Name

Dates at RGS

News - September 2008

Ron Adkins

Staff
1942-1958

Congratulations to Ron Adkins who celebrated his 100th birthday in September. He taught maths and religious education at RGS. Click on the photo to see a larger version.

Old Reigatians win Blumberg Media’s Cricket World Trophy

Following a lapse of several years the Old Reigatians put forward a team into this knockout competition. The team, which was overseen by Mr David Jones and captained by Mr Chris Morgan, was made up of past pupils and current members of staff with a total of 23 playing for the team at some stage. They secured victories over Cranbrook Lynxes (Cranbrook School, Kent), Old Georgians (St George’s College, Weybridge) and Old Aluredians (Kings College Taunton) to reach the final against Old Oakhamians (Oakham School).

The final was played at Shenley in Hertfordshire on a drizzly day in early August. The Old Reigatian team set a formidable target of 261 runs in their 50 overs which included 50 runs off 38 balls from Chris Morgan and 70 off 46 balls from Stuart Mills (1995-2003). A stunning catch by Nick Harmer (1995-2000) sealed a 71 run victory.

Notable bowling performances came from Toby Briggs (1990-1997), Nick Harmer and Chris Morgan who took at 8, 7 and 6 wickets respectively during the competition. And in addition to the batting performances above there were 50s for David Hughan (1996-2004) and Chris Walker (1984-1992). Click on the picture to see a larger version.

Ian Davis

Matthew Billson

1989 - 1997

1992 - 1997

Ian and Matthew completed the Three Peaks Challenge with two other walkers in May. This involved climbing the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales in 24 hours which they achieved with just five minutes to spare, setting off up Ben Nevis at 5pm on 26th May and running off Snowdon at 4.55pm the following day. Ian raised over £1,300 for Cancer Research UK's event Relay for Life Horsham, which took place in July and altogether raised over £25,000 for the charity.

Keir Starmer

1974-1981

Keir Starmer will become the new Director of Public Prosecutions when the current Director steps down at the end of October. As DDP, he will run the Crown Prosecution Service.

Ketan Kansagra

1984-1992

Ketan Kansagra is now working as a GP in Crawley. He is married with two young daughters.

News - July 2008

Fred Lister

David Hugget

Mike Langran

Ian Howick

1940-1946

1943-1950

1943-1952

1950-1957

The Budleigh Exiles: Fred Lister, David Hugget, Mike Langran and Ian Howick met with their wives and friends to celebrate Ian's 70th birthday. The venue was Bicton Botanical Gardens where they all had lunch and enjoyed a train ride courtesy of Fred whose son Simon owns and runs the Gardens, with his wife Valerie. Such is life in Budleigh Salterton that they look forward to many such gatherings. Click on the small picture to see a larger version. Left to right: Fred Lister, Mike Langran, David Huggett and Ian Howick.

Thomas AbouNader

1999-2004

In August Thomas will finish his year as Vice-President of the Students' Union at King's College London. He will be travelling from Beirut (Lebanon) to London, via Pristina (Kosovo) before he joins the Metropolitan Police in October. Next year he will be training for a 1000km bike ride from London to Brest (France) as well as entering "Nettle Warrior 2009" to raise money for the Royal British Legion.

Matt Taylor

2000-2005

Matt Taylor has just gained a First in War Studies at Kent University where he was Chairman of the Rugby Club. During this time he played prop for the Old Reigatians RFC. Matthew has been accepted to join the Army and starts his commissioning course at Sandhurst in September this year.

News - June 2008

Malcolm Avery

1965-1972

Malcolm Avery was unfortunately unable to attend the recent ORA reunion for 1970s leavers, which coincided with his last day of active service in the Royal Navy.

He joined the RN in September 1972 immediately after leaving RGS. A career submariner, he spent a total of 16 years on the west coast of Scotland. Later, he headed the Submarine Sea and Shore training organisation and also served with NATO in Belgium at the Supreme HQ Allied Powers Europe. Amongst a number of staff appointments, three of which were in the Ministry of Defence, his penultimate post was in MOD as the Director of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Policy in the rank of Commodore. Before moving to the Retired List, he was the Naval Assistant, being directly responsible to the First Sea Lord for the career management of all Captains/Commodores RN and Royal Marine Colonels/Brigadiers.

An inseparable friend from the Sixth Form was Jim Tame who went on to be Malcolm's best man in 1980 when he married Sarah. He regrets that he has since lost touch - not helped by spending so much time north of the border - and would be grateful to know if anyone has any inkling of his current whereabouts.

Malcolm Butcher

1965-1972

Malcolm is the director of an office of quantity surveyors in Brisbane, Australia where he lives with his wife Ali and their daughter Sammie.

Neil Butcher

1967-1974

Neil works for Arup in Solihull, mainly in the automotive design industry, and increasingly looking at low emission vehicles, and their practical integration into our infrastructure to meet future transport needs. He is married to Jill who teaches at an inner city secondary school in Coventry. Their son Paul graduates from university this summer and their daughter Annabel is currently taking her A Levels. In his spare time, Neil enjoys running and has taken part in several marathons.

Chris Butcher

1970-1977

Chris lives in Dinton near Aylesbury, Bucks with his wife Janice, and their two daughters. They have just bought a cocker spaniel puppy, who is keeping them all amused. Chris is a financial director for Bombardier in Derby, so spends several nights a week in a cottage in rural Derbyshire

News - May 2008

Jo Bingham

1978-1987

Jo Bingham has taken the position of Commercial Director for 2heads Design, based in Media City, Dubai UAE. This is a brand new company set up to continue the ever expanding design agency into the Middle East/China and India markets and also to act as support for the holding company based in Reading for companies wishing to exhibit in Europe and the USA. The company specialises in high end exhibition design, build and project management for Blue Chip Companies internationally and can boast Goodrich Aerospace, BBC, Freemantle and Disney as some of its most prestigious accounts.

Jo originally worked for 2heads in Reading some 12 years ago, but after a brief break of seven years and two other design agencies, he saw this as an opportunity professionally to further his career as well as a good excuse to get a sun tan!

News - April 2008

Chris Grant

1975-1979

Chris was unable to attend the 1970s reunion in April because it was the weekend before his wedding!

During his time in the sixth form at RGS he met Mandy Coburn who was at the Reigate County School (RCS). They lost touch for about 25 years but through mutual OR friends and Friends Reunited their paths crossed again in early 2004. For the last 17 years Chris has been based in Surrey, running a home textiles sales agency business - supplying retail stores and outlets nationwide. He has now relocated his business to North Wales where Mandy has been living, whilst their respective daughters are studying at university.

Guests at the wedding will hopefully include fellow ORs Howard Fine and his wife Sandra (née Bays ex-RCS), Mike (Mig) Gardner-Roberts and wife Lesley (née Patient ex RCS), Nigel Goad (flying in from Texas) and his Best Man will be Tim Osborne (married to Jill (née Abraham also ex RCS). So perhaps there's a pattern emerging here?! Also present will be Chris's younger brother Tony, also an OR, who will be coming over from Dublin with his family.

Jacob Strong

1994-2000

After gaining an MA in Radio Production and Management at Sunderland University, Jacob now works in Cardiff as a Broadcaster for BBC Radio Wales, providing travel bulletins for Good Morning Wales on Wales' biggest breakfast show every morning.

Sarah Connolly

1998-2004

After gaining a History degree at Manchester, Sarah has been working for her church in Manchester, mostly doing youth work in the church and local schools. This summer she will be getting married to Andy.

Adam Harmon

1996-2003

Adam is currently on an UN internship in Samoa working on development projects in the environmental field. He is planning to study for MPhil in Economics after internship.

Michael Tresham

1991-1999

Michael was awarded Young Achiever of the Year 2007 at the Birmingham Insurance Industry's recent Annual Dinner. Click on the small picture to see a larger version

News - January 2008

Mike Tribe

1948-1955

Mike Tribe retired from full time academic life in 2001 having received an Award for Excellence in Teaching from the University of Sussex Alumni Society - (if still alive 'Nubby' Atkinson, 'Taffy' Edwards and 'Dai' Griffiths would have been pleased to know they had some influence!)

Mike continues to maintain an interest in academic life with some teaching and external examining. In 2007, he finished a three year stint as an elected Council member of the UK Higher Education Academy, and as a Fellow of the Institute of Biology, he is currently involved with a small group of biologists in updating the Institute's booklet and web site on Biological Nomenclature for biology teachers at both secondary and tertiary levels. He also hopes to devote more time to the National Association for Colitis and Crohn's Disease, to raise public awareness for this charity, which helps sufferers from this chronic (though not normally fatal) disease.

As usual he looks forward to meeting up with contemporaries and friends at the ORA dinner on 14th March 2008.

Jack Bettles

1997-2005

Jack is in his final year of studies at Leeds University. In summer 2008 he will be travelling to Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in order to raise money for the charity 'ChildReach International' (Charity Registration No 1106490). After the climb, he will get a chance to help out at some of the schools which will benefit from the money raised. Each participant in this project has been set a fundraising target of at least £2000 before May 2008, which they will then take out there with them to help local Tanzanian children living in poverty. There are two other ex-RGS pupils climbing with him (David Milton and Ross Millican.

Further information regarding the project can be found on his fundraising page: www.justgiving.com/jackbettles.

Michael Jordan

Michael Baker

Peter White

Richard Cripps

1959-1966/67

RGS Pupils who joined the school in 1959 from Holmesdale School in Reigate are planning a reunion for their primary school, at its former premises, on 15 March 2008. Also invited already are their Teacher Beryl Newton (and from RGS) John Earl, Chris Smith, John Hankin and Andrew Morriss. They are searching for contacts for Eric Rattue, and pupils from Holmesdale who came to RGS in 1958 or 1960. Anyone with contacts for any pupils who left Holmesdale in 1958, 59 or 1960 are invited to get in touch with Peter White via the ORA email.

News - December 2007

Gordon Palmer (aka Chubb)

1945-1951

We have just heard from Gordon Palmer and his wife Joan (née Flockhart) that they celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary on 13 July 2007. They met on the 13th, got engaged on the 13th and then married on the 13th. Joan's mother was superstitious and thought it would never last!

Births 2008

Kiran and Paul O'Brien

Former Staff
2000-2007 and 1998-2005

Congratulations on the birth of Sachin Joseph on 11 October 2008.pine

Keir Starmer

1974-1981

Congratulations to Keir Starmer, whose son Toby Alexander Starmer was born 30 June 2008.

Marriages 2008

Sarah Connolly

1998 - 2004

Sarah married Andy Hagon on 30 August 2008 in Manchester.

Amelia Pine

1993-2000

Amelia Pine married Simon Richter in Rochester Cathedral in August. She is Head of PE at King’s School Rochester

Ruth Manfield

1994-1996

Ruth married Chad Shepherd in July 2008.

The family photograph shows (left to right) Peter Manfield (1986-1994), Ruth, John Manfield (current staff), Jane Manfield (current staff). Click on the small photographers for a larger version.

Nimal Muttucumaru

1972-1975

Nimal Muttucumaru married Tracy Chester on Saturday 26 April 2008 at St Luke's in Winmarleigh, Lancashire. His best man was Old Reigatian, Andy Tyerman (1967-1974). The wedding was also attended by his brother Devindran (1970-1973) who was Master of Ceremonies at the reception. The cricketing exploits of the three Old Reigatians, playing together in the School First XI and on opposing sides in house competitions, was a highlight of the Best Man's Speech.

Chris Grant

1975-1977

Chris Grant married Mandy Coburn on 3 May 2008.

Deaths 2008

Terry Harvey

1949-1954

Terry Harvey, ORA committee member and former Chairman, died on Saturday 18 October 2008 after a very long illness.

Gerry Bedward

Staff
1947-1981

Gerry Bedward died on 16 October 2008 on the Isle of Wight, where he had lived for the past 27 years (many of them close to his old friend and colleague, Cedric Harrald). John Manfield (Acting Headmaster) commented: "I'll always remember Gerry on stage in the last two years of his career at RGS - as Potiphar, in Joseph... and as Mr Bumble in Oliver. He said they were the happiest times of his whole career!" Click here to read David Jones' address at the funeral.

Lewis Bellchambers

1942-1947

Lewis Bellchambers died on 31 October 2008.

John Michael Fenn

1944-1950

Died in August 2008.

Alec Bushby

1932-1939

Alec Bushby died in on 16th May aged 85.

Ian Barnard

1947-1963

Ian Barnard died in Sydney, Australia on 1 June 2008.

Michael Mundy

1962-1970

Michael Mundy died in Bankok on Sunday, 9 March 2008 after an illness bravely borne. Much loved son of Frank and Jo and brother of Jen and David.

Peter Swan

1940-1947

Peter Swan died on 21 February 2008.

Deaths 2007

Richard Bales

1957-1965

Richard Bales died on 17 December 2007 aged 61. He was Professor of Modern French Literature 1996-2007 at Queen's University, Belfast. In an obituary in The Independent he is described as ‘an inspirational university teacher and a researcher who enjoyed an international reputation in the field of Proust studies’.