Old Stoic Society Committee Chris Atkinson (Chatham 59) Dr Anthony Wallersteiner (Headmaster) Ivo Forde (Walpole 67) Simon Shneerson (Temple 72) THE MAGAZINE FOR OLD STOICS John Arkwright (Cobham 69) Elizabeth Browne (Stanhope 81) Patrick Cooper (Chatham 86) Issue 1 Colin Dudgeon (Associate Member) Hannah Durden (Nugent 01) Peter Farquhar (Associate Member) John Fingleton (Chatham 66) Ed Gambarini (Cobham 00) Tim Hart (Chandos 92) Hannah James (Nugent 97) Nigel Milne (Chandos 68) Tim Scarff (Grenville 91) Ben Scholfield (Temple 99) MAKING THE GRADE An insight into Michael Grade, one of the most influential figures in British television. Old Stoic Society Stowe School Stowe THERE GO THE GIRLS Buckingham MK18 5EH Hannah Durden (Nugent 01) looks into United Kingdom the lives of some of the OS Girls. Telephone: +44 (0) 1280 818349 e-mail: [email protected] THE NEW INN www.oldstoic.org John Garratt (Cobham 53) reveals how the National Trust intend to restore the New Inn to recreate the original approach and access for visitors to Stowe. THE MAGAZINE FOR OLD STOICS Issue 1 FEATURES 4 MAKING THE GRADE 14 THERE GO THE GIRLS Hannah Kate Reardon, Old Stoic and Durden (Nugent 01) looks into Editor of Tatler meets Michael the lives of some of the OS Girls. Grade, one of TV’s most influential figures to talk 20 THE NEW INN John Garratt about his life at the top of (Cobham 53) reveals how the television broadcasting. National Trust intend to restore 7 June 2011 the New Inn to recreate the 10 CLASSIC CARS AT STOWE original approach and access All Old Stoics and their guests are invited John Arkwright (Cobham 69) for visitors to Stowe. to join us for an informal evening. Page 4 reflects on the inaugural meeting on Speech Day 2010. Live OS bands will play during the welcome reception in the Spanish Garden and after the BBQ in the nightclub. REGULARS Tickets include food from the BBQ and drinks until 2 EDITORIAL 30 BIRTHS 10.00pm when a cash bar will open until 12.30am. 8 FROM THE HEADMASTER 31 OBITUARIES TICKETS ARE AN UNBELIEVABLE £35 EACH 22 NEWS 37 STOWE’S RICH HISTORY Old Stoics can bring up to 2 guests To book your place at the party, call the Old Stoic Office 29 MARRIAGES on 01280 818349 or email [email protected] Page 10 Kensington Roof Gardens, London W8 5SA INSIDE 9 FROM STOWE TO UNIVERSITY BOOK REVIEW: BETWEEN BOY AND MAN FEATURING LIVE DOMINIC GORDON CONQUERS KALA PATTHAR 39 TRAVEL WITH A PURPOSE Mark Stormont’s (Temple 06) band 12 WORLD OCEAN ROWING RECORD BOOK REVIEW: STOWE - THE REDSTONE COLLECTIVE HISTORY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TOTAL WIPEOUT Caspar Sheppard’s (Walpole 04) band 40 STOWE LODGE 13 STOP PRESS – HENRY CAVILL GET PEOPLE THE ROXBURGH SOCIETY OS GAP YEAR SCHOLARSHIP Page 14 41 THE CORKSCREW SOCIETY 18 THE STOWE BOMBING CAPTAIN JOHN STEWART THE STOWE BEAGLES 42 A PAST CELEBRATION 19 THE GROVES OF STOWE COLIN SHILLINGTON AWARD VIRGIN GRAND PRIX WEEKEND 43 OLD STOICS PLAY FOR CAMBRIDGE 35 THE LONG AND WINDING ETON FIVES ROAD TO WISDOM 44 STOWE TEMPLARS A TRAGIC REUNION CLAY PIGEON SHOOTING 36 THE PINEAPPLE CLUB INSIDE BACK COVER Page 20 38 BEST EMERGING ARTIST 2011 EVENTS 1 EDITOR’S LETTER Welcome to the and for chasing the various reports from the first edition of sporting societies, also the many other Old The Corinthian, Stoics who have contributed to the content of this magazine. Caroline Whitlock, our a publication super-efficient Events Co-ordinator, and the dedicated to members of the OSS Committee have also Old Stoics and been instrumental in managing this project their news. and getting the final document on to the press – so my thanks go to them too. As the Society goes from strength to strength, I must also thank our advertisers for their with more events, better organised sports support: Hugo Fay (Grenville 71) at clubs, increased support for recent leavers Taylormade Investing Ltd, Caroline de and improved communications, it is only Peyrecave (Nugent 04), Amanda Seymour fitting that we now have our very own (Nugent 88) at C-MAW, Hugh Beattie members’ magazine. (Chandos 91), Kate Reardon at TopTips.com, 2010 was a very successful year for the Tom Wilson (Cobham 09) at Cuffmixture and Society. We organised 12 very popular Arthur Ward (Walpole 64). events, improved the quality of our 2011 will see another busy year with events communications, increased the prize fund across the country. Do take a few moments for the Old Stoic Gap Year Scholarships and to see if there are any you might be increased our contributions to OS Sport. We interested in on the inside back cover, or on completed the Data Census, which led us to our website www.oldstoic.org or even on begin the design phase of the new Business Facebook. I would recommend that you put Network Forum – where, amongst a plethora the new OS Summer Party at the Kensington of functions, Old Stoics will be able to Roof Gardens on 7th June in your diary. All browse and promote their businesses, Old Stoics and their guests are welcome to advertise and look for job opportunities. this informal evening, kicking off with a Although this publication is new, it has cocktail reception in the Spanish Gardens, retained and improved on the more popular followed by a BBQ and two live Old Stoic elements of its predecessor – The Column. bands. Tickets are £35 and include food and Areas such as OS News, Births and drinks until 10.00pm when a cash bar will Marriages still exist but with more pages we open until 12.30am! have been able to incorporate more of what Finally, I am always open to new ideas, you have sent in. We have also been able to so please do call in or send emails to include more in-depth obituaries than we [email protected] if you have any have in the past. We have not, however, thoughts on new events or have any content been able to include obituaries on all the that you would like to submit for next year’s deaths of which we have been made aware. edition of The Corinthian. The recent Data Census has sadly uncovered many more than we expected. However, I Just remember, if we don’t have your hope that the obituaries we have included contact details – and in particular, your show the diverse contributions Old Stoics email address – we can’t notify you of all have made to the world. the great things we do…! This magazine also includes a number of All the very best for the year ahead, key feature articles which I hope you find interesting. Thank you to Kate Reardon (Nugent 87), recently appointed Editor of Tatler, for taking the time to interview Michael Grade (Grafton 61) and gain an interesting insight into his career in the world of television. Also, my thanks go to Tim Scarff (Grenville 91), 2 Hannah Durden for her article on OS Girls Old Stoic Society, Director 3 COVER STORY MICHAEL GRADE MAKING THE GRADE Kate Reardon, Old Stoic and Editor of Tatler meets Michael Grade, one of TV’s most influential figures to talk about his life at the top of television broadcasting. 4 5 COVER STORY themselves into.” Although he’d been – that’s not to be squandered, I take that turned down last time, she told him to very seriously. That’s more important to put up or shut up and apply for the job, me than anything else, the family and, “To my absolute astonishment I got reputation for fair dealing and for it and became Chairman of the BBC. integrity. They never went back on their Michael Grade didn’t go to Stowe for Which was kind of, “Blimey!”” word, you give your word very carefully long. He spent just about a year in and very thoughtfully and when you do “I did three years of that and then ITV Grafton, but he’s a pretty great role it’s got to mean something.” model for Old Stoics – charming, erudite, was in a muddle. I described myself as a unconventional and phenomenally sort of media paramedic at this point. If Famous for his family, his career and his successful. there’s a mess to clear up they seemed red socks, which were a sartorial trick to to send for me. So I went to ITV for three get himself noticed in Hollywood, who is 1 Michael Grade (Grafton 61), has been Grade, 67, didn’t have much to do with years, not expecting the advertising Michael Grade? “I am whoever I need to the school until recently. In his capacity one of the most influential figures in British television for the past 44 market to collapse to the extent that it did, be that day. God knows. I have no idea as Chairman of Pinewood Studios, he years, holding senior posts at London but we got through it. The business is in who I am.” Push him, as he seems to attended an event at Stowe and met Weekend Television and the BBC. In great shape and it looks like it’s having have a very good sense of self and he Headmaster Anthony Wallersteiner. 1988 he was appointed Chief Executive a good year this year, so I’m pleased answers simply, “I know what I do.” So “I thought he was terrific; he and I got of the newly launched Channel 4. After about that.” is that how he defines himself? “Pretty 9 years he returned to the BBC as the on very well,” says Grade.