Aldenhamiana No 23 October 2001

Published byTHE OLD ALDENHAMIAN SOCIETY Aldenham School, Elstree, Hertfordshire WD6 3AJ, England e-mail: [email protected] www.oldaldenhamian.org ______THE PRESIDENT'S LETTER Finally, I must send the thanks of the Society to Lindy Creedy who served us so well for many years, and welcome in her place Molly I find myself writing this letter in the aftermath of the horrendous Barton whose husband, Trevor, has most helpfully taken over as Editor terrorist attacks on the United States on 11th September which, in turn, of Aldenhamiana. led to the postponement of the Society’s Committee Meeting which was eventually held a week later than intended, on 18th September. I hope to see many of you at the events that are now being arranged for the months ahead. Dick Vincent That delayed meeting of your Committee considered some of the more significant business in recent years on behalf of active and interested OAs, including the recommended revision of our membership and EDITOR’S NOTES subscription arrangements, which will be put to the next AGM for formal approval in Tallow Chandlers Hall, London, at 5.00pm on 9th This is my first edition of Aldenhamiana as Editor. For those of you April 2002. who do not know me, I was in Kennedy’s House from 1971 to 1975, went to University, spent ten years in the Royal Navy and, after 9th April 2002 will also mark precisely the centenary of the formation changing career and some years living abroad, have now moved back of the OA Society and at our recent Committee meeting we agreed a with my family to live locally and to work in London. I will leave you to decide if such a CV qualifies me to edit Aldenhamiana! My wife programme of appropriate events to mark this significant achievement. Molly has taken over from Lindy Creedy as administrative assistant in These will commence with a Reception in Tallow Chandlers Hall after the OA office so, in the course of a few months, the production of the AGM and continue next on OA Day on 19th May 2002. Your Aldenhamiana has become a family affair. Molly will gather your news committee is also working on the arrangements for a special Summer for insertion into each edition. You can contact her via the School Ball to be run in conjunction with the Aldenham School Parents’ phone number: 01923 858122, via email: [email protected], or you Association on 29th June 2002, and a Centenary OA Dinner will be can write to her Ð or me - care of the School. We would like to hear held at Lords’ Cricket Ground Banqueting Suite on 15th November from you. 2002. Do please watch out elsewhere in this issue, and on the OA website, for more details of these events and make a special effort to I have some pleas and requests: - join us for them in our Centenary Year.

We need your photographs of life at Aldenham to spice up This year’s OA dinner will be held in the House of Lords on 9th Aldenhamiana Ð if you have any which you think we may like to November and early applications (and payment!) for tickets will be publish, please send them to Molly along with a commentary. needed to secure a place because numbers are limited. We are trying to increase our database of email addresses for OA’s Ð I cannot conclude this letter without thanking those who devote so both for ge n e ral re fe rence and (if you agree) to use to send much time and effort to our Society. As we seek to adapt it to meet the Aldenhamiana to you. This is much cheaper than posting. So please let expectations and aspirations of a newer generation of OAs, they have Molly have your email address and indicate if, in future, you would be made a sustained effort to carry this work forward in a timely and happy to receive Aldenhamiana by email. effective way. In doing all this they merit the interest and support of OAs as a whole, for whom they work so tirelessly. The OA website is worth a look Ð address above. Lots of information, thanks to the marvellous efforts of Mark Jordan. Events, results, I must also on behalf of all OAs congratulate the OA Cricket XI on downloads of Aldenhamian and Aldenhamiana, etc. etc. Also you can winning the Brewers’ Cup Ð what a marvellous way to launch our notify us of your change of address, location of "lost OA’s", etc. Centenary Year! At Aldenham itself it is a very great pleasure to see the School thriving under the leadership of the new Headmaster, The OA Society Committee would be particularly pleased to hear from Richard Harman, and his dedicated staff. The transformation of the any female OA’s who would be keen to join the Committee.We would School’s facilities has continued apace and it is very rewarding to see benefit from a woman’s viewpoint! Please contact Dick Hall or me. that academic standards are now rising significantly. The overall effect of these welcome developments is that school numbers are now the Lord Vincent,in his President’s Letter, mentions next year’s Ball,to be highest in its long history. held at the school. It will in the main be organised by the Parents’ 1 Association, but they have kindly invited the OA Society to be part of 1. Matters arising the occasion in our Centenary year. It promises to be a very enjoyable occasion,and we really hope to see lots of you there. Plan now to come There were no matters arising from the minutes that would not be with a group of friends! Please register your interest at this stage with discussed in Molly, contact details above. We will then ensure you receive further Committee and the President signed the minutes of the meeting held on details when the arrangements are finalised. 21st March 2000.

The organisers of the Ball are very keen to hear from any OA’s who 2. Election of Officers have a catering business or who can provide music (band, group or disco) Ð on a commercial basis! Please contact Molly and she will pass Caroline Woodrow (B84-86) was eligible for re-election but had on your expression of interest to the organisers. decided that work commitments would not allow her to continue. Sarah Jane Costello (B82-84) had also decided not to seek re-election and they received our best wishes and thanks for their past support. Ian Also, if anyone has a pet VIP or knows an excellent after-dinner Luetchford (B48-51) had agreed to continue on the Committee for a speaker, please let Molly know Ð again, the organisers would like to further three-year term. Chris Arkell (B46-52) had also tendered his hear from you. resignation from the Committee and it was proposed by the Hon. Secretary and jointly seconded by P. Llewelyn Jones (S38-42) and F. Finally, the plea of every editor of an "alumni" magazine Ð please send E. Burlingham Johnson (S39-41) that he is made a Vice-President. us your news and views. Even if you only write a few lines, it will be All remaining offi c e rs and Committee Members we re hap py to much appreciated - not only by me but, far more importantly, by your continue for a further year. contemporaries at Aldenham. Trevor Barton 3. President’s Report

HEADMASTER’S LETTER Lord Vincent apologised to the assembled company for the hour’s delay in beginning the meeting, but this was due to the current heavy It gives me great pleasure to be writing to you again at the start of a new workload currently of the general Committee.With this in mind Lord School year, my second at the helm at Aldenham. Elsewhere in this Vincent was very aware of the enormous effort and time that was edition of "Aldenhamiana" you will find my Headmaster’s report to the currently being devoted by the various Committee Members and OA AGM, so I will not overdo things by writing again at length here. I thanked those involved.The OA Website has been warmly welcomed hope a brief update will suffice. and he thanked Mark Jordan (P81-86) for his efforts and reported that Phase II would be fully operational by January 2002. This next phase would introduce a secure membership site, which would require a We have had a very good start to the new academic year with our best membership number and password. It was hoped that members would ever A level results, 63% of grades being at A to C,and record numbers also benefit from an interactive messaging communication centre to in the School. There are now 440 boys and girls at Aldenham from 11 allow OA’s to be in contact with other e-mail/internet OA users. There Ð 18 and this is a very healthy sign indeed for the future. was continuing discussion involving the Society’s needs,especially the decisions concerning future membership of the Society. Lord Vincent Buoyed by these two factors there is a good atmosphere around the was anxious to see what proposals would be presented about the ‘Life School and I hope that as many of you as possible will be able to come Subscription’debate and where savings could be made concerning the and visit us this year. I look forward very much to the Centenary costs of the pro d u c t i o n , p o s t age and pack aging of the va ri o u s celebrations of the OA Society and to joining you in toasting the health publications. But in principal it had been agreed in Committee that of the OAs and the School. It is also a great boost to hear at the there would be an annual charge of £10 p.a. for Society membership beginning of term that the OA cricketers won the Brewers’Cup and my and that this would be levied voluntarily 20 years after the pupil had left School having paid a subscription to cover this first 20 year period c o n grat u l ations go to Hanif Moledina and his team for their before leaving the School. OA Day will be on Sunday 24th June 2001 outstanding performance. where it was hoped that we would encourage OAs to picnic with families around the cricket field - we will be featuring those OAs who I am sure that this will be an exciting year for the School and I look are going to attend on the Website.The Centenary of the Society is an forward to keeping in contact with you as the School year progresses. important matter, which falls on Tuesday 9th April 2002 and various My best wishes and thanks to you all for your continuing support. events are being planned to commemorate this milestone.The Society Richard Harman was aware that we needed to attract involvement of ‘old girls’, who now number over 150, especially as we were losing the services of Caroline Woodrow and Sarah Jane Costello. We will be contacting OA SOCIETY AN N U AL GENERAL MEETING 2001 various OA Girls to see who would like to be involved on the OA Society committee. Lord Vincent congratulated all those involved (Heather Sherman, Lindy Creedy, Richard Hall (K69-74) and Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Old Aldenhamian Jonathan Coates (S64-69) for the publication of the February edition Society held at 7pm on Tuesday 20th March 2001, at Aldenham of the Aldenhamiana and informed the meeting that he had obtained the School. Field Marshal the Lord Vincent of Coleshill was in the chair services of Trevor Barton (K71-75) as Editor of the magazine and he and 15 members attended. would therefore be elected onto the Committee later in the meeting. 2 The President confirmed that The House of Lords was the venue for the pupils have represented Hertfordshire at U14 level, while Alex Long OA Dinner on Friday 9th November and that Tom McNab would be the (B3) has also played in the U13 age bracket. guest speaker. Finally the President reported that Chris Arkell had not sought re-election at the AGM and would therefore be severing 50 Fives years association with Aldenham and it was unanimously agreed that Martin Tennant (B96-01)) and Reza Sibilant (R96-01) reached the he be elected as a Vice-President at this AGM. It was hoped that Chris Quarter Final of the National Handball Championships at Rossall would be a guest at the OA Dinner in recognition of his services. School in December. In March we entered the Southern Schools Championship at Charterhouse with two junior teams. Jamie Harris 4. Headmaster’s Report (P4) and Chris Cernuschi (K4) won the competition beating QE Barnet in the Final. This is the first time we have won the trophy for Pupil Numbers and Recruitment about six years and it is an encouraging sign for the future. At the end The School numbers 412 which is the same number as at the beginning of this term Aldenham will enter pairs at senior, U16 and U14 level for of term although down from the opening number in September 2000 of the National Championships week which this year will be held at 419, itself a record number.There is always a little fluctuation in Harrow School. overall numbers during the school year and recruitment remains strong. Next September should see a record overall number once again. Judo Our team competed in the Independent Schools’ Tournament on 3rd New Developments for September 2000 March and bronze medals were won by David Tross (Ma2),Min-Ouk In addition to these major projects, work has been completed on Park (M4) and Sung Min Sohn (B4). refurbishing the remaining Science Laboratories, the Business Studies classrooms as well as pupil and staff accommodation in Beevor’s and Basketball McGill’s Houses. The Chapel has been replastered and repainted inside The U19 team have played four games so far of which they have won following repairs to the external brickwork earlier in the year, and the one. Sports Hall has received much needed maintenance and redecoration to the floor and the walls. Music Ð Winter Term 2000 Music at Aldenham continues to grow in strength and depth, and the Notable events and achievements n ew Music School has provided tremendous impetus. Recent Mention has already been made of the excellent opening ceremonies a ch i evements include a re c o rding of a CD with the Harrow for the Pre-Preparatory Department and the new Music School. In Philharmonic Choir, the Spring Concert at the Watford Coliseum where addition, there was a highly successful OA Dinner held at the School several ex pupils, colleagues and friends joined the Chapel Choir, on 17th November to which over 140 OAs came, with a wide range of Choral Society and Orchestra in the Chichester Psalms by Bernstein. ages and geographical locations being represented. Other performances of note included James Palmer (PU6) in the first movement of Richard Strauss’s Horn Concerto No. 1 and Alex Aldenham is now one of the leading institutions in the area of Key Orchard (K3) as the soloist in the Chichester Psalms. An excellent Skills, part of the new Sixth Form arrangements. As a result of this House Music Competition before half term this term was adjudicated success the Second Deputy Head Neil Roskilly (CR98-) has authored by Edward Barbieri, Director of Music at Edge Grove, with the overall a publication for the Department of Education that has been distributed winner being Ke n n e dy ’s House. The ra n ge and standard of to all schools in the country. This has been very well received and Tim contributions, both individual and House, was very impressive. Other Lello (CR98-), Head of History, has been asked to write another in the highlights of the term included lunchtime recitals in the Waddell series. Recital Room and an excellent School Carol Concert. Forty pupils sat Associated Board of Guildhall Music Exams in the past year and all but Notable achievements for pupils include the award of a prestigious two of them achieved a pass or above, with several merits and A rk w right Sch o l a rship for Design Te ch n o l ogy to Yi a n n i distinctions. Charalambous (PU6) and the Painter-Stainer Schools Prize to Tim Reid (R93-00). Music Ð Spring Term 2001 There have been a number of regular lunchtime recitals in the Waddell Recital Room, in addition to GCSE and A level concerts and wider Sport pupils’ concerts. The choir is strong, especially at the junior end, and sang very well at the recent Confirmation Service.This term sees the Football Spring Concert which is to take place in the Chapel in line with our aim The 1st XI finished the season with a record of played 16, won 6, of alternating between an outside venue and an internal event year by drawn 2, lost 6, reaching the last 16 of the Independent Schools’Cup. year.The recent Prep Schools’ Music Day saw over 90 young musicians on site with ages ranging from 9 to 18. The day ended with Hockey an excellent concert given by the visiting pupils and Aldenham pupils There are still a number of games left to be played this season. So far combined with a duo written and performed by Jamie Ellis (L5) and 39 matches have been played of which 23 have been won or drawn. The Thomas Weil (K5) which was a humorous look at the life of a Music 1st XI have had mixed fortunes but results have been particularly good Scholar at Aldenham! This very successful day ended with a short at the lower end of the School, which is very encouraging for the reception in the new Music School and was a success both in musical future, with the U14 A team enjoying an unbeaten season to date. Six and marketing terms. 19 different feeder Schools were represented. 3 Drama century. I know that the Headmaster will be addressing this issue. This year’s School Play was "The Madness of King George III" by Alan Bennett, directed by Mr Gary Taylor (CR94-). It was an During the year we received an anonymous donation (£1,000) towards ambitious and demanding choice and the audience were treated to a a prize, especially to commemorate the staff during the Second World graphic illustration of the disturbing medical practices of the time. War.The School established a prize called the Staff Prize (39-45) Excellent performances were given by pupils from the 3rd Form to the which will be awarded to a 6th former who had not won a prize but has Upper Sixth, with Graham Brady (KU6) as King George giving a shown an overall improvement during the year. Writing to those OAs powerful and sensitive portrayal of the King and Sarah Leigh (BU6) who attended the School during this period has brought this prize fund providing excellent support as Queen Charlotte. to well over £2,200.

Looking forward to OA Day 2001, we are hoping to encourage OA’s to Marketing picnic with families around the cricket pitches. We will use the Website Work on a new prospectus is underway. Jon Willcocks Associates have to feature those OAs who will be attending OA Day and will also been hired to do the work and Jon Willcocks himself has attended the contact key OAs to encourage their contemporaries to come along as openings of the Pre-Prep and the Music School this term in order to well. make a start on the photography. Delivery of the new prospectus is expected in time for the new school year in September 2001. In Besides losing our two Old Girls from the Committee, Chris Arkell has addition, a Parental Satisfaction Survey and a Survey of Feeder School also decided to not seek re-election. We hope that we can honour Heads is being undertaken. In conjunction with informal research Chris’s contribution to the OA Society in an appropriate manner. amongst pupils and staff within the School, this will feed in to the strategic planning process which is so important to the longer-term I am very grateful to Lindy Creedy for her tremendous support health of the School throughout the year as well as the sterling efforts of Heather Sherman for compiling and editing Aldenhamiana. John McAllister’s (CR67-) 5. Secretary's Report enthusiasm has helped improve the contact with our younger OAs and I also thank Jonathan Coates for overseeing the proof reading of It has been a year in which we have tried to establish an improvement Aldenhamiana. in communication with OAs across all sectors of the Society.The Website has helped spread important news more efficiently and has we In closing I would like to point out that Barry Liddiard (S53-58) has hope, encouraged greater awareness of some of the main activities. The a dded some ve ry valued points to the deb ate about the debate concerning ‘Life Subscriptions’ indicated a need for regional recommendations of the President’s Working Party. However, the involvement and I hope that we can set up some pilot schemes later in recommendations of the Working Party indicated that the Society needs the year.We have drawn up a list of OAs by county who attended to become more proactive, and this can only be achieved through a School between the 1930’s and 1960’s. It is our intention to contact key great deal of time and effort. The Life Subscription debate was a means OAs in these counties to see whether they will assist in organising of increasing the income into the Society to help fund a part time some biennial luncheons. By encouraging debate we have also seen an income for an Honorary Secretary who will help co-ordinate the increase in letters (and e-mails) from OAs who want to inform Society’s affairs on a more professional basis. contemporaries about their news Ð the February 2001 issue of the Aldenhamiana was a very good read. 6. Treasurer's Report

We have not had a great deal of support in trying to get the OA Hockey John Rimer presented a detailed report, which was to be adopted at the and OA Squash sections up and running again. Lindy Creedy has AGM and indicated a growing income level of around £700, but also drawn up a list from the Register of those OAs who played these sports an increased expenditure level. This together with falling interest rates while at School and we will begin the task of contacting these OAs in brought about a similar figure to 1999 of a small surplus of £437.75p. the near future. The balance sheet also showed a healthy balance of £43,806.53p against £43,368.78p in 1999. It was also reported that the Society had We are losing the services of Caroline Woodrow and Sarah Jane received a legacy of £1,000 from the estate of W.A.H. Cooke (M33- Costello from the OA Society committee.We are very grateful for their 36).The accounts were formally adopted and were proposed by e ffo rts over the ye a rs. Sadly, this will mean that we have no A d rian Sturgeon (S48-51) and seconded by F.E. Burl i n g h a m representation from Old Girls on the Committee.What is more Johnson (S39-41), and a vote of thanks was given to John Rimer. worrying is that we have no real direct contact with our Old Girls and this must become a priority for the Society. 7. The Aldenham School War Educational Trust Fund The Headmaster was concerned about the letter published in the February issue of the Aldenhamiana from Barry Cozens (P26-31), and John Woodrow (B46-51) reported that the current annual gross particularly that he wrote that "Aldenham appears to be off all maps income is about £13,000 but as recovery of Advance Corporation Tax and sunk out of sight" and "Last year Aldenham just appeared at the diminishes, so will the income of the Fund.There are 7 current bottom (800th) the GCSE Times results pecking order". Th i s recipients of assistance, 5 Bursaries at £1,500pa and 2 Grants at view/opinion is I am sure shared by a majority of OAs who are over the £1,000pa and £1,350pa respectively. The Trustees give preference to age of sixty. It is part of the responsibility of the OA Society to help Boarders. The maximum Bursary for a Boarder is £1,500pa and Day feature the improvements and potential of the School in this new Pupils are reduced pro rata. 4 8. The Friends of Aldenham School Association Limited (FASA) for unplayable pitches, which is testament to the hard work Gerald does to keep the pitches in excellent condition. The OAFC would like to A Millennium Draw was held on 27th November 1999, superbly thank both Gerald and David Mead for their efforts during the season. organised by Tony Hunt (B49-54).The prizes were a Peugeot 206, a Palm Top computer and a case of champagne. As only one prize Ð the It was a season of mixed fortunes for both the 1st XI and 2nd XI, both champagne Ð was donated, the surplus was only £1,655. This was teams winning some hard fought games but at the same time losing donated towards the cost of the new Recording and Technology Studio games they should really expect to win. If the teams could find some in the new Music School. A further donation of £650 was made in consistency then they may be able to get promoted to the top division memory of Jack Waddell (S38-42).This was put towards the cost of a in their respective divisions. One positive note from the season was the Xylophone. During the current year, a donation of £100 has been given influx of younger players into the club with Paul Hubbard (P92-97), to the School Honduras Expedition. Incidentally two of the three prizes Nik How (M92-97) & Kevin Worsnop (B92-97) becoming r egulars were won by OAs Ð John Collis (P51-56) (the car) and Adam Curtis for the 1st XI. Our thanks to the two captains, Martyn Berg (B89-94) (S46-52) (the champagne). & Tony Cocozza (M80-85) for their efforts during the season, hopefully they will be able to build in the future on what has been 9. OA Day and OA Society Annual Dinner achieved.

OA Day is on Sunday 24th June 2001 and the OA Dinner is on Friday ARTHURIAN LEAGUE VETERANS CUP 2001- 9th November 2001 at The House of Lords. 2002 SEASON

10. Date of next Annual General Meeting The following draw has been made for this season’s Cup competition. The first round has to be played by 24th November 2001: Tu e s d ay 9th Ap ril 2002 at Ta l l ow Chandlers Hall, L o n d o n , t o commemorate the first annual meeting of the OA Society, followed by Lancing v Salopians a buffet reception Harrovians v Aldenhamians Brentwood v Foresters 11. Any Other Business Etonians v Ardinians Wykehamists v Wellingburians Adrian Sturgeon (S48-51) raised the point about the rising costs of the Bradfieldians v Carthusians Aldenhamian magazine and whether it was worthwhile continuing to Cholmelians v Malvernians send this to over 3600 OAs. The President informed him that this very Chigwellians v Reptonians issue was still under discussion by the School and the Society.The Headmaster informed the meeting that the School issued a colour A4 Any player over 35 years of age on the 1st October is eligible for the four-page newsletter every term and this publication should also be competition and should contact Dick Hall tel. 01737 351630 or email considered as a possible alternative for OAs. [email protected]. This will be the very first time we have had a fixture against the Harrovians Veterans, so I am not sure yet where the There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.55pm with fixture will be played or the date of the match. apologies for over running the time allocated and a vote of thanks to John Westcott (P50-53) for arranging the use of the City University If anyone is interested in playing for the OA's next season,or becoming Club for the AGM. involved in any capacity, then please contact Paul Clemow (tel. 07973 336073 email [email protected]) or Martyn Berg (tel. 07767 845 CLUB REPORTS 261 email [email protected]) or you are welcome to join us at our regular training sessions on Tuesday evenings at 8pm on the School OA Football Club Astroturf. Our fixtures are played on Saturday afternoons.

Paul Clemow (K88-83), Captain of the OAFC, sent the following OA Golfing Society Report for the 2000/2001 season:

Hon Secretary - Ian Eggleden (S 58-63), 2 Merchant Court, 61 Unfortunately in early March the League decided to cancel 2000/2001 Wapping Wall, London E1W 3SJ Tel: 020 7702 0028 (Home) 01923 season. This was due to the poor weather which had continued after 205645 (Office). Christmas, many games being cancelled due to waterlogged pitches. In one case Old Brentwood's 3rd XI had played 2 games by March with Halford Hewitt 2000 another 14 games to play in 3 weeks. This was the case for a number 5 April v Mill Hill at Royal St Georges, Sandwich. of teams and the forecast of more rain left the League with no other Result: Lost 2-3 choice but to cancel the season and bring everybody back next season Team: SGO Williams & J Bloomfield Lost 1 hole for a fresh start. RA Alter & D Rawlinson Won 10&8 RJ Coombes & J Wells Lost 2&1 Fortunately for the OAFC, the 1st XI played 12 of their 14 allotted SP Radin & R Steel Lost 5&4 games for the season. No 1st XI or 2nd XI home game was cancelled N Corbett & DJ McMonagle Won 1 hole 5 Halford Hewitt Plate Summer Meeting 6 April v City of London at Princes, Sandwich. 25 July at Ashridge Result: Won 2-1 Attendance: 20 (23 in 2000) Team: SGO Williams & AThrussell Lost 2&1 Results: SP Radin & R Steel Won 7&6 Ian Greig Trophy I Wilson-Soppitt (66) G Green & DJ McMonagle Won 3&2 Scratch Prize RA Alter (72) Stableford Prize MW Blake (41 pts) 7 April v St Bees at Princes, Sandwich. Laurence Latter Trophy I Wilson-Soppitt & RA Aram (39 pts) Result: Lost 1-2 Team: SP Radin & R Steel Lost 2 holes N Corbett & AThrussell Lost 5&4 We are always keen to welcome new members - golfing ability, age and G Green & DJ McMonagle Won 2&1 beauty are not assessed! If you are interested, contact the Hon Secretary.

Spring Meeting HONOURS & APPOINTMENTS 10 May at West Hill. Attendance: 13 (24 in 2000) The Society congratulates the following OAs: Results: Spring Challenge Cup RFH Crabb (72) On Tuesday 24 July 2001, The Archbishop of Canterbury conferred Scratch Prize RA Alter (75) upon Canon Roger Greenacre (P44-48) the degree of Doctor of Stableford Prize ND Melvill (33 points) President's Cup JDL Yule & ND Melvill (31pts) Divinity at a ceremony in Lambeth Palace, acting in accordance with an Act of Parliament of 1533 which gives him authority to award full Grafton Morrish degrees. "This", the Archbishop wrote "would be in recognition of the 20 May at Royal Ashdown Forest s i g n i ficant contri bution that you have made to A n g l i c a n - R o m a n Result: Failed to qualify for Finals (63 points) Catholic relations over decades, particularly with the Roman Catholic Team: N Corbett & J Wells (26) Church in France and Belgium." G Green & B D McMonagle (20) RD Hall & S Goodfellow (17) Roger reports: "I am now Priest in Charge of St Michael’s, Beaulieu- sur-Mer and would be happy to meet and OAs living on the Côte Match v Old Leysians d’Azur." 29 May at Brookmans Park. Result: Won 2-1 Team: RA Covington & CR Brown Won 5&4 Ian Eggleden (S58-63) has been elected president of the Pensions WH Gamble & ND Melvill Won 5&4 Management Institute. P Bailey & K Whittaker Lost 3&2 Professor Martin Sweeting, OBE, FRS (B64-70) has been elected to a Match v Mid-Herts Fellowship of the Institute of Physics. Not played in 2001 The Reverend Richard Bashford (S50-54) has been elected to the Match v Old Shirburnians. Faculty of Fellows of the Birmingham Society. 8 July at Ashridge. Result: Halved 5 - 5 Mr P.J. Burton (B46-51) has been elected First Warden of the Tallow Chandlers’Company. The Mellin Salver 12 July v Cheltenham at West Hill. Result: Lost 1-2 Mr E.P.G. Sherrard (S65-69) has been elected Middle Warden of the Team: J Irwin & RFH Crabb Won Girdlers’Company. PJR Marsh & D RRWB Cooke Lost RJ Coombes & I Wilson-Soppitt Lost ENGAGEMENTS

The Mellin Plate The engagement is announced between Nicholas J. Davey (S71-76) 12 July v Oundle at West Hill. and Cicely Corke. Result: Won 3-0 Team: J Irwin & RFH Crabb Won The engagement is announced between Thomas Q. Perrot (M91-96) PJR Marsh & D RRWB Cooke Won and Rosie Longley. RJ Coombes & I Wilson-Soppitt Won

13 July v Lancing at West Hill. The engagement is announced between Richard L. Ullman (M87-92) Result: Lost 1 _ - 2 _ and Fiona Mitchell. Team: J Irwin & RFH Crabb Lost PJR Marsh & RRWB Cooke Halved The engagement is announced between Michael Wachtel (S73-77) and RJ Coombes & RA Aram Lost Jessica van Vlymen 6 DEATHS "Now, when I think of John with every intention of being sad, my train of thought is quickly diverted by the recollection of a funny story he H.S. Barber (M25-29) 7 March 2001 told me or an amusing incident we shared. I have come to realise that J.D. Bates (P25-30) 28 February 2001 this is a good thing. I did not know the athlete, the airman or even the J.N. Carter (M50-54) 25 April 2001 accountant, I knew the man who told me delightful stories of the old I.T.F. Cochrane (S47-51) 24 June 2001 days. A.B. Ellis (P35-40) 22 February 2001 P.S. Goldsmith (S43-48) 1999 "He told me that on one occasion, when he was a boy, the family was H.O Hampson (B39-41) 1 March 2001 driving to Bournemouth in the Clover Leaf Aston Martin. His parents, R.K. Jefferis (S57-62) 8 February 2001 Lionel and Kate, were in the front and John was in the back. John J.R. Kennedy (M24-29) 25 March 2001 noticed that a car was catching them up and alerted his father. ‘What is R.M.B. Kerr (S40-45) 20 February 2001 it?’asked his father.‘A three litre Bentley,’ reported John. ‘We'd better J.H. Levett (S26-29) 13 May 2001 be careful,’ replied his father, ‘they're very fast - down hill.’They outran the pursuing Bentley but John, being John, knowing of his father's J.A. Martin (S27-31) 22 October 2000 dislike of being overtaken, kept calling, ‘They're gaining on us,’ and H.W.A. Maude (P32-36) 9 March 2001 Lionel, being Lionel, kept going faster and faster. P.S. Mitcheson (P21-24) 26 January 2001 G.S. Newman (S20-23) 12 March 2001 "When the War had come and gone,John's best friend in the running M.F. Nicholson (B34-38) 22 April 2001 club invited him to come to a dance one evening saying his girlfriend D.H. Nielsen (S35-39) 30 April 1980 and his sister would be there. His sister was Marjorie and they married J. Oldham (M32-36) 23 May 2001 in 1951. Marjorie has told me, since John's death, of the good life they J.H.C. Queenborough (P62-67) 24 November 2000 had together. Her assurance that if she and John wanted to do H.S. Redfern (S36-40) 16 June 2001 something they did it, is pretty much what we would all like to say of J.N.Till (M53-57) 29 May 2001 our own lives. J.G.Tozer (M40-42) 31 March 2001 P.H. Vine (S34-37) 16 March 2001 "Further evidence of John's mischievous sense of humour came as he B. Wilding (S24-29) 30 June 2001 and I were waiting, first in the queue, at some traffic lights on a dual E.G.G.Williams (S36-40) 30 January 2001 carriageway. We talked as cars drew up behind and beside us. We were in an Aston Martin DB7, a works demonstrator, which I had taken to OBITUARIES show him. Our conversation centred on how I had spent much of the previous day in the Aston amusing my sons with perfecting my John A. Martin (S27-31), who died on 22nd Nove m b e r, i s standing start acceleration technique. Just before the lights were due to remembered by his friend Richard Cutler: "John Martin was born a change a Ferrari Testarossa pulled up to make a third lane. Across the year or so before the First World War, he was educated at Aldenham lights were only two lanes. So there we were, proposing to see how and went on to be an accountant by trade. During the Second War he well the Aston would accelerate next door but one to a Fer rar i intent on served in the RAF flying in Blenheims and later Bostons as Radio racing for the gap. John turned to me and said quietly, ‘T raf fic light Operator/Gunner and held every rank except corporal up to Flight Gr and Prix . ’ I said, ‘I think I've got to.’ He said, ‘Ye s , I think you do.’ Lieutenant. He enjoyed running and was a member of the Ranelagh I was being egged on by a man in his eighties to see how a car made by Harriers running club. He had numerous successes in competition and the company founded by his father befor e the Fir st War would far e for many years was the club’s President. against a recent addition to the wor ld of sports cars. The lights cha n g ed and we blasted off and, my wor d, we made the Fer rar i wor k for "We met because of a shared interest in Aston Martin cars. John, the it. The Tes t a r ossa smoked its tyres in firs t , second and third gea r s in an last blood-tie between the Martin family and Aston Martin and attempt to get away. As you would exp e c t , our depa rt u r e was muc h probably the last eyewitness of the Bamford & Martin days,and me, an mo r e dignified but equally swift and went as far as the legal limit befor e enthusiast. Despite having so little in common we became good we let him get away. I sometimes wonder wha t the man in the Caval i e r friends. Beyond our one mutual interest, I found a kind, witty, honest, who had been the filling in the sandwi c h at the lights was thinking. generous and gentle man. The obituary notice in The Times described him as ‘the most gentlemanly of men.’ He was that. It was a great "M a r j o r ie managed to find humour in the letter of condolence from the privilege for me to know him. RA C Club in Pall Mall whe r e John was a Life Member. The letter spoke of the RAC's regrets to hear about Flt Lt Marti n , a rank John had not held "Walter Hayes, Life President of ‘Aston Martin Limited’and Chairman for more than half a century. It was addr essed to Mrs Marjorie As t o n of the Aston Martin Heritage Trust (AMHT), who got to know John Ma r tin. Wen d y and I can look back on many happ y times spent with well, said of him, "There was so much more to him than people John and Marjorie , in c luding drinking cha m p a gne at the RAC Club. discovered. He was good to talk to and ludicrously modest about his bravery in Blenheims in North Africa. The Club owes him so much, as "John's funeral in Leatherhead was very well attended. Mourners do all Aston aficionados the world over, since he was the principal numbered about a hundred, and included friends and neighbours, keeper of the flame and he did his duty with a more than filial former colleagues,a great many members of the Ranelagh Harriers and responsibility." representatives of the AMOC, AMHT and Aston Martin Lagonda. It 7 was good to see that so many people held John in such high regard. All parents. What more could anyone want? those who knew him will remember him with fondness and pleasure. I will remember him as a man with the vital spark. Our sincere and "The practice exp a n d e d . New Part n e r s joined. One Woo d b e r ry Avenu e heartfelt condolences go to John's widow, Marjorie." was extended but it could no longer house both the practice and the fam i l y. It was time for us to move out. In 1968 Dad took out an enormo u s "Richard Cutler is writing a longer article about John Martin for Aston, mo rt g age, I think it was for about £9,000, and bought 121 The Chine. It the annual magazine of the Aston Martin Heritage Trust. If any readers was wor th ever y penny. It was a grea t fam i l y home. Neighbours became have any memories of, or anecdotes about, John could they write to ver y grea t frie n d s , and Bush Hill Par k Golf Club, whi c h was to become Richard at 6 Hamilton Court, Greenham, Newbury, Berks RG14 7UH su c h a big part of his life, was just a short walk away. or telephone him on 0790 189 5237." "And soon it was the seventies. One of the things I noticed then was Nicholas Kerr (S71-76) sent us this fond tribute to his father Dr R that there wasn’t anything that my father didn’t know about, or wasn’t Michael B Kerr (S45-50): "My father was a very special man. In rather good at. He wasn’t just good at sport. He didn’t just know whichever role he played - husband, father, brother, grandfather, everything there was to know about whatever my homework was. He doctor, colleague, neighbour, friend - he was intelligent, gentle, understood things like carpentry and gardening, he was an electrician, thoughtful, and caring. He had a very pronounced sense of fairness a decorator and a car mechanic. If anything ever broke, he could fix it. and honour, a great sense of humour and a great sense of fun…… How did he do it? When did he learn all these things? And why didn’t Phil or I inherit any of those genes? "In 1945 he went to Aldenham, where he excelled both in the classroom and on the playing fields. In 1949 he was made House "One Chris t m a s , he secret l y made a table tennis table in our attic roo m , Captain, in 1950 Captain of the School. He took his 2nd MB at Kings despite the fact that his arm was in a sling after another shoulder College in the Strand, and then went to St.George’s Hospital Medical di s l o c a tion. (This time the injury had been sustained on the hockey pitch. ) School at Hyde Park Corner.This building is now the Lanesborough Hotel where in recent years he and my mother attended a number of St. "In the early seventies he regularly squeezed the five of us and a dog in George’s reunion lunches. to an MG sports car to go on family outings, and we regularly went on wonderful family holidays to Portugal. "In 1953 he dislocated his shoulder. I mention it because he did it in such spectacular style; trying to make an extravagant and impressive "Now in his forties Hockey and Squash had given way to Golf, and his entrance to a party by cartwheeling down some stairs. He missed the children had become teenagers. He just about tolerated long hair, flared party while some of his medical colleagues tried to pop his shoulder trousers and platform shoes. But when it mattered he was always back into its socket. supportive.

"I also mention it because I like to believe it was fate. Had the entrance "A g ed 17 I announced that I was n ’ t interested in pursuing a medical been as impressive as he had hoped, he may not have arrived at the next ca r eer after all. We talked . He encouraged me to do what e ver I wanted to party unaccompanied, and therefore may never have had had the do. If he was disappointed he never showed it. He was cle a r ly delighted chance to meet,and fall in love with, my mother Jill. But they did meet ho wever , la ter on when Phil & then Louise did fol l o w in his foo t s t ep s . and a few years later in 1957 they married.The marriage was a fantastic success. For well over 40 years it was a loyal,loving, mutually "In 1981 he was made Captain of Bush Hill Park Golf Club. He was supportive and happy relationship, just perfect in every way. thrilled and he threw himself at the task with a potent combination of commitment and flair. "Immediately after the honeymoon he began his National Service.The first marital home was in Kings Lynn, close to the RAF base at West "He was still working very hard as a GP. But however difficult he found Raynham. In April 1958 he was posted to Cyprus, but my mother by the ever present intrusion into his evenings and weekends,he remained then was too pregnant to travel with him. At the end of May he learned reluctant to outsource or delegate on call services in the way that was he had become a father when he received a telegram that read ‘Dear becoming normal in many practices,because of his strongly held views Daddy, Mummy’s doing very well. Love Nicholas.’ It wasn’t until a about service and quality of care. while later that we were able to join him in Cyprus. We then lived out there for about 2 years, and during that time, in 1959, Phil was born. "Now in his fifties he led the move to computerise the practice’s administration and medical record keeping; computers being yet "T hen in 1960 we all came back to Win ch m o r e Hill. Dad joined his another skill he mastered, even though he’d grown up in an era when father in General Practice wor king in the surger y at 1 Woo d b e r ry the slide rule represented the cutting edge of technology. He found Avenu e , and then took it over in 1962 when his father ret i re d . In those time to raise money for the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund by da ys the fam i l y lived there too. My mother taking on the roles of preparing and running a series of highly successful quiz evenings. rec e ptionist answer ing servi c e , and surger y cle a n e r , as well as mother and housewi f e. It was while we wer e there that Louise was born in 1963. "The eighties was the decade he started to reap the rewards for much of his earlier efforts. School and university fees became a thing of the "Phil, Louise and I had the happiest childhoods imaginable, and the past. The £9,000 mortgage was paid off. He and mum began to travel best possible starts in life. Happy, loving, enthusiastic and supportive more widely than ever before.

8 They holidayed outside Europe for the first time with trips to Kenya OA NEWS, HOME AND ABROAD and Tanzania. They developed a keen interest in wildlife, in going on safari and Dad in particular became an accomplished photographer. Michael Hetherington (CR 59-94) passes on news of Mark Eadie (M76-81). Mark works for Shell IEP as Technology Marketing "In 1986 he paid his fir st visit to hospital as a patient for surger y. It was Manager and has recently moved with his family to Houston, Texas. for an operation on his throa t. I happened to be in the room soon after Since leaving Aldenham he has lived in Madagascar, Oman and he came round from the anaesthetic and I promise I heard him say rath e r Holland. dr ows i l y to the medical staff ‘W ill I be able to play the violin?‘. Whe n th e y said yes he replied ‘t h at ’ s amazing, because I couldn’t befor e.’ Peter Williams (B39-42) e-mailed the following "I retired last year from the Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina) after having worked "In the late eighties his first grandchildren were born. In the 90’s, more at the Law School there for over 20 years. During the past few years we followed, and he became a wonderful grandfather. He seemed to worked with them in the Library on the classification of over 100,000 develop a real skill in focussing totally on the moment, and enjoying it publications, law books and magazines, which are now available on to the full. Internet for consultation."

"And in the 90’s there was more travel too. Trips to Thailand, John Carter (M50-54), who sadly has since died, e-mailed the Botswana, The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, South Africa, Indonesia, following after reading the recent obituary of Geoffrey Bolt (CR47- Tanzania, The Indian Ocean Islands (The Seychelles, Madagascar and 65) "One fine summer’s afternoon probably in 1953, Geoffrey and The Commores), India, Costa Rica, and Kenya, as well as shorter Peter Harrington (CR49-64) conspired together to slope away from trips to Belgium, France,Tuscany and others. Aldenham. They went to Wimbledon where they watched the tennis. Unfortunately, the only seats they could get on the Centre Court were "Sometime in the early 90’s he began to suffer from a hip problem. It just in front of the main scoreboard. Therefore at the end of each game became progressively more debilitating. In 1994 he had his first hip and set, when the score was shown on the television (no small scores operation. It was a great success. In what seemed like no time he was in the corner of the screen in those days - just the main scoreboard) as active as ever. there were the two of them prominently displayed for all to see, and the reason for their (unauthorised?) absence was discovered." "He was appointed president of the Golf Club in 1995. It was the club’s centenary year and it meant another busy but very productive year for There have been a number of reports of the hearing of the case him. concerning the selling of fake Arsenal kit before Mr Justice Laddie (B61-66).We quote from the Times of 21 March 2001:"When Exhibit "In 1996, aged 64, he began to retire. He stepped back from General 1, an Arsenal scarf, was presented to the court, it proved too tempting Practice but continued with his dermatology at Chase Farm Hospital. for Mr Justice Laddie. Clasping it at each end with arms above his But this semi-retirement didn’t mean masses of extra leisure time. Bush head, the judge executed a classic wave as if he were in Highbury and Hill Park appointed him as its first ever Chairman of management. He put in an enormous amount of thoughtful and conscientious work. not the High Court.

"From 1999 he began to suffer again with more hip problems. This "He may list music, gardening and fishing as recreations in his Who’s meant less gardening, more limited travel and soon no golf. He was Who entry but yesterday a long-suppressed yearning for terrace banter determined not to remain incapacitated and to live life to the full so he seemed to rule in the judge’s court. opted for more surgery. "The ‘unofficial’scarf, with others in different colours and a hat, was "Soon after his second hip replacement towards the end of last year, it at the centre of an action in which the Gunners complained that their became clear that his original hip replacement needed some more official clothing trademarks were being infringed by Matthew Reed, a attention too. He was keen to get on with it quickly and was delighted sportswear trader.The 53-year-old judge was diverted by Exhibit 2, when on his 69th Birthday in January this year he learned he could boxes of official Arsenal merchandise, including shirts, caps, watches have the surgery almost immediately. and even a roll of wallpaper, all bearing club trademarks. The judge inquired of Simon Thorley, Arsenal’s QC: ‘Your clients, Mr Thorley, "He was making an excellent recovery and looking forward to getting pervade every moment of a fan’s life. Do they do gravestones with back in the garden, back on to the golf course and back on his travels Arsenal on?’ with mum. He had decided to retire completely so that he could have the time that he wanted to do all these things. It’s very sad that he never "‘Not as far as I’m aware, my lord,’ Mr Thorley replied. had the chance to do them. But it’s also wonderful that his last few weeks were spent in such an optimistic frame of mind. "As for wallpaper: ‘If you give me some paste, I’ll go round and decorate my colleagues’ rooms,’the judge said. "I am incred i b ly proud of my fath e r . Proud of ever ything he did and pr oud of the way he did every t h i n g . At 69 he was n ’ t an old man. But he "And the watch: ‘Presumably that’s so you can protest when the ref had had a full, rich l y rewar ding and happ y life. His end came sudde n l y refuses to allow extra time to score the winning goal.’The case and without sufferi n g . None of us can hope for more than that. continues." 9 Another story from the law courts, this time in a letter to The Times "The rank is indicated by crossed batons within a wreath surmounted from Sir Michael Kerr (B36-39): "Sir,When sitting with Fred Lawton by a crown, worn on the shoulders,and all Field Marshals are presented he taught me two infallible ways of shortening hopeless civil appeals. with a baton by the Sovereign. But the saying: ‘There’s a field He would come into court, having read all the papers,as he always did, marshal’s baton in every soldier’s knapsack’ is no longer applicable and if it was a case with a number of arguments by the appellant, he since the rank has been ‘suspended’. would engagingly say to counsel: "In total there will be 111 ‘stars’, seated round the tables Ð and that "‘Now, Mr Sprocket, your best point is surely ….’ does not include the 19 stars that Prince Philip has through his senior "‘Exactly, my Lord.’ positions across the Forces. For the purposes of tomorrow night, he "‘Well, I don’t think much of it.’ will be accorded just five. The evening will be hosted by Field Marshal Lord Inge, the fund president. "Alternatively, if it raised a question on the interpretation of a statute or contract, which he thought was clear, he would say: ‘When I read your "‘It is a sobering fact that the charity supports soldiers, ex-soldiers and very helpful submission last night I felt the answer is really a matter of their dependents born in three successive centuri e s ,’ said Mr first impression.’ Shervington. ‘From Great War veterans, born in the late 1890s, to "‘I entirely agree with your Lordship.’ disabled babies born into Service families in the 21st century.’ "‘Well, mine was that you’re wrong.’ "Other Field Marshals attending will be Sir Roland Gibbs, Lord "But he always seemed to do it in such a way that no one seemed to Bramall, Sir John Stanier, Sir Nigel Bagnall, Sir John Chapple and the mind." Duke of Kent."

The following article appeared in the Daily Telegraph on 26 March 2001: "In a gathering unlikely ever to be repeated, the Army’s elite comes together tomorrow to celebrate the history of the highest rank of all, that of Field Marshal.

"Ten of the remaining 11 Field Marshals, headed by Prince Philip, will attend a glittering dinner to raise funds for the Army Benevolent Fund charity. But it will contribute its own footnote to British military history because the five-star rank of Field Marshal is no more. It fell victim to Ministry of Defence streamlining four years ago.

"Just 11 remain. Of those only King Birendra of Nepal is unable to attend, presumably having decided Kathmandu to Chelsea is too far to travel for dinner.The evening holds special poignancy for Prince Philip, who will address the guests. (L to r) Field Marshals Lord Vincent of Coleshill, Lord Carver, the "The following day marks the 60th anniversary of the night when, as a Duke of Kent, the Duke of Edinburgh, Sir Roland Gibbs and Sir young naval officer aboard Valiant,he was mentioned in dispatches for John Stanier pictured at a dinner to mark the 6oth anniversary of his actions in the battle of Cape Matapan. the Army Benevolent Fund.The rank of Field Marshal is no longer part of the Army’s promotional structure, and there it is "‘There is no doubt it is a unique occasion and we will not see it again,’ unlikely that so many of this highest rank of soldier will be said Pat ri ck Sherv i n g t o n , the ch a ri t y ’s director of fundra i s i n g. assembled again. Between them the Field Marshals’experience encompasses the Second World War through the post-war battles to Northern Ireland.They A plea from Ray Foxell (SH50-55): "Rather more than 50 years ago, range from Lord Carver, 85 who saw action in the Western Desert, to when I was in my first year at Aldenham and Fred English (CR15-51) Lord Vincent, 69 (S45-50), who served on operational tours in (of whom I was terrified) in his last, he set us to learn a passage of Northern Ireland. French. He told us that he had done exactly the same thing over 30 years earlier, at the beginning of his teaching career and that an old boy "Since George II created the rank of Field Marshal in 1736, just 138 from that time had recently returned and been able to quote it. men have attained it. They include, curiously, Japan’s Emperor H i ro h i t o , who was the 99th appointment and one that prove d "It went like this: ‘Si l’on nous demandait quelles sont donc ces embarrassing during the 1939-45 war. premières attaches qui nous enchaînent au lieu natal, nous aurions de la peine à répondre. C’est peut-être le sourire d’une mère, d’une "Even Earl Haig, the commander of the British Armies on the Western nourrice …..l’if du cimetière (vu) au-dessus des arbres…le chien qui Front during the First World War, will be represented in the form of the aboit (aboyait?) la nuit…’ actor Sir John Mills. He played Field Marshal Haig in the 1969 film O What A Lovely War! "After the first sentence, as you can see, my memory is patchy.

10 "Could I, through your columns, ask if anyone can supply the name of RG Topping (S51-55) to the Daily Telegraph and published on 10th the author and the context? It has a Proustian ring to it, but I don’t at September 2001. It concerns the Pacific Island of Nauru, where a the moment have time to read through my 15 volumes of ‘A la group of Afghan asylum-seekers have recently been delivered by the Recherche du Temps Perdu’just on the offchance. Australian Navy: "I visited Nauru regularly as it was a compulsory overnight stop for Air Nauru on the way to Kiribati. I found the "To find out would be immensely satisfying." Nauruans friendly and the island at that time boasted two hotels. There was even a drive-in cinema that carried the legend written by a local Azreen Aznan (M87-92) writes from Kuala Lumpur kindly supplying religious wit "Jesus Saves Ð Even in Nauru". his new address for our database: "I guess it’s only appropriate that I give a brief summary of my activities since I left Aldenham. So here S t eve Adams (P52-56) sent the fo l l owing letter fro m goes Ð After leaving Aldenham,I had a brief stint (1yr) at Brighton Uni. Buckinghamshire: "I so enjoy reading OA News in Aldenhamiana and I left Brighton for Seattle, USA where I read Economics at Seattle am ashamed to admit that I have never written in with news of myself University. I returned home to Malaysia soon after receiving my since 1956 when I left. I think that reading Antony Wood’s (S54-59) degree in early 1997 and immediately started work at a local bank here excellent letter in Aldenhamiana 21 prompted me, as it seems to have in the Corporate Banking dept. done to some others, as also did reading about Geoffrey Bolt (CR47- 65) in Aldenhamiana 22, about whom such appropriate things were "Currently I am with an Internet company here in Malaysia. We deservedly written. Suffice it for me to say after that enjoyable lunch p rovide Internet services such as online payment gat eway, web at the All England Club, where I have the good fortune to be a member, designing and hosting.We also run a financial portal which serves for it made us realise how lucky we were to have had him as master-in- both local and intern ational inve s t o rs. The site is located at charge, not just because he took us into pubs on the way home from www.gomoney3.com. Apart from the web activities, we have wireless distant tennis matches, but because of his ability to encourage and expertise too. Our financial protal is also accessible via WAP.We are motivate. He was a lovely man, warm, witty and generous. also looking into building more wireless applications for future use. In this borderless age we now live in, geographic boundaries exist no "I had much to do with Aldenham after I left and again after I left the more and businesses will lose out if they stay within their boundaries. army, following conscription and a short service commission in the In light of this, we are expanding our market reach to Australia. We Royal Fusiliers. I played football and hockey for the OAs from 1957 Ð welcome any opportunities from the UK especially from those OAs 65 and, at the behest of dear Bob Stokes (CR49-83), lectured on who are interested to form a synergistic business relationship. My e- several occasions to the LVI on ‘Careers in Marketing’. Then my mail [email protected] serves as a good communication medium to contact seemed to diminish partly due to building a career and bringing start things off. up a family, and perhaps a misplaced disillusionment with Aldenham as it went through its dark days. But when I think of the large part it "I think that’s all for now. Please feel free to contact me if anyone is played in my life in forming my values, giving me many friendships (a down in Kuala Lumpur." substantial amount of wh i ch still ex i s t ) , h ow it taught me the importance of interdependence, the joys of team spirit, I realise that Peter McGovern (P80-82) e-mailed his new address and included the neglect of my association with the school is something which I should following note: "married to Petra, since March 1987 and have two attempt to correct. Aldenham was a happy time for me and I was children Annabel 8 and Rebecca 3 years old. I work as a Draughtsman fortunate to pass through it alongside an excellent crop of fellow in an architect’s office in Hildesheim close to Hanover." Aldenhamians,and indeed I was always struck by the kindness of those who had already left but took great trouble to welcome newcomers to And a note about Jonathan M. Mundy (M82-87): "due to marry in the football and hockey clubs. This example rubbed off on my May, did another degree, and is now living in Scotland" generation who always tried to do the same to the next ‘intake’; it was a good lesson. Another e-mail, this time from Patrick Chukwumah (P77-82): "The past few years have seen me venture to many far flung corners of the "My working life took me through two large advertising agencies, a globe. I am currently in South Africa. I have been in the Republic for largish spell with Reed International, then running a company in the the past five years, and am based in the "golden city" of Johannesburg leisure industry which employed 400 people and had 5 factories running an Import/Export business. It has been a uniquely interesting making both sports footwear and camping equipment. Then, rather late experience living in a society undergoing such profound, and attempted in the day at age 40, I started my own business in the same field of dramatic transformation (with varying degrees of success)! I do briefly sporting and leisure goods. But, better late than never, and after some return to London from time to time but would appear to have lost 20 years of that I retired. Among those mentioned earlier, I have had contact with a lot of my fellow OAs. If any OAs from my era would much to do with Keith Montgomery (S51-56) who has been my like to correspond, or happen to find themselves in Johannesburg on financial advisor for many years and also an excellent godfather to my son. Simon Fawcus (M52-57) and I recently enjoyed acknowledging business or pleasure and would like to meet up or have a social drink, one another’s arrival in our sixth decade and David Massey (S43-47) I would be hap py to obl i ge. My e-mail details are celebrated an important milestone, supported by many of the sporting [email protected]. I hope to make it to OA Day one of these Aldenhamians of the 1940s and 1950s to whose kindness I referred years. Regards to all." earlier. Peter Bolt (M50-55) is a regular lunch partner when he can spare the time from his successful business in the provision of strategy Richard Greig (P54-57) kindly sent in a copy of a letter written by

11 expertise and mentoring to senior executives. Having not seen Alan about 70Km commuting daily each way!), a rural area in quite Day (P52-57) for too long we had lunch at the Army and Navy Club, spectacular country where the river valley is dominated by ancient failed to draw breath for two hours, and laughed in the same way as we sandstone cliffs. We are just far enough inland so that in mid winter we did in 1954 – very good for one’s health. I bumped into Hugh get just a touch of frost on a few mornings (eat your hearts out!!) but Edwards (M49-54) and Peter Rotheroe (M54-58)at a wedding. Both otherwise enjoy a mild to warm year with heaps of sunshine - were in good form and enjoying well deserved retirement. To all sometimes a bit too much! Aldenhamians and young OAs, I say nurture your friendships from Aldenham, they are priceless." "With all that has been going on, I guess it is not surprising that the twenty or more years since my last contact with anything OA had Paul Slootweg (M76-78) brings us up to date with what he calls a slipped by almost without realising. As it was, on a particular day I was reasonable impression of the passage of 20-odd years: "After leaving searching for something else on the internet and, on pure impulse, Aldenham I completed my studies by doing A-levels in Physics, Maths keyed in ‘Aldenham’to see what happened. Lo & Behold! ‘a website’. and Chemistry (with mixed success) and then went on to study One day it would be interesting to visit England again, if only to see E l e c t rical and Electronic Engi n e e ring at wh at was then Leeds what has been happening over the years. I haven’t had a holiday for Polytechnic (now Leeds Metropolitan Univerisity). The degree course twenty years, so one never knows. Needless to say I shall be interested didn't agree with me, so after a couple of years I took myself off into to learn how any others from the cohort of the late fifties have been the wide world and carved out a career in Computers/IT/Software. I going." worked in diverse fields of endeavour, working with hydraulic systems, industrial computers and more recently eCommerce, working for Prompted by receiving two copies of Aldenhamiana from Richard Hall, Barclaycard, although this year I upped sticks and joined a fairly new Maurice Sharp (B37-42) sent the following: "Thank you for sending semiconductor design company. Now living in Northampton, I have me the two Newsletters about OAs Ð the Aldenhamiana of both been happily married since 1984 and have 5 children between the ages October 2000 and February 2001. of 17 and 6.

"I am prompted by your appeal to Old Boys of the Wartime era to give "I continued with my Fencing and in 1980 became Novice champion a contribution to the prize in recognition of the excellent teaching given in Middlesex and Junior Champion the following year. In 1982 I also by members of the staff in those dark days. led the Leeds Po ly t e chnic team to a 2nd place in the Bri t i s h Polytechnics Sports Association championships. My fencing is uniquely something I will always associate with my time at "I fully support the fact that they were a fine group of men who did a Aldenham." good job in difficult conditions. I was particularly indebted to the trio of classics teachers, Godfrey Meads (CR14-44), Cecil Stott (CR24- Keith M McKnight (B56-60) came across the OA Website and sent us 58) and William Kennedy (CR34-59) who helped me to obtain a the following summary of the last few decades: "Much to my surprise Higher Certificate in Classics. when I stop to think about it, I have now been living in Australia for nearly 40 years; close to twice as long as I ever lived in England! After "In your October edition, O wen Pe a rson ((S33-36), w riting in leaving Aldenham in 1960 I undertook studies in accountancy with the appreciation of Arthur Eagling (S31-34), referred to Mr Kennedy as then ICWA (now CIMA),passing the intermediate examinations but,as a successor or replacement! I was highly amused by this, because I a consequence of the timing of the family move to Australia, was never thought of Bill Kennedy as a replacement for anyone, but more effectively prevented from completing the finals at a time when there of an Institution at Aldenham, being there before the war, during part was no facility for continuing in Australia. However, on the strength of of it, and after it. In fact for many years I thought that Kennedy’s what I had done in those less demanding times, I spent the next 20 House was named after him, until I discovered that it was named after years or so involved in accounting, management and (more or less) his father, Headmaster at the turn of the previous century. Or maybe it related activities for various small to medium manufacturing and was named after them jointly. d i s t ri bution companies, m o s t ly connected with the automotive/accessories industry, including a close involvement in the "In addition to these exceptional teachers of Classics I was taught fledgling auto airconditioning manufacturing industry here. French by my housemaster, Frederick H English (CR15-51), English by Vivian A Cox (CR37-40), who later became a film director,I "Eventually, recognising demands of changing times, I returned to believe, and Mathematics by Mr L E (Ironside) Godfrey-Jones studies on a program that resulted in a Bachelor of Commerce degree (CR34-44) who was also officer commanding the School Corps at the from the University of Western Sydney (with distinction). After time. spending some years as Accountant/Financial Controller in electronics manufacturing, I am now Financial Controller at Macquarie College, "As well as the Corps we had the Home Guard at the School, and some arguably the largest non-government adult education provider in NSW of us, as well as being in both these organisations, did Air Raid handling over 27,000 enrolments per year and a turnover currently Precaution Guard duties at night besides. around $5 _ million and growing. "Several of the staff were involved in this too. They were good "I have been married since 1978,and we are living just north of Sydney instructors and good leaders. It is a good idea to commemorate them on the Hawkesbury River (‘just north’ by Australian standards being in this special way which is being planned." 12 unimaginable heritage of 45 years of Communism wh i ch almost entire ly ro bbed Poles of their history and integrity.The concept of personal responsibility, of duty, of anything but what is best for me, is foreign. Though, on reflection, is this much different from the Britain of the last 30 ye a rs? I asked a friend of mine wh at her neighbours were like? `Why should I want to know?` she replied. An attitude left over from Communism: if you don’t know, you can’t tell!

"Since I have been here I have been visiting l e c t u rer at the national drama and mu s i c academies and the University of Warsaw. I have Jonathan Coates (S64-69), returned to Aldenham since 1997 a member of the staff, sent taught on the main early music summer school this photo of a recent OA gathering. It was taken in September 2000 in the London and made broadcasts for the Euro p e a n home of Angelina and Kanal Kohli, sister and brother-in-law of Manolo Dialdas (S64- Broadcasting Union. I have become resident 68), on the occasion of his 50th birthday celebration at a small School House Reunion, music correspondent on the only arts programme organised by him. From left to right, Manolo Dialdas, Richard Scott (S63-68), Josef on Polish state television and, although I don’t Keith (S63-68), Michael Jackson (S64-68),Andrew Boxer (S63-68), Jonathan Coates. speak Polish, they dub me. I have sung at the opera, got a subsidy to form an opera company to Daniel Frankel-Pollen (B85-90) spotted his friend Simon Wolmark take opera into schools, been lead actor in TV commercials, formed an (M86-90) listed as lost on the OA Website and sent us the following orchestra for light music, done a lot of corporate training for some big update with Simon’s new details: "Simon is now married with one 2 multinationals (money for old rope, but it does seem to be of benefit), year old son and another child on the way!" and met my family, discovering in the process that, because of connections with German royalty, I have the haemophilia gene. All And another e-mail this time from Andrew Wolmark (M88-93): "It very exciting and exhausting and much better than living is Kensington has come to my attention that I am listed as a ‘lost OA’. I am hoping (though Polish gin is pretty grim!). that this refers to my geographical whereabouts rather than my eternal soul, but I suppose one can never tell how far news of one’s activities "The main difficulty I face is in learning Polish and, therefore, really may reach. understanding the people. Everyone speaks English: the victory of English and Anglo-Saxon culture, however depleted its form, is no "If it refers to the former then: Good News! I am alive and well and where more apparent than here. This is a tragedy because although I living in South London. I am aware that this may be considered beyond suppose the free market offers far greater personal freedom than lost to some of our more socio-economically sensitive brethren. Communism,this form of colonialisation is distracting Poles from their need to rediscover the past and, thus,their own sense of identity. At the However, I prefer to think of it as a cultural exchange. I cannot begin moment they see themselves as Europe’s answer to Far Eastern sweat to tell you how well Aldenham prepared me for the Urban Lifestyle that shops. Obviously, they have got to make money, the economy must Elephant and Castle has to offer….. prosper, but Poland doesn’t own one world-renowned trade mark, neither is it likely to have one until the past is rediscovered. "I have remained in contact with some of my old school pals, and now that I am ‘found’I look forward to reading about all those that I have "The British expat community is best avoided.There are a f ew people not spoken to in years." with integrity, though most are here to make a quick buck and get out. Property developers are probably the greatest offenders, seemingly Richard Berkley (S67-72) sent us the following e-mail about his having failed to learn anything from their experiences of the 1980`s. I experiences in Poland: "Exactly a year ago I left England for Poland to am living in Warsaw which is a pretty grim city: the total destruction it find my roots (having met my natural father, a Pole, only three years suffered at the hands of the Germans and then the Russians has previously). Brave at 46? Perhaps, but I think I had no choice. I am a deprived it of any real character. A few buildings survived, though bit of a gypsy, having spent 12 years in Italy, but I was also fed up with many were rebuilt in the original style, but its not the same: so much my own inability to make much use of my skills and experience in concrete instead of original materials, and the memory of the hideous Britain:though a free market society I can’t help but feel that Britain is suffering seems to be recorded in these building more than if they had a society which is extremely cavalier and wasteful with the talents of not been destroyed and rebuilt. its members. Everything I can offer Poland is valued, perhaps even over-valued and, at the moment,I am making a lot of money by Polish "But please don’t let me give the impression that all is bad here. Poles standards, as if that really matters. are charming and friendly. I think,though some disagree, that they are a very attractive people: their blood is so mixed with both European "However, intellectual and social life are uninspiring: this is a society and Asian influences. The really great thing is that that they don’t trying to find a place in the western world where it belongs through spend their time fretting about mortgages and pension plans. Their right of history, but still stru ggling to ove rcome the, for us, needs are more immediate. In this they may have a lesson for us." 13 Diary dates 2001/2002 1 OA Society Annual Dinner, Friday 9th November 2001 at the House of Lords. See notice in this newsletter for more details.

2. OA Society Committee Meeting,Wednesday 16th January 2002 at 6.00pm, in the Whitbread Room at the School.

3. OA Society Committee Meeting,Tuesday 12th March 2002 at 6.00pm, at the City University Club, 50 Cornhill London.

4. OA Society AGM, Tuesday 9th April 2002 at 6.00pm. This will be held at the Tallow Chandlers’ Hall to commemorate the first Annual Meeting of the OA Society and will be followed by a buffet reception costing £25.00 a head.

5. OA Day / Family Sports Day at the School, Sunday 19th May 2002.

6. Ball at the School, Saturday 29th June 2002.

7. OA Society Annual Dinner, 15th November 2002, Lords’ Cricket Ground Banqueting Suite.

Eros Run For all those OAs who are fit or talk about getting fit, but need a goal, we are looking for 100 OAs to take part in the Eros to Eros run to mark the centenary of the OA Society in 2002.

The run takes place on the last day of the Summer Term, which next year will be Saturday 6th

July, and starts at Eros, Piccadilly Circus at approximately 5.30am.

You can contact Molly Barton in the OA Office to express an interest, tel: 01923 858122 ext 612, e-mail [email protected]. There will be more details of how to register in the next issue of

Aldenhamiana. In the meantime get training.

14 OLD ALDENHAMIAN SOCIETY ANNUAL DINNER 2001

THE OLD ALDENHAMIAN SOCIETY FORMALLY INVITE YOU TO THE ANNUAL DINNER AT THE HOUSE OF LORDS RIVER TERRACE MARQUEE ON

FRIDAY 9th NOVEMBER, 2001 7.00pm TO 10.45pm

WIVES, HUSBANDS and PARTNERS ARE ALSO INVITED DRESS BLACK TIE TICKETS WILL COST £50.00 PER PERSON (Includes sparkling wine reception, 3 course dinner & coffee)

THERE IS ALSO AN OPTIONAL TOUR OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS FROM 6.00pm AT THE COST OF £1.50 PER PERSON

NUMBERS ARE LIMITED TO 120 SO DO PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN YOUR APPLICATION FORM BELOW IMMEDIATELY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT

Please complete and return this form together with your cheque made payable to "Old Aldenhamian Society" to: I G Luetchford, Esq., 41 The Rise, Elstree, Herts WD6 3JS

Name, house and dates at Aldenham: ______

Address:______

Telephone No: ______e-mail address: ______

I would like______.tickets for the Dinner ‘only’ at £50.00 per ticket and enclose a cheque for £______. I would like______.tickets for the Dinner & Tour at £51.50 per ticket and enclose a cheque for £______.

FULL NAME OF EACH DINER PLEASE

______(Please indicate if you have any special dietary requirements)

Entry to The House of Lords is only allowed with the invitation which will be sent to you in the next few weeks. YOU MUST BRING THIS WITH YOU. 15 STOP PRESS • STOP PRESS • STOP PRESS • STOP PRESS • STOP PRESS • STOP PRESS OA CRICKET CLUB BREWERS CUP REPORT BREWERS' CUP FINAL 2001 After losing an early wicket to the Old Aldenhamian batting star K. Jahangir,O. Hewlett and S. Price took up the challenge of the Old On a rather grey and humid morning at Campbell Park, the Old Aldenhamian total and got to 81 after only 13 overs before the other Herefordians, playing in the Final in their very first year in the b atting star S. Moffatt dismissed Hewlett for 36. The score competition won the toss and decided to put in the opposition. This continued steadily with skipper R. Skyrme (40) dominating the was a decision that they later regretted as the Old Aldenhamian third wicket partnership but at 137 he was trapped LBW to that man opening batsmen J. Clemow (K85-90) and K. Jahangir (P84-89) Jahangir. A steady fall of wickets ensued but while Price remained took the score to 94 in 20 overs before Clemow was bowled for 41. at the crease there was still a ray of hope for the Old Herefordians. A lunchtime score of 119-1 from 27 overs looked promising Jahangir continued to take wickets and finally removed Price (83) without being spectacular. Some glorious strokeplay after lunch by with the score at 201 and then cleaned up the tail to take 6-33 and K. Jahangir (111) and S. Moffat (K86-91) (51) took the score to leave the Old Herefordians with a final total of 211. 239 after 45 overs and at that stage a final score of well over 300 The Man of the Match was one of the easier decisions that the l o o ked possibl e. This however was the signal for the Old committee has had to make this season and K. Jahangir gratefully Herefordians to come back into the game with two quick wickets accepted his prize at the presentation from Martin Reed, who has and thereafter the batting side lost the impetus and a final total of umpired all the Brewers' Cup Finals between 1983 and 2000. 280-7 was a relative disappointment considering the superb efforts of the first three batsmen. It should be noted that extras totalled 54 including 37 wides possibly a Brewers Cup record. STOP PRESS • STOP PRESS • STOP PRESS • STOP PRESS • STOP PRESS • STOP PRESS

FREEMASONRY Golf Hon. Secreatry - Ian Eggleden The Old Aldenhamian Lodge, No. 4884 (founded 1926) Hon Secretary Master: Gary Taylor (CR 94- ) 2 Merchant Court, 61 Wapping Wall, London E1W 3SJ The Old Aldenhamian Lodge, which exists primarily for past members Tel: 020 7702 0028 (Home) of Aldenham School, its Governors and its teaching staff, present and 01923 205645 (Office) past, meets at 10 Duke Street, St James’s, London SW1 on the second [email protected] (e-mail) Wednesday in January, the first Wednesday in March, and the third Wednesday in June and October. Cricket Captain and Hon. Secretary - Hanif Moledina Full particulars of the Lodge can be obtained from the Secretary: 13 Lincoln Road, Northwood, Middlesex HA6 1LB G.N. Norton , 246/248 Great Portland Street 01923 840368 (home) London W1N 6JN. 01788 55440 (office) 0410 239295 (mobile) SPORTS CLUB OFFICERS AND [email protected] (e-mail) SECRETARIES Fives Football Hon. Secretary - Richard Ullman Chairman - Paul Clemow 38 Hunters Close, Tring, Hertfordshire 4 Harris House, Himalayan Way, Watford 01442 822447 Herts WD18 6GS 07973 336073 (mobile) OA SOCIETY 01923 240 792 (home) [email protected] (e-mail) President: Field Marshal The Lord Vincent of Coleshill Club Captain - Martyn Berg c/o Aldenham School, Elstree, Hertfordshire WD6 3AJ Flat 5, 295 Ladbroke Grove, London W10 6HE 020 7312 8946 (office) Hon. Treasurer: John Rimer 07767 845 261 (mobile) The Court House, Chenies, Rickmansworth [email protected] (e-mail) Hertfordshire WD3 6EU

Hon. Secretary: Richard Hall 126 Tattenham Grove, Epsom Downs, EPSOM, Surrey KT18 5QS 01737 351630 (home) 07774 493389 (mobile) FlyPig [email protected] (e-mail)