Dear OD

2019 UK ODU DINNER

It's probably just me, but it does seem that as each year passes, recovery times from the UK Annual Dinner get longer. We had a very happy and successful gathering at The Carlton Club in London on Friday 14th June where Anthony Record MBE (S, 1956, right) on behalf of the ODU Patron, Raymond Ackerman, welcomed ODs to what is now our fourth dinner at The Club. Anthony also donated the wine for the evening for which we were very grateful, as we were to Michael Cockburn (F, 2006), Devan Du Plooy (G, 2007) and James During (B, 2007) who supplied their beer Co.bru which - surprise - proved very popular with ODs.

Matthew Golesworthy (K, 2011, left)  said Grace rather beautifully and with a jaunty ecclesiastical bounce. This year's Grace was that of Christ's College, Cambridge. As mentioned, Anthony Record welcomed ODs and guests, with a special thank you to those who had come from Cape Town - Laurie Chiappini (O, 1961), Niall Brown (G, 1973) and Geoffrey Forbes (G, 2013). He singled out Nicole Du Rand for a special thank you, not just for trekking up from Rondebosch, but for the outstanding job she does as the ODU Administrator. And Anthony was delighted to welcome David Walsh, former Second Master of Tonbridge and Chairman of the Old Tonbridgians with us for the dinner. David is a great friend of Bishops and the ODU.

Following the welcome, in a well-crafted and humorous address, Marc van Heerden (S, 2008, right) proposed the toast to Bishops. Now a rising star with international law firm Allen & Overy, he reminisced about his Bishops experiences and friendships and why Bishops had meant so much to him. Marc's Toast to Bishops can be read HERE.

In what has been perceived by some to be a family takeover of the OD Union (your secretary was the MC), Zandy Bicket (S, 1973, left) who had flown in from Pittsburgh, PA, was our guest speaker. In a slight deviation from tradition, the after-dinner speech was delivered before the main course in attempt to reach the greatest number of ODs who might , after dinner, be either asleep or otherwise incapacitated. Zandy regaled us with his journey from an inaugural member of the first sub A class at Bishops in 1962 to becoming a judge in the Court of Common Pleas, Pennsylvania, USA.

Zandy took a quick and witty tour of his schooldays and how his uniquely Bishops experiences and the extraordinary teachers and contemporaries had shaped his trajectory and life values values which has culminated with his role now as a judge (in a State which has the death penalty - well that ensured a certain discipline among what can be an otherwise rowdy audience!). He closed by extolling the virtues of Bishops and reminding us why it is so important to give back to the School so that others may benefit as we had from those before us.

Anthony, Marc and Zandy put Bishops squarely in the middle of the room.

Choppy Bands (K, 1990, right) reinforced this message in his erudite reply and thanks delivered, as always, with charm and scholarship.

The dinner itself was lively, loud and delicious. The after-dinner drinks, back in the Carlton's Morning Room gets more and more popular each year.

We hope the Carlton Club loves the ODU; we love the Club and thank them and their incredible staff for another superb dinner.

For a full report and photos, please click HERE.

See below to find out how to order these delicious wines and beer.

I would also like to congratulate Anthony Record's wife, Carole, so much a part of our UK ODU community now, on the dedication to her by Alexander McCall Smith in his new book, The Second Worst Restaurant in France

ODs IN OXFORD

Below is a piece on the memorial to Anthony Honoré (F, 1939).  But after the memorial, Matthew Golesworthy (K, 2011) took me punting with Robbie Aldera (M, 2012) and his lovely wife Erin. Later we had a pub supper, joined by Rowan Nicholls (O, 2010) and Emily van Heerden (2017 Bishops Rhodes Scholar).

The photo on the left is of a nervous Robbie and Erin with Matthew at the helm.

Kind regards

Nicky Bicket

OD VISIT TO AMSTERDAM














 

Why do benefactors give to Bishops? Perhaps to have their names memorialised vaingloriously on new and necessary buildings around the School campus or attached to prizes, bursaries and scholarships. For posterity.

Or they do so that the Bishops may continue to produce boys - men - like Anthony Honoré (F, 1939) who died aged ninety-six in Oxford in February this year.

I have written several times about Tony and do so now for the last time. On Saturday 8th June, six ODs - Chris Winearls (W, 1967), Mark Charnock (O, 1962), Tim Bravington (S, 1951), Bruce McGregor (F, 1965), Matthew Golesworthy (K, 2011) and I - sat, bursting with pride, listening to great legal luminaries speak in awe about the life and work of Tony Honoré, the brightest star of them all, at his memorial service held in the Coddrington Library of All Souls, Oxford, to celebrate his life.

Four speakers, including Judge Edwin Cameron, paid tribute not just to the immense breadth and depth of Tony's intellect, already recognised in Bishops 150 by Donald McIntyre ("... probably the greatest of all ODs for sheer scholarship...") but, and above all, to his humanity, and the great thrill he took in seeing protegees of his rise to great heights in the world of law to which he devoted his life. His teaching career was at Oxford and spanned an incredible seventy years. He was the thinker and writer on causation, trusts and jurisprudence, combining both a deep knowledge and understanding of the purpose of the law as it should apply to everyman. He was, in the early 1990s, central to the decision to develop a new - and arguably the boldest and most far-reaching of all constitutions - South African constitution to which he himself contributed.

The Coddrington Library was packed with the good and the great of British (and German) Law. The celebrated international concert pianist, Piotr Anderszewski, played J.S. Bach, Tony's composer of choice (and Piotr his preferred interpreter).

And there were we, six ODs listening spellbound to how one of our own had had such an impact and been such a force for good in a life devoted to the betterment of humanity, as far as he was able to influence it. One wonders whether today's Bishops boys even know who Tony was, let alone whether those who went on to study law fully appreciated his monumental contribution to the discipline.

This is why benefactors invest in Bishops and why those who came before Anthony made him (and so many others) possible. They did this by supporting a school where boys can flourish in the unique environment which is Bishops in a way that they would not have done anywhere else. Tony, but not only he, was a massive return for those whose generosity to Bishops measures return on potential rather than investment.

Tony's life was quite remarkable. His memorial  quite an experience. 

He was one of us!

This month our congratulations go to:



Nicholas Fenton-Wells (F, 2004)  who not only has been promoted to Manager of the Bristol Bears but was also named as RPA Player Representative Premiership Rugby Community Player of the Season Awards. He has given more than 500 hours of community service.

Nick recently called time on his rugby playing career. We congratulate him on a fantastic career which saw him represent the Varsity Cup Champions UCT, Vodacom Cup Champions Western Province, the Stormers, Saracens, Bedford Blues and the Bristol Bears (where he spent a few seasons playing alongside fellow OD Nick Koster (F, 2007)).

Douglas Craig (F, 1991) has been appointed an Associate Director at Cognizant in London. Doug is a specialist in IT strategy, specifically working across geographic and cultural boundaries, mitigating and leveraging technology

Dr Rob Campbell (G, 1974) returns to Lloyd's and has been appointed a Data Architect. Rob's an experienced Solutions Consultant operating in the large commercial Insurance and Reinsurance market and has worked with clients in the UK as well as European, North American, Middle Eastern and Far Eastern markets.
 

 

 

 

Our sincere condolences go to Tim's wife Sue and children David, Sarah, James and Caroline. 
 

Our fifth annual golf match against the Old Tonbridgians was payed at the RAC in Surrey on Saturday, 8th June. We went into the game 1-3 down and everything to play for. Our captain, Alex Price (M, 2008) reports:

The weather was always going to be a factor in our first match of the year, with May being one of the most unpredictable months (after November). We were forecast 40mph + winds; and although it was certainly a blusterous day, we managed to stay clear of a few light splatters of rain which would have made for much tougher conditions.

First out was Doug Mallett (M, 2007) and Alex Price: the veteran combination got off to a solid start, immediately getting the early lead they proved tough to shake off. Doug and Alex, who are usually opponents, in this rare instance were paired together and the forces were certainly combines. Some solid dove-tailing throughout the round, good clean use of 6ft putt territory and considerable length off the tee, they secured a 5 & 4 victory for the OD's. 

Second out, Greg Cambell (K, 2005) and Seb Franke-Matthecka (S, 2003): another solid pairing who went out for their first game together. It didn't take long to ease into. With Greg having to make a pit stop on his way to the RAC to collect his new set of irons, he kept saying 'I'm hitting this club 30yds longer than I usually do'. Team strengths could possibly be put down to Seb's local knowledge, his impeccably short backswing which kept things tidy during the round, or Greg's new sticks, but a 6&4 victory was more than enough to let these two go out again in the future.

Third out, the old guard, Stephen Suckling (F, 1976) and Greg Baldwin (O, 1975): when they were seen on the 8th hole they were holding a good game together; Greg shoulder was still mobile and Steve had just stuck his chip dead to force a putt. We didn't get site of their halfway house stop at the 8th and it is still unclear whether they stocked up on a sufficient amount of Peroni's, but their opponents had a relentless late surge on the back 9 and ended the game 4 & 2, resulting in an OD loss. Great effort from Greg and Stephen, who held off an apparently formidable pairing from Tonbridge.

Anchor pairing, Graham Llewellyn (G, 2010) and Chad Cruikshank (G, 2006): this steady duo were put at anchor for two reasons: 1, to force the pace of place which seems to be a concern globally nowadays and 2) to bring home a victory. They failed on delivering 1, even with some of the new rules being adopted it was a tough ask to keep the round under 4h20 play time. They did however bring home a massive victory for the OD's, 6&5, very nearly enforcing a trousers-down moment for the OT's.

This now brings the overall standing to OD (2) - OT (3) - through 5 years of fixtures. There is obviously a lot to play for next year, and we will now be expanding the side to 10 per side, looking to add 2 more players to the fixture on each side.

A big thanks, as always, to Tonbridge for keeping this fixture with us, and for continuing it with such enthusiasm. Every year is a pleasure getting together with them, and we look forward to what the next 5 years may bring.

Our next OD golf match is against the Old Haileyburians which will be played at the RAC on Saturday 10th August. If you would like to play, please email Alex Price.
 

THE SOUTH AFRICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
 

 
The majority of South Africans living abroad do not understand the implications of this new amendment, and how it will affect them. Join us on July 9, 2019 to hear Professor Deborah Tickle explain how the "expat tax" amendment to the South African Income Tax Act could affect you if you are working, or living permanently abroad. Professor Tickle will further clarify the consequences of the new amendment for South Africans not ordinarily resident in South Africa, but who may have assets in the country, South Africans who have permanently left the country, and those who have not settled their tax affairs (through financial emigration), and as such may also be subject to the changes depending on their individual circumstances.
 
Up until now, South Africans living and working abroad for more than 183 days (60 days being consecutive) were able to be income exempt from South African Tax.  An amendment to the South Africa Income Tax Act No. 58 of 1962 is set to change this when it comes into effect in March 2020, and will require South Africans living and working abroad to pay tax in South Africa on up to 45% of their gross foreign employment income if it exceeds R1 million per annum gross.  


To book your place (free to SACC members or £24 as a non-member) click on the invitation above or HERE

 

SUMMER DRINKS PARTY

Although not an ODU event, the SACC Summer Drinks Party on Wednesday 3rd July provides an excellent opportunity to build your networks and have a good time among a familiar accent (or accents).

To reserve your place, with costs £24, please RSVP HERE or click on the photo above. If you don't have an SACC account you will be asked to register (for free) before you can book a ticket.
 

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