PERSONALIA NEWS
OP news and updates from around the world .
PRE - 1980
Neil Calder ( 63-70 ) who writes a regular blog , ‘ The Quiet Ripple ’, arrived back in Japan in January after a month in almost totally deserted San Francisco . This was followed by two weeks of self-isolation in Tokyo . The first thing he found on finally arriving back home was his copy of the Old Pocklingtonian magazine !
Roger Chapman ( 47-56 ) co-wrote and illustrated a book “ From Duet to Decet ” to support musicians affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and to spread the message about the joys of chamber music . The book is a light-hearted introduction to chamber music covering everything you need to know to enjoy the chamber concert experience including musical instruments , ensembles , composers , famous chamber works , venues , music societies , festivals and more . Published in July , Roger wrote and illustrated a follow up book in a similar vein entitled “ Where Passions Blaze : A Novice ’ s Guide to Opera ” to help young opera singers with the English Touring Opera who have been out of work through the pandemic .
Nick Galtress ( 44-50 ) has written a book ; it is a satirical comedy entitled ‘ Death ’ s Door : Second on the Left down the Corridor ’. It is published by Austin Macauley and is available from bookshops and on Amazon .
Joan Gough ( née Sawyer , 75-77 ) was elected as the new OP President at the Annual General Meeting of the Old Pocklingtonian Association in November 2020 . Joan , who was one of the first girls to attend Pocklington School in the Sixth Form , is now the first female OP President in the history of the Association . She succeeds Trevor Loten ( 70- 80 ) who stepped down from the role after coming to the end of his three-year tenure .
Roger Hirst ( 71-79 ) was re-elected in May for a second term as Police , Fire & Crime Commissioner for Essex .
Roger Kohn ( 64-68 ) is the publisher , editor , and designer of the relatively new ‘ Virginia Water Magazine ’, a free , monthly magazine which has been well received in the community , with regular contributions from the local MP , Mayor , church , schools , library etc . The magazine is delivered to 3,000 homes and businesses in Virginia Water , Surrey by Royal Mail and HM The Queen sends notes of thanks for her copies !
Brian Madderson ( 53-63 ) turned 77 recently and had decided to finally retire at the end of this year from his role of 12 years as Chairman of the Petrol Retailers Association ( PRA ) and Board Member of the Retail Motor Industry Federation ( RMIF ). However , the fuel crisis has required him to work up to 15 hours per day since the panic buying started on 23 September . Since that time he has had interviews with all the major TV networks including the latest newcomer GB News with Nigel Farage and both national and local radio stations . He has also had regular daily briefings with the Secretary of State for Transport , Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP by personal Zoom calls and he has been one of the few industry invitees to the daily meetings held by the Secretary of State for Business , Energy & Industrial Strategy , Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP . The reason being that PRA represents the interests of all the independent forecourts across the UK which number approx . 5,500 or 65 % of all forecourts . PRA Members have franchise arrangements for fuel supply with all the oil majors such as BP , Shell , Esso , Jet , Gulf and so on . The PRA ’ s mission has been to provide accurate daily data on the stock levels at these sites and to try and persuade the motorist to return to their normal buying habits so the oil companies have time to fully replenish the much depleted forecourt stocks when so many sites ran dry within 48 hours of the frenzied buying commencing .
Rob Mair ( 65-72 ), known as Fred at school , retired in 2019 having worked as a Technical Manager in the construction industry for 25 years . He has very fond memories of his seven years at Pock especially sport : Cricket , Rugby , Athletics and the Gym team as well Sunday morning football after church . He also remembers a couple of friendly basketball matches against other schools . He still plays cricket occasionally but also coaches and has been chair of his local village club for the last 17 years .
Keith Mann ( 44-52 ) remembers the 1952 leavers ( or thereabouts ) who founded a London OP group in around 1960 . The first gathering was held in a flat in Holland Park in which Peter Nicholson Smith , James Hedge and Keith lived . Keith recalls this as being the earliest London OP gathering . Other attendees that he can remember were the late David Ing , the late David Karran , Tim Beard and Tom Pay . Peter Nicholson Smith kept the gathering going for several years when he hosted it in his firm ’ s offices . The 40th anniversary gathering was also held in Peter ’ s offices , but shortly afterwards was held and continued to be held in various London Clubs including the Farmers ’ Club for a number of years through Paul Hutton . In
2009 , the gathering became a black tie dinner and has continued to flourish to this day .
David Rose ( 72-78 ), aged 60 , was diagnosed in February 2020 with motor neurone disease ( MND ) after a 34-year Army career serving with the Green Howards , then working with Babcock International Group , and a lifetime of physical activity ( including playing for England schools rugby under 16 and under 19 groups when he was at Pocklington ). David organised a walking event in September 2021 , the Salisbury Plain 100km Challenge to raise funds for the MND Association and the military charity SSAFA . The challenge involved a series of walks ranging from 15km to 23km over a five-day period . He raised over £ 15,000 shared equally between the two charities and raised awareness of the effects of MND .
Tim Stephenson ( 70-79 ), Pocklington School Chair of Governors , took part in a cycle challenge from Lands End to John O ’ Groats along with fellow OPs brother Phil Stephenson ( 72-80 ) and Will Treasure ( 74-79 ). Tim took the opportunity to promote the school ’ s Shape the Future bursary campaign along the way .
Sir Tom Stoppard ( 51-54 ) published his longawaited biography in October 2020 , entitled ‘ Tom Stoppard : A Life ’, written by Hermione Lee . The author builds a meticulously researched portrait of one of the greatest living playwrights as she draws on hundreds of interviews with family , friends and long conversations with Stoppard himself , giving a rare opportunity to learn about Stoppard ’ s life as he talks about his Czech origins and childhood , adulthood and his fascinating career in theatre . In September 2021 , Sir Tom was interviewed by Alan Yentob for the BBC ’ s Imagine programme ‘ Tom Stoppard : A Charmed Life ’ in which Tom spoke about his life and his latest play , Leopoldstadt .
Phil Wilkinson ( 64-70 ) came to the OP cricket and Malcolm Milne Cricket Scoreboard dedication at school in July . He attended with his contemporary Roy Flitton ( 56-66 ). Afterwards , Phil took the opportunity to visit Jean Billington . They shared some amazing memories of 51 years ago when Jean and her husband , the late Nigel Billington ( Former Staff , 58-88 ) took over Dolman House and Phil was their first Head of House .
30