Page 107 - OO_2019

patrons in the UK. He would be delighted to chat to any OO who may like a sculpture for their home, workplace or garden!
Peter Usher (Sc 50) reminds us he is still living in Lechlade and is in reasonable health apart from “knackered knees”. However, this did not prevent him attending the Over- 60s’ Lunch in London, which he thoroughly enjoyed.
Bill Hiscocks (C 76) lives near Salisbury and has been a trustee of the Oundle School Foundation (OSF) since 2012. He keeps busy with various charitable activities, including taking over as chair of The Land Trust this December, and has seen Clive Anderson, a fellow trustee of the OSF, Michael Blackburne (Sc 74) and Richard Andrews, a former Crosby House Tutor.
Adrian Phillips (St A 82) feels commercial opportunity in the Middle East makes the oil and gas industry look interesting again after its 2015 blues, despite geopolitical tensions. His son, John Phillips (St A 17), is now reading Chemistry at Edinburgh surrounded by many OOs, daughter Elizabeth Phillips is doing her A levels and brother Justin Phillips (St A 83) is Medical Director at Taunton Trust Hospital.
A near-neighbour of mine in Lovington, Richard Habershon (Ldr 71), claims to be sending news for the first time in a decade, finding more time to write after retirement from 15 years’ teaching at Millfield, where his three children were educated. He is keeping active playing tennis for the Somerset over- 65 team and still plays the clarinet and piano.
Another-near neighbour, in Bruton, is John Allwood (Ldr 70), who is enjoying life in beautiful Somerset after 35 years in Hertfordshire and almost accepting retirement, having given up one more non-executive position. His wife joined a group of friends on steward duty at Glastonbury to raise money for a local charity.
Also close by in Wincanton is Nigel Engert (G 67), who, although retired, is still a director of a Devon-based sports and leisure company, and Chairman of his local Patients’
Participation Group. He keeps in touch with two other retired contemporaries – Richard Peaver (G 67), who is now a doting grandfather in Norfolk, and George Marshall (G 67), who keeps busy as an instrumental and choral musician in London.
Ian Orr (St A 76) has brought us up to date again on the large family contingent of OOs. He is still working as a crisis management consultant and has recently returned from Kazakhstan. Sophie Orr (D 11) is working in London with an insurance company. William Orr (St A 13) has been working in Zambia and is about to start a job with a renewable energy company. Katie Orr (D 16) has enjoyed her second year at Durham, reading Geography as well as rowing and being a member of the University Officer Training Corps.
It is some two years since Brian Whitaker (Sn 58) retired to St Mawes, where he is enjoying life and reports an ever-increasing influx of OOs there. News on his four OO grandchildren include that Gregory Whitaker (Sc 10) is now a solicitor in Olswang; Bryony Whitaker (Sn 12) passed out at Sandhurst last November and is now a Lieutenant in the Army Veterinary Corps; Rory Whitaker (Sc 14) is a trainee with KPMG in Canary Wharf; and Stanley Billington (F 14) is a trainee at Barclays. Once again, Brian caught up with several OOs at Henley, including Bill Birkbeck (Sc 57), whom he had not seen since leaving Oundle!
Another relatively recent resident in the South-West is Chris Stephenson (Sn 85), who is settling into Bath after 10 years in Kenya. He initially worked for a US management consulting firm, but is now freelance and busy travelling back and forth to Sub-Saharan Africa, helping private companies, local and multinational, with their strategic management. He maintains contact with Andrew Cox (Sn 85), Nazir Razak (Sn 85) and Shaun Brunton (Ldr 85).
We hear for the first time for some years from Tony Birch (Sc 82), who sadly tells us of the passing of his uncle, Richard Birch (N 53), on 3rd
April 2019 in London at the age of 84. He qualified as an engineer, initially working in the nuclear industry, before returning to work in the family textile business in Staffordshire. In the late 80s he started in electrical manufacturing and moved to London, but continued to enjoy his love of sailing in North Wales and latterly in Cornwall, as well as driving holidays in Europe to indulge his other passion of photography. Meanwhile on a brighter note, Tony himself continues to enjoy running his caravan park in Wareham and time on the water with his family and granddaughter.
I share an interest in cricket with Andrew Waters (B 81), so much of his report concerned the thrill of the World Cup win and the successful exploits of Oundle Rovers! Aside from cricket, Andrew is proud of his father’s award of the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to the community in Preston, Herts. He regrets this is not a Buckingham Palace job, but nevertheless looks forward to accompanying his father to receive the award at County Hall, Hertford, in October. His brother, Mark Waters (B 93), initiated proceedings for this in 2016. Andrew reports that his eldest son is studying for a PHD in Astrophysics at UCL, whilst his youngest son has just graduated with a degree in Applied Psychology from Carlisle University. Back on a cricketing note, Andrew was looking forward to joining Mark and other brother Richard Waters (B 86) at Lord’s for the Ashes – as I did!
Ed Grattan (C 99) continues to enjoy his new life in Bath whilst working in Bristol, heading up communications for ethical bank Triodos. He and his wife, Bee, are expecting their first child in October.
I owe an apology to Hugh Brass (D
67) for not including his (slightly
late!) contribution last year, which
was unfortunate, as he and his wife
were new to the South-West, having
just bought a house near Cirencester
after 38 years living in Switzerland.
This year he reports spending much
time concentrating on extensive renovation work on the house, some expected/budgeted, much not! It is www
NEWS FROM HOME
THE OLD OUNDELIAN 2018 –2019
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