Issue 8 • Spring 2007

T H E

N E W S L E T T E R

O F

T H E

P R I O R

P A R K

President’s Letter

Contents

I hope 2007 will be kind to you! The year has got off to a controversial start. Even at the time of writing, in February, there has been a lot in the news: from climate change, to Celebrity Big Brother, to Catholic adoption agencies. In my second year of Presidency, the PPA has been busy working on multiple strands of activity. Communication with former pupils continues to improve, using a combination of old technology such as the printed “Gossip Bowl” magazine and new technology such as e-mail lists and the PPA website. Do not be surprised if you start receiving text messages from us on your mobile! (Ed: Don’t get carried away, Mr President). We have started the process of benchmarking our Association against the former pupils’ societies of other independent Catholic co-educational secondary schools. I will report on this at our next AGM in early December. We are planning to stage an old boys’ rugby match on the afternoon of Sunday 2nd December with two fiercely competitive teams: Pruett’s Panthers versus Davies’ Dragons! (see the feature inside for more details). 2007 marks the 30th anniversary of my year group, and I am hoping to see many of my peers at the PPA dinner and the weekend’s events.

A S S O C I A T I O N

President’s Letter

1

From the Headmaster

2

Take pride in Prior Park

3

Gossip Bowl

Christopher Liu in an auto-rickshaw Hyderabad, India

Fundraising will become more important, as the PPA moves to do more for former pupils in terms of professional networking and mentoring. Your support will be much appreciated. We shall have a series of Prior Park coffee mugs available soon. They will bear designs created by current pupils at Prior. So what can we do about climate change, globalisation, negative effects of multiculturalism, and state control of more or less everything? I think we can all play our part, which makes me feel even more guilty as I have left a heavy carbon footprint, having travelled to teach in India. I suppose I have the excuse of relieving human suffering by medical education, but I am also very much looking forward to seeing my classmate Balaji Krishnaswamy, whom I have not seen for 30 years. I hope I can recognise him! The good Lord has been kind to me and to my family. May you be blessed with a happy and healthy 2007. Christopher Liu

4-9

Eye safety talks

10

Cricklade report

10

Weddings

11

Association Day, cricket and PPA sports

12 – 13

Reunions

14-16

PPA Dinner

16-17

Reports on Gap Years (part funded by PPA)

18-20

Report from the Paragon

21

Graduation News

21

Obituaries

22-23

Where are you now?

24

Do you recognise...?

24

How to contact the PPA We are always delighted to hear from Association members. Please do get in touch with Debbie O'Bryan on [email protected] or write c/o Prior Park College, Bath BA2 5AH or call 01225 835353 ext 244.

D E O

D U C E

D E O

L U C E

From the Headmaster, Dr Giles Mercer

The last year has seen rich achievement for the College both academically and across the ever widening co-curricular programme. It has also been a year of important developments. The school roll has been at full capacity. Public examination results in 2006 show that we both stretch the ablest pupils and support those who can struggle in some areas. What is also perhaps most telling about last summer’s results was the very considerable improvement in the area of the middle grades at A level. At GCSE 2006 saw our best results. In our university entries all but 6 candidates gained their first choice universities. The range of degree courses reflected very well on both Arts and Sciences at Prior Park. Five of our leavers gained places at Oxford or Cambridge.

Catholic Chaplain to the Universities of Bath, Father Bill McLoughlin, who is also our parish priest and a Prior Park Governor. In the summer we also host the Catholic Chaplaincy Summer reception. In February a special lecture was given at the College by Canon Dr Anthony Harding on the life and influence of Bishop William Clifford, an evening to mark the 150th anniversary of the ordination of Bishop Clifford as a Bishop. I hope Canon Harding’s talk can be given wider circulation, as it was a fascinating account of this great man who, amongst other things, was the second founder of Prior Park, (the first, of course, being Bishop Baines). Priests of the Deanery meet annually for lunch at Prior Park. I have served for some years on the committee of the Department for Schools and Colleges in the Clifton Diocese, chaired by Bishop Declan Lang. It might also be of interest to past pupils that a new heating system is being installed this term in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows.

September 2006 opened a new chapter for Prior Park, following the merger with The Paragon School, Prior Park’s Junior School in Bath. This was reported in the Spring 2006 issue and the last 12 months have shown the enormous benefits for both schools in terms of sharing resources and collaboration between staff. Prior Park is now a 3 school foundation, the College, the Preparatory School at Cricklade and The Paragon, serving the needs of over 900 children. Our chaplain, Father Frederick de L’Orme, returned to his home diocese of Westminster in the summer of 2006, with the best wishes and n olm Smeato Father Malc gratitude of the la ge An and his wife Prior Park community. He has been replaced by Father Malcolm Smeaton, a priest of the Southwark diocese. Father Malcolm began his ministry in the Church of England before being received into the Catholic Church with his wife, Angela. We are delighted to have them both at the College, residing in St Peter’s. Father Malcolm is also, of course, the Prior Park Association Chaplain. It might be of interest to past pupils to know how closely Prior Park works with the wider community and with the Diocese. The College hosts an annual lecture, organised by the 2 Gossip Bowl

© Bath Chronicle

The past year has probably seen the best period of sporting results for both boys and girls at the College in all age groups. The school is attracting a number of Sporting Excellence scholars and a team of dedicated PE and Sports specialists, led by the Director of PE and Sport, Mr Steve Capon, have developed an impressive coaching strategy. The College’s sporting reputation, which has always been good, has risen markedly in recent years. Both choral and instrumental music at the College flourish, as is well known, to the point at which we now have a weekly lunchtime concert. The high point for the Performing Arts at Prior Park was the formal opening on 27th January 2007 of The Mackintosh Studio, a two storey building incorporating a dance studio upstairs and downstairs a seminar room,

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changing areas and dressing rooms. This building links the Julian Slade Theatre with the classroom block, an attractive piece of infilling. The Mackintosh Studio was opened by none other than Sir Cameron Mackintosh himself, who was delighted with the studio and with the evening, the early part of which consisted of performances of dramatical excerpts and dancing from pupils of various ages across the school. Boarding accommodation in St Paul’s has been upgraded from top to bottom. Our two boarding Houses and our girls’ House, St Mary’s, offer a quality of boarding second to none. It was a source of tremendous pride to have this view thoroughly endorsed by The Commission for Social Care Inspection, which rigorously inspects 52 standards for boarding! Our care was judged to be excellent within the houses and tremendous affirmation was also given to the Medical Centre, led by our Sister in Charge, Mrs Rosemary Cole. I warmly invite all past pupils to come and see the Alma Mater. I think you will be delighted and impressed. You will always be most welcome.

St Mary’s

Take Pride in Prior Park’s People Prior Rugby Legend

Légion d’honneur for WWII hero Now a knight of the Légion d’honneur, 92 year old Patrick Barry’s contribution to the WWII commando raid on St. Nazaire in March 1942 was recognised by the F r e n c h government at a ceremony in June 2006. Patrick had been working as an artist and specialist screen printer when he enlisted as a volunteer in the Royal Marines and took part in what became known as ‘Operation Chariot’. A former student at Prior Park, Patrick has been a resident of St-Paul-de-Lizonne in France since 1998. The PPA sends their warmest congratulations to Mr Barry on this great honour.

BBC Young Environmentalist Journalist of the year Toby Nowlan, who left Prior in 2005, won the prestigious BBC W i l d l i f e magazine’s young environmentalist journalist of the year award in November of 2006. His winning piece was on Nial Moores, a man who has campaigned to protect East Asia’s birds and natural habitats since 1990. Toby describes Nial “an amazing, passionate conservationist”. Toby seems well on his way to achieving his ultimate career ambition – to become a wildlife journalist. Toby is studying ecology at Edinburgh University and has exciting plans for the coming year: a trip to Borneo to look at the impact of logging, and an ecological expedition to Sri Lanka to look at the human impact on elephants and leopards. Keep up to date with Toby’s progress through his website www.ecoyouth.info .

New Year’s Honours for former pupils Christopher Logue Winner of the Whitbread Poetry Prize in 2006 for Cold Calls, the fifth instalment of his remarkable adaptation of The Iliad, Christopher Logue was appointed CBE for services to literature this year. Considered ‘one of England’s greatest living poets’, he was born in 1926 and lives in London with his wife, the critic, Rosemary Hill.

Jeremy Guscott recently selected John Palmer (PPC 68-76) as one of his top ten rugby centres in a feature in The Sunday Times. Jeremy wrote of John: “he was a privilege to play with at Bath and he was one of the most skilful players I have ever seen”. Whilst at the College, John captained the Prior rugby team that was unbeaten for three years and which won the National Sevens title in 1976. John played for Bath Rugby for many years and taught at King Edward’s School in Bath until taking up a post as a coach with Bath Rugby. He played for England a number of times and in recent years has been coaching the Bath Academy side. John very kindly donated his England shirt, worn in the 1984 England South Africa match, to the College. The shirt is framed and on display in the pavilion.

Best International Boarder Award

Kenneth Macdonald QC Kenneth Macdonald took up his post as Head of the Crown Prosecution Service and Director of P u b l i c Prosecutions in November 2003 and was honoured with a knighthood in 2007. He has twenty five years experience in high profile defence law and is a founder member of Matrix Chambers, where Cherie Booth was one of his colleagues. Ken was a student at Prior Park College, leaving after ‘O’ Levels in July 1968. He went on to study PPE at St Edmund Hall, Oxford University.

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© Bath Chronicle

During his final months at Prior Park College, ShinWoo Kang, Head of School 05/06, scooped the top prize in the Hobsons International competition. He was awarded ‘Best International Boarder in the UK’ in May 2006. The judges’ criteria include how successful the student has been at integrating with the boarding school and how he or she contributes both to the school and the wider community. Described by Dr Mercer as a ‘remarkable student’, ShinWoo is now studying PPE at Christ Church College, Oxford University. We were delighted to see him back at Prior Park in December when he returned with friends for the PPA dinner.

Gossip Bowl 3

Gossip Bowl 1960 and earlier Mounir Faltas (PPC 53-55) paid a surprise visit to the College with his wife in April of last year and was amazed to find girls present! His last visit in the late 70s, which had been his first since leaving the school 25 years earlier, was at a time when the Christian Brothers were still present and he was greeted by Brother Beattie who, rather impressively, recognised the boy in the man! Although changes were evident then, they were not so dramatic as those which greeted him this summer! The PPA is delighted to be back in touch with Mounir who is now living in Northern Virginia, approximately 20 minutes from downtown Washington DC and he can be contacted on [email protected]

Following a return to full health after a heart bypass operation, Reverend Timothy Dean (PPC 50-60) is happily back in touch with the PPA. He last attended the PPA dinner in 2000 when Brother Miller was our guest of honour. In 1992 at the age of 50, Tim was ordained by the late Cardinal Basil Hume; Tim has been a priest of the Diocese of Westminster for the past 14 years. Currently he is a Cathedral Chaplain at Westminster, Chaplain to the Westminster Cathedral Choir School and Editor of ‘Oremus’ the Cathedral monthly magazine. Tim can be reached on [email protected] One of our most dynamic former pupils, Colin Tucker (who left PPC in 60), and who at 65 years old, finds himself a student again (‘a trifle mature’!) reading for an MA in architecture. Semi-retired, Colin still keeps up his film and television world contacts, running screenwriting workshops largely in Europe, recently in Slovenia and Munich, but also at the London Film School. As Colin says, he is ‘long-time married, kids, grandkids, the usual stuff…’ You can reach him on [email protected] Those familiar with the ‘south shore’ of the entrance to Vancouver harbour will share Brian Long’s (PPC 51-55) distress at the recent storms’ destruction of more than 3,000 trees in the historic Stanley Park. The Lions Gate Bridge, one of only two links to the ‘north shore’ has been closed as a result, and the cost of repairs and replanting the park will be in the millions. Brian’s e-mail address is [email protected] 4 Gossip Bowl

One Saturday early in 2007 James O’Shea (PPC 43-45) and his wife came to visit Prior Park and Dee Miller very kindly showed them around. We hope the PPA was successful in putting Mr O’Shea back in touch with his old friend George Atwell Thomas. Anthony Finnigan (PPC 45-52) remarried 3 years ago, after 4 years on his own following Annie’s death. Anthony moved from Oxford after having retired from 40 years as a GP, GP trainer, College Doctor at Trinity & St. Hugh’s Colleges, and Hospital Practitioner in Psychiatry at Littlemore Hospital – a career he found very varied and interesting. Now living in a quiet village 8 miles south of Leicester, with Janet’s family nearby, he walks, plays golf and bridge and goes to the opera as often as he can. He keeps in close contact with his six children, all of whom are married and have produced a total of ten grandchildren. Anthony has recently been in touch with Kevin Tucker, still based in Nairobi with his wife Geraldine, and planning a UK trip in June of 2007, and with Geoffrey Bowder, who unfortunately suffers from impaired sight but is otherwise in good health. Anthony’s brother John still lives near Leeds and is a keen United supporter! Anthony has long been hoping to make contact with Peter and Geoffrey Barratt who used to live in Manchester. Unfortunately, the PPA has no details on the Barratt brothers. Can any old boys out there help us? Anthony can be reached on [email protected] Over the course of the last year or so, Alan Seccombe (PPC 40-46) has been in touch with Brian Smith, Rae Carter, John Dunbar and Richard Buckley. Alan has recently returned from a five week skiing trip to Val Thorens; he spends a lot of time in France where he has two holiday homes. He is now Chairman of his family business, but working fewer hours! Please make contact with Alan on [email protected] The PPA archive of old school magazines has been enhanced by the gift from Professor Tony Watts (PPC 53-59) of several beautifully preserved old copies of Prior Park College magazines dating from 1886 to 1891. Apparently these were spare copies which had been given to Tony by one of the Christian Brothers during a sort out! Prior to Tony’s additions, our oldest magazine dated from July 1929. Tony is still enjoying doing consultancy work on public policy relating to career guidance, plus pursuing his new-found obsession with Handel operas – and going regularly to the Latin Mass at Our Lady and English Martyrs in Cambridge where the sublime early music and plainsong revives powerful memories of the training at Prior! The most exciting news however is that Tony has kindly agreed to be our Guest of Honour at the forthcoming PPA Annual Dinner to be held at the College on Saturday 1st December 2007. Please see the separate feature and keep the date free in your diary! Tony can be contacted on [email protected]

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The PPA was delighted to welcome contact from Robert Hi Kon Lau (PPC 53-56) who believes he was the first Chinese boy ever to attend Prior Park. He was known by all simply as ‘Lau’. He remembers a younger student who joined Prior after him, Kwan, from Borneo. We are grateful to Barry Plews who visited Lau in Nelson, South Island, New Zealand on a recent trip, and encouraged him to get in touch with the PPA office. Lau can be contacted through the PPA office. We hear that Anthony Corrigan QC (PPC 46-55) now spends his retirement years in Hong Kong, but winters in Cape Town. Every other year Tony returns to the UK with many family and friends to visit: his brother Terry (PPC 57-64) in Bournemouth, his sister in Dunster, his cousins Michael and David in Bristol and Father Pat de Wolf, now in retirement in Clifton. After three years as a student and two years National service, seeing service in Aden, Richard Blenkin (Cricklade 47-49 & PPC 50-53) joined the family firm. In 2000 he sold up and retired. Richard is married with five children and nine grandchildren to date. He and his wife enjoy going on cruises – “Just to pass the time, of course!” Richard is in touch with John Mahoney, Peter Bracchi, Howard Roe, and catches sight of Mario Morelli occasionally. You can reach Richard on [email protected] . Dan McInerney, who left Prior in 1960, married a girl from Sweden in 1969 and moved there some years after qualifying in medicine at RCSI. They have been blessed with three children and now three grandchildren. Dan is a consultant anaesthetist in Ystad which is a small medieval town on the southern coast of Sweden. He would be happy to contact anybody who remembers him - his e-mail address is available from the PPA office.

1961 – 1970 Andres Guillen left Prior in 1961 and moved to Tokyo (where his father was serving as Ambassador) and in 1965 obtained his BSc in Economics at the Jesuit run Sophia University. Then he joined Panama’s diplomatic corps, serving in Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong until 1970 when he resigned, following a military coup in Panama. Andres then founded Panama Fleet Services Inc in Hong Kong to assist shipowners in the Far East wishing to register ships in Panama and other open ship registries. Andres remained in HK until 1997 – he was married there to Rosalyn Lobo and they now have two grown up children – a son and a daughter – and to date, one granddaughter! Other successful business ventures in the Far East included a travel agency and a reinsurance brokerage firm successful enough to allow Andres to retire ten years ago. As fate would have it, after General Noriega’s ousting by the US invasion of Panama in ’89, the new democratic

government appointed Andres acting Consul General in Hong Kong, picking up his diplomatic career where it had left off 21 years earlier! Since 1997, Andres and his wife have been living in Panama, enjoying retirement with their six cows, five dogs, three horses and even a playful alligator in the pond! Their house in Panama is large and they would welcome any visitors from PPC! Having made only one return trip to the College in all this time, and having lost touch with all his old classmates, Andres would dearly love to make contact again. Please e-mail him on [email protected] . As a belated 60th birthday present for her husband, Jonathan Palmer’s wife, Vanessa framed a fabulous black and white photo of the Parksville Jazzmen dating from 1962 or 63. This school jazz combo included: Jonathan, Ian Haddon on double bass, David Dixon on drums, Nigel Horrobin on trombone, Simon Wallace on trumpet, Peter Lynch on guitar and banjo, Peter Broadbent on keyboard and Brian Akers on tuba. We were extremely grateful to Peter Lynch who quickly remembered the name of the band for us. Interestingly, Ian Haddon owns an old fashioned tape recording of the band playing at his 21st birthday celebrations – does anybody have access to equipment which would allow us to digitalise this old recording? We could play it at the next PPA event! Geof Acton (PPC 66-68) put us right on the date of the swimming team photo which appeared in the last edition of the Gossip Bowl – since Geof only joined the lower sixth at Prior in January 1966, this photo must be dated 1966, not ‘65 as we had falsely claimed! Updating us on news from Australia, Geof’s daughter, Beth, now aged 8, is proving to be something of a serious athlete, regularly winning gold medals at track events – congratulations to Beth and we wish her every success – although London 2012 could come a little too early for her! Geof also asked us to remember him to Tony O’Sullivan – Geof formed part of Tony’s first A Level Economics class in 1966 – with the proud record of a 100% pass rate in the summer of 67! Wilfrid de Freitas (PPC 56-62) is still living in Montreal. He and his wife Susan continue to run their highly successful antiquarian book business. They travel all over Canada and the USA exhibiting at various book fairs. Every summer they come to the UK to visit Wilfrid’s mother, and take the opportunity to replenish their stock and exhibit at one or two specialist book fairs. He keeps in touch with Peter Hilton and Chris Lennon in the UK and Michael Somerscales and Gerry O’Reilly in the USA. He can be contacted on [email protected] Sharing the same surname, Jack Keegan (PPC 59 -65) contacted the PPA office for information on his old Christian Brother teachers: Brother Jack Keegan, who was his

housemaster at St Paul’s and teacher of elementary maths (and who is now living in Reading) and Brother Gregory Miller, an inspired teacher of English (who is now at Buckfast Abbey). Happily, we were able to put Jack in touch with his old mentors! Julian Roberts (PPC 66-68) has recently moved from Canada back to the UK. He is now Professor of Criminology in the Faculty of Law at the University of Oxford. He is looking forward to participating in more PPA activities, since Oxford is a lot closer than Toronto! Julian can be contacted on [email protected] For the last 5 years or so, Ronald Turley (who left PPC in 68), has been working for a big US petrochemical company in Qatar in the Arabian Gulf, as a company trainer. His wife, Elsie, and their young daughter, Chloe, plan to go into semi-retirement living in their house near Davao, Mindanao in the Philippines later this year. Ronald has taken part-time teaching at a local university and is helping out at a school for rescued street children. Any spare time will be spent aboard the good ship ‘Y Knot 2’ exploring eastwards towards Paulau and Micronesia. Anyone who remembers Ronald would be very welcome to contact him on [email protected] Having left Prior in ‘63, Peter Cotton has reached 60 and a rail pass! He lives in Lymm, just off junction 20 of the M6, with his wife Robyn and their three sons aged 24, 22 and 18, who come and go! After working for British Leyland and Leyland Trucks for 35 years, Peter opted for early retirement in 2002. However, he keeps busy being a magistrate, working for CAB, doing some consultancy work and house and garden maintenance! Peter still plays tennis and golf regularly and has been back for the golf day at Prior, but is not in touch with any of his contemporaries. He would be keen to meet up with old friends – please contact him on [email protected] With a change to his original plans, Tim Pardoe (PPC 59-66) will be retiring from general practice in June of 2007 at the age of 59. Tim’s wife Geraldine has been diagnosed with early Parkinsons disease and they want to take the opportunity to do more things together – Tim is looking forward to this time greatly. He can be found on [email protected] Having done a late first degree – Sociology with Psychology – Ian Sandison (who left PPC in 62) has just entered the completion year for a PhD in Sociology, at Essex. His research is based on the Street Homeless, Substance Use and the Agencies with whom they engage, or otherwise. Ian’s fieldwork was conducted in Westminster as a Voluntary Outreach Worker with The Big Issue. Recent events on his ‘home front’ have also been interesting – he ended up Chair of the Management Committee for his Housing Co-Operative in Stratford, East London – a site which is being

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compulsorily purchased for the London Development Agency for use in the 2012 Olympics. Through the process of an unsuccessful appeal against the CPO, it was discovered that the housing had been built on an old landfill site (explaining the rising drains and sinking courtyards) where radioactive waste had been dumped on the site in the fifties. He has found his battle with the local authorities a ‘Kafkaesque’ experience! Ian would be delighted to hear from old friends whom he has not seen since 1962! He has been thinking about his classmates since renewing his acquaintance with the PPA and having never come across any former PPC students in the course of his working life. Please e-mail Ian on [email protected] 2006 was a year of mixed fortunes for Peter Hilton (PPC 58-62). In March his daughter Sophie was married to James, which proved to be a very joyful family occasion. The year was however marred by the unexpected death in August of his younger brother Michael (PPC 58-64). In 2007 Peter and his wife Marie-Blanche will be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary and looking forward to becoming grandparents in September, when Sophie is expecting her first child. After four years as President of the PPA, he has maintained his close links with the Association by volunteering to act as Membership Secretary with the specific task of ensuring that the Web Alumnus database is kept up to date. Apart from his fellow members of the PPA committee, he is frequently in contact with Wilfrid de Freitas, Sean Lacey and Peter Waring. Brother Patrick Burke’s niece, based in New York, contacted the PPA for information on her uncle. We were delighted to be able to send her family a spare copy of the 1971 school magazine which contained a formal obituary and photograph and to let them know that the sports pavilion is dedicated to his memory. Brother Burke taught French and RE and was a great enthusiast for sport at the College.

1971 – 1980 Owing much to Ronald Palmer’s inspiration and support, Peter Gravelle (PPC 63-71) doubts whether he would have finished his education at Prior without it! Peter wanted to thank the late Mr Palmer and will certainly never forget the teacher who was – ‘a beautiful breath of fresh air’. Now a photographer and author, Peter left England in 1979 and has lived and worked in Italy, Japan, the States, Canada, Holland and Greece. Peter returned to London in 1999 and would be pleased to hear from likeminded associates from his era at Prior – Peter is thinking of setting up a London reunion – please get in touch with him on [email protected]

Gossip Bowl 5

Mark Stevens responded to Robin Fisher’s request for news of Frank Galliano in last year’s magazine – unfortunately the very sad news is that Frank was killed in a skiing accident in the 80s when he was a Captain in the army. Henry Coelho (PPC 68-75) was able to give us further details – the accident happened when Frank was on a clandestine exercise on the slopes of the Sierra Nevada near Granada, Spain. We send our deep sympathy to Frank’s wife and his two children, who we believe still live in Gibraltar. Henry has memories of many happy times spent with Frank at the Royal Gibraltar Yacht Club. Henry was also able to bring some news of Kenneth Bonnavia (as fellow students from Gibraltar, Henry used to stay with Kenneth at his parents’ hotel in Earls’ Court). They last saw each other about 8 years ago, and Henry tells us that Kenneth had an illustrious career in law and believes that he is still living in Madrid with his wife and children. Nick O’Brien (PPC 69-74) finished his career in the police as a senior diplomat representing the Association of Chief Police Officers (the ACPO) as the Counter Terrorism Liaison Officer at the British High Commission in Canberra, Australia. Nick covered Australasia, South East Asia and the Pacific region. Nick has now taken up a post as Associate Professor Counter Terrorism at Charles Sturt University and will continue to be based in Canberra. Nick can be contacted on: [email protected] Having left Prior in 1973, Dr David NorthCoombes is well into his career as a GP in Chertsey, Surrey. He has four grown up children, none of whom has followed in his footsteps. His younger brother, Simon, lives in Brentford, London and dabbles on the stockmarket! His youngest brother, Philip, arouses some sibling envy with his glamorous lifestyle, since he has carved out a successful career for himself in fashion photography and travels the world with beautiful women in tow! Philip is married with a grown up daughter and has recently been involved in documentary work, notably Everest ER, which former pupils may have seen. David is in touch with Commodore Gerry Thwaites RN who is married with 3 daughters and David has recently caught up with Richard Bryson, also married, but with 3 sons, and who is MD of a chain of Caribbean hotels – eagerly anticipating an invitation! Please get in touch with David on [email protected] Head Boy in 1972, John Hickey (PPC 66-72, and Cricklade before that) qualified as a doctor in 1977. He became an anaesthetist but found it too dull, and is now chief executive of MPS, an organisation that provides professional indemnity to 240,000 doctors and dentists around the world. John plans to retire in June 2007 to travel and do a few non executive and charity jobs. He is married with two children aged 23 and 18 and lives in Northamptonshire. John is in contact with a few old friends from Prior Park:

6 Gossip Bowl

Richard Cutclifffe, Peter Pitt, Al McLeod, Andrew Zulver, Johnny Boylan and Mike Vieyra and can be found on [email protected] His younger brother Malcolm (PPC 69-76, and Cricklade before that) is a GP in North Wales and his elder brother Patrick (PPC 57-63), also a doctor, is now retired. Both John and Johnny B appear, together with other friends, in this photo of the cricket first XI from 1971:

On leaving school, Graham Sharp (who left PPC in 74) trained as an architect and became chartered in the early 80's. Since then he has worked all over the country for a variety of clients including both national and local bodies. Presently a director of Turner Woolford Sharp Architects based in Birmingham, he has been happily married for 25 years, with a 23 year old son who lives in Melbourne, Australia. Both Graham’s parents are still alive and living in Instow in North Devon and two of his sisters also reside in Devon. Other than that, Graham reports fond memories of the old school and is determined to visit Bath more often – please catch up with him on [email protected] Taking a trip to the UK from his homeland Malta with his wife, Denise, we were delighted that Henry Copperstone (PPC 77-78) paid a visit to Prior in February of this year. Contemporaries can reach him on [email protected] The community of former pupils in Gibraltar is strong and Anthony Lombard (PPC 69-75) kindly updated us on his fellow student Joe Holliday, (who left Prior in 1977): Joe was elected into Parliament as a member of the Gibraltar Social Democratic Party in 1996, and has served as a minister ever since. Joe was initially appointed Minister for Tourism and Transport and under his leadership the Tourism sector enjoyed extraordinary growth, following years of decline. His talents did not go unnoticed and his ministerial responsibilities were increased. Some years ago he was appointed Deputy Chief Minister of Gibraltar in addition to the 8 ministries he runs. Recently, Joe’s political party negotiated a fresh constitution with the United Kingdom, effectively granting Gibraltar near total independence. Historic antagonisms with Spain were resolved and resulted in ‘the Cordoba Agreement’ between the UK, Spain and Gibraltar, whose outcome will see the development of Gibraltar airport and the

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economy as a whole. Joe continues to run the very successful Holliday family business of the Castle Marketing Group with interests in the fields of imports, exports and property ownership including retail outlets. Joe’s son Joey is the fourth generation Holliday to work for the family firm. Joe and his wife Michelle also have two daughters, Nicola and Alexandra, who are both at secondary school. Joe’s e-mail address is [email protected] and he would be delighted to hear from his old school friends or receive them in Gibraltar should they visit. Our thanks to Anthony Lombard for supplying all Joe’s news. Anthony is currently Chairman of the Traffic Commission and Member of the Transport Commission in Gibraltar and he can be reached on [email protected] ‘The old boys failed again’ confesses Nick Bailey (PPC 68-74) about his meeting with Mark Stevens that never happened! However, for those former pupils with access to the internet, but without the time to visit Prior, Nick has found an amazing website which will give you a stunning aerial view of the College and grounds http://locallive.com All you need to do is type in the postcode BA2 5AH and then use the compass on the left of the screen and you can zoom in and out at will. Nick was able to see some of the changes that have taken place at Prior since he left in 1974 – new buildings and playing fields. He spotted the old Priory which in his time was a deserted building and out of bounds for the boys – although apparently, this didn’t stop them! Now of course it is a girls’ boarding house. Nick can be found on [email protected]

1981 – 1990 Alumni, and especially those living in the USA, would be very welcome to get in touch with Bunmi Jinadu who left the College in 1986. Please e-mail Bunmi on [email protected] Congratulations from all at the PPA to Peter Donnelly on his wedding day – it all happened on February 25th 2006. We were delighted to welcome Jacob Schwartz (PPC 83-86) back to the College for Gerald Davies’ appearance at the PPA dinner in December. Jacob was born and raised in Denmark and returned to his homeland after his years at Prior. He graduated as MD from the University of Copenhagen in 1993 and following some years as a house officer and the completion of national service, he did research into aneurysmal bleeds in the brain and defended a thesis for his Doctor of Medical Science degree in 2003. Jacob’s interest in neurosurgery took root during his medical training – he was drawn to the profound (and sometimes black) humour among the neurosurgeons as well as the academic rigour of the field. Having completed his doctoral thesis, he commenced

his formal training to become a neurosurgeon. Our good luck was that this brought him to the UK in 2006 for a year’s training in Southampton. As Jacob points out, the entire population of Denmark is 5 million and the catchment area of the neurosurgical unit in Southampton numbers 3 million; this has given Jacob the opportunity to see a great number of neurosurgical cases. He has found it difficult to be parted from his family for the year, but the experience has been very rewarding professionally, and he has appreciated the opportunity to compare and contrast the Danish health care system with the NHS. Jacob can be contacted on [email protected] As part of a trip to the UK, we were delighted to welcome Alan Castillo (PPC 8386) back to Prior on an impromptu visit. He was thrilled to bump into former teachers Gerald Davies, Denis Clarke and Richard Wells. Although he had been unable to join Edward Mason’s reunion earlier in the year, we sent him back to London with the address of La Capannina - Paolo Frattini’s family restaurant – where he was hoping to eat that evening before flying back to Malta the following day. We also managed to obtain Marco Proietti’s e-mail address for Alan to make contact. Alan can be reached on [email protected] Happily, Captain Nicholas Scerri (PPC 8487 and Cricklade before that) cannot think of a more wonderful career than his own! He has been working as a Captain on motor yachts, ranging from 45 metres up, for the last 6 years, and has been in the industry for 13 years now. Currently, he is in the Virgin Islands and will be finishing the season in Barbados, then crossing the Atlantic to Naples where he is based for the summer. Nicholas lives in Sweden, is married to Anna and has two boys Julian, 7 and Felix, 5. They have a retail business that Anna runs, selling high end clothing, shoes and accessories. Please get in touch with Nicholas on [email protected] Michael Morgan (who left PPC in 86) is living in Haslemere, Surrey and working in the City for Marsh & McLennan. He was married to Karen in 2000 and their son Alexander was born in 2001. They have been back in the UK for just over 3 years now, returning from Bermuda where Michael had been working for 5 years. Please make contact with Michael on [email protected] . Michael’s older brother Stephen (who left PPC in 83) has been living in Madrid for many years now, and he and his partner Elena are delighted to be expecting their first child in April 07. Orange UK is the workplace for two of our former students - Larry Brien (who left PPC in 89) and his old class mate, Steve Powers. Larry would be very pleased to hear from old school friends on [email protected]

Dr Stephen Tsao (PPC 84-89) is still living in Leicester with his wife Belina and their two young children. Stephen is busy setting up a clinical trial involving patients with bowel disease. Through his work, he has bumped into John Evans (PPC 86-93) who is working as a trainee surgeon in Leicester. Feel free to contact Stephen on [email protected] Stephen’s brother, James Tsao (PPC 86-93) recently had a baby daughter. Still regularly in touch with John Devlin, and occasionally with Adam Dowdle, Neil Brown (PPC 82-88 and Cricklade before that) is currently working as an HR Manager for BAE Systems in Saudi Arabia, on his second ‘tour of duty’. He is married to a Finnish lady and they have a baby, Maya. After working last at the naval base in Portsmouth, they still have a house in Southsea. Meanwhile Neil would be very happy to receive e-mails from the ‘old boys’ and especially those living or working in the Gulf: [email protected] Hannah Robinson (who left PPC in 1990), now Mrs Grehan, met her Australian husband Shane ten years ago, whilst living and working in London. They moved to Queensland in 2000 and live in a gorgeous hinterland village 15 km from the beach, and an hour and a half from Brisbane. Shane designs and builds for the family and others – the Grehans have moved seven times in the space of six years! Hannah runs a t-shirt design company with a friend and also does supply teaching at local schools. The family now includes Noah, 4, and Loa-Libellule, 1. Hannah would love to hear from the girls she boarded with on [email protected] Many congratulations to the proud firsttime father, Edmund Layet (PPC 84-86) whose wife Lucy gave birth to Dominic in February of 2007! After years of being ‘Uncle Ed’ to numerous nieces and nephews, Edmund is delighted at his promotion to ‘dad’. Please get in touch with him on [email protected] Having obtained his MBA from IUE in Bushey Heath, Camille Saliba (who left PPC in 83) went on to work in the City from 89 to 93 as a Financial Broker for the Arab Banking Corporation, specializing in equities. Early in 1993, he returned to Jordan for the family bearings business. Then in 1998 he opened his own company (again bearings and seals) and is proud to represent Jordan in the following brands: NSK in Japan, INA in Germany, Coram and Original BIRTH both in Italy plus TTO in Taiwan. His company is now the market leader in bearings in Jordan. On the personal side, Camille was married to a lovely Jordanian lady in 1994 and they were blessed with twins in 1995 (a boy and a girl) and with another boy in 2002. Camille’s e-mail address is [email protected] Many congratulations to Dr Miles Hember (PPC 79 – 86) who married his Polish bride in Wiltshire in April 2006 – bringing a complete

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choir over from Gdansk for the ceremony! Giles Watson (PPC 82 -87) has left the army and is now teaching history – he was sad to be unable to attend the PPA dinner with Gerald Davies due to his new work commitments! We wish him all the very best in his new career. Chris McMahon (PPC 80-82) is thoroughly enjoying life working in the City. He has recently been promoted to Global Account Director at Complinet - which means he gets to travel occasionally in Europe. His brother Nick is still teaching in Australia. You can reach Chris on [email protected]

1991 – 2000 The Simper triplets John, William and Oliver left Prior in 2000 and John has kindly updated us as follows: John is working as an ecologist with the Game Conservancy Trust having previously gained his BSc in Countryside Management from Aberystwyth University and an MSc in Rural Surveying from Harper Adams University College. William obtained his BSc in Zoology and Botany at Reading University, and with his PGCE from Aberystwyth, he is now Assistant Housemaster teaching biology at Bedford School. Oliver has also gone into the teaching profession and is teaching geography at Oakham School with his BSc in Geography from Exeter University and PGCE from Cambridge behind him. Please get in touch with John (and his brothers) on [email protected] Chocolatier is Marc Demarquette’s new metier (PPC 87–91), having spent the last two years training in France. On his return to England he opened his own shop in Chelsea and business is good! Have a look at his website www.demarquette.com and if you live or work in London make sure you call in at Marc’s chocolate empire. Prior to the cocoa revolution, Marc had been working as a management consultant for Ernst & Young and then for Capgemini. Marc can be contacted by e-mail on [email protected] Jessica Penny (née Smallwood) (PPC 9092) would be very happy to hear from old friends on [email protected] . Jessica was married in Bath in 2002 and now lives in Wokingham. Her first child, Alexander, was born in February of 2006 and she is working as corporate fundraiser with a charity. Half way through her PhD in prostate cancer and type 2 diabetes mellitus at the Department of Oncology Pathology at the Karolinksa Institutet in Stockholm is Rona Strawbridge (PPC 93-00). She can be contacted on [email protected] Now based in Bristol with her husband Alex, Sarah Robins (née Livingston) (PPC 8794) is enjoying motherhood and work – their

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son Matthew was born in July 2005 and Sarah is working as an Independent Financial Advisor. She can be e-mailed on [email protected] Married to Jason Williams, Rosemary Adamson (PPC 92-97) has moved to Manhattan, New York, where she is continuing her training in general medicine at New York University Medical Center. They left the UK in May of 2006 and took the opportunity to travel to New Zealand and to Sydney, where they were pleased to meet up with Jo O’Donnell. Rosemary can be reached on [email protected] Congratulations to Suzi Mills (ex PPC 93) who is getting married in August 07. The wedding will take place in Somerset. The Mills family are all well and looking forward to the celebrations! Suzi’s brother Simon is thriving and is in the process of buying his first house. He is teaching in the IT field and Suzi’s mother is also still teaching, but part-time. Suzi is still in touch with John Sayers who is also a lawyer, Dan Mason, a priest, and “the lovely” Mr Barnes, Suzi’s former Spanish teacher and mentor. Suzi would love to hear from old friends on [email protected] Travelling to different corners of the world is a bonus for Rob Weightman (PPC 88-92) in his work in Far East imports for a housewares company. 2007 is shaping up happily as Rob will be marrying his fiancée Eva in the summer – a European wedding! Many congratulations. 2006 saw a spot of nostalgia as Rob met up with Matt Parkes and shared a couple of beers outside a London pub. Rob would be very happy to hear from any other former classmates on [email protected] We wish Freddie Sayers (PPC 94-99) all the best for his wedding this year! Freddie is still living in Toronto, working as a Quantity Surveyor. You can reach him on [email protected] Still working as a journalist covering the arts on the Bristol and Bath area magazine, Venue, is Steve Wright (who left PPC in 93). He is looking forward to moving into a flat in Bristol with his girlfriend Rachel this spring. Steve can be found on [email protected] Mrs Mays or Maria McEnery (PPC 88-93) has been living in the Cayman Islands with her husband Ben for the last 3 years, working as a Paralegal. Maria was delighted when Abigail James (now Purcell) came out to the Caymans on a visit with her husband in December. Maria is also still in regular touch with Andrea Green (now Asbury), Emma Tobin (now Kenyon), Gwen Padfield (now Cardiff) and Frances Wright (now Macintyre). All six had plans to meet up during Maria’s planned trip to the UK in February of this year. Maria’s brother, Jonathan McEnery (who left PPC in 95) is working as an actuary in St Alban’s and

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really enjoying life there. Her sister, Julie (who left Prior a few days before Maria!) is currently Mission Scientist for NASA based in Washington DC with a telescope/probe she is working on, due to launch from Florida’s Cape Canaveral base in November on a Boeing Delta II rocket! Maria says: “She clearly has the most interesting job of the three of us!” If anyone is in or near the Cayman Islands, Maria would love to hear from them on [email protected] Liz Gavin (PPC 92-93 for the GCSE years, and so effectively part of the Class of ’95) recently worked at the Sussex Eye Hospital as a junior ophthalmologist and found the Consultant Ophthalmologist was none other than Christopher Liu, President of the PPA! Liz can be contacted on [email protected] Having arrived in Kuwait eleven years ago with just a suitcase, Juliet Lambert (PPC 8991) now finds herself happily married to Jim, with two young children, Holly and Sam. After finishing at Prior, Juliet obtained her teaching degree at Reading University and now thoroughly enjoys her current post at an English school in Kuwait. Juliet has kept in touch with some school friends but has lost touch with others and would be delighted to hear from anybody who remembers her on [email protected] We were pleased to be updated by Anthony Swan (PPC 94-99)’s mother, who let us know that Anthony has moved up to Halifax, Nova Scotia with his wife Nancy. Anthony is awaiting his residence papers, in the hope that he can join the Halifax Police. Anthony can be contacted via the PPA office. Working as a yacht Captain full time keeps Ben Edwards (PPC 94-97) abroad most of the year – he generally spends only five weeks a year in the UK. However he likes to keep up with events at Prior and sends his best regards to Denis Clark. Ben’s e-mail address is [email protected] Gareth Duggan (PPC 84-94) is still working on his film, ‘Original Remake’, first reported on in last year’s magazine. Gareth is in the process of buying a club in Shoreditch, London as a security for the financial backing for the film, since his original deal fell through, delaying the start of filming. Undaunted, Gareth still has Danny Dyer on board and will soon be filming again with his new bar as the backdrop to some of the shoots. Watch this space to make Gareth’s club your new watering hole in London! Gareth is still supporting The Cystic Fibrosis Trust with his film and the revenue from the bar. You can reach Gareth on [email protected] Since leaving Prior, Maggie Fleming (PPC 95-00) travelled around Australia for eighteen months and then moved to London where she is currently working for an investment bank called Lehman Brothers in the Liquid Markets division. Maggie lives in Primrose Hill and is www.priorpark.co.uk/ppa

planning to relocate to Sydney in the next year. She would be very pleased to hear from old friends on [email protected] It is fabulous that the Speller family require a category of their own to span the years the five children studied at Prior! The Bursar, Captain Charles Freeman, very kindly passed on the latest news – Harry (PPC 90-97) is now living in London and working for Visit Britain; Robert (PPC 94-99) has passed his medical degree and is currently a first year doctor at Bloomfield Hospital near Chelmsford; Maylee (PPC 97-02) continues to study fashion at Bath College; Fenny (PPC 0005) is based in London studying pharmaceuticals but hoping to transfer to a medical degree in 2008 and James (who left Prior in 2006) has taken a gap year, with a place at Canterbury studying psychology starting in the autumn of 2007. Annie Frere (née Taylor) (PPC 88-95) was recently married at Prior Park to Julian Frere, brother to Lawrie, Toby, Kit and Elsa. The couple now live in a cottage they have renovated in Weston Village, Bath. Julian is an independent financial advisor with AWD Chase de Vere, specialising in trusts, taxation and investments and Annie is setting up her own life coaching and lifestyle management business. Anyone who is interested in talking to Annie about how life coaching or lifestyle management can help them is invited to call her on 07738 072076 or e-mail [email protected] . Annie is offering a FREE introductory session to all Prior Park pupils (former or current).

2001 onwards… Univeristy College London, where she is studying Speech and Language Therapy, has been home to Sarah Ross (PPC 2003 - 2005) since October of 2006. Sarah had a great gap year in Borneo with Raleigh International, then spent some time travelling with Mattie Edwards and Flora Blathwayt in Indonesia, finishing with a visit to family in Queensland, Australia. You can contact Sarah on [email protected] Phoebe Mahon (ex PPC 2004) is getting very little sleep – due to the happy arrival of Alfie on 8th October 2006! Many congratulations! Phoebe can be contacted on [email protected] Medicine at Cardiff University is proving a fantastic choice for Megan Humphreys who left Prior in July 06. Megan is loving her course! She is planning to link up with Lucy Howe this summer and travel to Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean. Please get in touch with Megan on [email protected]

attitude, as the future was by no means certain by day or night! Most of my time at Prior was during the Presidency of Rev Bro J S Roche, who, for some reason, was most kind and considerate to me… it could have been my refugee status, having escaped from Civil War-torn Spain and been bombed out of St Boniface’s in Plymouth. I have fond memories, of course, of my time at Prior and especially of the friendships I made, which sadly I did not follow up after leaving. I remember Patrick MurphyO’Connor, his younger brother, Cormac and older brother Jim. It was just as well that I had no idea what eminence young Cormac was to achieve, but it does not surprise me.

Donald Lopez One of our former students Donald Lopez who was at Prior during the war years, has recently published his autobiography ‘Don Emilio’ and was kind enough to send us a copy for the school library. The book contains fascinating accounts of life at Prior in these dramatic times and the PPA invited Donald, now aged 80, to write something for the magazine: “Having had a chance to read the more recent Gossip Bowl publications, I have come to the conclusion that the current students would appear to be very much brighter and definitely better behaved than my generation. I think perhaps the war had something to do with it; there was a certain ‘devil may care’

Luckily, we were due to return from holiday the day after the Luftwaffe dropped two sticks of bombs on St Paul’s and the new building opposite, which housed the gym, theatre and classrooms. When we did come back a week later, we found literally hundreds of letters marked ‘TOP SECRET’. The new building had been commandeered by the Royal Navy as a secret Command Post, but we knew! As the bedrooms in St Paul’s had been gutted, we were moved to the Mansion. My bed was directly under the big chandelier… not exactly reassuring, when we could hear and see the glow from the bombing in Bristol. This was the first time that a crowd of us had slept together, with our beds only two feet apart. Fortunately, the Head, Rev Bro Roche slept very soundly or we could not have had the pillow fights which occurred most nights. As well as regular visits to the kitchen to make ourselves toast and marmalade; the best however were door-step Spam sandwiches, not made from the pathetic Spam we have today, but the real thing from America in long

golden tins. Numerous dangerous dares were on offer at any one time. The most memorable was the ringing of the bell in the mansion belfry at about one in the morning… with not a building between Prior and Bath, the noise must have been loud and clear… it was deafening where we stood. The ringing of bells was to alert everbody to an impending invasion! The air raid wardens arrived promptly, together with a detachment of the Home Guard! It was agreed that no one should own up, as we had all encouraged the action… we all suffered in silence and were not allowed to go to the village, and so could not visit our pub, which was officially out of bounds, but had one room with the name ‘Prior Park’ over the door! Queen Mary, the Queen Mother, regularly visited the school, sometimes with the Princesses, and very often unheralded. One particular afternoon after a rugby match, I took a short cut from the showers to the Mansion, and running with my head down, I hit something hard. It turned out to be the whale bone stays of Queen Mary’s corsets. I was mortified and could only splutter some incoherent babble. Expecting the worst, I was amazed when she just smiled and said “run along, you are obviously in a great hurry”. I am sure it was due to the War that I only visited the school twice, once to play in the old boys’ rugby match very soon after the war and again in the late fifties with my wife and three daughters.”

Donald’s autobiography is published by Athena Press ISBN 1-84401-518-1

Former pupil takes to the wheel in the world’s most extreme car challenge Sophie Willingale, who left Prior in 2000, will be taking part in the gruelling Mongol Rally which involves driving over 10,500 miles from London to the capital of Mongolia. Sophie will be setting off from Hyde Park on the 21st July 2007 and aims to reach Ulaanbaatar approximately 4 - 5 weeks later. The team consists of Sophie, codriver Helen and ‘Daisy’ their trusty Nissan Micra. Their aim is to raise money for charity. Their chosen route to Mongolia will take them through countries including: Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Russia, before finally reaching the western Mongolian border. The rally lifestyle involves driving from dawn to

dusk in temperatures of up to 50°C and on dubious road surfaces, repairing the car, camping every night and trying to figure out where the next meal and shower will be coming from. They are campaigning for two charities: Mercy Corps in Mongolia which supports rural communities and herding families, and Sworde-Teppa, a small reconstruction and development charity in Tajikistan committed to sustainable projects. When, and if (!), the car reaches Ulaanbaatar, it will be donated to an orphanage. All funds received by the team are going direct to the charities and are not bankrolling the trip. Despite generous offers, Sophie is still in need of sponsorship, and materials. Please consult the website www.freewebs.com/drivingmissdaisies for

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information on how you could contribute and to track her progress. Sophie is still in touch with many of her friends from school, travelling to Brazil last year to be bridesmaid at fellow Prior Park pupil Ana Szmrecsanyi’s wedding to Hugo Martins. She credits Brazil for giving her the travel bug!

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Eye safety roadshow comes to the Prior Park Foundation! A skill he must have honed as a schoolboy at Prior Park, Christopher Liu pulled back on the rubber band and his carefully folded paper missile flew expertly across the hall at an amazing speed. Demonstrating clearly to the Cricklade children the danger of this sort of game, should the missile hit you in the eye. Christopher explained the importance of a healthy diet to the preservation of good sight, together with a healthy respect for the sun’s rays. Students clamoured to demonstrate the correct way of walking with scissors, blades pointing to the floor, and passing pencils safely to their friends. Hands were waving with interesting questions about parents’ and grandparents’ eye problems and about the diseases that can be passed on by pets. Leaving Cricklade, Christopher and Debbie took the eye talks roadshow on

to the Paragon where two different age groups had different presentations. Then on to Prior Park where a more sophisticated talk catered to the teenage and sixth-form audience.

Come and listen to Christopher Liu speak on

Christopher explained that just the day before the talk he had been operating to try and save a boy’s eye from a paper missile game that had gone wrong. He answered questions about the health aspects of eye make-up, about careers in medicine and he spoke to students individually. The slide show included some shocking images of diseased eyes, and the image which drew the most cries of revulsion from the audience was of a fish hook embedded in an eyeball! The students were impressed and engaged – Christopher had put the message across in a very vivid way.

Christopher, President of the P.P.A. (the former pupils’ society) is Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon and Honorary Senior Lecturer in Brighton.

“How to Look After your Eyes”

diet, smoking, alcohol, ultraviolet light, sex and injury can affect our eyes and what we can do to keep

He will entertain us with an informative talk on how

healthy eyes and prevent premature ageing. Christopher is a well known speaker in the international ophthalmic circuit and you will not be disappointed!

Wednesday 18th October 2006 in the Slade Theatre

Update from Prior Park Preparatory School After a successful 2005-2006 year, we were delighted to start the new year in buoyant style. Our intake for two Year 3 classes was full to capacity – their ‘buddies’ in Year Five ensured a happy start. A purposeful and organised approach to their studies ensured another triumphant set of scholarship results for Prior Park College and other senior schools – seventeen awards were offered to thirteen of our Year 8 pupils at the top of the school. A superb performance of ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’ and our annual St. Cecilia’s Concert within the space of ten days provided a very stimulating experience for our school musicians who also achieved their customary successes in their external music exams. ‘Toad of Toad Hall’ was the major school

production with involvement for seventy senior pupils. The lead characters rose to the challenge of a demanding script with enthusiasm and the whole cast’s enjoyment shone through. Our important policy of involving all children in school sporting fixtures has continued this year and it has been good to see such commitment and sportsmanship from our players – our U.13 Girls’ Hockey team with only one defeat from thirteen matches were our most successful team – they also won the Jersey Hockey Tournament for ten schools this year. It has been good too to see such improvement in Boys’ Hockey and Rugby VIIs in the Lent term. Art in the school continues to go from strength to strength. With an unprecedented number of children involved in Scholarship preparation, they

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were treated to two Art Workshops acting on ‘Emotions through the Human Form’ and ‘Printmaking’ – both were inspirational. Our greatest excitement centred on the Astroturf project which we plan will be operational for September 2007. This will improve our facility for Hockey and Tennis significantly. The Parents’ Association has been very busy raising money for this project in all sorts of ways – few will forget the tremendous Burns’ Night Evening in January! Charity, as ever, has been high on our list of priorities with donations being made to the two charities nominated by the School Council, The Starlight Foundation and Cancer Research as well as CAFOD, MacMillan Nurses, the Cotswold Care Hospice, the Helen House Hospice and the Green Hut Centre in Swindon. All in all it has been a happy and purposeful start to the school year at Cricklade.

Weddings Julian and Annie Frere Julian Frere and Annie Taylor have known each other since their school days in Bath. They finally got together in May 2005 when they were both living back in Bath. They were engaged two months later and got married on Friday 25th August 2006. Father Tom Gunning and Father Peter Cornwell conducted the marriage service in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows at Prior Park. A drinks reception followed in the Mansion Hall. As well as current pupil Elsa Frere, guests included Eileen McPeake and former pupils: Lawrie, Toby and Kit Frere, Katherine Lloyd (née Taylor), John Harcourt, Sally Price, Tony Atkins, Tom, Harry and Flora Blathwayt and Ben Please.

A marquee in the Frere family home in Perrymead was the venue for the reception and the happy couple spent their honeymoon in Italy. The day was photographed by Sarah Cameron (www.sarahcameronphotography.co.uk) and was featured in the first edition of Beautiful Weddings magazine in February 2007.

Kathryn and Adewale Onabanjo “Well, I finally did it! Found the right girl and got married!” proclaimed Adewale Onabanjo, who was a student at Prior from 1978 to 1983. “I married Kathryn James at Prior Park College on 1st September 2006”. The service was conducted by Father Bill in the school Chapel, followed by a reception in the Academy Hall. It was a very colourful affair, with morning suits mingling with traditional Nigerian attire. The bride and groom were delighted by the spontaneous singing of Nigerian Yoruba songs as they arrived at the Academy Hall! Guests at the wedding included former

Prior students Abass Arole, Marielle Hunt, Brimah Kebbie and Mario Proetti. Wale and Kathryn held their evening reception at the Bath Spa Hotel with more canapés, drinks and dancing the night away. Other former students including Tony Jiggins, Paul Sewell, Claire Perry (nee Platt), Chris and Paul McMahon and Ian Cordwell joined the evening celebrations. Not content with one marriage ceremony, the couple had a Nigerian celebration in London the following evening! Now, both are happily enjoying married life.

Silvia and Stefano Rizzetto since it is also Silvia’s birthplace, they couldn’t turn down this opportunity. So they will soon be leaving their home in Chiswick for a few years, to live on the beautiful island of Bermuda. The couple met whilst working in the telecommunications sector in London.

On 19th May 2006 at St. Patrick’s Church in Bermuda, Silvia Parussini (who left Prior in 1989) was married to Stefano Rizzetto. They continued festivities with a further celebration and blessing in Venice, Italy, where both families come from. Shortly after leaving Bermuda, Stefano was offered a job with Bermuda Telecom. As they both love the place and

Kate and Nick Craig Waller The seams of Prior Park Chapel were bursting with guests, here to celebrate the marriage of Kate Brodie, a Prior student from 1986 to 1993, to Nicholas Craig Waller, on Saturday 19th August 2006.

unfurled outside. The fabulous Capella Nova Choir received a standing ovation from the congregation at the end of the service.

When Nick proposed, Kate explained that she knew immediately that she wanted to get married at Prior, and was thrilled that her fiancé agreed so readily. Kate was overjoyed that Father Peter Cornwell, who had been the College Chaplain whilst she was a pupil here, was able to perform the ceremony.

Happily the storm had cleared for the bride and groom’s exit from the Chapel and stunning photos were taken on the Mansion steps. Kate’s brother Ben (PPC 90-95) was an usher and another former student, Jemma Crawley (89-94), was one of Kate’s bridesmaids. The reception was held at Bath Spa Hotel.

The service was magical and the marriage vows were exchanged whilst a dramatic thunderstorm

Mr & Mrs Craig Waller are now living in South West London. Kate is a Headhunter in the City and Nick a Marketing Director.

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Old boys victorious! 18th June 2006 Result: 1st XI PPC

197 for 6 off 40 overs

PPA old boys 198 for 8 off 38 overs After a somewhat one-sided game last year (with the school victorious), it was great to see a much tighter and more competitive game this time round. The élite players of yesteryear, dominated by the vintage crop of the late 1990’s, turned up keen to show their true worth. And so they did… Batting first, the young school side, including only four sixth-formers, scored well with no one making a big score, but lots of smaller contributions. Simon Williams again showed he’d lost none of his bowling prowess, as did Oliver Lawson, coming back from knee surgery. A competitive score was posted, with Josh Goulding (40 n.o.) and Tolly Humphreys (38) putting on 80 for the sixth wicket.

The old boys struggled early on, largely due to the extreme pace of the school’s Gap Year student, Tom Wilson, but once his overs were bowled, the runs flowed. In particular Paul O’Dea and Simon Brandon, batting with real force and skill, adding to the earlier good work of James Edmund. Always on, or above the run-rate, at 180 for 5, it looked comfortable. However, 3 late wickets created a minor flutter, only for Lee Dokic to have the honour of making the last few. A great, competitive game. Much credit, and thanks again must go to John Moore and Simon Brandon for rallying the troops, and to Debbie O’Bryan for her organisation of the school ‘end’. These last three years have seen this fixture re-

established as a real celebration of Prior Park cricket, and I hope that this will continue for years to come, as more and more old boys see it as a great chance to catch up with each other, and the school. Tom Owens (1st XI Cricket Master)

Triumphant return to Prior Park “There’s a breathless hush in the close tonight, 10 to make and the match to win – a bumping pitch and a blinding light, An hour to play and the last man in.”

Edmund, Paul O’Dea, Charles and James O’Brien, Simon Philips, Alex McLennan, old timer & batting legend Peter Haddon (playing his 50th match for the old boys), and a great support team stepped up and delivered for the Old Boys side their first victory in years. There were glimpses of the true skill we all know and remember, such as a sublime catch in silly mid off from Simon Philips that happened before anyone really knew it, Dokic’s final four or the calm and experienced handling by Haddon of the first team’s fearsomely paced bowling. Aggressive field placing from captain Moore and his able vice captain Simon Brandon was clear from the off, although that did not prevent a few boundaries being achieved by the younger team as the old boy’s hangovers made themselves apparent.

Such was the scene at the Old Boys’ triumphant return to Prior Park for the 2006 Cricket Match, with all rounder and sports legend Lee Dokic stepping up for a classic finish to a match which was full of fun, surprises, and memories for all. Playing against the PPC First XI, supported by Australian fast bowler and gap year student Tom Wilson, Captain John Moore had fielded a team of old salts who almost all had their name inscribed on the Pavilion wall, (whether in sports awards or graffiti). Suffering slightly from the inevitable reunion evening, which left most feeling the worse for wear, Simon Brandon, Lee Dokic, James Etheridge, James

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Credit does go to the first team, who were facing their record-setting predecessors and were somewhat surprised by the fact they could play at all, given the defeats of the Old Boys last year and in 2004. However in terms of captaincy, body language, and the way players responded to him, Moore’s tactical domination of the match supported by vice captains Simon Brandon and experienced strategist James Etheridge was clear, and their prematch team talk was a powerful motivation to the determined Old Boys that likely gave them the edge overall. A call goes out to all those potential supporters who could have seen the triumph to come this summer, and enjoy a beautiful afternoon talking with staff and pupils and

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watching sport at its very best, in the place almost untouched by time that is the Prior Park top cricket field. The hospitality provided by Debbie O’Bryan – tireless worker on PPA affairs and the key organiser for this event was second to none, and the contributions to the tea were enjoyed by all. Thanks to everyone who came to this event, and an invitation to all that didn’t to join the Old Boys this year for another afternoon to remember at PPC.

And it’s not for the sake of a ribboned coat, Or the selfish hope of a season’s fame, But his Captain’s hand on his shoulder smote “Play Up, play up, and play the game!” James Moore

Association Day Sunday 18th June 2006 Mass on Sunday 18th June, which also happened to be Father’s Day, was dedicated to the Association, and prayers were said for our deceased members. Several former pupils, including Ian Haddon, Tony Jiggins and Mike Hamerton, together with their guests, joined the PPA committee members for a delicious roast Sunday lunch in the Refectory. We enjoyed the longest, warmest rays of sunshine to make themselves felt on Association Day in the last

few years, and an afternoon of exciting cricket kept us entertained. As in previous years, we joined forces with the SPF (Society of Parents and Friends) who celebrated the day with a tennis tournament, boules competitions and family sports. If you would like to attend this year, maybe take a tour of the College, relive some old memories and watch the PPA cricket team defend last year’s victory, please save Sunday 24th June 2007 in your diary.

PPA Golf Day 2006 22 former pupils and staff took part in a most enjoyable day at Cumberwell Park. We were delighted to welcome for the first time: Mounir el Khoury, Mike Baker, Julian Fonseca and Dominic Eedle. Some impressive golf was played and Martin Woodhouse maintained his record, with best gross score of 79, walking away with the Pat McMahon Cup again this year. The runner-up was Mike Stevens with a score of 83. The best net score went to Tony Bury, 66, and the Rae Carter Medal for best Stableford score of 44, went to a member of staff, Tom Owens, Deputy Head of the sixth form. Tom also won the nearest pin prize, and another member of staff, Vince Shannon, achieved the longest drive. Paul McMahon again swept the board with most lost balls and earned himself a bottle of wine!

Chris Blunden having Again, our thanks to Ian Cordwell for arranging the day, despite trouble with his the clash with his house move! putting!

Left to Right: Andy Owen, Mounir el Khoury, Peter Brooks and Michael Stevens

Old Boys’ Rugby 2007 Our apologies to those brave and loyal men, their friends and family members, who turned up on the fine, crisp afternoon of Saturday 16th December to play in the Old Boys’ Rugby Match, only to find that we had just 11 match fit former pupils. Fear not, rugby fans! The 2007 event will go ahead on the old fixture date of the day after the PPA formal dinner – this year the rugby takes

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place on Sunday 2nd December! We will be celebrating Gerald Davies’ final year of teaching at Prior with his team, Davies’ Dragons. 2007 also marks the tenth anniversary of Giles Pruett’s leadership of rugby at Prior Park and his team, Pruett’s Panthers, will battle it out with the Dragons. So, how do you get to play? We will need two squads of around twenty players so please get in touch with Gerald on [email protected] and with Giles on [email protected] if you would like to play. If we do not hear from you shortly, you will receive your call up direct from your former coaches! Giles and Gerald will each nominate a Captain of their team who will be responsible for rallying the troops! Please make a note in your diary now. If you have any queries about the 2007 rugby event, please contact the PPA office on [email protected] .

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n o i n u e R 6 9 f o Class

They came from far and wide and approached the double doors of the Mansion with the timidity and nervousness of Fourth Formers on their first day. A few glasses of champagne soon rectified this and conversation flowed easily between the familiar faces.

, addicott Alice M s Edmund , ic ok D ame Le e Botley, J Rachael

Even the fog and mist couldn’t keep away the international attendees, who included Rachel Lax who flew from in from Hamburg and John Moylan who came over from Dublin. Others from abroad who, unfortunately, weren’t able to make it included Sinan Ciddi who is happily settled in Turkey and can be found at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Sabanci University. Zena Kamash, who was there on the night, is likewise in the wonderful world of academia and is a college lecturer in archaeology at Magdalen College, Oxford. The most entertaining and amusing account of what they have been up to since leaving school would be awarded to Magnus Hind. His recent cycling trip to

Romania to raise money for charity, had more tales of high jinks than a book shelf full of Mallory Towers. Finally, many warm and happy congratulations to Amy Hjaltun-Hubbard and Nancy Gardener (Baker) on the healthy arrivals of Rudy and Harry respectively. There is chat of a fifteen year reunion as twenty years seems an awfully long time to wait before seeing everyone again. Until then, Debbie O’Bryan has contact details for those who attended if anyone wants to get back in touch. Andrea Palacios

Guy Lo ok er, M agnus Hind, Se b Grinke and R ichard Clayton

Rounds, unn, Talei Georgina D Rachel Lax

Brigid Kenned Rachel y, Kate L and Pat ax, Guy Lo ok e Acton, rick Q uinlan r

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Who was there? Michael Daldry

Magnus Hind

John Rowland

Kate Acton

Lee Dokic

Rachel Botley

James Whittleton

Alice Maddicott

Stephen Wheadon

Zena Kamash

Richard Clayton

Nancy Gardener

James Etheridge

Olivia Mckay

James Edmund

Rachel Lax

John Moylan

Hana Stott

William Paskell

Kyla Brawley-Seale

Andrew Haworth

Georgina Dunn

Guy Looker

Brigid Kennedy

Simon Hemmings

Andrea Palacios

Patrick Quinlan

Talei Rounds

Sebastian Grinke 14 Gossip Bowl

le y-Sea rawle d B a l un Ky s Edm Jame

and

Alice Maddicott, Stephen Weadon www.priorpark.co.uk/ppa

Nan cy G ar de Quin n lan and er, Patr ic Livy Mck k ay

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You cannot afford to miss this event! Calling all members of the Class of ’97! Come and celebrate ten years of freedom on Saturday 20th October 2007 at the College. Chris Ash, who can be reached on [email protected], is spearheading the campaign to track down each and every one of you: Rosemary Adamson, Tony Atkins, Anna Bentall, Emma Birts, Tom Blathwayt, Sarah Botley, Joanna Brackley, Alexander Breeden, Paul Burke, James Collins, Emma Cooper, Jane Crozier, Celia Daldry, Emily Dell, Tim Douglas, Karen Dufek, Katie Durand, Charlie Fergie, Hannah Fish, Lawrie Frere, Chris Goulding, Louise Green, Lucy Guest, Holly Hammill, Chris Hancock, Matthew Harrison, Joanna Hill, James Holden-White, Amy Holgate, Catriona Holmes, Mark Hunt-Bryden, Verity Janovitz, Michael Lam, Selby Larner, Zoe Lynch, Sarah Lynott, Benjamin (Ben) Manzi, Bernadette Mason, James McCulloch, Georgina Meacock, Marie-Claire Meridith, James O'Brien, Joanna (Jo) O'Donnell, Rebecca Oldfield, Dominic Parsons, Ben Please, Louise Power, Jemma Roberts, Harry Speller, Victoria (Torie) Speyer, Thomas (Tom) Sturges , Clementine Sweet, Ben Swift, Fiona Thompson, Yu Hong Tsang, Tom Vick, Andrew Waite, Ruth Wallace, Danielle (Danni) Walsh, Christopher Wilson, Cristian Young, Marie-Letecia Young, Jeffrey Yuen.

n o i n u e R 6 6 8 8 f CCllaasss oof The Class of 1986 met for a reunion dinner in London on Saturday 9th September 2006 to celebrate 20 years of ‘life after Prior’. One of the old boys, Paolo Frattini, offered to host the dinner at his family restaurant in Soho. After having spent many years in his native Italy learning to cook and perfect his Italian accent, Paolo (now married with a child) returned to England to take over his father’s restaurant La

Gerald Davies entertains...

Who was there? Jeremy Rozario

Gavin Mullen

Mark Compson

Harbi Ali-Ahmed

Duncan O’Rourke

Jacob Schwartz

Paolo Frattini

Paula Denton

Andrew Hadley

Miles Woolgar

John Hardy

Chris Coelho

Marco Proietti

Iheshan Faasee

Peter O’Donoghue

Edward Mason

Capannina (24 Romilly Street, London W1D 5AH). Recently he has set about renovating it. However, in good Paolo style, his quest Left to right, Rear Row: Edward Mason, John Hardy (obscured by my big head!) for perfection meant Gavin Mullen, Andrew Hadley, Chris Coelho, Peter O’Donoghue, Mark Compson, Harbi that the opening night, Ali-Ahmed, Paula Denton, Jeremy Rozario, Jacob Schwartz, Iheshan Faasee Front Row: Duncan O’Rourke, Marco Proietti, Gerald Shelagh which was scheduled Sitting on floor: Miles Woolgar, Paolo Frattini for the reunion dinner, was delayed. To his hooligans for offering him a crash course in credit, a fantastic alternative was booked, and behaviour management, which proved extremely despite not being up to Paolo’s high standards, it challenging for Gerald and furthered his suited the old pupils perfectly. “housemastery” apprenticeship. Several of this team were present to receive the accolade, in Sixteen former pupils attended, with the guests of particular: Jeremy Rozario, Mark Compson, honour being Gerald and Shelagh Davies. After Duncan O’Rourke, Paolo Frattini, Andrew Hadley, many toasts to absent friends (in particular, John John Hardy and Marco Proietti. Kosecki, deceased), Gerald gave a state of the nation address, much to the approval of the entire restaurant (irrespective of whether they had heard of Prior). Recalling the halcyon days of 1982-86, he thanked the then Roche House

Apologies Michael Morgan

Fr John Cooke

Andrew Clinick

Michael O’Kelly

Ian Fox

Patrick Fung

From Left to right: Duncan O’Rourke, Shelagh, Gerald, Harbi Ali-Ahmed, Peter O’Donoghue, Marco Proietti Jacob Schwartz, Gavin Mullen, Paula Denton, Edward Mason (behind waiter’s arm), Jeremy Rozario, Mark Compson, Andrew Hadley, Chris Coelho (back of head) Iheshan Faasee

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In addition, he reminded everybody of the hugely successful rugby tour of La Rochelle (Lucon) which he and Denis Clarke had organised (Won 2, drew 1, lost 0). According to Gerald, Andrew Hadley single-handedly decimated the opposition (which was worryingly more mature than had been expected). Furthermore, Gerald was reminded by those present of the successful extra-mural activities, that fortunately were not organised by the staff. They will remain unwritten! It was a hugely enjoyable night, and one that will hopefully be repeated at the 25-year point. Thank you very much to Gerald and Shelagh for attending and to Paolo for providing an excellent location. It was great to meet so many old friends and catch up on the tall stories. To anyone else who was in the same year as the “Class of 1986”, whose details are not held by the PPA, and wish to be invited to the next reunion, please email Debbie O’Bryan at [email protected].

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Ten members of the Class of ’78 got together at the Sofra Restaurant in Covent Garden on 15th December 2006 for an evening of nostalgia. Gabriel Makhlouf took the lead role in booking the venue and networking with old friends to set up the event. The likely lads included: Gabriel (now without the trademark rectangular photochromic glasses!), Steve McCullagh, Paul Wrightman, Eddie Chan, Gary Winch, Martin Schimmer, Richard Morris, Mike Smith, Denis Lyons and Willie van Heesewijk. Christopher Liu, who hails from the Class of ’79, joined the group for dinner.

Eddie Chan & Paul Wrightman

Gary Winch

Denis Lyons

Steve McCullagh

Richard Morris

PPA WEEKEND Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd December 2007 There are many excellent reasons for coming to this year’s PPA weekend: a convivial dinner on the Saturday evening, followed on Sunday morning with PPA Mass, where the quality of the College choir will astonish you. A Sunday roast can be had in the Refectory and the feisty old boys’ rugby, featured on page 13, will keep you rooted to the touchline in the afternoon. The post-match tea and cakes could keep you at Prior even longer! The dinner is always a fabulous, festive event. This year you will be able to hear our Guest of Honour, Professor Tony Watts, speak. Awarded an OBE in 1994 for services to education, he has had a fascinating working life and is now a self-employed consultant based in Cambridge. Tony is a Founding Fellow and Life President of the National Institute for Careers Education and Counselling, NICEC, and a joint founder of CRAC (Careers Research and Advisory Centre). He has lectured all

1st XI CRICKET 1957 Standing: C. Blunden, D. Lumsden, S. de Wolf, G. Berni, A. Watts, E. Wintle, R. de Souza Sitting: J. Bogie, R. Gibbons, I. Reid (Capt.), C. Blundell, M. Stevens

cricket first XI. Old boys will also remember his younger brother Paul, who studied here from 1955 to 1962.

around the globe and will entertain and inform us with his insights, as well as giving us his take on the Prior Park that he and his contemporaries knew! Tony was a student at Prior Park College from 1953 to 1959, pictured above right in the 1957

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So, please clear this weekend in your diary. Think about organising a table of old friends and indulge in a little nostalgia. Contact Debbie in the PPA office with any queries; we can help with finding overnight accommodation in Bath. Dinner tickets will go on sale in September 2007, but places may be reserved in advance by e-mailing [email protected]

PPA Dinner December 2006 Our Annual Dinner was held on Saturday 2nd December at the College. The Guest of Honour was Gerald Davies, former Housemaster of Roche House and currently Head of IT at the College. The evening began with a festive drinks reception in the Mansion followed by a musical recital in the John Wood Chapel. Christopher Liu’s gifted ten year old daughter, Sophia, played Rondo second movement from Sonatina in E op. 12 No. 12 by Hook, Dream No.10 from Enfantines by Bloch and Diversion No. 5 by Richard Rodney Bennett. The school choir then sang a Christmas carol, “Newborn King”, written by a member of the Lower Sixth, Alberic Elsom, and “Ave Verum Corpus” by Elgar. Christopher Liu, PPA President, then presented the annual PPA music prize to its deserving winner, Daniel Hart of the Upper Sixth. Daniel is a baritone and he sang “Quia fecit mihi magna” from Bach’s Magnificat. He then accompanied himself on the piano singing “Hallelujah” from Shrek. As usual, the music was of a very high standard and was enjoyed by all. We then retired to the elegant, candlelit Dining Hall, transformed from its utilitarian norm with flowers and professional lighting. It was good to welcome past pupils who had not been back for a few years. Jacob Schwartz, Andrew Hadley and Iheshan Faasee, with his wife Debbie, were able to join more frequent visitors like Suzannah AngeloSparling, Justine and Mark Gallen, Paul McMahon, Richard Spilsbury and Gerard and Peter O’Donoghue. It was also a welcome sight to see recent leavers like Dianna Walsh, Hannah Fuller, ShinWoo Kang, Alex Gosling, Tim Birts and James Osment enjoying themselves. Following the excellent meal, Christopher explained that this year we were instigating a new tradition by asking both Heads of School to address the gathering. Madeleine Pitt talked about the introduction of girls to Prior, and joked about how the older past pupils present at the Dinner would find life at the College so very different today. She ended with tongue in cheek by speculating whether the Catholic Church would ever follow Prior’s example of co-education by one day investing women priests! Tolly Humphreys gave a very moving speech in which he talked of how supportive the whole Prior community had been in recent years when he had suffered a www.priorpark.co.uk/ppa

very serious illness. It was a pleasure to see Tolly in good health, delivering his speech with such wit and aplomb. Christopher Liu then recounted the progress which the PPA was making as an organisation, particularly now that the Web Alumnus site was fully operational. He introduced the Guest of Honour, Gerald Davies. As a rugby-playing Welshman, Gerald started off by apologizing for not being THE Gerald Davies, the great Welsh Rugby legend. No doubt he had in mind how the supporters of his namesake, when he was playing for Cambridge University and Wales, would hold up banners warning his opponents to “hark the Gerald Davies wing”! Gerald said he had always assumed that teachers were only ever invited to be Guests of Honour after they had left the College. He added that he had looked twice to see if his invitation was accompanied by a P45! He related how he ended up as a teacher when he found himself dissatisfied studying electronic engineering at Southampton University. He had found his vocation and had never regretted his decision to change careers.

He recalled some of the events of his career and some of the characters that he had come across – including coaching rugby to Clive Woodward and Ian Duncan-Smith! His many amusing stories, not least on D of E trips to Ireland, were hilarious and one could only ponder on how fortunate the teaching profession in general and Prior in particular had been to have someone who so obviously enjoyed his work. Those present could readily see how engineering’s loss was teaching’s gain and no colleague or pupil of Gerald’s would disagree. He touched, too, on some of the problems that he and Shelagh faced when he first came into St Paul’s as an Assistant Housemaster. But even here the humour broke through when he spoke of the antics the lads got up to. At the end of Gerald’s speech, Christopher Liu presented him with a book on Wales’ Grand Slam success of 2005. The Toastmaster, Andy Owen, introduced the Headmaster who praised Gerald for his professionalism and devotion to Prior. Dr Mercer also reported on the continued success of Prior in so many fields, the academic, sporting, drama, music and so on. The College continues to flourish and go from strength to strength with each passing year. Tony O’Sullivan

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Gap Year Reports The PPA believes strongly in the value of gap year experiences. Each year we run a competition involving written applications and interviews for PPC sixth formers. Here are the very interesting reports from three of the students we sponsored in 2005. province, just south of the Himalayas. Meanwhile, we had 24 hours to burn in the Indian capital. We jumped in a rickshaw and asked to be shown the sights. My affections for Delhi never really grew, through my own fault mainly; I always felt threatened and on edge. It was a relief to get on the train and up to the Himalayas.

A Snapshot of My Travels Through India by Dan Dando As much as I had enjoyed my time at Prior Park, I was eager to embrace a year out, before going on to University. Prior’s riveting ‘Sixth-form Enrichment Programme’ included an Indian school governor talking about opportunities to work at his school in Patna, Uttar Pradesh in Northern India. It was an idea that really appealed to me: I wanted to travel somewhere that would provoke me, possibly even scare me, and, with a budget as low as Dr Trott’s voice, I knew India would be the perfect choice.

headlamps are not replaced. Beware random rocks on the highway as well as ignorant cattle that decide to sleep in the middle of the roads. Cows are sacred animals in India, so taxi drivers avoid them like a lower five boy with uniform issues avoids Mr Clarke.

Unfortunately, through liasing with Dr Mhato, the school governor, it soon became apparent that our dates collided and that Oliver Lawson and I wouldn’t be able to help out at the school after all. Oli turned his attention away from a trip to India but I found I couldn’t let go of the idea. I worked over the summer towards a planned winter ski trip. However, come September that year, I made an executive decision whilst having a drink with Jack Kelly, a friend from Downside. We were moaning about our new life in ‘The World of Work’’; we longed for school and the sixth-form centre, instead of a run down staff room. At that moment I proposed that we go to India in one week’s time.

It really upset me; I was feeling a new emotion - it wasn’t fear and it wasn’t sympathy, although fear did soon enter the equation. As the car slowed due to the

Seven days later, on Thursday 22nd September 2005, after receiving our visas and passports a matter of hours prior, we stood at Heathrow airport being swamped by our respective father’s arms.

As we arrived into the suburb, Paharganj, we noticed vast numbers of men lying asleep on the sides of the roads and on top of food carts.

sheer mass of human traffic, men began to tap on the windows and to try to open the doors. Our driver, Raghava, was amazed we had been

We arrived in Pathankok and located the bus that was going to Mcleod-ganj, home to the Dalai Lama. It was a rickety old mountain bus with massive wheels, decorated in a green and yellow scheme that made it clear it was a government bus. The wording “Ultra-low pollution fuel” painted on the side of the bus was clearly ironic, given the amount of fumes this vehicle was emitting! As we waited, the bus soon filled up, until no more goats or people could squeeze in. Setting off, it became clear that the driver wasn’t smoking cigarettes, but instead Charas, a Himalayan form of hash. The journey was a nail-biting 7 hour adventure.

We arrived in Mcleod-ganj to amazing surroundings: Buddhist monks and the awe-inspiring peaks of the mountains.

We landed in Delhi late at night and every single one of my senses was being assaulted. The putrid stench and the moist,

recommended this area because, as he put it, “It is very dangerous, there is lots of Muslim, Christian and Sikh tension here”. Raghava escorted us into our hotel, where a swarm of young boys tried to detach our bags from our shoulders.

humid texture in the air were real signs that we were a long way from home. We made ourselves known to our pre-booked driver and he bullied his way through the plethora of traffic emanating from the Airport. The rules of driving in India are simple, there are none! Indicators tend to be non-existent and broken

The next morning we made a fresh start on our adventure with breakfast at a ‘café’ near our hotel. Eight Chapatis (naan type pancakes) for 10 rupees, equivalent to about 8p. We went straight to New Delhi train station and booked our ticket to Panthankot, a town in the Punjab

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We were impressed that our overnight train was so cheap (£8 return for a journey distance equivalent to Edinburgh to Paris) but were soon to find out why. 20 or 30 carriages rolled into the station (long trains!) before the final 5 or so which were sleeper. A mass brawl took place to get on; there were people on top of each other with cages of chickens on the beds! People were staring at us with amazement rather than animosity -this clearly wasn’t the way most westerners travelled. Inspired by Michael Palin, I stuck my head out of the window, taking in the passing landscape… from the flat plains of the Punjab region to the foothills of the Himalayas – it was quite incredible!

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The next few days were spent relaxing at the temples, walking the mountains and meeting people with fascinating stories of their travels through the Himalayas. Everybody in the village was of Tibetan descent, even though we were still very much in India. The Indian government had given Mcleod-ganj to the Tibetan refugees after they were exiled from their own country by the Chinese. We ended up staying for just over a week, before seeing more of the Himalayas: Rajasthan, Mumbai and Goa. In total, I spent 5 weeks in the country, and then went to Sri Lanka and Thailand. I can honestly say that India was the most interesting of the three. I would like to thank the PPA for their financial contribution towards what turned out to be truly the best 5 weeks of my life.

At the age of 10 (for reasons unfathomable even to me) I vowed that I would never go to Asia. A rather bizarre promise to make I agree, but something worried me about that peculiar place on the wrong side of a 13 hour flight. However, 8 years later that was exactly where I found myself, sitting in a pool of my own nervous sweat on a bus in the car park of Kota Kinabalu airport, the state capital of Sabah, a Malaysian state in the north-eastern corner of Borneo. Without knowing it, I had landed myself at the start of a 10 week expedition with Raleigh International, a charity organisation which runs gap year projects in the UK and overseas for 17-24 year olds looking to be challenged physically and mentally in an overall process of “personal development”. I had known that I wanted to travel to Australia for part of my gap year, and while that would be great for my preferred kind of personal development (also known as “A Perfect Tan”), it wasn’t to be the most worthwhile experience, so I decided to embark on a Raleigh Expedition first.

With areas of unexplored primary rainforest, rocky mountains, desert islands and remote indigenous communities, Borneo promised to be a fascinating expedition. But all this was far from my mind as we sped away from Kota Kinabalu and into the jungle to begin a week’s initial training for all 90 volunteers. Learning about everything from the correct way to slay an unsuspecting bamboo tree with a Perang (or machete to you and me) to the administration of adrenaline if one of our poor comrades went into anaphylactic shock following a potentially fatal snake bite; anyone who had dared to feel confident was quickly reduced to a quivering wreck. My first 3 weeks were to be spent in Danum Valley, a conservation area of primary rainforest in southern Sabah. Danum is a centre for scientific research with a special focus on the preservation of rainforest in an area where illegal logging is rife. Our project

Raleigh Expedition in Asia by Sarah Ross was to construct a 3km path to a waterfall which had been recently discovered, thus allowing the resident scientists easy access to a new area of study. The tiring work consisted of felling trees, pulling up roots and general forest destruction; I promise the irony was not lost on us either. Danum Valley is widely respected for its huge diversity of wildlife, from the friendly orang-utans and horn-bills (a huge prehistoric looking bird) to the not so friendly, sand flies, bearded pigs, scorpions, snakes and

our personal favourites the tiger leeches which took up residency in all kinds of unsavoury places around our warm sweaty bodies. Following a rather treacherous two day journey out of Danum, we were allowed a couple of days rest and recoup in a seemingly luxurious hotel (European toilets and everything!). My next project was to be living in a rural community and building a new kindergarten, whilst immersing ourselves in village life of Kampung Saguan in central Sabah. The first project team had completed the construction of 20 foundation posts, and it was our mission to complete the floor, stairs, walls and roof struts. This task became all the more daunting on arrival in the village when we discovered that we had no building materials and even less electricity. On the second night however, we heard the rumble of a truck a few hundred yards down the road. Our materials had arrived, though their progress was slightly hampered by a 30ft crater in the only road into the village – and so a two day operation to lift 10 tonnes of building materials began. Though almost continuously on the building site, we also managed to find time to teach English in the primary school, attend a funeral and church services, parties, washing in the muddy stream, cooking, volleyball, football and even rubber tapping on the plantations surrounding the village. We were even lucky enough to spend time staying in the locals’ houses, which was a welcome change from our nightly kip on the concrete floor of the village community hall.

memorable. We started off spending a week on an uninhabited (apart from us) desert island attaining our PADI scuba diving qualification which was simply incredible, an absolute dream world. After being sadly dragged away, we spent five days on a static site in the jungle with the job of maintaining a trail up the slope away from a huge waterfall to make the area more accessible to tourists. From here, we embarked on a 7 day trek through the mountains of the Crocker Range National Park, which although being painful, long, tiring, wet, uncomfortable, sore, depressing (should I go on?) was a laugh a minute and the highlight of my expedition. Our last mountain to climb (literally and metaphorically) was Mount Kinabalu, the highest peak in South-East Asia. The climb was completed in 24 hours, with the summit climb beginning at 2 o’clock in the morning in order that we might reach it at sunrise, a truly magnificent sight and a perfect conclusion to the trip. So all that’s left are the vivid memories, and the burning question, “Do I feel personally developed?” Well, I’m not entirely sure, but I can honestly say that my Raleigh

International expedition was the best 10 weeks of my life and a truly unforgettable experience.

My last phase on expedition was the most challenging but without a doubt the most www.priorpark.co.uk/ppa

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Excitement and trepidation in Kenya by Alice Usher On 9th January 2006, I set off for Kenya full of excitement and trepidation. Through the Africa Venture Scheme, I was heading for 4 months of teaching in a rural secondary school. Living in a small house with one other English girl, I was to experience a completely different culture for the first time. I had never been as nervous in my life as when the group of British volunteers gathered at Heathrow. Our first challenge was a week of classes, held at a campsite on Lake Naivasha, dealing with teaching techniques and Kenyan culture. We were taught a few words of Kiswahili, warned not to beckon with the palm upwards, and given advice on how to dress—long skirts only, in a school environment. The country was exhilaratingly beautiful, though we arrived in the dry season: full of blue skies, clear lakes and unspoilt mountains.

Travelling from Naivasha to our schools, around Nandi Hills in the Rift Valley, we experienced the essential character of Kenya. In every town we passed through, women with meticulously stacked piles of potatoes and tomatoes leapt to their feet and rushed to our windows, waving their produce and shouting ‘mzungu, mzungu!’ Children waved excitedly at the bus as it went past. On every roadside was a small bicycle repair enterprise, a herbal remedy seller, and a CocaCola stand; and intricately painted advertisements decorated every spare wall: Safaricom, Elastoplast, and Celtel. My partner Catherine and I were taken to our school, Kipsigak High School, in a broken down and rusty school van. The driver, who initially frightened us with his intense smile, later became a good friend, whose enthusiasm we came to like. We were shown to our small house on the Kipsigak grounds. It had one bed, a tap, a gas stove, and a long drop toilet outside. My first lesson at Kipsigak was terrifying. The class, Two West, was enormous, with about forty eight students, and the material I was teaching them I had only looked at briefly in the staffroom beforehand. The lessons became easier as I began to feel more comfortable in class, and learnt a few of the students’ names. At first I had real problems with the names, because of how 20 Gossip Bowl

many the children seemed to have: on top of an ‘English’ name, they had a tribal name (mostly Kalenjin tribe, in the Nandi Hills area) and another name based on the tribal name of their father. The order in which they wrote the names on their textbooks was very variable, and I worried about revealing my ignorance. The other problem I had was even more embarrassing: I often had to look surreptitiously under the desk to see if a student wore a skirt or not, as the school insisted on regulation shaved haircuts for both boys and girls. I regularly taught Two West English and History, and attempted to teach rounders to the younger ones once a week. At the weekends, we travelled around the area, visiting other English volunteers at their schools, and seeing local attractions. We went to Kakamega Forest one weekend, as well as Kisumu, Eldoret, and other local towns. When the term ended, we set off around the big attractions, beginning with a visit to Jinja in Uganda for white-water rafting on the Nile. A small group of us visited Lamu, an island that is as near to Paradise as I’ve ever experienced, and were entertained fabulously by the locals, including the rotund Ali Hippy and his vast musical family, who can be read about in most guidebooks. We also

spent a lot of our time avoiding the call ‘Hey pretty lady! You want some company tonight….?’ that accompanied us as we explored the areas less frequented by tourists. We finished with a week’s safari in the Nakuru National Park and the Masai Mara. When the majority of the volunteers had returned home, I went back, this time alone, to Kipsigak. Instead of staying in the little house again, this time I moved in with one of the teachers, Mrs Oidi, and her family.

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My second experience was very different to the first. Because I was now without the company of other English people, I began to truly experience Kenya. I chopped wood, made chapattis and became an expert in catching matatus, the Nissan vans that serve as hugely cramped public transport. I began to love roasted maize, which, as the season changed and it began to rain heavily every day, was extremely tender and delicious.

The biggest part of my life in the second term was the Music Festival, a countrywide competition that began with regional heats, and of which I became an integral part when the Pastor, the only other staff member who could read music, failed to turn up. I had to teach five-part madrigals to a group of enthusiastic students whose musical experience had never encountered anything like that before. We did well in the district round, but were defeated at the regionals by the bigger private schools, where music was actually taught as part of the syllabus. Living with Mrs Oidi, I got the chance to see more of Kenya as she took me with her whenever she visited family members. I learnt a lot more about the tribal history and culture of Kenya, which is never far below the surface, and still crops up shamefully in their national politics. When it was nearly time for me to leave Kipsigak, at the end of July, I discovered that one of my Two West students, Caroline, was having trouble with paying her school fees (around £100 a year). Worried about what would happen to Caroline should she not get the fees paid (almost definitely marriage before she reached 15), I was able to help her out. It was only one girl, but hopefully it will make a difference, and in her letters she assures me she is working hard. One of the last things I did before leaving was to paint a giant map of the world on the school wall, so they could all see where I came from. My friend Lydia Oidi writes regularly, and so does Caroline, sending me news of Two West—who have now become Three West. I hope to go back there soon, perhaps lead the music club to victory, and recapture the incredible enjoyment Kipsigak gave me.

Report from The Paragon School The Paragon School stands poised at the beginning of an exciting new phase as the Headmaster, Mr Titus Mills channels his energy into its development. Building on all that the school achieves so well, Mr Mills has invited feedback from staff, students and parents, many of whom highlighted the distinctive atmosphere of a friendly, happy school full of courteous and cheerful children. www.paragonschool.co.uk, the new website, featuring the fresh Paragon crest is up and running. Student numbers are on the increase and record numbers of visits by prospective parents have been recorded. Imaginative redecoration, new desks and carpets, six new computers, a new projector, digital camera and photo printer have improved the children’s environment already. Looking to forge links with the wider community, Mr Mills has invited outside speakers including a fireman, an Olympic athlete, a puppeteer, a policeman and a priest, to lead school assemblies. Parents are involved too, and a mums’ hockey and dads’ football team lead the way. Music is flourishing with the new Junior Orchestra, and all standards of musical achievement are recognised and encouraged. The Mid-Somerset Festival saw many successes for Paragon musicians – Paragon Strings won first prize in the U13 Chamber Ensemble class, the Brass Group

took second prize, the ‘Minims’ won the Transitional Recorder Ensemble and the Paragon Senior Orchestra came away with second prize in the very tough U15 Junior Orchestra class.

all the Year 6 children have done very well in their secondary school entrance exams. Of the 23 candidates who sat the Prior exam, an impressive 8 were awarded scholarships.

Sporting highlights include the girls’ Under 11 hockey team who won the South West of England hockey tournament held at Millfield and will go on to compete at the National Finals in Nottingham. Boys’ football is taking off and the U11s boys’ team won their tournament at Millfield. The boys’ U11 rugby did well to reach the Millfield sevens semis. On the academic front,

GRADUATION NEWS We are delighted to have received the following news of recent graduations: Magdalen College, Oxford Richard Olney graduated with first class honours in Music. Somerville College, Oxford Congratulations to Maya Corry who graduated with first class honours in History. Imperial College, London A superb achievement from Sebastian Turner who was awarded the top first in his year in Geology and Geophysics. He has also been selected for a Research Scholarship, of which only a very few awards are made each year. University of Leeds Penny Law achieved first class honours in History.

University College, London Well done to all our students who studied at UCL: ● Thomas Eastgate achieved an upper second class honours degree in Environmental Geoscience ● Sarah Jenkins graduated with an upper second in Human Sciences ● Victoria Pettemerides gained her MBBS medical degree ● Holly Root-Gutteridge graduated with an upper second in Biology ● Lea Stankovic achieved upper second class honours in History Hatfield College, Durham University Congratulations to Kirsten Anderson who graduated with upper second class honours in English Literature. Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge Majello Munro gained first class honours in History of Art.

Newcastle University Congratulations to Robert Little on gaining his BA Hons in Business Management.

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Obituaries James Pardoe 1918 - 2005 Dr James Leslie Pardoe died at his home in Portishead, Somerset on 23rd July 2005. James came to Prior Park at the age of eleven from Shanghai where he was born, his father having been a civil engineer working in China. He was joined at Prior by his younger brothers Leonard and John; James also has

a sister, Jane. He was capped for the rugby team and was also head boy at Prior. After leaving Prior, he studied medicine at Bristol University where he met and married Margaret Savile, also a medical graduate. On leaving Bristol he was posted with the Royal Army Medical Corps to India where he spent a large part of the war. On returning from India, James and Margaret started a medical practice in Portishead where one of James’ former partners, Paul Conway, described him as ‘a truly lovely man and a great friend’. James and Margaret went on to have seven children, two of whom, Timothy and Anthony also studied at Prior.

Friends of Michael Hilton will be shocked and saddened to hear of his sudden death from a heart attack on Sunday 13th of August 2006, aged 60.

became Marketing Manager for the British Library followed by a similar position with Motorola in Belgium. The majority of his working life was spent in the Gulf States where he ran his own company specialising in Marketing and Training for the major banks in the area.

Michael was a pupil at Prior Park from 1958 to 1964 with his brothers Stephen and Peter. He had a varied career after leaving Prior Park, initially graduating from Sandhurst and serving with the Light Infantry division based in Shrewsbury. After leaving the army he

He was resident in Oman where he died and it was his wish to be buried in the Catholic cemetery in Muscat. The funeral was held there on Friday the 18th of August 2006. A memorial service was also held on Thursday 24th August at the Church of Our Lady in

Michael Hilton 1946 - 2006

Anthony More O’Ferrall 1911 - 2006 Tony was born in Gateshead on 9 June 1911 and spent most of his childhood in Bristol. He had three younger brothers, Louis, Denis and Dominic and an older sister, Julia. He was educated at Prior Park and former pupils will remember Tony from sporting photographs as he wore an impressive moustache. His rugby successes, apart from Prior Park 1st XV, included Irish Schoolboys and then London Irish. Tony was involved in various businesses up to the start of the War when he joined the Royal Irish Rifles. In 1943 he moved to the Admiralty in Bristol where he remained until the end of the War. He was married in Bristol in December 1935

Lewis More O’Ferrall 1915 – 2006 We received the very sad news that Tony’s younger brother, Lewis, who was also a student at Prior Park, died on the date of his brother’s funeral, 30th January 2006. Our sympathies go to the whole family.

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Recent happy memories include the celebration of James 85th birthday in 2003 when the family rented a 70 bedroom selfcatering house on Dartmoor for the party. This was a great success with about 60 attending & more than 40 relatives staying overnight. Sadly James was widowed in 1987 but was fortunate subsequently to marry Patricia Leahy whose brothers were at Prior and will be remembered by many old boys. James is survived by his widow Patricia & his children Timothy, Michael, John, Catherine, Anthony, Josephine and Anne.

Fleet, Hampshire where family members were very pleased to see Christopher Lennon, Michael’s close friend from Prior Park days. We offer our condolences to Michael’s family, particularly to his mother, Monica, children Simon and Miranda and grandchildren, Sam and Max.

to Audrey, a physiotherapist. They made their home in Oxted, where they returned after the War. Apparently they first met when Audrey was invited to tea by sister Julia. Tony answered the door and as there were hockey sticks lying around, they proceeded to bully off in the hallway, to Julia’s astonishment! Their first son, Rory, was born in 1937 and was followed by twin girls, Clare and Elizabeth, and then by Sheila, Roderick, Lewis and Felicity. At the date of his death Tony had 23 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and 4 more on the way. Tony had various senior sales jobs and

Audrey practised as a physiotherapist until 1980, when they moved to Drayton St Lawrence in Oxfordshire. Sadly Audrey died in 1998 and Tony moved to a home called The Meadows. Here he was regularly visited by Leonard de Freitas, another old boy of Prior.

Lewis met his wife Josephine, a talented musician and singer, known to all as ‘Joe’, when they were both working at the Admiralty in Bath. They were married in 1944 and lived in Malvern. Lewis worked in the paint industry before they moved to Wales and ran their own business together selling

speciality teas, coffees and chocolate. The couple had no children. They retired to Bournemouth in the early 1970’s where Joe died in 2002. Lewis then moved to a care home in Oxfordshire to be near to both his nephew, Roderick and his brother, Tony.

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Tony was a very fit man and he continued to walk to keep fit. Indeed he believed that one of the secrets of his longevity was taking a daily cold shower. A habit likely to have been formed at Prior Park in the 1920’s! The eulogies at his funeral underlined the love which his large family had for him. He had a great interest in the world and in history, politics and current affairs. He was gifted at languages and loved literature and poetry.

Noel Horrobin 1945 – 2006 A student at Prior Park from 1959 to 1965, where he was a member of the College first rugby XV, Noel’s professional life was spent teaching. He was passionate about rugby and was an inspirational coach to his students at Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar School, where he had worked for

Sidney Sheffield 1914 – 2006 It is with great sadness that we must report the death on September 11th 2006 of former Prior student, Sidney Sheffield, who was 92 years old. He is survived by his wife and daughter and two granddaughters, Deborah and Miranda. Sidney grew up in Lancashire and came to board at Prior Park at the age of 11. He went on to study at Bath University before moving on to train at Guys Hospital in London where he qualified as a dentist. Sidney then took his first job working at the Bristol dental hospital and it was there that he met his future wife, Betty, in 1939. Introduced as ‘Peter’, which was his nickname on the wards (from ‘Peter The Great’ because of his stature) Betty did

Major Anthony Tregoning 1938 – 2006 We were very sorry to hear the news of Major Anthony Tregoning’s death last year.

Christopher Bailey 1956 – 2006 Chris joined Prior Park Preparatory School at Cricklade in 1966, moving to Prior Park College in September 1969. He enjoyed his time at school and was extremely proud to be awarded a rugby cap after playing in the 1st XV. His three brothers, Michael, David and Nicholas, also attended the school. He left the College in 1975 and despite plans to take up a place at Sheffield University, he chose

thirty years. Noel became Director of Sport three years ago and was instrumental in the school’s attainment of sports college status. Outside of school, he also coached the Kent U16 and U18 rugby teams and was an England U16 selector. Tragically, Noel was diagnosed with a brain tumour in May 2006. Steve Hill (once Noel’s 1st XV captain and now Director of Rugby at Oxford University) rallied friends from the world of rugby, organising a fund-raising dinner to help with alternative treatments for their very popular coach and colleague.

Sadly Noel passed away on 23rd November 2006. Highly respected on and off the rugby pitch, Noel will be missed by many. One of his students, and a member of his rugby squad, wrote of his mentor, “This man was an absolute legend”. Our deepest sympathy goes to his family and to his wife Lynne and daughters Elizabeth and Emily. In February, Lynne accepted on Noel’s behalf, Bexley’s highest civic recognition award, The Outstanding Achievement Award.

not discover that his real name was Sidney for quite some time! Henceforth he was known to all as ‘Peter’. Peter and Betty were married in 1941 and shortly afterwards he travelled to Kenya as part of his service in the Royal Army Dental Corps. Their daughter Gillian was born in 1943, and when Peter was finally demobbed in 1946, the young family moved to New Milton. It was here that Peter set up his Station Road Dental Practice in 1948. Peter’s younger brother, Harold, joined him there on qualifying in dentistry three years later. Right up until his retirement at the age of 70, Peter continued to run the dental practice. Peter was a keen photographer and aqua diver and he and Betty shared a passion for travel which took them all over Europe. Peter

Anthony was a student at Prior Park from 1949 to 1956. He was an outstanding rugby player and enjoyed

to spend some time in Rheindahlen with his parents and instead joined the Army in 1976. He was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1977. He went on to serve in England and Germany and was deployed on various operational tours to Northern Ireland, the Falklands and Bosnia. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 1982 and a Masters degree in the Design of Information Systems in 1997, studying for both at the Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham. In 2001 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and moved to Blandford Forum where he enjoyed working on Information Architectures for the Armed Forces. Chris met his wife, Sue, whilst stationed in Germany in 1978. They married in 1980 and

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derived much pleasure from receiving the Gossip Bowl magazine, and following last year’s edition, received at the beginning of his illness, he was thrilled to make contact again with Simon Howell (PPC 63-70). Simon’s father qualified in dentistry at the same time that ‘Uncle Peter’ was working at Bristol dental hospital.

unprecedented success in the school first team, playing scrum half to Ian Reid over a period of three seasons.

had two children, Andrew and Katherine, who both attended Prior Park. Chris enjoyed a long and happy association with the school. Chris had a passion for keeping fit and enjoyed photography, cookery and building and flying kites. He also played an active role in the Roman Catholic Parish community in Blandford Forum. Chris was diagnosed with a brain tumour in May 2005 and fought his illness with courage and dignity. He always remained positive and had a strong faith which sustained him and those around him. He managed to continue working until May 2006 and finally passed away on 18th August 2006. He is sadly missed by all his family and friends.

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YOU COULD BE MISSING OUT ON PPA NEWS! IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING COMMUNICATIONS: If you have changed your e-mail address, or have not yet registered on our Web Alumnus site, PLEASE inform the PPA of your new details as soon as possible. Alternatively, you may amend your own information on the web.

Apart from the Gossip Bowl, we plan to phase out paper mailings wherever possible, due to the prohibitive cost, and to contact members by e-mail for PPA news and events.

Do you recognise any of these intrepid D of E award hopefuls? If anybody can put names to faces in this photograph, please would they contact the PPA office.

Have you registered yet on our PPA internet linked database, Web Alumnus? Any PPA members who have not yet registered on our internet linked database, Web Alumnus, please do so now! It is very easy and takes only a few minutes. Three easy steps take you there:

1. Arrive at the Web Alumnus welcome page via either: a) www.priorpark.co.uk/ppa or b) the school website: www.priorparkschools.co.uk, to Prior Park College and then via the former pupils tab to the PPA page, and then the text or shield link to ‘the PPA online database’.

2. Click on ‘New, never registered before?’ 3. Complete the security questionnaire to ensure that only former Prior Park pupils have access to the secure site, include your e-mail address, click on submit and if you are happy with the form click on confirm.

The Damian Timms’ tennis prize A tennis prize has been funded by friends in memory of Damian Timms (PPC 6370). The prize will be awarded each year to the most improved male and most improved female tennis player in the sixth form.

Where are you now? Over the course of the year we have received mailings back from the people listed below. If anyone has a current up to date address whether postal or e-mail, please let Debbie know.

C McGibney

Holly Hammill

Sarah Waters

Phillip Handley

Joanna Brackley

James Stokes

Phoebe Hammill

Christopher Sampson

Nicola Greave

Sharon Chamberlain

Jemma Roberts

H Fahm

Matthew Foley

Tristram Tucker

Richard Upton

Philip Gartland

Ruth Mandeville

Claire Monk

Kate Upton

Gary Sweeting

Caroline Paskell

Jordaine Ward

Dominic Campbell

Nancy Baker

Nick Dobbie

Ali Flook

Lea Stankovic

James Hathaway

Mariya Mizuno

Simon Marton

Rachel Lax

Victoria Pettemerides

Patrick Gruppo

Antonia Donnelly

Cathy Boyce

Simon Tam

P Brook

Simon Ardron

William Wareing

Joseph Crosby

James Brackley

Ross Sales

Julian Bass

Barnaby Butterfield

John Cutherbertson

Nick Flanagan

Lindsay Dawson

Joseph Fialka

Richard Casey

Patrick Herlinger

N Pepin

Michael May

Hannah Bausch-Brook Benedict Grove Beatrice Hammill

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Tony Ryan

John Beales Fran Parsons

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You will receive an automatic acknowledgement email, followed by a second e-mail giving you the username and password you will need to enter the site from the Web Alumnus welcome page. At this stage you can alter the username and password to whatever suits you. Any queries, please e-mail Debbie on [email protected]

A Parting Gift Please support the future of Prior Park College with a legacy and help to educate the next generation. If you would like information on how to remember Prior Park in your will, please contact the Deputy Bursar on:

01225 835353 ext 273 or email: [email protected] Gossip bowl magazine edited by: Debbie O’Bryan