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www hard yards handing out leaflets around sunny Northumberland this May. Adrian runs Newcastle’s business improvement district, called NE1Company, which is responsible for the vibrancy of all Newcastle’s exciting restaurant scene and that legendary student nightlife. This hasn’t slowed down his personal partying, because he kindly invited me to my first 60th in September! I was hoping to see his brother, Charles Waddell (S 79), and brother- in-law, Charlie Bennett (N 84), who continues his quest to restore otters to the region.
To mark events, this letter covers the rhythm of ‘hatch, match, despatch’. My own father, Freddy, died suddenly 72 hours after I lost my election. We despatched him in some style thanks to my own Oundle background in jazz with band Fat Cat and the help of dad’s great friend, Simon Gray (Lx 55). I spent a very happy afternoon holding back the tears playing tunes with Simon – Fats Waller, Louis Armstrong, Humphrey Lyttelton, Ken Colyer – to direct a jazz funeral repertoire. On the day, there was a pew of legends that I hadn’t realised all had Oundle in common: Wanderers stalwart John Taylor (C 54), Richard Mullens (Sn 53), Rodney Towers (Sn 57), Sir Mark Waller (D 58), Robin Gray (Lx 56); and, from my generation, Rory Souter (G 86), Justin Souter (G 88), David Gray (Sn 81) and Bill Ward (G 84).
John T has hung up his cricket pads these days, though lives a stone’s throw from the glorious wicket at Bamburgh. Rodney T shows great genes and, I suspect, even at his age could see off a good few overs at the crease. Sir Mark is a retired High Court judge and more in evidence near Radley than the Toon. Robin and Simon G are full of good cheer, living none too far from Durham CC. Bill W, though a very handy batsman in his Oundle days, can be seen next in the West End show There’s Something About Jamie, where (I kid you not) he plays a lead transvestite. Rory S continues to see fresh growth in his Cotswold Cider Company, providing refreshments to many a village green. Justin S is the North-East region’s leading adviser
in lean start-up support.
I chatted to Ralph Charlton (S 90)
days after my father died. It was extremely poignant that he relayed that news to his own father, who was a friend of mine, Bobby Charlton (S 56). This turned out to be the last time they spoke, as Bobby himself died later that week. The Charlton family held their own packed thanksgiving service in their Hexhamshire fields in glorious sunshine. Ralph delivered a very moving eulogy from the back of a horsebox. It was full tweed and 4x4 country. Bobby lived for his horses, with folk even riding off-road to get there from Berwickshire!
As English tourism champion, knocking Cornwall off top spot in 2019, North Northumberland comes alive on the coast in late summer. Richard Mullens is up in Norham playing lots of golf with Joiceys, Kirkups etc. On the moors, you’ll see James Rainbow (Sn 85) – if he’s not chasing his family around the calas of Majorca! – and in boats you’ll see Steve Kunzer (G 84), David Kunzer (G 85) and Richard Kunzer (G 90). We see less of Richard Gledson (G 81) these days, as he’s busy in summer as Resident Factor on The Queen’s 55,000-acre Balmoral Estate. It’s quiet for 10 months, but hectic for the late summer stint.
That covers my intro about animals and families. The fresh breath, though? Julian Hawkings (N
79) messaged me on LinkedIn. He’s based in Cleveland, where he’s been a long-time specialist oral surgeon. Just mentioning this makes me think of pain and reminds me that I’ve not covered Rupert Bradbury (Sc 89), who reports that he has five kids under the age of nine, which sounds braver than going in for dental surgery every day of the week! Rupert has built up a long career in music retail and recently exited a piano dealership to seek ‘the next big thing’. He’s been down in Cleveland himself, not for dental work, but to discuss the state of the High Street with store veteran James Barker (Sc 84), who keeps ploughing on with his furniture chain, Barker & Stonehouse.
On headaches unrelated to oral hygiene, I did bump into Rory Marr (C 89) at the Tynedale Beer Festival in Corbridge. He was extremely friendly and keen to discuss politics. I would count on him having the worse headache of 2019 the morning after!
Chris Wancke (C 76) kicked back from a career in Biology teaching at Newcastle’s Royal Grammar School at the end of this academic year, while John Turnbull (Lx 70) and Robbie Hutchinson (B 78) are long- term business partners in rural and estate agency YoungsRPS, which has seven offices across the region. Birthdates meant they never met at Oundle and John, who runs the Durham office, says: “If we had met,
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Charlie Hoult (Sc 85) and Sir John Hall, the former owner of Newcastle United, who backed Charlie in his bid to become Mayor of Newcastle