GRIFFEN 2023 | 1 THE MAGAZINE FOR OLD ABINGDONIANS | JANUARY 2024 48 PROVIDING ENERGY TO THE WORLD THE PEMBROKE COLLEGE CONNECTION JAPAN TIMES ABINGDON ENTREPRENEURS
Welcome... few years ago, students from Abingdon and St Helen and St Katharine (SHSK) put on an energetic and entertaining performance of The Government Inspector by Nikolai Gogol. The Mayor and inhabitants of a small town are duped into believing that an itinerant vagabond is, in fact, an inspector sent by the Government to report on the quality of the hospitals, facilities and schools. This heralds much duplicity as the Mayor and his comrades endeavour to conceal their lassitude and corruption. Our recent visit by the Independent Schools Inspectorate in May 2023, could not, of course, have been more different. We welcomed inspectors into lessons, assemblies and Other Half activities, while they scrutinised student work, surveyed parents, staff and pupils, and interviewed pupils and staff. We were delighted with the report, which you can find on the website, which judged Abingdon as excellent in its two overarching categories and reflected the busy, productive and happy atmosphere around the School. The inspectors’ visit coincided with the final day of teaching for the Upper Sixth and so they were able to observe the rituals of the day, including the Chapel service, year group photo and signing of yearbooks. A particular hit with both leavers and our inspectors was the visit of the ice cream van and it was great to see them bonding over a 99, while the leavers reminisced about their time at Abingdon. I hope this year’s leavers, like their predecessors, will make the most of the opportunities offered by the OA Club and that they will enjoy reading this latest edition of the Griffen, which captures a busy year for both the Club and the School. I’m grateful to our dedicated team who support the activities of the Club and who have put so much thought and work into this magazine. ere at the OA Club, our primary purpose is to facilitate the connection and reconnection of Abingdon alumni and to ensure that the OA community has an opportunity to be close to the developments of the School, both academic and non-academic. The OA Club is inclusive for everyone who attended Abingdon. We all change and we have all pursued different paths after School and part of the fun is catching up with your former classmates and learning just what they are up to now. For my part, since becoming Chairman, I am continually amazed by the incredible achievements of Abingdon alumni, whether they have been in the workplace, in the local community, or in other arenas. Throughout the year, events are organised by the team in the OA Club Office and the Committee is very encouraged to see such a healthy level of attendance – from the OA cricket match and Henley Royal Regatta, to the reunion event in Hong Kong. All the while, the Committee is actively looking at options for widening participation at sporting events through the introduction of touch rugby, a festival type approach to hockey and different cricket formats. The Committee is also open to new events and activities. For example, the Club is in its pilot year of the mentoring initiative and discussed options for an DEI themed event, which we are looking to host in the near future. Thank you all for your positive comments on the January 2023 edition of the Griffen and I hope you enjoy this issue just as much. OA Club Committee Chairman: Julian Denée (1991) President: Henry Scarlett (2007) Elected Members: John Rawlinson (1972) Charles Lowe (1976) James Smethurst (1989) Sebastien Wilson (2008) Peter Moore (2013) Ian Fishpool (Hon. OA) Ex Officio Members: Michael Windsor (Head) Simon Bliss (Common Room) Alexa Broad (Director of Development and Alumni Relations) Alison Lester (OA Club Manager) Maddison Plows (Digital Communications and Events Officer) A From the Head From the OA Club Chairman H The OA Club Committee is pleased to hear from OAs interested in getting more involved with the life of the Club by serving on the Committee. If you’d like to find out more, please contact the OA Club Office. [email protected] Michael Windsor Julian Denée (1991) GRIFFEN 2024 | 2
GRIFFEN 2024 | 3 OA Club Awards 4 Report from a 2023 recipient Marking the 20th 5 Anniversary of the Abingdon Film Unit Providing Energy to a Warming World 6 Development 9 Update on projects from the Development Team School News 10 Michael Windsor and David Dawswell reflect on the 2022–2023 academic year A Masterclass in Poetry 12 Andrew Jamison muses on the delights of poetry From the Archive 14 Abingdon School and the Pembroke College Connection Japan Times 16 Alumni stories from Japan Sport 17 OA sporting achievements and endeavours Entrepreneurial OAs 24 Members’ News 28 Updates and achievements from the OA community Obituaries 32 Tributes to fellow OAs and Former Common Room members Dates for Your Diary 36 Contact: [email protected] Design: Visual Philosophy Print: Interprint 48
GRIFFEN 2024 | 4 The OA Club runs a small grants programme for OAs. OAs are invited to apply either for The Personal Fund or The Group Fund. * epal’s ethereal landscapes have long beckoned adventurers seeking to be enthralled by the majestic Himalayas. Among its myriad trekking routes, the Mardi Himal trek stands out as an unforgettable journey that weaves both breathtaking views and profound self-discovery. I had the privilege to embark on this remarkable expedition, a week-long odyssey that led us to an altitude of 4500 metres, with the help and support of the OA Club and their generous grant. The Mardi Himal trek, while challenging, unveiled a world of beauty and reflection that altered my perspective on life. Our journey commenced with great anticipation, but nature had other plans. The initial days saw us grappling with miserable weather conditions, where rain and thick fog hindered our path. Despite our resolve, several downpours tested our determination and made the ascent arduous. Yet, these adversities merely formed the backdrop to a more profound experience that awaited us. As we steadily gained altitude, the world around us transformed, as can be seen in the second picture. The initial struggles began to fade as we ascended through the lush, dense forests and the ever-shifting mists. Then, as if responding to our perseverance, the clouds lifted, revealing vistas that left us spellbound. The panoramic views were beyond comparison. At around 4500 metres, we found ourselves dwarfed by the towering peaks of the Annapurna and Machapuchare ranges as seen in the final picture. The spectacle of snowcapped summits against the backdrop of an endless azure sky was something we wouldn’t forget. Beyond the awe-inspiring landscapes, the Mardi Himal trek had a transformative impact on our perspectives. As we continued our ascent, we encountered people living at these remarkable altitudes with little more than the essentials. Their contentment and happiness in the face of such challenges were both humbling and enlightening. This experience led me to reflect deeply on the aspects of life that we often take for granted. The simplicity and harmony with which these individuals lived highlighted the unnecessary complexities we sometimes create for ourselves. It was a profound reminder that true happiness often lies in appreciating the present moment and finding joy in the simplest of things. The trek taught me the value of resilience, the rewards of pushing beyond limits, and the beauty of embracing simplicity. The journey had been physically demanding, but the rewards were far greater—a newfound outlook on life, a reminder to cherish every moment, and the inspiration to seek contentment in the most unexpected places. I would like to pay a massive thanks to the OA Club for their support, as without it this trip would not have been possible. Aran Johal ARAN JOHAL (2017), recipient of an OA Club Award OA Club Awards N OA Club Awards *2024 applications should be submitted by 1 May 2024. Terms & conditions apply. Application forms can be obtained from the OA Club website. www.oaclub.org.uk
GRIFFEN 2024 | 5 On Wednesday 13 September 2023, students and staff from Abingdon, Fitzharrys, Larkmead and St Helen and St Katharine travelled to BFI Southbank in London for a reception and screenings to mark the 20th anniversary of the Abingdon Film Unit (AFU). JEREMY TAYLOR he Unit was founded in 2003 by Jeremy Taylor, Abingdon’s then Head of Drama, and OA and celebrated documentarist Michael Grigsby (1955). In the last five years, the AFU has become one of Abingdon’s leading arts partnership activities. On arrival at BFI Southbank, students met AFU alumni – many of whom are now working in the film and television industries – as well as current AFU tutors Colin O’Toole, Duncan Pickstock, former tutors Joanna Harrison and Geoff Dunbar, and a number of parents, friends and supporters of the Unit. There followed two screenings in NFT 3 – one of three cinemas at the prestigious venue – where, in total, nine new films were screened (five from Abingdon, one from St Helen and St Katharine and three from Larkmead), before a short retrospective film, created by AFU tutors Colin O’Toole and Jeremy Taylor, told the story of the AFU’s first 20 years. This contained previously unseen footage from 2006, featuring a number of Wednesday afternoon workshops, the annual “film pitching” sessions, a camera and sound training trip to Dungeness, and clips from some of the 200+ AFU films that have been made since 2003. Whilst current members were interested to learn that Ut Proficias, the first Abingdon film, was made by Michael Grigsby in 1953 at the age of 15, AFU veterans found the retrospective a surprisingly moving experience, as they watched footage of their younger selves learning from Grigsby, who died in 2013, and former tutors Jonas Mortensen, Mikkel Eriksen, Nikolaj Larsen and Arvid Eriksson. At the end, AFU alumnus and professional filmmaker Will McDowell (2011) spoke about the impact the Unit has had on many of those who have been a part of it. Afterwards, those who were able to stay on continued their conversations well into the night. All in all, it was a memorable and happy occasion, made possible through the generosity of the OA Club. T Marking the 20th Anniversary of the Abingdon Film Unit Jeremy Taylor (L) with Michael Windsor
s a 14-year-old, I remember watching the building of the now demolished, coal-fired power station at Didcot from my dormitory in School House. The country was soon provided with potent reminders of the fragility of our energy supply through the successive miners’ strikes and oil shocks of the 1970s. The discovery of oil and gas in the North Sea, meanwhile, offered the exciting prospect of reducing our reliance on indigenous coal and imported oil. The scientific education gained at Abingdon enabled me to study Earth Sciences at university and go on to participate in this exciting field of exploration. Whilst oil and gas have provided much of the fuel for global economic growth over the past 50 years, it is now clear that the use of fossil fuels is rapidly increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and warming the planet. New and sustainable forms of energy are urgently needed, posing equally exciting new technological challenges for young scientists today. Some of that innovation will be provided by large companies with origins in oil and gas and which have the capital and much of the expertise to help make the transition. These companies will gradually evolve in response to the changing demands of their customers for sustainable and affordable energy, but while those technologies are being developed and scaled-up, the world will still need fossil fuels for some decades to come. I recently visited the Yang Science Centre at Abingdon; what an astonishing resource for young scientists! With the benefit of such facilities, the opportunity for Abingdon students to develop their scientific understanding and go on to explore new and sustainable solutions to the ever-growing global demand for energy is as real now as it was 50 years ago. Andrew Wood A Providing Energy to a Warming World AndrewWood (1971) GRIFFEN 2024 | 6
GRIFFEN 2024 | 7 was in the army for 30 years, before leaving to work in the nuclear industry. After ten years, I moved to hydrogen. It is great to be at the forefront of a technology that not only has momentum and business support behind it, but one that is working toward the challenge that is ‘Net Zero’. The difficult thing with energy is trying to store it. Batteries are hugely inefficient in terms of volume and capacity and their production requires many rare earth metals. Hydrogen, however, can perform a balancing function. If electricity is produced at night when it is not necessarily needed, how do we store it? One of the answers may be to use it to produce hydrogen. What is the most pressing environmental issue? The rise in temperature. We are not going to be able to keep the temperature below 1.5 degrees Celsius and that is a real problem. The world is 4.6 billion years old and if you equate that to 46 years, postindustrial climate change has taken one minute. In that minute, we have destroyed something like 50% of the planet. What are the challenges you foresee in the energy industry? The greatest challenge for the energy industry is the production of primary energy. How are we going to generate the energy that we need without pumping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere? What is your take on environmental pressure groups? I can understand why they feel the way they do. But in order to achieve reform, we need the resources of the major oil and gas companies. Without contribution from the private sector into new technologies and innovation, we will not find the solutions we seek. One example is the plummeting cost of offshore wind energy production as a result of the innovative technological solutions that have been discovered. It would not have been possible without the commercial imperative. What are some misconceptions about hydrogen? In the first instance, safety. It is not a technology that is well understood. The only thing people think of is the Hindenburg disaster of 1937. But what people need to realise is, for example, that the hydrocarbon-based fuels used in aeroplanes are incredibly flammable, but the systems used today are so safe that passenger aircrafts are refuelled with people onboard. The industry has learnt to manage it and it will do the same with hydrogen. None of these technologies are going to appear at the flick of a switch. There will have to be a certain amount of grey (nonlow carbon) hydrogen produced in order to make the hydrogen transition work, simply because we cannot access the range of new technologies in a single step. Long-haul aircrafts are going to be burning hydrocarbon fuel until the end of the century, albeit at increasingly reduced volumes. What are the benefits and drawbacks of nuclear power? The benefits of nuclear power are enormous. There is a massive energy density, so you can create a huge amount of energy from a relatively small footprint, without producing any carbon dioxide emissions. But, it is fair to say storing the spent fuel is a real challenge and current thinking centres on deep geological disposal. In the case of Hinkley Point C, as with all new stations, it will be decommissioned at the end of its life by the developer, or by the owners of the power station, using a fund that was set aside from the beginning and is factored into the strike price. In previous generations, the costs fell on the government to pick up the tab. Bottom Line There is not a single silver bullet that is going to resolve all of the problems that the energy sector faces, but a combination of technologies is the way forward. We will need nuclear, renewables, heat pumps, hydrogen, indeed a mixture of everything you can think of to enable the energy transition away from fossil fuels as 2050 races upon us. I An Interview with David Eccles (1975) David Eccles during his cycling trip from Somerset to Istanbul.
GRIFFEN 2024 | 8 What is the most pressing environmental issue? The journey to ‘Net Zero’. The pathway we are currently on is pretty devastating and we need to do something quickly. Why is it important to maintain the environment? I think we only borrow the world from future generations, so it is irresponsible of us to leave such damage as our legacy. What are some of the challenges you foresee in the energy industry? When anyone talks about the energy industry, they immediately think about electricity decarbonisation. But electricity is the easy bit, it is mobility. Electric cars are full of precious metals which are sourced from parts of the world where we cannot guarantee their supply. When we look at where most emissions are from, transportation, industrial and domestic heat are top of the list. To decarbonise domestic heating – we would probably go down the route of domestic heat pumps, which would only put additional demand on electricity. Is the hazard of climate change greater than that posed by a nuclear disaster? Nuclear disasters should not happen with the technology that we have today. If you think of how many tens of thousands of people have been killed by respiratory disease from coal fired power stations, then absolutely, I think the impact of climate change is many times bigger. Is nuclear power vital to ensuring the security of energy supply? The government has recognised that nuclear energy is necessary. A combination of energy sources complement each other, but if nuclear is not included, you have nothing that is constantly generating. Nuclear generates more than 95 percent of the time and without this we are subjected to the will of the wind and the sun. What are the most contentious issues surrounding nuclear energy? The most contentious issue is waste, but although it is radioactive, it is not unsafe as long as people do not come into contact with it. The volumes are also tiny. If you consider how much coal is burnt, the waste is significantly less than the byproduct of burning coal. If we think about Hinkley Point being built in Somerset, we must recognise that this singular plant would deliver 7% of the United Kingdom’s energy needs. What are the advantages to using nuclear energy for the UK? Consistent power and zero carbon. Ultimately, it is the economics of nuclear power. A nuclear power station is expensive to build, but cheaper to run. Whereas a gas power station is the other way around – cheap to build, but expensive to purchase the gas. Gas prices are volatile; nuclear would offer price stability. Can the UK be a leading force? The UK was a leading force years ago and we need to get back to that position. I do think we need some big, bold moves. The government has just announced a body, Great British Nuclear, to try and advance our position. The decisions made around nuclear energy are prolonged as the building process takes such a long time. Our nuclear power stations are getting old and being turned off because they are getting to the end of their lives, so we need a replacement strategy. What kind of resources does nuclear energy require? With this in mind, is it worth the effort and the investment to acquire nuclear energy? Nuclear is capital intensive. All the money goes into building, but then the actual running process is cheaper than other sources of energy. It requires people, money, concrete, steel and designs, as well as a source of uranium. There is an established nuclear fuel cycle which can provide the necessary materials and has done reliably for many years. The world has over 400 nuclear power plants, so there are many out there running very successfully. How important is education in nuclear energy? Without nuclear energy you cannot decarbonise and when that is understood, nuclear energy is elevated to its rightful place. If we consider the end-to-end lifecycle of a solar panel, they are manufactured and transported and these processes produce carbon emissions. A person’s view can be changed when they see the whole cycle. Further thoughts? It is a great industry to join, now more than ever. It has high quality and safe jobs to offer. The more Abingdon can do to educate on the positives and negatives of nuclear power in a balanced way, the better. An Interview with Dominic Kieran (1992)
GRIFFEN 2024 | 9 Members of the 1563 Society, Abingdon’s legacy society, and their guests enjoyed lunch at Abingdon School for their annual get together on 17 June 2023. On an extremely warm sunny day they were treated to a three course meal followed by a talk from our Archivist, Sarah Wearne, entitled ‘Abingdon School – facts and figures’. We are so grateful to Christopher Pickup (1960) who has been Chairman of the committee since 2021 and supports our legacy society. We have 61 members of our legacy society of which 48 are OAs. GIVING DAY 2023 OAs around the world If you would like any further information about supporting Abingdon School please contact Alexa Broad, Director of Development and Alumni Relations: +44 (0)1235 849117 Harriet Alderman, Development Manager: +44 (0)1235 849107 Email: [email protected] Development Tom Digby (2016) continued his glittering rowing career by being crowned World Champion in the Men’s VIII in Racice, Czech Republic in 2022. To commemorate the occasion, Tom kindly had an Abingdon Oar signed by his whole crew and donated it to be sold at auction at the Abingdon Boat Club Dinner to raise funds for the Club. The Boat Club is very grateful to Kevin and Olga Senior. Already significant supporters and donors to the Club and having a pair named “the Guvnor” after them, the Seniors were victorious in the bidding to secure the oar. They very generously immediately donated it back to the Club in the hope that it would inspire future generations of Abingdon rowers. The Oar is commemorated by a plaque and now occupies pride of place on the famous pink wall display which celebrates the achievements of current students and OAs at the boathouse. Mark Earnshaw Director of Rowing he extensions to Austin and Crescent boarding houses were officially opened in October 2023 and the pupils are benefitting from the enhancement of the bedrooms and social spaces. Room naming opportunities are available for anyone who attended Abingdon as a boarder. Further information can be found on the school website. John Bunce (1962) and others from his peer group who meet regularly have kindly sponsored a room in one of the boarding houses. The room will be aptly named ‘The OA Sixties’. T bingdon held its second Giving Day on 8 and 9 November 2023 raising awareness of, and funds for, its bursary campaign: ‘Seven years to change a life’. Abingdon’s ambition is to increase bursary support to enable 110 pupils to benefit from bursary support. The Giving Day raised £103,046 from 326 donors. Our global OA community came together from twelve countries to support us and we are extremely grateful. Thank you to Tony Edwards (1962), Patrick McLeod (1983), Gareth Morris (1976) and Will Stockdale (2007) for supporting our Giving Day by recording video testimonials which were used on the emails to encourage donations, to Peter Kandiah (1959) who donated £8,555 at the end of the Giving Day to take us over the £100,000 mark and to Tony Edwards (1962) who donated £10,000 for £ for £ matched funding. A OA Sixties sponsor a boarding house room Oarsome’ Inspiration 1563 Legacy Society Annual Lunch 110 CLUB Abingdon’s 110 Club was created to recognise anyone who commits to support a pupil for a period of seven years at a level that provides at least 10% of the cost of a bursary place. We currently have 26 OAs who are members and we are so grateful for their contribution to our bursary campaign.
School News From the Second Master he 2022–2023 academic year began with the formal opening of the new buildings at Abingdon Preparatory School (APS), providing a brand new music school, second science lab, purpose-built CDT room and new classrooms for its Year 5 and 6 pupils. During the year, a new temporary sports pavilion was built close to the bridge at APS, improving the changing space and hospitality for all the teams and visitors out at Cox’s Fields. On the day of writing this article, the crane was being taken down from Abingdon School’s new Pavilion – the extension to the Amey Theatre foyer – to provide dining and hospitality space. The two boarding house extensions to Crescent and Austin (formerly Waste Court), will provide substantially enhanced facilities for boarding and day students. The King’s Coronation was marked by another CCF parade organised by a sixth former, with a school barbeque at lunchtime and celebratory cake at 4pm. Shortly before the Upper Sixth departed for study leave, the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) visited both Abingdon School and APS. The reports continued the pattern of the last two decades of making very complimentary comments, focussing this time on students’ achievement and personal development. Investment in the facilities on the campus has been bearing fruit, with increased numbers choosing art for A-level. Departing staff have now returned to pre-COVID numbers. Very recent OAs will recall the contributions made by this summer’s staff leavers: Alice Perry, Mike Davies, Tim Chase, Katherine Burrows, Raquel Fraile, Joe McDonnell, Richard Jackson and Pete Bignell. Despite the interruption of COVID, Pete Bignell, Director of Sport, has ensured there are now significant numbers of students representing the school at weekends across a broader range of sporting activities. Elliot Birkbeck transferred to APS to be Director of Sport and Michael Stinton, Director of Music retired. Current students continue to benefit greatly from the input of OAs of various vintages as they think about their professional lives beyond Abingdon, and it has always been a pleasure to welcome OAs back to school. David Dawswell Second Master July 2023 T GRIFFEN 2024 | 10
GRIFFEN 2024 | 11 ummer 2023 marked the end of an era as David Dawswell stepped down from his role as Second Master. David was appointed to Abingdon as Head of Maths by Michael St John Parker (Headmaster 1975-2001), and he subsequently served as Deputy Head (Academic) before Mark Turner (Headmaster 2002-2010) promoted ichael Stinton came from St Paul’s to be Director of Music 36 years ago. The 1997 history of the school – The Martlet and the Griffen – already attributed much success to Michael and his predecessor, as they sought to use the new Amey Theatre, but much has happened since. The music department were early adopters of IT in the late 1980s, and musicians then included members of Radiohead. In 1993, the first House him to Second Master in 2007. He supported Felicity Lusk (Head 2010- 2016) in this role for six years, before I arrived as Head in 2016. I have felt enormously fortunate to have David as my right-hand man during my time at Abingdon. He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the School and if there is ever a tricky question to be answered, it rarely takes long before someone suggests: ‘Has anyone asked David?’ He is of course well-known for his little black book; once something is in the book, there can be no doubt that it will happen. David inspires great loyalty and affection amongst both pupils and colleagues, not least because of the care and consideration he shows, always going the extra mile to ensure others can give their best. He has been a valuable visible presence for the Senior Leadership Team, showing Singing competition was introduced, later dropped, but is now a constant component of the first half of the Michaelmas Term, with accompanying bands. Since the millennium the facilities have twice been expanded, as demand for individual lessons and small ensemble work has grown and been sustained. From a terrapin hut attached to the back of the Amey Theatre, via a temporary department housed on the grass tennis courts, the music department now occupies all of the ground floor, and much of the first floor, of the Amey Arts Centre. Michael has been committed to achieving high standards, insisting this is only accomplished by pupil attendance at rehearsals, by students having every opportunity to enjoy playing together, and by performing in the many small solo concerts and competitions which happen both during the daytime and in the evenings. enthusiastic and exemplary support for the vast array of events that take place as part of our Other Half provision. He has also provided Heads with wise counsel, playing a critical role in shaping the direction of the school over the past years. He has always ensured that the focus has remained on the experience of the pupils, managing the requests of the School Council with patience and acting as a strong advocate for them. We are fortunate that David will continue to teach Maths at Abingdon; we should not overlook the fact that he is first and foremost a superb teacher. I know my predecessors and colleagues share my gratitude for everything that David has done for the school. He will be a tough act to follow. Michael Windsor Michael introduced the overseas tours, the Joint Choir with SHSK, and it was under him that the Big Band was formed and that jazz was introduced. In fact, the music department expanded hugely both in the instruments taught and the number of pupils involved. It has, of course, produced some very fine musicians who have won competitions, scholarships and gone on to professional careers in music. Michael’s aims, which he expressed in an early Abingdonian, have been to give the greatest opportunity to the largest number of pupils, to stretch and stimulate the more advanced and gifted and to introduce them all to the joys of performing. We wish him and his wife, Clova, well in their retirement, with exciting plans for music making in France. David Dawswell Tributes to Staff David Dawswell Michael Stinton S M
A Masterclass in Poetry GRIFFEN 2024 | 12 Andrew Jamison, Teacher of English, muses on the delights of poetry and putting together his most recent collection. Why is poetry so important? It’s about the freedom of the imagination and yet a distillation of thought and lived life. At a time when our attention spans are dwindling, a poem asks for concentration and focus. In a time of partisans, it celebrates ambiguity. At a time of mourning, it consoles. At a time of celebration, it delights. And is there anything as beautiful as a finely wrought poem? Do you find writing poetry easy? Yes and no. I find the first draft easy and fun. After that comes the editing and drafting process which can take a long time, and bring difficulty, and sometimes lead nowhere. So, poetry isn’t easy, but I like the fact it’s difficult. I like the challenge of poetry. It’s a craft that can take a long time to perfect (a lifetime, in fact, and often that’s not even long enough) but I think that’s what appeals to me. It requires patience and resilience, but it’s worth it in the end when you’ve written a poem you feel happy with and that you think will stand up to the reader, the critic and, more importantly, the test of time. How do your poems develop? Please guide us through the stages of a poem. It usually starts with an idea or maybe a first line or maybe just an image. A lot of the time this comes from reading other books, or listening to music, but could happen during a walk, or even when I’m pushing my son on the swings at the park. The first draft happens in a bit of a blur, and always in one sitting, while the idea is still fresh in my mind. After that, I might leave the poem for weeks or months, or go back to it quite soon; it depends. A lot of whittling the poem down usually happens. Then I’ll send it to some friends for their feedback and I’ll make some more edits. At this point it might be ready, or I might leave the poem even longer. Every poem is different, and calls for a slightly different tack. Where do you draw your inspiration from? Anything and everything. However, a piece of music which I kept going back to while writing my most recent collection – Swans We Cannot See – was ‘The Swan’ by Camille SaintSaëns. The first poem in the book, entitled ‘Listening to ‘The Swan’’ is inspired by it and is set by the river at Sutton Courtenay where I used to take my eldest son for a walk once I picked him up from nursery. That poem captures the sensibility of the rest of the book. Reading other poetry, contemporary or classical, always tends to help fire the creative process for me, too. Funnily enough, there are a number of poems in this book about food and fermentation (parmesan, lime pickle, bread and a long poem about the history of the potato), so I guess that was one too – or maybe I was just really hungry. I became a father for the first time during this book, so my two boys feature as well. How do you manage to fit writing in around the demands of your teaching timetable? I tend to write mostly during the holidays, or just stay up late during the week when the children are in bed and I can get some peace and quiet. In short, I find the time for it. In saying that, I can go for long periods without writing anything. It’s been seven years since my last book, but most of the poems in this book were written in the past two to three years. Can you give any advice to someone wanting to write and publish poetry? I would say read lots of poetry and write lots of poetry. It’s a craft, and it takes a long time to get right, and can take a long time to get published. I’d also say listen to other people when they give you feedback, but be your own harshest critic. But above all else, do it because you enjoy it. Image: Poetry Masterclass
GRIFFEN 2024 | 13 Teaching English Andrew Jamison Hollywood would have us ripping introductions clean from canonical anthologies, on tables shouting O Captain! My Captain!, recitals during penalty shoot-outs, midnight discussions underground, smoking pipes and playing sax, students riding pillion on our motorbikes, breaking into song mid close analysis in bow ties, leather jackets, half man half quotation-jukebox. Waiting at the whiteboard of my white-walled room I’ve watched the outside world’s chiaroscuro beyond railings all day. All day they come and go: a blur of blazers, questions, answers, daydream and clock-watching. I pass on what I know; they pass through the corridor, into tomorrow. m
Abingdon School and the Pembroke College Connection Among the heraldic devices that decorate the school are several shields depicting a rose, a thistle and three lions.These are the arms of Pembroke College, Oxford, which this year celebrates the 400th anniversary of its foundation – a foundation made possible by the £5000 Thomas Tesdale left in his will for Abingdon boys to be educated at the University. In 1563, Tesdale had been the top scholar at John Roysse’s newly endowed Abingdon School. After leaving, he made a fortune out of malt, wool, and the production of woad for the dyeing industry. Originally, Tesdale’s bequest was intended for Balliol, but in 1623 after Richard Wightwick, the Rector of East Ilsley, augmented Tesdale’s bequest with an endowment of £100 a year, the money was directed towards the foundation of Pembroke. Both men are now celebrated as the founders of the College. The money, however, came with specific conditions: of the College’s ten Fellows and ten scholars, preference was always to be given to candidates who had been educated at Abingdon School. Over the centuries, statutes varied these conditions, but the association between the School and the College lasted until the late twentieth century when the last Abingdon scholars went to Pembroke. Until recently, there was always a member of the College on the School’s Governing Body. The preponderance of Abingdon scholars and Fellows meant that between 1709 and 1843 seven consecutive masters of Pembroke were Old Abingdonians: Colwell Brickenden, Matthew Panting, John Radcliffe (nothing to do with the hospital), William Adams, William Sergrove, John Smyth and George Hall. By the middle of the nineteenth century these closed scholarships between schools and certain colleges had become the target of university reformers; the man leading these reformers was Francis Jeune, who in 1843 became Master of Pembroke. From this moment, he had Abingdon School and its closed scholarships firmly in his sights. But trouble had been brewing between the two institutions before this. The School archive contains a letter from the Duke of Wellington in his capacity as Chancellor of the University of Oxford. The letter is dated 25 March 1837 and refers to a complaint made to him by the headmaster of Abingdon (1827–1839), Joseph Hewlett. The previous year Pembroke had rejected the Abingdon candidates on the grounds of ‘academic insufficiency’. This was something the School felt it had no right to do. Wellington’s reply is wonderfully measured: ‘When such a complaint is sent to me … it is my duty to enquire into the circumstances; and having obtained a sufficient knowledge of them, to form a judgement on the case. … I will not fail to communicate my opinion on the case, as soon as I shall consider myself sufficiently informed as to be able to form one.’ Neither the Abingdon, nor Pembroke archives record the result of this spat. However, 17 years later the University Reform Bill of 1854 gave colleges greater control over their intake. After this, Abingdon could still nominate candidates for the Pembroke scholarships but Pembroke would now examine them, whereas previously the School had set and marked the exams. This now meant that Pembroke had every right to reject candidates on the grounds of ‘academic insufficiency’. This outraged William Strange, headmaster at the time, who in August 1856 recorded his feelings in the School’s register of Pembroke Scholars: g, oad ally ed cha Ilsl wit th he me nde P e h f cl re s i rc n h h m e myse d , ard ley, th e en ers William Adams William Sergrove John the on th insuff the Sc do. We measur ‘When me … the circ obtain of th on th com case GRIFFEN 2024 | 14
This was the last occasion on which an election took place in Abingdon School, the University Reform Bill of 1854 henceforward commencing its unrighteous operation, the right of election being transferred to others, and the privileges of the School, as designed by Tesdale and Wightwick, alienated by Act of Parliament! One can sense Strange’s outrage, but it is nothing compared to the fury he felt when in 1868, Pembroke turned down both of the nominated Abingdon candidates – Meredith and Young. And perhaps Strange had a point, Meredith subsequently won an open exhibition to Magdalen Hall and Young an open mathematical scholarship to Queen’s College. In Strange’s opinion, Pembroke did not have a good academic reason for turning the Abingdon candidates down. The Abingdon scholarships at Pembroke survived for many years, even in 1982 the School could advertise that it ‘possesses four scholarships at Pembroke College, Oxford, of the value of £80 a year, tenable for four years with power of extension to five years. These are open to boys at the School who have been educated there not less than two years.’ The last Abingdon scholar went up to Pembroke in 1985. Opposite: Corbel in the main entrance into Big School. Right: 1. Kneeler in Chapel 2. Thomas Tesdale (1547–1610), OA 3. Richard Wightwick (c1547–1629) 4. William Adams OA, Master of Pembroke 1775–1789 5. John Smyth OA, Master of Pembroke 1796–1809 6.George Hall OA, Master of Pembroke 1809–1843 7. In 1911 these stained-glass windows were among several inserted into the old schoolroom in the centre of town, to commemorate the school’s 307-year occupancy of the room. Two sets of windows were removed when the Guildhall buildings were extended. They were offered to the school on permanent loan and inserted into what is now the Staff Common Room. This particular set records OAs who were Heads of Oxford Colleges, including the seven consecutive Masters of Pembroke. GRIFFEN 2024 | 15 3. 1. 4. 7. 2. 5. 6.
Japan Times John Evans (1973) John received the St Catherine’s Award for Intellectual Initiative after combining English with Sciences at A level. His enthusiastic contributions to school chapel services led the chaplain to introduce him to the Anglican monks of the Society of St John the Evangelist (SSJE) in Oxford. After graduating from Oxford, he spent five years in an experimental SSJE house, where Yoga and Tai Chi were integrated into the Benedictine monastic life. In 1981, he travelled to Japan and began training with a ‘yamabushi’ in the mountains west of Tokyo. This ancient tradition combines mountain training with meditative practices including martial arts. In 1987, his training regime was profiled in a 30 minute NTV programme in Japan titled: ‘Igirisujin no Mushashugyo’ (An Englishman’s Warrior Discipline). On his return to England in 1993, he founded the Fudokan Sword School in London. His book, Kurikara – The Sword and The Serpent – The Eightfold Way of The Japanese Sword, was published by Blue Snake Books in 2011. He continues to teach, research and train in London, making annual trips to the mountains of Japan. director intervened. The company was venturing into Japan and needed international representation. Peter spent three years in Japan and after a brief period studying in Fontainebleau, France, to acquire his MBA, and a few more years in London, he ended up in Singapore. Peter spent 25 years in Singapore, raising his family and running his own company which morphed into a family office (an investment management organisation that only has a single client). Seeking investment opportunities, Peter’s attention returned to Japan; more specifically, Japanese real estate, and even more specifically, tourism assets in Nozawa Onsen, a mountain resort in northern Nagano. The commute between Singapore and Nagano quickly grew impractical and Peter made the decision to relocate to Japan. Peter now oversees 16 properties, while his wife manages their family-owned hotel. As a result of living in a traditional, rural Japanese community, he follows the local philosophy that if you stop working, you are essentially sitting in death’s waiting room, so you might as well carry on working. Peter Douglas (1979) Following university, Peter spent a year backpacking around Latin America, before returning to work in London. After a while, Peter found himself working in an investment company, taking the job largely because his choice of company car came as a part of the package. After three years, just when he considered leaving – to ride his motorbike down to the Spanish Sierra Nevada to write poetry – his managing GRIFFEN 2024 | 16
GRIFFEN 2023 | 17 Sport In May, our J14 and J15 A and B crews qualified into the finals of the National Schools’ Regatta. This secured them a place within the top six schools in the country. A particular highlight was the nail-biting J15 B final, which saw Abingdon and Radley surging toward the finish line, neck and neck. At the line, Abingdon supporters were convinced they were ahead; Radley believed it was them. A joint gold medal was awarded in what was a dead heat to both worthy crews. Rowing Well done also to the J14 A crew at the Marlow Regatta who won in their category. The performances at the National Schools’ Regatta and Marlow Regatta resulted in our 1st VIII prequalifying for the Henley Royal Regatta at the end of June. Racing against a strong Hampton team on day one, 2023 was not to be their year but we look forward to this young crew returning again to race next season. In the international season, OAs Tom Digby (2016) and Connor Brown (2019) put in some excellent performances wearing the red, white and blue colours of Great Britain. Connor Brown won a silver medal in the coxed four at the Under 23 World Championships. Tom Digby was crowned World Champion for the second successive year in the Men’s VIII at the Senior World Championships in Belgrade. Mark Earnshaw, Director of Rowing It has been an honour to get to where I am in the sport of rowing. It was all set up by the opportunities available at Abingdon. Prior to the World Championships, we have been at altitude in Austria and out in the heat of rural Portugal. It has been an exceptionally long year, with two of the selected crew going down with injury and appendicitis. We raced the bulk of the season with two of the spares. We started the year unbeaten but we came second in the penultimate race before the World Championships in a tight race with Australia. Tight losses hurt the most. When the margins are bigger you don’t question what you could do differently in quite the same way. We had eight weeks to answer those questions. Two weeks away from the World Championships we were chomping at the bit to get out there and put right the mistakes of the year. I think one of the biggest developments I have had since Abingdon has been to learn to let go a little more. Like most things in life, too much effort and obsession tenses you up, takes away the freedom of movement and, psychologically, the enjoyment. A big loss tends to make you want it more - desire and effort don’t get rewarded like skill and composure. I am excited to channel these things in the right way and see what we can do! From Tom Digby (2016) GRIFFEN 2024 | 17
GRIFFEN 2024 | 18 Josh Braithwaite (2018) Competing at Henley Royal Regatta is often considered the pinnacle of rowing outside of international representation. It is safe to say that most, if not all, who have raced in the pink and white will have dreamt of a HRR victory representing Abingdon. However, given the competitive nature of HRR, few Abingdon crews have ever achieved this, leaving the dream of winning HRR a distant aspiration for many. This was certainly the case for both myself and Dan Boddington (2010), who had the privilege of racing at HRR with Abingdon, but had never secured a win. After school we rowed with various clubs and universities, yet victory remained elusive. In September 2022, I relocated to London for a new job and joined Thames Rowing Club in Putney to continue competing. Dan had already been rowing at Thames for five months and we ended up rowing together for most of the year. By May, we had earned our spots in the Club’s top boat for HRR. Following victory at the Metropolitan Regatta and a respectable third place finish at Marlow, we were fairly confident about our chances at Henley. During the early rounds, we defeated Bristol, Agecroft, and Munich. However, the true challenge awaited us in the semi-finals against Sydney, a crew that we had beaten by only a second at Marlow Regatta. Despite our concerns, we had a great row on the day and we secured our place on Sunday. In the final race, we emerged victorious with a convincing win over ‘de Hoop’ from the Netherlands. Finally, after years of effort, we realised our dream of winning HRR. Although victory came while representing Thames Rowing Club, it is worth noting the role rowing at Abingdon played in instilling the determination and resilience necessary to succeed. Adrian Champion (2003) I started coaching for Grey College, spending time as the Club’s Captain and Head Coach. During my time here, the region wanted more students and young people to get involved in umpiring as they were low on numbers. I qualified as a British Rowing umpire in 2006, and spent my first year umpiring in the north-east region while finishing my degree. After leaving Durham, I moved back to the Thames Region (Reading) where I carried on coaching and umpiring. In 2014 I gained my `Multi-Lane Endorsement’, which is an assessment of my skills of umpiring 6-lane races (e.g. Dorney Lake), compared to the standard 2-3 lane river events. In 2018 I gained my FISA (World Rowing) licence, allowing me to umpire internationally. Since gaining my FISA licence I have umpired at the European Junior Championships, the Coupe de la Jeunesse, as well as several international events. In 2023, I was accepted onto the Jury of the World Rowing Cup II, in Varese, and onto the Jury of the European Rowing Coastal & Beach Sprint Championships in France. However, more immediately I will be the Chairman of the Race Committee at Wallingford Regatta held at Dorney Lake. Whilst I no longer coach, I am also the Thames Regional Rowing Council representative for all clubs and events between Oxford and Marlow. Umpiring is a great way for me to stay involved in the sport that not only I enjoy, but has also given me a lot. Whilst in Lower School at Abingdon, I never considered doing sport voluntarily, now most of my spare time is involved in rowing. Getting the opportunity to go to the World Rowing events, and see the world’s best rowers in action, is a fantastic privilege, and I’m really looking forward to both the World Cup II and the Coastal and Beach Sprint Championships. Hockey Oxford Hawks Hockey Club’s summer league team in their OA kit. The team is made up of recent Abingdon leavers and current first team members. The team won the league two years ago and finished fourth most recently. To celebrate my 85th birthday, I joined a crew rowing a shallop in the ‘Tudor Pull’, delivering a ‘Stela’, a slice of ancient wooden water pipe, to the Governor of the Tower of London. His Majesty’s Barge Master, together with robed officials occupying a fleet of seven boats, watched over the Yeoman Warders. Due to high river flows, we went from Richmond to Greenwich – it was very rough below London Bridge where the passenger boats travel fast. The following week, I went cycling with a friend in Provence for a week. We used a company, ‘Cycling for Softies’, to transport our luggage between hotels, while we covered 30 miles a day through the hills on electric bikes. Just a week later, I went to Venice to row in the ‘Vogalonga’, a mass demonstration by over 7000 rowers in around 1600 boats of varying descriptions, including a sixteen crewed gondola. The demonstration is an act of protest against speeding motorboats and has been held annually for over 40 years. We rowed through rough waters in a heavy, wide beamed coxed quad from opposite St. Mark’s Square in the south of Venice, around the island of Burano, and back via Murano. In total, we rowed 30 kilometres, meeting many old friends over the weekend from several English rowing clubs. Myself and a group of retired anaesthetists continue 40 years of skiing and sailing together – although sadly our numbers are dwindling. I count myself lucky to be able to row weekly from Maidenhead Rowing Club, and Leander, Henley, though some in the group are older! OA rowers were treated to the splendid OA Club Strawberries and Pimm’s event at the Henley Royal Regatta in what was a great occasion to meet old friends. Many thanks to Abingdon School and the OA Club for all they do to keep us in touch. Brian Smith (1957)
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