ORA Reunion 2007

The ORA Winter Reunion 2007 at our beloved Arbour Square, much anticipated and certainly the best reunion since the last one! What a turnout - almost 200 Old Raineians, spanning the 20's to the 90's, all crammed into what was the boy's gym. Thank you to everyone who came along to support the Association. There was a display of memo- rabilia and an exhibition of paintings by Eddy Dodwell, including the much seen "Arbour Square 2002" as well as a power point show of the ongoing restoration work at St George's in the East and of course the magician who kept everyone so well entertained. The Director of Estates, Sylvia Merton and Ginnette Ambrosiona con- ducted tours around the building and it proved so popular that mem- Spring 2008

ORA Reunion 2007 cont. The Director of Estates, Sylvia Merton and Ginette Ambrosiona conducted tours around the building and it proved so popular that members were turned away due to overcrowding. The changes caused much discus- sion adding to the incredible atmosphere although the upper part of the building is almost as we remember it, appearing even larger with the absence of lockers in the corridors and the roof unchanged. It was good to see ex and current staff including Humphrey Long, Gwynneth Jackson, Bernard Major, Miss Auerbach & Anthony Groves. The current head of Raines, Mr Gordon Clubb came as our guest and speaker. Thanks must go to the caterers who laid on a lovely buffet, to Brian Chaperlin who organised the bar, to the bar staff (family of committee member Brian Chaperlin) and the staff at Arbour Square, in particular Ginette for helping the function to run so smoothly.

Claire Burrows

And finally, congratulations to Claire Burrows who spent many months securing the venue and ensuring it was the success it was. The committee presented her with a bouquet of flowers on the night with our heart felt thanks for her continued enthusiasm and hard work. Thanks also go to those on the committee who helped. It was so nice to meet Marie Hamilton,who travelled all the way from Norfolk with her family to attend her first reunion. Marie,one of our oldest members has penned a few words:

SEPTEMBER 1928 Even though there was a list to choose from my parents decided that I should attend Raines Foundation School, Arbour Square, although at that time I very much doubt as to whether they knew of the school’s his- torical background. At the school after new pupils had been shown to their form rooms, their mothers had an interview with Miss Grier, our Headmistress. She told them about the regulation school blouse which would cost 15/- each and that they could only be purchased through the school suppliers (the sax-blue colour being exclusive). Also needed were 3 box pleat gym slips in dark navy, black stockings, and an elastic belt with snake clasp in navy and sax blue. Mothers were also told that upon arriving at school we were to change from our outdoor shoes into plimsoles, this was a ‘must’ as the floor of the Great Hall was French Polished. We also had to have navy blue knickers and were told that there would be no changing for sport, that no cardigan should be worn if the weather was cold and any extra woolly must go under the blouse. It was also made clear that our blazer may be worn but usually that took the place of a top coat. The school blazer that could be bought from the school tailor was extremely thick and heavy and so very warm and cost £5. One could also buy school badges for the blazer pocket and for also for the hat. When I arrived home that afternoon I found that I had to tell my mother that the price of the blouse was 16/- and not 15/-, the material was poplin, not cotton, and that it should last longer. In 1928 after years of depression and still struggling through the General Strike

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SEPTEMBER 1928 cont.

one shilling made a big difference.I think that the first change was the style of hat. The felt hat was out and we had a choice of either a Navy blue velvet beret with a silk or corded tassle which was 2/- , maybe more I forget or a Blue velvet crown hat with stitched brim, this was a little dearer. In the summer a panama with hat band and badge would be worn and the year that I left winter head gear was a black velour panama shape.. Looking at the school photo of 1933 it will be noticed that several of the girls are wearing cotton dress – this was decided for the girl’s summer uniform but still no sport gear!!!! Miss Grier was our Headmistress when I became a pupil at the school. She was tall, stately one could not help but admire her; she was authority personified, we were her family. Many activities were followed after school hours, visiting museums etc. The cottages at Woburn Sands were still being used enabling girls to have a holiday. Various schemes to raise funds were encouraged, however, as the place was not used during the winter months it therefore becoming a liability and the project came to an end. We had a Tuck Shop (profits were for the cottages), the shop carried on, though where the profit went I do not know. Helping other poorer schools was getting rather difficult what with the high rate of unemployment and the General Strike. Things must have been getting very low as in 1930/31 certificates were given instead of book prizes. I believe that the holiday project was started by Miss Grier, she seeing a much needed holiday for her girls so many of them never having been in the countryside. Miss Grier also realised that her girls needed to learn how to run a home and consequently the purchase of the cottage next door to the Girl’s school was made and became the Domestic Science Cottage. This was made very good use of with Senior Girls entertaining staff and during the General Strike teachers and scholars slept there as there was no transport available for a number of weeks. Each girl was placed in one of the houses, I think that there were four – Stuart, Colet, Red and Green. An older girl would be appointed as School Mother to a new girl, this would encourage helping one another to overcome any age barriers etc. We were a mixed crowd but I never experienced any racial discrimination amongst the girls. There was quite a competitive spirit between the houses both in sport and academics but we would get to know each other at Christmas parties, always of course inviting members of staff. At these get togethers, we usually were able ‘to let our hair down’. Soon after commencing the school year, Miss Grier came into the class room to give us a talk, whatever lesson we were having was shelved and the presiding teacher left (I guess that this had all been arranged) Miss Grier told us much of the story of the Founder and the Lottery, this was interesting history and makes one think of what one person can do – Sanctified Common Sense – many lives that have been uplifted – “COME IN AND LEARN YOUR DUTY TO GOD AND MAN”. Miss Foxon was my Form Mistress at this time and she also talked much of the School’s history. The first time that Miss Grier came into the class room she told us about an occasion when one afternoon she was sitting in her office when she heard some girls in the school playground literally yelling across to one another, in fact she gave us a demonstration of what she heard and we were all horrified. The result of this was that she made up her mind that her girls were going to be taught how to speak not only correctly but quietly, this incident I guess happened some years before my time as a pupil. When Miss Grier retired, a full length oil painting was placed on the balcony wall, the roof garden side. Miss Haugh was now Head Mistress having been Miss Grier’s Assistant. Miss Tregear, our new assistant, and life at the school went on as usual. The lower roof garden was cultivated by the Girl’s School, money was collected and a green house was purchased but this happened when I had left the school. One of the facilities missing was Playing Fields. I remember we held a Sports Day once in a field on the Isle of Dogs. How we journeyed there I have no idea, however the L.C.C. sanctioned the use of fields by East London Schools, there was much clearance of houses in the area surrounding Stepney – the L.C.C. extending their borders into Dagenham & Beacontree (some of the Girls moved out of the area but were able to travel back to the school). I remember we had a new gym mistress Miss Defty, she informed us of this new facility mentioning that showers were also provided. Question: What does one wear taking a shower?? This was something new!! I guess Miss Defty was flabbergasted – it was decided that we would wear a bathing costume. Classes chosen walked from Arbour Square to Stepney Green underground station then to Barking SEPTEMBER 1928 cont where we alighted and then boarded a Steam Train to Gale Street. Not long after Gale Street was renamed Becontree and now no changing trains as this District Line went now as far as Upminster. Visits to Playing Fields was on Friday’s and all scholars had a sandwich lunch and the school closed at 2.30 p.m. (This early closing was to enable the Jewish Fraternity to commence their Sabbath Day, Sunset Friday to Sunset Saturday). Some years ago I mentioned Gale Street as a railway station and was informed that for many years this was called ‘Paraffin Junction’ as it was the last station to be lit by paraffin lamps on this line. The question has been asked about School meals laid on for the girls that had a journey to the school, living outside the Borough of Stepney, cost 9d per meal, 4 days Monday to Thursday, so costing 3 shillings Friday being early session (finishing at 2.30pm) all the school brought sandwiches, the staff however had a cooked meal. Cookery being one of our subjects the form concerned would make the dessert for that days meal maybe a Cottage Pudding, College pudding or Eve’s pudding (I still have these recipes although they look very tatty now). Once we were very ambitious making Norwegian Soufflé (certainly not when back home too costly). My first year I had these dinners but my circumstances altered and I took packed lunch. As a School we were very interested in supporting the League of Nations. It is quite possible that many of us scholars wondered whether the League was as strong as had been intended. The vast majority were very much aware of the threatening war clouds, many of the girls had French and German correspondents very sad. Leaving school and finding employment was not a pleasant task, several agencies to apply to, never knowing which decision to make. One agency that we were told about, Headmistresses Association who specialised for Grammar School Girls – I found not very satisfying. There was an Old Girls Association but there was little or no encouragement to join, why I do not know. I remember attending a couple of times on Saturday afternoons. Miss Foxon was retiring so this was special to us all, she planned to visit her sister in South Africa. The year was 1939, her visit of months thanks to the war became years, and it was at this re-union that Miss Haugh told us that Mr Dagger was concerned about the fact that none of the girls joined the O.R.A. association. I spoke up and said “The reason is that we do not know anything about O.R.A. is that only if a girl marries an Old Raineian or has a brother in the school does she find out about the Association”. While I was at the school I seem to recollect the screen dividing the Great Hall was pulled back at lease once a month so that the 0.R.A. could run a dance Friday evening (very exclusive members only) during the win- ter. I was informed that this had to be discontinued due to gate crashers. I managed to get to the yearly Old Girls’ Association meetings together with Margery Smith but only after Margery was ‘demobbed’ that she took the special course, teaching. Our friendship lasted till her death in 1960, her brother Harry was an Old Boy. Margery was quite good at languages German and French she was called up into the Navy as an Officer and she gave me to understanding of M.I.5. After the war she met Miss Wheeler whilst on her training to be a teacher.I remember one of the meetings when we were invited to view the New Girls’ Gymnasium (the cottage that was used for Domestic Science had had a face-lift) and whilst viewing this area a young lady ran by just holding up against herself a large towel on the way to a cubicle., I thought to myself ‘problem solved’. What does one wear under the Shower?? The gymnasium itself was great bright and cosy. Great improvement to the school and it was ours, the Girls’. I guess the year was 1937 and it was a Saturday afternoon. With all the upheaval it is a wonder that the school has survived. Further changes were in the pipeline. Next door to the Boys’ was a Public House and this with alterations became the Girls’ Dining Room and in 1960 The Girls Association used this room. It was possibly in the 70’s when I joined the O.R.A. even became a Life Member at the meeting held in the Sixth Form Centre. Another alteration this building has was the shed in the Girls playground, I guess that the school personnel was getting too large for the building. After the School came back to Arbour Square I attended the Old Girls Association and I remember that Miss Haugh told us of changes in Education. As Head Mistress she had always been able to appoint her staff but not in the future, she also explained the support pillars that had been placed under the balcony, it was decided to have this done as a safety measure., these pillars were from the balcony through the Great Hall floor into the split basement underneath. The whole of the school pupils would sit on the balcony on Speech Day 1913 – 1946. SAFETY. During the years I have met a few Old Raineians. Grace Moore lived a matter of yards from me (she was niece of Miss Moore, Miss Haugh’s secretary). Betty Lawson married George Canning O.R.A. There was an O.R.A. Dinner at the school and I met Helen Bishop nee Bennet – President early 70’s was it the last time SEPTEMBER 1928 cont before the New Look alterations? Emily Parsons kept tabs on some of us and we had tea with her one mem- orable afternoon June 24th 1978, when I arrived (I was first) was telling her about the massacre in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and of Missionaries that I know, Helen Bishop was also there. Many contacts were lost during the 1939-1945 war years. People were so scattered, some never return- ing for various reasons to their home roots. Many girls I met in various places, like just after an air raid I met Lily Gunter. In the History of Raines I was puzzled by the School Memories, P. Popplewell an East Ham girl how was it that I could not remember her – looking up copy of 1933 school photograph (original belonging to Lilly Higgins nee Fleming) Phyllis Payne, I think I am right. Gwen Kidd and Lilly belonged to the same Church in Hornchurch and many an afternoon Lilly and I spent reminiscing; these days are very much in the past now I guess that there are very few of us left. I am glad that I have been able to see the New Look School BUT was saddened that the school has lost its majestic atmosphere, I am told that it is progress, whilst touring the school I mentioned that the oak Marie Hamilton panelling had been painted over and somebody said that it was vandalism – maybe they were right.

Marie was not the only member who travelled from afar. Jim Keen, 1944 - 49, was possibly the last School House captain prior to the change to Dagger. He worked for Briggs Motor Bodies prior to RAF Na- tional Service in 1950 and played soccer for Mainte- nance Command and RAF Amateur Team having previously been signed byArsenal as amateur. He returned to BMB/Ford on demob eventually be- coming responsible for provision and installation of equipment & furnishings for the Design Studios & Workshops and similar work for the Research Engi- neering Centre in Germany. He qualified as a FA Coach, playing 2 Amateur Cup semi-finals and won medals in London & Essex Senior Cups. He played numerous games for Arsenal teams but never signed professional due to the poor pay to players at the time. After 38 years service to BMB/Ford he moved to Majorca where he plays golf and tennis. Jim Keen

John Clark 1938 - 41 drove up from the wilds of Pembrokeshire, Wales and gave us invaluable help in setting up before the masses arrived. He personally dressed the mannequins in the costumes that were made for the 250th anniversary, kindly loaned by the School. The octogenarian commented that it was a long time since he had his hands up a schoolgirls skirt! More memories from John in the next issue. Humphrey Long, fit and popular as ever (especially with the girls),a regular attendee at reunions, aka Tower Hamlets' Mr Basketball, was handed a Lifetime Achievement Award for 50 years of service to the sport recently. But, unselfish as ever, Humphrey used his moment in the spotlight to warn of the "major problems" which he believes are affecting basketball in London. The basketball authorities would be wise to take note - after over half-a-century of involvement in the game and as the sport's most successful coach in the country, Humphrey certainly knows what he's talking about. Humphrey, currently coach of Whitechapel-based East London Royals, told the Advertiser: There are major problems in London basketball with regards to maintaining a basketball club.There are financial problems but most importantly there are no London players in international teams, nor are there any on the horizon. There is a big growth in basketball clubs springing up in the capital but it means the talent is diluted and spread too thinly all over London.At the moment there's the incentive for players to join clubs without proper coaches, who won't improve them as basketball players.I'm fighting against the tide; I'm doing a King Canute. And although we have got some good teams, it doesn't look as if this can go on much longer.

Last year, Humphrey told me that drastic changes needed to be made if Great Britain are to have any chance of success at the 2012 Olympic Games. He said at the time: Basketball became a backwater sport in this country a while ago. At the moment, Great Britain are struggling. Money towards funding is being held back and that will affect them, although how badly remains to be seen. But we need to get our house in order. Basketball is still a low-profile sport which needs an injection of money, an injection of publicity and an injection of talent.Humphrey, believes the answer is fairly simple though, stating: "The solution is to get more qualified coaches in school.In east London at the moment, there are no coaches in school who can really run a basketball team and turn them into international players, like I did at Raine's Foundation. The kids are keen enough but they've got no one to teach them how to play the game properly. If they're not coached properly, they're not going to turn into international players. Humphrey, began his basketball career in 1955 at Daneford School, now known as Bethnal Green College of Technology.He then moved on to Morpeth School, winning his first London Championship in 1960. Prior to his switch to Morpeth, Humphrey had been a founder member of the London Schools Basketball Association in 1957. He stayed with the Association until 1989, holding down roles at one time or another as secretary, treasurer and coach. During his time there, London won 25 England Schools Championships. In 1963, Humphrey left Morpeth for Raine's Foundation School, where he stayed until 2001, winning 13 national schools championships and helping 20 players go on to become England internationals. 1980 saw Humphrey launch East London Royals. 42 National Championships have been won by Royals since, while 50 players have gone on to star in international basketball.On top of this, Humphrey was also England coach from 1970 to 2000, taking teams to six European basketball tournaments. He is the only member of the United Kingdom Coaching Hall of Fame representing basketball. Humphrey was clearly a deserving winner of his lifetime achievement award - although he insisted he had no clue he would be receiving it. He said: I was invited to an association meeting in Coventry but had no idea I was getting the award. It was a bit of a surprise but I'm very proud. Humphrey admits he got into basketball quite by accident, explaining: I did two years national service where I did basketball as training for the rugby team. Afterwards, I got a job as a PE teacher at Daneford School. All they had there in terms of sports facilities was a small hall with a couple of basketball rings. I then went on a course run by Mick Jagger's dad, Joe. He was a great bloke and a real pioneer of the game. Everything he did, I jotted down and then put my kids through the same thing for the rest of the week. I've never looked back. Much has changed in the sport, says Humphrey, since he took it up - apart from one thing. It's changed technically in all sorts of ways, he said. The only thing that hasn't changed is the low profile of the game at national level. The kids in inner London love playing basketball and it's a shame that it isn't given more recognition. The players still tend to come from the same ethnic backgrounds. But our club has players from Africa, Eastern Europe and the Philippines. East London Royals run five teams and train at Whitechapel Sports Centre on Wednesday evenings.

6 Anwar's Royal honour

Stepney-born football star Anwar Uddin admits he thought he was the victim of a prank from his Dagenham & Redbridge teammates when he recieved a prestigious invite to Windsor Castle. But it was no joke - the Daggers defender was among a select group of British Asians invited to a black-tie dinner at Windsor Castle with HRH The Prince of Wales. His Royal Highness hosted the dinner on Thursday, November 15, as testimony to the 'enormous contribu- tion made to this country in many fields by members of the British Asian community and their major role in shaping modern Britain.' Uddin, 26, became the first British Asian to captain an English Football League club when he led Dagenham & Redbridge out in a fixture at Stockport County on August 11. The Prince of Wales founded the British Asian Trust which supports community projects in the UK and or- ganises and promotes sustainable development in South Asia.The initial impetus for the Trust arose from the Future Friendship Cup - the first official one-day international cricket match between India and Pakistan in the UK for charitable purposes.But east Londoner Uddin, who started his career at West Ham alongside the likes of Joe Cole and Michael Carrick, said the honour had come as quite a shock and one which he wasn't sure he should initially take seriously. He said: Naturally I'm delighted but it came as a total surprise. At first I didn't believe it and knowing what jokers my teammates are, I was expecting someone like Jeremy Beadle to jump out of the woodwork at any moment ! It was a great experience for myself and my family, who were delighted. He added: It just goes to show where football can take you in life - even to meet members of the Royal Family.

Uddin, who still lives in Stepney Green, attended Raine's Foundation School in Bethnal Green as a young- ster and played in the same Hackney & Tower Hamlets District side as Ashley Cole and Ledley King. Uddin had the choice of trials with Tottenham, Wimbledon and West Ham, penning schoolboy terms with the latter after a youth tournament in Ireland.Uddin played in all the preliminary rounds of the Hammers' FA Youth Cup win six years ago but was left out of the final line-up, losing his place to Stevland Angus for the two-legged win over Coventry City. The following year Uddin was a mainstay of the successful West Ham side that won the FA Premier Academy Shield, beating an Arsenal outfit that contained Ashley Cole, Steve Sidwell, James Harper and Jay Bothroyd.With first-team opportunities looking limited, Uddin left West Ham in his third year as an apprentice for a short stint at Sheffield Wednesday, before spells at Bristol Rovers, Hereford and Telford.He joined Dagenham & Redbridge in July 2004 and last season skippered them to the Nationwide Conference title as they finished 14 points clear of second-placed Oxford United to earn their first spell in league football. Andrew Pettigrew’s dream hopes ended Last January’s transfer deadline moves ended the hopes of 21-year-old Adrian Pettigrew's dream of making it with Chelsea. The six foot plus defender and former England youth international was allowed to leave Stamford Bridge on a free transfer for the lesser title aspirations of League 2 outfit Rotherham United.Pettigrew, from Stoke Newington, spent five years on Chelsea's books, the last two as a full-time pro- fessional. He was a regular in the Blues' reserve side, captaining them on many an occasion, Signed straight from school at the Raine's Foundation School, Bethnal Green, Pettigrew has enjoyed two loan spells at Brentford and Wycombe Wanderers in the past year. His time with the Bees at Griffin Park was the more successful of the two, making 14 appearances for them, 11 in League Two.He also had a spell on loan at Wy- combe, but made just one appearance for the Chairboys and was recalled by Chelsea before his month at Wycombe was up. Now he has completed a full-time move to Rotherham. An all-round athlete during his schooldays, Pettigrew played basketball for the East London Royals basketball club and led them to an Eng- lish National Championship.He was chosen for the England under 14 basketball squad and also won athletics honours, being a London champion at the hurdles, high jump and part of a 4x100m relay team.Pettigrew was chosen for the England under 16 football squad, when just 14 and had a host of clubs queueing up for him Arsenal and Charlton courted his signature, but it was Chelsea he chose. He had a week's trial with Charlton, but didn't enjoy it.He had been associated with Chelsea since being in year eight at school and had come through their Academy. But last autumn his love affair with the Blues ended. Phillips Idowu

Phillips Idowu, the Hackney born and raised triple jumper propelled himself among the world's elite athletes by winning Britain's only gold medal at the World Indoor Championships in Valencia, recently. Idowu, from the De Beauvoir area of Hackney, attended Raine's Foundation Secondary School, Bethnal Green before going on to become a famous athlete.He started his athletics career in the borough with Victo- ria Park & Tower Hamlets AC before switching to the higher profile Belgrave Harriers, in Battersea, south London.

The triple jump competition at the World Indoor Championships was effectively over from the moment that Idowu landed to register his second jump of 17.75 metres.That leap was a British indoor record and put him fifth on the all-time list, five places above the previous record-holder Jonathan Edwards, who had held the national record with a jump of 17.64m.Although he has frequently disappointed in major competitions, Id- owu put together a very consistent series of jumps in Valencia to add the World Indoor crown to his Com- monwealth title that he won two years ago and the European indoor title he clinched last year, when he beat British teammate Nathan Douglas.His winning leap was only eight centimetres short of the world record in- doors. set by Cuba's Aliecer Urrutia 11 years ago and equalled by Olympic champion Christian Olsson four years ago.Idowu was behind after the first round of jumps to Cuban Arnie Giralt, who had leaped 17.43 in the opening round.But after his monster effort of 17.75, Idowu kept up the consistency with further leaps of 17.56 and 17.45 and was never headed again. Ironically, he received his gold medal from his former Great Britain teammate and Britain's former triple-jumping great Jonathan Edwards, who said afterwards: "There is no reason why Phillips can't win the Olympic gold now, in Beijing later this year. He has always had the talent.''

Idowu finished sixth at the 2000 Olympics in Syd- ney, where Edwards won gold, but four years later, the Hackney athlete was back in a very disappoint- ing 12th place and only recorded a sixth place at last year's World Championships.

With current Olympic champion Olsson, from Swe- den, recovering from a hamstring injury, Idowu is being spoken of as favourite for the gold in China, but sensibly defused excitement among the British media.

"There are still quite a few good people who weren't at these championships, who are obviously preparing for the outdoor season. I'd like to stay in the back- ground until its absolutely necessary, but there are many more medals out there I'd like to win. I know it's not done yet.'' Phillips Idowu

With Idowu's outstanding effort the highlight, Britain finished with five medals from the Championships, in a fine fourth place overall. In terms of placings in finals, Britain came third, headed only by the might of the United States and Russia. VE Day by Old Raineian D.Hyams I had spent the last few months of the war down in Hurstpierpoint, Sussex, where I had been evacuated with my London school (Raine's Foundation, Stepney). Some of us would be invited into Matron's sitting room in the evening to listen to broadcasts on progress of the final days of the war. Churchill's speeches always seemed very thrilling. We had no sense of history in the making when the war in Europe came to an end. Most of the children didn't want to go back to London. It would be the end of freedom and independence. We had all done pretty much as we liked in our spare time. All we had to do was turn up for meals, do our chores and be in by curfew. May 8th and 9th were declared national holidays, and I came back to London for a day or two. My father took my sister and me to Trafalgar Square to see all the celebrations. The crowds were unbelievable. People were hanging from lampposts, many debagged and partly undressed; some women were waving items of underwear! My father held on to us tightly. My sister, who was 20 and very pretty, was nearly dragged off several times by soldiers. It was exciting yet frightening. Many people were very drunk but we didn't see any violence or punch-ups. The Mall was packed from end to end. The Royal family were to appear on the balcony. Dad managed to get us to the comparative calm of St James's Park. The grass was a sea of 'courting couples'. My father was quite shaken and put his hand over my eyes. I was twelve years old and it was quite an eye opener.

We had to walk most of the way home as the few buses that were running couldn't get through. My father was still very shaken and needed a drink but a lot of the pubs were shut. We did manage to get him a small bottle of beer from an off licence and that cheered him up a bit. My sister Peggy and I agreed that we had had a great time and wouldn't have missed it for anything. Next day my sister's arm was black and blue where she had been grabbed. Dad made a beeline for the pub. We censored the 'juicy bits' from our story when we described things to Mum.On VJ Day, in August, I went to a friend's street party that was very lively.

Two women nearly had a fight over who made the best sandwiches. In September, I was back at school in London looking forward to a happy and peaceful future with no wars ever again !

Sad News

Michael Varah (1957-1964) Long-serving and personable chief probation officer who worked for numerous UK charities At the time of his resignation in 2004, Michael Varah was the UK's longest serving Chief Officer in the (then) National Probation Service, having devoted 35 years to the criminal justice system.He was a man of compassion, integrity and humour, and it was to his credit that, during his tenure, Surrey was the third high- est performer out of the 42 probation services in the UK; and had achieved the highest score on the European excellence model, and the highest level of sentencer satisfaction in the south-east.Always a strategic thinker, Varah established close links with other agencies, particularly the police, with whom information was shared to prevent further offending. He consistently lobbied MPs and the Home Office, and at the same time was able to engage effectively and empathetically with offenders. Varah - pioneeringly - sent 32 serious offenders from Surrey on Community Service Orders to Romania to renovate a children's hospital. Two years later, none of the 32 offenders had reoffended and nine (having completed their orders) had returned to work in Romania as volunteer plumbers, electricians and builders. Michael Varah cont. His appointment as Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey and his nomination as High Sheriff of that county for 2008- 09 reflected the esteem in which he was held. George Peter Michael Varah was born in Holy Trinity Vicarage, Blackburn in 1944, the eldest of triplet boys. His father was Dr Chad Varah, CH, CBE, founder of The Samaritans, and his mother was Susan Var- ah, OBE, World President of the Mothers Union. He was educated at Raine's Foundation Grammar School for Boys in Stepney and Loughborough College. He excelled at sports and Loughborough had some of the best sports coaches in the country. In 1965 he won a coveted place on the Great Britain athletics team. The following year, at the inaugural meeting at Crystal Palace, he ran second leg for the much lauded British 4 x 800 metre relay team that smashed the existing world record by 2.4 seconds. He held the British Indoor Athletics 800 metre record and represented his country in many international athletic meets - including the Commonwealth Games in Ja- maica and the Tokyo World Student Games. In 1968 he was appointed Master in Charge of Athletics at Rugby School. Following his retirement from international athletics, he continued to teach but developed his interest in social justice by working two nights a week as a facilitator at Onley Borstal, running group discussions. The satisfaction of this challenge encouraged him to a complete career change into Probation, via a post-graduate course at Leicester Univer- sity. Simultaneously, he and his friend Jim Higgins founded The Mayday Trust. Working first as a basic grade Probation Officer, he was quickly promoted to run Community Service in Warwickshire before moving to the West Midlands Service as assistant chief. When in 1988 he was ap- pointed Chief Probation Officer in Surrey, it was then the quickest and the highest percentage promotional rise from basic grade officer to Chief in the recorded history of the Probation Service. During his years in Surrey, he founded the independent Surrey Springboard Trust, with the aim of creating opportunities for ex-offenders and those leaving prison who needed a high level of support to turn their lives around and put their offending behaviour behind them. Over a period of six years the trust employed about 30 staff and offered a range of activities, running a commercial division which employed ex-offenders on decorating, gardening and woodwork projects. A team of staff continues to work at Highdown Prison in Surrey, advising inmates on employment and ac- commodation issues. Varah raised some £4.5million to ensure its survival. It was typical of the man to put so much personal commitment, energy and hours of work - on top of his day job - to help others get the stake in society that circumstance had denied them. Varah worked tirelessly for a number of charities. He became chairman of Crimestoppers in 2004, and weeks before his death was appointed the new president of the Surrey Care Trust. For the past two years he had served as a trustee of Samaritans. He was also passionate about his work as a national trustee of Victim Support. In 2005 he was elected to the panel of the employment tribunals and travelled across Surrey from his home in the Surrey Hills to Croydon weekly to sit alongside the Chair as the employers representative on dismiss- al, discrimination and employment claims. His wife Sally (née Rowat), daughter and son will continue his legacy through The Michael Varah Memorial Fund, which will support his own chosen charities.

Michael Varah, probation officer and athlete, was born on October 19, 1944. He died of viral double pneu- monia on April 2, aged 62 Alfred Maizels 1928-34 A brilliant economist promoting trade and development, author and international civil servant, born January 17 1917; died May 10 2006 - Attended Raine's Foundation School from 1928-1934 .Alfred Maizels, who has died aged 89, was one of Britain's most distinguished economists. He made major contributions to the international literature on trade and development, was a formative influence on the United Nations Confer- ence on Trade and Development (Unctad) and was held in great esteem by policy-makers and officials in the developing world.A permanent intergovernmental body, Unctad was established in 1964 to maximise the trade, investment and development opportunities of developing countries and help them integrate into the world economy on an equitable basis. Its first secretary general, the Argentinian Raúl Prebisch, persuaded Maizels to join the organisation in 1966, and he developed its basic approach to commodity policy, Alfred Maizels cont. including the idea of a central or common fund for stabilising commodity prices.In the 1968 American Eco- nomic Review he had launched a powerful attack on the neo-liberal view that commodity price fluctuations did not harm developing countries. He demonstrated the contrary, arguing that intervention in the commod- ity markets was both possible and desirable if developing countries were to diversify their economies and trigger a process of sustained growth.The common fund was Unctad's flagship project for the New Interna- tional Economic Order (NIEO), the declaration adopted by the UN general assembly in 1974, which ulti- mately failed, largely because western industrial countries were unwilling to contemplate measures that might raise commodity prices and, more generally, because in the 1970s they were increasingly reluctant to interfere with market forces. The 1989 common fund for commodities was the eventual outcome of these battles, but it was a pale reflection of Maizels' proposals. Professor Gerry Helleiner recalls him saying that the objections of the OECD countries to the NIEO reflected their fear of losing their ability to shape the global economy, something they would never willingly relinquish.Maizels was director of economic policy evaluation and coordination at Unctad between 1974 and 1980. His belief in the importance of evidence- based policy proposals was reflected in his promotion of sound research, both within the organisation and elsewhere. He invited distinguished outsiders - by no means all of them sympathetic to Unctad's views - to criticise its work and suggest alternative approaches. He was never a spin-doctor.On Maizel's departure from the UN body, he was offered a succession of research fellowships in London, Helsinki and Oxford, and in 2004 he was appointed professorial research fellow at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. His Commodities in Crisis (1992) is widely regarded as the definitive work on the subject, and he was one of the first to warn of the dangers for developing countries of excessive competition and income losses in the markets for labour-intensive manufactures.Maizels was born in Whitechapel, in London's East End. His fa- ther was a Jewish tailor who had arrived from Poland in 1905; his mother a seamstress who helped with the book-keeping and administration. They married in 1910. Alfred went to Raine's Foundation school, Bethnal Green, and the London School of Economics, graduating with first-class honours in 1937 and carrying off the Farr medal and prize in statistics. He also met there the sociologist Joan Sidey, whom he married in 1942. In early 1941 Maizels joined Brian Reddaway and Evan Durbin at the Board of Trade, where, in a re- markably short time, they designed the clothing rationing scheme, regarded as the most successful of its kind and a striking example of how welfare considerations could be upheld despite the privations of wartime. Maizels admitted that they had been given a head start by British Intelligence, which had got hold of a copy of the German plan. In 1950 he was seconded to the UN in Geneva, where he took over from the economist WW Rostow a major study of the European timber industry, then a crucial sector in the European recovery programme. The result was an outstanding piece of work that laid the basis for cooperation among timber producers that continues to this day.Returning to London, Maizels found the Board of Trade worrying about the possible impact of industrialisation in the developing (then largely colonial) world on Britain's position in the world economy. This led to his secondment to the National Institute of Economic and Social Research in 1955 and to his magisterial Industrial Growth and World Trade (1963), a detailed, empirical and historical analysis of the changing structure of world trade in industrial goods in response to industrialisation and rising per capita incomes.He showed that the industrialisation of primary-producing countries was generally accompanied by increased imports from the developed countries, but he stressed that the relationship was a complex, interac- tive one in which macroeconomic policies and other factors, such as technology, played a crucial role. Whether adjustment would occur easily - and whether virtuous circles of trade and growth would be trig- gered - depended on a lot more than trade liberalisation. His second book, Exports and Economic Growth of Developing Countries, appeared in 1968 to complimentary reviews, but by then he had been invited to Geneva again, this time for Unctad.Maizels was an extremely modest man, but ministers and diplomats from developing countries admired his integrity and judgment, recognising that his work was driven by a concern for social justice and compassion for the poor and disadvantaged. He was unfailingly kind and courteous to his colleagues and everyone he met, but he also possessed a rare gift, once described by Charles Dickens as "the ability to see the world clearly with kind eyes". Joan survives him, as do two sons, a daughter and a sister. Leonard Ornellas 1930-39 Leonard Ornellas attended Raines between 1930 - 1939. He joined the ORA in 2006 after his daughter Jackie Weaver came across David Spencer's website and contacted him with regard to the Famous Old Raineians section. Her father had been awarded the DFC in January 1945 and the citation said that he had "flown on numerous operational sorties and displayed fine fighting spirit, keenness and devotion to duty". He passed away peacefully after developing heart problems on Aug 31st 2007. His renewed connection with the school, albeit late in his life,and becoming a Famous Old Raineian himself gave him much pleasure and pride. Mrs Audrey True (Marshall) Born Sept 3rd 1934 and died on Sept 23rd 2007 after a long & courageous fight against cancer. Her funeral was held at Eltham Cemetary on Oct 3rd 2007. She leaves a husband, two daughters, a son and four grand- children. This sad news was sent to us by her dear friend, Joyce Medley - I met my friend when we were both at Raines in 1945. She left in 1951 and did secretarial work. In 1957 Audrey married John. Audrey had many interests and gardening was her particular love. She even became a "silver surfer" ! They moved to Kent in 1962 and celebrated their Golden Wedding last year. Lost and Found Aubrey ‘ Rusty’ Ironmonger. 1955-62 discovered alive and well ! More in our next issue. Ex pupil memories welcome to accompany this proposed article. Scarf ,found after the Arbour Square Reunion, please contact the Committee. New Members Anthony Mulrennan (1969) has been a regular non-member at reunions for years, finally joined the Association recently. Greg Commons (1975). Gerlinde Leinwetter (Bennett),from Vienna and came especially for the reunion at ArbourSquare. Thanks to all contributors including Dr David Spencer, Gordon Clubb, Committee Members and everyone else for their articles, photographs and memories. We depend on your letters and photos and we look forward to hearing from anyone with an interesting story from their time at Raines. Please contact us, details below. Committee members addresses : Claire Burrows Brian Chaperlin Eddy Dodwell President (ess) Membership Secretary Webmaster Email : [email protected] Alexander Coach House 257 Wickham Chase Vines Lane West Wickham Other Committee members are : Clive Baugh Hildenborough Kent BR4 0BJ Treasurer Kent TN11 9LT Gwynneth Jackson Frances Dolman Secretary Sandra Johnson Glevum Rounds Main Street Roy Smith Warren Road Kirby Malzeard President Elect Chelsfield Village N Yorks HG4 3RS Tony Groves Kent BR6 6EP