Alex van Holk Resilience in the 21st Century

88 Pages·2017·4.09 MB·English

THE 2017 edition
REEDER
Alex van Holk
Resilience in the
21st Century
OR and Paralympian delivers the
2017 Andrew Reed Lecture
Back to School
ORs integral to life at Reed’s

From the Archives
Looking back over 200 years
Richard Garrett
We launch his Scholarship Award
networkreeds.org
 facebook.com/ReedsAlumni
 @ReedsAlumni
reeds.surrey.sch.uk

 facebook.com/ReedsSchool
 @ReedsSchool
 youtube.com/user/reedsschoolofficial
THE REEDER 2017 3
Contents
14
68
04 Welcome from the OR President
06 A Word from the Headmaster
10 Back to School
14 Feature: Andrew Reed Lecture
18 Class Notes
36 Calling ORs Overseas
60 38 Lost ORs
40 Congratulations & Celebrations
42 Great Times and Old Friends
50 Recent and Future Events
52 In Memoriam
60 From the School Archives
64 Focus on the Foundation
65 OR Syndicates
66 Annual Foundation Appeal
67 Legacy programme
68 Richard Garrett Scholarship Award
72 FUTUREED’S
76 Valete
10
80 Coffee Break
82 Meet Your OR Team
86 Data Protection Statement
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4 THE REEDER 2017
WELCOME
from our OR President
very warm welcome to you as So, how much do you remember about at the end of June, with those celebrating a
Ay ou delve into the 2017 edition your time at Reed’s, your contemporaries decade anniversary invited to lunch ahead
of the Reeder, which offers us or, perhaps, later years with the Old of the general invitation to tea. The
a new beginning with a new Reedonians? An OR magazine, or more weather was kind, the hospitality from the
design. This was inspired by the accurately a newsletter, was published School was excellent, the cricket looked to
remarkable and humbling story of OR twice a year in and around the time I left, be at a scarily high standard and the
Alex van Holk, whose story you can read and I discovered in one of them the planning and organisation was, as always,
in the Main Feature. I must admit that it destinations of several Mullens superb. Many “thank yous” were delivered
was the front cover photograph of Alex, housemates after they left the School; a at the time and are repeated here in the
featured in a mock-up of the proposed new little more research will help me build a aggregate, but I must, of course, tip my hat
design, that convinced me we should make better picture of my contemporaries who to Sharmaine and her colleagues in the
the changes; I am sure you will be passed out of sight and mind as we went Development Office: Alison, Ed, Lucy and
similarly inspired by Alex’s story and I our separate ways. I also discovered, for Ruth, under the leadership of Kathryn,
hope you will enjoy our new format. I also example, that I did a stint as the OR each of whom contributes so much to both
hope that you will approve of our decision Auditor back in the late 70s/early 80s after Reunion Day and the OR community
to move the annual publication date to I had resigned (or been sacked?!) as OR generally. We all owe grateful thanks for
the autumn so we can capture news from Cricket Captain. I had no recollection of their wonderful support and, for those of
the full school year. that at all but memories are now stirring. you who haven’t been to the School for a
while, you will always be assured of a
Even though we are embarking on a new warm welcome from Sharmaine and the
beginning with this publication, I am I am immensely proud of the ‘Team’. Do take the opportunity to join us
delighted to say that now we also have extra-ordinary contributions next year.
greater visibility into the past through
made by ORs of all vintages to
the launch of Reed’s Heritage, an online Looking through the reports in this
the daily life of the School.
archive of everything about the School edition of The Reeder, as President of the
going back as far as our research can ORs I am immensely proud of the extra-
take us. ordinary contributions made by ORs
I laughed at the late, great Nick Simmons’ of all vintages to the daily life of the
I would urge you to log in to the Heritage report on OR cricket of a similar vintage, School.
website (reedsschoolheritage.co.uk) and although the batting averages reminded
wander through the sections to see what me that some of us were never as good as You will read elsewhere of the ways in
interests you, always bearing in mind that we think we were – if only we had had which ORs help current pupils and the
this is a live project that will see more Reed’s new cricket centre to practise in! Foundation on multiple occasions through
material added as time and funds allow. Read all about that and its importance to the year, and I would like to highlight the
Once again, I must mention Andy Wotton future funding of the Foundation later in contribution of Peter Verstage (Capel 1965)
(Mullens 1975) and his extraordinary this edition. With that in mind, I’m who stepped down as a Reed’s Governor
commitment and drive to making this delighted to report that the OR Committee after 10 years of committed service. As
project happen, working alongside approved a donation of £25,000 towards well as sitting on the main Governing
Sharmaine, Meg Fitzgerald and other the cricket centre costs, using funds Board, Peter held positions on various
colleagues. I would particularly point accumulated many years ago, and this sub-committees – notably the Finance
you towards Andy’s research on The donation will be memorialised in a display Committee and Marketing Committee,
War Years which extends the work he board that will remind all visitors to the always adding value to the discussions
did on completing (and correcting!) the centre of its essential role in providing a and decisions made. Peter made me very
Remembrance Boards in the School regular income stream to the Foundation welcome as a new Governor in 2014; I hope
Chapel. I know others have worked – it is, truly, a legacy project! he enjoys his ‘retirement’ although I’m
tirelessly alongside the team to make this sure we will see him at Reed’s on many
project a success (you know who you are) Reminiscing about the past year or so, occasions in the future.
and each of you deserves our thanks many highlights come to mind. We
which I am delighted to record here. enjoyed a wonderful OR Reunion Day
5
OR President Nigel Taunt with wife Linda
A special event for me each autumn is the
lunch in the City for the launch of the
Annual Foundation Appeal. At this, a
former Reed’s Foundationer returns to give
the keynote address and for 2015/16 and
2016/17 our guests were inspired by Luke
Wheeler (Capel 2016) and Shahin Baghaei
(Capel 2002), each of whom spoke
powerfully and emotionally about the
challenges they faced before and during
their Reed’s education, what Reed’s had
done for them and how Reed’s continues to
mean so much to them. Listening to those
addresses gave the audience a compelling
reason to support the Foundation,
something that many ORs do willingly
and generously through the years. But, the
OR community can still do more! Whether
you start to contribute for the first time, or
perhaps increase your current
contributions, your donations will make a with Sharmaine or me and/or sign up on were at Reunion Day this year, who so
huge difference to children’s lives and your the NetworkReeds website (networkreeds. willingly give up their time for the benefit
generosity will be immensely appreciated org). Friends and family guests are more of our community.
(and tax relief makes it even more than welcome as well. In 2018, we will
worthwhile!). start with the aim of holding spring and Just prior to publication, Matt Ridsdale
autumn events, hoping to add a summer tendered his resignation from the OR
I reported the launch of the OR Golf date if the demand is there. Any volunteer Committee. I would like to thank Matt for
Society in the 2016 Reeder, with our hosts? his years of wise counsel and his
inaugural event in Autumn 2015. We contribution to the wider OR community,
hosted three more events in 2016, another On a personal note, you may recall that and I hope we will still see him at OR
in April 2017, with the next one scheduled I couldn’t attend the 2016 OR Reunion Day events for many years to come.
for 12th October 2017. You will find due to my son’s wedding and I would like
photographs and a list of attendees later in to reiterate my thanks to Justyn, our OR Finally, this edition of the Reeder would
this publication but, in summary, this is Vice President, for making the President’s not have been possible without the firm
what we have been up to: address in my absence. foundations built over many years by our
former Editor, Geoff Martin. We owe him
a debt of gratitude for around a decade of
Golf days Hosted by Location Winner sterling service and I would like to record
our sincere thanks to Geoff for that.
Oct 2015 Nigel Taunt Stoke Park Adam Jones
Equally, this edition and those of prior
May 2016 Adam Jones Farnham James Davey years would not have reached publication
July 2016 Harry Pakenham Sunningdale Nigel Taunt without the tireless efforts of Sharmaine
Sept 2016 Richard Plank Hartley Wintney Peter Griffin and her colleagues at the School, with
Sharmaine now taking over the leadership
April 2017 Andy Shiells Tyrrells Wood Dave Edwards
role as the Editor and fulfilling it with
spectacular success. The Old Reedonians
are truly blessed by the support and
My thanks to each of the hosts and, I’m delighted to report that the wedding inspiration that flows out of the
especially, to all those who have joined us was a great success and Nick and Ruth are Development Office and, once again,
and provided some interesting golf and now happily living in Hitchin, about half I would like to record our thanks to all
excellent company. I must emphasise that an hour away from our family home in of them.
these days are open to all golfers – that’s Harpenden. I (just) made it to the 2017
the beauty of golf and its handicap system, Reunion Day before flying out to Dallas I hope you will enjoy reading the 2017
with several 20+ handicaps on show. We for another family wedding and I’m glad Reeder and I hope it inspires you to start
get a more enthusiastic response when we to report that I’m running out of or to increase your connections and
visit better courses, with players happy to unmarried relatives who could create contributions to the Reed’s community in
pay a bit extra for the experience, with one potential conflicts for future OR Reunion 2018. My thanks and best wishes to you all.
attempt to arrange a more “budget” day Days (although Sharmaine may have her
not attracting the necessary support. I own family story to tell next year!!)!
would like to see numbers increasing each I would also like to take this opportunity
year, and more ORs happy to host an event to thank my fellow OR Committee Nigel Taunt (Mullens 1971)
at their own clubs, so please get in contact members (see page 82), many of whom OR President
6 THE REEDER 2017
#1
Promote Academic
Excellence
I am delighted that we moved up the
various league tables again this year with
excellent examination results at both GCSE
and A Level, but am also aware such
measures do not always reflect the wider
A word from the Headmaster
educational benefits on offer. I believe this
resonates with both our current and
prospective parents, as applications
As the Headmaster of an institution that is steeped in 200 years
continue to rise.
of history and heritage, I am most aware that sometimes one needs to
look back in order to prepare for the future. This is why I enjoy meeting
I am also proud that we are an inclusive
with and hearing from our wide network of Old Reedonians; it is
school that focuses on academic
through sharing your stories, memories, anecdotes and words of
excellence as last year’s leavers
wisdom, that I am able to bring to life the ‘Reed’s character’.
demonstrated: 90% of the 125 pupils
achieved their first or second choice
I know that it is this Reed’s character and ethos that makes the School
university, 70% of these to Russell Group
so unique and one that is very much shaped by the legacy of Andrew
universities with four to Oxbridge and
Reed and the Foundation. It is our job today to make sure that this
others gaining places at top US and
remains the case, not only in the past, but in the present and for years
European universities, Art Colleges and
to come.
RADA. Our aim is to ensure our pupils
learn how to learn and learn how to think
To this end, we have developed six key aims for the School which
by promoting a lifelong intellectual
I will use as a framework to share a review of the academic year with
curiosity. This takes place right through the
you. As you read through, I am sure you will see that our Old
School: by teaching chess to all the First
Reedonians are very integral to School life and I am grateful for the
Form; by introducing FutureTech lessons to
wonderful support you continue to give in so many ways.
all Second Form; by requiring all Third
Form pupils to write a dissertation for their
Please accept my sincere thanks again for all your support of
Nissen Bridgeman project; by introducing
Reed’s School and I hope you enjoy this year’s edition of the
mindfulness lessons in the Fourth Form; by
Reeder and the wealth of articles in it. I also hope it inspires you
developing a ‘tougher minds’ programme
to come and visit soon.
in the Fifth Form and by offering the
extended project qualification in the Sixth
Form. We believe such a dynamic
approach is vital and are always looking
for ways to enable our pupils to be
creative and independent.
I am proud of our pupils’ efforts and their
achievements. Likewise I am proud to lead
The best teachers are those who show you where
a school where the skill, enthusiasm and
to look, but don’t tell you what to see.
dedication to their craft of our staff is
Alexandra K. Trenfor exceptional.
7
#2 #3 #4
Continue to build on the legacy Find the best in every pupil Create a community for life
of Andrew Reed
All children have a unique blend of talents Our desire is to create a community that
Schools last two hundred years because and interests; it is our job to unlock these lasts a lifetime certainly seems evident
they evolve, not because they change the attributes. when I meet ORs. For example, it was
fundamentals; Andrew Reed’s legacy wonderful that at Reunion Day this year,
continues to shape our ethos in so many In Drama this year we have had four we had ORs representing each decade
ways. superb, large-scale productions where the with a few from 1947 who were celebrating
numbers taking part are ever-increasing. 70 years since being at School.
Right up to the late 1950s, almost all the Similarly in Music, the autumn and spring
pupils at Reed’s were orphans or from concerts were of the usual high standard You will go on to read about the various
single parent families and came from all and were supplemented by other School events that have involved Old
over the country. It is illuminating to speak wonderful performances such as the Reedonians throughout the academic year.
with ORs of this generation about their Kraftwerk concert by the Third Form and What is so positive is that there is no sense
experiences and life achievements. Today the Steinway Hall concert. of struggling to get volunteers for such
Reed’s is mostly a day school, with our occasions, as our ORs are always happy
pupils mainly coming from the local area: In Sport, as in Drama and Music, our to give back in whatever way they can.
however, between 10% and 15% of our pupils have excelled. We have put out This sets a great example to our pupils as
pupils are Foundation scholars and so his more teams in the major sports of rugby, to how Reed’s will never really leave them!
legacy continues in a real way. hockey, netball and cricket than ever before
and there are also numerous individual The timeless Charity House Arts Reviews
Importantly, the values he exemplified to successes with representation at national perfectly illustrates the nature of the Reed’s
us, as someone who was very much and county level. Reed’s School was Surrey community within School as it continues to
ahead of his time with respect to social Champions in boys’ hockey at U13, U14, be organised by the pupils themselves,
mobility, the power of education and U16 and U18 – a remarkable achievement; showcasing their talents and creativity with
human rights, remain very much at the given that we are considerably smaller a real sense of purpose in raising money
centre of our consciousness. school than our competitors. for their chosen House charity.
Even our wonderful new indoor cricket Our U16s reached the Hockey National We are also lucky to have a dynamic
centre has its genesis in the Foundation. finals at the Olympic Park, our Rugby 7s parent body who, through the auspices of
The seed capital for that project was team reached the National Quarter finals FORS (Friends of Reed’s) and ParentLink,
donated to us by a former Foundation and our girls’ hockey team narrowly bring us together as a community through
scholar. His vision, and that of a current missed out losing in the semi-finals. They the Christmas Fair, quiz night, comedy
parent who also made a significant did, however, play at the Cambridge v night and summer parties.
contribution to the project, was to provide Oxford varsity match where OR Naomi
a facility that all the pupils would benefit Kelly (Mullens 2015) captained Oxford to a
from and, when it is not being used by 4-0 win.
School, could be rented out to third parties
and the wider community, with the funds The number of pupils undertaking the
being ploughed back into the Foundation Duke of Edinburgh awards and taking part
to support pupils. in Toastmasters continues to grow, the
CCF continues to thrive with an impressive
And so, ultimately, Andrew Reed’s legacy Corps of Drums, as does the rich and
is this School and its ethos. varied activities programme that we
provide for all our pupils.
8 THE REEDER 2017
#5 #6
Provide a nurturing Prepare pupils for the future
environment where all pupils
can flourish Our final aim is to prepare our pupils for the
future. In many ways everything we do at
Success is only possible if pupils feel Reed’s seeks to achieve this.
they are in an environment where they
can flourish and this is what we aspire This year we see our largest ever Sixth
to create. Form leaving to become our newest Old
Reedonians. When I look at their university
Whether it is through our 360 degree courses and destinations, they are very
pastoral system, the student mentoring impressive and demonstrate that we are
scheme – where our trained Sixth Form certainly not producing homogenous clones.
students support younger pupils – or
through the house system where staff and In contemplating what advice to pass onto
pupils unite as a team to compete against our leavers, I was struck by the words of
the other houses in everything from OR Major Mike Foster Van der Elst (Mullens
tug-of-war to badminton, it is that feeling 2001) of the Rifles Regiment who spoke
of togetherness, community and mutual brilliantly at our CCF Regimental Dinner in
support which is so important. early June. Although he left in 2001,
Mike remains connected with Reed’s and
If we can nurture curiosity and I thought I would relay to you some
independence, nourish responsibility and reflections from his inspiring address by
produce compassionate young adults way of a gentle reminder of what it means
full of integrity, we will have succeeded in to be an Old Reedonian:
this aim.
“You may find yourselves for the first time
now looking beyond the horizon of Reed’s,
preparing to start a career or go to
university, and wondering if you are ready. In my first few days, I was
You absolutely are. This School has given welcomed not just as part of my
you everything you need to do well in new form, or my year but as part of
anything you choose to do. the Reed’s family, my life was
certainly changed for the better.
“To steal a line from Kipling, something that
It was at this point that Reed’s
defines you as Reedonians is that you can
demonstrated in my opinion its
‘walk with kings but keep the common
greatest strength, its ability to
touch’ and ‘keep your heads when all
provide a sense of community and
about you are losing theirs’. So Reed’s has
pride in its core values, among
given you a personal code, although you
which lie a strong emphasis on
might not have realised it yet. Whatever
compassion and respect for others,
you decide to do in life, hold on to that,
the type of qualities which has the
earn the great privilege you have enjoyed
power to change people’s lives.
by being in this School by giving back to
society and you will have a fulfilling career.” Current Sixth Form student
9
Our values
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10 THE REEDER 2017 BACK TO SCHOOL
ORs CONTINUE TO
PLAY AN INTEGRAL PART
IN SCHOOL LIFE
SEPTEMBER 2016
Two OR visits from The Netherlands in one
month! Florence (or Francine as she was
known at School) Verbeek (Bristowe
1997) was joined by her husband and
mother, whilst Lisanne Naves (Mullens
2004) popped in to say hello and even
managed to find herself in the whole
School photo outside the Assembly Hall.
We held our second FutureCareers
Seminar at Reed’s focusing on the world of
film and television and were lucky enough
to be joined by three very experienced Old
Reedonians, each of whom is an expert in
his/her respective field.
We welcomed ORs, current and former parents, and friends from the local community to join us
in a ‘Grease’ film night in aid of the Reed’s Foundation.
painted a wonderful picture of the and former parents, and friends from the
demands of being a producer: the local community to join us in a ‘Grease’
responsibilities, the juggling, the managing, sing-a-long. Everyone entered into the
the researching, the selling, the budgeting, spirit of the evening with some great
the coercing and last, but not least, the costumes, singing and dancing.
need to be creative, brave and come up
Rachel Corbould (Mullens 2006) spoke with new ideas constantly. Huge thanks go to OR Charlotte Mocatta
passionately about some of the amazing (Mullens 1988) for her drive and
and diverse film sets she has worked on. On a summer night in September, Rydell determination in getting this fundraiser off
Rupert Bryan (Mullens 1992), owner of High made a visit to Reed’s School...and if the ground. Money raised went into the
MPH Productions, talked knowledgeably that means nothing to you, then you’re Simon Church & Jonathan Turner Bursary
about the making of film, television, video obviously not a Grease fan! Fund (part of the Reed’s Foundation)
and internet content across a broad in memory of Charlotte’s brother and
spectrum, and the various roles within the Under the banner of ‘Films for the friend – see OR Syndicates, page 65 for
industry. Chris Brogden (Capel 1984) Foundation’, we welcomed ORs, current further details.