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OLD BRUTONIAN ASSOCIATION 

NEWSLETTER 2006 

Top of theirClass

OBA NEWSLETTER 2006 

At a time when academic standards are often called into question, one achievement remains incontrovertibly distinguished, 

and that is a First Class Honours degree from a good British university. The young Old Brutonians shown on the front cover have 

all achieved that distinction in recent years, and their profiles appear below. I might add that it took quite a lot of effort to 

persuade them to talk about themselves because modesty seems to be another of their admirable characteristics. And, while we’re 

on the subject of high achievement, Alastair Harris (N94/99), a Durham Economics graduate, gained the highest mark in the 2005 

Fleet Board Examinations and was awarded the top prize of The Admiral’s Pen. He is now a serving officer in the Royal Navy. 

Lieutenant Alastair Harris Royal Navy 

Top of theirClass 

LEWIS CROFTS (L91/96) 

I graduated in 2000 from St Catherine’s 

College, Oxford, with a First Class 

honours degree in French and German, 

mostly on the basis of grammar tables 

drafted under Messrs Tickner, Parr, 

Joyce and Emerson. Despite gaining a 

hockey Blue, I promptly gave up all 

sport and left the UK to ply my trade across the continent, 

realizing I still hadn’t really mastered the present 

subjunctive. Initially, I worked as a teacher in Hanover, 

Germany, and then I moved to Prague to work at the 

Charles University and learn a new language. After two 

years of rewarding but poorly-paid academia, I left for 

Brussels to become a journalist. I have now been here for 

almost three years, working as a consultant on EU affairs, 

mostly in the financial services and technology sectors. 

GEOFFREY FERRARI (N91/96) 

I am fortunate indeed that since 

leaving King’s I have spent the better 

part of a decade, and a glorious one at 

that, at Oriel College, Oxford. I first 

came up in 1997 as an undergraduate 

to read Philosophy & French. Four 

years later I took a double first and the 

Gibb’s Prize for the highest philosophy marks in the 

school of Philosophy & Modern Languages. 

Despite some desire for a change of direction, I then 

applied for the BPhil in Philosophy at Oxford, a degree 

with a worldwide reputation, and the simple fact that I 

was offered a place persuaded me to accept. A few years 

on and I now find myself well into a DPhil (an Oxford 

PhD) in Philosophical Ethics and tutor to several 

undergraduates of my own - not bad for a farmer’s boy 

from Zummerzet! 

I learned recently that the most able students at 

Cambridge in the 19th century were encouraged into 

sporting activity so that their bodies and minds could 

withstand the academic life’s peculiar combination of 

mental exertion and physical indolence. For myself, I 

initially rowed for Oriel Men’s second boat, but I now 

prefer running, recently completing a half-marathon in 

one hour fifty-two minutes. With that kind of form I 

won’t be challenging any world records, but at least the 

aching muscles keep me awake in the library of an 

afternoon. Needless to say, the love of sport as an 

accompaniment to one’s other endeavours comes 

naturally to any Old Brutonian. 

2 OLD BRUTONIAN ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER 2006

HELEN BROCKLEHURST (W95/97) 

Helen graduated from University 

College, Durham in 2000 with a first 

class degree in English literature and 

started her first job in publishing a 

week later. While working, she also 

gained an MA with distinction in 

Modern Literatures in English from 

Birkbeck College, London, and was invited to publish her 

dissertation. She currently commissions illustrated nonfiction 

at HarperCollins where she is editorial director. 

She lives with her husband in Winchester and London. 

ALEXANDRA BENNETT (W95/97) 

Alexandra Bennett graduated from 

Edinburgh University in 2001 with a 

First Class Honours degree in History of 

Art and English Literature. After 

teaching English for a year in Japan on 

the JET(Japan English Teaching) 

programme, she returned to the UK to 

pursue an MA In History of Art at the Courtauld Institute, 

specialising in Arts in Florence during the Age of Lorenzo 

the Magnificent. She freelanced in several museums and 

galleries, including lecturing at the Courtauld Gallery, 

before taking up her current post of Education Coordinator 

at Orleans House Gallery In Twickenham. 

EDWARD SQUIRE (P93/98) 

On leaving King’s, I went straight up to 

Oxford to read Geography at St. 

Catherine’s College and spent three 

very enjoyable years there. Sport 

continued to be an important part of 

life and I played university 2nd XI 

hockey and cricket throughout my first 

and second years. I joined the Officer Training Corps, 

which offered opportunities for travel and adventure, and 

took advantage of the long summer holidays to indulge in 

both, making trips through Pakistan and the Middle East. 

The former was to complete my dissertation which 

focused on the situation of Afghan refugees in the North 

West Frontier Province. This contributed to a first class 

degree and something called the Gibbs Prize, which can 

be best described as the runner’s up award. I left Oxford 

for the city firm Cazenove in Autumn 2001, where for my 

sins, I have remained for the last five years, making the 

few yards each year to whichever livery hall the OBA 

lunch is being held. 

JAMES KNOEDLER (N98/02) 

After Bruton I read English at Keble 

College, Oxford, from 2002 to 2005. I 

left Oxford having finished first in my 

year in English finals, winning a Gibbs 

Prize (I also won a Gibbs Prize for exam 

performance at the end of my first 

year). I am now pursuing a career in 

finance, probably in the equity analysis sphere. I am 

currently working for Copal Partners, in Delhi, an equity 

and credit research firm, and will be returning to London 

shortly to live and work there full-time. 


GEOFFREY LEE (L93/98) 

After leaving King’s in 1998, I spent 

four years at New College, Oxford, 

studying Maths and Philosophy. During 

this time I became sufficiently 

obsessed with philosophy, that 

attempting to become a professional 

philosopher was the only 

psychologically realistic option for me. An unusual 

ambition, I suppose, but at least I knew what I wanted. 

These growing pretensions were given a significant boost 

by receiving a first in the first part of finals, at the end of 

my penultimate year. 

Yearning to live in a new and unfamiliar place, and 

realizing that my academic interests would be best 

served by leaving Oxford and heading to America, my 

next step was to apply to grad school in New York. Like 

Oxford in the seventies, New York has recently been a 

magnet for some of the best philosophers in the world, so 

seemed like the place to be for someone like me. To my 

excitement, I got a place at NYU, maybe the best school 

for philosophy in the States (at least that’s what they say 

around here). I was comfortably set for the next 5-6 years, 

but still the end of my time at Oxford was not without 

note : I received a prize for the best performance in 

philosophy finals, which definitely put extra wind in my 

sails as I left for the US. 

I’ve now been living in New York for three and a half 

years, and currently I’m busy writing a thesis about the 

experience of time. I also have a paper that’s coming out 

this March in a volume entitled “Perceptual Experience”, 

published by Oxford University Press. Those who 

remember me as a musical person at King’s may be 

pleased to hear that I still play : I’m in an experimental 

rock band called “Seasick”, and I play shows regularly in 

some of the more dark and mysterious venues of 

Manhattan and Brooklyn. Where my career will go from 

here is unpredictable – there aren’t that many jobs for 

philosophers out there, but at least I’m in a good position 

for getting one of them. 

RICHARD SQUIRE (P87/92) 

I went up to Oxford in 1993 and graduated in 1996. I chose 

Geography more by default than after serious 

consideration. But I had no reason to regret this decision. 

Modern Geography is a very broad discipline, and I was 

able to shape my studies much as I liked. In my first year 

I concentrated on traditional physical geography. I had 

spent the summer after leaving Bruton measuring 

glaciers in Norway with an amateur expedition, and this 

had fuelled my interest in mountains and landscape. The 

physical geography lecturers at Oxford were solid and the 

concepts they taught were not beyond my reach. After 

the first year, my focus shifted increasingly towards 

Political Geography and especially the Middle East. One of 

the papers I wrote for Finals was on the politics of water 

distribution in Middle East: a fascinating subject covering 

many aspects of this turbulent region. I wish I had as 

clear a grasp of it now as I thought I had then. 

After Oxford, I joined the Foreign and Commonwealth 

Office. I have had postings in Pakistan, Afghanistan and 

the Balkans. 

OLD BRUTONIAN ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER 2006 3


MIKE BOND (B92/97) 

You get cut down to size at university. 

Within two weeks I realised my tutorial 

partner’s ability far outstripped my own. 

Every school leaver meets new 

contemporaries both more and less able 

than himself. But I had new priorities, 

such as spending time with my new 

friends (aka. drinking). Two years, and two moderate 2:1s 

later, I had almost missed the opportunity to learn 

anything at Cambridge. Then I remembered the vibrant 

and friendly welcome of the PhD students when I first 

visited the Computer Laboratory. I resolved to become one, 

but for this I needed a 1st class degree. 

For the first time in my life I really had no idea if I was 

good enough, if I was capable. I put everything on hold 

and studied without distraction for a month. Hard work 

and a bit of luck saw me through: I was accepted to study 

a PhD in Computer Security, which I completed in 2004. I 

had wonderful fun as an undergraduate; I worked hard at 

my PhD, and I hope it has made a difference, albeit to a 

narrow field. 

Six years after my exams, I’m off to put the theories of 

my PhD into practice in industry. Does a 1st hold intrinsic 

value? I don’t know, but I’m glad and thankful it got me 

where I wanted to go. 

JOHN WALTON (O94/99) 

I never really wanted a First. There’s a 

perception that people with Firsts are 

pure academics, wandering around 

their ivory towers without any idea of 

real life going on around them. That can 

be true, but when my dissertation came 

back with a high First, I decided that 

this was the perfect opportunity for me to go all-out and 

stretch myself in the remaining modules of my St 

Andrews MA in International Relations. I’ve always 

tended to volunteer for leadership positions — from my 

chairmanship of the Good Causes Committee in the 

Lower Sixth, Head of House and prefecture positions in 

the Upper Sixth, through the Presidency and 

Chairmanship of the Board of a US educational and 

literary charity to singing in the Beijing Forbidden City 

Concert Hall, ambassadorial residences, the Barbican and 

St Martin-in-the-Fields. All that has helped me to 

demonstrate that my academic excellence shows 

analytical skills as part of a wider skill-set that really has 

employment value. After graduation, I taught 

International Relations at the Waijiao Xueyuan (China 

Foreign Affairs University) in Beijing — and I’m sure the 

First helped there. When I was recruited into the 

Treasury, where I remain now, it provided a useful point 

for discussion in interviews. In the three years since I 

graduated, though, I’ve found that my work experience is 

becoming much more important than my degree. Am I 

glad I went for it? Absolutely — and I will reap more 

benefits if I decide to do an MBA or another further 

degree. Would I have been seriously disadvantaged with a 

2:1? Not particularly. Most of all, though, I did it to stretch 

myself — and I think that one’s motivation for going for a 

First is absolutely vital. 

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT 

e-mail address: RandJMSullivan@aol.com 

Dear Old Brutonians, 

It was a privilege to be elected President at the Annual 

General Meeting last June in succession to Christopher 

Rhys-Jones. Chris has been an outstanding ambassador 

for the School and a President of much distinction. He has 

handed over the torch to me when the OBA is on the crest 

of a wave. There are a number of reasons for this. 

Communications 

The internet and electronic mail system are responsible 

for bringing us all into much closer and more frequent 

contact than ever before. I note that the OBA website has 

taken over 11,000 hits since it was set up by Harry 

Witherby. He has over 1,600 Old Brutonians on his email 

address list and can send a message to us all with a flick of 

his mouse. We have never been better and more quickly 

informed about sporting and social activities and other 

matters of interest. 

Scholarships 

Our financial base, as you will see from the accounts in 

this Newsletter, has much improved in recent years and we 

are now able to support scholarships for 6 pupils at a total 

cost of £7.5k pa, with a further scholarship worth £3k pa 

from September 2006. 

Sport 

I expect you will have heard about the Apple Growers 

Sports Club, founded in 2000 by Alex Baldwin, Harvey 

Douglas and Duncan Weir. It has gone from strength to 

strength with a membership of over 60 and a most 

successful tour of Jersey, fielding both a rugby and cricket 

team, in September. 

Your committee was delighted to donate £640 on behalf 

of the Association to the Apple Growers to buy a set of 

rugby shirts and very smart they look too. We are very 

keen to encourage and support sporting activities and the 

associated social contact between our younger and fitter 

members. 

The Brewers’ Company Cup 

Established in 1973 this is a national knockout cricket 

competition for Old Boys’ sides from public schools with a 

pupil base of up to 600, won for the second time by an Old 

Brutonian XI in 2005. Well done them! I much enjoyed 

presenting Fraser Stewart, our winning captain, with the 

trophy, full of champagne, at the London Lunch. Fraser 

scored 111 out of a Bruton total of 278 for 6. Old 

Cranleighans were all out for 160 in reply. 

The London Lunch 

This flagship event for the OBA is very close to my heart 

as I have been much involved in setting it up each year in 

the Livery Halls in the City of London, this time with the 

help of Harry Witherby. The 2005 Lunch was held in 

Ironmongers’ Hall and is reported on elsewhere. It was a 

very special occasion indeed, when 168 Old Brutonians of 

both sexes and of all ages (the youngest being 19) from all 

walks of life, gathered together because we shared the 

common bond of having spent our formative years at that 


ancient seat of learning in the West Country. There 

cannot be another school of our size - or twice our size - 

from Somerset or anywhere else supported at such an 

event by its alumni in such numbers. Thank you all for 

coming. 

The Memorial Hall 

One of the highlights of the London Lunch was the 

commemoration of over 100 of our Old Boys, who made the 

supreme sacrifice in the First and Second World Wars. This 

was inspired by the news a few weeks before that a spitfire, 

flown by Pilot Officer Alec Lindsay (L32/36), who had been 

shot down twice during the Battle of Britain in 1940, had 

been unearthed in a field in Malta. Alex Lindsay’s name is 

carved into the oak paneling in the Memorial Hall – killed 

in action 23rd October 1942, aged 22. 

There have been other priorities in the School’s 

refurbishment programme over the years and, as a result, 

the shrine to our Fallen Old Boys, with the exception of the 

recently polished floor, is looking very tired. We are 

committed to encouraging and supporting the 

Headmaster in plans to restore the Hall to its former glory 

and indeed to enhance its appearance. First thoughts 

include replacing the service and regimental flags, which 

adorned the walls and which I think were taken down in 

the 70’s; redecoration; rewiring, including a new lighting 

system, and, if funds permit, building the gallery originally 

planned, when the Hall was built, for the opposite end to 

the stage. These are early days. Both David Hindley and I 

are members of the Working Party. We will report back. I 

hope you will approve. 

Remembrance 

The Headmaster is receptive to the idea that in addition 

to the service in the Church there should also be a brief 

Remembrance Service in the Memorial Hall on 11th 

November or Remembance Sunday each year at which 

representatives of the OBA would place a wreath on the 

wall at the end of the Hall. 

The Bruton Dinner 24th June 2006 

Now held in the Memorial Hall this too has become a 

most impressive event in recent years but sadly has lacked 

support. Inspired by the success of the London Lunch your 

committee is reviewing the arrangements with the aim of 

attracting many more Old Brutonians to attend this event 

at the School in the summer. Indeed, with the help of the 

Headmaster and Development Director we are looking at 

putting together a weekend package in future with 

activities and events before the Dinner on the Saturday 

and after the Dinner on the Sunday. 

I do ask you to consider making contact with your old 

School friends without delay to plan to visit the School 

over the weekend 24th/25th June and to organize a table 

at the Dinner. Do please help us to make the Dinner this 

year the biggest and best ever. 

The Committee 

David Hindley, the Hon Secretary, recognized by his 

former pupils in such numbers and with such affection at 

the London Lunch, and Colin Hughes, the Hon Treasurer, 

continue to give outstanding service in the engine room of 


the committee. Their wisdom, experience and advice are 

invaluable to the President. 

We are also very well served by the younger members, 

including the ladies, who make a major contribution on 

the committee. This is essential as they ensure that we are 

in touch with the views and aspirations of the younger 

generations, whom they represent. 

We welcome Lizzie Sedgman, who joins her sister Kate, 

and David Graham as new members. 

Conclusion 

We have a very good relationship with Nigel Lashbrook, 

the Headmaster, and with Richard Claas, the School’s first 

professional Development Director. We are in close touch 

with both of them and they could not be more supportive 

to us. There is a wonderful spirit of optimism in the School 

and I think in the Old Brutonian Association. 

Richard Sullivan 

President , Old Brutonian Association 

RICHARD SULLIVAN : PROFILE 

Richard Sullivan was born in Dorchester , into a 

military family, in May 1944. He was educated at Hill 

Crest Preparatory School, Swanage before entering King’s 

in 1958, following his brother into New House (Mr. Basil 

Wright). 

Memories of his 5 years at the School are selective now 

but he recalls mostly happy times, a passion for sport and 

particularly rugby (1st XV scrum half ‘61 and ‘62). He was 

CSM in the CCF and a House Prefect (but only just). In spite 

of the distractions of Sunny Hill School in his final two 

years he was awarded a Scholarship to RMA Sandhurst in 

1962. 

He was commissioned into the Royal Tank Regiment , 

his father’s and grandfather’s Regiment, in 1964. He 

retired in 1992 having served in 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, 

9th/12th Royal Lancers and latterly as a Squadron 

Commander and Second in Command of The Life Guards. 

He completed a number of tours in Northern Ireland, 

including Operations Officer in South Derry in 1979 and on 

the staff of Headquarters Northern Ireland 1981 –1983. He 

was promoted Lieutenant Colonel in 1984. Further 

overseas tours followed in Zimbabwe, just after 

independence, and the USA. 

He assumed his present appointment as Clerk (Chief 

Executive) of the Girdlers’ Company in 1996. The Girdlers’ 

Company, an ancient Livery Company in the City of 

London, is a property owning company, which gives much 

of its revenue to charity. 

His interests include offshore sailing (1976 Trans 

Atlantic Race, Fastnet Races and more recently cruising on 

his brother’s yacht in the Caribbean), shooting , City and 

particularly family life. He married Jan Traherne in 1969 

and they have two grown up children: Mark, who is a 

stockbroker, and Kate, who works for the BBC. 

He lives in the Barbican during the working week and 

at home in Cucklington, about 10 miles from Bruton, at 

the weekends. 



LETTER FROM THE HON. SECRETARY 

Dear Old Brutonians, 

I’d like to begin by thanking all those of my former pupils who gave me such a rousing reception at the 

London Lunch in November. It is surely a rare occurrence to get a standing ovation in one of the great livery 

halls of the City, but that was what you gave me, and I was very moved by your generosity. The lunch was a 

particularly memorable occasion in other ways too (as Tom Suffolk records later), and I can’t have been the 

only person present with a regularly occurring lump in the throat. 

Talk of the London Lunch brings me fairly seamlessly to the Bruton Dinner. This has never been as heavily 

subscribed as the Lunch but it is a happy event and has become particularly splendid since 2000 when we 

moved the meal to the Memorial Hall and took our pre-dinner drinks in the elegant setting of the Millennium 

Circle. The School caterers always provide a feast, and there is the added pleasure of being back in Bruton 

where, so to speak, it all began. 

Nothing wrong with the Dinner itself, then. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the behaviour of 

some young Old Brutonians once the formal events have come to an end. It has been the practice to invite to 

the Dinner, free of charge, those who joined the School x decades previously. Thus, this year we would have 

invited those from 1996, 1986, 1976, etc. Sadly, each year, almost invariably, some of the youngest present have 

behaved in the most rowdy fashion once the main festivities are over. 2004 was the worst year, when large 

quantities of wine were stolen from the Memorial Hall which was left in an appalling mess by the marauders 

– a mess that the hard-working kitchen staff then had to clear up early the following morning. Last year, 

mercifully, nothing criminal was done, but some Old Boys staying in Blackford (again free of charge) thought 

it amusing to career around the House late at night and disturb other OB’s who were trying to sleep. Someone 

was sick in the House and it was left for Matron to clear up, this in spite of my having asked several key 

individuals earlier in the evening to remember that they were guests in the School and to keep their behaviour 

under control. 

Not surprisingly the School has been dismayed by these activities, and the Committee is in strong 

agreement with that reaction. Furthermore, and through no fault this time of anyone, housing OB’s in the 

School while term is still in progress is logistically extremely difficult. Consequently, it has been reluctantly 

decided that accommodation can no longer be offered in the School and we must ask OB’s to make their own 

arrangements for bed and breakfast, if they need it. A list of possible venues is given later in the Newsletter. 

The free ‘ten year’ dinners will also cease to be on offer, although those OB’s over 75 will continue to be 

entertained free of charge. 

Your Committee fully realise the risk that this strategy might present to the continuing success of the 

Dinner and the irritation it could provoke in the innocent. However, the possibly smaller numbers attending 

will be more than compensated for by the peace of mind to housemasters, matrons, the Caterer, the 

Headmaster and your Hon. Secretary who has regularly spent the days following the Dinner taking the 

inevitable flak. What is more, those staying overnight in whatever hostelry will be assured of a peaceful night’s 

sleep! Indeed, I hope this will be a bumper year for the Dinner as we shall be marking the retirement, after 38 

years at the School, of Roger Lowe, Head of Science and former Housemaster of Old House, and also of Monica 

Ashton (at one time house parent of Priory) after 19 years. 

Finally, I return to the ongoing saga of OBA regalia. For some while now we have been looking to develop 

the range of items available under the aegis of the Association. Most Old Boys will have one or both of the 

OBA ties but there is nothing for Old Girls and nothing in the way of souvenirs. At last we seem to have found 

a company that is prepared to develop the regalia as we wish, but inevitably setting up such a range takes 

time. For the moment, we continue to deal with Pinder & Tuckwell but as soon as the new arrangements are in 

place, we will announce that fact on the website, where you will be able to access photographs of the new 

items and order online. It will also be possible to place orders by telephone. 

And, on that note, I send, once again, my very best wishes to you all. 

David Hindley 


AGM AND BRUTON DINNER 

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2005 

The Annual General Meeting of the Old Brutonian Association was held 

in the John Davie Room at King’s School, Bruton at 6 p.m. on Saturday, 

June 25th, 2005. The President, Mr Christopher Rhys-Jones was in the 

chair and 21 members of the Association were present. Apologies were 

received from Guy Bagnall (N47/54), Ena Blazier (Honorary Member), 

Roger Gallannaugh (O54/57), Stuart Musgrove (O47/51), Robin Phillips 

(O90/95), Thomas Phillips (O86/91), Arnold Stevenson (O42/45), John 

Taynton-Evans(O39/44) and Harry Witherby (B63/67). 

1. The Minutes 

The Minutes of the last AGM, held on Saturday, June 26th, 2004, 

having been circulated with the Newsletter for 2005, were agreed 

and signed as a true record. 

2. Matters Arising 

There were no matters arising 

3. President’s Items 

a. The President thanked the Hon. Secretary for another distinguished 

annual Newsletter. 

b. The President expressed his disappointment that the proposal to 

establish local branches of the OBA abroad had met with very little 

apparent enthusiasm. Given the strong connections between Kenya 

and the School, he felt that that was a country where, with help, such 

a branch might develop. 

c. The President reported that Association sport was looking 

particularly healthy and told the Meeting of the Apple Growers’ 

Sports Club (a group of young OB’s fielding Rugby, Hockey and 

Cricket teams) who had been awarded some funding by the 

Association. 

d. The Committee’s attempts to develop OBA regalia were 

encountering difficulties. Jamie Reach (L91/95) was currently 

working on the problem. 

e. As this was his last AGM in office, the President wished to express 

his gratitude to the Officers of the Committee and to Committee 

members past and present for all the help and support that they had 

given him over the last three years. 

The President was pleased to report that the Governors had 

unanimously agreed to revise the method whereby Life 

Subscriptions to the OBA were collected through the School Bill. This 

would result in few, if any, School leavers failing to join the 

Association. 

4. Hon. Secretary’s Report 

a. The Hon. Secretary reported that the Committee had agreed to 

replace the OBA Office computer, now ten years old, and this would 

result in some further streamlining of Office work. 

b. A service of thanksgiving for the life and work of John Neal, formerly 

Housemaster of New House, had been held in St Mary’s Church on 

May 21st. This had been well attended and a moving account of 

John’s life was delivered by Tony Beadles, former Headmaster. 

The Hon. Secretary had already paid lengthy tribute, in the 

Newsletter, to the work of Chris Rhys-Jones as President but he 

wished to place on formal record at the AGM what a privilege and 

pleasure working with Chris had been. 

THE BRUTON DINNER 

5. Hon. Treasurer’s Report 

Copies of the full accounts were distributed at the Meeting, as only 

abbreviated accounts had appeared in the Newsletter. The Hon. 

Treasurer then took the Meeting through the Accounts of the 

Association and of the Charitable Trust. Adoption of the Association’s 

accounts was proposed by James Burrell (O41/46) and seconded by 

Peter Phillips (L60/65); adoption of the accounts for the Charitable 

Trust was proposed by Sally Snook (72/73) and seconded by John 

Longman (P57/61). Both sets of accounts were unanimously adopted. 

6. The Charitable Trust: Vice-President's Report 

a. The Vice-President reminded the Meeting of the objects of the OBA 

Charitable Trust, namely, the relief of poverty among former pupils 

of the School and their immediate dependants; the provision of 

scholarships, and the provision of School prizes. He was pleased to 

report that there had been no applications for the relief of poverty. 

b. Scholarships. The Committee, with appropriate advice from the 

Headmaster, had awarded the 2005 scholarship of £3000 p.a. for five 

years to Michael Richardson. Michael is 13 and was, until December 

2004, a pupil at Nottingham High School. He is described as “a very 

bright young man who should be one of the academic leaders in his 

year group.” He has also been awarded a 25% academic scholarship 

by the School. 

c. There are five other OBA Scholarship holders in the School, with 

scholarships worth between £750 and £1500 p.a., The current 

recipients are Matthew Wilcox (2004), Alicia Stevenson and Daniel 

Smith (2003) and Adam Marsh and Laura Wood (2002). 

d. The Vice-President announced the names of those who had been 

awarded the OBA School Prizes for 2005. The OBA Prize for excellence 

in GCSE had been awarded to Edward Hunt (N). The OBA Progress 

Prizes had gone to William Hume (A), Kathryn Pentecost (P) and 

Richard Telfer (N). 

e. The Vice-President reported that there continue to be only twenty 

OB’s who make regular contributions to the Charitable Trust, a 

disappointing one third of one per cent of the known membership of 

the Association, although there had been a generous one-off 

donation of £500 during the year. It was planned to examine 

methods of raising funds at the next Committee Meeting. 

7. Officers and Committee 

a. The Meeting unanimously endorsed the Committee’s 

recommendation of two new members: Lizzie Sedgman (W97/99) 

and David Graham (O60/65). 

b. Also on a recommendation of the Committee, John Longman (P57/61) 

was unanimously elected Vice-President of the Association. 

c. Richard Sullivan (N58/62), formerly Vice-President, succeeds as 

President of the Association, again with the unanimous approval of 

the Meeting. 

Both the Hon. Secretary and the Hon. Treasurer agreed to serve for 

another year, as did the Hon. Auditor. 

8. A.O.B. 

There was no other business. 

The meeting closed at 6.45 p.m. 



THE BRUTON 

DINNER 2005 

Reports of the Bruton Dinner are 

becoming boringly formulaic. This is 

partly because the event itself 

follows a similar pattern each year 

and partly because the same person 

tends to write the report. (Any offers 

to produce an account of the 2006 

Dinner would be greeted with 

touching cries of gratitude.) This 

year, therefore, to avoid the sense of 

déjà vu, we will go for minimalism. 

The weather was helpful, for once, so 

we were able to have our drinks in 

the Millennium Circle, to the 

impressive background 

accompaniment of the School’s 

excellent Big Band, under their 

conductor William Prideaux. In due 

course, all the better for some glasses 

of sparkling wine or Buck’s Fizz or 

whatever, we sat down in the 

Memorial Hall to the following (and 

I quote the menu in all its Keatsian 

opulence): either, as a starter, fresh 

poached Scottish salmon (served 

with salad garnish and lemon and 

dill mayonnaise) or deep fried Brie 

(served also with a salad garnish and 

a whisky and cranberry dip); then, 

for the main course, either honey 

and lemon chicken supreme or 

vegetable kievs with spicy tomato, 

accompanied by roasted new 

potatoes, snap peas and Vichy 

carrots; for the sweet course there 

was a choice of either banoffee 

meringue roulade or luxury summer 

pudding, both served with double 

cream; and, finally, if you still had 

any room, you could tackle the 

cheese board. To drink, there were a 

South East Australian full red wine 

or a dry white and coffee. In his toast 

to the School, our newly-elected 

President spoke movingly of his 

immediate predecessor and great 

friend, Chris Rhys-Jones, quoting 

wonderfully aptly from Kipling’s 

poem If (“If you can walk with 

crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk 

with Kings – nor lose the common 

touch……”). The formalities of the 

evening ended with the now 

customary singing of Carmen 

Brutoniense, and once again 

Enthusiasm beat Musicality to the 

post by several lengths. Once again 

too, the Dinner proved a wonderfully 

happy occasion for all present. 

MEMBERS ATTENDING 

Guests in italics 

Honorary Members 

Jean Bryant 

Mary Tyndall 

David Hindley Hon. Secretary 

1939 

John Burnett (N) 

James Burrell (O) Past President 

Geoffrey Collins (N) 

Keith Lilly (O) 

James Nowell (O) 

1940 

David Hickley (O) 

1944 

Edwin Bristow (O) 

1945 

John Coleman (N) 

Christopher Rhys-Jones (O) President 

Marilyn Coleman 

1948 

Keith Loney (O) Past President 

Allen Whittaker (P) 

Shirley Whittaker 

1949 

Michael West (O) 

1950 

Brian Heather (O) 

Elizabeth Heather 

1951 

Peter Whitelaw (O) 

1952 

Peter Canning (O) Past President 

Diana Canning 

1954 

Roger Gallannaugh (O) Past President 

Judy Gallannaugh 

1956 

Colin Hughes (L) Hon. Treasurer 

Gill Hughes 

John Longman (P) Vice-President 

Penny Longman 

Charles Maitland (N57/61) 

Wendy Maitland 

1957 

Richard Taylor (O) 

Alice Taylor 

1958 

Richard Sullivan (N) President-elect 

Jan Sullivan 

1960 

Jeremy Hall (L) 

Judith Hall 

Peter Phillips (L) Past President 

1962 

Tony Smyth (Staff) 

Robert Snook (B) 

1964 

Richard Brazier (B) 

Diana Brazier 

Addison Redley (B) 

Jennifer Redley 

Roderick Simpson (B) 

Avrille Simpson 

1965 

Michael Annen (O) 

Deborah Annen 

David Poulton (P) 

Camilla Poulton 

John Tate (B) 

Elaine Tate 

1967 

Martin Barber (Staff) 

1968 

John Graves (P) Hon. Auditor 

1972 

Sally Snook (W) Past President 

Dominic Wood (O) 

1990 

Russell Allen (N) 

1991 

Jamie Reach (L) Committee 

1993 

Lucy Hutchings (W) 

1994 

James Barnes (L) 

Philip Barnes 

Terry Wilton 

1995 

Ollie Barstow (B) 

Grant Bentley (N) 

Simon Burrows (O) 

Mark Dunn (P) 

Luke Fenton (N) 

Jack Foot (O) 

Robert Gichuru (L) 

Andrew Gillett (O) 

Matthew Green (P) 

Tom Hacking (O) 

John Harris (P) 

Will Hatchard (O) 

Henry Hobhouse (P) 

Peter Lovell (B) 

Joseph Mbu (N) 

Sandy McKenzie (L) 

Chris Pratt (O) 

Kate Sedgman (W) 

Sophie Stanford-Tuck (W) 

Edward Thompson (L) 

Martin Tillbrook (P) 

Rhys Wynn (L) 

1996 

Hannah Carew-Gibbs (W) 

1997 

Jemma Barnes (W) 

Ann Cowie 

Elizabeth Sedgman (W) 

1998 

Emma Evelyn (W) 

Francis Githunguri (N) 

Rory Parker (O) 


GUESTS OF THE ASSOCIATION 

Nigel and Jill Lashbrook (Headmaster) 

Richard and Katie Fenwick (Headmaster of Hazlegrove) 

Gareth and Gillian Evans (Deputy Headmaster) 

Dan and Mary Shorland Ball (Bursar) 

Nigel and Deborah Watts (Housemaster, Old House) 

James and Olivia Shone (Housemaster, New House) 

Ann and David Crowcombe (Housemistress, Priory House) 

Rob and Julie Lowry (Housemaster, Lyon House) 

Charles and Camilla Oulton (Housemaster, Blackford House) 

Veronica and Frederick Trenchard (Housemistress, Wellesley House) 

Rose Vigers (Housemistress, Arion House) 

Nigel and Zanna Wilson-Brown (Chaplain) 

Jan and Colin Juneman (Assistant Secretary to the OBA) 

Glynn Jenkins (Director of Music) 

Kathy Catto (Matron, Old House) 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL 

GENERAL MEETING 2006 

The Annual General Meeting of the Old Brutonian 

Association will be held in the John Davie Room at 

King’s School, Bruton on Saturday, 24th June 2006 at 

6.00 pm for the following purposes: 

1. to receive the accounts and reports of the Committee and of 

the Honorary Auditor acting as an independent examiner for 

the year ended 31st December, 2005; 

2. to receive the accounts of the Old Brutonian Association 

Charitable Trust and the reports of the Trustees and of the 

independent examiner for the year ended 31st December 

2005; 

3. to elect members of the Committee; 

4. to elect an Honorary Secretary for the ensuing year; 

5. to elect an Honorary Treasurer for the ensuing year; 

6. to appoint an Honorary Auditor to act as an auditor or 

independent examiner as appropriate for the ensuing year; 

7. Election of Honorary Members of the Assoociation 

That, upon a proposal by the Committee in accordance with 

Article 2(c) of the rules of the Association, Mr Cliff Lowe, 

Estates Manager, be and hereby is elected an Honorary 

Member. 

By order of the Committee 

David Hindley 

(Honorary Secretary) 

AGENDA FOR THE 2006 AGM 

1. Minutes of the last Meeting 

2. Matters Arising 

3. President’s Items 

4. Hon. Secretary’s Report 

5. Hon. Treasurer’s Report 

6. The Charitable Trust: 

The Vice-President’s Report 

7. Officers and Committee 

8. Election of Honorary Members 

9. A.O.B. 

ACCOMMODATION 


There are a few places offering bed and breakfast 

accommodation within easy walking distance of the 

School: 

Brue House 01749 813524 

already booked 

Bruton House 01749 813395 

Blue Ball Inn 01749 812315 

Within about ten minutes’ drive of the School, bed 

and breakfast is available at: 

Clanville Manor* 01963 350124 

clanville@aol.com 

The Montague Inn 01749 813213 

Gants Mill 01749 812393 

Holbrook House Hotel 01963 824466 

holbrookhotel@compuserve.com 

The George Hotel, 

Castle Cary 01963 350761 

There is a more comprehensive list on the Bruton 

town website: www.bruton-town.org.uk 

*run by Old Brutonian, Sally Snook 

THE LONDON LUNCH 2006 

The 2006 London Lunch will be held in the 

Ironmongers’ Hall on Friday, December 1st. Harry 

Witherby will again be organising the event, and 

nearer the time, he will contact all those who have 

attended in previous years with details of the Lunch 

and a booking form. If you know that you are not on 

Harry’s list and would like to attend, please email 

him at harry@witherby.net . 

To update addresses or to inform us of news 

for publication in the annual newsletter 

please contact: 

The O.B.A. Office, King’s School , 

Bruton, Somerset BA10 0ED 

Telephone/fax: 01749 813253 

e-mail: oba@kingsbruton.com 



ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE WEEKEND OF THE ANNUAL DINNER 

Saturday 24th June, 2006 

6:00pm Annual General Meeting of the Association in the John Davie Room. The Agenda, together with the 

minutes of the meeting in 2005 and the abridged accounts for 2005, are included in this Newsletter. 

7:00pm Wine will be served in the Millennium Circle between the Hobhouse Science Building and the Memorial 

Hall. If the weather is wet, it will be served in the Hobhouse Science Building. 

7:45pm Dinner in the Memorial Hall. 

Dress: Black Tie. 

Members may each invite one guest, who need not be a member. Any member wishing to invite more than one guest 

should refer to the Note below. 

Would members wishing to come to the Dinner please complete the form below and return it by 10th June to 

Jamie Reach at 52 Honeymead Lane, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 1QH. 

Sunday, 25th June, 2006 

9:10am Celebration of Holy Communion in the Parish Church by Revd. N. H. Wilson-Brown, the School Chaplain. 

! 

ANNUAL DINNER SATURDAY 24th JUNE, 2006 

BLOCK CAPITALS PLEASE 

To: Jamie Reach, OBA Dinner Secretary, 52 Honeymead Lane, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 1QH. 

I apply for ……….......... place(s) for the Bruton Dinner to be held on Saturday, 24th June 2006. 

NAME……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….............................................................................................................................. 

HOUSE & DATES AT SCHOOL…………………………………...……………………………………………………........................................................................................................... 

ADDRESS……………………………………………………..…………………………………………………………............................................................................................................................ 

…………………………………………………………….………………………………………………………………................................................................................................................................... 

E-MAIL…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 

NAME(S) OF GUEST(S)…………………………………….……………………………………………………………............................................................................................................... 

I enclose a cheque payable to “Old Brutonian Association” for 

…………… Dinner place(s) at £25 each ……………………………. 

…………… Dinner place(s) free of charge (see below) ……………………………. 

TOTAL £………………………….. 

I claim the privilege of dining free of charge on the following grounds (please tick as appropriate) 

1. Honorary Member. 

2. Ordinary Member aged 75 and over. 

N.B. If you wish to invite more than one guest, please contact Jamie Reach (01747 813039) before you submit this form. 

Places will be allocated in order of receipt; early application is recommended. 

Tickets will not be issued but there will be an acknowledgment of your booking. 

If you find that you are unable to attend, please inform the Hon. Secretary as soon as possible. 

Signed……………………………………………………………………….. Telephone No……..….……………........... 

PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM, OR A COPY, TO JAMIE REACH BY 10th JUNE 2006. LATER APPLICATIONS MAY NOT BE ACCEPTED. 


Things like this happen, I suppose, 

if you’re young and lucky 

and a reader. Also it helps perhaps 

to be idolatrous. I was seventeen, 

devouring all things USA in paperback 

and dreaming of being Steinbeck 

when the man himself arrived 

at cycling distance from my school. 

He and his wife had hired a cottage 

for its local colour (this was the Vale 

of Avalon) and he was here to work on 

Malory’s tales of Merlin and King Arthur. 

Soon my own research came up 

with an address. I wrote, and the reply 

was friendliness, directions and a number. 

Come over, he said, when I rang 

from the dayroom payphone, telling him 

how much I admired, etc., breathless 

at the drop of Button A, and mentioning 

two fellow-fans. Why not bring them too 

if your school will let you out. Say 

Sunday afternoon if the weather holds 

and we’ll drink beer in the garden. 

What do I remember? More than anything 

that he wouldn’t talk books. Through a cloud 

of Capstan Navy Cut (I guess you boys 

don’t smoke and we pretended pusillanimously 

to agree) he turned aside our tentative 

interrogation, our admiring guff. Bob Hope 

and Sergeant Bilko, how I love those guys. 

I see they’re on your network over here. 

Who do you watch? And praise for Henry Fonda 

was the nearest he came to mentioning 

The Grapes of Wrath. His wife brought out 

four bottles on a tray with secateurs 

and gardening gloves, and everything 

was all so obviously how they wanted it, 

a rural idyll blessed by summertime 

with old-world English schoolboys. Only, I recall, 

one shadow when we touched on politics 

and with a phrase which even now 

brings back his living voice: John Foster Dulles 

got your Suez business wrong, that man’s 

The Other Day 

Summer 1959 

INSIGNIA & SOUVENIERS 

a mean hard-bitten Presbyterian. 

I think I half-knew what he meant 

and made a note of it to work in 

somehow to a school debate, dropped casually, 

As Steinbeck said to me the other day….. 

Why do I write this now? Because 

(the other day) I was reading his biography* 

and looked up Somerset for old time’s sake. 

So this had been a time when my hero’s 

work was going badly, and afterwards 

it never picked up much. The Arthur book 

got poor reviews, although announcement 

of the Nobel had the happy couple 

dancing round the room. But then 

there was the story of his last hours 

with his wife beside him. What would you say 

was the best time we had in our 

twenty years together? he asked. You first 

she told him. No, I’m dying and you 

would just agree with me. So what she did 

was write down one word on a notepad, 

tear the paper out and put it in his hand. 

Now what was the best time we had? 

and she didn’t have to wait. Somerset, he said, 

then opening up read SOMERSET in bold 

and instant capitals, and so they lay together 

reminiscing…. 

——————————————- 

Sentimental? Yes. But allow me this, 

the illusion of a possibility, that somewhere 

in the images which returned for them 

and now for me, three bicycles are leaning 

by a cottage gate, the beer is carried out 

across an English lawn, and an admiring 

tongue-tied local schoolboy’s politesse 

turns down the offer of a cigarette. 

John Mole (O55/60) 

* Jay Parini, John Steinbeck: a biography (Heinemann, 1994) 

[ Steinbeck wrote affectionately of the boys’ visits 

in his letters to friends at the time. Ed. ] 


ACCOUNTS 

OLD BRUTONIAN ASSOCIATION & CHARITABLE 

TRUST ABRIDGED REPORTS & ACCOUNTS 

The following are abridged reports and accounts of the 

Association and its charitable trust for the year ended 31 December 

2005. The full reports and accounts, which have been examined by 

the Honorary Auditor acting as an Independent Examiner, were 

approved by the Committee and trustees on 25 February 2006. 

Copies are available from The Honorary Secretary, Old Brutonian 

Association, King’s School, Bruton, Somerset BA10 0ED and will be 

available at the Association’s AGM on 24 June 2006. Copies can also 

be accessed on the OBA website www.oldbrutonians.com. 

ABRIDGED REPORT OF THE ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2005 

Objects 

The general objects of the Association as contained in the Rules 

are to promote union amongst Old Brutonians and to further the 

interests of King’s School, Bruton. In particular the Association will 

arrange an Annual Dinner at the School, publish an Annual 

Newsletter and establish and maintain a Charitable Trust for 

charitable purposes connected to the Association’s objects. 

Committee 

At 31 December 2005 the Committee consisted of the Officers: 

Richard Sullivan (N 58/62) President until 2008, John Longman (P 

57/61) Vice President until 2008, David Hindley (Staff 63/00) 

Honorary Secretary until 2006 and Colin Hughes (L 56/61) Honorary 

Treasurer until 2006, and eight ordinary members: James Holland (O 

83/88) and Kate Sedgman (W 95/97) to serve until 2006, Trevor 

Albery (B 83/88) and Francis Luard (P 92/97) to serve until 2007, 

Hannah Carew-Gibbs (W 96/98) and James Wills (B 64/68) to serve 

until 2008 and Lizzie Sedgman (W 97/99) and David Graham (O 

60/65) to serve until 2009. John Kai Fleming (B 88/93), Sports 

Coordinator, Jamie Reach (L91/95), Dinner Secretary and Harry 

Witherby (B 63/67), London Lunch Secretary, Newsletter Advertising 

and Website Maintenance, attended committee meetings by 

invitation. 

Under the current Rules two ordinary members of the Committee 

are elected each year for a term of four years. Ordinary members are 

not eligible for re-election until the year following that in which they 

retire. At the general meeting on 25 June 2005 Sinead Costello (W 

92/94) and John Longman, who had been members since 2001, 

retired by rotation and Lizzie Sedgman and David Graham were 

elected to replace them. Christopher Rhys-Jones (O 45/49) retired as 

President. Richard Sullivan, who retired as Vice President, was elected 

as President and John Longman was elected as Vice President. John 

M Graves (P 68/73), Honorary Auditor, was re-elected to serve for a 

further year. 

Membership 

106 members joined the Association during 2005. The Association 

was notified of the deaths of five members during 2005 and at the 

end of the year the total membership was 3,883. The active 

membership for whom current addresses are known is now 2,149. 

Activities 

(a) Promotion of union among Old Brutonians 

The annual general meeting and the Bruton dinner were held on 

25 June 2005. 21 members attended the meeting. The dinner was 

held in the Memorial Hall and was attended by 72 members, 22 

guests of members and 27 guests of the Association. The annual 

reunion lunch in London was held in the Ironmongers’ Hall on 18 

November 2005 and was attended by 165 members. The reunions in 

Bristol continued. 

Old Brutonian teams competed against the School at hockey, 

cricket, golf and tennis. An Old Brutonian cricket team participated 

in and won the Brewers Company Cup competition. The Committee 

established contact with the Apple Growers Sports Club, which is 

run by Old Brutonians principally for Old Brutonians, and supported 

the Club with the purchase of rugby shirts. 

The forty-sixth annual Newsletter was despatched to members 

for whom addresses were known in April 2005. The Newsletter was 

edited by David Hindley. Harry Witherby was responsible for the 

procurement of advertising for the Newsletter and for the 

maintenance of the OBA web-site (www.oldbrutonians.com). Over 

half of the active membership has registered email addresses with 

the site. 

(b) Furthering the interests of the School 

The Association donated its investment income under a deed of 

covenant to the Old Brutonian Association Charitable Trust. Under a 

new deed of covenant commencing in September 2005 the 

Association also agreed to donate £1,500 per annum in support of 

scholarships. The abridged report and accounts of the Trust give 

further details. 

Richard Sampson (P 51/55), James Burrell (O 41/46) and Michael 

Robinson (N/P 40/44) represented Old Brutonians on the council of 

the Friends of King’s School, Bruton. Roger Gallanaugh (O 54/57) is 

the Governors’ representative. Michael Barnfield (N 68/74) is the 

current President of the Friends. Four members of the Association 

are currently serving on the Governing Body of the School. 

Finance 

In the year ended 31 December 2005 the Association had 

incoming resources of £25,362. Resources expended amounted to 

£14,308 and the value of investments appreciated by £19,481. Overall 

net assets rose to £138,391. Further details are given in the abridged 

accounts below. 

Appreciation 

The Committee is extremely grateful to those members of the 

Association who have served as past and present members of the 

Committee, the representatives of the Association on outside bodies, 

the Honorary Auditor, the editor of the Newsletter and the 

organisers of the Bruton Dinner, the London Lunch, the regional 

reunions and the increasingly varied and numerous sporting 

activities. Without the assistance of these members the Association 

would be unable to fulfil its objects. 


Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2005 

2005 2004 

Incoming resources £ £ 

Subscriptions 20,528 24,161 

Investment income 3,530 3,012 

Other 1,304 805 

Total incoming resources 25,362 27,978 

Resources expended 

Newsletter publication 6,961 5,855 

Donations 4,047 3,324 

Administration 1,880 1,505 

Other 1,420 7,826 

Total resources expended 14,308 18,510 

Net incoming resources 11,054 9,468 

Gain/(loss) on investments 19,481 3,508 

Net movement in funds 30,535 12,976 

Fund as at 1 January 107,856 94,880 

Fund as at 31 December 138,391 107,856 


Balance Sheet at 31 December 2005 

2005 2004 

Investments £ £ 

Investments 96,395 70,415 

Deposits 37,298 43,381 

Total investments 133,693 113,796 

Current assets 

Debtors 8,036 0 

Cash at bank 131 53 

Total current assets 8,167 53 

Creditors 3,469 5,993 

Net current assets/(liabilities) 4,698 (5,940) 

Net assets 138,391 107,856 

Fund 138,391 107,856 

ABRIDGED REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES 

OF THE CHARITABLE TRUST FOR 

THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2005 

Trustees 

The current trustees are the Officers of the Association, 

namely Richard Sullivan, John Longman, David Hindley and 

Colin Hughes 

Objects 

The objects of the trust are set out in the trust deeds. In 

summary they include the relief of poverty amongst former 

pupils of King’s School, Bruton and their immediate dependents, 

the provision of scholarships to pupils at the School, prizes 

based on educational merit to pupils or former pupils and 

awards to pupils showing outstanding ability in art, drama, 

music, sport and leadership, and such other related charitable 

purposes as the trustees unanimously agree. 

Activities 

During the year the trustees made the following awards to 

further the objects of the trust: 

(a) a scholarship of £3,000 per annum for five years from 

September 2005, and 

(b) four educational prizes of £25 each to pupils at the School. 

A total of £5,250 was paid out in 2005 in respect of 

scholarships awarded. 

Donations 

The covenanted donations from the Association in respect of 

2005 amounted to £4,030. Other donations amounted to £4,569 

for the Unrestricted Fund and £641 for the Permanent 

Endowment Fund. These figures include the benefit of any tax 

relief under Gift Aid. 

The trustees gratefully acknowledge all these donations. 

Accounts 

Net incoming resources amounted to £5,609 for the year 

2005 compared with £4,788 in 2004. These amounts are after 

ACCOUNTS 

making charitable expenditure of £5,350 in 2005 and £4,225 in 

2004 respectively. At 31 December 2005 the net assets stood at 

£54,274, of which £43,831 belonged to the Unrestricted Fund and 

£10,443 to the Permanent Endowment Fund. 

Independent Examiner 

The trustees gratefully acknowledge the work carried out by 

John Graves as Independent Examiner of the trust’s accounts. 


CHARITABLE TRUST 

Registered Number: 284570 

Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2005 

Unrestricted Endowment Total Total 

Fund Fund 2005 2004 

£ £ £ £ 

Incoming resources 

Donations 8,599 641 9,240 7,497 

Investment income 1,719 0 1,719 1,516 

Total incoming resources 10,318 641 10,959 9,013 

Resources expended 

Charitable expenditure: 

Grants payable 5,350 0 5,350 4,225 

Total resources expended 5,350 0 5,350 4,225 

Net incoming resources 4,968 641 5,609 4,788 

Gain/(loss) on investments 1,606 1,141 2,747 2,543 

Net movement in funds 6,574 1,782 8,356 7,331 

Funds as at 1 January 37,257 8,661 45,918 38,587 

Funds as at 31 December 43,831 10,443 54,274 45,918 

Balance Sheet at 31 December 2005 

Unrestricted Endowment Total Total 

Fund Fund 2005 2004 

£ £ £ £ 

Investments 

Equities 

investment fund 13,801 9,802 23,603 20,856 

Deposits 27,685 641 28,326 23,412 

Total investments 41,486 10,443 51,929 44,268 

Current assets 

Debtors 1,779 0 1,779 1,479 

Cash at bank 566 0 566 171 

Total current assets 2,345 0 2,345 1,650 

Creditors 0 0 0 0 

Net current 

assets/(liabilities) 2,345 0 2,345 1,650 

Net assets 43,831 10,443 54,274 45,918 

Funds 43,831 10,443 54,274 45,918 


THE LONDON LUNCH 

It’s a couple of days since the London lunch and I am 

still basking in the happy memories! It’s a shame I 

have not been to more OBA reunions, but I have had a 

busy career and have worked abroad for many years since 

I left Bruton. That’s my excuse anyway. Since 1963 I have 

visited KSB only the once, before I joined the RAF. 

However, I remained in touch with a couple of 

contemporaries, Jamie Wood (O/B58/62) and John Wood 

(O56/59). 

Although I was aware of the general development of 

KSB into a fine centre of educational excellence, I 

wondered whether the Bruton I remembered (with mixed 

feelings) from the 60’s was still relevant. Would a reunion 

be fun? How had the continuing decline in public 

standards of behaviour and culture since the 60’s affected 

KSB and Old Brutonians in the 21st Century? Were the Old 

Brutonians of recent years still made of the same stuff as 

we geriatrics who had opened Blackford House back in 

1960? And, if I went to a reunion, would I recognise 

anyone, and worse still, would anyone recognise me? 

Despite all this hesitation, young Adam Nunn (B91/96) 

and Rory Nunn (B93/98) persuaded me that in 

retirement I would have so much time to spare (I wish !!) 

that it was my duty to attend the OBA London Lunch this 

year. So I did. 

Friday 18th November 2005 arrived and, for the first 

time since retirement, I put on a suit and my vintage OBA 

tie. Despite rail disruption at Clapham Junction I was 

early and on arrival at the Ironmongers’ Hall I was 

recognised by the first OB I met! OB’s of all ages arrived 

promptly. Harry’s brilliant idea of giving us all lapel 

stickers showing when we were at KSB and in which 

houses made conversation so easy. I was soon talking to 

OB’s who were in Old House when I was born in ’44, and 

also those who were born whilst I was at Blackford in ‘62! 

Memories of Joe Wiles, John Tyndall, Sunny Hill, the 

Memorial Hall, Tuck Shop, cross-country running in the 

long winter of 1962/3 and so on flooded back. It was great 

to meet Anton Schooley (O/B58-63) for the first time since 

we left. As a recent qualifier for free prescriptions, I felt 

very at home in the ‘middle age group’ - half way 

between the very smart and polite younger generation of 

recent OB’s and those who could remember when KSB 

expanded after the Second World War. Oh, yes, good 

manners, courtesy and respect are still important at 

Bruton and the OB’s of the new vintage that I met are 

excellent ambassadors for KSB. 

It was a real treat to meet my contemporaries. Quite 

soon the faces of school-friends, unseen for forty years 

and the teenage days except in old black and white 

photos, were merging with the mature full-colour 


versions in the 21st century in front of me! The appointed 

hour arrived and we were marched in to the magnificent 

Ironmongers’ Hall for the Lunch by the Master of 

Ceremonies. After the grace, from the Rev Richard Cloete, 

and under the command of Lt Col Richard Sullivan, our 

President, we enjoyed an excellent lunch of Wellesley 

House salmon (a blushing beetroot gravadlax), Suprême à 

la Matron (a tender breast), followed by Priory Dream 

(rich and dark) Truffle tort with cream, then coffee and 

mints, all washed down with lashings of wine and port. 

After the Loyal Toast we sang The National Anthem 

vigorously. The President then directed our thoughts 

towards the disproportionate number of Old Brutonians 

who had made the ultimate sacrifice for their country 

and particularly to Flight Lieutenant Alec Lindsay (O32/37) 

who died flying Spitfires on No 185 Squadron over Malta 

in 1942. In August this year the remains of his Spitfire had 

been found in Malta. 

The Last Post was played excellently by Christopher 

Best, CCF/KSB Old House and then John Burnett, the 

Oldest OB present, read The Fallen by Laurence Binyon. 

Our One Minute’s Silence, was ended by the Lament, 

Flowers of the Forest, played by Pipe-Major Roger Allen, 1st 

Battalion The Irish Guards. Miss Holly Masters (Wellesley 

House 2000-2005) read the verse from a poem by John 

Maxwell Edmonds (1875-1958): “When you go home, tell 

them of us and say: For Your tomorrow we gave our 

Today”. Christopher Best played the Reveille and then a 

fine entertainment by the Corps of Drums of the 1st 

Battalion, The Irish Guards under Pipe-Major Roger Allen. 

Lieutenant Colonel Richard Sullivan proposed the Toast 

to The Guests. The Headmaster, Mr Nigel Lashbrook, in a 

most impressive and amusing reply, told us of the most 

recent positive developments at KSB. Then the Toast to 

the School ‘Floreat Brutonia’ was proposed by the Senior 

Warden and Old Brutonian, Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter 

Squire. We then sang (led by Miss Helen Evora, Guildhall 

School of Music & Drama & the KSB Chamber Orchestra, 

Director of Music Glynn Jenkins) Carmen 

Brutoniense.….twice!! Finally, we sang, with increasing 

enthusiasm, Jerusalem! Our vocal renditions were, 

however, curtailed by the temporary collapse of Michael 

Harvey (New House & Priory House 1941 - 1945). We are 

delighted to hear that he is well……and our voices have 

thus been saved for another day…... for the next London 

Reunion…on 1 December 2006. 

Oh yes, I will be there. 

Tom Suffolk (P/B 58/63) 


Present at the Lunch: 

1939 John Burnett (N) 

Geoffrey Collins (N) 

1940 Michael Robinson (N/P) 

1941 Michael Harvey (N/P) 

1942 Richard Coward (O/P) 

Christopher Cruttwell (O) 

Arnold Stevenson (O) 

1943 Michael Hooper (P) 

1944 John Beauchamp (O) 

Edward Prance (P) 

Stephen Shell (N) 

Dick Thomas (N) 

1945 John Coleman (N) 

Geoffrey Jarman (N) 

Joe Palmer (N) 

Christopher Rhys-Jones (O) 

1946 David Chalke (P) 

George Warry (O) 

1947 Tim Harlow (N) 

Peter Soutzos (N) 

David Thompson (N) 

John Webster (N) 

1948 John Hudson (N) 

Dick Howell (N) 

Bill Kidd (O) 

Keith Loney (O) 

James Roe (P) 

1949 David Beresford-Jones (O) 

Michael West (O) 

1950 Peter Bond (P) 

J. Carey Golesworthy (P) 

Alan Manners (O) 

John Mauger (P) 

1951 Tommas Graves (N) 

Peter Whitelaw (O) 

1952 Michael Read (P) 

1953 Michael Allen (O) 

1954 George Comer (N) 

Colin Lloyd (P) 

Norman Robson (O) 

Barry Sullivan (N) 

1955 Nigel McCrea (O) 

Andrew Pearson (N) 

1956 Hugh Diment (N) 

Colin Hughes (L) 

Hon. Treasurer 

Stephen Jenkins (L) 

Christopher Noel (O) 

Jerry Pontin (N) 

John Prince (P) 

John Wood (O) 

1957 Robert Berry (P) 

Warwick Clarke (O/B) 

Peter Warren-Price (P) 

Robert Willy (L) 

1958 Edward Cloete (P) 

Mark Fenwick (N) 

Charles Foot (N) 

Anton Schooley (O/B) 

Tom Suffolk (P/B) 

Richard Sullivan (N) 

President 

Edward Waltham (N) 

1959 John Champion (N) 

James Eshelby (B) 

Robert Eshelby (B) 

Jeremy Hall (L) 

John Irving (L) 

Peter Squire (P) 

1960 Roger Beach (N) 

David Graham (O) 

George O’Grady (N) 

Peter Phillips (L) 

Charles Pointon-Taylor (N) 

John Salmon (O) 

Keith Warren-Price (B) 

1961 Richard Cloete (P) 

Jeremy Prince (P) 

1963 David Hindley (Staff) 

Hon.Secretary 

Aidan Mills-Thomas (P) 

Harry Witherby (B) 

1964 Peter Moreton (B) 

James Wills (B) 

1965 Richard Brazier (B) 

Addison Redley (B) 

1968 Kirsten Cooke 

(nee Hamilton-Fairlie) 

Paul Tweedale (O) 

1972 Adam Helliker (B) 

Sally Snook (nee Stonham) 

Dominic Wood (O) 

1975 John Townley (P) 

1980 Tony Mitton (B) 

1981 Jonathan Cox (O) 

Mike Hanson (N) 

Ben James (O) 

Edward Lazenby (N) 

John Miles (N) 

Arjan Vugts (N) 

1984 Daniel Graham (O) 

1985 Tony Beadles 

(Headmaster 1985-1992) 

Jolyon Jago (P) 

Ben Newman (P) 

Christopher Squire (P) 

Duncan Stewart (O) 

Mark Waltham (O) 

1986 Nick Gammon (P) 

James Lloyd (O) 

Toby Scourse (N) 

Richard Squire (P) 

James Strevens (N) 

Richard Taylor (N) 

1987 Matthew Brennan (B) 

Tresham Graham (O) 

James McNeil (P) 

Tom Robson (O) 


Fraser Stewart (O) 

James Waltham (O) 

Nick Wilby (B) 

Philip Williams (P) 

1988 John-Kai Fleming (B) 

Oliver Fowlston (P) 

Daniel Hammond (L) 

Sophie Kirke (W) 

Karen Menzel (W) 

Craig Rogers (P) 

Chris Upton (N) 

1989 Charles Brennan (B) 

Douglas McKenzie (L) 

Andrew McNeil (P) 

Daniel Nutburn (L) 

1990 Edward Beresford-Jones (O) 

Thomas Gough (O) 

Matthew Gresham (P) 

Eoin Harris (L) 

Chris Hyde (L) 

Tim McCallum (O) 

Simon Morris (L) 

Keith Nutburn (B) 

Jason Rogers (P) 

James Thomas (L) 

1991 Ian Clothier (N) 

Andrew Molyneux (N) 

1992 William Cameron (Staff) 

Oliver East (B) 

Kevin Pike (L) 

1993 Neil Anderson (B) 

Charlie Campbell (P) 

Edward Squire (P) 

Richard Stacey (B) 

Edward Thomas (L) 

1994 Katinka Andre (W) 

James Burrage (P) 

Paul Crang (L) 

Alastair Harris (N) 

James Knowling (L) 

Andy Pritchard (N) 

Marc Rogers (P) 

Kate Sedgman (W) 

1995 Sophie Stanford-Tuck (W) 

1996 Hannah Carew-Gibbs (W) 

Suzie Franklin (W) 

Alexandra Bennett (W) 

Sandy McKenzie (L) 

Giles Sedgman (P) 

1997 Elizabeth Sedgman (W) 

James Spinney (L) 

2000 Holly Masters (W) 

Guests of the Association 

Nigel Lashbrook (The Headmaster) 

Richard Claas (Development Director) 

Apologies were received from 73 members 

of the Association. 


OBA HISTORY 

The first edition of The Dolphin appeared in the 

summer of 1892. It contained the following article: 

OLD BOYS’ DINNER 

The first Old Boys’ dinner was held at Limmer’s Hotel, 

Hanover Square, on June 27th, and it was in every way an 

unqualified success. 

It is true that a few went there with some misgivings 

that it might possibly prove slow and uninteresting, but 

such fears were speedily dissipated at the outset. The 

assembling of the company in the ante-room was full of 

interest. Men met who had not seen each other, in some 

cases, for literally scores of years. Some came from the 

West, some from the Midlands and the North, and one said 

he had come up from Scotland especially to attend it. One 

man I spoke to on first arriving, said that he was afraid he 

was looked upon with some suspicion, owing to some 

mistake, and it was amusing to see the satisfaction with 

which he hailed an old school-fellow, who was able to set 

his identity beyond question. 

There were 35 present, mainly those who had been at the 

School under the head mastership of the Rev. J.H. Abrahall; 

indeed, I think there were only 4 or 5 present who had not 

been at Bruton with that able man. 

The Bishop of St Albans was in the chair, and among 

those present were Mr Justice Wright, Lt. Gen. Sir Charles 

Pearson, KCMG, Major-General Sir E.R. Festing, RE, CB, Revs. 

J. Haines, Augustus Strong, J. Wadham, W.H. Shortland, 

Messrs. W. Hale, J.B. Fraser, J. Cann, A.R. Cluer, W. Muller, J.S. 

Donne, D.E. Norton (headmaster), J.A. Lyon, and T.W. Mayo. 

I had hardly expected to meet one or two friends, and 

was agreeably surprised at the arrival of some others. Of 

course, each tried to sit by old friends, but I was glad, while 

managing to do likewise, to be opposite two who were at 

Bruton a good many years ago. They told me that in their 

time they had to coach to Frome to get into the railway. 

Half holidays, so they affirmed, were unknown, and 

football was played up on Creech. Conversation during 

dinner was most lively, and when the Chairman rose to 

propose “The Queen”, he remarked that it had been wisely 

decided, that, as the talk all would like best would be 

mutual intercourse with each other, only two toasts should 

be proposed. After “The Queen” had been duly honoured, 

the Chairman gave “Bruton School”, and made an eloquent 

and most humorous speech. His reminiscences of his school 

days were received with shouts of laughter, and many 

ejaculations of assent to his description of wellremembered 

incidents. He spoke of visiting Bruton a few 

years ago, and assured us that things were much changed 

since his day. 

There was no longer that melancholy procession down 

THE OBA: A HISTORY 

the tower stairs to ablutions on bitter winter mornings. The 

buildings had been extended and improved, and the only 

fear was that modern school comforts might create a 

degeneracy in the boys of the present day, of which there 

was no fear under the old Spartan regime. He paid a great 

tribute to the memory of his Headmaster, the Rev. J.H. 

Abrahall, and finished his speech by coupling the name of 

the present Headmaster with the toast. 

Mr Norton, in replying, made a most excellent speech. 

He said that he felt great pleasure in being present in the 

double capacity of Old Brutonian and Headmaster. He 

reminded his audience that Bruton had to face a keen 

competition with many other schools but that he had every 

confidence in the School holding its own, and in support of 

this opinion he alluded to the valuable scholarships with 

which the School had been endowed recently, the 

improvements in the buildings which had been effected, 

and lastly to the priceless possession of a school history and 

school traditions, which, he assured his audience were still 

most keenly appreciated by their successors. 

This closed the official programme of speeches, but it 

was impossible to stay the flood on this first occasion of an 

Old Brutonian Dinner, and the Rev. J. Haines proposed the 

health of Mr Justice Wright, who, in his reply, said that he 

had entrenched himself at the end of one of the tables 

behind several friends in the hope of escaping a speech. 

Mr W. Hale, who was mainly responsible for the 

invitations and dinner arrangements, had to reply to his 

health. Mr Muller in proposing that of the Rev. A. Strong 

dwelt on the labourer’s task he had recently undertaken in 

editing a record of Old Brutonians from 1826 to the present 

time. In replying, Mr Strong drew the attention of those 

present to the fact of his register being almost ready for the 

press, and called for subscriptions sufficient to defray the 

cost of printing it. This was responded to at the end of the 

dinner by promises and payments of a considerable 

amount. 

Some amusement was caused, when, on Sir Charles 

Pearson getting up to propose the health of the Chairman, 

Mr Justice Wright protested at this attempt to put such an 

abrupt end to such a pleasant meeting, and ended by 

proposing “The Defender of Etchowe”. Sir Charles Pearson in 

acknowledging the toast, gave some amusing incidents of 

the size of Etchowe; he said that they were credited with 

having invented the heliograph, but that they had only 

used a looking glass. One of the first messages from Lord 

Chelmsford’s force was “Are you short of provisions?” This 

was such an obviously absurd question that they replied 

“Don’t be cheeky”. Finally, a vote of thanks to the Bishop for 

presiding, brought this, the first dinner of Old Brutonians, 

to a very successful conclusion. 


In the ensuing Christmas Term (1892) The Dolphin 

contained this announcement: 


An attempt is being made to form an Old Brutonian 

Association, with the object of drawing our Old Boys 

together and enabling tham to keep up a closer connection 

with the School, while at the same time it is hoped that the 

endeavour thus to bring past generations more into touch 

with the present, will tend to foster those School traditions 

of which we have so much reason to be proud. 

The idea has been taken up warmly by a considerable 

number of Old Boys, but we cannot think that it has 

hitherto met with the encouragement it deserves. In many 

cases the Headmaster’s circular has as yet remained 

unanswered, not, we believe, from any want of sympathy 

with his proposals, but rather from a certain unwillingness 

Harriet ALLEN (W) 2 Lower Backway, Bruton, Somerset 

BA10 OAE 

Yui Eric AU YEUNG (N) 1506 Blck 24, Heng Fa Chuen, 

Hong Kong 

Sophie BARNFIELD (P) Devonshire House, Blackmoor, 

Lower Langford, North Somerset BS40 5HJ 

Victoria BARNS-GRAHAM (P) 3 Throop Road, 

Templecombe, Somerset BA8 0HR 

Ben BATT (B) Tynemead Byre, Witham Friary, Frome, 

Somerset BA11 5HE 

Julia BAUMGARTEL (P) Zum-Jungen Strasse 6, 60320 

Frankfurt, Germany 

Alice BAZZARD (W) Slait Cottage, Sigwells, Sherborne, 

Dorset DT9 4LN 

Roger BEACH (N) Fairholme, 144 Harbour Road, Paget 

Pgos, Bermuda PG05 and Higher Barton Cottage, Over 

Compton, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 4QY 

Anja BECK (P) Weisgerberstr 8, 80805 Munchan, 

Germany 

Manuel BOBELA (N) c/o Academic Year Department 

ASTEX, Hermanos Becquer 7-6, 28006 Madrid, Spain 

Charles BONHAM-CHRISTIE (O) Tuckmarsh Farm, 

Marston Bigot, Frome, Somerset BA11 5BY 

Fabian BORK (N) Martha-von-Opel Weg 2D, 65307 Bad 

Schwalbach, Germany 

Edward BRANDT (N) Clee View, Bolstone, Herefordshire 

HR2 6NE 

Timothy BROWNE (B) New Years Gift Estate, P/Bag 2024, 

Chipinge, Zimbabwe 

Johanna BUNNER (W) Lindenstr 2, 37520 Osterode, 

Germany 

Shenxi CHI (A) Room 401 Unit 2 Building No 6, No.20 

Donghai Road, Shandong, China 

Lucy CHILD (W) 73 Wookey Hole Road, Wells, Somerset 

BA5 2NH 

Fiona CLARK (W) 4 Bergamot Close, Manton , 

Marlborough, Wiltshire SN8 4MT 

Julian COSBY (B) Letter Box Cottage, Gasper, Stourton, 

New Members 2005 

NEWS OF OLD BRUTONIANS 

to put pen to paper. We should like to impress upon all Old 

Boys that the success of such a scheme as is proposed, 

depends upon the support – not of an isolated few – but of 

one and all, and highly as we value their feeling of 

sympathy with our various attempts, we should value their 

sympathetic action still more highly. As the Association 

will not come into being until the New Year, we hope by 

that time many of those who have hitherto remained 

silent, will have given some signs of vitality in answer to 

the second appeal, which is, we understand, to be sent out. 

The writer’s ironies clearly went home as the following 

Easter the School magazine could report that “The Old 

Brutonian Association which was started at the 

beginning of this year [i.e. 1893]…..is in a very flourishing 

condition.” 

And the rest, as they say, is history. 

Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 6PZ 

Diana DABIR (P) Sengelsweg 8, 40489 Dusseldorf, 

Germany 

Kimberley DAVEY (W) P O Box 24530, Karen, Nairobi 

00502, Kenya 

Sven DEURING (N) Buchenstrasse 20, 71720 Oberstenfeld, 

Germany 

William D’HEMERY (B) L’Abregrement, 16700 Bioussac, 

France 

Curtis-John DYER (L) 5 Leighton Terrace, Evercreech, 

Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 6JU 

James EDWARDS (L) Elm Cottage, Galmpton, Nr 

Kingsbridge, Devon TQ7 3EY 

Olufemi FADUGBA (L) United Nations ICTR, P O Box 6016, 

Arusha, Tanzania 

Fabiola FERNANDEZ (P) c/o Academic Year Department, 

ASTEX, Hermanos Becquer7-6, 28006 Madrid, Spain. 

Lorcan FREEMAN (B) The Manor House, Over Compton, 

Sherborne, Dorset DT9 4QU 

Hugh GALLOP (B) Corner Barn, Gutteridge Farm Barns, 

East Winterslow, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP5 1DB 

Matthew GARDNER (N) Kingwell Farmhouse, Old Hill, 

Wincanton, Somerset BA9 8BJ 

Robert GORE (O) Wisteria Cottage, Westcombe, Shepton 

Mallet, Somerset BA4 6ER 

William GREENHALGH-HUME (A) 34 Talbot Road, 

Bournemouth, Hampshire BH9 2JF 

David GROSS (L) Volpinistrasse 52, 80638 Munchen, 

Germany 

Oliver GUEST (N) Glebe House, Southleigh, Nr Colyton, 

Devon EX24 6SD 

Oliver HARRIS (B) Barton Farm, Trent, Sherborne, Dorset, 

DT99 4SU 

Daniel HAWKES (L) 102 Cannons Gate, Clevedon, 

Somerset BS21 5HZ 

Christopher HEWETT (N) Fiddlers Green, Corton Denham, 

Sherborne, Dorset DT9 4LH 

Gillian HEWITT-STUBBS (P) P O Box 358, Naivasha, Kenya 



Christopher HIEW (N) Greenlands Farm, Little London, 

Oakhill, Radstock, Somerset BA3 5AZ 

Jeremy HOLDING-PARSONS (L) Asperra, 63 Haven Road, 

Canford Cliffs, Poole, Dorset, BH13 7LH 

Piers HOPKINS (L) Springcombe Park, Bruton, BA10 OQG 

Beatrice HOSER (P) Seeronsenweg 9, 50127 Bergheim, 

Germany 

Sophie HUTCHINGS (P) 32 Lakeside Road, Branksome 

Park, Poole, Dorset BH13 6LS 

Daniela IVANOVA (W) 45 Tzar Simeon Veliki Street, App. 

56, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria 

Emily JAMESON (P) Sunnybank, Weymouth Road, 

Evercreech, Somerset BA4 6JB 

Katherine JOYCE (P) Chapel House, Lamyatt, Shepton 

Mallet, Somerset BA4 6NP 

Zurab KAKABADZE (N) 42A Kazbegi Avenue, Cerma, 

Tbilisi, Georgia 380077 

Bernadette KALLEN (W) Mauerkircherstr. 89, 81925 

Munchen, Germany 

Dominic KEILY (L) 50 Cannon Hill Lane, Merton Park, 

London , SW20 9ES 

Henrietta KELSEY (P) Mollybawm, Stoke Abbott, 

Beaminster, Dorset DT8 3JT 

Yoto KITAGAWA (L) 1-29 Kamio-cho Yaon-Shi, Osaka, 

Japan 5810851 

Henrik KRAUS (A) Bulowstr. 10, D-90491 Nuernberg, 

Germany 

Harry LAUSTE (B) Castleton Steps, Oborne Road, 

Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3RX 

King Hang William LO (O) 13B Fu Wah Yuen, Chi Fu Fa 

Yuen, Pokfulam, Hong Kong 

Winnie MAHINDI (P) P O Box 70355, Dar-es-Salaam, 

Tanzania, East Africa 

Matthew MANNING (A) Church House, Halstock, Nr 

Yeovil, BA22 9SG 

Edward MARSH (B) The Limes, High Street, Shipton 

Bellinger, Hampshire, SP9 7UG 

Holly MASTERS (W) Lower Clapton Farm, Maperton, 

Wincanton, Somerset BA9 8DX 

Kenshiro MATSUMOTO (L) c/o Gabbitas, Carrington 

House, 126-130 Regent Street, London W1R 6EE 

David McGAHEY (O) 4 Meadow Close, West End, 

Southampton, SO30 3GX 

Manuela MORALES (P) c/o Academic Year Department, 


Aine MORIARTY (W) 19 Granville Way, Sherborne, Dorset, 

DT9 4AS 

A-Tong Simon MU (A) Flat B 702/Block 8, Changcheng 

Building, Futiari District, Shenzhen City, China 

Kailash NORTON (N) The Byre, Church Farm Barns, 

Lamyatt, Somerset BA4 6NP 

Nga-Yee Candy PANG (P) c/o A-Win Ed Services, Flat B, 

11/f Toi Shan Ctr., 128 Johnston Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong 

Chae-Ree Cherry PARK (P) c/o Miss Mi Young Kim, 7 

Langley Mow, Emersons Green, Bristol, BS16 7DS 

Kathryn PENTECOST (P) Manor Barn, Stoney Stoke, 

Wincanton, Somerset BA9 8HY 

Laura PFEIFER (W) Haupstr 4, 63839 Kleinwaldstadt, 

Germany 

Christian PHILLIPS-ADAMS (O) 21 Green Lane, Ford, 

Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 6DE 

Christopher PIDSLEY (O) Station Road, Cole, Bruton, 

Somerset BA10 OPJ 

Dominic PUDNEY (N) Beechcroft Barn, Upton Lovell, 

Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 OJW 

Amadeus RATHSACK (B) Uelnerstrasse 10, 21335 

Luneberg, Germany 

Emma RUNCIMAN (P) Cowleaze, Buckland Newton, 

Dorchester, Dorset DT2 7DL 

Victor SANCHEZ (L) c/o Academic Year Department, 


Sebastian SCHAEFER (A) Gleisselstetten 137, 89081 Ulm, 

Germany 

Valentyn SCHMICKLER (O) 8 Ennismore Gardens, London 

SW7 1NL 

Felicity SERNBERG (W) Melrose House, Figheldean, 

Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 8JT 

Kabir SHAGAYA (N) 23 Regency Lodge, Swiss Cottage, 

London NW3 5EE 

Rio SHIKADA (O) c/o Gabbitas, Carrington House, 126-130 

Regent Street, London W1B 5EE 

Eleanor SIMPSON (P) Iron Pool, Dry Lane, Christow, Devon 

EX6 7PF 

Tom SMITH (B) Cape Farm, Badminton, South 

Gloucestershire GL9 1ES 

Stuart SMYTH (L) St Catherine’s, 11 Clifton, York YLO30 

6AA 

Peter SPURRIER (L) Le Gree De Haut, Le Gree, Toreval, 

Guernsey GY8 ORD 

Richard SPURRIER (N) Le Gree De Haut, Le Gree, Toreval, 

Guernsey GY8 ORD 

John STEINAU (N) Wohlfahrt Strausse 170, 44799 Bochum, 

Germany 

Jennifer STEVENSON (P) Glebe House, Maddington, 

Shrewton, Wiltshire SP3 4JE 

Hiu Tung TAM (L) 11Bon Tsui Mansion, Lei King Wan, Sai 

Wan Ho, Hong Kong 

Richard TELFER (N) 12 Berkeley Gardens, Bruton, Somerset 

BA10 OBE 

Johanna TEPE (P) Am Steinbruch 11, 49191 Belm-Icker, 

Germany 

Gregor THOMECZEK (O) Wiener Weg 12, 50858 Koln, 

Germany 

Louise TRENCHARD (P) Hilliard House, Greenhill, 

Sherborne, Dorset DT9 4EPRory TREVIS (O) 2 Fairview & 

Burnside, Alton Pancras, Dorchester, Dorset DT2 7RT 

Aimee WATSON (P) Bagborough House, Bagborough 

Lane, Pylle, Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 6SX 

Simon WEEDON (O) 2 The Crescent, Compton Pauncefoot, 

Yeovil, Somerset BA22 7EN 

Leonie WESTERMANN (P) An der Ratsforst 8, D-21335 

Luneburg, GermanyKa-yee Candy WONG (P) Flat C 4/F 

Tower 6, 18 Shun Ning Road, Cronin Garden, Sham Shui 

Po, Kowloon, Hong Kong 

Jiexin Jessie ZHANG (P) East Jiangou Road 36, Xiao Qiao 

Mountain Tourist Dis, Nanhai, Guandong, China 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 

The Editor wishes to acknowledge his debt to Mr Mark 

Pickthall for the photographs used in the 2005 Newsletter of 

the visit to the School by HRH The Countess of Wessex. 


When did you last 

return to Bruton? 

Farmhouse Bed and Breakfast and Self-Catering 

holidays 10 minutes from Bruton. Quality B&B 

(ETC 4 Diamonds Silver Award/ AA 4 Diamonds) 

and Self-catering accommodation (4 Stars grading) 

on our dairy farm. B&B From £35.00 per night; 

S/C From £200 - £600 per week; 

Credit cards accepted. 

www.clanvillemanor.co.uk 

Mrs Sally Snook, 

Clanville Manor, Castle Cary, BA7 7PJ 

Tel: 01963 350124 Fax 01963 350719 

Mobile 07966 512732 e-mail: info@clanvillemanor.co.uk 

5% of the cost of your stay will be donated to the OBA 

THE COMMITTEE OF THE ASSOCIATION 

Presiden t 

Richard Sullivan (N58/62) 

Vice-Presiden t 

John Longman (P57/61) 

Honorary Secr e ta ry 

David Hindley (Staff 63/00) 

Honorary Treasur er 

Colin Hughes (L56/61) 

Trevor Albery (B83/88), Hannah Carew-Gibbs (W96/98), 

David Graham (O60/65), James Holland (O83/88), 

Francis Luard (P92/97), Kate Sedgman (W95/97), 

Lizzie Sedgman (W97/99), James Wills (64/68) 

By invitation: 

Harry Witherby (B63/67), 

John-Kai Fleming (B88/93), 

Jamie Reach (L91/95) 


Old Brutonian 

Golf Society 

Contact: David Graham (Old 1960 - 65) 

"Lukyns", Dulwich Common, London SE21 7EU. 

email: dg@labuk.net, 

phone 0208 693 6197, address 

COSTA BLANCA VILLA 

A beautiful four-bedroom villa, set in extensive 

grounds with pool, tennis court and views of the 

Mediterranean, in the quiet resort of Moraira, easily 

accessible from Alicante and Valencia airports. 

For rates, availability and other information, please 

email us at reservations@homefromhome.cc and 

ask for information about La Joya. Please tell us that 

you are an Old Brutonian and a discount will be 

applied to the normal rates. 

Tim Johnson Priory House 1978-82 

Our mission statement is clear “to enjoy the 

company of like minded Old Brutonians, to 

make new or re-kindle old acquaintances, to 

advance the interests and reputation of our 

School in the arena of golf whilst playing on 

the finest courses in the land in an 

atmosphere of friendship and conviviality”. 

Old Brutonians are already making a huge 

impact in the Game. George O’Grady is the 

Executive Director of the PGA European Tour 

whilst Tom Phillips is the Chief Executive of the 

Faldo Asia Series. Stuart Archibald played a sub 

par round at Royal Troon in The British Open of 

2004 whilst Nick Gammon played four rounds 

averaging under eighty from the tournament 

tees at Augusta National. 

Our next meeting is at Woking G C in Surrey 

on the 29th September 2006 so join your Society 

– you will be in excellent company – 

and will enjoy the day. 


NEWS OF OLD 

BRUTONIANS 2005/6 

1943 

FIRTH, Ralph (O43/46) writes from 

South Australia that he and his wife, 

Jean, are both involved in ‘Trees for Life’ 

which is a volunteer organisation to 

promote re-vegetation in their area 

known as The Florieu Peninsular. He 

and Jean, together with several others, 

look after young trees on their golf 

course; for between 8 and 10 years they 

have propagated and planted over 800 

seedlings on the course, with a 92% 

success rate. Robert and Jean would 

be happy to welcome any Old 

Brutonians to their area and to catch 

up on news. Tel: ++ 08 85551695 

1944 

SHELL, Stephen (N44/48) was placed 

proxime accessit in the Oxford 

University English Poem on a Sacred 

Subject 2004. 

1946 

MILLER, Anthony (N46/49) writes that 

although semi-retired since 1997 he has 

been working as a poultry consultant 

with his old company. 

1949 

TINGLEY Stephen (O49/52) received his 

M.A. in Modern Languages on 

November 6 th , 2004 after obtaining his 

2 nd Class Honours degree at Queen’s 

College, Oxford in 1958 (see Obituaries) 

1955 

MOLE, John (O55/60) has returned to 

Cambridge this year as Director of the 

Literature Festival at his old college, 

Magdalene. In previous years he has 

not only been Poet-in-Residence at 

Magdalene, but also, in 1998, was the 

first Poet-in-Residence of the City of 

London. In 2004 he became an 

Honorary Doctor of Letters of the 

University of Hertfordshire. His most 

recent collection is Counting the 

Chimes; New and Selected Poems 1975 – 

2003 John’s poem The Other Day 

which has already appeared in 9 West 

Road, the magazine of the Cambridge 

English Faculty, and in The Rialto, is 

printed 0n page 11 of this Newsletter. 

RIND, Bill (N55/58) reports that he took 

early retirement in 2003 from Reading 

Borough Council where he spent 20 

years working in the Environmental 

Department. 

He has moved to Cambridgeshire 

where he is now a member of the local 

Rotary and Conservative Associations. 

He keeps in regular touch with John 

Say (Staff 1949/1957) who lives and 

sails at West Mercia. Bill’s brother, 

Robin, (N57/61) has lived in Harare, 

Zimbabwe for the last 30 years. Bill 

would welcome any contact from OBs – 

Tel: 01353 723130 

1958 

JOHNSON, Ian (O58/63) is the Vicar of 

Southampton and appears regularly on 

television. 

1966 

JONES, Chris (P66/71) writes “I’m 

working 3 days’ish a week on a short 

term assignment near St Paul’s in 

London for which purpose the MOD 

has given me a state-of-art wireless 

enhanced laptop for use on the train. 

Of course, I’m too old to know how to 

use it, except for the simple bit of the 

DVD player on which I watch Prizzi’s 

Honor (Jack Nicholson, Kathleen 

Turner) on my way back to Salisbury 

with the lady who should be wheeling 

the drinks trolley up and down the 

carriages. Problem is, the journey is 

not long enough and we have yet to 

see the ending. Must learn how to fast 

forward for the sake of the other 

passengers.” 

1972 

TURNER, Simon (P70/72), who is the 

Bursar at Queen’s College, London, has 

written that when he was “introduced 

to a new Senior Tutor” colleague at the 

College, Tim Lello (O80/85) he “was 

struck by how well we immediately got 

on but it was not until later that what 

we had in common was realised. We 

are both ‘Old Brutonians.” 

DOBBS, Jonathan (P72/77) writes that 

after leaving Bruton he has served for 

27 years with the Metropolitan Police. 

He continues to enjoy working in North 

West London but is looking forward to 

new opportunities once he has 

completed his 30 years service. He and 

his wife Sally live in Farnham 

Common, Bucks with their two 

children Lisa (20) and Ben (17). 

1974 

ABU-HEJLEH, Khaled (L74/77), his wife 

Sue, two sons and two daughters now 

live in Western Australia. Their eldest 

son, Alexander, is in his final year at 

Scotch College and hopes to spend his 

Gap year in England. 

1976 

BAKER, Piers (B76/81) writes that after 

King’s he spent a fantastic year in 

Egypt, surviving not one but two neardeath 

experiences. The first was from 

carbon monoxide poisoning caused by 

a faulty heater which killed his 

colleague and then when an Egyptair 


Boeing 737 crashed while landing at 

Luxor Airport. Piers says, “I’m afraid to 

admit I was first off by politely taking 

off the emergency door, calmly putting 

it down on the seat and reservedly 

shouting to the panicking passengers, 

‘Excuse me but you can …erm….get out 

here’. I then sprinted across the wing 

and hopped off, barefoot, into the hot 

desert sand expecting the now burning 

plane to explode a-la James Bond any 

second. Turning round I saw all the 

Japanese tourists at the bottom of the 

emergency shutes, taking photos. Glad 

they couldn’t hear me shouting ‘You all 

deserve to die’. Back for a dreadful 

year at Art School, the lowlight being a 

session running up and down the 

classroom pretending to be colours. 

God, I was blue. Fortunately left my 

portfolio on the train so had to get a job 

rather than go on to a degree course. I 

worked in the studio of an advertising 

agency where I met a guy I was to 

spend the next twelve years in 

partnership with as graphic designers. 

This fizzled out when he married 

Britain’s most boring woman … it’s a 

long story.” Piers now lives in 

Guildford, Surrey with Teresa and their 

two teenage children, Kristian and 

Esme. He takes the train up to London 

every morning to a studio he shares 

with a group of freelance creatives “just 

like me which is great”. 

“Having spent years designing kids’ 

lolly wrappers for Walls Ice Cream 

(much of my work can still be seen in 

bins outside newsagents)…”, he has 

now moved on to cartoon illustration. 

His website, entitled 

www.piersbaker.co.uk, shows what he 

has been doing. His favourite work is 

the weekly cartoon strip that he’s 

developed in aid of the RNLI (Lifeboats). 

It is now running in a handful of 

regional newspapers, magazines and 

websites around the UK and Ireland. 

Piers says he is back running again 

after ten years with a very bad back 

(lifting toddlers in and out of cars etc.), 

is now twice as slow as he used to be 

which is fine in some ways as he is 

enjoying it more but sad in others 

because he regrets not sticking at it 

after school just to see how fast he 

could have got. “Did I say running? 

Waddling is more accurate. There’s not 

a lot sadder than a gaggle of over 40s 

thinking they’re as fit and fast as they 

were when they were 18. Still fun 

though. I saw Adrian Selby (B77/81) 

in New York a year ago and all he could 

talk about was how grey I’d got. 

Bastard didn’t have one grey hair and 

didn’t even have the decency to be bald 

or fat. Still in touch with Stephen 

Askins (B77/81) and his wonderful 

family. He’s got 4 kids. They lived in 



Athens for years and we visited them a 

few times. Stephen is a successful 

marine lawyer, now back in the UK, 

working opposite the Tower of London, 

commuting in from his country estate 

in Suffolk. He also represents the 

British Olympic Team and had 

something to do with all that nonsense 

over the appeals in the horse events in 

Athens. So, in theory he’s won an 

Olympic Gold I suppose. I must tell 

him.” 

1979 

WATTS, Mark (O79/82) reports that 

after leaving King’s in 1982 he took his 

‘A’ levels in Gillingham, gaining 3Cs in 

Maths, Nuffield Biology and Chemistry 

plus 2 further ‘O’ levels. He then spent 

18 years (the latter 10 in partnership) 

with his parents in farming. In 2002 

the partnership was dissolved and sold 

up and he has now retrained as an 

Approved Electrician working for a 

Commercial/Industrial/Defence 

Electrical Installation and Maintenance 

Company based in Yeovil. 

1980 

BEALE, Greg (B80/85) is working as an 

Historic Buildings Consultant. 

CASSELL, Julian (O80/85) and 

PARHAM, Peter (O80/83) have written 

D.I.Y. Know-how with Show-how, 

published by Dorling Kindersley who 

also published their earlier book 

Decorating Hints and Tips. Having run 

their own successful property 

renovations business for over 20 years, 

their books have sold more than one 

million copies worldwide. 

1981 

BARNETT, Andrew (N81/86) is now 

working as Director of Policy and 

Communications for the Joseph 

Rowntree Foundation. He is also a 

board member of Yorkshire Housing. 

He lives in London and York 

HAMMOND Justin (P81/86) writes that 

after leaving King’s he spent a year in 

Israel before going to medical school in 

Manchester; then, following basic 

training, he joined the Commando 

Brigade where he passed the 

Commando course and served in 

Norway, Cyprus and Jamaica. He later 

served with The Black Watch and 

finally the Household Cavalry where he 

is lucky enough to be based in central 

London. He plans to leave the Army in 

2006 to pursue part-time general 

practice work and to tend a 

smallholding in Northern Ireland. 

1982 

BALL, Anthony (N82/86) has been 

appointed the Archbishop of 

Canterbury’s Assistant Secretary for 

International, Ecumenical and Anglican 

Communion Affairs. 

1983 

HOLLAND, James (O83/88). James’s 

latest novel, A Pair of Silver Wings, was 

published in February, 2006 when his 

book about the war in North Africa, 

Together We Stand, also came out in 

paperback. A further book about 

World War II, 21, will appear in May. 

1985 

GARBUTT, Alasdair (B85/90) reports 

that after a year working in Jersey he is 

now based in Cheltenham with the law 

firm, Charles Russell, working for the 

Landed Estate and Rural Business team. 

This enables him to see many country 

houses and do some shooting. 

Cheltenham, he says, combines the 

best of town and country living and as 

his commute is only 10 minutes on a 

bicycle, he is able to see plenty of his 

expanding family. 

1986 

HODGSON, James (O86/91) has moved 

back to Cornwall and joined his family 

practice of Chartered Accountants in 

which he is managing and developing 

their Falmouth Office. 

1987 

MIRFIN. Tim (N87/92) has moved to 

Germany where he is singing with the 

Hamburg Opera Company 

1988 

BORYER, Chris (B88/93) has been 

promoted to Major in the Gurkhas. He 

is currently serving in Afghanistan. 

LLOYD DAVIES, Mark (L88/93), having 

completed his Ph.D. on Antarctic Glacial 

Geology at the University of 

Amsterdam, returned to this country 

and is living in London in order to 

follow his interest in politics. He has 

worked in research and policy on 

international development at 

Conservative Central Office. Mark is 

also President of the Royal Holloway 

University of London Old Boys Rugby 

Club, playing the occasional ‘social’ 

match. 

OULTON, Rupert (N88/93) is leaving 

Imperial College, London for the 

University of California for two years. 

He gave a paper at a conference in San 

Jose in January 2005 and met Professor 

Zang who is now his new boss. He has 

also been busy completing his final 

project for Mitsubishi, a six-month 

project that ended up lasting two years. 

The work included a number of visits to 

Tokyo where he was able to see his 

brother Alex (N86/91) and Alex’s 

family. 

REEVES, Amanda (nee NICHOLLS) 

(W88/90) was married to David Reeves 

in Malindi, Kenya in April 2004. Two 

OBs, Edwin Bristow (O44/48) and 

Karen Menzel (W88/90), were present. 

Amanda is working for VOCA Ltd, 

originally known as BACS – “very 

prolific in the payments industry.” 

David and Amanda were expecting 

their first child in July 2005. 

1989 

POINTON-TAYLOR, Sam (N89/94) has 

been touring Australia and plans to 

return to the UK in late summer 2006. 

1990 

ROBSON, George (O90/95) reports that 

he is still living in Manhattan, New 

York where he is working for a bank 

doing Bond Sales Trading. In 2005 he 

became engaged and married; he 

would welcome contact from visiting 

Old Brutonians. 

1991 

ASPINALL, Will (O91/96) is working as 

Assistant Producer on the BBC2 

programme Map of Man, which was 

broadcast on Monday evenings during 

2005. 

LLOYD DAVIES, Luke (L91/96) 

continues to work in media and play 

rugby for the Civil Service RFC lst XV 

who were awarded ‘Rugby Club of the 

Year’ by the Rugby World and Post. He 

became engaged to, and was due to 

marry, Julie Sims on May 21 st ,2005 

POLLOK, Scott (P91/96) is now working 

at Cheltenham College whilst he 

undertakes a 2 year PGCE course. 

1993 

HOLLAND, Dan (B93/98) writes that 

after graduating from the University of 

Nottingham, he is currently working 

for Aerosystems International, a 

defence software company. 

HUTCHINGS, Lucy (W93/95) is living in 

Pimlico and working as a Recruitment 

Consultant to the media. 

LEXOVA, Andrea (nee HUMLOVA) 

(W93/95) studied English and French at 

Charles University, Prague and now 

teaches English part-time at the 

Gymnazium and at the University of 

European and Regional Studies in 

Pribram. After marrying in September 

2001, she is now also very happy to be 

an almost full-time mother to Aron 


who is nearly two years old. Andrea 

keeps in touch with Xanthe Tench 

(W93/95). 

MEEKER, Adrian (L93/98) reports that 

since leaving King’s he studied at 

Writtle College, Chelmsford from where 

he graduated in 2004 with a 1st class 

B.Sc Hons in Horticulture that included 

a national award from the Landscape 

Research Group for his dissertation 

investigating the skills gap within the 

commercial landscaping industry. 

Since 2001, when joining on placement, 

he has been working for one of the 

largest UK landscaping companies, 

Frosts Landscaping Construction 

Limited, based in Milton Keynes. Adrian 

is now their main estimator in the 

commercial landscaping department 

which specialises in large high profile 

projects, including recently the new 

Home Office in London. 

1994 

WALTON, John (O94/99) is working as 

part of a Management Team in H M 

Treasury offices. 

1995 

SEALY, James (N95/00). After leaving 

King’s in the Summer of 2000, James 

spent time working on an arable farm 

in Hampshire to earn money before 

attending Harper Adams University 

College in Shropshire to study for a 

degree in Rural Enterprise and Land 

Management. He attended a four 

year course at Harper Adams 

including a sandwich placement year 

at Henry H. Bletsoe & Son in 

Thrapston, Northamptonshire. The 

course dealt with all manner of 

agriculture, livestock and crop 

production, together with learning 

agricultural tenancy matters and the 

purchase and lease of land. In July 

2004 he graduated from Harper 

Adams with a Bachelor of Science 2 nd 

Class Honours 1 st Division in Rural 

Enterprise and Land Management 

and started as a Graduate Surveyor in 

the Rural Department of Henry H. 

Bletsoe & Son.. Since this period he 

has become a Member of the Royal 

Institution of Chartered Surveyors, 

having undertaken various 

examinations and is now a fully 

qualified Chartered Surveyor. More 

recently he has undertaken 

examinations in the Central 

Association of Agricultural Valuers 

and has become a Fellow of this 

Association. His work is variable 

day-to-day but, amongst other things, 

he has undertaken the role of 

Livestock Auctioneer at the Thrapston 

Livestock Market, dealing with the 

sale of store sheep and suckled calves. 

MBU, Joe (N95/00), after playing only 

two matches for Wasps, has signed for 

the French First Division club Pau until 

the end of the 05/06 season. 

1996 

BANDS, Diana (nee ROBJOHN) 

(W96/98) and her husband are going 

to live in India for 2 years. 

BAZZARD, Tom (B96/01) is working as 

a graphic designer in London, following 

his graduation from Cardiff. 

BUSH, Charlie (L96/01) watched his 

brother, Archie, play in the Alex 

Edwards Memorial Rugby Match, held 

in appalling weather on November 6 th , 

2005 and reports that he recently 

joined Chaucer Underwriters. 

1997 

ANDERSON, Amelia (W97/02) writes 

that during her GAP year she travelled 

around France with Ana Beattie 

(A98/02), with some hard work in a 

vineyard near Bordeaux, followed by a 

ski season in the Alps and then fruit 

picking in Cornwall. Amelia has now 

moved to Farnham where she did a 

foundation course in art and design 

and is currently in her 2 nd year doing 

Fine Art. She is specialising mostly in 

photography and silkscreening, has 

just made a film and plans to spend 

this summer driving around Europe. 

BARNES. Gemma (W97/00) has been 

studying for a PGCE at Bath University. 

BROOKE, Sophie (W97/99) has 

graduated from Royal Holloway 

College, University of London with a 2.1 

in French and Drama. She spent a year 

at Jacques Lecoq in Paris and a year at 

LISPA London, furthering her drama. 

Sophie took part in the Buxton Fringe 

Festival in 2005, acting in a new piece 

entitled Macmurders.com and is 

currently living in London. 

HAZELL, Craig (L97/02) graduated from 

the University of Leeds in Summer 

2005 with a B.A. Hons in History. He 

plans to study for a postgraduate 

master’s degree in media. Craig has 

become deeply involved in radio 

broadcasting since leaving King’s and 

plans to make a career in this field. In 

2004 he won the BBC Radio 1 Student 

Sports Broadcaster of the Year and in 

November 2005 won the BBC Radio 1 

student award in the Comedy category, 

the first person to receive awards in 

two categories in concurrent years. 

HUGHES, Paul (N97/02) describes his 

degree placement year in Germany as 

unbelievably inspirational. 


JOHNSON, Faye (W97/00) has passed 

the Regular Commissions Board for 

Sandhurst and, to the best of our 

knowledge, will become the first Old 

Girl to be an Army officer. 

SPINNEY, James (L97/99) has qualified 

as a Chartered Accountant and is now 

working with PricewaterhouseCoopers. 

1999 

LALLEMANT, Oliver (P99/01), Senior 

Organ Scholar at Trinity College, 

Cambridge, returned to Bruton to give 

an organ recital in St Mary’s Church in 

May 2005. He played Piece d’Orgue 

BWV 572 and Fugue in E flat BWV 552 

by J. S Bach; Prelude, Minuet and 

Processional (1939) by Frank Bridge and 

Chorale No.3 in A by Cesar Franck. 

After his studies, Oliver hopes to spend 

a year exploring the Americas to learn 

Spanish, Portuguese and a couple of 

Mayan languages. 

2000 

CHILD, Lucy (W00/05) is on a six 

month trip (the first five in India) with 

a company called Venture Co. The next 

part will be a four week work project in 

a village (Mandore), followed by a tiger 

reservation, camel trek and a twentyone 

day trek up to Everest Base Camp. 

Lucy wrote to her mother: “I am back in 

Delhi after a week in the foothills of 

the Himalayas at a place called 

Rishikesh, where the Beatles stayed 

when they went to India. To get there 

we took a four hour train ride, which 

included a very interesting breakfast of 

curry flavoured hash browns and bread 

with bubblegum jam…. Hmmm, not 

great! The town is very spiritual with 

lots of ageing hippies and backpackers 

who probably arrived about five years 

ago and never left. I don’t blame them: 

the life is so relaxing. We started our 

day with an hour and a half of yoga at 

7.00 a.m. Sounds awful, but it really 

wasn’t and I am considering carrying it 

on throughout my trip. White water 

rafting down the Ganges was 

incredible, and then hiking up a 

mountain which was 1200 m (the same 

height as Ben Nevis) in 35 degrees heat, 

which was so hard that we all got very 

worried that we would not be fit 

enough for Everest Base Camp but our 

leader, Martin, told us that nothing else 

would be that hard.” 

THOMAS, Haydn (L00/01) is now 

playing professional rugby for 

Gloucester, scored a try in the match 

against Bristol in September 2005 and 

played in the match against the 

Ospreys, televised on BBC in October 

2005. 


THIS PAGE IS GENEROUSLY DONATED TO THE 

FRIENDS OF KING’S SCHOOL, BRUTON BY 

PETER BOND (PRIORY 50-54) 

OF PHARMACEUTICAL PACKAGING (LEEDS) LTD. 


OLD BRUTONIAN INSIGNIA 

BIRTHS 

ALBERY, to Trevor (B83/88) and Julie a 

daughter, Isobel Ellen Anne on 

November 25th, 2005 

BEADMAN, to Cristian (N88/92) and 

Georgina a daughter, Jemima Daisy 

on June 7th, 2005, sister to Alfred 

BRUNTON, to Gemma, nee SAYE, 

(W92/94) and Daniel, a daughter in 

July 2005, sister to Oliver 

GARBUTT, to Alasdair* (B85/90) on 

10th August, 2004 a son Harry 

Montgomery (brother to Archie) 

HATHAWAY, to Rebecca (80/82) (nee 

HARRIS) and Tim a third son, Joseph, 

brother to Felix and Hugh 

LEXOVA, to Andrea* (nee HUMLOVA) 

(W93/95) a son Aron Lexa on 

September 8th, 2004 

PETRIE, to James (O83/88) and Carol a 

son Jacob Santiago, on December 12th, 

2005, brother to Jude Benedict 

STYLES, to Timothy (B92/97) and 

Angela a son, Robert in December 

2005 

SIMMONS, to Edward* (N93/98) a 

daughter Molly on November 14th, 

2005, sister to Lily and Megan 

*Spouse’s name unknown 

ENGAGEMENTS 

FUSSELL, David (P78/81) to Sarah 

Lapham in March 2006 

PHILLIPS, Robin (O90/95) to Jane Muir 

in January 2006 

ROWELL, Christopher (P95/99) to Kate 

Alington June 25th, 2005 

REACH, Jamie (OL91/95) to Emma 

Paradine 2005, wedding to take place 

June 2006 

REISERT, Judith (W93/95) to Patrique 

Dromeland, wedding to take place 

summer 2006 

MARRIAGES 

GLIKSTEN, Francesca (W87/89) is now 

Mrs Benenson 

GOUGH, Keith (P80/82) to Claire 

Potter at the end of July 2005 

JENKINS, Samantha (W89/91) to 

Steven Matthews on September 17th, 

2005 

NICHOLLS, Amanda (W88/90) to 

David Reeves in Malindi, Kenya in 

April 2004 

ROBSON, George (O90/95) to Alyssia 

Creemer on December 24th, 2005 in 

America 

DEATHS 

BARKSHIRE, Robert (N23/27) on 

November 13th, 2005 

BROOK, Richard (N44/46) on February 

5th, 2006 


The Committee is currently reviewing the various items of insignia and it is hoped that several new items will be 

available in 2006. Currently the only items in stock are ties and these can be obtained from Pinder & Tuckwell of 

Exeter. 

The cost of Old Brutonian items is as follows: 

Crested ties in polyester £6.95; Striped ties in polyester £4.95; Crested ties in pure silk £25.00; Striped ties in pure 

silk £17.95; Striped bow-ties in pure silk £25.00 

Items can be ordered – by post: Menswear Department, Pinder & Tuckwell, 83 Fore Street, Exeter, EX4 3DN 

by telephone: 01392 255261 – by facsimile: 01392 499119 – by Email: sales@thefamous1886.com 

SOUVENIRS OF THE SCHOOL 

ORDERS FOR THE ITEMS BELOW SHOULD BE SENT TO: ANDREW LEACH (Registrar), 

King’s School, Bruton, Somerset BA10 0ED. E-mail: abl@kingsbruton..com 

Items ordered may be collected from the School, or they can be sent. If you wish to have items sent, please add 

p&p as follows: KSB Remembered £3.50, Four Hundred Years A School £1, Standing on the Shoulders of Giants £1, 

Golf umbrella £5, Watercolour prints £4, Cards 50p. (Overseas p&p will be charged at cost.) 

Cheques should be made payable to ‘King’s School, Bruton’. 

The following items are available from the School: 

King’s School Bruton Remembered, ed. Basil Wright £10; 

Four Hundred Years A School, by Geoffrey Sale £5; Standing on the Shoulders of Giants, by Henry Hobhouse £4; 

Golf Umbrella £15; Watercolour Print of Old House by W. S. Blackshaw £5; Cards 35p each, or 5 for £1.50 

Blank inside, so useful for any occasion. There are 5 different cover photographs – 

(A) an aerial view of Bruton (B) pupils on the River Brue stepping stones (C) pupils on Abbey (D) a pupil playing the 

piano in the John Davie Room (E) two rugby players in front of Hyde Pavilion 

BURKITT, Peter (O49/52) on May 23rd, 

2005 

CHAMPION, Herbert (N27/30) in 

September 2005 (see Obituary). 

Herbert was the father of Christopher 

(N62/65), uncle of Suzi McKenzie 

(Governor) and great-uncle to Douglas 

(L89/94) Jamie (L91/95) and Sandy 

McKenzie (L95/00) 

COUTTS, J. Archie (O56/59) on March 

11th, 2006 

HUDDLESTON, Jackson (N55/56) on 

March 11th, 2006 

JANES, Simon (O77/82) on June 3rd, 

2005 

MARSHALL, James (O50/54) during 

the night of May 4th/5th, 2005 

MOORE, Hugh (P58/62) on 5th March, 

2006 

ROBINSON, Alan (P67/71) suddenly on 

October 28th, 2005 

SADLER, Christopher (P60/65) on 

August 15th, 2005 

SHARPE, John (O58/61) in May 2005 

STEEL. Bryan (N52/57) on October 2nd, 

2004 

THOMAS, William (N51/56) on 

January 21st, 2006 

TINGLEY, Stephen (O49/51) on 

September 30th, 2005 

WARRY, James (O47/52) on October 

18th, 2005 



ADDRESS AT THE SERVICE OF THANKSGIVING 

FOR THE LIFE OF JOHN NEAL : 21st MAY, 2005 

This service is a commemoration of loyalty and of 

unusual selflessness. We come together to give 

thanks for the life and work of a man of constancy, 

simplicity and self-effacement, John Neal. 

It is my great privilege to say some words about John. 

Many of you may have felt, when coming to this service, 

that you knew John, but in another sense did not know 

him; that you would have liked to have found out more 

about his life, about what John really thought of himself 

and of others. But, deep down, you know that you would 

have been gently deflected, with a smile and some detail 

of the moment. John was a very private person. And 

your mind may have transferred, as mine has, to those 

unusual qualities, rich ones, of dependability, calm and 

patience which were essential to John. 

John would have been surprised at this gathering. He 

would have chuckled in that inimitable manner; he 

would probably have checked the time with that unusual 

gesture, for he was the only person that I have known 

that wore his watch on the inside of his wrist; and he 

might have listed some names in that battered notebook 

that he always carried, always battered, never strangely a 

new one; and he would looked embarrassed, as he always 

did when one praised his work. 

It is fitting that we celebrate his life at St. Mary’s 

Church in Bruton, that special and unusual town where 

John spent 50 years of his 78 years as schoolmaster and 

citizen. For, he loved this church, and especially liked the 

language and familiarity of the Book of Common Prayer. 

He loyally attended early Sunday Communion whenever 

he could. 

Indeed loyalty played a huge part in John’s life – loyalty 

to family, to his school, to his university, to the town of 

Bruton, to his colleagues, to the boys and girls, to all that 

he did. 

John learnt that loyalty, and no doubt many of his 

values, from his family. His father, the son of a 

Bedfordshire farmer, worked for the same company for 53 

years, starting as office boy at the age of 15, and ending as 

Director of a Company with international operations all 

round the world. He worked for Lamson Paragon, a name 

you would have instantly recognised 50 years ago, but 

may not now. It became the world leader in commercial 

stationery – cash bills, check books, and the like, and even 

those wonderful vacuum systems which whizzed round 

big stores. These were all essentials in a burgeoning 

commercial world before computers took over. 

John was born in 1926 at Goodmayes in Essex. He had 

a younger brother, Peter, sadly too ill to be with us today, 

but represented by John’s nieces, Hilary and Catharine. 

John went as a scholar to Felsted School, both senior and 

junior, during the war years. As with many aspects, I 

wish that I had asked John about those times when 

education went on among momentous events nearby 

OBITUARIES 

and worldwide, and when inevitable and stringent 

adjustments had to be made. Felsted School was at one 

stage evacuated to Shropshire. Maybe, some of that 

experience explains John’s asceticism and lack of concern 

for personal luxury. John became a prefect, played in the 

Rugby XV and gained a place at Trinity Hall, Cambridge to 

read modern languages. That move, however, was delayed 

as John went to join the war effort and be trained as a 

navigator for the RAF. Then, as one colleague expressed it, 

‘all our enemies wisely surrendered unconditionally when 

they heard that John was about to complete his training.’ 

He was at Cambridge in those unusual post-war years 

when many who had fought in the war were there – years 

of some austerity, but of particular camaraderie and 

companionship. He gained a good degree in modern 

languages and played regular hockey for his college and 

sometimes for the Wanderers. John was a determined and 

intrepid goalkeeper. 

John then chose teaching as a career. Peter could not 

tell me of any discussion about this, but felt that John’s 

aunt, who was a teacher, may well have been an example. 

John gained a post at Oakham School in Rutland, then a 

small boarding school rather than the large co-educational 

establishment of today. Four years later he applied for a 

post at King’s School, Bruton and Geoffrey Sale, who 

appointed many talented teachers, brought John here to 

join a happy and interesting Common Room. 

John was, as you know, a doer rather than a talker. He 

quickly established himself as a most conscientious 

teacher and schoolmaster. He taught French and German 

in a well-organised and meticulous manner. One of his 

pupils from the 1950s records: ‘He was immensely tolerant 

of my inability to fathom either the grammar or the 

pronunciation of French; I can never remember him 

raising his voice; I can only recall patient encouragement.’ 

John from the start involved himself fully in the wider 

aspects of the post. He became Head of German. He was a 

house tutor, first in Lyon with Jock Moreton, and then in 

New House with Basil Wright. Every afternoon he would 

be busy, coaching either rugby or hockey or cricket, or as 

an officer in the Combined Cadet Force. His light would 

often be on past midnight as he organised everything 

carefully for the next day. 

In 1964 John took over as housemaster in New House 

when Basil Wright moved to Priory. For 15 years John gave 

his time unstintingly to the boys in New House. His 

accommodation was very limited; indeed the boys passed 

along the corridor between his rooms. John never seemed 

concerned about such details, accepting spartan conditions 

and lack of privacy as part of the natural order. His 

successor in New House, David Hindley, felt that John was 

like some campaign commander camping out with his 

troops. Boys have sure instincts, recognise pretensions and 

see through adults quickly. They were won over by John’s 

kindness and calm, and his inexhaustible patience. ‘We 

would not take advantage of him; he was a very fair man.’ 

‘We liked him; he was a good man was Egg Neal.’ (An 


affectionate nickname relating to John’s shape, and 

domed and balding head!). ‘He never said a bad word 

about people.’ 

John ran the school hockey with Basil Wright for 25 

years, doing all the administration with great care, 

patiently arranging details for coaches and players, 

inspecting sodden pitches in the days before astroturfs 

and never, of course, complaining about anything. He 

coached the Junior Colts hockey team for many years, 

coached the Junior Colts Rugby XV and could be seen on 

Hyde on sunny days – and colder ones – in the summer 

term, a recognisable, rounded figure from afar, perched 

on a shooting stick with a panama hat, umpiring leagues 

cricket patiently. 

John was wonderfully suited to his role in the 

Combined Cadet Force. He was an officer from 1954, and 

was Commanding Officer from 1961 to 1970. He went on 

the summer camps and adventure training expeditions 

every year. At a time when CCFs were not necessarily 

popular, the institution thrived at King’s, largely through 

John’s encouragement and care with detail. When Harry 

Aubertin, the Senior Staff instructor died suddenly, and 

sadly, John, Major Neal, took on all his work without 

complaint. He just got on with it and made things work 

smoothly for his officers and the cadets, and was repaid 

with their loyalty. His work was recognised first by the 

Lord Lieutenant’s certificate for voluntary service, and 

then later, to the joy of all at the School, by the award of 

an MBE. 

In the King’s School Common Room, John was an 

important figure. Again it was as a doer, a reliable and 

trusted colleague that he was so much appreciated and 

known. He was secretary to the Common Room for some 

years at the start, organising newspapers and appropriate 

refreshment unobtrusively and accurately. He was a keen 

crossword man, a special activity which has always kept 

the brains of the Common Room at King’s sharply honed. 

John even captained a team which won the Independent 

Schools’ Common Rooms’ Crossword Competition. He 

joined in social events. Indeed it was on one such 

occasion, a Scottish Country Dance session in the rickety 

old gymnasium, that John stumbled and injured his leg. 

In typical fashion, unwilling to put any one out, he did 

not have it seen to quickly; it proved to be a serious 

ligament strain, and meant that he walked awkwardly 

from then onwards and at times had pain. ‘Only a little,’ 

he would say, if you asked him. 

He was, for his colleagues indeed a ‘rock’ (a phrase used 

by many to whom I have talked or who have written). 

‘He never said a bad word about anyone.’ ‘He always said 

pleasant things about anyone I criticised.’ ‘It was 

sometimes difficult to ask him to do things for you knew 

that he would never say ‘No’.’ I can recall only one time 

when I got a negative response, but it was to my 

suggestion that, as we needed some Spanish teachers, he 

should solve the problem by learning Spanish over the 

summer holidays. He grinned as if to say that he 

understood that Headmasters did sometimes have to 

have mad ideas, and deflected this by saying that his 

German needed improving and that he would prefer to 

attend to that! 


John gave time and care to his family, supporting his 

brother and nieces, and his godchildren. Yet he kept his 

school and family in separate compartments. He lived, as 

many have suggested, almost the life of a monk. The 

boys used that name for him, but because of his looks, not 

because of the austerity of his day-to-day life; that they 

took as a natural occurrence. In the holidays, he often 

went to France or explored, until he found walking too 

painful, the hills and mountains which he loved. In 

retirement, he lived in Westfield and demanded little of 

anyone else, even in the last days of his illness. 

When John retired, he took on two large voluntary 

tasks which admirably suited his skills. He was the Hon. 

Secretary and Treasurer to the Friends of King’s for 14 

years and carried out all the administrative duties and 

organised all the meetings. He did sterling work in 

gaining charitable status for the Friend’s. I can remember 

how good he was when I suggested initiatives, some of 

them probably rather wild. He would smile and then ask 

how I thought that they should best be done. That soon 

sorted out what made sense and what did not. It is most 

appropriate that this service is being held on the day of 

the Friends’ annual general meeting. 

John also joined the South Somerset Citizens’ Advice 

Bureau as a voluntary adviser. He became Deputy 

Manager and gave up only in 1999 when he found 

movement too much of a struggle. Those involved 

comment in familiar phrases which many here will echo. 

‘He earned the respect of everyone for his unswerving 

commitment to his clients and loyalty to the staff.’ ‘Quiet 

and self-effacing, there was always a ready chuckle when 

the banter caught his ear.’ ‘No one worked harder; he 

never sought the limelight, but undertook many of the 

essential, behind-the-scene tasks, especially in producing 

rotas and ensuring laptops were in the right place’ ‘He is 

remembered with great affection by all who worked with 

him.’ And that same phrase: ‘He was a rock, always 

dependable.’ 

‘I knew him well, yet in another sense I knew him not,’ 

wrote one colleague. In A Man for All Seasons, Thomas 

More says to Richard Rich: ‘Why not be a teacher? You 

would be a fine teacher; perhaps, a great one.’ Rich asks: 

‘And if I was who would know it?’ Thomas More replies: 

‘You, your pupils, your friends, God. Not a bad public that.’ 

Pupils, friends, and surely God, know John’s value; but. 

John never talked about himself. 

How often one fails to ask the right questions of family 

and friends, and then it is too late. Whilst wistfully we 

would all like to know more of this unusually private 

person, yet we all know what we celebrate today. ‘A 

wealthy life,’ as John Ruskin would define it. Not wealth 

of status or possessions for which John Neal had little 

interest, but wealth in kindness, sensitivity, loyalty. We 

give thanks for John’s rock-like contribution, and as we go 

through Bruton, we may pause with affection, chuckle a 

little, consult our watch in whatever style suits and take 

out our battered notebook to remember an unusually 

loyal, selfless and self-effacing man; and, of course, give 

thanks for many years of important service to this special 

community of school and town. 

Delivered by Tony Beadles, Headmaster 1985-1992 



HERBERT FRANCIS CHAMPION (O27/30) 

– better known as Bertie. 

July 18th 1913 – September 2005 

Everyone seems to remember him for his humour 

and as a raconteur. 

He was born and brought up in Frome. 

Dad went to King’s School, Bruton where he became 

a prefect and played for the 1st XV at Rugby…and played 

drums in the OTC band and joined Keith Johnson’s 

School Dance Band; they went on to be lifelong friends, 

being godparents to each other’s children. He was also 

a contemporary and friend of Basil Wright. 

On leaving school he joined the family malting firm 

of E. Baily and Sons. A pleasant life ensued with the 

Tennis Club, Operatic Society and Amateur Dramatics, 

holidays at Weymouth, golf at West Wilts Golf Club and 

a visit to the 1932 Olympics. It was at Amateur 

Dramatics that Bertie met Freda . They were engaged 

but before wedding arrangements could be made, the 

war intervened. Although war was some six months 

away Dad and a friend decided to join up and went off 

to Bristol to join the Navy only to be told that there was 

a waiting list. Repairing to a pub to drown their 

sorrows, they were persuaded that the Yeomanry was 

the next closest thing to the Navy and so they joined 

the North Somerset Yeomanry. 

The Yeomanry was posted to Palestine. He was 

commissioned at OCTU in Cairo, and went to the Essex 

Regiment and Tobruk. It was only very recently that he 

talked at all about the war and it was always tinged 

with humour. 

He then went to India to join the Chindits and 

marched into Burma on the 500 mile trek that was Orde 

Wingate’s 2nd Expedition. He described meeting the 

Japanese at Imphal where they were on each side of a 

tennis court, lobbing grenades at each other: “Not the 

length of the tennis court”, said Dad, “it was the width 

of it.” With his 5 years of service complete he was 

invalided out with dysentery and malaria having 

reached the rank of Major and with a chest full of 

medals. Back in England, Freda and Bertie married after 

their 6 year engagement. The happy days of living in 

Frome continued. 

It came as a surprise to us all when Mum and Dad 

moved to Fairford in their mid fifties, but it gave Dad 

the chance to continue his career with ABM, who had 

taken over E. Baily and Sons, and he joined Hinton’s in 

Southrop. 

Their life in Fairford was to be long and extremely 

happy with lots of friends and interests for them both. 

The Gardening Club, the fund raising for St. Mary’s 

Church, the Literary Society, FADS and Probus - and Dad 

was proud of being a past chairman and elected the 

only honorary life member - the readings he would give 

at various functions with Jan Peters, the two of them 

known as Partners in Rhyme. 

Dad had started to record books, usually extremely 

technical ones, for the Royal National Institute for the 

Blind – hundreds in total, taking hours and hours, quietly 

locked away on his own; and it’s ironic that he in turn 

used these Talking Books when his own sight failed. 

He had a full and happy life and we are all better for 

knowing him. And as Dad said: “92? Not a bad innings!” 

This eulogy was delivered at Herbert Champion’s funeral 

by his son, Christopher (N62/65) 

STEPHEN TINGLEY (O49/51) 

November 25th, 1934 – September 30th 2005 

Stephen Tingley died of cancer on 30th September, 

2005. He was awarded a State Scholarship to Oxford, and 

obtained his degree in Modern Languages in 1958, after 

his National Service, followed by his M.A. in November 

2004. 

While at school, where he was a Scholar and a Prefect, 

he was awarded his 1st XV Colours for Rugby and was 

Captain of Shooting. 

After five years in Sunderland working for James A 

Jobling (the makers of Pyrex) he joined Coates Brothers & 

Co., the foremost printing ink manufacturers, spending 

most of his time dealing with the liaison between the 

parent company and its overseas subsidiaries. He spent 

nine years as an expatriate at intervals in Singapore (2), 

Nigeria (3), Hong Kong (2), and at the time of his 

retirement was Managing Director of the Polish 

subsidiary in Warsaw. 

JACKSON NOYES HUDDLESTON (N55/56) 

ESU International Exchange Student 

January 24th, 1938 – March 11th, 2006 

Jackson Noyes Huddleston, Jnr., of Seattle, born in 

Huntington, West Virginia 24th January, 1938, passed 

away on March 11th, 2006. During his time at King’s he 

was a House Prefect, a member of the Tennis VI and in 

the Boxing team. Jack spent his life as a student, 

businessman, teacher and author culminating in the 

book, Gaijin Kaisha – Running a Foreign Business in Japan. 

He is survived by his wife, Keiko; his daughters, Shannon 

Lea Lucansky of Leawood, Kansas and Sayako Huddleston 

of Paris, France; his sister Rita Huddleston Liles of 

Richmond, Virginia; and three grandchildren. In lieu of 

flowers remembrances may be made to Princeton in Asia 

www.princeton.edu/~pia (83 Prospect Avenue, Room 202, 


Princeton, NJ 08544) or to the University of Washington 

Jackson N. Huddleston Jr. Men’s Rugby Endowment 

www.uwfoundation.org/huddleston (University of 

Washington Foundation, Box 358240, Seattle, WA 98195) 

This obituary was kindly sent to the Old Brutonian 

Association by Robert Baker (P51/55) 

ANDREW RICHMOND (N44/45) 

Rear-Admiral Andrew Richmond, who has died aged 73, 

was one of a handful of flying “pussers”, officers initially 

barred from becoming pilots because of poor eyesight but 

later permitted to serve in the Fleet Air Arm for five years 

before returning to their administrative duties. 

In his first operational appointment he was chosen to 

fly the powerful Fairey Gannet, generally agreed to be 

one of the world’s ugliest aircraft, though a workhorse of 

the fleet. He was then sent with a detachment of 847 

Naval Air Squadron to Cyprus, where he spent many 

hours on air patrol around the island to prevent the 

smuggling of arms. 

In 1957 he suffered a hydraulic failure over the eastern 

Mediterranean, and had to nurse his sick aircraft back to 

Nicosia, where he circled the airfield to burn off fuel 

before doing a belly landing. “Successful wheels up 

landing,” he noted laconically in his logbook. 

Richmond next joined 824 Squadron to fly the 

Westland Whirlwind Mark 7 helicopter from the carrier 

Victorious. His duties included search and rescue, and 

many of his sorties involved hovering off the carrier’s 

beam on planeguard, to recover any crashed pilots. 

However, on November 6th 1958, Richmond himself 

needed rescuing after the engine of his helicopter failed; 

but he conducted a textbook ditching, and he and his 

crew were saved unharmed. 

Andrew John Richmond was born in London on 

February 7th 1932 and educated at King’s School, Bruton 

and the Nautical College, Pangbourne, where he was chief 

cadet captain in 1949, winning both the King’s gold 

medal and the Elder Brethren of Trinity House’s 

prestigious prize: he was particularly pleased to receive 

his awards from Admiral of the Fleet Lord Cunningham of 

Hyndhope. 

Richmond’s desire to join the Royal Navy overcame his 

disappointment that because of his poor eyesight, he 

could do so only as a supply officer, or “pusser”. He joined 

in January 1950 and within the year, was at sea in the 

cruiser Ceylon, off Korea. He completed his education at 

the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, in 1952, and returned 

to the Far East as a secretary on the staff of C-in-C, East 

Indies Station. 

When the opportunity to qualify as a pilot arose 

because of a shortage of officers, Richmond volunteered 


at once. At the end of five years’ loan to the Fleet Air Arm, 

he returned to the Supply and Secretariat branch, where 

he moved up swiftly as supply officer in the frigate Ursa. 

He became staff officer at Britannia Royal Naval College, 

Dartmouth, deputy supply officer at HMS Crest at 

Brawdy; secretary to the Flag Officer Carriers and 

Amphibious Ships supply officer of the carrier Bulwark; 

assistant director of naval manpower at the admiralty; 

secretary to the Commander-in-Chief Naval Home 

Command; and director of naval logistic planning. As 

Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Logistics), Richmond 

drew together the three services’ policy and 

requirements. 

His main task, however, at the height of the Cold War, 

was to maintain the trans-Atlantic bridge, which he did 

through frequent visits to the United States, mostly to 

familiarise himself with reinforcement plans in the event 

of war with the Soviet Union. Richmond responded to 

America’s hospitality by proposing a Pimm’s party. His 

staff protested that, despite all their logistic planning, 

Pimm’s was unavailable in the United States, but 

Richmond devised his own recipe. The colour was 

accurate and the mix was so powerful that none of the 

guests noticed a slight difference in flavour from the real 

thing. 

In 1984 Richmond was appointed ADC to the Queen, 

and two years later he became head of his profession as 

Chief Naval Supply and Secretariat Officer, before retiring 

in 1987, when he was appointed CB. As chief executive of 

the RSPCA from 1987 until 1991, Richmond provided 

effective and able leadership. Afterwards he worked as a 

consultant for the World Society for the Protection of 

Animals. Richmond played gold and gardened with 

enthusiasm. He was on a sixth caravan holiday to 

Mausanne les Apilles when he was taken ill and died on 

September 22nd. 

In 1957 Richmond proposed to (within 10 days of 

meeting, in Cyprus) “Toni” Jane Annette Ley, a nurse in 

Princess Mary’s RAF Nursing Service; she survives him 

with their son and two daughters. 

(Reproduced from The Daily Telegraph) 

MARY YEATS-BROWN 

Members of Priory House between the years 1949 and 

1953 will be sad to learn of the death of Mary Yeats- 

Brown, widow of Alan, their housemaster. She died on 

Monday, April 10th, 2006, aged 92. 

The Memorial Service for Hugh Moore will 

be on May 5th, 2006 in St. Mary’s Church, 

Bruton at 2 pm After the Service there will 

be a Tea at Hazlegrove House 



1936 

SPILL, John (O36/39) c/o Mark Spill, 55 

Dennis Street, Garran, ACT 2605, 

Australia 

1940 

ROBINSON, Michael (P40/44) 70 

Southover, Wells, Somerset BA5 lUH 

1942 

BARGMAN, John (N42/46) 3 Millers Close, 

Bungay, Suffolk, NR35 1HJ 

1943 

FIRTH, Ralph (O43/46) 17 Deykin Street, 

Goolwa 5214 South Australia 

1944 

GIBBS, Peter (O44/47) 33 The Priory, 

Abbotskerswell, Newton Abbot, Devon, 

TQ12 5PP 

1946 

MILLER, Anthony (N46/49) Sancerre, 35 

The Vineyards, Holsworthy, Devon EX22 

6JG 

1947 

CRIMMINS, Peter (N47/51) 32 Links 

Garden, Berrow, Burnham-on-Sea, 

Somerset TA8 2PY 

1949 

SYNGE, Patrick (N49/54) 5 Barton Close, 

Exton, Nr Exeter, Devon EX3 OPE 

1950 

GOLESWORTHY, James (P50/54) 

Hallowtide, Itchenor Green, Chichester, 

West Sussex PO20 7DA 

KIRKE, W. Anthony (O50/56) 42 Keyhaven 

Road, Milford-on-Sea, Lymington, Hants, 

SO41 OQY 

PINNEY, Henry (N50/55) 31 Dale Crescent, 

New Tupton, Chesterfield, S42 6DRb 

1951 

MANNERS, Alan (O51/54) The Green, 

Martock, Somerset 

POWELL. Percy (O51/54) 14 Groes Close, 

Rogerstone, Newport, South Wales NP10 

9SW 

1952 

WATSON, George (O&L52/56) 3 

Worplesdon Hill House, Heath House 

Road, Woking, Surrey GU22 OQX 

1953 

TWINING-HARRIS, David (O53/56) 1 Trym 

House, Trym Road, Westbury-on-Trym, 

Bristol BS9 ES 

1954 

LEMON, George (N54/57) Melrose 

Cottage, Limpsfield, Surrey RH8 0SP 

LLOYD, Colin (P54/57) 6 Manor Court, 

Horsington, Templecombe, Somerset BA8 

OET 

1955 

CASE, Roger (P55/59) Edgehill, 4 Sylvan 

Grove, Winterskloof, P O Box 819, Hilton, 

Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa 

RIND, Bill (N55/58) 8 Honeysuckle Close, 

Soham, Nr Ely, Cambs CB7 5YT 

CHANGES OF ADDRESS 2006 

1956 

DIMENT, Hugh (N56/60) Fairview, Green 

Lane, Ashmore, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 

5AJ 

JENKINS, Stephen (L56/61) Ivy House, 

Queen Street, Keinton Mandeville, 

Somerton, Somerset TA11 6EL 

JONES, John (P56/60) ‘Hyfrydle’, 

Penmachno, Betws y Coed, Conwy, LL24 

OYG 

PONTIN, Jeremy (N56/60) Cokes Barn, 

West Burton, Nr Pulborough, West 

Sussex, RH20 1HD 

1958 

DIMENT, Peter (N58/61) Well cottage, 

Nettlecombe, Bridport, Dorset, DT9 3SP 

FARROW, Peter (N58/61) 22 Hatherley 

Street, Tivoli, Cheltenham Glos GL50 2TT 

WILLY, Robert (L58/61) 37 Boston Avenue, 

Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS22 6JH 

1959 

PADDEN, Neil (N/B59/64) 21 Gordan 

Street, Clontars, NSW 2093, Australia 

1960 

DOWDESWELL, E Michael (L60/65) 4 

Endecliff Mews, Leeds LS6 2BF 

1961 

BARLOW, Drew (O61/65) 73 Owhiwa 

Road, RD1 Onerahi 0121, Whangerai, New 

Zealand. 

COLLINS, Geoffrey (P61/65) 3 Thames 

Village, Hartington Road, Chiswick, 

London 

1963 

MILLS-THOMAS, Aidan (P63/67) Apple- 

Ash, Harpsden Woods, Henley-on- 

Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 2BP 

RAI, Martin (P63/68) (formerly Robinson) 

Jubilee House, Jubilee Walk, Crawley, 

West Sussex, RH10 1LQ 

RUDD, Peter (N63/67) Flat 3, 14 

Springfield Road, Ilfracombe, North 

Devon, EX34 9HG 

1964 

LEWIS, James (P64/66) 4 Finch Close, 

Shepton Mallet Somerset BA4 5GA 

MORETON, Peter (B64/69) Tarn Hill, 

Storth Road, Storth, Milnthorpe, Cumbria 

LA7 7JA 

READ, Timothy (P64/70) 16 The Gables, 

Sylvan Hill, London SE19 2QE 

1965 

ASHTON-JONES, Nick (O65/69) 74 Parker 

Street, Derby, DE1 3HF 

1967 

TYLER, Simon, (L67/72) l Mead Villas, Box, 

Corsham, Wilts, SN13 8NJ 

1969 

FRAZER, Lionel (N69/74)The Smithy, 

Higher Street, Curry Mallet, Taunton, TA3 

6SY 

HODGKISS, Gregory (L69/71) 240 Flat 

Rock road, Kangaroo Ground, Victoria, 

3097 Australia/P.O. Box 199 Kangaroo 

Ground, Victoria 3097, Australia 

1970 

HOLMES, Peter (L70/73) 3 Hill View, 2-4 

Primrose Hill Road, Primrose Hill, London 

NW3 3AX 

1972 

DOBBS, Jonathan (P72/77) Woodpeckers, 

22 Hammond End, Farnham Common, 

Bucks, SL2 3LG 

POWELL. Lyn (72/74) 4223 Highview Drive, 

San Mateo, CA 94403, USA 

1973 

ROSLING, Mark (P73/77) Longridge House, 

Batts Corner, Dockenfield, Farnham, 

Surrey GU10 4EX 

SINCLAIR, Stuart (L73/78) Seymour 

Cottage, Bratton Seymour, Wincanton, 

Somerset BA9 9BY 

1974 

WHEATLEY, James (O74/77) No 1 The 

Towers, Station Road, Soberton, 

Hampshire, SO32 3PS 

1976 

STEWART, Mark (N76/80) 29 Church 

Street, Old Isleworth, Middx TW7 6BE 

1977 

JACOBS, Simon (O77/81) The Grange, 

Worton, Nr Devizes, Wilts SN10 5SE 

1978 

MAXWELL, Simon (P78/83) 

Wheelwrights, Elmdon, Essex, CB11 4LT 

PRETTY, William (N78/80) Dragonfly, 

Gainsborough House, 2 Sheen Road, 

Richmond, TW9 1AE 

1979 

WATTS, Mark (O79/82) 1 Chaffinch Chase, 

Gillingham, Dorset SP8 4GP 

1981 

HAMMOND, Justin (P81/86) 3 Waterloo 

House, Hyde Park Barracks, 

Knightsbridge, London, SW7 1SE 

VUGTS, Arjan (N81/86) 5. vd. Oyeweg 106, 

2645cc, Delfgauw, Holland 

WYATT, Rupert (L81/84) Fernleigh 

Orchard, Broomfield Park, Sunningdale, 

Berkshire SL5 OJS 

1982 

BALL, Anthony (N82/86) 4 The 

Cooperage, Regents Bridge Gardens, 

London SW8 1JR 

HANSON, Michael (N82/86) 165 

Rivermead Court, Ranelagh Gardens, 

Fulham, London SW6 3SF 

1983 

CASE, Charles (P83/87) Moringa Ogilvy, 41 

Luthuli Avenue, P O Box 71500, Kampala, 

East Africa 

1984 

GOUGH, David (N84/89) c/o Rowan 

House, 10 Townsend Close, Bruton, BA10 


0HD 

GRAHAM, Daniel (O84/89) 1 Spinney 

Close, Beckenham, Kent BR3 3XA 

MOORE, Andrew (O84/89) 1 Collingwood, 

Farnborough, GU15 6LX 

1985 

GARBUTT, Alasdair (B85/90) Hall House, 

50 Hall Road, Leckhampton, Cheltenham, 

Gloucestershire GL50 0HE 

1986 

BOX, Benjamin (B86/91) Swincliffe 

Cottage, Crendon Road, Shabbingdon, 

Bucks, HP18 9HE 

HODGSON, James (O86/91) 4 Falmouth 

Road, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 2HX 

LLOYD, James (O86/90) 74 Haliburton 

Road, Twickenham, TW1 1PH 

MACKENZIE-CROOKS, Simon (O86/91) 3 

Adams Quarter, Tallow Road, Brentford, 

Middx TW8 8ER 

TAYLOR, Richard (N86/91) Milnot Farm, 

West Street Lane, Maynards Green, East 

Sussex, TN21 ODA 

1987 

BENENSON, Francesca (W87/89) (nee 

GLIKSTEN) 8 Montpelier Road, Finchley, 

London N3 2ER 

CHATWIN, Lucy (W87/89) (nee DIXON) 

Herengracht 333, Amsterdam 1016, The 

Netherlands 

DIMENT, Henry (N87/90) 71 St Leonard’s 

Road, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 8LD 

MIRFIN, Tim (N87/92) Eilenau 11, 22087 

Hamburg, Germany 

1988 

HARRIS, Lucy (W88/90) 2 St Peter’s Court, 

Stamford, Lincs PE9 2GP 

HOWE, Thomas (N88/91) Flat 8, 5 

Berrylands, Surbiton, Surrey, KT5 8JE 

LLOYD DAVIES, Mark (L88/93) Flat 3, 

Heron House, Church Grove, Hampton 

Wick, Middx, KT1 4AR 

REEVES, Amanda (nee NICHOLLS) 

(W88/90) 28 Birch Way, Chesham, Bucks, 

HP5 5JL 

WINTHER, Hans (O88/93) 21 Princethorpe 

Road, Lower Sydenham, London SE26 4PF 

1989 

DAWSON, James (N89/94) 68 Pine Road, 

Brentry, Bristol BS10 6RU 

GRANTHAM, Chris (N89/94) 60 

Braycourt Avenue, Kingston-upon- 

Thames, KT2 2BA 

MATTHEWS, Samantha (nee JENKINS) 

(W89/91) 74 The Street, Puttenham, 

Surrey GU3 1AU 

NUTBURN, Daniel (L89/94) 89 

Blackamoor Lane, Maidenhead, Berks SL6 

8RJ 

PATERSON, Katrina (W89/91) P O Box 

448, Gilgil 20116, Kenya, East Africa 

POINTON-TAYLOR, Sam (N89/94) Flat 

One, Browns Court, Station Road, 

Gerrards Cross, Bucks, SL9 8ES 

1990 

HARRIS, Eoin (L90/95) 9 Gardener’s Close, 

Maulden, Bedfordshire MK45 2DY 

KARDIN, Ausrin (P90/92) 15 Jalan SSI/25, 

Kampong Tunku, 47300 Petaling Jaya, 

Selangor D.E., Malaysia 

LAPSLEY, Douglas (B90/95) Pebbles, 44 

Ottery Way, Didcot, Oxon, OX11 7UJ 

NOBLE, Charles (P90/95) Smithwood 

Barn, Smithwood Common, Cranleigh, 

Surrey GU6 8QY 

ROOKE, James (O90/95) c/o George 

Robson, 10 East 29th Street, Apartment 

21K, New York 10016, USA 

1991 

CROFTS, Lewis (L91/96) Rue du Trone 232, 

1050 Bruxells, Belgium 

FORWARD, Ben (B91/96) 3 Admiral’s 

Close, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 4AR 

IWAYA, Kayoko (W91/93) 2-25-17, 

Kitshinagawa, Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan 

KWAAN, Ben (N91/96) The Flat, Dutton 

House, Lew Road, Curbridge, Witney, 

Oxon OX29 7PD 

LLOYD DAVIES, Luke (L91/96) c/o 42 The 

Lion Brewery, St Thomas Street, Oxford, 

OX1 1JE 

MOLYNEUX, Andrew (N91/96) 31 Warren 

Road, Wimbledon, London SW19 2H? 

NUNN, Adam (B91/96) 711 Garrett Lane, 

Earlsfield, London SW17 OPD 

SHIPSEY, Tim (B91/96) 2 Riverside 

Cottages, Nunton, Salisbury, Wilts SP5 

4HR 

SIRIVADHANAKUL, Sasil (N91/96) 31 Soi 

Taksin 11, Taksin Road, Bangkok 10600, 

Thailand 

SLEZAK, Alex (N91/96) 88 High Street, 

Wallingford, Oxon OX10 OBW 

1992 

COSTELLO, Sinead (W92/94) 43 Redcliffe 

Road, London SW10 9NJ 

PIKE, Kevin (L92/97) 86 Bullfinch Close, 

Covingham, Swindon, Wilts SN3 5HP 

ROOKE, Tom (O92/97) 13A Bellevue Road, 

Wandsworth, London SW17 7EG 

WILLIAMS. Alan (B92/97) 5 Royal Oak 

House, Commercial Road, Shepton Mallet 

BA4 5DN 

1993 

HOLLAND, Daniel (B93/98) 130 Preston 

Road, Yeovil, BA20 2EE 

HUTCHINGS, Lucy (W 93/93 65a 

Aylesford Street, Pimlico, London SW1V 

3RY 

KIUNS, Ngugi (O93/95) Flat 1, 59 Wells 

Way, London SE5 7UB 

MEEKER, Adrian (L93/96) 23 Howard 

Close, Wilstead, Redford, MK45 3JW 

SIMMONS, Edward (N93/98) 71 Herschel 

Crescent, Littlemore, Oxford, OX4 3TT 

TUNG, Adnan (O93/98) P O Box 81841, 

Mombassa, Kenya 

WATKINS, Ben (B93/98) Schlossstrasse 22, 

Frankfurt am Main 60486 Germany 

1994 


ANDRE, Katinka (W94/95) 1/91B 

Grosvenor Road, Pimlico, London SW1V 

3LD 

GUEST, Jonathan (N94/99) 8 Knole 

House, Adams Close, Surbiton, Surrey 

KT58LB 

MATTAR, Tariq (P94/97) Flat 5, 15 

Ladbroke Crescent, London, W11 1PS 

POINTON-TAYLOR, George (N94/99) 157 

Prestbury Road, Cheltenham, Glos GL52 

2DU 

TALMAGE, Charles (N94/99) c/o 34 Far 

Street, Wymeswold, Leicester, LE12 6TZ 

WALTON, John (O94/99) c/o Verbena 

Cottage, Pendower Road, Veryan, Truro, 

Cornwall, TR2 5QL 

1995 

PLUNTKE, Andreas (P95/97) 2414 N. 38th 

Street, Phoenix, Arizona, AZ85008, USA 

WYNN, Rhys (L95/00) 33 Clarks Lane, 

Halstead, Kent TN14 7DG 

1996 

BANDS, Diana (W96/98) (nee ROBJOHN) 

Ramley Cottage, Ramley Road, 

Lymington, Hants, SO41 8LH 

CAREW-GIBBS, Hannah (W96/98) 11b 

Broomwood Road, Battersea, London 

SW11 6HU 

1997 

CHILD, Robert (P97/02) 73 Wookey Hole 

Road, Wells, BA5 2NH 

CUTHBERT, Jennifer (W97/00) Seven 

Springs, Coombe Street, Pen Selwood, 

Wincanton, Somerset, BA9 8NF 

KIRKER, Ian (L97/00) 111A Fulham Palace 

Road, Hammersmith, London W6 8JA 

MARTIN, Christopher (O97/02) 

Swatchways, 14 Cross Lane, West Mercea, 

Colchester, Essex, CO5 8HN 

1998 

HEWITT-STUBBS, Nicola (A98/03) 62/114 

The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise, QLD 

4217, Australia 

HUGHES, Gemma (A/P 98/03) 63 The 

Roman Way, Glastonbury, BA6 8AB 

ROBERTSON, Flora (A98/03) The Batch, 

Chesterblade, Shepton Mallet, Somerset 

BA4 4QU 

1999 

KEATING Holly (W99/01) and Thomas 

(P99/02) 23 Pavilion Square, Beechcroft 

Road, Wandsworth Common, London 

SW17 7DF 

2000 

KUSCHE, Annika (W00/02) Turkenstrabe 

27A, 80799 Munich, Germany 

SENS, Katharina (W00/02) Geesthacht 

Str 150, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany 

WILLIAMS, Bronwen (W00/02) 54 Gavin 

Relly Postgraduate Village, 

Grahamstown, South Africa 6140 

2001 

ATKINSON, Emma (W01/03) Flat 6, 9 

Sciennes House Place, Edinburgh, EH9 

1NN 



A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE 

CUISINE AT BRUTON. 

I remember reading a restaurant 

review in the South London Press, which 

began: “Geographically, Bolton’s 

Restaurant is halfway between Elmer’s 

End and Pratt’s Bottom. gastronomically, it 

is about the same.” I can think of no more 

apt a description of school food when I 

was at Bruton in the swinging (!?) sixties. 

Spam, a sardine on soggy toast, a tinned 

tomato on fried bread; grey meat which 

might once have been ham, beef or turkey 

but was probably bought in bulk from the 

East Hartlepool Gasket Company; 

indescribable stew, green soup 

reminiscent of a stagnant pond, both in 

looks and taste and - the high point of my 

gastronomic week - a very hard-boiled egg 

for Sunday breakfast. 

Things got to the point when a food 

strike was organised (by the Head Boy, no 

less) and on a particular day when the 

Chairman of Governors lunched in school 

we sat in total silence and ate not a thing 

(apart from the table headed by a 

Housemaster who was not going to stand 

for any of that nonsense). This protest 

resulted in the whole school being kept in 

on a Saturday afternoon and in a sudden 

and remarkable improvement in the food. 

I remember there being two sardines and 

two tomatoes and eventually a new 

Catering Manager! 

You may be wondering what the 

foregoing has to do with the OBA Bruton 

Dinner. Of course, it has nothing to do 

with it at all as school food isn’t like that 

any longer and hasn’t been for some time. 

What is interesting is that the majority of 

Old Brutonians who have come to the 

dinner in recent years were the ones who 

remember food at Bruton as described 

above. Are they disappointed to discover 

that school food is now as good as you 

might find in any decent restaurant? 

Certainly not! As good as Bruton dinners 

have become it is not the food which is the 

draw but the atmosphere, the company, 

the pleasure of discovering that your old 

friends and contemporaries have aged so 

much worse than you have and the 

chance to sing the School Song again, just 

as badly as we did 40 years ago. 

If you have been to the OBA Bruton 

Dinner you know all this already. 

However, if you haven’t been before the 

only way to experience the cosiness, the 

thrill and the schadenfreude of the 

occasion is to come. Get together a table 

of your contemporaries. Somewhere in 

this newsletter you will find an 

application form for tickets. I have no idea 

what will be for dinner but I think I can 

guarantee there will be no Spam. 

VETERANS V KSB 2ND XI 

Magically the skies cleared for a 

bright and sunny, if cold, day for the 

Veterans’ annual turnout. The squad 

numbered a perhaps unlucky 13, 

including a borrowed goalie in the 

form of young James Rizzi. 

The game began evenly as the 

Veterans settled down, finding a nice 

balance after about ten minutes 

once everyone had established their 

positions – mostly up front! The Vets 

took an early lead through Stuart 

Thompson, who, having had his 

glory, called it a day with a strained 

muscle in true Vets form. This left 

the Vets with only one rolling sub, 

but as the game progressed, the 

stamina held firm with, as ever, the 

evergreen David Harris doing more 

than his fair share of the work down 

the right, bamboozling both 

opposition players and spectators 

alike with his stickwork. By half time 

the Vets had slotted another two 

goals through Craig Rogers and 

Fraser Stewart, who were creating 

merry havoc for the School defence, 

the former with silky skills and the 

latter from thrashing about like an 

unlucky man possessed. The School 

had also claimed two goals by half 

time, the second of which was 

charitably steered into the bottom 

corner of the home goal by John-Kai 

Fleming from a School short corner. 

The second half was a tighter 

affair with Colin Coutts acting as the 

mainstay in defence while young 

James Rizzi made some excellent 

saves. Good work in midfield from 

John Townley, Tom Taylor and 

William Enderby kept the pressure at 

the School end of the pitch where 

the “flocking forwards” (hope I heard 

that correctly!) ought to have scored 

more between them. Al McEwan 

was very unlucky not to score, but 

full marks for trying, in hitting 

various posts and crossbars on 

numerous occasions during the 

game! 

Adrian Thompson added to the 

numbers up front and was also 

unlucky on a couple of occasions, 

while Craig Rogers added his second 

OB Hockey Sunday, 

March 19th, 2006 

of the game and Julian Fountain 

completed the Vets’ haul with the 

fifth goal of the day. The School had 

managed to score another in the 

second half as well to bring the final 

score to 5 – 3 in favour of the Vets. 

As ever thanks must go to the 

School for their great hospitality and 

to the catering team for putting 

together an excellent lunch for 

players, spectators, friends and 

family and to those who made 

themselves available to play. 

2006 Squad: James Rizzi, Fraser 

Stewart, John Townley, Tom Taylor, 

Adrian Thompson, Stuart Thompson, 

John-Kai Fleming, David Harris, Al 

McEwan, Craig Rogers, Colin Coutts, 

Will Enderby, Julian Fountain. 

GIRLS’ HOCKEY 

Draw 5 – 5 

Lizzie Sedgman (W97/99) 

Alex Livingstone (W96/98) 

Sophie Glenday (W97/99) 

Phoeby Glenday (P99/04) 

Emily Paulley (P99/04) 

Ellen Trott (A98/03) 

Flora Robertson (P98/03) 

Hannah Carew-Gibbs (W96/98) 

Laura Hodder (P99/04) 

Sophie Stamford-Tuck (W95/97) 

Callie Smith (P99/04) 

Vicky Barns Graham (P00/05) 

OBS V KSB LST XI 

OBs lost 2 – 4 

Chris Pidsley (O00/05) 

Christian Phillips Adam (O03/05) 

Max Baillon (O99/04) 

Charlie Franklin (O99/04) 

Mathew Masters (O98/03) 

Rory Edwards (O98/03) 

Yota Kitagawa (L00/05) 

Greg Ridout (O99/04) 

James Begg (O99/04) 

Justin Trott (P96/01) 

Chris Stevenson (N99/04) 

Harry Tolfree (O99/03) 

Rory Alexander (O99/04) 


Season 2004/2005 and the start of Season 2005/2006 

have been a momentous triumph for the Apple Growers 

Sports Club on so many fronts. 

The club is now affiliated to the Somerset RFU and the 

rugby team now plays in fantastic new jerseys 

generously funded by the OBA. 

The membership continues to grow (at the time of 

writing, membership is just shy of 80) as more people 

from an ever increasing age range decide that is it a good 

idea to come out of retirement and don the rugby 

boots/hockey shirt/cricket whites and flog their cardio 

vascular-starved bodies around a sports field. The boost in 

interest has led to an increase in fixtures; Last season saw 

8 fixtures including an extremely successful 

rugby/cricket tour to Jersey. This season fixtures have 

swelled once again, including a rugby/hockey tour to 

Ireland in September and a number of weekend 

excursions to cater for the incessant appetite for activities 

off the field. Indeed, many members find the word 

‘Sports’ in the club title irrelevant and unnecessary! 

The club has recently developed an exciting new 

website. It is an important development for a club with 

no clubhouse. The Apple Growers rely on such a medium 

for its news, reports, details, banter and amusement. 

Please take a look and enjoy – www.applegrowers.net 

The highlight of Season 2004/2005 had to be the tour 

to Jersey. The tour started with a 51-0 hammering of 

Jersey RFC 2nd XV, in 28 degree heat on a beautiful 

summer’s day. Fears of coming up against an opposition 

too strong were cast aside, as were the comments from 

the female touring contingent who were overheard 

saying, ‘they have much better bodies than our players, I 

hope we meet them after the game.’ A terrific effort for a 

scratch side and at the source of every successful Growers 

move was man of the match Ali Lund. 

Unfortunately the final fixture of the season against 

Jersey Island CC was not as ideal as the rugby the day 

before. After winning the toss, skipper Dave Green chose 

to bat first. However, a poor start placed them in some 

considerable trouble at 102-6. Rain then arrived and the 

game had to be shortened to 35 overs a side. When play 

eventually resumed, Dave Green and Nick Price steadied 

the ship with a hundred partnership for the seventh 

wicket, both reaching their half centuries. Dave 

celebrated his with some impressive Henman style fist 

pumping. The Growers eventually reached a total of 201-7 

from their 35 overs. Sadly our best bowling days, with the 

exception of Nick Price, seem to be behind us. Things got 

even worse when King of the Swingers Ed Thomas had to 

leave the action after only 3 overs due to an injury 

sustained during the pre match catching practice. Lund 

was clearly still in rugby mood as the wicket keeper Mark 

Dunn struggled to take his ‘slider’, due to it sliding two 

APPLE GROWERS SPORTS CLUB 

OLD BRUTONIAN ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER 2006 35 


strips across square and barely reaching the other end! 

Not even the super-sub Alex Baldwin, still clinging on to 

memories of the fielding trophy at U14 level before taking 

up swimming, could stem the run scoring. JICC got the 

runs comfortably, with three overs to spare. 

The most satisfying outcome for the Apple Growers 

Sports Club since its inception in 2000 is not the 

respectable results on the field; It is the amicable 

atmosphere and camaraderie it creates between its own 

members and the opposition. Every club the Growers 

have played, and every tournament entered, have 

enthusiastically invited them back, a fantastic impression 

for any club to make. 

SEASON 2004/2005 

14 Nov Rugby 

The Hornets (Milton Abbey OB’s) WON 12-42 

Feb Rugby 

North Dorset RFC 2nd XV WON 19-39 

Apr Hockey 

Sherborne Pilgrims LOST 4-0 

02 May Rugby 

Lytchett Minster 7’s PLATE FIRST ROUND 

10 Jul Cricket 

The Hornets (Milton Abbey OB’s) WON 45 Runs 

20 Aug Rugby 

EdUKaid 7’s GROUP STAGE 

03 Sep Rugby 

Jersey RFC 2nd XV WON 0-51 

04 Sep Cricket 

Jersey Island CC LOST 7 Wickets 

Player of the Season: Charlie Price 

Clubman of the Year: Ollie East 

Tourist of the Year: Mark Dunn 

SEASON 2005/2006 

02 Oct Rugby 

The Hornets (Milton Abbey OB’s) WON 52-14 

13 Nov Rugby 

The Hornets (Milton Abbey OB’s) LOST 15-0 

06 Jan Rugby 

Rosslyn Park FC 4th XV WON 5-10 

04 Feb Rugby 

North Dorset RFC ‘A’ XV LOST 21-7 

For further fixture details please go to - 

www.applegrowers.net 

A.G.S.C. 52 v 14 The Hornets – 2nd October 2005 

Back Row – R.Burden, A.Baldwin, P.Crang, S.Pike, 

W.Pitt, W.Crawshaw, M.Laing, J.Knowling, 

C.Price, A.Soskin, E.Thomas, D.Britten 

Front Row – C.Pratt, A.Lund, D.Green, N.Price, W.Carew- 

Gibbs, O.East, D.Weir (capt.), K.Pike, J.Burrage


OLD BOYS CRICKET 2005 

As ever, organising an Old Boys cricket team for 

Sunday matches has been an exciting venture at times 

and in the three matches played in the 2005 season no 

less than 20 brave individuals donned their whites to 

represent the OBs. Most pleasing once again was the 

number of people answering the Horn of Bruton and 

making themselves available, as well as the arrival on the 

scene of a handful of recent leavers, which will hopefully 

help sustain the OBs cricketing escapades well into the 

future. 

The first match of the season was to be the first round 

of the Brewers’ Company Cup (smaller brother of the 

Cricketers Cup and for schools with less than 600 pupils) 

against the old rival, King’s Taunton. They however pulled 

out of the fixture, unable to raise a team and KSB OBs 

floated serenely into the second round. 

The annual fixture 

against the School was 

as ever a very 

enjoyable affair, and 

provided a close game. 

The School team was a 

young one, and they 

performed very well, 

boding well for the 

future of KSB cricket. 

Unfortunately at the 

time of writing, the 

scorebook has 

disappeared, and so 

the details of the game 

are not available. 

Suffice to say that it 

was a great gathering 

with a number of OBs 

appearing on the day 

having had an 

enjoyable time the night before at the annual OBs Dinner. 

Given the fact that, from memory, the School had the OBs 

at about 26 for 5, some are probably quite pleased the 

details of the game are not available. 

The next match was the second round of the Brewers’ 

Cup against Old Herefordians at Bruton. A good game 

was anticipated, having played the same team two years 

previously in a match that yielded over 650 runs in the 

day. It was not to be a disappointing day for the 

spectators, with victory coming by 12 runs in the 

penultimate over. KSB had won the toss and decided to 

bat, with Fraser Stewart and Oli Fowlston putting on 48 

for the first wicket, before Fraser departed having scored 

18. The ship rocked slightly with Tim Browne being 

dismissed for the addition of only 1 run, but then a 

partnership of 135 was hammered up between Oli 

Fowlston and Al MacEwen, before they both lost their 

wickets in quick succession. Oli ended up with 79 and Al 

with 48, the score a solid 174 for 2 after only 26 overs. The 

innings then fell apart as Hereford fought their way back 

into the game, with only Chris Upton and Mark Dunn 

contributing, with 23 and 12 respectively. In a period of 17 

overs, 8 wickets fell for the addition of only 54 runs as KSB 

stumbled to 228 all out in the 43rd over. The impetus was 

certainly with Hereford at the interval and it was clear a 

very good performance in the field was going to be 

required to win the game, with a required run rate of less 

than 5 an over on a very good wicket and a quick outfield. 

Tim Browne and Nick Price provided the perfect start 

removing an opener each and keeping the runs to a 

minimum. Nick’s burst of 6 quick overs gave away only 14 

runs and Tim’s spell of 8 overs only 24. Hereford then 

mounted a solid recovery and had put on a further 77 

runs for the 3rd wicket, and poised at 116 for 2 after 29 

overs, looked ominously like taking control of the game. 

Rob Dunning provided the crucial breakthrough taking a 

very sharp return catch off his own bowling to turn the 

tide of the game. He bowled 10 uninterrupted overs of 

orthodox left arm spin, picking up 2 wickets for 32 runs at 

a point where Hereford were dominating the game. At 

the other end Oli 

Fowlston’s leg breaks 

accounted for another 

3 wickets, including an 

incredibly low reflex 

caught and bowled, as 

the game strained 

towards a tense 

conclusion. Hereford 

inched towards the 

mirage of victory, 

needing 43 with 3 

wickets standing, 18 

with 2 wickets 

standing and 12 with 1 

standing. Dave Ball 

had however been 

busy accounting for 

the Hereford tail, 

claiming the last three 

wickets with his pace, 

leaving KSB through to the semi final, by a margin that 

left Tim Browne happy not to bowl the last over. 

The semi final was due to be played near Brighton 

against Old Hurstjohnians, who pulled the game at 6pm 

the day before we were due to play, and so KSB OBs 

marched into the final! Nick Price and Rob Dunning had 

already arrived in Brighton when this news broke, and 

probably had a few more beers than they had planned 

that night! Sorry for the wasted journey, Lads! 

The final of the Brewers’ Cup was held at the Campbell 

Park ground in Milton Keynes against the defending 

champions, Old Cranleighans. A rather worried captain 

phoned 40 minutes before the game to say that there 

were only two of us there, and that their team, having 

had a warm up jog around the boundary, were practising 

in the nets! By the time the game had started there was 

only one of our team still lost in the hideous maze of 

roundabouts that is Milton Keynes. Tim Browne 

eventually arrived looking rather bemused – “don’t have 

road systems like that back in Zimbabwe, mate” was his 

opening comment. In the meantime Fraser Stewart and 


Al MacEwen had been flaying the opposition around the 

park in putting on 97 in 15 overs for the first wicket, with 

Al contributing 32. Tim was then straight out into the 

middle where he notched up 27 in putting on a further 62 

with Fraser, who was looking in extremely good touch 

and determined mood. The third wicket partnership was 

worth 93 between Frazer and Julian Fountain, during 

which Fraser recorded a priceless century before going on 

to finish on 111. It was a great knock on what was a very 

warm day, really taking the attack to the opposition and 

giving them plenty of exercise in the heat – even though 

he went from 90 to 100 in singles! Julian had been 

playing sweetly at the other end as well, and after a few 

quick wickets in the final few overs giving it the long 

handle, he finished on 74 with the score 278 for 6 off the 

allotted 50 overs. 

The target was always reachable on what was a very 

good wicket, but the opening pair of Dave Ball and Tim 

Browne really put Cranleigh on the back foot. Tim picked 

up one wicket in a spell of 5 overs for 23 runs. At the other 

end Dave bowled a fantastically hostile and accurate 6 

overs, claiming 2 wickets for just 8 runs. 

The opposition’s opening pair bowled exactly 11 overs 

as well, and the comparison shows where the game was 

won and lost, with KSB Old Boys seizing the initiative on 

both occasions. Cranleigh conceded 58 runs and didn’t 

pick up any wickets, while KSB conceded just 31 and 

picked up 3 wickets. 

Cranleigh were always struggling from this point, and 

wickets continued to tumble. Rob Dunning couldn’t quite 

reproduce his form from earlier in the summer, but was 

very unlucky not to pick up a wicket or two. Ian Stuart 

and Julian Fountain bowled extremely well and with 

great guile, ‘working’ batsmen out in collecting 2 and 3 

wickets respectively off their 10 overs while conceding 

less than 3 an over in the process, with Jono Enderby 

keeping very tidily and adding to the batsmen’s 

nervousness with pressure from behind the stumps. 

Julian effected a superb run out as well, aiming at one 

stump – must be said that Julian has coached the West 

Indies at fielding, so not allowed to miss really! At this 

point Cranleigh were broken at 96 for 9. However, their 

number 11 then strolled out and proceeded to hammer a 

quick 50 in no time at all in putting on 64 for the last 

wicket. Toby Fowlston ended the game when given the 

ball, finishing with the rather admirable figures of 1 over, 

1 wicket, 2 runs. Cranleigh had struggled up to 160 all out, 

leaving KSB Old Boys victors by the substantial margin of 

118 runs. At the post match presentation, Fraser won the 

Man of the Match award for his initiative seizing 111, 

which was promptly emptied into the Cup and passed 

around. It was a top way to finish a great year. 

Many thanks to the School for hosting us superbly and 

laying on the usual excellent lunch for the OBs vs school 

game and in letting the Old Boys use the facilities for the 

Brewers match. There is also a big thank you to Adrian 

Davis, who always produces a great wicket on the main 

square, while not forgetting all those who travelled across 

the country to play and those who declared themselves 

available and did not get a chance to play. 

2005 Players; Fraser Stewart, Rob Dunning, Chris 

Upton, Jono Enderby, Tim Browne, Dave Ball, Chris 

THE SCHOOL 

Stevensen, Duncan Weir, Nick Price, Chris Pratt, Mark 

Dunn, Rob Hastings, John-Kai Fleming, Ian Stuart, Julian 

Fountain, Al MacEwen, Toby Fowlston, Olli Fowlston, 

Andy Grazette, Ali Lund. 

Apologies if anyone has been missed out. 

John-Kai Fleming 

OLD BRUTONIAN GOLF SOCIETY MATCH 

- HELD AT TREVOSE GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB ON 

FRIDAY 31ST MARCH 2006 

We returned to Trevose for the second year to take 

advantage of the wonderful course, facilities, 

accommodation and hospitality so generously offered by 

the Gammon family. Numbers had doubled from our 

inaugural meeting last year and it is terrific to see the 

continued support of the Society from many stalwarts. 

Martin Hamblin, Peter Squire, Peter Phillips, George O’ 

Grady, Barny Beddow, Malcolm Head, Will Hazell and the 

ever colourful Perran Newton represented the old guard 

whilst Tony Beadles, Colin Juneman and David Friend 

represented those who had worked,and continue to work, 

so hard to install some knowledge and intelligence into 

us. The middling ranks comprised Daniel Graham, Nick 

Gammon and Tresham Graham whilst an increasing 

legion of youngsters was headed by Ngugi Kiuna, Mark 

Charania, Jonathan Beddow, Nick Holden and Archie 

Bush. Unfortunately Chris Ledger and David Green had to 

withdraw at the last moment. Thank you all for being so 

supportive of YOUR SOCIETY. 

Trevose was at its very best - “almost too benevolent, 

not a snarl in sight” said Malcolm Head in posting 

seventeen stapleford points after the morning round 

whilst our two county players, Martin Hamblin and Nick 

Gammon managed a very disappointing total of 62 ! In 

truth there was hardly a cloud in the sky, wonderful 

views across Constantine Bay, a benign 20 knot breeze 

which made for some very respectable scores. 

The morning singles was won by Nick Holden - 38 

points, followed by Jonathan Beddow 36 and Ngugi Kiuna 

35 points. The afternoon foursomes were headed by Nick 

Holden / Archie Bush - 36 points, Malcolm Head / David 

Graham 34-1/2 with Will Hazell / Daniel Graham giving a 

fine showing on 34 points. Does this go to show who can 

handle a heavy lunch best ? Congratulations to all our 

competitors and in particular those who walked away 

with the prizes. 

George O’ Grady (Chief Executive of the European PGA 

and now in the air to Augusta National) very kindly 

donated several copies of The European Tour Annual Year 

Book 2006 - our thanks to him - along with many others 

who so generously subsidise our prizes. 

Our next meeting is at Woking GC on Friday 29th 

September. Bookings are already being taken - so this is a 

preview to sign up ahead of the stampede. 

With kind regards to all, 

David Graham (O60/65) 


THE SCHOOL 

HEADMASTER'S LETTER 

It was interesting listening to Gordon Brown delivering his tenth budget towards the end of March. As I am 

sure everyone is now aware, he made education the centre piece of his latest spending drive. His ambition is 

to match the level of spending on individual pupils that is currently taking place in the independent sector. 

He aims to increase the educational spending per pupil from an average of £5,000 to £8,000 over a period of 

five years. Unfortunately, simply throwing money at schools and hoping for an increase in the overall quality 

of education provided is a flawed policy. The Government have poured a great deal of money into their flagship 

Academies, but few have really improved educational standards. Part of the problem is that too much money 

simply does not reach the schools, but is lost in layer upon layer of local authority bureaucracy, but even more 

importantly, money cannot buy the deep rooted culture and ethos that pervades many of our independent 

schools. In my letter to Old Brutonians last year, I talked about “the mutually encouraging and supportive 

ethos” of King’s. This is in many ways part of our heritage at King’s, and it will still be in 100 years’ time – it is 

priceless! 

As all Brutonians know only too well, it has long been the philosophy at King’s to provide a completely 

holistic education. It was therefore a wonderful boost for all of us to see that King’s was rated the tenth best 

school in the country, and third best independent school, in terms of “valued added” performance. These “value 

added” league tables have not been produced as comprehensively in previous years, and they are undoubtedly a 

better measure of a school’s academic performance as related to the ability of its pupil intake. Very simply, the 

value added score awarded to a school measures the progress made by pupils between school tests at age 11, and 

the GCSE results at age 16. I passionately believe that by ensuring that all pupils take advantage of a wide 

range of opportunities in music, drama, art, sport, and many other activities – as are provided at King’s – they 

are able to find their niche, with the inevitable positive effect on confidence and self-esteem. Success in the 

classroom tends to follow quite quickly! Before leaving matters academic, it is well worth recording the fact 

that last year’s A level and GCSE results were quite simply the best ever achieved by the School – until next year, 

of course! 

The cultural dimension of life at King’s gets richer by the term. Rarely does a week pass without a concert in 

the Memorial Hall or John Davie Room. There has been a huge growth in the number of groups, ensembles and 

bands during the last eighteen months which is further evidence of the School’s growing reputation for music. 

Of particular note during the last few months, has been the success of the newly formed Chamber Choir who 

performed quite magnificently at Bath Abbey and St George’s Chapel, Windsor. 

The new Theatre Manager has already had a big impact on the Fitzjames Theatre, which hosted the first visit 

from a professional theatre company in November – the first of many, as we aim to make our theatre a centre 

of excellence in our corner of the West Country. Old Blackfordians will be delighted to hear that their former 

house put on a wonderfully entertaining performance of “Arsenic and Old Lace”. I have now witnessed two 

house plays in my short time as Headmaster, and I can honestly say that many schools would have been proud 

to put on either of them as their main school production. 

The current generation of Brutonians remain as passionate about sport as ever. During the last year, the 

boys have found life difficult at senior level, but the success of our U16, U15 and U14 sides in all three major 

sports points to a very bright future indeed. The girls simply go from strength to strength, and have enjoyed 

considerable success at 1st team level – last Summer’s tennis side lost only one of ten fixtures. The girls 1st XI 

hockey enjoyed an excellent season, and this was followed by an exciting netball season in which the 1st VII 

produced some stunning displays – their heavy defeat of Bryanston will live in the memory for many years to 

come. 

Riding has now been introduced as a sport at King’s, and is proving equally popular with both boys and girls 

– hopefully we will have a team at the Windsor Horse Show a little later in the year. While on the theme of new 

initiatives, I suspect it will not be long before we have our first girls’ football team playing inter-school matches. 

I had the pleasure of refereeing the first ever Priory vs. Wellesley girls football match the other week, which was 

won in impressive style by Wellesley. It was also interesting to note the other day that the post-lunch 

impromptu football matches on the tennis courts are no longer a male only affair – now that’s co-education for 

you! 

As we look to the future at King’s, it has been an exciting year with the establishment of the Development 

Office. The Development Director has inevitably sharpened our vision of what is a very exciting future. A key 

part of that future is ever closer links between the School and Old Brutonians. I have thoroughly enjoyed the 

opportunities to meet Old Brutonians during the last year, and am actively involved in discussing with your 

President new initiatives to help OBs re-establish links with their old school – a school that, in 2006, is moving 

into a very exciting phase of its long and noble history. 

Nigel Lashbrook 


The Chamber Choir at St George’s Chapel, Windsor - February 8th, 2006 

The Headmaster with Sixth Formers - publicity photograph for the ‘value added’ lists. Picture by Ann Crowcombe 


The Apple Growers 

EDITOR: DAVID HINDLEY. © DESIGN & ARTWORK: GRAPHIC EXAMPLES, SHERBORNE. OLD BRUTONIAN ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER 2005

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