TITLE HERE 1 THE SALOPIAN Issue No. 158 - Summer 2016

ith the shock waves of the recent decision to leave the EU still CONTENTS Wreverberating around the world, rarely has the Shrewsbury bubble seemed so disconcertingly seductive. But of course the bubble Academic News 4 is, and should be, an illusion, and it is perhaps more important than School Prizewinners 2016 7 ever for Shrewsbury’s pupils to be aware of what is going on outside the Scholarships 8 McEachran Prize 2016 8 bubble, so that their entry into a world which looks very different from Walking towards a Better Future 10 that into which, speaking for myself, I graduated in the late 1970s does Head of School 10 not come as too much of a shock. Jim Kennedy - obituary 11 Michael Schützer-Weissmann 12 That the rough seas of the wider world lap, or perhaps crash, against Ingsoc and Stalin 14 Our World is Beautiful 16 Shrewsbury’s walls, and that the chronic geopolitical instability we see The Pupil Voice 17 not only in Europe, but around the world, are not new phenomena, is Old Salopians in WWI - 1916 18 obvious, but we are sharply reminded of it in this issue by the centenary Ten Trees 20 article on 1916 and the Battle of the Somme in which many Salopians Art at Shrewsbury 26 lost their lives at a time when it must have seemed that Europe was Drama 28 Music 30 irreparably fractured. It is important for us all, whatever our political Miles Clark Travel Scholarship 32 persuasion, to keep such memories alive, for many reasons, but not least Rovers Return 35 to provide us with some perspective on the challenges which face us in RSSH 36 our own time. Rugby 40 Fives 42 RSSBC 45 Shrewsbury pupils had no choice but to engage with the wider world Commemorating 150 years of RSSBC 46 in the 1914-1918 war, if not directly, certainly in the sense of being Lacrosse 50 aware of what was happening to their families, former schoolmates and Netball 51 teachers. Within this issue will be seen a very different way in which Squash 51 pupils are increasingly recognising that we are an indivisible part of the Fencing 52 Basketball 53 wider world, a world which does not always look so pleasant as the From the Director 54 Shrewsbury Arcadia depicted on the front cover. Salopian Club Events 55 Salopian Arts 57 In September the quinquennial sponsored walk in support of the ‘The News of Old Salopians 58 Shewsy’ will take place, this year’s target £70,000, a sum which will The British Gurkhas 64 Sabrina 66 provide vital support to this wholly admirable institution in one of the Old Salopian Golfing Society 68 most deprived areas in Europe. Through numerous other fundraising Old Salopian Hunt 72 activities in support of a whole variety of charities, the School Old Salopian Football Club 74 community has in 2015-16 raised £56,000, an increase of £18,000 on the Saracens 75 previous year’s total of £38,000. Thanks to the inspirational leadership Old Salopian Women’s Sport 77 of Lesley Drew there is now a culture of fundraising within the School Old Salopian Rugby 78 Old Salopian Yacht Club 78 and a real sense amongst an increasing number of pupils that privilege Old Salopian Squash 79 should go hand-in-hand with social responsibility. Publications 80 Obituaries 82 The centre pages of this issue feature an article on those ‘unresting Editor castles’ of the School Site, its magnificent trees. Retiring head of biology Richard Hudson Andrew Allott has selected ten of the most significant and provided them Churchill’s Hall, Shrewsbury School, Shrewsbury SY3 7AT with pithy biographies. Apart from one millennial addition, they have 01743 280630 [email protected] all witnessed and survived the turbulence of the 20th century, and one Assistant Editor Annabel Warburg fervently hopes that many of them may live to see this present century Obituaries Editor out, and perhaps even the century after that. There’s surely a message Martin Knox for all of us in their ability to, in Larkin’s immortal words, ‘begin afresh, Salopian Club Nick Jenkins (Director) afresh, afresh.’ Salopian Club, The Schools, Shrewsbury SY3 7BA 01743 280891 (Director) 01743 280892 (Administrator) Front Cover: ‘Begin afresh, afresh, afresh’. mail to: [email protected] Design: Tom Sullivan www.grand-design.eu Inside Front cover: Reeling Society Summer Ceilidh Print: www.lavenhampress.com 4 SCHOOL NEWS

Academic News

The following pre-A Level candidates have been offered conditional places:

Sasha Arridge (Rb) Philosophy, Politics and Economics at St Anne’s College, Oxford Chloe Chen (MSH) Maths at Jesus College, Cambridge James Chen (I) Law at St John’s College, Cambridge Joe Davies (M) Biological Sciences at Magdalen College, Oxford Thomas Dodd (Rb) Physics at Hertford College, Oxford *Ursule Taujanskaite (MSH) Psychological and Behavioural Sciences at Selwyn College, Cambridge Tiger Vechamamontien (M) Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford

The following pupils applied post-A Pictured with the Headmaster are six of the successful Pre-A Level Oxbridge applicants. L-R: Sasha Arridge, Tom Dodd, Tiger Vechamamontien, Joe Davies, Ursule Taujanskaite and Chloe Chen Level and have been given firm offers: Alex Bird (S) Oxbridge Land Economy at St Catharine’s It has been another successful year for applications to Oxford and Cambridge College, Cambridge Universities, with a total of 13 Salopians being offered places – nine at Oxford and Olivia Bradley (EDH) four at Cambridge – in a range of different disciplines. There was an interesting English at Christ Church, Oxford balance between traditional academic subjects such as Mathematics and English Theodora Briggs (EDH) Literature and more specialised courses such as Psychological and Behavioural English at Somerville College, Oxford Sciences, Law and Land Economy. We feel this shows that our strongest pupils can Charles Gillow (Ch) not only prove their expertise in the subjects they study at Shrewsbury, but that Human Sciences at St Hugh’s College, they can also demonstrate their aptitude for new academic courses. Oxford It is also interesting to see the link between ‘supercurricular’ activities and Oxbridge Cecily Price (EDH) applications. This year’s successful applicants have been stalwarts of Shrewsbury Biological Sciences at Pembroke societies, such as Creative Writing, Darwin, Heseltine and Model United Nations, College, Oxford and have taken part in competitions such as the International Young Physicists’ Theo Simmons (Ch) Tournament and the Senior Maths Team Challenge. English at St John’s College, Oxford

Pre- and post-A level applicants were finely balanced this year. Seven applicants *Ursule Taujanskaite has also been awarded have received offers conditional on achieving high A level grades, while six post a Choral Scholarship to Selwyn College, A-level applicants have received firm offers of places. Cambridge

International physics magazine publishes Shrewsbury Sixth Former’s scientific paper

Sherry Xu (MSH UVI) has achieved the notable distinction of having a scientific paper accepted for publication in an international peer-reviewed physics magazine. Last summer, she was a member of the Shrewsbury School team that represented the UK in the International Young Physicists’ Tournament in Thailand, where they won a bronze medal. One of the projects she worked on and presented involved the physics of a model hovercraft. After the competition, she continued to refine her research and submitted a paper describing the behaviour of a model hovercraft powered by a party balloon to the International Young Physicists’ Journal. It will be published in the next edition Sherry with fellow IYPT 2015 team members Dom Dootson, Rory Champion and Tom Dodd SCHOOL NEWS 5

British Biology Olympiad Biology Challenge Four Sixth Form Biology students entered the British Biology Olympiad this year Thirteen Fourth and Fifth Form pupils and all of them won awards. Olivia Papaioannou (EDH) and Tom Edwards (S) volunteered to take part in the Royal were among the 6.6% of students who won Gold medals. Olivia’s particularly high Society of Biology’s ‘Biology Challenge’, score meant that she was one of a very small group who qualified for the next an Olympiad-style competition for year round of selection for the British Biology Olympiad team, which will take part in 9 and 10 pupils. Many of them won the International Olympiad during the summer. She is only the second Salopian to awards: achieve this. Will Hope (Ch) won a Gold medal Joe Davies (M) won a Bronze medal and Tom Cheung (SH) was Commended. Anna Cowan (MSH) and Otto Rothwell- Hurley (Ch) won Silver medals George Clowes (O) and Levi Reich (O) won Bronze medals Edward Evans (PH), Ben Hulme (PH) and Oscar Mitchell (S) were Highly Commended Mollie Matthews (EDH) and Olivia Moir (MSH) were Commended

RSC Chemistry Schools’ Quiz Competition A team of Fourth and Fifth Form chemists won through to the final of the RSC Chemistry Schools’ Quiz Competition, which was held at Birmingham University in March. Nearly 50 schools from across the Midlands region entered the competition; just eight made it through to the final. After Tom Edwards and Olivia Papaioannou twelve rounds of stiff questioning, during which Fifth Formers Boris Chemistry Olympiad Kwok (Ch) and Henry Mayhew (Ch) and Fourth Formers Adam Pattenden Thirteen students from the Lower Sixth and four students from the Upper Sixth (S) and Otto Rothwell-Hurley (Ch) took part in Round 1 of the International Chemistry Olympiad this year. performed extremely well in a closely- Gold Medals were awarded to: William Bedson (Rb LVI), Edward Chapman (Rb fought battle, they finished just outside LVI), Tom Dodd (Rb UVI), Joshua Himsworth (Ch LVI) the top three teams. Silver Medals were awarded to: Adam Aslam-Baskeyfield (Rb LVI), Joshua Bray (Rb LVI), Ben Jones (Rb LVI), Andrew Kim (S LVI) Bronze Medals were awarded to: Tom Cheung (SH UVI), Jake Elliott (Rb LVI), Mathew Hedges (Rb LVI), Horsun Liu (Rt LVI), Lucy Price (EDH LVI), Eric Tang (SH UVI), Arthur Yu (SH LVI)

Transit of Mercury Astronomical Society President Tom Dodd (Rb UVI) took advantage of a gap in the clouds on Monday 9th May to capture an image of Mercury transiting the Sun at 12.56 pm. The Astronomical Society set up telescopes in the Craig Building courtyard so that pupils and staff could view the transit, Gold Medal winners (L-R): Ed Chapman, Tom Dodd, Joshua Himsworth, William Bedson which lasted from 12.12 pm to 7.41 pm. 6 SCHOOL NEWS

form of a mathematical presentation. Ed Chapman (Rb LVI), who is no stranger to the final, won this year with an interesting talk entitled ‘All Artists are Mathematicians’ which focused on the works of M.C. Escher and the mathematics of how he transformed the plane in his work ‘Print Gallery’. Ed’s spot prizes for artistic knowledge captured the attention of the audience as he delivered a polished account of the inadvertent Riemann surfaces in Escher’s work. Suky OuYang (MSH IV) came second with a humorous presentation on the Ed Chapman (Rb) discovery of irrational numbers. School Mathematics Prizes The Arnold Hagger Prize – a ‘Print Gallery’ by M.C. Escher (1956) and an example of a Riemann surface 90-minute paper open to the whole school – was won this year by Chloe Jasmine Lo (EDH IV) won the Powell Chen (MSH UVI), who was runner- Prize with an impressive score of 67/70. up last year. She has an offer to Nicholas Liu (I III) and Ludo de Falbe read Mathematics at Jesus College, (SH IV) finished in second and third Cambridge. Haruka Suzuki (EDH LVI) place respectively. This competition, finished in second place. open to Third and Fourth Formers only, The David Harrison Prize is also open consists of a series of weekly problems to the whole School, and takes the of a puzzling nature.

Bentley Elocution Competition

We welcomed back Richard Field to adjudicate the final Our judge praised Caspian Cowan-Taylor for his recitation of the Bentley Elocution competition, confident that after of Robert Kiely’s Just Twenty-One, as well as Fergus David decades of involvement with this event as a teacher of for the clear and movingly understated delivery of Heaney’s English, Housemaster of Ridgemount, not to mention classic: Mid Term Break. But the Senior Prize was justly Registrar, he would be well placed to make the final delivered to newcomer Sebastian Hervas-Jones. Sebastian judgements. As ever, his task was not an easy one; with shared his own poem, At Bladon, which was entertaining, strong performances in all sections, the decisions made were touching, humorous and thoughtful in equal measure; such far from straightforward! a personal, lively and ‘neat’ composition was not only a very Seven brave Third Formers got proceedings off to an worthy winner of the prize, but delightfully refreshing in tone impressive start: Mary Lees, Vaughan Wilcox, Jonathan and content. Snell, Oscar Clarke-Williams, Olivia Moir, Rider Hartley and It was appropriate that, as proceedings drew to a close, Stephanie Worthington. Some immaculate and engaging Richard Field invited us to remember our late colleague, performances characterised a strong entry this year, but in the mentor and friend: Michael Schützer-Weissmann. Mike was end the winner was Mary Lees with her faultless performance a keen supporter of the Bentley and we all have many of Calpurnia’s lines from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. recollections of his involvement with the competition. The Jonathan Snell’s Ulysses was a very close second with another quality of the performances in 2016 was a fitting tribute to honourable mention for Stephanie Worthington, who chose his memory. As Mr Sheppe, who organised the event so Shakespeare’s Sonnet XVIII. successfully this year, pointed out in his own tribute to Schutz The Fourth Form performances were extremely strong this in the programme – the candle flame of enthusiasm for year and it was here that our adjudicator really struggled literature, good fellowship and civilisation is, thankfully, being to make a decision. And who could blame him? Last year’s kept alight by Salopians today. winner, Otto Rothwell-Hurley, gave a captivating account of Ted Hughes’ Hawk Roosting, whilst Libby Hedges treated us to the contemporary, highly charged Pray for Paris by Topaz Winters. However, in a very tightly contested battle the winner was Abi Watkinson, whose performance of Kate Mackay’s Pretty was simply unforgettable; Abi commanded the stage and held the attention of every single member of the audience with her exemplary performance of this interesting and challenging piece. The Senior group consisted of 11 Fifth and Sixth Formers, many of whom had been battling with coursework deadlines and revision for exams yet still found time to learn and recite the verse of their choice. Despite some lapses in memory, there were strong performances from a range of sources. Sebastian Hervas-Jones, Abi Watkinson, Mary Lees SCHOOL NEWS 7

School Prizewinners 2016

The Sidney Gold Medal D.R. Edwards (O.S) The Bentley Elocution Sixth Form Prize S.I. Hervas-Jones (S) The Harvard Book Prize C.M.A. Reid (EDH) The Bentley Elocution Fourth A.L. Watkinson (G) The Richard Hillary Essay Medal T.W. Edwards (S) Form Prize The Bentley Elocution Third The Darwin Science Prize T.H. Dodd (Rb) form Prize M.A. Lees (EDH) The Noneley Exhibition A. Arridge (Rb) The McEachran Senior Prize G.W. Cabral (Ch) The Dukes Prize for French V.U. Taujanskaite (MSH) The McEachran Junior Prize O.C.J. Rothwell Hurley (Ch) The Lower Sixth French Prize W.S. Bedson (Rb) The Junior School Essay Prize – Fourth Form A.P. Pattenden (S) The Bentley Prize for German A.S.K. Wordie (EDH) The Junior School Essay Prize – The Bain Prize for Spanish A. Pototskaya (G) Third Form E. Alekseeva (EDH) The Lower Sixth Spanish Prize D.M. Smith (MSH) The David Harrison Prize E.L. Chapman (Rb) The Moss Prize for Classics G.W. Cabral (Ch) The Hawksley Burbury Prize E.L. Chapman (Rb) The Cross Prize for Classics S.T.F. Russell (Ch) The Rolls Royce Cup Y. Xu (EDH) The Classical Civilisation Prize M.R. Pownall (MSH) Fifth Form Academic Prizes N.J. Amthor (R), J.B. Channon (PH), I.G. Evans (G), O.M.R. The Philip Sidney Prize for English M.R. Pownall (MSH) Hodges (S), B.L.T. Kwok (Ch), H.M. Mayhew (Ch), A.C. Moore (S), The Kitson-Clark Prize for English C.M.A. Reid (EDH) N. Ruechuseth (Ch), L.C. Whitworth (R), M. Zhao (G) The Theatre Studies Prize N.G. Tudor (EDH) Fourth Form Examination Prizes A.E. Bothamley-Dakin (G), W.B.B. Hope (Ch), J.W. Jefferis (SH), The Bright Prize for History N.J. Chen (I) O.D. Mattinson (Rb), P.F. Merison (SH), M.D. Pangin (SH), A.P. Pattenden (S), J.I.M. Russell (G), E.J. Ware (MSH), The Murray Senior Prize for History E.M.C. Plaut (S) A.L. Watkinson (G) The Dorothy David Prize for Religious Studies B.E. Sansom (PH) Third Form Examination Prizes E. Alekseeva (EDH), P.E. Collingwood-Cameron (EDH), A.C. Cowan (MSH), T.A.J. Jackson (R), M.E. Matthews (EDH), The Lower Sixth Philosophy and E.M.C. Plaut (S) O.J.I. Moir (MSH), T.F. Price (S), J.H. Snell (Ch), Theology Prize A.G.C. Sparkes (I), N.C.P. Yale (S)

The Robertson-Eustace Prize for F.T. Galbraith (EDH) The Goulding Family Prize Geography for Drama E.S.L. Skelton (EDH) The Lower Sixth Geography Prize H.J.C. Huntsman (R) The Junior Drama Prize T.W. Pattinson (Ch) The Arnold Hagger Prize for The Ashton Theatre Prize E.R. Leatherbarrow (MSH) Mathematics X. Chen (MSH) The Woollam Family Prize H.A.P. Newbould (Ch) The Lower Sixth Mathematics Prize P Xiong (G) for Music and H.O. Thomas (Ch) The Computing Prize R.E. Dootson (M) The Guyer Prize for Music V.U. Taujanskaite (MSH) The Arnold Matthews Science Prize The Russell Prize for Music L.B. Kell (EDH) for Biology O.C. Papaioannou (EDH) The Gordon Riley Prize for Music Y. Jim (I) The Arnold Matthews Science Prize for Chemistry L.B. Kell (EDH) The Senior Debating Prize L.C. Drinkwater (MSH) The Arnold Matthews Science Prize The Junior Debating Prize T.G.C. Plaut (S) for Physics T.H. Dodd (Rb) The Lower Sixth Biology Prize J.S. Bray (Rb) The David Spencer Memorial O.C. Dickins (R) and Trophy for Outstanding P.E.D. George (M) The Lower Sixth Chemistry Prize H. Kim (S) Contribution to Boys Sport The Upper Sixth Economics Prize A. Vechamamontien (M) The Elle Gurden Trophy for Outstanding Contribution to A.S.K. Wordie (EDH) The Lower Sixth Economics Prize M.J.B. Yale (S) Girls Sport The Ramsbotham Prize for Business The Sportsman of the Year G.D. Panayi (Ch) Studies D.J. Lloyd (PH) The Sportswoman of the Year O.C. Papaioannou (EDH) The Lower Sixth Business E.G. Kerr (EDH) Studies Prize The Charities Prize G.A. Bruce (MSH) The Global Perspectives and The West Family Prize A.J. Aslam-Baskeyfield (Rb) Independent Research Prize L.B. Kell (EDH) O.E. Okusanya (SH), The Extended Project Qualification The Guy Lovett Award N.J. Okusanya (SH) and Prize J.T.O. Whitaker (Rt) C.J. Cunningham-Green (R) The James Meikle Prize for Physical The Haynes Cup R.W. Bennett (M) Education M.A. Parsonage (S) The Cabral Family Prize J.P. Chesshire (SH) The Hill Art Prize O.C. Dickins (R) The CCF Leadership Award B.J. Remnant (Ch) and The Lower Sixth Art Prize I.S. Luczyc-Wyhowska (G) S.M. Watts (MSH) The History of Art Prize L.G. Sartain (SH) The Duke of Edinburgh C.S. Rogers (Rb) The Photography Prize S.W. Tam (G) Completion Award The A Level Music Prize R.D.A. Shone (Ch) The Headmaster’s Leadership Prize B. Gilliat-Smith (O) The Design and Technology Prize J.A. Walker (Rt) The Headmaster’s Prize T.C. Breese (PH) 8 SCHOOL NEWS

Scholarships Awarded for 2016 Entry Third Form

Academic Sport Butler Scholars: Edie Hargrave (Shrewsbury High School) Elizabeth Edwards (Abberley Hall) Francesca Harris (Terra Nova) Euan Parr (Packwood Haugh) Georgiana Nicholas (Packwood Haugh) Charlotte Russell (The Elms) Finn Sansom (Prestfelde) Adelaide Sillar (Terra Nova) All-Rounder Kennedy Scholars: Christian Beard (Prestfelde) Tom Allen (King Edward’s School, Birmingham) Mark Ellis (Abberley Hall) Henry Bateson (Mowden Hall) Imogen Jones (Prestfelde) Ted Davis (Prestfelde) Bertie Shepherd-Cross (Summer Fields) Guy Gowar (Pembroke House, Kenya) Oscar Hamilton-Russell (Wolverhampton G.S.) Moss Scholars: George Harpin (Prestfelde) Edward Bayliss (Packwood Haugh) Catrin Heath (Moor Park) Ted Davis (Prestfelde) Imogen Jones (Prestfelde) Oliver Toms (Prestfelde) Nikita Martynov (Abberley Hall) Alington Scholars: Adelaide Sillar (Terra Nova) Edward Tarling (Cothill House) Sam Evans (Bilton Grange) Joe Pattenden (Packwood Haugh) Art Oliver Taylor (Terra Nova) Theo Gabb (Abberley Hall) Edward Tarling (Cothill House) William Unsworth (S.Anselm’s) Ben Ware (Abberley Hall) Olivia Usher (The Elms) Billy Watkinson (Terrington Hall) Drama Music Imogen Morgan (Prestfelde) Jonty Gould (Shrewsbury High Prep) Phoebe Morris (Shrewsbury High School) Daisy Holder (Mowden Hall) Orlando Williams (Packwood Haugh) Douglas Kennedy (Prestfelde) Rohan McCourt (Prestfelde) DT Phoebe Morris (Shrewsbury High School) Kanei Nishii (Stockport Grammar School) Theo Gabb (Abberley Hall) Meredith Powell-Turner (Pinewood School) Oliver Taylor (Terra Nova) Oliver Toms (Prestfelde) Marcus Young (The King’s School, Chester)

Lower Sixth Form

Academic Sport Harriet Bramwell (Sedbergh School) Margaret Cassidy Scholar: Stephanie Christenson (Moreton Hall) Josiah Chilaka (St Peters Academy, Stoke on Trent) Nina Churchill (St Peter’s Catholic High School, Alex Wilson Scholar: Jamie Whelan (The Priory) Gloucester) Isaac Dai (Oswestry School) RSSBC Rowing Scholar: Ben Ford (Tanglin Trust School, Singapore) Samuel Branford (Stourport High School) Jessie Inglis-Jones (Newport Girls High School) Sports Scholars: James Joseph (The Holyfield School, Surbiton) Ben Crump (Church Stretton) Sophia Price (Shrewsbury High School) Jennifer Hallsworth (St Joseph’s College, Stoke) Andrew Wu (St Stephen’s College, Hong Kong) James Joseph (The Holyfield School, Surbiton) Eleanor Wycherley (Shrewsbury High School) Amy Pook (Shrewsbury High School) Ryan Wheldon (Bridgnorth Endowed) Music Drama Crystal Lee (Yarm School) Nina Churchill (St Peter’s Catholic Henry Lawrence (Bishops Castle Community Coll) High School, Gloucester)

SCHOOL NEWS 9

McEachran Prize 2016 … and a Churchillian mystery solved

Christopher Booker Esq (Rt 1951-56), Private Eye’s first editor and our judge at this year’s McEachran Prize, reflects on the competition and reveals a closely guarded secret …

s one of the oldest surviving What I was looking for was not Why was Ingrams’s perfunctory note Apupils of the legendary Frank turgid political statements or flip apparently written at 3 o’clock in the McEachran (“Kek”) back in the early lines taken from movie scripts but morning? The answer, I was able to 1950s, I was honoured to be invited entries which genuinely qualified as explain, was hinted at in a mysterious back in February to judge who should a Spell, followed by a well-articulated little piece headed “Cricket” I contributed be this year’s winners of the prize explanation from the competitor as to to the next edition of The Salopian. This set up to honour his memory, and why he had made his choice. recounted in heavily veiled terms how, to reminisce about one of the most on that December night, an uproarious remarkable characters ever to have I had little hesitation in awarding the leaving party had been staged in taught at Shrewsbury. junior prize to Otto Rothwell Hurley Churchill’s (tactfully disguised as (Ch) for his talk on Dylan Thomas’s Do ‘Winston’s’), at the end of which, since I little realised that this would also lead not go gentle into that goodnight. My there was snow shining outside in bright to the solution of a 60-year-old riddle senior winner was Guy Cabral (Ch) for moonlight, we decided that this was an which had long baffled my host that those famous lines from the Rubaiyat of ideal time to play cricket. evening, Richard Hudson, the current Omar Khayyam beginning The moving housemaster of Churchill’s: centred finger writes and having writ moves on. We marched out to the square, wrapped on a drunken cricket match played in up to the nines, and the game began. December 1955 in several inches of After an agreeable dinner at Churchill’s, At the end of the first over the score snow on the First XI square by the light when I was able to chat with my old stood at 11, all extras. The hapless of a brilliant moon. history master Laurence Le Quesne for batsman, who had not yet managed the first time in 60 years, my host posed to see a thing, asked when play was I was gratified to find the Moser Library the riddle which had long perplexed due to begin. The next ball, however, packed as the 18 candidates nervously him. Fishing out an ancient volume, he somehow managed to hit towards waited to read us their chosen “Spells” in which Heads of House wrote a mid-off, who hurled it back so hard and to explain why they thought summary of how the house had fared that it vanished into a distant snowdrift, them worthy to be numbered with under their leadership, Richard pointed thus bringing the game to a precipitate the hundreds of Spells which boys of out the striking contrast between the end. Back in Churchill’s, the then- 60 years ago had to learn to chant in brief, scrappily scrawled entry from housemaster Mr Binney put his head unison with Kek until they were fixed Richard Ingrams on leaving the School round the door to remind Ingrams that, indelibly in our memories (eventually to in December 1955, and the beautifully before leaving early next morning, be published in two fine anthologies). neat, much more detailed entry written he still had to pen his Head of House the following summer by his successor, report. Thus was the riddle of those few I explained why generations of boys, Willy Rushton. inebriated scribbles finally solved. including the three original editors of Private Eye, I myself, Richard Ingrams and the brilliant cartoonist Willy Rushton, thought Kek at the time to be the most eccentric teacher we had ever come across; but how we came later to look back on learning his Spells, drawn from all the world’s literature, including the works of then very modern poets such as W.H. Auden (whom Kek had taught before he came to Shrewsbury), as one of the most valuable things any of us had gained from our schooldays.

Having asked the audience to identify some of the more memorable of those original Spells, several of which Ingrams and I used happily to chant to each other while writing jokes at Private Eye, what I found interesting about this year’s competitors was that too many had not really grasped what constitutes a proper Spell. It should be a fragment of poetry which carries a special magic through its sound, rhythm and sense: for example almost any lines from Coleridge’s Kubla Khan, such as Weave a circle round him thrice, And close your eyes with holy dread For he on honey-dew hath fed, And drunk the milk of Paradise. The Salopian February 1956 10 SCHOOL NEWS

Walking Towards a Better Future

Shrewsbury School’s Sponsored Walk in aid of ‘The Shewsy’ - Shrewsbury House Youth Club, Everton - Thursday 22nd September 2016

very five years we ALL at contribution to the Shewsy’s we’d love to hear from you. Email EShrewsbury School participate income over the next five years Lesley Drew at [email protected] in a very special event: a 20- and enable the Club to give work Check out the Shewsy’s new website: mile walk across our gorgeous to skilled staff to lead music- http://www.shrewsburyhouse.org.uk/ Shropshire countryside to raise as making, gardening, cooking, much money as we can for The drama, arts and crafts activities Nick David (Logistics for Walk) Shewsy Youth Club. for their daily After-School Club, Lesley Drew (Fund-raising for Walk) evening Youth Club and residential As you are aware, we have over trips. These activities build Henry Corbett, Warden of 100 years’ history with this great confidence and raise aspirations. Shrewsbury House, Vicar of St cause in one of Europe’s most Austerity measures have meant cut Peter’s and St John Chrysostom’s deprived areas. Life expectancy backs for youth work, and several Churches, Everton, writes: in Everton is still six years below similar clubs in Liverpool have had “Without the Shewsy and my Mum the national average, and 32% of to close. in my teenage years I would have families have no one in work. Our got into a whole lot of trouble: support can help break the cycle If you would like to make a donation the Shewsy has made a massive of low expectations: children who online, please choose one of the difference in my life... it put me on have had the worst start in life can House fundraising pages at the right path definitely.” So said an find a welcome, a role model and https://mydonate.bt.com/teams/ ex-Club member on the ‘hot seat’ at new opportunities at the Club. shrewsburywalkforshewsy the end of a Senior Club evening.

The walk starts at the south end of If you would prefer to make a Such ‘hot seat’ discussions and the Long Mynd and then goes on donation by cheque, please make it interviews have long been a custom towards the Stiperstones, ultimately payable to ‘Shrewsbury House’ and in the Shewsy, and for at least heading down towards the finish post it to Mrs Lesley Drew, Sponsored a couple of reasons: the young point at Pontesbury and transport Walk, Shrewsbury School, Shrewsbury people hear stories from interesting back to School. Shrewsbury pupils, SY3 7BA characters; and they also learn Club members, School staff, Old the great value and importance of Salopians and their dogs are invited If you would like to join in with the asking questions. to join in the fun. sponsored walk, please let us know you are coming, for catering and safety So this ex-Club member above Our aim is simple: £70,000... or purposes. Email Nick David at npd@ became a Club helper. He himself more! We have asked each pupil shrewsbury.org.uk. used to ask great questions of to aim at a target of £100. This If you or your company could offer people on the hot seat, from a would represent a steady, reliable sponsorship for the costs of the day, local politician to a Merseyside SCHOOL NEWS 11 professional footballer, a journalist in Africa, and the Club member about the Shewsy, the people, and to a drugs counsellor, and he was replied, “Well done!” at which point about inner city life in Everton. brilliantly honest about his own Eldyrd lifted himself up from the mistakes and highlights from his hot seat and said that the Club Life is not always easy; it is often life so far. member’s “Well done” meant nearly challenging, but it is never dull and as much as the knighthood and the resilience of local people and A favourite memory of mine from they exchanged a cheerful hug! of the outstanding team of Club a hot seat interview was when Sir staff and helpers is an inspiration. Eldyrd Parry (Old Salopian and last There are now five Social Studies Funding is not easy either, and year’s President of the Salopian courses each year from the School to all help from the Sponsored Club) was asked by a teenage the Shewsy, two in each of the winter Walk this autumn will be a great female Club member, “Why are you terms and one in the summer, and encouragement. The Shewsy is now a Sir?” Sir Eldryd talked briefly and the feedback continues to be always in its 113th year, still much needed, humbly about his medical work appreciative of the amount learned still going strong.

Jim Kennedy (1931-2015)

Jim Kennedy was a founder member and leader of 1936” or a “I’ve been in touch with...” or “Just one the Shrewsbury House archive team that started more thing we need to work on...” He was a great up after the Club’s centenary celebrations in 2003 leader of the team. and was a regular visitor to the School on Speech Days and on fact-finding trips to the School Jim was born in 1931, was a Club member at the library and archives. Shewsy after the war, a goalkeeper and cricketer of distinction and an enthusiast for the Club. Over the past 13 years the archive team has been After leaving the Shewsy, he worked for Metal gathering together pictures and information from Box in Cambridgeshire, Essex, Yorkshire as well the Club’s past, culminating in Shrewsbury House: as on Merseyside. He loved the Club’s link with A Mission for Life: A history of a youth Club: Part the school, and will be much missed by his wife One 1903-1939 which Jim completed before his Betty, his family, the archive team (especially death in December 2015. He also compiled A Harry Whittaker, Sam Perry, Jimmy Caples and Club at War, collecting letters written by Shewsy George Marsden) and by his many friends. A Club members to Barr Adams OS, secretary to the service of thanksgiving for his life, attended by Shewsy Old Boys from 1932-1958. Both works his family and friends, was held in St Peter’s were great labours of love, and Jim worked Church on the evening of 13th March 2016 and tirelessly in tracking down pictures, news, reports included moving and thought-provoking readings and information from those first decades of the from his history of the Club. Club’s life. The Archive team meets on a Friday morning in the Club, and Jim would often come in with a “I’ve got some photographs here from Henry Corbett

Head of School 2015-16 Head of School Tom Breese (PH) muses on his Salopian schooldays

Asked by the editor to reflect on from lesson to lesson that taking a Shrewsbury bubble even more deeply. five years at Shrewsbury, it is very step back and appreciating our milieu It is not without sadness that I concede difficult to know where to begin. does not appear an option. Under our it is time to pass on the baton and let The clichés of “carpe diem” and of inattentive gaze, the landscape and another round of ambitious Salopians the Shrewsbury’s ability to nurture character of the school have changed join the line for Call Over. the “well-rounded individual” spring substantially yet almost seamlessly in readily to mind, although I feel that five years. We have a new boathouse, these would be reflections more Hodgson Hall, lower school girls; the befitting a Summer Chapel interview. list goes on. Change has arguably been the defining feature, yet every I would like instead to mention year we come back after Summer an aspect that generally falls by mostly oblivious to the transformation the wayside in such memoirs. The of our surroundings. Having entered landscape in which we have grown in Third Form as a fresh faced young up is one to recollect with both prep schooler, change has been the fondness and admiration. Under defining feature on a personal level instruction to snatch the forelock of too. Although the prep school bubble Kairos, we find ourselves so often seemed at the time a rather daunting walking at such a formidable pace one to pop, I fear the popping of the 12 SCHOOL NEWS

Michael Schützer-Weissmann Staff 1988 - 2015

established an ambience of civilised discourse, punctuated by bouts of academic rigour, furious literary debate and helpless interludes of laughter. Burdened by the fleeting presence of up to three housemasters, Faculty meetings often featured lengthy agendas, much filibustering and closure at item three. Who can forget that almost feline manner in which, with eyebrows raised, Michael would offer what to him was a killer blow? ‘You’re wrong,’ he would say with a sort of nasal uplift and then sit back with a quizzical glance, to admire the supposed confusion of a would-be adversary.

Nevertheless, the Faculty mood was never less than convivial. Traditional teaching (spelling and grammar, nouns and pronouns) was presented in the most civilised way. Happiest perhaps when teaching his beloved Milton, Shakespeare or Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, or celebrating the ‘Twitch upon the Thread’ as Lord Marchmain recants in Brideshead Revisited, Michael had little time for literary humbug, or modernist views on literature or art. He wore his reading and scholarship lightly; and his donnish manner was countered by the keenest sense of satire.

Given the broad church of the intake, both at A level and GCSE, exam results in August were often a moment of tension and subsequent delight. The cry ‘Habemus Cartam!’ ‘I am warned that he has an enormous family. Seven (‘We have the card!’) greeted every crisp white missive from children altogether,’ Headmaster, Simon Langdale remarked, the Head congratulating one and all on another crop of reviewing the application of Michael Schützer-Weissmann excellent grades. Champagne would flow in the Marycourt for the post of Head of English at Shrewsbury in 1988. dining room, whilst outside a tribe of little Schutzer- Nonetheless, Michael was invited up from Sherborne School Weissmanns danced in triumph, banging on the windows. and, impressed by the air of gravity that barely concealed an impish charm, one colleague, quoted Shakespeare, For Marycourt in Kennedy Road was as much the centre of suggesting ‘He has in his countenance that which I would operations as the Faculty itself. Here tutees were gathered fain call master.’ up as part of the burgeoning family and here the many visiting speakers repaired with colleagues after a lecture Duly, the Schützer-Weissmann clan was settled in a large on Shakespeare, Milton, Oscar Wilde, Conan Doyle or and draughty house in Kennedy Road. This was to be their PG Wodehouse. That large dining room table will have home for nearly three decades, during which time Michael seen much mirth and merriment and many an eminent and his devoted wife Titi (aka Marie Antoinette) went on to lecturer would overstay the chimes of midnight. Schutz and deliver another five, bringing the number of offspring to a Titi’s generosity was bountiful. One Old Salopian recalls dozen – or Twelve Apostles. ‘The first image that comes to mind is of Michael sitting marking essays at a bench amid the vegetables in the back For Michael and Titi’s devotion to the Catholic Church garden one Sunday afternoon. I’m fairly sure I arrived defined them. Born of Jewish Hungarian parents, who unannounced, but suffice it to say he offered me some wine emigrated from Budapest during the 1930s, Michael was and I didn’t leave until long after supper.’ converted to the Catholic Church in his early twenties. Thereafter, Christianity and the teaching of the Catholic Fine wines and friends and music were the mark of a man Church became the central pillar of his outlook on the for whom work and leisure were often interchangeable. world. Graduating from Gonville and Caius College, A wine connoisseur and an excellent musician, musical Cambridge in 1969 with what he described as an evenings at Marycourt would feature Renaissance chamber ‘undistinguished degree’, Michael taught at the French Lycée pieces with Michael playing skilfully on the viol. in London and then from 1977 at Sherborne School in Dorset, where his reputation as an original thinker, tutor and But close to the hearts of many Old Salopians was The teacher had a profound effect on everyone he encountered. Building Society – an eclectic bunch who gathered to listen ‘He was the greatest teacher I ever met,’ wrote journalist to talks on architecture from boys, staff and distinguished Aidan Hartley in a memorial article in The Spectator. visitors. Trips to ancient piles and stately homes of England, to Cambridge and Oxford Colleges, Trinity’s The influence of ‘Schutz’ was quickly felt in the English Pepys Library or Whitley Court in Worcestershire, led Faculty, as volumes of books by well-known Catholic generations of boys and girls towards a love of architecture authors quickly filled the shelves (Graham Greene and and the English landscape. Evelyn Waugh featuring among them). The Faculty is famous for its blend of scholarship and mild eccentricity. The ‘BS’, as it was known, stood on the fringe of Converting the ancient drama room ‘E4’ into a classroom respectability, as far as some of the School authorities and a Faculty Office, known as ‘The Sherry Room’, Michael were concerned, in that it also offered a chance for the SCHOOL NEWS 13 occasional tipple – and occasionally something more – to decorating the house. ‘Dad was very good with his hands young men on the cusp of moving into the wider world. and improvising,’ his daughter Clare recalls. ‘The skills Though rooted in traditionalism, Schutz was never a resulted in furniture with a certain character and charm. member of the safe establishment. As a lover of the good And I was deeply impressed when we went camping and life, skirmishes with the powers-that-be were not unknown. he made an omelette without a pan. He wrapped the egg On one occasion, and in an effort to rid themselves box up in foil and then held onto it with tent pegs.’ of increasing costs of maintaining what one Governor described as the ‘decaying vicarages of Kingsland,’ it was For such a lover of life and everything it has to offer, decreed by Governors that large staff properties would be Michael’s death came all too early. He bore two bouts of sold, in order to build smaller, modern dwellings across the final illness with great dignity. His greatest wish, even as Site. Michael demurred and sat tight, whilst the ramifications he approached the end, was to visit Lourdes on the feast of such a move were pored over by the best legal brains of the Immaculate Conception. True to form, his final Mass the School could find. Finally, the Governors blinked. And was the Old Rite in Latin, held in the Shropshire Hospice Michael and Titi stayed in Marycourt. and surrounded by the entire family. The Requiem Mass at his crowded funeral followed a similar pattern, so that as But it is perhaps as ‘Pater Familias’ that Michael is best Horatio observes of his friend Hamlet, remembered. Children recall those endless summer holidays in their house in Le Preuil in the centre of France. Mornings Good night sweet Prince spent in rigorous study, (many of them went on to graduate And flights of angels sing thee from Oxbridge colleges); afternoons spent picnicking or to thy rest. bathing in the river. Michael would instruct the family each morning and spend the rest of his free time building and Peter Fanning

Sam McLoughlin (Rb LVI), Alex Walton (M LVI), Boris Kwok (Ch V), Andrew Kim (S LVI) and Archie Free (Rt V) have been spending their Thursday afternoons working with Dr Law to create a path in part of the gardens at Severn Hospice. They chose to name it ‘Marycourt Walk’ after the house where Mr Schützer-Weissmann lived. 14 SCHOOL NEWS

What parallels do you see between Ingsoc, the political system in Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, and the Soviet Union under Stalin?

Ed Plaut (S), brother of James Plaut, last year’s head of school, is currently studying ‘The dystopian novel’ as part of his A level English studies. Ed is also an historian, and the course provides ample opportunities for cross-disciplinary work. Here is Ed’s most recent essay.

the state are treated is also extremely Winston, in that electric shocks are similar in both cultures. The Stalinist administered as part of his treatment criticism of the “cosmopolitanism” of to solve his “illness”. The repression liberals who sought to criticise the of political dissidents in both the regime is strikingly similar to how Stalinist Soviet Union and Oceania is “enemies of the state” in 1984 (a Soviet fundamentally linked to its stasis; for as term) often are forced to confess to the liberty of the citizens is removed, be Eurasian or Eastasian spies. The so does the ability for the society to names of government departments are innovate, in this case politically – also strikingly similar – for example therefore entrenching the power of Miniluv, Minitrue (the abbreviations for the elites which can be seen as the the Ministry of Love and the Ministry common aim of the two regimes. of Truth) are similar to Gosplan, s a socialist, George Orwell felt Gosbank and Gosnab, the Soviet The USSR also shares many political Athat the aggressive, autarkic abbreviations of the State Planning parallels with the Ingsoc regime. Both and all-controlling communist Committee, the State Bank of the USSR are one party states where there is no totalitarianism of the Stalinist Soviet and the State Committee for Material opposition to the ruling totalitarian Union was both a perversion of real Technical Supply respectively. Such regime, with brutal repression of socialism, and a perversion that would abbreviations make these raw, coercive those who are deemed enemies of make the birth of more moderate and totalitarian bureaucracies seem far the state, reinforced by the personality socialism in Europe harder, if not more benign to the inhabitants than cults of Stalin and Big Brother, who impossible, given Western opposition they are (if government can ever be are distinctly similar. The imagery of to Stalin and the puppet communist seen as “benign”). It is not just to the both is ubiquitous in their respective regimes he supported behind the Iron ordinary machinery of government societies – in Airstrip One Big Brother Curtain. Although Nineteen Eighty-Four that such euphemism extends – can be found depicted on all the is not an allegory in the same sense indeed, the Stalinist referral to World telescreens and “the posters that were as Animal Farm, major parallels can War II as “The Great Patriotic War” is plastered everywhere”, whereas in the be seen between the USSR and the hugely reminiscent of the way that USSR statues of Stalin were extremely world of Oceania as ruled through the the constant, perhaps mythical wars common, as were pictures of Stalin doctrine of Ingsoc, and to this end our that Oceania finds itself fighting with (500,000 alone were published discussion of these parallels will be Eurasia and Eastasia, which are utilised of the infamous photo of Lenin organised into the topics of language, to both stir up virulent, unthinking and Stalin together). Furthermore, politics and economics. support for the regime, which in turn the regime under which Ingsoc is allow the regime to hide the rampant operated heavily utilises censorship Firstly, it should be seen that the world economic failings of the regime, such in order to further its own aims – in of Ingsoc shares a highly euphemistical as the chocolate ration being reduced the most obvious parallel with the language which is extremely similar in Oceania and being hidden in the USSR, revolutionary leaders like to the register used by the Stalinist news of success at war, which as Jones, Aaronson, and Rutherford are regime to justify its actions and to Winston comments is common practice airbrushed out of photographs which portray the regime in better terms. For for bad news. The idea that those are published, just as Leon Trotsky example, the personality cult around who dissent are “mentally deranged”, and Lev Kamenev were removed from both leaders, Stalin and Big Brother, is as Winston is told he is by O’Brien, a famous photo of Lenin addressing couched in equally familial language is yet another idea with close Soviet Soviet troops in 1920. The pair were in order to conjure up images of resonance, as it was common Soviet also edited out of photos of the Soviet fraternity with the rest of the nation, practice for political dissidents to be leadership celebrating the anniversary with Stalin being portrayed as a father diagnosed with “sluggishly progressing of the revolution in 1919 – Trotsky figure in propaganda, often appearing schizophrenia” in order to facilitate for opposing Stalin’s stance on the with children in order to further their “treatment” in a psychotherapy direction the USSR should take during this impression. A.J Gregor referred facility, which spared them life in his rise to power, just as Jones, to the “effortless meliorism and a gulag but for a worse fate often Aaronson, and Rutherford posed a false illusions of fraternity” as being involving electric shock treatment, such threat to the power of Big Brother in key themes of totalitarian regimes, as was the case for Jaures Medvedev, the post-revolutionary period. and this is evident in the language a dissident who revealed government surrounding both leaders. Not only failings over a nuclear incident near Censorship in both societies is not is the language surrounding leaders Kyshtym in 1957. This treatment is also just linked to imagery however: in similar however, the way enemies of similar to that which is undertaken by 1984 Winston works in the Ministry of SCHOOL NEWS 15

Truth which is dedicated to editing not had special emphasis on a freer press; planning of the regime meant that one only the current news but the news so much was total censorship Stalin’s of the most agriculturally productive in the past because, as the Ingsoc hallmark. The stifling of ideas through regions in Europe was pushed into slogan goes, “he who controls the past censorship is yet again another horrific famine. The emaciated state controls the future; he who controls example of the mental stasis present of Winston and the rubble which is the present controls the past”, as it in both societies, both ideologically Airstrip One (the principal city of allows the Party to been seen by the and politically, which makes them Oceania, formerly London) suggests populace as they wish to be seen by so dystopian for their citizens and so a similar situation of mass shortages the populace because they control any preferred by their constituent elites. stemming from a failed economy reference point for comparison with where the profit motive, and with it the past – which is always made to Economically, both societies are also any initiative, has been repressed by seem worse than the present. This can extremely similar. Both economies collectivisation to the point of utter be seen as also being the case in the are state-planned and controlled, as stasis economically by totalitarian USSR, where after the consolidation shown by the ubiquity of plans, such state control. Winston’s “continuous of power all the literature surviving as the “9th Three Year Plan” completed hunger” was one probably shared by from the Tsarist times was destroyed – in Oceania and the “Five Year Plans” nearly every Soviet citizen, apart from with only some kept for NKVD/KGB completed in the Soviet system. As the Politburo shared in great luxury reference; in the style that O’Brien befits any state-controlled sector of and plenty, as is the state in 1984 has access to forbidden material like governance, the autarkies of the USSR revealed by Julia’s plundering from Goldstein’s book (which may well and of Oceania both fail to provide the Inner Party, which includes such be written by the regime anyway). a working economy, with shortages delicacies as coffee and “real bread”. Glavlit, the Soviet department for common in both societies such as Indeed, in both societies there is little this, is abbreviated in a similar way to basic shortages such as razor blades sense that the ruling classes actually Minitrue, and it can be seen as carrying in 1984, and the chocolate ration want to better the lives of the ordinary out very similar roles. Pornography having to be decreased to 25g from citizen, but instead simply want to is prohibited in 1984, at least to the 30g (although the Ministry of Truth cement their power by repressing the party members, and this can be seen alters the record so that it is a 5g rise citizen to a powerless state – a view as very similar to the Soviet situation from 20g to 25g). The millions lost which is best confirmed in O’Brien’s in which all pornography was to famine over the Stalinist years are statement that “power is not a means, prohibited – although in 1984 there is testament to the failings that the USSR’s it is an end”. In this sense, when the a limited supply of such material (in economy ran into – as typified in the politics, language and economy of this case state produced) distributed Holodomor, the 1930s famine in the the two societies are compared, we to the proles to keep them satisfied. Ukraine which, although exacerbated can conclude that government in both Indeed, the brutality of Stalinist by government policy designed to kill Oceania and the USSR is an exercise in censorship is shown in the fact that off opposition, killed up to 10 million using every machine of state power to Khrushchev’s de-Stalinisation program citizens as the centralised economic ensure stasis.

A facsimile from Orwell’s original manuscript for Nineteen Eighty-Four, in the possession of Thane Warburg (staff), whose grandfather published the first edition of the novel and is also, by coincidence, a distant relation of the writer of this essay, Ed Plaut. 16 SCHOOL NEWS

Our World is Beautiful

Fifth Former Charlie Johns (I) is an enthusiastic member of Shrewsbury’s voluntary Creative Writing Society. Here he writes movingly of running in Ethiopia during last autumn’s RSSH African Tour.

infused with a gathering of orange hues, and when we near the top of the hill the sun has crept over the crest. Daybreak, it kisses the back of my legs and I feel a pleasant warmth. We begin winding around each tree, and he gestures for me to follow his path. The path takes us down to the banks and grassy pasture, the light of the young sun glancing off the brook, a blue ribbon.

We’re joined by more from this town of runners. People of all ages and abilities snake down from the top of the hill, through the trees. All around me I can see lines of people moving in all directions, a fantastic miscellany of colours and footwear, 3rd and 4th Bekoji, Oromia, Ethiopia, 10,000 ft hand trainers, rubber soles flapping off shoes, hundreds of them stamping ariku and I run through the the room, spooning the nourishment down the eucalyptus-leaf blanket. Teucalyptus forest on parallel into their mouths with their right Coach Sentayehu Eshetu directing, paths. There is a dusty ochre-red soil hands. The portions are too small two toots of his yellow whistle: “Run which, upon the impact of a running and they get by on two meals a day. faster! Move your arms like this! trainer, plumes in delicate clouds and We begin to climb the hill. The That’s better.” The sun pours through hangs in suspense for a few short dew is still glistening on the strong the hundreds of pencil-thin apertures moments, like the wheat-husks in bark, my wrists are cold, red and in the forest. the breeze after a summer threshing. sensation-less and we can see our We have an exact cadence, like breath in the air. My breath comes too Half an hour later, group warm down. clockwork. Our paths converge and frequently and heavily as my body I finish stretching and walk away divulge, two worlds coming together, tries to acclimatise to this altitude. for a moment, breathing deeply, meandering gently through the Tariku has never left Bekoji and the only just comprehending this unique towering matchsticks. As I look to my running is no more difficult for him experience. Tariku comes over and he right, through a stop-start animation here. Already I can feel a tiredness links arms with me, Ethiopian style. of eucalyptus trees I see the skilled, developing in my legs as the incline He smiles, wide, toothy, warm. graceful manner with which he steepens. The skies have been “Our world is beautiful,” he says. moves, the back of his weathered trainers coming within millimetres of his shorts as he follows through his stride. The perfect running technique.

The roots of the trees cling to the slopes like giant hands, holding the hill in place. He springs over tricky roots and limbos under low hanging branches. A woven quilt of fallen eucalyptus leaves lies on the ground, subdued crushing sounds come from under our feet, our legs are granted respite from the jolting impact of the baked earth.

Tariku is very skinny - skinnier than me. He lives with his father and mother in Bekoji. He beats the wheat to separate the grain in the afternoon sun all day. It’s hard, heavy work for a boy of 15. In the evening he eats the ugali paste his mother cooks in the pan over the fire, with dark coffee from the cacao beans on the plant. They crouch together in the centre of Charlie Johns, pictured left SCHOOL NEWS 17

The Pupil Voice

The concept of pupil consultation in schools is not new, but it has been given more credence in recent years by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

urrent Government legislation House and it is their responsibility to Over the course of the last academic Cin the UK requires that children consult with their peers and represent year, the School Councils have met and young people should have their views on issues that are raised in on a regular basis and discussed opportunities to express their opinion council meetings. issues as diverse as healthier options in matters that affect their lives. Some from the Grot Shop and the removal of the benefits of involving children Each School Council meeting is of trees around the school campus. and young people in decision overseen by a member of staff and The minutes from each meeting are making include encouraging pupils chaired by a team of two Praepostors, published for all pupils to see on to become active participants in whose job it is to lead discussions the school intranet, along with those a democratic society, developing and decide on action points to take of the Food Committee, and there skills such as cooperation and forward. Postor involvement in is also a record of the action points communication and encouraging the School Councils provides the raised and whether they have been pupils to take responsibility. opportunity for genuine leadership resolved or not. At the final count, 26 and the chance to have a real impact action points had been raised over Increased confidence, self-respect, on the decisions that are taken by the year and only a handful of those competence and an improved sense of the Senior Leadership Team which were left unresolved. Some of the key responsibility have all been reported affect the day-to-day life of pupils at achievements of the School Councils by young people who contribute Shrewsbury. At the end of the year, this year include; changes to the in schools which take pupil voice the Postors involved write a report on contents of school packed lunches; seriously, while schools report the activities of the School Councils, a commitment to update and improve increased motivation and engagement which is submitted to the Headmaster access to water fountains around the with learning. and the Chair of Governors. Amongst school site; and improved access to other things, this report details action the intranet. The term ‘pupil voice’ refers to ways points that the Chairs believe have of listening to the views of pupils and been resolved and those yet to be With the full support of the involving them in decision-making. resolved. Luca Mattinson (Rb), one of headmaster, the School Councils At Shrewsbury pupils are encouraged the Postors who chaired the Senior provide an important link between to contribute their views to important Council this year, wrote in his report the pupil body and the Senior decisions that affect their daily that “the Council provided a vehicle Leadership Team. Through the hard lives at House level through House through which pupil voices could work of those involved, the ‘pupil Councils and at School level through be heard and in many cases acted voice’ can be heard loud and clear the School Councils. There are two upon”. He added that “helping to chair on issues that affect the daily lives School Councils; the Senior Council council meetings was a valuable lesson of students at Shrewsbury. for Sixth Formers and the Junior in how to steer conversation around Council for pupils in the Third, Fourth a table where everyone wanted to and Fifth Forms. The councils are speak, and how to manage their made up of pupils elected by each (significant) differences of opinion”. Matthew Barrett

The School Council in session 18 SCHOOL NEWS

Old Salopians in World War One: 1916

It was a brutal year in and around Northern France. Following Allied discussions at Chantilly in December 1915, a combined offensive against the Central Powers was planned, and since the Russians and Italians operated in another theatre, the Franco-British contribution was in the Somme. However, the French became tied up at Verdun, leaving the British as the principal antagonists in the Somme.

rom 1st July through to 18th November 1916, Fover a million men were wounded or killed on the Somme: it was one of the bloodiest battles in human history. On the first day alone, although it is counted as a serious defeat for the Germans, there were 57,470 British casualties, making it the worst day in the history of the British Army. Seven were Salopian deaths. By the end of the year, the British and French had advanced about six miles on the Somme, on a front of 16 miles, and the number of Salopian deaths had risen to nearly 60 – more than a Houseful.

Churchill, in August 1916, had objected to the way the battle was being fought, and Lloyd George when Prime Minister criticised attrition warfare frequently; in the 100 years that have passed since the battle, the ‘courageous soldiers fighting an experienced foe’ narrative has developed a sub- plot of ‘futile muddy stalemate’. However, no one can take away the bravery and courage in amongst the fear, or the camaraderie and friendship in amongst the awfulness.

Since the centenary commemorations of WW1 began in August 2014, each week we have been publishing on the School website the names of each Salopian killed on the 100th anniversary of his death (with thanks to Martha Pownall (MSH UVI) and George Young (O UVI) for their research) – http://www.shrewsbury.org.uk/osww1 Their names have also been included in the Services of Remembrance at 5pm every Wednesday in St Chad’s Church, Shrewsbury. From The Salopian, November 1916

From bow to stern: J.A. Griffith (cox), T.S. Woods (killed at Pas de Calais, 27th October 1916), R. Moore (killed at the Somme, 15th July 1916), J.E. Pugh (died of his wounds, 12th November 1918), E.W. Thompstone (wounded; awarded the M.C. and Italian Silver Medal for Military Valour), J.A. Moir (wounded); W.M.F. Bayliss (prisoner of war), P.W. Pearson (wounded; awarded the M.C.), D.C. Hair (killed by a shell on his first day in the trenches, 7th July 1916)

1st VIII in 1915. Three crew members were killed in 1916. SCHOOL NEWS 19

The Two Men

from the boat-house to the schools has a better curve upon it, and the feet of more adorable people. Or a I have been with ‘B’ Company on Church Parade every Sunday for months, and the wrench was an almost physical one with which I had to tear myself away from the belief that I was in Chapel, and had been there every minute of the service.”

In his final letter to Southwell on 27th June 1916, White wrote: “Oh Man, I can’t write now. I am too like a coach before the Bumping Races or Challenge Oars. So, Man, good luck. Our New House and Shrewsbury are immortal, which is a great comfort.” He died four days later, on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Southwell was killed on 15th September. Southwell and White are featured as Evelyn Southwell part of the BBC’s ‘World War One At Home’ project, a growing national Among the Old Salopians killed at which can never be forgotten while one archive of stories showing how WWI the Somme were two masters, Evelyn of us remains.” affected the people and places of Southwell and Malcolm White. Both the UK and Ireland. Their story was joined the School in 1910; both were Their writings give a wonderful insight broadcast on BBC Radio Shropshire inspiring and inspired teachers, into the personalities of the two men, in August 2014 as part of the national admired and respected by pupils their humour, intelligence and energy, commemorations of the centenary of and colleagues alike. ‘Of the junior and the deep affection in which they WW1. It includes an interview with masters at Shrewsbury I can honestly held the School. “I have for all these Dr Mike Morrogh, recorded shortly say that I never came into contact, in months seen everything in terms of before his retirement from the History all my life, with a group of minds so Shrewsbury,” wrote Southwell to Faculty and as the School Archivist, original...” wrote Headmaster Revd Alington in August 1915. “I have seen and extracts from ‘Two Men: Cyril Alington. They joined up together a hill, perhaps; and I reflect that it A Memoir’ read by Ralph Wade and in 1915, following the death of a would not do for the fold around the Rory Fraser, who both left Shrewsbury fellow member of the Common Room, Wrekin, even though it did have a in 2014. It is available to listen to via and they died within a few weeks of Roman Camp at the top. Or a path the BBC website: http://www.bbc. one another. from the bed of the Avon, up towards co.uk/programmes/p022vjx6 Sidbury, and I remember that the track Following their deaths, their colleague H.E.E. Howson collated and edited a collection of their letters, poems and other writings in a memoir entitled ‘The Men’. In the foreword, he wrote, “For those who knew them both it is impossible to consider them apart; the memory of them is single. To their contemporaries and to each other they were known as ‘The Men’. ‘Man, it’s time to go into school. ‘Yes, Man.’ And so, in this account of their Shrewsbury life, they will be spoken of as ‘ the Men’.”

The memoir is an elegiac account of life at Shrewsbury just before the First World War: “…The life of our Society from which they went was for those few years as nearly that of a happy family as any which the whole annals of schoolmastering can show” wrote Alington in his Foreword. “The New House, the Staircase, the Rehoboamite Meetings, Kitch’s room with its interminable discussions and uncovenanted meals, - these are things Malcolm White 20 SCHOOL NEWS

Ten Trees

When Salopians go out into the world we hope that they can walk tall. American poet Karle Wilson Baker wrote “Today I have grown taller from walking with trees.” Salopians walk with trees during their years at Shrewsbury and grow taller. I doubt if I can convince you of a causal link, but consciously or subconsciously all of us are affected by the trees that grow here. Richard Hudson recently asked me to select ten favourite trees on the School Site and describe them. It is my swansong as I am in my last year of teaching at Shrewsbury.

“No shade tree? Blame not the sun but yourself.”- Chinese Proverb

et us consider my ten according to seniority, not alphabetical order, starting with the magnificent cedar of Lebanon L just below Top Common. It was planted in the 1790s by the Loxdale family who had recently built Kingsland House and has the characteristic form of Cedrus libani, with a massive trunk and branches supporting tiers of horizontal foliage. It and its neighbours give an air of distinction to the 1st X1 football pitch that is lacking from many bleak treeless school playing fields. SCHOOL NEWS 21

Another Loxdale planting and my second selection is the beech tree at the corner of the path down to KH. The main trunk divides low down and after 220 or so years of growth the branches are huge, with the typical smooth grey bark of Fagus sylvatica.

The cedar and the beech are part of a line of trees that lift the spirits seen in silhouette against a winter sunset, especially when scurrying to evening lessons.

Immediately opposite the front door of Kingsland House is a venerable false acacia. It may have been planted later than the previous two KH trees, but is certainly old and is my third selection. The original trunk has rotted away, but Robinia pseudoacacia suckers freely and the replacement trunks that have sprung up are now large enough for greater spotted woodpeckers to make nest holes in them.

Parked cars close to this tree should ideally be swept away so the many passers-by on foot each day can enjoy fully the clone of acacia trunks and animal inhabitants. 22 SCHOOL NEWS

There are also fine trees planted in the Georgian era within the curtilage of Ridgemount.

The cedar of Lebanon only fails to make top division because the Kingsland House specimen is finer. A holm oak at Ridgemount used also to be outclassed by a KH specimen but the latter has been damaged by car parking outside the Maidment Building so is bumped down!

The Ridgemount specimen is a splendid tree with the dark furrowed bark and the evergreen greyish-green leaves of Quercus ilex. Be warned though: holm oak is non-native and in parts of southern England has become troublesomely invasive; global warming may make it so in Shropshire.

In fifth place is the large oak tree in the centre of Top Common. It and its smaller companion are known in school mythology as Smokers’ Trees. They are a reminder that the site was once farmland. Nineteenth century maps show that Smokers’ Trees are located where there was intersection between the boundaries of the three fields that were eventually united and levelled to make Top Common.

When the School moved to Kingsland in 1882 only one of these fields was part of the Site and Masters, who by convention did not smoke on the Site, would retire behind the trees to enjoy their pipes.

Like most hedgerow oaks in Shropshire, the large tree that remains has traits of both native species (Quercus petraea and Quercus robur) indicating a hybrid origin. Older Salopians may remember a huge elm that was formerly one of Smokers’ Trees and also a line of elms on a bank known as The Pier that thrust forwards into the current cricket outfield, but was cleared in the 1970s. SCHOOL NEWS 23

Groups of trees give parts of the School Site their own special feel and help mark the change of the seasons. My sixth choice therefore is a group rather than a single tree. A map dating from the early 1880s shows trees in the position of the hornbeams around the Chapel suggesting that they predate the School’s move to Kingsland: the Chapel may have been fitted in among the trees rather than trees having been planted around the Chapel.

These hornbeams have beautiful light foliage that turns to gold in autumn and crunches underfoot when it has fallen. The bark is silvery grey and the trunk and lower branches have a rather muscular appearance due to the ridges and flutes characteristic of Carpinus betulus.

Trees that are leafless during the whole of the Lent Term and half the Michaelmas Term must earn their place in the School’s winter landscape through their bark and branch structure, which these hornbeams certainly do.

Somewhere in the top division there must surely be sizes of trees in the avenue on Central suggest several a lime tree as they are such a prominent feature of different planting dates. The largest and therefore one the Site. In his seminal 1841 Flora of Shropshire, Old of the originals is at Darwin’s end of the avenue. As Salopian W. A. Leighton describes lime flowers “at if to thumb its nose at health and safety it drops dead dewy eve distilling vapours”. For about a week at branches in gales, its vigorous roots lift any tarmac laid the end of June the site is indeed scented with lime upon them and sticky honey dew rains down from the blossom and not just in the evenings. A map of the early myriads of aphids that sip its sap in summer. Were there 1880s shows no trees along what is now Central, so to be more plantings of lime in the future, the large- planting the avenue of Tilia europaea must have been leaved lime Tilia platyphyllos would be preferable to part of the development of the new Site. The varied europaea as it is better behaved. 24 SCHOOL NEWS

In eighth place must be a representative of the magnificent conifers in gardens on Ashton, Kennedy and Butler Roads. They were planted from the 1880s onwards when houses along these streets were being built. Owners wanted trees to complement their distinguished homes, but did not appreciate just how large some species can grow.

There are fine specimens of Cedrus deodara in the front gardens of the San and the Headmaster’s house (and also next to Ridgemount). There are also other splendid cedars, redwoods and silver firs.

After much deliberation my pick is the silver fir in the garden of Churchill’s which is probably Abies pinsapo. It has tightly upcurved glaucous needles, many large upright cones and a flat top with an off-centre leader. We can celebrate it as a symbol of true Churchill’s individualism.

Metasequoia glyptostroboides was first described in 1941 from fossils but was then discovered in the same year growing in China.

Peter Gladstone, great grandson of the Prime Minister and Biology teacher at Shrewsbury from 1952 to 1971, obtained some of the first seed to be imported. Gladstone raised one seedling. This he planted near the Biology department. It is now a tall and shapely tree with delicate leaves that open a fresh green in spring and turn foxy brown in autumn before falling. It graces one of the main thoroughfares through School. I estimate that a pupil will walk past it at least 7,000 times during their five years at Shrewsbury. SCHOOL NEWS 25

My tenth and final selection is a Hungarian oak planted in 2000 near the Kingsland House gates to the School. It is still young but could make a fine tree if it grows to maturity. This is far from certain as it is the last survivor of an avenue of eight specimens planted to celebrate the Millennium.

Quercus frainetto is the shapeliest of oaks so the avenue would have been magnificent. A variety of misfortunes caused the loss of the other seven. Losses of trees are inevitable, but the question that we must ask is “Will future generations of Salopians have as much cause to thank us, as we do our predecessors who planted and nurtured the splendid trees that currently grow on the School Site?” And on that question, my friends, I cease. Andrew Allott, Staff 1990-2016, Head of Biology 2002-2015 26 SCHOOL NEWS

Art at Shrewsbury

There have been some changes to the visual arts programme at Shrewsbury in recent months. This year sees the retirement of Victoria Woolley who taught Ceramics here for nearly 30 years and whose work has always been a highlight of the Speech Day exhibitions. The new Head of Art, Rose-Shawe-Taylor, who took over from Victoria’s husband Philip in 2014, discusses her plans to build on the excellent tradition of Art at Shrewsbury while introducing some new approaches and new specialisms in the co-ed environment.

he Art Faculty is founded on the programme of clubs and activities on lecturers including Andrew Graham Tbelief that art is a fundamental offer from September 2016 to include Dixon and David Boyd Haycock. means of communication in every cultural visits, textiles and screen culture; one of the primary standards printing, animation and film. This autumn the Royal Academician by which societies are judged is the and portrait painter Humphrey quality, creative freedom, critical For those taking Art A level, the Ocean will be visiting the School to insight, and formal and technical two-year linear course will allow for give workshops in the Sixth Form innovation of the visual art they greater opportunities for sustained studios and a lecture in the evening produce. The Art Faculty currently development in different media. which is open to all. teaches those whose primary focus The first year of the course will is art, or those for whom art is an give students what is essentially Next year we launch our exhibition essential part of a varied course of a Foundation course experience, programme with a return visit of inquiry, in the areas of drawing and with each student learning a range Argentinian printmaker Maria Suardi, painting, photography, ceramics of specialisms: Drawing, Painting, followed by an exhibition of work and art history. Printmaking, Sculpture, Ceramics, by a group of Old Salopians led Photography & Digital Media and by Max Baccanello in what will, Shrewsbury has a strong tradition of (eventually) Fashion/Textiles. At we hope, become an annual event. excellence in drawing. This underpins around the February half term of the The exhibition will coincide with the curriculum across all disciplines, first year, they will start to choose Old Salopian Day on 1st October. including work in other visual media. one (or in some cases two) eventual As always, we are pleased to exhibit Now that drawing has been reinstated areas to focus on for the second year pupil work throughout the year as an essential part of the creative of the A Level course. with dedicated exhibitions to each process and has been given greater year group. importance in the revised A Level The Gallery remains a wonderful and GCSE specifications, we can focal point throughout the year with The Art Department is also involved celebrate the fact that this has always a varied programme of exhibitions with the forthcoming prep school been a strength and gives Shrewsbury and guest speakers. Highlights this programme of events. This includes an advantage over some of its year have included the launch of the launch of an Art & Design competitors. our Young Professionals series, competition, Art & DT day, travelling which showcases the work of new workshop sessions and advice with The Art Faculty’s approach going graduates working in art and design, future Art scholarships. forward will be a disciplined, and some distinguished intellectual engagement with pupils which helps them to find their own creative path. We will seek to encourage independent learning in all year groups, and to wean students off a reliance on their teachers’ suggestions. This will be reflected in the revised structure of both GCSE and A Level courses from September 2016. Students will be engaged in work that is a mixture of traditional academic approaches and innovative experiment - whether they are in the Third Form or the Sixth Form.

Rose is also keen to encourage more students to come and use the Art School, whether they study it for GCSE and A Level or not. She believes that The Art Faculty should represent the cultural hub of the School, along with Music and Drama, and to offer all pupils access to what it has on offer. It is vital for the enduring cultural ethos of the School that this continues, and that we attract students though our doors. There will be a varied Tina Zhou SCHOOL NEWS 27

Stamos Fearnall

Conrad Morson

Colion Fung

The Art Scholars’ programme was launched this year with an exhibition celebrating the work of our current 11 Art Scholars. The exhibition took place in March and the opportunity to view the work of this fantastic group of artists did not go unnoticed, with a large group of staff and pupils, as well as members of local community, coming to support our pupils. A dinner in the gallery for Scholars and their guests was also a first: they dined surrounded by their paintings, thus establishing a new tradition which we hope will continue here at Shrewsbury.

Oliver Lansdell Amanda Barrow 28 SCHOOL NEWS

Drama

2016 has been a busy year for the Ashton Theatre: in the Lent Term, we saw brilliant productions of Dormez, je le veux! and Twelve Angry Men, alongside the inaugural Drama Showcase and the AS and A2 Theatre Studies performances. In the Summer Term, Churchill’s Hall offered us a fantastic interpretation of An Inspector Calls, and at the time of writing, preparations are well underway for this year’s Junior Play, The Picture of Dorian Gray.

2016 began with the movement, and it is great credit to the ensemble that they Drama Showcase, managed to keep the piece visually interesting, whilst giving students from focusing on telling the story. Particular credit should go to all year groups the Dan Iles and Ben King, who were unafraid to own the stage opportunity to share as they gave vent to their characters’ – frequently repugnant their work with an – views. This is truly an ensemble piece, and each of the audience. The evening jurors deserve praise for the way that they established had a wonderful a clearly defined character, from Antoine Legeais as the atmosphere, celebrating European immigrant to Alec Barnes as a kind but lonely the huge range of old man. The production was, however, held together by creativity and talent Luke Lloyd Jones as the honourable juror eight, whose simmering under the fundamental decency and refusal to give in to prejudice surface of Salopian life. ultimately saves the defendant’s life. Particular highlights included Chloe At the end of term, the Theatre Studies students produced Chen’s extraordinary their assessed performances. The Lower Sixth, choosing to performance of work in the style of Kneehigh, created a totally immersive classical Chinese dance, version of Tristan and Yseult. The audience were gathered and Emily Skelton’s beautifully timed interpretation of You around café tables and encouraged to engage fully in the Wanted Poetry. performance – resulting in some enthusiastic conga-ing by Mr Middleton. The Upper Sixth, meanwhile, collaborated The year’s first full-scale production was Feydeau’s Dormez, with contemporary poet, Sarah Hesketh, to devise a je le veux! Feydeau’s farces are masterpieces of slapstick poignant and moving exploration of dementia, entitled comedy, and they are incredibly difficult to pull off. The Hard Word Box. Dormez, je le veux! tells the story of a lazy servant, Justin, who has mastered the art of hypnotism in order to control The Summer Term began with Churchill’s Hall’s production his master. Justin’s plan comes under threat when he learns of An Inspector Calls. J.B. Priestley’s play is a ruthless that his master intends to get married to the daughter of exposé of the smugness, selfishness and pomposity of the a doctor, who is himself an expert in the occult. Hilarity British middle class, and is as relevant today as when it was ensues, culminating in a hypno-ninja-battle between Justin first written. and the doctor. Richard Hudson and Guy Cabral’s production was dynamic The cast, led by Julian Chesshire as Justin, threw themselves and fast-paced, cleverly edited to 75 minutes of nail-biting into the performance with gusto. Despite the challenges of drama. Tim Lovick and Robin Huber were splendidly self- performing in French, they held their audience spellbound satisfied as Mr Birling and his wife, unshakable in their for a breakneck forty-five minutes. We all saw a new side conviction that they owed nothing to their fellow man. Real- to Charles Wade, who captured the physical comedy of life brother and sister Eve and Rider Hartley represented the piece perfectly, capering round the set as a monkey the younger generation and proved “more impressionable” and cleaning the floor as though powered by Duracell. to the Inspector’s doctrine of social responsibility. The final Emma Harris embraced the (utterly uncharacteristic) role of moments of the play, in which they plead with their parents a frumpy spinster, whilst Ursule Taujainskaite, performing to “learn something”, were particularly moving. in her (third? fourth? fifth?) language, was charming as the bride-to-be.

Twelve Angry Men is a twentieth century classic; since it was first produced in 1957 it has been a staple of the repertoire. Its ongoing popularity is due to the fact that it raises universal questions about the extent to which we are all prey to our prejudices and assumptions. The play is set in a courtroom on a hot summer’s day: the twelve men of the title are the jurors in an apparently open-and-shut murder case. However, as the play progresses, it become clear that nothing is quite as it seems, and even the most seemingly straightforward facts are open to question.

The day boys’ production, directed by Sam Mitchell with consummate professionalism, captured the play’s building tension. One of the challenges of directing a very wordy and potentially static play is filling the stage with dynamic Twelve Angry Men SCHOOL NEWS 29

The role of Gerald is perhaps the most challenging: he begins the play as one of the most sympathetic characters, and the Inspector himself acknowledges that he is capable of love and generosity. However, he slips easily back into the role he was born to, and the final scene seems to suggest that he is well on the way to becoming a second Mr Birling. This journey was ably portrayed by Toby Pattinson, who managed to capture both Gerald’s desire to do good and his inability to do so. Also impressive was Otto Rothwell Hurley’s laconic inspector, whose stillness and deadpan delivery were perfectly suitable to this strange, other-worldly character.

The Summer Term Showcase offered the junior students centre stage, and we enjoyed a wide range of performances from the fourth form, including Jamie Ainscough and Freddy Williams in The Pillowman and Charlotte Roberts and Charlie Tonks in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

At the time of writing, audiences were looking forward to the Junior Play, an adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s novella, The Picture of Dorian Gray. The cast have been working with practitioners from physical theatre company Frantic Assembly, so the show promises to be an exciting and original take on this classic text.

Helen Brown, Director of Drama An Inspector Calls

‘Great Expectations’ at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 14th - 20th August

‘Great Expectations’ is the latest taking the production to Edinburgh. Friday 19th August, the School will in a long and distinguished list of Performances will take place daily at be hosting an informal buffet lunch home-grown Shrewsbury School 12.35pm from Sunday 14th August - reception for Old Salopians, parents musicals, with music by John Moore, Saturday 20th August at C (–1) and friends of the School in the lyrics by Peter Fanning, directed by venue 34 on Chambers Street. wonderful surroundings of the Bute Helen Brown and featuring a hugely Tickets £9.50-£11.50 Room in the National Museum of talented young cast. concessions £7.50-£9.50 Scotland, just across Chambers Street children £5.50-£7.50. To book, from the theatre. All are welcome – Having delighted audiences in the please visit http://www.cthefestival. please email nbevan@shrewsbury. Ashton Theatre last November, the com/2016/great-expectations org.uk by 12th August if you would cast and crew are looking forward to Directly after the performance on like to attend. 30 SCHOOL NEWS

Music

During the course of the Lent Term, the musicians of Shrewsbury School appeared to resemble more and more a troupe of strolling minstrels, travelling the highways and byeways of central England, making the country ring with their ‘merrie melodies’.

horal Evensong in Manchester usual, the vocal soloists were from Rigoletto. The quartet gave added CCathedral, an evening of the professional ranks. lustre to the occasion, their voices chamber music in the Holywell Music filling the elegant hall. Room in Oxford, and a triumphant From the first few bars of the performance of Verdi’s Requiem in opening item, it was apparent that And so to the choir, made up of the Birmingham Town Hall provided the instrumentalists would be equal Shrewsbury School Community Choir, wonderful opportunities for audiences to the task. Maria McKenzie directed the School’s Chapel Choir and young outside Shrewsbury to enjoy the great her Wind Orchestra in a spine-tingling choristers from Shrewsbury High wealth and breadth of Shrewsbury account of the Grand March from Prep and Birchfield Schools. Their School musical talent. Aida, the lower brass blending with first entry was appropriately reverent admirable precision in a prelude to in tone, which rendered the power The following review of the concert the glorious celebration. unleashed in the Dies Irae all the in Birmingham Town Hall was written more shocking. Even with the brass by Martin Knox, who has been Even without voices, the tune of the and percussion sections going flat out, attending Shrewsbury School concerts Va Pensiero chorus from Nabucco is the choir summoned up a volume for 45 years: a winner, as it proved to be in the that was the personification of wrath, full orchestra’s performance of the shattering in effect, yet never coarse It was 30 years ago this month that overture. The crisp string playing in in tone. Throughout the work, they the rapidly expanding Shrewsbury the faster sections was appreciated proved capable of inspiring awe, be School Music Department undertook and the woodwind did justice to it fierce and threatening or quietly its most ambitious project to date, Italy‘s second national anthem, spiritual, and the orchestra, living up a performance of Elgar’s Dream of stirringly followed by a golden- to early promise, provided worthy Gerontius in Birmingham Town Hall. toned trumpet. If Verdi had written accompaniment. School choirs joined forces with the nothing else, his reputation would recently founded Community Choir, still have flourished. Over the years, there have been but, notably, it was felt necessary many outstanding individual to engage an outside orchestra to As it is, he composed a great deal else performances, but as an example of provide the accompaniment. in a long career, almost all of it for the corporate music-making, this week’s In the intervening years, John operatic stage. Originally, the Requiem concert must surely rank as the finest Moore has not only followed his was going to be a joint venture with ever put on by the School. Singers trail-blazing predecessor in taking fellow composers as a tribute to and players alike responded to every his musicians around the country Rossini. When that fell through and nuance of John Moore’s direction in and beyond; he has gone further, he took on the whole text, it is not a manner that was a joy to behold. developing the standard of orchestral surprising that the work is dramatic in Much work must have gone into playing to the point where last tone. At times, one could sense that the preparation; much talent lies Sunday’s Verdi Requiem was almost the soloists were acting parts, as when behind the achievement. As a mere entirely a home-grown affair. A the baritone lingered with sinister bystander, one felt proud just to have few members of the teaching staff relish on the word “mors”. Shades been there. The participants deserve strengthened the orchestra and, as is of Sparafucile plotting murder with a medal. SCHOOL NEWS 31

Orpheus in the Underworld

The myth of Orpheus and Eurydice is well known to many Particular congratulations are due to singing coach and of us…or is it? In Offenbach’s hilarious take on the story, director, Kathryn Turpin, who conceived of the production both gods and mortals are held up to ridicule: humans and saw it through to completion; her passion was evident ascend to heaven in a hot air balloon, while gods come in each of the student’s fantastic performances, and in the down to earth in ridiculous disguises. Musically, it is a overwhelming audience response. deliciously frothy confection: perfect for this young and hugely talented cast, expertly accompanied on the piano by Director of Music John Moore.

The principal roles were played by long-serving stalwarts of Shrewsbury’s Music Department. Rob Shone, as Orpheus, reluctantly pursued his wife (Loren Kell) to Olympus, where she was fending off the amorous advances of Jupiter (Alfie Mitchell) and Pluto (Ben Higgins). The professionalism of these performers was extraordinary; not only were they in complete control of the demanding musical score, but they delivered highly polished and witty performances. Jupiter’s attempted seduction of Eurydice in the guise of a fly was nothing short of comic genius, as was the male sextet of “Cherchez la femme”.

However, the production also showcased some exciting up-and-coming talent. There are some fantastic voices developing in the younger years, demonstrated by Ella Niblett and Olivia Moir as Juno and Robin Huber as Cupid, as well as some exciting new Sixth Form entrants, such as Juliana Hinwood as Diana. The future of singing at Shrewsbury is clearly in very good hands! Loren Kell (Eurydice) and Rob Shone (Orpheus)

Open Mic Nights

The student-run Popular Music Society have staged a series of Open Mic Nights throughout the year. Hugely popular among performers and audiences alike, the events have featured singers and instrumentalists performing some great covers as well as their own songs. At the timeof going to press, the Society is working hard on the highlight event of their year, the Concert of Popular Music, which this year they have called ‘Rock on the Common’ and features School bands The Slow City, Stranger, The Viceroys, The Six Severns, Phoebe Fae, The Shone Roses and He’s Crew. Popular Music Society Committee

Music prizes and awards There have been a number of notable individual musical achievements: • Henry Thomas (Ch UVI) has gained a place to study trumpet at the Royal College of Music. What makes this achievement all the more remarkable is that Henry combines his extraordinarily busy musical life, within and without the walls of Shrewsbury School, with an equally demanding life as a leading rower in the RSSBC Top Squad. • Henry Newbould (Ch UVI) won the Young Woodwind Player of the Year Award at the 2016 Gregynog Young Musician Competition, performing on soprano and alto saxophone. This is a top award at one of the most prestigious competitions for young musicians in the UK. Henry Thomas and Arthur Yu (SH LVI) also reached the semi-final stage of the competition. • Ursule Taujanskeite has been awarded a Choral Scholarship to Selwyn College, Cambridge. She was selected as a flautist to perform in the Royal Philharmonic Society Duet Prize for Young Instrumentalists. 32 SCHOOL NEWS

Miles Clark Travel Scholarship: 21 years of sending Salopians to the four corners of the Earth The Miles Clark Travel Scholarship is in its 21st Year and during that time, over £70,000 has been promised to nearly 200 Salopians undertaking adventurous gap years.

Alastair Humphries and Leon McCarron on a journey inspired by Wilfred Thesiger into the Empty Quarter of the Arabian Peninsula – the world’s largest sand desert. Their film about the adventure was a finalist at the Banff Mountain Film Festival 2014.

he Scholarship was established to I write as a beneficiary of the Miles Hall lit fires that set me on my path Thonour the life and achievements Clark Scholarship. I was awarded towards Zoology and, as Darwin said, of Miles Clark, (S 1974–78) who had £350 in 1996 to help fund ten months “nothing can be more improving to a distinguished career at Shrewsbury. teaching and travelling in South Africa a young naturalist, than a journey He won a rowing blue at Cambridge, and I have no doubt that it changed in a distant country”. Spending ten and by the time he died, aged 32, he my life. I left Shrewsbury as a shy months in Africa on my own gave me was, according to Libby Purves in his individual with mediocre results, though the confidence to realise that I could obituary, “already winning himself a I had been fortunate to benefit from achieve virtually anything if I put my place in the long tradition of British the assiduous tutoring, generosity mind to it. I was a completely different literary adventurers and sailors”. and legendary expeditions of Michael individual by the time I returned to (Freddie) Hall. Travel to Malaysia, England and it has inspired me in all The aim of the Scholarship is to Borneo and the Guyanas with Michael sorts of ways. encourage and enable pupils “leaving the Sixth Form of Shrewsbury School to undertake an expedition abroad involving adventure, personal challenge and research”. Applicants must complete an application form with as much detail as possible and are then interviewed by the trustees who take into account challenge, research, duration and service when making their decisions. The trustees aim to encourage applicants to make the most of their time away and help to turn what might occasionally start out as a bit of a jolly into something genuinely life-changing. They also aim to ensure that applicants have thought about safety carefully and planned and researched well, with the incentive of raising grants for positive changes in plan. Rob Treasure and fellow volunteers enjoying a sunset in Hampi, India SCHOOL NEWS 33

Since leaving Shrewsbury, Alastair Humphreys (Rt 1990-95) has made adventuring his life. He writes, “When I applied for the Miles Clark Travel Scholarship I did so only because I had a friend who was brave enough to think of adventure. I had never done anything adventurous before, never had the confidence to even imagine that someone like me could do something as exciting as spend a year in a village in Africa, teaching all sorts of subjects I knew very little about, getting kids started for RAJC at Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert. the first time in sports like rugby, and Michael Webb (S 2003-08) writes, “I benefited enormously from taking having all sorts of exciting escapades in “I was very lucky to receive a Miles a gap year. Personally it has enabled my free time. Clark Travel Scholarship in 2008 to me to develop new passions, broaden explore the classical sites of Turkey, my horizons, create a far stronger Winning the award was a surprise and a Greece, and Italy with my friend Paul CV, and improve both my personal real thrill. The year I spent in Africa was Goulding (O 2003-08). We were both confidence and people skills. The the best, most educational, most exciting budding Classicists about to go up to Miles Clark Scholarship allows the year of my life. (It was probably also Oxford: this was our chance to see in precious little time you have on a gap the cheapest...) I returned from Africa person, at last, all those monuments year to be put to good use. It got me emboldened about my own potential, and vistas and acropoles about which thinking at an early stage about how excited about the wide world beyond we had only read so much iambic I was going to plan my year and, as I the horizons of what I’d experienced as trimeter. And see them - all of them spent the majority of my time abroad a boy, and itching for more adventure. - we did. The Scholarship was very volunteering, it gave me the added generous, but our compulsion to financial support that truly allowed me Since then I have spent over four years visit, and so pay the entrance fee to, to take every opportunity available – it cycling round the world, a journey every single site going meant that quite literally allowed me to go that of 46,000 miles through 60 countries we spent the month living only off extra mile!” and five continents. I have walked souvlaki from roadside vans. I thus across southern India, rowed across lost a great deal of weight, which Eila Purvis (MSH 2009-11) writes, the Atlantic Ocean, run six marathons nicely balanced the intellectual “The Miles Clark Travel Scholarship through the Sahara Desert, completed gorging I was doing on antiquity. The enabled me to volunteer for six months a crossing of Iceland, and participated Scholarship influenced me in many in Japan – in a hospital in Wakayama in an expedition in the Arctic, close to ways: it was my first independent city and then in Ishinomaki, a town the magnetic North Pole. I have trekked travel, and led directly to more that was severely damaged by the 2011 1000 miles across the Empty Quarter ambitious trips (to Afghanistan, for Tohoku earthquake – resulting in me desert and 120 miles round the M25. example, the following summer); it gaining an in-depth understanding I have written books and made films was my first taste of travel writing, of the culture, language and people; about adventures and now make my which became a serious occupation; something that could not have been living as an ‘Adventurer’ - perhaps not and it kindled an enduring love of achieved if I had not spent such a top of the Shrewsbury School Career these classical lands: I’ve revisited long time in the country. This interest Office recommendations, but one I am one of the three countries every year in Japan led me to spend my second absolutely relishing. since. I am immensely grateful to the year of university working in Palace Miles Clark Trust for enabling and Hotel Tokyo, a five star hotel in Tokyo, None of this would have happened inspiring both the trip and all that has and now that I am about to complete without my Gap year in Africa. And that come afterwards!” my hospitality degree I hope to live in would not have happened without the Japan in the future.” Miles Clark Travel Scholarship.” Michael was a distinguished Salopian who graduated with a first in PPE from Balliol College, Oxford. During his undergraduate years, Michael spent time in Afghanistan and Pakistan as a freelance correspondent, having previously learnt one of the local languages, Dari. His three-part series on the region was published by The Economist in March 2010, and he has since advised British Military Intelligence. He has also worked as South Asia Correspondent for The Economist. Michael has held several other advisory and intern positions, mainly for MPs and the UK Government. He is currently at Stanford studying for a PhD in Economics. Michael Webb trying to hitch-hike back to Kalavryta from an expedition following the ancient Greek Rob Treasure (I 2009-14) writes, geographer Pausanias’s map to Hades 34 SCHOOL NEWS

Gap year eye opener: Children from St Gregory College, Estcourt, South Africa enjoying their first ever experience of snow in the Drakensberg Mountains.

This year’s successful applicants are as to Singapore in his ancient Citroen volunteers at an orphanage founded follows: 2CV which is rally-ready after its trip by the local community in Fort Kochi, to Mongolia in 2014. They will be Kerala, India. Whilst there she will Ben King (Rb) and Fred Pook (Rb) supported by Sam Mitchell (Rb) who be helping the children with their A trip to South America, Australia will drive the support vehicle (a brand homework, teaching English and and South East Asia. The aim is new Cactus, provided by Citroen organising games and activities. to complete the trip on a minimal UK). They will be accompanied by budget and be completely financially a cameraman from the University of The Trustees are enormously grateful independent. They plan to spend three York (Department of Film and TV) to all those who, over the past 21 months in South America travelling and have been talking to Nick Hewer years, have contributed so generously through Peru, Bolivia, Chile and (from The Apprentice) to set up a trust to the fund, especially to those Argentina. They will spend a month to allow those without their resources who have covenanted on a regular volunteering with HOOP in Arequipa to undertake similar adventures. basis. Those contributions have and intend to walk the Inca trail and helped inspire, educate and form the trek in the Atacama and Andes. They Wilf Deacon (Rt) characters of a great many Salopians. will then work in Australia to fund Wilf has passed the selection course The Trustees are very keen to build up four months travelling in South East for Project Trust on the Isle of Coll the funds available to keep inspiring Asia and the Himalayas. and will be going to South Africa for generations of Salopians in years to 12 months to work with children in come. If you are interested in helping Ross Bennett (M) schools, provide social care and help out, or would like further information, Administration assistant in running with outward bound projects. please contact one of the following: camps for Camps International in Borneo for seven weeks. His role James Plaut (S) and Koden Lam (S) Richard Case, the Trust’s Treasurer at will help to build a rapport with the James and Koden will explore the [email protected] local community in order to facilitate East, travelling through Mainland work in the local area. He will also China where they will be very much Thane Warburg, the Trust’s Secretary at be helping to teach English and run off the beaten track. They will then [email protected] school trips. travel through Mongolia and Russia via the Trans Siberian Railway. Chris Conway, the Trust’s Chairman at Tom Bibb (O) [email protected] Tom and his brother have planned an Emily Pirie (EDH) overland expedition from Shrewsbury Emily will be working alongside other SCHOOL NEWS 35

The Rovers Return

ollowing the relaunch of the Rovers at the start of with the CCF and Adcote School at the School’s bunkhouse, Fthe academic year with an inspiring talk to the whole Talagerwyn. This summer they will be taking part in a ten- School by Dr Adam Booth (PH 1995-2000) describing how day sailing, mountain-biking and mountaineering trip to the his Rovers adventures sparked a passion for adventure and Isle of Skye. mountaineering that culminated in an ascent of Everest in 2014, a large group of Fourth and Fifth Formers signed up Next year they will have the chance to take on roles of for the 21st century version of a Salopian club whose history responsibility as Junior Leaders in one of the Rovers’ dates back to 1934. activities, as a new group of young adventurers join the club. Some exciting trips are being planned too, including a During the year, they have developed skills in kayaking, winter skills trip, a summer expedition to the Pyrenees, and canoeing, mountain biking, climbing, bouldering and a series of ‘micro-adventures’ – a concept coined by another navigation and enjoyed action-packed trips to the Peak famous Old Salopian adventurer, Alastair Humphreys (Rt District and North Wales, including a combined Easter Camp 1990-95), who gave a talk at the School in November. 36 SCHOOL NEWS

RSSH

One of the most vivid memories I have from my first year here at Shrewsbury in 2008 was overhearing a parent from another school enquire, ‘Which school is that?’ as one of our runners went past in an RSSH vest. It was early days in our attempts to rebuild the fortunes of the Hunt, but these were nevertheless dispiriting words to hear and I vowed to make it my mission to make sure nobody would ever ask that question again. The mission was clear: to establish a national reputation for our historic running club.

ight years on and the Hunt is Well, not quite. One job remained: and ensuring everyone was on track Eonce again in a position of great winning a national title. The Hunt with their training. strength and running is enjoying a had come close in recent years renaissance at Shrewsbury School. with podium positions in the major That preparation proved critical as Over 70 Salopians (ie nearly 10% national races over the course of the 350 runners set off at blistering of the school roll) competed in an the past four years. However, The pace for the gruelling 9.5km course in RSSH vest this season across all year Hunt had not won a national title Knole Park, Sevenoaks. Outstanding groups, both boys and girls. The Prep since 1996 (where Bob Parker had runs from Rigg’s duo Freddie Huxley- Schools’ Cross-Country Championships masterminded the second of his Fielding (R) and Oscar Dickins (R) (now in its fifth year) has led to wider victories in the King Henry VIII Relays saw them both place inside the top 10 awareness of the unique nature of in Coventry), and the 20-year absence (4th and 10th respectively) whilst the running with The Hunt, and sustained of silverware at the top level was a backup of Charlie Tait-Harris (S) and performance at the top level over the fact we were only too aware of. Will Hayward (R) in 14th and 18th saw past few years has meant that once the Hunt in prominent position with again The Hunt enjoys a national We knew that the Knole Run in Kent just two counters remaining. Our arch- (and indeed international) reputation. at the start of January was our best rivals The Judd School were, however, shot at a national title, particularly powering through the field, and their The question, ‘Which School is That?’ with the race date a week later distance specialism (they have won is not one we hear particularly often than normal this year. The teams The Knole Run for six out of the last these days, and in fact the last time returned to School following the seven years) was beginning to show. those very words were overheard (at long Christmas break better prepared Prior to the race, I had told the team the National Relays two years ago), than ever before: not only did they that if they were going to win it, they the lady who asked the question benefit from pre-season training here would likely all need to be placed was given a swift response by her in Shrewsbury, but the 1st VIII had within the top 25 and that we believed husband who was heard to reply, set up a ‘Whatsapp’ group in order to it could come down to a matter of a ‘RSSH? That’s The Hunt - they’re hard communicate with each other through small handful of points. So it proved, as nails!’ Mission accomplished. the holidays, encouraging each other, with Henry Newbould (Ch) storming SCHOOL NEWS 37 through into 22nd (the previous year promise by retaining the County title, he had placed 85th) and rising star only the third time that The Hunt have Scott Hatton (S), this year’s recipient achieved this feat at Junior level (the of the Will Ramsbotham Award, put other occasions being 1987/88 and in an unbelievable final kilometre 1991/92). Sam Western (S) picked up to come home in 25th. Like Henry, individual silver with Thomas Jackson his progress since the previous year (R) just outside the medals in 4th. The was reflected by the fact that he Inter boys ensured a clean-sweep of had placed 108th in 2015! It was an trophies for the boys by winning back astonishing team effort, but had it the championship trophy that had been enough? We knew it would been won by Thomas Telford the year be close, and this was confirmed before putting to an end our four- by the race organiser when at the year winning streak. Superb ‘packing’ presentations he announced that just from the squad ensured a comfortable 1 point separated 1st and 2nd. “In 8 point victory over nearest rivals second place…The Judd School!” Adams’ Grammar. Monty Hardcastle What happened next is something of (I) placed 4th with Harry Remnant a blur, but needless to say there were (Ch) in 5th, but perhaps the standout disbelieving looks, euphoric hugs performance of the day came from and, yes, possibly a tear or two in the newcomer Cameron Anwyl (S) who eye of a very proud Master in Charge! placed 7th on debut for The Hunt and Not only was this a first national in so doing earning his County vest as title for The Hunt in 20 years, but it one of 15 Hunt runners who would moreover marked a historic moment subsequently be called up to represent Harry Remnant for the club as never before had we Shropshire in the English Schools’ came from Passi Goddard (G) in 6th won the Knole Run. Cross-Country Championships. place, with Martha Pownall (MSH) in 12th completing the counting trio with Undoubtedly this was the highlight Not to be outdone, our girls put in Sally Joyce (G) out injured. The Inter of the season, though of course there a dominant display in the Senior Girls also came close to winning a first were many other noteworthy stories. Girls race, retaining the County County title led by Immie Evans (G) At county level, we performed well at Championship trophy for the first in 8th though had to settle for team the Shropshire AA Champs the week time following a narrow victory the silver this year, nevertheless a terrific prior to Knole, with our U17 boys and year before. Huntswoman Olivia achievement given it was our best U20 boys claiming county triumphs Papaioannou (EDH) led by example ever performance in this age-group. and Huntsman Oscar Dickins crowned taking on the race with the steely Whilst our Junior Girls weren’t on the U20s Champion. At the County determination and grit that typifies podium, this also marked an important Schools’ Champs, The Hunt put in her running. Her individual silver step forward with our first outing at further dominant team performances, medal can be added to a long list this level. All in all, it was a great day with our Senior Boys winning the of achievements and successes at the office for The Hunt and to come County title for a sixth year in a row, accumulated over her two years here away with four trophies represented a spearheaded by a fine individual at Shrewsbury, and her impact on pretty good haul! performance from Freddie Huxley- Girls’ running in The Hunt has been Fielding claiming the silver medal significant. The Upper Sixth group of On the same day as the County and Will Hayward in bronze position. girls have been loyal servants to The Champs, many of our Hunt runners The Junior boys also showed their Hunt, and once again, the backup were competing elsewhere with the

Rigg’s Steeplechase team, March 2016 38 SCHOOL NEWS

Knole Run winning team

second round of the Midlands Independent Schools’ Cross- England runner from their stable. This, however, gave Oscar Country League taking place in Rugby. It is a measure of the Dickins the opportunity to hunt them down though despite depth of talent within the club that we have the resources his 11.53 lap time, The Hunt were now neck-and-neck with to regularly ‘split’ our runners and compete in clashing Sedbergh on the final changover following an astonishing events. Indeed, despite our elite level athletes not being run from their captain. Charlie Tait-Harris on final leg battled available to compete in any of the Midlands League fixtures shoulder to shoulder with his compatriot from Sedbergh for this year, we nevertheless managed to retain the Colts team three-quarters of the course, only to find - out of nowhere trophy with the League title secured through the efforts of - The Judd’s final runner surging through with just 600m our ‘B’ team runners. Similarly, we only narrowly missed to go. In the battle between Shrewsbury, Sedbergh and out on winning the Senior title at the prestigious Midlands & Loughborough, everyone had ruled The Judd out, but Northern Schools’ Championships held in Giggleswick this perhaps fuelled by the bitter taste of defeat following year despite being without our top 12 runners, though the Colts did manage to win at their age-group level.

The focus for The Hunt’s lead runners midway through the term is always the King Henry VIII Relays in Coventry, widely regarded as the principal national schools’ event. This year’s boys’ race was, most people agreed, one of the most exciting in recent years, with some dramatic twists and turns along the way. On the back of the Knole Run victory, The Hunt were looking to challenge for the title here as well, though knew that Loughborough in particular would be strong given their ‘golden bullet’ Ben Djikstra. However, as the teams warmed up, rumours were awash amongst the runners that Djikstra was struggling with an injury and wouldn’t be racing. What a shame for Ben, we all thought. Possibly. Yet we knew, too, that we would face stiff opposition from The Judd (who would be keen to exact revenge on us for so savagely swooping in at The Knole), perennial relay experts St Alban’s and we couldn’t rule out the impressively strong Sedbergh team that had been steadily rising through the ranks in recent years. So it was to prove the case, with Sedbergh taking the lead following the second of six legs, and indeed, whilst in touch, by the end of the third leg, The Hunt were only in 4th position and out of the team medals never mind challenging for the lead. However, Freddie Huxley-Fielding’s rapid 11.49 for the 2.3 mile course (the sixth fastest time of the day out of over 350 runners) catapulted The Hunt into second position with just two legs to go. By this point, Loughborough had surged into the lead following a blistering run from yet another Freddie Huxley-Fielding SCHOOL NEWS 39

The Knole Run, it was our rivals from Kent who took the Olivia Papaioannou break the tape to take the individual title spoils with what was a quite brilliant final leg ambush, at the championships. Backup came from fellow Upper Sixth and we had to settle for team bronze. The lads were leavers Passi Goddard and Martha Pownall home in 5th and disappointed, reflecting the level of our ambition given they 9th respectively, with Fifth Former Immie Evans (G) in 8th. were despondent despite winning a national team bronze! It was a poignant moment to see our leavers race for the last time and hand over the metaphorical baton to Evans who It is worth pausing to mention the achievements of our was earlier that week announced as next year’s Huntswoman, ‘B’ team at both the Knole Run and the Coventry Relays. a position she will hold for an unprecedented two years. In the former, they had placed 8th out of 36 teams (the Equally, the Northern Schools’ Championships presented next best ‘B’ team were The Judd in 17th) and out of the an opportunity for some of our boys to race for one last eight ‘B’ team runners to place inside the top 100, six were time in an RSSH vest. The race saw a dominant display Shrewsbury runners with just one from The Judd and one from The Hunt where for only the third time they lifted the from Harrow. Similarly, at the national relays in Coventry, Daily Dispatch trophy, first presented in 1939. The team our ‘B’ team demonstrated the strength in depth that The total of 11 points is practically unheard of in competitions Hunt enjoys by placing in the top 10 for the first time ever, such as this, with The Hunt’s counters placing 1st (Freddie placing 8th out of 46 teams and beating ‘A’ teams from Huxley-Fielding), 2nd (Will Hayward), 3rd (Oscar Dickins) big names such as Millfield, Rugby and Sevenoaks. The and 5th (Scott Hatton). It was a fine individual victory for girls might not have grabbed the headlines this year, but Huxley-Fielding who will take over from Oscar Dickins a top 10 spot at The Knole and 13th/29 at Coventry was and Ben Remnant as Huntsman next year, and with this very respectable indeed, and as ever, Huntswoman Olivia young man at the helm, the Hunt looks set to have an Papaioannou impressed with the 7th fastest time of the day extremely exciting year ahead. An outstanding talent, I first at the relays. saw Freddie in action when he came to our very first Prep Schools’ Championships where he won the u13 event. For the girls, their moment of triumph came right at the He went on to win the Prep Schools’ individual national end of term where, for the first time, a team travelled up to title before coming to Shrewsbury, where he broke the Trafford for the Northern Schools’ Championships. Impressive Third Form course record and has gone on to great things, packing in the opening lap saw our girls battle it out with including an individual victory in The Hunt’s first ever the lead four from Canon Slade School in Bolton who were international race in Kenya and a top 15 place in this year’s there to defend their title. Having won the competition three UK Inter-Counties. times in the past six years, they were no doubt somewhat unnerved to have such stiff competition from the Hunt For me, the Northern Schools’ Championships proved runners on debut in the competition! The short 3.3km course an emotional afternoon for this would be my last race seemed to be to the liking of our quartet and in her last race as Master in Charge. Whilst as you can imagine I was in an RSSH vest, it was a proud moment to see Huntswoman particularly proud that this was an all-Riggite podium (and I was equally proud of their victory in the previous day’s Inter-House Steeplechases), what was most poignant of all was the manner in which they raced; the way they always have. They ran with the steely determination and pride that characterises a Hunt runner, and above all else, it is this pride in the RSSH vest that makes our club so very special. The past eight years have been exhilarating, humbling, inspiring. I have had the distinct privilege to oversee the nurturing and development of countless boys and girls, and there is no greater joy than seeing the way in which running becomes for them a passion for life as it has been for me. The Hunt gets into your blood and quickly pulses through your veins. As countless Old Salopians will testify, that doesn’t leave you when you depart from Shrewsbury School. I know that I, too, will always be proud to say that I was part of this very special club.

I hand over to Ian Haworth who has assisted me over the past seven years and played a key part in the rise in fortunes of The Hunt. I can think of no better person to be leading this historic club, and I have no doubt that under his direction, The Hunt can look forward to a very exciting future indeed.

Let me close by thanking all those Salopians who have put on the RSSH vest over the years - both current Salopians and those now departed - for you have given me some wonderful memories to treasure as I look back on my time as Master in Charge. I shall greatly miss the camaraderie, the passion and the thrill of running out in the Shropshire hills, but I know that I have been very fortunate indeed to have been given all these experiences and I am very grateful to you all for making The Hunt the special club that it is.

Run hard, run well, and may the devil take the hindmost …

Olivia Papaioannou Peter Middleton 40 SCHOOL NEWS

Rugby

School were clearly the strongest in the group and deserved to progress.

The U16 squad, whilst being somewhat thin in numbers, contained players of some quality. At 15-a side they went one better than last season and won the County Cup, defeating a very physical Wrekin College side who came back strongly in the closing minutes of the game with Shrewsbury clinging on to win by 2 points. The game was a contrast of styles with Shrewsbury, typically, looking to play an expansive game but having to compete against a big ball-carrying Wrekin pack. On the sevens circuit the U16s were runners up in the Shrewsbury sevens and U16 squad, County Cup Winners were the defeated semi finalist in the his was something of a mixed The fixture list was somewhat stiffer main competition at Rydal Penrhos. Tseason, both in terms of results on than in previous years and as a result At Rosslyn Park the squad played the pitch and in terms of the weather. the side struggled to gain momentum. some very decent sevens indeed and finished runners-up in the group, As with many sports, the long periods With key players missing for periods losing to a strong Sherborne side in of persistent rain meant that a good of the season, the winning habit was the final group game. In the previous number of matches were cancelled and never really established. However, game, wins were recorded against squads had to be bussed to all-weather the squad worked hard and certainly Kirkham Grammar School, Wycliffe facilities off site. On the playing front, improved as the season progressed College and King’s College Taunton. pride of place went to the U15 squad both collectively and individually and Of the 160 schools in the competition who once again had an unbeaten spirits were rarely dampened. Mention only the 32 group winners progress to season. The strength of depth of the must be made of the leadership of the knock-out rounds. squad was often tested as, along with Bertie Gilliatt-Smith (O) (this year’s other age groups, the vagaries of the captain), George Lechmere (O) and As regards county representation, weather contributed to a larger than Alex Goode (Ch), the senior pros twelve members of the U14 and U15 usual list of injuries. The strength of the this year. Had they remained injury squads represented Shropshire, the squad was clearly seen in that eight of free the season would have been most from a single school or club. It the boys were selected for the county significantly more successful. The is anticipated that more of this year’s U15 squad of approximately thirty input of the lead coaches, Shaun Perry U14 will join the county squad next players. As well as excelling at the and Guy Kirkby must also not be season. At an even higher level, fifteen-a-side game, the squad also won underestimated as they had to manage both individual player development George Sandy (O) is a member of the the Adams’ Grammar School and King’s Worcester Warriors U16 squad playing School Macclesfield Sevens festivals. as well has constantly having to re-jig team selection. regularly for Worcester against the other Certainly this bodes well for the next premiership academy teams. Arron season and the National Sevens at Lewis (SH) played a similar role with Rosslyn Park. As the 15-a-side season squelched to a sodden end, the Sevens tournaments the U15s and Oli Shutts (O) is part of Worcester development squad. The senior squad was a mix of Sixth began in earnest. However, even these Form and U16 players. As is now well didn’t fully escape the weather with both the Stonyhurst and Stowe events Inevitably we say farewell to a good established a 1st XV plays in both the number of rugby stalwarts and Michaelmas and Lent Terms although being washed out. The seniors had a positive start at the KES Stratford hopefully they will all carry on playing the back division always receives a the game and continue to develop boost post-Christmas when some of the event, progressing to the plate final and losing narrowly to Solihull their skills. However, the future looks senior soccer players join the squad. bright for Salopian rugby with a stream The NatWest Cup has become the School. A tough draw at the Marches Sevens and a somewhat below-par of good players looking to achieve focus for the Michaelmas Term. The at a high level both in and out of XV narrowly lost in the second round performance didn’t progress beyond the group stage. However, at Solihull school. As I tap out my final, and 28th to a strong Adams’ Grammar School report, I wish the players and coaches team and so progressed to the Vase the level of performance picked up and although we didn’t progress well for the future and hopefully add competition. Newcastle-under -Lyme their support to Ed Taylor and Linley College were comfortably beaten in out of the group, improvement was noticeable. At Rosslyn Park things Portsmouth as they work to revitalise round one and, for the second year the Old Salopian Rugby Club. running, the XV lost in the second started well with wins against Gordano School and Hymers College but a round on the home team rule. Scores Floreat Salopia against Newcastle-under -Lyme School series of unforced errors against were equal at the end of the game, as Ipswich School resulted in a chance Duncan Kirkby were tries scored, so the opposition to be runners-up in the group slipping progressed as the away team. by. The group winners Caerleon SCHOOL NEWS 41

U14s

The season ended with more wins than losses and a very pleasing points difference, suggesting that both our attack and defence performed admirably. Although it ended in a disappointing loss in a very physical county cup final that was closely contested and nearly swung in our favour because of the excellent place kicking by Alex Powell, the performances leading up to that suggested that we should be challenging for that cup again.

U14 and U15 Shropshire County players The team developed well over the course of a disrupted season, owing to the harsh weather, and many boys U15s new to the game were challenging for starting roles. In particular the speed This time last year I came to write the end of season report of a special of Nicholas Liu and power of Bilal group of young rugby players, who had gone through a fantastic unbeaten Khan were invaluable towards the end season. After dominating all who came up against them, I was hard pressed of the season and these two, amongst to believe that the feat could be replicated. Indeed, at the start of this season, others, could turn out to be fantastic with players having moved to other sports, another unbeaten season was a players with further refinement. difficult proposition. Yet this was a special set of boys, who were prepared to rise to the challenge and showed determination through much adversity. The captaincy was shared between Jack Goodall and Oiver Shutts, One difficulty was training with a reduced squad size, which pushed us into our scrumhalf and tighthead prop a number of small-sided games. Though this perhaps impacted on tactical respectively, and they led the team focus, it enhanced the skill levels of the boys exponentially, giving them a by example both in matches but also keen eye for the gap, increased handling skills, and an ability to offload that with their focus and tenacity during maintained forward momentum throughout the season. The dedication of training. Both are excellent players those who continually turned up to training every week was phenomenal, but also possess skills that benefit and and it was this commitment that meant that even in challenging matches, bring the best out of those around the boys were always able to pull themselves through. This was important them. Nathan Mielczarek was our one- this season, particularly due to the number of injuries we accrued. What was man wrecking ball and would get us impressive, though, was the way that every member of the squad stepped up on the front foot either in attack or and helped to keep the wins totting up. defence because of his no nonsense approach and physicality and if he By the end of the 15-a-side season the team had won all 9 of their matches, continues to grow will only become scoring 365 points whilst only letting in 53, finishing off as county champions more unstoppable. Ben Coulson, and finding themselves placed second on the Schoolsrugby.com Performance Harry Sutherland and Archie McKirdy League. should also be mentioned because of their hard work this year, which often On top of this, the U15s had the most successful Sevens season on went unnoticed as it happened in the Shrewsbury record. Winners of the Adams’ Grammar and Lucton Schools depths of the rucks and mauls but Sevens competition, and the plate competition at the King’s Macclesfield certainly gave the likes of Leo Walton tournament, the boys improved fantastically, and will have a good shot at the and Frank Mansell in the backs a lot Rosslyn Park competition next year. Certainly the short-sided games that they of ball, territory and time to create and played in training gave them a great skill-set that perfectly transferred to the finish opportunities. speed and open spaces of the Sevens field.

As a team we must thank Steve Rintoul Chris Cook for his expertise as he really helped move the boys away from seeing Rugby as merely a game but into a sport, and got them from playing and thinking like boys into playing and thinking like men. Mr Johnson was also of huge benefit in our preparation for Sevens and with little to no competitive Sevens before the National Tournament, it was very pleasing to hear how we challenged admirably in our group and were unfortunate not to come away with some impressive wins over very established rugby schools.

Morgan Bird 42 SCHOOL NEWS

Fives

fter last season, which was hampered by injuries, the club was firstly hoping for health and fitness: under these Acircumstances we would have a large, strong and motivated senior team to chase both the Williams Cup and the Open Nationals. Good news in this regard came over the Christmas holidays: George Panayi clear to play from the start of January, when previously late February or early March had been the medics’ estimate. We had had the usual one or two outings in the Michaelmas Term, though not enough to keep up with those schools who play for two terms: as ever, the late November fixture against Harrow was a good indicator of how much work was needed during the Lent. One wonders how more regular fives in Michaelmas might change things…. Meanwhile our carousel with the Third Form showed that there was some talent in the year, though how they perform over the season is always tough to predict.

Our big weekend to Highgate, Harrow and Eton was not as early as usual this year; instead we started with the seniors and the girls playing against Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Cambridge’s indoor facility was a particular joy for the spectators, largely because the weekend was one of these:

The girls started the season as they Williams Cup and full availability of showing that two weeks of hard work had finished the last: in impressive the squad, we were beaten on the would be needed before the Nationals style, winning all their matches. day by a strong Eton performance. if we were to challenge for the U14 The boys had challenging matches At first pair we were not quite ready: Beginners’ Trophy. (the Cambridge top pair have won Tom Breese and George Panayi were Universities and U25 national titles; still making up ground having had six The Schools’ Championships Oxford now have a young crop of months off sport each in the last year. high-class players) so the weekend At second pair we suffered from Jack Unusually, the Schools’ Championships was an excellent one which we hope Fox and Luke Lloyd-Jones having had this year fell outside of our term time, to repeat. no competitive matches together due allowing us to host, but within term for to various other commitments: though most other schools. The result was a The overall spread of fixtures potentially very good they lacked any tournament larger than it has sometimes given the later London jaunt was sort of consistency and had a bad day. been at Shrewsbury; given that it was a probably better than usual, the At third pair we got off to the worst day shorter with finals on Good Friday only disadvantage being that the possible start but were in the end and a third girls’ tournament is now London weekend coincided with the outplayed by a strong Etonian pair. contested in this main week, there Northerns, so two big weekends for We lost that fixture 5-1, putting Eton were a couple of late finishes in the competitive court time became one. out of reach. The case grows stronger evenings. The other side-effect of the for Michaelmas fives – we simply later championships was that the fives The girls were still in Shrewsbury over weren’t ready. team were all in lessons during the last Northerns weekend so many played week of term: this came as something over the two days, the highlight We turned the tables on Eton the of a shock to both the players and the being the Final of the Festival Plate following weekend when they came staff who would not usually expect to competition, in which our top two up to us for a fixture. Breese and see them. U15 pairs met each other. It was a Panayi grew in confidence, Fox and very competitive match: indeed the Lloyd-Jones found a zone I’ve never The Championships started with the highest standard we had seen from seen to come back from 2-0 down U15 tournament on Sunday 20th, the girls’ fives at Shrewsbury to that point, to win, and Dan Orchard and Adam boys being joined by the U15 ladies in and it was pair two, Emma Graham Aslam-Baskeyfield played some really the afternoon. With Dan Humes not and Katie Oswald, who eventually high-class fives which almost put able to play having reached the quarter- triumphed 15-14 over Lizzie Ware and them in the frame for a seeding at the finals of the U14s last year, our top Sophia Breese. Schools’ Nationals. We won all three pair were James Hinwood (fresh back pairs. In the U14s meanwhile we from fencing in Poland) and Archie Despite a good build-up to the were convincingly beaten at 1st pair, Mobbs. They played well, making SCHOOL NEWS 43 quarter finals. This year’s group have classy Highgate pair who had too much Wednesday evening: they were certainly worked on their weaknesses for the Toms. These two nonetheless beginning to look as impressive as through the season and I look forward put in their best performance of the we knew they could be, which was to working with a good, large group year so went out without shame. promising. Playing them in the semi of U16s next year. The ladies came in would not be 4th seeds (St Olave’s 2) with a mission, though, and it was here We had major hopes in the senior but 5th, Highgate, who had won this that some of the matches of the day tournament and three pairs who quarter-final. They are an impressive were played. Our third pair of Phoebe could trouble the later stages: Tom U16 pair: quick and athletic; much Wasdell and Issy Wong improved so Breese and George Panayi were first like Tom and George, they thrive on a much through the day’s tournament seeds though not unbeaten in the fast game and this was what the semi- that they came back from 0-1 down season; Jack Fox and Luke Lloyd- final was. Some of the best and fastest in a fantastic late quarter-final against Jones were not as polished as they fives of the tournament was played Highgate 1, in front of the largest would have liked but had shown in this match and while Tom and crowd of the day, to book themselves a week earlier that they could pull George played as well as they have a place in the semis. Phoebe showed out a serious performance and they all year, Highgate pulled out a “once great control of the game on top step; were duly seeded 6; Dan Orchard in a hundred” performance according Issy contributed athleticism and some and Adam Aslam-Baskeyfield, both to their coach, going 2-0 ahead. outrageous returns at the back of court. southpaws (and the latter, one who Tom hit a purple patch to score 7 This result meant that Shrewsbury could spot orthodoxy a mile off and consecutive points which effectively had three pairs in Monday’s semis, would swiftly take a side street to won the third game and the scores with Ipswich providing the fourth. avoid making eye contact with it), were level in the fourth for over 10 Shrewsbury 2 (Emma Graham and while unseeded were dangerous and minutes as neither side could score. Katie Oswald) saw off Ipswich on had played some tremendous fives in Eventually it was Highgate who broke Monday morning; Issy and Phoebe the run-up to the competition. the deadlock and took the match 3-1, found their match in pair 1 (Sophia Dan and Adam reached the last 16 leaving us disappointed. Breese and Lizzie Ware). without dropping a game, beating a strong Eton pair 3 on the way. In the With the Championships taking place So the final later on Monday was to be last 16 they came up against a strong in the first week of the holidays, there a re-run of the Northern Festival Plate pair in Harrow 1. After a slow start were several regular U14 players who final: Breese & Ware against Graham in the first game they rallied but not were unable to represent the school. & Oswald. Sophia and Lizzie started enough to apply real pressure, losing Amongst the better players who were strongly and went into a 2-0 lead 2-12, 7-12, 8-12. Their trajectory this unavailable were Hiroaki Shu and and all seemed to be going to script. season suggests they could very well Archie Turner, who might have made Katie and Emma are not easily beaten be serious contenders next year. the top four pairs and Marcus Van Wyk though: they fought back and won who had to travel to South Africa on the third and had a lead in the fourth, Jack and Luke had an interesting route the day of the Beginners Competition indeed had game points which might through to the quarters, as their last and would have otherwise played in have taken the match to a deciding 16 match was delayed overnight after the top three pairs. 5th game. Sophia and Lizzie held Jack took a ball to the eye while ahead their nerve and won the fourth and in game three. They duly closed out In all Shrewsbury entered 26 Third therewith the trophy. the match the following morning, eye Form players to the Championships - fine but now protected by goggles. 25 on each day with Marcus Van Wyk The U16s came in on Monday morning, In the quarters they met third seeds playing on Wednesday in the U14 and Tom Bromley-Davenport & Tom St Olave’s, who had been unbeaten Issy Wong playing on Thursday in Brunskill the major hope, supported by until a week before the championships the Beginners’. There were 12 other George Garrett & Harry Wasdell and started. They didn’t manage to find the players who were unavailable due to Jordan Zaza & Dan Humes. All three season’s best it would have taken to it being holiday time. pairs easily got through their group and upset the seedings. indeed reached the last 16 but it was As expected only the top four pairs only the first pair who reached quarter- Breese & Panayi had swept through made it out of their pools on the first finals, where they drew the top seeds, a Eton 2 in their quarter final on day of competition and of those pairs only the top pair made it past the third round to face one of the seeded pairs in the Fourth Round. Tom Castling and Peter Clark gave the ultimate runners up a scare in their first set leading 9-7 at one point, having played their best fives of the season, before losing 9-12, 4-12, 4-12. However, this was encouraging as the quality of their play was outstanding for beginners with excellent cutting and volleying the key to their game in the first set. Despite not being able to live with the accuracy of the Highgate pair as the game went on, they had put down a marker for the next day’s competition. In the plate competitions, Tommy Price and Marcus Van Wyk made excellent progress in the main Plate to L-R: Katie Oswald, Sophia Breese, Lizzie Ware and Emma Graham reach the final against Charterhouse 44 SCHOOL NEWS

and Dan Orchard won the plate. Our overall results through that competition despite still having a young side shows what a force we already are amongst the co-educational fives schools.

The girls were now fully in the swing of the week as the Ladies’ Open tournament kicked off on Thursday alongside the U14 beginners. Our Fourth Formers, again, showed how well they rank nationally as Ware & Breese and Graham & Oswald both managed the impressive feat of reaching semi-finals, again only losing to the strong Highgate pairs who are two years their seniors. Clare Richards and Phoebe Wasdell won the plate.

Thanks must go to Andy Barnard and Gwen Davies for their time and efforts with the girls, Grant U14 Beginners squad Williams for his limitless energy and 1, where they lost narrowly. Vaughan 7-12, 7-12). In the other semi-final Tom enthusiasm coaching the seniors, Wilcox and Ed Evans also had a good Castling and Peter Clark convincingly Rob Morris, Torin Morgan and Adam run in one of the Plates reaching a saw off the Harrow 1 pair 3-0 (12-3, Shantry for their work with the final. James Martin and Ben Hulme 12-4, 12-8). U15s and U16s and Matt Barrett for had a good afternoon in the Plates, showing, once again, that his analysis playing some excellent fives and The final took place on Good Friday. and coaching of the beginners is showing real potential for the One of the Eton boys was struck in among the best in the country. Beginners’ Competition. the eye by his partner in the warm up and the start was delayed for an We are sad to say goodbye at the end In the Beginners’ Competition, the hour. When the game did begin, of this season to Grant, who has been top two pairs won their pools to go Shrewsbury started slowly and coaching for seven years and has been straight to Round 3, while Pairs 3 & let Eton get to 6-2 up after some involved with Salopian Fives in one 4 won through Round 2 to join them inconsistent cutting. However, the way or another for about 20 years! We and Pair 5, Jack Goodall and Sam boys dug in and slowly reeled their hope still to see him on court from Holdcroft, lost a tough Round 2 match opponents back in and built a lead at time to time. It is also the last season and went into the Plate. In Round 3 10-6, before seeing out the set 12-8. for Rob Morris, who retires from Shrewsbury 1 beat Eton 4 (12-7, 12-1), The boys found themselves down teaching this year. Travelodge and Shrewsbury 2 beat QE Barnet 3 (12-9, 5-3 again in the second set, before trips down the M40 will never be the 12-6) and Shrewsbury 3 lost to Eton 3 playing more accurate fives at the same without these two stalwarts who (5-12, 5-12). However most impressive front, and cutting very well to take have given so much of their time over was Shrewsbury 4, who beat seeded the set 12-6. Shrewsbury never really so many years to fives at Shrewsbury. pair Charterhouse 1 (12-14, 12-6, 12- got into the third set, playing too Many many thanks indeed! 10). In the quarter finals, Shrewsbury defensively and losing focus to drop 1 beat Eton 3 (12-9, 12-0, 12-0) and the set 3-12. However, Tom and Peter A summary of the season would Shrewsbury 2 beat QE Barnet 2 (8-12, refocused their efforts in the fourth set, have to say that Shrewsbury remains 12-6, 13-10, 12-8), while Shrewsbury 4 cutting well, hitting better approach a dominant force in Schools fives couldn’t reproduce their excellent form shots more accurately and volleying but that our seniors this year didn’t from the previous round, losing to more frequently. They built up a 7-1 quite get the results that we would Eton 1 (5-12, 4-12, 6-12). lead and never looked like losing, have hoped for. The girls’ fives, In the Plates, there were many eventually taking the set 12-5 and the however, is a juggernaut of success, good performances and several match 3-1. They had been the best as uncompromising as Magneto and pairs progressed to the latter stages. pair in the competition and thoroughly at least as good at attracting silverware. Highlights were Jack Goodall and Sam deserved their title after putting in a Holdcroft who won the main Plate and great deal of work since losing 0-3 Seb Cooley, Andy Barnard, Shrewsbury 12, Miles Lorente-Shyllon, to Eton 1 in the school fixture at Matthew Barrett Johnnie Dowd and Nathan Day who Shrewsbury two weeks previously. reached their Plate Final. Meanwhile on the Wednesday we had In the semi-finals, Issy Wong and six pairs in the Mixed competition. Arthur Garrett at Pair 2 had a tough Our top boys’ pair did not play as they match against Eton 1. While the were focused on the Open but we Shrewsbury pair cut well and kept the were still competitive: Sophia Breese pressure on their opponents, they just and Jack Fox were runners-up to lacked the accuracy needed in open Highgate (the strong Highgate girls are play. The Eton pair hit the buttress Sixth Formers; we anticipate success more often and proved to be more in this competition in coming years); consistent through each of the sets, Lizzie Ware and Luke Lloyd-Jones Peter Clark and Tom Castling, winners of the beating the Shrewsbury pair 0-3 (9-12, were semi-finalists and Emma Graham National Schools’ Beginners’ Competition SCHOOL NEWS 45

RSSBC

The Michaelmas term in 2015 was one of the busiest yet for the Boat Club with both the addition of the J15 Girls’ squad and numerous crews out racing most weekends.

all those that attended. He kindly presented the trophies to the winners of the Victoria, Sabrina and Williams Sculls winners from the previous weekend.

The 1st and 2nd VIIIs were put through their paces in the lead up to the Head of the Charles with crews racing at the Chester Long Distance Sculls, Runcorn Head and the Pairs Head before flying out to the US.

The now familiar surroundings of the Kerrs’, Hodgsons’ and Cabots’ wonderful homes provided us with a fantastic base to train, race and explore around Boston. Visits to Boston, Harvard and Dartmouth Victoria Boys Winner – Paddy George Universities gave the boys some insight into studying in the US. The crews enjoyed some great experiences training on the Charles River boating out of the Northeastern Boathouse and racing in two matched eights out of the Dartmouth Boathouse on the Connecticut River. On the return trip from Dartmouth, the crews visited former 1st VIII coach Todd Jesdale and his wife Natalie. It was great to be met with the sight of the RSSBC Maltese Cross flag flying imperiously from the flag post at his hilltop home, surrounded by the autumn colours of the surrounding trees and snow- covered hills.

Victoria Girls Winner – Alys Howells

The Boat Club had boats racing at the alongside Lower Sixth Former Alys following events through the course of Howells (MSH). The Sabrina Sculls the term: (J16) was won by Ed Lewis and Eleanor Fox (G). Williams Sculls (J15) Victoria, Sabrina and Williams Sculls, was won by Adam Pattenden (S) and Flying the flag in Vermont Chester Long Distance Sculls, Runcorn Tessa Scott-Bell (MSH) and the Junior Head, The Pairs Head, Bedford Small Williams Sculls (J14) crowns went The Head of the Charles Regatta gave Boats Head, The Head of the Charles, to Louis Nares (Rb) and Issy Lewis the 1st VIII their first real challenge Northwich Head, The Fours Head, GB (EDH). of the year and they showed promise Long Distance Trials, King’s Chester covering the first two thirds of the J14 Match and the Wallingford Head. We were honoured to have Olympian course inside the top eight crews, but and multiple Boat Race winner unfortunately got caught up behind For full details of each event, please Constantine Louloudis as our guest the two crews battling in front of them visit the Boat Club’s webpage. The speaker at the Boat Club dinner. and had to settle for a respectable 15th highlights included seeing eighty He shared some of his experiences, place out of 85 crews. The 2nd VIII pupils taking to the Severn for the including that of losing to the also put on an encouraging display, annual Victoria, Sabrina and Williams Shrewsbury 2nd VIII at Henley coming home 59th in the field of 84 Sculls. The event winners were in 2008. His humble manner and 1st VIIIs. Three of the boys from the Captain of Boats Paddy George (M) genuine support and advice provided 1st VIII had little time to rest, as they winning the Victoria Sculls (J18) title great insight and encouragement for joined Rory McKirdy in a quad to race 46 SCHOOL NEWS

Whilst it was dark outside on the last Monday afternoon of the Michaelmas term, 240 competitors gathered in the Alington Hall to compete in the Inter-House Hope- Simpson Ergo Challenge. Fierce House rivalry was on display from all involved, and the noise was deafening. The performance of the event came from Moser’s Upper Sixth as they covered 3000m in a time of 8:29.6, over 40 seconds ahead of 2nd place.

Hope Simpson Ergo Challenge

in the Director’s Challenge quad event. The crew performed well to come 14th out of 40 crews in their event.

J14s

The Lent Term proved no less frenetic, despite the river conditions which kept most crews in the gym. This proved useful in preparation for the English Indoor Ergo Championships which saw the Club winning a notable haul of medals across three age groups, competing inside the impressive Manchester Velodrome. Medal winners included Olivia Moir and Louis Nares winning bronze medals in 1st VIII in Boston extremely competitive fields in the J14 Girls’ and J14 Boys’ 4min races. Matthew Rowe won gold in the Men’s J18 On their return from the US, four senior boys’ fours took Category. In the Team events the J14 boys won bronze and to the water at the Fours Head of the River on the Tideway J14 girls nearly replicated the result, only narrowly missing in London. The crew of Matthew Rowe, George Rowley, out on a medal to come 4th. The boys’ J16 team of Artem Paddy George, Henry Thomas and Tomas Shiels put in the Stopnevich, Max Craik, Tom Shepherd-Cross and Bryce strongest performance, coming in 4th out of 20 crews in the Rutter led the field from start to finish in their category, Junior coxed four category. winning by an impressive margin of over 80 metres.

In high winds and difficult conditions, the RSSBC J14 squads Three senior teams entered into the Championships performed very well at Northwich Head in their first ever and produced some outstanding medal-winning race. There were also excellent performances from the J15 performances. Henry Bambridge, George Rowley, Nick crews - in particular the J15 coxed four, who not only won Watkins and Gavin O’Dwyer competed in the Open their category but beat all the J16 fours and finished as Men’s category against some very strong competition. second coxed four of the day. They were the fastest junior athletes of the day, and their excellent time of 8:16 for the 3,000m would have won overall for both of the preceding years. On the day they had to settle for silver, however, behind an impressive men’s team from Manchester. Freddie Bonthrone, Paddy George, Matthew Rowe and Donald Hickey competed in the J18 Men’s category. The boys led from start to finish in their category, winning in another quick time of 8:26. Barney Fox, Alex King, Lucy Price and Lauren Powell raced well in the Open Mixed event, winning bronze.

Over half term the Boat Club took the 1st and 2nd VIIIs to Lake Vyrnwy in Wales for a four-day training camp. Northwich Head: Winning J15 Four The crews had had limited water time in recent months and the camp provided a great opportunity to get out on December saw the arrival of Storm Desmond and three the water and get some mileage done. months of wet conditions and a swollen River Severn pushing most squads indoors for training and racing. The After half term the river began to subside and led to a J14s went to Chester to take on King’s Chester in a series of corresponding increase in river traffic, as all crews eagerly individual and team ergo races which saw numerous pupils took to the water in preparation for the spring Head races. returning with silverware. Notable mentions are Louis Nares The Boat Club hosted a reciprocal J14 match for King’s and Nathan Mielczarek winning Gold and Silver medals for Chester which saw the J14A boys and girls getting the better their individual distances, with Olivia Moir bringing home the of their opposition with some strong performances on home Silver medal in the Girls’ individual race. water. Meanwhile the J16s raced two crews at the Runcorn SCHOOL NEWS 47

English Indoor Ergo Championships Head with the A boat recording a win four gold medals, two silver medals event. The Senior Girls had two crews in J16 Eights. and three boats qualified for the racing in the Junior Women’s Quad; Inter-Regional Regatta. The J16A VIII the 1st crew came in 8th and the 2nd At the North of England Head, produced the fastest time of the day boat came in 15th, although they were the Senior crews put in similarly with the J16B VIII coming in second. the fastest 2nd boat in the event. The encouraging performances with the The J14 boys’ and girls’ quads won J16A crew came 4th and the J16B 1st VIII producing the fastest junior bronze medals followed by silver crew finished 6th in their category. time of the day and second overall medals for the girls’ octuple and gold The J15As had a solid row, coming to Agecroft RC. The 2nd VIII won medals for the boys’ octuple. in 5th in tight competition and only the J18 event and the 3rd VIII came narrowly missing out on a medal by second in novice eights. The girls’ 1st The end of the Lent Term saw two seconds. & 2nd quads came in 2nd and 3rd eight crews take to the water at the respectively in the WJ18 4X event. Schools’ Head of the River Race The end of a busy week for the over the 4¼ mile stretch of the Boat Club saw seven crews racing A combination of eighteen J14, J15 Thames from Chiswick Bridge to at the National Junior Sculling Head and J16 crews raced at the West Putney Embankment on Thursday held at Dorney Lake on Friday 18th Midlands Junior Championships, held 17th March. They joined 378 crews March and saw the J15s claim a in Worcester on Sunday 13th March. from across the UK as well as a few National Championship title for the They had a fantastic day out in great international entries from the US, J15 boys’ octuple. conditions and secured a significant Hungary and Italy. The 1st VIII and haul of silverware for their efforts. 2nd VIII were disappointed to come The J14 boys and girls competed in a All three age groups recorded wins, in 9th in their respective categories. very large field, with the girls’ octuple with the most impressive performance The 3rd VIII produced a very strong coming 6th out of 25 crews and the coming from the J15 squad with row to secure an excellent 2nd in their girls’ quad 40th out of 50 crews.

Vyrnwy Camp: 2nd VIII 48 SCHOOL NEWS

J15A octuple

J15 Squad

The J14 boys’ A octuple had an excellent row, coming in 4th out of 60 crews, and the J14 B octuple coming home 53rd. The J15 girls’ octuple also produced an encouraging performance by coming 5th in their event. The girls’ 1st quad raced for the second time in two days, coming in 14th out of 30 crews.

Athol Hundermark SCHOOL NEWS 49

Commemorating 150 years of the RSSBC

lthough the earliest Salopians and is now awarded annually to the match, let alone surpass. Indeed, such Awho took to a boat were winning 2nd VIII. Between the wars, has been the success of the Club over rewarded with a sound thrashing by the RSSBC was the dominant School the years that there is always a residual Headmaster Butler for engaging in a crew in the country, twice winning weight of expectation placed upon it dangerous sport, rowing in general and once narrowly losing in the final to perform on the National stage. But and the school regattas in particular the Ladies’ Challenge Plate, and to the Club is bigger than that: Old Boys became quickly established once this day the twice yearly meeting of rowing for Sabrina Club, Regatta Mums Kennedy took over in 1836. The School 1st VIII coaches is known as providing mountains of food and regattas featured six-oared boats and the Kitchin Society. endless empathy, former coaches and staff - all form part of the wider Club. became increasingly festive as the As a result of another tragic loss in years passed, leading, in 1864 to the World War 1 the Pugh Boathouse Most important, however, as we inaugural inter-school race, against was donated in memory of John celebrate 150 years of the Club’s lively Cheltenham College. Demand for Edwin Pugh, who died aged 21 on existence, is the vibrant, pulsing heart more fixtures was such that in 1866 a 12th November 1918. It added three of the RSSBC which is surely the committee was convened in order to more bays to the original two; a sixth collection of current aquatic athletes formalise arrangements, and thus the (and the workshop) was added in on their passage through the School, Club came into being. the 1950s. They are all adjacent to whether in the 1st VIII, the J14F the old Ferryman’s Cottage, formerly quad or ‘only’ in House Novice IVs. The first bumping races were held in the Prince of Wales pub (hence the Sometimes more strongly, sometimes the following year, over six nights, and ‘feathers’ insignia in the photo below), less, that heart has pumped oxygen the embryonic nature of the event can however the oldest two bays have through the veins of the Club for a be traced through the varying number now been replaced by the impressive century and a half, and symbiotically of crews on each night in that first year; Yale Boathouse, complete with land- each individual has drawn strength four crews rowed the first night, six training facilities in the Gifford Room of character and physique in return. on the second and third, seven on the on the first floor. Edgar Dickens served The smallest cox of the third bumps fourth, but then one crew must have as boatman for 41 years from 1912, boat, in the count-down to the gun, tired, since it withdrew for the final and Gerry Sturges for a further 35 must meet his fears with as much rounds that year – having bumped years until 1988; together with Dave courage as he can summon for the up over the four previous nights! Jarvis until close on the Millennium moment, as must the stroke of the 1st Significant aspects of the history of they form a trio of skilled boatbuilders VIII whose vision is going as the finish the School are evident in the bumping who kept the Shrewsbury equipment approaches, yet who courageously charts; they faithfully record the year at the forefront of design, and in top drives his crew the last few strokes in which the various Houses were condition. The focus of the more over the line to win the Final. formed, for example. One year has a recent boatmen has been on the Something in each one’s spirit says unique place in the charts: 1875 is the maintenance of the much larger Kevlar ‘I will do it’. Courage, Commitment, only year featuring a double overbump, composite fleet with its associated Loyalty, Trust, Friendship: these in which a crew went up five places electronics – a very different matter. are also at the very heart of the for the following night, in contrast to Ian Turner, Keith Brown and now RSSBC, and they are timeless and an overbump (up 3 places) , or ‘just’ Andy Clark have all, equally, had their commendable attributes. a bump (up 1). It is well worth a visit work cut out. to the Boathouse to spend some time Philip Lapage browsing the charts in the Bowring Since the days of ‘Kitch’ senior and Room of the clubhouse. junior crews have won thousands Further information and fuller of races. They have also produced details can be found in A History of Racing in VIIIs against Bedford numerous Oxbridge Blues and Shrewsbury School 1552–1952 (J.B. School began in 1897, replacing the International oarsmen, been on Oldham), Annals of Public School Cheltenham fixture and other IVs overseas tours, and explored Rowing (L.C. Smith), The History of events, but it was not until Alington innovative equipment and technique. Rowing at Shrewsbury (R.M. Blomfield) appointed the legendary ‘Kitch – The The Club’s tally of wins at Henley, the City on a Hill (D.H. Gee) and Bull’ as coach in 1910 that a 1st VIII National Schools’ Regatta, and at the Celebrating 150 years of the RSSBC emerged which could compete on Schools’ Head of River Race is a record (N.C. Randall, P.H. Lapage, D.H. Gee, the National stage, rowing at Henley that very few other schools can even A.F. Warburg). Royal Regatta for the first time in 1912. Both AE Kitchin and EHL Southwell, who accompanied Kitch to Shrewsbury as a coach, were Oxford Blues; Southwell later joined up and lost his life in World War 1, one of six Masters to serve and perish thus. Kitch’s crew won (and the school retained) the Elsenham Challenge Cup in the 1919 Royal Henley Peace Regatta; the VIII had a young Sandy Irvine in it who was later to win fame on Everest. The Elsenham Cup was subsequently presented on permanent loan to the National Schools’ Regatta 50 SCHOOL NEWS

Lacrosse

Monmouth School for Girls and to be runners-up in the finals of the Rendcomb. The girls played a strong Championship Division) losing by game against the latter, beating only one goal 4-3. Again, MVP for them 12-0. Against HMSG, despite the Tournament was Phoebe Wasdell, a very even game, they sadly lost who was consistently strong both 5-4. MVP was Mary Lees (EDH in defence and attack, with faultless III), and commendations to Poppy stick skills and endless energy; Collingwood-Cameron (EDH III). commendations to the Attackers and to Amelia Ashworth. For the U15s, the North Schools’ Tournament at Queen Margaret’s We have also enjoyed the advice, York in February was a day of experience, sense of humour and stick relentless rain and mud but superb skills of Miss Wright who has stepped lacrosse. Shrewsbury came second into the breach this term and coached place to Moreton Hall ahead of all the teams; in particular preparing Bolton, Birkenhead, Queen’s Chester the Nationals team for their debut and Queen Margaret’s. MVP went appearance at Surrey Park. We have all to Phoebe Wasdell (MSH IV) and gained from her time with us. commendations to Amelia Ashworth (EDH IV) and Lily Freeman-Attwood As a departing gift, Antonia Wordie (EDH III). has presented the School with the Wordie Lacrosse Cup (see photo The culmination of the season was at left). It is clear to anyone involved in the two-day U19 Rathbone National lacrosse this year how much Antonia Schools’ Lacrosse Championships at has done for the sport as a whole. Despite a wet start to the term and Surrey Park, Guildford at the end of When we were struggling to find a matches being cancelled, the girls February. Fifteen of our U19 squad coach to take over from Miss Buckley, enjoyed some good wins and closely made up of Third, Fourth and Sixth Antonia stepped into the breech and, fought matches. Our novice U14 Form girls put Shrewsbury School with Mrs Nicholas, ensured lacrosse team impressed our opposition with well and truly on the Lacrosse map not only kept going, but that each their newly learnt skills and have on for future years. After the first day of and every session was well organised occasions played up for the U15s. play, despite our team being relatively and expertly delivered. Without Likewise our strong core of U15 inexperienced and young, we were Antonia’s enthusiasm, commitment players excelled both at their own seeded in the third of four divisions and determination, the lacrosse team age group and for the U18s. The latter (Div 2), exceeding all expectations. wouldn’t have had the success is has team, so ably led by School Captain of We sadly lost our Captain, Antonia enjoyed this year. This cup will be Lacrosse Antonia Wordie (EDH), have Wordie, to suspected concussion on awarded to individuals who show that competed well against teams who the Saturday, but the girls bravely same commitment and dedication, have been playing together for years fought on. They were sadly knocked always going the extra mile to ensure and consist solely of Sixth Formers, out on goal difference in the quarter- that they and others perform at their unlike our young team of Sixth, Third finals against St Catherine’s, Bramley very best. It is for those who take and Fourth Formers. C team. However, the highlight of the pride in representing the School and Tournament was on the first day who are determined to give of their A number of girls have been playing when we played an awe-inspiring very best. for county teams. At the U18 County and hugely exciting game against North Tournament in April, Olivia St Catherine’s A team (who went on Nicola Bradburne Papaionnou (EDH UVI) playing for the U18 A, and Juliana Hinwood (MSH LVI), Imo Luczyc-Wyhowska (G LVI), Amelia Maunder (EDH IV) and Amelia Ashworth (EDH IV) for the U18 B team, were instrumental in helping Shropshire beat Lancashire, Cheshire and Yorkshire. (Antonia Wordie was also a member of the A team but was unable to play.)

On a national level, Georgia Kannreuther (MSH III) and Amelia Maunder (EDH IV) went to two Wales trial weekends and were successful in being picked for the U19B squad; a great achievement for the two young players.

The highlight of the Lent Term for the U14s was the triangular fixture in January against Haberdashers’ 1st XII at the North Schools’ Tournament SCHOOL NEWS 51

Netball

It has been a good term for netball, skills and determination. Notable results, Shrewsbury pushed ahead with more teams and fixtures than results were wins over Malvern of Shrewsbury High School to nick ever before. The addition of the St James, Llandovery College and 2nd place on goal difference; newly marked Gorswen courts has Haberdasher’s Monmouth. Well a fantastic achievement. meant that regular training takes place done to all, especially Checky for all squads and teams and the Galbraith (EDH) who was our Not to be outdone, the U14s School now has the capacity to host player of the tournament. continued their winning form numerous matches and tournaments. The junior teams have been very throughout the term into the last successful this term. The U15s match, with a high scoring win From a senior point of view, it is finished the season strongly by over Ellesmere to finish off the always tricky to know how Sixth coming runners-up in the County season. This takes their total goals Form netball will go, with little Tournament. They started with a this season up to 153, with only knowledge of the new Lower Sixth 7-1 victory against Abraham Darby 64 against! This team have really coming in. With fewer numbers School and followed this up with found their form of late, especially than liked at training, we were a very impressive 7-3 victory over in our attacking third. Considering often down to only one sub per a strong Thomas Telford side. This the team have only just starting team, or even the bare seven. strong determination and teamwork playing together, there are exciting Nevertheless, the improvement meant that despite some close times ahead. in the squad during the term was fantastic. Each player improved with every game and all players kept working until the final whistle.

The senior teams have therefore had varied success, with the 2nd team recording the better results overall, winning 4 and drawing 2 of their 11 games. This includes impressive victories over Moreton Hall, Adams’ Grammar and Oswestry School. Not to be outdone, the 1st team recently performed very well at the Malvern St James tournament – a big event, with 11 teams involved. The girls faced some well-drilled opposition, yet managed to raise their game and demonstrate good

Squash won the home fixture but had been He avenged his final loss last year unable to adapt to their courts. The to Tiger Vechamamontien 3-0 and highlight in the away fixture was Tom then beat Head of School Tom Breese Edwards coming from 2-0 down to 3-0 in the final. Tom’s ability to win 3-2 and put the gloss on a 4-1 rise to the big occasion is his biggest win. The team also recorded a 5-5 tie strength and he will be sorely missed versus the staff and parents and, with next year. I thank him for his the help of the staff, recorded a 4-4 superb contribution to Shrewsbury tie versus the Old Salopians. For the School Squash as Captain for the first time in five years the boys’ team last two years. beat a Shrewsbury Club team 7-4. For the second year running The main reason why I felt the term Ridgemount won the House Squash had been a success however was final against Severn Hill. School the notable improvement in all 16 firsts were awarded to Tom Edwards of the boys in the Top Squad. This and Tiger Vechamamontien. The Tom Edwards and Tom Breese improvement will need to continue most improved player award goes as we lose seven of the 16 as leavers to Mungo Hargreaves. Next year’s The 2016 squash season has been this year. The school tournament was Captains of Squash will be Charlie an excellent one. Matches versus hard fought and included the top 20 Lennox and Stefan Hart. other schools were all won including players in the School. The winner of the home and away double against this year’s tournament was last year’s Bromsgrove. In recent years we had runner-up Tom Edwards. Myles Harding 52 SCHOOL NEWS

Fencing

At the Public Schools’ Fencing Championships held at Crystal Palace during the last week of the Lent Term, Shrewsbury’s team of six epéeists, 12 foilists and ten sabreurs was one of the largest in the competition – an indication of just how popular the sport has become, and how successful. The event attracted 1,252 fencers from 98 schools.

The highlight for the Shrewsbury team He then won against Robbie Brown was a gold medal for Third Former (Scotland) 15-14 in what proved to be Jan Tai (R) in the Mount-Haes Epée a very tense encounter. In the last 16 (12-14-year-old boys) from a field of fencers he met Matyas Brykner (Czech 98 fencers. In the Senior Foil, Marco Republic) and lost 15 - 12. His final Lee (I UVI) was unable to repeat position was 13th from a field of 160 last year’s gold medal victory but he fencers – an outstanding result. fenced well to finish in fifth place and only narrowly missed out on a medal. Thirteen Shrewsbury School fencers Scott Reynolds (SH UVI) managed to qualified for the British Youth gain valuable Master of Arms points by Fencing Championships, which were finishing 16th in the same event. held at the EIS arena in Sheffield in May. The highlight for the In the Junior Foil, Marco Lo (PH V) Shrewsbury fencing fraternity was a turned in an excellent performance well-deserved fifth place for Jan Tai to finish in 12th place but was among a field of 53 fencers in the disappointed not to have got into the Under-14 Boys’ Epée event. medals. Sherry Xu (EDH UVI) – who only took up the sport last year – Earlier in the Lent Term, James won a exceeded all expectations, finishing bronze medal in the Elite Epée Junior 15th in the Senior Girls’ Foil and 20th Series Under-16 event held at Moulton in the Senior Girls’ Sabre. College in Northampton. The event attracted 30 epéeists from across the UK. Scott Reynolds was the only member of the team to compete at all three Other results: weapons. His 16th place at Foil, 16th James Hinwood place at Epée and 18th place at Sabre Rhys Trevor - 31st U18 boys’ sabre meant he finished fourth overall in the Matthias Owen-Sinclair 29th Master at Arms trophy. The event attracted fencers from U18 boys’ foil across Europe. In his first round of Sherry He - 33rd U16 girls’ sabre poules, James won five out of six of Kimberley Xia 21st U18 girls’ foil his first bouts with a healthy plus-13 James Hinwood - 38th U16 boys’ épée hits indicator, which seeded him 22nd Will Holcroft - 46th U16 boys’ épée going into the direct elimination stage. Angel Chan - 44th U16 girls’ foil He won his first direct elimination Suky OuYang - 47th U16 girls’ foil fight 15-3 and the next fight 15-12.

Jan Tai

Epéeist James Hinwood (Rt IV) was unable to compete in the Public Schools’ Championships because he was competing instead in Poland in the Wratislavia Challenge as part of the 12-man England cadet épée squad. British Youth Championships team SCHOOL NEWS 53

Basketball

Basketball has been enjoying a resurgence at Shrewsbury recently and this season has been particularly successful, culminating in the Shrewsbury School Basketball team ‘The Sharks’ being declared winners of the U18 boys’ County League.

Vartanov (SH), Harry Zhang (I) and Eccles Cheong (SH) all played their part and gained valuable time on court which will stand them in good stead for next season. 30 SCHOOL NEWS None of this year’s success would have been possible without the 3rd June Shrewsbury v Myerscough Preston U17 Cup Bedford 110 for 2 excellent coaching of Geoff Parry WON by 7 wkts and Josh Crutchley. They have added Myerscough 160 for 7 24th & 25th June v Uppinghamsteel, discipline (Two and innings) team ethic to ShrewsburyWith wins in 163 the for Lent 3 (Garrett Term against 63 n.o. PanayiHe 56 (SH)n.o.) were also instrumental,Match Drawn Shrewsbury basketball, which has Ellesmere, William Brookes, New rebounding well on bothShrewsbury sets of 299 for 7 decalways (Westbury had the 112 flair Hargrave and creativity. 5thCollege June Telford Shrewsbury and Idsall, v Malvern the Sharks HMC T20 boards.LOST by Captain 29 Adam41 Leung Lewis (M)40) They have engineered some fine runsare worthy winners of the title. The was Mr Consistent andUppingham marshalled 161 (Panayivictories 3 for 47) with their experience crucial performance was an epic two- the troops well both on and off the Malvern 149 for 4 Uppingham (Followingand on) know-how 316 (Lloyd of3 forhow 43) to win point victory against Idsall (89-87). court. His younger brother, Felix Shrewsbury 120 Shrewsbury 120 for 4 tight games. Training sessions are This was Idsall’s first defeat in three (M) went from strength to strength intensive and purposeful and player years and was the launchpad for the and will be a key player for the next development is a key feature. 6th June Shrewsbury v Malvern WON by 80 runs 27th June v Brighton GS Melbourne T20 WON by 24 Sharks’ season. three years. Ken Lai (S) recovered Shrewsbury 222 for 3 (Hargrave 59, Lewis 80 n.o.) runs well from a nasty ankle injury to This has been a memorable season, MalvernThis was 142 very all muchout (Home a squad 3 for effort 27, Westburybecome 4 for 22) one of the mostShrewsbury improved 137 for 8 (Westburywith a strong 57) showing in the National and all the team played their part. players in the SchoolBrighton and he 127was all a out (LloydCup too3 for and 19) the future is bright and 13thLeading June points-scorer Manchester Travis GS v HoShrewsbury (Rt) keyWON squad by 1 player.run in very good hands. Shrewsburyled the way 207 and for was 3 (Westburyunplayable 100 at Adair 58) SILK TROPHY Manchestertimes. Aaron GS Zhao 206 for(SH) 6 and Wentao Koby Ferdinand-Okpala (SH), Sergei Will Hughes 29th June v Oundle WON by 106 runs 19th June Shrewsbury v Sedbergh U17 Cup LOST by 3 Shrewsbury 233 for 7 (Westbury 57, Hargrave 73) runsERRATUM Oundle 127 all out (Panayi 4 for 13) Sedbergh 236 for 9 The following table should be used in substitution for that set out on page 30 of the Winter 2015 edition of The Salopian Shrewsbury 233 for 4 (Adair 60 Panayi 54 n.o. Hargrave 53) 30th June v Hilton College Durban LOST by 84 runs which was set out incorrectly. The statistics were correctly reported to the publishers of Wisden. The editor apologises for Hilton 257 for 9 (Lloyd 4 for 42) any confusion caused. 20th June Shrewsbury v Bedford LOST by 8wkts Shrewsbury 173 all out (Hargrave 48) Shrewsbury 107 all out WISDEN STATS 2015 40 & 50 over Matches

Bowling Overs Maidens Runs Wickets Best Bowling C. E. Home 104 10 413 28 5-21 G. D. Panayi 155 20 554 29 4-13 O. E. Westbury 139.1 21 569 28 4-20 D. J. Lloyd 199 28 663 31 4-42 P. J. Jacob 69 3 311 12 3-24 D. L. Durman 67 6 282 10 3-2 C. E. Cooke 106 8 512 12 3-27

Batting & Av Inns NO Runs Highest 100s

O. E. Westbury 55.15 21 2 1048 112 6 G. P. Hargrave 49.46 17 2 742 100* 1 G. P. G. Lewis* 35.64 21 4 606 80* H. R. D. Adair 34.00 22 3 646 83* G. D. Panayi 26.69 16 3 347 48 C. E. Home 26.44 13 4 238 55

1st XI Player Reports 54 OLD SALOPIAN NEWS

From the Director Amidst the summer excitements of Henley, the (where there are still some spaces for late applicants), Cricketer Cup, and such Woodhousian named veteran a memorial dinner for the late Lt Gen Sir Christopher golf contests as the Bunny Millard and the “Susie” Wallace (Rt 1956-60) on 27th October, and the climax Mellin Salvers, our thoughts turn to events in the to the RSSBC 150th Anniversary celebrations in the autumn. form of a spectacular dinner on a Thames river cruiser (open to all Salopians) on Saturday 5th November – a We have slightly changed the format of Old Salopian perfect way to enjoy the London fireworks! Day on Saturday 1st October. Instead of lunch, there will be a reception with drinks and a buffet lunch at As I mentioned in the latest e-bulletin, Salopians the opening of the new Chatri Design Centre. This can take justifiable pride in the achievements of our will be followed in the afternoon by Old Salopian sportsmen in alumni competitions over the past 12 football matches against the School, a School Science months – semi-finalists in the Halford Hewitt (Golf) Exhibition, an Old Salopian Art Exhibition, House and the Cricketer Club, and finalists in the Barber visits and Tea in Quod. Thereafter we are extending Cup (Fives) and the Arthur Dunn Cup (Football). At an invitation to a Black Tie Dinner to all those who the same time our Arts Committee are energetically left the School in 1956, 1966, 1976, 1986 and 1996 as engaged in promoting and supporting the extraordinary well as to all those who fall into the 1552(sic)–1955 era! number of Old Salopians making a significant impact (and any contemporaries who may have left earlier) in the Arts world. What better all round advertisement We do encourage Old Salopians in those years to could there be for Sir Philip Sidney’s legacy of the ideal make a special effort to come and meet up with their of the Renaissance Man? contemporaries in what we hope will become a regular ten year reunion cycle. Further details can be found on Floreat Salopia the enclosed proforma. Nick Jenkins Other major events this autumn include the World War Two Battlefield Tour in Normandy this September

Moser’s Reunion

We were delighted to welcome some 200 former and current members of Moser’s Hall and their families to a reunion on 26th June. A small selection of photos is included below and a full report on the event will be published in the next edition of The Salopian. It will also be featured on the Salopian Club pages of the School website with a gallery of photos: http:// www.shrewsbury.org.uk/page/os-news and included in the July eBulletin. Please email [email protected] if you have not already signed up to receive the Salopian Club bi-monthly eBulletin. OLD SALOPIAN NEWS 55

Salopian Club Events

Christmas Drinks Parties in London, Birmingham and Shrewsbury

More than 200 Old Salopians of all ages attended City Drinks at the Travellers Club in London on 19th November. Many of the attendees were young OS, including some of the most recent Sixth Form leavers, but some of our very active octogenarians were also present.

Feedback after the event was very positive. As a result, the same venue has been booked for City Drinks 2016. The Birmingham Drinks Party took place the following week at All Bar One. This event had a more modest turnout but included some of our most active OS from the West Midlands region, who enjoyed good food and drinks in great company.

Christmas Drinks in the Alington Hall on 4th December saw some 140 OS, Birmingham Drinks former parents and staff gathering to enjoy champagne and canapés before the Carol Service in the School Chapel.

City Drinks City Drinks

Birmingham Dinner

The Salopian Club Birmingham Dinner took place on 14th April at the St Paul’s Club in Birmingham and a wonderful evening was had by all who attended. The dinner is considered one of the highlights of the Club’s social calendar and this year was no exception, with tickets selling out well in advance.

The event was organised and hosted by Richard Woodgate (Rt 1954-59) and the Guest of Honour was Nick Owen (R 1961-66). The Headmaster was in attendance and John Moore, Director of Music, took along two talented pupils who entertained the gathered guests wonderfully with their singing.

Thankfully a minibus provided transport back to Shrewsbury for those who had indulged in generous quantities of Walsall Sauce! 56 OLD SALOPIAN NEWS

Dubai Gathering

Dubai, where representatives from Shrewsbury were visiting the UAE New York Dinner and spreading the good word of Salopia. Therefore the evening The New York Racquet and consisted of Old Salopians, partners, Tennis Club provided a current and prospective parents wonderfully stylish setting as well as friends of the School. for the Salopian Club and Numbers were initially looking Shrewsbury School Foundation modest until Kathy Campbell, New York Dinner on Friday representing the Admissions 11th December. Department, and the Headmaster kindly offered to cover the cost of Completed in 1918, the Club the event. Then coincidently and contains four international for some unknown reason, numbers squash courts, one North Top L-R: Guy Ellory (Rb 1992-95), Kartiké Kathuria suddenly spiked! American doubles squash (I 1998-2003), Mark Towers (O 1982-86), court, one racquets court Andrew Hudson (SH 1992-97), Nik Tryggvason (S 1987-92), Nick Green (S 1990-95), A great effort from Nick Green who and two real tennis courts, Charlie Barlow (O 1990-95), Julian Green flew in especially from Bahrain and all situated above the main (S 1994-99), Iain Jones (S 1992-97) was joined by his brother Julian from public rooms. Bottom L-R: Richard Cave-Bigley (M 1992-97), Abu Dhabi, who brought their father Rupert Connor (S 1992-97), Mike Rigby visiting his sons from the UK. Also, The dinner was attended (Rb 1996-01) Nik Tryggvason arrived on crutches by 26 Old Salopians, wives, After two years of Old Salopian despite the evening humidity in partners and friends of sporting greatness on the cricket Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah. Shrewsbury School. At the end field and golf course, the decision of the dinner, the Headmaster was made to bring this year’s annual As with all Salopian gatherings, it is updated those present on the Dubai Salopian get-together indoors always a pleasure to catch up with School’s achievements and the for a civilized four-course, five-star people who share a love for the Chairman of the Foundation, supper at the trendy French bistro School, and the evening was a huge Peter Worth, reflected on the Frioul overlooking the Burj Al Arab. success. Thank you to everyone who Foundation’s most successful supported and I hope to see more of year ever in the USA. The event coincided with the you next year! Anderson Education Exhibition in

Salopians at Oxford

Many thanks to Ed Carroll (Ch 2010- 15) for kick-starting what we hope will become an annual tradition: a gathering of OS currently studying in Oxford. Eighteen OS from across the various years attended the drinks in the King’s Arms, Oxford and a very enjoyable evening was had by all. The Salopian Club put money behind the bar to support the event and we hope to see more events of a similar nature in the future.

Pictured above left to right are: Miranda Woods (MSH 2013-15), Aue Angpanitcharoen (Ch 2010-15), Ilya Lapan (I 2012-14), Ed Carroll (Ch 2010-15), Dominic Dootson (M 2010-15), Dan Lo (SH 2010-15), Charis Virgo (MSH 2013-15), Crystal Chan (MSH 2012-14), Judah Rand (R 2008-13), Tom Lloyd (Rt 2009-14), Jack Flowers (I 2007-12) and Tabby Price (MSH 2010-12). OLD SALOPIAN NEWS 57

Salopian Arts

rt, Music and Drama have Dates and details for all these events Ahitherto played a minor part in will be confirmed in the autumn. activities of the Club. But a recently Above all, the Committee has been revived Arts Committee established afforded a privileged insight into the a very successful programme in the burgeoning careers of many aspiring year 2015-16. Events have included OS - actors, musicians, singers and an inspiring Open Mic evening in artists. The scope and range of their January at the Horse and Stables in many achievements is a constant Lambeth, led by Ali Webb (S 2008- source of inspiration. As and when 13), which featured a range of young the Club succeeds in launching the and aspiring talent. This was followed ‘Potentiality’ arm of its new website, by a well attended Evensong at St it is to be hoped that all such artistes Paul’s Cathedral in February, after Meanwhile, in the world of theatre, will be kept in better touch with one which resident chorister Patrick Craig Tim Johanson (O 2000-05), who another’s activities. (Ch 1982-87) and Canon Chancellor produces regularly in the West End Mark Oakley (Rb 1982-87) provided a and beyond, hosted a gathering for his In the meanwhile, and not least with most entertaining tour of the building, memorable production of “Dinner with the Edinburgh Fringe due to begin in followed by a reception. Friends” at the Park Theatre, Finsbury August, any news of Old Salopians Park. Each of these gatherings has involved in the Arts is more than Three days later, Club members witnessed a great cross section of ages, welcome. Please email details of any gathered at the Coliseum for a ranging from students at university activities to Janet Scholes (jscholes@ production of The Mikado by or drama school to Salopians who shrewsbury.org.uk). These will English National Opera in a lively attended Shrewsbury during and appear on the website. performance conducted by Fergus shortly after the war. The enthusiasm Macleod (Rt 2001-06). of all those who participated has been Detailed information about future heartening. events will appear on the Club website and in the Director’s Provisional plans for the year 2016-17 regular eBulletins. Information is include: also mailed to interested parties and any Club member who wishes to • Open Mic Evening in conjunction with be added to the mailing list should the Young OS branch of the Club; contact Janet Scholes • Evensong at Westminster Abbey ([email protected]). • a Joint Orchestral Concert at Cadogan Hall, London on Sunday 13th March 2017 to be conducted by John Moore and Fergus Macleod • OS/School Play in a Day • Further theatrical events, and an exhibition of art by OS at the School Peter Fanning on OS Day Chairman of the Arts Committee 58 OLD SALOPIAN NEWS

News of Old Salopians

followed by their more detailed paper More details at www.thaxtedfestival.org. 1930 - 1949 (1966) Proc. Phys. Soc. Vo1.87. uk, where you can also book online. Brian C. Fawcett’s team continued John Gillibrand (Ch 1929-34) this research on the solar spectrum celebrated his 100th birthday on 5th from 1965 until 1990, which led to the January 2016. His daughter, Sara Mason, identification of a major percentage writes: “There was a full complement of of the strong spectral lines in the far Old Salopian Gillibrands present: ultraviolet and soft X-ray regions of the his three sons Martin, Nick and David; solar spectrum. also Martin’s three sons Richard, James and Kit (all Churchill’s) and David’s sons Tom (Ch) and Jack (I). Two-thirds 1950 - 1969 of the male guests were Old Salopians, including John’s daughter’s son, Will Mason (O) and John Holt (R), a former Robert Burn (SH 1948-53) writes: David Kempton (M 1954-59) is a Head of School and a good family friend “I was pleased when in 2015 the third Director of Neptune-Calculus VCT, and neighbour in the Lune Valley. edition of my undergraduate book Numbers and Functions was published Impax Ireland, a quoted investment trust, and a number of private John lives quietly but independently, by Cambridge University Press.” companies including Hawksmoor just into Yorkshire, and he continues Investment Management (where to drive. He plays bridge regularly in Anthony Hickson (I 1949-53) writes: he is non-Executive Chairman) and a four with his sons and he still enjoys “I’m still running - getting slower all the EGS-Energy, a deep geothermal Opera North. He travelled on his own time. Still chasing all the Hicksons in energy company. He is also currently to Annecy via Geneva for a few days the world for my Genealogical study. a Director of Forrest Ltd, a major to meet a friend last year and intends My wife and I have just visited several provincial UK recruitment company. to do so again this year. He is in good in Australia and New Zealand (lovely David was previously a Director health and he is very good company.” countries). Just written a book about of Impax Group (the UK’s leading HTML. My son is the editor of the quoted environmental fund manager, David Austin (SH 1941-43) has won HTML specification. Been retired for where funds under management his 22nd Gold Medal at the Chelsea 25 years and still don’t have time to do have increased from £50m to £2bn), Flower Show for a rose commissioned everything that I want to do! I take part a quoted industrial conglomerate and in memory of Roald Dahl by his in the OSH match v RSSH runners and a number of UK quoted investment widow, Felicity. She chose the bloom usually come last. It would be lovely to trusts. An engineer by training, David for its beautiful peach colour. have lots of Old Salopians taking part at has founded and successfully sold a this event. It doesn’t matter if you can’t number of businesses. beat me!”

(Jeremy) Selby Whittingham John Hampson (DB 1951-56) (S 1955-59) writes: “I have lived since writes: “I retired from Warwickshire to 1970 in the same Kensington house as Sheringham, Norfolk where the average Alfred Hitchcock did until 1939 (blue age makes me feel relatively young! To plaque). Now there is a proposal for be recommended.” The Hitchcock Kensington for the Arts on the site of the former Odeon cinema Raymond Worrall (SH 1938-42) Gareth Stainer (DB 1954-58) This opposite the Design Museum’s new has been appointed to the rank of is the centenary year of the Thaxted location in the former Commonwealth Chevalier in the Ordre National de la Festival, of which Gareth Stainer has Institute building. I hope that it will Légion d’Honneur in recognition of his been Artistic Director since 1998. have fewer problems than we have acknowledged military engagement and Gustav Holst created the first Festival in had in our house over the last 30 years steadfast involvement in the Liberation 1916 and the centrepiece of this year’s (perhaps a record for a landlord and of France during the Second World War. programme will be a performance on tenant dispute?). Over that time I have 3rd July of The Planets (which Holst continued to campaign for the still wrote while he was living in the town) unrealised Turner Gallery that will do Brian C. Fawcett (DB 1943-47) A by the Symphony Orchestra of the justice to J.M.W. Turner’s great bequest. commemorative paper was presented Junior Guildhall. The lifelong friendship at the 11th Appleton Space Conference between Holst and Vaughan Williams Later in the year I hope to have an in December 2015 to celebrate the 50th forms part of the celebration; the exhibition of a painting satirising anniversary of the publication of the Festival as a whole has this year been Parliament’s failure to hold an enquiry paper by Alan Gabriel, Brian Fawcett sponsored by the Vaughan Williams into the sorry history of that. The artist, and Carole Jordan in Nature (Vol. 206), Charitable Trust, in recognition of the Gill Harris, was prompted to paint it by entitled ‘Classification of iron lines in bond between the two composers. the reception we got from the All-Party the spectrum of the sun and ZETA There are 14 concerts over the four Art and Heritage Group, when I and in the range 167 A – 220. This was weekends starting Friday 24th June. the late Leolin Price QC tried to lay out OLD SALOPIAN NEWS 59 the facts to a group of Peers who were taught at Shrewsbury from 1946 to Johnnie Cuthbert (SH 1959-64) has more interested in the Chancellor’s 1954, but had originally trained for the been appointed as lay person to the autumn statement! (Its President, Lord priesthood at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, Molecular Pathology Consortium of Cormack, joined our committee 40 took up lay preaching in middle life. Scotland, which approves cancer drugs. years ago, but has since been more Perhaps this was why I dreamt, even concerned with the preservation of the as a boy at Severn Hill, of preaching present House of Lords). Anyone who myself. That it has happened, at the Keith Mullineux (I 1962-66) writes: might be interested in the exhibition is other end of my life, is a delightful and “I played the part of Gustaf VI Adolf, welcome to contact me. rewarding surprise.” King of Sweden in the forthcoming Netflix production ‘The Crown’. I have contributed a chapter to What Perhaps this adds a little support to the ‘Life after Retirement’ argument!” Is Wrong With Us? Essays in Cultural Rodney Baker-Bates (M 1957-62) Pathology , edited by Eric Coombes continues his portfolio career into his Peter Hargreaves (R 1964-69) and and Anthony Daniels, which Imprint 70s with chairman roles at Willis Ltd, his wife Margaret have opened their Academic are to publish shortly.” G’s Group, Ridgeons Group, Fram cottage garden at Grafton Cottage, Farmers Group and, more recently, Barton-Under-Needwood, for the Push Investments Group. Since National Gardens Scheme for over Francis Clark-Lowes (S 1958-61) retiring from a full-time executive role 20 years. writes: “My first grandchild, a nearly- at Prudential in 1998, he has held a nine-pound black-haired boy called number of quoted, private, private Ryder, was born to my daughter, Julia, equity and charitable chairmanships, on Election Day, 7th May. Who knows including C. Hoare & Co; Eddie what significance this will hold for him Stobart; CoralEurobet; Helphire Group; in the future! As I write we are about to Britannia Building Society; & EG Group. celebrate his first birthday.

My book ‘Blaming the Germans’, which I was hoping might also be born last Simon Williams-Thomas (R 1959- year, had to be put aside in favour of a 63) supported The Waterberg Trust more pressing project, namely editing Challenge Ride 2016 by driving the – that is substantially rewriting and team’s back-up vehicle through the supplementing – the autobiography of game reserves of South Africa this an Iraqi, Riad el-Taher. He was involved March. This was no mean feat. He with Tam Dalyell and others in encountered both hippo and crocodile campaigning against the UN sanctions while looking after a lady who had in the nineties and early naughties, discovered she was suffering from a and in 2011 he was himself convicted fractured spine. The Challenge ride was for breaking the sanctions. He was raising money for Save the Waterberg sentenced to ten months in prison and Rhino and associated community served time in Wandsworth and Ford. projects in the Limpopo Province. We want the book to appear, under the Please see: https://thewaterbergtrust. title “By the Rivers of Babylon”, around com/2016/03/24/report-on-the-twt- the same time as the long-awaited challenge-ride-2016-part-one/ Chilcot report.

In April this year, Christine, Tag (our multicultural dog) and I at last Simon Morris (Rt 1964-69) has been completed our walk following J.S. teaching professional and academic Bach’s 1705 footsteps to Lübeck. accountancy students since he qualified There he met the great organist and as a Chartered Accountant in the UK composer, Dietrich Buxtehude, and in 1975. Running a short course for was significantly influenced by him. We KPMG’s Lusaka office in 1984 was a began this venture in 2008 in Arnstadt, life changing experience, convincing where Bach was employed, but illness him that skills-transfer in developing and other impediments had prevented countries can bring empowerment. us from getting further than Meine, From 1988 he spent five years with north of Braunschweig, which we KPMG Ireland, the ILO and Price reached in 2011. Not without further Waterhouse, starting aid-funded difficulties (mainly to do with Tag), we accountancy schools in Zambia and managed the remaining 120 miles in 12 Botswana. Another five years were days, calling on the way at Lüneburg, in Vanuatu with British Aid, creating where Bach was a student from 1700 and delivering a certificate course to 1703. which articulated into the New South Wales (NSW) Technical and Further For several years I have been a lay Education (TAFE) system. He made preacher for the Unitarian Church, himself redundant by training Ni- and now lead a service on average Vanuatu to take over. His Manchester every other Sunday. My father, who Business School MBA project was on 60 OLD SALOPIAN NEWS

the recruitment, selection and training relations whilst also lecturing at My father, Graham F.M. Carnegie of finance trainers in Vanuatu. King’s College London on terrorism, was also in Moser’s (1936-41) but In the interim he worked in the insurgency, conflict resolution and unfortunately he died in 2009. He also profession and at Central Queensland South Asia. Ali and I have been married loved it all, especially the River Severn. University in Sydney before joining for 32 years and we have three sons He was an aspiring oarsman and was CDU in 2005. In 2009, with an Institute aged 29, 27 and 26. We split our time to go on to Oxford and row for the 2nd of Chartered Accountants Australia between a London flat and our home in VIII Isis as the stroke. grant, he reported on the state of the Somerset”. Tim is currently researching accountancy profession in Timor-Leste the history of the Miskito Kingdom I continue to be a nurse - Floreat and presented a paper at the Australian on the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua and Salopia and Intus si recte ne labora. National University Asia Pacific Week plans to explore the area shortly.” in 2010. From CDU seed-funding came the first Ministry of Finance students Jonathan Hooker (O 1970-75) to study accounting at CDU and a writes: “I have been working with a contract with Universidade Nacional Peter Holden (M 1969-73) writes: charity in Ghana for about six years Timor-Lorosa (UNTL) to jointly conduct “I was the right man in the wrong and although we have raised funds a training-needs analysis and design a place at the right time on 7th July for about 14 years in Spain, France diploma course for the Ministry. 2005 and led the rescue effort and Italy, this year is the first time we Simon is passionate about accountancy at BMA House Tavistock Square have registered ourselves in the UK. capacity-building in Timor-Leste. He following the bus bomb. On 7th July The charity is called OAfrica and is a believes that it transforms individuals 2015 I was asked to carry one of the Ghana-based NGO, which works to and the economy. He started his four candles at St Pauls Cathedral. keep children in families. What this PhD at the Northern Institute in The service was televised worldwide, means is that there are lots of reasons 2013. It is entitled “Critical factors in as were a number of documentaries why children end up in orphanages the establishment of a sustainable to which I contributed. in Africa. However, many of them accountancy profession in Timor-Leste”, come from poor families and have and his research interests are capacity- For 32 years I have helped develop one or even both parents living, but building in developing countries. the newly recognised medical their parents make the ultimate and specialty of Pre-Hospital Emergency painful choice of giving them into Medicine and in November 2015 was care in the hope of creating a better awarded the Lifetime Achievement future for them. The reality is that Award by The Association of Air many orphanages are abusive, and no Ambulances for my work. I have children in any orphanage have the combined my passion for flying contact with one significant adult that (acquired during my time at teaches them how to create emotional Shrewsbury) with my profession of bonds, so they do not learn this life- medicine and still fly operationally on skill. In other words, all orphanages, Air Ambulances in the East Midlands however well-run or well-intentioned, and East Anglia. do serious emotional damage to children.

David Marston (Rt 1968-73) After We work with the Government of qualifying as a Chartered Accountant Ghana Department of Social Welfare in London, David spent most of his to close illegal orphanages. (Of 148 career at Citibank and the Financial orphanages in Ghana, nine have Reporting Council. He has recently permits to operate a care facility for retired and moved to Romsey in children, no one oversees the others Hampshire, where he is a member of at all due to lack of resources.) We the Abbey Choir. He is also a member trace the families of the children and 1970 - 1979 of the OS Lodge. re-introduce them to their families, and then our social workers make planned and unplanned visits to John Carnegie (M 1969-74) writes: ensure all is well. The family receive Tim Willasey-Wilsey (M 1967-71) “My memories of Salopia are very child support from the Government, has written. “When I left Shrewsbury I fond - the Severn and my rowing and we work to strengthen the family spent a gap year teaching in Ethiopia (the Bumps were my best) and so they become self-sustaining. before going to St Andrews to read sculling up river on my own - and History for four wonderful years. I then the Fives courts and the upper field We also look after young adults took a job in export sales before joining and the lower footy pitch where Peter so they become self-sustaining. I the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Gladstone (Ridgemount housemaster), have been a Board member here I spent 27 years in diplomacy with with his two black labradors (and in Spain for three years and am the postings on four continents. I worked his Ne Ne geese in his bird pen plus International Advisory Board member in and on Southern Africa in the early other birds). I was in Moser’s Hall responsible for organisational years but latterly my focus was on 1969-1974 with A.R.B. Moulsdale as development. So I run workshops India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Since Housemaster - and that September to develop strategy in Ghana and leaving government service in 2008, 1969 Kingsland Hall opened, so I for the fundraisers in Europe, and I have been advising Royal Bank of had to walk to my meals (rather than occasionally run training sessions for Scotland and Coutts on international having them in the House!). the young adults in Ghana.” OLD SALOPIAN NEWS 61

Robert Baxter (SH 1971-76) married Sussex until the end of September and Since its founding in 2001, Project Susan Deas on 3rd July 2015 at St in RHS Gardens Wisley from August Harar has treated around 4,500 people, Boniface Bunbury and they now live 22nd to the end of September. To see the majority of whom suffered with in Haughton, Cheshire. Robert would more of his work, visit his website cleft lips and palates, but tumour and also like to thank all his OS friends www.jeremymoulsdale.co.uk. cancer cases, burns and noma (facial who helped and supported him in his gangrene) and animal attack victims are recovery from AML (acute myeloid also successfully treated. Most of these leukaemia). Many visited him in The individuals were ostracised and treated Christie, at home and supported him like outcasts beforehand, but having via social media. Robert is organising undergone facial rebuilding surgery, a Cabaret Ball in aid of the Anthony with their dignity and looks restored, Nolan blood cancer charity on 8th they are able to lead normal lives. The October 2016 in Chester. Please contact transformation is wonderful to behold. him at [email protected] if Project Harar is always looking for you are interested in coming. supporters and medics. Please contact Jonathan Crown via the website www. projectharar.org for more details.

Warwick Hawkins MBE (S 1978-83) writes: “I have left the Civil Service after 27 years and have established a new social enterprise, Faith in Society, designed to help faith groups engage better with the public and private sectors.”

Rob Yorke (R 1980-84) Times columnist and rural commentator, is Timothy Burling (Rt 1972-76) is now one of only five people to have over living in the Boston area (Fall River, 100 letters published in The Times – Massachusetts). After Keble College, most of them on gritty environmental Oxford and qualifying as a Chartered matters from badgers to bees! He Accountant with Arthur Andersen, he somehow manages to balance moved to the US in 1991. Since then being a rural chartered surveyor and he’s lived in South Dakota, North commentator with bringing up his two Carolina, Virginia and the Bay Area of children with his wife in the Black northern California. He moved to New Mountains, South Wales. England in 2013. His current position See www.robyorke.co.uk is Senior Vice President of Finance and Operational Excellence at Nortek Inc (Nasdaq: NTK, www.nortek.com). He’s divorced and lost his son, Oliver, Simon Frew (PH 1982-87) updated us in 2002. His daughter, Claire, lives in from his travels: “I just got to Vietnam. the Raleigh, NC area. When it’s warm See www.sifrew.com for my posting enough, he loves his Tiara power boat, about my first shower on a plane!” good company and a glass of wine. His parents and siblings still live in Cheshire and he usually gets over a couple of Duncan MacLaren (R 1984-89) is times a year. Jonathan Crown (M 1977-82) currently celebrating five years since updated us on Project Harar, a charity launching MacLaren & Partners, a set up and led by Jonathan and which 1980 - 1989 commercial property investment is embarking on its fifth major complex agency. He is married with three medical mission to Ethiopia this June children and lives in Fulham, London. Jeremy Moulsdale (DB 1976-81) to treat youngsters with debilitating had a sculpture called ‘The Gift’ placed facial disfigurements. A team of 25 NHS outside a new mental health hospital in volunteers mainly from Guy’s Hospital Farnham Road, Guildford. This is the in London, but from further afield too, Fritz Davis (Harvard Fellow first major mental health hospital built are embarking on a two-week trip to 1988-89) has been appointed Professor in over 90 years, and was opened by Addis Ababa where they will operate and the R. Mark Lubbers Chair in the Princess Alexandra in April. He had an on around 50 patients. Made up of top History of Science in the Department of article about his work published in the plastic surgeons, anaesthetists, doctors History at Purdue University. He also German magazine the Osho Times last and nurses, they will perform complex received a Fulbright Grant to spend November. He is exhibiting his work surgery in the most challenging of 2016-17 at the Chinese University of this year at Borde Hill Gardens in East environments. Hong Kong. 62 OLD SALOPIAN NEWS

Peter Price (PH 1996-2001) has 1990 - 1999 founded a TV and radio production company, PPM Production, and is working on programme commissions Olly Foster (SH 1988-93) is now for Radio 4, BBC Culture and BBC farming and managing a salmon and World News. In September, PPM sea trout fishery and sporting estate in produced the world’s first virtual reality North Yorkshire. He is married to Laura magic trick which was demonstrated at and has three boys, Kit (5), Sonny (3) the Royal Television Society Cambridge and Ned (6 months) He has his hands Convention by the society’s president full for the time being! Peter Bazalgette. The company is currently producing a live edition of the BBC’s flagship technology show Michael North (M 1989-94) writes: Brad Hyett (S 1993-98) writes: ‘Click’ at the Hay Festival on 28th May “I am pleased to announce that Anita “Nikhita and I welcomed Ruby Mahajan at 10am. and I had a second daughter on 18th Hyett into the family on 29th January.” February, Sigrid Kristina. She is doing well. Life continues to go well for all four of us in Oslo.” Tom Leach (O 1993-98) is living in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife Stephanie and their one-year-old Rob Lilwall (SH 90-95) updated us: son Elliott. After four years working “Earlier this year, Christine and I set off at a tech start-up in NYC, he recently on a tandem bicycle from Los Angeles. moved there to join Netflix. After five months and 3,500 miles of pedalling, mountains, prairies, plains, valleys, sun and friendly Americans, Image: Paul Hampartsoumian we arrived in New York. Please enjoy Stuart McLaren (S 1993-98) On our four-minute fun video (narrated 18th June 2015 to Clare (née Fidler) BBC Click presenter Spencer Kelly mostly by Christine) with some of the and Stuart, a daughter Isabella Rose watches as Royal Television Society highlights of the trip: http://goo.gl/ was born in Grand Cayman, Cayman president Sir Peter Bazalgette rL5v59 Islands, BWI. A few months after the experiences the world’s first virtual birth, the family relocated back to reality magic trick produced by PPM Back in Hong Kong, I’m excited the UK and Stu started a new career Production. You can experience the about developing my speaking with General Electric (Oil & Gas) on a magic trick online at ppmtelevision. work, including a new half-day leadership program to transition military com/360 interactive masterclass which explores officers into successful GE Careers. the Attitudes of Adventure in our daily lives: resilience, goal-setting, collaboration, self-care and self- Dr Edward Shorthouse (S 1996- leadership.” 2001) writes: “I am teaching physics in Somerset now and I finished my PhD in climate physics last year at Exeter University. Ann and I have a daughter, Ben Champkin (R 1992-97) writes: Eleanora, born in December 2013.” “I am working as Director of Sport at Elstree Prep School in Berkshire where I have been for six years now. My wife Tom Saxton (SH 1999-2004) writes: Sian and I now have a son who is nine “My wife (Lauren) and I welcomed our months old called Zac.” first-born and son Hugo Saxton into the world on 9th April. Floreat.”

Richard Goulding (I 1992-97) Oliver Greenall (Rt 2000-05) has is currently playing Prince Harry in 2000 just had his first runners as a licensed ‘The Windsors’ on Channel 4. racehorse trainer on 16th April at Bangor-on-Dee. The first was Desert Sting (Ian Popham) and the second was Edward Cunynghame (S 1996-2001) Badbad Leroy Brown. Robert J. Barber (SH 1995-97) has been living in Stratford-upon-Avon married Miss C.M. Bennett-Diver on for the last 12 years and having sold 20th February 2016 at St Mary The out of his fruit and veg import business Jeremy Beasley (I 2002-07) writes: Virgin Church, Downe, Kent (which is now looking for a new venture. He “I am a fully qualified and insured was Charles Darwin’s parish). is currently in the process of moving personal trainer based at Reach Fitness There was also a ceremony in the to Kenya to take up some exciting Clapham in South West London. I have wilderness of Botswana’s Okavango opportunities. He is still playing cricket a large client base including personal Delta on 16th April 2016. They now in the Birmingham League for Stratford trainers, marathon running coaches, reside in Maun, Botswana, where they and finding time to watch his beloved working professionals and even a run a safari company. Birmingham City FC. celebrity or two. I enjoy my work OLD SALOPIAN NEWS 63 immensely and relish the satisfaction 158 projects across the UK worth over of helping people better their lives by £4.8m. Successes include public wi-fi From Shrewsbury becoming fitter, healthier and happier. in Mansfield, an urban farm in London, I am available for personal training and a motorway flyover re-imagined as a to Marlborough sport/event preparation via Beasleyjce@ “sky park” in Liverpool, and a giant hotmail.co.uk or Twitter @JJB_PT. waterslide on Bristol’s high street.” – an appreciation I have joined the recently started Toby is one of Spacehive’s longest- of Michael Hart Old Salopian Rugby team based in serving team members. Having started (Head of History South West London and am enjoying as an intern and working as part of and Housemaster at a good ‘run out with the boys’ every the Community Management team, he Shrewsbury 1957-67) Wednesday evening on Wandsworth then changed direction and moved into Common and would urge any other the business development side of the Once again, Michael Hart Old Salopians with the availability to company. As an Account Executive he has given his annual do the same. There is a Facebook page now sources and develops partnerships Autumn Lecture in aid of the which includes all the details.” with a wide range of potential partners, Marlborough Merchant’s House making sure that they make as big an restoration project, this time on impact as possible. Nevertheless, he the subject ‘Early Encounters still maintains a keen interest in the with Islam – English Traders Alastair Lloyd (G 2003-08) writes: development of individual campaigns in the Mediterranean in the “I am delighted to announce that I and projects as well. Being an avid 17th century’. There was a am engaged to Claire O’Connor and musician and footballer, he holds substantial audience which we will be getting married in Ireland a passion for creative and sporting included Old Salopians Richard on 22nd October 2016 on Lusty Beg projects or initiatives. Barber (SH 1955-60, from Island, Enniskillen.” Kingston), Patrick Hickman- Robertson (Ch 1953-58, from George Richardson (I 2005-10) Lambourn), Richard Salter emailed to tell us that he has landed (S 1957-61, from Bath) and his “Dream BMW Deal” for the 2016 Alexander Kirk-Wilson Nurburgring 24 Hours race. (M 1958-63) and John Sykes (SH 1955-60, from George is to join the highly-respected Marlborough). Walkenhorst BMW team for a series of races culminating in the Nurburgring Michael has made a great 24 Hours this season. Speaking impact on Marlborough’s about the deal, he says: “It’s been cultural life since he retired a while coming, but I’m delighted here nearly ten years ago to announce my first program for and, thanks to his immense 2016. Driving for Walkenhorst BMW historical knowledge and talent is a dream come true.” You can read for sharing it, has built up a the full announcement on this link: large and loyal following. He http://www.georgerichardson.com/ gave a course of lectures every richardson-lands-dream-bmw-deal- weekday morning for four 2016-nurburgring-24-hours/ weeks at Marlborough College Summer School this year covering Russia, Europe and Islamic Militancy, as well as an Erinma Tehila Hope Chiagozie evening lecture to a capacity (MSH 2010-12) has just finished at audience on ‘Putin and the King’s College London where she West’. Throughout the year was studying English Language and he gives seminars under Toby Bennett (G 2005-09) writes: Literature. She will be graduating on the auspices of U3A; “The start-up company I work for has 27th July 2016. not surprisingly, there is taken some giant leaps of late and a waiting list. recently we have been selected as one of the 10 Global Innovators by the New The secret of his amazing Cities Foundation, representing the Chris Williams (I 2007-12) writes: cerebral and didactic agility UK & London as the world’s first civic “I have been selected as CEO/President seems to lie in his continuing crowdfunding platform. of Oxford Entrepreneurs, the largest interest in current as well Spacehive aims to democratise the way Entrepreneurship society in Europe. as historical affairs, in the we shape towns and cities by allowing More info can be found on our website education of the young, in anyone to create and fund civic here - http://oxfordentrepreneurs. plays, exhibitions and music. projects online. It works by providing co.uk. I would love to hear from any For many of us here in tools that help people develop their entrepreneurial Salopians, from current Marlborough, he has given an ideas, get noticed by crowds of students to the oldest of alumni. We immense amount of added people, companies, councils and the work to support, inspire and educate value to our retirement years. media, and attract funding to make entrepreneurship not just in Oxford, but great projects happen. Since its 2012 also in China, Australia, Silicon Valley John Sykes (SH 1955-60) launch, Spacehive has helped fund and most of the UK.” 64 OLD SALOPIAN NEWS

TWO ROYAL VISITS TO BRITISH GURKHAS POKHARA: 1980 and 2016 By Lt Col John Cross (Rt 1939-43)

Recruits and staff from Gurkha Company laughing at a lecture given by the author of this article

efore Prince Harry’s visit to As I was virtually blind, each man on many walls between the Prince’s BBritish Gurkhas Pokhara on 22nd had to introduce himself to His hotel, Fishtail Lodge, and the camp. March 2016, he had intimated that Royal Highness. Outside the Guard Nepalese not British royalty was he would like to meet any who had Room the Guard waited to give the unpopular and one way of expressing been there when his father visited Royal Salute and outside the Mess dislike of it was to put Prince the camp on 10th December 1980. three soldiers waited to unfurl the Charles’s name instead. I was the Officer Commanding/ Union Jack, HRH’s standard and the Deputy Recruiting Officer (West) then Nepalese flag. We moved to the table by the and my surrogate son and my eyes, window and I offered him a drink – Buddhiman Gurung, had also met The royal motorcade drove into squash. He gave me a signed photo him and shaken his hand (‘Oh, how the camp. ‘Here they come,’ said of himself for the Mess. ‘Put it where soft it was!’), so we both qualified. the Ambassador. ‘Which car is the you like and throw custard at it after Prince in?’ I queried, seeing only a Mess night.’ I gurgled a polite Prince Charles, piloting his own a blur. ‘The one with the flag on, laugh. He surprised me by saying ‘I plane and closely monitored by the you fool,’ came the caustic answer. hear you speak nine Asian languages Squadron Leader pilot, had arrived at The convoy stopped in front of the and you need to buy more land.’ We Pokhara airfield exactly on time. Mess. I went to open the door of the had a desultory conversation while I was there but kept out of sight as leading vehicle and, only just in time, he drank his squash and, before I was fixing his blood (some had to realised that I was about to open the going outside, I asked him to sign the be in situ wherever he went), the chauffer’s door, not the Prince’s. The visitors’ book. Concentrating on him First Secretary’s return flight and the Ambassador presented me and I, as I was, I took no notice of what Defence Attaché’s clothes. having saluted, shook the proffered the Ambassador and the Nepalese royal hand. Prince were doing: I let my Second The Prince went on a few days’ trek, in Command, Captain John Rogers, during which time he pondered ‘Welcome to the British Gurkha help them out where necessary. heavily on family affairs, before Centre, Pokhara, Your Royal Fearing to be accused of lése majesté, visiting our camp. Highness. I hope you enjoyed your I forebore from mentioning that my trek!’ I presented the Gurkha Major own pedigree – direct descendant Before the Prince arrived with us, I to him and the Gurkha Major’s wife of Cadwallon, King of the Britons in stood in the middle of the assembled garlanded him. In the Mess the Prince 676; of Cynwyn, Prince of Powys; of throng and, loudly, briefed the many turned to me and sternly said ‘I don’t the wife of Llewellyn, the last Welsh ‘Old and Bold’ there to meet him that like Pokhara; unfriendly and dirty’. Prince of Wales killed by Edward I I would escort Prince Charles and, I gave no answer and only later learnt between 1282 and 1284 – made me behind me, the British Ambassador that from 3 a.m. the police had had nearer the Welsh throne of antiquity would escort Prince Dhirendra. to obliterate a lot of offensive graffiti than the Prince was. OLD SALOPIAN NEWS 65

Once outside, to a clicking and “There are an awful lot more, aren’t flashing of cameras, we started there,” the Prince said, looking our ‘talking walk’. I first presented round as we moved on. “Bear with Lieutenant Colonel Alastair it, Sir,” I said. “It may be hard work Langlands: “Colonel Langlands for you but it’s a day in a lifetime introduced Her Majesty to the ex- for them.” My Gurkha Major came servicemen 20 years ago, Sir!” In the up to me and whispered, “You’re first group were three holders of the behind schedule.” “Top gear, Sir, Victoria Cross, one of the George we’ve got to get a move on.” Cross, as many of those Members of Quicker. A few minutes later came the Royal Victorian Order (5th Class) another furtive whisper from the who had been Queen’s Gurkha Gurkha Major: “Too fast!” “We’ve Orderly Officer as the Prince was got to move more slowly, Sir.” All growing up as we could find, those the while there was a mixture of holding Honorary Rank and a 3 GR friendly informality and interest. Honorary Captain, Birtasing Gurung, And exactly to the minute we one of only two Burma War fighters finished on time. The cars started given a Soviet Union decoration up and drove to the pick-up point. Fast forward to 2016: two days (the other was a Lieutenant Colonel before Prince Harry’s visit I was in a British Battalion). I presented The Prince turned to me: “How rummaging in a drawer looking each man in turn. One of the three long have you been here? How for something to do with Malaya holders of the VC was Tulbahadur long have you got? What will you when, lo and behold, I found ‘that’ Pun. On his way down to Pokhara do afterwards?” I answered his amended cutting! I was sure Prince he was knocked off a precipice by questions: “Just over four years; just Harry would be interested so I a boulder. He was unconscious for under 18 months; I have no idea.” took it to the camp with me. I also two days in great pain and coughing “Then I’ll have to find you a job.” thought that he would be interested blood. He continued on down to His last remark was intriguing and in two of my books, Gurkhas at Pokhara, half carried, half walking, mysterious. The future king! Surely War and Gurkha Tales. “Will Your with six broken ribs, a broken he’s not one to have throw-away Royal Highness accept two books?” shoulder bone and a pierced lung. words like that? Yet what could he “Yes.” In both I had written: “Your By all odds he should have died. mean or give? I put the remark into Royal Highness Captain Harry HRH was vastly impressed that he the hibernation of my memory bank Wales, Humbly, with Affection and had made such an effort to come and was grateful for his concern. Admiration.” Buddhiman had signed and see him. the former and I had signed and Many plaudits from all concerned dated both. In a wheelchair was Naik Nandalal as they left. I was pleased that I Thapa, 8 GR, who had won the had not let my virtual blindness I showed the Prince the cutting Empire Gallantry Medal (later show. Back in the Mess ‘that’ cup and explained it. “Do you want it upgraded to the George Cross) of tea had seldom tasted better. back?” “No, give it your father for a for rescue work during the Quetta Not long afterwards I got a letter giggle.” When he opened Gurkhas earthquake of 1935. “I rescued 12 from my mother in which was a at War and saw Buddhiman’s name men but the citation only put ten!” Daily Telegraph cutting from its 12 and signature he turned and made he shrilled. “Poor old man,” the December 1980 issue about Charles Namaste to him, to Buddhiman’s Prince said, “still worrying about on trek, with a picture of him intense pride and delight. The cover it nearly 50 years later!” After leaning on a stick. The caption was of Gurkha Tales, with the Himalayas presenting those especially invited, ‘Prince Charles Wants Bacon On as background, especially pleased we moved along the line, starting Trek.’ She asked me if it was true. I Prince Harry. “I am lecturing the with the dhobis, the Indian canteen found out that it was a minion who new recruits,” I said. He opened contractor, other civilians and on hankered after pig meat. There were the book and there was a photo to our ex-servicemen. The Prince two other mistakes: I corrected of all the recruits and their staff put out his hand to be shaken by them in ink on the top and the side, from Gurkha Company, laughing. one old man who remained stock sent the cutting back and forgot “They’re not doing any work. still, visage stern, almost bellicose. about it. They’re laughing.” “Yes, at my The Prince’s empty hand flapped. lecture.” “How long have you been “Shake it,” I said to the old man. I asked the (then) Lieutenant with Gurkhas?’ he asked. “Seventy- “I don’t know how to,” came the Colonel Peter Duffel, a friend of the one years, three months and twelve surprising answer. “Try,” I told him Prince, if he could follow up his days.” “That’s a long time,” he said and shake it limply he did. “What offer. The Prince’s Private Secretary, with a surprised look on his face. is your regiment?” the Prince asked the Hon. Edward Adeane, had not him. “I’m a civilian. Never a soldier,” heard the Prince talking to me so My last words were, “Your Royal he answered curtly. “Why are you declined to take it further. However, Highness, the tie I’m wearing is here?” “To see you. It took three being asked was of great use: in that of the regiment that bore your days to get here, one day here and 1984, I wrote to King Birendra great-great-grandfather’s name, the three days back. Seven days’ field asking to be allowed to stay on in 1st King George V’s Own Gurkha work lost.” He had wormed his Nepal. In my letter was a paragraph Rifles.” At that he showed great way into the camp. The Prince was about being asked to work for the interest. visibly touched. Five or six media future British king. I saw a photostat merchants behind us, one of them a copy of the letter: that paragraph As he passed Buddhiman, standing woman, softly guffawed. Later she had a ‘goose’s egg’ round it whereas on my left, he again made Namaste wrote that the old man was a holder the others only a vertical line in and said, “Buddhiman, look after of the Victoria Cross. the margin. the Colonel.” 66 OLD SALOPIAN NEWS

SABRINA

Another brand new book, lavishly illustrated, specifically designed to celebrate 150 years of the personalities and activities of the Club, was offered to all those present and will be available at other regattas and RSSBC gatherings throughout the year.

Among the honoured guests were Mrs Coralie Arkwright, the great-niece of Edwin Pugh (M 1913-16 in whose memory the adjacent Boat House was named), together with her husband Darren: their welcome presence added further significance to the occasion.

Nick and Diane Randall at the RSSBC 150th Anniversary Event

150th Anniversary of the Royal Shrewsbury School Boat Club

With the highly appropriate backdrop of Salopians competing in the annual Shrewsbury Regatta, the celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the RSSBC took place on Saturday, 7th May 2016. Paul Manser More than 200 guests, including members of Sabrina Club, The celebration was concluded by the naming of three other Old Salopians, together with parents and partners boats. Neil and Andrew Racz (Rt 1983-88 and G 1992-97 and current members of the RSSBC, assembled in the respectively), who were Gifford Room of the Yale Boathouse, to hear speeches by both coxes, each donated the Headmaster, Mark Turner and by Philip Lapage (Master and named a coxless pair and RSSBC Coach since 1982). Refreshments of champagne in honour of his brother, and canapés were served and the walls of the room were while a coxless four was decorated by magnificent, greatly enlarged photographs of named for Paul Manser the victories of School crews, (which included 14 victories (DB 1974-79), who has at Henley), collected and arranged by Nick Randall to served the Boat Club for encourage current Salopians to emulate the achievements of nine years as a devoted their predecessors, and also by the text of the chapter on the coach and tireless history of the RSSBC, similarly enlarged, from David Gee’s administrator. Neil & Andrew Racz book, City on a Hill.

Sabrina Rowing final, a position of 9th from the 18 J. Davies (pupil), R. Shropshire, starters was a positive result, beating P. Randall, J. Kynaston, M. Walker, Preparations are going well for the crews who had finished in front of P. Wood, R. Homden 2016 regatta season. Our Sabrina them last year. VIII has a substantially better Sabrina did produce some excellent average 2K ergo time than last year, With several injuries and illness, results at Shrewsbury Regatta, with so hopes are high for qualification the highly anticipated race three wins. Congratulations to Lettie for Henley in July. against the School 2nd VIII at Tay on winning Elite mixed 2X and Shrewsbury Regatta turned out to 4X with Tom Fitton (Staff), and to Chester and Wallingford Heads be a frustration. The crew lost by Philip Randall (O 1999-2002) on produced decent results. However, a length, which, having had three winning his novice 1X. a top 100 finish at the London VIIIs substitutes on the day, was not a Head made for better reading! This huge surprise. A vigorous training Other Sabrina competitors over the was certainly the target, but after programme is in place, with a Head season: finishing 180th in 2015, the result plan to race well at Marlow prior was certainly a great effort by our to qualification at Henley Royal Northwich HOR, November 2015 Sabrina crew. It was also good to get Regatta. Sabrina Novice 2X: N.C. Randall one over many of the crews who (O 1972-76) and P.A.G. Randall (O have been beating us over the last Sabrina VIII for HORR: 1999-2002) competed and finished! 18 months. Cox - S. Milanova (staff), A. Hagger, J. Russell, P. George (pupil), Sabrina Novice 1X: Short of water time but keen to mix P. Randall, J. Kynaston, M. Walker, P.A.G. Randall - winner with potential Henley hopefuls, our P. Wood, R. Homden Sabrina VIII competed at Wallingford Here’s hoping for some great news Regatta at Dorney in early May. Wallingford Regatta: in the next edition of The Salopian! Although they did not make the Cox – S. Milanova (staff), A. Hagger, OLD SALOPIAN NEWS 67

Shrewsbury Regatta

Wallingford Regatta

Philip Randall and Lettie Tay

Lettie Tay (MSH 2013-15) gained a place on the GB U23 Development Camp. She trained for ten days at the Welsh Institute of Sport in Cardiff earlier in the year and competed at the GB start championships in April, racing against many international athletes and finishing 14th overall in the Sunday time trial. She is currently training between School, Bath high Head of the River Race performance programme and Cardiff.

Date for your diaries

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the RSSBC, the Sabrina Club Commitee and The Salopian Club invite you to join them on board the Silver Sturgeon, for a spectacular dinner whilst cruising along the Thames on Bonfire Night, 5th November 2016. Embarkation at the Savoy Pier, Victoria Embankment, London WC2R 0EU Will be at 6.30pm (prompt).

The Silver Sturgeon is the flagship of Wood’s Silver Fleet. At 21m long, it is a stunning architect-designed river yacht, with luxurious indoor entertainment and dining rooms and spacious outdoor decks. Add in the fireworks displays which will be taking place along the route and this promises to be a truly memorable occasion.

Tickets are £75 each and are available to book online via the Salopian Club website events page: http://www.shrewsbury. org.uk/page/os-events. If you prefer to send a cheque, please make it payable to the Salopian Club and send it to Janet Scholes, The Salopian Club, The Schools, Shrewsbury SY3 7BA 68 OLD SALOPIAN NEWS

Old Salopian Golfing Society

The 19th Grand Scottish Tour ended on 20th May on a high note with our golfers ‘on top of the world’, having climbed the famous hill on Gullane Number One. On the 7th tee they gazed their fill upon ‘…flagsticks colourfully dotting the delightful landscape, the Firth of Forth below, and a memorable panorama of coastline, Arthur’s Seat and “Auld Reekie”, Forth Bridge tracery, the Bass Rock and Berwick Law and the Bens away to the North’.

he Society is in great shape. As for the finals of the Grafton Morrish at a result in his game was known before Tdetailed below, Andy Pollock’s Brancaster in October. (See Stop Press the overall team result was known. team defied all odds to reach the on page 71.) semi-finals of the Halford Hewitt Denham winner: Mark Summers (35 Cup. This was our best result for 23 OSGS continues to arrange regional points), Runner Up: Simon Shepherd years, reflecting enormous credit on meetings, for golfers high or low. (34 points) the team spirit, nerve and competitive Our season opened at Denham edge of the players. Earlier, on 13th on St Patrick’s Day, the Thursday Next to April Fool’s Day, where else March, there had been the annual of Cheltenham. The course was in but the immortal links of the Royal get-together of our leading golfers wonderful condition for March: the Liverpool Golf Club where 25 at Woburn on the Duchess course, food and catering were matched only players took part? The historic Club arranged by Andy Pollock. by the superb organisation of newly has the enviable fortune of having elected Vice-President Anthony Parsons, more Old Salopians than any other More recently, on 14th May, our team veteran of 104 Halford Hewitt matches Club in the country. “Let us now praise of Mark Ferguson & Simon Shepherd, of which he was winning pair in 64. famous men…” Jonathan Howse & Alex Stewart, He played mostly in our top two pairs William Painter & Andy Pollock and consequently played a number of Brian & Andrew Gourley, Johnny (Captain) came second in qualifying matches down the 19th, which meant Arthur, Martin Kemp, Nicko Williams &

OSGS Hoylake Dinner 2016 OLD SALOPIAN NEWS 69

Tom, Chris White & all the Whites, Nick Newcomers on tour were Dan Durman Honourable Company of Edinburgh Wainwright & all the Wainwrights, Sean and his father Mark, and James Shaw, Golfers was to announce the result of Duncan & all the Duncans, a brace whose gross 78 on our first meeting at the ballot of members to admit women of Greenhalghes, père et fils, Lloyd Luffness went unrewarded. as members. The ballot failed to obtain Whiteley et al. Family members abounded: William, the necessary majority. The decision Deborah & Tim Backhouse, Andrew has attracted widespread publicity and Winner: Charlie White. and Robert Lister, Christopher Denton the hallowed grounds were swarming and sons Tom & Simon, Jonathan and with hacks. On 22nd April, a team of ten Julian Mitchell, Malcolm and Peter Salopians finished in third place in McMullan and last but not least in love, But part of that publicity meant that the Triangular match at Tandridge from Palm Beach Florida, the husband Simon Mellard (Ch 1973-78) appeared to the Old Tonbridgeans and the Old and wife team of Reuben Johnson III on national BBC 6pm News, playing Alleynians. The Salopian pairings were and Mary Watkins (Tour photographer effortlessly out of a bunker: a still, small Peter Renshaw & Charles Shaw, John extraordinaire). What joy to see Alison voice of calm from Shrewsbury School Bolton & Ian Falconer, Simon Shepherd and Sandy Bell (Vice-President, OSGS and a first for OSGS! & John Parker, Malcom McMullan and Scottish Tour Founder 1997) on & Stephen Shaw who captained the tour again, albeit spectating with the Gullane No 1 winner: Julian Mitchell Salopians with his renowned courtesy Hon Sec. (38 points). It is noted that amongst the and joie de vivre. prize-winners this year there is endless Luffness winners: Reuben Johnson mention of the three Ms – Mellard, The match against The Schools III, Peter McMullan, Simon Mellard, Mitchell Ma and Mitchell Mi. This may on 28th April was beset by rain. The Jonathan Mitchell (93 points) appear as banditry to some and the weather forecast was always gloomy. Luffness runners-up: Deborah matter is under a Steward’s Enquiry at The rain kept off for the first 90 Backhouse, Mark Durman, Jonty their home club of Trentham. minutes, but while play was waiting Godfrey, Anthony Smith (86 points) on the 8th tee, the heavens opened. Yet again all those on tour are indebted Within ten minutes the rain had even Muirfield winners AM: Andrew Lister, to the stupendous hospitality provided penetrated waterproofs. Our President, Simon Mellard, Jonathan Mitchell, so plentifully on both evenings, firstly at Anthony Smith, and his cousin Gerald Trevor Williams (80 points, back in 43). Winterfield, home of Kate Home, and Smith (our eternal manager of this HCEG member Hugo Balfour-Melville, secondly Kaimend, home of Andrew & match for the past 21 years) decided to playing as an honorary OS holed Robert Lister. cut the event to nine holes. The result his approach on the 506 yard 17th hung in the balance until OSGS last hole in 2 shots for an albatross or 6 There was a sound of revelry by night pair claimed a victory to earn us a tie. stableford points. Despite this mammoth And Scotland’s capital had gathered then So the new trophy was presented to contribution, his team members Malcom Her beauty and her chivalry, and bright the boys as the holders, on the strict McMullan, Angus Pollock and Peter The lamps shone o’er fair women and understanding that Mark Schofield Worth were unable to threaten the brave men. (Master i/c Golf) would ensure its winning team led by Andrew Lister. A thousand hearts beat happily; safe custody. and when Winners of the Lewis-Bell Quaich Music arose with its voluptuous swell, The OSGS team was: Anthony Smith PM: Alick Hay & Reuben Johnson III (35 Soft eyes looked love to eyes which & Harry Walker (grandfather of Jamie points). It is noted that this pair won the spake again, Walker, School Captain of Golf), Gerald Quaich two years before. And all went merry as a marriage bell; Smith & David Galbraith, Michael Roberts & Paul Pattenden, John Ingram Runners-up: Tim Backhouse & Simon (With apologies to Byron) & John Sellers, Robin Brooke-Smith Mellard (33 points). This second place & Rod Spiby, Richard Auger & Peter deprived a pairing from Churchill’s of The 20th Grand Scottish Tour will be Stewart. taking honours in the recent history of from 17th to 19th May 2017. Book early OSGS. Let it be recorded that this visit to avoid heartbreak. The weather gods were kinder for our on 19th May coincided with a press 19th Grand Scottish Tour of the East conference outside the Clubhouse. Lothian Loop from 18th to 20th May. The Captain of the members of the

Halford Hewitt 2016

In the last couple of years of the progress beyond round two we knew further than we had managed in Halford Hewitt, we have lost in the we would have to play well. previous years. second round in very closely contested matches against good sides. This year’s Three of our stronger players, David After our practice round, one of the draw gave us a first round against Cassidy, Mark Ferguson and Alex Hurstpierpoint team was overheard Hurstpierpoint, who are not one of the Stewart, were unavailable due to in the changing rooms saying that stronger schools in the competition. business commitments, but everyone Shrewsbury were only a middling But the rest of our part of the draw else had played in a number of warm- Hewitt school these days and they was packed full of strong sides, so to up matches and were keen to progress fancied their chances. We knew it 70 OLD SALOPIAN NEWS

would not be a pushover, but that Howse and Roberts went back to the could before the birdies started and was helpful motivation. Jon Howse top after a pep talk from the Captain lost 4 and 3. and Richard Roberts out top won 2 to make sure they finished off early and 1, Will and Jonty Campion at good work; and they delivered 2 and Angus and James, still on a high two won 3 and 2, James Skelton and 1. The Campions at two were in a real from the day before, sailed through 3 Captain Andy Pollock at four won 4 ding-dong and always behind. James and 2, giving Will Painter and Simon and 3, and we were one up in both Skelton and Andy Pollock playing at Shepherd the chance to show what the other matches. Job done. But the three faced a plus one handicapper they could do. Two up with two to prospect of two matches on Friday from Sunningdale and John Davies, play, they managed to lose 17 to a six! due to our position at the top of the who played in four Walker Cups in Rossall got up and down on 18 to take draw was daunting. the 1970s! Playing at four, the James it down 19. and Angus Pollock combination were In the first match on Friday we faced still on a high from their win in the It had rained heavily all day and 19 the winners of Oundle and Malvern, morning and coasted to a 3 and 2 was playing into a strong wind, so both schools with a good record in victory and it was tight in match five. getting there in two was impossible the Hewitt. Oundle it was who beat – which suited us, as Will and Simon Malvern 3-2, when the Malvern last The Skelton and Captain’s match was never went for it in two even with the pair missed a four-footer to take it a real ding-dong: one up, one down, wind behind! down 19. Six of our side and six of the that sort of thing. Square at the turn, Oundle side had played against each Shrewsbury won ten, eleven, twelve. Both pairs were on in three; nothing other in 2010 when we lost to them Cranleigh then went birdie, birdie at much in it, probably about 25 feet three and a half to one and a half, the 13 and 14! On the 18th tee Shrewsbury with Rossall’s putt slightly easier but Campions being the only winners. were still one up, but ahead the not straightforward. Simon’s putt was a Campions had fought back from three beauty and died on the lip of the hole. We decided to re-order our side, with down with four to play and were They left theirs eight feet short and Will Painter and Simon Shepherd moving to the 19th tee. So there were missed the next putt. Shrewsbury were moving from five to first. They only two chances to win the overall match. in the semi-final for the first time since lost on the 18th after a great scrap with 1993 and we had to quickly find some Oundle’s strong top pair. Howse and On the 18th after two good drives accommodation! Roberts also lost by 2 and 1 playing and second shots just off the green, second. The Campion brothers won Cranleigh were four feet away in three Radley were the opponents in the 2 and 1, James Skelton and Andy with Shrewsbury eight feet away. semis; they have been there or there- Pollock won 3 and 2, leaving it to our Cool as a cucumber, James Skelton abouts for the last ten or 15 years, inexperienced fifth pair, Angus Pollock holed out to win the match. Ahead the so have plenty of experience. We and his nephew James. Campions had two for it on the 19th were all not sure what was going on! and pair five were all square coming Another change in the batting order, Oundle had an eight-footer on the down the 18th. A very fine victory, as we moved James and Angus to two 18th to win, which they left short. with all members of the side make and the Campions to three, with the James smoked one miles down the a strong contribution. And such an captain and James Skelton to four. middle of 19. Oundle were shorter exciting day that former Hewitt stars off the tee in the light rough and Anthony Parsons and Peter Broad, Howse and Roberts won a great proceeded to put their second in the who were there to support us, stayed match on the 18th. James and water in front of the green. Angus until the last putt was sunk in the Angus, playing arguably the Radley hit long and left into the second cut evening. They had told us the night strongest pair, manage to take it to 16 of rough. Oundle played their fourth before that even if we won in the before recording their first loss. The to 15 feet past the pin and James, morning they would have to leave at Campions against another strong pair conscious that a thin would put us lunch time! also finished second. Skelton and the in the water, left it short for Angus to captain were in another real ding- hole out from fully 60 feet! The advantage of playing twice on dong, all square on the 16th tee but Friday is that you only have one match putts from the captain on 16 and 17 Angus had captained the Shrewsbury on Saturday, so we had a leisurely failed to drop and it was not to be. Saracens in two Cricketer Cup finals breakfast as we awaited the outcome The fifth pair took an honourable half. against Oundle in 1988 and 1989, both of the Edinburgh-Rossall match. At of which Oundle won narrowly. So 12.30 we teed off against Rossall, with It was a great few days, everyone it was fitting that he should hole the whom there have been many famous enjoyed themselves and the team winning putt from 22 yards! matches in the past. We decided to go spirit was fantastic. The fact that with the same order. everyone during the run played a A strong Cranleigh side were our crucial role at some point was very next opponents on Friday afternoon. They were very confident in their satisfying. Jon Howse and Richard In the first round they had beaten first three with some young blood, Roberts have turned into a very fine Merchiston, winners a couple of one of whom was a young pro just top pair. Will and Jonty Campion, years ago, and they had also beaten returned to amateur status. Howse with over 30 years’ experience each, Canford, another strong side who and Roberts, now galvanised, sailed are a match for anyone. Former usually do well. Their supporters were through 4 and 3 with a barrage of Cambridge Blue James Skelton already booking their accommodation birdies, the Campions out second and Andy Pollock are a strong for Friday evening. succumbed and James Skelton and combination. Will Painter has played Andy Pollock held on to the coat- in 114 matches and even in his early We decided to change the order again. tails of the pro for as long as they sixties still plays a good game of OLD SALOPIAN NEWS 71 golf and his partnership with Simon 4.2. If you would like to help get the Shepherd was very successful; neither average age and average handicap STOP PRESS - Grafton are long off the tee but chip and putt down, please do not be shy in coming Morrish 2016 very well. forward. There is a great spirit in the Shrewsbury squad and we hope that The Grafton Morrish is a scratch The surprise pairing was Angus you may have been excited by the foursomes competition for and James Pollock. Previously not report of our run this year and wish former pupils of schools who are automatic picks for the side, although to come and experience it for yourself. members of the Headmasters’ both had played four matches before, The Halford Hewitt is one of the most Conference. About 115 schools going into the semi-final they had interesting and exciting competitions enter every year and eight the best win percentage of any pair: in which to play. qualifying events are held around three wins, and a half when they were leading anyway. Under extreme If you would like to find out more, the country, from which 48 teams pressure they delivered against Oundle please contact Andy Pollock on progress to the finals in October in the second round and then won [email protected] at Hunstanton and Brancaster. As their next two matches convincingly, We look forward to welcoming you. a Midlands school, our qualifier setting up the wins for the team. is at Olton Golf Club in Solihull, Finally, thank you to all our supporters Birmingham where we play against As stated at the beginning, Messrs who, even if they could not attend in ten other schools. Four schools Cassidy, Ferguson and Stewart were person, were in regular contact with qualify. This year our team of unavailable. Ed Lowes and Mike their good wishes before and after Mark Ferguson & Simon Shepherd, Thelwall-Jones, both former team every round. And of course we should Jon Howse & Alex Stewart, Will members, are both playing regularly not forget Will Painter’s wife Claire Painter & Andy Pollock qualified again and hopefully will be back again who caddied for him in every round before too long. and as the OSGS’s first WAG was also by coming second to Monmouth our lucky charm! We look forward to School. Repton and Malvern failed The average age of this year’s side seeing her on many more occasions. to qualify this year. was 49 and an average handicap of

GOLF FASTI 2016

JULY Thurs 7 - Sat 9 Peter Burles Salver (65 and over)* West Hill Peter Worth Thurs 7 - Sat 9 Bunny Millard Salver (75 and over)* West Hill Peter Worth Fri 8 - Sat 9 G.L.Mellin Salver (55 and over)* West Hill Peter Worth Fri 22 Match v. Old Cholmeleians Hadley Wood Simon Shepherd

AUGUST Thurs 4 Yorkshire Meeting The Alwoodley Peter Ambler Sun pm 7 West Country Tour Westward Ho! Paul Nichols Mon am 8 West Country Tour Saunton Paul Nichols Tues am 9 West Country Tour Saunton Paul Nichols Sat 13 Match v. Old Reptonians Worplesdon Jonathan Russell Sun 21 Match v.ORs & OMs Little Aston Charles Tustain Mon 22 Old Schools' Competition Trevose Bill Higson

SEPTEMBER Fri 9 Tony Duerr Silver Salver Worplesdon Tim Lewis Sun 25 Midlands Meeting and AGM Blackwell Charles Hill

OCTOBER Fri 7 - Sun 9 Grafton Morrish Finals* Hunstanton/Brancaster Andy Pollock Sun 9 Match v. Old Malvernians Blackwell Angus Pollock Fri 28 Guests' Invitation Meeting Ashridge Dan Graham

NOVEMBER Sat am 5 Robert Walker Foursomes Cup New Zealand Tim Lewis

KEY* By Invitation only Members are asked to contact the Organiser for any event in which they may wish to play. 72 OLD SALOPIAN NEWS

OLD SALOPIAN HUNT

Kait Weston (in charge of Girls’ Hunt), Oli Mott (Winner of the Run) and Peter Middleton (in charge of the Hunt)

here are 20 new members who RSSH Hounds & Gents, along with six of Anthony Hickson, Cliff Simpkin and Thave just joined the Old Salopian members of staff, to run a shortened Richard Hudson, to bring the OSH Hunt. Some of them are reading this course because of flooding of the Rad team home. and remembering their time in one of and the Severn. Even though it was the best eras of the Hunt. The measure slippery underfoot and windy above The now traditional ‘All Huntsmen of their success is shown not only in ground, it did not prevent our Captain, Present’ photo was taken, which the list of winning individuals and Oli Mott, achieving his record ninth shows a pack of nine Captains of the teams, but also in how they arrived at kill, ahead of Joint Huntsman Ben Hunt. Left to right are Adam Booth the finishing tape. These days, a great Remnant (Ch), Freddie Huxley-Fielding (1999-2000), Tim Bedell (1977-78), Oli deal of coaching is applied to each of (R), Peter Middleton, for the Staff, and Mott (2002-03), Peter Birch (1970-71), the athletes of all ages, to give them Joint Huntsman Oscar Dickins (R) Olivia Papaioannou (EDH) current the best chance of achieving success. close behind. We welcomed Matthew Huntswoman, Matthew Barnard (1998- For the last eight years, it has been the Barnard back to the School to become 99), Stuart Morgan (1960-61), and Joint duty of the Master-in-Charge of The the third counter, after Adam Booth, Huntsmen Ben Remnant (Ch) and Hunt, Peter Middleton, to be at the followed by David Thomas and myself. Oscar Dickins (R). helm of this coaching team. Many have There was some excellent bunching observed the progression of success over this time and now, as Peter passes on the baton to Ian Haworth, the OSH thanks him for not only maintaining the traditions of the Hunt, but also for innovating new ideas and developing a large increase in the popularity of this school running club. The knock- on effect of all this is that the OSH will eventually increase the pool of younger members who can possibly come along to participate in our events.

The first event is our annual get- together at the School, which was last held on 5th December 2015. At 2.30pm, a crowd of runners and spectators started to arrive on The Drum for a run including the RSSH and Staff that was dedicated to the memory of one of our founders, Ian Fraser. Eight OSH members lined up with 14 Nine Huntsmen OLD SALOPIAN NEWS 73

www.thameshareandhounds.org.uk/ reports.php?month=12&year=2015 .

As usual, you can find photos and full reports on both events on www. shrewsbury.org.uk/page/os-hunt-news and additional photos and comments on the Old Salopian Hunt Facebook page for these dates and many other events that I have attended.

At the time of writing, we have provisional dates for our next runs. On Saturday 3rd December 2016, it is hoped to meet up with the new Huntsman, Freddie Huxley-Fielding (R) and Huntswoman, Immie Evans (G) RSSH win the Team Cup. L-R: Olivia Papaioannou (EDH), Will Hayward (R), Ben Remnant and the Hounds of the RSSH, for our (Ch), Freddie Huxley-Fielding (R), Oscar Dickins (R) Annual Run at the School, followed by our Annual Dinner. Depending After tea in the Hunt Gym, the RSSH Hunt’s progress, which can be added on confirmation from the TH&H, we once again took the Team Trophy, with to the historical record that started over expect the 64th Annual Alumni Race the OSH in 2nd place and the Staff 3rd, 180 years ago. at Roehampton Vale to take place on while Oli Mott returned ‘his cup’ back Saturday 10th December 2016. to the Mott Mantlepiece. There is a second annual OSH event in which our members can participate, You might also like to join me, wearing In the Committee Meeting held in and on 12th December 2015 we fielded an OSH running vest, on Friday 14th Kingsland House an hour later, one a four-man team in the 63rd Annual October to run the Tucks for the of the topics discussed was the Alumni Race, held at the Roehampton second time since I left in 1971. Last possibility of digitising all of the Hunt end of Wimbledon Common, amongst year, one green & gold vest was hard to records, to enable the written history 28 schools’ alumni. Out of 217 runners see amongst all the colours of Houses, to be preserved and made available who finished the five-mile course, it so I need some help to stand out from electronically. I will endeavour to was pleasing to have Kris Blake (S the crowd of 700! keep you updated on the progress of 2009-11) be our first man home at 54th, this project. followed by Rupert Lougee (SH 1988- Do get in touch with me if you would 93) at 96th, Simon Pickles (M 1971-76) like to get involved in any way or just and myself at 172nd. The organisers, to make a comment about the Hunt, Thames Hare & Hounds, had problems either by email [email protected] or on with their timekeeping (for the second our OSH Facebook page. year!), so some times are missing on their report - Peter Birch (DB 1966-71)

OS Committee. L-R: Kait Weston, Nigel Miller, Anthony Hickson, Tim Bedell, Bob Parker, Peter Birch, David Thomas, Cliff Simpkin, Oli Mott, Peter Middleton (and Adam Booth out of shot)

That evening, the School Archivist, Robin Brooke-Smith, presented a handful of Huntsman’s Books and other artefacts at the Annual Dinner, which showed some of the handwritten opinionated musings of Huntsmen (including myself in 1970!). There used to be the Hound Book, which recorded the results of each School Run and other competitions (and Athletics too). Then there was the Huntsman Book, which was a more personal account of each Huntsman’s time as captain of the RSSH. It is hoped that future Huntsmen will continue the tradition of expressing their opinions, as well as recording the OS Alumni team. L-R: Simon Pickles, Rupert Lougee, Kris Blake, Peter Birch 74 OLD SALOPIAN NEWS

Old Salopian Football Club

It has been a season of excitement and prosperity for the Old Salopian Football Club. As the Club reflects on an excellent season, there is undoubtedly much to look forward to in the very near future.

opponent in the closing moments; a most cruel way to conclude a run that saw convincing wins against Malvern, Brentwood, Harrow and Dulwich. A special mention goes to Oliver Brown for playing in every minute of the Cup run and establishing himself as an essential component to the Salopian back four, and also to Tom Kelly for scoring five goals in five games. There is a strong belief in the Club that if this cohort of players remain together, we hope to be celebrating more than just one Arthur Dunn Cup in the coming years.

The end of season awards were presented at the ever-joyous occasion that is the end of season dinner. It was held on 13th May at the Warrington shake up in personnel in key put into this cannot be underestimated. Hotel in Maida Vale and was well Apositions at the start of the season attended by some 40 Old Salopians, has seen the Club go from strength to The Veterans XI is a team in transition guests and staff (RNRJ, MDHC and strength, none more so than in the 1st and is on the hunt for some young SPW). The 1st XI player of the season XI under the new tutelage of Oliver blood to bolster the ranks of this fine was awarded to Ben Freeman for Heywood. The team secured a 5th group of Salopians. This season the a fantastic season at centre back/ place finish in the Premier Division Vets played two hotly contested fixtures left back. The Matthew Sasse 2nd XI of the Arthurian League - its highest against the School, whilst their run in player of the season was given to the placing in recent history – as the side the Derrick Moore Cup was halted in a evergreen Lewis Brown. Lewis’ haul did competed consistently and at the thrilling encounter which saw them on not stop there; he was also awarded the highest level throughout the season. the wrong side of a bizarre 6-5 defeat Craig Buchanan Award – a prestigious They have now well and truly found to the Old Bradfieldians. award only given out in years where an their feet in the top flight and will push individual quite clearly deserves credit for honours in the next few seasons. The ‘story that never was’ this season for a significant contribution to the Club The side has a solid back four, creativity was the Club’s Arthur Dunn Cup run. over a number of years. and industry in the middle and in Tom The Dunn side reached the final of this Kelly and Campbell Naylor, two players famous competition for the first time As ever, the Club is looking for new who turn out week-in week-out and in 12 years and performed admirably, recruits. We have two teams playing possess an impressive scoring record. though lost 1-0 to the Old Tonbridgians on a weekly basis (September to in extra time to a goal entirely against April) in and around London and The 2nd XI were sadly guilty of the run of play. The very many our home ground is in Barnes. If drawing almost half of their games. Salopian supporters who attended the you are interested in playing for the Had the tide gone their way in just a contest on 23rd April will agree that, Club, please contact Richard McGarry couple of those fixtures, they would had this been a boxing match, the ([email protected]) or Rob Hawkin be toasting a commendable mid-table Salopians went into the final round ([email protected]). finish rather than nestling just above the with a clear points advantage, only to Division 3 trap door. Oliver Black has walk into a knock-out punch from their played particularly well during his first full season – some have suggested that his ability to find the net is reminiscent of a young Jack Brydon. Special mention also goes to Sam Welti, who has on occasion travelled from Oxford for fixtures. Both Oliver and Sam are promising players for the future indeed. Nick Corlett will hand over the reins to George Blakemore next season as the team look to challenge for the Division 3 title. Nick has carried out the often thankless task of being the 2nd XI skipper for three years and the effort OLD SALOPIAN NEWS 75

SHREWSBURY SARACENS FIXTURES 2016

Date Opponents Venue Time Manager

Sun 10 July Quarter-Finals Cricketer Cup Away 11.30am Tom Cox 07786 587425 (Mob) [email protected]

Sun 24 July Semi-Final Cricketer Cup Home 11.30am Tom Cox

DEVON TOUR CRICKET

Mon 8 Aug North Devon C.C. Instow 12 noon Henry Lewis 07792 120375 (Mob) [email protected]

Tues 9 Aug North Devon CC Instow 12noon Henry Lewis

Wed 10 Aug Somerset Stragglers T.B.C 12noon Henry Lewis

Thu 11 Aug Twenty 20 Competition Instow 12noon Henry Lewis

GOLF

Sun 7 Aug OSGS / Saracens Golf Westwood Ho! 1.00pm Paul Nichols 07710 132770 (Mob) [email protected]

Mon 8 Aug OSGS / Saracens Golf Westwood Ho! 10.30am Paul Nichols

Tues 9 Aug OSGS / Saracens Golf Saunton 10.30am Paul Nichols

Sun 25 Sept Cricketer Cup Golf Trophy Denham 12 noon Richard Boys-Stones 07778211055 (Mob) [email protected]

James Taylor

from a successful winter, he would happen to the ebullient, hyper-active, finally establish himself as a fixture in workaholic Jimmy (as he has always a full strength England side. Goodness been known in Salopian circles) made knows, he had achieved enough in it all the more difficult to take on his career to date, Young Cricketer of board. The response in the local and the Year, Captain of the England Lions, national press has been overwhelming, Captain of an England ODI side and, testimony to the affection and while with Leicester, sharing in three admiration in which he is held. So record partnerships. Several double why the wait for a place at the top centuries proved his staying power; table? The answer has to be his height, The news that James Taylor (R his average in 50-over cricket, the which for too long dominated and 2003-08) has been forced to retire fourth highest in the game, proved he distorted the public - and selectorial from cricket due to a serious heart could “get on with it “, yet those who - perception of a superb athlete. It condition has shocked and saddened had witnessed the prodigious feats of was to be years before a reference the whole school community. We are his Shrewsbury days would never be to Jimmy would appear without the very grateful to Martin Knox, one of satisfied until the wider public came obligatory adjective “diminutive”. Too the many members of staff who has to see him as the master cricketer much attention was paid to his stature, followed James’ career with keen that he was. He had never failed the too little to what this short man was interest since he joined the School as challenges confronting him thus far and achieving. Most frustrating of all was a Third Former in 2003, for writing a his supporters will always believe that, the presumption that lack of inches tribute that articulates not only his own given the chance, he would have taken meant lack of strength. Let me recall a personal reflections but also expresses his place in the Hall of Fame. favourite image of Jimmy on the field, the sympathies and good wishes not in cricket, but in a House football towards James felt by Salopians across But it was not to be. The devastating match, no place for the faint-hearted the world. news of his serious heart condition and or the feeble. Jimmy, then in the consequent retirement has shocked lowest year permitted to play in 1st This was to have been James Taylor’s the cricketing world, nowhere more House, is racing down the wing with year, the year in which, following on than here at Shrewsbury. That it should the ball, about to be challenged by a 76 OLD SALOPIAN NEWS

hefty member of the Upper Sixth (and matches and for England, he was team-mates stood back and applauded the 1st XV). The defender sees a soft called up as cover for the Test side. in gratitude and admiration. As he target and launches a shoulder charge, Few are expected to take on this crossed the boundary and approached oblivious of his “victim’s” timing, sort of varied diet, but Jimmy did not the steps, Jimmy looked at the Master balance, confidence, and power, stop there. Having a weekend free, in Charge. “Thanks, Barn”, he said and oblivious, that is, until he finds himself he played in the Birmingham League made his way into the dressing-room. flat on his back, his energy returned for Shrewsbury CC (55-overs) and Five years of adulation ending in a - with interest. If only those who at a the following day played a 50-over gesture of humility. distance drew false conclusions about match for the Saracens in the Cricketer his physique could have witnessed Cup. He loved playing and he loved Jimmy now faces a new challenge, for that demonstration of the “pocket practising and it was never beneath which he could not have prepared and battleship” in action. him to return to his old school to do about which he can do nothing. Life Confident, but without arrogance, either. The mutual respect between will be a completely different test, sadly ambitious, but without vanity, Jimmy him and Paul Pridgeon has continued with a small “t”. He goes into it with the has worn his success with exemplary undimmed and Jimmy has often been heartfelt good wishes of hundreds of modesty. His programme for one seen in the Cricket Centre, “having a Salopians, for whom the cricket pages month a while back is a perfect hit” with his valued mentor. will never be the same. illustration. For Nottinghamshire he Back in 2008, as he left the field played T20, 40-over, and four day for the last time as a schoolboy, his Martin Knox

James playing for the U15s in the Final of the Lord’s Taverners Colts Trophy in June 2005. He scored the winning runs with a mighty blow for 6. During the course of the Lord’s Taverners competition, he scored 541 runs in 6 innings (including 4 centuries) without being dismissed once. OLD SALOPIAN NEWS 77

Old Salopian Women’s Sport

It has been a fantastic year for individual OS female sport. We have had many talented women being acknowledged for their sporting prowess both in and out of university.

Sabrina’s first female win at Chester Long Distance Sculls last September. Subsequently she attended GB Senior and U23 trials in November and was pleased to finish 9th out of 15 in the U20 group. Following this, Lettie was delighted to receive an invitation to join the U23 Development Camp in January at the Welsh Institute of Sport and, most recently, she picked up two shiny pots at Shrewsbury Regatta, racing in a Sabrina/Shrewsbury composite elite double and quad. From September, Lettie will be studying Sports Performance at Bath University, training with Dan Harris, Bath GB Start Coach.

Bridget Lapage (EDH 2011-13) has been appointed Captain of Women’s Rowing at Cardiff University and is continuing to fly the ‘Lapage family rowing flag’ with huge enthusiasm! The crew won their varsity race, came 9th at BUCS and are training hard for Henley this year.

Charlotte Finley (MSH 2008-10) completed the London Marathon (even with a slight injury at 17 miles) in a great time of 4 hours 38 minutes, managing to raise a huge £2,500 + gift aid, for Whizz Kids. Several other OS women, including Portia Hibbert (MSH 2008-10) and Elle Gurden (MSH 2008-10), are participating in runs across the country for their employers whilst raising money for their chosen charities.

Owing to the numbers of OS women Alice (MSH 2008-2010) and Sophie BE90 section at Badminton Horse now in London, we are hoping Walker (MSH 2010/11, EDH 2011/12) Trials. The event had around 2,000 to participate in a Netball league/ have excelled in the equestrian field; qualifiers; Sophie joined them last tournament in the upcoming months. Alice took a year out after university year at Bold Heath in Cheshire. On This will bring the girls back together to event her horses. The highlight the Tuesday/Wednesday during the and we will enjoy some team games. of the year came at the under-25 week of Badminton, Sophie went Please keep an eye on the OS website International Tattersalls event where into the lead after dressage with a or email me registering your interest. Alice and Elaydors Lad (Harvey) had 24.8 and eventually came in 2nd in a solid performance in dressage. the first phase. Sophie then jumped Huge congratulations to all OS They went on to jump a double clear, an amazing double clear inside the women who have participated in any finishing in the top 20 on Harvey’s first time on a very tricky course. With sporting activity across the country. event abroad. Alice ended the year at an expectation of coming second, We are immensely proud of them all Barbury Castle with their fourth two- the dressage leader then acquired and we wish them the best of luck star run in 12 months. Harvey then penalties, handing Sophie and for the future. It is so exciting to went on to win the Schools’ Nationals Rhapsody the win. hear (and a pleasure to record) these for Shrewsbury in October with her wonderful stories. brother, Scott Walker. Shrewsbury’s first female rowing scholar, Lettie Tay (MSH 2013-15), has Sophie Walker has done outstandingly continued to keep her sights firmly well by winning the amateur event on the medals and she notched up Elle Gurden 78 OLD SALOPIAN NEWS

Old Salopian Rugby

he OS Rugby Club is back! As of February 2016, If you’re interested in the weekly touch competition or TLinley Portsmouth and I have taken on the mantle of playing rugby in London and are a recent leaver of the resurrecting the Club. In line with the School taking rugby School, please do get in touch [email protected]. more seriously by playing it in two terms, and the quality of players leaving the School steadily increasing, the Club has Ed Taylor (SH 2002-07) all of the attributes to be a huge success.

We wanted to start slowly and a weekly six-a-side touch rugby competition looked ideal; a nice gentle way to get back into the swing of things. We were wrong. The OS team is currently sitting in the bottom half of the table with four games to go, having played against some fiercely competitive teams who don’t seem to play touch in the same way as we did in our warm-ups with DK. However, it’s been brilliant, the team have played some good rugby and there’s been plenty of interest from a wide range of Old Boys.

Yet this is all a precursor to the main event: the annual Rugby Rocks Sevens Tournament at Richmond Rugby Club on Saturday 4th June, where we’ll be aiming to impress at our L-R George Ellis (R 2006-11), Edward Taylor (SH 2002-07), Alastair Hutchinson first sevens tournament back as a club. It’s a great day out (PH 2004-09), William Stockley (R 2002-07), Alex Collins (S 2006-11), Mike and should be a lot of fun with some good rugby played. Jones (Ch 2000-05).

Old Salopian Yacht Club - Calling all Salopian Sailors!

ith gentle spring downpours programme is equally enjoyable. join this year’s Arrow crew. Just Wslowly waking Salopian We welcome Salopian sailors email [email protected]. sailors from winter hibernation, the of any ability and experience org for more details. Yacht Club is preparing once again but particularly welcome recent to take part in the annual boarding leavers keen to develop racing From September 2016 the Club’s schools’ Arrow Trophy regatta to experience. To be honest, the main officers will be changing. James be raced this year at Cowes on requirement is a sociable nature Pitt will take over from Charles the weekend of 1st/2nd October. and the ability to hold a steady gin Manby as Commodore and Will This is a competitive event raced in a seaway. Collins will take over from David in the Solent on Sunsail Benetteau Richards as Secretary. Our Sailing 40-footers, each with a crew of We are keen to hear from any Secretary, Mark Oates, will take 12 and with up to 24 schools Salopians who would like to join over Arrow crew coordination taking part. Excitement on the our mailing list and especially for 2017. water is guaranteed and the social from anyone who would like to OLD SALOPIAN NEWS 79

Old Salopian Squash

I am pleased to report on the OS Squash’s first full season since its renaissance. At the risk of overusing a certain sporting cliché, it could definitely be described as a season of two halves. The Club had a total of ten matches against Old School teams and one against the Schools, and it’s fair to say that despite a poor start to the season we finished very strongly and can be proud of our efforts against what are on the whole very well-established Old Boy squash networks compared to our relatively new revitalised start-up.

Zahan Dastur in action against Millfield in the Londonderry Cup Rupert Parry in action against the Old Reptonians

e kicked off our season with London, whilst their no.4 recently won arguably stronger than their previous Wa competitive fixture at the the Middlesex over-45s tournament; team earlier in the season, and high famous Southbank Club against the and this is not even when they field plaudits should go to Johnny Williams Old Tonbridgians. Despite some very their strongest team! It was, however, a for his reverse over their strong no.1. notable performances, especially from great experience to play a team of their It was just a shame that this was our Henry Brown, the outcome typified calibre and I am somewhat pleased last fixture and the season had to end what was to become a regular early to report they went on to win the there, as there was real momentum season 2-3 loss score line; so close but tournament in fine style, so we can’t be gathering apace. Unfortunately we yet so far. Losses followed to the Old too disheartened to lose to what can be could not secure the dates for our two Etonians, despite the best efforts in described as a semi-professional team. other pencilled-in reverse games against particular of Rupert Parry, and then to familiar foes. Old King’s Canterbury, all games going After the Christmas break, matters the distance with the same score line as were starkly different. We clearly During the season we also had two a recurring theme. decided we needed to reverse our club open nights at the MCC Club. fortunes and get stuck into some Our playing squad is now up to 11 We then had an off-night with a score- victories (notwithstanding shedding active players with another eight or so line of 1-4 to the MBBs, who we found the excessive festive food for some!). showing interest, which is a healthy were much more competitive than in We started off with a 3-2 win against number given the relatively new start the previous season, and then a poor the MBBs in the reverse fixture, a 3-2 we had only one and a half seasons and out-of-kilter loss against the Old victory over Old King’s Canterbury, ago. I am encouraged by the team’s Harrovians meant that we entered our with a strong performance from the desire to play more fixtures and first knock-out trophy competition, irrepressible William Briggs at no.5, improve their playing ability and by the revered Londonderry Cup, in and then a 4-1 victory against the Old the enjoyment everyone has had in late October without a great deal of Reptonians, with notable performances representing their School. Despite being confidence. Matters were not helped from Johnny Williams, Rupert Parry a relatively young and inexperienced by the fact that we drew Millfield, and Jeremy Prosser digging deep to squad, we have secured some current champions and winners for secure vital scores. We then had a impressive wins along the way. nine of the last ten years. ‘Humbling’ quick rendez-vous back at School is an inadequate description for what whereby I am told we had a technical We are still looking for new members was in fact a complete whitewash! victory over the current school players, to join the squad, so please let We went in fielding our strongest five although some quality performances me know if you are interested in possible, including the masterful Zahan from the Staff rolling back the years dusting off the old squash racket. We Dastur (Indian representational squash) made sure that we were not able to welcome all abilities who are within at no.1, who is generally regarded as secure full-tie bragging rights and range of London where we play all the best squash player to have graced honours were shared. our games. I am already excited to the Shrewsbury School squash courts. see how we can go about growing Despite our best efforts, however, However, we saved our best the team next season and let’s hope we were given the ultimate lesson in performance for the last game of the that this time we start off strong and how to play cup squash. To put it in season and return fixture against the finish strong! perspective, their no.1 plays for the Old Tonbridgians at home at the MCC England over-40s and their top 3 all Club at Lord’s: a very hard-fought Ben Stirk (M 1991-96) play in the top divisional league in victory over their team, who were [email protected] 80 OLD SALOPIAN NEWS

Publications

Tim Cawkwell (Rt 1961-65) Cricket’s Pure Pleasure: the story of an extraordinary match – Middlesex v. Yorkshire, September 2015 Sforzinda Books

An account, in words and images, of a remarkable four-day game of cricket played at Lord’s in September 2015 between Yorkshire and Middlesex. It opened with high drama when Yorkshire’s Ryan Sidebottom bowled a triple-wicket maiden at the start of the game, and closed spectacularly on the fourth day when Yorkshire suffered a batting collapse. In between was a magnificent 149 from Nick Compton that led the way in wresting the initiative from Yorkshire. To these ingredients were added the absorbing attritional cricket that makes the long form of the game so compelling.

Peter Curtis (SH 1950-55) The Dragontail Buttonhole Sordelet Ink

Andrew Argyle (M 1972-77) Peter Curtis’ first novel is based on his family’s The Dreams That Make Us escape in WW2 from Nazi-occupied Prague and is the first part of a trilogy covering 1939-1945. It ends Andrew Argyle “stopped playing with his family’s adjustment to living in England solicitors” in 2010 and is now in after 1945. executive management. One of his hobbies is novel writing; this is his new crime novel. Dr John Godwin (Staff 1984-2015) Ovid Heroides: A selection Bloomsbury

Oliver Clutton-Brock (R 1958-63) The OCR-endorsed publication for their new Latin (editor) and Geoffrey Fallows A-Level prescription of Ovid’s Heroides, giving full Latin (R 1955-60) (author) text, commentary and vocabulary, and with a detailed The History of The Craig Prep School, introduction placing the poems in their Roman literary Windermere, 1899-1966 context. The heroines of the Heroides are women in love who can do nothing but write sad verse letters to Oliver Clutton-Brook writes: “Many their faithless lovers across the sea. They tell their stories a boy from The Craig went to and express their feelings in poetry of great power and Shrewsbury over the years, and if psychological subtlety. Hypsipyle (in VI) and Ariadne anyone is interested in purchasing a (in X) are feminists before feminism, royal ladies who copy of the book, would they please are slaves to their passion – these women are given contact me at 9 Spin Hill, Market a voice by Ovid in poetry that is at once simple and Lavington, Devizes, Wiltshire SN10 4NR, sophisticated, heartfelt and yet also full of irony and or by email at oliver.cluttonbrock@ literary resonance. btinternet.com. The price of the book will be around £20, to include p&p.” Juvenal: Satires Book IV Oxbow Books

Juvenal’s fourth book of Satires use enormous humour and wit to puncture the pretensions of the foolish and the wicked, urging an acceptance of our lives and a more positive stance towards life and death by mockery of the pompous and comic description of the rich and famous.

The introduction places Juvenal in the history of Satire and also explores the style of the poems as well as the degree to which they can be read as in any sense documents of real life. The text is accompanied by a literal English translation, and the commentary aims to be accessible to readers with little or no Latin. It seeks to explain both the factual background to the poems and also the literary qualities which make this poetry exciting and moving to a modern audience. OLD SALOPIAN NEWS 81

Hugo Ree (SH 1952-57) Loathsome No Longer: Hansen’s Disease (Leprosy) in Queensland, 1850-1975 Historical Society of the Northern Territory, Darwin, NT

An absorbing narrative of the management of leprosy in Queensland. The tale threads a moving story from Andrew Hill (M 1978-83) the shock finding of the earliest presentations, through Leadership in the Headlines: the harshness of the isolationist policies and the racism Insider Insights into How of the lazarets to the final humanising influence of Leaders Lead modern antibiotics. Dispersed throughout the work FT Publishing are accounts by people who lived in the institutions and by those who looked after them. The narrative A selection of Andrew is set against a background of trends and practices in Hill’s award-winning Hansen’s Disease care around the world. management columns from the Financial Times.

David Osborne (O 1956-61) Order in Court

David Osborne’s latest humorous book on the Law and the second in the series about Toby Potts, a young, aspiring barrister, full of hopes and dreams and intent on becoming the leading criminal advocate of his time. Sir John Stuttard (SH 1958-63) http://sbprabooks.com/ History of the British McCalls davidosborne/ This is Sir John Stuttard’s fourth book, which describes the rollercoaster fortunes of a Scottish family over a 270-year period. From their roots in Dumfriesshire to Glasgow, Liverpool, London and South America, the McCalls demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt to the changing political and economic environment, responding to opportunities and taking risks. They enjoyed business success and wealth as well as failure and the need to seek pastures new. This is a story of constant change and reinvention.

Chetan Parkyn (O 1965-69) The Book of Destinies, Discover the Life You Were Born To Live New World Library

The book describes each of the 192 life themes that the author believes are available to us in our lifetime. (We each have one.) 82 OLD SALOPIAN NEWS

Grant Williams (Staff 2010-16) World War II Survival: The epic story of Leonid Aleksandrov’s journey from Russia to Normandy and Berlin Raven Crest Books

This is Grant Williams’ first book and tells the true story of Russian Jew Leon Aleksandrov, who spent his early years with his family seeking a safe haven in an increasingly anti-semitic Europe in the 1920s, finally settling for safety in liberal Berlin. With the rise of Nazism Leon flees to France, is imprisoned, escapes to England and joins the army in time for D-Day. He fights his way through Europe into Nazi Germany and Hitler’s Reich Chancellery. His war is far from over as his language skills see him translate for Stalin and Churchill at the Potsdam conference and remaining in Berlin to help re-build Germany.

John Rowlinson (S 1962-66) Boys of ‘66: The unseen story behind England’s World Cup glory Ebury Publishing

Review by Robin Trimby (Staff 1958-83) John Rowlinson attended Shrewsbury School in the early 1960s, played for the 1st XI for three years, was a member of the outstanding 1964 team and was one of the most talented footballers during my 20 years of coaching.

After obtaining a history degree and playing football for Cambridge University, he trained as a journalist and enjoyed a long and successful career in BBC sport, where he was responsible, among other events, for World Cup, Wimbledon and Olympic coverage. He then spent seven years as Director of Television at Wimbledon before joining the Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games as Head of Broadcasting for London 2012.

John’s knowledgeable and fascinating account of the years leading up to the England World Cup triumph in 1966 – celebrating its 50th anniversary this year – is enlightened by a rich variety of photographs, many previously unpublished, which help to bring to life a very different footballing era; years in which Sir Alf Ramsey assembled an England team to win the trophy for the first and, so far, the only time. John charts the chequered path to eventual victory in compelling detail. He Robin D.S. Yates (I 1962-66) and reminds us, for instance, that in just over three years Ramsey experimented with no Anthony Barbieri-Low fewer than 50 different players, with three of the final team making their debuts in Law, State, and Society in Early 1966 itself. Imperial China: A study with critical edition and translation of the legal texts ‘Boys of 66’ is all the more readable due to the individual profiles of the final from Zhangjiashan Tomb no. 247 team, while Ramsey’s character and management style are brought alive by several Brill Academic Publishers fascinating details. He emerges as a shy and private man, born into a cockney family, but learning to speak the Queen’s English in an unusually mannered The authors offer the first detailed study fashion; we discover that, for instance he always called Nobby Stiles, ‘Nobert’; he and translation into English of two insisted on regularly taking his team to the cinema, often to watch his beloved recently excavated, early Chinese John Wayne in a ‘Western’; we gather that he applied strict discipline on and off the legal texts. pitch, and thus found Bobby Moore’s and Jimmy Greave’s life style disturbing at times; he was very suspicious of the press, avoiding interviews whenever possible – Robin Yates is a Fellow of the Royal but for all his strange habits, he was worshipped by his players. Society of Canada and James McGill Professor of East Asian Studies and John Rowlinson’s ‘Boys of 66’ is a very rewarding read – and he still treasures his History and Classical Studies. ten shilling standing ticket for the memorable World Cup Final! OLD SALOPIAN NEWS 83

Peter Fanning The Divided Self: Shrewsbury School 1982-2012 Greenbank Press

Review by Michael Morrogh, (Staff 1989-2014, Head of History 1996-2010) Her Majesty’s Government has the the full 15 years. To any teacher, or with the author finding it impossible Official Secrets Act. The Sicilian mafia indeed pupil at a boarding school, this not to wonder at his self-control follows the code of Omerta. But none is instantly recognisable, and honest in and perfect courtesy throughout the quite equals the ferocity of Public the difficulties which these foolhardy crisis. Shrewsbury School survived Schools in guarding their secrets. These volunteers have to face. Particularly this sensation, as it survived the equally places are terrified of anything remotely interesting is the continual business of contentious move from the town in resembling untoward publicity. ensuring the annual list was full but not 1882, and the episode is beginning to Marketing departments scrutinise every too full; in fact the book is excellent recede into history. Until the official line and image for the slightest critical discussing the bottom line of numbers records are released, Fanning’s will be hint. All must be onward, upward and – often concealed in anodyne similar the last word on the business. self-congratulatory. One OS, the late, histories. Despite the tribulations, he The book’s title is explained by great Paul Foot, began his review of the agrees, like all the great Housemasters, Peter’s record of directing 75 theatrical history of a national newspaper (but that it was ‘the best job in the world’. productions, not just house plays it could have been the conventional (Unclear quite how many wives would or school plays but on tour to the history of a Public School) with ‘Listen to agree.) And he survived to find a Edinburgh Festival fringe (rapidly the sickening sound of a great bourgeois suitable job post the House as well. an annual pilgrimage) and even institution patting itself on the back’. At inter-school meetings, Housemasters London. (This book alone could serve ‘frequently tabled agenda items as a self-help guide to any thespian Peter Fanning’s wonderful memoir of his such as “Is there life beyond planning to adventure into the fringe.) 30 years at Shrewsbury School decidedly Housemastering?” like a collection The Moore-Went-Fanning (and later does not belong to this camp. Yet of worn out souls floating in Dante’s combinations) musicals, all original, neither is it a hatchet job – far from it. Inferno, mourning former fiefdoms on excited the Scottish cognoscenti and His affection and esteem for the School the insubstantial ether’. then national critics. Much was done in shines through continually. astonishingly little time. ‘Learning the It is ‘a somewhat partial record’ of his Housemastering meant not just coping notes and words and music in one fell life as a teacher and housemaster; and with boys, parents and the Bursary, swoop was a new experience – and a also a celebration of colleagues and but also Headmasters. This book’s taxing one.’ The highs and lows of each the pupils of past years. Unashamedly character sketches of the Headmasters venture are recounted, with the author subjective, it is replete with his own of Shrewsbury School during his time human enough to imagine at times a impressions and judgements on the make for delicious and persuasive professional career just over the horizon. issues and personalities of the time. reading. Not many writers would be From his position, right at the heart of able to bring out the essence of these In fact, this ‘talkative pinko’ (as he the School, are reflections on the various four very different men without falling was once labelled at Cambridge) is developments, none more valuable than into the Scylla of ingratiating flattery or refreshingly open about his ambition his measured account of the decision the Charybdis of petty criticism. ‘Ted and hopes. Such self-awareness helps to take girls. In many ways, not least was the most remarkable of all the to make this book immensely readable. in the frank (though very largely Heads whom I have worked for. He It is lightly written; jaunty; often funny benevolent) characterisations, it is on par was an imposing figure, a bull of a with witty dialogue; but above all with Michael Charlesworth’s Behind the man, with a sense of theatrical gravitas marked by a generous, positive nature Headlines. Can there be higher praise when entering the room. This may well when it comes to verdicts. Throughout for Salopians? have been an act but it was an effective it all is a deep love for the spirit of one.’ Langdale ‘often appeared to be Salopia. Shrewsbury’s PR people can When the Fannings first arrived, wholly engaged in putting the world at lay off Fanning - safe now to retire with Shrewsbury was bathed in the ease’. The note is one of admiration, no need to seek asylum in any embassy. comfortable, amateurish days of the even awe, for their role, but tempered early 1980s, cocooned away from the by perceptive judgement, and even slightest hint of marketing – active affectionate teasing of frailties at times. recruiting frowned upon, advertising When Peter nearly died from a botched ‘utterly unthinkable’. The gradual medical operation, the first thing Ted change into the bustling, highly Maidment said to him on his emergence professional place of today is accepted from hospital was ‘You’re going grey’. by the author, while regretting the occasional dominance of corporate At the heart of the book, and of most attitudes and the need to make the interest to many Salopians, is the story ‘staff and assets sweat’, at the expense of the torrid time when the decision of sensible good will. Yet the essential to take girls was announced. This Salopian twist remains – idiosyncratic, careful account, distinguished by original, tolerant – which makes this empathy for all sides, is particularly school different from its fellows. understanding of the anguish and anger Much of the book concerns Peter’s of the rebels. Most, however, would time as a Housemaster: building the agree now that it was the right decision, Grove from scratch, quite literally, though imperfectly handled. In lonely establishing its reputation rapidly, doing eminence stood Jeremy Goulding 84 OLD SALOPIAN NEWS

Obituaries

R D M Bond R 1955-60 C P Harris R 1939-43 G Roberts R 1945-50 Dr R W Bowen Ch 1940-44 S E Q Henriques Ch 1944-49 M A Schützer-Weissmann Staff 1988-2015 The Rev P L Brock WHM 1932-37 A E Howarth O 1930-35 D E Singleton Ch 1932-38 C H T Brown S 1948-52 P G M Hughes Ch 1955-60 D H Thompson I 1934-38 E R C Chovil Rt 1959-64 J D Johnson Ch 1935-40 C H R Wade I 1934-39 P A Dove SH 1930-34 M R Kemp Rt 1961-64 T C Walker S 1943-48 R B Dumbell JHT 1937-42 E R Mead M 1942-45 Lt Gen Sir Christopher C J Elsom Ch 1963-68 M I Methven S 1961-66 Wallace KBE DL Rt 1956-60 M D T Evans JHT 1938-42 M Morris Rt 1948-52 Dr R H T Ward SH 1951-56 A P Gattas* Ch 1992-97 R H Pelly Rt 1937-41 J W Watkins M 1952-55 H S Gibson R 1963-68 D A P Pennant M 1959-64 N T Westwood Rt 1983-86 J W B Hair S 1973-78 G H L Rhodes Rt 1929-34 P R S Williams* SH 1955-59 R D Halfhead R 1952-56 Brigadier N J Ridley DB 1954-59 F A Wilson JHT 1935-39

*Obituaries will be included in the next edition of The Salopian.

Michael Evans (JHT 1938-42) director. For a number of years he also chaired the Residential Property Committee of the British Property Federation and Michael was born in 1924 at Dover College where his became their spokesperson. He was asked to speak on radio father was a housemaster. In 1936 his parents purchased and appear on a number of television programmes, much to a school in Suffolk, where he enjoyed beagling, shooting the amazement of his young children. and riding. At the age of 13, Michael won a scholarship to Shrewsbury School. Michael took up riding again and joined the Eridge Hunt. He rode a succession of horses from which he regularly parted On leaving school, he was selected to study Turkish at the company. Each year, he helped run the car parking for their School of Oriental & African Studies (SOAS) as one of the point-to-point. elite Dulwich Boys. He was destined for military intelligence, but after failing a medical due to his poor eyesight, he was In 1971the family moved to Boughton Colemers which was appointed to the British Consulate in Istanbul in 1944 and the family home for the next 16 years. Michael thoroughly later to the British Embassy in Ankara. enjoyed the outside space, cutting firewood from his own woodland and keeping horses. On his return he studied law at St John’s College, Cambridge, graduating in 1949. After a short stint as a barrister, he applied Family holidays alternated between Wales and Brittany. to the Law Firm Markby, Stewart & Wadeson. Within a few Michael invested in a caravan and elderly Land Rover. He years he advanced to being a salaried and then a full partner. introduced the children to sailing, saving up his petrol As a young partner he was involved in the transfer of the coupons to purchase ‘’The Puffin”, a polystyrene boat with office from Bishopsgate to Moor House on London Wall, two sails, rudder, centre board and oars. The boat was much which heralded the start of modernisation and amalgamations loved and regularly taken on the Land Rover to surf the resulting in Cameron McKenna becoming one of the larger Atlantic rollers in Brittany. solicitor practices in the City today. Michael and Anne were a tight-knit team for over 55 years. Michael was a member of the English Speaking Union They were known by their children as “The United Front”, ‘Younger Members Group’. He met Anne during one of completely aligned in their approach to parenting. They the group’s beagling trips. They were married in 1960 in never argued and were a model example of a calm, balanced Northiam, followed by a honeymoon in the New Forest, relationship. Michael greatly enjoyed his two golden wedding following the Buck Hounds. parties: one in Warwickshire with all the grandchildren present, and a second for friends in Benenden. Back in London, they settled into a flat in Battersea, where Caroline was born. Then in 1962, with Susan on the way, After Michael retired, he and Anne moved to Benenden. they moved out of London to Hawkhurst. This proved too He continued to ride and joined the Ashford Valley Hunt, long a commute for Michael so they moved to Brenchley helping with their Point to Point and becoming a Country a couple of years later, where Jane and Gillian were born. Captain, liaising with the local farmers. He also helped Dora Meanwhile, Michael was steadily progressing up the Pilkington to start up ‘Toll Rides’, an organisation arranging notepaper at Markby’s. He became a specialist in Property off-road riding, and for several years helped with the Riding Law and latterly Head of the Property Department. He had for the Disabled. an eclectic portfolio of clients over the years, including the Carnation Propagators Association, the London Diocesan Michael maintained a keen interest in Turkey and Middle Fund, and the Institute of Advanced Motorists, for whom Eastern politics throughout his life. Over the years, he and he was required to pass the advanced driving test. Anne visited Turkey a total of 15 times, before venturing further to Central Asia, then into Western China, and finally However, his main client for many years was the Property Pakistan by the Karakoram Highway. Holding Investment Trust, of which he later became a OLD SALOPIAN NEWS 85

After a reunion dinner for the ‘Dulwich Boys’, he spotted In 2012, Michael had a major stroke. He stayed at Staplehurst an advert for a Masters degree in Modern Turkish Studies at Manor for seven months, where he made a very determined SOAS, which he immediately signed up for. He specialised effort to learn to walk again. He succeeded sufficiently to in the Central Asia States. The younger students said his return home to Hartland, where he enjoyed receiving visitors Turkish was just like their grandfathers’. When he received and going out on local trips. his certificate from the SOAS Visitor, another white-haired gentleman by the name of Sir Geoffrey Howe, there was He continued his interest in Middle Eastern politics right up loud applause. to the end of his life. His other passion was writing to the Times, in which he was published several times. Michael was incredibly generous with his time. During his Michael had immense pleasure in seeing his 12 grandchildren senior years at Markby’s he went out of his way to explain grow up, and always had time for each one individually. He concepts to his junior colleagues. This continued in his will be sorely missed by Anne and all of the family. retirement, where he helped a number of friends, and staff at the nursing home, on various legal matters.

Taking little interest in running in his first two years, in his third Tucks, at the age of 15, Hugh completely unexpectedly came eighth out of the entire School. It turned out that he had spent the summer holidays running through the Shropshire countryside and had discovered he was good at it. His running went from strength to strength, culminating in a very successful season as Huntsman. Though cross-country remained his first love, he also took to the track when required, winning the mile in an exceptional time.

Thanks, he always said, to Mark Mortimer, Hugh won a place at Keble College, Oxford. There he acquired not only a degree in Classics, but also his wife, Katie, daughter of the famous broadcaster Paul Vaughan. They married in 1973. Hugh’s greatest love was always his family. He and Katie have three children, Charlotte, Oliver and Jessica, and seven grandchildren.

On leaving Oxford, Hugh and Katie settled in Wimbledon. Hugh went to work in the City of London, where he had a long and successful career, spanning 40 years, most of it with the Midland Bank and its successor, HSBC. Latterly he worked for the International Securities Lending Association, which was so reluctant to let him retire that it allowed him to work in the summer from his beloved house in the French countryside, south-west of Toulouse. This had been bought by Hugh and Katie because of its proximity to their eldest daughter Charlotte’s home. In the intervals between conducting meetings over the internet, Hugh worked passionately in his large and productive garden. In 1975 Hugh and two fellow Riggites, Jon Angior and David Lindsay, together with Julian Johnston, a Keble friend, set up an annual weekend of competitive sports and games. After Jon’s tragically early death, this evolved into an annual cycling trip and continued to the end of Hugh’s life. Hugh’s fine sense of direction, his great skill at communicating with people with whom he had no language in common, and his remarkable ability to fix anything mechanical, saw the trio successfully negotiate trips through much of Central and Hugh Gibson (R 1963-68) Eastern Europe, as far afield as Serbia and Ukraine. As well as recurrent visits to Transylvania, they made an epic 1,000-mile David Lindsay (R 1964-67) writes: journey from the Baltic to the Adriatic. Small beer, perhaps, to Hugh Gibson came from a scholarly family; his grandfather, certain Salopian cyclists, but reasonably challenging for family Strickland Gibson, had been the Keeper of Archives at men in their 50s and 60s. the University of Oxford. Hugh’s enjoyment of Greek and Latin began at Packwood Haugh and grew at Shrewsbury. Family get-togethers, often at the house in France, were Throughout his life, Hugh professed gratitude to the inspirational a source of great joy to Hugh, particularly in his final five teaching of Mark Mortimer who, as well as being the Form years after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. He died in Master of Shell A, was House Tutor of Rigg’s and was, with October 2015. Hugh will be remembered by all who knew Willie Jones, the mainstay of the Royal Shrewsbury School Hunt. him for his kindness, wit and warmth. 86 OLD SALOPIAN NEWS

Denys Johnson (Ch 1935-40) was responsible for many well-known household names such as Creda, Russell Hobbs and Raleigh Bicycles. He created the Denys Johnson was born on 12th April 1921. He loved Simplex Starlets and devised and produced a review of Non- palindromes, so 12421 was a perfect start for him. He had Stop Nonsense. His final appointment was as Chairman of TI one older sister, Sheila, and one younger, Jill, and the family International, looking after the group’s operations in all parts home was in Davenport Park, Stockport. They were a very of the world. He finally retired from the TI Board in 1983. happy and very musical family. Family holidays were in Throughout this time, the family moved from the north first Abersoch, Wales. Every year the children would play their to Walsall, then Solihull and finaly to Mayfield in 1964. During violins on the front to raise money for the lifeboat and by his career he continued to serve industry in many extra-mural way of a thank you, the lifeboat crew would launch the boat appointments. He was on the Council of the CBI, President of and row them round the bay. the British Electrical Manufacturers Association and President of the Electrical and Electronic Industries Benevolent His scholastic life began when he went away to prep school Association, to name just a few. He was also appointed by in Buxton in 1931 before going on to Shrewsbury, where Lord Mayhew as Chairman of a Committee of Enquiry into he was made a Praepostor, led the orchestra for three years the poor performance of government test houses, and also and was in the 1st VIII. From Shrewsbury, he went up to by Lord Ridley to chair a Committee of Enquiry on railway Merton College, Oxford, to read medicine but was only there electrification. Each of these Enquiries lasted 18 months. for a year. He played violin in the University Orchestra and saxophone, clarinet and trombone in the University dance From 1983 to 1993, he was executive chairman of unrelated band known as ‘The Bandits’. He later professed to be able to companies including Bull Motors of Ipswich and VS play any instrument that you could blow or scrape, including Technology of Luton. These were appointments by industrial his beloved penny whistle and the bagpipes. Not only could investors to rescue companies in trouble. Non-executive he play the William Tell Overture on his penny whistle, but chairmanships included ERA Technology of Leatherhead and not so long ago he led the Remembrance Day parade playing Parry-Murray. the whistle when the regular piper was unavailable. During the war he left Merton and went to Cowley Barracks As his hectic working life drew to a close, one might have in Oxford. He served as a private soldier in the Ox and assumed that the time had come to put his feet up. Not a Bucks Light Infantry before being commissioned into the bit of it. Apart from his hobbies, which included trout and KLSI in coastal defence, spending his 21st birthday in a salmon fishing, offshore sailing and music, he was hugely beach pill box wearing a gas mask. During the war years involved with Mayfield Church, serving as a Churchwarden he served in Africa. He was repatriated following a series for 30 years. He was President of the North Staffordshire of tropical diseases and so he went to the Military College Symphony Orchestra for 12 years, Secretary and Treasurer of Science in Woolwich, where he was taught how to make and then Chairman of the Birdsgrove Fly Fishing Club, what he euphemistically called whizzbangs, before moving President of Mayfield Bowling Club, and President of the to MI 10 in the War Office technical counter-intelligence. He Over-Seventies Club for 30 years. But his greatest joy was was demobbed in 1946 but remained in the TA and later in co-founding the Derbyshire Dilettante Society where for transferred to the Regular Army Reserve of Officers. the first 12 years he was Secretary, Treasurer and Holiday It was whilst at the Military College of Science that he married Organiser which was virtually a full-time job. Nothing would Anne, who was at that time an officer in the WRNS. This was be left to chance; distances were accurately measured and a marriage which was to last for 63 years, although the latter timed for the coach, comfort stops factored in to any journey part proved to be both harsh and cruel as Anne succumbed and all accommodation thoroughly checked. He always to Alzheimer’s. They started their married life in Jarrow on wanted the best for the Dillies. Tyneside, Denys having joined TI as a graduate management trainee and having started by sweeping the factory floor. To say that he lived a full life seems something of an Their daughter Sue was born in 1946 and their son Anthony understatement. He was a captain of industry, a talented in 1948. musician, a skilful fisherman, a trusty sailor, a great raconteur, a scribe and writer of children’s pantomimes, and a tour Denys rose up through the ranks; some 28 years after he operator. But he was more than all of that. He was a father, started, he joined the group parent board. By then TI had grandfather and great-grandfather, as well as being a much- grown to become one of the largest companies in the UK. He loved uncle and a true friend to many. He loved his family and was principally engaged in the electrical division but served thoroughly enjoyed the company of his many friends. He was either as CEO or Chairman of several of the TI companies. He immensely proud of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Michael Morris (Rt 1948-52) Shrewsbury and Univ. His sister Rosemary went to Homefield (part of Bilton) and Malvern. Michael Morris was born at his grandfather’s home in Welshpool on 20th June 1934 and spent his early years at At Oxford Michael resumed his Classics studies with Chirbury, Shrewsbury and Oadby near Leicester, where enthusiasm, earning the respect of tutors and contemporaries his parents finally settled. He immersed himself in Classics, alike. He also became a competent oarsman, took a first at Bilton Grange and then at Shrewsbury, from which parachute course, did the Nijmegen March and enjoyed the he gained entry to University College, Oxford as a Scholar. friendship of a wide circle of friends. First, however, he did National Service in the Field Artillery (following his father, Clifford, who served in it in the Great At the end of his four years, he moved to London, entering War), with postings to Korea and Japan. the administrative grade of the Home Civil Service. He was assigned to the Post Office, then a government department His father had also been at Shrewsbury (Chances). Michael’s responsible for postal services, telecommunications and younger brothers David and John followed him at Bilton, broadcasting, and headed by a Postmaster General who as OLD SALOPIAN NEWS 87 such normally had a seat in the Cabinet. Over time, Michael privatised. The breaking up of the Soviet Union led to the was private secretary to three Postmasters General, Ted extension of CEPT activities to more countries. Michael Short, Roy Mason and John Stonehouse. He also provided received a medal from the King of Spain in 1990 for his support for the work of the Pilkington Committee on the services to telecommunications in Europe. future of broadcasting. He married Lucy Wright, who was Australian, in 1967 In 1969, the Post Office became a nationalised industry, and and they had one daughter, Susannah. They lived in East his final period as private secretary was particularly hectic Sheen close to Richmond Park, and were keen collectors of while the Bill to achieve this went through Parliament. Post paintings, prints, tribal art and antiquarian books, and also and Telecoms were later given separate structures, and filled their house with interesting artefacts they had found on eventually a privatised BT emerged. Michael had moved their travels. In retirement he kept a very alert enquiring mind to telecoms in a senior role in management services, later and a quiet patience which together made him well respected transferring to BT International as Director of International throughout his life. Lucy died in 2001, after a long illness Services, becoming Chief Operating Officer and then during which he looked after her devotedly. Michael was Director of Strategic Relations. In this latter role he chaired diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia in 2012. In his final the telecoms committee of the European Conference of years he was able to take great enjoyment from seeing his Posts and Telecommunications (CEPT). This was a further young grandchildren, Lucy and Hannah. He died peacefully time of change, as technology advanced and more countries at home on 2nd February 2016, aged 81.

Bryan Overy accepted for post-graduate study under Kenneth Roscoe. (DB 1939-42) His subject was soil mechanics, then a little-understood science. Within Roscoe’s newly established soil mechanics Bryan was born laboratory, Bryan joined the embryonic research team which in Shrewsbury in was to introduce rigorous analytical methods to the field and 1925, the third greatly advance the science. Bryan submitted his thesis ‘The of five children, Application of Soil Mechanics to a Study of Mole Drainage’ in with two elder 1952 and was duly awarded an MSc in 1953. brothers and two Bryan’s family most likely had ambitions for him to set up younger sisters. and run his own business as previous generations had done, His father was a but Cambridge was a turning point in his life from which third generation he never looked back, and even in old age he was very shopkeeper, the obviously immensely grateful for the opportunities and wide principal of a gents’ outfitting business established some 50 outlook on life that it provided. Also Cambridge provided the years or so previously. Some Salopians may remember the initial connection to Patricia at Girton College, subsequently family shop which eventually traded for over 100 years at his wife for nearly 62 years, having married in 1953. 23 Pride Hill, between 70 Steps and Morris’s tea rooms; the building still exists today. Bryan’s mother was a local girl from Two children, David and Andrew, followed in the ensuing a family that had prospered in the building trade, trading as years, and life with a young family was combined with a G. H. Bickerton & Son in Horse Fair until 1991. career in higher education, initially lecturing in engineering, in a succession of posts at Northampton Polytechnic Institute Bryan followed the path trodden by his elder siblings, John London (1951-53), Queen Mary College London (1953-60), and Peter, with first prep school at Prestfelde, followed by and Lanchester College of Technology Coventry (1960-66) attendance from 1939 as a dayboy at Shrewsbury School, where Bryan rose to Head of Department for Mechanical where studies rather than sport would have been his forte. Engineering by 1961. After a short spell in industry in 1966 at War inevitably disrupted family life to some degree from 1939 the Ford Motor Co., Bryan settled back into higher education, onwards, by which time Bryan was 14 years old. His eldest now in policy and administration as a Registrar and brother was called up; and the family diversified into farming subsequently Secretary to the Council for National Academic at this point and moved to Fox Farm, Cross Houses. Awards (CNAA). He remained in this field during the rest of It soon became Bryan’s time to leave school and find his his working life, living for many years in Chelmsford, and path in life. His eldest brother had been groomed to inherit later in Diss, Norfolk. the family shop, the next eldest to take on and run the farming side. The farming initiative had soaked up plenty of The children in time grew up and left home, and with the money and there was a war on. Bryan’s options may have extra freedom this gave, daily life gradually developed into an been limited, but the alchemy that can happen given the over-ambitious mix of rural living in Norfolk combined with combination of a talented pupil, a good school and committed a demanding London-based job, requiring a daily commute teachers came to his aid. And so it came to pass that the School of two and a half hours or so each way. Although not so awarded him the George Hallam Scholarship and Bryan found unusual in modern times, this type of daily punishment was himself at Cambridge University in October 1943 as a newly then very much the exception. enrolled undergraduate at Peterhouse, about to embark on the Mechanical Sciences Tripos. Study was interrupted by a period It was against this backdrop that life changed abruptly for of war service 1945-47 at Brush Electric in Loughborough, and Bryan, with early retirement at the age of 59 due to the hence it was not until 1949 that the course was completed, sudden onset of serious eyesight problems. Although initially with Bryan being bestowed the title of Scholar in his final year apprehensive about life without work at its focus, a much and attaining a 1st in Finals. quieter style of living quickly established itself and Bryan found new ways to enjoy life, now with grandchildren, Increasingly solid results in undergraduate years presumably while coping with the limitations of much diminished vision. led Bryan to contemplate staying at Cambridge, as he was Life continued in this vein for another 24 years when life 88 OLD SALOPIAN NEWS

changed abruptly again, this time with no happy escape. Bryan died on 17th June 2015 aged 89, all his four siblings Bryan’s stroke at the age of 82 in 2008 left him seriously having pre-deceased him. He leaves a wife, two sons, three incapacitated and kick-started a final difficult period for grandchildren and one great-grandchild. him in care. High points in these last years were inevitably relatively few, but he was able to have some awareness and gain pleasure from the marriage of his eldest grandchild and the birth of a great-granddaughter.

Robert Pelly (AEK 1937-41) Despatches and ended the war as a substantive Major before returning to finish university, reading agriculture at His son Simon (Rt 1973-78) writes: Trinity College, Cambridge. At Shrewsbury, Robert Pelly was Head of School as well as Captain of Shooting and Boxing. He recounted on many Although he ran two family farms as a tenant farmer, his occasions the fun he had as an 18-year-old teaching the real love was his job with Fisons Fertilisers managing their local Home Guard how to shoot on the old range near grassland research institute in Devon. Kingsland Hall. Several other jobs later, he found himself selling sports field drainage and underground heating systems for Cambridge Following Shrewsbury he first studied agriculture at Soil Services, living just outside Cambridge for 37 years. Edinburgh prior to being called up to join the Lothian He contracted Alzheimer’s in the early 2000s and was and Border Yeomanry initially. He was then was part cared for by his wife, Jane, until her death in 2009. He then of D-Day with the 5th Enniskillen Dragoon Guards as subsequently required full-time care. He was a countryman at a troop commander of a Squadron of flail tanks used heart and never happier than when carrying a 12-bore with a to clear the minefields. He was twice Mentioned in Labrador at his feet.

George Rhodes (Rt 1929-34) The Regiment spent the next two years on coastal defence George Rhodes went to Shrewsbury in September 1929. in Norfolk and Suffolk. They were re-equipped and trained He joined the Officer Training Corps and in due course was hard until, in August 1943, they embarked on H.M.T. promoted to Lance Corporal. He won his House Football Highland Monarch and sailed round the Cape of Good Colours in 1932 – the year Ridgemount won the Inter- Hope to Suez. The Regiment was next in action in 1943 in House competition – and again the following year. He was Italy. They were involved in the last battle at Cassino and appointed a House Monitor. then moved northwards, past Rome and Florence and into the Apennines, where the Germans had established the He passed the entrance exam to The Queen’s College, Gothic Line. The winter of 1944/45 was unpleasant, wet and Oxford and went up in October 1934. He managed to cold, but then came the final battle, the crossing of the River pass the necessary exams to obtain a Pass BA degree and Po and VE Day. converted this to a MA (Oxon) in 1943 ‘in absentia’. Whilst up at Oxford he joined Gray’s Inn as a start to On being demobilised in 1946, George was called to the becoming a Barrister-at-Law. He went up to London to ‘eat Bar, joined the Northern Circuit and entered chambers in dinner’. He also joined the Royal Engineer Senior O.T.L., Manchester. In January 1934 he was invited by Freddie going to camps at Bulford and Chatham. In 1937 when war Pritchard – a High Court Judge and an Old Salopian – to with Nazi Germany seemed to be inevitable, he joined the be his Marshal for the Assizes on the Northern Circuit. Territorial Army and after an interview was commissioned as In 1953, George applied to the Lord Chancellor to join the a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery. He was posted to Judge Advocate General’s office (JAG) to work advising and the 52nd Field Regiment TA (the Manchester Artillery) and guiding Chairmen of Courts Martial. Later that year he was remained with the Regiment throughout the war, attaining the promoted to Deputy Judge Advocate. His work involved rank of Major. a great deal of travelling, vising Headquarters and units in Germany, Cyprus, Persian Gulf, Singapore and Hong Kong. The Regiment became part of 42 Division (TA). Then in In August 1974 he retired from the JAG at the age of 58 and March 1940 they joined the British Expeditionary Force in was appointed a full-time chairman of Industrial Tribunals, France. As the German offensive intensified, they fell back working in Wales and the North of England, a post which he towards Dunkirk and were ordered to prepare for evacuation. held for 20 years. As they were an organised unit, they were moved into the harbour area, thus avoiding the beaches. They edged along In 1995 he moved from Rowdon in Cheshire to Saffron the Mole in a queue, in the darkness, aiming to board a Walden in Essex to be closer to his family. He bought a flat destroyer. They were 50 yards short when it was decided in a block of retirement homes where he spent 21 happy that the destroyer was over-full. They had to get back off the years looked after by carers and the staff and other residents Mole before daylight because of the enemy fighters. Then and especially by his three nieces and two nephews. He on Sunday 1st June a small fleet of six French fishing boats celebrated his 100th birthday with his family and friends but arrived at the Mole, each able to take 30 men. They had an sadly died a few days later. uneventful voyage to Ramsgate. OLD SALOPIAN NEWS 89

Gwyn Roberts (R 1945-50) European Act. Then to Lagos, Nigeria at the behest of E. D. & F. Mann to ‘sort out’ their company there. A Gwyn excelled academically at Shrewsbury but will be proposed six months became two and a half years of especially remembered for his football captaincy and interesting and successful work, but by the end of 1990 and proficiency at all sports. His athletics fortes were triple jump a failed coup, he returned to safer home ground. Now he and javelin, the school record for which was nearly bettered could apply himself to his golf and with Jan travel widely. by a son some 40 years later! Of course the javelin had been He was particularly proud that he retired from golf with a re-weighted in the intervening years. single figure handicap.

After Shrewsbury, Gwyn read Modern Languages at Lincoln Throughout, he was a devoted family man and inordinately College, Oxford, returning to Shrewsbury for a short time proud of his four sons and six grandchildren. Gwyn and Jan to teach football and French.Then it was National Service had 54 happy years together. Jan recalls her first meeting with officer training. Assigned to a home unit due to his with Kek, who grinned and chuckled, and finally said, father’s ill health, he proved management flair by effectively “You’re going to have an interesting life m’dear”. He was running the unit so that his Colonel could better employ his not wrong. skills in the hunting field.

The Ramblers Football Club and employment with Tate & Lyle (possibly in that order) drew him to Liverpool. He captained the Ramblers for three years and was included in their best all time team in their history from 1882.

After four years in the making of a sugar refiner, Tate & Lyle sent him to the West Indies to view the beginnings of the sugar trade. It is probable that this was where he contracted TB, which removed him from circulation for a year. Tate & Lyle supported him through this time and he repaid them with loyal service throughout his working years. While recuperating in Austria, he collided on a ski slope one day (although he said it took him three days to arrange a collision) with a young New Zealander, Jan, whom he married in New Zealand a year later.

In 1966, he moved to Tate & Lyle’s Head Office in London and eventually became Director of European Affairs, enabling him to make full use of his fluency with most European languages, never forgetting that he could effortlessly revert to his native Welsh.

After early retirement, he was recruited to report on the re-alignment of European financial markets before the

David Singleton (Ch 1932-36) unable to fly because of his poor eyesight, so he completed a fitter’s course on Rolls Royce Merlin aero engines. In 1942 David Singleton was born in Bradford on 18th July 1918. he was commissioned as an officer and joined the embryonic His father was a prominent mill owner from north Yorkshire mobile airfield 121 in charge of airfield defence. On D Day farming stock who died when David was ten years old. + 6 they crossed the channel in an American navy tank After a grim prep school in Kent, where he was told his landing craft and arrived in Normandy to follow the Guards father had died, David arrived at Churchill’s Hall in 1932 Armoured Brigade en route to Berlin. It proved to be a slow and began to enjoy all the aspects of school life on offer. He long trip. On the German surrender and the end of the war, particularly enjoyed singing, running and rifle shooting; he David was ordered to take his detachment of Bofors anti- represented the School first VIII at Bisley. However, rowing aircraft guns with support vehicles and airmen through the became his passion. He was in Churchill’s first four which night at all speed to the Baltic coast, where Russian armour was Head of the River for three years running. He rowed was travelling steadily west along the coast road towards bow for the 1st VIII at Henley Royal Regatta in the Ladies’ Denmark. To the relief of a harassed Major, they arrived just Plate where they reached the quarter-final. in time to support some light infantry and aimed their anti- aircraft guns down the road at the oncoming Russians. After a Academically he found time to gain a place at St John’s few hairy minutes of stand-off and belligerence, the Russians College, Cambridge to study agricultural sciences. In those accepted the situation and it was vodka all round! days it was customary for leavers to have a final interview with the Headmaster. When asked what he was going to On leave in 1943, David met Noyna after skating with do after leaving Shrewsbury, David thought he would be her brother on the ‘tarns’ on llkley Moor. The relationship clever and said, “I am going on the soil, Sir” to which the prospered in spite of the complications of wartime. As her Headmaster quickly responded, “As manure, I presume!” army rank was for a time higher than his, David was obliged In 1940 David joined the Royal Air Force Regiment. Unlike to salute her in public when they met! They were married in his contemporary Old Salopian Richard Hillary, he was 1945 and enjoyed 70 years of happy marriage. 90 OLD SALOPIAN NEWS

On demob in1946 David applied to the Royal Agricultural plans were fulfilled. He gained much pleasure working for College to take a short course to get back into agriculture. people who really appreciated him and his professionalism However his lecturer and tutor at Cambridge were now and of his generation he was widely recognised as being an Principal and Deputy Principal at the college and the message unusually able and skilled large-scale farmer. came back, “Singleton, we know you have an agricultural degree so please come here as a lecturer”. So David looked David and Noyna retired to The Old Post Office in Tarrant out his notes and spent two years as an agricultural lecturer Gunville in Dorset, where David enjoyed over 30 years at The Royal Agricultural College. retirement. He played a full part in the life of the village, including spells as Churchwarden and Chairman of the He then farmed in Essex for seven years, but the 1953 great Tarrant Gunville Horse and Dog Show. He pursued his North Sea storm caused severe flooding to the farmland. In hobbies including fishing, shooting and working his gundog 1955 he sold up and became the farm manager for William Bess, gardening and sailing. With Noyna he particularly Hill’s 2,000-acre Whitsbury Farm and Stud in Hampshire. enjoyed winter trips to Western Australia to visit their son He created the pedigree Friesian dairy herd with the aid of James and his family. Always kind, wise, enthusiastic and William Hill’s cheque book and built up the farming business. young at heart, he was an excellent role model. Those who He was an innovator in the forefront of rapid changes in knew him referred to him as a true country gentleman with farming practices. He particularly enjoyed running the shoot his sense of humour always present. He died on 1st August and riding around the farm on his horse, Old Joe. 2015 aged 97 and leaves Noyna, three children, seven In 1963 the family moved to Scotland when David was grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He is much appointed Farms Manager for Bill Sterling’s Kier and Cawdor missed by all of the family, who are consoled by being able Estate in Perthshire. This was a challenge: 30,000 acres, from to celebrate a life well lived. fertile river valleys rising in places to over 1,500 feet, and numerous enterprises which needed sorting out. He became known as the Doctor Beeching of Keir and in his efficient and systematic way he reorganised and modernised the estate farming, turning losses into profits. David and Noyna enjoyed sailing on Loch Earn and skiing as good relaxation from the pressures of farming.

In 1978, David and Noyna moved in with Noyna’s parents to help look after them at the village of Seeley in Derbyshire. A call from Chatsworth Estate resulted in David first doing a farming report and then becoming Farms Manager for the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. Again he sorted out an in-hand farming operation, transforming losses into profits, much to the appreciation of the Duchess who took a personal interest in the farming. Amongst other things, he played a key role in starting the now well-regarded Chatsworth Farm Shop. Following retirement he spent a further three years as a consultant for the Estate to ensure his

Donald Thompson (I 1934-38) active nurturing raspberry, lettuce and tomato plants, digging in the garden and sawing and hauling wood. He delighted in Don Thompson was born in Cheshire in 1920 and attended the wonderful people he met in those communities. Shrewsbury from 1934-38, where he stood out as a valuable member of the football 1st XI. After school, he worked at the His early boarding school training taught him the importance family business, Lion Saltworks, in Northwich. With the onset of a written letter. Don communicated with pilots, friends of the Second World War, he joined the Royal Air Force at the and family around the world with beautiful letters where age of 20. Don saw action in the Pacific theatre as a captain he shared his thoughts and observations. Nothing pleased of a B-24 Liberator. He remained in touch with his entire him more than to receive a letter and to reply immediately. crew for the rest of his life. His yellow foolscap paper and writing table were known as ‘command central’. Don’s other love was music, especially A trip to Winnipeg in 1943 for flight training changed his life Dixieland Jazz, and he enjoyed playing his trombone on for ever, as he met Jeannie there, who later became his wife. many occasions. Twins Michael and Penny were born in 1947, and after 18 months in England the family moved to Canada. Don was a gracious gentleman with a wonderful smile and a hearty laugh. He knew how to have fun and enjoy the simple Don moved to Alert Bay in 1955 and founded Alert Bay Air pleasures of life. He passed away peacefully at St Joseph’s Services. He was a coastal aviation pioneer and was much Hospital in Comox on 11th April 11 2015 at the age of 94. He loved as a mentor; he launched the careers of many pilots, was pre-deceased by Jeannie in 2002, his son Donald Michael including his son, Michael. His son Jim was born in 1957 and in 2008 and by his younger brother Henry in 2013. He is Don reflected on those years in Alert Bay as the best in his life. lovingly remembered by his daughter Penny, his son Jim, and by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The last 30 years were spent in Campbell River with Jeannie and on the farm in Black Creek with Jim, where he stayed OLD SALOPIAN NEWS 91

T. Campbell Walker (S 1942-46)

Campbell Walker was born in Irvine, Scotland in 1929 and followed his two elder brothers Percy and Robert to Shrewsbury in 1942. After leaving school, he studied engineering at Glasgow University where after National Service (including going to Suez with the Royal Engineers), he went on to have an interesting career in electronics and eventually nuclear engineering.

Campbell married Pat in 1960 and they had three children, Andrew, Tom and Sophie, and six grandchildren. Pat and Campbell had a long retirement together – golfing, travelling and even bridge was on the agenda. He was a lovely family man, greatly missed by all who knew him, passing away quickly in October 2015.

Sir Christopher Wallace (Rt 1956-60) detail, but this was combined with the capacity to see the whole picture; minutiae were never permitted to distract Christopher Wallace was born at Farnborough, Hampshire in him from his objective. When the HQ was established, 1943, the son of Major Robert (I 1932-37) and Diana Wallace. Wallace was appointed Chief of Joint Operations in the Following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather Brigadier rank of lieutenant general. That the new HQ has proved Q.V.B. Wallace (Ch 1905-08) and his great-uncle A.W. Wallace so successful owes much to the sound foundations laid by (Ch 1891-94), he arrived at Shrewsbury in 1956, where he Wallace and his team. excelled. He was Head of House, a Praepostor, a member of the Cricket XI and first pair in the Fives IV. Christopher retired from the Army in 1999 and went on to serve as Commandant of the Royal College of Defence On leaving school, he entered Sandhurst, passing out top and Studies, an appointment gained by open competition, from winning the Queen’s Medal. In 1962 he was commissioned 2001 to 2005. into the King’s Royal Rifle Corps (60th Rifles), following in a family tradition of regular service in the Army that extends He was appointed MBE in 1978, advanced to OBE in 1983 back six generations. He served in Borneo with 2nd Royal and knighted in 1997. An accomplished military historian, Green Jackets, initially as a platoon commander and then as he published A Brief History of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps Intelligence Officer during the Confrontation with Indonesia, 1755-1965 (2005); Focus on Courage, the 59 Victoria Crosses before accompanying the regiment to BAOR (British Army of of the Royal Green Jackets (2006); and Rifles and Kukris, the Rhine). Delhi, 1857 (2007).

On operational duties in Northern Ireland, where he served Christopher was also a very accomplished golfer, representing three times, he was mentioned in despatches. In 1983 he the Army for 15 consecutive years (1968-82) and winning the commanded 3rd Royal Green Jackets in BAOR and then in Army Golf Championship twice in 1970 and 1971. He played Northern Ireland. While on exercises at Celle, BAOR, he 11 times for the Old Salopians in the Halford Hewitt and in was sharing a tented trailer with his second-in-command 2002 was the winning Captain of the Shrewsbury team for the when a gas lamp exploded and set the accommodation Mellin Salver (over-55s). He continued to play regularly for ablaze. Wallace was badly burned while getting his brother the veterans’ team, although he is reported to have claimed officer to safety. that it is easier to assemble an army division for the front than gather together six Salopians for the Mellin. Command of 7th Armoured Brigade in BAOR from 1986 to 1989 and a spell at the MOD as Director Public Relations He was President of the Salopian Club in 2009 and was very (Army) led to command of 3rd Armoured Division. In 1994, much instrumental in the refurbishment of the Philip Sidney after a spell as commandant at Staff College, Camberley, War Memorial. he embarked upon the task of leading a team to establish a joint force headquarters at Northwood. The previous system Christopher married Delicia Curtis in 1969 and they had of nominating a single service to run a campaign – as in the a son, Wyndham, and a daughter, Suzannah. Despite Falklands conflict, which was run from the Royal Navy’s contracting amyloidosis, a rare and debilitating illness, he Fleet HQ – had worked well in the past but, with a growing showed great courage in recent years in throwing his energy number of operations world-wide, there was a strong case for into chairing the Royal Green Jacket (Rifles) Museum at setting up a new authority which would adopt a tri-service Winchester. He led successful fundraising campaigns which approach and provide advice on that basis to the MoD. culminated in a Waterloo Bicentenary exhibition last year.

Senior officers in the Army and RAF did not welcome this The following is an extract from the personal tribute given initiative and Wallace had to deploy his considerable skills by his son, Wyndham, at the Thanksgiving Service held at of advocacy to win that battle. He had a meticulous eye for Winchester Cathedral: 92 OLD SALOPIAN NEWS

One word that has kept coming to mind since my father as the port was poured, only to return a minute later, finally lost his heroic battle with amyloidosis is ‘remarkable’. throwing open the sliding doors from the drawing room Christopher Wallace was a remarkable man. I am not with a flourish. I have never felt more proud than I did referring merely to his military career: it is enough for me to as I watched him, resplendent in his dinner jacket, with point out that you do not become a Lieutenant General and the stereo turned up to full, quite literally skanking back, a Knight without being remarkable. As a husband, father, Jamaican style, into the dining room, as the CD Suzannah brother, cousin and friend, the word can be applied with the and I had just given him for Christmas started playing ‘Get same conviction. Up, Stand Up’ by Bob Marley.

I have spent a lot of time talking to people about my But the story I have told more than any over the years is father, and reading through some of the hundreds of letters of the insurance form he once had to fill in to get his car that arrived following the announcement of his death, it repaired. “How did accident happen?” the questionnaire is clear just how remarkable he was. The impact he made asked. “I collided with a deer when it ran into the road,” he upon people’s lives has been vividly depicted, and Mum answered, “on my way back home from the station.” Then has been moved to comment on a number of occasions he pondered the next question, “Is other party likely to sue?” that there were many things he achieved that even she “No,” Dad wrote with characteristic bluntness. “Deer is dead.” didn’t know about. When I first started writing this remembrance, the habits I Another word that keeps coming up is compassion. My father have cultivated as an occasional music journalist threatened was, despite his sometimes intimidating nature, an incredibly to influence its content. If Dad’s time on this earth were an kind man. Though his work was, admittedly, often his album, I would put it up there with the classics. I would priority, I knew – just as I think we all knew – that he would praise it for his unquestioning belief in the value of life always be there when we needed him: with sage advice, and describe it as having been pursued with the greatest of a calming word or two, or maybe a sly joke to cushion his diligence and the fiercest conviction that nothing is worth occasionally outspoken pragmatism. Of course, dependable doing unless it is done properly. and generous as he was with his wisdom, if you were to lean upon him, he expected you to listen and learn, especially Unfortunately, I believe little in this world is perfect, so when it came to standing up for yourself. Nonetheless, he custom would insist I give it 9/10. But as husband, brother, rarely judged, and even when I got angry about the world, cousin, friend and father, he was, quite simply, remarkable. he never sank to my level. That, I believe, is how he was So he gets a bonus point: 10/10. That is as good as it gets. with almost everyone: his rational approach to life was How fortunate we were to know him. rarely punctuated by impatience. You could see this in his handwriting: smooth, elegant, steady and composed.

Inevitably, there are other things to which I wish to draw attention: Dad’s sporting prowess, most visible in his golfing skills. At his peak, he would play off a handicap of one. His gentle love of nature, exhibited in his fascination with birds, a passion so powerful he kept binoculars by the dining table. Then there was his commitment to the offices and duties that mattered to him, most notably the Army, for which his enthusiasm started early: shortly after he passed away, a letter was found that he had sent to Father Christmas as a child. He had asked for “soldiers and a fort”. With characteristic precision, he had also included a helpful map leading to his bed. And then there was his loyalty, reflected in the loyalty that he inspired in others.

Naturally I need to highlight Dad’s bravery as well, especially in the way he faced his illness. I rarely heard him complain and never saw him do anything but fight it head on with optimism, conviction and unparalleled fortitude. He was a true soldier to the end.

I must also make mention of my sorrow that, despite her extraordinary efforts, my mother was ultimately unable to render him immortal. For a while, it seemed she would succeed. The love and attention she offered him could not have been surpassed, and that he lived as long as he did is as much a tribute to his indomitable spirit as to her persistence in matching it. I know he passed secure in the knowledge that she loved him as much as any man can be loved.

There is one last aspect of Dad’s personality I would like to recall, and it is the one I remember most: his irreverent, wicked sense of humour. There are so many vignettes I could share, but I have chosen two I cherish. First, there was the night he disappeared from a dinner party table OLD SALOPIAN NEWS 93

Humphry Ward (SH 1951-56) into mothers with unusual blood disorders adversely affecting pregnancy outcome. He was also at the forefront in the John Parker (SH 1952-57) writes: development of the fetoscope, used to examine the baby in ‘Humph’ was born on 29th April 1938 in Croxley Green in utero. He sat on many scientific committees in the RCOG and Hertfordshire, the son of a surgeon who was a member of edited the deliberations of several study groups looking the Territorial Army. The war saw many postings for the into important issues relating to both obstetrics and family whilst Humph’s father was abroad on service, but gynaecology. It was through this work he was introduced they ultimately found some permanence in Shrewsbury. to HM The Queen. This resulted in Humph entering Packwood Haugh as his prep school. At the end of war, the family returned to Socially he became Master of the Bart’s Fountain Club, Hertfordshire, where Humph’s father was a member of the consisting of alumni dating back to 1919, and comprising surgical staff at Mount Vernon Hospital. However, due to many famous names in the field of both medicine and the earlier influences of Shropshire, Humph entered School surgery. House in 1951. This is a brief history of a person who went to the top of Humph was a popular figure from the start. Blessed with a his profession. But what of the man? It is fair to say that large and powerful frame and a smiley avuncular bearing, Humphry was one of the kindest and nicest of men. In his he progressed through Doctor’s as an excellent example of younger days he had an appealing stammer which, allied what a combination of intellect and athleticism can provide. to his round and beaming face, endeared him to anyone Although a good ball games player, it was on the river that who took the trouble to get to know him. He was ever full he excelled, rowing in the first VIII for three years. During of merriment and his copious humour was always with the that time he was a member of the 1955 school crew that won recipient and never at anyone’s expense. the Princess Elizabeth Cup at Henley, and of the Doctor’s four that was Head of the River in 1956 when he was School He never lacked friends. In the tributes to him in a full Captain of Boats and a Praepostor. Sherborne Abbey in January 2016 there were relayed sincere and deep feelings for him from many sources. Later that year, Humph went up to St John’s College, Such accolades as were given are hard to find – to have Cambridge to read Natural Sciences and Medicine. Again he as many as were produced were indicative of a genuinely was mighty on the river, rowing in the Lady Margaret (the exceptional man. Boat Club of St John’s) first eight for all of the three years he was up. During that time he was awarded a University After retiring, Humph continued to radiate friendliness and Trials Cap in 1957 and was unlucky not to be able to obtain energy. A day with him at Henley or playing golf, which his blue due to injury. However his powerful frame helped he took up with great enthusiasm, was full of fun. He the LMBC go Head of the River at Cambridge in 1959 and brought style and colour to such events and always dressed win the Ladies’ Plate at Henley that summer. So he was the appropriately, even on several occasions sporting a monocle possessor of two wins at Henley, something not given to to watch rowing events. many men. He died on 18th December 2015 having for a considerable In the autumn of 1959, having obtained his Natural Sciences while battled with chronic illness with great fortitude and degree, Humph went to London for the second part of his cheerfulness. He was very ably looked after and nursed by medical training at St Bartholomew’s Hospital. In 1962 he his wife Hilary through that time. They had celebrated their qualified as M.B., B.Chir. and he then went on through the 50th wedding anniversary on 31st July 2015. Our thoughts are routine of junior hospital posts. He subsequently specialised with her, their children, Harvey, Charlotte and Jeremy, and in obstetrics and gynaecology and became a Fellow of his their grandchildren. Royal College (FRCOG). In the 400th anniversary year of Shakespeare’s death, it is Following this, he was appointed consultant at University fitting to remember what Hamlet said on the passing of his College Hospital where he undertook clinical and teaching father – “Take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like duties. He took a particular interest in matters relating to again”. This well applies to Humphry. pregnancy. Consequently he conducted important research

Revd Richard (Dick) Woods (R 1945-50) for about three years, before passing the Common Entrance exam to Shrewsbury. His brother Gerald (R 1948-53) writes: Dick was born on 10th August 1931, the birthday of our In the summer of 1945, Dick joined Rigg’s Hall, where father, who was in general practice in Great Harwood, the Housemaster was Jimmy Street, who later became Lancashire. His first formal education was at Blackburn firm friends with our parents. After School Certificate, Grammar School, but our parents decided that he should Dick went on the Classics side. At the end of the war, our continue elsewhere. They went to Shrewsbury and met the father arranged coaching for him from Jim Parks, a well- Headmaster, H H Hardy, who advised that if Dick were known Sussex County cricketer, who was the professional to go to Shrewsbury, he ought to go first to Charney Hall at Accrington Cricket Club in the Lancashire League. This Preparatory School, Grange-over-Sands. This he attended heightened Dick’s interest in cricket. 94 OLD SALOPIAN NEWS

In 1947, our father became the doctor in Lamberhurst, Kent Indian, the people, the humour, the music, the steel bands and, in the Easter holidays of 1949 and subsequently, he and the calypso. Their third child was born there. arranged further coaching for both Dick and myself from Coming home in 1967, Dick attended a course on mental Frank Woolley of Kent and England fame on the Nevill health, one of his many interests at Birmingham University, ground in Tunbridge Wells. Dick had become a steady which led to his appointment as Priest at Epsom Mental opening batsman but, more significantly, an opening bowler Hospital. There followed terms at Ewell in Surrey and finally with a smooth, classical action, able to swing the ball both at Englefield Green, near Virginia Water. He and Trenna ways. He was awarded his 1st X1 colours in 1949, becoming retired to live in Mudeford, Dorset. Vice-Captain in 1950. He was also a House Monitor. In both 1949 and 1950, Dick was selected to play for Kent Young Inevitably, before retirement, he played much diocesan Amateurs and for Kent 2nd XI in August 1950. cricket, making many friends whom he was later pleased to meet at Lord’s, watching Test Matches, discussing the state of During National Service, he was commissioned in the Royal play over the odd pint of beer. After retirement, he decided Artillery, serving in Oswestry as a Troop Commander and to join the Quakers, serving as an Elder locally. His leisure as Assistant Adjutant of 17th Training Regiment. According was taken up with bird watching, reading a wide range of to a brother officer, “this enabled Dick to play even more literature, watching cricket and writing letters on many topics cricket”. Having become a good off-spin bowler for Western to those in higher authority than himself, such as Members Command, he played for the Army against Cambridge of Parliament and chairmen of organisations and companies. University in May 1952. He did say to me once that he always got a reply – not necessarily the one he wanted, because he always signed Having finished National Service, Dick became an articled himself “Reverend”. clerk with the solicitors Stone, Simpson & Hanson in Tunbridge Wells, playing cricket whenever possible for the During the last few years, he suffered from bone cancer Bluemantles in Tunbridge Wells and for the Buccaneers. from which he managed to go into remission. His wife He became a member of the MCC in 1962. developed Alzheimer’s. Although Dick continued to look after her, after a few more years, the cancer returned and he After qualifying as a solicitor, Dick practised for a while in finally succumbed to it, dying on 28th October 2015, aged Bedford Row in London, before deciding to take Holy Orders, 84. His ashes were scattered in the Harris Garden at Lord’s going to Cuddesdon Theological College from 1958-60. He by members of his family, accompanied by other relatives, married Trenna in June 1960 and was ordained deacon in a fitting resting place for Dick, who loved cricket and being Newcastle where they stayed for three years and where two at Lord’s. of their three children were born. A friend from cricket and National Service days told me of At this time, he was offered the post of Vicar of St Madeleine’s Dick’s unfailing cheerfulness and that was impossible to feel Church, outside San Fernando in Trinidad. The four years he ‘down’ in his presence. There is no doubt that he cared for spent there were not easy for Dick, especially as he played no people and their circumstances, which must have led to his cricket. But he made many friends with whom he stayed in taking Holy Orders. contact and developed a huge enthusiasm for all things West

SALOPIAN CLUB COMING EVENTS

More details can be found on the Salopian Club website: www.shrewsbury.org.uk/page/os-events Sporting fixtures at: www.shrewsbury.org.uk/page/os-sport (Click on individual sport) Except where stated email: [email protected]

All Shrewsbury School parents (including former parents) and guests of members are most welcome at the majority of our events. It is our policy to include in all invitations all former parents for whom we have contact details. The exception is any event marked ‘Old Salopian’ which, for reasons of space, is restricted to Club members only (e.g. Birmingham Dinner).

Supporters or guests are always very welcome at Salopian Club sporting or arts events.

Emails containing further details are sent out prior to all events, so please make sure that we have your up to date contact details.

Date Event Venue

Mon 8 – Thu 11 Aug Saracens Devon Tour Devon (Various)

Fri 19th Aug School Musical and Reception C (-1) Venue 34, Adam House 12.35pm at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Edinburgh EH1 1HR

Thu 15 – Mon 19 Sep World War Two Battlefield Tour Normandy (see website for details)

Tue 27 Sep Chapel Choir sing Evensong at Jesus College Cambridge 6.15 Evensong 7.00pm Reception. Jesus College, Cambridge CB5 8BL

Sat 1 Oct Old Salopian Day Shrewsbury School 1.00pm onwards Please see magazine insert for details and booking form.

Thu 27 Oct Christopher Wallace Memorial Dinner East India Club 7.15 for 7.45pm St. James’s Square London SW1Y 4LH

Sat 5 Nov Sabrina Club RSSBC 150th Anniversary Savoy Pier, Victoria 6.15pm for 6.30pm Dinner on board the Silver Sturgeon Embankment, London

Thu 17 Nov Salopian Club AGM and City Drinks The Travellers Club AGM 5pm. Drinks and Canapés from 6pm Pall Mall SW1Y 5EP

Thu 24 Nov Salopian Club Birmingham Drinks All Bar One Drinks and Canapés from 6pm Newhall Street Birmingham B3 3NY

Fri 2 Dec Salopian Club and Foundation Alington Hall Drinks and Canapés from 6pm Christmas Drinks Shrewsbury School

Sat 3 Dec OSH v The School Hunt Run and Dinner Shrewsbury

Wed 18 Jan 2017 Salopian Club Committee Meeting London

Thu 23 Feb Evensong at Westminster Abbey Westminster

Sun 12 Mar Joint OS/School Concert at Cadogan Hall London