Page 103 - OO_2019

Range. Steven was looking forward to the 150th Imperial Meeting at Bisley, where, in 2018, he managed 12th place in the British Open Target Rifle Championship.
Niamh Holding (Sn 79) gave me a flashback to childhood, as she tells me that in June 2019 she completed the amateur (ham) radio intermediate course and exam, and is now on air as 2W0NRE should anyone want to get in contact.
James Moore (S 93) tells me that he continues to live with wife Kate, a headteacher in Pembrokeshire, and three teenage children on the coast of West Wales. Life continues to be busy as a family, with GCSEs, sports and other activities; I very much sympathise! James enjoyed competing in triathlons in 2018 and finished third in the Welsh Triathlon Series in his first year of racing. He adds: “There’s hardly a day when I’m not training for a couple of hours with a swim, bike, run and/or conditioning. It’s become a bit of a passion now and I’m looking forward to competing in all sorts of events over the next few years.” In terms of work, James continues to work across the Welsh NHS and the Welsh Public Services as they try to create a more collaborative approach to service design and delivery, and working cultures. He says: “It’s a challenge with no end, but one I continue to enjoy!”
Paul Eadie (Sn 61) writes that he is now virtually retired. However, he is kept busy with an ever-growing family. He has 13 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, the latest of which (a girl) was born on 3rd August, the same day that one of his grandsons (an accomplished jazz saxophonist and composer at the world-famous Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester) celebrated his 18th birthday.
Whilst Bob Redfern (Sc 72) told me that his news was much as it was last year (albeit he is now a year older!), he went on to say that he was recently contacted by David Kidd (Sc 72), Simon Turner (Sc 72) and David Robinson (Sc 73) regarding a School House ‘72/73 reunion and that they were due to meet at the Grocers’ Hall on 1st October; I look forward to the
Abi Carter (K 01) with her Board Member Trophy from the Chwarae Teg Womenspire Awards
write-up next year! Bob has also noticed that the environment is getting hotter in West Glamorgan. He writes: “In July 2019, and for the first time since we moved here in 1992, I saw (and caught!) a common lizard. I was mindful to mention this, as I was saddened to hear of the death of Ioan Thomas, an inspiration to so many to develop a lifelong fascination with wildlife. I would like to think that nearly 50 years on, he would have been pleased that one of his former students would still delight in pond life, including recently observing giant diving beetle larvae and newt larvae (the former seem to have a taste for the latter). Not yet found any hydra but I have plans...”
Tim McVey (Ldr 73) tells me that although life wanders on in its humdrum way, he and wife Cynthia keep busy with various interests. Their greatest joy is their granddaughter, Hester, daughter of Hannah McVey (Sn 04). They tell me that Hannah is pregnant again and a sibling is due just before Christmas; I wish them all well. Tim informed me that they had a wonderful wedding for their other daughter, Ros (who, he's afraid, went to Malvern!), combining Welsh, English and Indian elements in the beautiful setting of Montgomery Town Hall, despite the dampener of Storm Hannah passing through on the day! When not enjoying their expanding family, Tim walks, maintains footpaths and is increasingly involved with the
Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust. Steve Fletcher (S 69) and his wife,
Jane, have now been running their bed and breakfast at The Old Rectory in Pembrokeshire for eight years. They have only had one OO visit to date. He recognised the brass crocodile nutcracker and asked where Steve went to school! Steve spent a lot of his time at Oundle in the workshops and even though the b&b is taking up more and more of his time, he still manages to find the odd day and afternoon to do some building work. Over the last year they have cleared an area by the house and built a rather over-the-top carport for their small collection of vintage cars. Whilst Steve does not give me details of their garden, it must be magnificent, as he tells me they opened it under the National Garden Scheme in May and brought the village to a halt, as they had nearly 200 visitors!
Richard Morris (Lx 54) apologised for sending me his news late, but that was because he had been away from home quite a lot this year with family and friends in the South-West, West Wales, South-West London, North London, Harpenden and the Cotswolds (among other places). He spent a week in June with his wife, sailing the Norwegian waterways on an enormous ship. Both their daughters joined them and helped the 'older brigade' around! They also bribed him into a helicopter ride over the fjords, of which Richard said: “The pilot took one look at me and promised a smooth ride. He was true to his words!” In addition to all these jaunts, he somehow fitted in time for another prosthetic leg and a cataract procedure. He even then had the temerity to say he didn't have much to report!
Abi Carter (K 01) has had a very
busy year, so I will let her explain: “I
was made the Wales Co-Chair of the charity, Remembering Srebrenica, at
the start of the year, which is great. I
also completed a fund-raising
challenge called Challenge8372 for
the charity. It took 12 months of
planning and eight months to
complete. The numbers denoted the challenge, which meant I had eight months to do three challenges, with www
NEWS FROM HOME
THE OLD OUNDELIAN 2018 –2019
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