NEWSLETTER MAY 2010

An Adobe PDF version of this newsletter is available here.

Items in this newsletter:

Annual Dinner  |   CCF General Inspection  |   Letter from the Development Director  |   Letters and Emails to the Editor  |   Rugby Photograph  |   Rugby Report  |   University Options

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the OW Club

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Club took place on Saturday 8 May 2010 in the school library with 12 Old Boys present. Roy Page, Headmaster and President of the Club took the Chair.

The Treasurer, Danny White, tabled the accounts and explained that these showed a small profit for the year mainly resulting from a surplus on the 2009 dinner and the sale of ties. The accounts were approved and it was confirmed that these have been passed to the auditor. As referred to last year, Danny is resigning his office of Treasurer. Rather than the Club appointing a new Treasurer it was agreed that the School would undertake the treasury function in future for which Danny will arrange a timely handover.

Apart from his office as Treasurer, Danny has been involved in the committee for many years, including as a past chairman of the Club, and the meeting expressed its gratitude for his great contribution. Simon Molden, Chairman of the Club, and Roy Page briefly explained that with the recent appointment of Isabella Eastham as Development Director the School will be taking a more active role in promoting the Club and providing assistance in its running. All six committee members retiring by rotation, being Ian Birch, George Bates, Robin Dorkings, Andrew MacTavish, Martin Myers and Matthew Appleton offered themselves for re-election and were so re-elected. Isabella Eastham offered herself for election to the committee and her appointment was approved.

Those present then adjourned to the Queen's Hall for the Annual Dinner.

Chris Andrew (Secretary of the OW Club)

ANNUAL DINNER

More photographs are available here from the RGS website.

Thanks to Chris Andrew who took the photographs.

Andrew Dilley, Rowland Brown, Peter Dilley

Nicholas Weaver, Phil Doyle

Michael Trendall, Peter Price

Michael Beardall, Steven Riley, David Taverner

Dave Andrew, Alex Horsfall-Turner

Bert Hickman, Raymond White

Adrian Corser, Roy Page

World Challenge Boys

Michael Baud, John Read

Sandra Purdey, Dennis Jones, Andrew MacTavish

Ralph Miller, Simon Molden, Isabella Eastham

Chris Andrew, John Haley

The Annual Dinner was attended by 64 Old Boys, 6 teachers (both past and present), the head boy and 5 World Challenge boys. The reduced number of Old Boys attending compared with last year was disappointing and it is hoped that numbers will be increased next year when the School takes a more active role in promoting the event.

After the dinner the Headmaster gave a brief review of the school and presented a slide show reflecting the diverse nature of activities undertaken over the past year. The Guest of Honour was Ian Wilson who taught classics at the school between 1972 and 2008. Apart from curricular activities, Ian was involved in school trips to far flung places and encouraged the cross country team. Simon Molden proposed the toast to Ian and Ian responded with an energetic review of his 36 years at the school, his subtle Geordie humour being much appreciated.

Chris Andrew (Secretary of the OW Club)

RUGBY REPORT

The first OW Rugby match was held on April 1st. The names of the players in the two original squads were as follows:

Manager: Adam Stubbs

Ben Manning, Will Philpot, Ollie Baird, Matt Nally, Jonny Lai, James Turner,

Ali Cooper, Ali Jeal, Mark Richards, James Jenkins, Phil Kelleher, Elliot Irwin,

Alex Hawes, Mike McGonigel, Bander Pike, Joe Kelleher, Will Jackson,

Alex Johnstone, Chris Johnstone, Idrusu Labri.

Manager: Trevor Woolliams

Ollie Lowe, Charles Baird, Anthony Silvey, Dan Jenkins, Kwong Lin, Nik Aris,

Richard Pike, Stevan Jordan, Chris Robinson, Nick Fisher, Ali Gibbons,

Mike Rauchwerger, Chris Summers, Paddy Watson, Ali Americanos,

Andrew Jackson, James Harrington, Ed Boughton, Alec Campbell.

For a full report of the match, together with photographs, please click here for a pdf file.

The 2nd RGS Old Boys' rugby match is on Friday 17 December. If you would like to play, please contact Peter Stockwell, PStockwell@energysgroup.com

GOLF

If you would like to play in the OW team against the RGS teachers on Friday June 25th at 4.30pm at Weston Turville Golf Club, please contact ianrclarkuk@yahoo.co.uk or Robin Dorkings robin@dorkings.fsnet.co.uk, who will become i/c OW Golf.

CRICKET

If you would like to play for the OW team in either of the matches already arranged, please contact David Stone, david.stone5@ntlworld.com

LETTER FROM THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

May 2010

The approach of the end of the school year, when upper year-groups depart for study leave and their public exams, signals a poignant shift in the relationship between pupil and school. No longer part of a daily routine that has extended over many years, the first instinct is often to want to forget about school life and eagerly move forward onto university, a career and new opportunities. “School” is left behind, although it continues its function for a new group of boys taking the leavers’ places. Pupils who will leave us this summer are likely to forget about “school life” as they take their first steps into a world of opportunity. For those of you that may have left many years ago, I urge you also to forget about the school you once knew, so that you may come back to learn about the school RGS has become since the time which you were a pupil here – some of the changes are truly awe-inspiring.

Schools evolve just as quickly as the pupils we send through our doors. Our pupils (and therefore our alumni) leave a fingerprint on the way we work as a school community. Constantly seeking to provide an education that challenges and stretches today’s bright young things means that we need to keep up with lifestyle shifts, leaps in technology and strive to be one step ahead of the curve. This was evident from the Headmaster’s presentation to those in attendance at this year’s OW Dinner held earlier this month. The photographs of trips, new curriculum areas, sporting, musical and academic achievements that the boys have participated in over the past 12 months, continues to amaze and delight audiences, year on year.

As each year-group leaves the school, the challenge is set for the rest of us. Keeping in contact with our youngest alumni can be a challenge at the best of times. The rise of facebook and other social networking facilities means we can put RGS back in the picture – join the OW Club page and the official school profile to keep up to date with our news and so that we can keep up to date with yours.

You all left your mark on the school whilst you were here and we are eager to see what mark you will leave next, wherever in the world you are.

Don’t forget to check the latest news section of the RGS website to see photos of our recent events and achievements! http://www.rgshw.com

Isabella Eastham

EMAIL ADDRESSES

We now have the email addresses of about 1900 OWs, and send an email to them four times a year with news of OW and School activities. If you would like to receive an email from me, please send me your email address ianrclarkuk@yahoo.co.uk

TOUR OF THE SCHOOL

If you are in the area and would like a tour of the RGS, please do not hesitate to contact Ian Clark, ianrclarkuk@yahoo.co.uk.

1988 REUNION

If you left in 1988, Phil Doyle is seeking to organize a Reunion in London one evening in July. If you would be interested in hearing details of this, please email him phil_doyle_1@hotmail.com.

LETTERS/EMAILS TO THE EDITOR

Dear ex-RGS men,

This is a reminder of the existence of a website dedicated to the school photos of your vintage (1958 to 1967). Contributors continue to come forward in pleasing numbers and the number of faces identified grows accordingly.

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

There is also a forum where you can register for free to talk about the photos or anything else related to RGS High Wycombe: http://www.rgs.saund.co.uk/bb/index.php

One item of mild interest currently being investigated on the forum is the origin of the '149' phenomenon which took the school by storm at some time in the late 1950s and lasted a couple of decades. Anyone who is either too old* or too young to know what I mean by '149' will probably think I have taken leave of my senses, but do read Andrew MacTavish (OW and former master) on the subject: http://www.rgsow.com/newsletters/07_01/07_01.htm#149

* If your time at the school pre-dates 1958 to any degree (and you don't know anything about '149'), can I recommend Tony Hare's excellent website - http://www.rgs.tonyhare.co.uk/ - it covers a period from the mid 1940s to the late 1950s and is replete with photos, reminiscences and a superb run of old Grey Books, G&S programmes, etc.

Regards, John Saunders (RGS 1963-70)

Dear Ian,

You may like to know that Adrian L. Runswick, a one-time member (appointed 1950) of the English Department under Charles Hills & a contemporary of mine when I taught in the Classics Department, died on Monday last 17 May. He had recently received a Doctorate at the University of Lancaster for a treatise on the 'Tragedy of Fate'.

John B. Benson

Hello Ian,

In the latest newsletter you show photographs of the snow on Jan 10th 2010. One photo in particular took my attention and that was the last in the series showing the area by what you now refer to as the "Old Gym Block."

In 1952 there was a similar snow fall and we boys set up a terrifying ice slide from there down to the Geography entrance. When it was my turn, I hurtled down the slope and half way down some unkind person gave me a shove and I went flying. As a result I suffered a black eye and needed heavy makeup for my appearance as a chorus girl in that year's G & S performance, Yeomen Of The Guard.

Tony Hare

Dear Ian,

Great snow pictures. My memory of snow is twofold. Through the dire winter of 1962/3 I and other pupils from Princes Risborough made it to and from school every day despite 12 foot drifts on the main road. The other, not sure which year, probably spring 1959, was of boys making a long slide stretching from the fives court down past school house to the tuck shed. Luck would have it that our first class after lunch was French with the rather strict "crappie" Hett. We were absorbed on the slide and he came to find us resulting in detention for the whole class! No sense of fun that man!

Regards Ian Johnston

Ian,

I'd really like to get over for the 8th May gathering, but with the current "economic climate" and cost of airfares, that isn't going to happen this year.

Couldn't help but laugh at those snow pictures. I have some great memories of a rather reduced attendance in snow. When asked (by Ray Lovell I think) why someone wasn't present the reply "He's sledding sir". Roy Page's car (a Triumph Dolomite or Toledo I seem to remember) being turned, by some of the older boys, across the pathway between the temporary building he was teaching in and the adjacent fence (I bet he remembers that, as he wasn't amused at all!).

Regards, Graeme Ware

Dear Ian,

I see a question about prefects meetings. Yes they certainly existed when I was there and was caned myself by Peter Fry (head boy) now Sir Peter for being caught in the corridor when I should have been in assembly. I went home at lunch times so that day I donned an extra pair of trousers before the meeting and didn't feel a thing! Despite this serious offence I was still made a prefect myself the following year.

David Wiltshire

Dear Ian,

During my years at the RGS there were Prefects' Meetings. The Head Boy or his two deputies were empowered to administer the slipper but not the cane and there was quite a knack in getting the most painful result. One had to flick one's wrist at the moment of contact - so I am led to understand! If anyone refused the punishment then they were sent to Boss Tucker who would cane them first and ask questions afterwards.

I was myself hauled up before a Prefects' Meeting on one occasion - for not wearing my cap to school! A rather silly rule especially as my school was readily identifiable from my blazer. I used to walk two miles to school from the Keep Hill Estate and don my cap when I got to Amersham Road. As I was going along Lucas Road a jobsworth junior prefect saw me and reported me. I don't remember what the punishment was - but it wasn't the slipper!

Times have changed (as they say)!

David.A.Rance (1950-57)

Ian,

Photo of rugby match on last newsletter is interesting. From the left Mike, just see Derek Stubbs, I think you can just see Jerry Cook through players, David Chamberlain, Pat Taylor, Jim Tomlinson, Econ Prof at LSE, Erik Westrup and myself at no 2.

Malcolm Cook

Dear Mr Clark,

My brother G.W. STANNERS died peacefully in his sleep on March 14th 2010, aged 85. He was at the R.G.S. from 1935 to 1942.

Gerald was formerly Chief Designer for The Hymatic Engineering Co. Ltd, and Leader of The Redditch Orchestra.

He leaves a widow, June, two children, Christopher and Jennifer, and three grand-daughters.

Regards John Stanners (1933-41)

Ed. We extend our deepest sympathy to Gerald's family.

Dear Ian,

The photograph of "Jock" Evely in the last news letter provoked some memories of the RGS in the late 50s. The lost property room was commonly known as the "Jock shop". Its function was sometimes misused by one boy going in and describing a fictitious lost pen to Mr. Evely, whereupon he would produce a box containing all the pens in his possession. The boy would carefully examine the contents, memorise an item, then tell Mr. Evely that his lost pen wasn't there. Outside he would describe the chosen item to a second boy and. After a decent interval, the second boy would go in and claim it.

Most of the masters had nicknames, some derived from their names or initials, others from their appearance or utterances.

Tus,	Mr. T.V. Sheppard	who taught Geography.
Tweet,	Mr. Nightingale	who taught Games/Geography.
Ferret,	Mr. Harvey,	French.
Doggy,	Mr. Scott,	Mathematics.
Piddle,	Mr Walters,	Biology.
Alpha,	Mr. Legget,	Physics, whose catch phrase was "let this angle be alpha".
Barchoo!,	Mr. Male,	Latin, who always seemed to have a cold.
Crap,	Mr. Hett,	French
Hank,	Mr. Brand(s?),	Mathematics.
Doc,	Dr. Browning	History/Divinity.
Gag,	Mr.Grant,	Art.
Poly,	Mr. Perfect,	Russian.
Drip,	Mr. Pelmore,	Chemistry.
Uncle H,	Mr. Hollinsworth,	English/Headmaster lower school.
Sam,	Mr. Morgan,	Geography, Deputy Headmaster
And last but not least
The Boss,	Mr Tucker,	Latin, Headmaster.

I would be very interested if anyone else from this era can remember other masters' nicknames or to contact other pupils who were in my classes 2B 3-5UY. 6S1.6S2

Keep up the good work!

Paul German, 1956-1963.

Dear Ian,

Does anyone know of the whereabouts of Peter Irwin, Stephen (or was it Steven?) Evans, Gary Palmer, David Lachau. The first three were all in my year. David was 2 years below me I think, but used to live in Denham (where I lived). I know Stephen went to Cambridge (Peterhouse) and after that into something in the finance industry (financing aircraft I think), but someone said to me he was now a schoolteacher. Could you help me make contact with them?

Many thanks! Richard Arbon

SAD NEWS

Terry Williams tells me that he received a message from Rachel Clarke, widow of James, to say that he died June 2009 from a heart attack. He left the RGS in 1983. We extend our deepest sympathy to Rachel and his family.

RUGBY PHOTOGRAPH

Many thanks to Ralph Miller, who gave me this photograph!

Can you recognise any famous rugby players in this photo of the RGS Rugby Team?

NEWS FROM THE RGS

University options - Year 13 have chosen

We can now reveal the most popular universities for RGS's Year 13 pupils. They have submitted their UCAS choices and are now waiting to see the offers that are made before they make their firm acceptance and insurance choices by the end of March. Here are the front runners for 2009 followed by the number of pupils who have shown an interest in a course at that institution.

Bristol	63
Southhampton	59
Birmingham	56
Warwick	47

The graph below shows further results

Ed. How does this compare when you were at the RGS? Was Bristol the most popular choice then?

What do they want to study? By aggregating some course titles we can create a rough rank order of course popularity. (The figures represent the number of times the respective course has been applied for)

Ed. How does this compare when you were at the RGS? Was History the most popular subject then?

RGS CCF GENERAL INSPECTION

Commodore Tim Hennessey MA BSc Royal Navy, Naval Regional Commander Eastern England, visited RGS in March for the CCF's Biennial Inspection.

On arrival at school he was met by the Commanding Officer, Squadron Leader Titchen and by the Guard of Honour formed of NCOs and Cadets of the Army and RAF Sections. After inspecting the guard the Inspecting Officer met the Headmaster 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, Kayaking, Expedition Training and Cooking, Battle Drills, an Obstacle Course, a Radio Exercise and First Aid Incident Training.

Before leaving at the end of a long and action-packed day the Inspecting Officer addressed the whole unit in the Queen's Hall. He complimented 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. He then went for tea in 'The Space', where he had a final opportunity to talk with Senior NCOs from all three sections.

More images available in the photo-gallery

Ed. Does this bring back memories of your time in the CCF, and the General Inspection?

SCHOOL WEBSITE

The above two items were taken from the School website. Please click here for more news of the School.

FUTURE NEWSLETTERS

Editor writes:

In future there will be four newsletters a year, and shortly after a newsletter has been published, an email will be sent to the 1900 OWs, whose email address we have. A reminder. If I do have your email address and you would like to receive an email, with news of OW activities and the School, please send it to me ianrclarkuk@yahoo.co.uk

Many thanks to Martin Berry for his management of the OW website and for his wonderful help in preparing the newsletters and the emails.

Hopefully the next newsletter will appear on August 22nd.