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cranleigh
www.ocsociety.org
Mike Payne, Cranleigh School, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8QQ
[email protected]
01483 274406
OC Day 2009
july 2009
A full and illustrated report will follow in 'The Old Cranleighan' in the autumn
"A superb OC Day" - "kick off with
the Red Arrows and all else falls into
place!" - "palpable sense of occasion" "great camaraderie" - "the School
looked resplendent" - "pavilion
fantastic" - "great cricket (with the
right result)" - "the Emms Centre is
astounding" - "the magic formula" "the little touches like the hog roast
were fantastic" - "I am so proud to be
an OC"
The cricket: The setting could not
have been better, with the sun
shining and hundreds of Old
Cranleighans and their families
lining the Jubilee boundary.
And the result was worthy of the
occasion:
Haileybury Hermits 186 Old Cranleighans 187 for 1.
The highlight - a majestic 103 not out
from the bat of our young Kenyan
international Seren Waters.
The Red Arrows over Clare's Oak. Zane Sennett (2&3 South, 1994) is Red 2;
he flies to the right of the leading plane. Photo: Stephen Owen
Roger Knight declares open the renovated Pavilion, our Memorial to the 296 OCs who
died in the Wars. Let the poem on page 8 stand for all of them. Photo: Martin Williamson
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An ideal conclusion to a really
memorable event.
Our President, Vivian Cox, died on
27 April, aged 93. How he would have
loved this OC Day! Full obituary to
come in ‘The Old Cranleighan’.
We are delighted that his successor is
Dudley Couper (1 North, 1953)
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Superyacht
Soliloquy
OC’s Writings set
for ‘A’ Levels
This is the 58m, rigid-wing superyacht concept
designed by Alastair Callender (Loveday,
2004) during his final year at Coventry
University. Soliloquy has clearly pushed the
boundaries of yacht design convention. It is
powered quietly from wind, solar and hybridelectric energy. Its innovative overhead beam,
sweeping forward to the bow, not only brings
structural advantages but has been specifically
designed to house three automated and pivotally
mounted, rigid-wing solarsails.
Three of Cranleigh’s LVIth AS
English sets are studying
James Harpur’s sonnet
sequence ‘The Frame of
Furnace Light’ for A level
coursework.
“I have had a passion for all things nautical for
as long as I can remember – growing up a stone’s
throw away from my sailing club in Chichester
harbour.
I have Peter McNiven, my Director of Art, to thank for the catalyst, when he
arranged for one of the world’s leading superyacht designers to give my Upper
Vth set at Cranleigh the most inspirational 45 minute talk I have ever heard.
I remember leaving the class room knowing that this was exactly what I
wanted to do: to design superyachts - with a burning passion!”
On 29 May ‘The Super Yacht Times’ ran an exclusive on Soliloquy’s design.
On 22-23 June Alastair will be presenting it to 150 industry delegates at the
‘4th Annual Future of Superyachts’ Conference, taking place at Palma de
Mallorca. [Alastair adds that he is looking for a job!]
See www.callenderdesigns.co.uk
Alastair: [email protected]
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James (2 North, 1975) won the
1995 National Poetry
Competition for this sequence.
He visited the School in
October so that pupils could
hear him read and discuss the
poems and ask him questions.
Pupils at Radley are also
scheduled to study these
sonnets as Andrew
Cunningham (Common
Room, 1995-2003), who met
James when he was a regular
visiting poet at Cranleigh, is
now in the English
Department at the
Oxfordshire school.
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News
Boarding ‘HMS Belfast’
On Wednesday 22 April a group of 33 toured HMS Belfast
on the Thames before splicing the mainbrace in the Ante
room and enjoying an excellent lunch in the Ward Room.
I thoroughly recommend visiting this ship. HMS Belfast
is a 6-inch cruiser, designed for the protection of trade, for
offensive action, and as a powerful support for amphibious
operations. Launched by Mrs Neville Chamberlain in
1938, it formed part of the 18th Cruiser Squadron
operating out the Home Fleet’s main base at Scapa Flow
in Orkney. After being rocked by a magnetic mine in
1939, three years elapsed before it was fully repaired.
Much of 1943 was spent in the Arctic supporting convoys,
until on Boxing Day Belfast and other ships engaged the
German battle cruiser Scharnhorst which was eventually
sunk. On board
the flagship HMS
Duke of York at
this famous
engagement was
Vivian Cox (1&4
South, 1929-34).
HMS Belfast arrives in London in 1971
At the Normandy
landings in 1944
HMS Belfast was
part of the
Eastern Naval
The guns fire at the Scharnhorst from
Task Force, with
HMS Duke of York in 1943
responsibility for
supporting the British and Canadian assaults on ‘Gold’
and ‘Juno’ beaches and, at 5.30 am on 6 June 1944, was
one of the very first ships to open fire on German positions
in Normandy. Between 1945 and 1947 Belfast served in
the Far East, and between 1950 and 1953 she spent no
less than 404 days on active patrol in the Korean War.
She was finally paid off in 1963, and in 1971 she was
brought to London and opened to the public on 21 October
1971 - Trafalgar Day.
“Westcott” Opened
Westcott is added to Marcon, Lintotts, and Pickup as
names of artificial pitches at the Cranleigh Schools. The
latest was opened at the Prep School on 17 April by OC
David Westcott (2 North, 1975), captain of the Bronze
Medal GB squad at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and
also now a QC and Deputy Chairman of the Governing
Body.
David’s Invitation XI included some fellow-Olympians and
more recent internationals, and an OC team provide their
talented opposition. The OC team included Tom
Batchelor, still at Cranleigh and just selected for
England’s Under 16s. He is the son of hockey coach (and
now Head of Admissions) Steve Batchelor, gold
medallist at Seoul in 1988.
The Foundation: This pitch is the first of the new
Cranleigh Foundation’s capital development projects. The
Foundation helped the mainly OC-funded Pavilion
refurbishment, and is currently involved with the Chapel
renovation and the new Art and Design Buildings. The
latter incorporates the Rhodes Block and the old Biology
and Chemistry formrooms. Future plans include a new
1st XV Rugby Pitch in the field behind the astroturfs,
which when levelled will be a natural amphitheatre.
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The OC group on board Belfast in 2009
OC Lawyers’ Society
Paul Maxlow-Tomlinson (2&3 South, 1949), the
organiser, writes: On 24 March the OC Lawyers’ Society
met for a very pleasant gathering at the Garrick Club in
London and inaugurated the Society. It was a fitting place
for such a group as it is the Club of Actors and Lawyers?
After all what are advocates but actors themselves with
the latitude to make up their own lines. Lawyers do have
the edge over actors as they have a guaranteed audience!
OCs are well represented among the Profession and the
evening brought together members of the Judiciary, both
Senior and Junior Counsel and a cross section of the Side
Bar.
Sir Paul Coleridge (1&4 South, 1966), perhaps our most
distinguished lawyer, is a senior judge in the High Court
Family Division. He addressed us informally and
applauded the concept of the Society saying how beneficial
it would be, especially to aspiring lawyers amongst
Cranleighans. Alexi Dimitriou (1 North, 1996) agreed to
become the Secretary the Society and is preparing a data
base of members and their particular expertise which will
be available shortly. Any OCs who wish to join please
contact Alexi: [email protected]
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Challenges
OCs and Challenges for Charity
All these OCs would be very grateful for donations. I’d
be delighted to let you know e-mail addresses.
Tony Rogers (2&3 South, 1973), with ten friends, is
playing the full 18 holes on 5 golf highland courses in
Scotland in the 19 hours from 4.15 am to 11.15 pm, in
aid of the Alzheimer’s Society.
Brian Norton (2 North, 1983) is sailing round the
world with his wife and three children, starting in
July. They are in the Blue Water Round the World
Cruising Rally, which begins from Gibraltar in October
and takes 20 months via the Panama Canal, Australia,
India, Suez and back to Gibraltar. The rally formally
meets up at 18 destinations. Brian writes: “I will be
pleased to write a report or two as we go round. Our
blog can be reached on www.Rock2Rock.co.uk and a
podcast via ITunes podcast as Rock2Rock.”
Bill Mellstrom (1 North, 1986) is cycling from London
to Paris to raise money for the MS Society, especially
because his friend Chris Kemp (East, 1987) is
severely handicapped by an aggressive form of the
disease, a challenge for his wife and two young children
as well as himself. 317 miles in 4 days for Bill.
Ted Jackson (2&3
South, 1990)
completed the
North Pole
Marathon 2009 in
nine and a half
hours, finishing
26th out of 38
runners. He
trained for the
Arctic weather in
the deep freeze of a
local butcher, but
the racers still had
to wear three
layers of bulky
clothing to protect
them from
developing frostbite or hypothermia. Runners from 13
countries and six continents took part.
Ted has achieved other feats of endurance. He
completed the New York and London marathons and
the London Triathlon before completing all 21 stages of
the Tour de France two weeks before the professionals’
race in 2006. His latest race was his second attempt at
the North Pole Marathon.
A winner of the Channel 4 TV talent show Operatunity
in 2003, he also hopes to run a marathon on every
continent, which would make him a member of the
North Pole Marathon Grand Slam Club.
Luke Parry (2 North, 1992) is attempting to play 18
holes of golf in one day from Kent to Cornwall in aid of
CHASE Hospice Care for Children and Southampton
Paediatric Intensive Care Unit. The route goes
through 8 counties, 9 courses (2 holes on each!), and
400 miles. Start is at 4.30 am and finish at 10 pm.
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Richard Hume (2 North, 2000) was shortlisted on
British Airways Great Britons, and was required to
enter his story. He wrote: “In 1995 I was diagnosed
with a very severe spinal disorder that left me with a
curvature of 93 degrees. To put this into context, 93
degrees is a greater curvature than a lamp post. I then
spent 4 years in a solid plastic back brace throughout
my teenage years. As I got to uni I started playing
rugby again and loved the experience but still with the
words ringing in my ear from my doctor ‘you will not
play sport in the foreseeable future’.
After graduating from uni, I was challenged to do an
ironman triathlon as a few people saw how much I
loved training and specifically long distant endurance
training. I entered the Isle of Wight marathon and
failed to finish. 4 months later I found myself on the
start line of ironman UK having never done a
marathon or a triathlon. I finished and loved it. 4
years later the doctors words still ring loudly but I
have moved on to now having finished 3 ironman
triathlons, 1 double triathlon and 1 triple (7.2mile
swim, 336 mile bike and 78.6 mile run, continuous). My
main goal is to become one of the best rounded
endurance athletes around. This year I am rowing the
Atlantic in aid of a good friend and ATAXIA UK, just
another step in the right direction. See
www.rowingtheatlantic.com
Andy Houston and Dom Hammond (both Cubitt,
2001) are cycling from Surrey to Mallorca this summer
to raise money for three separate charities. One is
World Vision in memory of Tom Wheeler (Head Boy
2001) who sadly died 3 years ago whilst in China. The
second is for a university friend of Andy’s called Dan
James, who died earlier this year after a neck injury
playing rugby. The money will go to BOOST, which
helps fund Wheelchair Rugby in Britain. The third
charity is in Cobham and is called the Princess Alice
Hospice, which look after cancer patients.
Sam Langmead (2 North, 2002) completed the
gruelling Marathon des Sables in the Sahara. This
involves numbers of marathons in the heat (and this
year with flash rains!) over difficult terrain and with
all the week’s food and equipment (less water and
tents) on their backs. Amazing!
Max Utting (North, 2004) began Car Rallying while at
Cranleigh. In 2007 and 2008 he contested the UK
Fiesta Sporting Trophy, and remarkably in 2008 came
2nd overall.
Lucy Garrard (West, 2008), bravely overcoming
damaged hips, came third in her class of the 125-mile
Devizes to Winchester Kayak Marathon 2009. Her
efforts, over 20 hours 46 minutes, benefited the
Bushmen children of Namibia with whom she recently
worked.
John Newberry (Cubitt, 2004) has been selected as
part of a team aboard one of the ten 68 ft Clipper
Yachts participating in the Round the World race
starting this autumn. He will be in the penultimate
and most challenging legs, from Fremantle in Western
Australia to Quigdao in China via Singapore. We hope
to hear more.
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7 x 7 x 7 - the Ultimate OC Achievement
Oliver completing his seventh ultra marathon in London last March - how must that feel?!
Oliver Dudley (2 North, 1994) writes: At face value,
attempting to run 7 ultra marathons (50km) in 7
consecutive days on all 7 continents, is "insane" to most
people. When I tell them that no human being had ever
attempted such a feat, they inevitably ask the same
question, "Why put yourself through such torture?"
Explaining that the longest I had ever run prior to
training was the Cranleigh Prep School cross country run
some 20 years earlier, makes listeners look at me fearing I
am Pinocchio!
After a stop-start, injury-ravaged 3 months of training
with only one half marathon under my belt, it was time to
put the legs and mindset to the test for the first ultra
marathon - of all places, in Antarctica. 49.50km were
completed without concern, but the last 500m at great
speed - an unhappy and territorial leopard seal gave
chase. 5 hours later the second 50km was under way in
Punta Arenas in Chile under the cover of darkness. With
2 down in the first 18 hours, there was great relief the
body hadn't packed up, and confidence grew as we spent
24 hours snaking our way north to the welcome heat of
Los Angeles, where I clocked my fastest time of 6 h 20m,
witnessed by Paddy Webb (1 North, 1994). No. 4, Sydney,
was an important psychological stage, as when completed
we were over half way there on our 350km journey and
46,000 air miles. The last half hour running was the
hardest physical experience of my life, and would have
been far harder without the boundless support of Alan
Riva (Loveday 1994) running with me.
Next stop Hong Kong, where the 90% humidity and 35
degree heat broke us as a team. One runner spent 1 week
in hospital and the remaining 3 of us crawled round, our
novice running bodies crippled with the previous 200km
in 96 hours. With the distance safely bagged, we flew to
Johannesburg for the penultimate leg. I had my feet in
ice bags for most of the 'cattle class' flight due to the
swelling and effects Hong Kong had on us. The swollen
feet were the first signs of exhaustion and dehydration,
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which ended in a South African stint on a drip in hospital,
and ended my dreams of a new world record and finishing
the journey in 7 days.
Alone in Johannesburg, I completed the slowest 50km of
the entire event, in 11 h 20 m (a lot of which was either
lying down or sat on a toilet as my body had far from
recovered from the previous day's hospital visit).
After another hospital visit in London the next morning,
I finally completed the event in 8 days and 90 minutes.
The evolving answer to those who ask “why me” is that I
use my experiences as a novice runner and rower
attempting world records in extreme endurance events to
communicate a simple message to a wider audience: If we
"think possible", we can achieve extraordinary things.
[If you would like Oliver to speak at your school, business
or charity, his email is [email protected]]
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Ling Cow Shipping Club
Mark Soutter writes: In April the Ling Cow moved
East, dining on specialities from the North Eastern region
of China in the City of London. David Waters of the
Cranleigh Foundation was warmly welcomed and his
update to members of all the work he is undertaking with
the school was gratefully appreciated.
Ling Cow is an informal group of London-based shipping
professionals. Members meet two or three times a year
for lunch or dinner. OC shipowners, shipbrokers,
charterers, FFA traders, commodity traders and anyone
involved with seaborne transportation is most welcome. If
you are interested in joining then please email:
[email protected].
Our next event will be a Dinner with guests in the West
End of London – date to be advised.
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Hockey
www.oldcranleighan.org.uk/ochc
David Knapp writes: After a number of
frustrating seasons on and off the pitch
the 2008/9 hockey season will go down as
one of the best club seasons for years if
not ever. As the season progressed it
became evident that there was a real buzz
around the club. The ageing first XI
became a much younger and vibrant team
with a number of quality new members.
Unlike previous years the new members
started in the lower teams and worked
their way up. This resulted in the
displaced first XI players dropping into
and strengthening the 2nd XI. Not
everyone going down an XI was happy but
they showed character and helped achieve
promotion for the 2nd XI whilst the
invigorated 1st XI also achieved
promotion after a number of near misses.
The 3rd and Ladies’ XIs had difficult
seasons but battled hard with next season
promising a better set of results. The 4ths
and veterans had their highs and lows.
After many years the match against the
school was once again in the calendar and
a recent leavers’ team lost 0-2 against the
school side who won the inaugural
Loveland Vase match that will now be
played for annually. The club put
together a team to play in the Westcott
pitch opening at the prep school. Its
members spanned a 37 year period - 1972
to 2009 – and managed to edge out the
Batchelor invitation side on a rousing
Friday evening in April.
Rugby
Golf
www.ocrfc.com
Tony Price writes: After the
wondrous unbeaten season last year
this one was always going to be one
of consolidation and so it proved to
be.
The loss of some of our matchwinning backs to world travel and
injury was tricky, and not quite offset
by ‘new’ forwards such as top lock
Mark Colgate. However we had fun
and got 3 sides out regularly, and
look to be set up really well for next
season. The end of season tour to
Valencia was certainly a roaring
success as usual!
Brownie will continue as captain for
2009/10 with Dom Hammond as vicecaptain and Andy Houston as coach.
There are a number of OCs leaving
uni this Summer who have played in
our student sides, so the likes of
Darcy and Simon Steer will be
looking to play regularly rather than
on the odd weekend back from
academe. Get in touch if you want to
join them.
All OCs, and indeed their friends, are
welcome at Thames Ditton, and we
have student teams out in September
and over Christmas. If you interested
please contact Tony Price or any
other club official – full details up on
www.ocrfc.com
www.ocgs.org.uk
David Willis writes: Nearly 30 OCs,
together with the headmaster and Mike
Payne, gathered at Deal last week to
support our Halford Hewitt team in our
70th appearance at this notable
competition organised by the Public
Schools Golf Association. Drawn against a
young Old Etonian side, the team battled
against a cold and strong northerly wind
to lose 1½ to 3½ in the first round. Sadly
Marcus Ferguson-Jones was unable to
play, so Tony Whitty led the team
consisting of John Davies, Martin
Riddiford, Oliver Rosenberg, Mike Crane,
Richard Williams, Luke Parry, Adam
Kendrick, Mark Connelly, and Abeed
Janmohamed, with Matthew Hansford
acting as team coach. In the Prince’s Plate
we disappointingly lost to St. Bee’s. It was
good to see Adam Kendrick come down
from university during his finals to play
his first HH. We hope this will encourage
more young OCs to boost our aging team.
The OC Golf Society took first place in the
Grafton Morrish qualifying round played
at Royal Ashdown Forest. Three pairs of
golfers managed to collect 87 scratch
stableford points between them and now
move to the finals which will be played at
Hunstanton and Branchester in late
September. The last time the OCs
qualified was in 2006, when we lost in the
second round to Harrow.
On 22 May, the Spring Meeting was held
at Liphook, where the Scratch Salver was
won by Tony Whitty with a gross score of
74, whilst Mickey Moore took the Hugh
Orr Trophy with 40 stableford points.
Twenty one OCs enjoyed excellent
conditions on a short but exacting course.
Young hopeful:
Harry Millburn-Fryer (North, 2008),
partnered by the professional at
Thurleston in Devon, won the Virgin
Atlantic PGA National Pro-Am
Championship qualifier at Saunton. He
now looks forward to competing against
15 other UK finalists in Turkey on 6
December.
The social side also took a huge leap
forward, the quiz night being the
highlight with over 100 attendees.
Summer men’s, ladies’ and mixed leagues
have started. Everyone is welcome to play.
Please email me at [email protected]
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Sport
ARROW TROPHY REGATTA, 11/12 October 2008
Tim Hill writes: We had our best result so far in the Arrow Trophy Regatta which was sailed at Cowes in Sunsail Sunfast 37ft boats.
The OCs entered a team racing against 22 other Old School Teams. Members of the OC team from the previous year were Tim Phelps,
Toby Spreckley, Simon Spreckley, Nick Leach and Tim Hill, who helmed and organised it, and welcomed a new crew member Olly Soper
who was starting his gap year.
We had four races on the Saturday in light south easterly winds and after a bad start had an eleventh in the first race which was to be
our discard. In the second race we had an excellent start and were fourth round the first mark which we held to the finish. We had an
even better start in the third race and were first round the first mark. After some good gybing on the last down wind leg we finished
second. In the fourth race we were fourth at the first mark but with some neat buoy rounding finished second. With short courses and
the boats being identical and similar in speed there was serious bunching rounding the marks. This gave us first overall on Saturday
night, which was very good and put us in the final sail-off of the top four boats on the Sunday.
The sail-off was conducted as match racing with just two boats to a race (as sailed in America’s Cup Races) racing against each of the
other three boats, followed by a semi-final and final. This was a very different type of racing from normal club racing and regrettably we
ended up fourth but this was still by far our best result. The results and more pictures can be seen on www.arrowtrophy.org.uk
We would like to thank the OC Society for their support towards part of the Regatta entry fee. If you are interested and would like to
take part in this year’s Arrow Trophy Regatta please contact Tim Hill on 01243 531770 or [email protected]
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A 70 year old Gaudy
Tim Hazell writes: A number of us
who were at the School in the mid50s and who are 70 this year, are
planning to hold a gaudy for all OCs
who have been, are, or will be 70 in
the course of 2009. Thanks to the
wonderful maths training given to us
by Bob Bellwood, we were finally able
to work out that this applies to all
those born in 1938 or 1939! The
party will take place at the East
India Club on Thursday 1 October.
We have had a very good response
from those with whom we have been
in touch so far – especially from OCs
who have had little, if any, contact
with the School since they left,
several of whom will be travelling
from Canada, Italy and other
overseas locations. The beauty of a
gaudy is, of course, that, although
you may not have seen other people
for fifty years or so, you will instantly
have a great deal in common with
them. We are also delighted that the
Headmaster has agreed to be our
guest and will be able to tell us
something about the School in the
present day.
We are anxious to contact as many
‘qualifying’ OCs as possible, and,
therefore, if you have not yet heard
from us, please contact Jo Floud at
[email protected] or on
01306 627228.
We look forward to a rather special
and interesting evening.
Deaths
We are sorry to have to record the
deaths of:
Bill Attwell (East, 1936)
Ian Barnard (West, 1953)
Willie Booth (CR, 1965-74)
Donald Bowser (East, 1938)
Vivian Cox (1&4 South, 1934)
Ian Dare (Cubitt, 1971)
Mike Enderby (East, 1963)
Mervyn Loft-Simpson
(1 North, 1945)
The Most Revd Michael Wright
(2 North, 1950)
Only home matches listed. For more detail see
www.ocsociety.org (and links) and www.cranleigh.org
or ring Thames Ditton (020 8398 3092) or the School (01483 273666)
Only home matches listed. For more detail see www.ocsociety.org (and
links) and www.cranleigh.org or ring Thames Ditton (020 8398 3092) or the
School (01483 273666)
OC REUNIONS
Sat 5 Sept:
Under 30s Reunion
(Rugby Sevens and Barbecue at the School)
Thurs 1 Oct: 70 year old Gaudy at the East India Club
OC Dinner followed by Disco at the Dali Universe
Sat 3 Oct:
SCHOOL EVENTS
Tickets (£15, £12 concessions) from [email protected] or 01483 273666
OC CRICKET
Matches on Jubilee on Jul 3, 4 ,5, 6 ,7, 8, 11, 12, 19; Aug 7
OC RUGBY
Matches at Thames Ditton on Oct 10, 24; Nov 14; Dec 5
OC GOLF
July 2-4 (Mellin Salver), July 8 (Putting Evening), Matches on Aug 1, 14, 15,
19; Sept 20, 24 (Autumn Meeting), 24-27 (Grafton-Morrish Finals); Oct 2
(Don Langmead Trophy), 10/11 (Autumn Weekend); Nov 29. Annual Dinner:
Nov 5 at Boodles.
OC RIFLE
July 15 (PS Veterans); Aug 15 (August Shoot); Sept 20 (Prize Meeting); Oct
17 (Season Wind-up and AGM)
SCHOOL RUGBY (all at 2.30 pm)
Sept 5 v KCS Wimbledon, Oct 10 v Dulwich, Nov 7 v RGS Guildford, Nov 14
v Eastbourne, Nov 26 v Wellington, Dec 5 v OCs
OC HOCKEY and SCHOOL GIRLS’ HOCKEY
To be announced. See appropriate website addresses.
OC Dinner 2009
David Knapp (East, 1977) writes:
Some months ago I was invited to
be Chairman of the Society Dinner
this October. I was delighted to
accept and have identified The
Dali Universe as my choice of
venue. My brief was to try to
appeal to both the younger and
older generations; there will be a
disco as the after-dinner
entertainment. The date is
Saturday 3 October and
hopefully the evening will appeal to
a broad spectrum of the Society.
Application details are on the flyer
enclosed with ‘Contact’.
Many Thanks to
THE COPY DEADLINE
for the next issue is
Tuesday 10 November
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CALENDAR
Stuart Olley and Tim Sweetland
(advertisers),
John Sandford (designer/typesetter),
Maurice Drake and Mark Tomlin
(‘Flipside’)
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The Arts and
‘The Old Cranleighan’
The publication following this will be
No 6 of ‘The Old Cranleighan’. I
invite contributions to the section on
‘OCs in the Arts’. Please write to me
if you have any achievements to
report in drama, music, painting,
sculpture, literature and so on.
OC Couples
Omitted from previous lists, and now
making 38 in total:
Willie Porter (2 North, 1992) and
Antonia Stables (2 North, 1991)
Quotation Slot
"Learn from yesterday,
live for today, hope for tomorrow"
(Albert Einstein)
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Ypres
Ypres – 90 years on
A group of 18 of us spent one March night in Ypres, either
side of which we attended the Last Post Ceremony at the
Menin Gate and the Dedication of the Plaque in St
George’s Memorial Church which commemorates the
sacrifice of 11 Old Cranleighans in the Ypres Salient in
World War One.
The Dedication Service was conducted by Cranleigh’s
Chaplain, the Revd Phil Parker, in the presence of Fr Ray
Jones (Chaplain of St George’s), OCs Nick Meyer, Allen Dean
and wife Heather, Mike Fawcett and wife Wendy, John
McDermott, Richard Sale, Peter Wylie-Harris, David Willis,
Oliver Weiss and Mark Soutter, and also Hilli Waller, Phil
Parker, David Waters, Mike Payne, Jim Mason, and two
great-nephews of one of the 11, Matt and Tim Payne.
Some of the graves of the 11 were visited. They are divided
among six cemeteries. Four are among the 89,788 names of
the missing recorded on the Menin Gate and at Tyne Cot.
Reflecting afterwards, Richard Sale wrote this poem:
Tyne Cot Cemetery, March 2009
To the Memory of the 11 Old Cranleighans
who fell at Ypres 1915-1918
Silent and still the stones stand
Close-ordered, in thousands, rank upon rank,
Looking down the slopes won at such cost
To the spires of Ypres undefeated, risen again.
The grave of
John
Brice-Smith
(East 1914)
Below:
Tyne Cot
Cemetery,
where are
remembered
Leslie Crook,
MC
(1&4 South,
1908),
Thomas Silk
(2&3 South,
1913), and
Dennis Spink
(West, 1915)
Now you can believe your eyes
superyacht 2
Yes, there is death here –
Young death in appalling numbers –
But there is so much more than death :
A reminder of old virtues now too little remembered,
Loyalty, honour, obedience and self-sacrifice.
There is a peace here too, all these years on :
No sense of uneasy ghosts as at Auschwitz
But of men resting from a job well done
And cared for by those who tend this place,
Ever enhancing its dignity, order and beauty.
Above all, there is love –
The greater love of those who laid down their lives
For their friends in the ranks, for their country, for freedom,
For us. Can we then fail to be moved,
We, the descendants of those who fought,
As we stand silent here?
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