IN THIS MONTH'S NEWSLETTER
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Dear OD

Cricket is a tricky game to explain to non-cricketers. It's not made any easier when trying to argue with my daughters how a Test series can be won even if it's (potentially) drawn. It's like trying to explain "stochastic".

For many ODs and a much broader community as well, this month was rocked by the news of death of Nick Koster (F, 2007) who took his own life on the 12th.

The massive outpouring of sadness and tributes from all corners is a testament to the love and respect in which Nick was held. It is tragic that we all, as friends, colleagues, teammates and ODs were not able to recognise the terrible demons that Nick must have been dealing with.

If we can do nothing more as ODs than be there for each other and alert to cues and signals that indicate when help is needed, then we have done what we can.

Below are short tributes to Nick, and Richard Duck (G, 1964) who passed away after a long illness on July 8th.


 

Mousehall

On Saturday 15th July, a posse of ODs headed down to East Sussex where we were kindly hosted at Mousehall, the home of Gary Jordan (G, 1978). There we tasted and very much enjoyed the award-winning Mousehall gin and the newly-bottled Mousehall vodka.

Gary, wife Kathy and daughter Christy - also Mousehall's chief distiller - took us through the gin and vodka making process with ample opportunity to participate actively in the theory and practice of this art. We learnt that there really is more to gin than a Sunday morning hangover.   On the left, David Jordan (W, 1962 and not related to the Mousehall Jordans) and Piers Johnston (G, 2015) two of the more conscientious tasters.

The photos and full story of this fabulous day out can be seen HERE.

One of the reasons this August letter is coming a little earlier than the first Tuesday of the month is that, as many of you will surely know, the duty on alcohol increases dramatically on 1 August. That in itself is not really a great reason to bring the newsletter date forward, but at our visit to Mousehall, Gary very generously announced a 10% discount for ODs purchasing their award-winning Mousehall gin and vodka. If you would like to take advantage of this very kind offer, then you need to do so before midnight  on 31st July. Click HERE to get to Mousehall's website and quote 
MH-OD2023 to apply the discount.

 

Out and About

Once again - a perk of the Branch Secretary's role - is meeting ODs throughout the month was a very rewarding a fun exercise. John Campbell (F, 1974) and I met for our regular and most enjoyable lunch; Niall Carrol's (O, 1981) patience and my clay-pigeon shooting skills were tested on a terrific day out in Dorset; James Johnston (G, 2012), Niall Brown (G, 1973) Brett Ormrod (M, 2007), Nicky Greig (F, 2009) helped put The Oriental Club through it's hospitality paces; Mano Ghioules (O, 2006) introduced me to a very pleasant pub in Earlsfield; Anthony Gibson (S, 1973) settled for something more sedate in a wonderful "tea room" in South Kensington; Charles McGregor turns out to be an excellent chef and at supper at his home I met up with Joe Oliver (O, 2012) and his wife Heidi, newly-arrived from SA.  And then, lunch with Peter Robinson (S, 1967) and Rob Estcourt (F, 1966) visiting from Australia; coffee with Paul and Mark Winter (F, 1971 & 1974 respectively) and coffee and calories with Archie Swanson (G, 1973);  Choppy Bands (K, 1990) and Rupert PPardoe (F, 1973).

And if the mission of the ODU is to connect ODs to each other, these get-togethers, along with all the others I know are happening among classmates here in the UK - and hopefully soon Europe - is this mission in action.


 

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Snippets of Bishops and ODU history in the UK

On a daily basis I trawl through the ODU database to unearth the Senior ODs (80+) so as to wish them a happy birthday on behalf of the UK Branch. Every now and again I come across an OD who for various reasons catches my eye, usually but always because of some public accomplishment or other not noticed or recorded by the ODU.

One such OD was Lt General Sir Michael Wilkins (1950, left) KCB, OBE. He is recorded as being at Bishops Prep School (1945) and then spent one year at College, finishing in 1946 before heading back, presumably with his parents, to the UK. He retired after a long and distinguished career with the Royal Marines, and post service, ended up as the Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey from 1990 to 1994, the year he died.

In terms of the ODU Constitution, the requirement to be an OD is to have spent at least one year at Bishops in any of the sections of the School). Michael Wilkins was most certainly an OD (and on the database as such) but clearly one of our unsung luminaries.(Although he died in 1994, he is still listed by the ODU as living which in some ways illustrates the immortality of at least some ODs).

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Cecil John Rhodes (right) was not an OD, but he was very fond of Bishops and it was to Bishops that he turned to develop and trial what was to become the Rhodes Scholarship. In 1902, Frank Reid and William Yeoman were selected as "guinea pigs" for the scheme and were despatched to Oxford (Oriel and Exeter College respectively) where they proved that this was a scheme that would and did work (Frank Reid QC was the ODU Secretary from 1908 to 1954 and developed the Union into more or less what it is today).

The Rhodes Scholarship experiment was deemed to be a success and in quick time many more were created, in South Africa and around the world, with Bishops being awarded (and now sharing) its own named Scholarship.

In recent times, as we know, issue has been taken with Rhodes as an individual and the #rhodesmustfall campaign both at UCT and Oxford polarised opinion on the history and legacy of the man. There is a temptation to think of the negative views about Rhodes' legacy as slightly revisionist, with the modern generation not understanding the context, times and manner in which Rhodes acquired his fortune, much of which has been put to fantastically beneficial use. But the view of Rhodes as a slightly more sinister character in history is not new; it was very much captured at the time of his death in this obituary which appeared in the Guardian the day after he died in March 1902.

We can't blame everything on the Millenials.

Disclaimer: your Secretary reports on this but remains impartial!!

For the list of all Bishops Rhodes Scholars since Frank Reid and William Yeoman, click HERE


 

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For those enjoying a summer break, take care on the roads. And be careful of those wildfires.

Kind regards

Nicky Bicket

WE PAY TRIBUTE AND SAY GOODBYE TO ...

Thames Hare and Hounds was formed in 1868 making it the oldest adult cross-country club in the world. It was then, and still is, resolutely an amateur club (see some amusing club original rules HERE).

In December 1953, the first Alumni Association race was run and has been annually (even, remotely, during Covid) ever since. The UK ODs have participated with great distinction on four occasions and this year, under the captaincy, discipline and pre-race training of Dillon McEvoy (O, 2005) we hope to achieve our best ever results. About 60 schools participate and over 300 runners turn out.

This year's race will take place on Saturday September 16th on the Wimbledon Common. It is run over 5 miles with teams of four (as many as want to compete) counting towards team places. Post-run festivities included. Obviously!

If you would like to be part of this great event, bring honour and glory to Bishops (by beating the local alumni associations - we are the only international team), either click below of email Dillon. And we will need your size for your ODU running shirt.

And children over the age of 11 are more than welcome to run. They need to have a parent running and won't qualify as a team member for the team score.

THE UK ODU FINANCE FORUM
 

Last month in my excitement to announce the next two Finance Forum meetings, I forgot to include the link to RSVP.

The first of these will be on Wednesday 4th October at The Oriental Club. Magda Wierzyca, founder and CEO of Sygnia Asset Management in South Africa (and now in the UK) will be speaking about the various influences buffeting (no pun intended) and reshaping the investment management environment. She will touch on the challenges and opportunities presented by the whirlwind advances in AI and, of course, answering any questions you may have. There is a charge of £25 per person for this event which includes wine, beer, soft drinks and canapes.

The second is also in October on the 26th. Maria de Peverelli is a Partner and Executive Chairman of Stonehage Fleming Art Management which advises HNW clients on art as an asset class and it is on this topic she will be speaking. The venue will be the office  of Stonehage Fleming who are very kindly hosting this event for which there is no charge.

If you haven't yet RSVP'd, then to do so for either or both these events, please click HERE 

Note that the Old Boys of Hilton, Michaelhouse and St Andrew's are being invited - networking - so places, limited for both events, will go fast!
 

The book launch lunch for Miles Maskell's (O, 1953) book, My Wife’s Canary, which was due to have taken place earlier this month has been postponed until November.

At the lunch, Miles will talk about the history and context of the over eighty interesting and amusing anecdotes and memoirs which make up the book. Between now and the lunch, though, order a copy from Amazon and for your summer reading, immerse yourself in a bygone world of old-fashioned etiquette, skulduggery, comedy and some very Wodehousian accounts of life in a different time. 

Lunch details to follow
 

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In 1972, the Bishop of Damaraland, Colin Winter was deported from South Africa for his highly principled and active stance against apartheid.  Bishop Winter (who preached several times at Bishops) had two boys there.

Paul (F, 1972*) and Mark (F, 1974*). Mark has recently retired as a research scientist at GSK and Mark as a teacher (of teachers) in London.

Mark used his recuperation from beating off cancer as a time to to reflect on his childhood in South Africa, and especially Simonstown (where the family lived and Colin was the parish priest at St Francis). This became the book, Slangkop: a child's eye view of apartheid, an illustrated personal history of the vibrant multi-racial community of Simon’s Town in the 50s and 60s. 

In the book he describes how Simon’s Town was a multicultural port. Well over half the community were Coloured, and most were his friends. They served together at church services on Sundays, raced go-karts down the steep roads of the neighbourhood, trekked up the mountain, learned to spin wooden tops, played marbles and munched on chips and Stars. They touched each others’ lives. 

Then came Group Areas and the forced removals. The town was never the same.

Proceeds from the sale of the book support the Simon’s Town Museum in its commemoration and support of the community of the past and its ongoing projects with young people. 

If you live in South Africa, it is available from the Museum or Clarke's Bookshop in Cape Town. If you're here in the UK Or Europe, order your copy - £7.99 plus postage until the end of August when the price reverts to the normal retail price of £10 - please click HERE.
 

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Former ODU Branch Secretary for Johannesburg, Simon Grose (F, 1977) heads up a chain of exclusive family-owned hotels in the UK. He is encouraging ODs eschewing the conflagration which is Europe, the USA and Canada these summer holidays to consider one of his favourite Grose hotels, Thurlestone Hotel & Spa in Kingsbridge, Devon. This luxury hotel has been in his family for 125 years, during which time, Simon assures me, it has undergone extensive and regular upgrades.

And sampling the delights of Devon are, in the photo to the left, Simon Grose, Dave Steward (O, 1977) and his wife Sofia visiting from Italy and from South Africa, Mark Westcott (F, 1977)

The Group is offering ODs specially-discounted rates (see in the picture below) which to take advantage of, you need to quote Diocesan College when prompted.

 

A FORCE FOR GOOD
 

Rugby has dominated the second term at School, and Bishops hosted two visiting UK schools and were able to show them a thing about the game they (the English) invented.

Against the Haileybury 1st XV, Bishops won 67-12 and the following day, against Rugby, beat the visitors 32-7.

There were no Principal's newsletters for July. These will resume next term
 

EVENTS FOR THE REST OF 2023
 

UK SCHOOL TERMS AND HOLIDAYS 2023