The Magazine for the Old Vigornians of the King's School, Worcester
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Winter 2018 Issue 45 The magazine for the Old Vigornians of The King’s School, Worcester Connect 45 I 1 Contents Memories 2 A Letter from the 15 OV Weddings I was greatly amused by Donald Howell’s note and it prompted me to put this Headmaster together for a smile. In 1963 NED assembled all of us about to sit O Level English Language and Literature, 16 Archives to give us a bit of a pep talk about the upcoming exams. With a bit of sparkle to his 3 Memories face, and in his voice, he said of the English Literature Exam: “You will get questions like 18 Features on Teachers The letter from Donald Howell on the Memories page of Connect struck me as a ‘Discuss Marlowe’s humour.’ Dead easy – he didn’t have any.” 4 OV Reunions & 19 Where are they Now? splendid recollection of the redoubtable Events “NED” Dilks. It brought back to mind Mike Page (Cr 60-65) another interlude. He always delighted in 9 OV visits 20 Foundation Development reminding us that the old spelling guideline and Alumni Relations “i before e except after c” was incomplete 12 Barnabas and therefore inaccurate. In full it is: “i before 22 A Picture Paints a e except after c, where’s a long ee sound”. 13 OVs in the News Thousand Words He insisted that there were only three I was playing for the 2nd VII team in a front of the lineout, which my opponent exceptions in the language, namely seize, tournament at Bromsgrove School. We had took gladly with open arms and proceeded 14 King’s Today weir and weird; and he promised a reward of what would be kindly described as ‘not to run in and score a try under our posts. 6d (two and-a-half pence today) to anyone the most mobile’ of forward packs, which who could come up with another. Many of consisted of the entire 1st XV front row. We Immediately, I looked at our hooker with us applied ourselves to this challenge and were at a line out and we were using the furious eyes and shouted something someone eventually came up with sheikh, standard code for lineout calls. This involved along the lines of ‘what were you doing?’. pronounced, as we thought, “sheek”. calling out a word that began with one of He looked equally furious with me and A Letter from the Headmaster the letters in the sentence ‘Thames Rowing said something along the lines of ‘well, On being presented with this he instantly Club’. This would indicate where the ball you called it’. What happened next put all drinks party held at the Bankside Gallery in have the means to pay. As is evident from (as ever) came back with the retort: “The should be thrown to. For example ‘Exeter’ of our efforts to fight the stereotyping of October and a reunion for ten year leavers at the bursary film, the generous funding of word is not sheikh, pronounced “sheek”; would involve the ball going to the front front row forwards back a number of years. school just before Christmas. OVs have also bursaries has a life-changing effect and any it is pronounced “shake”. So it proves the of the line out, as ‘E’ is in Thames, and ‘Brazil’ I proceeded to remind him that I had called been widely involved in inspiring our current support in this area is hugely appreciated. point that the rule is incomplete without would involve it going to the back of the ‘Orangutan’ and to my amazement he said pupils; we much enjoyed opera singer Allan Please do not hesitate to be in touch with the addendum about the long ee sound.” lineout. ‘exactly’. When I started to look at him more Clayton’s visit as a Barnabas Speaker and the development office if you would like The note of triumph in his voice was quizzically, he blurted out ‘yeah, you said have also benefitted from the expertise further details of this very important work. unmistakeable. As 2nd VII captain, a position that tended A-rangutan didn’t you? That starts with an of OVs at our business skills conference to alternate between myself and the other A doesn’t it’ - I guess English was never his and from their help in conducting mock 2019 will again see a wide range of activity There is a postscript to this. In 1987 I moved mobile prop in the team, I was making the strongest subject at school. Marc Roberts, interviews for our Sixth Form. for OVs. The Foundation Office will once with my family to Northumberland. There calls on the day. So, readying myself at the who had been watching all of this unfold more be present at Henley Regatta, we are are many tales up here and there is much front of the lineout I called ‘Orangutan’. I on the side-line just burst into laughter and The work on the recently released film for looking forward to hosting our annual OV evidence towards the Scottish borders of feinted forward and then moved backwards loves to remind me of this story every time our bursary campaign, Open the Door to Reunion Weekend in May and the Himalayan the violent activities of the so-called Border into the middle of the lineout waiting for the I see him. These past few months have been both King’s’, gave us the opportunity to meet with Club is holding a fund-raising lecture at Reivers. One day it suddenly occurred floated ball over the top of my opponent extremely busy and encouragingly many OVs, to hear how the school shaped school in March. Finally, next summer will to me that incontrovertibly the correct only to see our hooker pop up a pass to the Steve Perera (Cr 86-93) successful here at King’s, with very strong their lives and to listen to their stories of bring an exciting opportunity to revisit the pronunciation is “reevers”. How I longed for public examination results in the summer life after school. As you all know, a great Old Chapel and reminisce about good times many years to be able to meet up with NED at both GCSE and A level. These ensured a many pupils at King’s benefitted from the spent there. I hope to have the pleasure of and claim my sixpence! Or would I have very strong league table showing for the education here during the period of direct seeing you at one or more of these events; faced another quick-fire response which school at both local and national level, but grant and assisted places and have gone on the school is grateful for your support. found a way of ruling out my challenge? league tables do not by any means tell the to great things as a result. One of the most whole story. What is most important is the appealing elements of the atmosphere at Roger Ashmore (Ch 52-61) number of impressive individual success King’s is its inclusive, welcoming feel, and stories, and the way in which, in traditional the governors and I are anxious to ensure King’s fashion, academic excellence has that the school should continue to provide been combined with full commitment access to education for those who will to the enormously wide range of activity benefit most, even if their families do not which goes on beyond the classroom here. The autumn term was characterised by an excellent school production of The 39 Steps, a succession of outstanding concerts and impressive results across all the sports which we play. Here too individual successes have been noteworthy, with junior and even senior international honours achieved by a number of pupils. We love to publish memories. Please email [email protected] if you would like to It has also been a busy period for OV activity, be featured in the next issue of Connect. with a tremendously enjoyable London The Development & Alumni Relations Team; Liz, Sophie, Alice & Cath 1993 Rugby Players 2 I Connect 45 Connect 45 I 3 Guernsey Cricket Tour Mike Wilesmith (S 93-04), Tom Lea (K 95- Carr (W 00-04) all enjoyed a reunion cricket quite so much!). Although the end match OV Reunions & Events result saw the OVs come up 18 runs short, 04), Will Smith (Br 93-04), Huw Dimond tour to Guernsey in August. With reports of (S 93-04), Sam Cullen (W 93-04), Pete just as many beers bought as balls bowled, everyone left in high spirits with plans afoot Winstanley (Cr 99-04), Tom Weston (Cr 99- it sounds as if the group had a wonderful for a repeat next year. Henley King’s Day 2018 04), Charlie Loveday (Cl 93-04) and Tom time (their unfortunate neighbours, not For a new event in the King’s calendar, we Another year completed and we had a After lunch there were many OVs who joined went to Henley Regatta. We were delighted fantastic time celebrating King’s Day on in with the King’s Regatta. The OV boat was to meet up with a whole host of OV rowers July 5th and welcoming the Year of 2018 coxed by Tim Quiney (Ch 10-17) in the boat - some still rowing regularly with their local to the OV community. We were joined aptly named ‘Tiny Quiney’, in recognition of clubs and universities - who popped along in the beautiful Worcester Cathedral by the Quiney family involvement with the Boat for a Pimms and a chat between races.