Old Blue News April 2005
Last year the company Amadeus, which develops and provides innovative travel technology solutions, made Tim Russell (Col B 74–79) managing director of its operations in Australia and New Zealand. Before that he was director of market management for Amadeus Asia Pacific, with responsibilities including management of the region’s largest and fastest growing global distribution systems 900 staff across more than 60 offices in 34 Asia Pacific markets.
Sam Godfrey (Maine 86–93) has been appointed under the United Nations Young Professionals Programme as a Water and Environmental Sanitation Project Officer for UNICEF in Bhopal, India. Sam and his wife Amaka will be based in Bhopal for three years and would encourage Old Blues who are travelling through India to visit them by contacting Samuel Godfrey.
Since November Sebastian Scotney (Col B 66–73) has been director of the Jazz Development Trust (JazzDev for short). In December he was received by the Trust’s Patron, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, and in March he was one of at least three OBs at a Buckingham Palace celebration of the UK music industry. Founded by John Dankworth in 1997 and relaunched last year, JazzDev provides ideas, advice, consultancy and support for the jazz industry. Sebastian says OBs with a commitment to the beat should contact him by email.
London-based headhunter Sabina Stewart (1’s 62–70) has twenty years’ experience in recruiting and has been with Alexander Hughes Executive Search Consultants since 1999, developing their European client base. She works extensively with French-owned businesses needing to recruit in the UK. A graduate of the French Institute in London, where she gained the Deuxième Degré de l’Université de Lille et de la Sorbonne, she speaks fluent French and German, as well as basic Spanish, Italian and Russian.
Three Preludes and Fugue by Tim Benjamin (Pe A/Pe B/Mid B 87–92) received its world première at London’s Bridewell Theatre in March. The concert included the London premières of his String Quartet and his hypertext fiction Symbiosis.
April brought a major blow to the family of the late Jeremiah Duggan (Th A 92–99) when the prosecuting authorities in Weisbaden, after considering a file of fresh evidence compiled by the Duggans and their lawyers, ruled out a new investigation into his disturbing death in 2003. Jerry’s mother Erica says the family will pursue the case through the European Court of Human Rights and has had another meeting with the Foreign Office minister Baroness Symons seeking further British pressure on the Germans, while the Liberal Democrat MEP Baroness Ludford has urged the European Parliament to lend its support. For the full story, visit JusticeforJeremiah.com.
Colin Bright (Mid B/TB 59–67) is HM Consul General in Lyon. He held the equivalent post in Frankfurt 1993–97 and was head of the FCO’s Commonwealth Co-ordination Department 1998–2002.
One of the two known OBs in Barbados, Bob Showan (La B 52–59) took early retirement at the age of 63 and has since been made Executive Director of the AIDS Foundation of Barbados, a private sector initiative, working with the International Labour Organisation and with Government in fighting stigma and discrimination in the workplace against people suffering with HIV and AIDS.
Following her personal triumph in Pride and Prejudice (see December 2004), Emma Campbell-Jones (Col B 86–93) has been appearing in Sharman Macdonald’s new play The Girl with Red Hair at Edinburgh’s Traverse Theatre and the Hampstead Theatre, London. The Sunday Times Scotland said Emma and her stage boyfriend played out their “little dance of jealousy, guilt and love with an unshowy sureness of touch.”
At the general election Judy Evans (6’s 62–69) and David Hall-Matthews (La A 78–85) were Liberal Democrat candidates in Devon South West and Hemsworth respectively, while Martin Linton MP (Th A 54–62) held his Battersea seat for Labour.
After his MPhil and a short stint in publishing, Guy Kirkwood (Ba A/La B/Ma A 78–85) held a commission in the Scots Guards, serving in Germany, Northern Ireland and the UK. Since leaving in 1994, he has become a notable headhunter and commentator in the outsourcing and BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) markets. A member of the SPBOA, he works with Borderless, the Belgium-based trans-national executive search firm, writes for international publications on developments within the BPO and offshoring markets, and contributes daily to a syndicated column, BPO Backchat. He’s also a director of Antiphon, the UK’s leading (according to PricewaterhouseCoopers) outsourcing and consulting research firm, and is advisor to CityTonic, an on-line talent community provider. Guy has recently praised Roger Martin (Ba A B 47–55, Horsham Staff 63–68, 72–96) – “housemaster, teacher, inspiration.”
Guy Vesey (Pe B/Pe A/Gr W 94–01, Senior Grecian) is currently President of the St Andrews University Boat club, which races all over the country including Henley Royal Regatta and is representing Great Britain this year at the Lithuanian International Rowing Regatta. Now in his fourth year at St Andrews – “a fantastic university and well worth the journey from London” – Guy is hoping to read for an MPhil in Music Composition at Cambridge next year. For his current History of Art degree he’s been writing a dissertation on the social impact of the Brangwyn paintings in the CH Chapel. And he’s planning to set up an Old Blues’ Rowing Club…
After four years working at London University’s Institute of Education Eloise Carpenter (Col A 87–94) is about to enrol there as a PhD student. She plays bassoon in the Southwark Concert Band.
City man Andy Friend (Ma B/Ma A 92–99) took up scuba diving a few years ago in the Maldives and is now an Assistant Instructor. He hopes to find the cash to finish off his training and become a fully fledged Instructor, but “it seems to keep getting spent on diving holidays!”
One of at least four OBs currently attending the University of Wales, Bangor, Craig Lees (La B/Mid A/Th B/Gr W 96–03) spent his gap year in Eastern Europe working and travelling; his love of Romania began at CH. This summer he plans a round-the-world trip – Singapore, Melbourne, Auckland & Fiji. He too hopes to be a scuba diving instructor one day.
At the age of 65 David Taplin (La A B 50–57) has retired from his post at University College, Cork (see March 2004) but as a pensioned retiree is continuing his work in Green Engineering as Visiting Professor of Industrial Process Ecology at the University of Greenwich, Intelligent Systems Centre, Chatham Maritime, and as Honorary Professor of Industrial Ecology at Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Australia.
Sergiu Panaite (La B/Ma A/Ma B 97–02) did two years of electronic engineering at University College London but ran out of money (complex sponsorship difficulties) and is now working for an ISP in Bacau, Romania.
In January the mathematician Sir Christopher Zeeman (Mid B 34–43) gave a Royal Institution lecture entitled ‘From Cambridge to Catastrophe’ including an account of his years at CH “where he found science interesting, maths easy and woodwork and playing the oboe most enjoyable”.
The Times spotted Tomas Lorinczy (Senior Grecian) among those attending the Annual Banquet of the Guild of Freemen of the City of London, held at Guildhall in the presence of Alderman and Sheriff John Hughesdon (Deputy Chairman of Council).
At the Westminster Cathedral memorial service for the aid worker Margaret Hassan – murdered in Iraq – the lesson was read by the ITN field editor Patrick O’ Ryan-Roeder (Th B 60–67).
According to Who’s Who 2005, John Henes (Col B 47–55) has been Head of the UK Delegation to the UK/French Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission since 1997.
In March Jeremy Staples (Col B 65–72) took part in the British Heart Foundation Everest Wilderness Trek, a six-day, thirty-person venture led by Doug Scott reaching heights of 13,600ft. Jeremy paid all his own expenses, so every penny raised by him went directly to the BHF.
Since 1986 Matthew Dawe (Mid A 81–87) has been in Calgary in western Canada, where he works as the Materials Manager for Circa Enterprises, a telecommunications company. He’s married with a son aged five and a daughter aged six.
In response to Professor Annabelle L Mark (née Parfitt, 3’s & 5’s 63–69) who paid a working visit to the Jamaica campus of the University of the West Indies in April and asked about the OB situation there, Dr Michael Seakins (Pe A 45–54) writes that he no longer knows of any OBs on the UWI staff. In the past Dr (Later Professor) André McLean (Col A 42–49) was in the Tropical Metabolism Research Unit on the Jamaica campus and Dr (Later Professor) Robert Le Page (Pe B 32–37) was in the English Department there; Seakins himself taught chemistry at the UWI for thirty years in Jamaica and then Barbados. “Old Blues with British nationality must be exceedingly thin on the ground in any occupation in the West Indies now when most, if not all, of the countries hereabouts have stiff work permit laws.” As well as holding a chair in healthcare management Annabelle Mark is Director of the UK NHS Human Resource Management Training Programme, which is placing a student on elective in Jamaica.
The Rev Dr Charles Hedley (Ma B 57–66) is vice-chair of the Progessive Christianity Network, Britain.
In Portsmouth Stacey Read (Ba B 92–99) has been pressing on with her study of Ilex Legal Executive, despite the arrival of a baby. She’ ll be starting Level 4 in September and has been looking for work in a law firm in Hampshire or (very western) West Sussex.
Simon Kerruish (Mid A 68–74) is living in Virginia and working in New York as a financial wizard: “I wave my magic wand and another country defaults and we all write off two grillion dollars and then go and do it all again.”
After a flirtation with computer science, Paddy Duncan (Pe A 98–01) is studying mechanical engineering at Hull University.
Ryan Pickett (Ma A etc 93–01) is at Warwick studying computer systems engineering.
Risk consultant Paul Koronka (Pe A 66–71) “has a well-deserved reputation for innovation and invention in the risk management and new business fields.” He read law at Oxford and began his career with the General Council of British Shipping, followed by a long period working in marine liability insurance. He then worked as a Partner for the firm of W K Webster before going on to manage Tradewise, an early initiative to use information technology in new ways to manage risk. Next he founded his own company Oakhampton to set up new captive and mutual insurance projects. It was acquired by Charles Taylor in 1997, since when Paul has headed CTC’s mutual development unit, establishing new mutuals on behalf of the Livery Companies and the UK National Federation of Retail Newsagents. Recently he led the team to establish the Capricorn Mutual on behalf of a cooperative of Australian motor traders. Perhaps he owes his success to a lucky break early on: he was made a Vice-President of the CH Club as long ago as 1980.
One of the ten Brooklyn-based artists who contributed to the group show Decipher: Hand-Painted Digital at the Rotunda Gallery in Brooklyn Heights, New York, was Millree Hughes (La A 71–78). His three ‘digital lenticulars’ were said to “appeal even to the gimmick-averse… Snappy, juicy colors layered in fake space change constantly according to the angle of view, evoking a walk through a Technicolor wood.” The text that went with them made clear his distrust of technology: “Hughes grasps but does not wholly embrace it, preferring to hold it at arm’s length.”
At CH Peter Walsh (La B/Pe A 95–00) “absolutely hated” rugby – but no sooner had he left than he fell in love with the game. He joined a team, is now coaching and plans to do RFU level 1&2 if he can find the backing.
In March the Watford Observer reported the retirement as a CH Almoner of Sir Richard Nichols (Pe B 47–55) after eighteen years’ distinguished service. The Nicholses live in Kings Langley and Lady Nichols is High Sheriff of Hertfordshire.
Cathedral guide David Sherratt (Horsham Staff 56–67) took part in Jonathan Meades’s programme about Salisbury Cathedral in BBC2’s Abroad Again in Britain in January.
Claire Innes-Hopkins (LH B/Gr E 02–04) gave the lunchtime organ recital at St Alban’s Cathedral on 8 June.
After a period as priest-in-charge, the Rev Alan Bing (Col B 68–74) is now Rector of St Mary’s with Holy Trinity, Ulverston, in the diocese of Carlisle.
After the Telegraph’s Ian Bradley listed ten favourite carols in his Music column in December, a William Billing (CH connection unknown) wrote to the paper regretting the omission of ‘Once in Royal David’s City’ and stating that this throat-catching carol was always the opening of the annual service at CH.
Countertenor William Purefoy (La A 79–86) will be in Oxford in June as Lychas in Handel’s Hercules at the ‘Handel in Oxford’ festival. Throughout July he’ ll be playing the title role in Mozart’s Ascanio in Alba at the Buxton Festival.
By doing a master’s degree in tourism development and policy Matt Holdsworth (Ma B/Ma A 92–99) contrived to spend four years at Exeter University and loved it. He’s now a VIP travel consultant for the major long haul tour operator Kuoni Travel.
Hendrik Bower (Ma B/Mid B/Th B/Gr W 96–03) is in his second year reading German at the University of Wales, Swansea, and highly recommends both the university and the city. Next year he’ll be in Austria as a teaching assistant.
Horsham-based Richard Ruck (Mid B 72–78) is co-owner of a music distribution company, mostly classical, world music and jazz.
Corporate Creations, a small full-service creative agency based near Bedford/Milton Keynes and soon to open an office in York, is run by Simon Hodge (Th A 82–89).
Obituaries of the scholar of classical art & archaeology Martin Robertson spoke of him as the heir to Sir John Beazley (Wd 11/Col A 1898–1903), who pioneered the technique of identifying classical artists by the way they rendered certain details such as nose-tips and ear-lobes. Robertson was a close family friend of Beazley, defended his methods, completed his final listing of Athenian vase-painters, Paralipomena, and held the same chair at Oxford.
Reg Williams (LH B/LH A 85–92) is back in the UK, newly married, after several years in the South of France.
At De Montfort University, Leicester, Ben Ashton (La A/Mid B 97–02) is in his first year studying human resource management and marketing. Among De Montfort’s many attractions, he says, it’s only 75 minutes from London and there’s a 24-hour library if you get locked out of your room.
Princess Alice, Dowager Duchess of Gloucester (mother of our President and widow of his predecessor) died in October aged 102, the oldest ever member of the Royal Family. Among those present at her memorial service were Patricia Viscountess Cross (8’s 38–45), Brig R P S Erskine-Tulloch (Ba A 28–36) of the Northamptonshire Regiment Association, Maj-Gen J C B Sutherell (La B 59–65) of the Royal Anglian Regiment, Grp Capt Richard Castle (Th A 68–76) of the RAF Ceremonial Office, Capt R H S Thompson (Ba A 49–57) and Maj-Gen R E J Gerrard-Wright (Ba A 42–47).
An independent financial adviser in Southampton, John Donaldson (Mid B 70–76) has been advising private clients since 1990 and is also a regional representative for the Retirement Trust, a national charity “dedicated to helping people prepare for retirement and to live it to the full.”
Alex Leiserach (Th B/Ma A/Gr E 94–01) was until recently working as a sound engineer with Brixton-based Orbital Sound, where he did a six week work experience stint during his stage management and technical theatre course at LAMID A.
In April it was reported that the late Bernard Levin (Pe B 37–45), journalist and broadcaster, and the late Piers Ashworth QC (Ma A/Ba A 43–50, Governor & Almoner) had left strikingly similar estates of £1,056,537 and £1,088,298 respectively.
John and Frances West were benefactors to Christ’s Hospital in 1725. The Wests’ Gift, left as a legacy, still finances the education of children at CH and provides pensions to descendants of the West family. At the instigation of Eleanor Stanier, who recently retired as the Wests’ Gift representative on the Council of Almoners, a twenty-minute video has been produced about the Wests and the past and present work of their Foundation. CH staff and pupils took part, resplendent in costumes lent by Chichester Festival Theatre, and the result is said to be “miraculously good… both informative and entertaining”. Hopes are high that it will encourage fresh applicants for the Wests’ Gift benefaction. For a copy please send a cheque for £8 (to include postage and packaging) payable to Christ’s Hospital to the Marketing Department at the Counting House. Allow 28 days for delivery.
David Eastburn (Mid A 47–55) used to be in the nautical holidays business (“we were the only people doing flotilla hols in UK waters, I think”) and is still a keen offshore sailor – he lives in a tiny, remote village near Falmouth where he has the use of a 44 foot boat most days. His son Jonathan is due to enter CH on the Deps in September.
That ubiquitous actor Jason Flemyng (Mid A 78–83) was “miffed” (if we believe the Daily Mail) when rebuffed by the makers of the new Doctor Who series, to whom he’d explained that he alone was able to make the noise of the Dalek spaceship taking off, a secret passed on to him by his father Gordon, director of the 1965 film.
Murray Fletcher (Peele 85–93) is working in sales for a company supplying businesses with telephone systems and all required data cabling, etc., and would like to get back to playing in bands.
Among those who responded to a letter in the Telegraph asking for advice about travelling on one’s own after a bereavement was R C Livesey (Pe B 40–46), whose wife died five years ago. He had thoroughly enjoyed his initial cruise on the Saga Rose and found everyone very friendly – so much so that he later travelled on a four-month world cruise.
Now in his final year at Teesside University, visualisation student Walter Gilbert (La B, Ma A, Gr E 94–01) is hoping to break into the film/visual effects industry. After looking into doing a master’s course he’s decided he just wants to bite the bullet and search for a job, and expects to be sending out showreels during May. Teesside stages a huge animation festival each year and he aims to make a short animated feature with some friends over the coming year with a view to entering it into next year’s festival.
David Vickery (La A 88–95) already works in the visual effects world; he’s been at Double Negative for the past three years as a 3D operator.
The Independent’s obituary of the writer, traveller and poet Patrick Howarth said he was press attaché at the British Embassy in the wreckage of Warsaw from 1945 and retained a vivid memory of standing with the composer Constant Lambert (Col A 14–22) among the ruins in a snow-storm, arguing furiously about the correct wording of a limerick.
CONGRATULATIONS
J M Barry (Ma A 87–94) has passed out of Sandhurst and been granted a commission in the Royal Gr Een Jackets.
Peter Buggé (Ma B 51–58) has been installed as Master of the Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators, number 81 in seniority of the City Livery Companies. “Having lived in South London as a child and attended CH in the 1950s it is a particular pleasure to take part in the activities of the City.” He flew for BEA/BA until 1995 on shorthaul routes throughout Europe and then spent two years chairing the Flight Operations Group of the Royal Aeronautical Society, receiving the Master’s Commendation. A member of the Guild since 1968, he chaired its board of management 1998–2004.
Dr Steven Connors (Deputy Head 00– ) has been appointed Headmaster of Monmouth School.
Robin Gill (Ba A 37–44) has been elected an Honorary Fellow of Brasenose College, Oxford, where he was a student.
David Norgrove (Th B 59–67, Senior Grecian) has been chosen as the first Chair of the new Pensions Regulator (TPR). which will oversee work-based pensions, protecting members’ benefits, improving administration and limiting calls on the Pension Protection Fund. He began his career in the Treasury, was Private Secretary to Margaret Thatcher from 1985 to 1988 and has since been with Marks & Spencer, retiring from the Board last year but continuing to chair the M&S pension fund trustees until his appointment to TPR in December. “I always wanted to get back involved in the public sector and I have sixteen years of experience to bring from the private sector.”
John Llewellyn Williams (Mid A 49–56) is President-elect of the International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and will take office in September. Formerly Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons, he was Vice-President of the College 1996–99, President of the European Association for Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery 1998–2000 and Chair of the National Committee of Inquiry into Perio-Operative Deaths 1998–2003. According to Who’s Who he continues to chair the Committee on Safety of Devices at the DoH’s Medical Devices Agency.