G R I F F E N 2 0 2 3 | 3 8 Around one million people participated in Running Out of Time by running in one of the stages, signing the climate message or participating in the climate relay’s global schools action day. Petrus Gerbaulet (1986) Coming from the Ratsgymnasium Bielefeld, Petrus lived in Waste Court for two terms in 1986 and spent the holidays with the Geere family. This was a very influential time in which he not only learned English but also gained an international perspective on things, which had a significant influence on his professional career. After training and working as a lawyer, he has worked as a specialised international legal recruiter in Frankfurt since 1999 and has his own business, which he runs together with an Englishman. He is married and has two daughters, one of whom will be going to boarding school in England from September. Tom Owen (1987) Tom is still based in Hong Kong working at the Swire Group, in the Cargo business of Cathay Pacific Airlines. Hong Kong has been in the news a lot over the last few years for all the wrong reasons, but Tom can reliably inform everyone it’s still a wonderful place to be based! Finally seeing some relaxations to Covid rules which are allowing more normal life and travel again and bode well for 2023. He is keeping fit with outrigger canoe sea paddling, country park hiking and exercising vocal chords in the HK Welsh male voice choir. He has taken up yoga to bring some flexibility to an ageing body! It’s GCSE and A level years for his daughters, so a nervous year ahead no doubt! Tom Owen in yoga pose Ric Casale (1986) Teaming up with The World Relay, Ric organised an event called ‘Running Out of Time’, the longest non-stop relay ever attempted. The mass participation event covered over 7700km and 18 countries, from Glasgow (where climate summit COP26 was hosted) to Sharm El-Sheikh (COP27 host city). The relay symbolised the unity, strength of purpose and action that its organisers wished to see from the delegates at the global climate summit. Inside the relay baton itself was a climate message, delivered by hand at COP27, urging more support to help people tackle the climate crisis where they live. Along the route, Running Out of Time showcased hundreds of inspiring people and projects addressing the climate crisis today, highlighting the power of collective, local climate action. “Our aim was much bigger than the destination in Egypt. We are imagining and creating something large enough and local enough that everyone feels they can join in,” said Ric. Members’ News
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