The Salopian Summer 2023

SALOPIAN CLUB NEWS 83
first met Nick in the mid 1950s. Both of us went
I to Stepping Stones pre-preparatory school (now
Shrewsbury High School’s junior school) on Kingsland.
He is a little older than me. Our paths soon parted as Nick
went off to the Old Hall Preparatory School and, a while
later, I went to Kingsland Grange.
From the Old Hall, Nick went to Rugby, excelling at sport
and gaining a place at Trinity College, Cambridge, where
he read classics.
He then joined the Army, serving in the Royal Green
Jackets in Germany, Cyprus, the Falklands and Hong Kong,
with six tours in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.
In 1989, he took command of the 5th Battalion (Shropshire
and Herefordshire) Light Infantry and in 1992 was awarded
the OBE in recognition of his Army service and his work as
Commanding Officer of the 5th Battalion.
He became a master at Shrewsbury in 1992, teaching classics.
His management and leadership qualities were quickly
recognised and after three years, he was asked to become
Housemaster of Oldham’s Hall. There, greatly assisted by his
wife, Bee, he was an enormously competent and successful
Housemaster, exceptionally hard working and caring, with a
great wit and sense of humour. During this time, their three
boys William, Edward and David grew, with William going
to School House and Edward and David to Rigg’s Hall. Nick
stood down as housemaster in 2009, bringing fourteen very
happy, but doubtless tiring, years to an end. For three years,
he then returned to teaching.
Vale NICK JENKINS
Nick had so immersed himself in life at Shrewsbury that,
notwithstanding that he wasn’t an Old Salopian himself,
his appointment as Director of the Salopian Club came as
no surprise. Sure enough, starting in February 2014, he
completely subsumed himself in all matters Salopian Clubwise
for the next nine years.
He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of Old Salopians
and a full understanding of everything about the ethos
and character both of the School and Salopians. He
attended numerous Old Salopian events every year
of his time as Director; social events, church services,
football, cricket, fives matches, indeed all the numerous
sporting competitions. He managed to get to the School
and Sabrina lunches at Henley when they didn’t conflict
with Speech Day.
When I became Chairman of the Salopian Club in 2018,
Nick had already been in post for four years. He was
hugely supportive and knowledgeable and helped me
find my feet over the first year. He was unfailingly polite,
enthusiastic, efficient and punctual but, most of all, had a
great sense of humour.
On behalf of the whole Salopian community, I thank him
for everything he has done for us over the last 30 years and
wish him an enjoyable and fulfilling time in the next phase
of his life.
Miles Preston
Chairman
News and Events
Birmingham Dinner
West Midlands Old Salopians gathered at Edgbaston Golf
Club for the annual Birmingham Dinner on 27th April.
A handful of golfers played the course before joining the
other Old Salopians in the splendid surroundings of the
club house, a Grade II listed Georgian manor house. Old
Salopians from several decades were represented and, in
contrast to the stormy weather outside, the atmosphere
was warm and convivial as they enjoyed a three-course
meal with some current staff who had travelled from
Shrewsbury for the evening. The after-dinner speech
was given by the new Director Holly Fitzgerald who
talked about her time as a TV News Reporter and the Old
Salopians she had encountered in her previous career. A
last-minute request for the School Song led to a search
through the archives in the office. The Director grabbed
the music on her way out and some of the younger diners
took the time to handwrite the lyrics for an impromptu
performance. Some remembered it well, some had never
sung it before, but all gave it their best, accompanied by
the Head of Academic Music, Mike Skipper. The evening
ended with an impressive performance from Lower
Sixth student Billy Gardiner (SH L6) who is known as
‘Shrewsbury’s answer to Michael Buble’! He charmed the
audience with a smooth rendition of some jazz classics
before the school party departed.
Thanks are due to to Jonathan Mitchell (PH 1980-84)
and the Birmingham Committee for organising an excellent
evening.
Old Salopians join current parents to give
Sixth Form students a taste of a real-life job
interview
Around 50 current parents, Old Salopians and friends of
Shrewsbury School came to School to help with a Mock
Assessment Day exercise for the Lower Sixth on 21st April.
Old Salopians from professional areas including farming,
telecommunications, web design and surveying took part
carrying out competency-based interviews and advising on
CV presentation. The day also included a range of other
activities, including a team exercise, a communications
workshop and practice Situational Judgement Tests. It started
with a talk from Salopian Club Director Holly Fitzgerald
about the professional benefits of being a part of the Salopian
network and her own experience working in both the media
and headhunting.
Old Salopians play a leading role in British
Baseball success
Two old Salopians have just returned from the World
Baseball Classic in the USA where the British team won a
historic victory and secured a place in the next WBC in 2026.
Tom Thornhill (I 2008-13) is the President of the British