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their ambitions and care for them in the same way that she did right at the beginning of her career. Laxton is a very big House which has seen a lot of change, but it is a House that is proud of its achievements and is fully integrated into the School. Viv was instrumental in this.
Viv’s faith is absolutely fundamental to all she does and this, alongside her wish to care for and support those around her, led to her being asked to take on the Lay Chaplaincy role in 2014. This is a role where the hours mean nothing; you can be called at any time of the day or night by staff or pupils who need support. In many ways, this is what touched her most deeply – her faith in action.
It is clear that she will miss the people, pupils and colleagues, and we will miss her. Her wisdom and kindness helped many over the years. If Viv thinks something is right, particularly for a child, then she will see it through by sheer force of personality at times. She leaves a legacy behind her in Dryden, in the Theology, Philosophy and Religion department, in the Chaplaincy and in Laxton, where she built on the work of her predecessors to see the integration of day pupils as part of the School come to fruition. We know that she will make as much of her retirement as she did of her career and she will enjoy doing so with her husband, Paul, at her side.
Ann Meisner
Gary Phillips
Registrar
Gary joined Oundle from the Leys School in 1991 to lead the Geography department, taking over from Mark Turner, whom Gary had
taught as a boy at Rossall. Gary arrived at a time when the department was full of experienced colleagues and, throughout his nine years in the post, he did not appoint any new members of staff. The department under Gary’s leadership moved out of the shadows of the nationally-recognised History department and established itself as reliable and well-organised, encouraging pupils to reach their potential in the subject with a steady trickle of Oxbridge successes. He introduced regular field trips to France (despite being nearly stranded by port strikes!) and Aberystwyth (he was always keen to visit his homeland), as well as regular mentoring and placements for Cambridge Geography PGCE students each year. Gary’s ability to develop strong and lasting relationships is seen in the long- standing friendships he has established with former pupils and colleagues, many still seeking his wise counsel as they move into the senior years of their careers.
This ability to develop relationships was never more put to the test than by the Geography department, who consisted of some very experienced and very strong, individual characters. However, Gary’s reputation and that of the department grew, so that when the national curriculum deliberations gave equal status to Geography and History, the Geography department was in a good position to pick up the challenge of teaching the national curriculum at Oundle.
After nine years of running the Geography department, though, Gary was looking for a new challenge. Engaging with pupils from all backgrounds comes easily to Gary and Ralph Townsend saw the potential in Gary to become Oundle’s second Registrar and the successor to Robin Veit. To Gary, being Registrar was fundamentally about people, where they live, economics and collecting statistics, so his Geography training prepared him well for the role!
Gary felt he was privileged to work with Heads and colleagues who trusted him and allowed him to get
on with the job. The relationship- building developed in the School was also extended to feeder prep schools, with Gary visiting well over 120 of them on a regular basis over his 19 years in the role. Each feeder school head has in turn learnt to trust the School through Gary and many remain good friends to this day, even after retiring. In turn, parents similarly trusted Gary to give them good advice and attributed their positive experience of the navigation required when moving into independent education to Gary’s role of guiding them throughout. Praise indeed.
Gary was instrumental in developing a community of registrars who talk more openly and work together for the benefit of parents, pupils and their schools. Nineteen years ago, he organised the first registrars’ group meeting that spans many local groups of schools and it was fitting that this year it returned to Oundle, with over 50 schools represented.
His tireless efforts were appreciated by all those who work in Oundle School and well beyond this Northamptonshire town. His reputation extends nationally and internationally, and we will miss him. However, it is good to know that we will still see Gary and his family around the town, and we know he will continue to hold dearly our relationship with him.
Tony Burrows
Philip Pitcher
Acting Head of Geography
Philip left us to be Head of Geography at Gresham’s School in Norfolk. He joined us with no teaching experience whatsoever. As a Stoweawayean (and no doubt a
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