NEWSLETTER MAY 2007
ANNUAL DINNER
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The Annual Dinner was attended by nearly 100 Old Boys and former teachers. The Headmaster, Roy Page, spoke briefly and showed pictures of School activities over the last year. The Guest of Honour was John Roebuck. John taught History at the RGS for 36 years, and was Head of History since 1991 until his retirement last summer. He introduced Fencing to the RGS with remarkable success, and it was good to see a number of fencers coming back to bid him farewell. John spoke with his usual gusto. Prior to the Dinner the AGM took place, and OWs were given tours of the school, highlighting the new developments. Judging from the comments of those who were there, the evening was a very enjoyable one. |
AGM
About 20 OWs attended the AGM. Ian Clark no longer would be Secretary, but he would continue to be much involved as Editor of the website, the man i/c the Data Base, and doing various other jobs. Chris Andrew (1959-1967) takes over as Secretary. Danny White presented the accounts, which are still to be audited. Ron Wynands stood down from the Committee after many years of noble service. David Woodbridge (1970-1975) and Alex Horsfall-Turner (1994-2000) are the new members of the Committee
SHOOTING
Chris Andrew writes as follows:
On 28 April 2007 a shoot took place involving fourteen Old Wycombiensians (OWs) and two members of the current school team (the School). To give a competitive edge, two recent OW shot with the School, to the disadvantage of the remaining OWs, since their contribution resulted in the average score for the School being 133, compared to the OWs at 129. This was not, however, as severe a trouncing by the School as last year, in which the OWs may gain some solace.
Split into four details, the shoot comprised five ranging shots, ten shots deliberate and ten shots rapid deliberate in 90 seconds. Congratulations to Chris Webb, OW shooting for the School, who had the highest score, P Huyton, highest scorer for the School proper and Dave Pickering highest scorer for the OWs.
Our thanks to the boys for coming along, the school for the use of the range and a special thanks to Chris Cunningham for giving up his afternoon to run the shoot and the range so efficiently. The afternoon was most enjoyable and hopefully we can repeat it next year.
The OWs who competed were as follows:
Chris Andrew (3rd=), Paul Arthur, Carl Franks, John Haley, David Hedgeland, (3rd=) Alex Horsfall-Turner, Dave Pickering, (2nd) Bill Seymour, Chris Swinhoe-Standen, Richard Webb, and J. Zorab.
OWs as School: Francis Mostin and Chris Webb. (1st)
School: Patrik Nicholls and Paul Huston.
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Bill Seymour, Chris Andrew and David Hedgeland at the shoot 2007, and 3 of the 1965-1966 Team. Can you match them up?
HOCKEY
David Stone writes as follows:
The annual Old Boys hockey match against the H.W.H.C. took place at the Cressex Astro this year on the last Saturday in April in very hot conditions.
It was a pleasure to welcome back Jon Wyatt who captained G.B. in the 2000 Olympics playing in his first game for a year. It was good also to see Marcus Hunnibell who had not played for 10 years! The current Headmaster Roy Page usually appears in this match but a 'back' problem sidelined him on this occasion. Jon Buxton (88) came along to support the O.W.s.
Quality hockey was played by both teams. At 2-1 down the O.W.'s started to push for an equaliser but found themselves vulnerable on the break with Chris Goodchild taking his chances well to give the H.W.H.C. a 4-2 win. Scott Ashdown and Tim Mann were the scorers for the O.W.'s and Chris Goodchild scored all 4 for the H.W.H.C.
O.W.'s :
Scott Ashdown (90), James Cremin (00), Mike Farmer (85), Marcus Hunnibell (82), Tim Mann (82), Brendan McNally (76), Simon Molden (95), Simon Noakes (91),Raza Sheikh (02), David Willmot (74), Jon Wyatt (91).
H.W.H.C. :
Nick Barnard, William Budgell, Dom Day, Chris Goodchild, Adam Grout (father Mike taught Bus. Studs. at RGS in late 80's), Jamie Holderness, Jonathan Lanchbury, Chas Richardson, Paul Reeman, Dave Stanley, Paul Stinchcombe, Ben Thomas (father David taught Physics at RGS in late 70's).
Umpires: Roger Pantridge, Tim Stone (77)
GOLF
If you play golf, and you do not have to be good, as it is based on handicap, there is a golf match against the teachers, played at Weston Turville near Aylesbury, starting about 4.00pm on Friday June 29th. If you would like to play in this event please contact Ian Clark
CRICKET
In the Summer Term, there are cricket matches with the OWs playing the Teachers in an evening match on June 26th, when those of you who are at University have probably returned, and on July 18th starting at 2.00pm, there will be the Annual cricket match between the OWs and the School Team for the Duncan Moore Trophy. If you would like to play in this event please contact Ian Clark
1950 PREFECTS
David Wiltshire has very kindly lent this photograph to us for publishing. It is of the prefects in 1950. If you were at the RGS then, how many can you name?
SAD NEWS
We have just heard of the death of David John Bevis (1952-1956) and extend our deepest sympathy to his family and friends.
NEWS
Editor writes:
I have heard that Alexander Walker, who was at the RGS (1985-1991) has made his debut at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, conducting the Nutcracker. After completing a music degree at Bristol University, he studied in St Petersburg, and has conducted in many countries. More details will appear in the section about individual OWs on this website.
LETTERS / EMAIL TO THE EDITOR.
Dear Ian
Above is the third team rugby photo from 69-70. Apart from myself sitting to the right of the captain with the ball (left as you look at the photograph) I cannot remember the names of anybody. I do however remember that we used to have a good time. Being thirds we were not as serious as the first team who needed to win, or the seconds who all thought that they had been left out of the first team by oversight and were out to impress! However we had our fair share of winning matches.
David Moore 63-70
Dear Ian,
I went to Eric Macfarlane's book launch and there was a large turnout, although I was the only one from school days. It is possible that copies might get to Waterstones in the town here, but there is no problem getting hold of it anyway.
Funnily enough I have lent the book to an ex work colleague
and RGS pupil, from the 60s, who after reading a bit of the chapters about the
school much agreed with what he saw. He felt that it was a good school if
you were academic or good at sport, but not for the rest. I suppose that's
why I enjoyed it (sport not the other although I did reasonably OK). I am
sure things have changed, or have they?
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Best wishes,
David Wiltshire
Ed. If you were at the RGS since the sixties, what are your feelings about the RGS? Did you think that it was a good school, if you were academic or good at sport, but not for the rest?
Dear Ian,
I have news of two OWs.
Gareth Cann, who left in 1986 to read History at Birmingham, and then joined the West Midlands Police Force. He was promoted to Assistant Chief Constable in that Force on his 40th birthday. Gareth has two young children, Lucy and George. He is a very keen cyclist, skier and is interested in Astronomy.
Ian Cann left in 1988 to read Spanish and French at Emmanuel College, where he got a First. He served his Articles with Freshfields in London, and he now works for BP specializing in corporate law. Ian has two small children, Thomas and David, and lives in Guildford.
Best wishes,
David Jones,
(Former Head of History)
Ed: you would like to tell us what you are doing or tell us what your friends are doing, please do so.
Dear Ian,
Here is a photo of Tyler’s Wood around 1955. It is such a long time ago and I was only there 1954-1956, so I can only guess at a few names. The matron is in white and surname Bligh. On her left is the housemaster Pattinson, then his assistant Horace Johnson, then Gordon, Matthews, then Aikens. On her right is Lacey, then Roger Owen.
Behind the matron is, I think, Rankin. I am on his right and at the end is Chandrubeksa. On Rankin’s left is David Scott-Kiddie, and the only one I can name on his left, next to the end, is ‘Spud’ Murphy, nicknamed ‘Mandrill’.
Yours sincerely,
Andrew Newton
Ed: Can anyone name any others?
Dear Ian,
It is with extreme sadness that I have to advise you of the death of my great friend Colin Fair, an RGS contemporary of mine, as was his brother Brian..
Colin spent his entire working life in the Met Office before taking early retirement only a couple of years ago. His death from a stroke came completely out of the blue, and is a huge loss to us all.
Regards
Steve Bond
(1958-1963)
Ed: We extend our deepest sympathy to Colin’s family and friends.
Hello Ian :
Did you see in the BFP that 2 OB's died recently?
D T G (Tom) KINGHAM, late 1930's/ early 1940's
Dennis (Danny) THOMAS, mid/late 1940's
Regards
Terry Williams
Ed: We extend our deepest sympathy to their families and friends. Please note: the Thomas mentioned is NOT the Danny Thomas who was at the RGS 1945-1952.
Dear Ian,
Very many thanks for the copy of the RGS Old Boys’ magazine. I was at the school as a boarder for 5 years 1942-1947. During the war we had lots of experiences. I think the worst was when a Doodlebug bomb fell and blew some of out of our beds!! Nearly all of the windows in front of the school were broken. It was hard going at times, a piece of the school field was dug up together with areas of the main drive, which were ploughed by a local farmer. Potatoes and vegetables were grown and it was a nice way to spend Detention or you were sent to the woods to collect leaves for compost. It was organized by the Honer Brothers. There were three of them at the School, all of them boarders.
I became a member of the Old Boys on the advice of my father, who was at Borlase. He paid for my subscription of £3, which was a lot of money at the time, but as he said, "you will always be in touch.” Unfortunately I did not keep up with my changes of address. So I missed out. I have been in farming most of my life. Gordon Rayner was the Head Prefect in the boarding-house and I would like as many pounds for the number of times he gave me the slipper. Horace Johnson maintained law and order for us boarders with his gruff voice and swift cane use.
We were a happy lot on the whole and enjoyed the extra free time in the summer evenings with cricket and fives etc. Ted Woodward and Ron Syrett were two of my friends at school and after. Our fathers knew each other and we played a lot of village cricket with and against each other. Believe me I have a lot more memories. Thank you so much for the magazine.
All the best in the future,
Robert Clark
Ian,
Do you remember Simon Kahn, who left school in 2002?
He was featured in the Times Saturday magazine a few weeks ago for his beatbox
skills.
Anyway, he also has a website which features a clip of his performance on the
Jool's Holland show. The first item in the downloads section is an amazing
beatbox performance
Alan Crease
Ed. Alan Crease has taught at the RGS for 27 years. How much do you know about
beatbox?
Dear Ian
Roy Page suggested I email you to let you know about the Auction of Pledges event the PA is organising for the 21st September 2007. Perhaps you attended or were aware of the previous event, we have again secured Eric Knowles as our auctioneer and are busy collecting "pledges" to auction on the night. The reason for my email is to explain about the event and ask if you could enquire if any of your members are able to obtain a pledge. This could be anything from a donated round of golf from a local club, a dinner at a restaurant or last time someone donated a week at their holiday home! Pledges collected already include; a days 4x4 driving from Hughes of Beaconsfield, a day out on a yacht, signed Welsh Rugby shirt, and family bowling at Megabowl of Maidenhead, but we have a huge task ahead to secure around 300 pledges for a successful evening. I would like to invite you all to make a note of the event in your diaries. It promises to be a lively entertaining evening.
If you have any questions or anyone wishes to contact me please email at this address and I will reply on my return.
Best Regards,
Libby Terry
(member of RGS PA)
Email address:
libby@terrye.fsnet.co.uk
Ed: It would be great if OWs could help the PA, and thus the RGS, by donating a pledge, or coming to the event.
Who and what?
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Andrew Mactavish sent us these photographs. Can you recognize what it is, and have you any memories of it?
NEXT NEWSLETTER
This will be published on July 22nd. Please send in your contribution, your memories, and your photographs to me, Ian Clark ianrclarkuk@yahoo.co.uk.
Ian edits the Newsletter, Judy De Gelas embellishes it and
Martin Berry ensures that it appears on the website.