Page 104 - OO_2018

62) and John Owen (St A 58). William seemingly has a steady stream of OOs frequenting the hotel. Michael continues to run the North Yorkshire East Coroners area, but says that will come to an end in November 2019, as he has decided “to draw stumps”. Interestingly, in May he attempted to hold a 55-year reunion of History V1 1962 in London, having had a very successful one at the 40-year mark. Sadly, it was not viable to run the event, but Michael had several communications with the likes of David Gower (C 63) and Nigel Beaumont (Sc 62), as well as Roger Marshall (St A 62), who he sees from time to time in North Yorkshire. In late June Michael was up in Sutherland with old friend Iain Laird (Lx 62), trying to catch fish on the Cassley, albeit not with a lot of success.
Retirement has already started for Michael Brook (Sn 71), who reports that Mark Hughes’ (Lx 73) Christmas card revealed that he has also retired fully and is deeply involved in converting a barn. Nick Gill (Sc 70) has decamped permanently from Nottinghamshire to his house and yacht in Cornwall. Cunningly, he has become a non- executive director of the firm which built his yacht. Andrew Gloag (Sn 81) was a guest at the shoot of which Michael is a member, as was James Stuart-Mills (Sc 85). He has also seen Anthony Collinson (S 59), who lives five miles away, but despite trying to penetrate his busy diary, has failed dismally to get him and his wife around for dinner. Michael is also in regular contact with Brian Bowser (Sn 71), who has had the distraction of completely renovating his late mother’s home and then moving into it.
After 12 years in Knaresborough, where Tony Handley (Ldr 63) owned the now-infamous Tour De France ‘Spotty House’ and ran two highly successful holiday cottages, he and his artist wife, Lori, are moving to Northumberland, with the opening of a working gallery in Morpeth being their next adventure. Their time in Knaresborough ended with Yorkshire Tea helping them decorate their iconic house with 98 giant tea pots to celebrate their last Yorkshire Day and their ‘Grand Départ’ from the town.
Talking of adventures, Will Theakston (Ldr 04) is not only Fuller’s Export Manager in London (which is perhaps not a surprise given the family
background), but also attempting to become the second Laundimerian after Pete Robinson (Ldr 03) to row the Atlantic Ocean. This is planned for December 2018/January 2019. However, he doubts they will be going quite as quickly as Pete! His team are still working hard raising money to fund the challenge, as well as taking part in numerous uncomfortable charity rowing events, but these have already raised significant funds for their charities, Combat Stress and Bowel Cancer UK.
Continuing the rowing theme, Oliver Quarmby (Sn 93), Joe Henry (Sn 93), Nigel Kirk (Sn 93), Leo Sargeant (Ldr 93) (who flew in from Oregon), Rick Dunn (Sn 94) and James Clay (Sn 94) met up in March to celebrate 25 years since Oundle School 1st VIII won the Child Beale Cup at the National Schools Rowing Championships. Rick had arranged for them to borrow an VIII from Imperial College so they could go out for a paddle. It was the first time many of them had been in a boat since leaving Oundle (although in passing it should be mentioned Rick rowed for GB in the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Olympics). They were joined for dinner by bowman Ed Gardner (C 93) and Henry Pott (Sc 93) via a WhatsApp live video feed from America. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to meet up with cox Jimmy Barker (C 94). However, they did see James Leabeater (Sn 93) and all resolved to go out on the water again. A 30th anniversary perhaps?
By contrast, Edward Waterson (S 69) says he isn’t doing anything very exciting at the moment, other than his involvement in various charities and still writing books. He has got another Rolls Royce, though – this time a 1956 Silver Cloud. His son, James Waterson (S 07), is leading a much more interesting life as the new Media Editor at The Guardian, having left the role of Politics Editor at online news site BuzzFeed after four years. Edward regularly sees his old study-mates, John Hyde (S 70) and Philip Cartwright (S 69). John reports booming business in his specialist engineering firm, while Philip just loves retirement and his fleet of fancy cars.
John Granger (C 71) and Tim are regular hosts to Edward and his wife, Jill, at their cottage near Cambridge. They arrived back from a two-year stint in California last year and John has been
elected a parish councillor, which keeps him busy. Tim’s 50th birthday party saw the fish-and-chip van serving portions of cod to such noted OOs as Geoffrey Oakley (D 71) and Mark Granger (C 77), with the latter continuing as Chief Executive of property consultants Carter Jonas. David Watson (D 69) and wife Mary called in to see Edward in York recently and mentioned a possible return to the UK after 37 years in Johannesburg.
What is fascinating from all the reports received is how much OOs of whatever age are keeping in touch with each other. For example, Paul Turner (S 86) says he is still alive and well, knocking down bungalows to build houses in Harrogate. His wife, Lucy, has just given birth to their first child, Darley, and various Oundelians were at the christening. He is in contact regularly with Rupert Bullock and spent a weekend in July with Adam Morriss (Lx 86) in Tunbridge Wells. He keeps promising to see Rollo Hawkins (Sn 86) with Adam and that is next on their to-do list.
Jim Bennett (N 77) has managed to turn out twice for the Northern OO Golf Society team in the last year under the efficient direction of Robert Blackburn (Sc 73). They managed a win against Uppingham and a draw against Sedbergh. He is still working in the South African fishing Industry, which involves regular trips to Cape Town and Europe. His brother, Charlie Bennett (N 84), is on good form and recently came down from Northumberland to take part in their village clay-pigeon shoot near Harrogate.
Jonathan Britton (Ldr 00) lives and works in York city centre as a manager for JD Wetherspoon. He is in regular contact with James Ducker (Ldr 00) and Mark Eddy (Ldr 00). Jonathan is a keen runner with marathon aspirations and often goes climbing, especially when visiting his sister in Scotland. His brother, James Britton (G 88), lives closer in Beverley and they meet up regularly.
Phil Massey (St A 85) is working in York and describes his two boys aged seven and nine as thriving. He still maintains contacts in Madrid, where he lived for 10 years. He sees Peter Scaife (B 71) from time to time and keeps in touch with a handful of OOs scattered around the country.
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THE OLD OUNDELIAN 2017 –2018
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