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hotbed for OOs, including Henry (St A 07) and Rupert Rudkin (St A 09), Greg Smith (St A 07), Rob Carter (Lx 00), Pete Perowne (G 98), Sebastian (S 13) and Tristan Tusa (S 16), to name just a few.
Rodney Garratt (LS 60) had little new to report. He has been in the same house since 1971 and retired from Ipswich School in 2012 at the age of 70, having worked as a technician, after being diagnosed with MS and giving up language teaching. He was a member of the Cercle Français and Ipswich Languages Club until both societies folded through lack of younger members and age drop-off. He continues to play the organ at St Mary’s Church in Gosbeck – as he has done for around 25 years. Since a back operation in 2006 for stenosis, he has progressively become less mobile and had to relinquish his ‘wagon’ last year. He explained: “You can't leave a walking frame on the pavement and expect it to still be there on your return!” Rodney is now reduced to a Taiwan- built shopper and stairlift, with carers morning and night, and has a wheelchair to get into church and about the garden.
Peter Richardson (Sn 59) reports that sadly his brother, Jeremy Richardson (Sn 62), died on 12th August.
Charlie Hamilton (S 01) lives in London with his wife and two children, and works with another OO – Neil Beaton (Sc 80). He sees Henry Reast (Sn 01), who by coincidence lives on the same street with his family. Charlie sometimes catches up with Nick Goff (S 01), Rod Hunt (S 01) and Edward Smith (St A 00).
Ed Hutchings (B 94) is enjoying being father to Jude (5) and Grace
I was not exactly inundated with news from East Midlands OOs this year, but part of the reason can be attributed to my lack of chasing people up. I had several family issues
(3), while his writing goes from strength to strength with contributions to several publications. He is also conducting more wildlife tours these days too (making use of his hospitality background), mostly for Greentours and The Travelling Naturalist. OOs are more than welcome!
Pippa Percy (W 00) says she read in last year’s magazine that Alan Oates (St A 52) was interested in hearing from other OOs who live in Braintree. Well, she does. Pippa’s news is that she and husband Jon are slowly renovating an old farm house and enjoying life with their two children, Oliver (6) and Felicity (4), plus assorted pets. She still keeps up fairly regular contact with a lot of the Wyatt 2000 leavers, which she says is lovely.
Tom Carr (S 63) has little news beyond the domestic agenda, but is active in the work of restoration of the North Walsham and Dilham Canal.
Giles Blackburn (G 90) spent a very enjoyable evening catching up with Jonnie Davis (C 90), Richard Kunzer (G 90) and Huw Thomas (G 90) earlier in the summer. He also saw Bruno Poet (N 90) the week afterwards. They were all on good form. Work is keeping Giles busy with an interesting mix of clients, mainly in the UK and US, while at home, cycling, teenage children and pets are doing a good job of ensuring he is not short of things to do. He completed the 85-mile Etape Caledonia in May, which he enjoyed, so much so that he is doing it again next year.
John Wilkinson (N 82) had the pleasure of seeing daughter Anna Matthea graduate from Leeds in July, accompanied by Greg Wilkinson (St A 11), as their mother was on tour in
Australia! John is now based in Ringstead in Norfolk, where the beaches and wildlife are a great joy to him.
Peter Bird (B 60) was involved with a lunch for Old Bramstonians near Lichfield last year. They meet once or twice a year, generally when George Cautherley (B 61) is over from Hong Kong.
Rob Addo (F 05) has founded his own executive search firm (Engel Search) in London. It is now in its second year and focuses exclusively on placing senior banking and financial services talent in international roles. His clients range from tier one banks to advisory boutiques based in Germany, Switzerland, London, Paris and the Nordics. Aside from work, he recently became engaged to Evie and continues to keep active by playing rugby and the occasional squash match.
Henry Shropshire (G 09) reports that since graduating from Newcastle University, he has spent most of his time living abroad – first in Poland, where he started a business for the family growing salad crops, and then, for the last 21⁄2 years, in Spain, where he manages the family’s tomato business. “Fresh produce is definitely the place for me,” he says!
Andrew Walker (C 60) met briefly with Robin Apthorpe (S 59) in the foyer of the RAF Club in Piccadilly in the latter part of last year. It was one of those chance encounters where an OO tie served to make the connection and a very pleasurable moment. Robin was over in the UK from his home in Cascais, Portugal. Apart from that, Andrew has had an uneventful year and he adds: “Life trundles on and at 77 one has to be grateful for this.”
NEWS FROM HOME
East Midlands
By Chris Piper (Sc 71) to deal with, plus back surgery, so I
was not my usual annoying self (i.e. bombarding you with emails begging for news)! So, for a change, I will start with myself. You may
remember in the last magazine that I mentioned I had a back problem. On
2nd July I had lumbar
decompression surgery and am now recovering. No exercise for three www
THE OLD OUNDELIAN 2018 –2019
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