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Writing this in the hottest July for many a year I am reminded of summers in the 1970s when we seemed to have enjoyed a

succession of very warm spells. With the rise in the mercury came the inevitable plaintive cry, “Can we go and sit by the pond

Sir”? The shady area in question was by mid-afternoon a study of quiet inactivity, quite remarkable given the number of

classes dotted around the school pond. Such relative gentility would be most certainly frowned upon these days. Happy

times!

Those of you at school in the seventies and eighties would almost certainly be aware of the magnificent presence of John

French’s secretary, Mrs Kathryn Sharpe. Fiercely critical of but totally devoted to “JRF”, her part was pivotal in creating the

“new” school. Mrs Sharpe was stately in all things and few could forget the imperious way in which she doled out dinner

tickets or cleared the medical room of “malingerers” with a slight adjustment to her fashionably large glasses and the merest

inflection of a single eyebrow. Beneath this formidable exterior lay a heart of pure gold and we were all devastated when in

December 1986 she died after what ought to have been a routine medical procedure. I recently chanced upon the order of

service for Mrs Sharpe’s funeral for which the school provided the choir and this was soon followed by a memorial service in

school. She was only 54 years old. “JRF” is now in his eighties but does not enjoy good health.

Mrs Doris Peat M.B.E. retired in February and celebrated her ninetieth birthday in June. Doris rather against her will ceased

lunchtime duties five years ago and took on the onerous task of looking after the staff at break times. Doris has retired to look

after her husband Ernie, to whom she has been married for seventy years but unlike his wife, has not enjoyed such good

health. She has been a constant in school life since 1975 and was a by-word for punctuality and attendance. Doris was a great

colleague and is a valued friend. As you can see from the photograph many of “the old guard” turned up to bid her a happy

retirement, demonstrating the esteem in which she is held.

The Coopers' Company and Coborn School’s Alumni Newsletter—September 2018

Issue 6

Doris Peat MBE

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Mrs Sue Regan has greatly enjoyed her first year in retirement from the CCCS where she had worked for twenty-six years.

Alumna Angela Regan works as an engineer for Firemark and alumnus Jonathan is also an engineer with Network Rail.

Jonathan keeps in close contact with his CCCS friends and their partners. Angela and her partner have a son Ryan who has

just completed his first year at school.

We have to bid farewell to Jacey Graham who in order to fulfil her business commitments, has stepped down as Chair of the

Governors. Jacey was School Captain in 1978 and 1979. She has written “A Woman’ Place is in the Boardroom” and founded

her own company in the City. Jacey was the first woman to be Chair of the School Governing Body a role to which she

brought great skill, dedication and her outstanding intellect. Her school stage successes and experience ensured that she was

an excellent speaker at major school events. Jimmy, Jacey’s bother is relishing the role of being a grandfather to Tamsin’s

daughter Grace , who was born last year. Tamsin is planning her wedding and a move to a new home. Rory Graham is

working as an insurance broker for Jardine Lloyd Thompson and enjoys City life.

Through work Jacey Graham met Sara Wolfson whose mother Ruth Latner attended the Coborn School for Girls in the 1940s.

Ruth recalls with affection Miss Richardson who taught art and Miss Paige who taught French. Ruth was a particularly good

linguist and won a London County Scholarship to extend her proficiency in French. Under the watchful eye of the legendary

Miss Philpott the school was very aware of the pupils’ diverse religious needs including those of the many girls drawn from

the large local Jewish community. Even now a friend of Ruth’s can still recite the Psalms and Proverbs that Miss Philpott

taught the girls.

After the Great War, St George’s an Anglican church, was built in Ypres in memory of the Legion of British and Empire soldiers

who had fought and died and whose final resting place was in the Salient. An appeal for £190,000 was launched to provide

eight bells for St George’s and alumnus Michael Polledri MBE (1957-64) made a considerable donation which enabled him to

dedicate one of the bells to those from our school who fell in that bloody conflict. The bell is engraved with the school motto

and the inscription in the book of remembrance is as follows:

In Remembrance of the 117 former pupils of the Coopers’ Company’s School, Bow in London, who at an average age of 20,

lost their lives during the Great War, as did a Master Lieutenant Bernard Pitt. We hereby commend their sacrifice. “Love as

Brethren”.

Mr Tim Hayes (1957-64) now a Governor of the school attended this

moving dedication and I am indebted to him for the information and

photograph.

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Mr. Philip Collins retired in March after twenty five years at school. Phil “the man in the hat” was one of the school’s great

personalities. Phil is a dedicated teacher and a thoughtful and generous colleague. With the late Carol Thornton he organised

the staff’s Secret Santa and he coordinated our end of term lunches with military precision and a witty ditty or two. We wish

Phil a long and happy retirement which we suspect will be spent extending his encyclopaedic knowledge of world cinema.

Alumna and former school captain Sarah Cheale is leaving teaching and the school after twenty-five years of loyal service.

Sarah is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Coopers and a Foundation Governor and therefore will not lose touch with

the school which she holds in great affection. Sarah has been Head of History, Head of Politics and more recently she has been

responsible for our students’ Special Needs. When I began working at our school Kim Tiffin (formerly Monksfield) was in the

sixth form and she is now to retire after teaching Art for seventeen years. Kim was until recently Head of Department and is

renowned for her impeccable standards and empathetic teaching. The school and teaching profession will be the poorer

without teachers of this calibre.

On a very sad note Jacqui Hatton whom we mentioned in a previous Bugle passed away in January 2018 at the age of only fifty

three and following a brief illness. Her son and former Vice-Captain Matt Clemenson gave a eulogy at the service held at

Corbets Tey and Matt did an outstanding job given the emotional pressure and grief with which he had to contend. Matt is

following in Jacqui’s footsteps and is a journalist on a local newspaper.

Past Master, Michael Housley informs us that Richard “Bob” Gibbins has died at the age of 82. Bob was Head Boy at the

Coopers’ School in Tredegar Square between 1953 and 1954 and had been living in Vancouver. He died in London where he

was being treated for aggressive cancer. His family in tribute to him wrote that “Our lives and perspectives were hugely

enriched by being close to a man who was always learning, always discussing, always open and always full of love for us all”.

We extend our sympathy to his wife and family.

We also wish to draw to your attention that in October 2017 Len Cochrane passed away. Len had been married to Joy for sixty

years and is the father of former alumni Ian and Jane. Len fought at El Alamein, in Sicily, in Normandy, at the battle of Caen

and helped liberate the Netherlands from German occupation. Len had many sporting interests and helped found the London

Mountaineering Club and developed a life-long passion for swimming. Len was a familiar face around the school and he and

Joy enjoyed a wonderful partnership. As more and more of the “wartime” generation pass we realise what an exceptional

group of men and women they are.

Julian Teece, Sarah Cheale, Colin Churchett and Karen Pack at a Coopers ‘ Company function

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Those of you with a connection to Brentwood School will already know of the untimely and sudden passing of John Killilea.

John taught PE and maths at our school in the early 1980s before moving to Brentwood where he worked for thirty years as a

Housemaster teaching maths and PE. The Headmaster of Brentwood School, Ian Davis led the tributes to John at a special

service held at the school in May. John leaves a widow and a son and daughter who both attend Brentwood School.

Even though on one of the coldest nights of the year I was pleased to have been

invited to H.M. Tower of London to celebrate Samantha Smith’s being awarded her

Doctorate in history. Her research was based upon the two volume Cabala

Mysteries of State and Government published in 1653. Sam’s studies were

supervised at Birkbeck, London University. Sam’s evening was hosted by

Ravenmaster Christopher Skaife who gave us a moonlit and appropriately eerie tour

of the Tower that culminated in the Ceremony of the Keys. Sam spends a great deal

of time at HM Tower where she is a volunteer but by day she is an accountant with

BNP Paribas. I was also delighted to meet again Katherine, Sam’s sister now Mrs

Stonier who has just taken early retirement after a highly successful career in

teaching. Until recently she had been Head of Ringmer Community College in East

Sussex. At Clarence House Kathy received a teaching award from HRH Prince

Charles for her work on sustainability and her school was also visited by HRH the

Duchess of Cornwall who saw the Eco-Pavilion created by the school’s students.

Kathy now focusses on her work as an artist.

Anita Dobson – Angie in East Enders - attended Coborn in the 1950s and has been starring in “Three Women” a play by Katy

Brand dealing with feminism and women’s rights and how these issues affected three generation of the same family. The play

ran at the London Trafalgar Studios from 15th May until 9th June. Meanwhile Sheila Atim is enjoying a highly successful run in

“The Girl from the North Country” and has won great critical acclaim. On January 6th 2018 Sheila gave an extensive interview

in the Times in which she acknowledges the opportunities presented at school for theatrical and musical performances. Sheila

was awarded the Most Promising Newcomer in the Critics Circle Awards and the Clarence Derwent Trust sponsored by Equity.

She was nominated for an Evening Standard Award and has been in receipt of an Olivier Award.

The Music Festival Finals were held in the music theatre and we were pleased to note that three former students had acted

as judges in the heats. Andrew White judged the brass classes; Andy studied at the Royal College of Music where he obtained

a M.A. in Performance. Andy is freelance and has played with the most prestigious orchestras including the RPO, the LPO and

the BBC Philharmonic. Andy is married to Karis (formerly Arnold) who teaches music at the CCCS. Greg Hummell judged the

guitar classes. Greg has a BSc in Music Technology from Kent University. He is now a successful composer of a single “Turning

Tides” which led to him being given a recording contract by a Swedish label Dumont Dumont. When he is not composing Greg

performs in and around London.

Gemma Hawkins judged the piano and competition classes. Gemma is a professional musician and studied at the Guildhall

and the Royal Academy of Music. Gemma is a successful Musical director and vocal coach; she has toured nationally with

shows like Barnum and Mary Poppins and worked on a Chichester Festival Production of The Fiddler on the Roof. Gemma is

married to alumnus Andrew Stainer and they now have a daughter Harriet Grace. Whilst on tour Gemma met Graham Hoadly

who attended the CCCS in the 60s and early 70s. Graham acted in plays and musical theatre productions whilst at school.

Graham became a professional actor in 1977 and has worked in TV and in straight and musical theatre ever since; shows

includeLady Windermere’s Fan, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Mrs Henderson Presents. Graham regularly appears as Dame in

panto at the Theatre Royal Bath. His mother Gwyn was wardrobe mistress at the Queen’s Theatre in Hornchurch and was

generous in supplying costumes for our school productions. Gwyn was quite a character and the ceiling in the Queen Theatre

costume store being low Gwyn, whilst going about her business wore a helmet dating from WW II.

Samantha Smith

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Alumnus James Caspell was recently appointed as the Neighbourhood Director of the Lancaster West Estate in the London

Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. This will be a particularly challenging role as James will be in charge of the area that

includes the Grenfell Tower. I had the privilege of teaching James and he was clearly a young man of exceptional ability who

could make a successful career in any sphere he chose. After a “gap year” in 2003, James studied at the London School of

Economics where he obtained a BSC in Government and a MSC in Political Sociology. After studying at the University of

Beijing James has forged a career in social housing and has worked in four London Boroughs. James managed a number of

award winning projects that have improved access to housing for disadvantaged community groups. It is reassuring that

someone of James’ capacity is involved in resolving the issues surrounding the Grenfell disaster. We wish him every success in

this. James remembers his time at school fondly “in particular the dedication of a number of teachers to ensure we could

each reach our full potential. Through my A levels I discovered my love for social science and ambition to make a difference to

wider society”.

James was at the LSE with Emma Barratt and Hannah Whittaker where they formed the LSE Green Party Society. Hannah is

still a close friend of Emma. After gaining her BA, Hannah obtained an MA in Imperial History at the University of Durham. She

then became Graduate Attache to the British Institute in Eastern Africa and began her research on colonial and post-colonial

Africa that formed the basis of her PhD. Further research led to the publication of Insurgency and Counter-Insurgency in

Kenya: A Social History of the Shifta Conflict c1963 – 1968. Hannah taught at the School of Oriental and African Studies and is

now a lecturer, supervising research students at Brunel University. Her work frequently takes her to Kenya. Her brother Sam

is a conservator of wall paintings and he has worked in places as far afield as Bhutan and India. Hannah remembers her days

at school with affection and as she travels through east London recalls congregating at West Ham with many of our alumni

including fellow historian George King-Cassell for the 8.04 am to Upminster.

West Ham station must be one of the best places for chance encounters

with our alumni and hurried but fascinating conversations. Recently I

met Mr and Mrs Joyner with Verity who left school in 2011. Verity

studied archaeology at Sheffield University but decided that this was not

the career that she wished to follow. Verity is now a highly successful

horticulturalist. Having gaining initial training with Havering Council and

at Eltham Palace in south-east London, Verity became an apprentice

with HM Royal Parks where she gained her professional qualifications

that included those awarded by the Royal Horticultural Society. In 2017

Verity became the Royal Parks Apprentice of the Year and was

presented with the George Cook medal awarded by the Honourable

Company of Gardeners. Verity has worked at St James’ Park,

Buckingham Palace and at No 10 Downing Street.

James Caspell

Verity Joyner meeting Prince Charles

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I was also very pleased to hear from Verity’s brother Alfred who now lives and works in the USA. Alfred is the Global Executive

Producer at Newsweek where he oversees the production of all videos and news packages produced for the Newsweek

website. Based in the financial district of New York Alfred is employed in what he describes as a “fast-paced” newsroom

where it is “rewarding to see the work we produce reaching millions of people across the globe”. Alfred has worked in media

since he graduated in 2011 from the University of Warwick with a BA Hons in Film and Television. Alfred adds “I firmly believe

that it was the terrific education I received at Coopers which taught me the value of working hard and paying attention that

has helped me achieve my goals”. This might just be the sort of Inspirational statement to put on the cover of homework

journals!

In these uncertain times it is good to know that the Royal Navy is in good

hands and that one of Her Majesty’s ships is about to be placed under the

command of alumnus Oliver Behan. After graduating from Southampton

University Oliver joined the navy as a warfare officer and has greatly enjoyed

his career in the Senior Service. A highlight of Oliver’s career is his time as

navigating officer of the Type 45 Destroyer HMS Defender in the Middle East

and the Arabian Gulf. Oliver speaks fondly of his time at Coopers Coborn and

while recently on leave he made a visit to the Coborn Arms and was able to

recall much of the illustrious history of our two schools. He must have been

well taught!

Between April 19th and June 24th the Camden Arts Centre presented an exhibition entitled “Any Frame is a Thrown Voice” that celebrated the life and work of alumnus Ian White, artist, curator, teacher and writer who had died of lymphoma in 2013 aged only forty-one. I am indebted to alumna Louise Brown for letting me know of Ian’s passing. Ian was a multi-talented student and at school he flourished academically, artistically and in performance. Ian studied at Cambridge University where he began writing, performing and creating art. That Ian achieved much in his all too short life is evident from the many tributes paid to him by leading arts and film institutions and Louise informed me that in 2017 an annual lecture was inaugurated in his honour and memory. Ian worked in a many prestigious institutions that included the Whitechapel Gallery, Tate Britain and Tate Modern. He worked in Berlin, Amsterdam and in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Through the Lux Associates Artists Program he was able to encourage and teach others. The last time I met Ian was in 1994 at the unveiling of the memorial to his friend Tammy Silverman who had been killed aged only twenty in a tragic road accident. Ian had grown into a confident, articulate and grounded young man but one who had not lost any of his modesty; that he achieved so much recognition in so relatively short a time is astounding. Those who knew Ian must read Louise’s beautifully and movingly written tribute by following this link: https //busyandlively.wordpress.com/2014/04/07/if-only-every-day-could-be-two-days-then-thered-be-time. Detective Inspector Colin Gagen (1979-86) lives in Edinburgh and works for Police Scotland. Colin took a gap year, part of

which was spent on a kibbutz and travelling in the Middle East. He obtained a degree at Kingston University and then spent

two years working on the oil rigs as what he calls a “North Sea Tiger”. Colin joined the police twenty six years ago and this

“has provided experiences and challenges and highs and lows that only those “in the job” can appreciate”. Colin is married to

Fiona and they have two children Lindsay and Conor. Colin now approaching fifty has climbed 245 of the 282 of the Munros

and runs in Ultra Marathons. Tony, Colin’s brother still lives in Essex and has his own building company.

Oliver Behan

Detective Inspector Colin Gagen

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One of Colin’s contemporaries Jenny Byford Stride has been has kept in touch on social media with many of her friends and

teachers. Jenny has had a quite global existence. She is the proud mother of her son Haydon who seems to be destined for a

career as a flying ace. Jenny keeps in touch with Christie Fowler who has obtained a 2:1 Hons degree, twenty two years after

leaving school. We send our congratulations to Christie and to Ellie Staples, April Goss and Will and Alex Bottoms who have all

obtained Upper Second Class Honours this year.

Matthew Johnson (1992 -1999) gained a Master of Engineering degree at the Imperial College, London and he became

Systems Manager at Imperial in the Department of Computing where he ran the labs, lectured and supervised some student

projects. In 2008 he decided a change was needed and joined Morgan Stanley to develop infrastructure software. Matt is now

their Executive Director; he is engaged to Shelly to whom he proposed in Central Park, New York and they have a home in

Gidea Park. Matt has kept in touch with the music department and attended the day held to mark Mrs Jan Bristow’s

retirement. When able he has attended the Carol Service at St Botolph’s and when needed sings in church choirs in the City.

To those who taught Matt it is no surprise that he has made a successful career in computing.

After working in what was called a Stress School in an Educational Priority Area

the thought of teaching a group of Fifth formers was in theory extremely

daunting. However, this class was made up of fifteen of the nicest possible

individuals and was one of the best that any new teacher could have had and

Robin Bray (1971-1978) was one of these. Robin intended to do a law degree

but for family reasons he deferred then declined his place at university and

went to work in the City with the Societe Generale where he rapidly progressed

to being a senior trader in Foreign exchange; he stayed in the world of finance

where he made a highly successful career. At the time when Europe was

preparing for the introduction of the Euro, Robin was working in the money

market and having an A level in French he spent a great deal of time in Paris and

Strasbourg. Robin was headhunted by Mitsubishi which was setting up a

London branch and stayed with them for eleven years. After a brief spell with a

Canadian Bank, Robin worked for Mercedes-Benz. He finished his career with

DAF Paccar. Robin is living the good life in in Colchester with his partner Roula;

his daughter Christine is an accountant and William his son wishes to follow his

father into the money market. Both Martin Jolly and I were amazed at Robin’s

beautiful handwriting which made reading his O and A level essays a pleasure.

Robin informs me that this talent no longer exists.

John Domingue left school in 1980 took a degree in Computer Science at Warwick University and then a PhD at the Open

University in Artificial Intelligence. John is now a Professor of Computer Science and Director of the Knowledge Media

Institute at the Open University. John has made contributions to BBC news and to publications like the Times Higher

Education Supplement. John is in touch with many of those who joined CCCS in 1973 some of whom have a FB group called

“Coopers Old School”.

It was good to hear from Richard Bounds who on leaving school gained a BSc in Chemistry, followed by a PhD in Physical

Chemistry. Richard is now doing research at UC Berkeley in Chemical Engineering into improving the resolution and sensitivity

of MRI using lasers. Richard says that had a great time at CCCS and is still in touch with many of his contemporaries including

Andrew Charalambous, Joe Harvey-White, Joe Porter, Stuart Lee and Caris Pang.

Alumni Bradley and Holly Saund (formerly Gibb) are the proud parents of a lovely daughter Jasmine. Holly informs writes that

they both keep in touch with all their friends from the CCCS and life is good. Holly’s father Simon, an alumnus still works in

aviation insurance a career that takes him all over the world. Bradley left us in 2007, took a degree in Economics, Finance and

Management before joining Goldman Sachs.

.

Rob Bray

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When the name Fiona Scolding was mentioned on the BBC news I knew that it was referring to an alumna who is now a

Queens Councillor and a part time judge. According to the BBC Fiona is a barrister working on an inquiry into child sexual

abuse and in order to establish truth and justice was taking on some of the highest institutions in the land. Fiona went to

Downing College Cambridge and studied history. During her time in the sixth form Fiona’s essays were always tightly argued

and she was passionate about the subject in hand: her stage performances (who can forget the rendering of “Big Spender”

with Colin Churchett centre stage?) indicated a flair for public performance which must have been of great use to her in court!

After Cambridge, a conversion course at the City University and pupillage, Fiona was called to the Bar. In 2014 she moved to

Outer Temple Chambers where she is the first woman QC. She is married and has a daughter.

Fiona’s sister Alex is a chief buyer for ASOS the online retailer and lives with her family in north London. Fiona is in contact

with Liz Perrin who teaches in Brentwood, Lucy Leigh-Jones who runs a recruitment business, Claire Finch who lives in

Buckinghamshire, Celia Foss, Hannah Green and Angie Samuels.

From Southern California it was good to hear from Greg Clement who has just celebrated twenty-four years of marriage to

Stephanie Weissman. The couple have two daughters, Jessica and Samantha and the latter is at Cornell University where she

is star basketball player in the Cornell team which plays in the Ivy League and occasionally the Great Britain under twenty

Women’s Team. Greg went to Aston University and gained a BSc in Business Administration and French; Greg having the

advantage of dual-citizenship studied at the George Washington University, National Law Centre and in 1991 became a

business litigator in Washington DC. Greg is now a partner in a large Californian law firm Burkhalter, Kessler, Clement and

George LLP that specialises in amongst other areas business litigation, investment disputes, corporate and transitional law.

Greg has also written on the subject. Greg is in touch with many of his CCCS. A quick Google of Greg’s name provides

impressive information on his work and success in Orange County!

Fiona Scolding QC

Greg Clement

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Harrison Peacock is currently working for Abercrombie and Fitch in Hong Kong and has been working and travelling in the Far

East for six years and learning to speak Mandarin on the way! He is in touch with Liam Kelly who has been working in Hong

Kong; Harrison informs that he and Kane Ward have been to Bali and a group of CCCS boys met up in Thailand. Harrison is

endeavouring to understand the intricacies of Chinese history in a country where all pupils are expected to learn the names all

the Chinese Emperors! From his FB photos it is clear that life in Hong Kong is everything it is cracked up to be!

A little nearer to home we were pleased to hear from Tony Brett who works at the University of Oxford in the Medical

Sciences Division based in the John Radcliffe Hospital. Tony leads and manages the IT services to many departments of the

Division supporting research, teaching and administrative activities. He provides support, guidance and leadership to around

seventy IT staff in other departments. Tony started his It career at what is now the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine

before becoming Head of IT support Staff Services in Oxford University’s Central IT Services. Tony lives with his civil partner

Gordon a civil servant in Oxford, where they both enjoy choral singing and travelling in France. Tony remembers fondly the

Gilbert and Sullivan productions and in particular the extra verses penned by Neal Findlay. Tony’s younger sister Emma (1987-

94) lives near Oxford and works for the NHS as a Speech and Language Therapist having qualified in this subject at University

College London. She is married to Paul a trauma plastic surgeon at Stoke Mandeville and they have two sons Oliver and Toby.

Mr and Mrs Brett are still in Upminster and living a full and happy retirement.

Steve Tredget contacted the Bugle after he found himself interviewing a candidate for employment and discovered that the

person being interviewed was a former student at the CCCS! Steve was a mainstay of school performances and I am pleased

to see that his love of the performing arts has led him to become a director of the Barbican Arts Centre Trust. His “daytime”

job is in the field of private equity capital. Like many of those who have made contact and were involved in school productions

he expressed his sadness at Grace Taylor’s passing. His sister Sally was a great sportswoman inspired like so many by Joy

Cochrane MBE, so much so that Sally wrote her degree dissertation on the impact that Joy had on her own life and career.

Tina Williamson attended CCCS between 1976 and 1983. Her future husband Alex also attended the school before he joined

BT in 1978 as an apprentice and for whom he still works in Business Development. They were very proud in 2011 when their

daughter Sophie joined the CCCS: she is currently in the Sixth Form. As Tina wrote “all three of us feel very lucky to have had

the privilege and opportunity to have experienced the Coopers’ ethos”. After leaving CCCS Tina studied foundation art at the

Middlesex Polytechnic and then obtained a BA Hons in Graphic Design at The London College of Printing. At her degree show

Tina was offered six jobs and having chosen one, began working the following week and was employed for a number of years

with WPP plc a multinational advertising and public relations company before being a full time parent. Tina keeps in touch

with many of her friends and in the next edition we will be sharing some of the photos that she has kindly sent.

Tina and Alex

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Last year Lizzie Anderson then a Head of Year, married Alex Reed whom she had met after joining the sixth form . Lizzie has been a year head at CCCS and teaches Physical Education as does her husband Alex. Lizzie will be on maternity leave shortly and we wish her and Alex all the very best for the future!

On St Patricks Day Charlie Gardiner married Joe Graham at

Rochford in Essex surrounded by 180 family and friends.

Catherine Daly sent this photo of herself and three former students and fellow Marathon runners, Annie Milroy, Lucy Dowdall

and Alice Nicholls.

Lizzie and Alex Reed

Charlie and Joe Gardiner –Graham

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In 2003 Tom Peck (1993 – 2000) younger son of Cath and Mike Peck gained a first class honours degree from Cambridge University and after working as a freelance journalist and writing for several publications, including The London Evening Standard, Tom is now Political Correspondent and Parliamentary Sketch Writer on The Independent where he met his future wife Alice Jones, the newspaper’s Arts Editor. Tom is based at The Palace of Westminster. Kevin Mc Neela was Tom’s best man and many former alumni travelled to the Midlands where the wedding took place. As I looked at the list of guests it reminded me of the time that I taught many of these students in what I consider to be one of the most able and enthusiatic history groups I ever encountered. Young Tom Peck’s performance in full costume as Elizabeth 1 was a memorable one! Former students present included Dave and Helen Fawbert , formerly Bolton, Joe Emery, Mike Harrison, Billy Luckhurst, John Beck, Toby and Daniel Hartnett, the latter being married to Helen formerly Watkins, Richard Bridgen, Alex Andrews, Ramin Beheshti and Paul McCarthy

Nancy Turner got married last year to a

fellow Cooperian, Robert Anderson. She is

still very close with many people from the

school .

Antonia Bussey, Georgia Avery, Claire Robins

and Chanel Owen were all bridesmaids and

her dear friend Jack Dent conducted the

ceremony for on the day.

Rob had Ashley Cumbers and Alex Reed as

best men on the day .

Tom and Alice Peck’s wedding

Nancy and Robert

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Ella Frost, formerly Eleanor

Davidson, has sent in a photo of her

husband who ran to raise funds for

National Deaf Children’s Society.

Ella’s five year old son Jesse is deaf.

Ella, Barry and Jesse Frost

Jon Pumfleet and his brother Stephen attended the CCC S in the 1990s.

Jon has run a total of ten marathons and has been raising funds for

research into Multiple Sclerosis.

Jon Pumfleet

I am indebted to those who have sent information to me and in abundance. I am saving this for the next edition of The Bugle and amongst other things we will be tracking the careers of some of our musical alumni and remembering what life was like for the Class of 1955 at the Coopers’ Company’s School. This is a bumper issue and it would be appreciated if you were able to pass it onto many alumni by email and should any of you wish to send information to me please do so on bwe@cooperscoborn.co.uk “Love as Brethren”.