Aldenhamiana
No 35 November 2007
Published by THE OLD ALDENHAMIAN SOCIETY Aldenham School, Elstree, Hertfordshire WD6 3AJ, England e-mail: [email protected] www.oldaldenhamian.org
1 THE PRESIDENT'S LETTER Development and OA Office who keep the day-to-day business of the Society under control. As ever, I am I am delighted to report that a number of events since the grateful to Trevor Barton (K71-75), who continues to Spring edition have shown the continuing commitment of mastermind the production of an ever improving OAs to both the Society and the School. The ongoing series Aldenhamiana. My gratitude also extends to the of well attended OA regional lunches demonstrates a clear Headmaster, James Fowler, together with his academic wish by OAs to maintain and strengthen relationships. For and support teams, without whose good-humoured coop- example, the Cambridge lunch in May attracted some 20 eration and encouragement the Committee's work would be OAs and their partners. The next regional lunch is planned extremely difficult, if not impossible. for November and will take place in Chester. As before, the "Aldenham.Net" initiative continues, with the next event Mike Taylor also planned for November, in London. And I must also mention that the OA Football Club will be playing the School in December. Please contact Molly Barton or Jackie HEADMASTER'S LETTER Wilkie at the OA Office for further details and the dates for these events, although these are always posted on the OA Dear OAs, website just as soon as possible. As I completed my first year at Aldenham in the summer I was able to look back on a most enjoyable first year and I am glad to say that the Society continues in a healthy hopefully, look ahead to many similar years in the future. financial state, with your Committee regularly monitoring its What marked out this first year for Charlotte and me was activities in order to bring about improvements where the essential openness and friendliness of the Aldenham necessary. Our membership level remains strong, although community, whether people were at the School in the 40s, changes at the School over recent years mean that the 50s, 60s, or indeed at any point up to the present day. Committee has been reviewing the OA Society's membership policy in order to ensure the optimum take-up I tried to take many opportunities to have contact with OAs of those leaving the School, some of whom may only have during the course of the year and was able to attend been pupils for a comparatively short period and live lunches at Sevenoaks and Chepstow, as well as being part abroad. This was mentioned at the Society's Annual of the splendid Cambridge evensong and dinner, and a General Meeting in March and is being taken forward, rather damp OA Day at the school. I firmly believe that together with a study of the Society's Constitution, by the contacts made at these events allow us to enable former Committee. There will be more about this aspect in the next pupils to see the School as it now is and make an edition of Aldenhamiana. interesting, and often favourable, comparison with their own day. As ever, the major event for 2007 has been OA Day on 24th June, which included a Gaudy lunch for those who left the Of course things are different now: yes we have more School in the 1990s. The 2007 Gaudy was supported by pupils than in the past - 520 in the senior school at the some 40 OAs and their partners, for which much credit beginning of this term, including over 100 girls, but we have must go to the Development Office team. The day began also seen a considerable increase in the boarding numbers with a most enjoyable Chapel Service, a Reception in the over the last year, and our skill of converting boys, girls and Library (sadly, the rain had by then set in!), at which the their families to the boarding experience is a vital part of our Headmaster, James Fowler, and your President welcomed success. We do no longer have Saturday morning lessons, those present. This was followed by an excellent lunch in but instead we run an extremely popular programme of the Dining Hall. As in previous years, OAs later had access sports fixtures as well as other activities in that time. If you to most of the old and new parts of the School, and it was had visited the school on the Saturday before half term, you good to hear many of those present saying how much they would have found 10 soccer fixtures in progress as well as had enjoyed the day. a netball fixture, rehearsals for the House music competition, English language classes for our overseas The most recent event has been the OA Dinner held at the boarders, and a programme to help disadvantaged Royal Air Force Club, Piccadilly, on Friday 14th September, youngsters from a local primary school run by our sixth with some 60 OAs, their wives, partners and guests formers as part of their service to the community. attending. It was, as always, a most enjoyable evening with a superb meal and an entertaining and informative speech These all enhance the experience that pupils have at the from the principal guest this year, James Fowler, School, and this comes on top of increased academic accompanied by Charlotte. We were again privileged to success for many of them. Two pupils gained places at have several other guests, including Stuart and Bridget Cambridge last year and others went to major universities Lewis, Stuart as Chairman of the Governing Body with a across the country. distinguished career in the City; James Boothby (School Captain), together with Jessica Cox and Ben Julius (both Some things however do not change and amongst these is Deputy School Captains). As ever, I am most grateful to Ian an absolute commitment to drama in the School. I have Luetchford (B48-51) for his smooth organisation of the been thrilled to have been in contact with a significant evening. number of OAs as we have been undertaking the building of our new theatre. I have written to each of you already Finally, my grateful thanks must go to all members of the about this project and sought your help, but I can assure Society's Committee for their invaluable support and, in you that the new theatre is a really worthy home for our particular, to Molly Barton and Jackie Wilkie of the drama department and I hope that you have a chance to
2 see it for yourself. at the prospect of Aldenham soon having a really modern theatre facility, as the Headmaster mentions in his letter. I As always I would pay tribute to the excellent work of Molly would strongly encourage you to visit and be inspired! Barton and Jackie Wilkie, not only in keeping OAs in touch with the development of the theatre, but in so many regular Those of you who have followed the progress of the contacts which I know you find helpful. If you do find that Aldenhamiana Prize Quiz will be invigorated to learn that you can pay us a visit, then a call to Molly or Jackie is two entries have now been received. Thus, all the elements always able to provide you with a warm reception on your of fair competition have been restored and we even have arrival. winners! In a cunning ploy to encourage you to read the whole of Aldenhamiana, I shall merely say that their names I look forward to seeing you. (and their submissions) appear later …..
James Fowler Aside from the above, as always we feature a rich diversity of memories, photos and news. Molly and I, your collation, editorial and production team, seem to have an increasing EDITOR'S NOTES number of other things on our plates these days, so (as approved by the OA Society Committee) Aldenhamiana will Rather a theatrical feel to this edition of Aldenhamiana, with move to being published once a year, in or about our splendid front and back covers featuring a School pro- October/November, from this edition onwards. As with all duction in 1959 - have a look at the names of those who breaks from tradition, no doubt that will cause some acted, produced, designed and worked behind the scenes. disappointment. We are confident however that the annual Your Editor's theatrical career at Aldenham was limited to edition will be stimulating, entertaining and generally full of an unintentionally amusing appearance (in tights) in an good stuff. That is of course providing you keep your letters unintentionally hysterical last act of Cyrano de Bergerac coming - so please do! (Kennedy's House Play), a remarkable tour de farce which forever (unintentionally) redefined drama. Notwithstanding I hope you enjoy this Aldenhamiana. such events, Aldenham has a rich tradition of theatre and I am sure there will be many OAs who share my excitement Trevor Barton
New School Website
Have you seen the new School Website www.aldenham.com? There is a section for Old Aldenhamians with an events calendar, reports of OA events, links to the OA website and lots and lots of pictures of your old School.
OA DAY - 24th JUNE 2007
Unfortunately the wet summer weather kept a lot of OAs away on OA Day, especially as the Gaudy this year was for OAs from the 1990s and a number were coming with small children. Those who made the trip enjoyed visiting their old House, Chapel, a drinks reception in the Library and lunch in the Dining Hall. A number of staff also returned to see their former pupils and, in spite of the damp weather and rather low numbers, everyone had an enjoyable day. As usual OA Day was not just for OAs attending the Gaudy, everyone is welcome, and we were pleased that OAs of many vintages attended.
OAs and Members of the Common Room attending the Gaudy Reunion
Matthew Allen (M1986-1991) John McAllister (CR1967-2005) Geoffrey Barker (CR1965-1999) James Rolfe (L1989-1994) Russ Barker (P1986-1991) Indra Sikdar (S1985-1990) Howard Dymock (CR1989-2002) Miranda Stewart (P1988-1990) Don Hart (CR1988-1991) Kimberley Stewart-Mole (K1995-1997) Justine Kwaan (P1988-1990) Vanessa Taylor (K1994-1996) David Lees (R1990-1995) 3 Aldenhamian Society
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
6.00 pm on Wednesday 12th March 2008 in the Whitbread Room at the School
AGENDA
1. Apologies 2. Minutes of the 2007 AGM 3. Matters Arising 4. Election of Officers (Hon Treasurer & Hon Secretary) 5. Election of Committee Members (Re-election of Mark Jordan) 6. President's Report 7. Headmaster's Report 8. Honorary Treasurer's Report 9. Constitutional Change - Introduction 10. Web Site Report 11. Aldenhamiana 12. Aldenham School War Memorial Educational Fund 13. OA Day 2007 & 2008 14. Annual Dinner 2007 & 2008 15. Election of Honorary Members 16. Approval of a Donation to the Aldenham Theatre Project 17. Any Other Business 18. Next Meeting
Followed by a Buffet Supper for OAs and their guests, for which there will be no charge, at 7. 30 pm.
If you are unable to attend the meeting you are welcome to attend the Supper only
Please park in the School Yard.
------
If you plan to attend the meeting and / or the supper please complete and return this form to the OA Office, Aldenham School, Elstree, Herts WD6 3AJ UK or email [email protected]
Name, house and dates at Aldenham:
Address:
Post Code
Telephone No: e-mail address:
I shall attend the AGM / Supper / both, and will bring guests to the supper.
(Please indicate if you have any special dietary requirements)
4 OA Bow Tie DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Thinking of attending next year's OA Dinner? Want to look your best and impress your friends from Thursday 6th December School? You should definitely purchase a OA Bow School Carol Service in St Albans Abbey Tie. The latest in sartorial elegance, and affordably at 7.00 pm - if you would like to attend priced. contact the OA Office
Saturday 8th December OAs v School Football Matches Kick off 2.00 pm followed by tea
Wednesday 12th March 2008 OA AGM Price £10.50 + £1.00 p&p
Sunday 22nd June 2008 Order with a cheque made payable to Aldenham OA Day & Gaudy Reunion for all McGill's House. School Enterprises Ltd, sent to the OA Office at the School address. Order by phone with a credit card To be announced on 01923 851660. Or come to the School Shop, OA Dinner Monday to Friday during term time. Get your order in…in plenty of time before the Dinner!
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
If you would like to join the OA Society Committee (and volunteers would be warmly received) please contact the Acting Honorary Secretary, Mark Jordan, whose details appear at the back of Aldenhamiana.
A REMINDER OF THE NEW SUBSCRIPTION ARRANGEMENTS FOR OA SOCIETY MEMBERS
New membership subscription arrangements were unanimously approved at the Society's AGM in 2002, in order to put the finances of the Society on a sounder footing and to enable the Society to provide members with an improved service, particularly by way of an expansion of the web site.
Under the new arrangements, from September 2002 pupils who wish on leaving the School to join the OA Society (or their parents) have paid a lump sum which gives membership of the Society for a fixed period of 20 years. Thereafter such members will be invited to continue their membership by paying an annual subscription.
As a further part of these new arrangements, all existing Life Members of 20 years plus standing (i.e. who left the School twenty years ago or more) are invited to pay a voluntary annual subscription to the Society. This works on a rolling basis and, as the years go by, further batches of OAs will fall into this category. It is hoped that most OAs, once they pass the 20-year point, will be willing to pay the voluntary annual subscription. An appropriate sum would be £10 per annum. The Society would of course welcome larger voluntary subscriptions.
So, key points for existing Life Members:
If you left the School in Summer 1987 or before, you are invited to start paying a voluntary annual subscription to the Society.
If you left the School after Summer 1987, your 20 years is not up yet!…..but as each year passes the Society will invite another year's worth of Life Members to start paying voluntary annual subscriptions.
A Standing Order form for voluntary annual subscriptions is included in this issue of Aldenhamiana, will also be included in future issues, and is on the website.
5 OA Dinner 14th September 2007 The Royal Air Force Club 128 Piccadilly, London
Trevor Barton (K1971-1975) Adam Bobroff (R1997-2002) Richard Brant (B1997-2002) Paul Brown (P1995-2002) Derick Burlingham Johnson (S1939-1941) Daniel Collins (B1997-2002) Richard Collins (S1964-1969) Jim Corbett (S1954-1957) David Cormack (B1972-1977) Michael Deverell (B1997-2002) James Fowler (HM2006-) Rob Gibbs (M1990-1995) Tony Harvie (B1970-1975) Danny Ho (M1971-1976) James James-Crook (M1968-1972) Patrick Llewelyn Jones (S1938-1942) Ian Luetchford (B1948-1951) Andy Maclaurin (S1972-1975) John Macleod (B1944-1948) Simon Mitchell (K1970-1973) Davina Payne (B1994-1996) Richard Peart (S1955-1960) John Price (S1963-1968) Nick Pulman (CR1977-) Derek Redmayne (S1945-1950) John Rimer (P1956-1960) Richard Schooley (B1963-1968) Paul Spencer (CR1985-) Juliet Taylor (P1990-1992) Peter Wrangham (S1948-1951)
6 OLD ALDENHAMIAN DAY
Sunday 22th June 2008
We welcome OAs from all Houses on OA Day. However 2008 will also feature a Gaudy Reunion for OAs from McGill's to celebrate 120 years of McGill's House.
10.30 am OAs gather in their Houses for coffee
11.30 am Chapel
12.30 pm Drinks Reception on the School House Lawn
1.00 pm Lunch
3.30 pm Cup of tea and carriages.
Please come for all or part of the Day and bring your wife / husband / partner
If you are not from McGill's please complete and return this form to The OA Office, Aldenham School, Elstree, Herts WD6 3AJ by Monday 2nd June 2008.
Name, House and dates at Aldenham:
Address:
Post Code:
Telephone No(s): email address:
I will bring a guest(s) whose name(s) is/are:
Please indicate if you or your guest has any special dietary requirements
McGILL'S OAs WILL RECEIVE A SEPARATE INVITATION
7 OA GOLFING SOCIETY
We had a better campaign in the Halford Hewitt Tournament this year when we beat St Bees in the 1st Round, but we could not match a formidable King's Canterbury team (Ed. A colourful report on the Halford Hewitt appears later in Aldenhamiana). In the Grafton Morrish Competition, we were one of the best qualifying teams for the Finals at Hunstanton on 5th October. We also had a creditable performance in the Mellin Tournaments with Dick Hoff and Bob Coombes again reaching the final of the Bunny Millard Salver and narrowly losing a tight match at the 19th hole.
Halford Hewitt
29 March 1st Round v St Bees at Royal St George's
Result: Won 4-1
Team: SP Radin & J Clemow Lost 3&1 RA Alter & D Rawlinson Won 6&5 A Thrussell & B Thrussell Won 19th hole PJ Easby & R Grun Won 4&3 SGO Williams & N Corbett Won 2&1
30 March 2nd Round v King's Canterbury at Royal St George's
Result: Lost ½ - 4 ½
Team: RA Alter & J Clemow Lost 2&1 G Green & SP Radin Lost 5&4 A Thrussell & B Thrussell Lost 5&4 PJ Easby & R Grun Lost 8&7 SGO Williams & N Corbett Halved
Grafton Morrish (Qualifier)
7 May at Royal Ashdown Forest
Result: Qualified for Finals (92 points)
Team: R Grun & J Bloomfield 35 points SP Radin & D Rawlinson 32 points N Corbett & J Wells 25 points
The Mellin Salver
13 July v Lancing at West Hill
Result: Lost 1 - 2
Team: PJ Easby & I Wilson-Soppitt Lost 3&2 RFH Crabb & JJ Irwin Won 3&2 PJR Marsh & IR Eggleden Lost 8&7
The Mellin Plate
13 July v Forest at West Hill
Result: Won 2 - 1
Team: PJ Easby & I Wilson-Soppitt Lost 3&2 RFH Crabb & JJ Irwin Won 3&2 PJR Marsh & IR Eggleden Won 2&1
14 July v Forest at West Hill (Semi-Final)
Result: Lost 1 - 2
Team: PJ Easby & I Wilson-Soppitt Won 6&5 JJ Irwin & IR Eggleden Lost 4&3 RA Aram & ND Melvill Lost 4&3 8 The Peter Burles Salver
12 July at West Hill
Result: Failed to qualify due to incomplete team
Team: RRWB Cooke & NR Prevost RA Aram (no partner)
The Bunny Millard Salver
12 July at West Hill
Result: Qualified with 20 points
Team: RJ Coombes & RHG Hoff
13 July v Cranleigh at West Hill (Semi-Final)
Result: RJ Coombes & RHG Hoff Won 2&1
14 July v Lancing at West Hill (Final)
Result: RJ Coombes & RHG Hoff Lost 19th hole
Other Meetings
We have held successful meetings at West Hill, Ashridge and Beaconsfield with a further event still to come at The Berkshire on 2nd November.
We also play friendly matches against other schools, some in the afternoon, some all day and some at weekends. They are not so much a competition as a social event and a lot of fun is had by all who attend, whatever their handicaps. We are always keen to welcome new members of all ages and handicaps so if you are interested, contact the Hon. Secretary whose details can be found at the back of Aldenhamiana.
~ ~ ~
OA VETERANS FOOTBALL CLUB
Over the last few years, the pool of players has grown to around 20 from a base in 2001 when the side more or less picked itself. That said, you can never have enough players, so all OAs who are now over 35 and fancy turning out, please let me know on email, [email protected] or mobile, 07768 980772. This will allow us to have a fuller schedule of games/friendlies outside the Annual Veterans Cup competition.
Veterans Cup
Since the last edition of Aldenhamiana, the Veterans team successfully overcame Old Foresters in the final of the Plate competition, 2-1. It was a very competitive game with some hefty challenges from both sides and some "niggle" between the respective captains, ours being Anthony Selwyn.
Nigel Fenn fortunately turned in a vintage performance with our two goals scoring the winner five minutes from time, ensur- ing there was no extra time! Nigel's goalscoring prowess was attributed to the first appearance of his WAG, Samantha, on the sidelines. To be fair, the whole side played well, with particular kudos to Nick Baker filling in at goalkeeper making two outstanding saves, Andy Mayson and Roger Sugarman in central defence and Anthony Selwyn and Matt Wender in cen- tral midfield.
This season we have drawn Old Etonians in the first round to be played at the School on Sunday 18th November 2007, Kick Off 11am.
Team: Nick Baker (junior), Richard Bannister, Mark Robinson, Alan Cinnamond, Andy Mayson, Roger Sugarman, Anthony Selwyn, Matt Wender, Nigel Fenn, Bill Pethybridge, Phil Kerr Subs: Alex Henchley (for Ken Aina), Ken Aina (for Phil Kerr) 9 Retirement
Mark Cox and Phil Kerr have decided to hang up their boots, or put another way have made themselves unavailable for selection. Either way, as Steve McClaren might say, "the door is always open" if they change their minds.
Mark has given the club tremendous service and commitment on the organisational front acting as treasurer (pity we could not say the same on the playing side). Rumour has it he has laundered most of the excess funds through the Three Horseshoes public house in Letchmore Heath, and as a match fixer! That is to say arranging the fixtures not fixing the result!
Over 25 years Phil Kerr has played in the Arthur Dunn Cup teams, being one of the younger members, and other successful sides, adding balance to each with his cultured left foot, The less said about his right the better! His retirement will make organising the side easier, as contacting him via email, phone, wife, secretary, etc was always easier said than done and an achievement in itself!
Lastly a thank you to David Mead and his team at the school for always providing the home pitches in fantastic condition for our ball playing side. ~ ~ ~ OA CRICKET
For the first time in five years the 1st XI entertained a full OA side on the afternoon of Visitation Day. The OA captain Mark Turpin (B99-2004) won the toss and chose to bat on a green wicket.
The OA s got off to a good start as Ben Frais and Manish Karani moved the score on steadily. Bhasker Patel broke the partnership and took two further wickets as the OAs tried to push the score towards 150. There was some good middle over batting from Vikash Patel and some typical big hitting from Phil Gregory. Little did the OAs expect the intervention of Ian Fraser who took two wickets and a spectacular catch to prevent the anticipated onslaught and so the innings closed at 134.
The School took to the wicket in determined style, but two wickets just before tea left the game delicately poised at 28-2.The game ebbed and flowed as first Amar Vijh and Ben Weinberg pushed the 1st XI past 50 before Shyam Thakrar struck twice in successive deliveries and Phil Gregory's pace accounted for 2 more wickets. Slowly the scored reached the 100 and with the captain at the crease the School were hopeful. However two more quick wickets left the School need- ing 20 runs with 5 overs and the last pair of Fraser and Mansigani at the wicket. As the rain clouds threatened the two took the total to 129 before the rain got too heavy and the umpires offered the pavilion to both teams.
The teams are still discussing who won!!
ALDENHAM.NET
Aldenham.Net is an initiative by the Development Office, assisted by Julian Swanne (B87-92) and Dan Marsh (B86-91), to give OAs working and living in London the opportunity to network in an informal atmosphere.
Aldenham.Net meets approx twice a year at various locations in central London. Keep your eye on the OA Website for dates of the meetings and make sure the Development Office has your email address if you want to be added to the Aldenham.Net mailing list to get notice of meetings sent to you.
EROS TO EROS RUN 2008
Your Editor is keen to hear from any OAs who would like to participate in 2008 (early July)….an ideal goal to train for over the winter months, and so much shorter than the London Marathon!
Please contact Trevor Barton via [email protected].
10 ENGAGEMENTS C H Nundy S27-30 1 June 1991 P Ricketts S27-31 25 January 1986 The engagement is announced between Matthew G H Roberts S24-25 22 Nov 2004 Cobham (S85-89) and Delphine Voron. A W M Rooke B21-24 7 December 2005 (Ed. Somewhat bizarrely, Matthew is also listed as lost - if H E T Saint P26-29 25 August 2003 anyone knows where he is please let the OA Office know.) L C Salamon S29-35 7 May 1985 E W Sharp B21-24 22 August 1922 The engagement is announced between Mark Denza P C A Somerville P32-35 December 2001 (P85-87) and Alyson Baker. G D Sparke S27-31 30 Dec 2004 A G Swidenbank S26-29 22 Dec 2003 The engagement is announced between Jonathan P R W Tidmarsh S28-33 19 July 2005 Handcock (S79-83) and Katarzyna Juraszczyk. C W Vanstone S30-32 30 Sep 2002 R P Wingate P30-33 19 Nov1957 The engagement is announced between Oliver Harrison R E Winter S24-26 15 Jan 2002 (M92-97) and Rhiannon Scarlett. J F Wyley B34-38 14 Mar 1994
66th WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES OBITUARIES AND TRIBUTES Congratulations to Edward Espenhahn (S30-33) who celebrated his 66th Wedding Anniversary on 1st March 2007. We reprint, with acknowledgments, the following obituary from the The Dominion Post published in Wellington, New SILVER WEDDING Zealand: "Charles John Mabyn Ross (B37-42) died on 26th February 2007 in Wellington. On 17th April 1982, Christoper Paul Scopes (S67-72) and Helen. "British diplomat, MP and writer Harold Nicolson listed the qualities of his ideal diplomat: truth, accuracy, calm, DEATHS patience, good temper, modesty and loyalty. Intelligence, knowledge, discernment, prudence, hospitality, charm, M C Z Andrews P48-52 24 February 2007 industry, courage and tact, he took for granted. John Ross, R C Atkins S56-61 30 May 2007 who died in Wellington this week, had all those qualities. He G B Barker P32-37 1 December 2006 was the quintessential diplomat. D E Bingley B29-33 28 May 2007 F I Cakebread S33-37 23 June 2007 "Born in Dublin, he lived as a child in P R Challen S27 30 21 October 2006 what is now Pakistan, where his father B H Clinkard S36-39 14 March 2007 was an engineer in the Indian A R David S48-52 12 July 2007 Service. Ross was sent to school in J G Dean B28-30 6 July 2006 England and after the war studied at K M Frew M43-47 25 May 2007 Trinity College, Dublin, where he met C J Moore M43-48 20 May 2007 his wife Deirdre. C J Newton B48-53 2007 H B Naish M25-28 3 March 2007 "Always self-effacing, he seldom J E Pillivant B30-34 24 May 2007 spoke about his war service in the C J M Ross B37-42 26 February 2007 Indian Army or his role in Operation J E Sharwood-Smith P34-36 28 August 2007 Swansong in the closing stages of the war against Japan P L Shoup S50-51 2 June 2007 for which he was Mentioned in Dispatches. Ross, a young B F C Small CR1978 13 June 2007 captain, was a member of E Group, a clandestine A D L Smith Hilliard M40-41 17 March 2007 organisation concerned with escape and evasion which T L Tan B73-75 27 July 2007 worked with the British and American groups Force 136 and R J Wainwright S47-51 19th April 2007 the OSS, which had men on the ground in Thailand training J R White M42-45 22 June 2007 and equipping the Thai underground. Operation Swansong's objective was to rescue the 30,000 Allied pris- Some earlier deaths which have not previously been oners of war from their camps in Thailand. published in Aldenhamiana, for which oversight your Editor apologies personally and on behalf of previous Editors. "Following Emperor Hirohito's broadcast on August 15, 1945, ordering an end to hostilities, there was no guarantee P R Challen S27-30 21 October 1996 the Japanese would actually surrender, Ross recalled later. R L Glynn M29-30 4 October 1987 Thai resistance forces and the Thai army and police might G H Hartley B40-44 23Sept2004 take the opportunity to turn on the occupying Japanese. J L T Hoare S24-26 19 April 1993 The POWs themselves might seek bloody reprisals against W S D Jollands S31-34 4 December 1993 their captors and there were fears the Japanese would J D Martin S39-44 28 April 2004 simply slaughter the prisoners. E F P Metters M35-38 22 August 2004 D Montgomery S29-33 17 January 2004 "Supreme Commander General Douglas Macarthur had H W Muir B1898-1899 24 April 1917 ordered there were to be no Allied landings in Japanese- (Killed in action) occupied territories until after the official surrender in Tokyo 11 Bay on September 2. E Group officers, based in Calcutta, houses we became good friends - I am not quite sure why. protested this would condemn the POWs to at least John was keen on sport while I tolerated it, but we another two weeks' imprisonment. Lord Louis Mountbatten, certainly shared the same sense of humour and perhaps Supreme Allied Commander Southeast Asia, agreed and our mutual dread of a "triple Fred" (three consecutive allowed Operation Swansong to go ahead. French lessons under Fred English) had something to do with it. But when we left Aldenham to join different "Ross was parachuted into Thailand with his radio operator regiments and serve in different theatres of war, we lost in a night jump with containers of arms, radio equipment touch with each other. John served in South East Asia and medical supplies. His orders were to proceed to where he displayed considerable bravery and was Tamuang camp, east of Kanchana-buri, which held 5600 mentioned in despatches. British, Australian and Dutch POWs. When he reached the camp he was taken to the senior British officer, a gaunt "In 1969 I found myself in Kuala Lumpur on a two year grey-haired colonel sitting at a rickety bamboo table. Ross posting to the British High Commission. A few days after saluted as smartly as he could, he recalled, introduced my arrival I went to a party given by our Defence Adviser; himself and explained his mission. "For three and a half the first person I saw was John. After some years in the years we have been waiting for this day," the colonel said British Colonial Service he had joined the New Zealand as they shook hands. More than 20,000 prisoners were Ministry of Foreign Affairs and his office was in the same soon evacuated without a hitch. building as mine. It was surprising how quickly we re- established our friendship, and throughout the next two "Ross joined the British Colonial Service after his return to years we and our wives saw a lot of each other. England and served as a district officer in Nigeria and then in Kenya where he worked closely with the last British "In 1971 I returned to London and John continued his Governor Malcolm MacDonald. As assistant secretary to diplomatic career in Saigon, Geneva, New York (Consul- the Council of Ministers, Ross was involved in hammering General) and finally as Ambassador in Peru. In recent out a new constitution and was then assistant secretary to years the introduction of cheap overseas telephone calls the Cabinet of Prime Minister Jomo Kenyatta, when Kenya meant that we were no longer dependent on letters but for became self-governing in 1963 before full independence six a few pence could chat away for half an hour or more, a months later. facility we used to the full. John occasionally came to England and on the last occasion I drove him back to "With the Africanisation of the Kenya Civil Service Ross Aldenham. We visited George Vasey's old house in which decided to try his luck in New Zealand. A letter of John had lived during his first term and we then walked introduction from Malcolm MacDonald helped and the around the School which had not changed quite so much as Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alister Mclntosh offered him a we had feared. We ended up appropriately in the pub in job on the spot. In 1968, Ross was posted to Kuala Lumpur, Letchmore Heath. scene the following year of bloody communal rioting that tested his diplomatic skills and threatened his family's "John had planned to visit London again this year, but safety. illness caught up with him, although he enjoyed his tennis up to a fortnight before he died. He was one of the most "Other postings followed in Saigon - where he was deputy delightful men I have ever met, full of humour, kind and to Ambassador Sir Leonard Thornton, who became a close considerate and a very good and loyal friend. Before he friend and trout fishing companion, Geneva, New York - died, he wrote a note which was attached to the order of where he was Consul-General, and Lima, his last posting, service of his funeral, attended by 180 of his friends. It is where he was Ambassador to Peru. too long to quote in full but some extracts read as follows:
"Ross continued to play tennis regularly on retirement in "In recent years I have attended many funerals, which of Greytown, was president of the Greytown Tennis Club and course is only to be expected. One hardly expects a was still playing in his 80s till two weeks before his death. funeral to be unalloyed fun but dying is a perfectly natural He was also a keen cricket-lover and was quietly proud thing and although sadness is inevitable and right there is when his son Jonathan, a Rhodes Scholar, captained surely no call to give way to unrestrained and public grief, Oxford at cricket and was awarded a cricket Blue. especially if the deceased has, like me, enjoyed a full and long life, I do hope that today will be more a celebration "From 1997 to 1999 he served as Secretary of the than anything else. Cambodia Trust Aotearoa New Zealand. He was also a member of the Monsoon Club, a lunch group including "When it dawned on me that I was already in the Departure diplomats and journalists who had worked in Asia. Lounge (as the Countess of Ranfurly has so memorably put it) it occurred to me that most of the pitfalls could be "Ross is survived by his wife Deidre, daughters Christine avoided by a little judicious planning. The results you can and Sarah, sons Jonathan and Dermot, both Auckland see on the order of service sheet. I have asked that any lawyers, and his four grandchildren." eulogies be short and to the point and that in all the prayers and reading the traditional wording be used. Psalms 23 Tony Crassweller (S37-41), John's good friend since their and 121 were chosen because of their beauty and schooldays together, writes: "As recorded elsewhere in this familiarity. edition of Aldenhamiana, John Ross died in New Zealand on the 26th February, 2007 aged 83. We arrived at "The two hymns date from my school days but have been Aldenham together and although we were in different with me all my life. They have rousing tunes and I hope
12 they will be sung with vigour, if not with the splendid crash "The OA office put me in contact with Peter's family and of noise we produced at Aldenham. They are both appro- with their permission I tell you about Peter's shortened, but priate. 'The Day Thou Gavest Lord Is Ended' was sung at interesting life. Peter was born on 28th April 1966 in Sunday evening chapel, while in our minds we contem- Edinburgh and spent most of his early childhood in rural plated the challenges of the week ahead. In places the Hampshire. When he was 5 his family moved to Watford words are stirring - 'While earth rolls onward into light' and and at 13 Peter joined Aldenham due to his father being the reference to proud empires passing away conjures up posted to the USA. Aldenham brought out Peter's character thoughts of my parents' long association with India and our and an academic ability, albeit requiring hard work. own years in Nigeria and Kenya. 'Abide With Me' was the end of term hymn at Aldenham and is thus associated in my "Upon first meeting Peter we had an instant bond due to the mind with farewells and new beginnings. Indeed, as I now Royal Navy, a bond we shared for the next five years as we go, Lord with me abide. enjoyed many fun times at Aldenham. Peter was a laugh and always fun to be around, never dull and boring and very "I have been blessed in that throughout my life - at rarely moody. Aldenham, in the Army, the Colonial Service and Foreign Affairs, through to the retirement years in Greytown - I have "After Aldenham, Peter gained a BA Hons in Economics been surrounded by friends and colleagues of the highest from University of East Anglia and later became an quality. But above all I have been blessed by a marvellous accountant. Peter always gave his best, for example whilst family. To Deirdre I wish only to echo what Rodin wrote to working as an accountant for a fish processing company in his wife in 1913 : 'This letter is just to tell you that my mind Watford Peter would often end up delivering fresh fish to is full of the greatness of God's gift to me when He put you hotels on his way home, white coat, hat and all! Peter lived at my side. Keep this thought of mine in your generous in Abbotts Langley, and in 1995 qualified as a Certified heart'." Accountant
John Webb (P35-40) also writes about John Ross: "Peter studied Russian and in 1996 he travelled to "Operation "Swansong" is not one of the familiar code Azerbajhan to become the accountant for an oil services names of World War II. It was the difficult and potentially company. It was here that Peter met his future wife Inga. dangerous operation of making contact, after the Japanese After 10 months Peter returned to the UK and worked for surrender, with the surviving prisoners in camps mainly in Pilkington Glass in Watford. the border area between Thailand and Burma, (the infa- mous River Kwai). "Unfortunately, in October 1996, Peter had a fit and the diagnosis was a high grade inoperable tumour in his brain "In Platt Revisited (OAs' accounts of life at Aldenham in the - Astrocytoma - for which there was no cure and which is 1920's and 1930's), I described being rescued by John always fatal, and so in February 1997 Peter started a Ross, Captain in the Indian Army. John read this account course of radiotherapy at Mount Vernon Hospital and was at his home in New Zealand and we have been advised that he should expect to live for a period of less corresponding ever since. than 12 months! Peter refused to let the cancer affect his life and continued to work. "I have just had the sad news from his widow that John died in hospital in Wellington on 26th February 2007. His wife "Also in 1997 Peter and Inga married and Peter became a Deirdre and his four children were with him at the end. stepfather to Inga's baby daughter, Anna.
"John was a remarkable man and a brave one - he received "Peter remained upbeat and optimistic and in 2000 started a mention in dispatches for his leadership and initiative in a new job at Silverlink. However by July 2001 his illness Operation Swansong. After the war and university he was taking its toll and he no longer had the physical joined the Colonial Service and served in Nigeria and strength to cope. During his eight years of illness he was on Kenya. Later he transferred to the New Zealand Diplomatic constant medication to control his fits however he was Service and for three years from 1980 was the New fighting a losing battle. Zealand Ambassador to Peru. One of so many for Aldenham to be proud of."
Linden Andrews, wife of Mike Andrews (P48-52), kindly wrote to let us know: " My husband Mike, aged 71, died from cancer after a very short illness on 24th February 2007. He was a pupil at Aldenham School from 1948 to 1952 in Paull's House. After some years in London, he continued to live in this area, for many years in St. Albans and latterly in Redbourn."
Andrew Vos (B1978-83) - A tribute to my dear school friend Peter McConnell: "Happily reading Aldenhamiana then WHAM…there it was in black and white, my school friend Peter McConnell (B78-83) had died! This couldn't be right, people our age don't die, they get married, have children and work hard…..they don't die, not yet anyway, its far too early! Peter with his stepdaughter Anna" 13 "In 2002 the stress and strain of his illness became too retired, arrived to teach much to bear and Peter and Inga`s marriage did not broadcast under the survive, although Peter and Anna remained in close contact leadership of Sir Tom as to all intents and purposes Anna was his daughter whom Hopkinson. This week, he dearly loved. Anna`s love for Peter gave him a strength from Germany, Mike and determination to put aside the effects of the advancing has recollected Bob's disease for as long as he was able. fervent support then, as Editor of BBC Radio Peter bore his illness with great fortitude and strength. He Wales, 'for well seemed to be able to put pain to one side and resolved to educated and trained stay at his home, of which he was so proud, for as long as young people' who he could. On the 14th January 2006 however Peter died. wanted a career in broadcast journalism. "Peter is survived by his mother Anne and father Barry, his Before he joined the two brothers Andrew (M78-80) and David and his step- Centre for Journalism daughter Anna and is buried at Vicarage Road Cemetery in (the CJS), long before it Watford. was the school we know today, he spent more "I have not seen or spoken to Peter for 24 years however I than 20 years at the BBC as a journalist, editor and can honestly say I will miss him. Maybe this doesn't make manager. He worked as an editor at BBC Radio Wales, an sense, but what in this world does?" executive producer for the World Service news and current affairs, and was a current affairs producer at BBC Canon Christopher White (M46-51) wrote about his Television. brother John White (M42-45): "I am writing to let you know that my brother John died after a long illness on 22nd June, "But Bob was not only committed to the best of broadcast 2007. His wife Pat had been killed just a month earlier in a journalism, he was also committed to Wales. He was car accident. He had three great lifelong friends at extraordinarily well informed about the country, its people, Aldenham - Bob Wallace (M42-45), John Moore (M42-46) its history and culture and he had learned the Welsh and Ian McLean (M42-46) - only Ian now remains. All four language and supported the training of Welsh speaking came to Aldenham from Caldicott in 1942. I followed from journalists throughout the time that he taught at Cardiff. He the same school four years later! was a great defender of the idea of 'Welshness' and had no patience with those who did not appreciate the value of the "John married in May 1962 and had two children Robert Welsh language. and Signe. Both married and Signe had a son Kissi - he is half Gambian - whom John and Pat adored. The great "In October 1992, Bob was appointed to the position he sadness is that neither of them had longer to enjoy their held until he died. Between that time and last week he only grandchild. trained many well known broadcast journalists, including BBC foreign correspondents Damian Grammaticas and "I was interested to see the photograph of the handing over Chris Hogg, as well as Newsround presenter Laura Jones. to the OAs the OA Rifle Club trophies, having been largely Dozens and dozens of broadcast students have reason to responsible for the re-founding of the Club in 1956. John be thankful for Bob's years as a teacher and for the 110% also joined in 1956 at the beginning, his great moment in he always gave to his students and the course. Broadcast target rifle shooting was sometime in the 1950s when he journalism in Great Britain and beyond is better today won The Ladies of the County Cup, given to the winner of because of the dedication of Bob Atkins. the Hertfordshire Rifle Club County Championship. "He was one of those wonderful, demanding teachers who "As to myself I continue in reasonably good health by would not tolerate mediocrity, and whose students all felt walking and swimming regularly and am also kept busy that he took them to places they would never have gone taking some services - particularly as we are without a vicar alone or without him. The broadcast course was Bob's life for the second time in two years. My wife - also Pat - and I and soul. He was unfailingly generous with his time and his have three children, all of whom have two children each, so energies and he worked tirelessly to make sure all his when we all get together we are quite a large family these students were trained well. He took enormous pride in the days! I qualify for a free TV licence this September!" prizes they won and the things they went on to do. He was a loyal and caring friend and mentor. The following obituary for Bob Atkins (S56-61) is reproduced with acknowledgments to the website of the "The broadcast course at Cardiff is now recognised as the Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies: premier course in the country and that is because of Bob. "Bob Atkins, who, with Colin Larcombe, headed the post- He is, and will be, sadly missed by all his present and past graduate Diploma in Broadcast journalism in the Cardiff students and by all of those who have worked with him over School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies for the the years. He leaves a huge gap and he will be a hard act past fifteen years, died on 30th May 2007. to follow. As Colin Larcombe has said: 'He was simply the best.'" "Bob had been associated with the school, and with the teaching of broadcast journalism within it, since its beginnings in 1983. In that year, Mike Ungersma, now
14 OA NEWS HOME AND ABROAD The searchlight then swung back to Barry Liddiard, who produced a cornucopia of informative nuggets. A copy of John Handcock CVO DL (S44-47) Beck's Will contributed many details, the most important being that Emmeline was the sole beneficiary, that she and HOMAGE TO A HEADSTONE - An Aldenhamian Montague Salamon (S27-32), his OA Solicitor, were Anecdote appointed Executors and that for inexplicable reasons she declined her Executorship. This latter circumstance was Forty-seven years ago, my wife and I spent a holiday at subsequently of some importance. Crantock in North Cornwall, since when my family has enjoyed numerous holidays in this idyllic spot. In the early Had Beck survived his wife (which in the event he did not) days we occasionally entertained Mr & Mrs Riding some twenty six alternative beneficiaries, many of them (Headmaster 1933-49), who then lived near Mevagissy, to family members and OAs, were named, including the dinner. Aldenham School War Memorial Fund.
These circumstances would be of no special note were it All this was extremely interesting, but the question not that on our first visit to the village church of St. remained as to which, if any, of these twenty-odd people, Carantoc, we were intrigued to find a prominent gravestone some deceased, could give the necessary authority to the hard by the south porch inscribed: "Harvey Mortimer Beck, Churchwardens. Again, Barry Liddiard, offered a helping born May 11th 1868, died Dec. 6th 1948, late headmaster of had by identifying a Mrs Jane Richards of Evesham, who Aldenham School". Beck's Headmastership was, I hasten turned out to be Emmeline's third cousin. to add, before my Aldenham days. He was in fact, an assistant master from 1893 to 1920 and Headmaster from Jane Richards responded to my letter with an elaborate 1920 to 1933. It was nevertheless, with frissons of family tree and confirmed that at the time of her marriage to sentimentality that we paid our respects at his last resting Harvey, Emmeline was Matron at Aldenham and that there place on each visit. were no children of either marriage. I also had friendly exchanges with Miss Linden Langford, Jane Richards' half There were, however, antipathetic familial forces at work. sister. They and their ninety year old uncle said they would Several years after the first salutation at Beck's grave we be delighted for the erased inscription to be restored. observed with astonishment that the words "Late Headmaster of Aldenham School" had been unaccountably Thus armed, I returned to Mr McIntyre expressing in erased. Upon enquiry, we learned of a dispute between the addition to these family consents the opinion that since Mr then vicar and Beck's second wife, the former having Salamon was the only Executor to prove the Will, his was declined to erect a memorial plaque inside the church and the ultimate authority either to select or delete the missing the latter, presumably piqued, having the reference to words. As he had not authorised the deletion, there was no Aldenham removed from the gravestone. If this account be bar to restoration. The Vicar agreed, and the OA Society accurate, one is tempted to sympathise with Ludwig II of having accepted the stonemason's estimate, the work was Bavaria in his exclamation "Oh these women! Even the satisfactorily completed in March this year. cleverest of them argue illogically"!
Be that as it may, the verbally denuded headstone remained thus, shorn, for nearly forty years.
Two years ago, however, I encountered a flower arranger in the church to whom I recounted the story. She suggested reference to the Churchwarden, Michael McIntyre, my letters to whom evoked the positive response to the effect that he believed there was no necessity for formal application to the Diocesan Chancellor for a faculty. He offered to approach the Diocesan Advisory Committee if supplied with further details including any next of kin who ought to be consulted.
At this point reference to the Chairman of the OA Society seemed prudent and correspondence ensued in which Barry Liddiard played a useful part. He discovered in a 1973 Aldenhamian an obituary of Beck's widow Emmeline, who died aged 90 in 1972. On 20th March I stood again in the Crantock churchyard to Meanwhile, the school history revealed that Beck had been view the completed work - quod erat faciendum! educated at Eton. So to Eton I went where an old friend, a senior Beak, confirmed that this was so and, more to the point, that Beck has been previously married to a Mary Constance Thomas.
15 HARISHCHANDRASINGH RAJENDRASIN JHALA (B1936-39)
Mr Jhala's son, Mahijit Jhala, emailed the OA Office and would like to hear from any OA who remembers his father who died in 1967. If you would like to contact Mahijit please write to him at D166 Defence Colony, New Delhi 110024, India or email [email protected] or write to the OA Office and we will forward your mail on.
Robin Dawson (S57-62) writing to Mike Taylor, President Road meet. What a start in life. That may account for the of the OA Society, gave us permission to print his letter in fact that when Julian left school he went to Sandhurst and Aldenhamiana: "At the age of 63 I guess I should own up to joined the 17th/21st Lancers. We returned from Belfast to still being around. I have followed your military career with England shortly after Internment was introduced having interest but you would be unaware. We both worked on the seen, from our home, the local shops go up in a bomb blast. school stage, you in the electricians gallery draping wet A year later our daughter Sophie was born in 1972. Some towels on the rheostats to keep them cool and Robert time after this a young civil engineer came to the family Sentance (S56-61) and I stretching and nailing canvass for business to interview for a job. His name was David scene flats. The intervening 44 years have been eventful Brewerton (M57-62), we were both House Captains at the involving various encounters with OAs of our vintage. same time. He declined the offer of a job, a decision which may have been influenced by one of our yard men backing "You may recall that I was an academic disaster, failing all a lorry with a protruding girder through the rag top of A Levels in style. On leaving school my father fixed me up David's MGB, or was it a TR, in the darkness of a stormy with an apprenticeship at an engineering company in Hull winter evening. David then had to drive up to London. Sorry which involved day release at Hull Technical College. So, David! only a few months after leaving Aldenham I bumped into Tom Panton (M57-62) at Hull Tech, who was on a similar "The construction travelling petered out and I became academic level to myself. We became good friends and got based in Luton but living in the very picturesque village of to share a few lady friends between Hull and Bridlington Great Brickhill in Buckinghamshire. I have moved once where Tom lived. within the village where we have been for 35 years. The views go on forever. But all was not well. Changes within "At the age of 21 I returned home to Bedfordshire to join the the construction industry and changes in the family family construction company started by my father and business did not sit comfortably with me. I needed room to where my brother John (S55-59) and my oldest brother breathe and to follow my instincts. Mechanising were already installed. Visiting an art exhibition at Luton construction activities to make them both more productive Hoo with my parents I noticed an attractive little blonde but, and safer suited my unqualified but creative mind. In 1979 unusually for me at that time, I thought it a little forward to I received an Engineering Design Award from HRH The introduce myself, and the opportunity passed. A couple of Duke of Edinburgh. This gave me the confidence to go it months later at a party to celebrate an ex-girlfriend's 21st alone and gradually I eased out of the family business and birthday I found myself at the dinner table sitting next to the into design and manufacture of pile driving equipment. little blonde from the art exhibition. Having been formally There was only one other UK company doing the same sort introduced to Rosie I made sure the second chance was of engineering. They were about 100 years old, world not missed and we were married four years later. renowned and employed about 600 people. They now Throughout this time I kept in touch with my old friend of employ no more than 20 and we passed them by about ten school, Corps, stage and some so called "arduous training years ago. We are based in Milton Keynes but our camps", Robert Sentance. We have kept in touch, equipment is sold from Alaska to New Zealand and in many sometimes little, sometimes often but whether the interval developed economies inbetween. One trip took me to was short or long we carried on as if no time has elapsed Thailand where a one time Danish/ British Construction between. Robert now lives with wife, horses and dogs in Company had moved its head office. I had dealt with its Weardale in the Northeast. We visit a couple of times every Managing Director on the early development of Canary year. Wharf so I knew him quite well. I called him to ask if he had ever come across a Thai gentleman by the name of Pakorn "Life in the construction industry involved much travelling. I Malakul (S57-62). There was a stunned pause before he worked in Cyprus around 1965/6 and the Greeks and Turks replied " yes, he is the Deputy Governor of the Bank of started shooting at each other, I moved to Belfast with my Thailand, why, do you know him"? He slept in the next bed wife in 1969 and the Catholics and Protestants started to me at Letchmore Lodge and we spent many hours shooting at each other. I had a contract in Iran around 1979 together under the tutelage of Francis Rogers (S53-58) and the Shah got dumped. We thought of taking bids NOT learning the high hurdles. I met Khun Pakorn for dinner in to go abroad! Whilst the contract in Iran was terminated by Bangkok and oddly enough it was as if no time had elapsed the Islamic Revolution it was still very profitable. since we left school. Pakorn has, I think, five sons and at the time we met around 1999 he was recovering from a "Whilst in Northern Ireland our son Julian was born at the broken leg which occurred whilst playing football! Royal Victoria Hospital where the Falls Road and Shankill 16 "My brother John retired in 1998 and is now living in the not enjoy the TVR Tuscan that followed. It covered a lot of Lake District. miles…on the back of a transporter. The XKR Jag which I use now is the most powerful car I have had but not the "About four years ago a nephew of mine joined a financial quickest. It is more suited to my age than some of the services company with an office in Windermere. My eldest previous steeds. brother wanted to move my mother's savings to this company so he sent me their prospectus. I noticed a "Our son Julian worked for me for a few years in Hong director by the name of Paul Egerton Vernon (S58-63), not Kong. There he met a young lady lawyer who was working the most common of names. I contacted the company and for an American Law firm. It was her second spell in Hong discovered that Paul was based in Jersey. I pulled out a Kong, the first time she was a refugee off a boat from photograph of Evens House football team in which we both Vietnam. At the age of 12 England became her home. They played and sent it to Paul with a covering note just in case married and have given us a granddaughter and a he never went to Aldenham. He was the right person. We grandson. They now live in Leighton Buzzard about three met with our wives for dinner in London, something to be miles from us. Our daughter, Sophie, took her time but got repeated if my life would only slow down a little. married in September 2005 and has just delivered her first child, our second grandson. She and her English husband "Apart from the Engineering business I have a little live in Chamonix, more excuses for skiing! Industrial Estate in Milton Keynes and a small trading and service operation involved in offshore oil work based in Our son found academia not difficult but boring. In contrast Singapore. For fun I have a 15 acre back garden, about one our daughter struggled and was found to be dyslexic. She third of it is now a little woodland of oak trees which I grew struggled at every level of learning right through to a BSc in from acorns, which by the size of them mean I must be Cartography!! Her problems raised the possibility that I may getting old. My wife, Rosie, worked in Switzerland before have failed at school for that reason. My wife sent me off to we were married, so we both have an annual draw to be assessed earlier last year and it turned out that I am also skiing. This March, together with 20 or so family, we return dyslexic. to the same resort and the same hotel for Rosie's 60th where we celebrated her 21st. "That neatly brings me back to school life and how it looks through the perspective of time. One member of the teach- "Bill Hook (CR48-73) would be shocked by my other ing staff towers above most of the others and he is P.G. pastime, singing! I was roped into our village Church Choir Mason, the Head Master. When he left to go to Manchester about 25 years ago when caught out rumbling a bass line Grammar he appointed me house captain and said that I while Carol Singing one Christmas. As I do not read music would not succeed at A level but I was not wasting my time. and never studied music at school, learning my part is For a man heading for the highest post in one of the most interesting! There are two big Choirs in Milton Keynes and academic schools in the land he could have derided my I felt the inclination to join one but was scared off by the academic failure. I hope that the reasonable level of audition until I heard that they were doing Rachmaninov's success which I have enjoyed in my career justifies the Vespers. I decided they were not doing it without me and confidence that he had in me so long ago and with so little the audition was a breeze. I have sung with the to go on. Danesborough Chorus ever since. A professional soprano living in Great Brickhill has been struggling for seven or so "I have noticed a number of names from my era pop up at years to teach me how to sing properly. I will never be a various events in recent years. I would like to meet them good singer but she has pushed me into singing solo in the again. I had hoped to be at the dinner in 2005 where Peter Milton Keynes Festival and in a couple of charity concerts. Leaver (B&K58-63) was speaking but it conflicted with a I can hardly believe I am admitting this! Choir final rehearsal. I have also noticed John Edgeley (S57-62), Francis Rogers (S53-58) and Peter Milne "Cars have figured a little over the years. My first two seater Home (S57-60). I must get Robert Sentance (S56-61) to was a Triumph Spitfire followed by a couple of MGBs. I felt join me at one of these occasions and in particular to see quite nervous about buying my first V8 MGB which cost, you again Mike. brand new, £2,400. I still own it and my second V8B, both of which are worth a lot more now than when they were "That's far more than you wanted to read but there you go. brand new. I enjoyed a TVR Chimeara for ten years but I did I look forward to the next encounter."
17 SEVENOAKS REGIONAL LUNCH - 31ST JANUARY 2007
31 OAs and guests gathered at Edward's Bar and Brasserie in Sevenoaks Weald for a very enjoyable OA Lunch. Robin Sharp (B37-42) said Grace, with wonderfully precise pronunciation - no doubt developed from many years as a Latin Master.
Alan Day (P52-57) told us that that morning while walking his dog he bumped into a man with whom he had exchanged greetings with for many years and started to chat about cricket, when he noticed he was wearing an OA tie. He asked "Are you by any chance going to an Aldenham Lunch today?" The man expressed surprise, said he was and asked Alan how he knew - the tie of course. Alan and Robin Sharp had no idea before that moment that they were both OAs!
Sir Michael Bett (P1948-1953) Andrew Irwin (S1959-1963) Derick Burlingham Johnson (S1939-1941) Tom Kendall (M1948-1952) Howard Cloke (P1974-1979) Tim Law (M1945-1951) Bob Coombes (S1944-1947) Simon Mitchell (K1970-1973) Clive Creelman (P1943-1946) Edward Oatley (P1958-1962) Alan Day (P1952-1957) Paul Rochman (M1956 -1961) Geoffrey Dunn (M1947-1950) Frank Rogers (S1953-1958) Tony Engel (P1956-1959) Stephen Savage (K1967-1972) Colin Fraser (S1947-1952) John Schofield (P1965-1970) Robert Gardiner (M1945-1949) Robin Sharp (B1937-1942) Richard Greig (P1954-1957) Geoffrey Smethurst (P1944-1948) John Handcock (S1944-1947) Derrick Swain (S1956-1960) Arthur Hill (M1948-1951) Tom Turner (M1944-1948)
OAs In-Touch
The OA Office was recently able to help put two nonagenarian OAs, John Scott (S28-31) and Hugh Mellor (S28-32) back in touch. They had corresponded ever since leaving school but had recently lost touch. John's brother Alan Scott (S32-37), a mere 88, suggested the OA Office may be able to help.
If you want help to find your friends, the OA Office is always pleased to try to help you.
Roger Crabb (M57-61) writes: "After 37 years in remark to 'Bill' Kennedy about meat at luncheon in Beaconsfield my wife and I have moved to Dorset. We McGill's being 'churlishly served up'. have joined the Lyme Regis Golf Club, which we can just see from our new house, and look forward to seeing any "Whoever the shadowy 'living witnesses' to this incident OA golfers who are in this part of the country." may be, they need to be told that 'Bill' firmly and robustly denies the whole thing. 'Not a word of truth in it.' 'Never Bryan Robson (S49-53) wrote to your Editor, who is nei- happened'. 'Bill' has authorised me to pass his denial on to ther able nor willing to arbitrate in the below matter, but you and if you see fit to squeeze it in somewhere, that believes everyone has the right to have their say: "I don't (or would be appreciated. 'Living witnesses' had much better didn't) want to 'stir it', but I need to come back to the report shut up than put up, I feel, although it seems unlikely that by William Goodman of the late Michael Heckford's they would ever crawl out of the woodwork. 18 "In fact, as 'Bill' was just telling me, he used to make a point Peter Wells' (P48-52) memory having (separately) been of inviting non-resident colleagues to lunch with us, jogged, he wrote to us: "Thank you for yet another because he believed it widened our rather constrained stimulating edition of Aldenhamiana, which arrived last horizons conversationally, and introduced a breath of fresh week. Especially, interesting of course for OA football air. He was quite right. He, too, liked Heckford very much. enthusiasts and for those of us who spent their time at the school in Paulls house in the thirties, forties and fifties. "Thanks for reading this. My wife and I much enjoyed visiting 'Bill', with Tim (M45-51) and Joan Law, in the "I thought that Tim Glazier's (P47-51) recollections were summer. He is already looking forward to another visit this remarkably detailed and accurate as I remember life in year. 'Bill' is of course an absolute mine of Aldenham lore Paull's at that time, considering how long ago it all was. and more should have been done (before he reached his They certainly awakened all kinds of amusing memories. mid-nineties) to explore it - I mean, the less formal side of Standing with my son and grandson listening to the it, the sidelights which bring history to life. I reproach myself speeches at last summer's reunion, it did not take a great not least. deal to transport me back to 1948, despite the modern décor and the presence of a very large T.V.! I remembered "I was staggered by C R Riding's recollection of his father for example, standing around the walls of the lower, in strict ('GAR' as we used to call him) thrashing house praes on the term order of course, waiting endlessly, or so it seemed, for first morning of the holidays, for breaking bounds on the last the Praes to make their lengthy walk up the room and then night of term. Eight each. And one of them actually wearing for the arrival of Sam Pollard to take call. Going round the his OA tie. My hat, weren't those the days! There is a sketch room collecting litter while trying to avoid 'picking up' of GAR in my book Captain Eros, largely based on only a forbidden conversations or trying to line up the long tables first-termer's memories, but quite haunting (I think). so everything was just right. Of course there was much fun and great highlights such as trying out our culinary skills "Sorry. I've run on…Best wishes…" with baked beans and toast when at winter weekends the fires were sometimes lit. Nigel Robson (K64-69) writes: "After 30 years with Eversheds (Ed: leading law firm) I will be leaving in a few "One very early and lasting memory of my first term weeks time. I will take a break, and then try to work out concerns the weekly ritual of cleaning the Praes cadet what to do in the next phase. Elizabeth and I have been corps uniforms, UNI I believe we called it, rhyming with apart during the inside of the weeks for far too long, as well honey! On the evening prior to Corps parade, the various as disrupted weekends when I am overseas. Three of the highly polished and by then hopefully dry blancoed belts, children are earning, Alice is now 2 years away from gaitors, etc., would be presented to the Praes in the study finishing medical school, but Mark (our 9 year gap after prep had ended. Woe betide everyone if every item surprise!) is off to Oundle in September. As I watched him was not sparkling enough to bring a gleam to Sgt Major score 59 not out at Kings Ely yesterday, with the Cathedral Buckingham's eye on the next day's parade. Needless to in the background, I thought that catching up on all his say, I was the only new boy present, the other three first rugby and cricket games has its attractions! Donald termers were billeted out at Mr & Mrs Stott's and had Newton would be amazed that I have 2 very fine cricketing already left, so it seemed that it was always me who got the sons! short straw and had to carry in the less than perfect items with obvious results. The House Captains dull belt brasses "I have often wondered about getting the Kennedys 64-69 and T E Bateman's (P44-48) stubbornly dull boots are still group together again, although such a gathering would imprinted on my memory! All rather scary for a small new always be tinged with sadness because of Robin Hooper's boy then…one wonders what today's Aldenhamians would untimely death. He was my best man 33 years ago. Anyway make of such goings on. perhaps I should think about it for 2009 - 40 years on!" "Michael Buckley's (P45-48) photo of Paull's in 1948 is very familiar. I have a copy hanging here on the wall of my Michael Kelly (P64-68) kindly sent the following: "You study as I write. I hope my list of missing names is correct, wrote to me in 2004 about my old car which was given to but time dulls the recall of first names and initials." me in 1966 by Roy Scammell who was the Lab Technician at Aldenham. It was a well-known sight at the time. I still Paulls House Photo - Summer 1948 have the car and enclose a copy of a recent photograph. Third Row: 2) R Young Do publish it in Aldenhamiana if you wish - I am sure it will 3) ? Thoubboron jog some memories!" On the far end of this row next to Tim Glazier, and not on the list, is Roger Hamilton Hill.
Front Row: 1) I.S. (?) Jones 5) John Prosser 6) Peter Wells 7) John Burgess 8) Noel Yarnell Davies 9) D.J. (?) Fowler 10) Rodney Grimwod 11) Robert Paterson 12) ? Gibson 19 George Bond (P39-44) : "I was interested in the article in them. I chose Alexander's Rag Time Band and although Aldenhamiana about life in the 1940s in Paull's House. not deafened by applause, I don't remember being Since I was a new boy in September 1939, I thought I might harassed. Perhaps I was lucky. add a few memories. "Luxury came when I was made a Praeposter. Three of us "Our uniform then was a black coat - blue blazer in summer shared a small room and we had chairs to sit on. - black tie, stiff collar and grey flannels. On Sundays we Occasionally we would shout for "boy" but not very often, wore black striped trousers and occasionally a straw hat. and I don't remember issuing much in the way of punishment. At evening prayers we had the strange "Life in the Common Room was quite spartan, particularly privilege of entering the Common Room just before Mr for new boys who shared a radiator, a table and a bench to Mead and strolling slowly down the room in single file with sit on. At night in the dormitories the black- out screens our hands in our pockets. I wonder who dreamed up such were taken down and the sash windows opened in the a weird custom. cause of fresh air. In Winter we might find that the water in the wash basins had frozen overnight. "Tibby" Mead was an excellent master and ran the house quietly and well . He succeeded in teaching me Latin where "There was a grass tennis court in the garden and an air others had failed. His sister 'Tabitha' was kind to new boys. raid shelter where at first we slept during air raids. Luckily She gave us tea on Sundays and read to us from Three it was soon flooded and never used again. Men in a Boat; and they kept guinea fowl which made strange cries in the garden. "I was one of the last to take part in "New Man's Singing" before it was abolished. A table was set up at the end of "One more memory is of a boy in Cox's who played the the Common Room and the more senior boys sat around it. bugle. On the last day of term before we were up he I, pretty frightened, had to stand on the table and sing to sounded The Last Post, a haunting start to the holidays."
The following article is reproduced with acknowledgments to The Times. NEW LIFE IN THE OLD DOG-ENDS A year after its £1m makeover, Ronnie Scott's is back on top.
Leo Green (S86-91) the head honcho at Ronnie Scott's - he's rather wary of his official title, artistic director - offers a wan smile and says: "This job's a thankless task, worse than being the England football manager. Everyone's got an opinion on who we should be booking. When I started, people were queuing up to throw the mud." But then he enthusiastically returns to describing how this hallowed Soho dive is being revived; Green seems to be a man loving every minute of it.
Almost exactly a year since closing its scuffed old doors for a £1 million refit at the behest of its new owner, the impresario Sally Greene, the club is to hold the first Ronnie Scott's Jazz Awards on Monday. If nothing else, it's a useful publicity wheeze: Michael Parkinson, the eminence grise of jazz nostalgia, will be host, Tony Bennett will receive a lifetime achievement award, and a familiar roster of Ronnie's regulars, from Steve Tyrell to Stacey Kent, is up for gongs. Clearly we are some distance from the cutting edge.
But if there was a prize for best jazz club, would Ronnie Scott's win it? Green is certainly proud of his 12 months at the helm. He's got comfy new seats, he's had the Marsalis brothers and Van Morrison on the bill, and a very decent crispy breast of duck on the menu. "Most nights we're packed," he says. "Ronnie Scott's widow Mary told me that if Ronnie had had the money Sally's brought to the table he would have done a similar kind of thing.
"The club was stumbling along. Pete King [the former co-owner] said the last time the club was painted was in the Seventies. He and Alf, the handyman, did it one night."
Green has little time for the nostalgics who miss the ancient sofa where Spike Milligan used to sit, the patch of carpet where Dizzy Gillespie was sick - and the fag smoke. "Oh God, cigarettes and jazz, such a cliché." But what about the choice of acts? Recently we've seen such unlikely jazz talents as Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Tony Christie and, for a wallet-scouring £75 a ticket, Marti Pellow. Green is unrepentant. "It's a constant balancing act between things that are credible jazz and things that aren't necessarily credible jazz but make commercial sense."
20 Of Pellow, once of Wet Wet Wet, he says: "He could have done a cheap Rat Pack thing but he didn't. It was carefully rehearsed and a good choice of songs. The club was rammed. From a personal point of view I was amazed, from a business point of view I was delighted."
But isn't there a temptation to stuff the place with long-toothed popsters who decide the world needs their take on the standards? People such as Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet? "Look, we also have great people like Kenny Barron and Ron Carter playing, or the trumpeter Lew Soloff, who is not the biggest name but is at the top of his game."
Anyway, the old management had their commercial bankers, he points out - Mark Knopfler, Paul Rodgers, Lisa Stansfield all played Ronnie Scott's. It must be a temptation to go down the safe dinner-jazz route and get the celebs turning up, as they did in the Sixties. What would he think if Posh and Becks walked in? There is a shocked pause. "Oh, God, no way. We do have celebrities, but it's pitch-black. They like it because it's not a place to be seen."
We're not just talking John Prescott. Paul McCartney has been coming since the Sixties, sitting quietly at the back with an orange juice. Recently there was "a pantomime fight" involving a famous Hollywood actor at 2am in the bar upstairs. "But nothing got into the newspapers."
And what of the prices? Big names are routinely costing £45 a ticket, add on food and drinks and there won't be much left for the babysitter. Green says: "Near where I live I can go to see Watford play [for £35], which is not particularly glamorous. If a couple of you go, by the time you've had something to eat and parked the car, it's not cheap. So I don't think things are overpriced here."
There are, of course, die-hards who are convinced that Ronnie Scott's is turning from a jazz club to a jazz-themed West End venue. There are grumbles about tourists more interested in Ronnie's rhubarb crumble than the scalding saxophone genius of Branford Marsalis. Still, you won't find anyone who isn't glad the club survives - that 47 Frith Street isn't a revue bar, a Pitcher and Piano or a car park.
The club is still the centre of jazz in Britain, even if it isn't quite the haven for local talent it once was. There are fewer support opportunities and not many British musicians sell enough tickets to headline, says Green. Still, at a time when no one is quite sure what jazz is, Ronnie's nostalgic vision is probably as valid as anyone's. Green says: "The day I officially got the job Pete [King] took me out for a cup of tea and said: 'I feel sorry for you. You don't stand a chance. When we were around you could book Ella Fitzgerald for two weeks. Now all the stars are dead.' He meant it in the nicest way."
But still the punters are coming, they're getting a decent glass of wine, friendly staff, and music that's sometimes outstanding in London's most murkily atmospheric venue. So yes, Ronnie Scott's probably deserves that award - just as long as Marti Pellow's not on every week.
Bill Hancock (B44-48) writes: "Your February 07 edition is were due to the war or to his parsimony I have never been to hand and, as usual, has given me much pleasure. sure. Certainly joining the army for my national service Twyfords Automatic Cistern rang a bell. Although I was a proved no great hardship after four years of Fred. I being from another planet (English's House) I recall seeing suppose I was one of the 'foot soldiers' at Aldenham, it in Gothic script on the wall of the printing society hut. always there or there about, taking part in most things but Strange that it should linger on in so many memories. no great shiner. I don't recall that we were pushed very Talking of poems; in about 1946 or thereabouts we were hard. ordered by the great Donald Parren (CR43-61) to write a poem for The Aldenhamian. We did as we were told and "I stayed in the army following my national service and mine was duly published. Years later in the Suez Canal found myself engaged in the Rundown of Empire in a wide Zone my Aldenhamian arrived by sea mail and on reading variety of places; Greece, the Cyprus and Malayan it found to my horror and fury that there was my poem emergencies, the Suez Canal Zone, twice, including the under someone else's name. My 'Disgusted of El Ballah' Suez affair (on the end of a parachute), Borneo, Kenya and letter to the editor brought a sincere apology and a letter several others. I regret never getting to Hong Kong. from the plagiarist saying that, like me, he had been ordered to do a poem for the mag and being pushed for "Along the way my path crossed with a few OAs; John time had just gone back through old copies in the library Sproule (M42-45), John Blackwell (S42-48) and Dick until he found one so old that no one would ever recognise Vincent (S45-50) come to mind. it. At least the poem got a second airing! "In 1974 I hung up my boots and started a second career "I generally enjoyed my time at Aldenham although how as County Emergency Planning Officer for my own County, much the over-Spartan conditions in Fred English's house Suffolk. With Sizewell A and B, coastal flooding and lots of
21 cold war airfields on my patch, it was an interesting job of Nigel Blackburn (B60-65) sent a short note to say he is contingency planning. now: "Director, Educational Centre Association of British Schools in Chile. You might be interested to know that John "I am now at the seven grandchildren stage of life. I have Blackburn, my father, (B25-29) is doing very well at just sold my boat in which I used to explore the tidal creeks nearly 96. He still lives in San Martin de los Andes in of the Thames estuary and am doing case work for SSAFA. Argentina." (Ed. Not quite our oldest living OA - that My wife Jenny and I are luckily still pretty fit and life is good. honour goes to Herbert Beausire (M23-25), unless you I occasionally see Jeremy Goodwin (B47-50) who was in know different…….) Beevor's with me. He and I attended the regional luncheon in Suffolk a year or so ago." Nicholas Wright (B59-63) was prompted by the arrival the latest Aldenhamiana to write: "I have not been in touch with (Ed: We reprint Bill's poem below. I have it on good the Society since I left school, and so I am writing a few authority that the guilty plagiarist visited the OA Office lines that may be of interest, and to thank the school for recently, but no mention was made of the poem!) sending me the Aldenhamian for all these years.
Desert - 1946 "When I left school in 1963 I joined Unilever as a Out here the bully tins are rusty now; commercial trainee. I was grateful for both the job offer and The burnt-out tanks lie blackened in the sun. the occupational guidance because at that time I really had The tapes are down where once the minefield lay; no idea what I might be suited for. I started my career at In this forsaken spot the war was won. Batchelors Foods in Sheffield where I worked for three years. It became apparent that it would be in my interest to Here, where the phone wire rattles in the wind, get a degree, and with the active assistance of Chris Was once the very mouth of fiery hell, Wright (CR50-67) (Beevors Housemaster) I got a place at Where men from Tyne and Tees to battle roared Sheffield University. My three years at Sheffield were And London men fought in the sand and fell. transformational, made more so by three years work expe- rience before going up. While at Sheffield I saw Jake It's quiet now - The men and tanks have gone Empson (B58-61) in passing on one or two occasions. I And left behind these crosses in a row, think at that time his father William Empson was still Only the sand flies buzz around the sport, teaching at the University. Where these men lie, not even poppies grow. "After University I rejoined Unilever and spent various periods of time in London, Bremerhaven, Rotterdam, Durban (South Africa), and Madrid. This gave me the CHEPSTOW REGIONAL LUNCH benefit of acquiring the German, Dutch and Spanish th 24 FEBRUARY 2007 languages, which, with shame, I confess that I have now forgotten except for a bit of Spanish. A select gathering of six OAs joined the Headmaster and his wife for a very convivial lunch at the Afon Gwy "During this international period I met Chris Wallace Restaurant, in Bridge Street, Chepstow. Theo White (B59-64) in Rio de Janeiro when I was passing through in (B54-59) produced an album of Aldenham Photos 1982. I also had an amusing experience in Cape Town in given to his grandfather, Felix White (S1885-91), in 1976 when I was staying in the Mount Nelson Hotel with my 1891 by H J McGill. Felix was amazingly one of eight Austrian boss (I shall call him Rudi), who was visiting from brothers who attended Aldenham - can anyone beat London. On checking in to the hotel I spotted an OA tie and that? was pleased to meet an elderly and distinguished gentleman called Mr Claridge (Ed: either Eric (B17-20) or Gordon (B6-29)). We spoke a bit and the following day I happened to see him when I was with Rudi at the swimming pool. I wandered over to pass the time of day, and on my return Rudi, always curious and slightly suspicious, asked who he was. I replied that we went to the same school. Rudi observed that Mr Claridge was a good deal older than I and how did I know he had gone to my school. The old school tie of course. But, protested Rudi, he is wearing swimming trunks! I never explained to Rudi, and suppose myths are built on small things like that.
"I went from Madrid to MacFisheries in Fraserborough in the North East of Scotland, which was an interesting Front to Back contrast for the family. My son went seamlessly from his Spanish to his Fraserborough school picking up the Max Warren (P1970-1975) Theo White (B1954-1959) syllabus where he left off in Spain much to our surprise. James Fowler (HM2006-) Mrs Jacqueline Lyne William Whitehead (S1954-1958) Warren Bradley-Bryan (B1942-1945) "In 1984 I left Unilever and went to work for Girobank, which Barry Lyne (B1944-1949) Andrew Pike (P1959-1964) at that time was a subsidiary of the Post Office, in Liverpool. In 1987 I moved to Cambridge and worked for an insurance
22 company based in Harlow which was subsequently taken "In issue no 35 of Aldenhamiana John Webb mentioned over by GAN, a French company. Some time after moving sleeping on the houseroom floor on mattresses. When the to our new house in Cambridge, I found out that the son of first air raid siren sounded for the school at midnight in July my elderly next door neighbour, who I later got to know, was 1940 each house went to their respective air raid shelters. Dr Richard Grange (M38-43). Cox's shelter was across the road from what was then the old chapel. By the time that fifty boys plus Sam and Jean "Next, I worked in north Norfolk for a government quango Cox, the house tutor, Miss Stokes, the matron and all the called the Construction Industry Training Board. For the last maids had settled down underground the all clear had ten years I have been Bursar at New Hall in Cambridge. sounded. I can only surmise that the sight of a very sleepy school the following morning would have convinced "When my son started his first term at Eton, I met Jefferis George Riding, the headmaster that a more practical (OA and contemporary) (Ed: possibly Stephan Jefferis solution had to be found. We started sleeping on the (S58-63)) whose son was also a new boy in College. ground floors of our houses the next term and this continued for about three terms until the bombardment of "I was especially interested last year when my son Ian and London slackened off. his wife Miranda who live in St Albans said that they had met up with Tim Butterworth (CR2001-), housemaster at "I have been living in Australia since 1963. Wyn and I have Beevors, because his wife Gay had attended the same been married for 57 years. We have six children and maternity classes, and they had both enjoyed being invited twenty grandchildren. I still keep in contact with R.G. Hill to tea at Beevors! Almost a full circle!" (M41-44) He lives in Jersey and was my Best Man in 1950." Basil Maddox (SH 51-56) emails from the USA: "Reading the current issue of Aldenhamiana brings back so many Andrew Hicks (K63-66) emailed from Thailand where he is memories, and reminds me that I once promised you tell now living: "My wife is Thai and we live for most of the year you about the sixth-form railway. but since it has never to in Thailand. My career was as a solicitor in London and my knowledge received its deserved mention in your then as a university lecturer in Nigeria, Hong Kong, pages, here's the story as I recall it: Singapore and finally at the University of Exeter. I have just updated my text book on Company Law published by "In June 1954 the sixth formers who had taken A-levels in Oxford University Press, all done with the benefit of the May had time on their hands, and so a project was devised internet out in the rice fields of Thailand. to occupy them. The yard in front of the clock tower was all gravel then; it was to be turned into grass. The plan was to "I am a best selling novelist with the novel, "Thai Girl" dig up the yard (manually!), and dump the rubble at the (www.thaigirl2004.com) and an irreverent take on my life in bottom of the hill by the Armoury. Thailand can be found on www.thaigirl2004.blogspot.com. This is a wonderful way of communication with family and if "But that sounded like hard work! So when someone found you publish this in Aldenhamiana, it would be a great way railway lines and dump cars, coalmine hardware to make contact with old friends." abandoned after Cook's Fields had been tiered and levelled years earlier, they had a brainwave. They'd build a railway! Denys Bennett (S60-65) sent the following news: "Lester And they did! It must have been 50 - 100 yards long, and all Corp (S59-64) and I are trustees of the Brooke Hospital for steeply downhill! A theme park would have been proud of it! Animals. The Brooke is the UK's leading overseas equine welfare charity and our aim is to improve the lives of hors- "Of course building and testing the railroad proved to be a es, donkeys and mules working in the poorest parts of the lot more fun than the hard work of digging. Others may tell world. These animals form the backbone of the economy in it better than I, as I had to watch its construction from many developing countries, supporting countless poor Mr.Kirkwood's (CR46-72) advanced maths classroom communities where many people earn less than a dollar a (which didn't please him!), the participants being one year day. Lester and I have recently returned from a trip to India ahead of me. Surely someone has a photo? I took several, and Pakistan including the North West Frontier province of but sadly my album was destroyed in a fire some years ago. Chitral, where we have been visiting some of the Brooke's work." "It still amazes me that P.G.Mason allowed it. I guess there were no liability suits in those days! I'm sure he regretted it And in connection with the new theatre development at the later , when term ended and he had to pay contractors to School: "Lester also trod the boards with enthusiasm at dismantle the track and finish the yard!" Aldenham - a highlight for both of us was playing in the school's production of A Man for All Seasons at the Minack J.A. Barrett (M40-42) writes with some memories of Cox's Theatre, Porthcurno, in 1963. I have many other fond House (McGill's): "I arrived as a new boy in what was then memories of drama at Aldenham, in particular the annual Cox's house for the Lent term of 1940 so my first year at House Drama competitions which provided a tremendous Aldenham took place amidst some significant events in learning experience as we were left to get on with our own British history such as Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain and the mistakes! We shall regret the passing of the old Theatre; no London Blitz to name a few. The pecking order in the lower longer will a production be held up by the audience houseroom was rigorously applied to reading the single unclipping their seats to roll around on the floor with copy of the newspaper. After twenty five boys more senior uncontrollable laughter, as when an otherwise unmemo- than I had devoured all the news it was usually about rable Midsummer Night's Dream descended into chaos Evening Prep time that I got a brief glimpse of history in the provoked by Nigel Heath's (S60-65) hysterically funny making in the rather dog-eared four page Daily Express. Wall." 23 Ed: Talking of theatre:
L-R L-R Andrew Fraser, Bursar Bursar James Fowler, Headmaster Laurence Mills (S55-61) Charles Oliver (P63-68) Antony Wood takes the Tony Dey (B52-57) Christopher Pointon (S61-66) opportunity to relive the day in Headmaster Richard Morris (S62-67) 1959 he won the Challenge Antony Wood (S54-59) Richard Jones (CR62-94) Shield for the One Mile Flat Tom Jackson (P51-56) Arthur Hearnden (CR59-67) Race. Alan Day (P52-57)
Thespian OAs and members of the Common Room from the 1950s and 1960s were invited back to School, on two different days, for lunch and the opportunity to view the site of the new School theatre. After lunch the plan was to adjourn to School House Garden to watch an abridged version of 'Zoo' - a play devised and presented by Year 10 (Lower 5th) GCSE students - we managed this once but unfortunately the weather defeated us on the other occasion!
More news from Geoff & Liz Furber (S70-74): "RIPPLE Africa has had a very busy period, and we've spent many days updating and revamping the website. There are hundreds of new pictures; there are eight short video clips, and lots of interesting details about the projects. Please take a look and click through the website www.rippleafrica.org .
In summary: The community tree planting project has been a great success - 550,000 trees planted out in January 2007. We have started to develop and construct the new secondary school, but we desperately need funds for this. We have just finished construction of the double classroom block at the primary school. This was funded through the EU. We are now supporting 5 nursery schools. Video section - eight short video clips.
"We've set up a carbon offsetting section so you can offset your carbon footprint and help local communities in Malawi to plant trees and make fuel efficient stoves - please support us on this one and tell your friends about it
"We'd love to hear from you - please let us have your comments about the website and what RIPPLE Africa is doing. A really big "THANK YOU" to everyone who donated or volunteered over the last year, and we hope you're pleased with all that has been achieved."
24 Peter Easby (S62-66) and School Governor sent the following report of this year's Halford Hewitt Golf Tournament: "The Old Aldenhamian Golf Society has just returned from its annual participation in the Halford Hewitt Golf Tournament. This is played at Royal St Georges and Royal Cinq Ports Golf Clubs in Kent - 64 Public School Old Boy teams of 10 per team - a unique golfing occasion and the largest amateur golf tournament in the world.
"This year we had 32 people attending and our team was:
Simon Radin & Jason Clemow Rob Alter & David Rawlinson (sub in 2nd round Guy Green) Adam Thrussell & Ben Thrussell Peter Easby & Richard Grun Shon Williams & Nicky Corbett
"We were drawn to play St Bees in the first round and the team (pictured top left) were clearly inspired by the presence of James Fowler (the Headmaster) who can be seen in the centre of the back row. The OAGS President Robert Aram (P50-55) can be seen taking it easy in the front row! We won 4-1.
"In the second round we were drawn against a strong Kings Canterbury team, who were fielding 7 local Royal St George's members - we lost to them 3 ½ - 1 ½. The eventual winners were Watsons who defeated Epsom in the final.
"A good time was had by all. If anyone is interested in joining the party at Deal each year for this event (or indeed any of the events of OAGS) they should contact Peter Easby - email address is [email protected]."
25 We reprint the following article featuring Ritchie Hanlon (L91-94) with acknowledgments to The Herts Advertiser: "New St Albans City manager Ritchie Hanlon has high ambitions for next season and is aiming to quickly stamp his authority on the club.
"Hanlon has played for Peterborough United, Rushden and Diamonds, Cambridge United, Stevenage Borough and Lincoln City. He had to retire from football in January 2007 after suffering a second cruciate knee ligament injury. The new boss has an impressive list of contacts and talked to Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd, former Luton Town manager Mick Harford, Peterborough United Director of Football Barry Fry and Conference title winning boss John Still before pressing his claims for the job. Hanlon said: 'I have been getting advice from Aidy Boothroyd. He was coaching when I joined Peterborough United and I spoke to Stilly (John Still) last week, I have known him for years.'
"In 2003, Hanlon won the League Two Championship with Rushden and Diamonds and also played in play off finals for Rushden, Lincoln City and Peterborough United after starting out his career at Chelsea, where he was captain of the youth team. He is clearly delighted to be making his first step on the managerial ladder at the Saints. He said: 'There are some good players here and a nice pitch. I thought what better place for a starting job than here? I like Colin Lippiatt and I know him well but he has moved on to pastures new and the club has moved on to pastures new. I have asked Lee Clarke to help out in the short term and he is very positive. He likes the club. He will be my captain and my lynchpin. I was with Scott Cousins at Chelsea and he is a very good player. We need him fit. I also played with Matt Hann at Peterborough and I know he is a good player.'
"I want the players to turn up for home games in a shirt and club tie and they will stay in the bar until 5.45pm after games on a Saturday. I want to instil discipline but I also want the players to express themselves on the pitch."
"After retiring from football Hanlon set up an agency and a match involving three teams of players released from clubs. He said: "I put together three teams and we put on three half-an-hour games. Lots of clubs came down and it gave players the opportunity to further their careers."
"The new manager will hold talks with all the players and is looking to add to the squad and fix up pre-season games quickly. Hanlon said: "You don't want unhappy players who you are not going to get the best out of but I won't be rushing into the market because wage demands are a little excessive at the moment. I know the positions I want, namely a defensive midfielder, a left winger and a goalkeeper.
"Pre-season friendlies are a major source of income. I need to work hard now because we need games and not just any old games."
John Perkins (P33-37) referring to a letter written by C R Ray Foxell (S50-55) wrote: "One of the leading lights in Riding (M41-45) in Aldenhamiana 34 writes: "I was many areas of our village life is John Attfield (B1945-49) surprised, after so many years, to read the contributions whom we know well. It turned out he is an OA. Though he from C R Riding concerning the sneaking out from the is older (even!) than I, there were many Aldenhamian points school at night of about 4 pupils and the treatment dished we had in common. Not only that, but his home at that time out by the Headmaster. I remember it well, as I was very was in Farnham Common, where my father was born. friendly with some of them and received accounts directly from those involved. "So thank you Aldenhamiana for the connection which otherwise would not have been established. "Firstly I would let you know that the American (with the bad blood!) was A W Von Hartz (B30-35) a very amiable fellow "Please find enclosed my official entry to the OA Prize Quiz who shortly after returned to the U.S.A. I do not know if he 2006. (The questions were in the October 2006 edition of is still alive nor can I now remember those others involved Aldenhamiana.) apart from R D Crombie (B29-35), the first XI goal keeper! "My OA Prize Quiz Answers "However, when the story became public knowledge, 8) Towser probably at the beginning of the following term, I can 14) 1969" assume from the news was not received with the same equanimity as C R Riding makes out. In fact everyone Ed: Ray, 100% correct, but only 2 answers. If only you had thought that, apart from Van Hartz, they were mad to entered before my exhortations in the last Aldenhamiana, return!" when I extended the deadline…..for now we have the following entry from:
26 Kevin (B71-74) and Peter (B50-55) Hawkes: "Herewith a Thanks to Roger Daniel (S64-68) for the following: "A joint effort - in fact, we had already found all but four of the lapse of contributing to your columns of over twenty years answers given here soon after the quiz was first issued but gives good grace for an update to be sent in. Last time I assumed that there would be lots of keen OAs capable of wrote I was Assistant Manager of Bridge/Oxfam, importing answering ALL the questions and so didn't bother to send handicrafts and small industrial production out of them to you. 'Wheezer', the urinating HM (can this be Griffin developing nations. Hong Kong was seen as more able to again? see PWH's last e-mail to you) and the tough supply the Manager and I resigned. No doubt balances footballer are most frustrating, as we've seen them quite have since been restored. recently but cannot track them down. "As an epithet to this I journeyed in an orange 1960's At least you will now have two replies (Ray Foxell's and Bedford truck with about 14 others across Europe to Sicily, this)... Tunisia, across the Sahara, only sand at that time, to Niger, Upper Volta (Burkino Faso) Mali and the Ivory Coast, from 1. Leonardo da Vinci whence travelled independently to Ghana. When you have 2. been sleeping out for months, it is really condensing to have the bounds of your consciousness restricted by four 3. Letchmore Heath walls! 4. 5. Four units of living accommodation "Returned to work at the family company, a now 100 year 6. Jeremy Collier's father! old established Department Store Company. Too many 7. Bob Grant different family branches does not make for a simple 8. Towser hierarchy of control. At this juncture determined that a bal- ance of hands and mind was needed and was accepted for 9. 25 yards x 15 yards a six month intensive government course in carpentry and 10. joinery in Woolwich. This has since proved very useful, 11. Kennedy but not the only activity which I have been involved in. 12. None 13. Cookham Parish Church with Stanley Spencer "In 1985, along with a group of others, on behalf of the as a small boy United Nation Association put on a concert at the Royal Albert Hall, the U.N. Year of Peace, the 4th anniversary of 14. 1969 the end of hostilities. We had a choir of 500 children, the 15. Johnny Goodfellow girl actress singer out of 'The Wizard of Oz', Chris de Burgh, 16. Sir Samuel Wilks (1824-1911), Ralph McTell, David Bellamy and many others. It was very see J. Roy. Soc. Med. 84 (1991) 44-45 'nip and tuck' as to the monies available, to the extent that 17. Leslie T. Manser the working committee had to carry all the staging out at the 18. 1976 end of the evening! 19. St Catharine's College "Then, with a view of horizons new, went out to South 20. Island, New Zealand and after approximately one year 21. Old Carthusians gained residency status. It is a strange thing that until you 22. R101 (G-FAAW) are officially a 'prospective Kiwi' you remain a tourist on the 23. David MacGregor outside. When you are accepted in the new land, somehow 24. School House garden it gets to your blood, how different it really is. It was not to be for me and some months later I returned to the Europe 25. www.oldaldenhamian.org of my birth. 26. Bunny Millard 27. R.C. Clift "The carpentry and joinery was again put to use in 28. renovation work to an Oxfordshire cottage of Saxon aspect 29. and a 1689 Ludlow town centre building. The past three 30. Music School years now have seen me in Switzerland in a rather large chalet for myself and living between here and Venice. 31. E.D.R. Shearer 32. Rifle shooting "Have never married, and have remained faithful to the 33. The Battleaxes spirit of the 1966 School House Library dance with St. Helens! (Ed: With these answers, Kevin and Peter have become quiz champions of all OAdom. But not all answers they "Nunc Aldenham, Nunc Aldenham, gave are correct. Can you (just for fun) offer any better answers? So what did they get right? The correct answers Nunc Aldenhamiensibus!" to all the questions will be published in the next Aldenhamiana. Meanwhile, we will arrange for Kevin and Peter's prizes to be presented or sent to them.
27 Mark Eadie (M76-81) writing to his Housemaster, Michael Library cave (July 7th) but that's not now possible. The Head Hetherington, allowed us to use some of his email: "This is of the local tourism bureau had promised that he would just a quick note to say that we have returned to the UK. I open up the rather infamous 'tantric art' cave for me, as left on a 3 week temporary assignment to Madagascar for well. It is off-limits to the public. I do miss tramping through Shell in March 1991, and have just arrived back, 16 years the mountains and deserts of China, and now I find that I later. I left Shell in 2004 - no reason to go, just no reason to am paying consultants and staff to do all that; I just get to stay! - and joined ERM, the environmental consultancy as see the insides of boardrooms and ministries. I calculated head of their Beijing office. However, with a need to get the that I travelled 65,000km by train around China during 5 children back into the British school system, we decided to years - better than Paul Theroux anyway. move "back home", so I recently joined JP Morgan Chase. I am responsible for the bank's environmental and social "My last job with ERM was advising a mining company on management around the world. It means more travel than a major new lease in north-eastern Cambodia, and I spent ever before: 9 countries in 3 weeks in May,and off to January in Sen Monorem, near the Vietnamese border. We Ethiopia and China next week. However, the glamour and had no electricity or hot water for much of the day, but we excitement of foreign travel has, to be honest, diminished had wireless internet connection. It's strange how the world and we are happy to be exploring Britain these days. Try is changing. I spent a month there, assessing the getting a pub lunch in rural China! environmental and social issues in an area inhabited mainly by the Bunong people who still live mainly in "Still, all the travel has helped with the languages, as I am isolated parts of the forest. I remember standing on a comfortable with French, get by in Dutch and German and hillside one morning, with the sun coming up over the can survive in Chinese. Sadly, I am shown up by my 12 Annamite Mountains and thinking that it was really year old daughter who speaks far better Chinese and she wonderful that someone was prepared to pay me to do can read and write it as well. such enjoyable work. I have been very fortunate to have worked with three companies that have provided me with "It is very strange returning to the UK after so long. I was such a good career!" told off by the children for absent-mindedly trying to negotiate the price of a train ticket at Heathrow a few months ago. I find I have to restrain myself from asking "Is that the best price?" everywhere. After all those years - Madagascar, Oman, Holland, the US and the last 5 in China - it's quite refreshing that I can now complain about things without being told to 'go home if you don't like it'.
"I have been accepted to study for a Masters in Cultural Heritage at Deakin University in Melbourne, but have had to postpone it for a year - at least - while I settle into this new role. I hunted for a long time for a suitable distance-learning Masters in Anthropology, but settled for Cultural Heritage after spending two years advising the World Bank on cultural tourism project investments in China. The highlight of those projects was getting to see many of the normally- closed sites along the old Silk Road in western China - from Michael Hetherington (CR59-94 and McGill's Luoyang and Xi'an to Zhangye and the amazing cave- Housemaster 1979-89) is pictured here in July umpiring temples at Dunhuang. I had planned to be at Dunhuang for the match between Aldenham and the touring the 100th anniversary of Aurel Stein's discovery of the Gordonstoun.
ATTENTION EMAIL USERS
The School subscribes to an external company which filters out ISPs (Internet Service Providers) which carry a lot of SPAM. AOL and Tiscali in particular (and there may be others) are two ISPs which are often filtered out. OAs using these ISPs, who also correspond with the OA Office via email, may find they have difficulty either sending or receiving email. You may wish to consider changing ISP. For your information the ISP 'chat21.com' is a part of Tiscali.
THE OA SOCIETY COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU, THE OA SOCIETY MEMBERS, TELL US WHAT MORE YOU THINK THE SOCIETY CAN DO FOR YOU ……….. DIFFERENT EVENTS ? INFORMATION? OA REGALIA? PLEASE LET US KNOW!
28 OA CAMBRIDGE DINNER - 12th May 2007
26 OAs and guests joined the Headmaster and his wife at Clare College, Cambridge for the first ever OA Cambridge Dinner. The evening started with Evensong which was sung beautifully by the School Chapel Choir, who had made the journey up from Aldenham especially, and this was followed by a drinks reception in the Great Hall and dinner in the Small Hall. The Headmaster toasted the School and Alan Grieve (S40-45) replied on behalf of the OAs. Ceri Davis (P2003-05 & Clare College) and the Catering Staff at Clare College did a fabulous job of hosting the dinner and we hope it will be repeated in the future.
Mr Robert Arthur (S55-60) Mr Christopher Carnaghan (S56-61) Mr Timothy Constable (S48-53) Mr Timothy Dale (S56-61) Mrs Vivienne Dale Miss Ceri Davis (P2003-05) His Honour Judge Simon Fawcus (M52-56) Mr William Garwood (S57-62) Mr William Gelson (S49-54) Mr Alan Grieve (S40-45) Mrs Karen Grieve Mr Paul Griffin (HM62-74) Mrs Felicity Griffin Mr Mark Hargreaves (S47-52) Mr John McAllister (CR67-2005) Mrs Glen McAllister Mr Derek Redmayne (S45-50) Mrs Ann Redmayne Mr David Slimmon (B48-53) Mr Alan Vening (CR73-94) Ms Susan Kendall Mr Brian Woodrow (B51-56) Mr James Fowler (HM2006-) Dr Charlotte Fowler The Reverend Wealands Bell (CR2004-07)
29 SPORTS CLUB OFFICERS AND SECRETARIES
Football OA SOCIETY
Chairman - Paul Clemow President: Mike Taylor mobile: 07973 336073 c/o Aldenham School e-mail: [email protected] Elstree Hertfordshire WD6 3AJ Club Captain - Martyn Berg mobile: 07767 845261 Acting Hon. Secretary: Mark Jordan e-mail: [email protected] 55 Kewferry Road Northwood Captain 2nd Xl - Andrew Carroll Middx mobile: 07713 640 566 HA6 2PQ email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Hon. Treasurer: Richard Peart Strathyre Veterans Football Hadley Green Barnet Mark Cox Herts Email: [email protected] EN5 4PS Email: [email protected] Alex Henchley Email: [email protected]
FREEMASONRY
Golf The Old Aldenhamian Lodge, No. 4884 (founded 1926)
Hon. Secretary - Ian Eggleden Master: F E Burlingham Johnson 119 Constitution Hill Norwich NR6 7RN The Old Aldenhamian Lodge, which exists primarily for past office: 01277 695852 members of Aldenham School, its Governors and its mobile: 07789 030381 teaching staff, present and past, meets at 10 Duke Street, e-mail: [email protected] St James's, London SW1 on the second Wednesday in January, the first Wednesday in March, and the third Wednesday in June and October.
Cricket Full particulars of the Lodge can be obtained from the Secretary: B S Tan Captain and Hon. Secretary - Hanif Moledina 5 Busch Close 13 Lincoln Road Park Road Northwood Isleworth Middlesex HA6 1LB Middx home: 01923 840368 TW7 6UE office: 01788 55440 Home: 020 8580 2966 mobile: 0410 239295 e-mail: [email protected]
Fives
Hon. Secretary - Josh Rose Chelbury 59 Beech Avenue RADLETT Herts WD7 7DD Mobile: 07798 792590 e-mail: [email protected]
30 STANDING ORDER AUTHORITY
Old Aldenhamian Society, Voluntary Membership Subscription
Full Name:
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone No. Email:
I would like to make a Voluntary Membership Subscription to the
Old Aldenhamian Society of £ each year.
Starting on (date at least one month ahead):
until further notice OR for a period of : years
Your Bank Details:
Name(s) of account Holder(s):
Bank name:
Bank full address:
Postcode
Account no: Sort Code: / /
Please Pay:
Name: Old Aldenhamian Society Bank: National Westminster Bank PLC Branch: 72/74 High Street, Watford, Herts WD1 2BQ Account No: 48759414 Sort Code: 60-00-08
Please debit my/our account accordingly.
Signature: Date:
For OA Office and Bank use only
Bank please quote as Ref:
Please return the completed form to : Old Aldenhamian Office, Aldenham School, Elstree, Herts WD6 3AJ
31 32