Page 19 - OO_2019

FEATURE
In Memoriam
Around 50 OOs and their families joined together on Saturday 9th February to remember their friends, Nick Moore (Lx 93) and George Gilroy (G 93), who died tragically in a car accident during their gap year in Australia in February 1994, writes Adam Grint (Lx 93).
The Moore family were in attendance as well as Patsy Gilroy, as memories of the boys’ characters were recalled through two fantastic addresses in the Chapel by Nick Tong (Lx 93) and James Bucher (G 93). They remembered George’s obsession with cricket and his welcoming smile, and Nick as the genial ‘poacher- come-gamekeeper’ from Yorkshire.
Reverend Brian Cunningham led the service, which was followed by lunch in the Common Room (aka the Old Tuckshop!), where a montage of photographs and videos drawn from the Archives were displayed, taking us from Nick’s and George’s School days all the way through the 25 years of annual reunions in their memory.
A surprisingly athletic display of football (given the 40-plus age group!) was next on the agenda in the legendary ‘Holland v Cameroon’ football match (a hangover from the 1990 World Cup). A tight game finished 4-3 to Cameroon, with players leaping like suet puddings, battling screaming hamstrings and the odd spot of gout!
mark the 25th Memorial Weekend for Nick and George by starting the national roll-out at Oundle – as I had always hoped to do. Working closely with Hannah Dawes, Head of Learning for Life, we presented Adventurer First Aid to members of the current Sixth Form. Eight students took part in the inaugural course at the School. They were taught many different aspects of remote first aid – from basic CPR to improvised stretchers, from how to escape from a sinking car to how to recognise and swim clear of riptides, from breaks and bleeds to foreign travel preparation and local customs awareness.
Braving the elements of Storm Eric provided even more realism whilst working outside around the Armoury. The students were outstanding throughout, fully engaged with their awareness and ‘thinking outside the box’ noticeably developing as the day went by. With gap years planned amongst them to Australia, India and Nepal, as well as ski seasons, the course had particular relevance to all who attended.
The finale of the day’s course was the presentation of certificates to the students by George’s mother, Patsy Gilroy, and Nick’s brother and sister, James and Juliet, alongside Simon and Phil.
It is hoped that Adventurer First Aid will become a fitting legacy to Nick and George. The course is now rolling out across the UK and if anyone would like details of it for their children’s schools or for their local area, please don’t hesitate to contact me at stephen@minifirstaid.co.uk.
As is a tradition at this annual event, there was a moment to reflect on Nick and George on the School cricket pitch – with Nick Bizley (LS 93) and Simon Clark (S 93), who had made the trip all the way from Australia, reading a poignant poem written shortly after the accident in 1994.
There were many stories told in The Ship that evening and many old faces to catch up with in a quite remarkable turnout, wrapping up a memorable day and a fitting tribute to our two old friends.
Participants in the ‘Holland v Cameroon’ football match in February

B B r r o o u u g g h h t t t t o o y y o o u u b b y y t t h h e e m m u u l l t t i i a a w w a a r r d d d w w w i i n n n n i i n n g g M M i i n n i i F F i i r r s s t t A A i i d d . .
@adventurerfirstaid
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