Versa: Issue Nine

VERSA
OA NEWS
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
TAKING CLARKSON FOR A SPIN
A DECADE OF SHOOTING CAPTAINS
OLD ALBANIAN MEMOIRS
MAKING
HISTORY
Lizzie Bird (OA 2013)
breaks UK record at
Tokyo Olympics 2021
AUTUMN 2021

Inside
this issue
Editorial Team
Chris Harbour
Alumni Relations & Development Manager
Sarah Osborne
Alumni Relations & Development Assistant
Contacts & Dates 2
OA President’s Notes 3
OA News 4
Taking Clarkson for a Spin 7
Ask the Archivist 8
OA Events 10
Featured OA: Lizzie Bird 12
A Decade of Shooting Captains 14
OA Connect gets a Revamp 15
Announcements16
Old Albanian Memoirs 18
OA Lodge 19
OA Sports 20
OA Merchandise 23
@oldalbanianassociation
@oaassociation
www.oaconnect.co.uk
@oaassociation
Old Albanian
Networking:
St Albans School
St Albans School Foundation | CHARITY NO. 1092932

2 3
Contacts & Dates
OA ASSOCIATION
President
Mike Hodge
07774 161624
mike@mikehodge.co.uk
Secretary
David Buxton
01727 840499
07775 938368
davidbuxton36@gmail.com
Treasurer
David Hughes
07701 027881
hughespostuk@gmail.com
Membership Secretary
Roger Cook
01727 836877
rogercook@btinternet.com
Hon. Auditor
Peter Dew
01582 453773
peter.a.dew@btinternet.com
OA RUGBY
www.oarugby.com
President
Richard Milnes
07940 255355
richard.milnes@oarugby.com
Chairman
Rory Davis
07748 146521
rory.davis@oarugby.com
Hon. Treasurer
Rick Powdrell
07795 200125
rick.powdrell@oarugby.com
Hon. Secretary
Peter Lipscomb
07856 240229
peter.lipscomb@oarugby.com
Joint Mini Chairmen
James Hathaway
07793 609279
james.hathaway@oarugby.com
Scott Bachmann
07931 338080
scott.bachmann@oarugby.com
Junior Chairman
Ian Tomlins
07867 971585
ian.tomlins@oarugby.com
OA Saints Chairperson
Steph Plunkett
steph.plunkett@oarugby.com
OA FOOTBALL
President
Nick Jackson
oldalbaniansfc@gmail.com
OA CRICKET
Chairman
David Goodier
07796 551657
davidgoodier@hotmail.com
President
Richard Morgan
01727 843844
richard.morgan50@btinternet.com
Director of Cricket
Simon Bates
07720 383600
simon.bates@s2mprofits.co.uk
Treasurer
Richard Ransley
07878 499432
richransley@gmail.com
Secretary
Alison Finley
01727 853985
ajfinley@ntlworld.com
OA TENNIS
www.oatennis.com
Chairman
Geoff Lamb
07546 078970
Head Coach
Margie Edge
07946 225557
Hon. Secretary
Justin Azzopardo
07973 369350
justazzo@hotmail.com
OA RIFLE
www.oashooting.com
President
Owen Simmons
01438 840674
olsandpjs@aol.com
Captain
Andrew Wilkie
01202 424190
Andrew.wilkie@ymail.com
Treasurer
Andrew Moore
01984 641539
caroline985moore@btinternet.com
OA GOLF
Captain
Peter Dredge
01582 834572
pjdredge42@aol.com
Hon. Secretary
Mike Crowston
01241 672222
michaelcrowston02@gmail.com
OA LODGE
Assistant Secretary
John Williams
01438 715679
johntwilliams@talktalk.net
SCHOOL
www.st-albans.herts.sch.uk
Development Director
Kate Gray
01727 515177
kgray@st-albans.herts.sch.uk
Alumni Relations &
Development Manager
Chris Harbour
01727 515184
charbour@st-albans.herts.sch.uk
Alumni Relations &
Development Assistant
Sarah Osborne
01727 224540
slosborne@st-albans.herts.sch.uk
Archivist
Sue Gregory
01727 515178
sgregory@st-albans.herts.sch.uk
CAROL
SERVICE
OAs are warmly invited to the School's Carol Service on
Wednesday 15th December at 7.30pm in St Albans Abbey. The
event is subject to change depending on Covid-19 Government
guidance and we will communicate any such changes nearer the time via
our usual channels. For similar reasons, unfortunately there will be no
refreshments served in the Refectory after the Service.
Tickets are strictly first come, first served. If you would like to attend,
please log in to OA Connect (www.oaconnect.co.uk) or contact the
Development Office by telephone on 01727 515187 or email at
oaevents@st-albans.herts.sch.uk.
OAA AGM
On Thursday 13th January 2022, the 129th Annual General
Meeting of the Old Albanian Association will be held at
8pm. All members are welcome to attend the meeting in
the 948 Room at the OA Pavilion, Woollams.
OA PRESIDENT’S NOTES
At long last, or so it seems, life is returning to some sort
of normality for this OA President. We can now meet
at Woollams without the threat of a Zoom session.
Long may it last and I hope that when you read my notes in
Versa that the Covid situation is no worse.
I was away (again) in Salcombe at the end of June when Anna
Philpott (OA 1993) stood in for me (again!) at Graduation
for the Class of 2021 leavers. Anna congratulated the students
on surviving a turbulent two years of schooling in quite
extraordinary circumstances. Anna encouraged the leavers
to nurture their friendships made at School because those
connections are some of the best we make. They last forever.
The OA Association is designed to be inclusive and there
are a huge range of activities to be enjoyed. The School has
very recently announced the new and improved OA Connect
website which can be found at www.oaconnect.co.uk
(further details on page 15). It is a great way of staying in
contact. My very grateful thanks to Anna for preaching the
word of the OA “gospel” – we are a family and the family
grows bigger by the day.
A positive example of staying in touch occurred in mid-
July where ten of my 1965 year congregated for our annual
session at The Digby Tap in Sherborne. You can see from the
photograph that we hardly seemed to have aged at all – apart
from the grey/white hair! There has been a sub committee
set up within our group known as the OAFS. That, of course,
stands for the Old Albanian Footpath Society in case you
thought it stood for anything else. The OAFS has covered a lot
of the Southwest coastal path and the Welsh coastline.
CLASS OF 1965. BACK ROW FROM LEFT: DEREK COLES, ANDY WILKIE,
BARRY MACKENZIE, ALUN LEWIS, RIC MOORE, SID OWEN AND BILL
NEALE. FRONT: DAVE MERRIOTT, MIKE HODGE AND PETE SMITH
The OA President’s Summer Party took place in mid-August
at Woollams and it was clearly evident that everyone who
was there was out to have a good time, and so we did. We
had a toast to absent friends because we have lost – as
you will know – some stalwart supporters from the OAs.
Mike Hodge (OA 1965), OA President
The President’s
Cup was this year
awarded to the OA
Operations Board
which effectively is
the foundation that
holds the whole OA
Woollams facility
together. We have
survived, financially,
extraordinarily well
and this is due, not
least, to those on the
Operations Board. I
cannot thank them
enough for what
they have done – and
continue to do.
ANNA PHILPOTT (OA 1993) SPEAKING AT
GRADUATION 2021
I attended the School’s Annual Prizegiving ceremony in the
Abbey on Monday 20th September and was so impressed
with the range of awards. No names mentioned but one Fifth
Former won SIX prizes! Special mention, though, must be
made of Lucy Edmond and Tom Platts (OAs 2021) who,
respectively, won the OA President’s Prizes for being the best
Sportswoman and Sportsman of the leaving Upper Sixth. On
a similar theme, I am delighted to see current pupils Zac and
Arvin have each been awarded this year’s £1,000 annual Sports
Grant to help them, respectively, with their athletics and
swimming aspirations.
The Headmaster, most generously, hosted the OA Dinner
in the School Refectory in September. There were about
70 of us there with quite a lot of recent leavers. I am now
on the table nearest the exit due to my advancing years!
The food was outstanding and I was very happy to give
the Headmaster three peppercorns as our rent for the OA
Pavilion. That included some interest as there was no OA
Dinner in 2020.
On a sadder note, we have lost our dear friend Roy Bacon (OA
1946) at the grand old age of 93. Roy has truly been a major
part of the OAA for many, many years. You can read Roy’s
obituary on page 17. He was a simply delightful individual and
was one of the great stalwarts of the OA “family”. I seem to
have known him forever and our thoughts go out to Merle, his
lovely wife and the family.
I really do hope and pray that the UK is making some real
progress towards getting this virus under control. It is vitally
important that we all play our part in this. I wish you all a
peaceful and safe Christmas coupled with a successful 2022.

4 5
OA News
NEW KIDS
on the block
The Hub on Verulam is a new and exciting
concept opening on the site of the old Loch Fyne
building in St Albans. Founded by Alex Addison
(OA 2005) and partner Hannah Petrouis, the new and
stylish space will house a members’ club, screening
rooms, ‘working from home’ areas, an open kitchen and
outdoor seating and lounge areas.
Alex said, “the screening rooms, named The Terrace
and The Box, are being fitted to a very high standard by
AV experts. The Terrace will show live sport, comedy,
‘Mummy & Me’ daytime screenings and independent
cinema. The Box will show popular films, large sporting
events and will be available for private hire to members.
“The Open Kitchen will serve an all-day menu, with
an emphasis on wild and natural ingredients while the
bar and lounge areas will serve local beers, wines and
cocktails.”
The adjoining Deli on Verulam (pictured), will serve
‘grab & go’ breakfast and lunch options, artisan food
produce and bespoke, luxury gift hampers.
Best of luck to Alex and Hannah on the launch of The
Deli and The Hub on Verulam, which are due to open in
November 2021 and January 2022 respectively.
CAVIAR AND
SAUSAGES
Congratulations to Tony Kokkinos
(OA 1990), whose book, Caviar
and Sausages: Arsenal in the Time
of Wenger, was published by Angel Ink in
April 2021.
Caviar and Sausages is an in-depth analysis of Wenger’s
22 years at Arsenal using original infographics and pitch
maps. Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith enthused,
“This is a beautifully-produced book forensically
recounting the Wenger years using a nice mix of graphics
and anecdotes. One for any Arsenal fan.”
Tony grew up in Islington and went to his first Arsenal
game in 1977 and first FA Cup Final - the ‘five-minute final
against Man Utd - in 1979. He has been an Editor for 20
years in London, Sydney and Hong Kong and his favourite
Arsenal players are David Rocastle and Patrick Vieira.
The book can be purchased via Amazon and other stores
such as Waterstones.
A PRIESTLY ROLE
REVEREND CANON ANDREW
DOW (OA 1964)
Sunday 19th September
2021 was the 50th
anniversary of Reverend
Canon Andrew Dow’s
(OA 1964) ordination to
the Church of England
priesthood. Together with
his wife and two grown up
daughters, Andrew attended
the 11.15am service that
Sunday in St Albans Abbey.
Andrew said, “the Abbey was familiar to me long before 1971.
As a pupil of St Albans School, I attended the twice weekly
obligatory act of worship. As Head Boy in my final year, it fell
to me to lead the School in the saying of the Lord’s Prayer.
After a week or two, a member of staff is alleged to have
remarked to a colleague, “Nice to have the prayer recited by
someone who obviously believes it.” (!) Yes, by my late teens I
was a committed Christian.
“Fifty years on, I have no regrets at the path I chose (or better,
to which I was called). My priestly role of representing Jesus
Christ to the world, and the world to Christ, has proved an
enormous, if hugely demanding, lifelong privilege - at one
and the same time, humbling, enriching and transforming.”
LEARN TO COOK WITH
the world’s best chefs
In May 2020 during the height of the pandemic, Jonny
Inglis (OA 2012) and his business partner Seb Evans,
launched Banquist, a cooking education platform
which teaches people how to cook.
On this website, customers can purchase a cooking course
from a variety of options including pasta making, Indian
Fusion or even a baking course for children. The length of
the courses vary, but chefs who teach the classes are worldclass
and typically hold a Michelin Star. Customers are
sent a hamper of ingredients (for a three-course meal) and
learn how to cook their chosen meals via a step-by-step
video. Banquist aims to keep their course choices fresh and
release a new line up of chefs each month so there is always
something new to choose from.
Banquist generated £1m turnover in their first six months
and have since raised over £1.6m and generated many
positive reviews on Trustpilot. Congratulations to Jonny
on his hard work and success.
There isn’t too much time left before Christmas so if you’re
running late on present shopping, then these courses
make the perfect gift for a foodie OA!
DEAR EVAN HANSEN
returns to the West End
After a tumultuous couple of years and multiple lockdowns, it is safe to
say we have all missed trips to the theatre and cinema. On Tuesday
26th October, Dear Evan Hansen returned to the West End at Noël
Coward Theatre including cast member Mitchell Zhangazha (OA 2013),
pictured left. The musical first opened in November 2019, winning three
Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical, but unfortunately the curtains
had to close shortly after, due to the pandemic. Mitchell is understudying
the roles of Evan Hansen and Jared Kleinman. Evan is a young boy who
is desperately trying to fit in but struggles due to battles with anxiety and
depression which leads him down a dark path. Jared has similar issues but
masks them by trying to be the joker and loudest person in the room, carrying
a certain bravado but feeling just as insecure inside.
Mitchell comments: “It’s great to be back in the theatre. I was lucky enough to do
some film work in lockdown but performing in front of a live audience is a thrill
that can’t be matched. The production has such a big following around the world
and a powerful story, and I’m excited to be getting back out there, performing,
and telling the story.”

6 7
OA News
POPPED, NOT STIRRED
The long-awaited Bond movie No Time to Die,
finally made it to cinemas in October 2021. Joe
& Seph’s (co-founded by Adam Sopher (OA
2003), Paul Sopher (OA 2007) and their family),
were proud to collaborate with the iconic
film franchise and launched 007 Dry Martini
Popcorn, a brand new popcorn flavour inspired
by James Bond’s iconic cocktail of choice, the
dry martini. When it came to flavour, there was
no doubt that they would be able to encapsulate
Bond’s favourite drink in popcorn form.
To create the new flavour, they coated their
cult-favourite air-popped popcorn in smooth,
handmade caramel, added 5% gin and vodka
and a final twist of lemon. The perfect treat for
James Bond fans watching the world’s most
iconic secret agent return to the big screen!
Co-founder Adam Sopher says of the
partnership, “It’s a dream collaboration for us
– since starting the business 11 years ago I’ve
always wanted to work with the James Bond
brand and launching this exciting new product
has been an amazing treat for our whole team
who have worked so hard to deliver it.”
Congratulations on securing this impressive
deal and we hope that the popcorn is going
down a treat!
PRESENTING THE KEW HERBARIUM
TAKING CLARKSON
for a Spin
Hit Amazon show Clarkson’s Farm recently featured an OA cameo appearance in the form of Georgia
Craig (OA 2009). Georgia, Policy Advisor at the NFU (National Farmers’ Union), took on the role of teaching
Jeremy Clarkson how to drive his tractor. We spoke to Georgia to find out about her experience on the farm…
I then went on to do a degree and a masters in crop
production and in finance which I enjoyed but there’s
nothing like being behind the wheel of 300+hp Massey
Ferguson!
I was asked to help Jeremy on Clarkson’s Farm. I had
to tell him his tractor was too big in relation to the
agricultural implements he had already bought (it was a
lovely tractor though)!
On Tuesday 28th September, Tim Utteridge (OA 1988), Tropical Botanist and
Head of the Asia Team at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, was one of the Kew staff
privileged to present his work to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and the
President of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba. His Royal Highness was joined by a small
group of CEOs to address the critical challenges facing nature and humanity from
the biodiversity and climate crises.
Tim presented various specimens from the Kew Herbarium, a global collection of
over seven million plant specimens built up since the early Nineteenth Century. Tim
stressed the importance of Kew’s work in understanding plant diversity, especially
the changes in plant distributions due to climate change and biodiversity loss, such as
converting forest for oil palm plantations.
SIMON MCNAMARA
receives an honorary degree
Congratulations Tim, on being recognised for your hard work in this specific area.
We would like to congratulate Simon McNamara (OA 1978), who accepted
his Honorary Doctor of Science from the University of Hertfordshire this
September. Coincidentally, Simon found himself accepting this award at St
Albans Abbey, mere metres away from his childhood School. During his speech, Simon
remembered his time at the School and wondered to himself what Mr Kilvington
would have thought of this honorary degree. You can watch Simon’s full speech by
searching for him on YouTube.
Simon has spent much of his life working overseas in various banking, computer science
and statistics roles. He currently works at NatWest and has been delivering the bank’s
technology strategy since 2013. Simon has also recently featured in our Inspiring Old
Albanians social media campaign so please do check out our website to read more about
his career path. Huge congratulations once again to Simon and very well deserved!
GEORGIA CRAIG (OA 2009)
I
currently work as a Policy Advisor for the National
Farmers’ Union but before this I left the commercial
world to go back to being a tractor driver for a few years,
as machines are my real passion!
I got into farming when I was very young, through a
fascination with diesel engines and any chunk of metal that
roars when the throttle goes down. Aka tractors!
I would watch the tractors work in the fields near my house
as a little girl and, as silly as it may sound, I was in complete
awe. After a while I started to sit in them, then drive them
and before long I was working full time as a driver. I owe all
of that to one farmer who gave me the chance.
I showed Jeremy how to put some machinery onto
the back of his tractor and as he was new to farming,
it was far safer to be (very) over cautious at first in
demonstrating how to do it. I wanted to highlight to
him how one should do it safely or the ‘textbook’ way,
especially because of the horrendous consequences that
can happen. Naturally, over time you work out your own
practical way of doing things but when you work for the
NFU, one of our responsibilities is to try and increase the
general awareness of on-farm safety.
“I think tractors are like
characters - you’ve got to get
to know them first and all
their mechanical quirks!”
Jeremy’s tractor driving skills were…interesting. But,
of course, they were going to be! We all have to start
from somewhere and I think tractors are like characters
- you’ve got to get to know them first and all their
mechanical quirks!
In my first year of work, I reversed into a few gates, snapped
a couple of shear bolts and ploughed my boss’ iPhone into
the soil...which was never to be seen again!
Since appearing on the show, I have actually been
recognised, most bizarrely whilst on an operating table!
Catch Georgia’s appearance on Clarkson’s Farm on Amazon
Prime.

8
9
ASK THE ARCHIVIST
THE OLD HAT FACTORY
There were several straw factories in Fishpool Street, providing
jobs for many people. The Directory of 1839 says, “the
manufacture of straw plait employs upwards of 800 people in St
Albans and neighbourhood.” When the first train arrived at the
City station in 1868, it was decorated with straw plait.
This issue’s Ask the Archivist article has been provided by local resident and writer
Stuart Macer. Stuart has delved into the history of the straw hat industry in St Albans and
uncovered the story behind the School’s old Hat Factory…
By the end of the 17th Century, straw hat making
had become well established in Hertfordshire and
neighbouring Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire. In
the 18th Century the hats produced in these counties were
of poor quality and superior products were imported from
Italy. The Napoleonic Wars of 1803-15 cut off these imports
and at the same time the quality of home-produced straw
hats improved.
The straw-plaiting and hat making industries were
concentrated on the chalky soils in the west of Hertfordshire
and on the northern chalk ridge. These soils produced straight
but pliable straw which was especially suited for plaiting. At
its height in the mid to late 19th Century, plaiting employed
nearly 13,000 people in the county of Hertfordshire, 94 per
cent of which were female.
From around 1800 onwards, straw preparation became more
refined and was undertaken by dealers who bought the straw
from farmers and sold bundles of prepared lengths to plaiters.
Initially, both plaiting and hat making were cottage industries,
but later Hitchin, Tring, Berkhamsted, Hemel Hempstead and
St Albans held plait markets and became the main centres of
hat production in Hertfordshire. By the early 19th Century,
wages as high as five shillings a day were being paid to plaiters
and hat makers in the St Albans area. At this time, the average
wage for farm labourers was ten to twelve shillings a week.
“The School’s Hat Factory
traded under the name of
Messrs Dunham and Martin”
The plaiters either sold direct to dealers who went from door
to door or took their plait to the local markets. Fishpool Street
was ideally placed for this trade. Plait Schools took children
as young as three or four to learn the trade. The youngest
children were employed to clip the straw ends of the plait.
These straw ends were called ‘speelers’. Quite a dangerous task
for a three year old!
“Dunham and Martin made
hats for Eton, Harrow and
Rugby Schools”
Research shows that many people who managed pubs in the
area, were equally involved in the manufacturing of straw
hats. William Marsh, who ran The Blockers Arms on Fishpool
Street in 1871, was recorded as a hat blocker in the Census of
that year. Later, the Javeleau Family ran the pub and two of
the daughters of the publican, William Javeleau, were listed
as Straw Hat Maker and Plait Miller respectively in the 1911
Census. Further up the street John E Darby, the son of the
Licensed Victualler of The Queen Pub at 41/43 Fishpool Street
was also listed as a Straw Hat Blocker and John’s sister Louisa,
a Straw Hat Finisher in the 1901 Census.
The 1851 Census lists three hat manufacturers in Fishpool
Street: Joseph Morris originally from Nottinghamshire, Ruth
Johnson from Redbourn and Samuel West from Surrey.
Nigel Goose has written a very detailed summary of this
time in his publication Population, Economy and family
structure in Hertfordshire in 1851. In the book he states “Like
Luton and Dunstable, St Albans appears to have been able
to boast a number of substantial hat-making factories. The
men’s boater was a particular St Albans specialism which was
said to supply the world, whilst nearby Luton concentrated
upon women’s hats. The straw and straw hat industry
permeated the whole town, and straw hat-makers, blockers,
trimmers and straw plaiters could be found in numbers in
each of the three parishes and in most streets but with a
particular concentration in Fishpool Street which housed as
many as 130 in 1851.”
The School’s Hat Factory traded under the name of Messrs
Dunham and Martin. They took over from Munt and Brown
& Company c1907, who, in turn, had taken on the premises
c1860. Previous to this, a Mr Shallis ran a straw hat-related
business here in the 1850s.
Munt and Brown went bankrupt in 1907 and Thomas Martin,
who had worked for Munt and Brown for 30 years, bought
the company and set up Dunham and Martin with Francis
William Dunham. Census details show the Dunham family
were very active in straw hat making in Fishpool Street and
New England Street.
The factory, which stretched back some 270 feet from the
road, had separate departments for bleaching plait, machine
sowing, hat stiffening (achieved by dipping into vats of
gelatine), blocking (using hand irons as well as eight steam
hydraulic presses), trimming (where leather lining bands and
ribbons were fitted to the hats) and checking for size. Dunham
and Martin made hats for Eton, Harrow and Rugby Schools
as well as well-known girls᾽schools and department stores.
A familiar sight in Fishpool Street used to be large horsedrawn
drays loaded with cases of hats labelled and bound
for worldwide destinations like New York, Philadelphia, New
Orleans, and Rio de Janeiro.
In 1937, Thomas Martin retired and the factory closed as
cheaper imported hats were now available and straw hats
were becoming unfashionable. In 1938, the lower floor of
the factory became the CCF storeroom and armoury whilst
the upper floor housed a miniature shooting range. At the
onset of the War, three air raid shelters were dug between
the Science Block and the factory. The first half of the factory
was demolished in 1966 to make way for New Hall and
the second half cleared after the Hall opened in 1968. The
remaining space was used to host a new Design & Technology
Department, which it still houses today.

10
OA Events
11
OA DINNER
Following an 18-month hiatus, we held our first
in-person OA event on the School site on Friday
24th September, and what an event it was! The OA
Dinner was attended by 70 guests who were treated to a
traditional ‘Beef & Yorkshire Pudding’ dinner. The fillet
of beef with thyme infused Yorkshire puddings, beef
dripping roast potatoes, rainbow carrots and beetroot
with a beef jus, was followed by a mouth-watering
poached pear and rhubarb crumble tart with crème
anglaise. It’s safe to say, the dinner was enjoyed by all!
Thank you to all those who made a voluntary donation
to the Bursary Fund when purchasing their tickets.
CLASS OF 2020
Reunion
We were treated to glorious sunshine for the Class
of 2020 Reunion, held at the School Orchard on
Tuesday 10th August. The 2020 Graduation was
another casualty of Covid-19 so it was only right that we
invited the 2020 OAs back for the celebration they deserved.
Almost the entire year group attended and it was wonderful
to hear how they were progressing at university and in postschool
life. OAs were treated to ‘Pimms & Patties’ courtesy
of the School catering staff which included a build-yourown
burger bar.
We hope to see the Class of 2020 at another School event
soon!
REMEMBRANCE SERVICE
On Friday 12th November, after what feels like a very long time, OAs
and former staff joined us for our (usually annual) Remembrance
Service. Although there were a few control measures in place in
line with government Covid-19 guidance, we were delighted to once again
share this important day with our OA community.
OAs, staff, former staff and pupils gathered in the Abbey for the Service
and then moved on to the War Memorial in Upper Yard where we paid our
respects to the men and women (including Old Albanians), who lost their
lives during the Wars. To finish, we made our way to the Refectory where
we could catch up over coffee and pastries.
A huge thanks goes to the Archivist, Sue Gregory and her group of Lower
Sixth pupils who have been fact checking and adding to the Roll of
Honour tirelessly over the last few months.
OA PRESIDENT’S LUNCH
NICK HALLETT (OA 1965), PAUL WATKINS, MIKE HODGE
(OA 1965), CRAIG TALLENTS AND PAUL DOYLE
Each year, the OA President hosts a summer lunch to thank the
many people at Woollams who are involved in making the place
the success it is. There are usually 100 guests in attendance, with
representatives from the OA sports clubs, the OA Lodge and the School.
Each year, the President awards his Cup to a deserving individual or
group.
This year, the lunch took place on Sunday 22nd August and the
President, Mike Hodge (OA 1965), decided to award the Cup to the
Operations Board which is part of the Old Albanian Sports Association.
In Mike Hodge’s words “It is through the Operations Board’s tireless
efforts that the OA Pavilion is in such a sound financial position.” The
individuals who are on the Operations Board are Paul Watkins, Nick
Hallett, Craig Tallents, Mike Fisher, Ian Hayward, Paul Doyle and Neil
Jackson. Congratulations and keep up the hard work!
FOUNDERS’ DAY
Similar to last year, Founders’ Day 2021 was unable to go ahead in
person and instead, was prepared and recorded in advance and sent
to OAs to watch online. Although it is unfortunate that we could not
go ahead with the usual Service, we are pleased OAs enjoyed the digital
version.
Our special thanks go to the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Dr Alan
Smith and Dr Pines, Mr Stout and Mr Fraczek from the School for
dedicating their time and making the virtual Service a reality.
GOLDEN JUBILEE
Reunion
On Friday 25th June at 6pm, we held a virtual Golden Jubilee Reunion for the Classes of
1971 and 1978 – 50 years since leaving and 50 years since starting St Albans School. We
were pleased to see OAs and former staff from the UK and USA tucking into their branded
cupcakes! We spent much of the time browsing through old School photos and discussing happy
memories of St Albans in the 70s. It was wonderful to reconnect with Mr Winfried Wartenberg, after
many years, who taught German at the School between 1972 and 1999.
The next Golden Jubilee Reunion will be taking place in the summer 2022 for the Classes of
1972 and 1979. Keep an eye on your emails and we hope you can join us then!

12 Featured OA
13
How was your time at School?
SOARING TO
NEW HEIGHTS
Lizzie Bird’s (OA 2013) ascent to the Olympic final of the 3000m steeplechase
was not without its difficulties. With injuries and challenging races along the
journey, Lizzie needed a strong mantra for another roll of the dice…
You joined the School in 2011,
what prompted your decision to
come here for Sixth Form?
The biggest factor was George
Harrison, the cross country
coach at the School who has
since retired. That, combined
with St Albans School’s great
academic reputation. It is pretty
unusual for a school in the UK
to have such a focus on cross
country running and athletics as
it’s not one of the major sports.
My mum also taught at the
School years before, so it was
her prompting that got me
there.
I really enjoyed it! My first introduction to the School was
a cross country camp at Pen Arthur, before I joined that
September. I got to know the coaches and my cross country
teammates. They were a great group of people who I remained
friends with throughout school. St Albans was much more
academically challenging than I was used to. It worked as
a great stepping stone between my previous school and
university – I could no longer regurgitate material, I had to
think critically and for myself.
Mr McCord was my Form Tutor, he was amazing. He still
messages me before my races and every birthday!
You started taking running more seriously aged 15, was it
around this time you started to compete as well?
I competed at the English Schools’ Cross Country
competitions from the age of 13 and I was beginning to
make it into the top five or ten but I was never selected for
international competition.
I remember having a conversation with George who said, “we
need to take this more seriously now” and he gave me a few
more miles each session. Every Monday we would have hill
training at the Abbey Orchard and that hill is tough! I run
hills in the winter, but not as muddy and steep as that!
After St Albans School you left for Princeton University to
read Liberal Arts. How was it managing your training and
studies?
I wanted to go somewhere like St Albans School, where both
academics and athletics were equally important. Princeton
was a good fit for that.
My teammates were all pursuing different academic interests
but we took our training seriously. When people say it can be
difficult to do training, studies and have a social life, for me,
my social life was within running. I could go for an hour’s run
with some of my closest friends and just chat the whole time,
unless you’re doing a really hard session! I remember some
runs we would talk through essay plans. Sometimes it’s an
escape and other times it’s a different method of studying.
Talk me through your achievements in the US.
My best year was 2015, when I won my first Ivy League title
on the track in the spring, qualified for the European U23
Championships, and then won the individual and team Ivy
League cross country titles in the fall. That was our first team
win in about six years so it was pretty exciting! But I didn’t do
anything special on a national or international level – I made
Nationals on the track once and in cross country a couple of
times. Most of my success was in the small Ivy League bubble,
which I think allowed me to develop as an athlete at a slower
and more sustainable pace than if I’d been at one of the top
running programs.
How did you choose your event, the steeplechase? Was it
your strengths at the time or your fit in the event?
I think both. I was never really interested in the steeplechase
when I was younger. My coach at Princeton suggested it to me
so I tried it out reluctantly and enjoyed it. One of the hardest
things about running laps is the mental concentration and not
getting distracted. With the steeplechase you don’t have time.
Every 50 to 100 metres you must get over a barrier so if you
start thinking about other things, it will go wrong. You have to
stay focused.
When did you start preparing for the Olympics?
I always had this idea that maybe one day I could qualify for
a world championship or Olympic Games but I didn’t think
I would continue with running beyond Princeton. However,
I got injured in my last year and felt like I had unfinished
business in the sport. I kept training and went out to San
Francisco to do a master’s. It was not until the end of 2018
that I started working with my current coach Pat McCurry,
who said to me, “I think you can run under 9:40” which is the
qualifying time for the world championships. I didn’t believe
him but I thought I may as well give it a go.
“I got injured in my last year
and felt like I had unfinished
business in the sport”
In April 2019, I came back to the UK and ran a race to try
and get to the standard but I ran absolutely terribly! I had
to make a decision about whether I stick with this and fully
commit or go back to San Francisco to my job. I decided to
go for it and I quit my job. It worked out and I qualified for
the World Championships.
How was the build up to Tokyo?
Much longer than expected! I feel so lucky I came through
Covid and my family are all fine. I moved back from San
Francisco to live with my parents throughout the summer in
Scotland. It was a great place to spend lockdown because it
was in the middle of nowhere. Having the Olympics delayed
was disappointing but in hindsight, I performed much better
in 2021 than I would have if the Olympics were in 2020.
How did you cope without the crowds and the Covid
distancing measures?
It was strange walking out onto the biggest stage of my life,
the Olympic final, and looking around at an empty stadium. I
was just happy it was able to go ahead, I didn’t care too much.
I was concerned about contact tracing before flying out
as a few Team GB members had been told to isolate for
14 days, but we were tested every day and it felt like a safe
environment.
How do you mentally prepare for a race?
I will usually talk with my coach a couple of days before about
my race plan. I’ll try and condense that into a mantra which
I think about when walking out onto the start line. This year
it was Control, Commit and Compete. Control for the first
kilometre, then Commit, if someone makes a move you go
with them, and Compete, race as hard as you can for the last
kilometre. Using something like this can break up the task
mentally and gives me something to think about in those
moments before the race.
If I lose focus for a lap, it doesn’t necessarily mean the
mantra is out. I can recommit and get my focus back.
Negative thoughts will always come into your head, you
have to be able to flick a switch and say ‘ok that’s fine, I’m
prepared, I just need to focus and trust in my experience’.
Before the final, my coach told me to trust in the race plan
and run a Lizzie Bird race! Which sounds ridiculous but it
gave me the confidence to compete.
Talk me through your qualifying race at Tokyo.
My aim for the qualifier was to finish top three and the race
went almost perfectly. There were a couple of girls who
had run significantly faster than me and I was prepared
for them to go out pushing hard, but they didn’t, so it was
a comfortable pace. I stuck at the back and then worked
my way through to be in contention for one of those top
three spots. I was in contention the entire way until the
last hundred metres where I had one bad hurdle and got
left behind, which was very frustrating! I came fifth and
qualified for the final.
How was the final?
It was different to how I expected it to go and I definitely got
a little stressed out. Nobody was taking the lead. I expected
some people to go out really fast but instead, the pace was
fast, and then it would slow down to a jog, then speed up and
slow down again, and I’m at the back trying to stay on my
feet, get over hurdles and deal with these pace changes. That
was tough but despite feeling not at all in control in that first
kilometre, I managed to refocus on running the best race I
could and passing as many women as possible. My aim was
to come between fifth and tenth, I ended up doing just about
that, coming ninth.
And a new national record of 9.19.69!
It seems huge to go from 9.40 in 2019 to a 9.19 GB record. I
guess it just shows what committing to something and giving
it a lot of time can do.
What’s next for you?
Next year is a big year, we have the Commonwealth Games,
European Championships and World Championships
– I’m not sure if I’ll do all three. I’m based in Boulder,
Colorado and I’m going back to Law School so it will
be more balancing of academics and athletics but I’m
feeling confident with my running, especially with the
improvements I’ve made.
I want to go into immigration law eventually. Specifically
human rights and deportation defense. Growing up we moved
around a lot and we never had any issues getting a visa and
that’s obviously not the case for many people and I find
that very problematic. I will hopefully change that in some
small way.
What advice do you have for those wanting to train and
maintain a job or studies?
The most important thing is consistency. Even if you’re
having a hard time, keep doing what you can. I wish someone
would have told me when I was younger, you don’t have to be
peaking at 21, especially as a woman. We’re told, you get past
23 and you’re done! Of course, there is a time when physically
you start to get slower, but I don’t think you get to that point
until you’re well into your 30s or later. You can chase big goals
when you’re older, you don’t have to do it all at once.

14
15
1960
A DECADE OF
Shooting Captains
OA CONNECT
gets a Revamp!
Standing left to right: Graham Tate, Alan Pimbley,
Paul Lawrence, John Crawford, David Romer.
Seated left to right: Owen Simmons. Bill Cleghorn, L G Walker,
Sam Kilpatrick, Mike Newell.
1973
With thanks to the in-depth research conducted by our Archivist,
Sue Gregory, we have commemorated the shooting captains of St
Albans School with an honours board. The names, dating back
to 1904 when the School first started shooting at Bisley, are listed outside the
new Range, generously sponsored by the Lucas family.
The shooting range has been a steadfast structure of the School for many
years, albeit in different guises and locations. After Beech Bottom, the first
range on site was built from surplus army huts and was destroyed by fire in
1973. The ‘new’ range was then opened by Brigadier Dennis Rendell (OA
1938) in 1975, on the site where the Corfield Building now sits, housing our
ever-popular CCF unit and state-of-the-art shooting range.
THE RANGE DESTROYED BY FIRE
THE NEW RANGE
1974
The OA Rifle Club was founded in 1929 by Headmaster Montague Jones and
is therefore fast approaching its centenary. Owen Simmons (OA 1960) is a
stalwart member of the Club and has been shooting with the School for over
60 years. Reflecting on his decades in the sport, Owen talks to us about his
time with the OARC and volunteering at the School:
“At the beginning of my fourth year in September 1956, I signed up for the
CCF. Sam Kilpatrick introduced me to the range and the ‘Empire Test’. I was
referred to L.G. Walker who put me in the School team. In my first team
match I was top scorer for the School and awarded a School spoon. I have
continued regular target shooting to this day.
“After just two visits to the new range in the Corfield Building, it certainly
looks impressive. All pupils should be encouraged to take part in a sport
where the main requirement is to lie down and relax in such a warm and
safe environment!
“I started shooting with the OARC in 1959 and continue to represent
them today. I have been coaching regularly at the School on Wednesday
afternoons since 2011 and would welcome anyone to join either as an OA
or pupil.”
1975 Present day
We’re excited to announce the launch of the new
and improved OA Connect website, making it
easier than ever for OAs to network and stay in
touch with the School! Alumni and former staff can now
register on the new site at www.oaconnect.co.uk. We hope
you find the website faster and easier to navigate, with a more
user-friendly approach to booking event tickets, purchasing
merchandise and joining OA clubs.
Old Albanians can now update their profile,
contact details and communication preferences all
in one place, as well as searching for classmates,
sending direct messages to users and joining
various OA clubs and year group discussions.
We had an overwhelmingly positive response
to the website launch in October with over
400 registrations within the first two weeks!
Congratulations to Ciarán Reed (OA 2019),
Stephen Powell (OA 1977) and Hannah Sweeney
(OA 2015) who won the Amazon gift voucher
prizes in our launch competition. We hope to keep
this engagement on the same upwards trajectory, so
if you haven’t done so already and would like to join
the website, then please go to www.oaconnect.co.uk
and select ‘register’ on the homepage. You can either
enter your details or connect your profile with one of
your social media accounts.
and potentially new career pages which can assist OAs with
finding employment within specific industries.
We would like to say a huge thank you to the OAs who were
involved in the early stages of website development and
provided us with some very helpful feedback. We endeavour
to keep our OA content fresh and bountiful with helpful
information, announcements and news articles, so don’t miss
out and visit www.oaconnect.co.uk!
OPENING OF NEW RANGE BY BRIG RENDELL
LUCAS SHOOTING RANGE
Please do let us know if you have any feedback
or suggestions about the new site as it will help
us improve going forward. Over time we are
hoping to add new pages to the site,
including an image gallery, more clubs

16 17
Announcements
OBITUARIES
David L O Smith
(OA 1970)
1952 – 2021
Written by his wife Liz
Molyneux
After leaving St Albans
School, David studied
agricultural engineering
at the National College of
Agricultural Engineering
in Silsoe, Bedfordshire.
After gaining his BSc
(Hons) he won a place
to study for a Master’s in the same subject at Iowa State
University and subsequently a PhD in Agricultural and
Geotechnical Engineering and stayed at Iowa State to teach
for a few years. David spent a few years at the Scottish
Institute of Agricultural Engineering before returning to teach
at Silsoe College. He later moved into particulate mechanics
research at Wrest Park.
In 1999 he cofounded a successful internet marketing
company from which he retired in 2012. He was also a
director of a horse-riding holiday company, travelling to
many remote locations seeing the world from horseback.
Amongst his many interests, David greatly enjoyed building
O gauge railway models to a very high standard. A wonderful
man of many talents, David is greatly missed by his family
and all his friends.
John Barber
(OA 1962)
1944 – 2021
Written by Robert
Oakhill (OA 1962)
John came to the School
as a Direct Grant entrant
and ended up as Head of
School. He was well-liked,
well respected but never
‘pushy’. History was always
his first love; music was
his other great passion.
Aged 17 he was on two
occasions the piano soloist
in a Mozart Concerto with
an orchestra conducted by the great Vernon ‘Tod’ Handley,
who was very impressed and tried to persuade John to
become a professional musician. John decided that academia
was for him, although he sang in choirs for many years in
Cambridge. He loved cricket and was an outstanding public
speaker and debater at School.
He won an Open Scholarship to Christ’s College, Cambridge
where he studied under the well-known Professor JH (Jack)
Plumb, and alongside Simon Schama. After being a postgraduate
student at Jesus College he became a Fellow of
King’s, and later Vice Provost and Acting Provost. John was
Director of Studies in History and Political Science. His great
area of expertise was the USSR during WW2 and Leningrad
in the Stalin and Khrushchev eras, and he was a Visiting
Professor at St Petersburg University. John also served as a
Governor of St Albans School between 1998 and 2013.
Most importantly (!) he was my Best Man, and I was one
of his Crown Bearers at his first wedding - in the Russian
Orthodox Cathedral in London.
Gareth Desmond
Thomas
(OA 1975)
1956 – 2021
Written by Nick
Chappin (OA 1975)
Gareth was born in
Hillingdon on 17th
December 1956.
The family moved to
Harpenden in 1966
following his father’s
appointment as
Headteacher of the newly
opened Wheathampstead
Secondary School.
He joined St Albans School in 1968, along with a sizeable
Harpenden contingent of around 15 fellow “new bugs” –
several of whom remained lifelong friends. Gareth’s favourite
subjects were art and literature, and he was an accomplished
actor. He was also a keen sportsman, representing the School
at rugby, cross country and athletics.
Having graduated from Goldsmith College with a B.Ed in
1978, Gareth followed his father into teaching and taught at
a number of junior schools in Hertfordshire during a career
spanning over 30 years.
Gareth married Sarah in 1981, and they managed to juggle
their respective teaching and nursing careers to raise four
children. Sadly, tragedy struck the family in 2017 when their
elder son Sam died in a road traffic accident in Australia.
In 2009, Gareth was diagnosed with myotonic dystrophy,
and despite his failing health he was a regular attendee at OA
functions. He passed away peacefully on Tuesday 20th April
2021 after a short illness. Gareth is survived by Sarah, son
James, daughters Hannah and Lucy, and younger brothers
Kelvin (OA 1977) and Deryl.
Roy Bacon
(OA 1946)
1928 – 2021
Written by Roger Cook
(OA 1946) and Robin
Ollington (OA 1947)
Roger: On the first day of
St Albans School Autumn
Term, 1939 (the day after
War was declared) Roy
appeared in our class.
Within a week he knew
about all of us; he retained
his affable conviviality
throughout his life. He excelled in most areas of school:
cricket, rugby, prefect, junior training corps and academia.
I was thrilled to be introduced to his girlfriend, Merle. In
due course they married and had three children and seven
grandchildren. I am honoured to be Godfather to their eldest
daughter Sallie.
Roy spent most of his working life with ICI, eventually
finishing his career presenting and writing about the
chemical industry.
Kit Petrouis Addison
Parents Alex Addison (OA 2005) and Hannah Petrouis
We are delighted to announce the birth of our child Kit
Petrouis Addison. Petrouis being the last name of my partner
Hannah and as an only child it was nice to have her family
name part of Kit᾽s forever. Weighing in at 7lbs 2oz he was
delivered in London and after a couple of days we were able to
bring him home.
We left London in July to relocate back to where it all started
for me, St Albans. We wanted to bring Kit up in a city with
a strong sense of community and more space for him to
explore. Being back in St Albans has felt right for us, with old
school friends and a strong social network so local.
BIRTHS
He proved himself as an actor when he joined the local
Company of Ten. Roy was also a strong supporter of the
OA Club; playing rugby and cricket as well as serving as
President. He had an astonishingly enquiring and retentive
mind; a lover of music and a great reader. When we were out
walking, he felt compelled to stop and read every printed
notice that we passed.
He and his family have been my lifelong friends. We will all
miss his charm and his engaging conversation.
Robin: After School, National Service bought us together
again in Belfast where in different roles l found myself in
the Infantry. An enquiry as to his recent activity with the
Education Corps informed me they had spent the afternoon
at the theatre with his group for a performance of an
Elizabethan drama; he was arranging a poetry competition
and asked if I would like to enter.
Our subsequent careers involved us both in writing
and despite no longer living locally we kept in touch. A
friendship that grew and lasted over the years, punctuated
by Roy’s genuine interest and kindness and warm hospitality
at home. In fact l rank him in the life of the School and
those he encountered as important as his famous associated
namesakes.
As we begin to open The Deli and The Hub on Verulam
(see OA News article on page 4), balancing building our
businesses and spending time as a family will be a challenge,
but we are looking forward to the challenge as a family. I
am sure there will be a number of times I will be serving St
Albans patrons coffee with Kit in tow!
Sophia Evelyn Jackson
Parents Nick (OA 2005)
and Rose Jackson (OA
2007)
Rose and I are delighted
to share the news of the
birth of our daughter;
Sophia Evelyn Jackson
born Sunday 1st August
2021. With both of us being
OAs, having originally met
at the School’s rendition of
the musical Grease in 2007,
and having married in the
Abbey in 2019, St Albans
School will always play
a memorable part in our
lives.

18
19
OLD ALBANIAN
Memoirs
Reminiscences of bygone days
written by St Albans School alumni
THE NEWLY INSTALLED MASTER OF THE OLD
ALBANIAN LODGE, KAYUR PATEL
(OA 2005) WITH HIS FATHER AND UNCLES.
OA LODGE
Father and Son
St Albans School is fortunate to have such a rich history and
wealth of memories behind each door. In order to preserve
this history and share memories of the pupils who walked
through our corridors, we have launched our monthly
campaign, ‘Old Albanian Memoirs’ - sharing memories from
OAs across the decades, all the way up to recent leavers.
Memoirs will be primarily published online, but for our
first, we are pleased to kick off the campaign in this issue of
Versa. The first memoir has been written by Alister Milroy
(OA 1952), who touches on what it was like to be a boarding
pupil during the 1940s and 1950s…
W. T. Marsh single-handedly raised a small provincial
grammar school to the first rung of the independent
school ladder.
The Sixth Form was divided into two distinct groups: those
who sat three A Levels in Maths, Physics and Chemistry and
a much larger group who chose their three A Levels from
English, History, French, German and Geography. The Upper
Sixth non-scientists and those who stayed for whole or part of
a third year did their classes, tutorials, and private study in the
Abbey Gateway rooms. At least 80% were day boys and fees
were very modest.
“Teaching staff were either sat
or stood on stage, suited with
leather elbow patches and cuffs.”
After achieving School certificates, many pupils were sent
on five-year apprenticeships with worthy solicitors and
chartered accountants and names of successful applicants
were announced at morning assembly to loud applause.
Assembly took place in the large hall which also served as the
gymnasium and teaching staff were either sat
or stood on stage, suited with leather elbow
patches and cuffs.
All stood as the Headmaster entered the
back of the hall striding purposefully to
the stage. There was a hymn, a prayer,
announcements and then gradually pupils
dispersed to their appointed classrooms.
I recall only one female teacher, Mrs
Vaughan-Thomas, who was both liked and
respected. I don’t think any
teacher was actively disliked
because they all worked
conscientiously, and none
were unkind. I benefited
hugely from the patience
and devotion of the senior
English teacher and of the
second German Teacher,
who had a glass eye that appeared to
twinkle with good humour.
CIRCLED: ALISTER MILROY (OA 1952)
Sporting was just as important as academic prowess and so
rugby was played six days a week in season, mainly at the
two Causeway pitches, but also at Belmont. We became a
considerable force among the best schools in a 50-mile radius.
We had a 100 foot outdoor pool at Belmont and a 440 yard
running track, no more than a white line on the grass that
circled the rugby pitch. The cricket pitch was in front of the
pavilion, along with high-jump and long-jump pits.
The narrow asphalt strip between the lavatories and School
House was the most used sports location in the School. We
boarders chalked stumps on the dining room wall and played
one batsman cricket with a tennis ball at every spare moment.
The OTC paraded in uniform one afternoon a week marching
around the playground, conducting field exercises or shooting
practice. We had a two week summer camp and practically
all passed their officer selection boards and spent most of
their National Service as second lieutenants. Some saw active
service in Korea, others in Malaya.
There were classes on Saturday mornings and games on a
Wednesday afternoon. Boarders had supervised prep each
weekday evening. I don’t recall a school band or orchestra,
but there was a choir. Younger boarders had to attend the 11
o’clock Sunday service in the Abbey which ran to an hour and
a half minimum.
My father decided that, as an only child, I would benefit from
boarding school even though we lived a bus ride away in
Harpenden. I enjoyed my School experience at every stage.
I guess Marsh got a lot of things right, but then, as William
Wordsworth, observed: “the child is father of the man.”
We are keen to hear your stories so please do get in touch with
development@st-albans.herts.sch.uk if you have one to share
and you could be our next OA to feature in this campaign!
Members of the Lodge with their visitors were
delighted to be able to attend the long delayed
Installation meeting at Ashwell House on the
afternoon of Saturday 7th August. During the meeting they
witnessed Jay Patel, Assistant Provincial Grand Master and
the outgoing Master of the Lodge, install his son, Kayur Patel
(OA 2005), into the Chair of the Old Albanian Lodge in an
impeccable manner, in a ceremony charged with emotion.
The meeting was honoured by the presence of Paul Gower,
Provincial Grand Master for Hertfordshire, and many guests
– with the total attendance exceeding 60. Paul was installed as
Provincial Grand Master in 2013 and sadly this was the last
occasion that he would be visiting the Lodge in that capacity
because he was due to retire on Tuesday 21st September.
Among the many other guests present were Kayur’s uncles
and family members and friends.
Having been initiated into the Lodge by his father in 2009,
passed by Colin Harris his proposer, and raised by his uncle,
Sanjiv Shah, Kayur’s installation rounded off a remarkable
career so far in freemasonry. Kayur is looking forward to
The OA Saints have made great strides into the start of
the 2021/22 season. The 1st XV have come away with
three wins from four, with only one loss in a highly
contested ‘top of the table’ clash against rivals Thurrock. Last
weekend saw the Saints back to their winning ways when they
faced Bath at home. It is always an action-packed fixture and
this was no different. The Saints certainly know how to create
a dramatic finish, with an almost intercepted coast to coast
try in the closing minutes of the game, seeing the Saints bring
home a bonus point win.
This continues to be a landmark season for the Saints with the
women᾽s side fielding a 2nd XV squad for the first time in
over 10 years. As a true testament to the quality of coaching
OA SAINTS
By Steph Plunkett, OA Saints Captain
his time in the chair. After leaving St Albans School, Kayur
studied at Leeds University and qualified as a dental surgeon.
He now practises in the Leighton Buzzard area and has
recently married. He enjoys cricket, skiing and most notably
golf, sometimes forming a formidable doubles partnership
with his father.
The first regular meeting of Lodge ‘year’ with Kayur Patel
in the chair, was held at Ashwell House on Saturday 11th
September. It was a ‘meridian’ meeting i.e. taking place in the
late morning with luncheon following. Unfortunately, our
candidate was away on holiday and lacking a main ceremony,
the meeting was primarily to conduct the normal business
of the Lodge. Our Charity Steward, Dick Knifton (OA 1967),
Deputy Provincial Grand Master, reminded the brethren that
following the end of the recent Festival to which the Lodge
had contributed in excess of £50k – the largest contribution of
any Lodge in Hertfordshire - the coffers were almost bare and
asked members to redouble their efforts.
All being well, the next regular meeting will be held in early
January 2022.
here at OAs and the depth of talent across the squad, the 2nd
XV dominated in their season opener against Harlow Ladies,
coming away with nine tries and maintaining a clean sheet
in defence. The team put on an equally impressive display,
scoring 71 unanswered points in a friendly against local
rivals Harpenden and a 48-5 win against Fullarians which
subsequently put their league campaign off to a flying start.
Finally, OA Saints have recently celebrated two of our players
– 1st XV player Storm Cobain and 2nd XV Captain Iona
McCusker, crossing codes and making history by representing
Ireland Rugby League in their inaugural women᾽s
International test match. Storm Cobain topped off her first
International cap with her first international try!
W. T. MARSH (HEADMASTER 1931-1964)

20 OA Sports
21
NEW COACH AND
International Caps
BACK HOME
on the range
OA Rifle Club
By Andrew Wilkie (OA 1965)
The 2020/21 season became the 11th season in the Club’s
96 year history to feature no competitive rugby, with
the 10 before it being due to the First and Second World
Wars. During the periods of lockdown and restrictions over
the last 18 months, the Club has done what it could to provide
training and other activities, whilst a small band of volunteers
worked feverishly in the background to ensure the Club came
through this testing period. Scroll forward to September and
despite all the challenges, the Club is in good health.
A challenging 2019/20 season which ended prematurely with
the 1st XV in 10th place, saw the appointment of former
Gloucester and Worcester hooker, Daniel George, as Head
Coach. Together with a new coaching team and a number
of new players to the promising young squad, as well as a
fantastic medical team, the 1st XV aim to return back to
National League One in the near future.
OA Rugby Club
By James Osborn, Director of Rugby (OA 2002)
The Romans, Gladiators and Grizzlies are competing in local
leagues with up to 100 players training each week - working
back towards fielding four sides, week in, week out. The Mini
and Junior section continues to be one of the largest in the
country for active players, with up to 900 people training and
playing each week.
None of this would have been possible without the ongoing
generous support of our Sponsors, Members, VPs, buddies
and those volunteers that work so hard on the commercial
side of the Club. At this level, every pound raised can make
a substantial difference and with the wider events of the last
18 months, it’s been more important than ever. As always,
the Club warmly welcomes anyone wishing to contribute
towards providing one of the leading community club
setups in the UK. For further information please contact
sponsorship@oarugby.com.
A FITTING TRIBUTE
The OA Tennis Club continues to flourish and grow
its membership, despite Covid-19, with all coaching
sessions for seniors and juniors going well, under the
leadership of our Head Coach, Margie Edge and her team.
Club sessions are held on Tuesday evenings and Sunday
mornings and these are well attended with all four courts
being used. There is definitely a community spirit developing,
due to our warm and inclusive culture where all abilities are
welcome and catered for, which is great to see.
One of our younger members, Zander Ward, has just
completed his LTA Level 2 Coaching Course which is a fine
achievement. Well done Zander.
OA Tennis Club
By Geoff Lamb
On Sunday 26th September we held the Annual Sue Barnes
Memorial Tennis Tournament to remember Sue, a founding
member of the club and former staff of the School. The
weather on the day was kind to us and the tournament was
a huge success, thoroughly enjoyed by all 30 members, old
and new who participated. Sue loved playing tennis to a high
competitive level and was also an integral member of OA
Rugby’s fraternity. She was deeply loyal and committed to the
Tennis Club and her laugh can still be heard across the courts.
She served as Secretary for many years.
Weather permitting, we will be playing throughout the winter
months and if anyone would like to join us or is interested in
finding out more, please contact Geoff Lamb or Margie Edge
via the details on page 2.
home on the range, where the bulls and the
magpies roam, where seldom is seen a maximum
“Back
score and shootin’ gets plagued by the wind.”
To crudely paraphrase a haunting song oft sung by cattle
wranglers of the sixties.
Well, it is true we have been back on the range, in particular
the outdoor range with five trips to Bisley over the 2021
summer. And boy, what a shock to the system that has been.
Following a misunderstanding regarding our match against the
Old Lawrentians, which we missed, our first shoot since 2019
was the Short Q on 17th April. To our delight, the shoot was
greeted with bright sunshine, average seasonal temperatures,
and rifles that, thankfully, were unaffected by rust!
Our first shoot coincided with the funeral of Prince Philip,
Duke of Edinburgh - a one minute silence was held in
tribute. The drama of the uncharacteristic silence on the
Century range was enhanced further by ALL the flags falling
to zero wind. Very unearthly! This was followed by a tricky
wind situation with flags pointing every which way. Great
entertainment for the wind coaches.
Stickledown on 22nd May was something of an adventure,
too. Some say wind coaching, particularly at long range, is an
‘art form’. I think that’s another phrase for lottery! Naturally,
any significant wind over these longer distances is a challenge
and clearly a group from the GB Team thought so as well.
Their wind coaches were hooked up with radio mics and fired
in strict sequence left to right; noting each other’s settings
and logging results. In effect, they had five international
wind coaches for each shot which resulted in a very tidy
shoot for them. It is reassuring for us to note that despite
this arrangement they still had some wild magpie shots. Our
single wind coach and scorer arrangement was almost totally
overwhelmed by the level of decision making, sight adjusting
and notetaking.
As ever, the first challenge for us was to get a shot on target.
Something yours truly was unable to do at 1000yds despite
a second attempt. Well done Owen Simmons (OA 1960)
for achieving the highest score of our day. There’s life in the
octogenarian yet!
As is customary, we closed our Bisley season on Saturday 11th
September with the annual match against the Old Alleynians
for the Arnold Cup. Due to limited range availability, we
concluded this year with a competition at 300yds, using
electronic targets. I am pleased to say that our team of four
(Owen Simmons, John Simmons, Alun Lewis (OA 1965) and
yours truly) came up trumps with 361.23 to the Alleynians
346.18. So, we retained the Arnold Cup for a second year.
Our thanks go to Pete Leggett, the Old Alleynian Captain and
his team for making a fine finale to a rather ragged summer
season. Let’s hope for better in 2022.
On the small-bore indoor front, almost everyone I have
spoken to has suffered positional issues and few can
understand how shooting jackets shrink in the cupboard
(breathe in!). Before we could venture very far this autumn,
we had to catch up on the small-bore competitions held
over from winter 2020-21; so much so that the last date for
shooting in March 2021 became the last, last, last, date for
shooting on Monday 4th October 2021.
Here’s to 2022. Good shooting for the winter season and let’s
hope Covid Delta+ doesn’t disrupt proceedings.

22 23
OA Sports
FULL POINTS
OA Football Club
By Nick Jackson (OA 2005)
With silverware finally making its way to the Old
Albanian cabinet after lifting the much-coveted
DW Trophy, along with achieving promotion
in what was a fragmented and challenging season, the OAs
knew that maintaining momentum was key.
The season’s targets, as laid out in the pre-season AGM
- whilst ambitious - were clear. To achieve back-to-back
promotion whilst retaining the silverware the 2020/21 cohort
managed to ‘bring home’. At the time of going to print, the
Club is delighted to report, fresh off the back of a hard fought
three points away to Old Harrovians, a perfect start with
five wins and 15 points out of a possible 15. Whilst the early
season gains and performances on the pitch are promising,
it’s important to also reflect as we draw ever closer to the
previously implausible milestone of the 200th Old Albanian to
play for the Club since its rebirth in 2017.
The curtain came down on the Old
Albanian Golf Society’s season
at a windy Lakeside Lodge in
late September. On the first afternoon,
Graham Tate (OA 1960) overcame
the inclement conditions to card a
magnificent 47 points which would
normally be the cause of much conjecture
about a suspect handicap. It was nothing
of the sort. Graham just had one of those
days where he made very few, if any,
mistakes. Second was Brian Hayden-
Smith (OA 1970) on 43 points, enough
to win on any other day and Kevin
O’Donoghue (OA 1959) on 36 was third.
The weather on the second day gave
no cause for concern so the relatively
modest scoring can only be attributed
to the previous evening’s conviviality.
The winner was the senior member on
tour, Ross Murray (OA 1954) with 36
LEFT GRAHAM TATE (OA 1960)
RIGHT PETER DREDGE (OA 1960)
LEFT, ALEX ADDISON (OA 2005)
RIGHT, NICK JACKSON (OA 2005)
points, just ahead of O’Donoghue on
35 and several members on 34. Over
postprandial drinks there was talk of
contingency plans for the third day if
the weather proved to be as bad as the
forecast but the decision to press on
was vindicated because the heavens did
not open until after we had finished.
We were, nevertheless, windswept.
Once again Tate burned up the course
scoring a more than creditable 41
points; second was Mike Crowston (OA
1966) on 39 points followed closely by
the rest of the field.
Captain Peter Dredge (OA 1960)
carried out the prize-giving. Winner of
the Graham Tate Trophy for the best
score on tour went, unsurprisingly,
to Graham Tate. The most improved
player of the year, winning the Pop
Rush Memorial Trophy, was David
A fitting testament to the spirit that underpins the Club
comes straight from our principal sponsor, OA and founder
of Hertfordshire-based grounds maintenance and landscape
design company, Olympic Gardens: Bryn Edwards (OA 2012).
Bryn, who was also a player in that early 2017 side, when
asked about his continued investment in the Club had the
following to say:
“I have a huge love for OAs and the post-school connections.
The legacy of being an OA stays with you through school, past
sport and remains for a lifetime.’’
With that in mind, and with big plans for the 2021/22 season
ahead, as always we encourage all OAs, whether social
members or keen players, to get in touch as we embark on a
journey both on and off the pitch.
GOOD GAME,
GRAHAM!
OA Golf Club
By Kevin O’Donoghue (OA 1959)
Hughes (OA 1994). David’s handicap
was 15 last year and is now 8.
Throughout the season the Club played
two matches, beating Mid Herts Golf
Club back in April but losing narrowly to
the Old Berkhamstedians at Aldwickbury.
Other meetings were held at Whipsnade
Park where the heavy ground conditions
did not bother Don Mills (OA 1970)
who retained the OA Trophy. The Briggs
Goblets pairs competition was won at
Leighton Buzzard by Rick Drakard (OA
1963) and Simon Cooper (Antelope) and
the Captain’s Cup was won at Harpenden
Common by Ian Mackenzie (OA 1980).
The ambiance of the Club is welcoming
rather than competitive. Abilities range
from very good to not very good but
most importantly, everybody is made to
feel at home. If you are interested, please
use the contact details on page 2.
OA MERCHANDISE
We have recently expanded our range of OA merchandise. Why not pick up a stocking filler for the OA in your life?
If you would like to purchase any merchandise, please shop online at www.oaconnect.co.uk. Alternatively, you can contact
oaevents@st-albans.herts.sch.uk, call 01727 515 187 or complete the form below, and send to: Development Office, St Albans
School, Abbey Gateway, St Albans, AL3 4HB. International prices may vary.
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[1] St Albans School at War £15 (+ £2.50 UK p&p)
[2] St Albans School Water Bottles £5 (+ £2.50 UK p&p)
[3] St Albans School Coffee Cups £5 (+ £2.50 UK p&p)
[4] St Albans School Notebooks £5 (+ £2.50 UK p&p)
[5] St Albans School Tea Towel £5 (+ £2.50 UK p&p)
[6] St Albans School Hymn Books £10 (+ £2.50 UK p&p)
[7] St Albans School Tote Bag £4 (+ £2.50 UK p&p)
[8] Inspiring Old Albanians Book £12 (+ £2.50 UK p&p)
[9] Born Not for Ourselves: A History of St Albans School £25 (+
£5 UK p&p)
[10] St Albans School Mug £10 (+ £2.50 UK p&p)
[11] OA Umbrella £22 (+ £11 UK p&p)
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[12] OA Cufflinks £20 (+ £2.50 UK p&p)
[13] OA Faux Leather Charm Bracelet (16cm or 22cm) £15
(+ £2.50 UK p&p)
[14] OA Scarves £40 (+ £2.50 UK p&p)
[15] OA Brooch £8 (+ £2.50 UK p&p)
[16] OA Socks £7.50 (+ £2.50 UK p&p)
[17] OA Silk Tie £13 (+ £2.50 UK p&p)
[18] OA Tracksuits (S, M, L or XL) £25 (+ £2.50 UK p&p)
[19] OA Knitted Beanie Hat £12.50 (+ £2.50 UK p&p)
[20] OA Hoody (S, M, L, XL or XXL) £25 (+ £2.50 UK p&p)
[21] OA Silk Scarf £35 (+ £2.50 UK p&p)
Please contact davidbuxton36@gmail.com for more info on OA Blazers. The Death of Arthur Skett is also available on Amazon.
Please also keep an eye on your emails as we are hoping to launch more merchandise this winter!
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