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Home , Ronnie Ross, The Perse School

IN THIS SPRING 2013 ISSUE

Jazz Legend Ronnie Ross Musicians salute master saxophonist

Going to Extremes 1500 miles on kite skis

Richard King CBE Latin no bar to American dream

Pandæmonium DRIVEN TO How an OP’s SUCCEED vision kept the world watching OPs steer motoring in new directions There’s a story that the School only moved from when the name CONTENTS SCHOOL News MUSICAL became too ironic, but we’ve long had a wide social mix, continued to this day by Awards & Talents! means of more than 120 bursary places. Page 2–4 UNIVERSITIES The Perse Music Department has received In 2015 The Perse will celebrate its 400th School News the prestigious Pro Corda Special Award for birthday and will be launching “The 400 Clamour for Schools in recognition of its outstanding Moving On Campaign” to help ensure its future success. contribution to chamber music making. Our primary goal is to raise a significant sum Perse Leavers Two Perse musical ensembles - the U12 for bursary places so that we can keep our After four hugely enjoyable years, this Violin Quartet and U19 Saxophone Quartet - will be my last OP News as Development doors open to talented children no matter Page 5–6 There have been 564 offers of university also qualified for the finals of the Pro Corda Director. I warmly welcome my successor: what their financial circumstances. I’m places to Perse students, including 16 from Chamber Music Competition. Dr Maša Amatt, formerly Assistant hugely grateful to everyone who has already Your news and views , 14 from Oxford and 19 from Development Director at St Catherine’s made a donation; I hope we will all respond medical schools. In March, 150 Perse musicians demonstrated College, Cambridge. I know she will look positively when asked to make a gift to the their talents to a packed audience at the campaign. forward to meeting you in due course. University Concert Hall. Performances

Page 7 were given by ensembles including the It’s been a real eye-opener to see the School We should be proud to be alumni of MATHS ACES Senior Symphony Orchestra, Senior String as a member of staff. When I first returned Cambridge’s oldest school: an institution Spotlight on Richard King CBE in 2009, it was surreal to be greeted by that has produced two Nobel Prize Beat Harrow Orchestra, Wind Band I, and the Senior my former teachers as their colleague. winners, one of the most celebrated Brass Ensemble. The Perse won the Eastern Region final The discovery that they had first names literary critics of the English language, of the Year 10 Team Maths competition To lift the quality of Perse music still was something of a revelation, and I was a world-leading astronomer, one of the further, the School is currently raising open up additional opportunities such as always anxious about being accosted for greatest documentary film makers, and Page 8 beating Harrow School into second place. funds to purchase a Steinway B Grand the promotion of higher-level concerts and some past missing piece of homework. Yet countless others whose achievements are Competitors tackled a mixture of quick Upcoming Events – drinks, master classes and recordings.” If you would in working with them, I’ve discovered that too numerous to list here. Having seen the questions, co-operative problem solving Piano. Director of Music, Gavin Richards, Perse staff are some of the most committed successes of some of our youngest OPs, lunches, dinner, sport and a studied round for which they had stated that the piano would be “a real like to support this project, please visit: professionals you will find anywhere in it’s clear that the roll call of outstanding prepared. For the final, the topic was the inspiration to our musicians. It would also www.perse.co.uk/annual-fund education. Seeing how much thought goes achievement will continue. Whether it’s Binomial Expansion, covering questions the into planning a lesson has been nothing with a donation, a legacy, or by offering Lower Sixth might find tricky. short of inspirational. time and advice, let’s all do what we can to curriculum for Year 7 pupils. The course ensure that The Perse long remains one the Page 9 – 12 is intended to prepare them for the later The Perse also recorded some fantastic COMPUTER Having met hundreds of Old Perseans UK’s most outstanding schools. introduction of GCSE and A levels in the Kings of the Road – individual achievements in The Intermediate I’ve learned something about the OP subject, and will help them understand Olympiad. This followed on from the Inter- SCIENCE community, too. I realise now that not Best wishes, OPs at full throttle how computers work, not just how to use everyone enjoyed their school days, but I’ve mediate Maths Challenge and participation Introduced them. The School’s approach will be to been pleased to find that OPs are happy was by invitation only. Six Perseans came in teach the subject like a rigorous science, to see just how far the School has come. the top 50 of their year group and a further Having long run a successful programming including a strong grounding in problem Today, Perse pupils have opportunities to four in the top 100. club, from next September The Perse will solving skills, understanding algorithms, and succeed no matter where their talents lie. Page 13 introduce a rigorous Computer Science programming. The Perse is fortunate to be I’ve also learned that OPs value the fact that Eddie Copeland (OP – 2002) Past Events located on the doorstep of one of Europe’s The Perse has never been a ‘posh school’. Development Director most successful technology clusters, and will work in partnership with local companies YEAR 10 SCIENTISTS and academia to secure opportunities for students wishing to apply their skills in a Page 14 Recorded For Radio professional setting. Staff changes and BBC Radio’s the Naked Scientists programme visited The Perse to further their quest other news “to answer questions from everyday chemistry to quantum physics”. Three Year 10 students took part in an experiment to reveal their own DNA using nothing more than CHEMISTS salt water, washing up liquid, isopropyl alcohol and food colouring. Three others explored emulsification, making lava lamps from yellow oil, coloured water and salt. Excel at Lindy Clegg Roxanne Napier Page 15 Olympiad Alumni Relations Officer Development Officer [email protected] [email protected] King of Cool – There was an impressive haul of medals for Perse sixth formers taking Facebook Page: OP Ronnie Ross part in the UK Chemistry Olympiad, ‘The Perse School’ with five of the School’s students placing in the top seven per cent of Page 16 more than 4,000 entrants. Twitter@OldPerseans Nineteen students took medals, with Development Office 400 Campaign report five achieving gold, 11 silver – of The Perse School, Hills Road whom six were Lower Sixth LinkedIn Group: Cambridge pupils – and three bronze. Our Old Perseans CB2 8QF gold medalists were Shaan Tel: 01223 403 808 Page 17–18 Autoin Chhabra,Theo Clark, www.perse.co.uk/oldperseans Alexander Fanourakis, Elizabeth Obituaries Gaunt and Rachel Tyte. Page 1 Page 2 SCHOOL SPORTS ROUNDUP STAFF FIT Extra Curricular Activities NASA PRIZE: For Purpose Students shaken TIM COMPETES Inspired by the youthful energy all around them, 18 Perse staff turned out in bitter and stirred weather to complete the Cambridge Half For England William Drake (Y11), Pratap Singh (Y9), Marathon. School fitness instructor Jared There was international success for Tim Thomas Myers (2012) and Thomas Read Bethall practised what he preached and (Y9) won an all-expenses-paid trip to NASA Harrison (Y9), who was the fastest English stormed home in 1:19:55. Upper School in Florida for their victory in the 2012 UK orienteer in his group, males 14 and under, Deputy Head Daniel Cross was not far Aerospace Youth Rocketry Challenge – in the Interland Cup, held in Breda, the behind at 1:26:43.The team raised more Netherlands. It may have been Tim’s first than £650 for the Christel House education enough to put anyone in a spin. But if the time in the tournament but the England charity. Congratulations to all Perse excitement alone wasn’t enough, the gyro team carried home the trophy for the 19th representatives, including Hugh Chatfield trainer finished the job, as demonstrated. time in succession. He finished second in his (U6) who ran the race in 1:24:13. The special treatment began before they group. had even touched down on US soil when they were invited to a cockpit chat with the Meanwhile, a TriAdventure sprint event in pilot of the 747-400. was a new departure for The Perse TRAMPOLINISTS but the run-navigate-mountain bike format DEEP, CRISP At the Kennedy Space Centre at Cape proved a winner with members of the well as locations and maps marked with Reach Finals Canaveral they met astronaut Robert C. School’s Adventure racing Club. On arrival ten control points to reach on foot or bike. Springer and took part in a simulated Three Perseans represented the School at and uneven competitors were issued with electronic Then it was down to tactics to decide mission, testing their ability to prepare a the British Schools Trampoline Competition dibbers – a modern take on the traditional how best to navigate the complex and shuttle for take-off, transfer a payload to the and all reached the finals of their respective Deep snow softened the landings for those orienteering clip – which recorded times as very muddy course. international space station and land safely categories. James Able (Y6) took Bronze – of the 90-strong Perse School party who back at the Space Centre. The rocketeers and narrowly missed silver – in the U13 Elite took a tumble during the half-term ski trip also visited the Vehicle Assembly Building, group. Matthew Burson (Y7) was sixth in to Alpe d’Huez in France. Snow conditions the largest single story building in the world, the same event and Michael Barlow (Y10) remained excellent throughout the week where each rocket is finally assembled and was ninth in the U15 Novice group. but visibility varied. slowly moved out to its launch pad.

As well as all that skiing, the 80 pupils and While two team members have now left 10 staff members enjoyed ice-skating, a quiz the School to start their undergraduate ENDURANCE night and karaoke, and watched a fiercely studies at Cambridge University, two Perse contested ice-hockey match in the village. teams are already working on the 2013 UK RACE Rocketry Challenge – to fly a rocket carrying a single egg on its side to an altitude of Conquered PERSE PLAYERS Enchant Audience 750ft in 48-50 seconds. Perse Physics teacher Chris Ingram *Still with space – NASA’s Dr Jennifer completed the gruelling Marathon Des The Perse Players put on an outstanding production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream which Wiseman come to The Perse to give a Sables, a 150–mile footrace across the had the audience roaring with laughter. In keeping with The Perse Players’ tradition, the cast involved pupils of all ages. Head Ed Elliott said, “It is always wonderful to see the talk entitled Other Worlds: Exoplanets and Sahara, including 50 miles non-stop. oldest and youngest members of the school community working together. Drama discovering life beyond Earth. Her visit was Running for the British Heart Foundation, continues to flourish at The Perse, and there are exciting plans to form a Middle School part of the he was delighted to finish 247th of over EXCELLENT SEASON Drama Company next year.” Science Festival. 1,000 competitors from around the For Hockey Teams world. Read more at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ The 1st XI finished runners up in the missed out on a place in the East Finals by saharanprints. Sponsorship for any AMBASSADORS U18 Championships a single goal on goal difference. amount would be very gratefully received. and qualified for the East Rounds where they came third in their group, beating A highlight of the season was the local for book charity Woodbridge and Stamford. derby v The Leys, in which The Perse won Perse pupils Lizzie Ford, Tim Greenbank and nine out of the 11 matches played through U16A have had an excellent season, losing all age groups. The annual Staff v U6th James Young returned to their old school, only two out of 16 matches. They are Leavers match (squad photo above) King’s College School, to talk about READ Cambridgeshire Champions and East finished in a 2-0 win for the Staff, with International and thank King’s pupils for Runners Up and will play off with Langley goals from Gareth Roots and Pip Mitchell. the fantastic work they have been doing Park for a place in the National Finals. for the charity. This is on top of their excellent indoor One of the teams our girls played against season where they represented the School on a hockey tour to Holland in September They saw first-hand the 1,300 unwanted at the National Finals. was Ypenburg Hockey Club U17 and its books that King’s pupils have donated to players were keen for a rematch when they the charity and spoke at two assemblies Cambridge City U16s included eight Perse came to this country. describing the charity’s efforts to give pupils in the squad that qualified for the children in Tanzania access to textbooks National Clubs Finals. U14As finished Perse 1st XI weren’t content to repeat the and other materials. Last year Perse Year 10 runners up in the County Championships thrilling draw of last time but demonstrated pupils raised money for READ International and performed well at the East Rounds but superior fitness and skill to win 2-0. by holding the School’s first ever Jamathon. Page 3 Page 4 Andrew is pictured at the helm of a boat belonging to his friend, OP Paul Collins (1972). OP News, Views and Letters AN ENGLISHMAN ABROAD ... ROYAL COMMENDATION Further to our past feature on OPs living in Europe, Professor Andrew Kidman for Royal Engineer (1972) writes:

Congratulations to Capt George Harper Having read Modern Languages at (2002), of the Royal Engineers, who was Magdalene (Cambridge) and after awarded a Queen’s Commendation for completing the P.G.C.E., I taught for two Valuable Service (QCVS) in the Operational years in Munich and then founded my own Honours and Awards list in March 2013. language school in Salzburg. One regular feature on our calendar is the summer Said George: “This was for my work course which I myself run at the Perse Upper in Afghanistan in 2012 when I worked School, providing me with an annual dose of alongside the Afghan National Police on their nostalgia and giving me a chance to reflect long term infrastructure plans. I had a team on all the things we got up to. that surveyed over 300 police bases across central Helmand to understand the problems Austria proved to be an excellent choice of undermining security. This led to the first location with staggering mountain scenery, plan for where Afghan National Security picture-postcard lakes and a top-class health front of a queue is just not cricket, I suppose. tend to be a slap in the face. When we say Forces would be based in Helmand in 2014 service. The quality of life and standard of Hence my Austrian friends always get to the “Actually I’m not sure if that is quite the and a UK plan to support them that included living are among the best in the world. Life as top of the ski-lift before I do… right thing to wear”, an Austrian would a £1.5 million programme to build new POLITICS an ex-pat, however, is not always easy! Even probably come out with “Hello – terrible police stations.” after 33 years of acclimatisation I find myself The language itself is not a problem shirt!”. If I had to pick one thing I miss STUDENT thinking that “we English would have done (especially after the firm grounding given most, it would be the zany British sense quizzes Portillo that differently”! Pushing your way to the by Major Mitchell!) but the directness can of humour. The crew concentrated on perfecting “Portillo cuts a suave, collected sort of figure. GIG ROWERS technique and building stamina in the run Little seems to faze this former Defence up to the 35km pull and the dedication paid Secretary, even my bumbling slip-up when Fly for Sparks financial dividends too – raising £14,000 for I proffer my first question: will Britain leave the children’s medical charity Sparks. the world? He calmly pointed out that it was A team of eight Old Perseans have broken not possible for Britain to leave the world, the world record for rowing the Channel in * Still with rowing: OP Michael Foulkes but it was entirely possible that Britain might a traditional Cornish gig, achieving the feat (2007), whose passion for the sport began at leave the European Union. Luckily he’s on in just three hours 44 minutes and smashing The Perse, has written a book on the history the phone and can’t see me pretending to the previous record by 19 minutes. of his college boat club, which is available at: shoot myself. His phlegmatic Britishness is http://bit.ly/ZfgIOo and is sold in aid of perhaps not surprising when you consider Congratulations to (pictured L-R) Will the club. Michael is studying for a PhD at the depth and breadth of his career. In his Bakewell, Alex Jamieson, Khalid El-Wahab, Durham on 17th century French theatre time, Portillo has served in possibly the most James Nichols, Andrew Prentice, Duncan and how playwrights attempted to promote important and radical governments since Simmonds, Oliver Hildrey and Simon themselves. On the water, he has also found 1945 along with regular media performances Domone, all leavers of 2002 and novices time to complete the 50km Boston Marathon Is it time to create an electronic and documentary making.” to rowing. in Lincolnshire with his St Cuthbert’s crew. So, disarmingly, begins a Varsity article by scrapbook? Josh Simons (2011), in which he quizzes Michael Portillo on life after government, EXPEDITION ACROSS GREENLAND Are mini, local Perse School reunions the way He said the group found the ad hoc format current Conservative ideology and student forward? Cameron Cook (1972) wrote: excellent for reminiscing. days at Peterhouse. Fuelled by wind power

“Feeling the need/curiosity after just over 40 Cam continued: “One other interesting idea Josh is studying Politics and International Adventurer Simon Edmundson (1997) forerunner of The Perse Exploration Society. years of leaving school I set about trying to was whether there could be a part of the Old is to tackle over 1,500 miles on kite skis Relations at St John’s College, Cambridge, He and friends Mike Dann and Tim find a time/venue for some of us to meet. Perseans’ website where old pictures could in the teeth of 80 mph winds and at and is considering making a career as a writer Tottenham will spend 12–14 hours a day Four of us achieved this yesterday, which I be available. We pawed over the copies of temperatures of 40 below zero. of social commentary and political analysis. pulling a sledge weighing up to 120kg. hosted in Soulbury, and I attach the evidence the full school photographs we had and John He is one of the first Brits to take on the They will have to eat constantly to replenish to prove that none of us has changed at all. had an old school cap! Perhaps OPs would He said, “Michael was a really good team is totally reliant on its combined Greenland challenge. His team includes the 7,000 calories they are expected to populate the site with their old photos.” interviewee: engaging, interesting, skill and experience to survive.” his father Henry, who will coordinate burn every day, with their diet including “We Skyped Rick Charles (who was unable to thoughtful and occasionally funny. Most The highly experienced team won the 2006 the expedition from the family home in chocolate, nuts and salami. be there) and spent a convivial lunch/evening A page on the Old Perseans website on importantly though, if he didn’t want to Polar Challenge and completed a 30-day Cambridge. The six-week adventure could together. We are in touch with three others which to post photos of school days and answer the question, he was damn good at The trip is not without its risks, as Simon expedition on the Greenland Ice Cap in raise £30,000 for The Dallaglio Foundation and we are arranging another get together the years beyond? What do you think? avoiding it.” comments: “A change in weather 2010. Kite skiing, which is similar to kite and Mines Advisory Group. later in the year. We share wine, humour and Please let us know if the idea appeals to conditions – sudden snowfalls, strong surfing, involves participants being pulled interesting lives! We found we had more in you. Contact alumni officer Lindy Clegg The Varsity article appears at Simon developed his taste for adventure winds or even abnormally warm weather – along by the wind at up to 30mph while common than you might have thought.” (see Page 1) http://archive.varsity.co.uk/764.pdf via the 5th Cambridge Venture Scouts, can quickly threaten progress and the skiing across snow or ice. Page 5 Page 6 SPOTLIGHT ON Richard King CBE (1947) UPCOMING EVENTS How a non-classical education underpinned a happy and rewarding life. As this issue of the OP News went to press we were looking forward to a busy period of events – with exciting new venues from London to Exeter, via Bournemouth, and at the School itself. hours with my stirrup pump and upturned “I proudly travelled in dustbin lid with wetsand in it, ready to pounce on a sizzling incendiary bomb. One my purple school colours night I saw a big blaze about a mile away PERSE IN LONDON – St Pancras to the South-East. It was the School and blazer with its pelican its majestic large hall enveloped in flames. Renaissance hotel drinks reception Later, cycling up Lensfield Road I could feel and blood-flecked Join us on Thursday, 16 May, in the evening, are just £20 for OPs aged 26 or the heat 300 yards away. building architect Sir George Gilbert older, and £10 for OPs aged 25 and below. chest...to...the Empire Scott called “almost too good for its As a small token of our thanks, we are Cambridge, despite the huge number of purpose” and see how one of London’s pleased to be able to offer complimentary RAF and USAAF air bases that surrounded State Building ” great landmarks has been saved from a tickets to Old Perseans who have kindly it, suffered little from air-raids. But poor parlous state of near decay and restored made a donation to one of the School’s Office; went to the Kentucky Derby; fundraising appeals since January 2012. Mr Wootton lost his school, his house to glory. watched an eight hour brain operation in If you are a donor and would like to claim in Barrow Road and when he moved to Richmond; and made a broadcast from the With £150m lavished upon it, the newly- your free ticket, please email Lindy Clegg Huntingdon Road, the house next door. CBS studios in the Empire State Building. named Marriott St Pancras Renaissance at [email protected] We schoolboys were rather impressed by The Americans were wonderfully generous offers the dazzling elegance of another the navigational skills of The Luftwaffe! to us in every way. It started my love era – but do come and see for yourself To check for places and to see who affair with America. I have been there, on at our reunion. is already confirmed as attending, I was born in 1929 and brought up at the School life remained healthily competitive business and pleasure, including my time please visit: Garden House Hotel. At age 3 I was sent Tickets for this event, which will include during the war in sport and general house at Harvard, almost 100 times. off to St Mary’s Convent, on the back of a rivalry. I was in South and we – quite canapés and unlimited drinks for the http://perseinlondon2013.eventbrite.co.uk motorcycle. In 1935 I moved up the road in rightly – prided ourselves in our athletic I then did my National Service, refusing Bateman Street to the Perse Prep, where my prowess. East, with an injection of Jewish a commission and again able to shout as mind was entrusted to Mr Lindeman and boys who came from Europe in the late a Staff Sergeant in a Training Battalion. DINNER IS my body to CPO Ferdie Finch who exercised ALL READY INVITATION TO ‘30s produced the greatest brainpower. Then disaster struck. I had a place at Caius us in the Botanical Gardens. I think Finch The Officer Training Corps flourished and I to read Economics and Geography but For the sound of THE DORCHESTER COMING HOME did the better job. became the Staff Sergeant and developed subject to passing a Latin exam. I failed my liking for shouting at people. the wretched little thing. This sent me leather on willow? Sir David Tang KBE 2013 OP Dinner to My form mistress was Beryl Boothroyd, the off on a different trajectory. I became first love of my life. I never really forgave a Management Trainee at Pye Group agrees to host be held at The Perse Keith Barry for marrying her, despite the “With three boys from in Cambridge ending up as Sales and Please mark the date in your diaries, Saturday 5 fact that he was probably the master at Following the success of our sell-out House Marketing Director. After some time in October will see the 2013 OP Dinner back at the The Perse who had the greatest effect upon other schools I set off in Australia I ran the Broadcasting Equipment of Commons dinner in November 2012 we School after last year’s foray to Jesus College. my school career and outlook. I moved business for Philips worldwide. Then I are delighted to report that OP Sir David This event is always much more fun when to the Upper School, then opposite the the Queen Mary to New created Cambridge Electronic Industries Tang has kindly agreed to host a gathering guests get together with old school friends so Catholic Church in Hills Road shortly after and ran that for as CEO for 10 years. I OPs Nick McLellan and George Dean have at his restaurant in the Dorchester. Details please let us know if we can help put you in the 1939–45 war started. Wartime had York for a four month seem to have been made a CBE for my kindly taken on the organising of the 1st about this event, which is again likely to touch with others of your year. Why not step up already denuded the School of many of its and 2nd XIs for the Old Perseans v School tour. I think four wartime efforts in the electronics industry. be scheduled for November, will be posted and take on a table for 12 – we’ll help you fill it. male teaching staff and greatly reduced cricket matches on Wednesday, 26 June. the number of subjects taught. When we on the webpage as soon as possible. This The evening will start with a champagne British schoolboys were Retiring at 60 and wanting another The 1st XI match (40/40) will start at 2pm arrived in the 4th form we were enlivened and the 2nd XI match (20/20) at 5pm. promises to be a very special occasion in reception and a chance to see some of the latest career, I became much involved with early by the arrival of female teachers. As one sumptuous surroundings and is bound to developments taking place on the site. something of a novelty to stage development companies, mostly At 4.30pm there will be a barbecue for was named Miss Dear and another Miss be popular. in Cambridge. Many, as is their nature, both teams and following the close of play Keep your eyes on the Old Perseans webpage Darling, we thought some of our questions the Americans. ” fail or disappoint, but five of which I was at around 8.15pm. all who care to will for more details. were splendidly cheeky. Chairman were listed on the London Stock reconvene for a post-match social at the In 1947, the year I left school, I was due Exchange. I also became deeply involved Earl of Derby pub, Hills Road, Cambridge. The Headmaster was Mr Wootton. He was to do my National Service. But first I was with the NHS and Higher Education. I a scientist. At 6ft 3ins on his double barred We would warmly welcome OPs and their told I had won an English Speaking Union was Deputy Chairman of Addenbrooke’s COMING UP bicycle, with gown flowing and a mortar families as spectators on the day and to Travelling Scholarship to America. With Hospital for 10 years, a Governor of Anglia join in at the barbecue. Tea, coffee and soft board he was a picture book sight. He did In the next issue there will be reports on a three boys from other schools I set off in Ruskin and Norwich University of the Arts. drinks will also be available. Please do get retain one classical tendency. He maintained Lunch for Legators hosted by Head Ed Elliott the Queen Mary to for a four I am a Fellow of Darwin College. in touch if you would like any other a great belief in the efficacy of beating boys. in the Barry Room of The Perse Upper School. month tour. I think four wartime British sports or games to be laid on during the His armoury of weapons was considerable schoolboys were something of a novelty I have had a happy, healthy and rewarding afternoon, such as tennis or croquet. We will also give a round-up of events when and his aim deadly. to the Americans. I proudly travelled in my life. And despite the School’s inability to OPs based in the central south coast region Nick can be contacted at purple school colours blazer with its pelican teach me Latin, I attribute a great deal and the South West gathered for lunches in [email protected] and During night-time air raids, being one the and blood-flecked chest. I pushed a trolley to The Perse. Bournemouth and Exeter. Those studying in George at [email protected] few able-bodied people capable of climbing carrying $20m of gold bars at Fort Knox; Exeter and the surrounding area were also over the roofs of the hotel, I was frequently had tea with President Truman in the Oval Please note: This is an extremely busy day invited to join the Development Office team on Air Raid Duty. I was up on the roof for in the School calendar and we cannot for drinks in one of the city’s pubs. offer parking. Page 7 Page 8 to attract attention from various people engine. At 29 inches it was very tall and KINGS OF THE ROAD – OPs Rewriting the Highway Brian Lister (1941) in the sport.” wanting something lower he and his team chose a Maserati A6 for the following Brian continued: “Success came fairly There is something undeniably glamorous season. “It was disastrous really. The quickly… the Tojeiro won everything in Code from Supercars to Biofuels ... about the British motor racing scene of the engineering by the Italians on this engine its class with Archie driving. I put it to my 1950s and one of its leading figures was Old left a hell of a lot to be desired… father we were promoting a car that went Persean Brian Lister. Photographs of the time Arash Farboud (1993) – pictured front cover under the name of Tojeiro; really we should show his sleekly curved cars, as beautiful “We had a few wins during the ‘56 season have a Lister. He said ‘Right, I’ll allow you now as they were then, heroic drivers dicing but in the latter stages of that year Jaguar 1,500 quid’ and I don’t know if it was six announced that they were packing in motor with death, jazz quartets and dinner at the months or twelve months to prove the racing and it was put to me that we should Dorchester. point. So I built a chassis, put an engine in probably consider using a Jaguar engine. “You get to But behind the glamour and the success it, and tested it at one or two aerodrome I said it was so heavy I couldn’t see that lay the solid and inspired engineering that circuits.” we could do much more than they’d done see and touch was to propel Lister-Jaguar to the front of themselves with the D type… But at the end Brian wanted a bigger engine than the the pack. of ‘56 I was discussing this with Don Moore, your car at MG, a Bristol, and his father agreed that he our engine tuning man, and he said it every stage. Brian left The Perse at 15-and-a-half to should build a second car - that was the first wasn’t such a bad idea, we should consider join George Lister and Sons, the family Lister Bristol. They entered it for the British it. He thought we might get the Americans You’re buying a engineering works in Abbey Road, Empire Trophy of 1954 only for Archie to like Briggs Cunningham interested. Cambridge, as an apprentice. After the war be banned by the stewards because of his lifestyle product, his interest in motorsport developed. disability. However he settled any lingering “I was convinced. British Petroleum were Racing a car with an MG engine and a doubts about his abilities in the same race behind us on it and we modified a design an experience. Cooper chassis at an airstrip in Bottisham, the following year by winning it. and brought out the Lister Jaguar in ’57.” he came across a driver in a standard MG “And that made for a kind of a legend in You are meeting putting out better times. He was amazed to That year Lister Jaguar won 11 races out of a way. Because it wasn’t a one off thing; discover the driver, Archie Scott Brown, had 14 entered, finishing second in the twelfth the rest of that season he was doing and broke or equalled the lap record for other people a malformed right hand, shortened legs and exceptionally well with that car.” sports cars in all 14, either in race or in deformed feet. practice. And the orders started coming in… you can Although 1955 was a very good year, Brian Lister and Scott Brown were to prove a A visit to the Arash Motor Company in and a car being delivered there is usually was aware of the limitations of the Bristol winning partnership. Meanwhile, another “We felt we were on a magic carpet ride Newmarket is in some ways to enter a gap of several months as “we want the relate to. ” Old Persean came on the scene. John Tojeiro but disaster struck in ‘58. I built this new another world – a world where people customer to wait and enjoy waiting for OP was an engineer and designer, a chassis series of cars and Archie was racing at collect impossibly beautiful cars, garaging his or her car. And we want to give them specialist, who was to produce a long line of Spa in Belgium. He had managed to get some at one property and others abroad; a bit of time to save for it as well. It’s a successful racing cars. a Continental entry although a lot of the a world where a £50,000 car service is breathing space.” Continental people wouldn’t have him reasonable; a world where it’s possible to zip Arash built his first car for himself – because “He used to bring things into our “There are people who come along and say because of his hand… It’s where Archie around a track at over 200 mph should you Porsche wouldn’t sell him the one he works to make for his cars and went off the road. The car caught fire and ‘I’ll have it now’ so there needs to be some wish to do so. wanted and the passion was unleashed. I told him I had these ideas for he was burnt.” stock of vehicles around the world and those His company designs up to five years in a jet engine, an air-cooled Welcome to wonderland. The super and guys don’t need finance but most buyers are advance. Currently in production is the engine. He made a The accident took place at exactly the same hypercars built by OP Arash Farboud (1993) financing cars no matter how expensive AF10. It has been out about two years and chassis for me… and we corner where Richard “Dick” Seamen, the are not bought in isolation. Those willing the car is; 90% of them. It’s amazing.” sells for £300k – £400k minimum. There’s fitted the engine, a body pre-war British champion, was killed. In fact and able to meet a price tag which may run The experience continues for life. Cars an AF10LM, Le Mans racing version too. and everything and this Archie hit the memorial stone. into hundreds of thousands of pounds want of this calibre are not usually replaced The top of the range costs £1.2m. was the car I gave Archie an experience. And that’s what they get. See our website for the article in full but added to! And the eye-wateringly Scott Brown to drive. It “We’ve just taken orders for the Asian http://www.perse.co.uk/publications/ “The whole experience is tailored. The expensive service mentioned above is market for 20 of them. We start production was phenomenally quick customers come to see the car being closer to a showering of love than in the next couple of weeks. It’s a real for its class and began assembled. They get to choose the colours, essential maintenance. shame we start production just as we’re the leathers, the stitching, the type of Arash is the son of Persian parents, a doctor developing the AF8. Obviously it’s good for steering wheel, the pedal position, where and a midwife, who came to Britain and the company but we’re really going to have the seat is positioned, detailing in the in 1988 founded Unisurge, a company to juggle over the next few weeks.” engine, the wheels… There’s not an manufacturing and supplying procedure and option list – they get everything – it’s real The AF8 is due to make its debut at dressing packs. fine tuning. Goodwood Festival of Speed in July and it After The Perse he went to Queen Mary, is hoped it will be picked up and publicised “You get to see and touch your car at every London, where he studied genetics and by Top Gear and the motoring press. stage. You’re buying a lifestyle product, an business with an eye to being useful to the experience. You are meeting other people “When it goes into production we’d be family firm. you can relate to.” happy with 10 to 12 units per year. We Arash agreed his cars were moving pieces predict probably 40 units per year based on Car purchasing at this level involves groups of art and he likened them to the Corpus demand. But my long-term prediction would of people being flown over to the factory Christi Clock in Cambridge, unaware the be 200 coming out of the factory. It is going together for what is a real event. The buyers stunning grasshopper design was the work to be sub £150,000.” will enjoy some hospitality and do some test of school friend Matthew Lane Sanderson driving, spar a little as to who has picked the OP. “Matt Sanderson did that? Wow, See our website for the article in full best colour, bagged the best engine. It’s all brilliant! Well done Matt!” http://www.perse.co.uk/publications/ Margaret Thatcher in the driving seat during a campaign visit to the Lister works in support of Rhodes James. Brian Lister looks on. about fun. Between an order being placed Page 9 Page 10 REVVING UP – Three more Perseans tell us why “This was a great year with me they’re the ones to watch taking a podium in only my second race in a European competition”

Geoff Cunningham (2003) Alex Goy (2004)

Back in 2003, the European Union released a directive stating “What, like Jeremy Clarkson?” that by the end of 2010, 5.75% of all transport fuel should be “No, not really...” replaced by biofuels. “But it’s basically that, right?” Sam is pictured here with the current Formula 1 champion, Sabastian Vettel. This has largely been met, and it’s a little known fact that when “Well, sort of, but only in the same way you fill up your car with diesel from the pump, that fuel will be a that we both have legs...” Sam MacLeod (2013) blend of mineral diesel, with about 5% biodiesel mixed in. This “So, it’s essentially Top Gear then.” percentage is due to increase further in the coming years. “Oh... fine.” I started racing at the age of 12, a late UK championship at Donington Park in April Outside of racing I enjoy listening to my start compared to most of my rivals, in which went really well – two pole positions favourite hip hop music and maintaining After studying Engineering at Cambridge, I worked for two years karting at a local level. I finished fifth and a podium finish, which I was really my fitness levels, especially via cycling. My Every time I meet someone new we always go through the same with an operational consultancy, improving the efficiency of all in the Hoddesdon Kart Club Winter pleased with. I am looking forward to the goal in life is to become a multiple Formula set of questions: What’s your name? Where abouts do you live? Championship in my first year of racing. rest of the year! One World Champion. kinds of factories and processes. One of my goals was always to And... what do you do for a living? The first two are really easy start my own business, and following some research, formed a to answer, the third is regularly met with the above confusion Following on from this initial success I company with two colleagues from work. because motoring journalism isn’t very ... normal, is it? competed in the British Championships in both 2009 and 2010 in the most What the job actually entails varies from place to place – news, Organic Drive was created in 2010, with the sole purpose of prestigious under 17 karting category in reviews, features, etc are all staples of automotive journalism. Britain. These were learning years but producing the most renewable biodiesel you can get. Our plant Or... you can do something a little different. vast improvements were made, with me can produce about 5 million litres per year. On top of road winning one race in my second year and I currently work for CBS Interactive preparing to launch a new site, transport, we also supply renewable heating oil for greenhouses, taking four podiums. and CHP plants. XCAR. It’s all about car culture, celebrating all things automotive and having lots and lots of fun. In the last twelve months, for In 2011 I took the big step up to European example, I’ve taken a Ferrari 458 to Wales, driven a land speed Our fuel is made from used cooking oil – approximately 9000 competition in the world’s leading senior record car (a Skoda, of all things), been taught to powerslide a class. This was a great year with me restaurants feed our plant in Birmingham via third-party rally car, tackled the Nurburgring without expiring in a fireball and taking a podium in only my second race collectors, and this is converted chemically into biodiesel. discovered that you can doughnut a new Range Rover (so long as in a European competition, taking a it has 5.0-litre Supercharged V8 and you’re on sand). clean sweep of fastest laps and poles in Although technically more difficult to process, as all our raw the Italian Championships, a pole in the Automotive journalism, no matter how it may seem, isn’t all material has already been used for food use, we do not contribute WSK Euro Series and to cap the year off I about mucking about in cars. Currently the industry is undergoing finished ranked as fourth in the European to rising food prices, and the oil itself would decompose to a massive shift. As a game which is traditionally slow to catch up Championship – the same position a CO2 anyway if thrown away. Why not use the energy to replace with modern trends (it’s been done a ‘certain way’ for decades), certain Sebastian Vettel took at the same petrochemical fuels? We directly supply a number of logistics technology and the web are forcing change. Watching and stage of his career. firms, and also sell our fuel for blending and sale in fuel stations. helping the industry grow is an immense privilege and one I value greatly. My success in 2011 led to me being A key advantage of biodiesel is that it requires no modifications offered a drive by the world’s leading kart As jobs go, it’s possibly one of the best. Yes, I spend a lot of time manufacturer, Tonykart. This turned out to the engine to be used. In fact, you can run almost all post on the road getting to and from locations. Yes, people think that to be a difficult year for the team due to 1996 diesel cars on any blend up to 100% biodiesel, although I’m trying to be Jeremy Clarkson (I’m not – he’s really tall and I’m technical problems, but there were still sometimes it is not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. a shortarse). No, it’s not all supercars. Yes, it’s incredibly fun. Most high points in the relationship as I took importantly, though, it’s something I love. And you can’t say fairer several fastest laps throughout the year. With the price of oil only set to move in one direction in the than that. 2013 is my biggest step forward since I medium and long term, and legislation driving up its use, it’s began, as I have started racing cars. I had a fuel that you will see more and more in the future. youtube.com/xcarfilms my maiden outing in the Formula Renault

Page 11 Page 12 Jennings. He screened the short film Words testament to a highly-gifted polymath – PAST EVENTS for Battle (1941) and told his audience intellectual, painter, poet, as well as CONTINUITY THE WATCHWORD that many considered Jennings a filmic film-maker – whose name is once again equivalent of a Poet Laureate. being widely spoken. Present day students as staffing changes herald new era had a chance to familiarise themselves GIFTED PERSEAN Thirty-three Old Perseans and other guests with his films in the week running up to gathered for the Founder’s Day lunch Founder’s Day when they were screened OF THE 1920s and lecture. The School was particularly each lunchtime in the School hall. THE HEAD OF THE PREP MAŠA TAKES OVER delighted to welcome Jennings’ daughter, Reaches into the Following the lecture we heard from Tom Marie-Louise, who, with Charles Madge, has is to retire in August 2014 As Development Director edited Pandæmonium and written a preface Rosenthal: “Like many other great books, 21st Century The Head of the Prep School She writes: for a new edition. It is hoped the Folio Pandæmonium was rejected by several publishers before it reached the publishing is to retire in August 2014. I am delighted to join The Who could forget London 2012’s brilliant Society will print it in due course. Gareth Jones has decided house André Deutsch Ltd, whose head was Perse School as the new answer to the regimented masses of the to step down from the Development Director. It is Humphrey Jennings was only 43 years old Tom Rosenthal who, like its author, was Games’ opening ceremony? But Headship of The Perse Prep an honour to have been when he died in an accident. His record an OP and a Pembroke man. He read it how many knew it was an anthology put School with effect from the given an opportunity to serve at the School and in his working life is overnight, was bowled over and agreed to together by an Old Persean that inspired end of the academic year such an excellent institution. publish it the next day.” Danny Boyle’s stirring recreation of the 2013–14, Perse Head Ed Industrial Revolution? Elliott has announced. I came to Cambridge 15 years ago to pursue postgraduate Boyle has acknowledged that Gareth joined The Perse Prep degrees in archaeology. The Pandæmonium, the work of Humphrey GOOD DAY in 2006 with the task of new and exciting world of Jennings OP, informed his magnificent leading the School through opportunities was opened to recreation of the transformation of Mr Chips its move to full co-education me, to a great extent due to Britain from pastoral realm to industrial There has been a welcome – if a little slow and expansion. This he has the generosity of others. This powerhouse. – take up of our offer to OPs to join us for done with great success and he will leave a larger, fully co-ed school first-hand experience eventually drove me into this immensely with much improved facilities. Gareth’s leadership has transformed rewarding profession. It seems Jennings’ name may soon become lunch on one of our regular Fish and Chip The Perse Prep and he leaves with our very best wishes for the more widely known. He is best remembered Fridays. These very informal events allow future. Over the coming months and years I very much look forward us to sit down to the good old fashioned as a founder of the Mass Observation to meeting many of you and working with you and the School school favourite with as many OPs and movement and maker of extraordinarily Whilst Gareth will remain Head until August 2014, the search for leadership in strengthening, what the Head calls “talent powerful documentary films at the time of their partners as wish to join us. Afterwards his successor will begin in April to allow time to find a similarly maximisation”. You have all benefited from excellent teaching and the Second World War. Among film makers there is the opportunity to take a brief tour high calibre and passionate educator who will build on Gareth’s exceptional facilities at The Perse, much of it made possible through he is held in the highest regard. of the School and grounds. To help the achievements and ensure that the School continues to thrive. the generosity of Old Perseans and friends. catering team we would ask those wishing His biographer, Kevin Jackson, came to The to come along to let us know a few days Perse to give the Founder’s Day lecture on in advance. Summer term’s Fish and Chip Fridays will be on 24 May and 21 June. MUSEUM BEQUEST & DONATIONS PIP at the Please note, other menu choices will HOLOCAUST DAY HONOURS be available. to medical charities warmly welcomed finishing post

The Memory of Righteous Gentiles the Met is unique in its ability to exhibit over 5,000 years of art history, we have “You never know what you can do until you Vashem Martyrs and Heroes Remembrance as diverse as their passion for opera – it was TYCOON’S long lacked this critical dimension in the refuse to take no for an answer” - so wrote Authority in and by the British to give them their reason for frequent travel story of modernism. Now, Cubism will Ida Cook, who with her sister, Louise, saved government, were the great aunts of OP to and from German cities – to Ida’s success BEQUEST LAYS 29 Jews from almost certain death in 1930s Tim Cook (2004), who returned to the and prolificity as a romantic novelist. Her be represented with some of its greatest Nazi . School to recount their story for Holocaust earnings helped fund the rescues. FOUNDATION masterpieces, demonstrating both its role as Memorial Day. the groundbreaking movement of the 20th The sisters, who were later honoured as “We knew we were the last, often the For Modern Art century and the foundation for an artistic Righteous Among the Nations by the Yad The Cook sisters’ triumph rested on matters only hope, of people in danger,” wrote dialogue that continues today. This is an Ida. The sisters bore a heavy emotional Research Centre extraordinary gift to our Museum and our burden, but worked on tirelessly. Unable City,” said Dr Campbell. to fund refugees alone they set cogs in OP Thomas Campbell (1980) might well motion to gather small donated sums be said to be “made up” with a pledged together until enough was found to satisfy donation of 78 works by Pablo Picasso, the authorities. Louise learned German to Georges Braque, Juan Gris, and Fernand Perse teacher of PE and Girls Games Pip better communicate with those hoping Léger, to New York’s Metropolitan Museum Mitchell joined forces with her brother to come, and together the sisters bravely of Art, of which he is Director and CEO. Guy to run 150 miles in five days. This smuggled out jewels and furs for their The stunning bequest of one of the world’s magnificent marathon has so far netted refugees under the very noses of customs foremost collections of Cubism comes around £13,000 for Cardiac Risk in the officials. courtesy of Leonard A. Lauder, billionaire Young, Prostate Cancer Charity and son of make-up tycoon Estée Lauder and Cotswold Care Hospice. One of Pip’s Tim, who is pictured with Senior Tutor Bruce chairman emeritus of a family of knees complained it was all too much but Kinsey and Head of History Adrian Roberts, cosmetics brands. her overall verdict was “Best and worst illustrated his moving talk with evocative week of our lives!” photographs he had taken on a visit to “Leonard’s gift is truly transformational OP Thomas Campbell (1980) Auschwitz-Birkenau. for the Metropolitan Museum. Although www.justgiving.com/teams/150miles Page 13 Page 14 new saxophone, and I need some lessons’. know me better as David Jones’. He said, And he said [in a rough working-class ‘I don’t know you, son’. I said, ‘See if you Ronnie Ross accent], ‘I don’t give lessons. I’m a remember this: ‘Hello, I’m David Jones and jazz player’. I said, ‘But I really want to my dad’s helped me buy a saxophone …’ ‘ You wait many years for a prodigious jazz saxophonist to come learn’. He said, ‘Well, what are you doing And Ronnie goes, ‘My God!!’ (laughs).” on the scene and what do you know - two come along at once! Saturday morning?’ ‘Nothing’. ‘If you can get yourself over here, I’ll look at you’. “That was so great that I was able to give And he taught me for about three or four him a gig. He had absolutely no idea that Guards. Having started out on the clarinet, he was away he’d bring it back for me and It is generally agreed that Old Persean months on Saturday mornings. I’d get the I had been that little kid who had been he moved to the sax, first the tenor and say ‘Have a few glasses and let me know Albert “Ronnie” Ross gave American bus to his house. over to his house. He’s no longer with us, then the baritone. At 21 he married student what it tastes like – I don’t drink anymore.’” Gerald “Gerry” Mulligan a run for his unfortunately, but he did talk about it in a nurse Anne Piercy. The couple went on to money as the world’s leading exponent of “Many, many years later, I did the couple of interviews in Britain. He said to have three children; sons Peter and Andrew Tony Fisher, who has taken over Humphrey the baritone sax. album Transformer, and we decided that it me, ‘You should’ve kept at it, you would’ve both became professional musicians, as Lyttleton’s spec for a monthly gig at Ronnie would be very cool to have a baritone sax been all right’.” Both men were sons of engineers. Both had drummer/composer and guitarist/composer Scott’s, said, “I worked with Ronnie Ross on on it. So I phoned Ronnie up, booked him their schooling disrupted as their families respectively, while daughter Karen followed very many occasions and many situations for the session, and he came along and Ronnie’s son Peter pointed out that moved with the fathers’ careers. Both her mother into nursing. in the heyday of the music business… played this fantastic solo at the end of Walk Bowie got the location wrong; it was not finished school early because they were You’d go into work in recording studios or on the Wild Side. Then at the end I went Abingdon, but Orpington in Kent, not far already establishing themselves on the jazz Ronnie’s brilliance as a player meant he was television stations and everyday would be out, and at the time I was Ziggy Stardust— from Beckenham where Bowie lived. He scene. Then, having risen to the top of the constantly in demand as a session musician, a different thing. Ronnie was the best; the red hair, no eyebrows, boots sky high, the went on “It makes me laugh when Bowie game, the two crossed mid-Atlantic taking each day taking him to a different studio best baritone sax around. He was absolutely whole thing—and I said, ‘Hello, how have refers to my dad’s accent as rough working their individual sound to the other’s home or set. He played on landmark television the very best.” you been?’ He said, ‘Uh, all right, you’re class. He was anything but – a good audience as tight Musicians Union rules productions including The Beiderbeck that Ziggy Stardust, aren’t ya?’ I said, ‘You story though!” demanded one player out for every one Tapes and Pennies from Heaven and his Although Ronnie’s name appears on player in; Ronnie and Gerry were in the discography is a musical Who’s Who of the countless albums in his own right or as a vanguard of the arrangement in the late decades running up to Ronnie’s early death session musician the piece for which he is every fortnight. Perse drama productions 1950s. in 1991. best known is one that was not really his are performed in front of audiences from music of choice. It is the solo at the end of THE PERSE – 400th Anniversary Cambridge to the Edinburgh Fringe. Ronnie was born in in 1933 and Bill Wrathall, who is still plying his craft Lou Reed’s Walk on the Wild Side, produced attended St Paul’s School in Darjeeling as in the workshop of Whites Music Shop by . Having moved from Free School Lane to must develop core skills and habits from A great deal has been achieved with our a boarder before coming to The Perse in in Ealing, was the man Ronnie trusted to Gonville Place in 1890, and then onwards a young age, and few places equip them current facilities, but we now feel the 1947. Early plans to become an architect service his saxophones and mouthpieces. In conversation with music journalist Bill to its current Hills Road location in 1960, a better than The Perse. By offering means- time is right to create a larger, dedicated were shelved as music and playing in bands The two men became friends. Said Bill, “To DeMain, Bowie explained how he first came visitor could be forgiven for missing the fact tested bursaries, we aim to maintain the performing arts space. This would not only took over. me, he always reminded me of the perfect to approach Ronnie:“I got a saxophone that The Perse is Cambridge’s oldest school. School’s wide social mix by helping children benefit pupils by providing them with an gentleman; always smart and pleasant. If he and thought, ‘Somebody should teach Fellow OP Colin Stuart (1947), who is still Yet in the academic year 2015-16, The Perse from all financial backgrounds learn in an ideal performance space, but also enable us saw an unusual bottle of whisky while me’. So I went through very early copies of working as a professional jazz trumpeter, will celebrate the 400th anniversary of its environment where it is cool to succeed and to inspire them by hosting visiting theatre the Melody Maker and found that one of played with Ronnie in the Chic Aplin band, foundation, having been established by the achieve their full potential. productions, lectures and masters classes. the best saxophone players around at the winners of the Melody Maker Dance Band legacy of Dr Perse in 1615. time was Ronnie Ross. So I looked him up Championship, Cambridge, in 1950. Donors to the 400 Campaign will be able Further details about the 400 Campaign in the phone book and found he lived in Like any successful institution approaching to choose whether their gifts are directed will be available in the coming months. Abingdon. He was the best baritone player He told us: “When I returned from military a major birthday, The Perse is now turning towards current bursary needs, where they If you would like to find out more, or in the jazz scene in Britain. service in Singapore and Malaya in 1954, its attention to how it will mark this can have an immediate effect (which is itself wish to help by making a pledge to the Ronnie was already making a name for milestone. Details of the 400th anniversary long-lasting), or towards a long-term growth campaign, please visit “I was like nine or 10 years old, and I himself in jazz circles, at that time playing celebrations will appear in a future edition fund. To be effective and sustainable, www.perse.co.uk/400-campaign phoned him up and said, ‘Hello, my name is baritone sax with the Sextet. of this magazine, and there will be plenty of our bursary scheme needs both types of or contact us at, David Jones, and my dad’s helped me buy a Ronnie eventually joined the Johnny opportunity for Old Perseans to be involved. funding. With Old Perseans’ help, we aim [email protected] Dankworth Orchestra as well as being first to ensure that a Perse education remains call on many commercial sessions, which As well as offering a chance to celebrate open to bright young minds no matter what led in due course to him playing in Frank And he said [in a rough how far the School has come over the past their family circumstances. Sinatra’s European orchestra for several four centuries, the anniversary will also years. working-class accent], be an opportunity to look ahead. To that Performing Arts Centre ‘I don’t give lessons. end, The Perse will shortly be launching The Perse has long pioneered the use of “On many occasions he played and its most ambitious fundraising initiative to drama to bring the teaching of English to recorded in the United States as I’m a jazz player’. I said, date – the 400 Campaign – inviting Old life and to raise pupils’ confidence in public a featured soloist alongside Perseans, parents and friends to support performance. The ‘Mummery’ system has American musicians, ‘But I really want to the next stage of the School’s development. been a formative part of the education of which included The Campaign aims to raise £4 million to generations of OPs, many of whom attribute the Modern learn’. He said, ‘Well, what fund means-tested Entrance and Hardship their later successes to this method of Jazz Quartet. His are you doing Saturday Bursary places, and £2 million towards the learning. Today, the School has an ever- reputation as an construction of a dedicated performing arts expanding programme of performing arts, international star player was morning?’ ‘Nothing’. ‘If centre. staging numerous teacher- and pupil-led well established.” productions every year as well as offering you can get yourself over Entrance and Hardship Bursaries a packed calendar of concerts for the Ronnie had done his own The Perse believes that real social mobility School’s many musicians. The School has National Service as a here, I’ll look at you’. starts at school. Tomorrow’s engineers, 60 different chamber and band ensembles. Bandsman in the Grenadier – David Bowie doctors, teachers and business leaders 1,000 music lessons are held for Perse pupils Page 15 Page 16 First in Natural Sciences and completed He is survived by three sons and Michael was a Cambridge man through Kyle Alisdair Holland with his twin brother and a friend. Obituaries a PhD in the Zoology Department. From four grandchildren. and through. Born at Newnham on April 7 He also visited an elder brother working Cambridge he went as a lecturer to 1923, he went to the Perse Prep and Senior Bramwell for aid agencies in Botswana. Partly as a schools where portents for the future were result of these travels, he was proactively Recently deceased: Aberdeen, where he met and married his Hodder-Hastorf (2009) wife Margaret (Meg) Johnson in 1955. He laid bare as he was often only just in time involved in a series of initiatives to assist Dan Michael for classes but excelled at athletics and disadvantaged people across the globe. George Ivor Clarke (1950) moved to Birmingham University and then boxing and loved woodwork. on 23rd January 2013, aged 78 years in 1967 he was appointed Professor in the Hayward (1941) Division of Biological Sciences, Institute Inspired by the work of Médecins Sans Raymond George Levitt (1949) of Environmental and Biological Sciences He was commissioned into the RAF in March Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), in on 22nd October 2012, aged 82 years at the new university of Lancaster. He 1942 and sent to Canada to become a pilot, 2008 he raised substantial funds for this crossing the U-boat infested Atlantic in the organization. His fund-raising included Johnathan Paul Everitt (1963) was instrumental in building an excellent Queen Elizabeth. He remained there as a house to house solicitation and an on 14th January 2013, aged 60 years department and he also took great pleasure in his home - a 400 year old pilot instructor, flying Hurricanes, Spitfires organized group bike ride, leading to a Louis John Drake (1962) farmhouse in the village of Caton, Lancs. and Mosquitos. profile being written about Kyle in MSF on 3rd September 2012, aged 69 years advertising and public relations as well as Professor Potts’ scientific studies focused After the war, Michael went up to Corpus in local newspapers. He also worked for Peter Harald Agrell (1958) on how all living things, from single cell Christi to read Estate Management but OXFAM in Cambridge, England. on January 27th 2013, aged 72 years creatures to people, control their internal decided to give up the degree course after Gerald Arthur Francis Hodge (1953) environments. His 1994 book, “The a year. He returned to flying, working for Through 2010 Kyle had been cared for in on April 11th 2013, aged 78 years Osmotic and Ionic Regulation in Animals” Marshall’s in Cambridge as a pilot, followed the Alta Bates Herrick Hospital, Berkeley and with Gwyneth Parry was recognised 40 by a period as an air traffic controller in in Momentum for Mental Health, Palo Alto. Richard Jason Graham Hobson (1943) years later as the ‘classic review’ of a basic Libya and a spell in the antiques business He died on the train tracks in Palo Alto on on August 29th 2012, aged 87 years set of living processes. In 1997 Professor where he developed his lasting love of 6 January 2011. Kyle will be remembered This obituary was first published Potts was honoured by his fellow scientists Eulogy given by Bruce Kinsey, Senior antique furniture. by all that knew him as a gentle, kind and in the San Francisco Chronicle on with a special volume, “Ionic Regulation Tutor at The Perse School. deeply thoughtful person with a sweet, Professor William in Animals: A Tribute to Professor W. T. W. Michael was a very good rugby player, January 10, 2011 shining smile directed by a sense of humour Potts”. I first met Michael in 1969, the year man playing for Eastern Counties on the wing, and fun. He cared very much for those Taylor Windle Potts Kyle Alisdair Bramwell Hodder-Hastorf was walked on the moon, which is appropriate and a useful tennis player and cricketer, around him and gave much to them. He Bill was a Renaissance man, with an born in Cambridge, England, the twin of (1946) because as I was growing up, I always felt though he was always dismissive of his led by example in his tireless questioning encyclopaedic knowledge of seemingly Nicholas and the child of a British father (Ian that if Michael put his mind to it, he could cricketing ability, as it did not live up to that of what so many take for granted and by everything. He never really took to the Hodder) and American mother (Christine have walked on the moon, too. of his great uncle, Tom Hayward who played his commitment to help others. He was a internet, but his friends joked he didn’t cricket for England with Jack Hobbs. Hastorf) on 18 November, 1991. He has gentle and loving soul, increasingly tortured need to as he was a walking Wikipedia. two additional brothers Christophe and Indeed for many years my brother Clive through his life by the illness that afflicted Gregoire. and I thought Michael was James Bond! He He was also an excellent ballroom dancer him. He will be greatly missed by his family, Bill delighted in the geology, Saxon looked like 007 and seemed to be able to and had the certificates to prove it. He friends and all those who he touched. churches, the spoken word of place He attended schools in Cambridge (St do anything, from magic tricks, to solving loved sailing and would always accept an names, and the natural world of bees Colette’s, King’s College and The Perse) but puzzles, to mending the house electrics. invitation to go out on a boat. Voyages Kyle’s memorial service was held on 12 and peacocks, and baby goslings. With up the east coast of England or across the mainly lived and went to schools in Berkeley, January 2011 at All Souls Episcopal Church his brother D. M. Potts he wrote a widely California where he attended the Academy, Life throws up many characters but I’ve North Sea and several amazing holidays with at Spruce and Cedar in Berkeley, California. read history, “Queen Victoria’s Gene: Black Pine Circle and Berkeley High schools. always felt in books and films and in Sheila cruising off the west coast of Canada Haemophilia and the Royal Family” (1995). He performed exceedingly well in all these history that there are only so many. For me, were all very happy memories for Michael. He also followed highly specialized schools and managed to adapt as he moved Michael was always the quiet, strong man. He loved gardening, especially tending to subjects in the history of science (Thomas between them, despite being amongst the True as the day is long, steadfast, modest, roses and would grow his own by budding A Legacy Penny the first English Entomologist), on youngest in his class in the USA system. courteous and kind. He was the unassuming new stock. Professor Malcolm Potts (1952) Romanesque architecture (The character who steps forward only when of Learning submitted the following obituary Architectural Background of the Ely In addition to his academic achievements, really needed and when others begin to Michael will be remembered as the kind- for his brother. Octagon), climate changes in Antarctica Kyle always played a range of sports, The Perse has always relied upon the buckle. hearted Cambridge gentleman we all knew and asking previously unasked questions and loved and were proud to have called especially soccer which he played generosity of OPs to help the school flourish. Bill Potts was born in Sunderland on 10 July, – why is it possible to see the old moon in continuously at regional level in California Leaving a legacy is one of the most powerful Michael married my auntie Sheila Pinnington our friend, and for his long and happy life 1928. His parents moved to Cambridge in the new moon’s arms? He was a pioneer from 3rd to 12th grade. He was in teams ways you can support the School and ensure on August 16, 1969. Sheila and Michael with Sheila. 1939, where Bill attended The Perse School. correlating blood groups with the spread that won regional trophies. He was an that those from less fortunate backgrounds both looked wonderful on that day and had of languages and until a few weeks before avid and loyal supporter of Liverpool FC in can benefit from a Perse education. a long and happy marriage together. I shall His excellent education not only in science his death he was working two hours every England. In music he played the violin up remember Michael as the broad-shouldered, The Rev John Geoffrey and mathematics, but also in grammar day (after he completed his daily Sudoku through 9th grade and more recently he Furthermore, changes to Inheritance Tax good-looking man who carved the turkey at and the lucid use of English, became the puzzle) on a book on the origins of the Elliot Stone (1938) played the guitar. For several years he took (IHT) came into effect in April 2012, such Christmas and who always seemed happiest foundation of scientific achievements and English language. ice-skating and tap dancing classes out of that by leaving 10% or more of your estate on the edges of the gathering rather than of his voluminous writings later in life. As Mr Robert Stone, of Worcester, writes: I’d school in classes with adults. He enjoyed to charity, the IHT payable on your net in the rowdy middle but who always had a a child, Bill had an infection of his knee Bill was a member of the Lancaster like to report the death of an Old Persean - skiing very much. estate (above the tax threshold of £325,000) kind and thoughtful word or comment to and while he was extremely energetic and Conservative Club and he opposed British my father, the Rev J.G.E. (Geoffrey) Stone, reduces from 40% to 36%. This enables make. explored Cambridgeshire on a specially membership of the European Union. He who left in 1938 to study at Christ’s As both British and American and as the you to support the causes you care about modified bicycle, he never played games had more than his fair share of illness College Cambridge, and later at Ridley Hall. son of two archaeologists who worked in whilst also reducing your tax liabilities. Michael was most happy in his workshop and he was not called up for National starting with his infected knee, a twice England, Turkey, Peru, Bolivia, and Italy he “making and doing things” as Sheila would Service. broken femur, and recovery from He died, aged 92, on 13 January 2013. had enormous opportunities to travel and If you would like more information, please say, where he had every conceivable tool, tuberculosis and leukaemia. He died on He was member of the athletics club and experience other cultures in some depth. visit www.perse.co.uk/legacies or where he squirrelled away everything and In 1945 he won an Exhibition to St March 13, 2012 of pneumonia following also played cricket (opening batting and He travelled widely throughout Europe and contact the Development Director in anything until it was needed; the UK’s Catharine’s College where he received a surgery for a hiatus hernia at age 83. slow-left-arm) for the 1st XI. recently visited England, Hungary, Italy and confidence on 01223 403 835. original recycler! Page 17 Page 18