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OLD BOY NEWS
21 July 2020
DONALD SARGEANT 1959-64
Donald has given us details of his career after leaving school. "I trained as a teacher and worked as a VSO in Kenya from 1967 to 69. After that I worked as a teacher and teacher trainer in Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Sultanate of Oman, China, Poland and the United Arab Emirates. I returned from a VSO post in Cambodia in March 2020 and am now living in Cardiff."
19 June 2020
BRIAN BOYD 1949-54
Has contributed photos of an under 15 school rugby team c. 1952 and Old Azurian XVs from 1955-57. After leaving school he worked for the Bank of British West Africa and in Canada and the USA before retiring in County Cork, Ireland.
10 February 2020
Steve Hiett 1952-57
Martin Hopton has written to me about his school friend Steve Hiett who died last year.
After leaving school Steve studied graphic design at Worthing Art College, Brighton College of Art, and the Royal College of Art. During that period he took up playing the guitar and subsequently, having been asked to play as a stand-in lead guitar in a band, decided to give up graphic design and become a full-time guitar player. “Pyramid”, a band he had jointly set up with another musician, made a hit record in 1967.
His playing career, it might be said, was short circuited when, during a concert, he took hold of a live microphone stand and was nearly electrocuted. The serious injury he received on that occasion caused him to rethink his career, so he took up back-stage photography instead, which allowed him to remain involved with the music industry. His work there caused interest in the fashion world and he went on to become one of the world’s most famous fashion photographers through the unique techniques he developed.
In the 1980s, while working in Japan, Steve recorded his first solo album “Down on the Road by the Beach” which received critical acclaim at the time and has been re-released recently along with other, previously unpublished tracks. In more recent years he moved in and out of fashion as a photographer.
A more complete obituary may be found in the Daily Telegraph here
Steve Hiett born Dec 26 1940, died, aged 79, Aug 28 2019.
13 September 2019
Michael Quinion 1954-61
After leaving Peterhouse, Cambridge’ where he read Physical Sciences, he worked in BBC Radio for a number of years before running his own business producing interpretive audio-visual programmes for national agencies and visitor attractions. Changing tack completely he was appointed curator of a cider museum in Hereford and wrote two booka “Cidermaking” and “A Drink for its Time”. Another period of providing consultancy services to the tourism and visitor attraction industry followed, but when illness forced early retirement upon him he spent 24 years (1992-2016) as a freelance reader for the Oxford English Dictionary and compiling entries for The Oxford Dictionary of New Words. During this period he also set up the World Wide Words website and had several more books published.
Michael now does voluntary work for a local Volunteer Centre, a heritage railway, and a railway museum.
Fuller details of Michael’s varied career can be found in his biography here
6 September 2019
KEITH CANNON 1962-68
After discovering our web site Keith has told me that since leaving school he has held managerial posts in Barclays Bank and St John's Ambulance. Now, having basically retired, he officiates at his local polling station at elections and does some invigilating at a school. Sport, especially cricket, has played an important role in his life. He remembers having 1st XI nets beside the railway line with Jock Hodson. In his time he has played a lot of representative cricket during which he toured West Indies, Australia and Hong Kong.
12 November 2018
ROGER MILES
Roger was interviewed on BBC1 after the Remembrance Service where he was representing the community of Angmering. He also related the remarkable and tragic WW1 story of his grandparents. When his grandmother received news that her husband had been so badly wounded that he was not likely to survive she went to France, leaving her young family behind, to be at his side when he died a few days later. When she returned home she discovered that her youngest child only 3 months old, had died of pneumonia on the same day as her husband.
11 November 2018
BRIAN SMITH 1949-1955
Brian, who has lived in Australia for many years, has sent in details of a varied career in different parts of the world. After leaving school in 1955 to
become an apprentice with De Havilland he had a sucession of management posts in the UK, Nigeria, the Camaroons, and South Africa before ending up in Australia where he held diverse roles in publishing and manufacturing sectors. With a view to becoming self-employed in his later years he studied Fiancial Planning and moved into that area exclusively. He now lives in the northern part of Sydney but has winter quarters near Cairns. He would like to get in touch with anyone who knew him at school and specially mentions Graham Francis and Frank Ansell.
1 October 2018
PROFESSOR NICK RENGGER St. Andrews University
Nick's younger brother Patrick has sent in this message:
I just wanted to pass on the sad news that my brother, Nick Rengger, passed away suddenly on September 16th this year. Nick was very proud of his time at WHSB (1970-76), played for the school rugby first xv and was a stalwart of the drama productions, from King Lear to Fiddler on the Roof, in which he played Tevye. He became a very well known academic in the field of International relations and was a professor and Head of School at University of St Andrews.
Nick never forgot his time at WHSB and the VI Form College - I followed him to the Vi Form College and we even lived on Bolsover Road, and I know he would like to let the Old A's know of his passing.
To read the tribute published in the Courier click here
25 September 2018
SIR LOUIS BLOM-COOPER
Sir Louis Blom-Cooper has died at the age of 92. He had a distinguished legal career, becoming a deputy High Court Judge, but was better known to the public through the number of public enquiries that he was chosen to head under a succession of governments. It has been said of him that he was too much of a reformer to fit comfortably within the legal hierarchy of his time. As a reformer he exerted a huge influence on the development of administrative law in Britain.
To say that Blom-Cooper was educated at WHSB would be stretching a point. He was a pupil there for only six months during 1940. Were it not for that he would undoubtedly have demanded a place in this site’s Hall of Fame, but this Editor has chosen to leave those interested to read his copious obituaries in the national press.
15 August 2018
ANDREW GRUNDY WHSB (1972-76) and 6th Form College (1976-79)
Andrew would like to hear news from Old Boys of his era, so please contact me if you can help. Andrew retired about three years ago and is now living in a small village in Normandy. - Ed.
4 July 2018
BILL THORNYCROFT
Bill's niece has sent me some items, dating from his time at WHSB (13 January 1938 to 2 July 1940), which will be added to the archive collection as they give a fascinating insight into school life at that time. Weekly written assessments in all subjects were the norm, and I paricularly like a letter written to parents by Rolfe Martin about a planned trip to the Ford motor works at Dagenham (cost, including rail and river transport, packed lunch and tea, 8/- under 16 and 10/- over 16). The letter ends with this paragraph:
"If your son joins the party all reasonable precautions will be taken for his safe return, but should any unforeseen difficulties or mischances arise we can only accept him in the party on condition that you hold us indemnified against claims arising."
I wonder how many parents were willing to risk it.
15 May 2018
JONATHON EVANS (Jute 1964-72)
Jonathon is the son of T A Evans, much-respected and popular Headmaster (1958-68). Readers will find in this message some interesting information about his father's life after leaving the School, as well as details of Jonathon's own career.
I was prompted to send this email having been sent an email by an old friend (and OA) Nick Mercer. The email was a reflection on years spent at WHSB in the late 50s and early 60s when my dad was head. ('Taffy Evans'). It was touching to read kind and true words written about my father, who in my day was also nicknamed 'Boom' and on one occasion boomed out to me (did he know it was me?) 'You boy, pull your socks up'! I must have been in the first form, and like many before me had Hugh Anderson as form master.
Sadly my dad died back in 1989 from pancreatic cancer at the age of 74. After WHSB, He went to oversee the amalgamation of Steyning Grammar School and Steyning Secondary Modern school into a comprehensive school. He spent around 7 happy years there, and is fondly remembered as a firm but fair, and caring headteacher. In retirement, he and my mum had worked with Vietnamese refugees, helping to rehouse them, and living in Chichester. They then retired to South Devon, where he taught maths at Battisbrough International school for a few years. They also did a stint as reps for Freddy Laker's Aerocruise venture. I think that was a way to get free holidays! My mum died in November 2015, aged 98, after suffering with dementia for about 5 years.
I was at WHSB from 1964 - 1972, and did a 7th term in the sixth form to sit the Cambridge entrance exams. After studying engineering at Fitzwilliam, I took a gap year and traveled around America. I returned to train as a maths teacher - the third generation to do so! After working as a teacher in Kent and North Yorkshire, for 16 years, I followed a call to ordination in the Church of England and was ordained in 1995. Since then, I have served in Hull as a curate, Beverley in East Yorkshire for 14 years as vicar of St Nicholas Beverley, and lastly in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, as vicar of St Cuthbert's Rye Park.
I have just retired, and looking forward to retirement in Gloucester. I have good memories of WHSB, made special by the thought of my dad doing a great job as head there.
11 May 2018
ALLAN STUART LOVELAND
I regret to have to report the death of Allan Loveland at the age of 88.
He was the first pupil from WHSB to be awarded a Cadetship at RAF Cranwell. At school he was a Prefect, Captain of the School Ruby 2nd XV, House Captain and House Athletics Captain. Flying was his passion; he joined the ATC at the age of 16 and gained his Gliding ‘B’ Licence before being accepted at RAF Cranwell in1948.
Despite his eyesight not quite meeting the rigorous standards required of a RAF pilot, Allan was able to fulfil his burning ambition to fly by taking up gliding (he was one of only three pilots to reach an altitude over 10,000 feet in a “Wave Soaring” project held over Skiddaw in the Lake District) and became skilled in performing sailplane aerobatics. He also obtained a private pilot’s licence that enabled him to fly powered aircraft.
He retired from the RAF in 1967 after a successful career during which he served in Egypt, Australia, and Germany as well as the UK.
11 May 2018
STEPHEN PARISH
Stephen Parish (Saxon 1963-70) has been in touch having discovered our web site. He hopes to attend our events in the future after finding so many familiar names on this site and remembering such good times.
After graduating from Birmingham University in 1973 Stephen joined a firm of solicitors in the City from which he has just retired after 9 years as Global Chairman. The firm is called Norton Rose Fulbright and with 1200 Partners and 7500 Staff Worldwide is the 5th largest firm of lawyers in the World. All very ironic really because, as Stephen relates, his Mother still reminds him that his teachers at the time , specifically Ron Austin and Graham Eversfield, both counselled his parents to persuade him not to go into the law as he would not be up to it ! Brilliant psychology actually as that made him determined to prove them wrong!
6 March 2018
DEREK WALKER
Congratulations to Derek (aged 98) who, at long last, has been awarded a medal by the French for the part he played in the D-Day landings.
12 November 2017 (With my apologies for the delay in posting this message)
JOHN STRONGMAN
I was at WHSB from 1959-1966. I was an editor of the school magazine; Chess Team Captain; Head of the Saxons; a Senior Prefect; and second row on the school rugby team. I studied economics at Leicester University 1966-1969; worked for Esso Petroleum in London 1969-1971; went to the Sloan Management School MIT (Cambridge Mass) 1971-1973; worked for a small consulting firm in Cambridge 1973-1978; moved to Washington DC and worked for the World Bank 1978-2007 when I retired but I continue with consulting contracts form World Bank. I married in 1981 and live IN Bethesda Maryland, in the Washington DC suburbs. I have two children in their twenties. There are some rugby players from my time at WHSB that I would dearly like to be in contact with - John Bishop; Clive Perrett; Roger Batchelor and Phil Topping.
Ed: If any of the above-named would like to respond or if anyone knows their whereabouts please contact me.
4 September 2017
BILL THORNYCROFT
Francis (Bill) Thornycroft died in February 2017. He was born in Lancing in 1926, the fifth child of Oliver and Dorothy. His father Oliver was a senior engineer working for the Admiralty. His Grandfather Sir William Hamo Thornycroft RA, and his Great Grandfather Thomas Thornycroft, were both distinguished sculptors. Dorothy was a political activist and an early supporter of the Labour Party. It was she who instilled in Bill the strong desire to fight unfairness that was to emerge as his driving force in later years.
Bill started his secondary education at WHSB but in 1940, when he was 14, the family moved to Petersfield and he continued his education at Bedales. Three years later Bill moved to London to study at Chelsea College of Aeronautical and Automobile Engineering. In 1946 Bill joined his older brother Chris at D Napier & Son, aeronautical engineers. Chris, who had fought against the Fascists in the Spanish Civil War, was sacked a year later for being a communist. Bill, who had also joined the Communist Party, was sacked by Napier three years later, and from subsequent jobs with Elliott Bros., and Westinghouse, in each case for being a communist.
For the rest of his life, right into his eighties, Bill was an ardent activist, campaigning inter alia for the rights of Asian women employees to join a Trade Union, against the war in Iraq, and for the rights of the homosexual community. He also had a passion for restoring vintage buses and gave long service looking after those held at Amberley Museum.
An obituary was published in The Guardian on 1 May 2017 (click here), but perhaps his life is best encapsulated by what one of his nieces wrote – “For my whole childhood Bill embodied another way of seeing things, a guiding star to stand up for what one truly believed in, and to stand up for others.”
3 April 2017
ALAN PAINE
I am sorry to have to announce that Alan Paine passed away recently at the age of 87. He was a Sussex Boxing Champion in the early 1950s and was a boxing coach at Worthing Boys Club.
1 February 2017
ALAN MARSHALL
Alan has been in touch again from Tasmania, he writes:
I hail from Lancing, but have lived in Australia now for over 40 years. My time at WH was from Sept '52 to Dec. '57. That final Autumn term occurred because I had no idea what to aim for as a career. My Dad then got me my first job as a stockroom boy at F.W.Woolworth in Montague St.
Dad was one of the first year's pupils in 1924. Although "Eggie" was seen as a disciplinarian, he was in fact a very caring and conscientious man, devoted to the welfare of his pupils. I visited him at his home following his retirement and not long before his passing. So glad I did, on looking back.
My grading was "D" stream all the way through... a dunce in those early days but not unsuccessful in the long-run. I joined the Royal Navy Sick Berth Branch in 1960, obtaining my Diploma in medical radiograpy in 1964.
My main interests currently are the science and technology of composting, research of Azolla (www.theazollafoundation.org) and alternative technology in general.
Alan would be pleased to hear from anyone who remembers him: contact me - Ed.
28 December 2016
PAUL MINTER
The last few years have been eventful ones for Paul, so now seems to be an appropriate time to record what he has been up to. First, some background. Paul was born in 1956. His father served in the Fleet Air arm, so the family moved around various naval air bases in Paul’s early life, eventually settling in Sussex. Paul attended WHSB from 1968 to 1975 when he left to join the Royal Fleet Auxiliary as a cadet. He was promoted to Captain in 2007.
The ships he has served in have been involved in a wide range of operations, including active service in the Falklands conflict in 1982, recovery of a lost yacht in the South Atlantic, and apprehension of drug-runners.
In 2012 RFA Cardigan Bay, under Minter’s command, was deployed in the Arabian Gulf mainly to support UK and international mine countermeasure forces, but also to provide diverse services such as docking for smaller vessels, logistics and engineering. These tasks were carried out so successfully that the ship was voted the RFA ship of the year for 2013.
In 2015 Minter took command of Cardigan Bay’s sister ship RFA Lyme Bay in the Caribbean where his crew undertook disaster relief work on Dominica after hurricane Erica struck, and visited several of the Caribbean islands where they assisted in refurbishment of a medical centre and a school, and took part in disaster contingency planning exercises. In May this year RFA Lyme Bay was in the Mediterranean taking part in the search for the downed Egyptian airliner, before moving on to the Arabian Gulf to take over the mine countermeasures support role from RFA Cardigan Bay.
17 December 2016
SID WAKEHAM, described, by those who knew him well, as a strong and fearsome rugby player for the Old Azurians and Worthing RFC died on 18 August 2016. Born into an old Sussex family at his home above a butcher’s shop in Lyndhurst Road on 30 January 1937, Sid remained a true Sussex man throughout his life.
In the 1960s Sid was introduced to Morris dancing and it soon became an important part of his life. A group was formed in Worthing and, having taken up an offer of the original script of the Sompting Village Mummers Play, they called themselves The Sompting Village Morris. Performing the play became an annual event with Sid, who, because of his magnificent beard, was the natural choice to play Father Christmas. Sid and his friends also sang old Sussex songs after each performance. To learn more about Sid’s life and times visit the South Downs Folk Singers web site.
10 December 2016
RON BARNES
Ron found last October's lunch so enjoyable that he has already booked accommodation for next year's AGM and Dinner. He has also done a bit of research and has discovered newspaper reports of Sussex 7-a-side tournaments in 1951 and 1952 in which a WHSB team took part. In 1951 the school side did not progress beyond the first round, but, in 1952, for the first time, they reached the semi-finals and justifiably deserve to be given the accolade of "The First Magnificent Seven". An extract from the 1952 report is now reproduced on the School Rugby photos page.
10 October 2016
CHRISTOPHER DANDEKER
Another Old Boy who has found this site recently writes:
I came across the reformatted website and found it very interesting. Some years ago I made contact with Trevor Leggo - he was at WHSB at the same time I was. I was a pupil from 1963 until 1968, entering 3J with Ken Strange as form tutor.
I had moved from the ghastly Presentation College in Reading, a thuggish Catholic school (fortunately defunct - deo gratias) run by brothers headed by a most unpleasant Head named Brother Fidelis. Fortunately, my family moved to Worthing in 1963-4. Mr T A Evans - then Headmaster- took a chance on me and offered me a place. I was fortunate to have inspiring teachers and mentors: Mr Buet, Mr Kingston, Mr Gravett (whose Latin classes always commenced with his saying to us "latine legamus") Mr Cardwell, the fiery but generous Mr Gilpin (when one dropped an eyeball he would insist: "pick it up boy it won't bite you!") and especially Mr Chewter who equipped me with an historical imagination.
It was Mr Evans who gave a stimulating talk on sociology and after my A levels off I went to Leicester in 1968, then one of the best and most influential Departments, to be taught by wonderful academics like Norbert Elias and Tony Giddens. After my PhD and jobs at Sheffield Hallam and Leicester I then spent 20 years at King's College London retiring from there as Emeritus Professor in 2015. I still consult on military subjects but spend a lot of time travelling and exploring the arts and my special passion - history.
Last, I have been in touch with the well known sociologist of medicine, Graham.Scambler, who I believe was in the year above me - we never met at WHSB. Ralph Henham who I knew vaguely also went to Leicester to read Law and we later became good friends. He went on to become a Professor of Law at Nottingham Trent.
WHSB gave me a wonderful educational foundation for adult life and it is no exaggeration to say that it saved me from the scrapheap to which I seemed destined given my experiences at Reading. I always recall the quality of the education, the absence of corporal punishment (all Mr Evans had to do to deal with any culprit was to boom out "You boy!!"), the cut and thrust of debate in economics and British Constitution and the intellectual demands and exhiliration of history.
I have had a great journey up to now and I know it would have been a very different and inferior one had it not been for WHSB.
28 November 2016
ROBERT FRANK CROCOMBE
Robert's son Richard has written to report the sad news that his father had passed away recently, aged 94. Robert attended the school from about 1932 to 1940. He was in the school 1st XV in the 1938-39 season and was captain for 1939-40, when he left having been awarded an Exhibition Scholarship to Gonville and Caius College Cambridge. Robert had two older brothers, one of these, Sidney, was a casualty in the Second World War and has an entry in the WW2 Memorial section of the History page.
Richard has kindly sent some of his father's photos dating back to the late 1930s, including one of his father just before he left school (shown here), one of Sidney in the RAF (shown in his entry on the Memorial section, recently updated), and one each of the 1st XV teams mentioned above (shown in the School Rugby page). The other photos have been stored for posterity.
30 August 2016
DAN NICHOLSON
After a bout of browsing through the old rugby team photos Dan has been moved to tell us about what he has been up to since he left school.
After 'A' Levels, I went to The National College of Food Technology, firstly in Old St. London, and then for the second spell of 2 years at the NCFT in Weybridge, a college sponsored by the Food Processing Industry. I well remember Jenkins, the so-called careers master had not heard of the college and was no help at all. Another student, named Panel I believe, went to a College of Rubber Technology. We were the first 'technologists' to go from WHSB as far as I can remember.
I was fortunate to be sponsored by HJ Heinz for my last 2 years, which meant I had a salary, instead of relying on a County Grant. I stayed there for about 4 years, then moved on to two other minor processing companies, before ending up at the Brook Bond Liebig Tea Research Centre in Sonning Common for about 12 years, including an 18 month spell in Kenya, with my wife Wendy and two very young children.
Most of my research work was involved with instant tea and decaffeinated tea. When BBL decided to move their research to Croydon, I chose to take voluntary redundancy, in 1974, and became a freelance food processing and packaging consultant. It turned out to be a good move as the EEC were looking for consultants to advise the former communist countries and I eventually went to those and many countries in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. It was tough on the family, but exciting for me. My first major project was in fact for the UNIDO Vienna, and I was sent to Nepal for 3 months, which included Christmas. In fact I remember very well that Christmas Day was a work day, making me realise I was in a foreign country!
I still occasionally do projects, mainly involved with decaffeinated black tea, but otherwise enjoy retirement with overseas holidays and a hobby of enamelling on copper bowls. The enamelling skill I learnt at West Dean College, near Chichester, W. Sussex. Wendy & I go there every year (25 times) for their Summer School.
My memories of school include the PE teacher who had joined Jay and who coached Harvey Bateman to win the National Schools Championship. I also recall the West Sussex seven-a-side tournament when we beat the All Sussex seven-a-side team to get to the semi -finals, where we lost to Wasps. When we beat the All Schools team I scored a try, having received the ball on our own ten yard line and sprinted back across the field behind our own 25 line to run round the opposition and score between the posts. At half time I received a severe telling -off from the sports master reminding me that it was a team sport and not a "one-man show " ! Another fond memory is when the 4 D's (Dan N, David Cooling, David Hayter and David Corbett) did an Elizabethan Pavan with 4 girls from WHSG at one of the concerts.
21 May 2016
GEOFFERY GODDEN
Sadly Geoffery died on 10 May 2016. His Hall of Fame page has been updated and now contains a link to his Obituary published by the Daily Telegraph on 19 May.
14 February 2016
STEVE McDONALD (1947-55)
Steve hopes to attend the AGM and Dinner this year. He has an interest in tracing Old Azurians who, like himself, went into the medical profession.
I have been hunting around to see who has gone into medicine during my time polishing chairs with the seat of my trousers. Names such as Julian Shelley, Millard, Reynolds, Hesketh and Gordon come directly to mind but no others. Hesketh, Reynolds and I chased each other through Charing Cross Hospital at 5 year intervals, Hesketh to be a naval surgeon, Reynolds to be a surgeon and Gordon to go into general practice in Bournemouth. I qualified as a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons but was offered a research fellowship in the professorial department of medicine and finding myself teaching Keith Reynolds. Later he went on to be a surgeon at Charing Cross and was Hunterian Professor. Sadly, he died at a young age.
For my part I gravitated to Bournemouth as a consultant physician to a crumbling hospital named The Royal Victoria, scheduled to be rebuilt. Twenty years later it was, replaced on a greenfield site, and like Topsy, it growed.
With my family history I felt it expedient to take early retirement and eight months later was picked out of the car having had a cardiac arrest at the wheel. The first I knew of it was two weeks later waking up in Southampton having had three coronary artery by-pass grafts. That was over twenty years ago so whatever is said about the NHS don’t believe it. I know it works and works well – even if I got trade rate.
We now have a total of five medics in our extended family with a sixth in his final two years and another waiting to hear about her admission.
12 January 2016
ALAN MARSHALL (1952-57).
It's nice to know that this web site reaches, and is found, all over the world. Alan is the latest old boy to have contacted me from down under. He lives in Tasmania. He says:
"On a whim, I looked up the Internet for any references to WHSB and came across the Azurians' Website. You have such a lot of interesting material there which has brought back some wonderful memories of yesteryear.
I sat the 11-Plus in the spring of 1952 and started at the High School in September of that year, leaving in December 1957. My father, Peter Marshall, had also attended the High School from 1924, when he would have been 9 years old, until about 1927 I believe. His father was a market gardener in Lancing, and the demands of the nursery probably required Dad to leave school quite early.
TERRY BURGESS
Terry is another old boy who followed in his father's footsteps at WHSB. He says:
"I've just spent an enjoyable couple of hours looking through the OA site - I was at WHSB from 1969 to 1974 and the SFC from 74 to 76. I could instantly name all the teachers in one of the photos, even though I hadn't seen most of them for over forty years! Funny how imprinted these years become on everyone's memory.
I am attaching a photo of our rugby team in either 1972 or 73 - again, I can name all of them if required - photo taken by the Open Gym.
The reason I'm writing (and why I was looking at the site) is because my long-deceased father once told me that he (and his brother Rick) both went to WHSB, and I wondered if there was any way I could find out more about this. Like most people, he also remembered being taught by Foinette.
My dad's years would have been 1941-45.
Ed: I have given Terry some information about where the school records he is looking for may be found. If anyone has memories of Terry's father or uncle please let me know.
16 November 2015
ROGER BAKER (see 18 December 2014 below) mentioned that he was an avid watercolour artist: his paintings are published on his own web site.
16 November 2015
JEREMY HALL (Angle 1953-60) has told us what he has been up to over the past 50 years or so.
After leaving school and gaining a BSc (Hons) in Electrical Engineering from Imperial College, London he worked in manufacturing management for General Electric and in marketing for Honeywell before setting up his own company designing and providing computer business simulation packages. These allow users to gain business experience by running a virtual business on a computer over a number of simulated years. The packages are used by companies to improve efficiency and, more generally, for training purposes.
Jeremy has become a world leader in this niche market and has received a number of prestigious awards for his outstanding contributions to training over more than 40 years.
5 May 2015:
COLIN WALKER (1947-55) approx.
Sadly Colin suffered a serious stroke just before Christmas 2014. He is now back at home where he is being cared for, having made noticeable progress towards recovery since he was first admitted to hospital. If any Old Azurian who remembers Colin would like to follow his progress or perhaps communicate with him please register your interest with Roger Miles.
Colin was a member of the School 1st XI cricket team from 1953 to 1955, and was also in the school cross country running team. He was awarded a BSc degree in Agricultural Chemistry by Reading University in 1959. In 1961 he was awarded an MSc by Aberdeen University for a thesis on the Chemistry of Soil Organic Matter. From 1962-67 he worked as a Scientific Officer, later Senior Scientific Officer, in the Toxic Chemicals and Wildlife Section of Monk’s Wood Experimental Station,
studying the effects of organochlorine insecticides on birds and insects, and the fate of residues of these compounds in soils. Some of this work yielded evidence that led to the placing of restrictions on the use of certain insecticides in the UK.
In 1967 he took the post of Lecturer (subsequently Reader and Professor) in the Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Reading University where he was awarded the degree of DSc in 1987 for work in the field of Biochemical Toxicology. Since retiring in 1996 he has held the title of Professor Emeritus at Reading University and he has continued to write books and articles about Ecotoxicology.
His book titles include “Organic Pollutants - an Ecotoxicological Perspective”, now in its Second Edition [ 2009 ], and “Principles of Ecotoxicology “, in which he is a co-author, now in its 4th edition,
14 April 2015
HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS to two of our old boys who have recently become published authors:
John Osman's book, the forthcoming publication of which was presaged in John's entry in our HALL OF FAME page, is now available. The book is entitled "Life, Love, Laughter, Liberty: Reflections on a Long and Full Existence" (isbn=1496997158). It is a personal account of John's long and distinguished career as a correspondent. Just how distinguished and influential a correspondent John was can be seen in a passage written about him by David Lamb, a correspondent for the Los Angeles Times, which you can read by following this link.
Brian Musgrove has written a moving story much of which is based on the formative years he spent in Worthing where he attended Broadwater Manor House School and Worthing High School for Boys. More about the author and a preview of several chapters covering these years can be found by following this link.
2 February 2015
JOHN LINTERN (1951-59) has been in touch with memories from his school days that surfaced upon finding this web site. He says:
"I recently chanced upon the excellent web site you have set up for the Old Azurians which brought back a lot of memories.
I attended Worthing High School from 1951 through to Easter 1959, making me a contemporary of the more illustrious R.C.Quittenton - God rest his soul - In fact Roger and I were classmates from 1A with Mr Dickinson in the spacious Art Room through 2A, 3A, 4A, and 5LS, into the Lower, Upper and Scholarship Sixth Forms.
We played together for the School 1st XV from 56 to 59, and I have just turned up a copy of a Worthing Herald photograph of the team from what I think must be 1956/57. Roger is plainly Captain, although hors de combat for the match in question as he has one foot in plaster! I would love to get this photo to you and have it installed in your archive." (ED: This has now been done)
"Although we little realise it at the time, one's schooldays are perhaps the best and most carefree days of our lives, and it has been a joy to remember some part of this through the effort that has been put into the content of the Azurian site. Thank you so much for ensuring that the seminal figures of my own past are not entirely forgotten.
I have a lasting memory of Eggy Turner which is a testament to his professionalism, humour and humanity: some time back in the early 1950's I was caught up as a curious onlooker when at the end of the school day some of the more prurient members of the class set out to de-bag a fellow class member who was rumoured to be exceptionally well-endowed in the nether regions - all, I feel sure, in the spirit of empirical enquiry of which Isaac Newton would have been proud. Before the matter could be decided the ringleaders - and hangers-on like myself were swept up in the dragnet of the member of teaching staff appointed to ensure the prompt departure of pupils at the end of the day. We all - and a numerous and motley crew it was - found ourselves lined up outside the Headmaster's office. Although these were the good old days, when corporal punishment was regarded as normal, Eggy, very wisely, given there were about 20 or so boys lined up, decided on a less strenuous approach. Drawing himself up to his full - if inconsiderable - height, he paraded in front of the shamefaced recalcitrants and turned to The Mikado for inspiration.
Solemnly he intoned : " My object all sublime, I shall achieve in time......."
Now, to be honest, back in the early 1950's, even at a Grammar School, very few were those boys who had even heard of Gilbert and Sullivan, let alone the Mikado. The assembled group gawped uncomprehendingly at dear old Eggy, and a pause ensued. I spotted an opportunity to ingratiate myself and possibly escape retribution. So up I pipe and supply the next line: "to make the punishment fit the crime, the punishment fit the crime ."
For the first time Eggy takes stock of the fact that I am part of the band of ne'er-do-wells, and thinks about it. He then comes out with a remark that stopped me in my tracks and that I have never forgotten :
" And what are you doing here, Lintern, with these reprobates? You should be away studying to get into Oxford. "
Whoa - I am 13 or 14 - a seriously insignificant speck in the universe of WHSB, and, all of a sudden, I am aware that not only does the fearsome Eggy Turner know my name - he thinks I should be aiming for Oxford!
I didn't get off the punishment that afternoon - lines I think - but I never forgot what Eggy had said. I left WHSB in 1959. In 1960 I went up to Lincoln College, Oxford to read Modern Languages.
I have so much for which to thank WHSB - and dear Eggy Turner - his persona may have been that of a disciplinarian - but that's what you need to command respect from 700 odd adolescent boys.
Apart from that, in my view, he was a man of great sensitivity, intelligence and a role model for his pupils. As you will remember we used to assemble at the start of every school day in the Hall for morning Assembly - on one occasion the whole school sang the hymn " For those in peril on the sea " - I recall feeling how impressive was the feeling created by the harmony and sentiment of the hymn - to my surprise, and somewhat exceptionally Eggy stood up afterwards and actually congratulated the whole school on their performance. This was a man who was proud of his school, of his pupils, and had the intelligence to bring out the best in them."
Biographical Notes: After John left WHSB at Easter 1959 he spent time at Laegaarden High School, Holstebro, Denmark and College de Garcons, Luneville, Meurthe et Moselle, France before going up to Oxford in 1960 to read French and Italian. After graduating he had a varied career encompassing the Tourism Industry, a Vice Presidency of American Express (Europe, Middle East and Africa), and finally a managerial post in the Wine and Spirits Industry. He is fluent in French, Italian, German, and Danish. He now lives in North London.
21 January 2015
BOB ALLIN – a Tribute by Willie Wildash - with quotations taken from his excellent funeral oration given by Alastair West (1953-61).
Robert Stephen Allin was a former Head Boy of Worthing High School. He was an outstanding sportsman who excelled at athletics.
“Bob was a constant. He was never known to have a nickname except in Latin where, like everyone else, he was re-christened with a Latin name by the teacher who looked at Allin for a moment and thereafter called him Fessus – “tired”: wonderfully incongruous and inappropriate because what was obvious from the start was that Bob had huge energy and vitality that later developed into real sporting talent. Tired didn’t come into it.”
“Most kids cycled a good deal in those days and Bob rode everywhere, to and from school, into town, down to the beach, out into the countryside at weekends – and he rode fast. He always had done. That was how his nose was first broken, pedalling head-down over drop handlebars somewhere in Hertfordshire, headfirst into a baker’s van which braked suddenly.”
Although he competed in athletics at county level, rugby was his first love. He played for 1st XV which he captained. He also captained the 7s team which played in the Rosslyn Park National School's tournament. The April 1960 edition of The Azurian stated: That the 1st XV had an excellent season. Its captain and full back Bob Allin's catching and kicking are outstanding, and the rest of the team can always relax if the ball is skied towards our goal line knowing it will be safely sent into touch. He is very deliberate and looks deceptively casual in what appear to be the most desperate situations. At time he runs with great power in attack and is very difficult to bring down. His defence is first rate. He times his tackles well and rarely misses a man. He is particularly good at stopping an opponent who is trying to crash over our own line. He is an excellent leader of a good team.
After leaving school, Bob played rugby regularly for the Old Azurians RFC, for Worthing RFC and for Rosslyn Park RFC. Bob's sporting prowess was certainly grounded in physical ability and talent that made many of the things he did well look easy, but it was also tied up with a mixture of courage, determination and obstinacy. These qualities earned him respect and admiration from his team mates and friends throughout his life and gave him strength upon which to draw in later life when in poor health. Together with his flair for leadership they also made him an obvious choice for Head Boy.
Bob led by example, he was fair in his judgement and generous in his encouragement of those younger or less experienced. Most importantly he was a good sportsman. He was competitive and enjoyed winning, but not at any cost or by any means. Fairness and respect for one’s opponent were too important for that. He had a very sharp sense of the distinction between ability and sportsmanship and was always quick to point out how limited in value the one was without the other.
He will be sadly missed by his many friends.
Bob Allin, who was born on 25 May 1942, died on 28 Dec 2014.
18 Dec 2014
ROGER BAKER (Saxon 1952-1959) has found us from near Seattle, USA. He is in touch with two others from his year - Raymond Band and Howard Stockford who live in Canada and had careers in geology / mining. About himself Roger says:
After leaving the upper sixth in 1959 I read Electrical Engineering at Southampton University, graduating in 1962 with an honours degree in engineering. I worked for four years for EMI in Feltham, Middlesex on guided weapons, met my future wife, a Canadian girl, in London and we emigrated to the USA in 1966 to work for Boeing. After one year with them I got a masters degree in Electrical Engineering and subsequently worked for two aerospace electronic companies in various capacities. I retired in 2001 and have two sons and four grandkids. I traveled the world extensively even before retirement both on business and pleasure, even more so since retiring, and get back to the UK every year or second year. I enjoyed sailing, skiing and flying (I got my private pilot license in 1988) although I have now quit skiing and flying and am now an avid watercolour artist. I was always thankful for the great education that I got at WHSB and the great teachers like my sixth form teachers McRae (Math), Jenkins (Chem) and Cowley (Physics), that prepared me for university and beyond.
I’d be interested in hearing from any of my ‘old’ class mates. (Ask me for details- Ed.)
18 Dec 2014
ROBIN SHERCLIFF, identified in the School Choir photo by Roger Baker, had a career in the Fleet Air Arm.
On 26 January 1968 he had just taken off from RNAS Yeovilton in a Hawker Hunter when a loud bang presaged complete engine failure. Robin and his fellow crew member ejected successfully bot both of them were injured. He commanded HMS Wasperton, a coastal minesweeper on the Hong Kong station in the 1970s and went on to become Air Commander of the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes during the Falklands conflict. He retired with the rank of captain.
14-18 October 2014
MARTIN HOFTON (Angle 1952-59) has been in touch from Canada and provided some names for the School Choir photo.
After leaving the High school in 1959 he studied chemistry at Aston University, specializing in plastics. In 1967 he went to Canada only expecting to stay a few years, but he is still there, living near Montréal. He comes back to the Worthing area from time to time, and always enjoys meeting old friends. He is married to a French Canadian and they have three children and three grandchildren. After a career in the plastics industry, he is retired, so has plenty of time for golf, skiing, hiking and volunteer work. He also enjoys his hobby of restoring old photographs and would be happy to retouch any old school photos that an old Azurian may have at the bottom of his drawer.
He would be pleased to hear from any old boys who would like to make contact. (Ask me for details- Ed.)