Page 76 - OO_2019

www George Huse had become gnarled old trees. He also enjoyed his visit to Henley Regatta with Nigel Shepherd (G 63), spending time in the Oundle tent with Nick Rowell (C 63) and many other OO rowers.
Mark Adams (Lx 79) is another OO who spoke with fondness of Ioan, whom he remembers as 'IFT' and credits as being key to his career. Ioan’s enthusiasm in Biology classes in the 1970s ignited Mark’s love for and appreciation of the natural world. Mark also updates on the success of his business, Vitsoe, and the creation of a recently-opened building that he knows started in his mind in Oundle’s workshops and the Biology department in the 70s. In short, it is made of natural materials, is naturally ventilated and naturally lit; there are no lights on during daylight hours. Just like at Oundle, they eat communally and have done their best to try to remove hierarchy.
Richard Phillips (D 59) is still working hard and the 2019 Leamington Music Festival, the 104th festival that he has created or directed, was a great success. Last September he was awarded the Honorary Silver Medal of Jan
Masaryk for his contribution to the promotion of Czech music and relations of Czech and British people. More recently, he has been made a patron of the Dvorak Society, which exists to promote Czech and Slovak music, and is the most active organisation of its kind in the UK. In August he visited the Czech Republic for the 17th time, having first been there in 1968.
Tim Dixon (St A 91) replied with a hint of relief and excitement that this year he has some news to include. He is marrying Lisa Penney in LLanveynoe Church, Herefordshire. In attendance will be brother-in-law Otto Benz (Sc 86) and father Brian Dixon (St A 55). This follows a busy year, including running the London Marathon and building a new house.
On their annual visit to Barbados, Adrian Colledge (Lx 72) and wife Carol met up with Will Oakley (Lx 92) at the Cobblers Cove Hotel, where Will is General Manager. Also present were Will’s parents, Jenny and Michael Oakley (Lx 62), to make it a Laxton House reunion of different generations in the glorious Caribbean sunshine.
Chris Best (C 66) continues to work
at Ardencote, the four-star hotel halfway between Stratford-upon- Avon and Warwick, as Business Development Manager. Most weekends Chris can be found at Stratford-upon-Avon Boat Club, driving the launches and arranging letting functions
Mark Glossop (D 54) has now lived opposite Elgar Cottage in Lower Broadheath, near Worcester, since 1980. He has spent a good deal of time in the past two years leading a team setting up a community shop in the village, following the closure of their old shop in 2017. As a result, he is now also a sub-postmaster! He is also still involved in running the ferry across the Severn by Worcester Cathedral, which he was party to restarting in 1983, since when they have given away £18,000 to local causes. He reports on meeting regularly with Johnny Crabbe (G 55).
As for me, I have had an exciting year, as our children are growing up and I find myself with a little more free time. I enjoyed a couple of trips to Oundle in the spring – once for George Gilroy and Nick Moore’s memorial get-together, and once for the OOs’ rugby match. Rugby has played a key part in my life this year as a relatively resurgent vets player, as a minis and juniors coach, and as communications officer for Bournville Rugby as we have moved into our first proper home at Avery Fields in Birmingham since we were founded in 1909. I continue to run my recruitment business, Wright Solutions, with some success and have chanced upon a cunning ruse this year to spend more time on my bicycle by organising a cycling business networking group (find us on Facebook – Hubs Cycle Network). It would be great to welcome OOs to the group if you are interested.
As the sole Grafton House respondent to my request for news this year, I can report on a resounding victory for Dryden in my unofficial House competition on who supplied the most West Midlands correspondence. Next year hopefully some of the other Houses will play a little harder!
Four OOs raising a glass of champagne last September to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their first meeting as 13-year-old 'Ticks' at the start of the 1968 Michaelmas Term. A bottle of 'bubbly' is on offer for the first person to send in the correct names and Houses of the quartet to the Editor
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THE OLD OUNDELIAN 2018 –2019
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