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www.stedmunds.org.ukSpring Issue 2009

N E W S L E T T E RSt Edmund’s Society

It gives me great pleasure in introducing you to the revamped, new-look St Edmund’s Society Newsletter.

These are very exciting times for both the School and the Society. I was delighted to appoint Emily Smith as the new Foundation Coordinator and one of her tasks is to assist the Society and its members in any way she can.

If you wish to become more involved in Society affairs, act as a regional St Ed’s co-ordinator, organise a reunion, or simply have ideas on the way forward, please get in touch with Emily – she is there to help you.

To assist us in our efforts, the School has recently invested in a powerful alumni database which will allow us to keep you updated on future events and developments

and help us keep you in touch with former classmates. It is for this reason that you will find an alumni questionnaire enclosed with this newsletter. Please complete and return the questionnaire to the School by 1 August 2009 - it only takes a few minutes. Or if you prefer, it may be completed online at http://www.stedmunds.org.uk/foundation. As an incentive, out of those that complete the questionnaire, one name will be selected at random and given a beautiful aerial photograph of the School.

Thank you all very much for continuing to support St Edmund’s and do please keep in touch.

Jeremy Gladwin, Headmaster

St Edmund’s paid long overdue recognition to one of its great Old Boys, when, at the School Armistice Day Service in the Chapel on 11 November, a brass plaque was unveiled in memory of Benjamin Handley Geary, who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his action at Hill 60 in the Second Battle of Ypres on 20/21 April 1915.

The occasion was particularly memorable because of the presence of his younger son, David (pictured left), now aged 81, who flew in from Canada with his daughter, another granddaughter and four other relatives.

Handley Geary was at St Edmund’s from 1904-1910, after which he went up to Oxford. He joined up in 1914 and was commissioned into the East Surrey Regiment. German attempts to capture Hill 60 were resisted, as Geary’s V.C. citation reads, “mainly owing to the splendid personal gallantry and example of Second Lieutenant Geary”.

Geary was seriously wounded in the action, but recovered, only to be wounded again in France in 1918. He was ordained in 1921, but left the Army in 1928 and emigrated to Canada, where he spent the rest of his life. He was Sergeant-at-Arms in the Ontario Legislature for 24 years, paid regular visits to England to attend gatherings of V.C. winners, and finally died in 1976 at the age of 84.

[Jock Asbury-Bailey produced a 26-page booklet on Geary’s life in 1997]

From the Headmaster

St Edmund’s honours a great war hero

Jock Asbury-Bailey

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It occurs to me that as your Chairman I have not made a contribution to the Notes since taking over the Chair. So I hope this puts matters right, at least to some degree.

Firstly, a note of many thanks to Karen Milburn for becoming the Society’s first ‘old girl’ President and for the sterling work that she undertook during her year of office. A word of enormous thanks to Paul Hamilton for all the hard dedicated work he has undertaken on your behalf as past Chairman. Our thanks to Martin Harvey, our past Secretary and welcome back to Frank Dowling.

Secondly, the Summer Gathering is this year returning to Saturday 20 June. I hope to see many of you there. As you will know, particularly those of us who were at School on his watch, Francis Rawes sadly passed away towards the end of last year. To provide an opportunity for those who wish to remember him, and his late wife, Joyce, a Memorial Service will be held in the School Chapel at 12 Noon during the Summer Gathering. It would be wonderful to see this well supported - to mark and remember the tremendous legacy that they both left to the School. Please complete and return the booking form found on the front cover of the supplement.

Much change goes on at the School, not least the recent appointments of Bridget McBean who has Marketing responsibilities and Emily Smith as Foundation Co-ordinator. Emily is also the liaison between the School and the Society and has been more than just helpful with Society business. The Society, like the School, is very lucky to have them, as we now move into an era of much greater collaboration.

Much is often said about the value of a School having a former pupils’ society. Some argue that it is just some appendage from a bygone era. Not so in my view. My best friends in life to this day are my school friends from St Edmund’s, some of whom I have now known for nearly 50 years. But a Society, such as ours, must go beyond that.

We are a resource to the School, upon which the School can draw, as well as a resource to each other. A network. As a resource to the School we all have life and career experiences that we can recount to those at School today to help them make decisions on how they may shape their future lives. As a resource to each other we can share opportunities and issues.

My hope is that, in time, this can be made more possible with the Society’s website, which has global access. However, SES can only survive if the bulk of the membership is so moved to see that this happens. Therefore I invite you all to make suggestions as to how we can together make the St Edmund’s Society a vibrant community to which we can contribute and from which we can all derive kinship and support.

Very best wishes

Nick Athorne (‘70)

To Members of the St Edmund’s Society

My best friends in life to this

day are my school friends

from St Edmund’s, some of

whom I have now known for

nearly 50 years.

“ “Francis Roderick Rawes,

Headmaster from

1964-1978, sadly passed

away on 27 September

2008 at the age of 92.

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S O C I E T Y U P D A T E

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www.sesociety.org.uk

Over fifty Society Members joined Jock Asbury-Bailey to celebrate his 80th birthday. Held on Saturday 18 April at the Kent and Canterbury Club, the surprise luncheon was organised by Members to acknowledge the tremendous contribution he makes to the Society.

“We are delighted that so many Members and staff attended this wonderful occasion. On behalf of St Edmund’s Society and the School, we would like to congratulate him on reaching this milestone. His enthusiastic commitment to the Society and the School over the past sixty years continues to inspire generations,” said Nick Athorne, chairman of the Executive Committee.

Educated at Stowe and Trinity College Cambridge, Jock was a Housemaster and Deputy Head serving the School loyally for 36 years. He retired from St Edmund’s in July 1989 and since then, he has remained involved, by helping former pupils stay in touch with the School and by documenting the history of the School. He joined St Edmund’s in 1953 after National Service, guarding the Tower of London among other duties.

Come back to School!Last term, the following alumni paid a visit to the School: Tolani Hughes (’98), Stephen Frost (’99), Richard Baker (’53) and Christopher Jeffery (’75). If you would like to reminisce, catch up with former teachers, share experiences and show your loved ones where you had spent much of your childhood, you are very welcome to come back for a visit – preferably by prior arrangement.

Tell us your newsPlease write to us with your news. Perhaps you are a recent leaver who is making their mark professionally? Or have a moving tale to tell. We would love to hear your news, whether it be life or work-related. Please send in a short paragraph or longer article by e-mail or post, not forgetting a quality digital photograph or two. After all, the Newsletter would not exist if it wasn’t for your valuable contributions.

Thank you to all Society Members who sent us their news and photographs for this edition.

I married Hilary at Horton Grange near Newcastle upon Tyne on 25 May 2008.

Having completed a management training scheme with Ringway, I was promoted to the position of Depot Manager of Ringway’s largest asphalt production facility. Through working on the training scheme, I became the first person in the UK without an Engineering related degree to become a Professionally Qualified member of the Institution of Civil Engineers.

I came back to St. Edmund’s last year so I could show my wife where I pretty much grew up! It was great

to see how much the school has advanced in 9 years, especially with the construction of the Music School. But it was also quite scary how familiar it felt - especially since all of the teachers remembered my name - and a few went on to tell a tale or two I had long since forgotten! Anyone thinking of going back should just do it - everyone is extremely welcoming and you’re bound to be reminded of some long lost precious memories.

Stephen Frost (’99)

A surprise celebration for Jock

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S O C I E T Y U P D A T E

Left to right: Andrew Thrush (‘69), Whitney Saunders (‘71) who flew all the way

from the USA especially for this occasion, Jock Asbury-Bailey, Nick Athorne (‘70).

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Members’ Notes

Do we have your up-to-date contact details?Have you moved house, changed your e-mail address or got a new phone number? Without a valid address, we are unable to send you news, invitations, details on forthcoming events or even notify you when other alumni are searching for you. It could not be easier – simply update your details online at www.sesociety.org.uk and log-on using your e-mail address and unique password. If you have any difficulties logging on, please contact Nick Thurgood - n.thurgood@btinternet.com.

On his recent trip to Australia, Jock Asbury-Bailey met up with Don Gassner (’65), Richard Cadman (’65), Theo Hughes (’90), Kate Clampett (née Miller ’85), Hugh Haslehust-Smith (’71) and Keith Smith (’70).

John Appleby (’76) is currently working in Jakarta, Indonesia, on oil projects. His wife and children are based in Canada and he takes frequent trips to see them via the UK.

Shaun Barrett (’79) successfully completed a Cross Channel row in July 2008 in a Republica Thames Cutter. The team crossed from Dover to Calais in 4 hours 49 minutes and raised £20,000 for the Save Canterbury Cathedral Fund and Odyssey, a cancer charity.

Tom Bell (’01) is one of Britain’s most accomplished young concert organists.

Brian Bird (’40), former Spitfire pilot with Desert Air Force, is now a retired chartered accountant.

Dhee Biswas (‘05) is reading Biomedical Engineering at the University of Melbourne.

David Cork (’68) is in practice as a Chartered Accountant in Herne Bay, a partner of McCabe Ford Williams. His wife, Liz, plays a very active role in the Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth. His son Alex (‘02) has graduated from Loughborough University in Sports Technology and is now doing a PhD.

Ian Duff (’53), after spending much of his working life with Shell in Bangkok, was ordained in 1993 and recently retired as Team Vicar, Upper Wylye Valley.

Mandy Durell (’93) is General Manager of Fuels Oils (Holdings) Ltd. As Kent and Medway’s fastest-growing business - winning first place in the KM Annual Mega Growth awards - it is one of the last independent distributors of oils and lubricants in the South East. The firm was founded in 1964 by her father and uncle, David and Roy, respectively. Mandy is set to keep the family tradition flourishing well into the future. Even while she was at St Edmund’s, she got to know the business well, tackling most jobs in the office and depot.

Richard Gahan (’94), Alice and their son, John-Fox, have recently moved from Faslane to Plymouth, where his ship is having a two-year refit. They expect to move to London where Richard will have a job at the Ministry of Defence.

Paul Gaskain (’95) works at Gaskains Ltd. in Faversham, a successful family firm which grows soft fruit.

Hugh Haslehust-Smith (‘71) is the General Manager International of Heinz Co Australia looking after a $100m international portfolio. He is a member of the executive management board. His wife, Gill, is a member of the Sydney Philharmonic Choir. His daughter works in advertising in the UK and his son works at Deloitte in Sydney having read Business in Sydney and the USA.

Timothy Hicks (’66) has worked for Kent County Council since 1991 resolving software problems for schools. He is now living in Deal and hopes to put computer software into schools in Africa.

John Hippisley (’83) has been successfully running the Canterbury Ghost Tour since 1995 during which he imparts a blend of history, humour and hauntings. In November, in aid of the Canterbury and District Branch of the RSPCA, he shared tales of animal apparitions to raise funds for an animal rescue centre!

Peter Hopper (’52) and his wife Pat celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary with a great party at the St Lawrence Cricket Ground in Canterbury in early December. They continue to live in Mallorca.

Tim Hopper (’65) is still with courier company UK Mail (alias Business Post) as a freelance owner/driver.

Theo Hughes (’90) is working as a maths and physics teacher at Haileybury College, a private school in Melbourne, Australia. He has just accepted a position at Monash University, running their first year physics laboratories as an academic coordinator. He is married to Sammantha and they have three children, Jasper (3), Charlotte (2) and Emilia (1).

Ross Jones (’87) has been working in insurance in Scotland for the last 10 years.

William Lead (’93) is living in Deal, Kent, with his wife Becky whom he married a year ago. He is still working with his brother, Martin, in Dover as a Renault specialist. He says… “Hello to everyone that knows us!”

Tom Leonard (’64) has been involved in setting up a new Insurance Broking company as Managing Director. He has also been heavily involved with a national

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Members’ Noteswww.sesociety.org.uk

Friends ReconnectedHave you lost touch with old school friends? Perhaps we can help you get back in touch? Please contact the Society office and let’s see what we can do!

mobile phone insurance scheme for Vietnam, where he is likely to be working for a good part of the year.

Michael Lingens (’75) is still the Managing Partner of Speechly Bircham, a City Law Firm. Divorced last year, he likes to play a lot of tennis at Queens Club, West London.

Mike Mansel (’56) taught in Switzerland and then moved to the US (California) where he occasionally plays cricket at the local Brit pub.

Helen McVittie (née Tyson ’94) gave birth to Jemima Ella Jo on 14 November.

Alistair Milner (’66) recently performed in two Alan Ayckbourne comedy plays. He owns a French gite which former pupils are welcome to rent out – see www.vendeegitefalleron.com. To find out more about ‘Tracer’, a secret operation his late father, Dr Arthur P Milner (’31), was in during WWII, see www.discovergibraltar.com.

Simon Opie (’75) is working at Disneyland Paris as Vice President responsible for entertainment.

Jeremy Perkins (’53) was the secretary of Reigate Heath Golf Club from 1993 to 2007, when he retired. He is the father of Hugh (’77), a media specialist.

Emily Rickards (’96) has been back yet again with the RAF in Afghanistan.

Dennis Roberts (’53) is a retired building surveyor, although he still works part-time as a consultant to supplement his pension! He believes that “a good oldie is better than a good youngie”!

Whitney Saunders (’71) and Jeanette Ojeda have formed a new firm, practising in the areas of real estate development, business entities and estate planning, based in the same premises in Suffolk, Virginia. He hopes to be in England in early July with Ellen.

Daniel Scrase (’00) graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2006 with a BA in Geography. Now he is a manager within the Logistics and Customer Operations Department at Cadbury UK.

Nick Sheppard (’77) is based in NW Norfolk running a large nationwide potato growing company supplying supermarkets and food processors.

Roger Skelsey (’79) is currently living in Sydney, Australia.

Miles Taffs (‘83) took an HND Business Studies at City of London Polytechnic and Business Studies degree at South Bank University achieving a 2.1. He worked in the London Insurance market for twenty years and is now working for Amlin plc, as an Aviation Insurance Underwriter, specialising in Airlines for the company in Lloyd’s of London. He married Lucy in 1994 and lives in Clapham with their three sons, Barnaby (10), Rupert (8) and Jasper (3). He gave up playing hockey for Bromley Hockey Club several years ago, but plays football (badly) with several of the Dads on Saturday mornings before the younger ones come up and play for Broomwood FC on Wandsworth Common. They had a reunion with Andrew Coleman (‘83), Peter Leppard (‘83) and Alan Davidson (‘83) with wives and children – a great get together which all started from the 150th Anniversary Ball, held at the school

in the summer of 2006. He ran in the London Marathon for the first time at the age of 43 – unlike his contemporaries who very sensibly did this event in their teens or early twenties!

John Taylor (’65) is running his own business in the Canterbury area and has interests in Zimbabwe.

Robin Tyson (’89) has left the King’s Singers after nearly 8 years and over 800 concerts. He is moving into music management, with the King’s Singers and others.

Julien Uzzell (’84) is happily married to Shelley. He is now living in Jersey, Channel Islands, having had a long spell in the Cayman Islands. He is working for RBS Coutts providing legal and risk support.

Melissa Willis (’95) is working in London hospitals as a Senior Registrar in Adult Psychiatry.

Nick A.Wright (’87) is living in Maidenhead, Berkshire, having migrated back to the UK from Western Australia. He went to university in 2003, having graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Computer Science in 2006. He spent some of 2007 travelling in the USA and currently works at the Landmark Trust situated just outside Maidenhead. He would like to hear from anyone who was at St Edmund’s during the years 1986-1991.

Stephen Yeomans (’81) has been working as a domestic energy assessor since 2007 having managed Coutts Byers Property Agents in Canterbury before that.

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S C H O O L N E W S

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Teaching Staff

The teaching staff will be changing again at the end of the year as inevitably and rightly, age and promotion take their toll. Ian Narburgh joined the staff in the mid-1970s, and has been at the very heart of school life for over 30 years. He is calling it a day in July, and I do hope that those who have memories of Ian will be prepared to subscribe to a Society leaving present for him. Please send your donation to the Society Office (cheques payable to St Edmund’s Society) with your reply to the Summer Gathering. Who can forget his leadership of Baker House – and ‘Baker’s Dozen’ evenings? Or, Careers’ English as part of the L6 General Studies programme? How many of you owe your current positions to an IFN-styled CV? Or, afternoons on the Squash court, under Ian’s watchful coach’s gaze? Or, the famous Lower Fifth ‘Personal Development Programme’ on Michaelmas Fridays? Good luck, Ian, on a well-deserved retirement.

Also moving on are Chris McDade, who, after six years as Director of Music, has won a headship at Ripon Cathedral School. Though a Lancastrian himself, he can tolerate the prospect of life in Yorkshire, with his wife and family. We wish him well, as we do to Ian Terry and Ian Urey, who are returning to parish life, and overseas respectively.

20th Anniversary – Abingdon House

St Edmund’s is a school which can and does provide the complete educational package from the age of 3 to 18. In fact, St Edmund’s is now recognised as three schools, with the Pre-Prep School as a separate entity under the headship of Janet Frampton-Fell. This year sees the 20th Anniversary of the creation, in what was once the Headmaster’s house, of the Pre-Prep Department. How many old boys and girls actually spent the whole of their school careers at St Edmund’s? That would be an interesting investigation; I can name one – Holly Knight! On the day of the Summer Gathering, 20 June, Abingdon House will be celebrating its 20th Anniversary by hosting an open-morning. If you can come, please indicate this on the Summer Gathering booking form.

David Knight

David KnightDavid Knight

Sporting EventsRecent sporting events have seen some outstanding individual and team performances. Sadly, there was no 1st XI v Society hockey match – dates and available personnel did not tally – but the School well beat the Old Girls on the netball court. Not even the return of Dina Ayoub (’97) from her sojourn in Holland could save the day for the Society. The boys’ 1st XI, managed by the triumvirate of Andrew Middleton, Matt Walker and John Maylam, had a field day at the Frank Mason Tournament, winning five matches on the trot to reach the semi-final, before going down to Langley Park. The netball 1st VII had a purple patch of four consecutive victories, including matches against Sutton Valence, Kent College, and King’s Canterbury – wow! They were captained by Natasha Hopper, a familiar surname in Society circles – Kevin Hopper’s (’85) daughter!

The Summer Gathering, on 20 June, should be a good day, when a potentially outstanding cricket XI is due to take on the Old Boys.

F O U N D A T I O N www.sesociety.org.uk

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In 1996, when the Clergy Orphan Cor-poration devolved the responsibility of the School to an independent govern-ing body, we applied our dowry to the building of the ‘new’ junior school. Since then, capital projects, bursaries and scholarships have been funded out of our operating surpluses - with one exception, the appeal-funded, new music school in 2004.

In 2003, it was recognised that without the benefit of another source of income and capital funding, the development of the School would be restricted. It was then that the first steps were taken to ‘go back to the future’ and establish a Foundation. In subsequent years we have been preparing the way with a market survey, appointment of a Marketing Director and, more recently, a Foundation Coordinator, Emily Smith, and the establishment of an operational Foundation Office.

St Edmund’s School Foundation (SESF) is, in effect, a ring-fenced charity within a charity that is St Edmund’s School but receiving and disbursing monies for specific purposes agreed by the Governors. Following consultation with the Headmaster, the Master, the Head of the Pre-Prep School, the Head

of Finance and Estates and School staff, the Governors have agreed upon development projects that will be incorporated within a master plan to serve the school in years ahead. These projects, coupled with the work to establish a fund to provide Scholarship and Bursarial support, are the objectives of fundraising by SESF.

Since fundraising started in 2008, £50,000 has been raised through the Annual Campaign to refurbish and equip the School Hall and fundraising for the first capital project – an all-weather, multi-purpose Astroturf pitch – was launched on 22 April 2009.

An SESF link on the School website is now available for those interested in supporting the current or future progress of the School - http://www.stedmunds.org.uk/foundation.

If you would like to contribute in any way, please contact Emily on 01227 475600 or foundation@stedmunds.org.uk.

More from me in due course as we make more progress…with your help.

Michael Terry

Chairman of the Foundation

After 18 years as Director at Linleys, where I helped build a worldwide reputation of interiors and furniture design, I set up my own firm four years ago, designing and making bespoke furniture to an exceptional standard of cabinet making. I now have a team of seven people based in London specialising in the creation of one-off bespoke furniture pieces, ranging from pieces made for super yachts and state buildings to individual pieces for

dining rooms and libraries. I have just been included in a new book by Panach called ‘Spectacular Homes of London‘ and I have my first major publication coming out in August published by Prestel – in conjunction with the V&A Museum, the Wallace Collection and the Forward by the Director of the Soane Museum.

www.tgosling.com

Tim Gosling (’84)

...without the benefit

of another source

of income and

capital funding, the

development of the

School would be

restricted.

““

St Edmund’s School Foundation - School Developments over the Decade

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Where are they now?We have thousands of alumni on our database but have sadly lost touch with many. Are you able to help us find them – their names are listed on our website - www.sesociety.org.uk? If so, please get in touch.

Dates for the Diary - 2009

St Edmund’s Society, St Edmund’s School Canterbury, St Thomas Hill, Canterbury, Kent CT2 8HU Telephone: 01227 475600 Email: society@stedmunds.org.uk

The school is owned by St Edmund’s School Canterbury, a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales, number 3201223. Registered charity number 1056382. Registered office: St Edmund’s School, Canterbury, Kent CT2 8HU.

14 May Summer Serenade Concert

St Edmund’s School

16 May St Edmund’s Society

Northern Dinner

Calverley, Leeds

20 June Abingdon House Open

Morning – 20th Anniversary

St Edmund’s School

20 June The St Edmund’s Society

Summer Gathering

St Edmund’s School

29 June Senior School Drama

and 01 July Production ‘Giants’

St Edmund’s School

04 July Speech Day

St Edmund’s School

04 July Summer Ball

St Edmund’s School

27 July- SummerFest 14 Aug St Edmund’s School

14 Nov St Edmund’s Society

President’s Annual Dinner

Canterbury area

16 Dec Carol Service

Canterbury Cathedral

After reading Criminology at Nottingham Trent University, I worked at the Witness Care Unit in Central Nottingham, supporting witnesses attending trials at Nottingham Crown and Magistrates Courts.

Since August 2007, I have been working in East London as a Constable in the Essex Police force. My fiancé, Dave Millyard, is a detective with the Metropolitan Police in Westminster and is a reservist in the T.A within the Parachute Regiment.

In May 2008, he was sent to FOB Inkerman in Helmand Province, Afghanistan – a gruelling and risky

posting. Thankfully, he returned safely in September and his first words were “will you marry me?” on bended knee. I was totally overwhelmed and I can truly say it was the best day of my life. I cannot wait to get married in Bridge Church on 5 September.

Hannah Charlotte Emmie Green (’00)

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After leaving School, I qualified to join the GBR Yacht Racing Academy team following a gruelling two week fitness session and boat-training on a pair of Farr 52s. In October 2007, I joined the GBR Commodores Cup Black Team and participated in the international team-racing event which took place last summer in Cowes. I then sailed to Denmark to take part in the X41 World Championships as part of the Hong Kong team.

This September I am attempting to become the youngest person to take part in this year’s Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. However, to be part of the team, I need to raise £30,000. If you would be interested in helping me get to the start line please send me an e-mail (laurenemilymead@googlemail.com) or see the race website for further details: www.clipperroundtheworld.com

Lauren Mead (’06)