2005 January

OPA Newsletter January 2005

OLD PHAROSIANS’ ASSOCIATION

NEWSLETTER

    New Series No. 87

Jan 2005

FRONT COVER PICTURE:

Back on the school field where it all began…Old Pharosians’ President, and former Premiership referee, David Elleray with Jamie Durrant (left) captain of the Old Boys’ team, and Stephen King, captain of the school’s 1st XI, before the annual match.

LIST OF CONTENTS

NEWS OF THE ASSOCIATION

• Officers and Committee Members
• Annual Meeting, Football Match and Dinner 2004
• President’s message
• Head Teacher’s Message
• Centenary Tie
• Head Prefect’s Message
• Centenary Year Begins
• From The Committee Room
• Archivist’s Corner
• Can Anyone Help?

NEWS OF THE SCHOOL

• John Marriott
• Business and Enterprise Specialist Status Bid
• Senior Prizegiving
• Comings and Goings
• “Focus”

NEWS OF OLD BOYS

• Obituaries
• Members still Living and Learning

NEWS OF THE ASSOCIATION
OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE 2004-2005

PRESIDENT   David Elleray VICE-PRESIDENT   Jack Kremer
37 Old Park Hill Dover CT16 2AW PAST PRESIDENT   Ian Pascall
“Karibu” 45A Bewsbury Cross Lane Whitfield, Dover CT16 3EZ
01304 821187 e-mail: Ian.Pascall@mfw.co.uk SECRETARY   Philip Harding
6 Chestnut Road, Elms Vale Dover CT17 9PY
01304 205007 e-mail: phil@ksfa.freeserve.co.uk ASSISTANT SECRETARY   Graham Tutthill
21 Orchard Drive, River, Dover CT17 OND
01304 822121 e-mail: graham@tutthill.freeserve.co.uk TREASURER   Neil Beverton
6 Riverdale River, Dover CT17 0QY
01304 820628 MEMBERSHIP
SECRETARY   Roger Gabriel
229 St Richard’s Road Deal CT14 9LF
01304 366110 e-mail: RogGabriel@aol.com NEWSLETTER EDITORS

Terry Sutton MBE

17 Bewsbury Cross Lane,
Whitfield, Dover CT16 3HB
01304 820122 e-mail: terry.sutton@route56.co.uk
and Graham Tutthill

ARCHIVIST   Peter Burville
Seagate, Goodwin Road St. Margaret’s Bay, Dover CT15 6ED
01304 853267 e-mail: pj.burville@btinternet.com WEBSITE MANAGER

Paul Skelton
Little Rock, 6 Park Road, Temple Ewell, Dover CT16 3AJ
01304 822260

e-mail: ]]>

COMMITTEE   Reg Colman OBE (to retire 2005)     Rev John Philpott (to retire 2005)     Maurice Smith (to retire 2006)     Barry Crush (to retire 2007)     Mike Palmer (to retire 2007)     One vacancy AUDITOR   John Sheather HEAD TEACHER   Sally Lees STAFF REPRESENTATIVES   Gary Potter     Francoise Lloyd     One to be elected by the staff HEAD PREFECT   Rahul Bakshi

INTERNET ADDRESS: http://dovergrammar.co.uk

E-MAIL ADDRESS: pharos@dovergrammar.co.uk

ANNUAL MEETING, FOOTBALL MATCH AND DINNER 2004

Eighteen people attended the annual meeting, on 2 October, and apologies for absence were received from another six.

At the start of the meeting, members stood in silence to remember Old Pharosians who had died during the previous year.

Treasurer Neil Beverton reported that income during the year had exceeded expenditure by £4,632.08. At the end of July the balance carried forward was £9,916.99. The accounts were approved.

Retiring President Ian Pascall said it had not been such an eventful year this year and he had not been able to speak to the sixth form leavers. He said it should be ensured that this opportunity was not missed next year. It was agreed that a letter should be sent to all the 2004 leavers, together with a copy of the newsletter, telling them about the association and inviting them to join. It was reported that there were now 801 members.

Maurice Smith said there was nearly £6,000 in the fund for the clock, and a planning application would be made to Dover District Council very soon, with the hope of the clock being installed during the Easter holidays. The President expressed his thanks to the committee, and Maurice Smith for his support.

David Elleray was elected President and, taking over the meeting, thanked Ian for all he had done. He spoke of the importance of a close relationship between the school and the Old Pharosians’ Association as the school moved forward into the future.

Jack Kremer was elected as vice-President. Other officers were re-elected.

Head Teacher Sally Lees said she had been warmly welcomed at the school, and she believed the students were outstanding with good potential. She said the academic results had not been as good as they should have been in recent years, and she planned to raise their aspirations. A programme was being introduced to promote excellence in Academic Results, Learning and Teaching, Behaviour and Appearance, Environment and Teamwork. She planned to have talks with the new President on how links between the school and the Old Pharosians could be strengthened.

A bid for specialist status in Business and Enterprise was now being launched and Teresa Birchley outlined the purpose of the bid.

Under any other business, Ian Pascall raised the issue of whether Presidents should serve for two years rather than one, and it was agreed this would be discussed at the next committee meeting.

Paul Skelton said he was producing a book on the school’s 100 years of history, which he hoped would be published on 11 September 2005.

Football Match

President David Elleray refereed the football match between the Old Boys and the school’s present 1st XI in the afternoon, returning to the field where he began refereeing while he was a pupil at the school.

So he was the obvious choice to take control of the annual fixture between
the old and new, and which ended in a 4-3 victory for the school’s 1st XI.

It was an exciting match, with a couple of good-natured arguments and a bit
of banter from the touchline. But Mr Elleray did not have to add any more
names to the list of those he has dismissed during his distinguished career.

The Dinner

Proposing the toast to the school at the annual dinner, the President paid tribute to former deputy headteacher Ken Ruffell, who, he said, had had a huge impact on his life. “He started me off on my refereeing career,” said David. “I had a vision of playing for the county and possibly for England. But he told me I was hopeless and couldn’t play the game. He said I wasn’t up to it, so I trained as a referee instead.”

David recalled that he had been chairman of the Independent Schools’ Football Association at the same time that our secretary Phil Harding was chairman of the English Schools’ Football Association. “This meant all schoolboy football in this country at that time was overseen by Mr Ruffell’s former pupils. We were both hugely influenced by him. He was a quite remarkable man.”

Mr Elleray told the other former pupils at the dinner: “I hope each of us will do all we can to repay the great debt of gratitude for what this school gave us.”

As well as telling us of some of his experiences as an international referee, David also explained the background to the song, Forty Years On, which is also the school song at Harrow where he is a housemaster and geography teacher.

Senior assistant head teacher Gary Potter thanked the old boys for the help
and support the association had shown to the school over the years. He said
the school was now changing in many positive ways, and it was an exciting
place to be.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Returning to DGSB for the Old Pharosians AGM and Dinner was a moving experience for me. I had only been back to DGSB once before and that was when I felt really old for the first time as I was Guest Speaker at a Presentation Evening and the Head Master read out some comments from my old school report!

My second return was greatly enjoyable, not least because in the morning at the AGM we had a hugely encouraging report from the new Head, Sally Lees. Her enthusiasm and growing pride in the school were palpable and left those of us at the meeting with a great determination to do all we can to promote the school and support all that the staff and boys are trying to do. After a period of turmoil it seems the school now has a highly competent and steady hand on the tiller.

I greatly enjoyed refereeing the soccer match in the afternoon and found myself meeting former classmates who had changed as much as I had physically, but their wit and good humour were undiminished. The Dinner in the Great Hall was a marvellous reminder of Maurice Smith’s perfect organisational abilities and a great menu was enjoyed by all. It was moving moment when we sang Forty Years On! as that song originated at Harrow School where I now teach and is our School song.

I was delighted to return in December for the Senior Prize Giving and in my address suggested that ‘DGSB’ stood for Discipline, Generosity, Self-awareness and Belief – the qualities which, when inculcated in the boys, helps them develop to their full potential and makes DGSB a great school.

2005 is the school’s centenary year and it began with the raising of a new school flag. I hope that as many Old Pharosians as possible will visit the school this year and help them make the centenary one of great importance for the reputation and morale of the school.

I am deeply honoured to be President of the Old Pharosians and hope that in my brief spell in office we can build on the excellent work of Ian Pascall and the committee, develop the association and contribute to the school’s progress. We already have some exciting proposals for the next AGM!

Fiat Lux
David Elleray
President

HEAD TEACHER’S MESSAGE

I find it hard to believe that I have been at the school for such a short time. I already feel so much at home here, and with such a lot having been packed into the first term, it seems a very long time since September!

Autumn Term 2004 will be remembered for the arrival of a new Headteacher and her new leadership team, followed very swiftly by the arrival of the Ofsted inspection team. The staff and students responded very well to the demands these two groups placed upon them, and I am pleased to be able to report that the Ofsted inspection revealed many strengths in the school, whilst leaving us with a clear agenda for further development and improvement.

And then Centenary year arrived! As many of you will know, we launched our Centenary Year in a special flag raising ceremony on 5 January, the first day of the Spring Term. The weather was kind to us, the rain stayed away and the wind caught the new flag at precisely the right moment, just as it reached the top of the flagpole. Our two youngest students raised the flag, with the help of our Head Prefect and Peter Burville who represented the Old Pharosians.

We have many other Centenary events planned for 2005, and will shortly be producing a booklet to mark the occasion, which will be available from the school if you would like a copy. The booklet will reflect on the opening ceremony, and lay out the dates planned for the remainder of the year.

Centenary ties are being produced to match the Old Pharosian tie, but with a logo designed by one of our Year 7 students. These will be available for purchase by past and present students, and we would like to donate one to each of our Centenary intake of new students in September.

I am very grateful to David Elleray for attending the Senior Prizegiving Evening in December as our Guest of Honour. It was a wonderful evening and he gave a memorable and stirring speech which was appreciated by all our guests and staff and students. I am looking forward to working with David throughout the remainder of this year.

In his first committee meeting as President he put forward some radical proposals, including the renaming of the Association. I recognise a fellow innovator! Like him, I value the traditions of the school enormously, but I am committed to innovation, and I am looking forward to seeing DGSB move forward in the years ahead to re-establish its rightful place as a leading Grammar School in Kent and beyond. Our students are second to none, and deserve the very best opportunities we can bring them.

Here’s to our second century!
Sally Lees

HEAD PREFECT’S MESSAGE

My term as head prefect started at the end of the last academic year, and since then a lot has been happening involving the prefect body. Firstly I must address the new structure of the prefect team, which is the largest ever at 36. To help me organize the prefects there are six deputy head prefects, each of whom has their own team of six prefects who they are in charge of.

All the prefects attend their standard duties which include looking after the canteen queue, the lower corridor and new tower at lunch and break time. In addition each team of prefects has a specialist responsibility, for example academic mentoring, which they undertake. So far this system has proved very successful with the prefect’s presence being felt throughout the school, from the day to day running to extra curricular activities and open evenings.

The prefect body’s hard work has not gone unnoticed. At the beginning of November the prefects were given a common room. This came as a pleasant surprise because due to limited space in the school there previously wasn’t any room for us. However, Mr Potter and Mrs Birchley kindly moved their offices to free up a room for us. The room has proved to be a very popular reward as we now have a TV, fridge and kettle and we are hoping to add a microwave.
Rahul Bakshi

CENTENARY YEAR BEGINS

A specially-composed fanfare – sounded from the top of the tower – heralded the start of the school’s centenary year. The fanfare was composed by teacher Brian Shaw who played it with sixth form student Ben Reay just before the new centenary flag was raised on the first day of term. Half the cost of the flag was provided by the Old Pharosians. Less than two hours later, it was lowered to half-mast for the three minutes’ silence in memory of the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in south east Asia.

The flag, which will fly each day from the school tower during the centenary year, was raised by the two youngest pupils in the school, 11-year-olds George Revell and Chris Chattaway, head prefect Rahul Bakshi, and Old Pharosian Dr Peter Burville (1946 to 1951).

The Centenary Flag, designed by Dr Alan French. Each quarter is one of the house colours (clockwise from top left: blue, green, yellow and red). Pictured with it are (left to right) are George Revell, Dr Peter Burville, Rahul Bakshi and Chris Chattaway.

Addressing the school and guests in the hall prior to the flag-raising, head teacher Sally Lees said it was an opportunity to look back and celebrate 100 years of proud tradition, of providing a quality education to the boys of Dover, Deal and the surrounding area, of supporting and caring for thousands of boys as they made their way through the challenging path of adolescence and developing maturity, and developing essential skills for the country’s future leaders.

Mrs Lees spoke of the influential previous head teachers who had taken the school to their heart, including Fred Whitehouse, Mr JC Booth, Dr Michael Hinton, Reg Colman – who attended the event – and Neil Slater. “This is a school which has survived some serious threats to its existence, and previous head teachers have fought hard to preserve the school and to continually prepare it to face the challenges ahead. I believe this school is a tremendous school and I will do all I can to ensure that it provides the quality education which will prepare its students for life in the 21st century.”

Mrs Lees said that in some ways, the second century in the life of DGSB would be very different from the first. In 1905 there were no such things as computers, business education would not have played any part in the curriculum, and who would have thought that media studies, government and politics and psychology would be among the most popular subjects in the sixth form now.

Yet in other ways, the second century would be very similar to the first. “The emphasis on community values will continue, as will the emphasis on the development of the whole person, the personal qualities as well as the academic qualifications needed to make the most of life’s opportunities. DGSB will continue to provide opportunities outside the classroom in sport, music, CCF and other activities to extend the range of experiences for students. DGSB will continue to prepare confident young men who can lead the country into its future.

“At the start of 2005, we look back and celebrate 100 years of achievement. “Those 100 years include times of good fortune, times of sadness, particularly the boys killed in active service, times of celebration, times of threat to the future of the school, and times of confidence in the future. And as we look back in gratitude to the staff and students who have given so much in the past, we also look forward with optimism and enthusiasm to the future.”

FROM THE COMMITTEE ROOM

Radical was the word used by President David Elleray to describe the committee meeting held on 25 November, when a number of changes to the constitution were recommended.

The first, following a suggestion at the annual meeting, was that the President should become more of a figurehead for the association, and that we should introduce the role of Chairman, who would conduct the committee meetings, have more responsibility for the day-to-day running of the association and provide a more stable contact with the school. The Chairman would also represent the association at school events (which is sometimes difficult for a President who lives some distance from Dover). Instead of only serving for one year, the President would also be able to be re-elected for a second year (or more) if he, and the association, wished that to happen. The post of vice-President would become President-elect, and he would only be appointed when the President indicated that he intended to step down.

The second suggested change, to be discussed at the March committee meeting before being recommended to the annual meeting, is that the name of the association should become Pharosians’ Association (deleting the word “Old”). The President said he was concerned about attracting younger members to the association, and felt the reference to “old” might deter some from joining, a view supported by the Head Prefect. The committee will also consider plans for functions for younger members of the association.

Following requests for financial support for recent leavers undertaking various projects, the President said he had been unable to approve any such requests without the consent of the committee. He recommended, and it was approved, that the sum of £250 should be set aside, annually, for the President to use at his discretion to make grants of up to £50 each in such cases. The President will report grants at the following committee meeting.

The meeting had begun with members standing in silent tribute to former President Ted Baker, who had died earlier in the month (see Obituaries).

Half of the cost of the new school flag had been paid from association funds.

Membership Secretary Roger Gabriel reported that the association now had 803 members, although some of them did not appear to have paid any subscriptions for a while, and there were 23 for whom we had no addresses. He is liaising with the treasurer to confirm whose membership has lapsed. Roger also agreed to write to the 2004 leavers to tell them about the association, and to invite them to join.

Website Manager Paul Skelton said information was being received every week via the website. The school’s own website was ready to go “live”, and would be linked to the Old Pharosians’ website.

A total of £5,704 has been received for the clock which is to be installed on the school roof, but another £1,000 is still needed. Peter Holdstock is the architect for the project, and a planning application has been submitted.

A Working Party had been set up in the school to organise events to mark the school’s centenary and Peter Burville is our representative. A Centenary Fun Day will be held in the summer, in place of Sports Day, and the Old Pharosians’ Day will be a Centenary Day with the school’s archives available for old boys and other visitors to look at. Displays will be created by students, based on the archives. Paul Skelton is preparing a Centenary Book which will be published on 11 September 2005, 100 years to the day since the school’s opening. Old Pharosian Trevor Heaver, from Canada, had written to ask if Masters Sports Teams with which he was associated could include fixtures against Old Pharosians’ teams in a tour of Kent in the summer. It was agreed this request should be passed to Mick Palmer. OP Lester Borley had submitted a list of suggested centenary events, and this has been referred to the Working Party for consideration.

Thanks were expressed to Maurice Smith for all his work in organising the annual meeting and especially the dinner in October. It had been a very successful event.

It was agreed that next year’s Annual General Meeting, Football Match and Dinner would take place on Saturday 1 October 2005.

Archivist Peter Burville said material was being received faster than the archive team were able to deal with it. Extra storage space had been provided, and the team now had a room of their own to work in.

The committee meets next on 18 March at 7 p.m.

ARCHIVIST’S CORNER

Greetings! It has been a very busy summer and autumn for the archive team. To our great relief the two Log Books of the founding Headmaster Fred Whitehouse were returned to us. The first one covers the period 1899 to 1915 whilst the second covers 1915 to 1929. During the period prior to 1905, the year the Dover County School was founded, the Pupil Teachers were the main academic focus of interest recorded in the log book.

Another source of information on the early days of the school is the set of Minutes of the Borough of Dover Proceedings, which are held in the library of Dover Museum. They cover the period from 1906 and record information on matters such as the appointments and salaries of staff. Perhaps research into this material would be a suitable exercise for some pupils as part of the centenary activities.

We continue to receive material for the archives, which always welcome – so often when clearing-out for a house-move or the like precious records can be trashed. Some of the items we get come from unusual sources. During the replacement of shelving in the library, a range of items, strangely enough including several rulers, were found which had slipped down the back of the units. One item of particular interest was an unposted letter, presumably written during the war when W.R.N.S. personnel were billeted in the school. Written on an 8 May by a Deidre, it was addressed to Third Officer Maureen Bradish-Ellams on H.M.S. Robertson. In the letter there was reference to the consequences of war activities. A Mrs Gosling said Bill had been wounded about 17 times and Anthony Courage was still missing. Deirdre wrote that she was doing coding but “not officially yet”. Perhaps she was working in the “secret underground works” at Dover Castle. My approach to the Naval Archives, enquiring if they could shed any light on the principal people featured in the letter, has yet to produce a response.

Tony Bradley (1945-1952) emailed to say how much he admires the school web-site with the photographs and access to archive material, such as the Pharos Magazines in which he found a reference to his father.

Enquiries continue to arrive from all over the world. Recently a Dr Richard Trahair wrote from Australia to say that following a request by the Trist family he had “undertaken to write a scholarly biography of Eric L. Trist”. From the archives it was possible to provide Dr Trahair with information on Eric Lansdown Trist (1921-1928) and his chums at the school and Cambridge University. These included Dudly George Arthur Sanders (1918-1927), Sidney Dilnot (1921-1929) and Harold Arnold Stanway (1921-1929). A copy of the biography would make a splendid addition to the OPA archives.

Another enquiry was from Professor Clyde Binfield (1951-1958) regarding the career of Alan Andrews (1926-1934). Andrews had a distinguished career in the forces, before and during the war, as well as in civilian life.

On a personal note, Robert Jarvest (1952-1959) paid me a visit when here from Canada. However, it was not for OPA matters, his wife Margaret is my third cousin, once removed.

Finally, I close with the hope you all have a splendid Centenary Year and wonder what it will be like “100 years on when …”.

Peter Burville (1946-51)

CAN ANYONE HELP?

Paul Tunnell is researching his family tree, and believes that Oliver Tunnell, a master at the school from about 1913-1918, was tragically killed during the war and may have been a relative of his. If anyone can help, he can be contacted at paultunnell@hotmail.com

Laura Killington, whose great-grandfather Cullinane was at the school from about 1911-1913, found him mentioned in many of the football reports in the newsletters from around this time. Her grandfather, James Cullinane, has the Dover County School panoramic photograph from 1912 and has asked if it is something we would be interested in for the website. Paul Skelton has replied to say it certainly is! “I have just sent my grandfather copies of all the newsletters which mention his father’s name and it has made his year!” said Laura. “What a wonderful resource your website is. Keep up the good work.

David Ratcliffe asks if anyone can help him find Jason MacDonald, previously known as Jason Wesley, who was at the school from 1980 to 1986. Anyone with information can contact David at ratters77@hotmail.com

Former head of PE Arthur Elliott has provided a collection of photos of sports and PE teams from years gone by. Help is needed putting names to all the faces. Please click on the school’s website to see if you can help.

BBC Radio 4 are researching a record company which produced records of the sounds of steam trains, and would like to contact HJ Yates or any other members of the school’s Railway Club from the 1960s who used to listen to those records. If anyone can help, please contact Graham Tutthill (contact details on page 3) as soon as possible.

NEWS OF THE SCHOOL

JOHN MARRIOTT

Former head of French John Marriott died on 29 November, aged 92. Mr Marriott taught French and was head of the French department for many years in the 1950s and 1960s. He was also the author of the book Use of French published by Harrap in 1968. The funeral service took place at Hawkinge Crematorium on 9 December. We extend our sympathy to his daughter, Jane Marsters, who lives in Surrey, and other members of the family.

BUSINESS AND ENTERPRISE SPECIALIST STATUS BID

I had the pleasure of attending the Annual General Meeting of the Old Pharosians and met many of you there. My reason for attending the meeting was to give a presentation to yourselves, one of our major stakeholders, about our intention to become a Business and Enterprise Specialist School. At the meeting, I outlined our enthusiasm for the enterprise part of the specialism – offering our boys opportunities in leadership, problem solving, risk taking and the development of entrepreneurial skills.

In order to become a Business and Enterprise Specialist School we need to raise £50,000 towards a major capital project in the school. Our aim is to refurbish the existing boys’ toilets into a new, state of the art ICT centre for use by the community as well as the school, and to relocate and modernise the toilets for the boys.

We have raised about £30,000, £15,000 from a major sponsor, £5,000 from the PFA, £10,000 gift from an Old Pharosian, and small sums from the boys. We still need more to be successful.

I am therefore appealing to you as old boys of the school for help. Any amount you can offer, whether it be £10 or £10,000 will be much appreciated and put to very good use in a school that many of you love so much.

Please send cheques to Teresa Birchley, Business and Enterprise Bid, Dover Grammar School for Boys, Astor Avenue, Dover CT17 0DQ.

Teresa Birchley
Assistant Headteacher

SENIOR PRIZEGIVING

OfSTED Inspectors have confirmed the view of new head teacher Sally Lees that students at the school are not achieving their full potential. At the senior prizegiving, Mrs Lees said the full report from the Ofsted inspection, which took place earlier in December, was still awaited. “But we know some of the headlines,” she said.

“Behaviour and attitude of the boys and teaching and learning in the sixth form are strengths. The prefects are singled out for particular praise. But too many students are not achieving their full potential. They just do not know how good they are.” It was a theme Mrs Lees had picked up soon after being appointed as the school’s new head teacher in September.

“My job is to work with my staff to ensure that our students are left in no doubt about their potential and are working their hardest to achieve it. The students impressed me the very first day I came here for interview, and they have continued to impress me since.

“Resourcefulness, commitment, openness, willingness to discuss and share their ideas, willingness to contribute to the life of the school, the quality of their intellectual skill and understanding. But I also detected a sense that too many were undervaluing themselves and their capabilities. I have been asking myself, do these students really know how good they are? Do they realise that they are the most able students in the land, and that they have the potential to take the top positions in any profession they choose? Do they know they have the skills and qualities to contribute positively to any community in which they find themselves? I believe these students have found that sense of value. They aimed high and they achieved well. I have every confidence they will continue to aim high and continue to achieve well.”

COMINGS AND GOINGS

At the end of the summer term, Richard Sewell retired after 24 years, and Malcolm Grant retired after 30 years, and having served on the Old Pharosians’ Committee. Mike Harrison, Marie Mangenot, Paul Nazir, Stephen Thompson and Graham Old all moved on to new posts and Sue Faulkner and Kate Curtis also left.

In September, as well as new headteacher Sally Lees, arrivals included Simon Pullen (Deputy Head), Teresa Birchley (Assistant Headteacher), Ms Maundy (Head of RE), Mr Sanders and Mrs Devonport (science), Ms Rowley (ICT), Mr Dennis (PE), Mrs Chandramohan (maths and science), Mrs Wisdom and Mrs Mavromichaelis (teaching assistants), Miss Savage (art technician), Mrs Sadler (office administration), Mrs Roberts (reprographics technician) and Mr Marsden (co-premises officer).

NEWS ITEMS FROM “FOCUS”

The association provided some of the sponsorship needed to enable five members of the Combined Cadet Force, accompanied by two adults, to take part in the Nijmegen March in Holland. They received a medal and certificate to show their achievement.

Towards the end of the summer term, a Year 12 History group visited the former East Germany to try and capture some idea of what life was like during the Second World War, including the Buchenwald concentration camp. A Year 13 group visited Waterloo and Mons, a Year 11 group visited Berlin, and a Year 10 group visited the Somme.

Some Year 13 students attended a psychology conference in London.

An Archaeological Club has now been launched at the school, and boys have been studying a 4,000-year-old skeleton found near Shepherdswell.

Exchange visits continue between our school and College St Pierre in Calais.

Another phase of the refurbishment and development of the school library has been completed, and new resources have been received.

Fourteen pupils in Years 8 and 9 saw their names in print when their reviews were included in Teen Titles magazines.

Chris Leach has been elected chairman of the School Council and items under discussion include proposals for a bike shed, an area and time when mobile phones can be used, and canteen food and prices. He then went on to make local news headlines when he called for the local authority to provide more facilities for young people in the area.

The school’s refurbishment programme has begun. The builders moved in on 29 November to begin work on the changing rooms and toilets on the bottom level of the school. The antiquated toilets on the quad level will be next, and the LEA has agreed funding for the refurbishment of the science labs and technology workshops over the next two years. They will also provide the funding needed to tackle the necessary rendering and roofing repairs.

Sports fixtures have produced some good results, with Years 7, 8 and 9 footballers winning a series of friendlies against other schools. In first round matches of the Kent Cup, the school beat Walmer 13-1, and St Anselms 7-1, and Harvey Grammar School 64-7. In round two, DGSB was beaten by Judd 12-0. In round one of the English Schools Trophy the school beat Lancing College 2-1. On the rugby field, the 1st XV beat Oakwood 55-12 in round one of the Daily Mail Cup, but lost 52-7 to Gravesend in round two.

NEWS OF OLD BOYS

OBITUARIES

TED BAKER (1922-1930) and (1930-38)

Ted, who died in Devon aged 93, had links with the first headmaster of the school, Fred Whitehouse, not only as a pupil but as a member of staff, and maintained an active interest in the school throughout his life.

He was one of our oldest and most dedicated members – always ready to correct anything your editors got wrong!

Edward Horace Baker was born on 23 June 1911 at Manor Road, Dover, the youngest of three children. His father Horace was a farm worker, though after spending time as a prisoner of war in Germany in 1918, Horace came back to spend the rest of his working life on the railway. Ted’s younger brother also spent his career on the railways as an engineer. Ted’s grandfather John Baker had built most of the houses in that part of Manor Road and at the time Ted was born members of the Baker family lived in 12 of them!

Ted joined Dover County School in 1922 at the age of 11 under Mr Whitehouse. He played football and cricket for the school’s 2nd XI and gained Oxford and Cambridge Joint Board Certificates in three subjects.

When he left the school as a pupil, Ted then joined the staff becoming secretary to Mr Whitehouse, and moving to the present school building with him. He would therefore have been the last surviving member of the staff who made the move to the new school. Ted continued as secretary when Mr JC Booth became headmaster in 1937.

He was active in the Old Pharosians’ Association, playing for our football team, serving on the committee from 1935 to 1938 and again from 1966 to 1982. He was elected President in 1967, and edited the newsletter from 1968 to 1979. He argued – and succeeded in his Presidential year – in allowing “lady guests” to attend our annual dinners. Ted was a member of the association for more than 70 years. The first annual dinner he attended, in 1930, was held on the top floor of the Frith Road school, just before the move to Astor Avenue. It was in 1939 that Mr Baker moved to Maidstone to work in the treasurer’s department of Kent Education Department. He retired in 1971.

He and his wife Gwen (Jenkins) had met in 1919 when they both attended the same school in Dover. They were married in St Anthony’s Church, Alkham, in 1936. They had one son, David, who lives in Devon They celebrated their Diamond Wedding anniversary in 1997, when they were both 85 years old.

Ted maintained his contact with the school (keeping the editors of this newsletter on their toes!) and he enjoyed correspondence with Ken Ruffell prior to his death.

Mrs Baker died in 2002, and shortly afterwards Ted moved into the Nursing Home in Exeter, where he passed away peacefully on 15 November. His son David reports Ted was in reasonably good health until a few months before his death.

Ted’s second cousin Bill Collard (1941-47) recalled: “When I visited him a year ago, our conversation was almost all school and Old Pharosians.”

He is a member of the association we will greatly miss.

MICHAEL GREENSTREET (1950-56)

Mike joined the Colonial Office in 1956 and his first posting abroad was to Brunei, where he began his association with and understanding of the Far East. The Colonial Office became the Commonwealth Relations Officer in 1963, when Mike went for three years to Africa, to Zomba, now known as Lilongwe and now the capital of Malawi, where his African expertise was born and nurtured. He returned to London, to the then Diplomatic Service Administration Office, a joint CRO and FRO office. There, he developed another essential skill, Administration.

In 1970 he went to Moscow, a year later to New Delhi and in 1973 to Sydney, to learn some commercial diplomacy, and travelling down the road to Melbourne to practice it successfully as Vice-Consul Commercial in the Consulate-General.

One of his major achievements in Melbourne was negotiating the sale of the first medical CAT scanner into a local hospital. He was thrilled to beat the Americans into this market. Making friends with many local people, he became an expert in building farm fences, mustering cattle and wild horses.

Mike returned to London in 1978 for a spell and then went to Los Angeles, and in 1985 served in Dhaka, Bangladesh. There, his colleagues spoke of his open personality and generosity of spirit – a supportive friend who would go out of his way to help anyone in difficulties.

Another spell in the FCO followed, during which Mike worked on administration matters and, as a Whitehall warrior, achieved a good deal of return, to the direct benefit of his Diplomatic Service colleagues.

In 1991 he went back to Africa, to Ghana, where was a notable Deputy High Commissioner in Accra, and his last posting, as Counsellor Commercial in the British Embassy in Bangkok, crowned his career which had spanned more than 40 years in the service of Queen and Country.

His old school friend Tony Marsh described him as “stoical, forceful, perceptive and modest”. He was the first in his group to go to London and consequently taught all his friends at home how to rock and roll. Mike’s party piece was apparently Elvis Presley – and very good too, according to his friends.

At the funeral service, which took place on what would have been his 65th birthday, he was described as “the sunshine man”, always ready with a smile and a quick joke and an instant solution to whatever was being dealt with at the time.

He was expansive, he opened horizons, and his energy and enthusiasm were infectious. He was inquisitive, kind, generous and global.

We extend our sympathy to his widow Joanna, and daughters Emma and Sarah.

ALBERT SIDNEY PARTRIDGE (1929-35)

Albert played House 1st XI cricket and rugby, was captain of the 2nd XI football team, and sang in the school choir.

Born in October 1918, he took up an apprenticeship with Boots the Chemist when he left school, and spent more than 50 years in the pharmaceutical industry, retiring in 1999. His home was near Horsham in West Sussex when he died on 25 June.

CLIFFORD PARTRIDGE (1931-38)

Clifford, whose father was licensee of the Avenue Inn in Snargate Street, was born in August 1922 and after being educated at our school he gave many years’ service to the Ministry of Defence. At school he was a member of the House 2nd XV rugby team, gained the Royal Life Saving Society’s bronze medal, and in 1938 passed the London School Certificate.

He became an apprentice at Short Brothers in Rochester and volunteered for aircrew in the war but was turned down. He was on inspection work before being called up into the army, undertaking his basic training with the Royal Scots Fusiliers and then recommended for Commission with the Royal Engineers.

He saw service in the Middle East, Greece and Egypt rising to Assistant Adjutant in the 59th Field Company, Royal Signals. He moved to Yorkshire and was engaged with the Ministry of Supply, working on army vehicles, fighting vehicles and Centurion and Chieftain tanks. He retired in 1980 and lived at Sholden, Deal, before moving to Walmer.

JAMES A PATERSON (1923-31)

James died a few months after his 90th birthday in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire. When at school he was head boy and captain of the First XI cricket and football teams.

After studying Modern Languages at Pembroke College, Cambridge, and serving in North Africa and Italy during the war, he obtained a teaching post at Baines Grammar School in Poulton, heading the languages and sports departments.

He remained at Baines until his retirement although (writes his daughter Victoria) he always spoke of Dover Grammar School for Boys as HIS school.

He even sang the old school song with his brother-in-law Toby Newing who was also at the school.

He was a keen sportsman and supported Kent County Cricket team and Colin Cowdrey throughout his life. He once took all 10 wickets in a Fylde cricket match.

Victoria tells us he has passed on his sporting prowess to his grandchildren. Four have played County tennis and his younger granddaughter plays rounders for England!

LG WILLCOX Lew (Gordon) (1946-52)

The new resident of the address previously occupied by LG Willcox kindly wrote to tell us that Mr Willcox moved out two years ago, and sadly died soon after the move.

We know from our records that he played cricket, soccer and rugby for the school 2nd teams, that he was a corporal in the CCF and then he joined the RAF. In 1951 he was acting Pilot Officer with the RAF. He was a Life Member of the Association. 1946-52 Squadron Leader RAF, Formerly manager of the Red Arrows. Joined the RAF on leaving school passing out with his wings in 1954. After fighter conversion training he served in Iraq, Cyprus, Jordan and Aden.

He returned to the UK in 1957 and most of the time since he had been serving at Abingdon. He initially had a “short service” commission but then took on a permanent engagement.

He wrote in 1973 to say he was Captain of one of the two support Hercules on a tour of the USA and Canada. He said he owed much to Teddy Archer who was a bit of an ace at sending Morse. He then had a staff appointment at High Wycombe after a tour as Flight Commander on a Hercules Squadron including a year in Singapore.

STILL LIVING AND LEARNING

CHRISTOPHER ALLEN

Chris, who spent a year studying at our school, has been appointed Dover District Council’s community safety and anti-social behaviour manager. He has been recruiting other staff to form the anti-social behaviour unit to begin to tackle the issues which are affecting people’s quality of life.
“It’s an exciting prospect setting up the unit,” said Chris, who is a former superintendent in the Metropolitan Police. He served in the force for 34 years. “I am able to use the skills which I gained there to improve the quality of life of my community. Although I have been in London for many years, I have always kept in touch with this area.”

He first came here in 1967 when his father was posted to the Duke of York’s
Royal Military School. He was at our school for a year before going to London, but his mother still lives in River.

Chris is married to Eileen, and they have an 11-year-old son Patrick, who
attends Archers Court School. In his spare time, Chris enjoys going to the opera, gardening and do-it-yourself.

Also involved in cutting down crime in the district is joint newsletter editor Graham Tutthill who became chairman of the Dover Partnership Against Crime last year, and has now been appointed chairman of the Dover District Town Centre Crime Group. And out on patrol on the streets of Dover is PC Chris Birmingham, who is a member of Kent Police.

ERIC ANDERSON (1959-65)

Another visitor to the school’s website, Eric was able to add several names to photos, including Bernie Allen, Mick Godson, Steve ‘Slim’ Tolson, Steve ‘Abo’ Skinner who spent one year at school from Australia, Ron Stocks – who, like Eric was a detective in the Metropolitan Police – and Mick Johncock.

“I was also interested to see my photo, which I still have, in various 1st XI Football teams. Indeed I have team photos from every year I was at the school in cricket, basketball and rugby.

“I last visited about six years ago, whilst in the area, on work, and was
thrilled to meet again Ken Ruffell, who was working part time, I believe. He
was my favourite master and I have fond memories of a trip to Avignon,
which he led. I also retain several copies of the school magazine from my time there.”

And one other thing – Eric says he can still remember all 30 names from his first class registration, in alphabetical order!

DONALD BECK (1968-73)

Donald searched the school’s website for his surname, and found the obituary for his late father, Derrick Beck, who died in 1964. He also discovered that in a Pharos magazine of March 1946 there was a mention that one of the form prizes that year was awarded to D W Beck, again his father.

Donald left the school after O levels. “You would not describe my academic career as spectacular, but I certainly have fond memories of the old place,” he says. “At the time I started at the school parents were able to express a wish for which of the four school houses pupils would enter. My late father arranged for me to enter Frith House as that was the one he had been a member of when he attended the school. I believe it may have been called Town when he was there. We were the dark blues!

There was no head when I started: Michael Hinton was no longer there, but Reg Colman had not yet been appointed. Tom Walker was acting head. I seem to remember that we were the first intake for whom caps were not compulsory garb!”

Donald went to work in the shipping and forwarding industry, where he stayed until mid 1985. He then jumped the fence from forwarder to importer and went to work for Daihatsu UK Limited, looking after all their imports and exports. That business changed over the 13 years or so that he was there, acquiring (and later losing) the Alfa Romeo franchise. “We also acquired the Chrysler and Jeep franchises during my time there. It was when Chrysler Jeep Imports had become so successful that I decided to change direction again. I went to work for a small software house that wrote and marketed a Customs Clearance and Duty management system that allows importers or forwarders to utilise HM Customs CFSP system: I had been using their product for

Daihatsu UK: further evidence that it’s not what you know it’s who you know that matters!

“I’ve been in my present job for nearly 6 years now: currently I’m managing the Customer service/support team. I also teach our clients how to use our software, so I’m now an IT trainer too!”

He has been married for nearly 20 years to Anne (whose brother Malcolm Vickery was a pupil at the school in the 1960s), and Donald and Anne have 12-year-old twin daughters who are happy at school at St. Edmund’s in Dover.

“We all attend the Beacon Church, in Beaconsfield Road, Dover. I used to sing in the School Choir, and I still sing now: in fact even more than ever. I am one quarter of a vocal quartet called Cantate, I am a member of the Dover Choral Society, and I also sing with the PHAROS Chamber Choir (founder and director of music, Steve Yarrow, another old boy).”

DANIEL BROWN (1994-2001)

Dan obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree with honours (First Class Honours) in Financial Mathematics

TED CADMAN (1930-35)

Ted, writing from Romsey in Hampshire, found a lot of interest in our last Newsletter and was sorry to read of the death of his contemporary Eric Pelham.

“His greater strength and size meant I was always second to him. We were fellow team mates in football, rugger and cricket. We both obtained caps for three years in each of the XIs and XVs. Eric was head prefect in his last year at school and, again, I was his deputy. We never met after leaving school. He went to Wye College while I went to Guy’s Hospital Dental School. Then came the war and we never returned to Dover,” writes Ted.

He adds he’s been retired for nearly 27 years but still leads a very active life, is in good health and, with his wife, enjoys membership of many clubs and social activities.

MICHAEL CASSAM (1991-96)

Michael has been able to provide names for some of those pictured on the school’s website. He is now teaching music in Philadelphia, USA.

BYRON CHATBURN (1974-81)

In the autumn, Byron met Mrs May Parfitt who was Head of Catering at the school and recalled she was given a great “send off” when she retired. “Now in her early 80s but very fit, she is living at Whitfield, is very active at St. Andrew’s Church, Buckland and still drives her car,” he says.

REVEREND PHILIP CLEMENTS

Philip, the new chairman of Christians Together in Dover, in lively style led a service of Songs of Praise that concluded this year’s Dover Regatta. He has taken part in several amateur dramatic shows and in a BBC Radio Kent “Thought for the Day” programme revealed he would have liked to have been an actor. But then, he explained, he saw a video of himself on stage and rapidly gave up that idea! Also taking part in the Songs of Praise service on Dover promenade was the Rev Michael Hinton, the regatta chaplain.

CHRIS COOK (1979-1986)

Lieutenant Commander Chris Cook, serving in the Royal Navy, is now the Training Needs Analysis Staff Officer in the Directorate of Naval Training and Education at HMS Nelson, Portsmouth. Prior to his current appointment Chris was a full time student at the Royal Military College of Science where he read for an MSc in Defence Simulation and Modelling. On completion of his studies he was awarded the course prize, sponsored by the Defence Scientific and Technology Laboratory, at the Cranfield University graduation ceremony in July. Chris and Josie have put down their roots in Godalming, Surrey which has been their home for eight years. They are parents to James (5), Maddy (3) and nine-month-old Lottie.

GEORGE DIXON (1963-68)

George discovered the school’s website and was able to confirm his place on the 1968 school photo. That was the year he left to join the R.A.F. “Thank you for maintaining such a great website – I shall be a frequent visitor,” he said.

DAVID ELLERAY (1966-73)

Our President for this year, David has published his autobiography, and Kevin Redsull (1966-73) reviewed it in the East Kent Mercury and Dover Mercury, where he is the sports editor. Here is his review:

The autobiography was always going to hold special interest for
his Dover Grammar School contemporaries such as myself. Apart from refereeing our House matches in the early 1970s, David, who freely admits he took up refereeing at such a tender age because he was hopeless at playing the game, also took charge of the occasional match for my Sunday League side, Deal United. Quite soon, though, our football careers began to take very divergent paths. Some 25 years later, I was still hacking about in Sunday League football while David was refereeing the 1994 FA Cup Final, about which more later.

The opening chapter of his highly-readable and revealing autobiography is
full of names and places familiar to people from this area. Nick Headon, for example, later to become drummer ‘Topper’ Headon of The Clash, was one of the first players to be sent off by David.

Meanwhile Old Pharosians will enjoy David’s recollections of former Grammar School headmaster Michael Hinton and sports-loving geography teacher Ken Ruffell.

David used to referee four matches a weekend: a school game on Saturday
morning, and a local league game in the afternoon, then a Hythe Sunday
League game followed by an East Kent Youth League match in the afternoon.
Somehow he also managed to fit in enough homework to win a place at Oxford University, where he gained a first-class degree in geography.

Then, in 1977, he took up a teaching post at Harrow School, where he still works as a house master. All the while he was working his way up the
non-league refereeing ladder until in 1986, he became the youngest Football League referee at the age of 31.

But it was the introduction of the Premiership in 1992, and his elevation to the FIFA panel in the same year, which transformed his refereeing career.

David was frequently awarded high-profile games and controversy never seemed to be far away, culminating in the storm which surrounded his handling of the 1994 Cup Final between Manchester United and Chelsea. With United leading 1-0 through an Eric Cantona penalty, David awarded the Reds a second spot kick when Andrei Kanchelskis tumbled over after a challenge by Frank Sinclair. Cantona converted the spot kick, but to this day Chelsea fans argue vehemently that it was never a penalty, and even David admits: “In the days after the match my disappointment grew because deep down I knew it wasn’t a penalty, and that decision has haunted me ever since.

It means that I never look back on my Cup Final with any real satisfaction or pride. Indeed, even now, whenever anyone mentions the game, I always become tense in case they launch into a tirade about that decision.”

United figured frequently in big games during David’s career, and his run-ins with Roy Keane, whom he sent off a total of four time, are part now part of football folklore. But for every moment of controversy, there were also many wonderful experiences both at home and abroad for David, who took charge of 1,780 matches in more than 30 countries during his illustrious career and refereed in most of the world’s great stadiums.

He also reveals why, despite all the abuse and criticism, refereeing still holds a fascination for so many, saying: “Ryan Giggs’ wonder goal (in the 1999 FA Cup semi-final between United and Arsenal) helps explain why we referee.

“Of course, we referee for many reasons and the desire to be actively involved in the game is the strongest of them. However, I also believe that referees get something very special from actually being there when the great moments happen.

“Having been on the pitch when Giggs scored that goal, and when Beckham scored from the halfway line against Wimbledon, were two sublime footballing moments that I was privileged to experience from almost touching distance. How can you better that, apart from actually playing?”

Now, following his retirement from top-flight refereeing 18 months ago,
David still takes charge of the occasional school match at Harrow.

The Man in the Middle David Elleray, The Autobiography, is published by
Time Warner Books, price £16.99.

FRED GOLDSMITH (1934-1937)

Fred, now living in Weybridge in Surrey, was more than a little interested in the item in the last issue of the Newsletter about Jewish refugee Herbert Loebl. Fred was also a Jewish refugee from Germany, escaping Nazi terror.

He writes: “I was sent to a Mr Howarth, then headmaster of Waldershare school, in 1934 and was then at our school from 1934 to 1937. I got my BA at University College, London while my qualification as a chartered accountant was interrupted by more than six years service in the army (I was demobbed as a Major in early 1946). I then had to work in the family business of stationery manufacturers until I retired in 1984, having been managing director and chairman for many years,” he adds.

Fred remains active. A member of Rotary since 1964, he was President of the Rotary Club of London (the oldest Rotary club in the world outside North America) in 1974. As a result of his career he was honoured with the award of the Cavaliere Ufficiale al Merito della Repubblica by Italy in 1982.

TREVOR HEAVER (1948-55)

Trevor and his wife Joan enjoyed a visit to the school in June, warmly hosted by Paul Skelton. “We also had a most enjoyable visit with Gordon King at his home in St. Margaret’s Bay. Now in his 90s, Gordon had an important influence on my career through his classes on Economics and Economic History. The ‘short’ visit was longer than expected as his mind and memory are a sharp as ever. His home is delightful and gives him a wonderful view of the Channel.”

Trevor is making plans to attend the Annual Dinner in 2005 and hopes the centenary might be an occasion for more overseas visitors than usual to attend.

BRIAN HEDGECOCK (1941-47)

Brian has asked us to let you know that his website has been revised and us up and running again. It can be accessed on http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/hedgecock and he says he would love to hear from any of his old schoolfriends.

RITCHIE HULKS (1993-2001)

Ritchie obtained a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in history and politics.

DENNIS IVORY (1951-53)

Dennis, who lives at Whitchurch, Bristol, has written recalling how he joined our school in 1951 from a co-ed boarding school in Germany where his father was serving but had returned to the UK to go into hospital at Shorncliffe. Dennis and the rest of the family lived in spartan married quarters at the semi-derelict Grand Shaft Barracks (now demolished) so he walked to school each day by climbing over the Western Heights, down into Folkestone Road and then over the next hill to Astor Avenue. Eventually his parents bought a property off Elms Vale Road and, when his father died, Dennis took a £1 a week paper round in Folkestone Road.

In 1953 he signed up as a regular in the army after playing a couple of games of rugby for Dover. Demobbed in 1957, after Suez, he went to live in Bristol where he renamed his house Pharos. “I am not surprised to read that Ken Ruffell is remembered with so much affection. He was a very inspiring teacher and I always found his lessons stimulating. It is possibly one of the reasons I studied the subject to A level at evening classes after returning to Bristol,” adds Dennis who lives at 51 Whitecross Avenue, Whitchurch, Bristol BS14 9JF.

PHILIP JANAWAY (1943-52)

Phil Janaway is the current President of Dover Rotary Club in which there are several other Old Pharosians. Phil retired in 1994 as deputy head of Astor secondary school of which he was acting head for a spell. He’s a former President of Dover Operatic and Dramatic Society and at one time played for Dover Rugby Club and Cosmopolitan cricket club. For six years he and his wife Jill ran the Rotary Club bookshop in the town raising thousands of pounds for local charities.

It’s a busy year for Rotary clubs around the world as members will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the international organisation in America. So Phil is having a busy time, organising a celebration dinner at Dover Town Hall, running the publication of a book charting the history of Dover Rotary Club and preparing a scholarship for Dover students to travel overseas.

Other Old Pharosian members of Dover Rotary Club include John Graeme, Ian Pascall, Reverend John Philpott, Denis Weaver, Stephen Yarrow, Neil Beverton and Terry Sutton.

DANIEL JOHNSON (1988-95)

Daniel is now teaching PE at Chaucer Tech in Canterbury.

GREG MARTIN (1989-96)

Not all the names on the school photos are correct, of course – mistakes inevitably occur, and we are always grateful to those who can put them right. Greg, who is a store planner for Woolworths, said he was astounded to find a picture from a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream with his name attached under it. He did, in fact, play the Grand Duke Theseus in that play, but, sadly, the photo was of his classmate Lee Davison. “I can’t remember which part he played,” said Greg.

REV. BRYAN OWEN (1959-64) and (1975-87)

A former pupil and teacher at the school, Bryan has called on churches throughout the country to become involved in human rights. He has published a series of studies for individuals and home groups on social justice issues from a Christian perspective, called Praying On The Edge.

After being educated at the school, Bryan returned to teach English and drama for 12 years before being ordained to the Anglican ministry in 1987. Since then he has been in parishes in Herne Bay, Glasgow and Epsom and he also spent three years working for the ecumenical movement in Scotland. A life member of our association, he now lives in Kirkintilloch in Scotland with his wife Katy and two children Catriona and Stuart.

Bryan has taken early retirement and writes full-time. He has a special interest in the Balkans and is an International Election Observer for the UK government. “I fell into election work after having visited Albania a number of times and seeing the need for proper constitutional arrangements if democracy is to work.

“Praying on the Edge evolved out of my visits to former Yugoslavia and Albania as well as a study week with the United Nations in New York. I am concerned about various kinds of social injustice and suffering in the world and these are matters I want to encourage people to discuss. I hope people will find the book and its resources helpful.

“I miss teaching and remember fondly my former pupils at the school. I maintain my interest in education though by serving on East Dunbartonshire’s Education Committee and on two school boards.”

Praying on the Edge is published by Covenanters Press of Edinburgh at £10.95.

He had another book which was due out before Christmas entitled The Glory in the Grey. It is a compendium of stories, jokes and quotations he has been using for many years. In the spring his book Genesis: People, Places and Promise is being published and then The Albanians – a history of Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia is scheduled for later in 2005. All are being published by Covenanters Press, an imprint of Scottish Christian Press (Church of Scotland).

“I am particularly interested in ideas concerning the future of church, society and politics and whether we now live in a post-modern, post-Christian and post-scientific culture and, if so, what it means.”

THOMAS REAY (1994-2001)

Thomas graduated with an honours degree from the Cardiff School of Engineering.

STEVEN SCOTT

Steven has qualified for the award of the Master of Sciences Degree in Biotechnology at the University of London.

RICHARD SPEAR (1940-46)

Richard, who lives in Canada, has made a 90-year-old Old Pharosian happier through the marvels of technology. He introduced his cousin Bert Pritchard, who lives in Rainham, to the school’s computer website to show him photographs of his old school friends when he was at the school.

Richard, who is full of praise about Paul Skelton’s skill in making this possible, was in the UK for the Old Pharosians Association annual dinner. He was staying with his old friend Terry Sutton.

Richard says: “A highlight at the dinner evening was Paul Skelton’s Powerpoint presentation which enables old boys to search through past group and sports photographs. I am impressed with the incredible quality of our old school archives on the Internet.”

He explains that during a family re-union at the home of his cousin, Bert Pritchard recalled he was in the sixth form when Prince George opened the new school.

“I told Bert I had seen him in group photographs on the Internet and he was totally surprised because he had no idea such a facility existed and was easily accessible. A laptop was produced and we spent the afternoon studying the results of Paul Skelton’s work. Bert immediately identified old friends.

He was particularly interested in the World War II roll of honour and then, to cap it all, he found pictures of two of his father’s brothers (both Pritchards) in soccer team photos in 1906 and 1910. You can imagine the pleasure this gave to an old Dover Grammar School boy. Again thanks to Paul Skelton for his dedication to this worthwhile project,” says Richard.

Soon after that, we received an e-mail from Margaret Joyce, who is the daughter of Albert (Bert) Frederick Celestine Pritchard (1926-33) to say how pleased he had been to see his picture in the school photo for 1933.

“We will now search the other photos He was a keen sportsman whilst at school. We will also be looking for his younger brother Donald who was a junior at the time the 1933 picture was taken. He has also spotted two of his uncles in a photograph taken in 1906.”

DAVID SUMNER (1962-69)

David has passed through Dover a few times while on his way to France, and came across the school’s website while surfing the Internet.

“It’s a great site – very informative,” he said. David was at the school from 1962 to 1969 although he spent a year away with his family as his father was a Royal Marine at Deal. “I have fond memories of the daily bus rides and long walk to the bus station when I stayed after school for sport and CCF!

“I left school when father was again posted back to Chatham, not a very successful student, three O levels! I joined the RAF in 1971 and spent 24 years as an aircraft technician. I now live in Shropshire, working as an engineering lecturer. The basics instilled in me at school must have stuck as I went on to get higher level qualifications, eventually gaining a degree in the early 90s!! It was so much easier when I was young!! Regards to any former classmates.”

CHRISTOPHER TOWNSEND (1994-2001)

Chris graduated in geography arts from the Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences at the University of Wales.

CHRIS WALTERS (1983-90)

Chris provided quite a lot of names for the 1983 and 1989 school photos for which we were very grateful. He is now working as a Paramedic in Cumbria.

And finally . . .

Graham Tutthill maintains a database of old boys’ e-mail addresses so that any news of the school can be sent out quickly. If anyone would like to receive news items in this way, please send Graham your e-mail address (his contact details are on page 3).

Back issues of the Old Pharosians’ Association Newsletter are available on line at the www.dovergrammar.co.uk website, including this one, but shortly you will need the password “pharosians1” to access the newsletters.