News - July 2010

Iain McLean 1971-1974 has enjoyed a two year return to the UK where he worked in renewable energy. He has accepted a position as VP of the North American Business Unit for Gemcom, the global leader in software for mine planning and production, based back in Vancouver BC.

Geoff Kenney (RGS 1956-1959) was sorry to miss the Golden Reunion for his year group on Monday 5 July. He has recently retired from full time employment. The photo shows Geoff with his wife Lucy, their daughter and her three sons, taken on holiday in New Zealand. Click on the small picture to see a larger version.

Chris Berry (RGS 1963-1969) will be getting married to Sandy on 29 December 2010. Chris is now a semi-retired independent consultant cum inspector in further education. Fellow retired/semi-retired colleagues of that era include Graham Brown, Tony Earl & Tim White. 

Adam Harmon (RGS 1996-2003) is marrying his fiancée, Cerys Davies, in August this year, whom he met whilst studying at Cambridge. He has recently completed an MPhil in Economics at Oxford and plans to take up work in London in the autumn.

Robert Hammond (RGS 1980-1986) has lived in Lexington, Kentucky USA for 13 years and is married to Ramsey, a Lexington native. They have one son who arrived 10 months ago named Pierse. He works in the thoroughbred racehorse industry for WinStar Farm (www.winstarfarm.com) and this year they won the Kentucky Derby for the first time with a horse named Super Saver. They also won the Belmont Stakes with a horse called Drosselmeyer.

At the end of July, James Feneley, James Watts, Rowan McLean, Ed Forsyth, Will Tame and Oliver Crawshaw (all Class of 2008) plan to cycle from London to Rome to raise money for Diabetes UK. Their sponsorship page is at http://www.justgiving.com/5cycle2Rome - they would be hugely grateful for any support.

Mike Burles 1975-1977 teaches art to sixth form students; he also has a studio where he paints and is currently exhibiting one of his paintings in a Cork Street gallery. In his spare time, despite having had four operations on his knees, Mike plays football and is player/manager in the England over 50s Veterans Football Team; they have played and beaten Wales and Scotland during the last 12 months

News - June 2010

We recently circulated a job advertisement for local company ACC UK, and we are delighted that they have appointed two more RGS alumni: Jamie Harris (RGS 2002-2007) and Nicki Feneley (RGS 1998-2006). They have joined Fran Bennett (RGS 2003-2005) who started work with the same company earlier this year (you will have read her story in The Review). Congratulations to all three!

Ian Collins (RGS 1956-1959) has now retired from the Government of the Northwest Territories in Yellowknife (Canada) and has now moved 2000 km south to Winnipeg Manitoba. Winters can still be cold, but are warmer and shorter than those endured during 30 years spent in the Arctic! Ian would like to hear from anyone who was in 5B or Science Remove in 1958-1959. (Email foundation@reigategrammar.org and will we pass on your messages.) He can't make it to the Golden Anniversary Lunch but will try and make it to a future event.

News - May 2010

Malcolm Mair (RGS 1939-1947) returned to RGS recently to run two orienteering sessions as part of the 'try something new' scheme which the CCF department organises every year. Click on the small picture to see a larger version.

The ORA Golf Match held at Reigate Heath Golf Club on Monday 17 May resulted in an honourable draw! (2-2). For the OR team: Dai Bader, Peter Chesterton, Peter Tharp, Keith Lilley, Joe Parker, Tony Dibben, Roger Humphries, Lynn Ellaby. For the school: Theo Flack, Greg Hodgson, Jordan Sloan, Jochem Birrell-Gray, Chris Hawes, Jamie Hanwell, Charlie Steedman, Dan Beasley.

Helen Oliphant (RGS 1994-2001) was onboard HMS Clyde, the Royal Navy's Falkland Islands Protection Vessel, when it rescued a British family in their stricken yacht, 1000 miles east of the Falklands on Saturday 8 May 2010. It is understood that the yacht had hit a ‘growler’ iceberg; mainly hidden beneath the surface of the water, the same type of iceberg was responsible for the sinking of the Titanic in 1912.

Michael Chapman (RGS 1970 - 1975)
Michael is still running a startup electronics IP company he created five years ago in Montpellier (http://www.cortus.com).

He said: "I have many happy memories of the various expeditions I took part in, both in the scouts and in the Duke of Edinburg's Award Scheme. One of them was caneoing down the entire length of the River Wey in a canoe borrowed from the scouts. We started from a small stream in the middle of a field of cows and finished up at the Shepperton Lock on the Thames. Robin was not pleased at the stringer we broke when we hit a submerged and invisible water tank just as we arrived onto the officially navigable bit having negotiated it all without incident up to then. We repaired it of course. Also I remember going along for the fun on someone else's Gold Award hike across Dartmoor. In the middle we were miles and miles from anywhere where you could get help - no mobile phones back in those days to call some one up if it starts to rain!"

Michael now owns a replica of a Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter currently moored at Port Leucate: "This is a big heavy gaff rigged sailing boat. However, with a bit of wind it really flies (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOtUfrsU82o), which is really impressive considering its 34 tons! Any old scouts, or anyone currently on the Duke of Edinburg's Award Scheme are welcome to come for a weekend sail along the Costa Brava, or perhaps longer (eg summer mid-term holidays). Last summer we sailed to Menorca, this summer we will probably sail to Mallorca."

News - April 2010

Class of 1962
Over 20 of the Class of 1962 got together for lunch at Chez Gerard in Reigate on 21 April. Click on the small pictures to see a larger version.

Doug Cusden (RGS 1957-1963)
After leaving school Doug joined the family business running a haulage business. In his twenties he moved to London and drove HGVs in Europe and Middle East. He married and they moved to Wrexham where he studied Horticulture and Landscape Construction at The Welsh College of Horticulture achieving top student on the course. He realised then that if he had listened at RGS he could have gone to university. For 25 years he operated a landscape company south of London. In this time he had two boys and two girls. After 33 years he divorced and moved to Isle of Wight, but got bored. Now at 63 he has started a new landscaping company and has met another lady. He lives in the lovely market town of Petersfield in Hampshire. "Life is good."

Simon Hulme (RGS 1988-1995)
Simon is unable to attend the 1990s Reunion on Saturday 24 April because, as an RAF pilot he has to fly in support of the volcano relief operations, so will not be in the country. He is a C-130J Hercules Captain based at RAF Lyneham and spends three to four months per year in the Middle East, sometimes Iraq but mostly in Afghanistan flying tactical operations in Helmand Province. Prior to this he was a QFI (Qualified Flying Instructor) teaching Elementary Flying Training.

Karl Hickman (RGS 1983-1991, )
Karl was awarded an MC in the Operational Honours and Awards List on 19 March 2010 for his services in Afghanistan. The citation reads: "Major Hickman has personally led his Riflemen out time after time; his men have never once shirked their responsibility and have met the challenge head-on, inflicting significant damage on the enemy wherever the opportunity presented itself. His leadership and personal courage have been exemplary throughout the harrowing six months. His men clearly derived strength from his gallantry while under attack from both IEDs and the small arms fire that accompanied the blast."

Warren George (RGS 1983–1990)
Warren has lived in Argentina for the past 15 years. He is the deputy head of English at a bilingual school and is married with three daughters.

News - March 2010

Peter Lambell (RGS 1977-1983) and Alan Belmore (RGS 2000-2008)
Will be standing in the next general election as a Lib Dems; Peter in Croydon Central and Alan in Hemsworth. Do get in touch if you are standing - for any party - and we will add it to our news here.

Simon Lucas (RGS 1989-1997)
Simon is engaged to Claire McHale, a Northern Irish doctor based in Belfast. Their wedding will be on 13 August 2010. Simon is currently working as Head of History at Worth School in Sussex. Click on the small photo to see a larger version.

News - February 2010

Wing Commander Bob Doe
Some of you may have noticed an obituary in the Daily Telegraph (link to article here) for Bob Doe who died on February 21 aged 89. He was the joint-third most successful fighter pilot in the Battle of Britain, credited with 14 victories and two shared. Although he did not attend RGS, he lived in Broadfield Cottage which was demolished to make way for the Peter Masefield (Dining) Hall at school. The School arranged for a blue plaque which commemorates his birth to be put up on the house next to Cornwallis. Bob came to its unveiling in 2000. 

News - January 2010

Richard Cantrill (RGS 1984-1992)
Richard came back to school on 21 January to present Duke of Edinburgh Awards to pupils. Click on the small picture to see a larger version.

Peter Manfield (RGS 1986-1994)
Peter has been deployed by UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) as part of the initial team coordinating relief in Haiti. He has been seconded from his job as Humanitarian Affairs Officer in their South African regional office, and will be in Haiti for between three and eight weeks.  Photo shows Peter and his son Theo at the Thanksgiving for Theo’s birth, held recently in Redhill.

Phil Siegle (RGS 1995-2003) and Jon Bailey (RGS 1996-2003)
Phil and Jon will be running the Paris Half Marathon on 7 March 2010, hoping to raise over a thousand pounds for the Help for Heroes charity. Phil says: "H4H does not seek to criticise or be political, they simply want to help and to do so by asking everyone to do their bit to raise money. Once that money is raised, they go to the experts in the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force for guidance as to how best to spend it. It is their intention to spend all they raise on the practical, direct support of those wounded in the service of our country since 9/11.

The training has been going very well despite the recent snow! But we still really need your support for this great charity. So please could you sponsor us at - www.justgiving.com/Philip-Siegle"

Births 2010

Congratulatios to Peter Selby (RGS 1984-1991) and his wife Jo who are now the proud parents of a baby daughter called Esmé Kathleen.

Congratulations to Jonathon Blake (Staff at RGS 1996-1999) and his partner Kelly on the arrival of Millie Sophia Blake who was born on 6 June.

Congratulations to Francesca Gaunt (formerly Dixon, RGS 1997-2001) and Michael on the arrival of their daughter Fiona, who was born on 3 June.

Congratulations to Mike Hynard (RGS 1984-1991) and Emma on the arrival of their son Freddie who was born on 4 April.

Congratulations to Barry Devine (RGS 1983-1990) and his wife Jennifer on the arrival of their daughter Lourdes who was born on 22 March 2010.

Marriages 2010

David Walliams (RGS 1981-1989) married Lara Stone on Sunday 16 May 2010.

We have just heard that Rob Stewart (RGS 1990-1998) and Julie Miller were married at Branston Hall, Lincolnshire on 7 June 2009. Click on the small picture to see a larger version.

Deaths 2010

Howard Ballance (Headmaster of RGS 1968-1982) died on Friday 16 July 2010. Click here to read an account of his life, written by his daughter Hilary.

Paul Fry (RGS 1968-1970) died on 4 May 2010.

Alan Frith (RGS 1964-1970) died on 1 April, 2010. Please click here for an obituary written by his brother, Robert.

Gary Wyatt (RGS 1963-1968) died 30 March 2010

Brian Padgham (RGS 1939-1946) died on 29 March 2010

Peter Wann (RGS 1953-1961) died earlier this year, aged 67.

Vernon Browne (RGS Class of 1962) We have heard that Vernon Brown died this year.

Derek Hogg (RGS 1941-1947) died on 26 February 2010, aged 80.

Brian Bunkell (RGS 1944-1951) died 9 February 2010.

We have recently heard that Brian Rushworth (RGS 1949-1955) died on 7 December 2009.