edwardian newsletter summer 2011

16
ISSUE 13 SUMMER 2011 Having finished my first year at University in June, I made the decision to take the following year out to sail full- time and to train and experience the process of Olympic trials. I was made a member of the British Olympic Squad, Skandia Team GBR, at the end of my gap year in September 2009, sailing the Laser Radial, the women’s single-handed Olympic class. In sailing, competition for places at the Games is seriously tough with only one place for each country in each class of boat. It really is a ‘once-in-a- lifetime’ experience to be involved in the trialling process in the run up to the London Games. As the youngest and least experienced of the four girls in the squad it is good to be going into the trials without too much pressure, and I am sure it will be an experience that will stand me in good stead in the future. The past year, since leaving Cambridge in June, has been full of excitement and challenges. I had a fantastic 7 week trip to Australia before Christmas, training with the rest of the British squad in Perth for a month before flying on to Sydney International Regatta and then Melbourne for a World Cup event. The ‘serious shark warnings’ issued for the area we were sailing in, just off of Perth, were somewhat intimidating but I guess it was an added incentive not to fall in!! The training was incredibly intensive but the venues were spectacular – sailing in Sydney Harbour was definitely the highlight! Needless to say, coming home to train in the UK in January was a bit of a shock to the system! With the wind chill often well on the wrong side of zero, the incentive for not falling in changed from sharks to hypothermia! The winter months also saw the fitness regime step up. Contrary to popular belief sailors don’t just sit on the side of a boat pulling the odd rope! Olympic sailors have to be exceptionally fit and juggling onshore fitness and nutrition programs with on-the-water training is a constant challenge. The racing season is now well underway. I finished the first World Cup of the season in Palma at the beginning of April and then went to the south of France to prepare for another World Cup event. Our main trial event is the Skandia Sail for Gold World Cup event in June so I spent most of May down in Weymouth gearing up for that, before heading out to Finland for the Europeans at the beginning of July. All very exciting! I’d like to say a big thank you to KES for so generously backing my sailing campaign – I am so grateful for the School’s continued support. King Edward VI School Wilton Road . Southampton . Hampshire SO15 5UQ Telephone: 023 8070 4561 www.kes.hants.sch.uk Forthcoming Reunions Class of 2001 - 10 year reunion Saturday 26th November 2011: Hospitality Suite KES Update us with your email address Please help us to update our files by sending us your email contact address and mobile phone number. This will assist us in staying in contact should you move house and forget to tell us. It will also enable us to send you out a copy of the Edwardian magazine to your email account. Please email us on edwardians@ kes.hants.sch.uk specifying your full name, leaving year, email address and mobile telephone number. Hannah’s Olympic Campaign Hannah Snellgrove KES 2003-2008

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Page 1: Edwardian Newsletter Summer 2011

Issue 13 suMMeR 2011

Having finished my first year at University in June, I made the decision to take the following year out to sail full-time and to train and experience the process of Olympic trials.

I was made a member of the British Olympic Squad, Skandia Team GBR, at the end of my gap year in September 2009, sailing the Laser Radial, the women’s single-handed Olympic class. In sailing, competition for places at the Games is seriously tough with only one place for each country in each class of boat. It really is a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ experience to be involved in the trialling process in the run up to the London Games. As the youngest and least experienced of the four girls in the squad it is good to be going into the trials without too much pressure, and I am sure it will be an experience that will stand me in good stead in the future.

The past year, since leaving Cambridge in June, has been full of excitement and challenges. I had a fantastic 7 week trip to Australia before Christmas, training with the rest of the British squad in Perth for a month before flying on to Sydney International Regatta and then Melbourne for a World Cup event. The ‘serious shark warnings’ issued for the area we were sailing in, just off of Perth, were somewhat intimidating but I guess it was an added incentive not to fall in!! The training was incredibly intensive but the venues were spectacular – sailing in Sydney Harbour was definitely the highlight! Needless to say, coming home to train in the UK

in January was a bit of a shock to the system! With the wind chill often well on the wrong side of zero, the incentive for not falling in changed from sharks to hypothermia! The winter months also saw the fitness regime step up. Contrary to popular belief sailors don’t just sit on the side of a boat pulling the odd rope! Olympic sailors have to be exceptionally fit and juggling onshore fitness and nutrition programs with on-the-water training is a constant challenge.

The racing season is now well underway. I finished the first World Cup of the season in Palma at the beginning of April and then went to the south of France to prepare for another World Cup event. Our main trial event is the Skandia Sail for Gold World Cup event in June so I spent most of May down in Weymouth gearing

up for that, before heading out to Finland for the Europeans at the beginning of July. All very exciting!

I’d like to say a big thank you to KES for so generously backing my sailing campaign – I am so grateful for the School’s continued support.

King edward VI schoolWilton Road . southampton . Hampshire sO15 5uQTelephone: 023 8070 4561 www.kes.hants.sch.uk

Forthcoming Reunions

Class of 2001 - 10 year reunion Saturday 26th November 2011: Hospitality Suite KES

Update us with your email address

Please help us to update our files by sending us your email contact address and mobile phone number. This will assist us in staying in contact should you move house and forget to tell us. It will also enable us to send you out a copy of the Edwardian magazine to your email account.

Please email us on [email protected] specifying your full name, leaving year, email address and mobile telephone number.

Hannah’s Olympic CampaignHannah Snellgrove KES 2003-2008

Page 2: Edwardian Newsletter Summer 2011

Time has flown since the last edition of the Edwardian and the summer term is always the busiest. For the Development Office though, life has been particularly hectic with five events since the start of the year. In March we were really pleased that so many of you studying in London made it along to the reunion at the East India Club and the Poole Veterans and Pre 1939 leavers’ lunches were well attended as ever in June. This year, we also hosted a 1st XI v Edwardians cricket match. Despite the final score friendships were salvaged by the convivial cricket tea and beers that followed!

Our other special event was the Legacy Club Dinner. As a special thank you for their continued support of the School and the King Edward VI Foundation, Edwardians who have bequeathed money to the fund were invited for a formal dinner at the invitation of the Head and Chair of Governors.

As this edition goes to print preparations for the myriad of school trips that will take place over the summer break are in full swing, another academic year draws to a close and a further cohort join the ever-growing family of Edwardians. Life at KES continues to move at an unstoppable pace that so many of you no doubt remember well. The news that you send us convinces me that once you leave, this pace rarely slows down!

As ever, please do keep emailing us with your news and with updates of your contact details. We are always pleased to hear from you.

Happy Reading

Suzanne Hooper Development Officer

The beginning of the term was marked by heat and dust providing perfect conditions, at least for our cricketers on sub-continental style pitches as they have got ready for their tour in Sri Lanka. However, as I write the rain has returned, the cricket is off, our students are all heads down in the middle of examinations and the School has the atmosphere of a ghost town.

This never lasts for long and, as the end of term approaches the noise levels will increase again as the Arts Festival, sports Day, Activities Day and the swimming Gala provide a focus as the summer holidays approach. On the sports Field King edward’s has enjoyed particular success in tennis, cricket, netball and hockey. Cultural life remains very active, particularly in music and debating with another appearance in the Oxford union finals. Kessoc is also exceptionally busy organising the biennial ball and funding a range of initiatives including the eco-garden which was opened by the Mayor, Councillor Matthews, on June 28th.

How tocontact us….

From the Editor

Email us on [email protected] or telephone 023 8070 4561 or find us on Facebook.

www.kes.hants.sch.uk

Page 3: Edwardian Newsletter Summer 2011

From the Head MasterWe are gearing up for some important improvements to the school over July and August with the refurbishment of our english and modern foreign languages area, further landscape work on the Hill Lane site and even the excitement of a new boiler at Wellington!

The number of trips we organise continues to take an enormous amount of time and energy but it is always worthwhile when you see how much our students learn from what is on offer. Over a third of the school were involved in these activities over the spring holiday including a very successful ski trip to France, an activities holiday at Beam House, a netball tour of Holland, classics visit to Greece, hispanicists in Cordoba and various treks across the New Forest and Dartmoor. All managed to avoid the latest round of volcanic ash as did the language exchanges with Mutterstadt, Le Havre and Catalonia. Our charity work remains very active with significant numbers involved in summer Camp and south Africa this summer, as well as a new project at Lovaton. Other students will be spending the summer holiday in southern France with the water sports trip, travelling on expedition to Alaska and on our sixth Form student exchange in North Carolina.

We are delighted with the growing number of edwardians who keep in touch with Kes, particularly through the increasingly popular Facebook page. This edition contains some fascinating stories of what some of you have been up to in recent months with an African theme emerging. It has also been fun to meet a number of former pupils at the various gatherings we have hosted over the past six months. As ever we are grateful to the Oe Association for its support of the school’s activities and to our staff who organise reunions of various sorts, particularly Ms. Hooper as Development Officer.

For our leavers the summer term tends to speed by with A levels dominating their lives but there is always a touch of wistfulness as another generation of students moves on to new challenges. It has also been a time of farewell to a number of staff and particularly Mr Winter after 36 years teaching at King edward’s. We thank him and the other staff who are retiring or moving to other posts and wish them all well.

AJ Thould Head Master

Page 4: Edwardian Newsletter Summer 2011

A birthday present with a difference!Ellie Steel KES 2003-2010

After months of waiting for the summer of 2010 to begin, it

had finally come! In just one month’s time I would be off to

Limpopo Province, an hour outside of the National Kruger

Park to pursue my dream of becoming a game ranger. Being

the spontaneous type, I had only really booked a placement

to work at Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre in South Africa

because of the catchy name! However, taking this risk and

diving into something I knew would be an adventure proved

to be the best experience of my life.

Moholoholo Animal Rehabilitation is situated on the foothills

of the Drakensberg mountain range and is a privately owned

animal rehabilitation centre for injured, poisoned and

orphaned animals with a reputation renowned for taking on

whatever challenge ‘the bush’ may bring. The organisation is

run by Brian Jones who holds awards for his noble dedication

to wildlife protection and who has had over 65 years of

experience dealing with the bush. Daily tours are brought

into the game farm to look at the rehab centre and to see

the animals there at that particular time. This helps to fund

the centre along with charitable donations from across the

world.

During my 3 month experience I encountered many of the

difficulties that African wildlife now faces alongside the

development of such a vast continent. An initial day-long

conservation talk allowed me to form my own opinion on

the mass culling of elephants and the benefits of hunting

to sustain a balanced ecosystem. Although my opinions

changed over time, everyone I worked alongside showed

the same motivation and enthusiasm throughout. All of the

volunteers were willing to work as a team whether it be bottle

feeding a bush baby every three hours of the night, or taking

on four hour shifts of “holding the drip” for a two week old

elephant that had arrived.

After the first week of my stay I was told that because I

was staying for a 3 month period I was to take on more

responsibility with a “mothering role” as I would have more

time to bond with the animal and could form a routine. The

morning of my 19th birthday I was given the best birthday

surprise I could have wished for. Outside my bedroom

would be my new baby for the next three months, a seven

month old baby black Rhino by the name of Landela (Dela)

complete with a red birthday bow on her horn.

Sadly, at a few days old Dela was found stuck in a mud

wallow in the Kruger Park after following her mother and

becoming stuck. Eventually her mother had abandoned her.

Being a black Rhino (and therefore extremely endangered

with less than 5,000 left in the wild) rangers from the

park had had to intervene to ensure that she was freed.

Unfortunately her mother would have gone on to reject her

after this period of time so the only viable option was to bring

her to Moholoholo. From this point on I adopted the role

of “Mum” which meant being responsible for her five feeds

of fifteen litres of milk a day, weighing her, mud-bathing her

and putting her to bed until she settled. Every two weeks

Dela would put on an average of 12 kilos and would graze

continuously throughout the day – the equivalent of about

75 kilos worth of leaves in one day for a fully grown rhino. Our

daily routine consisted of walks around a sectioned-off part

of the game farm, a mud bath at lunchtime and two hours

of time spent with the other volunteers. This allowed me

a slight break. Although a little moody at times and a little

dangerous with her horn when hungry, Dela was very much

like a dog and could be trained. She would come if I was to

call her and even learnt to only follow me. Eventually I could

lie down and sleep next to her without the risk of her 220 kgs

weight rolling on top of me.

Other baby animals that arrived during my stay included a

baby vervet monkey still needing nappies, a baby bushbuck,

a two week old baby elephant, a baby wilderbeest, many

birds of prey and our 3 month old very cheeky baby Hyena

– Luma; all of which required 24 hour care. Each night

after dinner we would venture out on nightly game drives.

This would allow us to encounter some of the less familiar

animals in the African bush such as the aardvark and the

civet. Other opportunities to take tours around Kruger Park,

micro light over nearby game farms and “sleep-outs” in the

bush, gave us a break from the rehab with the chance to

explore the area.

Page 5: Edwardian Newsletter Summer 2011

Although this gap year experience remains

quite different to the normal backpacker’s

route, it seemed beneficial for me to stay

in the same place for three months to take

full advantage of a wonderful culture and to

meet people from all over the world sharing

similar interests. I was also given the chance

to learn a great deal of knowledge with the

huge satisfaction of contributing to this

side of African conservation. Dela will soon

be released onto a farm with a black Rhino

breeding programme in the hope of keeping

this amazingly rare and fascinating species

going.

Page 6: Edwardian Newsletter Summer 2011

Palliative care in the Congo Rebecca Lloyd KES 2003-2005

The Democratic Republic of Congo is a country that has

been so afflicted by atrocities that it’s a miracle the people

continue to smile. The civil war that has raged throughout

the country continues to have repercussions and civil unrest

is always evident; yet there is a beauty in this country that is

not often found.

Since qualifying as a nurse I have specialised in oncology

which can often be perceived as a very depressing speciality.

However it is one in which you can make a huge difference

with regards to symptom control and good palliative care.

Ensuring that someone is treated with dignity and respect

right until the end is imperative. In order to make a bit of a

difference elsewhere I was given a sabbatical from my job as

a staff nurse at Guy’s hospital in London and used the time to

travel out to DRC. My aunt and uncle have set up a hospital

and charity in the first town over the border from Rwanda, a

place called Goma.

As with the majority of hospitals in third world countries,

care is given to anyone who comes through the gates. If

patients are able to pay for their care, then that is gratefully

received. Otherwise the patients are treated using ‘mercy

funds’; donations sourced through fund-raising and grant

applications. The charity was set up in the wake of the

Rwandan genocide, which resulted in enormous amounts of

refugees crossing the border into DRC. The problems with

which these people travelled were manifold and placed a

massive workload onto the services that were then available

in Goma. The charity Heal Africa (www.healafrica.org) is split

into two sections: the hospital and outreach services and

programmes. The programmes cover all manner of aid work,

including: human rights, gender and justice, work for women

left as widows after the war, safe motherhood, food security,

HIV reduction, rape survivors and medical training among

many others. There is a large staff and funding is sourced in

the main from the U.S and Australia, although a U.K board is

being set up at the moment.

The hospital site is just over the road from the programme’s

offices, in down town Goma, and has capacity for 180

patients, although the head count on most days comes to

over 250. Bed sharing seems to be the norm! There is a

new private patients’ wing for those able to pay; but even

there, rooms are shared. The hospital runs with minimal

staff in comparison to the levels we are used to in the U.K,

with only 28 nurses to care for all of the patients round

the clock. And I complain about my shifts in London! The

services available in the hospital are orthopaedics, internal

medicine, gynaecology, paediatrics, a very small (not so

intense) intensive care unit, general surgery and obstetrics.

The midwifery team achieved an immense accreditation

recently for being the only birthing centre in DRC to not have

a single maternal death in the last year. A real achievement

considering the situation they are working in! I have visited

the hospital many times before but only once previously as

a qualified nurse. The last time I visited was to set up some

practices within the intensive care unit, but to also work as a

generalist and to assist wherever was needed. This trip was

different, as I set out with a specific purpose.

Ever since I started my training, I wanted to be able to help

out in the hospital in whatever direction my career ended

up going. Considering that there is no cancer treatment

available at all in DRC other than surgery, my speciality of

palliative care has ended up being quite appropriate. The

purpose of this visit in 2011 was to gather information on

what care is currently available, what resources are available,

what people’s attitudes are towards cancer, death and dying,

and to see how receptive patients and their families would be

Page 7: Edwardian Newsletter Summer 2011

towards palliative care. Whilst doing this research I planned

to work in the hospital as much as I was needed, at the same

time gathering the information and doing my research.

I was met with resistance pretty much straight away.

Congolese culture does not embrace talking about death and

dying. It is very hard to introduce the concept of palliation

when nothing has been offered in terms of treatment.

However, at this time, that is the situation in the DRC. A

great misconception of palliative care, both over here, and

around the world, is that it is only applicable at the end of

life. Fact is that palliative care is for symptom control at any

stage of the disease trajectory. I tried my best to impart this

viewpoint throughout my time with the team at Heal Africa.

I investigated what analgesics and other symptom control

medication was available, and managed to get together

enough to show the basics of getting a patient comfortable

when they were battling with their disease.

One of the first patients that I was introduced to during my

couple of months was a beautiful 27 year old lady called

Clementine. On first examinations one could tell that her

GIST cancer was very advanced and she was struggling

with a lot of pain although not expressing it verbally. When

I enquired as to what pain relief she was on, I was met with

a blank stare. Anyone asked, nurses and doctors alike,

reported that she hadn’t voiced the fact that she was in pain,

therefore wasn’t even on paracetamol! That gave me my

starting block and instigated teaching on pain assessment

and using the analgesics that are there and available, rather

than hording them for a rainy day! Many patients who had

advanced cancer were brought in to the hospital for me to

look after; some were brought from miles out in the forest!

Working with the doctors we were able to get a lot of them

much more comfortable before the end. Working with what

is available presents many challenges when many of the

basics are missing! But it just gives me more things to work

on from here in terms of finding solutions for getting them

out to the middle of Africa!

I worked also with the HIV community palliative care team,

which opened my eyes in a massive way. I was very honoured

to be allowed into patients’ homes to care for them there

and to help with training some of the community workers in

assessing the patients’ needs. Again barriers were met; the

leader of this team quite adamantly informed me that HIV

patients do not have any pain. This was a good starting point

for me and work with this team will continue along with the

cancer palliative care work.

I am very grateful to KES for supporting me in this trip and

hope that this shows what need there is out there. My plan

from now is to carry on my education and work in London,

including my Palliative Care MSc. During the next few years I

will try to get out to Goma as often as I can. Once my MSc is

finished I will be putting some proposals forward to support

a full-time cancer palliative care team out there. The work will

always be needed as long as this horrible disease is around,

but hopefully some difference will be made to the lives of

some wonderful people.

Page 8: Edwardian Newsletter Summer 2011

Along the Great Wall Adam Smith KES 1986-1993 In October last year I headed to Beijing to participate in a 2 day 150km bike ride for charity. The event was organized by my employer La Société Générale and was the inaugural event in Asia. The ride set off from the Bird’s Nest stadium in downtown Beijing and headed out to the Great Wall. It was never in question that this was going to be a great experience but we hoped to raise a good sum of cash at the same time. My charity of choice was Wessex Cancer Trust following the great support they had offered two of my uncles. The team of 6 riders I had assembled consisted of friends and family from Hong Kong (where I live) and Hampshire.

Day OneStarting early Saturday morning from the Olympic Park in front of the Birds Nest stadium we soon became a bit of a tourist attraction for the locals. We assumed they wanted a picture with us so, in the interest of international relations, we put on our best smiles only to be ushered out of the way so they could have that Kodak moment with our bikes instead! In fact, bringing our own road bikes certainly added to the adventure. After their arrival at the airport we spent the next few hours attempting to rebuild them in the hotel room whilst trying hard not to dirty the lovely white carpets. We successfully put the majority of the bikes back together but with a few tweaks required we sought the help of the ‘bike technician’ the morning before we began. When he revealed a pair of white gloves…but no tools, we realised we were probably alone on this one! The bikes also led to high expectations of our team and, with most of the other riders provided with heavy old mountain bikes, we did look rather professional. However, the term ‘all the gear no idea’ came to mind and we showed our expertise early on, with one of our group deciding not to unclip his shoes at a junction leading to a domino effect as he took out the others on his way to the ground. In stepped our helpful ‘bike technician’ who started trying to kick his pedal in an attempt to force the chain free. We decided we wouldn’t be requiring his services again. We were soon out of the city and able to get some miles under our belts. The first day ended with an unwelcome long hill but this was where the road bikes had come in to their own, as we finished at the head of the pack. We had knocked off the first 70kms and with The Great Wall as a backdrop we enjoyed a couple of well-earned beers.

Day TwoWe woke to find the sun had disappeared! It was cold and the saddle felt particularly uncomfortable. A long downhill to begin left our hands feeling like ice but after about 15kms we hit the first big climb and suddenly the cold was forgotten. Again the road bikes proved their worth and we flew past our fellow riders up the hill. Our reward for making the summit was a long downhill and despite having to avoid some manure falling from a lorry it was a welcome break on the

legs. We were riding in the country now and the roads were in good shape and except for the odd obstacle (such as being chased by an angry looking man with a broom and avoiding the whip of a completely unaware old man on a horse and cart) everyone took the opportunity to open up and get through the miles. It wasn’t getting any warmer so there was plenty of incentive to get to the finish as quickly as possible whilst enjoying the beautiful countryside. Again the ride finished up the same long uphill climb as the day before but at least the top did offer the prospect of a shower and some food. The event concluded with a barbecue and an awards ceremony with a reminder about why the charity we were supporting had such special meaning.

Thanks to the generosity of our friends and family we raised over GBP 5,000 for Wessex Cancer Trust. This included very generous donations from a couple of other Edwardians (Michael Brayshaw & Andrew Tice). Our donors doubled our fundraising target and helped the event raise over HKD 1,000,000 for charities around the world! Thanks must also be extended to La Société Genérale and sponsors for organising and funding such a great event. Eighty cyclists riding out of downtown Beijing was always going to be a logistical nightmare but add to that a few overly enthusiastic riders taking directions into their own hands in rush hour traffic and it was a miracle we all made it!

Page 9: Edwardian Newsletter Summer 2011

A Ugandan Adventure Grace, Jess and Jacob Dugdale are all former pupils at King Edward’s. Last year the family moved to Uganda where they are are involved in working with a rural Ugandan secondary school, Wobulenzi Town Academy, in central Uganda. Many of the pupils come from the previously war-torn areas of northern Uganda and are either orphans or are from minimal income families (where the parents earn the equivalent of £1-£2 per day).

Before moving to Uganda, the Dugdale family were involved with the same school for several years but previously had only come out to Uganda leading short-term teams and, over the years, the project has involved a significant number of KES students as volunteers during their holidays or gap years. Emily Ball, David Kemp, David Thompson, Hannah Thould, Josh Chapman, Emma Roope, Sam Jones, Oli Thompson and Jack Franklin have all visited and assisted with the project.

In recent times, students at Wobulenzi Town Academy benefited from practical physics lessons from Josh Chapman and Grace Dugdale, plus some biology and chemistry lessons from Sam Jones, Oli Thompson and Jack Franklin. Students at the school rarely get the

chance to take part in practical sessions and therefore hardly ever seeing the reality of their theoretical science lessons. These lessons had a real impact and amazing novelty value with one 15 year old Ugandan student describing Sam, Jack and Oli’s lesson as ‘the best lesson I have ever had – I will never forget it!’

The school moved to a new site in February 2011 and after various fund-raising activities was able to purchase text books, library books and equipment for the science laboratory. Both the laboratory and the library were new to the school as they have never had the space or the funds for either until then. Today, the school offers the chance of a secondary education to 600 refugee and local low-income young people who would otherwise not have such an opportunity.

More information on the charity, its fund-raising activities and details of how to become involved as a volunteer can be found on the website at www.servedirect.org.

Page 10: Edwardian Newsletter Summer 2011

Chamber Choir sing at St Peter’s Oxford

Success at Music for Youth National Festival

News from the School

National Netball Finals

Brussels in the Spring

Having experienced St. John’s College, Oxford, last year

the KES Chamber Choir were all excited at the prospect of

singing evensong with the St. Peter’s College Chapel Choir

in May this year. The group was privileged to sing with St

Peter’s very select Chapel Choir, which includes sixteen

choral scholars.

Following the regional rounds in March, the KES Symphony Orchestra progressed

through to the National Festival of Music for Youth and performed on stage at

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. The Flute Quartet has also done extremely well

making it through to the National Festival and subsequently performing in Recital

Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire.

The U14 netball team played in the National Schools’ Netball Finals at Southampton

Sports Centre earlier this year. They had already done extremely well to reach this

stage of this prestigious tournament as the Southern Regional winners and therefore

in the top 18 teams in the country. They were beaten in their semi-final match by

eventual winners, Goffs, who described it as their toughest match. However, the girls

went on to win the playoff match placing them in 3rd place overall. The School was

extremely proud of the team and its achievement.

Thirty students from the Sixth Form and Upper School

travelled to Belgium in March. The purpose of the visit was

the European Parliament, having been invited by Nirj Deva

MEP when he visited the School on Speech Day. In Brussels

they were given an introduction to the role the Commission

fulfils as well as an insight on working for the Commission

and history of the Parliament. They also got to spend time in

the public gallery. The return journey to Southampton took

the students through Passchendaele and Ypres setting in

context the original reasons for the development of closer

ties between the European nation states.

Page 11: Edwardian Newsletter Summer 2011

Sailing Success

Thanksgiving 2011On Wednesday 22nd March, the whole school community congregated in the

School Hall for the annual Thanksgiving Service. Led by school chaplain Rev.

Poppleton, Thanksgiving provides an opportunity to give thanks to the School’s

founders King Edward VI and William Capon. This year’s guest speaker was the

Canon Treasurer of Salisbury Cathedral - The Reverend Canon Mark Bonney.

Congratulations to Charlie Cox and his sailing partner Craig who

won the gold medal in the 420 class at the RYA National Youth

Championships held on Hayling Island over Easter. It was a very

closely contested event with Ed Riley and his partner providing

very stiff competition and eventually winning silver medal.

As a consequence, Charlie and Craig have been selected as the

only boy boat in the 420 class to represent Britain at the ISAF

Youth World Championship to be held in Zadar, Croatia this July.

Holly Mapes AS artwork 2011

London Universities Reunion

On March 11th KES held a reunion at the East India Club in St James’s Square, London for those Edwardians currently studying in London. The drinks reception and formal dinner was well attended by 27 former pupils and current staff from KES.

Page 12: Edwardian Newsletter Summer 2011

The Legacy Dinner The Arrow Trophy 2011Calling all Edwardian Sailors

Peter Jones, the Director of the Sixth Form at KES, is busy

researching the backgrounds of some KES boys who died in

the First World War. He would greatly appreciate the help of any

Edwardians with any knowledge of the following individuals, or

indeed any surviving family links.

OJ Hobbs (a teacher at the school, died 1916)

EL Gutteridge (died 1916)

STA Neil (died 1916)

FJ “Danny” Drew (died 1918)

AF Wolfe (died 1917)

Peter would also appreciate any other information or general

background to the First World War years at the school. He can be

contacted through the Main Office at school on 023 8070 4561,

or by email at [email protected]

In recognition of their continued support of the School and their

Legacy pledge in favour of the King Edward VI School Foundation,

Legacy Club members were invited to attend a formal dinner

on Wednesday June 15th at the invitation of the Head Master

and Chair of Governors. With many members living abroad or

with holiday commitments, the dinner was a small affair but

nonetheless very convivial and enjoyed by those who attended.

KES would like to enter a boat for the

Arrow Trophy this year and need between

8 to 10 Edwardians to make up a school

team. The race is scheduled to take place

in Cowes, Isle of Wight on Saturday 8th -

Sunday 9th October 2011 and is an open

sailing competition between independent

schools that can put together a team of

former pupils. The event is raced as an

annual weekend regatta in one-design

yachts.

If you are interested in finding out more

then please contact Bob Allen on

[email protected] or call

023 8070 4561 by the end of term at the

latest. The price per person is £135 to

cover the hire of the boats. Berth on the

boat may be available or otherwise there

may be an additional cost for overnight

accommodation in Cowes. Find out more

at www.arrowtrophy.org.uk

Poole Veterans’ Reunion

The annual Poole Veterans’ lunch took place on 12th June this year and was attended by 40

Edwardians and their guests.

Edwardians in WWI... Can you help?

The OEA is currently

making plans for a

reunion for those

Edwardians who

attended the School

between 1983 and

1992. Further details

will follow at a later

date.

Page 13: Edwardian Newsletter Summer 2011

The King Edward VI Foundation was set up to provide bursaries for applicants to the School who demonstrate academic capability but who do not have the financial means to pay for fees. The Governors and staff at KES are keen to maintain a wide social mix within the School and through offering more bursaries, the School will open up the opportunity of a King Edward’s education to as many students as possible.

We hope that you may feel inclined to support the Foundation and bring the opportunity of an education, such as that which you received yourself, to young people who would otherwise be unable to apply.

Bequests and donations at all levels are gratefully received and if you would like to receive further information on the Foundation or how to leave a gift to King Edward’s in your Will, please contact the Development Office on 023 8070 4561 or email [email protected]

Have you considered leaving a gift to King Edward’s in your will?

The King Edward VI Foundation was set up to provide bursaries for applicants to the School who demonstrate academic capability but who do not have the financial means to pay for fees. The Governors and staff at KES are

leaving a gift to King Edward’s in your will?

The Arrow Trophy 2011Calling all Edwardian Sailors

1914 Cadets Corps

Page 14: Edwardian Newsletter Summer 2011

Ewart Winstone Lester Brice (1925 – 1930) Ewart was born in London but his early life was spent in Bristol, before the family moved to Southampton when he joined the School. A keen sportsman, he played both rugby and cricket for the School. On leaving KES he joined the British American Tobacco company volunteering to work in their newly acquired premises in Manchuria, in the independent state of Manhuko. At the outbreak of war, he joined the R.A.F in Southern Rhodesia, serving in the North Africa campaign, and later in the United Kingdom flying fighters in the invasion and liberation of Europe. After the war, he rejoined British American Tobacco as an accountant in China, where he and his wife Betty, who were married in 1946, were caught up in the Chinese revolution. They were eventually able to leave China through Tianjin, on a British aircraft carrier. After a year in the U.K, Ewart joined the United Africa Company of Unilever, working in Lagos for some fifteen years and returning to the U.K. in 1967. He later worked for a Nigerian company in Luxembourg. He and his family returned to Scotland when he retired. He is survived by his wife Betty, and his sons Richard and Nicholas and daughter Victoria.

Timothy Brooks (2004 – 2009) The School community was deeply saddened to learn of the recent tragic death of Tim Brooks. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.

Christopher Fernleigh Bussell (1957 – 1962) Christopher was born in Southampton in 1945 and joined King Edward’s in 1957, where he developed a keen interest in sports and social activities. Upon leaving he worked for Road Transport & General Insurance Company and, after promotion, moved to the Isle of Wight, later returning to Southampton to join Rex Young Insurance Brokers Ltd. He played rugby with the Trojans and ISR, and later squash and judo, which latter Sport he taught and refereed. He joined the Portswood Conservative Club in 1968 and served as Chairman and President three times. In 1987 he formed an Insurance Brokerage company with his sister which remained in business until 2004. He is survived by his wife Jennifer, his son Simon and daughter Victoria.

Gordon William Cruickshank (1940 – 1946) Whilst it has not been possible to trace Gordon’s relatives, it has been established, that Gordon joined the Police force in 1949 and served at the Southampton Central station until he retired in 1977 with the rank of Chief Inspector. His wife Catherine predeceased him but he is survived by his sisters Doreen and Enid.

Ralph Andrews Gale (1930-1935) Ralph Gale was born in Southampton on February 24th 1919, the youngest of three children. In spite of having double pneumonia as a child, Ralph developed a great love of sport at School and made many lifelong friends at KES. At the outbreak of war, Ralph signed up and spent 7 years fighting for his country, achieving the rank of Captain in the Royal Artillery. After returning from war he re-joined Royal Exchange Assurance where he met his future wife Muriel. As his career developed and he was promoted, the family moved to live in Dorchester, Ipswich, Liverpool and Surrey but his final relocation was to Bournemouth where he built their family house. Retiring at 60, Ralph followed a variety of sports with interest, was a keen gardener, and an avid reader. He died on New Year’s Eve 2010 following a short illness and is survived by his daughter Nikki and son-in-law Paul.

Malcolm Gillhespie (1949 – 1955)Malcolm joined the School in 1949 and, after completing his National Service in the Royal Air Force, he joined the Union Castle Mail Steamship Co Ltd., where he enjoyed many happy years working in their passenger department in Southampton, as well as serving as Chairman of their Social Committee. After the closure of the company’s Southampton branch, he was appointed General Manager of a Leisure Park near Milford-on-Sea. An ardent supporter of Southampton Football Club, he further indulged his passion for the sport by qualifying as a professional referee in local senior club football. He is survived by his wife Susan, his sons Richard and Michael and daughter Alison.

Brian Charles Hucker (1949 – 1954) After leaving School in 1954, Brian completed his National Service in the Army serving in the Royal Armoured Corps. He later studied at Cirencester Agricultural College and became involved in horticulture. He is survived by his former wife, Susan, together with their daughter Alison, and son Paul.

Obituaries

Page 15: Edwardian Newsletter Summer 2011

Lt. Cdr John Robert Desmond Lewington M.B.E. (1939 – 1945) After leaving school, John joined the staff of the National Provincial Bank PLC for a short period of time, before completing his National Service in the Royal Navy and thereafter serving in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve for forty-five years, before retiring in 1992 with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. During this time he was also a Staff Officer with the Sea Cadet Corps and in 1982 received the M.B.E. for services rendered to the Corps and was elected a Freeman of the City of London. Returning to the bank after National Service, he was transferred to Bristol in 1956, and in 1959 to the National Westminster Bank PLC, Fratton, then in 1973 to the Portsea branch as Assistant Manager and later Manager, where he remained until his retirement. He served the local community in Portsmouth in a variety of roles including, Chairman and Treasurer of the Cancer Research Campaign, Chairman of the Gosport Youth Committee, Treasurer of the Southern Area Sports Council and as a Trustee of the Royal Sailors Home Club. In 1993, he and his first wife, Patricia, (who predeceased him) moved to the Yorkshire Dales. John is survived by his second wife Joan and step daughter Diane, and daughter Lynora from his first marriage.

Matthew Finbar Francis Patrick Ralph (1940 – 1945) Matthew and his twin sister, Kitty, were the youngest of a family of seven children. Born in Southampton, he attended Freemantle Primary School before joining the School in 1940 during the war, when it was evacuated to Poole. A keen sportsman he developed a love for sport, especially hockey and rugby. After leaving KES, he attended Loughborough University, and upon completion of his National Service in the R.A.F trained to become a teacher. He taught mathematics

and physical education for a number of years at St. George’s School in Southampton, and later worked for some 16 years in a local chemicals distribution company. He was deeply involved in Scouting both as a boy and later as a Scout Leader. His lifelong enjoyment of sport, and in particular hockey, was evidenced by his longstanding membership of the Trojans Club. He also played hockey at county level for Hampshire. Matthew was unmarried. He is survived by his sister Kitty.

Peter Nigel Raymond Waterman (1943 – 1952) Peter Waterman was born in Southampton on 10th October 1933. After KES and having served as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery, Peter went to Selwyn College, Cambridge, where he read English and played both cricket and hockey for Cambridge University. Upon graduation he joined the firm of Thomas Hedley, a subsidiary of Proctor and Gamble. From the early 1970s he held senior executive positions in a series of American multi-national corporations in Holland, the USA and Britain, some as CEO. He retired as a vice-president of Hasbro, the American toy company. Throughout life Peter maintained his interest in sport and though he soon had to give up hockey, he continued to play cricket until middle life and subsequently turned to golf, particularly in his retirement. Peter was married twice: first to Prudence who bore him two children, Jonathan and Jane, and who died before his retirement; secondly to Janice who survives him.

1935, King Edward VI Prepositors

Page 16: Edwardian Newsletter Summer 2011

Ellie Hunter (08) took part in ‘The Third Degree’ (a new radio 4 quiz) in February whereby students are pitted against their tutors. she was one of only three students from Durham university picked to take part.

James Billett (06) has been signed by Mike Pickering to Deconstruction Records. Recording under the name James Murray, he was nominated for the 2010 Q Award ‘Next Best Thing’ and is in the process of writing his debut album between the uK and the states. http://www.myspace.com/murrayjamesmusic

Joe Lane (06) has been selected for the Oxford Blues Twickenham Squad. He has also been captain of the 2nd XV (HOUNDS) and has played for the 1st XV several times this past season.

Oliver Atkinson (05) has trained as a physiotherapist and has recently opened up his own Physiotherapy and Personal Training Practice in Chandlers Ford - www.physio2fit.net

Antony Brooks (00) is back in Southampton working for ABP Marine Environmental Research Ltd at Town Quay.

Simon Browne (78) read for a law degree at ueA and having become a barrister in London was recently appointed a QC (Queens Counsel).

simon Browne and his clerk on the official swearing in day at Westminster

Tim Manns (72) has worked in radio and television for over 30 years. After 17 years in the Middle East he moved home and worked for Southampton FC as Station Director of The Saint radio station. While there he wrote ‘Tie a Yellow Ribbon’, which was published to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Saints famous 1976 FA Cup win. Subsequently he spent three years in the Channel Islands and then moved to Plymouth where he launched a new commercial radio station, Radio Plymouth, in 2010.

Lydia Drabkin-Reiter, simon smith and Lucy Butler at approximately 5600m

above sea level at Kala Pattar, Nepal during their gap year.

Neil Forsyth (62) has had a book published in his honour. Entitled, ‘After Satan: Essays in Honour of Neil Forsyth’, the volume is the result of a collective desire to pay homage to Neil Forsyth, whose work has significantly contributed to scholarship on Satan. This volume is “after” Satan in more ways than one, tracing the afterlife of both the satanic figure in literature and of Neil Forsyth’s contribution to the field, particularly in his major books.

Please continue to email us with your news items on [email protected]

King edward VI schoolWilton Road . southampton . Hampshire sO15 5uQTelephone: 023 8070 4561 www.kes.hants.sch.uk