Page 83 - OO_2018

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Nick Pritchard (Sc 65) is pleased to report that after several years of becoming used to the idea that he and his wife were not destined to be grandparents, for reasons much too complicated to explain, four grandsons have arrived into the family, aged from three to 12.
Ian Carmichael (Sn 60) is another happy grandparent who is delighted that his grandson started at Oundle (in Sidney House) this September.
Jonathan Douglas (B 80) reports that his niece – the daughter of Philip Douglas (B 78) – got married this year. He is personally working hard across his two small businesses. Induction Technology Group sells air filters and engine induction parts for racing cars and for tuning-up cars all over the world, supplying some high-profile racing teams in all areas from F1 and Le Mans downwards. JE Engineering is finding an amazing level of continued interest in modifying Land Rover Defenders despite the end of production a few years ago.
Meanwhile, Chris Best (C 66) replied claiming that his life continues as “manic as ever”. Having started at Ardencote, the four-star hotel halfway between Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick, some two years ago as Business Development Manager, Chris also took on the post of Interim Sales & Marketing Manager covering maternity leave for a colleague. When not working in the hospitality sector, Chris is heavily involved with Stratford-upon-Avon Boat Club, running the safety launches, regattas and letting the facilities to raise funds for the club. He would be delighted to welcome fellow OOs to both Ardencote and Stratford-upon- Avon Boat Club.
Anna Turney (K 97) was recently part of a panel of OO Team GB competitors at the OO Club Sports Lunch in the spring. She enjoyed watching the Winter Paralympics four years after her retirement from Alpine skiing and felt that the experience gave her some closure. It also gave her a chance to be involved a bit in the media side of things – which was helpful as she develops her Inspirational Speaking business and she can now be found online doing a TEDx talk.
Colin Ringrose (St A 65) has had a THE OLD OUNDELIAN 2017 –2018
quieter year, with highlights being a weekend at Center Parcs Woburn Forest celebrating his wife Chrissie’s 70th birthday. His son, Tom Ringrose (St A 96), was also there.
The 'most thorough replier' award for the West Midlands this year has to go to Mark Swallow (Sc 77). He reports that his son, Matthew Swallow (Sc 01), has been in Kenya for five years and has just come through a divorce after 18 months trying to conform! He gave up teaching to become a budding entrepreneur in the world of music in East Africa, singing in a band, running a sound recording studio and organising a festival at Kilifi, where the New Year event attracts 3,000 + - a must for all undergrads to party in the New Year sun. He also has a pop-up bar in Nairobi and is well known on the DJ circuit as ‘DJ Lasta’! In short, he’s loving life again. Mark continues to work in the world of property, buying sites to develop student halls of residence across the UK and now in Italy, concentrating on Florence, which is not a hardship. With two teenagers at university and one into eventing at 2*, he can certainly not retire in the foreseeable, especially as his second son, Ben, is at university learning all about the film world in order to be a cameraman. Mark also reports the following OO sightings: “Johnny Gloag (Sc 77) is Estates Bursar for Merton College and also busy following his very successful daughter, Imogen, eventing at the top 4* level...scary stuff; Charlie Houston (C 77) lives very close by, shoots and runs a tennis racket for the locals; Andy Bywater (Lx 75) is my GP, a top bloke who loves his country pursuits and has time for everyone; Robert Salt (Sc 83) runs the family healthcare business and parties hard.”
The last replier was Charlie White (N 92), who continues to “bumble along” in Worcestershire with wife Serena (an Uppinghamian, remarkably) and children Sam and Molly. In addition to being a solicitor, he is also a curtain- maker and YouTuber (charliediyte, if you’re interested).
OO Club Past President Richard Matthews (D 66) has had an eventful year after a major downsize (after 32 years of dual-squirrelling in a large house!), moving into his new home in Stretton-on-Dunsmore, still in Warwickshire, in early June. Faith and he
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just about cleared enough boxes to provide sitting space for their first OO visitor, Harry Williamson (St A 55), later that month. He stepped down from the Editorial Board of The Old Oundelian this summer, knowing it to be secure under Simon Redfern's (Sc 75) excellent editorship and the very able board members. He also retired from and sold his plastic surgical practice in March, although he continues to offer (mainly!) ladies a non-surgical aesthetic service (Botox, fillers, peels etc) and to carry on his medicolegal practice. He signed off suggesting that “wider horizons beckon”, which hints at an exciting time ahead.
And then there is me. Typing this from the patio of our holiday place in the South of France, I am reflecting that it has been a busy year. Otherwise, I would have done this a lot sooner and now be in the pool! My recruitment business (Wright Solutions) continues to keep me busy – as do two children, a wife and a continued cycling obsession. Perhaps next year when my son, Will, heads off to board weekly (must be something in the genes!) at Old Swinford Hospital School, I may have a little more time to grow old a little more gracefully. I did manage to get down to London for the OO Sports Lunch in the spring, catching up with fellow members of the less-than- successful (but highly enjoyable) School Rugby Tour to South Africa in 1993. Meeting up with Jon Turner (N 93) and others there, we started planning for an OO Vets rugby match against my Birmingham Club (Bournville RFC) to celebrate their move to their new ground, but it looks like the dates may work against us. There is always next year, though!
Anna Turney (K 97) at the OO Sports Lunch at Queen's Club, where she was a member of the Q&A panel
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