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Dudley Lucas (Sc 59) writes to say that he has discovered in recent years that he is a very competent chef, so is now enjoying making a range of desserts for a local restaurant in Kilifi. He adds: “I have, after much effort, managed to prevent my wife appearing in the kitchen with an ‘if I were you’ or ‘when I do that...’, which tends to bring out the Gordon Ramsay in me!”
Peter Christianakis (F 16) is back in Tanzania, having completed his second year of his Business
Administration degree at IE University in Madrid.
James Waters (B 83) has been in Harare for almost a year, where his wife is on a posting to the German Embassy. He says: “Trying to cope with a country in turmoil occupies most of my time on a daily basis, but I still manage to get out on to the golf course from time to time!”
Meanwhile, David Behr (Lx 94), like a true Zimbabwean, juggles work with an extensive and busy social life.
NEWS FROM ABROAD
Africa
By Charles Salem (C 78)
First to reply to my request for news in Australia was Harvey Jones (S 88), who tells me he was persuaded to stand – and was then elected – as a member of the City of Burnside Council, representing the Beaumont Ward, in Adelaide. “Although it has been fun, the amount of work involved has come as a bit of a shock – 15 hours a week on top of my daytime job,” he writes. “Sadly, this doesn’t leave much time for other interests for me to write about!”
Richard Topham (Ldr 56) and his wife, Jill, were in Jerusalem during Holy Week and also visited Jordan. “The contrast between the two – looking at each other across the Jordan River – was quite dramatic and led to some interesting sights,” he says. On their return to Melbourne, they drove to Sydney (10 hours in each direction) to collect a very large 12-month old Ridgeback puppy, such is their love for these beautiful animals.
Triston Farmer’s (Sn 94) life has changed dramatically, with any spare time taken up by his adorable toddlers, Uschi and Floyd, and renovating a new house.
Richard Walker (B 72) was in
of Charles Allen (B 54) who is in fine fettle and was able to to travel to Canberra to hear his daughter-in-law make her maiden speech as a recently-elected Federal MP.
Anthony Bayley (S 63) still works part-time for one of the international development agencies. Despite this, he finds time for golf and sailing. Late last year, Anthony and his wife travelled 10,000km through parts of the Outback, and this year are off to Canada and Alaska after a quick visit to the UK.
Another great birder, David Hollands (N 51), writes: “Living on myownwasanewandnot particularly welcome experience, but I decided to pull my finger out and attempt to do a greatly expanded and better illustrated version of my first book, Eagles, Hawks and Falcons of Australia, and also to try to write an autobiography. The latter is proving to be quite fun and I am surprised just how much ancient detail I can remember. Oundle one year after the end of the war was a very different place from today, but I remember it with great affection. Graham Stainforth used to sit up in Chapel, staring menacingly across
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THE OLD OUNDELIAN 2018 –2019
Australasia
By Charles Salem (C 78)
England early in 2019, visiting his family and “spending precious time with Amrei and Lisa Harrison, the widow and daughter of John, my much-loved and late-lamented Housemaster.” He is now back in Melbourne, appearing in Come from Away, at the Comedy Theatre.
Mike Preeston (Lx 64) has spent time in Oundle, visiting his cousin, Anthony Swallow (D 55), and his wife, as well as his old chum, Bob Brittain (Lx 64), and his wife on their farm in Suffolk. Mike is still very active in the ornithological world and sees a lot of Clive Minton (Lx 53). Speaking of Clive, he writes: “I am continuing to get less mobile (85 this year), but still managing to continue with my main interest by being actively involved in ornithological fieldwork around the world. Travel in the last 12 months has involved two extended visits to Delaware Bay in the USA and four extended trips to distant areas within Australia. I find having wheelchair help at airports is of great benefit. Frustratingly, my brain has slowed up considerably too and keeping up with the associated paperwork from all these trips is a great struggle.” He in turn sees a lot