OR NEWS

OR News: Snippets

Fleur Marshall (A’88) has been selected to take the position of Head of Royal Navy Medical Services in Navy Command Headquarters. “This is a huge privilege,

to take up a leadership role with a fascinating portfolio of responsibility, including medical transformation for the Royal Navy.”

Joe Cook (C’11) completed 13 half marathons in 13 days for Mental Health UK.

Lavinia Blackwall (F’95) and former member of staff John Plowright have written a song together. John wrote the lyrics and Vinnie wrote the music and songs. Search Lavinia Blackwell on YouTube.

Caitlin Chadwick (G’13) has been commissioned into the Royal Regiment of Artillery. The Sovereigns Parade took place at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

• Joe Cook (C’11) is/has completed 13 half marathons in 13 days for Mental Health UK Jamie Clark (L’14), under the artist name Sfven, is releasing tracks through Liverpool based label 3Beat.

Chris Hills (N’01) received his Masters with a very High Distinction and one of the highest marks given for his recital. Chris was also named as the Trinity College Trinity Talent 2020 Alumnus. This takes on board all those who have taken Arts

Awards over the years for Music. It is a massive achievement to be judged against other musicians on other instruments and

professionals in the Music business. Part of his prize will be taking part in Trinity events. The Trinity judges said: “Chris

shows outstanding achievement in music, which is particularly impressive. He’s clearly a great advocate for the arts and has embedded his artistic endeavours throughout his life.”

Matt Bankhurst (N’16) has signed up with EMI and has his first single out.

Main photo, left.

Callum Inman (O’16) has been awarded a scholarship from The Institution of Engineering and Technology.

Bruce Turner (P’58) was awarded the MBE in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours List in recognition of services to business and the economy in East Lothian. Bruce founded PureMalt Ltd the company in the 70s and now has sales in seventy countries across six continents. Repton is proud to have had three Old Reptonians representing Great Britain and Germany in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Ikoyi won “The One To Watch” at this year’s “The World’s Fifty Best Restaurants”. Congratulations to co-owners, Iré Hassan-Odukale (L’03) and Jeremy Chan.

James Finnigan (N’11) has competed in the Davis Cup representing Bermuda.

In lockdown last year Major Mick made a homemade boat out of two sheets of

corrugated iron, before sailing it 100 miles up and down Chichester canal to raise money for a local hospice. Now he is back with the Tintanic II and plans to row 100 miles for Alzheimer’s Research. Major Mick is preparing to row on rivers, canals and open water from the South of England, through Wales to the Highlands of Scotland. Michael Stanley (H’54).

The Druids Challenge

George Rainsford (M’96)

As I approach my 40th birthday next year, I’m attempting a ridiculous running challenge to commemorate this milestone but, more importantly, to raise money for the Huntington’s Disease Association.

“The Druid’s Challenge” is a multi-day ultra- marathon, completing the full length of The Ridgeway, Britain’s oldest pathway, in three days. It will be an enormous undertaking, following in the footsteps of herdsmen and soldiers who have used The Ridgeway since prehistoric times, on a route that stretches 83 miles (134km) over ancient landscapes, woodland and hills. It has an ascent of 2203 metres, more than two times the height of Snowdon.

For three consecutive days, I will run more than a marathon distance each day, in likely unfavourable weather, on challenging, undulating terrain.

Regrettably, I had never heard of Huntington’s Disease until my character in “Casualty” was diagnosed with carrying the faulty gene. It’s not uncommon to be ignorant about this. A survey conducted as part of the Huntington’s Disease Association’s 50th year as a charity discovered 91% of those with the disease found the people they told about the condition didn’t know what it was. Huntington’s Disease is an incurable, hereditary and degenerative brain disorder. It has been compared to both Parkinson’s Disease and Dementia. Most devastatingly, anyone carrying the faulty gene has a 50% chance of passing it on to their own child.

The producers and I at “Casualty” have now worked closely with the Huntington’s Disease Association for the past five years, fact-checking and getting advice, in order to portray the ongoing storyline as authentically as possible. Recently I was invited to meet individuals and families living with Huntington’s Disease to see first-hand the effects it has on them. It was hugely impactful, a heart-breaking, lifeaffirming and humbling experience and I was honoured afterwards to be asked to become a

patron for the charity.

The Huntington’s Disease Association supports anyone who is affected by Huntington’s Disease across England and Wales. They pursue the best possible care, provide training and advice to families and professionals, raise awareness, and promote research towards better treatment and care. I also want to raise awareness so that the

public understand not only how devastating the disease can be, but also to celebrate the amazing strength and positivity that some families with Huntington’s have. Recently I was able to bring two members of these families on to the “Casualty” set as background artists, which was one of their bucket-list experiences.

If anyone wishes to help, my donation page is now live at:https://www.justgiving.com/

fundraising/georgerainsfordDruidsChallenge