The Arch Autumn 2015

THE ARCH

Nº 327

Autumn 2015

OLD REPTONIAN NEWSLETTER

Inside this issue

Snippets - Page 5

The Ashes - Page 16

The Great War - Page 21

Officers of The Old Reptonian Society 2015

Welcome to The Arch

President: John F Hings (Priory 1955)

President of The Society 2015 John Hings (P’55)

Vice President: Sarah A B Tennant (Acting Head) Chairman: Nick R S Smith (Brook 1969) Treasurer: John S Wallis (Latham 1971) Governors’ Representative: Robert M Kirkland (Orchard 1959) Old Reptonian Secretary: Nigel Kew (Staff) Old Reptonian Society Officer: Jan Cobb (Staff) Elected Committee Members Louise P Trayhurn (Garden 1996) - Appointed 2007 Sarah R E Taylor (Field 1998) - Appointed 2008 J M Guy Levesley (Hall 1975 & Staff) - Appointed 2009 Sarah E Fearns (Field 2001) - Appointed 2013 Edward T Sloane (Priory 1997) - Appointed 2013 Lloyd A Evans (Orchard 2002) - Appointed 2014 Tom Poynton (School 2006) - Appointed 2014 John F M Walker (Hall 1946 & Ex Staff) - Life member Ex Officio Members Simon D Armstrong (Cross 1963) - Lancs & Cheshire Sanjiv Basu (Orchard 1989) - Fives Anthony E Bishop (Priory 1972) - Golf Society James W Blackwell (Priory 2000) - Pilgrims Benjamin D E Dewhirst (New 1996) - Yorkshire Martin L Jones (Cross 1997 & Staff) - Hockey Nicholas P Le Poidevin (Cross 1964) - Law Society Jamie R Muirhead (Cross 2009) - Tennis Club Mark R Norton (Mitre 1986) - Masonic Lodge Thomas R Pepper (Hall 1949) – Midlands Edward R U Rhodes (New 1995)- Squash Nicky Samra (New 2002) - Football Club Cathy Twigg (Staff) - Marketing & Development Director

The Old Reptonian Society The Hall, Repton School Repton, Derbyshire DE65 6FH Tel. 01283 559320 Email: jcobb@repton.org.uk Editorial Team: Nigel Kew & Jan Cobb

DEADLINE for articles for the next edition (Spring 2016) is March 31st 2016 Front Cover: Reeves Michael Charlesworth (O’41) Back Cover: Leavers 2015

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I have done many of the things I hoped to do in my Presidential year with just a few more to come. Two cold days supporting our footballers in the Arthur Dunn Cup provided a satisfying victory in the quarters at home against Westminster but another defeat to Lancing in the semis away in Sussex. However the spirit and enthusiasm of our guys is good to see and the standard of football is high. My attendance for the first time at Royal St George’s to support our Halford Hewitt golf team in April was an absolute pleasure. I marvel at the quality of golf in this large and important competition. The tension and excitement add to the experience. A sudden-death play off against Westminster in the first round added a pressure which sadly contrived to work against us. I was hoping that I would bring better luck to the Pilgrims in the first round of the Cricketer Cup against Stowe at Repton, but that was not to be. However, it was great that the School beat Uppingham in the 150th Anniversary match at Repton in May. The Pilgrims weren’t so lucky on the Sunday, but it was a splendid two days in all respects with a good attendance of ORs and a characteristic speech from Richard Hutton (H’56) on the Saturday to mark the occasion.

It is 55 years since I attended a Speech Day at Repton, which is now a different affair from those in my time, with no bugle and drum band and CCF parade. This event at the end of the Summer Term was very special and was blessed by the most beautiful weather. Sir Henry Every referred to the event as a ‘celebration’ and it most certainly was just that. It was an important day for Sarah Tennant who is Acting Head. Her speech, and that of guest of honour, the Olympic rowing gold medallist, Anna Watkins, were inspirational. And the two Head Prefects’ ‘double act’ to bring the speeches to a close exemplified perfectly the end result of five years at Repton and made clear realistic aspirations for those other pupils coming through the School. Speeches were followed by a concert in Pears School which again demonstrated the skill and enthusiasm of some fine musicians and the beautiful voices of the Chapel Choir.

I attended the Gaudy in June, preceded by the Memorial Service for Mike Charlesworth (O’41), which was well attended. The service was one of which ‘Sworth’ would have been proud, with an address from his brother Gordon Charlesworth (O’46), a reading by Paul Whitworth (H’63) and a second address from Sir Christopher Frayling (P’60). Christopher captured the enormous contribution Mike made when he said that we need to thank him for helping us discover self-confidence and a sense of achievement. And Mike did all those things with a mix of boyish enthusiasm, generosity of spirit and fair mindedness. I understand there will be an opportunity to see a film of Mike Charlesworth produced by his family at the Dinner in November.

At the time of going to press I am excited to report that for the second consecutive year we are in the finals of the D’Abernon Cup when we play Tim Henman’s old school, Reed’s, at Wimbledon on 12th September. This is followed by the inaugural event of Drinks in Birmingham on 15th October and the Dinner on 14th November when I will elaborate on the fun year I have had. In the meantime thank you for reacting so positively to Melissa Blain’s request for help and involvement of ORs in connection with the Careers Department. And a special thanks to Ed Rhodes (N’95) who has taken on the resurrection of the OR squash Club as its Secretary and entered a team in this year’s Londonderry Cup. I am hoping that those ORs who played in the competition in the ‘70s and ‘80s and those playing today will come to the Dinner in November to celebrate the Club’s revival.

As you know Robert Holroyd stepped down as Headmaster in December 2014 as a result of a recurrence of his illness. The timing of the recognition by the OR Society of his significant contribution to the School is very much dependant on how his recovery progresses. I have been very lucky to be your President at the time Sarah Tennant has been Acting Head. I am told that she has been carrying out this role and her own job in her stride, and she has found time to make my role a real pleasure. Thank you to her, our Secretary and Chairman, and members of the OR Office that have helped me so much during my year in Office.

One last thought, although not original, was made by the Revd Adam Watkinson in Chapel to those leaving Repton. He said: Be good. Make us proud. May God make sure our paths cross again and give us lovely stories to share. I am sure He will. In my view, the OR Society facilitates this wish and I urge you to take full advantage of it.

School Calendar of Events Chairman of The Society Nick Smith (B’69) CHAIRMAN'S REPORT I hope you enjoy reading this edition of The Arch. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to it, as we remain reliant on the information and memories supplied by ORs from all generations.

Please keep all this coming in.

A particularly warm welcome to this year's group of leavers and, in the years to come, I hope you will attend many of our events.

You will always be made most welcome, as you will be by the various branches and clubs. Leaving Repton certainly should not mean losing contact and the OR Society aims to help continue the friendships forged at school as well as creating new ones amongst the wider OR community. The OR office is always delighted to hear from you. I would like to thank those involved for the continued hard work in putting everything together and in ensuring that we continue to enjoy our functions throughout the year.

I want to mention two special occasions that occurred at Repton this summer. First, we celebrated the 150th anniversary of the first cricket match against Uppingham. This was a splendid weekend where we were lucky with both the weather and the standard of cricket, particularly from the Repton 1st XI, who enjoyed a fine victory. There was a very good turnout with many staying on for the Sunday game between the Pilgrims and Uppingham Rovers. The school archivist put on a fascinating display of memorabilia and the stories and reminiscences continued into the evening (where the local pubs enjoyed a good night's trade!). The second occasion was the truly memorable service dedicated to the life of Mike Charlesworth. A packed chapel, outstanding addresses and a wonderfully timed rendition of the Match of the Day theme felt like the perfect farewell to RMC. Both of these events displayed the strong and continuing bond between the school and ORs. A change of leadership always creates a good deal of interest, and as a Society we look forward to welcoming and getting to know Alastair Land, once he takes up his role as Headmaster next year. In the meantime we are indebted to Sarah Tennant, interim Head, for her great interest in, and support for, all of our activities. For someone with much to think about it has been wonderful to see her at so many OR functions. Indeed her enthusiasm and obvious affection for Repton and everyone connected with the school has been remarked upon by numerous ORs. On the sports front our OR tennis team have once again reached the final of the D'Abernon Cup. Another fine achievement and, although we were beaten in a thrilling and incredibly close match, the team put on a great show and did themselves, the school and ORs proud. I’m sure they’ll be determined to try and win back the cup next year! Also worth mentioning was the wonderful turnout by ORs for the recent football day at Repton.

As always we have much to look forward to including, for the first time, a drinks evening in Birmingham on Thursday 15th October, and the annual dinner at Repton on Saturday 14th November. I would also like to give advance warning that we have decided to move to a new venue for next February's Drinks in the City. We always have a great time at these functions (perhaps aided by a free bar!) so please do your best to attend.

I look forward to seeing many of you soon and best wishes to you all.

NOVEMBER 2015 1 Half Term ends 3 Boys’ 1st XI v Wolverhampton 4 Concert Series: Amy Green, Classical Saxophone, The Beldam Hall, 7.45 pm 7 Sale of Work 8 Remembrance Day: Morning Prayer 10.05 am Preacher: The Revd. John Ellis, Deputy Chaplain-in-Chief, RAF 10 Informal Concert, Music School, 9.05 pm 11 Chapel Choir sing Evensong at Lincoln Cathedral 14 Boys’ 1st XI v Millfield Girls’ 1st XI v Cheltenham College OR Society AGM, 6.00 pm followed by OR Society Annual Dinner, Pears School, 7.30 pm 15 Coffee Concert, Beldam Hall, 11.15 am Boys’ Hockey 1st XI, Indoor Tournament, Nottingham University Piano Pre-ABRSM Diploma Concert: Kyoko Canaway, Hannah Sherry, Charmaine Tam, The Beldam Hall, 7.00 pm 18 Concert Series: Martin Roscoe, piano, The Beldam Hall, 7.45pm 19 A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 400 Hall, 7.30 pm 20 A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 400 Hall, 7.30 pm 21 Girls’ 1st XI v Uppingham A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 400 Hall, 7.30 pm 24 Informal Concert, Music School, 9.05 pm 27 Michaelmas Concert, Beldam Hall, 7.30 pm 28 Boys’ 1st X1 v Kimbolton Girls’ 1st XI v Oakham 29 Repton School Music Society: Handel’s ‘Messiah’, Pears School, 7.45 pm 31 Boarders return 8.00 pm DECEMBER 2015 5 Boys’ 1st XI v Shrewsbury 6 Carol Service for Parents, Staff and Parish, 6.30 pm, followed by reception in the 400 Hall Foyer 9 Christmas Bands Concert, Pears School, 7.30 pm 11 Term Ends JANUARY 2016 6 Lent Term begins 13 Subscription Concert: Repton Music Department, L’Entente Cordiale: Music School, 7.45 pm 17 Coffee Concert, Beldam Hall, 11.15 am 19 Informal Concert, Music School, 9.05 pm 27 Subscrip. Concert: The Swingle Singers: 400 Hall, 7.45 pm FEBRUARY 2016 2 Boys’ 1st XI v Trent College 3 Sir John Port’s Pedants. 7.30 p.m. 400 Hall 4 Sir John Port’s Pedants. 7.30 p.m. 400 Hall 5 Sir John Port’s Pedants. 7.30 p.m. 400 Hall 10 Chamber Concert, 6.30 pm, Beldam Hall 12 Half Term begins 4.00 pm 21 Half Term ends 8.00 pm 24 Subscrip. Concert: The Busch Ensemble: Music School, 7.45 pm MARCH 2016 3 Drinks in the City at The Brewery, Chiswell Street 9 Musical, Guys and Dolls, 400 Hall, 7.30 pm 10 Musical, Guys and Dolls, 400 Hall, 7.30 pm 11 Musical, Guys and Dolls, 400 Hall, 7.30 pm 12 Musical, Guys and Dolls, 400 Hall, 7.30 pm 24 Term ends, 1.00 pm JUNE 2016 PROVISIONAL 11 Gaudy. Years to be invited are pre 1955, 1964-1971, 1997-2002, 6th formers 1972/73/74 and 2002/03/04/05.

All dates and times are correct at time of going to print.

Please check the school web page. www.repton.org.uk

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Forthcoming Events ANNUAL DINNER The Annual dinner and AGM will be held on Saturday November 14th 2015 in Pears School. We are delighted to say the cost of the tickets will remain at £43 for those who left the school prior to 2005 and for non OR guests. For those ORs who left the school within the last ten years (2005 or after) the cost will be £33. The cost of the ticket includes pre-dinner drinks and a three-course meal with wine and port.

AGM Spouses and partners are once again warmly invited and they will be more than welcome to relax in the Foyer of the Science Priory whilst the AGM is in progress. We will meet up in the Foyer for pre-dinner drinks at 6.45pm before walking over to Pears School for dinner at 7.30pm.

Agenda

DRINKS IN THE CITY – NEW VENUE FOR 2016!

Drinks In The City has become possibly the major annual event in the OR calendar. Next year we are to hold the event at a brand-new, glamorous venue, The Brewery, in Chiswell Street.

For the miserly sum of just £30 for those who left the school prior to 2006 and for non OR guests and £25 for ORs who left the school in 2006 or after, you will be able to enjoy a free bar (wine, beers and soft drinks) between 6.30pm and 9.30pm, accompanied by delicious canapés. Please see the enclosed booking form and sign up for what should be a wonderful evening as soon as possible!

We will need to let The Brewery have final numbers a good few days before the evening so we are sorry but we will not be able to include you if you have not confirmed your booking one week prior to the event.

1. Welcome & Apologies 2. Approval of minutes from Annual General Meeting November 8th 2014

GAUDY

3. Matters Arising from meeting on November 8th 2014 4. President’s Report 5. Chairman’s Report

The provisional date of the 2016 Gaudy is Saturday June 11th.

Years to be invited are pre 1955, 1964-1971, 1997-2002, 6th formers 1972/73/74 and 2002/03/04/05.

6. Secretary’s Report 7. Treasurer’s Report 8. Future Events 9. Election of Officers 10. Any Other Business 11. Date of next AGM

CYRIL PROCTOR MEMORIAL LECTURE The Dean of Windsor, The Rt Revd David Conner KCVO, will give the inaugural Cyril Proctor Memorial Lecture in the School Theatre on Thursday 25th February 2016 at 7pm on 'Learning to Live'. All ORs are warmly invited to join us with the Archdeacon of Chesterfield and the Dean of Derby Cathedral, members of St John's, Nottingham and Repton Deanery. Further details are available from the chaplain on 07811543753. Cyril was a much loved chaplain of Repton; a former scholar of Uppingham who came down from Cambridge with a First in Classics to be appointed a Master by Geoffrey Fisher. He trained for the ministry at Westcott and served as our chaplain from 1939-1963. We felt it was fitting to honour his service to us by hosting this annual lecture. In 2017 the lecture will be delivered by The Rt Revd Robert Freeman, Bishop of Penrith, and foremost thinker on issues of Technology and God. Please join us for these if you can.

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If you would like a group of your contemporaries to join you at any of these events and you need any help with contact details, please do not hesitate to call the OR office on 01283 559320 or email jcobb@repton.org.uk.

OR News: Snippets Marcus Barnett (H’83) was awarded Gold at the 2015 Chelsea Flower Show.

Robert Bond (P’68) was appointed as a Director of South West Grid for Learning which runs the UK Safer Internet Centre. He is also on the Privacy Advisory Board of the United Nations and is one of a limited number of experts to be appointed an Ambassador for Privacy by Design.”

Alex Chan (C’94) has been awarded the 'Award for Teaching Excellence' by Imperial College.

Simon Foster (N’78) has joined advertising and marketing consultancy The Oystercatchers as a Managing Partner based in London.

Charlotte Gough (F’07), Abi Rodwell (F’04) and Sarah Huish (A’04) (the self-proclaimed Repton Roadies). have completed a charity cycle from London to Amsterdam, raising money for Prostate Cancer. They have raised over £4000, donations can still be made to Prostrate Cancer UK

Victoria Smith (A’00) has won the Rising Star Award in Media and Journalism. We Are The City, Rising Star Awards were introduced to showcase the UK’s female talent below management level and to create 50 female models across 10 different industries and professions.

Congratulations to Georgie Twigg (F’03), Susie Gilbert (F’02) and Shona McCallin (A’08), who were crowned European Champions at the Unibet Eurohockey 2015 Championships in August. In a thrilling final, where England were 2-0 down against the Netherlands with just 9 minutes to go, they managed to pull back to 2-2 and then win in a penalty shootout. OR Joie Leigh (G’09) was all set to join the girls at the event but developed appendicitis two days before and was hospitalised for the first couple of days. Charlotte Stapenhorst (A’11) was also playing for Germany and scored a hat trick in the bronze medal match against Spain.

Hannah Walsh (F’09) has been to St James’s Palace to receive her Gold Duke Of Edinburgh award.

Simon Hawkins (L’91) has recently been appointed Head of Science Faculty at Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School, Derbyshire.

Tom Hume (L’06) has recently been awarded a scholarship to study for an MA in Painting at the Royal College of Art, London.

And one of his paintings was chosen to be exhibited in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.

Chris Kirkland (P’95) has started a new charity called Raise Your Hands. The venture aims to bring more young people into the philanthropic sector, employing a community based model with small regular donations to support grass roots charities in the UK. For more information please visit: www.raiseyourhands.org.uk

Ross Whiteley (N’05) has been selected for the England Lion’s squad to play in Dubai.

Johnny Leavesley (N’82) as been appointed High Sheriff of Staffordshire.

Geoff Lui (B’90) and Gerald Sze (P’91) flew together for the first time in Cathay Pacific Airways (23rd Aug 2015 Manchester to Hong Kong), despite having worked there for 15 and 11 years respectively. Geoff and Gerald used to sit side by side playing the violin for the school orchestra more than 20 years ago.

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Births

Alex Chan (C’94) and Maria are delighted to announce the arrival of Colette Chan on December 15th 2014.

Weddings

Bethan Bournon (A’99) and Myles Pearson (P’99) married on July 25th 2015 in the School Chapel. The reception was held at the bride’s mother’s house in Leicestershire.

Above from left to right: Former Staff, Mr Andrew Cox, Mrs Joan Cox, Samantha Graves (nee Peterson) (G’01), Eric Graves (P’99), Myles Pearson (P’99), Bethan Bournon (A’99), Christine Holland (A’00) bridesmaid, Myfanwy Bournon (A’96), Sean Pearson (P’96) best man, Nathan Saunders (P’99), Former Staff, Jeremy Bournon, father of the bride.

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John Woodhead (P’87) and Eva are delighted to announce the birth of their first son Samuel Dylan on Good Friday 2014.

Weddings The marriage took place at All Saints' Church, Botley, Hampshire, on August 22nd, 2015, between Robin Marsh (C’47) and Mrs Joyce Moore.

Charlie Jefferson (C'91) married Vanessa Blunt on April 18th 2015 at Silverholme Manor in the Lake District. ORs and Old Foremarkians in attendance were ushers Jonathan Every (N'91), Daniel Allton (L'91), brother James Jefferson (C'88) and brother Chris Jefferson (Foremarke).

Alex Mace (S'02) married Lisa Bell on April 19th 2015 at Shottle Hall, Belper, Derbyshire. ORs in attendance were: Scott Chilman (P’99), Luke Harvey (S’03) and Ben Bridgen (P’02).

Jake Jordan (O’02) married Sophie Hughes on August 30th 2014 at St Mary’s Church Henley-onThames. The reception was held at Danesfield House Hotel. ORs in attendance were Ollie Badger (O’99) & Josh Dickins (S’05).

Clare Reay (M’07) married Luke Durston on June 6th 2015 at St. Matthew's Church, Hutton Buscel, North Yorkshire. The reception was held at Wrea Head Hall, Scarborough. ORs in attendance were Georgie Chamberlain (A’04), Millie Karlsen (G’04), Abigail Halidu (A’07), Tamsin Rees-Jones (M’03), Tiffany Bowers (M’04), Natasha Callum (M’04) and Polly Warrack (M’07). Anna Reay (M’05), Clare's sister was bridesmaid and brother, Will Reay (S’06), was usher.

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Death Notifications BROOK

ORCHARD

Geoffrey Philip Dews (B’45) on April 28th 2015.

Andrew M A Howis (B’87) on August 2nd 2015.

John Gilbert Harvey (O’64) on May 24th 2015.

PRIORY CROSS David Hugh Bennett (C’49) on February 18th 2015.

Alfred Martin Winter (C’50) on August 31st 2015.

Nicholas Alan Jacoby (C’70) on November 7th 2014.

Geoffrey Jermyn Holborow (P’43) on August 11th 2015.

John Collier (P’49) on June 18th 2015.

Former Staff HALL John Francis Rambaut (H’39) on September 22nd 2014.

Peter Robert Griffiths (H’66) on July 1st 2015.

Thomas David Graham Quayle (H’49) on June 25th 2015.

LATHAM Malcolm David Spring (L’39) on November 5th 2014.

Ian Fraser MacDonald (L’56) in September 2015.

MITRE Brian Alderson Foster (M’45) in 2008.

Edward Samuel Gilbert (M/C’45) on April 17th 2015.

Brian Kenneth Osborne (M’63) on September 6th 2015.

Anthony John Price, known as Tony or Jasper on April 23rd 2015. Tony was a member of staff from September 1958 to July 1978. Assistant master, Head of Chemistry, Housemaster of The Priory; in his time at Repton he also ran the school Debating, Science and Astronomy Societies as well as the Sailing Club. He left Repton to take up a post at Cheltenham College and was later appointed Principal of Karachi Grammar School and Khartoum International High School before returning to Pakistan where he became Director of Education at the Beaconhouse School System (probably one of the largest independent groups of schools in the world). Thanksgiving services were held in Shurdington where he and his wife Peggy lived for 27 years and in Whitchurch where Peggy still lives.

Brian Williams has died aged 95. Brian taught at Repton from 1949-1959 and then went to Brigg Grammar School as Headmaster until 1976, before moving to Sir John Nelthorpe School. He was ordained at Lincoln Cathedral.

NEW Ian Cameron Robinson (N’32) on March 20th 2015.

Marian Kemball-Cook, wife of Brian Kemball-Cook on June 4th 2015.

Obituaries John Edgar Grahame Vivian (C’33) John Edgar Grahame Vivian has died at the age of 95. He was born on October 28th 1919 at Camborne, Cornwall, and educated at Repton, Derbyshire, where he excelled at boxing, football and cricket. His family subsequently moved to Burma and Thailand (then Siam), where his father was managing mining companies.

Grahame went to Camborne School of Mines but the outbreak of war prevented him from completing his studies.

He was awarded two Military Crosses, the first in Burma in 1944 and the second in Malaya in 1956. The citation for the award of his first MC stated that, “His actions throughout the operation were outstanding for resolution, leadership, conspicuous bravery and total disregard for his personal safety.”

In early October 1956, Vivian and two police officers led an assault party to within 60 yards of the main terrorist camp. They had to lie low for eight hours and at two o’clock the next morning, after a nerve racking approach march of 40 minutes in total darkness through dense jungle, Vivian got his party into the camp. The CTs opened fire with shot guns and automatic weapons but were quickly silenced and two of them were killed. The second-mostwanted terrorist escaped but was eliminated three days later.

Vivian was awarded a Bar to his Military Cross.

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He returned to England in 1959 and retired from the British Army the following year. After a spell in Cornwall working for English China Clays, he moved to the Sultanate of Oman as an officer in the Sultan’s Armed Forces.

He was Deputy Commander of the Oman Gendarmerie until 1965, and then Commander Coastal Patrol until 1966. In 1973 he was appointed Djebel Liaison Officer, a political appointment, and was stationed at Saiq in the Djebel Al Akhdar mountain range, reporting to Sayyid Fahr bin Taimur Al Said, the uncle of the Sultan and the Defence Minister.

Vivian spoke Urdu, Gurkhali and Arabic fluently. Nicknamed Abu Primus (Father Primus Stove), he had a quick temper and, like a primus stove, it could suddenly flare up. On retiring from the service in 1985, he was awarded the Sultan’s Distinguished Service Medal.

Vivian returned to Cornwall and was a member of the Regimental Association and a long time contributor to the Gurkha Welfare Trust.

Vivian Bryon John Edwards (P’34) Vivian Edwards, who died on 7th January 2015 at the age of 94, was one of a dwindling number with memories of pre-war Repton.

Born in Leicester in 1920, he had a distinguished Repton career, entering the school in 1934, becoming head of Priory, a school prefect, and representing the school at football, hockey and fives, which he captained. He excelled at all ball games, but especially at football as a free-scoring centre forward. He gained his “teamer” in 1936 and led the line for a further two seasons. He went on to represent his regimental and hospital football teams. He was also a useful tennis player and wicketkeeper-batsman.

He was blessed with an encyclopedic memory and latterly contributed letters to The Arch. On leaving school he was called up to serve in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. However, he had gained a place at Charing Cross medical school, where he continued with his studies, while also fire watching during the Blitz. Following qualification and a spell as house surgeon, he was enlisted into the Royal Army Medical Corps and dispatched to Burma. While on the voyage he heard that the atom bomb had been dropped on Hiroshima. He served in Burma for two years, being demobilized with the rank of captain when Burma gained independence.

On his return he changed course and began dental studies at the Royal Dental Hospital, qualifying in 1951, whereupon he moved back to his home town, Leicester. There he joined his father in dental practice and worked as a well-regarded dentist for a further 32 years. Arriving back in Leicester he joined the Round Table and continued his masonic commitment at the Albert Edward Lodge, which he had joined in 1947. His phenomenal memory served him well and he rose rapidly to high office, becoming the Lodge’s worshipful master at the age of 42. He later became the Lodge chaplain and a member of the chapter of both the Albert Edward Lodge and the Round Table Lodge. In 2007 he completed 60 years as a serving freemason.

On retirement from dentistry his interest in history came to the fore; he and his wife Margaret joined NADFAS and became involved in archival work. He became a guide at Burghley House for many years until he retired to care for his wife. His last years were passed in Devonshire Court masonic care home where he became part of their family and won many of their quizzes.

Though he slowly became frailer, his mind remained as sharp as ever. He maintained an active interest in current affairs and always had something to say if conversation flagged. His contribution to his school, his community and the freemasons was considerable.

He is survived by his two sons, two grandchildren and two great- grandchildren.

Richard Edwards (P’62)

Reeves Michael Charlesworth (O’41) A Memorial Service was held for Mike in The School Chapel.

Tributes from Gordon Charlesworth (O’46), Sir Christopher Frayling (P’60) and Paul Whitworth (H’63) were made and are published below.

“Mike was a much-loved brother and friend and a greatly respected teacher, master, actor and character. This is the family view of him. He never pretended to be perfect, he liked to be different, unusual, controversial and himself. He was rarely punctual except for the theatre; I have often run up Shaftesbury Avenue so we weren’t late. He was untidy, I should know as I shared a bedroom with him for 25 years, but he knew where everything was! His writing was flowing but not very legible. He did not like to follow the crowd. An example was that soon after the war, on our parents’ Silver Wedding Anniversary, they took us four children on a Mediterranean Cruise. The first stop was Naples with a bus tour to Pompeii. On the morning this was due Mike stayed in bed and said he was not going to wander around Pompeii with the boat load of tourists so would I tell our parents that he was not well. Mother checked on him and agreed he was not fit to go, so I was to stay to look after him and off they all went. Mike perked up of course and took us into Naples which was still flattened from War damage where we fed well with ice

cream etc. It was some 40 years before he said sorry he had stopped me going to Pompeii.

Back to the 1920s when Michael was born in Sheffield into a construction family. As the eldest son Mike should have become a builder but he was not practical – his sand castles would never stay up! Father was concerned as to what would suit him in the future.

Mike was a lifelong Sheffield United supporter, he loved the radio, there was no TV then. His favourite programme was “Monday Night at Seven” and Arthur Askey’s comedy programme. But the BBC moved it to eight o’clock and Mike was not allowed to stay up so late. However, Mike sent a letter asking Arthur Askey to get the BBC to go back to the earlier time. A quick reply did not give any change but asked that father allow Mike to have one night up later, this was permitted. Over the years Mike had his favourite radio programmes, these were Alistair Cooke’s “Letter from America” of which he had a lot of recordings, and Test Match Special from the day of John Arlott, Rex Alston and Jim Swanton.

He started his acting at his prep school, then war came and all Sheffield schools were evacuated, Mike’s to Hassop Hall where conditions were very primitive. Mike came to Repton and he was soon in House and then School plays. He was also blessed with a good eye for a ball and played at soccer 1st X1 standard. He was 9

Obituaries Reeves Michael Charlesworth (O’41) continued eager to get in the Hockey team and so spent his Christmas holidays keeping fit by running round a good road circuit in the evenings, he made it more interesting by turning on the bath taps before setting off and getting back in time to enjoy a hot bath.

This worked well until one evening he stopped to talk with someone, he was met at the door by a wet father who had been sat where the overflowing water came through the ceiling. Mike did get in the Hockey 1st X1. Cricket was also a game he enjoyed, but without the same skill, in fact his style was described as agricultural and 3rd House League was known as the Farmers Union. Golf was a later sport, played in a different way to everyone else! He had old wooden-shafted clubs which needed to be soaked in a bucket of water before use to stop the heads getting looser. He would stroll up the fairway and as he approached his ball he would select a club, drop the bag on the ground and then play the ball like a hockey free hit. When the next adjacent tee was free, he would leave his clubs there taking a wedge, putter and driver on to the green. No one ever took his bag! Mike’s love for the CCF was minimal; he was the “Intelligence Section” and finished as a Corporal. He never went to Corps Camp and always volunteered for Harvest Camp in Hereford. He knew most of the ciders before he was 17. Whilst Mike was Head of House, Pears School was finished and had its own projector, at the end of term we had a film instead of the usual House Plays. The first film was Noel Coward’s “Blythe Spirit” with Rex Harrison. At the House supper Mike had to welcome the guests, one of whom was Miss Shaw, the French teacher. Mike gave her a warm welcome and told us we would soon see her again as Madame Arcati in the film.

He had already seen the film, but luckily Miss Saw had not.

Madame Arcati was played over enthusiastically by Margaret Rutherford and Miss Shaw was greatly offended and complained to the Housemaster, who insisted Mike stay on in the morning to apologise. This suited Mike as he liked to clean the jam cupboard at the end of term.

Now the time had come for National Service; he went to Northern Ireland for basic training to barracks appropriately called Holywood! He formed good friendships and four of them agreed to meet up after Demob. Somehow, this scruffy Repton Corporal was put up for a Commission, though when he passed the Army Office Selection Board to proceed as an Officer Cadet, he was asked to write down his preferred branch of the Army. He told me that he wrote RAEC (Education Crops), but we all know how poor his writing was and some Army Clerk read this as RAJC, the service corps, the transport branch of the Army. Mike had not even tried to drive and the internal combustion engine was a deep mystery to him. When commissioned, he went to their depot in Colchester where he was responsible for testing recruits driving (an Army driving licence later served as a civilian one). The driving test was a set circuit round Colchester with a reverse into a parking spot. Bear in mind that there was not much traffic then, so if the man got round the course without too may scratches, Mike would pass him. No wonder UK driving standards were low in the ‘50s. The redeeming feature of his Service was that at that time the Army were apprehending a lot of people who deserted during the war, and they were up before a Court Marital from going AWOL Mike volunteered to be a defending officer and his eloquent pleas of mitigation were successful. One he quotes was of a Scot of Italian parentage whose unit was to be sent to Italy. He sought a transfer but failed, so he deserted. Mike made a passionate plea which got a minimal sentence and he was told he could have a free ice cream whenever he went to Glasgow! To Mike’s delight and the Army’s relief he was demobilised in time to go to Brasenose College, Oxford. To qualify for Oxbridge you had to have a certain standard 10

of Latin. Mike’s Latin was nearly as bad as his Mathematics. It took him five or six times to satisfy the examiners. As he wanted to read Law this was even more necessary. His was a shortened 2 years legal course, but in spite of the pressure he found time to perform with the Oxford Uni’s Dramatic Society. The most notable part was of Polonius in Hamlet. Due to there being few women at University the females were recruited from the West End and Ophelia was played by the lovely Judith Stott. Many of the cast fancied her but she was soon married to Irish comedian Dave Allen.

Mike’s other interest was cricket for the Brasenose Hornets, a Saturday/Sunday club playing the local villages in 20/20 matches.

Usually they played from closing time at lunch to evening opening time. Any unfinished drinks could be taken on the field, which led to a rush to the bar before closing time. To baffle opponents, the batting order was drawn out of a hat, and the bowling was 2 overs each in reverse order. Most evenings were spent singing bawdy songs in the opposition’s pub. They were very popular and most of this team was the nucleus of a group who returned every August Bank Holiday for 3 or 4 games for some 40 years. The highlight was Mike’s written report sent out with his Christmas card. The Hornets once toured Corfu, which got its cricket matches from visiting service men in the wars. They were more senior players and not really amused by the Hornets. The first University vacation was the reunion of the 4 servicemen. They met in a hotel in Cornwall – it never stopped raining. One of them was David Sheppard the future Sussex and England opening batsman and then Bishop of Liverpool. When Mike’s “This is Your Life” was done he told of this holiday. He said they wrote the play to end all plays; a murder story with 40 bodies on the stage at the end of Act one. He never tried to put it on.

When his law course was nearly complete he had to consider his future. His only interest in Law was to be a Barrister, but he was too honest and said he could not defend someone he knew to be guilty. So what was he to do? Over the years he had considered several options. For a while he had wondered about the Church, but doubted he could live up to it. Then why not become a politician, an MP? After all his grandfather had stood as a Liberal and was the first one to lose Rotherham to Labour in the General Election at the end of the ‘20s. But MPs were very poorly paid in those days and one needed a good job to fall back on. He loved acting and could carry on as a part-time amateur. One job he had flirted with over the years was teaching, but he needed an appropriate degree and found he could do another 2 year course in English. His father agreed to support this. So he did two more years at Oxford with Drama, enjoying cricket and his other new pleasure – curry. After the degree success he returned on trial to an unexpected vacancy at Repton. The future you know better than I do.

His life should have settled down, but Mike was a restless soul and he had some travel adventures. His car, the Austin Burnham Saloon, is a story on its own; however overseas gave him variety. A parent invited him to have a holiday break in Hong Kong. After days of sightseeing tours, boat trips etc Mike persuaded them to give him a go at water skiing. He got the skis on and tow rope in his hands, as the motor boat revved up to pull him forward his skis went in opposite directions and he was nearly split in half. They got him to his return flight in a wheel chair, and he told me that it was an exceptionally uncomfortable journey. Once he retired from The Hall he spent some of his holidays producing plays in Australia.

You all know of his practice of sitting in the garden in the afternoon preparing notes for that night’s rehearsal. One day was

so hot and sunny that he moved under the shade of a tree. He felt something drop on his shoulder and almost at once there was an awful searing pain. Luckily he let out a very loud agonised cry attracting immediate attention. He had been bitten by one of the infamous Australian poison spiders. The school’s action saved his life as those bites can be killers. Of course the play went on, but he was in great pain for several days. He showed me the injured shoulder when he got back to the UK, and it was still black and blue. More recently Mike and Keith, ex headmaster of Dragon School, went to stay with friends in New England to see the glories of the Fall. They had a very good holiday in spite of the friends having big friendly dogs which are not Mike’s favourites. When at

Heathrow on return they were pulled aside by Customs and accused of bringing drugs in. Their luggage was searched thoroughly as were they, but no drugs were found so Customs brought in their sniffer dogs who went straight to Mike’s trouser legs. One of the big dogs at his friends, which had rubbed itself on his legs, was a bitch on heat!!! It was agreed that this was what had alerted the Custom dogs and our travellers were greatly relieved to be released.

Well Michael you have given us great entertainment and plenty of amusement over many years. We all thank you for being you and so farewell dear brother. Goodbye.

Gordon Charlesworth (O’46)

If there is immortality, one of its most potent forms is the influence of the gifted teacher. At Repton, John Thorn, Barry Downing, Dennis Hawkins, John Walker and – above all – Michael Charlesworth transformed my life. My work, my thoughts still run along paths they skilfully cleared through the underbrush of adolescence fifty years ago. My admiration for them grows as the years pass.

RMC was a man of the rehearsal room as well as the classroom and his huge enthusiasm and imagination informed both spaces. “Boys will be Girls at Repton” was the headline of the rave review that Curry Favours (Mike’s new musical that he created with William Agnew) received in the Derby press in 1963. I starred as Lady Yvonne Sprain, the racy French divorcée who cut a swathe of scandal through the officers in an Indian Hill Station in the days of the British Raj. (Major Bedding, I remember, was particularly impetuous.)

That was my first term. How did that happen? James Fenton’s (H’63) voice broke, for one thing – and he had been pegged for the part but Mike had taken the trouble to talent scout at Foremarke for new recruits and I was the lucky boy that year. The next year, Mike directed one of his many productions of The Crucible. I was Abigail in a perky,stuffed bra and a shoulder-length red wig under a wickedly puritanical bonnet. Then my voice broke and it was on to Shakespeare, Congreve and Milton’s Comus in the Garth. I have seen many productions of King Lear, but when I was eleven or twelve, we were bussed over from Foremarke to the 400 Hall where I saw Mike’s production. I date my love of Shakespeare to that moment.

The cast were all Repton boys, so King Lear himself can only have been seventeen or eighteen...but the truth of it! It is still the purest experience of that play that I have ever had.

Trips to Stratford, English lessons, crumpets in Mike’s chaotic room in the Old Mitre... this was the first time I had encountered serious academic squalor and it thrilled me.

I think the ceiling was held up by pillars of books and stacks of dirty dishes. It was mysteriously exciting – like some obscure Hogarthian parable. This was education by a series of surprises and challenges. When it was suggested that I read some Shakespeare today, I looked hard for elegiac material – there is remarkably little. WS was more interested in life than in death and, like our inspired RMC, more interested in asking questions than in answering them.

unembarrassed by the sublime: Repton had its Calibans and its Trinculos as well as its Ferdinands and now, happily, as I look at the composition of the choir, its Mirandas.

(O, brave new world!) And he included us all.

Mike Charlesworth was not frightened of the purple passage so I considered reading today Enobarbus’ description of Cleopatra on the river:

So, listen to this (for Mike played Prospero) and when he asks, lets give him one last, rousing hand:

The barge she sat in, like a burnished throne Burned on the water. The poop was beaten gold; Purple the sails, and so perfumed that The winds were love-sick with them....

Now my charms are all o’erthrown, And what strength I have’s mine own, Which is most faint.

Now, ‘tis true I must be here confined by you, Or sent to Naples. Let me not, Since I have my dukedom got And pardoned the deceiver, dwell In this bare island by your spell; But release me from my bands With the help of your good hands.

Gentle breath of yours my sails Must fill, or else my project fails, Which was to please. Now I want Spirits to enforce, art to enchant; And my ending is despair, Unless I be relieved by prayer, Which pierces so that it assaults Mercy itself, and frees all faults.

As you from crimes would pardoned be, Let your indulgence set me free.

Mike offered me Cleopatra in a production that was to take place in the summer holidays but, in those days, I only saw my parents once a year (they lived in Chile) and so I said no. And now, I think, that ship has sailed: no latter day Caesar is going to be enchanted, when the carpet is unrolled, to find me wrapped up inside it.

So it was to Prospero’s island that my mind kept returning. Mike Charlesworth was a magician, and he made Repton, for so many of us, Prospero’s enchanted island, a place where imagination triumphs over human narrowness – and where tolerant forgiveness is hard won but achieved.

(RMC was distressed by meanness of spirit.)

Faith in human connectedness is the ultimate achievement of Prospero’s island – a connectedness that also embraces the sublime and the ridiculous. Mike was never afraid of the ridiculous and was

It may seem odd, in a church, to ask for applause. But applause is what sets Prospero free, once he has surrendered his magic powers. This is not the applause sought by vanity, but its direct opposite: it is the sound that completes the theatrical act, when players and audience come together to acknowledge our connection, our deepest humanity.

Professor Paul Whitworth (H’63)

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Obituaries Reeves Michael Charlesworth (O’41) continued Address at the Memorial Service for the life of Michael Charlesworth, Repton School Chapel 6th June 2015.

It is famously difficult to put into words what happens during close encounters with the arts without sounding either sentimental or pretentious. To give an example, a few years ago, at the Royal College of Art in London a famous Professor from Oxford tried to put the experience into words by giving a series of four lectures to the Painting students about the appreciation of art. He arrived, with a typescript from which he read including quotations in several languages, no pictures and gave what can only be described as a very dense lecture. There were twenty students present - the whole year group. At his second lecture there were ten, at his third five and at his final lecture there was one solidary student. The philosopher from Oxford turned to the young painter and said,‘There’s not much point in going on with my lecture, is there? Why don’t we just have a cup of tea and talk about it.’To which the student replied,‘I do wish you would go on with the lecture: I’ve been trying to draw you for four weeks.’

The great difficulty of putting experiences of the arts into words. It’s also famously difficult to sustain the students’ attention while trying to do so; encouraging them to see as well as to look, to listen as well as to hear. There was a celebrated cartoon in the NewYorker a while back, which showed a pair of harassed tourists rushing up the steps of the old entrance to the Louvre in Paris and saying to the uniformed security guard:‘Where’s the Mona Lisa? We’re double-parked.’ How to put over what those tourists were missing, in persuasive and engaging ways.

Well, when I was Chairman of Arts Council England, in 2004, the New Statesman asked me as part of a survey to name the individual who had most inspired the direction my life and career had subsequently taken. I wasn’t allowed to It is famously difficult to put into words select someone I didn’t know in person so I couldn’t, for example, say ‘a mixture of St Francis of Assisi and Joseph Stalin’; (though that was roughly what the chairmanship of the Arts Council usually involved). But the moment the question was put, I knew exactly who it had to be: it had to be someone who combined the talents of a great teacher, a scholar, a director of plays, an actor, a writer and, as if those weren’t enough, a village cricketer. It had to be Michael Charlesworth. Why? Lots of reasons. For successfully communicating his own love of the arts and of language; for 12

making the arts of the past come alive in the present; for introducing us to Chaucer, Marlowe and Shakespeare, Webster and the Jacobeans, Milton and Dryden; and modern literature and poetry as well, in ways which, so far from being off-putting, planted a seed which encouraged us to revisit them, to be nourished by them, long afterwards; for showing me and countless others that texts were not dead things, but could live through performance. His playacting and his teaching were all of a piece in the fulness of time, he’d acted most of the key parts he was explaining; for his evident affection for the school and the village, which helped us all through some of the darker moments: as he put it about Repton: ‘I so much enjoyed the teaching, the plays, the genial, often eccentric teaching staff, the usually cheerful high spirits of the young, and everything else at Repton that I’ve never really left... and I’ve certainly not regretted it.’ He’d first arrived, as the youngest boy in the school, in 1941 at the age of 12, had returned in 1953 at the age of 25 to stand in for the Head of English, and had himself been appointed to that role, as well as to Head of Drama a year later, and the course of his entire professional life was set. For helping us to discover self-confidence, and a sense of achievement, by finding gifts we never even knew we had in the classroom and on the stage. And for achieving all those things with a mix of boyish enthusiasm, generosity of spirit, fair-mindedness (representing for us everything that politics and journalism were not), a deep knowledge of the arts with secure moral values as well; in a word, with ‘humanity’.

If the original meaning of the word ‘education’ was e-ducare,‘to lead out’, Michael was for me the leader-out in chief.

In the trade, this is known as ‘the illuminative experience’ or ‘the intelligence of feeling’. I prefer to call it great teaching; the kind that changes attitudes to other subjects in the curriculum as well.

SNAPSHOT NUMBER ONE: In his chaotic room in the Old Mitre, books and notes strewn everywhere, after Sunday morning chapel, having tea and biscuits, discussing current events and listening to music from Michael’s record-player. I still can’t hear William Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast, or the main theme from Mon Oncle, come to that, without recalling those mornings.

Michael seemed to have time for everyone, well above and beyond the call of duty, and he taught us how to toast marshmallows on a gas-fire as well.

I first met Michael properly on the third day of the autumn term 1960 in the classroom at the top of Jacob’s Ladder, next to the Art School, then in the Tithe Barn. Since arriving in Repton three days earlier, I’d dutifully begun to learn the contents of the Blue Book, was starting to commit to memory the nicknames of members of staff I hadn’t met, including ’Sworth, one of the more affectionate ones, was having the punishment regime explained to me by the house prefects, and was getting used to calling myself a Bim Fag. All part of the

SNAPSHOT NUMBER TWO: Rehearsals in summer 1961 in the then-new 400 Hall. (it had opened only two years before) for the home-made musical Michael wrote with the gifted musician William Agnew, who was then assistant Director of Music. It was called Bite Your Thumb, a comic Victorian version of Romeo and Juliet, one of several musicals they created together in the 1960s with large casts to give opportunities to as many boys, boys in those days, as possible.

And over a three-year cycle of school plays, a musical, a Shakespeare, a modern play.

From The Reptonian, Michaelmas 1989

elaborate initiation rituals at the Priory. And I was beginning to get the impression that the school might turn out to be rather a cruel environment; nearer in those days to Tom Brown’s Schooldays than to the modern world. And then, in that classroom, after the awkward introductions, Michael began to read to us a short story as if it was a piece of performance poetry. It was The Pearl by John Steinbeck, based on a rather sad folk tale about the pearl divers in Mexico. And I somehow knew as I listened to his voice, and saw him sitting informally at his raised desk, that everything was going to be fine after all. I’d come to the right place. What I didn’t know then was that many of the others in the class felt exactly the same way.

Now, for some brief snapshots, this time from outside the classroom.

Hard to believe now, but I was playing Juliet (or rather Julia Shuttleforth) which made it all the more alarming when I broke my ankle falling down a fire-escape about a fortnight before showtime, and had one leg encased in heavy plaster. Even though the part involved dancing as well as singing in a treble voice, Michael visited me in hospital, encouraged me to keep going, and on the recorded version you can still distinctly hear the dull thud of my footfall during a romantic ballad.‘I’m keeping watch over you’ - thud! Unforgettable. After the last night, Michael wrote a personal handwritten thank-you letter to every single member of the cast and crew.

The 400 Hall as a building was still having a number of teething problems and some of the productions in which I was involved, not Michael’s, I hasten to add, remind me of the schoolboy who wrote home to his parents about a student production of Hamlet. The parents couldn’t come to the opening night, so he described it to them in a letter home: ‘The audience enjoyed Hamlet a lot,’ said the letter.‘They knew the story already, of course, but it didn’t seem to matter. They laughed uproariously just the same...’.

SNAPSHOT NUMBER THREE: The performance a year later, by the staff, of the four-yearly revue called Sir John Port’s Pedants (or just The Pedants) co-directed on this occasion by Michael and David Wilkinson. In this show, Stuart Andrews with a camera round his neck played Anthony Armstrong- Jones, very convincingly; Peter Toynbee as the Princess Dronehilda memorably danced The Dying Swan for the ‘Bolshie Ballet’; there were selections from Pick of the Slops, and Michael, dressed for some forgotten reason from head to foot in a lion-skin costume, performed The Monster Mask, a novelty hit of the day. Michael could allow himself a bit more bite in the satirical house reviews he wrote and produced for The Priory, where

he was House Tutor, put on after supper at the end of the Christmas term. There were jokes about the fierce rivalry between The Priory and Brook House, between Sale and Eggar: irresistible force meets immovable object, and a few digs at the Combined Cadet Force, of which Michael did not approve, through the character of Sgt. Major Bullimore. When John Thorn wrote his autobiography The Road to Winchester, he listed Michael Charlesworth as one of his staunchest allies in trying to change some of the cobwebby, traditional, unquestioned ways of doing things at the school, some of which were well beyond their sell-by date in the era of President Kennedy, Honest to God and the decline of deference; that era ‘between the Chatterley ban and the Beatles’ first L.P....’

SNAPSHOT NUMBER FOUR: Meeting Michael again, after a long gap shortly before he retired from teaching at Repton, at a dinner following a talk I gave.

He dashed into the dinner late, breathless, beaming with his open, actorly smile, after playing Falstaff at Derby Playhouse and, although he’d put on a bit of weight since last we’d met, to me he still looked just as I remembered him when I was a schoolboy of fourteen and he must have been about thirty. Did he really have the secret of eternal youth or was it just a trick of memory? After all, to a fourteen-year-old, all teachers seem to be middle-aged, even if they are only a few years out of Oxford.

The answer is, of course, that such youthfulness comes from the inside and for all those years he was teaching, Michael had never lost it.

The last page of the album. SNAPSHOT NUMBER FIVE: Goes right back to an outing to Stratford- upon-Avon with Michael which took place in 1962. He also took us at one time or another to Birmingham Rep, the new Nottingham Playhouse, to the De Montfort Hall

Leicester - outings which inspired a lifetime of theatregoing - and, in the Easter holidays, he’d accompany some of us abroad to double-bills of a Western European city (Venice and Munich) and a capital in the Eastern bloc (Prague and Belgrade), an idea which was well ahead of its time, at the height of the Cold War. On this occasion, we were all going to see a matinée of Cymbeline, starring the up-andcoming Vanessa Redgrave. Before we piled into the coach, Michael gave us a characteristically zestful introductory talk; telling us about the play, about what the newspaper critics had written, and how they disagreed with one another, and wondering what on earth Stratford would do with the celebrated stage direction: ‘Jupiter descends, in thunder and lightning, sitting on an eagle’. But the thing I remember most about that outing, and the reason I want to finish on it, on this of all days, is the funeral poem in Act IV, after the interval, spoken by two down-to-earth shepherds in the remote Welsh mountains.

They are mourning a dead warrior-prince. It goes in part like this: Fear no more the heat o’ the sun, Nor the furious winter’s rages; Thou thy worldly task hast done, Home art gone, and ta’en thy wages: Golden lads and girls all must, As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.

Fear no more the frown of the great, Thou art past the tyrant’s stroke: Care no more to clothe and eat, To thee the reed is as the oak: The sceptre, learning, physic, must All follow this, and come to dust.

So on behalf of 36 years’ worth of his students, from 1953 to 1989, I’d like to thank you, Michael, for everything you gave us. Dust, yes, but if you seek a monument to Michael Charlesworth just look around you.

Professor Sir Christopher Frayling (P’60)

Ian Guthrie Russell (H’44) Ian passed away after a long period of illness on 9th January 2015 at Sunnymede Nursing Home in Keynsham, Bristol aged 84. He had very fond memories of his time at Repton School and the journeys by made by train each term from his home in Bolton, Lancashire. To his last days transport was one of his passions and particularly in the era of steam trains. Ian was a life member of the Peak Railway Association.

After leaving Repton, Ian completed his national service and spent time on a posting to Germany. After this he joined Great Universal Stores where he undertook a number of appointments in the mail order business (how different it would have been in a world we are now used to with the likes of Amazon and the Internet). It was during him time at GUS that he met Ann, his wife who sadly died of cancer in 2000.

Moving on from GUS, Ian took a role as Stock Control Manager at Outlook Supplies (another mail order business) that was based on the outskirts of Manchester as part of their management team. Ian then set up his own business in the late 70’s opening a fine art and gifts shop in Bolton that he and Ann ran until retirement. Their main home was in Lostock, Bolton where he lived for 44 years before moving into a Residential Home in 2010.

Picture taken in 1946

Ian is survived by his son and daughter. I still have Ian’s school cap and tie which is a nice memento of Ian’s school life.

Andrew Russell (son) 13

Obituaries Peter Patmore (O’51) (B March 13th 1937 D 20th June 2014): An appreciation from some old friends.

When paying tribute to Peter's Housemaster John ("Jimmy") Barnard ,TLT described him as particularly successful in dealing with the less usual kind of boy; few who listened to this would have had any doubt that this included a covert reference to Peter. For Peter was anything but usual.

Peter's poor health – very bad asthma – was present for most of his life. He took no part in sports or the corps. (The school prospectus had in earlier years stated that corps membership was voluntary but almost every boy was a member.) By Peter's day, battalion orders for Speech Day stated that Cadet Patmore would parade in ordinary clothes and show parents to their seats.

It did not take long after his entering Repton for Peter to become a well-integrated and popular figure who was never seen on a games field. How, juniors asked seniors, had he done it? One of us suggests this answer. Inability at sports and PT was treated as a deliberate and despicable failure to try, but here Peter's asthma worked to his advantage. First, since he was patently incapable of participating, his inability was not held against him. Secondly, he was inner directed and quite good at managing others. He had a certain charm and knew how to make the most of being viewed as eccentric. Peter knew how to use humour to his advantage. But in place of sports there was a game, something like an ancestor of "Diplomacy”, for six or so players, played in an unlocked classroom under Peter's direction. The participating "states" had made up names – some completely imaginary, others plainly from the Celtic fringe such as Coleraine and Tiree, and yet another (Dacia) from the edges of the Roman Empire.

And most memorably there were the City and Palace. The City existed outside Repton altogether, in an outbuilding at his parents' home in Sheffield, constructed largely in Peter's preferred medium – balsa wood. It was so vast, elaborate, and imaginative that press photographers came to photograph it. One of us who became an architect has described it as an inspiration. The Palace – known as the Tsargrad – consisted of a main structure based on Versailles and dominated by a great central dome based on St Isaac's Cathedral Leningrad (as the city then was). This enterprise was exported to Repton, set up in the Tithe Barn (then the Art School where Dennis Hawkins reigned) and worked upon by Peter and a number of sub contractors in preparation for Speech Day. It attracted the attention of TLT who arranged for Peter to receive a special prize at Speech Day. Readers will notice the Russian flavour of this enterprise. Peter developed a passion for Russia and many things Russian. He once gave a most colourful speech to the debating society describing the assassination of Tsar Alexander II. Some parents were not at all sure about Peter being a bad influence, this being after all the time of the Cold War and Burgess and Maclean. Nobody needed to have worried. Peter's Russia had perished with the Tsars.

In 1955 Peter won an exhibition at New College to read History.

His letters of that period to friends at Repton and to others are full of enthusiasm and keen observations though the subject matter could be a bit obscure.

What career might one have expected for him – architect, historian perhaps, or travel writer? Few would have predicted what he did do, which was to become a Civil Servant in the Ministry of Commerce in Northern Ireland in the decade running up to the start of the "Troubles". As far as anyone knew Peter was not especially political and some of the Northern Irish politics of that period would not have fitted easily with Peter's essentially tolerant nature. An air of mystery enveloped Peter’s original choice of a career as it did his later ones.

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Off duty from the Ministry, he became enchanted with Irish culture and toured all over the place, not least the great Georgian houses (at that time not well known outside of Northern Ireland) such as Downhill House/Mussenden temple where he assisted in the making of a film.

In London one evening around the end of 1963 one of us was just thinking of going home when a "Mr Pat Moore" was announced.

The following exchange took place: Q “What brings you to London?”

A “I’m on my way to join the Italian Navy.”

Q "why?"

A “A desire for military glory” (a quote from Bernard Thomas about Frederick the Great).

Q "Pull the other one."

The actual reason was perfectly logical. There were two places Peter very much wanted to visit, Florence and the Inca cities of Peru. Peru turned out to be a non-starter, since the cities sit on high mountains, quite unsuitable for Peter's health. The plan therefore was to take a job in Italy teaching English and devote his spare time to Florence. The Italian Navy had a vacancy for an English teacher and a few weeks later a post card arrived datelined from "Prof Patmore, Accademia Navale Livorno" with a picture of the largest sailing ship afloat (the Amerigo Vespucci in which he expected to be going on cruises).

Nothing much is known otherwise of the Naval posting (presumably he at least got to Florence) and for a couple of years he dropped from sight. Then correspondence came from the Lebanon to say that Peter had moved to Beirut and was teaching at the National College.

This was the Beirut of the mid ‘60s still the financial and cultural centre of the Middle East in succession to Alexandria and with lots of money being splashed around. The Lebanese had a multi-faith constitution of which they were very proud and up the coast there existed a magnificent casino with the finest floor show in the Middle East. (Peter, rather uncharacteristically, joined the casino and was said to have won the jackpot).

The National College at Choueifat seems to have been a typical product of the time and place, essentially westernised entity, created by a prominent Lebanese business and political figure, endowed with ample funds, and enthusiastic in what it did. Peter was there for just about ten years, teaching for the Baccalaureate, in the course of which he wrote a textbook A New Survey of English Literature. Eventually he became an Examiner for the Lebanese Ministry of Education. He resumed his travels whenever he could and visited much of the Middle East.

From 1975 onwards Lebanon imploded into civil war which over time left much of Beirut devastated and for many years made it impossible to visit with safety. Peter, wisely one might think, left the Lebanon at an early stage, returning to Sheffield from which he had set out nearly 20 years earlier. He said little about what had been happening to him but the impression was that things had been tough.

He decided to re-train and his chosen field was computing. But this never developed into a new career. His energies and interests were thereafter devoted to long country walks and to visiting eyecatching architectural sites. After many years, a number of us resumed correspondence with him in our mutual old age. An envelope would arrive, containing a fascinating series of pronouncements in minuscule script on small scraps of paper which did nothing to evoke a career that might have been.

Roger Cooke (O’53), acknowledgements for assistance from other Orchard contemporaries and Peter’s brother Charles Patmore (M’63).

OR Events 2015 Gaudy The 2015 Gaudy took place on Saturday, June 6th and began in unusual fashion, as those arriving for the Drinks Reception found themselves joined by a good number of those who had been in the congregation for Mike Charlesworth’s Memorial Service. Some ominous black clouds had cleared away by now and bright sunshine shone down on the perfect setting of The Garth, as guests of the two events mingled and chatted.

At lunch time the 90 or so Old Reptonians who had attended the school between 1956-1960, 1983-1993, 6th formers 1961,62,63, 94,95,96 made their way into Pears School for a most enjoyable, relaxed lunch.

After the Acting Head, Sarah Tennant, had said a few extremely well-chosen words, the opportunity came for tours around the school and former Boarding Houses, culminating in tea.

For those feeling less active the 1st XI were playing Worksop on The Square, though sadly the School came second on this occasion. Nevertheless this couldn’t dampen the spirits of anyone who attended another most enjoyable reunion.

Pre lunch drinks in The Garth

Lunch in Pears School

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OR Reunions Abbey ‘84

We were there!

The President John Hings (P’55) with Mike Newbould (C’55), Philip Scott (N’55) and Stan Cutts (C’55) on the first day of the Ashes Test at Trent Bridge to see Australia bowled out for 60 before lunch and Broad take 8 for 15.

From left: Becky Walker (née Gray), Caroline Wright, Belinda Harper (née Honess), Katherine Franklin Adams, Julia Needham (née Pepper).

For more pictures of any of our events please go to www.repton.org./orsociety/

Branches of the Society Cricket Summer 2015 saw the Repton Pilgrims Cricket Club play five matches on the Square in front of many ORs. Some familiar faces, some debutant leavers, and some Pilgrims re-engaging with the club. Although the Pilgrims went without a victory this year all the fixtures saw entertainment and enjoyment on and off the field. May 17th saw us host The Uppingham Rovers in a one-off fixture to celebrate the 150th fixture between the School XI’s on the Saturday. The Cricketer Cup side, captained by Chris Paget (P’01), were stopped in the first round by a very competent Stowe outfit and there were three fixtures during Pilgrims week against Lincolnshire Gentlemen’s CC, Abbots Bromley CC and Gentlemen of Staffordshire.

The Pilgrims Dinner will be held at The East India Club on 19th February 2016; please contact Jim Blackwell (bsjwb1@hotmail.com) if you would like to attend.

The Pilgrims are also updating its contact database, so please email Jim if you would like your address and email address adding to the circular.

Date

Location

14th June Repton Stowe Cricketer Cup Templars 1st Round

Result

Scores

Performances Robertson 30 T Cosford 127 C Murral 41* T Cosford 3-34

Templars Templars 284-7 Twigg 31 won by 148 Pilgrims 136 T Cosford 33 T Cosford 4-44

1st July

Repton Lincs Gents Gents won Pilgrims Week by 3 wkts

2nd July

Repton Abbots ABCC won Pilgrims 158 Pilgrims Week Bromley CC by 1 wkt ABCC 158-9

Lawley 36 Wall 4-44 Conway 4-20

3rd July

Repton Staffs Pilgrims Week Gents

Blackwell 6-121 Robertson 69 Nijjar 131

Gents won by 20 runs

Pilgrims 228-8 Gents 232-7

Gents 302-8 Pilgrims 282

Cotter 34 Wall 36 Fearns 87

NB: The match managers are already looking for players for next year’s Cricketer Cup and Pilgrims week fixtures; please contact Ed Sloane (edward@homelifedirect.co.uk) if you are interested in being selected.

J Blackwell (P’00)

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Opposition

17th May Repton 150th Uppingham Rovers won Pilgrims 254-6 Fixture Rovers by 5 wkts Badgers 255-6

East Anglia Branch Once again we met for lunch at the Wentworth Hotel, Aldeburgh, another brave decision since my late father-in-law, whose hotel it once was, was an Old Carthusian who made the entertaining of his fellow old boys a priority. He even kept a book for them to sign in the reception area. That book tends to remain there now my brother-in-law runs it, to this day, making it difficult to ignore the link, hard as one might try!

17 ORs were present and 8 wives.

Our special guests were Sarah Tennant and Jan Cobb. Sarah gave us an excellent and encouraging talk of Repton today covering much ground in a short time. It was a pleasure this year to see Michael Squair (O’49) and his wife Min, Robin Human (H’51), and Nicholas Newton (H’75) and his wife Tanya.

Once again John Richardson (H’47) made the arrangements supported by Tony Bailey (N’46). May I thank them both on behalf of us all for fixing another enjoyable occasion.

Christopher Barnett (H’49)

For more pictures of any of our events please go to www.repton.org./orsociety/

OR Golfing Society

ORGS Ard Men o’t North vs Southern Softies 2015

The Alwoodley Golf Club was in beautiful condition and bathed in sunshine for the Yorkshire Meeting on Thursday 4th June and the North vs South match on Friday the 5th. The very efficient Club Secretary, Julie Slater made sure we were made most welcome and organised everything perfectly, which was lucky really as match manager Nigel Dickson (B’59) was away tending to his chateau and vineyards in France. Fortunately his local understudy, Martin Grayshon (C’61), stepped in at the last minute and made sure the competition was run like a Swiss train.

In the Yorkshire Meeting winner of the Bishop’s Plate for the singles stableford in the morning was Mike Symers (C’66), and winners of the afternoon foursomes were Gordon West (B’62) and Darren Vickers (L’83).

Dinner at the Club on Thursday night was well attended.

Following the announcement of the results for the Yorkshire meeting, Martin Grayshon handed over the match managers mantle to Society Captain Gordon West to prepare the assembled for the pairings and order of play for the two rounds of foursomes that constitute the annual contest between the Ard Men o’t North and the Southern Softie, one of the most good-humoured events of the fixture card and well loved by all who compete.

As usual the decisions about which Society members play for the North and which play for the South brought forth a range of emotions from disgust to disbelief. Youngest contestant Henry Bain (S’00) was initially allocated to play for the South. Born in Sheffield, Henry spent Thursday night in a cold sweat at the

The assembled: Geoff Scott; Tony Bishop (P’72), Richard Fry (N’60), John Fletcher (L’66), Gordon West ( B’62), The Holdsworth sisters - Richard C’92) and Adam (C’90), Ian Henderson (H’55), Ian Payne (L’55), Darren Vickers (L’83), Henry Bain (S’00) and Chris Lawson (L’84).

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Branches of the Society ORGS Ard Men o’t North vs Southern Softies 2015 continued thought of being branded a Southern Softy and was almost incapable of eating his black pudding on Friday morning until he was told that he had been swapped with Mike Symers. Mike was clearly trying to sneak into the winning team, but, as he was born further south than anyone else in the competition (Sri Lanka!), he was quite rightly consigned to the Softies.

The Ard Men won all four matches on Friday morning, thus guaranteeing retention of the trophy. Captain of both the ORGS and the Softies, Gordon West threw down the gauntlet for the afternoon foursomes by offering to play for two points per match, presenting the possibility of a victorious scenario for the Softies if they won three matches or more. Sadly for Gordon the offer was embraced by the Ard Men, and the final score was 10 - 2 to the North.

It was great to see some new faces at this event, which will be staged at its inaugural venue of Littlestone on Sea in 2016 under the expert guidance and unsurpassed hospitality of Richard (N’60) and Angie Fry. As you can see from the photo, age is no barrier to enjoyment in the O.R.G.S. Youngest competitor Henry Bain and oldest Ian Payne (L’55) even share the same tailor who clearly had a run on red trousers recently.

Tony Bishop (P’72)

Henry Bain, clearly rather pleased to be on the winning side!

Little Aston: ORGS vs Repton School 2015 was undoubtedly the most successful year to date for this event. The School team included 13 pupils and 4 members of staff; leaving the ORs scrabbling for a team.

Captain of the O.R.G.S., Gordon West (B’62), made a supreme effort by driving up and back in the day from his home in East Sussex; a round trip of 400 miles. Sadly, he was in trouble that night when he returned home, as the only thing he had said to his good lady Vanessa, when leaving at 7am was, “I’m just nipping out to get the Sunday papers love”.

Guyon Ralphs (H’71) was a late call up for the OR team and many thanks go to two personal friends of mine, John Kidney and Geoff Hackett for stepping in at the eleventh hour to enable a total of 32 players to take part in the event.

The customary mini Ryder Cup style format (six holes of fourball, six holes of foursomes and six holes of singles) is great fun and clearly very appealing. Six pupils that played last year returned to play for the School again this year. They were joined by seven more, who played for the first time in the event. We hope to see them all again in years to come; especially Jacob who, in his first year at Repton, showed great maturity in participating and is a very promising young golfer.

I try to welcome all the pupils when they arrive at the club for prematch coffee and bacon sandwiches. Normally this is fairly easy.

However, this year, in readiness for meeting him, I had to spend three days practising the name of Will Taechamongkalapiwat, Will is a lovely golfer from Bangkok and he kindly told me, in his native Thai, how well I had done with my pronunciation of his name.

(Well I think that’s what he said!).

At 7 a.m. heavy rain was falling in the Midlands; so heavy in fact that James Frost (O’09) sent me an early morning text message, asking if the event was cancelled - nothing changes; university students always love an excuse to stay in bed! By the time we tee’d off at eleven a.m., the rain had stopped, the clouds were disappearing and several players were stripping off their surplus waterproofs as the temperature climbed.

By the time we came off the course at two forty-five, the sun was once again shining, as is usual for this event, and several cleansing ales were required to rehydrate the assembled. A very happy and convivial crowd enjoyed the delights of the homemade chicken and ham pie, exquisitely prepared by Carl, the Little Aston chef.

The massive inadequacies of the 1972 Repton mathematics teaching department became evident as the scores were revealed.

While under pressure from a heckling crowd, and armed only with 18

a dry-wipe board, a pen and a diminutive I.Q. befuddled with beer, I was personally required to apportion 32 points between the two teams. Needless to say, a recount was necessary before the declaration of a narrow 16 1⁄2 - 15 1⁄2 win could be made for the O.R.G.S. team.

We look forward to seeing many of the same pupils next year, together with the next new crop of budding golfers. Special thanks go to Iain Burns, the manager of Little Aston Golf Club. He was very understanding with the green fees, appreciating that the O.R.G.S. entertain the pupils as guests for the day.

We were looked after brilliantly by Little Aston staff Emma and Richard. Emma kindly took the photos of the assembled (including a selfie), and Richard nearly wore holes in a pair of shoes, while running back and forth to bring drinks out on to the terrace.

THE PLAYERS: From Repton School and the RAGS (Repton Academicals Golfing Society) : James Glover (P’13), Alec Davies (S’12), Matty Thomas (S’10), Liam Karai (N), Harry Marshall (S’10), Angus Shaw (S’10), Ed Simms (P), Lewis Jones (S), James Byrne (S’10), Bobby Fordi (S), Matthew Elliott (P), Will Taechamongkalapiwat (S) Jacob TrueloveCooke (N), Russell Embery, Will Odell, Matt Mitchell, Patrick Griffiths.

FROM THE O.R.G.S. Richard Body (H’65), Tony Bishop (P’72), Colin Garrett (H’70), David Sharpe (N’75), James Frost (O’09), Gordon West (B’62), Hedley Wright (C’67), Nick Hubbard (L’93), Mike Pett (M’93), Jon Gough (H’74), Philip Davies (C’72), Chris Lawson (L’84), Guyon Ralphs (H’71).

Guest appearances: Geoff Hackett and John Kidney.

Tony Bishop (P’72)

OR Football OR Football Day Once again the Old Reptonians signed up in masses for the annual football day in September; over 70 dusted off their boots and stretched out their waist bands for a chance to show the young guns how it is done. The ORs assembled 5 teams, 3 of which faced the school whilst the OR Vets played against a younger OR side, which included a father-son face-off! Thanks to all the ORs that made the trip back, it was another brilliant day.

1ST TEAM: MATCH REPORT by Nicky Samra (N’02).

The OR’s last win was all the way back in 2012, a time when Luke Duggan (O’05) only looked 30, Clayton Penny (P’97) was under 30 and Tim Lambert (P’01) was OR Captain. As always the sun was out, and the crowds gathered for this much anticipated fixture, with Will Hughes (N’08) keen to see his future OR team mates in action.

So as to avoid a repeat of last year’s shadowchasing escapades the ORs started pre-season in early July and it looked as if this had paid dividends within the first minute as an enticing cross into the corridor of uncertainty found the diving head of Nicky Samra. The ball had clearly crossed the line before the school stopper managed to claw it out but the goal wasn’t given. Naivety from the School XI showed as they allowed a repeat of this early chance to happen; a neat attack down the left saw a Jordan Walters (O’03) cross find Samra unmarked at the back post who coolly chested and volley home.

The school hadn’t done their research; you don’t leave last season’s top goal scorer alone in the box.

Despite having only been back 3 days and missing key players, the School 1st XI reacted well and defended as a unit to limit chances for the ORs. Their resilience was rewarded when the ball was given away following a miscommunication from OR debutants Callum Elliot (P’10) and Oli West (P’10), allowing Sam Trotman to slot home with aplomb. The scores were level at 1-1.

The OR XI controlled the game with a mature and efficient performance but struggled to create chances through intricate play.

Therefore, it was no surprise the winner came from a long ball from Man of the Match, Dougie Redfern (P’09) that found Samra who teed up Walters to crash home from 12 yards.

The School XI showed fantastic potential and special mention must go to Lewis Jones, Jack Bywater and Jack Bull who were very impressive. The calibre is going up year after year and this is a credit to the work of Head Coach, Mr. Carrington and his Human Cone, Mr. Kew. We hope they get all the success they deserve this season and it looks like things have started well with the ISFA Sixes triumph.

3RD TEAM: MATCH REPORT by James Kilby (N’04).

The sun was shining, the grass was freshly cut and the ORs were in town; the stage was set for what would be an enthralling encounter. In the early exchanges the ORs quality shone through.

David Chandler (N’07) and Fraser Wilkinson (O’03) were moving the ball forward with intent at every opportunity. Will Buckley (N’09) and Dan Buckland (O’08) were causing mayhem for the Repton full backs. There were chances. James Kilby had a goal ruled out for offside (debatable) and came close from a TJ (Daniel) Cole (P’07) pull back with Adam Carlile (L’02) also coming close.

The back four, marshalled by big Jack Williams (O’03), was making life exceedingly difficult for the School strikers. However, with 25 minutes gone, against the run of play, the school team goal ruled out for offside (debatable) and came close from a TJ (Daniel) Cole (P’07) pull back with Adam Carlile (L’02) also coming close, made a breakthrough. A long ball evaded the back line and was finished with a nice chip over the goalkeeper. Right on half time the School finished calmly again, making it 2-0.

The ORs could feel aggrieved at half time. It was clear a response was needed; TJ Cole and James Leavesley (N’04) down the left were linking up extremely well, while Dan (Buckland), Will (Buckley), Elliott Carlile (L’67) and Adam (Carlile) were looking ominously dangerous down the wings. Will Buckley eventually won a penalty that Kilby dispatched. Minutes later, the ever-dangerous David Chandler put in a vicious cross which Dan Buckland headed in. With 15 to go Repton somehow scored to make it 3-2. A shot out of nowhere from the edge of the area beat Josh Green (O’03), who had been absolutely magnificent in goal, making save after save. The ORs were distraught but one final push was to come. A long throw in evaded the Repton centre back and Kilby was on hand to control and volley a shot into the net. Pandemonium on the side lines ensued, scenes that epitomized the day for the ORs. The team spirit was something rarely seen in teams that have played together for years, never mind a ragtag legend XI. Bring on next year! #COYOR

Vets Team vs Young OR Team MATCH REPORT by Alex Kington (N’91).

The Vets rolled back the years to take on a young OR team in a fantastically well- competed match. Apart from the obvious age difference the teams were well matched. Both teams had some half chances but it was the Vets who took the lead just before half time when Jonathan Scutt (H’82) scored following good work from Joey Ascot (C’85) and Simon Oborn (O’89).

The young ORs equalised early in the second half and their fitness started to cause the Vets trouble. Before long they scored a second and it looked like the floodgates might open, and they would have done but for poor finishing, last ditch defending, and Pete Elsom's (N’82) determination not to let his son score against him!

The Vets pushed for an equaliser late on but the young ORs held firm.

2ND TEAM: MATCH REPORT by Lloyd Evans (O’02).

A sunny afternoon led to a strong OR team see off the challenge of a weakened Repton 2nd XI. The ORs were slow out of the blocks.

The School took the lead through a pulled-back cross from the right and a well-placed shot into the top corner. The ORs equalised through Mike Watson (P’04). After half time the ORs took complete control, scoring 6 goals with no reply from the School.

Stunning strikes from both Joe Fell (O’03) and Andy Finn (O’03) receive special mention along with the performance by the School's gloveman who with little protection made some great saves.

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Branches of the Society OR Lodge The Old Reptonian Lodge has had yet another great year. I can say this as I have just finished my time as Master of the Lodge. The first Master from the millennial generation of ORs and wonderfully, I will not be the last.

When I joined 10 years ago, the Lodge was actively seeking to attract younger members. During my time progressing through the offices, then handing over to my successor, John Sentance, an ex master at Repton, I’m pleased to be able to say that the number of members joining under 30 has gone up nearly fourfold! There has been a revival in London Freemasonry during this time, and the Lodge has never been in such good health. We now have many young masons taking on roles and offices for the first time, where we offer support and praise in equal measure.

The Lodge's membership continues to rise with an intake spanning many of the more contemporary generations.

Michael Bond (P’99) and younger men than I, such as Deni Digaev (P’03), are already holding important offices within the Lodge. Our meetings continue to be filled with many guests, for whom new friendships are made on every outing.

The OR Lodge celebrated it’s centenary last year, remarking on an historic and storied 100 years. A new chapter is now being written by active members, and it has been a huge privilege of mine to have been one of the first to rekindle this new revival. I would urge any ORs out there who may be interested in joining to please contact our secretary at www.orl.org.uk, and we can easily arrange a time to meet and chat about all the excellent things happening with the Lodge. Over 30s are also very much welcome!

Tom Hird (P’00)

OR Tennis Society It has been another extremely successful twelve months for the OR tennis society. We have recently welcomed a fresh and enthusiastic cohort of tennis lovers into the society who we hope will be able to maintain their love of tennis and their connection to the school while forging new friendships and making new memories. We are planning on arranging a variety of events for everyone to get involved in; we will be continuing to organise tennis and socials as well as the formal dinner in London following their success last year as well as adding exciting new ones to the calendar. If you are interested in joining the society, please email me on muirheadjamie@gmail.com This year, for the second time in a row, the Old Reptonian tennis team made it to the final of the D’Abernon Cup. An outstanding achievement considering that the opposition teams are all of the strongest tennis schools in the country. The only team that was left standing in our way of winning the title for a second year running was the Old Reedonians team, the beaten finalists from twelve months ago, back for revenge.

The match was once again held on the iconic practice courts at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. The Repton team remained the same as the previous year while the Reeds team had opted for three out of six new players. The Old Reptonian community was outstanding in its support of the achievements of their own as they turned out at SW19 in their dozens to watch and support the match. The standard was blisteringly high, and two of the first round of matches went to a third set match tie break, which ended

up with the Repton team trailing 2-1. The guys then fought back strongly in the second round to leave the match poised at 3-3 going into the last three matches. In the last round Phil Cooper (C’89) and Dan Cottier (L’99) put in a sterling performance to leave Repton with only one rubber required to win and when Alex Grocott (S’10) and Jamie Muirhead (C’09) won the second set in their match to force yet another third set tie break, the team were only ten points away from yet another victory. But after a succession of impeccable points from their opponents and the odd unlucky break, the opportunity slipped away. Meanwhile, on the first court, Phil Brindley (N’02) and Rich Harrison (H’92) were fighting hard against a strong Reeds first pair, and forced a tie break in the second set, but yet again, our opponents were too good as they clinched the tie and the match 5-4.

The Reeds team deserve hearty congratulations for their exemplary performance as do the Old Reptonians. Once again, there was not only great tennis being played across all the courts but the spirit in which it was played and the sportsmanship displayed by the Repton team in particular was truly commendable. Although we did not leave with the Cup we very definitely lived up to the lofty ideals of Rudyard Kipling that are displayed so prominently above the gates of Wimbledon: ‘If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same’. The whole team should once again be extremely proud of what they have achieved.

I would also like to once again extend my thanks to all those who came to support, I don’t think that I can say enough how much of a privilege it is to play in front of such an enthusiastic and supportive crowd. I really hope it will continue for many years to come and that you all had as much fun during the day at Wimbledon as we did.

Rest assured that we will be back to try again next year so watch this space.

I hope that next year will bring as much success and tennis related happiness to everyone as this year has done and that the society continues to flourish.

Jamie Muirhead (C’09)

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Commemorating the Great War Remembering the Great War: 1915 1915 saw the deaths of 94 Old Reptonians on active service, not only in the major battles at Gallipoli, Ypres and Loos but also in more remote and often forgotten places such as Ctesiphon and East Africa. More Old Reptonians lost their lives in 1915 than in any other year of the war.

Letters from the Front 1915 Lieutenant John Basil Sharp (Priory 1905) of the 2nd East Kent Regiment, wrote this letter to the Reptonian from his hospital bed in Park Lane, London. As with many similar submissions to be found within its pages it provides us with a vivid invaluable first-hand account of warfare.

“We had just done our four days in the trenches and were hoping for a rest when this awful Ypres alarm started. On relief from the trenches we had walked to Ypres, arriving at 4 am, and had to leave at 6.45 am owing to the shelling. We went back to St. Jean, a village east of Ypres, and lay in a field in the rain all that day. In the night most of the men were used for carrying things, - barbed wire, ammunition, rations etc., up to the trenches, and next evening the alarm came, preceded by crowds of semi-gas-poisoned Algerians and Frenchmen who trailed through the village without their arms or equipment, and were not stimulating to morale. All this time the village, the woods, and the surrounding fields were being shelled, and there were dead men, mules, and horses all over the place. That evening we dug ourselves in in three separate places, and the men were pretty exhausted when an order came to advance to a place called Weiltge, turn down a certain road, and at a certain point deploy, and get into touch with some Canadians. It was then broad daylight, and long before we came to our place of deployment, we came under a terrific rifle-fire. We then had to cross about 1000 yards of flat open field, and get into some rough trenches in which were some Canadians and Turcos. We stayed there for five days, being pretty constantly shelled and sniped, and saw several allied attempts to dislodge the Germans fail owing to the gas, a back-wash of which nearly laid out me and my trench. We saw the Germans bayoneting some prisoners here. We also suffered from that most terrible of all modern missiles, the monster trench-mortar, whose 200 lb projectile the men call “the sausage” owing to its wobbly look in the air. We were heavily shelled with no support from our guns, and on May 3rd were attacked. The attack outnumbered us by about 25 to 1, but we hung on, and were still hanging on, when I got a bullet through the left thigh. The Germans had already got into part of the trench I was in and I felt as though my leg was smashed to pieces. I got fearful cramp, etc. We slowly evacuated the trench and there was nothing for me to do but sit still and wait for the Germans, fully expecting to be bayoneted. It was highly unpleasant and I began to hope that one of the still-falling shells would finish the business for me. I swallowed a grain of morphia and waited.

After a while the awful cramp and pain went off a bit and I suddenly determined to have a try at getting away. I had to crawl through foul mud quite close to a number of German snipers who had remained when we drove off a small holding attack and dug themselves in close to, but invisible to us. Then the morphia nearly did me in. I had hardly enough strength to shift two dead men out of the little ditch I was crawling through. It was here that I picked up my second wound through the arm. My adventures weren't over even then, but I got through all right.”

From Second Lieutenant Donald Storrs Fox (Mitre 1909), 6th Sherwood Foresters, on active service in France.

“Things are getting pretty dry in the trenches now, and we are busy digging fresh ones or lowering the old ones, as during the winter they had to be raised breastworks in order to avoid the wet as much as possible. We have been in and out for some weeks now and I have been in various trenches, both nice and nasty. This time I am in a sort of little round redoubt, which is like a little fort, about 300 yards behind the front line, meant to hold up the enemy if he should succeed in breaking through. It is the best place I have been in yet, as it is an independent command, and so I can fix it up according to my own ideas and do whatever I want done without the delay of referring to the Company Commander. It is very nice, too, because it is possible to go out by day and into the fields behind without being under fire except from stray shots, of which there are plenty everywhere. It really does not seem like War here, everything is so quiet and free compared with the first line trenches. There is a ruined farm at the back and the remains of a garden. I have some flowers on the table (a broken box) in my dug-out, and we can get potatoes to supplement our rations. We are being relieved tonight, and I expect the next occupant will make a mess of all my improvement schemes.”

Part of a letter written in June 1915 from Amarah, Mesopotamia, by Captain John Harold Courtis (Latham 1902) “We seem likely to sit here for three months. The shade temperature has touched 118 degrees and is likely to go up— cheerful prospect? I am writing this lying on my bed simply dripping. I don't know whether any of your maps show this place; it is about 130 miles above Basra. We are billeted here in a huge granary - a square courtyard with a flat-roofed building all round it. The men are in one and we are in a smaller one alongside. It isn't really bad now we have cleared up a bit, and we all sleep on the roof at nights and so keep pretty cool. One can stand any amount of hot weather if one can ensure a good night's rest. Also there is a wind blowing fairly continuously from the north, which keeps the air on the move. Of course we are getting a good many sick—that's only to be expected; heat-stroke, malaria and a sort of local three-day fever. I think we have sent 250 men to hospital in the last month; of course a large percentage comes back. I hear that the climate downstream, at Basra, is appalling - 118 degrees in the shade and about 90% humidity. There are heaps of sick down there; they are mostly being sent to India in the hospital ship. We have had drafts from the “Terrier” regiments in India lately, and this last week received a large consignment of officers from home. We have got three ourselves, all of whom have been in France. I expect they find this a very different sort of show.”

[NB: Captain Courtis was killed in action during the advance on Baghdad in November 1915]

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Commemorating the Great War Part of a letter from Henry Reah (JHG 1892), Staff-Surgeon R.N.V.R., aboard the Hospital Ship Soudan in the Dardanelles “About 9 a.m. we passed a large Transport going north. She passed quite close to us and presented a fine sight, all her decks packed with Troops. We wished them luck and proceeded on our way. Imagine our amazement when at 9.25 we received an S.O.S. signal by wireless from another ship which we had seen on the horizon, informing us the Transport, Royal Edward, we had passed had been torpedoed and sunk—in fact, afterwards we learnt that she went down so quickly she had no time herself to send out an S.O.S. signal, and had it not been for the providential fact that this other ship had seen her go down, very, very few of her complement of 1600 would have been saved. On receiving the signal we immediately proceeded at full speed to the scene of the disaster. A strict look-out was kept for wreckage and men, but it was not till 10.30 that we came up to what was indeed a dreadful sight.

Two long white lines of wreckage, each at least half a mile long, presented themselves on the horizon, and as we got closer up we found mixed up with it a struggling mass of humanity, as well as a few upturned boats and rafts packed with men. We got to work immediately, sent lifeboats away, and took on board those who were fortunate enough to be on the boats and rafts. One extraordinary incident occurred in connection with an up-turned boat which was brought alongside. The men on the keel of the boat told us there were two men trapped underneath the boat and that they were still alive. A steel hawser was passed under the boat and one end of it was lifted out of the water by one of our cranes–a sound of scuffling came from the boat, and to our astonishment two men appeared, alive though very much exhausted. We soon had them on board, and in a few hours they seemed little the worse for their nerve-wracking experience. We remained on the spot till 3 in the afternoon, by which time some French trawlers had come up to assist.

Altogether we had rescued 442, including 13 officers; one man unfortunately died soon after he came on board. It was generally agreed by the survivors that if we had not appeared on the scene so soon after the disaster many of those we rescued would undoubtedly have died from exhaustion - as it was some of the men were in the water from four to five hours before being picked up by us.”

Captain Hubert Bradshaw Dixon (Mitre 1893) After studying at Christ Church, Oxford, he passed into the Army, taking a commission in the Sherwood Foresters in 1900. During the Boer War he received the medal with four clasps, afterwards serving in North Nigeria, where he set up a Masonic Lodge. Before the war he was at the staff College at Quetta in India, and was recalled to re-join his regiment at the front, where he fell in the course of the advance of Neuve Chapelle in March 1915, aged 36.

Second Lieutenant Gilbert Richard Gregory Child (Hall 1909) The housemaster of the Hall had mixed feelings about Gilbert – having initially confided to his private records that he was ‘rather unkempt, but seems a decent fellow’ a couple of months later he remarked that ‘he wants hitting now and then.’ Over the next three years he observes that Gilbert is ‘inclined to rag at the wrong time, but pleasant.’ ‘Found he had been smoking in my room - beat him soundly. Otherwise satisfactory.’ Despite these niggles, he was made a House Prefect in his last year and was nominated into Sandhurst by the Headmaster in August 1914. He joined the 2nd Royal Sussex Regiment in November and was killed near Festubert six months later, aged 18.

Second Lieutenant Geoffrey Windeatt Daman (Hall 1909) He was intellectually one of the ablest and most promising boys turned out by the School in the years before the war. He won the History Demyship at Magdalen College, Oxford, in 1912, and was keenly interested in Art, Music, and English Literature. His collected poems were published posthumously. He was a member of the University O.T.C. (Artillery), and immediately after the declaration of war he offered his services to the War Office. Shortly afterwards he was gazetted to the 4th Royal Berks Regiment, and transferred to the 4th Seaforth Highlanders, with whom he had already been working. He went to the front with his Battalion and saw much fighting, including the battle of Neuve Chapelle. In May 1915, while on duty in the front trench in command of the bomb mortar section, he was shot through the head by a sniper, and was killed instantaneously, aged 21.

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Sub-Lieutenant Colin James Buchanan (Hall 1904) From South Australia, Colin Buchanan was only at Repton for a few months when he was 14 – the reasons for his early departure are not known, though his housemaster reported that he lacked energy, was ‘weak in will and easily led.’ In the years before the war he went to sea in the Merchant Service, and by 1915 he was serving on submarines, and in particular HMS C33 which attempted to entrap U-boats. The tactic was to use a decoy trawler to tow a submarine. When a U-boat was sighted, the tow line and communication line was slipped and the submarine would attack the U-boat. C33 was one of the two C class submarines sunk because of the tactic.

She was mined off Great Yarmouth while operating with the armed trawler Malta on 4 August 1915. All 17 of the crew, including Colin Buchanan, were drowned. He was 25.

Private Arthur Capel Morris (Mitre 1907)

In the first years of the war, some of the wording of the obituaries in The Reptonian was thoughtless and insensitive to say the least, especially when it appeared to write off any boy whose interests lay beyond the usual norms. Remembering Arthur Morris, its opening line was that ‘he was a delicate and backward boy, who did not make any name for himself here, except as a lover of Natural History.” Admittedly Arthur did suffer from ill health, but to his credit he struggled through and persevered. From Repton he went to Jesus College, Cambridge, and when the war began enlisted first in the Lancers and then, cavalry not being needed, was transferred to the 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers. He was killed at Gallipoli in November 1915, aged 23.

Paul Stevens, School Archivist

On this day – July 30th 1915 - John Smyth (P’1908): The Rt Hon Brigadier Sir John Smyth Bt, VC, MC John attended Repton and the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst and eventually got a commission in the Indian Army, by joining the 15th Ludhiana Sikhs in October 1913. Lieutenant Smyth won his VC on May 18th 1915. On the night of May 17th a company of the 15th Sikhs under Captain K Hyde-Cates relieved a portion of the 1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry in a section of trench known as the “Glory Hole”. In the early morning the attack began by heavy bombing, to which the 15th replied vigorously and succeeded in holding their own until noon, when all dry bombs had been expended and those that had become wet from rain were found to be useless. Lieutenant Smyth and his party of 10 men started at 2pm to cover the 250 yards between them and the trench taking with them two boxes of 96 bombs. The ground to be covered was absolutely open, the only possible shelter from the frightful fire an old broken down trench which at the best of times was hardly knee deep, but now was filled almost to the top with the dead bodies of Highland Light Infantry, Worcester’s, Indians and Germans.

Dropping over the parapet they wriggled their way through the mud pulling and pushing the boxes over and through the dead bodies. After 100 yards only Lieutenant Smyth and six men were left. In ordinary circumstances four men are required to handle a box of bombs. However, just before they reached the end of the trench, the party had dwindled to two, Lieutenant Smyth and Sepoy Lal Singh. The second box of bombs had to be abandoned. Still pulling and pushing Lieutenant Smyth and Lal Singh emerged, wriggling into the open where they were met with an increased blast of fire. They crawled on only to be confronted by a small stream which was too deep to wade. Still they crawled on and on in full view of an enemy now at close quarter, until they came to a point in the stream which was just fordable. Across this they struggled with their valuable burden, and in a few yards they were amongst their friends in the trench, both untouched, although their clothes were perforated with bullet holes. Sad to relate, shortly after reaching the trench the gallant Sepoy Lal Singh was killed.

The men believed that Lieutenant Smyth bore a charmed life, for he had his cap blown off by shells five times, had bullets through his clothes and while he was lighting a cigarette the match was taken out of his finger by a bullet.

He also received the MC and was decorated by the Russians.

Extracted from The Times, 30th July 2015

After the war he became an MP and Junior Minister and was created a Baronet in 1955. Sir John was President of the OR Society in 1960/61

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Who? What? Where? When?

12 Challenges - Paul Antrobus (P’78) I decided last autumn, at the age of 51, to take a career break and spend a year raising money for Cancer Research UK. The story behind this is relatively simple. My wife, Jitka, died 12 years ago at the age of 34 from a very aggressive form of abdominal cancer.

There were only 6 months between diagnosis and her death.

I had hoped to do something at that time to fight back against this disease, but the combination of looking after two young sons (then 6 and 1) and personal illness meant that I had to postpone my fund-raising endeavours. I continued my career in the accounting and consulting profession, and spent a number of years on the Global Executive for Talent at Ernst & Young.

Last year the time finally came to mark Jitka’s death, and acknowledge the challenges faced by many in my, and all families in fighting this disease. So I decided to set myself 12 tough physical challenges in 12 months. These essentially involve running, climbing and skiing in a variety of formats, harder, faster and longer than my office-softened physique could have imagined!

The 12 challenges were chosen to reflect locations where I, my wife and boys used to spend time as a family. I am now most of the way through the year, with 9 out the 12 challenges completed.

The latest one was a climb of the Matterhorn in Switzerland. The challenges themselves are not individually too extreme, but the demands of learning a whole series of new skills – some of which I had not attempted before – to reach a level when I could compete in races and climbs without embarrassment are the real challenge of this year.

The fundraising has gone well, with over $200,000 raised to date for Cancer Research. The majority of this money will go towards the construction of the ground-breaking new research facility being built currently in London, the Francis Crick Institute (http://www.crick.ac.uk/). I am raising money through JustGiving, and have a central ‘story page’ where many of the donations come in https://www.justgiving.com/antrobus12in12/. And a ‘team’ page which links together separate JustGiving pages, for each separate challenge: https://www.justgiving.com/teams/Antrobus12in12 The first photo is a shot from the London marathon in April (Challenge 6) where I surprised myself (and others) by completing the course in 3 hours 9 minutes. The second is from the end of the climb ‘Monte Rosa on skis’ (challenge 7, Monte Rosa is western Europe’s second highest mountain). The Matterhorn looms large over my shoulder!

ITU World Age-Group Triathlon Championships 19th September Chicago USA Foremarke Hall’s Assistant Head, Paul Martin and his eldest son Sam Martin (P’07) successfully qualified to represent the GBR agegroup team in the recent World Triathlon Championships that took place in Chicago, USA. Paul qualified for the event by securing 3rd place in his 50-54 age-group at the Belvoir Triathlon in May, whilst Sam secured the 4th qualifying spot in his 20-24 age-group after the Dambuster Triathlon in Rutland in June.

Heavy thunderstorms in Chicago on the Friday, had required the Elite Ladies’ race to be brought forward on that day, whilst the age-group races were to be the curtain-raisers for the final prorace in the World ITU series which took place the following day.

Conditions were not ideal in the morning with wet roads and strong winds but the weather improved throughout the day. It proved to be a wonderful event and there were competitors from USA, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Europe and many other countries from around the world all striving to achieve a place on the podium!

A large GBR contingent were present in all age-groups and the BBC paid a keen interest in the age-group races as one of their breakfast presenters, Louise Minchin had also qualified to take part. The races were over the Standard or Olympic distance of 1500m swim, 40km cycle and 10km run.

Unfortunately for Sam, his race did not begin in the best fashion as the zip on his wetsuit came completely undone in the 1500m swim 24

in Lake Michigan and this slowed him down considerably (so much so that his father managed a faster time, which is rare on the swim!) Nevertheless, Sam recovered from this mishap to finish the race in a time of 2:16:50 and 73rd place in the very competitive 20-24 event whilst Paul produced a steady swim, a strong bike leg and then survived the warm temperatures on the run (which proved to be in excess of 11km for the age-groupers!) to complete the course in a time of 2:19:54 which gave him 54th place from 120 starters in his age-group and 9th place from the 20 GBR 50-54 triathletes.

Both Paul and Sam were extremely grateful for the support that they received from their employers which enabled them to take part in the event.

The Arts The Rep Theatre Company It was during the Easter holidays, when the 2014 Upper Sixth A Level Drama cohort came back to Repton to work on their practical examination for a couple of days, that I was sharply reminded of the fun we had ‘doing the Rep’ for fourteen years from 1996 to 2010.

The company was really founded by Ben Cavey (P’92), then a sixteen year old Reptonian, now possibly the leading producer of television comedy in the UK, responsible for the revival of Benidorm, nurturing the comedian Jack Whitehall and developing a host of successful shows including Grandma’s House and Bad Education in 1996, Ben asked me when we would actually put on the outdoor show I’d been lazily imagining for a couple of years.

“Soon”. “Now” came the sixteen- year-old reply. “I’ve already booked Foremarke Hall for two weeks in August – you’ve got to do it.” and so we did – a fantastically ambitious promenade production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream on no money. Puck was introduced on a zip wire, the lovers were lit on Lakeside by two loaned Land Rover Discoverys in pouring rain, Bottom’s Dream was performed on the Lake surrounded by floating tealights. It was magical, cost nothing and we had so much fun.

Subsequently, we did Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet and Cyrano de Bergerac as ridiculously ambitious, film set, promenades on The Ruins, in the Garth and in Pears School at Repton and then we went to Edinburgh – the biggest Arts Festival in the world. There, we enjoyed five star reviews, standing ovations and sell-out shows for Shaffer at 7.30; Amadeus directed by Ben and Equus directed by me. We did other shows in Edinburgh, Repton and London... but gradually, over the years, the serious talent grew up and got jobs in the entertainment industry. You can now see O.R.s all over the telly and in the West End, but actually they are everywhere.

Successful producers, writers, feature film, radio and TV directors, actors and technicians. Reptonians.

So, in April, we revived the company, softly, we thought, with “Equus” again, just in Repton, in the new, brilliant 400 Hall, to be performed in the round. The directors of the company and the governors of the school were right behind us.

We took the seats out,

raised the floor and created the stage. The most talented group of actors and technicians that I have worked with ever, in over 28 years, then tested themselves to produce the show, from scratch, in just twelve days.

Young ORs, Harry Mead (L’10), Jess Gough (A’10), Jamie Clarke (L’10) and Olivia Omilana (M’11), with Grace Cowley (M’10) and Natalia Gill (A’13), supported by the outstandingly talented current Reptonians Tristan Howle and Callum Smith created the show.

The company enjoyed direct and personal email, twitter and facebook support from ORs around the world, but especially from actors Tom Chambers (N’90), Nicholas Burns (N’90) and George Rainsford (M’96), and of course, Ben Cavey.

Just at the same time as the brief run of our show, Ben’s feature film “The Bad Education Movie” opened in the West End and nationwide . Coincidentally, Old Reptonian and past member of our company, Tom Daley (B’91), saw his first feature, the brilliant “Tiger House” open internationally two days later.

Our company watched Tom’s film, on a big screen, projected across our stage, just before our last performance, in the 400 Hall. Possibly the highlight of everything I’ve ever done, all the work with hundreds of young people, all the seed planting that might take at least fifteen years to maybe come to fruition... was being told to ‘Shut Up’ by a talented seventeen year old Reptonian, totally engaged by a feature film made by a talented Old Reptonian, just before we did the last performance of the show I am most proud of.

So far.

Guy Levesley (H’75)

Damian Thantrey (C’84) I arrived at Repton with the grand design of becoming a barrister, although, as I’ve ended up on the stage, this may have been more to do with childhood episodes of Crown Court and a burning desire to wear a wig, than answering any vocational call to the Bar. I did go on to read Law at Cambridge, but by the time I left The Cross, I only wanted to be a singer. Some of the credit/blame for this must go to Michael Salter, the wonderful Head of Music at the time, who encouraged me greatly and allowed our double bass lessons to involve more and more singing. Once I had played the lead in the school musical, that was pretty much that: Guys and Dolls in the 400 Hall has a lot to answer for! After two years in a City law firm, I studied postgraduate singing at the Royal College of Music - since then, I’ve performed opera and concerts wherever I’m asked. I sing an eclectic mix of repertoire, from Monteverdi up

until the present day, with an emphasis on new music written by living composers. The latter can be challenging musically, but is often more interesting dramatically. In traditional repertoire you may get to play a King, but rarely a dung beetle, an environmental activist (dreadlocks and all) or the instigator-in-chief of the Profumo affair. Recently, I have also developed a side line in Paris doing musical theatre (tunes!), including works by Sondheim, Rodgers and Hammerstein et al, previously unperformed in France. Through my work at the Châtelet, I’ve played opposite French movie royalty and even danced with the great Leslie Caron (Gigi herself).

However, following Into the Woods last year, my real claim to fame is an appearance in “Up the Arts” corner in that esteemed publication Viz. As I said, Guys and Dolls in the 400 Hall has a lot to answer for...

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The Arts Sarah Cotterill (A’06) I am currently the Assistant Producer with site-specific company Theatre Mill. We are based in Yorkshire and work in beautiful heritage buildings, creating immersive and intimate experiences for our audience. I started as an Assistant Director, then Associate Director with the company, but the opportunity arose for a fulltime contract producing, as we are about to re-stage Agatha Christie's Witness For the Prosecution this summer at York's Council Chambers and Leeds Civic Hall. We are working closely with the Christie estate, and there are big plans on the cards for this project, as there is something incredibly special about the audience sat in the Jury box, starting to solve the case.

Our website is currently under construction but you get an idea here: http://www.theatre-mill.co.uk/

Aside from Theatre Mill, since completing my Writing Directing and Performance Degree, I have been Assistant Producer on the Citywide Blood & Chocolate Project with Slung Low, and assistant directed Clocking In for Pilot Theatre and Helver's Night for Company of Angels and York Theatre Royal.

I've been doing bits and bobs of community theatre to develop my own style; I directed Sue Townsend's Womberang for Upstart Theatre, a couple of devised pieces and new bits of writing for Off The Rock Productions. A couple of summers ago I returned to Edinburgh with Hinge Theatre and we ran the Hill Street venue and I performed in a children's show, Salvi & The Box of Dreams. I am currently the movement director on Hedgepig Theatre's The Maids

by Genet. http://www.hedgepigtheatre.co.uk/portfolio/the-maids/

Mark Woolgar (H’54) An Oxford University graduate, I went into the Theatre via the Bristol Old Vic Company, directing 13 plays and expanding the Education and Outreach work. I was the first director of the then new Derby Playhouse, expanding the attendance figures by 110% over the old theatre, transferring Chekhov’s The Seagull to the West End, staging my own versions of A Christmas Carol, Treasure Island (I was Squire Trelawny in a Foremarke production of the Admiral Benbow, the 1st part of T Island! and a Sherlock Holmes confection and directing their 53 of the 300 productions he has done to date. Ironically it was to the old Derby Playhouse that Mike Charlesworth’s Repton production in 1958 of The Strong Are Lonely transferred for a special staging with me in the lead! I was also ‘Polonius’ in 1959 in RMC’s 1st major staging of Hamlet in the 400 Hall). Guest directing from Dundee to Worthing followed and 3 visits to America with my own Oscar Wilde show.

A move into working as a guest in 13 leading Drama Schools and on 3 Theatre Design Courses led to 7 years on the staff of Guildford School of Acting, followed by periods as Artist in Residence at Wellington College, Trent College and Charterhouse School. I then became the first Senior Moderator of Trinity College London’s Professional Performing Arts Diplomas (which are related to the DADA – Dance and Drama Awards – used to finance many students in leading Drama and Ballet / Dance Schools) and subsequently the last Director of the Richmond Drama School.

Currently I am working with American students (including a relationship with Ithaca College Drama Majors now in its 16th year), teach LAMDA exams to 7 to 17 year olds and have connections with Drama Studio London, the University of Kent and the Guildford Institute. I am co –author (with Professor Ken Pickering) of Theatre Studies (Palgrave Macmillan, 2009).

I recall with some surprise that I first saw a West End production in 1951 and a Stratford Shakespeare production in 1956 (thank you, Michael Charlesworth). I now live in Guildford where the theatre is named after Yvonne Arnaud, an actress who appeared in that production I saw in London well over half a century ago!

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ps I was in the Hall when Lynam Thomas was Headmaster and nominally Housemaster of the Hall. I crossed swords with him when Editor of The Reptonian, but we got on very well really and he was a much more ‘liberal’ person than some are making out, he was totally supportive of all my “Arts-y” activities, I was allowed to go off for theatre visits on my own, he had the very theatrical Yvonne Le Dain as a friend (she directed the Quatercentenary Masque of Schollers), and in a very different post – war world I reckon he did a very good job (in relation to the 1957 junketings) with the buildings developments – the 400 Hall and a Science Block, wasn’t it? – in the precinct. He upset several stuffy masters by getting his friend (from Cornwall) the poet John Betjeman to give a very irreverent Speech Day speech, appointed a number of young (Davis / Gribble / Hawkins) members of staff (not ORs) and didn’t squash their ‘liberality’, though aware of it. When I was at Oxford we exchanged jokey postcards over the current length of my hair, and I was always warmly welcomed on return visits. Had he retired soon after 1957 I think he would be viewed differently.

His wife was the sister of the wife of Foremarke’s splendid Head Ken Jackson. Repton was not as non – artsy as oft implied. I began a Film Society and the Subscription Concerts were of a high order (I recall Britten and Pears, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, etc) and one of the Saturday evening films (admittedly this was not well attended) was the pioneering Paul Czinner ballet film of, I think, Ondine with Fonteyn. And there was Charlesworth! Nor was there ‘hostility’ between the Artsy types and the sporting guys, I was also 1st X1 cricket scorer, and ‘organised’ the Standards Sports and was Clerk of the Camp at CCF Camp.

Not many can say they were in a House play production of Timon of Athens - I was (thank you, Tim Fisher). Of course, boys played girls in plays. I realise now why the director (Tim Fisher again) always laughed when I said ‘That, sir, which I will not report after her’ when giving my Gentlewoman in Macbeth – clearly my inflections showed an early taste for innuendo. My supporting role in a musical version of The Comedy of Errors saw me hailed by The Birmingham Post as ‘a personable fishwife’. I have been trying to live up to my Gentlewoman and my Fishwife ever since. Thank you, Foremarke and Repton!

Repton Memories Notable days in Repton history, No.1: " ... I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received and that consequently this school is at war with Shrewsbury."

Notable days in Repton history, No.2: The day Mr Plowright's video player broke.

Notable days in Repton history, No.3: Mr Chips collects his ear defenders from the Lodge after discovering he’s on mosh pit duty at the Icebreaker Social.

Notable days in Repton history, No.4: The School Marshal enlists the help of OTC to enforce the ban on cycling through the Arch.

Notable days in Repton history, No.5: Five bored boys begin building a girls' House.

Notable days in Repton history, No.6: The decision to plant some trees to blot out the blot on the landscape.

Words by JP

Photographs courtesy of Robert Blomfield (H’51).

OR Publications Biographies of two of Repton's finest cricketers have been published recently.

In A Flick of the Fingers, Michael Burns tells the story of J N Crawford (B’1901), often referred to as the best schoolboy cricketer ever. He played for England in 1905, the year he left Repton, and he was England's youngest test player, a distinction he held until 1949. He played all five tests on the 1907/08 tour of Australia and later emigrated there, establishing himself as a world-class all-rounder. He returned to England at the end of the First World War and, although his cricket career was not to last much longer, he did play two of his most remarkable innings. He was a controversial figure in many ways and Burns has uncovered many fresh details of his life.

A Flick of the Fingers from Fairfield Books, 17 George's Road, Bath, BA1 6EY Still happily with us at 88, Donald Carr (L’40) captained Repton, Oxford, Derbyshire and England and had a long and distinguished first-class career before going on to become a top-class administrator. As a soccer player he won two blues at Oxford before becoming a member of the renowned Pegasus team which won the FA Amateur Cup in 1950/51 and 1952/53. Donald Carr, Derbyshire's Corinthian is by John Shawcroft, the Derbyshire journalist, and is available from ACS Publications, Blue Bell House, 2-4 Main street, Scredington, Sleaford, Lincs, NG34 0AE.

Richard Harding (former master at Foremarke Hall) has written a book Repton School On This Day. The book took Richard nearly three and a half years research and writing to coincide with the bicentenary of the birth of the School’s Second Founder, the Reverend S.A.Pears. Twenty copies of the book have been gifted to the School.

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School News The Priory: Following in fathers footsteps The start of the new academic year has seen The Priory welcome no fewer than three sons of distinguished former members of the House into B Block.

William Wilkinson (left) and Louis Platts (right) follow fathers Andrew (P’82) and Chris (P’83), Heads of House in 1987 and 1988 respectively, and pictured here on the right, Barnaby Churchill treads in the footsteps of father Andrew (P’82), who won a place at Oxford in 1987. No pressure there then, boys!

Careers Corner Following my previous plea for professional advisers to come to Repton to talk to pupils, we have had a number of successful events and offers of work experience. I am pleased to report that many current Reptonians, through this continued support, have been able to take up offers of placements.

The annual Lower Sixth Careers Forum continues to flourish and this year, as ever, many of the delegates were young ORs, with pertinent advice to give the pupils. The Careers Forum comes at a crucial time in their education, just a few months before they are making their choices for university courses, enabling them to have relevant information ready to compose their personal statements. This event often leads also to invaluable work experience thanks to the extraordinary generosity of Old Reptonians.

Of course not all the offers of help result from the Forum but also from the ORs who have responded to my request in the last edition of The Arch and I’d like to thank all of you who responded to my global email. I greatly enjoyed reading the correspondence from ORs who shared their professional experiences and, as a result, I have booked several into this year’s programme of career presentations.

From the photographs, you will see the diversity of experience shared with the pupils by the ORs. I greatly appreciate continued offers of help from you all!

Melissa Blain mjb@ repton.org.uk

We were delighted to welcome back Harriette Doxey (G'04) who came to give a careers talk to over fifty O Block and Sixth Formers.

Now a Store Development Manager for Tesco, Harriette gave us an insight into what her current job entails, as well as an outline of her career path thus far. As a DT Scholar at Repton she went on to earn an Arkwright Scholarship and, following a week’s work experience in the construction business with Bowmer & Kirkland, she realised that this was the profession she wanted to follow. She greatly encouraged those present to get ahead and seize the initiative. Before university, Harriette had applied to the Institute of Civil Engineers and gained a Quest Award, sponsoring her through university with an annual fund as well as a valuable 8-week work placement each summer. At the University of Sheffield she went on to gain an MEng. At the point of job application she drew up a list of career objectives and she encouraged the pupils to think equally constructively about what they wanted to achieve from their field of work. A lively q & a followed her presentation where pupils were able to develop their understanding of her work further. It was good to also welcome OR and Governor, Mr Robert Kirkland (O'59) in the audience and, prompted by a comment from him, Harriette shared with us the thought that she was immensely grateful that the construction industry had offered her the chance to take responsibility in the work place early in her career, demonstrating her natural skill as a leader. She left us with this thought; ‘Think outside the box, keep in touch with your network of contacts, make sure you gain some work experience early and then apply for a job you’ll enjoy!’.

Harriette Doxey (G’04) Retail

Tom Soar (C’93) Engineering 28

Chris Paget (P’01) Law

Tori Smith (A’00) Journalism

Achievements & Activities 2014/15 • In the 2015 external public examinations, the boys and girls achieved 23% A*; 56% A*A and 78% A*AB at A- level, and at GCSE, 28% A* and 64% A*A. • Special mention should go to the thirteen Reptonians who received an offer to study at Oxford or Cambridge University: William Ackernley (U6C) (Medicine at Queens' College, Cambridge), Jessica Czink (U6A) (Medicine at Newnham College, Cambridge), Olivia Hamilton (U6A) (Medicine at Magdalene College, Cambridge), Ankit Rai (U6P) (Medicine at Girton College, Cambridge), Jacques Taylor (U6L) (Arabic & Persian Studies at Magdalene College, Cambridge), Matthew Storer (U6P) (Classics at Emmanuel College, Cambridge), Katie Guest (U6F) (Modern & Medieval Languages at Newnham College, Cambridge), Maximillian Wilson (U6S) (French & Italian at St Peter's College, Oxford), Emily GerardPearse (U6M) (Open offer to study Biology at Oxford), Jenna Poole (U6A) (Biology at St Catherine's College, Oxford), Andrew Oxburgh (U6O) (Psychology, Philosophy & Linguistics at St Hilda's College, Oxford), Alex Urwin (U6L) (PPE at Exeter College, Oxford) and Thomas Williamson (U6N) (Economics & Management at St Catherine's College, Oxford).

• Arkwright Scholarships for Design and Engineering have been awarded to Felix Thomas-Davies (L6P), Tristan Howle (L6L), Rosie Knight (L6G) and Jonathan Vincent (L6O). A Block designers, Finn Dearsly (4C), Lucy Goodacre (4M) and Sam Riley (4P) won a competition to design an Aston Martin for 2030.

• A number of Repton pupils have attended the competitive Gifted and Talented courses run by Villiers Park: Ankit Rai (U6P): Forensic Science, Katie Guest (U6F): French: Language and Identity, Alistair Robson (U6L) and Jenna Poole (U6A): Physics: How the Universe Lives and Dies, Tom Croghan (L6C): History: the Enlightenment from 1660 to Today, Jessica Gough (U6A): Drama and Theatre Studies: Aspects of Performance, Rebecca Williams (L6M): Exploration of Space, David Glanville (L6O): Economics, Susie Crisp (L6A): English Literature – Exploring Shakespeare, Lucy Coombs (L6A): Chemistry.

• Joel Holmes (L6L) won the Royal College of Science Union Science Challenge School student prize and a shadowing internship in the House of Lords for his essay demonstrating his ability in scientific debate and reasoning.

• Liza Hartley (L6F) has won second place in Peterhouse College Cambridge's Thomas Campion English essay prize. Her essay was entitled: 'It is such a bore that nearly all great novelists have a didactic purpose, otherwise a philosophy, directly opposite to their passional inspiration' (D.H. Lawrence). Discuss the conflict between philosophy and passion in the writing of fiction.

• Rosie Knight (L6G) and Sophie Wilbraham (L6G) were awarded places on the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Lessons from Auschwitz Project. They visited Auschwitz-Birkenau in southern Poland and made a presentation on the subject to members of the Lower School.

• Thomas Croghan (L6C) and Maxim Hibbs (L6S) were awarded places to represent the school at the two-day Dicey Conference, held at Trinity College, Oxford on ‘How important is morality in shaping British foreign policy?’.

• Lucy Coombs (L6A) entered the inaugural Science Prize competition run by Newnham College, Cambridge and her essay, entitled ‘What are the challenges and motivations of space exploration?’, was commended.

• Amy Wigglesworth (3G), entered the national engineering competition for girls and was awarded a highly commended runners-up prize. She was presented with her award at the Big Bang Fair at the NEC. • A number of Extended Project Qualifications were completed this year on a diverse range of topics including the blood brain barrier, artificial intelligence, cancer, graphene, Alexander the Great, progressivism in the United States, the arms race and the Cold War, the use of justifiable force, the relative impacts of inflation and deflation, whether torture is ever justifiable and what Caliban's persistent presence in literature reveals about human nature.

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School News Achievements & Activities 2014/15 continued • The following Reptonians have completed, or are in the process of completing, an online course run by the University of Birmingham on Shakespeare’s ‘Much Ado About Nothing’: Hannah Boyle (L6M), Ally Hutchinson (U6M), Katie Jankinson (L6M), Charlotte White (L6A), Susannah Crisp (L6A), Harriot Grinnell- Moore (L6G) and Lucas Pringle (3P) • Debating this year saw the team (Samantha Allsop (L6F), Maxim Hibbs (L6S), Liza Hartley (L6F), Amelia Tarrant (5M), Manon Allen (5F) and Laura Bramall (5A)) significantly improve on the already high standards set the year before, with Liza placing 12th in the individual Novice Speakers rankings at the Durham Schools' competition, and Manon coming in the top 100 of all speakers, regardless of experience or age. Laura and Amelia Stewart (5A) qualified for the Regional Final in the Debating Matters event, our highest place in this competition.

• The Ramsey Society continues to thrive, and this year’s cohort generated perhaps the most engaged and stimulating work of recent times. Given that more than half of the group were applying to study Medicine at university, it came as no surprise that the challenges facing the NHS - its funding, how far it can be expected to prolong and optimise life, and the question of how we deal with an ageing population - were so keenly examined by a number of speakers. Other papers were admirable for their rigorously cerebral approach, as they grappled with: the nature of Time; definitions of intelligence and consciousness; the very live nature/nurture debate; determinism and Nietzsche; and, finally, mooted the ultimate bankruptcy and failure of Capitalism.

• This year saw the release of BeyondtheBubble, Repton's first ever online magazine. The website has proved very popular, with well over fifty articles appearing from students, staff and ORs. Editor-in-Chief Sophie Wilbraham (L6G) and Assistant Editor, Manon Allen (5F), have worked tirelessly to design, edit and write for the site, but it could not exist without the help of the wonderful team of writers. The website can be found at www.beyondthebubble.org. Lucas Pringle (3P) has recently obtained a position writing for one of America's largest student online magazines as the UK correspondent.

• The Hampshire Society revamped its image by joining BeyondtheBubble with the launch of 'Thought in Action': philosophical musings on current affairs. This has provided students with an opportunity to analyse current affairs through the lens of philosophy.

• MedSoc, ably steered and expertly led by Ankit Rai (U6P), Olivia Hopkisson (U6A) and Freya Harcus (U6A), has welcomed gynaecologists, GPs, surgeons, and consultants to Repton School, as well as attending conferences and workshops featuring eminent doctors such as Professor Bernard Devauchelle, who carried out the world's first facial transplant, and learning how to suture at the Royal College of Surgeons in London.

• Repton was hooked by election fever in May and all 5 main parties were represented by a team of students who busily prepared campaign posters and leaflets. This culminated in a hustings event in Pears School which was attended by almost 200 pupils. The result itself was a close affair with the Conservatives, UKIP, Greens, Labour and even the Monster

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• Raving Loony Party all winning seats (Houses)! Special mention must go to the party leaders - William Wollaston (L6S), Harry Blach (L6N), Maxim Hibbs (L6S), Manon Allen (5F) and Thomas Croghan (L6C) who all did a magnificent job.

• Ankit Rai (U6P) was awarded a competitive Nuffield Research Placement, and his study of cancer metabolism was judged to be worthy of a prestigious Gold CREST award - the highest level awarded by the British Science Association.

• During a three-day visit, students from Toyota Nishi Senior High School in Japan carried out joint scientific experiments with Repton pupils, including DNA fingerprinting, studying gravity and creating genetically modified organisms.

• In the UKMT Intermediate Maths Challenge open to O Block and below, Amelia Tarrant (5M), William Davies (5O), Catherine McEwan (5A), Rhys Methven (5P), Peter Williams (5L), Jingqi Chen (3G), Sophie Palmer (3A), Marcus Tarrant (3S) and Serena Cole (3F) all achieved gold certificates. Subsequently Amelia, Rhys, Catherine, Jingqi, Sophie and Marcus were invited to take part in the Kangaroo follow-on rounds, where Amelia, Rhys, Catherine and Jingqi were awarded merits.

• There was similar success in the UKMT Senior Maths Challenge open to O Block and above. Tom Williamson (U6N), William Ackernley (U6C), Ashton Lui (L6P), Felix Thomas-Davies (L6P), Joel Holmes (L6L) and William Davies (5O) all achieved gold certificates. William, Joel, Felix, Thomas, Ashton and William were all invited to take part in the Kangaroo follow-on round, where William Ackernley was awarded a merit certificate.

• During the October half-term break there were three exciting trips for Sixth Formers; the Geographers ventured to the Azores, the Biologists visited the Galapagos and Ecuador and there was a History and Politics trip to New York and Washington DC. The A Block Geographers travelled to the south coast of Iceland in March.

• 10 pupils made the sixth annual exchange to Repton Dubai enjoying time spent with host families while having the opportunity to have a new experience of Repton schooling.

• Our Lower Sixth Conference took place over three days in June on the subject of Repton and the Chocolate Factory, and drew on the long-established link between the school and Thorntons, with a nod towards OR Roald Dahl.

• Fifteen ORs and friends of the School spoke about their professions to the Lower Sixth at the annual Careers Forum.

• Callum Smith (L6O) has been awarded ‘Instructor Cadet’ status

by Headquarters Air Cadets, RAF Cranwell.

• The Reptonian 2015, edited by Rosie Butler (U6A), chose the World War One centenary as its major theme, but also focused acutely on the here and now, with a number of pertinent features, including ones on Feminism by Sophie Wilbraham (L6G) and the General Election by Alex Urwin (U6L), as well as recording the many and varied achievements in Sport, Music, Art, Design and Drama by Reptonians over the last 12 months.

• The Sale of Work raised in excess of £20,000 for local, national and international charities

• Rika Canaway (3G) (French horn) Anastacia Peters (3F) (trumpet) and Alistair Westwood (3N) (double bass) performed with the National Children’s Orchestra Under 13 at Festival Hall in their Christmas Concert. Katie (L6M) and Matthew Jankinson (4L), Kyoko (5G) and Rika Canaway (3G) and Alistair Westwood (3N) performed with Duet Philharmonic Orchestra, at The Royal Festival Hall, March 2015. Sam Riley (4P), Claudia Atkinson (5F), Ella Nieper (5F), Rika Canaway (3G), and Sammy Allsop (L6F) are now members of the National Youth Choir of Great Britain.

• Reptonians’ engagement with the Duke of Edinburgh Award is stronger than ever before. No fewer than eleven teams have started their Assessed Expeditions, and, so strong have our Gold teams become, that the Expedition routes this year needed to be lengthened to make them more of a challenge!

In 2014-15, 23 Reptonians gained the Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award, and the following 10 individuals gained their Gold Award, an out-standing achievement: Zöe Furness (G’09); Louis Ball (P’12); Lewis Ratcliffe (L’12); Rachel Higgins (M’09; Abigail Reading (A’12); Daniel Buckland (O’08) (all ORs); Isobel Walster (U6A), Marina Akasaka (U6F), Harriet Bagley (U6F) and Harriet Bicknell (U6F).

• Repton’s Senior Musician of the Year winner was Katie Jankinson (L6M) and Junior Musician of the Year winner was Kyoko Canaway (5G).

• In May, 28 Reptonians and Foremarkians along with friends and family, cycled 140 miles from Repton to Old Hunstanton for the Repton Beach Bike Ride. The ride raised over £2,600 for Team Bryant, a charity to support young adults with cancer.

• Grade 8 Distinctions were achieved by Josh Riley (L6P) (jazz sax.), Kyoko Canaway (5G), (organ), Katie Guest (U6F), (singing), Anastacia Peters (3F), (piano), Kyoko Canaway, (5G) (bassoon), Matthew Rhodes, (3L) (piano) and Dan Walker, (L6C) (trombone).

• In November the School commemorated the centenary of the start of the Great War with a comprehensive exhibition in Pears School and a week of lectures, poetry recitals and concerts in which many pupils participated.

• The School Play was Marlowe's Dr Faustus and the Junior School Play, Alice by Laura Wade. The Lent Charity Cabaret raised over £14,000 for Dreamland School. The Junior Show Reel was a light-hearted look at the history of Repton School.

Kindertransport by Diane Samuels was rehearsed and performed by six Lower Sixth pupils in three weeks. A Block Drama performed Find Me by Olwen Wymark as part of their GCSE. The Lower Sixth performed scenes from Mike Bartlett's Medea in the style of Frantic Assembly for their final A-level piece and the Upper Sixth performed a devised documentary theatre piece on our perceptions of freedom of speech entitled Je Suis Charlie?. Field and Latham's House play was Blackmail

by Charles Robertson.

• The Chapel Choir sang evensong at York Minster and the Chamber Choir sang Compline at Haddon Hall. On Remembrance Sunday, the choir sang a new commission by Malcom Archer; a setting of the poem To an Unknown God by Zaven Manoukian (OR) (1898-1918).

• This year saw the Chamber Choir sing for HRH The Duke of Cambridge as he unveiled the Football Memorial at the National Arboretum.

• Field House won the Unison Singing competition and Latham the Harmonies competition.

• The Michaelmas Concert included Holst’s Mars. The Chamber Choir sang Monteverdi’s Beatus vir. Mus Soc performed Haydn’s Creation. The small ensembles concert was a huge success and comprised the greatest number of small ensembles playing yet.

• Highlights of the Subscription Concert Series were David Briggs’ improvisation to the silent movie Phantom of the Opera, along with the Music Department’s Mozartabend, performances by pupils from Chetham’s and Apollo 5.

• Katie Guest (U6F) was awarded a Cambridge Choral Scholarship by Newnham College to sing with Selwyn College Choir.

• At this year’s RockIt, 17 bands played to a large pupil audience.

• The netball teams all enjoyed an extremely successful Lent term.

The 1st VII Netball team, captained by Camilla Chantler (U6G), competed in the National Finals in March after finishing the Regional Finals as Runners-up and retaining their County Champions title in the process. The U16s and U14s both made the semi finals at the Regional Netball tournament and only narrowly missed going through to Nationals. The U15As became the third Repton team to be crowned County Champions this year, after dominating their County tournament. The 2nd VII were one of three teams to end their season undefeated in all their school matches.

• The hockey teams enjoyed extraordinary and unprecedented success this year reaching nine of the possible ten National Finals and ending the season with five National Titles. This haul means that Repton has become the most successful school in the history of the National Schools’ Competitions winning twenty-six National titles since records began in 1980. Twenty-five of those titles have been won since 2005.

• The U16 Girls’ Squad achieved a double this year winning both the Indoor and Outdoor National Titles. The 1st XI became National Indoor Runners-up and achieved a 3rd Place finish at the Outdoor Finals. The U14 girls showed great promise for the future too earning a 5th placed finish in their first-ever National Finals, just months after forming as a squad.

• When 1st XI captain Ben Clague (U6P) lifted the U18 National Cup at the Olympic Park in London, it sealed an unbelievable season for our Boys’ Hockey. The U14s won all their matches at the National Finals and deservedly beat Dean Close in their National Final. The U16 Squad, in their National Final, recovered from 3-1 down with nine minutes remaining to draw with Whitgift whom they then defeated on penalties. The 1st XI completed the unprecedented treble by beating Exeter 5-1 in the National Final.

• Perhaps unsurprisingly, more Reptonians have been involved with international squads this year than in any previous season: Flora Peel (U6F) and Lilie Lamacraft (U6G) have been training with the England U21 and Senior Development squads. Ben Clague (U6P) represented Wales U21s in the European Indoor Championships, is a key member of the U18 squad and has been selected for a Senior Development squad for internationals in June.

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School News Achievements & Activities 2014/15 • Andrew Oxburgh (U6O), Elliot Hibell (L6O), Ollie Rogerson (5C), Erica Sanders (U6G) and Olivia Hopkisson (U6A) were selected for their respective England U18 squads. Esme Burge (5G) captained England U16s in their recent Test Series against Holland. Hannah Davey (4F) has also played for the England U16 team and Emilia Kaczmarcyzk (3M) has been training with them.

Charlie Collins (4P) has represented Wales U16s in matches against Switzerland and Scotland. Emilia Kaczmarcyzk (3M) has also been training with England U16.

• Five Old Reptonians - Georgie Twigg (F’03), Susie Gilbert (F’02), Shona McCallin (A’08), Jo Leigh (G’06) and Ellie Watton (M’05) have been training with the Great Britain Hockey squads as part of the preparation for the Rio 2016 Olympics. Charlotte Stapenhorst, another recent leaver, is also currently representing the German Senior National Team as they also prepare for Rio. • The 1st XI football team, captained by Laurence Wyke (U6C), had another excellent season winning a total of 27 out of 34 games and scoring a record 155 goals along the way. In the process they retained the ISFA Northern League title with victory at Macclesfield Town FC and lifted the ISFA Northern 8s title for the second time in three years. They were also runners-up in both the Derbyshire and Staffordshire County Cups and reached the last 16 out of more than 500 teams in the ESFA Cup. • On an individual level, Laurence Wyke (U6C) broke the longstanding 1st XI goal-scoring record that had been held by J.G.W.Wood (L’78) for 36 years. He finished the season having scored 43 goals for the 1st XI, one better than the previous record. Goalkeeper Wim Van der Schoot (L6S) kept 15 clean sheets in the season, again going one better than the previous record.

• The ISFA representative teams contained several Reptonians.

Laurence Wyke (U6C), Wim Van der Schoot (L6S) and Edward Jackson (L6P) all represented ISFA U18 in matches against the likes of Australia, Wales and Scotland as well as playing against Benfica and Sporting Lisbon on the ISFA tour. Jack Bull (5O) and Will Norcross (5S) both represented the ISFA U16 side and also travelled to Portugal whilst Luke Tandy (4N) and James Parton (4C) represented the ISFA U15 team and both played in the Manchester United tournament against Premier League opposition. Tom Buffin (3S) was selected to represent the ISFA U14 team this season.

• This year has seen more girls than ever choosing to play football with the formation of a 2nd XI for the first time. The girls came runners-up in the national ISFA 7s competition, losing narrowly in the final to Kings’ Taunton. The 11-a-side team also won the Midlands league for the first time without conceding a goal in the process. Mary Hunter (L6G), Isobel Emmett (5M) and Morgause Lomas (5F) were all selected to play for the Midlands representative team that won the ISFA regional tournament at Harrow - a first for the region. The three girls have subsequently been selected to attend an ISFA U18 camp over the summer and will be joined by Fenella Scutt (4G) who has been invited to the U16 camp.

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• In May, the School celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Repton School vs Uppingham School cricket fixture. A large number of guests watched the game, with Old Reptonian and former Yorkshire CCC and England cricketer Richard Hutton, the guest of honour. The game was won by Repton with Elliot Hibell (L6O) scoring 100. Two other boys made hundreds on the cricket field this year: David Glanville (L6O) against Nottingham High School and Charlie Hetherington (L6C) against Shrewsbury.

The U14 and U15 teams have progressed to the county finals in their respective age groups with the final stages in the last two weeks of term. James Sookias (5S), Joss Morgan (L6S), Callum Brodrick (L6C), Richard Brown (5C), Jack Bull (5O) and Callan Harvey (L6O) (all Derbyshire) and Sam Trotman (L6L) (Nottinghamshire) have all represented their counties at U17 level. Luke Brown (3N) (Derbyshire) has played at U14 level for Derbyshire.

• Stefan Nowacki (U6L) captained the Cross Country team at the County Championships. Fenella Scutt (4G) took the gold medal, becoming Derbyshire Inter Girls Champion, and three other Reptonians - Jack Bywater (L6C), Olivia Mair (L6F) and Hermione Wright (5G) - were shortlisted to run in the England Schools Cross Country Championships. Olivia joined Fenella in the Derbyshire team at the finals in March.

• In athletics, all relay teams remain unbeaten this season and the following students have broken school records: Emily Mitchell (L6M) - 400m, Jessica Lee (5G) - Triple Jump, Intermediate Girls 4x100m Relay (Charlotte Abell (3F), Hermione Wright (5G), Lauren Archer (4G), Kate Whitehouse (5M)) and Senior Girls 4x100m Relay (Emily Mitchell (L6M), AliciaTurner (L6F), Arabella Heap (5M), Sarah Pope (L6G)).

• In tennis, Dominic Lea (L6S) was selected for the ISTA Top VI Team. The Girls’ U15s were regional champions, went to the national finals and finished 4th out of 650 schools. The Boys’ U15s made it through to the regional finals but just missed out on a place in the national top 4. The Girls’ senior team qualified for the national finals (Aberdare Cup) and finished in the top 8 schools in the nation. The Boys’ 1st team, captained by Joe Cook (L6C), are undefeated throughout the year and both the senior Girls and Boys have qualified for the national finals again.

Four players have been selected for their county tennis teams this year, Joseph Cook (L6C) (Leicestershire), Dominic Lea (L6S) (Cambridge), Martin Thomas (3O) (Kent), Elizabeth Allwood (4A) (Leicestershire).

• Jessica Richardson (4G) won a gold medal at the 2015 British Schools Judo Championships.

CCF Summer Camp 2015 The Repton CCF went to Longmoor for the second year running, so we knew good things were in store. We arrived having left on Speech Day to get settled into the camp. We all started properly the following day, getting up around 0630 for breakfast between 0700 and 0800. The first activity was Field Craft, which included a rotation of Section Firing, First Aid, FIBUAR (‘fighting in a built-up area’, or, as Major Wadsworth likes to call it, FISH or ‘fighting in someone’s house’!) and Paintballing. This was a really good day in terms of asserting our weapons handling skills, introducing the A Block especially to Section Firing using various battle drills.

The second day was Survival, where we learnt simpler skills for survival in the morning, then a second rotation went into greater detail. Activities were making fires using batteries, flint and steel, and bow of wood, setting traps for animals, and how to skin a rabbit, finding solutions to problematic situations, and shelter building. This was a great day for competition within the school, with races to make fire or shelters the fastest. The activities were really good fun, but we also learnt useful tricks for survival!

Day three was the Ranges package, definitely a favourite of most.

Within our groups, we did a rotation of shooting on an Electronic Target Range (ETR) with the SUSAT sights fitted at 300,200 and 100m with targets popping up, clay pigeon shooting, DCCT (‘dismounted close combat training’) and shooting on the 25m range. This was a first for many of live shooting, including two rather worried members of staff, 2Lt Jones and Miss Stevenson!

But, given the variation, there was something which suited everyone.

getting a bulls-eye. The hard bit was that you only had a certain number of moves, decided by the role of a somewhat unreliable die! If you had enough moves, you’d venture further to get a toy, which counted as extra points.

The March and Shoot team had to march 1.5 miles and then shoot five rounds on the 25m range. The aim of this is to ensure that you can regulate your breathing once you have been put through your paces on the march. Finally ‘The Cube’, was a combination of different small activities under timed conditions. These included putting a ball in a slanted pipe and then catching it on the other side, assembling a puzzle and shooting penalties. Repton was awarded second place in the Drill, third for Team A of March and Shoot and Jack Gough impressively got first place in the archery!

24-Hour Exercise Again this year, the 24 Hour Exercise did not disappoint! We split down into our 3 Sections and drew our weapons and went through our well-versed section battle drills. 1 Section led the way, with a patrol through the exercise area and met up with the other two Sections just before the harbour area. Then 1 Section moved up cleared and secured the Platoon the harbour area. Once clear, everyone moved in and set up the ponchos in a triangle formation.

We had tea and were then briefed on the night’s mission. This consisted of patrolling to a spot where we then had to run an intelligence mission without being seen. But 2 Section compromised the patrol, scaring off the enemy at the same time!

The next day had another mission at the same spot, with section attacks. Once each Section had been through, they became the enemy, firing blanks at the other cadets. This was a great way to finish, with an exciting exercise, followed by a relaxing lie in the sun before moving back to base.

Overall, the camp was incredible again this year. The teachers certainly made the trip, ensuring they got involved with all the activities. Thanks must go to Major Wadsworth and Mr Lees especially, for making the trip possible.

Mary Hunter (F)

Day four was another great day because it was Personal Development, consisting of climbing, orienteering, kayaking/ canoeing, archery and mountain biking. Given that it was one of the hottest days, we were relieved to be in the water for a bit. The wet parts, climbing and orienteering were all completed in the morning. The kayaking and canoeing were particularly good fun.

Many also enjoyed the mountain biking, with no accidents this year! Depending on the speed you got up a hill, you were split by ability into two groups. Varying by speed only, everyone cycled through a great course of slopes, ridges, see-saws, mounds and sand. Particularly in my group, the NCOs were all put to shame by the bravery of the A Block to go at speed down the hills!

Competition Day After having completed all of the activity days, we then had the competition day. The cadets were split into four teams,one for Drill, two for March and Shoot and another for ‘The Cube’. This was a chance for schools to compete on a level playing field, with only the March and Shoot teams knowing what was in store! The Drill team had to be led by one person, who gave drill commands to another who was blindfolded. The aim was to get the blindfolded person to a target on the floor, scoring more points for 33

School News Loughborough Design Show - Preview Day 2015 In the final few weeks of last year’s Summer Term, Loughborough University invited twelve of Repton’s AS level Product Design pupils for an exclusive preview of the Design School’s final Undergraduate Design Show.

The day began with a series of lectures, kicked off by Dr John McCardle, Associate Dean and Senior Product Design Lecturer. He spoke to the students, who’d travelled from schools around the country, about the importance of design and the important elements of the design process. He encouraged the students to think differently and to “not be afraid of failure”, as this is often the way designers learn the most.

Ross Kemp, founder of ASAP Water Products was next to speak to the students about his journey from design graduate to successful business owner and product entrepreneur.

He was approachable and recounted candidly his degree and career journey, which included a valuable 12 months designing for Vax and an amusing account of how, as a poor undergraduate, he used to contact companies to “scavenge” materials for free to develop his final year model. He spent a great deal of time at the end fielding questions from eager design students, keen to know the best ways to get a foot in the door of the industry.

To complete the morning’s talks, the students were given a workshop from another Design School lecturer, Laurence Stevenson, on the best tips and tricks for how to create dynamic and effective design presentations. He also included plenty of advice on what not to do!

Before lunch pupils were then given access to the show they had all been waiting to see; The Loughborough Design Show 2015, a collection of work from undergraduates from the whole spectrum

of design courses on offer in the faculty. There was some amazing work on display, and students were encouraged to peruse in the impressive (and bulky!) sketchbooks that accompanied the final designs.

Before previewing the exhibition, students had been split into teams and each given a brief they would have to produce designs for later in the day so the exhibition proved invaluable research, and an opportunity to get some inspiration!

Finally the afternoon was spent working and developing solutions for their design brief. Our teams’ ideas included an ambitious architectural house to assist “celebrity privacy” and a hugely imaginative take on a stacking children’s lunch box, which had smart and interactive reward systems to encourage healthy eating in schools. This was the best opportunity of the day to interact with volunteers from current graduating Loughborough students, and our students made sure they grilled them extensively about UCAS, exams, and what student life was really like.

With the UK consistently sitting at the top of the tree worldwide when it comes to design and engineering, we hope the day inspired some of the Design Department’s students to consider a creative path in further education!

Duke of Edinburgh The Gold DofE Assessed Expeditions in the Yorkshire Dales, the spiritual high-water mark of the Repton calendar, are not unlike the Open Championship when it is held at Hoylake or St. Andrews: to the untutored eye, in clement weather, walking 80 miles in four days carrying 3-stone packs can seem like a relatively pleasant end to the Summer Term.

When the fog sets in across the blanket bog of Nine Standards Rigg, however, or the winds scour the bleak mineworkings above Langthwaite on the Tan Hill massif, whipping sleet and hail into the teams’ faces, the Dales reveal their true character, 34

and offer a stiff challenge to even the strongest groups and individuals. And that’s the beauty of it, because when the fells show what they’re really about, so do Reptonians. If one subscribes to the concept of karma, it is hard not to believe that the 2014-15 Gold cohorts can look forward to years of sun-kissed hill- walking in lightly refreshing breezes across springy beds of moss: they completed their Expeditions the hard way. The Practice Expedition, held at the end of the Easter holidays, and this year comprised of routes longer than any Reptonian Gold team had ever attempted (this is the first they know of that, by the way), were conducted in the

worst conditions for a good five years of School Expeditions. The first day served up an aperitif of a steep and pathless climb up from the Woodhead Reservoirs onto Bleaklow, a mountain named entirely without irony, followed by a main course of a 10-mile slog across that barren, eerie and lonely monster, into the teeth of 40 mph winds. The sort of day when you hear someone screaming, and then you realise it’s you.

This wasn’t enough of a challenge for this special group of Reptonians, however: to finish the first day’s walk in daylight would be too easy, indecorous for such

Duke of Edinburgh continued Nietzschean übermenschen. Far better, therefore, deliberately to break the walk on the Snake Pass, so that one doesn’t actually get off the mountain till well after nightfall. Some of the groups evinced some concerns, even as they were pitching tents in the dark and in steady rain, that the second day of the Expedition would constitute something of an anti-climax after such exhilaration.

They needn’t have worried. There can be few more exquisitely delightful combinations than what followed on the afternoon and evening of Sunday, April 12th, 2015: bang on cue, the heavens opened at 3:26pm, and stayed open until we were seconds from a state of emergency being declared. This was an epochal, once-in-a-generation storm: within three months of our return to South Derbyshire, the groups’ videos of the battlements of rain crashing down before them had attracted more hits on Youtube than the slow-scan quadruplex film of the 1969 moon landing.. When the laws of Physics were restored, and the clouds started to dissipate, the gods played their next, and perhaps their most brilliant, card: under a clear sky, the temperature plummeted to -5°C, which is all kinds of fun when you, and your tents, are already soaked through. If you’ve never spent three hours trying to warm up yourself enough to be able to stop shivering for long enough to strike a match to make a cup of tea, and then woken up in a tent with ice on the inside, I’d recommend it to you, unreservedly, for your bucket-list: once you’ve finished the experience, your character is so big you can barely fit through the tent door to get out. That this year’s teams managed to complete the Practice Expedition with good humour and, indeed, the ability to embrace and appreciate the beauty of the final day’s scenery, speaks volumes for their physical and emotional courage, and for their teamwork.

On May 1st, 1955, a 17,000-tonne, 15.5mhigh statue of Joseph Stalin was unveiled in Prague’s Letná park, overlooking the River Vltava. In order to do justice to the backbones and achievements of the 201415 Golds, we're going to need a rather more substantial edifice than that. In other years, with other groups, such an ordeal might have dissuaded the participants from attempting the longer and more demanding Assessed Expedition in June.

Anyone with enough intelligence to tell the difference between an armadillo and a North Sea ferry would have known that these remarkable individuals would rise to this challenge. Not only were they the most efficient (and best company) in planning their Assessed routes, they attacked what was, for many, the fairly intimidating prospect of the traverse of the Yorkshire Dales.

Who can say whether that would have remained the case had they known that these, too, would also be the longest routes ever walked in the School’s history?

No matter: these teams have so much class that many of them are not even aware that some people have to turn right when entering an aeroplane.

As soon as we arrived in the badlands of the Upper Eden Valley, the atmosphere amongst the teams was close to electric.

Tennyson was right: Kind hearts are more than coronets/And simple faith than Norman blood; I cannot think of a group of pupils whose company it would have been a greater privilege, or more edifying, to enjoy. The acclimatisation day - buying provisions, tweaking plans and building teams - is crucial to the Expeditions’ success, and when the teams set off on the second morning, they were exactly where they needed to be.

And thank goodness for that; there are no gentle “settling-in” days on these

Expeditions: one group did a cool 11 hours, including a river-crossing and the toughest climb of the week, up the Howgill Fells, straight off the bat; others savoured the delights of the aforementioned peat morass of Nine Standards in zero-visibility, before descending into the aching beauty of the Upper Swale. By this time, they had become hardened, mechanistic in their efficiency to operate as teams, and Stakhanovite in their capacity for the physical demands of the Expedition, and their sense of enjoyment – of their surroundings, of each other, and of the sheer privilege of being out in the fresh air – was palpable to all who encountered them.

Make no mistake, though, the Assessed is never a done deal: even on the third evening, having proven to themselves that they were capable of far more, physically, emotionally and mentally, there were still doubts as to whether they could make it over the climax of the trip, the summit of Buckden Pike, in time to make the bus back to Repton.

The solution? Make sure they had left camp by 4am. When they came down out of the clouds, looking like the wilder cousins of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, and still wearing black midgenets over their heads as a supervenient emblem of their status as masters of the mountains, there could be no doubt as to the extent of their achievement.

“We lucky few ...” Shakespeare’s Henry V was, of course, referring to the honour of fighting for one’s country, when exhorting his men before Agincourt, but there can be no truer description of those of us who have had the honour and joy of working with these utterly charming and ineffably admirable Reptonians.

CSD master i/c

To Leave Is Not To Lose My understanding of the trip to Ghana was not to simply experience the culture, meet the children or to discover what Ghana has to offer, but rather to make sure we gave something back, not only to Dreamland, but to Ghana, in any way we could.

It really is extraordinary to be able to say that those who have the least are able to give the very most. This statement is certainly true about the numerous people and communities we were blessed to meet in Ghana, both at Dreamland and further afield in other townships.

Despite our aim being to give to the community, we really received so much from the Ghanaian culture and all those within it; this came in the context of welcoming faces, cultural experiences and

simply being able to witness the appreciation that so many showed to their education and our support. We found this at the opening ceremony of the new Health Centre, which was truly humbling to witness. This allowed each of us to feel the positive effects being made in the community which included Dreamland. The Health Centre meant that those within the community were able to receive immediate health assistance without having to travel to Kumasi, a further hour down the road, which was often too expensive for many within this region. This was such a special moment, considering before this the people of this community would have often gone without professional help for injuries or sickness which could be life threatening without treatment. This was one of the many moments that made us really begin to 35

School News To Leave Is Not To Lose continued appreciate all that we have in our western society at home; something which seems so ordinary to us as Health Care comes as such a blessing to them. The ceremony itself included a lot of dancing, a very moving speech given by our dear friend Pastor James, a speech from one of the Chief’s wives and Repton being publicly thanked for our presence, let alone the help we intended to give. It was a lovely day which allowed us to spend yet even more quality time with all the Dreamland pupils, allowing us to share in their appreciation and love for their new health centre.

It is undoubted that each and every one of us who were privileged enough to go on this trip, have taken something away that will endure. For all of us who were involved it really wasn't a ‘one trip wonder’, but more the beginning of a journey of giving, not just to Dreamland School, or even the people of Ghana, but to those all around the world. It is really hard to even begin to comprehend just how little the students at Dreamland have in terms of resources and opportunity, despite being one of the best schools in their region.

When we first arrived at Dreamland School, we were met by a flood of children - a truly overwhelming experience. With a beaming grin from ear to ear on each and every student’s face it was a magnificent sight to behold. We were able to explore and familiarise ourselves with this very special place before we jumped straight into teaching. This for me was one of the most moving days, it highlighted the exact purpose of the trip. Our aim was to offer something that would transcend our visit. As we explored we found that the classrooms were plain, filled with less than the essentials; there were worn-down chalk boards, which as we found were difficult to write on, making teaching problematic; there were many chairs and desks, which served their purpose, but no way near to the standard we so luckily enjoy at home. It was really easy to notice the little things that were missing, resources as simple as paper, pens and pencils. Despite the school overflowing with character, charisma and love, its depleted resources (and this is a well-stocked school in comparison to most) were no support for the determination to succeed.

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Such resources, despite seeming not to hold great value really do affect the way in which the teachers are able to teach and the pupils are able to learn. At Repton we are lucky enough to receive visual and audio resources, such as the smart boards, or even mini whiteboards, but at Dreamland and across Ghana, the pupils would be fortunate to receive extra pieces of paper and a pen to write with. Our help is essential.

Our trip to Ghana, without sounding clichéd, is almost indescribable. With us experiencing so much in the limited time we had, it really doesn't do the trip justice to attempt to sum it up in a few mere sentences.

So I shall end with the words of Pastor James, ’to leave is not to lose‘, but rather ’it allows us to disperse strategically in order to achieve our goals for humanity’.

Helena Evans (M)

Law Society

Temple Society

In its third year of existence, the Law Society has followed the proven format of previous years in combining talks delivered by ORs and by current members of the Sixth Form, although I initiated proceedings with a paper entitled ‘Where There’s a Hit there’s a Writ’ on Music Copyright, which explored some of the more famous cases of alleged infringement and some peculiarities (such as the fact that in the 12 Days of Christmas, the ‘Five gold rings’ flourish is under copyright, but the rest isn’t).

The B-, A- and O-block Temple Societies have had another year of interesting debate, stimulated by papers presented by Society members. All those who’ve ‘performed’ in this way have succeeded in retaining the interest and adding to the knowledge of their respective audiences.

It was a delight to welcome Catherine French (A’88) and Emma Hammond (A’87) back to Repton. From Emma’s position as Associate Solicitor at Pharos Legal Limited and Catherine’s as Director and Head of the Patent and Trade Mark Department at Sacco Mann Legal and IP Recruitment, they were able to look back over their training and careers to date to provide invaluable advice to those contemplating a career in the law, dispelling many myths along the way. Anna Andreeva (U6F), Georgia Bridgen (L6G), Hannah Ewins (U6G), Charly Keen (U6M), Vicki Rogers (U6G), Aoife Murphy (U6M) and Maxim Hibbs (L6S) took the opportunity to continue the discussion more informally over dinner.

Other highlights included papers by Vicki Rogers (U6G), Anna Andreeva (U6F), Matt Storer (U6P) and Tom Croghan (L6C). Vicki asked the question whether current UK law on assisted suicide strikes the correct balance between respect for life and the alleviation of suffering – an important question, which she rendered more telling by consideration of the cases of Daniel James and Tony Nicklinson. Anna used Yearworth v North Bristol NHS Trust (2009) and Tracey v Cambridge University Hospital (2014) to examine the legal and ethical issues surrounding the question to which one can be said to own one’s own body, whilst Matt asked to what extent, if any, the present generation can owe an obligation to future generations (never more topical given environmental concerns), and Tom used his knowledge of John Rawls to quiz his audience on their understanding of Justice. An equally eclectic mix is anticipated next year.

Mimi Tarrant’s (5M) learned discourse on Nature v Nurture was anchored on compelling footage of feral children, whilst Matt Clark’s and Brad Sharratt’s (both 5N) disquisition on sports scandals ranged entertainingly from traces of drugs in the Queen’s horse Estimate to the bitemarks of Luis Suarez. Quizzes proved as popular as ever, and Finn Redfern (4L) emerged triumphant in the one expertly compiled by Maddi Lea and Rebecca Nelson (both 4M), whilst Finn himself delivered a thought-provoking introduction to existentialism, which should ensure that fewer members of A Block remain strangers to L’Étranger. Social convention informing public discourse intrigued both Matt Jankinson and guest speaker Tom Berry (both 4L), in provocatively probing the concept of Political Correctness, whilst Lucas Pringle (3P) incisively analysed the place of rhetoric in the modern world with apposite examples drawn from contemporary politics and advertising. Psychology underpinned both Marcus Tarrant’s (3S) exploration of prejudice and discrimination and Rika Canaway’s (3G) Sherlock-inspired exposition of mind palaces, which those present then proceeded to test. Literally out of this world were Amelia Wigglesworth and Georgia Armour’s (both 3G) investigation of the paranormal, through the medium (pun very much intended) of Sarah Winchester and the Winchester Mystery House.

As a result of all the above, a number of facts have become lodged in my mind, including the number of Armani clothing subbrands (four, if you’re interested) but more importantly the overwhelming impression I am left with is one of the intellectual curiosity and vitality of the Lower School.

JP Master i/c

JP Master i/c

Valete Robert Holroyd We are all – to some degree or other – the product of our environment. Robert Holroyd’s roots lie in the Wirral and, while one has to strain to make out the accent, he shares the characteristics that we typically associate with that part of the country: a passion for sport and music, a love of family and sense of community, a ready wit, and – perhaps most importantly for Repton – an ability to identify and embrace opportunity when it comes along.

Educated at Birkenstead School (by chance, the same alma mater as his predecessor, Graham Jones), Rob gained a First in Modern Languages at Christ Church, Oxford, where he was also Captain of Cricket and a keen footballer and choral singer. It was therefore no surprise that this Renaissance man, himself the son of a headmaster, was attracted to schoolmastering, firstly at Oakham

School. A spell at the Anglo-Colombian School in Bogota, Colombia, followed and then Radley College, where he was Head of Spanish and a Housemaster, before his appointment as Headmaster of Repton in 2003.

He inherited a school in good shape, having survived the economic challenges of the ‘90s and with co-education firmly and successfully established, but the new Headmaster saw an opportunity for Repton, then approaching its 450th birthday, to take its next step in its evolution. He signalled his intent with his first project: the refurbishment of the Old Priory took a building that is the essence of Repton’s history and with sensitivity and style in equal measures rendered it just what the 21st century school needed. And there followed an ambitious series of projects of similar ilk, aimed at improving the academic facilities of the School 37

Valete Robert Holroyd continued as well as the extracurricular whilst preserving its heritage, including the refurbishment of the Music School, the creation of New Court Gallery and the conversion of the Old Mitre West Wing into a new home for the English Department. More recently, flagship projects – the refurbishment and extension of the 400 Hall, the creation of the Precinct teaching facility and, of course, the magnificent Science Priory – have reflect Rob’s personal vision and transformed that area of the School into something of which Sir John Port and Adolphus Pears would have been proud. We have the inspirational environment; we await the realisation of his challenge of producing a Repton Nobel Prize winner in the next 50 years.

The School’s ability to undertake these projects was due in large part to the significant increase in pupil numbers and this was a direct result both of the ambition and enthusiasm which Rob inspired in his Common Room and his personal drive. He brought the hallmarks of his housemastering to his management of the School and parents warmed to his genuine interest in their children and readiness to engage with them. Academic standards and examination results were driven steadily upwards, with pupils encouraged to be confident and ambitious. Rob and his varied headgear were familiar sights around the pitches – a panama for cricket days, the fedora for football and hockey – and he loved to celebrate the achievements of the U14C team just as much as the 1st XI, stopping individuals at The Arch to congratulate them and recalling every detail of that goal or the miracle save. Pupils were regularly invited down to The Hall for social occasions, which Rob valued greatly as a chance to listen to the pupil voice. Above all, he brought an innate humanity and compassion to his role, hating to give up on any individual and believing all capable of redemption with the right encouragement. When the patience of the rest of us had run out, Rob always wanted to give another chance – and more often than not his faith was repaid.

Rob’s background as a modern linguist and own experience teaching abroad fostered his interest in the burgeoning scene of international education and, when an opportunity emerged for Repton in Dubai, he was quick to see the potential benefit for our future and energetic in pursuing it. His personal relationship with the School’s partners was critical in opening doors and most of us in Repton UK were oblivious to the commitment – the number of holiday trips, the red-eye journeys in term and earlymorning conference calls – which this growing network of schools demanded. In this, he and Repton Governor Robert Owen have done an invaluable service to future generations of Reptonians, and how fitting it is that the Library at Foremarke Dubai has been named in his honour.

Above all, Repton has been a home to the whole Holroyd family.

Rob would be the first to pay tribute to the crucial role of Penny: as well as his own key supporter, a wonderfully welcoming hostess who can put any guest at their ease, a vital member of the Hall administrative team, and, for many of the rest of us, the first on the doorstop in times of joy or trouble. Their daughters Eleanor and Joanna were Reptonians of great distinction – both Heads of House and Ellie Head of School, leading academics, superb musicians – and both their family and their school can be very proud of all they have achieved.

There is no doubt that RAH’s eleven years as Headmaster of Repton will, with the clarity of hindsight, be seen as a pivotal period in the School’s modern history: an increase of over 100 pupils, improved academic standards, the forging of international links of genuine and lasting value, a building programme to challenge any other school in the sector, and, underpinning it all, a renewed confidence and ambition in all we do and are. He leaves a powerful legacy for the next generation. Ill health cruelly ended Rob’s tenure as Headmaster all too abruptly, but the Holroyd family and the Repton family remain intertwined and we wish him and Penny both health and happiness as they begin the next stage of their lives.

SABT

Greg Attwood Greg Attwood arrived in Repton in September 1978. A mathematics degree, then a PGCE, at Durham, followed by a Masters from Sheffield University, meant that he was the best-qualified member of the Mathematics Department. He is a genuine mathematician, with a true love for his subject: a love which to those of us outside the discipline remains completely incomprehensible!

Not surprisingly, he was quickly promoted to Head of Mathematics at Repton: a role he fulfilled successfully for 6 years, before moving to become a housemaster. Not content with merely teaching the subject, he has always been keen to explore it beyond the classroom. Almost immediately, he started examining, setting out on a path that would lead him to dizzy heights: in 1981, he was taken on as an ordinary examiner, rising to become, in 1991, the Chief Examiner for Edexcel, the largest mathematics exam board in the country. In 2009, he then took on the extra role of Chair of 38

Examiners for iGCSE, while remaining Chief Examiner for GCE Mathematics – posts he continues to enjoy.

Being Chief Examiner has allowed him numerous opportunities to travel and he has taken part in conferences in many parts of the world: Cyprus, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Zambia and most of the Middle East states. It also meant having the responsibility of setting exam questions for the A level papers – something he thoroughly enjoyed doing – and it was not unusual to see the names of some his pupils appearing in the question papers. In truth, there is little that he enjoys more than exploring the subject and how it works. A fly on the wall in the Attwood house would find GBA playing with his isosceles triangles and dreaming up new ways of torturing poor A-Level students in the exam room.

Incidentally, never one to miss a financial opportunity, being Chief Examiner allowed GBA to co-write and then sell textbooks

Greg Attwood continued (around 20 books or revision guides have been produced), effectively cornering the market!

Although mathematics is his love, the pastoral side of school life has also always been dear to his heart. As a tutor in the Orchard for 16 years, he was always supportive of the pupils.

Many of them enjoyed Attwood hospitality: indeed, from the early days of pancake parties in the Old Mitre, through to afternoon tea at The Pastures, countless Reptonians have always received a warm welcome. This care for pupils and their development was evident when the Attwoods took over The Cross in January 1995. With GBA, ably supported by his wife, Ruth, running The Cross, the pupils knew that their houseparents were caring for them and wanting the best for them, while the Attwoods enjoyed seeing young men grow up into mature adults; they are still in touch with a number of old boys from the House from their time, who are appreciative of their care.

Sport has been a big part of GBA’s life at Repton. He ran the under U15 B cricket team for 17 years, was Master i/c Squash (taking a team to 3rd place in the Nationals) for a while, but it is on the badminton court where he has excelled: at a conservative estimate, he has run over 2000 badminton sessions during his time and, despite all the talent that pupils have produced over the years, only a few of them have been able to beat him. In terms of sport, it is probably a little- known fact that GBA was also involved in the 1970s and 1980s running the ski trips that the school used to run.

Despite not being keen on skiing, not eating cheese (so the pizza evening was a bit of a struggle) and not speaking Italian, he remained undeterred! An abiding memory of one of these Italian trips was coming back in the afternoon to the hotel to find GBA in animated conversation with the Italian manageress: she speaking fluent and loud Italian and GBA speaking equally fluent and

equally loud English, with neither of them understanding a word the other was saying...

A man of many talents, GBA has taken on a number of positions of responsibility over the years. Quite apart from Head of Mathematics and Housemaster, GBA has been Head of Community Service, writer of the timetable and, perhaps most incongruously, Director of Culture, where he was possibly a victim of a headmaster’s ploy of giving a job, not to those who could do it best, but need it most! That said, he has been Treasurer of the Repton Subscription Concert series for over 30 years, so he must have picked up some culture along the way. Staff will remember him, but not thank him (!), for sending them to all corners of the school to invigilate, as he took on the task of assisting with exam administration. His spell as President of the Common Room saw him as a reliable and effective go-between in the years when staff representation needed to be heard at a senior level, and he successfully negotiated the tricky time of the ATL union’s first ever strike call.

Underlying all GBA does is his deep Christian conviction. A frequent speaker in Chapel over the years, he would always speak carefully and thoughtfully – conveying his conviction that following Jesus was not only the right thing to do, but was also possible. In the 1980s and 1990s, when the chaplain took groups of pupils up to Edale for a Confirmation retreat, GBA would always be there helping out. In addition, on virtually every Friday evening over the last 37 years, GBA has been found at Christian Forum, offering a word of wisdom to countless Reptonians over the years and encouraging them in their faith.

Greg has made an immense (and often unseen) contribution to Repton and, although he is retiring from teaching, he is not going to retire from his Mathematics, so he will still be influencing Reptonians with his fiendishly difficult A-Level questions. Repton will miss him (but not his hats) and all he does and there will no longer be that soft voice muttering to himself, “Right, what have we here then?”.

CMK

Peter Bradburn Peter Bradburn’s connection with Repton goes back some 47 years, to an autumnal day in September 1967 when he entered The Priory as a new boarder in B Block, thereby following in the footsteps of his father and elder brother, Richard.

Five years later, the last of which he was Head of House, and having represented the 1st XI with distinction at cricket and hockey, PNB left to study at Birmingham University, little suspecting that within another five years he would be back in the village, not to escape again for a further 111 terms. Whilst the thought of teaching had always been at the forefront of PNB’s mind, it was the then Headmaster, the hugely respected John Gammell, who showed the prescience to let him know of an upcoming vacancy in 1977, thus beginning a career that has had the profoundest effect on generations of Reptonians in so many ways ever since.

Academically PNB has for his entire career coped with the challenge of teaching two different subjects to the highest levels – Chemistry to Oxbridge and Mathematics to Further Maths. It is no coincidence that ORs from every background and vintage recall Bradders as a teacher without equal, and current pupils universally rejoice in their good fortune to be in his sets. Outstanding subject knowledge, combined with a no-nonsense, yet anything but rigid, approach and a willingness to give extra help freely when needed, have meant that Reptonians have always known that they were in the safest hands, whilst equally being well aware they would never be allowed to drop their standards or take any easy way out.

The excellent rapport he has always had with the young, along with his desire for all to be the best they possibly can, would surely have made Bradders an excellent Housemaster, had he wished to go down this route. Nevertheless he has still been extremely involved in the pastoral life of the school, perhaps most especially during his four years as the Resident Tutor in The Hall when it was a House of well over 100 boys. In addition there have been two spells in The Cross and, latterly, time in School House.

Out of the classroom, PNB has had a considerable involvement in 39

Valete Peter Bradburn continued sport throughout his 37 years. Cricket has always been his major love and, after a brief stint with the U16s, he has been responsible for the U14As for the last 34 years. An outstanding left arm bowler himself, he has ensured that those new to the school have had the best possible coaching at a young age, to the benefit of both the individuals concerned and cricket in the school as a whole. A mixture of talented sportsman and educator has meant the highest levels of competitiveness have been instilled whilst always emphasising the importance of enjoyment, maintaining high standards and good sportsmanship. In addition to cricket Bradders has run the U15s, the 2nd XI, and, from 1980-1983, the 1st XI hockey squads, as well as umpiring at the very highest level for both the Boys and Girls over many years. On top of this he has almost single-handedly kept the sport of Fives going, especially in recent years, having first taken it on in 1986. As with the cricket, his coaching and encouragement of those in B Block has unearthed interests and talents some never knew they had. Given all this, it may come as a surprise to hear that Bradders himself considers that one of the sporting highlights of his time here came from none of the sports mentioned thus far, but from football.

Early in his career Bradders was asked to take over the 2nd XI for half a season. His side then proceeded to win all their matches, including an extraordinary game against Ashby G.S. 1st XI. With 25 minutes to go the Repton players were losing 4-1 and had lost their goalkeeper to a serious injury. Then the fightback started and the final result was a 6-4 victory, a performance still remembered clearly by all involved.

Not by a long way does Bradders’ contribution to Repton stop there, however. A great lover of quizzes himself (with a prodigious all-round knowledge), he has had two spells responsible for the GK competition, firstly between 1979 and 1987, when the competition was along the lines of University Challenge, and then more recently, since 2008, when he reorganised the event to make it more like a pub quiz format. The hugely enjoyable occasion it now is can be attributed to his ability to judge the level of questions perfectly: hard enough to challenge and stimulate, yet accessible enough for all to feel in with a chance. This is not luck, but a product of the hours and hours of his own time researching and thinking up questions. Not only school, but community too has benefited from this, as Bradders has also held a number of ‘real’ pub quizzes in the village over the years. Another area in

which he has given up manifold hours of his own time in the summer holidays is public examination results. For 22 years from 1984 his was the task of making some kind of sense of all the information coming from Exam Boards (the first four of which without the aid of computers), so that everything was in place for Results Days. In addition Bradders was for 20 years the Master i/c the Games Committee, a body of pupils and staff which met at the start of each term and was designed to give pupils a say in matters involving House sport in particular, and also President of the Common Room between 1993 and 1999. Last, but by no means least (in any sense of the word!) must be mentioned Bradders’ contribution to Pedants, the Staff show staged every five years which I know to be something he holds very dearly. Nine productions have seen him take to the stage, for the last five of which he has also shouldered the huge burden of co-producer, once more devoting hours of his ‘spare’ time to scheduling, organising, rehearsing, cajoling and encouraging. Whilst most of that will be unseen by all but a few, no-one, neither audience member nor fellow performer, will surely ever forget witnessing Bradders in a tutu in a corps de ballet, or, even more, the sight of him moustachioed and in full leather motor bike gear as part of the YMCA troupe. How the jacket has lived to tell the tale I don’t think any of us will ever know!

Reading back I cannot avoid an acute feeling that I have not done Bradders justice. I must just console myself with the conviction that no piece of dry prose could really adequately convey the contribution he has made to this school and community. In succinct terms PNB is a complete gentleman, highly principled, always demanding the very highest standards of himself and willing to spend all the time necessary to ensure they are reached.

In turn he has expected this of all his charges, and, indeed his colleagues (fielding at slip to Bradders in a Staff cricket match was to be avoided at all costs!), but in a way that has assured their total respect and fondness. PNB is simply a Repton legend and as he now enjoys a new chapter of his life, with Sally, in the glorious Welsh countryside we all know we are the poorer for his absence.

That of course does not stop us wishing him many, many years of healthy and happy retirement.

NJK

Jeremy Bournon Premier League Football managers are not noted for their occupational longevity: they're either sacrificed on the altar of results or seduced by the prospect of managing another team. As befits a school with a strong sporting ethos, Repton's academic Heads of Department latterly resemble Premier League managers in collectively not lasting long in post. They, too, tend to be put out to pasture or 40

themselves find pastures new, yielding to the temptations of Senior Management or House-parenting. Thus, out of 15 academic Heads of Department in situ when RAH became Headmaster in 2003, only Messrs Bournon, Keep and Clague have kept their academic departmental headships until the summer of 2015: a tribute alike to their excellent academic records, exemplary sense of vocation and basic survival skills. Indeed, Jeremy's results are even more outstanding when one remembers that there are always siren voices willing to whisper in the ears of some of the most gifted students that they'd be better off opting for more “academic” subjects.

When, in 1987, two years after he had himself made the journey, I followed Jeremy's footsteps to Repton from King's College School, Wimbledon, he was already well established as a dynamic and

Jeremy Bournon continued innovative Director of Art. This was no mean feat, given that all three of his predecessors in that post, since its inception in 1909 – Maurice Clarke (1909-22), Arthur Norris (1922-52) and Dennis Hawkins (1952-85) – had been legendary figures in that role.

Whilst mindful of their success in making the Art School a creative refuge at the heart of the Repton School community – a refuge which he has made available for pupils at all hours, seven days a week – Jeremy was also keen to ensure that Art percolated into every corner of the School and village. Indeed, the Art Department under Jeremy's direction disproves the seemingly ineluctable law of History that empires rise only to fall. Not only did Jeremy's empire expand academically to embrace Textiles and Photography, but also physically, so that it now includes the Art School, which, with the generous assistance of Robert Beldam, was completely renovated in 1999, the New Court Gallery (home of the Textiles Department, gallery space and studio space for the Artists-in-Residence), and Gallery No.1 on the High Street. Robert Beldam's help was also instrumental in the purchase of PA gear for use in House and School cabarets, Chapel, JCR, 20- 20 cricket and numerous concerts, with Jeremy acting as resident School sound engineer and roadie, whilst he has also frequently stepped in as session player on bass or drums for a variety of bands.

As well as countless exhibitions, numerous art trips (to New York and various European centres of culture), Jeremy founded the David Wilkinson Memorial Lecture, whilst several hundred Reptonians over the years have had reason to thank him for his foresight in creating and patience in running Tableaux Vivants, the Fashion Show and Rockit concerts. These experiences led to Jeremy successfully proposing and masterminding the logistical and magical tour de force that was the Son et Lumière, which was for many the highlight of the School's 450th Anniversary celebrations, and which involved over 100 students and staff telling the story of Repton from Anglo-Saxon times to the present to packed audiences in the Garth over four nights in September 2007.

Much of what Jeremy has contributed to the School has been less high profile, but equally valuable in making Repton an aesthetically-pleasing and vibrant environment, whether that be through the exhibiting of art outside of the galleries, assisting with stage designs or advising on the commissioning of art, and on the refurbishment of the Old Priory. His scheme for Art on Loan to Business not only created a new revenue stream, but forged useful links between the School and business.

However, as all Secretaries of State for Education and many Headmasters routinely fail to recognise, the most important aspects of education do not lend themselves, like examination grades, to easy quantification. First and foremost amongst these is the example that a teacher sets for those with whom he comes into contact. Here, too, Jeremy ranks as a colossus, imparting not merely technical skills, but core values that have influenced several generations and will last lifetimes.

Utterly passionate, totally charming and completely inspiring in his desire to open up the worlds of painting, music, fashion, sculpture and photography by sharing his extensive knowledge in these subjects, Jeremy has also demonstrated an unwavering belief in his students' abilities and a commitment to draw out of them the work of which he knew them to be capable. In so doing, he managed to pull off the difficult trick of challenging students to make them want to do better, whilst also allowing them the freedom to make mistakes and develop their own personalities in their work. In short, Jeremy's energy, enthusiasm and vision have ensured that the creation and study of Art at Repton has provided a springboard for a successful career for some and a source of joy and of intellectual stimulus for the many, whilst no one, whether conscious of the fact or no, has been untouched by his many services to the school since 1985.

Given all the above, Repton is indeed lucky to be retaining his services as Painter-in-Residence next year.

JP

Jane and Matt Mitchell Jane and Matt Mitchell arrived at Repton, accompanied by their two children, Joel and Zöe, from a spell at Christ’s Hospital School, where JPM had been an Assistant Housemistress, at the start of the Michaelmas Term 2008 to take over The Garden. With MM’s unstinting support, JPM set about the task of developing in the girls the qualities she feels so important to help them not just survive, but really flourish at the very top of their chosen life paths: a determination always to stand up for what they believe to be right, the courage to say what they think; an awareness of issues far, far beyond the Repton bubble; and the willingness to develop an independent mind and strong beliefs. As the House perhaps grew in confidence, so it became more successful, especially in the areas of sport and music, and trophies began to fill the shelves. JPM was also a great innovator, starting up a House Council, meetings of

which are chaired by the Head of House, to give every pupil a say on House matters, getting the pupils themselves to write articles and produce photos for the House website, and developing a hugely successful individual pupil mentoring programme, not just for the new intake, but anyone within the House going through a bad time for whatever reason. Fundraising has also been a feature of JPM’s years in the House, chiefly, though by no means only, centred on the annual House Cabaret. Parents book their evenings almost a year in advance, such is the popularity of the occasion now, and an astonishing £6000 was raised by the event in 2014.

In addition to coping with the huge daily demands of the House, JPM has also pursued her love of languages through her teaching of German and French in the classroom. Whilst French has just been to junior year groups, German has been across the school. No one in her classes can ever be in any doubt as to her passion and enthusiasm for her subjects, an enthusiasm which year on year has led to higher than average numbers continuing with German at GCSE and A Level, and excellent results in public examinations, and has also helped weaker candidates find their way through to a decent final grade that might easily otherwise have been beyond them.

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Valete Jane and Matt Mitchell continued Outside the classroom, JPM has coached tennis to U14, U15 and U16 A team squads, but is perhaps particularly known for having been the initial driving force, along with Tim Whiteman, behind the Dreamland Project, setting up the link and organising and leading the first trip out to Ghana. This so typified her ceaseless concern for those less fortunate than us and her determination to awaken a sense of moral and social responsibility in all those under her charge – or, indeed, with whom she works.

In the early months and terms at Repton, MM fulfilled the crucial role of House Husband, in the broadest sense of the term, not only looking after Joel and Zöe, but also throwing himself into every aspect of House life. Indeed, for two terms he was called on to be Matron, surely the only time in Repton’s history a male has carried out this job?! Then, in 2010, he got a job as a Corporate Accounts Manager for the multinational corporation Regus, based at East Midlands Airport. So successful was he in this role that the company wanted more and more from him, to the point where his existence became wholly incompatible with the life of JPM and the family at Repton. Typically selflessly, he thus gave up the post in July 2011 and threw himself back into Repton, and more especially

Garden, life. At the start of 2012, he was asked to teach ICT to Aand B-Block and piloted the ECDL course. His easy manner and utterly natural empathy with the young has made him hugely popular with all, both in the classroom and especially the House.

Music is a great passion for him and he has performed on numerous occasions with staff bands such as the Safety Sisters and Boss & Co in the JCR or the Red Lion, as well as at the House Cabaret.

Life at a boarding school, and especially in a boarding house, has its share of highs and lows, as JPM will indubitably confirm. Thanks to her energy and compassion, her deep-rooted belief in the importance and power of the concept of kindness, and the calm, unreserved support of MM, The Garden today stands proud and in excellent shape for the next stage in its existence. Meanwhile Jane and Matt depart to run a House at Lord Wandsworth College in the lovely Hampshire countryside. The girls there will be lucky indeed to have them, and the whole family goes with the thanks and very best wishes of the entire Repton community.

NJK

David Morris David Morris joined the Repton Chemistry Department in September 1987 and was head of Department from 1997 until 2014. Throughout his Repton career the external exam results in Chemistry have consistently been amongst the very strongest of all of the departments in the school and David can feel justifiably proud of his contribution, as both teacher and HOD, to this outstanding record. In addition to his role in the classroom, David has made substantial contributions to the extra-curricular life of the school as master i/c Rugby, a tutor in Brook House and New House, and an officer in the RAF section of the CCF. In more recent years he has helped out with hockey with the U14 age group, and has planned and manned the conservation group for the Wednesday afternoon activities programme; since 1997 he has also run the weekend activities programme with the same outstanding efficiency as he displayed in executing the administrative tasks of a head of Department.

Those who worked closely with David grew to love a sense of humour which could –and often did – make them smile and lift the mood of any meeting, whether formal or informal. On one occasion, when discussing external exam prospects in Chemistry, it became clear the ‘Castleton’ was a nickname for the boy in question rather than his real name; ‘Why Castleton?’ I asked, only

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to be informed that the boy was ‘a little beyond Hope’. Few new education initiatives escaped without being give an appropriate acronym- it was David, for example, who quickly christened the Sunday Leisure Options programme as SLOPS. Few who saw his portrayal of the dying swan in the Pedants’ production of ‘Swan Lake’ will forget his deadpan face., He could be very funny and, although one or two individuals occasionally failed to appreciate David’s humour, it was always designed to make people smile and never used to mock anyone in a cruel way. Furthermore, he was always ready to laugh at himself; he would for example, tell how cricketing legend Frank Tyson once promised to make him into a fast bowler – only to be told after half an hour in the nets at Denstone by an exasperated Tyson to forget it as it just wasn’t going to happen!

Colleagues in the Department often turned to David’s sharp mind when struggling with a particularly hard problem – he usually offered a solution and generally a very good one. In the classroom, few pupils spoke out of turn or answered back, and his exam classes rarely failed to secure or exceed the grades they deserved.

As a Head of Department, he was well-organised and even-handed in allocating the workload and teaching groups, never giving himself more than his fair share of the best sets. He was therefore liked and respected by his teaching colleagues and technicians; he made us all laugh and we shall miss him enormously. We therefore wish David, Emma and Charlotte every success and happiness as they embark on the next phase of their lives in their home at Birchover , JCD

Pigeon Post Dear Editor Watching Mitchell and Starc's unusual left- arm fast- medium partnership for the Australians at Nottingham last week I recalled my opening partnership with JR Fletcher (N’51) in the 1955 season mentioned by Roger Gillard (P’50) (Arch 325) and John Sale (C’50) (Arch 326). If I remember correctly, controversy reigned also in the match with Uppingham (not all that far from Nottingham!). Repton's opening pair, bowling left arm round the wicket and taking advantage of the humid atmosphere, were generating massive inswing, and the Uppingham batsmen were finding it very difficult to get bat on ball. The next line of defence was the pads and the umpires (of which I think one was Eric Marsh) were responding very positively to lbw appeals with upraised fingers! The Uppingham players were not too happy, feeling that on several of these occasions the ball was not only missing the bat but also the stumps! This match was remembered for the rest of the season as “the lbw match”!

Yours Brian M Betts (B'51) Dear Editor My time in The Hall, Repton, 1946-‘50 Having been in the Hall so shortly after War’s end, I think I might be able to add a little to what has been said about TLT (Lynam Thomas); personally I do not recognise those initials, he was always known to us as, ‘erse,erse’. That arose because when he was in conversation with a boy he would look at them through hooded eyelids, one could barely see his eyes, and his stock reply through almost closed lips was, “erse, erse”, meaning yes, yes.

near the Grubber or on the bank watching cricket matches – never around town. The summer tem of1947 was another thing, following the snow came horrendous floods, again jeopardising the Hall’s boilers being so close to the Old Trent – the water level being up to the top of the arch of the road bridge. That was followed by a plague of frogs; many thousands of them, they came right through the Hall and on up through the Arch with many being squashed by people and cars.

True he was a little aloof, but then Frank Forman Fisher (FFF) was our housemaster and youngest son of Archbishop Fisher who often That’s all by the way, but shows Lynam had much more to deal with visited, probably for Governors Meetings, and on visiting the than just teaching, I do not recall him being much of a thrasher, the bedders nearly always initiated a pillow fight! occasional boy got a few stripes, but only for serious infringements, one senior boy left school the next day never to be seen again after I can’t recall ever being taught by Lynam, but he did occasionally he had been caught dangling a junior by the ankles over a threeteach others. Frankly I am not surprised at his lack of teaching: his floor high stairwell. My own run in with him was a little later and time must have been almost entirely taken up with administration. was about a ‘naughty’ that sometimes occurs with testosteroneHe was rebuilding the school, from memory, Latham was refuelled youngsters I was called into his study, he outlined the case opening after the War. I believe it had been used for the Prep against me and said, “Who else was involved?” I came clean being School before they moved to Foremarke Hall. There were shortages generally the junior partner and he, seeming to know so much, of everything, many of the staff were females for the duration, now replied, “Thank you, that is generally not a good way to behave “. replaced by men back from the war. 1947 was a miserable, cold And that was the end of it we then talked more about red- legged spring, deep snow all term, coal shortages, our boilers were out of choughs which excited him no end. He seemed to have nipped the action for a long time, so deathly cold. ‘Erse’ would see me problem in the bud, least I never heard of anyone being disciplined, wandering round school in a really brilliant yellow scarf with blue and the practice did stop as far as I was concerned. stripes and would say, “Buchanan, that is not really school uniform”. He never did anything about it, being very conscious of Further, I note the derogatory remarks came in the time of his clothes rationing . Anyway, I would not have given it up easily as I successor surely it is quite normal to highlight some aspects of one’s doubt anyone else could boast his scarf came from Saks of 5th predecessor’s work, whether true or false, in order to emphasise the Avenue, New York! To top it all I clumped around in a large pair of improvements one is hoping to make. So for myself, unless harsh sheepskin flying boots: he wasn’t too keen on them either but said words are said by a person present during Lynam’s time, I am not nothing. Lessons in full outdoor gear, including gloves, were prepared to countenance them. common. Admittedly, just before I arrived for the summer term, he had abolished the school rule book, preferring to rely on good Yours sincerely, order. Yes, we still acknowledged masters with a ‘tic’ and only ate John Buchanan (H’46) Dear Editor It was a huge joy to read of the three Christian missionary ORs (Arch 326). Just two years before their move to China in 1885, my great grandfather Dr George Henry Bondfield made a similar journey. He was with the London Inland Mission in Amoy for a couple of years before taking up the pastorate of the Union Church in Hong Kong. In 1895 he was appointed to the Secretariat of the China Agency of the British and Foreign Bible Society, which at the time was in need of some reorganisation.

His field was the whole of China, including Manchuria and Mongolia and even what was then French Indo-China. It is understood that at that time the society was circulating some 300,000 Bibles each year. W hen he retired in 1923 it was ten times that number. He was the great directing force in the production of the Union Versions of the Scriptures in Wenli and Mandarin. Beside the translation, for which he was responsible, the Society’s printing works in China were mainly under his superintendence.

My grandmother, one of his daughters, used to talk lovingly to my sister and me of her time in China and when she accompanied him on a journey to UK on furlough. This journey in 1910 was overland across the Gobi desert on horseback to connect with the Siberian Railway in Irkutsk. She is considered to have been the first woman to cross Gobi and at the age of just 22 years. Her hand-written (in pencil!) diary, recently discovered, picks up the story just before they reach Kalgan (now Zhangjiakou), and describes the passing through Urga (Ulaanbaatar), Kiachta and Verkne-udiuisk (Ulan-Ude).

Dr Bondfield’s younger sister was Margaret Grace Bondfield, who was the first woman to become a cabinet minister.

James Buxton (C’57) 43

Pigeon Post Dear Editor

Dear Editor,

I was surprised to see a photo of myself in The Arch (as well as a letter) – one of the ten Priory new boys in their new CCF uniforms in September 1949, the photo sent in by Ian Johnson (P’49).

Peter Holden's (H'59) comments on Repton in the early '60s have triggered a most interesting portfolio of letters. I did not enter Repton until 1963, so have no input regarding the Headmastership of Lynam Thomas. Throughout my time the Headmaster was John Thorn. Charles Patmore's (M’63) letter is absolutely on target, (by the way, I still tell friends about Charles Patmore, who would consistently get an A+ from Stuart Andrews - Head of History - for an essay covering a side and a half of A4 ).

Best wishes, Antony Chapman (P’49) Dear Editor It is disappointing that correspondence regarding John Thorn's 90th birthday should have resulted in letters criticising, some quite virulently, the era of his predecessor Lynam Thomas. I must have spent my time at Repton wearing rosetinted spectacles, because I just do not recognise the "atmosphere of oppression" described by John Tupholme (C’58) or the "daunting regime" experienced by Des King (C’58). The atmosphere in The Cross in 1958 more accurately resembles Tom Brown's schooldays than my recollections of The Hall ten years earlier.

As for TLT himself, if he was a disciplinarian, he was a beneficent and utterly humane one. It was Frank Fisher who sorted out any breaches of good order in the House. Am I alone in remembering TLT as a friendly paternal figure with a great sense of humour? (e.g. offering the Bishop of Derby at lunch a second helping of jelly - "More wibbly-wobbly, Bish?") TLT earned our respect, but he was not a man to be feared - rather his leadership inspired us. And he was very kind to my parents when I attended the Scholarship Entrance exams. So I am glad to have the opportunity to speak up for him.

Yours sincerely John Frankland (H’48)

There are four memories I would like to share: - .

First of all, we boys were well aware of the tensions that existed between the bevy of “Old Guard “Staff , and the Headmaster . Mr Thorn was very resolute in getting his reforms actioned, and was unconcerned about his consequent popularity amongst the Old Guard. We can thank him for an improved Art Studio, Music School, Metal workshops, and the creation of the position of " Head of School " , an academic appointment, the first of which I believe to have been WEM Godfrey( N ’61). This was Mr Thorn's way of fighting the history that the Head Prefect was always the Captain of Football / Cricket / Hockey. Secondly, as Headmaster, John Thorn possessed enormous natural charisma. When we all gathered by The Arch to protest about Chapel twice on Sunday, Mr Thorn climbed Jacob's ladder and silenced us all with one wave of his hand. Thirdly, John Thorn had ( has ? ) Hollywood Film Star looks. When he walked to the Lectern in Chapel to read the Lesson on Speech Day Sunday, he was serenaded by the sound of drooling from every Mum in the pews. Finally, and very personally, John Thorn was an extremely generous philanthropist.

Andrew Molle (P’63 )

Dear Editor I have received from England my Autumn copy of This England magazine in which there is a very interesting article on the Other Masefield, this was Charles J.R. Masfield MC. OR. 1882-1917 - not to be mixed up with John Masefield the poet but who was a bit of a poet himself.

On referring to the school register 1957 edition, I see that only his younger brother is listed as being in Hall 1898-1902; this made me wonder whether the elder brother was registered on the school War Memorial, having been sent to France on 14th June 1917 and died of wounds the same year finally being buried at the British Military Cemetery, Cabaret Rouge at Souchez France. A paperback has recently been published entitled the Life and times of Charles Masefield by Graham Bebbington published by North Staffordshire Press, available from This England PO Box 814 Haywards Heath Sussex RH16 9LQ, the magazine is available from any magazine outlet or from the above address Greatly admired in Ontario, Canada is a 95 year old school silk square inherited from my father still in perfect condition, worn on a regular basis in the summer -- perhaps one of the oldest bits of OR apparel still in almost daily use!

Kind regards

Dear Editor A piece of additional "rubbish " - I was interested to read of the President's interest in Squash Rackets. I was only once beaten, in my first year, by any boy at Repton and went on to captain Oxford University in 1956. Clearly we are like- minded in that respect.

John Richardson (H’47)

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Nick Steward (B’49)

Dear Editor, Reading recent editions of Pigeon Post in The Arch, I have been surprised at the extent of negative comment concerning Lynam Thomas' headmastership. Like John Hay-Heddle (L’56), I cannot comment on how his tenure compared with that of John Thorn, as I too left Repton before Thorn's time. However, I join John in defending TLT's record. He taught me Geography for a term or two and certainly played a part in nurturing my interest in the world around me, which ultimately led to a successful and most enjoyable career in economic geology. Though he was undeniably a little distant from boys from houses other than The Hall, my memories are of a man of his times, a traditionalist and advocate of strong discipline, tempered by common sense and a somewhat mischievous sense of humour. John Tupholmes’ (C’58) description of an "edifice of subservience, control and fear" strikes me as more than a little over the top. I certainly did not find the Repton culture "a corrosive distraction from the objective of education and fulfilling personal development".

I should declare my biases. John H-H is incorrect in his belief that TLT's attempt to persuade Derbyshire County Council to sponsor scholarships at Repton for local boys was vetoed by the council, Labour-controlled or otherwise. I was one of three such boys who entered the school in 1947. I believe three more scholarships were awarded the following year, though were not much publicized, for

perhaps obvious reasons. This initiative provided me with a much broader education than I might otherwise have received and, without it, I would never have met my wife of 55 years. For both I owe The Boss a debt of gratitude.

That is another story, briefly mentioned in Peter Trott's (P’48) essay on Life at Repton, 1948-1953, also published in the Spring edition of The Arch. I was the Priory boy who, as Peter so delicately puts it, "developed an association with a village girl". At the time I was foolish enough to believe that the authorities knew nothing of this.

Obviously I was wrong; that blind eyes were turned is yet another testimony to both Len Catley's and Lynam Thomas' wisdom and humanity. I think the last time I saw Bunny Trott was while I was still a student at Imperial College. I and my "village girl", by then my fiancé, met him on an escalator in Haymarket tube station, while on our way to the theatre. We may have found time to stop for a drink. It's all so long ago I can forgive him for misspelling her name and, if he reads this, I wish him well. I took a job in Canada after graduation but, as soon as I had enough money saved, returned to marry Elvie in St. Wystans. It was not quite "forever after" as Bunny describes, as I lost her to a stroke a few years ago. Until then we had taken much joy in exploring the world together, both on business and for pleasure. Perhaps I got more than many out of my time at Repton.

John Newell (P'47)

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Overseas Links

Below is a full list of those ORs who have volunteered to be ‘Overseas Links’. We are very grateful to those who have volunteered, but there are many gaps in the list of countries. If you would be willing to act as an Overseas Link in a country not already covered, please contact Nigel Kew/Jan Cobb at: or@repton.org.uk or jcobb@repton.org.uk

Country

Overseas Link

House/Yr. Email

Telephone

AUSTRIA AUSTRALIA New South Wales Queensland Perth Sydney Victoria (Melbourne) Victoria BELGIUM CAMBODIA CANADA Alberta British Columbia Eastern Ontario & Quebec Toronto Western CHILE CHINA CYPRUS DENMARK EAST AFRICA (Uganda) EAST AFRICA (Kenya) EIRE ESTONIA FINLAND FRANCE GERMANY (East/South) GERMANY (North/West)

Doug Fletcher

New '01

contact@chaletexperiences.com

+43 650 9686865

Lloyd Berger David Miller Frank Smith Natalie Wynne Simon Q Crabtree Vanessa Twigg Hadrian Coulton Philip Dews

Priory '71 Hall '59 Orchard '53 Abbey '95 Orchard '90 Abbey '76 Mitre '82 Brook '45

berger.lloyd@gmail.com David.Miller@airgroup.asn.au frank@happygardener.com.au nataliewynne@hotmail.com simon@afps.net.au vanessatwigg@optusnet.com.au notharyy@gmail.com aseandirectory@hotmail.com

0409 544100 0617 33953715 +618 92997363

Rev Martin Hattersley Ed Monro Tony Houghton Kamil Alam David Laing Nicolas Ibanez Scott Jipeng Li Richard Sale Mathilde Juul Mark Dudley Philip Hechle Dr. Huw Rolfe Kadi Lilis Saar Roger Smith Rev James Barnett James R Chapman Beate Erdmann Severin J B Zilg Eddie Niem David Poon Tom Goodall John Syed Julie Daniels Natsuko Sato Toby Fricker Ian Grout Tim Wilkinson Oliver Hayes Martin Robinshaw Richard Hedley Ibrahim Dikko David Llewelyn Paul Bleckly Alistair Fairclough Steve Targett Lizzie Tebbs (nee Waller) Tracey Washer Richard Coventry

Orchard '46 Cross ‘56 Latham '51 Mitre '88 Latham '70 Latham '70 Field '97 Hall '61 Abbey '91 Priory '91 Hall '50 Hall '52 Garden '09 Priory '66 Hall '57 Hall '83 Abbey '99 Mitre '01 Latham '66 Hall ' 85 New ' 93 Brook '83 Abbey '89 Abbey '96 Priory '88 Brook '81 Cross '75 Brook '91 Latham '78 Hall '66 New '83 Orchard '63 Cross '67 Orchard '46 Cross '76 Abbey '92 Abbey '88 Brook '73

Ryan Brews Peter Hall

Mitre '00 ryanbrews@gmail.com Latham '57 peter@cookingbear.co.za

+27 766 170 098 +27 022 492 2009

Mark Smith Luke Allen John Wilcox Jonny Greenall Ga Jeun Lee Peter Stones Andrew Neville Charles Adeogun-Phillips Jom Salakshana Charles Ostick Omar Hadeed Huseyin Yardimci Charles Neil Sandy Farquharson Jane Roy Mark Wilhelm Verheyen Mike Jolley Edward Huson Robert Perks Andy Hilton Ash Johsi Andreas Graham Anthony Edgar James Kirtland Russell Elliott Douglas Balchan Shaheen Ladhani Christopher Huson

Orchard '78 Orchard '87 Mitre '82 Orchard '89 Abbey '92 Latham '05 Hall '69 Orchard '83 Mitre '76 Orchard '75 Priory '99 Hall '83 Priory '65 New '97 Abbey '86 Cross '77 Orchard '47 Hall '70 New '71 Brook '68 Latham '82 Mitre'83 Orchard '90 Orchard '88 Mitre '93 Orchard '71 Cross '89 Hall '72

mshsmith@btinternet.com luke@atg.com jdw@fidentiis.com infor2@sloanemallorca.com gajeun.lee@gmail.com pete.stones@gmail.com aaneville@outlook.com charles@cjaresantanylaw.com jom.salakshana@trs.co.th ostickc@gmail.com omarhadeed@hotmail.com huseyin@yardimci.gen.tr charlesjohn.neil@gmail.com sandyfarquharson@hotmail.com jroy@uab.edu mverheyen@comcast.net MnJJOLLEY@aol.com eahuson@gmail.com robert_perks@baxter.com andyh@totallybrilliant.com ash@caprity.com andreas.graham@verizon.net ajedgar@me.com james.kirtland@gmail.com russelliott@gmail.com djbalchan@aol.com shaheenladhani@gmail.com mrhuson@mindspring.com

+34 662 143 442 Mob +34 654 328 577 + 00 349 141 534 15 00 34 639 702 411 +82 01053601046

Edward James Hutson Elliot Charles Reid Gordon Sharp Huw Thomas Samuel Chibale

Mitre '68 Hall '64 Priory '54 Latham '73 Mitre '95

james@ellcorentals.com bracmed@candw.ky gsharp@cwjamaica.com hadthomas@aol.com chibale_s@yahoo.com

HONG KONG INDIA INDONESIA ITALY JAPAN JORDAN MALAYSIA KUWAIT PAKISTAN MOROCCO NEW ZEALAND NIGERIA NORWAY PHILIPPINES PORTUGAL QATAR QATAR SAUDI ARABIA SINGAPORE SOUTH AFRICA Cape Town Natal SPAIN South & Gibraltar Madrid Madrid Mallorca SOUTH KOREA SWEDEN (STOCKHOLM) SWITZERLAND TANZANIA THAILAND THAILAND TRINIDAD TURKEY UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNITED ARAB EMIRATES USA - All USA - All Arizona California Chicago Florida Los Angeles Massachusetts New York New York North Carolina Ohio Texas Washington WEST INDIES All Cayman Islands Jamaica YEMEN ZAMBIA

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+41 79 607 42 60 + 255 272 565 329 + 66 233 190 53 & +661 819 2717 +99 818 169 E61825 001 868 632 2140 +90 532 426 3504 + 971 506 550 92 + 1 205 934 1757 +415 203 9225 + 1 520 529 9562 +415-203-9225 +0 847 270 4354 +1 863 858 4000 818 501 9898 +1 917 475 -1059 +1 917 558 1079 704 526 7846 + 001 937 322 2040 +1 281 850 4292 + 1 206 328 6112 + 246 256 4637 & +246 434 7395 + 1 876 986 2870 +967 711 437 124 0978 214 362 (zain network) add international dialling codes

Your Contact Details In the OR Office we are keen to ensure that we keep our records updated for all ORs. To this end we would be grateful if you could contact us if any of your details change, such as address, email, telephone numbers etc. We are also delighted to hear your ‘good news’ such as engagements, marriages, births, qualifications gained, new jobs etc. We will only publish such information in The Arch with your agreement.

Please email the office: jcobb@repton.org.uk or or@repton.org.uk Or telephone: 01283 559320 Or write to us at: The Old Reptonian Society The Hall, Repton School Repton, Derbyshire DE65 6FH

The editorial staff retain the right to edit any submissions.

Thank You!

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Repton School Shop - Memorabilia OR Ties: Silk Smooth Silk Non Crease Bow Tie

House Scarves: The Priory School House New House Latham House OR House/Sports Ties: The Orchard Brook House The Mitre (Girls) The Hall Cross The Priory The Abbey School House (Polyester) Field House New House The Garden Latham House The Orchard Banded white sweaters (long sleeved and The Mitre sleeveless) The Cross OR Football OR Hockey OR Golf (striped) Cambridge Pilgrims Tie

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New silk ties for Old Reptonians for all of the Houses are now available.

All items are available from the Repton School Shop, The Paddock, Repton, which can be contacted for price details and to place your order on: Tel. 01283 559323, or by email: shop@repton.org.uk

47

Leavers 2015

The Old Reptonian Society The Hall, Repton School Repton, Derbyshire DE65 6FH

Tel. 01283 559320 Email: jcobb@repton.org.uk / or@repton.org.uk

Website: www.repton.org.uk