You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
VERSA<br />
OA NEWS<br />
WWII PILOT’S LOST DIARY<br />
MILESTONE REUNIONS<br />
THE MOTTY YEARS<br />
OA FOOTBALL PROMOTION<br />
A GREAT<br />
SPORTING<br />
SEASON<br />
OA success across sports<br />
AUTUMN 2023<br />
Cover image courtesy of Ray Lawrence Photography
Inside<br />
this issue<br />
Upcoming Events 2<br />
Editorial Team<br />
Louise Barnes<br />
Alumni Relations & Development Manager<br />
Sarah Gray<br />
Alumni Relations & Development Officer<br />
OA President’s Notes 3<br />
OA News 4<br />
OA Focus 8<br />
OA Events 9<br />
The Motty Years 10<br />
Announcements11<br />
OA Sports 17<br />
OA Lodge 21<br />
The 948 Sports Foundation 21<br />
@oldalbanianassociation<br />
@oaassociation<br />
oaconnect.co.uk<br />
@oaassociation<br />
Old Albanian Networking:<br />
St Albans School<br />
St Albans School Foundation | CHARITY NO. 1092932
4 Contacts & Dates<br />
5<br />
UPCOMING EVENTS<br />
OA PRESIDENT’S NOTES<br />
Paul Richardson (OA 1979), OA President<br />
OAA AGM<br />
Wednesday 10 January, 7.30pm<br />
OA Pavilion, Woollam Playing Fields.<br />
The Secretary announces the 131st Annual General<br />
Meeting of the Old Albanian Association will be held<br />
on the 10 January, reviewing 2023. Members are<br />
welcome to attend the meeting which will be held<br />
at 7.30pm in the ‘948’ room at the OA Pavilion at the<br />
Woollams sports ground.<br />
MILITARY OA DRINKS<br />
Thursday 1 February, 6.30pm<br />
The In & Out Club, London<br />
St Albans School has a long and proud tradition of<br />
alumni who join the Military. To recognise this, we will<br />
be hosting a drinks reception to bring together OAs<br />
who have links to the Armed Forces – whether they<br />
are currently serving, have served or are part of the<br />
UOTC or similar.<br />
ST ALBANS SCHOOL GALA DINNER<br />
Friday 22 March, 7pm<br />
The Woollam Playing Fields<br />
A formal dinner in aid of the School’s Bursary Fund<br />
with the chance to hear from an amazing speaker.<br />
IF YOU WISH TO CONTACT THE SCHOOL’S DEVELOPMENT OFFICE ABOUT<br />
ANYTHING IN VERSA, PLEASE USE THE BELOW CONTACT DETAILS.<br />
SCHOOL<br />
development@st-albans.herts.sch.uk<br />
Development Director<br />
Rebecca van der Westhuizen<br />
01727 515177<br />
rdvanderwesthuizen@st-albans.herts.sch.uk<br />
Alumni Relations & Development<br />
Manager<br />
Louise Barnes<br />
01727 224540<br />
lcbarnes@st-albans.herts.sch.uk<br />
Alumni Relations & Development Officer<br />
Sarah Gray<br />
01727 224540<br />
slgray@st-albans.herts.sch.uk<br />
Archivist<br />
Sue Gregory<br />
01727 515178<br />
sgregory@st-albans.herts.sch.uk<br />
OA ASSOCIATION<br />
President<br />
Paul Richardson<br />
Secretary<br />
Mike Hodge<br />
Treasurer<br />
David Hughes<br />
Membership Secretary<br />
Roger Cook<br />
Hon. Auditor<br />
Peter Dew<br />
OA RUGBY<br />
oarugby.com<br />
President<br />
Richard Milnes<br />
Chairman<br />
Scott Bachmann<br />
Vice Chairman<br />
Peter Blake-Turner<br />
Hon. Treasurer<br />
Rick Powdrell<br />
MILESTONE REUNIONS<br />
Saturday 18 May, from 11.30am<br />
St Albans School<br />
We are delighted to invite everyone celebrating a<br />
decade reunion in 2024 back to St Albans School for<br />
a celebratory event with their classmates. Details will<br />
follow on OA Connect, but please save the date if you<br />
are from the Class of 2014, 2004, 1994, 1984, 1974,<br />
1964 or 1954. We will also be inviting back the Class<br />
of 2019 as they celebrate their five-year reunion after<br />
leaving St Albans School.<br />
FOUNDERS’ DAY – SUMMER SOCIAL<br />
Saturday 29 June, from 12.30pm<br />
The Woollam Playing Fields<br />
OAs and their families are warmly invited to the<br />
St Albans School Summer Social. As part of our<br />
Founders’ Day celebrations, OAs will be able to enjoy<br />
a BBQ lunch whilst watching a variety of sports.<br />
Hon. Secretary<br />
Peter Lipscomb<br />
Club Captain<br />
Kim Watson<br />
Director of Rugby<br />
James Osborn<br />
Junior Chair<br />
James Hathaway<br />
Mini Chair<br />
Tom Oliver<br />
Please note that dates and venues are<br />
subject to change. For more details about<br />
all upcoming events and to book your place,<br />
please visit oaconnect.co.uk/events.<br />
Saints Chair<br />
Wellie Clark<br />
Junior Saints Chair<br />
Craig Ihlenfeldt<br />
OA FOOTBALL<br />
President<br />
Nick Jackson<br />
OA CRICKET<br />
oacricket.co.uk<br />
Chairman<br />
David Goodier<br />
President<br />
Richard Morgan<br />
Director of Cricket<br />
Simon Bates<br />
Treasurer<br />
Richard Ransley<br />
Secretary<br />
Alison Finley<br />
OA TENNIS<br />
oatennis.com<br />
Chairman<br />
Geoff Lamb<br />
Head Coach<br />
Margie Edge<br />
Hon. Secretary<br />
Justin Azzopardo<br />
OA RIFLE<br />
oashooting.com<br />
President<br />
Owen Simmons<br />
Captain<br />
Andrew Wilkie<br />
Treasurer<br />
Andrew Moore<br />
OA GOLF<br />
Captain<br />
Peter Dredge<br />
Hon. Secretary<br />
Mike Crowston<br />
OA LODGE<br />
oldalbanianlodge.org.uk<br />
Treasurer &<br />
Membership Officer<br />
Jonathan Giffen<br />
Secretary<br />
Alex Bain-Stewart<br />
Assistant Secretary<br />
John Williams<br />
After a busy and enjoyable<br />
summer in my role as OA<br />
Association President, I<br />
feel increasingly positive about<br />
the School, our alumni network<br />
and the opportunities that exist<br />
to build and strengthen bonds<br />
and relationships. I would also<br />
like to add my congratulations to<br />
all the pupils and staff who have<br />
achieved another set of excellent<br />
academic results.<br />
What has also struck me, since<br />
officially starting in January 2023,<br />
is the enormous potential we<br />
have! It’s a fair learning curve, as<br />
you might expect from a school<br />
as established as St Albans, with<br />
the OA Clubs’ history dating back<br />
to 1892.<br />
Whilst most readers will be<br />
familiar with our long and<br />
PAUL RICHARDSON<br />
fascinating history, it never<br />
fails to cause me pause for<br />
thought as I visit the School’s<br />
facilities, old and new, and think about the generations<br />
that preceded us. As I mentioned in my last letter, the very<br />
comprehensive volume Born Not For Ourselves, the history<br />
of St Albans School by Nigel Watson, is well worth a read to<br />
give a sense of the unique place St Albans School has in our<br />
shared history, over many centuries.<br />
The relationship between the OA Sports Clubs and the<br />
School is also important to me and I’ve enjoyed seeing the<br />
School team play football against the OAs, a 1st team rugby<br />
match, and cricket at Woollams, on what is growing into<br />
one of the best settings and pitches in the land.<br />
Standards in sport seem to me to continually be on the<br />
rise: I am sure through the fantastic coaching, facilities,<br />
and options now available. From an OAA perspective we<br />
were delighted to see that our recent grant recipients, Max<br />
(powerlifting) and Dylan (swimming), have progressed so<br />
well in their respective disciplines, with Max coming sixth in<br />
his group in the World Championships. The OAA committee<br />
looks forward to continuing to support the ongoing<br />
development and progress of both individuals and teams.<br />
Whilst it is terrific to see these elite achievements in<br />
sport alongside strong academic results, I am particularly<br />
impressed with wider participation across the School in a<br />
range of areas, including Music, Drama, and community<br />
service. As someone who possibly focussed a little too<br />
much on the ‘Games’ side of<br />
things, there is clearly great<br />
balance across the multiple<br />
aspects of school life, and<br />
I’ve been fortunate to see<br />
this in action in the annual<br />
Remembrance, Carol and<br />
Founders’ Day services, plus<br />
a range of excellent musical<br />
recitals.<br />
Another ‘shout out’ is the<br />
friendly, relaxed conversation<br />
with pupils at events. For<br />
me, it has always been an<br />
important life skill to be able<br />
to engage naturally with<br />
people of all ages, and not just<br />
one’s contemporaries. The<br />
value, and ability, to talk really<br />
became apparent since COVID,<br />
when schools and businesses<br />
were shut. In the office, I’ve<br />
frequently seen the importance<br />
of individuals being able to speak with more senior<br />
colleagues about problems and opportunities, and so I was<br />
particularly pleased to see the launch of OA Mentor, the<br />
new OA mentoring scheme. In time, I am sure the ability<br />
to connect directly with fellow OAs who may be able to<br />
offer advice or guidance on professions or careers will be<br />
extremely helpful and drive closer collaboration across<br />
generations. It is great that the art of conversation is very<br />
much alive and being fostered!<br />
At the time of writing, the most recent event I attended<br />
was the naming of the Hawking Building, followed by<br />
Prizegiving. The stories of Stephen Hawking on the day<br />
prompted me to look up quotes by Einstein and it turns<br />
out he had much to say on education. My favourite plays<br />
to the overall value of what is available from the School,<br />
in addition to achieving great exam results: ‘The wit was<br />
not wrong who defined education in this way: “Education<br />
is that which remains, if one has forgotten everything he<br />
learned in school”.’<br />
Finally, with any association such as ours, we always<br />
welcome volunteers and help. Any OAs (recent or mature!)<br />
who would like to get involved, please don’t hesitate to get<br />
in touch with me on OAAPresident@st-albans.herts.sch.uk.<br />
Wishing everyone a great Autumn and Christmas!
6<br />
OA News<br />
7<br />
WWII PILOT’S LOST DIARY<br />
THE UNEXPLORED OCEANS<br />
The diary of an OA who was an RAF<br />
pilot in the Second World War has<br />
been found 30 years after his death<br />
and turned into a 12-part independent<br />
podcast.<br />
Flight Sergeant Ron Chapman (OA 1937)<br />
joined the RAF after leaving St Albans School,<br />
and kept a detailed diary for 1943, when<br />
he was just 22 years old. It contains stories<br />
of gold smuggling, the sudden deaths of<br />
colleagues and secret supply missions.<br />
The podcast, called ʼBlighty Thank Godʼ,<br />
was produced and hosted by his son, Neil<br />
Chapman (OA 1972) and accompanies a<br />
website, which is the result of a six-year<br />
research journey, taking in the National<br />
Archives and other historical sources<br />
worldwide.<br />
Neil said: “My father was like so many young<br />
men in the RAF, reluctantly forced to be<br />
thousands of miles away from home and<br />
in many ways the podcast is a tribute to all<br />
those reluctant warriors who served. Even<br />
though my father wasn’t on the front line, to<br />
my surprise I discovered he was always in<br />
danger. Death – from accidents and horrible<br />
diseases – lurked like a ghost throughout the<br />
diary. Many he knew or worked alongside<br />
were killed in horrible circumstances.<br />
“My father thought he’d never survive the<br />
War, hence the podcast title – words of relief<br />
he wrote in his pilot’s log book on making it<br />
back to the UK, having been posted overseas<br />
very early in the war.” After the start of the<br />
Second World War, Ron was posted to West<br />
Africa, the Middle East and Europe. He never<br />
told his sons about his diary, and passed<br />
away in 1980, aged 60. The diary was only<br />
discovered after their mother died.<br />
The website gives access to the fully<br />
transcribed diary and Neil’s research<br />
notes and images, which provide historical<br />
background to the entries. It also has<br />
additional material associated with each<br />
podcast episode including maps and<br />
photographs.<br />
The podcast is available on a range of<br />
podcast platforms, including Apple and<br />
Spotify. Find out more at<br />
blightythankgod.co.uk.<br />
EXPLORING THE<br />
HISTORY OF ST ALBAN<br />
Whilst many of us spent the lockdown months watching endless TV and<br />
attempting to work out if we could have another hour walking outside,<br />
Laurence Attewill (OA 1964) was much more gainfully employed in<br />
researching and writing a book about the life of St Alban.<br />
The finalised publication, titled I am called Alban: The story of St Alban and his<br />
legacy, was launched amongst friends and family in the School library on Tuesday<br />
27 June. Written in a readable style, Laurence’s book takes a fresh look at the<br />
story of Alban and tackles some big questions, including whether Alban was<br />
actually martyred and who founded the original Saxon monastery. At the launch,<br />
Laurence talked about his research process and what he uncovered, before<br />
elaborating further in a Q&A session led by Rose Hardy, his niece, and former St<br />
Albans School staff member. Copies of the book can be purchased on Amazon.<br />
There has been a huge amount in the news this year<br />
about climate change and extreme weather patterns.<br />
But what is the effect of this upon the world’s<br />
oceans? This topic is one that is very close to the heart of<br />
Aryan Shah (OA 2021), who used it as the focus of his talk<br />
for the recent Imperial College TEDx conference.<br />
Titled Exploration for the generations, Aryan’s talk<br />
highlighted our lack of knowledge about the oceans and<br />
how unexplored they are, and the role that everyone<br />
must play in protecting them. It stressed that the lack<br />
of data we have on the oceans affects hundreds of<br />
industries around the world and the millions of people<br />
who rely on them for their livelihoods.<br />
OA MENTOR LAUNCHES<br />
In September, we were delighted to launch OA Mentor,<br />
the new OA-to-OA mentoring service which runs through<br />
OA Connect. It is designed to help OAs benefit from the<br />
wealth of careers advice and support available within the<br />
alumni community, as well as allowing those who choose to<br />
mentor to inspire others and develop their own skills.<br />
Best practice guidelines and details about being a<br />
mentor and mentee are available on OA Connect, and we<br />
encourage anyone interested in supporting other OAs to<br />
Aryan said: “Exploring and preserving the oceans is<br />
something so very close to my heart and it’s been my<br />
dream to bring this undiscovered frontier to a platform<br />
like this, that inspires so many people to think differently.”<br />
Currently studying Earth and Planetary Sciences at<br />
Imperial College London, geophysicist Aryan is passionate<br />
about the natural world and has a particular interest in<br />
ocean exploration and marine geophysics, and the role<br />
that technology can play in protecting them.<br />
Aryan’s talk can be viewed on YouTube at<br />
youtube.com/watch?v=oBmYlqiqsq8.<br />
sign up. As a mentor, you can specify what you can help<br />
with – with areas including industry or sector advice, work<br />
experience, CV review and PhD advice – and also how many<br />
individuals you can help.<br />
We hope to grow this and create a helpful tool for anyone<br />
who has recently graduated, and those seeking to progress<br />
in their industry or change career. Find out more at<br />
oaconnect.co.uk/careers.
8 OA News<br />
9<br />
DIAMOND CELEBRATION FOR<br />
The Zombies<br />
THE FIRES BURN BRIGHT<br />
in St Albans<br />
Chris Tillin (OA 1986)<br />
The Friendly Fires returned ʼhomeʼ on Thursday 24<br />
August, delivering an incredible performance at<br />
the Alban Arena, a venue they last played at over<br />
10 years ago.<br />
The band have played at some iconic venues over the<br />
years, from Glastonbury to Coachella, but St Albans is<br />
their hometown – and the local pub where the trio wrote<br />
ʼPhotoboothʼ was even given a mention.<br />
To celebrate 60 years of The Zombies, the documentary<br />
ʼHung Up On A Dreamʼ was released in late 2023, detailing<br />
the band’s journey from teenage friends through to Rock<br />
and Roll Hall of Fame legends.<br />
These early teenage years feature founding members<br />
Rod Argent (OA 1963), Hugh Grundy (OA 1963) and Paul<br />
Atkinson (OA 1964) who met whilst at St Albans School,<br />
and were joined by Colin Blunstone and Paul Arnold,<br />
who both attended St Albans Boys’ Grammar School<br />
(now Verulam School). The band formed in 1961 and<br />
met in the Blacksmiths Arms pub, where there is now a<br />
commemorative plaque outside celebrating the group.<br />
It was in 1964 that the band found fame, after signing a<br />
record contract with Decca and releasing ʼSheʼs Not Thereʼ,<br />
which reached number 12 in the UK charts and sold over<br />
one million copies worldwide.<br />
Rod said: “One of my most magical discoveries in the 1990s<br />
was finding out that not only had The Zombies achieved<br />
the very first self-written English number one record in the<br />
U.S. after The Beatles, in 1964, with ʼSheʼs Not Thereʼ (as<br />
announced at the time by the BBC news) but that Elvis, the<br />
iconic figure from my youth, that same year actually had<br />
that, and two more of my songs, on his juke box!<br />
“The Zombies, of course, in that first incarnation, went on<br />
to shortly have two more huge U.S. records: ʼTell Her Noʼ,<br />
in 1965 and in 1969, by far their biggest selling number one<br />
in America and around the world, ʼTime Of The Seasonʼ.<br />
The current lineup of the band, as shown in the photo, has,<br />
in many ways, had even more satisfying success, and the<br />
last 10 years, in particular, have shown constantly growing<br />
and wonderful audiences, and terrific reviews. The group<br />
has been, since 2019, members of The Rock And Roll Hall<br />
Of Fame.”<br />
Directed by Robert Schwartzman, the feature-length film<br />
details how the group navigated the music industry over the<br />
decades, with a mixture of interviews and archival footage,<br />
as well as some of their key hits and albums, including ʼTime<br />
of the Seasonʼ, and influential album ʼOdessey and Oracleʼ.<br />
From left to right: Tom Toomey, Søren Koch, Rod Argent, Colin Blunstone, Steve Rodford.<br />
The St Albans School ‘Old Boys’ – who met at school<br />
aged 13 – smashed out a performance worthy of all<br />
the accolades they have earned to date. To a crowd of<br />
fans who have followed the band from their early days<br />
playing the local clubs and pubs, this show celebrated<br />
the 15th anniversary of their self-titled debut album.<br />
From the first moment Ed Macfarlane (OA 2002), Jack<br />
Savidge (OA 2002) and Edd Gibson (OA 2002) took to<br />
the stage, the energy levels went through the roof, with<br />
lead singer Ed’s charismatic presence captivating the<br />
crowd. For the fans, some of whom had travelled from<br />
as far afield as Bristol and Newcastle, the band did not<br />
disappoint. Their debut 2009 album, written by the band<br />
with influences from their years growing up locally, was<br />
played in its entirety.<br />
Ed excels in audience engagement, delivering genuine<br />
appreciation of the relationship the band has with<br />
everyone who buys into their style. He makes the<br />
crowd part of the show, and as the band launched into<br />
quite possibly the best encore I have ever seen, every<br />
member of the arena joined into some of their greatest<br />
hits including ʼLove Like Wavesʼ, ʼHurtingʼ, ʼHeaven Let Me<br />
Inʼ, ʼSilhouettesʼ and the song that really blew the roof off<br />
the arena, ʼKiss of Lifeʼ.<br />
What Friendly Fires delivered was something unique, a<br />
performance filled with infectious energy, and a mix of<br />
tunes that just donʼt age.<br />
And with that the evening ended, the lights came up,<br />
and the 500+ audience who crammed into the arena<br />
headed out with a memory that will last forever.<br />
EX-PRESIDENT<br />
receives President’s Award<br />
GEORGE HARRISON<br />
MEMORIAL<br />
Over the summer, the pavilion at the Woollam Playing<br />
Fields hosted a memorial to the inspirational and<br />
well-loved cross-country and athletics coach George<br />
Harrison MBE. Organised by Roy Head (OA 1983), several<br />
OAs spoke movingly about their memories of George and<br />
the impact he had upon their lives. A recording of the<br />
memorial can be viewed on OA Connect in the news section.<br />
OA HOCKEY<br />
Former OAA President, Mike Hodge<br />
(OA 1964), was awarded the St Albans<br />
District Chamber of Commerce<br />
President’s Award in November for his<br />
charitable work.<br />
As a result of Mike’s work, over £250,000<br />
has been donated to a range of charities,<br />
including Rennie Grove Peace, the Hospice<br />
of St Francis, Keech Hospice Care, Bedford<br />
MS Therapy Centre, The AT Society and<br />
SABA (St Albans Band Aid).<br />
Harpenden Busker’. Whilst at St Albans<br />
School, Mike taught himself to play the<br />
guitar and has used this skill to raise money<br />
around the country for his chosen charities.<br />
He also visits St Matthews Care Home in<br />
Redbourn fortnightly, to play and sing to<br />
residents, many of whom have dementia.<br />
After leaving St Albans School, Mike worked<br />
for HMRC and EY, before setting up his own<br />
business. He has lived in Harpenden for<br />
over 50 years.<br />
On Sunday 17 September, the OA hockey team took part in the<br />
annual Sixes tournament at Haileybury School. It was their 10th<br />
appearance in the tournament, and despite missing some key<br />
players it was a great event and allowed a merging of the “old guard”<br />
with some new fresh, recent leavers.<br />
We hope to continue to grow the OA hockey team – their next match will<br />
be against the School 1st XI on Saturday 6 January 2024. If you would like<br />
to be involved, please email development@st-albans.herts.sch.uk.<br />
MIKE BUSKING AND SARAH COLLECTING<br />
FOR THE RNLI ALONGSIDE TWO SALCOMBE<br />
LIFEBOAT FUNDRAISERS<br />
Mike said: “It meant a huge amount to be<br />
given this award. Many of the charities are<br />
very close to my heart and they do amazing<br />
work, and it’s been a privilege supporting<br />
them over the decades.”<br />
As well as raising money through an<br />
annual Golf Day, Mike has also developed<br />
his repertoire and is known locally as ‘The<br />
The St Albans District Chamber of<br />
Commerce President’s Award is given out<br />
annually to an individual or team within the<br />
district who has demonstrated exceptional<br />
commitment and outstanding contribution<br />
to the community, demonstrating<br />
character, volunteerism, leadership or a<br />
sense of caring, support and responsibility<br />
for others.
10 OA Focus<br />
OA Events 11<br />
RISING STARS<br />
MILESTONE REUNIONS<br />
HITTING THE BIG TIME<br />
After graduating from university in 2020, professional tennis<br />
player Charles Broom (OA 2016) has earned a career-high ranking<br />
of 343 in singles and 205 in doubles. This summer he took part in<br />
the Wimbledon Qualifiers, for the first time in his career, where he<br />
won a round, beating his opponent ranked inside the world’s top<br />
250 players.<br />
Charles said: “I was extremely grateful to have the opportunity<br />
to play Wimbledon Qualifying this year. I had played well leading<br />
up to Wimbledon, so I knew I had the level in me to beat a highly<br />
ranked opponent. But to be able to do it in front of a large British<br />
crowd, by winning the last 12 points of the match, was a bit of a<br />
fairy-tale. I want to use this experience and continue to progress in<br />
my career, so I can play in the main draw of Wimbledon in singles<br />
and doubles.”<br />
In December 2022, Charles also represented Great Britain in the<br />
MasterʼU BNP Paribas, where he earned a silver medal.<br />
Our inaugural Milestone Reunion event was held<br />
on Saturday 20 May 2023, and it was incredible to<br />
welcome back so many OAs to reunite with friends<br />
and peers from their year-groups.<br />
The first half of the day was dedicated to OAs from the<br />
Class of 1953, 1963, 1973, 1983, 1993 and 2003, beginning<br />
with tours of the site and the chance to speak to current<br />
Sixth Formers about their studies. There was then a<br />
sparkling reception followed by a delicious lunch in the<br />
refectory, finishing off with the obligatory year group<br />
photos. In the evening, we welcomed back the Class of<br />
2013 and 2018, who were celebrating 10- and five-year<br />
reunions respectively, with drinks and a BBQ.<br />
The full photo album from the day can be viewed on<br />
OA Connect on our ‘photos’ page. We look forward to<br />
welcoming back OAs from the Class of 1954, 1964, 1974,<br />
1984, 1994, 2004, 2014 and 2019 on Saturday 18 May 2024<br />
– please keep an eye on OA Connect for details!<br />
OA DINNER<br />
A GOOD INNINGS<br />
Cricket has always been a<br />
popular sport at St Albans<br />
School and there can be few<br />
who don’t have memories of either<br />
the Woollam Playing Fields or King<br />
Harry, bathed in summer sunshine<br />
and accompanied by the familiar<br />
thwack of ball on wood. One OA<br />
has taken that a step further and<br />
been called up to the England Lions<br />
training camp.<br />
Josh De Caires (OA 2020), a batter<br />
for Middlesex County Cricket Club,<br />
recently took part in a three-week<br />
training camp in the UAE, along<br />
with 20 other players.<br />
Josh recently signed a threeyear<br />
professional contract with<br />
Middlesex and has had a fantastic<br />
breakthrough season. He took<br />
27 wickets in his eight County<br />
Championship appearances,<br />
including a seven and an eightwicket<br />
haul.<br />
Josh said: “It’s such an honour to<br />
have been selected for the England<br />
Lions, and I’m really grateful to be<br />
given the opportunity to continue<br />
to play for Middlesex for the next<br />
couple of years, and hopefully<br />
contribute towards some success<br />
for the club.”<br />
Out of the 21 players at the camp,<br />
which focused on the development<br />
of red ball skills, Josh was one<br />
of ten players who were newly<br />
selected for the Lions.<br />
The England Lions, who used to<br />
be known as England A, act as a<br />
way for promising young cricketers<br />
to gain experience of playing<br />
international cricket to help pave<br />
the way for future England success<br />
on the cricket pitch.<br />
RAY LAWRENCE PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
OA NETBALL<br />
On a surprisingly hot afternoon on Saturday 16<br />
September, the OAs faced the new 1st VII netball team<br />
in a fast-paced match. Several school netballers were<br />
unable to attend, and despite the pupils giving it their<br />
all, the OAs had a comfortable 34-10 win.<br />
The annual OA dinner had an Italian-themed meal this year and it was<br />
fantastic to see OAs from 1952 through to 2021 returning to the School.<br />
Held on Friday 6 October 2023, the evening began with tours starting<br />
from the School’s museum, followed by a drinks reception in the library.<br />
The dinner in the refectory was a delicious lamb-topped risotto, and<br />
followed a welcome from new OA President, Paul Richardson, when he<br />
paid the Headmaster the annual ceremonial peppercorn payment.<br />
BOTTOMLESS<br />
BRUNCH<br />
A bottomless brunch was held on Saturday 10 June to<br />
mark 30 years since the first cohort of female pupils<br />
left St Albans School – and the sun shone, and the<br />
prosecco flowed! It was fantastic to see OAs returning,<br />
sometimes for the first time since studying here, and<br />
catching up with old friends and former teachers.
12<br />
INTO THE ARCHIVES<br />
EARLY SCHOOL SPORT<br />
If you’ve read ‘The Motty Years’ on the opposite page, you’ll have a taste of the<br />
role of football at St Albans School from the late 1970s. However, from the early<br />
days of the School’s inception, sport was a key part of daily life.<br />
When the School was connected to the monastery,<br />
we know that medieval Benedictine monks would<br />
kick and handle a weighted leather ball around<br />
the grounds. One could argue that this was an early form<br />
of football, although we do not know the exact game and<br />
rules that they would have played by.<br />
During this time, there was no differentiation between<br />
mental and physical education. Alongside learning Latin,<br />
writing and mathematics, boys were taught the physical<br />
activities of bérhourd (sword fighting), archery, hand<br />
combat, sword-smithing and the craft of bowyering and<br />
fletchering (the making of arrows).<br />
Records around physical education are sketchy during the<br />
1700s, but in the 1800s there is a clear change – potentially<br />
linked to the wider interest in fitness in the Victorian era.<br />
During this time, and into Edwardian England, drill was<br />
a key school activity alongside the ‘three Rs’ and life at<br />
St Albans School was no different. Drill often involved<br />
exercises such as marching on the spot and skipping<br />
and was thought to help children follow instructions and<br />
improve health, whilst also preparing them for work and<br />
military service.<br />
It is also during this time that the more recognisable sports<br />
began to be played including cricket and hockey, with<br />
football being a key school sport in the late 19th century.<br />
The editorial in the October 1892 edition of The Albanian<br />
said: “It is no good either for a boy’s brain or for himself to<br />
lounge about the streets in a state of idleness, but a game<br />
The open-air swimming bath<br />
of football for one hour a day is of the greatest possible<br />
good to him; it not only refreshes the mind, but it also<br />
strengthens the body.”<br />
In the December 1892 edition of The Albanian, it was<br />
reported that an ‘organised gymnasium’ had opened,<br />
with the editor writing: “Formerly very few boys took any<br />
interest in gymnastic exercises, but now I am glad to say<br />
that the new drilling sergeant has started some evening<br />
classes, which are fairly well attended […]. There is nothing<br />
a school boy ought to like better than to spend an hour or<br />
two on the parallel bars or horizontal bar.”<br />
Swimming really became a part of the School in 1933.<br />
The open-air swimming bath was officially opened on 17<br />
June 1933; designed by architect Percival Blow (OA 1888),<br />
it was constructed at a cost of £1,700 and featured five<br />
racing lanes, a spring board and three-stage diving board.<br />
Available for both pupils and OAs to use, it led to a large<br />
increase in the number of boys who learned to swim. The<br />
Albanian reported: “It must always be remembered by boys<br />
of the School that the Bath has not been provided merely<br />
to afford a means of cooling delight and amusement in hot<br />
weather. The first duty is to learn to swim, the next to pass<br />
the [two lengths] test, and the third to learn to swim well<br />
and dive well.”<br />
Today a huge range of sports is played at the School, but it<br />
is fascinating to investigate the roots and the development<br />
of physical education.<br />
THE ‘MOTTY’ YEARS<br />
When John Motson, the BBC’s ‘Voice of Football’,<br />
died in February 2023 his many obituaries<br />
listed his achievements: commentating on 10<br />
World Cups, 10 UEFA Championships, 29 Cup Finals<br />
and more than 200 Internationals. He was clearly on<br />
top of his game and loved football. But what didn’t get<br />
a mention was the willing contribution he made to the<br />
development of ‘soccer’ at St Albans School.<br />
Association Football had been a major sport at SAS in<br />
the early years of the 20th century with an OA team<br />
appearing, but not making much of an impression,<br />
in the Arthur Dunn Cup until 1927. Just 50 years later<br />
I managed to get a competitive side together at the<br />
School and, three years on, a pre-season match against<br />
a John Motson XI gave the game the impetus it needed<br />
and the limelight it deserved. The fixture remained on<br />
the School’s sports calendar until 2000.<br />
An aerial view of the King Harry Lane playing fields<br />
John lived only a misplaced goal kick away from King<br />
Harry in the early years, so the idea of a pre-season<br />
‘home’ fixture appealed to him. The short distance to<br />
watering holes at The Six Bells and The Three Hammers<br />
for post-match refreshment certainly appealed to his<br />
fellow journalists and footballing friends.<br />
And so it was that the likes of Alan Parry, Jim Rosenthal<br />
and Martin Tyler were ever present in his team line-up.<br />
They knew how to play the game, certainly how to talk<br />
the game, and how not to lose. A search of past copies<br />
of The Albanian reveals that the School had to wait eight<br />
years before they tasted victory. Not all the results are<br />
recorded but this dominance wasn’t surprising. John’s<br />
team of commentators was regularly augmented and<br />
strengthened by ‘ringers’ and once the team included<br />
Neil Smillie (ex-Watford and an FA Cup finalist with<br />
Brighton and Hove Albion in 1983). Given that regular<br />
David Willacy<br />
Former staff member 1973 – 2000<br />
defenders included Steve Walford (115 Football League<br />
appearances with Spurs, Arsenal and West Ham<br />
United) and Gordon Riddick (over 400 Football League<br />
appearances), it is a credit to the School that they only<br />
once failed to score in reply. And that is before we think<br />
about Peter Kitchen and former Newcastle manager Joe<br />
Kinnear… There were surprises, too. I refereed the 1984<br />
fixture and was surprised to see then-current World<br />
1500m Champion and World Record holder Steve Cram<br />
on the pitch.<br />
However good, all things come an end, and the 21st<br />
and last game was played in September 2000. I took<br />
the opportunity to invite past players to represent the<br />
School. The response was heartening and there was<br />
no mistaking the sense of opportunity to take some<br />
revenge.<br />
Motty’s team had renamed themselves as the<br />
Commentators X1 and had a familiar look on paper<br />
but, as seven of the line-up had played in the first<br />
fixture, on the field they were ageing. Peter Kitchen<br />
had flown in from Japan in anticipation of adding to<br />
his goal tally, and our Jeremy Simpson changed his<br />
flight schedule from Hong Kong to be part of the<br />
action. In my retirement year I prepared to make my<br />
debut as an 80th-minute substitute. I hope that Messrs<br />
Simpson, Pepper, Grubb, Walker, Sellar, Kinnear, Mote,<br />
Freedman, White, Pickering, Thornton, Woods, O’Reilly,<br />
Stylianou and referee McCree remember the day, too.<br />
They won handsomely.<br />
I was privileged to represent the School at his funeral<br />
where Bill Hamilton, his BBC colleague and a referee<br />
at one of our matches, gave a fulsome eulogy, and<br />
the great and the good packed the Milton Keynes<br />
Crematorium to pay tribute.<br />
The photograph on the cover of the Order of Service<br />
showed John in his trademark sheepskin coat. He had<br />
no need for that on late summer evenings on King<br />
Harry. But we can remember him, as an enthusiastic<br />
midfield captain urging his team to win and reliving his<br />
days as a rookie journalist and amateur footballer in<br />
the Barnet Sunday League, where he scored 19 times in<br />
165 appearances.<br />
Winning or losing we all shared a passion and have<br />
been enriched by the experience.<br />
John Walker Motson OBE, 1945 – 2003, RIP<br />
13
14 Announcements<br />
15<br />
JOHN STANLEY HIGGS (OA 1940)<br />
1923 – 2022<br />
Edited from the commemoration address delivered<br />
on behalf of the family<br />
Born in Nottinghamshire in 1923, John’s idyllic early<br />
childhood was tragically interrupted by the death of his<br />
mother just before his fifth birthday. Term time for John<br />
meant boarding school and he joined St Albans School in<br />
1933; school holidays were spent with his father visiting<br />
interesting engineering projects, or with his aunt who<br />
ran the sweet shop opposite the cinema in Newark.<br />
John excelled at sport: he played rugby for the School<br />
and was an exceptional swimmer and diver, regularly<br />
winning competitions at school and later the Army. He<br />
was also a very keen member of the Officer Training<br />
Corps, rising to the highest rank for a cadet and gaining<br />
his Certificate A.<br />
Upon leaving school he was keen to go straight into the<br />
Army, but his father wanted him to get a trade before<br />
he was called up. He arranged for John to take an<br />
apprenticeship with The General Post Office Telephones,<br />
qualifying as an engineer in 1942.<br />
While working for the Post Office John joined the Home<br />
Guard, before joining the regular Army. After a brief spell<br />
in the Royal Signals, John moved to his County Regiment<br />
– the Sherwood Foresters – before the honour of being<br />
commissioned into the Royal Army Service Corps with<br />
the acting rank of Lieutenant.<br />
OBITUARIES<br />
After progressing to Captain, he was given command of<br />
the Air Transport Training Wing MELF (Middle Eastern<br />
Land Forces) in Egypt; this entailed training Royal<br />
Marines, Danish Army, Egyptian Army and others in Air<br />
Transportation.<br />
Whilst in Egypt, John met Elizabeth Cooke, and after a<br />
fun-filled few months of courtship, they were married<br />
in November 1947 at the evocatively named Church of<br />
St Martin in the Sands. John was demobbed in 1949;<br />
he contemplated staying in the Army but being newly<br />
married decided to try his luck in civvy street, welcoming<br />
his daughter, Anne, a few years later.<br />
After working for several building companies, in 1970<br />
John decided to work as an independent Manufacturers<br />
Agent, eventually relocating to where business was best,<br />
Crediton, where he worked until retirement, at the age of<br />
83. At this point, John concentrated on campaigning and<br />
entertaining in equal measure and he was very honoured<br />
to receive the Crediton Town Plate in 2014, and to be<br />
named the Rotarian’s Citizen of the Year in 2019.<br />
Forever loyal to a succession of Ford Capris, and zealous<br />
of his unblemished record, John eventually surrendered<br />
his driving licence after eighty accident-free years. He<br />
wasn’t quite done with the road just yet and in his 98th<br />
year, John purchased an electric mobility buggy, in a<br />
striking cherry red, and delighted in traversing the hills<br />
of Crediton!<br />
After ninety-nine years and seven months, if we also<br />
include nine months in gestation – as John himself<br />
would cheerily have endorsed – we may celebrate his<br />
centenary.<br />
CYRIL ERNEST MOBBS (OA 1942)<br />
1926 – 2023<br />
Written by his son, Kerrin Mobbs<br />
Cyril passed away on<br />
21 February 2023, at<br />
the age of 96, after<br />
a good full life. He is<br />
survived by his wife<br />
of 73 years, Pamela<br />
Audrey Mobbs<br />
(née Thrussell). He<br />
had four children:<br />
Martin, Andrew,<br />
Kerrin, and Janice;<br />
four grandchildren:<br />
Trevor, Sean, Chris<br />
and Ashley, and five<br />
great-grandchildren:<br />
Harrison, Jeremy,<br />
Grayson, Darius and<br />
London.<br />
The only child of Sydney and Elsie Mobbs, Cyril was<br />
born in London, England on 29 March 1926. The small<br />
family soon moved to St Albans, Hertfordshire, where he<br />
attended Fleetville Junior School as a young boy. Passing<br />
the Scholarship Entrance Exam, he attended St Albans<br />
School from 1937 to 1942. Shortly after joining St Albans<br />
School, he was encouraged to be part of the Servers<br />
Guild at St Albans Cathedral.<br />
Due to this association, in the winter of 1940/41 he<br />
became part of the Fire Watch brigade looking after the<br />
cathedral during the night, keeping an eye out for enemy<br />
planes, once or twice a month. He also volunteered in<br />
the spring of 1942 and was taught to drive a tractor and<br />
to help in the fields around the county getting crops<br />
harvested, working 10-12 hour days.<br />
He met Pamela Thrussell at St Albans Cathedral, and<br />
they were married there on 24 September 1949. In 1966,<br />
Cyril, along with Kerrin and Janice, left England by ʼplane<br />
for Canada, landing in Toronto, initially staying in Acton,<br />
Ontario with friends who had immigrated 10 years earlier.<br />
A short time later, Pam brought Martin and Andrew with<br />
her after clearing the house in England, and ensuring all<br />
belongings were packed ready to be shipped to Canada.<br />
Working in Property Management was a challenging<br />
and demanding career which led to the family moving a<br />
few times to follow his work. First renting an apartment<br />
briefly in Toronto, then a move to Brantford, Ontario, for<br />
one year, and then back to the Toronto area, to a house<br />
in Willowdale for a few years before moving to Thornhill,<br />
a new area just north of Toronto.<br />
Cyril had two passions during his life. One as a member<br />
of the St Albans Lodge in England and he continued being<br />
an active member when he moved to Toronto with the<br />
Canadian Masonic Lodge. His other passion was aviation.<br />
He obtained his private pilot licence and built his own<br />
plane in his garage in Thornhill. He was a member of<br />
flying clubs in Toronto and in Winnipeg. After struggling to<br />
find work he decided to head west again and moved with<br />
Pam, to Winnipeg, Manitoba. There he invested in three<br />
small rental buildings, and had a business, managing<br />
these properties, until he officially retired at 65.<br />
Finding the weather too cold in Winnipeg, the buildings<br />
were sold and they moved back to Ontario, this time<br />
settling in Ajax in a house one block from the lakeshore,<br />
and the home they lived in the longest. Both loved to<br />
walk down to the front and stroll along the lakeshore<br />
park walkways beside the edge of Lake Ontario, just<br />
a short walk from the hustle and bustle of Toronto,<br />
where they were able to find peace and quiet. Today<br />
this area has become popular as a lot of people have<br />
found the same peace that Cyril and Pam had found<br />
here years ago.<br />
When he gave up his driver’s licence, it became clear<br />
that they could no longer stay in Ajax, so the decision<br />
was made to move to Ottawa. Through a few moves and<br />
struggles they ended up at the Revera, Prince of Wales<br />
Manor where his life’s journey ended.<br />
GENERAL SIR RICHARD LAWSON<br />
(OA 1944)<br />
1927 – 2023<br />
The following is an extract from the obituary<br />
published in The Daily Telegraph on<br />
Wednesday 12 July 2023<br />
General Sir Richard Lawson KCB DSO OBE KCSS, who<br />
died aged 95, was an outstanding and unorthodox<br />
leader whose adventurous career culminated in his<br />
appointment as Nato Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces<br />
Northern Europe.<br />
Richard George Lawson was born at Hatfield,<br />
Hertfordshire, on 24 November 1927 and educated at St<br />
Albans School, where he was Regimental Sergeant Major<br />
of the cadets. He volunteered for the Royal Armoured<br />
Corps and was sent to Birmingham University where he<br />
read civil and mechanical engineering. Having completed<br />
six months’ field engineering, he went on to Sandhurst.<br />
He contracted polio but graduated with his<br />
contemporaries and was commissioned into the Royal<br />
Tank Regiment (RTR) in July 1948. He joined 4th RTR in<br />
the Suez Canal Zone and commanded a troop of three<br />
Comet tanks.<br />
His distinguished military career led Lawson around the<br />
world, with postings including Lagos, Virginia, Northern<br />
Ireland, Germany, Baghdad and Jordan and secondments<br />
to the Royal Nigerian Army and the locally recruited<br />
Federal Regular Army in Aden, southern Arabia. After<br />
his two-year tour of command of 5th RTR in Germany,<br />
he served in the procurement department of the MoD<br />
before returning to Germany as commander of 20th<br />
Armoured Brigade. In 1977, he commanded the 1st<br />
Armoured Division, and in 1980 he became General<br />
Officer Commanding Northern Ireland.
16 Announcements<br />
17<br />
Lawson’s final military appointment was that of<br />
Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Northern Europe and,<br />
in 1986, he retired from the Army. He was awarded an<br />
OBE in 1968 and knighted in 1980.<br />
On retirement he continued to lead a private life, often<br />
in the company of his parrot and a dog, but always<br />
devoted to his beloved wife and their son. He published<br />
Strange Soldiering (1963), All The Queen’s Men (1967) and<br />
A Soldier’s Story (1972).<br />
Lawson was softly spoken but tough, with natural<br />
authority, charm and canny intuition. He commanded<br />
general respect and, from those close to him,<br />
immense loyalty. His wit and wicked sense of fun and<br />
irreverence was ever-present, in even the most serious<br />
circumstances, often testing the flexibility of his staff<br />
and teasing (deliberately it seemed) the tolerance of<br />
senior generals and ministers. He was human, often<br />
forgiving of the unforgivable and popular without<br />
courting popularity, but he could certainly give short<br />
shrift to the incompetent.<br />
A combination of his individualistic style, quirky<br />
character and avoidance of publicity in the latter<br />
part of his career, meant that he never became, and<br />
certainly would not have wanted to be described as,<br />
a member of the Establishment. © Telegraph Media<br />
Group Limited 2023<br />
BRIAN HALSEY (OA 1947)<br />
1930 – 2023<br />
Written by Joseph Cannon<br />
Brian Halsey was born<br />
and raised in St Albans<br />
and was proud to be<br />
an Old Albanian with<br />
happy memories of his<br />
time at the School. He<br />
was also a Friend of St<br />
Albans Cathedral.<br />
Brian undertook<br />
National Service<br />
in Libya, following<br />
which he trained as a<br />
quantity surveyor once<br />
back in England.<br />
He moved with his wife<br />
Dorothy to Burgess<br />
Hill in Mid-Sussex in<br />
the early 1960s, and<br />
it was there that he<br />
lived a long and fruitful<br />
life. Brian had a large<br />
garden to tend, which<br />
he enjoyed as a very<br />
experienced gardener,<br />
and was a faithful,<br />
committed and active<br />
member of St John’s<br />
Church.<br />
In addition to the study of family history he was a very<br />
competent artist, painting mainly in acrylics with a<br />
fondness for geometric patterns in light colours.<br />
Brian was a quiet and contemplative person who was<br />
a member of the Friends of Julian of Norwich, and he<br />
supported the work of the Friends (Quakers) in London.<br />
ROBERT BALLARD SHARPE (OA 1952,<br />
FORMER CHAIR OF GOVERNORS)<br />
1934 – 2023<br />
Written by Andrew Grant ( former Headmaster,<br />
1993 – 2014)<br />
It came as a bit of a shock to realise that it’s over 30<br />
years since I first met Robert. It was in late 1992; he was<br />
sitting behind a long table in St Albans School library,<br />
and he was chairing the selection panel to recruit the<br />
next Headmaster.<br />
That was also where I first met Robert’s infectious grin.<br />
It was a notable thing, full of fun, benevolence and a sort<br />
of conspiratorial mischief, and it engaged his whole face.<br />
I took it as a good omen, which it was, because Robert<br />
was my friend for the next 30 years, my boss for the first<br />
eight of them, and that infectious grin is still part of my<br />
abiding image of Robert.<br />
Like others who worked with and for Robert, I found a<br />
leader of great integrity, a hugely supportive colleague,<br />
generous with his time and hospitality, great fun to work<br />
with and someone in whom the qualities of the boss<br />
were indivisible from those of the friend.<br />
Robert was St Albans born and bred. His time at Garden<br />
Fields primary school coincided exactly with the war<br />
years, at the close of which he won a full County<br />
Scholarship to St Albans School – no mean achievement<br />
– where he was a bright A-stream lad and developed an<br />
abiding commitment to his alma mater. There he made<br />
some lifelong friendships, learned piano to a respectable<br />
level, reached the rank of staff sergeant in the CCF, and<br />
won his school colours for rugby.<br />
After A levels, rather than university, he took what was<br />
then a much more common route of direct entry to<br />
the professions, in his case, accountancy with Whinney<br />
Murray, a forerunner of Ernst and Young. It was<br />
through a client that he met Marie, whom he married<br />
in 1962. Jane and Sarah arrived in 1964 and 1966 and<br />
the family lived very happily in the beautiful house in<br />
Marshals Drive.<br />
For some of this time, Robert’s rugby playing continued<br />
with the OAs in what, with typical self-deprecation, he<br />
described as mediocre teams, until it was pointed out to<br />
him that turning up to work on a Monday morning with a<br />
black eye and bent nose was perhaps not the best way to<br />
advance his career.<br />
In 1983, sadly, Marie was taken seriously ill and the next<br />
eight years of her life and the family’s were dominated<br />
by the progress of her illness until, in 1991, her long<br />
period of suffering came to an end.<br />
Ever magnanimous, rather than displace colleagues who<br />
had been covering his responsibilities during Marie’s<br />
illness, Robert took the decision to retire at this time,<br />
but he was hardly less busy, with a portfolio of trustee,<br />
adviser, accountant and expert witness roles. He was<br />
also getting drawn into the life of the Old Albanian Club<br />
initially as Treasurer, then President and was invited to<br />
join the Governing Board of St Albans School, eventually<br />
rising to the Chairmanship. During this period, he met<br />
Gill, whom he married in 1994 and who, with her own<br />
experience of independent schools, was to be a great<br />
source of strength and support not only in that role, but<br />
for the rest of his life.<br />
Robert was a meticulous and methodical chairman<br />
running disciplined meetings with his watch set on<br />
the table before him. Mind you, I firmly believe he<br />
could derive as much enjoyment from reading a set of<br />
accounts as I could from a Jane Austen novel.<br />
In truth, Robert was a visionary leader of the Governing<br />
Body, decisive and willing to make big and brave<br />
decisions. When I came on the scene, Cheapside Farm<br />
had already been purchased and plans were well<br />
advanced to create new playing fields for the School and<br />
for the Old Albanians. Eight years of tenacious advocacy<br />
by Robert eventually saw planning go through for what<br />
was then the largest private playing field development<br />
in Europe, allowing him to step down as Chairman at<br />
his moment of greatest triumph in 2001 just before the<br />
fields were opened by the Duke of Gloucester.<br />
Sadly, in 2021, Robert was diagnosed with prostate<br />
cancer. He faced this with typically laconic stoicism and<br />
spoke warmly of the care of the NHS and of the Weldmar<br />
Hospice.<br />
St Albans School owes Robert Sharpe a great deal – as<br />
much as it owes many of its historic benefactors and –<br />
though Robert probably wouldn’t have seen it this way,<br />
because he was in many ways a self-effacing man – he<br />
touched more lives than he could possibly know. That’s<br />
the thing about schools. Many, many young people have<br />
benefited and will benefit from his work, and some are<br />
yet ungotten and unborn who will have cause to thank<br />
him without knowing it. Rest in Peace Robert.<br />
The full eulogy can be read on OA Connect.<br />
PETER HILL (OA 1955)<br />
1936 – 2023<br />
Written by his daughter, Katherine Hucklesby<br />
Peter was born in Watford in 1936 and lived the first<br />
couple of years of his life with his father Fred before<br />
being fostered by Rose and John Ayres in Seymour<br />
Road, St Albans. Peter gained a scholarship to study<br />
at St Albans School and went on to become Head Boy.<br />
Two years of national service as a submariner followed<br />
before Peter went onto study at Kings College London,<br />
graduating in 1960.<br />
Peter’s Christian faith sustained him in all that he<br />
did and having met her at St Saviour’s youth club, he<br />
married Yvonne Hardy there in 1960; they enjoyed 62<br />
years of married life and had four daughters together.<br />
Following a conversation at boys’ brigade camp, Peter felt<br />
called to ministry in the Church of England. He devoted<br />
his life to being a parish priest serving for over 40 years<br />
in two dioceses: St Albans and Lincoln. He was installed a<br />
Canon of St Albans Cathedral.<br />
Peter and Yvonne retired to Norfolk and, with their<br />
family now extending to include 12 grandchildren,<br />
they enjoyed many happy holidays and family parties<br />
in the beautiful countryside before moving back to<br />
Cambridgeshire to be nearer their daughters.<br />
Peter loved playing rugby in his younger days but was<br />
active throughout his life exploring the countryside with<br />
walking holidays, riding a tandem, gardening, and when<br />
retired spent many happy hours restoring cane chairs<br />
and seagrass stools.<br />
Peter spoke fondly of times at St Albans School,<br />
especially on the rugby field, as well as his time as a<br />
submariner. He died surrounded by his family who<br />
respected and loved him dearly after a life that was truly<br />
blessed, well lived, well-loved and well led.<br />
GEORGE LEIGH (OA 2018)<br />
2000 – 2023<br />
Written by David Forbes-Whitehead (current staff )<br />
and Kenny Everitt (current staff )<br />
What a privilege to be asked to say a few words about<br />
the life of George Leigh. George was a sportsman who<br />
who played for the XV and member of the Corps who<br />
epitomised many of the military values and standards<br />
promoted within the CCF: integrity, selfless commitment
18<br />
Announcements<br />
OA Sports<br />
19<br />
and courage. He had them in spades and with his friend<br />
Jack Bevan formed a dynamic duo of Cadet Under Officer<br />
and Cadet RSM. Camps, exercises and adventure training<br />
formed a large part of George’s time at the School and<br />
he took every opportunity to get involved, whether that<br />
was organising and delivering a set of orders for a night<br />
ambush on Winter Camp or managing his peers for<br />
the delivery of Friday night training. He led by example<br />
in everything he did, producing a memorable battle<br />
picture briefing for junior cadets embarking on camp, to<br />
displaying the moral courage to approach staff to discuss<br />
issues he felt were not quite right.<br />
During his time with us, he scaled Kilimanjaro and was<br />
part of the infamous DofE group who were “not lost”<br />
below Fan Hir in the Brecon Beacons. Undeterred, he<br />
would go on to become a qualified Mountain Leader<br />
and tackle peaks around the globe. George packed more<br />
into his short life than many of us will do in our own<br />
lifetimes; he will be missed hugely by all who knew him,<br />
and I am reminded of him each school day by the young<br />
men who have followed in his footsteps.<br />
HOWARD JONES (FORMER STAFF)<br />
1948 – 2023<br />
Written by Pat Taylor ( former staff, 1985 – 2022)<br />
It is probable that I first met Howard on my first day<br />
at St Albans School, on or around 1 September 1985,<br />
and equally likely that we were in the Farrier’s Arms,<br />
just round the corner from school. Oh, and it was at<br />
lunchtime, before the full staff meeting that officially<br />
started the year. That was what we did back then. Or<br />
some of us did, at any rate.<br />
Howard would have been in his element, sparring<br />
with Ken Durham (who was Head of Economics, the<br />
department Howard worked in, and a quite brilliant<br />
man) and Mike Hudis (specialist subjects: film, boxing,<br />
Americana, and History, which he taught); there would<br />
of course have been laughter, and a flight-of-fancy<br />
discussion that stumbled between profundity and<br />
the absurd. Howard was a delight: an interesting and<br />
interested man, who took time to talk to this callow<br />
twenty-something who had been foisted upon them<br />
by another of the Staff Common Room’s young blades,<br />
Steve Titlow. Armed with the readiest of wits, Howard<br />
was always happy to crack a pun, and took delight in the<br />
knockabout humour – often laced with intellect – that<br />
modern life has dulled into the dull inanity of ‘banter’.<br />
I already knew of Howard from friends who had been<br />
taught by him when they attended the School: they loved<br />
him for his blunt, no-nonsense approach to teaching<br />
and learning, and the fabled notes, asides, and examtechnique<br />
advice he gave his A Level students. And don’t<br />
believe everything you hear, for even in the dark days<br />
of the late ‘80s, his classes were very well taught. But<br />
the thing I remember was his sense of fun, the twinkling<br />
eyes and the bellow of laughter which endeared him<br />
to all who met him. He had a knack for gossip, too: the<br />
juiciest and most trustworthy of which was referred to<br />
as being from ‘Source Merlin’.<br />
Later, he took on the running of the Economics<br />
Department, and did so with energy and success:<br />
his force of personality carried everyone – staff and<br />
pupils – along with him. And then there were the side<br />
hustles – the Driving School (Howard having trained<br />
as an instructor) plus the business he shared with his<br />
wife Annie. It seemed appropriate that an economist<br />
should have a feel for business, and the subsequent<br />
purchase of a speedboat (still at that time the top prize<br />
on Saturday night TV quiz shows, remember) only<br />
confirmed his commercial acumen. But, as with so many<br />
brilliant teachers whose star burns brightly, he was soon<br />
off, never to be seen again, even if we got reports of<br />
occasional sightings: promotion, a move to Wales, and<br />
latterly poetry and painting.<br />
Howard was a lovely man and a brilliant teacher, who<br />
influenced and inspired so many young people. If you<br />
knew him, you’ll know what I mean, and if you didn’t,<br />
well, you’ll just never know quite what you missed.<br />
A celebration of Howard’s life took place on 14 October in<br />
Wales. No funeral was held as Howard was a Humanist and<br />
donated his body to medical science. A collection was made<br />
for Blind Veterans in memory of his father.<br />
OAFC CONTINUE THEIR<br />
ARTHURIAN LEAGUE CLIMB<br />
with third consecutive promotion<br />
Old Albanians Football Club’s ‘golden generation’<br />
continued its emphatic rise up the Arthurian<br />
League with a third promotion in a row in April.<br />
The season started well with back-to-back 4-2 wins against<br />
Old Carthusians IIs and Old Brentwoods IIs. A spell of<br />
three winless games was then followed by three highscoring<br />
victories, including an incredible 8-4 win against old<br />
foes Merchant Taylor’s on their home ground. The team<br />
continued their strong form at the end of 2022 and start<br />
of 2023, winning five of their next seven to put them as<br />
strong contenders for promotion in second place.<br />
The OAs then won three games leading up to their final<br />
match, putting them in the driving seat to clinch the<br />
promotion despite teams below having games in hand. A<br />
draw against Old Ardinians would see us promoted and<br />
them finish their season unbeaten as champions. The<br />
teams played out a high quality, competitive 3-3 draw, with<br />
OAFC stalwarts Chris Schon (OA 2012), Richard D’Rosario<br />
(OA 2012) and Alex Addison (OA 2005) getting on the<br />
scoresheet. Both teams were more than happy to see out<br />
the last few minutes to get their remarkable seasons over<br />
the line! The team finished in second place with 11 wins,<br />
two draws and five losses.<br />
A special mention goes to Alex Addison (OA 2005), who<br />
ended the season with a remarkable 20 goals in 12<br />
appearances, finishing the season with the Arthurian<br />
Chris Schon (OA 2012), OAFC Treasurer<br />
League golden boot, which was awarded to him at the<br />
annual Arthurian League dinner, with special guest Garry<br />
Richardson of BBC Radio 5 Live. He also earned himself the<br />
prestigious title of top fantasy points scorer of OAFC for<br />
2022/23.<br />
The new season has started, and we are competing against<br />
old boys from Eton, Berkhamsted, Dulwich, and local rivals<br />
Aldenham. The start of the season has been mixed, with a<br />
record of one win, one draw and two losses. The quality of<br />
football has had a noticeable jump, and we’ve lost a couple<br />
of narrow contests. We are still optimistic of another<br />
promotion, however, as the team often gets stronger as<br />
the season goes on, the leagues are very open, and a run<br />
of results can see a quick change in the table position.<br />
We are proud to have also received a generous<br />
sponsorship this season from Saul Katz’s (OA 2008)<br />
personal training company The 1 Percent Club (@<br />
saul_1percentclub). Saul is an ex-player and DW Trophy<br />
winner of OAFC who truly loves the club and everything<br />
football. Now he works on running his personal training<br />
and body transformation business, helping people become<br />
the best version of themselves. Come on you As!<br />
Want to play 11-a-side football in a historic, competitive<br />
league, in a fun atmosphere and with a winning team? Get<br />
in touch via our facebook group, Instagram (@oa_football)<br />
or email at oldalbaniansfc@gmail.com.
20<br />
OA Sports<br />
21<br />
TROPHIES, GOBLETS AND CUPS<br />
Jon Cox being presented with the OA Cup<br />
by Society Captain Brian Hayden-Smith<br />
OA Tennis kicked off the summer season with a<br />
well-attended Open Day in June which saw many<br />
new and familiar faces of all ages hit the courts.<br />
The day was a huge success resulting in several new<br />
members and contributing towards a busy summer for<br />
Margie Edge (Head Coach) and James Eggleton, the driving<br />
forces behind the Junior Tennis Camps. It was their most<br />
successful summer season to date with up to 20 children<br />
each day.<br />
Late April saw 16 intrepid spirits meeting at Harpenden Common for a<br />
four-man team competition. A successful day was enjoyed by all, with<br />
the winning team being composed of new member Bryn Edwards (OA<br />
2012), David Hughes (OA 1994), the Secretary, and Senior Pro Tony Clarke<br />
(OA 1961). Our next fixture was the annual match with Mid Herts Golf Club.<br />
We were not quite ‘whitewashed’ by a strong club side, but it was a near<br />
thing (serious practice needed before next year’s fixture!).<br />
D-Day saw us meeting once more at Welwyn Garden City for the annual<br />
competition for the OA Cup. A strong field saw ten-times champion John Cox<br />
(OA 1974) again winning the trophy with a score of 35 points. The winner of<br />
the ‘Antelope’ competition was Tony Walters.<br />
Gluttons for punishment, we willingly returned to Mid Herts for the Briggs<br />
Goblets pairs competition. Stars of the day were the Society’s Captain Brian<br />
Hayden-Smith (OA 1970) and David Hughes who swept all before them,<br />
Brian having one of his best rounds of the year with his partner stating he<br />
had just been along for the ride.<br />
In late August we returned to Dunstable Downs after a gap of five years<br />
for an enjoyable Captain’s Day. An individual and pairs competition was<br />
thoroughly enjoyed by all those taking part with David Hughes proving his<br />
‘ride’ at Mid Herts was a passing aberration, winning both the individual<br />
competition and the team competition with his partner Simon Cooper.<br />
Now all that remains is the annual three-day trip to Lakeside Lodge where<br />
the competition will be fierce for Pop Rush Trophy and the coveted Graham<br />
Tate Cup. Finally, membership of the Society is open to OA golfers of all<br />
abilities and new members are always welcome<br />
Justin Azzopardi, OA Tennis Honorary Secretary<br />
On the competitive front, OAs entered three teams in the<br />
Watford District Summer Leagues. The Menʼs team finished<br />
3rd in Division 2, narrowly missing promotion.<br />
The Ladies’ team, captained by Margie, did brilliantly<br />
to finish equal 2nd in Division 4, only missing out on<br />
Mike Crowston (OA 1966), OA Golf Club Secretary<br />
TENNIS CAMPS AND<br />
COMPETITIVE LEAGUES<br />
promotion with a lower set percentage. The Mixed Team,<br />
also led by Margie, competed in the very strong 2nd<br />
Division and finished a very creditable 4th. As we move into<br />
Autumn, OAs have two teams in the Autumn Datchworth<br />
Competition which runs from September to November.<br />
Some individual achievements worthy of mention:<br />
congratulations to Head Coach Margie Edge for winning<br />
an ITF Seniors 50-60 Doubles final, to Margie and Menʼs<br />
A-team player Matt Hume for winning their group at<br />
the Hoddesdon Mixed Open, and finally to coach James<br />
Eggleton for winning an ITF Seniors Doubles title at the<br />
Harpenden Tennis Club.<br />
Players of all ages and abilities are welcome to join OA<br />
Tennis. Please visit the website oatennis.org.<br />
A GAME OF CHANCE!<br />
Andrew Wilkie (OA 1965), OA Rifle & Pistol Club Captain<br />
Part of the attraction of sport in general is the element<br />
of chance, it adds that extra dimension and that extra<br />
frizzante. And so it is with shooting and <strong>Versa</strong>.<br />
Each year there comes a certain date around the start<br />
of October when copy is requested by the editorial team<br />
and the rifle club shoots its final Bisley match of the<br />
year against the Old Alleynians. This year, our match<br />
was scheduled to be shot on 30 September and true to<br />
form the request came in for copy to be submitted on 29<br />
September. I pleaded on bended email for an extension to<br />
Monday 2 October, which was duly granted. Phew, now I<br />
can report the closing match in timely fashion.<br />
Then chance really upped the stakes! Let me explain…<br />
The match against the Old Alleynians for the Arnold Cup<br />
has been held continually since 1936 with a few gaps<br />
around circumstances and worldwide preoccupations, and<br />
we like to keep up the tradition. In recent times we have<br />
celebrated with a dinner or, more lately, afternoon tea<br />
following the match, and this has been booked alternately<br />
year-on-year by both captains. Our turn this year and I had<br />
booked the tea in good time and was checking numbers<br />
and food allergies.<br />
In my time as Old Albanian rifle club captain the Old<br />
Alleynians have always booked the targets with the<br />
National Rifle Association (NRA) and we then pay our<br />
SEASON’S END<br />
David Goodier, OA Cricket Chairman<br />
The Old Albanian 1st XI finished a<br />
respectable fifth in their league<br />
this year with captain James<br />
Barwick (OA 2021) leading the way<br />
with bat and ball. The other league<br />
teams all enjoyed differing levels of<br />
success during the season, but the<br />
club continues to go from strength<br />
to strength. For the first time in the<br />
club’s history, we were able to field<br />
six teams on a Saturday and regularly<br />
provided five teams across the season,<br />
allowing even more of our juniors to<br />
experience the longer format of the<br />
game. Around 25 juniors made their<br />
debuts at different levels across the<br />
teams.<br />
Old Albanian Cricket club closed off<br />
their season in early September with<br />
a fundraising match in support of<br />
the Anthony Nolan Trust. The day<br />
included an inter-club girls match,<br />
a raffle and a match between our<br />
senior team and a friendly midweek<br />
team. A fun day was had by all and<br />
will be repeated next year.<br />
The club are excited to be hosting the<br />
world-famous Lashings team on Friday<br />
28 June 2024. The Lashing team will<br />
be made up of former international<br />
and county players and will take on<br />
an Old Albanians select XI in a 20:20<br />
game. The game will be preceded by<br />
a fundraising lunch and the Lashings<br />
team will provide free coaching<br />
sessions to pupils from some of our<br />
local schools. Please keep an eye out<br />
for more details on tickets in a future<br />
edition of <strong>Versa</strong>.<br />
share. Shock set in when the Old Alleynian’s captain asked<br />
at the end of an email exchange what their contribution to<br />
target costs would be this year!<br />
Realising we were adrift two targets both captains<br />
immediately set about making a booking with the NRA in<br />
double quick time. With nobody answering the range office<br />
phone we resorted to 21st century technology and hours<br />
later received a response from the NRA that with three<br />
major competitions on the range we stood no chance of<br />
two targets.<br />
So, I can confidently report that the match has been<br />
postponed until spring 2024. And the cherry on the top –<br />
we came 4th in Division 1 of the Herts 25-yard Rifle League<br />
– Summer 2023. Good shooting in 2024.
22<br />
OA Sports<br />
23<br />
ALL CHANGE AT THE TOP<br />
After a quarter of a century holding various posts<br />
within our Rugby Club, Rory Davis retired from his<br />
role as Club Chairman at this year’s AGM. We thank<br />
him for his tireless work in directing our Club over many<br />
years and wish him every happiness in his well-earned<br />
retirement.<br />
We are delighted to advise that Scott Bachmann, former<br />
player, coach and Junior and Mini Chairman, has agreed to<br />
step into the huge shoes left by Rory and was unanimously<br />
voted in to this role at our AGM. In addition to Scott<br />
taking on the Chairmanship of the Club, I am delighted to<br />
advise that James Hathaway has taken over as Chairman<br />
of our Junior Section with Tom Oliver moving into the<br />
Chairmanship of our Mini Section. Phil Brunt takes on<br />
looking after our COLTS and is being ably assisted by our<br />
Club Captain, Kim Watson. Methinks our Club is in good<br />
hands to tackle the tasks that lie ahead and to prepare for<br />
the 100th anniversary of the formation of our Club on 10<br />
April 2024, followed by our 2024-2025 Centenary Season.<br />
As we enter the second month of this season, I am happy<br />
to report that all sections of the Club are in rude health<br />
with over 2,000 members.<br />
So far this season we have put out three to four senior<br />
Men’s Teams, our 1sts, who have played five National 2<br />
East League games so far this term winning two losing<br />
three, along with our Romans (2nd XV), Grizzlies (4th XV)<br />
and our Occasional (a mix of our Gladiators – 3rd XV – and<br />
our Grizzlies) all enjoying varying degrees of success.<br />
Our Colts’ 2023/24 season is a long anticipated one<br />
following the successes of last year where ten Colts played<br />
up for the Seniors including one U17 making his first team<br />
Richard Milnes, OA Rugby President<br />
debut in the final league game vs Guernsey as a substitute.<br />
This year we are looking to surpass that number and look<br />
for some Colts to make senior rugby their choice for the<br />
weekend. Supported by Youth Development Officer, Eddie<br />
Panting, integration with the senior squads, particularly<br />
the 2nd XV, has been a key goal in retaining players from<br />
Juniors into Seniors and making Old Albanians a lifelong<br />
institution for our young players.<br />
Our Saints 1st XV, who secured the runners-up spot in last<br />
season’s RFU’s Women’s Championship South 1 League –<br />
the second tier of English Women’s Rugby – have begun<br />
their new campaign in this same League with one win, one<br />
loss and currently sit 5th in the league. Our Saints 2nd XV,<br />
who remained undefeated yet again last season, winning<br />
the RFU’s Women’s National Conference 1 League by a<br />
“country mile”, have kicked-off their new season in the<br />
third tier of English Women’s rugby, the RFU’s Women’s<br />
Championship Midlands 2 League, with a win and currently<br />
sit 4th in their league. Our Junior Saints, with well-over 100<br />
players across the age-groups, U12s, U14s, U16s and U18s,<br />
have started their season in grand style by winning most of<br />
their opening fixtures. They grow in strength from year to<br />
year under the guidance of Craig Ihlenfeldt and his hardworking<br />
team of coaches and helpers.<br />
For our Minis and Juniors, the rugby season has started<br />
in earnest with over 200 happy Minis aged from 4-12<br />
attending the first few weeks of training on Sunday<br />
mornings at Woollams. Our Juniors numbers are healthy<br />
across the board with at least two full teams at all junior<br />
age groups. As the season began, we welcomed another<br />
22 Rugby Rats (U5s) starting out on their rugby life on a<br />
Sunday here at Woollams, the home of Old Albanian Rugby.<br />
At an informal meeting in March between members<br />
of the Old Albanian and Old Verulamians Lodges, it<br />
was unanimously agreed that they should ‘twin’ to<br />
offer each other mutual support and increase attendance.<br />
In consequence, the OA Lodge revised its by-laws, enabling<br />
Lodge meetings to coincide with the OVs, and allowing<br />
for evening meetings instead of unpopular meridian<br />
(lunchtime) meetings.<br />
The first of such twinned meetings took place on Saturday<br />
7 October and was a great success. The OA Lodge started<br />
proceedings with a ‘business’ meeting attended by both OAs<br />
and OVs. The Lodge paid rapt attention to a report from our<br />
Membership Officer, Jo Giffen, on the five-year membership<br />
plan which was adopted by the Lodge committee in<br />
September. Also, details were given of the new Lodge<br />
website: oldalbanianlodge.org.uk. The meeting also received<br />
reports from the Lodge Almoner and Charity Steward.<br />
THE 948 SPORTS FOUNDATION<br />
Like many OAs, sport is something<br />
I’m incredibly passionate about. I<br />
have seen first-hand the positive<br />
effect sport can have, even at the very<br />
basic level, on participants’ mental<br />
and physical wellbeing, and their<br />
development – both as individuals<br />
and part of a team.<br />
As part of this, I’m very proud to be a The new sensory room<br />
trustee of the 948 Sports Foundation,<br />
which was set up in 2001 by forward-thinking members<br />
of the OA Sports Association, who wanted to promote<br />
participation in sport by young people in the City and<br />
District of St Albans.<br />
Since it was founded, the Foundation has made more<br />
than 500 awards to coaches, individuals, schools, sports<br />
clubs, and community groups. We are extremely proud<br />
of this. Our awards have allowed for the purchase of<br />
training and sports equipment, for kit, for coaching and<br />
specialist support. We have helped to broaden access and<br />
participation in a range of sports including, but far from<br />
exclusively, football, rugby, cricket, and basketball.<br />
OA LODGE<br />
John Williams (OA 1964), Assistant Secretary<br />
Peter Brown (OA 1973), Trustee<br />
The OA Lodge closed and was promptly followed by the<br />
opening of the OV Lodge, with a candidate passed to the<br />
Second Degree in an excellent ceremony. Afterwards, both<br />
Lodges dined together at the Festive Board attended by<br />
nearly fifty members and guests.<br />
A splendid pair of meetings and a fantastic Festive Board<br />
that was enjoyed by everyone, with the camaraderie and<br />
traditional rivalry between our Lodges working so well to<br />
provide entertainment and bonhomie to all. This is but the<br />
first of many such meetings and bodes well for the future<br />
of both Lodges.<br />
2024 Lodge Meeting Dates:<br />
Saturday 3 February<br />
Saturday 4 April<br />
Saturday 3 June<br />
Wheatfields Infants’ and Nursery<br />
School in St Albans was one grant<br />
recipient, they asked us to fund the<br />
equipment for their new Sensory Room<br />
to help children with physical, sensory<br />
and learning needs to participate in<br />
and enjoy physical activity. The room<br />
provides a safe, designated space for<br />
children with special needs to take part<br />
in physical activity.<br />
For the trustees, this project met many of the<br />
requirements we look for. The equipment is not only used<br />
by Wheatfields’ pupils but is also available to children from<br />
the adjacent junior school and to the wider community<br />
outside school hours.<br />
Although founded initially as an OA charity, now two out<br />
of the eight trustees are OAs, with the governing group<br />
bringing a wealth of experience across different sports<br />
whilst all being local to St Albans.<br />
To find out more about the Foundation and the work that<br />
we do, please look at our website:<br />
www.the948sportsfoundation.com.<br />
Some members of the OA and OV Lodges and guests after the<br />
first twinned meetings on 7 October 2023 in Ashwell House.