Академический Документы
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2009
making fantasy
a reality
In this issue…
2 President’s Welcome
3 News
5 Chairman’s Letter
6 making fantasy a
reality Jonathan Green
8 working at
waddesdon manor
Rachel Boak
10 Headmaster’s View
11 OE shooting team
Daniel Trenchard
18 back to my roots
Tom Bowles
20 a year in switzerland
Briony Martin
22 mongol rally
Peter Ludlow
25
red carpet treatment
Tom Bowles
treasurer’s report
26 in memoriam
28 future events
and notices
Executive
President’s Welcome Committee
I am delighted to have been given the opportunity
to serve as President of the Association of Old
structure
Edwardians. My time at King Edward’s was back in the The Association of Old Edwardians is formally managed
days when the Preparatory School was in Belmont, by the Executive Committee which consists of members
who have been elected by those present at the Annual
Lansdown, and the Main School in Broad Street.
General Meeting. The committee is actively seeking to
Among the significant events of that time was the recruit new members. If you are interested, please get
arrival of a new fourth form master, Bill Currie, in touch using the contact details on the back page.
who brought a lively and enthusiastic teaching style
Current members of the committee
that woke up our rather grey post-war days!
President Professor Francis Ring 1947-1954
Today’s King Edward’s School is a wonderful example of
Chairman Paul Higgs 1990-2000
up-to-date facilities and vibrant, modern buildings that must provide an invaluable
start in life for the pupils. My last year at King Edward’s in 1952 saw the purchase of Treasurer Peter Horton 1942-1949
Bathampton sports field, the first glimmer of light in the School’s modernisation. Rachel Allen 1987-1989
Tom Boyce 1987-1997
Since that time I, like so many others, have maintained my links with King Edward’s
Michael Darcy 1992-2002
through the Old Edwardians’ Association. In recent years it has been good to meet
many of my contemporaries at the Forties and Fifties Brigade Reunion organised Naomi Isherwood 1998-2000
by Geoff Hughes, to whom we owe a great Tom Isherwood 1993-2002
debt of gratitude. Again this year we spent a Michael Kenwood former staff
pleasant afternoon on a Kennet and Avon Canal Mike Prosser 1938-1948
cruise after meeting for lunch at the School.
Andy Ridyard 1979-1986
In June committee member, Tom Isherwood, Jo Stoaling 1994-1997
and I represented the OE’s at the School Brian Wilmot 1938-1945
Leaver’s Day. It was good to meet not only
School liaison representative
those who were leaving the School, but
Geoff Staley former staff
also many of the parents. At the close of
the summer term we met in Bath Abbey Governors’ representative
for the annual Founder’s Day Service. Here I heard, for the first time in my John Isherwood 1966-1973
60 year plus experience of the School, the actual words of the King Edward Secretary
VI Charter read aloud to the 1,000 strong congregation by the out-going Claire Davies current staff
Head Girl, Hannah Williams and Head Boy, James Wright, followed by the
Honorary members
thanksgiving prayers and the School prayer. During that service the excellent
Senior Choir sang three anthems that filled the Abbey. After the service we were The Headmaster
able to enjoy the good weather during drinks and lunch at the Junior School. Head Boy
Head Girl
As we now live in the age of communication, it should be easier to renew contacts
with the School, whatever your vintage! It is especially helpful now that we have Honorary Vice Presidents
our own website, OEs Online, where you can trace others from your year, enter Pat Buckingham former Chair of Governors
your own email address, and re-establish contact. I have been delighted to hear Laurie Coombs former Mayor of bath
from two former school friends, despite the gap of over 50 years. Please do take General Sir Jack Deverell 1953-1963
the opportunity to link up in this way we very much want to hear from you! Peter Horton 1942-1949
Furthermore, as you read this in the OE Link, may I add my thanks to Claire John Isherwood former President
Davies, who produces this high quality magazine for us. She would like to hear Michael Kenwood former staff
from more OEs; you do not have to appear in print if you do not wish to. John Pearson former President
Could I also remind everyone that, as well as arranging reunions and events Mike Prosser 1938-1948
that provide opportunities to meet in or outside Bath, the Association gives Professor Chris Rapley 1955-1966
practical support to activities and provides equipment for the School. This
Trevor Rhymes 1936-1944
year we funded the purchase of two new medical
Crispin Rowe former Headmaster
dummies for first aid training and in the coming year
we hope to provide safety handrails on some steep Bob Russett 1966-1971
and unprotected stone steps outside Nethersole. District Judge Rutherford former Chair of Governors
Peter Sheppard former President
We recognise that the majority of Old Edwardians
leave the Bath area after their time at the School, but Geoff Staley former staff
do keep in touch; it is an encouragement to staff and Tim Sylvester 1954-1965
can often be the means of renewed friendships. Brian Wilmot 1938-1945
Francis Ring Dennis Whittaker 1932-1939
Old Edwardian 1947-1954 Adwoa Winter former Secretary
Dr John Wroughton former Headmaster
OEs Online
Wroughton
Lecture 2009
best school The eighth lecture in the annual lecture
“I had the best job in the
series sponsored by former Headmaster,
in the world.” Lang Jones John Wroughton, was given in March
this year by international mountaineer
New benches for Bathampton Stephen Venables.
Five new solid wood benches were formally unveiled at the In 1988 Stephen became the first Briton to climb Everest
Bathampton Playing Fields on 7th July 2008. This was a project without supplementary oxygen. His talk, Higher than the
initiated by Lang Jones and completed by the Old Edwardians’ Eagle Soars, was illustrated with stunning pictures and covered
some of his many travels, ranging from early alpine adventures
Association as a special tribute to Lang. Each bench has a plaque
to great classics like the North Face of the Eiger and overseas
with a special inscription, several dedicated to the man himself.
expeditions to Afghanistan, the Mountains of the Moon, the
Representatives from the five groups who generously sponsored mighty Karakoram and culminated in his epic ascent of Everest.
the benches – the OE Committee, OE Rugby Club, Fathers’
The lecture was a fantastic success, being inspirational for
Committee, Former Parents’ Association and Sue Jones – met
young and old alike, and also raised £2,000 for the school’s
for lunch with Headmaster Crispin Rowe to formally ‘open’ Bursary Funds.
the new benches. As envisaged by Lang, the new benches
provide a wonderful place for parents, Old Edwardians and Stephen is the author of twelve books – all available at
visitors to relax and enjoy watching sport at Bathampton. good bookshops – and the latest, First Ascent, is published
by Cassell Illustrated.
Chairman’s Letter
Welcome to the 2009 edition of the Unlike previous generations we are not seeing a large number
OE Link! As this is my first year as of OEs returning to the Bath area, at least not until they are
Chairman of the Old Edwardians’ older. This means that as an association we need to rethink
Committee I ought to introduce how we go about getting in touch with our peers and other
myself. I left KES in the year generations to encourage social events and communication. The
2000 after a full 11-year stint Old Edwardians’ Association, of which all OEs are members, is
and went on to study veterinary a fantastic working network of people and the opportunities for
medicine at Cambridge. In 2006, forging new contacts and strengthening old ones must not be
immediately after graduating, I lost in the mists of time. We need your help to modernise this
found myself back in the Bath network so that it can develop with us and continue to provide
area working as a vet in Frome. Being back in Bath the resource that it was originally designed to do. Thanks to the
has allowed me to take on the position of Chairman and get continual hard work of our wonderful Secretary, Claire Davies,
involved with the future of the Association of Old Edwardians. we now have an online network through which we hope to be
able to bolster our contacts list. It is accessible through www.
KES has always been a thriving force of proactivity and this year
kesbath.com under OEs Online; if you haven’t been supplied with
is no different. We now have Martin Boden at the helm and much
a password please contact Claire using the above contact details.
to be proud of with the best-ever set of A-level results: 100% of
students achieved a pass and 91% of these were As or Bs. KES As part of our endeavours to encourage the younger OEs to
has always been a fabulous place to learn but, as all of us know, it maintain contact, the Association will have a number of firsts
has also always offered a vast array of opportunities for students this year. To celebrate over ten years of organising Ten Tors for
to broaden their experiences of the world. This year, as Old the School by Tim Laney, a reunion took place in September
Edwardians we can be rightly proud of one of our colleagues, Dan on Dartmoor for a weekend’s reminiscing, walking and beer.
Wright (1997 leaver), now back at KES teaching physics. With You can read later on in the magazine about the trouble we
the charity Moving Mountains, Dan enabled KES to forge a new got into. Thanks go to Sam Lascelles for his organisational
relationship with Wagwer School in Kenya. Through multiple efforts. There will also be an “Eighties” reunion for the
well-organised fundraising events the school community raised 1988/89 leavers on 24th October – hopefully not too much
over £36,000 for Wagwer and in the summer of 2009 Dan took 32 actual Eighties wear will be flaunted! If you are interested
KES pupils there to help build the new facilities the money was in setting up a reunion please contact Claire for help.
helping to pay for! You can read a pupil’s experience of the visit
Finally we are also starting up a new event which will become
on the opposite page. On behalf of the Association I would like
another OE tradition. On 27 December there will be a recent
to congratulate Dan on his continued endeavours for the School.
leavers’ reunion at the Royal Oak in Widcombe. There
In view of the economic climate, 2009 has been an will be a buffet put on by the Association. Although this is
understandably quiet year in terms of events for the Old predominantly for the 2009 leavers, all young OEs are very
Edwardians’ Association. The London Dinner was held on 11 welcome! We envisage that we will arrange a venue every
September instead of its original date in January and, despite year, always on 27 December; it will be advertised in this
reduced numbers, it was an extremely enjoyable evening with magazine and on the website so keep your eyes peeled. The
the Radisson Edwardian Bloomsbury Street Hotel providing next generation of OEs is always the most important; if you
an excellent venue with a great menu. The London Dinner is have any other ideas for suitable events please do contact us.
traditionally the busiest and most energetic of the Association’s
All that is left is for me to wish you all a safe and profitable 2010
annual Dinners and we are keen to ensure that we can continue
and I look forward to seeing many of you at forthcoming events.
to host it every year. We are looking for a fabulous venue for next
year and ask all Old Edwardians, of any generation, to help us find Paul Higgs
somewhere which will encourage a healthy turnout and allow us Old Edwardian 1990-2000
to maintain a competitive ticket price. Many venues in London
require a member to ‘host’ the evening and we have been very
fortunate in the past in being able to hold Dinners at the House
of Commons and the RAF Club. If you have any suggestions,
please contact Claire Davies on 01225 820357 or email
development@kesbath.com. We really do want to hear from you!
Jon with his children
Working at
Waddesdon Manor
I have worked for the National Trust at Waddesdon
Manor for nearly five years, having come from the
Museum of Costume in Bath, following degrees in
English Literature and Museum Studies.
I was a sixth former at KES between 1996 and 1998,
studying for A Levels in English Literature, History
and Music. Working in museums interested me early
on and, while still at school, I did work experience
and voluntary work at the Museum of Costume
and Holburne Museum. After KES, I studied for
a degree in English Language and Literature at
Worcester College, Oxford, accompanied by more
voluntary work at the Ashmolean Museum. This was
followed by an MA in Museum Studies by distance
learning from the University of Leicester.
Rachel dressed for
sculpture cleaning My first job, as Documentation Assistant
at the Museum of Costume, grew out of
voluntary work. I started at Waddesdon in 2004 as Assistant Curator
(Steward), combining documentation with the practicalities of
looking after the collection, and was promoted to Curator in 2007. Boy building a house of cards by Jean-Siméon Chardin (1699-
I am part of a team of ten, with roles ranging from administration 1779), 1735. Oil on canvas, 76 x 99 cm. Waddesdon, The Rothschild
and creating exhibitions, to running the photographic library. Collection (The National Trust). Photo: Mike Fear © The National
Trust, Waddesdon Manor
Waddesdon is a combination of historic house and museum, with
changing exhibitions, as well as a unique set of 19th century interiors. town and country houses. Ferdinand mixed 18th century French
As a curator, I am involved in the care, documentation and exhibition panelling, furniture, porcelain and textiles with 18th century English
of a collection of predominantly 18th century French decorative arts. portraits by Gainsborough and Reynolds and 17th century Dutch
paintings by artists including Cuyp, Wouwerman and Teniers.
Waddesdon, in Buckinghamshire, was built and furnished in the
1870s and 1880s by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild (1839-98) from Having survived two world wars, and because of the lack of an
the Viennese branch of the banking family, who settled in the Vale heir to the estate, Waddesdon was bequeathed to the National
of Aylesbury. As collectors, the Rothschilds favoured treasures from Trust in 1957 by James de Rothschild (1878-1957). It has been
pre-revolutionary France and recreated interiors in this style in their open to the public since 1959 and is run by one of the Rothschild
Family Trusts, chaired by the current Lord Rothschild.
Conservation of the Red Drawing Room ceiling
10
Old Edwardian
Shooting Team
12
the Northern Isles
Having been to the Park Prep School in Weston, to work with Hebridean International Cruises. Working on
I passed the entrance exam to King Edward’s the Hebridean Princess around the Western Isles of Scotland
and made my way there in 1967. and on the Hebridean Spirit as far as India and South Africa
brought back memories of the Canberra world cruises.
Enjoyable memories come flooding back – the social
side of army camps at Penhale and Culty Braggan with Having moved up the ranks over the years, it
haircuts at the last minute to be allowed to go; the
ski trip to Norway led by John Wroughton, on a ferry was a fantastic experience to work on a small
that hit a force ten. (Had I not been with hardier boy cruise ship as food and beverage manager. Within
sailors I might have been put off the sea for life!)
two months of joining, I was informed that the
Achievements for winning house colours in Symonds as
Queen had chartered the ship to celebrate her
part of the successful music competition and hockey team
go hand in hand with the sad reminder of exam results. 80th birthday in July 2006. This is a memory I will
My lack of success in the O Levels was not down to the never forget. If only my father were alive today
teaching or even the revision (which I genuinely did) but
simply to the fact that they asked the wrong questions!
to hear me say, “I still enjoy going on holiday but
never thought it would be with the Queen”!
I would like to say that KES gave me confidence
It is coming up to two years since I was promoted to chief
and a good grounding for the future, based on the purser and I have met some very interesting people from
knowledge I did retain from the map of the world all walks of life, including teachers. What a small world it
is that one of our on-board guides has a sister who lives
drawn on the board by Lang Jones and the Latin in Bath just below the school in North Road. Not only
phrases uttered by Mr Willett as he came into class. did she have a son who went to KES, but her husband
The CCF with Colonel Currie and Sergeant Major has proof-read several of John Wroughton’s books.
Dodge also helped to instil discipline for the future. The KES link culminated in an extraordinary
After this time my father asked me what I would like to do as case of déjà vu one month after I crossed over to
a career – since studying was clearly not to be. I had no idea.
Bergen to cruise the fjords on board the Hebridean
My father then asked me what I enjoyed doing most. I quickly
answered: “Going on holiday!” I must thank him for that Princess. Last summer, forty years after that
question and his suggestion that the hotel industry would be my stormy crossing to Norway on the school ski trip,
best suited direction (which it still is after 34 years). I had two
enjoyable years at Weston-Super-Mare Technical College where
I found that I was again sailing with my old History
I met a student who had gone to work on ships. This inspired teacher, none other than John Wroughton!
me to apply to several shipping companies to experience travel
whilst working as a steward and I was accepted by P&O. David Indge
After two years on the Canberra, I was transferred to Old Edwardian 1967-1974
Princess Cruises where in 1979 I met my wife on board the
Sun Princess (the ‘Love Boat’!) When we married in 1982
(and had our daughter Liz a few years later), I left deep sea
cruises and worked on the P&O ferries across the Channel
and the Bay of Biscay. Then, in 2005, came the opportunity
Over a period I undertook longer and The ride took place in July and early August showers which were sorely needed at the
longer distances, culminating in successful 2001 and on the appointed day I and some end of each day. At Okehampton there was
completion of the Salisbury One Hundred 40 others arrived at the camp site at Sennen only one set of showers so the ‘boys’ and
ride in 1991. This entailed a start in near Land’s End nervously wondering just ‘girls’ had to take it in turns to use them!
Salisbury, going north to Devizes and what we had let ourselves in for. The group
The next day again started off wet for our
Bradford-on-Avon and then climbing were a very mixed bunch ranging in age
journey to Taunton but we were much
Brassknocker Hill to Combe Down, and from the youngest in their late twenties
relieved to reach the flat lands of Somerset
returning to Salisbury via Midford and to the oldest, a gentleman in his seventies
after the hills of Cornwall and Devon. Then
Warminster, a total of 100 miles in one day. – no, not me! The first evening was spent
on to Bath, crossing the obstacle of the
enjoying the first of many excellent meals
Then, in 2001, when I retired I decided Mendip Hills on the way. Bath was to be our
prepared in the catering van which was to
that I needed a greater challenge. The ride first rest day and I resisted the temptation
accompany us, and on introductions to
from Land’s End to John O’ Groats seemed to return home for the night to sleep in a
the organisers who would be supporting
to fit the bill but there were two major comfortable bed having only just become
us along the way. Then an early night
problems. The first was to be fit enough accustomed to sleeping under canvas. Our
to prepare for the hard work ahead.
to complete the course and the second camp was set up on the rugby pitch on the
was the logistical problem of where to stay The following morning the sun was shining Recreation Ground and we were treated to
each night and how to carry the necessary and we all cycled the couple of miles to a the calls of the hundreds of seagulls that
luggage without too much effort. In the end very misty Land’s End for the necessary arrived before first light to disturb our sleep.
I joined an organised camping trip where group photographs before starting off in
Over the next days we travelled to Upton on
luggage was carried from stop to stop and twos and threes as we were ready. It turned
Severn, Much Wenlock and into Derbyshire
breakfasts and evening meals would be out to be a beautiful Cornish summer’s
to Buxton and over the southern Pennines.
provided at each site. Lunches were taken day as we rode through Penzance and on
It was on the morning we were to leave
in the inevitable pubs and cafes along the to our overnight stop in St Austell after
Buxton that the conditions I had most
way. The organisers also provided tents, riding almost 60 miles. We were all pleased
feared occurred – we awoke to torrential
which they would put up each day for the to be on the way and had great hopes that
rain beating down on the tents and had
weary cyclists, and a bicycle mechanic to the weather was going to be kind to us.
to get up and out and set off in the rain.
follow the riders in case of breakdowns.
Our hopes were dashed the following However, once we had been cycling for half
Training took the form of regular cycle morning when we woke to a fine drizzle an hour or so, the little matter of getting
with overcast skies but fortunately it thoroughly wet did not seem to matter any
rides in the months preceding the trip, dried up as the day wore on. This was to more! The only consolation was that this
gradually building up the mileage to the be a much harder day as we headed for was one of the shortest days at 45 miles.
necessary 60 or 70 miles per day. I found Okehampton, crossing Bodmin Moor on
The plain around York was a short-lived
the way and negotiating the steep slopes
it fairly easy to cope with this sort of of the Cornish hills and valleys. Late in
relief after the Pennine Hills but we soon
came to the high hills of the Durham Moors
distance in one day but was warned that the afternoon we arrived at Okehampton
between Barnard Castle and Hexham. The
it would be much more difficult to keep Rugby Club ground, our overnight stop
Scottish border was crossed in the Kielder
after 67 miles. We now realised that many
this up every day for three weeks. of our stops were to be at rugby club and
Forest Park, once again in heavy rain.
school grounds where there were communal
14
By the time we reached Edinburgh for our
second rest day we had cycled for nine days
continuously and for thirteen altogether,
but we all seemed to be coping well and
quickly getting fitter. Also there were ‘only’
John O’ Groats
five more days to go to John O’ Groats.
One of the hilliest days was on the journey
Helmsdale
from Crieff passing through Kenmore,
Tummel Bridge and thence joining the
A9 over Drumocter summit at over 1500
feet to Kingussie. From here on we were Inverness
treated to long, slow climbs and then fast
downhill runs before the next climb on
our way from Inverness up the east coast
Kingussie
of Scotland to the relatively flat country
from Helmsdale to John O’ Groats.
St Austell
Land’s End
1950s
Derek Tigwell, 1954
16
Stuart Williams, 1986 and security agencies. Over the last few
I am currently Deputy Managing Director
years the Navy has kept Ian away from UK 2000s
shores with deployments in the Middle
& Marketing Director for Sony Pictures in
the UK. My work covers the marketing of
and Far East, preventing his attendance Ed Phippen, 2004
at OE functions, but with an appointment Was awarded a First Class Degree
our film releases in cinemas, including
ashore planned in 2010 he hopes to have in Mechanical Engineering from the
the advertising and media, promotions,
more time to catch up with old school University of Southampton in 2008.
publicity and premieres and events.
friends and finish renovating his house.
Recently I have worked on the release
of the last James Bond film, Quantum of Rory MacQueen, 2004
Solace, which included organising a royal
David Osborne, 1998 leaver
premiere in aid of Help for Heroes and Is working in Bangladesh for the UK
the British Legion that was attended by Government’s Department for International
Prince William and Prince Harry. This year Development. One of his projects involves
I have worked on film campaigns for the working with the political parties to
release of the follow-up to the The Da Vinci help them better represent themselves
Code, Angels and Demons, plus the next through programmes such as Bangladesh
instalment of the Terminator franchise, versions of Question Time and Panorama.
Terminator Salvation, and a movie based In his spare time, he is doing his best
on the life of Brian Clough starring Michael to introduce Bangladeshis to rugby.
Sheen, The Damned United. Future releases
include 2012 in November, which is a Phil Cass, 1999 and
spectacular disaster movie directed by Chris Dixon, 2001
Roland Emmerich based on the Mayan
prophecies of the end of the world.
18
Not so long ago I was congratulating myself on having eluded the
clutches of farming. However, this last 18 months have taken a
turn in the opposite direction!
A Year in Switzerland
Briony Martin, her husband Peter, and their sons, Max (7), Ben (5) and Jack (2), moved to Switzerland
last year for a work project. They returned to the UK in July 2009.
I wish I had done French A Level at KES by a winning smile. My early attempts at into onlooker mode. Being an outsider has
because it would have been a great help chat were more earnest and much more enabled me to value what’s great here – the
when we arrived in Switzerland one year embarrassing, but then it’s harder work as a clean air, the feeling of safety and security,
ago with our three small boys and the only grown-up, not only because you have been and the fierce independence of the Swiss
words we had were “merci” and “bonjour”. used to talking in a certain way for years – and also to see more clearly what it is I love
Switzerland has four official languages but also because expectations are higher. about the UK. Despite the credit crunch,
– French, Swiss German, Italian and the falling house prices and economic doom and
At first there seemed to be endless ways I
mountain dialect, Rumantsch – and our gloom, England, for me, is home. It’s where
could feel my own foreignness. There were
year has been spent in the French-speaking I belong. Just as my Swiss neighbours have
the shopkeepers who listened patiently and
region of Vaud on the beautiful northern been nurtured and formed by the mountains
then replied in English, the tradespeople
shore of Lake Geneva. On a clear day the and the Alpine pastures, so the flatter, gentler
who corrected each and every word I said
mountains at the eastern end of the lake countryside of Wiltshire has nurtured me.
before I’d even finished, and the checkout
frame the towns of Vevey and Montreux like
lady who tutted and rolled her eyes as I Unlike our neighbours here, we have been
a majestic white cloak, each peak hinting
tried to ask a question. But these were floating on the surface of Switzerland,
at the Alps rolling away behind. But to our
all outweighed by the vast majority of dipping in to make fondue or drink the local
five-year-old and seven-year-old “mountains
lovely people who smiled and made a real ‘fendant’ wine, but never really belonging.
are for Mummy”. The only question in
effort to understand. This isn’t just a Swiss It must be very different to move abroad
their minds is , “What is there for kids?”.
phenomenon. Incredulity in the face of permanently, through work or a relationship,
First up for all of us has been a crash course someone’s inability to make themselves and to know that ultimately the language and
in French. Not in school or with a tutor understood is global, and no doubt we Brits cultural barriers must be overcome. That is
but in the boulangeries and magasins of are some of the worst offenders. When we someone else’s article to write and no doubt
Blonay, the sprawling Swiss village 2000 come back to England this summer I’ll never many old Edwardians have lived it. For us,
feet up the mountain where we have made again undervalue someone’s poor English. our Swiss interlude is drawing to a close.
our temporary home. The boys missed a Now I know what it’s like to be saying in my We will return with improved French and
term of school when we first arrived here head a complicated and interesting sentence a lifetime’s worth of admiration for Swiss
and so they were my shadows and helpers about how long we’ve lived here and what cakes, and we’ll never forget the soul-lifting
as I toured the local villages, sampled the we think of it, and yet all people hear is sight of the mountains that you get here
various coffee shops and reeled at the an overdose of the present tense along the on every street corner. But we’re going to
wonderful quality but horrendous prices lines of “One year we live here, we like”! be ready to say “merci” and come home.
of Swiss food. And they have been quick to
pick up the lovely politeness of Swiss-French
Despite the language barrier we have found Briony Martin
being foreigners strangely seductive. If you Old Edwardian 1987-1989
street conversation, addressing everyone
clearly don’t belong then you always have
as ‘Madame’ or ‘Monsieur’ accompanied
the option of detaching and retreating
20
Pedalling all the way
In 2009, Sam Williams cycled from England to Kenya, a distance of nearly 6,000 miles
across three continents and 17 countries. It took a total of 109 days to reach his
destination – FARM-Africa’s Kenya Dairy Goat and Capacity Building Project in Mwingi.
In 2008, I rowed a 23-foot boat across the Atlantic by myself. When FARM-Africa
Of all the questions people used to ask me, one came up arrived, he was selected
again and again: “Why?” Thankfully, there was a very simple by the local community
answer. I was raising money for a project set up by FARM- to become one of the
Africa, a charity that supports rural communities in eastern beneficiaries. Having
Africa. After a while, I made the decision to visit Mwingi in been given suitable
Kenya in order to find out, first-hand, what it was all about. training, he was loaned
Everyone agreed that that seemed a very sensible idea. two goats by the project.
Once settled in their
Then I got on my bicycle. newly built houses,
these were sent to be bred with a Toggenburg buck, a dairy goat
The 109 days that followed my rather unsteady departure breed from Britain. Having repaid the initial loan with the first
from London on 29th March this year took me everywhere two kids, Macdonald continued with the project. He now has 14
from the ambassadorial residence in Jordan to a ditch by goats, worth over £1,000, whose milk and offspring provide a
the side of the Danube (at which time I was hiding from a source of both nutrition and income to his family, including his
gang of drunk Hungarians). I was surprised on more than new-born baby. His cousin is entering his final-year at university.
one occasion: I certainly never expected the Sudanese to be
But the most important thing about FARM-Africa’s work
the friendliest people I’ve ever met, nor that a Turkish petrol
is the intelligent way in which it is designed. With the
station would prove to be the perfect campsite. But the 6,000-
running of the project being taken over by the Kitui
mile journey was incidental to the real point of the trip: the
Mwingi Dairy Goat Breeders’ Association, a community-
Kenya Dairy Goat and Capacity Building Project in Mwingi.
run, financially self-sufficient organisation, the benefits
FARM-Africa works with the poorest households in the areas will continue to be felt long after FARM-Africa leaves.
in which it operates. I spent quite a bit of time with a man
Rowing the Atlantic was probably a crazy idea. Getting on a bike
called Macdonald Munuve. Soon after he turned 20 both
to cycle to Kenya was undoubtedly a crazy idea. Thankfully it
of his parents died, leaving him to provide for and raise
turns out that, sometimes, crazy ideas can turn out to be the best
five siblings and cousins. Not helped by the fact that the
ideas, and worth every ounce of effort that goes into them.
family’s only livestock had been sold in order to pay the
hospital bills, Macdonald’s only option was to take whatever But please don’t ask me to do it again!
casual labour he could find, earning less than £1 a day.
Sam Williams
Much is made in Britain of the sacrifices needed to send
Old Edwardian 1994-2002
your child to a good school. Macdonald faced a similar
problem; the only way to pay the school fees for his cousin,
a promising student, was for the whole family to fast for Sam has raised nearly 25,000 for FARM-Africa. To read more
three days, eat for one, then fast for another three days. about his journey to Kenya visit www.pedallingalltheway.com
22
We entered Georgia and experienced Even the vastness of Kazakhstan hadn’t
the worst road of the trip as we crossed quite prepared us for the barren landscape
a mountain, in a thunderstorm, in the of Mongolia. It’s a very high country and we
middle of the night (a shortcut) and left were met with a view of rocky plains and
the following day having suffered nothing hills stretching as far as the eye could see,
worse than a broken radiator. We later interspersed with mirror-like lakes. Mongolia
learned that the Russians had invaded was tough on the cars. During a brief rest
Georgia two days after we left but at the on the second day we discovered that our
time had no idea. Azerbaijan was next and fuel tank had been punctured by a rock (not
this was easily the most troublesome of
all the countries we were to visit; in most
Ben and Olly at Christina Noble of the countries beyond Turkey, officials
Foundation village asked for bribes but on the whole they
sponsorship from friends, family and would get bored if we refused and let
local businesses. Before we knew it it was us go. This did not apply in Azerbaijan
time to leave and we found ourselves in as we found to our cost, spending
Hyde Park with around 200 other woefully seven hours impounded at the border
underpowered and underprepared teams because we refused to cough up $30. With Iranian host
buzzing with excitement. We had had a Prior to setting off we had been slightly Shahram and friend
minor issue with Gordon as we arrived in concerned about our next country, with
London with the engine seeming to cut out visions of being mobbed in the street for
and then struggling to start again but Ben for the first time) but this time it was slightly
being UK citizens. As it turned out this
later (and possibly correctly) put this down more exciting because the exhaust pipe had
couldn’t have been further from the truth.
to my ‘incompetence’ behind the wheel! also been bent so that it was touching the
The country was Iran and the very first
tank and the leaking petrol was covering
We were off! The drive to Dover, ferry thing we noticed was the friendliness of
both of them. We attempted a repair but
crossing and first couple of hundred the woman at the border and the lack of a
it was far from perfect and we drove
kilometres seemed to pass in a blur of request for a bribe. It was the first of many
the next few hours with the somewhat
excitement; we were brought back to good qualities of the country; we were
worrying thought of a fiery, explosive
reality suddenly with the most challenging struck by how surprised and even grateful
death in the Mongolian wilderness lurking
navigational situation we were to face the people seemed that we had come to
in the back of our minds. We needn’t have
in the entire journey – Brussels. Not visit their country, many of them having
worried. At next inspection the exhaust
only did the city’s road system seem never met any Europeans or Americans
pipe was conspicuous in its absence and
designed to trap the unsuspecting before. We were overwhelmed with the
the fuel tank was dripping away risk-free.
driver forever but the streets were so generosity and hospitality that we were
crammed with people and bright lights met with and had we accepted every We arrived in Ulaanbaatar after five
that we concluded we must have had offer of tea or a place to stay I have no days of Mongolia without having seen
the misfortune of arriving on ‘Belgium doubt that we would still be there now! a single tree. Gordon was given to the
Day’, a national holiday with magnificent So it was with some regret that we had organisers who donated all the cars to
street parties unrivalled throughout the to leave and go to Turkmenistan. The local services after repairing them and
known world (or so we liked to imagine). border crossing was not without incident we passed two weeks camping about
and we were impounded once more for 10km outside the city (the money had run
As we continued on through Germany, 24 hours, having left at the wrong border out!). On a day when I was attempting to
the Czech Republic, Slovakia and into and having had to re-enter Iran on expired secure visas from the Russian embassy
Hungary we began to see more and visas. (A cursory interrogation and then for our journey home (this involved a few
more huge concrete buildings, reminders cup of tea and chat about Tony Blair with difficult moments as “Da” only seemed
of the Soviet era and also of the bleak the customs boss solved our problems.) to be the answer to the first question the
orphanages that Hope and Homes had official asked) Ben and Olly visited the
made it its mission to close. In Bucharest, We passed through the spotless and
Christina Noble Foundation village and
Romania we saw homeless children gold-leafed, but strangely empty
saw firsthand the great work being done
probably in their late teens begging for capital city of Ashgabat and then hit the
there. The children were being taught not
food and money in between taking deep scorchingly hot Karakum Desert where
only to read and write Mongolian but also
sniffs of what looked like a powerful we experienced temperatures of up to
to read English using donated books.
solvent. Sobered by these disturbing sights 55°C. Uzbekistan brought fabulous ancient
but also given drive by the fact that our Islamic architecture and we had the strange With visas secured and time run out we
journey was raising money to help these experience of bumping into some German said our fond farewells to the people
children, we continued on through Bulgaria tourists in the city of Bukhara. Kazakhstan we had met and to the adventure
and to Turkey, the gateway to Asia. is a surprisingly vast country and it took us and began the voyage home...
a full three days to cross it and it brought
Apart from the budget-wreckingly expensive with it our first sighting of camels! After a Christina Noble Foundation:
petrol, Turkey is a fantastic country to visit brief dip into Russia (whose border guards www.cncf.org
and we found the people very welcoming did not like our Georgian passport stamps) Hope and Homes for Children:
and we were serenaded with car horns we were finally at the Mongolian border. www.hopeandhomes.org
as we drove down the motorway! We
stopped in Istanbul briefly but just long Peter Ludlow
enough for it to become the site of the, Old Edwardian 2000-2007
now infamous, ‘poosplosion’ story which,
alas, is much better told in person...
As George Best
His former drama teacher, who has just left King Edward’s
after 20 years at the school, said Tom’s talent stood out
A former Bath schoolboy is rubbing shoulders with the likes of Tom from the beginning. “Right from a very early age, Tom was
Hanks and Morgan Freeman after landing a role in a major film. absolutely determined that the only thing he wanted to be
was an actor,” Sue Curtis recalls. “He was a central figure in
Tom Payne, who went to King Edward’s School, made a name for performing arts at King Edward’s all through his time there.”
himself in Britain with parts in the BBC drama Waterloo Road
and Channel 4’s Skins. Now the 25-year-old’s work is being seen Tom played Ariel in a school production of Shakespeare’s The
in cinemas across the world after he landed the role of Phil in Tempest and also took the lead role in a play, The Fool, written for
the film Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, working alongside Oscar the millennium. “He was a lovely performer. He was also a brilliant
winner Frances McDormand and Oscar-nominated Amy Adams. improviser and has got a very quick imagination,” says Sue.
He has just returned from the film’s premiere in New York. It’s After the success of Miss Pettigrew, Tom now hopes that his future
a far cry from 10 years ago, when Tom was treading the boards lies in films. He says “Making the film was wonderful. I couldn’t have
in the lead role in his annual school play. Tom says his one-time wished for a better calibre of actors to work with. I was surrounded
drama teacher at the school played a key part in his development. by all these people I admire. I went over to America for the premiere
in New York and also went to LA. It was completely crazy. I now have
“I have very fond memories of my drama teacher, Sue Curtis, a manager and an agent and also had a chat with Tom Hanks and
and the drama department at King Edward’s,” he says. “I first Morgan Freeman. At the moment I would just love to do more films.”
started acting in school plays from about the age of seven, when Article Copyright: thisisbath weekly, Bath News and Media
my teacher saw that I was quite loud and mouthy and decided
to put me in the show. But it was Sue, at King Edward’s, who Tom Payne
first moulded me, not only as an actor, but also as a person.” Old Edwardian 1990-2001
Tom left the school after completing his A Levels and won a Footnote
place at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. More recently, Tom played famous footballer, George
He graduated from the college three years ago. Since then he Best in the BBC2 Biopic: Best: His Mother’s Son.
has enjoyed success in West End plays and was named as one
of Screen International magazine’s Stars of Tomorrow 2007.
24
Honorary Merchandise
Treasurer’s
Report
As the new Treasurer of the Association, I am
pleased that in my first report I can confirm that
the Association’s finances are in good shape.
Our accounting year runs to 31 August and at the
end of 2007/8 we had a surplus of income over expenditure as against a deficit of
£15.95
+pp £4.00
£1,291 at the end of 2007. This improvement was attributable in the main to a useful
profit on our social events and an increase in the subscription income, mainly from
school leavers. As already reported, we have funded the purchase of two new solid wood
benches at Bathampton and two new medical dummies for the school in addition to
the annual contribution of £750 to the School’s Bursary Fund. We have also contributed
to the fundraising efforts for KES Kenya, the Old Edwardian shooting team and the
School’s sports tour to Canada. Our contribution to the production of the OE Link
magazine will rise this year, but the committee members consider it money well spent.
The country is in the middle of an economic downturn with many people finding life
difficult. The Association’s members are not immune from these pressures and this was
reflected in the much lower numbers booking for our events this year. The Cambridge £3.50
Dinner was cancelled and the London Dinner, which was postponed from its January date +pp £1.75
to September 2009, suffered a loss in the region of £1,300. It will be vital for the Association
to increase attendance at our Dinners if we are to continue to host events such as these.
With careful management, we remain optimistic that the Association can and will
be able to continue to support the School and the wider Old Edwardian family.
No report would be complete without a ‘thank you’ to the Finance Committee for its
support and guidance. Also to Claire and Nia, without whose input my job would be so
much more challenging!
Peter Horton
Old Edwardian 1942-1949
£14.00
Hands-on
training £2.00
The Old Edwardians’ Association
has contributed £2,949 to enable the
Medical Centre at KES to purchase some much-needed new medical
dummies for lifesaving training across all three schools. The basic dummies the School An order form can be downloaded
had been using were useful and much loved but, at over ten years old, they were rather from the ‘Old Edwardian’
worn and no longer fit for purpose. The donation means that KES now has an adult- section of the school website
sized dummy and a junior version which are being used for first aid training for staff and
– www.kesbath.com
pupils, the St John’s lifesavers club and for pupils participating in the Duke of Edinburgh
Award scheme. Both models have an in-built traffic light feedback system, or ‘skill saver’, Alternatively, please send a cheque,
which provides a visual aid to show trainees when they are using them correctly. made payable to the Association of
School Nurse, Andrea Choules, says “The new dummies provide learning Old Edwardians, to the Development
on different levels, not only practically, but also visually reinforcing good Office, King Edward’s School, North
practice for CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) – a life skill. They are
Road, Bath BA2 6HU with a note
a fun learning tool and the ‘skill saver’ means self-assessment can take
place along with staff direction. This is an important part of developing listing the item you require and
pupil skills in a non-judgmental and safe learning environment.” your name and postal address.
26
Jane Prestidge
Staff
26th December 1950 – 2nd July 2009
It is an honour to be able to say a few words today in memory
of Jane on behalf of all her friends who got to know her, respect
her, laugh with her and share her love of life during her time
at King Edward’s. Jane started work at KES in March 1980 – a
long time before quite a few of the colleagues who now work
with us were actually born. Indeed, an association of nearly
30 years means that Jane must be one of the longest serving
colleagues in recent memory. During that time, she saw service
under six different Head’s, which just goes to prove the old
sporting adage that form is temporary, but class is permanent.
Jane was certainly a classy lady in so many respects. Firstly, and
quite obviously, in her appearance: always elegantly attired with
perfectly manicured nails. She once nearly stole the show at a
Founder’s Day Service when she wore a stunning navy blue hat
to complement her equally elegant dress. Such was the impact of
unto the end. And still so kind and caring: always asking
the hat that the then Chairman of Governors, Mark Rutherford
you about how you were, what you had been up to, how
commented on it in his Chairman’s end of year address,
things were at home and showing a genuine interest in your
much to Jane’s mild embarrassment, but much greater private
welfare, rather than dwelling on her own circumstances.
amusement. In case you are wondering, Jane bought the hat on
a whim from – yes, you’ve guessed it – Marks and Spencer, so Jane loved her job. She loved working with the colleagues
it’s not only recent profits for which M&S have Jane to thank! who almost invariably became close friends, many of
whom are here today to let it be known just how much
Secondly, she was classy in her they loved her, and just how lucky they feel to have
had their lives touched by such a special lady.
demeanour. She was always well
Above all, Jane loved her family. She was so proud of Tom, of
balanced, poised, serene, even under his academic success, his achievements in life, of the boy he
was and the man he had become. As a recent parent myself,
pressure, but steely when it came I now appreciate just how difficult it is not to talk constantly
to making a difficult decision. She and effusively about your son, no matter how old he is, and
I understand now how that will never change. Our thoughts
was classy in her quick, mischievous and our prayers are with Tom, Tony and Jane’s parents.
wit, usually accompanied by Jane also loved having fun, and she loved life, which makes her
passing all the more tragic and hard to bear. But it is not difficult
an irreverent twinkle in the eye to imagine Jane sitting amongst us today, poised, serene, elegant,
perhaps wearing a Marks and Spencer’s hat that she had hastily
and a kindly, inclusive smile. bought for the occasion, smiling and calmly asserting that we
needn’t be glum, that everything would be ok, that the love and
Jane was classy in her job. Or should that be ‘jobs’ given that
friendship that brings us together today would see us through.
she was, at different and occasionally the same times, Secretary
and later PA to the Bursar or Head of Operations and Finance, In recent years, we have rather carelessly employed too many
as well as Resources Co-ordinator and Accounts Administrator people called Jane; Jane Rowell, the Bursar; Jane Howard, PA
responsible for Assisted Places and Bursaries. In this last to the Bursar and Second Master; Jayne Gilbert, Head of the
capacity, it was Jane’s organisation, eye for detail, empathy Pre-Prep; and the Head of Geography, Jane Knight, who also
and diplomacy which allowed her to navigate so successfully happens to be my wife. Sometimes, I have thought that there
through what is a complex and mine-ridden process for the must be a workable shorthand or code to distinguish between
benefit of hundreds of current and former parents and pupils, the different Janes at the School. And in Jane’s case there was.
many of whom will perhaps never appreciate the significant role She was Jane P, the one and only, the original, the loyal colleague
that Jane, working behind the scenes, has had in their lives. and friend, for whose life it is an honour to give thanks today.
Jane was classy in her suffering – in her long-suffering Martin Boden
battle against this dreadful disease. Classy and brave, right Headmaster
28