NEWSLETTER NO.111JULY 2007

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CHANGES TO THE NEWSLETTER: A REMINDERThe School Development Office has recently launched the KCS Community Newsletter.This is published six times a year, and contains news of the whole King’s Community –Senior and Junior Schools, the Rowans, the Squirrels, the Friends of KCS, the CommunityPartnership Programmes with other local schools and, of course, some news of the OKC.

The OKC Committee believes that the KCS Community Newsletter would be of interestto OKC Newsletter subscribers, and has arranged to fund its supply and distribution without,for the time being at least, any increase in subscriptions. The usual OKC Newsletter willcontinue (but without the inclusion of School news) as an enclosure in three of the sixCommunity Newsletters, all the contents being supplied by the OKC office, as usual.

This is the second of the new-style OKC Newsletters. The Hon Secretary would bepleased to hear any comments from readers about the change.

FORTHCOMING EVENTSOLD KING’S CLUB2nd September 2007 OKC v School Boat Race (check date with OKC office)6th October 2007 The Annual Gaudy will be held at the School23rd November 2007 OKC Annual Dinner at the School (see below)8th December 2007 OKC v School Cross Country Race

SCHOOLAutumn term 2007 begins on Tuesday 4th September and ends on Thursday 13th December.Half term (two weeks) is from Monday 22nd October to Friday 2nd November.

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OKC ANNUAL DINNERAdvance notice

This year our Annual Dinner will once again be held in the School Dining Hall

The date is

Friday 16th November 2007Please make a note in your diaries now, to be sure that you do not miss thisevent. Full details will be included in the next KCS Community Newsletter,which will be sent to you in October 2007.

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SECRETARY’S NOTESCLUB OFFICEThe Old King’s Club office is in the Lodge(next to the Sports Hall) and is open onTuesday and Thursday mornings from10.00 am to 1.00 pm; callers are welcome.Our telephone number is 020 8255 5390.In addition, messages can be left duringSchool hours on any day with the Schoolswitchboard operator on 020 8255 5300;you can fax us at any time on 020 82555439, or send an e-mail to okc@kcs.org.uk.

SCHOOL SHOPA wide range of OKC items, as well asleisureware, is available from the SchoolShop in the Lodge. The opening hours,telephone number, and other informationare available on the School web site,www.kcs.org.uk.

THE NEWSLETTERLayout and distribution of this Newsletterwere carried out by Tristan Bradley of theDevelopment Office, from material editedby Bryan Stokes of the OKC Office.Contributions for future issues are alwayswelcome, and should be sent to The Editor,Old King’s Club, King’s College School,Wimbledon, London SW19 4TT; or theymay be faxed to 020 8255 5439 or sent bye-mail to okc@kcs.org.uk. Material forinclusion in the next issue, to be published

in December 2007, must reach the OKCOffice by 16th November 2007.

The Old King’s Club is not responsiblefor individual opinions expressed in theOKC Newsletter. Editorials and othercontributions do not necessarily representthe views or policies of the Club, the ClubCommittee, or the Editor, except whereexplicitly identified as such.

THE NEWSLETTER ONLINEThis Newsletter is now available, passwordprotected, on the OKC website atwww.okc.org.uk Members may now view itthere, and if desired, print their own copies.To find out how to do this, all you need todo is to e-mail the OKC office atokc@kcs.org.uk giving your name andcurrent postal address, and you will receivefull instructions.

THIS ISSUEThis issue of the newsletter fetaures a fullreport from the KCS Old Boys RugbyFootball Club in this, their centenary year.The front cover photograph is an actionshot of the 1st XV taken by Trevor Wingate.

THE SCHOOL WEB SITEVisit the KCS web site at www.kcs.org.ukfor all the latest information about activitiesin the School and news of the School.

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OKC GAP YEAR AWARDSALI MURAD was one of the recipients of anOKC Gap Year Award in 2006. Ali, who isstudying Medicine at Oxford University,received his award to help him undertake hismedical elective for about one month each at theSir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi, India, and thePort of Spain General Hospital, Trinidad. Hesent us this report of his activities.

Sir Ganga Ram Hospital runs a busypaediatric department, which includesinpatient beds, numerous outpatient clinics, apaediatric intensive care unit, and an accidentand emergency department.

I spent most of my time in paediatricclinics and speaking to paediatric inpatients,their families and their doctors. Attendingpaediatric clinics was particularly valuable.Many clinics were held each day, including awide range of specialist clinics such aspaediatric neurology, paediatricendocrinology and paediatric rheumatology.The general outpatient clinics, which wereheld every day and open to everyone, free ofcharge and regardless of appointments wereparticularly memorable! They took place insmall rooms into which two doctors, twopatients and their families were crammed.There was no organised queuing system, withthe result that the room was often also filledwith other patients who wanted to ensure thatthey were seen next.

These clinics provided a fantasticopportunity to see pathologies not usuallyseen in England. These included numeroussuspected cases of tuberculosis, and treatmentfor the disease was often commenced before afirm diagnosis had been made. I was able toexamine patients, suggest diagnoses and helpwith simple practical procedures such as

vaccinations. Speaking to inpatients andattending ward-rounds was also an excellentway to learn. Patients, their families anddoctors were all extremely friendly and keento help.

I was also able to spend several daysworking in the paediatric ICU, the paediatricemergency department and the neonataldepartment. All of these placements providedopportunities to see pathologies that I hadhad few opportunities to see in Oxford.

The Eric Williams Medical SciencesComplex in Trinidad was also a large,multidisciplinary teaching hospital. I spentthe majority of my time in the Accident andEmergency department. This was anextremely busy department dealing with awide range of conditions. I saw a largeamount of asthma, road traffic accidentvictims and sickle cell disease, which has ahigh prevalence throughout the Caribbean.

BILAL KAHLOON also received an OKC GapYear Award in 2006. Bilal is studying Medicineat University College London, and received hisaward to help him undertake his medicalelective at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. He sent us this report.

Before Christmas I had the opportunity towork at the Aga Khan University Hospital(AKUH) in Karachi, Pakistan, for twomonths as part of my final year medicalelective. The AKUH is a huge hospital on asprawling site, boasting almost 600 beds with38,000 patients admitted annually. Thehospital serves as a specialist centre forvirtually every condition, taking referrals fromaround the country.

I pursued an elective in infectious diseases,

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with the intention of studying different formsof tuberculosis infection, in an area where itendemic. However, upon my arrival the firstEnglish-language newspaper I picked up atthe airport read “Viral Haemorrhagic FeverCases Rise” across the front page. It wasimmediately apparent the focus of my studywas about to change.

As fate would have it, an unusually wetsummer (combined with poor seweragesystems across the city) led to an alteredpattern of mosquito migration, leaving thecity victim to a ferocious Dengue Feverepidemic. During the course of my stay Iattended to over 100 patients afflicted withthe disease and wrote up the first clinicalstudy of the epidemic, which will bepublished this coming summer.

Beyond Dengue, I had the chance toobserve conditions every day that would neverbe found in British hospitals. These tended tofall into two groups: those diseases due totropical infection; and those that would havebeen caught by a doctor much earlier in theircourse. The advanced conditions representedan extreme of medicine that one only readsabout in textbooks or occasionally sees on thetelevision programme “House”. I rememberat one point dealing with an emergencypatient who had been passed from hospital tohospital as the complications of a snakebitebuilt up. After my initial assessment of a verycomplex case I thought it best to look in mytextbook for advice. I only found one line:“refer to a specialist centre”!

There were obvious differences betweenthe practice of medicine in Karachi and theUK, however what startled me most waswhen a family asked me to donate blood fortheir son. The family were concerned about

infected blood being administered and feltthat my UK immunisations would make meunlikely to harbour any disease that may bepassed on! Fortunately the young manrecovered well without a transfusion.

The experience of both the AKUH andliving in Karachi for two months werecertainly eye-opening and most useful. Thistrip would not have been possible without thegenerous support of the OKC, to whom I ammost grateful.

A total of three Gap Year Awards have beenmade for 2007. The recipients, all of whom areat present students in the School sixth form, are:EDWARD ALLEN. to teach English at aschool in China;QUIN MURRAY, to work distributingclothes and toys to children in Nepal; andALEX RODIN, to work on a conservationproject in Tanzania.

THE GEORGIAN SOCIETYA group of boys who had shared theexperience of the war years at KCS decidedin 1946-47 to found a smalldrinking/dining club, which they named“The Georgian Society” after the buildingwhich then housed the School tuckshop andlavatories and which, they had been assuredby their French master, “Rubber” Rhys, wasa fine example of Georgian architecture.The Society had a membership of nine (oneover the eight) and, to demonstrate itsclassical scholarship, adopted the motto“Nunc est bibendum”.

Remarkably, through all the dispersalcaused by National Service, universitycourses, and the demands of differingcareers, including postings abroad, the

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Society has kept together, meeting inLondon pubs and in the summer atBurpham in Sussex, the site of the wartimeSchool harvest camps. Sadly, with thedeaths over the years of David Browne(1960), Thomas Tucker (1996), ColinDavies (1996), and most recently KeithIngram in January 2007, membership isnow reduced to five: Robert Andrew, AngusNewman, Noel Pepperall, Sydney Scott,and Jay Wilton. But the Society carries on.In addition to its private meetings, fromtime to time it organises larger gatherings.On 12th May 2007 some two dozencontemporaries attended a lunch in theDalziel Room at KCS to celebrate theSociety’s 60th anniversary. A convivialoccasion was enjoyed by all, with suitabletoasts, nostalgic reminiscences, andsentimental examination of oldphotographs. May the Society continue toflourish!

Robert Andrew

CAREERSAs reported in the June issue of the KCSCommunity Newsletter the School CareersEvening took place on Tuesday 15th May.This year’s Lower Sixth form was rather largerthan usual, and almost all boys eligible toattend were present. This called for asomewhat larger number of Careers Advisors.It may be of interest to know that of the 105Advisors present, 82 were Old Boys of theSchool, the remainder being drawn fromparents and a few who had no direct contactwith the School. Gordon Robson is alwayskeen to hear from any Old Boy who wouldlike to help on these evenings.

FROM THE ARCHIVESROYAL COMMISSION REPORT

Following a chance remark at a meeting ofthe School Archivists Group at the NationalArchive, Kew, and with the assistance of theKeeper of the Archive at Dulwich College,KCS Archive has acquired a copy of theReports of the Royal Commission onScientific Instruction and the Advancementof Science, published 1871-1875.

The importance to us of this document(or documents – there are in fact eightvolumes containing a total of 1,983 pages,mercifully all as pdf files on a single DVD)is as follows. The Commission called forspecific detailed information about theteaching of Science from eighteen leadingPublic and Endowed schools, of which KCSwas one. The various submissions fromthese schools are reproduced in full in theReport, and extensively analysed.Unfortunately the submission by KCS HeadMaster G F Maclear was not as complete ordetailed as some of the others, butnevertheless gives considerable insight intothe KCS Science curriculum at the time,including methods of teaching, proportionof practical work undertaken, text booksused, tests and examinations, and manyother details, none of which had previouslybeen available in our Archive.

The greater part of the Reports isdevoted to Science in Universities, but theconclusions drawn, as far as schools areconcerned, make interesting reading for us,as they include such details as, inter alia, listsof recommended apparatus, together withprices; suitable demonstration experiments;and advice on laboratory design, much of itdrawn from the practice in schools such as

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KCS, UCS, Dulwich, Christ’s Hospital,Eton, Harrow, Clifton, and others.

Unlike the majority of the other schools,KCS of course had tuition in Science, withlaboratory accommodation, right from thestart in 1831, thanks to its position as theJunior Department of King’s CollegeLondon; UCS was in a similar position. Itis interesting to note that even in 1875 anumber of leading schools, althoughteaching some Science, still gave theirstudents no opportunity to do practicalwork. In addition, KCS was one of onlythree major schools to have a Workshop,teaching both Wood and Metal Work.Thanks to this document we now knowsome details of the Science curriculum atKCS in the 1870s.

WORLD WAR II MEDALS

A remarkable piece of King’s memorabiliawas brought in to the archive recently. Theitem is a large framed document on whichare displayed the medal ribbons of all thedifferent awards made to Old Boys duringWorld War II, together with a note of thenumbers of OKs gaining each award. Thedisplay is too big to illustrate in thisNewsletter, but a small section isreproduced in the KCS CommunityNewsletter accompanying this OKCNewsletter, to give readers some idea of thewhole thing.

We do not know who created thisremarkable compilation. It was found inthe attic of No. 9 Highbury Road,Wimbledon, by the owners of the housewhen they recently sold their home andmoved elsewhere, and it was then given toour President, Sir Robert Andrew. It had

presumably been left in the attic by aprevious owner.

Attempts are now being made to findout the names of the previous owners of thehouse, and readers of the Newsletter may beable to help with this. Does anyone knowthe name of any person connected withKCS who lived at 9 Highbury Road in the1940s or early 1950s? If so, please do let meknow.

Bryan Stokes

OK SPORTS CLUBSGOLFThe last season has been a period ofdevelopment for the Old Boys Golf squad.Rupert Rea became our new Scratch teamcaptain, and younger players jostled forpositions over the elder statesmen.

On paper, we had three very strong pairsgoing into the 2006 Grafton Morrish Finals,but unfortunately we stumbled at thesecond hurdle to a strong Charterhouseteam. However we picked up ourselves afterthe disappointment and qualified well forthe Sunday Plate tournament. Choong &Crowther continued on their trail ofdestruction, overturning Oakham 2nd pair8 and 7, a tournament record, with theother pairs competing well. The final of theplate posed the momentous task of playingMillfield who were much stronger than uson paper. All matches went close to thewire, and KCS prevailed 2 games to 1; agood start to Captain Rea's tenure.

After considering a number of localclubs, it was decided to return to the RoyalWimbledon GC for this year’s Old BoysSpring Meeting. Occasionally in life it ispossible to get something exactly right and

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the date chosen was the 11th May, whichjust happened to be the day before theRWGC Spring Meeting. This meant thatthe course was in excellent condition withgreens true and consistent, bunkers wellraked and full of sand and fairways lush andeasy. The down side to this is that there wasnothing to blame for poor scoring.

On the day, the best Stableford score wasDaniel Harris, one of the schoolboys, with37 points followed by Paul Druckman, whowon the Bill Cox cup with 34 pts. TomHowland had the best Scratch score of 80,beating Paul by one point, and was dulypresented with the Blades Scratch Cup.

The 2007 season saw out first "friendly"match in over thirty years. KCS just aboutput ten players together and, with a fullcarvery lunch at lunchtime, we beatSherborne 8 – 2. Hardly a contest somemight say; the only blemish to thescoreboard was the Mortlock/Olivier loss inthe morning foursomes. This served asmerely a warm up for our main event of thesummer, Grafton Morrish qualifying at our"home club" Royal Wimbledon. Wemanaged a tally of 98, a modern-day record,with pairings of Rea/Clark, Patel/Olivierand Crowther/Choong all performing well.I feel this line-up would beat even thestrongest of oppositions.

The final of the Old Schools putting ison Thursday 15th June, where KCS willhave to battle is out with last year’s winnerMarlborough. With an exceptionally strongteam of Rea, Mortlock, Crowther andChoong, KCS won their qualifying poolwith 41 points with Fettes coming secondon 34. Good luck to all.

I eagerly look forward to the 22nd June,

where the Old Boys and present staff andpupils clash horns; we hope to discover thenext batch of Grafton Morrish winners

Michael Choong

Golf fixtures for 2007April 28th Grafton Morrish Qualifying,London Royal Wimbledon Golf Club May 11th OK Golf Club SpringMeeting, Royal Wimbledon Golf ClubJune 22nd OK v Staff v School, RoyalWimbledon Golf ClubJuly 16th Surrey Schools Old Boys Golf,Clandon Regis Golf Club.Oct 4th-7th Grafton Morrish Final,Hunstanton and Royal West Norfolk GolfClubsGraham Cox – Secretary – tel/fax 0161 4275930 – email grahamcox@ntlworld.com

HOCKEYTwo Old Boys played for Oxford in thisyear’s Oxford v Cambridge match, whichtook place on 6th March, thus gaining aHockey ‘blue’. They were Harry Slater, whowas in his second year at New College,reading Chemistry, and Nick Randel,second year History at St Anne’s.

In the ‘Pen Portraits’ given in theprogramme of events for the match, Harrywas said to have “a huge talent, and withouthis quality ‘facilitating’ in the centre of mid-field the season might have a very differentlook than it presently does” and for Nick hewas “blessed with lightening pace” and“does not know when to quit, both qualitiesmaking him an excellent individual andteam player.”

Our congratulations to them both.

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RUGBYThe KCS Old Boys Rugby Club celebratedits 100th season in 2006-07. TheCentenary Committee organised severalspecial events, all of which were wellsupported, and seem to have been wellreceived. Two of these, a rugby Dinner inthe autumn, and a May Ball, took place atthe School. The Club is most grateful to theHead Master and the many members of theSchool staff who made these most enjoyableevents possible on our home ground. Thethird event was a 1st XV match against aSurrey President’s XV, which is reportedbelow. Overall, the Centenary eventsgenerated a profit, and the Club is donating£1,250 to both of our nominated charities.The remainder will be invested inrefurbishing our diabolical car park, as timeand opportunity allow. The Club thanksthe Centenary Committee for their efforts,and especially to Julia Rawlinson formasterminding a legendary Ball.

The season has been suitably successful.The 1st XV finished their leagueprogramme in 4th place in London 3 SW(RFU level 7), having secured a ratherfortuitous promotion after the previouscampaign. It took several hard experiencesin the early stages, but the team did adapt tothe pace and commitment necessary at thislevel, and did not record a substandardperformance after Christmas. Two matchesstand out: a rugged defensive effort to holdon for a 21-18 win away at Winchester, andjust failing to do the same at Dorking (19-20). The team featured veteran props PaulCalaminus (1992) and Mark Prior (1989),both of whom played prominent roles in thetight defensive struggles and the trademark

rolling mauls. Young second rowers TomMoore (1999), who was our first Minisection member, vintage 1993, and Marc‘Sideshow’ Davies (2004) show greatpromise. Tim Ralston (2000) played adominant and skilful part at scrum half, andJonno Venter’s (1999) incursions fromfullback shattered the opposition on severaloccasions. Perhaps the most improvedplayer was right wing Paddy Smith (2000),whose confidence and sidestep improved tomatch his great pace as the seasonprogressed.

It’s good to report that the 2nd and 3rdXVs enjoyed excellent seasons, finishing insecond place in their respective merit tables.The 2nd XV were runners-up to RosslynPark in the Surrey Premiership, and the 3rdXV conceded the Surrey Combination 1 toEsher on points' difference. Both teamsfinished comfortably ahead of our peergroup clubs’ reserve teams.

The club fielded a 4th XV from time totime, often under the inspirationalleadership of Hungarian international RobDembitz (1996). Injuries and unavailabilitymeant that it was not possible to run thisteam on a regular basis. I am glad to reportthat next season sees a new initiative, with aDevelopment XV being launched, broadlytargeted at the 18-24 age group. This teamwill play as a parallel 3rd XV, and it will filla significant gap in our playing developmentprogramme.

The Mini and Junior sections continueto thrive at all levels from U6 to U18, withmany children (and parents) enjoying theClub’s facilities on winter Sunday mornings.The Minis certainly made their mark on theCentenary season, with the U11s winning,

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and the U9s jointly winning, theirrespective sections at the Surrey ‘A’ MiniRugby festival. Both results represent ‘firsttimes’ for the club.

For next season, the Club’s managementand coaching staff is already preparing tobuild on our recent success. London 3 SWlooks as if it will be significantly stronger,and the 1st XV will be challenged toimprove on last season’s performance againstthe strong new teams which are coming intothe league.

100 years ago, KCS Old Boys celebratedtheir formal inauguration with a win overthe Old Haileyburians. The interveningcentury has seen a volatile history, rangingfrom the peaks of appearing at Twickenhamin the Middlesex 7s finals in 1963, andwinning the Surrey Cup in 1983, with timeswhen the Club was close to foundering.Today’s happy situation is that withexcellent facilities, sound managementunder the leadership of Paddy Ralston, andsuperb coaching teams, the Club’s futurelooks to be secure. KCS Old Boys RFCstrives to play attractive, sporting amateurrugby at all levels – and to maintain andstrengthen our ties with King’s CollegeSchool.

1st XV home fixtures in 2007: 15th September, Winchester;29th September, London Irish Amateurs20th October, Old Reigatian 3rd November, Old Wimbledonians

(also Former Players’ Luncheon); 1st December, Tottonians15th December, Purley John Fisher. The President’s Luncheon will be held

on Saturday 9th February. Much more information will be published

on website www.kings.org.ukProspective players contact: Paddy Ralston:paddy@kings.org.uk; 07958 232 816. Former players contact: Paul Calaminus,Paul.Calaminus@slam.nhs.uk; 07966 679754.

KCS OLD BOYS 1ST XV 32SURREY PRESIDENT’S XV 31The King’s Rugby Centenary Match wasplayed on Sunday 22nd April, in thepresence of the largest crowd to watch aKing’s senior contest at Motspur Park. TheKing’s XV delivered a memorableperformance to which everyone in the squadcontributed with energy and passion. Thepitch was extremely hard and the afternoonheat and high humidity provided verydemanding playing conditions. Both teamsdeserve great credit for driving themselvesall the way in this most competitive andvigorous match.

Surrey fielded a team of county trialists,many of whom went on to play in theCounty Championship. They includedseveral players who were faster than anyoneKing’s had seen this season, and King’s werefortunate to have strengthened their squadwith Chris Ritchie (an OK currentlycontracted with London Welsh) as a mostwelcome guest hooker. Chris generouslydonated one of his cherished Barbarianjerseys to the Club, and this will be featuredin our Centenary display at the clubhouse.In the match, Chris quietly helped to guidesome of the team’s key efforts in attack anddefence, in addition to the strength and skillof his play. The King’s squad also includedschoolboys Tom Dugarin and AlexHumphries. Tom started in the centre, and

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Alex came on as a second half replacement,playing flanker.

The early stages of the match were dour,and resembled several of the 1st XV’s tighterLondon 3 SW league encounters. Theteams seemed well-matched, with King’srather better organised up front, and Surreyshowing a little more danger outside. Surreydefended well to counter King’s signaturedriving mauls.

In the event it was Surrey who recordedtwo converted tries scored in quicksuccession through taking swift advantageof relatively small King’s defensive lapses (0-14). As the first half progressed, it seemedthat King’s were likely to come away empty-handed as Surrey effectively countered theOld Boys’ different forms of attack, and thehighly competitive nature of the contestbecame clear. Then Tom Dugarin rolled andjinked to create an opening to breakthrough the Surrey defence and touch downfor an unconverted try (5-14). The halfclosed with another Surrey score (5-19) andKing’s clearly had much to do to get back onterms.

King’s opened the second half with a finetry by Jonno Venter (10-19) as the matchtempo heated up. King’s were effectivelyincreasing their forward momentum andthis generated better quality ball for halvesTim Ralston & Graham McDougal to feedto the outside backs, or to kick tactically forfield position. Surrey scored an unconvertedtry rather against the run of play (10-24);and then Andy Harrison smashed throughthe middle for an excellent score, convertedby Tom Dugarin (17-24).

King’s closed the gap to 22-24 via asuperbly executed 80 metre interception try

by substitute Fraser Houlder. King’s seemedto be gaining the advantage, but it wasSurrey who answered brilliantly with a finetry for their hooker. (22-31).

In the final phase, King’s made their lastsubstitutions, including 43 year old CoachJulian Lamb coming on to partner Dugarinat centre. Interestingly, it was King’s fitnessthat proved to be superior in the sappingheat of the final stages. The Old Boyssecured a sustained attacking platform inmidfield that forced Surrey to concede apenalty, which Tom Dugarin converted (25-31).

The match entered injury time. King’sdrove up the field one more time and set upanother rolling maul. All the hours of teampractice paid off, and sound techniquecombined with the side’s greatdetermination to win generated the ultimatesurge over the Surrey line. Everyone on thetouchline expected Mark Prior to emergewith ball and grin – but in fact it was AlexHumphries who touched down. Prior hadof course been busy in the engine room!(30-31)

So it all came down to the conversion,placed a few metres in-field from the lefttouchline. The kick was entrusted to School1st XV captain Dugarin. “He thrives inpressure situations!” said School Director ofRugby Marcus Blackburn confidently.Tom’s kick set off on the right line – and hadjust enough power to clear the crossbar (32-31). The crowd exploded with a victoryroar.

King’s managed to control the ballduring the remaining short period of play.The referee’s final whistle blast evoked onemore bellow from the appropriately partisan

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crowd - and then the party really started. King’s 1st XV: Mark Prior, Chris Ritchie,Paul Calaminus; Iain Richards (Captain),Tom Moore; Eddie Milne, Rob Adams, WillObbard; Tim Ralston, Graham McDougal;Jannie Pretorius, Tom Dugarin, AndrewHarrison, Paddy Smith; Jonno Venter. Replacements: Chris Cottrell, Marc Davies,Fraser Houlder, Alex Humphries, SteedRichardson, Kyle Jardine, Stu Davidson,Julian Lamb.

Kelvin WaltonPresident, KCS Old Boys RFCkelvin.walton@btinternet.com

OLD BOYS NEWSNews of Old Boys is always of interest both tocontemporaries and the wider membership,and is welcomed in the OK office.Information for inclusion in the Newslettershould be sent to the Hon. Secretary, OldKing’s Club, King’s College School,Wimbledon, London SW19 4TT, or e-mailedto okc@kcs.org.uk.

DAVID BANN (1961) is still working inbook production, and is currentlyProduction Director of Michael O’MaraBooks. He has worked in printing all hislife, at one time as Production Director ofPenguin Books, and writes that his love ofprint was originally inspired at KCS byRobert Holloway and the Art Society Press.He recently had published his All New PrintProduction Handbook, a new edition of histext book originally written in 1986.

DAVID BURBRIDGE (1992), havingworked for AEA Technology Rail (latterlyDeltaRail) in Derby for 9 years, including

several stints abroad in Hong Kong andSweden, has decided that it was time tomove back to London (see changes ofaddress). He is still in the railway industry,now working for Metronet.

LIONEL MATSUYA (2000) is now livingin Oxford (see changes of address) and isworking as a Christian Youth Worker in aschool-based organisation.

DOUGLAS MOBSBY (1954) was awardedthe MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours“for services to Local Government in theCity of London and to the community inthe SE”.

ARRAN SMITH (2005) was forced to takean emergency gap year through illness, buthe is now back to full health, and is now inhis second year studying Veterinary Scienceat Ormond College, Melbourne University,Melbourne, Australia.

OSCAR VERONESE (1979) in a recent e-mail from Singapore, told us something ofhis life in Asia during the last 12 years. Hewent out to Hong Kong in 1995 with TimeMagazine, then to Australia in 1998, andfinally to Singapore in 2000.

Three years ago he joined the executivesearch business to run the media,communications, and advertising practiceof an executive search firm called “I SearchWorld Wide”. The company is based inSingapore but its tendrils reach globally,with a focu on the asia Pacific region. As hiscareer has been entrenched in the mediaworld, he writes, “I was fascinated to note,on the OKC website, how much interest the

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media world holds in career aspirations forthe current members of the School”.

Oscar is married, his wife Tess also worksin the advertising and media world, andthey have two sons, aged 5 and 2.

DEATHSIt is with sorrow that we have to report thefollowing deaths.R W GORTON (1956) 12 November 2007L J F PRIOR (1925) 5 June 2007Mrs TRISH TAMPIN-MARSHALL (Hon)22 June 2007C L THOMPSON (1955) 22 May 2007C N TOPPING (1945) 20 March 2007P WATERS (1944) June 06

OBITUARIESRICHARD HUDSON

RICHARD HUDSON, an Honorary LifeMember, and member of the teaching staffof the English Department from 1953 to1986, died on 16th November 2006. Onhis retirement, the School Magazinepublished an assessment of his life at King’s,which we reproduce here.

Dick Hudson, who retired in July 1986after thirty-three years at King’s, came to theSchool having previously taught atWestminster Under School and LatymerUpper School. Educated at Clifton Collegeand Exeter College, Oxford, he served in theRoyal Navy during the War, commandinghis own craft at D-Day. During his time atKing’s, he contributed twenty-five years tothe C.C.F., fifteen of them in charge of theNaval Section, ran the Squash Club for sixyears, organised House League Cricket, andrefereed hundreds of hockey, rugby and

cricket games, mainly at West Barnes Lane,keeping up his active involvement in sportuntil his retirement. As Housemaster ofMaclear for twenty-three years, Dick guidedthat house through many seasons of successand achievement.

As a teacher of English, Dick will beremembered with great affection bygenerations of King’s boys who benefitedfrom his generous, humane championshipof the classic texts, and from his equallyhealthy scepticism of critics. To histeaching he brought the warmth of deeplyfelt religious convictions, a lively culturebased on his facility with languages, andexacting standards of scholarship that didnot willingly tolerate lack of preparation onthe part of his pupils. To his colleagues,Dick was an inexhaustible source of friendlyadvice, sound common sense, wisdomderived from long experience of boys,books, and life in general, and a uniquecelerity in completing the Times crossword.

Ralph Cake, a friend and colleague of Dick’sfor many years, writes:As the Valete article of 1986 leaves in nodoubt, Dick was a man with immenseexperience of life beyond the school, whichmade all that he offered to the boys so muchthe more valuable. He was one of anacademically formidable but independent-minded trio (Frank Miles and DerekPembery were the others) who comprisedthree-quarters of the English Departmentfor over a quarter of a century.

Dick was unfailingly thorough andreliable in all he did. His teaching ofChaucer, Shakespeare and Conrad was asstraight and authoritative as his bat when he

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was at the crease playing firm drives past thebowler. He had a twinkle in his eye, and asense of humour, which the boys relished ashe deployed his nautical metaphors. Hisdeep compassion and practical advice werequietly appreciated by colleagues andfriends as by pupils. His support - throughthe Church of the Sacred Heart – of thosewho had fallen on hard times was selfless,sustained and absolutely discreet.

Dick’s home, as one would imagine, wasalways welcoming. In retirement hecontinued actively to enjoy the company ofhis five sons and their families (he wasparticularly proud that grandsons continuedthe Hudson connection with the school),and supremely of course the company of hiswife and help-mate Marie-Charlotte.

Many people remember Dick as a trulygood man and an excellent friend.

ROGER GORTON (1956) died on 12thNovember 2006, aged 68. He had spentmost of his working career in BritishAirways, ending up as a 747 Captain. Heleft at 55, the normal age at the time, andapplied to join the staff of Virgin Airways.He was accepted subject to a medical which,to everyone’s shock, he failed. He had non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, which was held atbay until recently.

Roger, the younger brother of TonyGorton (1953), is survived by his wife Jean,his daughter Alex, and his son Andrew whois married and lives in New York.

JOHN EDWARD JONES (1948) joinedthe Junior School in 1941, and left theSenior School in 1948. He was not only

intelligent and understanding, but also hadan outgoing and extremely friendlydemeanour. In his final year he played inthe 1st XV captained by R K Ingram, wherehe was described as a “hooker of great abilitywho seldom met his master”.

John joined the Army through NationalService, 1949 – 1951, and wascommissioned into the King’s Own RoyalRegiment. Later he became a Major in theNorth Staffordshire Brigade of theTerritorial Army, 1952 – 1970. He marriedBarbara in 1953, and he and his wife hadthree children. He was recruited to joinBass Ratcliffe and Gretton, and later becamePersonnel Director of Bass Mitchells andButler, 1972 – 1988. He was seconded tothe Princes Trust 1988 – 1990, and becameChairman of St Giles Hospice,Whittington, Staffordshire. He and his wifemoved from Lichfield to North Devon in1992 and thence to Winchester in 2006.

John was a born leader, and devotedmuch of his time in his retirement years tothe interests of others.

Byron Theo

LEONARD PRIOR (1925) was at King’sfor three years from 1922 to 1925. Onleaving he later qualified as a Fellow of theRoyal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, andpracticed as a Chartered Surveyor.

Leonard was one of our oldest members.He died on 5th June 2007; had he lived hewould have been 100 on 23rd July.

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OLD KING’S CLUB: OFFICERS AND COMMITTEEPRESIDENT: Sir Robert Andrew KCBPAST PRESIDENT: R M ReeveVICE PRESIDENTS: R B Armitage (1991), L R Barkey (1985), M Barron (1996), D D C Belchamber (1986),

R E Dawson (1979), R F Diacon (1983), P K Gerhold (1984), J D E Hamilton (1983), A D Hein (1986), J Keeling (1987), R G Mathews (1995), E A Stokes (1996), C Taylor (1973). Year of election shown in brackets

CHAIRMAN: H M G KingHON SECRETARY: B J StokesHON TREASURER: P J Grant FCAMEMBERS OF COMMITTEE.

Elected: C L Day, R J Hudson, H M G King, D W Parry, S K Tester Co-opted: T J R Bradley, J A Galloway, I D Hay, C A Malmaeus, Representatives of Accredited Activities: Cricket: T W Eaves Cross Country: J P H SmithFencing: D G TillesGolf: M Z Choong Hockey: O J McGinnRifle Club: R J HudsonRugby Club: P A CalaminusSoccer: J W L BadgettSwimming: P J de C NewmanTennis: C G DiaconKCS Lodge: C A Malmaeus

Social Sub-Committee: R B Armitage, C L Day, H M G KingTrustees of the Old King’s Club: R B Armitage, A D Hein, S K TesterTrustees of the Invested Funds: D W Parry, R A S Offer, M A Smith,Hon Auditors: J H Hole, G P N Phillips ACABenevolent Fund Management Board: L R Barkey (Chairman and Trustee), A C V Evans (Head Master, KCS), J D E Hamilton (Trustee), A D Hein (co-opted), R Lowndes, R J Morris (Treasurer and Trustee), D V Smedley, C Taylor (Trustee)Careers for School Leavers:Old King’s Club Adviser:J G Robson, 27 Westminster Gardens, Marsham Street, Westminster, London SW1P 4JD (020 7828 9576)

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