Versa: Issue Ten

VERSA
OA NEWS
THE ROLE OF AN ENTREPRENEUR
PADDLING TO SUCCESS
THIN AIR
SAINTS DOMINATING THE LEAGUES
HISTORY
IN THE
MAKING
Justin Pollard (OA 1986)
SPRING 2022

1
Inside
this issue
Editorial Team
Chris Harbour
Alumni Relations & Development Manager
Sarah Osborne
Alumni Relations & Development Assistant
Upcoming Events 2
OA President’s Notes 3
OA Events 4
The Role of an Entrepreneur 7
OA News 8
Thin Air 11
Ask the Archivist 12
Featured OA: Justin Pollard 14
Announcements 16
OA Lodge 19
OA Sports 20
@oldalbanianassociation
@oaassociation
www.oaconnect.co.uk
@oaassociation
Old Albanian
Networking:
St Albans School
St Albans School Foundation | CHARITY NO. 1092932

2 3
Contacts & Dates
OA ASSOCIATION
President
Mike Hodge
07774 161624
mike@mikehodge.co.uk
Secretary
David Buxton
01727 840499
07775 938368
davidbuxton36@gmail.com
Treasurer
David Hughes
07701 027881
hughespostuk@gmail.com
Membership Secretary
Roger Cook
01727 836877
rogercook@btinternet.com
Hon. Auditor
Peter Dew
01582 453773
peter.a.dew@btinternet.com
OA RUGBY
www.oarugby.com
President
Richard Milnes
07940 255355
richard.milnes@oarugby.com
Chairman
Rory Davis
07748 146521
rory.davis@oarugby.com
Hon. Treasurer
Rick Powdrell
07795 200125
rick.powdrell@oarugby.com
Hon. Secretary
Peter Lipscomb
07856 240229
peter.lipscomb@oarugby.com
Joint Mini Chairmen
James Hathaway
07793 609279
james.hathaway@oarugby.com
Scott Bachmann
07931 338080
scott.bachmann@oarugby.com
Junior Chairman
Ian Tomlins
07867 971585
ian.tomlins@oarugby.com
OA Saints Chairperson
Steph Plunkett
steph.plunkett@oarugby.com
OA FOOTBALL
President
Nick Jackson
oldalbaniansfc@gmail.com
OA CRICKET
Chairman
David Goodier
07796 551657
davidgoodier@hotmail.com
President
Richard Morgan
01727 843844
richard.morgan50@btinternet.com
Director of Cricket
Simon Bates
07720 383600
simon.bates@s2mprofits.co.uk
Treasurer
Richard Ransley
07878 499432
richransley@gmail.com
Secretary
Alison Finley
01727 853985
ajfinley@ntlworld.com
OA TENNIS
www.oatennis.com
Chairman
Geoff Lamb
07546 078970
Head Coach
Margie Edge
07946 225557
Hon. Secretary
Justin Azzopardo
07973 369350
justazzo@hotmail.com
OA RIFLE
www.oashooting.com
President
Owen Simmons
01438 840674
olsandpjs@aol.com
Captain
Andrew Wilkie
01202 424190
Andrew.wilkie@ymail.com
Treasurer
Andrew Moore
01984 641539
caroline985moore@btinternet.com
OA GOLF
Captain
Peter Dredge
01582 834572
pjdredge42@aol.com
Hon. Secretary
Mike Crowston
01242 672222
michaelcrowston02@gmail.com
OA LODGE
Assistant Secretary
John Williams
01438 715679
johntwilliams@talktalk.net
SCHOOL
www.st-albans.herts.sch.uk
Development Director
Kate Gray
01727 515177
kgray@st-albans.herts.sch.uk
Alumni Relations &
Development Manager
Chris Harbour
01727 515184
charbour@st-albans.herts.sch.uk
Alumni Relations &
Development Assistant
Sarah Osborne
01727 224540
slosborne@st-albans.herts.sch.uk
Archivist
Sue Gregory
01727 515178
sgregory@st-albans.herts.sch.uk
UPCOMING
EVENTS
FOUNDERS’ DAY
Saturday 2nd July 2022
St Albans Abbey / St Albans School / The Woollam Playing Fields
Following two years of virtual services, we are thrilled to be holding
this year’s Founders’ Day in person on Saturday 2nd July. The day will
comprise of the traditional Abbey Service at 10.45am followed by a drinks
reception and Summer Social in the Conference Room at the School
Pavilion, Woollam Playing Fields. OAs are warmly invited to join us for the
celebrations. Please keep an eye on your emails for further event details.
CLASS OF 2021 LEAVERS’ BBQ
Thursday 18th August 2022
St Albans School, School Orchard
All recent leavers from the Class of 2021 are invited to join us on the School
Orchard (behind the Sports Centre) from 3pm for their Leavers’ BBQ.
This event was originally scheduled for December 2021 in the Peahen but
unfortunately it was another casualty of Covid. The event is free and a
perfect opportunity to catch up with teachers and OAs from your Class over
a drink and a burger!
OA NETBALL & AFTERNOON TEA
Saturday 10th September 2022
The Woollam Playing Fields
At 1:30pm on Saturday 10th September, we will be holding an OA netball
match and afternoon tea for all OA girls. The School’s 1st VII will be up
against the OAs, an alumni team largely made up of recent leavers from the
Class of 2022, but all OAs are welcome to participate. An afternoon tea (with
fizz!) will follow in the Conference Room in the School Pavilion. All female
OAs are welcome to attend either part of the day (whether you want to play
in the match or just spectate).
OA DINNER
Friday 23rd September 2022
St Albans School, Refectory
The provisional date for the annual OA Dinner is Friday 23rd September, so
please do save the date. Covid permitting, the informal dinner, open to all
OAs and former staff, will start with optional tours of the School, followed by a
drinks reception in the Library and a delicious dinner in the Refectory. Tickets
are £15.00 for two courses and a drink on arrival. A cash bar will be open on
the night for further purchases. Official invite to follow.
Tickets for all OA events are available to book online via oaconnect.co.uk or
by telephone, post or email using the contact details below.
Development Office:
Tel: 01727 515187
Email: development@st-albans.herts.sch.uk
Post: St Albans School, Abbey Gateway, St Albans, Herts, AL1 5SA
OA PRESIDENT’S NOTES
When I was working (mostly self-employed as a
Customs Consultant), I had a large white board
on my office wall ostensibly to show the flow of
goods being imported, processed and (maybe) exported as
that helped me focus on the issues I had to resolve relating
to my work. This white board was also used as a place to
write a variety of wise sayings to spur me on to greater
productivity. Sayings like “If you want to see more of life,
paddle more slowly” and “1800 hours is G&T time unless
previously provoked”. The one saying that still resonates with
me today is “All it takes for bad men to thrive is for good
men to do nothing”. This, to my mind reflects the appalling
situation in Ukraine. As I write these notes, there seems to
be no solution and I fervently hope that when the next issue
of Versa is published, Europe is “enjoying” a bit of peace. I
am not optimistic. I never thought that, in my time as OA
President, I would use the word “war” in my notes.
Meanwhile, the threat of Covid seems to have reduced
somewhat but there are, currently, still plenty of cases.
Events at the School have started to be held in person and
I attended the School Carol Service (behind a mask) last
December. The Choir performed some really lovely carols
which, with their musical complexities, are a long way
removed from the works I performed in the School choir
all those years ago. I also attended the School play DNA by
Dennis Kelly (image, right) with a particularly dark script
– brilliantly acted. A reflection on the nature of bullies. The
School band were exceptional.
At the end of January, Chris Jewell QGM (OA 2000) came
to the School to deliver a fascinating lecture on cave diving
and the rescue of the 12 boys and their football coach from
a flooded cave in Thailand in 2018. A unique opportunity
to hear about the unprecedented situation that led to the
high-risk recovery. In February, the School’s Development
team held regional events in Bristol, Exeter, Oxford and
London and in March, I attended the School’s CCF Annual
General Inspection at Woollams. The Inspecting Officer was
Lt Col Kenny Everitt who has now retired after 27 years at the
School. He has earnt time off for good behaviour and very
clean shoes! You can read about all these events in the OA
News section (page 6) and on oaconnect.co.uk – which I hope
you are all using!
And now to the OAA. Woollams is now back to normal
with Saracens training in the week and a full OARFC rugby
programme on evenings and weekends. Preparations have
begun for the switch to cricket in early May and plans put
in place for the annual maintenance programme with much
help from the School’s ground staff. We are also seeing a
Mike Hodge (OA 1965), OA President
SCHOOL PLAY, DNA
return to functions as people venture out and become more
confident with socialising once again.
In my position as a Trustee of OASA, I am aware that our
relationship with Saracens is nearing its end, with them
planning to move their training facility away from Woollams
in the not-too-distant future. As such, those who run
Woollams are busy reviewing what the facility will look like
when Saracens leave, ensuring that it continues to be a vibrant
self-funding community sports hub.
Over the years of my OA presidency and before, I have spent
a great deal of time in the delightful company of David
Pepper (Former Governor) whose obituary is on page 17.
The full version of this can be read online and I would urge
all of you to read it. David and I used to go to Twickenham
together – I would drive and he would talk – about Woollams
and the history of, and investment in, the site. Put simply,
without David’s huge input into this project – he found out
that Cheapside Farm was for sale – the School and the Old
Albanians would not be enjoying the wonderful facilities we
currently have. With the OAs’ investment in the site, following
the sale of Beech Bottom, the grounds are the envy of many.
And, of course, we still have the 948 Sports Foundation which
continues to give financial grants to many young people to
improve their participation in sport. Thank you, David and all
your family for all you have done for us and the School.
In closing, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Chris
Harbour in the Development team as he leaves the School to
take on new challenges. I have really enjoyed my work with
Chris and much of what is in place for OAs is due to his vision
and enthusiasm. The OAs wish you, Chris, all the very best for
your future.
To all readers, enjoy the summer months and let’s all pray for
peace.

4 5
OA Events
AN EVENING WITH…
Chris Jewell QGM (OA 2000)
We were honoured to host Chris Jewell QGM (OA 2000)
at the School for an evening’s presentation on his caving
and cave diving experiences. Chris was involved in
the dramatic rescue of 12 boys and their football coach from a
flooded cave in Thailand in 2018. He talked through the intricacies
of the operation and the sheer determination from all involved.
The audience, both in-person and watching via live stream, were
captivated by the rescue details.
Chris features in the National Geographic BAFTA nominated
documentary The Rescue released in 2021.
Thank you to Chris for the fascinating talk and retelling the
remarkable story. To read more about Chris’ involvement in the
rescue, please read Issue four of Versa, available online via our
website.
OA REGIONAL
Events
Following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, the Development
team were eager to host OA regional events after a two-year
hiatus. To make up for lost time, we decided to host not one,
but FOUR regional events in London, Exeter, Bristol and Oxford.
On Thursday 3rd February we were in London at The Parcel Yard,
King’s Cross. We were delighted to catch up with over 30 OAs over
some drinks in the Station Master’s Office and were glad to hear all
attendees were in good spirits.
Chris Harbour and Greg Hacksley travelled west to visit OAs in
Exeter and Bristol on 23rd and 24th February and thoroughly
enjoyed meeting up with the undergraduates and local alumni in the
areas. The photo opposite shows our predominately undergraduate
crowd at The Phoenix Bar, Bristol.
Kate Gray was in Oxford on 24th February and hosted a group of
recent school leavers at The Kings Arms. A great night was had by all
and we look forward to getting out on the road again soon, visiting
alumni in more UK destinations.
CAROL SERVICE
On Friday 13th May, the School held its annual
Gateway Feast, a celebratory dinner to thank major
supporters and those with legacy pledges to the St
Albans School Foundation.
Each Gateway Feast is themed around a relevant School
anniversary, and this year’s Feast marked 300 years since the
start of the High Court proceedings by then Headmaster
John Fothergill, against the Mayor and corporation of
GATEWAY FEAST
Although 2021 was another bumpy year
and Covid-19 measures were still in
force, we were pleased to return to an
in-person Carol Service on Wednesday 15th
December at 7:30pm.
We very much enjoyed the Service and as ever,
the Choir performed beautifully. A special
thanks to the OAs who gave a reading; Rosanna
Milner (OA 2021), who read Genesis 3:1-10,
Oliver Skelly (OA 2006), who read Luke 2:1-7
and Annabel de Jong (OA 2020), who read At
The Manger by WH Auden.
GOLDEN JUBILEE
REUNION
This Spring, the School welcomed OAs back for a Golden
Jubilee Reunion. On Friday 6th May, approximately 60
OAs from the Classes of 1970, 1971, 1972, 1977, 1978,
1979 arrived at School for tea and coffee with the Headmaster,
tours and a buffet lunch at The Woollam Playing Fields.
This year was the 50th anniversary of the Class of 1979’s first
day, and the 50th anniversary of the Class of 1972’s last day at
St Albans School. Following the cancellation of the in-person
Golden Jubilee Reunions in 2020 and 2021, we decided this
was the perfect opportunity to also celebrate the belated
anniversaries of the Classes of 1970, 1971, 1977 and 1978.
We hope all enjoyed their time celebrating this milestone!
St Albans, for non-payment of his salary and for the upkeep
of the School. The debt which was never paid currently
stands at more than £31billion.
Thank you once again to all legacy holders and donors for
your ongoing support and we look forward to the next Feast.
For more information on how to become a part of the
Gateway Society, please visit oaconnect.co.uk/supportus.

6 OA Events
7
On Friday 11th March, the School were delighted to
hold the Combined Cadet Force Annual General
Inspection at The Woollam Playing Fields. In 2020,
the CCF AGI was held during an uncertain period and
narrowly escaped cancellation being just a few weeks shy from
the Government’s first Covid-19 lockdown announcement.
This year’s inspecting officer was Lt Col Keith “Kenny” Everitt,
Retd. Kenny joined the Army as a fifteen-year-old and served
WINTER
RUGBY
Social
CCF AGI
On Saturday 4th December, the School
held a Winter Rugby Social in which
OAs and former staff were welcomed to
Woollams for the 1st XV game versus
Merchant Taylors’ School.
Although it was a chilly day and our
noses were red and our hands cold,
members of the School community
24 years in the Royal Artillery, leaving as a WO1 (RSM).
He then became the St Albans School SSI, and afterwards
Contingent Commander, leading the Corps with distinction
until his retirement in 2021 as a Lieutenant Colonel.
It was lovely to see OAs and former staff on the day, some
dressed appropriately in military uniform. We hope that
guests enjoyed the Inspection and lunch and hope to see you
again next year.
enjoyed watching the match over
mulled wine and mince pies.
The game was an intense one and at
half time we were 0-17 down. However,
we had a dramatic turnaround and
by fulltime, we had won 20-17! Many
thanks to all who attended and well
done to the 1st XV!
You’re an award winning entrepreneur, what have been
your successes?
The biggest wins have come in the form of the fantastic
experiences I have had and the amazing people I have been
privileged to meet. A highlight was when we were invited to
pitch at Buckingham Palace in front of 500 people from all
over the world. Awards are a nice touch too and the Sports
30U30 was a great leadership programme.
Tell me about your various companies and why you
decided to set them up?
JAFA (Just a Fan's Analysis) is the digital home for
sports fans to voice their opinion and debate. Fan Insight
helps organisations understand sports fans through data
driven insights. Both companies came about whilst I was
undertaking my MBA programme. What started as a student
project ultimately grew legs. We were able to raise our first
round of funding and progress from there. LSTN (London
SportsTech Network) was set-up with the goal of bringing
the London and UK SportsTech scene together through
regular networking events.
What is involved in starting your own business?
Every business is different, but for me it is just about starting
somewhere. Everyone has a different starting point and
platform to build from. However, no plan survives first
contact. Things will change including the industry and world
around you and you will need to adapt. Therefore, just starting
somewhere is important. There’s always a reason to not start.
What skills are needed?
Tenacity and perseverance. Prepare for your stress levels
to be tested. Your own business is a total rollercoaster.
Being able to ride that rollercoaster all the way through is
important. A strong support network and high tolerance for
stress is critical.
What are the pitfalls people should avoid?
THE ROLE OF AN
Entrepreneur
The life of an entrepreneur goes beyond owning a business, it is integrated into the fibre of every decision you make and the
passion for what you do. You can read on page 18 of the School side of this issue about how St Albans School are educating
pupils on the key skills of entrepreneurialism across the curriculum. As our pupils leave and become OAs, these skills prove
vital for those looking to set up on their own, as Dan Bedi (OA 2008), entrepreneur and business owner explains…
I honestly think that despite the advice that’s out there, you
should not mix family and business. Taking investment from
family and friends is something regularly done. However, I
would steer clear if at all possible.
to revenues, contracts, investment rounds – even signed
pieces of paper can be reversed.
What did you learn at School which assisted your career?
I think the team mentality grown on the sports field helped.
Still being a part of the OA Football Club continues that
legacy. The Young Enterprise project [now, the Charity
Challenge], where in the Sixth Form you create business
enterprises for charity, was a good foundation and probably
seeded some ideas that creating a business was possible. The
School provided the grounding and confidence to know that
you can build your own dreams too.
Do you have any advice for current pupils looking to take
a similar career path?
Network, network, network. Building a network is crucial in
any industry but especially building your own business. You
would be surprised how many people are willing to help if
you can provide them a tangible problem you need to solve.
What is the future for your various ventures?
A London based sports agency acquired JAFA and Fan
Insight in late 2021 and they continue to run this. LSTN will
continue to provide a valuable community for SportsTech
founders as well as members of the sports industry.
“The School
provided the
grounding and
confidence to
know that you can
build your own
dreams”
What do you know now that you wish you had known
when starting out?
Until money is in the bank, nothing is done. This can apply

8
OA News
9
PADDLING TO
Success
KINDNESS
A Pocket Guide
FROM MATHEMATICS
To Hurricanes
WENDY FANG AND MICHAEL LEVENE (OA 1984)
Congratulations to Michael Levene (OA 1984), who
has recently won a major title in the 2021 US Open
Mixed Doubles Table Tennis Championship.
On Thursday 16th December 2021, Michael and his
doubles partner Wendy Fang (pictured above), were
awarded first place in the Over 50s category in Las Vegas.
Michael said “It was a tough match, we saved numerous
match points in both the semi-final and final but managed
to find inspiration and focus at exactly the right moments
in our matches. Titles are not won on the day, they are won
in weeks, months and years preceding the event through
practice and training”.
Having started playing at School in his first year on a
teacher’s desk using books, board rubbers for nets and a
plastic ball, Michael developed a liking for table tennis. His
passion for the sport has lasted a lifetime and Michael has
played in events all over the world, holding national rankings
and in recent years, teaching children the sport. Michael
enjoys the fast nature of the sport and likens it to playing
chess at 90mph, keeping him in good health and shape.
Congratulations once again Michael!
SARAH CARTON AND SEAN WYER (OA 2016)
Is being kind worth it? We all know and are told that it’s
the right thing to do and can make you feel good about
yourself, but could kindness have tangible benefits for
our families, workplaces and the wider world?
Kindness: A Pocket Guide is a
short yet comprehensive plain-
English exploration of what is
now known about the science
behind consciously choosing to be
kind. Author Sebastian Bóo (OA
1997) has spent the last 11 years
researching kindness, doing a PhD
on its relevance to management
and leadership and attending
conferences and reading journals
on the subject, so you don’t have
to. The book’s 12 short chapters
make readers instant experts on
kindness, able to lift research
knowledge off the page and put it to use in
their next conversation, presentation or interview. The
advantages of committing to kindness in workplaces,
education, healthcare and society at large are all
discussed, evidenced and championed, demonstrating
the underlying message that kindness is not just nice,
but necessary for building a better future.
MUSIC AND
MINCE PIES
In the run up to Christmas 2021, Sean Wyer
(Bracebridge) (OA 2016) was in St Albans treating the
audience of St Peter’s Church to an evening of original
music and the odd Christmas tune.
Supported by BBC Introducing, Sean took to the stage on
Thursday 9th December to perform his hits. The evening
including a duet with singer songwriter Sarah Carton and
a break between sets for wine and mince pies!
Sean said: “It was so lovely to come back, performing in St
Albans again. Thank you so much to everyone who braved
Omicron and came along to support myself and Sarah.”
Sharan Majumdar (OA 1989) is a Professor of
Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Miami, USA.
Following a sabbatical in Reading last year, Sharan is
now back in Miami teaching and researching hurricanes and
tackling two main questions: “How does a hurricane develop
from a disorganised cluster of thunderstorms?” and “Why do
some hurricanes intensify faster than expected?”
“Meteorology requires mathematics, and I still use the
calculus and statistical methods that I learned in Sixth
Form. We use several tools to answer the two questions
above. One is specially equipped aircrafts, which are mobile
WHAT IT’S
LIKE
to Study…
labs that fly into the hurricanes. Another is the computer
model, comprising differential equations and physics
schemes that are solved on supercomputers.
“Looking towards the future, many questions remain,
including the effects of climate change. Reducing hurricane
impacts requires collaborations across many areas, including
architecture, communication, economics, engineering,
law, management, medicine, politics, psychology, public
health, and sociology. Since hurricanes will not go away, we
must use the best knowledge and tools to predict them and
mitigate their impacts on humans and the economy”.
Left: Satellite image of Hurricane Laura
as it approached Louisiana, USA, on 26
August 2020. Right: Two-day experimental
model prediction by the European Centre
for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts of
the winds in Hurricane Laura. The purple
colours show predicted winds of 150 mph,
which actually occurred.
We would like to thank the following OAs
who participated this term in our annual
‘What it’s Like to Study’ series of talks
exploring what life is like at university. During the
Spring Term, Dimitri Chamay (OA 2019), Oliver
Gates (OA 2019), Ed Vickery (OA 2019), Dillon
Jagsi (OA 2019), Danny McCurley (OA 2020), Taylor
Burdett (OA 2020), Will Holmes (OA 2020) and
Keagan Witts (OA 2015) all returned to School to
discuss their experiences of Higher Education with
students in the current Lower Sixth, providing them
with valuable insight into what studying at university
might be like for them.
We are always looking for OAs who are willing
to help students and recent leavers with advice
regarding university and careers, whether it be in the
form of work experience offers, advice or talks on a
subject or industry. Please do get in touch with the
Development Office if you think you could help.

10
OA News
11
DRILLS
at Sandhurst
We would like to congratulate Felix Turk (OA 2014),
for passing his drill test at the Royal Military
Academy Sandhurst in February 2022. Having
spent the previous five weeks training in the basics of weapon
handling, navigation, and battlefield casualty drills, Felix
successfully passed the test and was allowed a weekend off for
the first time since the course began. Although Felix recently
changed career paths and is relatively new to the course, the
drill test is an important milestone in any Officer Cadet’s
journey to becoming an Officer in the British Army.
Felix said “Joining the army and going to Sandhurst has
always been something I have wanted to achieve. It marks
the biggest challenge I have ever taken on but equally that is
what has drawn me to the military. I look forward to the next
few weeks and beyond!”
Felix is now 16 weeks into his training and plans to join the
infantry and commission in December. Best of luck Felix!
SK COACHING
SK Coaching is a remote coaching service that
focusses on improving mental and physical health
through diet and exercise, specialising in body
transformations. Having been a personal trainer for
over a decade, Saul Katz (OA 2008) moved most of his
coaching service online when realising that his clients
were not struggling with information or knowledge but
accountability in between sessions.
Despite having clients all over the world, most of the
people Saul works with are OAs and he is currently
offering a promotion for alumni of the School. The offer
is for a FREE private training day including lunch and a
nutrition session at a studio in North London.
If you would like to sign up or find out more
about this exclusive offer, please contact Saul on
saul@saulkatzcoaching.co.uk or check out
saulkatzcoaching.co.uk.
RIGHT, FELIX TURK (OA 2014)
SAUL KATZ (OA 2008)
THIN AIR
John Mole’s new poetry collection tackles our troubled times
Dealing with the changes
to all our lives caused by
the pandemic has been
challenging, and people have found
different ways of coping. John
Mole, former Head of English at St
Albans School and Cholmondeley
Prize winner, has inevitably
been ‘hoping that words/may do
the trick’ (‘The Trick’). Writing
throughout the two lockdowns
and the brief intervening freedom
between March 2020 and February
2021, Mole published a number
of poems on Instagram and on
Plague20journal.com. Now these
poems, full of observations,
meditations and reminiscences,
have been collected and published
by the Shoestring Press in Thin Air.
Thin Air is a neat little volume of neat little poems. Each
poem is just a page, usually eight largely unrhymed couplets,
but within their sparse colloquial form, they offer anecdotes,
thoughts and memories, charting how we have negotiated
the changing social landscape. A number of poems note
the paradox of courtesies which have developed, where it is
a sign of care to avoid people, where we keep distance ‘for
health and safety’s sake’ (‘Distancing’), an idea developed
further in ‘Out Walking’:
‘See me perfect my neighbourly
swerve and dip
away from the pavement
or my deft parabola
when exercising in the park’.
By Noel Cassidy, English Department, St Albans School
Out Walking
A writer is always attuned to the shifts and vagaries of
language; it is not surprising that the collection plays with
the new Covid language. Even titles such as ‘Distancing’,
‘Bubbles’, ‘Contactless’, ‘Elbows’, ‘Briefing’, ‘Granular’
and ‘Measures’ employ a vocabulary which has acquired
particular connotations over the last two years. There
is whimsical humour here, as Mole
compares the ‘soapy bubbles’ of Millais’
painting with the pandemic’s ‘bubble
permitted/by decree’, while accidental
elbow-bumping in an awkward dance
has changed from ‘the bump to be
avoided’ to ‘the safest way/to greet
a friend’. ‘Contactless’ begins with a
playful observation about card payments
and social interactions, but ends more
seriously, coming to ground with the
nature of restrictions which weigh
‘authority/against our loss.’
Despite the humour and the wordplay
in this collection, that seriousness
underpins it. ‘Measures’ are not the
paces of walking or the beats of rhythm,
but ‘policy/restrictively laid down’. ‘As If ’ considers the
absence of choice created by those measures, and ‘Our
Ghosts’ gently acknowledges those loved ones no longer
with us who still ‘hauntingly’ attend family events that are
‘grateful for their blessing’. It is those threads of humanity,
like the skirting of people on pavements ‘always with a smile’
(‘Out Walking’) which still offer solace.
JOHN MOLE, FORMER STAFF
Thin Air is published by Shoestring Press at £10 and is
available from Books on the Hill in St Albans and from the
publisher now.

12
13
ASK THE ARCHIVIST
THE HIGHT COURT
DEBT 1722
Part One
By Sue Gregory, School Archivist, and Lower Sixth Pupils Ioan and Matthew
In 1722, John Fothergill, Headmaster of St Albans School, found himself
in the untenable position of having to take the Mayor and the St Albans
Corporation (communality) to the High Court for non-payment of his salary…
For over ten years, Fothergill found that his salary of
£50 was repeatedly cut and the debt the corporation
owed him was never fully repaid or an excuse of
repairs to the School was used in order to prolong the nonpayment.
Fothergill’s action uncovered a ‘Pandora’s box’
of misappropriation of funds where both the School and
Fothergill were paying for events, activities and so called
‘parliamentary causes’ dating from the mid-17th century
to the early 18th century. On 13th May 1722, The Court
of Chancery (High Court) found that 72 years of debt
equating to £161.2.3 was owed by the Mayor and St Albans
Corporation to the School; a 6% interest was levied making a
total of £1029.12.9 1 . Also from ‘the sayd inquisition’ Fothergill
was owed £271.1.2 (in 2021 this figure would be £63,810.33) 2 .
To mark the 300th anniversary of this court action, the
Museum and Archive Sixth Form study group have begun
looking closely at the historic records held within the St
Albans School Archive. By researching the individuals
involved and the St Albans community at this time, the pupils
found an increase in social mobility and trading within
St Albans. In this short piece we will reveal some of their
findings…
“By researching the individuals
involved and the St Albans
community at this time, the pupils
found an increase in social mobility
and trading within St Albans”
John Fothergill, a Cambridge scholar whose Under
Master whilst at Cambridge was James Shirley, former
Headmaster at St Albans School from 1619-1624, appears
to have studied ‘sciences and astronomy’. Fothergill was an
assistant to The Cambridge Platonists (these were a group of
clergymen associated with Emmanuel and Christ’s Colleges
in Cambridge, who called for a renewal of interest in the
philosophy of Plato) 3 , and with such connections, becoming
Headmaster at St Albans School was a certainty. During his
time as Headmaster he managed to lead a fairly prosperous
School, maintaining an entry of ten or eleven boys a year
as well as increasing the School’s library from 113 books to
nearly 200 volumes 4 . Fothergill was helped financially by
legacies made by Thomas Lathbury, who was a scholar of St
Albans School. His father, also called Thomas, was a special
advisor to Elizabeth, Countess of Oxford, the daughter of
Edward Trussell, who was heiress to all her father’s estates in
Warwickshire. Thomas Lathbury senior’s business acumen
helped the Countess to preserve her estates despite threats of
abduction and theft, and to increase her lands; her will and
probate of 1527 saw Lathbury senior gifted significant land
in Bedfordshire, and the right to trade spices and “special
minerals” in St Albans. (St Albans was at this time a major
trading location for “The Silk Route” from Persia). Thomas
Lathbury Junior continued his father’s business and in his
will of 1579 set up a charity to house the poor in St Albans
(this charity still exists today). The 1722 High Court action
found that money gifted from this charity was not used
for the poor but was used by the corporation to entertain
visitors. The Court ruled ‘…this lawful directive amounts to
£386 (£90,097.14 in 2021) with interest, the sum is £990.0.14
(£231,078.16 in 2021) to be payable back to the poor fund
from 25th day of our Lady (March) 1723 to Alms houses
on St Peter’s St’ 5 . The Lathbury Trust also paid for scholarly
places at St Albans School and was a regular benefactor of
scholarly books from the ‘Arabian World’ 6 . The Lathburys
built significant property and owned many inns within St
Albans, and as such, financially supported apprenticeships to
the building trade.
One significant benefactor of such a legacy was John Carter,
a carpenter who undertook a 15 year apprenticeship to the
Lathburys. Carter was a successful carpenter and plumber
who worked and resided at 15 A & B George Street, St Albans
during the 17th century. Records indicate his success as a
businessman and craftsmen; his will, written in 1674, showed
that he owned two properties at the time of his death and
had significant funds. 7 This was unusual for the trade of a
carpenter, and showed that his business prowess and literacy
were more than that of a carpenter. It is believed that these
skills were taught to him whist attending St Albans School.
A prominent member of the St Albans community, Carter
was also a member of the corporation (council) of St Albans,
which led to his involvement in the case surrounding the
School. Initially, John Carter benefitted from low taxes
on wood imports, which allowed him to draw large profit
margins. Indeed, an inventory of his assets shows that
Carter’s properties were equipped with newly designed and
expensive furnishings, indicating his lavish spending as a
result of his success. 8 However, the customs act in 1660
introduced far heavier taxes on imported wood, affecting
Carter’s trade and profits. Incensed, Carter sought revenge.
One key figure involved in the passing of the Customs Act
was Thomas Lathbury. In retaliation against Lathbury,
therefore, Carter suggested that the corporation reinstated
rent charges against the School. This proposal was taken
up, meaning that despite no rents having been collected for
300 years previously, the School was made to pay from 1697
to 1722. However, in 1723 the High Court judged that the
School had wrongfully been made to pay rent without due
cause. 9
This research shows that the High Court action exposed long
standing charges, debts and miss appropriation of funds, but
more interestingly, that social mobility through education
was a key success for individuals at the time. In Part Two,
to be published in Issue 11 of Versa, we will tell of the High
Court ruling, detailing more of the individuals who were
involved in this case.
1 Order on hearing Excons for the Decree of Com’ of charitable use of the mayor and commonality of St Albans con
Fothergill, St Albans School Archive, 1722-1724, pg43
2 Order on hearing Excons for the Decree of Com’ of charitable use of the mayor and commonality of St Albans con
Fothergill, St Albans School Archive, 1722-1724, pg45
3 Goldie M (2005) Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, referenced 22/4/22
4 Kilvington F, (1970) A Short History of St Albans School, Staples Printers Ltd, London, pg 26 & St Albans School
Account ledger dated 1600-1800
5 Order on hearing Excons for the Decree of Com’ of charitable use of the mayor and commonality of St Albans con
Fothergill, St Albans School Archive, 1722-1724, pg113
6 St Albans School Account ledger dated 1600-1800
7 John Carter 1662 PROB/5117, The National Archives
8 Will of Robert Graves HALS 9AR151 and Will of John Carter 1662 PROB/5117
9 Order on hearing Excons for the Decree of Com’ of charitable use of the mayor and commonality of St Albans con
Fothergill, St Albans School Archive, 1722-1724, pg195

14 Featured OA
15
TRANSLATING
Norse Code
Pirates, Tudors, Vikings, Elizabethans and everything in between. Justin Pollard (OA 1986) reflects on his
widely varied subject matters when advising the film industry on historical content.
How was your time at St Albans School?
I grew up in Radlett. My father woke me up one Saturday
morning when I was 11 and told me we were going into St
Albans to do some ‘quizzes’. I arrived at the School and sat the
entrance exam, not knowing what it was. We went home and
I forgot about it until one morning in the summer my father
told me we were going to buy a bicycle because I had got in! In
many ways it was fantastic because I had no pressure over the
exam.
I was shy and awkward. It was the English Department –
John Mole, Ian Murray and David Johnson – who were
extraordinary. John Mole is one of those people who just
trusted your writing. I had never put my head above the
parapet but John would come and make suggestions and was
so enthusiastic that it had such an impact. He was a published
poet which was really important at the time. He’s not just
someone talking about creative writing, he actually does it
and is published. It’s not until you leave St Albans that you
realise you’re taught by these extraordinary people. They were
passionate about what they did.
I was also in the choir with Andrew Parnell. He was a
music teacher but also an internationally known musician.
I remember we sang at the opening of the Crown Court
and he taught us Zadok the Priest. Every time I hear that
coronation anthem it sends shivers down my spine. It was
an unforgettable moment. The staff were so much more than
teachers and have made all the difference all these years later.
They were magnificent.
“The staff were so much more
than teachers and have made all
the difference all these years later”
It is only on leaving that you realise what an extraordinary
place school was. Partly just the buildings. Having a Fifth
Form centre built just a couple of years after the Black Death
is quite unusual! Great if, like me, you’re a historian and get to
hang around in a room built in the 14th Century where one of
the earliest printing presses in Britain was set. It does rub off
on you. It’s probably why I’ve written so many books!
What prompted the decision to read archaeology at
Downing College, Cambridge?
Every week at school I’d walk to the King Harry Playing Fields,
past the Roman walls of Verulamium. I also volunteered to
do excavation in the summer. I grew up surrounded by it.
When I said I wanted to go to Cambridge, I went to see Frank
Kilvington. He helped me through the application and made it
clear it was attainable. I had a fantastic time.
I became an archaeologist at the Museum of London and
excavated Merton Priory which was Becketts’ old monastery,
reconstructing on paper what the abbey had looked like.
I never got away from old stone abbey buildings! After a
year the unit went bankrupt…at that point it was clear that
archaeology wasn’t going to put a lot of bread on the table.
From museums to TV documentaries is quite a shift, how
did you get into this line of work?
What I really like doing is historical research. I could have
gone back into academia but I thought, do I really want to
spend my life doing an ever smaller and smaller subject? I
wanted to be an academic but not in one particular area, so I
thought documentaries would be good. I would send out 60 or
70 CVs a couple of times a year to all the London production
companies. Most of them ignored me but I persisted and
eventually one came back and I got a job.
You founded Visual Artefacts which provides historical and
script consultancy – was this a natural progression?
I’d been making Time Team with Tony Robinson for a while
and got a call from Tim Bevan at Working Title Films; up until
that point I had only worked on factual TV. They had this
film with an excellent Australian lead and a brilliant Indian
director but it was about Tudor history in Britain. He needed
someone to coach them about what it looked like, felt like and
smelt like at the time. From there, they hired me to work on
Elizabeth with Cate Blanchett and I would coach Cate about
how to be an Elizabethan queen. I met Michael Hirst [writer]
on set and since then I’ve worked on just about all of his
projects. I set up Visual Artefacts to provide consultancy for
feature films because there were a lot of historical films being
made with not a lot of historical content. People sometimes
get confused and think we go through and mark the script as
though they’re school essays. The whole point is to add flavour
and authenticity. The truth is stranger than fiction so it’s
adding all those nuances in. I’ve done that for all sorts of films
such as Atonement and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.
The producer of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
called and said he was doing a huge scene in London set in
1750. We had to choreograph how that would look. Who’s
in the crowd? How old are they? What are they doing and
saying? Are there policemen?
I worked with Michael [Hirst] on Tudors for Showtime and
more recently six series of Vikings. I would create the storyline
and he would write the scripts. That has been a great success
and we’re now doing a sequel called Valhalla set 100 years after,
which will take us up to the Norman conquest. This is after the
School was founded, so it’s modern history if you ask me!
I could be spending the morning in a 9th century cellar and
by the afternoon choreographing the siege at Leningrad.
It’s why I started working on QI for the BBC. It’s pure
dilettantism. It’s the joy of looking up everything.
You wrote the series Egypt’s Golden Empire which was
nominated for an Emmy, how did that feel?
Everyone in the film industry will tell you that awards don’t
matter, in the same way they tell you that the credits don’t matter
– they do! It’s like when you first see your name on a book, it’s a
real thing to be nominated and it does make a difference for the
work you get hired for. It’s just the same as if you were a plumber
and you want good reviews on your website!
You have worked on such a wide range of time periods, do
you have a favourite?
The Vikings have been great to learn and write about. One
of the chapters in a book I wrote years ago was about Ragnar
Lothbrock and his sons which Michael used as the basis for
the Vikings series. I’ve spent a lot of time on the 9th Century.
I did a movie for Rachel Weisz called Agora which was about
Hypatia of Alexandria. They flew me out to the set in Malta
where they had taken over a fort, they had reconstructed the
middle of the ancient city of Alexandria. I walked through the
gates and there I was in this city that hasn’t been seen in 1600
years. It’s lovely writing books and it’s great making shows but
there’s nothing quite like walking into your own imagination.
Everything you’ve been writing about has been created in
front of your eyes. You get to live in it and see it rise before
you. That’s a huge privilege for any historian.
What’s in the pipeline now?
We’re currently working on Valhalla. season one is out now
and Netflix have just commissioned another two series.
Currently I’m working on one of the main storylines which is
about Harold Hardrada going down the Dnieper River, which
will be interesting because, of course, the river runs through
the middle of Ukraine.
Aside from film and TV, you also write books. How do you
choose and tackle subjects?
I write in a similar way as I would for directors or producers.
It’s the job of being a translator. Taking the academic work
and translating it for the people on set.
I have written a series of books which are essentially a
collection of vignettes. I’ve been collecting stories which are
not big enough for TV or film but are interesting in their own
right, a bit like John Aubrey, putting them together into curated
collections which are beautiful, poignant stories which have no
more reason to be told other than they exist. These stories will
come from researching on programs such as QI.
Alfred the Great and Alexandria were the two big interests of
mine and are the basis for my two serious books, the rest are
just for the love of it. I never suffer from writer’s block, I’ve
never been able to afford to!
Do you have any advice for pupils or OAs looking to get
involved in the industry?
It’s not really a career where people advertise jobs. You want
people to write to you and ask. If you want to get into the
industry, find the production companies that interest you,
find something out about them and write to them. You won’t
always hear back so write again. Ask if you can pop in. It can
be quite difficult if you’re shy and I was very shy but you need
to keep putting yourself out there and keep going. Eventually
you’ll get in and get to know people.
Ideally, find yourself a mentor. I was very lucky and found
Terry Jones as mine while working on documentaries and
he was fantastic with introductions and helping me, right up
until his tragic death. Just like finding those great teachers at
school, seek out those people you admire who can really help
you. The experience can be joyous.

16 17
Announcements
OBITUARIES
Regrettably, we only have space for shortened versions of each obituary in this printed copy but we encourage readers to
visit www.st-albans.herts.sch.uk/oas and click on the Versa link to read the full write ups for each individual.
Michael James
(OA 1958)
1940 – 2022
Written by Judge John S.
Merrick, Retired (OA 1958)
I am sad to report that my old
friend and colleague, Michael
James, passed away in February
2022 after a long illness. Michael
and I were both boarders in
School House and upon leaving
School, we both went on to become solicitors.
Michael read Law at University College London, graduating
with an LLB and then an LLM. He served his articles in
New Square, London and went on to become a partner at an
established firm of solicitors in Great Queen Street.
Michael was an adept property dealer and after several years of
selling and buying properties, working in London and living
nearby in Tunbridge Wells, he moved to Wales with his wife
and children. Michael set up his own practice in Haverford
West and beyond his own belief, attracted a lot of business.
Michael eventually took early retirement and moved to
Devon. Sadly, he had been unwell for several years and
spent the last few years of his life in a residential care home
near Exeter. He is survived by his son, daughter and four
grandchildren.
John Newby
(OA 1958)
1940 – 2021
Written by Archie McDonald &
John Beaumont (OAs 1958)
John Newby was born in 1940. Sadly,
he passed away in July 2021 after a
long fight with cancer. John started at
St Albans School in September 1951.
He was very bright and studied the
Sciences after passing his O levels.
Mathematics was his main subject. He was one of the group of
pupils who called themselves “The Berts”. They specialised in
making explosives!
John was keen on sport and was captain of the 1st XV rugby
team (pictured). He was also a prefect and a Queen’s Scout.
He left school with three good A levels and went on to
University. After graduating he went to Brunel University
where he lectured in Mathematics. John was once involved in
the design of stealth aircrafts which were able to avoid radar
detection. He will be sadly missed.
Alan Bridgman
(OA 1958)
1940 – 2022
Written by his son, James
Bridgman
Sadly, we would like to
announce that Alan Bridgman
died on 18 March 2022, aged
81. He kept in regular contact
with the School, often visiting with other Old Albanians and
friends. He was part of ‘The Secret Society of Berts’, together
with John Newby, and previously wrote about their activities
in Versa, largely specialising in blowing things up!
He went to Cambridge University and then worked for IBM
for many years. If you would like to contact the family, please
email his son James at jbridgman@gmail.com.
Robin Alcock
(OA 1964)
1946 – 2022
Written by his daughter Karen
Alcock-Gore
It is with a sad heart that I report
the death of my father Robin
Alcock, a pupil between 1957 and
1964.
He was always proud of his St Albans roots despite moving
away for Cardiff University. He lived in many places
(Fareham, London, Guildford and finally Orpington) but
I think a part of him always felt St Albans to be his home.
He worked in personnel for most of his career and retired
gradually, filling his time afterwards with becoming the Chair
of Governors at the Harris Academies.
He was a keen cyclist in his youth and this was again a passion
of his after retirement. He was fortunate to experience mostly
good health and passed away unexpectedly and peacefully in
his sleep after watching the rugby which I know he will have
enjoyed. I am sure he will be remembered by any who knew
him as I remember him, as a very funny and kind person with
a mischievous smile and quick mind.
Professor William
(Bill) Hill, OBE
(OA 1958)
1940 – 2021
Written by his wife
Rosemary Hill
Bill was born in
Hertfordshire in 1940
and had a younger sister,
Nancy, who survives him.
He read agriculture at
Wye College, University
of London, where his interests broadened into mathematics,
statistics and genetics. After completing his master’s degree
at the University of California, Bill was drawn to Alan
Robertson’s work at the University of Edinburgh, where his
PhD was in population genetics. He stayed at Edinburgh as
a lecturer, reader and professor, eventually becoming head
of the genetics department. Through mutual friends Hill
met Rosemary Austin. They were married in 1971 and she
survives him with their children: Alastair, an entrepreneur;
Louise, a paramedic; and Rachel, an events organiser.
In 1966 Hill and Robertson identified a phenomenon that is
today known as the Hill-Robertson effect. It explains many
properties of the genetic variation in populations revealed
by DNA sequencing, as well as providing one of the major
evolutionary explanations for the prevalence of sexual
reproduction in nature.
In later years Bill took on senior administrative roles at the
University, eventually becoming head of the division of
biological sciences in 1993 and Dean of the faculty of science
and engineering in 1999.
Hill took early retirement in 2003 to devote himself to
research and related activities. He increasingly found time to
play bridge and enjoy a glass of whisky. In November 2019 he
was able to enjoy the Genetics Society meeting to celebrate
100 years of genetics in Edinburgh, where he was presented
with the Mendel medal, the society’s highest award.
David Pepper, FRICS
(School Governor
1990 – 2009)
1938 – 2021
Written by Robert
Sharpe (OA 1953,
former Chair of
Governors)
David was born in
Hatfield in 1938. Educated
at Stowe, he was articled
to a firm of surveyors in
Bedford and Qualified as
a Chartered Surveyor. He
married Alison in 1964
and they had three children, the eldest of whom, Michael,
was Head of School in 1984. David became a Partner in the
prestigious City firm of Edward Erdman & Co and in 1989
with another set up his own firm, Morgan Pepper.
In 1990, David was appointed a Governor when both the
School and OAs had been seeking alternative playing fields.
It was David who spotted in a trade magazine that Cheapside
Farm was for sale; on the fringe of St Albans it could provide
the playing field that the School desired. After careful
negotiation led by David, the St Albans School Woollam Trust
purchased the entire farm in 1991. The School benefitted
from the benefaction of Charles Woollam in the 19th century
through the provision of Belmont Field and it was decided
to call the new playing fields Woollams to recognise his
contribution.
No sooner had Woollams been achieved and, with early plans
for what was to be the new Sports Hall afoot, the opportunity
arose to purchase the former Crusader Bookshop on
Romeland Hill. David led the tortuous negotiations to obtain
what is now New Place.
After this acquisition, David retired to devote time to his
family and his other interests, although he remained a useful
source of information for his successors. Unfortunately,
he was diagnosed with a terminal disease some two years
ago which he bore with great fortitude until his death last
November.
John Bennett
(OA 1941)
1925 – 2022
Written by his brother,
Norman Bennett (OA
1951)
My brother has died at
the age of 96. My older
brothers, Jim (OA 1937)
and Tom (OA 1939),
died in 1988 and 2004,
respectively.
John joined Barclays
Bank when he left School,
but soon after, took up
arms and joined the
Duke of Wellington’s
Regiment. After a posting
in Dehradun, John was impaled through the shoulder with a
pitchfork by Indian independence agitators and demobilised
as a Major in 1946. John returned to banking and retired as a
manager in Aylesbury. He played rugby for a few years for the
OAs B XV and enjoyed golf at Redbourn Golf Club. His wife,
whom he met at Barclays, died last year. They had no children.

18
19
John Seabrook
(OA 1951)
1932 – 2022
Written by his daughter,
Hilary Robertson
John Allan Seabrook
was born in Harpenden
to Robert William Eric
and Doris (née Halsey)
Seabrook. His older sister
Nancy had been born in
1930.
Chris Wilkinson, OBE, RA
(OA 1963)
1945 – 2021
Written by Rod Argent (OA
1963)
Chris was a lovely person;
kind, helpful and, of course, a
wonderfully talented architect.
In spite of extraordinary and
groundbreaking worldwide success, he remained exactly the
same quiet, helpful, considerate and generous person in later
life that I first knew as a close friend so many years ago...
OA LODGE
By John Williams (OA 1964)
Looking through the old minute books, Emergency meetings
were most common in the early years of the Lodge in the late
1920s and 1930s when Lodge membership was building up. I
cannot recall one in the last 30 years.
The young John joined
St John”s Infants School
in 1937 and in 1940 St
Nicholas Church School. In May of the same year, he joined
3rd Harpenden Wolf Cub pack, moving onto the Scouts in
January 1943. On 27 September 1946, he was presented with
the King’s Scout award – the highest youth award achievable
in the Commonwealth.
In February 1943, John passed the eleven-plus and joined
St Albans School. One of his biggest regrets was leaving
school at 16 and not going on to university, but he passed the
School Certificate with flying colours in 1949 and became an
apprentice at Home Counties Newspapers before National
Service in the RAF.
John took part in the first Harpenden Gang Show in 1949
(and the 70th in 2019!) In 1961 he became the youngest
councillor in Harpenden and he played an active part in local
politics throughout his working life as a teacher and writer.
John will be missed by friends, family and especially his
wife Liz (née Hossack), children Tim and Hilary and
grandchildren Florence, Freddie, George and Grace.
He had a passion for art and architecture from an early
age, and after fruitful apprenticeships developing his
talents with Norman Foster and Richard Rogers and
forming his own company with Jim Eyre, he soon took the
world of architecture by storm with his stunning designs.
WilkinsonEyre’s goal was always to fuse the openly technocentric
with beauty of form and structure, and they soon won
the prestigious Stirling Prize two years in succession (Magna
Science Centre, 2001 and the Millennium Bridge, 2002). Chris
Wilkinson and Jim Eyre continued this approach unabated,
right up to Chris’s death, both in the UK and internationally
with enormous and constantly growing success.
Goethe described music as liquid architecture, and
architecture as frozen music. I believe Chris’s sense of design
is described beautifully in this way. As a man passionate about
good music of all kinds, he brought his wonderfully fluent
sense of line and motion, both essential ingredients in the
inherent structure of music, to all his projects.
Chris lived a successful, full and fulfilled life. He was a fine
abstract painter, who was elected to the Royal Academy
in 2006. He enjoyed a close and very happy family life and
is survived by his wife Diana (née Edmunds) and his two
children Zoe, a creative consultant, and Dominic, an architect.
HRH THE EARL OF WESSEX CELEBRATING THE
£300,000 DONATION AT FREEMASONS’ HALL
The Lodge held its first regular meeting of the year
at Ashwell House on Saturday 8th January 2022, a
meridian meeting held in the late morning. Despite the
ongoing pandemic, it was very well attended. The ceremony,
the initiation of a new candidate into the Lodge, was
conducted in an exemplary manner.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme
Introduced by his father-in-law King George VI, His
Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh started his life in
Freemasonry in 1952, at the age of 31. He was initiated
into the Navy Lodge No. 2612, on 5th December that
year. The Navy Lodge prides itself on being the premier
Naval Lodge in the world, with an unparalleled history
that includes four monarchs as past members – King
Edward VII, King Edward VIII, King George VI and
King George II of the Hellenes. In 1956, the Duke, with
Kurt Hahn, became founding chairman of The Duke
of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, a self-improvement
programme to give young people aged 14 to 24 “a sense
of responsibility to themselves and their communities”.
He remained its chairman until his death.
The Masonic Charitable Foundation became a strategic
partner of the The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme
in 2021 and has funded a new national programme to
upskill its team and volunteers. More than 30,000 young
people with disabilities and special educational needs
will be able to do their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award,
thanks to the three-year strategic partnership, which will
donate a total of £300,000 from the Freemasons.
ENGAGEMENTS
James Sinclair
(OA 2013)
On Friday 28th January 2022, James
Sinclair and Niamh Deane got
engaged in Oxford, on the feast of St
Thomas Aquinas. They are hoping to
marry in August 2023 in Oxford.
Following seven years as a pupil
at St Albans School, James went to
Magdalen College, Oxford, where he read Literae Humaniores
(commonly known as Classics ‘Mods’ and ‘Greats’).
After graduating with a 2:1 degree, he went to Homerton
College, Cambridge, where he obtained his PGCE teaching
qualification in Latin with Classics, and later a master’s degree
in Education, Researching Practice. James is now in his fourth
year of teaching Classics at St Edward's School, Oxford, where
he is also the Acting Head of Year 9.
Niamh grew up in Worcester. She read History at the University
of Leicester, where she obtained a first class degree, before
moving to Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford to read the MPhil in
Islamic Studies and History. After graduating, Niamh worked
as the Assistant Chaplain at St Benet's Hall, Oxford (during
which time James and Niamh met) before she moved to The
Oratory School, Reading as their Chaplaincy Assistant.
The wedding will hopefully involve a number of OAs from the
Class of 2013, including Jonny Phillips, Yoan Stoyanov and
Daniel Heydecker.
In March, the Lodge donated £2,000 to the Masonic Charitable
Foundation (MCF) which has launched a national appeal for
donations to the Ukraine Crisis Fund. All donations are being
sent to the British Red Cross as the NGO on the ground in
Ukraine, to add to the £50,000 already donated by the MCF.
The Lodge held its second meeting at Ashwell House on
Saturday 2nd April. Unusually, this was an ‘Emergency’ not
a ‘regular’ meeting. Emergency meetings are held when
Lodges do not have an adequate number of regular meetings
to cater for the ceremonies outstanding. As a result of the
pandemic, when all masonic meetings had to cease, the
Lodge has a significant backlog of candidates for a variety of
degree ceremonies. In this case the candidate, who had been
initiated into the Lodge in 2019, was raised to the 3rd degree
some three years later! Sadly as a result of the upsurge in
Covid-19 cases, the meeting was less well attended than usual.
Nevertheless the ceremony was conducted superbly by W Bro
Chris Whiteside, a past master of the Lodge.
The United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) celebrated
the donation of £300,000 by the Masonic Charitable
Foundation to The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE)
during an event at Freemasons’ Hall in Covent Garden
on 8 March 2022. HRH The Earl of Wessex and HRH
The Duke of Kent attended the event.
Dr David Staples, chief executive of the United Grand
Lodge of England, said: “Prince Philip was well known
for his charity work, having been involved with
numerous organisations. At UGLE, we looked for a
project that would honour Prince Philip’s memory.
Helping young people with special educational needs
and becoming a strategic partner of the Duke of
Edinburgh’s Award is therefore a great honour for us.
Helping the DofE was an easy decision as Freemasonry’s
core values are charity, integrity, respect and friendship,”
he added.

20 OA Sports
21
SAINTS DOMINATING
The Leagues
BY JOVE WE HAVE
a Portal…
OA Rugby Club
By James Osborn (OA 2002)
OA Rifle Club
By Andrew Wilkie (OA 1965)
Although a current league position of 10th is not where
we would like to be, a closer look at the results shows
the underlying development of the 1st XV men’s side,
with more points scored (733) than at this stage in previous
seasons. We’ve seen higher scoring games and, in some cases,
wins against sides at the top end of the table. The focus for
the remainder of the season will be to finish strongly and
continue the development ahead of next season. Recruitment
and retention is going well, with the vast majority of the squad
already committed for next season.
We were thrilled to see three of our former players selected for
England’s Six Nations this season, Maro Itoje, Max Malins &
Nick Isiekwe, the latter having come up through our Mini &
Youth section.
The senior club remains well. Particularly pleasing has been
the re-emergence of the Romans who have already won their
league, having lost only once all season, so far. The Gladiators
currently lie in 5th place in their league, only 13 points off the
top. The Grizzlies currently occupy 2nd place in their league,
only 3 points off the top.
Our Saints 1st XV came out second best in a fiercely contested
and physical clash against first-placed rivals Thurrock T-Birds.
However, the story is not yet over, as the team’s second-place
finish in the league means that we progress to the semi-finals
and will travel to the home of Cheltenham Tigers to fight for
a place in the national Championship finals. Additionally, in
a testament to the depth and talent across the entire women’s
squad, alongside the Club’s commitment to continue to grow
the women’s game in Hertfordshire, we are delighted that our
2nd XV secured a final victory at home against Harlow WRFC,
and with that finished top of the table and undefeated in their
inaugural season. The team will be promoted to the NC1
league as a result and are relishing the additional challenge this
will bring next season.
Our Junior Saints U18’s Girls, having won the Final of the
Midlands U18’s Girls Cup, just fell short of reaching the Final
of the National U18’s Girls, losing narrowly to Liverpool St
Helens in the Semi-Final. One of our U18’s, Katie Johnson, was
selected and played for England U18’s against Scotland earlier
this year. Three other players, Chloe Flanagan, Kaela Ford and
Megan Sullivan were all selected for the England U18 Talent
Development Group.
The team has shot in one Herts Winter 25yd league
since my last submission back in autumn 2021, coming
4th in Division 1. Individual results from a total of
ten rounds shot over that period are to put it mildly, variable.
The consistency of shooting both by OAs and other clubs has
become markedly reduced. Plus, in Dorset where I currently
shoot, the general problem that we had back in October 2021
of finding team members, has not gone away.
There is undoubtedly a generational element to all this with
those in their seventies and eighties understandably slowing
down. With volunteers and hens’ teeth having about the
same rarity value there seems little prospect of revitalising
shooting as we knew it any time soon. One outcome deriving
from the lack of volunteers is that technology is gradually
encroaching onto the scene, but that comes with huge issues.
The “App for Everything” software writing brigade has little or
no understanding of the practicalities of organising shooting.
What we do is built on years of paper-based systems that must
be flexible. Change may be necessary, but people are still the
root of the sport, Portal, or not.
THE 300
OA Cricket Club
By David Goodier
The present arrangement with the NRA portal is for the
club to decide the date, distance and number of targets they
want to shoot then to submit this electronically for approval.
The club then gets told whether that request is approved or
not. When not approved a workable Plan B is then of course
required. Now the fun starts. Do you pick another random
date and try again or phone the office at Bisley for inside
information and submit a second guess? In my experience this
second request is also often declined. All of this, of course,
takes time which is not so bad if you are retired but during a
busy working environment it becomes virtually impossible.
Against the odds our opening event at Bisley this year against
the Old Lawrentians did manage to sneak through the NRA
portal and was shot on a very chilly but otherwise sunny day
on the Century range. The result was a surprising win for
the OAs, 467.38 to 446.17. Two ‘possibles’ were recorded in
our team, Martin Warr and John Simmons both with 50.5 at
500yds. Top score for the match went to Thomas Chapman
(OA 2020) with 95.9. Well done everyone.
The Old Albanian CC are deep into preparations for the new
cricket season, which commences at the end of April for our
junior section and the beginning of May for the senior sides.
The committee have been working hard to get high quality
new practice facilities installed at Woollams and it is hoped
that this will be achieved by the start of the season.
Regular practice sessions are being held at Verulam School
on Sundays. Over the winter the junior section of the Club
has grown to over 300 members, a record for the Club
and an indication that it continues to go from strength to
strength. These 300 members will benefit from the coaching
skills of newly qualified volunteers, who have been through
the ECB coaching course. This has been achieved through
kind donations from the 948 Foundation and the ECB. The
committee are extremely grateful to both organisations for
their help in securing the future of the Club.
The junior pathways into the senior league teams have never
been more clearly defined and we expect an increased number
of juniors to be able to join in the competitive league cricket
that will take place in the Saracens Herts Cricket League.
The Club will once again enter four teams into the league
structure. We are keen to welcome any new playing members
or anybody who wishes to make a contribution as scorer,
umpire or committee member. Please contact us at the email
address below if you would like to make a contribution.
The Club will host the Lords Taverners on Sunday 3rd July
and there will be an accompanying lunch. Please email
oacc_team_sec@hotmail.com if you would like to attend. Last
year we were able to raise over £400 for the Taverners’ charity
and even enjoyed a good game of cricket in the sunshine. We
hope to see you at Woollams at some point this season.

22 23
OA Sports
FESTIVE FUN
on the Courts
BACK TO BACK
Promotion Beckons
The OAFC enjoyed another successful season in the
Arthurian League. After a Covid disrupted 20/21
campaign that saw us promoted by a voting committee,
the regular Saturday routine was welcomed back with open
arms. Fresh blood was added to the squad, including Freddie
Scutt (OA 2014) and Albert Koomson (OA 2012). The team
started emphatically with seven straight wins, scoring 21
goals. Highlights in that streak included a heroic display
by nine men in a 2-0 win against Lancing Old Boys II, a
3-1 home win against promotion rivals Old Shirburnians,
and a 5-0 destruction of Old Stoics. Curiously, the referee
commented that the Stoics “had been the better side” in that
display, but we assumed he had forgotten what the aim of
football was, and newcomer Sam Duffield proceeded to blast
in a 30-yard screamer a few moments later.
The most challenging game of the season so far awaited.
Dubbed the OA derby, the match against Old Ardinians
was 1st vs 2nd in Division 4. Both teams battled in a tightly
contested first half. The Albanians took a 2-1 advantage, but
Ardinians firepower up front and some sloppiness at the
back from the Albanians led to a barrage of demoralising
second half goals. It ended in a 7-2 loss.
After such a strong start, it was a tough one to take, and the
team had a dip in performances for a few weeks, dropping
points to Old Harrovians III and Old Shirburnians in
consecutive 2-2 draws. Then came another test against Old
Johnians in the Junior League Cup. After some confusion
on the pitch booking, the game kicked off an hour late, but
the delayed start didn’t stop the Albanians coming out of the
blocks strong. James Blackshaw fired two ‘goal of the season’
contenders within a few minutes, and the team looked a
constant threat on the break and from set pieces. We went
into half time 3-1 up. There was still some fragility at the
back, and it went into the final moments of the second half
at 3-3. Penalties loomed. With less than a minute on the
clock, an OA corner was ferociously whipped in close to
the keeper who couldn’t claim it, and a goalmouth scramble
ensued. It was finally put in by esteemed Evening Standard
journalist Simon Collings (OA 2010) at the back post. The
OA Football Club
By Chris Schon (OA 2012)
team went wild, Nima Salehi (OA 2012) took off his shirt
and swirled it around his head in glorious excitement.
Unfortunately for him, he had already been booked for a
rash challenge earlier, so was sent off! It seemed the win
against the high division team was sealed, but Johnians
themselves earned a corner and piled everyone in, with the
referee announcing it as the last play of the game. A fantastic
delivery was nodded in. 4-4 meant penalties, which we lost
5-4. A crushing end to a dramatic game.
Going into 2022, the team knew that despite a couple of
defeats that were hard to take, promotion and the defence
of the David Walcott Trophy were still very much in our
hands. The first game of the New Year was in that cup
against Old Westminster IIs. We had recruited Rory Law
as a new goalkeeper, and he started his OA career with a
dream debut, saving a penalty in normal time and making
two more saves in the penalty shootout. It felt like a corner
had been turned after that game, in large part since our new
keeper had given us much more confidence at the back. The
team proceeded to win four on the bounce, including an
emphatic 7-1 win against Old Wellingtonians in which Kit
Akin (OA 2014) scored a sublime hat-trick.
Sadly we were unable to defend the David Walcott trophy,
losing to Old Haberdashers 2-1 in the quarter final.
Impressively, it was the 100th appearance by club legend
James Martin (OA 2005). Not bad for a club that’s only five
years old!
After a walkover in the return fixture against Lancing Old
Boys II, and rivals dropping points, OAs are currently top of
the league with one game to go, against rivals Old Ardinians.
A win guarantees promotion, but even a loss may do if
Shirburnians also lose to Ardinians.
Another exciting, dramatic season for OAFC is coming
to a close. Ten wins, two draws and one loss in the league,
a record to be proud of, with or without promotion. We
continue to grow, make a name for ourselves, and climb up
the alumni footballing ladder.
The OA Tennis Club braved the winter with a
Christmas Mixed Tournament with some even
sporting funny hats. The coaching team consisting
of Margie Edge, James Eggleton and Zander Ward, had a
well-deserved break over Christmas as this time of year is
too cold for running tennis camps.
Tennis camps for school children, were, however, run in the
spring half term. Cardio style drills, modified games and
lots of mini competitions kept the players engaged for three
hours each morning.
Now with daylight saving starting up again and the
With the spring equinox merely a memory, days
getting warmer and longer and golf courses
drier, golfers are getting back into the ‘swing’
and looking forward to the coming season. OA golfers are
no different and all will be looking to do well at this year’s
meetings having hopefully corrected the snap hook, banished
the dreaded slice and cured the ‘yips’.
Whilst there have been no meetings since the last issue of
Versa, this year, unlike last year, we have confirmed fixtures
for 2022. Our first competition will be held at South Beds
OA Tennis Club
By Justin Azzopardi
FORE!
OA Golf Club
By Mike Crowston (OA 1966)
evenings staying lighter for longer, the attendance at social
club nights on Tuesday evenings and Sunday mornings is
on the up and the fair-weather players are dusting off their
rackets again.
Bookings for the spring term holiday tennis camps for
children, run by Margie and James, have nearly reached
full capacity. After the Easter holidays the summer term
programme starts up again and sessions run every day after
school.
Adults, families and children are welcome to join and any
inquiries can be made to Margie via details on page 2.
Golf Club closely followed by the match against Mid Herts
arranged by our Captain Peter Dredge (OA 1960).
Further fixtures are arranged for Welwyn Garden City,
Leighton Buzzard and Harpenden Common. Finally, the OAs’
golfing year will end with our now annual visit to Lakeside
Lodge for three days of fellowship and excellent catering and
hopefully successful golf! All are welcome to join the Club
regardless of ability and to enjoy the ambience of camaraderie
and competitiveness unique to golf. Anyone interested please
use the contact details on page 2.