IN THIS NEWS LETTER
Click on Read More to go to that topic
 
  o The largest winning margin against Paul Roos since 1948 … and other snippets. Read more   o The diary is now looking a lot more secure having buckled a few times under the lockdown restrictions. Read more
  o Helping out by drinking out. Oxford ODs support the beer industry. Read more

Anything Oxford can do, Cambridge can do better (or also do). Read more about the Cambridge pub lunch coming up in July

 
  o The birth of the IIOFF and the death of the committee biscuit. The ODU has it covered. Read more
  o Stress, anxiety, depression, BPD, the “spectrum”… Pete Farlam, the Bishops School psychologist unpacks mental health at a Virtual Fireside Chat. Read more   o No sooner had the high-impact PRG rugby match ended, than ... no contact sport allowed at Bishops. Read more
  o
2021 has to be the mother of all UK OD annual dinners. Join and enjoy one of the UK’s leading sports commentators share her story. Read more
 
  o There is no end to the upward trajectory of the UK ODs. As restrictions are lifted, so are careers. Read more
  o OD golfers take to the fairways at the end of June to set the record straight against the Old Tonbridgians. Be part of the team. Read more   o Working to live or living to work? This short report from The World Health Organisation reveals how working long hours is dangerous for your health. Read more
Dear OD

36-13.

That was the very satisfying final score in last month's 
1st XV's derby against Paul Roos won by Bishops. This was the School's first win against Paul Roos in eleven years and the widest margin since 1942 (which side included the Fry brothers and Tony van Ryneveld) when the School won 28-10 (tries counting three points then to five today). Paul Roos and Bishops have been playing each other since 1878 and is, after SACS, our oldest rugby opponent. The photo shows centre Suleiman Hartzenberg being congratulated after scoring. The game is on YouTube


The UK Branch sends its condolences to ODU committee member Simon Koch (S, 1977) and his family on the sudden passing of his brother Martin (S, 1983).

James Gardener's (W, 1974) sensitive and poetic tribute to Chris Mann (O, 1965) can be read HERE.


We welcome Craig Davidson (W, 1983, left) to our ranks. Recently arrived from South Africa, he got off the train somewhere, he thinks, in West Yorkshire where he has wasted no time hunting down ODs in the area. If you are either living in West Yorkshire or just passing through, please do get hold of Craig (craigdavo65@icloud.com). One of the things we know for sure about Yorkshire, other than it has train stations, is that it serves terrific beer.

My Octopus Teacher, the sensational multi-award-winning — including this year's Oscar — documentary by Craig Foster (F, 1985) is clearly the film that keeps on giving. Much continues to be written about how incredible were the concept, story, filming, music, the production and the sound (although no mentions of the on-set catering). Now, just when you're inspired to embark on a little sub-aquatic romance of your own, along comes a more cynical, thought-provoking and contrary take on the film which appeared in the New Statesman last month. With a rea
l punch-between-the-eyes last line. The article's HERE.

And this, now, marks the end of further comment about MoT.


Choppy Bands (K, 1990, left) is an urbane and insightful interviewer. Nick Dall (B, 2000, right) is a witty and informed interviewee. At our virtual Fireside Chat last month Choppy and Nick spoke about Nick's best-selling book Rogues' Gallery which explores in a very humorous and well-researched way, the history and chief players in the long squalid history of corruption in South Africa. Corruption of course is not a uniquely South African pastime, but Nick makes it clear that were it an Olympic event, we would have our fair share of finalists. If you weren't able to watch the chat, the recording is HERE. Should you wish to buy the book, it's on Amazon.

Martin Fletcher (F, 1965) was at the Fireside Chat more in research mode, I suspect, than to learn how to be corrupt. He tells me that he is publishing a novel which deals in part with the Ossewabrandwag in wartime South Africa. It's mostly an adventure story, but he did a fair amount of research about the OB and U boats off the Cape. 

Talking of Fireside Chats, don't forget the free Fireside Chat on 15th June on Mental Health and the pandemic.


John Wyatt (W, 1963) wrote to say, " in this issue (March) it was great to see two ODs as leaders in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. It was my great uncle who was instrumental in founding the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 1929 and was one of it’s original Fellows. He became Vice President in 1946-49. You will appreciate that my generation is not getting any younger so a cousin and I have decided to produce a booklet of family details. My grandfather was one of ten children so we have a huge cousin base. This has meant we have researched a great deal about our forebears – only back to great great grandfather, as it would be unwieldy (I have traced the family back to 1320!), and of course updating everyone since. I enclose Uncle Jim’s details".

Fresh from the success of Blindside 2020, a documentary which dealt with the harrowing political and sporting impact of the Lions' 1974 tour of South Africa, Dugald Macdonald's (W, 1967) new book, Ja-Nee, has just been published. It has been described by John Dobson as "By far the most entertaining and amusing South African rugby book ever written" and Nick Mallett says, "Macdonald uses a Lions Test match to question the perceived reality of rugby and of life itself. Written with self-effacing humility and idiosyncratic humour. A great read!" Available for now only in the kindle version on Amazon, the printed copy comes out towards the end of June, but only in South Africa. If you are keen on reserving a copy to be sent over, please let me know.

I cannot recommend highly enough the collaboration and camaraderie on the LinkedIn group involving the ODU, Michaelhouse, Hilton and St Andrew's. This is a growing - almost a 1,000 members - and active careers' group restricted to the four alumni associations with a focus on the UK. Opportunities are being offered all the time, with alumni comfortable asking for support. In all, a great way to both give and receive assistance. If you haven't joined, please do, making sure your LinkedIn school field is set to Bishops Diocesan College. Here's the LINK.

Plans progress for a UK OD Carol Service on Wednesday 8th December at the beautiful All Saints Margaret Street. This will be a very traditional service, with all your favourite carols and a few composed by ODs (think Torches by John Joubert (O, 1944)). We are working with Herschel and St Cyp's so this promises to be a fabulous event, to which the whole family is welcome, although whether you'll allow your children to slug down the mulled wine afterwards (if they haven't beforehand) will be up to you. By curious coincidence, Archie Swanson's (O, 1973) grandfather, Walter Swanson, was Headboy and Head Chorister of All Saints in 1916 before going on to a distinguished musical career and then to South Africa where he was, from 1959-1981 the organist and choirmaster of St Saviour's, Claremont (the resting place of Bishop and Sophie Gray). Small world.

Many of us would have had our vaccinations by now, but many not. While some liberties have been restored, full lifting on June 21st is not a slam dunk. Boris has been known to change what he calls his mind. And then there's talk of South Africa returning to level three, which means we are definitely not out of the woods. So, keep safe. It's not over yet.

And talking of Boris, as, earlier this week, Dominic was when he wasn't talking about himself, if you've  received a save-the-date from him (Boris) and Carrie for Saturday 30th July 2022 you may feel safe in pencilling it in knowing that the UK ODU will not be planning its own event for that day. The only hazard might be one of the Prime Minister's inevitable U-Turns.


Lastly, to our students who are writing university exams, very good luck to you all.

Kind regards

Nicky Bicket
MENTAL HEALTH AND THE PANDEMIC: A VIRTUAL FIRESIDE CHAT
 

Coping with the social, physical and emotional challenges of the pandemic has brought a great deal of stress lives. And in some cases, sadly, the trauma of loss.

Not surprisingly, rising almost uncontested to the top of our things-to-deal-with is the not new but now greatly-sharpened focus on mental health. Mental health, always with us in one way or another before Covid, has assumed a mainstream urgency as we prepare to re-enter what may or may not be our new normal.

Pete Farlam (K, 1987, right) is a clinical psychologist and head of the Bishops Support Unit. He will be our guest at this virtual fireside, talking about: .

—  What do we mean by Mental health and mental illness
—  How do we recognise it in ourselves and others (especially children)
—  The difference between drug treatment and talk therapy
—  The impact of the pandemic on on mental health
—  How generally, do we mitigate/treat mental health
—  Debunking some mental health myths

Obviously not all mental health challenges are pandemic-related so this talk will cover the topic generally, as it affects both adults and children

The talk which is free takes place virtually via Zoom on Tuesday 15th June at 6pm (UK)/7pm (SA) and will last an hour. Grab a drink and settle into what will be a fascinating and, I'm sure, helpful one hour.

To register and receive the link, click HERE or use (or forward) this link to anyone you might find the chat interesting:  https://form.jotform.com/211352572367051

Given the topicality and importance of the subject, you may want to get friends to register as well (as guests) 

 
ODs ON THE MOVE
 
We congratulate and wish well the following who over the past month have shifted gears in their chosen fields:

Dr Rob Campbell (G, 1974) who one would have thought would be retired and relaxing by now, has just been appointed as (Re)Insurance Solutions Architect (huh?) at QOMPLX. Prior to this he was the Managing Director of Greenvalley Commercial which provides consultancy and advisory services in insurance processes, data, standards and technology change. The first two sentences of Rob's abstract to his PhD thesis starts: "Novel methods for prewarping filter specifications prior to realization in Switched Capacitor (SC) form are presented. These allow the design of arbitrary response requirements, exhibiting a low amount of error that normally results from the frequency warping associated with sampled-data networks". It goes on, but you need a PhD to understand just the title

Eric Allan (S, 2010) is now Head of Operations at Flok which is a members' only  collective that connects people with luxury home exchanges and unique travel experiences. The Flok platform lets clients explore new travel possibilities by connecting them to extraordinary properties, people and services. So if you're looking for a quiet and indulgent place to enjoy Rob Campbell's PhD, the Eric is the man to speak to.

Andrew Jones-Davies (F, 2011) has been appointed an Investment Associate at Outfund who provide revenue-based financing to high-growth online businesses to allow them to scale marketing and inventory. Previously, Andrew was with Pleo.

Adrian Kritzinger (F, 2006) who to ODs up here has been synonymous with Cap Classique, is stepping back from the commercial side of the Cape sparkling wine (not the drinking side, though, is my hunch) and will be concentrating more on his career running his company ComCorp Ltd which trades commodities - the importing and exporting mainly raw ingredients in the food industry amongst other things.

Ryan Tennis (B, 2011) has been promoted to Assistant Audit Manager at BDO where he has been forging an impressive career since the start of 2018.

Dane Stirrat (O, 2008) With 6+ years experience in producing and delivering live, corporate and experiential events across the world I am a strategic, creative, innovative and adaptable professional with a genuine love and passion for events, marketing and creating experiences.


James Strang (B, 2010) is now an associate with Tessera Investment Partners who work with management teams, providing businesses with access to capital to execute growth strategies. This builds on James's' career as an investment manager and analyst.

Mikhail Bolus (B, 2012) has been appointed a Director at FBX Capital Partners after a successful three years at Funding Bay Limited

Justin Michau (S, 1988)  has been promoted to Managing Director at LTS Transport Solutions Limited and Lohr Transport Solutions PTY Ltd ZA Justin has steadily forged his career here, having been with them since 2008. As teh company strapline says, he "keeps on moving" upwards.
 
OXFORD ODs CO-MINGLING
 

We, and especially students, know the devastation the pandemic has wreaked on hospitality,  pubs in particular. So when the chance to reignite the fortunes of The Bear Inn in Oxford presented itself, ODs stepped up unhesitatingly.

In fact, meeting for a mid-year Oxford student (and past students) pub lunch at The Bear Inn is an annual tradition, delayed but not destroyed last year by Covid-19. There are still a few things resistant to the virus.

On 22 May, eleven of us — six completing or already with doctorates from Oxford (these are not your average beer drinkers) — gathered for what the Dutch would call a very gezellig lunch and to share their Oxford experiences and Bishops memories. We were pleased that Dr Chris Winearls (W, 1967 and the 1973 Bishops Rhodes Scholar)  and Ashley Pople (St Cyp's, Bishops Rhodes Scholar, 2015) could join us. Thanks, everyone, for coming and to Matthew Golesworthy (K, 2011) for arranging this.

Although billed as a student event (but open to all ODs) the presence of Chris and your secretary testify to the comfortable  inclusivity of the occasion. Fascinating to listen to Chris give a short sharp lecture on the political history of SA to the younger students who hadn't heard of John Vorster and PW Botha.


Come on Light Blues; your turn next. Please send me your proposal. In fact, if you're an alumnus of any UK university (Edinburgh and the LSE seem popular choices) let's arrange something for you and your OD alumni too. Ideas on the back of an email.

In the collage above from left to right (top): Chris Winearls, Ashley Pople, Tom Orton (M, 2014), Matthew Morris (O, 2015), (bottom): Lood van Nielerk (G, 2014), Roberto Aldera (M, 2012), Dr Erin Aldera, Matthew Golesworthy, Rayhaan Surve (M, 2015) and the camera-shy Rowan Nicholls (O, 2010)

 
CAMBRIDGE ODs CO-MINGLING

Comparisons between Cambridge and Oxford are odious, so other than a personal preference for a particular shade of blue, our pub lunch for ODs in and at Cambridge is a social not competitive event.

We have settled on Saturday 3rd July as the date and all ODs are invited. The venue is the Granta (left) on the river at Cambridge and we et together from 12.30pm. For those feeling so minded, punting will be on offer after lunch. The ODU will be sponsoring the lunch drinks.

So whether you're a current student, a Cantab alumnus live in the area, or want to make the trip to Cambridge, and are generally thirsty and/or hunger, please come — and indicate this via this form (so I know the more-or-less numbers).
ODS V. OLD TONBRIDGIANS ANNUAL GOLF MATCH
 

On Saturday 26th June, at the Tandbridge Golf Club in Oxted, Surrey, we'll be playing our sixth annual match against the Old Tonbridgians. Never mind the score; suffice to say we're down. And this is the year to settle our momentary lapse in golfing supremacy.

As usual, Alex Price (M, 2008) is our captain, convenor, coach and one-man disciplinary board and he's the chap to contact as soon as possible to ensure that you will be playing your part in re-establishing the true balance of power.

Alex can be contacted at alexprice009@gmail.com

Come on boys, bring it home. 

And see the Diary below for the dates and venues of the next two fixtures

 
THE UK 2021 ANNUAL BLACK-TIE DINNER
Celebrating the 125th Anniversary of the Old Diocesans Union
Friday 10th September
 
After a few false starts and some second guessing of the trajectory of the Corona virus, we have settled on  Friday 10th September as the date for our UK Annual Black-Tie Dinner at The Carlton Club in London. Wives/Partners are as usual are most welcome.

We are delighted that Gabby Logan MBE, a familiar face and voice to many, has accepted our invitation to be our speaker.

This will be the first set-piece function, give or take our golfers and students who are pretty much virally invincible since the pandemic began. So please come along. On top of everything, it's the 125th anniversary of the ODU. We've much to celebrate. 

Gather up your classmates. Let's make this a night to remember.

The ticket prices are £75 for ODs who matriculated before 2011 and all partners and wives and £65 for ODs who left School between 2011 and 2020. The price includes all Club wine and beer and soft drinks at the pre-drinks reception and dinner, but not for the after-party which will operate a cash bar.

Times have been tough. If you are genuinely not able to manage the price of the ticket, please speak to me. This must not be the reason you don't attend. This concession, if granted, will not be available to OD cryptocurrency billionaires!


Formal invitations will go out in July, but as numbers are capped and as bookings are starting to come in quite quickly, you might want to secure your place now by clicking HERE.
 

The ODU Constitution:

Last month I reported that a small group of UK ODs had taken over the long-outstanding task of reshaping the ODU Constitution. The team consisted of Peter Robinson (S, 1966), Peter Arthur (W, 1965), Graham Thomas (K, 1984), Mark van Heerden (S, 2008) and I. Brian de Kock (O, 1952), also part of the team, provided us with much needed history and context. Prof. Hugh Corder (S, 1971), recently retired after a forty-year stint at the top of UCT's Law Faculty, kindly agreed to supervise our work to ensure compliance with the various requirements we needed to satisfy.

Through two iterations of consultation and consensus building, we believe we have a draft which modernises, corrects and reverses some of the more bizarre aspects (including the waiving of fees for ODU membership) of the existing out-of-date and "clunky" version which now, thankfully, has been taken down from the ODU website. Our work included benchmarking ourselves against the constitutions of the alumni associations of Tonbridge, Haileybury, Eton, Wellington, Rugby and Uppingham.

The ODU committee, galvanised into action, have taken back our work and will do what they need to do with it before putting it before members to vote on. We anticipate this happening at an SGM in August.


The ODU Committee:

When I worked in Australia - a long time ago - I came across the concept of BYOB which basically meant that if you wanted to get hammered (and which Australian doesn't?) at an unlicensed restaurant you had to bring your own bottle(s). 

One of the casualties of pandemic WFH Zoom meetings has been the committee biscuit, one of the very few remaining tax-free perks of corporate life. In this context, the second B in BYOB could just as easily stand for biscuits which now have to self-supplied, self-funded and nibbled on alone in your Zoom room. It may well be for this reason that nominations for the ODU committee are proving so elusive; no more ODU-sponsored cookies to attract and sustain committee members. Consequently, the ODU is still on the hunt for ODs willing to put themselves forward to serve on the next committee. Reluctance to come forward may also have to do with the fact that without an OD Secretary, the pivotal role of the Union, the committee has become an executive body which, for ODs with busy day jobs, means committing to many more than the quarterly meetings required in the past. Hopefully, an appointment of an OD Secretary soon will solve this problem.


In the meantime, I do encourage you to step up. Let Dedry at the ODU office know. And it's worth repeating that, thanks to technology, ODs from anywhere in the world can serve on the committee. Just BYOB.

The ODU Magazine:

Based on information from Cape Town, I had led UK ODs to expect the ODU "lite" magazine by the end of March. That delivery date came and went, as did the end of April and as has now, the end of May. I have to report still no news on the news but the latest word from the publisher is that there will - or maybe there won't - be one bumper issue in October. Union news continues to be posted regularly on the website and locally through this monthly newsletter.


The Invest in Our Future Fund (IIOFF):

When boys who have been at Bishops on bursaries matriculate and look to tertiary education as a logical next step, it is an entirely reasonable question to ask where the money will come from. From many sources, as we know, but other than one or two scholarships, not from Bishops or the ODU. To fill this gap, the Invest in Our Future Fund (which was due to be launched in March before the virus interrupted plans) launches next week. Its purpose is to make financial and other support available to eligible ODs to attend South African universities and other types of further learning. This very commendable initiative is a collaborative effort between Citadel (a SA wealth management business), the Bishops Parents' Association and the ODU. Citadel will be providing bursary seed capital as well as covering the costs of the launch and ongoing promotion of the fund, including those outside Cape Town.

More IIOFF information can be found on the ODU website. The official launch events take place at The Mitre and Johannesburg on Monday 31st May from 4.30pm (UK). The link to the live streaming is HERE. You will be able to watch the function in real time, balloons, bunting banners and all, and hear more about the initiative and how it'll work.

Stand by for details of the UK kick-off from Damon Crowhurst (F, 1991) our IIOFF man in England.

 

The highs and lows of School life.

The high-impact Paul Roos match - done. Then, too late for Paul Roos, contact sport stopped! The Corona virus struck again and as from the 21st May, contact sports and certain other activities have been suspended on campus. While this sets up the School for an almost certain unbeaten 1st XV rugby record for the first rugby term (they have had a chance to play only three matches — and won three) this is obviously a great disappointment to boys, teachers and parents.


Since our last newsletter, Tony Reeler has put out two further fortnightly College newsletters and are worth a read. Here is the one of 7th May and the other, 21 May
 
THE DIARY FOR THE REST OF 2021
 
JUNE 26 OD v Old Tonbridgians Golf Match
Tandbridge Golf Club, Oxted, Surrey
SEPTEMBER 4 OD v Old Haileyburians Golf Match
RAC, Surrey
10 UK ODU Annual Black-Tie Dinner
The Carlton Club, London
18 OD v Michaelhouse and Hilton Golf Match
Venue tbc
OCTOBER 15 Light From Africa Charity Dinner
The Carlton Club, London
16 Annual Oxfordshire Pub Lunch
The Bell at Hampton Poyle, Kidlington, Oxford
NOVEMBER 17 Casual Steak, Chips and Wine evening
High Timber, London
DECEMBER 8 Traditional Service of Nine Lessons and Carols for the whole family
All Saints Margaret Street, London
     
Still to be confirmed    -  Cambridge University lunch and punting (all welcome)
 -  Peter Elliott on his new book on Thomas Muir
 -  Year-end party
WORKING TO LIVE / LIVING TO WORK
 
If a brand new research report by the World Health Organisation is to be believed, time off is the elixir to long life. Something which Bishops boys have known from time immemorial and which the WHO have just confirmed, is that hard work never did anyone any good.

So if it's not too much hard work to read the report (which they helpfully inform us will take a mere two minutes of your at least seventeen hour working day) it's well worth the effort. It's HERE.

Then go fishing.

And check out the hotspots below when considering your next career move!

 

 
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