NEWSLETTER MARCH 2008

A pdf version of this newsletter is available here.

Items in this newsletter:

AGM and Annual Dinner Old Wycombiensians' tie Headmaster's letter Excerpts from old magazines RGS Prefects' Meetings Old Wycombiensian Lodge RGS Whisky Club CCF Inspection Clock tower resplendent

EDITOR WRITES:

We are very sorry that that the magazine and other material were not posted until much later than usual. For those who are not members of the OW Club, and therefore did not receive either the magazine or other material, we publish some of the information that was sent out to OW members.

If you are a member of the OW Club, and you have not received the magazine or letter from us, please contact Ian Clark. ianrclarkuk@yahoo.co.uk. Obviously if you live abroad you may not expect it to arrive until a bit later. A number of magazines and letters have been returned, because OWs have moved. If you are a member of the OW Club, please remember to send us your new address.

If you have never been to an OW Dinner before, perhaps this is the year to come. If you have not participated in the shooting, hockey, cricket or golf, is this the year to start? For those who did not look at the February newsletter, here are the full details of the Dinner and the Sporting Reunions. YOU NEED TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FORM BY APRIL 12TH.

OLD WYCOMBIENSIANS' SPORTING REUNIONS, AGM AND ANNUAL DINNER

Saturday 26th April 2008

From 2.30 p.m.

An opportunity to play hockey or shoot and to meet old friends. See below for the application form.

6.00 p.m.

A tour of the School for those who are interested. The bar opens.

6.30 p.m.

AGM in the School Library.

7.30 p.m.

Annual Dinner in the Queen's Hall.

I'm pleased to confirm that Colin Tattersall who was on the staff at RGS from 1984 to 2003 has consented to be our guest of honour at this year's dinner.

Colin Tattersall joined the RGS back in 1984 to teach Physical Education, having graduated from St Luke's College, Exeter, and having previously taught at Verulam School, St Albans. Colin was most noted for his work with the rugby teams but also helped teams to reach national finals in swimming, cricket and athletics. Colin was instrumental in the School's growth from a good rugby playing school in the county to the top rugby playing state school in the country. No fewer than seven of the sides that Colin was involved with having gone on to play at Twickenham in the Daily Mail Final. During his time at the School Colin also coached the England U16 side, having coached both the South West and London Divisions at this age group.

Colin helped launch the successful FRORGS, and led major tours to both South Africa and Australia. Former old boy Matt Dawson (Northampton, England and British Lion) came to the Sportsman's Dinner 2003 to pay tribute to Colin and the hard work that he had put in over the last 19 years. No fewer than 30 RGS boys achieved international honours at differing age groups in this period of time.

The Headmaster, Roy Page, who will have taught many of you over the last 34 years, will talk about the RGS present and future. A number of teachers and ex-teachers will also be there.

There will be a four-course meal, and it should be a very good one. A bar will be organised by the RGS Parents' Association and all profits go to school projects. As in past years we are reserving tables for those who play in the various sporting events in the afternoon. For everybody else we will try to arrange the seating to suit you. We hope that the formal part of the evening will be over by 9.45 p.m., so that there will be plenty of time for conversation. It should be a really enjoyable occasion.

How about contacting old friends that you have not perhaps seen for some time to arrange for a group to come together? If you would like us to advertise a group reunion on the website, please email Ian Clark. This year the cost of the Dinner will be £30. If you would like to come, please complete the form you can obtain below, and send it to Danny White as soon as possible, and by SATURDAY 12th APRIL at the very latest. You will receive the confirmation of your application and the Agenda of the AGM, by email or by letter but not before April 1st. If you would like a reply through the post, please send an SAE with your application.

Apart from the hockey and shooting on 26th April, we are arranging golf and cricket matches in the Summer Term. Dates are given later in the newsletter. If you want to participate in either or both of the Sporting Reunions, please complete and send in the reply-slip. If you want further information, please do not hesitate to contact me (crispinmwhite@aol.com).

We look forward to seeing you on April 26th.

Crispin White

Chairman

Ticket application form for the OW Dinner

Please return this form to: D White, 18 Coppice Way, Hedgerley, Bucks, SL2 3YL by Saturday 12 April.

SPORTING REUNIONS

If you are a hockey player, David Stone is organising a hockey match for Old Boys (OWs) on Saturday April 26th.

If you used to shoot as part of the CCF programme, there is an OW match against the present school team scheduled again for April 26th. These activities will take place in the afternoon and in the evening is the Annual OW Dinner.

In the Summer Term, if you play cricket, on July 16th starting at 2.00pm, there will be the Annual cricket match between the OWs and the School Team for the Duncan Moore Trophy, and also a match against the Teachers.

If you play golf, and you do not have to be good, as it is based on handicap, there is a golf match against the teachers, played at Weston Turville near Aylesbury, starting about 4.00pm on Friday June 27th. Booking form for Sports Reunion Days

Please return this form to D White, 18 Coppice Way, Hedgerley, Bucks, SL2 3YL by Saturday 12 April for the April events, and June 1 for the June and July events

The following items all appeared in the OW magazine:

LETTER FROM THE HEADMASTER - January 2008

Dear Old Wycombiensian

This has been another busy year for all at RGS. I continue to be amazed by the breadth of activities that the young men that now inhabit the school partake in. Activities on the sports field continue to excel as do the concerts and recitals in the Queen's Hall and our Senior Public Speaking Team is through to the Zone Finals.

Opportunities that many OWs will not have had the chance to enjoy are offered by the World Challenge organisation. Last summer, over 350 RGS boys took part in these activities, traveling to such far-flung places as Costa Rica, Iceland, Morocco, Mexico and Tanzania, as well as Buxton and the Brecon Beacons. These trips are designed to allow the boys to organise and lead their excursions although carefully supervised by experienced staff and World Challenge leaders. Before departure, all participants have to engage in fund raising activities and a central part of the trip is giving community time to the areas visited. On return, the boys present to the school assemblies on their experiences and I am regularly humbled by their commitment and concern for others.

We continue to be proud of the achievements of many OWs and I would be delighted to hear from anyone who would like to tell me what they have been up to. Old Boys who have been in the headlines this last year include comedians, Jimmy Carr and Paul Foot, Tom Rees (England rugby), Lawrence Power (musician), Richard Hickox (conductor LSO) and Chris Grayling (MP and Opposition Front Bench Spokesman). I am sure there are many others - please do keep us informed.

Crispin has again talked about the Shaping our Destiny campaign, which continues to occupy much of my time. The support of parents, OWs and friends continues to be encouraging. In my opinion, there is no doubt that, if the school is to provide facilities that are appropriate for the learning of our young men, we will have to take responsibility for raising the funds. Latest indications from the DCSF are that there will be no funding for Capital projects in Buckinghamshire secondary schools until 2020! For successful schools such as RGS, a more realistic date will be 2025. To leave planned development until that time is clearly not an option and I would be pleased to talk to any OWs who can assist us.

I received many emails from OWs concerning our necessary improvements to the clock tower. As soon as the scaffolding was erected, OWs were contacting me with concern that the clock tower was to be dismantled. I was pleased to reassure them that far from dismantling such an iconic part of RGS, we were intent on repairing it and improving its appearance. Whilst the scaffolding was in place, we took the opportunity to photograph the school and surrounding area. Some of these are available on the school website (www.rgshw.com). This website has been modernised and improved and I would urge all OWs to log on and keep up-to-date with events and activities from RGS. I am very grateful to parents, Jay Cowper and Paul Roff, who supported Andrew Balaam and Alan Crease in its design.

The summer examination results were excellent, with 80% of grades at 'A' level either A or B and 60.3% of grades at GCSE either A* or A and 100% pass rate (A*-C). The average attainment at 'A' level per candidate was over three grade As. We have recently completed the Oxbridge application process and I am delighted that 23 boys have been offered conditional places.

The school play this year will be 'Macbeth' and dates are from Thursday 13th March to Saturday 15th March inclusive. Please use the on-line booking system on the school website to secure your tickets. I would also encourage as many OWs to come to your Annual Dinner on 26th April 2008 or to the MCC fixture on Wednesday 25th June 2008. I very much look forward to seeing you.

Roy Page

Headmaster

OLD WYCOMBIENSIANS TIE

A new Old Wycombiensians' tie is being created and will be available in April 2008.

It will be predominantly navy blue with a regularly spaced band of gold-maroon-emerald-gold.

The ties will be 100% silk and cost £22 (plus £3 postage and packing). If you wish to order one, please fill in the form below and return it to Danny White. If you are intending to come to the dinner, they will be available for collection then.

REPLY SLIP FOR THE OW TIE

Please return this form to: D White, 18 Coppice Way, Hedgerley, Bucks, SL2 3YL. e-mail Chris-dannywhite@hedgerley.fsnet.co.uk

FILE PAST

From the Wycombiensian of 1915:

THE NEW SCHOOL

We are at last working in our new buildings, and the experience is both refreshing and encouraging. You can feel it in the air, this exhilarating spirit. From the time of assembling in the central hall at prayers, to the descent at the end of the day, the school life has been smooth working and keen.

The classrooms face south-east, letting in the morning sun, and are entered from the long corridor, which stretches the whole length of the building. In the opposite direction, like the arms of a capital E, lead off cloak rooms at either end, and a large hall in the middle. The halls springs to the full height of the building, and is arched and vaulted, a splendid place for sound, as the morning hymn testifies. Flanking the hall on one side is the manual workshop, and on the other the cycle shed.

We have left the shelter of the valley for the vigour of the hills, but we take into our new buildings more than three centuries of tradition, traditions of discipline and service.

From the Wycombiensian of 1936:

On Friday, November 1st, at 9.30 p.m. a fire was discovered in the third storey of the Headmaster's house. The alarm was immediately given and within a very few minutes the Wycombe Fire Brigade had arrived. The boarders, without every being in any danger, were immediately transferred to the School. More than half the Masters had arrived within a short time and together with many Old Boys, Parents and other willing helpers, rescued most of the contents of the Headmaster's private house and much material from the boarding establishment.

The fire, fanned by a strong wind, spread with amazing rapidity from the headmaster's house to the boarding apartments. It was soon apparent that none of the building could be saved. Not until three o'clock was the fire completely extinguished. By this time only the ground floor and the outer shell of the building remained.

From the Wycombiensian of 1954:

COUP D'ÉTAT

Have you noticed that the accustomed serenity of School life has been rudely shattered? Yes, the Band has been resurrected. This form of music attacks everyone in the School at every possible moment. From the School field are heard the higher harmonics of out-of-tune bugles sounding like bovine grunts and squeaks of pain. Leaving the budding Kenny Bakers, if you happen to be in the vicinity, the eight would-be drummers attack you ear-drums. Nor is this all. Some wretched boys are learning the noble fife. The fruit of their travail sounds like Pan inspiring fear into some rustic's ears on his pipes playing in Schönberg's twelve-tone system. This is the revolution that we have to undergo, and we are living in a free country!

THE BEST DAYS OF YOUR LIFE?

From the Minutes of RGS Prefects' Meetings, 1931-33:

Meeting held on Wednesday November 19th 1930

All the prefects were present.

Howes was brought up by Paice for writing the following as one of the fifty lines set.

"Empty vessels - like Paice - always make most noise."

Three strokes were administered.

R.B. Webber

Senior Prefect

Meeting held on Monday January 26th 1931

E.S. Paice (Senior Prefect) and 14 other prefects were present.

Rex was brought up by Harris for failing to do lines set for making an unnecessary noise in the classroom. As some excuse was offered, it was decided that he should complete fifty lines within two days.

E.S. Paice

Senior Prefect

Meeting held on Monday February 2nd 1931

E.S. Paice (Senior Prefect) and seven other prefects were present.

Rex had made no attempt to do any of the lines set at the previous meeting. Various fantastic excuses were given but these were dismissed as absurd.

Three strokes were given.

E.S. Paice

Senior Prefect

Meeting held on Monday March 2nd 1931

All the prefects were present.

Rex was brought up by Ives for failing to do lines set ten days previously. Since Rex had already appeared before the prefects six times, it was proposed to give him six strokes. Appeal to Mr Brand was allowed, but the appeal was dismissed.

Six strokes were given.

E.S. Paice

Senior Prefect

Meeting held on Monday March 2nd 1931

Most of the prefects were present.

Mugliston was brought up by Harris for failure to do lines, his crime culminating in a display of bad manners while assembling for prayers.

It was discovered that he had given considerable trouble to several other prefects and as this was his second appearance before the prefects it was decided that three strokes should be administered.

Redgate, Justice and Bolton were brought up by Ives for ragging on their way home from school as they were going down Amersham Hill. This was considered serious as it would bring discredit upon the school. The worst offenders, Bolton and Redgate, were given three strokes while Justice received two.

H.G. Tidy

Senior Prefect

ED: What a different world!

OLD BOYS' NOTES

AFZAL. I (1997-2003) Imran graduated from Merton College, Oxford in 2006 with the top first in Law, as well as a clutch of academic prizes.

ASHCROFT. MA (1962-64) Michael's book Victoria Cross Heroes: men of valour was published in November 2006. He has collected the medals over 20 years and now owns the world's biggest collection: 146 of the 1,355 VCs awarded since 1856.

CARR. JAP (1989-91) Jimmy won 'best live stand-up' at the British Comedy Awards in December 2006. His book The Naked Jape: uncovering the hidden world of jokes, co-authored with Lucy Greeves, was published in 2006.

CLARK. B.O (1992-98) Brendan graduated in 2006 from University College, London, with a First in Medical Sciences with Science and Technology Studies.

CROOK. R (1996-2002) Richard passed out at the Sovereign's Parade at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, on 15th December 2006 and has been commissioned into the Coldstream Guards.

CURRY. G (1996-2002) Graham graduated in 2006 from Bedfordshire University with a First in Modular Arts. He won the 'Best in Show Film' award, worth £750, for his final year project, a film entitled What a Freegan Waste!, a depiction of people who scavenge rubbish dumps for food and clothing. He hopes to set up his own film production company to further his career.

DONALD. LC (1990-96) Luke achieved joint 3rd place in the American PGA championships at Medinah in August 2006.

ELLIS. T (2001-04) Thomas left the RGS at the age of 14 when he was awarded the first ever annual place to study the classical guitar at the Yehudi Menuhin School. He took part in a concert at the Wigmore Hall, London, on 27th June 2006.

GILMORE. J (1998-2004) James won a gold medal in judo at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

HILL. RJ (1996-2002) Robin graduated with a First as Master of Engineering from Southampton University in 2006. He graduated as a Sub-Lieutenant from the Britannia Royal Naval College in April 2007.

HORLEY. D (1997-2003) David graduated in 2006 from Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, with a First in Mathematics with Physics.

OLDNALL. RBS (1995-2001) Robert passed out at the Sovereign's Parade at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, on 11th August 2006, and has been commissioned into the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Enigineers.

REES. T (2001-03) Tom won his début full cap for England in the victory against France at Twickenham in March, and was declared Man of the Match. He went on to play for the team in the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, playing in the pool games against the USA and South Africa.

ROWNTREE. PJ (1995-2001) Paul graduated as a Sub-Lieutenant from the Britannia Royal Naval College in June 2006.

SMITH. A (1980-86) Aled graduated from Lincoln College, Oxford, in 1989 with a degree in Mathematics and in 1995 he successfully completed his Chartered Financial Analyst qualifications. From 1989 to 1992 he was an Actuarial Consultant at Coopers and Lybrand, and for the next eight years he was with J.P.Morgan. Since 2000, he has been with M&G where he is Head of Equity Research. He manages the Global Leaders and American funds, which have a combined worth of over £1bn. He has a triple A fund manager rating from Citywire.

SPICER. N (1996-2002) Nicholas passed out at the Sovereign's Parade at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst on 15 December 2006, and has been commissioned into the Yorkshire Regiment.

WILSON. B (1992-98) Ben's second book, entitled Decency and Disorder, has been published by Faber. It examines how the libertine eighteenth century was transformed into the moralism of the Victorian age.

OLD WYCOMBIENSIAN LODGE

THE ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL WHISKY CLUB

In conjunction with Polmac (UK) Ltd., the RGS is proud to be able to offer Old Wycombiensians the opportunity to purchase a unique collection of finest Speyside Malt and Blended Whiskies bearing the RGS label. Click here for what is on offer, and also the order form. The whiskies will be available over the bar at the Old Wycombiensians' Dinner and can be purchased or ordered on the night. Contact Pippa Gamester (01494 551416) or pg@rgshw.com with any queries.

The following items were taken from the School web-site. For those who want news from the School, please click here.

OLD BOY CAPTAINS VARSITY TEAM

As we go to press, Stuart Penman (1996-2002) was due to captain Cambridge University Men's Hockey lst XI in the forthcoming 108th Varsity match.

Stuart Penman

This is his final year at Gonville and Caius College and it is a great honour and achievement to be leading the side in what will be Stuart's fourth Varsity match.

This is not the first such honour for RGS. Old Boy Colin Carter (1986-1991) also captained the Cambridge University Men's Hockey team.

Ed. Congratulations, Stuart! If anyone knows of any achievement or news of an OW, or read about it in the papers, please let me know.

The following items and been taken from the Svhool website. If you want to find out more about the school, please click here.

RGSHW CCF BIENNIAL INSPECTION

Air Vice-Marshal P S Collins, an old boy of the school, visited RGS last week to assess the eligibility of the RGSHW CCF's for continued military funding.

Air Vice-Marshal Collins arrived at the Navy Section's Sailing and Boating Base at Danesfield by boat crewed by cadets and then viewed a wide variety of the Navy Section's activities.

He was then driven to school and was met by the Guard of Honour formed of NCOs and Cadets of the Army and RAF Sections under the command of Cadet

Warrant Officer Nicholls. After inspecting the guard the Inspecting Officer met the Headmaster, Commanding Officer, Major Giles Scoble, and the other unit officers before attending an official luncheon in the Conference Room.

In the afternoon a wide variety of Army, RAF and joint activities were viewed including Climbing, Raft Building, Expedition Training and Cooking, Battle Drills, an Obstacle Course, a Radio Exercise and First Aid Incident Training.

Indoor activities included an Inter-Section Smallbore Rifle Shoot and a variety of practical lessons given by potential NCOs.

Before leaving at the end of a long and action-packed day the Inspecting Offcier addressed the whole unit in the Queen's Hall. He complemented the cadets on their high standard of training and their enthusiasm and thanked the NCOs, Officers and other adult staff for their efforts in maintaining such a high standard.

Ed. If you were in the CCF, do these photographs bring back memories? Do send them in.

RGS/WHS JOINT CONCERT 2008

A joint WHS/RGS orchestra will present Elgar's Cello Concerto, soloist Alex Aldren, in the first half of the RGS Summer Concert on Wednesday, 30th April. The second half will be a shortened version of Gilbert & Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance, featuring most of our leavers on stage in various roles - not to be missed!!!

Ed. If you live locally, and enjoy music, I would recommend this concert. It is always a very good evening. Phone the RGS for tickets (01494 524955).

CLOCK TOWER RESPLENDENT

In recent months the clock tower has been refurbished, and new floodlighting put in place.

Thanks are due to the school's trustees for funding the project and restoring the school's crowning glory to its original state.

The last maintenance to the clock face seems to have been done in the summer of 1981.

Scene from the top

Detail of the Tower

School Bell - newly painted

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Hi Ian,

Re the last newsletter, did you get copies of the RGS clock tower during the recent renovations? I was told you did, but they are not featured in the current newsletter, so I am wondering. I went up there and took pictures, including a close up of the initials W.B and A.F. with the date Sept 1943 inscribed on the lead at the front. I wonder if there were grey Books in the war, or whether the culprits can be traced any other way.

Regards

Andrew MacTavish

Ed. Does anyone know who WB and AF might be? Any suggestions? See the October 2002 newsletter, for photos of earlier work on the clock and clock tower.

Dear Ian,

I was given your name as the person most likely to be able to help me with the following:

I am an Old Boy of RGS (1952-1959) and I am looking for a copy of the team photo of the 1st XV rugby team of the season 1958-59. Sweetlands were the photographers (I have photos of the years 1955 - 58) but they have long since been out of business. In Bucks CC, they told me that they had a few team photos in their RGS archive, but not that one.

I would be most grateful if you could help me to find the photo and thus complete my collection. Many thanks and best wishes,

Philip Muller.

Ed. Does anybody have a photo of the 1958-9 Rugby Team? Please let me know and I will contact Philip, who I am sure would be very grateful.

Dear Ian,

I don't know if you still want information about O.B's. I haven't offered any for a long time because - thank Goodness! - our family situations remain much the same. Anyway, here is a brief report:-

GA Becket (1935-1940), still living at the top of Marlow Hill, creaking about with Parish Church bankings and meditating on his broad bean and garlic plantations. Three sons:-

HA Becket (1964-1970), advertising vigorously, dividing his time between a flat in London and a house near La Rochelle, where he enjoys sailing. Four children, all gainfully employed.

AR Becket (1966-1972), roaming the country - sometimes with two RGS contemporaries - being technical with computer connections. Has own admired firm (Information Security Systems Ltd.), based in Cresses. He inhabits Prestwood.

NS Becket (1974-1978), lives in Southampton, where he is a "chosen" sea-pilot, mostly looking after vast cruise and container ships. Equipped with 12--year old twins (m & f).

I hope that all goes well with you.

Yours sincerely,

Gerald Becket

P.S. Neil and Claire Cooper called in recently. They are flourishing in Stroud.

Dear ex-RGS men,

This is my occasional mailshot to people who have shown an interest in the RGS High Wycombe school photos which I have posted on the web.

http://www.rgs.saund.co.uk/ is the web address.

There are now five photos displayed on the site. The latest change has been to improve the presentation of the 1967 Senior School and 1964 Junior School photos so that individual images appear bigger and clearer.

Names are being added all the time and I'm very grateful to OWs who send in information. The totals of people identified are now as follows:

1967 senior: 417 out of 496 people identified (84%)

1964 junior: 289 out of 333 people identified (87%)

1962 senior: 351 out of 724 people identified (48%)

1960 senior: 396 out of 658 people identified (60%)

1958 junior: 133 out of 250 people identified (53%)

A pretty good effort all round but (as a kindlier RGS master might have written on our reports) still some scope for improvement.

What I would like to do next is borrow (or acquire a good quality scan of) the 1964 senior school photo so that we have something close to a complete record of people who were at the school during the 1960s. As things stand, some people who were at the school between 1960 and 1967 don't appear in any of the existing photos). Any offers?

I look forward to hearing from you. If you would prefer not to receive my occasional mailshot, just drop me a line and I'll remove your name.

Regards

John Saunders

Dear ex-RGS Men,

Another old RGS High Wycombe school photo is now available for viewing at my website...

http://www.rgs.saund.co.uk/

It is the April 1964 'middle school' photo, kindly lent to me for scanning by Mike Saunders. It features the 4th, 5th and Upper 5th forms, so would be of particular interest to anyone who started at the RGS between 1959 and 1961.

Not too many people identified as yet - I'm relying on you gentlemen to help me out.

Thanks in advance, and my particular thanks to Mike Saunders for lending me the photo.

John Saunders

(RGS 1963-70)

SAD NEWS

It is sad to report that Jean Pattinson, widow of Reg or "Pat", who was Deputy Head of the RGS in the 1970s and the Tylers Wood Boarding House Master for many years has died recently at the age of 94.

We have heard too of the death of Roger Grant, (1932-1940) and Jimmy Maher, who was at the RGS in the seventies.

We extend our deepest sympathy to Ian and Michael, Jean's sons and the rest of Jean's family, and Roger's and Jimmy's families.

A SNIPPET

A book called The Puppet Master by Ian Gosling, was mentioned in the Midweek recently with a character in it educated at the RGS. I am reliably informed that there is only the briefest mention of the RGS and refers to Saturday morning school!

NEXT NEWSLETTER

This will be published on May 22nd. We hope to publish photographs from the Dinner, reports of the AGM, Dinner, hockey and shooting, and an article about a bear at the RGS. Please send in your contribution, your memories, and your photographs to me, Ian Clark ianrclarkuk@yahoo.co.uk.

Ian edits the Newsletter, Judy De Gelas embellishes it and Martin Berry ensures that it appears on the website.