THE REEDER 1968-2012
November 1968
Mr. A. Hill, who has been coming to teach music for the last three years, has now left. He will be succeeded by Mr. G. J. D. Hoskins, who will be resident as Assistant to the Director of Music. We also welcome Mr. N. D. Mugford, who was appointed to take over the work of Bursar at Cobham last April.
A Language Laboratory has been set up and aroused considerable interest in visitors on Speech Day and on Old Reedonians' Day: it has been given to the school by the stock exchange firm of Wedd, Durlacher and Mordaunt. An addition to the Laboratories is under construction and should be ready for next term. Plans are being made to build a large gymnasium and sports hall, together with a new tuck shop: the existing gymnasium will be altered and redecorated for use as a theatre and assembly hall. These last schemes have been made possible by a very generous contribution from an anonymous donor.
Winter 1969
Cadet Force. Mr. J. A. Lead has relinquished the command of the Combined Cadet Force, the position of Commanding Office now being filled by Mr. B. J. Cole. Mr. Lead will remain in charge of the Army Section. The Combined Cadet Force will in future terms be run on a voluntary basis for those cadets who have successfully passed their Proficiency Examinations.
Buildings. Work on the new Gymnasium will start very soon and this new building will house a new Tuck Shop, will have an indoor rifle range and will also include a number of individual studies for VIth formers—something we have needed for a long time.
Second Master. Mr. F. H. Anstis became Second Master in September in succession to Mr. P. J. Scott who retires after 32 years' service next July.
Change of Housemastership. Mr. L. S. Breadon, Housemaster of Brlstowe since the opening of the new boarding houses in 1959, retired from this position at the end of the summer term. The new housemaster is Mr. B. A. Green, Head of the Chemistry Department. Mr. Green is married with a young daughter and a son who is in Capel.
Grounds Staff. Bert Hone, who joined the grounds staff in 1957, reached the age of retirement during the summer term and his familiar figure will no longer be seen on the lawns. Busty Welland, who came in 1951, remains as senior groundsman, assisted by Frank Bowdery now in his seventh year at the school.
New Masters. At the end of the summer term Mr. Dowlen left for an appointment in the North, and Mr. Houlson went to University College, London. They are succeeded by Mr. Hodgetts (Chemistry) to be Assistant Housemaster in Blathwayt, and Mr. Biggs (Art) to be Assistant Housemaster in Capel.
Clover and Thistle. Two new houses for masters were completed during the summer holidays in the woods on Sandy Lane below the Coombe. Clover is occupied by Mr. Breadon, Thistle by Mr. Mugford the recently appointed Bursar. The houses were both named after charitable trusts which have donated large sums of money to the Foundation Appeal in the last few years.
Summer 1970
New Gymnasium. During the year the new gymnasium beside the swimming pool has grown into an impressive arena for indoor sport and physical education. This much needed improvement in our facilities will be of exceptional benefit, especially in the winter, and the opportunity to turn the existing gym into a suitably furnished assembly hall will, it is hoped, be the sequel to the completion of the new building. Meanwhile the work on this project and on the modernisation of the heating and hot water system continues; a by-product of the latter being the future use of an obsolete boiler room as a boys' workshop for constructional hobbies.
Winter 1970
A 24" television set is to be presented to the School by Peter Daffey on behalf of the Association. The cost has been provided from the Sports and Amenities Fund.
Summer 1971
Far from retiring we hear that PHILIP SCOTT is teaching at Ryde Grammar School as senior English master. Typically, he is running one of the school's rugby teams. Ryde's gain is undoubtedly Cobham's loss.
THE NEW GYMNASIUM was opened for use during March. The playing area is that of a full-size basket ball court and around it there are changing rooms, a tuck shop, an indoor rifle range and studies for 32 sixth formers. The donor remains anonymous, but one hopes that he will find some opportunity to view this fine building which we owe to his generosity. The boys themselves are to present the gymnasium with a clock to show how much they have appreciated this outstanding addition to the amenities of the school.
Summer 1972
["School Report" extract]
" . . . More on the other hand does not necessarily mean better. There are more boys in the school who offer to contribute less than ever, there are more who make litter, regardless of who will have to sweep it, and there are more who perversely and persistently smoke. Increased freedom has given boys greater scope for success and for failure. The school is a microcosm of the society in which we live, and the task of the teaching staff has never been more arduous or more rewarding. In the long run the school must be judged not on its present members but on its old boys, and those who have served on the staff at Cobham for many years always look forward, as I do, to hearing from them."
R. N. EXTON, M.A., J.P.
(Headmaster)
Winter 1972
The School came directly under the public eye twice during the last year although perhaps not in the most usual context. We have all seen some strange cricket matches at Reed's during our time there but none so peculiar as that shared with T.T.A.'s viewers during an episode of the comedy series "Father Dear Father." If only R.G.S. Guildford were as easy to get out! Actually if the truth be known the boys and spectators involved were far too interested in Patrick Cargill's shapely two "daughters" to worry about the cold day and time consuming re-takes.
Summer 1974
Close Matron. After a decade of inestimable service at The Close, Mrs. Willis has retired from the post of Hpuse Matron. It is hard to imagine how anyone could have performed her difficult task more efficiently during a period of great change at the school. All members of the community wish her well in her retirement.
Staff Changes. Mr. Paul Tovey, who came to the school in 1970 from St. Luke's College, Exeter to teach Physics and coach Rugby Football, is joining the Royal Navy as an Officer Instructor. He and Mrs. Tovey are wished every success in their new career.
Two new masters will be appointed in September:—Mr. Richard Bawtree to teach Physics and Mr. Brian Vincent to teach Physical Education in place of Mr. J. B. Savage, who will in future be fully occupied teaching Geography and general subjects. The additional master is acquired to deal with the gradual growth of numbers in the school to the 330 mark.
The Headmaster. Mr. Exton has been elected to the Council of the Independent Schools Careers Organisation formerly the Public Schools' Appointments Bureau. He is also currently serving on the Headmasters' Association Working Party for Disadvantaged Children. In view of this and outside commitments he has resigned his appointment as Justice of the Peace.
The Association was pleased to welcome the following new members during 1973. . . . Mr. M. J. BAGLEY, 1973
Summer 1975
John Lead. The retirement of John Lead after 28 years service to the School brought a sad conclusion to the Summer term. With him, his wife and his family go the good wishes and affection of many generations of Reedonians. The outstanding results achieved this year in English and the three-year record of his undefeated 2nd XI were a fitting final testimony of the many facets of his excellence.
New School Facilities. During the course of last year there were several improvements to the amenities of the School. On the academic side the main item was the provision of married accommodation for three more married masters, while at the same time the boys' boarding facilities were modernised by the conversion of dormitories into sixth form bed studies. For improved recreation the new swimming bath was finally brought into use as a covered heated pool, and an all-weather hockey pitch was constructed on the Heath. The School is exceptionally grateful to those benefactors, parents and friends who have so generously supported these projects.
Staff Changes. Mr. Christopher Biggs, Head of the Art Department, and Mr. Brian Miller, Head of Economics, have both moved from Reed's to senior appointments in larger schools, Mr. Biggs to Abingdon and Mr. Miller to Dorchester. Mr. Biggs will be remembered for his varied contributions to the life of the community in addition to his work in the Art Room, particularly in Drama, where he revealed a self-effacing capacity for developing the talents of many individual boys. Mr. Miller's success in major roles as Economics master and as cricket coach was clearly reflected in the excellent results achieved; in minor roles he performed with similar distinction.
New masters joining the staff in September, 1974, were Mr. L. Doré (Art), Mr. S. J. Hausey (Economics) and Mr. D. R. Hemsworth (French). Mr. M. D. Hewett meanwhile has joined the English Department, which will in future be in the charge of Mr. T. A. M. Stedman.
The Association welcomes the following new members who left the school in 1974: . . . T. R. DENNY
[O.R. rugby report extract]
Regular 1st XI playing newcomers to the side were Rick Rowbotham and Brian Vincent with GRANT DAVIDSON getting a permanent place for the last twelve games . . .
. . . A good 2nd XV needs a nucleus of regular players and those who fulfilled this role by playing in nearly all the fixtures were Sid Tattersell, Chris Simmonds, Roger Northwood, Mike Jaggard, JIM BROCK, Nigel Taunt, NEIL RIDSDALE and Jes Isaacs (who incidentally is already training for his 1st XV place next season).
. . . A number of the Reeds boys who played for the Colts XV also played on occasions for the 2nd and 3rd XVs. Predominant amongst these were RICHARD JEFFERIES, ANDY MULES, Paul Smart and BARRY AULD.
[O.R. cricket report extract]
. . . Once again the O.R.s have had a number of schoolboys playing cricket for them. There were five in total, including Peter Stoehr and CHRIS BROTHERS, who is a very useful opener.
Summer 1976
Two Reed's boys, Carl Bjorkstrand and RICHARD GREEN, have been selected to take part in the British Schools Exploration Society's 1975 expedition to Iceland individually sponsored by the Clothworkers' Company, the Grocers' Company and the H. O. Wills Trust.
Cricket Record. An opening stand of 180 by CHRISTOPHER BROTHERS (100 not out) and JAVAID RASHID (95) surpassed all recorded batting partnerships in the school's history. The opponents, Kingston Grammar School, had never been defeated by Reed's in a 1st XI fixture. Facing a large total, they collapsed for 62 all out, losing by over 150 runs.
Awards
C. R. JOHNSON was awarded a Ministry of Defence Engineering Student Scholarship at University.
Lord Kitchener Scholarships were awarded to: C. G. Fuller, I. N. LUDLOW, W. H. N. Blakemore, J. RASHID, A. R. WALKER.
DICK GREEN (1975) has joined the Royal Navy and after six months at Dartmouth he joined his first ship cruising to the Caribbean and the U.S.A. Whilst on leave Dick has played rugby for the O.Rs and it was good to have him on board!
[O.R. cricket report extract]
We opened the season with a draw against Oxshott, thanks mainly to some fine batting to the side, namely JEREMY SHERWOOD and Sean Orsler. Their innings enabled us to hang on until close of play for a draw in Oxshott's favour. Jeremy is now opening our innings regularly and Sean has promised to have a haircut and buy some "whites" in the not too distant future. . . .
. . . Despite our loss at Stoke, MARTIN TITFORD had a fine innings (the only one I've seen) during which he managed to hoist a six over the railway embankment.
. . . The new "get tough" policy paid dividends the following week when we beat Cobham for the first time in living memory. Highlights of this game were definitely NEIL JOHN's immaculate size 9 golf shoes (Neil, by the way, is yet another promising "up and coming" alcoholic). MARTIN TITFORD's blistering spell of 4 wickets for 2 runs . . .
Summer 1977
It was with considerable regret that the Governors received last winter the resignation of the Headmaster, Mr. Rodney Exton, who will be leaving to take up an appointment in Melbourne, Australia, in January, 1978. Mr. Exton, who will have been at the school for 14 years, will be remembered as the first Headmaster of Reed's to be elected to the Headmasters' Conference, a distinction which recognised the growth of the reputation and attainments of the school under his leadership and that of his predecessor, Mr. Robert Drayson.
Mr. Exton came to Reed's soon after the admission of the original Non-Foundation intake which effectively doubled the numbers in the school and one of his first objectives was to consolidate the intergration of the new fee-paying element with the traditional Reed's Foundationers. This task was made possible by the essential improvements to the amenities carried out by the Governors under the Chairmanship of Mr. David Stacey, and as a result of the outstanding efforts of the staff, particularly the Second Master, the Housemasters and the Chaplain, to whom the new Headmaster delegated wide powers of authority as the first step in a policy that foresaw acceptance of a share of the responsibility to the well-being of the school by all its members at all levels as the ultimate source of unity and progress in the school's activities.
The standards of achievement in public examinations have been consistently high since the days when they were first taken, however, during the last 14 years many more candidates have gained admission to universities, particularly Oxford and Cambridge.
Mr. Exton will hand on to his successor a confident and happy school, loyal to the Christian and moral principles on which our school was founded.
Congratulations to ANDY WALKER (1975) who married Alison on July 2nd, 1977.
Autumn 1978
JIM BROCK (1975) is now working for Romans of Woking, whilst his fellow contemporary Richard Jefferies (1975) is anxiously awaiting the results of his degree in geology.
MARTIN TITFORD (1975) will be absent from the rugby field next season as he is off to South Africa for a year as part of his civil engineering studies.
EASTER TOUR 1978: REEDONIANS AT BOURNEMOUTH
Fifty Old Reedonians set off for Bournemouth on a chilly Good Friday morning for yet another Easter Tour. I've lost count of the number of times we have been to Bournemouth—which must say something for the annual rugby and hockey festival organised by the Bournemouth Sports Club.
This year we had arranged five games, two on Good Friday, two on Saturday and the last on Monday. A fairly heavy socialising and playing schedule. "Reeders" may wonder why we have been to Bournemouth so many times. One of the principal reasons is the ease of arrangements. Apart from one disastrous hotel at Wimborne we have always stayed at the same hotel—Bagshawes—George Bagshawe manages to get through the three days safe in the knowledge that he will be able to enjoy a good holiday in the Canaries off the proceeds. The other factors in favour of Bournemouth are its handy location and the ex-cellent organisation of its festival. Tour organisers this year were MARTIN TITFORD and JEREMY STOCK who between them managed to squeeze out the £18 from each traveller. A simple task you might think until you try it.
Our opponents on the Good Friday were Nuneaton Old Edwardians and Old Monmouthians, both were beaten convincingly. Saturdays games were another matter, Old Tottonians gave us a hiding but the 2nd XV narrowly defeated Bournemouth Nomads.
A visitor to the ground on the Saturday was "World Cup Willie" who appears at many international sporting events resplendent in his well known Union Jack outfit and top hat. "World Cup Willie" used to be fixture secretary with Bournemouth R.F.C. and knows Rodney Exton both being life members of Bournemouth Sports Club.
A civic reception was held for clubs visiting the festival at the Town Hall on Saturday evening and was attended by George Spinks and JEREMY STOCK, and proved to be an enjoyable evening.
Two of our players JEREMY STOCK and Paul Hemmings were selected for the President's XV who played against a Guest XV on the Sunday afternoon. In an exciting finish the President's XV ran out winners by one point.
The final match was against Old Moselians on Monday. Those unlucky enough to be selected were faced with a gigantic opposition, however, thanks to some magical running by young Dick Leitch and a superb solo try by Chris Mortimore the day was ours.
We are already considering venues for Easter 1979. An approach has been made to the Channel Islands, a favourite spot for touring sides. Whilst Dave McElhiney is also looking at the possibility of making another continental visit, and Chris Mortimore is canvassing support for a Scottish visit.
JEREMY STOCK/MARTIN TITFORD.
Summer 1979
RICHARD JEFFERIES (1975) enjoys life
When George first told me that I was going to write this article I tried my best to forget the request (demand?). However, after a great deal of perseverance on his part, and many months later I have finally got around to putting pen to paper.
Tell us about life on an oil rig George said to me, make it funny, lively and with plenty of H.I. (human interest) about 750 words. You have no idea what task that really is when you realise that there are only 3 things that even the most inventive amongst us can find to do on a rig work, eat and sleep: Who wants to hear about that I said, but George insisted, so here goes.
I won't bother with the old jokes such as reminding you that the way to recognise an Irish man on an oil rig is by their tendency to feed bread to the helicopters, or I wouldn't dream of telling you about the Irish helicopter pilot who got too hot so he turned off the fan. Right now I am working in Ireland, so perhaps this had better be written under a nom-de-plume.
The first thing that one realises when starting work on a rig, is that there is a new language or jargon to be learnt. For example it might come as a bit of a shock to an outsider to learn that there were plenty of pipes full of dope, that there is a pusher on every rig, and one can usually get a trip every 24 hours. I was relieved to discover that roughly translated that means that a Teflon-based compound (dope) is put onto the threaded ends of the drill pipe to prevent them getting jammed, that there is a foreman (pusher) present, and that they usually have to pull the pipe out of the ground once a day (tripping).
In a serious vein however, life on a rig is completely different to anything I have ever known. It takes quite a bit of getting used to, and in my experience one has to be of a certain mentality in order to cope with it (warped?). It is quite a daunting prospect to get dumped on a rig knowing that one isn't going to set foot on land for maybe as long as a month. The simple pleasures in life such as popping down to the local for a pint suddenly become very important, and also a very long way away.
In area a rig is normally not much bigger than a couple of rugby pitches, so you can see that life is of a very restricted nature, however, usually everything is done to ensure comfort and peace of mind for all those on board. The rooms are usually clean and comfortable, and the food is generally of a very high standard. On walking into the galley and ordering a T-bone steak (which are usually the size of dinner plates) the first thing the chef will say is "certainly, how many?" Three at a sitting is not uncommon and that is not counting the half pound of fresh prawns and maybe a similar amount of freshly smoked salmon as a starter. Small wonder then the size that some rig workers get to (I personally wouldn't dream of such gluttony!!). Having eaten, the only other entertainment left is usually to go to bed, I find I can sleep for anything up to 10£ hours a day, which suits me down to the ground. Some rigs have added extras such as pool tables and films, and a few rigs in the North Sea even have saunas and gymnasiums, as yet I have not worked on a rig so luxuriously equipped.
Since joining my company last October I have worked in Holland where I spent Christmas in temperatures of minus 15 centigrade, and then in Ireland. Too mundane I thought, how about some excitement ? No sooner said than done in February I was in Iran perhaps not the most hospitable of places to work in. In fact two weeks after I got there everybody had to abandon the rig in a hurry when it was learnt from the radio that a gunboat was on its way to pay us a visit, not surprisingly few people wanted to stay around and pass the time of day with them. My next place of work was Egypt, however I was only there a couple of weeks before I had to fly home with a case of the dreaded "curse of the Nile."
I am now back working in Ireland which is a lot less exciting but its fairly peaceful, especially as at the moment I am working for about a week and then getting a fortnight off!
I expect there will be those who will think—oh ho you have certainly got yourself an easy number there, and there are times when I would certainly agree with that, but then not everybody burns the skin off their fingers touching frozen instruments, or get threatened by irate Arabs in gun boats in pursuance of earning their bread and butter.
BARRY AULD (circa 1975) has just collected a Bachelor of Medicine degree from Cambridge and starts work at St. Thomas's in the next few weeks.
Summer 1980
[O.R. rugby report extract]
. . . Centres Dick Leitch and MARTIN TITFORD worked well together in attack and defence. Wingers JEREMY STOCK and Andrew Nevitt were try-hungry . . .
Summer 1981
Leslie Breaden Retires
LESLIE BREADEN—retiring to Cobham.
Popular Irishman Leslie Breaden has just retired from his teaching post at Reed's School. Leslie known to hundreds of pupils at Reed's came to the School in 1956. He taught French and was housemaster of Bristowe for 10 years.
Leslie graduated from Trinity College, Dublin in 1936 and then spent 3 years teaching in Northern Ireland. With the outbreak of the war he joined up and spent six years in the Intelligence Corps. After six more years of teaching in Switzerland and Turkey Leslie arrived at Reed's School.
Despite his sadness at leaving Leslie will be able to keep in touch, he will be living in Cobham which will give him the chance to visit the School and to come down to Whiteley Village to give his invaluable support to the rugby playing Reedonians.
The 1981 O.R. Rugby Tour Party to the U.S.A.
Those who were on the tour. Simon Bailey, Drew Broadley, Colin Bull, Ken Burbidge, Paul Camp, Len Clover, Ian Cornwall, Martin Creal, Bill David, Martin Durham, John Farrow, Andy Floyd, Kevin Fuller, Peter Goodeve, Steve Gray, Miles Gray, Chunky Hodge, MURRAY HOSSACK, Jeremy Isaacs. Steve Isaacs, RICHARD JEFFERIES, John Laidman, Alistair Lees, Richard Leitch, Bill Lyon-Lee, David McElhiney, Chris Mortimore, Tony Mundy, Andy Nevitt, Steve Nevitt, Rodney Pearson, Bob Potter, Alan Recce, Adrian Ricks, Howard Rigg, Chris Simmonds, Nick Simmons, Tim Simmons, George Spinks, Dave Stewart, JEREMY STOCK, Don Taylor, Brian Turner. To greet us in the States—Michael and Eileen Creal, Po Adamson, John MacDonald, Peter Mettam, Geoff Starr. What a trip.
MARTIN TITFORD (1975) Goes to South Africa on a 2-3 year assignment as a civil engineer. He is likely to be based in Botswana. I didn't know he has played rugby for the Botswana National rugby side. In any event he is going to have a go at getting another cap.
MALCOLM HUME (1975) Travels the world as a navigating officer with the Bibby Line. Recently married, his wife comes with him on the trips.
Summer 1982
JOHN BURNETT (1975) can be found in Lloyds bank in Beckenham, he has just passed his Institute of Banking exams.
JEREMY SHERWOOD heads up the sales team for a squash company called "Unsquashable", he is extremely fit and gave a masterly display of his ability against a Scottish amateur when Jeremy was staying at the Panmure Arms during the last rugby tour up there.
1984
Congratulations to Rozanne and JAMES CARPENTER (1975) on the birth of their son, Jeremy John, on 17th March, 1984.
CHRISTOPHER BROTHERS (1975) is Managing Director of Brothers Petroleum, a fuel distribution business selling 2 million gallons a year, in the Cotswolds. Chris is a goalkeeper to both Wiltshire County and Swindon 1st XI hockey teams and plays cricket for Swindon. His wife Angie gave birth to their son Nicholas just a year ago.
ANDREW WOTTON (1975) is a Grade 4 manager's clerk at the Holborn Circus branch of NatWest Bank. He is in touch with Christopher Wilson (1975) former House Captain of Mullens, who works near the Temple as a barrister, and the Mitre tavern, off Hatton Garden, is a convenient meeting place. Andrew's wife Judith gave birth to their son Michael James on 4th July 1983.
1985
BARRY AULD (1975) went to Cambridge University to do his medical exams and following his success in these, spent a spell as a gynaecologist. Barry has just taken the surgeons' exams.
1986
JOHN WRIGHT, who retires after 28 years service to the School,
with his wife MARY and JOHN TATHAM, the current Bursar.
[O.R. cricket report extract]
This year, things have started fairly well, with two wins, (including Cobham again), one draw and two defeats. Leading the way with the bat are JERRY SHERWOOD with an average to date of almost 50, and Adrian Ricks (again!).
RICHARD JEFFERIES (1975) writes from Canada where he works as a consultant geologist. He reports that he has recently finished working on the rigs off shore Newfoundland and was returning to the oil fields of Alberta. His wife produced a baby girl in January last year.
NIGEL BEABLE (1975) graduated from Kingston and Canterbury in architecture and is now working in Bahrain on the new University of the Arabian Gulf. He seems to be getting around the world since part of his architectural training included a year in South Africa and he has recently visited Australia.
News of former Masters
JULIAN HOULSON is now teaching at Epsom College where is is a day boy house master. He is master in charge of the first XI cricket and plays for Ashtead and Butterflies.
KEITH SLAVIN returned to the U.K. after five years in Tuvalu and taught for one term at Clifton before going to Scotland.
STEVE HAUSEY also travelled abroad to New Zealand and on his return taught at King Edwards, Witley. New Zealand must have held an attraction because he returned there and teaches at the school where Prince Edward spent six months.
JOHN BYROM is house master at Marlborough College and CHRIS BIGGS is also a house master, but at Abingdon School.
JOHN LEACH is at Chetham's Hospital School in Manchester where he does a great deal of music examining.
1987
RICHARD JEFFERIES (1975) is living in Calgary, Alberta, Canada working as a consultant petroleum geologist and travels all over Canada. He and his wife have a daughter almost two years old and would be happy to see any O.R. passing through Calgary.
MARTIN PROYER (1975) is still serving with the Fleet Royal Auxiliary as a navigating officer. He and his wife Sharon were expecting their first child at the time of writing. Martin hopes to be on leave for one Reunion Day. It hasn't happened yet.
J. HOLT (1975) has recently passed his Ph.D. in Management Science at Southampton University and is working at the university as a lecturer in Management Science.
ANDREW WOTTON (1975) and his wife have recently had a baby daughter Sarah Louise to follow Michael James aged three who is crazy about American Football and follows the Dallas Cowboys. Andrew works for the Nat West in their Bishopsgate office.
I. A. DEANS (1975) writes that he has been in the country this year so far but expects to go abroad early in 1987.
1988
Congratulations to MARTIN and SHARON PROYER on the birth of their son JAMES IAIN.
IAN DEANS has got engaged to a Miss M. Bennett and hopes to be married next year. Ian spends time abroad but is in the UK at present working on our great British motorways. Congratulations on your engagement, Ian (Editor).
RICHARD JEFFERIES is anxious for another OR tour to Canada. He feels he hasn't many rugby playing years left now and misses it terribly. Any OR passing through Western Canada, especially Calgary, would receive a great welcome.
1989
Marriages:
NIGEL BEABLE on his marriage to SHEENA on 23rd July, 1988.
JOHN HOLT on his marriage to JEANETTE, April 1988.
RICHARD JEFFERIES (1975) married to Diana and Victoria their 4 year old daughter now live in Alberta, Canada. Richard has just got a new job with Petro-Canada co-ordinating the needs of the exploration department both domestically and internationally.
1990
ANDREW WOTTON (1975) is employed in the Head Office Training Dept. of the National Westminster Bank and wonders how the OR's is "sold" to school leavers. He suggests that we remind members who come from so many different backgrounds and circumstances that they should remember what they have experienced during their time at Reeds and put into practice the skills and disciplines they have been taught. They should remember also where those skills came from and consider putting back something in recompense for the advantages they have gained. He and his wife Judy have a son Michael, six and a daughter Sarah, three.
JEREMY SHERWOOD (1975) is a Director of Wilson Sporting Goods and is responsible for sales and marketing. He and his wife Elke have two daughters, three years and nine months respectively. Jeremy plays hockey at Surbiton with a number of ORs and is cricket club fixture secretary.
PAUL FRANCIS (1975) has been self-employed for 7½ years as a FIMBRA (registered independent financial adviser) in the areas of school fee planning, pensions, retirement planning and other investment orientated areas. Paul married Jane on 1st December, 1984 but they have no children as yet. Paul would love to hear from someone who remembers him.
COMPUTERS FOR SCHOOLS.
Clifton Reed run by OR MURRAY HOSSACK and his partner Ian Puddle have recently been awarded a contract to supply 181 Apricot computers and work stations in schools in the London Borough of Hounslow. Our thanks to the editor of the Esher News and Mail Series for permission to reproduce the photo below taken by Joan Jones.
1991
RICHARD JEFFERIES (1975) writes from Calgary, Alberta, that he has finally managed to get off the rigs and into a job with Petro Canada. Richard's wife Diance still works for Air Canada and spends a good deal of time travelling between Calgary and London. Diance sends best wishes to all ORs especially the Nevitt brothers. Richard has recently been on a trip to Hong Kong and had an afternoon at the Tai Pan sevens and then onto the Tai Pan banquet, a sumptuous affair, or so he was told the next day. Daughter Victoria, five-and-a-half, has just started school. Richard and Diance would be pleased to see any OR passing through Calgary.
GUY WATSON (1975) lives in Hampshire and works as an I/T Occupational Therapist. He has just started an NND course under Goldsmith's College following two years practical work at Horton Hospital, Epsom. He has a nine year old daughter Aimee.
ANDY WOTTON (1975) has sent us this picture of the "cream" of Mullens Upper Sixth in July, 1975. He is still in touch with Chris Wilson who is a barrister with chambers near the law courts in London. Andy lives in New Eltham, London.
1992
Congratulations To:
Births
PAUL and JANE FRANCIS on the birth of their son ELLIOT ALEXANDER GRANT on 6th June, 1991.
CHRIS BROTHERS (1975) is still living in the Cotswolds and working as M.D. of a successful oil company selling heating and agricultural fuels. Chris and his wife have two children, Nicky 8 and Rebecca 4. He has given up hockey now but played for Wiltshire for some years. However Chris was forced out ofretirement this year to keep goal for the O.R's. Chris is still playing cricket and tries to play at least once a year at Reeds for John Savage's Choughs.
KIM BROADHURST (1972) is working as a Contracts Executive for a carpet tile manufacturer. Kim is married to Morag and they have three children, Katie, Emily and Thomas. Golf is still a passion. Kim played for Hertfordshire after leaving Reeds and managed to get down to a handicap of one. Now "scratching about" off a five handicap he is a member of Moor Park Golf Club. He is also a part time ski instructor at a dry slope in Brentwood Essex.
JEREMY SHERWOOD (1975) has spent the majority of his working life in the Sporting Goods Industry and is currently M.D. of an Italian sport footwear and clothing company. He is married to Elke and they have two children Hanna 5 and Jennifer 3. Jeremy still plays cricket for the O.R's but instead of playing rugby has joined many ex-rugby players in Surbiton to play hockey.
1993
Congratulations To:
Births
ANDREW and CAROLINE MULES on the birth of Matthew James in August, 1993.
Obituary: JOHN OMAR WRIGHT (1926-1992)
It is with great regret and sorrow I write that John Wright passed away in Epsom Hospital on 28th August, 1992. He had had a heart attack whilst teaching at Reed's, and had an attack a few weeks prior to his death. However, his family and friends believed that he was recovering and so his death came as a shock to those who were close to him.
John has left behind his widow Mary, his son Andrew, his daughter Claire, as well as John and Nick Holt who had become part of the family through their connection at Reed's.
John started teaching at Reed's, under Bob Drayson's headship, in 1959 and he retired from the School in 1986. In addition to his English teaching, John will be fondly remembered by O.R.'s for his time as Housemaster of the Close, his contribution to organising the C.C.F. over many years, his leadership of the School Christian Fellowship as well as his running of School Cricket and Hockey teams.
John made a quiet, but strong, impression on all who knew him and was held in respect by masters and pupils alike. His practical concern had a strong effect on those who knew him, so that many felt able to confide in him in times of difficulty. He will also be remembered for his wry sense of humour. The degree of affection with which he was held was shown by the large number of people, over 250, who packed into his funeral service at Esher Green Baptist Church.
In the main school, John's primary role had been to teach English, and generations of boys were steered through O-levels by him. Against the current trends in teaching, John was punctilious in his teaching of grammar. He was also an .inspiring teacher of literature. Many boys' first perception that poetry is not completely irrelevant to life was in the second form, after being moved by John's rendition of the Sohrab and Rustum.
John will probably most be remembered by old boys for his role as Housemaster to the Close. John himself particularly looked back with affection to his time at the Close with Graham Hoskins as Assistant and Pat Willis as Matron. For the majority of boys passing through the School at that time the Close gave them their first impressions and John was usually able to help them over any initial trepidation. Indeed, many boys who went on to become leading figures in the School were helped through tearful beginnings by John and Mary.
It is impossible to talk about John without mentioning Mary. Throughout his career she was a strong support to John. She provided a listening ear to many boys, often with disadvantaged home backgrounds, going through the traumas of adolescence.
Another memorable fact of life at the Close were the Close Operas put on with Graham Hoskins. These were cut-down versions of the great classic operas. In producing the operas, John and Mary were often faced with such sartorial problems as dressing twenty Close boys as harem girls for "Turkish Delight", (a version of Il Seraglio).
Another aspect of John that will be long remembered was his strong Christian faith. He worked closely with a number of School Chaplains in organising the School Christian Fellowship, particularly with Reverend Paul Bunday and Reverend Jim Challis. John preached regularly in Chapel. Outside the School he was an elder of Esher Green Baptist Church and spent his retirement years working part-time.
Another aspect of John's career that will be remembered was his dedicated support of the R.A.F. section of the C.C.F. In later years he served under Eric Hearle.
In commemorating someone's life, it is tempting to produce a list of achievements gained and roles fulfilled, rather like the "Brag Sheet" filled in by boys for their Housemasters at the end of term. However, my purpose is to remember John the person, the quiet, but strong man of faith and humour who commanded the respect of those he knew. He was a thoroughly professional schoolmaster who helped and influenced many boys at a critical time in their lives. He will be long remembered by those who knew him.
John Holt.
JOHN HOLT (1975) is living in Cobham with his wife Jeanette and two children, Eleanor aged three and Daniel aged one. He is very actively involved with the Esher Green Baptist Church and works as a Defence Systems Consultant. He reports that his brother Nick is married with a four-year-old daughter, Rosie, and teaches English at Therfield School, Leatherhead. Andrew Wright is happily settled in Ohio where he is minister of a thriving free church. He and his wife, Debi, have three children, Oliver, Brittany and Tiffany. John made re-acquaintance with Ian Cairns, when they found themselves pushing their respective children at the swings in the local park.
1994
JOHN HOLT (1975) stood as the Labour candidate in the local council elections for the Oxshott and Stoke Ward.
ANDREW WOTTON (1975) is now a training consultant with Natwest, having been with them for 20 years. He helps run an U.12 football team affiliated to Charlton Athletic; his son is the team goalkeeper. He maintains contact with Chris Wilson, who is a barrister working in the Temple.
RICHARD JEFFERIES (1975) began his own business some two years ago, a consultancy firm specialising in all aspects of energy related training. He has just completed programmes in Thailand, Vietnam and the Phillipines for a Canadian government agency. He would like to hear any news of the 1974/1976 Blathwayt vintage; his address is: 19 Cambridge Road, N.W. Calgary, Alberta T2K 1RI.
1995
IAN DEANS (1975) found Hong Kong a very crowded place when he spent six months working there on the new airport.
JOHN HOLT (1975) reports that his brother, Nick, has gone with his wife and two children, Rosie and Nathan, to be Head of English at a mission school, Chingelo in Zambia. Mary Wright, the widow of John Wright, has remarried (a retired schoolmaster) and is currently living in Essex.
Keen-eyed readers or television viewers may also have noted the appearance of CHRIS BROTHERS as he was interviewed as an eye-witness of the crash of an American U2 spy plane near his business in Fairford.
1996
RICHARD JEFFERIES (1975) has returned to England after sixteen years in Canada and is now living in Guildford.
IAN DEANS (1975) is now working towards the Millennium celebrations, preparing the site at Greenwich. Andrew, his brother, is climbing the partner's ladder working for solicitors in London.
NICK KUBALE, MARTIN ANASTASI, NEIL RIDSDALE and STEVEN McMANUS have been to the school on Open Days with their families as they consider future education for their children.
1997
CHRIS BROTHERS (1975) is very busy running his fuel distribution company. Having reached 40, it was fitting that old stalwarts Eric Hearle and Geoff Martin, nominated him for the XL cricket club.
STEPHEN DEWEY (1975) has a business that produces music and sound design for commercials and films. He lives in Marina Del Rey by the ocean in Los Angeles. He and his wife are aiming to open up a business in London to add to Los Angeles and New York offices.
JOHN BURNETT (1975) lives in Orpington and works for Lloyds Bank. He is married with two young boys.
RICHARD JEFFERIES (1975) is running the training business for Landmark Graphics in Weybridge, a company supplying software and services to oil companies searching for oil and gas.
1998
JEREMY SHERWOOD (1975) has been working in sports management for Benetton in Italy and was returning to the United Kingdom to take up a new post in Benetton (U.K.).
Keen television viewers who bother to follow programmes through to the credits may have seen the names of VICTORIA NELSON in repeats of earlier editions of "Wycliffe", JAMES BREESE, a reporter in some B.B.C. antiques programmes, RALSTON HUMBLE on the technical production side and KEITH SCHOLEY, perhaps the leading figure behind many of the animal and nature programmes on B.B.C.
KIM BROADHURST is a five handicap golfer at Moor Park and plays cricket for a Maldon team, where he lives in Essex.
1999
Deaths
We are very sorry to report the loss of the following Old Reedonians:
RODNEY EXTON
JOHN SAVAGE
Obituary: Rodney Exton
When Rodney arrived at Reeds in 1964, he faced the task of completing the change from a closed institution to a Public School which could hold its own in the competitive arena of independent education while crucially at the same time carrying on the work of its founder. This was a considerable challenge, but he delighted in accepting challenges; indeed, he revelled in incidents, welcomed the unusual and thrived on the unorthodox.
How many other headmasters might have relished the prospect, after a fight in the kitchens between Spanish and Algerian workers, of taking over the school catering or after the removal of a groundsman for producing 24 yard cricket wickets and thereby ending the career of a sixty year old bowler who had played against the school for years, would have taken over the supervision of the cutting rolling and preparing of wickets by boys? Who else would have written to the English Rugby Union to suggest that what was needed to end a run of very poor international performances was a visit to Reeds to watch the school Under 13 team's style of play?
Games were very important to him not just because he enjoyed them, but because he thought that in them boys learned a great deal about themselves and often revealed their true character, both for good or ill. He could be hard on boys of talent demanding that they stretch themselves to make full use of their ability, perhaps because in his own life he was so well aware of how talent could be taken away from one. On the other hand he could also spend a great deal of time with a much less able pupil who was prepared to giveof his best. He did not want boys to make excuses or to give in; life he felt would be difficult for those who did. He believed they must learn to face and overcome the challenges and failures that games so often produced as well as learning how to deal with success.
Cricket of course, was his special love and many will have special memories of this at Reeds. The tours to the New Forest and Denmark often accompanied by the most adventurous driving much to the excitement of the boys. Coaching visits by Richie Benaud and Colin Cowdrey and matches against teams including such as Alec Bedser and Peter May.The black glove he often wore when umpiring with which he gave boys out for poor shots, rather than strict application of the laws. Rodney rising from his shooting stick in the pavilion to greet an incoming batsman to use the very same stick to explain how the shot should have been played.
Rodney had a love of people and he was always approachable and this was best demonstrated by the fact that his study door was invariably open and he was always available to give advice to both boys and staff. Much of the advice came in the form of hand written notes on a variety of scraps of paper and it would usually be a mixture of good sense and humour. One director of music recalls receiving the following:
If you were the director of music you should be and I was the headmaster I should be, the music room would not be in the mess that it is.
Rodney valued the contributions of all around him and he had a concern for everyone at Reeds not just the staff and boys and this was clearly shown at his leaving dinner. Before accepting the staff gift he announced that he had arranged some presents for everyone who had been with him for all of his fourteen years at Reeds and this included not simply the Second Master, but perhaps just as importantly in his eyes, Don Weller the carpenter and Frank Bowdery the handyman amongst others.
Despite being physically dominating and very much looking a headmaster on formal occasions, he was perhaps never happier than when playing his guitar to boys on tour or in casual dress in school when chatting with boys at tea. He would put his hand deep into his pocket and bring out toothpaste tube tops which could then be used to explain his latest theory on short corners, field placings or line out tactics. It was also then that he learned what was really troubling boys either individually or as a school.
If to some boys his passion for sporting analysis proved irritating and suggested a lack of interest in other activities, this would be disputed by two of his directors of music. He delighted in seeing boys doing well in any sphere and it was Rodney who encouraged Graham Hoskins in his Close musical productions, while John Leach said that his comments on Choir and Orchestra were always knowledgeable and to the point, if also on occasion pointed. After one school concert in which one of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition was played somewhat scratchily, he commented that there was a great danger in the Great Gate of Kiev coming off its hinges.
There are so many other individual memories that old boys may have, too numerous to go into in detail, but I am sure that some of these may strike a chord and give a further insight into what Rodney did for Reeds.
Stock market games and lectures by Jim Slater.
The building of the Sports Hall
Casual soccer with the Close in their first weeks in the school.
Sunday morning competitive soccer against the senior houses.
The introduction of casual clothes, parents days, day boys, the cafeteria system.
Tape recordings of school matches particularly the first fifteen. Some for the benefit of the boys, others only fit for the ears of the master in charge.
One old boy wrote the following which summed up his feelings about Rodney as a Headmaster, he was a fair man who always seemed to put his faith in reason, religion and common sense: he always had time for you, was always prepared to see your better points and to forgive your bad ones.
Rodney had been educated at Clifton, where he had excelled in all sports, particularly cricket, including playing for Hampshire while still a schoolboy. However, on weekend leave from the Army, he was struck down by polio and was faced by a fight for life in an iron lung and by a painfully slow progress to a quite different future. His friends said that the courage and determination that he needed at that time dwarfed in a very real sense all the achievements of his schooldays. After Oxford University, he taught at Eton, Mill Hill and in Australia, where he met his first wife, before becoming Headmaster at Reed's.
When he left Reed's, he became the Director of the Independent Schools Careers Organisation and did much to enhance the reputation of that service as well as rescuing it from financial difficulties. He then became the editor of Johansen' Hotel Guides. He remarried and was the proud father of his young daughter, Olivia.
IAN DEANS (1975) completed his time on the Millennium Tent, having worked for the British Gas and English Partnership on site; he is currently with W. S. Atkins in Epsom.
ANDY WOTTON (1975) was about to complete 25 years with NatWest, now in the Learning and Development arm of the bank; his role is to manage 30 consultants as well as ensuring that the department of 65 exceeds its targets. He is manager of an U.17 football side in the Bexley League and enjoys watching Surrey in the County Championship at the Oval. His two children, Michael and Sarah, have begun their 'A" Level and GCSE courses respectively.
2000
Obituary: John Savage
John Savage played a central role in the establishment of Reed's as a leading hockey-playing school and hence as a respected member of the independent schools in the Headmasters' Conference. He was able to achieve this as the result of two outstanding skills, those of sportsman and teacher by which he could inspire boys by his own playing and encourage them to reach a high standard themselves.
He was educated at St. Paul's and Kingston Grammar School and Loughborough College. While at Kingston G. S. he represented the school at first team level at both cricket and hockey for three years and later represented Surrey, Leicestershire, Kent and English Universities at hockey and Surrey Colts at cricket. These are measures of his ability as a player.
After military service in the Intelligence Corps and Loughborough John took up his first appointment to teach physical education at Chatham House Grammar School in Ramsgate. This school had a strong reputation academically and at sport and hockey was a major game which he developed and on his foundations produced a number of Oxford and Cambridge Blues. While at Ramsgate he found time to play for Cliftonville Hockey Club and Broadstairs Cricket club as well as appearing with Broadstairs Players amateur dramatic society. It was during this time that he met Maureen, which was to prove the most significant event of this period.
In 1957 he applied for the post of Head of P.E. at Reed's and during the interview the headmaster, Mr Drayson, it was mentioned that what was really wanted was a married man to be housemaster of The Close. This persuaded John that the time had come to marry Maureen and what a success that was. They forged a bond which enabled them to build a closely united and loving family which is now extended by marriage to include grandchildren. He remained housemaster of The Close until 1966 during which time Tim and Patrick were born. The task of raising the standard of hockey was also begun with the strong support of Mr. Drayson who was himself a very good player.
Following the appointment of Mr. Exton as headmaster in 1964 a series of staff changes were made in 1966 as a result of which the Savage family moved to Blathwayt for the next 15 years. Soon after the move Anne-Marie was born. John was an outstanding housemaster basing his responsibilities on sound principles of fairness and understanding of boys, especially foundationers who comprised about half the boarders. It is a credit to him that during the 60's and 70's there were no confrontations or serious incidents when many schools were experiencing difficulties. In the early days in Blathwayt, besides playing a leading part in planning the Sports Hall, he was studying by correspondence for a degree in geography which was a very demanding activity but was approached without fuss, in line with his usual attitude of getting on with a job which had to be done. The degree obtained, he became a full time geography teacher and handed over P.E.
John was in charge of hockey for 26 years, producing two Blues at Cambridge and from nothing creating a team that could take on any school in the country, with victories over such as Marlborough, Radley, Canford, Uppingham, Charterhouse and the jewel in the crown, Kingston Grammar School. He was a schoolmaster in the fullest meaning of the word, running not only hockey but cricket sides and doing his turn as a Rugby referee, where he blew the whistle infrequently 'to keep the game flowing' and sometimes for 'sheer stupidity'. He sang in the School Choral Society and produced a School play and was a keen member of The Times crossword solving team in the Common Room.
During this time John also found time to play hockey for Surbiton H.C. during the Autumn Term and in school holidays and did so with distinction. He was usually in the 1st XI until the 1968/9 season but would always play where selected and continued to do so until 1980 although for the last few years he played very little because of a change in school games arrangements.
Another local activity in which he took part was the Claygate Amateur Dramatic Society where he was able to make a good contribution with his usual enthusiasm.
John was always a devoted follower of cricket and good at the game. He founded the Choughs who play in the week following the end of the summer term and in retirement was a regular attender at Canterbury to watch Kent.
During the 1980's John and Maureen bought a house in Woodnesborough, near Sandwich in Kent and retired there in 1990. John immediately became involved in village affairs. He was a sidesman in the church, a member of the Parochial Church Council and was sacristan from 1991, an office which required detailed knowledge of the central heating system (which must have been helped by experience in the early days in Blathwayt) and being present at Sam on cold, dark wintry mornings. He was a guide at Canterbury Cathedral where his skills as a communicator were put to use with the numerous parties of French children.
He was chairman of the Village Hall committee and was involved in fund raising to improve the facilities for the hall. He and Maureen joined the Sandwich Choral Society and John became chairman of this, too. While all this was going on he still found time to solve The Times crossword every day.
Many people will miss John but Maureen and the family will miss him most but can have happy memories of a man who lived life to the full and achieved much in his chosen fields.
Basil Green
CHRIS BROTHERS (1975) is now working as a consultant for TotalFinaElf. having sold his oil distribution company to them in 1998. He still owns a fuel storage company at Fairford, plays a little cricket for the XL Club but more golf and enjoys watching his son keep goal for the England U.18 hockey team.
2001
JEREMY SHERWOOD (1975) has recently taken over in charge of Head racquets.
Reunion Day 2001
During the afternoon, a presentation was made to Richard and Pam Warnock to mark their retirement from the school.
2002
Reunion Day 2003
Presentation to Eric Hearle to mark his retirement during the afternoon in the Marquee.
2003
Obituary: Leslie Breadon
The following is taken from the address given at Leslie's funeral service, which reflected his love of music with that of Leo McCaffrey and Tommy Dorsey being played.
Leslie was born in Fivemiletown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland where his father was Headmaster of the local school.
Aged 11, Leslie won a scholarship for 65 guineas a year, sufficient to cover all expenses at Methodist College, Belfast where he was a boarder. He graduated from Trinity College, Dublin with an MA and was appointed as a housemaster of Leinster at Portora where he was Captain of Cadets. He taught English at Ecole Nouvelle in Lausanne for two years where one of his pupils was the current King of Thailand. He also spent two years teaching English in Turkey at Ankara College.
He joined the army as a Private on 2 shillings a day and was in the Intelligence Corps between 1940-1946 serving as a Captain in the FSO Western Command and the FSO Northern Command in India. He married Vera and they moved to Reeds School, where they spent 24 exceptionally happy years forging lifelong friendships. The following is taken from the Reeds School Magazine on Leslie's retirement:
"That he volunteered to remain for a further six years after he might have retired says so much for his commitment to Reed's especially. That he actually taught the full length of his final French period on the last day of term emphasised his dedication to the profession. Countless boys who have passed through the School have much to thank him for, not only for his meticulous preparation and presentation in the subject in which he specialised, but also for his consistency in demanding the highest standards of courtesy, neatness and punctuality from all of his pupils. Many who, as juniors, quaked at the thought of a French lesson, grew to appreciate the tremendous pains Leslie took to impart his love of the French language. Certainly, too, his example and influence contributed greatly to that sense of order and discipline of which the School is justly proud.
"It is not easy to list the areas in which Leslie Breadon has served the School. Suffice it to say he has been Head of the Modern Languages Department, House master of Bristowe House, an Officer of the C.C.F., examinations organiser and, when not actually controlling a game himself, the most loyal supporter, in all weathers, of the School teams. There can have been very few Chapel services and School Concerts where Leslie and Vera were not in attendance."
CHRIS BROTHERS (1975) has sold Brothers Petroleum to Total Oiland has relocated to Cape Town where he is now running Brothers Tours operating sports tours to South Africa as well as general holiday packages to Cape Town and The Garden Route.
RICHARD JEFFERIES (1975) challenges all ex-rugby players of his vintage to one final game after which he and they can at last hang up their boots. Jem Stock has promised him a retirement game even though he has not played for eight years.
2005
JEREMY SHERWOOD (1975) is Managing Director of Head UK. He has two daughters, one at Leeds University and one at Lord Wandsworth College.
2006-7
RICHARD JEFFERIES (1975) is still working in oil and gas software and living in Guildford Richard Jefferies and Jim Brock at Reunion Day
2009
ANDY WOTTON—1975 writes
Like many ORs, I'm sure, every year I receive "The Reeder" and every year I think, "I really must send something in this time," but then I get stuck and think, "what the hell can I write?" It's usually at this point I hide behind the excuse of being too busy or nobody would want to know about me (sad, but probably true!) and I end up doing nothing, until the next edition turns up and I go through the whole process again! Well, this year it's different! No more excuses, and whilst this letter may turn into a rambling waffle about not a lot, I'll leave it with you to edit/bin as you see fit! I can remember my first day at Reeds very well, because all the new boys and their parents were invited to have tea and biscuits in the hall, by way of "breaking the ice." As with most things in life, much of my time at Reed's was something of a blur, but the odd memorable event and several names still linger, fleetingly, in my memory filed under the heading, "I wonder what happened to . . . ?" I was in Mullens and some of the boys around my time I remember were Andy Packham, Nick Blacoe, Martin Titford, Jeff Hulme, Richard Johnson and then, from other houses, Richard Jefferies, Simon Moseley and John Legg; my apologies for the many I have missed off the list and for any incorrect spellings of surnames, it's been a while!
As for "memorable events" I think the one I remember most clearly was the Rugby House Final of 1974/5, when the very unfancied Mullens fifteen came up against the mighty favourites, Capel. Mullens, at the time, had about five or six players in the School First and Second Fifteen squads and a few from the Thirds. The rest of the team, including yours truly, was drafted in from an array of other sports like basketball, tennis and five-a-side football! Capel, on the other hand, had almost their entire team made up from the First and Seconds and only had to dip into the Thirds for a couple of extras! No basketball lightweights for them, oh no! I recall there was quite a good crowd to watch the match. I suspect there were quite a few who were amused to think that David was going to get his comeuppance, well and truly, from Goliath. It was, after all, the equivalent in football terms of Manchester United taking on Dulwich Hamlet or in cricket, Australia playing Scotland in a Test Match. In fact, now I come to think on it, Dulwich and Scotland would have stood a far better chance of success than Mullens ever did that day! I'm sure on the touchline there were bets about how big the Capel margin of victory was going to be, and even World records were whispered about in hushed tones, out of the earshot of Mr Warnock of course! And who could blame them? After all, the outgoing Mullens House Captain of the year before (his name escapes me-honest!) had despaired at the Lower 6th coming through that year, suggesting that "we" would be an embarrassment to the name of Mullens House in all aspects, both sporting and pastoral, unless we pulled our collective finger out-or words to that effect-and, of course, he was right! Who in their right minds would have thought that a Capel side, bristling with six feet three inch testosterone killing machines would have any trouble against a Mullens side made up of half a dozen useful rugby players and bunch of extras with as much venom in them as a whoopee cushion?! In an extremely hard fought, low scoring and tense match, the unthinkable happened. Mullens won 6-3! Arguably, the defining moment of the game was a crunching tackle made by "our" Martin Titford on "their" Simon Moseley mid-way through the match. Even now, some 33 years later, I can still see that tackle. From that moment, and for he rest of the game, the whoopee cushions were like demons possessed and after the final whistle, most of the Mullens XV paraded around the Main House, with big grins on their faces, as if they owned the place! That, at any rate, is my recollection of the match, but I dare say a Capel version might be slightly different, but then again, isn't history always written by the victors?
And what of any ORs I still keep in touch with? Well, there are two who I see on a fairly regular basis. One is Chris Wilson (Mullens), who is a Barrister and a Judge (honest!] and he and I have kept in touch ever since leaving Reeds in 1975. More recently, we have met up with Nic Yellowlees (Capel), with whom I made contact via "Friends Re-united." We all get together, have a couple of beers and a curry and hurl jokes and abuse at one another in equal measure. It's probably fair to say we have joined the growing ranks of "Grumpy Old Men," but since that's what seems to happen when you get the wrong side of 50, I guess that's OK! I'd be delighted to hear from anyone who might want to catch up with us and chat about "times past," or simply swap notes on "grumpiness" in a blame-free, say what you like, environment. The offer is open-ended.
Death
Dr. John Lytle who was the School Doctor from early in its days at Cobham until the mid 1980s died in February 2009. He will be remembered by many generations of Reeds boys.
2010
JEREMY SHERWOOD—1975 Blathwayt writes "I can't remember when I last updated you on what I'm doing but recently a number of things have changed in my life—I got married back in July to Kaye (we had been living together for the last 8 years so no surprises] and quite a few OR's from my era were present (Simon my brother who was also my best man, Adrian Ricks, Adam Jones, Simon Taylor, Andy Shiells to name but a few) and now I'm off to live in Phoenix, Arizona for the next couple of years with the primary objective of getting my golf handicap down to single figures. No seriously, work is taking me out there.
For the last couple of years I have been on the board of the sports equipment company Head, managing their global sales & marketing efforts for all sports categories and I am now assuming the role of CEO to current responsibilities and have decided the best location is not the Austrian Alps but the deserts of Arizona where our US office is based. My eldest daughter Hanna, who graduated from Leeds this summer, will be joining me on a 6 month internship whilst the younger daughter (Jenny) starts her second year at Nottingham this week. Home is in Godalming and I still keep in touch with quite a few old boys and try to support the OR's on as many social functions as possible."
Rambling Memories of the 70's at Reed's
I imagine that a number of you will identify with some or all of this!!—Ed.
Chafed calves from wearing shorts and Wellington boots
Nasty prickly gorse on the way to the Close
Cross country runs in arctic conditions wearing black plimsolls and singlet
Buying No. 6 cigarettes in singles from Browns
Sweets—frozen Mars and Marathon bars. Negroids, Flying Saucers, Blackjacks, Sher bet Fountains, Curly Wurlys, Space Dust, Opal Fruits, Sherbet Bonbons, Gob Stoppers.
Tuck boxes
School Trunks—always arriving late so no clean clothes for the first few days of term.
Hair Cuts—off the ears. Many return visits on the same day.
Casual Clothes—agonising decisions on what to wear. Flares, platform shoes and wide collars
Capital Radio started
If you wanted to be a 'captain' there were hundreds of opportunities—Captain of Chess (the criteria was 'the tallest']. Captain of House Cross Country, Captain of Schools Highway Team, Captain of the Bridge Team and so on.
The main disciplinary matters of the School were run by the Prefects. Punishments included supervised cold baths, writing essays on subjects such as the sex life of a ping pong ball', laps around the playing fields in breaks, to week end detention.
Waking up early and walking up from the Close to wake up prefects and make them toast. Before breakfast.
No hands in pockets
Fights with the local Cobham boys—trips to Cobham fraught with danger and some times being out of bounds
Getting caned for playing rugby badly.
That 'institutional' smell in the corridors of the main building.
When we started in the late 60s the Prefects seemed to be men not boys
Playing endless games of table tennis in Capel.
Periods of obsessive card playing—poker to bridge.
Playing non-contact sport against Yehudi Menuhin
Toast and butter in the Common Rooms
Meeting Cliff Richard
House singing competition
Close Opera
House Plays—censoring the word 'bloody' with blooming
Smoking behind the bike sheds
House speaking completion
Learning to drive—3 boys in the car, one driving to Walton, one driving around the course and one driving back. Instructor had a 3 foot rule used to rap the knuckles of any learner making a mistake.
CCF Exercise pretending to be in Russia and cooking baked beans in a tent in the school grounds. Wearing the uniform made of felt that would not bend. The shooting range in the gym. The outdoor shooting range against a brick wall near the pitch going down to 12 acre.
Johnny Lead 'When I was in Burma'
Having tea with Exton and sandwiches half bread and half butter.
Sit down, served meals. Never enough cutlery, especially for the First Formers.
Grace before meals
Chapel 8 times a week.
Sitting on radiators in the winter and on the window ledges in the summer
Haifa pint at lunch during cricket matches
Fantastic cooked tea after rugby matches
Guildford bombings—especially The Star
Film nights in the hall with the old style projector—Where Eagles Dare, The Italian Job. Ice Station Zebra
Playing darting against John Lodge
Playing darts in the Prince of Wales in Shere
The Bear and half a pint of cider/mild
The Lord Howard at Effingham Junction
Lunch time strippers
Claremont School and convent girls
Epsom cinema with its reverse rake seating
Hirondelle
Monty Python
Stances, haunted class rooms and exorcism
Music—Bachman Turner Overdrive, Credence Clearwater Revival, Deep Purple, Caravan, Budgie, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Elton John, Strawbs, Bread, Doors, Curved Air, Black Sabbath, ELO, CSNY, America, Wishbone Ash, Rocky Horror Show, T.Rex, Procol Harum
Bed so saggy they were like hammocks
Slide Rules and Log Tables
Three Weekly Orders posted outside class rooms
My friends
Anon
2011
Staff leavers 2010
Neil Heather taught at Reed's for 39 years, which we think is the longest stint by any teacher at the School. In his 39 years at Reed's Neil taught Chemistry and been Head of Maths and ICT, he was Housemaster of Capel and more recently an effective tutor in Mullens. He has had a lifelong affiliation with the Scouts and has been associated with mountain biking and the Duke of Edinburgh expeditions at Reed's. Most recently he has been 'Simsman' looking after the School's administrative database. N.I.H. was the last of the 'old guard' of staff who joined Reed's in the late 1960s and early 1970s and the School was very fortunate to employ him for such a long period. He was a first-class teacher and a firm and fair Housemaster in the days when Reed's had a much larger percentage of boarders. I am frequently asked about him by Old Reedonians who are in contact with me, I am sure that we all wish him a long and contented retirement. Ed.
T.A.M.S.
During the 1950s I was teaching at Chafyn Grove School in Salisbury. For some years, every spring, a colleague and I would take a group of boys to Berrylands to participate in the Prep School Squash Tournament. Usually we travelled by train, but occasionally drove up spending the nights there and back at my parent's house in Farnham.
On one such trip returning along Fairmile Common someone noticed a signpost pointing to Reed's School. None of us had heard of it so it became the topic of conversation for a few further miles hazarding what sort of school it might be.
Some years later I was the housemaster of the junior department of a school in Somerset that has long since closed. In fact my house at East Coker, some distance from the main school, was the first to go, leaving me high and dry. Fortunately a fill-in member of staff was required for a year at St. George's College, Weybridge, and I was accepted. Part of the job was to coach the U13 rugby team; one of the home matches had already been arranged with Reed's School and their team was brought over by the Headmaster whom I had to entertain before and after the game as it was a normal working afternoon for the rest of the school.
Rather embarrassingly St. George's thrashed Reed's partly because I had not been told in advance that a weakened team was usually put in the field to balance what I was later to discover was all that 'The Close' could muster. I remember at half-time I, the referee, actually tried to give the Reed's team a few tips to show where the St. George's side was weakest. The result was still the same. While the boys had tea in the school dining room I had to entertain the Reed's Headmaster after this appallingly one sided game. It must have been even worse for the Headmaster, whom I was later to know as Rodney Exton, as he was for whom winning was the only result. However I also experienced for the first time how politely and agreeably Rodney managed an adverse situation. Next term it was hockey, and this time I took a weakened team to Reed's and it was a much more pleasant game although I cannot remember who won. What I do recall is my reaction to Reed's on this first visit as a homely and welcoming school where I could happily teach.
Before the end of my St. George's year I had accepted a housemastership at Aiglon College in Switzerland. It was not long before I realised that it had been the wrong move, and I asked permission to leave at the end of the term. On my return to England I was lucky enough to find another fill-in post for two terms at Ottershaw School (another long since disappeared—I seemed to have an adverse effect at times!) What proved even more timely was that a housemaster was required at Reed's School the following September. During my subsequent interview Rodney and I spent some time talking about the disastrous rugby encounter. I also told him that I was no cricketer, but was happy to take on athletics in the summer. Again I remember Rodney agreeing to the situation, even leading me to believe that he wasn't much of a cricketer either! Once again an example of his talent to handle a situation. As athletics master at Ottershaw I met Reed's on various inter-school events, and as it was not known that I was on my way there, one particularly large individual introduced himself to me. This was Peter (Slim) Williamson who was to be my first House Captain. The following September I arrived at 'homely' Reed's School. The rest is history. . . . . and English.
2012
Michael Dover (Capel 1971) writes "Writing about myself isn't something that comes easily to me. However, I'm happy to do it now because I owe so much of what I've managed to achieve in life to what I learnt and experienced at Reed's. The photograph shows my wife and me after a Civic Service when I became Mayor of Haslemere a few years ago. Becoming Mayor (reluctantly) marked the highlight of twenty years of voluntary service which has been an important part of my life since I was medically discharged from the army over twenty years ago. My wife, (née Anderson) is KIP ANDERSON's sister. Kip was in my house, Capel, when I took over from Tim Simmons as School Captain in 1971.
Mayor Dover and wife Filar Anderson
ANDY WOTTON (Mullens 1975) writes "Well, much to my surprise, I managed to get five ORs together, in the same place at the same time, for a few beers and a curry, and attach photographic evidence as proof! It was taken at the Temple Bar Indian Restaurant, just off Fleet Street, on the 13th January. Those in the photo are, from left to right, myself, Roger Northwood, Nic Yellowlees, Carl Bjorkstrand and Chris Wilson.
Since leaving school, I have kept in regular contact with Chris Wilson, and over the past couple of years have caught up with Nic Yellowlees and Roger Northwood, and more recently Richard Jefferies, Nick Dean and Carl Bjorkstrand. We try and meet up around four times a year. Work and other commitments mean we can never all be together at the same time (not yet anyway!), so we adopt a "four out of seven" policy, whereby if at least four of us can make, then we go ahead. Usually, we meet in a pub off Fleet Street called The Witness Box and then stroll across the road to "our" curry house.
Chris remains attached to the (legal) Bar. Nic works for a High Net Worth individual, but what he actually does is a bit of a mystery! Roger is an Investment Director with HSBC and Richard seems to spend a large part of his time abroad as a Consultant on matters of a geological nature! "Deano" is a yacht broker, very much at the luxury top end of the market and Carl is the CEO of Cimbali, makers of coffee filter machines. As for myself, I am enjoying retirement and spend much of the summer months going to cricket matches (from school to Test Match level) and looking after two allotments (one mine and one my daughter's)!
If anyone fancies joining us for a beer and catch up, it would be great to hear from you and you'll be more than welcome."
. . . continues, but at this point I lost the will . . . Ian