MAY 2014

For those of you who have not recently visited Upper Dicker but remember Bede’s pioneering culture, it may not surprise you to learn that the School continues to develop apace.

Presently, there is a trench running through the Park, with heavy machinery and a small army of builders working to install our new micro-generation heating system – a biomass boiler – which will be commissioned in the late Spring. This latest improvement will help to heat and power the School and reduce our carbon emissions significantly in the coming years.

Elsewhere, the new Stud and Crossways boarding houses are well-established, with their solar panelling and ground-source heat pumps ensuring that Bede’s is seen as a leader amongst schools in the use of leading-edge technology to improve our environmental impact.

Thankfully the weather has finally turned for the better, which is excellent news for our Director of Cricket Alan Wells and his teams as they begin the cricket season. Our cricketers are keen, after two successive years of being national runners-up, to go one better and be the national champions.

Meanwhile, during the Spring term, our tennis players performed superbly, such that we have

been recognised as the fourth best tennis school in the country. Earlier this year, the Prep School successfully defended county championship titles in football and hockey. Happily, it seems that Bede’s has further cemented its reputation as a family of schools with an exceptional sporting record.

Perhaps the biggest change Bede’s has seen in the last year or so has little to do with new buildings or achievements on the sports pitch. After four successive years of achieving our best-ever grades at GCSE, and outperforming most of the other Sussex independent schools at A Level, the conversation about what Bede’s is ‘known for’ is becoming refreshingly multi-dimensional.

My ultimate objective as Headmaster is to retain what has always been distinctive about Bede’s whilst carving out a national reputation for excellence in education. I want Bede’s to be a school you can be proud of whilst ensuring that our core values are celebrated and augmented.

We want Bedians to enjoy an holistic education and leave school as truly rounded individuals, with achievements in and outside of the classroom that set them apart. Amongst our pupils are award-winning student photographers, debaters and young entrepreneurs – for example, two of our pupils have set-up their own event management

company. We have numerous outstanding musicians, actors and filmmakers already making headway in real-world industries. The creative successes we are enjoying demonstrate that Bede’s is an exceptional school with something important to say about how the educational experience really should be.

As you well remember, Bede’s is a remarkable place and we are enviably positioned to embrace the challenges of the future. However, our future as a collection of teachers, buildings and fields is nothing without our pupils past, present and future.

Bede’s is as much your school as it is anybody’s, so please think of us as you engage with the various challenges in your life. We want to know about and share in your endeavours, and Bede’s pupils are keen to learn from your experiences of the world.

With this in mind, please remember that we are always looking to invite our alumni to speak to current students and broaden their horizons and share expertise, so if you would like to come back to see us then do not hesitate to get in touch.

We would love to hear from you.

With best wishes,

Dr Richard Maloney

HeADMASter’S eDitoriAl

A very warm welcome to the first Old Bede’s Newsletter of 2014.

Where have you come from, prior to being appointed Headmaster at the Prep School?

I started my teaching career at Cottesmore School in 1992, where I was a French teacher. I then went to the New Forest and worked at Forres Sandle Manor School where I was Head of Modern Languages. From there we moved to Homewood house school in Tunbridge Wells, where I was head of year five, housemaster and head of modern languages. My next post was Highfield School, in Hampshire, where I was deputy headmaster.

What inspired you to become a teacher?

For me, it was because it was something I was good at and knew I would enjoy. I have the ability to understand a lot of material and explain it to others. After graduating I went to spend some time skiing, and ended up working with a company specialising in school groups. I loved the experience and decided I was in my element when I was teaching.

if you weren’t a teacher, what do you think you would be?

I love heights, climbing and the mountains. I would have been a stunt man or built tall buildings.

What has been the most surprising thing to have struck you about the Prep School since you have joined?

How amazing the children are. Just when you think they have reached a limit, they surpass themselves. Their breadth of talent and capacity to do so much, is extraordinary.

What about the weirdest thing?

If by weird you mean unique, then the location of the school, which is breathtakingly beautiful. Walking over to the hollow on Beachy head on a bright winter’s afternoon to watch the cross-country, or enjoying a rugby match with a backdrop of one of the most beautiful coastlines in the South of England is pretty special.

Being a Headmaster is a tricky job, but you seem extremely friendly and calm. What gives you the spring in your step every morning?

Whilst we plan for every eventuality and Mrs Atherton plans my diary, looks after my calendar and generally keeps me on task, you never know what each day will bring, the opportunities and challenges I meet every day supported by such a great team make the job so fulfilling.

intervieW - GileS entWHiStle new Prep School Headmaster

thinking back, do you remember your school days and what were they like?

I remember being very busy, I particularly enjoyed the co-curricular life at school: the sport especially. But also the close friendships made and good times spent in excellent company. Until the age of seventeen, I don’t remember the lessons so well! It was during my A levels that I really began to engage with my learning, through some outstanding and inspirational teaching.

Did you have a favourite teacher, and what made them inspirational?

My Politics teacher is certainly one of those people who had the ability to inspire the young adults in front of him. He had an ability to transform our understanding through his character, his wit, his humour, his energy and his passion for the subject and love of learning. The atmosphere in those classes was always positive, always challenging and ultimately hugely enjoyable.

Which person (or people) from history or fiction are your personal role models and why?

Arguably the most famous of all comic book characters, Peter Parker represented everything a boy dreams of becoming: a super hero. Jean Luck Picard is an obvious choice, and then Indiana Jones or Han Solo. Scrappy, straight talking, smart…short on wealth, long on character. Good with a whip. Always gets the girl…

From the past, Winston Churchill for his courage, perseverance, independence, physical and emotional resilience, superb writing and speaking skills, and a keen sense of history.

if you had to choose the next song on the jukebox, what would it be and why?

If I had to choose one song then Wish You Were Here, by Pink Floyd. However, what I love to listen to depends very much on my mood. Some apps available today on the iPad, allow us to listen to whatever takes our fancy, and with such an eclectic taste in music, I enjoy being able to pick and choose. I was listening to Les Negresses Vertes last night, and this evening I was listening to some fabulous jazz from Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Duke Ellington.

Bede’s Prep School has a heritage of over a century. is that intimidating, coming into the job?

I try not to think too much about that. Bede’s has always had a reputation for a deep sense of community, innovation and educational excellence. That is my driving force, that is where my passion lies.

What do you hope to bring to the Prep School during your time here?

I hope, unashamedly, to help make Bede’s Prep School the best it possibly can be and to prepare our pupils not just at the top of the Prep School for the challenges they faced today, but also those in our nursery for the challenges in ten years and beyond.

lastly, what’s the best thing about your job?

Easy, the people I get to work with and the pupils I have the honour to look after. Oh yes and the view from my office.

WHere Are tHeY noW?

Atapin, Pasha (1999) Pasha got married on 12/12/12. He is currently working in his own company that deals in the music industry. He books artists and organises different concerts, shows and private events. In his free time he also plays music. When he was at school he played the saxophone, but now he plays the drums.

Berla, Erica (1980)Erica lives in Milan, with her partner Aldo and two sons Tommaso and Pietro and her dog Mila. She runs a literary agency that she jointly owns with another business partner.

Brown, Hannah (2006)Since leaving school Hannah did 3 years of professional dance training at Laban in London. A year after getting her degree she went back to do a further 18 months training to be a Pilates teacher and qualified in December 2011. Since then she has been teaching Pilates in various studios around London.

Brown, Rebecca (2009)This last year Rebecca has taken a gap year to spend time travelling. She spent time in Greece getting her RYA level 2 in Sailing and after that headed to America to work as a camp counsellor in the Bronx New York City for 2 months.She is currently in France and has recently passed her BASI level1 (British Association of Ski Instruction) and is hoping to pass her BASI level 2 in a couple of weeks.

Castro, Edward (2007)Ed is currently working in Bedford at Bedford Girls’ School as the Pool manager and Swimming coach

Chaloner, Alice (2008)Alice graduated from Bath Spa University with a 2:1 in Education and Drama last year and has recently completed her PGCE. She moved to Birmingham last Summer to start her first teaching job and during the Easter holidays Alice was married.We wish Alice all the best and look forward to seeing some wedding photos.

Cullen, Alison (1999)Alison relocated to Australia and life down under is treating her very well. She is still good friends with Celine Goetz, Alice Sloan, Ellie Stoddart, Suzie Mason and Vicki Cook. They all met at St Bedes when they started at age 13 and they have recently celebrated 20 years of friendship. Her brother Gerald Cullen who also went to St Bedes now lives in Tokyo with his wife and daughter.

Damiano, Robert (1996) Robert is living in Rome and working for the United Nations.He got married last year and they are expecting their second child at the end of July.

Guhl, Tim (1998)Photo of his daughterTim got married in August 2011 to Melli and a year later their daughter Aurelia was born.

Hannusch, Katrin (1996) Katrin has been living in Hong Kong for 9 years and married Dean Tzembelikos and they have two children. She left her advertising career as a senior art director 5 years ago and now has her own business as a designer/art director and entrepreneur. She works with agencies, small businesses and also established brands on branding and marketing.

Kiani – Lirharani, Simin (2004)Simin has recently bought her first house and is enjoying working in the City of London as a banking lawyer. The hours are long, but she has had the opportunity to work in the office in Dubai.

Kim, Hyunjin (2003)Hyunjin is working as a PR consultant in Korea working with major global financial firms. Last year she successfully completed several big projects and on October 26th she got married.

Kinyata, George (2000)Goerge is currently working in Tanzania. He is married and has one daughter, Michelle. Since he left St Bede’s life has been good for George and he said: ‘Thanks to the excellent education & foundation that I got from St. Bede’s. My greetings to all the past & current staff members of St. Bede’s.’

Knights, Richard (2010)Richard is currently a student at Brighton Film School studying cinematography. His ambition is to work professionally in the film industry. During his spare time he continues to work as a volunteer at the Bluebell Railway and has enjoyed the experience of firing a steam locomotive to and from the new extension at East Grinstead.

I am a student at Brighton Film School studying cinematography. My ambition is to work professionally in the film industry.In my spare time I continue to work as a volunteer at the Bluebell Railway and have enjoyed the experience of firing a steam locomotive to and from the new extension at East Grinstead.

Kovalenko, Fedor (2004)Fedor graduated from Kingston University and achieved his Honours in International Business.

Martin, Scott (2009)Scott is currently attending Niagara University, which is located in New York, for Hospitality Management minoring in Business. He will be graduating in May.

Nibbs, Dave(1997)Dave has been with his partner for 13 years and they have 3 children together, Ellie 11, Joshua 9 and Katie 6. He currently works as a Smart Energy Coach for British Gas and has been with them for over 3 years now. They enjoy going on holidays and at the end of last year went to Tunisia.

Rogerson, Louisa (2002)Louisa is pregnant with her second child, due early May. She has a 2 and a half year old called Toby. Louisa and her husband took over the family business last year running Cottesmore Golf and Country Club.

Sato, Kan (1994)

Kan is currently working for a Japanese company called YOKOGAWA manufacturing automation products. He is living in Bangalore for this overseas assignment and has found it to be a surprisingly comfortable place to live.

Shang, Rebecca (2009)

Rebecca is studying at Boston University working towards her PhD in Psychology.

Shin, Narae (2006)

Narae has recently graduated from the University of Korea and has started working in Hong Kong. She was nervous about living in another country but thanks to all the Chinese friends that she made at St Bede’s she is really enjoying being in Hong Kong.

Beth married another Old Bede, Ollie Rayner, in October last year after meeting at St Bedes over 10 years ago.They were married at the Holy Trinity Church in Forest Row and then went on to celebrate at Ashdown Park Hotel. They had many old school friends at the wedding.In the attached photo is Trishna Goswami, Holly Unnuk, Ben Woodley, Matt Aldred, James Aldred, Scott Barnard, Dave Winch, Jason Adebisi and Beth’s twin Tom Langridge.Ollie is now playing for Middlesex Cricket club and Beth is a Reception teacher at Channing Girls school in Highgate.

Langrdige, Beth (2007) and Rayner, Ollie (2004)

Schulz, Daniela (2005) Daniela has very recently got married.

Talbot, Frances (2002)Frances is married with two children.

Tomey, Sarah (1981)Sarah was one of the originals at St Bedes the Dicker. Last December, Aldo Notariani, Jason Coleman, Sanjai Patel, Karen Keen, John Lines and Sarah’s best friend Kim (who lived at Clifton Farm next to the school) spent a fabulous day in London celebrating Sarah’s 50th birthday. They took the riverboat up to Greenwich and then had a stroll around Winter Wonderland before having a lovely evening in Trader Vic’s ,with Sarah being totally spoilt by Sanjai !Sarah had a fabulous day and would like through the magazine to say a big, big, thank you to her special friends! ‘Thanks guys!!’

Turner, Ben (2011)Ben has recently returned from his second ski trip to the Alps with Aberdeen University Ski Team, where he completed in Slalom and Giant Slalom events. He is currently in his second year studying Geography.

Walter, David (1994)David recently moved to Taunton, Somerset with his wife Nicola and 2 children, Hettie (7) and Archie (5). He is still involved with Young Enterprise as a trustee of the charity.

White, Anthony (2010)Anthony is currently studying Electromechanical Engineering at the University of Southampton and just completed a year in industry with Caterpillar. Recently he has made it into the Tchoukball UK performance squad competing in the Nations Cup in Geneva and is currently waiting to hear if he has made the European Championship team for the Summer 2014. Tchoukball is a sport developed by a Swiss physiotherapist to help rehabilitation for injured athletes and is a combination of netball and handball.

White, Tom (2001)Tom was introduced to the drama school LAMDA by St Bedes which he will always be grateful for. Since graduating in 2004 he has worked as a technical draftsman on many TV and West End show. He became freelance in 2008 and got married a year later. His freelance work brought him to work for 18 months as the CAD manager for the technical department of the London 2012 Ceremonies.He found it to be an amazing experience working on the Olympics and more recently Tom has worked as the Technical Director of CAD and Animation for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics.

Whyman, Bethan (1999)

Bethan is now a Chartered Accountant and works for Coca-Cola in London.She has a two year old daughter called Annabelle.

Wiginton-Bergen, Kirsten (1988)

Kirsten studied translating and interpreting (French and Spanish) and spent 5 years in Paris and Fontainebleau, where she met her husband before moving to Germany 14 years ago.She left the office world behind about 11 years ago and went back to translation work, adding some English teaching to give her more contact with the outside world.She now has a daughter and happily combines translation and writing with a bit of English teaching still on the side.Thanks to Facebook and the Old Bede’s network she has managed to catch up with a lot of old school friends again.

Sloan, Alice (1999)

Alice got married on Saturday 11th January at Firle Church to Hossein Hamdollahi. All St Bede’s people in the attached photo. Pictured from left to right:Melanie Cager, Victoria Jackson (now Victoria Elliott) with baby Molly and second baby due in Feb!, Sally Wellings, Toby Oakley, Natalie Jonk, Alice Sloan (now Alice Hamdollahi), Ellie Stoddart, Tom Stoddart, Suzanna Mason (now Suzanna Walker), Vicki Cook (now Vicki Newlyn).

My maiden name is Sally Ayers and i was at St Bede’s Prep School Jan 1968-July 1970. i was 8 when i joined and was the only girl in the Main School. My sister joined the Pre-Prep at the same time and my brother was in the nursery.

When I was shown round the school with my parents by Peter Pyemont, we were not aware that I would be the first girl! Imagine the shock on my first day of term! I was quite shy but soon realised that no boy wanted to be beaten by a girl

on the ‘fortnightly orders’, so I worked very hard and became competitive!

They didn’t quite know what to do with me when it came to sports afternoons, so I would frequently be put with the ‘off games’ boys or went for a walk with Mr Cousins (John) over the Downs. I did score for cricket but it was deemed too dangerous for me to join in. (A few years later I can remember Amy Dean was quite a sportswoman and was the only girl in the cricket and football matches).

When I left Beresford House School in 1977, I began work as Headmaster’s Secretary for Peter Pyemont when Oliver Keefe was Bursar. I took over from Miss Wise who had been in the office for at least 20 years. I also worked for Roger Perrin for a year as he began the Senior School in the Prep School building - quite an exciting time for the school. I am now a Vicar in Southampton as well as being the Schools’ Leader in the Totton Team, having worked at Dulwich College for 9 years in HR - employing teachers amongst other things!

Sally (second from left) in a Prep School Drama production.

MeMorieS FroMSAllY MArcHAnt – first girl to join the Prep School.

If you have Bede’s related stories that you think might be of interest to others, please send them through, with photos, to mandy.waterhouse@bedes.orgIf you have Bede’s related stories that you think might be of interest to others, please send them through, with photos, to mandy.waterhouse@bedes.org If you have Bede’s related stories that you think might be of interest to others, please send them through, with photos, to mandy.waterhouse@bedes.org

AlUMni ProFileS

Rob Buchanan 2009 leaver and ex-Head of School Rob Buchanan was selected for the 2013 England squad in May 2013 and joined 11 uncapped England players for last summer’s tour to Uruguay and Argentina.In June 2013, the England squad of which Rob was part played a two-test series against Argentina. England won both matches of the series, completing their first series victory in Argentina since the 1981 England rugby union tour of Argentina, and winning both matches of a series in Argentina for the first time.Rob, who plays as a Hooker for Harlequins, represented England for two years at U18 and U19 level while at Bede’s and played in the Six Nations U18 tournament during his Upper Sixth year.Known amongst his peer group as “calm, consistent and reliable,” Rob was at Bede’s for 7 years, joining the Prep School in Year 6.

Sebastian Roger Seb was selected in July 2013 for the Senior Great British Athletics Squad to compete at the Word Championships in Moscow in August.Previously part of both the Junior 4x400 relay teams in heats and the 2010 Junior World Championship final, where Seb helped Team GB

earn a bronze medal, he also achieved the world Junior qualifying mark for the Decathlon.In 2012 Seb changed events and began to concentrate on running the 400m hurdles. In his first season, Seb became the UK U23 National Champion and Inter-County Senior Champion, and he is currently ranked 2nd in the country at U23 level.Seb was a member of Knights House and is a young and talented athlete who boasts many skills on and off the track. He enjoyed a stellar year in 2013, having represented Great Britain in the Decathlon after his debut at the Junior World Championships in Canada and, on Friday 29 November, he was crowned Sussex Sports Personality of the Year during an evening of glitz and glamour at the Grand Hotel in Eastbourne.

Luke Wells 2013 saw another exciting season for 2009 Leaver Luke Wells, who finished behind only the prolific opening partnership of Joyce and Nash in the LV=County Championship batting averages last year. Luke’s 713 runs came at 37.52, with the Sussex Opener taking a particular liking to the bowling of rivals Surrey: he hit centuries in both matches, at the Kia Oval and Horsham respectively. No doubt this year Luke will be aiming to overhaul his season’s best run tally of 824, which he hit in 2011.

Callum Jackson 2013 leaver Callum Jackson joined current pupil Fyn Hudson-Prentice to join the England U19 T20

2nd XI Competition last June, only days after Sussex County Cricket Club announced that they had given Callum a Junior Professional Contract for the 2013-14 season.After making his 1st XI debut in the non-first-class match against Leeds/Bradford MCCU in 2012, Callum went on to star for England Under-19’s on their tour of South Africa for the Youth Test and ODI series.Following his graduation through the Academy setup, Callum was given the squad number 16 at the Sussex County Ground, Hove, and he is currently pushing towards his first team honours.Callum, 18, is a right-handed wicketkeeper-batsman from Eastbourne who has represented Sussex through from the Under-13’s County Age Group squad.

Ollie Rayner Ollie Rayner was called up for the England Lions squad for their tour of Sri Lanka in January 2014.The Middlesex spinner, 28, who previously played for Sussex and Eastbourne, travelled with the squad, which arrived in the sub-continent on January 27, for two three-day warm-ups ahead of three four-day matches against Sri Lanka A.And after a superb season for Middlesex, Ollie was delighted that his form has been rewarded with international recognition.“I am absolutely ecstatic,” Ollie said of the announcement. “My chances were 50-50 so I wasn’t getting carried away. I was a bit surprised to get the call, and obviously my commiserations go out to Simon, but I couldn’t be happier.”“A week beforehand I was training up in Finchley in the pouring rain,” he continued. “It came out of nowhere really and I can’t quite believe it”Rayner took 46 wickets at 22.04 in the LV= County Championship last season, and with Graeme Swann now retired from international cricket the call-up represents an opportunity for Rayner to stake a claim for a place in the full England squad.

James Norwood James Norwood, currently at Forest Green Rovers, was selected to play for England C in their warm up match in Bermuda on Tuesday 4 June 2013, scoring a hat-trick in that match, before again being called up to represent England C’s in their match against the Czech Republic.James, who had a terrific season scoring 16 goals for Forest Green, jumped off the bench to fire a second half hat-trick in June as England C overpowered a youthful Bermuda team.When the whistle blew James was then declared Man of the Match.On Tuesday 19th November, James then drove home a 93rd-minute penalty as England Cs staged a late comeback for a fully-deserved draw with Czech Republic Under-21s.“On each occasion we only trained together for a few days but the standard was top quality and we learned a lot about each other,” James said. “It was a dream debut and I can’t believe it to be honest. Last season (at Forest Green) was a lot better for me; I got a lot more goals and assists and I felt my overall game came on nicely. Hopefully I can build on it next season.”

Shai Hope In March 2013, 2012 alumnus Shai Hope made his first class debut for Barbados against the Winward Islands, inauspiciously being bowled for a duck during the first test before scoring 11 in the second. He then represented Barbados again in April against Trinidad and Tobago, scoring 2 off 11 balls, but making two catches – one in each test.Shai, who is still only 20, is a Wicket Keeper/Batsman. He made his debut for the Barbados U19 side in 2012 and until his international fixtures boasted a 100% strike rate. His brother, Kyle Hope, also plays for Barbados as a Middle-Order Batsman.

George Skofic ‘Old Bede’s rugby scholar, George, was selected to play in the world Cup qualifying match for Slovenia v Bulgaria in Ljubljana last month. He and his brothers were all on the pitch at the same time and made RU history, as they were the first ever sibling quintet to play together on the international stage. George played on the wing for the full 80 minutes and scored the second try which his little brother Frankie converted. Their older brother Max was Man of the Match. Slovenia beat Bulgaria 43 -17 with the Skofic brothers scoring 24 of those points.The photo shows George with his brothers Archie, Jack, Frankie and Max

Jack Christie After leaving Bede’s in 2010, after serving as that year’s Head of School, then-budding actor Jack Christie went straight into vocational acting degree at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in Wood Green, North London. Jack spent three years at Mountview doing his training, securing representation through SCA Management, and then graduated in September 2013. He then went straight into his first job, working with the Young Shakespeare Company.From September-December Jack toured all over England playing Mercutio and Lord Capulet in Romeo and Juliet before being offered a second contract to play Caliban and Prince Ferdinand in The Tempest.

Gavin Stenhouse Having left Bede’s in 2004 and attended Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Old Bedian Gavin Stenhouse has toured the world alongside Kevin Spacey in a critically acclaimed production of Shakespeare’s Richard III, as chronicled in documentary film NOW: In the Wings of the World Stage, before recently appearing in two multi award-winning, hit US TV series.After his successes in 2011-12, playing Dorset alongside Kevin Spacey in over 200 performances of the Sam Mendes-directed, global tour of Richard III, which started its acclaimed run in the Old Vic theatre in 2011, Gavin has appeared in both the Jonathan Nolan and J.J. Abrams produced series Person of Interest and the Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy award-winning series American Horror Story from Glee and Nip/Tuck creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk.In American Horror Story, which stars two-time Oscar-winning actress Jessica Lange, Gavin joined series three, subtitled Coven, as Billy, a college student in modern-day New Orleans who came into conflict with an assortment of witches played by the likes of Academy Award-winning Precious star Gabourey Sidibe, Golden Globe winning Six Feet Under star Frances Conroy and Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks.In Person of Interest meanwhile, produced by Academy Award-nominated writer Jonathan Nolan (Memento, The Prestige, The Dark Night Trilogy) and J.J. Abrams (Lost, Mission Impossible 3, Star Trek: Into Darkness), Gavin played Detective Jake Harrison alongside a cast including Lost alumnus Michael Emerson, Passion of the Christ actor Jim Caviezel and Academy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson.

robert ian Brown (‘Sir’ to his students, ‘Bob’ to his colleagues), who for several years was Head of Physics, sadly died just before christmas following a prolonged illness. He joined Bede’s in September 1988, and it was soon apparent that we had in our midst a man of wide experience and with a fund of knowledge which ranged far beyond his specialist subject.

Born in Derby, Bob followed a fairly traditional educational path through to the innovative University of Keele, for which he retained a life-long affection. Here he was able to satisfy his catholic search for a broad perception of holistic academia, and which he was able to pass on to his students and colleagues.

Having served as an officer in the educational arm of the Royal Air Force, Bob obtained further qualifications with the College of Preceptors, and spent several years teaching at selective girls schools in Suffolk. He married Jan, a native of Bexhill, who undoubtedly played her part in influencing Bob and by now their three young sons, David, Andrew and Anthony, to secure the science post in this neck of the woods, at Bede’s.These boys themselves passed through the Bede’s experience and each has become highly regarded within his own respective field.

With never a day of work missed through absence during his entire teaching career, Bob’s students have been the chief beneficiaries of his considerable talents. His dedication and his precision spawned an acute sense of duty as befitted a man of a military background. Indeed he agreed to support the fledgling school ACF, founded by Steve Waters. Before the year was out, Steve had been promoted to a school, ironically enough in Suffolk and ‘Captain’ Brown assumed the role of officer in charge for nearly 20 years. Herein Bob helped to sustain the finest traditions of Her Majesty’s forces, attending numerous weekend and summer camps and exercises, whilst inspiring a number of students to advance a career in full time military service. In testimony to his work in this area Bob was recently awarded the Queen’s Certificate of Meritorious Service from the Deputy Lieutenant for East Sussex and the Long Service Medal from the County High Sherriff.

Outside of the classroom and away from the parade ground, the more mellifluous dimension to Bob’s vocal repertoire was seized upon by the School Choir. No whispering baritone, the familiar figure in the back row anchored many a performance by holding with aplomb the fundamentally rich bass line. For many years indeed, as the only male tutor in a girl’s house, Bob is known to have heralded the commencement of a House Meeting in song. Latterly, since retiring from teaching, Bob utilised his IT skills in creating the school website, and the foundation he established has

enabled it to assume an important weapon in our public armoury.

Few people one encounters in life tick all the boxes in order to satisfy the criteria relative to Officer, Gentleman and Scholar. Bob came as close to that as anyone I know; the school community and ‘Old Bede’s’ are all the richer for having played such a significant role in its evolution. Our condolences go out to Jan and his sons and grandchildren as we remember Robert Brown with affection.

John Berryman

oBitUArY Bob Brown: An Appreciation

MUSic - cABAret The theme was everything to do with film: from James Bond to Black Swan, Reservoir Dogs to The Aristocats. Building on the phenomenal success of previous years’ Cabaret concerts, well over one hundred talented pupils, from dancers to musicians and dramatists, were involved for ten weeks of preparation and rehearsal.

The tenor of this year’s Cabaret was very much to celebrate the students: indeed, two gifted student actors were compéres for the night and introduced the musical items with verve and style, as well as offering their own impromptu moments of subtle humour. Many of the musical items were accompanied by the stunning jazz band and illustrated in choreography by the wonderful Legat artists: what a feast for the senses.

The end of the evening finished in true style: the dance floor was declared open and 500 people took to their feet and danced the night away, accompanied by Josie McNamara singing ‘Street Life’ from Jackie Brown and Higher and Higher from Ghostbusters 2 performed by the Bede’s Singers.

ScHool neWSBeDe’S PUPil WinS WeAlDen ScHoolS DeBAtinG coMPetition Lower Sixth Deis House student Piers Nathan, along with his debating partner Isabella Wilson from Uckfield Community College, won the Wealden School’s Debating competition. This is the second year where Bede’s has won the competition, with last year’s victorious debaters being 2013 leaver Zach Khan and his partner Tom Conlon of Uplands Community College. This year’s competition was judged by Member of Parliament for Wealden Charles Hendry, East Sussex County Councillor Chris Dowling and Uckfield Mayor and Councillor Ian Smith

The 2014 competitors debated challenging subjects including immigration; prisoners’ rights; religion; EU membership; fracking; and a final debate on whether democracy or sanctions are better for resolving international conflicts. Councillor Chris Dowling, a member of the judging panel on both weeks, commented, “I was very impressed by the quality of the debates and high standard of research and preparation that went in to presenting the arguments. The results were very close. Congratulations to all involved.”

U13S BoYS AnD GirlS BotH clAiM SUSSex cHAMPionSHiPS The U13 Boys and U13 Girls Hockey Teams won the double in the County ‘In2Hockey’ Tournament, held at Beresford Astro in Eastbourne. Both teams played some excellent hockey throughout the day, winning all of their group matches to enter the semi-finals as top of their respective groups. Both teams met local rivals St Andrew’s in the final and won their respective matches to claim victory in the tournament overall

DrAMA: SWeet cHAritYAfter taking a break last year, during the penultimate week of the Winter term the Bede’s Drama department had the Miles Studio once again lit up with the bright lights and razzle-dazzle of a new school musical, which this year took the form of Sweet Charity.

Lower Sixth pupil Sally-Ann Wild took the front and centre role as Charity Hope Valentine, a nightclub dancer with a heart of gold. Charity’s various romantic entanglements, most notably with Ike Foulkes’ suitably hapless Oscar Lindquist, required Sally-Ann to display an astonishing range, but her timing and nuanced performance were peerless. And for his part, Ike’s Oscar was a hand-wringing bundle of nervous energy, with his performance also worthy of praise.

The accompanying music was a toe-tapping delight, provided by the Bede’s Music department’s 13-piece pit orchestra, and in production terms Sweet Charity saw Mr Waring and his crew pulling out all the stops. They created an extraordinarily technically challenging set, with pneumatic lifts, false floors and moveable scenery sections transporting audiences from Central Park to the Fandango Ballroom, a penthouse apartment to a fairground.

In summary, Sweet Charity was a bombastic, ambitious, glitzy celebration of talent, hope and joy. With a cast of over 40 students, dazzling choreography from Mrs Murphy and direction from new Director of Drama Mrs Lewis, cast members and audiences alike will be waiting with baited breath for next year’s production

Contact detailsWe will send out newsletters and appropriate invitations to all former students and staff for whom we have current contact details. Please send us your up-to-date e-mail and postal addresses. If you know of someone who might like to receive our communications, please let us know.

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contributions for the next newsletter

Have you got a news item or article which you would like to contribute for the next edition of this newsletter? Please send any interesting updates, articles, photographs (especially photographs) or other contributions to: mandy.waterhouse@bedes.org

contact old Bede’s

Visitors are always welcome. If you are in the area and would like to have a tour of the school, let us know and we will be pleased to show you round.

Upcoming eventsSaturday 24th May 2014time: 14:30 – 16:30

Reunion for all former pupils of the Prep School who were at the school during the 1980’s.

There will be an afternoon tea with tours of the school. Please contact Angela Morgan(angela.morgan@bedes.org) if you would like to attend.

There is an opportunity to attend two Senior School events this next term.

Saturday 21st June 2014Bede’s FestOn the Lawn. Starts at 1.30pm

tickets will need to be booked for this eventvia Maria leighmaria.leigh@bedes.org