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. . ONA Ol d N o v o c a s t r i a n s A s s o c i at io n M a g a z i n e Issue 75 | Spring 2009
In this issue:
Northern Chords Who? What? Where? RGS Computer Society
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President’s Welcome News and Events Who? What? Where? RGS Remembers… Northern Chords RGS Computer Society Heads Up! Obituaries
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Contribute! We are always looking for articles and news from Old Novos to include in the magazine, so send your contributions, via email (if possible) to: ona@rgs.newcastle.sch.uk or to the ONA Office at the school. Please include relevant pictures if possible. They will be returned as soon as the magazine has been printed. The deadline for acceptance of copy for the Spring 2009 issue is: 16 March 2009. Copy may be carried over to a future issue.
ONA magazine is the magazine for the Old Novocastrian Association Editor: Tove Elander All correspondence should be addressed to: The ONA Office Royal Grammar School Eskdale Terrace Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4DX Telephone, ONA office: 0191 212 8924 email: ona@rgs.newcastle.sch.uk The Editor reserves the right to edit, alter or omit all submissions to the magazine. Copy may be carried over to the next edition. The Editor’s decision is final. Designed and produced by www.infinitedesign.com
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Welcome
Welcome to the latest edition of our magazine A long association with the RGS, first as a pupil and more recently as a member of staff, has culminated in my becoming President of the ONA, a position which I am privileged to hold. I must thank my predecessor Rod Etherington (80-90) for all the valuable work he did during his presidency. I am very much looking forward to working with the ONA committee, and the new Headmaster, Dr Bernard Trafford, to take the Association forward. I am pleased to tell you that three younger Old Novos, who all left in 2002 recently joined the committee. They, together with the new Vice President, Adam Goldwater (87-97) are already bringing in fresh ideas and suggestions. So far, they have set up an ONA Facebook group, which will be linked to a new ONA website, currently under construction, and are now helping to source new ONA merchandise. The committee is working on my predecessor’s idea of bringing together groups of ONs in other parts of the UK, and indeed the world. At present this would be no more than informal gatherings, either to renew friendships or make new ones in the wider world; that is the RGS family. I have found when talking to some of you that this would be more attractive than say, a formal event such as a dinner. With this in mind, I will be contacting those of you who live in the Sheffield and the East Midlands areas, to see if we can arrange meetings along these lines. If there is interest elsewhere, please let the ONA office know and we will do our best to help. My wife and I were in Vancouver recently, and met up with Jim DeLaHunt (75-78), who is willing to act as a coordinator on the Western seaboard of Canada. He would be delighted to hear from those of you who live in or visit that area. His contact details are on page 2. Finally, as well as concerts and plays at the RGS (listed in the enclosed Arts Diary) there are two events, in particular, to pay attention to: the Northern Chords Chamber Festival and the London ONA dinner, being held on the 20 March. Details of both events can be found in this issue.
Mike Barlow (53-64) ONA President
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News and Events Fourth Form production of Twelfth Night, December 1952 Garden scene where Malvolio struts his wares: left to right: Malvolio (John H Cox 50-57) Toby Belch (Richard D Worrall 49-56), Andrew Aguecheek (Philip C Bettle 49-57), Fabian (Henry Spall 49-58). Henry writes that after the scene finished, he was supposed to wait for the lights to dim and then carry off the shrubbery. He waited in vain for the lights to dim. When they didn’t, he picked up the shrubbery and in full view, exit stage left – to the “tumultuous applause of the audience” as recorded by the reviewer in the NOVO magazine.
Peter Graham (55-65) writes: I came across this photo from Wensleydale camp, June 1959, when we were in the first year senior school, II2. Left to right, back row: Geoffrey Morrison (55-66), Ian Leighton (55-63), Lionel Dodkins (56-63) John Tasker-Brown (5864) Front: Peter Graham (55-65) and David Graham (55-64) Geoffrey Morrison is a consultant cardiologist in Leeds; Ian Leighton is retired and lives in Northumberland; John Tasker-Brown is an auctioneer in the Newcastle area; my cousin David Graham is an estate agent and valuer near Newcastle, and I am a retired dentist living in Sri Lanka.
The Annual ONA Dinner, October 2008
Old Novos in Western Canada Jim DeLaHunt (75-78) is our coordinator on the Western seaboard. He’d be delighted to hear from everyone who lives or works in that area. You can email him on: ona-bc@jdlh.com or via his mailing address and mobile number: 157-2906 West Broadway Vancouver BC V6K 2G8 Canada Canada mobile +1-604-376-8953
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News and Events
Degree Results Matthew Collins (01-03) BDS (Hons) Dental Surgery, Newcastle University Rebecca Fleet (03-05) BSc (Hons) Zoology, Newcastle University
Class of 1944 – Reunion The Seventh Quinquennial Reunion of this class took place on Saturday 20 September in the Forest Hall home of Dr Donald Gascoigne. Over twenty “boys” and their wives came from Devon, Somerset, London, Essex, Scotland and the Isle of Man as well as the North East. In the morning we enjoyed a tour of the School. The new Headmaster Dr Trafford kindly showed us around himself. We were impressed with him and the amazing new facilities that current pupils now have. The event started in 1978 when we were all around 50 and was organised by Sandy Osselton. In 1988 wives were also invited.
Because of the vagaries of wartime education some joined the School in 1936 and left in 1947. Others came later and left earlier. So the criterion for invitation to this exclusive event is “boys” who took School Certificate in 1944, not necessarily at the RGS. Robert Waddell has promised that the 2013 event will be held in his home at Corbridge. We thank Donald for organising what was a most enjoyable event. Anyone who has not been approached who is eligible should contact Donald Gascoigne on 0191 266 5813. J C Emmerson (36-47)
Peter Taylor Lecture Alastair Leithead (80-90) visited RGS to give a lecture on his work as a foreign correspondent. His witty and informative talk on the ethical dilemmas faced by the media when reporting from conflicts around the world was much appreciated by the audience. Before the lecture, Alastair also took time to talk to a group of sixth formers interested in journalism, giving some good advice on how to become a reporter, as well as giving an interview to The Grammar magazine. Alastair Leithead having dinner with sixth formers.
John Francis Harrison (98-05) LLB Law, University College, London Daniel Hoggan (96-05) BSc (Hons) Marketing, Newcastle University Alex Jordon (02-04) BSc (Hons) Psychology, Newcastle University Zia Khan (01-03) MBBS (Hons) Medicine and Surgery, Newcastle University Jonathan Lennard (00-05) First in BSC Anthropology, University College, London Robert Lynch (94-04) BA (Hons) Architectural Studies, Newcastle University Catherine McKie (01-03) BDS (Hons) Dental Surgery, Newcastle University Christopher McKie (96-03) MBBS (Hons) Medicine and Surgery, Newcastle University Ian Mole (97-04) BSc (Hons) Economics, Univeristy of St Andrews Philip Ortiz-Bukowski (95-02) LLB Law, University College, London Alastair Porteous (95-02) MBBA (Hons) Medicine and Surgery, Newcastle University Ben Rowley (96-03) MBBS (Hons) Medicine and Surgery, Newcastle University Benjamin Spurr (98-04) BSc (Hons) Physiological Sciences, Newcastle University Adam Swift (96-03) BSc (Hons) Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Newcastle University
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Who? What? Where? Professor Brian Robson (50-58) writes: I have retired from Manchester University, but still run my research unit in the University – the Centre for Urban Policy Studies – through which I continue to do various research projects for the Government. I was awarded the Founder’s Gold Medal by the Royal Geographical Society in 2000 and was appointed an OBE in 2008. Andrew Cooper (97-04) is online marketing manager for DFDS Seaways. Graham Wilson (82-89) works for P&G Innovation Centre in Surry as Regulatory Affairs Manager. Alan Lawson (69-76) writes: I am currently running my own interim executive and consultancy business as well as being on the board of a global telematics company. I lost my wife of 19 years, Thelma, suddenly last year and have had great support from family and friends. I am over in the USA regularly and it has almost become a second home but the draw of the North-East and the madness of NUFC always wins!
After a full and varied career in theatre administration, David Lingwood (54-64) is now happily retired and is living on the south coast. His work in senior positions with many major theatre companies, included a long period as Theatre Manager of the London Palladium in the early nineties. He recently returned from living and working in Toronto. Ross Ryles (92-99) graduated from Newcastle University in 2003 with a first in MEng. Microelectronics and Software Engineering. He now works as a software engineer in North Tyneside. Annsley Ward (01-02) is a trainee solicitor (Intellectual Property and Media Litigation) at Gallant Macmillan LLP in London. Richard Anderson (67-73) writes: after a lifelong career in BP production line management and then business intelligence at their corporate headquarters in London, I am now running my own management consultancy A de V (www.scorecardadev.co.uk) with my wife Alison.
George Gair (85-87) is a RAF Wing Commander, flying C17 Globemaster III aircraft throughout Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2003 he was awarded a Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service (Afghanistan). Ray Taylor (48-55) writes: After leaving school I spent 5 years at Durham University (BA (Hons) Geography) followed by a two year research degree (M.Litt) including one year’s fieldwork in Libya. Don Meakin had a lot to answer for! I met my wife, Margaret, at St Mary’s College, and subsequently had three sons. My teaching career started at Tiffin Boys School, Surrey, before moving to Wiltshire where we settled in Devizes and I taught for seven years at Dauntsey’s School during which I did a teacher exchange year in North Dakota, USA, concluding my career at George Ward Comprehensive in Melksham and retiring in 2008. Since arriving in Wiltshire we have been heavily involved in local politics, raising the red flag in a largely blue area. Both Margaret and I are Labour Councillors, each having been Mayor of Devizes and I am Chairman of the Constituency Party. Rugby has been a dominant element in my life ever since RGS days. I played County Rugby for Durham and Dorset and Wilts, later becoming President of Dorset and Wilts and Chairman of the now defunct South West region. Since leaving the North East I regret that my links with ON’s have been very tenuous.
Paul Brown-King (64-74): On 17th October, at the thoroughly enjoyable ON Dinner (at which I managed to remember the first two verses of the school song without referring to the crib sheet), it was kindly announced that as part of my continuing midlife crisis and to raise money for Children with Leukaemia I would be running the New York City Marathon on 2nd November. The photograph shows the agony and the ecstasy of the day – and a successful conclusion! I managed to raise over £1,000 for charity. I wouldn’t say that my time was slow but rumour has it that by the time I finished, Paula Radcliffe was already back in the UK (just over 5 hours). My trip to New York was also part of my 25th wedding anniversary celebrations having reached that milestone successfully with my beautiful and understanding wife Roz.
Dakis Hagen (87-97) recently featured in The Times “Future Stars of the Bars 2008”, which highlights some of the country’s brightest young legal talent. Dakis is a member of Serle Court barristers’ chambers in London. Paul Mason (68-77): I graduated from Newcastle University with a BA (Hons) in Economics and then joined BP on their UK commercial graduate scheme. I stayed with BP for nearly 28 years, spending many years as an oil trader, running its UK natural gas sales & marketing business and finally as Vice President for IT for Group Functions. I left BP in the middle of 2008, being one of the lucky ones young enough to retire at 50 before the Chancellor increases that to 55! As I look back on my BP career, it reminded me that Kevin Miles (71-77) would have been very amused. He sent off an application form in my name to BP to sign up as a sea cadet on their tankers (aged 16). I felt so embarrassed when they asked me for an interview that I didn’t feel I could say no, so I borrowed a suit from my brother and went along to the Central Station Hotel. Thankfully they realised I was in the wrong place and sent me packing! It obviously didn’t do me any harm though! I have now relocated to Dubai where I am Manager of the Dubai Supply Authority responsible for ensuring the country has enough energy to keep all the lights on! Having left the North East to go and work for BP, I’m afraid over the years I’ve lost all contact with former pupils, so would be happy if people want to get in touch with me (via the ONA Office).
We were still in New York on Election Night seeing history being made. I’m hoping that my many Barrack Obama souvenirs will supplement my economically threatened pension provision – or maybe not!
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ONA Feature: RGS Remembers Fallen Soldier
RGS remembers fallen Airman The RGS Remembrance Assembly on 11 November 2008 was particularly poignant, as members of the school were joined by the daughter and family of John Robson Bell, a former pupil of the school who died in the Second World War but whose name was lost. When the circumstances of his death were rediscovered this year, his name was added to the names carved on the war memorial in the Hall.
J R Bell was pilot of a bomber taking part in one of the enormous raids in November 1944 which caused devastation in Germany’s industrial cities but led to huge losses among the allied bombers. The exact circumstances of the loss of his aircraft are not known, but it was a particularly cloudy night, contact was lost between planes and it seems certain that some were hit by bombs dropped from other craft higher up in the cloud cover. So it was a moving ceremony and Head of History Simon Tilbrook read out the following details of J R Bell: Every year the school holds its Remembrance Assembly. This year, saw a new name added to the list of Old Novos who fell in the Second World War, which had been unaccountably left off the memorial at the time. John Robson Bell (26-31), also known as Jack, was born in 1914 and joined the RGS in 1926 being, among other things, the school featherweight boxing champion. He left, aged 16, like most boys did in those days, armed with his School Certificate and joined the civil service.
creation of the Ministry of Aircraft Production. He then enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on Boxing Day 1941, a few weeks after the birth of his twin daughters. He became Flying Officer Bell, a navigator, in 75 Squadron of bomber command. The 75 flew more sorties than any other Allied squadron. One of those sorties was the fourth in a series of raids launched against an oil plant near Homberg, Germany; in all, 183 planes set off on a daylight raid. As the official record says: 183 Lancasters of No 3 Group made an attack on the oil plant at Homberg but the weather was stormy and many aircraft were not able to maintain formation with the aircraft on the bombing run. The bombing, through cloud, was believed to have been scattered. Flight Lt Richard Perry of 218 Squadron recalled:
On this trip we actually saw three aircraft destroyed by bombs dropped from aircraft above them, and swerved away, ourselves, from beneath one that would have passed right over us with it’s bomb doors open. I’ll In doing so he was to make a vital contribution always remember our mid-upper, Dennis, yelling out the instruction to swerve right. to the war effort by playing a part in the
The RGS War Memorial.
In all, five aircraft were lost, including three Lancasters of 75 Squadron. On 20 November, 1944, John Bell of 75 Squadron was reported missing; soon, the official documentation, spoke of him as ‘presumed dead’. He is now buried in Reichswald Forest Cemetery, in Germany. This year, his three children and other members of his family attended our Remembrance Assembly. Each year, we honour the fallen listed on the memorial; this year, for the first time JR Bell was there too.
An Anonymous Death “Come into this cubicle” said the nurse and see a ‘B.I.D’ – “I’ll show you how we ‘look after’ them.” It was nineteen-fifty and my first day as a medical student in R.V.I. ‘Casualty’. I didn’t know that ‘B.I.D.’ was an acronym for ‘brought in dead’ and apart from anatomy dissection I had never seen anybody dead. There he lay – a stronglooking man with a strangely grey face. He was wearing a neat three-piece suit and tie – totally inert. He’d been lifting his suitcase onto the rack in a train in the Central Station when apparently he’d clutched his chest and fallen backwards. “The body must be treated with absolute respect,” the nurse said. “You’ve to empty his pockets and put all the contents into a bag. Then check him over for injuries – turn him over – make sure there’s been no foul play”. I’m sure there were other procedures but after fifty years I can’t remember what they were. Three days later my mother looked up from the Evening Chronicle: “Oh, here’s a bit of sad news – ‘Boiler’ Smith, your old Latin master has died – heart attack – he was just going on holiday…” I hadn’t recognised him – death changes people – the still mask of death looks different from the animated mien of life. But I was happy an Old Novo ‘looked after him’. Requiescat in pace. (I hope that’s right – I was never any good at Latin!) Geoffrey Marsh (38-39, 44-48)
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Three Old Novos Bring the Music Home
Renowned young cellist Jonathan Bloxham (99-04) is returning to the region next March to stage an ambitious chamber music festival, Northern Chords. Tom Rowley (01-08), who is helping to promote the festival alongside Chris StokelWalker (00-07), tells us more.
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ONA Feature: Three Old Novos Bring the Music Home
It all started, as so often these days, with an email. “You probably don’t remember who I am,” Jonathan wrote, before setting out his ideas for a “small festival of chamber music”. Of course, I did remember him, although my memory admittedly was not of him playing the cello, but sitting in the back of a car driven by the father of a mutual friend, while he related his plans to leave the RGS to continue his cello studies at the Yehudi Menuhin School. In retrospect, this certainly seems a shrewd move as many of the incredible young musicians who will be performing in the festival, Northern Chords, that he is now organising are friends he made during his time at that School. From violinists Vlad Maistorovici and Tetsuumi Nagata to pianists Ellena Hale and Tomoka Shigeno, the YMS name keeps cropping up.
Jonathan’s email. Enter two supremely untalented musicians: myself and Chris StokelWalker. If ever there were a compelling argument why atonality should be treated on the NHS we are it. My primary school music reports invariably complained about my imperfect pitch, whilst my highest musical achievement so far appears to be mastering the maracas. Before you all demand that your tickets be refunded, I ought to point out that we’re not actually performing. In fact, as business directors, you could say we’re responsible for everything but the music, from marketing and PR and finding sponsors to helping Jonathan liaise with the festival’s venues and front of house on the nights.
With such amazing musicians and venues (St Mary’s Church in Whickham, Hexham Abbey and Hall Two of The Sage Gateshead), our job After three very successful years at the Yehudi isn’t really that difficult. But there has still been much pestering of journalists, haggling over Menuhin School, where he won the Guilhermina Suggia Gift and a Pierre Fournier advertising rates, negotiating over photo Award Grant, Jonathan transferred to the Royal shoots and writing of articles and there are still three months left! College of Music to continue his studies with Professor Thomas Carroll. Though he was there for just a year (he has since moved to the We were incredibly lucky to find some fantastic sponsors for the festival very early on. In fact, Guildhall School of Music and Drama to Watson Burton – the law firm with offices in continue his instruction under the supervision of Louise Hopkins), it gave him the opportunity Newcastle, Leeds and London – might even have been more enthusiastic about Northern to meet perhaps the festival’s most famous Chords than us, if that is possible. They have performer, Ben Johnson. been relentlessly supportive, with senior partner Rob Langley explaining that “as a firm At just 25, Ben has already achieved much which is passionate about the North East, success in the classical music world, with his performance in last year’s British Youth Opera supporting arts and young enterprise, this production of Albert Herring described by The festival ticked all the boxes”. We have also benefited from the support of Hilton Newcastle Times as “raptly sensitive” and by The Gateshead, our hospitality partner, and The Independent as “masterly”. This year he Journal, Northern Chords’ media partner, but augmented that achievement by winning First we are, of course, still looking for more Prize at the Kathleen Ferrier Awards, the most sponsors as well as advertisers for our prestigious singing awards in Britain. programme… so if your business might be But there is more to staging a music festival interested, you know who to get in touch with! than musicians, however talented, hence
SPECIAL OFFER: As Old Novos, we would like to offer specially-reduced ticket prices to other Old Novos and their families. For concessions (students and OAPs), we are happy to offer a ticket to either the Friday or Saturday nights at £5 (usually £6) or the Sunday night at £6 (usually £7.50); concession tickets for any two nights at £8; or concession tickets for all three nights at £13.
We can also offer normal tickets for the Friday or Saturday nights at £10
Chris, Jonathan and Tom outside RGS.
We are all now gearing up for three months of hard work to ensure that the festival runs smoothly and that as many North Easterners as possible get the opportunity to hear this world-class chamber music. I, for one, certainly can’t wait for March! • The St Mary’s Church concert, at 7.30pm on Friday 27 March, is likely to include Mozart’s Piano Quartet in G minor and Schubert’s Piano Quintet in A major (The Trout). • The Hexham Abbey concert, at 7.30pm on Saturday 28 March, is likely to include a selection of songs by composers affected by the Great War and Vaughan-Williams’ On Wenlock Edge. • The Sage Gateshead concert, at 7.30pm on Sunday 29 March, is likely to include Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio No.1 in D minor, Schumann’s Piano Quintet in E flat major and a new composition by Vlad Maistorovici.
(usually £12) or the Sunday night at £12 (usually £15); normal tickets for any two nights at £18; or normal tickets for all three nights at £28. To take advantage of these reduced-price tickets – or if you have any queries about the festival – please email tom@northernchords.co.uk or call 07985 677013. There is also much more information about Northern Chords to be found at www.northernchords.co.uk.
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The RGS Computer Society: Early Days Michael Grant’s article on the RGS Computer Society in ONA Magazine issue 72 released a whole avalanche of memories, all very good ones. I believe I have the dubious distinction of being one of the dozen or so founding members of the Society in 1969 or so. It gave me a very good head start to my career (for want of a better word) in computing.
I remember seeing a small poster on a board, authored by Mr. F. Budden, the Head of Mathematics, inviting those who were interested in learning to program (or was that programme?) to attend an inaugural meeting of the proposed Computer Society. There was no way I could resist the call. At that time a computer cost hundreds of thousands of pounds, occupied at least 25 feet square, drew huge amounts of power to run and even more power to keep it cool. Not the kind of thing you’d have kicking around at home. My first hands-on introduction to a working computer was to the LEO 2 used by the Department of Health and Social Security in Long Benton, not far from my home. It was HUGE, and SO impressive to a budding science fiction fan. If I wasn’t hooked on computers before then, I certainly was as a result of that meeting. Mr. Budden had managed to strike an arrangement with a local company (British Paints, I believe) to make use of their small IBM 360 system on a couple of evenings each week. This presented an extremely rare opportunity for school aged children. Few other schools were lucky enough to have any
kind of access to a computer, let alone the ability to program it and even to hang out in the machine room watching the blinking lights. We started off learning FORTRAN under Mr. Budden’s tutelage. The mysteries of the 3-way arithmetic “if” statement were unravelled, and the complexities of “format” were sketched out as we all sought to understand his prime number calculating program. Then came the struggle to write programs of our own. What to compute? I think I started with a program that produced a Fahrenheit to Celsius conversion table. We all bought pads of coding forms so that we could be sure to get our program source laid out according to FORTRAN’s restrictive rules. Once we were convinced that our programs were perfect we would troop off to British Paints. There we would invade the keypunch room and practise our one-fingered typing on IBM 029 keypunch machines. After some considerable clunking and cursing we would have what we thought was an accurate rendition of our programs on 80 column cards. Now what? Well, don’t you just shove them in the card reader and push the start button? Not quite.
This was the point at which we found out about JCL, IBM’s Job Control Language. A control deck to surround the FORTRAN source took about 10 or 12 cards to identify the job, compile the program and invoke the executable - if it ever got that far. It came as a complete surprise to me when I found out that my program had to be “compiled” before the computer could run it. “Wot’s a compiler, then?” was the question on my mind, but I didn’t want to reveal my ignorance by actually asking anyone. I eventually concluded it was the big blue box with all the lights on the front in the machine room. It was some weeks later that, having let this observation slip, I was introduced to the idea of a program that could turn FORTRAN into machine code and found out that the Big Blue box was the CPU. Live and learn. Most of my programs failed to compile with a rather general indication of the difficulty and a terse message like “SYNTAX ERROR” which, especially at that stage of my learning, was almost completely useless. It often took hours of experimentation and many job runs to get a compilation to work.
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ONA Feature: RGS Computer Society: Early Days
“It came as a complete surprise to me when I found out that my program had to be “compiled” before the computer could run it.” David Franks
The next hurdle, of course, was to get the actual program to run. Most of them ended abruptly with an “abend” dump (ABnormal END in IBMese) to the line printer. This yielded pages and pages of hexadecimal output. We all got very adept at recognising the screeching sound the line printer made when this happened, and there were often collisions at the main console as we all simultaneously tried to hit the Attention button to cancel the job. So, back to experimenting. Usually many more runs were required before something sensible began to appear on the printer. There was often competition for the keypunches too and because of the relatively brief time we had at the facility to run our programs the Computer Society eventually acquired a Hollerith card punch. This enabled us to edit our programs back at the RGS so that we were ready to throw them straight into the card reader at British Paints. The Hollerith punch was a very primitive device. There were 12 keys various combinations of which had to be pressed to punch the alphabetic and special characters making up the FORTRAN source text. I remember that left and right parentheses “(“and ”)” were both common and thumb-dislocatingly hard to manage. After some months of practice with FORTRAN some of us discovered PL/I which had a much more sophisticated and user-friendly compiler. This was not without its pitfalls however. It had a tendency to try to “correct” what it thought were “simple syntax errors”. This would often result in a sequence of messages like: LINE 10, CHARACTER 34: UNBALANCED ")"; INSERTING "(" AT CHARACTER 27 LINE 10, CHARACTER 30: INVALID ARITHMETIC EXPRESSION; DELETING LINE 10
And so on. Watching the PL/I compiler build a mountain out of a molehill was almost more fun than actually getting the program to work, which it very occasionally did. I left RGS in 1972, after completing my Olevels, to emigrate to Canada. On arrival at my new school I fell in with a bunch of people who had access to a Digital Equipment Corp. PDP/8 system running TSS/8 at the University
of Calgary. This was a very small, primitive system supporting only BASIC and FOCAL, much less sophisticated than PL/I and FORTRAN. But that didn’t matter because we no longer had to use cards: we had 10character-per-second Teletype machines! For me, the age of interactive computing had dawned. David Franks (65-72)
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ONA — Old Novocastrians Association Magazine
Heads Up! I hope I’m writing the last article or letter in which I will have to say, “Hi! I’m the new boy.” I think I have now introduced myself to all the various constituent bodies of the large family that is the RGS. Wherever I go, I say what a privilege it is to take over the headship of such a great school.
There is something special about the RGS. For a start, there is something special about its setting. Newcastle is a vibrant city full of self-belief (though its football and rugby teams maybe lack a little confidence at present). My wife Katherine and I enjoy all it has to offer; a thriving cultural life; concerts, plays and musicians to play with; places to eat and drink; even shops, though we are not shoppers by inclination. We relish the sense of history, mediaeval and industrial, and the great river with its spectacular views and iconic bridges. So it’s a unique setting that undoubtedly contributes to the distinctive character of the school which also benefits from its sheer proximity to the city, to road and rail links, to two universities, teaching hospitals, to businesses that seem to remain robust despite the credit crunch. Even that global meltdown gives a small benefit – to the economics department where very bright students can currently study a subject that changes from day to day, hour to hour, a very different proposition from the experience of recent years when the two most recent Chancellors’ vaunted prudence and stability and the Bank of England’s natural caution gave little scope for academic speculation. However, there are few other benefits that stem from the current situation and, though the RGS is not yet feeling significant fall-out, any fee-paying school must closely monitor its income and cost base. We are naturally concerned that this is a bad time to be raising funds for the Bursary Campaign: yet we must keep trying to do if we are to maintain the figure of more than 100 (103, to be precise) of our 1258 students in receipt of bursaries. As for the RGS students, I have commented far and wide about how charming, open and friendly they are. They are relaxed and easy in adult company, and some of the most pleasant experiences of my working day are chats with them over lunch and elsewhere. Co-education is firmly, deeply embedded. Wherever one looks, and even though the girls number just 25% of the total student body, they are visible: the RGS looks and feels a truly co-educational school, and is all the better for it. No new arrival to the staff, Headmaster or otherwise, could fail to be hugely impressed by the enormous commitment of both staff and students to the thriving extra-curricular programme. Though an academic school such as this works its students hard, they nonetheless readily sign up to the ethos of a broad education that keeps them busy outside the classroom too. So a vast range of sporting, cultural and other activities go on every day, every week. Sometimes it seems hard to get our boys and girls to go home! ONs fearing drastic change shouldn’t expect it over the next few years. I am sure that my task is one of consolidation. Seeing that coeducation is fully embedded in every aspect of school life; ensuring that we use those magnificent buildings, old and new, to their best effect; keeping us up to date, even ahead, with elements of infrastructure such as ICT. Most important will be the job of tending and moulding the distinctive school ethos to ensure that, after this recent period of rapid growth and enormous change with the introduction of girls, the school becomes even more markedly a high-achieving, academic school that is also at ease with itself; kind, inclusive, broad-minded and valuing of diversity; and helping all its students to emerge at the end as rounded, confident, generous, tolerant and fulfilled young adults ready for the world outside and as proud of their school as their predecessors for whom I am writing here. It is not a spectacular aim, but it is a significant task! I am most grateful to the ONs whom I have already met for their welcome and for the support they have pledged: I look forward to meeting many more of the school’s former students in the coming years. Dr Bernard Trafford, Headmaster.
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Obituaries
Obituaries Colin Lloyd Dales RGS Master 1950 – 1986 Born 1924, died 26 September 2008, aged 83. Born in Twickenham – within sight of the 25yard line, as he often joked – Colin remained in London whilst his father played cricket for Middlesex and the MCC. When the lure of the north brought the family back to his father’s native Durham, Colin went to Bow School from where he won a scholarship to Durham School, where he was a day boy. The outbreak of war interfered with the last year of his studies there and he went next to Bradford Technical College and then into the Fleet Air Arm as a sub-lieutenant. After the war, and with his background, he went to King’s College, Newcastle, to take a degree in Mechanical Engineering. On his own admission, he was no engineer and all he had ever wanted to do was to teach! During his post-graduate year in the Education Department, he not only met his future wife, Kathleen – they married in 1955 – but also attended a conference at RGS where he attracted the attention of the then Headmaster, O W Mitchell, who, fascinated by Colin’s unusual qualifications, proposed that he should join the RGS staff the following autumn to set up an A-level course in Engineering Drawing. A condition of employment was that Colin should take charge of all tennis and also be responsible for junior cricket, rugby and running teams! He was also required to be a member of the RE department, giving the obligatory weekly lesson to several classes. All this was manna from heaven to CLD – or Claude, as he was affectionately known to generations of RGS boys. In later years, the examination board dropped the A-level Engineering Drawing paper, so Colin had to ‘diversify’, and taught physics, more RE and
Known to many as the ‘two bag man’, as he was frequently seen hurrying to the Jesmond Metro station carrying a heavy case in each hand – both laden with exercise books – simply to maintain equilibrium he would explain! As a devout Christian he was ideally suited to his other role as Head of Religious Studies. To took charge of setting, marking and interviewing this position he brought a genuine concern for for the entrance examinations, all of which he the spiritual needs of the young and introduced loved and tackled with great enthusiasm. students to all the world’s religions. Large audiences were spellbound by his deliberations When WC (Bogs!) Cuthbertson retired as in the Christian Union. Head of RE, Colin took over that position, and introduced, for the first time, and by special Colin was also in the forefront of sporting request from some boys, an A-level course in activities at the RGS, spending many extrathat subject. curricular hours with coaching duties and sporting fixtures. His infectious enthusiasm and Colin decided to take early retirement in 1986, determination strongly contributed to so many his enthusiasm undiminished, but to make way sporting activities, including running, rugby, for younger masters. He became an ONA cricket, athletics and, his speciality, tennis. committee member and regularly attended meetings, matches and the annual dinner until Colin was in sole charge of tennis, a difficult he fell victim to Alzheimer’s disease. He and his sport to organise in the early days because of wife had one daughter, Elizabeth, and two sons, the absence of facilities at school. Every both who attended RGS; John (69-79) and session involved travelling either to the O.N. ground at Long Benton (as it was then) or Nicholas (73-83). Exhibition Park. Before very long the strength in depth throughout the school was quite Kathleen Dales considerable and successes prevailed at both County and National level. These include the W.G. (Bill) Elliott, member of staff Glanville, Youll and finally the Clark Cup at 1952-1988, writes: Wimbledon in 1984. His valuable contribution Appointed to the Physics department in 1950, to school camps must not be overlooked, serving his apprenticeship at the Border Camp Colin (Claude) Dales spent his distinguished under the watchful eye of Tucker Anderson. teaching career entirely at the RGS and was a central figure in the school community up to his Past pupils and staff will remember Colin with retirement in 1986. great affection. This was clearly demonstrated by the vast congregation, including a large He arrived at the school in a very different era; when a junior master would not dare to sit down representative body of both past and present staff, who attended his Thanksgiving Service at in the staff common-room whilst a senior the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Monkseaton. colleague was standing. Nor would a young Following the Service Colin was laid to rest in a graduate seek to read the headlines of the private woodland burial in Earsdon graveyard. Times newspaper until the senior academics had solved the crossword before morning prayers. Colin took this situation in his stride, although they were challenging tests for a newly-appointed graduate. Colin’s sense of humour was infectious, and many a lesson ended in well-rehearsed hilarity to reinforce an otherwise dry law of physics. After half an hour instilling the rudiments of P=F/A (pressure=force/area), he jocularly asked a class of 13 year olds whether at the next school dance they would rather have their toes trodden on by the plump girl in sandals or the slim girl in stilettos. A sea of eager arms would answer “the plump girl in sandals”, only to be told by a beaming face that they would be a “lot of bloody fools then!”
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ONA — Old Novocastrians Association Magazine
Obituaries
evident integrity, and that he was easy to like and good at persuading. Like many others, Peter was strongly influenced by the teaching of history at the RGS. He found particularly congenial its emphasis on wide knowledge, and its encouragement of independence of mind. In 1961, he entered University College, Oxford, to read history, and he kept up his interest in the subject for the rest of his life.On graduation, after first working for a manufacturing company in Lancashire, Peter moved to London and began a successful career in advertising and marketing. After working for several prominent employers in Britain and the United States, Peter set up on his own account in London for the twelve years before his retirement in 2007. He had substantial contracts with major organisations, and lectured at the Paris Business School.
In 2000, Peter and Elizabeth walked the length of the Alps, some 500 miles in ten weeks, in aid of the victims of motor neurone disease, from which George Miller had died in 1998. The project raised over £30,000. Peter loved hills and mountains. He attributed the origin of this to the school camps of the 1950s. In his retirement, Peter worked on a book on John Scott ON, Lord Chancellor Eldon. Peter thought that Eldon had been unfairly treated as a Tory in a Whig age, and deserved a new biography. Before he died, Peter had completed the research for the book, and had written half the first draft. It is hoped that with the help of University College, which both Peter and Eldon attended, another author will complete the book for publication.
Peter was writing and skiing at his house in the French Alps until the end of April 2008, when he fell ill. Cancer was diagnosed, and Peter In 2004, Peter published Global Pond: a Satirical Fable under the pseudonym of James died after a short illness. He is survived by his widow and his two sons. There was a concert Eldon. In this humorous but serious and passionate book, the original cast of The Wind of music and readings in his memory at St Born 30 May 1942. Died 28 May 2008, Stephen’s Church, Gloucester Road, London, in the Willows, Toad, Rat, Mole and Badger, aged 65. take part with other animals in an international on the 29th June 2008. Like his elder brother George Miller (44-55), business symposium on “globalisation.” The Peter often spoke of his time at the RGS, but Peter Miller was Head of School. Peter’s year views of some of the participants on the left no diaries or memoirs. In the standard disastrous effects of international finance are in office, 1960-61, Mr Haden’s first as history of the school by Brian Mains and perhaps widely shared after the economic Headmaster, was unusually challenging, as Anthony Tuck, Roger Hennessy comments on the new Head introduced changes which met upheavals of 2008, but were much less the tensions of the 1960s that “so little was common in 2004. some resistance from boys and masters. recorded at the time” (p303). If any ON has Peter helped to achieve a compromise which, recollections of Peter at school, particularly his In 1965 Peter married Elizabeth Cassie, a with some tightening of discipline, preserved year as Head Boy, which might be suitable for former pupil of the Church High School, who the school’s essentially liberal tradition. a memoir or could be offered to the school Perhaps no situation which Peter encountered had acted in the XX1 Club’s production of archives or for publication in ONA Magazine, I Murder in the Cathedral in 1959. Elizabeth in his subsequent career was more would be grateful if he would get in touch with demanding than his year as Head of School. It trained as an actress, and worked for the BBC and other employers. She and Peter had me through the ONA office. must have helped that he was a lively, two sons, Simon and Ewan. Ewan was Head humorous person with a commanding Boy of his school in London. physical presence, natural authority, and Paddy (H M) Page (51-59).
Peter James Miller (50-61)
John Richardson Mills (44-49, 55-56) Died 16 February 2008 aged 73.
between 1952 and 1954 where he earned his wings as a navigator. Returning to England in 1955 he studied for his ‘A’ levels, again at the RGS and earned a place at university. Unfortunately due to a family illness John had to give up university to join the family retail business where he continued until 1984.
John Mills died after a prolonged period of illness which he fought with typical courage and determination. John was born in May 1934 A keen sportsman throughout his life, John’s first love was rugby union playing at school at Newbiggin by the Sea moving to Whitley then representing Rockcliffe Rugby Club for Bay as a young boy. many years, initially as a player and latterly as a social member. In 1944 John attended the Royal Grammar School for the first time, leaving in 1949 to join After rugby John took up golf at Tynemouth the National Provincial Bank as a trainee. National Service intervened and John served in Golf Club and quickly became a very good player. He won the Club Championship the Royal Air Force in North West Canada
Scratch Tournament twice and in later years won the County Seniors Strokeplay Championship representing Northumberland Golf Club. John was Captain of Tynemouth Golf Club and also Captain of Northumberland Past Captains Society. In 1986 John helped his son Nigel set up a new retail business which continues to grow today. John always had a positive attitude and a generous spirit, always willing to help others if he could. He leaves a wife Rita, son Nigel and daughters Susanne and Alison together with eight grandchildren. Nigel Mills
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Edward M Robson (33-41) Died 5 August 2008, aged 85. Keith Jewitt (70-77) writes:
In issue 74 of the ONA Magazine I saw the notice announcing the death of E M Robson, who was always known as “Teddy” to his many friends - “Uncle Teddy” to me. Teddy spent most of his RGS years at Penrith and had many tales to tell. These ranged from stories of fun and high jinks (walking the Helvellyn Ridge, trapping rabbits for pocket money) to accounts of near-slavery as conscript labour in Forestry plantations near Penrith. This period was not the start of his fell walking activities – he had caught the bug earlier from his father during holidays at Rothbury – but the love of Britain’s hill country was always with him from then on.
National Coal Board, which frequently involved being woken in the middle of the night to fight fires. As a child, I often wondered how it was possible to get a fire-engine down the pit: eventually Teddy explained to me that the trick is to change the ventilation, in order to starve the fire of air. His last posting was to Arthur Scargill’s heartland of South Yorkshire and he had many tales to tell of strikes and negotiations. Oddly, he and the union leaders eventually found themselves on the same side, as they both wanted, more than anything, to keep the pits working. Outside of his work, and fell walking, his great enthusiasm was naval history. He was an amazingly kind and gentle man who was loyal to his family and friends. He never really recovered from the death of his beautiful daughter Ann, in the prime of her life, from cancer. He will be greatly missed.
Died 30 January 2007, aged 89. Born in Jesmond on 12 February 1917, Frank Glassow grew up in Gosforth and won a scholarship to attend the RGS in 1927 where he continued until going up to Cambridge after graduation to pursue a medical degree at St John’s College. He continued his studies at Durham University obtaining a post-graduate surgical degree and began work at the Royal Victoria Infirmary and Newcastle General Hospital where he met and married his wife of 66 years, Winifred Rewcastle of Corbridge. During this time, he studied and attained his Fellowship in the Royal College of Surgeons, England. He served in the Army Medical Corps during WW2 where he was a front line doctor. He participated in the D-Day landing treating 600 hundred injured men in a matter of hours.
A decent athlete and boxer in his RGS years, he remained a fit and brave mountaineer well into his sixties. I particularly remember a hair-raising ascent, and even scarier descent, of the Scafells during a snowy Easter weekend in 1977.
After demobilization, Frank returned to work at the RVI until 1952 when he emigrated to Canada, taking his wife and three children with him. He settled in Thornhill, just north of Toronto, where he became an internationally renowned hernia specialist performing over 30,000 hernia operations during his long and illustrious career. He attained his FRCS, Canada in 1954. He was a published medical journalist and travelled the globe giving guest lectures and demonstrations. The technique he helped to perfect is still used today at the famous Shouldice Surgery in Thornhill, Ontario.
After the war he studied mining engineering at King’s College Durham. This was tougher than most degree courses, as it included several months of going down the pit every day, but again he seemed to find time for rags and parties. His whole working career was spent in the service of the British coal industry and he believed passionately in its importance, even though much of his early career was spent closing old pits in Northumberland. He rose to become an Area Mining Engineer in the
Kenneth Plant (38-40) died peacefully on 20 September, aged 81.
Dr. Frank Glassow (27-35)
Mrs P P Gordon (retired staff) died September 2008.
Thomas Ian Atkinson (38-48) died 26 October 2008, aged 78. He was the President of the ONA 1975-1977. A cheerful, convivial soul who will be remembered with affection.
John Michael Perry (49-54) died 15 October 2008, aged 71.
Eric S Krause (31-39) died 14 November 2008, aged 88.
Chris Lawson (58-68) died suddenly and peacefully at home on 15 October 2008. Chris was the brother of Stephen Lawson (53-64).
Dr Alan Raymond Gale (42-50) died November 2008, aged 76. Kenneth Robson Alder (44-51) died 5 December 2008, aged 75.
Frank always kept his ties with Northumberland, the county he loved. He and his wife maintained a cottage in Corbridge where, until 2000, he hosted many parties attended by his old school mates from the RGS. The RGS was a determining force in his life. He never forgot the academic grounding, the friends he made there or the teachers he had. He organized a special trip back to England in his eighties just to attend the school reunion. He died of heart failure after surgery to correct a broken hip 13 days before his ninetieth birthday. He is survived by his wife, Freddie, who continues on in the family home in Thornhill, his daughter, Karen and his son, Nicholas.
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London Old Novocastrians Association’s Dinner Friday 20 March 2009 Royal Air Force Club, Piccadilly, London SW1 Dear Old Novo I have pleasure in inviting you to the LONA Annual Dinner to be held on Friday 20 March 2009 at the Royal Air Force Club, located at 128 Piccadilly in London, SW1. The night includes: • Speaker – To be confirmed • a cash bar, open from 6.30pm until 1.00am • a three course dinner with wine, commencing at 7.30 pm in the President’s Room • the LONA AGM, commencing at 7.00pm
If you wish to come to the Dinner please send the form attached below with a cheque payable to “London Old Novocastrians Association” to Mark Thackara at the address below. It should arrive no later than Friday, 6th March 2009. Cheques are not cashed until after the dinner. Please keep the top half of this letter for your ticket. Please indicate if you wish your name to appear on the School website as an attendee of the dinner, thereby potentially letting old friends know you will be there.
All Old Novos are welcome to the dinner. I look forward to seeing you on the 20th. The cost of the dinner is £50 a head, £40 for those who have left School since September 2004 and just £25 or those over 80 years old on the day. Dress will be lounge suit. The nearest Tube stations are Green Park and Hyde Park Corner.
Kind regards Mark Thackara Home 01480 811543 Office 01923 831217 Mobile 07970 758209 markthackara@aol.com
Registration Form Name:
______________________________________________________________________ Years at School: 19______ to 19______
Email:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Please reserve _____ places for the Annual Dinner on Friday 20th March 2009, at £50 each (or £40/£25). I enclose a cheque to the value of £________crossed and made payable to “London Old Novocastrians Association”. I understand that no tickets are sent out. YES, I would like my name to appear on the ONA website as “attending the dinner” o
Please return to: Mark Thackara, 38 Perry Road, Buckden, PE19 5XG as soon as possible and no later than Friday 6th March 2009.