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LETTERSVETSLUNCH2011and news6As our President has already stated, the Veterans Lunch was extremely wellattended with over 88 OAs and 69 other guests in the Under. Before thelunch, the audience were both entertained and informed by Headmaster &Bursar alike. Over a delightful lunch, table after table enjoyed noisy story swapping,reminiscing, recalling and remembering lost friends and rekindling old friendships –all of which was interrupted by regular bursts of laughter echoing round the Under!If the portraits of the Headmasters looking down on the proceedings could talk,what would they have made of the exploits of their former charges!Thank you to the Headmaster, Bursar, Jane D, staff and Catering Dept for theopportunity for so many to enjoy each others company - roll on next year.By way of a Post Script, the following information was provided by theHeadmaster, Peter Green. I am sure that OAs from all generations will find theresults both encouraging and of interest:‘To put you in the picture from an academic point of view, Ardingly accepted 97new Year 9 Shell pupils into the Senior School this year; they averaged over 66% atCommon Entrance (that is above Eton’s pass mark). We had a record IB score of 36points, which is the equivalent of 3 A* grades and an A at A Level so, in otherwords, half of the Ardingly Upper Sixth gained the equivalent of 3 A* grades and anA grade. A third of students gained over 40 points out of 45, and 45% gained 38 orabove, which is Oxford and Cambridge’s entry. These IB results are higher thanMarlborough College, Wellington College, Okeham, Malvern and even PortsmouthGrammar School, to name but a few.Of course, we continue to do A Levels very well indeed: 50% study A Levels inthe Sixth Form, and over 40% of all grades were A* or A, with just over 70% A*-B,and a good number of these boys and girls have gone off to very fine universities. Ifyou combine our IB and A Level grades and use the UCAS tariff, which is a fairerrepresentation, Ardingly’s A*-B grade is in the region of 90%. We do both A Levelsand IB very well indeed; but, as ever, ‘damned lies and statistics’ come to mind. Overthe last four years, we have had 400 leavers from our Upper Sixth, and just over 115of them have gained Oxford and Cambridge interviews and, in the last two years,the Ardingly Leavers destinations have included the likes of Oxford and Cambridge,Edinburgh, Warwick, Imperial and a number of brilliant and fine universities inGermany, Switzerland, France, Australia and some of the Ivy League and equivalentsin the United States.’Old Ardinian Sporting LegendsBrian Mitchell (JH&B 45-54) has written:Dear Editor. Older members might be interested in hearingabout a reunion which took place on Halloween night thisyear in Pimlico when 8 OAs, who had all played cricket andfootball for the OAs in the 50/60s, met up with Dr. PaulKirk (G 49-56) who left these shores some 35 years ago tobecome an eminent gynaecologist at the Oregon Health andScience Universities in Portland, USA.OAs present were R.G.Baiden (D 42-50), A.V.E.Gould(F 54-61), A.C. Hewett (A 45-52), R.I.C.Hewett (D 45-50),J.S.Honeyfield (G 54-59), M.H.Payne (B 51-54),J.M.Pennington (G 57-62) plus yours truly.Paul Kirk was widely regarded as one of the best OAwicketkeepers and goalkeepers of his age. In 1960 he madea record number of dismissals in a season by an OAwicketkeeper as well as being named in the CentenaryHistory of the Arthur Dunn Cup as one of the best OAfootballers of that time. Two younger brothers M.S.Kirk(G 51-60) and G.H.Kirk (G 53-62) followed him to Ardinglyand went on to play for the OAs with distinction.He has now retired and lives in Portland with his wifeMonica and follows more leisurely pursuits such as bridge.Those OAs present included a former OA President, anOxford boxing 'blue', and someone who was unfortunate tobe dropped on the eve of the varsity match at Lords. All therest had been stalwarts of the cricket and football sides,which positively flourished at that time. On a lighter noteone of our dotages had been a former part owner of Millwall- clearly an Ardingly education stood him in good stead!Unlike the rest of us Paul’s stamina was as strong as ever.The next day he had lunch with C.R.Godwin (B 47-52)President of the newly launched 1858 Society, who was aprolific run getter and goal scorer in his time, and alsonamed in the Arthur Dunn Centenary Book.Peter Parker (B 38-45)at the Veterans Lunch,looking resplendent in hisfather’s Ardingly blazermade by Merlin & Co ofGreek Street, LeicesterSquare, London. It isbequeathed to the schoolarchives.Ed’s Comment - letshope that it has many,many more outings first!
We are indebted to Mr M Moody, of Petersfield (not an OA) for this fascinatingitem of memorabilia from so long ago. Mr Moody’s mother died at the end of2010 and he found amongst her photos some old School Lists for St Saviour'sArdingly dated 1913 and 1917. Her uncle, Fred Ford, was a boy at the schoolduring those years. We think that the picture dates from 1914!This wonderful picture of the CCF Band from 1950 was sent to us byMr Tyler (not an OA) who is nearly 90 and found it in his attic with afew other images of the College. He is donating them to the archives.Ed’s Comment - Last issue I asked for apicture of an OA wearing as much OAclothing as possible next to a car sporting acar badge. Well... we came close! Blazer,tie and car were in close proximity - theUnder & Quad - unfortunately, heavy rainprevented a combined shot!. Do any OAshave the other car badge design?I am still hunting for an OA with a cricketcap, if you have one please get in touch.A Tribute to Stephen Oliver (G 63-67)I was first introduced to the name Stephen Oliver in 84whilst in the lower sixth. My tutor of keyboard harmony,Victor Bradley, mentioned one lesson that a formerstudent, Stephen Oliver had just written a musical withTim Rice - an old boy of Lancing College. I have to admitto having been somewhat impressed by this; ‘Sir’ Tim wasat the height of his fame having written ‘Evita’ withAndrew L-W a few years previously. I duly went out andbought the double cassette tape of ‘Blondel’. It has, tothis day, remained my favourite piece of music theatre.This work, as I have discovered since, was just the tip ofa huge iceberg and not even typical of Stephen’scomposing idiom. Stephen was by this stage already anestablished composer of music for BBC radio andtelevision and for the Royal Shakespeare Company.Added to this, Stephen’s output whilst at Ardingly was, tosay the least, prolific. He would write, apparently at thedrop of a hat, an opera for the House Music Competition.I regret not having had the opportunity to meetStephen. However, I recall the occasion when he came toArdingly in 85 to judge the House Song competition. Heawarded the prize to Warren – my own house – and, bychance, his. There was uproar from the school (or at leastfrom those not affiliated with Warren who thought theresult to be rigged). I have to say that, all those years ago,this act of justice only went to strengthen my assertionthat here was a truly great man and musician – or at leasta very loyal ex-Warrenite!I recently had the pleasure of reading Jim Oliver’s bookabout his brother, published last year to celebrate whatwould have been Stephen’s 60th year, Friendships inConstant Repair. It is a moving tribute to one whoachieved great things and would surely have become oneof the most highly regarded composers of his generationhad his life not been so cruelly cut short.Jim has done a wonderful job in this book in collatingstories of Stephen and presenting them with anilluminating biography. Of particular interest to OAs isthe recalling of Stephen’s years at Ardingly College andindeed how this school benefitted such an extraordinaryman.I would whole-heartedly recommend this book. Onecannot help but be inspired by Stephen Oliver’s life anddeeply moved by the tributes of those who knew himwell.Martin Palmer (G 83-85)Wedding Bells at Ardingly...Ben Waite (E 91-96) marriedDebbie Hole on 4th June this yearand the ceremony and receptionwere held at the College.If any other OAs would like toarrange for their wedding to behosted by the College, or if theywould like to hire any of theCollege’s now extensive facilities,they should contact:Graham.Dawtrey@ardingly.comOAs Special Tie Up!Ed’s Comment - Whist at theVeterans Lunch, I spotted an OAtie that I had never seen before.I was reliably informed by itsowner, Adrian Arnold (A 39-44)that it is a Cambridge OA tie.So, now I need to knowif an Oxford OA tie has beencreated? Has anyone got one?Do any other variations (otherthan the Town & Country) exist?Perspectives on the life and work ofthe composer, Stephen OliverThis book celebrates the extraordinary 42 years ofStephen Oliver’s life which ended in 1992. Itincludes wonderful reminiscences and quotes frommany eminent people in the Arts world. There aretranscripts of two interviews with Stephen, examplesof his own brilliant writing, photographs plus a CD of him talking and singing.Stephen Oliver’s enormous talent in music and literature, generosity to others,keen wit and wonderful sense of humour, make this a must-read book for anyoneinterested in music, theatre and the arts—or anyone interested in simplyexploring the concept of friendship or an approach to dealing with a terminalillness in the prime of life.Available through booksellers or you can order this hardback bookonline at www.stephenoliver.org at a discounted price of £15 (r.r.p. £20)plus £3 p&p per book.7
Page 1 and 2: OLDARDINIANBeati Mundo CordeNUMBER
Page 3 and 4: End of the runway for The Hangar!On
Page 5: Shades of Jackanory...Carnegie Meda
Page 10 and 11: OAs...SPORTAlex Watson 86-90Jayne S
Page 12 and 13: whereare they now?Simon Browning (J
Page 14 and 15: friends wehave lostFlying Officer J
Page 16: Diary & CONTACTSCheck http://bit.ly

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