Reunite Issue 13 - St George`s Weybridge

ALSO INSIDE:
ANNIVERSARY REUNIONS, GEORGIAN SPIRIT,
OGS AND THEIR MUSIC, 52 NEW THINGS AND SCHOOL IN 1942
Spring 2015
13
Welcome
We have a wide variety of events and reunions
planned for 2015. This year we aim to focus on
reuniting class mates for anniversary reunions
and we look forward to meeting the classes
of 1990, 1985, 1975, 1970 & 2005 over the
coming months.
Many of you, especially if you receive our
e-news communication, will have heard the
news that Joe Peake will be retiring after 21
years as Headmaster of St George’s College.
You can read further information about this
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn is a great business
networking social site.
Follow St George’s, Weybridge
Alumni today!
Keep up to date with Reunite
news and events.
Follow us on St George’s
College Reunite.
@stgeorgesru
CONTACT US:
To the Spring edition of Reunite
We are really pleased to share with you the
many wonderful articles that have been put
together for your enjoyment. We are incredibly
excited about the special feature about OGs
who all share a passion for music. Music plays
an incredibly important role at St George’s
Weybridge. An education in music prepares
our pupils for a cultural understanding of, and
appreciation for, the place of music within our
modern world.
LinkedIn
on page 65. If this is the first time you are
hearing this news it might be a good time to
check whether the office has your up to date
email address. Besides the two main Reunite
publications we distribute annually, we also
like to keep the Georgian community up to
date with alumni and school news via email.
We are always extremely grateful to all
Georgians who have contributed to the life
of the school in some way, whether that be
making a donation to support the education
of our students, volunteering for career related
events or attending reunions and sports
activities. We look forward to meeting you
during the year.
With our best wishes
Caroline Long, Melanie Gordon-Hughes
& Georgia Boatman
THE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
Mrs Caroline Long
Development Director
Mrs Melanie Gordon-Hughes
Development Assistant
Miss Georgia Boatman
Development Assistant
T: 01932 839352
E: development@
stgeorgesweybridge.com
www.stgeorgesreunite.com
INSIDE
THIS ISSUE –
2
2015 Diary Dates
8
Who Has Been Reunited?
Office hours: 8.00am–5pm
Monday to Friday all year
(except Public/Bank Holidays)
FEATURES
The Development Office,
St George’s Weybridge,
Weybridge Road, Addlestone,
Surrey, KT15 2QS, UK
20 Georgian Spirit
THE CONGREGATION
OF JOSEPHITES
For information about the Josephites
and their work in Belgium, England,
Africa and the USA.
www.josephiteweb.org
OLD GEORGIANS’ ASSOCIATION
E: oldgeorgiansassociation@gmail.com
ST GEORGE’S COLLEGE (11-18)
T: 01932 839300
F: 01932 839301
E: contact@stgeorgesweybridge.com
www.stgeorgesweybridge.com
St George’s College,
Weybridge Road, Addlestone,
Surrey, KT15 2QS, UK
16 Focus on Careers and Networking
26 Pieces of History
28 52 New Things
29 Supporting SGW
REGULARS
30 OGA Sports
36 OGs and Their Music
52 Announcements
61 School News
ST GEORGE’S JUNIOR SCHOOL (3-11)
T: 01932 839400
F: 01932 839401
E: contact@stgeorgesweybridge.com
www.stgeorgesweybridge.com
St George’s Junior School,
Thames Street, Weybridge, Surrey,
KT13 8NL, UK
St George’s Weybridge is a Registered
Educational Charity no. 1017853
Front Cover
Chris Jepson (2000)
Read more on page 36
1
RU13 Spring 2015
Re-uniting the Georgian Family with each other and the School in order to strengthen our
community and enhance educational provision for the future through charitable giving.
2015 DIARY DATES
Class of 1990
25 years
25 Year Drinks Celebration
for the Class of 1990
DRINKS
Date: Thursday 23rd April 2015
Venue: The Hand and Spear in Weybridge
23rd April
CITY
Networking
Date: Wednesday 29th April 2015
Venue: Corney & Barrow, 10 Paternoster Square,
London EC4M 7DX
Class of 1985
30 years
DRINKS
The St George’s Class of 1990 and the St
Maur’s Leavers of 1988 are invited to a drinks
reunion on Thursday 23rd April, from 7.00pm
at the Hand and Spear in Weybridge.
To confirm your attendance please visit the
Reunite website, www.stgeorgesreunite.com
or contact the office for further information.
Date: Thursday 21st May 2015
Venue: The Hand and Spear in Weybridge
OVER 60S
London
Lunch
Date: Wednesday 3rd June 2015
Venue: Royal Overseas League, St James’s, London
Class of
1975
DINNER
Date: Saturday 13th June 2015
Venue: Honourable Artillery Company, Armoury
House, City Road, London, EC1Y 2BQ
THE ANNUAL
REUNION
City Networking Drinks
29th April
On Wednesday 29th April members of the Georgian
Family are invited to a drinks reception at Corney &
Barrow. These evenings are arranged for members of
the Georgian Community who work in London and are
looking to business network, make friends and meet
like-minded people. If you have not already attended
one of our previously arranged networking evenings
we would highly recommend that you join us at this
one. These are the perfect opportunity to expand your
professional network, increase your opportunities
and have fun.
Venue: Corney & Barrow,
10 Paternoster Square,
London EC4M 7DX
Time: 7.00pm onwards
Booking Details:
To confirm your attendance
please visit the Reunite website,
www.stgeorgesreunite.com
or contact the office for
further information.
Date: Sunday 21st June 2015
Venue: St George’s College
Class of 1980
Venue: St George’s Club House
RU13 Spring 2015
2
10
Class of
2005
3
10 year
Date: Thursday 19th November 2015
Further information available nearer the date
RU13 Spring 2015
BBQ
Date: Sunday 13th September 2015
2015 DIARY DATES
30 Year Drinks Celebration
for the Class of 1985
40 Year Celebration Dinner
for the Class of 1975
13th June
21st May
To confirm your attendance, please visit the
Reunite website, www.stgeorgesreunite.com
or contact the office for further information.
Over 60s London Lunch
3rd June
The annual Over 60s lunch will take place in its usual
venue at the Royal Overseas League on Wednesday
3rd June. This event is guaranteed to be an incredibly
enjoyable lunch and fun afternoon and it is definitely
growing in popularity each year. We hope to see many
new faces this year.
Neil Twist (1962) & John Lobo (1955)
RU13 Spring 2015
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Venue:
The Royal Overseas League,
Overseas House, Park Place,
St James’s Street, London,
SW1A 1LR
www.rosl.org.uk
Time: 12noon
Cost: The lunch will cost £42
per person and is on a first
come first served basis.
Payment Options:
•Send a cheque made
payable to St George’s
Weybridge and posted to
the Development Office,
St George’s Weybridge,
Weybridge Road,
Addlestone, KT15 2QS
•Bank Transfer – St
George’s Weybridge, Sort
Code: 602334 Account:
96610603. Please
reference your Surname
followed by 40201. Please
inform the office once
payment transaction has
been made.
We would like to invite the
Unique is perhaps an overused word but
the Armoury House is an exceptional and
thoroughly unexpected venue; a historic 18th
Century mansion set in a six acre garden yet
located just a stone’s throw from Moorgate in
the heart of the City of London.
St George’s Class of 1975 and the
St Maur’s Class of 1973
to an evening dinner at the
Honourable Artillery Company
in the City of London on
Sunday 13th June 2015,
“Time flies and we have all lived a bit since
leaving St George’s College in the summer
of 1975”. 2015 will be 40 years and Simon
Clothier, John Handford and Sean Crane
thought it would be a bit of fun to mark the
occasion with a get together in the summer of
2015.
Venue:
Honourable Artillery Company
Armoury House, City Road, London EC1Y 2BQ
Cost:
The evening will cost £50pp and will include a
welcome drink, 3 course meal and wine.
Replying and Coordination:
If you would be interested in attending please
visit the Reunite website to complete an online
booking form or contact the office by emailing
development@stgeorgesweybridge.com.
Monies should be collected by no later than
the 6th April 2015.
from 7pm
Simon
John
Sean
Payment Options:
•Send a cheque made payable to St George’s
Weybridge and posted to the Development
Office, St George’s Weybridge, Weybridge
Road, Addlestone, KT15 2QS
5
•Bank Transfer – St George’s Weybridge, Sort
Code: 602334 Account: 96610603. Please
reference your Surname followed by 40201.
Please inform the office once your payment
transaction has been made.
RU13 Spring 2015
The St George’s Class of 1985 and the Fifth
Form St Maur’s Leavers of 1983 are invited to
a drinks reunion on Thursday 21st May, from
7.00pm at the Hand and Spear in Weybridge.
2015 DIARY DATES
NG
VITI F
IN ASS O
CL
0
197
Nina and Tony
1 1. 0 0 a m – 4 . 3 0 p m
Hugh Ryan, Tony Harding and Nina
Baynham (Lochen) would like to
invite the class of 1970 and their
families to join them at the Annual
Reunion on Sunday 21st June.
45 Year Celebration
for the Class of 1970 at the Annual Reunion
A designated seating area will be arranged for the group.
For further information about the day’s events please refer
to the annual reunion advert on the adjacent page.
Please confirm your attendance with the Office.
er
b
vem
o
N
h
19t
E
E TH
!
E
T
DA
SAV
Tony and Hugh
Class of 2005
10 Year Celebration
19th November
Further details will be available nearer the date. If you are interested
in attending this event, and have any suggestions for the format of
the reunion we would be delighted to hear from you.
Enjoy a family fun day!
RU13 Spring 2015
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Join us for a BBQ, afternoon tea, sports matches and children’s activities.
To find out more and to confirm your attendance, please visit the Reunite website,
www.stgeorgesreunite.com/events/ or contact the office for further information.
Please ensure you RSVP well in advance for this reunion for catering purposes.
Class of 1980
35 Year Celebration BBQ
13th September
The Class of 1980 and their family are invited to a BBQ at
the Old Georgians’ Clubhouse on Sunday 13th September
from 12 noon. A complimentary BBQ lunch will be provided
and a cash bar will be in place for all refreshments. Further
details will be sent out nearer the date.
7
RU13 Spring 2015
The Headmaster invites all Old Georgians, Old Maurians, former staff and parents,
together with their families, to the Annual Reunion at St George’s College.
Seven classmates who left in 1976 got together
for their annual Christmas gathering on the
22nd December for dinner and drinks in London.
Class of 1976
Christmas
Gathering
(L-R) Richard Ferrari, Tim Harlow, Tim Syder, Chris Liveing, Lawrence Nichols,
Alan Mears and Jeremy Hunting
Class of 2014
Christmas
Celebrations
On Wednesday 17th December we welcomed
the Class of 2014 back to Weybridge for a
complimentary drink at the Slug and Lettuce.
There was a great turnout as everyone enjoyed
the Christmas atmosphere. For many it was the
first time they’d seen each other since leaving.
Former Staff Reunion Tea
On Tuesday 28th October, the Development
Office welcomed back 19 former St George’s
College and St George’s College Junior School
staff to a reunion tea. A spread of sandwiches
and cakes were provided and guests enjoyed
socialising and exchanging memories in the
staff common room.
This was then followed with a short tour of the
school to show many of the former staff the
new developments that have taken place since
they left the College.
Attendees
Fr Martin Ashcroft (1985-2003), Keith Barnett
(1986-2012), Alan Birtles (1986-1997),
Christine Birtles (1987-1993), Dianne Coxon
(1983-2009), Tony Creber (1966-1974),
Michael Dailey (1976-2002), Janet Drayton
(1997-2012), Chris Dunning (2000-2006),
Shelagh Frawley (1986-2013), Ed Fry
(1996-2008), Andrew Hinder (1976-1989),
Francis Hussey (1966-1976), Peter Lamb
(1997-2010), Edward Mason (2009-2013),
Fr Jude (Peter) McHugo, Fr Aidan Rossiter,
Keith Taggart (1994-2013), Steve Walford
(1983-2009), Kathy York (1998-2014)
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9
Christine Birtles & Dr Janet Drayton
Tony Creber & Francis Hussey
RU13 Spring 2015
WHO HAS BEEN REUNITED?
10
WHO HAS BEEN REUNITED?
On Friday 21st November, 19 Old Georgians
from the Class of 2004 got together for a
reunion dinner at Browns Bar and Restaurant
in Covent Garden, London.
The alumni were met by Caroline Long and
Melanie Gordon-Hughes in the Barrister’s
Court, a private dining room at Browns, where
they enjoyed a welcome glass of Prosecco.
The Development Director, Caroline Long
welcomed the alumni to the reunion and
provided them with an update on recent
College developments and successes. This was
then followed by a delicious three course meal
and wine. It was noticeable just how close a
year group they had all been as everyone hit it
off as if they’d never had a 10 year gap!
The group thoroughly enjoyed catching up
with each other and finding out where life
had taken them over the past 10 years. It was
unanimously agreed that this will become an
annual event for the Class of 2004 and they
would highly recommend more of their peers
to attend next time!
Well done to Matthew Chauncy-Lie who
travelled from Norway to attend the reunion.
A huge thank you must also be extended to
Michael Cave, who assisted the Development
Office with organising this reunion.
10
RU13 Spring 2015
Katie, Matthew & Vicki
Fran & Maria
Attendees:
Alex Benson, Michael Cave, Matthew
Chauncy-Lie, Victoria Cook, Lee Daly,
Charles Elgy, Adamson Harper, Dale
Johnstone, Maria Kois, Sebastian Marshall,
Laila Milborrow, Victoria Nunn, Kate
Reinold, Tamryn Reynolds, Francesca Sloan,
Callie Sweet, Katie Rundle, Kate Sandle,
Kiera Welman
11
Vicki, Alex & Callie
RU13 Spring 2015
10 Year
Celebration for the
Class of 2004
WHO HAS BEEN REUNITED?
City Networking
On Thursday 6th November 10 Old Georgians
and a current parent, joined the Development
Team for a couple of drinks at the Corney &
Barrow in Paternoster Square, London.
These evenings are arranged for members of
the Georgian family who work in London and
are looking to business network, make friends
and meet like-minded people.
Attendees
David Aylward (2000), Aimee Chalmers
(2005), Nigel Florence (Current Parent),
Simon Guthrie (2000), Alastair Hegarty
(2003), Tim Kirkham (1983), Mark Redmond
(1999), Suresh Sathjaraj (2002), Sushila
Sathiaraj (2006), Michael Sharkey (1958),
Paul Stubbs (1980)
The next City Networking event will take
place on the 29th April at the Corney &
Barrow on Paternoster Square.
St Maur’s leavers of 1983
On Saturday 27th September, 22 Old Maurians met up for a lunch organised by Elizabeth Dymond
(née Bennell). It was a great turnout and wonderful to see so many of the girls who left St Maur’s
in 1983.
(née Marsh), Katherine Kemp (née Bailey),
Sarah Warley (née Hatch)
Seated: Miranda Simmons, Sarah Mallalieu
(née Roberts), Hannah Boydon (née Lewis),
Sophie Parker (née Miller), Barbara Thomas
(née Albutt), Joanna McGhie, Marieke WilcoxRoldanus, Helen Duddy (née Sheehan)
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RU13 Spring 2015
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Attendees, in order of the photo:
Standing: Frances Dorrian (née Moore),
Catherin Williams (née Littleson), Elizabeth
Dymond (née Bennell), Sarah Begley, Isabel
Drummond (née Cardemil), Lynda Wallage,
Georgina Wragg (née Rodgers), Julie TrinkerBurt, Wendy Hoole, Susannah Aspden (née
Kenny), Jenni Taylor (née Wallage), Karen Blake
WHO HAS BEEN REUNITED?
Mary Lee, Grachina Hanlon, Jill Wiese & Barbara Parsons
On Saturday 20th September the Development
Team on behalf of two class representatives,
Jane Bristow and Lesley Green, welcomed
back St George’s Class of 1979 and St Maur’s
Class of 1977. Over 40 Old Georgians and
Old Maurians attended, along with past
St George’s teacher, John Passant and his lovely
wife Maureen, and past St Maur’s teacher Mrs
Allington, making it a very enjoyable and
successful evening!
RU13 Spring 2015
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The event began at 4pm with a drinks reception
and BBQ outside the refectory (Orchard Hall).
The guests were treated to burgers, steak,
salmon, sausages and a selection of salads for
dinner.
After a few hours of reminiscing and catching
up with each other, the venue changed to
the Old Georgians’ Clubhouse, where more
memories came flooding back along with
more food being served!
Jane Bristow & Mrs Adlington
Attendees:
It was an incredibly laid back and entertaining
evening with everyone enjoying their food,
drinks and good company! Thank you to
everyone who attended, especially Jane and
Lesley who assisted the Development Team in
organising this reunion!
Jill Wiese & Grachina Hanlon
Mrs Allington (past St Maur’s teaching staff),
Amanda Bomani (née Bogan), Richard Bowen
and wife, Jo, Jane Bristow (née Mason), Claire
Coleman (née Allington), Patricia Curtis
(née Espitalier-Noel) and husband Neil,
Caroline Daly, Nicholas Davies, Jonathan
Dennis, Sandra Dennis (née Chan), Charlotte
Doherty, Fergus Elder and his wife Karen,
Dympna Fitzpatrick, Rossanna Franyutti,
Claudio Fubini, Lesley Green and partner
Gary, Grachina Hanlon (née Nicoll), Matthew
Harden, Georgina Hicks (née Holland) and
her daughter Emma, Gordon Johncox, Jacqui
Khoo, Mary Lee (née Wingate), Kathryn
Long (née Talbot), Adrian Macarty, Michael
Mulchrone, Andrew Newell, Fran O’Donnell,
Lucinda Orchard (née Emrys-Roberts), Adam
Page, Barbara Parsons (née Linton), John
Passant and wife, Maureen, Catrina Poel (née
Thompson), Michael Price, Monique Quant,
Bill Ritchie and partner his partner Nina, Sally
Scheffers, Tania Correia and partner James,
Nicholas Swain and Jill Wiese
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RU13 Spring 2015
35
35 Year Celebration for the Class of 1979
FOCUS ON CAREERS AND NETWORKING
HOW TO SHINE?
HEADSTART CAREERS LUNCH
A STUDENTS PERSPECTIVE
WITH SIMON WILLIS (Parent & OG 1981)
Written by Charlotte Johnson, Lower Sixth student
The evenings are relaxed and sociable and
are a great way of gaining leads for work
experience or just learning a little bit more
about what certain jobs involve. Mrs Knights,
the Head of Careers, is eager to help students
find work experience or offer advice on
universities and you can contact her via email
BIOLOGY CLUB
REVIEW
Written by Alex Batterson, Fifth Year student
RU13 Spring 2015
16
Biology club is a thoroughly enjoyable after
school club, set up by Miss Potter. It provides
a wide range of opportunities for pupils who
wish to pursue a Biology related career. The
club pinpoints interests in the expanding
world of medicine and allows the students to
further explore this career choice. In our first
week, we had an introduction to the varied
range of experiments we were to complete,
that included a three week rat dissection in
which we split into groups of 2-3. We learned
about the digestive system, reproductive
organs, and more of this surprisingly complex
and fascinating creature. We also recorded
the effects of caffeine on the human body,
this involved members of the class drinking
Diet Coke and Coke Zero, we followed this
with short tests to see whether our reaction
rate had increased and observed the effect
(sknights@stgeorgesweybridge.com) to get
more information.
On Tuesday mornings we have a double period;
this time is designated for lectures or an RE
lesson. The lectures are on alternating weeks
and vary greatly so there is something for
everyone. So far we have had presentations
from a Neuroscientist, Author, the Manager
of an Advertising Firm and many others. I can
honestly say that the lectures are genuinely
interesting and even when the topic isn’t
relevant to the subjects you’re taking you
always end up learning something new.
known as being ‘hyper active’, the results were
quite noticeable (members of the class singing
‘All About that Bass’). To a more serious
note, the Biology club is receiving speakers
to share their knowledge about their career
experiences with the students. This allows
the club members a first-hand encounter with
what a career in Biology will involve and allows
them to ask questions based around their new
found knowledge. Students have so far gained
answers to their many questions surrounding
medicine and their possible future in a medical
profession. We have already been fortunate
enough to have a GP visit and share his
knowledge about his profession. We all find
Biology Club both enjoyable and fascinating,
including eyeball dissections and more talks
from professional speakers. The success of
this club in motivating students to pursue
their future careers in medicine is all thanks
to the hard work and dedication of Miss Potter,
providing a wonderful opportunity for pupils
both junior and senior.
If you would like to volunteer your time and
expertise at one of the Biology Club sessions
please contact the Development Office.
Old Georgian, Simon Willis (1981), met with 11
Sixth Form students on Friday 5th December
over an informal lunch meeting.
Simon spoke with the students and inspired
them on how to shine during an interview
process.
FMCV, a professional recruitment consultancy,
was established in 2005 by Simon, following
his successful tenure as Managing Director
of Crane Merchandising Systems across
Europe. Throughout his career in the food
and beverage industries, Simon has always
maintained a passion for investing in the right
people, and the launch of FMCV gave him the
opportunity to use that passion to the full.
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RU13 Spring 2015
There are numerous careers evenings that are
run in the Fifth and Sixth Form, generally the
evening has a theme, for example the “High
Flyers” evening. The events are optional but
are highly beneficial as parents, and alumni
volunteer and are enthusiastic when talking
about their careers.
FOCUS ON CAREERS AND NETWORKING
Written by Jonathan Alberto,
Lower Sixth student
21st Century Careers Evening
10th December 2014
Written by Lindsay Eaton, Lower Sixth student
RU13 Spring 2015
18
The 21st Century Careers Evening was held on
the 10th December and attended by Fifth Year
and Sixth Form students. The guests helped
encourage the students to explore the wide
variety of careers the world now has to offer.
was constantly changing. One of the founders
of the Whiffaway waterless urinal Company
was also excellent; he told us how sometimes
taking a risk can pay off and can lead us into
a career we never imagined we wanted to do.
Some of the evenings speakers included
the CEO of BT, the Financial Times Global
Relationship Director and a Cyber Security
Executive for EY; the students appreciated
every speaker who came as they gave them
a look into the extremely different and wide
variety of jobs now available to university
graduates and experienced workers alike.
Throughout the evening I learnt that anything
is possible, but hard work and dedication is
needed to get to where I want to be and the
career I want to take. Furthermore I learnt that
every degree can lead to a completely different
job that might not even be related to the initial
work.
The evening went off without a hitch and the
guests were welcomed with open arms as the
students were keen to find out more about
their jobs and how they came to be there.
My personal favourite speakers were the
Financial Times Global Relationship Director,
who encouraged us to find new ways of doing
everyday tasks and showed us how advertising
I enjoy the career evenings as I find it’s a
fun, interactive evening which allows me to
network with parents and Old Georgians, as
well as research new and exciting careers that
interest me. I greatly appreciate the guests
who take time out of their busy schedules to
come and talk to us as it supplies us with a
window into the working world which we will
soon be a part of.
Mr Magimay talked about how even a glass will
become digital in ‘three to four years’ telling
the wine bottle that it needs filling up. Another
example he used was the refrigerator, but how
could this device possibly improve? Well, it
could whilst starting to empty, send a message
to Tesco’s that it needs more supplies of milk
for example.
Again Mr Magimay believed this was definitely
achievable in three to four years’ time. It was
an intriguing talk where he also talked about
his personal successes including his help to
launch the Sony PlayStation. Interestingly
he did not believe that your degree itself
was vitally important, just the grades and
which university you attend, because there
are so many different jobs opening up that
it is impossible for your degree to prepare you
for one.
Mark Brown, Executive Director Risk
Advisory at EY
Valerie Xiberras, Financial Times Global
Relationship Director
As a parent of children attending St
George’s (at the Junior School), I fully
understand the importance of ensuring
that the students of today have wide
ranging, independent and insightful advice
regarding their future career options.
Hearing career advice from the “coal-face”
of industry provides viewpoints which
cannot be replicated through traditional
tutorial methods and allows students
to ask the insightful questions and gain
real world insight that could reshape
or indeed completely redirect career
intentions. Furthermore, such events
epitomise the societal benefits derived
from the collegiate family of St George’s
where there exists unparalleled access to
business leaders of today, willing to impart
their knowledge for the furtherance of the
next generation of industry through the
schooling system.
Mark Brown,
Gavin Patterson, CEO BT
Current Junior School Parent
19
RU13 Spring 2015
The Career Evening bought about many
interesting conversations with a variety of
people. Mr Magimay who works for KPMG was
describing the increasingly heavy influence of
digital data. He saw the UK as being divided:
those who were born before the mobile phone
creation and those who were born after it, he
believes that digital will expand enormously,
but particularly booming once the pre mobile
phone generation dies out – saying that the
use of the newspaper will die out with it.
GEORGIAN SPIRIT
COTE
Group 802
Spaces are still available to represent the
College on the pilgrimage of a lifetime with
HCPT Group 802. The St George’s Lourdes
trip will travel from Easter Sunday 5th
April to Saturday 11th April 2015 and we
are RECRUITING DOCTORS, NURSES and
VOLUNTEERS (especially men!) to join us in
caring for the disabled young adults we invite
on this activity-filled holiday. You don’t have to
be an Old Georgian to travel, any link with the
College is fine … parents, teachers and students
past and present make up our Lourdes family.
Whether you travelled to Lourdes as a Sixth
Former or always regretted not going, now is
your chance to find out how to get involved
for Easter 2015. For more information, contact
the Group Leader, Jennie Hale via group802@
hcpt.org.uk. Alternatively you can check out
our website – http://group802.blogspot.co.uk/
or tweet us @HCPT802.
MARC NG (1988)
WOGLE
Written by Katherine Freeman (1993)
RU13 Spring 2015
20
exploring the town of Lourdes and learning
about Lourdes history. We will be staying in the
lovely Mediterranean Hotel, which is located
in the centre of Lourdes on the river. We are
currently recruiting helpers and a medical
team – essential for the trip to take place.
The cost of the trip this year will be £775, plus
70 Euros towards a kitty for the week. You
would also need to bring your own personal
spending money; we may be able to help with
the funding of the trip if required. I would be
very grateful if you could let me know if you
would be interested in travelling this year. If
you have any questions then please give me a
call on 07769940674 or you can email me at
katherinefreeman@hotmail.com.
In a moment of madness not that long ago I
agreed to accompany a mate on a charity bike
ride this spring – he turns 50 this year and
wanted to do something memorable. He asked
if I fancied coming along. For some reason, I
said yes! Starting on 8th April 2015, we will set
off from London and are scheduled to reach
Paris four days later on Saturday, 11th April.
280 miles in four days…
perhaps most importantly, play. COTE does
this through well-researched, innovative and
bespoke projects”. If you can, please support
this very worthy charity – it will be very much
appreciated.
I will be undertaking this challenge (and it
is a challenge!) to raise money for a charity
called ‘CHILDREN ON THE EDGE’ (http://www.
childrenontheedge.org/)
COTE is not a high-profile charity so all
contributions are significant and gratefully
received and in turn are used to fund
worthwhile and practical projects in some of
the places where they are needed most and
have an immediate impact.
COTE was founded in 1990 by Dame Anita
Roddick, founder of The Body Shop, and is a
charity which seeks to give vulnerable children
in war-torn regions of the world or in places
ravaged by a natural disaster their childhood
back.
As I explain on my JustGiving page (see
below), “COTE looks to uphold childrens’
rights to shelter, nourishment, education and
My fund-raising target is £1,500 – or more! It
seems a daunting target at the moment (much
like the ride itself!) and so every little bit helps
– it really does.
21
If you would like to make a donation,
please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/
Nugget48/
RU13 Spring 2015
After thinking that 2014 would be the final
WOGLE Trip to Lourdes, Lourdes addict –
Patrick Galavin has kindly offered to lead a
2015 trip!!! WOGLE will travel from 23rd July –
1st Aug 2015 to Lourdes. The ACROSS charity,
with whom we travel, work very closely with us
to ensure we have the best week for everyone
in the group. In the past few years we have
travelled overnight by Jumbulance from St
George’s College in Weybridge which gives the
opportunity for everyone to get to know each
other before we arrive. We will be planning an
itinerary of activities for the week which may
include visiting the Eagle Sanctuary or Zoo,
GEORGIAN SPIRIT
My Ghana experience
Emma Crawley (2010)
RU13 Spring 2015
22
I was placed in northern Ghana due to the
increasing gap in wealth, lifestyle and living
standards between the north and the south.
On arrival in Tamale, all 18 UK volunteers
completed a week of in-country training,
which proved very useful on more than one
occasion. We then split into project groups and
moved into houses. My group was made up of
3 other girls, all with a similar mindset and
motivations in completing the project.
Our team, of nine men and women worked
in an office about 5 minutes out of Tamale.
This office belonged to the Regional Advisory
Information Network Systems (RAINS), an NGO
that has been working in Northern Ghana
for 20 years. This local NGO was designed to
oversee our projects, in the hope of sustaining
them in the long term. We thus completed
work, which twinned with RAINS’ own goals,
as well as those of International Services and
DFID.
better understand life in rural Ghana. Towards
the end of our time in Ghana we travelled to
Kumasi, which has the largest market in West
Africa; there we also managed to get tickets for
the African Cup of Nations qualifier of Ghana
vs. Uganda. These weekends were brilliant and
provided us with an insight into the whole of
Ghana, not just the manic town of Tamale.
By working on all three projects our cohort
aimed to move them forward and continue
to ensure they are working effectively and
efficiently. We held workshops, talks and
sessions, we met the Chiefs of the rural
communities, raised awareness of the
projects, contacted the Ghanaian government
bodies, and carried out endless monitoring
and evaluation.
I’ll leave you with just a few insights into Ghana;
women can breastfeed anywhere at any time,
of course. If it is raining people will not go to
work. ‘Tomorrow next’ means the day after
tomorrow. ‘Nah’ is an acceptable response to
most questions, statements and comments.
‘No running water or electricity?’ silly question.
Tying down goats to a roof of a small minibus
with 36 people inside for a 6 hour drive is
normal. Thunderstorms genuinely sounded
like War of the Worlds. Being smiley can get
you what you want, and what you don’t want.
Finally, the response is always ‘I am married’.
Over the weekends we looked at planning
something exciting to best utilise our time in
West Africa. There were trips to Accra, and
along the coast, where the castle of Elmina
and historic port for the Atlantic slave trade
still stands. We visited a crocodile sanctuary
in the North Eastern region, Mole National
Park, and communities to meet the chiefs and
My time in Ghana has really impacted upon my
outlook on life; to help me appreciate the small
things and to be grateful for what we have. I
would whole-heartedly encourage any young
person (the scheme is open to aged 18 – 25)
to get involved with ICS through any one of its
partner organisations*.
*It is important to note that as this scheme is
funded by DFID, the future general election will
impact on the nature of this program, however
it is likely to continue due to its wide success.
23
RU13 Spring 2015
After completing my undergraduate degree
in the summer of 2014, I undertook a three
month placement in order to complete my
International Citizen Service (ICS) through
the UK based NGO – International Service (IS).
ICS is a UK government funded development
programme that brings together young
people from all backgrounds to fight poverty
in overseas and UK communities.
The projects surrounded three on going
challenges in Northern Ghana. The first,
‘Students for Schooling’, was centred on the
pairing up of advantaged and disadvantaged
schools in the Tamale area, and the surrounding
district Savelugu-Nanton, where students
were failing to attend schools due to a lack of
uniforms and materials. The second project
was ‘Farming for Futures’. This project aimed
to help farmers become self-sufficient in their
farming, with the hope that the young boys
could remain in school, instead of dropping out
of school to help with farming when required.
The final project was entitled ‘Safe Choices’,
which aimed to help educate teenage girls and
boys about contraception.
GEORGIAN SPIRIT
and Bosnia! During his year in Bosnia, he was
responsible for investigating serious offences
of human trafficking and also took on the role
of advisor and mentor to the Regional Police
Special Forces. For his work there, he was
awarded the Pennsylvania Commendation
Medal by the US Army for meritorious service,
one of only two UK police officers ever to have
received this award.
Back in the UK, Simon spent five years
specialising in public order policing, before
joining the Tactical Firearms Unit in 2008. He
still works in the field of armed policing and
has acted as a close protection officer to many
members of the Royal family including HM The
Queen on a number of occasions.
Simon and Bob meeting the Sheriff of Surrey
HELP FOR HEROES
CHALLENGE
Simon said of the 2014 charity bike ride,
“It is a truly inspirational week. Having the
opportunity to ride with some of our most
severely wounded service personnel who
have overcome such adversity in their lives
is incredible. The problem faced by Help 4
Heroes is that, with the end of the conflict
in Afghanistan, there is a risk that the
overwhelming public support for our wounded
troops will fade. The fact is that some of these
men and women are in their early 20s and have
60 years of life ahead of them. They will need
the support of H4H throughout that time.”
In addition, Simon is looking for companies
to sponsor space on his cycling jersey. If
you are interested, please contact him at
simoncollins5@sky.com
Follow their progress on their Peddling 4 Heroes
Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/
Peddling4Heroes
If you would like to sponsor Simon, you can
visit his giving page at
www.bmycharity.com/SimonCollins2
SIMON COLLINS (1985)
Simon took part in the ride during 2014, which
took him from Brussels to Paris, and raised
over £7000 in doing so. Also taking part are
around a dozen wounded servicemen and
women, some of whom are multiple amputees.
Simon left St Georges in 1985 and joined the
army in 1988. However, a serious injury suffered
at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst,
meant that his military career was cut short.
After a period of recovery, Simon joined Surrey
Police serving initially in the Addlestone and
Chertsey areas. After that, his career took him
to exotic places such as Farnham, Guildford
25
RU13 Spring 2015
RU13 Spring 2015
24
Simon Collins, will take part in the Help for
Heroes Big Battlefield Bike Ride which will
take place during the summer to raise much
needed funds for the work of this charity. The
ride, which is the annual signature fundraising
event for H4H, is a 400 mile cycle from Paris
to Windsor taking in the D-Day beaches in
Normandy. It is limited to 300 participants and
is always oversubscribed.
PIECES OF HISTORY
Written by John Connor
My brother Mike Connor (1949) and I started
as dayboys at St George’s in 1942. The
Monday we started we caught the 461A bus
from Walton on Thames to Ottershaw which
stopped outside the gates of St George’s. We
arrived at the gates and the long walk down
the drive entering the school at the White
House corridor. We were late but the Prefect
of Studies Fr Phillip had arranged for an older
boy to mentor us and show us around and
explain all the intricacies of school life. Our
mentor Patrick Baynham (1948) was a fine
gentleman and later in life became a close
friend to us both. It certainly helped us settle
in and make friends such as Robert Thomson
(1952) and Richard (Dicky) Doyle (1952) and
Brian Mepham (1952) who had started the
term before. I was assigned to the Lower Prep,
brother Mike a year older than me went into
the Upper Prep.
Wednesday and Saturday afternoons were put
aside for sports but at times when we were
unable to play sport for various reasons, such
as the ground was frozen hard, we were put
to work for the farm. Erecting rugby posts or
doing other useful labouring activities was
our call. As all available labour was called up
for the armed services so school boys became
labourers whenever labour was needed.
The college farm also had a large herd of dairy
cows so milk was always in abundance. The
In those days we were in awe of the School
Captain and the three House Captains, (Petre,
Southcote and Kilmorey). When those and
senior boys left school most were called up
to the armed forces and not a week went by
without one or two requiem masses being said.
The choir were well practised in the solemn
requiem music in Latin as we did it so often.
It seemed only yesterday that a revered senior
house boy was at school and a few months
later we were singing his requiem. It was a sad
period for us all. Sometimes after returning
from school after holidays we found boys
missing, mostly boarders, killed in air raids
where they lived in other parts of England.
About this time I became a border and that
was much more fun than being a day boy.
In the long summer evenings as we were on
Double Summer time in those days we could
do so much more. There didn’t seem to be any
checks as to where we were in our free time or
what we got up to. I am sure today that would
RU13 Spring 2015
26
Anne Stone (nee Connor), Lee Ann Connor (John’s wife),
Roger Doherty RIP, Alistair Stone (Anne’s late husband)
John Connor, Mike Connor, Anne Stone & Mary
Lingeman (née Connor RIP)
John Connor, Lee Ann Connor & Simon Connor
(nephew)
be quite different.
A highlight of the summer was the Corpus
Christi procession around the sports grounds
at SGC. Benediction was said at certain
locations around the school grounds. It was
a joint ceremony between St Maur’s Convent
and St George’s plus the mums and dads and
parishioners from surrounding parishes. The
girls loved it; particularly my two elder sisters
who were at St Maur’s as did College boys and
everyone sang all those great hymns.
By this stage of the war safety was becoming
more relaxed as the V1 and V2 sites were
overtaken by the Allies in Europe so we were
now able to recommence playing other schools
at sport. Hitherto our sporting activities were
confined internally between the Houses. Petrol
had not been available to take teams away from
SGC and bus companies were not available
for such activities. This made a big difference
in improving standards but also it was good
to see how other schools fared during the
war. LPTB Buses which had been painted grey
during the war were now repainted green and
in London, red buses began to appear again.
There was a hint of optimism in the air as the
war was ending.
27
RU13 Spring 2015
Starting school at
St George’s in 1942
cows did cause one small problem though –
they grazed on the rugby pitches leaving runny
cow patches everywhere. If you were smart you
could tackle a member of the opposite side so
he fell into a runny cow pat. That was thought
to be a bit of fun.
RECOMMENDED READING
SUPPORTING SGW
Supporting a Perfectly
Balanced Education
52 New Things
Nick Thorpe (2000)
The SGW Assisted Places Fund helps make a St George’s education become a reality for
academically able children, who would not normally consider independent education because
their parents do not have the means to pay school fees.
SGW Friends’ Fund
Nick Thorpe (2000) is the latest Old Georgian
to become an author with the recent release
of his debut book “52 New Things”. Billed
as the antidote to the monotony of modern
life, Nick’s book is the hilarious account of
his journey to try something new every week
for a year. It charts the highs and lows of a
range of new experiences, from African dance
classes to micro lighting via alpaca walking,
hover crafting, world record attempts, skinnydipping, motorcycling, and some very painful
hair removal.
entitled “Christmas Day TV”, raised hundreds
of pounds for charity and can still be found on
all major streaming services and YouTube.
One of the highlights of the book features
Nick’s attempts to write, record and release a
Christmas single, a feat he managed with the
close help and guidance of Joe Lee (2000) and
his brother Simon Thorpe (2002). The single,
Personal website: www.nickthorpe.com
Since leaving St George’s, Nick has pursued a
career as a writer and journalist (although he
should not be confused with the BBC Budapest
correspondent and Scottish journalist who
also share his name!). His work has taken him
around the world, most recently to Hong Kong
where he now lives and works as a Content
Director for a global marketing agency. He is
still trying new things.
Link to buy the book: http://www.amazon.
co.uk/52-New-Things-journey-conquer/
dp/1781351333
933
families donated to the
Easter Term Friends’ Fund
Increased in Gift Aid forms
18%
31%
completed during
Christmas Term
completed during
Easter Term
- to -
Help us to increase this again in the Summer Term.
Your termly gift of £30 becomes £37.50 with Gift
Aid without costing you a penny extra!
£27,590
Total raised (net)
Thank you!
The SGW Friends’ Fund ensures we have the very best facilities without diverting funds away from
other essential projects. St George’s families generously support this fund every term to ensure
we can provide a variety of projects and facilities that will enrich the learning experience of many
more St George’s students now and in the future.
Leave a gift in your will to St George’s
Weybridge to support future
generations of Georgians.
After protecting the interests of family and
friends, many choose to remember St George’s
with a gift in their Will, reflecting their support
and affection and their wish for the School to
continue to flourish and provide the very best
preparation for life for future generations. A
legacy can help to ensure that, for generations
to come, St George’s is able to compete with its
peer institutions on an all fronts and maintain
its status as one of the leading independent
schools in the country.
If the time is ever right to include a gift in your
Will to St George’s Weybridge, please add a
codicil to your latest Will. Whatever support you
can give, small or large, will make a difference.
For further information about leaving a
legacy please contact; Mrs Caroline Long,
Development Director on 01932 839341 or
at clong@stgeorgesweybridge.com
Thank You
We recognise that saying thank you to St
George’s benefactors is extremely important.
Your gifts educate minds, expand hearts and
empower lives.
If you would like to find out more about
any of the funds or how you can help,
please contact Caroline or Georgia
in the Development Office at giving@
stgeorgesweybridge.com or on 01932
839352.
29
RU13 Spring 2015
RU13 Spring 2015
28
Since our last update in September, we have some very exciting news! We have awarded, thanks
to the generosity of one Old Georgian Family, the very first Blessed Nicolas Barré Award. This
Assisted Place is going to a child who will be joining St George’s College at age 11 in September
2015. Assisted Places open the doors to a wealth of opportunity for all the boys and girls who
benefit from them. Thank you, to those who support the scheme.
Chairman’s
Welcome
OGA SPORTS
We are at the sharp end of the rugby
season, the OGRFC are currently lying
second in Surrey division 3 following
promotion last year. We want more
spectators, OGs, parents, past parents
and staff are most welcome to provide
that much needed extra man. Check
out www.ogrfc.co.uk and follow the
teams progress and view the fixture
lists. During 2015 the clubhouse will
undergo a makeover to provide a
lighter more welcoming ambience and
plans are underway to mark two huge
anniversaries, 200 years of the founding
of the Josephite order in 2017 and 150
years of the founding of St George’s
College in 2019. The OGA committee
are very pleased to be working closely
with the Development Office to promote
more Old Georgian sport and as summer
approaches there will be plenty of
cricket, golf and tennis fixtures for OGs
to play in. Finally congratulations to
Anthony Watson on his full debut for
England and we wish him all the best as
he works hard towards selection for the
World Cup squad.
Anthony Watson
(2012)
Tony Jansen (1983)
OGRFC – Rugby
Writing this half term report at the end of
January 2015, we can look back on another
hugely successful year for OGRFC. In our first
season of competitive league rugby, we were
able to go unbeaten in Surrey 4 and reach the
final of the Surrey Vase Cup, only to fall at the
final hurdle to Old Guildfordians who reside
in Surrey 2. Half way through the 2014/15
season, we sit 4 points behind Worth Old Boys
in Surrey 3, the clear highlight of the season a
comprehensive 41-17 victory over the league
leaders at the College.
The ongoing support and good will the club
receives from the College, the OGA, their
sponsors Trailfinders and die hard spectators
who watch in all conditions and geographic
locations is hugely appreciated.
Congratulations
to Anthony on his selection
to the England Six Nations
squad scoring his first
England try against Wales.
For full match reports
please visit the OGRFC
website: www.ogrfc.co.uk
For more information
contact Alex Willis on
alexwillis88@gmail.com
31
RU13 SPRING 2015
RU13 Spring 2015
30
OGA SPORTS
OGTC – Tennis
Connor Boden (1980)
The Old Georgian tennis season will once again resume this
year with the OG’s participation in the D’Abernon Cup, the
annual competition for old boys of independent schools
organised by the Public Schools’ Old Boys Lawn Tennis
Association. The qualifying round will again be held on
the College indoor courts on Saturday 11th April with the
kind permission of the Headmaster and Bursar. With the
final held at the All England Club, Wimbledon, each year,
the D’Abernon Cup is a prestigious competition attracting
entries from some of the top tennis-related schools in the
country. Not having made the final since the late 80s, we
hope this year to make significant progress at least to the
later rounds.
Cricket
Brian O’Gorman (1954)
RU13 Spring 2015
32
In the Cup, which will be organised and
captained by Giles Henderson, we shall be
playing against the Old Oratorians (away)
on Sunday June 7th and we look forward to
mounting a strong challenge. Visitors are
always more than welcome at our games and
we look forward to meeting very many this year
Brian O’Gorman, Hon Sec OG Cricket –
kogorman01@aol.com
Michael Price, Team Secretary
Michael@priceferguson.com
2015 Fixtures
All cup matches will be Away.
Sunday 17th May @ 2pm
Sunday 31st May @ 2pm
Sunday 21st June (OG day – match v 1st
X1 plus other team matches)
Saturday 4th July @ 11.30
Tuesday 7th July @ 11.30
Sunday 12th July @ 11.30
Wednesday 15th July @ 11.30
Friday 17th July @ 11.30
Sunday 26th July @ 11.30
Sunday 2nd August
(President’s Day) @ 11.00
Fun Golf Day
Chris Reynard (1959), would like to invite OG
golfers and their families to enjoy a round of
golf at his private 18 hole course at Idehill
Manor, situated near the south Devon coast
between Honiton and Sidmouth on Saturday
16th May.
For further details please contact the
Development Office.
MCC Cricket
& Cream Tea
Wednesday 10th June
You are warmly invited to attend the St
George’s College 1st XI v the MCC Cricket
Match from 11.30am. You are welcome to
bring a picnic for lunch & cream teas will
be served at 3pm.
Please let us know if you would like to
attend.
33
RU13 Spring 2015
Old Georgian cricket matches fulfil a stated
aim of the Association which is to provide
goodfellowship and fun for all the participants
while remaining competitive and providing
skilful play. Our programme of matches
follows the usual pattern, including the now
well established and popular half day games
(veterans) which is played away from home, on
attractive local grounds. President’s Day on
Sunday 2nd August will see a match between
the President’s and Chairman of OGAs teams,
giving the chance for many to take part.
We will also be playing against Sydenhurst
Ramblers, who are former opponents, and
for whom many Old Georgians have played.
This will mark a special occasion for two Old
Georgians, Chris Terry and Malcolm Hooker
who will be celebrating their retirement from
organising cricket.
Tennis will also once again form a key part of the Annual
Reunion celebrations on June 21. Following last year’s
successful event, we shall again be holding a round robin
tennis tournament with OGs and current students playing
in mixed pairs. This will be followed by the annual OGs vs
College match to compete for the Old Georgians’ Day Tennis
Shield which was inaugurated last year and is currently held
by the OGs. With the students intent on revenge, we should
be delighted to see anyone who enjoys playing, at whatever
level, to come along and join in either with the tournament
or the match or just to have a hit on the beautiful College
courts. Please let Conor Boden know by the end of May at:
c497boden@btinternet.com You would be very welcome.
OGA SPORTS
2014 Alumni Cross Country Report
Girls’ Hockey
Written by Aimee Byrne, College Girls’ Hockey Coach
RU13 Spring 2015
34
As it turned out the going was a little boggy
in places, but nothing too terrible. Sadly
Simon Ludlam (1981) retired for an early
bath after straining an injury early on. Martin
Threakall (2000) came in first out of the Old
Georgians team in a time of 32:09, followed
by Damien Pool (2000), Gerard Thompson
(1987), and Juan-Luis Sanchez (1991) in
35:03, 39:32 and 42:40 respectively. The Old
Georgians team came 15 out of 21 teams in
the Open competition.
The organisers had moved the usual tea and
cake outside this year, which worked very well,
and we all chatted and caught up after the
race, comparing notes on worst puddles and
talking about the College of course.
The race is a lot of fun and has a fantastic
atmosphere. It doesn’t matter how fast or slow
you run it, it’s a great chance to get out and
enjoy a few miles around Wimbledon Common
before Christmas. It would be great to have
a bigger turn-out in all age categories, so if
you’re interested in running in 2015 please
contact Simon Ludlam on simon@ludlam.com
The race is a lot of fun and has
a fantastic atmosphere
An excellent team of OGs turned up on Sunday
14th December to play against the Girls’ 1st XI
hockey team. The College girls were missing
players and were somewhat in awe of their
opposition when they saw some of the talent
that had turned up to play. This included
players returning from the US on scholarships
(literally arriving from the airport!) as well
as players currently playing in the National
Hockey league. The OGs took the lead early
on and went on to score 4 goals before the
College girls ‘woke up’. That was despite the
1st XI having chances to score, both in open
play and from short corners. The second half
was a more even contest and the 1st XI scored
through Eleanor Yianni and Zoe Bennfors to
make the final score 5-3.
It was lovely to see players from the past few
years return, and that their camaraderie was
still as strong as it was when they were are the
College.
OG Team
Tiffany Emmett (2009), Frankie Harding
(2011), Steph Harding (2013), Gemma
Harvey (2013), Kate Hughes (2013),
Sophie Messem (2013), Ellie Tait (2013),
Sian Pearson (2011), Sorcha Pillay (2011),
Maddie Tait (2011), Sarah Townshend
(2012), Hannah Thomson (2014), Jasmine
Tucker (2013), Chloe Wright (2013)
35
RU13 Spring 2015
A beautiful bright winter day saw the annual
running of the Alumni Race, a fun five mile
cross-country jaunt across Wimbledon
Common. Five Old Georgians from a mix of
years ran on Saturday 13th December 2014.
Some rain in the preceding weeks had left the
start and finish stretch a little water-logged
and the organisers giving a warning of “severe
conditions” on the course, but that didn’t
dampen any spirits. With a cheer and a flail
of mud and legs, we were off to see what the
course held.
OGS AND THEIR MUSIC
It was during my time at SGC that I realised
I wanted to be a musician. The majority
of musicians (or should I say, musician’s
parents…) make a conscious decision to
concentrate on their instrument from an
early age, but for me, starting at the age of
10 or so, and admittedly half-heartedly, this
wasn’t the approach I took.
RU13 Spring 2015
36
My mother, a professional musician herself,
wise in the world of music, never pressured
me to practice, allowing the desire and
passion to grow of it’s own accord. St George’s
gave me a broad, diverse education, and the
long standing musical and choral tradition at
the school introduced me to life performing
music and singing in the choir at an early age.
My teachers may or may not remember my
somewhat relaxed attitude towards subjects
outside of music and art, but I suppose in the
end, especially in fields such as the arts, it’s
far more important to focus one’s attention
rather than spread it thinly, not that I could
say I was that disciplined at practicing cello
as a teenager…
The real challenge came for me when going
to music conservatory, particularly in Berlin,
facing the reality of how competitive this
business is, especially for those with natural
talent, as it requires even more work to be
able to realise one’s ability.
Since leaving St George’s I went on to
study at the Royal College of Music,
London, and thereafter in Berlin, where
I ended up getting my first job in the
Deutsches Symphony Berlin. For the past
four years I have been engaged as one of
the Principal cellists of the Basel Sinfonie
Orchester, and am a member of the Amar
String Quartet, Zurich.
“
I learnt much from my
teachers and mentors
at St George’s, but I will
always owe a great deal
to a few teachers there
who supported me
throughout my time at
school and continue to
support me today.
37
RU13 Spring 2015
(2000)
“
Chris Jepson
OGS AND THEIR MUSIC
(2003)
Ladies and gentlemen! We would be very
grateful if you could switch off your mobile
phones and refrain from taking photographs
during this performance. (Long Silence) “Red
light on. Music cue one.”
This is the Royal Shakespeare Company’s
215th performance of Henry IV this year. As
I lift my giant beaters high in the air to drive
down onto the calf skin of my 100 year old
bass drum, some of the world’s leading actors
are waiting quietly in the wings for this deathly
blow to reverberate around the Barbican
theatre, signalling the beginning of arguably
Shakespeare’s most accomplished work. For
the next three hours of our lives, every detail
is mapped out. Music cue two will begin in
precisely three minutes after which I’ll quickly
change into a pauper costume and make my
way from the orchestral pit to the stage in
order to lead the actors in some Elizabethan
drumming. On my way there, I’ll pass by a
member of the costume department carrying
a full suit of armour, the lead actor muttering
lines to himself as he hurries to his dressing
room and an ominous looking faceless
gentleman, cloaked in black from head to foot.
When I arrived at St George’s, it was in the
RU13 Spring 2015
38
wake of two high achieving siblings. I struggled
academically and my early ambition to become
an astronaut was collapsing around me as
I began to realise my brain wasn’t remotely
mathematically or scientifically wired. I
needed to find something that I was good at
– a way to stand out in the crowd. Joining the
school choir under the leadership of a great
teacher and musician Philip Aspden, gave
me my first real experience of performance
and this is really where my musical journey
began. To say I was supported in my musical
explorations would be an understatement.
The wonderfully encouraging Head of Music
Charles Knights gave me endless performance
opportunities, programming my improvised
drum solos amongst the sonatas and concerto
movements of the school recitals and even
allowing me to conduct the school orchestra
on occasion. It was these experiences that
enabled me to discover a particular affinity for
drumming and percussion that has kept me
occupied ever since.
Life as a professional musician varies wildly.
Currently, I’m inextricably linked to London,
performing eight shows a week in a theatre.
At other times I become a travelling musician,
living out of a suitcase, touring with bands
and orchestras. On consecutive nights I have
played to a sold out Albert Hall and a function
room full of estate agents demanding another
rendition of ‘We are the Champions’. Some of
my experiences have been downright surreal,
from rehearsing a duet with Lady Gaga in her
hotel room (“just call me Gaga”, she said) to
playing for the Royal Family in the Buckingham
Palace ballroom and even discussing the finer
details of tambourine playing with the current
Prime Minister.
For the most part, the adventures in store
for 2015 remain a complete mystery to
me. London has so many opportunities for
musicians with its wealth of orchestras,
performance venues, conservatoires and
recording studios which are responsible for
the majority of Hollywood film scores.
Luckily, the UK’s unparalleled theatre
companies are also always in need of a
drummer for various battles, sword fights
and deaths! Last year I helped kill off David
Tennant’s Richard II 60 times and the year
before that it was a world tour doing the same
to Kevin Spacey’s Richard III. Shakespeare very
kindly made over two thousand references
to music in his plays, doing his part to keep
theatre musicians employed for the last 400
years…
…”Rebellion in this land shall lose his sway,
Meeting the cheque of such another day:
And since this business so fair is done, Let us
not leave till all our own be won.”
I select a wooden hammer from my large
tray of implements and, with some force, I
introduce it to a brass tubular bell tuned to
a low D, accompanying the brass section in
the final chord of the show. Then we run. We
have 25 seconds to make it to the stage for
the curtain call. As the whole band sprint up
the stairs, I know we’ll make it with about 5
seconds to spare and that when I get back
to my instrument set-up in one and a half
minutes, that tubular bell will still be ringing –
it always is. Tomorrow we’ll do it again… Twice.
www.zandspercussion.com
www.zlmusic.net
39
RU13 Spring 2015
ZANDER DUGGAN
OGS AND THEIR MUSIC
SULTAN KARA
(2014)
A serendipitous journey
RU13 Spring 2015
40
It was at this point, that my choices in music
became more coincidence than conscience.
As it happens, a day in which I was almost
absent from school turned out to be the day
that, without a doubt in my mind, changed
the course of my life completely. To the,
thankfully now resolved, disappointment of
my very middle-eastern father, the events of
this day gave me absolute clarity in my mind,
that I would pursue music as a sole career
goal – rather than engineering, medicine or
law. These things are just hard to contemplate
for a seven-year old. That day began with a
class music lesson, where on this occasion,
instrumental teachers arrived to demonstrate
instruments and entice some young students
into taking instrumental lessons. Up until
this point I had been told by my mother (likely
anticipating the years of practise that, frankly,
resemble the sound of a shrieking baboon)
that the violin was just ‘not a nice-sounding
Sultan Kara and Andrew Miller (2014)
instrument’. But here, I saw my soon-to-be
teacher, dancing around the strings in the
most exciting way. I immediately signed my
name on the waiting list for the ludicrously
understaffed young music programme, but,
with some persuasion from my mother, I was
allowed to begin lessons the following week.
After a term of soporific group lessons with
three other students. I used my foundations
in piano over the following holiday to teach
myself the note locations on the violin, in
a final effort to motivate my teacher into
giving me individual lessons (if only to learn
something slightly more advanced than the
charming, but eventually excruciating sound
of jingle bells on a £20 chinese-made school
fiddle). My somewhat shocked teacher then
began giving me my own lessons after-school,
and these continued for my remaining years in
the Middle East.
After a variety of new opportunities in
competitions, orchestras and performances
arose in the ever-growing arts sector of
the region, I found myself in my final two
music exams in my time in Abu Dhabi. I sat a
performance diploma in piano and a grade
eight in violin, with a lovely woman who seemed
to take particular interest in my playing. In yet
another crucial turning point in my life that
was utterly out of my hands, she reached out
to my old piano teacher, the country’s exam
representative. She offered me a scholarship
to have my music lessons at the Royal College
of Music. This, as serendipitously as it gets,
happened concurrently with a now former
music teacher at St George’s recommending
me for entry into the school the following
year – having given me lessons the previous
Summer.
So after four years of academic study at St
George’s, coaching by the incomprehensibly
knowledgeable music staff and my part-time
study at the Royal College, I am now writing
this article from a majestic, albeit a bit cold,
library in Oxford University, reading music.
Without the teachers at St George’s and the
Royal College, I would not be here. Without
the final exam I attended in Abu Dhabi I would
not have been able to study at those schools.
And without attending that one music lesson
almost twelve years ago, I could not possibly
tell you neither which country I would reside
in, nor which subject I would study nor at what
institution. Maybe I should thank my sister,
but instead I credit a deceptively pretty lump
of wood, with four metal strings, that totally
dictated the course of my young life.
41
RU13 Spring 2015
I started playing the piano when I was five
years old. Not because I had a sudden, lifechanging vision of what my future would be
like. But rather, because my sister played, and
was getting all the attention from my mother.
At this point, I was living in the up-and-coming
‘desert metropolis’ that was Abu Dhabi. I would
go to a small music institute every Thursday,
where I had my piano and theory lessons –
taught by two eccentric ladies who, despite
the relative unpopularity of art in the region
at the time, persevered in coaching a small
handful of young children and adults in their
own wonderfully unique way. At this point, only
motivated by my juvenile desire to overtake
my sister, I progressed like most others by
taking ABRSM music exams – a vital part of my
musical story.
OGS AND THEIR MUSIC
John Shea
(1981)
RU13 Spring 2015
42
I’d already been a freelance pianist for a few
years after graduating (Cambridge University
and the Royal Academy of Music) when I
decided one day in 1994 to send a voice
recording to the BBC. Working in broadcasting
had always been high on my list of alternative
fantasy careers. I don’t know what I expected
to happen next – the standard rejection letter
if I was lucky – so I was quite surprised when
the BBC World Service replied to say they were
recruiting some more freelance newsreaders.
Would I like to come in and do an audition?
Well, yes, why not? So I turned up at Bush
House one Thursday morning in May, read a
sample news bulletin (after I’d spilt a glass of
water all over the script) and a few weeks later
again I was asked in to shadow one of their
announcers. Eventually the moment arrived:
“now you have a go” she said. I read out a
cricket score, announced the next programme
without getting the time wrong, and was
allowed to come back for more the following
week. I realised that the only person worried by
my complete lack of broadcasting experience
was me, and that I seemed to be in danger of
actually getting a job at the BBC.
Alongside all this I do still work as a repetiteur
(rehearsal pianist) for opera companies. I did
fifteen years at the Wexford Opera Festival in
Ireland, and this line of work has also taken
me to Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Portugal
and Canada. In the last few years I’ve been a
regular member of the music staff of English
Touring Opera, and our Spring Tour 2014 was
a particular high point. We won the Olivier
Award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera
after beating two other nominees, both from
the Royal Opera House, one of them Placido
Domingo!
It’s a small world, and I’m very happy to run into
some fellow Old Georgians in the corridors of
Broadcasting House: Nicola Barranger (1970),
freelance presenter and producer for Radio
4, the World Service and BBC Online; Bernard
Gabony (1975), a multimedia trainer for BBC
Online; and Denis Nowlan (1972), who’s just
joined Radio 3 as Head of Station Management.
I should probably add that the cast of the BBC
Two comedy series W1A last year included
Karen Ascough (1983) (Professionally known as
Ascoe) as a regional TV news presenter.
So now I have two of the best jobs I could
wish for: piano-playing and broadcasting –
reading the news on the World Service, and
presenting a variety of things on Radio 3,
including Through the Night. They’re both
about keeping calm and carrying on. Fingers
crossed that they continue!
PIPPA WINSLOWROLANDELLI
(Current Parent)
Pippa Winslow-Rolandelli (Year 4 parent),
has worked as a singer and actress in the
entertainment industry for more than 30
years. She received her BA in Drama from the
University of California, Irvine and her MFA
from the American Conservatory Theatre
in San Francisco. Upon finishing her studies
she moved to New York City and joined the
National Tour of David Henry Hwang’s play,
M. Butterfly. After a year she returned to New
York and worked briefly on the daytime drama
The Guiding Light and then created the role of
The Thought Girl in the Off-Broadway musical
Opal. She then joined the National Tour of The
Phantom of the Opera in the ensemble and as
understudy to Madame Giry.
During the 4 ½ years she toured the US she met
and married her husband and then relocated
to Houston, Texas. While there she spent four
years as a member of the Houston Grand Opera
chorus as well as performing leading roles
with the smaller opera company, Opera in the
Heights. She also performed frequently with
Theatre Under the Stars and Stages Repertory
Theatre. In 2001 Pippa relocated with her
family to the UK. Until 2010 she concentrated
on raising her family while performing with
many local amateur operatic groups. In 2010
Pippa started working professionally again
and has since performed in musicals, plays,
films and on television including the recent
plays Strangers on a Train at the Gielgud and
Other Desert Cities at the Old Vic. Last year she
created a well-received semi-autobiographical
one woman show entitled Just a Housewife
exploring the challenges of balancing family
and career with comedy and songs.
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RU13 Spring 2015
John Shea in the pop-up studio in the Royal
Festival Hall foyer during Radio 3’s South
Bank Centre residency, March 2014.
Photo credit: Richard Andrews
After two years at the World Service, in the
summer of 1996 I approached Radio 3. A similar
process ensued, and this time I was sent to
the Radio 4 announcer Laurie Macmillan, who
recorded me reading bits of news, novels and
poetry, played them back to me and made me
analyse what I was doing wrongly. It’s the best
training I’ve ever had! As a musician, of course
I’d always wanted to work at Radio 3, and having
to research and write my own scripts was, and
remains, a hugely enjoyable challenge. With
all the reference books at our disposal, there’s
no shortage of information about the music
we introduce; the trick is to choose the points
about it that are worth making.
OGS AND THEIR MUSIC
self-worth, I seized the opportunity to become
Director of Music for Cathedral and Diocese of
Hallam. There I established the congregation
at the heart of liturgical music and acquired
a reputation as a composer. During this time
I became a Member of the Iona Community
and worked frequently with the composer
and worship leader, John Bell. I was much in
demand as a workshop leader and conference
speaker on liturgical music and justice.
In 2014, one year after Hallam’s cathedral reopened after extensive building works, the
repayments on the loan could not be repaid
and so the post of Director of Music was
declared redundant and I had to seek work
GILES BRYANT
(1952)
Philip Jakob
(1976)
Photo credit – Christian K Martinez
RU13 Spring 2015
44
to continue studies with the virtuoso Stephen
Hicks.
I retained my links with St George’s after
leaving the College through my involvement
with Paul Reed and the College Choir with
whom I sang on many European tours. I also
established links with St Maur’s Convent where
my mother Maureen taught Home Economics
and my sister Anne had been a pupil. Director
of Music Bill Hayward invited me to serve as
organist for his European Choir Tours.
In 1981 I began a career in teaching music in
St Ignatius College (Jesuits) in Enfield, North
London. I also held Director of Music posts at
St Boniface German Church (Whitechapel), St
Edmund’s (Lower Edmonton) and St Ignatius
(Stamford Hill). I also served as a member of
Westminster Diocese Liturgy Commission.
I studied music at the University of Hull which
quickly recognised that my previous organ
teacher at St George’s could not be bettered.
So every two weeks I made the journey south
I moved north in 1993 and continued
my teaching at Parrs Wood High School,
Manchester. In 1994, recognising that
liturgical music gave me a greater sense of
Since 1941, when I first began to sing as a treble in
my chapel choir, I have been actively engaged with
choral music, both as a singer and as an organist, a
choirmaster and as Director of Music in Canadian
and UK schools, colleges and universities. I have
an Honours degree in English Language and
Literature from London University and hold both
the Associate and Choirmaster’s Diplomas (John
Brook Prize) of the Royal College of Organists
and Fellowship of the Royal Canadian College
of Organists. Among my achievements I have
conducted the Festival Singers of Canada and the
Toronto Concert Singers as well as being Chorus
Master for the Toronto Philharmonic Orchestra.
I have played for the Pope and written articles on
choral matters as well as reviewing choral records
for the BBC and CBC radio.
Giles recently celebrated his 80th birthday and
is still playing and conducting in Church and he
gave an organ recital in Toronto during October
2014. He has two honorary Doctorates and he is a
Lay Canon of the Diocese of Toronto. That is ‘pour
encourager les autres’
elsewhere. I had always nurtured the thought
of America and had spent two weeks working
with a parish in Maryland a few years ago. One
Skype interview and a three-day trip to Tampa
for an interview found me appointed Director
of Music at St Lawrence, Tampa in Florida.
Here I provide the music for seven Sunday
masses in a parish of 3200 members. There is
a great deal of previously untapped talent and
my links with the onsite school enable some
of this to be nurtured. I am very happy here
and work alongside a great team. I am not so
happy with what the folk here have done to
our language but the weather compensates
for this pain!
OGS AND THEIR MUSIC
Tony Lacy-Thompson
(1972)
30 years after my SGC education and 3000 miles west to California, I
found myself playing lead guitar in a blues jam. It had been many years
since those guitar lessons from Miss Turton and the country rock band
in my 20’s, but I still had some chops. My son Robert started out with us
on drums, we found a bass player on Craigslist and Serious Condition
was born. Initially we were just a blues/rock band playing Muddy Waters,
Stevie Ray Vaughan and a little ZZ Top. But as the personnel changed
so did the setlist. It’s been about eight years since that first jam and
our new female singer Tommie makes us sound (and look) good, so I
think she’s a keeper. The band’s sounding better than ever, and in 2014
we’re on target to hit 19 gigs, a record. We practice 3-4 hours most
Saturday mornings, when we don’t have a gig, and play all around the
San Francisco Bay Area. www.seriouscondition.com
MICHAEL
GELARDI
Tony Lacy-Thompson (pictured far right)
(1968)
RU13 Spring 2015
46
Much as Michael loved the music and was very
generous to us – we were his first and last rock
band as a variety agency was not right for us
and after making an album and releasing one
single (no. 42 in the charts!) I decided to give
up professional music, take a business studies
course and start my own agency. I trained with
the great orchestra leader and entertainment
agent Geraldo, and then set up my own
business as a music and entertainment service
specifically for the hotel and leisure industries,
as my father and his father were very successful
hoteliers, as is now my brother Geoffrey, also
an old boy of the college.
This business became successful over a few
years – we numbered among our hotel clients
Hilton, Marriott and Sheraton Hotels. I had
also produced shows with the likes of Sammy
Davis Jnr., Lena Horne, Count Basie and Gloria
Gaynor.
At the tender age of 28 I found myself selling
my business to what was then the largest hotel
and leisure conglomerate in the world, Trust
House Forte PLC, and we set up Grosvenor
Productions, a wholly owned division of the
Group which I headed up as their live music,
entertainment and production division and
developed over a period of some 18 years.
It is difficult to retire from the world of music
and entertainment, as it becomes a way of
life. I have recently accepted a position on
the board of a music festival PLC producing
festivals featuring legends such as Prince, Bob
Dylan, Peter Gabriel, Elton John and The Eagles,
as well as current stars of the pop music scene
including Kasabian, Arctic Monkeys and Jessie J.
From Sammy Davis Jnr to Take That via Kiri Te
Kanawa and the Royal Philharmonic, it has
been an interesting musical life so far, which
has taken me to many parts of the world from
producing cabaret in the USA to touring shows
in the Far East, but it is not quite yet over, as
I was approached this year to head up a new
music and events company for the well-known,
high end jazz/blues restaurant brand, Boisdale,
in association with my long-time friend Jools
Holland who is Patron of Music for the group –
yet another musical challenge for yet another
year! I also still play a bit, but only when the
mood takes me!
47
RU13 Spring 2015
Once I left St George’s I played with various soul
and blues bands including The Foundations
and Georgie Fame’s band The Blue Flames then
founded my own classical rock band called
Misty, with none other than Michael Grade
(future Chairman of the BBC) as our agent and
manager.
OGS AND THEIR MUSIC
Jamie Scott (born 12 February 1984) is a
Jamie Scott (Needle)
(2000)
British singer, songwriter and producer.
Jamie left St George’s College towards
the beginning of the Sixth Form to
pursue a publishing deal that he was
awarded. Since leaving St George’s
Jamie’s career in the music industry has
gone from strength to strength.
He signed his first contract with Sony Music
back in 2002 and from there he started
working on his album and performing solo
performances, with his acoustic guitar, and
with artists such as Alicia Keys, Ryan Adams,
Carleen Anderson, Gabrielle, Kelly Clarkson,
Mario Winans and Ginuwine and more recently
collaborating with One Direction!
times and just keep going. Music is definitely
the best gift ever, and you need to have belief
in yourself and always do what you feel is good
and honest. Most importantly keep doing what
you enjoy doing.”
Jamie has been incredibly fortunate to have
worked with the One Direction right from
the beginning of their music career. Jamie
has written lyrics on every single one of their
albums including hits such as Story of my life,
Midnight Memories, Up all night and You and I.
Jamie’s new album “My Hurricane” was
released in the US on November 11th 2014,
and was realised in the UK soon after. Jamie
married Old Georgian Kathy Orriss on the 31st
August 2012 and they have a son together.
The full interview is available on the website
www.stgeorgesreunite.com
Musicians should always
remain true to themselves,
and continue no matter what
difficulties they face.
Jamie’s passion for music started when he was
a young boy, playing the guitar at age seven.
Jamie grew up listening to a lot of his parents’
classic albums and was hugely influenced by
the likes of Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway,
Cat Stevens and James Taylor. At St George’s
he was a member of the school choir. During
Jamie’s last few months at St George’s he set
up a Gospel Choir. Both Miss Marks, Economics
teacher and Mrs Lamey, Head of Sixth Form,
both participated in the gospel choir.
Jamie’s advice to aspiring musicians is “they
should always remain true to themselves, and
continue no matter what difficulties they face.
The music industry is incredibly difficult, and
before I became successful I experienced many
knockbacks, but I had to pick myself up many
49
RU13 Spring 2015
RU13 Spring 2015
48
OGS AND THEIR MUSIC
John Scott-Cree
(1966)
I left St George’s in 1966 and joined dance
bands in Aldershot and, later, Dover. I learned
a lot in “flat” keys playing quick steps, fox trots,
trad jazz, “pop” etc. I learned more finger style
guitar in a folk duo and for two years, played
with trumpet-led Bill Barnacle Quartet. Topper
Headon (later with The Clash) drummed with
us and they laughed when I played Rudolph the
red-nosed reindeer to them.
RU13 Spring 2015
50
I moved to Horley in 1973 and, with a young
family, had to ration music and choose
between a traditional jazz band and a folk club.
Chose folk and began writing comedy songs in
earnest. Played Cambridge Folk Festival twice
and was put to recording Rudolph http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=36mGEpfhXv8
by Jazz Summers, with ace session men. In
1977 Pye Records released it. I recorded two
LPs for Pye, again with great musicians. Found
touring incompatible with a growing family
so took a degree in Librarianship with Russian
and “rested” in the 80’s.
Peter Lawes (1965)
Made up for lost time in the 90’s, playing with
folk rock and function bands. I began playing
Broadstairs Festival each year and worked with
twenty youngsters to play at Mass.
I wrote and recorded several CDs, wrote a book
of it all and built a website. Now, I’m mainly
helping people to sing at AgeUK, playing nice
old tunes in care homes with occasional band
gigs and festivals.
Alan Cowderoy playing guitar and singing. Paul (Sandy) Davis is on drums and I am singing in
the middle. Summer 1964
After several casual practice sessions with a
number of school participants through 1961
and 1962, the line up of the band, soon to adopt
the title Satan’s Disciples, settled down to Alan
Cowderoy (1965), lead guitar and vocals, Paul
Davis (1965) lead vocals and drums and myself
guitar and vocals. We performed at College variety
concerts, local Youth Club Hops (remember that
word!) birthday parties, and socials, Christmas
and New Year events for local societies and
organisations. Paul and I tried our hands at song
writing. At our first school concert we performed
Wipe-out, an instrumental made famous by
The Surfaris and The Ventures. This was well
reported in the school magazine. Instrumentals
dominated the early repertoire but cover versions
of Beatles, Searchers, and other pop songs were
soon included. Fr Kemble (perhaps Fr Raymund)
listened in while the band was learning “She
Loves You”. Our knowledge of chords was limited
to majors, minors and dominant sevenths but
through clerical intervention, major sixths were
added as the introduction of this song concludes
with E6th. Following this discovery, the spectrum
of chords recognised and adopted expanded
rapidly. Another early memory was playing in the
Methodist Hall, Westminster Square for a company
social, one of the more prestigious venues.
In 1964 John Mathé (1965) joined as lead
vocalist playing guitar and harmonica. I then
moved onto the bass guitar. The repertoire
changed from pop to Blues and heavier
Rock music which was not so well received
in the school magazine report on a concert
performance. The high spot of that final year
was as warm-up (and cool-down) support for
John Mayall’s Blues Breakers. Many famous
musicians served their apprenticeship with John
Mayall. On that memorable night, Eric Clapton
played lead guitar, John MacVie bass (he later
co-founded Fleetwood Mac) and Hughie Flint
drums (who with Tom McGuinness of Manfred
Mann went on to form McGuinness Flint).
After 1965, Alan and Paul continued in the
pursuit of their music careers while John and I
took the more conventional line of continuing
our academic education: John to Bangor, and I
went to Leicester.
During the early 60s, several at St George’s
played guitars, electric or classical, but Satan’s
Disciples was probably the first St George’s
electric guitar group which organised and
marketed itself. An enquiry from a local Parish
Priest asked if “The Devil’s Advocates” were
available for a parish dance.
51
RU13 Spring 2015
My father was manager of a Potter’s Music
Shop in Aldershot and a dance band drummer.
I didn’t take to drums. I had some piano
lessons but really wanted a guitar like Tony
Waite (1963). Father Christmas finally gave
me one when I was 14. Luckily, I travelled
on the same train each morning as guitarist
Peter Lawes (1965). He played in a group with
Alan Cowderoy (1965) whose day boy locker
was next to mine. They shared song chords
with me. Apart from school entertainments,
I played folk clubs and did my first solo gigs
in 1965 and a Dylan/Donovan act between
groups at dances.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
BIRTHDAYS
Congratulations
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Fr Andrew Turns 90
Fr Andrew Alexander cj celebrated his 90th
birthday on Friday 27th February 2015 and
we were delighted to receive some wonderful
messages from Old Georgians and former staff
who have been so inspired by his teaching. Fr
Andrew was born in Balham in 1925. He was a
boarder at the College from 1934-1943 and
went on to study at the University of London
(1947-1950) followed by 4 years studying
Theology in Belgium after which he returned
to St George’s to teach mainly Biology along
with Chemistry, Geography and Religion as
well as being Day Boy Master. He retired in
1990 and celebrated his Golden Jubilee on
his ordination as a priest in 2004. Fr Andrew
continues to live in the White House at the
College with his Josephite confreres and looks
after the Josephite archives and library and still
enjoys coin collecting.
Fr Andrew gave me both the confidence and
the support to apply to Oxford to study biology
(specifically Zoology). He helped me enormously
in the preparation for the exams and he was a key
reason why I was successful. In fact, I didn’t just
win a place but I won an Exhibition, which is a type
of scholarship – his teaching was that good!
Mark Hanley-Browne (1979)
Head of Emanuel School in London
Fr Andrew received some lovely messages from
those he has inspired.
It if weren’t for your enthusiasm teaching biology
at SGC I wouldn’t be where I am now. Still with
CQUniversity
(Rockhampton,
Queensland,
Australia) but the past five years as a Visiting
Professor at the University of Reading, with home
and office in Reading.
David J Midmore (1968)
Foundation Professor of Plant Sciences
Your inspiration has left me with a lifetime
interest in science and a love of botany.
I left St George’s in 1962 and went on to
become a medical practitioner mostly in tropical
developing countries. I joined the World Health
Organization in 1991 and although I retired from
WHO in 2008, I continue to work as a consultant
on children’s immunization programmes. Thank
you for your inspiration Fr Andrew.
Julian Bilous (1962)
RU13 Spring 2015
52
My thanks for your inspirational teaching, which
led me to a fulfilling career in biology. I left the
College in 1965 and studied for a BSc and PhD at
London University, before joining the staff of the
Natural History Museum in London. I retired at the
age of 60 as Head of Invertebrates in the Zoology
Department, with responsibility for curation and
research. My own particular field of research was
terrestrial malacology. I have nothing but the
happiest of memories of my time in the Biology
Labs, and of your outstanding teaching.
Peter Mordan (1965)
I was taught A level Molecular Biology in the
autumn term of 1989 by Fr Andrew. This included
sections on DNA synthesis and replication. I can
remember my career ‘light-bulb’ moment very
clearly. It inspired me to become a medical doctor
and a clinical geneticist. It all began there and I
owe Fr Andrew a huge amount for his hard work,
inspiration and support. I mentor a lot of young
adults now and think if you can influence and
inspire one person, then it is all worthwhile.
Dr Julian Barwell BSc MBBS PhD MRCP (1991)
Consultant in Clinical Genetics
I studied under Fr Andrew for several years and
ended up with A’s in Botany, Zoology and Biology
under his tutelage. He got both me and my pal
Ian R M Kennedy (1962) into The Royal Veterinary
College then of Camden Town, London.
Peter Turton (1962)
You taught Biology to Form 4-Alpha in September
of 1969. With your customary zeal, and everpresent good humour, you set about teaching us
O level Human Biology in just one year – all from
a standing start. Your teaching was nothing short
of inspirational and I can still remember many of
your lessons to this day.
As a teacher I never had a Biology class with you.
We took some kind of enrichment course with you
in the Sixth Form, I believe. Well, despite English
literature becoming the core of my teaching
career, your generosity at that fair (including a
copy or two of ‘Coin Monthly’ with your articles
on Victorian pennies) also has helped make me a
lifelong history buff. Really, I am most grateful for
all that.
David Whitfield (1972)
Tom Wingate (1977) in Mexico City
Michael Waugh (1961)
He was our dormitory master in the White House
in September 1955. He was also the only zoology
and botany master when I entered the Sixth Form
for A levels in 1959. He encouraged me to study
for medicine and thus have a very distinguished
career in both national and international fields.
53
RU13 Spring 2015
After Oxford I went to Cambridge to study for a
Post Graduate Certificate of Education and I then
taught biology for over 25 years, before becoming
a Headmaster. I hope that I have (also) managed
to inspire lots of students to study biology. The
ripples of Fr Andrew’s important influence keep
spreading outwards.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
WEDDINGS
BIRTHDAYS
Janet Conochie
(Lohmeyer 1950)
80
In September I celebrated my 80th birthday.
I had worked out that having three smaller
celebrations were better, for me, than a large
party. I am better with smaller numbers of
people these days – I like to hear what people
say and I don’t get so tired.
I started off with a meal for the close family at
a good Chinese restaurant for ten of us which
included the four grandchildren. It was great
watching young Marley aged five trying out
his chop-sticks. I was also given 8 candles on
my toffee banana sweet while everyone sang
“Happy Birthday”.
A fortnight later my best friend Rosemary
came for a meal out for four of us at a local
hostelry. She was on her way from a holiday in
Scotland and making her way home to Wales. I
have missed her as she recently retired to the
Tenby area. A celebration would not have felt
the same without her.
RU13 Spring 2015
54
On October 16th, two days before my family
party for twenty family and friends at Chilford
Hall I fell outside the post office and broke
my right arm. However the party went ahead
and my sister Marion and children came from
Surrey, sister-in-law Gill and family came from
Devon, cousins and six Linton friends joined
me. Now I belong to the Honourable Society of
Octogenarians.
Tamryn Reynolds (2004) and
David Thompson-Rowlands
BIRTHS
Emma (2004) and
David Lancaster
Emma (née Kipling) Lancaster (2004) and
David Lancaster are delighted to announce the
birth of their daughter Quinn Harper Lancaster,
born at Warwick Hospital on 6th October 2014
weighing 8lbs 9oz.
On Saturday 1st March 2014 Victoria Coxon
(1996) and Ben Johnson were married at St
Bartholomew’s Church, Corsham.
Victoria, daughter of Dianne Coxon, former
Junior School Director of Studies, & Coordinator
of ICT, met Ben when, she decided to relocate
from London to Bath in June 2010. Ben was
about to be transferred, by the MOD, from
working in Bristol, to Whitehall as a Senior
Economist.
The ceremony was followed by a reception and
wedding breakfast at The Manor House Hotel
in Castle Combe. The bride’s matron of honour
was her sister Dawn Whiting (née Coxon 1994)
and other bridesmaids were, nieces Tilly &
Violet Whiting, Sally Delf (1996), Ruth Tier, and
Donna McCloughlan.
Other OGs present were Jemma (née Milton
1996) & David Mepham (1995) Patrick Greene
(1996) Nigel Cayless (1996) Annalis Jensen
(1996) Charlotte Potter (née Pegg 1966) and
Paulo Gomes Da Silva (1996).
The couple now live in London where Victoria
runs her own communications company.
Tamryn Reynolds (2004) married David
Thompson-Rowlands a fellow LSE graduate
in Rousham, Oxfordshire on the 3rd August
2013. A number of old Georgians joined the
celebrations including bridesmaids Kate
Reinold, Vicki Nunn, Callie Sweet and Kiera
Welman as well as Nino Reina and Christobelle
Krishnan all from the class of 2004. A great day
was had by all and even the weather held out!
Felicity Harris (2001) and
Stuart Pullen
We had a fantastic day on 27th December,
capitalising on the festive spirit to begin our
lives together. We would like to say a massive
thank you to Father Adrian for marrying us in
the College Chapel and making Stuart feel so
welcome in the St George’s community. And
also a thank you to the College for allowing us
to use the Chapel. The day was made even more
special being somewhere that holds many
happy memories for me. It was an incredible
day which will we will cherish forever.
55
RU13 Spring 2015
Janet and her sister Marion
Victoria Coxon (1996)
and Ben Johnson
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Adam Harper (2004)
and Keely
Adam and Keely were married on the 4th
August 2014 in the Lake District, on Lake
Windermere.
RU13 Spring 2015
56
Holly Straughen (2006)
and Hal Newberry
Holly Staughen (2006) and Hal Newberry
were married on the 6th December 2014
at St Martin’s, East Horsley on a beautiful
sunny winter’s day. The reception was held at
Woodlands Park Hotel in Cobham and there
were many OGs in attendance; including
bridesmaids Jessica Harris (née Straughen)
(2004) and Olivia Hill (2006). The OG guests
included Natalie Phillips (2006), Alex Hill
(2003), Sarina Patel (2006), Fiona Kelly (2006),
Julia Giannini (2006), Victoria Barlow (née
Jefferies 2006), Lauren Stein (née Broderick
2006), Matthew Lewin (2006), Paul Duffy
(2006), Maria Fort (2006), Sushila Sathiaraj
(2006) and Phil Marke (2006).
57
RU13 Spring 2015
The wedding service was held at St Marys
Church, Rydal, while the reception was at the
Langdale Chase Hotel. Adam and Keeley met
at Loughborough University, both playing
sport. Adam played hockey for England, while
Keely is still playing Lacrosse for England.
60 of their guests travelled up to the Lake
District from Southern England, and for many
it was their first time visiting the stunning
countryside which they enjoyed on a pre
wedding lake cruise. The happy couple enjoyed
their honeymoon in the Maldives, before
returning to their home in Cobham. Adam
helps to run the family jewellery business and
Keely is PE Teacher / Head of Year at Guildford
High School for Girls.
FONDLY REMEMBERED
FONDLY REMEMBERED
Peter Brooker (1955)
FR Christopher
1946-1951 OG
1977-1987 Headmaster
Daniel Patrick Maxwell Hunting, known
usually as Patrick, was born in Pimlico in 1933
and came to St George’s as a boy in 1946.
His father, also called Daniel, was a talented
artisan working for Aspreys in Bond Street.
RU13 Spring 2015
58
He had a distinguished career on the games
field, getting colours for Rugby, Hockey, Cricket
and Gymnastics: he also became Captain
of Rugby, Cricket and Gymnastics as well as
being Victor Ludorum at Sports Day in 1951.
Surprisingly the academic picture was not quite
as rosy as he opted for sciences at A level and
did not perform well. After a radical change of
direction he went on to win a place at Downing
College, Cambridge, falling under the spell
of the influential literary critic FR Leavis and
graduating with a double first in English, and the
offer of a lectureship at the University of Hong
Kong. He had joined the Josephite Noviciate in
1951, taking the religious name of Christopher,
so a career outside Josephite schools was out of
the question. After theology studies in Belgium
he was ordained priest in 1963 and embarked
on a long and illustrious career as an English
teacher, taking especial joy in teaching A level
and, more particularly, Oxbridge entrance. His
success in getting his pupils into Oxbridge was
unparalleled but, more importantly, he inspired
in them a deep understanding and love of English
Away from the classroom Christopher thoroughly
enjoyed singing church music – nothing modern,
mind you – and spent many happy years singing
in the College Choir. He never missed the summer
tour during the 26 years 1969 – 1994. He was
also a successful games coach, taking particular
pleasure in coaching hockey.
In later years he much enjoyed his university
visits, travelling up and down the country
almost weekly during term time hosting
lunches with Old Georgians studying at the
universities and bringing home news of their
activities and successes.
Christopher was a lively raconteur with a
somewhat acerbic wit. He loved a friendly
argument: possessed of a brilliant mind
he would often spend half an evening
passionately and deftly defending a position,
and then spend the other half defending the
opposite position with equal passion and
deftness. He was fiercely loyal to his friends
and past pupils: indeed, the two were fairly
synonymous.
He battled with ill health for some years,
becoming increasingly idiosyncratic and
somewhat withdrawn, though to the last day
he thoroughly enjoyed receiving visitors. More
than any of the several medical conditions
which could have ended his life he regretted
his failing eyesight which meant that he could
no longer enjoy his passion for reading.
Christopher had asked that his epitaph
be “the rest is silence”, a quote from his
beloved Shakespeare: a typically enigmatic
request. The rest is certainly not silence; the
considerable number of his past pupils and
former colleagues as well as past parents at
his funeral gave eloquent testimony to the
esteem in which he was held by so many.
“Undoubtedly one of life’s great characters;
and I’m proud to say, a great and close friend
of mine for some 67 years!”
So what sort of person was Peter?
First and foremost, he was a strong family
man. This, together with his traditional and
Christian values, was how he lived his life. He
was intensely proud of Diana, of Rupert and
Henrietta, and of their families.
Second he was an exceptional friend to so
many. He had infectious good humour and
brought laughter to everyone around him; he
was a party man. To Peter a party, and maybe
a drink or two, were backcloths against which
he met his friends. He liked club and pub bars
because that’s where he found a real crosssection of interesting people. He was always
welcome for the sparkle he brought to any
gathering.
Each of us was good at something: Peter was
normally top in History, I was in Mathematics,
and Nigel, very annoyingly, was top in
everything else! What we all shared was a
‘wordy’ sense of humour, and the ability to see
the funny side of almost any situation.
Peter was always a natural comic; always
keen to act, preferably in comedy or farce; he
excelled in the Debating Society; he normally
won the Elocution Prize. Indeed, give Peter
a stage, or even a soap box, and he was very
happy. Some might say that this particular
characteristic never left him!
Peter would have been a very good teacher
himself – I remember in 1953 there was a 15
minute ‘break’ before our ‘O Level’ History
exam, and I asked Peter to predict a question.
“Undoubtedly this year”, he replied, “there
will be a question on the life of Walpole.” He
then gave a 10 minute soliloquy of his model
answer. I remembered his every word, and
indeed it was question 1 on the paper. There is
no doubt that Peter’s reply was what gave me
my pass in O Level History!
In short, Peter was a good man; and he had
more fun and less malice in him than anyone
I’ve ever known.
In 1953 we reached the Sixth Form, and soon
got to know well two high-fliers, Dick Fawcett
and Brendan Nolan, who’d had to stay on to
complete their Oxford entries. They, and in
due course their families, also became very
good friends of us both for some 60 years. In
1954 Peter was appointed Head Dayboy. In the
same year we both got places at King’s College,
London to study Law from October 1955.
59
RU13 Spring 2015
literature. In 1977 he became Headmaster of the
College, a job which he accepted in obedience to
his Superiors but with great personal reluctance
as it took him away from his first love – teaching.
After ten years he was able to step down from
the Headmastership and spent the last years
of his teaching life contentedly broadening the
minds of his pupils.
An extract from John Padovan’s reading at
Peter’s memorial service on Tuesday 7th
October 2014. A full version can be found on
the website.
I first met Peter at St George’s in September 1947.
He and I and another dayboy, Nigel Rampston,
clicked immediately as friends, and we became
something of a trio right through school.
FONDLY REMEMBERED
SCHOOL NEWS
Victor de Peyrecave (1934)
Peter Roberts (1970)
Victor de Peyrecave, died on Sunday 14th
September 2014.
Peter Roberts, died on the 12th October 2014.
Richard (Dick) Doyle died
on Thursday 9th October
2014, aged 79. Richard
left St George’s in 1952
but
his
connection
with the school always
remained close, with his
children, Sean (1982)
and Anthony (1984),
Clare (1987) and Nicky (St
Maur’s 1992) and then later his grandchildren
all attending the school.
Richard’s funeral took place on the 31st
October, at Christ the Prince of Peace in
Weybridge.
Jane Bodenham (1961 OM)
Jane, sister to John (1962), Patrick (1981) and
the late Sarah Gredley (OM), died on the 9th
December 2014 after a long illness.
Terry Gallagher (1965)
Terry Gallagher died of
coronary heart failure in
Lymington,
Hampshire
on 19th June 2014 while
on a few days break with
his wife, Ilse-Lore, and
sharing a holiday cottage
with Hilary and Peter
Lawes (1965).
Terry’s elder brother, Patrick (1962) and
family were at the funeral at Southampton
Crematorium. John Cunningham (1966),
Tony Davison (1965), Peter Lawes (1965) and
John Woodward (1965) all spoke of their fond
memories of Terry.
RU13 Spring 2015
60
He is survived by his wife, Ilse-Lore, and
children, all in Germany. May he rest in peace.
Tim Farmer (1987)
Tim Farmer, a Hayward’s
Heath town Councillor
and Mid Sussex District
Councillor since 2011,
died aged 43 on the
6th August 2014 of
oesophageal cancer. His
wife, Karen, said: “He
had a battle with cancer
for a year. It was a battle
he hoped he would win;
he was such a positive person, always really
determined. Tim was an amazing husband
and best daddy to our two daughters aged
seven and nine. He was a wonderful son and
brother. He was such a positive person and a
doer in life. I was incredibly proud of him.”
Elizabeth Anne Clark
Mother of Old Georgians Sarah (1986),
Tim (1989), Sean (1984) and James (1987).
The funeral took place on Tuesday 30th
December 2014 at the Prince of Peace Church
in Weybridge and the minister was Fr Adrian.
Paul Reed (Teacher 1966 – 1994)
Paul Reed, former Music Director, died
peacefully in his sleep at home on Friday 30th
January 2015. He leaves behind his widow
Margaret who taught at Woburn Hill school for
many years and his two sons Mike (1981) and
Chris (1986) both OGs and their families. His
funeral took place on Tuesday 3rd March.
To read the full obituaries please refer to
the Reunite website, or contact the office
and we can email a copy through to you.
Five students receive Oxbridge offers
St George’s College, Weybridge is delighted
that five students have received offers from the
country’s top two universities.
Madeleine White has received an offer to read
Chemistry from Keble College, Oxford; Bennett
Sanderson from Queen’s College, Oxford to
read French and Spanish and Joseph Russell
has received an offer to read Engineering at
Worcester. Eleanor Yianni has been offered a
place to read Theology and Religious Studies
at St Catharine’s Cambridge. As well as the
four students from the current Upper Sixth,
Sean Bobbit visits
St George’s
Written by Emily Jaye, Upper Sixth student
On the 21st January, the Upper Sixth Form
at St George’s College, Weybridge were
fortunate enough to meet the Award winning
cinematographer Sean Bobbitt, who is also
an Old Georgian (1977). It was fascinating
Finn Kristensen has received an unconditional
offer to read Law at Trinity College, Cambridge.
Finn left the College last year and is currently
completing an internship in the Parliamentary
offices of Dominic Raab MP.
This has been a particularly competitive year to
gain entry into the two prestigious universities,
with Churchill College, Cambridge stating
in correspondence that ‘applications rose to
their highest level since the 1970s, with 3,000
applicants for 620 places’. Our five students
should be exceptionally proud of their success.
to hear the sheer technicality involved in
cinematography, and to learn about the filming
of academy-award winning 12 Years a Slave.
Sean’s talk was inspirational as we were given
the opportunity to hear about his perseverance
through 20 years in the film industry to get
to where he is today. Many were unaware of
what cinematography was, but I am sure that
after Sean’s compelling talk, we will all now be
noticing the camera work in various films.
His modesty towards his successful career was
admirable. Some Upper Sixth
drama students were fortunate
enough to hear more about
Sean’s career in the drama
department, learning how
difficult the film industry can
be but also how rewarding and
enjoyable. We wish Sean many
successes in his future career
and look forward to seeing his
work on many films to come.
61
RU13 Spring 2015
Richard Doyle (1952)
SCHOOL NEWS
SKY’S SUNRISE PRESENTERS
VISIT ST GEORGE’S SIXTH
FORM PUPILS
On Tuesday 3rd March the Lower Sixth were
given the opportunity to gain an inside
perspective of broadcasting when Sky TV’s
Eamonn Holmes and Old Georgian (2000)
and ex-Head Girl, Isabel Webster, revealed the
truth behind the camera.
Not only did the longest serving breakfast
anchor and a future broadcasting star keep
the students entertained, they also revealed
the pressures one has to face when relaying
devastating newscasts whilst hosting the Sky
News’ Breakfast programme, Sunrise.
Students were fascinated to learn that a job
which appears to be glamorous and exciting
is exciting, but it also demands long hours,
early starts and a lot of standing around in all
weathers.
RU13 Spring 2015
62
This did not deter some of the students as
Eamonn and Isabel inspired some to consider a
career in journalism and broadcasting. The talk
also made Sixth Formers aware of the value of
dedication and commitment in the quest to
“It was an honour to meet both Eamonn and
Isabel. I was inspired to believe that hard work will
gain rewards and to aim high, because dreams
can come true. It is an honour to follow in the
footsteps of Isabel as Head Girl and I hope I may
achieve her level of success one day. “
The lecture was voted as one of the best of
the series so our thanks go to Eamonn and
Isabel who, despite an early morning start at
3.30am, gave their time so willing to talk to our
students.
Josie Farmer Head Girl
“Although my alarm goes off at 03.15am I never
tire of my early starts, it’s a dream job and I count
myself very lucky!”
Quote taken from Isabel Webster’s About Me
webpage.
Isabel Webster is an Old Georgian
who was Head Girl in the merger
year of 2000-2001.
After St George’s she studied Politics and
Theology at the University of Bristol and
gained a Post-Graduate diploma in Broadcast
Journalism from City University. In early 2014,
Isabel joined Sky News’ Breakfast programme,
Sunrise. Her first episode was broadcast on
10th March 2014. She currently presents the
programme with Eamonn Holmes who is a
College parent.
Isabel had previously presented and reported
on the radio for local, regional and national
BBC News before joining Sky News in 2011.
She joined Sky News as their West of England
Correspondent prior to working with the
national Sky News team in 2012.
Isabel married Liam Pearce on Saturday 27th
September 2014 at St Edwards the Confessor
Church, Sutton Park.
Isabel was the guest speaker at the 2014
College Prize Giving.
63
Mr Peake, Isabel Webster and
Michael Davie, Chair of Governors
RU13 Spring 2015
Eamonn and Isabel with the Captains of School
follow one’s dreams. Eamonn had aspired to
be a broadcaster from the age of 11, whilst
Isabel had decided on her career after studying
Politics and Theology at the University of
Bristol and gaining a Post-Graduate diploma
in Broadcast Journalism from City University.
SCHOOL NEWS
leaders of real quality and dedication, who
have put the students’ welfare first and worked
enormously hard for the children in our care. Yet
it would be remiss not to include the significant
contribution of the support staff and business
staff in creating the sense of community that
has made SGC special.
Malcolm Saxon retires
after 17 years service
My first sight of St George’s was in the late 1970’s
when I brought opposing rugby teams to play
the 3rd XV of Fr Paul Connor, who intimidatingly
refereed in an All Blacks shirt he had acquired,
as I remember, and kept offering me glasses of
sherry beforehand. My return 20 years later as
the new Deputy Head marked the beginning of
a 17 year stay at the College, in a very different
environment to the rural Shropshire the family
came from.
RU13 Spring 2015
64
Unsurprisingly, it has been a period which has
seen much needed change at the College. In
1997 there were a few girls in the Sixth Form
and the College roll was around 500. However
the decision to move to co-education had
just been taken by governors, to be followed
in 2000 by the merger with St Maur’s. Our few
young girls prior to this had to be all-singing,
all-dancing and robust. Their contribution to
the success of co-education in the early days
was pivotal in creating the platform on which
we built after the merger and on to where we are
today. In many ways these were exciting times.
From 2000 the College certainly benefited from
the influx of St Maur’s girls and staff, both of
whom were assimilated quickly and beneficially
into the College to provide an almost instant
co-educational school.
So what have been the highlights of my tenure?
It is easy to forget the old and remember the
new when faced with this challenge. Steady
school improvement over the years resulting in
a clean sheet of 8 “Excellent” grades in the 2011
inspection must be the high point professionally
and a justification for what we had set out to do.
For pure excitement there was the NatWest Vase
rugby semi-final won in the last second and the
final at Twickenham with SGC easily winning the
crowd competition. Add to this the winning of
the BBC Choir of the Year competition in Salford
in 2012 which caused me to return to something
like my early days on the terraces of Old Trafford
in celebration. There is probably a picture
somewhere! As a now ageing rock and pop
music aficionado, some of the Six Live charity
performances have, like the Inter-House Music,
wonderfully showcased our students’ enormous
range of musical skills. The quality of our
drama productions has improved enormously
culminating in the stunning production of
“Oliver” last term. Prize Giving has been great
fun to deliver with, for me, Ann Widdicombe MP,
as the highlight of our guest speakers.
I could go on but these are only a few examples
of what has made the College such a rewarding
place to work in. I have been fortunate to work
with a wonderful SMT at the College, led by its
Headmaster, Joe Peake; a team which has seen
few personnel changes over the years and has
thus provided strong continuity of leadership
and, dare I say, not a little fun along the way. I
have been hugely supported by pastoral team
Underpinning all of this has been a strong
sense of teamwork and purpose to improve
the College, to make it strong and healthy in a
highly competitive world without sacrificing its
Josephite ethos. The excellent academic results
in 2014 were a pleasing further step forward for
our dedicated, high quality team of teachers,
many of whom have trained here and then
stayed with us.
Yet it is the students and how they grow and
blossom over their years at the College which has
provided the greatest job satisfaction. Visitors
have often commented favourably about our
students and in particular our Sixth Form. They
are indeed our greatest ambassadors and
walking evidence of what the College produces
year after year – fine young men and women, who
can work hard and play hard and yet be sensitive
and caring towards others, ready to take their
place as leaders of the next generation.
Joe Peake and Malcolm Saxon
chapter in my life, with golf, travel, gardening,
walking, reading and the myriad other things
I have put aside until now? Quite a lot, I think,
but there is an undoubted realisation that it
is time to move over to spend time with my
family and let someone else pick up the baton.
Certainly, working with my colleagues, the
gentle Josephite catholicity of St George’s and
the space that is the Chapel will be missed, as
well as the everyday contact with the students
around the place. Friends have judged that I will
miss the intensity of working here – perhaps, I
am not so sure, but, dear Reader, after 17 years
of organising the lunch queue I will be happy to
be free of that particular burden!
So what now, as retirement beckons? What
will I miss about the College as I open the new
JOE PEAKE
ANNOUNCES
HIS RETIREMENT
After 21 years as Headmaster of St George’s College,
Joe Peake has decided to retire. Joe has given notice
to the Board of Governors of his intention to stand
down as Headmaster in August 2016, at the end of
the 2015/2016 academic year. This date will mark
the end of an era and one of the most successful
periods in the long and proud history of St George’s
College.
We will keep every member of the Georgian Family
informed about progress for the new appointment. If you
have any questions or queries please do not hesitate to
contact the office.
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