Avita ProFide
St Edmund’s Sunday St Edmund’s Sunday
We take a look back at this year’s celebrations, where theAmbulacrum hummed with the sound of over 100 Old Edmundians gathering for this year’s St Edmund’s Sunday. Find out more inside!
Cardinal Nichols’ Visit
We were honoured to welcome His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, to celebrate Mass on the Feast of Saint John Henry Newman.
Bulgaria Reunion
We hosted 180 guests for an evening of fellowship and shared memories at the Intercontinental Hotel in Sofia.
New Sixth Form Centre
We recently hosted a hugely successful Sixth Form preview evening, where we shared plans and ideas for the new Sixth Form Centre here at St Ed's.
+ International Rugby Cap + OE News + Honours Boards + Innovation Hub & more
A message from our Headmaster...
Have you ever read David Kay’s book: ‘The Buildings of St Edmund’s College’? I keep a copy by my desk (along with its partner book ‘The People of St Edmund’s College’) and find myself reaching for it surprisingly often. It is extraordinary and fascinating how the buildings of any school evolve over time but also striking how history repeats itself. Old Hall, the original building housing the College on our return from Douai in the 1790s, originally housed students, then became a convent, then the infirmary, then Junior House, then a sixth form centre known as the Centre for Advanced Studies, then the infirmary moved back in alongside classrooms. Today the main house remains the infirmary –known in 21st Century parlance as the Health Centre – and in January 2026 work began to convert the classrooms back into a sixth form centre, which will open in September. It’s going to be stunning, and will provide a great deal more space and comfort for our steadily growing Class of Rhetoric. I wonder what it was in your day. Schools must constantly evolve if they are to thrive. They say that a school which is standing still is moving backwards. This has never been truer than in 2026 in a rapidly changing world and under the shadow of a hostile government. But the story of St Edmund’s College and Prep over hundreds of years is a story of constant evolution and adaptation leading to great things.
I wonder what has changed since your day? Do come and see us to find out, and be assured, as always, of a very warm welcome here at Old Hall Green or at the ever-growing number of Old Edmundian social events on offer. Avita Pro Fide.
Matthew Mostyn, HEADMASTER
Alumni London Dinner 2026
We’re pleased to invite you and your guest to this year’s St Edmund’s Alumni London Dinner, taking place on Wednesday 20th May 2026 at Browns Brasserie, St Martin's Lane, Covent Garden, London. This will be held in the Judge's Court private dining room.
Timetable
6:00pm – Prosecco on arrival Three-course meal with wine Time to catch up, chat, and connect with fellow alumni
Tickets are £50, subsidised by the Edmundian Association. We’ve had a great response to recent outreach, so we’re expecting a strong turnout — it should be a really enjoyable evening (hopefully the sun will be shining too).
Visit www.stedmundscollegealumni.org/events to buy your ticket and choose your menu.
International Rugby Cap for OE...
Aaron Beyzade (Challoner 2018-25) has played his first rugby match for the Cyprus national team. He started for Cyprus wearing the Number 11 shirt and thoroughly enjoyed the experience, even though Malta won. He even received a good luck video from Eddie Jones. What a great achievement and it looks like a promising career ahead of Aaron.
A very warm welcome to our latest edition of Avita Pro Fide...
Hi everyone,
I have really enjoyed my couple of terms as Alumni Officer, making the acquaintance of Old Edmundians and organising events.
Meeting so many of you at St Edmund’s Sunday was a highlight and a chance to put a few faces to names. The day had such a warm feel about it and there was a tremendous buzz about the place as people connected and reminisced about their time at St Edmund’s. The Mass and Choir singing was beautiful, followed by a convivial lunch and tours of the buildings. We look forward to repeating it this year (date is now Sunday 22nd November – change of previously advertised date), with hopefully even more OEs.
There have been many events at the College over the past few months. Those of you who were able to attend Carmina Burana in Hertford would agree that it was an outstanding evening of musicianship and performance. It really was a night to remember and a triumph by the Music Department as a whole. Several OEs were able to attend and see the outstanding quality of the present day Music Department.
New Sixth Form Centre
We recently hosted a hugely successful Sixth Form preview evening, to shared plans and ideas for the new Sixth Form Centre here at St Ed's.
It was a fantastic opportunity to spend time with parents, students and staff of St Ed’s, and we were delighted to share images, mood boards and details of the progress on the much-anticipated Sixth Form Centre, opening in September.
Teaching staff were also on hand to discuss the new A Level/equivalent A Level subjects, Photography and Food Science and Nutrition,
The Carol Service was also attended by OEs and was as beautiful as ever. The choristers and the Chapel really come into their own at Christmas.
I am now busy organising the London Dinner on Wednesday 20th May in Browns Brasserie. Thank you to those of you who have already signed up. If you are yet to do so, please go to the website to purchase your tickets and choose your menu options. I look forward to seeing you there. The cut off date for this is 9th May.
There have been several OE tours of the College recently. If anyone would like a tour of the College, please do not hesitate to contact me on alumni@stedmundscollege.org. Perhaps get together a few old class mates and make an afternoon of it!
Liz Beaumont, Alumni Officer
plus C-Tech subjects, and you can find more information on these by visiting our websitewww.stedmundscollege.org/sixth-form/academic
Student performances included Dylan on piano as guests arrived, and the Corps of Drums kicked off the later session with a rousing invitation to guests to take their seats, as Headmaster
Matthew Mostyn hosted a lively Q&A about Sixth Form Life at both sessions. Questions were answered by our panel of current students and staff as well last years’ Head Girl, Abisah.
Lodestone House Catering, who provide all the catering for St Ed’s, provided a wonderful selection of samples, bite size nibbles and drinks, reflecting the menu that is planned for the Sixth Form Coffee shop when this re-opens in September, in the same building as the new Sixth Form Centre.
All St Ed's Year 11 Poetry students, along with external year 11 students, will be invited to the Rhetorician/Sixth Form Induction days, taking place on 16th and 17th of June 2026.
Keeping you up-to-date with the latest
OE News
Vincent Knight (Poynter 1971-76)
Enjoying my 3rd year of retirement after 44 years teaching Mathematics in the state system and a brief 2 year interlude teaching English in a private English College in Bari Puglia. Luckily the clan of 74-76 meet up quite regularly and our mini reunions centered around Cambridge and Hertford enjoy now 8 regulars and include now John Piper who taught French and Latin in our time. We are attempting to enlarge the group and the anecdotes are proving very helpful in my recollections that are included in my memoirs that are now almost complete! Looking forward to our next get together (Vince K, John P, John K, Michael S, Peter H , Dave McK, Nick V, Nick N, and hopefully Glen M to join us soon).
Simon Duggan (Griffiths 1978-82)
Simon Duggan retired in 2024 after a 36 year teaching career in the state and independent systems, finishing with 22 years as Headmaster of St. Anselm’s College, Birkenhead, Wirral. He is still involved in parish and voluntary work and plays 5-a-side and tennis. Retirement has afforded him the opportunity to regularly meet Edmundian friends, most recently a Christmas Lunch at the RAF Club, hosted by Peter Clayson and attended by such luminaries as Dermot Stapleton, Rupert Bull, Charlie Lockhart, Peter O’Neill, Greg Asser and John Dyer. A revival of the traditional alumni cultural tour of Benidorm is planned for the Autumn.
A couple of years ago Simon and Tez O’Rorke were reintroduced through a mutual rugby contact. They had not seen each other since 1987 but were now both living in Heswall, Wirral! Since then they have been in regular contact and attended an Edmundian reunion of contemporaries in Cambridge, organised by Tez, Matthew Kear and Mark Copping. Both Mark’s brothers, Richard and Chris, were there, along with Robin Duggan, Richard Vass, Nigel Howitt, Tim Stubbs, Neil Graham, Bren Murphy, Charlie Boshell and John Perry, our former Biology teacher.
Bill Holloway (Talbot 1961-68) A funny thing happened to me recently. I discovered that for the last 20 years I have been living round the corner from OE George (Jerzy) Dziedzic. This came about through a chance mention of George's book, Two Paths, One War, in an email from another OE, Kieron Heath. It so happened that I had just read this book without realizing its significance. It tells the incredible story of George's parents' escape from Poland and their respective experiences during and after WW2.
Since then, George and I have met up and decided to go to St Edmund’s Sunday together on 16 November 2025.
George Dziedzic (Douglass 1963-70)
Bill and I met up with several OE’s including Michael Maslinski, who I discovered is a fellow author and was in the tennis team with me.
We also met Henryk Klocek another OE of Polish descent and John Boshell. Later, I met with the headmaster and
donated a signed copy of my book “Two Paths, One War” to the school library and had a tour of the school. I plan to return to the school in the summer term to present my book to the Poetry and Syntax pupils studying on the GCSE History course.
Bill and I are also looking forward to an Old Boys from the 60s reunion in July being organised by David Rozalla.
Edward Hewson (Junior House & Douglass 1970-77) January 2026 Awarded PhD for doctoral thesis on religion and 19th century British travel writing
Simon Panton (Poynter 1974-79) I left St Ed's in 79 with 2 A levels, and went on to obtain a first class honours degree at Anglia University in Environmental Toxicology after working at Life Science Research from 1982 to 1990. I then moved to work as an Environmental Chemist for Hazleton Laboratories from 1990 to 1993 before leaving for a career change working for Equity and Law analysing spreadsheets.
From 2000 until 2006 I was a financial adviser initially with Axa Equity and Law, then Norwich Union, before becoming self employed as a financial adviser and gaining another degree and chartered qualifications. In 2005 I set up my own company as a financial adviser and in 2009 I entered into a partnership for wealth management as well as running my own company.
In 2011 I bought a children’s play centre from liquidators, recruited my wife to manage it and turn the business round, eventually selling it on in 2020. I continued with my company till 2023 when I retired. I then enrolled with Ulster University in 2024 to start a Masters Degree in Environmental Toxicology and data monitoring. I also qualified in the Royal Yachting Associations online Yacht Master for sailing in 2024 and I’m about to sail my Yacht across the Atlantic as part of the ARC+ 2026. I’m now fully retired and spend my time either travelling the world with Deborah my wife, sailing and walking my dogs. We now live just outside Farnworth, north of Manchester.
I was very good friends with both Steve Marsden, also in Poynter and Brian Luxton, same house. Brian I found out is deceased but I have been unable to find any information about Steve and how he is doing. He has a younger brother Rob Marsden who was also in Poynter.
David Bett (St Hugh’s & Talbot 1951-61)
Enjoying my long retirement following a career as a Chartered Surveyor, the last 22 years as a Regional Director of the National Trust . Jane and I will celebrate our Diamond wedding this year. We have been very fortunate in our lives.
Ailsa Mendez-Fitzwilliam (Margaret Pole 1984-86)
Ailsa Mendez-Fitzwilliam (née Ailsa Fitzwilliam) will be celebrating her 30th wedding anniversary this year to her husband Flavio Mendez, on June 29th. Ailsa and Flavio live in the USA with their daughter, Leia Sofia.
Jordan Skittrall (Talbot 1995-2002)
Jordan Skittrall has recently (January 2026) been appointed an Assistant Professor in Medical Virology at the University of Cambridge, and elected a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. He is teaching pathology to clinical students and mathematics to natural sciences undergraduates, conducting virology research, and practising medicine as a consultant virologist.
OE at Loughborough University
Two Rhetoric students, Koray and Kain, attended Loughborough University’s Open Day and met up with OE Karun Budwal (Talbot 2018-25). Karun is studying Geography with Economics with a placement year and he met up with Koray to take him around and give him some pointers and share his experiences so far, all of which were very positive.
Koray has a particular wish to attend Loughborough because he wants to combine his two main personal passions, Business and Sport, and realised it would be possible to study business whilst being in a great sporting environment. Good luck to all three of them.
Mike Jenner (St Hugh’s & Challoner 195160) Mike Jenner has been retired and living in the USA with his American wife, Elaine, since 2009. They can be found in Silver Spring
Maryland 20 minutes up the road from the White House. Sadly, Mike was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease some five years ago. This has no cure although the disease can be held at bay by keeping fit and a rigorous programme of exercise. So among other things Mike has taken up boxing (of the less aggressively kind) and Elaine drives him to the gym twice a week for training.
Mike wrote a book in 2014 about his experiences in St Hugh's under the benign care of Fr Denys Lucas. 'A Prep School Second to None' is still in print and available from Amazon for delivery in the UK.
Paul Daly (Junior House & Griffiths 197178) and Bernard Clewer (Junior House & Challoner 1971-78)
Paul Daly got in touch and we helped him reconnect with his friend Bernard Clewer. Bernard and I met up (the 1st time in 21 years), for lunch today in south Manchester. Both of us are retired now and in good health. We revisited and caught up on many things since we last met and will be in touch again in 2026, now we have regained contact.
Thank you to everyone who contributes to our OE News section, it’s great to hear about all of your successes and developments in your life and your careers.
If you have some exciting news, whether it be a wedding or birth announcement, an exciting career move or even an impromptu get together with other OEs we would love to hear about it, please send details to:
Alumni Officer
St Edmund's College, Old Hall Green, Ware, Herts SG11 1DS Telephone: 01920 824283 Email: alumni@stedmundscollege.org
Peter Antram Innovation Hub
Peter Antram (St Hugh’s & Douglass 1963-72) was a valued member of the Edmundian Association committee, serving all too briefly as a tremendous Treasurer, cut short by his untimely death in 2025.
The Edmundian Association is assisting the Prep School to invest in the latest technology and is creating a technology “hub” to help develop skills in the STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). Studying STEM subjects builds transferable skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork, which are valuable in any career. We wanted to come up with a name and, with Peter’s family’s consent, have decided to name it the “Peter Antram Innovation Hub”. This reflects Peter’s loyalty and service to St Hugh’s over the years. Work on this project has just started and should be completed this year.
Any News?
If you have some exciting news, we would love to hear about it so we can publish it in the next edition of Avita Pro Fide, please send details through to:
Liz Beaumont, Alumni Officer alumni@stedmundscollege.org
St Edmund’s Sunday 2025
The Ambulacrum hummed with the sound of over 100 Old Edmundians gathering for this year’s St Edmund’s Sunday. Old friends greeted each other, and made new friends, over coffee before proceeding to the Pugin Chapel for Mass.
Mass was celebrated by The Most Reverend George Stack (OE) with the wonderful sound of the St Edmund’s choir. Always a very moving occasion. The relic of St Edmund’s was on the High Altar during the Mass then processed around the Chapel after Mass.
The Headmaster, Matthew Mostyn, gave a welcoming speech which was followed by a sumptuous buffet lunch. Everyone sat and chatted for a couple of hours before joining tours of the College if they wished.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon and a wonderful annual tradition at St Edmund’s.
Check out the Alumni website to see the full selection of photos taken on the day.
Save the date
This year’s St Edmund’s Sunday will take place on Sunday, 22nd November. We hope to see many Old Edmundians return once again to reconnect, reminisce, and celebrate our shared history. More details, including how to book, can be found on the alumni website or via the QR code.
List of attendees: Patricia Ager (Staff), Ken Allen (1951-56), Alex Amery (1987-93), Fr Peter Andrews, Barbara Antram, Edward Antram, Aless Bailey (née McCann) (1992-03), Chris Bailey, Heyke Baker, Steve Baker (1975-82), Tom Ball (1990-97), Eliot Barden (2002-13), Sophie Barden, Elizabeth Beaumont (Alumni Officer), Sarah Bellis (200213), Peter Blackman (1964-71) & Theo, Joanne Boshell, John Boshell (1957-62), Edward Bradshaw (1990-97), Chris Breese (Staff 2001-11), Jan Breese, Fr Paul Browne (1966-70) Michela Browning, Tim Browning (1957-65), John Bryant (196271), Ella Burchill, Steven Cartwright (Prep Headmaster), Alfie
Coates (2013-19), Eamonn Collins, Tony Conway (1942-49), Giovanni de Clemente (2007-19), Josh Corcoran, Christian Dennis (1975-82), George Dziedzic (1963-70), Mary Edgecombe, Robert Edgecombe (1970-76), Dorothy Elliott (Staff 1989-2002), Hayley Flanigan, Vincent Friedlander (1976-86), Elizabeth German-Kier, Ana Filipa Palma-Goldie, Tom Goldie (2004-11), Greg Hacksley (Staff 2006-13), Ken Hall (Staff 1970-2010), James Hanley (2006-18), Paige Hartley, Rob Hartley (2006-13), Emma-Louise Harvey (Staff), Bill Holloway (1961-68), Jane Holly, Eleanor Horan, Oliver Horan, Nigel Howard (Staff 1969-2009), Becca Hyland, Kimi Kawahigashi (2002-05), David Kay (1975-82), Andrew Keenan (1952-60), Margaret Keenan, Ron King, Theresa King (Staff 1993-2008), Henryk Klocek (1960-70), Martin Klocek, Peter Klocek (1976-82), Sergey Kornev (1999-2004), May Kusrinova (2023-25), Fr Peter Lyness (Priest-in-Residence), Liming Ma (2017-19), Kate MacDonald (Staff 1997~2022), Fionnuala Marshall (2012-19), Michael Maslinski (1962-70), Michael Mason (1966-70), Issy McCann (1994-98), Maggie McCann (Staff 1994~2021), Eve McKay, Joe McKay (2005-13), Mike McKay, Fiona McLaughlan (Staff), Matthew Mostyn (Headmaster), Stefan Orszulik, Kishan Patel (2009-16), Paula Peirce (Staff), John Perry (Staff 1973-92), John Piper (Staff 1969-2000), Andrea Rigamonti (1984-87), Joseph Roberts (2011-18), Sophie Rohleder (née Elliott)(1991-00), Shelley Routledge, Taymen Sargusingh (201219), Archbishop George Stack (1966-72), Martin Stack, Tom Steel (1990-97), Beanie Steele, Bob Taylor (1969-76), Michael Taylor, Adrian Walsh (1958-64), Zoe Walsh (Staff), Peter Ward (1953-61), Sandra Ward, Emily Wells (2023-25), Eva Wells (2023-25), Rhona West (Staff) , Ray Wilson (1977-82), Lionel Woodward (1966-67), Jack Woolf (2006-13), Will Yates (2006-11), Christina Ybarra, Leopoldo Ybarra (1985-90)
Reunions and Tours...
Students 1968 and 1969
A reunion has been organised by David Rozalla for Saturday 11th July, at The Star Tavern in Belgravia from 12.00 noon until 3.00pm.
Please RSVP to David direct at david@xyi.com if you are able to attend. We hope as many people as possible can get together to catch up and reminisce about your days at St Edmund's. We would love to receive some photos of this special day.
Students 1986 leavers
40 years ago this July, the class Rhetoric 2 went their separate ways so on Saturday 11th July 2026, a London reunion is planned before it is too late! It will be drinks and chats, and probably many memories of days gone by. The location will be confirmed once numbers are known but it will be central and will be a 1pm start. Partners, guests and carers are all welcome.
Please email Graham Alderman on ga@ulteriorevents.co.uk or message on 07850 556774 to advise if you are able to make it. Please spread the word - it would be great to get as many of us back together as possible.
Tours
It was a pleasure to take a tour of the College with Rachel Collins (nee Bennett) (Margaret Pole 1978-80) whilst she was over here on business from USA. Rachel was here as a boarder in Sixth Form 1978-80, being one of the first girls to attend. Rachel was accompanied by her son Jacob and her friend Miriam Fiztgerald whose brother, John Kenneth Fitzgerald (Junior House & Talbot 1976-82), attended the College. It was sad to learn that John died in 2018.
It was an honour to show them around the College and learn how things have changed in the last 40 odd years. Rachel enjoyed seeing Girls’ Boarding. One of the first things Rachel noticed was the school was much warmer than it used to be, except for the Chapel!
Janis Keith (Margaret pole 1976-78) enjoyed a trip down memory lane with her partner, Mr Willi Michel, and her local Priest, Fr Clement.
Paula Peirce joined the tour to impart her considerable knowledge of the College and particularly the Pugin Chapel with all its history and artefacts. Janis was a day student for her two years in Rhetoric and thoroughly enjoyed seeing the College as it is today, and recognising parts that were just the same as in her time here.
St Hugh's Shines!
Thanks to the remarkable generosity of the Edmundian Association, our beloved St Hugh’s Chapel has been beautifully transformed.
The refurbishment includes new lighting, restored furniture, a new organ, freshly sanded and polished flooring, new carpeting, altar linen, and a striking new crucifix with candle holders. We are also most grateful for the gift of new vestments for Father Peter.
These enhancements have already enriched our celebrations of the liturgy and deepened opportunities for prayer, particularly during this season of Lent. We warmly invite all former pupils to visit and see the chapel in its renewed glory
2025-2026 Edmundian Association Committee
President & Chairman Michael Mason OE
Headmaster Matthew Mostyn
Prep School Headmaster Steven Cartwright
Treasurer Fionnuala Marshall OE
Committee Member Henryk Klocek OE
Committee Member Kishan Patel OE
Committee Member Peter Blackman OE
Committee Member Edward Marshall OE
Committee Member James Hanley OE
Alumni Officer Liz Beaumont
Alumni and Marketing Manager Emma-Louise Harvey
President Emeritus and Archivist David J S Kay OE
We would welcome more representatives, so if you are interested in joining the committee please email alumni@stedmundscollege.org
Shrine Chapel with the atmospheric red lighting.
Cardinal Nichols'Visit
St Edmund’s College and Prep were honoured to welcome His Eminence
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, on Thursday 9th October to celebrate Mass on the Feast of Saint John Henry Newman.
The occasion marked the culmination of the Prep School’s 150th anniversary year and the rededication of St Hugh’s Chapel, following an extensive refurbishment generously funded by the Edmundian Association.
With the Prep School children in attendance, the congregation included alumni, former staff, parents, grandparents, governors, and College Headmaster Mr Matthew Mostyn. Together they shared in a moving celebration of faith and community. The Cardinal praised the strong Catholic spirit of the school and was particularly struck by the pupils’ reverence and engagement.
“The quality of the children’s singing was uplifting – a true expression of joy and faith,” one guest remarked, echoing the many warm comments received about both the music and the children’s conduct.
Following Mass and the rededication of the Chapel, the Cardinal took questions from Form Six pupils and members of the Chaplaincy Group. With warmth and openness, he reflected on his vocation, sharing his favourite parable, the most significant dates in the Christian calendar, and his view on the compatibility of faith and science. He also spoke about his journey to the priesthood and gave pupils a rare insight into the Papal Conclave.
The visit concluded with joy and gratitude, as the Cardinal commended the pupils’ intellectual curiosity, thoughtful questions, and contribution to the liturgy.
Head of St Edmund’s Prep, Mr Steven Cartwright, said: “The staff and I could not have been prouder of the children, or more moved by the Cardinal’s presence and the esteemed group of guests we had the privilege of welcoming. The occasion was one that will live long in both mind and spirit.”
The day was a fitting tribute to the Prep School’s 150-year history and its ongoing mission to nurture faith, learning, and community for generations to come.
Where are they now?
This feature has been introduced to help reunite OEs who have lost contact with each other over the years. Wherever possible we will re-introduce people, but unfortunately we do not have everyone’s contact details
We are trying to help OE Hiran Weereratne (1968-75) contact Peter Wilson (1973-75), Gabriel Mbadiwe (1970-73) and George Mbadiwe (1970-76), so if you are able to help with this please drop us an email, alumni@stedmundscollege.org
If you have lost contact with fellow OEs and would like our help, please reach out to us and we will do our best to re-introduce you.
Remembering... Mike Elgood
Mike Elgood spent his early childhood in Jamaica where he attended De Carteret College, then a diocesan preparatory school. He was sent to board at St Edmund’s at age nine. With no record that he had ever formally been a Catholic, Mike was conditionally baptised in the Parish Church by his housemaster Fr Denys Lucas on 1 December 1951. His godparents were the Bursar, “Rex” King, and the infirmary sister, Miss McFeeley. Mike took his First Holy Communion the following day. Mike became a school prefect, played in the 1st XV rugby team, and was chairman of the Music Society and the Myers Society.
Upon leaving school Mike worked briefly for Cable & Wireless in Cornwall before joining Eastern Bank for a couple of years. In 1961 he went to British Eagle International Airlines with which he remained until its liquidation in 1968, whereupon he joined Monarch Airlines as a planning manager based at Luton Airport.
In 1976 he joined the Gulf Oil Corporation and stayed until a move in 1983 to Motor Oil Hellas, a Greek oil refiner and distributor. Mike retired in 2009. He once summarised his career as “usually doing things that nobody else would do in places that nobody in their right mind would go to”!
Mike married Paddy Southwell in 1975 and they went on to have a son, Robert. He will be remembered for his sharp wit and abundance of tales about his time at St Edmund’s and his long career. He felt that his sense of humour sometimes did not go down too well with some of his employers!
He joined the committee of the Edmundian Association in 2010, with particular responsibility for organising the Star Reunion for OEs who were at St Edmund’s in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. We are grateful to him for overseeing his endeavour. Mike stood down in 2017 when his health made journeys to evening meetings at the College too troublesome.
Michael Ashley de Vera Elgood (né Davey) was born in Hammersmith, west London, on 31 May 1941 and was in St Hugh’s from 1950 until 1954, then in Challoner until 1958. He passed away peacefully on 6 October 2025 after a long period of declining health at the age of 84. May he rest in peace.
Honours Boards
The Edmundian Association has paid for the Honours Boards to be erected in the five House areas in the senior school.
Going forward from 2022, the centenary of the House system at St Edmund’s, these will list the names of the house captains. The Association has also paid for boards listing Heads and Deputy Heads of School and scholarships.
Careers Fair 2026
Our Careers Fair on 27th February in the Butler Hall was very well attended by our students. It was a highly successful event that highlighted St Edmund’s College and Prep’s dedication to preparing students for life beyond school. By connecting learning with real-world opportunities, the school continues to empower students to aim high, explore their potential, and make informed choices about their futures.
Several exhibitors provided hands-on activities and demonstrations, making the experience engaging and memorable. Old Edmundians shared their career journeys, offering relatable and inspiring perspectives. Some organisations promoted internships and work experience placements for students.
Thank you to the Old Edmundians for attending this event. We would love to see more OEs next year. If you would like to be part of this initiative as a speaker, or in another capacity, we would love to hear from you.
Please contact Emily Thomas at ethomas@stedmundscollege.org
Alumni Interview Support
Our Rhetoric II students had the wonderful opportunity to take part in a series of mock interviews led by former pupils from our alumni and wider community.
The sessions were designed to help students prepare for upcoming university, apprenticeship, and job interviews, offering them a chance to practise their communication skills and receive constructive feedback from those who have experienced the process firsthand.
Our alumni volunteers, representing a wide variety of professions, generously gave their time to share advice, tips, and personal experiences. They supported students in improving their responses to common interview questions, developed their confidence in discussing their achievements, and understanding the importance of making a strong first impression.
The event not only boosted students’ readiness for future interviews but also highlighted the strength of our school community. It was inspiring to see former pupils and members of our local community support the next generation, offering encouragement and reassurance as Rhetoric II prepare for their next chapter.
A huge thank you to everyone who took part for their enthusiasm, insight, and continued connection to our school.
If you want to keep up to date with all the latest news and information from the College and Prep as well as details of any events, the best way to do that is to make sure you follow us on our social media channels.
We have detailed below what to search for on each of the platforms so we should be easy to find!
Photographed above L-R: Peter Blackman (Junior House, Talbot & Poynter 1964-71), Zara Demetriou (Talbot 2018-25) and Mark Chick (Junior House & Talbot 1980-87).
This is an abridged version of an article in The Daily Telegraph written by Peter Stamford. 5th January 2026
I moved in to a care home to help my wife – here’s what needs to change...
There have been, Michael Maslinski jokes, some unexpected reactions when he tells people that he spent nine years living in a care home so as to be with his beloved wife, Maggie – diagnosed with dementia at 60 – right up to her death in April 2024.
Just 20 months since his wife’s death, he has published What Would Maggie Do? In many ways a moving and powerful tale of the triumph of love over the ravages of dementia, it is also – selfconsciously – an insider’s account from his unique vantage point of the failings of our care system, together with his proposals for key reforms to drive cultural change.
A banker by trade, three decades ago Maslinski began his own strategic consultancy business, developing a fine-tuned eye for uncovering the failings of businesses. No detail escaped his attention in his years in the care home. He was based there four days a week, and travelled up to London the rest of the time to work.
“Frankly I paid a fortune for the place where we lived, but it was still such a battle.” That battle was not, he stresses, against the individuals working in that care home who “were mainly wonderful, which is why I decided not to name it in the book”, but against the system. “I feel that I had to do something to change that system, so people in the future don’t have the same battle.”
The result of those years at Maggie’s side, especially when the families of other residents had all gone home, has produced his agenda for reform. High on it is restoring the legal rights of residents’ loved ones to make the decisions, rather than
being forced to defer to the professionals. “I had many advantages which enabled me to fight for my wife’s best interests, but most care home residents do not have such an advocate who can take on the system. It is for them that I have written the book”.
only continued for so long because he battled against a succession of ‘moving and handling experts’ who told him there was a risk of Maggie falling, and that sometimes the way he helped Maggie out of her chair was “illegal”.
“‘Stay in a chair all day and die!’ If you don’t do anything with your mind or your body, you fade away. Scientific research backs it up,” he says. Indeed, he has been told subsequently by experts that his efforts to keep her walking extended Maggie’s life by as many as five years. “We only stopped doing it a year before she died.”
Other battles arose over decisions regarding medication, continuity of carers, surgery, feeding, physiotherapy, use of mental health professionals and even resisting sending Maggie to hospital. Yet he bears no grudge against the professionals he challenged so repeatedly. Quite the opposite. He praises them. “People find it very difficult to get outside the box. They are more comfortable ticking boxes than they are making judgments, which is why I am proposing introducing something allowing people to adapt and override the system.”
Too often he found himself in deep and sometimes protracted disagreement with a variety of health professionals, in hospitals as well as in the care home, regarding key decisions affecting Maggie’s health and welfare. He came to realise that professionals operate in a culture of fear of making mistakes which sometimes causes them to be excessively influenced by the risk of falling foul of the regulators or of potential litigation.
“I’m not going to say it almost brought me down, but there were moments when I felt extremely pressured, agitated, angry. The system that was supposed to be there to protect and look after my wife was actually acting against her best interests.”
“The most obvious example with Maggie was the mobility issue.” He believed passionately that she should remain on her feet for as long as possible.
“She was physically robust and strong. Walking is so important for anyone with dementia because, as your brain stops, you have to have something to pump adrenaline through you.”
Every day when he was there (and with a handpicked friend when he wasn’t), Maggie would go walking, initially in the local countryside, latterly in smaller circles and accompanied by carers. But it
He wants to see those with lasting power of attorney – usually relatives – treated in care homes as the ones who make the final decision about their loved one’s care, albeit after listening to the expert advice. “The professionals at the moment get confused if the power-of-attorney person doesn’t buy into their system.”
Could this be a recipe for chaos? “In the financial services industry for the management of money, you are asked what risk you are willing to run –high, low or medium. That could be applied here. What risk was I willing to take with Maggie? I listened to the professionals in the same way that Maggie would have, but then made the decision.”
Which is why he has called the book What Would Maggie Do? “I knew my wife, they knew their subject. What tends to happen is that decisions get made by the doctor and the care-home nurse. No debate, no discussion, no knowledge of the person.”
Sometimes, health professionals in the home may worry that their family is either not comfortable with making decisions about their care, and want to be told by doctors and nurses what to do, or don’t have their best wishes at heart, but these are the exceptions. The past 20 months since Maggie’s death have been, he confesses, “really, really tough, but she would have wanted me to get on with stuff. And that, for now, means changing the system in our care homes, with my book my calling card.”
Michael Maslinski OE (St Hugh’s & Challoner 1962-70)
Bulgaria reunion 2025
We were delighted to host 180 guests for an evening of fellowship and shared memories on 29th November at the Intercontinental Hotel in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Matthew Mostyn (Headmaster), Michael Mason (President & Chairman), David Kay (President Emeritus & Archivist) and Kishan Patel (Committee Member) attended the event, along with our International Admissions team, Barbara Tucker and Adrian Smerdon and Nick Harding (Summer School Director).
The main event was on the Saturday evening when all the guests assembled in the Intercontinental Hotel in Sofia for drinks and a buffet. The event provided a wonderful opportunity for Old Edmundians to chat with prospective parents about their school days, personal milestones, and professional achievements, highlighting the strong bonds that continue to unite the Edmundian community wherever they may be in the world.
A note from the Headmaster, Matthew Mostyn: When people ask me which countries our international students come from, I often reply ‘we’re big in Bulgaria!’ But until our visit I don’t think even I had realised just how big we are! To be welcomed with such warmth and affection by such a huge number of Edmundians of all ages was truly wonderful and – actually - deeply moving. There was a lovely irony also that there would have been even more Edmundians at the Sofia gathering, but they could not make it because, whilst we were in Sofia, they were in the UK! We look forward to catching up with them at a UK reunion soon, and to seeing all of our Bulgarian friends again soon. Thanks to all of them. Floreat Edmundia and Avita Pro Fide
A big thank you to Margarita Georcheva for organising this wonderful event which celebrated the amazing work she has done over the last 30 years building and nurturing the St Edmund’s/Bulgaria relationship.
List of OE attendees:
Diana Ivanova (1998-2000), Boyana Vodenicharova (1997-2000), Bogomil Alexandrov (1996-98), Vasil Vangelov (2009-13), Hristo Vangelov (2012-17), Mario Petrov (2012-15), Tsvetan Atanasov (2014-16), Andrea Velkova (2016-21), Bojidara Ianeva (19942001), Petko Rusinov (2015-22), Ivayla Rusinova (2017-22), Preslav Florov (2013-15), Maria Ivanova (2018-19), Maria Krasteva (2004-09), Martin Stefanov (2017-22), Teodor Linkin (2006-09), Martin Iliev (1995-99), Simona Mihaleva (2004-11), Veronika Mihaleva (2009-16), Doncho Penev (2010-12), Aleksandar Marchev (2020-22).
In Memoriam
We have learned of the deaths of the following Edmundians since the last edition:
Thomas Ayerst (Talbot & Allen Hall 1952-57) died on 13 January 2026 aged 89
Peter Bruce (Douglass & Allen Hall 1954-64) died on 24 December 2025 aged 83
Fr Shaun Budden (Allen Hall 1961-67) died on 30 November 2025 aged 83
Fr Edward (Teave) Carroll (Allen Hall 1973-75) died on 4 January 2026 aged 92
Angela Chapman (Secretary to three Headmasters 1960-96) died on 17 January 2025 aged 88
Bernard Doré-Boize (Challoner 1961-64) died on 18 April 2025 aged 77
Michael Elgood (St Hugh’s & Challoner 1950-58) died on 6 October 2025 aged 84
Martin Gratte (Douglass 1957-60) died on 5 February 2026 aged 82
Eric Hale-Woods (Junior House 1946-48) died on 14 December 2025 aged 90
Fr James Kennedy (Allen Hall 1974-75) died on 16 August 2025 aged 81
Oksana Lindsay (Academic Staff 2014-26) died on 8 March 2026 aged 70
Fr Brian McWilliams (Allen Hall 1952-58) died on 30 August 2025 aged 95
Fr David Quarmby (Allen Hall 1958-62) died on 26 October 2025 aged 90
John Simmance (Talbot 1945-45) died on 13 February 2025 aged 96
Canon Peter Wilkie (Allen Hall 1947-53) died on 1 April 2024 aged 94
May they rest in peace.
Dates for your Diary
Save the date!
We would love for you to join us at our upcoming alumni events – with a variety of options and several different dates to choose from, it presents a wonderful opportunity for you to reconnect with everyone and reminisce about your time at St Ed’s.
Friday 8th May 2026
Rhetoric Leavers’ Event
Wednesday 20th May 2026
London Dinner at Browns Brasserie, Covent Garden, 6.00pm - All welcome!
This is always a special occasion. Please go to the website to book.
Saturday 27th June 2026
Exhibition Day - All welcome!
Saturday 11th July 2026
Class of 1968/69 Reunion
Join us at the Star Tavern, Belgravia – 12.00 noon until 3.00pm – email David Rozalla at David@xyi.com
Friday 14th August 2026
London Drinks
Now in it’s third year this popular event will be a casual gathering, held in central London (venue TBC), allowing alumni of all generations to meet, network, and reminisce.
Sunday 22nd November 2026
St Edmund’s Sunday
Thursday 10th December 2026
School Carol Service
December 2026 TBC
Alumni Carol Service
All Edmundians are welcome to attend any of these events.
For more information or to book your place at any of our upcoming alumni events, simply scan the QR code and it will take you to the alumni events page. Alternatively, login to the alumni portal and look at the events section or email
If you would like to tell us news about yourself or other OEs, are arranging a reunion or have some old memorabilia or photos you would like to donate to the College, please send details through to: Alumni Officer St Edmund's College, Old Hall Green, Herts SG111DS Tel: 01920 824283 alumni@stedmundscollege.org