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www senior roles on the UKMT Council. This exposure to the very best young people in Mathematics led him to identify a need for mentors of pupils with exceptional mathematical talent who had no one in their own schools to nurture them appropriately. So, the UKMT Mentoring Scheme was born, which he believes is his best initiative! He ran it for 13 years and has been personally thanked by the Secretary of State for Education for this initiative, which has had a significant effect on the Maths education of the best UK pupils.
The Maths department enjoyed a real camaraderie throughout those years. The annual summer party, which he and Liz generously hosted, was always a wonderful and uplifting end to the School year.
Outside the classroom, Richard was equally dedicated to other aspects of his schoolmaster role. As a dedicated Tutor in Dryden, he took very personal care of his charges, supporting them to the hilt. The annual trip to the Chinese in Stamford for his tutees and his Scottish renditions at the Burns Supper will not be forgotten! Happy
to play his part in the wider School community, staff will all recall humorous commentary throughout his time as Chairman of the Common Room. The twinkle in his eye was never far from the surface.
Richard always had a sports team to organise, train and motivate. He ran hockey teams, notably the girls’ U16B which he did for 12 years. Most recently and right up into his final term at Oundle, Richard ran the girls’ tennis, coaching the 1st and 2nd VIs.
Outside school, squash, music and sailing were passions at different stages and, as in every other aspect of his life, he could not help but get fully involved. He set up and ran leagues in the Oundle Town Squash Club for about 10 years, much appreciated by townsfolk. He ran the
becoming Musical Director a few years later. The Maths department enjoyed regular outings to their rousing concerts. In earlier days, he had even played the organ in Canterbury Prison!
Richard is a kind, professional and supremely intellectual man. It is no surprise that he has influenced so many learners and colleagues so positively. He made an outstanding contribution to the education and personal development of Oundle pupils, but also in the wider world of Mathematics. He has already left a significant legacy in and out of school, but there is more to come. He will continue to be involved in the wider Maths world through the mentoring scheme and will enjoy quieter times in his Suffolk home with Liz.
Those who have had the privilege to work for or alongside him know that Richard is one in a million. Of all Maths teachers, there cannot be anyone with bigger shoes to fill. We all wish him a happy and fulfilling retirement.
Nicola Guise, Former Maths teacher
Armed with an Arts honours degree from Dartington College, a licentiate diploma and a Certificate in Education, David set foot with some trepidation into the unfamiliar world of a private school in the January of 1993 to teach woodwind. At this time, the Music School was divided between the premises next door to the Stahl Theatre and the Old Sanatorium, with the woodwind department nestled snuggly in the barn conversion situated at the former. During the warmer months many an ad-hoc barbecue was enjoyed by David and members of his team, and Friday morning break-times
Head of Woodwind
were frequently spent down the road at Fitzgerald’s bistro (now the Onkar restaurant), occasionally resulting in a more mellow rest of the day.
It was during these halcyon days that David made the mistake of allowing his ability to conduct and rehearse an orchestra to be discovered, and he was quickly conscripted to run both the School Symphony and Chamber Orchestras. Both orchestras flourished under his direction, producing some memorable concerts. The evening of four concertos with pupil soloists accompanied by the Symphony
Orchestra was a particular highlight, featuring Miho Hirabayashi with the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto and Ian Farrington performing Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. As well as developing the variety of chamber groups for the woodwind pupils to be involved with, David saw the need for a tiered arrangement of wind ensembles, based on his own musical experience at school. So, from the very large concert band, he and Richard Kauffman formed a more specialist wind orchestra, which the younger players could aspire towards, and this group is still flourishing and exploring the more
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THE OLD OUNDELIAN 2017 –2018
STAFF FAREWELLS
School Sailing Club for several organising an annual regional championship involving a fleet boats and over 50 races in the afternoon – which Oundle won When Liz and he moved to Nassington, he picked up his trombone again and joined the Yarwell and Nassington Band,
years, of 18 twice.
David Milsted