Truro School Former Pupils’ Association November 2018 Newsletter

November 2018/19 issue 03 www.truroschool.com [email protected]

ALUMNI NEWS

12 December 2018 Truro Club Christmas Concert Robin Elsey CO11 Were you at Truro Prep or Pre-Prep between 1987– 1992? Locryn Williams CO14 We would like to invite you to this year’s Christmas concert at Willday House at 2.30pm followed by festive Luke Mansfield CO14 refreshments in the Prep dining hall. If you would like to attend please email Derek Man CO07 Katy: [email protected]

Ollie Lobb CO09 12 April 2019 Bex Hogan CO99 Pre-1970 Afternoon Tea If you left Truro School before 1970, Archive Attic please join us on the 12 April for a cream tea at our very popular annual Family Announcements Spring reunion! Email or telephone Katy: Advertisements [email protected] 01872 246094

A note from the Development Team

Dear Alumni and Friends, Another year has flown by already! Just to remind you that due to the school holidays, there will not be a newsletter in December, and the next edition will be with you at the end of January. I would love to hear what you are up to over Christmas and New Year, especially if you are arranging festive get-togethers with your fellow alumni – be it family or friends! Please send us in your pictures! Or, are you spending your time somewhere exotic? It would be great to see who is furthest away and how widely spread around the globe our community is. I cant wait to hear from you all, and speak to you over December and throughout January! Best wishes to you all, Katy Communications and Development Assistant Nicky, Jo and Katy Truro Fencing Club visit the Lansdowne Club to watch former pupils James Honeybone (CO09) and Will Deary (CO15) perform

A group of aspiring young international fencers from Truro Fencing Club were thrilled to receive an invitation to watch some sublime swordsmanship in the serene surroundings of the Landsdowne Club in Mayfair, . Six current Truro School students were joined by students from neighbouring Penair School, Roselyon School and Plymouth College, to watch the international ‘Masters of Fencing’ exhibition matches between Hungary and Great Britain. Individual bouts displaying the highest levels of skill & dexterity between members of the Great Britain and Hungarian sabre squads were followed by a nail-biting foil match pitting Richard Kruse, World Championship Silver Medallist and quadruple Olympian against James Davis, 2014 European Champion, Grand Prix and World Cup Gold Medallist. Despite Kruse building a strong lead early on in the bout, Davis fought back effectively with some considerable panache to recover the points gap and pull off a 15-14 win.

Following a break with live music fusing flamenco guitar, lutar & percussion courtesy of the "Horsemen of the Apocalypse", the scene was set for a series of team events with Truro School alumni James Honeybone (CO09) and Will Deary (CO15), and Camden’s Webb and Miller, representing GB, facing a veritable "Battle Royale" against a world-class Hungarian squad comprising Szilagyi, Szatmari, Gemesi and Desci. A similar battle of weapons and wits was on display as the Commonwealth Championship teams of Scotland (Ghosh, Carter, Shek and Rocks) faced off against Wales (Jolley, with James and Nathan Potter). With victory to the Hungarians and Welsh secured, the audience was then treated to a one on one between JJ Webb and Andras Szatmari, with the Hungarian fencer and former World Champion coming out on top.

The evening's grand finale did not disappoint. Truro’s James Honeybone - GB Sabre Champion & Olympian - took on double Olympic Gold Medallist Aaron Szilagyi. With a combination of some superb counter attacks and parries, and a series of clinical attacks, James secured a 15-9 GB victory worthy of this wonderful evening, which showcased the incredible athleticism, skill and sportsmanship which this sport combines. We hope all the young Cornwall fencers who were lucky enough to be invited to this event not only had fun, but also took inspiration from this exhibition. All the long, hard lessons and footwork sessions, and fights on pistes both near and far, contribute to building a better, tougher, and more competitive fencer. James Honeybone reminded us of Muhammad Ali's quote: The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses - behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights. Finally, a huge debt of gratitude is due to Olympic referee Vasil Milenchev, assistant referee Alex Beta, and MC James Williams and all those who supported, organised and funded this event especially Jon Salfield & sponsor Julian Ghosh.

Lucy Jupp, Head of Fencing

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Lansdowne Club and need a nomination, we may be able to help. Please let us know by emailing: [email protected] in the first instance. Robin Elsey CO11 Vendée Globe 2020 Since Robin last caught up with us a lot has changed for Robin however his goal has always remained the same; to get to the Vendée Globe 2020. The Vendée Globe starts in on 6 November 2020. 30 sailors will race solo, non-stop around the world without assistance on extreme 60ft race boats. The race was founded by Philippe Jean Tot, and since 1992 has taken place every four years. As the only single-handed non-stop round-the-world race, the race is a serious test of individual endurance, and is regarded by many as the ultimate in ocean racing. Robin told us that he has been lucky enough to join the Hugo Boss racing team over the summer, sailing on-board their foiling 60ft IMOCA. Continuing to build up his knowledge in the latest generation of foiling yachts that are at the cutting edge of technology.

Robin went on to say: From that I jumped onto the really radical 100ft Supermaxi from Australia joining the team to help boost their development of this concept on such a large boat. Robin said this was one of the most extreme yachts that you can race on, and the team came away from a testing Rolex Middle Sea Race having pushed the boat to its limit, hitting 37 knots in the process. He said: for the non-sailors among you, imagine standing on top of a car during a rally race, that is pretty much what it is like except it goes on for days, you come away with a few bumps and bruises!

Robin went on to become the boat captain and as a team they have worked to improve the boat and bring home a line honours win in the RORC Transatlantic Race and a new monohull record in the Round Barbados Race. Now Robin is aiming to compete in the Vendée Globe 2020 on-board a boat prepared and run from the heart of Cornwall in order to bring Cornish business and sport to international attention through the Vendée Globe. Robin’s dream has always been to compete in this prestigious race and bring a world-class sailing team to Cornwall. Now the dream is on the way to becoming a reality. Locryn Williams CO14 Fjällräven Polar Race Former pupil Locryn Williams is in the running to enter the Fjallraven polar. This is a race which involves a 300km race through Arctic wilderness with more than 200 highly skilled sled dogs and a group of ordinary people. Locryn is determined to be one of those ordinary people but needs your vote. The way the race works is that two people form each region are selected to enter - one of those two people is whoever gets the most votes - the second is picked by the Fjallraven Polar jury. Locryn is looking for votes to win the , Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg region and take on this amazing challenge- as you can imagine that is a lot of people fighting for two places! Locryn told us that he isn’t the best when it comes to asking for help but is reaching out to his old school community to help him secure as many votes as he can.

Locryn was a keen rugby player at school and beyond and was the captain of the U18 and Vice Captain of the U15s Twickenham team. However, after a few head injuries and concussions Locryn was medically retired from the sport. Locryn told us that after these concussions he suffered with his mental health and being as he is, struggled to talk about it. Locryn began rock climbing as a way of rehabilitation and began adventuring around amazing locations such as Iceland and Snowdonia. Locryn told us that adventure helped rekindle his self-belief, gave him purpose and made him believe he could keep on. Let’s show Locryn what our Truro School Community can achieve - every vote matters - so please forward this to your friends share it far and wide and help get Locryn into the race and support his incredible journey. The voting closes on 13 December so act fast!

Vote for Locryn

Watson Weeks Memorial Plaque Unveiling

On Saturday 17 November, family and friends of the late Watson Weeks gathered in the Burrell Theatre foyer to share in the moment when Ann Weeks officially unveiled the memorial plaque, which honours Watson’s time at Truro School. Former Headmaster, Guy Dodd (who kindly organised the plaque) and his wife Helen were present, along with Brian and Lorna Jackson who had all been great friends for so many years. Everyone enjoyed Ann’s moving words of tribute to her husband, recounting his many performances and productions, a great many of which took place in the School Chapel. Ann and her daughters Deborah and Emma said they had been tremendously comforted by the enormous number of cards and tributes received after Watson died earlier this year. Ann said: I was so moved to think that Watson had touched so many lives and that former pupils still remembered him such a long time after he had stopped teaching. It really is amazing. There could be no other place to locate the plaque than the Burrell Theatre foyer, as Watson was such a prominent figure in drama productions at Truro School for so many years. He was also instrumental in the idea behind the building of the Burrell Theatre. Alas, Watson never performed in the Burrell. However, he is certainly fondly remembered by so many former pupils, staff and fellow aspiring thespians. Luke Mansfield CO14

PhD at the University of Sheffield

Luke got in touch recently to let us know about his next steps after graduating from the University of Kent with a 1st class degree in biomedical science. He is now embarking on a PhD at the University of Sheffield, the title is: Determining the non-canonical functions of telomerase involved in modulating macrophage biology and their potential implications for tissue ageing. This will involve studying the functions of telomerase that have been hypothesised but as yet have no evidence for. The study will use zebrafish as model organisms. The zebrafish is often used in scientific research as it is particularly notable for its regenerative abilities. Luke told us that ideally his research will contribute to the field of aging research, specifically how to prevent some of the symptoms of ageing and/or prevent age related diseases such as cancer, by clearing dormant cells known as senescent cells from the body. Luke told us he first got interested in science during his GCSEs. He enjoyed biology as he said it explained what made living things tick, and he was always interested in nature growing up. We asked Luke of his time at school – he told us: A couple of stand out memories for me where being taught A-level biology by Dr Pope as I felt he had a real passion for the subject and tried to impart that on us. Another memory would be the Model UN delegations I took part in during Sixth Form, and Mrs Rainbow trying to steer the class discussion back towards history during my history A-level as we never seemed to stay on track for very long.

Truro School helped me most during the second half of my A-levels, as at AS my grades were less than fantastic so I had quite a few re-takes coming into the A2 section. Again it was the teachers I had, Mrs Rainbow, Dr Pope, Dr Brogden and others that helped to push me to get the grades I need to get into university. Personally, I always felt it was the teachers at Truro School that really made a difference to my time there and I don't think I'd be where I am now without them.

Derek Man CO07 New Cosmos of Photography Competition

Derek has recently returned from where he exhibited at the new Cosmos Photographic Art Museum. Derek’s exhibit is called What Do You See, Old Apple Tree? and was selected for an excellence award. On 2 November Derek, along with six others, had to present for the Grand Prize. What is What Do You See, Old Apple Tree about? Since the 1950s, over half of traditional orchards in England have disappeared due to development, conversion of land to other uses, and intensive farming. The Orchard Project is dedicated solely to the creation, restoration and celebration of community orchards. Working in collaboration with the national charity, Derek visited sites under restoration and created pinhole cameras out of apples at each location. Utilising these site-specific cameras, the work captures team members, volunteers and visitors, who are all integral to the survival of the orchards. By piecing together a narrative from the perspective of the preserved apple, the project seeks to highlight and reflect on the intertwined relationship between agriculture and community. You can visit Derek’s website: https://derekman.com/

Ollie Lobb CO09 Back to Cornwall

When Ollie left school he immediately boarded a boat to the “Caribbean of the UK” (the Isles of Scilly) to work as a dinghy instructor for the summer. He had a great summer teaching sailing, meeting amazing people and visiting many pubs! Ollie had already made the decision to defer his university application to take a break from exams, and during his gap year he taught at Loe Beach and took some time to travel to India and Sri Lanka. On his return, Ollie studied Geography at Southampton University before packing his bags for London – not knowing entirely what he wanted to do. He ended up being placed by the Graduate Recruitment Bureau into a small financial technology software company where he worked predominantly in sales and learned a lot about business. Ollie was then offered a job at a global management and technology consultancy company, however he knew the big city wasn't for him long term so, with his fiancée Lynn, packed up and headed back to Cornwall to begin an exciting new business venture.

Find out more about Ollie in the 2019 Truronian magazine

Bex Hogan CO99 Book Launch

We are able to share the very exciting news that former pupil Bex Hogan (née Spence) has secured an incredible book deal with Hachette Children’s Group for her fantasy series: The Isles of Storm and Sorrow. The first book Viper will be released in April 2019 followed by Venom in 2020 and Vulture in 2021. The series will be published on the Orion imprint and editor Lena McCauley says that: This enthralling new fantasy series has everything – a powerful female heroine, an intricate world of extraordinary islands and monster-filled oceans, heaps of action, a heart-stopping romance and incredibly polished writing – I’m so excited to introduce VIPER and Bex Hogan to the world in 2019 In her press release Bex said: It’s an absolute dream come true to be working with Lena and the team at Orion. To have my debut novel published by Hachette Children’s Group – who have some of the best UKYA writers on their list, not to mention fantasy writers – is both a joy and an honour. I can’t wait for readers to join Marianne on her adventures.

Look out for Bex’s feature article in the 2019 Truronian magazine Truro School Co-Ed Reunion We are looking for all of our First Ladies!

It’s forty years since the TSFPA welcomed the first Truro School girls into it’s ranks. To celebrate this important milestone in Truro School’s history we are looking for all of our first ladies and hoping to get you all together again for the Reunion Dinner in September 2019. In 1990 girls entered into the First and Third Years for the first time starting the process of making Truro School fully co-educational – were you one of those girls? We want to catch up with you and find out where your life has taken you, if you are still in touch with old classmates or if you have travelled far away from Truro – we know many alumni are spread far and wide across the globe. As always if you want to get in touch – or feel you might be able to get a table together for the reunion next year email Katy on [email protected]

1977 was the first whole School photo to feature female students. See if you can spot the lady in this snippet!

Rob Piper CO73 Congratulations

Last year we were delighted to report that Rob Piper CO73 and Science Coordinator at Truro Prep School gained a place in the British Judo Masters’ Squad. We are proud to say the Rob has kept his spot this year winning silver in the U90KG M7 group at the British Masters Open Judo Competition in Norfolk on 13 October. Congratulations Rob, we wish you the best of luck for the coming years!

Left: Rob on the silver podium Family Announcements

Mr Ian Mr Kenneth Henry Mr Michael Elliston

GOODHAND HITCHENS BARKER 22/06/1928 – 20/10/2018 18/02/1922 – 12/09/2018 06/01/1931 – 06/10/2018 TS 1935 - 1946 TS 1933 - 1939 TS 1939 - 1948 Truro School are deeply saddened to Truro School are sad to learn of the learn of the passing of former pupil passing of former pupil Kenneth Truro School are saddened to learn Ian Goodhand Hitchens, who passed away that former pupil Michael Barker peacefully on 12 September 2018 passed away on Saturday 6 October Ian attended both Treliske and Truro aged 96. aged 87. School with his younger brother Derek, who now lives in Canada. Beloved husband of the late He left behind his partner, sister-in- Elizabeth, father of Glynn, Chris and law, two nieces, two nephews and Ian resided in Hertfordshire and Neil and Grampy to his seven five great nieces. passed away peacefully with his wife grandchildren and ten great of 67 years Estella, son Christopher grandchildren. (CO70) and daughter Christine by his He will be sadly missed. side on 20 October 2018 aged 90. Ian was head boy and captain of both the rugby 1st XV and cricket 1st XI during his time at Truro School.

Katy Sweeney is now Katy Slater! Photos as promised.

Archive Attic

21 19 6 16 9 7 17 5 10 22 13 20 14 15 23 18 24 3 4 11 8 1 12 2

Click on each number to reveal a Truro School memory every day until Christmas!

Truro School Remembrance Day

The 1918 Armistice was the focus of this year’s Remembrance Service held on Friday 9 November. The service drew on the archive articles in this year’s The Truronian, and members of staff read extracts from the accounts of the end of the war by Charles Argall and J.P. King. The Headmaster took the opportunity to recount the statistics of those former pupils who served in the 1914-1918 War, as well as to read the account of the School’s experience of 11 November 1918. As has become the custom, the names of the former pupils who were casualties of conflicts since 1914 were read out by the Deputy Heads while members of the Sixth Form processed to the front of the hall to place a poppy on the display board to mark each person. A minute’s silence was held between the reading of the names of the First and Second World Wars, marked by the playing of the Last Post and Reveille. The last former pupil who died on the Western Front was William Ford on 24 October 1918. A private in the 1st Wiltshire Regiment, Ford was part of the final Allied advance but was taken prisoner during fighting near Le Cateau on 20 October, and died a few days later. The last two casualties commemorated on the school memorial were 2nd Lieutenant Harold Nicholls of the Royal Field Artillery and Tom Curtis of the RAF, who were both victims of the 1918 influenza epidemic, and both died on 8 November 1918. Curtis was also the youngest person whose name appears on either school war memorial – he was 17. Advertisements

What’s on at the Burrell

The Last Baguette Company presents The Little Match Girl Friday 21 December, 2.30pm £12 Full, £8 Concession, £34 Family (2 adults, 2 children) Tickets available at www.crbo.co.uk

A family show for Christmas inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s traditional tale.

London. Christmas Eve. The snow is falling. A little girl struggles fiercely through the cold. We follow her throughout the day as she encounters the funny and zany characters of the vibrant city streets. In an attempt to stay warm she strikes a match, then a second and third. In the cold the flames blaze to life and the flickering fire illuminates her fantastic Christmas visions. With each strike we enter the tumultuous world of her imagination, meeting talking turkeys, dancing rats, Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and their chattering Christmas tree. Having delighted audiences in 2017 The Last Baguette returns with this touching, madcap and heart-warming Christmas show. The Company use their signature style of visual storytelling, live music and puppetry to shine a light on Hans Christian Andersen’s classic winter tale. Written by T. A. Woodsmith, winner of the Sunday Times Playwriting Award. The energy and commitment of the company is infectious… beautiful imagery and memorable moments. This is unique theatre with a great heart - Theatre Bath