OM and Community News 2026
Beyond the Pandemic
The Class That Changed Course Five alumni. Five journeys. One unforgettable starting point
Inside 03 Introductions
Farewell…
04 The Class of 2020 04 Seore Soyannwo 05 Alex Greenhalgh 06 Catherine Lodwick 07 Susannah Costain 08 Audley Monroe
10 From the Archives 10 Alfred Young FRS (1873–1940), OM 1892 11 Henry Martyn Cundy (1913–2005), OM 1932 11 Colin G. Butler OBE FRS (1913–2016), OM 1930 12 Dr Sheila Scotchmer (née Davidson) (1920–2023), OC 1939
13 A Round-up of Alumni Events 14 The Heart of Boarding at Monkton 16 OM & OC News
Editor: Caroline Bone Design: Nick Moyle, Inkcap Design www.monktoncombeschool.com
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Keisuke Suzuki, outgoing OM President It has been a real privilege to serve this community over the past three years. It is one thing to know that a school shapes people. It is another to sit across from someone who left Monkton in 1965 and find that you are, in some quiet way, speaking the same language. That has been the real privilege of this role. Not the events themselves, as wonderful as they were, but the moments within them. The friendships renewed across decades. The realisation, repeated many times over, that Monkton leaves something lasting in the people who pass through it. One of the things I was most keen to explore during my tenure was whether that same spirit could travel. “Monkton Where You Are” was our attempt to find out. Taking gatherings beyond the school grounds and out into the world. Hong Kong, Germany, Manchester and beyond. And it does, in fact, travel well. At the President’s Lunch on 13th June, I passed over the baton to Canon Dr Jem Hovil, an OM himself (class of 1982) and a former Monkton parent. Ordained in the Church of England, he has spent his career in service to others across very different parts of the world, and now leads Build Partners UK, supporting church communities throughout East Africa. Someone who has given so much to others will, I think, bring something rather special to this role. In the meantime, I want to say simply thank you. Thank you for turning up, for sharing your stories, for welcoming a relatively recent leaver into a role that carries so much history. This community is what it is because of you, and it has been the greatest honour to serve it. With warmest wishes, Keisuke Suzuki
Introductions
Introducing OM President, Jem Hovil I have lived, experienced and benefitted from Monkton through much of my life. I went through all three stages of the school (Pre-Prep, Prep and Senior), and I am the middle of three generations of OMs: my father, Richard, taught at the school and was an Honorary OM; two of my sisters are OMs; and my three children, Hudson, Tess and Charlie are now OMs too. The time between leaving Monkton and returning to live nearby in 2013 with my wife Lucy and the family was quite a journey, even though I have effectively moved less than a mile from where I grew up. It was a journey that included study in London, Exeter, Oxford and Stellenbosch (in science, education and theology) and work in the teaching, church and charity sectors. During a curacy in London, I developed a passion for creating affordable, accessible, non-traditional forms of church leadership development for global South contexts, which then led to time in Kampala and Cape Town, working from there across the continent and beyond. Since returning to the UK, I have continued to serve as a mission-partner from Combe Down, co-developing programmes across Africa – particularly for those in under-resourced places and on the margins. Having Bath as a base has reunited my ties with Monkton – as well as with the fish in the Midford Brook. What a privilege it is to pick up the OM President baton from Keisuke and the many others who came before him. Too many have said “we live in challenging times” because, of course, we do. How important, then, to strengthen the OM community and, through that, the school, bringing past and present Monktonians together. Jem Hovil OM President
Message from the Principal Reading through these pages, I am struck above all by the extraordinary strength of our shared narrative. Whether you spent time in this beautiful valley five years ago or fifty, there is a distinct, unbreakable thread that binds the Monkton community across generations. This edition of the OM and Community News captures that continuity in a wonderful way. We see the immediate ripples of a Monkton education in the stories of our 2020 leavers navigating post-lockdown paths with agility, whether through launching innovative fashion labels, securing medical patents, or breaking ground in healthcare research. At the same time, we look further back to those who walked these grounds decades ago. Figures like Alfred Young, Martyn Cundy, and Colin Butler remind us how the values nurtured here can shape entire fields of human endeavour over a lifetime. Monkton can’t claim responsibility for every success but I hope each of you can see a dotted line back to classrooms, common rooms, trips, rehearsals and a series of fortunate and unfortunate events from your own school days! I hope you’ll enjoy reading the article from Beth Lewis and Rob Youlten about our approach to boarding today. I, for one, am delighted by the way boarding has evolved and leapt forward from my own school days so it was great to start my tenure as Principal with two national boarding awards which confirm the quality of the relationships between pupils and with staff and for which I can claim absolutely no credit at all. It is not always easy for young people to study away from home so to know they will be cared for and listened to is a great place to start. Monkton is built on deliberate connection and collaboration. I hope this magazine serves as a warm reminder of the place where those connections began, and an inspiring testament to where they can lead.” Bradley Salisbury Principal
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The Canvas is Everywhere SEORE SOYANNWO OM 2020
Over the past few years I’ve launched my own clothing brand, EROESMERAKI, which focuses on a bold, graphic streetwear aesthetic. The idea behind the brand is to merge art, fashion and storytelling, with each design intended to feel like a piece of artwork on its own. It’s been a huge learning curve, from designing and production to marketing and building a community around the brand, but also an incredibly rewarding journey. I’ve launched a website for this where people could go check out the brand story and purchase them as well. Alongside fashion, I’ve been developing a few children’s comic books, combining writing and illustration to create short, imaginative stories. These projects have given me the chance to explore creativity in a different medium and connect with younger audiences through playful characters and visual storytelling. These should be out to purchase, in the link above, hopefully by the end of October. I have also been working as an abstract artist for the past three years, selling original pieces and prints. My art often takes inspiration from emotions, movement, and bold colour and it’s been amazing to see how people interpret and connect with each piece in their own unique way. All of these projects have been a way for me to combine my passion
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for creativity with entrepreneurship, and I’m looking forward to seeing how they continue to grow in the future.
What’s in a name?
The name is personal on two levels. “EROES” is actually my name SEORE spelled backwards - an immediate stamp of the identity, a signature baked into the brand from the start. Paired with “Meraki”, the Greek word for doing something with soul, creativity, and love - putting a piece of yourself into my work; the full name becomes something deeper than a brand label. EROESMERAKI literally means that I have poured everything into what I make. It’s not just a name; it’s a philosophy. The brand is built around the idea that clothing can carry a story. Rather than just aesthetics, each piece is designed to feel like a wearable canvas - a fragment of a larger visual world. The narrative running through the streetwear collection could be described as identity in motion: the tension between where you come from and where you’re going, expressed through bold graphics, raw colour, and confident silhouettes. Art isn’t just inspiration - it’s the actual language of the brand.
Balancing act
Managing a clothing brand, writing children’s books, and producing
original abstract art simultaneously means working in very different creative registers. A typical day involves switching between business mode (handling production, logistics, community building, website management) and deep creative mode (painting, writing, designing). The mental shift between the two isn’t always clean - but that friction is often where the best ideas come from. The business informs the art, and the art gives the business its soul.
The school connection
Looking back, the through-line is pretty clear - photography, design, and technology were the entry points. Those three disciplines quietly taught the same lesson: you don’t have to wait for someone to give you a platform to create something. A camera, a design tool, a piece of software - these are all ways of building a world on your own terms. The entrepreneurial spirit wasn’t a sudden decision; it grew naturally out of already thinking like a maker. When you spend enough time creating things and seeing how people respond to them, working for yourself stops feeling like a risk and starts feeling like the only logical next step. See Iseore’s clothing at www.ateroesmeraki.com and her art at www.eroesmerakiart.com
From the Lab Bench to the Patent Office and Beyond ALEX GREENHALGH OM 2020
Leaving Monkton Combe in 2020, I had an idea of what I wanted to do: something at the crossroads of engineering and medicine. Six years on, the path has taken some turns I never quite anticipated — and I wouldn’t change any of them apart from the pandemic but even this gave me an opportunity for work experience before university. I went on to study Bioengineering at Loughborough University, graduating last year with a 2:1 and a Diploma in Industrial Studies. The degree gave me a strong foundation in biomechanics, materials science, and electronics, but the experience that defined my time there happened entirely off campus. Loughborough’s Year in Industry programme sent me to Creo Medical, a British medical device company specialising in endoscopic and surgical devices, and it turned out to be one of the most formative things I’ve done. My first stint there, however, was back in 2020 during the first year of the pandemic. This involved taking
“ I was named first inventor on the resulting international patent, something I still have to pinch myself about.”
a completely new device concept from the drawing board through prototyping and lab testing to patent submission. I was named first inventor on the resulting international patent, something I still have to pinch myself about when I think back to sitting in sixth form science lessons not so long before.
Research Engineer
I returned to Creo for a second placement during my penultimate year, this time as a Student Research Engineer. The twelve months were genuinely varied: one week I’d be in the machine shop turning precision components on a metal lathe, the next I’d be attending live surgical procedures in Italy, observing endoscopic operations first-hand to understand what surgeons actually need from their tools. I also designed and built a prototype robotic driver for advanced electrosurgery, coding it in C++, engineering a custom gearbox, and seeing it go from concept to working hardware. It was the kind of project that reminded me why I chose engineering in the first place. My undergraduate final year dissertation took a different direction into cell biology. I spent months culturing human dermal fibroblasts and conducting cytotoxicity assays to investigate whether omega-3-rich oils such as krill oil and algal oil could serve as sustainable alternatives to fish oil for wound treatment. It was painstaking, careful work, and it gave me a genuine appreciation for the rigour required in life sciences research. I’m now midway through a fulltime MSc in Engineering Business
Management at the University of Bath. The MSc is broadening my perspective, operations strategy, commercial decision-making, systems thinking and has made me realise that some of the most interesting problems in medtech aren’t purely technical, they’re organisational. As part of the programme, I’m currently working on a consulting project with Airbus within their Defence and Space division, an experience that has pushed me to think beyond the engineering domain and engage with complex, large-scale organisational challenges. Projects have been a thread running through my engineering education from early on. During my undergraduate degree, I was part of a group that undertook a full redesign of the EpiPen looking at how a device used by millions of people in highstress situations could be made more intuitive, reliable, and accessible. It was a formative exercise in humancentred design, and a reminder that good engineering is as much about the user as it is about the technology. Sport has remained a constant throughout all of this, albeit not without interruption. I play rugby for Trowbridge RFC, though the past year has been largely spent on the sidelines rehabbing from a second ACL rupture and a knee reconstruction. It has been a long road back, but I’m now beginning to run and train again, which feels like a significant milestone. The patience and discipline that kind of recovery demands have, in their own way, been as instructive as anything I’ve done in the lab or the classroom. It’s been a busy six years. I hope the next six are just a little bit more predictable, but equally enjoyable and productive.
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Beyond the Ward: A Monktonian’s Path to Doctoral Research CATHERINE LODWICK OM 2020
Upon leaving Monkton, I began and completed my Integrated Masters of Nursing degree at the University of Southampton. I finished this rewarding programme in 2024, qualifying as a dual-registered adult and mental health nurse. Following this I went on to complete my second Masters in Clinical and Health Research, also at the University of Southampton. This programme was fully funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research under their SCIP INSIGHT scheme. Throughout this year (2024-2025) I completed an empirical study using qualitative methods to explore the self-management experiences of adults living with coexisting physical and mental health longterm conditions. As part of this programme I had my work placed forward for the national award scheme and have been invited to give lectures at the University of Southampton on the topic, which I will continue this academic year. Furthermore, my work is currently being revised to submit for publications to journals, in addition to beginning some community outreach to share my findings to other non-academic audiences. Finally, I have recently started my PhD studies at the University of Southampton which is fully funded
through the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership. This project will run until 2029 and my research focuses on exploring the social and digital inequalities within selfmanagement interventions and how to tailor self-management support to benefit and empower adults living with coexisting physical and mental long-term conditions, with a particular interest in representing underserved communities. I have had many opportunities as a result of my research with the most notable being asked to speak with other nurses about the role of dualqualifying nurses at the NHS England Mental Health Nursing Symposium this November.
Healthcare interest
My interest in healthcare began through the work experience we were supported to go on during Sixth Form. I come from a military family and so I went to speak with a number of military GPs and psychiatrists to understand their role in helping people; these conversations were incredibly valuable. Whilst I was waiting to speak to a psychiatrist, one of the military community mental health nurse practitioners came to speak to me and told me about her role and ultimately I realised I was more
“Don’t underestimate the skills that Monkton equips you with – it fosters resilience, adaptability, and the confidence to engage with people from all walks of life.” 6 | OM Magazine 2026
drawn to the person-centred and hands-on aspects of care that nursing offered opposed to medicine. I also didn’t want to limit myself to one field of practice too early, which led me to pursue a dual registration programme in both adult and mental health nursing, allowing me to take a more holistic approach to patient care. One of the biggest challenges in my research has been recruiting participants particularly with experiences of mental health, where stigma can still make people hesitant to share their lived experiences. Despite this, I stay motivated by the potential impact of the work even if it improves care for just one person. Completing my Masters of Research solidified this motivation; I received feedback that my work accurately told people’s stories in a respectful and true manner, which was incredibly validating and it continues to drive me forward in my PhD.
Holistic care
As healthcare becomes increasingly digital, my doctoral research focuses on ensuring that care remains holistic, giving equal importance to both physical and mental health rather than services and interventions prioritising one over the other. Furthermore, it addresses digital and social inequalities by advocating for more inclusive, tailored selfmanagement strategies. While the impact of my doctoral research may not be immediately visible on a large scale, the goal is to create more accessible pathways and care frameworks so that underrepresented communities are not left behind as healthcare systems and interventions evolve.
Q&A Knowing what you know now about the intensity of healthcare and academic research, what advice would you give to a current Monkton student considering a career in medicine or nursing? Don’t underestimate the skills that Monkton equips you with - it fosters resilience, adaptability, and the confidence to engage with people from all walks of life which are all essential characteristics of healthcare professionals. At the same time, it’s important to understand your motivation for entering healthcare. Passion is essential and knowing why will carry you throughout your training, but gaining work experience or speaking to various healthcare professionals will give you a realistic insight into the pressures and challenges of the profession you are choosing, helping you feel more prepared for what you may experience.
You were asked to speak at the NHS England Mental Health Nursing Symposium. What was it like standing in front of your peers and industry leaders? What was the key message you wanted them to take away? It was definitely daunting, as public speaking is still something I’m developing confidence in, but I see it as an important part of my growth. I’ve been making a conscious effort to take opportunities to present at conferences and share my work. The key message I wanted to convey at the symposium was that nursing is a diverse and evolving profession - and the importance of dual registered nurses within it. Highlighting that nursing goes far beyond clinical practice and spans leadership, education and research, offering a wide range of impactful career pathways.
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Across the Pond and Back Again: Finding the Value of Liberal Arts SUSANNAH COSTAIN OM 2020
After leaving Monkton, I had the opportunity to study at a university in America. Attempting to fly and study abroad under the unusual circumstances of 2020, I was not quite sure how my experience would turn out; suffice to say, it was wonderful! I stayed there four years and completed my BA in Liberal Arts and Culture. Similar to Monkton Combe, the university I attended in the States was a Christian institution. While many voiced their apprehensions that such a place would surely limit my university experience and prepare me for the big, wide world, the complete opposite was true. Studying in an environment where professors and fellow students sought to analyse, challenge and understand Christian ideas that related to massive concepts such as truth, goodness and aesthetics, only opened up my view of the world, God and his creation. The extent of my liberal arts degree also allowed me to study a breadth of disciplines that I had never studied before. Alongside the experience of living abroad, it was an incredibly rich four years. When I returned home during the summer and Christmas holidays, the majority of conversations regarding my time in America revolved around the very valid question of what exactly the liberal arts are. Little did
I know that answering that question as many times as I did was preparing me for the work I would do back in the U.K. After I graduated, I moved back home and during the summer, I was presented with an opportunity to work in recruitment for a new Christian Liberal Arts tertiary-level college based in Oxford. I was thrilled with the opportunity of sharing the value of a Christian liberal arts education with young people and accepted with alacrity. I loved the idea of talking to people about what a Christian Liberal Arts education looks like and why it is
“The majority of conversations regarding my time in America revolved around the very valid question of what exactly the liberal arts are.” 8 | OM Magazine 2026
still of value today. In a world where tertiary education has become almost synonymous with a job qualification, a liberal arts education offers a breadth of study to students which directs them towards a greater understanding of beliefs and ideas regarding morality, beauty and wisdom. In a Christian liberal arts education, these things are grounded in an understanding of how God has revealed Himself in Scripture and how He has made the world. Such an education hopes to form and nurture a student who can think for him/ herself while also cultivating a better understanding of the world around them and how to function within it as an individual and in society. A year later, I am now based in Oxford, and Selden College has begun with its first cohort of students and is well into its first year. It’s been incredible to be involved from the beginning with such a new and exciting establishment, and I look forward to what the future has in store.
Bikes, Brokers, and Belonging AUDLEY MONROE OM 2020
My time at Monkton ended abruptly like many others during Covid, I was awarded A-Level grades without taking exams which I didn’t believe reflected my ability so during my gap year I knuckled down and retook my maths bumping it up from a grade D to A*. This opened university doors however my only motive to continue further education was to play more sport. Sadly I recognised that this probably isn’t the best reason to go when I am by no means an elite level athlete. Once the Covid lockdowns started to ease, I wanted to say I had achieved something but learning the Rubix Cube hadn’t satisfied this urge, so after a discussion with my parents I decided to cycle Land’s End to John O’Groats, the bottom of Cornwall to the top of Scotland. A week later, with minimal training, I borrowed my father’s bike and panniers and got on the train south.
Alongside the pleasure of stopping at numerous OM’s houses along the way, the cycling gave me the excuse of eating and drinking whatever I really wanted. After a short stint in Latvia sheep farming with Jonny Roth (OM 2020) I worked as a seasonaire in Cornwall with a couple of other 2020 OM’s and secured places to read engineering at university whilst the numerous job applications and interviews had been unsuccessful. A month before I was due to start university, I was offered a job as an Insurance Broker and I thought “I would rather be paid for something I don’t want to do than pay for something I don’t want to do” so accepted the job in preference to university! (In retrospect I have committed myself to my job and it has been rewarding and good fun working with my colleagues and clients) I had only been to London a
handful of times before moving into Zone 1 and starting work at the age of 19, it was a complete sensory overload but following the advice of my sister, Phyllida (2015 OM), I got stuck into St Nicholas Cole Abbey, a Bible believing church, where other OM’s were based. I had grown up in a Christian home but it was my time at Monkton where my faith developed giving me the support and building blocks to put my wholehearted trust in God. Since then, I have been fortunate to remain at the same firm, travel for work and pleasure, play sports and develop my Christian faith. My holidays of choice have been somewhat unconventional and definitely unprepared. They have consisted of choosing two airports a fair distance apart and cycling from one to the other with the annual leave I have left. So far I have survived the length of Spain, Vietnam and going up and over The Andes cycling from Buenos Aires to Santiago, the width of South America. In London I mainly play hockey, multiple side hustles of social rugby (15’s and 7’s), golf, fishing, a variety of racket sports and just general running. Throughout my gap year, travelling and time in London with work and sport I have been so grateful to Monkton for giving me incredible opportunities and a network of likeminded people who I have been able to lean on or bump into throughout the years whether it has been in the pub, travelling in a random country, on the hockey pitch or at church.
Q&A If you could give one piece of advice to a current Monkton student who is stressed about their exams or unsure about the “traditional” university path, what would it be? Investigate school leaver apprenticeships, apply for everything and don’t be discouraged by rejections
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From the Archives
From Monkton to the Wider World A celebration of three Old Monktonians and an Old Clarendonian whose lives shaped science, education and service
Alfred Young FRS (1873–1940), OM 1892
From Oars to Equations: A Life of Curiosity and Faith he son of a Liverpool wine merchant, Alfred Young was born in Lancashire in 1873 and educated at Monkton Combe School from 1887 to 1892, alongside his older brother Edward. His academic promise was clear early on, though his teachers had no idea that he would go on to influence fields as far-reaching as modern physics. His journey, from schoolboy to scholar, from oarsman to clergyman, was anything but conventional. In 1892, Young won a scholarship to Clare College, Cambridge to read mathematics. There, he combined intellectual ambition and sporting endeavour, excelling as an oarsman while tackling one of the most demanding courses in the country. Graduating in 1895 as “tenth wrangler,” he ranked among the top mathematicians of his year an achievement made all the more remarkable by his decision to pursue his own mathematical interests rather than focus narrowly on examinations. By 1899, Young published his first paper, beginning a body of work that would eventually include twentyseven papers, largely devoted to algebra. His early research centred on invariant theory, culminating in his book Algebra of Invariants (1903), co-authored with J. H. Grace. This work drew together ideas from leading mathematicians of the time and became an important reference in the field. His most significant contributions began in 1901, when he developed what he termed “quantitative substitutional analysis”, work that would prove foundational in the study of symmetry and group theory. It was here that he introduced the now-famous “Young tableaux,” a deceptively simple method for organising complex algebraic relationships. Though abstract, these ideas later became central to quantum mechanics and were used by Hermann Weyl in his influential work Theory of Groups and Quantum Mechanics (1930).
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Alongside his research, Young built a distinguished academic career at Cambridge, lecturing at Selwyn College before becoming a Fellow and later Bursar of Clare College. In 1908, he was awarded a Doctor of Science (ScD) in recognition of his work. That same year, influenced in part by his time at Monkton, Young made the unexpected decision to be ordained. After serving as a curate in Hastings, he became Rector of Birdbrook in Essex in 1910, a position he held for the rest of his life. Though no longer working full-time in academia, his mathematical reputation continued to grow, and in 1934 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. Alfred Young died in 1940 aged 57, leaving a legacy that continues to shape modern mathematics and physics. His life stands as a reminder that intellectual curiosity, independence of thought and a willingness to follow one’s own path can lead to enduring impact.
Henry Martyn Cundy
Colin G. Butler OBE FRS
Making Mathematics Come Alive
Unlocking the Secrets of the Hive
enry Martyn Cundy was a mathematician, extraordinary teacher and writer whose work inspired generations of students to see mathematics as something to explore and enjoy. Born in Sussex in 1913, the son of a clergyman, Cundy came to Monkton in 1927, where his aptitude for mathematics quickly became apparent. His school years laid the foundations for a lifelong passion for problemsolving, logical thinking and teaching. After leaving Monkton in 1932, he went up to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he developed a particular interest in geometry. His academic achievements were outstanding: in 1937 he was awarded the prestigious Rayleigh Prize for Mathematical Physics, an honour also awarded to figures such as Alan Turing and Fred Hoyle. The following year, he completed a PhD in quantum theory, demonstrating both depth and versatility. During the Second World War, Cundy applied his mathematical skills to important wartime work. In the years that followed, he returned to education, where he would make his most lasting contribution. His career took him beyond the UK, including a period teaching in Malawi (then Nyasaland), reflecting both his commitment to education and his global outlook. Wherever he taught, he was known for making mathematics accessible, engaging and enjoyable. He believed strongly that the subject should be approached through curiosity and creativity, rather than rote learning. Cundy is best remembered for co-authoring Mathematical Models (1952) with A. P. Rollett, a pioneering book that encouraged students to build geometric models to understand complex ideas. By making abstract concepts tangible, it transformed how mathematics could be taught and experienced. He also contributed to the School Mathematics Project, a major initiative of the 1960s that modernised mathematics teaching in British schools. Introducing topics such as sets, vectors and transformations, the project reflected Cundy’s belief that mathematics education should evolve to remain relevant and intellectually stimulating. Throughout his career, which included teaching at Marlborough and Sherborne, Cundy inspired students to think independently and to appreciate the elegance and beauty of mathematics. Martyn Cundy died in 2005 aged 91, leaving a legacy that continues to influence the way in which mathematics is taught and understood. His life reminds us that great teaching can shape not only knowledge, but curiosity itself.
olin Gasking Butler was one of the world’s leading experts on bee behaviour, whose work transformed our understanding of insect life and its importance to agriculture. Born in Horsham in 1913, the son of a schoolmaster, he was educated at Monkton Combe School from 1927 to 1930 before going on to Queens’ College, Cambridge, where he studied Natural Sciences and completed both his MA and PhD by 1938. From early in his career, Colin was fascinated by the hidden world of insects, especially honey bees. After Cambridge, Butler joined the Rothamsted Experimental Station, where he helped develop what would become one of the world’s foremost centres for bee research. At a time when food production was a national priority, his work highlighted the vital role of bees not only in producing honey, but in pollinating crops and sustaining agriculture. His most significant discovery was what he termed “queen substance” now known as a pheromone produced by the queen bee. Working with colleagues, he demonstrated how this chemical acts as an invisible control system within the hive, regulating behaviour, maintaining order and guiding reproduction. This breakthrough opened new pathways in understanding how insects communicate and cooperate. As Head of the Bee Department and later the Entomology Department at Rothamsted, Butler led a period of major scientific advancement. Under his leadership, research expanded to include pollination, bee diseases and the impact of pesticides. His contributions were widely recognised: he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and awarded an OBE in 1970. He also served as President of the Royal Entomological Society. Even after retiring in 1976, Butler’s curiosity never diminished. He turned his attention to other species, including spiders and bush crickets, contributing to the mapping of their distribution across the UK. Living to the age of 102, Colin Butler is remembered not only as a pioneering scientist, but as someone who deepened our understanding of the delicate balance of the natural world. His work continues to resonate in both science and environmental awareness today.
(1913–2005), OM 1932
(1913–2016), OM 1930
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From the Archives Dr Sheila Scotchmer (née Davidson) (1920–2023), OC 1939
A Life in Medicine and Service r Sheila Paterson Scotchmer (née Davidson) lived a life defined by service, resilience and compassion, taking her medical skills far beyond the classroom to communities across East Africa. Born in Glasgow in 1920, Sheila attended Clarendon School from 1937 to 1939, where she developed a strong sense of purpose and a love of learning. Inspired by her teachers, particularly Miss Swain, she gained not only academic grounding but also the discipline and observational skills that would later prove invaluable in her medical career. After leaving school, she studied medicine at the University of Glasgow, qualifying in 1945. She chose to specialise in obstetrics and gynaecology, placing her at the forefront of care for mothers and babies. Her career soon took her overseas to East Africa, where she spent nearly twenty years working in Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. Beginning in government service and later working with the Church Mission Society, she eventually joined a group of Christian doctors in private practice in Nairobi. Working in often challenging conditions, Dr Scotchmer combined clinical expertise with resilience and deep compassion. Her work had a lasting impact on the health and wellbeing of countless women and families, particularly in areas where medical resources were limited. While in Tanzania, she met her husband Arthur, whom she married in 1960. They later returned to the UK, settling first in Reigate and then in the North Cotswolds, where her commitment to community and service continued. Dr Scotchmer credited much of her inspiration to those around her, from her family and teachers to colleagues and role models such as Elizabeth Fry, Marie
Curie and Edith Cavell. Like them, she demonstrated how dedication and compassion can make a lasting difference. She died in 2023 at the age of 102. Her life stands as a powerful example of how skill, determination and humanity can combine to create meaningful and enduring impact. Her younger brother and several cousins were Old Monktonians, and we were delighted to celebrate her 100th birthday here at the school, together with a gathering of Old Clarendonians. Jacqueline Burrows Volunteer Archivist and researcher
From abstract mathematics to hands-on teaching, from the hidden life of bees to life-saving medicine, these three Old Monktonians and an Old Clarendonian reflect the breadth of achievement shaped by curiosity, character and a willingness to serve. Their stories inspire future generations to follow their own paths and to make a difference in the world. 12 | OM Magazine 2026
EVENTS
Celebrating Connections:
A Round-up of Alumni Events OM CRICKET
ROWING EVENT
THIRTYYEARS-ON REUNION
OM HOCKEY
It has been a very busy year, with over 200 OMs and OCs attending events since September. There was a wide variety of gatherings, ranging from drinks in London to rowing on the Avon. It has been wonderful to connect with everyone, from OMs who left just last year to those who graduated many decades ago. On the sporting front, we held the OM Hockey and Netball matches; while the School came out on top in those fixtures, the OMs held the upper hand in the cricket, emerging victorious. The rowing event was wonderfully non-competitive and brought together three different generations, inspired by a desire among several 1970s rowers to reunite. Next year, we plan to expand this event and open it up to any OMs who would like to participate.
Beyond the sports pitches, highlights included anniversary dinners and lunches for those who left five, ten, and thirty years ago, as well as a gathering in London for OMs of all generations to meet our new Principal, Bradley Salisbury (OM 1992). As the summer draws to a close, we are already hard at work planning next year’s events. LONDON DRINKS
Events calendar 2026/2027
MICHAELMAS 5 Years On Reunion, 2021 leavers Saturday 26th September 20 Years On Reunion, 2006 & 2007 leavers Saturday 7th November Monkton Community Carol Service Tuesday 15th December
LENT OM Hockey and Netball Sunday 21st March
SUMMER OM Cricket Sunday 25th April Rowing Event Sunday 2nd May 50 Years On Reunion, 1975, 76 & 77 leavers Saturday 22nd May CCF Dinner Friday 19th March OM President’s Lunch Date TBC
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The Heart of Boarding at Monkton National recognition for hard work over many years The boarding school sector in the UK has possibly never been more focused on the experience, care and wellbeing of its pupils. The changes in just a couple of decades have been significant, and most boarding schools are now more comfortable, welcoming and positive places
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than at any time in their often long histories. It is in this context that, in September, Monkton was awarded Independent Boarding School of the Year. This was a recognition of a broad range of work that has been ongoing for many years covering pastoral care, safeguarding
and culture setting and includes endless details regarding logistics and planning which are driven by an institutional understanding and appreciation of what boarding means. Ultimately it comes down to pupil (and parent) experience. Monkton has created a setting where pupils feel quickly at home in a large, diverse and exciting family. To enable this, first pupils need to feel (and be) safe and that they are a known and valued part of the community. The Independent Boarding School of the Year award was quickly followed this year by a Boarding Schools Association award for Supporting Junior Boarders at the Prep School. One of the factors in winning this award was the structured mentoring scheme that has been developed over the years with dozens of Senior School
students regularly visiting the Prep School boarders in Hatton house and building relationships and confidence. This is very much a two way relationship where younger boarders benefit from time and attention from role models and pupils who have been through many of the stages that they are experiencing and older students developing coaching, listening and other people skills while enjoying time in a different context.
What really matters
As we explain to pupils and parents each year at Prizegiving however, while awards can be nice they must never define or distract us from what really matters. We write this article following prizegiving weekend, where we congratulated our Year 13’s in their final school days in this most beautiful of valleys. There are many moments we could recount from any of the speeches, but we wanted to highlight one section in particular from Vassiliki Sotirakou’s speech. Vass is one of the school prefects (Head of Wellbeing) and has just completed her 13th year at Monkton. She shared: “what has struck me most hasn’t been the valley, the traditions or the achievements, but the people”. As we look back on the journey the year 13’s have been on, our experiences at Monkton as staff, and as we speak to OM’s, what stands out time and again, are the people who make Monkton the place it is. Mr Salisbury similarly reflected on our connectedness, and said: “There is something about connection and collaboration that is deliberate and woven into the DNA of Monkton.
It is so easy to become locked into tribes during your time at school but Monkton deliberately and consciously builds collaboration. It reflects one of the great human qualities to work with and for other people.” Monkton is its pupils, parents, staff, and of course, its OM community. We have many amazing opportunities to build relationships at Monkton. From Tutoring and a dynamic classroom to the sports pitch, stage and concert hall. One of the particularly special things about Monkton is our incredible Houseparent team. Creating a home from home, they bring an extremely high level of support, dedication and fun, creating an environment that helps pupils feel at ease even if they are far from home. Weekends at Monkton are unlike other schools we have come across. We are really grateful to our Houseparents whose Saturday evenings are spent putting on amazing socials and events each week which result in many day pupils (sometimes most of them!) opting to come into school to join in events here. These provide a fun, varied and safe space for teenagers to spend quality free time together. Sundays provide choice. Choice in where and
whether to worship, whether to rest or join in trips and activities or spend time in Bath. We have been considering for some time the ‘Journey into boarding’ that nearly all young people are on, whether that isn’t until University or careers or earlier. The Monkton community takes joy in being a school where pupils learn to live together with all of the learning, laughter and growth that that brings. It is a community and setting like no other. Rob Youlten (Deputy Head Pastoral, Monkton Senior School) and Beth Lewis (Director of Safeguarding, Monkton Family of Schools)
The Independent Boarding School of the Year award was quickly followed this year by a Boarding Schools Association award for Supporting Junior Boarders at the Prep School. OM Magazine 2026 | 15
OM & OC News
Find out what some of our Alumni have been up to over the last year Olivia Courtney, OM 2022, was among the University of Cambridge students who helped uncover a possible Viking-era ‘execution pit’ during a training dig at Wandlebury Ring! An extraordinary discovery that offers new insight into Britain’s early medieval past. Charles Donald, OM 1982, received a CBE in the King’s birthday honours list for services to Public Finances.
Piers Forster OM 1986, was awarded a CBE in the New Year Honours list for his ongoing work to tackle climate change.
Chrissie Haynes, OM 2022, and Sophie Goodman, OM 2022, have launched their own production company Charmed Web Productions whilst they are still at University. Their first film UP or Down was selected to be screened at the London Independent Film Festival. The film stars another OM Archie Griffiths, OM 2020. Sam Ford, OM 2020, has achieved extraordinary success on the water at both the university and international levels. Competing with the University of Washington men’s varsity crew, Sam earned a thrilling victory in the 40th annual Windermere Cup, edging out Great Britain’s defending Olympic gold medallists by just 0.165 seconds. Making his debut on the senior international rowing circuit shortly after, Sam represented Team GB for the first time, winning gold in the Men’s 4 and helping set a new European Best Time in the process. Monkton has proudly named a boat in his honor. Huge congratulations, Sam! Anna Dimitriadis, OM 2009, wildlife cinematographer, presenter and conservationist, featured as part of the BBC’s special marking of Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday. As the creator behind Big Cats 24/7, Anna shared insights into how wildlife filmmaking has evolved, showcasing the innovative camera technology now used to capture the natural world in remarkable ways. A fantastic moment to see an OM contributing to such an important and inspiring celebration.
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Zannah Kearns (née Poulsom), OM 1997, has written a play Glitch, the true story of the Post Office scandal which is currently touring the UK. Addressing the complexities of the Post Office scandal, the play was originally commissioned as an educational tool for law students at the University of Reading.
Chris Evans Hoveraid journey Chris Evans, OM 1994 journey with Hoveraid covers three decades. Here he catches us up on what he has been doing. “Thirty-one years ago, I was a sixth-former in a small room at Monkton when an enthusiastic Nick Cole (‘85) challenged us to a gap-year adventure: a hovercraft project in Nicaragua with Hoveraid. I signed up alongside fellow Monktonians Matt Dixon (‘94) and Alan Blake (‘91). We certainly had some adventures, racking up life experiences involving jungle rivers, alligators, storms, and giant mosquitos – stories I still dine out on today! Years later, I reconnected with Hoveraid, this time with a new mission: updating the design of the “River Rover” hovercraft, originally created by Tim Longley (52) as a spin-out from Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). My career as a chartered engineer in the automotive and energy sectors gave me the perfect opportunity to use my professional skills in a hands-on way. I worked alongside a team of other volunteers – including Edward Chase (’70) – to build and test a new craft here in the UK and connect the charity with others in the wider engineering community.
Earlier this year, we shipped the craft to Madagascar, and over the summer, I joined the local Malagasy team to help commission it. This trip delivered another round of adventures! Wild camping by the river, epic road-trips, untouched gorges lined with Baobab trees, working on a sand bank with the local mechanics to figure out why the engine had just cut out mid-river… crocodiles (of course)… The trip culminated in a 180km expedition by hovercraft to the remote town of Beroroha, where the craft will now be based. The experience was thrilling, humbling, and lifegiving. The hovercraft will now be put to use on Hoveraid’s Madagascan Medical Safaris (MMS), taking medical teams to isolated villages around Beroroha. The charity, whose slogan is “Reaching the Unreachable,” does incredible work with very little, serving some of the poorest communities on the planet. I’m grateful to have had the chance to adventure with them again.” hoveraid.org
“Thirty-one years ago, I was a sixthformer in a small room at Monkton when an enthusiastic Nick Cole (‘85) challenged us to a gap-year adventure: a hovercraft project in Nicaragua with Hoveraid.” Isaac Mears, OM 2025, signed his first professional contract with Bath Rugby. Isaac recently captained England U19 in a friendly, and we are excited to see him continue his journey at Bath. Amisadai Monger, OM 2022. In June Amisadai headed off to Jakarta, Indonesia for an internship with the International Justice Mission. IJM is a global, Christian non-profit organisation that works to combat modernday slavery, sex exploitation, forced labour and strives to protect the vulnerable from violence. IJM Indonesia specifically focuses on combating labour exploitation. She will be a Government Relations and Advocacy intern and is
really looking forward to using her degree in International Politics for a cause she feels passionate about. This yearlong internship is a volunteer position. Jonjo Palmer, OM 2021, was commissioned into the Royal Navy at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth on 19 December during Lord High Admiral’s Divisions. Since then he has been serving on HMS Prince of Wales as they regenerate following OP HIGHMAST, the Carrier Strike Group deployment to the Indo-Pacific region, last year. As a young officer he will now spend several years building experience and undertaking trade specific training in the warfare branch before qualifying as a bridge watch keeper.
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OM & OC NEWS
Announcements More detailed announcements and full obituaries can be found on the Alumni page of the School Website.
Marriages - Charmian Monroe married Joshua Broughton on April 26th at St David’s Church, Moreton-inMarsh. In attendance were: Phyllida Stuart, OM 2015, Audley Monroe, OM 2000, Meg Chalkley, OM 2018, Sarah Denno, OM 2018 and Louise Smallbone, OM 2018. George Bevan, Hon OM played the organ.
In Memorium - John Clarke, OM 1962 in July 2026 - Mike Clarke, OM 1958 on the 1st Sep 2025 - Robert Cowen, OM 1953 on the 2nd June 2025 - Michael & Dawn Cuthbertson, Hon OMs June 2026 - Robert Darell, OM 1946 on the 13th May 2026 - Mathew Kazoora, OM 1981 in October 2025 - Andrew Law, former member of staff on 10th April - Tiffany Ng, OM 2013 early Feb 2026 - Stephen Charles Oxlade, former teacher June 2026 - Richard Shaw, OM 1955 on the 3rd Jan 2026 - Bruce Sinclair, OM 1957 on 29th Jan 2026 - Ann Stewart, Hon OM on 24th June 2026 - Dr M J Weeks, OM 1960 on 1st May 2026 - Roger Young, OM 1961 on 18 June 2025
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Christopher Scott, OM 1968, has published his first book, a novel entitled ‘United in Valour’. The story is set between 1844 and 1917 and follows the Kent grain merchants, the Machin family. Isabel Wilkins, OM 2025, during her time at Monkton became a two-time Freestyle Football World Champion and earned four Guinness World Records! Now, Isabel is one of the stars of the brand-new Guinness World Records: Football Edition 2026 - the first-ever book dedicated entirely to the Top 100 Greatest Football Records of All Time. Alongside icons like Ronaldo, Bellingham, and Haaland, Isabel shines as one of football’s most inspiring young talents. She not only guides readers through her Freestyle Challenge, but also writes the book’s introduction. Michael Cuthbertson, Hon OM. Not long before he passed away Michael published his first book ‘We Go Forward’ which tells the story of Major James Cuthbertson, a leader whose vital work supported the Allied advance from D-Day through to the end of the war in Germany. Drawing on his vivid eye-witness accounts, personal letters and previously unpublished papers, this book brings to life the hidden world of the British Army’s wartime logistics: a vast, dangerous enabling operation that made the front line possible.
OM Rowing From Lago di Varese in Italy to our home turf at Salford, the OM rowing spirit is truly global! Alongside Sam Ford’s recent successes, Olivia Caesar took centre stage closer to home with an outstanding victory in the pairs rowing for Leander Club at the Wallingford Regatta. Back on home waters during the summer term, we were thrilled to welcome back a crew from the 1970s, alongside OMs from the 50s and 60s, for a fantastic afternoon of rowing. Seeing our seasoned veterans join forces with current pupils and parents reminds us that while the boats may change, the camaraderie of the crew lasts a lifetime.
A proud moment for the Monkton community Old Monktonians Andy Fussell (1984) and Evie Maya (2024) both appeared on Britain’s Got Talent in May, Andy as part of the winning Hawkstone Farmers Choir and Evie performing violin in the orchestra supporting fellow contestant Rafferty Cooper. Forty years apart at Monkton, yet sharing the same stage on one of the UK’s biggest television shows. Congratulations to both!
Michael & Dawn Cuthbertson We were very sorry to lose both Michael and Dawn in June this year. Below is an abridged version of the obituary for Michael written by Peter LeRoy, OM 1962 and former Head of the Prep School. The full obituary and one for Dawn can be read online on the Announcement page of the School website. Michael Cuthbertson was a man of impressive character, scholarly intellect, and deep Christian faith. Blessed with a delightful wit and a mischievous sense of humor, he possessed a rare combination of firm discipline and genuine care for the individual. Born into a Christian home, he later completed and published his father’s WWII Military Cross story, ‘We Go Forward’. Michael excelled academically and athletically at Merchant Taylor’s School and Queens’ College, Cambridge, where he served as President of the Cambridge Inter-Collegiate Christian Union. Following a transformative student teaching term at Radley College under Dennis Silk, Michael realised his calling to boarding school ministry. He served as Head of History at Bradfield College before returning to Radley as Head of History and Director of Sixth Form Studies, achieving outstanding academic results. In 1990, Michael was the unanimous choice to become Head Master of Monkton Combe School. He inherited a school facing falling numbers and a looming financial recession. Warned by a Governor that he had just two years to save the school, Michael did exactly that, and then transformed it. Under his decisive leadership, Monkton pursued academic excellence, scaled league tables, and modernised its curriculum without ever losing its balanced, supportive ethos. His tenure saw a remarkable physical transformation of the campus, including the addition of the Sports Hall, Clarendon House, the Medical Center, and a beautifully refurbished Chapel. Initially arriving as a bachelor, Michael’s life changed in 1994 when he married Dawn Guinness. Announcing their engagement to a surprised staff, he characteristically joked that it was simply the final piece of “Monkton’s strategic plans for full coeducation.” Together, Michael and Dawn became the heartbeat of the community. Michael was a constant fixture at
school matches, deeply invested in every pupil’s success. Dawn brought immense warmth to the school, showing extraordinary courage and openness during a serious illness in their final year. The couple were renowned for their personal touch; Michael’s handwritten notes of encouragement or sympathy were so treasured by pupils that many pinned them to their study boards for years. After a deeply moving departure in 2005, where the school lined the pathways to applaud them and bid them farewell, Michael and Dawn retired to Poole. True to his industrious nature, Michael’s “retirement” was immensely active. He completed a Master’s degree in biblical theology at Trinity College, Bristol, adding New Testament Greek to his repertoire, and served heavily in school governance for both Castle Court and Sedbergh. Above all, he remained a loyal, constant, and caring support to Dawn as she navigated ongoing health concerns, while continuing to write letters of celebration and comfort to former staff and pupils. History will undoubtedly view Michael Cuthbertson as the Head Master who, in the providence of God, saved and revitalised Monkton Combe School. He remains a touching reminder of what an outstanding, dedicated, and deeply caring leader should be.
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Monkton Combe School Monkton Combe Bath BA2 7HG Email: OMs@monkton.org.uk Tel: 01225 721100
www.monktoncombeschool.com