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NEWS FROM HOME
Quentin Haigh (N 73) driving at the Severn Valley Railway, where he was joined by Shobna Gulati, who interviewed him for the River Walk series which was transmitted on BBC1 West Midlands and later on Countryfile
everywhere else in the country is, there being no such thing as a quick trip to anywhere! He has missed his regular catch-ups with Mike Brook (Sn 71) and Brian Bowser (Sn 71), but is enjoying the quieter life and plenty of sailing. Last November he managed a lifetime ambition to sail across the Atlantic from Las Palmas to Antigua.
Philip Selbie (Ldr 78) and his wife are leaving the South-West, returning to Prague in semi-retirement, after teaching and lecturing in Plymouth for the last 10 years. Philip’s father, Peter, died in Plymouth in February 2018, which was reported in name only in last year’s obituaries in The Old Oundelian. It is appropriate that we can now add that Peter rowed for the Laundimer VIII and played in the second row for the 1st XV rugby team. After leaving Oundle, he served aboard HMS Implacable, Indefatigable, Devonshire and Bassingham during National Service, before working for most of his career in the pharmaceutical industry. In 1991 Peter and Gill retired to Fowey, Cornwall, where they both played an active part in the local community, as well as at South-West OO events.
Philip Betts (S 77) relocated to North Wiltshire four years ago and is trading on his own account as a property consultant. He is fighting the ageing process by scaring the
locals in Lycra in a local cycling club with others of a similar vintage and reports meeting David Pigott (G 78) regularly, refuelling in London from time to time with Sidney contemporaries David Kilbourn (S 76), Tim Blackstone (S 76) and Clive Anderson (S 77).
It is now two years since Chris Higman (N 62) moved from Frankfurt to Chippenham and he reports that the prime purpose of the move, being closer to family, has been a success. He frequently sees his daughter, Victoria Davies (D 96), and her two children – Esther (7) and Philip (5) – who recently spent their first night away from home with grandparents. Less successful has been his attempt to reduce his energy consulting activities with trips to China, Pakistan and USA. However, as a result of this work, the Institution of Chemical Engineers has awarded him the Hebden Medal for services to the gasification industry. The medal is named after the late OO, Dennis Hebden, who was Head of R&D at British Gas.
Piers Pepperell appreciates the new state-of-the-art veterinary practice of which he is a director, in spite of spending most of his time away on farms with his hand inside cows! He has again met up with Dom Turnor (S 90), Aydon Yeaman (S 90), Jeremy Paxman (Ldr 90) and Jeremy Dutta
(G 90) for their annual big walk in the Peak District – great views, great food, same conversations! Jimmy Greenwood (S 90) was unable to join them from Kenya due to fatherhood duties.
Quentin Haigh (N 73), a regular contributor and supporter of OO functions, once again tells us of a full
year, commencing with his presence
last year at his Greek teacher John Harrison’s memorial in September,
the London Dinner at Lord’s in
November and the Over-60s’ Lunch
at the RAF Club in March, when he
met up with Alfred Rose (B 76) and returned to Penzance on the train
with Robert Poet (N 58). He was also
in St Peter’s Church for Ioan Thomas’ memorial in June. Away from
Oundle affairs, he was at Truro
Cathedral in January for the
inauguration and installation of Philip
Ian Mountstephen, the 16th Bishop
of Truro. He still found time to attend
two concerts at the English Haydn Festival in June and invigilate mock GCSE and internal exams at Mullion School. However, the highlight of Quentin’s year was undoubtedly two
days driving at the Severn Valley
Railway before retiring from footplate duties. He was interviewed by
Shobna Gulati, who joined him on
the footplate filming for the River Walk series which was transmitted on
BBC1 West Midlands and later on www
THE OLD OUNDELIAN 2018 –2019
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