FORMERLY THE OLD BLUES NEWS

ISSUE 1 SPRING 2019 STEWART PARVIN Regarded as one of fashion’s best kept secrets

MAKING A BIG IMPRESSION Josh Berry explains his journey from Reading Blue Coat to Dead Ringers

BRASS FOR AFRICA: HITTING ALL THE RIGHT NOTES Members of the Reading Blue Coat community on this exceptional charity 10 6

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A MESSAGE FROM THE HEADMASTER

A warm welcome to the first edition of1646 . This publication is a new one for the School and just one way in which we are trying to connect with our Old Blues community.

We are in the fortunate position at Reading prominent role in the School. It is always being a Performing Arts Centre, which will Blue Coat of having a global network of a joy for me to meet Old Blues when they offer a new home for Music and Drama. almost 7,000 alumni, and one of my key return to Holme Park and share memories, This impressive space will also provide a aims as Headmaster has been to start and I hope to welcome many more of you concert and theatre venue for the local a programme of re-engagement with back to the School in the near future. community, and the plans for this are being Old Blues. The Old Blues Association finalised as I write. continues to run successfully and arranges an annual Old Blues Dinner, along with You may also notice that our crest has supporting other events, like the annual been updated thanks to some dedicated Fireworks Display. In the first few years work from our archivist, Peter van Went. of my headship the School has set up Peter and I visited the College of Arms a Development Office, with Victoria towards the end of last year to collect the Fangen-Hall leading as our Director of first official Coat of Arms in the history of Development, and Sarah Pyper as our the School. I discovered upon my arrival a Community Relations Co-ordinator. couple of years ago that we did not have Victoria and Sarah are working closely a formal Coat of Arms, but this has now with the Reading Old Blues Association, been rectified. As part of this you will supporting them with what has worked notice we are using the shield element well, and they are also working ambitiously for various publications and I’m sure you’ll to see what more we can do. In the If you haven’t visited us recently, I am agree, it looks very smart. coming terms you will see a programme of sure you will be delighted to hear that events and communications ranging from the School continues to flourish. At the Do enjoy the contents of this magazine, and reunions to business interest groups and moment we have almost 760 pupils on I am grateful to my Development Office for they, in turn, will be able to provide advice, roll, and this year we had a record number pulling it together. I hope to see many of mentoring and job opportunities to current of applications with over 450 pupils you at the School in the near future. students. The Old Blues are an inclusive applying to join the School; more than social and professional network and it three applicants per place. We continue to Jesse Elzinga is wonderful that they will play a more upgrade our facilities; the next big project Headmaster 20 ISSUE 1 SPRING 2019

4 Round-up

6 Royal Blue

10 Making a Big Impression

14 12 Rhythm and Old Blues

14 Brass for Africa: Hitting all the Right Notes

18 Interview with an Old Blue: Peter Bertram

20 Magazines are changing – let’s embrace it

22 News of Old Blues

25 A stroll around the School with…Kate Toogood

18 26 Line-up

28 Keeping you posted A MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR A MESSAGE FROM YOUR PRESIDENT

Welcome to 1646, the renamed As I take on the role of Old Blues News. President for the Reading

As you can see, the Old Blues magazine has had a bit of Old Blues Association, revamp and we are delighted with the new look and hope you I find myself reflecting on are too! The magazine is named after our Foundation year of 1646, and you will notice that we are taking a slightly more what Reading Blue Coat