No . 136 The Trusty Servant
OW News
Appointments & Honours
TE Mitchell ( Coll , 78-83 ) has been elected as President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England . He began his three year term of office in July 2023 .
Alex Chalk KC MP ( D , 91-95 ) was appointed Lord Chancellor on 21 st April 2023 . He follows other illustrious footsteps : our Founder was himself twice Lord Chancellor ; and the first Old Wykehamist since Viscount Simonds ( Coll , 1894-00 , GoBo , 34-63 , Custos , 46-51 ), Lord High Chancellor 1951-54 .
Professor Richard Dawson FREng ( H 90-95 ), Newcastle University , has been elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Engineering . The Academy ’ s Fellowship represents the nation ’ s best engineering researchers , innovators , entrepreneurs , business and industry leaders . Richard ’ s citation reads : “ Professor Richard Dawson is an outstanding engineer , internationally recognised for his work on climate change adaptation of cities and infrastructure . His research is at the forefront of developing new approaches to quantifying and managing climate change risks . He has pioneered the development of national and international maps of climate risk , and enabled engineers to factor climate change impacts into infrastructure design and urban planning . These approaches have been widely adopted by industry and governments , and he plays a leading role in policy as recognised by his appointment to the UK ’ s Climate Change Committee and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change .”
David Haig ( A , 68-72 ) has been named a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in this year ’ s King ’ s Birthday Honours for his services to woodworking .
David Pugsley ( H , 57 ; Coll , 58-62 ) a former Chairman and Leader of Mid Devon District Council , has retired after 40 years as an elected councillor . First elected in 1975 , he served for an unbroken 32 years to 2007 and for a total of 40 years after twice losing and regaining his seat between 2007 and 2023 . A short interview with David published in the LGA magazine can be obtained from this office .
OW Publications
David J Critchley ( B , 68-73 ) has translated Abbé Claude Barthe ’ s La Messe : une forêt de symboles ( 2020 ). This book , in a translation which aims to capture Abbé Barthe ’ s informal style of address , guides the intelligent layman towards a recovery of the moral , allegorical , and anagogical layers of meaning . 174 pages ; Angelico Press ; ISBN 978-1621389163
Patrick Gale ’ s ( Q , 70-75 , A , 75-79 ) latest book Mother ’ s Boy , was published earlier this year . It is a fictionalised account of the life of the poet Charles Causley . The author skilfully navigates his protagonists ’ Cornish accents and provides a tender and intimate evocation of the maternal bond , and of a young man intent on keeping his true self hidden . In the author ’ s note , Gale reveals how he drew on Causley ’ s diaries and poems to build a portrait that is based on fact but used “ fiction and conjecture to fill the gaps in stories that history and discretion left blank ”. 416 Pages ; Tinder Press ; ISBN 978-1472257420
Andrew Hampton ( B , 71-76 ) has written a new book , Working with Boys - Creating Cultures of Mutual Respect in Schools .
The book discusses why some boys end up sexually abusing girls in school - an issue which is still rife in UK schools . It also scrutinises the daily experience of boys in school touching on many key topics which affect their lives . There are chapters on the fear of humiliation , banter and humour , football , competition , hierarchies , and motivation . The second half of the book lays out a comprehensive set of lessons to be delivered in schools that will guide boys to create relational cultures which work for everyone . 124 Pages ; Routledge ; ISBN 1032319550
John Harrison ( G , 50-55 ) has published his memoirs . A Diplomatic Life details John ’ s life from adventurous journeys to visit his parents in Brazil and Iran to his own route across the world with postings to Burma ,
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