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NEWS FROM HOME
Richard Maddison (Sc 55), Hamish Donaldson (Ldr 54) and Ian Wainwright (Ldr 55). On Ian's knees is the Brewster Maths Prize that he shared with Richard
competition courses, a sport in which he is a national champion for his age group.
The main news from the Meredith household has been the arrival of a new Meredith. Harry Meredith (F 11) and his partner Megan Sapseid had their daughter, Mila Olivia Meredith, on 4th September 2017. They live in Farncombe, just south of Guildford, and Harry has now also changed job. In June he started work at a company called Fusion in Godalming, which is just a 20-minute walk from their home. Harry has taken his data analyst skills to his new employer, where he is also working as a consultant, and is now enjoying the lack of regular commuting to London, although work does still take him up there for occasional meetings. Harry is very good at doing the right things, but not necessarily in the right order. He has now partially rectified this by proposing to Megan when they were over in Paris on a weekend break, so that led to a great excuse for an engagement party in July, which was hosted by proud grandparents, Kirstie and David Meredith (Lx 78) at their home near Maidstone. There was a good attendance, including Harry’s old Fisher roommate, Digby Morse (F 11), and Henry Morris (G 11). Digby is also thrilled to be one of Mila’s godparents, so he also attended her baptism in Godalming earlier in July.
Apart from the culture shock of becoming a grandfather, David still runs his business of Busbys, chartered
accountants in Tenterden, Kent, and he has continued to enjoy regular contact with various OOs and the School in his capacity as Reporting Accountant to the OO Club. Unfortunately, this role did have an unpleasant consequence, as David was one of a very select number of attendees at the Committee meeting in March, when the UK experienced substantial snowfalls. David failed to realise that leather-soled shoes were inappropriate footwear when walking on icy cobbles outside The Talbot and the result was two broken ribs and a bruised shoulder. David has strenuously denied any alcoholic causes, but it seems his memory may have been impaired by the fall!
Will Meredith (F 14) was also at Harry’s engagement party and he was also celebrating the completion of his academic life at Newcastle University, where he gained a 2:1 studying Economics with Finance. He shared a house with Alexander (AJ) Johnsen (F 14) and James Campbell (F 14), both of whom have also successfully completed their degree courses. Other attendees at the engagement party were: Ashley Cuthbert (S 14), who has now completed his degree at Bristol, and Ben Richmond (G 14), who has just finished at Leeds University. Will has also seen Fliss Earnshaw (W 14) occasionally. Whilst she is also at Newcastle University, she has been on a placement year, starting in Paris and concluding in Madrid. Will has kept up with many other OOs, both at Newcastle
and elsewhere, including Bella Stern (W 12), Miles Beney (S 14),Josie Whitley (W 14),Octavia Morgan (N 14), Jake Walker (F 14) and Sarah Huckin (D 14).
Harry’s godfather, Andrew Pincott (Lx 78), was also at the engagement party. He is working hard as Business Development Director for regional accountants and business advisers Kreston Reeves. Outside of work, he is heavily involved in an international charity (Riders for Health), providing transport and training for healthcare workers in sub-Saharan rural Africa. This autumn he will be on his third trip to the region, helping to deliver new off-road motorcycles to key health-workers in the mountainous kingdom of Lesotho.
David’s annual request for news to his contemporaries resulted in an almost immediate response from Paul Barrett (Lx 78). Apart from causing everyone else to sit down in awe at Paul’s previously unknown efficiency, it was good to hear that he is going to be the High Sheriff of Kent from 7th April 2019 to 5th April 2020. As the Queen’s representative for law and order in the county, he has warned us that he will be keeping a close watch on all OOs in Kent!
David has also heard from Philip Yarrow (Lx 79), who continues to run a bed and breakfast with his wife, Julie. Phil reports that they have had some delightful guests to stay, but still no Old Oundelians. However, he did see Richard Kemsley (C 78), who had popped in with his father when he was visiting Kent. He still runs a farm near
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THE OLD OUNDELIAN 2017 –2018