ISSUE No. 153 No. ISSUE

WINTER 2013 School News

EDITOR E DITORIAL Richard Hudson, Churchill’s Hall Shrewsbury School Shrewsbury SY3 7AT The inspiring cover photo, taken at 6:40 am on Tucks – when he was still a third former – and 3rd Tel: 01743 280630 13th May earlier this year, shows Old Salopian place in this year’s race. Suffused with the [email protected] Adam Booth (PH 1995-2000) on the summit of gorgeous light of a late African afternoon (see the ASSISTANT EDITOR Mount Everest, a journey which began at report on the recent RSSH tour to East Africa on Shrewsbury School on the local Shopshire and page 35), this photo is a dramatic reminder of the Annabel Warburg Welsh hills (see page 11). Adam, climbing from increasingly ambitious outreach of Salopia. For OBITUARIES EDITOR Nepal via the South Col, is the latest in a tradition the pupils and staff involved, this was a life- Hugh Ramsbotham which extends back to 8th June 1924 when changing experience, not merely in terms of the Sandy Irvine (S 1916-1921), climbing with George runs they ran and the runners they met, but for THE salopian club Mallory from Tibet via the North Col, disappeared the insight it offered into very different ways of Lt Col Nick Jenkins OBE on the north-east ridge, weighed down by their living lives than those lived in England, with the (Director from February 2014) cumbersome oxygen apparatus, never to important message that both happiness and Miriam Walton reappear alive. It is thought unlikely that they misery are found in every condition of life. (Interim Director/Administrator) reached the summit. Individual achievement, born So we move from individual aspiration to the of an enthusiasm nurtured at Shrewsbury and importance of nurturing the inner life, so Dianna Firmin brought to fruition in adult life, is thus embodied in eloquently articulated in Revd Gary Dobbie’s (Assistant Administrator) this image. Sandy Irvine was a fellow Old address to the new sixth form entrants, the text of The Salopian Club Salopian. But I have personal connections too which opens this issue. Not all of us would be as The Schools, Shrewsbury SY3 7BA with Mallory, who came from the same Cheshire happy – from an aesthetic perspective, I hasten to Tel: 01743 280892 or 894 (Office) Village where I grew up (Mobberley), and was an add – to have a Rothco hanging at the foot of our 01743 280891 (Director, from alumnus of the same Cambridge college beds, but the allegory the painting offers, as February 2014) (Magdalene), where for three out of my four years interpreted by the Chaplain, is as important as I lived in Mallory Cottages. anything achievable through a Shrewsbury Front cover: Below this editorial can be seen a current School education: inner peace ‘less about Adam Booth (PH 1995-2000) on the Salopian, Freddie Huxley-Fielding (R, 4th form), accuracy and more about the call to feel more, to summit of Mount Everest. an extraordinary young runner whose string of imagine more, to love more.’ Intus si recte ne Photo by Chiten Sherpa achievements include 4th place in the 2012 labora.

RSSH in Africa. Freddie Huxley-Fielding (R, 4th form)

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A DDRESS TO NEW S IXTH F ORM E NTRANTS

Chaplain and Art Historian Gary Dobbie meditates on a Rothco canvas and the Shrewsbury School motto.

It is a particular pleasure to welcome new members of the Sixth Form to this service, and also members of their families. The invitation that parents received came with a reproduction of the painting by Mark Rothko, which is on the cover of today’s Order of Service. It seemed a good idea therefore to use this as the basis for my Address, and to pick out one or two things which might be relevant to a moment like this. “all of us have a fear of baring ourselves to other people”

An artist’s work is a piece of his heart and soul, a material expression of his inner world. And of course all of us have a fear of baring ourselves to other people. Mark Rothko once said, ‘A picture lives by companionship, expanding and quickening in the eyes of the sensitive observer . . . it is, therefore, a risky and unfeeling act to send it out into the world.’ But out into the world we must go, unless we settle for some sort of ‘womb with a view’ which rather turns life into a spectator sport. When you first look at a painting, I think there are two questions that arise:

1. What is it? And Rothko kept the answer to this question quite matter of fact. Thus this painting of 1950 he entitled White Centre (Yellow, Pink and Lavender on Rose). 2. The second question is one we tend to ask of ourselves: Could I do that? We tend to be uncomfortable with something which is beyond us. Indeed someone once said to Rothko rather rudely, ‘I could do that’. To which he replied, ‘Why don’t you?’ the difference between pupils from Eton (Motto – Let Eton Flourish) and Harrow (Motto – Let Fortune Attend Those that Dwell Here) and White Centre was sold in May 2007 on behalf of David Rockefeller, Shrewsbury (Motto – If Right Within, Trouble Not). But more of that who with a personal fortune of $2.5 billion isn’t exactly strapped for anon. A woman walks into a room, and the Etonian says, ‘Fetch that cash. It was sold to Qatar’s ruling Al-Thani family, setting the record woman a chair’. The Salopian fetches it – and the Harrovian sits on it. as the most expensive post-war work of art sold at auction. It went And when we get into this painting we find it full of light and for $72.8 million, so I bet you wish you had done it. Go on, knock warmth and colour. Mystery was what Rothko was desperate to one up and take it along to Sotheby’s! At 240 x 140cm there is a lot instill into his paintings, and for me he has done just this. These of it and I would be quite happy to have it at the bottom of my bed. huge colour fields with their blurred edges feel luminous and In the past, huge paintings were inclined to be pompous, making vibrant, moving from candy floss to golden sunset. It has been a us feel insignificant. For Rothko, large paintings were intimate and good day. Rothko spoke of the ‘inner light’ that he felt radiated out human; small paintings are outside your experience. ‘However you of his richly stained canvases. And what of your inner light? A white paint, the larger the picture, you are in it,’ he said. centre? Intus si recte ne labora: if you are all right inside, don’t be So let’s get into this one and see what we find. worried. There is a 1968 Beatles song written by George Harrison, Inner In the writings of St Paul in the New Testament, we find many Light, which contains the lines: references to the inner man, in contrast to the outer man – and don’t worry, it’s gender friendly! And we are familiar enough from Without going out of your door, the news of great athletes whose private lives contrast with their You can know all things on earth, public image. Great physical prowess does not guarantee moral Without looking out of your window, strength. The legendary George Best, who struggled with inner You can know the ways of heaven. demons, was famously found in an hotel room with the then Miss World, casino winnings strewed around, when a waiter brought a This basically suggests that the answers are within you. You do not bottle of champagne, the sight prompting him to ask, “Where did it need to search outside for happiness. It is all within, if only you all go wrong, Mr Best?” search for it. You don’t need to buy into things that are ‘outside’ to For me, something of that is indicated in the wobbly black line make you happy. It is within. Which brings us to the School motto: I lurking around Rothko’s White Centre. And each of us to varying love school mottoes and some of you may know the old joke about degrees has it. No one is exempt. Those moments of struggle,

3 School News anxiety, self-doubt, angst, despair and loneliness – when we feel up had been made and all the facts that against it, not able to find a way forward. And sometimes it comes had been settled, would be up for “there is another from a blue sky or, as here, from a White Centre. And it is a timely grabs again: all possibilities would be kind of truth and reminder that however sunny our disposition, we all hit and hide renewed, for who knew what lay on dark patches and the challenge is, as perhaps in the music of the other side?” this Chapel Bach, to face it down, surf it, see it through and hold course. And So nourish the inner life. Dream and invites you to most of the time, as the song has it, ‘we get by with a little bit of read about the dreams of others. take time to help from our friends’. So be a good friend. And those of you who Nourish your imagination. One of the are new will not have heard me say before, that friends listen to great pleasures of reading is the engage with it. It what you say but your best friends listen to what you don’t say. discovery that others have been there is a bit like poetic too, have felt this way before. Of “friends listen to what you say course, and rightly, much of your time truth, less about but your best friends listen to what you don’t say.” at school will be spent wrestling with accuracy and the truth of ideas, concepts, graphs more about the The writer Francis Spufford in his marvellous book The Child that and numbers, language and logic. Books Built, wrote of the books he loved best as a child that they But there is another kind of truth and call to feel more, were ‘the ones that started in this world and took you to another . . . this Chapel invites you to take time to to imagine more, I wanted there to be a chance to pass through a portal and by engage with it. It is a bit like poetic doing so, pass from rusty reality with its scaffolding of facts and truth, less about accuracy and more to love more.” events . . . I wanted there to be doors. If in a story, you found this about the call to feel more, to imagine one panel in the fabric of the work-a-day world which was hinged more, to love more. You won’t regret engaging week by week with and it opened, and it turned out that behind the walls of the world that kind of truth and you will find, and I really believe this, that flashed the gold and peacock blue of something else, and you slowly but surely, it will make the difference, the crucial difference, were able to pass through, that would be a moment in which all between living from the outside in to living from the inside out. ‘If Intus si recte ne labora. decisions that had been taken in this world, and all the choices that you are all right within you are all right.

A CADEMIC N EWS

Exam results hit new record (MSH), M. Y. T. Huang (S), L. M. Jeffcoate (Ch), S. H. Kung (R), C. Our leavers of 2013 achieved an outstanding set of A Level and S. Lam (O), H. C. Law (O), L. D. Lee (S), T. R. B. Lloyd (Rt), R. R. J. Pre-U results, with 83% of the exams awarded the top A*, A or B Major (EDH), S. Pelling (EDH), B. J. Quirk (PH), I. J. Tenison-Collins grades. There were many individual success stories, not least the (MSH), I. M. Turney (EDH), A. H. Walker (O), E. D. Williams (EDH), T. 14 pupils who gained at least 3 A* grades and the 53 pupils who Y. Wong (MSH). gained an A* or A in all their subjects. Thirteen pupils achieved the GCSE Awards: We were delighted to award 29 honorary required grades to meet their offers from Oxford or Cambridge scholarships, exhibitions and examination prizes to pupils entering Universities. the Lower Sixth this term. The AS results from our Lower Sixth pupils were also extremely Honorary Scholarships were awarded to K. L. Elcock (EDH) impressive, with 71% of grades achieved at A or B grades, a and J. D. Rumble (PH) significant increase on recent years. 46 pupils gained A grades in Honorary Exhibitions were awarded to H.R.R. Al-Adwani (SH), J. all their subjects and over 80 gained nothing lower than a B. R. C. Plaut (S) and K. H. Yick (S) Despite reports in the national media of a drop in the proportion of GCSE exam entries awarded top grades, we were delighted to record another very strong year of results. A total of 65% of the exams were awarded an A* or A grade, compared with the national average of 21.3%. The overall pass rate was 98.2%, which is also substantially higher than the national average. In a remarkable display of mathematical prowess, 63 out of 127 pupils gained A* grades in mathematics – a school record. Four pupils, Daniel Edwards (S), Sonny Koh (Ch), Jacob Rumble (PH) and Alexander Shaw (Ch), each gained ten straight A* grades and a further 24 pupils gained either A* or A grades in all their subjects.

Lower Sixth Awards: Prizes were awarded to the following 22 pupils who achieved outstanding scores in their AS and Pre-U subjects: C. J. Bibby (SH), C. F. Chan (MSH), J. Cherukat (PH), GCSE delight H. R. Fox (PH), D. B. Hart (Rt), K. T. Hau (SH), C. Y. Ho

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A level delight. Left to right: Alice Leslie, Ed Elcock and Tilly Whittingham

Alice Leslie achieved A grades in both Religious Studies and Classical Civilisation and an A* in English Literature. She is now spending a year working at Shrewsbury School Bangkok and will go to Durham University next year to read Education with English. Ed Elcock is studying Natural Sciences at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, having achieved a D1 (higher than an A*) in Physics Pre-U, a D2 in French Pre-U, a D3 in Global Perspectives Pre-U and A* in both Maths and Further Maths A levels. Tilly Whittingham is currently spending a gap year working for a solicitors’ firm in London having achieved A* in all her A level subjects, English Literature, Religious Studies and History.

Top awards in the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge 2013 A total of 30 medals were awarded to Shrewsbury’s Lower Sixth Form chemists who took part in the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge 2013 after their busy AS exam schedule. This is the second time the School has entered the competition, which is set by an experienced team of teachers and university chemists and is designed to stretch candidates and challenge them to think about science in the way they would at university. Crystal Chan – who had already won a Gold medal in the RSC International Chemistry Olympiad in March – achieved a Roentgenium medal in the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge. This is their highest award, given to the top 0.8% of students who enter the competition. To recognise this outstanding achievement, Crystal was invited to attend a residential chemistry camp at the University of Cambridge at the end of August.

Crystal Chan (MSH)

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physics competition, commonly known as the ‘Physics World Cup’. “I was accommodated at St Catharine’s College throughout the Shrewsbury has had extraordinary success in this competition. four days of the course, which is right in the centre of town; the Over the last ten years, the School’s team has been judged to be undergraduates and lecturers there were very welcoming and friendly. the strongest team in the UK no fewer than seven times. In previous During the days I attended chemistry lectures which took place in the years Salopians have travelled to Sweden, Switzerland, Slovakia, Chemistry Department of the University. The lectures were based on South Korea, China and Germany. principles that I have already learnt at school but at a much greater After a couple of days acclimatising to the high temperature and depth. Both organic and physical chemistry were covered and the humidity in Taiwan, the boys started to find their feet in the most interesting section was investigating the chance of synthesising tournament itself, which tested not only their in-depth knowledge of EDTA using the materials present on a plane. In addition, I performed advanced physics but also their presentation skills. Up against some practical work – the most fascinating thing for me was some fearsome opposition, the UK team did not do as well as they analysing the formula of a copper complex. These lab sessions had hoped, but it was a richly cultural experience that they will allowed me to develop an appreciation of the equipment and remember for a long time. operation of laboratories in university. The eventual winners from Singapore, an extremely strong team, “The Chemistry Camp at Cambridge was truly a memorable will host the competition in 2017. Well ahead of that, next summer experience, and it has given me an insight of university life at one of Shrewsbury School will have the honour of hosting the 27th IYPT on the top universities in the world.” Crystal Chan behalf of the United Kingdom.

Gold medals in the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge were awarded to: Harry Fox (PH), Arthur Kung (R), Chris Papaioannou (PH), Ben Quirk (PH) Silver medals were awarded to: Stanley Hau (SH), Helen Ho (MSH), Robert Homden (Rb), Clive Lam (O), Isobel Tennison-Collins (MSH), Tammy Wong (MSH), Ian Yeung (R) Copper medals were awarded to: Jennifer Anderson (EDH), Phoebe Barboza (EDH), Nur Besar (MSH), Yee Lok Cheng (I), Jay Cherukat (PH), Michael Cheung (O), Peter Evans (I), William Hayes (M), Irene Kwan (EDH), Denton Lee (S), Cindy Lin (EDH), Thomas Miller (Rb), Makiko Nishikawa (EDH), Charlotte Perkins (EDH),Tom Rowe (M), Hattie Warner (EDH), Jonathan Wu (S), Taiding Yang (Rt). International Young Physicists’ Tournament In late July, three of Shrewsbury’s Sixth Form physicists set off for Yuan Ze University, a few kilometres outside Taipei city in Taiwan. John Balcombe (as Chairman of the Organising Committee of IYPT They had been selected together with two boys from The King’s 2014) receiving the IYPT flag from Professor Chih-Ta Chia of Taiwan School Canterbury to represent the UK at the 26th International National Normal University (Chairman of IYPT 2013) and Mr Alan Young Physicists’ Tournament – the world’s foremost annual Allinson, President of IYPT

The UK IYPT team (left to right): John Balcombe, Steve Adams, Seb James (King's), Clive Lam (O), Georgios Topaloglou (King's), James Brent (Rb), Arthur Kung (R), (local guide from Taiwan), Charles Burson-Thomas (King's)

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V ALE

Chris Conway joined the staff of Shrewsbury School in 1979 via Merseyside – apart from 3 points that is. Africa and Kelly College. He arrived therefore some 34 years ago as Such flippant comments aside, Chris has a bright eyed teacher of Chemistry and a tutor in the house of green worked tirelessly on behalf of the Shewsy and white – Ingram’s. both in terms of raising its profile among I have struggled to establish a great deal about Chris’ early staff and pupils as well as working to raise bachelor days here at Shrewsbury. However, one day last week I much needed funds. The folks in Everton found myself standing next to Julian Walton in the lunch queue and recognise that in Chris they have had a we fell into conversation. After but a few minutes Julian was making fierce advocate for the work of the Shewsy some quite extraordinary claims; not least that he had been and I know that if they were here they too instrumental in sealing the relationship between Chris and Roz. In would want to raise a glass (or several) in their early ‘courting’ days (younger members of the Common Room recognition for all he has done. can look up ‘Courting’ later on wikipedia) Roz was, I believe, based In his early years Chris was, I believe, Chris Conway in the Basingstoke area and Chris used to whiz down to see her master in charge of rugby. Indeed I think it is after his commitments finished here on Saturday. Invariably his fair to say that sport has been intrinsic to good intentions would fall by the wayside and Julian would receive Chris’ role here at Shrewsbury. In addition to his involvement with that early morning call from Chris on Monday that went something rugby he has also been a wonderfully loyal supporter of school like ‘Jules, could you cover my first two lessons – I’m on my way but fives. Andy Barnard recently described Chris to me as a have been – erm delayed’ Being a good friend Julian would duly fundamental building block in the rising fortunes of fives over many step up to the plate. However all friends have their limits and when years. Chris started coaching the U16s back in 1986 when Mark this became more of a habit than a one off, the experienced Williams was Master in charge and in 1988 shared the MIC duties Chemistry Master Walton took the young whipper snapper Conway with Simon Baxter for a year. Thereafter he continued to work with to one side and offered the sage advice – ‘Listen lad, it would be a the U16s and most recently has taken on a shared responsibility for lot easier if you just married the girl.’ The rest as they say, is history. coaching the 6th Form girls. Chris brings a calm and measured Much of Chris’ time here at Shrewsbury has been based around approach to coaching fives. He clearly adores the game and takes his work as a Chemistry teacher. Having spoken over many years to real delight in trying to explain the detail of technique, attitude, a number of pupils taught by Chris a key theme emerges: they all application and skill to his pupils. His presence on the Fives courts feel they have been taught by a man who possesses a deep love will be sorely missed by staff and pupils alike but all associated with for Chemistry and is passionate about teaching it. Assessment Fives here at Shrewsbury are looking forward to seeing him back on Objectives and marking criteria are of course important but in the courts as part of the Monday Club. Where sport is concerned I Conway’s laboratory you learned to think intuitively and to love the must also mention squash. Phil Woolley and I have enjoyed our journey inherent in an experimental subject such as Chemistry. tussles with Chris on court and what becomes clear, perhaps in this I guess in addition to Chemistry most of us associate Chris with environment more than any other is that beneath that gentle, Careers. Chris has worked tirelessly in the cause of promoting humorous and intelligent exterior beats the heart of a highly Careers in the psyche of Salopians; staff and pupils alike. Careers competitive man of steel; one who doesn’t object to expressing his events and lectures have emerged as a result of Chris’ passion for frustration on court using whatever words come to mind. Indeed, I and commitment to this aspect of school life. In recent years I have have had to duck occasionally as the squash racket has been hurled seen him develop our Oxbridge support, also working with John in a moment of exasperation. Intensely competitive, Chris is certainly Tabbard and others in support of candidates applying to the sort of guy you want on your side if the going gets tough. Universities overseas. As an aside, if any of you have questions In addition to all the above Chris has been an enormously valued about applying to American Universities I found an interesting clip tutor in that bastion of academic endeavour and achievement that on You Tube fronted by the one and only Chris Conway. An is Radbrook. I know that Duncan was hugely grateful for Chris’ loyal interesting and informative extract, I have to say it led me to the support during his tenure. In recent years under the direction of the conclusion that Chris has a great face and presence – for radio as young man Hann, Chris has provided mature counsel combined well as in the classroom. with a richness of experience and good humour. In a Machiavellian His advice to all colleagues, but Housemasters in particular, has attempt to play him out of position, Des recently asked Chris to tutor been nothing short of priceless. Navigating the maze of university the 3rd form. Unsurprisingly Chris has been terrific; delighting in his admissions is a nightmare and Chris has given of his time selflessly. charges’ sporting achievements, sparking their academic ambition I remember in my first year as Housemaster of Ingram’s going to and generally offering the sort of guidance and counsel that comes see Chris to seek his help. What struck me perhaps more than with wisdom and experience. There is no doubt he will be sorely anything was that nothing was ever too much trouble for him and it missed by the Radbrook community. really didn’t matter that I didn’t know half the things I actually should On a personal note I would also like to pay tribute to Chris’ work have known. Chris was there and he would help sort it. In addition on the Senior Management Team. As a member of that team Chris to Careers Chris was also a key advocate of General Studies in the embodied much that I admire and appreciate; a straight talking, no 6th Form. He was one of the early pioneers in putting together a nonsense approach punctuated by a compassionate commitment meaningful and coherent non examined programme – something to the well being of colleagues. I didn’t always agree with Chris but that Old Salopians remember to this day. was always struck by his clarity of thought and his deeply felt ideals. Shrewsbury House is a cause close to Chris’ heart – after all, as This vision for what education should be about made him ideally United fans, we somehow have to find a good reason for visiting suited to the role of overseeing staff training and development

7 School News where his work in staff induction in particular was absolutely terrific. humour raised gales of laughter in the classrooms and staff room. Chris was also central in establishing clear and productive links The curiosity of passing pupils and visiting parents was frequently with the Old Salopian community and I know that both Alex Baxter aroused by the outbursts of merriment. That the newest teaching and John Rolfe have found Chris’ support and experience member of the department had been taught by Julian not that many invaluable. He was also been a key figure in introducing and then years ago only added to the sense of occasion. Our thanks go to reviewing the role of appraisal at Shrewsbury as well as leading a Julian and Glenda for fanning the embers of departmental number of working parties looking at the role of the tutor in the 6th socialising into flames of enjoyment by hosting us all chez eux; form. Add to this his work with the Miles Clark Travel Scholarships, Julian’s presence was a great morale lifter for the department and The Careswell Trust and ISCO, the list seem endless. we are less well off for his absence, though his example is certainly Chris has been at the very heart of our links with the sister school worth emulating! in Bangkok and the Headmaster out there, Stephen Holroyd, has Andy Briggs been very keen to emphasise that if Chris’ golf handicap has come down during this period then we should not jump to any Lionel Barré arrived in Shrewsbury, fresh from deepest Lancashire, unnecessary or untoward conclusions. ready for a new challenge, which is what we of course provided: a Places such as Shrewsbury need an important balance in order faculty of five exam boards in two different languages, not to to flourish – that being the right combination between rising stars mention the Welsh! But, we did allow Lionel to jump the queue and and standing stones. The standing stones are vital. They are the head off for an all-expenses paid week basking in the South of building blocks upon which a genuine community is based. Chris France on the Montpellier trip, so it wasn’t all work. Lionel taught has been more than just a standing stone; he has been a rock of French and Spanish with the utmost enthusiasm, relishing the two stability and certainty. 3rd and two 4th Form sets he had, meaning that he had to conduct Wise, measured and steeped in a sense of the importance of about 100 orals during exam week and broke all records for being community life here at Shrewsbury, the centrality of people and the the last to leave a parents’ meeting! He was a very active teacher, fact that the quality of any organisation is only ever as good as the full of innovative ideas and vigorous in his teaching style, as his 6th quality of the relationships therein. His camaraderie, friendship and Form Cambridge Pre-U set testified through their excellent results. wisdom will be missed. He tutored in Oldham's Hall. While not initially familiar with the Mike Tonks boarding environment, Lionel brought Gallic passion and flare to the role from the start. He was energetic and omnipresent on duty Ben Purser taught drawing and painting at Shrewsbury School for and just about learnt to pronounce the 59 names of the boys in the 5 years. Even though his main focus was A Level, he has also House. “Mr B” became a popular tutor and will be very much taught at both entry level (age 13) and GCSE, as well as delivering missed by boys and colleagues alike in Oldham’s. His contribution a successful series of lectures on the History of Art. His interest in to the green agenda was also valued as he set up a school and commitment to visual creativity led him to monitor and follow allotment for mud lovers. the Photography A Level course. He also contributed to the Lionel leaves to seek further new challenges: we will miss him weekend programme of visiting artists – and accompanied our and have valued his work at Shrewsbury. many trips to Museums and Galleries. He was a House Tutor in Tim Whitehead School House with a weekly evening duty and oversaw numerous groups of tutees, both in the Sixth Form and Lower School. Caroline Farris The night before I was returning to work after a Throughout his time teaching with us Ben was totally professional year’s maternity leave I remember saying to my husband, ‘I hope – reliable, punctilious, well prepared and a gifted and highly our new graduate sports coach is good. I’ve got enough to try and respected teacher. He was unstinting in his approach – generously catch up on and get done without having to check things that she giving of his time and energy. His track record of public exam should be doing.’ After my first day back it was clear I didn’t need to results was outstanding – often achieving 100% A+B grades for his worry. Caroline was organised, efficient and keen to be of as much students. help as possible. It was she who would spend the next two terms Ben was a delight to work with – he fitted into our faculty with checking things for me! We were very lucky to have a fully qualified ease. Not only in teaching but also as a creative artist. It has teacher in the position of graduate sports coach, as Caroline become a tradition at Shrewsbury, that every few years, each already had teaching and coaching experiences from her time at member of the faculty has a ‘One-Person’ Exhibition of recent work. Casterton and Moreton Hall. It meant that the job came naturally to Ben had two such shows – both impressive and demonstrating a her and she was able to progress with things instinctively without talented and thoughtfully creative person. He was a popular being asked. Caroline has been a joy to work with at Shrewsbury, member of the Common Room and took an active interest in sport. she approaches every task with enthusiasm, always smiling and Philip Woolley happy, which in turn makes others more positive. The pupils have related well to her helpful attitude and during her time here Caroline Julian Walton The fact that Julian Walton came back in a second has demonstrated the huge range of her knowledge and ability, karma to teach chemistry again at Shrewsbury School shows that teaching a variety of practical elements in different sports with his choices and actions can’t have been that awful in his first, different year groups, as well as getting involved with the academic although the worry lines on the Head of Department’s face certainly PE lessons. When I spoke to Anna Peak about her work in the grew deeper as he realised that the only lab in which Julian could house and to other members of staff who have worked closely with be placed was the recently re-furbished one. Julian’s legendary love her, the word that continued to come up was ‘reliable’. Caroline was for this very practical subject communicated itself to staff and pupils always keen to work to a high standard and then ask what more alike. True to form, his cheery disposition and penchant for wit she could do. Whether she was working with large groups of up to entertained pupils and staff, cheering up both the old lags and the 60 girls during house sport, or one or two individuals for hunt newer lags, for whom the discovery of his tales and situational training, she always made each and every one feel that they had

8 School News her full attention and that their development and progress was spent whole duty talking to, monitoring and encouraging the boys, important to her. Caroline is moving on to take up a full time didn't stand any nonsense, followed things up, and a lovely person teaching position at Malvern St James. to boot. Will really miss her.” We all will. Nicola Bradburne Tim Whitehead

Chloé Delpy returns to France after her year here as Bordeaux Sabrina Bottai came to us from Rosario in Argentina as our first Fellow. Hispanic Fellow to support the students studying Spanish. She was I should have realised before she arrived, on reading that Chloé a great success within the Faculty, not least in her primary role of was an expert in French boxing, or savate, that she was not going working with A-level students ahead of their oral exams. Indeed all to be bossed about! Chloé, instead, took the initiative, made but one of the AS orals was awarded the top grade – a record! suggestions as to how she could help, took a suggestion of finding Sabrina showed great patience and stamina, enthusiasm and a few extra materials for teaching a certain topic as carte blanche to humour to ensure that all students felt comfortable and confident to fill the faculty intranet area up to a level IT got quite sweaty about. use their Spanish – and she was always willing to go the extra mile She made a valued contribution on the Bordeaux trip, tidied up beyond what was expected of her. Aside from conversation work, certain offices after her colleagues and put displays up; in short, did Sabrina helped create materials for students studying GCSE and all those things that we never get round to. For Chloé’s extreme helped to promote the exchange programme with Colegio San enthusiasm, Shrewsbury School is in her debt, though, as Chloé Bartolomé in Rosario. We were very sad to see her go, but thanks moves on to become a bailiff, or ‘repo girl’ it is certain to be a debt to her success as the inaugural Hispanic Fellow, we are now that has to be repaid. I expect she will soon be put to work on the confident that the link will go from strength to strength. She leaves EU debt mountain. Chloé was a greatly valued tutor in Churchill’s, us with our best wishes and returns to work in Rosario. as Richard Hudson confirmed, “Dream of a tutor – utterly reliable, Stuart Cowper

YOUNG ENGINEERS

For a 14-year-old to build a racing car from scratch and race it on a were also racing to improve their distance before the National professional track is the stuff of dreams. But that is exactly what our Finals. We completed the four hour race and improved on our Young Engineers Group have been doing, winning the ‘Best distance, but still fell a few miles short of the qualifying distance. Engineered Car’ at the North West Heat for the second year With the racing season over, thoughts moved to a new car for running. next season. We have shown that we can build good cars, but we This year with the continued support of local companies, the need some support and expertise to set up a monitoring system so boys worked in the D&T workshop to modify their car to meet the that the driver and pit crew know how the car is performing to get 2013 regulations and changed the gear ratios to try and improve on the best distance. The third form boys have already started learning last year’s performance. In May on the test day at Mallory Park, all new engineering skills to build a new lower, lighter, more seemed to be going well. The car was reliable and the team of aerodynamic carbon fibre car for next season. young drivers completed 82 miles, our furthest distance to date, beating apprentice teams from MIRA and Jaguar Landrover. Unable to race at the Midlands Heat at Rockingham in July, we had to wait until the North West Heat at the Aintree Circuit in September. The car was reliable, but seemed to be going slower than before and at the end of the race had only completed a disappointing 61 miles. Spirits were raised when the team were awarded the Imech ‘Best Engineered Car’. Ten days later, the gear ratios were changed, we decided on our strategy and we set off to the Castle Combe Circuit. A number of Thomas Scott-Bell (I), Alex King (M), Oliver Bureau (Ch), the best cars in the country Edward Jones (M), Matt Owen-Sinclair (M); in car Paddy Cope (Ch)

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A VE

Hugo Besterman has She then moved to Bordeaux University to do her Masters degree taken over from Giles Bell and started playing water polo again – this time as a winger. as Housemaster of School She is very much enjoying her time in Shrewsbury and is now House. He has previously seriously considering becoming a French teacher rather than a been Director of Sixth Form lawyer, teaching French either in England or to those arriving in and a member of the France from overseas. Her ideal would be to find a job where she Senior Leadership Team at can teach French and practise law and start playing water polo The Red Maids’ School in again. Bristol. Before that, he gained experience of Ana Paula Suárez is the new Hispanic Fellow and comes from boarding and as a Head of Argentina. She is a graduate English–Spanish Translator (2006) Faculty at both Clifton from the Instituto Superior San Bartolomé de Rosario, Argentina College and Abingdon and a University Professor (2009) from the Universidad del Centro School. Educativo Latinoamericano, (UCEL), Argentina. She is also a Hugo gained a First in graduate Teaching Assistant on Literary Translation (2009) from ISPI Biological Anthropology at Downing College, Cambridge, and he San Bartolomé de Rosario, Argentina. She presented her Final also represented the university at football and was president of the Paper on “Translation of Regional Dialects from English into university surf club. He is a keen musician and plays the cello, Spanish”. Since 2010, she has been working as a Lecturer on piano (Grade 8 Distinction), piano accordion and percussion, and is Literary Translation on the Translation Programme at ISPI San a published author in the public understanding of science. Bartolomé de Rosario and in 2012, she started attending the Hugo is married to Caroline, herself a Cambridge Classics Teacher Development Programme there. graduate, and they have three young daughters: Francia, Poppy At the moment, she is studying for a degree in English Language and Jasmine. and Literature from Universidad del Centro Educativo Latinoamericano (UCEL) and is working on her final thesis, entitled Rob Lothman has joined Shrewsbury as the Gomes Fellow from “Hybrid Identities in a Hybrid Literary Format: Analysis of the Harvard University for the 2013-14 school year. Rob graduated from graphic novel ‘The Surrogates’ by Robert Venditti”. She has also Harvard in May 2013 with a degree in Social Studies, having taught English at UCEL and has worked as an online tutor and pursued an inter-disciplinary plan of study in Russian history and freelance translator. She is interested in literature, arts, music and the history of mass violence. At Harvard, Rob also served as language. captain of the men’s volleyball team and as a peer adviser to other At Shrewsbury, Ana Paula has been enjoying teaching oral students. Rob hails originally from St Louis, Missouri, and he is Spanish lessons and helping the Oxbridge students with excited to add Shrewsbury to the diverse list of places he has lived, Argentinian Literature. including Boston, Seattle, and Moscow. In addition to teaching English, Philosophy & Theology, and Global Perspectives, Rob is a keen sportsman, and he enjoys ––––––––––––––––––––––––––– coaching the basketball team at Shrewsbury (in lieu of a volleyball team). Additionally, Rob is fond of hiking, fishing, camping, literature, music and politics. He has had the honour of helping out Three new Graduate Sports Coaches also joined the School in with senior house debating, and he looks forward to the junior September: house competition next term. Rob serves as a non-resident tutor in Ingram’s, where he consistently preaches the merits of Katie Collins joins us from Framlingham College where she was cheeseburgers and baseball, and he is happy for the opportunity to Graduate Tutor from 2011. She has a degree in Coach Education continue to be involved in house life as the year progresses. and Sports Development from the University of Bath. Her main sporting interests are hockey, cricket, tennis and cycling. Charlène Piquard is the new Bordeaux Fellow. She was born in Lure, a small town in France not far from the Swiss border, where Spencer Gunnell has been working as a Teaching Assistant at she lived until the age of 14. A keen swimmer, she narrowly failed to Stafford Grammar School. He has a degree in Sports Coaching qualify for the French Championships at the age of 13 but received from the University of Central Lancashire. His main sporting at the same time a letter offering her the chance to learn water polo interests are football and athletics. and join the national team. She trained twice a day for three years. She was goalkeeper of both the Junior and the Senior National Christopher Scrimshaw has been appointed Graduate Sports Teams, captain of the Junior Team and competed in several Coach – Rowing. He joins us from the University of Bristol where he European Championships. is completing his MEng in Aerosopace Engineering. Christopher After passing her Baccalaureat, Charlene went on to study law at has been the University Boat Club President at the University of university (which had been her dream since she was five years old). Bristol Boat Club since September 2012. She continued playing water polo for two years but stopped for one year in order to concentrate on studying for her ‘Licence’ degree.

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FROM BASIC YEAR AND THE ROVERS TO EVEREST

At 6.40 am on 13th May 2013, Adam Booth (PH 1995-2000) reached the summit of Mount Everest. His achievement marked the 60th anniversary of the first ascent by Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay. Soon after his return to the UK, Adam paid tribute to the staff at the School who ran the Rovers during his time at Shrewsbury, thanking them for “lighting the flame” and for first inspiring him with a love of mountains and climbing. One of those members of staff, Mark Twells, reflects on the School’s powerful and historic association with Everest and the inspiration behind a peculiarly Salopian urge to climb it.

Can you name the second highest mountain on Earth? The third? (the other is Julian Thompson (SH 1989-94), and a further four OSs No, neither could I. I even had the highest peak in Europe wrong. (I got very, very high into what is today called the Death Zone – the was taught Mont Blanc, and I’m sorry, but it isn’t. The highest region where, because of insufficient oxygen at altitude, the human mountain in Europe is now regarded as Mount Elbrus at 5,642 body cannot survive. And that’s not counting Sandy. metres (18,510 ft) in the Caucasus. Mont Blanc is ‘only’ 15,782 feet What has propelled these Salopians up number one? Whilst it is high) difficult to find out summiters by school, this seems to be an The pull of the highest, the best, the impossible is an interesting astonishing statistic, even when factoring in that most of those who product of the human mind. We have to go for number one. We attempted to climb Everest prior to 1950 were British, and British have to do difficult things to make our mark. In an interview in a climbers before 1950 were largely Public School. What catalyst newspaper in 1923, George Mallory suggested that he climbed might have spurred these Salopian climbers on to greatness? What Everest “because it is there”. The second highest, second most did the School do to spark their interest? difficult, second in the league, second in formula one just isn’t given Sandy Irvine’s story is, of course, well known. In her book any coverage. ‘Fearless on Everest’, Julie Summers (Sandy’s great-niece) relates a delightful story of Sandy riding his Clyno motorcycle up Foel Vras (nowadays called Foel-Fras) in the Carneddi (North Wales) whilst on holiday, and meeting Noel Odell and his wife (a staunch and regular member of the early Everest expeditions). It is interesting to speculate whether this chance meeting was responsible for the ultimately fatal partnership between Mallory, the technically capable climber, and the engineer-athlete-Salopian. Sandy and Noel Odell met again climbing Tryfan in 1920. Sandy was probably taken on to the 1924 expedition because of his mechanical expertise with the primitive oxygen apparatus, but he obviously caught the eye of George Mallory as a natural climber. It is particularly poignant to note that on June 8th 1924, Noel Odell was the last person to see Mallory and Irvine alive, before they became enveloped in the clinging cold of a high-altitude weather system. Fast forward 29 years, and another Salopian, Charles Evans (DB 1932-37) and Tom Bourdillon formed the first summit pair in Sir John Hunt’s 1953 expedition – realistically, the last chance for Britain to be the first to reach the summit; the Swiss had got very close in 1952. Delayed at the start by oxygen equipment problems, fixed by Tom Bourdillon, they eventually got within 300 feet of the summit – a height record for a few days (see photograph on page 43). But with oxygen issues (they were using a very new type of Adam Booth oxygen kit and it seems that the canister used to clean the carbon dioxide out before recycling wasn’t working in Charles’ kit) they had The current season (2013) in the Himalaya has produced another to withdraw. The rest – Tenzing/Hillary, the second pair – is well stunning crop of records for climbing there – first to do Lhotse, documented history. Nuptse and Everest in one climb; first 80-year-old to ascend. And Shrewsbury has a long and proud tradition of making use of its among these triumphs, a Salopian bagged an ascent: Adam Booth location. It is three hours from the Lake District and an hour from (PH 1995-2000) summited on 13th May 2013. Digging a little North Wales. Almost uniquely amongst Public Schools (and deeper reveals that Adam is not the only Salopian to summit. certainly amongst the original schools of the 1868 Act of Everyone with an interest in either mountains or Everest knows Parliament), it could take its pupils into hills. The centre of mass of the story of George Mallory and Sandy Irvine – the latter an Old the 1868 schools is a very long way indeed from any real hills. Eton, Salopian (S 1916-21), who sealed forever Shrewsbury’s link with Winchester and the others have long drives to get to hills. Everest. But what is astonishing to note is that of the 4,000 or so Shrewsbury could offer big ones – proper ones; scrambly ones. people to have reached the summit, two of them are Old Salopians And offer it did. The Rovers formed in 1934. From the 1960s and

11 School News the birth of Outdoor Pursuits, to the 1990s and the dawn of Health and Safety, Shrewsbury just did Big Things with Inspiring Brushers with its pupils. It was possible to take a group off (after chapel, it has to be said) and go climb, and be back for tea and Top Schools. In this 30-year window, a number of staff (who, by today’s standards would undoubtedly be labelled “reckless”) took boys on wonderfully inspiring trips far and high. And I’m not just talking about “Hall’s Tours”, which many of you will remember. I’m talking about the sort of escapade which, for many years, decorated the walls of the FMH lounge at 17 Ashton Road – colour photographs of FMH completing Alpine climbs, Pyrenean climbs, the Dolomites. All accomplished with his ancient long-handled wooden ice axe, travelling in PER65, his 1953 Land Rover. Many of you met your first serious climb with Patrick Childs, FMH (Michael Hall), LRE (Lawrence Edbrooke), RP (Bob Parker), RBS (Robin Brooke-Smith) and many other keen staff.

Norway 1999

six staff to run schemes with 120 boys (the current ratio, for Cairngorms 1969 – Is the last man expiring or praying? comparison, is 4:16) or to use pupils as instructors in place of staff. Basic Year had to adapt, but the opportunity was still there: the Site Apart from Sandy and Sir Charles Evans, the other Salopian reverberated to the echoes of this institution and you are likely to climbers spent part of the 1980s/1990s at Shrewsbury. The 1990s have fond memories of Summer Camp at Lower Cantref in the was a time of great change in Outdoor Pursuits. Many schools were Brecon Beacons, with “Monster Exercise” about to happen, and a getting in to Outdoor Pursuits for the first time and could just start large and messy mudslide. None of these paid any dues to H&S. up. Shrewsbury had a different problem: it had been there, and it Nor did “Early Morning Swimming”. Even the “death slide” pulley needed to reboot. Julian Thompson and Jonjo Knott joined the block used at camp for many years could not be certificated in school in 1989, so went through a compulsory Basic Year and the 1993, so that had to go. The dreaded “Lats” were replaced by full Summer Camp, complete with Monster Exercise, in June 1991 something far more hygienic and, in later phases, Compo was with Michael Hall. Adam arrived in Port Hill in 1995 and had a replaced by a camp chef who produced epic food out of an slightly different experience. Basic Year was still compulsory, the impossibly small tent. One or two parts of the old “Camp” survived year’s programme looked like it always had, but the Summer Camp intact – the Monster Exercise, almost unaltered, became a DofE had been modernised. His experience was of smaller groups, more expedition qualifier. Caving and Mountain Biking were added activities and many more staff. (capturing a number of lifelong devotees). Climbing became more By 1990, Basic Year had run for many years. But the real key to important. inspiration was the pyramidal structure of outdoor pursuits achieved So adapt it did. And so did the CCF and the Rovers. The Rovers by the School: a wide base, a programme for all, followed by more had been run for many years by Lawrence Edbrooke, a timeless specialised activities for fewer, more enthusiastic pupils. There was Classics brusher who just loved being in hills. Lawrence had a always one more challenge. FMH made Basic Year compulsory for regular yearly cycle of a number of gorgeous wild campsites, the whole Fourth Form: in those days, around 120 pupils and six Talargerwyn, regular takers and a regular plan for something members of staff handled Thursday afternoons in the Michaelmas challenging in the summer. New blood – in the shape of Robin and Lent terms, weekend camps in the Summer term, and a week- Brooke-Smith and Bob Parker, followed by Graham Barnes and long camp in the Brecons, which many of you will remember. But Martin Hansen – reshaped Rovers, and an ambitious programme of that wasn’t the end of it: those who wanted to could move on up the trips was organised. In a few short years, the School ran serious pyramid, towards the more challenging, small-scale activities. Many climbing trips to the Karakoram Himalayas, Mt Kenya, the found themselves entranced by The Rovers. Rovers focused on Pyrenees, the Picos de Europa, the Alps, and, in 1999, to Arctic climbing – bigger; more technical. Many also became involved with Norway. Graham remembers Adam Booth on that trip, racing instructing in Basic Year and, of course, the CCF. ahead across a glacier and having to be slowed down. Adam was The dawn of Health and Safety, funding issues with the CCF and also very active in Basic Year, enjoying a lot of very easy hills in the retirement of Michael Hall forced a rethink on Basic Year, and North Wales with 14-year-olds. The opportunities in the mid-1990s other cherished institutions. By 1993 it was no longer possible for were there, and keen boys relished them. The programme probably

12 School News hit its peak numerically in 1999 with the Norway trip, and then three trips to the French Alps with what was still called Basic Year, but was no longer the entire academic year. Although based nominally on following the GR5 long-distance path, Martin Hansen wasted no opportunity to put some climbs in and a number of boys came away having summited Mont Blanc – that’s Petit Mont Blanc, but worth climbing nevertheless. Attitudes were relaxed, and boys and brushers mixed easily and as equals. In one particularly cold night on a glacier in Norway, only one dormitory in the hut was available. Mix or die… So, from around 1993 to 2001, Outdoor Pursuits changed, writhed, seethed and adapted itself to the requirements of a modern, risk-conscious (risk-averse?) education. These five Salopians who would later tackle Everest presented themselves at just the right moment to experience the freshness of new staff with interest, new trips, and new ideas. Many others went away from Summer Camp with enthusiasms of a different kind – caving, mountain biking. Even cooking, or perhaps just camping. Will Shrewsbury produce any more climbing Firsts? The explosion is, of course, not just from Shrewsbury. The other parts of the equation are equipment and support. The presence of a huge support network on Everest – particularly Russell Brice’s, on the north side – helps climbers and small expeditions to get up. And, of

The summit of the Grossglockner, at 12,461 feet, Austria’s highest mountain. Summer 1971 cooked over a solid fuel stove, followed by a night walk over Caer Caradoc, finishing at Gaerstones Farm, near Church Stretton. The 16 or so pupils completing the bronze National Navigation Award Scheme no longer cook, and they no longer walk at night. But they still finish at Gaerstones, and are still reminded of Salopians (and brushers) who got hopelessly lost many years ago. So, of our Salopian community, Julian Thompson summitted on Picos de Europa with Martin Hansen and Stuart Wellings 30th May 2005 and Adam Booth summitted on 13th May 2013 course, get down. Statistically speaking, advances in equipment Jonjo Knott (PH 1989-1994) attempted in May 2006 as part of design from around 2000 have made the attempt much, much the British Services Mt Everest West Ridge expedition, reaching safer. As the fatality rate has dropped, the number attempting to 8100m in very bad weather. No one summited because of summit in the short pre-monsoon window in May-June has avalanche risks. mushroomed. There are terrible stories and images of climbers Richard Taylor (O) attempted to climb from the north (as a freezing to death in queues on the Lhotse face, waiting for their turn member of the Irvine-Lovatt expedition) in 2004. Having been to move forward. But the climbers still go in droves. K2, the second stormbound at 7800 m, he and another member of the team got to highest mountain on earth, is relatively silent. 8000m on the North Side and turned back. Nowadays, the diet of the modern Salopian climber is rich and Murray Campbell (O 1992-1997) attempted the summit in 2002. varied. Riding motorcycles over the Carneddi is definitely not in the Sir Charles Evans (DB 1932-1937) (with Tom Bourdillon) repertoire of the modern eco-conscious climber. Keen Salopians attempted to summit from the south, via the South Col on May 26th these days experience trips which combine what would have been 1953. They were the first summit pair of the 1953 expedition, before called “arduous training” in 1980 with science. School trips to Ed Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. remote areas are thoughtful, and give something back to the Sandy Irvine (S 1916-21) (with George Mallory) died on Everest environment. And we seem to avoid the honeypots. In September, in June 1924. The consensus of opinion is that Mallory and Irvine the School buzzes with news about the trips pupils have been on did not reach the summit. over the summer. Salopians still do wild; they still do remote. But Further reading: Everest 1953 by Mick Conefrey, Fearless on these trips are often linked to significant science or charity work. Everest: The Quest for Sandy Irvine by Julie Summers, Into the In 2013, one scheme which has its roots in the Basic Year of the Silence: The Great War, Mallory and the Conquest of Everest by 1970s is still used by the School. You may remember a night Wade Davis. navigation scheme which started with sausages, bacon and beans, Mark Twells

13 School News

T HE S HEWSY: 110 NOT OUT AND GOING STRONG

What’s the secret? Why is it so important to Shrewsbury School? Henry Corbett, Warden Lesley Drew, Charities Co-ordinator

November 10th 2013 was the 110th anniversary of the foundation of Why would an eight-year-old be worrying about the increasing cost Shrewsbury House. The 26-year-old Rev Digby Kittermaster, an Old of car insurance? When a youth worker at the Shewsy Youth Club Salopian, had searched Liverpool “for the most poverty-stricken got to the bottom of this little boy’s anxiety, it turned out his father is area in which to work”, as Shrewsbury schoolmaster Adrian Struve leaving for work early every day, to give himself time to drive really put it in the club’s 75th anniversary brochure, “an area whose carefully, trying to avoid an accident, as the family have decided needs were clear enough to stir the consciences of past and that car insurance is beyond their means. present members” of his old school. He found what he wanted in Everton, in Liverpool, is one of the six most deprived wards in Everton, and on that November evening he and a handful of others Britain, and 52% of its children live in poverty. The Shewsy was opened the doors for the first time to a club. Classes in geography, founded in 1903 to give the children a chance to play somewhere joinery, science, cobbling, singing were offered; now it’s computers, safely, and to interact with adults who can help them gain homework club, electric guitars and fitness equipment. confidence and new skills. In 2013, education results have So what is the secret of the success of the Shrewsbury School- improved, housing has been upgraded and Liverpool city centre Shrewsbury House partnership? It’s not buildings, though they help, has been re-generated. The Shewsy is still at the centre of the and the vision of Roger Sainsbury at the Shewsy and of Donald community there, and we are privileged that they count us, ‘Shewsy Wright at the School for the new, larger, Shewsy, opened in 1974, School’, as part of that community. certainly enabled us to offer more. Learning about the pressures that working families are under, and The secret is not money, though that helps too, and we need seeing the potential of the children who come to the Shewsy are financial support. The Shewsy’s main sources of funding consist of some of the things that Shrewsbury pupils take away from their donations from Old Salopians, grants from charitable trusts and visits. Like generations of pupils before them, they laugh, discuss fund-raising events at the School and the Club. The City Council and play with their peer group, making relationships and breaking can afford just a little maintenance grant and just a few youth work down stereotypes. All the teenagers, from Shewsy House or sessions: they would like to give more but the money, in these Shewsy School, become more open-minded by meeting each recessionary times, is not there. other and seeing the world from another angle. My thanks to so No, the real secret of the success of the partnership is the quality many of the teaching staff, who keep the relationship vibrant and of the people involved. fresh. Today the team is an outstanding one, led by Youth leader Dave The Club is actively on Brereton, with ex-club member John Dumbell as assistant, ex-youth the hunt for volunteers, leader John Hutchison as Chair, Frances Croft, ex-club member, as especially from amongst Vice Chair, Treasurer and one of a team of motivated volunteers. As the recently-retired, or Dave puts it: ‘We’re here to help prevent the Bad Stuff’. Lives are newly-graduated, with being transformed and directed on to constructive paths, talents fund-raising skills, who are celebrated. Toni Duggan, ex-club member, scored a hat-trick for can tap into trusts and England in September – she still coaches in the football cage, foundations, and for funded by the School, where she learnt her skills. 50 Sixth Formers those with an visit Everton each year, and the Club visits the School in the spring, accountancy co-ordinated by the current members and pupils who form the background, who could ‘Shewsy Ambassadors’ . give their time to keep this Here’s to the next good innings, and thank you to everyone who Club running for another has contributed to the secret of the club’s success over its first 110 110 years. years.

What I learned on my visit to the Shewsy: Jamie Nugent (SH, Lower Sixth): “Apart from emphasized ‘Towards’. The title, and emphasis, been developed, which, from what I saw, helps anything else, that my football skills need refining still ring true, over 40 years later.” people fight through the tough economic times.. I to live up to Everton kids' standards! The sense hadn’t realised how big a part local government that the Shewsy is a sanctuary.” Amelia Woodruff (MSH Upper Sixth): “The plays in underprivileged places such as Everton. people I met during the past two days are some Getting involved in politics seems to be essential John Patterson (Ch 1961-65): “I found it tough, of the most generous and warm-hearted people I in helping people sustain their everyday lives.” and struggled even to understand the language, think I will ever meet. I feel that this visit is centred but something got under my skin. I later spent 5 around the personalities and the stories that you Jonathan Crown (M 1978-82): “I visited in 1981, years as Team Vicar there. This all grew out of the come into contact with, mainly because they are and recall with crystal clarity learning first-hand club/school link.” so vastly different from our own.” how life was for the local boys. It would be no exaggeration to say it has been a small but John R. Smyth (R 1967-70): “On one of the Rishi Trivedi (PH Lower Sixth): “Everybody in and significant part of my life ever since.” visits, in 1968 or 70, the youth worker led a around the Shewsy seems to know everyone discussion entitled, ‘Towards a Solution’. He else, and as a result a family-like community has

14 School News

Members of the current Lower 6th, Headmaster Mark Turner, Warden Henry Corbett and Shrewsbury School Charities Co-ordinator Lesley Drew and children at the Shewsy, October 2013

15 School News

BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT EXPEDITION TO M ADAGASCAR

The World's fourth largest island – a land so unique in its flora and 2013 on a two-week expedition. Operation Wallacea is generating fauna that it is known by naturalists as The Eighth Continent. large amounts of data to investigate the impacts of habitat Separated from Africa for 135 million years and from India for 88 destruction on lemurs, birds, reptiles, amphibians and plants. Our million years, 90% of all plant and animal species are found aim was to contribute to this effort by comparing plant diversity and nowhere else on Earth. It is also a biodiversity hotspot, containing structure in pristine spiny forest with forest in various states of 5% of all known animal and plant species. This diversity is driven by regeneration. Using this baseline data, the behaviour and diversity a remarkable variety in ecosystems which range from tropical of lemurs, reptiles, birds and other animals can be directly linked to rainforest to the extraordinary dry spiny forest of the South. There habitat quality and priorities for conservation can then be identified. are over 100 species of lemur, 39 of which were discovered We spent our first week camping in the unique Spiny Forest between 2000 and 2008. Almost all lemurs are classified by the which was a 7km trek from Ifotaka. Each day was spent in small IUCN as rare, vulnerable or endangered. Of the 300 species of groups assisting Malagasy postgraduates with their research. birds, 60% are endemic and the few reptiles that managed to reach During the week, each group cycled through numerous activities. Madagascar have radiated into 260 species, 90% of which are We all undertook arduous vegetation surveys (the Spiny Forest lived endemic. The amphibians and plants also exhibit extraordinary up to its name) and Seren Kell won particular praise for rapidly levels of endemism. learning the Malagasy names of all the plants. Lemur behaviour Since the arrival of humans about 2350 years ago, more than surveys involved watching the stunning Verreaux’s sifaka and 90% of Madagascar's original forest has been lost. Slash and burn recording every aspect of their behaviour from the moment the to free land for sisal plantations, cattle, maize and rice as well as a lemurs awoke until dusk. On several occasions they sat just meters reliance on charcoal for cooking is the main cause and illegal from us and it was a spine-tingling privilege to get so close. Lucy logging of ebony and rosewood exacerbates the precarious Petch managed to capture some great photos of them leaping. We situation. The distributions of many of Madagascar's lemurs and also did lemur point counts which involved finding a vantage point chameleons are now confined to single, small isolated patches of and counting every lemur in sight. On one occasion ringtails came habitat – a conservationist's nightmare. Small populations are to sunbathe on the cliff top meters away from us. Working with the vulnerable to disease, hunting or catastrophe and depauperate in herpetologist involved digging numerous pit-fall traps in very rocky genetic diversity which hinders the ability of species to adapt to new ground – tough and dusty work under baking sun. We enjoyed the challenges. Madagascar's wildlife is teetering on the brink. fruits of our labours in the following days, catching numerous To witness, first-hand, the extraordinary beauty and variety of geckos, skinks, snakes and a few chameleons, all of which were Malagasy natural history and contribute directly to its conservation, marked, weighed and measured prior to release. We were also 26 Salopians led by RAJC, VLK, JAM and WMS, set out in July lucky to find a few radiated tortoise which are critically endangered

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wooden building with two doors in each wall for the spirits to enter) to seek a blessing from the Ombiasa (Healer) for our journey north. To thorax-shaking drumming, uplifting singing, clapping and the blowing of whistles and conch shells, the Ombiasa entered a trance and danced while offerings were handed round. These included unspeakable but very fresh bits of the sheep we had brought with us which, fortunately, everyone managed to swallow. After the ceremony – something no Western tourists get to see – we were offered large chunks of roasted sheep on sticks while the local children had a lot of fun with cameras, suntan cream and the odd- looking people who’d arrived from another planet. Our journey north was preceded by a “party” so that we could get to know the people who would accompany us on our trip. We headed up river, cooked a goat (ably dispatched by Brendan Lung) and drank some beer around the fire while Lead Scientist Barry Ferguson explained exactly what we had witnessed in the village before explaining our itinerary for the coming week on the road. Our journey began with a 4am start (the first of many) and a 7km trek in the dark back to Ifotaka. From there we loaded into seven 4WD pick-ups and drove to Fort Dauphin where we stopped for lunch during which we celebrated Seren Kell’s 18th birthday with a huge cake – cakes aren’t easy to come by in Madagascar but Joyce Ferguson, our fabulous Malagasy fixer, made it happen. We continued through extraordinarily beautiful countryside to the Littoral rainforest of St Luce. A good view of collared brown lemur (listed as vulnerable by the IUCN), an exceptional night walk and the opportunity to see a unique ecosystem made the visit well worthwhile. Our next day involved eight river crossings using hand- cranked or motorised ferries that could accommodate three 4x4s at a time. We arrived at the seventh crossing to find the ferry broken down on the far side of the river. We waited as darkness fell and realised that we were not going to make it to our destination so we due to illegal hunting for the pet trade and Chinese medicine as well started to work on Plan B. Just as we decided to make camp the as the cooking pot. The bird groups used mist nets and point ferry slowly appeared out of the darkness, paddled by local counts to assess the density of birds in an area. Point counts villagers. As it swung round with surprising coordination and involved sitting in silence for ten minutes, trying to identify bird docked it became apparent that there were about 80 villagers species and estimate their numbers from their calls. This was paddling the ferry, some of whom were women with babies challenging and the skill of Dr Sama Zefania was breath-taking and wrapped in their robes. With two vehicles before us in the queue, inspirational. Each lunch time, we had a lecture to build our we squeezed one pick-up, all of us, our camping gear, water and understanding of the research going on in the camp. Most firewood onto the ferry and set off into the dark listening to the evenings we would go on night walks in search of diminutive mouse swish of paddles. Some of our team took over from the women with lemurs, geckos and scorpions which glowed eerily in the dark babies. The villagers kindly gave us space to camp in the grounds under our UV torch. We also had a chance to check the network of of a school they were building and brought us firewood and water. remote cameras, which revealed the presence of the elusive and ferocious fossa – the only major predator of lemurs. Evenings were spent at the shop eating chicken fried by a local woman or we would sit out on sisal mats listening to the evocative sounds of the locals singing and drumming with wood smoke from the cooking fires drifting through the surprisingly cold even air. Ed Shawe-Taylor impressed them with his own singing and was given free run of their guitar. Our penultimate day in the Spiny Forest was spent in a remote local village which was the cultural highlight of the expedition. We walked several kilometres up a dry river bed to reach the village and arrived bearing “gifts from the road” – two sheep, rum, cigarettes, soap, fizzy pop and other items available from the small shop in the camp. To announce our arrival, we had to dance into camp in four groups. Our dance was mirrored by the villages to the vibrant accompaniment of singing. A representative from each of our four groups made a short speech (in Malagasy!) to the Headman and we were made to feel very welcome. The sheep were killed and cooked over hot coals while we entered the Valo Lala (a rectangular

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They also made two more round trips to collect the remaining six chameleons in the verdant grounds of the campsite and searched vehicles so that we could set out without delay in the morning. All of for mouse lemurs during a night walk by looking for eye-shine from us will remember the kindness they showed and the way people the beams of our head torches. Our morning in Andasibe enabled came together to help us out. We donated stationary to them for us to end the expedition on a high with close up views of the largest their school on return. of the lemurs, the endangered indri. We were right below them Our journey over the next two days took us through some when they started to call with their eerie, whale-like song used to incredible countryside with jagged mountains on the Eastern determine family territories. We were also fortunate to spot a virtually horizon and rolling grassy planes running down to the enticing invisible Uroplatus gecko. We then drove back to the capital, (apart from the sharks) Indian Ocean in the West. The Lonely Planet Antananarivo to catch our flight home that night. Guide described this extraordinary part of the journey as follows: "A There are so many other individual tales and magical moments dead zone for travellers unless you want pure 4WD adventure...the but they are too numerous to mention. All of us, even the most unpaved 220km between Vaingaindrano and Fort Dauphin is seasoned travellers, returned with memories of evolution running notoriously treacherous and should only be attempted in dry wild, astonishing cultural and natural beauty and the fabulous season with a trustworthy 4WD”. It really was pure 4WD adventure; people we met. All of us returned with a new appreciation for the Seren Kell, Dorit Hasselberg, Natalie Seager and Eleanor Carter- fragility of nature on this extraordinary island and all of us were Esdale got stuck in deep mud and had to be towed free; we were rewarded greatly by gathering data that will help to preserve it. We often bumper-deep in water or crossing bare rock with little trace of learned about ecology, worked with undergraduates and any road at all. The scenery was breathtaking until we saw the odd postgraduates and saw how real science is done. We saw things dead tree and charred tree stumps and the realisation dawned no tourists get to see, saw some vanishingly rare animals in the wild upon us that the whole area was once forest. With no animals and faced some significant challenges. In doing all this, we learned adapted for life on grassy plains, the area was in fact sterile and about ourselves too. Where to next? Guyana 2015! barren. Our journey took us north through Manambondro to Dr Richard Case Manombo Special Reserve where, sadly, we did not manage to see black and white ruffed lemurs. A refreshing dip in a rainforest pool Expedition Team: made up for this to a certain extent. Aue-Aut Angpanitcharoen Natalie Seager Once the roads improved at Vaingaindrano we transferred to Phoebe Barboza Edward Seymour minibuses and continued to the famous Ranomafana National Park Freddy Battrick-Watkin Jonathan Shaw where we set up camp in the dark in slashing rain and temperatures Eleanor Carter-Esdale Harriet Shaw that made us feel as though we were in Snowdonia. We awoke to see rainforest shrouded in mist and after breakfast met our guides Dorit Hasselberg Ed Shawe-Taylor and crossed the river into the forest. Within minutes we came Vicky Horbach Ben Tench across golden bamboo lemur which was only discovered in 1985. It James Jones Eve Vanich is endangered and there are thought to be fewer than 2000 Seren Kell Alun Vaughan-Jackson individuals alive in the wild – like the panda, its specialisation on Brendan Lung Amelia Woodruff bamboo it one of the issues contributing to declines in population Andrew Muir Alex Yale size. We also saw the critically endangered greater bamboo lemur – Hannah Partington Henry Young there are only 250 in the wild. We went on to see the endangered Lucy Petch RAJC Milne-Edwards Sifika and the near-threatened red-fronted brown Lizzie Price VLK lemur as well as the fantastic satanic leaf-tailed gecko – an Tom Rowe JAM unbelievable morning of wildlife sightings. From Ranomafana, we Tudor Sartain WMS drove on over two days to Andasibe. We discovered lots of

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M USIC T OUR TO A USTRIA, JULY 2013

With the summer term barely over, the Chapel Choir, Orchestra and St Nicolas Mass, with forces and a performing location that Haydn Big Band set off for a week of music-making in the Austrian Tyrol. himself would have been very familiar with. It was a glorious Director of Music John Moore gives an entertaining account of a experience for all concerned. We then followed the Mass with a hugely successful and enjoyable tour. short concert down at the East end of this attractive Baroque In addition to taking photographs during the tour, Andrew Spicer church, with the strings in fine form, and Tom Sykes giving a (M UVI) has also made videos of four short performances, which wonderful performance with the strings of Gabriel’s Oboe from the may be viewed on the School website under ‘Music Latest News’. film score for The Mission by Enrico Morricone. The choir gave Austria some Hubert Parry and much more, and the concert was Wednesday 3rd July very well-received. We were to have started off the day with a boat cruise on the Wolfgang See. But after a heavily delayed departure from Thursday 4th July Shrewsbury two days before, due to a major mechanical fault with Salzburg and Mozart are one. Salzburg and great musical traditions our coach (not the best start), two days and a night of travelling and are also one, so performing there is a real privilege and pleasure for a late arrival at our hotel, we decided to postpone that trip till later in any musician. We set off for our day of performing in this magical, the week. musical shrine, passing by castles, mountains and in fine weather. So instruments and performing clothes packed, we set of for St We arrived at the magnificent surroundings of Salzburg Cathedral Gilgen for the Big Band, under its director Maria Eglinton, to play for our lunchtime choral and orchestral concert, but still not quite the first of three open-air gigs during the week. They gave an sure exactly how long we could play for! The itinerary said one excellent lunch-time concert in the Bandstand at St Gilgen to an thing, but the musical director from the cathedral we met said appreciative and cosmopolitan crowd, after which there was free another, and his version was considerably shorter! In the end we time for lunch, and for some, a swim in the beautiful Wolfgang See, performed a 40-minute recital to hundreds of captive tourists under right by St Gilgen. This was slightly cut short by the biggest of the magnificent dome, which helps give the cathedral its wonderful cloud-bursts which filled the streets with water within minutes, musical bloom and deserved reputation as a great ecclesiastical necessitating a bedraggled dash for the coach after some and musical space. wonderful Salopian dance moves in the pouring rain, which the The Choir sounded on top form, with repertoire from bemused Burghers of St Gilgen will remember for a long time! Rachmaninoff’s Vespers, the Haydn Mass with orchestra once And so on to our first church concert at St Sebastian’s Church in again, and Tallis, all enthusiastically received and beautifully Hof bei Salzburg. Changed and dried, the performers made their introduced by Richard Hudson in perfect German! The strings way up to the west end organ gallery where the Chapel Choir and again acquitted themselves beautifully, and so, after the concert, it strings, with Alex Mason and myself variously conducting and was visits to Mozart’s birthplace, lunch in roof top restaurants, playing organ continuo between them, provided the music for the strolls through the narrow passages around the centre, and thence evening mass in the church. The church resounded to Haydn’s to the Mirabell Gardens for an afternoon Big Band Concert.

Tour party in the gardens of Schloss Mirabell, Salzburg

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This, although sited merely between a gap in the trees to one Arriving at the church in Thalgau, we found ourselves with side of the gardens, sounded and was a magnificent performance, precious little time to prepare for the evening mass and concert, with the Band on top form after their various successes in and also having to perform from the upper of two west end competition during the last year. They had a large and appreciative galleries in the church, again with our forces split either side of audience, and it was a great end to a great day, which finished another impressive Baroque organ, hopefully this time without a back at our hotel, where after another fine dinner, some of our cipher! musicians struck up a jam session with another visiting musical Again we were part of the evening mass at the church, including group from the UK who had arrived to also stay in the Hotel Hutter. a very long sermon! Haydn was sung again, and much more from the upper gallery in a wonderful acoustic, before us all dashing Friday 5th July down to give a concert to the congregation after the concert, which No concert for the Big Band for once, and no concert at all for culminated in a standing ovation, and a fitting end to the musical anyone until the evening, meant that we had the day free for sight- performances on tour. We then had a splendid meal in a local seeing. We had arranged to visit the infamous Eagle’s Nest in the restaurant, before heading back for our last night in the hotel. beautiful area of Berchtesgarden, about an hour from the hotel. This was the mountain-top retreat given to Hitler for his 50th Birthday in Sunday 7th July 1938 by his adoring accolytes, completed and built by thousands of Rooms were cleared first thing, and then we had several hours workers in an unbelievably short space of time as they blasted before departure in which to enjoy some really fine weather before tunnels, dug roads and built sizeable structures at the top of the our long coach journey back to Shrewsbury. Having enjoyed a fine mountain for Hitler, Eva Braun and guests. midday barbeque, we loaded the coach and set off early afternoon After a precipitous bus journey, during which we gave great for home, passing for the last time the hill top castles of Austria, the thought to the hopefully excellent conditions of the vehicle’s brakes, wonderful Tyrolean scenery and so on to the long haul through we should have seen the finest views in all of that part of the Germany towards the channel port of Calais and our ferry. Our Germany/Austria hinterland. However the clouds knew the English spirits were lifted on the journey by reports and eventual news of were coming, and so were on hand, swirling around the Eagle’s Andy Murray’s historic Wimbledon victory, and eventually we arrived Nest at the top of the mountain, and giving us only the greyest, safely back at the school. mistiest views of each other and little else. Nevertheless, this was a It has to be said that this was one of the best of recent school visit redolent with comparatively recent history, and one which made music tours. The party of boys, girls and staff that went, all played a deep impression on many of us visiting for the first time. their various parts so well, and everyone on the tour had the After time for lunch in the lovely town of Berchtesgaden, we interests of others at heart. Consequently it was a happy and hugely returned to our hotel for dinner, and thence on to Bischofshofen for successful venture. The standards of performance, as one would a concert in the Pfarrkirche, a wonderfully perpendicular-style expect from the School, were high, but also always fresh and church with stunning acoustics and another fine classical Austrian entertaining. The staff who went – John Moore, Alex Mason, baroque-style organ to play. Dympna Nightingale, David Joyce, Richard Hudson, Maria Eglinton, This was purely a concert, and although the audience was on the Donny MacKenzie and Philippa Moore – were hugely supportive smallish side the concert was superb, with some wonderful solo and unstinting in their energy and bonhomie. Bach played on the cello by Awen Blandford, the Saxophone We now very much look forward to our next venture, be it in Quartet in glorious form, Richard Hudson’s Brass Quartet, and Europe or hopefully to the Far East in 2014. some wonderful singing from the Choir and playing from our John Moore and Alex Mason instrumentalists. The parishioners then entertained us to sausages and liquid refreshment in the nearby church hall, a splendid building, and we made our way, full of the experience of playing in a truly memorable venue, back to our hotel.

Saturday 6th July This, the last full day of our tour was in many ways the most spectacular and full of the unexpected, from the trick fountains at the Helbrunn Palace, to our performance in the evening at St Martin’s Church, Thalgau, where we played to our second biggest audience of the tour in a packed church. But first we had a wonderful tour of the Helbrunn Palace Gardens, including the Bishop of Salzburg’s watery guest seats at an outdoor stone table, summer houses from the Sound of Music, followed by a wonderful lunchtime concert given by the Big Band in the Musikpavillion in Strobl. We then took a boat cruise along the Wolfgang See, postponed from our first day, with swimming again in the lake at St Gilgen before departing for our final concert in Thalgau.

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EVENSONG AT ST GEORGE’S CHAPEL, WINDSOR

For many of the 70 strong Chapel Choir, I suspect the prospect of view of Director of Music Alex Mason, the ghostly eyes of the three-hour coach journey to Windsor was less than enticing, generations of monarchs looking I hope indulgently on us. The and given the choice, a routine morning of lessons might even acoustic was incredible, so limpid that each singer had that possibly have seemed more attractive. As the crenellations of disconcerting sensation that he was singing alone. For this type of Windsor Castle came into view, however, anticipation and music – the Reading responses, a lengthy chanted psalm, the excitement took over, and barely three hours later, when all was Noble ‘Magnificat’ and ‘Nunc Dimittis’ and the Wesley anthem, done and the Choir was assembled on the West End steps for a absolute precision and perfection of intonation is a prerequisite. photo, the universally shared sense of a very special occasion just Few choirs are privileged to sing in the Chapel Royal and the experienced was palpable. highest standards are rightly expected. And they were given par The Dungeon provided the most surreal of surroundings for the excellence. In the spirit of all Salopian performances, adrenaline, brief rehearsal, in which more seemed to go wrong than right, holes and the unseen influence of the architectural and historical in the cold stone walls showing where shackles had once been ambience galvanised the choir which sang magnificently, organist anchored, the groans of prisoners replaced 500 years later by the Dr John Godwin providing as ever the most solid of foundations. soaring voices of choristers. Unconscious symbolism was provided by director Alex Mason Sadly the length of the journey and the need to rehearse left little standing on the tomb slab of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, the or no time for sightseeing, and there was barely enough time for the parents of our founder Edward VI, as he conducted. Henry, a briefest of visions of Eton Chapel, bathed in late afternoon sunlight, considerable musician himself – when not acquiring or disposing of looking almost grotesquely huge, perhaps even tauntingly, at the wives – would surely have approved of the sounds he was hearing. denizens of its Salopian country cousin. And so for the long journey back, with the consciousness of a And then into the Chapel, first to see if we could all squeeze in to Salopian ‘first’, in every sense, behind us. the magnificent Garter stalls, and just as importantly, still retain a Richard Hudson

On the West End steps after the service. A job well done

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ST CECILIA CONCERTS 2013

At first sight the programme for this year’s autumn extravaganza serenity to the proceedings, diction and tonal blend as fine as ever. I seemed to contain more than could possibly be prepared in time, repeat a previous plea for a concert in the Chapel, the acoustic but from the first bars of the Beethoven Piano Concerto No 3, it was properties of which are ideal for their repertoire. evident that the Symphony Orchestra was in top form. A rich and The String Orchestra in Kallinikov’s Serenade provided further unified exposition was a prelude to a concert full of good things, evidence of the quantity and quality of players in the Music triumphantly dispelling doubt. The soloist in the concerto, George Department. David Joyce is to be congratulated on producing such Fowler, has an impressively varied CV and his musicianship was polished sound, as well as on casting around for lesser-known apparent in the best of his playing, notably in his sensitive pieces in which to display it. They, too, would benefit from a hearing transitions from loud to soft. There was much to commend in this, in the Chapel, if it could be arranged. his first appearance as a concerto soloist. The Community Choir and choristers from the school’s Chapel The trumpet concerto by Alexander Aratiunian makes huge Choir had waited patiently for their turn. When it came, they were demands on the technique of the soloist, to which Harry Sargeant straight in with a sharpness of attack which was to be sustained proved flamboyantly equal. This was a superlative offering, again throughout Mozart’s Solemn Vespers. Choir and conductor have given confident accompaniment. Harry re-appeared later in the been together for a long time now and the rapport that has been evening to lead the cello section. How does he do it? established is a joy to watch and to hear. Every cue meets with Already impressive in the concertos, the orchestra scaled new instant response, every gesture is reflected in the desired change of heights in the last movement from Shostakovich’s fifth symphony. tempo or dynamic. They cannot but enjoy singing as they do and it The expertise of soloists in the wind sections is already familiar, but is uplifting to witness such fervour. the power and tone of the strings surpassed anything I have heard It is also good to see the solo vocal parts being taken by at the School, and John Moore must have been as thrilled by the members of the School, their contribution being enthusiastically response of his players as we were by his fiery interpretation. received. Particularly memorable was Henrike Legner’s beautiful It would be easy for Maria McKenzie to set the pulse racing and rendition of the famous solo for soprano, Laudate Dominum, and the feet tapping with her wind ensemble, but in choosing the Jazz she was part of a talented quartet featuring Awen Blandford, Funeral as the first of two items, she challenged the soloists within Laurence Jeffcoate and Henry Craig. the group to create a mournful mood before a lively second section. As in every item in which they were involved, the orchestra The effect was both subtle and successful. The band goes from accompanied the choir magnificently. The amount of hard work that strength to strength. must go into a concert of this scale and this quality is enormous. After the interval, Dympna Nightingale’s Chamber Choir showed Never has it sounded so worthwhile. that they, too, continue to flourish. They brought a contrasting Martin Knox

Pupils from Shrewsbury High Prep School, Prestfelde, Packwood Haugh and Winterfold House in performance in the Maidment Building at the end of a very enjoyable Prep School Big Band workshop in November

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H OUSE S INGING 2013

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1 Severn Hill Unison Song 4 School House Part Song 7 Moser’s Hall Unison Song 2 Radbrook Unison Song 5 Mary Sidney Hall Part Song Photos by kind permission of Julia Chamberlain 3 Mary Sidney Hall Unison Song 6 Churchill’s Hall Part Song www.juliachamberlainphotography.co.uk

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C LASSICS TRIP TO R OME AND B AY OF N APLES

Our first experience of Italian life was dinner in Sorrento, where the waiters insisted on piling our plates with what seemed to be an incessant supply of cold pasta, replenishing our plates when empty whether we requested it or not. This did not stop us, however, from going into Sorrento afterwards and visiting one of the many local gelateria, where we sampled some of the best ice cream that I have ever tasted. We rose early on Sunday morning and, after a light breakfast, set off to Pompeii. Whilst there, we visited many of the city’s ancient monuments including the amphitheatre, the Forum Romanum and a number of bath houses where we saw everything from beautiful mosaics to Roman pornography. After a strenuous morning walking the streets of the city we stopped for pizza at a local restaurant and from there travelled to Mount Vesuvius. Mr Percival had warned us that the temperature at the summit would be close to freezing so we had come prepared. Rather frustratingly, his forecast turned out to be incorrect and many of us were forced to struggle the few The tour group on Mount Vesuvius hundred metres of gentle ascent to the summit in thick trousers while subject to twenty degree heat. The struggle was, however, Then, after lunch at a local pizzeria, we came to our final stop: the worth it and when we finally reached the top we were treated to a Galleria Borghese, a fantastic art museum which contained an spectacular view of the Bay of Naples. By now it was late afternoon amazing collection of both paintings and sculptures. It was while in so we left the steamy crater of Vesuvius behind and returned to the this museum that we had a rather unexpected encounter with Israeli hotel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Mossad entourage. Monday morning began with a tour of the ancient Roman city of Not surprisingly this resulted in us being hurried out of various Herculaneum. This, although much smaller than Pompeii, was rooms in the gallery. better preserved because it had spent years covered in mud from Wednesday marked the end of what had been a truly memorable the eruption of Vesuvius in 79AD. This meant that there were many trip. We left the pleasant weather of Italy behind and returned to a beautifully preserved frescos decorating the walls of some of the gloomy England exhausted but content. Hamish Partington houses in the city. After a couple of hours in the city we returned to the coach and began the long journey to Rome. After having (PH, 5th form) dropped off our bags in the hotel on arrival, we walked to the Colosseum. This was, for me, one of the most impressive sights on the trip and I was amazed at how complete it was for a building of its age. After we had had a good look around, we visited the Palatine Hill, our final stop for the day. Here we saw many ancient buildings including Caligula’s Circus, the Senate House, the Arch of Septimus Severus and the House of the Vestal Virgins. On Tuesday, our last full day in Italy, we began by visiting the Vatican Museum where we saw the famous tapestry of the Last Supper and Michelangelo’s famous Sistine Chapel ceiling. We then visited St Peter’s Basilica which is, arguably, the most spectacular cathedral in the world. Inside were many famous works of art including one of the world’s most iconic statues: Michelangelo’sPietà . Once we had finished looking around the Vatican City, we visited a few of the most famous Roman monuments including the Pantheon, Trajan’s Column, the Piazza Navona and the Trevi Fountain. A street in Herculaneum

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S ALOPIAN W EEK AND S PEECH D AY 2013

As Salopian Week (24th – 29th June) approached and the familiar green of Top Common gradually gave way to a scene reminiscent of a medieval jousting tournament, with marquees, tents and teepees resplendent in House colours, a general air of excitement and festivity spread across the School. With a packed programme of concerts, Bumpers, cricket, tennis, drinks receptions and the Junior School Play, Salopian Week flew by in a whirl of activity and celebration, punctuated by moments of poignancy as the Upper Sixth prepared to bid farewell to their days on Kingsland. The new format for Speech Day was agreed to have been a fitting climax to the week and indeed to the year. The sun shone, the flags flew and the band played as the whole Salopian community of pupils, staff, parents and Governors gathered together under one roof to celebrate the highlights of the School year and the academic, sporting and creative achievements of many individual pupils. Exhibitions of Art, Design and Technology, Biology, Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy were further testament to the School’s wealth of talent and creativity. Perhaps inspired by the rousing words of Prizegiving Guest of Honour David Chance (OS), who urged each pupil to “find your passion”, the cricket matches against a visiting Australian school and in particular the exciting final round of Bumpers were closely fought contests of skill and determination played out in front of capacity crowds. As the last few pupils filed past the Headmaster in Call Over and the final few strawberries were consumed in House teepees, staff moved in to position to transform the Site once more for a memorable Leavers’ Ball. The success and smooth running of Salopian Week and Speech Day was the result of meticulous planning (which began in September 2012) and vast amounts of hard work by teams of individuals drawn from across the School community. In particular, thanks are due to General Services Manager Sue Laister, Events Manager Darren Wood, Head of Estates Jon Taylor, Grounds Manager Andy Richards, Theatre Technician Alex Davies, Senior Catering Manager James Bradford and all their staff for making the week such a resounding success.

Prizewinners

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CCFS UMMER

The annual CCF Central Camp is a fun week led by members of the regular forces, with a good balance of military and adventure-style training, all with the aim of developing young people and their leadership skills. The base for this year’s camp was an army training camp in Sennybridge, South Wales. For the Shrewsbury School contingent, the week started with ‘The Holy Grail’, a multi-activity team-building race, where cadets had to earn points from doing archery, command tasks and the formidable ‘Jacob’s Ladder’ challenge (a 40-metre suspended ladder with only six rungs). Once they had sufficient points, they could exchange them for bikes to get them to an orienteering area where they needed yet more points to trade for raft-building materials. The day finished with a raft build in order to claim ‘the Holy Grail’ – a padlocked barrel – from the River Wye. Needless to say, the teams all got extremely wet! Day two of the camp was Exercise Day. The cadets were deployed into a small plantation. Once they had cleared it and confirmed it free of enemy, they established a harbour areaby erecting bashas (shelters). They then had numerous operations to fulfil, including recces, clearance patrols and a night ambush. It was an exciting and tense night. The remainder of the week was filled with more military-style activities. The highlight for many was the day spent with the Royal Engineers. The team learnt how to correctly lash planks and barrels together, producing a huge raft for at least a section of cadets. This particular day ended with numerous raft races between our own cadets and cadets from other schools. Major Jo Billington

D OE S UMMER

The summer break was a busy one for the Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award participants, all of whom embarked on various expeditions around the country. The Sea Kayak team travelled to the west coast of Scotland for their long paddle to the east coast. During the year they had undergone a series of training camps and practice ventures in preparation for the 'big one!' 100km from Fort William to Inverness through the magnificent Great Glen. The expedition was extremely successful, this time assisted and not hindered by gusting force 5-6 winds on two days whilst crossing Loch Ness. The downside was that the environment became quite emotionally and mentally challenging for some, with big waves breaking across the boats. But the upside was that the team were journeying at 8km/h compared to the normal 4km/h. The team completed in high spirits, if somewhat sore after four intense days of physically demanding paddling and uncomfortable nights in tents. Well done to all! Major Jo Billington

26 School News

A CTIVITIES – T HE F UTURE

Activities at Shrewsbury are going through a period of change. Of community. We have a good community service programme, we course, any large programme should evolve. However, co-education have our links with the Shewsy, but this involves only a small cohort of and a belief that we need to update our provision are some key Sixth Formers, and in no way are we impelling youngsters into drivers behind this. experience. There is so much more that could be done and I began What do we mean by ‘activities’? Traditionally this means non- to ask myself how we might nudge pupils towards what we might call sporting activities of a generally outdoor and wholesome nature that ‘community action’ – perhaps by making it one part of a broader take place beyond the classroom. So, outward bound, climbing, package. cadets and so on formed the staple provision of many schools, often For a community programme to work, it needs to be more than just with some obligatory community service as well. Shrewsbury has a something pupils ‘do’ on a Thursday. It needs to be part of our DNA – long tradition of adventurous activities of which we are rightly proud, an expectation that boys and girls will look beyond our boundaries. encompassing figures such as Sandy Irvine, some inspirational staff, What might a programme look like? The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Talargerwyn, Basic Year expeditions as well as Rovers trips. scheme involves a volunteering section where young people help Traditional hobbies, as well as more cerebral pursuits were provided others, and many do DofE at Shrewsbury. The value of the by our Societies programme, for example, bee keeping, model volunteering ‘section’ is in pushing people into situations they might railway club and so on. Over the years, the Shrewsbury programme not normally find themselves in, with a resultant greater has expanded, mainly based on the passions and inclinations of staff understanding of others. We are piloting schemes where, via an running them, to include an eclectic range of pursuits, publishing interest, pupils are similarly pushed into an experience. Such an (satirical of course), sub aqua, recycling and more. This reflected a arrangement could be rolled out across a range of fields, for wish to cater for all tastes as well as the fact that society, and thus the example, using pupils to teach reading, languages, ICT skills, profile of our pupils, has changed. working on canals, garden projects for those in need, helping at The second question to consider is what are we attempting to youth groups, or opting into the huge range of projects available via achieve in providing activities? In looking at our offering, I could see our arrangement with the volunteering team of Shropshire Rural that much was good, but there were areas of weakness. These were Community Council. threefold: firstly a lack of vertical progression; too much choice can A vision for the future is a start, but it will take years to build. In the lead to a lack of loyalty or commitment. Secondly there were a few short term, how is our programme changing? A new structure of the qualification-based options (sub aqua for example) but in my view not week is under discussion, which may provide more flexibility for an enough opportunity exists for useful skills, some of which might lead activity programme, including perhaps an improved provision for to a qualification. Lastly, and most crucially, our level of engagement Third Formers. An expectation that all younger pupils will have to join with the world beyond the Moss Gates, mainly via our community a society has been mooted. We plan to pilot an enhanced personal service programme, is too narrow in scope. It was time to come up diary that combines fasti and brown book into one, but also allows with the dreaded mission statement! My vision for activities at some monitoring of personal programmes. Basic Year has been Shrewsbury now states our aim as being: rebranded as ‘Outdoor Skills’, giving entry level outward bound ‘to deliver a quality activities programme that encourages the certification in canoeing, bicycling, navigation and climbing as well as development of skills, a sense of service to the community and conservation work in Ridgemount Woods. Fifth and Sixth Formers perhaps the nurturing of lifelong pursuits that are both enjoyable and can now develop entrepreneurship and work skills via a Young satisfying’. Enterprise programme, do a RYA Yachtmaster navigation course or, Visits to other schools reinforced my view that Shrewsbury is via our working agreement with Shropshire Wildlife Trust, undertake lagging behind in the area of community provision. To put it simply, I habitat surveys in the Meres and Mosses Nature Improvement Area. feel we should be using community engagement for the best of Community drama is already producing results via reminiscence educational reasons, to inculcate in young people an understanding theatre, putting the life stories of the elderly before them in a powerful of others. This struck me as an avenue we should pursue, not just way. These are the first steps into providing a programme that will because it might satisfy statutory public benefit criteria for the hopefully prove to be not just fun, but useful too. Charities Commission but because we believe it is right that years Nick David spent at school should not be spent in an (arguably) gated Director of Activities

Community Service Mountain Biking Signing up

27 School News

P RINGLE T ROPHY 2013

On Friday 11th October our team of nine set off for the annual Pringle motivated to retain this individual trophy, which is arguably the most Trophy Competition at the Commando Training Centre, Royal Marines coveted prize as it exemplifies what the Royal Marines are all about in (CTCRM), Lympstone, Devon. The competition is spread out over the field – precise, controlled aggression. Moving in dense forests of roughly a day and a half, with the bulk of the competition taking place gorse, we effected the attack very quickly with plenty of aggression at Woodbury Common, the training ground for Royal Marines in their and knew we had done exceptionally well in this stance. gruelling basic training. By the last stand of the day, Battle Ex, we were all fairly exhausted Our first morning was spent navigating around Woodbury but determined to finish on a high. Our objective was to patrol Common to a series of stances. The first stance was First Aid – where through an incredibly volatile area of Helmand Province (strangely we had to deal with a casualty with a missing arm and carry him on a covered in gorse) escorted by a bomb disposal expert without stretcher to a safe location after administering first aid; after that it was sustaining any casualties. Our only casualty was our guide who weapons handling; then there was the observation stance – where compromised the whole situation and so we decided to safely we were grilled on our knowledge of camouflage and concealment evacuate him from the location. After de-bombing our magazines we and had to draw a panoramic view of the landscape in front of us, got back on the minibus and headed back to Lympstone. labelling unnatural objects like mess tins and helmets in relation to The next morning we were up at a painful 0515hrs to get ready for standout features, which highlighted why we had all chosen CCF as drill and inspection by the overseeing Corporal, followed by a test on our Thursday afternoon activity, rather than Art. Sgt Young was the Corps knowledge. Our final stand of the weekend was the assault first cadet of the day to spot all fifteen items. course – roughly 800m long with obstacles ranging from 6ft walls to The next stance was new to all of us and was called the Tyrolean long, cramped tunnels. It was a team effort, for everyone in the Transverse. We had to transport all of our webbing and two jerry cans section had to go over every obstacle but we also had to carry a across a ‘gorge’ on a rope with only a few carabineers – but the task stretcher round the course with a 25kg jerry can. We got a very had a twist. The Royal Marine overseeing the stance gave us a brief reasonable time at the end, which can be credited mainly to the introduction to ‘phys’, making us doing sprint reps up a hill to exhaust 0630hrs runs each morning for two weeks ‘organised’ by Sgt Young. us before giving us a time restraint on the actual task. There was also The very last obstacle was the Regain, which deserves special a strict set of rules: if you stepped out of your allocated area – more mention. You had to crawl on your belt buckle across a 20-30m rope phys; if you stepped on the equipment – more phys. However, we which was only about 20cm wide, suspended across the water tank, completed it in good time, transporting all of the equipment safely to 30ft in the air which is mythically cold. Thankfully, none of our section the other side. fell in this year and we weren’t deducted any points, completing a The command task was next – another chance to show our very decent effort throughout the competition. leadership skills – and we completed this task in one of the quickest We came sixth overall out of 19 – an accomplished final position, times of the day. Map reading and Fire Control Orders (FCOs) were although we had set our standards high and were disappointed. We next and we scored incredibly well on this stand, getting 39/40. This didn’t win any individual trophies but we did come second in Section was the last chance for us to rest and fuel up on chocolate before the Attack, narrowly missing out on retaining our stand. It was a useful most anticipated and energetic stances of the day. learning curve for all of us and with only one of the Pringle Team We scored well in the stalk stance, giving ourselves a platform for leaving, there’s nothing stopping us winning next year. the last two stands of the first day. The next stand was the Section Sgt Alexander Shaw (Ch) Attack and as defending champions from last year we were incredibly

28 School News

C RICKET

The 2013 season will go down in the history of Shrewsbury School cricket as probably the most remarkable ever experienced by the school. To win a national title, the HMC Under 18 Twenty20 is exceptional in itself, but then to share two other national championships (ECB/ESCA Under 15 Twenty20 and the School Sport Magazine Under 17 Cup) was a feat unprecedented in school cricket. In addition, the Under 14s won the county stage of the Lord’s Taverners Trophy and will go on to represent Shropshire on the national stage in 2014. In a season where the sun shone much more than in previous seasons, it was disappointing that both the Under 15 and Under 17 teams twice attempted to play their finals but were thwarted by the weather. With September rapidly coming to an end it was decided to share their trophies with Whitgift School and Portsmouth Grammar School respectively.

1st XI

ALL MATCHES Played 31, Won 22, Lost 5, Drawn/Abandoned 4 T 20 Matches Played 9, Won 8, Lost 1 Pre Season Played 2, Won 2, Lost 0 50/over Matches Played 20, Won 12, Lost 4, Drawn/Abandoned 4 PRE-SEASON FESTIVAL (SHREWSBURY) Shrewsbury School 254-4 (50 overs) 254-4 ( J Carrasco 103, E Pollock 47*, W Cook 41), Worksop College 176-8 (50 overs) Shrewsbury School 299-5 (50 overs) (E Pollock 121, E Barnard 94) Worcestershire Academy 155 (30.2 overs) Shrewsbury School vs Millfield School – Cancelled Rain

REGULAR SEASON Shrewsbury School 195-5 (40 overs) (E Barnard 65, E Pollock 59), Shropshire Development XI 196-7 (39.2 overs) (E Barnard 3-35) KES Birmingham 115 (44.3 overs), Shrewsbury School 116-0 (23.4 overs) (G Lewis 61*, J Carrasco 43) MCC 220-4 dec. , Shrewsbury School 83-2 ( E Pollock 48*) Abandoned – Rain Free Foresters 198 ( E Barnard 4-27), Shrewsbury School 192 ( J Carrasco 48, E Barnard 48) Shrewsbury School 40-3 vs Repton School – Abandoned –Rain Sedbergh School 176-7 (50 overs) (E Barnard 4-26), Shrewsbury School 171 (49.4 overs) ( E Barnard 60) Shrewsbury School 164-6 (40 overs) (J Carrasco 81*, C White 32*) Myerscough College 100 (32 overs) (G Panayi 4-15) Malvern College 200-8 (50 overs) (M Gregson 5-47), Shrewsbury School 193-9 (G Lewis 60, W Cook 33) Manchester Grammar School 144-7 (40 overs) ( H Blofield 4-26), Shrewsbury School 148-2 (31.4 overs) (E Pollock 57*, J Carrasco 54*) Shrewsbury School 320-5 (50 overs) (E Pollock 140, G Panayi 73*), Warwick 229-9 (45 overs) (Target revised to 299 under D/L) Thomas More College, Durban 105-5 (31.4 overs) vs Shrewsbury School – Abandoned –Rain Shrewsbury School 178 (42.3 overs) (E Pollock 34), Uppingham School 120 (42.1 overs) ( G Panayi 3-24) Menlo Park School, Pretoria 104-3 (26.0 overs) vs Shrewsbury School – Abandoned –Rain Shrewsbury School 165-4 (20 overs) (M Gregson 60*, E Pollock 55, C Farquhar 31), Kent Street School, Perth 120-7 (20 overs)

SILK TROPHY FESTIVAL (ETON COLLEGE) Shrewsbury School 259-7 (50 overs) (J Carrasco 100, W Cook 47, G Lewis 32), Oundle School 177 (45.2 overs) (E Pollock 6-18, C White 3-30) St. Peters College, Adelaide 126 (47.2 overs) (H Blofield 4-9, G Panayi 3-38), Shrewsbury School 128-8 (38.2 overs) (G Lewis 54) Shrewsbury School 230-9 (50 overs) (E Pollock 72, G Lewis 69, G Panayi 32*), Eton College 148 (43.2 overs) ( C White 4-33)

HMC T20 2013 1st Round – Round Robin Wrekin College 37 (14.3 overs) (W Cook 5-6), Shrewsbury School 39-0 (3.4 overs) Oswestry School 41 (11.3 overs) (H Blofield 5-7), Shrewsbury School 42-1 (4.3 overs) 2nd Round – Round Robin Royal Grammar School, Worcester 69-6 (20 overs) ( H Blofield 4-15), Shrewsbury School 69-3 (11.4 overs) Denstone College 147-7 (20 overs), Shrewsbury School 136-7 (20 overs) (E Pollock 32) (RGS Worcester bt Denstone by 7 wickets and Shrewsbury advanced on superior run rate) 3rd Round (West Midlands Final played at KES Birmingham) Shrewsbury School 105-6 (20 overs) ( C White 31), Bromsgrove School 93-7 (20 overs) 4th Round (National Quarter Final) Shrewsbury School 116 (20 overs) (E Pollock 53), Bedford School 99 (19.4 overs) (H Blofield 3-19) National Semi-Final (played at Arundel Castle) Shrewsbury School 231-6 (20 overs) (E Pollock 92, J Carrasco 68), Bolton School 171 (18.3 overs) (W Cook 3-27) National Final (played at Arundel Castle) Shrewsbury School 135-7 (20 overs) (J Carrasco 55), St Bedes School 83 (16.1 overs) (W Cook 3-3, G Panayi 3-14)

29 School News

SilkTrophy: The victorious 1st XI

A much drier and brighter summer allowed our new group of 1st XI School have ever produced. I would like to dedicate this season’s players to flourish like they never had done before. The excellent and success to all the 1st XI squads of the recent past who have, year on very enjoyable winter tour to South Africa had created a strong base year, raised the bar. I would like to praise in particular: from which this young side could progress. The season was 1. the great coaching qualities of Cricket Professional Paul ‘Pridge’ certainly not a case of conquering all before them and there were Pridgeon, who has utilised our fantastic facilities to such good many harsh lessons that were learnt during April and May but by effect; June, there was real cohesion and consistency in our performances. 2. the solidity, skill and character of the 1st XI squad; Strangely enough, the loss of Edward Barnard (England U17 3. the performances of our U6th; Captain) to injury after half term marked a point from which the team 4. the captaincy of Henry Blofield, who led both the 1st XI and worked more effectively and produced more. The ‘run in’ at the end U17s to national success. of the term was then just outstanding. Despite a heavy, back end, work load the team responded with spirit and skill. Charlie Farquhar has been a member of the 1st X1 for the past I recall the T20 win over Bromsgove on a rain-sodden King three and a half seasons and despite missing the greater part of the Edward’s strip with particular pride. With half the team arriving late 2012 season has been one of our most dependable ‘go to’ bowlers. and the loss of early wickets, we battled away to overcome our His bowling was most effective in the T20 format where he was opponents. Our progress in this competition was certainly anything successfully used as an opener, often allowing the team early other than smooth. control. Despite his rather stiff batting technique he also played The Silk Trophy threw up some incredibly collective performances some vital cameos and showed considerable maturity when others that dimmed the pre-tournament glow of both St Peter’s and Eton around him failed. He trained well and provided the team with the and finally we battered and restricted our opponents respectively, resolve they required. His outfield catching became as secure as a Bolton School & St Bedes, on our way to a second HMC National vault. He was not the captain but he was a great leader. His part in T20 title in three years. our cricket progress will be remembered. A season that had started with high hopes appeared, at one Matthew Gregson had burst into the 1st X1 as an U16. His left stage, to be meandering towards mediocrity, and then ‘lo and handed power was desired and he had a few chances to shine but behold’ we produce the finest set of results a 1st XI at Shrewsbury consistency with the bat failed him. Despite a few matches in 2012

30 School News

Matt was struggling to create a niche for himself in the team until the was so littered with spectacular hits and no misses. How nice it was tour to South Africa. It was on the tour that his spin bowling career for Arundel and Bolton to provide both a short boundary and a diet started to evolve, as did his fielding. He became one of our most of short balls, respectively. He, like me, will be frustrated by his dip in secure catchers. The more he trained the better he got and the less bowling form but I recall that it was his bowling that most impressed frequent the ‘wild ball’ became. He offered turn and bounce together me when I first saw him play against us some four seasons ago. He with a rapid fast ball – often too much for the batters. His confidence was nominated as our ‘Wisden’ Player of the Season, having scored and quality had reached a very high level by the end of June and the 622 runs in 50 over matches, 290 runs in all T20 matches (from just whole team benefitted from his rugged competitiveness. His T20 170 balls) and scored 138 boundaries altogether. He also took 6 for innings of 60 on Speech Day v Kent Street School was spectacular 18 against Oundle at the Silk Trophy. and dangerous to boundary spectators. He too, is a holder of two Jack Doyle made a number of appearances for the 1st XI over national T20 titles and stands at the very top of the performance the past two seasons but failed to regularly hold down a position. table. As a talented athlete, he finally gained his just rewards playing His impact on cricket at Shrewsbury was significant and he was an cricket. ever present with APP for the past four years. His back stress injury Bertie Milligan-Manby (wicket keeper) provided the 1st XI with during his early teens took away some of his ‘impact’ but not the growing reliability behind the sticks as the season wore on. His 2nd ability to move the ball away from a batter. His bowling performances XI batting prowess was sadly, for him, underemployed. His desire to often lacked penetration but when he got it right he was a match for improve and hold his place down under pressure from Jamie most. His opening spell in the 2012 U17 final was top class, as were Humes was vital in driving his performance level up. Not a natural his all round performances for the 2nd XI where he often dominated athlete he developed as the season went on and did, indeed, proceedings. Despite being a good performer in all three disciplines, perform athletically well in June and July. His catching was very he did not combine all in tandem when performing at 1st XI level. I sound but the aspect of his game that I will remember best is his am sure that his passion for the game will see him develop further ‘standing up’. In this skill he became very professional and always with Harpenden CC and Hertfordshire CCC. created pressure on our opponents by deed rather than word. Edward Barnard was frustrated by a stress fracture diagnosed at Edward Pollock made the performance progress we had half term. Nevertheless, his quality and athleticism was a huge demanded as long ago as September 2012. On the back of an influence on the team, as was his performance on tour and during inconsistent 2012 season (642 runs nevertheless) and with a new the early season. When he succumbed to injury he was the leading emerging team around him, it was vital that Edward took the reins all rounder (having played 7x 50 over matches – 18 wickets at 10.05 and showed greater responsibility. He is the most gifted batter and & 263 runs at 43.83) and could be relied upon to get wickets or everyone was concerned that his desire to ‘hit’ had become greater make runs. His demise was a shock, but despite his disappointment than the desire to ‘play’. Being a very bright soul, he adapted his he stuck close to the team and enjoyed their success. His personal game but certainly did not compromise it. The net effect was that he recovery came too late for the school but not too late for him to influenced more games than not and often gave us the winning captain England U17s v Sri Lanka. I am sure his evolving odds. I will long remember his destructive semi -final innings that professional career will involve many commitments but these will not

1st XI wicketkeeper Bertie Milligan-Manby stumps St Bede’s Callum Jackson in the final of the HMC Under 18 Twenty20 competition

31 School News stop him trying to be part of a winning Shrewsbury School 1st XI in the field is top of my request list. All in all, a great first year with the team in 2014. promise of more to come. Henry Blofield having made a significant impact last year, could Will Cook’s form this season was never consistent enough for not have thought that his 2013 season would result in him probably him to be our stand out all-rounder but there were real jewels of becoming the most successful 1st XI captain ever. Clearly, it is performances sprinkled throughout the summer. His 249 runs at 22 difficult to measure, as our fixture list is entirely different from that of was a disappointing return for such an impressive player and I know seasons gone past, but his contribution certainly deserves he will be training hard this winter to provide the team with more prominence and congratulations. His fine bowling matured nicely middle order runs. He will know that the competition for batting slots throughout the summer and he was most definitely at his peak at the this season will be more intensive than last. His T20 bowling was his most important time. His 4 for 9 from 10 overs, in the match versus stand out area. Here he performed well and his bowling in the semi St Peters on the second day of the Silk Trophy, was as good as it finals and finals was as good as it gets – v St Bede’s, 2 overs 3 for gets. His batting too has progressed and he played some important 3! He must take all three skills and advance them by 20% to make innings in all competitions, either ensuring we used up overs or himself a better player and us a better team. When batting he must batted to a total. I have no doubt that with more winter work Henry develop 20s into major scores, when bowling he must have greater can add to his solidity and become a more effective offensive batter. discipline and accuracy and when fielding he must ensure that his At the end of a triumphant season, Henry also gained the honour of fast strong arm delivers the ball consistently between shoulder and being selected to play in the MCC Schools XI v ESCA at Lords in waist. September. Charles Kidson was a constant selection in 2013. He Joe Carrasco (Cassidy Scholar) had shown his true ability on produced some high quality contributions but rarely produced tour when he reeled of a maiden century on his school debut. His the consistent form required to establish himself as a front line 524 runs at 37 in all 50 over matches this season will, perhaps bowler or batter. Nevertheless, his support play, and energy, was therefore, be a bit of a disappointment to Joe but it must not be a massive plus to the team. His very individual style with bat and forgotten that he also made significant runs in T20s and U17 Cup ball has a number of technical flaws that still need addressing matches. It must be said that his effective contributions with bat & this winter, if he is to make further progress. I would therefore like ball were always valuable and often well timed. His controlled and to see him practise with greater appetite and maturity whilst responsible innings of 55 in the T20 final, was as significant as reacting positively to advice. His best performances were saved Pollock’s blitz in the semi final in enabling us to win. Joe has for the U17 Cup (v Sedbergh & Bromsgrove) but it is in the T20 developed his ground fielding and catching to a very high standard competition in 2014 that I would like to see him make a more but I shall expect further advancements next season. A ‘faster arm’ significant contribution.

The U14A XI – winners of the county final of the ESCA/ECB National Schools’ Competition – will represent Shropshire in the national rounds of the competition in summer 2014

Full reports on all teams will be found at www.shrewsbury.org.uk/page/latest-cricket-news

32 School News

Charlie White progressed more than any other bowler this throw, bowling consistently in better areas, are just some of the season and performed at the highest standard. His form in the last developments that are vital in his desire to step up to another level. two weeks of the season was our ‘bonus’ and our opponents’ There is a bit of a gap in our ‘spin’ bowling at present and George ‘thorn’. Finding the button to turn, Charlie on has been the puzzle for should aim to fill it. His 372 runs at 28 was a satisfactory return in us over the past seasons but now he has proven himself it is vital 2013 but I am sure that George will target a much higher return next that he does not become just a ‘flash in the pan’ but works hard this season. winter and determines to become a season long 1st XI performer in George Panayi made an immediate impact after half term and 2014. Second in the 1st XI Wisden averages, opening the bowling in did not look back. Despite his tender years George has the ability to the Silk Trophy and two national titles is a great return from a player move the ball away at pace. In bowling terms he must aim to add who was, I recall, on the verge of walking away from school cricket. greater consistency to his performance and develop his ‘old ball’ George Lewis grew in many ways, as a cricketer, this season. His skills to match his ‘new ball’ control. When he got the length just right challenging tour made him into a more compact and resolute he was the match for any emerging batsman, England Development performer. His technical failings outside off stump had been his Programme players included. His batting and fielding are not at the consistent undoing but better judgement ruled as his season same level and here he has much hard work to do and discipline to progressed and by the time he reached Eton he had graduated to adopt if he is to be an outstanding all rounder. His performances become ‘ a proper opener’. His Silk performances produced 155 with the ball at Arundel were mature, accurate and devastating. valuable runs that went a long way to ensuring that the Trophy Clearly he has much to develop and much to learn but if he does not returned to Shrewsbury. Nevertheless, despite being one of the get ahead of himself and he can progress his skills in all three youngest squad members and a national champion, he still has a disciplines then I am sure that he can achieve his aim of becoming a great deal in his game to progress. Playing across the line, when in, professional in the fullness of time. adding to his speed across the ground, developing power in his

50/40 Over Match Averages

Batting Inn N.O. Runs HS 100s Av E. J. Pollock 14 4 622 140 2 62.20 E. G. Barnard* 71263 94 43.83 J. D. Carrasco 16 2 524 103 2 37.43 G. P. G. Lewis 14 1 372 69 28.61 W. G. Cook 14 3 249 47 22.63 *Captain Bowling Ov M Runs Wkts BB Av E. G. Barnard* 53.4 7 181 18 4-26 10.05 C. M. G. White 38 1 148 11 4-33 13.45 E. J. Pollock 38.4 1 182 13 6-18 14.00 M. A. Gregson 83 13 268 18 5-47 14.88 C. M. J. Kidson 58.2 5 260 13 2-6 20.00 H. C. Blofield 119.2 16 331 12 4-9 27.58 W. G. Cook 60 6 306 11 2-16 27.81 C. E. Farquhar 115.3 14 383 12 2-19 31.91 *Captain

Twenty20 Averages

Batting Inn N.O. Runs HS Balls Av S/R E. J. Pollock 81290 92 170 41.43 170.59 M. A. Gregson 62108 60 77 27.00 140.26 E. G. Barnard* 3159 24 58 29.50 101.72 J. D. Carrasco 71185 68 185 30.83 100.00 W. G. Cook 6172 28 77 14.40 93.51 *Captain Bowling Ov M Runs Wkts BB Av E/R E. G. Barnard* 14.3 1 51 6 2-11 8.5 3.52 H. C. Blofield 25.5 0 124 14 4-15 8.85 4.80 M. A. Gregson 21 0 104 7 2-13 14.86 4.95 C. E. Farquhar 25.3 1 131 2 1-4 65.5 5.14 G. D. Panayi 17 1 96 7 3-14 13.71 5.65 W. G. Cook 23 1 130 15 5-6 8.67 5.65 *Captain

33 School News RSSH

NEW BOYS’ RACE 2013 A Saturday afternoon, one week into the Michaelmas Term. The Site bathed in Autumnal sunshine as the Third Form assembled for their New Boys' Race. Mercifully though, conditions were much cooler than last year and with little wind, it looked as if everything was in place for a great contest. As boys nervously pinned numbers to each other's shirts in the few minutes leading up to the race, equally nervous housemasters were sounding each other out as to whether they thought they might have a chance this year of breaking Rigg's recent stranglehold. Nobody seemed to know: it was anybody's race. Huntsman and Head of School Rory Fraser, looking resplendent in full kit including black velvet cap, red top and (crucially) the ancient bugle and whip, led Winner Owen Mock (R) with George Garrett (Ch) hot on his heels the boys round Alington Hall in a brief warm-up before sending them off to the start line on Central. Once Mr Haworth had explained the course, seemed, had really given their best effort. And so to the results: duties were handed back to Rory to sound the old cry of 'All hounds once the individual runners had been congratulated and medals who wish to run, run hard, run true, and may the Devil take the issued, third place in the House event was announced as won by hindmost!' A quick toot on the bugle and around 80 boys Ridgemount, with 93 points. Only a couple of points ahead were immediately charged in his direction, and would follow him (as Rigg's in second with 91, but the winning house this year (and for 'hare') the entire way round the one-and-a-half-mile course known to the first time in a number of years) went to Moser's Hall, winning Salopians for generations as the 'Benjy' (so named to irritate the convincingly in the end by 18 points (a total of 73). Congratulations Headmaster, Benjamin Hall Kennedy, who loathed running and to them and to the beaming Dr Pattenden! wanted it banned!). This really was a superb effort by this new Third Form, and well An early lead was taken by Owen Mock of Rigg's, closely done to everyone who took part with such enthusiasm. Hopefully followed by George Garrett of Churchill's. The first ten places this is just the start of many glittering Hunt careers among our new remained fairly spread out in a first half of the race which was cohort of Salopians. Thanks to all the staff and boys – in particular cautiously paced. Speed was built up down Oldham's Gap the ground staff and marshalls along the route, without whose help however, and the second half saw the leaders move through the the race simply could not happen. IPH gears. Further down the field, there were some fantastic battles going on as everyone fought to be as high up the field as possible, THE TUCKS 2013 knowing that it could make the difference for their House. Parents, staff and pupils gathered expectantly around Main Shrewsbury is proud of its numerous historic traditions, not least School Building hoping to catch a glimpse of the leading runner as The Tucks, one of the oldest races in the world, run annually by the he rounded Chapel, and as Owen and George came into view they entire school. The excursion down to Meole Brace (a suitably lung- began to put on a sprint for the line. Owen was marginally too expanding warmup for the Inter-House Singing later in the day) strong for George to pass though, and a fantastic race was won for provides an exhilarating sporting climax to the first half of term, with the third year in a row by a Riggite. Will Blanchard-Butter was only a almost the entire school population and many of the staff tackling few seconds behind to take the bronze medal for Moser's Hall, with the tricky three-mile course. fellow Moserite Artyom Kutovoy soon after that in fourth. A full An early bid for glory came from The Grove in their final year as a twenty-one runners managed to cross the line in under ten minutes, boys' boarding house, though their lead at the front of the pack was which shows that there is a great deal of talent among this new rather short-lived, and by Pulley Lane, most of the tipped athletes intake. had positioned themselves in the top 20 or 30 runners. A strong As the rest of the field came home, housemasters once again start was made by Huntsman Rory Fraser (Ch), who got out of the began chattering nervously about potential House victors. It blocks quickly and was unhindered by the charge of the masses at seemed fairly evenly spread, with no obvious domination by any the gun, which many have likened to the hordes of migratory one house. wildebeest on the Serengeti Plains. IPH took to the front up Pulley A few minutes later, clutching the results in his hand, Mr Haworth Lane, and this was a lead that was never in doubt, with ageing spoke to the exhausted athletes about how impressed he'd been by Housemaster PJM struggling to keep pace behind. Fraser came the level of commitment shown across the board. Everyone, it under attack from 4th form challenger Freddie Huxley-Fielding (R)

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to a new horizon, and sought to provide an experience for our runners like no other. A year previously, we had the great fortune of being able to welcome our very first Coach in Residence, Ethiopia’s Sentayehu Eshetu, who has nurtured and developed the talents of over a dozen Olympic champions and world record holders, notably Derarta Tulu, Tirunesh Dibaba, and the Bekele brothers. It was an inspirational week, and as we heard ‘Coach’ talk about running back home in the small town of Bekoji in the Ethiopian mountains, a seed was sown. Where better, of course, than the spiritual home of runnin – East Africa for our runners to experience the beating heart of the sport, and to experience at first hand the drive, determination and thirst that pulses through the countries of Kenya and Ethiopia. Places on the tour were highly sought after, and following letters of application, The Tucks prizewinners a squad of twelve runners (ten boys and two girls) was selected, and training preparation got underway over the summer break. The who last year pulled off an incredible feat by placing 4th as a Third runners returned at the start of the Michaelmas term looking sharp, Former. Huxley-Fielding's bold move was resisted, however, and by hungry, and extremely quick. Benjy times were very swift indeed, Farmer Tucks's fields, a new challenger had emerged in Fraser's and it wasn’t long before our top runners were approaching the fellow Churchillian Ben Remnant. golden mark of sub 7.30 in the weekly timetrial course. By the end of the race, the gap had narrowed to three seconds, Following a fiercely-fought Tucks battle won by Huntsman Rory but much to the Fraser family's delight, it was Huntsman and Head Fraser, our tour party travelled down to Heathrow ready to board the of School Rory who took the tape as first pupil home, and he was overnight plane for Africa. None of the runners had been to the duly presented the Hector Rose Bowl, the much-coveted winner's continent before, so the excitement and anticipation was brimming trophy. With Remnant just metres away, and Huxley-Fielding taking on the night flight. up the final podium spot, next year's race looks already to be a very Touching down on African soil, we breathed deeply that distinct exciting race between our talented juniors, with fellow 4th former aroma and on our journey up to the small town of Gilgil in Kenya, Charlie Tait-Harris (S) only seconds behind Huxley-Fielding, and 5th cameras and iPhones worked overtime to capture the stunning Former Oscar Dickins (R) not far after that in 5th. Despite the views over Lake Nakuru, and of course the obligatory ‘selfies’ with difficult conditions (wet and muddy, with little traction in the fields), donkeys and goats in the background! Our first stopover was at the top ten boys all ran under 20 minutes. Pembroke House School, where we would be based to acclimatise In the girls' race, we were all excited to see what new entrant Tory to the high altitude (a stunning first dawn run took us up Sundowner Mobley (EDH) could do, and given her pedigree (5th place in the Point with views of the Aberdare Hills and beyond), and would also national Knole Run in 2013) she was sure to give many of our top provide us an opportunity to visit The Restart Centre, home to boys a run for their money. Sure enough, Tory was right in the thick orphaned and abandoned Kenyan street children. As a group we of it from the start, and despite the scrum at the start, had nestled in had sought to raise funds for the centre in advance of travelling to to the top 50 runners by Pulley Lane. Her stamina proved the Africa through our marathon world-record attempt and other deciding factor in moving swiftly through the positions, and not only sponsored events. It was a significant afternoon, therefore, for our did she comfortably come home as first girl (by nearly two and a students to spend time amongst the Restart kids, who despite half minutes), but she came home in the top 30 pupils, a superb having suffered unbelievable and unspeakable cruelty and achievement, and well-deserved! Individual silver went to Girls' sadness, nevertheless manage to smile continually and retain a captain of running Lucie Cornwell-Lee (MSH), with third place going genuine optimism and hope for a future that is surely far more to an ever-improving Sophie Pelling (EDH). positive under the framework and support of the Centre and its staff. In bold letters on the wall are the words, ‘Think not what you IPH 17.41, PJM 18.18 are, but what you can become’. These were words that would 1 R Fraser (Ch) 18.22, 2 B Remnant (Ch) 18.25, 3 F Huxley- remain with us on the tour, and no doubt for many years to come, Fielding (R) 18.39, 4 C Tait-Harris (S) 18.45, 5 O Dickins (R) 19.15, 6 and our time at The Restart Centre was a memorable and impactful C Godman (M) 19.35, 7 J Dempsey (Ch) 19.38, 8 W Hayward (R) first experience of the reality of African life. 19.50, 9 C Rogers (Rb) 19.57, 10 T Atkins (M) 20.00. As we said goodbye to our hosts at Pembroke and to the kids at Restart, our attention turned to our first serious training in Africa as 1st Girl T Mobley (EDH) 20.59 we travelled north-west to Iten, the ‘home of champions’, where we 2nd Girl L Cornwell-Lee (MSH) 23.25 would be based at The Lornah Kiplagat High Altitude Training base. 3rd Girl S Pelling (EDH) 24.14 It was here that such athletes as Paula Radcliffe and Mo Farah have based themselves in the past, and we quickly could see why. There EAST AFRICAN TOUR is a very special atmosphere in the town, with quite literally The history of the Hunt, its origins and its traditions are well- hundreds of world class athletes training each day on the roads, documented. As the oldest running club in the world, set up in trails and forests around the small town, perched atop the 1831, the Hunt has a long and proud heritage and over the years escarpment of The Great Rift Valley. If the Hunt is proud of its history has become one of the most successful school running clubs in the of success, then you can imagine just how impressive it was to visit country. From its earliest days, the Hunt has been characterised by the local school- St Patrick’s- where under the coaching of Irish ambition and a boldness to aim high. This October, the club looked priest Brother Colm, the school has produced multiple Olympic

35 School News champions and world record holders, most recently 800m record first lap, it was clear that the Hunt’s stamina and speed could not be holder David Rudisha. Our time in Iten involved some very matched by the Peponi runners, despite their advantage of being challenging training sessions where we were paced by young acclimatised to the altitude. Indeed, it became less of a race Steeplechaser Silas Too (competing in the UK in 2014 on the track amongst the two schools, and rather a race to see who could be both indoors and outdoors) and by 800m runner Timo Limo (PB- the first Hunt runner to ‘kill’ on foreign soil. That honour went to 4th 1.45). Perhaps the most gruelling session was on the Kamariny former Freddie Huxley-Fielding, with Ben Remnant settling for track against the spectacular backdrop of Kerio View with the Great second home, and Huntsman Rory Fraser making up the podium. Rift Valley below. A 40 minute ‘diagonals’ session in the heat and In fact, the Hunt posted the top 8 positions, and in the girls’ race, thin air was a challenge to both pupils and staff! We learned a great there was further success for our two girls with Captain of Girls’ deal from speaking with Kenyan athletes and looking at the way running Lucie Cornwell-Lee coming home third, and new entrant they live and train, observing the simplicity and dedication they Tory Mobley taking the ‘kill’ over Peponi’s five-time independent bring to their daily lives. Meeting African junior 5000m champion schools’ national champion. It was a triumphant afternoon, and as and current St Patrick’s pupil Moses Letoiye (who will be racing in we celebrated with dinner and an overnight stay at the world- the Edinburgh international cross-country fixture in January) showed famous Muthaiga Country Club, we reflected on a fitting end to our us just how dedicated you need to be to reach the top, and with a week in Kenya. 13.13 PB he is certainly a prospect for the future, though there are Our final leg saw a flight back in to Addis Ababa at an scores of young Kenyans training just as hard who are snapping at unspeakable hour in the morning, followed by yet another lengthy his heels! bus journey south to Bekoji, where the seeds of our African journey Our time at Iten came to an end, and we made our way east began. It is a town rarely visited by westerners (or ‘faranji’ as we again, this time stopping off overnight in North Laikipia, hosted by would be known) and a far more untouched part of Africa than we Aidan and Claire Hartley at Palagalan Farm, possibly the most had experienced in Kenya. That said, as IPH and PJM set off on an remote place any of us had every been to. The turnoff for their farm evening run as the sun set on the town, it became quite clear that saw a further 2 hour journey down their ‘drive’, a rocky yet there was no hostility here, and as countless children ran alongside breathtakingly beautiful drive that concluded what turned out to be us, or cheered us on with ‘Go America!’ and ‘Run good!’ we felt like an 8 hour journey from Iten. A night under the radiant stars to the privileged guests in this remote corner of Africa. As we settled in to accompaniment of Africa’s symphony of animals was a memory to the rather basic accommodation of the rather glamorous sounding treasure, and a glimpse of an Africa rarely seen by your average Wabe Hotel (a far cry from the opulence of Muthaiga), we were tourist. The next morning, Aidan had prepared an unforgettable run delighted to have a surprise visit from ‘Coach’ who showered us all for us- a 10km route that would see us run alongside ostrich, with multiple bear-hugs, his ever-present beaming smile stretched antelope, and even two rather large bull elephants towards the end across his face. We sat down to dinner with him- with some braving of the run. I don’t suppose we will ever run under the watchful gaze the rather spicy and questionable ‘sheep stew’- and soaked up the of marshals with rifles and elephant guns again! atmosphere of the sleepy town as it settled down to the Further time experiencing African game was had in Ol Pejeta unmistakably vibrant twilight soundtrack. An early bed was needed game conservancy, where we stayed in their research centre, ate with a pre-dawn wakeup for a session with Coach and his athletes like kings, laughed to the point of tears, and were fortunate to see a in the nearby Eucalyptus forest. As we congregated amongst his vast menagerie of animals, from wild dogs with puppies, lion, and young Ethiopian athletes the next morning, it became clear just how most memorably of all, a cheetah scouting out its evening kill. A ‘kill’ of different sorts was on our mind as we travelled back to Nairobi to face Peponi School in a 4km race on the Kenyatta family ranch (for those unfamiliar with Hunt vernacular, a ‘kill’ is a win, not anything more sinister!) This race would be a significant event in the Hunt’s history, for this would be our first ever international fixture, and despite being in strong form, our runners were nervous about competing at altitude, in the intense heat of an African afternoon, and against an unknown opposition. What nerves there were, however, would quickly evaporate with a strong start from our runners, with 5th former Ben Remnant leading the runners out, with four or five of the Hunt packing well ‘Coach’. The inspiration for the tour behind him. By the end of the

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The tour squad on the athletics track belonging to Kenenise Bekele, who holds the world record and Olympic record in both the 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres seriously they take their running. Over 120 young men and women athlete meet, where we were able to spend time with Mohammed had woken early to attend the session, most wearing running shoes Aman, who at 19 years of age has already become world 800m barely hanging together, yet all were there believing that they could champion this year in Moscow. He may yet have more than just be the next Ethiopian superstar, and that Olympic glory could be Rudisha to worry about, as the next Ethiopian prodigy – Davit theirs if they worked hard enough. The talent on display was really Gashite – has already posted 1.52 in the 800m and 3.52 in the quite mesmerising, and as we began the workout weaving in and 1500m. Spending time with Gashite on our final afternoon and out of the hillside trees, interspersed with sections of unfathomable hearing about his own ambitions and aims provided a clear view of speed, we reflected on the privilege of being able to train with such the commitment needed at this level, and as an athlete roughly the impressive athletes. It was an experience that we all felt was one of same age as the majority of our runners, running with Gashite fired the most memorable of the tour, and we were only sorry that our them up to aim high themselves. time in Bekoji was so brief. Nevertheless, we feel sure that our Of course, that was one of the main aims of the tour, where we partnership with ‘Coach’ and the ‘town of runners’ Bekoji will hoped that our talented athletes would leave feeling inspired, continue for many years to come and no doubt he will be back in motivated, and wanting to aim high. Yet the tour was about so Shrewsbury at some point soon to train the next generation of Hunt much more than that. It was less of a training or racing tour, and runners. instead more experiential. Our pupils gained an insight into a very Our final few days would see us back in the outskirts of Addis different world to their own. They saw extreme poverty, hardship, staying at YaYa Village Athlete training camp. The facility is co- toughness. Yet in amongst it all, there is hope, optimism, and a owned by Haile Gebreselasie and provided our athletes with yet thankfulness for each day and the air that they breathe. There is a more memorable running experiences. Most notable, perhaps, was real belief that anything is possible against this backdrop, and I our track session on Kenenise Bekele’s own personal track (there hope that this has been the overriding message that our runners are but a handful of proper tracks in the entire country), following have come away with. I hope that they have become better runners, which we were fortunate enough to bump into his younger brother but also more rounded individuals, and young men and women Tariku (an Olympic bronze medalist no less!) who was extremely who look ahead not only at the promise of their own future, but also interested in our tour and our running club. He even promised to to the future that they can help shape for others. As they say at The come and stay with us and train with the Hunt when he is next over Restart Centre, ‘Think not what you are, but what you can become.’ racing in the UK! Our final afternoon in the country saw another PJM

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T ENNIS

The season started for Mr Clark, 14 boys and me in Santa Ponsa, outstanding player on the Majorca trip and was the hardest working Majorca in the last week of the Easter holidays. The training week player throughout the Summer Term. Alex prefers singles, where his set these boys up for the season ahead and it was a very enjoyable Djokovic-like movement can best be employed, but he is a dream trip due to the excellent attitude of all the boys both on and off the to coach as he has so much passion and enthusiasm for the game. court. The next trip will be Easter 2015 and all those who represent The third pair was a combination of Harry Yeoward, Tom Robinson the School in matches will be eligible. and Michael Cheung. This was Michael’s third year in the team but The Summer Term was not blessed by good weather and this he was unable to play with the assurance expected of him. Next resulted in the cancelling of several key fixtures. The 1st VI had a year he must step up to partner Jack Hodges at 1st pair. Potentially slightly disappointing season, with the narrow losses to KES this is an extremely strong pairing. Both Tom and Harry played with Birmingham and Uppingham particularly galling. Both were enthusiasm but were inconsistent at times. Tom has two more years matches we should have won but in which we lacked mental to go and an improvement in his consistency will be vital if he is to toughness, especially in the first round of matches. All sets are be an effective 1st VI player. equally important and it is very difficult to win if you go 3-0 or 2-1 I was pleased with the development of players below 1st VI level. down. This is something that next season the team must improve This was the first year of putting together a 3rd VI squad of 20 upon. However, there were certainly bright moments. Harry players comprised of players in U6th, L6th and 5th form. This squad Bromley-Davenport and Jack Hodges could produce tennis as trained at the same time as Top Squad. I hope that this squad will good as any pair I’ve seen in the last six years at Shrewsbury but provide an incentive for those not selected for the first two teams to this rarely happened in the first set of the match and resulted in continue to work hard on their tennis so that they will be able to them losing to pairs who were not as good as them. It was Harry’s become good club players in the future. third year in the 1st VI and during that time he contributed a lot to As is usually the case the outstanding year group in terms of effort the overall improvement of Shrewsbury School tennis. He is were the 4th form. The improvements made by the likes of Luke replaced as Captain for the 2014 season by Jack Hodges. Lloyd Jones and Tiger Vechamamontien were very impressive. The second pair of Jack Fox and Alex Webb deserve a lot of credit However the next step is the hardest, as the law of diminishing as both were U15 players and this was their first season of playing returns sets in. Many Salopians have made great gains in the 4th doubles. Both have a lot of ability and will go on to become form but failed to work consistently hard enough to become outstanding players if they continue to work hard. Alex Webb was effective 1st VI players. But the two squads (integrated 3rd and 4th my player of the season due to the dedication shown throughout form) taken by Mr Clark with over 40 players showed real progress the year. Alex made every single Sunday night trip to the indoor and their energy and enthusiasm levels could not be faulted. Shrewsbury Club in both the Michaelmas and Lent Terms, was the MJH

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S AILING

Philip Lapage reports on a September voyage of surprises distributed with zealous precision, and Cowes Yacht Haven provided a much needed rest break, shower and chance to stretch A motley crew comprising the tall the short and the ugly (that was legs ashore before a meal aboard and a lot of sleep. the staff) and seven diverse pupils (more anon) set off for two Well, sleep, apart from the need to leave at 0630 to beat the worst nights on board the 44 foot ‘Emerald Star’, out of Gosport Marina, of the foul tide on the way back to Gosport! The third surprise was during the September coach weekend. This was a (voluntary) the quantity of fresh fruit that had vanished at breakfast as the early practical side of the RYA tuition which takes place regularly on a (voluntary) watch came on deck. Once through the entrance of Thursday at school. First impressions of the boat revealed a tired Portsmouth Harbour, Fareham Lake provided a good training but functional beamy Bavaria, though the antics of the youngsters ground for aspiring yachties to practise their boat handling skills in and a lively passage did quite a lot to wake up the old dear. Minor a bit of wind and – yes – wet. Passing observers would have been defects notwithstanding, we were not disappointed: a shakedown forgiven for thinking that the boat was (in that nice technical phrase) night cruise up Fareham Lake, starting by the famous Spinnaker ‘not under command’ as we solemnly gyrated, reversed and Tower and HMS Warrior took us past HMS Victory (though with approached sundry buoys several times at random in the drizzle. topmasts sent down) and several Type 45 destroyers. Flashing and There were some copper-bottomed sons of Neptune on board, fixed navigation lights in gaudy green, red and yellow blended who saw what was necessary before being asked to do it. Some together with the sparkling shore lights, which, together with the were lucky enough to be able to ricochet effortlessly around the narrowing and increasingly twisty channel, produced a navigational boat with no ill effects no matter what its relative motion (as we fell challenge that kept the lookouts, con and helm nicely on their off one particular wave, Ed emerged from his cabin chuckling collective toes. That said, the Salopian propensity for relaxation in having got from side of side of the boat airborne, including a close even the most bizarre circumstances found a small group lolling brush with the ceiling en route). Everyone, though, kept going even around on the foredeck at this stage, quickly nicknamed ‘the if they felt a bit rough approaching St Catherine’s Point, and I was walruses’. They claimed to be acting as lookout for the big unlit proud of them for doing so. They are in good company: Admiral metal mooring buoys. Later, Gosport high street was as devoid of Nelson was seasick every voyage! My thanks to Doc, Happy, chippies and good places to eat as the Sahara of water, and the Sleepy, Bashful, Dopey.... alias Hugo Morgan, Brendan Parsons, presence of the police ushering along a gang of youngsters, some Toby Thomas, Dan Lo, Ed Chamberlain, Hector Kaye, Tiger toting fags and others flopped over bicycles, endeared it to us even Vechamamontien for allowing me to indulge my passion for sailing. less. Later still, a crew conflab over tea and boat cake revealed the My thanks also go to the adults, Paul Kaye and Tim Osborne who first surprise of the trip: a strong desire to circumnavigate the Isle of made the trip possible by their presence and expertise. One is tall Wight the next day, necessitating an early start. It would be a tough and the other is short. call for an inexperienced crew, but one having a certain caché and, PHL if successful, a definite sense of achievement. The second surprise was the number of teenagers voluntarily awake at 0630, dressed in oilies ready for the off – never be deceived by the stereotype! The forecast, however, was discouraging – “easterly 5-7, thundery showers” – but, as ever, one takes information from a number of sources, not least of which is direct observation. “You can rarely do better than to have a really good look around. Get your head into the fresh air” was drummed in to me by Salty Dawg himself with whom I used to sail, though of course buried in that is the need to interpret properly what you see. What we actually saw that morning as we emerged from Portsmouth harbour into the Solent was an easterly 3-4, occasionally 5, stable and overcast. Realising that the worst would be over within a couple of hours no matter what, and that we had both a following wind and tide, we set off. The thundery showers manifest themselves as light drizzle for 30 minutes, occasional puffs at the top of F4 appeared, and the charted overfalls (“Japanese waves”, so-called because of their shape on the electronic plotter) were kept well to starboard. Despite a bit of discomfort for three of the crew for a short while, the watches rotated regularly, and the helmsmen kept their course. So, via St Catherine’s Point, we got to the Needles Light just as the tide turned, and rounded into Alum Bay to anchor for lunch; plenty of food went down every hatch. Tacking up West Solent on the flood tide provided a roller coaster of fun for a couple of hours; the row of sparrows (the re-christened walruses) sitting on the windward rail under a regular sousing sent back fairly positive vibes. Energy was replenished with cups of tea and a chocolate cake which was subdivided by committee and A life on the ocean wave. Ed (‘Nev’) Chamberlain (Ch)

39 School News RSSBC

The Summer Term of 2013 saw RSSBC crews out in force competing in numerous events. The first of these was an invitational regatta run by RSSBC at Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham. Two coach loads of RSSBC boys and girls competed in a series of time trials, semi-finals and finals that saw similar speed crews competing for honours with opposition crews coming from as far afield as St Peter’s York. The intention of the event was to give competitive racing to all crews in the Boat Club and it didn’t disappoint with numerous races coming down to the wire. One week later the J15s and J16s returned to Nottingham for the Junior Inter Regional Regatta where the crews raced brilliantly to return with gold medals in the J15 Coxed fours event and the showpiece 16 VIII event.

J15 VIII with their trophy and Sir Steve Redgrave at the Coronation Regatta

On the Sunday numerous small boats took to the water with wins in Elite Pairs, J18 Pairs, IM1 4+, IM2 4- and J15 4+. The National Schools Regatta was once again wind affected which unfortunately saw the cancellation of Friday’s racing for the J14 crews. On Saturday the wind died down allowing for some very pleasing results for the J15s and J16s who won three medals: the J15A VIII and J15B VIII both won silver medals in their respective events, and the J16B VIII won bronze.

J16 winning crew at Nottingham Recent Olympian and bronze medal winner Will Satch was the guest speaker at the Boat Club dinner and provided inspiration for all in the Club in recounting his days at school and the pathway that took him to Olympic success. More recently he followed up his Olympic achievements by stroking the Great Britain VIII to a first ever win in that boat class at the World Championships. Girls’ 1st Quad – winners at the Chester Regatta (with coach Nathan Following the coach weekend, numerous RSSBC crews Williams) competed in the Shrewsbury Regatta and performed well in front of their home crowd with great success. The following crews won their The J16A were edged into fourth in their final, and the 2nd VIII events: 1st VIII, Girls 1st Quad, 2nd VIII, J16 VIII, J15A VIII and J15B finished a respectable fifth in theirs. The 1st VIII put in a valiant VIII. attempt in their heat to gain automatic qualification for the final, but disappointingly the crew missed out by a little over a second. The crew did well to have a strong showing in the subsequent repercharge, but the effects of two close races took its toll and they had to settle with seventh position overall. On the Sunday the girls’ quad did well to secure a semi-final berth after a late substitution disrupted their preparation. The second half of term saw crews out J15B eight rowing to Silver at National Schools' Regatta: Cox Ed Jones, Doug Major, Mischa racing every weekend with some notable Manser, Nick Watkins, Charlie Rassmuss, Tom Sykes, Alex Brinkley, Hector Kaye, successes. After a mini training camp at Rhys Elliott-Williams Henley the 1st VIII overcame their

40 School News disappointment from National Schools by winning the IM2 VIIIs division at the Metropolitan Regatta. The girls’ 1st quad and J15 B VIII picked up wins at the Chester Regatta and the J15A VIII picked up a host of impressive results by winning their event in an impressive fashion at the Marlow Regatta and the Coronation Regatta.

HENLEY ROYAL REGATTA After the VIII missed out on the final at National Schools they were always going to be under pressure early on in the event and so it proved. The VIII had drawn the crew that beat them to the final spot for the Championship final at National Schools and had to overcome Kings Wimbledon to keep in the running for the event. Despite a very fast start and producing one of the fastest times of the day the task proved too much and in the final stages of the race Kings Wimbledon showed their class to overhaul the VIII.

INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATION Three RSSBC oarsmen were selected to represent Great Britain over the summer. Toby Thomas and George Patterson were Toby Thomas and George Patterson selected as members of the GB VIII to race for honours in the GB France match. In the race they got off the line well and pulled out a running. He sat in the three seat of the eight and had to settle for narrow lead, which they extended to a length by 500m. This 4th place in a very competitive final which saw the medals decided remained the lead during the middle of the race as the French by photo finish. clung on to the stern of the British boat. Into the last 500m the The Michaelmas term has seen a further expansion of the age strength of the GB boat shone through, and as the British piled on groups and a promising start to the 2013/2014 season. Some good the power the French fell back for GB to win by 3 lengths. weather and encouraging results at the Chester Long Distance Harry Lonergan was selected to row for Great Britain in the top Sculls, Runcorn Autumn Head and Chester match are hopefully signs boat at the Junior World Championships for the second year of another strong year for the club and a developing senior squad.

H EAD OF THE C HARLES R EGATTA B OSTON

The Boat Club took a group of twenty one boys and girls to University. The first paddle on the course was in ideal conditions compete at the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston over half and a great chance for the coxes and steersmen to see the course term. The trip provided an opportunity to race in the world’s largest before all the competing crews arrived on Friday. For jet lagged legs two day rowing event that is held over the three mile course of the it was a sharp wakeup call as the crews did some full pressure work Charles River. back up the course to Union Boathouse before heading off to The group were generously hosted by the Salopian community Harvard boathouse and a tour around the facilities by assistant living in the village of Beverly Farms thirty miles north of Boston. coach and Salopian Pat Lapage. At lunch most of the group After a late arrival on Wednesday the 16th October the group headed for burritos at Chipotle in Harvard Square – the not so found it easy to get a good night’s sleep before hitting the water in perfect preparation for taking on the Harvard stadium stairs two eights on Thursday morning. The crews used equipment kindly afterwards. A further tour around the impressive athletics facilities provided by Boston College, St Joes Prep and Northeastern was an eye opener for most. In the afternoon the crews took to the

Boys’ Four – Ed Carroll(cox), Alex Powell, Will Hayes, Henry Girls’ Quad (far side) – Lizzy Collins, Francesca Molyneaux, Rassmuss and Ulrik Cappelen Claudia Kimpton-Smith and Lettie Tay

41 School News water again for a short technical paddle before heading back to the fell back slightly having to take a slightly wider course coming into host houses for dinner and an early night. the last bend and had to settle for 19th place at the finish. The result On Friday the crews got another chance to paddle over the was pleasing knowing the quality of the field but the crew will need course before heading off to Boston College High School for a late to make gains over the winter if hoping to be in contention at the top breakfast. A generous full English breakfast went down well before come the summer. the two quads and the four headed back to the course to get their The last crew to race was the boys’ quad. The crew were also boats set up for Sunday. The boys eight had a tour around the racing in an open category event and finished a respectable 25th school which is a Jesuit school which has approximately 1600 day out of 38 on raw time. The challenge of steering the boat through pupils. In the afternoon the eight headed to the beach for a different six bridges and around five sharp bends is a challenge in itself and training session and stretch before heading to the Lyman’s for a deserves praise to both Lizzy Collins and Elliot Robinson-Boulton pizza supper and a chance for the whole group to chat about their for steering coxless boats down the course without incident. experiences. After thanking our host clubs and getting a last chance to take in On Saturday the two quads took to the water again in the basin the event the crews got a chance to watch some of the national beyond the start to make final preparations. The Eight and the Four team crews competing against the top university crews in the had a more relaxed start before heading into Boston to meet up Championship Eights division. We all headed back to the Kerr’s and watch some of the racing and visit the multitude of stores house for a celebratory barbeque and a chance to relax after all the selling various bits of rowing paraphernalia. At 1pm the group build-up to the event. assembled en-masse at the Harvard Stadium to watch Harvard Monday started with an early morning training session on the take on Lafayette in American Football. Later in the afternoon we beach in the form of various different exercises and games. After headed back to Beverly Falls for a group stretching session on the breakfast we drove eighty miles south to Brown University, beach before a pasta party hosted by the Hodgson’s. Providence. There we were given a tour of the campus and facilities Sunday was race day and an early start for most of the crews. by their freshman coach, Graham Willoughby. After lunch we The boys four were up first and taking on 84 other youth crews from headed to the boathouse and a chance to see their facilities. In the around the world. The four produced a strong display to record an evening we headed back to downtown Boston to see Qunicy impressive result in coming 29th out of 85. The girls’ quad followed market and enjoy dinner at Durgin Park. in an open category event which saw them taking on 29 other The weather had been kind to us all week and Tuesday was no crews. The girls had had little preparation together in the boat due different and after another long training session on the beach we to injury but performed extremely well to come in 13th out of 30 on headed to the North Shore Mall for lunch and last minute shopping raw time. before heading back to Beverly to pack up and say good bye to our The boys eight started near the back of the field of 85 crews host families. Our appreciation goes to the Kerr’s, Lyman’s, amongst crews from Canada and South Africa. The crew made a Hodgsons and Phoebe for inviting us into their homes and making strong start over the first half of the course and quickly overtook us feel so welcome. Shawnigan Lake and were sitting in 8th and 10th place through the ATH first two timing markers. In the second half of the course the crew

Boys’ Eight – Charlie Clarke (cox), Will Dodson-Wells, Niall Barrow, Will Angell-James, Toby Thomas, George Patterson, Moritz Bensel, Brandt Beckerman and Rob Homden

42 School News

the year 2012/13 the Foundation raised £861,099 of which over £150,000 was as a result of the telephone campaign. In September there was a breakthrough by independent schools to have freedom to justify their charitable status, with some of the papers reporting that private schools no longer had to give out “free” places. However, as a charitable organisation Shrewsbury has an obligation to ensure that public benefit is integral to how it is set up and run. This we accept, not only as a requirement by law, but also as our moral duty. Shrewsbury School was established in As I write this we are already well into the Michaelmas Term and 1552 by Royal Charter to benefit gifted pupils from all backgrounds within striking distance of Christmas. Where this year has gone, I and, whilst now an independent school, this ethos continues to simply do not know. apply to Shrewsbury as much as it ever did. But, let me hark back to the summer for a moment. Whilst the In November we published for the first time an “Annual Giving School was winding down for the much looked-forward to Summer Report” which I hope you have found both interesting and insightful. Holidays, the Foundation was gearing itself up for its telephone I think everyone who has supported the Foundation over the years campaign. can be justly proud of what they have helped it to achieve. This calling programme is a major part of Shrewsbury School As we near Christmas I ask you all to think about how you and Foundation’s annual appeal, being one of a number of your family have benefited from what Shrewsbury has been able to opportunities through which Old Salopians and parents can offer you and, in the spirit of Christmas giving, consider how you support the school and, whilst its prime objective is to raise funds might be able to help future generations similarly benefit. There are for bursaries, it also plays a significant part in raising money for a myriad of ways in which you can support our programmes, be it other projects as prioritised by the School. through a single or pledged gift, a gift in your Will, or donating Like all independent schools, fee income alone is not sufficient to shares or property. But, whatever your gift or however you make it, enable the school to develop its facilities or to provide bursaries, be assured that every one will make a difference to both the School something which is at the very heart of the ethos of Shrewsbury and its pupils. School, allowing for qualified means-tested children to come to the Thank you for your support and I hope you all have a very happy School. Without the generosity of Old Salopians, parents and Christmas and fulfilling 2014. friends of the School, Shrewsbury could neither maintain, let alone Peter Worth (Chairman) develop, its teaching and learning facilities and nor could it continue Shrewsbury School Foundation to ensure its place alongside the other great English public schools; something it has cherished since it was first started. For more details, please contact Shrewsbury School Foundation, In the last ten years, the Foundation has successfully run seven of The Schools, Shrewsbury SY3 7BA these campaigns during which time it has raised over £1 million Tel 01743 280890 email [email protected] or visit towards the School’s bursarial programme. In the last year alone, www.shrewsbury.org.uk 27% of the pupils received some form of assistance, allowing them the life-changing opportunity of a Shrewsbury School education. In

The summit ridge of Everest, photographed by Adam Booth (PH 1995-2000) from the south summit. Old Salopian Sir Charles Evans (DB 1932-37) would have been the first person ever to see this view, on 26th May 1953.

43 Old salopian News

S ALOPIAN C LUB N EWS

These are busy times for The Salopian Club. During the summer, Best wishes go to the Club’s President, Nick Bevan (O 1955-60), our social events included a Young Members’ party at the for a full recovery following the stroke he suffered in September and Kensington Roof Gardens, a dinner at the Lord Leycester Hospital thanks to Hugh Ramsbotham (Past President, Staff Member 1975- in Warwick, a lunch party at Henley Royal Regatta and, of course, 99) for taking over the President’s duties in the meantime. Salopian Day at the Schools on 21 September. Our Arts Committee Finally, all members of the Committee are up for re-election in welcomed 300 Old Salopians and parents to two private viewings at October 2014. Committee members serve either one or two three- the Queens Galleries on 25 and 26 June, hosted by Desmond year terms, and all will have completed their first three years. There Shawe-Taylor (I 1968-73), Surveyor of the Queen’s Pictures. is also an immediate vacancy for the Vice Chairman role, which I The Club’s social activities have continued throughout the am personally very keen to see filled! If anyone is interested in autumn. On 18 November members were entertained to dinner at serving on the Committee, or if you have any suggestions as to how the House of Commons, hosted by Daniel Kawczynski, MP for the Club can be improved, please contact me at Shrewsbury and Atcham. The annual pre-Christmas gatherings and [email protected]. drinks in London, Birmingham and Shrewsbury were well-attended David Thomas as usual, with the Travellers Club in Pall Mall providing a charming, Chairman welcoming setting for the City drinks party. Thanks are due to Alun Evans (DB 1951-56), Travellers Club member, for sponsoring this New Director of the Salopian Club – event and to Richard Woodgate (Rt 1954-59) for organising the Lt Col Nick Jenkins OBE Birmingham drinks and the House of Commons dinner. Educated at Rugby School and Trinity College, Cambridge, Nick Salopian Sports Clubs have continued to flourish, as can be seen was commissioned into The Royal Green Jackets in 1970 where he from their reports elsewhere in this issue. saw service in Germany, Hong Kong, Cyprus, Falkland Islands and The Careers Committee, led by David Chance (O 1970-75), UK (including Northern Ireland and the MOD). From 1989-1992 he followed on from the successful Careers Evening for Upper Sixth was the Commanding Officer 5th (Shropshire and Herefordshire) pupils, held in March, with the formation of a number of Battalion The Light Infantry and was awarded the OBE in the professional groups. These groups, consisting of both old Queen’s Birthday 1992 Honours List. Salopians and parents, will promote networking opportunities and In 1992, Nick joined the staff at Shrewsbury School, teaching provide careers advice to current and old Salopians. A number of Classics. From 1995-2009, he was Housemaster of Oldham’s Hall. leaders have already been identified, some of whom have already He says, “I am delighted to be joining the team at the Salopian Club set up their groups and this process will be further facilitated by the and much look forward to renewing contact with all members new, full-time, Careers Fellow who will take up her post in January, including the many Salopians and their families I have encountered 2014. over my 21 years at the School.” The Club has jointly funded and supported the School in the recruitment of Kate Daubney to the post of Careers Fellow. Kate’s rôle will be to provide seamless careers advice and support to Salopians at School, University and beyond. The Club is working to improve the way it communicates with its members. The Director’s e-bulletin, ‘Office View’, provides updates on newsworthy items and a calendar of future events every two months. 1,300 members are now actively using the Club’s Facebook group and the Old Salopian section of the School website is updated regularly with news of old Salopians and Club activities. Peter Fanning (Staff Member, 1981-2012) will be organising and directing a joint Salopian / Old Salopian production at the 2014 Edinburgh Fringe, and is recruiting now for those interested in taking part. To commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of the Great War, and the contribution made by many Salopian families, the Club is organising a five-day tour of World War 1 battlefields, to take place Nick Jenkins (centre) with his sons William (left) and David from 23-27 April 2014. Details of this tour and instructions on how to book places are to be found elsewhere in the magazine. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Alex Baxter for his New Careers Fellow – Dr Kate Daubney contribution to the Club as its Director over the past two and a half Dr Kate Daubney has been appointed as the new Careers Fellow years. Alex was instrumental in taking our plans forward and (see the Chairman’s report, above) and is scheduled to take up her creating the lively and active Club we now enjoy. My thanks also to post in mid-January, 2014. Dr Daubney comes to Shrewsbury Miriam Walton for stepping up to serve as Interim Director until Nick from the higher education sector, where she has been most recently Jenkins takes up his position as the new Director in February 2014. a careers adviser at the LSE and Imperial College Business School, The Executive and office team are very much looking forward to and before that an academic and a university admissions tutor. She working with Nick and we wish him well in his new role. has worked on career development issues with everyone from

44 Old salopian News

teenagers to mid-career professionals, Careers Fair at the School in March for the Upper Sixth, supported and says, “Young people face many by over 30 Old Salopians. Alex also masterminded many of the challenges in making good choices events the Club promotes – Salopian Day, City Drinks, Queen’s about their futures, and I’m really Gallery visits, etc – and oversaw a vast improvement in the Club’s looking forward to bringing what I have communication with its members and the School. learned about the working world – both I would like to thank Alex personally for all his hard work to make as a careers adviser and a professional the Club a much more relevant and interesting organisation. in other areas myself – to helping David Thomas, Chairman current and Old Salopians in person, by email and by Skype, wherever you are in the world.” Salopian Club Director heads for pastures new In early October, Alex left to take up a new post as logistics advisor to the Saudi Royal Air Force, building on his previous experience both with the RAF and in Saudi Arabia. This is an excellent opportunity for him, although I and my fellow committee members will miss his capable and unflappable approach to managing all aspects of the Salopian Club. Alex joined as Director in the spring of 2011, just as the review of the Club’s activities got underway. He contributed actively to the review and since then he has been instrumental in implementing the programmes that resulted from it. Of particular note has been Alex Baxter the development of the Careers programme, which saw the first

OS T OUR OF THE S OMME

To commemorate the outbreak of the First World War, the Salopian Club has planned a five-day tour of the Somme in April, 2014. The tour will be led by historian and professional tour guide, Peter Caddick-Adams (Ch 1974-78), and is scheduled to include several sites of particular Old Salopian interest, including Gommecourt/Fonquevillers, Serre and Sheffield Memorial Park, Sunken Lane, Hawthorn Ridge, Ulster Tower/Thiepval Wood/Authuille, Pozieres, Bois Francais, Mametz Wood, Caterpillar Valley and the Delville Wood South African War Memorial. The tour will be based in the medieval town of Peronne and there will be also be time for sightseeing in the nearby cathedral city of Amiens. The all-inclusive price of £600 – 680 per person* includes travel to and from central London by coach, the ferry crossing, hotel Members of the School’s OTC on Caradoc, accommodation and all meals except lunch on the first and last Field Day 1915 days. Entry fees to museums and other sites are also included. The tour is open to Old Salopians, their wife/partner or child over 14 (maximum 2 places per booking.) Those members who have Revival of The Lost Domain already expressed an interest in this tour in response to previous Five years ago, a joint OS/student production of ‘The Bubble’ publicity will be given precedence to book. A small number of was staged at the Edinburgh Fringe to critical acclaim. Plans places will also be kept open for readers of this publication who do are now afoot for a joint revival by Old Salopians and current not use email. students of the Moore/Went/Fanning musical ‘The Lost To receive detailed tour information and a booking form, please Domain’. First performed in Edinburgh in 2000 and later at the strict deadline: phone or email Miriam Walton as soon as possible ( Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, this Friday 24 January, 2014) telephone: 01743 280 892, email: musical adaptation of Alain Fournier’s pre-war tale of a quest [email protected]. You will be sent a booking form and for lost love and happiness went down a storm when it was asked to pay £150 deposit by return (cheque or online payment will first produced. 2014 is the centenary of the death of Alain be acceptable). Fournier, who was killed in early exchanges of World War I. Places on this tour are limited and bookings will be taken on a John Moore and Peter Fanning are now in search of a cast. strictly first-come, first-served basis and can only be secured by Provisional dates for Edinburgh are 18th-23rd August 2014. payment of the deposit. Please note that we cannot accept Rehearsals from 6th August. If you are interested in joining the payments without a prior provisional booking. company or would like further details, please contact John *The price will depend on the numbers who book (more = Moore: [email protected]. cheaper). A single supplement of £120 will apply.

45 Old salopian News

OS W EEKEND 2013

Old Salopian Golfing Tournament at Worfield– Friday 20th September Old Salopians attending the annual Worfield tournament were treated to both excellent weather and keen, competitive golf. The Club owner, Old Salopian Oliver Eaton (Rt 1985-91), generously hosted the event and the Old Salopian Golfing Society was delighted that he was able to participate in the competition. A full report of the fixture and how various combinations fared appears in the Golfing Section. All who participated in the match enjoyed performing on one of Shropshire’s top golf courses. Old Salopian Day – Saturday 21st September The annual Old Salopian gathering was blessed with a fine, warm day for the second year running and attracted almost 200 guests. These included former ‘brushers’ representing at least 500 years of teaching experience, lively contingents from Ingram’s and OS Netball Team Oldham’s and the 1988 1st VIII. Four Old Salopian football teams were in action and for the first time a team of Old Salopian ladies past President of the Old Salopian Club, Kinnaird Champion from played hockey and netball against current students. 1954-56, unveiled the attractive new Fives Courts boards which list all the Fives champions and finalists from the 1920s to present. Two boat crew reunions and rows-past were also held during the weekend. The 1978 crew enjoyed a reunion dinner in the refurbished Boat House Club Room on Friday evening, while the 1988 crew, who had been coached by Nick Bevan, were reunited at the Old Salopian lunch. (See the Sabrina section for more details.) The weekend’s activities concluded with a reception for the Old Salopian Ladies’ teams in Emma Darwin Hall – an opportunity for Old and current Salopians to socialise in the School’s newest House.

Alex Wilson Memorial Football Match – Sunday 22nd September The third annual Alex Wilson Memorial match was highly competitive, involving skilful football and plenty of entertainment. The Alex Wilson XI, wearing a new red strip sponsored by Morris The new Fives Honours Boards Property, started strongly, threatening the Old Salopian goal in the early stages. As the first half wore on, the Old Salopian team began Many of the guests were there at the specific invitation of Club to take control with a sustained attack but the Alex Wilson XI scored President, Nick Bevan (O 1955-60), who was unfortunately first, from a well-struck free kick, with the Old Salopian team prevented by ill health from attending. The Club is very grateful to equalising after a penalty. The second half began at the same former President, Hugh Ramsbotham, a close friend of the Bevan frantic pace, with the Old Salopians continuing to dominate. With family and a direct contemporary of Nick’s, for agreeing to step in five minutes to go and both teams tiring in the warm, muggy as Acting President. Hugh delivered Nick’s intended speech conditions, the Old Salopians were awarded a second penalty, the verbatim at lunch, and afterwards everyone toasted Nick, wishing resulting shot again beat the keeper and the final score was 2-1 to him a speedy recovery and looking forward to his appearance at the Old Salopians. Old Salopian Day 2014. Afterwards, the many supporters who had turned up to watch the The cheese course was accompanied by a brisk and efficient game joined the players for refreshments in the Alington Hall, where AGM and the Headmaster closed proceedings with an update on Henry Wilson, Alex’s brother gave a short update on fundraising the School’s recent achievements and future plans. Afterwards, efforts for the Alex Wilson Scholarship. He highlighted the charity lunch guests were able to enjoy the spectacle of Old Salopians in cycle ride from London to Paris, led by Ben Langford (SH 2003-08) fierce competition with School teams in ‘Indian summer’ conditions. which had raised £5,600. He noted how heartening it was to see the In the 1st XI football fixture the Old Salopian side won by 4 goals to first recipient of the Scholarship, Max McClure (Rb, L6), playing for 0, but the 2nd team fixture lost to the School, 3-1. The remaining the Alex Wilson XI in this year’s match, and there are plans for a matches saw a 2-1 win for the Old Salopian 3rd team and a 2-2 charity dinner during 2014. draw for the 4th. Meanwhile, the Old Salopian Ladies won both hockey and netball matches by a narrow margin. Towards the end of the afternoon, Robin Moulsdale (I 1942-1946), Housemaster Moser’s Hall 1962-76,

46 Old salopian News

OS D INNER AT THE H OUSE OF C OMMONS

An event that had been some 18 months in the planning came to fruition on 18th November when 53 Salopian guests joined Daniel Kawczynski, the MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham, for dinner at the House of Commons. Richard Woodgate (Rt 1954-59), Chairman of the Birmingham and West Midlands Branch, had met Daniel Kawczynski at a function in 2011 and they jointly conceived a social event which would bring together the School and the parliamentary constituency to the mutual benefit of both. Following a drinks reception on the terrace with its renowned view of the London skyline, the company enjoyed a congenial and lively dinner in the best Old Salopian tradition. The guests, all of whom successfully negotiated the draconian security arrangements, represented almost the extremes of the OS age-range and were drawn from a wide variety of professions and spheres of influence and interest. This was highlighted in Hon Sir Andrew McFarlane’s (M 1968-72) entertaining welcome in which he gave examples of the breadth of experience and interests represented at the table. The Hon Sir Andrew McFarlane (M 1968-72) Not only were eminent lawyers, businessmen and members of the medical profession represented, but also younger OS making their names in the newer professions such as Information Technology. news: the plans for full co-education are now well advanced and Sir Andrew also highlighted some of the company’s many the capital funding programme, due to the efforts of the Shrewsbury sporting or charitable achievements including rowing the Atlantic School Foundation team, is progressing well. (Matthew Mackaness (R 1994-99)) and competing in the Gobi Daniel Kawczynski told the company that he was delighted to Desert Run (Hugh Faith (O 1997-02)). Welcoming the advent of full take this opportunity to build stronger links with the School at a time co-education in September 2014, he told the company that he when his re-election campaign has been placed in the hands of two would have loved to have sent his two Old Rugbeian daughters to Old Salopians (Daniel and John Morris (M 1983-88 and 1985-90)). Shrewsbury had it been possible at the time. He is also keen to enlist Old Salopian help in encouraging The Headmaster brought the company up to date with School investment in Shrewsbury and Shropshire.

Left to right, seated: Rory Griffiths (I 2004-09), Will Hunter (Rt 2007-12), (standing: Bart Bream I 1988-93, Daniel Kawczynski, MP), Chris Hooper (O 2004-09), Vladimir Malyshkin (M 2005-09)

47 Old salopian News

S ABRINA C LUB

Henley Royal Regatta 2013 On the eve of the September 2013 OS Weekend, the 1978 RSSBC Using a professional caterer for the second year and holding the 1st VIII regrouped to celebrate the 35th anniversary of their event over lunchtime, we also moved from Butler’s Field to the successful tour to South Africa. Henley Cricket Club ground. Having met up ten years ago and enjoyed a dinner in the top of Overall, both the Wednesday and Saturday lunchtime drinks the Pugh Boathouse, it was a pleasure to revisit and find the newly events were well supported and deemed to be a huge success. refurbished Club Room – now named the Bowring Room after the family’s generosity with regard to the refurbishment. It is so well Shrewsbury Room Leander Club available refurbished that it really is a perfect venue for reunion dinners. during Henley Royal Regatta 2014 Another good evening was held with wives and the addition of Nick and Dianne Randall, as well as our crucial RSSBC liaison Paul The Shrewsbury Room at Leander (room 11) will again be available Manser. to Sabrina members for the duration of the Royal Regatta in 2014. Our outing on the Saturday morning was a bold move given our Interested parties should contact Nick Randall on ‘after party’ state of mind. It turned out that our unconscious [email protected] and a draw will take place in early 2014 for memory was still well tuned and we had an outing that was “better the unlucky losers to book other accommodation. than some we had in 1978”. We were tempted to hang the cox over The winners of the draw will be expected to take the room for five the weir – somewhere the current crews rarely visit. nights (Tuesday to Saturday) at a cost of approximately £200 per Those present: Graham Van’t Hoff (Cox), Simon Pelly (Capt), night (B&B for two people). John Baart, Brian Flynn (Harvard Fellow), Justin Smallwood, Peter Salopians Competing in the 2013 Cowie, Mark Taylor, Nick Jenkins and Johnny Schute. Jeremy Owen joined us for dinner but unfortunately Jim Kelly and Nick Redwood Henley Royal Regatta were not able to attend.

1988 1st VIII Crew Reunion by Andrew Pitt (Rt 1983-1988,1st VIII 1988) Richard Smith, Captain of Boats 1988, organised a reunion of RSSBC’s 1st VIII of 1988 on OS Day, Saturday 21st September. This was to celebrate a quarter of a century since we had all last been in a boat together, and also to support Nick Bevan who had been due to officiate that day as President of the Salopian Club. We were Nick’s last 1st VIII before he left Shrewsbury to become headmaster at Shiplake College and we were all very sorry that he was unable to be with us for the day. We send him our very best wishes for as speedy a recovery as possible. Many Sabrina members competed at Henley, including Ben After meeting up outside the Kingsland Hall, in some cases for Spencer-Jones (Captain of Boats 2010). Rowing in the Imperial the first time since 1988, and admiring how much we had all College coxed four, Ben’s crew were winners of the Prince Albert changed in the intervening quarter-century, we enjoyed a splendid Challenge Cup. (See picture above.) lunch that set us up for a quick row in the afternoon. A good 1978 1st VIII Crew Reunion number of us had not rowed since 1988 when we had celebrated reasonable success. That year we were 2nd at the National by Simon Pelly (Rt 1973-1978, 1st VIII 1978) Schools’ Regatta (lost by half a length to Hampton) and had made it to the semi-finals at Henley (lost by a few inches to St Edward’s). Nick Randall (RSSBC 1st VIII 1976) kindly substituted for Mark Jones. Mark had, very sadly, a terrible car accident aged 19 and was unable to take to the water with the rest of us, but it was absolutely brilliant that he was able to be with us on the day. In addition James Wheatcroft, our cox in 1988, was unable to stay for the rowing and he was substituted by Guy Gabral (Ch and J16 cox). Personally, I found it an amazing experience to be in 'the boat' again with the majority of our original crew. Things came together quickly, after a slightly scrappy first few strokes – perhaps not so surprising when we had all rowed together for the five years we had been at school. In fact there were definitely some pieces where it did feel 1978 1st VIII something like the 1st VIII of '88 (perhaps less so

48 Old salopian News Sabrina AGM October 2013 The Sabrina Club AGM was held at 4.00 pm on Saturday 21st September with many attendees including members of the 1978 and 1988 1st VIIIs. The Committee was able to report that the Sabrina Supporters Fund, in which annual Sabrina member donations are made by standing order and channelled through the School Foundation, is now funding over £7,000 annually to help with the ever increasing budget for equipment for the 1988 1st VIII growing School Boat Club. We are encouraging all Sabrina members to become supporters, with when we were puffing a bit towards the end). If Mark and James had been in the boat annual donations beginning with a modest £25.00. (and Nick Bevan had been able to coach us from the tow path on his bike) it might Please contact Nick Randall if you wish to have been the truly authentic experience! participate. A brilliant day was had by all, and credit to everybody for making it to Shrewsbury Nick Randall (Captain) from various corners of the country. Tel: 01824 707953 or email [email protected] The 1988 crew comprised: A.A. Pitt (Bow), I.D. Clarke (2), G.S. Cooper (3), M.C.F. Rod Spiby (Honorary Secretary) Jones (4), R.A.B. Smith (5), A.R. Cassidy (6), A.A. Boyle (7), S. Meredith (Stroke) and Tel: 07970 283704 or J.C.C. Wheatcroft (Cox). email [email protected]

O LD S ALOPIAN G OLFING S OCIETY

The Society’s ‘Palme d’Or’ (comme on dit at the Cannes Film This year’s Campion Trophy has reached the semi-finals. Mark Festival) must go this summer to Robert Lanyon and John Smith. Ferguson is within a whisker of retaining the Claret Jug. Stephen One could never describe them as starlets these days, but they are Shaw & John Parker are still hanging on in there – former Princess the brightest stars in the firmament of OSGS for retaining the Bunny Elizabeth Cup Winners at Henley Regatta in their day. Will they Millard Salver at West Hill GC (for over-75s), defeating Felsted in catch a crab or cause an upset? the final by 4x3. In the GL Mellin Salver (for over-55s), as holders, The second Triangular Schools Challenge comprising Shrewbury, we lost narrowly in the final to Oundle, having disposed of Felsted, Tonbridge and Dulwich was played at Tandridge on 26th April. The Loretto and Downside on the way. Against Oundle, Peter Worth OSGS team was: James Shaw & Michael Smart; Malcom McMullan (Captain) & Andy Pollock won 3x2; Anthony Smith & Michael & Gerald Woods; William Hawksley & Tim Lewis; Nick Wase-Rogers Brabner lost at the 18th; William Painter & James Shaw lost 2 down. & Stephen Shaw. OSGS with 154 pts came a close third to The Old In the Peter Burles Salver (for over-65s) Shrewsbury lost in the Alleynians with 156 pts, and Old Tonbridgians runners-up with 155pts. second round on a sudden death play-off 2-1 to Felsted. Our team At Hadley Wood on 14th June, OSGS lost narrowly to the Old was: Peter Jeffrey & Henry Rowe, Robin Humble & Stephen Shaw. Cholmeleians 3½ to 2½. Mark Summers, Peter Jeffrey, Ed As a result of the atrocious weather in 2012, the final of last year’s Saunders, Jonathan Brooke, Stanley Phillips and Richard Roberts Campion Trophy did not take place until 19th June 2013 – represented OSGS under the captaincy of Simon Shepherd, who described here by OSGS President Anthony Smith: with Stanley Phillips was unbeaten on the day. Well done, Stanley, The protagonists were Mark Ferguson (Rt 1992-96) and Malcom on his home turf! McMullan (I 1958-62), conqueror of such luminaries as Richard In the Public Schools Midlands meeting at Little Aston, Barber, Ben Chesters, Jonty Campion and Will Campion. Quite a few immaculately organised as usual by David Warmington, former scalps! Eventually, mostly thanks to the kind efforts of Barry Campion President of Little Aston, Shrewsbury came 8th out of 13. This was a – brother of the late Ian, Past President of OSGS and donor of the tad below par, after being joint runners-up with Harrow last year. Trophy – the final was played on a balmy morning at Royal Birkdale. In the Schools Putting competition on 4th June at Royal Mark Ferguson has Halford Hewitt experience and 30+ years’ age Wimbledon, a tiger team of Angus Pollock, Simon Shepherd, Tom advantage, so started as favourite to win. Sure enough, he marched Williams and James Pollock (Captain) came 5th on our qualifying into a three-hole lead by the 5th hole, and again after 9 holes. From day with 25 pts. Despite scoring 18 pts shy of the winners, our the tee Malcom’s driving was far straighter, his ball never troubling heroes managed to avoid relegation, as befell us four years ago the ‘Birkdale’ rough. Conversely Mark’s iron play and in particular his when we were last invited to play. putting was much superior. It was Walter Hagen who famously said Thanks to a kind invitation from Andy Pollock, 18 members took “you drive for show, but you putt for dough”. Malcom had on the Marquess Championship Course at the Duke of Bedford’s opportunities to win four of the next five holes, but could only claw Woburn on the afternoon of 30th June. Unsurprisingly, the winning one back. He did win the 16th, so Mark was one up with two holes team comprised Andy Pollock (3), Chris Brierley (9), Julian Sterck to play, but sadly Malcom from another good teeshot encountered (8) (of Old Bond Street fame) & Tom Price (8). some difficulties on the 17th, and lost both the hole and the match. Worplesdon: Winner of the Tony Duerr Salver: Patrick Carr The spirit of camaraderie was much in evidence, and the chance to (36 pts). play on one of the best Open Championship courses was much Huntercombe: Peter Worth (Moulsdale’s Moser’s 1965-70), appreciated by both players. powered his way round his home course where he is Captain this

49 Old salopian News year, to become the first Governor of the School to win an OSGS Unaccountably, the £20 Golf Days at Perton Park, Bransford meeting in recent memory. Playing effortlessly off 5 handicap, Peter and Swindon and the long-standing Pre-Regatta meeting at amassed 37 points. Huntercombe were cancelled for lack of support. The meeting was held to honour this year’s President of The It is pleasing to report that six leavers joined OSGS in July 2013. Salopian Club, Nick Bevan. Unfortunately, Nick was unable to be Tim Lewis with us. Despite such a tragic disappointment, this was a glorious Honorary Secretary, OS Golfing Society occasion and in accordance with Nick’s dearest wish, those [email protected]; tel. 01491 641651 present enjoyed themselves heartily. As one would expect of a Captain of a Golf Club of Halford Hewitt 2013 Huntercombe’s renown for courtesy, decency and generosity of The Halford Hewitt is the largest amateur golf competition in the world, with 64 teams of ten playing scratch foursomes match play. The competition was founded in 1924 and is competed for by old pupils from 64 public schools in England and Scotland. Shrewsbury has had a good record over the years and been in six finals, winning three, which puts us near the top of the league tables. However, we have not been in a final since 1993 and have not made it through two rounds for six years. This year the draw made in January at the East India and Public Schools Club matched us with Glenalmond, where Gordon Woods moved to be Headmaster having been Second Master at Shrewsbury. The Scottish schools traditionally do well in the competition and Glenalmond’s results over the years are very similar to our own, so it promised to be a tough battle. Five very exciting matches ensued at Deal on the first day. Top pair Richard Roberts and Jon Howse led from the front with a comprehensive victory. Playing second were debutant Alex Stewart, who left Shrewsbury in 2010, playing with Chairman of the Foundation, Peter Worth, who left in 1970. They made an excellent pairing and brought home a point. Playing third were Allan Wright and Andy Pollock, who were ahead until playing the wrong ball lost a hole that they had essentially won, went down at the end, as did Will Painter and second debutant Mike Thelwall Jones playing at Left to right: Anthony Smith (President OSGS), Malcom McMullan four. (runner-up), Mark Ferguson (winner 2012) and Barry Campion The Campion brothers, who have played in the Hewitt nearly every year since they left Shrewsbury and are now both in their mid- spirit, albeit from Moser’s, the winner’s spoils were divided amongst forties, had to use all their experience to get us over the line. Their the also-rans, namely: game ended on the 18th hole when the Glenalmond pair, a father Best Barber – Barber RPF (OBE) 34 pts; and son combination, failed to hole a putt to take the match down Best Guest – James Tyrrell, distinguished Bradfieldian pupil of the 19th. Moulsdale JRB (who played soccer for Wales), father of Moulsdale In the evening we dined with our supporters, President Anthony ARB (who played soccer for Cambridge University); Smith, Hon Secretary Tim Lewis, Robin Moulsdale and Nicko Best Brusher – former HM, Sir Eric Anderson, KT who pipped Williams. A jolly time was had before a good night’s sleep in Ramsbotham HM. It was reported that this august pairing was preparation for our next encounter against Wellington. noted for incessant chitter-chatter from one player (left-hander), Wellington, like Glenalmond, has a very similar record to amidst shots. ourselves, but over the last ten years they have built a golf course Best Lady – the one and only Hilary Ward, the one and only lady and have been awarding golf scholarships. This has resulted in to participate, the one and only wife of Ward RHT. them producing some very talented golfers, some of whom have Malcolm and Annie Davies travelled all the way from Wentworth gone on to become professionals. Their top pair included a young (North Yorkshire) to be with us for lunch and undoubtedly the lady who won the Ladies Amateur Stroke Play Championship last longest drive, though Rod Spiby arrived from Shrewsbury, four days year with a handicap of plus three playing with a member of the ahead of his Mum’s 80th birthday. strong Edinburgh University Golf Team playing off plus two. Our Worfield: Winner of the Todwick Tankard: Mark Schofield (39 pts), leading lights, Roberts and Howse were not impressed and saw the first Member of Staff to take the Tankard since Noel Darrah won them off six and five. in 1994. Mention had better be made of Mike Eagar who won in Stewart and Worth had a real ding-dong battle, just losing out on 1981 and 1990. the 18th with Pollock and Wright, having been three down at the Trentham: Winner of the Tommy Hall Bowl: Mark Schofield (again turn, also succumbing on the 18th. The last two pairs, however, and noted) (40 pts): proxime accessit Anthony Smith, President, (37 played steadily and were never in any real danger, both winning pts): other leading scores were Charles Hill and Andrew Hulme on comfortably to make sure we beat a disappointed Wellington side 36 pts. Six boys took part – and special mention should be made of three and two. Ben Oswald and James Walker, who are down to 6 handicap. The We found ourselves in the last sixteen on the Saturday morning winner of the BWD Rensburg Bowl was Charles Bibby (40 pts) with for the first time in six years, having beaten two pretty strong sides. Ben Oswald runner-up. Our next opponents were Ampleforth, once again a school with a

50 Old salopian News similar record to our own who have been rebuilding their side over make sure we become even more competitive, it is important that the last few years and won the Plate a couple of years ago we know of Old Salopians who are playing good golf. As golf is not The Campion brothers won their third game comfortably but alas a significant sport at School, the vast majority of Salopians begin the other four pairs were unable to produce a point. Although it was their golf careers after they have left School and some not until they disappointing to lose, overall there was a feeling that we had given in their late twenties or early thirties. It is difficult to know who is out a good account of ourselves and built a good foundation for the there playing good golf unless you tell us, and maybe the tales of future. Alex Stewart and Mike Thelwall Jones both played well, our escapades this year in the Hewitt will encourage you to make which augurs well for the future. Angus Pollock made his debut on yourself known and how you may get involved. If so, please drop Saturday and played with his brother, which meant we had two me an email [email protected] and maybe we can have pairs of brothers playing. a game and discuss how you may be able to contribute. There is a good spirit in the OS Golfing Society Hewitt team, and Andy Pollock those who were unable to play due to work commitments or injury were in touch every day to see how we were getting on. In order to

OS H UNT

Cinder Path 1970 MM and WJJ Tucks 1970 Starting School run 1970

The chill in the air of a winter’s day can sometimes make me second email came from Antony Martin (SH 1968-72), the son of quicken my pace, as I try to improve my time, running from the top Huntsman F.C.R. Martin, who recalled some memories, including of the ‘Cinder Path’, where there haven’t been any cinders for a very the fact that the Huntsman in the photo was not his father. Then long time, to negotiating Canonbury and then a convoluted course Tony Lee (Rt 1937-42) made contact to say that he recognised C. which takes in the mud behind the Pengwern Boat House, as well Baird, C. Backus, R.J. Dallow and C.T.P. Holland. But eventually, the as the now dangerous ‘bomb craters’ created by the badgers of sharp memory of Michael Bretherton solved the problem. It was, in Ridgemount Drive. By the time I have then done Oldham’s Gap and fact, a 1942 photograph of Ridgemount House Hunt Team. the back of the Chapel, my attempt at regaining my one time youthful fitness seems to attract a disapproving frown from Mr C. Darwin, intimating that I should be doing something more useful with my time, as I leave him standing at the Drum. I then realise it’s 43 years since I first put on the red jumper to lead the Pack down Central and out of the Moss Gates on another historic School Run with Mort & Willie, and supported by Whips & Gents Pete H, Will P, Peter B, Nick McC, and so many more who became part of the tradition that makes the Hunt very special. The memories of our time running at Shrewsbury can be rekindled by words that only we could possibly understand, such as doing a ‘Benjy’ or a ‘Water Tower’, going across ‘The Master’s Fields’ after an ‘All-Up’ before ‘a Kill’. Each generation will create their own new words and memories, as I’m sure the recent Huntsmen may recollect in decades hence. I shall read with interest what Cal, George, Ed or Rory might recall in the next 40 years! In the Summer edition of this magazine, there was a 1942 Team photo showing ten Hunt runners, provided by Patrick Russell Jones So, from the left, the back row is Pat Davies, Michael Bretherton, (Rt 1967-72). It prompted several replies which gave a few names C. Baird, Tim J. K. Cross, Charlie Backus, and the front row from left and generated some confusion. First, Sir John Lea (Rt 1941-45) is “Butch” C.T.P. Holland, T.D. Harvey, Geoffrey Diss, R. J. Dallow, remembered Tim Cross and Geoffrey Diss of Ridgemount. A Barry Russell Jones

51 Old salopian News

Thanks to all who mined their deep cranium recesses to extract Dinner in the Peterson Room. all that valuable information, which will eventually appear on our On Saturday 14th December, the Thames Hare & Hounds website pages. Running Club will once again be inviting all Old School Running So now to December, when the Old Salopian Hunt gathers once teams to compete in the Alumni Race, which is held on the again. There had to be a change of date for our Annual Run with the Roehampton end of Wimbledon Common. There are age RSSH & Staff, to accommodate the Hunt going to the English categories for all, and so even I will be going again to run in this Schools’ Cross-Country Championships, where a strong team has excellent cross-country event. If anyone is interested in attending a great chance of success this year. This means that on Saturday either as a runner or spectator, please contact the Hon. Treasurer, 7th December, we will be warming up beside Darwin, in front of the David Thomas (email [email protected] ) or myself School Building, at about 2.30pm. It is always a good day for ([email protected] ) runners of all age groups as well as spectators. There will be plenty “… and may the devil take the hindmost. “… and that’ll be me of tea afterwards with the presentations in the Hunt Gym, inside the then! [It was in fact me – Ed.] Stott Pavilion. This year’s AGM is changing venue and will be held in Peter Birch (DB 1966-71) the Hardy Room of Kingsland House, followed by the Annual OSH ties and OSH running vests are still available from me.

S ARACENS

The Saracens’ tour of North Devon 2013 was marked down early Wednesday brought another close victory at the Valley of the as the year to push records. Having not been beaten by North Rocks in very moist conditions. And so back for the newly inserted Devon CC for several years, this was no time to offer the white flag, quiz night at The Wayfarer, where let’s just say people's brains were but rather to hoist up the OS flag one more notch or two. Tour not fully functional. began with the usual Sunday afternoon welcome dinner, and the Despite having not won the Twenty20 triangular series on the talk quickly turned to claims of being on form and promised big Thursday, this was seen as our year. A sensational batting performances for the days ahead. performance by E. Pollock set up a satisfying win against the With the weather looking promising for the week, the match Strollers in the first game, backed up by some top quality fielding started in sunny conditions and a new partnership was thrown out and a real sense of team harmony. Unfortunately complacency set to face the first ball of tour. With T. Chapman 'off games' due to in and the Saracens were bowled out cheaply in the final against more than usual swollen fingers, R. Mackay was sent out with North Devon. And so once more we will have to wait to raise the E. Pollock and the openers got us off to a steady but not pulsating Claret Jug. It must be said it was nice to have Pollock senior start, eventually both being dismissed with the score 30-2. Some (Angus) taking to the field after a long sabbatical and still moving steady middle order batting saw the Saracens reaching a solid 250, more swiftly than one or two of the Sarries. thanks to Henry Lewis’ first ever contribution to tour. There was It was great to see a lot of new faces this year and a fantastic some experience in the slip cordon to start the 2nd innings and alas week was had by all. it was S. Corbett who dropped a sitter at 'floating' gulley (I think his Maybe next year we might just win on the Thursday. third 1st catch drop over his tour career). After Steve Barnard had Tourists: B. Chapman, S. Corbett, R. Mackay, T. Chapman, M. North Devon 0-2 after his fist over, the skipper threw the ball Lilley, N. Graham, T. Cox, L. Alexander, R. Nichols, G. Thomasson, around the field. A. Pollock ended up as the main wicket-taker, as E. Pollock, Al Pollock, Angus Pollock, Henry Lewis, George Lewis, Devon were dismissed around 30 short. Another victory for Will Mason, R. Hillman, S. Barnard. the OS! It was a fine Monday evening with great food and drinks hosted Wanted: Shrewsbury Saracens Memorabilia by the ever hospitable NDCC, as the Saracens were joined by the The Saracens’ records are very depleted from the early 1930s OS golfers. Tuesday morning arrived a little early for some but onwards. Any photographs, scorecards, anecdotes or memories another victory was on the cards, this time by 3 wickets with H. would be most welcome. Lewis getting close to a century and R. Hillman rolling back the If you can help, please contact Saracens Secretary Paul years, not with the bat, but with the ball! 2-0 to the Saracens and Nicholas by emailing him at [email protected] or telephone more misery for the locals. the Salopian Club office on 01743 280892.

O LD S ALOPIAN F ENCING G ROUP

George Lane Fox has recently set up an Old Salopian Fencing who fenced at Shrewsbury are warmly invited to join. Group. It is being used to organise OS matches and to keep https://www.facebook.com/groups/370713092967850/ everyone up to date with Shrewsbury fencing. Any Old Salopians

52 Old salopian News

O LD S ALOPIAN L ODGE

The Old Salopian Masons had a very happy and successful about £20 million pounds every year to a wide range of charities.” summer gathering at the Schools, with the Science Lecture Theatre Philomathes then said, “I have heard that Freemasonry is a converted into a Lodge room. This event has a time-honoured secret society. Is that true?” structure, consisting of a short Lodge meeting followed by a long Polymathes replied, “Certainly not. It is rather a society with lunch. This was held in Kingsland House, with friends and families secrets and has members from all walks of life. When you join, in attendance, as well as visitors from the Masonic Province of these secrets and their current and historic relevance are explained Shropshire, some of whom were visiting the Site for the first time. during the ceremonies.” In terms of explaining what Freemasonry is and how it works, Old Philomathes then asked, “Where does the Old Salopian Lodge Salopian Lodge has a tradition whereby the two stone figures which meet and when?” guard the entrance to the Moser Buildings at the Schools, Polymathes replied, “It meets at the City University Club, 50 Polymathes and Philomathes, hold a conversation to do this. Cornhill, London EC3, in the months of April, September and After Polymathes explained the general workings of a Lodge, in November. The next meeting is on Wednesday 16th April 2014. In particular the Old Salopian Lodge, Philomathes asked “ When did addition, there is a meeting here at the Schools on the morning of the Old Salopian Lodge start?” Saturday 17th May 2014, to be followed by a non-masonic lunch.” Polymathes replied “ It was first registered on the United Grand Polymathes and Philomathes relapsed into their own private Lodge of England Register in 1925, with the then Headmaster, reveries and silently continued to guard the entrance to the Moser Canon Sawyer, as one of its Founders.” Library. “Who can join?” Old Salopian Masons may visit the Lodge, where they will receive “Old boys of the School over the age of 21, and Masters, of their a warm welcome. Old Salopians who may be interested in joining own volition. Since the Second World War, notable members have or finding out more should look at www.ugle.co.uk or been Jimmy West and Charles Lepper, who both taught at the www.londonmasons.org.uk, or contact the Lodge Secretary, Chris Schools. Also the Rev. Preb. Leighton Thomson, who rowed in the Williams, on 07956 964937 or [email protected] Boat Race in 1940.” Chris Williams (R 1978-83) “What are the basic principles of Freemasonry?” Lodge Secretary “Brotherly love, being Friendship, Relief being Charity, and Truth being an Upright way of Life. The main Masonic Charities give

OS Y ACHT C LUB

A blustery weekend in October saw the OS Yacht Club once again The Yacht Club welcomes Salopian sailors of all ages and competing in the annual Arrow Trophy Boarding Schools Regatta at abilities. The Secretary ([email protected]) can Cowes – one of only two schools to enter two crews. We were provide more details. We are especially keen to hear from younger especially pleased to have a number of recent leavers joining other members, as well as from Salopian yacht owners who might be more experienced crew members for an enjoyable, and at times able to offer crew places for cruising or racing. exciting, programme both on and off the water. Taking over the David Richards yachts on Friday evening in the rain looked inauspicious, but the rain eased for the dinner cruise to Cowes and spirits were soon lifted by an on-board lasagne and an accompanying glass or two. A helpful tide saw both crews making the customary landfall in the Pier View pub in good time. Saturday dawned gusty but sunny, leading to a couple of brisk races in the morning with a few challenging spinnaker-handling moments. A dying wind in the afternoon slowed the pace of racing but left our crews with plenty of energy to face the rigours of an enjoyable dinner in the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club. Sunday’s weather was less fair – a decent wind making for exciting sailing but the accompanying rain was much less fun. Despite this, and some unspectacular results in this year’s racing, both crews enjoyed a thoroughly good weekend and have committed enthusiastically to returning next White Crew relaxing after a hard day's racing year.

53 Old salopian News

N EWS OF O LD S ALOPIANS

1950-79 Stuart Bradley (SH 1985-90) writes: After a career in private equity Nicholas Barber (SH 1954-58) has become Chairman of in Africa with CDC Group PLC, I founded the Phatisa Group which a young charity, Classics for All, which aims to encourage state is an African private equity fund management company (Phatisa is schools to reintroduce classical subjects. He writes: “It is proving to a Xhosa word meaning helping hand). We have successfully raised be highly successful(nothing dead about Latin!) and I’m keen to US$243 million for the African Agriculture Fund, which is making hear from a) anyone who thinks this a good cause and would like to investments across the food value chain to improve food security in donate, and b) anyone involved in state education who might Africa. We have also first closed the Pan African Housing Fund at be interested in applying for one of our launchaid grants.” See US$41.5 million which is focused on providing affordable housing in www.classicsforall.org.uk. Africa. I have recently been appointed to the Board of the South African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association. I am living in Richard Frewer (M 1955-60) returned to the School on 12th South Africa, married to Helen and have two boys, Greg and Matt. September to give a wonderful performance of Brahms’ cycle of fifteen songs, the Magelone Lieder, with Andrew Bannerman Rupert Ellwood (O 1986-91) has been appointed Marketing (narrator) and Director of Music John Moore (piano). “Throughout, Director of Waitrose. the recital showed the scope and flexibility of Frewer’s tenor voice and the ease with which he adapts its timbre to reflect the mood of Oli Mott (Rb 1988-03), former Huntsman, won the inaugural his subjects.” Shrewsbury Marathon on Sunday 21st June. His wife, Hilary, won the women’s Half Marathon. Robert Mather (M 1957-61) is a director of a small development company, Power Textiles Limited, which he founded with his colleague, John Wilson. The company’s goal is to develop and innovate the direct incorporation of solar cells onto textile fabrics. Robert and his colleagues have already established that there are a host of potential applications for this concept: disaster/humanitarian relief, awnings and canopies, polytunnels, military/defence and many more. Robert says that people have suggested some really intriguing uses for the solar fabric, and that it is certainly a privilege to be involved in such stimulating work. More information is available on: www.powertextiles.com

Johnny Moulsdale (Ch 1969-74) attended the World Masters Games in Turin in August. This is a multi-sport event held every four years at different locations around the world and is modelled on the Olympics, but for the older generation. He writes: “I competed in the rowing events in three categories. Racing as GBR, we won the David Cooper (PH 1989-94) is Head of ICT at the Two Boats gold medal in the D8s (average age 50) as we had done at Henley School, Ascension Island, South Atlantic. David and his family Masters. This was after a fierce tussle with the Russians. On the moved to the island on a two-year contract teaching primary and other days we teamed up with some US ex-internationals and won senior school students at the school, whilst looking after the school a bronze medal in the E8s (average age 55), succumbing to the network and computers. Russians this time as well as the Italians, and a silver medal in the G4- (coxless four for average age 65) just being pipped on the line 1990-99 by the Germans. Julian Barratt (G 1992-97) came back to the Grove in September to talk to the current Upper Sixth (the last boys in the House) about William Longrigg (Ch 1974-79) of Charles Russell solicitors has university and preparing for the world of work beyond. Appropriately been named International Lawyer of the Year in the prestigious perhaps for the MD of SNG Barratt Group (Jaguar), Julian arrived in Family Law Awards 2013. He is President Elect of the style in a 1965 E-type. International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, the son and grandson of former members of Churchill's Hall and uncle of two boys currently in the house. 1980-89 Jonathan Holland (O 1983-88) trained as an architect at the Prince of Wales’ Institute of Architecture. He and his wife Jane Hackett now run Hackett Holland, an architecture and design practice based in Notting Hill, London and known in particular for their expertise in updating period houses sympathetically and Julian Barratt (left) with imaginatively. They were the subject of a feature article in the June Grove Head of House Jack Hodges 2013 edition of House and Garden Magazine.

54 Old salopian News

Ben Champkin (R 1992-97) and Linley Portsmouth cycled from generosity means a huge amount to us.” Land’s End to John O’Groats in July, raising £8,000 for a new astro- To follow their progress and to make a donation, please visit turf pitch for Elstree Prep School in Berkshire and PALS, a local www.rowing4research.com charity which helps provide activities for disabled children. “Despite some tough cycling and a few aches and pains, we Edward Hawley-Jones (G 2002 -07) graduated with a first in completed the challenge successfully in 13 days, cycling 80-100 Pharmacy from Sunderland University and is now working at miles a day. Along the way, there were some amazing views riding Pembury hospital in Tunbridge Wells. over Dartmoor, through the Lake District, Loch Lomond National Park and Glen Coe. We could not resist a slight detour through Henry Southern (G 2003-08) writes: I have recently moved to Shrewsbury to ride through the School Site and take some pictures Hong Kong to work for an arts organisation in Kwun Tong and I as well as revisit some very fond memories. The weather was very would love to meet other Old Salopians from the area. Since I left kind except for day 1 through Cornwall when it rained all day and school I went to Shrewsbury International School in Bangkok as a we encountered a few other bike-related difficulties! We enjoyed the Gap Student in 2009 before going on to study music at King’s challenge thoroughly and have definitely caught the cycling bug!” College London. After graduating I worked for a prominent artist management company in London before taking up my new position in Hong Kong. I can be contacted via email on: [email protected].

Richard Hawley-Jones (G 2005-10) is studying medicine at Manchester University but took an intercalated degree this year in Physiology and Pharmacology, graduating with a first. He resumed his medical studies in September.

Philipp Legner (O 2007-09) writes: At school, mathematics often seems boring, dry and not useful in life. Having encountered this Rupert Connor (S 1992-97) and his wife Eileen are delighted to prejudice many times while at university, I decided to create a announce the birth of their first child Bryce Indiana Lee (Indie), born website to present mathematics in a new, colourful and engaging on 9th April, 2013. light. Mathigon.org consists of interactive eBooks, videos, animations, games and apps, and is one of three finalists in the Erol Munir (Sh 1996-2000) graduated with a Master’s from education category of the 2013 “Lovie Awards”, the highest Georgetown University and started a new assignment at the European internet award presented annually by the International Pentagon as the Executive Assistant for the Foreign Policy Advisor Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences. to GEN Dempsey (the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs). Tom McAlpine (Rt 2004-09), Michael Houston (R 2004-09), William Hepworth (R 1995-2000) announces his engagement to Edmund Magnus (Rt 2004-09) and friend Woody Dewar have Marie Spencer. Their marriage will take place in June 2014. become the youngest people ever to kayak the gruelling 800 miles from Grenada to Puerto Rico. They raised more than £53,000 for Dan Howie (Ch 1998-03) and his friend Will North is currently the Centre for Children’s Rare Disease Research and cancer taking part in the Talisker Challenge, rowing across the Atlantic. He charity, the Lyla Nsouli Foundation. sent the following message to the Salopian Club just before setting off: “From us both, a quick message to say thank you very much for Oliver Webb (S 2004-09) concluded the 2013 World Series by all of your support over the past two years. At 1pm on Wednesday Renault FR3.5 championship with a double points finish at the 4th December, the 3,000 mile race to Antigua will start and we will Circuit de Catalunya in Spain. Two tenth place finishes, despite begin the next phase of this challenge. To date, we have raised tricky conditions, also secured P15 in the driver’s championship £85,000 in order to take part in this adventure through corporate standings. He was due to return to the track in the cockpit of the sponsorship, plus we have raised an additional £90,000 for our Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 of Fortec Motorsport for the Baku three charities.” City Challenge in Azerbaijan, taking place 22nd – 24th November. Their website www.AtlanticRow2013.com will be kept up to date He will also continue his development work with British sportscar with photos and news from life on board. It also includes links for maker, BAC over the winter months. making donations and sending them messages of support. 2000-13 Harry Martin-Dreyer and Alex Bland (both Rt 2000-05) set off on 13th December to row the 3,000 miles across the Atlantic. They expect to be at sea for three months. After a long delay in starting their epic voyage because of bad weather conditions, they sent the following message to the Salopian Club: “This message is really to say a big thank you! Without your help and support we would not be here waiting to leave and begin the journey (although it feels getting here was a journey itself), and we would not have raised £126,000 for our two charities, JDRF and Cure Leukaemia. Your

55 Old salopian News

David Shipton (PH 2005-10) writes: I was surprised and delighted to receive a ‘starred’ First for my History degree at Magdalene College, Cambridge. I am told that I finished second in the year out of 206 students, which was especially gratifying. I’m extremely grateful for the contribution made by my teachers at Shrewsbury (including Mr Hudson) towards this achievement. After an internship earlier in the summer, I was offered a training contract at the American corporate law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges, which I will be joining in 2015 after completing my law conversion course.

Tom Marshall (SH 2007-12) has continued his medal haul at World level with a silver medal in the lightweight coxless 4 category in Linz, Austria in July. Last August, having just left Shrewsbury, Tom competed in the World Rowing Championships in Bulgaria, in which he stroked the GB Junior eight to a bronze medal in the Final.

Ride London 100 On 4th August the Mayor of London and Prudential sponsored an inaugural bicycle ride that followed last year’s Olympic route from the Queen Elizabeth Stadium through London, Kingston and the Surrey Hills and back to finish on the Mall – a course of 102 miles which had to be completed inside nine hours. It was televised around the country. Some 20,000 cyclists took part – including me! Many of them would think nothing of riding 100 miles in one day. I am not among their number. Every rider had to indicate how long they expected to take so that the starting times could be staggered according to people’s abilities, and I indicated that I expected to take 8 hours and 59 minutes. Like the Duke of Plaza Toro, I expected to lead the regiment very much from behind. The toughest points were the steepest part of the straight I had waited until I was 71 before attempting the greatest single ascent up Leith Hill (the highest point in Surrey), for some of which I physical exertion of my life, but it was for a very good cause, namely was obliged to walk; the famous summit of Box Hill; and, after 90 a charity in which I have been much involved called HFT, (formerly miles of riding, a devilish climb up to Wimbledon Village. For all this, known as the Home Farm Trust) that today supports some 3,000 the months of training paid off royally. The best sights were from the people all over the country with severe learning disabilities (Down’s top of Box Hill, knowing that the last really major climb was behind Syndrome, autism, profound and multiple disabilities etc). me, and of course riding up Whitehall at the end with huge crowds Well, I made it! I’m really not quite sure how, and there were of people cheering and waving banners, with Admiralty Arch and the moments on the hills when (like many of my supporters) I doubted finish finally coming into sight. my sanity in even trying. But I thought “if Boris can do it, so can I” – At the finish one of our team had provided a crate of beer in Green and actually I finished in a better time than I’d expected. Park, and there the HFT team was reunited: pretty tired, somewhat The 102 miles from the Olympic Park round the Surrey Hills to sore, happy to have completed the course with medals to prove it – finish on the Mall took me 7.5 hours to accomplish (against the 9 and full of beer. allotted), and fortunately I had no punctures (many did), no My ride raised somewhere around £8,000 for the charity, and I accidents (there were several along the way) and throughout the day was only too happy to have “kept right on to the end of the road”. As the weather was perfect for such an event. The crowds supported us I promised everyone at the outset, this will definitely have been my vociferously all along the route, the organisation to marshal so many ‘Last Hurrah’. As a friend has written to me: “now you can hang up people from the starting point and throughout the day was all this extreme sports gear and just be an ordinary granddad like the impeccable, and 20,000 cyclists created an atmosphere that carried rest of us!” To which I can only reply “Hear! Hear!“ everyone along. . Richard Barber (SH 1955-60)

Tempora mutantur …

The Bicycle Race: John K. Nixon (SH 1950-55) each surname was called the corresponding student would answer In 1950, when I arrived at Shrewsbury aged thirteen, tradition, “Sir”. Any no-shows were noted and the absentee subsequently reinforced with an archaic hierarchical system of discipline, summoned by the House Monitor to explain his absence. Lack of a permeated the culture of Shrewsbury School. The daily routine in valid excuse invited punishment. each House was punctuated by three roll calls: one before Offenders were typically given 25 or 50 lines of dreary poetry by breakfast, one at 4.00 p.m. and one at 9.00 p.m. before retiring for Pope or Dryden to copy out long hand as punishment. Castigation the night. At each roll call an alphabetical list of the boys in the for repeat offenders would be 4 strokes of a bamboo cane wielded House would be read aloud at high speed by a House Monitor. As by a House Monitor before bedtime. In addition there were myriad

56 Old salopian News other rules and privileges, the breaking of which would invoke House record. His reputation was immortalised in the now similar punishments. Many of these were founded on tradition, the legendary Indoor Bicycle Race. The chosen track was a narrow purpose for which had long since been forgotten. For example, a ground floor corridor some 100 feet long with a smooth cement particular small patch of grass could only be traversed by someone floor and a sharp jog at about the mid-point. At a given signal my holding three house colours for various sports. Offenders would be brother and a competitor started on bikes at one end in a race to prosecuted in the usual way. Offences such as smoking on school the far end of the corridor. My brother was the second to arrive at property or engaging in conversation or other pastimes with the dreaded jog, and, in negotiating the chicane, slid his bike unrelated members of the fairer sex, on or off the school grounds, sideways, and almost bowled over Mr Chenevix Trench, the while in school uniform would typically result in a summons to Housemaster, who was approaching in the opposite direction. The appear before the School Praepostors and could lead to expulsion. fact that the latter was showing the parents of a prospective new In spite of all this, occasional deliberate challenges to authority boy around the premises sealed my brother’s fate. He received six surfaced among the lower echelons. A case in point was my of the best at the hands of various House Monitors, which younger brother Irving who, in his penultimate year, decided to test guaranteed him immortality in the annals of School House! This the limits of the system. He claims to have amassed a total of 20 nineteenth century procedure was known as “Headrooming”, and strokes of the cane in a one-week period, which broke the previous was probably the last one to be administered in the House.

P UBLICATIONS

Robin Brooke-Smith surrounded by a culture of madrassas and rising extremism”: this Storm Warning was no mean task in the culture of Islamist parties and religious I. B. Tauris, extremism. The Radcliffe Press Edwardes College had 1,600 students, all of whom were over 16, (ISBN 978-1-78076-406-5) and 600 were over 18 doing degree level studies, 200 were boarders. One of Robin’s most audacious initiatives in a culture of Robin Brooke-Smith’s book Islamist extremism was the introduction of girls – “an exquisite Storm Warning is an counterpoint to the Taliban’s imposition of terrible sanctions against astonishing story that women in Afghanistan”. This, of course, did nothing to reconcile the transports the reader from the Islamists to the College. The original cohort consisted of 25 girls; tranquillity of Shrewsbury since then it has grown to over 200. The girls have taken full School into the Al Qaeda advantage of their academic opportunities, and have consistently badlands and Taliban bandit out-performed the boys. country. The book begins and Robin confronted a series of tricky problems at the College. Most ends on the school bank with dramatic and intractable were tensions in the Board of Governors its fine chestnut tree and the between the Bishop (Vice-chair) who wished to reassert the view over the river and the Church’s full control over the College and the Governor (Chair) who town. Although the focus is on his experiences as the Principal of saw things differently. The Chairman of the Old Boys’ Association Edwardes College, Peshawar, in the North West of Pakistan, could be a prickly defender of the Islamist position. An influential between 1995 and 2000, it soon becomes clear that he has stepped member of staff manoeuvred to try to impose his own agenda upon into a much larger and more disturbing story. A bubbling melting pot the new Principal. Improper influence was repeatedly exerted in an of growing extremism is described from the very ‘cockpit of global attempt to gain places at the College, and Robin’s refusal to jihad’. It is an outstanding insight into the frontier states of Pakistan. concede to this pressure resulted in a series of legal cases. More than that, it is a wonderfully enjoyable read. It depicts real people, going about their everyday lives interwoven with events that would literally change the world. Throughout there is a delicate tracery of the great ‘peepul trees’ at the college, symbolic of knowledge and enlightenment. As a schoolboy at Shrewsbury in the 1960s (S 1961-66), Robin used to spend holidays at Lawrence College in Pakistan where his step-father, Michael Charlesworth, was Headmaster. Now in 1995, after nearly ten years on the staff of the School, Robin was looking for a new challenge – and he certainly found one. Edwardes College was founded in 1900 on the initiative of the Church Missionary Society and became one of the most prestigious educational institutions in the country. His tenure as Principal coincided with the rise of the Taliban and the increasing menace of violence and terrorism in one of the most dangerous and volatile regions of the world. All this was played out against the background of the ambiguous role of the Pakistan army in the aftermath of Then there were the particular problems resulting from the running General Musharaf’s military coup. of a Christian College populated by Muslim pupils. Robin remarks Robin saw his task as maintaining “a liberal, open educational that it was “a place of uneasy inter-faith harmony… an oasis of institution, teaching the arts of critical thought and sound learning, tolerance… the still eye of the storm in a bustling city”. The School

57 Old salopian News motto, ‘Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam’ was acceptable to both Christian Pakistan produced a third call from the General himself to the and Muslim. Muslim members of staff would happily participate in a Principal, assuring him that steps would be taken to ensure that the Christmas party, one Muslim colleague suggested that they should Centenary Celebration passed without incident. This last phone call pray for the recovery of a member of the Principal’s family in the little was followed up within hours by the arrival of a Brigadier and Christian chapel; it was possible to have honest discussions with subsequently of a secret agent. students about philosophy and religion and it was a place where, in The great day came. Under conditions of the tightest security, so the words of the founding Principal, “we try to learn the secret of all-embracing that the catering van was at first refused admission, fellowship and peace”. the dignitaries arrived, the Band of the Irish Guards marched, sword There were striking differences in the social and cultural dancers performed, hundreds dined and celebrated, a new environment: in the strict regulations for the clothing and conduct of Centenary Building was opened, the stupendous fireworks nearly women; in the daily calls of the muezzin to prayer: in the tightened sparked off a fire of their own. Later an alcoholic Irish-Australian security which heralded the arrival of the Governor of the Province to entrepreneur who had provided the pyrotechnic display, a man who chair a Board meeting; in the presence of the doctor who tasted his had extensive and reliable, if unspecified sources of his own, food to ensure that it was not poisoned; in the sudden request of confided to Robin that the night before the Centenary three men one of the Provincial Governors, a Muslim and therefore a strict armed with bombs, timers and detonators had been arrested, as monotheist, that the Principal should explain to him the role of the they tried to enter the College grounds. Holy Spirit in the Christian Trinity; in the polo-playing student who, Robin first returned to the United Kingdom and then became having saluted the Principal from horseback, returned almost Principal of the University of Toronto Schools in Canada. Here he immediately, having been admonished by his instructor that it was learned that the ISI and the machinations and plots with which he discourteous to do so without dismounting. All experiences way had been surrounded in Peshawar had strange connections to the beyond the ken of a Headmaster in the United Kingdom. attack on the Twin Towers in New York. By an exquisite irony the There are delightful accounts of the gratitude and intellectual General who had protected him, an officer “emblematic of the curiosity of students; of the loyalty of the domestic servants; of Pakistan military’s ambiguous stance”, now found himself caught in convivial social occasions such as ‘the Golden Night’, kite-flying the complex web of the vacillating relationship between Pakistan and competitions, an overnight expedition to a mountain top to celebrate the USA and was dismissed. Meanwhile Robin’s successor as St Valentine’s Day with a black-tie dinner and silver on the table. The Principal at Edwardes College encountered all the problems with greatest celebration of all, the College Centenary in 2000, became which Robin had earlier been confronted, but now in a context of the focus of a dangerous conspiracy, based partly on a contrived ever-increasing terrorist threat. and entirely fictitious claim of financial irregularity, which was In one sense, this is a book of Two Trees, symbols of life, stability specifically designed to wreck it. and growth, of knowledge and enlightenment: the chestnut tree on At this point the book adopts the pace and character of a thriller. the School Bank at Shrewsbury, which represented the quiet, Provincial Governor succeeded Provincial Governor in quick traditional life to which Robin had been accustomed and a school succession: several other changes were also made in the which to him was ‘a place of belonging’: and the peepul trees in membership of the School’s governing Board; one of Robin’s Peshawar, which framed the interlude of adventure and danger into influential friends was arrested. Meanwhile, Robin, unsettled by these which he was plunged. Robin skilfully blends his personal story with developments, struggled to identify the nature and extent of the valuable and topical assessments of the wider political and religious conspiracy and how to counter it. The solution was a high-ranking context, lively character sketches, evocative description and General, who was Director of the Pakistan military intelligence philosophical reflection. The book recounts a highly courageous, service, the ISI, who had been a pupil when Robin’s stepfather had hazardous and successful enterprise and provides a thoroughly been Headmaster of Lawrence College in the 1960s. A phone call to good read. I warmly recommend it. Michael Charlesworth in Shrewsbury followed by a return call to David Gee

Dare Wilson (JHT 1933-38) led. Beginning with an Arcadian boyhood in County Durham, he The General’s Game Book describes the wonderful sense of liberty and space in which children The Sporting Life of a Military Gentleman were not only permitted but positively encouraged to explore Pen and Sword ISBN 1-78303005-4 woodlands and remote areas and, after careful nurturing and tutoring, to shoot, to fish, to hunt. Hunting began for the author aged It was as a young schoolboy that the author of this delightful book six; fishing aged seven and for his eighth birthday he was given a gained his “ first red-letter day on a grouse moor”. In the gentle, .410 shotgun. modest way so characteristic of his narrative style he recalls how But this is more than a catalogue of field sports. It incorporates “when the beaters were still about half a mile from me I spotted two a travelogue packed with information on places and situations black dots in the sky…I recognised them as blackcock … they linked by the author’s military service in North West Europe, Italy, maintained their course, following the stream and offering me the Palestine and Aden, Korea and Kenya, offering an insight into chance of a right and left. To my gratification the two birds fell dead some of the most notorious trouble spots of the 20th century. behind me and an unaccustomed ripple of applause reached me And yet the extraordinary thing is that wherever he went and from the butts above”. Unsurprisingly the memory of that brace of whatever the circumstances he managed to find some sport. ‘black’ has remained for 80 years. Nor is it likely to be forgotten by Sand Grouse and Quail in Palestine, Pheasants in Korea, anyone who reads this book, for Dare Wilson shares recollections of Crocodiles in Egypt, Turkey Hunting and Snake Catching in excitement and pleasure with the easy manner of the born story teller. Georgia, Grouse shooting in Scotland while preparing for D Day, This book does what it says on the cover. The Sporting Life of a Turkey hunting in North America. The list is seemingly endless Military Gentleman. And what an extraordinary life the General has and always entertaining.

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There are many passages of shared excitement and tension but Malcolm Hamer (DB 1954-58) none more so than the account of a wildfowl expedition on the Wash Patriotic Games with two Cambridge undergraduate friends in 1938. It is a brilliantly Acorn Independent Press ISBN 978-1-909121-18-8 told story where the bitter cold, the racing tide and the mounting danger are conveyed vividly and alarmingly. And like all good stories This is Malcolm Hamer’s seventh novel. He writes: “In the early years there is a hint of some ghostly intervention summed up in the last of the 20th century the famous amateur club, the Corinthians, sentence of the chapter: “even after all this time I cannot provide any travelled the world to share their vision of football and how it should rational explanation for that oarless rowing boat, appearing in the dark be played. A photograph of the players who toured Canada and from the North Sea at the very moment it was needed.” the USA in 1906 hangs on a wall in my house (and is incorporated If anyone’s name is eponymous then surely Dare Wilson’s is. into the front cover of my novel). I was aware that the British Some of the sporting incidents he describes require courage as well Government in 1914 used sport and especially football to recruit fit as skill, though that is never emphasised. So, too, do the other young men for the army, and I began to wonder how many of those activities he describes: six mile high free fall parachuting at which the Corinthians perished in World War I. team he was leading set up a world record; and the Cresta Run in This provided a framework for ‘Patriotic Games’. Then I added the which he took part for the last time aged 77. Both activities are other constituents: a German spy ring which is being penetrated by explained and then described with real pace and immediacy. a Corinthian footballer; two matches between the Corinthians and An entertaining book which should appeal to a wider audience Blackburn Rovers, the League Champions; the machinations of the than the title suggests. Ultimately the real joy lies in being in the politicians; a betting scam orchestrated by the fraudster, Horatio company of a thoughtful, courteous, wise gentleman with a good Bottomley; finally a good dollop of blackmail, and plenty of violence tale to tell. including a few murders. Now I had a plot – and all I had to do was Richard Field the writing.”

Rob Lilwall (SH 1990-95) Richard Boult (SSS & WEM 1945-50) Walking Home from Mongolia The Flying Years Hodder & Stoughton ISBN-13: 978-1444745283 Merlin Massara Publishing ISBN 0-9543900-0-8

Unsupported and pulling a 100-kilogram trailer, adventurer Rob Having been a member of the Air Training Corps at Shrewsbury, Lilwalland cameraman Leon McCarron embarked on an Richard Boult subsequently attended the RAF College Cranwell and extraordinary journey: walking the length of China. Starting in the began his service career. His active flying years occupied the tense Gobi Desert in winter, the six-month, 3,000-mile journey brought period of the Cold War. His book gives a detailed account of what them face to face with desolate stretches of the Great Wall, post-war RAF training and service was really like, including life as a treacherous scree slopes above the frozen Yellow River, and the test pilot at Boscombe Down during the development of the English toxic insides of China’s longest road tunnel. Electric Lightning. Along the way they encountered -30C blizzards and interrogations by the Chinese police, as well as the exuberant hospitality of desert nomads, cave dwellers and villagers. Their destination was Hong Richard Boult (SSS & WEM 1945-50) Kong - Rob’s home. By the time they reached the famous The Craft of Leadership international city, they had experienced a unique insight into China’s Wizard Publishing ISBN 978-0-9550210-7-7 rugged, rarely seen interior - at ground level. The expedition was made into a television series by National Richard Boult became interested in leadership development as a Geographic. member of staff at the Officer Cadet Training Unit at RAF Henlow. After leaving the RAF, he joined the Industrial Society and for the next 18 years conducted leadership training for a wide variety of firms in Vaughan Evans (Rt 1965-69) industry, commerce and the voluntary sector, as well as schools and Financial Times Essential Guide to Developing a universities. The Craft of Leadership is a guide to the actions that Business Strategy: How to use strategic planning to start can be taken by anyone who leads a team and is charged with up or grow your business getting results within an organisation. From the Foreword by Anthony Millard: “After two headships, a FT Publishing International ISBN-13: 978-1292002613 managing-directorship of an international education business, and having now established my own company I am still indebted to A companion volume to the Financial Times Essential Guide to Richard for fixing in my mind the importance of Task, Team and Writing a Business Plan. Individual… His message is even more relevant in today’s Jules Goddard, Fellow, London Business School writes: “This is challenging world of economic and political change. Whether you the most succinct and most practical handbook on business are in Tripoli or Tottenham, Kabul or Kidderminster, ‘The Craft of strategy on the market. In just a couple of hundred well-written Leadership’ has something for you. Its message is as fresh and pages, it synthesizes the most important ideas in the field. What sets relevant as it was when I first sat at Richard’s feet, something I have it apart – and brings it to life – is that every concept that is introduced never regretted.” is immediately illustrated in practice through the use of a real-life case study.”

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town shopping centre to the United reputation for giving high quality OBITUARY Kingdom let alone just to Northern Ireland. commercial advice which their clients could Although the store itself closed in 1997, the understand. site continues to be a major shopping Alan was described by a colleague as Lt Col K St B Adams Rt (1935-40) centre in South Belfast. “someone who led from the front; he Mr N R Ainscow SH (1941-46) Colin’s years of management of a city recruited good young lawyers and allowed Mr C A J Anderson S (1942-46) centre department store in Belfast them to express their views; I cannot Mr A I Bottomley SH (1945-49) throughout the troubled period was a remember a really important decision which Dr M B Bown SH (1946-51) challenging experience, but he continued he got wrong; we were happy to follow his Mr W R Briggs Ch (1944-49 to be active in retailing at local, national and leadership because nine times out of ten Cdr S F W Brown OBE R (1939-40) UK level, being a member of Industrial he was correct.” Dr D L Campbell TD DB (1966-68) Development, Tourist and Enterprise Alan’s main interest outside the law was Mr C R Cowpe SH (1964-68) Development Boards, of the Independent music. In 1962 he set up the Frederick Mr J B C Darroch M (1941-44) Stores Association, and on the Council of Delius Centenary Festival in Bradford; he Mr J M Edwards I (1948-53) the Association of Retail Distributors and subsequently was a joint-founder of the Lt Col B R Fairclough SH (1934-38) the British Retailers Association in London. Harrogate International Music Festival – just Sir J W A Harris, Bt Ch (1920-24) In 1978 Colin was awarded the OBE for celebrating its 50th birthday. He was also Mr S K Jones M (1964-69) services to retailing; in 1984 he was involved in the Leeds Playhouse, the Leeds Mr T Kidson (Former staff) (1988-2004) appointed Deputy Lieutenant for Belfast, International Piano Competition and the Mjr A F Kingsford JHT (1934-39) and Vice Lord Lieutenant in 1995. Arts Council. He was an enthusiastic Mr J B McFarland Rt (1944-48) His sons Peter (1967-72) and Tim (1973- member of the Territorial Army, joining in Mr L E Nolan DB (1935-39) 77) both followed him into Severn Hill, as 1952 and ending as Major in charge of the Mr H D Phillips SH (1984-89) did his nephews Jack (1971-75) and Tom Ilkley Battery. Mr C T Rankin M (1955-60) (1975-80). Alan was universally liked for being Dr C C N Roberts S (1954-49) modest, kind and a gentleman. Once Mr D H E Rope DB (1938-42) A. I. Bottomley (SH 1945-49) interviewed by the Yorkshire Post and The Ven. A M P Smith R (1941-43) Alan Bottomley was born in Ilkley in 1932 to asked what he would like as an epitaph, he Dr J S Smith DB (1950-54) a Bradford legal family whose firm, Gaunt, was quoted as saying, “Laid back, as in Mr A M Urquhart R (1928-33) Fosters and Bottomley, had been practising life”. His wife Sue pre-deceased him; his Mr I A Walker Rt (1942-45) for two generations. After Gyhill Royd son Simon was in SH (1975-80); he will be Mr I W Welsh Ch (1946-51) School in Ilkley, he followed his father into much missed by his family and the very Mr S P Zeiher S (1978-82) School House at the beginning of a school many friends who “remember this ‘laid- career that did not see the usual evidence back’, kind and brilliant man with affection C. A. J. Anderson OBE (JHT and of sporting or academic brilliance, but and gratitude”. S 1942-46) clearly laid two important foundations. Alan With acknowledgement to the Harrogate Born in 1927, started in a low form but to his great credit Telegraph Colin Anderson worked his way into the Sixth Form – “a was the first of a notable achievement of which he can be Dr M. B. Bown (SH 1946-51) strong very proud” as his housemaster reported. Mark Bevil Bown contingent of The other foundation was a deep love and MRCP was born Salopian appreciation of music that was to play a at Bexhill in Northern Irish very important part in his life. 1932, the fourth Andersons. After After school, Alan embarked on National child of Dorothy education at Service with the Royal Artillery and then Ethel (Watson) Brackenber entered the family practice. In 1976 the firm Bown and Arthur House School merged with Bradford solicitors AV Mervyn Bown and Campbell College, Belfast, he entered Hammond which then became Hammond MC. He was a Shrewsbury, leaving as a Praeposter and Suddards and then Squire Saunders. From Shropshire Lad an involved member of the House in many one office in Bradford with 56 staff, when both at school areas. He joined a firm of Belfast Alan retired as senior partner in 1996 the and at home, living with his parents at Accountants and four years later started practice had a staff of 1500 with offices in Woolstaston, 14 miles south of the town. work in the family city centre department Leeds, Manchester, London and Brussels. From Shrewsbury he gained the top store, Anderson and McAuley Limited, with He also oversaw a huge cultural change, science scholarship to Trinity College, whom he worked until its closure in 1994, from being a well-regarded local jack-of-all Oxford. He graduated in medicine from the including twenty years as Chairman. trades firm to being one of the top Radcliffe Infirmary in 1957, spent three With his brother Allen (S 1944-48) Colin commercial lawyers in the UK, primarily years in the USA and was a Fellow of was part of the change in retailing in the with public company clients. In the late Medicine at the Lahey Clinic in Boston. 1960s and 70s which saw the growth of 1970s, Alan began to focus on Yorkshire He came back to England for a short out-of-town shopping centres. The companies who had their decision-makers stint as Registrar and Locum Consultant in department store was in the forefront of city in Yorkshire but who used London lawyers chest diseases at Edgeware and as centre retailing; and the company opened as a matter of habit. He managed to attract Medical Registrar at the Canadian Red Supermac in 1964 – bringing the out-of- over 30 such companies and had a Cross Hospital at Taplow, Berkshire. He

60 Old salopian News then returned to the USA as Chief Resident College Dartmouth. A year later he was a Young (S 1964-68), apparently intended to at Tampa General Hospital in Florida, Sub-Lieutenant on active service on the rebuild the School's reputation at the followed by three years as Chest Specialist North Atlantic convoys aboard HMS College) he continued a life of total activity to the Government of the Bahamas. He Sheffield and HMS King George V, which in sport and in the social life of the College spent the remainder of his working life in were involved in the sinking of the Bismark and University, whilst proving to be a very the Lowell area of Massachussetts, first and the Scharnhorst. In 1944 whilst in port good historian. Very much a team player, with a medical firm in Chelmsford and then in Boston he met Margaret, a WREN living there was always a sense of camaraderie in Tyngsborough, where he ran his own and working in Washington; they were around him and his cries of welcome 'mon practice for 30 years. engaged within a month and married a brave' and 'mon capitaine' became part of He ran the Tuberculosis programme in year later in Buxton. Oxford social life. Lowell, headed the Respiratory Department After the War, Stephen continued in Leaving Oxford he entered the in Lowell General Hospital and worked at active service, a career that meant much advertising industry, joining Boase Massimi the Lowell Health Department. He was a time away from his growing family – soon Pollitt. Normally those starting life in school doctor and served on a School to number four sons, Michael, Rupert, Nick advertising moved around companies. Committee. and Simon. They were all able to join him Chris stayed with BMP for a third of a Mark Bevil Bown was known to his for postings in Malta and Aden, but century and its growth and various contemporaries as Bev. His time at eventually he was able to request shore- iterations in both name and nature – from Shrewsbury will be as well remembered as based postings because of his severe BMP to BMP, DDB to DDB London – and that of his contemporaries who may have suffering from sea-sickness! For many his own career, from planner to new become Praeposters or distinguished years their home base became Tonbridge, business leader to MD to joint CEO, were themselves on the sports field. The impact where his sons were educated. totally intertwined. In those 30 years the of his life cannot fully be described by the Stephen was awarded the OBE in 1964; company grew from 40 to 300 employees facts of his career, successful as it was. His with the rank of Commander he retired from and was UK Agency of the Year four or five unconventional character was typified by the Navy in 1975 and he and Margaret lived times. Not only was he an innovator and a the way in which, in these days of imposed in Cornwall where, for a short time, he man of ideas, he was also a genius at standards and regulation, he dispensed his worked for the Diocese of Truro. But motivating a team and his sustaining all-out own “Bown’s Mixture” from his surgery and Cornwall was a long way from their family commitment, regardless of obstacles, everybody swore by it. He mingled with and so they moved to live in Somerset, made him an outstanding new business high and low and made people laugh. then later to Canterbury and finally in 2005 winner, bringing major clients including Many who came to his funeral ceremonies to Wilmslow. British Gas, Barclaycard and Vodaphone in the little town of Tyngsborough After spending so much time away into the agency. His colleague and co-CEO Massachussetts went out of their way to during his life in the Navy, in retirement Ross Barr writes: “And above all, he made express gratitude and admiration for his Stephen was able to devote himself to the agency a fun and interesting place to skill, compassion and dedication. Margaret and in the last 30 or so years of work. He was nothing like the stereotypical He had moved from the classical side to their life they were inseparable, enjoying adman; he was nothing like the science in his second year, but was good many happy holidays in the Lubéron in stereotypical anything. He was Chris, and with languages and kept his Latin to the France and in their beloved Cornwall. he was always true to his own values and end. With the papers handed out at his Before ill-heath finally afflicted Margaret, what he held to be important. He was funeral, including his self-written obituary they were able to celebrate the major event interesting and quirky and fun. He had his from which much of this is taken, he asked of their lives – their Diamond Wedding in own ways of doing things. He was a much that his portrait should be shown above the 2006. Infirmity finally forced Stephen to loved and respected character.” sentence that old members of School move into a nursing home in Alderley Edge On leaving DDB in 2007 he was a House will remember as being inscribed in and he died a year after his beloved founder in the aptly named Caffeine Hall above the fire place: “ne sint praeteriti Margaret. Partnership consultancy – aiming to deliver praeteriuntes”. business growth for their clients. He also Indeed his memory will not easily be C. R. Cowpe (SH 1964-68) served as a non-executive director for Age allowed to pass. UK Enterprises, Arthritis Research and Bev died on 3rd September 2013, just Kitcatt Nohr. He co-authored How To Win short of his 81st birthday. He is survived by Friends And Influence Profits. Linda, his wife of 33 years, and his three Above all Chris was a caring, family man children, Sarah Louise, Ashley Mark and and was immensely proud of his four Dorian Arthur. children Katherine, Matthew, Amy and Lucy. At home he was a committed and Cdr S. F. W. Brown (R 1936-40) generous host, kind, funny and fun. He was Stephen Brown was born in Willaston, the in his element with good friends around the Wirral, and his early childhood was spent in Chris had a successful career at supper table chatting and debating late into Cheshire until his family moved to Bromley Shrewsbury, as Praeposter and in the 1st XI the night. Yet he equally enjoyed more Cross, Bolton. He entered Rigg’s in 1936 Football, Fives IV and the Athletics team, introspective activities; routinely devouring and had a very successful school career, and was clearly someone who was great tomes of history and biography, with appointed a Praeposter, playing 1st XI enormous fun to be with and who built up a an endless series of pocket notebooks into football, and gaining academic great army of friends. Moving to Queen's which interesting facts and ideas were qualifications for direct entry to Royal Naval College Oxford (with colleague Andrew entered to be savoured and explored at a

61 Old salopian News later date; and on family holidays, sitting before. They made for the coast and then indoors. He could recite Hilaire Beloc off by quietly under a tree working at his south but were unable to find a boat. When heart, with appropriate accent, addressed watercolours (he never sought praise, the French signed the armistice with the haggis each year on Burns Night, and never bothered if anyone liked them but Germany in June he decided to lead his enlivened many a mess night. He was to loved the challenge of capturing colour and men to the unoccupied zone; they the last a regular attender at the Regimental light). eventually reached the north bank of the 'October Revolution' in Warrington and the When cancer struck he summoned up Loire and were rowed across by a local Regimental Museum's Friends events in his usual self-discipline, that same man, a Monsieur Picard, who had a safe Preston. intellectual rigour and same relentless house. Here they stayed for a day or two. Robert married first Susan Galloway and energy that he employed in every part of Many years later Robert discovered that M. secondly in 1989 Penelope Seeger. Illness his life. He never complained; he focussed Picard was arrested and sent to a in his last years was met with enormous on the belief that he would beat it. His concentration camp where he died. courage and cheerfulness, supported and sense of humour never left him – and he They finally reached the unoccupied loved by his family and his very many couldn't have fought harder or more bravely zone but were misdirected back to Vichy friends. against his illness; he will be hugely missed where they were arrested, interned and by his beloved families and his great army sent to a military prison in Marseilles. The S. K. Jones (M 1964-69) of friends. story of his escape from there, hidden in Stuart Kingston Jones was born in Cardiff the lavatory of a French merchant ship to in 1951 and had a love of sport – and Lt Col B. R. Fairclough MC TD Tunis, and then travelling to Malta (carrying football in particular – which was inculcated (SH 1934-38) vital secret information from the French at an early age by his father Peter Jones, Robert underground to the British authorities) to who was the principal football commentator Fairclough was a Cairo and eventually to London, makes on BBC radio for a number of years and distinguished fascinating reading. Robert was promoted possessed one of the most instantly member of an Lieutenant on 1st January 1941 and his recognisable voices in broadcasting. old Warrington Military Cross was gazetted on 29th July Stuart not only loved his sport; he family whose 1941 on the Escape and Evasion and excelled. A very talented mid-field player name was Special Operations List “for distinguished (who modelled his game on Law, Charlton almost gallantry in the field”. & Best) he was in the 1st XI for three years synonymous He was then sent to the Orkney Islands and Captain in 1969. He was also in the with the 4th to help defend Scapa Flow from enemy Cricket XI for two years as a ‘Calypso’ No. 5 Battalion The attack, and finally seconded to the East batsman and 1st change bowler. He always South Lancashire Regiment (Prince of African Rifles in Kenya and with them he fancied himself as a cover point fielder, but Wales's Volunteers). He was born in travelled to India and was about to engage his Captain, Nick Pocock (who went on to Thelwall, the son of Major Eric Fairclough the Japanese in Burma when the War captain Hampshire) described him as “the DSO, one of three Faircloughs who had ended. most ineffective cover point of all time”. It commanded the 4th South Lancashires on After the War he was demobbed and was in Moser’s that his distinctive shoes the Western Front in the First World War, rejoined the family firm and, when it was earned him the lasting nickname “Buckles”. who was twice wounded and who died taken over by Smurfit, he was appointed Stuart won a soccer scholarship to when Robert was 16. Personnel Director, a post he held until Hotchkiss School, Connecticut in 1970 He came to School House in 1934 and retirement. He also remained active with his where he played college 1st team soccer on leaving school in 1938 he joined the regiment at Warrington, achieving the before returning to London in 1971. On his Alliance Box Company in Warrington where acting rank of Major in November 1948, full return, he followed his father’s footsteps his father had been Managing Director. In Major in 1953, Lieutenant Colonel in 1958, into the world of journalism. After a few April 1939 he volunteered for the family and ended his career with two years in years at The Field magazine, he joined The regiment. The 'phoney war' saw him being command of his regiment, being awarded Times as a soccer reporter and on the sent to various ad hoc battalions, and in the Territorial Decoration and being officially death of the legendary Geoffrey Green, May 1940 he found himself in France in allowed to use the Lieutenant Colonel title also an OS (SH 1925-29), he became The charge of his platoon, aged 19 years, cut in civilian life. Times’ Chief Soccer Correspondent. He off somewhere behind the main Force In retirement Robert moved to Cheshire later turned his talents to tennis and was which was moving towards Dunkirk. He where he enjoyed gardening and The Times’ Tennis Correspondent until was ordered to get his men 50 miles to La woodworking, principally for friends. He 1993. Haye; no transport was available. He was involved in local politics, becoming As reported in The Times: “As Football somehow had to lead his men west, Eddisbury Constituency Treasurer for the Correspondent between 1981 and 1993, travelling by night through enemy occupied Conservatives. His leisure activities in his Stuart Jones had a front-row seat at some territory with the help of local people. They younger days included climbing, fishing, of the most seismic events in the modern crossed the Seine by night by home-made beagling, shooting, stalking, and skiing – history of the game. His time in the post raft – the bridges were of course controlled indeed he much enjoyed shooting and began when English clubs still dominated by the Germans – where the youngest of skiing up to his late eighties. To this he European competition but he soon had to his platoon fell into the river and drowned. added canal boating. Reading, report on the precipitous decline that led, The memory of this never left Robert. crosswords, water colour painting, model by the middle of the decade, to the sport When they reached La Haye he found making, cooking and compiling amusing being in deep crisis with clubs banned from that the British Army had left three days odes and poems were his great loves tournaments overseas and attendances

62 Old salopian News falling to record levels. After leaving The Times, Jones did not great empathy for those who needed extra Happily Jones stayed in the job long work in newspapers again. He lived for a help and guidance. And he became totally enough to see the renaissance in football’s time in Barbados but returned to live in absorbed in school life, being particularly popularity, beginning at the 1990 World Surrey. He loved his golf and joined involved in the CCF, where he reached the Cup in Italy. When West Germany defeated Worplesdon GC, where he enjoyed the rank of Major, in the Rovers and in all England on penalties in the semi-final, the easy company of his fellow members, and outdoor activities. He took parties all over breathless action in Turin was followed by remained a keen snooker player the UK and to Norway, he ran the rifle club, around 26 million British TV viewers, and it throughout his life. He never married but he refereed football and coached cricket, was Jones to whom Times readers turned was rarely without a pretty girl on his arm. he built sets for stage productions, he was the next morning for his report on an He died peacefully at home after a year- a house tutor, he was Salopian in every evening of extraordinary drama. Describing long battle with cancer during which time way. the stage-fright that afflicted England’s he was lovingly cared for by his twin brother In 1998 his wife of 30 years, Sue, was penalty takers, Jones wrote: “Lineker, Ian Jones (M). He never believed what it diagnosed with cancer and Trevor took Beardsley and, less convincingly, Platt all said on the packets! time off to nurse her for six months. On her scored, but Pearce’s penalty cannoned off Patrick Carr (R 1966-71) and with death he returned to School, soon to be the legs of the German goalkeeper, Illgner, acknowledgement to The Times joined by his son Peter in Dayboys. Finally and Waddle, with the destiny of the tie at in 2004 Trevor retired and spent much of his trembling feet, hit his high over the bar.” T. Kidson (Staff 1988-2004) his time restoring an old house in Limoges By the time of that tournament, Jones Trevor Kidson, where again he could enjoy the countryside was an experienced and familiar figure at the youngest of – walking and fishing and messing around football events around the world, well four, was born in with bits of machinery. In later years his accustomed to the demands of filing copy 1944 in Bilston home at Shrewsbury has been a place of to meet tight deadlines, frequently while where his father peace and quietness, with his family and matches were still being played. It was his was a coach his friends. He was particularly close to his third World Cup; he previously reported on builder and granddaughter Daisy, encouraging her to the finals in Spain in 1982 and Mexico in blacksmith. He love the garden and the wildlife and the 1986. In Mexico. England were knocked never gained outdoors. His final illness was short and out amid huge controversy when Diego much from unexpected; he died in August. Maradona of Argentina, punched home the school, leaving on his fifteenth birthday to Trevor was a strong member of Common opening goal. Nevertheless, Jones could begin work as an apprentice press tool Room – especially valued as someone who only admire the genius that created and maker and only then saw the relevance of was always ready to help his colleagues. scored a brilliant second goal. “…The education, attending night school to study He was a volunteer and a great team whole stadium itself trembled in draughtsmanship, producing precision line member, offering his skills and enthusiasm expectation whenever he was on the run,” and ink engineering drawings and beautiful and sense of fun to everyone. He will be Jones wrote, “either twisting and weaving artwork that his sons still treasure. sadly missed by all staff and boys who with the ball attached securely to his He had no fear of hard work – 44 hours a gained so much by knowing him. remarkable left foot or merely gliding week in the factory were added to two With acknowledgement to Victoria smoothly into position.” evenings a week at College; in two years Denning, British Humanist Association A calm and usually laid-back figure, it he was a trained toolmaker and fitter and was often said that he resembled the his firm encouraged him to become a Major A. F. Kingsford MC MBE racing driver James Hunt and he was draughtsman. By the time he was 20 he (JHT 1934-39) blessed with similar easy charm. As Tennis had become a production controller and a Born in Correspondent, Jones travelled the world to foreman with 30 staff under him – but then Canterbury in cover the leading tournaments and the firm closed and he was out of work. The August 1920, reported on the early successes of Tim next eight years were spent in a variety of Anthony Henman, then emerging as a leading jobs until in 1973 he joined his brother Kingsford arrived player. The pair became friends. Granville in a heavy engineering company. in Shrewsbury as In his playing days, he joined The After ten years working together, Trevor a scholar and a Occasionals Cricket Club and was a key decided to make a huge change in his life, gifted sportsman member of the touring sides that went to applying to Wolverhampton Polytechnic – classics and Australia in 1986/87, South Africa in and training to be a teacher, graduating in cricket being his 1989/90 and Zimbabwe in 1992/93. Other 1988. Immediately he gained the position at two loves. He and Michael Crawford were Salopians on these Tours included Andy Shrewsbury teaching CDT – initially in the 1st XI for four years, during which Hill (O), Jeremy Sale (I), Leigh Whittingham commuting from his home in Cannock but time he established himself as an (Ch), Chris White (R), Chris and Mike eventually settling in Woodfield. outstanding opening batsman. Almost as Dickson (R) and the writer (R). Stuart will be Trevor loved teaching – and he was soon an afterthought, he also took part in the remembered by all of us as a great recognised as dedicated and inspiring. inter-house athletics, breaking the school contributor both on and off the pitch. His CDT attracted enthusiasts, and he was a high jump record almost nonchalantly, a finest hour came when making a match- tremendous encourager of enthusiasm, record that went unbroken for over forty winning 100 for The Occasionals against a whilst always instilling strict professional years. Anthony never boasted about any of strong Australian Touring side at standards and the detailed accuracy his achievements other than, perhaps, the Malmsbury in the summer of 1988. demanded in the subject. He also had day when he and Colin Cowdrey

63 Old salopian News represented Kent 2nd XI. Cowdrey failed to wasn’t ready and so followed five years of Spanish. But it was an academic exercise: trouble the scorers, whereas Anthony made joy with Kathleen, his children and he didn’t travel until much later in life, and a dashing century and was able to be quite grandchildren keeping his spirit and his then to warmer – and English-speaking – smug with the future England Captain! courage going. “I feel grateful that his climes. A classical scholarship to Magdalene fighting spirit allowed us to have so much Len was demobbed in 1946 and entered College Cambridge was almost inevitable, time with him and I feel truly privileged to the small Liverpool stockbroking firm of but his studies were interrupted by the stand here today and talk about what a Bickerstaff’s, one of 49 stockbroking firms outbreak of war and in 1941 he was wonderful man my grandpa was.” in Liverpool at the time. And there he commissioned into the Royal Tank “An exceptional person who touched all stayed until his retirement as Managing Regiment. He saw service in North Africa, around him.” Partner some 42 years later in 1988. That, Palestine (where he was badly wounded) of course, gives lie to the reality. It wasn’t and Italy. His outstanding bravery won him L. E. Nolan (DB 1935-39) the same firm at all when he left, but one 20 the Military Cross. Len was born in Ainsdale, son of a times the size, that had changed and His citation states how on three Liverpool cotton broker, but spent most of evolved through multiple mergers. Len occasions Captain Kingsford acted “with his young life in Formby, prior to his started his stockbroking career at the time marked coolness and courage”. In the first marriage to Pam. He went to prep school at when the rule of doing business was “my he commanded a squadron of five tanks in Holmwood in Formby and then in 1935 to word is my bond”. That principle suited support of an infantry attack on a village for board at The Schools, being attached to a Len’s character. His maxim was simple: to many hours; he spent most of the time on small annex of Dayboys. War was looming listen to his clients, to work out what he foot to carry out hazardous reconnaissance as he finished his schooling and so, thought was right, and then to do it. He and to direct the infantry attacks. He was instead of entering the workplace, he stood or fell by his judgement and, last to leave once the village was taken volunteered for the Intelligence Corps. He generally, he stood. after dark. On the second, he carried a was assigned to Chichester for basic In the mid 1970s, he was elected stretcher 200 yards under heavy fire to a training to become part of a motorcycle Chairman of the Liverpool Stock Exchange crippled tank and with a crew member unit, with the aim of seizing and and then in the mid 1980s he was elected rescued the tank commander, carrying him interrogating key people, should the Allies Chairman of the combined Northern Stock back to safety. On the third, although invade Europe. It was dangerous stuff. He Exchange. During this time, he was also a himself wounded, he again entered a came within a hair’s breadth of being killed founder Director and ultimately Chairman of burning tank under constant mortar and in training, and the job itself was potentially NMW Computers, a highly successful spandau fire, and helped rescue the lethal. But he never finished; he broke his company formed to provide computerised wounded driver whilst his soldiers kept the leg jumping over a vaulting horse in PT and accounting for Northern stockbroking firms; flames down with water and fire. “Captain when he eventually recovered, his squad this role is somewhat intriguing, not least Kingsford’s repeated heroism and devotion had long gone to the Front. because Len and digital technology were to duty while in action together with his His CO didn’t know what to do with him. not the best of fits. Len was the last in his power of leadership has been most “What do you like doing, Nolan?” he was office to have a calculator. In more recent marked. It has inspired those around him asked. “Crosswords, sir,” was the reply. On years, he demonstrated the ability to and proved a match-winning factor on this basis, Len was sent on a course in process the value of a simple share frequent occasions.” cryptography – codes and ciphers – and portfolio more quickly than a computer and Anthony stayed in the Army after the War was deployed to Bletchley Park. There, in spreadsheet. His capacity for mental and served in Libya, Egypt, Hong Kong, Hut 10, he unravelled the mysteries of the arithmetic was extraordinary, whether it was Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and with the Double Playfair code and helped to provide honed at School, at Bletchley, in the office BOAR, taking his wife Kathleen and as his a vital understanding of the operations of or all three we will never know, but it was family grew, Christopher (SH 1965-70), the German Police and SS. The attempted remarkable. Len retired in 1988. Sarah, and Steve (SH 1970-75) with him. In assassination of Hitler in 1944 provided his For most of his working life, Len lived in 1963 he retied from the Army and joined busiest night and a 10/- bonus for Len from Hightown, near Formby with his first wife Dunlops, first in Birmingham and later at his CO for cracking more messages than Pam, who sadly passed away in 1979. Speke, Liverpool, where home was anyone else that evening. Len found his They had three children Jenny, Peter (O established in Southport. After seven years time at Bletchley both interesting and 1971-76) and John (O 1973-78). he left the company and worked for the satisfying. He told no one – parents, wife, Len retired to Cumbria, where he met his Distributive Industry Training Board. When colleagues, family – about it; like all his second wife, Lorna. They spent many Norman Tebbitt dissolved it in 1982, it compatriots, he kept the secret of Bletchley happy years, fell walking and involved in seemed a good moment to retire. for over 30 years. He was therefore the local social activities; he was a founder He could now focus on his passions – incredibly proud recently to receive from member of the Lake District Summer Music growing carnations, Steve’s pottery Her Majesty’s Government a badge of Festival and an active participant in the life business, the Ainsdale Club and above all commemoration for all those who served of the local community of Watermillock. He else his work with SSAFA – the charity that there. remained active and healthy throughout the provides support for the British Armed Perhaps as a legacy of Bletchley, he majority of his life. Forces and their families – work to which he continued to challenge himself in the late Len was a patient man, even-tempered; willingly and unselfishly gave 50 years of his 40s and early 50s by learning languages. a man who never considered himself old, life and for which he was awarded the MBE. He knew German from school and had and lived well into his old age as a result. In 2008 he suffered a stroke and was told used it in code breaking. He went on to He was admired by all who knew him and he had three months to live. He decided he teach himself Russian, French and will be sorely missed.

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H. D. Phillips (SH 1984-89) Huw's comments were always wise, very Rugby World Cup. The recent and intelligent, honest and direct, even if To Huw's work colleagues, “he was tragic death of sometimes uncomfortable! His final school someone with an intellect sharp as a razor Huw Phillips report was clear, “Huw has exceeded our who, with his organised mind, intellectual after a brave highest hopes for him. He is a young man discipline and linear logic would put four-year fight of great integrity, a lot of ability and complexity into neat boxes, draw maps in against cancer, someone who really thinks about what he wilderness and deploy action plans in took away a very does. Huw deserves the utmost credit for chaos. He held his own with Company dear friend and the way in which he tackles everything in Chairmen, CEOs, VIPs, Oligarchs and just colleague from life and will certainly make his mark before plain old billionaires”. Even the largest egos many people, he is finished.” would not intimidate Huw, yet his humility, and from his A grades in all subjects at A level, a genuine character and awesome family a devoted husband, father, son and Scholarship to St Peter's College, Oxford substance compelled everyone to listen brother. Huw had a very successful career and a First were natural events, while his when Huw spoke. His work ethic was an in the City and had plans for life and work in political interest was fuelled by chairing the example to all – his business strategies different and exciting spheres; it is not just Conservative Association and debating in were of the highest quality and he held all his family and friends who have lost an the Union. Leaving university he was counterparts and colleagues to his own extremely special person. immediately recruited by McKinseys and elevated standards. At the same time he Huw came to School House from South went on to become an investor, financier was an absolute pleasure to be with, a Wales with an Alington Scholarship having and occasional business turnaround artist. source of fun, hospitality and camaraderie. already been awarded a Junior Scholarship After four years at Claridge Inc., the Huw and Sinora were the ultimate hosts earlier. He therefore started in the Bronfman family investment company, he and their dinner parties with friends were Scholarship form with the disadvantage of joined the private equity firm Doughty occasions of fine food, wine and laughter. having no Latin and very little French; but Hanson; then he was headhunted to TPG It seems so appalling that this fine young he soon showed that he had enough Capital and finally to Clayton, Dubilier and man should be taken from us after only 41 intellectual strength and sheer Rice where he became their first European years. He has ensured that his wife and determination to achieve all that was promoted partner. He served on corporate children will always have comfort and expected. There was later some concern boards of many companies large and security in a community of a very close about his aiming at four A levels across the small; he played a leading role in the family and many devoted friends. subjects – mixing Science, Arts, Languages landmark acquisitions of Rexel and Exova – He was an inspiration; he will be and Mathematics – but again his approach he created value for shareholders, remembered by all who knew him. and success soon dispelled any concern. managers, workers and pensioners around He clearly loved his History and his German the world who invested in his funds. He but he never aimed lower than a top grade pushed some businesses to reach the C. T. Rankin (M 1955-60) in the Maths and Physics. stars and pulled some businesses from the Charles Rankin He had gained much from his family – a edge of the abyss. All in a day’s work for was born in very civilised perspective, a sense of Huw. 1941 and spent cheerfulness and humour, and much One of his first business assignments the War years as determination. It soon became clear that took him to Israel where he met Sinora, to a baby at his although the sports that were played were whom he became a devoted husband and father’s family not a key part of his life, he found in who played such a large part in his life, home in academic work and music, activities and especially in those difficult last years. Their Sheffield, challenges into which he entered with all his two delightful children Jessica and Nathan nurtured by energies and enthusiasm. So although not made the Phillips’ family home a very mother and an oarsman he organised the House happy and loving place. grandmother and probably oblivious to air rowing with great efficiency, humour and Huw's sporting interests developed more raids, a Micky Mouse gas mask, food success. He led the music in School House after he left Shrewsbury and he developed rationing. His father returned after the War with such passion that many to whom a particular skill and love of skiing; he liked and four brothers and sisters arrived, whilst community music was a foreign language nothing better than organising friends and he started as a boarder at St Anselm’s in were keen to join in. His formation and family on skiing trips that saw him testing Bakewell. Here his Headmaster Donald training of a House Choir to sing Choral the boundaries of skill and danger to the Piper quickly recognised a very bright child, Evensong (a version which he himself utmost. As one of his closest friends said, and his introduction to and soon love of wrote) was memorable. And much of his “Huw had either a delusional perception of Latin and Greek led him to a Scholarship to time was spent involved with the music in his own skiing abilities or a desire to take it Shrewsbury in 1955. His capacity for self- Chapel as Choregus as well as playing the to the very edge! His skiing insanity was an sufficiency and independence were further organ. Above all from the very beginning he example of his desire to enjoy every nurtured by the departure of his family to gained the friendship and trust of all around moment of life at full volume, something manage tea estates in Kenya, which led to him – even those he found very difficult to seen in him even in the most difficult final ten years of family experience only during understand! His Housemaster found it days of physical life”. Despite ongoing holidays. Hence perhaps his absorption in increasingly useful to visit him in his study treatment, his enthusiasm also took him to the world of books, ideas, films, music and to throw ideas around, to gauge attitudes New Zealand with his brother to sing Wales drama which continued to fascinate him for and even just to talk questions through. on, passionately, into the semi-finals of the the rest of his life.

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At Shrewsbury he was considered But in the late 1980s Charles decided on good school career, “entering into every something of a Magus. Old before his time a total change, joining the Transcendal phase of school life with keenness and and rather quaint, he was authoritative on Meditation movement’s community in competence” according to his most things and dismissive of humbug. He Lancashire and to all intents and purpose Housemaster. He clearly enjoyed all sports was above all interested in music and dropping out of sight for the next few years. and was “constantly in demand on the river, drama, especially German music; in the S Following a family reunion, he decided to in the fives courts, on the football fields and Level General paper he ignored the main ‘emerge’ and in 1996 he joined the staff at in the swimming baths, being House question completely and wrote about Riversdown House, the world-renowned Captain of Fives and Swimming. He was Wagner, for which he got a starred top Language and Culture residential Training also respected as a good Monitor and “a grade. And he revelled in the many Centre in Hampshire where professional boy of even temper, generous and kindly opportunities to act and to direct and to people from all walks of life come for in every way.” The surgery clearly study Greek and Shakespearean and intensive English Language and Cross- beckoned. modern dramatists. He was a complete Cultural Studies. Charles was in his element Severn Hill was followed by Clare College stranger to both the river and the playing and spent the rest of his life totally Cambridge and then the Middlesex field and he must have loathed the sportier absorbed in the teaching and wider Hospital Medical School. After qualifying, aspects of his first two years at the School, experiences of the Centre. His Principal his junior hospital appointments ranged far when four “changes” a week were required, said: “It quickly became apparent that and wide, including a year in Bermuda. which meant donning games attire and Charles was an extraordinary individual; a However he was destined for general playing under-16 B league football or staggering repository of eclectic details; a practice and after a short apprenticeship at something he found equally dismal. (The left-handed lover of mind maps; a St John’s Surgery in Worcester, he joined best comment on Charles’ sporting charming raconteur of gripping tales; a Sarum House Surgery in Hereford. Over the prowess had come from a football coach at precise and elegant orator in a variety of next 33 years he proved to have the St Anselm’s: “While Wednesday and United languages; a skilful juxtaposer of the aptitude and natural empathy that his will not be vying for his signature, he does ancient and the modern; and a faithful patients came to revere, and his colleagues enjoy his Gilbert & Sullivan.”) devotee of Latin and Greek. Charles was to respect. This passion for drama went with him to known – fondly – as our ‘walking In those days GPs were still running their Magdalen College Oxford with an encyclopaedia’. I hear Google is still trying own ante-natal clinics, and it was here that Exhibition, where the study of Classics was to quantify the algorithm on which Charles’ he was able to get to know his young perhaps less time-consuming than mind was based. I fear they will not patients and their offspring. He remarked performing and directing with the Magdalen succeed.” once that perhaps when a doctor had Players, which is perhaps why he came And finally Charles was a family man – a delivered two successive generations of the down with a fourth class degree, seen by brother, brother-in-law and uncle who was same family, he could claim to be a ‘family some as a mark of the highest distinction. deeply loved. Although sometimes doctor’. But he also came down with his thirst for, challenging as a guest, every minute in his But Chris was not only a GP; he was for and remarkable memory of, knowledge presence was interesting and usually many years involved in industrial medicine and scholarship, including the bizarre and stimulating. He engaged everyone in with a major nickel alloy factory in Hereford, curious; his already massive and well-used thought-provoking conversation about occupational health care for the hospital vocabulary; and a deep love of the arcane, almost any topic. He always had time to staff, and was the longest serving doctor at the esoteric, the hermetic and the occult. talk, time to encourage, time to read and Hereford Racecourse. And to prove his He applied for a job at the BBC, a natural time to think. He could put almost any versatility, he was called upon to run the home for a man of his talents and situation into perspective using the wisdom local venereology clinic when the Hereford knowledge, but was (as was the norm) of the language he loved so much and venereologist was on leave. Other duties he rejected. So he embarked on a career as a sought to reconcile misunderstandings took on were at the local psychiatric teacher, starting at the Lawrence Sherriff whenever possible. He leaves behind a hospital and the nearby RAF base. School in Rugby, where he stayed for 21 fantastic legacy of supporting others, of Chris was a keen sportsman. He years teaching Latin, Classical History and travelling on in hope with an open mind and continued on the river when at Cambridge English, and directing a large number of of following one’s own star. and rowed for his College. But his true love plays for the school, and some for Rugby (With acknowledgement to his brothers was golf; he was a keen member of the Theatre as well. His style was to encourage John (M 1962-67) and Nick (M 1963-68), Herefordshire Medical Golfing Society for enthusiasm, a search for knowledge and a Patrick Balfour (SH 1955-60) and colleagues many years, even bringing home the deep love of language. Though perhaps in at Riversdown House.) occasional trophy. danger of being seen by his pupils as not in He met his wife, Judy, at Middlesex this world (time-keeping and administration Dr C. C. N. Roberts (S 1954-59) Hospital, where she was a nurse at the were never part of his structure), he was Chris Roberts time. He loved the Hereford countryside, witty and both liked and respected. One was the son of which is why he chose to make his home day, when the sixth form headquarters were an Old Salopian there for over 40 years and made it the in absolute mayhem, with books and doctor in Ludlow basecamp for his entire family. And the kettles and papers flying about in total and seemed family medical commitment has been uproar, Charles walked in quietly and held destined for carried on by his son Tim (S 1985-90) who up his hand. “I’m sorry to interrupt you Medicine from is a consultant in intensive care medicine gentlemen at your studies”; and the place the beginning. as a Lt Col in the Army. Chris is survived by collapsed into order. He had a very his mother, his wife Judy, his sons Tim and

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Edward (S 1989-94), and four travelled across Canada to visit a friend in Hall School and immediately found himself granddaughters. Nanaimo, BC. He took the opportunity to at home on the river, though at the same Chris died from metastatic small bowel stay in Canada when he was offered a time enjoying considerable academic cancer on his 72nd birthday. position as Research Fellow in success and involvement in all aspects of (With acknowledgement to the British Gastroenterology at the University of British School life. He was a popular and Medical Journal) Columbia. respected Praeposter. In 1969, John obtained his FRCP and He was in the 1st VIII for two years Dr J. S. Smith (DB 1950-54) became a Consultant Internist, specialising alongside John Hall Craggs and Bill John started at in Diabetes and Gastroenterology at the Masser, with both of whom he would later Shrewsbury in Surrey Memorial Hospital (SMH) in BC. He row in the 1956 Cambridge Crew. After Lent 1950, after was the second General Internist to work at School he completed National Service in attending The SMH and was a founding member of the the Parachute Regiment, an experience of Priory Boys’ Department of Internal Medicine. He served which he was always immensely proud and School. Barry on the executive of the BC Society of one which brought the mental and physical Taylor (DB 1950- Internal Medicine from 1978 to 1996. He toughness and no-nonsense approach to 55) writes: “From retired from his specialist practice in 2001, his rowing. the start a keen but continued to work in many medically In 1953 he went up to Queens’ College gardener, related activities until the week before he Cambridge to read Law and Economics; botanist and died. his College won the Ladies Plate in 1955 scientist, he had John displayed a lifelong interest in and he was awarded his Blue in 1956, a very balanced view of School life. He did history, politics, economics and classical rowing 5 in the winning crew that year. not worship the great God of Sport nearly music. As well as medical science, he had During that summer this crew raced in Rio as much as some, though in that era sport a passionate interest in gardening, and was de Janeiro and convincingly beat the was compulsory every day in the winter always eager to share his knowledge. At leading contenders to represent Brazil in terms and almost so in the three half-days the time of his death he was still an active the 1956 Olympics. He then rowed at 7 in in summer. John found that Fives was more member of the South Surrey Garden Club, the GB VIII contesting the European to his liking than team sports; similarly he the Darts Hill Garden Park and the BC Fruit Championships at Bled, and subsequently became a good marksman and Testers. John was also hugely enjoying at 3 in the GB VIII at the Melbourne represented the School twice at Bisley. being a grandfather and having the leisure Olympics. He was fittingly appointed Choosing to row on the Severn rather than to travel. Captain of the GB rowing team for the play cricket, he found a natural place in a John died suddenly at home on 14th Games. Dayboys House IV. June 2013. He will be very much missed by He was in 1958 a leading figure in the It was probably in John’s second or third his wife Angela, his children Philippa, attempt to put together Leander crews for year that J.R. Hope-Simpson Esq Rosalind and Nick, his six grandchildren the Commonwealth Games of that year, (“Juggins” to us boys) decided to tame the and by his brother Neil (DB 1953-57). and he coached the Cambridge Boat Race strip of land alongside the Chapel and crews between 1964 and 1966. running up to the Fives courts, turning it I. W. Welsh (Ch 1946-51) After the Olympics he qualified as a into a very successful “Masters’ Garden” – Chartered Accountant and enjoyed a as it remains to this day. Juggins soon successful career with Arthur Andersen, found a very willing volunteer in John, and where he became a partner. On retirement John just loved that work – maybe he tried he moved to the North Norfolk coast and to count it as a ‘change’ in the winter!” devoted himself to sailing in various boats John was also a tremendously and exploring the numerous creeks and enthusiastic member of the Rovers and inlets of Blakeney Harbour. camps in Wales during term and the In recent years he had suffered from summer expeditions to Scotland were poor health, but the vigour of his outlook on highlights; his ascent of Cairngorm in bare life remained undimmed. He is survived by feet became apocryphal! His last his wife Dee and their son, daughter and Headmaster’s Report spoke of “an entirely five grandchildren. competent boy in every way; he never varied, he never caused a moment of anxiety. I should write a testimonial with great pleasure on all grounds, intellectual, moral and social.” Gaining a State Scholarship and entrance to The Queen’s College at Oxford Ian Welsh, who died in July aged 80, was to read Animal Physiology, John graduated one of the country’s leading oarsman in the in 1958 with a good Honours degree and mid-1950s, having achieved significant followed this with medical training at the success at Henley and the Boat Race and Middlesex Hospital, obtaining his MRCP in represented GB in the European 1964. In 1968, John went to Boston to Championships and the Olympic Games. attend a medical conference and also Ian arrived at Shrewsbury from The Old

67 A CADEMIC NEWSC OMING E VENTS

Sunday 9 March Shrewsbury School in concert Cadogan Hall, London (Old Salopian drinks reception from 5.00 pm at the Orange, 37 Pimlico Road, SW1W 8NE)

Thursday 13 March Old Salopian Birmingham Dinner St Paul’s Club, St Paul’s B3 1QZ

Friday 28 March Shrewsbury School Parents’ Association Shrewsbury School Easter Ball (open to Old Salopians, more details will be circulated)

Wednesday 23 April – Old Salopian guided tour of the Peronne, Somme France Sunday 27 April Somme Battlefields Must be booked before Friday 24th January See page 45

Sunday 27 April Sports Awards Lunch for Upper 6th pupils Shrewsbury School Keynote speaker: Richard Bevan (DB 1974-78) Managing Director, Professional Cricketers’ Association

Sunday 18 May Old Salopian South West Lunch Mount Somerset Hotel, Followed by visit to a place of local interest Lower Henlade, (More details will be circulated) Taunton

Thursday 19 June Careers Fair for Lower 6th pupils Shrewsbury School (Old Salopian speakers)

Sunday 22 June Charles Burney Bi-centennial Memorial Shrewsbury School Concert (Part of celebrations of life and work of Old Salopian Dr Charles Burney (1727-1814) For more details, please visit: www.shrewsbury.org.uk/page/osevents

OPEN DAYS Saturday 1st March 2014 (Prospective 13+ and 14+ entry) Saturday 10th May 2014 (Prospective 13+ and 14+ entry) Saturday 7th June 2014 (Prospective 16+ entry) To book a place or to arrange an individual visit to the School, please contact the Admissions Office Telephone: 01743 280552 Email: [email protected]

The Grove Last 11 singing their Unison Song in the 2013 House Singing Competition

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