MHS Society Newsletter 2011-2012 - Marlborough House School

MHS SOCIETY NEWSLETTER
2011 / 2012
Produced by the MHS Society for the benefit of former pupils and former Staff of Marlborough House
School
New Pre-Prep extension under construction
Address: Marlborough House School, Hawkhurst, Cranbrook, Kent TN18 4PY
Telephone: 01580 753555
Email:frontoffice@marlboroughhouseschool.co.uk
www.marlboroughhouseschool.co.uk

OUR PRESIDENT, ANTHONY HUDSON
As many of you are aware, Anthony has suffered from ill health for these past few years and sadly, was not well
enough to pen his annual letter. However, your Editor had a lengthy chat with him on a beautiful summer’s evening in
August and he asked me to pass on his good wishes to all Society members. We spoke for some time and I would like,
if I may, to convey to you some of his thoughts at this time.
Believe it or not he said that his thoughts often turn to his time at MHS, which he admitted was sometimes a little
frightening to a small boy, living away from his parents, but was nevertheless a privilege, to be appreciated in later
life. He was also reflecting on the times he latterly spent working with some of those who had been his teachers. Not
least of these, Arthur Harrison whom Anthony regarded as a man before his time. One remark that Anthony made to
me particularly struck home, and it was that “hopefully, we gave something back”. Of no one could this be more true
than of Anthony, who has given 50 years of dedicated service to the education of young people.
Having just endured a session of chemotherapy, Anthony was not feeling up to much, but was able to enjoy lying on
the deck of his boat, floating down the Thames which flows beside his house, gazing at the beautiful countryside and
the wildlife – though “not attempting any locks!”
Linda Beasley
Editor
HEADMASTER’S REPORT
The school continues to thrive, despite a difficult economic climate, and the current roll of 313 pupils underlines the
strength of the school’s position. Morale is high amongst both staff and pupils and the school continues to enjoy an
excellent reputation. As I write, major building works on the Pre-Prep are well under way. Work began at the end of
the summer term, with a complete refurbishment carried out over the summer holidays. Now attention is turning to
the construction of new Reception classrooms and a new Hall. The project is due for completion by the end of the
Spring holidays 2013.
Academic standards remain very high. Once again, all of our Year 8 pupils passed the Common Entrance exam into
their chosen schools and we had an excellent record of success in the Cranbrook exam, as well as achieving many
scholarships and other awards. A Year 4 pupil won a National Science Challenge from over 20,000 entrants, to design
a ‘Green’ Machine for the Future, and a Year 8 pupil came 16th out of approximately 700 entrants nationally in the
Townsend Warner History Competition. Music, Art and Drama are also very strong, with much activity and success
throughout the year.
Sport too receives plenty of emphasis, with the U11 Hockey team getting through to the IAPS finals, becoming Kent
champions on the way, to name but two of numerous sporting achievements over the year. The School held an
Olympics fortnight at the end of the summer term, with an Opening Ceremony on 25th June to mark the occasion – it
didn’t perhaps quite match up to what we witnessed on 27th July, but the pupils were enthusiastic and fully engaged
by it all! As a school we will continue to do our best, as the Olympic motto puts it, to ‘Inspire a Generation’.
Finally, you will have already read in Andrew’s letter, that Emma and I have decided to leave Marlborough House at
the end of this academic year, in July 2013. Our decision has involved a great deal of heart-searching, but we feel that,
after nearly 18 years at Marlborough House and 27 years as a Prep School Head, it is time to retire from Headship.
Ever since the early days when we first arrived at MHS back in April 1995, this has been an immensely fulfilling role.
It has been such a huge pleasure and source of pride to see the school develop and thrive over the years since then. As
for the future, we have no definite plans as yet, but certainly neither of us plans to “retire” in the full sense.
Over the coming weeks and months, the Governors’ priority will be to appoint a successor, and Emma and I will be
giving them every support in that process. I look forward, in due course, to handing over the reins and we both look
forward to seeing Marlborough House continue to thrive in the future. In the meantime we shall enjoy sharing a very
happy and fulfilling final year here with the Marlborough House school community.
David Hopkins September 2012

FROM THE CHAIRMAN
The autumn term has started without us really having had a proper summer. I feel cheated. We have had a few decent
week-ends, but I cannot recall so many cricket games interrupted by bad weather. Kent’s visit to Tunbridge Wells was
a disaster; the T20 game was a complete wash out. The ground was almost entirely under water – the picture below
was taken sometime after the flood had receded.
School cricket was equally badly affected. Hamish
Cloke in his GCSE year, lost the first 6 fixtures of the
season. I’m not sure if his exam results benefited –
but he made it into the 6 th Form and is now studying
for A levels.
At Marlborough House, the children returned on the
18 th April for the summer term but it wasn’t until one
full month later that cricket finally began and the 1 st
XI secured a resounding win on the newly relaid
square.
The Olympics were a huge highlight for many of us.
And as we start the hockey season there is a
noticeable increase at club level in the number of young participants. Other parents have remarked on this at football
and rugby clubs. I can’t help thinking that this must be, in part at least, due to the Olympic factor. Izzy Cloke is now
in her final year at MHS. My time as a parent, which began in the year 2000, is now on the last lap. My association
with the school is a modest 38 years, during which time the school has also educated my brother Simon Cloke and my
two cousins – Jason and Susannah Cloke.
On the subject of leavers, I should of course mention the letter that arrived by e-mail on the 11th September, from
Henry Somerset, the Chairman of the Governors. He was informing us that after almost 18 years’ service David and
Emma Hopkins have decided to retire. They started their careers at MHS in 1995 when the school had fewer than 200
pupils. Henry Somerset has been a Governor for their entire tenure and so he has seen firsthand, as indeed many of us
have, how much the school has flourished under their guidance and leadership. Pupil numbers rose quickly after they
joined and these numbers have remained healthy ever since. This is a real achievement given the economic
circumstances that have prevailed for the last four years. They will both be greatly missed and I must thank them
sincerely on behalf of the Society, for all they have done for the school.
My final thanks, as usual must be to the other Society officers who put the magazine together, in particular Linda
Beasley our Editor and John Waters our Registrar. Without them and a few others who contribute time and energy, we
would not be in print today.
With best wishes
Andrew Cloke, Chairman (MHS 1974 - 1980)
andrew.m.cloke@btinternet.com

TREASURER’S REPORT
Accounts for the year to 31 st March 2012
Marlborough House Society
Profit & Loss Account
Year ended 31st March 2012
Income £
Credit Interest 0.36
Leavers' Subscriptions 1,400.00
Members' Donations 325.00
AGM Reunion Lunch 52.50
Young Leavers' Reunion 0.00
School Governors' Donation 3,100.00
Other Income 0.00
Total Income 4,877.86
Expenditure
Newsletter Printing 334.00
Newsletter Postage 316.96
Newsletter Distributor Charge 75.12
General & Administrative Expenses 2,700.00
AGM Reunion Lunch 0.00
Young Leavers' Reunion 400.00
Leavers' Gifts 600.00
Other Expenditure 45.00
Total Expenditure 4,471.08
Profit / (loss) for year 406.78
We have made a small profit this year, most of which is attributable to a generous donation from Tim Crawley. The
School Governors continue to support us by agreeing to defray most of our office and general administration
expenditure.
Linda Beasley and John Waters have managed to keep the cost of printing and distributing the Newsletter under
control. This has left us with a healthy contingency. I have also been approached by a small company that specialise
in digitising past editions of school magazines and other related archive material. This sounds like an interesting and
worthwhile project. Our reserves will help us to achieve this.
ANDREW CLOKE
Chairman
Marlborough House Society

REGISTRAR’S REPORT
WELCOME to the following Leavers who joined the Society in July 2012: Ricky Alikhani, Patrick Beech,
Grace Buswell, Amelia Cornish, Emily Costain, Hamish Crichton, Oliver Drew, Sam Easton, Thomas Emmins, Lily
Fleming, Felix Godwin, Phoebe Hensley, Ella Holroyd, Emma Jenkins, Jasmine Jenkinson, William Jex, Sophie
Killick, Harry Latham-Coyle, Kit Lillingston-Paterson, Thomas McGee, George and Rose Meddings, Eleanor Minns,
Florence Montague-Wilson, Archie Norris, Poppy Pearce, Eloise Plummer, Grace Rawlings, Kit Ross, Charlie
Russell-Vick, Oliver Rutman, Oliver Santini, William Smith, Bethany and Nicole Stewart, Will Turner, James Wood,
Harrison Woods and Rosie Woods.
In order for the MHS Society to thrive, it is up to you to keep us informed of news and what you are up to in future
years, so please email your personal news to your correspondent.
You will all receive a copy of the Annual Newsletter (ANL). If it does not arrive by mid-November please let me
know by email (details below). Thank you !
Do you need to receive a printed copy of the Annual Newsletter ? If you would be willing to read the Newsletter on
the website in future, please tell the Registrar John Waters, either by email john.waters31@googlemail.com
or call him on 01892 785492. (email is john dot waters31). He will then advise you of the procedure.
John Waters
M H Society Registrar
Email:john.waters31@googlemail.com
THE SOCIETY NEEDS SOME FRESH CORRESPONDENTS!
THERE IS A DEARTH OF NEWS FROM THE ‘MIDDLE ORDER’ (ie LEAVERS FROM THE
EARLY 60’S TO THE LATE 90’S).
SOME VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED TO FILL THIS GAP. THIS IS NOT A BIG JOB - ONLY A
FEW HOURS ONCE A YEAR. PLEASE CONTACT THE REGISTRAR, JOHN WATERS IF YOU
ARE WILLING TO HELP.
ALSO, DON’T FORGET TO LET JOHN KNOW IF YOUR HOME ADDRESS OR EMAIL
CHANGES OR YOU NEED AN MHS FRIEND’S EMAIL OR ‘PHONE No.?
The registrar should be able to help you.
John Waters
M H Society Registrar
Email: john.waters31@googlemail.com or call 01892 785492
Editor’s note: I hope you have enjoyed reading your Annual Society Newsletter,
and for the first time, you will also have received a copy of the School Review. We
would be most interested to hear your feedback on this. Also, please let me know
for next year, of any outstanding achievements by former MHS pupils, for instance
did anyone compete in the Olympics or Paralympics?
Please email me at: l.beasley@marlboroughhouseschool.co.uk

VALETE
Jenny BRIGHTLING Jenny joined MHS in 2004 as Bursar’s Assistant, and had been a constant face in the everchanging
scene of the Bursary, until leaving at the end of the Summer term to pursue other interests. Jenny worked
with no less than three Bursars during her time, always carrying out her duties with effortless efficiency!
Trevor HOUGHTON-BERRY Trevor left MHS after a year’s service as Bursar, to return to the world of
business.
Kate NASH (Head of Pre-Prep) joined MHS in September 2002. In her own words: “I was immediately impressed
with the happy, welcoming atmosphere and pastoral care at the school. I spent ten very happy years heading the Pre-
Prep department as well as teaching French to all the children from Nursery to Year 2. With children of such a young
age, it was important to foster a love of learning in a happy and relaxed environment, but I hope that some of the
things I introduced, including a more Creative Curriculum, an annual Pre-Prep Poetry Celebration, and a new phonics
scheme will endure. Leaving MHS was a very difficult decision for me and whilst I am keeping busy with educational
consultancy in places including India and the Isle of Man and developing my jewellery business, I miss the wonderful
sense of community that MHS offers”.
Ba PERRIN (Science teacher) joined MHS in January 1992 as a Year 4 form tutor. After a few years she retrained to
teach Science, working full time all the while, and in 2000 gained an MA (Ed) from the Open University. During her
time at MHS she had many different extra tasks ranging from gardening to ordering the stationery. She instigated the
procuring of the telescope dome and sat on the Marketing Committee for many years. In 2005 she married Michael
Robertson. For the last few years she was a Year 7 form tutor. In her retirement she will be a reader for the Talking
Newspaper for the Blind, a travelling ticket inspector for the Spa Valley Railway, play the clarinet in the local
symphony orchestra, sing in two choirs and tend her allotment, as well as being a hands-on Grandma.
Jenni RAWLINSON (Teaching Assistant) joined MHS in January 2007 as a newly qualified teacher, in the role of
Teaching Assistant to Chris White in Reception. She brought with her a wonderful sense of enthusiasm and laughter
could often be heard coming from RW classroom. She spent her mornings supporting children in RW and her
afternoons on the games field with the Prep School children where her love of Sport and expertise really came to the
fore. She leaves MHS to become Head of PE and Games for the Early Years at St Michael's Otford, where she will be
able to combine her teaching degree and her love of Sport.
Michael ROBERTSON (Director of Music) In 1988, Derek Whittome was embarking on his thirtieth year at MHS;
little did Michael know that he would come close to equalling this with twenty-three! During this time, there were
carol services, concerts both formal and informal, music scholarships and, above all, many children leaving MHS with
a genuine love of music. And, of course, the chapel timbers were given a regular shaking by the pedal notes of the
organ. In 2004, Michael was awarded a PhD by the University of Leeds for his work on German baroque music and
his first book was published in 2009. The following year, he was made a visiting research fellow at Leeds. Michael’s
retirement will give him the opportunity to indulge in his three great passions: trains, music and family (but not
necessarily in that order). He continues as the conductor of the Cranbrook Symphony Orchestra and, like Ba, has
volunteered for work on the Spa Valley Railway. A second book on music is scheduled for publication in early 2015.
2012 REUNION HELD AT MHS
Saturday 28 th April 2012 saw the renewal of the Reunion Lunch at the
school, following the AGM. Attendees were: Andrew Cloke, Ros
Saunders, David Hopkins, Philip Thompson, Adrian Gaylon, Des
Phillips, Linda Beasley, Crispin Champion, Sheila and Basil Payne,
Mike and Jan Money and Rosemary Whittome
************
2013 REUNION - LONDON
The 2013 Reunion will be held on Thursday 24 th January, in central
London from 5.30-8.30pm (venue to be confirmed). Please contact
Andrew Cloke if you wish to attend.
Email: andrew.m.cloke@btinternet.com Tel: 01580 211733

FORMER MHS PUPIL – FUTURE ENGLAND RUGBY STAR!
Ryan WARD (1999-2009), who many at the school will remember for his unforgettable role as ‘Stranger’ in the
school performance of The Ratz, has had a meteoric rise up the England Schoolboy Rugby ranks. Just last year Ryan
went on a tour of Australia playing at No 7, Open Side Flanker for the Cranbrook School Second XV (no mean feat at
the tender age of 15). His tour was so successful he was nominated ‘Player of the Tour’ for his team.
On returning home, he was invited to train with Saracens’ U16 squad. This led on to trials for Kent and South East
England, for which he was also selected and played some outstanding games. Further success was to follow when
Ryan was selected to play for one of the three full England sides at U16 level, having some really good games,
particularly against a USA team, who he described as ‘absolutely huge!’
Ryan will continue to train with the Saracens Elite U17 squad for the coming season and we look forward to hearing
more of his prowess on the Rugby field in the England colours.
Great Bidlake – an amusing, personal reminiscence by Tony ULOTH (35-42)
At the beginning of World War 2, shortly after my father was recalled for war service to the Indian Army, my brother
Peter and I became boarders at Marlborough House, seven miles from where we lived in Kent and where previously
we had been day boys. Despite the hugely disruptive events going on around us, life went on much as usual.
However by the spring of 1940 the uncertainties of the war began to influence our lives. The Battle of Britain began
over the skies above us and the threat of invasion, whether real or imagined, was in the minds of everyone. Like many
people living in the southern counties, Arthur Harrison went through agonies of indecision as to whether his school
should remain where it was or remove it to a more remote part of the country. I don't believe he ever did make up his
mind, but his wife Muffet had no doubt as to what had to be done. They had two young children, one still a baby.
At the beginning of the summer term she and the second master, ‘Tommer’ (Dick Thompson) went down to Tavistock
to look at three possible properties for rent. By late the same afternoon they had chosen one of them, a small
Elizabethan stone manor house called Great Bidlake on the outskirts of Bridestowe. It was what the estate agents
could have described truthfully as having ‘immense charm’, but had totally inadequate space to accommodate a school
of about forty-five boys. Looking back now I appreciate the enormous effort it must have taken to move the school
two hundred miles in the face of wartime travel restrictions. We boys were sent home at the end of May and after ten
days found ourselves on a train clattering through the West Country bound for Devon.
By then most of us had Battle of Britain stories to swap of dog-fights high above us, the sound of machine gun fire,
aircraft being shot down, and aircrew parachuting to the ground. One boy whose father was the school doctor claimed
to have seen a pilot whose parachute had failed to open hit the road outside his house with the obvious consequences –
described graphically. That boy was Guy Hitchings, who passed away this year (see Obituary).
The train journey was the longest I had ever experienced. It was shortly after Dunkirk and there were many soldiers
travelling in carriages further up the corridor. Even at my tender age I thought they looked tired and dirty, not like the
smartly dressed lead soldiers in my toy box. A boy in my form, David Macdonald, had found one who had an
automatic pistol which he said the soldier would produce on request. My brother and I went off to investigate and
were not disappointed as the soldier obligingly fired several rounds out of the window for our benefit, probably into
Somerset country!
My memories of Bridestowe are happy - like a large family really. The house wasn't big enough to accommodate us
all that first summer, so most of us slept in the loft of the old stone Devon barn where they’d swept out the hay. The
barn was built on the side of a hollow. Access to the loft was from ground level at the back. At the front and below
the loft was a row of shippens. In one of them we enjoyed carpentry lessons with the popular Mr Browne. [Many of us
at MHS in the 1950s will remember Meyrick Browne whose carpentry and PT lessons were always a highlight –
James]. A large dining room and adjoining big hall accommodated the entire school for meals. The Harrison family
had to have rooms for themselves, and the now depleted staff all had to be found space elsewhere.
The solution for the remainder was the barn’s top floor or hay-loft. At one end by the big barn doors was a space for
gym, the large middle part served as a dormitory, and the far end lit by two windows provided further space for a large

classroom. The piano was installed there too where Miss Synge used to preside over class, choir and individual music
lessons. It also doubled as the school chapel.
Shortly after the school’s arrival in Devon, Mr Browne was called up for military service like other members of staff.
When he returned as an ordinary seaman during what must have been his first leave (he was later commissioned and
served in MTB’s) we appealed for him to take us all for one of his always exhilarating PT lessons.
By the time he arrived for his visit, the barn’s open plan system was in full operation, so his PT class took place at the
end by the big open doors. He was always a fit looking man and if anything his first few weeks in the Royal Navy had
honed him still more. He certainly looked a picture of hard muscle and sinew in his Bell Bottoms as he went into his
routine in front of the class. In his usual way of imparting his own enthusiasm by example, he began by demonstrating
the astride jumps exercise he wanted us to follow. This involved jumping astride and raising the arms and then on the
second jump bringing the legs together and the arms to the side. Mr Browne seemed to be able to jump very high and
on about the third time he did the feet together bit, toes neatly pointed, he went through the floor like a twelve stone
human dart! To give his reactions credit, by turning his hands outward he succeeded in abruptly arresting his vertical
descent to the shippens below and remained resting on his straight arms, his body only visible from floor level from
the hips up. Pushing himself to his feet as if nothing unusual had happened, he took a couple of brisk paces forward
and continued the lesson with a less kinetic exercise – legs raised, one at a time, while lying on his back!
One of the headmaster’s inspirations was to get as many boys as possible to join in painting a mural of Noah's Ark and
all the animals at one end of this loft, where an unglazed window provided some light. I did a pair of cows which I
changed into reindeer when the horns rather got away from me. I believe this mural with the colourful rainbow that
Arthur Harrison painted to inspire us all is still there.
In the winter our dormitory was moved from the barn to a substantial wooden pavilion about half a mile away which
we reached by walking through a small wood, named of course The Dell. Perhaps the pavilion had been a hunting
lodge because there were antlers on the wall where we slept, and someone found that the macabre effect could be
greatly enhanced by shining a torch from behind the skulls.
A very small stream fed from a spring next to the round house ran through The Dell and provided an endless source of
interest and entertainment to us on afternoons when we weren't playing organised games. I soon learnt about the
power of water and the power of the politics of those who controlled it. We all liked to have our own section in which
to make dams, float sticks and generally muck about. The higher up the pecking order in the school, the higher up
stream one could stake a claim. Here the dam built by the bigger boys would hold sway over all those further down
stream until inevitably, sometimes twice in an afternoon, it burst carrying all before it.
Many years later when I witnessed three seasons of the annual Nile flood, each time I heard myself repeating the
mantra of “rush coming!” which used to warn those small boys down stream of impending disaster for whatever
irrigation scheme they had spent the whole afternoon constructing!
Entertainment was totally self sufficient. Arthur Harrison used to read to us every evening. There were also concerts
in which boys and staff would perform. Mr Harrison would sing Irish songs accompanied at the piano by Kitty Synge.
I am in no doubt that he was a gifted teacher. During the four years at my next school I don’t think I added very much
to the Latin, English and drawing he taught us at Marlborough House, besides the many other things about music and
literature.
Games pitches were created in the field next to the barn and somehow ways were found to take teams to matches at a
number of other schools like ours that had been evacuated.
Food rationing and acute shortage of petrol weren’t the only wartime challenges. It must have been difficult finding
teaching staff. I think the only male member of the staff not called up for the forces was the headmaster himself. The
rest were in the age bracket for military service. Of course the two lady teachers, Miss French and Miss Synge
remained, taking on more and more. Apart from them there was a shifting population of teachers. Places were filled
by either medical rejects or those over-age for military service, not all of whom were either qualified or suited to the
teaching of young boys. One was JHB Peel, the well known writer on country matters which he clearly found more
interesting than teaching young boys. Our boxing instructor was the local butcher. Our wonderful matron, Joan Gale,
remained to look after our health and I remember various other ladies who came and went, some as matrons and some
to teach. One under-matron was the very pretty elder sister of one of the boys who caused one or two young hearts to

pound. Another young woman, Miss Urquhart, came to teach French. I think by the quality of her accent that she was
actually French, though her knowledge of the language was rather better than her ability to control small boys.
Some of these temporary staff were Marlborough House old boys, straight from their public schools awaiting call-up.
One was Tim Davies, and Derrick Whittome another. Both had been at the school at Hawkhurst as boys when I first
went there at the tender age of five. Soon after he arrived back as a member of staff Derrick took us for a run. When
we had reached the tarmac road outside the gates of Great Bidlake and had started running in earnest he slipped on a
cowpat, fell heavily, hit his head and passed out. We all stood round the inert body somewhat non-plussed. I think it
was Hooke minor (John) who expressed the opinion that he was probably dead, but at that moment there was a
movement and Mr Whittome got to his feet. We were relieved to be able to resume the run. It had been rather cold
hanging about in our shorts and gym vests!
One feature of life at Great Bidlake that seemed an enormous advantage to us was that we were allowed bicycles. We
made many expeditions to Dartmoor where we scrambled over the rocks at the top of a number of the local Tors,
paddled in the streams and ate far too many bilberries than was probably good for us, leaving faces and hands stained
blue. I remember once after we had all been drinking thirstily from a little waterfall that gurgled prettily over granite
rocks some boy said to whoever was in charge that day, “Sir! Sir! I've found a dead sheep!” Sure enough he had. It
was lying half in the water, very obviously drowned many days before, about ten feet upstream from where we had
been slaking our thirst.
On Sundays we would walk to Bridestowe church for morning service. I don’t know what effect the addition of
another forty or so worshippers to a congregation down to about half a dozen had on the very elderly vicar, but it
certainly galvanised the choir. Because of call-up to the forces, the singers were down to two people – the postman
and his wife. They sang the treble and bass parts and, perhaps to make up for the lack of alto and tenor voices, in the
loudest tones I think I have ever heard before or since. The postman in particular produced a horn-like sound that was
quite intriguing.
This church had a leper’s ‘squint’ and I remember when being shown it, having just read under Miss French's
encouragement Sir Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe in which the horrors of leprosy are described, being careful to avoid
touching any part of this little stone closet in case it might still be contagious.
The land around the house at Great Bidlake continued to be farmed and this added great interest to our surroundings.
The bailiff was a man who seemed to us by his slow gait and silvery side-whiskers extremely old. He wore corduroy
breeches and leather gaiters, but his apple red face was always smiling and he never failed to talk to us whenever we
met him, although I think we hardly understood a word of his Devonshire dialect.
He presided over the cider making every autumn which we all found utterly fascinating. It was carried out in the stone
round-house in the yard opposite the barn, a major operation that went on for several days and involved the use of a
pony to turn the huge press squeezing the juice out of the apples between layers of straw. Those brave enough to taste
the unfermented apple juice offered them by some of the farm men, which must have been full of all sorts of filth,
didn't seem to come to any harm. I have no doubt Miss Gale would have been horrified had she known.
To us boys the other amazing enterprise on the estate was a fully operational watermill used for cutting timber. The
huge wooden mill wheel was fed by a ‘ram’, a channel several hundred yards long that had been dug as an artificial
tributary from the river to divert water to the wheel. On leaving the main river, the water in this ‘ram’ really looked as
if it was flowing uphill – an optical illusion that many of us argued over heatedly whenever we went that way.
The river from which the ‘ram’ branched off also provided endless entertainment. We could swim in one particular
pool formed by a little sandy cliff inhabited by sand-martins, and for the incipient fishermen among us there was an
endless supply of minnows to be caught in jam jars.
My time at Great Bidlake ended in 1942, so I never experienced the return of the school to Hawkhurst. However
many years later at a parents open day on 20th June 1974, and using ‘recruiting’ as an excuse, I did have the pleasure
of landing an army helicopter next to the Spectacle Pond.

SECTIONS A & B (Leavers up to 1969)
Correspondent: James Montgomery, 5 Trafalgar
Way, Stockbridge, Hants SO20 6ET Email:
tansy.mont@virgin.net
After the publication of last year’s Newsletter, Peter
HUTCHINSON (51-57) sent me the observation that
follows which I duly circulated to one and all. There
was only one reply. First Peter:
‘I am a little puzzled by the stonework tower depicted
before the news items. This would appear to be the
arms on the wall in the inner garden, which we never
entered; in fact, come to think of it, I never knew (and
still don't) where a door was which would have granted
access to it. How well-behaved we were in those days;
"out of bounds" was out of bounds. I am sure that
today we would have been in there all the time, if
necessary scaling the roof to get in. As I sat at class in
the bay-window looking into the inner garden (they
don't now, as far as I know, the "gallery" of those days
is no longer the classroom of the top form as it was
then), I must have glanced at the arms a thousand times,
and I swear that the motto under the depicted tower was
not "quaere veritatem", estimable though the precept
may be, but "Deus mihi munmen", God is my
fortification. The intriguing thing was that the word
should be "munimen" with an ‘I’ in the middle. Arthur
Harrison wrote it off as a mistake of the mason who
chiselled it. I have no evidence to the contrary, namely
that "munmen" can have been an alternative spelling at
some time during the decline of the Latin language.
Has anyone done any research on this feature? Don't
tell me that someone had a new motto engraved… O
tempora, O mores, knowledge of Latin isn't what it
used to be. Only the other day I heard a judge say "in
dubio pro re" (if in doubt, in favour of the thing, or the
issue) instead of "reo" (the accused). Quousque
tandem.’
This was the only reaction that came from Anthony
ULOTH (35-42). His response:
‘My only memory of the emblem was Arthur Harrison
pointing to it (I can't remember where it was) and
saying: "This is the coat of arms of the people who
lived here before called Hardcastle and this represents a
very hard castle". I also remember another occasion
when a member of the Hardcastle family visited the
school.’ Has anyone else any thoughts?
Now to your news. I and the Society are extremely
grateful for the wonderful response to my appeal for
news this year. Thank you all. It is much valued and
remains a testament to the ethos of the school’s
foundation and subsequent reinvigoration by Arthur
and Muffet Harrison and their staff, all of which must
be considered accountable for how Marlborough
House always has moved with the times and thrives
today.
Nick ALLEN (55-60) Since last year’s Newsletter
Nick has sent me an assortment of colourful personal
bulletins following his move from Murau back to
Vienna. This is an edited version: ‘I notice that there is
to this day a style of English, a beautiful one, prevalent
throughout ex-pupils of the 1950s. It must have been
inculcated in us day and night by the likes of Hilda
French in Form 6, Andrew Best, Martin Briggs and
others. It is a joy to read and recognisable throughout
the reports. Who but an old MHS boy would still
master the shall form for the first person singular and
plural?’
Summer 2011: ‘The Shakespeare Festival under the
auspices of my friend and colleague of many a decade,
Sean Aita, was a fine artistic success continuing Dan
Winder’s superb work of five years.’
Nick came to Britain three times last year: ‘Dinners in
London and a lecture in Rugby in late Spring were
followed by a hectic week during August that included
my first visit to Ely to spend a magical day or two with
dear friends who spoilt me rotten; a pilgrimage at last to
Grantchester, and a visit to King‘s College Chapel
which I learnt to love so long ago. In November I had a
very happy visit to Rugby for a House Reunion,
magnificently laid on, met old friends and even
fagmasters, erstwhile teachers and a pupil from Austria
of whom I am deeply proud as he is doing so well.
Autumn 2011: ‘I took a train to Munich to say farewell,
soon after her funeral, to the lady who saved me and
brought me on track in 1970, then to become a friend
for life. She, Mechtild, was near, joyful and real. I was
thankful and grateful at having been allowed to
experience real friendship’.
Christmas 2011: ‘Here in Vienna, something of what
the festival of Christmas can mean still remains.
Imagine me sitting, in the Michaelerkirche by the
Hofburg. Outside, December dusk. Inside, the dim
lights focussed on the central altar, the sounds of
Advent songs and laughter peeping through from the
busy street Kohlmarkt, as perhaps a hundred people
gather here silently in the church which saw the first
performance of Mozart’s Requiem. As the 1714 Sieber
organ dies away, we remember Sena Jurinac, one of the
most remarkable opera singers of the twentieth century,
in this her parish church, with a quiet requiem mass,
having buried her urn in the Döbling Cemetery that
morning. I recall the 20 years’ joy she gave me, from
‘Fidelio’ under Klemperer at Covent Garden in 1962 to
her last, unutterably moving Marschallin (in Der
Rosenkavalier – Richard Strauss) in the Staatsoper in
1982: “Ja, ja...” (two words sung with resignation in the
musically sublime last scene). Despite missing this and
that from Murau, Rudolph and I have settled back well
in Vienna and our cosy flat. Rudolph is deeply
involved in his writing; his major work, written in
Murau, assumes shape and form; at the same time a
parallel work set in the city emerges from his mind. It
is very exciting to share these processes and admire his
unbribable intellectual integrity. I am busy with both

my political-awareness training and as Spokesman for
Senior Affairs of the Austrian Socialist Gay Rights
organisation.’ Nick is keen to hear from anyone who
hasn’t yet given him their email address.
nick.allen@chello.at
Michael BAWTREE (44-51) Michael says that
thankfully he’s almost forgotten now that he underwent
a heart by-pass in September last year, because he’s
made a good recovery. He came over from his home in
Nova Scotia for two weeks in May and stayed with
Brian KNOX-PEEBLES (46-49) and his wife Rose
in London. They had a happy time and went to the
theatre together to see Written on the Heart, about the
making of the King James version of the Bible. Last
year Michael had already been ‘slogging on’ with his
memoirs and reached the age of eleven. He’s been
slogging on more since then because he’s almost got to
the age of twenty one. While in London he showed
Brian the part dealing with MHS and says that Brian
‘seems to have survived’. He plans to finish the first
volume at the age of twenty five when he left for
Canada. ‘While working on my Marlborough House
days I did some research on Geoff Martin, and
managed to unearth a news cutting from a Tenterden
newspaper about his time in Normandy, where he lost
his leg. Remember, he was always very tight-lipped
about this episode, including the award of his Military
Cross. I sent the cutting to his nephew Martin
HARRISON (45-49) and his niece Julyan
HEAZELL (46-52), and we have had some
interchanges since. [Unfortunately the cutting is too
blurred to reproduce here – James]. I’ve also been in
fairly regular touch with John LE MARE (45-50) and
wife Angela, though did not manage to meet up with
them either in North America at Christmas or in France
this summer.’
Peter BULLARD (41-47) Peter writes: ‘My wife
Judy and I have not done a great deal during the year,
mainly because of Judy’s health. She had an operation
on her foot last April which never seemed to heal. Then
in December she fell and broke a leg! Our children
have been busy: elder daughter Carolyn has developed
a geological drilling company which operates mainly in
Ethiopia. Her eldest son James graduated from Oxford
in July. He also studied Chinese and gained a first. The
Chinese government then awarded him a scholarship so
he is now at Beijing University studying advanced
Mandarin, all expenses paid. His brother Gareth
finished college this year, and has gone off to be a
steward at the Olympic stadium. Daughter Catherine is
busy train-touring round Europe but appears to have
taken up residence in Berlin, which she likes.
Our son John, recently married for the third time (don’t
ask!) is doing well in IBM and recently got a big
promotion. His daughter Sophie has just finished her
second year at York studying History of Art. Her
brother Henry never got used to academia and left
school before A Levels. He is now doing a
management apprenticeship with the Co-op in
Manchester. Then we have 10 year old Jasper who is a
super little boy, protected and spoilt by all his cousins,
and quite bright. Finally, daughter Penelope who
remarried in 2011 and works with Verizon.
All the family came together last week to celebrate our
golden wedding - even James managed to fly back from
Beijing and someone clever arranged a beautiful sunny
day - couldn’t be better!’
Chris BURCH (58-63) Chris has less than three
years to go before retirement. ‘I'm into my exit strategy
with my parish, whose people aren't used to thinking
and deciding for themselves. Rather than rejoicing that
they can't do without me (a mean-minded response I
think) I'm working to help them flourish when they lose
their vicar – there’s no guarantee of a quick
appointment of a replacement, so it's a valuable thing to
do. Braunstone is one of the most deprived areas in
Leicestershire – and we have recently started a food
sharing exercise, using food that the supermarkets
would otherwise be sending to landfill. What does it
say about our society that, in the midst of so much
wealth, we can accept food poverty among our
citizens? Last summer I joined a small choir of clergy
– “Octave” – and we are singing services and concerts
every so often. It reminds me of my days in the MHS
choir which I loved. Another reminder is our annual
Christmas carol concert, to which my family and
friends come and sing simple carols beautifully. I even
dug out Bach's arrangement of "In dulci jubilo", which
I don't think I've heard since MHS, the Carols for
Choirs arrangement (by Pearsall – James) having taken
over. Apart from music I am still enjoying my model
railway hobby. My latest layout, a small fishing
harbour and station, is due out on the exhibition circuit
twice in September and once (at our own show in St
Peter's) in November. Roz is still working half-time at
the Leicester Citizens Advice Bureau, but the turmoil
there following a merger with a larger organisation is
leading her to wonder whether another outfit might
need her services soon. Martin (30) is very slowly
recovering from depression. Rebecca (28) is a freelance
percussionist based in London. She specialises in the
gyill, a Ghanaian xylophone with 5 notes to the octave,
which has a limited audience! But she is also looking
for gigs with orchestras and jazz and rock groups. As I
write she's playing in the Edinburgh Festival. No signs
of grandchildren...’
John CAPITO (39-45) Last September John and his
wife (of 53 years now) Jenny enjoyed a 7-day trans-
Atlantic cruise aboard the Queen Mary 2 followed by a
4-day visit to New York. Although he had been to New
York many times during his professional career, this
was his first visit as a tourist and Jenny’s first ever.
However poor John has a tale of woe: ‘While preparing
for the arrival of guests to help celebrate my 80th
birthday last October, I fell and hurt my left wrist.
When all the guests had left I went to hospital. When I

eturned home several hours later my arm was in a
splint with a fracture. All went well and the arm healed
in due course but the episode was a nuisance. To
compound my problems, in February I was
recommended to have a stent inserted in one of my
heart artery by-passes – a similar procedure to that
endured by the Duke of Edinburgh just before
Christmas – but I suffered a stroke while the procedure
was being carried out and I’ve been recovering from
that ever since, sufficiently to believe that I will, in due
course, make a nearly full recovery. This has all been
as unwelcome as it is pretty unusual. I now await the
return of my driving licence when life will return to
something like normal again.’ We all wish John a
speedy return to good health.
Tim CRAWLEY (43-49) In his email, Tim has
thrown up some Marlborough House history matters.
In January John Waters, the MHS Society Registrar,
emailed him and a number of his ‘MHS cohorts’ with
an appeal for information about David HUGHES (44-
49). David Hughes himself had contacted Marlborough
House with an enquiry about the years which he spent
there. Tim’s so-called cohorts were his other
contemporaries (who I won’t put in capitals here),
David (Piglet) Pike, Martin Harrison, George Lamb,
Richard (Dickie) Toms, Brian Knox-Peebles, Crispin
Champion and Anthony Hudson. He’s sad that the
school’s records do not go back far enough. He writes,
‘I still have a number of MHS Magazines, including
that for 1943-1944, (No.32), and then a complete run
from 1946-1947 to 1954-1955, with an odd one for
1956-1957. The later ones would have been from my
brother’s time. Unfortunately, I am missing those for
1944-1945 and 1945-1946, numbers 33 and 34. Does
anyone have a copy of them? If so I would greatly
appreciate contact so that I might try and close the loop
of research. I told John Waters that I did not remember
David Hughes, an embarrassment when I delved into
the past. Embarrassing because he was Captain of
Football at MHS in 1948 and I was his Vice-Captain
and in 1949 we were joint team leaders of Hawkings!
Doubly embarrassing because when I found references
to him being at Wellington College, I searched the
Wellington data which I hold, and I found a photograph
of the hockey 2nd XI in 1954. David and I are standing
side by side at the back with Gary Williams, also of
MHS, beside us. Since Brian Knox-Peebles won his
1st XI colours as well that was four of us playing for
Wellington that term. I’ve scanned several photographs
from both MHS and Wellington and am still looking
for the team photographs of the MHS football elevens
of 1947 to 1949, which I know I have somewhere. As a
keen family history aficionado I wonder whether MHS
might consider establishing an archive of past pupils
and teachers with a view to filling some of the apparent
gaps in the earlier records? For example, I have several
letters written to me by Arthur Harrison, who was a
close friend of my family in Ireland, and I researched
his parents and grand-parents when I was in Dublin in
2004. If that is not thought to be feasible I shall
probably offer the records which I hold to Kent Record
Office/Archives as I feel that there would be an interest
there in the school’s past in Kent, and Devon of
course.’ To contact Tim: tel 01597 851 949. Email:
timcrawley@btopenworld.com
Address: Buzzards’ Beat, Dolau, Llandrindod Wells,
Powys, LD1 6UP.
Ed’s note: Andrew Cloke is in touch with Tim about the
archive material he holds, as there are plans afoot to
upload the school’s archives electronically, so that they
would be more accessible.
Jeremy DANIEL (45-51) Jeremy says that retirement
is as good as ever after 10 years. ‘Never a dull moment,
partly because I seem to do things so slowly. Quite
busy at the moment helping organise the second West
Meon Chamber Music Festival. Not yet a household
name throughout the country but who knows? Grandchildren
all thriving, though I find it slightly ageing to
be driven by a grand-daughter; probably less terrifying
than by grand-sons though! Very interested looking
through the addressees on your email. Many
names that bring back happy memories.’
Allan DONNER (56-62) Allan’s faithful computer
has finally bitten the dust after seven years, and he’s
having to grapple with Windows 7 (just as I will be
over the coming weeks). This coincided with a
household of visitors and the Olympics. So I’m
grateful to him for having had time for all that, and to
master enough Windows 7 skill to send his news. ‘I am
delighted to report that our twin daughters graduated
this year from their respective universities where they
studied Business Management. They are now looking
to do an internship somewhere, but in the meantime
they both have temporary jobs working for the
Olympics retail team selling clothing and memorabilia
in a large store set up in Hyde Park. After this, Lucy is
talking about doing a ski season which will delay the
job search by another 6 months! I’m still doing three
days a week for an IT company in Windsor providing
sales and marketing support. Hopefully this will see me
through to full retirement in a year or so. My wife Judy
continues with her book-keeping business but is
beginning to feel weary of this. We are planning a
major holiday at the end of the year to New Zealand to
catch up with friends and my relations. At least we will
escape the English winter for a few weeks. I see Tim
PIGOTT (57-61) occasionally as he lives round the
corner from us, and recently I bumped in to Michael
JELF (57-61) at a cricket match at Lords. I remember
persuading him to come to an MHS reunion lunch some
years ago, but have not seen him since.’ (We saw him
fleetingly at a wedding two years ago again, but not
since either – James)
Nigel ENGERT (58-63) Nigel writes: ‘Greetings
from Somerset. I am still employed (just) on 2 days a
week with Sherborne Town Council. Most of my

(limited) time is being spent on helping them do battle
with the local planning authority who have allocated a
huge number of new houses to the town over the next
20 years. Apart from that I’ve recently become a
Public Governor of a local NHS Foundation Trust so
am coming to grips with all the changes and budget
cuts now taking place. My wife and I recently
celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary. Our elder
son has just got engaged. Both he and his younger
brother, who got married last year, are successfully
earning their own living. I made an attempt to contact
the Rogers family, a number of whom were at MHS in
the late ‘50s/early ‘60s, at Riverhill House just outside
Sevenoaks having seen them and the house on a
Channel 4 programme, but without success. I met
Robin KINAHAN (59-63) a number of years ago,
shortly after he had moved to a new post with Eldridge
Pope in Dorchester, but they closed down fairly soon
afterwards and I am not sure where he is now.’
Jonathan FERRIER (54-58) Jonathan still works
part-time doing dyslexia assessments and is involved in
producing new computer-based dyslexia tests. He and
Kate have four grandchildren and live in Oxfordshire
next door to their son, daughter-in-law and three of
them. Their elder daughter lives in Montenegro where
they have a house, and she has their fourth grandchild.
Jonathan has been contributing to the Newsletter for
some years now and last year he contacted me (James)
to say that his choir was coming to Winchester to sing
evensong in the cathedral, something many choirs are
invited to do at cathedrals around the country when
their own choirs are in recess. Emma and I went and
joined him afterwards for a cup of tea. We hadn’t met
for goodness knows how many years and it was a real
joy. Subsequently he and Kate invited us to a delicious
lunch at their lovely home. As has been demonstrated
many times, and indeed in this year’s Newsletter, this
publication does re-unite – even if only by email.
Hence its importance.
Michael GYE (34-40) Wonderful news from Michael
on Vancouver Island where he lives in the town of
Sidney in the extreme south: ‘This might amuse your
readers – at 85 I’ve just taken up gliding…it’s hard
finding sports that can take the place of skiing and
windsurfing when your body becomes as decrepit as
mine. But as probably one of the oldest student glider
pilots alive, I’m having a blast! I have 51 flights
logged and hope to solo sometime before I fall off my
perch.’ (Ed’s note: What an example to us all!)
David HABERSHON (58-63) David and his wife
Libby have lived in Emsworth in Hampshire on and off
since 1984. He’s been with Blind Veterans UK
(formerly St Dunstan's) for nearly eight years since
leaving the Navy, and is now seriously contemplating
retirement. He considers the activities of his three sons
much more exciting. ‘Our eldest, Edward (33), is
foreign editor for Channel 9 television in Sydney and
married with a year old son. James (31) is teaching
history at Hollyfield School in Surbiton, and Charlie
(26) has founded his own volunteer organisation, The
Collective, organising projects in Sierra Leone. It's two
years since the whole family has been together – thank
goodness for Skype. How GVM would have loved all
the modern communications gadgets.’ David says how
much he enjoyed meeting and reminiscing with Mike
and Christine Pardoe at their Hawkhurst home a couple
of years ago.
Paul HABERSHON (54-59) Paul is still pursuing his
three games: chess, duplicate bridge and golf. ‘Internet
chess is a brilliant way to waste time. My golf
handicap briefly came down to 19 but now it's back to
20, so those who understand these things will recognise
mediocrity there. Anyway we duffers enjoy it! I was
on an English Bridge Union committee which worked
to introduce a national grading system for bridge
players, to exist alongside the long-established Master
Point scheme which, however, is merely cumulative. I
was not the mathematical expert, but I do have
experience of the chess grading system. The bridge
rating system is now up and running, accessible online.
I remember playing chess at MHS with Hugo Nesfield
and Nigel(?) Lloyd. Do we ever hear from them?’ (from
James: I’m afraid not. Paul is sorry he could not make
the 2012 luncheon but says he’ll keep trying for future
years. Nor could I be there this year, but I understand
it was a happy yet modest affair. Any future plans are
published elsewhere in this Newsletter.)
Martin HARRISON (45-49) Last year Martin and
Richard TOMS (45-49) combined resources to
research the exact location of Marlborough House in
Hove before the school was bought by Arthur and
Muffet Harrison with Chris Bullick and brought to
Kent, and indeed if its name was the same before the
move. They discovered that it was and most kindly
Richard went in search of a commemorative plaque in
All Saints Church there. Martin says, ‘Apparently it is
an impressive item, about five foot wide and four foot
high engraved “Marlborough House, Hove… (then
some Latin) … and for the boys of the school who fell
in the Great War” Among several engraved names are
Egan – Jutland; Dunbar – France; Hawkings –
Zeebrugge.’ It’s well-established that a Mrs White
founded MHS in 1874, and from what Martin says it
appears that the school began in the large prestigious
Victorian house on the north eastern corner of the
church. However there is a ‘pretty grim’ 1970s block
of flats on the church’s south western corner called
Marlborough Court presumably in memory of the
school’s proximity.
John HEATH (Great Bidlake 43/4) John sends this
simple message: ‘Best wishes from Richmond, British
Columbia, Canada.’

Julyan HEAZELL (46-52) Congratulations to Julyan
and Paddy who celebrated their Golden Wedding this
year on 15th August which is also her brother Martin's
birthday [Martin HARRISON (45-49)]. They went
up to Scotland to stay with him and his wife Wendy
where they had a wonderful evening with all the family.
However, personally, Julyan hasn’t had a good year.
‘Following shoulder surgery I managed to contract
pneumonia and had to go to hospital instead of going to
France – not really a fair exchange. Then I caught a
horrendous cold from my brother in law while on
holiday in Wales which turned into bronchitis! So I’m
still not really fit. But at least it means that the only
thing I really minded about the wet summer was the
horrendous invasion of slugs which proceeded to
chomp their way through the garden. As I wasn’t well
enough for gardening myself, I more or less just had to
watch them doing it. Anyhow, onwards and upwards.
On Oct 1st Paddy and I, Martin and Wendy are having
a combined four days in a Landmark Trust property in
the Dales to celebrate what would have been our mum's
100th birthday. Our granddaughter is just about to
celebrate her 18th birthday, so we must be getting old!’
Peter HORSEY (33-38) Peter says he’s still
fortunate enough to be able to play golf with friends on
the course belonging to John Lewis (THE John Lewis –
i.e. Partnership) at Leckford. However recently he’s
been deep in research. ‘Ever since leaving
Marlborough House in 1938 I remember clearly the
summer of 1940 and the arrival of German armies
within 30 miles of Hawkhurst which precipitated the
upheaval of the move to Bridestowe. There was a
widespread conviction that Southern England would
soon be invaded, and ever since, I have wondered why
this did not happen. I have recently researched the
information which has now become available,
particularly from German sources, and written a forty
six page account entitled “The Unforgettable Summer”
which draws attention to the disastrous effect the
Norwegian Campaign had on the German navy and its
importance in persuading Hitler not to launch a seaborne
invasion.’
Note from James: I have read this, and it is a most
impressive piece of research, an eminently readable
and fascinating account, the result of many, many
months of work. Peter has given permission for this
document to be made available to interested MHS
Society readers on strict condition that it does not find
its way into any other publication for reasons of source
copyright. To date only his family and friends have
read it. Just email me at tansy.mont@virgin.net and I
will send it to you as an attachment.
Patrick HORSLEY (55-60) Patrick says he’s still
hosting and talking to overseas groups interested in the
high tech sector around Cambridge, restoring antiques,
and proof-reading Korean technical manuals. Last year
he told us about the charity he and his wife Lorraine
had started, to promote the value of sport in the
rehabilitation of acquired disabilities and raise
awareness of the benefits of sport as a route out of long
term care. Now you can log on to
www.andrewsimpsontrust.co.uk for the details. His
silver ring website is up and running too, offering
bespoke silver rings with a word, words, letters, or
numbers stamped on them to order: www.silver-letterrings.co.uk.
He has also just begun making what he
says can only be described as “twospoons” in silver
(see below), and has acquired a London Assay Office
maker’s mark.
The Horsley ‘Twospoon’
David HUTCHINSON (51-56) ‘I battle with the
peculiarities of producing oil in southern Colombia, and
being chums with the indigenous people. A very
different scene from the woes of the Euro, Greeks (let
down by their Gods, or vice-versa), bankers (I was one
in the past- the sky fell on Lloyds Bank as Asterix
would say). So, que Dios le pague! and best wishes to
MHS.’
Peter HUTCHINSON (51-57) Peter sends his
warmest regards to everyone and after giving his
reaction to last year’s Newsletter, as published at the
start of this section, he turns to his latest news. ‘I am
still near Krems in Austria, going on placidly with a
crisis-free firm supplying hospitals (crisis-free, because
there will always be hospitals and they will always
need supplies, and they never fail to pay the bills)
although in theory I could retire. I still muck around
with music, translating, working on a book or two, and
recently taking more interest in reissuing old
recordings. The younger brother of my mother, (she
taught at MHS in around 1955-6), Tony Hutchinson,
died recently on his 98th birthday, so the race is still
open for the first to make a round hundred in the
family. What with the pranks of two Australian
Shepherd puppies I feel like about a hundred already!
Nothing happens, which is a thoroughly satisfactory
situation. Minor incidents like saving the life of a
Golden Oriole caught in a grating (the cat was already
unfolding its napkin and looking forward to the treat)
are so sensational that I will be boring people with the
story for years. Austria continues to get on
comparatively well, still at the bottom of the list for
unemployment and still at the top of the list for

donations to charity per head. As usual useless at
football and didn't win anything at all at the Olympics.
As the famous Viennese song puts it, as one gets older
and colder, the wine remains.’
Michael JACOBY (47-51) Michael and his wife have
been touring the chateaux in the Loire Valley recently
in mixed weather. ‘We were not too drenched. Soon
after that I submitted to the surgeon’s knife for a
laminectomy/ back operation, from which I’m
recovering satisfactorily. I have now been retired from
my general practice for ten years – it seems only
yesterday that I gave up. Brothers Robin and Richard
have also retired from the NHS, though both indulge in
a little work. We have three grandchildren, two at
school and one just over a year old.’
John KINAHAN (56-60) John is a member of the
Cyclists Touring Club (CTC). In July he took a
fortnight’s holiday in Colorado organised by the CTC.
‘Having turned 65 I made another desperate attempt to
prove there is still life in the old dog…. Not content
with climbing two 11,000ft passes, we also climbed
over two 12,000ft passes in 30 degree heat. Several
days more climbing over 5,000ft cumulatively, with
one day of 7,000ft and another gloriously descending a
total of 8,000ft. Now for some R&R!’
George LAMB (45-49) George laments the passage
of time, but don’t we all: ‘Yet another year has gone by
and I am a year older – it is no longer tempus fugit but
tempus decadit! Medical science keeps me alive and
well so that my wife and I can continue the good life.
We celebrated our 51st wedding anniversary at
Bailiffscourt Hotel and Spa at Climping near Arundel
where my wife spent a whole day enjoying the
massaging and beauty treatments which you can
imagine were not cheap. We had a wonderful holiday
with the whole family this summer in Santa Eularia,
Ibiza. We have some timeshare apartments there and
suffered from the heat. Every day at midday the
temperature reached 34C - thank goodness for airconditioning.
However the heat worked in my favour
as my wife said it was far too hot to go shopping! My
children spent a fortune on tickets for the Olympics but
said the experience was worth every penny. At my age
my wife and I enjoyed watching it all on TV.
Unfortunately my grand-daughter is mentally sick so
we have a role to play in looking after her She is nearly
18 at which age Social Services give up. We are
concerned at what the future may bring. At my
advancing years I still have happy memories of
Marlborough House.’
John LE MARE (45-50) John writes: ‘Most of my
time is spent working with circuses. Not as a performer
though! My business sells tickets online for Australian
circuses and I also work, on an honorary basis, for the
World Circus Federation based in Monte Carlo. This
gives my wife (Angela) and myself plenty of excuses
for travel. We are in Europe at least once a year and
recently had lunch with Richard TOMS (45-49). He’d
prepared a wonderful organ recital which he played
especially for us in a local Church. (For those of you
who may remember Richard's varied keyboard skills,
he still plays "Marigold" though in a vastly more
complex version than he achieved in Hawkhurst). We
met up with relations in England recently and then
spent two weeks in France seeing the lavender fields,
the Roman amphitheatres and aquaducts. A few days
in Italy followed. Our next trip will be to Florida in
January 2013 (yes, circus business!) and Europe (yes,
Monte Carlo again). Otherwise we live and enjoy life
in our home, one and a half hours north of Brisbane,
Australia. We are active members of U3A (University
of the Third Age).’
David LEISHMAN (56-60) No news from David
except an email to say that he had never resided for
more than seven years in any one place on the globe, so
his time in a Lincolnshire village had probably been
‘just over the average at four years.’ The last we heard
was that he was living at Barnard Castle for a short
time while looking for a rented house either in Teesdale
or the Eden Valley.
James MONTGOMERY (54-58) On the 19th
August, out of the blue, I received the following email:
‘Hello! Is this the James of “Blue Star” fame?!’ The
Blue Stars was a four-piece pop group for which I was
invited to join playing the drums for some reason at
Wellington in 1960ish. The email was from Julian
LAWRIE (53-57). Not surprisingly I had completely
forgotten that he was at MHS too, and naturally I
contacted him immediately, after further email
exchanges with Jonathan FERRIER (54-58) who
turned out to have been a good friend of his and rightly
expressed his surprise of my lapse of memory. By
chance Julian had been handed the Newsletter by an
acquaintance and equally by chance my name rang a
bell. Again, the power of the Newsletter, because
consequently Julian and his lovely wife Sue came to
afternoon tea with us and left at about a quarter to
eight! Such was the heart-warming exchange of
memories, career news and so on. His career was far
more impressive than mine, in The Scots Guards and in
retirement, remaining a fine mover and shaker in that
esteemed regiment. Last year I was immersed in doom
and gloom in the Newsletter on behalf of my daughter
Tara, commiserating with the tribulations of any young
person in their early twenties trying to find a job which
wasn’t as an intern. This was prompted by her
predicament. Most fortunately after nine frustrating
months bashing off internet applications in all
directions the ICRC (International Committee of the
Red Cross in Geneva) expressed interest but then took a
further four months before inviting her to go through
the rigours of a three day interview process in London –
re-arranging building blocks on the floor observed by
red crossocrats, psychometric tests etc. etc. – then a

month later going through the whole process again in
Geneva. In the meantime she’d been offered and taken
a job with Amnesty International in London. Needless
to say, after Amnesty had bid her goodbye with good
wishes, she’s now an ICRC delegate in southern
Colombia. Purring parents, with some relief. Emma
sings beautifully with any top-of-the range choir that
comes along, I with only one. In April she sang with
the Sarum Consort at various venues in Rome for a
week, including in St Peter’s. I was there too which
was most pleasurable but unfortunately meant I had to
miss this year’s reunion.
David PIKE (45-49) David has been racking his
brains to think of something which he says conceivably
could be of sufficient interest to merit inclusion in the
MHS Newsletter. However he does pretty well.
‘Having neither children nor grandchildren I cannot
talk about them, so must fall back on the activities of
someone retired now for nine years. Much less travel
over the past twelve months but still maintaining a keen
interest in other parts of the world. Displaying what
some might call a lack of due loyalty, I slipped away to
Israel over the Jubilee holiday to stay with long
standing friends who live in Jaffa. We avoided the
tourist trail of the Holy Land but trod more in the
footsteps of the Crusaders and the old Ottoman empire.
On the ground the impression of Israel is so very
different from that relayed by the BBC. I had not
expected to see Jew and Arab coexisting apparently
amicably side by side. The country appears to be
booming if the crane count in Tel Aviv is anything to
go by. Aside from that, my main interest continues to
be supporting the Arts, drama, opera, ballet, museums
and galleries. Never more vital than in the current cash
strapped society in which we live.’
Martyn POLIAKOFF (56-61) Martyn has had an
interesting year – surely an understatement. ‘In
September I made a two week lecture tour of Australia,
and in Melbourne I met up with Patrick
MONTGOMERY (56-61). We hadn’t seen each
other for 50 years but got on very well. Then in
October I met Sam BEALE (56-60) by chance at a
dinner at the Royal Society after a gap of 51 years. In
April Sam came to listen to one of my lectures in
Bristol and we met again in July. In November I was
awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Heriot Watt
University, and in December I was elected a Foreign
Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Also in
December I began as Foreign Secretary and Vice-
President of the Royal Society and have travelled quite
widely acting as an ambassador for UK science. Our
YouTube chemistry website, www.periodicvideos.com,
continues to flourish. It will reach 100,000 subscribers
in September 2012 and is widely used in schools.
Perhaps even at MHS?? Those reading the electronic
version of the newsletter, might enjoy the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVIirDe50m8&feature.
My brother Stephen POLIAKOFF (61-66) continues
to write and direct. He has a major new series due to be
shown on BBC TV early in 2013. His daughter Laura
is now beginning to make a name for herself as a writer
with a play performed last spring and a two-page
interview in the Independent.’
Colin THOMPSON (57-62) Last September Colin
moved to Heathfield to be nearer his family, friends and
School after the death of his wife in 2010. ‘It was the
best idea I have had lately and I am very happily
entrenched in a terraced house in the middle of town. I
read avidly, go to a great friend in Normandy at least
four times a year and I am co-ordinating the Old
Brambletyean Alumni/Alumnae website, which keeps
me in touch with both the School and hundreds of old
boys.’ Colin says his elder brother Peter gets more like
Tommer as his seventies bowl along!
Peter THOMPSON (47-53) Somehow Peter’s news
went adrift last year about which he – quite rightly –
was extremely miffed. Many apologies. Needless to
say, he & Jill are still much enjoying their retirement in
Spain. They have more time for themselves now as
neither sought re-election to the Committee of the local
ex-pats Club – they had been on the Committee for 6½
years, 5 of which Peter had been President. When the
time came, they felt that some new faces were needed.
They still support Club activities as well as playing
Bridge once a week, the occasional Canasta session,
gardening and enjoying the 300 days of sunshine every
year, a remark about which you are intended to feel
jealous. They also have friends and family to visit and
come to Kent three or four times a year to spend more
time with their family – they have also been able to
house-sit on a number of occasions for friends in
Sevenoaks.
Philip THOMPSON (53-56) Philip says he didn’t
embark on any foolish adventures like the Three Peaks
Challenge this year. He continues as a Governor of
both Marlborough House and Cranbrook School which
became an Academy last December. ‘I was heavily
involved in all the negotiations and the reading of
numerous papers, and in being on the selection panel
for the new Head who starts on 1st September. I still
enjoy my weekly hockey umpiring stint on a Saturday
in the winter and spring terms, normally two games
each week. MHS quietly ticks over very efficiently. I
continue as Chairman of the Finance and Property
Committee which has involved appointing a new
Bursar and finally giving the go ahead for the revamp
of Lower School. My eldest son James is still
Headmaster of the Royal Russell Junior School in
Croydon and our two grand daughters are now full time
in school. James’s wife was head hunted last year and
is now head of a Nursery school in Notting Hill. My
youngest son Charles continues to enjoy his job with
Brewin Dolphin in York and seems to spend quite a lot
of the time out and about meeting clients. He and Erica
became the proud parents of a second son Willem in
December so Finlay now has a brother to play with. I

have tried to play more golf in the last year and
partially succeeded but the garden still takes much
looking after in the summer.’
Anthony ULOTH (35-42) Anthony and Margaret
have lived in the same house at Nether Wallop in West
Hampshire since 1956 apart from a couple of years
abroad. While Margaret still breeds horses, Anthony
keeps his turn-out of sculpture ticking along. ‘My main
outlet for animal pieces is the Dogs in Art Gallery in
Stockbridge. I also exhibit in the Fisherton Mill
Gallery in Salisbury. Both are reasonably local as is
the bronze foundry I use at Quarley. Recently I took up
portrait heads particularly of children. I have plenty of
models because we now have eight grandchildren, six
of whom are fairly local and who we see much of.
Inevitably we don’t see as much as we would like of
the two who live in Northumberland. However they are
all an endless source of interest and pleasure.’
Michael WAINWRIGHT (54-58) Michael emailed
to say how much he gets real enjoyment from reading
the Newsletter. He edits a monthly newsletter himself
and enjoys reading about the doings of his excolleagues.
‘Must be an old age thing wallowing in
nostalgia! For some reason today I am thinking of
MHS in the snow. The tin tea trays were much in
demand for use in sliding down the path from the main
buildings, down the steps and into the dell. We did see
snow earlier this year when we had a fantastic coach
trip from the burning heat of Las Vegas to the rather
cooler atmosphere of the Yellow Stone park where
snow was still on the ground. At 65, childhood has
returned to me and Valerie and I have spent a great deal
of time this year creating a model railway village and
country scene. Actually it is precision stuff. Being N
gauge, the people are tiny and I certainly could not
afford this expensive hobby as a child.’
Footnote from James: This year we had a pleasant
surprise when Mr Richard Weguelin contacted John
Waters (MHS Registrar) to say that he was always
delighted to receive the Newsletter on behalf of his
three sons John, Robert, and Christopher who were all
at MHS between 1959 and 1970 before going on to
Worth Abbey. Mr Weguelin is 96 and he says that
reading this Newsletter brings back happy memories.
‘We owned Barnfield Farm in those days and the land
ran round the back of the school. Tommer lived in the
house almost opposite the school. One or two of the
masters found their way down here to Lymington,
Walhampton and Hordle. John is now 61 and just
retired from a banking career, Robert and Christopher
I hardly hear from, though Robert lives nearby. He
does some yacht designing, whilst Christopher lives
and works in Zurich with Hogg Robinson.
I come to Hawkhurst about once a year as quite a lot of
the family are buried up at the Moor.’
SECTIONS C & D (Leavers 70 – 81)
Correspondent: Andrew Cloke
(andrew.m.cloke@btinternet.com)
Julian BALL (76-81) My wife Lynda and I are living
in the South Island of New Zealand. Over the last ten
years we have been slowly establishing a vineyard and
winery, with accommodation in the Waipara Valley.
We released our first wine under the House of Ball
label in 2009 and every vintage, we produce 4 or 5
different wines. Every 3 years we travel back to
England to soak up some history, suffer a "people bath"
and now we are looking forward to standing on some
solid ground after a year’s worth of earthquakes and
aftershocks.
Guy L'ETANG (69-73) I had lunch with Christine
and Mike Pardoe on Sunday and they encouraged me to
send my news for the 2012 Newsletter! I am now
working in the House of Lords as a Political Research
Assistant for Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson
(Paralympian athelete) and Baroness Jane Campbell of
Surbiton (distinguished campaigner on all disabiity
issues). When I have any spare time (which is not
often!) I enjoy running, playing tennis, walking, theatre
and cinema
Michael POCKLEY (75-80) I came out to Africa, to
Nairobi, with my family last summer; my wife and I
taking up teaching posts in a prep school. My job didn't
work out, so I switched to teaching in the Kibera slum,
which has been rather more spiritually fulfilling, if
somewhat dangerous. This summer we are returning to
Europe, almost certainly to Prague, where we both have
friends from previous years spent there and where I
have built up a great many contacts through my editing
and copy-writing business. I suspect we shall both end
up teaching, her full- time and me part-time whilst I
continue to build the editing work. Out here in Africa I
have continued with my art and have managed to sell
quite a few pictures, which has kept the wolf from the
door. That's about it, really. One of these days I will be
in the right country at the right time and will get to one
of these reunions!
SECTION E (Leavers 82-85)
Correspondent: Marcus Gault
moshgault@hotmail.com
Brad KIRKLAND (78-82) returns to Kent from
Singapore in the summer.
Patrick MUIRHEAD (76-82) has completed his 2
years in Paradise as a pilot for Helicopter Seychelles
Ltd. He returns to England in the summer.

SECTION G (Leavers 90-07)
Correspondent: Ros Saunders
(ros.saunders2803@hotmail.com)
Thomas ASH (01-07) was delighted to get into his first
choice of Bath University to read Economics and
Politics (1A* History and 3 As in Maths, Economics
and Gov/Politics). Enjoyed Tonbridge enormously and
played Football, Hockey and Cricket.
Charlie BICKERTON (05-07) Just finished
Cranbrook 6th form with 3 A levels: AAB. He's taking
a gap year before going to Bristol to read Engineering
Mathematics. He is looking forward to doing a ski
instructors’ course in Banff, Canada and teaching
skiing for the winter and then travelling.
Jane BOWDEN-GREEN neé Phillips (91-94) I'm still
living in Clevedon, North Somerset with my husband
Tom and teaching at a local junior school. We've
recently taken up surfing and enjoy going to North
Devon for the weekend although we're a long way off
being able to call ourselves surfers!
Jessica EDWARDS (98-07) is off to the Queen's
College at Oxford University to read English in
October.
Charlotte ELKINGTON (94-05) Just completed her
first year at UWE in Bristol attaining a first in Business
Management this year.
Timothy ELLIS (97-06) Timothy’s career continues to
go from strength to strength. In May of this year,
Timothy performed the Grieg Piano Concerto in A
minor with the Cranbrook Symphony Orchestra. He
then performed it again in June with the Nottingham
Youth Intermediate Orchestra.
In April he was commended in the Dennis Brain Horn
competition at the Royal Academy, playing Mozart 4th
Horn Concerto in Eb.
Kathryn HARDMAN (89-94) has just returned from
India to start her new job at Charity Challenge Events,
where she is the new Operations Manager in charge of
South America, Nepal and the London to Paris bike
ride. She's also creating new packages for them, so very
exciting. www.charitychallengeevents.com – she is
currently in London trying to find a house.
Zoe HARDMAN (90-95) (Ed’s note: did any of you
eagle-eyed former pupils notice that Zoe was fronting
the Olympic coverage of the Beach Volleyball from
Horseguards’ Parade, as well as the Triathlon and the
Marathon Swim?). Zoe has certainly raised her public
profile in 2012, hosting “Take Me Out: The Gossip”,
and being referred to in the press as the new Mylene
Klass! Zoe competed as an 800m runner before knee
injuries forced her to quit, and was quoted as saying
that she has been in sport since the age of 5 or 6, and
that she was captain of her teams at school (MHS!).
Zoe also took time out of her Games preparation, for
which she was a presenter for the Beach Volleyball, to
teach young people from ‘Action for Kids’ the rules of
the volleyball court.
Hannah HARRIES (98-07) is going to Exeter this
September to read Geography. She still loves hockey
and tennis and has recently taken up golf. Last year she
ran the Eastbourne Half Marathon.
Matthew HENDERSON (00-06) left Tonbridge in
summer 2011 and spent the summer volunteering and
travelling in Uganda before starting at Newcastle
University. He has just begun his second year studying
and Economics.
Stephanie HOLWEGER (05-07) will be starting a law
degree at Bristol University in October.
Eleanor JEFFREY (01-04) has completed her first
year at Cambridge studying Modern and Medieval
Languages (French and Spanish). She rowed for her
college in the Lent and May Bumps. She spent a month
in Madrid teaching English to 3 Spanish children. As
she is a Freshers Rep, she will, no doubt, be organising
lots of fun and games for the Freshers!!!
Edward JEFFREY (01-06) is still at Judd and has just
completed Year 12, so only one year left for him. Ed is
considering his options for next year and is thinking of
taking a gap year before Uni. He still plays lots of
Rugby both for school and Cranbrook Rugby Club, and
has recently qualified as a Lifeguard. He is also
learning to drive.
Hayden JUDD (03-06) has had a gap year in Australia
(farming!) and is about to head off to Nottingham to
study Maths and Economics.
Jono KING (04-07) Dad Steve writes: Jono is alive
and well and doing great in New Zealand. Busy
preparing for CIE AS exams in English and Maths as
well as 4 other IGCSE's in Novenber. He has taken up
distance running and had a brilliant school distance
running tour to South Africa in the July holiday. He has
also taken up debating and has been a part of the school
team which won the Auckland schools debating trophy
for the last two years. My biggest concern as a parent
is that he now has his learner’s licence, which means he
drives me to school each day, which has encouraged the
appearance of grey hair on my head! I am still teaching
Maths at Westlake Boys, and Michelle is back in retail,
in the planning department of a Shoe retail company.
Tabitha MACHIN (99-07) has enjoyed her 5 years at
Benenden and is now studying Medieval and Ancient
History at Edinburgh. She has been working at Bodiam
Castle and spent 4 weeks Inter-railing round Europe
this summer, and she still keeps in touch with many of
her MHS friends. Heading for Edinburgh University.

India PARRY (97-05) has just received her A Level
results; one A and two Bs and she is now off to the
University of Creative Arts in Canterbury. She is not
going to miss Mum (so she thinks!!) but she will miss
her dog, Yogi, and may have to come home regularly to
see him.
Jessica PARRY (97-04) is about to start her final year
at St Andrews University; where she is reading
Classics. She has become fully involved with the
Netball Team and is currently an organiser for the
Annual Ball. During the holidays she has been
fortunate enough to land some work with a film
production company in London, where she worked last
summer, and is thoroughly enjoying giving a helping
hand in movie making!
Guy PHILLIPS (91-96) Currently living and
working in London and was married in Summer
2011.
Lucy REID (02-06) is about to begin her second year
at the University of East Anglia where she is reading
American Literature and Creative Writing.I n 2013 she
will spend a year at an American University. She is
greatly enjoying her course and keeps in touch with a
number of her MHS friends including Hannah
Connolly, Megan Niell and Serena Adams.
Georgie ROWE (93-98) has her first teaching post at
Hailebury (spelt wrong!) teaching French and Spanish.
Charlotte (Bellsie) ROWE (93-00) is studying at
Nantes University and going to Munich for a year
Tom ROWE (94-00) is also at Nantes University
studying translation
Amy SAUNDERS (93-03) was awarded a 1st at
University of the Arts in London and is now a freelance
make-up artist for Film, TV and Theatre. She has
worked on films this year such as The Offender and
Cockneys v Zombies and made up Russell Tovey for
his role in ‘In Love With...Oscar Wilde’ shown on Sky
Arts in February. She has set up a business in vintage
flower hair pieces called Dolly Dahlia and was a swing
wig dresser for ‘Crazy for You’ at the Novello Theatre.
Emily SAUNDERS (94-05) is in her second year at
Sheffield Hallam doing Physical Education and Youth
Sport. She returned for a spell at MHS to help out in the
Sports Department during the Summer Term.
Josh SAVILLE (02-07) has just left Tonbridge with
excellent A-level results in Maths, Chemistry, Biology
and History, and is trying to work out whether to study
History, Natural Sciences or Engineering at University.
He is taking a gap year, learning to drive, and will be
going travelling in the US, Canada and South East
Asia.
Theo SAVILLE (02-05) is about to start his second
year in Mechanical Engineering at Warwick with the
intention of becoming a product and design engineer.
He has several entrepreneurial endeavours underway,
and has undertaken Computer Aided Design work for
several clients, including Blue Peter. He loves Warwick
and is enjoying academic success and a new-found
hobby - cooking.
Angus SHARP (93-03) Angus graduated from Durham
with a high 2.1 in Philosophy. He is now working for
IEA (Institute of Economic Affairs) as an intern, while
searching for a permanent job in Asset Management.
Tamsin SHARP 94-04) Tamsin decided university
life wasn't for her and left Bristol Uni to pursue a career
in PR/Events. She has now secured a permanent job as
a trainee account exec with a PR company in Hong
Kong
Boo TOOZE (03-07) got 3 A’s at Cranbrook to read
Classical Archaeology & Anciest History at Lincoln
College, Oxford. Over the summer, she has been
working for Exsportise at Seaford College, Petworth.
This is mainly a sports summer camp and children
come from all over the world to do hockey, tennis, golf,
football, dance, etc. As part of her duties, she has been
taking & collecting children from Gatwick or Heathrow
- quite a responsibility for an 18 year old!
Lotty WOOLEY (02-06) now in 2nd year studying
Medicine at Nottingham University.
SECTION H (Leavers 08 & later)
Correspondent: REQUIRED!
YOUNG LEAVERS REUNION 2011
The Girls
Georgia BICKERTON (09-11) has just finished her
first year at Cranbrook, and loved it!
Joe BRILEY (04-11) is at Robertsbridge Community
College and at the end of Year 7, he achieved an award
for Exceptional Personal Achievement. He is about to
go to St Lucia with his Dad for 2 weeks.
Amy BUCKINGHAM (05-11) is at Claremont Senior
School and having a truly wonderful time. She won the

Art prize this year at prize giving, and was commended
in 4 other prizes.
Monty CHARLTON (10–11) Monty is at the new
Claremont Senior School with a few other MHS pupils.
Avidly swimming with the sports master at 7am before
school! Still playing golf and has taken up rowing.
Dominic CHESTER (99-09) has just achieved a good
line up of GSCE results and is about to enter the sixth
form at Tonbridge to study Maths, Further Maths,
Physics and Computer Science A levels. Technology is
very much his 'thing' and he is finishing the summer
with more work experience at a web development
company in London with whom he spent time in July.
Max CHESTER (01-11) has enjoyed a great first year
at Tonbridge throwing himself into all aspects of school
life, and is about to embark on his GCSE courses
including Music and Drama. He has added the double
bass to his instrumental skills in the past year but
composing remains his primary strength and passion -
his recent Olympic anthem won a school-wide
competition! (Ed’s note: we will certainly look forward
to hearing more of Max’s compositions in the future –
perhaps following in the footsteps of Tim Rice-Oxley of
Keane fame – another Tonbridge man?)
Alex EDWARDS (99-09) is still at Cranbrook School
awaiting his GCSE results.
Cara FULLER (04-11) has had a good first year at
Tonbridge Girls’ Grammar. She keeps in touch with
lots of friends at MHS and says a big hello to everyone.
Giles GILL (07-10) is still at Ardingly, still sports
crazy, and half way through his IGCSE's. He won a
Gold Award in the Biology Challenge set by the
Society of Biology, has a golf handicap of 10 and has
grown to a current height of 5ft 7in!! All is good in his
world!
Pippa HARRIES (99-09) is enjoying her Hockey,
Tennis and Netball. She is going into Lower Sixth in
September doing A levels at Eastbourne College.
Catherine HENDERSON (04-08) spent three years at
Mayfield and did very well in her GCSE's before
moving to Eastbourne for the sixth form. She is
thoroughly enjoying life there and she has been made
Netball Captain and has just entered the Upper Sixth.
Evie LEMON (05-08) attended Marlborough House
School from Nursery with Mrs Buswell to Year 1 with
Mrs Reid. Now living in Perth Australia. Evie is in
year 5 and still loving every minute.
James LUNSHOF (99-09) is staying at Tonbridge for
the sixth form taking Double Maths, Physics and
Chemistry for A level.
Sophie LUNSHOF (01-11) will start her second year
at Benenden in September.
James MEDDINGS (99-09) is loving The King’s
School, Canterbury, now in sixth form. His great
passion as ever, is cricket and he plays for Kent U17s.
Lewie PARRY (99-09) is still at Ardingly College and
had just found out that he had obtained 10 good GCSE
results. He will be going back to Sixth Form there and
has launched himself into being a responsible member
of Hilton House, of which he will be Head next year.
Going for his Duke of Edinburgh Gold will keep him
busy and his running and gym circuit training will keep
him fit (in the old fashioned sense of the word!!).
George REID (03-09) is at King's, Canterbury and is
awaiting his GCSE results. He has played football for
the first X1 and greatly enjoys King’s. He remains in
contact with a number of MHS friends including Jamie
Adams, Jack Benton and Toby Block.
Harry PENDERED (08-10) will be going into year 10
at Tonbridge in September. He is very happy, boarding
and enjoying lots of sports, in particular rugby.
Romy SAVILLE (02-09) is in the Lower 6th at St
Leonards Mayfield and a very successful horsewoman.
She was a member of the Eridge Pony Club team that
won the PC National Dressage Championship at
Cholmondley Castle in Cheshire. Romy had a great
start to the season with a win at Tweseldown British
Eventing followed by several other wins in Eventing,
Dressage and Show Jumping. Romy’s highlight was at
Hambledown where there were six famous
professionals competing against her including Zara
Phillips. Laura Collett won and Romy came second
(Mum, Kizzy’s comment “we were stunned and of
course thrilled!”). Also winning the Dressage National
Championships and coming third in the National
Eventing Championships for her Pony Club was
amazing. Romy was started off by the kindness of
other MHS parents who loaned her ponies and
encouraged her and she has very fond memories of
competing for the school.
Jake SPENCE (98-08) is now in the Upper Sixth at
Sevenoaks School. He was appointed School Captain
for the Michaelmas term 2012 and is living a full and
varied school life. Ollie SPENCE (99-09) is also at
Sevenoaks in the Lower Sixth. He is playing lots of
football and is enjoying school life.
Isobel SPENCE (01-11) is in Year 10 at Sevenoaks
and very happy. She plays a variety of sports and
recently went to Berlin with the Sevenoaks Gospel
Choir!
William SPENCE (03-11) is enjoying Wellesley
House where he is in his final year and hopes to join his

older brothers and sister at Sevenoaks. He is a keen
goalie and represented the school at cross country.
Connie TAYLOR-YOUNG (01-09) is now 14 and has
just finished her first year at the King’s School,
Canterbury - Luxmore House - loving every minute!
Brother Digby will join her at King’s in September.
Jack WALKER (01-09) is about to start his second
year at Cranbrook School, where he's settled in well
and is enjoying himself.
Jaydee WARD (01-11) very much enjoying her time at
Claremont School.
Ella WILLIAMSON (09-11) Ella has entered
wholeheartedly into the musical life of the school, at
Cranbrook, particularly singing in the Elizabeth
Consort Madrigal Choir (highlight singing with the
capella group "Out of the Blue", who were finalists in
Britain's Got Talent). She has gained her Grade 6 piano
and singing exams, both with distinction, and is
currently working for her Grade 7 violin. She has
recently joined the Kent Academy of Music, a Saturday
music school based in Rochester, and is auditioning for
the Kent County Youth Orchestra in September.
Felicity WOOLEY (03-09) was awarded an All-
Rounder Scholarship into the Sixth Form at Mayfield
School.
YOUNG LEAVERS REUNION 2011
The Boys (mostly!)
Kirsten WHITAKER (99-08) is now in Upper Sixth
at Sevenoaks School and busy preparing for the
International Baccalaureate. Having had work
experience in both medicine and law, she has decided
that law is not for her. She passed her driving test first
time in June. Over the summer, she enjoyed a holiday
in France although, like her school mates, was given a
lot of work to do over the holidays. She has played in
the school's senior teams in Hockey, Netball and
Rounders. She's an NCO in the CCF (Army) and has
also completed her Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award.
Still plays violin but gave up playing clarinet in the
Wind Band to concentrate on her studies.
SECTION S (Staff)
Correspondent: Des Phillips
des.phillips@marlboroughhouseschool.co.uk
Martine BLASER Have just been away in the sun to
Minorca. Playing a lot of tennis and keeping very busy.
Colin CRANG Not much to add to last year’s news. I
have moved to Romsey, Hants and still very busy -
having just finished my second novel.
Janet ELSE Went to New Zealand in March driving a
motor home this time. We went as part of a group and
had a very good time. We continue to caravan in this
country and frequently go up to Lincolnshire where our
daughter and her family now live. Still gardening, bird
watching and walking.
Gill JAMES It has been a good year, with holidays in
Barbados, Italy, Devon and the usual twelve or more
weeks in Menorca, spent with family and friends. At
home, my walking group, History society, choral
societies and visits to old folk (i.e. even older than me)
keep me busy. There are also, the many, special days
spent with our four grandchildren. We feel truly
blessed. I see Diana Waters regularly and would love to
catch up with the other Marlborough House friends.
Stephen and Sheila KENT Stephen has joined the
ranks of senior citizens after 21 years of being a Bursar,
having decided that in order to enjoy retirement it
would be best to retire sooner rather than later.
Stephen writes: “we have been trying to sell our house
in Hunstanton in order to move to the other side of
Norfolk to be nearer our daughter who still lives near
Langley School where I started out my first job as a
Bursar, but no joy as yet. No pressure though – we
will move as and when we sell whether it is this year,
next year, sometime or even never! I keep very busy
running a web-site for my old Prep School (which
actually closed in 1982 – St Peter’s, Seaford) and I still
run the web-site for Cranbrook Operatic and Dramatic
Society and also the Wealden Consort, albeit from a
distance.
In addition, I am doing a lot of work pulling together
my family history which is greatly helped with the
magic of the World Wide Web – I have found relations
in New Zealand and Australia and much family history
in Hong Kong. It is all great fun.
Sheila keeps very busy with her sewing and embroidery
and produces some lovely work which fills some of the
walls of our home. Other than that, retiring was the best
thing we could have done – to be highly
recommended!”
David LEES-JONES It is now five years since David
and Katharine retired and their 'new way of life’
continues to bring many and varied opportunities.
Adrian married Helen at the end of April (so no family
skiing this year!) and they, Nicola and Emma continue

to live and work in London. David and Katharine
enjoyed a fascinating and memorable cruise from
Singapore to Dubai in March, it is difficult to recall the
greatest highlight...and whilst a short cruise on the
Queen Mary last December was fun, it confirmed their
considerable preference for Regent, "a magnificent
line". At home, Katharine continues to enjoy her
physiotherapy and magistrate work, whilst David sings
in the Mayfield Church and Consort choirs and tries to
keep the house straight!
Philip LOCKYER It is just over 6 months since I left
MHS. My new role as Catering Manager for Holroyd
Howe at Frensham Heights has certainly kept me busy.
The school has international boarders and so is a 24/7
school. I'm very lucky to have the support from
another great kitchen who are kept very busy. We feed
just over 600 for lunch, served in just over an hour.
Although different from MHS there are many familiar
things that make me smile, I even answered the
telephone the other day with 'good afternoon
Marlborough House school kitchen'!! Just one more
thing: I asked Maria if she would marry me and she
kindly said YES.
Nicola LOGAN (NZ Gap 2001) I have recently
arrived back in England and am living down in
Southampton with my fiancée. I have been working on
a world cruising yacht as a Bosun for the past ten years.
I have had to finish up on the yacht as we are having
our first baby in August – a big surprise, though Matt
and I are very pleased. Matt is an officer on a yacht and
prior to this we were aboard the same yacht. I would
love to come and visit sometime – it would be fantastic
to see the school again and catch up on all the news!
(Ed’s note: make that visit Nicola, there are sure to be some
staff who remember your time at MHS!).
Jan NEWCOMB I continue to be joyfully and as
actively as possible involved with my six
grandchildren. Our apartment in Menton (Alpes
Maritimes) has seen less of us this year as Charles was
struggling to sell his house - now successfully achieved
and living in Hawkhurst. Bridge continues to be a
stimulating and demanding pastime, with links to two
French clubs being forged currently, certainly
adding significant pleasure for me. I very much enjoy
meeting John and Diana Waters and Linda Beasley
across the table too! It was a particular delight to be
invited by Andrew Davis to play a small part in his
superbly successful French day ‘La Petite France’ - a
poignant reminder of my own happy teaching days, the
warmth and dedication of the staff, the excellent
courtesy and enthusiasm of the children and the highest
standards overall reflected by Marlborough House
School. It was wonderful to be part of the buzz again!
Mike and Christine PARDOE have enjoyed visits
from friends, both MHS and others, which we always
appreciate and look forward to. In August 2011
Timothy and Pam and the boys went on a cruise in the
Mediterranean to mark their 10 th wedding anniversary
and stayed with us for ten days. Edward continues to
work at Eagle Rock in Wandsworth. In March he went
over to the States to stay with Timothy and family. Two
weeks after that Timothy and family came over to be
with us for a fortnight. In May we celebrated Mike’s
91 st birthday with a tea party at home with friends – this
included Sheila and Basil Payne, Rosemary Whittome
and Chris and Delice Elgood, all of whom we were
delighted to see. Soon after that we had a visit from
Robin and Gill Murray-Walker, which was a real
pleasure.
Sheila PAYNE Sheila and Basil loved the final sendoff
from MHS when Sheila formally left the Board of
Governors. Somebody had investigated the archives
and found out that Sheila had been a member of the
Board for 38 years, so special presents and a private
dinner were organised. The Pre-Prep excelled
themselves with a “Best Governor” Rosette awarded on
Sports Day and a beautiful bowl adorned with the
thumb prints of every child in the Pre-Prep. Sheila,
having wanted no fuss, now wishes that she could retire
all over again!
Ian ROSS Ian and Gill still have three grandsons (sons
of Paul Ross) at M.H.S. The oldest, Kit, is in his final
term, and they are all enjoying their time at the school.
William Ross continues to work as a journalist for the
BBC, and has been posted from Kenya to Nigeria.
Gill is busy looking after Ian while he attends daily
radiotherapy treatment at Brighton Hospital.
Ros SAUNDERS (1975 – present) Has moved to live
in Sovereign Harbour in Eastbourne with a lovely view
of the boats and water. She feels like she is
permanently on holiday and the daily drive to school is
not anyway as bad as she thought it would be. She has
been to see Patrick MUIRHEAD in the Seychelles
this year – which was great to catch up and drink lots of
Seybrew!!! And an overland truck trip to East Africa –
camping – is on the cards for August. (Since writing
this she has returned unscathed and in one piece having
had an amazing trip which was certainly an experience
if not exactly a leisurely holiday!!)
Henry SOMERSET Having been a Governor of MHS
for over 20 years, I took over as Chairman of
Governors in July 2012. I love my more regular visits
to the School, which is, in my completely unbiased
opinion, an absolutely magical place with a wonderful
family atmosphere. We are currently in the midst of
building a new hall and classrooms for the Pre-Prep,
and in recruiting a new Head to start in September
2013, when David and Emma Hopkins will be retiring
after 18 years of outstanding service to MHS. As far as
my own family is concerned, my elder daughter has just
left school, my younger daughter is in the Upper Sixth
at Sevenoaks and my son has just started at Tonbridge.
I and my wife Jane live near Tonbridge, and I work part

time for a small corporate advisory boutique business in
London.
Gail THOMSON Life seems to get busier and busier
and time to contact friends comes under more and more
pressure. I missed going to SA this year and decided to
go to Portugal on a golf school instead – big mistake!!!
It rained for the whole week. I have decided that to go
South is the only sure way for a good holiday. Golf is
going well but I think I have reached my ceiling in
terms of skill!!! I still love it and the exercise has to be
doing some good. Still working full time at Benenden
and enjoying it, although I am considering going part
time next year. Kif has a lovely partner who is also a
keen and talented horsewoman. He is still working at
Bedgebury and riding his point-to-pointers, finally
having a winner at Charing on Easter Saturday. Tim
also has a lovely partner who is a farmer's daughter and
they live in Goudhurst. He is still working as a
gamekeeper on Glassenbury Estate and loves his job.
Robert and Judith WADDINGTON There is little
of change - we continue to enjoy retirement;
grandchildren (four) grow apace and we are both
involved in life in Ledbury when we are not on our
twice yearly visit to France.
Sheila WARRACK (neé Snell) Assistant Matron
under Mary Lawrence and alongside Bar Howard -
1960/61. We are still living in South West France and
enjoying life immensely. We get wonderful summers -
longer and hotter than the UK! I enjoy hearing from
the MHS and would wish to continue to do so as long
as possible. I celebrated my 21st birthday during my
time there - I vividly remember Geoff Martin serving
very strong martinis as the drink of choice at the party
he kindly held in my honour!! It was lucky there were
a couple of plant pots handy, I always wondered
whether the plants appreciated being "watered" with
martini!!
Please continue the good work you do to keep us all
informed of the progress of Marlborough House.
Chemin de Gagnabet, 46700 Puy L'Eveque, France
Tel: 00 33 (0)565 245690
(all being well). News of what he will do next should
be in next year's Newsletter. John and I had an
amazing safari trip in Uganda last September while JJ
was in Kampala doing his fieldwork. It really was a
holiday of a lifetime! Uganda is a beautiful country
and the people are very welcoming.
Hugh WILLING Since Hugh left MHS as the Bursar
in September 2010 he has been very busy as a lecturer
on cruise ships, notably Discovery, Saga Ruby and
Quest For Adventure. He is travelling the world giving
talks on Colonial and Military History often taking his
wife Jane along as well! He is also Chairman of the
Royal Green Jackets Regimental Association which has
twelve Branches spread up and down the country. He
still makes time to go offshore sailing with his friends a
couple of times a year and salmon fishing in Scotland
in the summer. He was delighted to act as the gobetween
for the Friends of MHS in their two
magnificent projects of sending Easter and Christmas
Parcels to the Troops in Afghanistan where his sons
were serving at the time.
Rosemary WHITTOME “My eldest grand-daughter is
expecting a baby in October which will make me a
Great-Grandmother! My youngest has been diagnosed
with Epilepsy after two seizures. Drugs to control this
cause extreme fatigue so she’s struggling to maintain
her job in publishing. The other four are well, in work
and happy.
I was in demand for Carol Services at several Nursing
Homes and expect to be again this year. My newest
venture is Wadhurst Manor. I have a large repertoire of
classical, 30’s, 40’s, folk songs and my own
compositions well practised! It is very good for me!
Henry, the Spaniel, and I are both fairly well, if older!”
Diana WATERS We have just celebrated our 40th
wedding anniversary - quite an achievement, and we're
still wondering where all those years have gone! We
had a big family party in Wadhurst at Stephen and
Katie's in their beautiful garden. Despite the dreadful
weather during this summer we were blessed with a
warm, sunny afternoon and all the grandchildren and
cousins could race round the garden, while we sipped
our Pimms and champagne! Sadly, poor little Sophia
(granddaughter no 6) had broken her leg the week
before. Sophia has just completed a very happy year
with Gill Buswell in Nursery. Maddie is finishing her
year with Mrs Kuchta in Year 1 - at Marlborough
House of course! They are both blissfully happy there.
JJ will be completing his PhD in Norwich in December

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OBITUARIES
John ACKROYD (aged 81) John spent much of his childhood in London and during the Second World War the family
evacuated twice from the capital. Whilst he was at MHS, the school was evacuated to Devon where John delighted in
being in the country. In 1944, John won a Booth Line bursary to Pangbourne Nautical College and then joined Royal Mail
Lines, making many voyages to South America, especially to Argentina where he found Buenos Aires, the very first
foreign soil he stepped on, the most exciting place.
John worked for many years in engineering , however, at the age of 50, he decided to start his own business s. In1988
Burleigh Marine International, the company which he had started, which made a special fendering system for the nuclear
submarines operating off the Falklands, won the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement. John was much loved, and will
be greatly missed, especially by his wife, children and grandchildren.
Gordon GROSE (MHS 1934-1939) Gordon’s wife Joan wrote: “Gordon really loved Marlborough House School and
had wonderful memories of his time there. He was an incredible man, a fantastic father to our five children and loving
grandpa to 10 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. We were married for 62 years but, very sadly he passed away on
March 18th suffering from dementia.”
Guy Everingham HITCHINGS 1927-2011 Guy attended Marlborough House from 1935 to 1940. At the time of writing
his scholarship the school had been evacuated to Devon but despite this disruption, he won an Open Scholarship to
Wellington College where he joined his elder brother Robin. Guy's father was the school doctor for many years.
Born in Hawkhurst, Guy was widely travelled, throughout Africa with Peek Frean the biscuit people, and then many
countries when he was in the book publishing world. He settled in Speldhurst, Kent where he was the village Archivist and
wrote an excellent guide to Speldhurst Church. He is survived by his wife, Rosemary, and four children.
**************
Donations, to assist with the Society's costs, are always appreciated. Cheques should be made out to "Marlborough House
Society" and addressed to our Secretary Rosalind Saunders, c/o the School.
**************
STOP PRESS
David IKEL (84-93) is still very firmly single but very happy working at The Gun and Spitroast in Horsmonden, where he
also lives. It is hard to describe his job but he seems to be a "General Factotum", working both in the restaurant and the
bar, but he thoroughly enjoys his job and works long hours it seems. His free time is spent quite often in London, and the
rare weekends off are often spent doing whatever takes his fancy, so long as it does not involve sport - so no change there!!
Victoria IKEL (89-92) is a nanny and has been working very happily for the same family for some eight years now. She
and her partner Marcus bought a house together in Maidstone 4 years ago which they have done up very nicely. She and
Marcus got engaged at Christmas 2008 and were married in September 2010 having the most wonderful day at Chilston
Manor near Maidstone.