IN THIS EDITION:
Click on a topic to take you straight there
 

Dear ODs

As the UK branch of the ODU gains momentum and more functions/events arranged, it's worth considering why we do all this. My counterpart at Wellington College told me some time ago that if at an Old Wellingtonian event a thousand business cards don't change hands, they consider the event a failure. I think he's got a point: which is that these events are to meet and build relationships with other ODs rather than - actually, as well as - have a good time. It does perplex me how "shy" ODs are when it comes to initiating contact with other ODs out of their year range. Especially when ODs are willing and able to help other ODs.

So I would encourage you to see and use our events not only as enjoyable outings in and of themselves, but also an opportunity to network with ODs you don't know. We're not strangers to each other - we're ODs, all of us.

I have been remiss in not publicising our annual Oxfordshire pub lunch which this year takes place on Saturday 6th October at, as usual, The Bell at Hampton Poyle. This is not just for ODs in Oxforshire, but for all ODs and their wives/partners, and for a relaxed and convivial pub lunch, hard to beat.To RSVP, click HERE or read more about it below.

Two other events worth noting are the talk, followed by drinks, by John Wyatt who speaks about his new book Exploding the Myth, which is his live in the world of explosives in most of the hot spots of the world. Click HERE to RSVP or read more about it below. There is no charge for this event.

The other is a private screening for ODs of the film Life is Wonderful - Mandela's unsung Heroes. This is on Sunday afternoon, 21st October. Click HERE to read about it and RSVP

Very sadly, we said goodbye to Nigel Buchan-Swanson (G, 1966) who died of a heart attack on Sunday 30th July while taking part in the RideLondon cycling event. Deborah, his wife, remarked in the press that Nigel had died doing what he loved. Ever the outdoor man, he was also a great supporter of the UK ODU and frequent attendee at our functions. To Deborah and his family, our heartfelt condolences. He will be missed. RIP


Many ODs were disappointed to have missed the Life is Wonderful film made and released to commemorate the centenary of Mandela's birth. It tells the story of the Rivonia trial and is directed by former high court judge Sir Nick Stadlen QC. Sir Nick has very kindly agreed to host a private screening of the film on Sunday 21st October at 3pm for ODs and their families/friends. After the film he'll hold a short Q&A and then we'll have a glass of wine or two at the cinema, which is the Curzon in Victoria (about a ten-minute walk from Victoria Station. To book a place at £10 pp, click HERE.

As always, please let me have your comments, suggestions and - yes - criticisms of our UK ODU operations. And photos and news!

Kind regards

Nicky Bicket

Return to the contents

On leaving Sandhurst,  he became the head of all UK Counter Terrorist Search Operations for which he was made MBE in 1985. At the age of 41, he joined MI6. A few years later he formed his own company and gained a PhD in explosive engineering, and is one of the leading explosive experts in this field in Europe and the Middle East. This has led to visiting over 67 countries in the next 30 years, a lot for the UN, and investigation of four separate high profile assassinations and the explosive. 

To listen to John's story and enjoy a few glasses of wine, please RSVP HERE.

PUB LUNCH IN OXFORDSHIRE
Saturday 6th October
 

 

Congratulations to (from left to right, above):

Chris Olds (O, 1999) on being made a Partner, Capital Markets at IP Group plc
Dee Ferrandi (F, 2011) the 2016 Bishops Rhodes Scholar who has just been awarded his MPhil (Economics) from Oxford
Chris Molteno (G, 2010) a 2017 Gates Cambridge Scholar who has just been awarded his MPhil (Sustaniable Engineering) from Cambridge
Cameron Harries (K, 2013) on graduating from Edinburgh University with a MA with First Class Honours in Economics with Finance. He has been accepted to the Graduate School of Economics in Barcelona to do his Masters. 
Sean Tobias (W, 2013) has also graduated from Edinburgh with a double major MA (Hons) Economics and Politics. In addition, he was the Vice-President of the Edinburgh University South African Society (Cameron held the position of Treasurer). Sean will working in Windhoek, Namibia in the energy space specifically Renewable Energy projects for Namibia's domestic market.with his brother Shiraz Tobias (2011 W) (Shiraz also graduated from Edinburgh University). Sean plans to pursue a Masters in African Development starting Sept 2019 once again in the UK.
Stephen Ryall (F, 2012) has been appointed a Junior Consultant at Pomerol Partners, who deliver business critical data solutions to drive efficiency improvements in their client organisations.

Return to the contents

Our congratulations go to John, one of Britain's top composers, on his soon-to-be-released recording on CD of his Symphony and third Piano Concerto. The CD, which comes on sale on 9th September, can be pre-ordered by clicking HERE.

Return to the contents

Last Saturday, reinforcing the Bishops-Haileybury relationship, we played our inaugural golf match against the Old Haileyburians at the RAC in Surrey.

On the day the OHs proved to be the better side. The 3-1 victory belies the closeness of each of the four matches which were played in a fantastic spirit of fun and camaraderie. 

The team picture: Dan Linegar (K, 2010), Doug Mallett (M, 2007), Alex Price (M, 2008, c), Seb Golding (F, 2011), Steve Suckling (F, 1976), Greg Baldwin (O, 1975), Stu Commins (F, 2006) and Dermot Commins (G,2000).

For the full report and all the pictures, click HERE

Return to the contents

With only about 120 days to Christmas, not only will these super-elegant OD cufflinks enhance your look in the City (or anywhere) but will make a great present for an OD relative. The second delivery has arrived and are already selling fast. These are chain-link (not bar) cufflinks are £35 per pair plus £3 postage and packaging (unfortunately deliveries to UK addresses only - and must be signed for as they are insured). If you'd like to order a pair, please click HERE.

Return to the contents

This being the centenary of Nelson Mandela's birth, there have been a variety of events and functions to mark the occasion. One is the screening of the film Life is Wonderful - Mandela's unsung Heroes. This is the story behind the infamous Rivonia Trial, where Mandela and his co-defendants fought for the freedom of South Africa.

The film is directed by former high court judge Sir Nick Stadlen, and follows the ten leading opponents of apartheid and their lawyers and supporters through the trial. Though the defendants were saved from the death penalty, eight of the ten were sentenced to life imprisonment, Mandela among them. When Mandela was released 27 years later, he had a vision of multiracial democracy for South Africa. 

I had advertised the film in earlier newsletters, but many ODs who were interested in seeing it discovered it to be sold out.

So we are very fortunate that Sir Nick Stadlen is going to host a private screening for ODs, their families and friends. This will take place on Sunday 28th October at the Curzon Cinema in Victoria at 3pm. Sir Nick will introduce the film and at the end, will hold a short Q&A. 

After that, guests are invited to stay on fr a few drinks in a private room at the cinema. The screen that is available to us is one of their smaller ones, so this is very much a first-come-first served event and if you want to come, do book now (£10 pp including drinks and snacks afterwards).

To book, please click HERE

Return to the contents

THE THAMES HARE & HOUNDS ANNUAL ALUMNI CROSS-COUNTRY RACE

2pm, Saturday 15th December
Wimbledon Common
 

For the third year, intrepid ODs take on the best of the UK alumni cross-country teams. Wimbledon Common is the course. Eton and Winchester are in our crosshairs. James Deane (B, 1990), captain for the past two years, will by the time you read this notice, be doing his bit to clear the Fosters surplus in Australia to which country he has now moved. He will be missed as the team selector, coach, and disciplinarian but fortunately in Rowan Nicholls (O, 2010) we have a more-than-adequate - and good deal younger - replacement skipper.

This is an afternoon full of needle and fun and a great way to burn off the calories you will be putting back at The Telegraph Pub post-race.

Bring it home, chaps - register and commit by contacting Rowan HERE.

The photo is of the 2017 team (in OD running vests) which came 13th out of 45 teams

Return to the contents

Andrew finished at Bishops in 1963. He was in White House. He completed his BSc in chemistry and general physiology at UCT in 1968. That year, he was selected as the Bishops Rhodes Scholar (Oriel College). At Oxford, he obtained his masters in biochemistry and then in 1975, was awarded his DPhil.

He is now Chief Scientific Officer for The HSUS. He also serves as the President of The HSUS Wildlife Land Trust's board of directors and Executive Director of The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association.

He has served on numerous advisory and consultative roles for government bodies (e.g. the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Environmental Sciences, the National Research Council’s Institute for Laboratory Animal Resources), universities (e.g. the Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing) and corporations (e.g. Shell and Iams).

Before rejoining The HSUS in 1977, Rowan was director of the Tufts University Center for Animals and Public Policy. He chaired the Department of Environmental Studies at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. He was Associate Director for the Institute for the Study of Animal Problems at The HSUS, founding editor of the International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems, founding editor of Anthrozoos, an academic journal covering human-animal issues for the Delta Society, and scientific administrator for the Fund for the Replacement for Animals in Medical Experiments.

Andrew received the Henry Spira Award in 2002 from the Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing, the Doerenkamp/Zbinden Award for http://www.humanesociety.org/contributions on alternatives, the Russell and Burch Award in 1996 from The HSUS for contributions on alternatives, the Robert Shomer award from the Society of Veterinary Medical Ethics in 2008, and the Barle Award from the Detroit Zoo in 2014. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

He is an Adjunct professor at the Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine and teaches in the Animal Policy and Law Master’s degree program at the Autonomous University of Barcelona.

(Taken from the HSUS website (http://www.humanesociety.org/))

[While the HSUS has over the years come in for criticism (unsubstantiated), it is today one of the greatest forces against animal cruelty, both ethical and scientific, in the world].

Return to the contents

SPORT:

Cricket:
Jono Bird, who writes his matric this year, has just represented South Africa in the U19 ODI tour against the UK. Jono, whose cricket goes from strength to strength, was named Player of the Series. Watch this space.


Hockey:
3 boys have been selected to South African U16 and U18 sides

Weightlifting:
Tristan Turner is the SA Youth and Junior Weightlifting Champion in the 77kg category

SA Junior Touch Rugby:
Wafeeq Francis who has been selected for the SA Touch Rugby team to participate in the Junior World Cup in Malaysia

Return to the contents

EXPLODING THE MYTH
Tuesday 11th September
Stonehage Fleming, 15 Suffolk Street, London SW1Y 4HG
6.30pm-8.00pm
Drinks afterwards
There is no charge for this event

John Wyatt (W, 1961) speaks about his new book which deals with his distinguished career in explosives and anti-terrorism activities.
 

LIFE IS WONDERFUL - MANDELA'S UNSUNG HEROES (A FILM)
Sunday 21st October
3pm
The Curzon Cinema Victoria, 58 Victoria Street, SW1E 6QW

Sir Nick Sadlen QC introduces the film he directed at a private screening for ODs and their families and friends and will host a Q&A afterwards
Drinks after that. £10 per person
 

YEAR-END OD PARTY
Friday 30th November
The Hollywood Arms, Chelsea

This very casual and relaxed affair is on the Friday 30th November, back at the Hollywood
Arms in Fulham. Invitations closer the time
 

ANNUAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONS CROSS-COUNTRY
Saturday 15th December
Wimbledon Common

For the third year, intrepid ODs take on the best of the UK alumni cross-country teams. Wimbledon Common is the course (first aid afterwards at The Telegraph). Eton and Winchester are in our crosshairs. Rowan Nicholls (O, 2010)  is selector, coach, and team disciplinarian.

Register your interest HERE

Return to the contents