The Salopian Summer 2023

96
SALOPIAN CLUB NEWS
publishing for 20 years I felt the time
was right to publish my own books.
Townhouse specialises in children’s
novelty board, sound books, preschool,
and colour & activity. I live in
Cheltenham, am married to Lisa and
have two sons, Otis and Ralph, and
a dog called Trevor. As a keen golfer
I am a member of the Old Salopian
Golfing Society and enjoy the meetings
and knockout competitions that run
throughout the season. It’s great to play
the game and meet interesting Old
Salopians of various ages.
Rob Yorke (R 1981-86)
Rob Yorke is branching out into new
fields. With over 30 years working
as a rural chartered surveyor, he’s
now pushing his specialist role as an
Environmental Dialogue Broker. What’s
that? It’s about creating the space and
the people to have conversations we
need to, rather than want to have. He
curates, facilitates, moderates events (in
person - indoors or outdoors) around
land, trees, wildlife, conservation,
hunting, water, food, wilding etc by
moving around chairs on stage and
mics in the audience. Oh, and he’s still
annoying The Times Letters editor with
133 letters published to date. Find him
at www.robyorke.co.uk or on twitter
www.twitter.com/blackgull
Simon Frew (PH 1982-87)
The Restaurant & Bar at Four Seasons
at Park Lane in Mayfair, London are
being refurbished and Simon took part
in this publicity shot for Chef Yannick
Alleno’s new culinary venue.
Simon continues to enjoy being a
Brand Ambassador for Four Seasons
Hotels & Resorts, as well as sitting on
the Board of Jordan International Bank
plc, based in London.
William Ransford (O 1982-87)
has been commissioned as a Deputy
Lieutenant of Powys by HM The King.
The photo above shows William with
Alex Trevor (R 1999-04),
Damian Richards (R 1986-91)
and James Harvey (S 1983-87) at an
annual Family Shoot at Powis Castle,
Christmas 2022.
Johnny Holland (O 1983-88)
Johnny lives on a small farm in rural
West Dorset with his family and an
ever-expanding menagerie of animals,
including dogs, donkeys, ducks and
chickens.
During the week Johnny works in
London as the head of Hackett Holland,
a successful boutique Architecture and
Interiors Practice which he founded
with wife Jane Hackett. Hackett
Holland specialize in residential
refurbishment and extension for private
clients. Johnny is passionate about
‘recycling’ older buildings and creating
highly energy efficient new builds.
Hackett Holland are currently working
on five separate Listed houses in RBKC,
as well as developing three new build
country houses in traditional style with
sustainable credentials.
Johnny remains in close contact with
Salopian contemporaries including
Simon Bevan (O 1983-88),
Charles Davies (O 1983-88),
Tim Dams (PH 1983-88) and
Charlie Goddard (PH 1983-88).
1990-99
Tom Oakes (S 1990-92)
In 2021 I set up children’s book
publishing house, Townhouse
Publishing Limited. Having worked in
Ed Godrich (I 1988-93)
Ed Godrich has been working with
singer and celebrity Robbie Williams
as his creative partner on a major art
project. They held their first exhibition
at Sotheby’s in May 2022 and went
on to show their work in Dubai in
December. Ed and Robbie have been
working together for several years.
They met when Ed, who used to be
an interior designer, was enlisted to
decorate Robbie’s London home. Ed
founded Godrich Interiors with fellow
Old Salopian Rupert Hunt (M 1988-
93) who still runs the company. Robbie
Williams has collected art for some time,
after becoming inspired by album covers.
The pair are inspired by their mutual love
of art, music and all things ‘80s.
James Smith (Ch 1990-95)
My news is I have a son in the Fifth
Form in my old house Churchill’s Hall
about to do GCSEs, coincidentally
sharing a dorm with the son of one of
my old friends and dorm mates from
when I was at Churchill’s in the 1990s;
and a daughter starting in the Third
Form at Queen’s Hall next September.
I’ve recently started a new job as
CFO of TalkTalk, the internet service
provider, headquartered in Manchester,
although my family home remains in
Scotland with my wife Camilla, who
teaches at Fettes, and our seven lovely
children.