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The magazine for Old Vigornians of The King’s School, Worcester Issue 33 December 2012 www.ksw.org.uk

In a great year for Zac Purchase MBE (O 97-04) he claimed another Olympic triumph with his rowing partner Mark Hunter. After a nail-biting race, the agonisingly close result saw Zac and Mark take the silver medal – no mean achievement in any sport, but particularly well-earned in what many have called the best Olympic Games yet. Two weeks later Zac also married long-term fiancée, and fellow OV, Fliss Hill (K 95-04), in a ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral.

Second Olympic Medal for Zac

Christmas Offer at the OV Shop

Free OV bowtie or scarf with every purchase before 14 December!

One OV... who found a haven at King’s

MBE for Matthew

Matthew Westley (Ch 81-90), of the The Royal Welsh was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s 2012 Birthday Honours List for services in Afghanistan.Matthew is the youngest of three brothers who all attended King’s.

The OV London Dinner

In this issue...

110th Annual Reunion Weekend

Matthew in his school days

St Alban’s is Sixty!Friends, parents, staff and former pupils gathered for a celebration of the sixtieth birthday of King’s St Alban’s. The tea party, with a special birthday cake, also included a film celebrating the school’s history.

Friday 3rd - Sunday 5th May, 2013

For more details and bookings see the insert.

In the last magazine, we featured just a few of the OVs who were working on the Olympics and Paralympics. Over the summer we heard of so many more who got involved. Three of our pupils carried the torch in the relay – Jack Furber, Alice Wright and Rebecca Brunt. Member of staff Kirsty Johnson (W 91-96) was one of the dancers in the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Games. OVs from every generation gave up their time as volunteers, including Lance Stimson (1957 leaver), pictured above, and John Adeney (2012 leaver) who returned to King’s to talk about his experience as a Games Maker at a College Hall assembly.

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HeadlineThe theme of volunteering has been central to a number of activities as well as the theme of some very thought-provoking assemblies at King’s this term. The work of volunteers during London 2012 (including, as you will see elsewhere on this page, current and former King’s pupils) captured the imagination of the nation. At the heart of it all, it seems to me, are two important principles. One is well known and biblical: “From those to whom much has been given, much will be required”. We have a duty to society to give of ourselves in time, expertise and money in proportion to the advantages that enjoy. Previous generations might have used the term “noblesse oblige”. The second principal is more to do with enlightened self-interest: we are likely to live happier, healthier and longer lives if we give of ourselves to others. Our school mission statement expresses the wish that King’s pupils, by the time they leave, will have become increasingly confident, fulfilled and unselfish. The last of these is the most important. On pages 4 and 5, you will read of acts of kindness and generosity which transformed the lives of three people who attended

King’s at different times in the last century. They are humbling and inspirational. I must say that I am deeply grateful to the large number of OVs who continue the strong tradition of generosity and service to King’s by offering their time and expertise to help pupils here. In so doing they are also giving an example which we hope will be carried forward to the next generation.

Reunited

Lt Cdr Fraser Richards, current parent, spoke movingly in College Hall as the Senior School remembered the fallen during the Remembrance Service. He led us to think about the young soldiers of WW1, whose weapons against tanks, machine guns and mustard gas in the battle of the Somme were raw courage and an unswerving trust in their friends. He then expanded into the theme of friendship, and reiterated how important true friends are in our lives. During the service, Lou Wadley (Cr 53-61), President of the OV Club, and Ben Alexander, Head of School, laid wreaths on behalf of former and current pupils respectively.

RemembranceTo find out more about the SPACE, or make a donation, visit spaceworcester.com

Lou Wadley, Fraser Richards and Tim Keyes

Leavers’ Drinks – July

The Summer Drinks for our leaving parents has become a tradition at King’s and this year, blessed with one of the only fine evenings of the summer and in the glorious setting of the Michael Baker Boathouse, it was better attended than ever before.

Reunion at The Plough - August

Due to popular demand, Simon Cronin (S 67-77) once again opened up his pub in Lower Broadheath over the summer to OVs as well as past and present members of staff for a buffet supper and drinks. Having proved very popular (this is the third time Simon has hosted such an event!), leavers of the 70s/80s era gathered together for a fun and relaxed evening.

OV Golf Day - September

Usually held as part of the Reunion Weekend, the May OV Golf Day was postponed due to torrential downpour. Take 2 took place in September at Upper Sapey, where golfers still faced less than perfect conditions, but managed to make the most of pockets of good weather!

1541 Society Meeting - October

The 1541 Society Meeting, for those who have made a pledge to the school in their will, took place at the House of Commons prior to the London Dinner. Twenty members and guests enjoyed a superb tea, and a private tour around the famous Parliamentary chambers.

OV Visits - September

Mike Holliday (45-47) came back to King’s in September for the first time since leaving in 1947, and revealed a few of his favourite school memories. These included his Tuck Box being filled with goodies for the term, as well as the sense of pride he felt at going into the Cathedral and finding his seat in the choir stalls. He also sent us some lovely photos, dating from the mid-40s. Do you recognise anyone in this picture?

London 2012

Lancelot Stimson (H 54-57) pictured with Eddie Izzard

Photo by David Illif. Licence: CC-BY-SA 3.0

Our thanks go to...the following OVs and parents of pupils who have given up their time to King’s this term:• Derek Evans (Cr 78-86), Alex Garwood-Gowers (W 88-99), Dawn Hardman, James Howard, Claire Linfoot, Pat Preston, Emma

Philpott, Jon Salkeld, John Sitch (Ch 79-81), Gavin Webb and Anna Yeoman for their talks at the Careers Business Conference.• Professor Ralph Pite (Cl 72-79) who spoke to Sixth Form pupils about Frankenstein.• Caroline Leah from Sight Concern for her talk as part of the Eye Prentice Challenge.• Lt Cdr Fraser Richards for his address at the Remembrance Service.• All the OVs and parents who volunteer across so many different aspects of the school. • The 500+ individuals who have contributed to The SPACE Campaign so far. We have raised an impressive £730,000

towards our initial £1 million target and are hopeful that the project will be able to go ahead early next year.

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One OV... from PolandPeter Gessner (Ca 47-49) re-established his links with King’s when he joined the OV reunion in the USA. He tells us, in his own words, how he escaped the Nazi invasion of Poland and came to King’s.

My journey and arrival at King’s in 1947 started almost eight years earlier. I spent the summer of 1939 on the estate of my uncle, Zdzisław Wierzbicki, a Polish Senator, located some 60 miles north of Warsaw, half-way to Germany’s East Prussian border. On the first of September, learning that the German Army was pouring across Poland’s borders, I fled with my uncle and his family. The roads were choked with refugees and strafed by Stuka dive bombers whose approach was so rapid that there was scarcely time to jump into a roadside ditch. Within days we were overtaken and shot at by a column of German tanks: we survived their machine gun fire by lying flat between the tombstones of a country cemetery as the bullets shredded the leaves above us. We wanted to turn back, but that was impossible, as Uncle’s estate lay in what was now part of Germany.

My uncle decided I must ‘disappear’ and arranged for me to be smuggled to relatives in Warsaw. Luckily for me, the winter of 1939-40 was an unusually harsh one and the Narew River, along which the new frontier ran, was frozen solid. I remember walking, led by the smugglers, across it in the dead of night. Then my feet became so cold and numb I was no longer able to feel them or walk: hence the last quarter of the way one of the smugglers had to carry me on his back.

I was duly delivered to my great aunt’s apartment in Warsaw. For the moment I was safe, but shortly thereafter, possibly because of this action on his part, Uncle was sent to the Dachau concentration camp.

My father meanwhile had left Warsaw and having managed to obtain a false passport had reached Milan. I needed to be reunited with my father before the Germans traced my whereabouts, but given that all Polish foreign travel was forbidden, this remained a challenge.

One day, I was introduced to a lady, with whom I was to travel to Italy. She spoke to me in Polish but told me that once we were on the train I was not to speak again, until we reached Italy. A train took us from Warsaw to Vienna, and continued the next day to Venice.

We had a while before the departure of the train to Milan. Taking advantage of the wait, the lady led me outside the station which faced the Grand Canal. The contrast of a country at peace, its people relaxing in open air cafes and restaurants, with Warsaw’s grim streets,

where anxiety was written on people’s faces, was unforgettable.

We were able to stay in Italy, despite the German occupation, and moved to Milan, where Father obtained employment and I went to school. Liberation came in April 1945 and the British Government, realizing that most of the members of the Polish Second Corps faced the same dilemma, offered its members the opportunity to come to live in Britain and to bring their families with them. It was thus that in summer of 1946 my father and I landed at Dover. We were taken into the Cambridge home of Dr Alice and Prof R F G Roughton who had filled their home with refugees and barely a year later in the company of my father, knowing not one word of English, I found myself at King’s, the only foreigner among its 400 plus schoolboys.

Peter went on to become a Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology at Buffalo University in the USA but he still does not know who supported him through his time at King’s. In his school report of 1949 his housemaster, A.J. Bentley, wrote ‘His work reports are excellent, and he is a very significant member of the house’ - quite an achievement for someone who arrived a year after such a traumatic journey, speaking no English at all.

The full version of Peter’s journey is published on the OV website .

One OV… from UgandaIn our records, we came across an application to the Sidney Perry Foundation written by former Headmaster David Annett on behalf of George Bananuka-Hasan (S 73-74), a refugee from Uganda.

Until the seizure of power by General Amin in Uganda in 1972, we had a ‘link ‘ with a Ugandan school, two of our OVs and one member of staff having gone out to teach there for short periods. In 1972 we had an appeal from King’s College Budo on behalf of one of their VI formers, George Bananuka-Hasan. His father, who had been a leading political figure of the Obote regime had been executed by Amin together with three of his brothers. His mother was under house arrest, and it was thought that George’s own life was in danger. We immediately offered him a boarding place, and he arrived here in March 1973. (George had been smuggled out via Kenya).

A former member of the staff at Budo, Mr C.T. Bradnock, agreed to act as his guardian, but George had absolutely no financial resources (apart from a few pound notes hidden in his hair).

I persuaded the Worcester City Education Committee to accept responsibility for his tuition fees here, my Governors made a grant of £50 p.a. towards his boarding fees and I made an appeal to the staffroom to cover the rest of his expenses during his time at school. This raised over £700 and from this fund I have paid the balance of his school fees, holiday expenses and all incidental expenses such as clothing, pocket money, travelling and books.

George settled down very well as a boarder here and proved himself to be intelligent, hardworking and a good athlete. His ambition is to read Law, to practice it for a short time in this country and then to return to Uganda when political conditions make this possible, in order to help in the restoration of his country after the hoped-for overthrow of the Amin regime…

I hope the Trustees will consider making George a grant towards his incidental expenses. He is deserving of assistance both because of the tragedies he has suffered and because of his own determination and initiative.

25th September 1974 D.M. Annett, M.A. (Cantab.)

We have tried to trace George unsuccessfully. If you can help us get back in touch with him, please let us know.

One OV... from the BlitzStanley Allsopp (Ca 46-51) visited the archive over the summer and told us the moving story of the Rammell family who had transformed the lives of many children including his own and that of his brother.

Stanley spent the majority of his childhood in and out of care homes in Birmingham; once the Blitz hit, he was evacuated to the Worcestershire countryside, which was where he had the “good fortune to be assigned Katherine Rammell as my billeting officer”.

The Rammell family were of Huguenot extraction and a splendid example of Victorian landowners. T. E. (Tommy) Rammell was a gentleman of means with no need to work, but had elected to become a schoolmaster. For some years he was Second Master at The King’s School and opened Castle House in 1902, with his younger sister Katherine Maud Rammell coming to help him

When King Henry VIII inaugurated Worcester Cathedral as part of his new foundation, he also established and endowed a public grammar school, making provision ‘for a Master, an usher and a number of King’s Scholars’. The aim was that this school would provide a haven and opportunity for all those willing and able to learn, regardless of their circumstances.

These days, this tradition is continued through the support provided by the Enduring, Wolfson and Fellowship bursary funds but in the past, help came from many different quarters and in all sorts of ways.

T. E. Rammell and Katherine Maud Rammell with their Castle House boarders

as housekeeper. Here they stayed for nearly 30 years; totally devoted to their work and to the boys they looked after.

Once assigned to Miss Rammell, Stanley was originally billeted to a farm labourer and his wife living in Whittington, but having been found crying in the road one day by Miss Rammell, she took him in herself and moved him into a small room in her own home.

It was not long afterwards that she discovered that unbeknown to Stanley, he had a younger brother, who was at the time living in a children’s home in Wales. She was able to take in Harry also, and initially sent both boys to the village school.

At the age of ten, Stanley took and passed the exams that enabled him to enter the Choir at King’s, and his brother soon joined him at the school. They were taken into Castle House thanks to the Rammells, and Stanley soon became aware of the enormous part they played in the King’s community.

‘I’m aware that the ever rolling stream is bound in time to lead to unawareness of such people as the Rammells and their kind largesse, but it pleases me to be able to draw attention to two people who gave most of their lives to King’s School. Both the Rammells were deeply affected by the devastation caused by the Great War. So many of their charges went eagerly off to war at the age of 17 or 18, and so many were slaughtered almost immediately. They remembered this unhappy time for the rest of their lives and presented to the school, in memory of those boys, the cricket pavilion which is still in use today along with an oak library in College Hall. They would be horrified to know that I am publicising them now but they were the finest Christian people you could hope to meet and changed our lives forever.”

In 2002, in recognition of the siblings’ contribution to the school, and the role they played in his life, Stanley was invited to name ‘The Rammell Room’ in Castle House in their memory.

Stanley’s oral archive is available on the website.

We caught up with Lou after an OV Club Committee meeting...

Give 4 words that describe yourself.Survivor with positive disposition.What or who influenced you during your time at KSW? I wasn’t especially influenced by anyone at King’s. I very simply had a great time there particularly as it allowed my love of sport to develop and flourish.The advice you wished you’d followed but ignored?Undoubtedly my parents urged me to study harder at King’s, (especially Maths but all to no avail!).Best piece of advice you’ve ever been given – and did you follow it? Always accept responsibility for your own actions and never try to pass “blame” on to someone or something else. I did (do) follow it and it works!What was your first job? Various holiday jobs at school - Christmas postman/Apple grader/Bricklayer’s labourer/Bakery Delivery man etc. Bank clerk first job after leaving school.When and where are you happiest? Having got married again a few months ago, I would have to say that I’m happiest when I am with my wife, no matter what we are doing. What is the single most important attribute in the workplace?Honesty and integrity.The biggest difference between men and women? Common sense and the ability to multitask!What was your Plan B? I didn’t even have a Plan A - I just went along with the flow!

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From the School Archive

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2,000 Years in 20 minutesWhen I became the Archivist I wanted to develop the contact with current pupils – after all, they are future OVs – and Tim Keyes had expressed a wish for pupils to know more about the history of the site and the school. Having liaised with the History Department, we have just entertained (I hope) each of the six Lower Fourth Forms here in the Archive, for one lesson, and also the visiting Comenius teachers. The journey from the main school, and the slog up those endless spiral stairs, shrinks 40 minutes to 30 minutes or less; not much time to get through 2,000 plus years of history, and to allow everyone to examine things wearing those all-important cotton gloves. Mike Napthan, the archaeologist who works for the school had suggested the basis for a walking tour of the site, (maybe next year?) and I combined Mike’s suggestions, Caroline Roslington’s school history, and information from Worcester Museum in a presentation that whizzed us through 2,000 years in less than 20 minutes. Here are some of the factoids that I mentioned: • The original Stone Age inhabitants settled here because the river was tidal and could be forded at low tide at this location. Not

now!• Was it a glacier, or a person, that left the Iron Age stone axe in the area where the school gardens are located now? • The locals weren’t too pleased when King Harthacnut’s messenger arrived in 1041 to announce a rise in taxes. They murdered him

and nailed his skin to the Cathedral door. Harsh treatment…..there’s a skin fragment on display in the Cathedral Library. • In the 16th century, one prisoner asked to be released from the dungeon on top of the (Norman) motte, as a result of “having her

legs drop off due to the cold”. • One of the later stone castle walls (of the King’s Chamber) forms one wall of a class

room in Choir House. Nothing like making use of what’s already there. • The school gardens are paved with slabs taken from the Castle Street gaol. That’s

recycling for you!

Pauline Baum, School Archivist archives@ksw.org.uk

Donations to the School Archive since SeptemberWe are grateful to have received the following donations. Please keep them coming!

Chris Baron (W 1955-63)Two KSW prospectuses from the 1950’s, and many suggestions for 100 memorable objects!

Alison Craze, niece of Michael Craze (H 1919-25) A school prospectus from 1905 – the oldest one that we have, and a wonderful sepia group photo of pupils dating from 1881. If you look at the expressions and posture, boys don’t change that much!Malcolm Drummond, Director of Music (1976-93)A large collection of papers, letters, posters and programmes from his time at King’s. Edward (Ted) Dodsworth (DB 1943-50)Two framed limited edition prints: “Boating at King’s” by David Birtwistle (now on display in the Michael Baker Boathouse), a view of College Green and Hostel House by Christopher Hughes, a copy of the School Rules and some postcards of views of the school. Stanley Allsopp (Ca 1946-51)A biography of T.E. Rammell, first Housemaster of Castle House. Stanley also recorded an interview about his own school days, which can be found In the Archives section of the school website.

King’s in 100 Objects www.ksw.org.uk/worcester/archives-and-school-history/ kings-in-100-objects

Many objects have already been suggested and are yet to be put on the school website, but we are hoping for many more from OVs! Some recent examples have included the Michael Baker Boathouse, the ubiquitous blue plastic chair, and two pieces of music.

Since August there has been a new face in the Foundation Development Office: Alice Brunt has succeeded Nicola Willis as Foundation Development Assistant, and those of you who came to the London Dinner in October will already have met her.

“I joined the school this summer, having studied at the University of East Anglia and embarked on various work experience and temping placements. Despite hailing from the ‘Other Side of Foregate Street Station’ (!), I’ve been welcomed into the King’s community with its characteristic warmth and friendliness, and I’m thoroughly enjoying my new role!”

As part of her job, Alice will be in charge of keeping you up to date with what’s going on at the school.

Early next year the website will be replaced with a new, more modern looking site, with increased focus on news and school events. There will be a new section combining ‘Old Vigornians’ and the School Archive’s pages - you will find this under ‘OVs and Archives’.

Note: You will still be able to access the same information, news and event reports, and use the OV:ID portal to stay in touch. The names and URLs (web address links) of the pages will be different, so your existing ‘favourites’ or ‘bookmarks’ will need to be updated.

FDO News

Lou was elected President of the OV Club at the AGM in May. At King’s he was Deputy Head Boy, Head of House and School Captain of Rugby, Hockey and Athletics as well as playing for the First XI at Cricket. After leaving Kings he played Cricket for the OV’s and Rugby for Worcester, Worcestershire and Herefordshire, the North Midlands and later Bancroft in Zambia and the Nondescripts in Nairobi, Kenya. Having failed to pass O Level Maths at Kings, he was unable to take up a place at University and spent the next 25 years in Banking (!!) principally in various overseas countries. He is the leader of the 1958-63 Bursary group which is currently helping to fund a pupil through the school and is hoping to persuade his 1960/1 Rugby XV to sponsor a sporting step in the SPACE building.

Christmas Sorted!Silent Auction

Find a whole array of ideas for Christmas, from rocking horses to turkeys, in our Silent Auction. Our featured lot this month is debenture tickets to see Chelsea play West Bromwich Albion at Stamford Bridge. Visit spaceworcester.com for full details.

OV SHOPOur OV shop stocks all sorts of goodies

from socks to umbrellas.

Orders received by 14th December will arrive in time for Christmas - visit the website for details.

Free Bow Tie or Scarf

with every order!

What makes you tick...?

Lou Wadley (Cr 53-61)

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More than 170 Old Vigornians and guests attended the 12th Annual London Dinner at the House of Commons. It was the first time the dinner has been held at this venue, which proved to be a wonderful setting for a truly memorable evening. Even the walk to the Dining Room was impressive – coming through the awe-inspiring Westminster Hall to the Central Lobby (familiar to many as the backdrop for television broadcasts) setting the tone for the event.Our sponsor was Richard Bacon (Br 70-80), MP for South Norfolk. In his welcome address, Richard spoke affectionately about his formative time at King’s, remembering his school years with real warmth and revealing that his inspiration for entering politics lay in his time at King’s.Following dinner, the OVs were addressed by the Headmaster, before Andrew Underwood (S 77-87) gave a special vote of thanks to recognise the achievements and contribution made by Marc Roberts, who retired from King’s in the summer after 37 years of service. The impact of Marc’s contribution was demonstrated by the number of OVs attending who had come to wish him well. Marc responded in characteristic style and entertained everyone with his anecdotes at the expense of all those whom he had coached in Rugby, looked after in School House and Wulstan House and of course dragged through their various maths exams.Not only did guests this year span seven decades, they also came from far and wide – guests flew in from France, the USA and Costa Rica! OVs demonstrated again how relaxed and friendly they are – many had attended without their contemporaries, yet still had a really enjoyable evening. Although the House of Commons closed at 10.30pm, OVs of all ages continued the night at several nearby bars, endorsing the success of the evening.

PhotographsThis page:1 The Hallett Family: Richard (O 91-02), Jo (O 98-05) and Paul (O 91-02)2 P C Thompson (Hon OV) and Richard Bacon MP (B 70-80)3 Cam Baldry (Ch 97-04), Tom Hand (Cl 94-04) and Henry Smith (Cl 99-04) 4 1996/1997 Leavers 5 James Lumb (O 03-05), Chris Crabtree (W 03-05), Peter Siviter (S 01-08) and Katie Humpage (W 98-05)6 Noel Andrews (Ca 47-55)7 Neville Bulman (Cl 43-51) and Lynne Reekes (Guest)8 Nick Firth (Ch 86-93) and James Carmalt (Ch 88-93)9 Nick Hales (S 74-81) and Clare [Veal] Bugel (Co 79-81)

Opposite page:Top David (B 87-94) and Emma Butcher, Adam Winter (Cl 84-94), Claire and Alex Thomas (Cl 85-94) and Richard Evans (W 84-94)Bottom Marc Roberts (Hon OV)

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OV London DinnerFriday 5th October, 2012

The House of Commons, Palace of Westminster

“What a great evening. Wonderful surroundings, good food and nice to catch up with friends and meet some new people.” “We really enjoyed Friday evening - particularly meeting some of the younger members. It’s great to hear how well King’s is getting on now, too.”Thank you to everyone who attended, and made the night such a happy occasion.

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Correspondence

Stanley Allsopp (Ca 46-51) writes:When I was about 12 I was taught German for a while by Mr Alec Mcdonald. Being in the Cathedral Choir, I was half an hour late every morning for the first lesson, and the only German I can now remember is an apology for being late and the poem ‘Die Lorelei’. However, it has stood me in good stead, as to this day, 60 years later, whenever I have been asked by Germans if I can speak their language, I have been able to rattle off my meagre two efforts. I have always been flattered when told that my pronunciation is extremely elegant and cultured though now old-fashioned. I can take no credit for my robotic efforts, but what a wonderful legacy for a good teacher devoted to King’s School to leave to his pupils! I can remember being very upset when singing at his funeral in the Cathedral.

Jo Rippier (Cr 47-53) has sent us the following poem describing a snapshot in time:

School Photograph There forever they will stand or sit: stare glum, smile fixed; some lost in thought, still looking out as to some far distant land. These young faces old before their time. Yellow now in black and white, they … how sharply they come back. A story told a second time. I know, and know them not. For what they are is what they were. Clear phantoms. Not like at all what later comes, so full of edges, shades and blur. But where was I in all this crowd? I must have had a place. There … right at the end I sit, where bent in studied crouch I know again just what I thought. I posed, scowled, wished and sought to seem grown up. Down time’s long lane I make my way, but these flat figures from the past will stay young. For ever. Bright image matt. It will always be their day.

The drama of the 880 yard finish (Connect, July 2012) continues!

Philip Grout (Ch 54-63) writes:I have no idea how you are getting hold of my photos 52 years on nor why I have not had my copyright fees! The relevant contestants, should they see the photo, might be distressed that the adjoining entry by a Mr J. Jerram is entirely misleading. [See photo above] This is the original photo and in its entirety. It was taken in July 1960 (v. sorry, exact date not documented) and is of White just about to beat Sheffer in the 880yds. It is also of interest because of the staff who older OVs will recognise including Annett and reluctant dachshund, Logan and Neil with Knight in the background.

Richard White (Ch 53-60): A case of stolen identity? I was pleased to see a picture of myself in the July issue of Connect winning the 880 race in the summer of 1960 , but surprised when I read the accompanying text from James Jerram which wrongly identified both of the runners! The race he referred to occurred two years earlier in 1958. In the photo shown the runner on the the right with the striped vest was Derek Scheffer of Castle House (not Richard Hume), the one on the left is me, a boarder from Choir House (not Basil Williams). I won the race by a hair’s breadth but Derek got some measure of revenge by beating me into second place in the mile race the next day! I wonder if the day boy Basil Williams referred to as the winner of the race in error read about it!

Derek Sheffer (Ca 55-60), one of the boys in the picture, tells us that:Amazingly, I had never seen the photo before, until Tony e-mailed a copy to me. I had totally forgotten the drama of that 880yd finish. One tends to remember successes but not failures! Well run White! At least I got my revenge the next day in the Mile!

In response to the update on the SPACE project, Graham Jackman (W 60-65) wrote from Australia:The mention of “archaeology” for the SPACE reminded me of the swimming pool. I was always trying to avoid sports at school; having been hit in the chest by a cricket ball, I decided it was a dangerous waste of time, while rugby was always played in the cold and wet. I was once thrown into a horse jump full of water on Pitchcroft for being the cleanest player on the field at the end of the game. As one of the options to avoid sports on a Wednesday, I could do a little archaeology on that site, completely unaware that it was soon to be a swimming pool. I also remember CSM Barrett (Sarge) encouraging us to jump into the finished pool (he didn’t jump in himself!).

Dave Anscombe (W 65-72) recalls an Aston Martin gracing College Green:A recent announcement that an Aston Martin once owned by Paul McCartney has been sold at auction for £300,000 reminded me of a tenuous connection between this car and King’s.Back in about 1966, I joined many of my fellow pupils rushing to view the shiny Aston Martin outside the Dean’s house just inside College Green. The story was that Paul McCartney was visiting Jane Asher, who he married in 1967. It was rumoured that she was the then Dean’s niece and visiting her uncle, Bobby Milburn.Later in my school career, I used to park my very much less valuable Morgan Three-wheeler in the same spot outside the Deanery when I was visiting the daughters of his successor, Eric Kemp. (If I remember correctly, their names were Suzanne and Sarah). Usually, pupils were strictly forbidden from parking their vehicles around College Green but on several occasions, when accosted by housemasters or staff, I successfully used the excuse that I was visiting the Deanery.

1952 1st IVStanding: J. Rippier and D. Leonard Seated: K. Beard, R.H.F. Carlyle (Coach), M. Rowe and D. Bushby

Inspired by our recent e-mail bulletin, we heard from an OV from School House.It was great to get Alice’s ‘P list’ - politics, painting, precision and much, much more - reviving fond but fading memories of the school that made us what we are. But it wasn’t quite as perfect as Alice proposed and memories are sometimes embellished over time. Mine are no exception:

Here is just a taste of his own addenda to our ‘Proliferation of P’s’ -

• Pennie - Generic girl at the Alice Ottley School, who would flash her lower knees and other non-extreme body-parts at King’s boys.

• Prep - Obligatory late-afternoon unwaged labour imposed on hormone-deprived teenagers, the first trialled treatment-programme for Anti-social behaviour.

• Prefect - A tense [as we learned in upper-fifth language class], very much a past tense, not continuing into the present, hence the distinction between perfect and pre-perfect, the latter often abbreviated to ‘prefect’; not to be confused with pluperfect, often abbreviated to ‘plufect’. Hence the aphorism: A prefect is perfect plufect.

If you would like to see the complete list – e-mail us at development@ksw.org.uk

Connect

Sophie Whitworth Development Director

swhitworth@ksw.org.uk 01905 721 719

Alice BruntDevelopment Assistant

abrunt@ksw.org.uk 01905 721 737

OVs in the News Forthcoming Events

Copyright 2012 The King’s School, Worcester

The King’s School, Worcester: a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England and Wales: Company Number 4776324. Registered Office: 5 College Green, Worcester WR1 2LL. Registered Charity Number 1098236.

Thursday 14th February, 2013

Local Business Forum and Drinks

Friday 3rd - Sunday 5th May, 2013

110th Annual Old Vigornians’ Reunion Weekend

and Sporting Steps Lunch

Wednesday 23rd - Friday 25th January, 2013

‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ Staff Pantomime supporting

The SPACE Campaign

Monday 13th May, 2013

School House ‘Seventyish’ Lunch

Monday 26th August, 2013

Finale Fireworks for The SPACE Campaign

Find out more about any of these events on our website or by contacting the

Foundation Development Office development@ksw.org.uk

spaceworcester.com

Thursday 13th December, 2012

King’s School Carol Service

@KSWSPACE

KSW Space

@KSWFDO

KSW Foundation Development Office

The SPACE Campaign is operated on behalf of The King’s School Worcester Development Trust. Registered Charity Number 527530.

Don’t forget to send us your OV News (Births, marriages, new jobs and new ventures) for the 2013 Vigornian. Entries should be around 50 words long and will be published at the end of the summer.

2013

Congratulations to 21 OVs who have achieved their Gold DofE Awards over the past few months! Timothy Rogers (Leaver 2010), Harriet Cornock, Sam Greenwood, David Haddock, Emma Pearman, Lucy Scales, Philippa Thomas and Stuart Whitehouse (Leavers 2011),

James Allen, Edel Dhanjal, Hollie Horton, Jacob Wells and Olivia Wilkinson (Leavers 2012) had been invited to an Award Presentation at St James’ Palace in November. John Adeney, Robert Battrum, Ellie Hill, Rebecca Linfoot, William Newton, Edoardo Toso and Hannah Wynn (Leavers 2012) have had their awards approved and will be invited to a presentation in the coming months. Well done to all of these individuals on their fantastic achievement!

Mark Ryan (Cl 73-80), has written the first biography on Harold Abrahams, who was Britain’s first Olympic 100m champion and who provided an enduring influence on athletics. His story was mainly remembered through the 1981 film Chariots of Fire, but Mark’s book, also entitled ‘Chariots of Fire’, reveals a life full of surprises and serves to reignite interest and awareness of a great, shamefully forgotten athletic hero.

Ben Parker (Cl 93-00) has published his debut book of poetry in November 2012. It is entitled ‘The Escape Artists’; further information can be found on his website: www.benparkerpoetry.co.uk

Look out for Abbas Kazerooni’s (W 91-96)new autobiographical book due out next year.

Marcus Ferrar (Cr 53-63) just published a new book – ‘A Foot in Both Camps: a German Past for Better and for Worse’, an historical memoir about an Anglo-German who

grows up torn between British wartime heroes and kindly German relatives, resolving his conflict of loyalty only in the ruins of Dresden. Marcus has drawn on his mother’s memories of growing up in Germany (she is exactly 100 years old), as well as other family members on the German side. His experience as a Reuters correspondent and the interviews he conducted during that time also contributed to the book.

“The book is principally about Germany from after WW1 to the present day and has a family perspective, but is also… very balanced and well-researched. It is certainly an easy and informative read which I greatly enjoyed.” T H Keyes

Friday 4th October, 2013

OV London Dinner

Calling all OVs living in East Africa!

Sarah [Edwards] Flowers (Co 87-89) and Paul Statham (W 77-86), both of whom

live in Kenya, are inspired by recent overseas OV reunions, and would like to arrange an OV gathering in East Africa. If you live in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia or Ethiopia,

please get in touch with the FDO. All eras welcome.

Change of Address?Please make sure we have an up-to-date

address so that we can invite you to reunions in your area. Please also give us your e-mail address so we can keep you

informed with our regular updates.