Magazine - Alleyn`s School

Transcription

Edward Alleyn Club
Series 8 Number 1
Autumn 2012
Alleyn’s
celebrates
125 years at
Townley Road
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Chris Heayberd rounds off
his year as Club President
What do you remember from your
first day at Alleyn’s?
Happy Birthday Alleyn’s Junior School
1960s’ Memories Day
Interview with Lord Higgins
Simon Ward 1941-2012
PLUS
Club, Alumni, School and Development News
Magazine
2 EACMagazine Club news
From the
President
As I step towards the final hurdle of my year in office as President
of the Club there is much to reflect on. It is a privilege and an
honour to represent the Club and I have had a most enjoyable time
attending a variety of functions throughout the year which, more
recently, have been interspersed with trips to the Olympics and
Paralympics of London 2012.
Although hockey turned out to be my sport, I was always a
keen footballer and one of the more enjoyable early moments in
my year as President was watching the AOB Vets’ footballers
playing in the final of the Vets’ Cup on a rather wet Sunday morning
in Chislehurst. This was a not a planned event for me and indeed,
if I recall, it was a rather early start and, furthermore, we lost
convincingly. From very early in the game it was clear that there was
only going to be one winner but, even though for the most part we
were under the cosh, we continued to play the game in the right
sporting way. I was proud to be an AOB and it reinforced for me just
what strong values we take from our time at Alleyn’s – although I
would have preferred to be cheering on the winning side!
There is so much going on at both the Club and School that
a few paragraphs from me will inevitably fail to do either justice.
However, one of the highlights for me was hosting, together with the
Headmaster Dr Gary Savage, a gathering of the past presidents of
the Club at a dinner at the East India Club. It was a wonderful
evening attended by 17 out of 25 past presidents who remain with
us and provided us all with an opportunity to wander down memory
lane and relive some of the more daring moments from our time at
the School. Irrespective of age, there was a consistency of warmth
and appreciation felt by us all towards Alleyn’s and in particular a
clear recognition that Alleyn’s had provided us with a broad range
of experiences alongside a strong academic education.
The success of this event, along with others which the Club
runs throughout the year, owe much to the tireless work carried out
by David Young, Susannah Schofield and Martha Jones in the
Development and Alumni Office. In the background they provide to
the Club their expertise, knowledge and enthusiasm and I would like
to record my thanks for the support that they have each given to
me, not only during my year as President but also to assist me in my
role as treasurer of the Club. Also as the Club’s treasurer I sit on the
management board of the Club and therefore I am uniquely placed
to see the time that my board colleagues give to ensure that the
future of the Club is maintained. Therefore, as President and on
behalf of the Club I would like to convey our thanks to chairman,
John Battle (T 1974-81), and the members of the board.
The Club’s summer reunion, wonderfully hosted by the School,
met in June to ‘celebrate’ the 20 to 60 years of leaving for our
alumni. Certainly, it would be an understatement to say that there
have been one or two changes in the last 60 years. Whilst I suspect
we all have specific memories of our time at the School (some more
hazy than others ), I doubt that many would have resisted a change
from the old ‘Tin Tab’ or indeed the ‘old pavilion’, which as far as
I recall was permanently unheated and rarely had working showers.
It was a day to remember, commencing in groups designated by
‘House’ for a whizz around the School under the careful guidance of
Year 12 pupils, an excellent lunch and then, for those with still more
stories to tell, a trip down to the Clubhouse at Burbage Road for a
pint or two. A great day and one to remember.
I have just mentioned Burbage Road and most will know that
our Club is based there and is commonly known as the ‘Old Boys’.
I am not sure why it continues to be called the ‘Old Boys’, given that
the School has been co-educational since the mid to late ’70s.
Anyway, the Club is open to us all to use and is managed by Rob
Crowley (Tn 1998-2005), a recent leaver from the School, who took
over from Keith Rodwell (Tn 1956-64) on his retirement in April last
year. The Club supports and hosts numerous sporting teams/events
and I would encourage you all to visit and use the Club. It is an
excellent facility and one of which that we are quite rightly proud.
I was very pleased to be able to attend the School’s Speech
Day in June at St Barnabas Church and hear about the breadth of
activities offered by the School to its pupils. Irrespective of your
particular interest, the Headmaster’s report had something to grab
your attention. I continue to be impressed by just how much time
the staff give to support ‘co-curricular’ initiatives, whether it is
enhancing academic interests, taking on the challenges of the Duke
of Edinburgh awards or participating in voluntary work. There is
something for all pupils if they want to take it on. Following on from
the formalities, we returned to the School to celebrate the rest of
Founder’s Day, which was attended by a good number of Old Boys
and Girls using the Pimm’s Tent as our meeting point. It always helps
to have good weather – which we had – as this provides some
justification (if justification is needed) to share in a glass of Pimm’s
and catch up on news from ‘old’ friends we may not have seen for
some years. The organisation of the Pimm’s Tent seems to just
happen but, of course, for those of us who have in the past been
involved, we know that much preparation work is needed. Thanks
are therefore due to the Development and Alumni Office (again),
together with the volunteers, for making it happen on the day.
Also we were given the opportunity to cast our eye over the archive
material that has been carefully collated and displayed in the Pimm’s
Tent by Neil French (C 1954-61) and Robert Holden (S 1956-62)
for us to view and reminisce about. Our thanks go to them for the
significant amounts of free time that they commit to the archives,
from which we all benefit. Our dependence on their ever-increasing
(From left to right) David Hankin, Alan Williams, Angela Brownbill,
Chris and Judith Heayberd at the Vice-Presidents Dinner
EACMagazine Club news 3
Contents
The recent ten-year reunion for 2002 leavers – Susie, Chris, David and Martha
pictured in the Clubhouse bar
goodwill has been lifted thanks to the appointment of Gabrielle
St John-McAlister, part-time School Archivist. Please see p12
to read more about her and her plans for the School archive.
One of the more enjoyable events of the year is the Annual
Dinner which this year returns to the School and will take place on
Saturday 17 November. It is an evening that I am looking forward
to as not only does the President get a ‘vote’ on the menu for the
evening but also I get to choose and invite a speaker. With the
Olympics very much at the forefront of our minds, I am delighted
to say that my guest speaker for the evening will be Michael
Whittingham (D 1965-72) who, after graduation, went on to
represent Great Britain as a 400m-hurdler and has been involved
in sport since leaving university. He has acquired experience
through involvement in a significant number of high level sporting
events and is now the Director of High Performance at the
Sportscotland institute of sport where he has both strategic and
operational responsibility for leading Sportscotland’s investment,
strategic input and operational delivery of high performance.
I am delighted that he has accepted my invitation to be my guest
speaker and very much look forward to hearing his thoughts on
why high performance sport in Scotland is so successful. It is
an evening not to be missed, particularly if you are a sports
enthusiast. Do please put the date in your diary and apply for
tickets through the Development and Alumni Office.
Like Sir Christopher Harper (C 1968-75), my predecessor
as President, I too would like to express my complete support for
the Advancing Alleyn’s fundraising campaign which the School
has launched and which is now under way. It is crucial for the long
term success of the school to increase the provision of bursary
funding, which will enable children to come to Alleyn’s irrespective
of parental income, and at the same time continue to invest in
the bricks and mortar of the School.
Finally, thank you for the honour of being your President for
the year. It really has been a great year and I look forward to
seeing many of you at my final official function in November when
one of the more pleasant duties I will have will be to pass over the
President’s chain of office to former Headmaster, Dr Colin Diggory.
Club news
2 From the President
4 2012 Leavers’ barbecue
4 Alleyn Benevolent Fund
4 Summer reunion
5 Clubhouse Manager’s report
5 Oval reunion
6 200 Club lunch
6 Micky Stewart and the changing face of cricket
6 Notice of Club’s AGM
6 Reunions in Cambridge
7 Sherborne reunion
7 Annual Dinner
8 Burbage Theatre Company
8 Gap Year report
9 What do you remember from your first day at Big School?
School news
10 From the Headmaster
11 Departing staff
12 Introducing Gabrielle St John McAlister
12 CCF Regimental Dinner
13 Founder’s Day
13 Alleyn’s Junior School’s 20th birthday
13 Olympic Torch-bearer
14 1960s’ Memories Day
14 Townley’s Transformation
16 Lectures
16 Holly Fair
16 Comedy in the Michael Croft Theatre
Development Office news
17 Cornflower Club
17 Engineers’ and Media receptions
Alumni news
18 Ten-year reunion
19 Alumni news in brief
20 Interview with Lord Higgins
22 AOB wins Big Busk
22 What happened to the choir boy?
22 An expedition to Mexico
23 University destinations
23 Degree results
24 Higher Education Day
24 Physics lecture
25 WW2 plaques in Dulwich
26 Sports news
27 Marriages
28 In memoriam
Editor: Susannah Schofield, Head of Alumni Relations
Items for the spring issue of the Edward Alleyn Club Magazine should be sent
to the editor at Alleyn’s School by 4 March 2013. If emailing, pictures should
be sent as high-resolution jpgs. The editor reserves the right to amend copy
to fit the magazine. Where possible we have sought permission to reproduce
photographs. However, it has been difficult to trace the ownership of some
images and we apologise if we have failed to credit anyone. If there are errors
or omissions, please notify the editor.
Development & Alumni Office, Alleyn’s School, Townley Road, London SE22 8SU
020 8557 1466/1588 alumni@alleyns.org.uk
www.edwardalleynclub.com
www.alleyns.org.uk
Chris Heayberd (D 1963–71)
Email: ciheayberd@sky.com
Front cover: poster for Townley’s Tranformation, see p14
Design by Mick Keates. Printed by C & F Solutions Ltd
and so it may not be possible to
renew this bursary award at full
value without additional donations
or income.
If you are able to assist in
reducing or eliminating this deficit
please make your donation to one
of the trustees named below
(cheques made payable to ‘Alleyn
Benevolent Fund’).
The other part of the ABF –
the Pupil Support Fund – is
dedicated to immediate pupil
support for assistance with extra
curricular activities in the fields of
sport and education and this part
of the fund is supported by the
Alleyn’s Parents’Association.
Through this mechanism we have
been able to provide support to
13 pupils in Years 10 to 13 during
the last year.
Chris Nelson, Lingcroft, Pyrford
Road, West Byfleet, KT14 6QS
Dennis Lomas, 118, Kent house
Road, Beckenham, BR3 1JY
2012 Leavers’ barbecue
Alleyn Benevolent Fund
On what turned out to be one of
the summer’s last gasps of warm
weather, over 80 of our newest
members, the 2012 leavers,
gathered at the Clubhouse for a
Welcome Barbecue hosted by
President Chris Heayberd.
Chris put in sterling efforts slaving
over a hot griddle and singlehandedly chopping up a vat-load of
onions. (Chris’s secret to no oniontears? Wear swimming goggles.)
The leavers relaxed in each other’s
company, enjoying the relief of being
unfettered by exam preparations,
and they also had the opportunity to
see the Clubhouse’s facilities for
themselves. Several teachers joined
the barbecue and caught up with
their tutees, finding out what their
plans are post-Alleyn’s and A-levels.
Representatives from the various
sections also came as recruiting
officers for their teams. David Young,
Director of Development and
Commercial Relations, roused two
teams to play rounders and the rest
of us lazed on the grounds in the
sun watching their sporting antics.
It was a gentle day of friendship
and fun.
We are delighted that former
Alleyn’s parent Virginia Johnson
[Bolton] has agreed to become a
trustee of the Alleyn Benevolent
Fund (ABF). Virginia was formerly
chair of the Alleyn’s Parents’
Assoiciation.
The Fund is grateful for all the
support it has received this year from
former pupils and current parents.
In particular, we are grateful to all
involved in the planning and running
of the Pimm’s Tent at Founder’s Day
which, this year, raised some £1,600
for the Fund (see page 13) We have
also just received a donation from
the book sales of Micky Stewart’s
biography made at the recent Oval
reunion.
At their last meeting the
trustees re-awarded the bursary
award in memory of Sidney
Incledon for a period of two years
commencing September 2012.
The other bursary award in memory
of Derek Fenner is due to be
re-awarded in September 2013.
Notwithstanding the excellent
support noted above, the reported
deficit on the bursary fund of the
ABF currently amounts to £1,650
Alleyn’s
As part of Alleyn’s 125th anniversary celebrations of our moving
to Townley Road, there will be an archival exhibition about the
School’s buildings. Alleyn’s expanded the remit of the exhibition
for our website-visitors and launched an online museum,
‘Alleyn’s in 125 objects’. We sought input from everyone within
the Alleyn’s community to nominate objects which, to them,
best represent Alleyn’s. Admittedly, we borrowed unashamedly
in 125
objects
Summer reunion
Paul Kingman, English teacher
for 33 years at Alleyn’s, attended
the summer reunion and sent in
his review and thoughts about
the day.
Almost 140 alumni – a record
number – attended the summer
reunion, which this year was for
those who left Alleyn’s 20, 30, 40,
50 or 60 years ago. Eleven former
members of staff were also present,
together with four members of the
Edward Alleyn Club management
board, including president, Chris
Heayberd.
The reunion maintained the
established pattern of coffee and
pastries at 11am, followed by tours
of the School in House groups, each
shown round by a pupil – it was kind
of them to give up their time to it. It
was an opportunity for me, like the
other returning staff, to join a group
and chat with them. Although
they were impressed by the new
buildings and improvements to the
old ones – the contrast between
Alleyn’s as it was 50 years ago and
as it is now is astonishing – they
really wanted to explore the rooms
they had been taught in and the
memories these held for them.
Judging by the ones I spoke to
then and later in the day, returning
to the School – of which many had
seen nothing since they were 18 –
was not a casual experience. This
showed in various ways. One
especially valued his time with us
because he could not have been
here without a free place, reminding
me that I came to teach at Alleyn’s
in 1963 because most of the pupils
had free places, granting them the
same liberating advantages as the
grammar schools, which at that time
were under threat. He and others
recalled the impact made by the
Sixth Form History lessons of
Richard Miller, who first brought
home to them the importance of
questioning opinions and the validity
of evidence. Another, who had
greatly enjoyed the detailed study
of poetic language he remembered
from his English lessons, was
anxious to know whether it was still
studied in the same way. Another
spoke of how the School had
awakened in him his life-long
passion for literature and acting:
another of the strangeness of
returning to the place where she
had spent so much of her
adolescence, and of how she
needed time to reflect in order to
come to terms with it. That they
cherish such memories made this
reunion, for me, a rewarding
experience.
One of the happiest features
of this reunion was that no fewer
than ten members of staff, teaching
and non-teaching, had come to play
host. Over drinks the Headmaster,
Dr Gary Savage, delivered an
amusing speech of welcome, taxing
our memories by inviting each of us
to name the top single in the year
of our departure, a challenge
which provoked more laughter
than information. It was a convivial
prelude to an excellent lunch.
Chris Heayberd also addressed
us at the lunch itself, his speech
reflecting his life-long commitment
to the School and the Edward Alleyn
Club. The sun shone, and, after a
from Neil MacGregor’s ‘British Museum in 100 Objects’,
but we are pleased to report that the project has generated
a lot of thought-provoking emails, memories and discoveries
of objects long since forgotten.
You can see the full gallery on the School’s website
(under the section ‘About Alleyn’s’ in ‘History’) but here,
at the bottom of the following pages, are some highlights:
photograph of us all taken by Neil
Kinnear (B 1963-70), those who
wished to later made their way to
the Clubhouse to share further
reminiscences.
Our thanks are due to Susie
Schofield, David Young, Martha Jones,
Rob Crowley and, not least, the
catering staff, for a memorable day.
Paul Kingman (CR 1963-99)
Clubhouse
Manager’s report
the night and answered questions
on the state of the game in general
from fans.
He was also re-united with a
former neighbour of his in the form
of Edward Alleyn Tennis Club
member Martin Harrison (pictured).
England’s 1-0 victory was followed
by a charity auction during which
Club member Graham Swann
(S 1958-66) was thrilled to win a
signed photo of George Best and
Ron ‘Chopper’ Harris.
Blue Plaque unveiling
In the summer, English Heritage
commemorated the athletics
coach Sam Mussabini by unveiling
a Blue Plaque at his home in
Burbage Road opposite the
Clubhouse. A pioneering figure
in both professional and amateur
sport in Britain, Mussabini
transformed athletics. His house
backed on to the Herne Hill
Velodrome, where he worked as
a cycling and athletics coach from
the 1890s until his death.
Rob Crowley, Clubhouse Manager,
sends in his report on what’s been
going on in Burbage Road.
It’s been a busy few months at
the Edward Alleyn Club with several
notable events taking place. Below
is a brief summary of just a couple
of them:
An evening with John Hollins
The Euro 2012 Ukraine vs England
fixture on 19 June brought a very
special guest to the EAC in the form
of Chelsea, Arsenal and England
legend John Hollins. Mr Hollins was
welcomed by an energetic and
enthusiastic EAC crowd as he
offered his analysis on the game on
Mussabini’s innovative
training methods led to his runners
winning 11 Olympic medals,
including five gold. He addressed
every aspect of training, using
scientific methods, and instilled
powerful self-belief in his athletes.
He is best known for coaching
Harold Abrahams, who won gold
in the 100m sprint at the 1924 Paris
Olympics. Mussabini’s vital role in
Abrahams’ success was later
immortalised in the film Chariots
of Fire (1981). He told his athletes,
‘Only think of two things – the gun
and the tape. When you hear the
one, just run like hell until you break
the other’.
The unveiling ceremony gave
local residents a taste of the
Olympics ahead of the London
2012’s official opening on 27 July.
A much larger than expected crowd
braved torrential weather and turned
out to witness Lord Terence Higgins
(D 1941-46), former Olympic athlete
(see p20), and actor Ben Cross
(who played Harold Abrahams in
Chariots of Fire) unveil the plaque.
This was followed by a
lunchtime drinks reception at the
Clubhouse and an opportunity for
the crowds to take cover from the
rain. It also gave me the unique
opportunity to have photos taken
with one of the few remaining
Olympic torches from the 1948
London Olympic Games.
For more information about
the Clubhouse, please contact
Rob Crowley on
clubmanager@alleyns.org.uk
or 07827 352962. You can follow
him on Twitter@EAClubhouse.
Oval reunion
Martin Harrison and John Hollins
Rob with Olympic Torch
There was a mischievous
thread of gallows’ humour at
this year’s reunion at the Oval
Cricket Ground, one of the
friendliest gatherings in the
Edward Alleyn Club calendar.
Almost 50 AOBs from 1945-60
assembled in the John Major
Room and were joined by
President Chris Heayberd and
former Headmaster, Colin Diggory.
Victor Ludorum House Trophy
The Old Grammar School
Nominated by: Paul Sherlock, Boys’ PE teacher
and Housemaster of Tulley’s (1993-2012)
This is the annual trophy contested by each House during the school year and
was introduced by Paul in 2002. The winning house is determined by the amount
of points it has won throughout the course of the year in inter-House sporting
events, within Years 9-13.
Nominated by: parent Caroline Pinckard
This building, on the corner of Dulwich Village and Burbage
Road, was the building in which Alleyn's School was originally
housed as a separate entity before it moved to Townley Road
in 1887.
particularly to the cricket master
Geoffrey Charnley’.
NOTICE OF AN
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Buy a copy and help the
Alleyn Benevolent Fund!
at the Clubhouse, between 83 & 85 Burbage Road, SE24
NOTE CHANGE OF DATE
FROM THAT PREVIOUSLY ADVERTISED
Tuesday 13 November 2012, 8pm
AGENDA
1. To receive, confirm and sign the Minutes of the Annual General
Meeting, held on 11 November 2011
2. To receive and, if approved, adopt the Annual Report of the
management board for 2011-12, (incorporating reports from
affiliated sections)
Micky Stewart and the
changing face of cricket
3. To receive and, if approved, adopt:
a. the audited accounts of the Club
b. the accounts of the Alleyn Benevolent Fund
4. To elect:
a. the management board
b. the honorary life Vice President
c. the honorary auditor
6. Presentation of School business by the Headmaster
(or his representative)
7. To agree dates for the AGM and Annual Dinner
8. Announcements and votes of thanks
Apologies for absence, or nominations for the management
board, should be sent to the Chairman, c/o Development and
Alumni Office, Alleyn’s School, Townley Road, London SE22 8SU.
Tel: 020 8557 1466 or email alumni@alleyns.org.uk
At the Oval reunion we cajoled
Micky into having a book-signing
of his biography which has
recently been written by cricket
historian Stephen Chalke. Coy at
such a proposal, Micky agreed but
on condition that for each sale of the
book, the Alleyn Benevolent Fund
(ABF) would receive £5. The AOBs
dug into their pockets, £105 was
raised for the ABF, and many of
Micky’s friends came away with a
signed memento of their school-boy
(and, truth be known, probably adult)
sporting hero. The book features his
years at Alleyn’s which, in his preface
to the book, Micky credits as the
place to which ‘I owe a great deal,
Micky has arranged with biographer
Stephen Chalke to extend this offer
for a limited period for Edward Alleyn
Club Magazine readers. If you would
like a signed copy of Micky’s book,
please send a cheque for £18 made
payable to ‘Fairfield Books’, quoting
‘Edward Alleyn Club’ to Fairfield
Books, 17 George’s Road, Bath BA1
6EY. Tel: 01225 335813. To take
advantage of this special offer,
please make sure you send your
order by 31 December 2012.
Cambridge reunions
With 32 AOBs and AOGs
studying at Cambridge, it was
hardly surprising that an
impromptu reunion was called
to celebrate May Week and
post-exam euphoria.
Andy Skinnard, Head of
Upper School, succumbed to the
Development and Alumni Office
team’s arm-twisting to attend the
gathering on our behalf (we were
clearing up after the summer
reunion the previous weekend)
and, more importantly, to write
up a review.
Ken Farrington, Colin Diggory and Micky Stewart
John Battle, Chairman
Ken Farrington (T 1947-56),
torch-bearer of the Oval reunion,
was at his impish best, remembering
the passing of friends and
entertaining the band with a (true)
story about the vagaries of a dead
person’s credit card charges with
the moral ‘be sure to cancel your
credit card before you die’. He
mused whether we should re-name
the Oval reunion ‘for none of us is
oval-shaped’. Warming to his theme,
he suggested ‘Perhaps “Soapy’s
Survivors” or the “Left-overs”?’
with just a smidgeon of a twinkle in
his eye. He challenged the throng
to come up with some suggestions,
cheekily threatening them with being
on the obituary list at next year’s
event…. So do send in your
suggestions by email so that we
can vote on a name at next year’s
reunion.
As always the gathering was
full of relaxed, good cheer and
bonhomie, and we are enormously
indebted to Micky Stewart (T 194351) for pulling strings at the Surrey
Cricket Ground and making the
event possible.
Ellie the Elephant
Smith’s brick
Nominated by: School Chaplain, the Rev Anthony Buckley
In the Chaplain's room there sits a cuddly elephant. ‘He is,’ explains
Rev Buckley, ‘a silent part of countless conversations. Sometimes
part of a game, when he is thrown round an uproarious circle of
friends. Or he is held close and soaks up teenage tears. Ellie is a
symbol of the honest laughter, friendship and reassurance that is
so much part of Alleyn’s.’
Nominated by: Headmaster, Dr Gary Savage
Unseen by many a visitor, there is a brick in the building housing
the Art and DT Departments which has the initials ‘JH Smith 1898’
inscribed in it. The Rev JH Smith was the first Headmaster of Alleyn’s
School, from 1882-1902. It is possible that he was commemorated
in this brick to mark the construction of this building extension.
200 Club lunch
For readers not familiar with the 200 Club, this is the Edward Alleyn
Club’s fundraising lottery scheme whereby members pay £5 per month
for a number between 1-200, and each month there is a draw for four
cash prizes – of £120, £100, £70 and £60. Once a year, at the Annual
Dinner, there is a draw for the grand prize of £2,000.
thanked the members for their stalwart support of the Club, some of
whom have been members of the scheme since its inception over 40
years ago – when the monthly subs were just £1 a month! David Young
added his, and the Club’s, appreciation of Chris’s many years of
supporting the Club as a hockey player, hockey umpire and executive
officer, as well as the enormous affection in which Chris is held by the
both the Edward Alleyn Club and the School.
Proceeds from the 200 Club are primarily directed towards funding
improvements and extras at the Clubhouse together with helping to
support the costs of the EAC Magazine. There are some numbers
available so if you would like to sign up to this select band, please get
in touch with Chris Heayberd, the 200 Club’s treasurer, by email at
ciheayberd@sky.com or phone 020 8650 1702. With odds of one-in-four
for a chance of winning a cash prize over the course of a year, we reckon
membership probably offers more of a return for your money than the
average savings account!
Chris felt that a gathering of the 200 Club’s loyal members was long
overdue so on the weekend after the Leavers’ Welcome Barbecue
(see p4), he hosted a lunch for members at the Clubhouse. Chris
‘Former Vice-Captain, Jacob
Brubert (S 2001-08), hosted the
inaugural alumni Cambridge drinks
evening at his College, Queens’.
There were 20 of us there and it
was a lovely night. I was also joined
by Common Room colleagues Sue
Chandler with whom I travelled up
on the train, and Neil Kinnear. Neil
heroically appeared after crashing
his motorbike in the Blackwall Tunnel
on the way there – he managed to
return home, swap bikes and still get
to Cambridge on time! The students
were thrilled to see him, especially
as it was his last term at Alleyn’s
before retiring.
naze with his fo
Below: Will Da
aster
Dutton’s Housem
It was a short event starting
at 4.30pm and finishing at 6pm
when most of the students went on
to balls at different colleges. They
all seemed on very good form.
Those who attended were: Georgia
Butterworth (2011), Will Damazer
(2008), Dan Forde (2011), Claire
Hall (2011), Alexei Hartley (2010),
Emel Kayihan (2009), Lizzie Kinch
(2011), Julian Mack (2010), James
Milne (2007), Philippa Naylor (2009),
Zephyr Penoyre (2011), Lottie
Sandberg (2010), Ed Scott (2011),
Lucy Stooke (2009), Anna Weguelin
(2011).
We left them as they prepared
rmer
to attend the balls, but promised
to be back at The Anchor on
9 November, which some of the
students graduating this year have
promised to return to Cambridge
to attend.’
If you would like to attend the
Alleyn’s Cambridge reunion at
The Anchor, Silver Street on
Friday 9 November, please
contact the Development and
Alumni Office. Current Cambridge
students, graduates and
Cambridge residents will all
be welcome to attend.
Annual Dinner
A reunion in Sherborne
Andy Skin
na
rd with Su
e Chandle
r
might be interested to know that
the hotel is owned by AOB Derek
Mathews’s (T 1945-51) brother.
John’s hoping for a good crowd;
guests of AOBs will be very
welcome to attend as well.
The cost of the reunion
is £150 for a double room, B&B
and dinner. Further nights can be
booked directly with the hotel for
£102 (double room, bed & breakfast)
for two per night.
For further details please phone
John on 01935 817999 or email him
on jawcricket@tiscali.co.uk.
Those AOBs of the 1945-60
vintage have an excellent reunion
champion in the guise of John
Williams (R, 1943-49). From
launching the Oval reunion six years
ago, to this year’s overnight reunion
at Stratford, John is now proposing
another overnight reunion for his
cohort, this time in his home town
of Sherborne.
The reunion will be at the
Grange Hotel, Oborne near
Sherborne in Dorset on Wednesday
20 March 2013. Sherborne boy
John assures us that ‘this a lovely
country hotel and the area offers
such a wealth of interest.’ Readers
After last year’s successful outing
at the RAF Club, the Annual
Dinner returns to its home venue
at the School for 2012. This will be
the 116th Club dinner and President
Chris Heayberd will hand the
presidential medal to former
Headmaster, Dr Colin Diggory.
If there are alumni and former
staff whose interest in élite sport
has been awakened following this
summer’s fantastic display at the
Olympics and Paralympics, this is
the dinner for you. Chris has invited
his fellow Dutton’s man Michael
Whittingham (D 1965-72), a former
400m-hurdler for Britain and now the
Director of High Performance at the
‘Tin-Tab’
Glider
Nominated by: Nigel Whitwell (Tn 1959-65)
The ‘Tin-Tab’, short for Tin Tabernacle, was a grey corrugated iron edifice
which sat at the north end of the Quad. It was built, writes Nigel ‘around
the time of WW1 [1919] and it accommodated two 2nd year form-rooms
in my day. It would be stiflingly hot in summer and depressingly cold in
winter, being heated merely by the traditional coke stove in the corner
of each room.’ The Tin-Tab was demolished in 1960s.
Nominated by: Stefan Bort (D 1971-78)
Stefan recalls that the School’s glider was ‘faithfully dragged
across the field each inspection day and “flown” across the
cricket square for about 15 feet.’ The photograph shows the
glider being flown at the Annual Inspection in June 1969.
The glider was destroyed in the RAF hut fire in the early 1980s.
Annual Dinner drinks reception
Oliver Bailey and Angela Brownbill in a scene from Table Manners
Burbage Theatre
Company
A date for the diary … Norman’s at
it again, wreaking hilarious havoc in
the next Burbage Theatre Company
presentation of Table Manners, part
of Alan Ayckbourn’s The Norman
Conquests trilogy. Norman carries
on where he left off when Burbage
last year performed to great acclaim
another in the trilogy, Round and
Round the Garden – trying in vain
to keep all of the women in his family
happy throughout one chaotic
weekend in the country.
Sportscotland institute of sport as
his guest speaker. At Sportscotland,
Mike has the strategic and
operational responsibility for leading
Sportscotland’s investment, strategic
input and operational delivery of high
performance. Mike will give a firsthand insight into top playing sport,
and perhaps pass on a few tips to
those sports players and coaches
in the room.
Throughout the year, the
Development and Alumni Office
frequently fields enquiries from
alumni who have either just missed
their year reunion, or want to have
another reunion for their year group.
The Annual Dinner is a perfect
opportunity for groups of friends to
get together in between the year
reunions held at the School and
the Clubhouse. So why not call up
your old school friends, dig out the
bibs, tuckers and frocks, and come
along? The office will be delighted
to serve as go-between with friends
who may have dropped off your
radar in the intervening years. The
Club has a special concessionary
ticket rate for those recent alumni
who left Alleyn’s in the last five
years.
The dinner is becoming
increasingly more popular and
tickets are served on a strict firstcome-first-served basis. A booking
form for the dinner is enclosed in
the magazine and you can now
book online via the Club’s website.
Avoid disappointment and book
now! We look forward to seeing you
on 17 November.
Tickets: £45 each or £30 each
(concessionary rate for
2007-11 leavers);
please book by 9 November
25-27 October 2012, 7.30pm,
Michael Croft Theatre
Tickets: £6 (£4 concessions) available
through the Michael Croft Theatre Box
Office or on the door.
Gap Year report
Last year, Beth Garratt (T 2004-11)
was given a Gap Bursary award
from the Edward Alleyn Club to
help fund her voluntary work during
her gap year. She worked first for
a Salvation Army school in Dar Es
Salaam and then in a hospital in
Iringa. Here she sends in a report
about her time in Tanzania.
Early one morning back in April,
I arrived in Tanzania and was met by
Joy and Lynda, my hosts, and driven
to their house on the Salvation Army
compound in Dar Es Salaam. I was
given a tour of the compound and
introduced to many of the people
I would get to know over the next
seven weeks. I had the weekend to
settle in and explore a bit of the
surroundings.
I started at Matumaini [Swahili
for ‘hope’] School for almost 200
children with disabilities on the
Monday and was the only volunteer
there at the time. In the mornings,
I helped in the dispensary with
Patricia, the nurse. From day one
she had me asking the children’s
names, ages, class and illness in
Swahili and completing the medical
records. At 9am each day we did
a round of the dormitories to see if
any children had remained in bed
due to illness. I then met quite a
few children as they came to the
dispensary throughout the morning
(for very varied reasons: diarrhoea,
scabies, boils, small wounds, sore
legs, swollen ankles, fever, malaria,
red-eye, earache, headache...). I
learnt a lot from her about her work
and was able to assist more as the
weeks went by. In the afternoons I
often helped in the workshop with
Professor Magige and Pius (both
of whom have physical disabilities
and themselves came through the
school; they are a great inspiration to
the children) making specialist shoes
and mending broken ones. I also
worked with Mr Tillya who makes
prosthetic limbs and walking aids for
the children. This was a great way
to meet children as they came and
went all afternoon as well as helping
Fives ball and gloves
Hymn book
Nominated by: Chris Stendall (T 1973-80)
Chris has ‘many fond memories of my twice-weekly
training for Fives and of West of England and All England
Fives tournaments, at which we were very successful.’
Nominated by: Year 11 pupil, Lizzie O’Connor
Lizzie writes: ‘it graces the hands of every pupil who goes through Alleyn’s and
it's a good way to start the day by all singing together in the morning as a school’.
The music for each hymn has put in the key to best ‘match the ranges of melodies
with the ranges of most teenage voices – even on cold, wet winter mornings!’
The current issue was put together in 2006.
them in a practical way. Some
afternoons I helped Mr Edward with
physiotherapy. At 4pm I finished in
the workshop and went with the
children to the dormitories. I was
able to chat to varying degrees with
the children, some of whose English
was very good and some who could
just about say one or two words.
The children very much enjoyed
teaching me Swahili words and I
taught them some English as well as
encouraging them to use what they
knew. It was sometimes difficult to
share my time equally between the
children and the boys and girls often
debated whose turn it was to take
me to their dorms. I loved spending
time with the children, the highlight
of the day. At first it proved difficult
to learn names of the children as
well as trying to get a grip of the
language but I was glad of the
challenge. During these times I
played games, read, sang songs
or just spent time with the children
as they rarely get the attention of
adults. Whilst in Dar Es Salaam I
was fortunate enough to fly out to
Kilimanjaro where I went on safari
in Ngorongoro Crater: an incredible
chance to see more of Tanzania
and its wildlife including lions, rhino,
elephants, zebra and giraffe.
After two months, I left
Matumaini and said a reluctant
What do you
remember
from your
first day at
Alleyn’s?
goodbye to the children, which was
difficult but I had learnt a lot and I
have many great memories from my
time spent there. My next placement
was with Gap Medics, an
organisation which arranges work
placements for students, like me,
wishing to study medicine. I met the
staff from Gap Medics and along
with 10 other students took a nine-
hour coach to Iringa. My placement
was at Iringa Regional Hospital
where I spent my first week in the
internal medicine wards which was
very interesting. I learnt a great deal
about various diseases, including
malaria, HIV, TB, typhoid fever,
hypertension and diabetes, which
were some of the main reasons for
admittance in those wards. With a
Beth Garratt with children at Matumani School, Tanzania
We have set up various alumni groups on
Facebook and LinkedIn and at the start of this
academic year, we asked members to share
their memories of their first day at Big School –
perhaps spending a weekend covering books
in wallpaper? Here are some of them:
Not wall paper but brown paper only. Also being quizzed by Mr Jenkins
(History master) whether I had written my name in ink or in Biro, the
implication being that if it was in Biro it would have to be re-done. I of course
confirmed that it was ink. I can now admit, many, many years later, that it
was infact Biro and not ink. Nigel Dingley (T 1964-71)
VERY CLEARLY! Sitting in the Lower School Hall waiting to hear who
was to be my first form master... Peter Friedlander as it turned out: 1F
Jason Tomlins (D 1982-89)
On my first day at Alleyn’s – in an enormous uniform and equally ungainly
shiney black toe-capped shoes – I found that I had walked into a huge
pile of freshly mixed cement (on the Quad, near to the red brick Music
Room). I remember a bellowing voice (Ken Spring, I think) bursting from
a window of the ‘New Wing’ (1962) suggesting in no uncertain terms
number of deaths on the ward, there
were difficult moments, one of which
was on the first day right in front of
us which was very hard. It was also
very frustrating when many of the
patients’ illnesses could have been
treated if the hospital had the money
and equipment. My second week
was in surgery where I was able to
observe a number of operations
as well as join the doctor on ward
rounds. My final weeks were in
Outpatients and Paediatrics, and in
addition I spent a few afternoons
in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. I
was able to learn a lot about the
cases they deal with in the hospital
and gain very useful experience.
We had two free afternoons a week
in which we could explore the town,
take a walk up to Gangilonga Rock
[‘talking rock’] or relax at the house.
I was sad to have to leave Tanzania
in July, but had really enjoyed
everything I experienced while
out there.
To conclude my gap year, I
volunteered as a Games Maker at
the London 2012 Olympics in the
Aquatics Centre where I supervised
athletes’ training sessions.
Thank you very much to the
Edward Alleyn Club for helping to
make all of this possible.
Beth Garratt (T 2004-11)
that I should re-locate myself. Richard Nye (B 1962-69)
Wearing the suit that Mr Palmer had assured my parents, ‘would ride up
with wear!’ Nigel Godfrey (S 1975-82)
I appreciated Arnold Palmer selling me the school shop’s last pair of short
trousers, and telling my parents that all first and second year pupils wore
them! The next two winters were quite cold at times! Simon Bamford
(D 1971-78)
Being shouted at by Mr Randall to put shirt collar outside the jacket collar.
This was when no ‘official’ blouses had been sourced for the first intake of
girls. Celia Denton (T 1976-83)
I was very nervous facing my first lesson...fortunately it was a delightful
year 7. Mike Jones (CR 1972-2011)
I was in a 1M, form-mastered by Dave Midgeley. I remember my first day
as if it was yesterday, come to think of it I actually remember it better than
yesterday, which is a worry! Mark West (R 1971-77)
Please visit the Facebook and LinkedIn sites to join our groups.
You can also follow us on Twitter @EdwardAlleynC
Alleyn’s sports medal
Sod of turf
Nominated by: Marilyn Walker, Head of Girls’ PE
This is a picture of one of the first which was given out to pupils for
excellence in sport. Sports medals, based on the design of this one
(awarded in 1909), are presented to current pupils at the annual sports
awards ceremonies held to celebrate sporting achievements.
Nominated by: Former Headmaster, Dr Colin Diggory
This preserved sod of turf was ‘turned’ by Dr Diggory, along with the
then Chief Executive of the National Youth Theatre, Sid Higgins, former
Headmaster, Dr Colin Niven, and Raymond Cousins, the chairman of
Governors at the time. The ceremony was carried out on Founder’s
Day in 2006 and signalled the start of the major construction project
to build the Michael Croft Theatre.
10 EACMagazine School news
From the
Headmaster
As we embark upon another School year, I am pleased to report that
spirits seem buoyant and the atmosphere purposeful. It is good to have
the pupils back after a long and, of course, lovely summer break. I trust
that you were able to keep dry for the Diamond Jubilee weekend, and
that many of you (as many of our staff and students did) were able to
enjoy the London Olympics and Paralympics.
It was with sadness that we bade farewell to a number of longserving and loyal teachers at the end of the Trinity term. Please see
p11 to read their valetes.
Thanks not least to their sterling efforts, Alleyn’s received a
tremendous set of examination results this summer, which were in fact
our best-ever. At GCSE, 55% of grades were A*, 90% all A*A and 99%
all A*AB. At AS Level, 79% of grades were AB (56% A; 23% B); and
at A Level, 93% of grades were A*AB, with 78% A*A and 32% were
awarded the top grade of A*. Such results certainly attest to what
can be accomplished by industrious students working with dedicated
teachers to create an enjoyable, effective and life-long learning
environment and that is certainly what we are continuing to achieve
here.
Another fruit of the labour of both staff and students is the terrific
news regarding university places for our leavers this year. Ninety-three
per cent of the cohort got into their first-choice university, with 96%
getting into their first or second choice. All 28 students with offers from
Oxford and Cambridge will be taking up their offers. One student is
taking up a place at the University of Amsterdam, another at the New
College of the Humanities, set up this year by Professor AC Grayling.
I am sure you will join me in wishing them well in their studies.
Away from Dulwich, a number of pupils were once again able to
enjoy co-curricular opportunities kindly offered by members of the
teaching and support staff. The Duke of Edinburgh Gold and Silver
expeditions once again took place in Wales; the CCF camp was in
Cornwall; the Senior Football tour went to Germany; and the Upper
Dr Savage at the 2012 Leavers’ barbecue
School Bear Pit production of The Mermaid of Zennor enjoyed a very
successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Looking ahead, as part of my central theme of non-examined
academic enrichment, this term sees the launch of Enrichment classes
for Year 7 [ages 11+], which I and several other colleagues will be
teaching this year. We hope that these classes will help the children to
become better, more self-aware and effective learners – a life-long skill,
and something that will also assist them with public examinations
when the time comes. This term also sees the launch of extra-mural
Mandarin classes for Upper School students from Alleyn’s and our
local state partner-school, Sydenham and Forest Hill Sixth. We also
anticipate another crop of first-class entries for the Governors’
Research Project Prize from Year 13, which was launched with such
success last year.
Another important project which we shall continue to take
forwards this year is the development of the north side of the School
site, which is, along with the bursaries programme, a key component
of our Advancing Alleyn’s campaign. The plans for the new buildings
will be revealed at ‘Townley’s Transformation’ on the evening of Friday
12 October. You can read about the plans on pp14-15. I am sure
that you will not be surprised to learn that the alumni of Alleyn’s have
been enthusiastic supporters of Advancing Alleyn’s, with over half of
our donations have been sent in by former pupils. We are extremely
grateful.
Now in my third year as
Headmaster at Alleyn’s, I can
fully appreciate my precedessor
Dr Colin Diggory’s professed
enthusiasm and love for the
Edward Alleyn Club. From the
many alumni events I’ve attended,
the affection held by alumni for
Alleyn’s and the friendships made
here is palpable. At the summer
reunion, some of our guests who
left twenty years ago were thrilled
Dr Savage at this year’s Speech Day
to recognise not just each other
and their teachers but members of our catering team who were
working on the day. The Development and Alumni Office carried out an
online survey following this reunion, and were delighted to see that all
the respondents agreed that they would recommend others to attend
the reunion of their own year. Do make sure you attend your reunion if
it is coming up.
Finally, I would like to share a postscript that was added to an
AOB’s personal information contact form. He told us that, thanks to
the alumni team, he’d been reunited with his best friend from School –
‘an amazing surprise after 71 years.’ It is messages such as these
which gladden our hearts and make our work so worthwhile.
If you would like to visit the School, simply contact Susannah,
David or Martha, our wonderful and hard-working team in the
Development and Alumni Office. Otherwise, Natalie and I look forward
to seeing as many of you as possible at various School and alumni
events over the coming months.
Dr Gary Savage
Memorabilia from the
first co-educational class
Nominated by: Lyn Des Marais, parent of a former pupil
Girls made their first tentative steps into Alleyn’s in the
Sixth Form in 1975, and began their Alleyn’s education from
aged 11 a year later in 1976. This is a photograph of those
‘pioneer girls’ of 1976 in their last year, in 1983.
Headmaster’s book
Nominated by: Catherine Horan, PA to three Headmasters at Alleyn’s
(Drs Niven, Diggory and Savage)
Pupils sign the Headmaster’s Book when one of their teachers has
awarded them for an outstanding achievement. ‘It’s a huge honour.’
EACMagazine School news 11
Departing staff
It was with sadness that we said
goodbye to a number of longserving staff at the end of the
summer.
• Neil Kinnear
• Vivienne Penglase
• Chris Symes
We also bade a fond farewell to
Suzan Dury, Head of Psychology;
Kirstin Guy, Deputy Head of
English; Scott Milne, Economics;
David Morton, Head of Middle
School; Christopher Perez,
Physics; Nolan Price, Art; Richard
Randall, AV technician; Paul
Sherlock (interview featured in last
issue), Housemaster, Tulley’s and
Boys’ PE Department.
Their valetes can be viewed them
in the Trinity Term End of Term
Newsletter which is also posted on
the School’s website.
Neil Kinnear
Neil Kinnear retires as teacher of
Mathematics after 24 years and two
months service to the School and
exactly 49 years and two months after
he started at Alleyn’s as a pupil himself
(1963–1969). Neil read Pure
Mathematics at Caius College,
Cambridge, prior to taking up his first
teaching post at Catford Boys’ School
where he taught for two years. Enticed
by his love of India, Neil travelled to
Chennai (then Madras) where he taught
in a government school for two years,
before moving to Northern India to
become one of the founder members
of the Tibetan Children’s Village,
a school set up by the Dalai Lama’s
sister. Neil stayed for eight years and
saw the school grow from strength to
strength. With an initial cohort of thirty
students, the school now has a roll of
over two thousand.
Political unrest in India brought
Neil back to the UK for brief a
teaching spell in Merton but it was not
long before he was back on the road
again; this time travelling to Lhasa. He
spent an unforgettable year wandering
freely in Tibet, a country where few
have travelled and he made the very
most of the opportunity to see as much
as possible of Tibet before restrictions
were brought in again and he had to
return to England.
In January 1987 Neil took up the
position of teacher of Mathematics at
Alleyn’s School. During his 25 years at
the School he has supported countless
pupils through their Maths education.
The School has benefited not just from
Neil’s excellent teaching but from his
love of photography. He has been the
School’s designated photographer at
many hundreds of events. As FlightLieutenant Kinnear, Neil dedicated
many years to running the RAF section
of the School CCF and, although he
stepped down from this post officially
in 2008, he remained a committed
helper.
Neil is looking forward to dividing
his time when he retires between
writing Mathematics software and
extended visits to India. We wish him
well in his future adventures, of which
there will no doubt be many.
Chris Symes
Chris joined Alleyn’s in 1997 as Head
of Information Technology having been
first a Head of Music at Kidbrooke
School and then a Head of Computing
and ICT at Holy Trinity College. Chris
came with glowing references from her
own university tutors who had taken
the unusual step of inviting her to
deliver a lecture on her research paper
to subsequent undergraduate yeargroups; former-headmaster Dr Niven
quickly recognised what a first-class IT
and computing specialist and natural
teacher he had before him at interview.
In 2004 Chris was appointed Academic
Assistant to the Deputy Head, with
specific responsibility for leading and
managing the development of IT across
the school. Chris’ enthusiasm for the
new age of school computing helped
Alleyn’s to develop electronic resources
across a wide range of functionality:
website, internal electronic
communication, electronic displays,
and the increasing use of computers in
the classroom. As the pace of change
accelerated further, the focus of her role
evolved and she became Director of
ICT, with an expanded brief which
included overseeing all aspects of ICT
in the Senior School as well as liaising
with the Junior School and the crucial
role of acting as the key link between
teaching and support staff. She is
equally at home discussing the finer
points of programming with her A Level
students, the intricacies of electronic
registration, admissions and
assessment and reporting with her
colleagues or the deployment of
hardware with the IT support staff.
Chris’ energy and vision drove the
successful innovations such as the new
whole-school database and Alleyn’s
Post email communication with
parents, along with delivering all the
necessary in-house staff training. Chris
has been instrumental in leading the
IT Development Committee and in
establishing and sharing good practice
across the teaching and support staff.
Throughout this time she has continued
to teach both IT and A Level
Computing. Her love of the subject
and commitment to high academic
standards have inspired students,
many of whom have gone on to study
computing at university. We wish Chris
a happy retirement and when she is not
avidly following cricket, we will look out
for her in the Roland Garros crowds.
Vivienne
Penglase
Vivienne
Penglase
has been at
the heart of
Alleyn’s
Drama for
eight years
bringing her
unique brand of energy and enthusiasm
to all her projects. She has worked
tirelessly to expand the Drama
Department and to bring the spirit of
theatrical invention and collaboration to
a huge number of students. In the last
two years, Vivienne
has launched LAMDA lessons and
examinations at Alleyn’s and already
we have over 80 pupils across Years 7
and 8 participating. Vivienne was also
responsible for the Associate Directors
Programme, bringing established
professional directors into School to
work with our students, most notably
bringing in Celia de Wolff to direct radio
play Joe’s Kingdom in the MCT.
During her time at Alleyn’s, Vivienne
has directed a great range of shows
from the grotesque satire of this year’s
The Visit to Dickens’ Children and Silas
Marner (complete with working loom!),
and all the way back to Talking
Portraits, devised theatre from Year 10s
and 11s in 2004. In the midst of all this,
Vivienne was central to the opening of
the Michael Croft Theatre, producing
the Gala Fringe Festival and
transforming the rooms and corridors
of the EAB into myriad dramatic worlds.
Amid the whirlwind of dramatic
productions, Vivienne has always had
an eye on posterity, maintaining an
impressive archive of photography and
production materials over the years.
Vivienne will principally be remembered
here, though, as a wonderfully
dedicated and focused Theatre Studies
A level teacher. Over eight years, pupils
have benefitted from the range and
depth of Vivienne’s subject knowledge,
richly complemented by her continuing
work as an A-level moderator for
practical work with AQA, but more
importantly by the warmth and care she
demonstrates towards all her students.
Vivienne will be much missed at Alleyn’s
and we wish her all the best for her new
role at Channing’s.
Memorial Garden
School cap
Nominated by: David Young, Director of Development
The Memorial Garden was consecrated in 1954 as a memorial to those Alleyn
Old Boys who died in the Second World War. The site of the garden is at the
junction of Townley Road and Calton Avenue where the RAF barrage balloon
site had been moored during the war.
Nominated by: David Cornes (Tn, 1947-52) and John Palmer (Bn 1954-61)
Various school caps have been nominated by Old Boys. David suggests
the cap ‘with the quadrant showing House colours that we used to carry in
our pockets and place upon our heads before coming into sight of the
prefects at the gate.’ School caps ceased to be worn in the early 1970s.
Introducing Gabrielle
St John-McAlister
Gabrielle St John-McAlister has
recently been appointed part-time
Archivist at Alleyn’s. This newly
created role is a very welcome
development that will greatly
enhance the archives operation.
Until now the Archive has been
managed by the Honorary Archivist
to the School and Club – a position,
held by a Member of the Edward
Alleyn Club, as instigated in 1986
by the Headmaster of the day. The
current Hon Archivist, Neil French,
who succeeded Peter Rodway and
the late Arthur Chandler before him,
is ably assisted by Robert Holden
and both Neil and Robert will continue
to work in their honorary roles under
Gabrielle’s professional direction.
We invited Gabrielle to introduce
herself to our magazine writers and
to outline what her initial and longer
term plans are for the Archive.
I joined Alleyn’s as part-time School
Archivist in July. I’ve worked in
archives for nearly 10 years and
qualified as a professional archivist
from the University of Wales,
Aberystwyth in 2008. Many posts
in archives are fixed-term project
posts, so while that isn’t great for
job security it does give archivists
the chance to work in a variety of
institutions. As a result, I’ve had a
varied and interesting career. I’ve
worked in the archives of a major
London local authority record office,
three major national cultural
institutions, a learned society, and a
contemporary dance company. Now
my working week is divided between
my post at Alleyn’s and an archivist
post for a national children’s charity.
Working as the Archivist at
Alleyn’s is an exciting opportunity
for me because as well as being
a qualified archivist I also have a
teaching background. I am also a
qualified primary school teacher and
taught in a London school for four
years before changing career. I’m
very much looking forward to using
my educational background to
understand the needs of both
teaching staff and students in
order to develop the archive as an
excellent educational resource for
the School.
At the time of writing, the
majority of my time is taken up with
preparing the archive exhibition for
the Townley’s Transformation event.
Following on from this, longer term
plans for the archive include
formulating policies and procedures
on a variety of collections
management matters, including
preservation, cataloguing and setting
up an online catalogue of the
archive’s holdings. Digitisation of
some of our holdings and developing
the archive’s web presence are also
on my radar so watch this space!
Seeking out new material for
the archive is also something I will be
actively doing. To this end, please
60-SECOND QUIZ
Birthday: 19 July
Home: Southwark
Family: Husband, daughter, cat and
rabbit (pets are part of the family,
after all).
Education: Cape Town, North London and
Aberystwyth.
First job: Saturday job in what used
to be a Greek bakery down on Kentish
Town Road.
Hobbies: Photography; drawing; reading; cooking;
gardening; music.
Who would play you in a film? Sharon Horgan, the Irish
actress, writer and comedian, or Katharine Hepburn –
two very funny women.
Who is your hero? Without a doubt, Nelson Mandela.
Name your ideal dinner guests: Ginger Rogers and Fred
Astaire, and maybe Frank (Sinatra) for a little musical
accompaniment.
What do you do most often when you are bored?
Doodle and gaze into space.
If you could have anything you wanted, what would it be?
If I was 13 again then it would be a ra-ra skirt and
pixie boots but as I’m not 13 anymore, it might be a bit
predictable, but is world peace, an end to poverty, and
respect for human rights asking too much?
feel free to contact me directly with
possible donations of material or
with requests or enquiries. I am
afraid the archive cannot accept
unsolicited donations as there are
due diligence preliminaries required
before we can accept items,
so please do contact me first.
I am very much looking forward
to meeting alumni at future events
and functions, and have already
had the pleasure of meeting some
Old Boys at a recent reunion lunch
at the Oval.
Gabrielle St John-McAlister
020 8557 1551
(Wed, Thu and every other Tues)
archives@alleyns.org.uk
Regimental Dinner
Twenty-two alumni attended
the CCF Regimental Dinner held
on 1 June and John Merrill
(R 1942-48) of the Honorable
Artillery Company was guest of
honour. AOB-friends Rodney Scrase
DFC (Tn 1937-39) and Peter Wrench
(C 1945-49) presented the ‘Scrase,
Wiggs and Wrench’ trophy for the
first time. Rodney and Peter created
this award as a tribute to the Alleyn’s
CCF and their French teacher,
Miss Dora Wiggs, and it recognises
the best Year 13-RAF cadet.
The first recipient of the trophy was
Spurgeon’s House Captain Katie
De Salis (2005-12).
Rodney Scrase and Peter Wrench presenting their trophy to Katie De Salis with Melinda Pokorny CO, CCF, looking on
Trib
Buxton Field Centre
Nominated by: Miranda Keith-Roach (Tn 1985-92)
Trib was a rather bawdy but very funny pupil-produced magazine.
‘We always enjoyed that!’ writes Miranda. ‘It came out each term I think
and I am pretty sure it was in business the whole time I was at Alleyn’s.’
Nominated by: Ann Kenrick, parent of a current pupil
The School’s field centre is situated south west of Buxton,
Derbyshire. All Year 7 pupils end their first year of secondary
school by spending four days at Buxton with their class
and form tutor.
Founder’s Day
This year’s Founder’s Day
stood out from past glorious
Founder’s Days in a way that
living memory can hardly ever
remember happening before:
there were no cornflowers.
Even during the Second World War,
the school managed to acquire
cornflowers (albeit on ration). The
reason for the lack of Ned Alleyn’s
favourite flower being sported in
visitors’ lapels? The failure of the
cornflower crop thanks to the dire
British weather. Our gardeners had
planted 2,000 cornflower seeds
to ensure a bright bed of blue
blossoms greeted us on the front
lawn for the day, but these too
failed to reach their blossomy-best.
As ever the Club’s Pimm’s Tent
was a central hub of activity with
past pupils and staff converging
over a jug or several of Pimm’s.
We couldn’t have managed the
flow of Pimm’s and good humour
without the stalwart support of our
volunteers behind the bar: together
we raised £1,611.45 for the
Alleyn Benevolent Fund. We
were also indebted for the generous
donation of ice from local firm Hot
Rock Ice.
Happy birthday AJS!
Alleyn’s Junior School (AJS) was
founded 20 years ago and the
current Junior School pupils and
their teachers celebrated their
20th anniversary sharing a cake
on 10 September 2012. The School
was opened by Terry Waite in 1992,
the then Archbishop of Canterbury’s
envoy, who had recently been
released after some years as a
hostage in the Middle East.
Bridget Weir was Headmistress
from 1992 to 2003 and Mark
Mark O’Donnell with AJS children sharing their birthday cake
O’Donnell, the current Headmaster,
joined the staff in September 2003.
Mark says that the Junior School
shares the same ethos and
aspirations as its Senior School and,
whilst many former pupils may not
have attended the Junior School,
they would feel very much on familiar
ground when visiting it.
Historical note
Many of our older AOBs refer to
their early years of being at Alleyn’s
as having been at the Junior School.
Boys as young as nine years old
were admitted to Alleyn’s and the
lowest [youngest] classes were
known as the ‘Junior School’.
However, after the Education Act
of 1944 Alleyn’s could only admit
boys who were 11+.
Olympic Torch-bearer
Year 13 pupil Freya Cooper
(Dutton’s), was one of the torchbearers as the Torch made its
way down Regent Street, around
Piccadilly Circus and up
Shaftesbury Avenue on the day
before the official opening of the
London 2012 Olympic Games.
Alleyn’s evacuation label
Water polo
Nominated by: Sandy Alexander (B 1938-47)
Sandy remembers wearing this evacuation label when he joined
‘Operation Pied Piper’, the government’s emergency scheme to
evacuate children out of cities and into safe areas. On 2 September
1939, the boys of Alleyn’s ‘walked in orderly groups, labelled H29,
through Dulwich Village, down Gallery Road to West Dulwich Station to entrain for an unknown
destination’ (Robert Young, Before I Forget). The unknown destination was Kent.
Nominated by: Neil Green, Housemaster of Tyson’s
and master in charge of girls and boys water polo
Neil explains: ‘water polo has been an integral part of the co-curricular
programme at Alleyn’s for many decades. In 1980 Alleyn’s were crowned
as national champions and this has been complimented recently
by successive national championship titles in 2007, 2010 and 2012.
1960s: The decade of
Macmillan, the mini and
the man on the moon
…and also the decade which at
Alleyn’s saw the retirement of
Sidney Hudson as Headmaster
and the arrival of Charles Lloyd
(1963-66) followed by John
Fanner (1967-75) as ‘Soapy’s’
successors.
You may have guessed it, this
is an advance call for the 1960s’
Memories Day which has been
provisionally set for Tuesday 5
March. The Memories Day series
has been enormously popular with
AOBs from the 1930s, ’40s and
’50s, and successful in gleaning
hidden gems of knowledge about
their alma mater and era.
The Memories Day starts with
coffee in the School’s Great Hall
where the Headmaster welcomes
guests and gives an outline of the
day. Guests then tour the site with
current pupils. After lunch, the
work begins in earnest and pupils
interview our AOB-guests about
their memories of Alleyn’s. See inset
to the left for a sample of typical
questions we ask our AOBs.
If you would like to come to the
1960s’ Memories Day, please let us
know and we’ll enter your name in
a school cap – demand for places
always exceeds the number of
spaces available. Spaces are limited
because the event takes place
during a normal school day.
If you are unable to attend,
we would still like to hear your
memories of Alleyn’s. Please
send in your written memories
to Susie Schofield.
For those of you
who came to the 1950s’
Memories Day earlier this
year, Susie is slowly writing
up the report ‘Alleyn’s in the
1950s’. One of her favourite
comments from an AOB who
had just read her tome ‘Alleyn’s
in the 1940s’ was ‘it made me
laugh so much in places that it
hurt!’. Needless to say, this letter
has pride of place on the office
noticeboard.
Questions for 1960s’ Memories Day
General
• What was the atmosphere of Alleyn’s like then?
• What did you enjoy about School?
• What do you remember most about your time at
School?
• How was your place at Alleyn’s funded?
• Where did you live and how did you get to
School?
As the magazine was going
to press, preparations were
feverishly underway for
‘Townley’s Transformation’, the
School’s celebration of it residing
in Townley Road for 125 years.
A review will appear in the next
alumni publication.
However, as a taster of what
is to happen, on the day – Friday
Old Gym
• What were the boys like at Alleyn’s in your day?
What was important to them?
• Did you feel privileged to be a pupil at
Alleyn’s?
• What are your memories of the decade?
Lessons and activities
• Who was your most memorable teacher?
• What was your Headmaster like?
• Can you remember any grand occasions or famous
people who visited?
• What was your favourite subject?
• ...and least?
• Were you in the cadet forces?
After Alleyn’s
• At what age did you leave Alleyn’s?
• Where did you go after leaving Alleyn’s?
e.g. university, forces, work.
Lower School
• Have you kept in touch with Alleyn’s or the
Edward Alleyn Club since you left?
• What are your impressions of
Alleyn’s today?
• Other than the introduction
of girls (in 1975), has
Alleyn’s changed?
The Clubhouse
Over-sized picnic bench in Lower School playground
Nominated by: Chris Heayberd,
President of the Edward Alleyn Club (EAC)
The Clubhouse is the meeting place for all alumni and is the base
for the various sports sections of the EAC. The current Clubhouse
recently underwent a refurbishment when the management of it
and the grounds was taken over by the School in 2011.
Nominated by: Physics technician, Andreas Tober
The bench was designed by Martina von Holn (free-lance theatre designer)
and built by the maintenance team for the Lower School play 2007-08,
produced and directed by Vivienne Penglase. After the play, the bench was
modified to be used in the playground where it has been ever since, thanks
to its solid and durable construction.
12 October – the School will enter
a time capsule and be transported
back to 1887. Maths teacher Carol
Wells is busily sourcing and stitching
costumes to create ragged urchins
and stern Victorian masters and
mistresses, and Union flags and
bunting will festoon the Dining Hall.
During the day pupils will follow
Victorian-themed lessons whilst
Townley’s Transformation
in the evening, parents, alumni and
friends will be entertained with a
music hall extravaganza and the
kitchens will create a feast of
Victorian-inspired food – with the
promise that there’ll be absolutely
no jellied eels: there is a limit to
how far we can take authenticity....
There will be an archival display
about the buildings at Townley Road
in the newest addition to the site,
the Edward Alleyn Building.
Headmaster Dr Gary Savage will
also reveal the plans to improve and
expand the facilities to ensure
that Alleyn’s continues to deliver
a 21st-century education to its
pupils. Here’s a preview of artists’
impressions by Tim Ronalds
Architects.
Dining Rooms
Dining Rooms
Water-jump
Team noticeboard in the sports hall
Nominated by: Senior Deputy Head, Antony Faccinello
Whilst the water-jump no longer exists on the grounds at
Alleyn’s, our AOBs remember it vividly. The annual steeplechase
– which included the water-jump – took place each February.
Nominated by: Gavin English, AOB and current PE master
The team notice board on the sports hall wall is, explains Gavin,
‘an old wooden thing but there is always a real buzz around it in
the football season with kids coming and going every break and
lunchtime to look at and discuss team selection and the next
opposition.’
Next year’s Chaplaincy Lecture will be given by Sir Jonathan Phillips who
will speak on the subject ‘Is faith a help or a hindrance when you are trying
to make peace?’ Sir Jonathan is Warden of Keble College, Oxford, and
former Permanent Secretary to the Northern Ireland Office. He was closely
and directly involved for many years in the Northern Ireland peace process.
The lecture will take place on 24 January, 2013, 7.30pm, MCT.
Edward Alleyn lecture
t
M he
C ic
Th ro ha
e a f t el
tre
Chaplaincy lecture
Comedy at
the Michael Croft
Theatre this
autumn
Ginny Davis
Home Truths
Saturday 30 November, 7.30pm
Following on from the success of the inaugural Edward Alleyn lecture given by ceramicist
and writer Edmund de Waal, Mark Damazer, Master of St Peter’s College, Oxford, will be
giving this year’s lecture on Thursday 15 November in the Great Hall. Mark Damazer was
the controller of BBC Radio 4 and Radio 7.
To reserve a ticket for either of these lectures, please book online at
www.michaelcrofttheatre.org.uk
In a double bill of two one-hour, one-woman plays
Edinburgh Fringe sell-out writer and performer
Ginny Davis with ‘dazzling versatility’ shows the
funny side of modern family life with teenagers.
It usually is funny when it’s someone else’s life,
isn’t it?
In Double Booked Davis uses ‘strong narrative
and appealing characterisation’ (broadwaybaby.com)
in a ‘clever and witty’ (The Scotsman) cautionary tale
about the dangers of competitive parenting and the
risks of sparing the truth in order to save face. Ruth
keeps mum about her son, Fred’s school detention.
Meanwhile, her 34DD, perfectly beautiful, perfectly
awful ‘friend’ is hugging a much bigger secret.
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In Something Fishy Ruth Rich finds herself on a
rock and in a hard place as she accompanies son,
Fred (16), on a school trip to Marrakesh leaving
daughter Ellie (17) home alone (well, sort of) looking
after the goldfish.
Tickets are £13 (£8 concession)
from www.michaelcrofttheatre.org.uk
Dominic Holland
Saturday 15 December, 7.30pm
Dominic Holland is one of Britain’s top award
winning observational comedians.
He first made his name by winning the prestigious
Perrier award – and followed this by appearances
on some of the top rated TV shows including Have
I Got News for You and The Royal Variety Show.
He wrote and starred in the critically acclaimed,
The Small World of Dominic Holland for Radio 4.
As an author he has written two books The Ripple
Effect and Only in America.
‘A stand-up everyone should see’ Daily Telegraph
‘A comic who makes people glad to feel alive’
The Guardian
‘Comic gold’ Sunday Times
Tickets are £15 (£12 concession)
from www.michaelcrofttheatre.org.uk
Edward Alleyn Club President’s medal
Mr Roper’s book
Nominated by: Neil French (C 1954-61)
The first Badge of Office for the President was presented, in 1937, to the
Alleyn Old Boys’ Club by JVH Coates, a Vice-President of the Club and
former Master at the School. Forty years later, at the end of his Presidential
year, JF Pretlove presented the Club with a new President’s Badge.
Nominated by: Housemaster of Roper’s, Paul Cochrane
Mr Roper’s book contains pages written by him on boys in the House at the start
of the history of Roper’s [1907]. Paul uses ‘the book along with the photos provided
from the archives to talk about a boy in the week leading up to Remembrance Day.
There are many different characters – some sporty, some academic, some who
were lovable rogues’.
EACMagazine Development news 17
Cornflower Club
The inaugural Cornflower Club lunch
will be held at the School on 4
December for those former pupils,
parents and members of staff who
have honoured us by leaving a gift
to the School in their will. Legacies
have supported Alleyn’s from the
time of its foundation and are an
ideal way of helping the School
today and into the future. Legacy
donations will help future
generations of Alleyn’s boys and
girls to reach their full potential.
As a mark of the School’s
gratitude to Cornflower Club donors,
we have commissioned a limited
edition of enamel lapel pins,
designed by Emma Addleton of
Cornflower Club pin
the Junior School Art Department.
If you have any queries about the
Cornflower Club, or would like to
consider leaving a legacy to the
School, please contact David Young
on 020 8299 8017.
Advancing Alleyn’s
receptions
Following on from the success of the
Medics’ and City Receptions held in
the Trinity Term, the Development
and Alumni Office will be holding two
receptions next year, one for alumni,
parents and former parents working
in engineering, and the other for
those working in the media and
related professions. The receptions
are also open to former pupils who
are studying subjects relating to
these areas, and we encourage
these younger alumni to come
along and avail themselves of the
opportunity to meet and network
with older professionals who might
be able to give them advice or
guidance on their career choices.
If you would like to attend
one of these receptions, please
contact Susie or Martha for further
details. Alas, our records do not list
everyone’s job titles so it would be
helpful if you could let us know if
you work in one of these fields and
we can ensure you are sent an
invitation.
Lord Kakkar speaking at the
Medics’ Reception
Guests who have attended
past receptions valued the
opportunity to hear news of the
School from the Headmaster and
Chair of Governors, renew old
friendships and make new friends
and, quite frequently, discover
shared Alleyn’s connections
with professional colleagues.
Venues and dates for the receptions
will be announced shortly.
Medics’ Reception
City Reception
Looking for something to give at Christmas?
Drama & Music: The Performing Arts at Alleyn’s
A lively, entertaining and beautifully produced illustrated history of performing arts
from the foundation of Alleyn’s to the official opening of the Michael Croft Theatre
in 2009. There are over 40 contributions from former pupils and staff recalling their
school musical and dramatic activities – the oldest going as far back as 1931.
Price: £10
Alleyn Old Boy cufflinks and silk ties
Invest in a smart pair of cufflinks or a silk tie with the Club colours.
Alleyn’s cufflinks: £21.30 Old Boy silk tie: £25
You can purchase these online at www.edwardalleynclub.com
Proceeds from the sale of all of these items will go to the School’s bursary funds.
Alternatively, please send your orders to: Development and Alumni Office, Alleyn’s
School, Townley Road, London SE22 8SU. Cheques should be made payable
to ‘Alleyn’s School’.
Prize book
Lower School ties
Nominated by: Mia Peilow, Modern Languages Department
Mia brought in The Land and the Book or, Biblical Illustrations Drawn from
the Manners and Customs, the Scenes and Scenery of the Holy Land by
WM Thomson, DD. This was a prize given to one Sebert E Brading of Form II
(Lower) in July 1897 for ‘Form Work and French’ and the bookplate inside is
signed by Alleyn’s School’s first Headmaster, Revd J Henry Smith.
Nominated by: Michael David (Spurgeon’s, 2005-12)
The Lower School tie is, says Michael, ‘iconic because all the
boys have one on their first day’.
18 EACMagazine Alumni news
There was a noticeable surge of 2002 leavers
entering the Clubhouse bar after Doctor Who
had finished on Saturday 22 September for their
ten-year reunion. Gasps of recognition abounded
as they went back in time to greet their old school
friends. A good night was had by all – some of
them even managed to transport themselves
(by Tardis?) to a nightery in Brixton to beguile
the wee small hours with fond memories of their
schooldays.
Ten-year reunion
for 2002 leavers
Chestnut tree
World War honours boards
Nominated by: Year 7 pupil, Thomas Morgan
The chestnut tree in the quad was planted, we are told, when the building
opened in 1887. Thomas writes: ‘it is a much loved landmark for all pupils
and staff; it has withstood the tests of time, war, disease and conker
seasons. If only it could tell us what it had witnessed!’
Nominated by: Year 11 pupil, Tara Kakkar
In 1922 a memorial was installed in the School’s Great Hall to
commemorate the AOB-casualties from WW1. In 1949, four more
honours boards were added to the memorial with the names of
those AOBs who died on service in WW2. Tara writes ‘Every day,
students pass the honours boards and remember the brave Old
Boys who sacrificed their lives for our country’.
EACMagazine Alumni news 19
News in brief
Anna
Goodman
(S 1994-2001),
visiting
researcher at
the Centre for
Health Equity
Studies in
Stockholm,
was in the
news recently
for some research that tested
competing evolutionary hypotheses
using data from 14,000 individuals
born 1915-1929. When not
spending the summer in Sweden,
Anna is a public health research
Fellow at the London School of
Hygiene and Tropical Medicine,
where her research focuses on
evaluating interventions designed to
increase walking and cycling and
reduce car use. Current projects
include leading some work looking
at the effects of the London Cycle
Hire Scheme (‘Boris bikes’) on
travel, health and health inequalities
in London.
‘Boys Beating Cancer’ run. Right: organisers Peter Skelton and Rob Dore
Common Room were all of a flutter
one morning after seeing their
former pupil on BBC Breakfast,
being encouraged by the presenter
to talk about Alleyn’s – a school, said
the presenter, ‘that really encourages
children to live their dreams’.
Jessie then went on to say what a
great time (‘incredible’, ‘brillliant’,
‘magical’) she had. Obviously, we
all love her here and wish her every
success: she deserves it!
Jessie Ware Regular readers of
the Alleyn’s alumni ebulletin may
remember us alerting you to the
imminent rise of Jessica Ware
(B 1996-2003). In the Lent ebulletin
we warned that Jessie’s was ‘a name
to look out for in the world of music’.
And so it came to pass – Jessie’s
visage graced many a newspaper,
chat show sofa and airwave in the
summer with the release of her
debut album ‘Devotion’ and critics
likened her as ‘the new Sade’. Whilst
at Alleyn’s, Jessie memorably played
Miss Adelaide in Guys & Dolls.
Several of her fans in the
Two Alleyn’s alumni up for
Mercury Prize As well as wowing
the nation from the television sofas,
Jessie Ware’s album ‘Devotion’
has been nominated for the
prestigious Mercury Prize. She’s
joined on the shortlist by fellow
Alleyn’s contemporary Felix White
(R 1996-2003) of The Maccabees
for the group’s third album ‘Given to
the Wild’. The Mercury prize will be
awarded on 1 November at the
Roundhouse in London and the
winner will receive £20,000, along
with an expected boost in sales.
We wonder if there are any
other schools which can boast two
nominees on the Mercury shortlist?
Boys Beating Cancer
Peter Skelton (B 1976-83) and his
business partner Rob Dore from Jet
Hire Direct organised and sponsored
the second ‘Boys Beating Cancer’.
The event was held on Sunday 5
August at Newbury Rugby Club and
is the male equivalent of ‘Race for
Life’. It gave men and boys the
chance to raise funds for Cancer
Research UK.
Peter writes: ‘This year’s event
was a great success and we
managed to surpass last year’s
total. We raised in excess of
£10,000 with 250 runners and
walkers taking part with a huge
number of family and friends lending
their support.
‘Next year’s event in Newbury
will be held on Sunday 4 August
Portrait of Edward Alleyn
Cornflower
Nominated by: Jack Aldwinckle (Tn 1997-2004)
This is a copy of the portrait of our founder, the actor-manager and
contemporary of William Shakespeare, Edward Alleyn (1566-1626),
and is on display in the School’s entrance hall. The original portrait
is held at Dulwich College.
Nominated by: Year 8 pupil, Maddy Tanner
The cornflower was Edward Alleyn’s favourite flower and it is traditionally
worn in his remembrance by guests attending Founder’s Day.
in brief...
2013. We are delighted to have so
many people interested in starting a
Boys Beating Cancer-event in their
area for next year.
For more information, to register,
to organise an event in your area, or
to simply make a donation please visit
www.boysbeatingcancer.com
Rebecca Jones (C 1998-2005)
is now working for Sustrans (the
sustainable transport charity) as Area
Manager for South and East London.
Fine Cell’s Queen’s Award
Fine Cell Work has been honoured
with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary
Service, recognising outstanding
achievement by groups of volunteers
who work to improve quality of
life and opportunity for others.
Elena Hall (S 1992-99), Design
and Commisions Manager, at Fine
Cell Work writes ‘I’m delighted that
our Volunteers at Fine Cell Work
have been recognised for their
outstanding work and 15 years of
training Fine Cell workers to do
world class embroidery in prisons
across the UK. They are inspiring
pioneers in an often unfriendly
environment and a pleasure to
work with.
Manager. As well as ensuring Forum
is a great place to work, she runs
Forum’s intern and work experience
programme, and would welcome
contact from anyone who is
interested in a placement –
h.saunders@forumforthefuture.org /
www.forumforthefuture.org
The gory bits of history Historian
Jacob F Field (Bn 1994-2001) has
written his first book One Bloody
Thing After Another: The World’s
Gruesome Story. His book takes a
gallop through all history’s goriest
bits, regaling readers with grim tales
of the most sadistric, extravagant,
cruel and unusual figures spanning
from the distant past to the
19th century.
Eliot Pugh is now Assistant
Manager of the men’s South of
England Lacrosse Team.
Forum for the Future is a leading
sustainability not-for-profit that
works with partners around the
world to create a better future for
everyone. Forum works with
business, government and other
key players to inspire new thinking,
build creative partnerships and
develop practical solutions. They
work with over 80 partners, to
transform systems like energy,
food and finance. Helen Saunders
(R 1985-92) its Human Resources
Terence Langley
Higgins, Baron
Higgins KBE DL PC
was a pupil at the
School and a
member of Dutton’s
House from 1942
to 1946. As a
successful school
athlete – Captain of
School Athletics in
1946 – he went on to
enjoy further athletic
success over the
following two years
during National
Service with the
RAF. He was soon
elevated to the
national athletics
team – culminating in his membership of the 1948 London
Olympic Games team and the 1952 team in Helsinki.
He was a 4x440 yards Silver Medal winner in the 1950 British
Empire (now the Commonwealth) Games, held in Auckland,
New Zealand.
Neil French, the School’s Honorary Archivist, spoke to Lord
Higgins after his recent talk at the School. He began by asking
him about his time there in the 1940s. He was surprised to
learn that there was little hardship to be endured as a budding
athlete in those early days. Training – such as it was – was
carried out in the evenings and was its own ‘entertainment’.
‘Kit was little different from standard clothing, and was, in any
event, still rationed following World War II. Spikes were obtained
while evacuated at Rossall School from their stock of old and
discarded ones!’
Top: Dr Savage with Lord Higgins. Above: Terence Higgins, pictured third
from the left, in a School versus AOBs race in 1958
Uniware card
CCF brassard
Nominated by: Sam Allen (R 2004-11)
This is the pass which allows pupils and staff entry to and from the
School site, as well as doubling up as ‘plastic’ money to pay for school
lunches and snacks. The card is a successor to the ‘Girovend’ card
which was introduced in 1987 for pupils to pay for food electronically.
Nominated by: School Staff Instructor, CCF, Steve Hawkins
The brassard is worn by all cadets in the CCF on their right arm
and charts their achievements throughout their CCF career.
Asked about his success on the track, there was no doubt that
he thought it was a great achievement to win the 440 yards at the
RAF Athletic Championships in 1948, but he added that beating
the Jamaican 400m world record holder Herb McKenley over that
distance the same year was perhaps his greatest success!
The strongest opponent and rival that he ever faced was
another Jamaican and world record holder Arthur Wint. He was
also his greatest friend and went on to become the Jamaican
High Commissioner in London. Another good friend was Harold
Abrahams, 100m Gold Medal winner at the 1924 Paris Games.
It was Abrahams who, as an accomplished BBC commentator,
did much to promote and stimulate the public, and a young
Terry’s, interest in athletics.
Lord Higgins concluded that the lasting benefit from his involvement
in athletics was the joy and experience of meeting those people with
whom he competed – and from his lifelong adherence to the motto
of Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the architect of the Modern Olympics,
that in life ‘it is not the winning, but the taking part’.
Interview with Lord Higgins
‘The enduring legacy
of the Modern
Olympic Games is
the encouragement
of today’s youth in
the participation
and enjoyment of
sporting events.’
This article first appeared in the Alleyn’s School Newsletter, Trinity Term 2012.
Lord Higgins beating the 400m world record
holder Herb McKenley (top) and sprinting in
1948 (above).
Alleyn’s Parents’ Association Holly Fair
End-of-Term Newsletters
Nominated by: Chair, Alleyn’s Parents’ Association, Robin Tottenham
Each year, just before Christmas, the Alleyn’s Parents’ Association holds
a Holly Fair to raise money for the School’s Pupil Support Fund and other
school-related charities.
Nominated by: Chief Administrative Officer, Christina Hughes-Onslow
At the end of each term the School produces a newsletter for parents
which reviews the previous term’s news and events, as well as
announcing notices for the following term.
AOB wins Mayor of
London’s Big Busk:
James McGilchrist (D 19982005), performing as James
Riley, won the Mayor of
London’s Big Busk category for
soloists and duos. Hundreds of
young singers and musicians
applied to take part in the Big
Busk, a competition which
was held during London 2012
summer. 150 acts performed for
audience’s votes at 30 venues
across London, such as in the
Olympic Park, BT London Live
Hyde Park and Victoria Park,
Network Rail stations, London
Underground busking pitches
and iconic landmarks in the
City of London.
Gavin playing team captain in a new opera All to play for
What happened to the
choir boy?
Twenty years ago, this October,
Gavin Moralee (D 1991-98) was
busy practising and preparing for
the national final of the RSCM
Choirboy of the Year competition.
He’s written in to let us know
what happened next….
Little did I realise back then
what impact the competition would
have upon my life!
After winning, I sang on
numerous occasions at the Royal
Albert Hall, St John’s Smith Square
and the Barbican, and featured
regularly on BBC radio and TV
broadcasts. I recall having the odd
‘diva strop’ and being quoted by
my mother in a newspaper article as
having to, on occasion, ‘walk on
eggshells’ around me, but what’s a
true artist without a bit of passion!
In addition, 3 CD recordings….
Now, if only I had paid a bit more
attention to my school work while
I was off performing. Apologies to
those teachers who valiantly tried
to keep my core studies alive.
After leaving school in
1998, I took a gap year, having
already accepted a place as an
undergraduate at Trinity College of
Edward Alleyn Magazine
Nominated by: School Archivist, Gabrielle St John-McAlister
The Edward Alleyn Magazine was the School’s magazine from 1890-1969
and was published thrice-yearly. It reported information about the School
and Alleyn Old Boys’ Club’s (AOBC) activities and was frequently described
by its editors as being ‘a mirror of School life’.
Music (now TrinityLaban). I wanted
to enter music college with both my
new voice and a new identity so I
hopped off to a solicitor to change
my name by deed poll (the current
Cranmer-Moralee). I studied with
John Wakefield, a renowned tenor in
the ‘50s and ‘60s and vocal coach
Helen Yorke (previously partner in
crime to international soprano Renee
Fleming). I had an absolute blast at
music college though can’t say I
always applied myself to the
theoretical side…
After graduation, and having
been given sound advice by industry
experts, I realised my voice-type
wasn’t going to develop fully until
I hit my 30s – a scary realisation
when, at 23, you think you are ready
for La Scala or the ENO! For purely
monetary reasons I decided to leave
the world of music and instead,
focussed my attention on my
second love, property. I spent the
next eight years working in Kent and
South London with various estate
agents and property management
firms, always having the odd
moment when inspecting a leaking
roof or dirty oven and that musical
fire would be re-kindled and I would
say to myself ‘What are you doing
here?!’
In 2009, I was lucky enough to
find my current teacher/coach Paula
Anglin and we started rebuilding the
voice and looking toward the
possibilities of a career as an opera
singer.
Only last year, when I was
about to exchange contracts on my
own property, did I finally pull the
plug on what I now term ‘normal life’
and threw everything at training
myself vocally and emotionally in
order to deal with the world of
opera.
It’s been a fascinating year,
getting to know old acquaintances
from college, new acquaintances
from projects, concerts and opera
performances and generally
re-training my brain to think like a
singer. This year has proven to be
hugely useful, as I step slowly up
the ranks in learning and performing
different roles, most recently as a
team captain in an opera about
football… Now, anyone that knows
me from school days, will laugh out
loud at that prospect!
I’m thoroughly looking forward
to my future career – the pathway
for the year ahead is auditions for
small roles with English Opera
companies, but in addition, looking
to audition to be a Festspiele artist
in Germany for a year or two.
I’ll keep you posted!
Lily Peck to Mexico
Lily Peck (R 2002-09) is in her third
year at Sheffield University studying
Animal and Plant Sciences and has
just bagged herself a place on
Operation Wallacea. Lily explains
that this is ‘an amazing opportunity
because Operation Wallacea
operates biological and conservation
management research programmes
in remote locations around the
world. It identifies areas which
need protection, and then
implement and assess conservation
programmes.’ So perfect for Lily’s
degree.
She has secured herself a
place on an expedition to Mexico
where she’ll spend three weeks in
the Calakmul biosphere reserve,
producing data on its biodiversity.
Lily continues: ‘then we head to the
coast to work with Centro Ecologico
Akumal which is a Mexican NGO
that covers some of the most
important turtle nesting sites in the
Caribbean.
‘We’ll be gathering data relating
to the water quality in the cenotes,
lagoons and reefs, and the
biodiversity of the reefs and their
turtle population.
‘So as you can probably
see this is an amazing opportunity!
And it will get me my much-needed
field work experience to help me get
a job after graduation. But, as I’m
sure you can guess, it’s not cheap –
it’s £1,800.’
Lily wonders if there may be
any alumni who might be able to
point her in the right direction for
funding and grants. If you can help
Lily, please contact her via the
Development and Alumni Office.
The Worshipful Company of Saddlers’
coat of arms shield
Nominated by: Head of Lower School, Stephen Smith
The shield is mounted on the gallery in the Great Hall. The Saddlers’
Company awards six academic scholarships to Alleyn’s pupils each year.
Steve says ‘the Saddlers’ Scholars at Alleyn’s have made – and continue
to make – a major contribution in raising the level of the School’s
academic attainment’.
UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS OF 2011 LEAVERS:
Tom Butler
York, Geography
Eagle-eyed readers may have noticed that in the last issue of the
Edward Alleyn Club Magazine, the list of 2011 leavers’ university
destinations was incomplete. The editor has thrown herself on her
sacrificial sword and offered profuse apologies to those concerned.
The university-destinations of those leavers whose surname falls in
the alphabet A-D is now listed below. This list also appeared in the
Trinity term alumni ebulletin.
Georgia Butterworth
Cambridge: Pembroke College,
Modern & Medieval Languages
Saskia Campbell
Oxford Brookes, Equine Science
& Thoroughbred Management
Georgina Castle
Central School of Speech and Drama, Acting
Surnames A-D
Claire Charnock
Warwick, History
Joseph Child
Cambridge: Emmanuel College, Natural Sciences
Aidan Clark
Manchester, Social Anthropology
Cecilia Clark
Warwick, German Studies
Katherine Ackland
Bristol, French & Italian
Eleanor Clarke
Bristol, French
Matilda Ackland
Durham, Modern Languages
Camilla Coburn Davis
Leeds, English Language & Literature
Aaiza Ali
London, University College, Economics & Statistics
Benedict Collier-Lawlor Manchester, Ancient History
Sam Allen
Bristol, Cellular & Molecular Medicine
Sophie Collis
Oxford: St Anne’s College, Biological Sciences
Jonathan Anderson
Bristol, Mathematics
Clara Collyns
Nina Anderson
Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Medicine
Oxford: Somerville College, English Language
& Literature
Alexander Arbuthnot
University of the West of England,
Product Design Technology
Camilla Craker-Horton
Warwick, Biological Sciences
Sophie Crosley
Manchester, Modern History with Economics
Samuel Bailey
Manchester, Biochemistry
Georgina Czernobay
Glasgow, Geography
Rory Balfour
Durham, Sport, Exercise & Physical Activity
Liverpool, Medicine
Daniel Da Silva
London, Imperial College, Computing
Sophia Battle
Robert Beecroft
Newcastle, Classics
Abigail Dalby Bowler
London, School of Oriental & African Studies,
History & Geography
Elio D’Aversa
Bournemouth, Environmental Science
Nancy Best
London, University College, English
Gabriel Blaazer
Sussex, American Studies & Politics
Henry Blackman
Nottingham, Mechanical Engineering
Dulcie Davies
Stanford, US, Liberal Arts
Shadi Brazell
Warwick, History
Philip Davies
Portsmouth, Sports Development
Charlotte Broadbent
Exeter, English
Jack Day
Bristol, Politics
Graham Brooke-Ball
Brighton, Media & English Literature
Felix de Grey
Alfie Buck
Sussex, Anthropology & History
Cambridge: Churchill College, Archaeology
& Anthropology
Eloise Bucknor
Sheffield, French & Hispanic Studies
Jessica Denyer
University of the Arts, London: Central St Martin’s,
Foundation Art
DEGREE AND ACADEMIC RESULTS:
The Club and School send congratulations to the following former
pupils on their academic successes this summer.
In addition to asking recent graduates about their degree news, we
also asked them what plans they have for their careers. If any reader
can help any of our graduates climb onto the first rung of their
chosen career ladder, please contact the Development and Alumni
Office and we will pass on all offers of help.
Harry Aldwinckle (Tn 2000-07) BA (Hons) in Philosophy and Modern
Languages (Italian) (2:1), St Hugh’s College, Oxford University.
Daniel Britton (T 2004-08) BA in Political Science with a minor in Music
Industry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
Polly Checkland Harding (R 2000-07) BA (Hons) in English (2:1), Cambridge
University.
Joe Child (C 2004-11) who is studying Natural Sciences at Emmanuel
College, Cambridge University, has been elected into a Senior Scholarship
and has been awarded a Davies Senior Scholarship.
Saffron Clague (C 2001-08) BA (Hons) in Classics (2:1), UCL. Saffron has
begun work at the advertising agency ArtScience.
Tim Clark (R 2004-09) BA (Hons) in History, Nottingham University (2:1),
Tim started a law conversion at the College of Law in September.
Megan Barbour (S 2001-08) BSc (Hons) in Psychology (1st), University of
Warwick. Megan has accepted a place at University of Warwick to study for a
Primary PGCE.
Blake Cuckow (C 2002-09) BSc (Hons) in Sports Coaching (2:1), Cardiff
Metropolitan University (renamed from UWIC in November 2011).
Lottie Beauchamp (C 2007-09) BA (Hons) in English Literature (1st),
Wadham College, Oxford University.
Will Damazer (D 2001-08) BA (Hons) in Economics (1st), Fitzwilliam College,
Cambridge University. In the autumn Will started a MPhil (Research) in
Economics at Emmanuel College, Cambridge.
Charlotte Bentley BA (Hons) in English Literature (2:1), University of
Liverpool.
page 24 䊳
1885 architectural plans of the School building
Prefects’ boater
Nominated by: Deputy Head, Jon Lilly
The architects who designed the 1887 building were a Newcastle-based
firm, Oliver, Leeson & Wood, who later went on to design St Barnabas
Church on Calton Avenue in 1892 (the church was burned down in 1992).
Nominated by: Deputy Head of Upper School, Sue Lane
A system of prefects was introduced at Alleyn’s by Herbert
Baker who was Headmaster for just one year in 1902-3.
Prefects wore boaters to distinguish them from the other
boys up until the 1950s.
Alexandra Davey (B 2006-08) MA (Hons) in Biblical Studies (1st), University
of St Andrews. Alexandra was awarded the GS Duncan Memorial Prize,
awarded to the best student in honours classes in New Testament. Alexandra
has now begun a postgraduate degree in journalism at City University,
London.
Polly Doodson (Bn 2001-08) MSc in Mathematics with Study in Continental
Europe (2:1). Polly spent a year learning maths in French at the University of
La Réunion in the Indian Ocean. She is now staying in Bristol to study for a
second Masters in Science Communication at the University of the West of
England (UWE).
Rachel Duncan (D 2001-08) MEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering (2:1),
Bristol University.
Moe Faulkner (B 2000-07) BA (Hons) in French with Film Studies
(1st with oral distinction), UCL.
Elizabeth Fryer (R 2001-08) BA (Hons) in History (2:1), York University.
Barnaby Geddes-O’Dolan (B 2003-10) has been awarded a Barraclough
Exhibition ‘in recognition of consistently good work throughout the year’.
Barney is reading Classics and Modern Languages at Somerville College,
Oxford University.
Owen Pugh (C 2006-08) BA (Hons) in European Politics (2:1), Nottingham
University. Owen is doing a Masters in Faith and Globalisation at Durham
University.
Amber Rosamond (B 2002-09) BSc (Hons) in Biological Sciences (2:1),
Bristol University.
George Savell (Tn 2000-07) MEng in Manufacturing Engineering, Queens’
College, Cambridge University (Merit). George will start work as a director of
a small start-up called Beagle Garden Products based in Cambridge.
Sam Sellers (R 2000-07) MEng in Mechanical Engineering (1st), University
of Sheffield.
Lucy Stooke (S 2002-09) BSc (Hons) in Natural Sciences (2:1), Newnham
College, Cambridge. Lucy’s final discipline was Genetics. In September Lucy
started work at PwC in accountancy.
Julia Thomas (B 2001-08) BSc (Hons) in Information Systems (1st),
Newcastle University. Julia joined Lloyds Banking Group’s graduate scheme
in September.
Nadia Tottingham (Tn 2000-07) MMath in Mathematics (1st), Warwick
University. Nadia has begun work as an analyst in Market Risk at Goldman
Sachs.
Rosa Goodman (S 2000-07), BA (Hons) in History of Art and Italian (1st),
UCL. Rosa is about to commence a one-year MSt in History of Art and Visual
Culture at St Cross College, Oxford University.
Will Handley (Bn 2001-08) BA, MSci in Natural Sciences (Experimental and
Theoretical Physics) (1st), Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge University.
Will also won a university prize for best theoretical masters project and he
has secured funding to study for a PhD in Astrophysics (Theoretical
Cosmology) at Gonville and Caius.
Kit Hawkins (B 2001-08) BA (Hons) in History (2:1), Nottingham University.
Kit is going on to do a Masters in Diplomacy at Nottingham.
Isabel Instone (Bn 2001-08) BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry (1st), Oriel Colege,
Oxford University. Isabel is embarking on a Teach First Graduate Training
Programme, teaching Science in East London.
Imogen Johnson (Tn 2000-07) BA (Hons) in Spanish and Psychology (2:1),
Newcastle University. Imogen started Teach First in September.
Ben Laidlaw (C 2004-09) BSc (Hons) in Physics (2:1), Bristol University.
Ben will start an MSc in Nanoscience and Nanofunctional materials.
Hannah Lederer Alton BA (Hons) in Drama and English (2.1), Bristol
University.
Johanna Lees (née Arbuthnot, C 2000-07) BA (Hons) in Photography (1st),
University of East London. Johanna will be working in the fashion industry.
Rosie Le Voir (R 2001-08) BA (Hons) in Human Sciences (1st), St John’s
College, University of Oxford.
Alexander Lindsay (C 2001-08) BA (Hons) in Politics (2:1), Leeds University.
Alex will be going on to do a MA in Political Philosophy at York University.
Holly Naden (T 2002-09) BA (Hons) in Economics and Philosophy (1st),
Bristol University. Holly will join a Teach First Graduate Training Programme,
teaching Maths in East London.
Higher
Education
Day
A score of recent leavers came in to help their
younger counterparts at the School’s Higher
Education Day to figure out the intricacies
and vagaries of the UCAS applicationprocess. The Higher Education Day is held each
year for Year 12s [Lower Sixth pupils] and this
year, Heads of Upper School, Andy Skinnard and Sue Lane, introduced
a Q&A panel for pupils to quiz their elders on their university choices
and courses.
Andy writes ‘I was really grateful to the former pupils for their time,
enthusiasm and the way they talked from the stage and to the students
individually. It is not an exaggeration to say how much it was
appreciated both by Sue and myself, but by the students who are now
launching their UCAS applications following the long summer.’
This new session was such a success that we shall be running it again
next year on 1 July. If you will be graduating next year, or will be part
way through your studies and would like to feel the altruistic buzz that is
lending a helping hand to current pupils, please let the Development
and Alumni Office know.
AOB gives Physics lecture
In September Will Handley (Bn 2001-08) came into School to give
pupils a lunch-time lecture on cosmology. You will see from the list
of degree results that Will is now a Cambridge PhD student and a
Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Physics and Astronomy
at University College London.
Chris Peilow (Bn 2001-08) BA (Hons) in History and Hispanic Studies (2:1),
University of Nottingham. Chris is now going on to do a one-year
postgraduate diploma in Newspaper Journalism at the University of Cardiff.
Scriblerus
St John’s Smith Square Concert
Nominated by: Head of Media Studies, Mark Grogan
Scriblerus is the School’s annual report and features valetes, reviews
and examples of pupils’ work and art. The first Scriblerus was published
in 1969 and it continues to be produced to this day. Mark has edited
the past seven issues.
Nominated by: Director of Music, Tim Kermode
Each year, the School puts on a concert in the central London
location of St John’s, Smith Square. ‘Whilst not an object per se,’
explains Tim, ‘the concerts showcases the Senior School’s more
advanced musicians and represents the highlight of their school
musical careers.’
Memorial plaques
to Dulwich civilians killed
in Second World War
Next year, the Dulwich Society will be putting up some
12 plaques in the locality to commemorate the many deaths
of civilians in air-raids during the Second World War.
The Society recognises that there are still relatives and friends
of those affected by such tragic events and it feels that a physical
record should be installed. The plaques will also serve as reminders
of the horrors of war.
Brian Green (C 1948-53), editor of the Dulwich Society Journal
and local historian, hopes that descendants of those killed as well
as those with personal knowledge of the incidents will attend the
individual installations of the plaques. Local historian to his fingertips, Brian is crossing his fingers hoping ‘that further information
into the air-raids may come forward which we can use at the
ceremony and record for posterity.’
The home of Alleyn’s SLESS [South London Emergency Secondary
School] pupil, Peter Jenkyn (Roper’s 1940-44), will be one of the
sites commemorated. Peter and his mother, Ethel, were killed
when a V1 [flying bomb] hit their house in Lovelace Road on 31 July
1944. Peter is remembered at the School with a plaque in the
Maths corridor.
Each plaque will record the names and ages of those killed, the
date of the incident and whether it was during an air-raid or as a
result of a V1 or V2 attack. The memorials will be engraved stainless
steel plaques and will be placed near to the site of the incident and
unveiled the date closest to the actual event.
If you would like to attend, please see the list on the right.
For further information, please contact by email:
greenbriane@aol.com or by post, The Dulwich Society,
133 Burbage Road, London SE21 7AF
• Court Lane SE21: 7 killed on 6 January 1945.
Installation date: 6 January 2013
• Melbourne Grove, Lytcott Grove, Playfield Crescent SE22:
20 killed in 2 incidents – 16 September 1940 & 17 January
1943. Installation date: 12 January 2013
• Burbage Road SE24: 8 killed in 2 incidents – 17 April 1941 &
22 June 1944. Installation: 13 April 2013.
• Rosendale Road & Lovelace Road SE21: 6 killed in 2 incidents
– 23 June & 1 August 1944. Installation: 23 June 2013
• Wood Vale SE23: 14 killed on 6 July 1944.
Installation date: 6 July 2013
• Park Hall Road SE21: 3 killed on 4 July 1944.
Installation date: 7 July 2013
• Lordship Lane SE22: 23 killed on 5 August 1944.
Installation date: 4 August 2013.
• Albrighton Road, Wheatland House shelter SE22: 29 killed on
9 September 1940. Installation: 8 September 2013
• Quorn Road, Goldwell House SE22: 6 killed on 15 September
1940. Installation: 15 September 2013
• Woodwarde Road SE22: 3 killed on 24 September 1940.
Installation date: 22 September 2013
• Dovercourt Road SE22: 4 killed on 19 October 1940.
Installation date: 19 October 2013.
• Friern Road & Etherow Street SE 22: 24 killed on 1 November
1944. Installation: 2 November 2013
Duke of Edinburgh safety jacket
Weekly journal
Nominated by: Year 12 pupil, Dylan Jones
This is an Alleyn’s Duke of Edinburgh (DoE) safety jacket: an essential piece
of DoE kit. The safety jacket is worn by the lead and tail member of each
group during adverse weather conditions should the group have to walk on
any roads or during hours of darkness so that the group can be easily visible
and identifiable.
Nominated by: brothers Ian (R 1942-49) and Derek (R 1947-53) Smith
Derek, whose weekly journal cover is pictured, explains, ‘we had journals to write up
each day, which recorded the marks for each subject and were added up at the end
of each week. The total number of marks decided the position you came in the class
and also indicated your progress’.
26 EACMagazine Sports news
all the difference on Saturdays, and
without them we might not have
survived in our divisions. Matiullah
Haidar was presented, from a list of
over 200 nominees, with the Beyond
Sport Award at a ceremony presided
over by Muhammad Ali and David
Beckham. To him, his countrymen,
and their agent Antonia Cohen,
we were frequently grateful.
Kato Blake (Tn 1990-97)
Chairman
AOBs middle of front row, left to right: Benedict Cullen, Kato Blake,
Joe Mansfield; Alex Mclean is standing on the right
Edward Alleyn
Cricket Club
The cricket season, in some ways,
turned out as anticipated. The
various resolutions at the AGM
resulted, as hoped, in significant
improvements in administration
which left the Club with a tidy
surplus. We raised about half the
money needed to install a third
practice net at the Edward Alleyn
Club. There were superb
improvements to the outfield and
pavilion, as well as a generous
donation of new sightscreens by
the Advancing Alleyn’s appeal.
But the hideously wet summer
put paid to about two-fifths of all
our matches.
In between the deluges,
the various elevens performed
according to expectations. Will
Bevan (C 1993-98) led the 1st XI
in a courageous relegation battle,
and it was satisfying that the drop
was avoided with a couple of
games to spare. Like their senior
counterparts, the 2nd XI won three
games and finished in seventh place
in their league, just short of the
relegation zone. The concern, raised
throughout the winter months, that
we would not be able to sustain a
3rd XI was sadly proven right and
the team withdrew from the league
in August. We have to accept
the fact that we are currently a
‘recruiting’ club rather than
a ‘selecting’ one.
The presence of Alleyn Old
Boys in the league sides was, as
regular readers of this annual review
are now used to learning, distinctly
ephemeral. Having Will Bevan as
1st XI captain was, without doubt,
a tremendous asset: he scored 248
runs and took 17 wickets. Jim
Bridgeman (S 1979-86) soldiered
on, hitting 253 runs but failing to
make a half-century for the first time
in his 22 seasons at the Club. Vip
Patel’s off breaks yielded a handful
of wickets, and Graham Swann
(S 1958-66) continued as a faithful
lieutenant in the 2nd XI. Those four
players represent the sum total of
Alleyn Old Boys currently playing
league cricket at Burbage Road.
The story, as ever, was
different on Sundays. Thirteen
former Alleyn’s pupils played for the
Adhoc XI, including new recruits
Louis Nicholson (T 2011) and
Freddie Mickshik (2011). Chris Lilly
made his first century for the club
at Belvedere, where Benedict Cullen
also made 67 in their opening
partnership of 156. Joe Mansfield
(Bn 1990-97) reached 200 wickets
for the team and I reached 300
wickets, in my sixteenth season as
captain. Alex McLean (D 1984-91)
batted, bowled and kept wicket
more than usefully.
Perhaps our proudest and
most notable achievement was
our sponsorship of six young Afghan
asylum seekers as part of the
Refugee Cricket Project. They made
Edward Alleyn
Golf Society
Writing this the day after a raindrenched afternoon at Cooden
Beach Golf Club (GC), I realise
that in terms of meetings and
matches I am coming to the end
of my very enjoyable year as
captain. Yet again, Justin Sutton
(S 1975-82), our excellent secretary
has organised an interesting
selection of courses.
West Middlesex
For the first meeting we went for
the first time to West Middlesex GC,
a bit of a journey for many but
virtually a home match for the
captain and the other North
Londoners. The winner was Steve
Poole (Tn 1966-73) with a very
respectable 37 points.
Redlibbets
Redlibbets GC produced the one
day of brilliant sunshine. Since our
last visit in 2000, when the course
was only three years old, the course
had matured. Not surprisingly the
day was won by Tim Wareham
(C 1979-86) who not only had been
From left to right: Steve Bargeron, Chris Briere-Edney, Ray Eyre,
Mike Scott, Alan Williams, George Thorne, John Allen, Ted Pearce
at Tamisa Hotel, Mijas, Spain, June 2012
extolling the course but seems to
play there regularly: nothing like a
bit of course knowledge. It was
good to see John Gibbons
(Tn 1963-71) attending his first
meeting and we look forward to
seeing him on a regular basis.
Woldingham
Guest day was held at Woldingham
GC. As we drove to the course it
was tipping it down but it stopped
as we arrived. The bunkers were
more like ponds than bunkers so in
the afternoon the bunkers were
declared ‘ground under repair’.
In the morning Adrian Jackson won
the Spur Garage Trophy for the
guests with a highly commendable
39 points. Alan Miles (D 1960-66)
won the John Knight Trophy with
37 points, closely followed by Dave
Ott (Tn 1958-64), Neil Hardwick
(C 1967-73), and John Lang
(Tn 1961-68), all on 36 points.
David Stallard (C 1979-86) and
Simon Cashman won the afternoon
competition, members and guest
Greensomes, for the Machell Shield
with 38 points on count back from
Dennis Lomas (T 1945-53) and
Adrian Jackson.
Cooden Beach
The morning pairs competition over
nine holes was won by David Ott
and Alan Miles with 21 points.
The ninth hole, a rather tight and
interesting par six, saw many lost
balls. In the afternoon the Jeffrey
Goblet was won by Dave Slaney
(Tn 1972-79) on count back from
Alan Miles who was cut again.
The Matches
We started with a close match
against Dulwich and Sydenham which
we narrowly lost. Congratulations
to John Knight (B 1952-59) who
scored yet another hole in one at
the 12th. We lost again to the Old
Alleynians, who seem to perform
better having had lunch before the
match; a format that obviously does
not suit our members.
The highlight match this year
was against the School. It was
unanimous that this was the best
side that the School has put out,
with some excellent golfers, many of
whom expressed an interest in be
more involved with and joining the
EAGS. Younger members will be
particularly welcome to the Society.
I am looking forward to our next
match against the staff when I hope
we can record a win.
EACMagazine Marriages 27
The Tour
This year for the first time in many
years the tour headed for courses
new and with a slightly different
format. The accommodation was in
the Tamisa Hotel in Spain, and the
hotel arranged the airport transfers
and took us to and from the golf:
no one had to drive. The competition
was also slightly changed; although
we were playing five courses, only
four scores would count towards
the trophy. This meant that anyone
could have a day off if and when
they liked. Mike Scott (B 1969-76)
played beautifully throughout the
tour and was the very deserving
winner. John Allen (B 1956-64),
a tour-virgin came a creditable
second. A number of the tour
veterans considered the tour to rank
with the best. Thanks to Ted Pearce
(D 1953-60) for so ably running the
competitions.
Chris Briere-Edney (B 1952-57)
Edward Alleyn
Tennis Club
As I write, the summer season is
nearly at an end. We have not quite
finished all our league matches this
year. With one match left to play in
both the Mixed and Men’s
Southwark League matches, we are
at the top of each of the Leagues.
The Ladies’ team has had mixed
success in this year’s Surrey league,
but hopefully we will remain in the
same league box for next year.
Attendance at Club sessions on
a Wednesday evening has dropped
this year but our Sunday sessions
are thriving. Our Saturday morning
adult coaching sessions continue to
be well attended. Our beginners’/
improvers’ session runs for an hour
at 9.30am and the advanced
session from 10.30am to 12 noon.
We have also added a Spanish
drilling session (to improve our basic
strokes and movement on the court)
on a Monday evening for an hour.
We welcome all standards of
players to the Club. If you are in the
area and would like to come along
to one of our sessions to see how
we are getting on you will be very
welcome.
Congratulations to:
• Alexei Witkowski
[formerly Botton]
(R 1998-2005) married
Jessica Tilly (B 1996-2003)
on the Isle of Wight in
July this year.
For further information, please
contact Elizabeth Livingstone
on 020 8670 8864 and
elivingstone184@btinternet.com or
Linda Lancaster on 020 7274 2355.
For information on individual or junior
coaching, please contact Kerstin
Polster on 07866 765505.
Special leavers’ offer!
We currently have an introduction
fee of £25 for first year leavers of
Alleyn’s School.
Please see our website for more
general information about the
Club, the address is
edwardalleyntennisclub.co.uk
or it can be accessed through the
main Edward Alleyn Club website
Elizabeth Livingstone
and to:
• Former House Football
Captain Daniel Lane
(B 1992-1999)
married Amanda Willits
at Athelhampton
House just outside
Dorchester on
5 May 2012.
Alleyn Old Boys’
Football Club needs you!
We are founder members of
the Southern Amateur League
and have six sides which play
every Saturday afternoon from
September through to April.
We also have an over 35s side
which plays on Sunday mornings.
The standard varies with our 1XI
playing at the highest level of the
league which is a decent semiprofessional standard, through to
our 6XI which play at the lowest level
of the league.
The Club is doing reasonably
well on the pitch at present and the
2012/13 season sees the Club
having its top three sides in the
leagues top divisions for the first
time in its history and in the last four
to five seasons we have reached a
number of cup finals and semi-finals
and have won titles or promotions
across almost all of the sides.
The Club is always looking
to improve and in particular are
currently looking for new people to
get involved, whether this would be
on the field or helping out off the field
(match days or non-match days)
as part of the committee. We are
particularly interested in getting more
volunteers involved and in
goalkeepers but all are welcome.
Further, our Club’s 125th
anniversary is in 2013 and we are
planning to hold a dinner to
celebrate this milestone. We would
really appreciate hearing from you
if you would like to attend or could
pass on details of other old members
who may be interested and in
particular if you would like to assist
in the organisation of this event.
If you are interested please
contact our chairman,
Jason Peck on 07810 831 866
or email the Club on
aobfc@hotmail.co.uk
28 EACMagazine In memoriam
Harry Bennett,
1946-2012 (C 1957-64)
Death notices
The Club regrets to record the deaths of the following
members:
• Richard Cowland (S 1976-80) died on 19 May 2012.
• Cyril Davis (B 1944-47) died on 15 December, 2011.
• Thomas Edward Eavis (Bn 1946-53) died in
August 2012.
• David Lakeman (Tn 1948-54)
• Herbert Leaver (Tn 1940-45) died in September 2012.
• John Norman (T 1962-67) died on 19 August 2012.
• Arthur William Stacey, died on 22 March 2012,
aged 79.
• John Thornton Ball (B 1923-32), died on 12 March
2012, aged 96.
• Dr Lionel Wright (Tn 1927-36), died in September
2011, aged 94.
Reburial for airman
over 60 years after crash
My older brother Geoff and I were
evacuated on 2 September 1939
to Grafty Green, Maidstone, after
moving to Deal, and then South
Wales. After Rossall, Geoff left
School on its return to London in
1944 and enlisted in the RAF,
trained as a Navigator in Rhodesia
and joined 52 Squadron in Changi
Singapore.
On 25 August 1950 on a
mission to drop smoke markers
for a bomber strike on Communist
guerrillas during the ‘emergency’ in
Malaya, his Dakota KN630 crashed
in deep jungle in Kalantan State.
A search party took nine days to
reach the crash site where the
bodies of the three crew members,
five army personnel, three Malays
and one Danish national were
buried. Crosses and wreaths were
dropped from an aircraft which
contained Forces’ chaplains and
memorial services were held.
In November 2007 I went to
the Armed Forces Memorial at the
National Memorial Arboretum near
Tamworth and saw Geoff’s name on
plaque 35 as well as all the others
killed.
After my visit, I wrote to the
Malaysian Tourist Office for a map of
the area and heard nothing for eight
months and thought my request had
found its way to the waste paper
basket. In August 2008 I received a
call from the Defence Adviser to the
Malaysian High Commission telling
me that his 8th Infantry Brigade had
located the wreckage and burial site
in June 2008. We went to see him
and he gave us photographs that
were taken.
In November 2008 the
8th Brigade mounted a further
expedition during which the remains
were brought out of the jungle, once
again in very difficult conditions just
at the start of the monsoon season,
to a hospital in Kuala Lumpur for
examination. Only one sample of
DNA was matched (to a Malaysian
police constable).
The Ministry of Defence Historic
Casualty Casework agency traced
all the relatives of the victims and we
attended the reburial at the British
Military Cemetery in Kuala Lumpur
on 15 March 2012 with full military
honours, all the remains being buried
in one coffin. The Union flag was
presented to me at the ceremony.
Afterwards, at the British High
Commission residence, the relatives
were presented with the Elizabeth
Cross and Scroll and service record.
Who would have thought
that from a simple request it would
have set up such a successful
outcome all thanks to the Malaysian
and British Ministries of Defence?
Dennis Carpenter (Tn 1939-47)
Harry Donald Bennett was born
19 January 1946 in South East
London. He was the eldest of three
children and the son of an engineer,
a tradition he maintained on
becoming a chartered engineer in
nuclear and electrical disciplines.
At Alleyn’s Harry embraced
the CCF opportunities and the
regular Gilbert and Sullivan school
productions, with both of these
enthusiasms carrying into his later
life. He was less fond of sport, and
not particularly interested in academic
subjects unless they seized his
attention – as maths and engineering
clearly did. After completing A levels,
he was commissioned into the Royal
Navy in 1964. Harry served as an
engineering officer on the submarine
HMS Dreadnought, amongst other
boats, in the midst of the Cold War.
Harry did a lot for his country in a
quiet way.
He left the service in 1976 to
develop technical solutions to sonar
and detection issues he had
encountered whilst operational, and
as a result, he devised systems to
enhance the submarine fleet’s
capabilities. A successful career
followed which grew into IT
development and the establishment
of his own company, Syport. In latter
years he turned his technical ability
to building business critical IT
systems for a number of commercial
organisations.
Approaching retirement, Harry
intended to spend his twilight in
Australia. He is survived by Trish,
his wife of 44 years and two sons,
Michael and Timothy.
Personally and professionally,
Harry was motivated by principle
and the ‘rightness’ of things, and
could not be impressed by status,
money or power. He was a man of
deeds rather than words, and gave
unstintingly of himself to anyone in
need of his capabilities. He could be
relied upon to come up with the
solution to any practical problem
within minutes and the solution
invariably worked. Colleagues speak
with admiration of his cleverness and
undiminished keenness to sort
things, as well as his consummate
skill and encyclopaedic knowledge
of his subject.
Harry sometimes found
emotions trickier to deal with and
demonstrated a natural reserve in
most public situations. In private
however, he was a warm and funny
man, with an irreverent wit and had
the delightful knack of leaving those
he met feeling good. His musical
tastes were catholic ranging from
Gilbert and Sullivan, Petula Clark
(attracting merciless teasing) through
to the classics. He developed a keen
interest in international oenology
[wine and wine-making], applying
himself with gusto to the practical
side of this field. He enjoyed good
company and lively, searching
conversation.
Harry died suddenly on
9 August 2012. We remember him
as a gentleman of the old school,
loyal, decent and dependable. His
life was one of service to others and
ingenuity and he will be sorely
missed by many.
Alison Twemlow
Colin Hill (D 1944-50)
My friendship with Curly – he was
always known as Curly at School –
began in September 1945 when
I sat next to him in Shell C in my
first term at Alleyn’s. Curly had just
returned from Rossall. My early
impressions were that he was an
excellent sportsman not only at
football and cricket but also
swimming where he gained the
RLSS Silver award. He was
particularly good at tennis and in his
mid-teens he was one of the best
tennis players in Surrey in his age
group. He also won the Sixth Form
tennis championship two years
running. I know because he beat
me both times!
He left School a year before
me and I well remember him coming
back to impress the masters with his
new career – as a tea-taster! Colin in
his young days was nothing if not
adventurous. I’m not sure how long
that job lasted but National Service
intervened and he ended up as
recruiter for the RAF in the Kingsway,
billeted at home, a job I rather envied
EACMagazine In memoriam 29
as I sat in a frozen trench on the
firing ranges of Germany.
In terms of a career, Colin did
have a short a short spell with Marks
& Spencer where he was a trainee
manager in the Kings Lynn branch.
On leaving M & S he took over the
running of his father’s wholesale
jewellery business and while he
succeeded in expanding this
considerably, his masterstroke was
to introduce wire display stands.
With these he was able to
demonstrate that sales would
improve if the jewellery was properly
displayed. He had his ingenious
designs manufactured in bulk
and such were their success he
dominated that sector of the market:
a real achievement.
His friends will remember what
a great storyteller he was. To be
more precise he had a great fund of
jokes, a story for every occasion and
here is just one example. My wife
and I were on holiday in Santa Cruz,
California with Colin and his wife,
Jan, and we were having dinner in
a smart fish restaurant on the pier
when Colin speared a piece of shark
on his fork and holding it up
declared ‘Look. A man-eatingshark’! This so impressed the waiter
that he called the whole restaurant’s
attention to our table and made
Colin repeat the joke. He brought
the house down.
He will be sadly missed by
his wife, two daughters, four
grandchildren and many friends.
Roy Croft (R 1945-51)
John Aitken Mills,
1931-2012 (Tn 1944-46)
John passed away peacefully on
14 March, 2012 in St Joseph’s
Hospital, Comox, British Columbia
with his wife and children by his
side. John’s life was distinguished
by significant passages, both
geographic and academic, as
well as intellectual drive, vigorous
outdoor activities, an interest in
the history of everything, and an
appreciation for a story well told.
He was born 4 June, 1931 in
Manuden, Essex, UK and emigrated
to South Africa in 1946. He received
a BSc and MSc in Geology from
Cape Town University, worked as a
geologist in West Africa and even
owned a tin mine for a while. In 1958
he returned to UCT and received a
BA and PhD in Psychology. During
this period, he married Ann, and
they formed a life- long bond made
stronger by mutual passion for
culture and gastronomy. They also
shared a commitment to social
justice, exemplified by active
participation in resistance to the
apartheid system.
In 1966, John and his family
moved to Saskatoon where he
became a lively member of the
faculty at the University of
Saskatchewan (U of S). He played
a decisive role in creating the
Linguistics Program at the U of S
and was its first chair from 1970 to
1975. He served on the executive of
the Faculty Association and, in 1988,
co-ordinated the faculty strike. A
founder-member of the International
Society for Theoretical Psychology,
John collaborated with a global
network of colleagues. He helped
to create and served on the editorial
board of the journal Theory and
Psychology, was a founding member
of the Western Canadian Theoretical
Psychologists, and a prominent
member of Cheiron (an international
society devoted to historical
psychology). In l998 he retired from
teaching at the U of S but continued
his research and writing as a
Professor Emeritus of Psychology
and with an adjunct professorship at
the University of Calgary. New York
University Press published his book,
Control: A History of Behavioral
Psychology, in 1998. ‘As a history
of behavioral psychology… the book
is excellent,’ according to the
American Journal of Psychology.
John was also involved in
communities beyond academia.
He was a founder of the City Park
Neighbourhood Association and
a founder of the Saskatoon Open
School. His sense of humour,
intellectual passion and broad
interests put him at the heart of
many vibrant social circles in
Saskatoon and beyond.
In 1999, John and Ann
relocated to their cottage at Hornby
Island, BC, where they had brought
their family including their beloved
dogs since 1970. On Hornby he
continued an impressive academic
output and was involved with
Conservancy Hornby Island.
John is survived by his wife of
49 years, the artist Ann Newdigate,
his son Julian and his daughter
Josephine.
This obituary first appeared in
The Globe and Mail, 31 March 2012
David Palastanga
1933-2012 (Tn 1944-52)
David Cameron, born Antonio
Palastanga, offspring of a
Greek/Italian father and Scottish
mother, was the epitome of the
suave English gentleman. If he had
been born a few years earlier he
would have rivalled David Niven and
Stewart Granger. He had a very rare
quality of being irresistible to women
and popular with men.
My first memories are of him,
6’5”, Rupert Brooke hair blowing
in the breeze, thundering down to
bowl, knocking over wickets whilst
Stewart and Pretlove scored the
runs for an invincible First Eleven.
To a third-former he was a god –
he seemed to have it all. Then
disaster struck: he was laid low with
TB. In David’s own words: ‘I was
very sick indeed, my lungs were
completely riddled and the doctors
left me confined to my bed in East
Dulwich because they didn’t think
there was much they could do for
me in hospital.’ His situation was
desperate but help was at hand in
the shape of Michael Croft, who had
recently joined the school. As David
remembered: ‘Michael was one of
my first visitors. He used to come
puffing half-way across Dulwich in
his old naval duffle coat, puffing and
blowing like a steam engine, laden
with books – about 20 at a time.
I honestly think he was responsible
for saving my life.’
David became the first of
Croft’s innumerable protégés but
unlike the others, Croft resolved
that David should become a writer.
(He wasn’t far wrong: David’s
translation of Hildegard Knef’s
autobiography was one of the topselling German books of all time.)
‘Michael took over my extra-
curricular tuition, he plied me with
literature, with books I would never
have read otherwise at that age. He
would come once or twice a week
and brought other people along too,
as well as large quantities of beer.
My bedroom became a kind of
salon, with Michael and the rest
sitting round my bed, with me, dying
of consumption, hardly able to see
my guests because of cigarette
smoke. In spite of the smoke I
gradually got better.’ In spite of
cigarettes as well, for when David
eventually returned to school after a
long convalescence, Ken Farrington
remembers him setting the Colours
Room on fire after a quiet smoke.
In David’s absence Croft
had already begun his triumphant
Shakespearean productions. David
had got the acting bug long before
he saw John Stride’s Hamlet, but
Croft advised him not to become
an actor and was determined that
David would go to his old college at
Oxford. He was furious when David
‘found the pull too strong’ and joined
Barnstable Rep. They didn’t speak
for several years, but I was fortunate
enough to be present at their
reconciliation. Michael had taken me
to Liverpool to see John Stride in the
rep – David was by then the leading
man and married to the first of his
four wives, Shirley Cameron, a
brassy Australian blonde from whom
he took his acting name. Michael
and I stayed in their flat – much wine
was drunk, LP records had just
arrived and we listened to Sinatra
all night.
From that time on David and
Croft’s friendship blossomed. David
had small parts in British films such
as Battle of the River Plate and
played opposite Patricia Neal in
Suddenly Last Summer in the West
End. His good looks brought him
David Palastanga (second left) as Casilda in a School production
of The Gondoliers, 1946
30 EACMagazine In memoriam
plenty of modelling work –
Richard Hampton remembers him
advertising toothpaste on a huge
billboard by Vauxhall Bridge, but
his career never really took off until
he met and fell in love with the
international star Hildegard Kneff,
which caused no end of a scandal
in those staid times.
David had a distinguished
career in Germany and Austria in
films, television and theatre. He had
three children from his last three
wives and leaves many fans and
friends in Europe and the school.
He loved cricket till his dying day.
David Weston (C 1949-57)
Peter Smith,
1924-2011 (B 1936-41)
Catholic School Board.
From an early age Peter was
drawn to music and it became
central to his life. It brought him
great joy, carried him through difficult
times and was the woven fabric of
his daily life. He brought his love of
music to the church, taking great
delight in singing at the Christmas
and Easter services.
With a large family and eventful
career, time was at a premium. That
said, Peter believed no matter how
much or how little time or money
you had, it was your responsibility
to give back to your community. For
many years he sat on various boards,
volunteering his time to support
causes and charities for which he
had a passion. In all that he did
for people, there was a genuine
kindness and gentleness in his ways.
A devoted husband, loving
father, grandfather and greatgrandpa, he was as many people
have remarked – the quintessential
English gentleman, much loved and
a true family man.
Paul Smith
Simon Ward
1941-2012 (R 1953-61)
Peter was born on July 11, 1924
in Orpington, Kent. He excelled in
academics; however the call to
service prevented him from attending
university. Peter served in the Blues
and Royal Horse Guards from 1942
to 1947. During the war, everyone
listened attentively to Winston
Churchill’s radio messages and they
became a lifeline of sorts for many
and most certainly for Peter. His
admiration of Winston Churchill
was remarkable. He devoured every
book written about Churchill.
Following WWII he took the
long flight across the pond to the
‘colonies’ as Canada was often
referred to by the Brits. There he
met a spirited Irish woman, Rita
Catherine O’Reilly. They married in
February 1950 and settled into
Richmond Hill, Ontario, just outside
of Toronto. They were blessed with
six children, providing for a hectic
yet fulfilling 63 years together as
they raised their family. Peter was
very proud of his five grandchildren
and two great-grandsons.
Peter enjoyed a successful
career in finance, spending the
last 20 years as chief financial
officer of the York Region Roman
It is hard to come to terms with
the fact that one’s oldest friend has
passed on at the comparatively
young age of 70. Harder still to
recognise the person I had known
for 64 years from the many
impersonal descriptions in the
national newspaper obituaries.
These pieces, mostly uncredited,
were nevertheless a reminder of
Simon’s extensive range of theatre,
film and television work during
a successful career. The
accompanying stills which showed
him as the youthful Churchill in
Richard Attenborough’s award
winning film Young Winston (1972)
was a poignant reminder of an
exceptional acting talent.
We first met as apprehensive
new boys in bright red blazers at
St Dunstan’s Preparatory School in
1947. Our parents had sent us there
because of its excellent record of
11+ results which guaranteed
entry to the best schools in South
London. We became firm friends
sharing the trials and tribulations of
childhood experiences. And there
were many! We grew up fast when
the school was sold to a bogus
Irish priest with degrees from
American universities, was re-named
St Andrew’s College and moved to
larger premises at Forest Hill. To our
horror the school started to take
boys up to the age of 18 into the
top form and it soon became clear
to us that the 15 and 16-year-olds
resented the fact that two 10-yearolds continually topped the class
and were regarded by the teachers
as star pupils. Simon had already
stood out in a public performance of
The Bishop’s Candlesticks and I had
shared the athletics Victor Ludorum
with a disgruntled 16-year-old. It
was a relief when we gained places
at Alleyn’s in 1953.
Our experiences at Alleyn’s
and the influence the school played
in our lives cannot be overstated.
At that time it was a direct-grant
school and the range of talents and
the diversity of students ensured
a thorough all-round education.
Though following different paths
at School and being in different
Houses, academically we
progressed in tandem from 4B
through to the History Sixth. We
became School Prefects together
and sergeants in the CCF. In 1960
Simon was made School Captain.
Though not a natural
sportsman, he was interested in
most sports, fenced for the school,
enjoyed playing fives and tennis, and
played a mean game of table tennis.
In the Junior School we had both
won prizes which put us in touch
with Michael Croft, the inspirational
English teacher who was shortly
to leave. We had seen his critically
acclaimed production of Antony
and Cleopatra in the Great Hall and
during the next eight years we were
destined to spend summer and
Easter holidays working with the
Youth Theatre which he founded in
1956; it became the National Youth
Theatre in 1961. At school, Simon
played leading character roles in the
annual Shakespeare play and Gilbert
and Sullivan operettas which gave
us the opportunity to meet girls from
JAGS and Honor Oak. With the
Youth Theatre Simon graduated
from playing Katherine in Henry V
in the first production to lead roles,
while I remained rooted in playing
minor lords, soldiers, menials and
working in the office. Our last
appearance together was in a
modern dress Julius Caesar filmed
live by BBC2 at the Ashcroft Theatre
Croydon.
Acting in West End theatres
and touring abroad with the plays,
setting up and playing in foreign
towns and cities and meeting new
people every night while still
schoolboys provided us with
extraordinary experiences and a
thorough grounding for life. Armed
with these extra-curricular skills, I
went off to university and Simon
went on to RADA where he met
Alexandra. They married in January
1964 and Sophie (my god-daughter)
was born late in December. Contrary
to several of the newspaper pieces
Simon was not ‘practically unknown’
before he was catapulted him to
international prominence with Young
Winston. He had starred in West
End productions of Joe Orton’s hit
black comedy Loot and in Wise
Child with Sir Alec Guinness and
was a familiar face in television plays
and series. Attenborough chose him
to play the world’s best known
British statesman between the ages
of 17 and 27 for the dramatic role
which required great athleticism,
skilful horsemanship and use of the
fencing skills he learned at Alleyn’s.
He was nominated for a Golden
Globe and won best newcomer
awards in the UK and America.
This success led to a series of
international films during the next
ten years, playing the Duke of
Buckingham in Richard Lester’s
Three Musketeers and its sequel
The Four Musketeers, Trench in
The Four Feathers and Vereker in
Zulu Dawn with Peter O’Toole and
Burt Lancaster. He starred in Hitler –
The Last Ten Days with Sir Alec
Guinness, Aces High with Colin Firth,
Holocaust 2000 with Kirk Douglas,
Dominique with Jean Simmons,
playing a variety of different roles.
In All Creatures Great and Small he
portrayed the legendary vet James
Herriot with his RADA-flatmate
Anthony Hopkins playing Siegfried;
Simon turned down the opportunity
to play Herriot in the television
series.
He returned to the stage in
Rear Column directed by Harold
Pinter and after appearing in several
unmemorable films such as Supergirl,
EACMagazine In memoriam 31
Simon Ward as Katherine in the National Youth Theatre’s production
of Henry V, 1956
he took lead roles in Sartre’s The
Devil and the Good Lord, and played
another English hero TE Lawrence
in Terence Rattigan’s Ross, and
appeared in William Douglas-Home’s
Portraits in 1987.
In 1995, at six days notice,
he replaced Stephen Fry in the lead
role in Simon Gray’s Cell Mates after
Fry had disappeared. He was onstage throughout and had to learn
some Russian for his role as a
double agent George Blake. He
gave a thundering performance and
received a standing ovation but the
show closed within two weeks.
Simon possessed a steely
determination to overcome adversity,
never more so than in the physical
disabilities that plagued the last
10 years of his life. In 1999, prior
to opening an Alan Bennet play, he
made a mockery of the old theatrical
adage ‘break a leg’ by fracturing his
own in several places following a
dress rehearsal. The severity of the
injury was to severely restrict his
movement and troubled him for the
rest of his life. We joked that he had
‘saddled up for the last time’ and
would now have to concentrate on
the less arduous legal and political
roles he was being offered. These
culminated with his role as Sir Monty
Everard in BBC TV’s Judge John
Deed.
Always self-effacing and
courteous, he could laugh at himself
and the foibles of others and
possessed an engaging sense of
irony which allowed him to see the
ridiculousness of most situations.
Several of the uncredited newspaper
pieces offer reasons why he never
became a major Hollywood A-lister,
suggesting he lacked the ambition
and appetite for stardom; that he
had become typecast in period
pieces or that his handsome good
looks and public school voice
became unfashionable. While
there may be some truth in these
assertions, Simon’s principle
concern was always for the welfare
of his family and this ideal influenced
many of his career decisions.
Simon was never ‘starry’
and lacked the necessary ego and
character flaws to feed the gossip
columns. Interviews would always
highlight his happy family life with
Alexandra and daughters Sophie,
Claudia and Kitty, and his love of the
countryside and the simple things of
life. Even at the peak of his success
he would make time to write and
record commentaries for my film
production company and do
anything he could to further projects.
In 1989, we made Creature
Comforts a documentary about the
work of James Herriot and the
influence of his books on the
veterinary profession. Simon’s easy
natural charm elicited the most
engaging interview from Alf Wight
[Herriot] who had always refused
to be interviewed. He always liked
Simon and admired his willingness
to muck in.
Most recently we had
collaborated on a cinema screenplay
Afloat but our time working together
was limited and it was clear that his
terminal illness was slowly taking its
toll. Nevertheless, we would still
spend a lot of time discussing
cricket and Formula 1, the world
situation, political correctness and
generally sending up all and sundry
before dipping into the creative
process which he enjoyed. Always
an avid reader, for several years
he reviewed books for the Literary
Review.
His courage and bravery in life
as on stage were never in question.
Five years ago, after he was
diagnosed with polycythaemia, a
rare blood disorder for which there
is no known cure, there was no let
up to his work schedule and, in spite
of extreme physical discomfort, he
continued to take leading roles
which hardly stretched his talents
and to tour the country. His last
performance as King George in
The Madness of George III was
widely acclaimed by the critics and
his performance as Bishop Gardiner
in the two series of The Tudors was
recognised by his peers as one of
the subtler pieces of television
acting.
During the last 12 months of
his life he was in and out of hospital
on numerous occasions enduring
countless invasive procedures.
Throughout this time, though clearly
weakening, he remained bullishly
optimistic, the still boyish smile
and twinkle in his eye belying the
depressive nature of his illness.
His resilience was inspirational
yet deceptive.
Of the many messages I
received after his death, one in
particular summed up the feelings
of most of us who knew him. Martin
Jarvis wrote from Los Angeles
‘Devastated to hear the news –
he was a great man with a loveable
personality; a fine and witty actor;
a gifted humorist, he was something
of an icon for so many’. I always felt
Simon never realised how much he
was loved and respected by those
who knew him.
Neither had I perhaps realised
how greatly our lives, attitudes and
values were influenced by our
experiences at Alleyn’s and with the
NYT until AOB David Weston sent
me an interview which he did with
Simon some 25 years ago. With
regard to acting, Simon stressed
the value and importance of lessons
learned from Croft’s ensemble style
of theatre that demanded hard
work and left no room for egos.
Croft made everyone feel equally
important – continually urging us to
push through conventional barriers
and personal restraints to get
productions staged in the limited
time available. No one was too
grand to sweep the stage or make
the tea. Simon maintained that
he never again experienced such
energy, enthusiasm and togetherness
in the professional theatre.
He should have been proud
of the rich variety and range of his
work. I never saw him give a poor or
indifferent performance. He was a
popular, decent, gentle man, whose
supposed diffidence and lack of
edge may ultimately have worked
against him. Good-bye my dear
friend, those who knew you were
blessed. It was great to know you,
you won’t be forgotten.
Stephen Marians (D 1953-61)
Simon Ward (far left) reading with fellow National Youth Theatre actors
on the MCT Gala evening, March 2009
Forthcoming events
2012
Townley’s Transformation
Burbage Theatre Company
Ebulletin copy deadline
Cambridge Reunion
Friday 12 October, Alleyn’s School, 7pm
Table Manners, 25-27 October, MCT, 7.30pm
Thursday 1 November
Friday 9 November, The Anchor Pub, Anchor Street,
Cambridge, 8pm
Remembrance Sunday
EAC AGM
Edward Alleyn lecture
Annual Dinner
Parky Pot Quiz
Ginny Davis’ Home Truths
Holly Fair
Boys’ Football vs AOBs
Cornflower Club lunch
Dominic Holland
2013
Chaplaincy lecture
EAC Magazine copy deadline
Memories Day 1960s
Overnight Sherborne reunion
St John’s Smith Square concert
Ebulletin copy deadline
1953, ‘63, 73, ‘83, ‘93 Reunion
Foundation Commemoration
Service
Founder’s Day
Higher Education Day
Sunday 11 November, 10.50am, Christ's Chapel
Tuesday 13 November, 8pm, Clubhouse
Thursday 15 November, Great Hall
Saturday 17 November, Alleyn’s School, 6.30pm
Friday 30 November, Clubhouse, 7.30pm
Saturday 30 November, MCT, 7.30pm
Saturday 1 December, Alleyn’s School, 11am-4pm
Sunday 2 December, Clubhouse, 10.30am (tbc)
Tuesday 4 December, Alleyn’s School
Saturday 15 December, MCT, 7.30pm
Thursday 24 January, MCT, 7.30pm
Monday 4 March
Tuesday 5 March, Alleyn’s School, 10.45am-4pm
Wednesday 20 March, Grange Hotel, Oborne, Dorset
Monday 6 May (Bank Holiday)
Monday 13 May
Saturday 15 June, Alleyn’s School
Friday 28 June, Christ’s Chapel, 7pm
Saturday 29 June, 2pm-4.15pm, Alleyn’s School
Monday 1 July, 12.30pm, Alleyn’s School
For further information, please get in touch at:
Development and Alumni Office, Alleyn’s School, Townley Road, London SE22 8SU
Tel: 020 8557 1466/1588 (term-time only) Email: alumni@alleyns.org.uk
To book tickets online for plays and concerts in the Michael Croft Theatre (MCT), please visit
the School’s website at www.michaelcrofttheatre.org.uk . For enquiries please ring the Box Office
on 020 8557 1541.
To hire the Clubhouse, please contact Rob Crowley on 020 7274 4864/07827 352962 or
email: clubhousemanager@alleyns.org.uk or email: clubhousemanager@alleyns.org.uk

Magazine - Alleyn`s School

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