BEDALES ASSOCIATION & OLD BEDALIAN NEWSLETTER 2019

The Lavenham Press, Water Street, Lavenham, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 9RN

CONTENTS

WELCOME 2 HEAD’S REFLECTIONS ON 2018 3 OB EVENTS – REVIEW OF 2018 4 STONER CRICKET CLUB 9 UPCOMING REUNIONS 11 A YEAR AT BEDALES 12 GLOBAL AWARENESS 16 PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE FOR BEDALIANS 17 THE CHANGING FACE OF BEDALES 18 DUNHURST, A REMINISCENCE 20 THE GIMSONS 22 LUPTON HALL MEMORIES 23 JOHN BADLEY FOUNDATION 25 BEDALES GRANTS TRUST FUND 28 OB PROFILES 29 THE BEDALES CHAIR 34 ANDALUSIAN ART RETREATS 36 2018 IN THE ARCHIVES 39 STAFF PROFILES 41 SHOWTIME CHALLENGE 46 MUSICAL MEMOIRS 46 NEWS IN BRIEF 47 OBITUARIES 51 John Batstone 51 George Bird 52 David Boswell 53 Leo Singto Gauvain 54 Katy Krabel (née Allcard) 55 Dr Hilary Mitchell (née Haden, formerly Elphick) 56 John Rogers 57 John Redcliffe Salaman 58 Geoffrey Spencer 58 Hazel Straker 59 Jean Symons (née Layton) 60 Jean Trubshawe (née Wood) 61 Sarah Compton van Niekerk (née Hall) 62 David Redford Warwick 63 Ruth Whiting 64 BIRTHS, ENGAGEMENTS, MARRIAGES & DEATHS 65 UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS 2018 66

Please note we have included dates where possible of when staff worked at the school. If dates are omitted it is because they have been mentioned in an earlier section of the newsletter or because we do not have the exact dates they started or left the school. If you would be able to help us complete any missing dates, please contact a member of the Alumni Liaison Team.

Contents • 1 WELCOME

elcome to the Bedales WAssociation and Old Bedalian Newsletter 2019. It has been an eventful year. The refurbished Lupton Hall was the venue for Three Schools’ Concert, the John Badley Fellowship Dinner, the JHB Society lunch and four Memorials for former staff: John Batstone, Kay Bennett, Bruce Moore and Ruth Whiting. The long awaited refurbishment has been very effective; the benches are now graced with cushions but otherwise it is the versatile much loved space it The Newsletter Editorial Board and took place over fi ve days in June and used to be. the Steering Group would welcome was marked by some very special Another successful event for new members if any of you would participants. Read more on page 14 Members working in media related like to join in reporting, planning and of this Newsletter. sectors was held in Topolski Bar which hosting Association events. Thanks to all of you who have about 80 of you attended. We hope to The usual 10, 25 and 40 year participated in and supported the offer another event in 2019 for those reunions were held over the Parents’ activities of the Association and in Business and Professional Services Day weekend. A 50 Year Reunion Lunch especially to the External Relations related careers. was held on Badley Day (formerly Offi ce for making it all happen. We said The Steering Group met twice the ‘Badley Weekend’) in September farewell to Keith Budge after 17 years during the year, in and and in June Mark Hanson (1977-84) as Head. We are immensely grateful at Bedales. The AGM in July was arranged a gathering for the years for his support of the Association; he again held at the 1901 Arts Club in 84/5. Other events included the ‘Badley rarely missed a meeting and never London, for which over 50 members Behaved’ Dog Show, Stoner Cricket dodged a diffi cult question. We very booked tickets. It was unfortunately, week, the Stansted Players production, much look forward to working with the overshadowed by the unexpected OB careers evening for 6.2s, the OB new Bedales Head, Magnus Bashaarat. endurance of the football team Football Event, the Great South Run It seems no time at all since we said a in the World Cup; the match against and the Annual Donor Reception. temporary goodbye to Leana Seriau Croatia that same evening signifi cantly Many of these events provide a very for her fi rst maternity leave and we diminished attendance at the AGM. successful fundraising platform for the wish her all the best for her second Not even the prosecco and canapés John Badley Foundation in addition which started in February. could hold the attention of those who to providing reunion and other social did attend, and we fi nished promptly opportunities for members of the Sylvia Kahn-Freund (1964-70) so everyone could watch the nail-biting Association. The walk from Lindfi eld to Chair of the Bedales Association fi nal 20 minutes of the game. Steep, to mark the school’s 125th year, Steering Group

CONTACT THE Newsletter Editorial Committee ALUMNI LIAISON Robert Booth (1958-63) • Paul Cormack (1940-47) • Matthew Rice (1975-80) TEAM The editorial committee is looking for additional members. Should you wish to join, Alex Beckmann please contact Alex Beckmann. Alumni Liaison Manager (Maternity cover) E: [email protected] T: 01730 711 572 STAY CONNECTED to your Old Bedalian community Philip Parsons Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Alumni Offi cer( Volunteer) Like us: Follow us: @bedalesschool Join us: Bedales Alumni E: [email protected] Instagram OB Bulletins T: 01993 811 294 Follow us: @bedalesschool Subscribe: [email protected]

2 • Welcome HEAD’S REFLECTIONS ON 2018

t might be assumed that Henry tradition of Bedales whilst maintaining INewbolt’s dangerously simplistic poem the rigorous standards we expect Vitai Lampada, a powerful articulation of of our students.” In January I was those High Victorian values of violence fortunate to attend a talk given to and sacrifice, would contain little that the History Society by is relevant to the welcome pages of an Ann Donnelly, whose grandfather was Old Bedalian magazine. It’s a long way, Oswald Powell, or ‘Osbos’ as he was both metaphorically and geographically, called, to Badley’s ‘The Chief’. I’ve not from the cricket pitches of Clifton asked the teaching staff at Bedales College to the Outdoor Work barn at to call me ‘The Chief’ yet because Bedales. But the feeling of inheriting an it sounds rather hierarchical and educational legacy, “This they all with a undemocratic, and in Zadie Smith’s joyful mind/ Bear through life like a torch White Teeth calling someone a ‘chief’ in flame,/ And falling fling to the host is quite a sharp insult, but the torch of taught them how to pass exams. Her behind”, of bearing a torch lit by Badley life has been passed along the 125 year academic standards and the intellectual and Powell in 1893 and passed on golden thread of Bedales history, and ambition she fostered in the students through successive Heads at Bedales, is now lights my office. she taught should be an enduring very real. Newbolt’s poem was written One of my most moving and Bedales beacon, and should inspire our in 1892, so is almost the same age as insightful engagements this year was current academic staff to keep striving Bedales, and the educational values attending our former Head of History, for excellence in the classroom. that the Old Rugbeian, John Badley, and Ruth Whiting’s (staff 1963-2000), Every school has someone who acts Old Uppinghamian, Oswald Powell, memorial service in the Lupton Hall, as the guardian of the flame, usually brought to the foundation of Bedales, attended by a huge range of OBs, a long serving teacher or recently the antithesis of High Victorianism, are many of whom had been taught retired long-serving former teacher still central to the school’s character by Ruth, together with current and who can reach back into their own and ethos. former staff. I never met Ruth, but memory and tell you the precise A photograph of Badley hangs in her legacy and symbolic role within reason that jam roly-poly was dropped my office, deliberately placed behind the Bedales community were clear from the lunch menu in 1963 and the my desk so that he can look over my to me and Camilla as we listened to brouhaha that ensued. This kind of shoulder and scrutinise what I am the varied tributes. Ruth knew a great folk memory is what makes boarding writing to students, colleagues and deal of history, and a great deal too school communities so rich in history parents and check its authenticity. In about how to enthuse, inspire and and meaning for the students that pass last year’s edition of this magazine our challenge students. She also stood for through them. Alastair Langlands (staff Chairman of Governors, Matthew Rice rigour, exactness and hard work. Lazy 1973-2001), former Dunhurst Head (1975-80), welcomed me warmly and expression, slapdash English and loose and unofficial story archivist, has been gave me a clear mission, writing: application of fact were anathema our own Arts and Crafts version of “I believe Magnus will continue the to her. Ruth taught students history, Tiresias since Camilla and I moved to liberal, progressive and innovative and then when she needed to, she Bedales. Tiresias knew seven generations of Thebans, and Alastair has interpreted the Bedales past for us so that we can appreciate the history, events and importance of the Bedales community, past and present. So far, I’ve probably only met a very small percentage of the OB diaspora, but I look forward to setting that right in the coming year, and hope that you enjoy reading about your old school and contemporaries in this publication.

Magnus Bashaarat Head

Head’s Reflections on 2018 • 3 OB EVENTS – REVIEWS OF 2018

Sector Event – 8 February 2018

An enjoyable gathering took place at Topolski Bar, London, for OBs working in or studying Music, Theatre, Media, Marketing, Film, TV and Journalism and related fields. Around 80 OBs attended the event. This was the third in a series of social events which brings together Bedalians who share similar professions.

Visit from Delilah Montagu – Beyond Bedales Higher Education and Careers Fair – 9 June 2018 19 April 2018 Over 30 OBs from the classes of 2014-17 returned to Bedales to talk to and Delilah Montagu (2009-16) returned support current 6.1s at the Beyond Bedales Fair. Their experiences ranged from to Bedales to deliver an incredible studying at university, art or music colleges to internships, work placements and concert in the Bedales Theatre. Delilah gap years. The event is designed to give 6.1s a better idea of life after Bedales has made waves in the music industry and encourage discussions about university options and career paths. from London to LA working with artists such as Tom Odell, Diplo and David Guetta before signing a record deal with Columbia Records earlier this year.

4 • OB Events – Reviews of 2018 OB EVENTS – REVIEWS OF 2018

Classes of 1984/5 Gathering – 21 June 2018

A gathering organised by Mark Hanson (1977-84) took place for the classes of 1984 and 1985 at The Draft House in Paddington. Thanks to Charlie McVeigh (1979-83) for kindly providing the venue.

Visit from – 30 June 2018

Actor, author, One Show reporter, former MP and government whip, Gyles Brandreth (1961-66), returned to the Lupton Hall with his new one-man comedy show Break a Leg! – a celebration of all things theatrical, with a special Bedalian twist. An impressive £2,798 was raised for the John Badley Foundation.

10, 25 and 40 Year Reunions – 30 June 2018

The 10, 25 and 40 year reunions were well attended and the beautiful day saw the OBs in high spirits. The class of 1978 enjoyed lunch in the marquee on the Mem Pitch before the Bedales Association as a whole gathered for drinks outside the Dining Hall. The classes of 1993 and 2008 then held their respective barbeques. Special thanks go to Steuart Padwick (1973-78), Chloe Ogilvie (née Guthrie, 1988-91), Paul Isaac (1988-93), Minty Nicholson (2003-08) and Ollie Waterhouse (2005-08) for all their help with the reunion organisation.

OB Events – Reviews of 2018 • 5 OB EVENTS – REVIEWS OF 2018

AGM and Drinks Reception, 1901 Arts Club – Stansted Players – 29 August-1 September 2018 11 July 2018 The Stansted Players offered their 28th annual production The Bedales Association hosted an evening gathering for in the Bedales Theatre. A E W Mason’s Green Stockings was OBs, former staff and former parents at the 1901 Arts Club produced, as ever, by Alastair Langlands (staff 1973-2001). in Waterloo. The event consisted of the Association’s 35th The cast included Dom Ashton, Olivia Brett, Serena Brett, Annual General Meeting and a drinks reception. Alice Clark, Lucy Coates, Celeste MacIlwaine, Flo Robson, Jordan Theis, Nick Tier and Imogen Welch.

OB Football Event – 22 September 2018

Jack Deane, for his fourth and final year, organised a team of OBs to play against the Bedales 1st XI. This year’s match was very closely fought and ended in penalties – with Bedales winning for the second year running. A tea and presentation was held in the Dining Room.

50 Year Reunion Lunch – 22 September 2018

The class of 1968 returned to Bedales for their 50 year reunion, which coincided with the school’s Badley Celebration Weekend. A music recital and lunch were both held in the Lupton Hall, followed by guided tours with students and afternoon tea. Special thanks go to Alison Allwright (née Kerlogue, 1963-68) and Suno Wood (née Warrick, 1963-68) for all their help with the reunion organisation.

Class of 1998 Gathering – 22 September 2018

Over 30 OBs from the class of 1998 got together at a pub in Islington, London, to mark their 20 years since leaving Bedales. It is always great to hear of OBs organising their own gatherings. Many thanks to Guy Wilmot (1993-98) for sending us this photo.

6 • OB Events – Reviews of 2018 OB EVENTS – REVIEWS OF 2018

Great South Run – 21 October 2018 and Cecily’s Fund, which was set up in Waterton (2012-14). The team is very memory of Cecily Eastwood (1991-96). grateful for the support of The Country A team of 32 Bedales runners entered As well as pupils, staff and parents, two House Company and fundraising the Great South Run and raised over OBs took part in the race: George platform Pledgit, founded by Billy Jenks £4,500 for the John Badley Foundation Vaughan-Barratt (2018-12) and Albie (2002-07) and his father Philip.

Visit from Hugo Burge – 27 November 2018 visit was the craftsman who makes the chairs, Lawrence Neal, an expert Hugo Burge (1985-90) returned to Library, a subject about which he has in Arts & Crafts furniture, Mary Bedales to give a Civics talk about also produced a short film, The Chair Greensted, and the filmmakers. Read the rush seated chairs in the Bedales Maker. Accompanying him on his Hugo’s article on page 34.

Bristol Reunion – 29 November 2018

A group of eight OBs currently studying in Bristol and Cardiff met up at the Hotel du Vin in Bristol to share their post-Bedales experiences. Joining them for the enjoyable evening were Alumni Officer, Philip Parsons and University Liaison Officer, Sarah Oakley. They were delighted to get positive feedback from the OBs who have embarked on courses such as Classics, Economics and Politics, French, History of Art, Law, Medicine, Religion and Theology, and Pharmacy.

House of MinaLima – 29 November 2018

Following a very successful event in to an insightful talk and private tour of 2017, graphic designer Miraphora Mina the enchanting four-storey Victorian (1978-85) once again hosted a magical townhouse, which showcases graphic evening for OBs, students, parents art created by the duo for the Harry and staff at the House of MinaLima Potter and Fantastic Beasts films. The in Soho. Miraphora and her business evening raised funds for the John partner Eduardo Lima treated guests Badley Foundation.

OB Events – Reviews of 2018 • 7 OB EVENTS – REVIEWS OF 2018 Photographer Jack Offord. Jack Photographer

Parents’ Day 2018 Cricket Report: Bedales v Stoner saying it was the best catch in his 45 years of cricket. Amazing bowling ’m sure that even those of you who The Bedales innings did not begin for that long and never getting a catch Iweren’t at Parents’ Day will know well for them, with Joe Mabe (2003-08) before. Bedales’ score was approaching that it was hot and sunny – as hot and and Paul making inroads into the batting, ours, with the rate remaining very sunny as I can remember! The pitch reducing them to 20 something for four. gettable and wickets continuing to fall, looked good for some runs, with a This brought to the crease a gentleman except for Block 3 Hugo Napier-Munn, quick outfield. wearing a ‘Queensland Cricket’ shirt, who scored an excellent 55 not out Stoner elected to bat first, with Paul James Walton, who we established to steer Bedales home (though I Bradley (2002-07) and Hugo Boatright was the partner of a member of staff. can’t help feeling that we should have (2003-08) opening the batting. It must He proceeded to drive our bowlers caught him at some stage, somewhere). be said that Hugo looked in distinctly around the park until he retired on 50. Catches win… better nick than Paul and raced off to However, he was dropped by Arran So we lost for the first time in quite 32 before being adjudged leg before Marais-Gilchrist (2003-08) off a difficult a while, but we were up against a good wicket. Alastair McConville (staff chance behind from Hugo Boatright. competitive team. Tea was good, too. 2007-present) interjected with seven Catches win… On the other hand, Maybe if we hadn’t indulged to the and Justin Jones (1987-92) inelegantly yours truly did take a quite reasonable same degree in cream cakes, we may bludgeoned 37 before being caught catch running across from mid-off and have got to the catches. and bowled. There was a notably diving one handed at mid-on. Connor rapid contribution from George Wilkinson (1976-78) was very flattering, Justin Jones (1987-92)

Sinclair (2003-08), who arrived at Offord. Jack Photographer 30 with some clean striking. Other contributions were short and sweet. Unfortunately, Will Wollen (1987-92) ended our innings at 162 with a golden duck, caught at deep cow with one over of the 25 to spare. This felt like a slightly below par score given the outfield, with no one escaping beyond the thirties. Bedales had some very useful bowlers from Block 3 upwards, so the next few years may get tougher for Stoner.

8 • OB Events – Reviews of 2018 STONER CRICKET CLUB

ighty-five years ago, at the end Fifty years later, as the Club a Stoner regular for the next 30 years, Eof their final year at Bedales, two celebrated its half century, John recalled during which time he proved himself boys had a meeting with their young his memories: “Although a performer a considerable eccentric and made games master to discuss the future. of little talent, I was quite potty about countless friends. Jim Atkinson (1930-34) was about to cricket and when I was due to leave, Benn was, of course the driving spirit embark on an engineering degree at the idea of abandoning the cricket and a cricketer good enough to have Cambridge, and John Fox (1929-34) field was quite awful. I don’t remember earned a place on the Lord’s ground was preparing to study Civil Engineering. being overly impressed by the scenic staff. As curator of the Bedales wicket ‘Benn’ Bennett (staff 1930-71) was in marvels of the place where I spent he supervised the creation of the his fourth year at the school. 14 happy years successfully resisting ‘Mem’ Pitch after the war, ensuring that However, it was not their futures being taught anything… but when I it was the best ground in the district. they talked about, but the much more found myself leaving it for good, its On the death of Mr Badley in 1967, important question of cricket and in beauty came upon me suddenly and Benn became President of Stoner. particular, cricket at Bedales. An idea was the notion of arranging some cricket Since Stoner’s foundation, hundreds suggested: at the end of the Summer softened the blow”. of OBs and their friends have played term, OBs should be invited to return Jim, who was not usually lost for for the Club including over half a dozen for a week of cricket. Benn agreed words, was less effusive and wrote, Head Boys. Staff have also played an to approach ‘The Chief’ (Mr Badley) “If the cricket has been no more than important part including Ken Keast to see if the proposal met with his a vehicle for the making of friends and (staff 1939-49), Harold Gardiner (staff approval. It did, so he was promptly the interplay of eccentric personalities, 1952-68), John Batstone (staff 1968-93), chosen to be the Club’s first President, then never mind”. Jim was a more Norman Bellis (staff 1956-63) and and Stoner Cricket was born. than useful village cricketer and was Anthony Gillingham (staff 1946-70).

Stoner Cricket Club • 9 STONER CRICKET CLUB

For those too young to know him, of teeth, there are cautious grounds under the name ‘Gentlemen of Bedales’, Anthony was an Old Etonian Marxist for optimism that a renaissance may be which includes some enthusiastic pupils. who helped sink the Bismarck during round the corner. Cricket at Dunhurst The idea of a week’s cricket after the war and had a father who played is flourishing, and both the Bursar the end of term has been discussed, for Essex! and the new Heads at Bedales and and sounds an attractive possibility. There have been many other Dunhurst, love cricket and may even Perhaps it’s worth a try – it worked interesting characters who have worn sport MCC ties, which shows the last time! the club colours. Richard Tomlinson right spirit! We also hear that staff and (1970-76) has written a highly acclaimed parents have their own team trading Rollo Wicksteed (1949-54) 400 page biography of W.G. Grace. Roger Lloyd Pack (1957-62) became a film and TV star whose brief innings in toner Week involves playing both local club sides and national travelling the film The Go-Between was featured sides, on the scenic Memorial Cricket Pitch. After a pre-season match in its entirety. Matthew Quantrill Sagainst the school’s 1st XI on Parents’ Day, Stoner Week runs from (1978-83) was a remorseless compiler Monday to Friday on the first week of the summer holidays. Matches of runs who tragically died before he typically commence at 2pm, to allow players time to work and/or travel could record his 100th Century. before the afternoon of cricket commences. Match tea is provided Peter ‘Bunny’ Layton (1940-46) (for a match fee), and the regular format is limited overs or timed cricket. was a stockbroker whose legendary The day normally ends at approximately 7.30pm, with players retiring to generosity did not always extend to The Harrow Inn to recount the day’s events. A memorable match is the his racing tips or his running between Wednesday fixture against local club side Steep, which is played every wickets, Alastair Britten (1957-62) year for the ‘Rollo Wicksteed’ highly contested trophy. invariably slept in a tent during Stoner Accommodation-wise, non-local players stay with friends/family, Week as a tribute to the Club’s at B&Bs, or arrange with Bedales to camp on the grounds. Some players pioneers. Finally, Connor Wilkinson play one or two games and some stay for the whole week – particularly (1976-78), was always available to if is shining. It is rather pleasant. The wonderful club BBQ takes make up the numbers and his unfailing place on Thursday night in the marquee, followed by a warming bonfire. optimism with both bat and ball won This is always a highlight and a nice way to nearly finish off the week. For him wide admiration. I could go on those keen on club arrangements, the AGM is held on the Friday morning but enough. in the pavilion. After 84 years, the news that the New players are very welcome. If you would like to join the team, 2018 Cricket Week had to be cancelled please contact Paul Bradley (2002-07): [email protected] due to lack of players saddened me and only Hitler had managed that. www.bedales.org.uk/bedales/sports-events/stoner-cricket-club However, amid the wailing and gnashing

10 • Stoner Cricket Club UPCOMING REUNIONS

his year, the three summer reunions will be taking place on Parents’ Day, Saturday 29 June. All of the usual events and Tentertainment will be available.

Class of 2009 Reunion Class of 1994 Reunion Class of 1979 Reunion The 10 year reunion for the class The 25 year reunion for the class The 40 year reunion for the class of of 2009 will start at 7.00pm in the of 1994 will start at 7.00pm and 1979 will start at noon and include marquee overlooking the Mem Pitch includes a Block Barbecue Party in a delicious lunch in the marquee and includes a Block Barbecue Party. and around the Sotherington Barn. overlooking the Mem Pitch. Invitations have been sent out. Invitations have been sent out. Invitations have been sent out. If you should have received one but If you should have received one but If you should have received one but did not, please get in touch with did not, please get in touch with did not, please get in touch with Jack or Louisa: Holly or James: Lucy or Jane: Jack Deane Holly Beck (née Wilmot) Lucy Forman [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Louisa Millar James Serjeant Jane Kirby (née Williams) [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Past Parents’ Lunch The Bedales Association Past Parents’ Lunch Party will take place from 12.00-2.30pm in the marquee overlooking the Mem Pitch. Please join us for this informal social gathering to meet up with fellow former parents. Old Bedalian sons and daughters are very welcome. We would be most grateful if you could advise whether you can come by contacting Mary: Mary Hancox [email protected] 01730 711 695

PARENTS’ DAY 2019 Saturday 29 June All members of the Bedales Association are welcome. n Exhibitions n Afternoon Tea n Concert in the Lupton Hall n Dance & Drama performance n Bedales Association Drinks Reception Please reserve tickets well in advance for concert and performances to avoid disappointment. Free tickets available from our website (www.bedales.org.uk/events) or the TicketSource Box Office 0333 666 3366 (£1.50 telephone booking fee applies).

Upcoming Reunions • 11 A YEAR AT BEDALES A selection of stories from the school’s weekly bulletin to give a flavour of life at Bedales in 2018

January – Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) update into Geneva for an evening walk around the city. On Sunday By Paul Turner, Head of Geography and DofE Centre Coordinator we toured the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum and the Science Museum, finishing up with a lovely Last year, students grasped the opportunities available through boat tour on the lake. DofE with both hands and the number of participants increased fivefold with half the school involved. Students camped and walked in Dartmoor as well as Dorset and the March – First Give charity final 2018 . The DofE Award continues to be highly valued By Beatrice Bonsey, Block 4 by employers and universities alike and is a useful badge – recognising much of what the students already do as part of everyday life at Bedales. This year, we have expanded the team with Ana Simmons taking responsibility for the Silver Award (available to all Block 4s) and myself leading the Gold Award (available to all 6.1s) with the award running across the two sixth form years. Looking forward, we have Silver expeditions in the New Forest and South Downs planned as well as Gold expeditions: one walking in the Brecon Beacons, another canoeing on the River Wye.

February – Physicists on collision course to Geneva By Izzy Milford, 6.2, Physics Don Fifteen sixth form Physicists, accompanied by three teachers, Just before half term, five Block 4 groups gave presentations had a very early start to travel to Geneva, Switzerland, to for the First Give charity final with the aim of winning visit CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research. £1,000 for their charity of choice. The team representing We started our tour of Geneva with a visit to the United Catalyst went first and showed us a unique video of Nations Building, taking in the exquisite architecture and interviews with people speaking on behalf of those helped learning about the different locations of the UN buildings by the charity. Next was the team representing Stone Pillow and what they are used for. There was another early start who managed to raise money with a charity bake sale. on Saturday as we prepared to head out to CERN itself; They made two very inventive videos, one showing facts on arrival, we had a tour of the Proton Synchrotron, which on homelessness while the other was a motion picture is the oldest collider at CERN. Afterwards, we were lucky showing that it could be you on the streets. After that, it enough to get a tour of The Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) was our charity, Down Syndrome Association. detector (stationed at the Large Hadron Collider), which We showed a video about a child with Down Syndrome was open due to engineering works, so we descended finding the charity online and his life improving greatly. 100m underground into the tunnel to see inside. We then We then spoke about how much we had raised and how had a look around the exhibits at CERN and headed back much this charity has helped families and children with Down Syndrome. Following this, Jigsaw Trust, told us about their charity, which improves the lives of those with autism. Finally, the Salvation Army team reported statistics about homelessness and showed a short interview with a person saying how the charity helped him and others. They also told us how they were going to fundraise by one member of the team running two peaks in the Lake District. Judges then went off to make a decision and returned announcing Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association the winner! The £1,000 prize money will be spent funding 13 pre-school sessions (one year’s worth) to help children develop their learning milestones and help families with the children. The representative who came to watch was over the moon to receive the money for her charity.

12 • A Year at Bedales A YEAR AT BEDALES

Urquhart headed over to the Theatre to prepare for their touring show. The plot of the play is about Emily Davison and ‘necessary woman’, Mary, meeting in the cleaning cupboard, and discussing their views of the suffragists. Emily Davison, a historical suffragette famously threw herself under the King’s horse for the right of women to vote. In the play, the audience is given a rare chance to hear the voice of Emily, as she plans to address the House of Commons after the 1911 census but fails. Through the character of Mary, we see what life was like for women in the lower classes. She considered herself lucky to keep her job after having given her baby up for adoption; this moment of saddening confession provided April – Pizza shack clear juxtaposition from Emily’s speeches of power. Mary By Flora McFarlane, Block 5 made it clear that this was not uncommon for women of the time. By the end of the evening, the audience took away a Over the course of the last year, we have developed and clear message: women have fought for the right to be equal perfected our running of the pizza business based in Outdoor and society has made huge leaps but there is still a long way Work. When we took it over last Easter, we just had the to go. This topic is still relevant today; shown in a historical oven and the building, so we had lots of jobs to do to make context, we see the similarities in prejudice. it into the pizza shack it is now. We made storage, menu boards and equipment, all to make it look its best. The four of us (including Max, Dylan and Cameron) devised a way of June – Leading professor returns to mother’s school making and selling pizzas as quickly and efficiently as possible. to deliver science lecture In the last few weeks of our BAC, we all feel we have a professional operation, making and selling around 50 pizzas Sir Roger Penrose, Emeritus to students on a Wednesday afternoon. As well as learning Rouse Ball Professor of how to make the perfect pizza from scratch, we have also Mathematics at the University learned about woodwork, blacksmithing, laying a new floor, of Oxford and Emeritus painting; plus invaluable skills like basic business accounting, Fellow of Wadham College, sourcing ingredients, teamwork, customer relations, quality Oxford, delivered the annual control, and an eye for detail. We have loved this project and Science Eckersley lecture to feel proud of what we have achieved. We look forward to a packed Bedales Theatre of seeing how the next group will develop it further! students, staff, parents and local community. Roger Penrose is known for his work in mathematical May – A Necessary Woman, ‘No Vote, no Census’ physics, and in particular his contributions to general relativity By Ollie van Hoeken, 6.2 and cosmology. He has received several prizes and awards, including the 1988 Wolf Prize for physics, which he shared After teaching us about the context of the characters with Stephen Hawking for their work on singularities, such as and events of the play in Jaw, Deborah Clair and Philippa black holes, proving that they can arise from the gravitational collapse of massive, dying stars. Professor Penrose enthralled his audience on a wide range of scientific topics that included discussion of consciousness, life, infinity, quantum mechanics, general relativity, Schrödinger’s cat, gravity, microtubules and Penrose tiling. Bedales Head of Sciences, Emily Seeber, commented: “It is not often that one plays host to a thinker who has radically changed the intellectual landscape in their field, but, in hosting Sir Roger Penrose, we had the opportunity to hear about how he has challenged thinking in Mathematics, Physics, Philosophy and beyond. He was extraordinarily moved by the places his mother would have lived and studied, long

A Year at Bedales • 13 A YEAR AT BEDALES

before he was born – she attended Bedales 100 years ago – including Oxbridge, Yale, and a number of leading music and was Head Girl in 1919 so it was fitting that he should conservatoires and art colleges – following the publication of return as the school celebrates its 125th anniversary.” A Level results. The Eckersley Lecture is named after brothers and former This year’s high achievers included: Lily Samarine, who Bedales students, Peter and Thomas Eckersley. Peter was the gained three A*s in English Literature, French and Russian, as former chief engineer at the BBC and his brother Thomas well as an A in her Extended Project to meet the conditions was a theoretical research engineer. A video of the 2018 of her offer to study French & Russian at Wadham College, Eckersley Lecture is available at vimeo.com/bedalesschool Oxford, and Rachel Forsyth, who achieved three A*s in Biology, English Literature and Religious Studies, and an A* in her Extended Project to secure her place at Pembroke – Bedales celebrates 125 years of education July College, Cambridge, to read English. Other Bedales students celebrating Oxbridge places include a number of 2017 leavers. Sam Harding will study Human, Social & Political Sciences at Newnham College, Cambridge; Emily Swettenham will read English at Girton College, Cambridge; and Jamie Murphy will read & Literature at Queen’s College, Oxford. Jetting off to the highly rated US university, Yale in Connecticut, is Lucy Ellis, having achieved three A*s in Drama & Theatre Studies, English Literature and French, and an A* in her Extended Project, to study Liberal Arts with a major in Modern Languages.

Celebrations to commemorate the 125th anniversary year – Badley Day celebrations of Bedales came to a head at the end of the Summer term. September A group of 24 students from Block 5 and 6.2 and their Badley Day saw pupils, parents and staff work together to teachers completed an arduous five-day 125 km walk from improve the outdoor environment of Bedales and beyond, the old Bedales in Lindfield, where the school spent its first as a celebration of the founding of the school. six years from 1893, to the current estate in Steep. This year’s projects included the construction of a footpath The old school is now split into private residences, and from Dunhurst across the school estate to the A3 footbridge, the walkers were treated to a tour of the school and chatted as well as the installation of a mud kitchen and storage shed with the owners before heading south, down the Sussex at Steep . Students in 6.2 planted bulbs in the Border Path to link up with the South Downs Way. Sleeping green space outside Bedales’ award-winning Art & Design under canvas for three nights, the walkers also spent one building and carried out other improvements to pathways. night in the splendid jockey accommodation at the stables Meanwhile at Dunannie, new head Victoria Homewood of Goodwood House. welcomed parents and children as they took part in a range The group was met back at Bedales on 29 June by 98 year of activities – including bulb planting, clearing brambles in old SAS veteran and Old Bedalian, Mike Sadler, together the nursery garden, and apple picking and cooking. As well with youngest member of the school, three year old Liberty as teaming up with Dunannie, Dunhurst pupils and parents, Camping, before all school pupils and staff walked to the Memorial cricket pitch for a ‘125’ drone photo. To mark the occasion, Mike and Liberty then helped plant a tree using soil carried by the walkers from the original school site. In the final week of term, there were also many tributes to Keith Budge (Head 2001-18) by students, staff and governors as he left Bedales after 17 years as Head.

August – Bedales students secure places at Oxbridge, Yale, Music Conservatoires and Art Colleges Students at Bedales celebrated after securing places at the most prestigious educational institutions in the world

14 • A Year at Bedales A YEAR AT BEDALES

along with Head, Colin Baty, enjoyed taking part in a number Belgrade while trying to gather of Outdoor Work projects. These included clearing and material about Marshal Tito. weeding the school’s vegetable plot, water blasting wooden She also spoke about the two decks, yarn bombing, knitting, trimming hedges, painting foreign assignments she is most benches, clearing gardens in the nursery, building a chestnut often associated with – the post fence and erecting a metal chicken shed. American bombing of the Libyan capital Tripoli in 1986 and the Chinese authorities’ killing of – Interview with new Dunannie Head October protestors in Tiananmen Square, In an article for Absolutely , in 1989. Education magazine, Victoria Kate’s lecture formed part of Bedales’ Global Awareness Homewood explains why series, which each year sees an external guest visit the school to she simply had to take the deliver a lecture on a global issue. The lectures are of particular job of Head of Bedales interest to Bedales students, many of whom are taking the Pre-prep School, Dunannie, bespoke Bedales Assessed Course in Global Awareness. The and talks about her passion subject enables students to use 21st century skills such as critical for outdoor learning. thinking, creative thinking, collaboration and communication Dunannie has a track record to understand and address global issues. of pioneering and innovative education, with the school’s – Dunhurst footballers win league to cap ethos as established by founder John Badley – ‘Head, Hand December off unbeaten season and Heart’ – prescribing an education for the whole child, combining the academic, the practical and the social. Victoria says: “The school’s values and approach align very closely with my own philosophy, which focuses on the needs of the individual and the development of children’s inquisitiveness and love of learning.” However, Victoria also observes that this requires interpretation to make it relevant for its time. For example, of her enthusiasm for outdoor education, she says, “These days, most of us spend the vast majority of our time indoors, and our connection with nature is consequently limited. It is time to reimagine education and rectify this balance”. Victoria believes that exposure to nature can help children connect with themselves and others in an unpressurised way. The full article can be read at www.bedales.org.uk/news/ interview-new-dunannie-head Dunhurst finished the term on a high note after their U13 football team were crowned winners of the North Football League. The win comes after an unbeaten season – Kate Adie visits Bedales November for the side, who proved to be a tough team to beat from Bedales welcomed journalist and broadcaster Kate Adie to the outset, winning a series of friendlies at the start of a full Olivier Theatre, just months after she was awarded September before the silverware began to mount up. the BAFTA Fellowship in recognition of her exceptional Their first competitive win came later that month, contribution to television. when they emerged as winners of a tough tournament at The former news correspondent, who became well Highfield School. Beating Frensham Heights 8-4, their fine known for reporting from war zones around the globe performance on the pitch continued in October as they during her career, visited Bedales to deliver this year’s annual claimed victories in another two tournaments – including Global Awareness lecture. the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS) From an accidental foray into local journalism to a tournament in Oxfordshire. 14-year stint as the BBC’s Chief News Correspondent, Kate The team’s final league match against Ditcham Park was talked about her extensive career, which included reporting an incredibly close decider, but Dunhurst came through on on a series of kidnaps in Sardinia and being arrested in top once again with a 4-3 victory.

A Year at Bedales • 15 GLOBAL AWARENESS

published recently by the Child Poverty Action Group, draws attention to a shortfall in income for the families of the lowest paid. Portsmouth is home to some of the most deprived areas in the UK. Acting upon findings of a growing reliance on food banks by people in the UK, the students communicated with the Trussell Trust, and made contact with a food bank in the Petersfield area to discuss how Bedales might become involved in regular food donations. They placed donation boxes and notices around the school, and developed a website encouraging contributions from people beyond the school gates. Students iven the rate of social change designing changes, and then appraising are planning to volunteer at the Gin the 21st century, educators the effects of those changes. In so Portsmouth Food Bank in the coming surely have a responsibility to equip doing, students learn that they can academic year, and food poverty will young people with the skills to ensure (and do) make a difference in the remain a key topic for the school. that they are able to lead movements world, and that making mistakes is an If, as appears to be the case, we are of any kind, and to become social important part of learning. on the cusp of the voting age being innovators – not just when they In the second year, students lowered universally, then we need to become adults, but at any moment in undertake both collaborative and ensure that our young people have their lives. Inspiring and feeding such individual projects selected from four enough knowledge about the world to an appetite and facility for change is areas – human rights, global health, be fully politically active. I am confident the purpose of the Global Awareness peace and conflict, and the arms trade. that our commitment to Global programme, which is a key part of the They all begin with a very loose idea Awareness, and the Global Awareness curriculum across all three schools. of a topic which they would like to BAC more specifically, has begun the Perhaps the most visible example of cover, and they refine this through task of helping our students towards a this is the Bedales Global Awareness concentrated research and the meaningful and practical education in BAC, which challenges students in Blocks setting of specific goals. Last year, one citizenship and, crucially, the sense that 4 and 5 to understand and address collaborative project was the Food Fund. they can change the world in which global issues, and recently saw its first Four students were given the topic of they live. cohort complete the programme. Hunger in the 21st century as their During the last academic year, our starting point, before identifying issues Abi Wharton students communicated with a variety closer to home. The Cost of A Child, Head of Global Awareness of organisations and governments across the globe and devised solutions for issues ranging from landmines in Angola, harvesting the mist in East Timor, educating children as young as six about human rights, and more. In the first year of the course, we place an emphasis on students acquiring skills associated with action research and analysing different points of view. Action research sees the practitioner bring about an improvement to their own work, or that of their institution, by continually evaluating their practice,

16 • Global Awareness PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE FOR BEDALIANS

s dire predictions abound about We aim to provide them with a light have become very popular, and are Athe effects of artificial intelligence touch introduction, which helps to increasingly attractive to Bedales students. and robotics on the labour market prepare them for the careers work Today’s apprenticeship is a very different that awaits school leavers, there is a we will do with them later on without animal to its predecessors, with major particular onus right now on schools overwhelming them. A careers carousel banking and accounting firms now to make a serious and informed held over a four-week period allows offering post A Level programmes. commitment to student guidance. them to get a taste of various lines Many high achieving students choose Bedales makes such a commitment of work, and encourages them to this route over university as it will allow through constantly evolving provision, start thinking about the subjects and them to pursue higher qualifications offered through its Professional combinations of subjects that might best or a degree with no debt, whilst also Guidance Department. We use a range help them get to where they might want establishing a career path. Typically, of approaches, with Old Bedalians to be. We also get them to think about apprentices will work four days a week also playing a crucial role in helping soft skills; the school extra-curricular and study for one. It is a challenging students to make good decisions. activities that might be useful to them in route and important to get right, so For various reasons there has been this regard, and of work for which their we work closely with them as they a reduction in students applying to personalities might be best suited. explore their options, offering support UK universities through UCAS, with In Block 5, careers work becomes and guidance as appropriate. some students thinking more carefully more focused and intensive. Students Tutors are available to discuss career about apprenticeships and work more undergo a two hour-long Cambridge choices and related decisions with generally. Careers advice has become as Profile Aptitude Test with follow-up students at all points of the process, important as higher education guidance, interviews, in part with a view to and there is a list of OBs who are and so receives commensurate helping them make well-informed happy to be contacted. Their role in attention at Bedales. A Level choices. Students tend to enjoy talking about their experiences with Many Bedales students will have this part of the programme and find students and recent ex-students can a clear idea of the kind of work they it useful. The Department is active in be invaluable – especially for those would like to do and the implications setting up relevant work experience struggling to make a choice. We are of this for the qualifications they where required, and we organise always keen to recruit more OBs to pursue at school. Others may be less trips to various careers fairs at which this end, so please do get in touch if sure, however, and require time and students get the opportunity to talk you would like to be involved. It isn’t encouragement to give it the necessary in detail about particular industry job a big commitment, and our current attention. Accordingly, we place great roles and requirements with employers. crop of volunteers will confirm that emphasis on knowing our students, Apprenticeships can provide some it is as fun as it is rewarding. understanding their strengths and very attractive opportunities for school weaknesses, nurturing their skills, and leavers. Despite concerns over a fall in Cheryl Osborne over time, developing their awareness uptake overall, high level apprenticeships Careers Advisor of their own learning styles. We begin working with students in If you would like to offer career support to Bedales Sixth Form students and Block 4. It is worth saying that some recent leavers, please get in touch with Alex Beckmann, Alumni Liaison Manager; can be reluctant participants, as work [email protected] can seem a long way off to them.

Professional Guidance for Bedalians • 17 THE CHANGING FACE OF BEDALES

ld Bedalians arrive for Parents’ 1960s expansion under Tim Slack will Olivier Theatre (no more plays in the ODay, memorials or reunions, find the austere spare lines of those Quad or Lupton Hall although the to visit as prospective parents or modular single storey classrooms, all latter is seeing a renaissance as venue) grandparents, or just because we are piloti and oriental horizontals, have been appeared among some surviving nearby and would like to see school swept away. The pond, with goldfish pines between the Workshop and the again. This is a welcome part of every and prankish addition of the marble Music School. This building (Feilden day in Steep and we are always Venus de Milo, no longer forms the Clegg 1994) spreads the active part of welcome. There is huge comfort in the centre of the teaching part of Bedales; Bedales westwards towards what was place: the Library and Lupton Hall, the gone also are the grove of whispering Mr Cobb’s farmhouse. A gloomy end Orchard and the sand quarry, Steep crack-barked pine trees that fringed to that period of development was the Church or Steephurst. That familiarity the orchard (the latter lost in the 1987 indoor swimming pool. Built on the site is a good antidote to a life of moving storm). Instead you will be welcomed of the old outdoor pool, this is amongst house, one’s own, or our parents’, but in a large open hall lined with honey the least inspired buildings at Bedales. what if it at first seems unrecognisable? coloured vertical larch boarding. This Noisy and inexpensive red brick, a In fact, while the overall landscape may is the Orchard Building (Walters and huge and charmless tiled roof and be reassuringly familiar, the buildings Cohen 2006) and it houses the Head, inept windows make this a sad and ugly are far from unchanged. Bursar and Administrative staff, as well neighbour to the Mem Pitch, relating In the last 15 years, the buildings as all the new classrooms. Cleverly only to the utilitarian sports hall behind at the school have seen a period of aligned to the Covered Way by a it. It is hard to make these essentially development unmatched since the early wide red brick path, this was built as massive buildings interesting and the years; nowhere is this more apparent a reaction to a long period of stasis in best one could have hoped for was than on arrival. The old blue Bedales terms of bricks and mortar and was a quieter and less strident statement. School sign may be the same that was the first part of a current series of new Beyond these two on the Dunhurst put up in the seventies (even earlier?) buildings that have made major changes pitch is the Sam Banks Pavilion. This but modest wooden arrows direct you to the built environment at Bedales. oak framed building comprising a single to reception. Those wondering how The last time this happened was in the room with wrap around porch was the S or N blocks will have fared since 1990s when New Boys’ flat opened built by Gabriel Langlands (1977-90) their erection in the heady days of next to the San and the award winning with the help of students and staff,

18 • The Changing Face of Bedales THE CHANGING FACE OF BEDALES

the roof shingles being fixed by a its oak framed wings over an ever of the recent changes but I hope one distinguished team including Keith Budge, increasing area. Those who left before that is a powerful expression of what is the then Head. Designed (by me) as a 1980 and have never returned will find characteristic about Bedales. focus for Dunhurst sport, it has quickly the astonishing Sotherington Barn, a gift The estate is changed but unchanged. become a useful venue for general of Lord Selborne re-erected as part of Trees blow down and trees are planted, school use from reunions to fundraising a re-birth of good buildings at Bedales the Orchard is much restored; long events. Back at the centre of the school (oddly with minimal support from the grass and wildflowers have replaced the old Studio and Workshop are, in Board at the time). Around it, lies the endless mowing and the A3 carriageway contemporary parlance, undergoing Bakery and a series of smaller barns has sliced off a bit of the Petersfield end repurposing and will re-emerge as The and workshops frequenting the work of of the school. Dunhurst and Dunannie Studies, a replacement to the scattered students. The observant might spot that are also altered – the subject of a study units of the last 50 years. Here, the leaded windows that had perished later article – but imagining the roar the architect is Richard Griffiths, in the main part of Steephurst have a of the traffic as being the sea on the responsible for the sensitive and new life in a substantial rustic orangery shingle, standing on the Mem Pitch is a thoughtful restoration of the Lupton and find much snuffling of pigs, collecting remarkable opportunity to lose 20, 40 Hall in 2017. of eggs and growing of vegetables in or 60 years. There is permanence in the Cars have been another reason the plots around the barn. view of Butser, the backdrop of Stoner for change. Bigger vehicles and many Lastly, the new studio and workshop and the Hangers, the sand quarry, the more of them have meant giving in in the Art & Design building are a Dining Room and of course the Library to more and more car parking. All dramatic change. Designed by the and Lupton Hall. efforts have been made to hide or same practice as the Theatre but by And the greatest permanence of soften the effect of this but it is a blight a different partner, Tom Jarman, this all is the students, lying in the Orchard, in what is, so importantly, a school in great Barn, part Transylvanian, part leaning over the Covered Way or the country. Two more big changes Midwestern, covers the area once walking from the station. They are are to the northeast. Outdoor Work, occupied by the estate yard and the the continuum and amongst the new in its current form the brain child of infamous huts (printing works, stage buildings and the altered views, the the late John Rogers (staff 1975-86), hut and BUNCO hut). The new studio most reassuringly utterly unchanged brought forward by Peter Coates is lofty and has wonderful views to the thing of all. (staff 1989-93) and now subject to north, while the workshops still house the remarkable attention of Andrew the familiar benches, G clamps and Matthew Rice (1975-80) Martin (staff 2014-present) has spread vices. Perhaps this is the most dramatic Chairman of Governors

The Changing Face of Bedales • 19 DUNHURST, A REMINISCENCE

treat. How he managed to get the materials in war time I cannot imagine. Menningham and Miss Cocker were married at some time while I was there. Great excitement! All teachers were known by their nicknames, a quirk which is typical of the Bedalian psyche. But it worked. Mr Tilley, whose daughter Wendy attended the school, was called ‘Toes’, but Menningham was adamant that ‘Messiman’ was not permitted. Children were known by their Christian name plus the first letter of their surname. Thus I was ‘Richard S’ and Bastien was ‘Bastien G’. Another quirk was that we all swam in the Bedales swimming pool quite naked. I can imagine the gasps of o many people the thought of war time rationing. I remember the horror these days at such a notion, but Tof sending a child under six to children’s books they had and can see speaking for myself, I was entirely asexual sounds cruel, heartless one of them as I write. I also remember then. Since there was no mass media or careless of the child’s welfare and that there was a bureau in which I to promote sexuality, and certainly no suggestive of Dotheboys Hall. It would found a small, almost miniature pistol, pornography, prurient thoughts never be very much out of fashion these days a .22 I think. Why the pistol was there, crossed my mind or anybody else’s as according to the perceived present or why anyone from that family would far as I am aware. Indeed, I think I’m views. For me it gave the happiest want such a weapon I cannot imagine. right in saying that there were no full start in life that I could have wished One morning we three boys cried length doors on the lavatories either, for had I been an adult and able to out of the window in the bedroom just enough for modesty’s sake, and this organise my own life. I was joined by which we all shared, “Oyez, oyez, it’s again did not give rise to any ‘incidents’ two other boys, Dan Wilson (1942-53) seven o’clock in the morning, oyez”. as far as I know. and Bastien Gomperts (1942-53) and Mrs Gimmy came in and told us firmly Another reason to give the health we were all three kindly and lovingly but kindly to be quiet. and safety experts of today cause for looked after by Mr & Mrs Gimson There was a garden with a swing (staff 1911-47) ‘The Gimmys’ – as they and a large seesaw. There was also a were known – who lived in a lovely pond which I think was deep enough house, Five Oaks, Steep, about half a to swim in, certainly to paddle, and mile or so over the fields from the there were five oak trees. We used school, Dunhurst. How this happy state to walk to school across the fields, of affairs came about I don’t know and over a stile or two and into the school my mother is now no longer around grounds below the woodwork barn to ask her. However, in 1941 the war where Mr Messingham (staff 1923-63) was at its height and not going well, so aka ‘Menningham’ taught woodwork, finding a safe haven for their son would a skill which remained with me for have been uppermost in the minds of all my life and even more so to my parents and since both attended Bastien whose later works were quite Bedales, it was natural for them to have extraordinarily and beautifully made. chosen Dunhurst. Under Menningham’s guidance I made As one does when one gets old, a periscope and wool winder, both of I have vivid memories of life in Five Oaks. which lasted for very many years and Things like having Radio Malt once a the winder until quite recently. I also week to give us the vitamins in which made a yacht and like the other pupils, we would have been deficient because made a bowl on the lathe, a special Mr Messingham.

20 • Dunhurst, A Reminiscence DUNHURST, A REMINISCENCE

concern was that we were allowed to build shelters, dens in the field below the woodworking barn. These were dug out of the ground and covered with beams, corrugated iron and earth and we had meetings there – though what we did or said during these I have no recollection, just childish chatter I expect. Were these intended to provide shelter in case of an air raid? Possibly, but I am not sure. I think it was more to promote inventiveness and self-sufficiency in us children. On the ground just outside there was a ‘jungle gym’, a wooden construction, climbing frame, on which we played a great deal and certainly helped our physical development. We also played a game, Dunhurst string group Dolmetsch. ‘kick the can’, enthusiastically supported by Menningham. played on records; the Trout Quintet was Sadly, my parents could not afford Across the playing field at the far the first one that I remember hearing. for me to go to Bedales so I completed end there was The Barn where Miss The other annual source of music and my education elsewhere, for the most Cormack (staff 1929-72), ‘Cor’, held stage productions I remember was part as happily as I had started it. I still sway and taught the more gentle arts going to the ‘Merry Evening’ in Bedales remember driving away from Dunhurst of weaving, needlework and arts in which both schools attended, an evening as I left for the last time. general. The playing field was in of song, dance and plays. Years later, I was in our local front of this barn and lacrosse, I recall, What else? The sound of “doodlebugs” library and as there was a London was popular. The school was run by passing overhead on their way to telephone directory to hand, I looked Amy Clarke (staff 1918-54), and a London, a sound once heard never up ‘Gomperts, B’. I found a number more pleasant Head could not be forgotten. One landed in a field some or two and was delighted to find imagined. Corporal punishment was way away but with no casualties. Bastien at the other end. He was unheard of – well, we were all very I saw my first helicopter flying over startled and delighted to hear from young and to be admonished was rare the school, an American Sikorsky, near me as I was to find him and sometime and always effective, certainly as far to the end of the war. The notice later, he and I made a pilgrimage to as I was concerned. that appeared on the board telling Bedales, Dunhurst and Five Oaks to There was a main hall, off which was of the sinking of the Scharnhorst and see old friends and places, and remind the Library. Some years later, Bastien Gneisenau. The birthday parties when ourselves of the happy times we had asked me what books I remembered the birthday person was allowed to had. We then kept in touch and saw from those days. The Menace of the invite a number of friends to the centre each other whenever possible. Terribore and The Vikings are Coming, table; a loud “whoooo”, was sounded We all have to go sometime, but I said without hesitation. He replied that by all as the cake was cut. Having to Bastien’s death in 2015 was sudden he knew I would say that and they stuck give talks on a subject to the assembled and, for me, quite unexpected. It may in his memory too. I don’t remember any company, which we all had to do in be trite but true that for me a door religious teaching as such but we used turn. I wanted to be a doctor in those to my past has closed, but the happy to sing hymns on occasions and there days and chose that subject but having memories of Bastien and Dunhurst was a large flip board with the words of stood up and started talking about will remain with me forever. the hymns and some painted pictures. anatomy I became tongue-tied and was On occasions there would be music allowed to retire gracefully. Richard Statham (1941-46)

P.S. Somehow my parents got Mr Badley to be my godfather and he always sent me a pound on my birthday every year. I still have the bronze figure of a boy plucking a thorn from his foot which he left to me. I am amazed!

Dunhurst, A Reminiscence • 21 THE GIMSONS

the family engineering firm, but his vocation was teaching and he spent his career at Bedales (1911-47, apart from service in WW1). His brother Humphrey became an architect and designed Five Oaks for Basil and his bride Muriel in 1912-13, built by Lupton, the house a wedding gift from Sydney. That was where Basil’s children Janet, Brenda (my mother) and Donald grew up – all OBs of course (1918-32; 1919-35; 1928-32). When Brenda met Anthony Gillingham (staff 1946-70) at Oxford in 1936 he was attracted to her but equally so to the ‘Gimmies’, Five Oaks, Bedales and its progressive values. After war service, Anthony taught maths at Bedales for 25 years, and his six children (I was the eldest) attended Dunannie, Dunhurst and Bedales. We moved into Five Oaks when Basil retired in 1947. Anna Keay (1987-92) is right to describe the Hall and Library as

Stoneywell, Leicestershire NTPL Commissioned National Trust Images James Dobson. Ernest Gimson’s greatest commission, probably his best work, but his best ld Bedalians may wonder how went to Sapperton in Gloucestershire house is Stoneywell, north of Leicester, OErnest Gimson came to be where they all practised as architects now a National Trust property but selected to design the Hall and Library. and designer-craftsmen. lived in until a few years ago by Donald The answer is probably that his brother After being Head Boy at Bedales and Gimson. Visitors to this magical house Sydney had chosen the school for his a stint with the family firm, Geoffrey will find many reminders of Bedales, sons Basil (1896-1904) and Humphrey Lupton (1893-1901) apprenticed including lots of Arts and Crafts (1900-07). Sydney was my great himself to Ernest Gimson in 1905-6, furniture, a nice picture of the covered grandfather, from a Leicester family of and went on to set up his own way and nearby grounds and a great engineer-businessmen who were also workshop and home in Froxfield, built portrait of ‘The Chief’. Stoneywell was noted secularists and freethinkers. It is with his own hand. He also built the Basil’s home during his retirement, but not clear how he came to know Badley house next door for Edward Thomas sadly, he had less than six years to enjoy and choose Bedales, but he may have and his family, who in the depths of it. However, Donald lived there for made his acquaintance when Badley his depression, never took to it. The almost 60 years with his family. was teaching at Abbotsholme in the Sykes family, connected to Bedales in During his brief retirement, Basil late 1880s, within reach of Leicester. multiple ways, later lived there. Edward edited the 1953 edition of the Bedales The Gimsons were leading lights of Barnsley (1910-17), Sidney’s son, Roll. He was meticulous, some might the Leicester Secular Society, which had worked on the Lupton Hall as Lupton’s say nerdy, but a wonderful grandfather a fascinating range of visiting speakers assistant as a young man, soon taking to me, first during the war when including Bradlaugh, Eleanor Marx, over Lupton’s house and workshop in Anthony was away with the Fleet Air Kropotkin and William Morris. The Froxfield, which still bears the Edward Arm and later on our summer holidays latter helped the 19-year-old Ernest Barnsley name. in Stoneywell. He and ‘Mrs Gimmy’ Gimson with a letter of introduction Basil, my grandfather, loved ‘The were loved by generations of Bedalians. which got him a job in London. This Chief’, as Badley was known, as a I’d love to hear from OBs who led to many friends and contacts in the second father. After Bedales, he went to remember them. Arts and Crafts world, including Sidney Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Ernest Barnsley, with whom he to learn skills that would be useful in Jane Darke (née Gillingham, 1955-61)

22 • The Gimsons LUPTON HALL MEMORIES

y first memory of the Lupton Hall Mgoes back to the thirties and my single-figure age, just at Dunhurst. I had heard that a play was to be performed there and decided to see it. I was told that I couldn’t as it was “unsuitable for young children”. A challenge there! I slipped in with the audience and slid under one of the pews near the front. Somebody saw and hauled me out ignominiously. Some years later, once I had moved up to Bedales, I suffered many bum-numbing Jaws, admirable though the principle. How many activities come to mind: speech competitions, Merry Evenings, Gilbert and Sullivan, Shakespeare when not outdoors. Details like Paul Williamson (1940-46) clasping his hands over his Spencer (1939-48) and Jan Fabricius around. Amazingly it seemed to work. chest declaring, “I never apologise!” (1942-46), got together a small band Rehearsals became fun. Our music Bob Collet’s (1919-22, staff 1929-46) of volunteers to play a Brandenburg master, Harry Platts (staff 1937-46), amazing hands playing Liszt; or the Concerto. Our first rehearsal was got to hear of our venture and lent me melting tones of Gervase de Peyer nearly terminal. With no conductor, his baton and lots of advice. We were (1939-43) and Mozart. we were all at sixes and sevens. So one to perform to the whole school. “Start The green rooms below were after another, a player stood up and off with a bold upswing of the baton” often used as practice rooms where waved hands and arms around but, Harry advised. in anonymous privacy one could astonishingly, completely out of time. The two soloists stood close below loudly wail out one’s soul with Kol Finally Jan said: “Ali, you’ll have to do me. I swung the baton up with a bold Nidrei and the like. it”. Unconfident, I pulled a twig from upswing. The tip caught Geoff’s music My most striking adventure was Miss Hobbs’ (staff 1920-47) beautiful and sent it flying over the orchestra musical. Two flautist friends, Geoffrey flower arrangement, and waved it to land on the resting big drum below the stage. Kerplonk! The next few bars were drowned in laughter. We used to get many lovely musical performances, from staff, pupils and visiting professionals. The Griller Quartet were much loved. All four were drafted into the RAF and turned up one visit in their uniform blue. Late Beethoven, out of this world. Except that the cellist’s buttons rattled hideously against his instrument. Between two movements he called out to the audience “Can anyone lend me a pair of scissors?” Someone produced the scissors. The cellist then cut off all his buttons. Now I trust future Bedalians will cherish lovely memories of the restored Lupton Hall.

Alison Mallett (née Melville, 1939-46)

Lupton Hall Memories • 23 JOHN BADLEY FOUNDATION

he John Badley Foundation (JBF) was set up in 2010 to support the school’s ability to award fully funded bursary Tplaces. It was established by the school as a separate charity and has significantly increased the ambition and scale of the school’s bursary programme, broadening access to Dunhurst and Bedales. Since then it has helped transform the lives of many individuals, who have joined us from difficult home or school situations in both the UK and from countries abroad, including those suffering from armed conflict. The school is immensely grateful to all who support the JBF, in particular, those who have given generously and also Old Bedalians, parents and former parents who assist as volunteers, organising fundraising events and serving as trustees. We are keener than ever to build on the successes achieved so far to help more young people, and offer them the chance to raise their ambitions and change the trajectory of their lives through making the most of a Bedales education. We currently have nine pupils who have joined us as JBF beneficiaries – which is the most in the school’s history – and we want to increase this to 14, i.e. at least two pupils per year from Block 1 upwards. We are very pleased that many Old Bedalians and parents share this ambition, recognising the huge difference a Bedales education can make to a child, particularly one who faces significant difficulty in their lives. The JBF initiative is now sufficiently mature to have had students moving on to university and beyond: two are currently studying at the Universities of Oxford and Edinburgh, and another two are pursuing careers in technology.

Albie Waterton (2012-14) was now, I talk to them and think of them awarded a JBF bursary and joined as friends.” Bedales for Sixth Form. He is now “One of the key things that I came an Applications Engineer, having away from Bedales having learnt and graduated in Product Design from I find myself using in my day to day Nottingham Trent University. He life is to never miss an opportunity has been a regular member of the when it arises. So whenever there is Bedales Great South Run team, a chance for me to give back to the which has raised funds for Cecily’s John Badley Foundation – like joining Fund and the JBF. the Bedales Great South Run team “My father was a chef, who gave – it is the least that I can do for all it up his job to look after my brother has given to me.” and me when we were young,” he This is how Housemaster Philip explains. “Neither my mum nor dad Parsons (staff 1979-2016) summed had ever been to university and if up Albie in his final report: I was going to get to a fee-paying “Albie is one of those students place of education, it would have to who make a big impression on the be via a scholarship or a bursary.” school in a comparatively short space “I did think that I had better be of time. He was a very welcome ready to deliver what the school of his two years. “When I went back addition to the Sixth Form and he expected of me and I expected of home during the holidays, I did find that has kept himself fully involved in life myself. Within three weeks of arriving I’d slightly grown. I never thought that here ever since. In the 6.2 house, he at Bedales, I stopped feeling that I would get to where I was and I was has been a model boarder, very much pressure and started to feel inspired so grateful for the opportunity. When at home sharing with others and by my surroundings, my teachers and it was time to move on from Bedales, knowing how to make a dorm work. my fellow students. No one tried to I was ready for the next stage but He has made his A Levels his top judge me and there was no time to deeply aware that this was because the priority and been very determined be nervous or introspective – there school had allowed me to be that way. in his efforts to overcome any was always far too much to do.” There’s a huge bond between Bedales difficulties that he might have. Hard Although he wasn’t conscious of people – as a boarder, you live with work went hand in hand with good the changes that Bedales was making your friends, you almost never have the physical exercise that also showed his on his character while they were chance to be away from them and they competitive side. Albie is never afraid happening, Albie was aware that he become more like family. The teachers to reach out to others and he is very was a different person by the end too – when I come back to Bedales easy to get on with.”

24 • John Badley Foundation JOHN BADLEY FOUNDATION

Memorials o kick off the academic year, the school was delighted to Twelcome Head of Westminster School, Patrick Derham, for e were very grateful to the Batstone a Civics talk. He spoke about his educational journey from the Wfamily for suggesting that donations to permanently moored training ship and children’s home Arethusa the JBF should be encouraged at the memorial which then closed, leading him, via a bursary, to attend Pangbourne event for John Batstone (staff 1968-93) held in College before gaining a First Class Degree in History at Pembroke April. Avril Hardie (staff 1987-91) continued this College, Cambridge – specialising in the study of Ireland. Patrick is theme when planning the memorial for Ruth passionate about the transformational effect of education and has Whiting (staff 1963-2000). The idea of creating a been a leading advocate for school bursary schemes. He was made special Sixth Form Ruth Whiting Bursary award, an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2018 Birthday was launched by Matthew Rice (1975-80) when Honours for services to Education. After Civics, Patrick gave an he spoke about Ruth in November – specifically, abridged version of his talk to a small gathering of students, parents he invited people to donate £50 per term for and Old Bedalians over supper at 50 Church Road. The school is two years. We are delighted with the support extremely grateful to Patrick for providing such inspiration to us all. for this so far from OBs and former colleagues – and there’s still time for others to join in.

Fundraising events

number of events have become A regular features in the annual Bedales calendar, raising significant funds for the JBF.

Badley Behaved Dog Show, 11 May 2019 – Bring your 4-legged friend and compete in classes, or simply enjoy a family day soaking up the atmosphere adjacent to the Sam Banks Pavilion on the Dunhurst pitch.

Hamper Ball, 28 June 2019 – your own meal for an enjoyable evening Please book by emailing Mary Hancox: This kicks off with cocktails and jazz in a classic marquee with an auction and [email protected]. The overlooking the Mem Pitch; bring dancing to live music. Tickets are £30. whole ‘over 18’ Bedalian community is welcome. Why not get together a table with your old school friends?! How the Hamper Ball works: we provide the venue, tables and chairs and you bring your own food, drink, crockery, glassware, table linen and anything to decorate your table. Decide if your evening will be a bohemian gathering or a feast worthy of a Michelin star; and dress to match. Prizes will be awarded to the three most creatively decorated tables. No time to make a picnic? We can organise takeaway meals to be pre-ordered and delivered to the marquee on the night.

John Badley Foundation • 25 JOHN BADLEY FOUNDATION

Bedales Rock Show – The show Society annual lunch – This society comprises in February 2019 marked the 15th Old Bedalians, parents, and former staff who have kindly advised the school of birthday of this now legendary Bedales their intention to remember the school in their will. Following a lunch at the Royal event. The Rock Show has become Academy of Arts in 2017, members returned to school in May 2018 for lunch. a remarkable demonstration of the Current students, led by Director of Music Doug Mcilwraith (staff 2017-present), extraordinary talent and versatility of enchanted guests through their musical recital of singing, harp, violin, cello, guitar Bedales students. The overwhelming and bassoon. The students joined society members for lunch, served in the emotion radiating from the performers wonderfully restored Lupton Hall. Legacies provide significant fundraising income after the applause dies down at for school bursary programmes and capital projects, and they are also a tax the end of each show, confirms the efficient way for people to support their chosen causes. Please get in touch if enormous amount that the shows you would like more details (contact details below). have come to mean to so many members of the Bedales community We were saddened to hear of the death of Legacy Society member Jean and the incredible place they hold Symons (née Layton 1940-44) in October. The school is extremely grateful within the heart of the school itself. for the support from Jean and her family, and to all members of the Legacy Tickets sell quickly so look out for the Society who make a commitment to the school. 2020 dates!

How you can change the life of an individual via the JBF

n addition to attending events, Rice for designing and supplying us illustrated books for Harper Collins. Iwe welcome single gifts, regular with special Bedales branded Emma Proceeds from both events were donations, gifts-in-kind (e.g. auction Bridgewater crockery. kindly donated to the JBF. prizes, talks, performances) and In terms of giving their time, we Whilst thanking people, the school legacy pledges – all will help are hugely grateful to Old Bedalians is immensely grateful to Veryan Vere transform the lives of individuals who offer Bedales exclusive access to Hodge (staff 2012-18) who served benefiting from a fully funded special events – at Parents’ Day, Gyles Bedales tirelessly for five and half bursary place. Why not become a Brandreth (1961-66) performed his years leading our development, and member of the 1893 Club, marking excellent one man show Break a leg! playing a key role in raising funds the founding year of Bedales, by in the Lupton Hall; in the Autumn term for the Art & Design building and donating £18.93 monthly, quarterly Miraphora Mina (1978-85) once again bursaries. She moved not too far or annually? Or treat yourself to invited Bedales guests to a November away in summer 2018 to a role at some Bedales merchandise with evening at her House of MinaLima, St Swithun’s and we wish her well. proceeds going to the JBF – we Soho, home to graphic art from JK Her successor, Tanya Darlow, starts are very grateful to Matthew Rowling’s Wizarding World films and in April 2019.

If you would like to find out more about the John Badley Foundation or discuss ways of supporting the JBF, do please contact the Bedales Development team, Mary Hancox or Rob Reynolds, at [email protected], tel: 01730 711577 or see the website www.bedales.org.uk/home/development

26 • John Badley Foundation

BEDALES GRANTS TRUST FUND

during the period of his involvement. In 2017 he stepped back from this role on the basis of constraints the trustees felt needed to be imposed on his role in order to maintain compliance with charity legislation. Nonetheless, the Fund is glad that he remains willing to contribute his expertise and passionately held views as a Trustee. At the time of writing, fund assets of a total of £6.6 million are divided between the Rathbone Greenback ethical fund (£2m) and cash or cash-equivalents of £4.6m. This approach has served well to conserve the underlying fund value at a period of high market uncertainty. We have also been very grateful for the continued generosity of OB donors, and legacies received during the year. Bedales has recently welcomed a new Head, Magnus Bashaarat, and he Bedales Grants Trust Fund We were particularly pleased that, we look forward to working with him T(BGTF) was founded in 1927 through the combined efforts of in this new phase of the life of our with the aim of providing financial Stephen Davies and James Ryan at the much-loved school. Thanks as always support for students at Bedales, with Edward Barnsley Educational Trust, to Richard Lushington, who serves as preference being given to children of the year started with the receipt Bursar and Secretary to the BGTF and Old Bedalians. There are currently of sale proceeds from one of the provides great support, particularly in 22 BGTF-funded student beneficiaries properties gifted under the Lilley the administration and distribution of at Bedales, a number of whom have bequest some years ago. grants and handling of bequests. strong OB connections. During 2018, we have re-evaluated The Trustees are committed to Since the last Newsletter update, our investment principles and supporting as many students as we have welcomed Lynn Pearcy adopted a more proactively ethical possible while ensuring that the Fund’s (1972-77) and Stephen Davies investment strategy for our portfolio, reserves are maintained. Despite the (1989-94) to their first Trustee which avoids a range of industries and uncertainties of the current political AGM in 2018 following appointment activities that are inconsistent with climate and the unpredictability of during 2017. Lynn is a chartered the protection of the planet and its the market, we continue for the time accountant and former partner at species (including people). being to apply our policy of distributing one of the “Big 4” accountancy firms. Our investment strategy continues 4% of our assets annually in the form Stephen has extensive experience in to be overseen by an Investment of bursaries, which is in line with the business management and runs his Committee comprising Simon Latham, targeted return on Fund investments own property company, Homemade Dennis Archer and Lynn Pearcy. For over the longer term. Properties. We are fortunate to have many years, Peter Hall has advised on the benefit of their expertise to add the investments of the BGTF, which Cathy Baxandall (née Dwyer, 1970-76) to that of our other Trustees Camilla have grown by nearly £4m in value Chair of Trustees, BGTF Church (1989-92), Simon Latham (1993-98), Peter Hall (1975-80) and The Trust encourages applications from students who have significant Old Dennis Archer (staff 1974-2008). Bedalian ancestry. It is a great bonus to be working with It offers means-tested support to students at Bedales with preference such a range of talent and experience given to those who have parental or other family connections to the school. in protecting and developing the Fund Application is made through Janie Jarman, the Registrar at Bedales, in order to support as many Bedalians [email protected] as possible in a sustainable way.

28 • Bedales Grants Trust Fund OB PROFILES

ver the last few years James Fairweather, husband of Kate Fairweather (née Day, OB 1980-85), has been interviewing OOBs for us to find out about their time at Bedales, and where life has taken them since. To give you a taster, we have compiled a selection of extracts from his most recent interviews. To find out more about the following OBs, their memories and achievements, you can read the full profiles on the Bedales website.

Rodger Abey-Parris now Zimbabwe and spent her early “My stepfather (2001-03) life in Jamaica,” Rodger explains. “She had an oil-related and her brother were both then sent job with a Dutch Managing Director, to Bedales. My uncle absolutely loved it plastics company Abbey Metals Europe and went all the way through but Mum, and we arrived in who could only fly back to Jamaica Kuwait just after once a year, was so homesick that she the end of the eventually left after a couple of years. first Gulf War,” She always rather regretted that and he recalls. “I was she decided that Bedales might be very young at the right place for me.” the time but I Rodger’s father needed more do remember the sight of burning oil convincing about the plan. “Dad wells as we came in to land and the wasn’t sold on the idea, partly because lectures we got about the dangers boarding schools in Spain are often of unexploded mines if you weren’t regarded as places for wayward careful where you walked. Other than children, not as particularly great that, we lived a fairly typical expat life Rodger has often wished that Bedales educational establishments,” he says. in a rambling old villa and I went to had entered his life somewhat earlier “The cost was the other issue he had, the Kuwait English School – over a than it did. The son of a Spanish father of course, so he asked a lot of questions thousand students and a real mixture and an English mother, he was born in about the whole thing but once he’d of expat and Arab kids.” the UK but was soon taken to Spain, actually seen Bedales he became a Julian confesses to being unsure where all his formative school days lot happier about what the school how Bedales arrived on his parents’ would be spent. “My parents moved might be able to do for me.” radar: “There was no original family around Catalonia quite a bit in those So it was that Rodger came over connection; I was just told that the days,” he recalls. “My primary school to base himself at his uncle’s house in woodwork shop at Dunhurst would be years were spent at normal state England for his three-day introduction something that I would enjoy, I took the schools and when we moved down to Bedales. “I sat a test, I imagine, entrance exam out in Kuwait and then the coast a bit, I was then sent to a although I can’t really remember it,” he it happened – I was a Bedales student. small rural school where all ages were says. “I had been very happy in Spain As a ten year-old, I wasn’t all that keen taught in the same class! That didn’t and I wasn’t all that excited about on the idea of boarding and was filled work for me – I really didn’t get on moving just then but I do remember with trepidation, despite the fact that with the teacher – and at about the thinking how much I liked the rural my sister would also be at Bedales with age of 12, I went to the only secondary setting of the school.” me. It probably took me a year to get school in our local town. I enjoyed it a Read more: www.bedales.org.uk/ used to the separation.” lot more but I didn’t exactly shine at alumni/rodger-abey-parris Working with his hands was, as school; I was more interested in being a originally promised, something that teenager and when I passed my exams, Julian enjoyed at Dunhurst but most I did so without any great distinction.” Julian Coates (1997-2004) of his early days at the school were His mother accordingly decided devoted to making friends among a that it was time for Rodger to try Steel Trader, Cargill year that would become particularly a completely different educational It is one of life’s little ironies that Julian, close. “I really started to settle in establishment. “My grandfather had having spent much of his career in the after we moved up to Bedales itself,” been a cable engineer who moved Middle East, should derive some of his he explains. “My family returned to round the world a lot, which meant earliest memories of life from the time England, which meant that I became a that my mother was born in what is that he and his family spent in Kuwait. day boy, and I dabbled at a lot of things.

OB Profiles •29 OB PROFILES

I played the piano a bit, where Nick At the age of 12, therefore, Henrique Zoe Graham (1995-07) Gleed (staff 1990-2017) was a real was on his way to a new country, mentor, but I was hardly a virtuoso; whose language he did not speak at Artist and Commercial Stylist I liked the crafty stuff but I was no artist; all. His first educational stop in England sport was good fun but I tended more would be towards athletics and tennis – rather (TPS). “Instead of studying French, solitary sports, I can see in retrospect. I took English,” he explains. “That was I liked drama as well but usually my foreign language. Nevertheless, preferred being behind the scenes, I enjoyed myself at TPS, particularly helping with the lighting and so on.” maths, which suddenly, for obvious Read more: www.bedales.org.uk/ reasons, became the most interesting alumni/julian-coates subject to me. Even though I lived in the Wing, Bedales was still somewhat distant from my reality at that stage.” When Zoe and her family moved Henrique Dolabella By the year 2000, Henrique was down from London to Froxfield, it (2000-02) judged ready to join his step-father at soon became apparent that Bedales Bedales on a permanent basis. “Harry would be the ideal place to send her. Executive Manager of never talked too much about Bedales “Mum was a talented artist and she Forest Concessions, to me, partly, I think, because he particularly loved the ethos that she Brazilian Forest Service didn’t want to give me any unrealistic could see at Bedales, so sending me expectations,” Henrique reflects. “For to Dunannie was a bit of an obvious myself, I wasn’t too sure how I might choice,” Zoe recalls. “I loved the fit in, bearing in mind that my English place from day one. The school did was still not that great and Bedales everything that it could to nurture is obviously quite an academically the love of art that I already had. demanding place. Financially, it would I particularly remember a teaching be a struggle too – Brazil had gone assistant called Christina showing me through an economic crisis towards all about watercolours and even when the end of the 1990s and as a result I produced written work, I would add the Real, the local currency, had a drawing at the bottom of it! Most halved in value against the pound. teachers enjoyed this, but encouraged Still, my parents managed and I was me to put as much time into my Henrique’s introduction to Bedales particularly looking forward to playing written work as the illustrations.” was entirely the result of coincidence sports in the great facilities, even As she progressed through – the man who was to become his though I wasn’t especially desperate Dunhurst and into Bedales itself, Zoe step-father was one of the school’s to change schools.” worked hard academically. “Being legendary cohort of teachers! Harry Bedales proved to be a place with dyslexic, I had regular extra English Pearson (staff 1977-2006), mentor to an atmosphere to which Henrique lessons to help with my academic a generation of chemistry students at could immediately relate. “Brazil work and there I was so lucky to have Bedales, was one to take his holidays is a pretty informal country and the help of the incredible Sue Mabe in Brazil, where he would eventually Bedales, with its absence of a school she says. “It was amazing to be taught meet Henrique’s mother. “Before I uniform and first name terms with by this methodical person who really came to the UK, I’d been at school in the teachers was something that was got how my brain worked, I felt she Brazil for around seven years and my familiar to me in that sense,” he says. unlocked something in me! I was always memories of those days are mixed, in “Everyone was extremely friendly a bit anxious about not being as good all honesty,” Henrique says. “There is a right from the word go and the only as the rest of my peers but Sue helped big gap between Brazilian private and worry was to try and make sure that me in a way that has always stayed state schools and I was at state schools, you didn’t repeat what you were with me and inspired me.” where the quality gradually seemed to wearing too often!” The sports field and strong friendship worsen as I got older. The early days Read more: www.bedales.org.uk/ group were particular highlights of were pretty good but things went alumni/henrique-dolabella Zoe’s time at Bedales. “I loved sport downhill a bit after that.” and was fortunate enough to take part

30 • OB Profiles OB PROFILES

in the majority of the team sports that was horrified by most of the boarding Lucy Holmes (1980-87) Bedales had to offer,” Zoe remembers. schools that she looked at for me “As for my fellow students, I would say in Britain. Bedales was the shining Co-founder and Creative that my best friends today are still those exception for her; I came over for the Director, Holmes Wood that I made at Bedales. I share a house standard tests and interviews and loved Design with Camilla Sadler, for example, and I it from the word go,” Mary recalls. still regularly see old mates like Imogen “I liked the other people who were Major, Olivia Grant, Carmela Corbett being interviewed and tested with me and Olivia Hills. I started boarding at and hoped that they would all get in the age of 12 and absolutely adored as well and I liked Alastair Langlands it. What could be better than to hang (staff 1973-2001) too, even though out with your friends the whole time, I thought he was the most bizarre dancing and endlessly chatting?” character! The outdoor setting was Read more: www.bedales.org.uk/ another huge plus for me – back in alumni/zoe-graham Kenya I would spend my whole time outside and I loved the sense of space and freedom that I saw at Bedales.” Mary Harper (1978-83) The early days at Bedales were Writer and Africa Editor, made somewhat easier for Mary by Lucy’s connections with Bedales the presence of a family friend in the originally date back all the way to the BBC World Service year above. “That was Marian Pocock age of three, when her family were (1975-82), who basically adopted living in Hampshire and she was sent me after I arrived and made life a lot to Dunannie. “We weren’t just round smoother at a time when there was the corner from school,” Lucy explains, quite a sense of social hierarchy at “and Mum used to have to drive miles the school,” she recalls. “One of my to get us to Bedales. I would have early memories is of Alastair Langlands been five when my father, who was making us all write an observational with IBM, was posted up to Scotland essay each week on what seemed to and we all went with him. It was there us to be the most banal things. Two that I was converted from being sides of A4 every week and we all naturally left-handed to using my right hated it at that time but looking back hand for everything – must have been as the journalist that I’ve become, I can a Scottish thing.” see that it must have helped hugely Not long afterwards, the Holmes in turning me into a more observant family were on the move again, Mary’s commitment to the African writer as I got older. We also had to this time to . “I started in the continent started early. Her father, learn a new poem every week, which International School there, where I an academic, worked mainly in Africa was much more up my street.” remember meeting the astronaut Neil and India and much of his daughter’s Armstrong, and then went on to a formative schooling took place in local French school when I was about Kenya, a country which maintains its eight,” Lucy recalls. “Neither was a great pull on her heart. “I’m probably more success; I learned next to nothing and at home there than I am in many parts eventually was sent back to the UK, of the UK,” Mary observes. where I joined Dunhurst in Group 3. Meanwhile, Mary’s mother had It all seemed somehow familiar to me begun professional life in the world – a lot of the people I remembered of fine art before becoming a teacher were still there – but for some reason, and subsequently a nurse with Save I was unbelievably homesick when I the Children. It was she who would started boarding. I was also dyslexic play the leading role in the crucial next Read more: www.bedales.org.uk/ and thoroughly unacademic. I didn’t step of Mary’s education. “Mum was alumni/mary-harper take an entrance exam; instead, I had a an American, a bit of a hippy and she lovely interview and a cup of tea with

OB Profiles •31 OB PROFILES

Alastair Langlands, who asked me to policy of apartheid. The flames of my mother as a place that might suit spell the word ‘station’. I got that wrong freedom and resistance, however, still me and my mother went over on her but I was still accepted!” flickered in many places; among them own to check it out,” Jonathan says. As she progressed through Dunhurst were the King David Schools. Here “It must have really impressed her and into Bedales, Lucy at times was an oasis of relative sanity in the because the arrangements were quickly showed flashes of her self-confessed middle of a cultural and moral desert made for me to go to the UK and anti-authoritarian streak. “Bedales was and it was where Jonathan received start at Bedales in 6.1 at the beginning unbelievably tolerant towards me,” she most of his education, both in the of the January term.” admits. “I got suspended a few times, classroom and in growing up at this Read more: www.bedales.org.uk/ mainly for smoking and drinking, and one turbulent time. alumni/jonathan-klein term I arrived back at Bedales to find “Mum was one of the first teachers that my favourite field had been at King David in the late 1940s and ploughed up and replaced by netball I was there from my earliest years Francesca Pheasant courts. That was too much for me. until I graduated,” Jonathan explains. (2000-04) I vowed that I would never set foot on “We were a liberal family, extremely the courts – and I never have – and I conscious of the political situation Design Researcher, negotiated with Euan MacAlpine (staff in South Africa and reasonably but 17 Triggers 1981-92) to spend time looking after cautiously active in the anti-apartheid the chickens instead. Honestly, if it weren’t movement as a result. There were for Jessie Sheeler (staff 1972-80), my some at the school who appeared house mistress, who always stuck up for oblivious to the events around us, but me, I’m sure that Bedales would have most weren’t; for our English, History kicked me out!” and Latin teachers, the school was Read more: www.bedales.org.uk/ a place of relative safety where they alumni/lucy-holmes could explain to some of us exactly what was happening. Mind you, if you had eyes, you could see what was Jonathan Klein (1978-79) happening. King David was on top of Co-founder and Chairman, a hill with views across Johannesburg and I well remember watching Soweto Getty Images burn from there in June 1976.” Jonathan graduated from King David Daughter of a leading, frequently at the age of 17 and immediately faced a Brussels-based English antitrust lawyer crossroads. “I wasn’t sure that I wanted and a Jamaican mother, Francesca to carry on with school elsewhere; in Pheasant’s horizons were always global South Africa, we graduated earlier than in their scope. She grew up in Belgium, in other countries and a number of my attended a French-speaking school contemporaries were either going on and found the culture shock of moving to university or being conscripted into to the UK when she was ten to be a the army,” he reflects. “I actually had jarring experience. an offer to go to New York University “I found that traditional, uniform- but my parents quite rightly felt that I wearing English schools didn’t suit me was nowhere near mature enough to at all, neither my primary school nor handle the centre of Manhattan and the Royal in Haslemere, whose motto The 1970s in South Africa were a the responsibility of managing there seemed to be that they turned out grim time – this was the decade of after a somewhat sheltered home eligible young ladies,” Francesca recalls the Soweto riots, the murder of Steve in Johannesburg.” with an almost audible shudder. “Then, Biko by the Government and further The solution to the conundrum of rather wonderfully, I found out from repression across the country. Neither Jonathan’s arrived via a friend of a friend about Bedales, domestic unrest nor international the agency of a family friend who was which was thought to be far more up opprobrium and ostracism seemed able living on the south coast of England. my street. When I went there for my to shake the country from its disastrous “It was she who suggested Bedales to interview, I knew straight away that I

32 • OB Profiles OB PROFILES

wanted to be there, and I ended up starting a few weeks later in the middle of the second term of Block 3.” Bedales proved to be precisely what Francesca was looking for. “Being able to call my teachers by their first names was a feeling of being liberated again and I really enjoyed being judged by my performance rather than by how I dressed; the lack of a hierarchical system was so refreshing,” she says. “When I wasn’t on the hockey field, I spent practically every afternoon I could in the design workshop, which is where I felt most at home – I won a design award at my primary school, much to my surprise but this workshop was like a new world opening up for me.” Central to the furtherance of schools in west London,” he says. cake and milk being doled out to the Francesca’s design talents were the “My parents were divorced, though, students. What was this place?!” duo of Mo Halli (staff 1974-present) and home life was feeling a bit rocky Just as Christopher had guessed and Martin Box (staff 1970-2008). when, as a nine year-old, I went on it might, Dunhurst, when he arrived “Mo was absolutely lovely, a wonderful an adventure holiday to and in earnest in the autumn of 1981, man,” Francesca enthuses. “And as for immediately announced that I wanted suited him immediately. “I was so Martin, he was just my hero. He was to become a boarder. I’m not sure that glad to be there,” he enthuses. “To quiet, down to earth, even unassuming, anyone thought that I would be able to me, my parental figures seemed a but you knew how much talent lay pass the Common Entrance exam for little unreliable and it was as though behind that modest exterior. He was St Paul’s at the time, but my step-mother I had arrived in the heart of an my most influential teacher and his had been schooled at Portsmouth unconventional, slightly ramshackle, approval meant a lot to me. I wasn’t at High, knew the area and thought that immensely loving family. I walked with my most confident in those days, which Bedales might interest me.” a limp, the result of my left leg being might surprise those people who think Strictly speaking, it was the wrong paralysed by polio from the age of three that I usually seem fairly sure of myself, time of year to be applying for a months, but it didn’t matter. I was but the feeling that I was pretty good boarding place at Dunhurst, but totally impractical as well – my art, at this made me feel alive.” undaunted, Christopher’s family design, pottery and woodwork were Read more: www.bedales.org.uk/ approached the school and in short awful, I couldn’t thread a needle and alumni/francesca-pheasant order, he was being put through his I appeared to be bereft of any artistic paces by Alastair Langlands. “I must talent at all but that didn’t matter have done some sort of test, I think, either. I still loved it all, was encouraged Christopher Pietroni which I don’t remember much about, to try everything and I so remember but I vividly recall Alastair, his plus-fours, the glorious smell of sawdust and (1981-90) his monocle and the amazement I felt oil in Mike Lucas’s (staff 1981-2000) Co-Director, when he asked me about the poetry woodwork shop, for instance. I wasn’t Leading Communities that I had read and enjoyed. My school a troubled child, exactly, but I did in Ealing was still using the strap for have issues to work through and the Bedales, when he first saw the school, various misdemeanours, after all, and firm but loving supervision of people represented something almost akin to here was this apparently heavenly like the Perkinses, my house tutors, paradise for the impressionable young place which might become my school. and Chris Daley, our Matron, was Christopher. “As far as education was It was an extraordinary experience, all exactly what I needed.” concerned, I’d spent my time before the more so when we emerged from Read more: www.bedales.org.uk/ Dunhurst at a series of ordinary prep Alastair’s study and I saw chocolate alumni/christopher-pietroni

OB Profiles •33 THE BEDALES CHAIR

recently, when doing up a house in Scotland which was substantially re-modelled by the leading Scottish arts and crafts designer Sir Robert Lorimer (who has parallels to Gimson and Lutyens) my interest in rush seat chairs grew. This humble chair structure, perhaps the first mass-produced chair in Britain, was appropriated by the Arts and Crafts greats of the time – Ernest Gimson, Edwin Lutyens, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Mackay Hugh Baillie Scott, William Morris, William Burgess, Charles Francis Annesley Voysey and more. So, as my curiosity and our collection grew, I became aware that t was a very special experience to – who made them for 61 years, who newly purchased chairs kept having Ireturn to Bedales and celebrate the learned from Edward Gardiner, who to go to Lawrence Neal to repair and history of the Bedales chair – giving was directly apprenticed to Ernest restore. Was there no one else? After a Jaw to students and other guests, Gimson. It is little known that you can all, Lawrence had at least a six month showing our film The Chairmaker look at many chairs in the library and waiting list. I later came to understand and taking questions. After all, this is see who made them by the stamp with that Lawrence might be the last person where my curiosity (and I confess a their name on. Each chair has a story, a in Britain making and repairing these slight obsession) with rush seat chairs specific maker and embodies hundreds chairs for a living, having raised a family all began. Sitting in those chairs, in of years of tradition. on the back of it. that majestic library and under the So, how did I get involved? Upon When visiting his history-layered spell of the wonderful David Butcher leaving university my first significant workshop, with his father’s SAS cap (staff 1963-92), wood, design and the purchase of furniture was six chairs nonchalantly hanging on the back of Arts and Crafts movement got under from Lawrence Neal in 1994 – I simply the door, covered in layers of dust, my skin and started an unexpected felt that this was the most accessible I was struck by the beauty of the place journey. So, what is the history of these reminder and embodiment of the and felt compelled to want to capture chairs? And why have we made a film library that I had come to love. More it in some way. Then, understanding that that we brought to show everyone in the Lupton Hall? What does the chair symbolise when thinking about broader questions of design, longevity and sustainability? The history of the Bedales chair is an under-told story but sits at the heart of the beautiful Bedales Memorial Library, arguably the ethos of the school and – more broadly – of the Arts and Crafts movement. Designed by Ernest Gimson, the visionary behind the extraordinary library and Lupton Hall that we have all come to love, the Bedales chair not only represents a long multi-generational tradition of making but also is a living tradition that has been under threat. Lawrence Neal has been making rush seat chairs for 50 years, learning from his father Hugo and Mo.

34 • The Bedales Chair THE BEDALES CHAIR

this lineage was under threat because experiencing a powerful information symbol it represents as a handcrafted Lawrence needed to sell the workshop and technology revolution, that again creation that is both timeless and to retire, and wanting to capture his is creating a complementary ground subject to considerable longevity story and all the history – I agreed to swell of interest in locally made things (even when exposed to the rough make a film with Falcon Productions. that are sustainable, can endure and and tumble of school life). The resulting film has tried to capture have a story. Some great questions In a cheery footnote to the Bedales the beauty of the chair making, the came up from students during the Chair story, with the help of the history of the chairs, Lawrence’s story Lupton Hall film screening, that asked Heritage Craft Association, we have and the living tradition. At the school, about the importance of mass-produced managed to secure two apprentices we also unveiled a short additional machine-made products. How do to learn Lawrence’s craft to ensure clip, celebrating the Bedales chair, with we find balance in an age of global that it endures for generations to Matthew Rice (1975-80) reflecting on consumerism? How can we seek come. When the apprentices have its iconic status, whilst David Snowdon sustainability? Clearly individually come of age and Lawrence says that (former staff) harks back to the time hand-made things are not the only they can stand on their own two he learned to make them in the woods, answer, but they form an important feet, the workshops – with all the speaking to its humble origins but noble balance and perhaps can also have a tools dating back to Ernest Gimson’s enduring nature. lasting impact, in the same way that the time at Daneway, will be moving up The film includes a provocation Arts and Crafts movement impacted to new workshops in the old stables that suggests that in order to ensure design and furniture making in the at Marchmont House in the Scottish ongoing craftsmanship with such a long 21st century. Borders, so the lineage starts a new history, we need to make conscious So, next time you are in the Library, chapter that we hope will continue decisions to enable its survival, from do sit on a Bedales chair and become to evolve, inspire and endure. celebrating the people who make aware of its wonderful history, the them to deciding which products to broader story it is part of and the Hugo Burge (1985-90) buy. The Arts and Crafts movement was a reaction against the industrial revolution in a period of massive change and wealth creation. William Morris (who inspired Gimson) felt that we needed to celebrate the craftsman, nature and hand-crafted beauty of things that we bought. In many ways there was a tension at the heart of his message since, as a devout socialist, he really became a purveyor of luxury goods to the wealthy. Today, we are

lawrencenealchairs.co.uk Watch The Chair Maker: vimeo.com/283958058 Or search for ‘The Chair Maker Lawrence Neal’ From 2020 we hope that the workshops will be operational at marchmonthouse.com

The Bedales Chair • 35 ANDALUSIAN ART RETREATS

“I knew she was the perfect fit,” Doherty, who is a renowned botanical says Katja. “You don’t spend five years artist, has also now joined the Bonita with someone in the ‘refec’ queue and Art project. At the last retreat with evading trouble without becoming Julie this past October, afternoon yoga long-time friends. There’s an intimacy sessions by the pool were offered you can’t find with other people. You which guests really enjoyed. To that end, know how the other ticks, even after yoga retreats are planned for 2019 in all these years.” combination with art workshops or Katja’s idea was to bring ‘guests’ as yoga weekend getaways. to her corner of paradise, a 33-acre “It’s been an extraordinary fruit farm with a large Andalusian experience,” says Katja. “Not only is white-washed cortijo (farmhouse) it fascinating to see Julie teach in her overlooking the Guadalhorce Valley. very personable and enthusiastic Having previously been a barrister and way, but it’s also wonderful to meet then a journalist, eight years ago Katja like-minded ladies who come for a decided to pursue a more holistic, break and leave as friends.” nature-filled life, and follow her dream And are men welcome? “Sure!” of owning her own homestead. laughs Katja. “We’ve had one gentleman B friendships seem to weather “Right from the start, friends and join us. He was very good at making Othe passing of time incredibly family had helped with planting and cocktails!” well. Decades after leaving school, Julie picking fruit,” Katja explains. “During the Julie, meanwhile, has discovered a Sajous (née Smith, 1976-81) and Katja harvest, the house would fill up and part of the world previously unknown Faber (1976-81) reconnected following we’d all muck in. We’d work for several to her. “Having Katja speak the lingo and a school reunion and came up with hours in the avocado grove and have know the area is such an advantage,” an idea for a joint project, which they big communal meals made with our Julie explains. “It’s so beautiful down successfully launched in 2018. own farm produce. Plenty of drinking there. The house sits atop a hill and “We were in touch through social too – we have our own wine.” there are orange and lemon groves media,” says Julie, “and then one day, out After a couple of years, Katja began as far as the eye can see. Plus there’s of the blue, Katja phoned from southern to offer farm tours and stays for those a pool and the food is home-cooked. Spain and suggested I travel down to interested in learning more about a What’s not to like?” her farm. She said she had an idea – that sub-tropical farm. “To my surprise, And what does the future hold? she wanted to run art workshops.” I ended up hosting several music More retreats are planned for next Intrigued, Julie jumped on a plane and weekends with musicians who had year. “I definitely intend on broadening headed for Andalusia where Katja owns come on those very farm tours. One my ‘Andalusian Sketchbook’ workshops and now runs an avocado and citrus thing led to another.” so as to include local fiestas and farm. “To be honest, it was a long shot” It was therefore only a matter of traditions. There’s so much to discover. admits Katja. “I knew Julie had her hands time before Katja extended her sharing Plus Katja is simply the most laid-back full with her art teaching but I thought, concept further and used the magical and kind host. It’s really a home-away- nothing ventured, nothing gained.” surroundings of her farm for art and from-home for me now. And I suspect Indeed, Julie has been teaching art music workshops. that’s the same for the guests. They all out of a charming caravan in her pretty “Katja is quite clear about what she say they’re coming back.” garden down on the Isle of Wight since wants to create,” says Julie. “It’s about 2012. She originally studied fashion connection and community. It’s basically For information about the farm, design, worked in New York, travelled what I do too – teach art in a way tours and art retreat/workshops: extensively, and then returned to her that allows people to grow from the labonitahacienda.com beloved Solent coastline where she experience, not only in skill terms but threw herself into building up her own also in reducing their fear where painting facebook.com/haciendalabonitaspain art school. She teaches people of all is concerned. Most importantly, it’s abilities, in between cups of tea and about having fun.” Julie Sajous: cake and lots of laughter and chatter. The first of these art retreats took juliesajous.com In her spare time, Julie continues to place in May 2018. Since then there instagram.com/julie_sajous_artist paint and exhibit her work. have been several workshops. Shevaun

36 • Andalusian Art Retreats ANDALUSIAN ART RETREATS

The views from the house.

Hacienda La Bonita the property. This means that today having people visit and showing them each and every tree that’s been planted around, getting them to pick their own t seems as if it’s only yesterday that since has its own small sprinkler system lemons for G&Ts or the tomatoes for II wrote a piece for the OB Bulletin which is controlled via valves and a the gazpacho. There’s always something about avocados, sunshine and my computer from the irrigation hut. I’m to do and visitors regularly end up fading memories of John Rogers’ doing all I can to protect the natural helping to harvest fruit or plant trees enthusiasm for Outdoor Work. Yet it’s resources and environment. Irrigating if they’re keen to get involved. We a lifetime in terms of the experience at the smartest time and in the best also welcome volunteers during the I have gained in building up a farming way ensures that I get the most out of avocado harvest season or students business in southern Spain. I could the water resources available. There who’d like to spend time with us and write a book, perhaps even several, are two wells that pump water up from learn about food production and what about the ups and downs of taking the aquifer to the hut from where it’s it takes to run a fruit farm. on such a project. There have been distributed to the various sectors on My focus for the next few years is times when I’ve pulled my hair out the farm. We control the water supply to develop the workshops alongside and yet I’m still here quite simply remotely, in amount and timing, and the farming business. I’d like to because I love what I’m doing. Back thereby minimize water wastage. see the Hacienda become a place in 2011 the ‘farm’ was an abandoned The farm is now producing three where artists, musicians, writers, piece of land with a dilapidated different types of avocado (Hass, Fuerte, and those wishing to get away house. It’s now a working farm, with Bacon), lemons, mandarins and pecan and do something a little different, trees that produce quality fruit that’s nuts. Whereas in the first year we had feel at home whilst learning about sold all over Europe and a beautiful neither quality nor quantity, we now sustainable food production. I’d also house that’s been renovated – as produce over 80,000 delicious avocados like to host healing retreats for those far as I know, I’m the only female every harvest that we hand pick ourselves recovering from illness, trauma or avocado producer in Europe. This over the course of three months. The loss and so would love to partner may not sound like much to the trees in our lemon grove now stand tall with OBs who work in this field. It’s average person, but to someone and produce all year round. Our pecan all about feeling connected to nature like me, who had zero agricultural trees are finally beginning to bear fruit, and to yourself, of re-learning to find experience when I signed the deeds although it’s been touch and go at the joy in life again or simply having a to the land, it’s a huge thing. Not times because moles kept eating the break from the routine of daily life by surprisingly, it’s been a challenge! juicy, tender roots of the newly-planted coming to a place that’s gentle on the The first year was tough. The trees seedlings. You live and learn. soul. As one of the guests wrote in were either old, ill or had died from Now that the farm is up and the guest book this autumn: “We met years of neglect. Add to that, the running, I have more time to actively as strangers, and left after six days as irrigation system looked as if it had share my experience of what I do with friends. This wasn’t just a holiday, it been in place since Franco’s time. But, others. I organise private tours and was a healing of the mind.” with hard work and lots of planning, farm stays and this year began hosting we dug up and placed pipes all over art workshops and retreats. It’s fun Katja Faber (1976-81)

Andalusian Art Retreats • 37 ANDALUSIAN ART RETREATS

Wellow Art Academy Julie on the Isle of Wight.

ucked away in a private garden Tin a peaceful corner of the West Wight sits a long, low, white tin caravan. Its simple exterior belies the hive of activity inside. In this most unlikely of settings is a thriving art school, named affectionately (and with some humour), The Wellow Art Academy. This old mobile home, once condemned and fi t for the crusher was allowed to re-emerge as a practical and light-fi lled open-plan room when Julie Sajous (née Smith, 1976-81), her 77-year-old mum, and the occasional very patient carpenter, worked night and day to turn it into an art studio. “There never seems to be enough In fact, student work has been Initially, Julie used the space for herself, time to try out the raft of creative exhibited in the local Quay Arts Centre painting island-inspired seascapes in topics on the to-do list,” explains Julie. and one student has gone on to be a acrylics for galleries across the Isle of “Drawing, painting, sketchbook skills, practising (and selling) painter. Lessons Wight. Then one day, Julie was casually collaborative painting, colour theory, now extend to weekend workshops asked by someone if she could teach abstract work – the areas covered are and summer schools and there is even her how to paint the sea. Although a diverse. The main lesson learned very a hen party planned in Spring next year. seasoned lecturer and teacher, Julie early on was that there are so many Julie fi rmly believes anyone can had never taught painting but, as an adults who have a fear of art, of making draw or paint. “It’s about having a go, artist herself, thought it would be an a ‘mistake’, of being judged… and so shaking off that old anxiety about not interesting proposition. Starting out with this in mind classes are designed making the right kind of art and gaining with just this one student, Julie quickly to be fun and easy going.” the confi dence to fi nd one’s own found that word spread about her art Julie’s students also appreciate the individual style.” teaching and she has never looked tea and cake, chatter and banter. back. Now there are up to 30 students “It certainly seems to fuel the creative Wellow Art Academy taking lessons each week. juices and leads to amazing work!” www.juliesajous.com

38 • Andalusian Art Retreats 2018 IN THE ARCHIVES

n a sunny day last April, as I else she could find, and is a project that Otravelled up to London to join we hope to continue. a walking tour of Bloomsbury – Enquiries coming in to the Archive The Garretts of Gower Street – I was have again been extremely varied, feeling guilty that I hadn’t called Ruth from simple biographical details of Whiting to suggest that she join me, as former students for their descendants she found Mrs Badley’s extended family or biographers to the locations of extremely interesting. An hour in to donated trees planted around the the tour, I was congratulating myself estate. One of my favourites asked if that I hadn’t called Ruth, as she would we could let the enquirer have a photo have been very annoyed by the tour of Clement Hale (1924-31), who guide’s lack of knowledge. A few minutes became a scene-painter at the Royal later, I had to excuse myself to take a Opera House. At first I thought not, phone call – the call that informed as we only have Whole School Photos me that Ruth had died. without names from her era, until I For the past five or six years, since realised she was a twin and clearly Anthony Seldon and David Walsh first an identical twin. She and her sister contacted us to ask for information had performed in A Comedy of Errors, on our WW1 casualties staged precisely because to include in their book two pairs of identical Public Schools and the twins were available to Great War, Ruth had the director. Comparing immersed herself in the the Whole School Photos life histories of the early (which luckily were taken Bedalians. Focussing on every year in the early those who died in WW1 1920s) allowed me to she was inevitably drawn have a stab at identifying in to the tangled family her and her twin, though histories that characterised of course I couldn’t tell the brave parents who which was which. sent their children to this We were extremely new-fangled school in the pleased to receive a 1890s and early 1900s. considerable grant from She brought to bear the the funds remaining in research skills honed by the Bedales Association family-history research for her own than we had first thought. We have account towards the digitization of family and friends, and combed through to thank local historian, David Jeffery The Bedales Record. The entire run the collections of the National Archives, (staff 1983-86), for drawing attention of the Record, from 1894 to 1935, is the Imperial War Museum and the to the fact that Mrs Badley had now available online: bedalesschools. British Library. We miss her and her invited Mrs Pankhurst to address a daisy.websds.net. There are still many unsurpassed knowledge of Bedales meeting at Bedales in August 1907. years’ worth of The Chronicle to do, history greatly, and hope that we have This was an object lesson in using and donations to this project are honoured her memory by completing historical sources – there is no record always welcome! the WW1 project. of the meeting in any official school I am happy to report that Ian In the last few months of her life, magazine, presumably because it took Douglas, who is jointly responsible Ruth had become more and more place in the summer holidays, and for the Library with me, is now interested in Mrs Badley’s views on was not a school event, so at first we becoming more familiar with the suffrage, and had begun to question doubted it. It was, however, reported Archive holdings as well, and records whether our description of Mrs Badley in the Hants and Sussex News of the some of his experiences below. as a suffragist was entirely accurate, or time. This prompted Ruth to spend whether she was more in favour of the hours trawling through microfiche in Jane Kirby (née Williams, 1974-79) militant approach of the suffragettes Petersfield and London, to see what Bedales Librarian and Archivist

2018 in the Archives • 39 2018 IN THE ARCHIVES

Ruth was growing a touch obsessive Bedalians then – just like Bedalians over some mystery about one of her now – were never dull. I might OBs. Well, I’ve caught the same bug mention Peter Clement Layard myself now, and I’m showing all the (1907-14), who pinned up bright symptoms. Ruth, forgive me if I was silk handkerchiefs in the trenches, ever unsympathetic! so that his troops wouldn’t suffer I now realise, too, that this is not the monotony of looking at muted just about the compulsion to solve colours all day, or Oswald Horsley a puzzle. The real reason is that one (1906-12) who joked that he always becomes emotionally attached to the got wounded in time for an OB subject, with a feeling – perhaps an reunion. Even more than the tragedy illusion – that one really knows the of their deaths, it’s the vitality of their unique human being. lives that stays with me. I’m ambivalent about this feeling. I think there’s a danger of over- interpreting the few fragmentary and randomly-preserved documentary remains. How do I know that what Oswald Horsley. has been preserved is characteristic ince Ruth’s death, it has been of the real person? Smy privilege to help complete What does Remembrance actually her unfinished work profiling the mean, once the people being honoured Bedalians who fell in the First World have passed out of living memory? War. This has involved a steep Can the historian ‘re-member’ the learning curve for me – I’m not a dead; undo the dissolution of their trained historian – but has become individuality wrought by death and time; one of the most interesting and recall some part of what made them rewarding things I have done in my unique human beings? professional life. Readers had better My answer, based on this experience, judge for themselves, by reading the is that sometimes we can at least catch

profiles online, whether I have done a glimpse, and that we have a duty Horsley and Wolff from ‘Wings Over the Somme’. justice to Ruth’s example, but let me always to try. How wise it was of share a few reflections about what Mr Badley and the others who mourned I’ve also learned more about the I have learned from the process. this lost generation, that they chose to character of early Bedales: their fierce Firstly, I have a renewed respect build a Memorial Library. In this place, loyalty to one another and to their for the sheer scale of the work that we don’t just have the names inscribed Chief; the strong ethos of public duty Ruth did for Bedales over the last on the walls, we also preserve and that went with being an OB; their few years. The files in The National re-tell their stories. sense of a vocation to go out and Archives don’t always give up their Most recently, we shared some “make the world more Bedalian”. secrets easily. The job is to translate a of these stories – just a handful of Finally, I have a renewed sense of rather arcane and usually incomplete examples – at our annual Remembrance our obligation to those who have set of bureaucratic notes into a Jaw. I believe I wasn’t the only person generously shared letters, diaries coherent and comprehensible human with a tear in my eye that evening, and other family treasures with the story. Having worked my socks off and I’m proud to think that this work Bedales Archive, and to those who on just a handful of cases, I now has helped our current students feel support the Archive financially. understand that this was a full time a closer kinship with these long-dead I hope that OBs of all generations job for Ruth over the last four years: Bedalians. will continue to entrust their a true labour of love, crowning a If all this sounds terribly sombre, memories to us. lifetime’s service to Bedales. let me add that it has also been Just occasionally – let me make enormous fun spending time in the Ian Douglas this confession – I used to feel that company of these colourful characters. Bedales Librarian

40 • 2018 in the Archives STAFF PROFILES

Jo Alldridge (staff 1992-present) After almost three happy years, Jo made her first career move, striking “ t my school in Surrey, most of were so supportive and welcoming – out for Queenswood, a girls’ boarding Amy peers weren’t necessarily and I taught lower school drama, dance school near Hatfield. It was a different that ambitious or certainly weren’t as a CSE course and also had a sixth experience in more ways than one. often encouraged in their future form class that was part of the school’s “Quite a strange place in some ways,” ambitions,” Jo Alldridge recounts. “Most enrichment programme. There were Jo laughs. “The school wanted dance were steered to become secretaries some bumpy moments, of course, as to be brought into the curriculum so I or nurses and that’s generally what with any other walk of life, but basically, had a blank canvas to work with, which happened to them. In my case, I was it was fantastic and I learned so much. was great, although the other members really lucky to have supportive parents, I had the advantage of not being that of my department were a good bit who were happy to back me up in much older than some of my sixth older than me and very different in my dream, which was to go to drama form pupils and my style was to blast their thinking. They weren’t the only school in Guildford. The concession my students with as much enthusiasm ones – I use to knock around school that I had to make to them was to and positivity as I could. Without that in things like a bright fuchsia tracksuit, do the dance and drama teacher energy, trying to teach anything is a accessorised with lycra tights and ra-ra training course there, rather than a complete waste of time!” skirts, and I actually got a number of pure performing course so that I had something to fall back on, and that was fine – I really enjoyed it.” A one-year stay in Eastbourne’s Chelsea College would follow, during which Jo gained the PGCE qualification that would allow her to teach in the state sector. Pragmatically, she still hedged her bets at this point between a teaching career and a less certain future on the stage. “I’ve always been quite fatalistic,” she says. “I strongly believe that if you nudge at enough doors, one will open for you and then you see where that takes you. I did a couple of open auditions but I also applied for various teaching jobs and the door that happened to open for me was at a school in North London – Finchley Manor Hill, a comprehensive in Friern Barnet.” In her role as Head of Dance, Jo immediately settled into her new career. “I was catapulted in, just 22 years old, still very naïve in many ways, of course, but I took to teaching at once and never wanted to do anything else once I saw what it was all about,” she reflects. “Theatre was something I still did and the school was very good at letting me have time off to perform with the Theatre in Education Company of which I was a member but teaching really suited me. I absolutely fell on my feet at Finchley Manor – they

Staff Profiles •41 STAFF PROFILES

complaints from various staff members was interviewed by Euan MacAlpine Jo also lent her talents to choreographing about my choice of attire. As I say, it (Head, 1981-92) and Liz Molton (staff and directing a number of school plays. was quite a strange place. I was never a 1989-98). Dance wasn’t yet part of the “John Pearson was not only Head of natural rebel, though, and I stuck it out Bedales curriculum and nor was Drama Science at Bedales but also a musical there until I got married in 1983.” but a day a week suited me perfectly director of the National Youth Music Jo’s husband Terry was an osteopath just then and that’s how I started.” Theatre and we worked together on a with a thriving practice in and It was the beginning of a 28-year whole spate of shows,” Jo remembers. the time had now come for the couple love affair. “When I look back, I took my “Honk!, Blood Brothers, Guys and Dolls to move somewhere closer to his work. Bedales career in such small steps that – loads of them. I was also enjoying “We looked at the map and chose I virtually grew in time with the school,” having my own tutor group, my son Petersfield, which looked lovely and, Jo says. “Bedales sort of worked out had arrived at Dunhurst and I was importantly, didn’t have an osteopath in what they wanted for my role as we starting to feel completely wedded those days, which meant that it was a went along and I gradually went from to the school.” good place for Terry to consider opening one day a week to five, offering more The arrival of Keith Budge (Head, another practice,” Jo explains. “The move and more opportunities to students 2001-18) would give added impetus meant that I now needed a job, which who otherwise had mainly sport or PE to Jo’s life at Bedales. “Keith started I found at a school in Leigh Park, again to look at for their exercise alternatives. on the same day that my son George as a Dance and Drama teacher.” The timetable changed, accessibility to (2001-06) entered Block 3,” she recalls It was a return to the atmosphere Dance and Drama grew and the big and, in time, I was encouraged to that Jo had enjoyed so much at her turning point was the appointment of apply for a position as a housemistress, first teaching post. “The type of school Mike Morrison (staff 1993-2000) as initially with the day students. I think it was, in the type of area meant that the first Head of Drama at Bedales that it suited my maternal instincts at my students didn’t come from a family – at the same time as Drama was the time; my own nest seemed to be of natural theatre-goers,” she says, introduced as a GCSE subject and the emptying and I could fill it with different “but as a result, they seemed to value Olivier Theatre was being built.” children! Later, I was offered the chance dance and drama all the more. It was Jo was quickly to become an integral to become housemistress for 6.2, accessible to everyone at school, it was part of the new broom, helping to which was an exhausting but absolutely seen and it was appreciated. Suddenly establish the Performing Arts exchange wonderful seven years for me. Philip I was in with kids from a totally with Dubai College, which is now the Parsons (staff 1979-2016) and I different background with so much to school’s longest-running exchange were a great team; Philip was totally share and our drama improv sessions programme, and ensuring that dance immersed in the school and his depth were real and they were raw. It was performances such as Bedales Dance of knowledge taught me so much.” real heart on the sleeve stuff. The staff and the Youth Dance Platform became Jo had already clocked up almost all bonded together as well – it was part of the school’s annual programme. a quarter of a century of service to like being part of a gang.” “Mike was very canny,” she says. “He Bedales by the time she made the It was while she was at Leigh Park quickly realised that he had far too decision to make some alterations that Jo welcomed the arrival of her first much work on his plate and he used to her full and demanding schedule. child. “Something we’d always wanted,” to come and watch me teach in the “To start with I said goodbye to the she confirms. “I went back after my old Drama Studio, where he also had housemistress’s role, which was the maternity leave but not long afterwards, an office. Eventually he asked me if I result of a family decision to shift I was pregnant again and that was it fancied teaching Drama to the Block gears a bit,” she explains. “I also told for me for a short while. A little later, 3s; until then I had been teaching Keith Budge that I no longer wanted I started taking evening dance classes Dance as an offered activity and I was to teach full-time. By then I was too at the local dance school and one dead keen to play a bigger part in old to be rolling around on the dance day, I saw an ad in the paper that was everything. So I taught GCSE Drama, floor and I was mainly teaching dance looking for a dance teacher one day a we introduced GCSE Dance as well and theory, which had been in place for week. It was Bedales – I’d been aware then AS and A Level Dance came in. ages. I was ready for a change and I of the place, knew about its orientation Mike was very good like that – so said to Keith that I was very open towards the arts and was curious to encouraging and so good at taking you to something new. ‘Let’s see what discover more about somewhere out of your comfort zone.” comes up’, he said.” that seemed so different to anywhere By now very much a full-time player What came up was the position else that I’d been, so I applied and in the Bedales daily merry-go-round, of Deputy Registrar, which Jo holds

42 • Staff Profiles STAFF PROFILES

to the present day. “It seemed been her professional home for so long. I’ve certainly no plans to go anywhere ideal,” Jo says. “I hadn’t done a lot of “The ethos of the place is much the else,” says Jo. “I never really did; there administration before but I’d been at same as it was when I arrived here and was a moment, when the children Bedales for 25 years, I’d been a parent the children are certainly as Bedalian were still very young, when I spent and I was now going to be selling now as they always were,” she says. half a term away while a contract was something about which I was absolutely “One of the best things about the worked out that allowed me to sort passionate. Essentially my focus is on place is that OBs from ten years ago my life out properly and I thought the externally-facing elements of the are regularly invited back here to talk that I might end up elsewhere, but school – organising taster days, open to the students of today and have a honestly, it was never what I would days and meeting prospective parents.” bite to eat with them and you can see have wanted. This school has been the Such has been Jo’s versatility that she the connection that is always there biggest part of my own education – even served as interim Deputy Head at between them. A lot of OBs would say a continuous learning experience that Bedales for a term before the arrival of that their strongest relationships in life is still happening today.” Rick Cross (staff 2017-present). are still with their mates from Bedales.” It doesn’t take much to get Jo to And so the love affair continues. James Fairweather, husband of wax lyrical about the school that has “Oh, I shall be here a while longer – Kate Fairweather (née Day, 1980-85)

Richard Sinclair (staff 1997-present) mattered not – Richard gained a place at St Catherine’s, Oxford, where he would study Zoology. “In those days we were spat out of school quite young and scarcely mature enough to know what’s what,” Richard reflects. “Our first year tutors at Oxford didn’t seem terribly interested in us either but crucially I was up there at a time when Richard Dawkins had just published The Selfish Gene; the debate that stimulated left a lasting impression on me and my peers, who included Matt Ridley, the noted writer on various popular scientific topics. A lot of our professors were critical of Dawkins, possibly as a result of professional jealousy, but they were heady times to be studying the subject and listening to the arguments.” After leaving Oxford, Richard spent n his school days, Richard Sinclair quite well-rounded on the academic two years working for a party catering Iwas such an academic all-rounder side and my first intention was to take company. “It was a young, fun place to that it wasn’t easy to predict that he my A Levels in English, French and work and that was a crazy, lively time,” would ultimately become a Biology German. Bradfield seemed to think he remembers. From there, he would teacher for the best part of three that I wasn’t all that good at languages move into the wine trade, where decades. “I was at prep school at so I went slightly rebellious and chose he renewed acquaintances with Tim Westbourne House, which I loved,” exclusively science A Levels instead! Potts, an erstwhile biology teacher at says the Twickenham-raised Richard, The three best-taught departments Bradfield. “I’d always thought of Tim “before going on to Bradfield College. at Bradfield in my time were English, as a great believer in Bradfield but Bradfield was one of those immensely Biology and Chemistry and I naturally he was actually fairly cynical about sporty places where, if you didn’t excel gravitated to those subjects, I suppose.” the place, which I found interesting,” in that department, you didn’t really fit He may have taken a circuitous Richard comments. “The wine trade in. I wasn’t particularly sporty but I was route to studying the sciences but it itself was something I liked, as much

Staff Profiles •43 STAFF PROFILES

for the people involved in it as the To his delight, the passage of time was definitely on the wrong side of product, deeply as I still appreciate my had affected neither Richard’s recall of the A3! I taught Biology and Chemistry wine. London was a good place to be the subject of biology nor his passion there and all sorts of things went on. in the 1980s but the wine trade was for it. “It all came back to me quite Quite early in my time there, I led a already beginning to change for ever easily and I went off to Kingston to tree-planting initiative at the school, as an industry – it was no longer the do my PGCE,” he recalls. “There I was which was vandalised within barely a exclusive province of the upper-middle given all the assistance I needed, the week. On another occasion, a student classes and the old established wine confidence that I could deal with a class threw a tantrum having been excluded merchants were beginning to feel the of children and the recognition that and launched a metal rod through my heat of competition.” those children needed to be taught classroom window, showering glass Richard eventually began to hanker science in a way that would facilitate over students at the back of the class.” after something that might offer him learning and help them to understand Despite these setbacks, Richard a greater intellectual challenge. “I left the subject as it related to the looks back on his seven years at Bishop the small company I worked for and examinations in front of them.” Reindorp benevolently: “Resources in initially pushed off to France with my Richard’s PGCE course had allowed the state sector are and were always wife, where we set about renovating him to gain an introduction to the tight – I had a class of 35 pupils in a house,” he explains. “Our son classroom at a comprehensive school a lab where space was so limited George (2003-08) then arrived, so in Guildford. “Guildford is a rather that there wasn’t room to conduct we returned to England, where it was genteel place and very often, its practical experiments,” he says. “There time to consider my options. I wanted comprehensives were relatively genteel were some marvellous teachers in to use my brain more – not doing so as well,” he observes with a chuckle. all departments, though, who were had become rather frustrating – and I “That was certainly not the case with totally committed to comprehensive realised that I missed science. Whatever my first proper teaching appointment, education and I got a lot of pleasure at I did from now on needed to involve at Bishop Reindorp School, which may seeing bright students realising some of biology, I decided, and that’s where my have been in Guildford (it no longer their potential. I certainly had no plans road to becoming a teacher began.” exists under the original name) but to leave, no real future game plan at all,

44 • Staff Profiles STAFF PROFILES

which is ironic when you consider how was,” he says. “This had to be the right that are evolving all the time. The much time I have subsequently spent way to do things. It was also such a challenge of teaching is to adapt – we advising students to think ahead and be pleasant change not to have to bother now have a Director of Learning and aware of their own futures.” with enforcing uniform regulations. Innovation at Bedales, Al McConville It was a newspaper advertisement I was warned that I would be getting (staff 2007-present), and he is excellent that would presage the seminal move some students with “attitude” but I at encouraging teachers to try out in Richard’s teaching career. “My wife found that the “attitude” was invariably different methods. It’s very healthy – saw the ad – I’m not quite sure why she expressed so charmingly that the we can all get set in our ways at times was looking – and it turned out that challenge it posed was always an but change can be a positive thing.” Bedales was searching for someone enjoyable and refreshing one. I have Looking back across more than to teach Biology and another science,” always tried to engage students with 20 years as a Bedales teacher, Richard’s Richard explains. “I wouldn’t have been the subject but there is never a set affection for the place has deepened interested in going back to Bradfield or formula to it. One thing has always with the passing years. “The great a similar environment but what little I remained true – if you want respect, thing about the school is that you’re knew about Bedales did make a fair bit you have to give it.” encouraged in every way, which is an of appeal. I went down there and was Bedales has long been associated emphasis that has only become greater interviewed by Alison Willcocks (staff with its success in the Arts and while I’ve been here,” he notes. “I may 1983-2001) and Gary Skinner (staff Humanities. More quietly, however, the have been at Bedales for 21 years 1984-2008). Gary was Head of Biology school’s Science departments have but the school belongs far more to at the time and I clearly remember my been amassing their own remarkably students who may only have spent five interview with him as being much more successful track record. “We’ve always years here than it does to me, which of a discussion than a grilling. I happened had a strong Science department here is just as it should be. Students here to mention the name of E.O. Wilson, and certainly the continued uptake aren’t just passing through; they have one of the world’s great experts on ants, of the various subjects by students a real sense of passion and pride in and Gary, who also had a formidable has been constantly encouraging,” their school.” knowledge in that area, and I discussed Richard says. “There have been many “What I have valued so much is ants for about twenty minutes! The only fine science teachers at Bedales, keeping in touch with students after minor problem was that I would have to which has in turn led to a number of they have left, delighting in their teach Physics, rather than Chemistry, in successful science students, and that achievements and their success,” addition to Biology, which necessitated tradition continues, I’m happy to say. Richard continues. “You spend a lot of a whole lot of boning up on the subject. It’s always been important to strike time with them and you get to know I rather hope that my first students the right balance here between the them here in a way that’s beyond most at Bedales have forgotten those early Arts and the Sciences. We do have other schools – it breeds a properly physics lessons of mine!” to fight our corner in some ways; the caring relationship between us. Bedales Richard’s initial impressions of Sciences don’t produce canvases or students are always full of surprises; Bedales had made his acceptance of textiles for onlookers to admire so I’m always staggered by the talent that the job almost a foregone conclusion we have tended to speak to people each student reveals and they all retain even before it was offered to him. through our results, which have been a curiosity about life that is so healthy. “I was so struck by the quiet across the consistently excellent.” When I arrived, I never imagined that school, a silence that was only broken Richard’s long career at Bedales is I would spend more than half my by the sound of chamber music floating highlighted by the nine years he has working life at Bedales and yet I can out of the Quad,” he remembers. “From spent as the school’s Head of Science. honestly say that I have never once the time that I had been at teacher Now operating as Head of Biology, he found going to work to be a chore training, the harsh sound of school bells is enthusiastic about the way in which here. When I do eventually leave, had been part of my life; you never the Science departments have adapted I shall miss my colleagues, I shall miss heard one at Bedales. Yes, it was an to changing times. “If you have a look the students and above all, I shall miss easy decision for me to join.” at a typical student timetable, you can the enjoyment that I’ve always found Those favourable early thoughts see how much of it is devoted to the in designing each individual lesson. were swiftly confirmed for Richard Sciences,” he remarks. “It means that It’s all been a lot of fun.” when he began to teach at Bedales. we need a clear sense of direction on “The first time that a student called me the one hand while always updating James Fairweather, husband of Richard, I thought how wonderful this our knowledge in a group of subjects Kate Fairweather (née Day, 1980-85)

Staff Profiles •45 SHOWTIME CHALLENGE / MUSICAL MEMOIRS

night only event will go to the Lewy Body Society, whose mission is to fund research into Lewy body dementia and to raise awareness of the disease. So far Showtime Challenge have raised nearly £100,000 for charity. Everyone involved is a volunteer, from the creative team, the cast, the orchestra, the crew and technicians, the costume department…And the end result is a professional, fully staged, fully choreographed production which sther Biddle (1994-99) is a has been completely rehearsed in Eprofessional actress and musician. just 48 hours. It really must be seen Over the past 15 years, she has to be believed. specialised particularly in performing in Auditions will be held in spring musicals and plays as an actor-musician, in London and are open to all. which has taken her all over the UK, Esther will direct ‘Singin’ In The The company is also always looking abroad and to the West End. Rain’ at London’s Adelphi Theatre in for sponsorship – ranging from Alongside her professional stage October 2019 for this year’s Showtime contributing to the cost of hiring the career, Esther has been a producer Challenge 48 hour musical. This will theatre to donating prizes for the and a director of a theatre company be the company’s seventh West End raffle. For more information about called SHOWTIME CHALLENGE, set production where all cast and crew getting involved, or to find out up specifically to produce theatre for are given only 48 hours to rehearse. about how to audition please visit charity since, she co-founded it in 2004. All proceeds from this year’s one www.showtimechallenge.co.uk

MUSICAL MEMOIRS

y a remarkable coincidence, two OBs who went on Bto successful careers as professional musicians have published memoirs in recent months. Ian Hampton (1947-52) has written Jan in 35 Pieces: A Memoir in Music (The Porcupine’s Quill, Erin, Ontario, 2018) and Nicholas Braithwaite (1951-57) has published So what does a conductor do? The people, the places, the music making (Amazon Books, 2018). Both came to Bedales as sons of musicians and both eventually followed their parental specialisations – Ian as a cellist in a string quartet, Nick, who started as a trombonist, as a conductor, largely, though by no means exclusively, of opera. Both played in the National Youth Orchestra, and trained in London but after early Ian’s memoir is more discursive, structured around individual careers in the UK and the peripatetic lives that were almost pieces of music, with references to Bedales and Bedalians the inevitable consequence of their career choices, eventually appearing from time to time. The leader of the Vancouver- lived, and worked and retired in distant places – Ian in British based Purcell Quartet to which Ian belonged was the late Columbia, Nick in Australia. Norman Nelson, who was married to an OB, Jenny King Bedales figures prominently in both books. Nick’s mostly (1951-57) to whom Ian makes occasional reference. Jenny chronological account devotes an entire early chapter to also appears in Nick’s Bedales chapter. his school experience. The daily cold baths of the 1950s evidently created life-long memories both for him and for Ian. Timothy King (1950-57)

46 • Showtime Challenge / Musical Memoirs NEWS IN BRIEF

Callum Anderson (2008-14) graduated the Queen to do an Order of Merit with a degree in Music from Bristol portrait which is now part of the University. He is now studying for an Royal Collection. She is a tutor at MA in Historical Performance at the The Royal Drawing School and Royal Academy of Music, with the has now released her first book, harpsichord being his main instrument of Drawing & Seeing. study. Callum is also the Organ Scholar at St Marylebone Parish Church. Busy (1996-2001) has appeared in a feature film (Beast), Eleanor Bell (1985-90) is an architectural two TV series (ITV’s Vanity Fair and lighting designer, light artist and fully the BBC’s Les Misérables) and a West qualified electrician. She recently End play (True West) over the last worked for the American light artist Martin Cahn (1964-67) has been year. We look forward to finding out James Turrell – programming and elected to the local district council in what 2019 has in store for him. installing a new lighting system in the South Cambridgeshire for the Liberal ‘Skyspace’ for Kielder Forest & Water Democrats. This was Martin’s first Josh Graham (2004-12) is the CEO Park, Northumberland. political campaign and he is delighted and founder of ehab – a digital to have been voted in to represent platform designed to engage with the Histon & Impington ward. The communities and manage construction Liberal Democrats took control of projects, with the aim to completely the South Cambridgeshire District change the way homes are created Council by more than doubling their so that they are more sustainable seats in a shock result, which saw an and affordable. The platform is being end to the decade long Conservative tested with 20 partners across five control of the area. continents, including a partner who is building Africa’s first sustainable Matthew Derrick (1972-79) studied smart home. at Cambridge, followed by medical training at the London Hospital. He completed paediatric training Jared Blumenfeld (1981-84) has at Northwestern University and a launched an environmental podcast neonatal fellowship at the University channel. Podship Earth features over of San Francisco. He is now a 40 episodes about how we connect with Neonatologist in Evanston, Illinois ourselves, each other, nature and the with an academic appointment at the universe. In episode 37, Jared interviews University of Chicago. His current his guest Andrew Graham-Brown clinical research project involves (1978-85), a TV producer, director Minimally Invasive Surfactant Treatment and cameraman, who has focused on for neonates with immature lungs. He nature and wildlife filmmaking for over is married and has two children. twenty years.

Artist Clara Peter Hall’s (1975-79) café, Flat White, Louis Burrows (2007-12) graduated Drummond has won the title of Best Coffee House from the Sir John Cass School of Art (1991-96) was in the Harden’s London Restaurant last year in Fine Art Photography. He awarded first prize Awards 2018. Peter founded Flat White has a real passion for portraiture and for the BP Portrait in Berwick Street, Soho 13 years ago has already worked with some great Award in 2016. and believes that it was the first place performers and personalities – most In 2017 she was to serve ‘flat whites’ in Europe, but recently Nicky Haslam. commissioned certainly the first in the UK. by Her Majesty

News in Brief • 47 NEWS IN BRIEF

Artist Simon Hitchens (1978-85) has some of the poems, and includes an been chosen to develop the Elizabeth anecdote about John Batstone (staff Landmark in Cold Law, Northumberland. 1963-93). The book takes the reader His proposal, a 55m high sculpture on a journey through Frieda’s life – the entitled Ascendant is inspired by the fable-like poems draw on her early rugged and undulating landscape in years in Devon and Yorkshire, a lifelong which it will sit. engagement with nature and itinerant wildlife, and later experiences when living in Australia, London, and most recently, Wales.

Alana Hurd (1995-2000) is touring the UK for three years in a campervan called ‘Mill(y)onaire Milly’. Through Hayley Harland (2005-08) aka Mission Milly, Alana hopes to raise TYGERMYLK has released her first £1,000,000 en route to make a single, What God Would Keep Us Apart. difference to eight abandoned disabled It is the first of three singles being youngsters in Swaziland: providing them released by Hayley as part of her debut with a home for life. EP. The song tells the tale of Hayley’s first love and the challenges that the Lucy Holmes (1980-87), co-founder Tim Hutchinson (1960-64) spent couple faced. and Creative Director of Holmes 50 years working in the film industry in Wood Design, has left her post to the art department, as a draughtsman Peter Harris concentrate on new aspects of her to production designers. Recently he career. Since the company’s inception in has been tutoring in design at the (1960-65) has 2000, it has become a world leader in National Film and Television School. had his translation the design of direction and information Two of his three daughters (see below) of Sun Tzu’s schemes, focusing on visitor spaces are Old Bedalians. The Art of War, as an expression of branding. She is published by looking forward to taking up new Everyman’s Polly Collingridge (née Hutchinson, challenges in 2019. Her OB profile is Library (Penguin 1985-92) has just completed an MSc featured on page 31. Random House). in Cross-Cultural Psychology from Written over Brunel University. After re-locating with two thousand years ago, it contains Victoria Hoskyns (1984-87) has her family to the San Francisco Bay penetrating insights into the nature of spent most of her career working in Area for three years, she has returned power, inter-state rivalry, realpolitik and broadcasting (CBS, Al Jazeera, Associated to London and is now focusing on military success. Press) but has now decided to unleash freelance intercultural training work, her creativity, founding KraftworkN7 – providing support to others making a small online business, designing and intercultural transitions. Composer Alex (Ali) Harwood selling t-shirts and accessories. (1979-84) scored two feature films last year. The Guernsey Literary and Georgina Hutchinson (1992-99) Potato Peel Pie Society follows a writer Frieda Hughes worked in Los Angeles for several years (Lily James) who forms a life-changing (1973-78) and studied screenwriting at UCLA. bond with the eccentric society. has gathered She currently lives in south west Spain, The Escape follows Tara (Gemma together her where she is developing her third Arterton) who, unhappy with her life, first four poetry feature film script and working as a leaves her husband (Dominic Cooper) collections in Out copywriter, poet and more recently and children behind and sets off to of the Ashes. Her the content manager for a short film Paris to rediscover herself. introduction gives streaming platform. background to

48 • News in Brief NEWS IN BRIEF

Andrew King (1976-81) and his growing child and adolescent, it is the partner Nana Takahashi have released story of a family and their circle of a new album One Magic Afternoon well-known, left-wing, idealistic and under their pop duo name of Bonbon. intellectual friends, who all lived in They toured internationally in 2018 the street between the 60s and 80s. to promote the album and ended He covers his time at Bedales in in the Bahamas in December where part three. they played at an early Junkanoo (local Mardi Gras) in Nassau. For the last 12 years Robbie Mills (1981-86) Leah Mason (2002-09), also known has been a as Minke, has released her third single, freelance Maybe 25. Reviewed by Earmilk as an storyboard ‘indie-pop sensation’, Minke is ‘supported artist based in Henley-on-Thames, by the likes of Zane Lowe and Spotify’. providing illustrations and storyboards for TV, film and advertising. Robbie has now launched his first children’s e-book for the Amazon Kindle, Hugo the Sausage Dog and the Dinosaurs. Inspired by his own dachshund, it is a simple bedtime story for early readers Elize Layton (2008-13) graduated (3-5 years). in musical theatre from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance last year. Since then, she has played Jo Murphy (staff 2001-10) has brought Lucy Pevensie in a musical of Narnia out a new book, black comedy memoir and was part of developing a new Clare McCaldin (1979-85) has Burnt Dress. Calling on a variety of physical theatre production Love Across developed a solo opera called Mary’s forms including prose pieces, play-scripts, The Line with Ambitus Theatre. Elize is Hand, with writer-director Di Sherlock rhyming satirical verse – and even a now playing Juliet in Palchetto Stage’s and composer Martin Bussey. The show multiple choice contemporary musical adaptation of had its premiere last year and will now paper – it charts Romeo and Juliet, which is touring Italy be touring the UK in 2019. Clare plays the rollercoaster for seven months. Queen Mary I, Bloody Mary to her of growing up enemies, who loves to play dice and with a manic- cards. Over a game in which the audience depressive Clare Liardet (1975-82) has published chooses the next card to be turned, (now known as her first book Dry: Non-Alcoholic Cocktails, Mary reflects on her life: her royal family, bipolar) parent in Cordials and Clever Concoctions with faith, marriage, her desperate desire for the 1960s. Bantam Press (Penguin Random House). a child, and her blackened reputation. The book features adventurous Composer Roxanna Panufnik (1982-86) recipes, distinctive William Miller received last year’s coveted Last Night combinations and (1980-82) has had of the Proms commission. Songs of delicious flavours a book published: Darkness, Dreams of Light was performed – most of which Gloucester by the BBC Symphony Orchestra at can be created Crescent: Me, the Royal Albert Hall. Scored for two with ingredients My Dad and choirs and orchestra, it was one of the found in your Other Grown-Ups. festival’s biggest contributions to the kitchen or garden. Written through WWI centenary celebrations. the eyes of a

News in Brief • 49 NEWS IN BRIEF

Deborah Parris (1970-71) has lived in When Caroline make sense of climate change – Nature, Catalunya for the last 36 years. She is an Rollings (née Action and the Future: Political Thought animal activist and was closely involved Giddens, 1969-75) and the Environment. in the abolition of Catalan bullfighting started boarding in 2010. She is now a member of CAC, at Dunhurst, she Andy Steed (1994-99) trying to get ‘correbous’ abolished. had only just and his wife turned seven – Aideen have volunteered in Myanmar, an experience teaching physiotherapy. Based in Yangon, she personally they have helped set up acute stroke struggled with, and musculoskeletal services – a big even though she enjoyed her time change from their usual jobs in London, there, and eventually Bedales, where working for the NHS, private practices she stayed until the age of 18. She has and Arsenal Women’s FC. written about her experience in Finding Our Way Home, a collection of stories Richard Tomlinson from 16 women who were all sent to (1966-76) has boarding school at a young age. published a book about France’s Camila Sadler (1997-2007) has launched most infamous Juliette Perry (2008-15) rowed for her new business, St Palo. The St Palo serial killer Henri Oxford University against Cambridge in Necklace carries self-diffusing essential oil Désiré Landru. In Landru’s Secret: the Women’s Boat Race this year, during blends and is a new way to experience The Deadly her final year of her Philosophy, Politics the benefits of aromatherapy. Whilst Seductions of and Economics degree. During her time working full time in other jobs, Camila France’s Lonely Hearts Serial Killer at university, Juliette impressively went spent over three years developing the , from being a complete rowing novice to cleverly crafted silver-plated pendant Richard concludes that Landru being selected for Oxford’s Blue Boat. which unscrews to carry a self-diffusing murdered more women than the The crew unfortunately lost the race vial containing one of seven available 10 who vanished between 1915 but this has not deterred Juliette from organic aromatherapy blends. and 1919. The book also reveals rowing – having graduated, she now the first convincing solution to a continues to row for another club. murder mystery with no bodies and Anna Sampson (1995-2000) is the no conclusive proof of how Landru founder of The Chalet Edit, a specialist disposed of his victims. Matthew Rice’s ski chalet and travel concierge company (1975-80) which launched last year. Anna offers a Brenda Tyler (née Rice’s Language carefully edited portfolio of hand-picked of Buildings Lawrence, 1955-57) is chalets and a complimentary concierge an updated and service to take care of all the little has edited and larger format details from ski school bookings to released a book edition of Rice’s mountain restaurant reservations, about her uncle’s Architectural ski experiences and more. Anna is a sea voyages, Trading by the Primer (2009). mountain enthusiast with over 15 years’ Wind Godfrey This beautifully experience in the industry. . illustrated book Wicksteed (1913-17) was employed covers the grammar and vocabulary as a seaman on the Bellands, one of of British buildings, explaining the Sophie Smith (1994-99) is an associate the last British-built full-rigged sailing evolution of styles. Its aim is to enable professor of Political Theory at the barques. Godfrey was at sea for four the reader to recognise, understand University of Oxford and a tutorial years and kept a diary. Brenda has and date any British building. Complete fellow at University College. She has illustrated the vivid accounts with maps, with over 400 watercolours and co-edited and recently published a diagrams, photographs and sketches. hand-drawn annotations. volume of essays investigating how the The book also includes interviews with history of political ideas can help us Godfrey when he was in his 90s.

50 • News in Brief OBITUARIES

John Batstone (staff 1968-93)

ohn Batstone was an inspirational it came to marking! We could only Jcolleague, a great teacher and a big admire his stamina, determination character in every way – whether it and powers of concentration, as he be as a fearsome fast bowler with an set out on sustained red-ink fuelled inimitable action that seemed to defy marathons for hours at a time, wielding the laws of gravity, a dominant squash his pen with rapier-like ruthlessness and player who could run rings around efficiency, while we found excuses not opponents, or a superb theatre director to emulate him! with an output that was as prolific as Perhaps John’s greatest contribution, it was professional. though, was as a theatre director As Head of English, John didn’t just where he was in a league of his own. teach his subject, he lived it as an essential, Year after year, in between the teaching empowering and civilising force, relishing and marking, the squash and the cricket, both the intellectual challenge but also he would unfailingly conjure magical the thrill of expanding young imaginations productions that were as innovative through the power of language. as they were exciting, inspiring aspiring As a colleague, John was unfailingly thespians to levels of performance encouraging and supportive: always way beyond their years. Phineas open to new ideas, new work and new Finn and As You Like it are just two approaches, giving us the freedom to unforgettable examples from my era roam across the literary landscape in that transcended any received notion ways that just would not be possible of “The School Play”. today. With his effervescent character None of this would have been and his disarming humour, together possible – as John would have been room at Downs House, John never with his disdain for all humbug and his the first to admit – without the lost his ebullience, his zest for life, his intellectual acuity, he fostered a vibrant formidable (in the very best sense) irrepressible sense of humour, his love English department that was always Margaret, whose unstinting and selfless of Portsmouth FC, and his thirst for a fun, appropriately serious but never commitment to the family ensured good read. solemn. One of his favourite quotations that John had the time and space to Ruth Whiting, George Bird and was [from Samuel Beckett’s Endgame]: express himself to the full. An abiding John Batstone were, quite simply, a “I love order. It is my dream!” – and for image is of John donning his helmet and triumvirate of brilliant teachers and him this was a mantra that captured waterproofs at the end of each day and fierce personalities who made Bedales the double imperative of developing firing up the famous Honda – which an extraordinarily privileged place to rigour alongside wonder. Or, as Arthur inexplicably on occasions seemed to work. (And there were others – too Miller surely meant to write (to corrupt need refuelling at The Harrow on the numerous to name here.) What is another John-ism) “A teacher’s got to way home! certain is that we were lucky to have dream, boy. It comes with the territory”. Beyond Bedales, John regularly had them either as teachers, colleagues John could seem intimidating at walked the theatrical boards himself or friends. It is the hallmark of a great times – truth to tell, we were all which perhaps provided the impetus, teacher that he/she touches minds, probably a little in awe of him. “Sorry, after his retirement, for him to become expands imaginations, inspires futures I’ve got a John Bat essay to do,” was a an unlikely late entrant into local politics, and changes lives. John certainly did constant student rejoinder, said with becoming, as a Liberal Democrat, all of these in so many ways over so a frisson of excitement-cum-terror. Deputy Mayor of Petersfield, despite a many decades. He will be affectionately You always knew – and your students campaigning line almost certainly not in remembered and sorely missed by, always knew you knew – that the essay the handbook: “Actually I am a socialist”. quite literally, thousands. for John would be the first one to be He also ran a book club through the completed! We accepted this because WEA, taking his passion for literature David Simmons (staff 1975-81) we knew that whatever demands he to a new audience. In his final years, with Tim Williams (staff 1966-93), made of us, John made even more of even when bedevilled by the ill health David Thompson (staff 1971-75) himself, nowhere more so than when and infirmity that confined him to his and Graham Banks (staff 1980-2013)

Obituaries • 51 OBITUARIES

George Bird (staff 1962-88)

eorge Bird, who has died at by a double agent (and later fictionalised Gthe age of 90, taught German in Ian McEwan’s The Innocent). and Russian at Bedales from 1962 It was at MI6 that George met his until his retirement in 1988. He was future wife Margaret. When they married, Head of Modern Languages for much they left the intelligence service and of that time and is remembered by moved to Cornwall where he trained generations of students as an exacting National Servicemen to become Russian and inspirational teacher. interpreters at the Joint Services School He was born in Exeter, where he for Linguists. This remarkable institution, attended Hele’s School. He was, though, born out of fear of the Soviet Union, quite largely self-taught. Some nearby created a generation of men who gable-ended Dutch merchants’ houses loved Russian language, literature and inspired him to teach himself Dutch. culture, including writers Alan Bennett When the war came, he devoted and Michael Frayn. night. Good news for his Labradors, but himself to studying German. Anticipating The school relocated first to RAF Crail not for nocturnal rule breakers (“he the Cold War, he also taught himself in Scotland and then to RAF Tangmere was a fine tracker…many a difficult Russian. He even started studying in Sussex. A walk in neighbouring night escaping his torch in the quarry”), Hindi with a view to joining the Indian Hampshire led George to Bedales, his although he seems rarely, if ever, to Army, but India became independent discovery of which was virtually an have reported them. and he did National Service with the epiphany. He turned down an invitation In 1988, when he retired, TV South British Army in occupied Germany to set up a Russian department at made a documentary called End of Term instead, allowing him to perfect his Strathclyde University, and instead joined which featured him, in which he says: German and Russian. the staff of Bedales where he spent “I have invariably learned as much from He was the first member of his the rest of his career. my students as I have taught them”, family to go to university, with an army “Inspirational, original, funny and adding, with characteristic self-deprecation: scholarship to Cambridge. There he the most incredible teacher”, he is “if I have succeeded in teaching them was recruited by the Secret Intelligence also remembered by Old Bedalians anything at all”. Service, MI6. This was common on social media as a great character. There is no doubt about that. knowledge later when he taught at He stole the show in staff plays in the “George was without a shadow of Bedales, but little is really known about Lupton Hall, while his hilarious annual a doubt my favourite teacher while this period of his life, except that he pre-exam briefings broke the ice for I was at Bedales – he made a lasting was stationed in , where the even the most nervous candidates. The impression on me. Every so often, when operation in which he was involved Head excused him of staff duty weeks signing up for online accounts, I get became notorious as it was betrayed in return for locking up the school at asked the security question: Who was your most memorable teacher? To which I always reply: George Bird.” On top of his teaching, he translated a dozen books, from Dostoyevsky’s The Double to Andrei Kurkov’s Death and the Penguin. With his colleague Richard Stokes, he co-translated The Fischer-Dieskau Book of Lieder, a standard reference work for singers and students of German song. And his own novel, Death in Leningrad, won the Pluto Crime Prize. George and Margaret retired to Sticklepath in Devon, where George undertook epic walks with his dogs, George Bird in staff play ‘Hotel Paradiso’. collecting Dartmoor ‘letter boxes’,

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and was a pillar of the local church and to teach himself new languages until Michael, Edward, Helen and Elizabeth, wider community. When Margaret just a week before he died in the all of them Old Bedalians (1970-77; survived a stroke, he was her full-time Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital. Those 1966-80; 1967-82; 1968-83), and by carer until her death four years later. attending his funeral included former four grandchildren. He lived independently in his own Bedales staff, parents and students. house, translated Chekhov and continued He is survived by his four children, Michael Bird (1970-77)

David Boswell (1935-40)

avid Boswell, pioneer of British remorseful mother, secretly learned Dmicroelectronics and developer to fly at 15. Later, there followed of the first implantable, wireless heart three years during WW2 in the RAF pacemaker, has died aged 94. as an engineer officer. As his mother He was born in Brompton Hospital had become a ‘Spitfire lady’ delivering on the 1 June 1923. At that time planes from factory to airfield, they his mother, Diane, was a writer were the only mother and son flying and his father, Ronald Boswell, was regularly on active service during the a publisher, director of the Bodley war. After periods at airfields during Head Press alongside soon to be fighting in Burma and Europe, he Penguin Books supremo Allen Lane. returned physically unharmed and David’s parents divorced in 1927 qualified at London University as an lecture at his university in Colombo, when he was four years old and he aerodynamicist. Whilst at college he fell Sri Lanka. was immediately sent off to Telegraph in love with Mary Goodburn (known At 75 he retired from consulting House, an isolated boarding school in as Meg) from Hythe in Kent. They but his restless workaholic spirit Sussex. It was the first term of a new were married in 1949, a year after she remained. He developed complex ‘no rules’ educational experiment run finished her degree while she was still software for a unique and very by Bertrand Russell the philosopher working in the Russian section of the accurate costing system initially for and his wife Dora. After causing a Government Communication Centre the Government which was later giant chandelier to fall on Dora’s at Bletchley Park. sold to a Dutch engineering company. bed nearly killing her, grabbing the After the war, David decided to His freelance journalism included wheel of the Russell’s car from their give up aeronautics and began a long many humorous articles for the chauffeur and driving it across the career pioneering in microelectronics. New Scientist, medical magazines front lawn thereby ruining it and In his GEC laboratory at Wembley, and local newspapers. subsequently starting a fire that took he was part of the team that made In later life David managed a fire-brigades from several nearby the first germanium transistors and website dedicated to helping patients towns to quell, he was expelled, aged silicon diodes in England. Later he was with emphysema and he began five and came home to live with his a founder of the International Society writing and publishing several volumes father, his younger brother Martin for Hybrid Microelectronics, a society of poetry. and an Irish nanny, Kathleen. Russell that now has more than 30,000 He described himself as a ‘soft himself referred to this ‘disturbed members worldwide. Most importantly, atheist’, happy in practice to support child’ who had made him pause for whilst working for US company ITT ancient church buildings and accept thought in his ‘no rules’ experiment, in Devon, England he led the team religion as part of other people’s in his autobiography of 1950. that designed and manufactured the lives, but not his own. Later, David and his brother, first implantable heart ‘pacemaker’ in He died peacefully in his sleep Martin (1933-42) went to Bedales the UK. on 1 February 2018 and leaves – where he says he did, at least, After having had several books behind his wife Meg (90), his sons, learn how to play cricket and cope published on miniature electronic Christopher and Simon and five properly with girls. Destined for technologies and their management, grandchildren. the Civil Service, he rebelled again he was asked by Arthur C Clarke, the and, as a birthday present from his author of 2001: A Space Odyssey, to Simon Boswell (son)

Obituaries • 53 OBITUARIES

Leo Singto Gauvain (2008-12)

n the late afternoon of 17 moved to Bedales where his life totally ODecember 2017, the brand-new changed and he could focus on subjects Design Graduate, Leo Gauvain, with he really enjoyed: Design, Photography, a lovely girlfriend and a beautiful Mathematics, and the Classics. future about to bloom, was doing the In 2013, Leo entered Arts University stereotypical thing: at the end Bournemouth (AUB) where he built a of the day, he nipped out of the house foundation in the fields of Photography, for a bowl of noodles on the street Graphic Design and Fine Art… following nearby. On his way home, a one-ton iron the ethos and acumen of his father’s gate at the construction site for a new business in Thailand. In July 2016 Leo apartment block fell on him, killing him graduated with Honours and after a instantly. This mind-numbing tragedy has short break back in Thailand returned shaken this high-rise-menaced village to AUB as a visiting/guest lecturer, while to its core. also pursuing a career in Publishing, Leo Singto Gauvain was born in Curating, Photography and Design. Leo’s Bangkok, Thailand, on 18 June 1996. Both first company was called ‘the button, he and his brother Justin spent their press’. In appreciation of his support for elementary years at a traditional Thai AUB, the university held a Memorial kindergarten before moving to Service and exhibition of his works, as Leo returned to Thailand to re-unite Shrewsbury International School where well as naming their new Exhibition with his family after being away for Leo stayed until the age of 13. At that age Gallery the ‘Leo Gauvain Gallery’; some 10 years. He worked in conjunction Leo’s artistic focus was already showing, recognition in his short life. with me in my branding and design especially his passion for expression in Leo was an exceptional young man, business, but also pursued his passion the areas of Photography and Graphic full of life, love and kindness; always for photography, curation of exhibitions Design, as well as his interest in the sharing and giving and had the and book making. Leo had a unique Classics and Mathematics. exceptional gift of sharing his knowledge combination of creative thought and Leo passed the entrance examination and talent with others. He was a creator, fiscal ingenuity. This rare combination into Stowe School, one of the UK’s top innovator and epistemologist; the would allow him to segue seamlessly private schools. However, being more philosophy of the nature of knowledge, into our business at both creative and creatively inclined, he really needed a justification, and the rationality of belief; management levels. better environment and after one year his soul, spirit and ideological beliefs His initial plans were a start-up will surely live on in his work. on-line/off-line skating magazine He was a true artist of our time, ‘Flip-board’ – skating being another of with a talented eye for imagery: patient, his passions; and an affordable scanning, intelligent wit, clarity and kindness, printing and publishing service to courage and certainty, a generous help struggling students. humility – a very marvellous and special My family and I received hundreds young man who will now always be of letters of condolences and love for young and always in a class of his own. Leo. Several hundred people showed Keith Budge (staff 2001-18), the up at his funeral at the Buddhist temple then Head of Bedales said of Leo: in Bangkok – old and young – many “I remember Leo as being the gentlest of whom we had never met and did of characters with a ready smile and a not know. His exceptional creative friendly look in his eye. I hope that his talent, love, and kindness for others time at Bedales provided a happy and will be part of his legacy, along with his secure foundation for his subsequent inimitable infectious smile. tragically short period of life. I am glad We miss you. that since leaving Bedales he had been able to pursue his Patrick Gauvain (father) and Ing K (family friend) passions so fully.” Photographer/Designer Film Producer/Director

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Katy Krabel (née Allcard) (1980-87) When she first arrived in the US in 1988 she worked in a summer the age of 11 had already had more camp for socially maladjusted adventure than most people ever do. children and then took a road trip She continued to follow in her parents’ to Florida, where she chose to live untrammelled footsteps. on the streets with the homeless Katy stayed in touch with many while working as a waitress by day. of the people she met in her travels, She drove across Europe before and has been described by friends working as a canoe guide in Canada, as an extraordinary woman and a as the skipper of a day charter boat beautiful soul: a warrior with grace. in the Caribbean, and as a trapper When diagnosed with terminal living in a tent through the Canadian cancer and given a few months to live winter, and panning for gold in the “She was not defined by her illness, summer. All of her travels were an rather continued life to the full, true education. In Mexico she drank tea to form – adventuring, discovering, with Zapatista guerrillas, interested, creating, contributing, challenging, loving, as always, in seeing alternative lives enriching us all. She was a wonderful and viewpoints. caring person, and extremely positive Danger in her travels came in other hen I first met Katy, aged 11, until the end.” forms, such as grizzly bears when Wshe talked matter-of-factly We met on our first day of school, canoeing for five months alone across about pirate attacks, whales, and had things in common: we were 2,000 kms of northern Canadian phosphorescence lighting up the both home-schooled, came from the wilderness. She canoed into a wildfire ocean and the dangers of playing tropics and we both loved the sea. burning on both sides of the river with Matchbox cars when your I was lucky to meet her so early in my and with no way of knowing how far home was a Baltic trading ketch: life as even at that young age she was it stretched, she decided to press on an extra big wave would roll them an inspiring role model. If something through, and spent some hair-raising off the deck and down adventuring needed doing, Katy simply did it, with hours dodging the flames across the into the deep ocean. I learnt about no fuss and no trying to wriggle out of water and watching burning trees camping on deserted tropical islands an unpleasant job. She took whatever falling in around her. miles from anywhere, growing up life threw at her and just dealt with it. She met her future husband Eckhard in the Seychelles and Antigua, and However to Katy, school was an further upriver – another wilderness how it felt to lie in the netting under interruption. She wanted to explore traveller and a space engineer. He the bowsprit and fly soundlessly as many new horizons and experience joined her in the Caribbean as her over the speeding sea below. as much as possible, and she remarked crew when she was skipper for the Katy’s father, Edward, was one later that her seven years at Bedales season, and later they married in of the pioneering post-war sailors were the longest she’d stayed in one typically low-key style: the ceremony who travelled the globe for sheer place. Although her school results would was near Hudson Bay, with a lone love of the sea, without the safety easily have got her to university, she went witness brought in from the street. nets of modern sailing equipment. instead to the US and renewed her life In the Yukon they built themselves Edward became the first person to of immersive experiences and travel. a cabin on a trailer, fixed drums sail single-handed across the Atlantic She planned to work five months a year underneath, and drove out onto a in both directions. He later met to pay for seven months of adventuring, frozen lake, so that when the ice Katy’s mother, Clare Thompson, who and over a nine year stretch she turned melted they could live afloat with embraced his life wholeheartedly her hand to manning a T-shirt street their newborn son Franz, safe from and taught herself how to run a stall in the San Francisco docks, being a both bears and council fees. The household with no running water or super-yacht bar maid, ski liftie, crew on first spring was suspenseful, as they fridge and shop in the local markets a TransAtlantic race, boatyard worker, waited to see if the cabin would of any country and culture. Katy Colorado cowgirl, and volunteering float. It tilted in the melting ice, but was born in New Zealand and by in a Guatemalan orphanage. righted again.

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After their second son Flynn young life from seasickness, Katy was people who crossed paths with her was born, they built a house on perplexed at school when anyone and permanently stayed in touch, land, and apart from the family’s made a fuss of minor illness, and when a brilliant light has gone out. outdoor lifestyle of skiing, trekking her terminal diagnosis came, she stayed The world has lost someone quite and canoeing, and some forays to true to form: after her first round of extraordinary. I hope you are still live in Spain and England, life became treatment she went sky-diving and in adventuring somewhere. Thank you more conventional for a while, as she between treatments she still managed for crossing my path so early, Katy: sacrificed her days of adventure to to travel from her Yukon home to warrior with grace. devote the last 20 years of her life Australia and the Caribbean, and revisit to raising her beloved boys. her birthplace in New Zealand. Juliet Corley (1980-87) When you’ve come to terms Katy died aged 49, in the Yukon, with pirates in your first decade of soon after her birthday, saying she A Gypsy Life by Clare Allcard gives life, all of the above probably seems was glad to have made it till spring. the background to Katy’s childhood. normal. Having suffered most of her In the words of one of the many

Dr Hilary Mitchell (née Haden, formerly Elphick, 1936-42)

encouraged and nurtured her interests After settling in Hampstead and in the arts, music and most especially following a divorce, Hilary trained and science. It was, in the end, science qualified as a Member of the Royal that won the day, leading to life as a College of Psychiatrists. In 1969 she met medical student during the war and and married Dr Alan Gardiner when qualifying as a doctor in 1948. But at they were both working at Claybury the same time throughout her life Hospital. In 1974, keen to escape the she enjoyed a knowledge and love city and get back to their country of the arts and was always keen to roots they moved to Hampshire where learn and be involved. She was an growing vegetables, keeping a small flock accomplished painter and worked of sheep and cultivating a wonderful across several media, including garden were all managed alongside sculpture and printmaking. Time their work in hospitals. at Bedales gave her a rounded After Alan’s death in 1985 Hilary education. She was resourceful and retired and concentrated on her ilary was practical (attributes so necessary in painting and sculpture. She married Hborn in what was to follow in her life) and Rear Admiral Geoffrey Mitchell in 1990 Trowbridge, she soon woke up to ambition and and in 1994 they moved to Stockbridge Wiltshire in determination, evident in following a in Hampshire, soon becoming involved 1924. She was career in medicine few women of her in the local community, joining the the first of generation aspired to. amateur dramatics, and both painting four daughters of Nelson and Phyllis Hilary gained a place at The London and writing groups. She was always Haden and the first of quite a line of School of Medicine for Women and a welcoming host ready to conjure family to come to Bedales. Her sisters in the same year that she qualified as up a meal with generous servings of Sheila (1937-44), Bar (1939-47) and a doctor she married Michael Elphick warmth and hospitality, as our friends Jo (1946-52) followed, so too Hilary’s and found herself on a ship bound for from school remember. She nurtured three children and three of her nieces. Nigeria to take up the role of a colonial her talents and the homes she made Hilary’s father was a school Governor wife, with part time work at the reflected this. They were relaxed and and later Chairman. So there was a Maternity Hospital. Nigeria was home comfortable, full of books and paintings considerable connection with the for twelve years and she returned to and always an open door. school over these two generations. England in 1960, now a family with Sue Hilary admitted to being a bit and Will and Caroline looking for a Caroline Maxwell Wood (née Elphick, of a dreamer at school but Bedales home and work in London. 1967-73) (daughter)

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John Rogers (staff 1975-86)

ohn Rogers, who revitalised and firmly believed that the whole project Jran Outdoor Work from 1975 must be run in a businesslike manner, to 1986 has been described by paying its way and not being a drain Matthew Rice (1975-80) as ‘one of on the school’s resources. the master builders of Bedales’. This As the centrepiece, he created the judgement is true both metaphorically barnyard. First came the Sotherington and literally, its literal aptness being Barn, carefully dismantled and brought manifested in the Sotherington and to Bedales under the expert eye of Bonham’s barns, reconstructed at Charlie Brentnall. When Bonham’s Bedales between 1980 and 1985 Barn came to be built later those who and forming a distinctive and much had been in Block 3 at the start of loved heart of the school. barn building were now in 6.2. It was John’s route to Bedales – like John typical of John that he slipped into himself – was somewhat unconventional. the background and allowed this group He had thought to follow his father, to run the rebuilding. For several of a dynamic Anglican clergyman, into them this was the formative experience from and what influences had made ordination, but found theological of their lives and shaped their future you who you were. He was always college too stuffy. He read English at careers. It always seemed a tribute genuinely and deeply interested in Cambridge, but failed to keep up to John’s influence when some of people. He was also a devoted family with the work and was sent down. them turned up years later to work man and Hannah’s three sons warmly Before these false starts he had on the Olivier Theatre or the Sam acknowledge his influence. spent two years at the Royal Naval Banks Pavilion. After suffering a heart attack some College in Dartmouth from which John also taught ‘Bible’. This was ten years ago, and being confronted he derived certain lasting values: he not RE or RK as conventionally with his own mortality, John wrote a admired the way a ship’s company must understood, but something which remarkable book, part memoir, part work together and how the officers arose from his conviction that it was meditation. The Undelivered Mardle must first learn to swab the decks and necessary to be acquainted with the was described as ‘a masterpiece’ in the develop respect for the humblest of essentials of the Bible ‘without the Spectator and Professor John Carey tasks. Those who worked alongside distraction of the various religions that called it ‘inspiring’. John in Outdoor Work will at once roost in its branches’. His painstaking John was an intriguing mix of recognise these principles. book The Basic Bible, which threaded traditionalist and maverick. He had After a spell in a prep school near together sections of the Bible, with no time for arbitrary rules and Salisbury, John came to Dunhurst in the commentary, was published by bureaucracy, and yet he was insistent early seventies to teach woodwork and Hutchinson and sold 18,000 copies. on using the right tools in the right science. Then he moved to Cheshire John and his wife, Jo, lived with way and keeping precise records of for two years where he learnt about daughters Lucy and Hannah adjacent to Outdoor Work accounts or how many forestry. He returned to Bedales to the barnyard and the girls grew up with hours each pupil and member of staff take over Outdoor Work. Since the an extended family of outdoor workers had contributed to the building of early days of levelling the Mem Pitch trailing through the house. Once the a barn. He had a mischievous sense and building the Cricket Pavilion, this girls had finished their schooling, John of humour and could disintegrate area of school life had more or less and Jo left Bedales for Suffolk where into giggles. He was warm-hearted, reduced to gardening. John, influenced they were able to buy a farmhouse particularly in his kindness to those by Schumacher’s Small is Beautiful with 25 acres. They planted a wood pupils who struggled to fit in or were and the self-sufficiency and ecology of 3,000 trees and an orchard. John going through a period of unhappiness; movements, had much more ambitious set up a business as a tree planter and he was generous in friendship and plans. Children would learn to manage later took to keeping bees. He would passionate in his beliefs. the land, plant trees, keep animals, mark on his jars which hive the honey John is buried in his Suffolk wood build in traditional ways, sell produce was from because origins mattered. in accordance with his wishes. and keep the accounts. This last was as Similarly with people, he wanted to important to John as anything, since he know all about where you had come Graham Banks (staff 1980-2013)

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John Redcliffe Salaman (1949-57) towards others and always willing to help when asked. Descended from a ohn Salaman Two of his activities at Bedales Cabinet Minister (Home Secretary) Jwas one of provided him with enormous enjoyment and born into a position of privilege to a large clan of in later life. One was sailing, which he some extent, he was happy to ‘muck in’ Bedalians with learnt on the Norfolk broads with without a trace of condescension. the surname other Bedalians. He and Pat explored Although his family background was Salaman. His most of the waters around the UK Jewish, he adopted the Christian father, Arthur in their sea-going yacht, especially faith in the early 1970s. He used his Salaman during retirement. They eventually practical talents to the benefit of (1918-23), had been Head Boy under exchanged the yacht for a canal boat, the church. During refurbishment to John Badley, and John himself was Head only disposing of that when they had its interior, he made a new altar rail, Boy in his final year. He gained a place covered almost the entire network communion table, preaching desk, at Clare College, Cambridge, where he of canals in the UK. preacher’s chair, and a table top achieved a first class degree in Natural The other was woodwork which bible stand. He served as Property Sciences, and pursued a further three he learnt at Bedales, in a few evening Secretary and only reduced the years of training in medicine at the classes and through a pre-retirement physical work involved in his final few London Hospital. ‘apprenticeship’ with a gifted local years. He was on other committees He undertook his higher surgical cabinet maker. He became a superb and a member of the choir. Although training in Cambridge when Sir Roy carpenter, specialising in furniture, John did not discuss his faith, his Calne was professor of surgery there. often emulating great 18th century cheerfulness and steadfastness in the Calne was a pioneer in transplant masters such as Thomas Chippendale face of illness impressed many. surgery in this country, and his trainees and Thomas Sheraton. Cabinets, tables, Around the age of 60, he was rapidly acquired consultant posts chairs, a revolving bookcase, chests and diagnosed with a chronic myeloid across the UK. a lot more appeared in a steady stream. leukaemia which, at the time, had a John’s fascination with the workings John was a master of tools, working 50% five-year survival rate. He and of the human body (and everything in metal and wood, coupling his Pat had an enjoyable retirement until else for that matter) led to some practical skills with a clear knowledge his health began to deteriorate about rapid advancement in the field of and understanding of how things six years ago. He never complained transplant surgery, with a prime focus worked. He was a qualified silversmith and always fought back, working on kidneys. When he moved to Wales with his own hallmark and a skilled through amputations and other to lead the kidney transplant unit photographer, developing and printing hardships. In a sense he emerged the at the University Hospital in Cardiff, from negatives. winner, living 20 years longer than the he had no idea that the rest of his Despite his distinguished career and five predicted. career would be spent entirely at natural talent, John was a remarkably that institution. He was appointed modest person, immensely considerate Anonymous professor of transplant surgery and made notable contributions to journals, symposia and conferences. His service Geoffrey Spencer (1939-48) as a surgeon was outstanding, with a success rate higher than that of eoffrey was an only child who, Geoffrey went to Bedales from almost everyone else in the field. Gwhen small, lived with his 1939-48 and true to character He refused to undertake any private mother and grandmother in Hatch finished up as Head Boy. After that practice; every minute of his working End. His father did not feature it was national service, in which he life was devoted to the NHS. much at this early stage, as he did chose to enter the Medical Corps. But not every minute was work. not like babies, nor did he like his Army life as an ‘other rank’ came Soon after graduating he married his mother-in-law. At the outbreak of as a rude shock after the idealistic Cambridge girlfriend, Pat Burkett, also war Geoffrey and his mother were environment of Bedales. He was a medic, and together they enjoyed holidaying in Branscombe, Devon, posted to the army hospital in a rich family life, a marriage lasting so they stayed on and made it the Colchester, where he learnt how to well over 50 years with four loyal and family home. go AWOL without detection, how devoted children.

58 • Obituaries OBITUARIES

to light the incinerator without letting The first blow came with the rats escape, and most valuably, deteriorating eyesight. An obscure he acquired empathy for employees untreatable condition called at all levels in hospital life. He was Foveomacular Vitelliform Dystrophy always proud to relate he finished his was diagnosed, and in 2011, Geoffrey army career with the rank of local was registered blind. He put an acting unpaid lance corporal. amazingly good face on it, although Next came St Thomas’s Hospital. he could no longer read or recognise He seems to have spent his student faces, and, worse still for him, he could days playing the flute and running no longer drive a car. He liked to have an orchestra. He was happy to fail read to him books mainly about the his ‘midder’ and ‘gynae’ finals, as it patients. He was awarded the OBE for Second World War, a familiar subject gave him a further few months as services to disabled people in 1981. that interested him, so it was easier a student so he could continue to His official retirement was on his for him to follow. play the flute. Nevertheless, once 65th birthday in June 1994, with a From 2014 onwards his life really qualified he became an amazingly celebration at St Thomas’s. The event became tough. He had four eye conscientious and devoted doctor. was attended by several hundred operations for glaucoma, two mini He set out on a career in patients and staff, including Robert strokes, a carotid endarterectomy, two anaesthetics, but at the time that he Runcie, the previous Archbishop heart attacks, a TAVI and dementia, became a senior registrar people of Canterbury, who in his brilliant a truly cruel disease. As one who began thinking it might be a good valedictory speech, mentioned that had always been active, he found it idea to concentrate all severely ill Mrs Thatcher had invited him to attend frustrating that he could no longer patients in one place, so that you the D-day celebrations on that very chop wood or work in the garden. He could care for them intensively. day, but he declined, explaining that had loved listening to classical music, Intensive care was born and Geoffrey he was to attend Geoffrey Spencer’s but now he no longer enjoyed it. He was told to plan and oversee the retirement party. deteriorated steadily, and spent the building of a unit at St Thomas’s, Geoffrey was a hard act to last four months of his life in a care which opened in 1966. Then in 1968 follow, and had to continue working home, much of the time asleep. He he was asked to take on the patients for another six months while a lost the use of his legs and could from a polio unit in the Western replacement was trained up. He has speak only a few words, in a whisper. Hospital, Fulham, so he founded since been replaced by a large team. Reading material became Winnie and ran the Phipps Respiratory And the work has also grown. the Pooh. Then one day he was Unit at The South Western Hospital. Geoffrey found retirement, when it unarousable and that night he died. From that time on he was actually came, very sad, having so enjoyed his Geoffrey is survived by his wife continuously on call (except for work. He busied himself initially with Felicity, daughter Hilary (1985-90), family holidays) until his retirement running Refresh, the charity he started son Ian (1987-92) and four in 1994. His strong drive and inability in the 1970s with his good friend and grandchildren. to take no for an answer meant he patient Robin Cavendish, to provide often achieved the impossible for his holidays for severely disabled people. Felicity Spencer (wife)

Hazel Straker (1931-38) movement which brought to this country, inter alia, fresh ideas about lthough the family lived near to brothers before her, Hazel was a Head valuing and working with people with ABedales, Hazel and her three student. On leaving Bedales aged 18 special needs. older brothers boarded at the school she took a one year child care course From this point onwards Hazel through their years. at the suggestion of her housemistress. spent her life caring for and teaching Her experience of school and the While on the course she met with children and young people, here in surrounding countryside nurtured for others who introduced her to the Britain and in California, in Waldorf Hazel a lifelong love of the natural teachings of Rudolf Steiner, the leading schools and in residential community world. In her final year, as with her thinker in the Anthroposophical settings run by the Camphill Village

Obituaries • 59 OBITUARIES

Trust. She developed a passionate finally retired in 2011 to a Steiner organised trips to Australia, Madagascar interest in researching the movements campus in Stroud where she lived in and finally China in 2009 to witness of stars and planets and their her own flat independently until her total eclipses of the sun, our nearest influence on life on earth through the health declined quite rapidly over a star. She was an independent spirit with perspective of Astrosophy, writing and few months. She died in hospital on a great zest for life: one can picture the lecturing widely on this subject well 21 October following a stroke. There scene in Madagascar with her diverse into her nineties. was a wonderful funeral and memorial bunch of travelling companions and the At the age of 60 Hazel moved gathering at the Community Church on perplexity of her guide in China amazed to Colleg Elidyr in mid Wales where the Stroud campus where family and that this venerable old lady should she worked for the next 30 years in many friends celebrated Hazel’s long venture forth without her family. That is further education with young disabled and fulfilled life. the sort of person Hazel was. people, preparing them where possible Hazel was a great traveller and in for more independent living. She more recent times made three carefully David Straker (nephew)

Jean Symons (née Layton, 1940-44) her Concert Hall Notebook was published, images of which were used n 29 October 2018, Jean Symons Bedales has a tendency to spark lifelong in a promenade concert in the roof Opassed away peacefully, after friendships, and Jean met hers in Karin space in 2016/17. a life filled with great achievements Antonini (née Barnsley, 1939-43). She After qualifying, Jean was and experiences. Those who knew also became an enduring supporter of hospitalised with Tuberculosis, sadly Jean will know that she was a the Barnsley Workshop. resulting in her being unable to have strong-willed woman, who was not Always looking to the future, Jean children; yet it was also where she afraid to speak her mind and would gave up Latin in favour of German… met her husband, the doctor Cecil not rest until all was right and fair – however; Germany did not win the Symons, who followed her out to a characteristic not uncommon to war. Jean was at Bedales on D-Day and a sanatorium in Switzerland in his Bedalians and one that led her to wrote about it in her diary, which is Austin A30 to propose. They initially be respected and admired. now kept in the Library Archive, lived in New York, and then between Jean was at Bedales from 1940-1944, “It seems to be the beginning of a new Wimpole Street in London, and the alongside her older brother, Peter phase in history, and yet for all the ideas Rubbin House in Sussex. ‘Bunny’ (1940-46), who used to about reform, I wonder how much Jean knew she was never going to chase her round the Quad to a better life will become when so many be a conventional architect, but her chorus of ‘Run Rabbit Run’. There thousands have given their lives. I feel I’ve qualification enabled her to specialise were only two things she didn’t much got some mission in life to fulfil and my in a new field of access for the like about boarding: starting the premonition of the invasion has made disabled. She wrote many papers and day with a cold bath, and sport. She me feel rather like Joan of Arc.” delivered lectures on the subject in chose lacrosse: a friend reminisced Jean discovered her mission in life in which she became an acknowledged that she would never forget, “the way the architecture section of the Library, specialist, and became a member Jean held and waggled her lacrosse where she conceived a desire to help of the first Area Health Authority, stick,” – it was to keep everyone away! rebuild Britain after the war. Applying to for Lambeth, Southwark and the Architectural Association, she was Lewisham. Jean had one underlying nervous of her poor drawing skills, but recommendation: that architects the interviewer wasn’t worried at all, should understand people’s needs. “You went to Bedales, you’re in.” Before It was thinking architecture rather qualifying, she insisted she needed to than building architecture. see something built, so got a placement Jean travelled widely, and with her working on the construction of The husband became a collector of 18th Royal Festival Hall (RFH). Originally century medical instruments. Upon for three months, she remained for Cecil’s death in 1987, Jean catalogued 15 – Jean liked to see things through to the ‘Symons Collection’, lending it to the very end. For the 50th anniversary, the Royal College of Physicians, who

60 • Obituaries OBITUARIES

Jean Trubshawe (née Wood, 1934-41)

ean had early memories of roller Demobbed in 1946, Jean spent a Jskating on the runways at Farnborough, year teaching in an infant school. During sometimes being buzzed by aircraft this time she met Peter frequently. He wanting to land! Her father, Ronald had joined the Royal Corps of Naval McKinnon Wood, was an aeronautical Constructors – his training based at engineer, Head of the Aerodynamics Greenwich. They married in 1947 and Department at the Royal Aeronautical began a life that included fourteen Institute from 1919-34. Ronald and his moves as Peter’s career took him four wife Gwen (née Spicer) came from times to Bath, three times to Devonport political families – both grandfathers were (Plymouth) dockyard and also to Chatham Liberal MPs. In 1935, Ronald embarked and Malta. Jean was very efficient on a political career for Labour that managing these moves; many involved made her an Honorary Fellow and included serving as Chairman of the selling and buying houses. She was awarded her the President’s Medal. London County Council 1957-58. known to one estate agent as “Mrs Nice She was also an active and popular Jean’s brothers David and Alistair Nuisance”! She loved gardening, which member of the Franco-British went to Bryanston and Jean, the often meant reviving a derelict area or Union of Architects, and became youngest, to Bedales. Jean met establishing something new – only to their first female president. Waveney Bayly (1935-39) at school have to leave it. A vegetable plot was Jean never fully retired, working and they remained close throughout always essential. as a volunteer guide for the Weald their lives. Jean played the flute in the They had four children Anne, Brian, and Downland Museum in Sussex, orchestra and was swimming captain. Caroline and Diana. Anne was asked and when moving to Chichester Swimming remained important to if she wanted to go to Bedales but in her eighties became a member Jean even into her nineties. Her future said, “No, thank you”. The decision was of the Chichester Conservation husband, Peter Trubshawe (1936-42), made for the family to stay together Area Advisory Committee. Her was one of her friends and his sister and be educated locally. Home was a lasting contribution to the city was Biddy Petersen (née Trubshawe, loving and active environment. to ensure that Chichester Festival 1937-44) comments, “As a Dorm Jean took great interest in the Theatre provided those in need Boss, Jean was strict but fair”. different places they lived – often with an absolute thicket of handrails. At Upper Vann near Godalming, not conforming to the expected Having no children in turn Jean’s aunt Meta, an explorer and pattern of naval wives. Peter and Jean made Jean a wonderful and naturalist, had a market garden, farm disliked alcohol so tended to avoid the fully committed aunt and great and cottage. A large barn there was frequent cocktail parties in Malta. Jean aunt, and her love, generosity converted into the family home. got to know the island in detail, walking and passion was felt by all those As her parents were occupied in with a friend when the children were around her, and by the many London, Jean’s holidays were mainly at school, though always home to greet charitable causes she supported. with her aunt, brothers and others them. The children’s memories are The Tuesday before her death, working on the farm. particularly of swimming and exploring. she officially handed over the Leaving Bedales in spring 1941, Symons Collection, via the Arts Jean worked as a Land Girl, then joined Council’s Cultural Gifts Scheme, the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force to the Royal College of Physicians. in 1942. She was assigned to the With family, friends and colleagues meteorology branch and spent two gathered, Jean gave her thank you years based at Boscombe Down (an speech. She was on sparkling form. aircraft research and testing base) Aged 90, she had fulfilled her final and Porton Down, then two years at mission in this life. Northwood, Coastal Command HQ. She was involved in crucial met reports Elize Layton (2008-13), Clare and analysis for research and for flying Layton (1971-76) and Jasper Rees missions. Her interest in meteorology continued all her life.

Obituaries • 61 OBITUARIES

After Peter’s retirement, they lived to chosen causes. For holidays they Jean’s final years were blighted by in Bosham for many years. Jean’s liked visiting islands particularly Alzheimer’s so they moved to Dorset lovely garden edged the creek and Orkney and Shetland – part of Jean’s to be nearer family. The children were bird watching was a great interest. ancestral background. all immensely supportive and Jean Peter frequently sailed – and kept a Jean was a superb knitter from remained able to knit and play games motor boat for taking grandchildren childhood and could multitask until close to the end – surrounded and guests around the harbour for brilliantly while knitting clothes, by photos to help her recognize her picnics and swimming. Jean and Peter blankets and toys for family and extensive family. loved walking – completing the South charities. She had an extensive range She is very lovingly remembered Downs Way in sections when quite of games and puzzles to entertain by her family, including four children, old. They also enjoyed concerts and and instruct the visiting grandchildren. ten grandchildren and seven great- theatres in the Chichester area. They She kept careful records of food likes grandchildren. were involved socially, organising the and dislikes. Her home-made cakes Bosham Forum and were generous were especially popular. The Trubshawe Family

Sarah Compton van Niekerk (née Hall, 1945-50) engravings. Here she lived a quiet life, alternating with brief bursts association with printmaking, especially of London (about as much as she wood engraving. could take) – teaching in London At Central, she met Gertrude at the Royal Academy Schools, and Hermes who taught drawing and wood the City and Guilds of London Art engraving. As well as mentor, Gertrude School. In the 1980s Sarah and Chris became a good friend and remained moved to Gloucestershire to their so until her death in 1983. After a dream house in an idyllic setting brief spell working at an advertising on the banks on the River Severn. agency, Sarah returned to college and During this time she continued attended The Slade School of Fine her involvement with the world Art in 1955 under the tutelage of of wood engraving, including her William Coldstream, Anthony Gross Chairmanship of The Society of and Lynton Lamb. Wood Engravers 1995-98. She arah was born in London in In 1956 she married Chris van exhibited in many solo and group S1934 and after spending the war Niekerk, who she met while at Central exhibitions, including exhibitions with in America where her father was and they went on to have three Chris (also a talented print maker) a diplomat, with her parents and children – Sophie, Max and Jess – and and her brother Christopher. Sarah brother, the painter Christopher set up home in London. After the also taught short courses, including Hall (1943-49) the family returned acquisition of her beloved Albion press, at West Dean College, where her to the UK and to a more rural Sarah began engraving – lino and wood influential teaching brought many life in Berkshire. After a brief spell cuts, in earnest. She was influenced by people to the art. An unassuming, at a local convent school, Sarah family holidays to Chris’ home country modest person, she was widely joined her brother Christopher at of South Africa, as well as the subjects considered to be one of the most Bedales where she made a valued she became best known for, rural distinctive and influential engravers life-long group of friends. Life could landscapes and animals. of her generation. This led to her have taken a very different turn for In 1979 Sarah and Chris left London work being exhibited widely and Sarah, as she was keen to take up and moved to rural Oxfordshire, where now held in permanent collections farming as a career. However, after alongside her artistic work, she finally of museums around the world. an inspirational trip to the Festival got to farm – albeit on a small scale, In Gloucestershire, Sarah fully of Britain (and the intervention of with a flock of Jacob sheep, geese, embraced country life and became her parents) she enrolled at the ducks and chickens. These creatures involved with the local Women’s Central School of Arts and Crafts along with the various family cats Institute and other village societies, in 1951 and so began her life long and dogs began appearing in her also supplying fruit and veg for the

62 • Obituaries OBITUARIES

local market – gardening was another Despite suffering from ill-health in She is sorely missed by her great passion in her life. recent years, she continued to enjoy surviving children, Sophie and Jess Sadly, Chris died in 2015 and life outings with friends and family, and and grandchildren, Tom and Beth. slowed down for Sarah after this, visits from friends who would keep her although she continued to engrave. up to date with local news and gossip. Jess van Niekerk (daughter)

David Redford Warwick (1940-47)

avid was born prematurely on artificial limbs, but he soon found D22 February 1930 in Turner’s that he preferred other forms of Wood, Barnet. The second of twins, engineering. His good friend from he was under 2 lbs in weight and had Bedales Peter Lean (1944-47), helped to be carried around by the nurse as him find a job at Connaught Cars in he was so tiny. Guildford. Whilst working there, he After spending a lot of his formative met Colin Chapman, who was just He then went on to build around years between London and Studland starting up Lotus and got in on the the Ford engine racing in Formula Ford in Dorset, David and his twin brother, ground floor. He became an invaluable for many years in the 1960s under Christopher, soon followed the part of the team. Traveling extensively name DRW – Ford. family tradition and went first to in Europe and meeting people such Dunhurst from September 1940 and as Mike Costin and Keith Duckworth then Bedales from September 1942. (of Cosworth engine fame) and racing His parents, William Turner Warwick drivers such as Graham Hill. (staff 1909-11) and Joan Warwick He eventually left Lotus to start (née Harris, 1907-13) met at Bedales. up his own racing team and formed His eldest brother Richard (1938-42) Dual Rear Wheel (DRW) racing and his sister Shirley (1938-40) had with a close friend who he met while been to Bedales. at Lotus, Jack Murrell. See above one After he left school, his father found of their early cars, the MK 6 imp him a job at Fitzroy Metals making (yellow car).

Eventually it became more expensive to make racing cars and he formed another company, DRW Engineering, repairing cars instead, especially Fords, and had a garage in London originally in Shaftesbury Mews but eventually in Highgate. When London became too much for him, he moved to the Gloucester area and started to build trailers under the brand name DRW Trailers. He was taken ill in early 2017 and never really recovered. He was moved to a home in Mitcheldean in July 2017, but was taken ill again in February 2018 and was moved to Gloucester Royal Hospital where he sadly died on 27 February 2018.

David Redford Warwick (right) whilst at Team Lotus. Zoe Warwick (niece)

Obituaries • 63 OBITUARIES

Ruth Whiting (staff 1963-2000) individuality and needs of her pupils. She felt a personal responsibility for Like Tim, she was committed to the all those she taught and wanted them theory that serious academic education to aspire to the same intellectual could flourish in a liberal and humane excitement and fulfilment that she environment, and her appointment herself found in history. She could as Head of History in 1967 gave her be a hard taskmaster – her marginal the means to put it into practice. comments on essays included the She relished the critical analysis of withering and the explosive – but evidence and argument; her knowledge she also knew how to encourage and of early modern English History in to communicate her lifelong passion particular, was outstanding, but she for her subject. was extremely well read in other When she retired from teaching periods, and to many it seemed that Ruth maintained her links with she would have easily held her own Bedalians as an invigilator and on the staff of a top university. She undertook research to commemorate introduced pupils to local history, and the lives of OBs who died in the to the history of Bedales. She eagerly First World War. She also uncovered embraced new media and technology. the role that Bedales had played She refused to rely on standard in the suffragist movement. These textbooks and encouraged her pupils activities occupied her right up to the or many Bedalians, Ruth Whiting to read and compare different time of her death. Her funeral, held Fwas the best teacher they ever accounts critically; and above all she in a packed Steep parish church, was had. As Head of History she had taught them how to think rigorously a moving occasion, and gave many an some notable predecessors: after and to write clearly. awareness of her as a member of a teaching at Bedales in the 1950s Anyone with such an outgoing family and as a godmother, and of her Roy Wake (staff 1949-59) went on personality, intellect and energy, roots in . The celebration to become an HMI and eventually inevitably made a big impact on the of her life, held in an equally full Chairman of Governors; in 1967 school at large. This was particularly Lupton Hall, enabled former pupils John Slater (staff 1952-67) also true in staff meetings: of Ruth it and colleagues to pay tribute, and left to become an HMI and later could rightly be said that she always to wonder whether she would not a visiting professor at the Institute had something to say. But underlying have been cross at being the object of Education, London. Ruth chose everything she did was her belief in of so much attention. to stay at Bedales and develop her the value of Bedales as a community It is sad to think of what Bedales unique qualities as a historian, a and of the importance of the individual has lost. No one knew more than teacher and a leading member of in that community. Her contributions Ruth about the history of the the community: as such, she was an were endless, and whenever she school and its rationale; no one was inspiration to students for over took on a responsibility she did so more loyal and more outspoken in 50 years. with fierce determination. She could defending the best that Bedales has Ruth was a graduate of St Anne’s appear formidable and in her prime, to offer and in reminding others College, Oxford, and Oxford remained with her elegant wardrobe complete of its unique heritage. Her legacy dear to her heart throughout her with menacing high heels, she cut an is a rich one: in the importance life. When Tim Slack (staff 1962-74) unmistakeable figure. But those who that she gave to the role of history became Head of Bedales in 1962, knew her well also saw a sensitivity in Bedales, and to generations of she was one of his first appointments. and an awareness of vulnerability, and students, many of whom went on to It was an exciting time when the her instinctive concern for others, her achieve high academic success, and school was expanding, questioning kindness, and her generosity were also on whom she was such a strong and re-evaluating itself, and the a fundamental part of her nature. Her and lasting influence. atmosphere matched Ruth’s own long and well-crafted reports showed intellectual energy and enthusiasm. an extraordinary awareness of the Philip Parsons (staff 1979-2016)

64 • Obituaries BIRTHS, ENGAGEMENTS, MARRIAGES & DEATHS

Births Deaths

Nico and Nadine Ball, a daughter Karin Antonini (née Barnsley) on Martyn Edward Pease on 5 April 2018. Adriana Eva, on 2 January 2019 24 December 2018. Bedales 1939-43 Bedales 1939-40

Esther Biddle and Ben Scriven, a son, Susan Elizabeth Bates (née Pritt) on Felix Arnold Edward Pirani on Huck, on 28 February 2017 21 February 2016. Bedales 1941-43 31 December 2015. Bedales 1939-40 John Batstone John Rawson-Smith Berni Johnen-Baxter and Karl Baxter, on 23 December 2017. on 8 October 2018. a daughter, Clara Fern, on 6 July 2018 Staff 1968-93 Bedales 1946-50 George Bird on 6 October 2018. Anne Shirley Reed (née Charlton) in Adam and Olivia Kent (née Staff 1962-88 2018. Bedales 1949-55 Montgomerie), a daughter, India Elizabeth, on 2 August 2018 David Boswell on 1 February 2018. Virginia Helen Renshaw (née Bedales 1935-40 Nagelschmidt) on 24 October 2016. Andrew and Aideen Steed, a daughter, Bedales 1950-56 Sorcha Ava, on 16 April 2018 Jeanne-Marie Dolmetsch on 29 October 2018. Staff David Richards on 30 July 2018. Bedales Sophie Waring and Jonathan Roberts, 1955-60 a daughter, Luna, on the 4 May 2018 John Gordon Bray on 7 March 2018. Bedales 1943-48 Helena Robinson (née Seymour) on Lauren (née Cross) and Stephen Vasil, Margaret Wendy Brownsort (née Melville) 7 July 2018. Bedales 1938-40 twins, Zinnia and Alexander, on John Rogers 26 October 2018 on 20 January 2018. Bedales 1937-43 on 26 July 2018. Staff 1975-86 John Cousin on 24 August 2018. Bedales 1943-49 John Redcliffe Salaman on 16 February 2018. Bedales 1949-57 Engagements Joan Mary Cullen on 8 February 2016. Bedales 1942-47 Geoffrey Spencer on 12 September 2018. Bedales 1939-48 Nathalie Mares and Andrew MacCallum Polly d’Abo on 16 December 2018. Bedales 1997-2001 Hazel Straker Joanna Webster and David Jones on 21 October 2018. Bedales 1921-38 Leo Singto Gauvain on 17 December Oscar Braun-White and Georgia Hills 2017. Bedales 2008-12 Patricia Straker (née Melville) on Margaret Holland (née Green, formerly 20 August 2017. Bedales 1936-41 de Bary) on 26 September 2018. Jean Symons (née Layton) on Marriages Bedales 1939-42 29 October 2018. Bedales 1940-44

Eleanor Bell and Andrew Aston on John Howard on 19 August 2018. Jean Trubshawe (née Wood) on 30 June 2018 Bedales 1935-40 23 June 2018. Bedales 1934-41 Katherine Krabel (née Allcard) on Sarah Compton van Niekerk (née Hall) Stephen Davidson and Lauren Rowden 4 June 2017. Bedales 1980-87 on 5 May 2018 on 4 June 2018. Bedales 1945-50 Robert (Sandy) Mackilligin on David Redford Warwick on 24 February Piper Griffin and Dr Seth Osborne in 14 January 2018. Bedales 1943-49 2018. Bedales 1940-47 July 2018 Hilary Mitchell (née Haden, formerly Klaus Weisselberg on 8 February 2018. Kitty Jenks and Charlie Van Straubenzee Elphick) on 8 April 2018. Bedales Bedales 1946-51 on 4 August 2018 1936-42 Anne Ruth Whiting on 13 April 2018. Francesca Pheasant and Stewart Clayton Mirabel Edith Osler (née Birnstingl) on Staff 1963-2000 on 15 September 2018 20 October 2016. Bedales 1938-40 Charmion Murtagh Woods (née Joanna Tomlinson and Neil Ferris on Amanda Pasquier (née Robertson) on Crocombe) on 9 November 2017. 2 January 2019 17 December 2018. Bedales 1950-56 Bedales 1934-34

Births, Engagements, Marriages & Deaths • 65 UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS 2018

Class of 2018 Name Destination Course Robben Aliker University of Sussex Psychology Ethan Altern-Bance Solent University Film Production Josephine Binney Royal Drawing School Foundation Diploma in Art & Design Maud Bonham Carter Loughborough University Sport and Exercise Psychology Finnian Davidson London College of Creative Media Music Performance and Production Isabella Dunn Arts University Bournemouth Fashion Isabella Edgeworth University of Edinburgh Classics Lucy Ellis Yale University Liberal Arts majoring in Modern languages Scovia England Brunel University London Occupational Therapy Ellie Evans Goldsmiths, University of London Music Georgina Fairs University of Exeter History Robert Garnett City and Guilds, London Foundation Diploma in Art & Design James Grout-Smith Guildhall School of Music and Drama Electronic Music Bart Hill-Reid City, University of London Investment and Financial Risk Management Isadora Houghton University of Exeter English with Study in North America Sophie Jarrett University of Leeds Environment and Business Nizatel Kaliyeva University of the Arts London Fashion Buying and Merchandising Alice Lester University of Plymouth Psychology Shanise Liang King’s College London Music Tallula MacIlwaine University of the Arts London Foundation Diploma in Art & Design Lauren MacMillan University of Brighton Applied Psychology Maisie McGregor University of Edinburgh History Ollie Meredith Guildhall School of Music and Drama Jazz Isobel Milford Keele University Physics with Astrophysics Abigail Morris King’s College London English with Film Studies Will Morrison University of European Studies Joseph Murray Glasgow School of Art Architecture Scheherazade Piddiu Greater Brighton Metropolitan College Foundation Diploma in Art & Design Nancy Pilkington Royal Drawing School Foundation Diploma in Art & Design Verity Platt Metropolitan University Foundation Diploma in Art & Design George Richardson Kingston University Product and Furniture Design Anastasia Romanova Goldsmiths, University of London Design Phineas Sajous Kingston University Product and Furniture Design Richard Sweet Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance Percussion and Drum Kit Scarlet Topley University of the Arts London Foundation Diploma in Art & Design Leonie von Geyre City and Guilds, London Foundation Diploma in Art & Design Marcus Walker University of Leeds Art and Design Purdey Williams Royal Drawing School Foundation Diploma in Art & Design Alannah Wilson University of the Arts London Foundation Diploma in Art & Design Peifing Wu Birkbeck, University of London Global Politics and International Relations Siqi Wu Manchester Metropolitan University Foundation Diploma in Art & Design Yuanchen Yao University of Manchester Japanese Studies

66 • University Destinations 2018 UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS 2018

Class of 2017 Name Destination Course Izzy Adams Loughborough University Fine Art Tobias Andruskevicius Manchester Metropolitan University Three Dimensional Design Ella Bardoe King’s College London Film Studies Anna Baring University of Oxford French Molly Beardall Falmouth University Illustration Molly Brooks University of Exeter English and Drama Nicholas Buckham Portsmouth University Biochemistry Polly Caines University of Exeter Zoology Yoji Caird University of the Arts London Product Design Finn Carter Goldsmiths, University of London Music Noah Clarke Hall University of Manchester Physics Lauren Clift University of Bristol Social Policy and Politics Millicent Clough Oxford Brookes University Foundation in Art Eliza Denton University of Liverpool Sociology with Spanish Lachlan Dix Condé Nast College Foundation in Fashion Communication Scott Emerson Instituto Marangoni, London Fashion Poppy Enfield University of Sussex Politics and International Relations Celia Fraser Newcastle University Ancient History and Archaeology Imogen Gibbon University of the Arts London Fashion Marketing Jemima Goodfellow University of the West of England, Bristol Graphic Design Jesse Goring Manchester Metropolitan University Hospitality Business Management Harry Green Newcastle University Civil Engineering Daisy Hannam Condé Nast College Fashion Buying Sam Harding Human, Social and Political Sciences Sophie Jenkins Glasgow School of Art Fashion Design Rebecca Lawson University of Brighton Business Management with Marketing Josh Mazas University of Cambridge Modern and Medieval Languages George McMenemy University of Sussex Politics Elmo Meath Baker University of Manchester Music Jamie Murphy University of Oxford English Language and Literature Raphaela Parker Falmouth University Film Poppy Pierce Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London Fashion Knitwear George Robson Nottingham Trent University Fashion Buying Ollie Shinder Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London Fashion and Marketing Holly Stevens Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Production Arts, Stage and Screen Abigail Upton University of the Arts London Textile Design Bertie Warner Camberwell, University of the Arts London Illustration Cy Worthington King’s College London English Fengren Yang University of Washington Liberal Arts and Sciences Maya Ziv University of San Diego Liberal Arts

University Destinations 2018 • 67 UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS 2018

Class of 2016 Name Destination Course Sophia Berger King’s College London Spanish and Portuguese Harriet Kelsey King’s College London Classical Studies with English Harriet King London South Bank University Psychology Izzy Rollason King’s College London Global Health and Social Medicine

Class of 2015 Name Destination Course Ochre Seagrim University College London Education Studies

The Old Bedales, summer 1896.

Students visit Old Bedales, summer 2018.

68 • University Destinations 2018

BEDALES ASSOCIATION & OLD BEDALIAN NEWSLETTER 2019

The Lavenham Press, Water Street, Lavenham, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 9RN