Connect - The King's School

W O R C E S T E R
Issue 24 | December 2008
OLD VIGORNIAN
From the
Headmaster
9TH LONDON REUNION DINNER
The Headmaster extends an invitation to OVs and guests to join him and
Russ Mason, Marc Roberts and Jerry Owen
It is interesting to note the way in which
observance of Remembrance on 11th
November has become increasingly
important again across the nation. This is
partly a sobering reflection of this country’s
continuing involvement in armed conflict.
On the positive side, however, I applaud
the readiness of young people to respect
those who have made sacrifices and to
commit themselves to be peacemakers in
their own lives and circumstances. We
were delighted that Caroline (Horrigan)
Krolikowski (Co 85-87), this year’s OV
President and a serving member of the
Royal Auxiliary Air Force, was our speaker.
She spoke simply and movingly about her
own experiences and those of people she
knows in the armed forces.
By the time this is published, the school will
have had the chance to honour the Olympic
victory of Zac Purchase through the naming
of a boat to coincide with his first formal
visit to King’s since the summer. He will
speak to pupils in assemblies at King’s and
at both our Junior Schools. I want to make
Zac’s talk in College Hall the first of a
regular series of what I hope will be
inspirational talks by OVs at such
assemblies. Mark Dorsett, the Chaplain,
talked to the school some time ago about
Barnabas, right-hand man of St Paul, who
was known as the “son of encouragement”.
I have decided to make particular use of
this name and intend that OVs from many
different walks of life whom I invite to talk
in College Hall as particular encouragers
based on their own experiences will be
known over time as the “Barnabas Group”
and will have their names and the details of
their visits recorded in a book. I cannot
stress too much the important part that
OVs play as role models for current pupils.
Russ Mason
Zac Purchase (O 97-04)
The summer holidays were definitely
brightened up this year by the thrill of
watching OV Zac Purchase with his partner
Mark Hunter, become the first King’s School
pupil to win an Olympic Gold Medal.
Tim Watson (69-95) one of Zac’s former
teachers and rowing coaches wrote to us
about this fantastic achievement:
“I have been following Zac’s progress ever
since noticing an Upper Remove boy sculling
with outstanding beauty of poise, of balance,
of technique. Balletic art
perfected. I sought his
name, and it was Zac.
Zac must have been
introduced to sculling by
a gifted coach. But the
coach was fortunate to
have such a gifted
protege, an intelligent
Marc Roberts
Jerry Owen
on Friday, 27th February 2009
at The Royal Air Force Club, 128 Piccadilly, London W1
Apply before 30th January and you will be entered into a draw for two tickets
to the England Vs France Rugby Match on Sunday 15th March at Twickenham
Tickets £47 or £45 for Vigornian Subscribers. Booking information can be found on the
insert in Connect or can be downloaded from www.ksw.org.uk via the Old Vigornian pages.
athlete who quickly learnt to coach himself...
to perfection.”
We were delighted when Zac paid an
impromptu visit to the school in October and
then returned in November to speak to pupils
in all three schools and to name the new
rowing eight. The boat has been donated
through a legacy bequest from another
rowing great, Richard Gabriel who was Head
of Rowing from 1967.
There will be a full report on Zac’s visit in the
next edition of Connect.
Our thanks to go...
Giles Fogwill (K 00-05) for help with the Law Conference for pupils, The Richard Sandys
Partnership and Hallmarks for sponsoring the OV Dinner, The Worcester Wine Company for
sponsoring the OV Lunch, Russ Mason, Lauren Lawson-Pratt (Cl 91-98) and Ollivia Beveridge for
helping with OV sporting events, Robin Jones (Ca 47-79), Brendon Boyle (Cr 57-57), Ian Smith (Cr
73-78), Kate [North] Phillips (Co 81-83), Phil Mackie (Cl 73-84), Steve Perera (Cr 84-93), Jon
Turner (W 87-98) and Alec Mackie (Cl 47-56) for organising reunion groups and Damian
Warburton (Cr 85-90) for hosting the first of the OV University reunions this term at Bristol.
In this
issue...
2
What makes
you tick
David Bryer
(Cr 51-62)
3 Teachers I
remember
www.ksw.org.uk | development@ksw.org.uk 1
5
The Vigornia
News – David
Bolland (S 32-37)
6/7 Annual
Reunion
Weekend

Connect
What makes you tick
David Bryer (Cr 51-62)
Letters Page
David Bryer
was a King’s
Scholar at the
age of thirteen
and later
became Head
of Hostel
House under
R.D. Knight.
After King’s, he
went on to study Oriental Studies at
Worcester College Oxford. He joined Oxfam
International in 2003. He is currently Chair of
Home-Start International, a Trustee of Save
the Children and WWF, and a Council
Member of the VSO.
Give 4 words that describe yourself:
Typical Gramschi man-pessimist of the mind,
optimist of the heart; curious, impatient
Who most influenced you at KSW?
Richard and Sara Knight who taught me I could
do things I was sure I couldn’t
The advice you wished you’d followed but
ignored?
Practise flute and piano regularly
Best piece of advice you’ve been given – and
did you follow it?
When at the age of 31 I was looking for what
to do next a friend suggested I applied to
Oxfam to review their Middle Eastern
programme. I did apply, got the job and then
have been involved ever since. An incredible
opportunity to get involved with some
amazing people in the critical issues of our
time.
What was your first job?
Teaching English in a Druze school in South
Lebanon
When and where were you happiest?
Probably most amazing and most hopeful day
was being at Nelson Mandela’s inauguration
as President of South Africa on 10 May 1994.It
really seemed -for one day-as if the world
could solve its problems. But I’m equally happy
when less adrenalin is running – family
holidays, pottering round the remoter corners
of the Near East, walking on the Malvern
Hills...
Single most important attribute in the
workplace?
Passion for the cause combined with the
professional skills to turn the passion into
action.
Conformist or rebel?
Rebel in conformist clothing
Biggest difference between man and woman?
Apart from a few obvious ones like most
women in the world work far harder and
longer hours, it all depends on which man and
which woman.
Simon Pearson, in his letter in King’s Connect
23, argues that we should not support British
service personnel serving in Iraq and
Afghanistan. Although I was a
contemporary of Simon at King’s, I must
disagree with him on this point.
As a professional engineer currently working
to provide our troops with equipment which
provides them with the greatest possible
protection, I have seen enough evidence and
spoken to enough returned personnel to
realise that our servicemen in theatre are
facing some very unpleasant people who are
armed with increasingly sophisticated and
powerful weapons. They are also convinced
that their presence is necessary to defend
the local populace against serious
aggression.
Since they have little or no choice about
where they are sent to serve it is also
unreasonable to blame them in any way for
the situations in which they find themselves.
I therefore believe that members of our
armed forces deserve all the support we can
give them.
Whether the politicians who put them there
deserve any support is a completely different
question and one on which I suspect Simon
and I would be in complete agreement.
Dave Anscombe (W 65-72)
The Government’s recent initiative to
subsidise insulation in response to fuel
poverty is not new. It recalled memories of
the 1962-3 freeze-up when we skated on the
Diglis docks and Mr Knight’s maths 6th form
shivered in a wooden hut by the rifle range.
The 2nd Master, Mr Ferrar, suffering in his
own classroom and having been promised
insulation but no more heat, offered a prize
for the best limerick on the subject. My coauthor
Martin Smith and I duly won a
Penguin book of Osbert Lancaster cartoons:
In spite of requests to the Bursar
The heating got worser and worser.
“I’ll install fibre glass;
That will warm up your class [or whatever],
As they say that it’s warmer than fur, Sir!”
George Darwall (S 60-65)
Nominate an 8th Deadly sin?
Indifference to injustice
If you could change anything?
A just solution to the conflicting needs of the
peoples of the “Holy Land “
What was your plan B?
Be an archaeologist
I didn’t get where I am today without....
Taking risks
Thank you for the 60th OVCC Anniversary
booklet. I have many happy memories of my
cricket for the school and the OVs. One of
my claims to fame was that I used to open
bowling for the school with Chris Tarrant!
I have raised a foster family of 12 kids – all
boys – the last one left home recently A
single parent, that is my excuse for not
attending Reunions over the years.
Do you remember my hat trick and the 36
not out with a 6 off the last ball to win the
Pershore knockout? Happy memories.
Vaughan Nicholls (B 57-66)
The OV weekend seems a long time ago. I
owe so much to King’s. Although things
have changed so much since I was there (50
years ago!) it is remarkable how the ethos
remains the same I had no qualms about
walking into my old house (School) and
finding it a library; it’s simply part of what is
today and the results published in the
Sunday Times a few weeks ago are a
testimony to the good health the School
enjoys.
Francis Woolley (S 56-61)
VIGORNIAN 2008
If you have not received The Vigornian with
this mailing then you need to renew your
subscription. The costs are £25 for 5 years or
£50 for 10 years and as a subscriber you will
be entitled to discounts on tickets to reunion
events. Contact development@ksw.org.uk or
ring 01905 721737.
2

Connect
Teachers I remember...
DBJ McTurk 1946-1965
(Captain, RA) ‘Bally Dan’ McTurk was, along
with such contemporaries as (Captains)
‘Jasper’ Cash and ‘Basher Bill’ Bailey, (fighter
pilot) ‘Affur’ or ‘Didge’ Aldridge and
(Lieutenant-Colonel) ‘Laddie’ Sheppard, part
of the massive post-war expansion in teacher
numbers, many of whom had ‘had a good
one’. In Dan’s case, it included having been
some kind of military aide to
Winston Churchill.
Dan – ‘bally’ was added because of his own
very frequent use of this euphemistic and
somewhat archaic epithet – was born in his
beloved Scottish border country, had played
Rugby for Scotland B, and died, in harness and
relatively early, from the last of a series of
heart attacks.
He was Master of (boarding) School House
until 1963, when Alan Stacey succeeded him;
taught Latin (to me in the Lower Fourths, at
which time he suffered a heart attack, and
Upper Remove); and was Form-Master of
Upper IV A/B which, in the late 1950s and early
‘60s, meant that he taught Eng., Hist., Geog.
and Div. (known then as Form Subjects, or FS)
to the top one of (as there were then) only two
second-year streams. On a visit to Ludlow
Castle, he could make an ancient battle come
alive for small groups of 12/13-year-old boys
looking down from the top of the tower (‘The
bally Welsh oicks were revolting from that
direction, over the river, so they had boiling oil
poured on ‘em......’)
Of course, he wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea but
it is surely right to say that, overwhelmingly,
his uniquely quirky, far-back, humorous and
firm-but-fair style went down extraordinarily
well, and proved inspirational (as well as, quite
honestly, enjoyable; and it’s no great crime, I
submit, to make learning something to look
forward to). I can give no clearer
demonstration of this than to recount that my
UIV A/B year (1959-60) clubbed together with
half-a-crown each towards the purchase of a
shooting-stick for him; and that this buying of
a ‘present for teacher’ had happened with his
class of the previous year, too. Remember:
this kind of thing was unheard of in a boys’
school at that time (and may still be, for
all I know).
The thing was that the withering put-down to
misbehaving 11/12/13/-year-olds, ‘Teacher
will tell you when it’s playtime’, was always
taken in good spirit – and it worked! It must be
said, however, that it was fortunate that the
instruction, delivered deadpan, to the rest of
the class to take some poor soul out at break
and ‘give him a hefty hack in the gullet’ was
seldom acted upon. (Note to younger readers:
there was no Health & Safety consideration in
those days.)
Dan had a strange genius for nicknames which,
more often than not, lasted one’s whole days
at King’s. A boy who had, apparently, soft pink
outlines, was, for ever, the SPO; another, who,
allegedly, sat there looking like a lightly-done
egg, was always the LDE; there was an Ape, a
Condor, a Murgatroyd, a Taplady and a Fanny-
Adams (real name Roland-Adams), even a
Mouthful-of-muck-Enthusiast (don’t ask, but
he knows who he is, and why). There were
so many, and I cannot even scratch the
surface here.
Me? Well, for some reason (my eyes, maybe),
I was the Japanee, or, sometimes, the Mikado.
Entering into the spirit, I had, at one time, the
rising sun flag on the wall behind my backcorner
desk; and, the first time that Dan
spotted me in CCF uniform, he observed, with
a twinkling eye that I can still see so clearly in
my memory: ‘Oh
Lor’, it’s the
forces of the
Emperor on the
move again’. Did I
take offence? No,
as a thirteen yearold,
I treasured it.
DBJMcT set up
the Field Club,
and I vividly recall
visits to a coal-mine in the Forest of Dean
(frightening), to the Wills Woodbine factory in
Bristol (whereat certain jacket-pockets, not
excluding mine, were stuffed with product),
and to a Bass brewery. I remember, too, ex-
Head David Annett’s description of wading,
with Dan, through shoulder-high vegetation,
on the first visit to the Grwnyfechan Old
Chapel in order to ascertain whether it was
worth buying.
He also organised a fly-fishing club at which
my contemporary, one Tarrant CJ, developed
his well-publicised love of the sport.
Amongst many other things in my life, I’ve
done a bit of teaching, and I am still inspired by
the Dan model. I am tutoring, now, a 12-yearold
who was, at first, bemused, but is now
quite taken, by my description of his written
work as ‘three pages of unpunctuated
balderdash’ (DBJMcT, 1959). However, when
lecturing in FE some twenty-odd years ago, a
young man in the group, whose name was
Bennett, became deeply resentful when I
dubbed him ‘Gordon’.
Has the world changed, or not; and does King’s
still nurture this kind of one-off eccentric
genius? I believe that it does, although not,
perhaps, in ways which we might now describe
as politically incorrect. I am certain, however,
that my membership of Dan McTurk’s
classes was a privilege of which I have very
warm memories and which has been a
lifelong inspiration.
David Barlow
Cl 58-64; Governor 85-07
‘Teachers I Remember’ continues in the next issue will carry a feature on D. Vawdrey (1952-1964) who taught O Level Latin.
Archive News
OVs are very welcome to visit the Archives
on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Please
contact the FDO Office to arrange a visit and
a tour of the school.
Criccieth 1940
This picture came to us from Kenneth Flay
(DB 35-41). Does anyone recognise the
scene; know the names of the boys or indeed
anything at all? We would really like to know.
Missing Boarding House photographs
Sadly the collection is far from complete. If
anyone has one of these to give or loan to
the Archive, we would be most grateful.
Choir House 1950 1951 1974
Castle House 1937,1965,1967, 1976,1968-
1981
Hostel House? 1957,1960-64, 1968, 1969,
1986
www.ksw.org.uk | development@ksw.org.uk
3

Connect
In response to our request for news for the Vigornian magazine, David Bolland sent us an extract from the autobiography he is
writing in which he mentions his own ‘Vigornia News’ which he compiled from some fascinating cine films he had taken of school
events in the 1930’s.
In 1932 I went to
King’s School,
Worcester, and
after being there
for a term I felt it
would be nice if I
could film some
of the school
activities. I
David Bolland 1935 didn’t know
anything about
filming or cameras, but in December there was
an advertisement for a 9.5mm Pathéscope
camera costing £6-6 shillings (£6.30),
described as ‘an ideal Christmas present’. It
was the ‘Motorcamera B’ with fixed-focus
f/3.5 lens and a ‘film charger’ holding 50ft of
9.5mm film. As I had been given a present of
£5 when I won a scholarship to King’s, and had
£2 in my pocket money ‘bank’, I decided to buy
it. My parents were planning to make a short
visit to Egypt during the 1934 Easter term to
meet old friends there, so to ensure that they
wouldn’t accuse me of extravagance when I
bought the camera I asked them if they would
like to take it with them and make the first film
with it so that I could see where they had
been. They arrived home just before the
Easter holidays with four short films which,
when they had been developed I spliced
together with film cement, added some titles
(by filming a card covered with black velvet on
which I put white felt letters) and called the
film ‘Scenes in Egypt’. That was my first film
editing effort.
When I got back to school at the beginning of
the Summer term I began my filming in a small
way, starting with shots of the OTC band as it
was marching down Edgar Street to the annual
‘Corps’ inspection, boat races between the
school and Monmouth and Hereford schools, a
rugger match and an expedition of the ‘Field
Club’ to Broadway. In 1935 and 1936 I filmed
several school events (more rugger matches,
cross-country running, rowing races,
swimming sports, athletic sports, the OTC
Inspections and Camps, shots of the some of
the masters etc).
My parents, like so many people in those days,
were keen Royalists (always standing to
attention when the National Anthem was
played), so when the Silver Jubilee of the reign
of King George V and Queen Mary took place
in May 1935 we all got up early and went up to
London in our Morris Oxford car to watch the
parade in The Mall, where we found good
seats for ourselves. I took my cine camera
with me, so now have footage of everyone on
that parade. The King died in January 1936,
and a week later my father went up to
Westminster Hall to see the Lying in State. We
spent that night in a flat in Gloucester Road,
from which I filmed the King’s funeral on 29th
January. Pathéscope had an over-night
processing service for 9.5mm films so I took
my films of the funeral to them that evening,
collected them the next morning and showed
them to the School in the evening – three days
before the recently opened Gaumont Cinema
showed them in the Gaumont News: quite
a triumph!
At the beginning of the Summer holiday that
year I represented the School at the Duke of
York’s Camp in Southold. This was founded in
about 1925 by Prince Albert, then Duke of
York, who was interested in industrial
relations, when he started an annual camp
which would be attended by boys from public
schools and industrial firms in equal portions.
I took my cine camera and in addition to
filming camp sporting events was also able to
film the Duke of York on three occasions. On
the death of King George V the Prince of Wales
succeeded him as King Edward VIII: little did
we think that within a few months he would
have abdicated and the Duke of York, who
spent three days with us in the Camp and who
was very friendly with all of us, would have
become King George VI. For his Coronation in
1937 we again went up to the Mall to sit in a
very similar place to the one we had in 1935,
where I again filmed the procession, after
which I also filmed the decorations in Oxford
Street and around Westminster Abbey. That
year I also filmed the Hendon Air Display and
the ‘British Empire Athletics Meeting’ at the
White City
All these short films I spliced together in what
I called THE VIGORNIA NEWS (Vigornia was
the name the inhabitants of the city of
Worcester gave it some 2000 years ago whilst
under the Roman Empire), which gradually got
longer as time passed. Everything I filmed was
on 50ft reels lasting 2 minutes, 5 seconds,
which I eventually spliced together on a 400ft
reel to make a film lasting 16Ω minutes, on
which I added titles.
These films all came out quite well and boys at
school wanted to see them, but I couldn’t
show them to more than a few people at a
time because my projector could only show
films on a small screen about four feet wide
and I couldn’t
find any dark
place in which
to show them. So
in the 1934 Summer
holidays I decided to
obtain a better projector
and bought a Pathéscope
200B.
As my editions of THE
VIGORNIA NEWS were
never long enough to
justify an evening’s performance by
themselves, and as I now had a projector on
which I could show films to the whole school in
College Hall, I decided to include hired
professional films in each programme and
formed The W.C.K.S Film Society with three of
my school friends (E.C.Luscombe,
B.S.Eckersley and A.S.Yarnold), and gave film
shows in College Hall on Sunday evenings in
the Christmas and Easter terms. The first of
these shows was on 11th November 1934 and
the last on 28th March 1937 (Easter Day),
shortly before the end of my last term
at King’s.
David Bolland (S 32-37)
The DVD of these films is available at a cost of
£10 per copy (with all proceeds being donated
to the Development Trust). If you would like a
copy, please send a cheque payable to The
King’s School Development Trust with your
postal address and we will forward one
to you.
A. Natan’s 1936 Olympic film
The son of a very good friend of Alex
Natan is trying to locate the film the two
of them were involved with in 1936. It is
obviously not the official Nazi version.
Apparently, several versions were made
and even brought to Britain. Did any of his
pupils ever see or hear him talking of it?
4

Connect
Dedication of Stained Glass Window
September 08
Remembrance Service
November 08
Parminder Degan (Associated Architects), Tony
Bolland, Stephen Watkins and the Headmaster
On the 25th September current and former
members of the Parents’ Committee together
with other guests gathered to celebrate the
unveiling by Stephen Watkins, of a stained
glass panel that has been created to
commemorate the new Library in School
House. Thanks to a very generous contribution
from the Committee, the school was able to
commission a unique piece of art that further
enhances the award-winning design of the
Library.
The idea for the panel was born in 2005 during
a visit by Tony Bolland (S52-60), and his uncle
David Bolland (S32-37). The family connection
with School House is very strong as both Tony
and David are related to the former
Headmaster, William E Bolland (1879-1896),
who built School House during his tenure.
Inspired by the architectural features of the
new Library, Tony offered to create a piece of
stained glass that would complement the
design and commemorate not only the
Library, but also strengthen the Bolland
association with the school. Following this
visit, Tony went away to “think about things”,
Tony and David Bolland
greatly encouraged by John Christophers of
Associated Architects and his contemporary
at school, Donald Howell, Chairman of
the Governors.
The result is a remarkable design by Tony
which is centered on the Tree of Knowledge as
a universal ancient concept linking the aural
and written word. The panel takes us on a
journey encompassing the library as the
archaic seat of knowledge, with ancient and
contemporary forms of writing merging across
the tree, and a series of steps representing a
child’s pathway through learning into maturity
and adult life. The school and its origins within
the establishment of the Cathedral are
represented by red roundels.
A thought provoking piece that should not be
missed on any visit to school, it is the subject
of many discussions between staff and
pupils for the stories it can tell, both real
and imagined.
An exhibition of Tony Bolland’s stained glass
work is being held at Wiltshire Heritage
Museum, Devizes until 1st March 2009:
www.wiltshireheritage.org.uk
L to R Alec Mackie (Cl 47-56), Ian Smith (Cr 73-78)
President OV Club 07/08, Kathleen and Roy Padden
(Cl 46-52), Chairman OV Club, Caroline [Horrigan]
Krolikowski (Co 85-87) and Tim Keyes, Headmaster.
Roy Padden (Cl 42-56) Chairman of the OV Club
represented OVs at this year’s Remembrance
Service in College Hall. Caroline [Horrigan]
Krolikowski (Co 85-87), President OV Club
2008/2009, laid the wreath following her
address to pupils about her service in the UK
and overseas as Cpl. in the 4624 RAuxAF
Movements Sqn.
Gap Year Students
Workshop September 08
Nathaniel Fowles
July 08
Several OVs attended a private view of
paintings in London by the King’s School Artist
in residence Nathaniel Fowles. The exhibition
focused on Nathan’s fascination with all things
London and his own Morris Minor car and the
images were brought alive by the enthusiasm
and charm of the artist himself.
Tim Pain (Ch76-82)
University Reunions
November 08
OVs at UWE and Bristol University Reunion
The FDO is sponsoring a number of OV reunion
events at Universities around the country.
Photographs and news of these will follow in
April’s edition of Connect but, if you would like
to include your University it’s not too late.
Simply contact the Development Office and
we will help you make all the arrangements
and even sponsor some of the drinks on
the evening.
Tom Hand (Cl 94-04), Tom Harris (Boatman), James
Bartholomew (Cr 96-07), Georgina Grant (K 96-07 )
and Alice Hershman (O 00-07)
OVs who have just left the school are
notoriously difficult to pin down but we
managed to persuade a few of them to come
back at the beginning of term to share their
Gap year experiences with the current Upper
6 th . The talks were varied – ranging from an
intensive year mastering the intricacies of the
double bass at the Birmingham Conservatoire
to Cordon-bleu cooking in the Alps - and in all
cases very informative. If you would like to
share your Gap year experiences or pass on any
words of wisdom to the 6 th form next year
(early September), please contact the FDO.
www.ksw.org.uk | development@ksw.org.uk
5

Connect
01
02
The 105th Old Vigornian Reunion
John Shervington (Cl 73-83) reports on a (pleasantly) surprising weekend
I have always felt that going to an OV
weekend is a bit like having the mother-inlaw
round for Xmas....seemed like a good
idea at the time. So having never been before
it was with some trepidation I arranged to
attend this year – 25 years since leaving etc
I needn’t have worried – the weekend was an
absolute Belter!
Started with the Golf day at Upper Sapey
–good number and mix of ages and ability,
with myself at the lower end of the latter,
playing off a rather mean 28. Very nice course
in excellent condition, also presented with a
quality OV Golf shirt on arrival – the powder
blue matching my eyes (could have done with
a blood red one for the way home). I was a
little perturbed to see that the opening drive
was being filmed, but managed one past the
ladies tee – if you want to see me swinging on
the internet follow the link via the OV website
(www.ksw.org.uk)
Played with a couple of really nice blokes, who
were excellent company and we laughed all
the way round! Perhaps it was because we
were so relaxed, we all played rather well and
started to concentrate on tactics over the last
few holes in an attempt to emerge worthy
winners of the Team prize... I should have
realized by the number of Sombrero’s being
sported in the clubhouse things were not quite
right...we came last... but Russ Mason had
arranged prizes for every team, so for the first
and last time I rose to polite applause to
receive a rather nice golf book.
The food was a wonderful and some very
entertaining speeches followed, including the
OV president Ian Smith – now I haven’t seen
Ian for 25 years since an OV skiing trip the year
after I left school and we shared a hotel room
in Austria. We had many chuckles recalling
events, including the sink coming off the wall
(don’t ask). I gave a little chat that gradually
warmed up (note to self : concentrate on the
Golf jokes in future)
The following day I attended the OV
dinner....not many people from the Golf day,
as there was an impression it was a bit stuffy –
but they were mistaken - it was a wonderful
evening!
Felt a little shiver down the spine as I walked
under Edgar Tower and walked into the
cathedral for the drinks reception....somewhat
unexpected. Didn’t recognize a soul when I
walked in but a couple of delightful ladies from
the FDO were there to meet and greet (Thank
you!) However , my eyes soon rested on a keg
of Hook Norton and within minutes I was
chatting to loads of people I had never met
before...Then some familiar faces appeared,
schoolmates and staff. I must say the Teachers
have fared a lot better than us in the aging
stakes.... A lesson to be learnt there!
Not many people recognized me until
glimpsing the name badge, I suppose losing 5
stone and growing a beard didn’t help (take
note ladies).Everyone on our Table was
charming and entertaining company and the
night passed all too quickly.
But then it was off to a delightful watering
hole called the ‘Hand in Glove’ – never been
there before, but charming bar staff – all ex-
King’s girls apparently.
So folks, come along to the next one and see
for yourself – you won’t be disappointed.
P.S. I’ll see you there
6

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01 Hugh Scurfield (Cl 43-54)
(Chairman Development
Trust) and Gerald Lindner (S
43-46)
02 Leavers of 1983
03 Jon Turner (W 87-98) and
Richard Lewis (S 88-98)
04 1948/49 1st Rugby Team BTC
Smith (Ca 44-49) Robin Jones
(Ca 47-49) Brian Wilkes (Cl 43-
49), James Ager-Harris (Ca 42-
48) Trevor Burgess (DB 44-48),
Michael Child (S 44-49),
Francis Burns (Cr 42-50) and
Tim Richardson (Ca 40-49).
05 The Headmaster, Rory
Johnson (Head of School)
Gerald Lindner (S 43-46)
Chappel Memorial Award
winner, Ian Smith (Cr 73-78)
President OV Club 2007/2008.
06 The Wilkes Family Claire, Brian
(Cl 42-49), Georgina and
Richard (W 76-86)
04
05
09
10
03
07 Keith (63-03) and Jane
Bridges; Rosemary (82-01) and
Peter Diamond (70-92)
08 Rhodri Richards (Cr 81-88),
Anna Diamond (E 87-89),
Heather Richards and Rob
Richards (Cr 79-84)
09 Donald Anderton (Hon OV 58-
88)
10 Andrew Robinson (Ch 67-77),
Phil Warner (Ca 67-77) and
Nick Fairlie (H 72-77)
11 Lauren Lawson-Pratt (Cl 91-
98), Claire Gilbert (W 96-98),
Kirsty Johnson (W 91-96)
12 1978/79 1st Rugby Team
13 William Bridgens (Ch 61-68),
Jeff Bridgford (Cr 58-68), Peter
Garland (Ch 63-68), Laurie
Green (Cl 65-70), Governor.
06
07
08
11
12
13
More photographs and a dvd of the weekend are available through www.ksw.org.uk and the Old Vigornian pages.
www.ksw.org.uk | development@ksw.org.uk
7

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Dates for your diary
OVCC Austrian Night:
Monday, 22nd December
This will be held from 7.30 p.m. at The
Cardinal’s Hat, Friar Street Worcester.
Advance tickets are £12.50 and include a
litre of bier and a bratwurst. A magnum of
champagne will be awarded to the best
dressed Austrian and there will be a
yodelling competition. Profits are going to
the OVCC for new covers and screens. For
more information, contact Duncan Hughes
(O 94-91) 07701 018439 or Will Kerton
07799 478833 (O 82-92). If you can’t come,
donations would be greatly appreciated!
London Reunion Dinner :
Friday, 27th February 2009
The dinner will be held at the RAF Club,
Piccadilly. A booking form is enclosed and if
you apply for tickets before the 30th
January, 2009 you will be entered into the
draw for two tickets to the Rugby
International – England vs France on
Sunday 15th March 2009.
Faure Requiem: March 7th 2009
Come and Sing the Faure Requiem in
College Hall. This will be directed by
International conductor and OV Nicholas
Cleobury (Ch 58-68). For more info see
www.NicholasCleobury.net.
Overseas Reunions 2009
Paris 30th January.
Hong Kong 30th March at the Foreign
Correspondent’s Club contact Andrew Eden
(W 68-78) via the FDO.
Malaysia 1st April contact Howard Stanton
(S 84-91) and Feisul Mustapha (H 90-92) via
the FDO
Australia July coinciding with the Netball
Teams’ tour contact Paul Statham (W 77-
86) via the FDO
Old Hawfordians Day
Sunday, 14th June 2009
The 106th Annual Reunion Weekend –
Friday 18th - Sunday 20th September.
Future Annual Reunion Weekends are:
2010 17th – 19th September
(Dinner on 18th September)
2011 23rd – 25th September
(Dinner on 24th September)
2012 21st – 23rd September
(Dinner on 22nd September)
2013 20th – 22nd September
(Dinner on 21st September).
FUTURE EVENTS: CCF 100TH
YEAR ANNIVERSARY 2009
Vigornians in the News
Charlie Fellows (K 99-06) has been selected to
play for the Worcester Warriors first team.
The King’s First and Second XV rugby teams
made national news thanks to their new
sponsorship package from Stuart Conyers (Br
83-90) MD of CL Conyers Ltd. The boys wear
pink shirts as part of the deal to raise funds for
a trio of local charities, Noah’s Ark Trust, The
Air Ambulance and Leukaemia Care.
Mike and Paul Southall (W 66-76), owners of
Norchard Farm near Stourport, have
successfully taken part in Operation
Bumblebee to try to attract the bees back to
their natural agricultural habitats.
Jonny Tye, under 16 national K1 Kayak
OV Charity Endeavours
James Mackie (O 75-85) ran the Melbourne Marathon and raised
£2,732 for the Headway Cotswold Trust. He was delighted that so
many OVs supported him. More information is available on
www.justgiving.com/jamesmackie.
James Cant (W 00-06) was one of the youngest competitors in the
tough triathlon Ironman UK held on the 15th June. James said
afterwards that it was the hardest thing he had ever undertaken
but that it was all worthwhile as with the help of his sponsors he James crossing the line
was able to raise £1,500 for charity.
Tom Davies (K 90-94), has been selected as part of a 14 man crew attempting to break a 113
year old world record for rowing across the North Atlantic from NY to Falmouth. Tom is
appealing for sponsorship for the event. For further information on this trip contact Tom on
www.oceanrowevents.com
Mike Finlay (B 95-00), Sarah Lonbay (Cr 93-00) and Felicity Copp (Ch 94-00) have just returned
from a 9,872 mile motorbike ride in aid of UNICEF, the RNLI and Help the Aged. For a full
account of the trip or to donate to their worthwhile charities, please visit
www.EnduroEurope.co.uk.
Mike is now planning another feat of endurance with fellow OV Ben Hickling (Os 90-00) – an
attempt to row across the Atlantic to English Harbour, Antigua. This epic oar-powered journey
will see them covering over 3,000 miles in an ocean that will throw waves of over 40ft onto
their 23 x 6 foot plywood boat. If you would like further information on this trip please go to
www.atlanticrow2011.co.uk
Did you know.....?
Visitors – Recent visitors to
King’s have included Geoffrey
(H 36-39) and Angela
Allchurch. And Carol Bennett
formerly Matron Sleath.
Carole was matron at St
Albans from 1959-63 and later became
Housemaster’s Assistant in
Castle House with the Allums
and then Choir House with
the Browns and Masons.
Other visitors have included
David Jessop (Ch 78-87), one
of three brothers at King’s and now a Pilot for
Emirates Airlines, Howard Stanton (S 84-91)
who is organising the OV reunion in Malaysia
and Andrew Eden (W 68-78) who is organising
the reunion in Hong Kong on 30th March.
New Staff - Michelle Richardson, wife of OV
marathon champion, finished a strong season
with an international victory against stiff
competition in Denmark.
George Kitchen (W 00-07) and Robin
Middleburgh (Cl 98-07) have both recently
taken part in The Weakest Link.
Matthew Humphries (W 96-01) goes from
strength to strength as a designer at Morgan
Cars. Richard Hammond of Top Gear has
placed an order for the new Aeromax
(designed by Matthew).
Paul Humphries (W 99-04) got through to the
semi finals of Last Choir Standing as a member
of the ACM Gospel Choir. He performed with
Russell Watson with whom the choir has since
performed in two recent tours.
Nigel Richardson (Cl 84-89) has joined the
FDO. Michelle will be helping to keep the
database up to date and managing the new
webarm. If you have changed address or have
a new e-mail address please let her know at
development@ksw.org.uk or update your
details on www.ksw.org.uk via the Old
Vigornians page.
Sponsorship – There are excellent
opportunities for companies to sponsor OV
events and advertise in school publications, If
you would like to know more about these
opportunities please contact Susie Gilhooly via
the FDO.
Work Experience – If you, your employer or
your spouse are able to offer a week’s work
experience to a member of the Lower Sixth
next July, please contact careers@ksw.org.uk.
Areas the Careers Department is struggling
with include journalism, media and interior
design. Location is not a problem.
Produced by Blackberry (01527 517309)
The King’s School, Worcester: a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England: Company Number 4776324. Registered Charity Number 1098236
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