Opus, Issue 2

InsideGroove Armada: PGS Popstars of the Sixties

Note to Self: Advice to their teenage selves from four eminent OPs

Catwalk Queens: OPs at the height of fashion

Keeping in touch with OPs wherever they may be

Issue 2 • Spring 2010

The Magazine for former pupils, former parents and friends of The Portsmouth Grammar School

OPUS • Issue 2 • Spring 20102 3Portsmouth Grammar School • www.pgs.org.uk

Contents In BriefIn Celebration of Roger HarrisOP Club Annual Dinnerby Mike Shepherd OP (1948-1957)

The 2009 Annual Dinner of the OP Club was held in the David Bawtree Building at PGS on Saturday 12 December. This year was a very special occasion as the Dinner was dedicated to the memory of Roger Harris, a member of the PGS teaching staff for well over 30 years and Honorary Secretary of the Club for more than a quarter of a century, who died in November 2008. More than one hundred OPs and guests, including Roger’s wife, Iris, and their son and four daughters, enjoyed the traditional excellent seasonal fare.

Judging from the level of conversation and the general atmosphere, there is little doubt that the occasion was greatly enjoyed by all present. This was confirmed by the letter received afterwards from Iris, expressing her and her family’s appreciation of how beautifully and sensitively the evening had been arranged and adding that it was a wonderful occasion at which they were delighted to meet once again so many friends from the past.

During the course of this memorable occasion, an additional £881 was raised towards the cost of building a climbing wall in the Sports Hall, which is to be dedicated to Roger’s memory.

PGS 50 Years Ago: 1960In keeping with this issue’s theme of the fiftieth anniversary of the Sixties, Father Michael Peters OP (1945-1955) has put together a view of PGS as reported in The Portmuthian from 1960.

Read all about it on the ‘OP Club’ section of the school website (www.pgs.org.uk) under tab ‘Development’.

Ofcom Supremo is Spot-on!Ed Richards Evening Lectureby Gareth Perry OP (1964-2001)

A striking photographic montage of the sporting career of Ed Richards (1974-84) welcomed OPs, pupils, parents and staff to the David Bawtree Building on Friday 26 February for the third in the series of OP Club organised annual presentations made by eminent OPs.

Without any notes, but with tremendous verve and total fluency, Ed spoke for two hours about his meteoric career in politics and the media. As the Chief Executive of Ofcom, Ed has been hailed by the business community as “the most important figure in the UK radio and TV sector and in the fixed-line and mobile telecommunications industries”. However, to achieve such elevation in a mere 22 years entailed considerable success in many career fields. In this way the audience was treated to fascinating glimpses of a number of different career experiences, all of them seen from the top and all of them in themselves worthy of an individual lecture!

The ensuing lively question session eventually had to be terminated as last boats, trains and buses were due! So ended a sensational OP evening.

Note: The full report on Ed Richards’ lecture evening can be found the OP Club section of the school website (www.pgs.org.uk) under tab ‘Development’.

A round-up of OP news and eventsIn Brief - A round-up of OP news and events 3-4

Fundraising Auction - Fundraising for the Roger Harris Memorial Climbing Wall 5

Dedicated Followers of Fashion - OPs in the fashion industry 6-7

Postcards Home - OPs share their travel expedition adventures 8-9

‘Swinging’ Sixties PGS - OP pop success 10-11

The Seaside Steinway Steeplechase - Piano-racing in the 1960s 12-14

Bureau de Change - How PGS desks have changed over the generations 15

Letter to Neil - A tribute to Neil Blewett 16-18

Super Troopers -80 years of PGS Cubs and Scouts 19-23

OP Rick naturally right for T4! - Channel 4 presenter Rick Edwards OP 24

Heard but not seen - Voice-over artist Sarah Strange OP 25

Inside Track - Weather Forecaster; Charles Powell OP 25

Shakespear of Arabia - A Saudi Arabian legend, Captain Shakespear OP 26-27

Streets ahead - Arthur William Street’s 1864 pewter tankard 28

Lost and Found - PGS Reunite Service 29

Hold the Front Page - OP Cyril Garbett on the cover of Time Magazine 29

’Dear Me‘ - If you were to write a letter to your16-year-old self, what would it say? 30-31

In memoriam 32-34

Announcements 34

Forthcoming events 35

Back cover images:i) 1963 – Guests at CCF Centenary

Paradeii) 1963 – Lower school Cambridge

Junctioniii) 1963 – Members of the Upper Fifth

on H-block stepsiv) 1962/3 – Modern Lower VI

The Class of 62/63 Montagev) 1965 – John Condliffe, David Owens,

Graham Abraham & Tony Adams: Art Room Window

Front Cover images: :(left to right) 1968 Polydor single ‘Sights of Pegasus’ on which Dave Allen OP (1958-1967) provided lead vocals; six members of the eight-piece band Harlem Speakeasy were former PGS schoolmates; Paul Jones OP (born Paul Pond) became resident singer with Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated before going on to be the vocalist and harmonica player of the hugely successful 1960s group Manfred Mann. He had several Top Ten hits with Manfred Mann before going solo in 1966. Read Dave Allen’s reminiscences of Swinging Sixties PGS on page 10.

Opus is designed by Simon Udal OP (1977-1987) pictured below at the PGS Open Day with his wife Sara (née Small) OP (1986-1988) and their son Thomas.Simon Udal Design - www.simonudaldesign.co.uk

The PGS Development Team are always keen to hear from Old Portmuthians, former parents and friends of the school. Do please stay in touch and share your stories and reminiscences with us, submit content for future editions of Opus or nominate someone to receive a copy, by contacting us at [email protected] High Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 2LN Tel: 023 9236 4248

Alasdair Akass

Development Director

EDITORIAL TEAM

Liz Preece

Development Officer

Sue Merton

Development Office

Administrator

John Sadden

School Archivist 023 9268 1391

[email protected]

iii

iii

iv

v

continued...

A packed school Dining Hall for the OP Club Annual Dinner

Ed Richards OP about to deliver his evening lecture


Fundraising Auction provided wall to wall enjoyment for all!

The event, organised by the Development Office, attracted a capacity audience of parents, staff and a good showing of former pupils.

A visit to Brawn’s Grand Prix Formula One HQ, a private after-hours tour of Westminster Abbey with a candle-lit supper for two in the chapel after, the hot seat in an acrobatic stunt plane, a zip along the South Coast in a helicopter, a tour of HMS Daring, a yacht day charter in the Solent and a trip to the Sky News studios were among almost 40 remarkable lots put under the hammer by auctioneer Mr Julian Elphick-Smith. Many of the lots had been generously donated by former pupils, including a signed squad shirt provided by Rob Burgess OP (1988 -1995), England Rugby Operations Manager, a day’s escorted caving in Cheddar Gorge from Jim Hayward OP (1974 -1981), VIP tickets for the England v Argentina Rugby International donated by Sky Sports presenter Mike Wedderburn OP (1972 -1983) and a ride in a 1964 Daimler V8 on the London to Brighton Rally given by new President of the OP Club Bruce Strugnell OP (1957-1967) and his wife Mary.

One of the most impressive and unusual lots of the night which was hotly contested was a flight for five people in the world’s oldest flying De-Havilland Dragon Rapide bi-plane (1934).

Bidders were told that they would be collected from Hilsea playing fields and taken to the aircraft’s hangar on the Isle of Wight by Scout helicopter, making it an extraordinary day out for aviation aficionados.

The Roger Harris Memorial Climbing Wall will be graded with a bouldering wall at the bottom so children can climb it without being harnessed, increasing in difficulty as it rises. Cadets will use the wall during their Monday night training and sports staff will be able to include it as part of the PE curriculum.

It will be a fitting tribute to Roger - a prominent figure in the school’s CCF and adventure training schemes when he was a PGS teacher. He died in 2008 after almost 60 years of dedication to the school.

CCF Contingent Commander Sue Sheldrick, who helped organise the event, said: “It’s terrific that money raised by people buying a whole range of fun experiences will help give hundreds, perhaps thousands of pupils who use the wall over the years, a great time too. Thank you to everyone who made this such a successful event.”

Although the Auction exceeded all expectations and got fundraising off to a flying start, installation of the Wall over the summer has only been made possible through the substantial donations of The Old Portmuthian Club and Old Portmuthian Charity.

A climbing wall in memory of former pupil, teacher and leading Old Portmuthian Roger Harris is due to be installed in the sports hall during the summer holidays after a CCF auction of ‘money-can’t buy elsewhere’ promises raised more than £7,000.

In BriefBeach Invasion!Fifth Annual Portsmouth Lunch Club 2009

A record number of fifty OPs descended on the Royal Beach Hotel in Southsea in December for what is fast-becoming one of the most popular events in the OP calendar. Following a festive

lunch, OPs were entertained by a talk and quiz by PGS archivist, author and local historian John Sadden. Tim Runnacles OP carried off the prize, after offering up some interesting, risqué and amusing answers! Look out for notification of this year’s gathering in the next issue of Opus.

Birchanger Gardens Derek Worrall OP (1933-1939) and his wife Rae open their magnificent gardens to the public every year in aid of some tremendously worthwhile causes. They would be delighted to see fellow OPs and their families at this year’s Open Days.

Birchanger, High Street, Balcome Forest, Haywards Heath, W.Sussex RH17 6JY

Garden Opening Times:

8 & 9 May; 15 & 16 May; 23 May Each day from 2-6 pm Entrance £4 to charity

Scott of the HimalayasOP attempt on Makalu Old Portmuthian Squadron Leader Colin Scott MBE has a long association with the Himalayas, his first experience coming in 1990 as a member of an RAF-Indian Air Force expedition to Kamet (7756m) in the Garhwal region of India. Expeditions to Tilicho Peak (7134m) and Ama Dablam (6812m) followed before he was selected for a Joint Services Expedition to climb the SW Face of Kangchenjunga (8586m) in 2000.

In 2004 he led the British Services Expedition to Makalu (8463m), returning in 2008 for a further unsuccessful attempt on the South East Ridge.

He has now returned to the Himalayas as leader of a team who are aiming to be the first Britons to climb Makalu, the world’s 5th highest mountain, by the notoriously difficult South East Ridge. The chosen route is the longest ridge on the mountain, the least climbed, and with much of the difficulty above 7000m, one of the most challenging. The team is due to return to the UK on 7 June 2010.

Follow Colin and his team’s progress on the website www.makalu2010.co.uk

London Society of Old Portmuthiansby Derek Worrall

The London Society ceased having formal meetings at the beginning of 2009. However, OPs still meet informally and, since the new format was adopted, numbers attending have increased.

Meetings are held on the second Monday in March, June, September and December at the Farmers’ Club, 3 Whitehall Court, London, SW1A 2EL. The next meeting is on Monday 14 June at 6.30 pm. There is no speaker, just an informal social gathering in the lounge, where you will receive a very warm welcome.

A round-up of OP news and events

The Farmers Club in Whitehall, venue for informal meetings of the London Society of Old Portmuthians

Squadron Leader Colin Scott OP (1973-1980), leader of the Makalu 2010 Joint Services Expedition Team, enjoying the Zinal Rothorn view during Alpine training

Derek Worrall’s gardens at Birchanger


Dedicated Followers of FashionGIVe it up for Sian

Although I’ve never been asked to get my boss the first draft of the new Harry Potter novel, the film does perfectly capture the drama that seems to pervade in the fashion industry.

It was in 2001 that I went through those arches, leaving the comfort of the Sixth Form Centre behind me and got a place on the foundation course at Winchester School of Art.

I had a lot of explaining to do to my father to assure him that this year long pre-university course was critical to my chances of going on to study for a degree in the creative arts, rather than an attempt to protract my time as a student! After the confines of having to wear school uniform, my foundation year gave me the opportunity to dress how I wanted

– usually looking as though I had raided a whole rail in a charity shop – as well as honing skills in design and project development.

I felt completely prepared for the challenge when I started at Huddersfield University because the foundation course had already helped me find my ‘handwriting’ as a designer. When choosing my degree I’d not even thought about fashion, opting instead for Textile Crafts, specialising in knitwear in my second year.

Seizing every opportunity at university is so important because competition is so fierce in Design for new graduates. In order to gain experience, I entered a competition by the Society of Dyers and Colourists, little realising that it was to be judged by George Davies, a man whose CV is based around building some of the best-known brands in the High Street; George at Asda, Next, and Per Una.

I was delighted and surprised to win and to see my garment manufactured at Per Una’s factory in Turkey and included in that year’s Autumn collection.

The Competition proved to be the catalyst to the start of my career and I’ve been working for George for nearly four years now. It has been the steepest learning curve of my life. The fashion industry is pretty unforgiving to slow learners but it does support and nurture people who show creative passion and flare. Every day is a new challenge and there is never a dull moment and I can’t imagine working in any other environment.

Last summer, in common with the rest of the design team, I was set one of my biggest professional challenges to date. I would be helping to launch George’s new venture and latest High Street brand. Cloaked in secrecy, we would be developing GIVe, a womenswear line using luxurious fabrics sourced from all over the world aimed at the 30+ market, with a brand name pun that reflected the fact that this was George’s fourth clothing line.

We unveiled the brand at the beginning of October 2009 and the press hype surrounding the launch has been electric. Seeing my designs featured in magazines such as Grazia has been amazing, topped only by seeing them on mannequins in our Regent Street flagship store! I work with suppliers from all over the world, including Italy, India and Hong Kong which means I get to travel a great deal in my job. Arriving in Delhi late at night with temperatures still in the 30’s negotiating the chaotic traffic before jetting off a couple of days later to Hong Kong is just mind-blowing. In terms of being at the cutting edge of Design, you just can’t beat this experience!

Sian Curtis OP (1990-2001)

The question I am most frequently asked is whether or not my workplace is anything like the one in The Devil Wears Prada, where Meryl Streep plays the tyrannical boss of a glossy fashion magazine.

Opus tracks down this season’s must-have OP movers-and-shakers in the fashion industry...

Hemlines and Hairspray

I wasn’t sure if strutting the catwalk at the school fashion show would be enough to get me into University (even though I did put 210% into that strut). Mr Faludy gave me the role of editor, and I experienced my first taste of the stress, antisocial hours and exhilaration of life as a staffer on a magazine. It frightened the life out of me and I loved it.

After university, I went straight to The Times’ fashion and beauty department to intern for six months under the Fashion Editor, Lisa Armstrong, and became sure that this was the life for me - there were hundreds of beautiful shoes, a cupboard-full of brand new beauty products and lots of champagne-fuelled fashion shows. I soon learnt that

wasn’t the half of it – those three little perks are forgotten when you have tight deadlines, pressure from advertisers and ever-changing word limits. But still, it’s pretty awesome.

After two years working for regional titles and contributing to a few London titles as a freelance fashion and beauty writer, I got a job in the fashion features department of Vogue.

Despite popular opinion, it’s not as bad as The Devil Wears Prada suggests, and certainly not as weird as Ugly Betty.

The pressure is definitely right up there, but for good reason – you’re surrounded by the most incredible works of art (shoes and clothes, but art all the same), some of the most inspiring image-makers of the twenty-first century and a set of remarkable writers. I recently moved to another Condé Nast magazine, Glamour, where I am a beauty writer. I’m not sure my teachers at PGS were really grooming me (excuse the pun) for a career writing about hairspray and hemlines, but I know the foundations to my job definitely lie in my experiences with the school magazine. Not forgetting the school fashion show too, of course!

Grace Timothy OP (1999-2001)

When I started at PGS in the Lower Sixth, I immediately signed up for The Portmuthian Magazine. I hadn’t thought about a career in journalism to be honest, but was thinking of my slightly deficient Personal Statement for UCAS.

Sian and Grace are not the only

OPs pursuing careers in the fashion

industry:

Alice Gibb OP (1995-2009) is a highly successful

model who has already been photographed twice

for British Vogue by Mario Testino and is featured

here in a shoot for the London Evening Standard.

9

I spent the mornings at Sokode Gbogame RC Primary School and the afternoons at Sokode orphanage. In the school I was appointed as the teacher of Class 2, preparing the children for their end-of-year exams with the support of local teachers. The class, which consisted of pupils ranging in age from 7 to 18 years, was very keen to learn and far more polite than many of their English counterparts! The course material was comprehensive, ranging from Maths to Natural Science and Religion, all studied in English rather than the local language of Ewe.The work at the local orphanage was a far more laid-back affair and involved entertaining all the children from the local community. Pictionary soon became a firm favourite. By far the most appealing aspect of Ghana was the hospitality of the local people. The country quickly became ‘home from home’. Western commodities were rarely missed and in fact local Ghanaian produce (particularly ice cream) was hastily sought after upon our return.I am very grateful for the Travel Grants which enabled me to undertake this unforgettable experience.

From: Gavin Rutter Volunteer work in a school and an orphanage in Ho, Ghana (July 2009).

It was such a heart-warming and life changing experience for me to be

part of the school trip to Argentina in my last year at PGS that I was

determined to return in my Gap Year. I was situated in a poor district

of Buenos Aires, called ‘La Boca’ and I taught in a Community Centre.

I was working with the children during their summer holidays (January to

March) trying to ensure that the older children passed their yearly exams

and trying to get younger children interested in Mathematical and Spanish

exercises.

Volunteering is not about directly helping as such, but more about learning

from each other and being able to understand the situation, concerns and

needs of others. After a few volunteering sessions I began to understand

the problems faced in teaching the children. Lack of space meant that

all children had to be taught as one large class, regardless of age and

ability. This meant that volunteers were required to work individually with

each child. Daily challenges at home eg. health and nutrition concerns

meant that education was not necessarily a priority for families living

in La Boca. On occasions children were unable to attend school sessions

due to family problems or even flooding. As a result, children often lacked

enthusiasm and believed themselves to be incapable of learning and one of

the main tasks for me as a volunteer was to raise their self-esteem.

From my volunteering experience I have developed a passion for teaching

which previously I did not know I had! This may change my plans for after

university, but I do know for certain that I shall volunteer again - be it in

another Spanish speaking country or in a disadvantaged area in the UK.

I feel enormously blessed to have been able to embark on this trip with

assistance from a Travel Grant and honoured to have the opportunity to

meet some remarkable people.

From: Suzie Hance

Volunteer school

support work with

‘Voluntaria Global’

in Buenos Aires,

Argentina

(Jan/Feb. 2010).

Now: Bath

University reading

Spanish and

International

Studies

Luca and me. We practised Mathematics, English and History in preparation for her Level 2 exams.

Each year current and former PGS pupils undertake travel expeditions to the four corners of the globe during their summer holidays or as part of their Gap Year. These life-changing overseas adventures are often only made possible through the generosity of OP benefactors and the travel grants they provide. Opus caught up with four recipients of awards from the Pelican Fund, the Tim McDowall Travel Award, the Young Explorer’s Fund and the Old Portmuthian Club Travel Grant to find out more about their adventures.

postcards home

When I arrived in Cambodia I was taken aback by the culture, from just

stepping off the plane. It was a very different place and I knew that my

experience would be invaluable. I was collected by some of the children from

the orphanage where I would be working who took me there to be greeted by

a sea of smiling faces, laughing and playing in the square. All the children

at the orphanage had been rescued from the Phnom Penh rubbish dump

and had suffered severe hardship. Everyone was very welcoming. I was

assigned 2 classes of 3rd Grade students and I was also given one on one

sessions with some older students, practising reading and simple Spanish

Vocabulary. I can honestly say that my experience in the orphanage was fantastic.

The children were an inspiration with all their ambitions and hopes for

the future. I also had the pleasure of experiencing a Cambodian wedding

which was most exciting. I would like to thank the school for giving me the

opportunity of a life time and one which I will treasure.

From: Emily Sullivan

Worked as a volunteer teacher at an orphanage in Phnom Penh,

Cambodia (September 2009)

Now: Plymouth University reading Psychology

I was placed in a primary school in a small community called Nkhoma

located a few hours south of Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi. I lived with

three other volunteers and living independently in Nkhoma meant that we

had to shop in the local market and use local facilities. This allowed us to

build up real relationships within the community. We got to know the pupils

in our classes very well and even after school many would come to our house

to see us.

Each member of the volunteer team brought with them money that would

be used as a donation towards benefitting the school in some way. After

discussions with the Headmaster, we decided to help rebuild the girls’ toilets,

which had fallen into a decrepit state so much so that the girls would not

go near them and said they were haunted by ghosts!

I got involved with the football club, working closely with a teacher from

the school, trying to improve the team. The players were all extremely

talented but often lacked the tactical mindset to play. We decided an

away match would be an amazing experience for the players and staff.

We arranged football and netball matches against teams from a school

in Dedza, about a two hour coach journey away. This proved to be a truly

remarkable day and an amazing experience for all involved. I’ll never forget

the look on the stallholder’s face when we stopped the coach so that I

could buy 150 bananas at Nkhoma market for half-time refreshments!

Against a backdrop of acute poverty, I met some truly incredible people,

full of energy and enthusiasm and I feel so lucky to have had this

opportunity.

From: William Hancock

Spent 3 months in

village schools in

Malawi working as

a Teacher’s Assistant

(from May 2009).

Now: St John’s

College, Oxford

reading Engineering

OPUS • Issue 2 • Spring 20108 Portsmouth Grammar School • www.pgs.org.uk

OP Tim’s Wanderlust Lives On One of the sources of grant funding helping PGS Sixth Formers realise their ambitions to travel the world is the Tim McDowall Memorial Fund. Tim left PGS in 1984 and tragically died in Central America whilst travelling in 1995. When he died a group of his friends at Cambridge University set up a memorial fund in his name, specifically for pupils at his former school, to give them an opportunity to follow in his footsteps and experience the thrill of overseas travel.

Emily Woodhouse, Tim’s god-daughter, has taken over from her father Anthony as Trustee of the Fund and has very clear memories as a little girl of receiving postcards from Tim from all the weird and wonderful places he had visited. She even had a world map on her bedroom wall with pins marking all the stops on his global travels! Over the years she has received many letters and photos from winners of the award and takes great comfort in finding out about the exciting adventures so many PGS pupils have undertaken.

Emma Aldridge, who received an award from the Memorial Fund in 2006 so that she could help crew Sir Francis Chichester’s boat Gipsy Moth IV, from Hamilton Island to Cairns along the East Coast of Australia is in no doubt about the impact that the funding had on her. “Being awarded money from the Tim McDowall Memorial Fund really meant a lot to me and I hope that it can continue to ignite the spark of adventure in young people. I feel incredibly honoured”, she said.

A new Tim McDowall Memorial Fund website has been set up at www.timmcdowall.org.uk which Emily hopes fellow OPs will want to have a look at. “The aim of this website is to share with everybody the fantastic things that have been achieved with the money donated when Tim died and which is still being donated today.”

10 11Portsmouth Grammar School • www.pgs.org.uk

In the first edition of Opus Andrew Hind confessed that when, at age 11, he first walked through the school gates, he “didn’t feel like part of the 60s revolution.” In complete contrast, I had walked the opposite way in what I still remember as a golden summer.

OPUS • Issue 2 • Spring 2010

In 1961, the Portsmouth Evening News profiled an instrumental group from the school whose sound, like so many, was based on the Shadows. They were the Dark Angels: Pete Welch (lead guitar), Geoffrey Lamb (guitar), Kevin Timms (bass guitar) and Steve Gold (drums). I know nothing about their subsequent careers but one of their friends Nigel Baker went on to play in various 60s local groups including Legends, Jamie’s Kin and Horizon . Nigel shares my memory that pop music was “pretty much frowned on at school at that time” but it was an exciting time around the city.

The Guildhall played host to acts like the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Cliff Richard, Jimi Hendrix or Pink Floyd and a few of us were regular visitors to clubs like Kimbells and the Birdcage where we would see the Who, Small Faces, Cream and other ‘mod’ favourites.

On one occasion, OP Keith Russell and I were waiting outside Kimbells to see the Yardbirds when a prefect spotted us and suggested we should be doing our homework. I’m afraid it didn’t work, but we did see Eric Clapton!

In that same first edition of Opus it was lovely to see Wally Bartle. I eventually enjoyed a successful academic career in the visual arts thanks in no small part to Wally’s teaching and support but I do remember that in 1963 he confiscated a Beatles book I had brought to the art room. I’d love it back Wally – it’s probably worth a bit!

In the 1960s, parents and teachers told us regularly to stop wasting our time since pop would do us no good. In 2010 there is a major exhibition of 1960s pop photographs at the City Museum a few hundred yards from the Grammar School and I’ve been working on it as the local consultant. Perhaps it was OK to swing after all!

Dave Allen OP (1958-1967)

At 17 I was leaving PGS and over the next few weeks I grew my hair, joined the hippy trail hitching to the West Country, attended my first pop festival and moved to Highbury College.

There I met again fellow OP Pete Gurd who recruited me to his new group. Pete was a wonderful guitarist and we had played together previously – now he was playing with fellow OPs Keith Shilcock, John Lytle, Geoff Gunson and Sam Eddings in a pop-soul outfit called Harlem Speakeasy.

In no time at all we had become one of those 60s ‘overnight’ successes. The band’s line-up was finalised in January 1968, by the spring we had signed to Polydor Records, in July our first single was released and we were soon touring the country.

Sadly the success really was overnight. Entertaining our peers in local youth clubs was one thing, being fully-fledged professionals quite another. By December the band had split and while most of us continued to play and improve through the decades, the main chance was gone.

This was true of other OPs through that period, although one, Paul Jones (Pond) enjoyed regular ‘hits’ as the lead singer of Manfred Mann. In their early days, they played regularly in Portsmouth at venues like Kimbells Ballroom and the Railway Hotel Fratton. Later, Jones had solo success as a singer and actor before returning to singing his first love, the blues, as well as presenting BBC Radio Two’s blues show. In the 1990s I had the pleasure of performing on the show.

In the early 1960s, two other OPs, Alan Zeffert and Tony Day began writing songs and signed with publishers in Denmark Street. They placed their songs with various performers although with no significant success. Meanwhile, John Clark left PGS to work in the design studios of Burns Guitars in London. He returned to Portsmouth later and played in local groups including Coconut Mushroom who were signed briefly to the Beatles’ label Apple. Another fine musician, Dave Mussell, played keyboards locally with Barry & the Strollers, Thumper and others.

Harlem Speakeasy 1968

Top: Jon Edwards, Geoff Gunson OP Centre: Keith Shilcock OP, Sam Eddings OP, Dave Allen OP Front: Phil Jones, John Lytle OP, Pete Gurd OP

Coconut Mushroom 1969 (John Clark OP second right)

Rosemary on Southsea Common, Sept 1969 Dave Allen (singing) and John Lytle (Right)

Dave Allen on Southsea Common, Sept 1969 John Clark OP (left) in Morgan’s Camel Train 1966 (Portsmouth)

John Clark OP (left) working at Burn’s Guitars, London circa 1963

The Birth of British Rock, a touring exhibition from the V&A Theatre

Collection, featuring 100 photographs of many of the rock ‘n’ roll stars of the 50s and 60s, including original Portsmouth

Pop memorabilia runs at the City Museum until 6 June 2010.


The Seaside Steinway Steeplechase A foolhardy sport of the 1960s with

strong musical connections.

Piano-racing contests probably originated in the post-austerity years of the late 1950s. Rules varied, but typically two or more pianos would be raced in public places whilst being variously pulled and/or pushed by brawny teams of youths: quintessentially, each piano had to be played throughout every race. Sometimes, the race could not be considered finished until the pianos had been broken into tiny fragments and fed through a small-diameter hole.

Piano-racing came to Portsmouth in the mid-winter of 1962. At that time the erstwhile College of Technology (latterly the Polytechnic and now the University) had a fund-raising Rag Week at the end of the Autumn Term. One of the College’s students, Martin Clare, was lodging in the home of the Shaw family, where he discussed the possibility of a race with PGS sixth-former G.J. (Graham) Shaw. The notion appealed, and Graham’s mother procured an upright piano: meanwhile, Graham sought and obtained permission for a piano race from the Headmaster, Mr D.H. Hibbert. The date was fixed for Wednesday 19 December 1962, being the day following the end of the PGS term. Inexplicably the race was not allowed to raise money for charity, even though it marked the climax of the College’s Rag Week. The route was to take the racing pianos along Southsea Seafront, between South Parade and Clarence piers.

The selected piano was moved from the Shaw household in Chelsea Road to that of W.H.L. (Bill) Adkins in Worthing Road, where it was inverted on the front path for the application of four pram wheels, plus a fifth to support a contrivance that would enable the pianist to play throughout the race.

The feeble sunshine of the approaching winter solstice illuminated the two teams as they lined up for the start at South Parade Pier. To lighten the burden, the PGS piano was stripped of non-essentials, such as its fascia boards and keyboard lid.

Ornamentation comprised a Union Flag and a small pole bearing a white pennant displaying the initials ‘PGS’ and (briefly) a likeness of the school’s heraldic lion.

The pianist, R.I. (Ray) Fisher, was strapped to the piano by stout ropes and perched upon a seat that rode on the fifth wheel. By contrast, the College’s piano was mounted on a stout two-wheeled cart that had been equipped with a leading pram undercarriage for auxiliary support. Both contestants provided three teams, nominally of ten people each, with eight pulling and two to push and steady the

pianos. The teams operated in relays, although the pianists had to remain on their musical chariots throughout. At 11.30 am the race began, and the PGS team quickly took the lead even as the College team was trying to overcome the inertia of their heavy burden.

The race route followed the Promenade throughout, including vicious adverse cambers and a narrow corniche around Southsea Castle. By the time the PGS piano reached the Castle the second team was in command, but its work was becoming harder as one of the rear wheels began to buckle and work loose. Eventually, it came off altogether (and now decorates Bill Adkins’ shed), leaving one of the piano’s rear corners to scrape its way along the Promenade: inevitably, the failed wheel was on that side of the piano which previously had but two. Despite these impediments, PGS’s third relay team took over and brought the piano to a victorious stand at Clarence Pier approximately 300 to 400 yards ahead of the opposition.

Fortunately, neither team had the appetite to destroy good pianos by cutting them apart and disposing of them through a hole.

Hence, the victorious 1962 piano was destined for further glory twelve months later.

On 26 November 1963, the pithily-named ‘Portsmouth Grammar School Racing Piano Society’ was established to develop details for the 1963 race. In a basement room at PGS the piano was resurrected on Saturday 14 December 1963, when it was inverted and equipped with six new pram wheels, arranged with four wheels located in tandem at the front and a pair of slightly smaller diameter wheels at the rear.

Rather than ‘floating’ on a single wheel, the pianist was required to straddle a stout wooden beam, screwed beneath the keyboard and fitted with a cushion, nailed to its outer end.

The race took place on Monday 16 December 1963, starting at 2.30 pm. It was a bleak and misty day, and once again the College of Technology came forth with a juggernaut. However, the route was easier because it used the road from pier to pier. Consequently, the College team was faster than in 1962, but the PGS team’s comparative youth and lighter trailing load enabled another win. The winning margin was 70 yards and the elapsed time from pier-to-pier was five minutes and fifty seconds. J.C. (John) Shepherd provided piano playing of the highest order for the benefit of anybody able to distinguish his contribution from the rumbling wheels and primitive grunts of the teams.

The PGS piano had a further outing on Sunday 5 January 1964, when it progressed through the streets of Portsmouth to the writer’s home in Widley. Notably, M.A. (Mike) Winstock attached the piano’s haulage ropes to his motor scooter for the long ascent of Portsdown to The George Inn: the scooter’s clutch was never the same again. After this the piano slumbered in a conservatory for more than a year. There was no race in December 1964, but one was scheduled for March 1965. The piano was returned to the School on Sunday 14 March, albeit without motorised assistance. The following day it was painted in the school colours of red and black by G. F. (Gray) Abraham, who applied some artistic flourishes of his own. Once again, six new pram wheels were applied, stouter than before and all of equal diameter.

Anticipation was mounting by 18 March, when the Acting Headmaster, Mr J. Thorp, conveyed the author along Southsea seafront in his durable Rover 90 car. Mr Thorp required assurance that the race would be safe, and such assurance was readily given. The following day, 19 March 1965, marked the third and final piano race. It was a day of stiff equinoctial winds and frequent heavy squalls of polar maritime origin, but the elements failed to daunt the enthusiasm of the two teams. The race route returned to the Promenade, but the College of Technology persevered for a third time with an overweight vehicle (lessons apparently having not been learned). Likewise for the third time, PGS won, although the twisting route meant that the overall journey time was six and a half minutes.

continued...


The Seaside Steinway Steeplechase continued

Whereas pianist G.D.H. (Graham) Preskett and the three teams of pullers had every reason to be proud, it had not been a day of unalloyed pleasure. Two of the school’s leading sportsmen, G.M.T. (Geoff) Foley and G.N. (Graham) Wingate sustained significant injuries. It was even said that members of the public took fright when they observed the approaching phalanx of pianos storming along the Promenade.

As soon as the jubilant teams and their supporters returned to the school, the piano was lifted up to the Scout Room, its racing days ended. After March 1965 the piano-racing era at PGS seemingly ceased,

leaving only a generation of elderly men to chuckle and reminisce about the simple pleasures of nearly half a century ago.

T.V. Runnacles OP (1954-1965)

This article could not have been written without the reminiscences of several OPs. In particular, I wish to thank Graham Shaw, Bill Adkins, John Chatterton, Mike Winstock and Clive Vinall for their contributions.

Race disrupted by adverse weather system from polar maritime region Loss of race to College of Technology Charitable funds raised for College Rag Week will be used to buy weapons

Loss of control of piano during return to

storage in Widley

Read weather forecast beforehand Select highly trained crew Funds to be distributed through usually reliable channels (eg pop musician)

Piano to be towed by usually competent person (Mike Winstock)

It’s only a weather forecast Probably inadequate or inebriate

Doubtful Outright untruth

Ice and snow on track leading to risk of piano skidding or persons falling Loss of face of whole school (400)

Death of population in war torn areas (millions)

Impact with No 41 bus following slowly up Portsdown Hill

Seven One face per person Often Half hourly weekdays, hourly at weekends

Balmy Very severe Very very severe Ouch

Experience weatherman (Tim Runnacles) to make final decision to race Only compete against weak opposition who do not learn from experience

Do not collect money for charity Use of stout rope

Residual risk nil Residual risk nil Residual risk nil Residual risk nil

Risks & Controls Communicated to: John Thorp (risk register) Name of Risk Assessment Team Lead: Tim Runnacles

PIANO RACE RISK ASSESSMENT: FORM A:

All activities contain potential hazards and are a source of risk. Please identify and assess the significant risks in your area and the

controls you have in place to manage them. Significant risks to include are those that could lead to death, disability and severe distress; or are less serious but - occur frequently, affect

many people, or impact on the finances or reputation of the School. School: Portsmouth Grammar School Department: Sport Date: 19 December 1962

A

Hazard B Controls in place Risk reducing actions (hierarchy of controls)

C Adequacy D Risk of harm to person No of persons affected State problem or areas of concern

E Freq F

Severity G Additional controls Action required H

Level of residual risk (transfer to risk register)

The overturning of the piano.

Exhaustion of crew pulling piano

Poor choice of music repertoire

Wheel falling off piano Piano careering into sea

Centre of gravity evaluated by A level students studying mechanics.

Regular circuit training sessions in PE lessons Limited ability to use sheet music during race

Wheel attached by skilled person (Bill Adkins)

Personnel barriers in place on sea front promenade

Hopelessly inadequate calculations Hopelessly inadequate lessons

Hopelessly inadequate restriction

Wholly adequate provision Usually adequate

Death of a pianist (1) Heart attacks (10) Damage to hearing of crew and general public (thousands)

Whole crew injured by piano running amok (10) Whole crew and ill-positioned spectators death by drowning (20)

Death can only occur once Once per person in crew Middle C is 262 Hz Once per piano Once per race

Quite serious Mild Harsh but fair Yes I’m serious Painful

Select pianist of little worth (Ray Fisher)

Crew to abstain from drinking and smoking for 24 hours before race

Select pianist with wide repertoire (Ray Fisher)

This cannot happen as wheels secured by competent person

Experienced swimmer (Graham Shaw) to run with crew as life-saver

Residual risk nil Residual risk nil Residual risk nil Residual risk nil Residual risk nil

A Mock Risk Assessment for Piano Racing devised retrospectively by Roger Pope OP (1954-1963)

Bureau de Change“The desks at this school are not of a nice sort.”

This was the considered verdict of an anonymous PGS pupil in 1898 in an essay, written in the Detention Room, thought to have been set as a punishment for banging his desk lid.

Perhaps in the same way that a bad workman reputedly blames his tools, the miffed schoolboy attributes his unfair treatment firmly to his wooden desk. It was, after all, the desk that made the offending noise.

In the half-an-hour that was stolen from his life, spent in shameful, unnatural silence in the Detention Room, the boy controls his despair over the injustices of school life, draws deeply on that ’can-do’ PGS spirit, and proceeds to list his ideas for improving school desk design. Nobly and selflessly he seeks practical ways to prevent others suffering his own cruel fate. He concludes that a desk catch would have prevented the lid falling down. With this simple expedient, the sacred silence of the classroom and the Master’s ignorance of his existence would have been preserved. It would also save future schoolboys from the suffering caused by heavy wood slamming on fingers and knuckles.

The anonymous boy comes up with more brilliant recommendations. A unique lock for each desk: “The object of having locks is to keep your books, pens, pencils and other necessities from being ‘gone’”. Desks, he argues, “should be standalone, not shared, bench-style. Seats should be padded and have a shaped back for comfort”. All the boy’s suggestions anticipate the ergonomically designed desks and individual lockers taken for granted today.

Half a century later, in a piece of post-war creative writing of the type beloved of a new breed of English teacher, an eight year old Lower School pupil imagines himself as a desk. While the Victorian schoolboy had ideas to improve his desk, in this 1946 account, the vengeful desk concludes with an idea to improve the schoolboy:

I am a single-seater desk placed in the back of the class, near the window. The first thing I remember was that a horrid boy woke me up in the morning by banging my lid up and down to make a noise. He nearly cracked my head, and to increase my discomfort he stuck some nasty chewing gum on me. I finally got some peace when the teacher came in. But even he spoilt it by making a boy stand on my seat! In the dinner-hour the little brute took out a penknife and started to carve his name upon me. Happily a Prefect caught him before any real damage was done. I hope he was caned!

The physical abuse suffered by the average desk from chewing gum and penknives, was, one imagines, an occupational hazard, and the carving of one’s name an expression of the natural territorial instinct of the schoolboy.

In those innocent times, knives were carried as routinely as mobile phones today, before whittling was replaced by twittering.

Ten years later, Peter Barnes OP (1954-64) and his contemporaries added their own mix of psychological and physical abuse to the long suffering school desk:

“There was a craze for creating marble runs inside the desk by arranging books, wooden pencil cases, geometry set boxes, rulers etc. inside the desk so as to create an inclined zig-zag route from the top right hand corner where the hole for the inkwell was down towards the edge closest to the seat. The trick was to catch the marble as it emerged (from a hole at the front, possibly bored by a compass point or a penknife) after its concealed passage, but sometimes it would drop on to the floor and then there could be trouble.”

Today, such innovation would be heralded for its promotion of problem solving, touching on several areas of the curriculum, as well as the development of motor skills in catching the marble. Another innovative use of the desk was as a place for pin-ups utilising the underside of the lid, so that every opening provided the ranks behind with a welcome distraction from academic matters. Indeed the role of the desk in education, in its broadest sense, may appear to have been neglected, but thanks to the memories of OPs and occasional accounts in The Portmuthian, we are able to take a peep under the lid.

Following the appeal in the last edition of Opus, Geoffrey Salvetti OP (1958-1968) has very kindly donated a 1960s school desk to the PGS archive (pictured above) which will be put to good use in future displays and for present-day pupils to appreciate as a historical artefact.

A wry look at the history of PGS desks


Neil Blewett takes to the slopes with Headmaster James Priory, school ski trip to Killington, 2005

Letter to NeilThe entire school community, past and present, was deeply shocked and saddened by the sudden and unexpected death of Neil Blewett on Friday 12 March. Neil was an integral part of the school community for nearly 30 years, adeptly filling the role of Head of Games and PE and, more recently, Surmaster. Many hundreds of people packed the Cathedral of St Thomas for his Memorial Service where the following letter from Head of Middle School, David Hampshire was read by Simon Marriott, a friend of Neil’s and teacher in the Music Department 1982-1987:

Dear NeilI’m sorry that I can’t read this last letter to you. I am afraid I will be hiding away somewhere inconsolable at your loss and would make a dreadful mess of the job. I know you won’t mind Simon reading this on my behalf. My only consolation is that you would be just the same if you were in my place. Many people do not realise just how emotional a person you were and we often discussed what we would do when we had to make our retirement speeches. Neither of us wanted what became known as the Cliff Flowers effect.

You will remember that we first met over thirty years ago. We both used to go to a pub on the Point called the Coal Exchange – now part of the Spice Island Inn. Christine and I used to sit at one end of the pub and you and Pauline sat at another. That was before you married Pauline and you both worked at St Johns. We used to overhear each other’s conversations and realised that we were both groups of teachers but it was not for another couple of years that we spoke, when you joined the staff at PGS.

You were appointed Head of Rugby and a member of the Games Department under the direction of Chris Stoneham and also a teacher of maths. You very quickly however joined the PGS community and entered enthusiastically into the full life of the school. John Hunt, Simon Marriott and many others were privileged to go on many trips with you. You and I would enjoy the slopes of France and Italy with Tonale being a particular favourite. We managed the more difficult slopes using courage from my expansive hip flask which held a cocktail of Drambuie and Whisky – a potent mixture which took all the fear away from the slope. You never forgot why you were there however and spent most of your time helping the more timid skiers who needed the confidence, care and time you could give them. You will remember that the first ski trips were totally by coach and your travel sickness played havoc with the journey. On one occasion you were feeling unwell as we turned into Pembroke Road. The journey was punctuated by us having to stop the coach to throw away the evidence in various countries throughout Europe. Altitude sickness was also a problem. I remember us both being on a long, high chair lift at the end of which you gracefully skied away and was then violently sick. This was difficult to hide as the rest of the children were behind us on the lift and skied past you in pairs with everyone enquiring after your health.

You were the best colleague to take on a trip because the pupils knew that they could not get away with anything. You became a bit of a legend on school ski trips and earned yourself the nickname of the “Inspector” on such occasions in the 1990s. You had a nose for pupils up to no

good and could spot a guilty look from a mile away. One episode occurred when the village green at a ski resort in which we were staying was consumed by fire. The emergency services were called as the smoke billowed and we watched from the balcony of our room. The Police arrived at the hotel following a lead that a group of boys in the PGS party were involved. The mayor was furious, a diplomatic incident loomed. The smell of melting trainers led you to the room of one of the boys who was present when the fire caught hold. Apparently, some local youths had started throwing bangers at a small group of PGS pupils which then set fire to the tinder-dry grass. Instead of running away the boys tried to stamp out the flames! Mysteriously to this day, the incriminating trainers were never found.

It was not long before you and Pauline had two daughters on your hands, Claire and Rachel. You were incredibly proud of both of them as they are of you. Both of them were pupils at PGS and were very successful. You played the part of the proud Dad watching their sporting achievements and applauding their academic successes whilst giving them the space they needed as pupils at PGS. When Claire went to Cambridge you went with her – she went to read law, you went just to make sure that her move went OK and that if her accommodation needed any handiwork you would put it right. Rachel, after graduating, is now following in the family tradition and training to be a teacher.

In the Maths Department you were the first to admit that you were never given the glamorous jobs. Your commitment to teaching and fatherly approach to

helping children who found the subject difficult (or just coping with children who were difficult) is legendary. Generations of boys and girls have you to thank for getting them through their O Level or GCSE in Maths, something essential for their futures. Their many tributes to you are testament to your ability and gift as a classroom teacher.

Things were to change however when you were appointed as Head of Games. Things were also changing in the school. The Headmaster’s house was knocked down and you oversaw that space change into the Sports Centre we now have. Until then you were managing with the Old Gym. You also introduced our first fitness and weight training facility. Massive changes then came about with the introduction of girls into the school. You appointed Di Spencer as the first female PE teacher and sport at PGS was never to be the same again as girls’ games built to match the success of the boys. Many of us remember your time as Head of Games with great affection. In those days we had Middle School games on a Friday afternoon with the whole of Year 7 and 8 down at Hilsea. Exclusivity was not your style nor were you allowed it! Members of staff were put down to teach games whether they wanted to or not and it was your job to make sure that they did it. I happily taught rugby for 20 years under your guidance and had such fun doing it and gaining from your experience.

Your inclusive approach was not at the expense of excellence however and during your time as Head of Rugby the sport at the school flourished. You reckoned that the glory days were during the early to mid

1980’s when you had such names as Mike Wedderburn, Roger Black and Ed Richards in your team which was nicknamed in the press “The Scarlet Army”. You remarked at one stage that the PGS 1st XV was the county team. In the 1982/3 season the 1st VII won the Hampshire Schools Cup and the Hampshire 7-a-side Cup. This was repeated during the seasons of 1985/6, 1986/7, 1987/8, 1990/1, 1992/3. In the 1991/2 season the U15 won the County School’s Cup and represented Hampshire in the Daily Mail national competition. They defeated the Dorset winners but lost to RGS High Wycombe in a tense Quarter Final. This was reported in the News as Blewett’s Braves Bow Out. In the 1992/3 season the 1st XV won the South and South West Final of the Daily Mail National School’s Cup. In the semi-final of the National Cup they were defeated at Wolverhampton. In that year eleven pupils won County representative honours. In 1993/4 the 1st VII won the Romsey Sevens, Rosslyn Park National Sevens and the Hampshire Sevens. In 1996 you declared “I am stepping down from the post of Master in charge of Rugby to make way for a younger person”.

So time went on and you increased in seniority in the school to take on the role Tim Hands created of Surmaster. None of us really understood what Surmaster meant – go on Neil you weren’t sure either! You however built up a job which has become indispensable in the school. We all know that now because in the last two weeks we have all been chasing around trying to find out how the school really works. It was your job to make all the myriad of events the school puts on, work

properly. You worked out the fine details with incredible precision but also made them workable – a rare gift. You would think about the staff and pupils who had to work to these details and made them as painless as possible for us all. You saw any flaws in arrangements and offered constructive solutions to problems. Not for nothing were you given the name Mr Fixit.

Times were also changing regarding the Law and School trips. I can remember a less than interesting talk you once gave on the Law of Tort. It was basically about the legal responsibilities teachers have when taking trips away. I was sure that Claire had taught you all this. Suddenly we were compelled to produce risk assessments for all of our trips and it was you who realised that however tedious this was we had to do it for the safety of the pupils and of the staff. You developed the systems that we now have in place for all school visits off site. This took hours of your time for which we all owe you a great debt. You produced the 8 page risk assessment for the ski trip I am to take on Saturday – all I had to do was sign it.

continued...


Letter to Neil continued

You took charge of the Prefect body in the school arranging their selection, training and deployment. A job you did with great pride and to which the prefects reciprocated with enthusiasm, charm and commitment. You were heavily involved with the training of PGCE students and Newly Qualified Teachers. Your dedication, professionalism and common sense approach was appreciated by all those who passed through your care. Your lessons were an obvious choice for junior colleagues to observe and all that did so commented upon your outstanding abilities as a teacher and as role model for pupils and colleagues alike.

How will the pupils remember you? - Certainly as a gifted teacher of Mathematics to those for whom the subject did not come naturally. A book of remembrance has been opened in your honour and there are many tributes from your pupils who marvel at how you got them to achieve an A at Maths! Countless pupils will thank you for introducing them to sports and encouraging them to perform at the highest standards. But perhaps most of all you will be remembered as someone who truly embodied the meaning of PGS – who had a sense of service and was inspirational – someone to look up to (although as I pointed out to you many times you were only the same height as me). You must have seen them all every morning and they all had an almost Pavlovian response to your presence by checking their tie and tucking in their shirts. This was all done with a light touch and a sense of humour. Instilling a sense of discipline in young people is not easy. To any teacher there is the fear of not seeming popular if you insist on maintaining standards. Your popularity and respect came from the fact that you did insist on high standards consistently and without favouritism.

The Common Room will all remember you as a friend and colleague who was not selfish or self promoting but genuinely wanted to help however he could. The support you have given me in the Middle School has been invaluable. In particular your assistance and interest in the interview process and the awarding

of scholarships has been immense. How appropriate then that in your memory some form of fund for scholarships is to be set up.

I am not sure if the pupils used to know how much you and I messed around in the school day. If I saw you in the quad I would shout across “Neil” and you would get down on both knees. It never failed – well we enjoyed it anyway. You were also very tolerant when for years I would call you Paul. I was never quite sure why I did that.

The Friday that you left us was absolutely typical. You saw me just after 8.00am to discuss the arrangements for swimming sports and we joked about how the announcements at swimming sports years ago used to be impossible to hear because of the acoustics in Victoria Park swimming pool, the noise of the pupils and the fact that the person making the announcements had a speech defect. A few minutes later a small child came to give me their hoodie which you had caught them wearing. At 9.41 you sent me a final email expressing your concerns about the end of term arrangements. A few minutes later and you had gone.

So you left all of us a week last Friday at break with a huge gap to fill. Incidentally did you sign out? I imagine that you are up there now checking that everyone coming through the gates has their tie done up. I bet that the risk assessments for Heaven now are thorough, up to date and everyone has signed them.

Bye bye Neil and God bless.

Looking back Neil Blewett was clearly one thing above all else: a dedicated, warm-hearted man who truly loved teaching and believed in his pupils. On more than one occasion he made it abundantly clear to me the opportunity a PGS education represented and ensured I did not waste it and for that I will always be thankful.

Adam Patrick OP (2000 Leaver)

He taught many of us the values and standards that we once resented but now live by. A selfless man to whom I owe a great deal.

Tim Cummings OP (2002 Leaver)

Mr Blewett taught me maths in my GCSE year and now I’m training to be an Accountant – I have him to thank for that, as without his patience and belief in me during that year, especially following my own personal family tragedy, I wouldn’t have succeeded.

Susanna Rixon OP (1996-2003)

My scouting days at PGS were among the happiest of my life. Whilst reminiscing about them I came across various logs and diaries from my scouting days, which I have summarised below:Summer camp, Isle of Wight, 1948Site: Corfe camp, Shalfleet, Isle of Wight. 28 July: by ferry to Ryde, then train to Newport and Calbourne. Arrived at 13.30 and pitched tents, built kitchen, found den, went swimming (presumably in Shalfleet creek, which was just west of the site). 20.00 Lit fires, cooked cocoa for troop. 22.30 Lights out. (Lots more of this!) Porridge for breakfast; stew and semolina for supper; two or three nominated as cooks every day, with daily inspection at about 10, with points awarded. While there some of us visited Newbridge, Carisbrooke Castle, Cowes, Colwell Bay. Parents came on Sunday 31 July. There must have been other scout troops there, as I wrote that we had camp fires with 7th Hayes troop on 2 August and with 27th Willesden on 4 August. Home on 6 August. My only recollection about this camp was rigging up a trip-wire across the path leading to a can with a stone in it to give us warning of visits from other scouters during the night!

Alan Scaife OP 1947 -1953

Super Troopers

I joined the school in 1952 and helped to run the cub pack. I came

from Arnold School, Blackpool, where I had run the Cubs. Miss

Jean Maxwell came to PGS in 1953 and helped me.

We met on Friday evenings after school and spent two hours

playing games, passing tests as well as other cub activities.

Sometimes we went to Hilsea on a Saturday, had a bonfire and

cooked our own food. We also explored the country over Portsdown

Hill where many had not been before to practise our map-reading

skills.A highlight of the Cub Pack was when we went to the 9.30am

Sunday Service, progressing down the High Street with our flag. I

think this event happened each term.

I ran the 42nd Cub Pack until 1959 when I went on a teaching

exchange to California, and on my return was appointed to Jerrard

House, as the Cub Pack was in the hands of other staff.

Doreen Waterworth Staff 1952-1989

I joined the Cubs in the Lower School under the watchful eye of Doreen Waterworth. My sole recollection is of one Christmas party when Ian Clarke and I put on the ‘entertainment’. This took the form of a bit of ‘slapstick’ with a bench or board. I recollect that an unintended slip brought forth huge laughter and after that we just kept going until everybody’s sides were splitting so much it hurt. I also recollect gathering quite an armful of badges!The scout troop met at the playing fields at Hilsea as I recall and I well remember cook-outs on top of the air raid shelters. There was also a lot of field craft identifying trees and birds, although on one occasion we came across one of the non-feathered kind in the undergrowth. I am not sure who was more surprised - her and her boyfriend or our patrol! In addition there were annual summer camps. I particularly recall one in the area east of Petersfield. I was there for the full two weeks. In the first week I was privileged to be on the staff side whilst in the second I was leading my patrol. Having been there for a week already I had been able to identify a good site for our patrol tent. Whilst not perfectly level it was away from the river and commanded a good view of the whole campsite. I also took a leaf out of Mr Wells’ book in that I built a good camp fire. This was soon to prove invaluable.Within a day or so of having set up camp for the second week it started raining. A sort of drizzle at first but gradually over the course of the next two days it got very much worse. On our return from a day out we were greeted by the site of two other patrol tents standing in nearly a foot of water as the meadow had flooded. Moving itself proved no real problem but everyone was quite wet by the time fresh sites had been selected and the affected patrol tents had been re-pitched. Patrols were sent to cook their teas (this being the one hot meal of the day). After almost two and a half hours none of the other patrols or the staff side had managed to light and keep a fire going but we had!! For two days all the cooking was done by me on our patrol’s campfire - we were extremely popular!! Bruce Strugnell OP 1957-1967

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Opus salutes 80 years of PGS Cubs and Scouts

PGS has always been famed for the depth and range of its innumerable after-school clubs and societies. Over the years a great number of clubs have been formed from a Gramophone Society and a Meccano and Hornby Club to a Tudor Music Society and a Numismatological Club! Few, however, have enjoyed the enduring tradition and popularity of the PGS Cub and Scout Troops, which also hold the accolade of undertaking the school’s first ever overseas trip. The Winter 1956 edition of The Portmuthian included the following notice: “It is apparent that there is a big demand for the opportunities afforded by Scouting. Cubs and Scouts now have waiting lists, and many who have asked to join have been told ‘house full’. As soon as places become available they will be informed, meanwhile, patience please!”

As part of the celebrations to mark the eightieth anniversary of the formation of 42nd Portsmouth Grammar School Scout Troop in 2010, Opus tracked down some former patrol members and staff to ask them exactly why scouting held such appeal for them.

Neil’s family have asked the school to join them in launching a memorial fund to continue his hard work and determination to support the bursary programme at PGS.

Pupils and parents, past and present, and all those whose lives have been touched by Neil in some way are invited to contribute to a bursary fund in Neil’s memory as a lasting recognition of a much-loved husband, father, colleague, teacher and friend. To contribute to the fund, please visit www.justgiving.com/Neil-Blewett

A group of six Year 12 pupils are also fundraising for the Bursary Fund in memory of Neil by undertaking the extraordinary task of scaling the highest peaks in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic in 48 hours. Please support this tremendous endeavour which they have set themselves at www.justgiving.com/5Summits4Blewett

Marking Neil’s Memory


After about 1935 we used to go in the summer for

spells on the Foudroyant, a Victory type of warship

moored in the harbour. It was used with a similar

ship, the Implacable, as a training ship for young

people. Here we slept in hammocks and scrubbed the

decks. We learned to row and to sail in small dinghys

and, at night, by oil lamps, we had fascinating talks

on seafaring happenings.

There were never more than about 20 in the troop

so we knew each other and many friends we made,

especially as a result of the camps and stays on

Foudroyant.

In 1937 three of us attended the World Jamboree

in Holland. With hundreds of others we marched

past Baden Powell our chief scout for whom we had

so much admiration. I remember a bit of his speech.

“It is largely on the youth of today that the future

peace of the world depends.”

Sadly he was wrong. At least 5 of those carefree

scouts that I knew when we were so full of life in

those halcyon days finished as names on the school

war memorial.

Derrick H Hughes OP 1927-1937

Super Troopers continued

I joined the Scouts in 1951. Throughout the term we used to meet every Friday evening. On these occasions we would get involved with many different activities and games, some of which involved exploring Old Portsmouth and the sea-front, very exciting for young boys.On one such adventure we were amused to find our Maths Master, John Davison, engaged in amorous encounters with a girlfriend on a seat on ‘the hot walls’The camps were a highlight, these included weekend camps and annual summer camps. During our annual camps we would undertake daily hikes around the surrounding areas in pursuit of various tasks set for us. The highlight of the week was the night hike when we would be excited to be out and about past midnight.There were always competitions between us and I can remember someone having to go to hospital after being hit by a metal plate, which we used to use as a Frisbee. Other competitions included finding out who could dig the deepest hole for the burial of rubbish, or who could build the most elaborate oven/fire.I remember that scouting at PGS was greatly honoured when John Brownlee became the school’s first Queens Scout.One thing for which I am extremely grateful to scouting at PGS is my enduring love of maps and map reading.John Bartle OP 1947-1957

When I was thirteen years old I made a decision at school, which completely

changed the rest of my life in almost every way. The only way to be exempt

from joining the school OTC was if you joined the Scouts. The Scouts seemed

to be a most attractive alternative to drilling and loud voices.Our Scoutmaster, C. G Carpenter, was an interesting man, who had done a

number of things before becoming a teacher. His nickname to us was Bengal

Bill because he had spent time in India, and he used to entertain us all by

demonstrating some of the native war dances.The troop camps were a real delight, nearly always in the Sussex countryside.

I remember on one occasion we took four matches with us, one for each of

our evening meals, and one for each cooked breakfast. We were very cocky!

But we didn’t miss out on any of fires, and as Scouts we refused to take or

use paper to get them going.The camp fires used to be great fun. We always had a huge fire, and the

atmosphere was wonderful, as it gradually got dark. Each patrol had to put

on a silly stunt or ten minute play, which we used to make up, and these were great fun. One thing I will always remember was that all our Scouters,

except Carpenter, always smoked their pipes, and particularly Poole and Parker. The smell of the smoke drifting down towards us in the firelight was

marvellous. My Scouting days really did have a lasting effect on the rest of my life. I

often think that I learnt more from Scouting than schooling.Derek Worrall OP 1933-1939

I became a member of the PGS scout troop in 1933 at the age of 12. Camps were the highlight of the year. I recall the summer camps of 1934/35

as being especially noteworthy for us, when it was decided to try something

rather more ambitious. Plans were made to hold summer camp on the continent in the company of a foreign troop. None of us had been outside

Britain before. I believe that when the idea was first mooted to our parents

the cost of the return journey, accommodation and food would be £8-9, to

take us to the Ardennes Forest in southwest Belgium. Fortunately enough

of our parents consented and to our growing excitement the day finally arrived. Portsmouth to Dover by train was three changes, Dover to Ostend

by Belgium government steamer, Ostend to Brussels by train. In the Belgian

capital we were accommodated in a large hall. We met boys of the 97th

in Brussels and spent 3-4 days sightseeing. Most of us had some schoolboy

French and some of our group, less historically inclined, opted instead for a

news cinema. (At the time, these were the latest thing, small but comfortable

- there was a new one in Commercial Road, Portsmouth called The Classic.)

Our colleagues sought directions from a passer-by, asking for “cinema a monde naturel” they were asking for the nudist cinema and were gently corrected!” From Brussels we headed across country and set up camp with the 97th, on

a farm near the village of Houffalize. Camp fires were also held jointly with

the 97th, we taught each other some of our songs.We eventually said farewell to our Belgium colleagues on return to Brussels

and as far as I am aware non of us ever met up again. A few of us conducted pen-pal correspondence with one or two of them. Less than five

years later, in a repeat of 1914, the Germans re-occupied Belgium. I was

never to learn the fate of the boys of the 97th, now like us rising 20. One I

had got to know, his first name was Guy was Jewish. Unless his family had

got out- and there was no particular course to do so- where did he end up?

One had to fear for him.Leaving such thoughts aside, and in 1934/35 none of us foresaw the future

storm in Europe, this expedition was a resounding success and none who took part would ever quite forget the sheer enjoyment we derived. The 97th

never came to Britain, at least as a troop, and in 1939 the war clouds had

returned.I have never regretted joining this world-wide movement, now beginning its

second century. I know that it leaves a mark on one’s character and outlook

that never goes away.Tom Dethridge OP 1931-1939

continued...


Mess Night at School, featuring Mr Barry Dodd (his pipe), (Back row) John Owens, Roger Pope, Chris Fyson, Richard Dore, David Fawkner-Corbett; (front row) David Owens, Mike Dore, Rupert Cox, Julian Birch & Bill Henderson c. 1961

Super Troopers continued

Early morning traipse to ‘the lats’, Zeals House, Mere c.1958

Kestrels at feeding time – John Owens, Dicky Bryant, Chris Owens and

Rupert Cox, Rogate c. 1957

Pioneer Corp reporting to CO Mr ‘Ernie’ Wells at HQ, Preston Candover with – amongst the baggage – Barnes, Ventham (mi.), Kendall,

Owens (mi.), Cannon, Anon, Owens (min.) & Birch c.1959

Derek Cannon and Phil Ventham on ‘first-class hike’, Zeals House, Mere c.1958

Kestrel Patrol – Patrol Leader Bowers, Peter Talbot, John Fawkner-

Corbett, Rupert Cox, Peter Moore, Chris Owens, with visiting slave,

Robin Cox doing all the donkey-work, Preston Candover c.1956

Easter Trek Cart Camp; just disemabarked in West Cowes from the River

Medina car ferry, Messrs Dore (major), Henderson (major),

Owens (major), Balmer, Rabbetts and Stanfield c.1957/8

John Fawkner-Corbett and Chris Owens at Lakeside, South Windermere, returning from a 3-night hike from Hawkshead to Coniston, Langdale, central Fells, Ambleside & Lakeside base camp c.1960

PGS Scout Camping in the 50s and 60s - with than a whiff of nostalgia

PGS scout camping in those days was characterised by relaxed authority and trust in

the common sense of even the wildest spirits! Junior camps were held at Rogate, Mere

or Preston Candover with an HQ group of scoutmasters, senior scouts and one or two

attendant staff - such as ‘Gus’ Poole of legendary Brownsea Island fame or ‘Pop’

Lovat, the doyen of trek cart maintenance.

HQ organised daily activities and kept an eye on the four or five patrols spread about

a 10-12 acre field. They dished out the odd fatigue (eg. digging the latrines) and

imparted their considerable knowledge of dodges and techniques for comfortable survival

in the great outdoors. But it was all done with a lightness of touch that left the

youngsters a sense of secure autonomy; and most senior camps were virtually staff-free

zones.Those annual weeks away were, for many, the high points of the year. Weekly term time

scout meetings on Friday evenings after school were all very well, but - mess nights

apart - might not have held our interest and support. What made all the difference

was the appeal of time away under canvas on ‘night ops’ over the hill, weekend camps in

the Meon Valley or those sunny fortnights up-country.

Invariably younger siblings followed their elder brothers into Carpenter or Hazleton

Troops, and beyond into the dizzy heights of the Senior Scouts. There were Venthams,

Dores, Moores, Talbots, Hendersons, Fawkner-Corbetts and Owenses aplenty!

Relationships between siblings and between scout and fellow scout and masters differed

subtly from those at home and school. New friendships blossomed and there was

amiable collaboration in teams of people who might never have been more than loose

acquaintances at school.

It may seem strange, in today’s cautious, risk-obsessed climate, that a couple of 4th

formers would go off unsupervised on 24-hour night hikes in the wilds; that half a

dozen 13-14 year-olds would cross by car ferry to Fishbourne on the Isle of Wight, to

drag their laden trek cart along main roads on Newtown in West Wight for a week

away at Easter; or that a dozen testosterone-charged teenagers should be let loose

on the Isle of Purbeck, the Rovers Wye and Severn in canoes they’d run up in the

Woodwork Shed or on the Lake District for nights in the mountains, away from any

staff or adult guidance or discipline.

With nary a risk assessment in sight, that was a halcyon time for youth and, I guess,

a freer time for staff to moderate a little the quasi-military disciplines of Cambridge

Junction . We owe a debt of gratitude to those who made it possible - to ‘Ernie’ Wells,

‘Egg’ Lenton, ‘Boggy’ Marsh, ‘Mugsy’ Mason, Barry Dodd, ‘Gus’ Poole, ‘Pop’ Lovat and

others.Roll on the next informal reunion, a sequel to the Venthams’ Wareham Jasmin Mug

Celebration at The Silent Woman on Decoy Heath in 2003. To receive news of this as

yet unscheduled event, interested parties should please make contact with John Owens

through the school Development Office on 023 9236 4248.

John Owens OP 1953-1963

Senior Jay Ventham laying it on the line to Peter Moore and Chris Owens, Preston Candover c.1956

Dib Dib Dib - Ten PGS Scouting Facts

Mr Carpenter, who founded the School scout troop in 1930, had previously been Acting Scout Commissioner in Delhi.

In 1958, in a war on wasps, one Scout claimed a record of nineteen with one blow.

The Troop travelled abroad for the first time in 1934, setting up camp 400 miles from Portsmouth in Belgium. The camp menu included Ardennes Jambon (ham) which scouts tried to eat both cooked and uncooked, but which was finally given to the cat.

During inspection visits by the Commissioner, Bruce Poole was well known for his talent in diverting attention away from any areas in camp that fell short of the required standard.

In 1968, having arrived at a Brittany beach to discover that the sea had gone out two miles, PGS Scouts were photographed and appeared in the French press in a varied collection of hats and assorted towels tied around their waists, providing proof that the English really are mad.

Scout Master Mr Ensor encouraged Scouts’ singing lessons in the late 1930s in the belief that scouts should be encouraged to make music as well as noise around the camp-fire.

One PGS scout won an axemanship competition in 1943, and went on to a career with the Forestry Commission.

Colonel Wyllie, the son of famous maritime artist William Wyllie, trained PGS Scouts in seamanship on board the Implacable (renamed Foudroyant) which was moored in Portsmouth Harbour until 1949. The Implacable was a French ship which had taken part in the Battle of Trafalgar.

At Bossington Camp in 1936, eel traps were set in the nearby river and Headmaster Mr Stork survived a meal of eel pie.

“British Bulldogs” was the favourite Scout game in the early 1960s, and was described as one of several “terrifying” games played with “immense gusto”.


Heard but not seen -Sarah’s voice sounds the world over

OP Rick naturally right for T4!

With a passion for acting, Sarah starred in most of the school’s drama productions during her seven years at PGS, starring in the title role of Dolly in the musical of the same name.

But, she says modestly, it was being in the right place at the right time which led her into an interesting and fulfilling profession not in film, theatre or television but as a voice-over artist.

After leaving PGS, she had two stabs at university before deciding it was not for her and began her working life in London as a runner in the film industry.

‘I have fond memories of school and in particular of Mr Hampshire and my English teacher Mr Elphick-Smith who was my shining light. He would always help me with my prose whenever I was auditioning for a Shakespearian play,’ she recalls.

Sarah went on to work as personal assistant to the managing director of film post production house Pepper and in less than two years was poached by one of its sister companies, the sound studio Scramble.

There she helped with client liaison and started to do voice-over work, which she quickly found she was very good at.

Despite Sarah saying she fell into her job as a voice over artist, she has been dedicated to pursuing her dream.

‘I decided to give it 100 per cent and I haven’t looked back. It’s hard work but thanks to the blessing of the internet, I have had work from all around the world – America, Australia, the Netherlands and China.

‘So many people don’t enjoy what they do but for me working is a real pleasure and I am truly enjoying life’.

Sarah Strange OP (1991-1998)

The first in a regular feature where Opus talks to OPs in interesting and unusual professions and poses questions to discover What’s it really like?Charles Powell OP (1990-2003) has been a Weather Forecaster for the Met Office in Devon since 2008. He currently works with Public Weather Service where he produces scripts, text and graphics for the Met Office website, and is also a media spokesman who issues warnings when severe weather is likely to cause disruption to members of the public.

What convinced you to pursue a career in meteorology?I remember telling Mrs Giles, the then Head of Geography at PGS, about how I wanted to get into weather and forecasting back when I was 15 or 16 years old. She gave me some good advice and plenty of support, and it has certainly helped get me where I am today. I’d had a fascination for extreme weather since the age of ten and used to stay up at night watching thunderstorms. I guess that you could call me a weather geek and it’s certainly rewarding to feed that geekiness on a daily basis!

Are we in line for a hot summer?It’s still a little early to say with a great deal of confidence, but our competitors have already said it will be the hottest summer for a few years. To avoid the risk and embarrassment of getting my fellow OPs to rush out and buy outdoor cooking equipment only to be disappointed, I’d say watch this space!

Have you ever considered going in front of the camera as a forecaster?Yes. It’s something that I’m trying to get more and more involved with. I’ve done a few screen tests, some radio work and even been on BBC’s Weather Idol – yes, really! It’s a very competitive environment though.

What does a weather forecaster consider to be the best kind of weather?It’s always great when it’s dry and sunny, because it’s quiet at work! There are fewer warnings to issue, the phone is quiet - but - you are trapped inside a building. It’s exciting when there is lots of snow, or it’s blowing a gale, but the press and public inevitably get anxious too and things can get hectic. Ideally, you want it to be dry on your days off and wet when you’re on shift!

What’s the best and worst things about the job?The surprised reaction I get from people when I tell them what I do for a living never fails to amuse me and it’s nice to have a 3-day weekend between shifts. However, the shifts themselves are 12 hours long and we have to work four in a row - two days and two nights. It also means that you have to work weekends, bank holidays and Christmas!

Who is your meteorological hero/heroine?That’s a tough one. It’d be easy to say Michael Fish, but it’s not, so I won’t. However, he has put up with a lot since his famous blunder - although, thanks to the miracle of editing, few remember his actual words of warning that night! A lot of the presenters are very charismatic and have the hardest job getting the message across to the nation, so I definitely look up to them. If I had to pin down a favourite, it would probably be BBC Breakfast’s Carol Kirkwood.

Are you allowed to put a bet on for a white Christmas every year?I think it would be frowned upon, mainly because we are in such close contact with the Bookies during that time of year, but also because it would be mortifying if we lost the bet!

What’s the strangest reaction you’ve ever encountered after declaring what you do for a living?A few people think that working for the Met Office means I work for the Metropolitan Police, some think that a Meteorologist works with Meteors, but the strangest response I got was at a building society counter in Birmingham. The bank clerk replied to my occupation of Meteorology with the words, “Oh, that’s to do with clocks isn’t it?”.

It’s undoubtedly an attribute which has helped him become one of the country’s most popular young television stars as part of the T4 team.

Rick has co-presented the E4 music show which led him to the flagship youth music series Freshly Squeezed, the Hollyoaks Music Show and a new game show Relentless, all for Channel 4. He was also a DJ on radio station Xfm.

He joined Portsmouth Grammar for his A Levels in 1995 and says the confidence the school inspired in him has helped him ever since.

‘The school has a thriving drama department but that was never really my thing. I’ve never wanted to be an actor but I have always enjoyed talking to people and making them laugh. I used to love reading in front of the whole class.

‘I wrote a play for the house drama competition and hosted it but I didn’t want to be in it!’

Despite saying he wasn’t the most exemplary pupil, Rick did brilliantly at his A Levels and won a place to read maths at Cambridge, changed to natural sciences after a year, and became a stand-up comedian with the university’s world famous Footlights.

‘Going to PGS made going to university a lot easier, especially a university like Cambridge because I had such preconceptions about the place. It eased the passage because I had gained such a lot of confidence and that has helped at work too.’

In his last year at Cambridge, Rick narrowly missed out on becoming a T4 presenter and he remained unconvinced that a nine to five office job was for him.

He says he tried his hand at several ‘bits and pieces’, including a brief spell as a model, which he hated, and as the audience warm up man for Ruby Wax’s BBC daytime show. (He also tutored her children).

Ruby suggested Rick apply to Princess Productions for a place on their post graduate scheme which he did, and was accepted, working for the company behind the scenes in development and production.

But having narrowly missed out on the chance of joining the T4 team to Vernon Kay during his last year at university, he still had his heart set on a career as a presenter.

He successfully auditioned to front the E4 music show which led to him to his current role.

At the moment Rick – a movie buff - is the focus of a Facebook campaign to take over from Jonathan Ross as the host of Film 2010, and, he has said, of 2011, 2012, 2013 and so on!

With celebrity status and a Press profile as a leading pin-up presenter, Rick seems to be living the dream, but he is extremely modest.

“Such a large part of my career has been luck. I’d be kidding myself to think otherwise. There are hundreds of people who could do my job – and that helps keep me grounded. Where I am is not a reflection of me but of my circumstances. I’ve been in the right place at the right time.’

And despite his fame, Rick stays firm friends with fellow former pupils Gordon Black, Lucan Chan, Nigel Yates and Steve Sargent.

‘I made some great friends at PGS and we still meet up whenever we can considering that we don’t all live near each other anymore.’.

Rick Edwards OP (1995-1997)

Sarah Strange (née Sealey), one of the first girls at the school to continue to the upper sixth, had no idea at the time that she would now be the voice of a Russian spy in a Nintendo Wii game, or the voice of ‘Darling Perfume’ for Kylie.

Channel 4 presenter Rick Edwards has always enjoyed making people laugh – he says it’s a trait which made him popular with his peers in the Sixth Form at PGS, but perhaps not with his teachers!

Rick with pop sensation Katy Perry

InsIde TrackWeaTher ForecasTer


Shakespear of Arabia

In 1887, Mrs Shakespear and her three sons left Bombay, arriving in England several weeks later. She took rooms at Hartington Terrace in Portsmouth and enrolled the boys in the local preparatory school. In 1889, at the age of 10, William was enrolled as a day boy at Portsmouth Grammar School. When she was satisfied that her sons had settled in, Mrs Shakespear returned to her husband in the Punjab. William was now a boarder at the school’s boarding house in St Edwards Road, Southsea, Prescote, run by Mr Pares, a teacher at the school.

Two familiar names appear in the class lists at the same time as William Shakespear, whose subsequent careers could not have been more different. Cyril Garbett became Archbishop of York, and Percy Westerman became probably the most prolific and popular children’s author of the 1930s. Both men went on to enjoy fame, long careers and a ripe old age.

William was an unexceptional student, but did well in languages and geography.

At this time the school ran a museum and encouraged OPs, many of whom were serving in far-flung outposts of Empire, to donate artefacts and curiosities for the boys to enjoy as an educational resource.

The Portmuthian from 1884, for example, acknowledges the donation of “a kaffir pipe”, “a preserved snake in spirits”, “two Patagonian bone spear heads”, “a petrified cat’s skull”, “ a Pondo head rest formerly belonging to Damas, King of Pondo”, “a curious nut from Demerara” and “a necklace of birds’ bones”. These strange things from strange lands, brought a glimpse of the mysterious, outside world

into the drab and dull life of the Victorian schoolboy. At the age of 14, William was elected to the Museums Committee.

After leaving PGS in 1893, William was sent to a college on the Isle of Man. From there he went to Sandhurst to train as an army officer, and then to India as a 2nd Lieutenant. By 1901, ambitious and hungry for responsibility, he took up the post of an Assistant District Officer in Bombay. At this time, plague had hit the Bengal province, and 100,000 people had perished. Nothing had been done to track down its source.

William initiated a massive rat-killing campaign, organising as many soldiers as could be spared to systematically work their way through the Bombay slums with traps, sticks and guns, killing tens of thousands of rodents.

William’s reputation for getting things done was growing and in 1904, he was appointed Consul at Bandar Abbas, Persia (Iran). It was at about this time that he started to take an interest in the exciting and mysterious land of Arabia, and learnt to speak Arabic fluently.

In 1907, after almost nine years of unbroken duty, Captain Shakespear went to Karachi and bought himself a new 8 horse power Rover, a beautifully upholstered model costing £250. At

that time, motor cars were a rare sight in England, but even more so in India. William decided to use his new vehicle to travel overland to England, through Persia and Europe. With little experience of driving, or of the mechanics of the motor car, he set out on what he knew was a hazardous escapade, across countryside, deserts and mountainous areas where there were few roads. Inevitably, William was to experience many punctures on his epic journey. Through Persia, Turkey, Macedonia, Greece, along the Adriatic Coast to Italy, his fame went before him.

News spread of the mad Englishman’s arrival in his “iron horse” and crowds gathered to line the streets through towns and villages.

By the time he reached England, he had travelled around 4000 miles across Asia Minor and Europe, one of the most remarkable journeys of the early years of motorised transport. Throughout his journey he had collected information on the lands and peoples he had encountered, which he dutifully passed on to his superiors. In 1909 he was transferred to the post of British Political Agent in Kuwait.

Having developed a taste for travelling and exploration, William began to draw up plans for something more significant

and even more challenging – a journey across the great central deserts of Arabia by camel and by foot. And so began the first of seven epic, pioneering treks into the Arabian interior.

Armed with his sextant, diary and camera, he intended to record everything he saw, becoming the first person to comprehensively chart areas of Northern Arabia.

Britain was keen to keep open all routes across Asia to India, the “Jewel in the Crown” of the British Empire, and William’s pioneering role in discovering new routes was invaluable.

William began to learn the ways of the land and the badawan (Bedouin) tribes. As an accomplished photographer, he recorded many aspects of Arabian life for the first time. It was while he was on these expeditions that William met ibn Saud, an Arab sheik who was to become the future founder of Saudi Arabia. The relationship was to grow into a great mutual trust and friendship, and by the time of the First World War, William was asked to garner support in the region. A rival tribe, the Rashidis, supported Germany’s allies, Turkey. In January 1915, the two tribes clashed at the Battle of Jarrab, just north of Riyadh. What happened to William is not known for certain. One account suggests he was taking photographs and spotting for ibn Saud’s sole artilleryman, when he was shot in the thigh, the arm and then the back of the head. According to The Portmuthian, in an account said to have been given by the gunner, several Rashidis bodies were found next to William’s

suggesting he had shot them before being killed. According to Wikipedia, “the victorious Rashidis cut off Shakespear’s head”, an account which does not seem to be supported by any other source.

Captain Shakespear became a legend in Saudi Arabia, and stories of his exploits are still well known there today.

In Seven Pillars of Wisdom, Lawrence describes how lengthy stories of Shakespear “magnificence” were recounted to him over desert campfires. In this country he is largely forgotten, eclipsed by the adventures of the more glamorous Lawrence, aside from a biography by Victor (HVF) Winstone, and, of course, in his old school where his name appears amongst the fallen on the First World War plaque in the Sixth Form Memorial Library.

The school is pleased to announce that Susan Buxton, the mother of two OPs, has been commissioned by the school to research and write a monograph celebrating Captain Shakespear’s life and achievements.

William Henry Irvine Shakespear OP was very much a man of his time. Born in 1878 in Britain’s imperial heyday and a year before the Boy’s Own Paper with its ripping yarns was first published, Shakespear spent his early childhood in India, where he learnt Punjabi from his family’s servants.


Hold the Front Page!Many thanks to all OPs who have contributed memories, photographs and ephemera to the School archive. The collection has also added a few items courtesy of e-bay, including a wonderful copy of Time magazine from 1944 featuring a popular public figure of the day, OP Cyril Garbett.

Garbett was awarded the “Teacher’s Bible”, a School prize for Scriptural Knowledge in 1892. He went up to Keble College, Oxford in 1894. Ordained in 1901, he served as Vicar of Portsea, Bishop of Southwark, Bishop of Winchester and Archbishop of York from 1942 until 1955, when he retired on his 80th birthday and was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.

Lost and Found

“ It was very much a last ditch effort that I emailed the PGS Development Team. Their response was impressive.”

He was therefore delighted to discover by return that John was one of the thousands of OPs that the Development Office keeps in regular contact with.

Tony’s details were passed to John and they have since enjoyed regular email and telephone contact.

Tony now lives in the U.S where, although he retired some years ago, he still works both as a Senior Vice President and as a participant in International Standards Committees. John followed a career in Municipal Engineering and became a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1984. He is also now retired. The pair are hoping to be reunited in June this year when Tony visits the UK and the Development Office wish them a happy trip down memory lane.

Tony said ” John and I were contemporaries and good friends during our time at

PGS. We knew each other’s families and shared a variety of experiences from the classroom, the cricket field, early tentative social events involving the opposite sex, an interest in engineering, and the first acquisition of decrepit and marginally safe motorcycles and cars. We both went to London University at the same time to study engineering - John to Queen Mary College for Civil Engineering and me to University College for Mechanical Engineering. Following graduation, John was the best man at my wedding. John may not remember, but I played my very first game of golf with him and one of his relatives. He is therefore responsible for committing me to a lifetime obsession!”

John recalled: “Following our studies for our respective degrees, we both worked in London for a time and I remember many journeys in Tony’s car to Portsmouth at weekends to see our respective girlfriends, visits to motor racing events at Goodwood and even a New Year Ball at Arundel Castle. From then on, we seemed to lose contact - until now!”

When OP Tony George (1946-1953) contacted the Development Office in the hope of being reunited with old school pal and best man at his wedding, John Kemble (1945 -1953), he felt that it was a bit of a long shot after a separation of more than 50 years and several other attempts to locate him through other organisations.

Streets aheadIn 1959, Gerry Thompson was returning from hospital after suffering a rugby injury when he spotted an impressive, pewter tankard in a junk shop window.

With a thirst-quenching quart capacity, he immediately thought it suitable for rugby club post match refreshment sessions and happily handed over the 18 shillings (90p) for it. The tankard served its purpose well throughout the 60s until, as is the way of the world, Mrs Thompson commandeered it as a rose vase.

Recently, Gerry, curious about the engraved inscription on the tankard approached the PGS Archivist about its history, and it was established that sixteen year old A W Street, who came second in the half mile race, was a very busy lad on that Sports Day in 1894. The Portmuthian records that he also played in the school football team against Mr Hastings XI and acted as a steward. Victorian class lists show that Arthur William Street’s strongest subjects were Latin, Mechanics and Trigonometry, and the Admissions Register reveals that he was one of four brothers who attended PGS.

Arthur left the school for university, evidently not having been hampered by the quaffing of large quantities of ale during his studies.

Apart from revealing some idea of the value placed on being “good at sports”, as well as, perhaps, attitudes to underage drinking at the time, this impressive trophy raises an interesting question. One wonders what capacity of tankard the winner received!

If you have any Victorian PGS trophies, School Archivist John Sadden would be delighted to hear from you. His contact details can be found on the Contents Page of this edition of Opus.

Our Reunite ServiceAs the years go by, many of our former pupils unfortunately

have difficulty keeping in touch with each other and

often, owing to changes of address and circumstance, lose

contact altogether. We are always very pleased to help with

reuniting “lost” alumni whenever we can; we are in touch

with thousands of Old Portmuthians and will always do

our best to locate your old classmates for you. Please don’t

hesitate to contact us if you would like our assistance in

finding old friends. Equally, we are always grateful to receive

any information about the alumni we have still not been

successful in locating. Please contact the Development

Office on 023 9236 4248 or email [email protected]


’Dear Me‘Dr Ian Osterloh

Dr Ian Osterloh attended PGS from 1965-1971. He completed degrees in Chemistry, Advanced Analytical Chemistry, qualified in Medicine and started his career as a doctor. He has had 20 years of successful leadership experience in the pharmaceutical industry. When working for Pfizer

he held prominent roles in Clinical Drug Development and Regulatory Affairs and played a key role in the development and registration of VIAGRA™ and the regulatory approval of three other key products in the treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Dear Ian I could try to give you advice like - “Try not to worry about so many things. Most will turn out to be unimportant. Make sure you enjoy things as much as possible ….” - but I know this is difficult to follow, so instead I will concentrate on a few practical points.

You are likely to meet lots of interesting people after you leave school, but memories of friends, and interesting social or work experiences soon fade and can go completely over the years. So try to keep a diary - even if you don’t complete it every day, jot down the names of friends and of interesting events. Also get a camera and take more pictures of friends and family and places you visit.

Do join a choir as soon as you get a chance. Singing in a 4-part choir can be great fun as well as providing the possibility of gaining more friends. Also have another go at persuading your parents to get a piano or keyboard. At sixteen it is not too late to start to learn to play - even if you will never reach the level of a Benjamin Grosvenor.

As you have managed to reach the dizzy heights of O Level French, try not to let your knowledge of the language slip from your grasp completely. In other words try to find ways of reading/speaking it every year. Ability to speak French will come in useful later.

Don’t worry about your lack of sporting prowess. You can still find or form a cricket team to match your abilities if you go about it the right way, and you will probably enjoy the game even more than those who take it very seriously.

Finally, when you start to play squash make sure you wear not only goggles to protect your eyes but also a well-fitting gum shield. This will enable you to avoid the unpleasantness of several tooth fractures, multiple trips to the dentist, the harrowing experience of root canal treatment, and the need for dentures or expensive implants. It will also enable you to avoid the embarrassment of various parts of the dental prostheses flying out of your mouth during important meetings and at other inconvenient moments. (It might also be wise to choose your opponents more carefully or give them a wider berth.)

Ian PS Be yourself and follow your instincts!

Sir Richard Johns

Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Johns GCB, KCVO, CBE, was a pupil at PGS from 1953-1956 and harboured an ambition to become a fighter pilot from an early age. After completing his training at RAF College Cranwell, Sir Richard enjoyed an illustrious career in

the RAF which culminated in his appointment as Chief of the Air Staff in 1997. Following his retirement from the RAF in 2000, Sir Richard became Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle. He retired for a second time in 2008, but still finds time to serve as a PGS governor.

Dear Me, You have developed considerable skill in doing the absolute minimum necessary to scrape through exams. But you will soon find out that there is more to life than being good at cricket and rugby so I advise you most strongly to apply more energy to your academic work, in particular mathematics. But you are not very good at listening, particularly to unwelcome advice, so I fear that more than a few years will pass before you understand the meaning of hard work and develop the required application.

Is that really you I see strolling down the sea front smoking an illicit fag? That is really stupid and you will be fortunate to live to regret your folly which over the years will cost you lots of money, will damage your health and demand a great effort of will to break the habit once you recognise your inanity.

You have already formed the limited but praiseworthy ambition to be a fighter pilot in the RAF- this probably as a consequence of reading too many Biggles books rather than those requiring your attention in the English syllabus. Whatever you do, please remember that flying aeroplanes is a relatively safe occupation, but crashing them is decidedly dangerous. As a pilot you will be working at the pointy end so in most foreseeable circumstances you will be the first on the scene if you prang. So while enjoying the thrill of flight, break the habit of your short lifetime and work your hardest to become more than averagely proficient in your chosen profession of military aviation. That’s the easy bit and I have no doubt that your first big fright in an aeroplane will underline the fundamental truth that the day you stop learning is the day to quit.

Do understand that a military career will require you to develop personal qualities vital to success within a profession of unlimited liability. While integrity, courage, energy, determination and foresight are all so important, do not loose your sense of humour. At times it will be sorely tried, but humour brings with it an understanding of the ridiculous and a sense of proportion.

With the passing of the years you will face increasing challenges that will test your mettle. You will no doubt enjoy the experience of overcoming them, but do let your pleasure be evident to those entrusted to your care. Blessed with one life on earth, it’s plain daft if you don’t do your best to enjoy it and to make the most of it for the common good. So to repeat the point, be seen to enjoy your work and your life because nobody in my experience likes working for a miserable b….r.

My advice is offered with the humility of one who instinctively mistrusts the familiar axiom that with age comes wisdom. But from the vantage point of old age I commend to you the wise words of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe who wrote “Remember to live and dare to be happy”.

Good luck,

R J

John Aitchison

John Aitchison attended PGS from 1977 to 1984. He has pursued a remarkable career as a wildlife cameraman and photographer and has worked on many BBC programmes including Big Cat Diary, Springwatch, Yellowstone and South Pacific. John’s

photographs and films have gained international renown.

Dear John Perhaps my advice won’t seem too relevant to you yet, I’m almost three times older than you after all, but here it is…

If I remember rightly you’ve been watching Life on Earth on TV and have just realised there’s a job called “wildlife cameraman”. It seems hard to imagine ever being one doesn’t it? But even the most improbable things can happen gradually, stage by small stage, if you set your heart on them and persist. You see, no matter what your project is, the world is full of people with the knowledge and skills you’ll need to make it happen and if you ask them nicely many will be keen to help. You just have to work out who they are and ask, so try not to be shy.

I know that’s hard so here’s a trick. When you are talking to someone new, try to notice something about them, ask them “why?” and listen carefully to their answer. Before you know it you’ll both be having a great conversation.

At school you’ve just had to choose between arts and sciences and sometimes it seems life will force you to make that same impossible choice but if it really mattered I wouldn’t be here, in the Falklands, composing images of penguins with a camera so clever that it has no moving parts and its own internet address. Being a careful observer will always work, in biology, in painting and in crafting words just as it does in filmmaking, so carry on noticing the small things and searching the world for patterns.

Learning doesn’t finish when you leave school. In fact it never finishes because there’s so much pleasure in understanding how the world works and in making your own modest discoveries. Having satisfaction in this and in your work is better than a life judged by what you own or what you earn.

Make the most of these days when time still moves past you at a reasonable pace. The ten years ahead will probably be the freest of your life so get out there and enjoy yourself and if you are ever vexed remember what the Romans said - “walking solves it”. It really does.

Do what your Dad taught you and keep diaries of your travels and what they mean to you. Looking back they won’t just show how far you’ve been but how far you’ve come.

There are many millions more people alive since I was your age, with all the extra pressures that must bring. Many places and animals have gone beyond repair. You won’t be able to ignore this I’m afraid so try to make a difference if you can, instead of standing by and watching the beauty fade.

Family matters! It’s easier for me to see how much your Mum and Dad are doing for you. Some of it you won’t realise until you’re a parent too. They’ll never ask you for thanks but they will appreciate it all the same.

And give your Dad a hug – he’d like it really.

Take care! You’re a lucky man.

John

Brian Edney

Brian Edney was a pupil at PGS from 1948-1958. He gained a First Class degree in Geography (with Economics) and emigrated to the USA some 30 plus years ago. Brian has spent his entire career in high tech businesses including optics, electronics and fibre optics. Over a period of nearly 15

years he built-up a leading global business in opto-electronics for Schott Glass, part of the German group, Carl Zeiss before retiring in 2001. He now lives in Silverthorne, Colorado, and is still active in business (a nanotechnology company), Silverthorne’s Economic Development Advisory Commission, Alpenglow Chamber Music Festival as well as charitable activities, and outdoor sports. He continues to maintain links with PGS by funding travel grants for sixth form pupils.

Dear Me Who would want to listen to any advice from a septuagenarian, let alone take it! For what it’s worth I’d like to share with you, my younger self, some observations, in no particular order ….

China and India are fast becoming major influences on what goes on in the world so learn Mandarin. Don’t worry about Hindu as all educated Indians speak good English and use it in business discussions because of the multitude of Hindu dialects.

Avoid and be sceptical of bigots, zealots and pompous asses—they use the media to great effect to the detriment of intelligent communications.

Never give press interviews as your words will be twisted to meet the interviewer’s agenda, not yours.

Have some long term goals but be prepared to be tactically adaptable to achieve them.

When asked to undertake a task which may not appeal ---do it. Speaking as a former employer of thousands of people, those prepared to do so tend to get noticed and make progress. Notwithstanding the previous point, always have fun at what you do. Make the best of a situation---even cleaning toilets has a certain therapeutic value!

Remember and cherish your friends, whatever their position in life.

Finally, and the most important advice I could ever offer, never, ever neglect your family. It’s a wonderful feeling to be successful in whatever career or calling you might follow but not at the expense of neglecting your nearest and dearest. Being an absentee spouse, offspring or sibling is not a choice. I would probably have been divorced if my wife could have afforded the legal fees many years ago! Oh! Only use the courts as an absolute last resort.

Have a wonderful life,

Brian

Opus asked four former PGS pupils to pen such a letter. They provide a unique insight into the teenagers who would grow up to be Sir Richard Johns, John Aitchison, Brian Edney and Ian Osterloh.

If you were to write a letter to your 16-year-old self, what would it say?


In memoriamIn Memoriam

Edward Aylett Cushen (1925-2009)

We are indebted to Mr Cushen’s sister, Mrs Joan Rees, for this appreciation of his life.

Edward Eylett Cushen died on 4 October 2009. He attended PGS during the evacuation to Bournemouth in September 1939. Ted sat the Higher School Certificate in 1943 and was awarded a State Bursary to read Mechanical Sciences at City and Guilds College, Imperial College, in the University of London. He gained a First two years later after completing a wartime degree. After graduating he was a college apprentice with Metropolitan Vickers and was sent to Turkey to work on a power station there.

Ted married Joan, who has predeceased him, and they had a son and a daughter. Ted worked for China Light and Power in Hong Kong before retiring first to Manchester and then to Exmouth where he enjoyed the sea and sailing.

Morley Howarth Freeman, OBE (1916-2009)

We are grateful to Hilary Smart, Morley Freeman’s daughter, for this appreciation of his life.

My Father, Morley Howarth Freeman, died on 22 December 2009 following a brief period in hospital.

He attended PGS from September 1924-July 1933. He obtained his BSc. (1st. Class) in Special Mathematics and was awarded the Drew Gold Medal for Mathematics at King’s College, London.

He then did a a Teacher’s Certificate and taught for two and a half years before joining the Meteorological Office in April 1940. He was mobilised as Flight Lieutenant RAF in 1943 and was, involved in all major operations undertaken by Bomber Command.

After the War he continued working in the Meteorological Office. His principal achievement was to be in charge of

the Meteorological Office on Christmas Island during the H-bomb tests in 1957, for which he was awarded the OBE. As Assistant Director responsible for Synoptic Climatology he was responsible for launching the Long Range Weather Forecasts in 1967. His final positions were Deputy Director (Communications) in 1972 and then Deputy Director (Forecasting) in 1973. He retired in 1975.

His retirement was spent doing much charity work with organisations such as Abbeyfield and lecturing and teaching in the USA. He was active in his church and a staunch member of the choir. He had a passion for Bridge.

His family was always very important to him and after the passing of his wife, Dorothy, in 1993 he continued to keep close to his two children, five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

A thanksgiving service was held on 13 February 2010 which was a joyful celebration of a wonderful life.

David Gosden (1929-2009)

We are indebted to David’s brother, Bernard Gosden, for this appreciation of David’s life.

David attended PGS from 1937-1945 and was evacuated first to Sparsholt House and then to Southborne. He did well at school academically, but apart from Cross Country Running, did not shine at sport. In his final year, David was House Captain of Whitcombe.

He did his National Service as a Sergeant in the Army Education Corps. and was at Downing, Cambridge, reading Classics, graduating with a good degree. Then he went to Exeter Training College for teacher training (where he met his wife, Jenny) and he started his career and his married life in the West Country teaching classics at Beaminster Grammar School. Subsequently he taught at Scarborough Grammar School, the Southern Grammar School at Portsmouth and spent four years on the

staff of Maria Gray College in Twickenham. Then he was appointed as Head of Humanities at the about-to-be formed Fareham Park School. He retired early at the age of 55.

David thoroughly enjoyed his work and, from the number of ex-pupils who kept in touch with him and Jenny, he was much liked and respected. They had a very active and interesting life in retirement and made very many friends. David had a number of contacts by e-mail on intellectual subjects. Although brought up as a Methodist, he became, actively, a Humanist – though he remained a member of the Hymn Society. He died from Cancer of the Pancreas on 19 June 2009, aged 80.

Robert James Kinch (Bob) (1920-2009)

We are indebted to Bob Kinch’s niece, Caro Steward, for this appreciation of Bob’s life.

Bob was born in May 1920 in Winter Road, Portsmouth, where his mother had a drapery shop.

He went to Milton Road Primary School and then joined PGS in 1932 where his brother Gordon was already a pupil. After matriculation at the age of 16, he took the

entrance exam for the Civil Service and joined the Ordnance Survey in 1937 as an Assistant Clerical Officer. He remained with the Ordnance Survey all his working life, working in Chessington and Southampton, retiring in 1980 as a Senior Executive Officer.

He was a talented man, he drew in pencil and charcoal, painted in watercolours and was a maker of furniture and a wood carver, making many beautiful articles, birds, seals and horses. He also created astonishingly beautiful pictures in marquetry. He originated “The Kinch Formula” for when embarking on a project - “for any job undertaken, estimate the time it will take, then apply the Kinch Formula, i.e. double it for it will always take twice as long”.

Among his many interests were local history, natural history - particularly birds, he was a member of the RSPB - poetry, music and politics. He was a frequent member of the audience at The Kings Theatre, Southsea at concerts of the Southern Philharmonic Orchestra, which later became the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

A keen gardener, his window boxes and hanging baskets were a joy to behold, and his garden was always a riot of colour in the summer months. In his youth, he skied and ice skated - at one time he had lessons at Richmond Ice Risk from the lady who later taught Jayne Torville - and he played badminton and tennis. In later life he took up golf and bowls and continued to follow the fortunes of Portsmouth Football Club. He enjoyed board games, particularly Scrabble.

He had a wide circle of friends both locally and in other parts of the country and he used to enjoy visiting them in his car. Although he never married, he took great delight in being accepted into the families of his friends and he had many godchildren, in whom he took a great interest.

Bob died in May 2009 and is survived by his sister in law Joan, his niece Caro and his nephew Victor.

Major David Linaker (1931-2009)

David Linaker attended PGS from 1942 to 1949. After leaving school he served with the Royal Tank Regiment and later was President of the Newcastle Branch of the RTR Association for many years. His interest in the RTR led him to write about aspects of military history e.g. uniforms and cap badges. He was also a long standing member of the London Branch of the OP Club for many years. He passed away on 29 October 2009. A Thanksgiving Service took place in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne on 8 April 2010.

Roy Powell (1922-2010)

Thanks to Sue Merton for this appreciation of Roy Powell’s life.

Roy Powell died on 24 January 2010. He started his lifelong relationship with The Portsmouth Grammar School in 1934 when, as an eleven year old boy, he won a scholarship and walked nervously under the arch for the first time. He was a natural scientist from early on with an inquisitive mind. He left school aged 16, eventually working in the scientific world developing radar for the Royal Navy. He married Phil and eventually settled in Portsmouth where he renewed his links with PGS. Recruited for the PGS 2004 fundraising campaign. Roy turned his hand to all manner of things from phoning OPs to stuffing envelopes by the thousand. He was a great favourite of all who worked in the PGS Development Office because of his cheerful disposition and willingness to help. Roy never stood still and always

greeted a new challenge with enthusiasm from baking cakes to writing his books about aviation.

Interacting with the young was always something that Roy relished. A regular attendee at OP Reunions, Roy was never happier than when not only recounting stories of his own school days but listening to current pupils tell of the opportunities that they now have. He may not have had the distinction of becoming The Oldest Old Boy, something he would have relished, but he was certainly held dear in all our affections and will be greatly missed.

Colonel Graham F Smart RM (1946-2009)

Graham Smart died peacefully at his home on Dartmoor, aged 63, on 18 June 2009. His years at PGS paved the way for his very successful career in the Royal Marines.

In 1965, as a Troop Commander in 42 Commando, he saw active service in the jungles of Borneo as the Indonesians attempted to crush the fledging Federation of Malaysia. During 1965 he also met his future wife, Hilary, in Singapore. They had two sons, Giles and Guy.

Graham was deployed to Northern Ireland in 1976 and was located in Lenadoon, West Belfast on the sectarian divide. Following a succession of ever increasing staff appointments he became Chief of Staff, British Defence Staff, Washington D.C. where his intellect and great sense of humour made a considerable impact on testing times for U.S./European relations.

Having retired from the Corps. Graham went on to become a successful manager in the Health Service.

continued....


Forthcoming eventsMonday 10 – Friday 14 May 2010 PGS Scouts Archive Exhibition, David Bawtree Building

To mark 80 years of Scouting history at PGS a special exhibition from the Archives will be on display. Viewing by appointment only. Please contact Sue Merton at [email protected] or telephone 023 9268 1385.

Thursday 20 May 2010 PGS Guest Speaker: ‘The Long Haul’, Alex Hibbert OP, David Bawtree Building at 7.30pm

‘It is as well the likes of Alex Hibbert stride amongst us with eyes fixed on the furthest horizons, because without them we are a spent force” Pen Hadow, Polar Explorer.

Join us for a fascinating evening lecture from Alex Hibbert OP, extreme sportsman and global adventurer. His Trans Tiso Greenland Expedition holds the distance record for being the longest ever fully unsupported polar journey in history. Admission free but booking essential. Please contact Sue Merton at [email protected] or telephone 023 9268 1385.

Tuesday 1 June 2010 Inaugural Meeting of the PGS Golf Society, Rowland’s Castle Golf Club

All past pupils, staff and parents are welcome to attend the first outing of the newly-formed PGS Golf Society.

Format: 18 hole Stableford with full handicap. A three course dinner will follow at the Clubhouse. Meet at 12.45, tee-off at 1.15pm. Cost - £30 (Golf only), £45 (Golf and Dinner). If you would like to attend please contact Alasdair Akass as soon as possible at [email protected] or telephone 023 9236 4248.

Friday 25 June 2010 Annual OP vs PGS Cricket, Netball, Rounders and Tennis Matches, Hilsea

(Cricket 1pm, Netball 1pm, Rounders 4.30pm, Tennis 4.30pm)

It is hoped that more OPs and their families than ever before will support the annual midsummer clash of school teams vs OPs in Hilsea’s 125th anniversary year. If you would like to represent the OPs, spectate or need further details please contact Liz Preece at [email protected] or telephone 023 9268 1392. High Tea will be provided.

Wednesday 30 June 2010 MCC Cricket Match, Hilsea at 11.30am

PGS has maintained strong links with the MCC over many years and members of the PGS 1st XI enjoy the challenge of their annual fixture with the club. OPs and their families are welcome to spectate.

Please contact Alasdair Akass at [email protected] or telephone 023 9236 4248 for further information. High Tea will be provided.

Friday 9 July 2010 PGS Sports Day, Hilsea at 10.30am

We will be staging many of the traditional athletics events this year but also bringing back to Hilsea some of the more historic events that have taken place over the last 125 years such as tug-of-war, over-the-hay bales, sack races, tripod races and the slow bicycle race. Side stalls and refreshments available. All are welcome to attend.

Please contact Alasdair Akass at [email protected] or telephone 023 9236 4248 for further information. No parking is available at Hilsea Playing Fields for this event; please use the free parking facility at Hilsea Lido.

(Note: In the event of inclement weather there is a reserve date of 12 July.)

Saturday 11 September 2010PGS Prefects’ Reunion, David Bawtree Building at Noon

Thank you to all those who have registered their interest following notification in the last issue of Opus of a reunion in 2010 to

commemorate 100 years of prefects at PGS. We shall be contacting you in due course.

If you were a prefect at school and have not yet registered, there is still time to sign up! Please complete and return the detachable card at the back of Opus. Why not make up a lunch table of the prefects from your year group? We are intending to celebrate the life of Surmaster Neil Blewett at this event, who oversaw Prefect training. Cost - £15 (including lunch), £5 of which will be donated to the PGS Bursary Fund created in Neil’s memory. Please complete and return the reply card at the back of Opus or telephone 023 9236 4248 for further information.

Friday 1 October 2010 PGS ‘Question of Sport’, David Bawtree Building at 7.30pm

Former pupil Roger Black MBE and a team of professional sportsmen and women take on staff and pupils in a battle of sporting knowledge to help celebrate the 125th anniversary of PGS sport at Hilsea. Booking essential - a limited number of tickets are still available. Please complete and return reply card at the back of Opus. Ticket price £5.

Friday 8 October 2010 OP Club Autumn Supper, David Bawtree Building at 7.30pm

The OP Club Autumn Supper will be held on 8 October at 7.30 pm for 8.00 pm in the David Bawtree Building. Music will be provided by the PGS Swing Band. Cost of Supper is £12. Booking by 5 October 2010 to [email protected] or telephone 023 9273 4606. Payment will be collected on the night.

Saturday 11 December 2010 OP Club Annual Dinner, David Bawtree Building

The Annual Dinner will be held on 11 December at 6.45pm for 7.30pm. Further details will be provided in the next issue of Opus, but for now, please put the date of this extremely popular event in your diary.

Saturday 11 December 2010 Annual OP vs PGS Rugby and Hockey Matches, Hilsea from 11.30am

This annual event precedes the OP Club Dinner. For further details and to represent the OPs on the pitch, please contact Liz Preece at [email protected] or telephone 023 9268 1392.

STOP PRESS!

Saturday 4 December – PGS Celebration Ball on

board HMS Warrior with Sixties Tribute Bands.

Tickets £65. More info from

[email protected] or

telephone 023 9236 4248

In memoriam

Announcements

In Memoriam

OP Engagements / Marriages / Births

For further announcements and news of Old Portmuthians, please visit www.pgs.org.uk and look at ‘OP News’ in the Development section of the PGS website. To update the school and other OPs of your news, please complete the electronic form on the ‘Contact Us’ page in the Development section of the PGS website.

John Upfold (1929-2010)

John passed away peacefully at home on 13 March 2010. John attended PGS during World War II. He was a keen Old Portmuthian, attended many events and his reminiscences were included in the PGS publication ‘Action This Day’. A Remembrance Service to celebrate John’s life was held at Sheet on Friday 26 March.

Having left PGS he went to train as an architect at Southern College of Art. He followed his course and obtained

deferment for National Service, later serving for 2 years as a Royal Engineer which was the closest he came to being an architect at that time. He was invited by the architects practice in Petersfield that he was with prior to being called up to contact them on his return. He enjoyed the work and was fortunate enough to work for some of the theatrical greats of that era such as Sir Alec Guinness and Peter Sellers. He remained there retiring as sole partner.

John had always enjoyed vintage motor

cars and was invited by the Monte Carlo Auto club to participate in the first of the vintage Monte Carlo Rallies. This he duly did, driving a 1924 3 litre ‘Red Label’ Bentley. He came 56th out of 168 competitors.

He met and married Brenda in 1952 during National Service. John also leaves two sons and three grandchildren who were a source of joy and delight to him.

ALASDAIR AKASS (PGS Development

Director) and EMILY-JANE TOLAND (PGS Head of Biology) were married in the West Country just before Christmas 2009 and enjoyed a white wedding in more than one way – it snowed as they left the church.

JESSICA BARKER and TOM HANCE (both 2006 Leavers) became engaged in October 2009. Jess recently returned to PGS on a Gap Year placement in the History Department.

KATE GLENNIE (nėe Anderson; 1999 Leaver). Congratulations and best wishes to Kate on her marriage last August. She was thrilled to have so many old friends from PGS at the wedding. Kate works as a Development Manager at Birbeck College, University of London, fundraising for their major projects and lives in East Dulwich with her husband.

EMMA RESOULY (née Hall, 1999 Leaver) and Sam Resouly (1997 Leaver) had a lovely daughter, Flora Grace, on 22 January 2010, a grand-daughter for governor and Chairman of the PGS Education Committee Susan Resouly.

PAUL SICKLING (1995 Leaver) and wife Emma had a beautiful baby girl (Rebecca Louise) in February 2010. The family live in Queensland, Australia.

SARAH STRANGE (née Sealey; 1998 Leaver) and husband Alastair became the proud parents of a beautiful daughter, Emily Rose, on 29 December 2009.

Portsmouth Grammar Schoolwww.pgs.org.uk

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Opus, Issue 2

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