night Burns Night Supper

o Quizmaster Anne Diamond S

“We all really enjoyed the quiz night, January’s Burns Night Supper was sold - so would definitely come again.” “The out in early November. We expect to h s

i boys enjoyed it as much as we did. have some pictures in the next issue of

W We're happy to return for more Abingdon News.

A humiliation next year.”

e

k A large body of finely honed brains New Home for SUS a competed at the Tass Quiz Night for The Second Hand Uniform shop M the illustrious title of “Scholars’ Table”, opened the doors of its splendid new which was won by the borderless premises on Saturday 30th August. We “Anglo-Scots” who walked off with sets now have a permanent home in the of tomes as booty. former Tuck Shop behind Hamilton’s and have decided to experiment with ‘Food for Thought’ went to the opening more often: once a fortnight “Simply Red” team, a cabal of parents on Saturdays 12.30-1.30pm and once and boys who had clearly been a half term on Wednesday lunchtime. drinking too much Ribena. They were The new premises have been re-fitted richly rewarded by bottles of vintage and look very much like the School port, which may not have been Shop. There are bargains to be found entirely appropriate for the smaller in the old style uniform, which can members of the team. The “Country now only be sold for two more terms. Bumpkins” sauntered away as ‘Best Unclaimed lost property finds its way Dressed Table’ with copies of Vogue TASS Travel Awards to our rails, as well as outgrown sports and GQ to refine their dress sense. Jamie Brockbank received a TASS Travel kit and uniform. With more than a hundred and twenty Award in 2002. He spent part of his Come and see us! parents, boys and girls competing Gap Year in Africa and in a recent letter SUS Opening Times across eighteen tables the school he tells of his enjoyment at teaching at dining hall buzzed with energy. Above Samarga Primary School in Mshiri, a SATURDAYS 12.30-1.30 this throng, Anne Diamond quizzed village in Tanzania. The picture shows 10th, 31st January with vitality in spite of us mislaying the him with some of his pupils. The 7th February loudspeaker PA system. youngsters show a great determination 6th, 20th March to get the most out of their education Most tables bravely dressed up both WEDNESDAYS 1.00-2.00 as they aim to take a place in a themselves and the tables; themes secondary school. 14th January spanning the globe from “Ello Ello” to Jamie not only saw a lot of Tanzania, 17th March the “Desperados”, and the colours in including the summit of Mount the spectrum from “Men in Black” to Kilimanjaro and perfect beaches on “Simply Red”, together with the rather The new Second hand Zanzibar; he also travelled to Uganda Uniform Shop in Beech Court blue and posh “Glyndebourne” table. and South Africa.

Look us up under the Welcome tab The best dressed table Jamie Brockbank and on the Abingdon School web site The Country Bumpkins pupils in Tanzania www.abingdon.org.uk 8 2004 6/10/05 11:37 Page 9

Abingdon Junior School - Josca’s The Autumn Term at Josca’s

During the autumn term £4104 was raised for a number of charities by a Josca’s Rugby variety of means. The Pre-Prep. Josca’s rugby continues to reach Department’s ‘Toddle Waddle’ raised new heights with our 1st XV £956 for the Meningitis Trust. In performing admirably, often against November the whole School far larger schools. They ended the contributed to a cake sale for Children season with a run of five straight in Need which, together with a raffle, wins. Listed below are the results for brought the total raised to £252. A the Autumn Term. sale of poppies for Remembrance Day raised £54 for the British Legion. On Josca’s School versus - Swimmers at the Swimathon 8 November Josca’s raised £335 in a Cokethorpe (home) 36-7 Won ‘Swimathon’ for the Children’s Oratory School (away 14-21 Lost Josca’s Charities Hospital being built in Oxford. Magdalen (away 15-0 Won Josca's prides itself on being a caring, NSPCC: £1381 St.Hugh's (away) 5-21 Lost generous community; believing that Barnados: £1192 Abingdon (home) 5-17 Lost Oxford Children’s Hospital (swimathon): £335 Caldicott (away) 36-5 Won supporting charitable causes instils an Douglas House (to date): £185 awareness of the greater community Meningitis Trust: £956 Prior Park (away) 34-0 Won around us and helps stimulate ideas as British Legion Poppy Appeal: £54 Christchurch (home) 41-24 Won to how we can influence it positively. Pinewood (away) 19-15 Won St. Andrews (home) 12-0 Won

A Quartet of Productions The School’s vocal and musical talents are presented on a regular basis to parents and friends and last term saw the Pre-Prep Department perform ‘The Gigantic Star’; Years 3 and 4 ‘The Mystic Nativity,’ a combination of readings and songs whilst the Upper School production was ‘Ebenezer Scrooge’s Quiet Night In’. A group of boys participated in a combined schools’ Advent Carol Service at Radley.

Josca’s visit to Twickenham, by Tommy Siman

When we got to Twickenham we all needed atmosphere was amazing. The stands were the toilet because we had been on the bus for enormous and we were all really nervous but so long, and on the way to the toilets we all as soon as the games started we felt a lot saw Will Greenwood. Then Simon took us calmer. We could all hear the rest of the through the ticket check and led us to where Josca’s group shouting and cheering us. After the other schools where waiting to go into we had played we had a team photo on the the Stadium. Then the Supercamps man pitch and then we were led off through the came out and led us to the changing rooms tunnel. Then we were led to our seats to where we were sorted into teams. We were watch the Varsity Match and it was fantastic. put into the dark blue teams and the other Afterwards when it was five minutes from the teams were light blue. When we had put our end of the match we left. kit on we were led onto the pitch and the Overall it was a very good day!

www.joscas.org.uk 9 2004 6/10/05 11:37 Page 10 4 0

0 Out of the Past 2

7

e u s s I

| r e

t A School For Detectives? t e l Dr Watson and Lord Peter Wimsey went to Abingdon s

w School… in a manner of speaking! Basil Rathbone’s e Sherlock Holmes was partnered by Nigel Bruce’s Dr N Watson and Nigel Bruce came to Abingdon in 1908. n r There is no record of him having done any acting whilst e t

s he was at school but he played cricket for the First XI and a was described as, ‘undoubtedly the best batsman’ in the E

h team. t

u As for Lord Peter Wimsey, Dorothy L. Sayers apparently o S

modelled him on a man she met whilst at Oxford who - was called Eric Whelpton, and Eric Whelpton came to h s

i Abingdon in 1906. His father was the minister of Trinity Nigel Bruce as

W Methodist Church and they lived on the corner of Park

Eric Whelpton Dr Watson

A Road and Conduit Road.

Nigel Bruce whilst e at Abingdon k a M

18th-Century Headmaster’s Bench

An escaped helium balloon has led to the discovery of the original 18th-century headmaster’s bench, once part of the panelling in the old schoolroom. The balloon had floated onto a balcony, to which there has been no access for many years, where it kept activating the alarm. When one of the Guildhall staff got a ladder to retrieve the balloon she noticed the bench, but it wasn’t until she was looking at some 19th-centuy pictures of the schoolroom that she realised what she had found. The bench must have been removed when, sometime in the early 20th Century, the Borough Council adapted the panelling to create a cupboard for the Municipal silver.

The 18th-century bench temporarily replaced in its original position. George VI inspecting the local Home Guard

Thames At War: Secrets, Spies and Spitfires.

The next exhibition at the Abingdon Museum, 10 April to 10 October 2004, tells the story of the riverside communities mobilised to assist in the defence of the nation Sir Ralph and in war production. The man appointed by the Glyn Government to lead the Upper Thames Patrol, a special Home Guard force covering the area of the non-tidal Thames, was Sir Ralph Glyn, one of the governors of Abingdon School. Lacies Court during the 1940s, The School is tangentially connected with two Cold War before the spies; Klaus Fuchs lodged at Lacies Court before he was School took arrested for betraying Britain’s atomic secrets to the over the Russians, and Gil Pontecorvo was briefly a pupil at the occupancy School before his father, Bruno, defected to Russia. 10 2004 6/10/05 11:37 Page 11

Old Abingdonian Club News

Happy New Year from the OA Club Committee OAs attending the 6th City Lunch on 21st November at Balls Brothers were: Hans Allnutt (1998), Tom Burton (1997), Charles Cook (1966), Edward Cooper (1995), Tony Edwards (1989), Lt Col David Emmett (1956), Paul Harrison (1995), Martin Haycock (1991), Chris McGarry (1996), Andrew McMillan (1971), Michael Neilan left to right: Terence Libby, Noel OA Hockey: Sunday 21st March – (1960), Anthony Pavlovich (1995), Crosse, John Bunce, Paul Thompson, 10.30 Brunch in School Dining Hall; Peter Rutland (1996) and Jack Wearne Hugh Randolph, John Rayson, Mark 1.30 pm fixture at Tilsley Park. (1998). Let us know if you wish to be Turner, Richard Coleman, Rory Jackson, Interested OAs please contact added to the distribution list to receive Will Allan, Tom Ayling, Tim King, Peter [email protected] information about the next Lunch Rutland and Simon Hills or Club office. planned for May. At the AGM held on OA Day (11 Oct) Paul Thompson (1974) succeeded Major General Walter Courage (1958) as President. The President Elect for 2004-5 is John Bunce (1962). Other Abingdonian members of the 60’s Dinner: David Goodwin (1961) Committee are Will Allan (2003), OA DAY 2003: A most enjoyable match organised the 60s Club Annual Dinner Sebastian Allen (2001) Noel Crosse on Waste Court Field, admirably at the Manor House Hotel in Guildford (1972), Simon Evans (2002), Tom refereed by Cmdr Martyn Holloway on 7th November 2003. Next year’s Hester (1999), Simon Hills (1975; (1966), saw the Old Abingdonian event will be organised by Roger Chair), Tim King (1964), Terence Libby Rugby Football Club’s 2nd XV defeat Havelock (1961) towards the end of (1961), Adrian Mutton (1992), John Abingdon Town’s 2nd XV 74-21. K J W 2004 with details in the next issue. Rayson (1942), Peter Rutland (1996) & Sykes (1972!) was among those Contact the Club office for more James Weeks (1998). Paul Thompson, playing for the Town. (Both Clubs’ 1st details. also Treasurer, reported the Club’s XVs had league matches that balance of £43,590 at the end of afternoon.) An excellent lunch in the ASBC Dinner: To celebrate the recent August. Dining Hall successes of the ASBC, and the followed. building of the new Boathouse, a President’s Dinner 2004: The next reunion dinner is being planned for Dinner takes place on Saturday 29 After the former members of the Club. A May. The President would like to build Committee’s provisional date, Saturday 22nd May on last year’s success and is September 2004 has been set aside. During the encouraging OAs to get together and meeting, a afternoon, the Boathouse will be open book tables (between 6 & 12). Partners splendid buffet for viewing and the School crews may are welcome. Tickets are £24.00 per lunch took place be seen training for the National person and include wine. in Lacies Court to mark the 50 years Schools Regatta which will take place Accommodation will be available in service of John Rayson (1942) (left) at Nottingham the following weekend. School House. The Club Office will who was first elected to the Committee It would be helpful if those interested help you contact your contemporaries. in June, 1953. Simon Hills (1975) in attending could contact the OA Booking forms can be obtained from (right), Chairman of the OA Club Club Office so that detailed planning the Website or contact the office and Committee, was among the guests can go ahead. we will send you one. who came to celebrate. John has also been a Governor of the School as well Professional Development Awards: Lost OAs: We should be grateful for as President and Chairman of the Club. These awards are given out annually help in tracing those whose mail has and are designed to further an been returned to us: T M Bishop During 2003, honorary life individual’s development at any stage (1988); A D Clarke (1977); T D membership of the Club was conferred of his career. (A reminder that gap year Darbyshire (1991); M P Elliott (1985); upon the following former members of projects are not supported.) For more M A Pitt (1991); C C Shuttleworth Common Room: Dr KD Bingham; JDE details, visit the Club’s website or (1983). Drummond-Hay; The Revd TP Lewis; contact the Office. The deadline for The Revd CM Manship; PE Richardson; We are sad to announce the deaths of applications is 31st March 2004. Dr GC Rolfe. Honorary Member RH H Bosley (1932) and B L O Walker Coleman (1946-1973) celebrated his (1954). 95th birthday on 25th October.

If you have any news, or would simply like to make contact, the OA Office details are: Marilena Kaye, Administrator The Old Abingdonian Club, Abingdon School, Abingdon, OX14 1DE Tel: +44 (0)1235 529517 Email: [email protected]

www.abingdon.org.uk 11 2004 6/10/0511:37Page12

12 Make A Wish - South Eastern Newsletter | Issue 7 2004 David Tanner OBE Headmasters fromAbingdonSchool Peter’s School,York. A St. Edward’s OxfordinSeptember2004,taughtEnglishat Sedburgh in1985andheadmasterofStrathallan1993. a Bank ofEnglandbeforetakinguphisfirstteachingappointment College in2000.HereadPPEatOxfordandworkedforthe television asawriteranddirector Another ‘unseen’OAisJeremyLovering(OA1983)who involved in asaddinganextra dimensiontothebook. ‘A MonthintheCountry’ showing “uncommonintelligence,sensitivityandtechnique” andofJLCarr’s CD. Hisreadingof‘TheDreamScipio’byIainPearswas describedas Nick Rawlinsonismakinghisnameasareaderofnovelsfor audiotapeand Leigh Huntandas‘Hives’,acharacterin‘TheRapidEyeMovement’. Lecture’; ‘Love2’,anIainCurteis’s playwithBernardHeptonandBarbara Evelyn Waugh celebrations;aMaigretseries;‘TheMarkSteel Centenary Martin HyderhasfeaturedonRadio4in‘BridesheadRevisited’, partofthe increasingly becomingknownfortheirvoices.Inthelast twelve months on ourscreens,MartinHyder(OA1980)andNickRawlinson1982),are Unlike someoftheirfellowOAthespians,whosefacesarebecomingfamiliar 1983 hewroteaguidetotheircultivation. countr of AgricultureandFisheries.Hisearlydaysinthe New Zealandin1965andworkedfortheMinistry totheindustry.for hisservices Heemigratedto Cup bytheNewZealandFruitGrowers’Federation Pat Sale(OA1953)hasbeenawardedtheBledisloe mistaken identity. any furtherchancesof sent aphotographtoeliminate accepted ourapologiesand in thelastedition.Davidhas David Taylor asweannounced Queen’s BirthdayHonoursnot torowinginthe services who wasawardedanOBEfor It wasDavidTanner (OA1966) A Angus McPhail broadcast onBBC2lastyear Old Abingdonians Edited bySarahW Abingdon Newsisthenewsletterof School,ParkRoadAbingdon,OxfordOX141DETel: 01235521563www.abingdon.org.uk Kiwi OA Heard butnotSeen t Glenalmondin1982.HebecameHeadofEconomicsat bingdon between1984and1990.HeiscurrentlyheadofSt. ndrew Trotman y coincidedwiththekiwifruitboomandin earne T H Stewart Church ofEnglandHighSchoolinLeedssince1999. Martin Spoor Grammar SchoolinBingley1996. b PGCE inCambridge.HeoriginallytaughttheBristolarea (OA 1974)wasappointedWarden ofRadley efore movingnorthtobecomeDeputyHeadofBeckfoot e readEnglishatOxford,wherehegotaFirst,andtookhis , whotakesuphisappointmentasWarden of l 13 311 mi:aigo.esaigo.r.kDesignbyDeepfusionwww.deepfusion.co.uk Tel. 01865407610 el: 01235537151Email:[email protected] . (OA 1977)hasbeenheadteacherofAgnes . Hisdramadocumentar since 1992. British Olympicrowingteam He hasbeenmanagerofthe Rowing Associationin1996. Director attheAmateur Manager andPerformance appointment asInternational comprehensive, tookuphis teacher ofaLondon David, whowashead Cup Bledisloe with the Pat Sale y ‘KillingHitler’was his relevantproductionpapers. currently collatingandpreserving The BritishFilmInstitute’s Archive is T he madewhilstatAbingdon,‘No will includeanextractfromthefilm hoped thatoneofthescreenings been influencedbyhim.Itis films thathaveinfluencedhimor some ofGrigsby’s bestfilmswith The retrospectivewilljuxtapose Remembered’, ChannelFour1998. 2001 and‘Lockerbie–aNight screenedonBBC1in Harvester’, programmes; inparticular‘Solway success ofmanyhis his work,havecontributedtothe sense ofstillnessthatcharacterises These qualities,togetherwiththe participants speakforthemselves. and hiscommitmenttoletting workingpeople lives ofordinary unpatronising concernwiththe makerliesinhis documentary Michael’s strengthasa Television andtheBBC.Partof documentaries madeforGranada many admiredandinfluential made whilstatschoolthroughto amateur filmsheandfellowpupils Michael’s careerstretchesfromthe Michael Grigsby(OA1953). retrospective ofthecareer Theatre willbescreeninga In June2004theNationalFilm Michael Grigsby Retrospective For Theatre National Film umbled House’. Michael Grigsby