GRIFFEN 2024 | 28 Clyde Aylin (1952) I am a very ‘Old Boy’. My father had an illustrious career as a Royal Artillery officer. His last post before demobilisation in November 1945 was participation in the liberation of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, and the subsequent construction and running of a displaced persons refugee camp. After demobilisation, he assumed the position of Head of Repatriation and Resettlement in the post-war military government of Germany in Kiel. On return to the United Kingdom in 1953, he settled in Abingdon. I was taken for an interview with James Cobban (Headmaster 1947–1970) and soon enlisted as a day boy. At the time, two friends of mine were Mike Grant and Mike Hawtin – we went on youth hostel cycling holidays together. I followed my father’s footsteps and had an adventurous career as a soldier in many parts of the world, visiting Europe, Ghana, Dahomey, Libya, Malta, Cyprus, Iran, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and more. My grandson Jojo Macari is carving out a career as a professional television and film actor. In between auditions, he models for Yves St Laurent and practises music. Neville Grant (1957) Neville Grant has just published a book celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Shakespeare’s First Folio. The book, Shakespeare in an Age of Anxiety, is published by Greenwich Exchange. Written for the general reader, it gives an overview of recent research on Shakespeare and provides a critical introduction to each of his works, in the order in which they were written, taking into account the pressures of the times he lived in. David Taylor (1960) After a career of 33 years in NatWest Bank, David took voluntary redundancy in 1993. From Junior Clerk at Bournemouth, he progressed to management and was responsible for the delivery and installation of IT equipment in the bank’s branches. David married Angela in 1981 and they have two children and three grandchildren. In 1994, David and Angela set up a small business to assist people explore their family history. This has been an interesting and rewarding enterprise and they have helped over 1000 people discover more about their, sometimes elusive, ancestors. Steve Barnard (1967) After a career throughout the Asia-Pacific in the Air Transport Industry (ATI) with IT specialist SITA, Steve has retired to his house in Southern Luzon in the Philippines. Steve also spends time on other islands such as Boracay (where he owned and managed an apartment rental business pre-COVID), Bohol, and Bantayan. Steve also manages a Facebook group, The Smile Band Fans, along with US based Julie and Barbara, that has close to 10,000 members. The Smile comprises OA alumni Thom Yorke (1987) and Jonny Greenwood (1990) of Radiohead fame who, along with the band’s percussionist Tom Skinner, completed their second tour of the Americas in mid-2023. Steve likes to keep physically fit with daily walks and mentally agile via the online Daily Telegraph Crossword app and is happiest socialising with family and friends. Simon Hills (1975) For the past couple of years Simon has been chairing the Abingdon Town Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group. The Neighbourhood Plan is being prepared on behalf of all who live and work in Abingdon. When finalised, it will set out a vision for the town over the next 10 to 15 years. Once it is adopted, at a local referendum next year, the local planning authority will have to take it into account as it considers planning applications and other development proposals across Abingdon. Although the Neighbourhood Members’ News We always enjoy hearing what OAs are up to and without the input from our members, the Griffen would not be possible. So please share your news, for inclusion in the next Griffen, by emailing oldabingdonian@ abingdon.org.uk
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