1970 - 1979
Richard Harris (1970)
Jim Wainwright (1951), Ian Turner (1956) and myself, it seems, were all inspired by WL Whalley and 'Ben' Benett to go on to read geography at Selwyn College, Cambridge. I then went on to do postgraduate work in North America, and taught urban geography at the Universities of British Columbia and Toronto before settling, in 1988, at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. I retain a love of history, acquired at KES from David Ganderton, and for many years combined the two ways of seeing the world in doing research on the modern history of North American cities. In January 2017 I will become the first geographer to be President of the (American) Urban History Association. (19/9/16)
Keith McLean (1970)
On 20 May 2015 I was elected Mayor of Milton Keynes. I joined the Council in May 2011 as a Conservative councillor and held a Cabinet role for several months until our group relinquished the administration in May 2014, at which time I was elected Deputy Mayor.
After leaving King Edward's I achieved an HND in Computer Studies before spending a few years working at Cadbury's in Bournville, from where I moved to Olney, Buckinghamshire to take up a role at Granada Group Services based in Bedford. In 1983 I was asked to take on the role as Head of Information Technology at Granada Television which I did for seven years. A change of direction to various sales roles covered the next 17 years and since 2007 I have been a project manager for Northgate HR, a leading supplier of HR and payroll outsourced services and software, from which I am taking a year off to fulfil my Mayoral duties.
Those few who might remember me will recall I was happier on the sports pitches, pool and courts than in the classroom! My post-school rugby career started at Streetsbrook Road where I played several seasons, before moving to play for Aston University and then Bournville RFC, which I captained in 1976-77 when I worked at Cadbury's. Moving to Olney I joined their club and enjoyed seven seasons of playing, with some refereeing, before we moved to Manchester. On our return to the Olney area in 1990 I restarted playing and also undertook more refereeing with the East Midlands Rugby Union Referees Society. As my knees began to trouble me more and more I moved to become an assessor.
Whilst I was at King Edward's I had the privilege of captaining the 1st VI at tennis; we had a successful team winning most of our matches and I thoroughly enjoyed playing in the Youll Cup at Wimbledon. I have continued to play tennis since school. I also have fond memories of playing Fives, Basketball, Cricket, Water Polo, participating in Swimming matches, as well as the CCF where I was i/c stores and played the big bass drum at parades.
I approach my 39th year of marriage to Victoria and we have a daughter, Isla, who will be 30 this year. (24/5/15)
After my year as Mayor of Milton Keynes I have started a new career working for Iain Stewart, MP for Milton Keynes South. I manage the local office dealing with a very varied scope of casework, policy matters and managing the MP's schedule in the constituency. After 46 years working in IT and project management this is an exciting new role that is exposing me to the inner workings of government and people who need their MP to assist them. (19/9/16)
After my year as Mayor of Milton Keynes I have started a new career working for Iain Stewart, MP for Milton Keynes South. I manage the local office dealing with a very varied scope of casework, policy matters and managing the MP’s schedule in the constituency. After 46 years working in IT and project management this is an exciting new role that is exposing me to the inner workings of government and people who need their MP to assist them. (20/3/17)
Martin Robinson (1970)
In April 2016 I took part in a three week trip to Nepal when I did the Makalu Base Camp hike. The base camp is at 4,780m but we reached about 4,900m before descending into the valley where the base camp is located.
We arrived in Kathmandu on 31 March in the evening, spent the next day sightseeing and the following day caught a plane to Tumlingtar (410m) from where we hiked up to Khadbari (1040m). The next day we caught a jeep which took us up to Num (1500m) where the hike really started. The first day we descended about 800m to cross a river and then climbed up the same amount to arrive in Seduwa (1510m). From there we continued up to Tashigaon (2100m) and then on to Khongma (3500m). After the acclimatisation day at Khongma, we went over three passes (4,100m, 4,200m and 4,000m) in a day with snow virtually everywhere. We saw two yaks in the snow and they were floundering about as they were too heavy for the snow and sank in. We spent the night next to the snow in the Dobaate lodge (3375m).
After the snow, we descended about 700m to the Makalu Base Camp valley. The path followed the river upwards but to start with there were numerous areas where the path was no longer visible and we had to walk over large stones. The rhododendron forest then came down to the river and in the afternoon it started to rain with very small hailstones. We stopped at a Tea House for lunch and then continued following the river up to the Yangle Kharka lodge (3,540m). The scenery was much better and a lot greener compared to the stones before.
The following day we started off over a fairly flat section and then climbed up 200m in a forest. We subsequently went over three ridges on the way up to the Langmale lodge (4,410m). The path we followed went up and down but not too steeply the following day. We climbed up to 4900m and then continued along the side of a valley before descending to the Makalu Base Camp (4780m) at the far end. We had a splendid view of the Makalu Mountain from the Base Camp the following morning.
The descent was the reverse of the ascension but we descended in one day to Yangle Kharke and then continued down the valley before climbing up to Dobaate. The following day we crossed over the three passes in the snow but this time we were in the clouds with hailstones pelting down on us. There was also a horizontal flash of lightning just in front of us as we approached the final pass. We descended to Khongma and the following day continued down to Seduwa. The final day of the hike involved descending to the river again and then climbing up to Num.
We caught a jeep down to Tumlingtar from Num but our flight back to Kathmandu was cancelled as the clouds were too low for the pilot to find the airport. We thus caught a jeep to Biratnagar (Nepal’s second city) and caught a plane the following morning to Kathmandu.
The weather was usually sunny and clear in the mornings with clouds appearing around midday and the odd spot of rain in the afternoons. On two or three occasions, it rained once we were in the lodges.
This was my second hike in Nepal: I did the Manaslu circuit three years ago, and I hope to do the Kanchenjunga Base Camp (5,400m) in three years’ time. Kanchenjunga is the world’s third highest peak, Makalu being the fifth highest. (19/9/16)
I haven't got all that much news, as I had two minor operations in January: first, to remove two stones in my bladder and then to increase the inner diameter of my prostate gland and remove the debris from the first operation.
I retired on May 1st this year. My last major holiday was in Nepal in April 2016 when I did the Makalu Base Camp hike. The camp itself is at 4,780 metres but we reached 4,900 metres along the side of a valley before descending to the Base Camp.
If I stay in good health, I intend to return in March/April 2019 to do the Kangchenjunga South Base Camp hike. The South Base Camp is at 5,400 metres. (28/7/17)
Dr Bob Ryder (1970)I joined King Edward's at age 13 in 1966, got fast tracked to take O and A-levels a year early as was the custom in those days to facilitate taking Oxbridge the year after A-levels. A-levels summer 1970, failed Cambridge entrance Autumn 1970 left Christmas 1970. (31/7/13)
Nigel Williams (1970)Retired from full time General Practice on 31st August 2011. (10/2/12)
Andy Downton (1971)
I moved to a new job as Pro Vice-Chancellor Teaching and Learning at De Montfort University in May 2011. (12/5/11)
Martin Dudley (1971)
On 17 July 2014 I received the degree of Doctor of Arts honoris causa from the City University London in recognition of my work both as Rector of a City of London Parish and as an elected member of the City's Court of Common Council. In my 20th year at Saint Bartholomew the Great, I am currently on study leave at the University of Helsinki, working on a possible relationship between faith and health. Later this year I will become Rector of a new parish, uniting the hospital church of Saint Bartholomew the Less to Saint Bartholomew the Great, and our ministry will expand into providing pastoral care for hospital staff, patients and their families, in partnership with the chaplaincy team of Barts Health NHS Trust. (24/1/15)
Stephen Hammond (1971)
I've fulfilled a long held ambition, and am now running a small brewery in Bromsgrove. In consequence, I am now eminently qualified to run a p**s up in a brewery, and can frequently be found doing just that! I also do quite a lot of financial accounting as FD of a small group of companies, which is nowhere near as interesting, but pays the bills! (31/7/13)
Ewen Mackenzie-Bowie (1971)
I have spent a career in international education, first teaching English as a Foreign Language in England, Scotland, Egypt and Spain, then running or marketing language schools in the UK, and finally emigrating in 2000 to New Zealand where I have two Kiwi children and a lovely French wife. I am Chairman of a group of four schools, teaching Business, IT, Early Childhood Education and English to some 600 students, mostly international. My career has meandered a good deal, but I have never had longer than a weekend in between jobs, and for the most part the new salary has been higher than the old! There was never a career plan, but when business ownership intermingles with professional development the former certainly takes over from the latter. Confucius said if your plan is for a year, plant rice; if it's for ten years plant trees; if it's for a hundred years, educate your children. I provide predominantly international students with an outstanding education. I believe that in my small way I contribute to greater understanding among the people of our complex planet's increasingly interdependent nations. Apart from work, my life is my family, and when I decided to take a Masters degree a few years ago, I chose a subject that would be more useful to me as a father than as a businessman or academic; so I have an MA from Surrey in Children's Literature. I have published a couple of children's stories; Superpuffin, and Superpuffin and the Dinosaurs, and my Masters thesis, The Wolf in Children's Literature, is published and available through all the usual online booksellers. I am still in touch with my KES contemporaries, the Rev Dr Martin Dudley, Paul Hadley and Dr Graham Knight. (24/8/14)
I have recently been appointed Chairman of English New Zealand, the federation of English language schools, representing over 80% of the English language sector in New Zealand. I am owner-director of two English New Zealand member schools: Auckland English Academy and New Horizon College. AEA and New Horizon are part of ICL Education Group, of which I am Chairman. The Group includes ICL Business School, which delivers business, computing and early childhood education programmes up to degree level. The Group aggregates over 700 EFTS (equivalent full-time students) per year. I have published several children's literature texts: both illustrated books for children and academic journal articles. (1/8/15)
Munna Mitra (1971)
At present I teach Classics part-time at Rochester Grammar School for Girls and am an associate priest in the Parish of South Gillingham, attached to All Saints Church, Hempstead. (25/8/14)
I have moved recently from being Head of Boarding at King's School, Rochester, to become Associate Priest in the Parish of South Gillingham with responsibility for All Saints' Church in Hempstead. I still teach Classics on two mornings each week at Rochester Grammar School for Girls and continue to be a Priest-Vicar at Rochester Cathedral with a brief to assist the clergy in the Cathedral Chapter in the running of services there. (26/1/15)
Paul Davis (1972)Now running self-catering cottages in Shropshire in view of the Stiperstones. Mention OE for a 10% discount (31/7/13)
David Harris (1972)
Solicitor, partner and Co-CEO of Hogan Lovells, following the merger of Lovells and Hogan & Hartson on 1 May 2010. David was previously Managing Partner of Lovells, prior to which he practised in debt capital markets and structured finance. David spends a significant amount of time travelling to Hogan Lovells' offices around the world. Lives in Gomshall, Surrey with his wife, Maggie. They have four children between 18 and 23. Follows sport avidly, as well as playing polo and electric guitar. (10/11/11)
After nearly ten years as Co-CEO/Managing Partner and 32 years with the firm, I retired from Hogan Lovells at the end of June. I am taking some time out with my new found freedom to see more of my family, as well as indulging in my personal interests of polo, improving my guitar skills and skiing, before deciding on any future plans. (25/8/14)
Christopher Hodges (1972)
I was appointed Professor of Justice Systems at Oxford University (the first to hold this title) in July. It entails too much travel in advising governments across the world on how to reform their legal, court, regulatory, ombudsmen and related systems! (25/8/14)
My latest book Law and Corporate Behaviour: Integrating Theories of Regulation, Enforcement, Compliance and Ethics (Hart Publishing, 2015) was published in October 2015. It sets out the detailed substantiation for a developing new approach by regulators and enforcers to supporting compliance and performance by businesses, and for a new collaborative approach between all parties based on ethical practice. As a result, the Better Regulation development Office (BRDO) of the Department for Business Innovation & Skills (BIS) published my paper Ethical Business Regulation: Understanding the Evidence in February 2016, available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ethical-business-regulation, and many discussions are taking place. I have explained the thinking at OECD in Paris, and to senior officials in various governments, such as Singapore. Wolfson College Oxford appointed me a Supernumerary Fellow.
By happy coincidence, BRDO is based in Birmingham, so I have visited the centre of town, but trips are somewhat full, and I hope to get time to get out to KES on some trip soon!
For a bit more background, visit: https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/news/2016-02-04-ethical-business-regulation-understanding-evidence (7/2/16)
Tim Webb (1972)
I have spent 33 years in the NHS after graduating from Birmingham Medical School in 1977, and to date have clocked up 28 years as a Consultant in Adult Psychiatry, serving on numerous regional and national committees and as a Board level director of his NHS Trust for seven years. I have managed to have absolutely no influence whatsoever on mental health policy or practice but take pride in having been ignored at every level of the UK healthcare system.
While at university I developed an interest in beer, joining the National Executive of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and going on to run the Great British Beer Festival for a couple of years and to found its publishing company. When I became an NHS consultant I largely withdrew from CAMRA but became a beer writer. On retiring from the NHS in 2010 I was approached to write The World Atlas of Beer, a companion edition to Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson's World Atlas of Wine. The first edition appeared in 11 imprints (and nine languages) worldwide. The second of The World Atlas of Beer will appear in Autumn 2016.
As a writer and more recently publisher (booksaboutbeer.com) I have been influential in shaping a global revolution in small scale commercial brewing that now sees billions of pounds of annual sales shifting from industrial producers to smaller scale craft brewers in over 60 countries thus far, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs. (1/8/15)
Stephen Badsey (1973)
I have been made Professor of Conflict Studies at the University of Wolverhampton, with effect from the start of this academic year, 2011. (23/10/11)
Adrian Baker (1973)
Surgeon Captain Adrian Baker retired from the Royal Navy on 1 September 2014 after 30 years' service at sea, on operations with the Royal Marines and latterly as President of the Royal Navy Medical Board. (15/7/14)
I have a new assignment. I work for Captain Naval Recruitment dealing with difficult and disputed fitness determinations. (19/9/16)
Nicholas Cooke (1973)
After 4 years as Recorder of Cardiff (the senior criminal judge permanently based in south east Wales) I have been transferred to the Central Criminal Court (the Old Bailey) in London. Still also sitting in the Administrative Court and as an additional Judge of the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) but now a weekly commuter. My wife Jean still teaches Geography and despite our best efforts our two daughters have foolowed in our footsteps - one at the insolvency bar and the othe teaching physics. (28/2/12)
Andy Green (1973)
Enjoying turning 60 and the free travel around London.
Keeping busy as Chair of IG Group, SID at ARM Holdings and NED at Avanti Communications. Also still leading for the UK Space Industry as President of UK Space (really pumped up by the Tim Peake mission). Still championing UK Tech Industry too as Chairman of the Digital Catapult and deputy Chair of the Tech Partnership. (5/2/16)
Simon Inglis (1973)
Having originated and been editor of the English Heritage series Played in Britain since 2004, we are now, because of a certain sports event in London next year, entering our busiest spell of research and publishing. In October we published The British Olympics - Britain's Olympic Heritage 1612-2012 (no that 1612 date is not a misprint), and I am now emabarking on my biggest challenge so far, Played in London - charting the heritage of a city at play, which is due to come out just before the Olympics. Cricket pavilions, boathouses, stadiums, billiard halls, swimming baths... all this because a certain Bruce Hurn instilled a love in me of architectural history. Ihad lunch with Bruce last year, just near to the cricket ground in Chislehurst where Emperor Napoleon III of France used to watch the occasional game and wonder at the madness of the English! For more details of my work, see: www.playedinbritain.co.uk (ps we featured the KES fives courts and swimming pool in an earlier book I co-wrote called Played in Birmingham).
What a rotten shower we were - the infamous 4C, as is reflected by the shameful lack of Old Eds from my year contributing their news! For what it's worth, I've been on Grub Street since 1980, writing books and articles, mainly on sporting history and architecture (stadiums, swimming pools etc). I am currently editor of the English Heritage series Played in Britain. In one title I co-wrote, Played in Birmingham, I managed to slip in a photo of the fives courts at KES. Ironic given that I spent more time in them puffing on ciggies at break time than I ever did playing. Recently I attended the Bruce Hurn event at KES - I owe him so much for investing in me a love of architecture and was thrilled to walk around the old place. Made me realise how lucky I'd been. Now living in London I keep in touch with two school chums, the designer Mike Bliss and Andy Forbes, who is now Principal of Hertford Regional College. I gave up my Villa season ticket a few years back but still watch them at the pub whenever I can. Overall I wouldn't consider myself Old Boy material at all. I was too much of a rebel. But I have to confess, in its own subtle way KES nurtured that side of me too. That said, we probably were a pretty unpleasant lot to teach. (10/2/11)
Christopher Lightfoot (1973)
Curated the special exhibition 'The Roman Mosaic from Israel' at The Metropolitan Museum of Art September 2010-March 2011. Came out of retirement as the Director of the Amorium Excavations Project having run the excavation from 1993 until 2009 and now planning a new field season in 2012. For the latest news see: www.amoriumexcavations.org (3/11/11)
Married Constance (Connie) Norkin in Darien, Connecticut, USA on 30 November 2013. (24/1/14)
Chris Lightfoot has curated an exhibition called 'Ennion: Master of Roman Glass' at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, open from 8 December 2014 to 13 April 2015. (28/1/15)
I would like to announce the publication of my new book: Amorium Reports 5: A Catalogue of Roman and Byzantine Stone Inscriptions from Amorium and its Territory, together with Graffiti, Stamps, and Miscellanea. I also visited the site at Amorium where the new Turkish team presented me with a plaque that will be hung on the Dig House, recording my 20 years as the Director of the Amorium Excavations Project. (28/7/17)
Peter Dean (1974)
Since retiring and moving permanently to France in 2007, I have tried to become as integrated as possible with French village life. I live in Semur en Brionnais, in Southern Burgundy. Semur is designated as "Un des Plus Beaux Villages de France" (one of the most beautiful villages in France) and has a history dating back to medieval times. For the local elections in May 2014 I was asked if I would be interested in standing for the village council. I agreed and was elected for a period of six years. As well as attending monthly council meetings, I now chair the village Tourism Committee, sit on the Finance and Information committees and represent the village at various outside organisations. I am working at making aspects of the village - particularly the tourism - more joined up and developing more of a web presence. Here in France the local councils take many decisions that affect daily life, for example processing planning applications; registering births, marriages, and deaths; rental of facilities; road repairs, support when there are accidents or storms; maintenance of council buildings; fundraising for projects etc. The Mairie (Town Hall) is always the first port of call if you have a problem or query and offers a wide variety of services to help all individual members of the community. If you want to get married, the ceremony has to be officiated by the Mayor. Being a Councillor is challenging (language and culture) but also fascinating in finding out how French society operates. The wheels do grind quite slowly here. I hope to be able to make a small difference by looking at things from a different standpoint and perhaps introducing some modified ways of doing things. So far my 14 colleagues on the council have been very supportive but I am aware that I probably have a certain novelty value. (25/8/14)
Barry Elkington (1974)
Following a relatively successful participation for the first time in 2015, Old Boys from King Edward's School again entered a team in the Thames Hare & Hounds Alumni Cross Country Race held in December 2016 on Wimbledon Common. The five-mile long course is a true test of cross country running ability, being along footpaths through woodland with ditches to jump or splash through and short muddy slopes to climb. Knowing what to expect this year, we hoped to improve on our 2015 result.
Unfortunately, last minute illnesses reduced the team to just three runners. Andrew Peat (1999) finished an excellent third overall in a time of 25.26, over a minute faster and two places higher than last year. Shafiq Rasheed (2000) finished 33rd, and I finished 103rd, with both of us also improving on our 2015 positions. However the lack of a fourth runner upset the team result as we incurred a penalty score of the last finisher's position plus 1, thus adding 205 to the total. This placed us 17th out of the 33 schools entered, two places down on last year, but still ahead of Warwick, Denstone, Eton and other notable schools with complete teams.
The 2017 race will take place on a Saturday this year, probably 16 December, and we hope to have a full team out. If you are interested in joining us then please e-mail: barry_elkington@uk.ibm.com
Further information on the history of the race, including past results, can be found on the Thames Hare & Hounds website. (20/3/17)
Geraint Evans (1974)
After 33 years as a doctor, mostly (20 years) in the Royal Navy, I retired from the RN in July 2012. My last post as a Surgeon Captain was as Director of Clinical Studies at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine in Birmingham, so my first and last jobs were within a mile or so of KES. After 19 years as an Emergency Medicine Consultant (not to mention two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan in recent years), I feel I have earned some peace and quiet in sunny Pembrokeshire, but die of service not of rust - I am still planning to do sessions for the local NHS Hospital and also doing Medical Expert consulting work on a part-time basis. (24/9/12)
Ralph Martin (1974)
In October 2014 I received the Friendship Medal, the highest award granted to foreign nationals by the Chinese government. (28/1/15)
David Rothery (1974)
Was promoted to Professor of Planetary Geosciences at the Open University in November 2013. (24/1/14)
Paul Russell (1974)
I have survived through to 55 years of age, and for the last two years I have been plotting my exit from corporate life, which has been achieved by my self-imposed deadline (My 55th). I am now enjoying a mixed menu as self employed business advisor/mentor, voluntary mentoring of undergraduates at Leeds and Cambridge Universities, growing tamworth pigs, lleyn sheep, muscovy ducks, honey, vegetables and free range eggs in sunny Holmfirth - and taking long walks in the Peak District with the mongrel and wife. Being in control of one's time really has a great deal to recommend it. The businesses with which I work are themselves varied and range from large manufacturing concerns, through to one man businesses, via a family farm business looking for help with both its core and diversification strategies. Should have done this years ago. (24/10/11)
Paul Smith (1974)
I am no longer Director of the British Council in the USA but am now Director of the British Council in Indonesia, based in Jakarta. (19/9/16)
I am now Director of the British Council and Cultural Counsellor to the British Embassy in Indonesia. (20/3/17)
Ian Yapp (1974)
After 18 years away from Australia, 11 spent in Hong Kong and a further seven in Dallas, I returned to my beloved Sydney with my husband and moved back into my home in the centre of the city. I met Tres in Dallas and we married almost three years ago in New York City, on a rooftop terrace overlooking the Hudson River.
I have now worked in airline management for over 30 years since leaving the UK in 1979 with an Engineering degree in Metallurgy, Materials Technology and German. I moved to Australia in 1980 and joined Cathay Pacific Airways, thence to Hong Kong in the mid-90s with Cathay. I saw in the return of Hong Kong to the PRC in 1997 in pouring rain on a Causeway Bay rooftop, and learned of Princess Diana's death while lounging on the beach at Repulse Bay. I changed employer to aid American Airlines with the introduction of product into South East Asia. American took me their headquarters in Dallas, where I loved life in Texas and met my future husband.
Tres and I resolved to return to Australia in 2014, where I am now proud to be working for Etihad Airways as Pricing Manager for Australia and New Zealand, and Tres is catching up with the recent changes in digital media, distribution and advertising, while looking for his next challenge. Anyone in this neck of the woods looking for a beer, a cocktail or just some tourist tips, is welcome to make contact! (11/7/15)
Paul Jephcott (1975)
After a running 'career' that started with being in the Evans and then the School House cross country teams (when both were unable to find enough runners), and was followed by a 33 year sabbatical, I have been selected to represent GB for my age group in a triathlon. I am taking part in the European (half ironman distance) Championships in Mallorca in October. I suspect it will be a very 'interesting' experience. (13/7/14)
In May I competed in the mid-distance triathlon European Championships on behalf of GB for the 55-59 age group in Rimini. This consisted of a 1.9km sea swim (in rather choppy waters), 95km bike ride in to the rather steep hills and back, followed by a 21.1km half marathon run back and forth along the promenade several times. I was over the moon not to come last in my age group with a final position of 17th of 22 starters. (14/6/15)
David Lowe (1975)
Having been Master of the Music at Norwich Cathedral for the past four years I have just taken up a Commoner Fellowship at St John's College, Cambridge for the next six months. I have also been made a professor of singing at the Royal Northern College of Music. (13/9/11)
Andrew Millinchip (1975)
I continue to be Director of Music at The Grange School, an independent senior school in Hartford, Cheshire. I am in charge of a large department with choirs, orchestras, a Swing Band and much else besides. Our senior choir undertakes an annual European tour and sang at Saint Eustache and Saint Germain des Pres churches in Paris last April. I am also organist and choirmaster at St Mary's Church, Whitegate, and have just begun (at the age of 54!) to learn the cello. I am married to Jane and we have two grown up sons: Thomas, who studied French at the University of Kent in Canterbury and is now looking for teaching jobs, and Benedict, who was a historian and Choral Scholar at Exeter College, Oxford and is now working for PriceWaterhouse Cooper in London. (31/10/11)
Chris Morley (1975)
After 12 years in strategic outsourcing with IBM, I now run my own recruitment agency specialising in permanent IT staff in London and the South East. It is deeply satisfying to bring together business requirements and talented candidates. www.congreverecruitment.co.uk. (16/4/15)
Christopher Naish (1975)
I read law at Exeter University after leaving school. I am still in Exeter where I am Head of Chambers at Southernhay Chambers and practising mainly in the field of Family Law. I am married with three children, now all grown up. (7/10/11)
Franklin Sibly (1975)
Continuing as Trauma and Orthopaedic Consultant specialising in hand and upper limb at Hereford. Daughter Olivia should qualify as nurse this summer. (24/1/14)
Charlie Abrahams (1976)
Got married on 3 May 2013 to Alma Abrahams, now the happy father of seven dogs, three horses and a corn snake. Still living near Welwyn, Herts and very involved in the UK competitive fly fishing world. Have been working for MarkMonitor the last seven years, who were acquired in 2012 by Thomson Reuters, I am now running Global Sales from our European HQ in Golden Square, London. (24/1/14)
Stephen Cooper (1976)
My first book The Final Whistle: the Great War in Fifteen Players was published by The History Press and won Rugby Book of the Year in The Times British Sports Book Awards 2013. Work is underway on at least two new books. (16/9/13)
Andy Halstead (1976)
After seven years as Director of Operations at The Football Association, including organising the opening events at the new Wembley Stadium, I have taken up the challenge of trying to organise the Church of England back in Birmingham as General Secretary. Similar politics, but rather more difficult to attract TV and sponsorship income! (5/11/11)
Simon Klemperer (1976)
From the past three years: Simon and Mary are now proud parents of a second daughter - Emma is 10, Kate just 3. Simon welcomes any contemporaries passing through Stanford University (where I am Professor of Geophysics) or San Francisco to make contact. (31/7/13)
Martin James Lawrence (1976)
I have written and published two books: 'Business Systems Acceptance Test Analysis' and 'High Quality Loudspeaker Engineering'. I have presented a copy of each to King Edward's School library. (01/8/13)
Paul Ruddock (1976)
I stepped down as Chair of the Victoria and Albert Museum last October after 13 and a half years on the board and eight years as Chair. This was an amazing period during which we transformed the Museum and almost quadrupled attendance. I remain on the board of the Metroplitan Museum in New York but am also excited that I will be joining the British Museum's board later this year.
I was also honoured to be appointed by the Chancellor in October to be a Commissioner of the new National Infrastructure Commission which will advise the government about long term infrastructure requirements from road and rail, to energy policy, new housing, broadband and many other issues which is a fascinating and important challenge.
Finally I continue to chair the Oxford University Endowment as well as the WW1 Centenary Cathedrals Repair expert panel and am also working with the Mayor of London on the establishment of a huge new Cultural Quarter in the Olympic Park which will include not only a new outpost of the V&A but also a Sadler's Wells theatre, an outpost of the Smithsonian Museum of Washington, and new campuses for both UCL and the University of the Arts. (5/2/16)
Howard Whitehouse (1976)
This year Howard has helped dig out a bus from an Andean streambed at 17,000 feet, been stung in the ear by wasps, and written a novel involving quite a lot of zombies. His 'Mad Misadventures' series of books for discerning young persons has been sold to a publisher in Belgrade for translation into Serbo-Croat. His luggage was searched in El Salvador. He performed a self-penned song about a courgette in a contest for zucchini-oriented poetry, and came second in a field of two. He has refused to eat deep-fried guinea pig, and thinks you should too. This September saw the release of the future classic of epic fantasy, Bogbrush the Barbarian (Kids Can Press Toronto), aimed at readers 8-12. (3/10/10)
I have had three books published this year, in three different fields. Zombie Elementary came out in paperback in June, after its success as a hard cover edition. It’s for your ten-year-old friend. Mad Dogs with Guns is a miniature wargame of the Prohibition Era. The White Zulu is a novel of Victorian derring-do and heroic stupidity, out from Winged Hussar Publishing later in the year.
I live with my very patient American wife, four cats, thousands of books and model soldiers in an old church manse amid the wooded hills north of New York City, where the bodies are buried.
I do all my own stunts. (28/7/17)
Ed Wickins (1976)
I was awarded an EdD at Bristol University in July. I am currently a School Principal of a successful school of 1,800 in Hong Kong teaching the IB Diploma. We have been here for 10 years now and my wife is a Vice Principal in a neighbouring school. My old friend Dr Geoffrey Griffiths (also a 1976 Old Ed) helped us to celebrate the award. He teaches Geography at Reading University. (24/8/14)
Matthew Cooke (1977)
Appointed as National Clinical Director for Urgent and Emergency Care at Department of Health in 2010. Responsible for a variety of national initiatives to improve emergency care in NHS as well as advising several overseas governments on their emergency care systems. Also Professor of Emergency Medicine at University of Warwick. (9/3/12)
Nigel Dickinson (1977)
Nigel works as photojournalist and filmmaker since 30 years. His long term work on Roma Gypsies was exhibited this year at the Venice Biennale: www.romamediaarchive.net/roma-beyond-borders. The latter part of the year he is working in Mexico City with Sebastian, Mexico's most famous living artist: nigeldickinson.photoshelter.com/gallery-collection/Sculptor-Sebastian-Enrique-Carbahal/P0000aLj1fY_DqZA (21/10/11)
Based between Paris and London, Nigel continues his work as a photojournalist and filmmaker and is a panellist at the UN's bi-annual UNAOC conference in Bali this August. Following that, he revisits Borneo and the semi-nomadic indigenous peoples he photographed in 1989 and 1991, to continue a documentary film about their lives and struggles, in the face of ever more horrendous deforestation by logging, palm oil plantations and hydro-electric dam projects. In 1992 Nigel was awarded bronze prize at the first UNEP Rio Earth Summit for this work. Since then he has been recognised by the World Press, Critical Mass, Eugene Smith and European Publishers Award. View 'Borneo revisited' photography. Nigel is actually editing a photographic book from twenty years about Roma Gypsies, Roma Beyond Borders which will be published by Actes Sud (FR) and Dewi Lewis (UK). Geographically it covers Asia, Europe and the Americas, including the Balkans Wars, English Romanies, Saintes Maries festival in the Camargue and shot in places as far flung as Rajasthan, Texas and Bogota. This work has already been published in National Geographic, Figaro, & Stern and shown at the Venice Biennale. View 'Roma Beyond Borders'. (23/8/14)
Nick Keen (1977)
Who would have thought that a fairly arbitrary decision to join the CCF back in September 1972 would lead to a career in uniform lasting until now? Some 44 years after first putting on Army uniform, initially as a CCF cadet and member of Liverpool UOTC, the last 34 years as a Regular Army Officer, it is finally time to retire. During that time I have served in UK and Germany, USA and Belgium as well as working visits to 12 other countries, not to mention skiing in Bavaria, climbing volcanoes in Mexico, glacier trekking in the Canadian Rockies and sub aqua diving in Sardinia. After a fantastic and varied career, it’s time for the next chapter. My lifelong love of languages, kindled at KES that led to me becoming the UK’s Exchange Officer in the German MOD in Berlin, now leads me to the next phase of my professional life as a teacher of English as a Second Language living in Spain. (15/2/16)
Ian Whatley (1977)
I came out of retirement from athletics in 2010 and qualified for my fifth US Olympic athletics trial in 2012, my first being in 1992. I finished ninth, my time ranking me number one in the world for the 50-54 age group in the 20Km racewalk. On the world lists, this moved me up to 14th fastest man over-50 of all time. In November, I competed in my first serious 50,000 M race since narrowly missing the Olympic Games in 1996. My time ranked me 10th in the US as an open athlete. I'm hoping to qualify for the World Cup, in China 2014, to become the oldest ever competitor in that event. My best previous performance was 65th in the world at the World Cup in Mexico 1993. I was a member of the US track and Field team (it's called athletics in the UK) from 1993 to 2009. I'm currently chair of coaching education for USATF and spend my free time (ha!) consulting on the bioengineering aspects of sports equipment. (13/1/13)
I am currently one of the US team coaches for Athletics, specializing in racewalking and ultra-distance events. I have found the easiest way to coach young athletes is to train with them - going at full speed while shouting instructions is a surprisingly good way to get fit. In March I broke the US masters track record for 50 kilometres (125 laps) and qualified for the 2016 Olympic trials, my sixth. If I manage to stay uninjured and finish the race, I will be the oldest person ever to compete in the US Olympic athletics trials. Not to be outdone, my twin daughters (14) finished fifth and sixth in the US junior athletics championships. (25/8/14)
My interest in athletics began on the Eastern Road track under the watchful eye and stern voice of Stewart Birch, developing further in cross-country with the support of Maurice Workman. At Loughborough, I won the 3,000m racewalking track bronze medal in the British Universities championships, and captained the British Universities cross-country team. Therefore, I was sorry to miss the final sports day at Eastern Road, but have a good excuse: I was racing in California in the US Athletics team trials for the London World Championships. However, I was able to visit Eastern Road and say my goodbyes on 10 June, with help from my fellow OEs Peter Madeley and Adrian Fowkes. I racewalked a mile in 8:07, hand-timed and jetlagged. Probably of more interest than the time (a track record not likely to be broken since the track won't be there) was that I still fit into my KE vest!
In a surreal twist, I was selected for my first US international team in 1993 to race 3,000m indoors versus GB... in Birmingham! I was delighted to have OEs Chris Bayliss and Adrian Fowkes in the audience that morning, although they may not have been cheering for me due to my US singlet.
I'm in the process of retiring yet again, and leaving it to my teenaged twin daughters to do the family's racing. They finished first and second in the US National Junior Olympics over 3,000m this summer. (11/8/17)
Peter Wynne-Willson (1977)
Two new plays which I had written for children were on national tours. Looking for Yoghurt [a tri-lingual collaboration between Birmingham Rep and companies in Japan and Korea] and Bong Soon a version of the Korean story of 'The Farting Daughter-in-Law' by Moby Duck Theatre Company toured in Korea and the UK. I had an adventure novel for young people published, called The Inflatable School. This came out of a project with 11-12 year olds in Walsall where I wrote a chapter a week. (21/10/11)
Nick Brown (1978)
I got published. First in American Psychologist, then in The Observer. View article. (26/1/14)
My OE contemporaries may remember that I always had a bit of a contrary streak, which I am pleased to say has not deserted me. Having taken early retirement from my job as an international civil servant, mostly working in IT, I've recently been researching into dubious practices in psychology. In 2013 I had a paper published in American Psychologist, the flagship journal of the American Psychological Association, and just this month I have another paper appearing in Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences. These have caused quite a stir in the field and are starting to attract the attention of the media. (24/8/14)
Russell Harkin (1978)
Following redundancy I retrained as a secondary ICT teacher and have now been teaching for four years. This year I started teaching maths as my main subject, which might be a surprise to anyone who remembers me from school, and I am enjoying it so far. (5/2/12)
Malcolm Ogden (1978)
I have recently retired from Tesco after being with them for over 30 years working in the IT department. For a while I was part of Tesco's international team and lived for a few years in Prague as well as enjoying lengthy stays in Shanghai and Tokyo. Hertford isn't as exciting as those places but now I'm work-free I'm honing my guitar skills, playing and singing in local pubs and folk clubs. (6/8/15)
Colin Ross (1978)
I am living in the Har Homa neighbourhood of Jerusalem. My wife Rosie and I have just celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary. We have two sons, David and Stephen who are currently serving in the Israel Defence Force. Our daughter Esther (aged 15) is about to go into High School. I run the office of Intercessors for Israel, a Messianic Jewish organisation which seeks to encourage believers in Jesus, Jewish and Gentile, to pray for Israel. (23/8/14)
Mark Arends (1979)
Professor of Pathology (Head of Division of Pathology) at University of Edinburgh Medical School (from mid-2013 onwards). I have recently set up the UK's only Centre for Comparative Pathology that combines human and animal pathology research.
Over the last 5 years I have written chapters for several publications including:
The Oxford Textbook of Medicine, fifth edition. Editors: Warrell DA, Cox TM, & Firth JD. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.
Gynaecological Oncology. Editors: Shafi MI, Earl H, & Tan LT. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
Brenner’s Encyclopaedia of Genetics, second edition. Editors-in-chief: Dr Stanley Maloy and Dr Kelly Hughes. Academic Press, San Diego.
Colorectal Cancer: from prevention to patient care. Editor: Rajunor Ettarh. InTech, Croatia.
Underwood’s Pathology: a clinical approach. Sixth edition. Editor: Cross SS. Churchill Livingstone, Elsevier, Edinburgh & London, UK.
Comparative Anatomy and Histology: a Mouse, Rat and Human Atlas. Second edition. Editors: Piper M. Treuting, Suzanne M Dintzis. Elsevier, Boston, London, New York.
Richard J Baller (1979)
I now organise the U16 'Badgers' Hockey Team within Bournville HC - guess where we play - at the school! I recently, this year, changed my career. I am now a Principal Engineer working in future programme manufacturing feasibility at JLR. (1/10/12)
Ian Bond (1979)
I left the Foreign Office in 2013, after 28 years, to become Foreign Policy Director of the Centre for European Reform, a leading think-tank based in London. With the on-going debate about the UK's relationship with the European Union, it is an interesting time to be working on these issues. I also caught up with various OEs - dinner with James Miles (1979) in Beijing, where he heads The Economist office; dinner in London with Jonathan Coe and Nick Edwards and Robert Tibbott, who taught us all Latin in the mid-1970s. (28/1/14)
Paul Brown (1979)
Made contact with Old Eds through Facebook which resulted in appearing in Old Eds v current 1st XI hockey match. Visited school for first time in many years, 25+, and found much the same but also many changes. (18/9/12)
Philip Champ (1979)
Having lived in the Midlands for all of my life, I have now relocated to the South Coast of Cornwall. Beautiful part of the country, great quality of life and maybe one small step towards retirement! (30/1/15)
Jonathan Conder (1979)
Getting married again on 6 July 2014 in Rome to another lawyer, Maria Beatrice Puoti. Best man is my brother David James Conder (1985) and guests include Neale Perrins and Nigel Pattenden (1979). (20/4/14)
Still head of private client at Macfarlanes LLP (solicitors). Living in Wapping and now Bristol. Just added two more children to the household, Tom and Francesca, (previously two of my own Chris and Rachel) following marriage in Rome on 6 July to Beatrice Puoti (partner in Burges Salmon LLP (also solicitors)). The wedding was attended by one ex KES Neale Perrins (1979) and three ex KEHS friends Helena Myska, Sarah Cluley and Jenny Bird. Currently on honeymoon in French Polynesia - with time to deal with some emails! (11/7/14)
James Miles (1979)
I was recently appointed as China Editor of The Economist newspaper, based in London, having worked for 13 years as the magazine's bureau chief in Beijing. (23/1/15)
Guy Perry (1979)
I have adopted two Great Danes in Kerala, called Simba and Tiger. I visit them from my Abu Dhabi base. Just met up with Simon Fowler (also 1979) in Dubai. (27/1/14)
I am working as a Corporate Communications Consultant in the UAE, and divide my time between there, India and Cuba. I am setting up an OE network in Havana and Dubai. (9/5/15)
