John STEVEN now works in Southborough commuting from
Orpington, has considerable job satisfaction and he and Gillian are much
involved in their local church in Orpington. Robin TOOP hosted a
splendid party in Tunbridge Wells to mark his 65th birthday back in February
and seems in retirement to be younger than ever. Those who attended the June
Reunion will have tasted the magnificent pig that was spit-roasted by Robin. John
ANTHONY retired from full-time employment in 1990 but marked GCSE papers
until last year. He still lives in Addington Place Road, Croydon and is a
grandfather four times over. He goes to Australia every two or three years to
visit his daughter and his son is in Leisure Management. Adrian CHAPMAN
is also a grandfather twice over and has worked for what was called Marley,
for twenty five years. He is also involved with Radio Kent at Chatham on their
advisory committee and helped on their stand at the Kent County Show in July. John
THORNTON hopes to retire next year. He lives still in March, near
Cambridge but plans to move to Northiam to be near his brother Alan. Roger
WHITLOCK who is now semi-retired, enjoys life hugely; playing much golf,
keeping fit and looking consequently even younger than ever. Peter MASON
who retired some years ago does, however, continue to make a little bit of
silver. He exhibited a teapot of his own in a recent Goldsmith's Exhibition of
Modern Silversmiths and he travels to China from time to time pursuing his
interest in their culture. Michael FORDER who left Bethany in 1954, ran
his own greengrocers business in East Dulwich for many years. When the
competition from Sainsburys became too intense, he sold up and joined them! He
has one son and has just celebrated thirty years of marriage. Tony THOMAS
continues to enjoy his retirement but remains very active in his work for MRA.
He travelled recently to Switzerland for their annual conference at Caux and
to Geneva for the International Labour Organisation Conference. Tony and his
brother lan, met up with Max GAMMON for the first time since they had
all left School, fifty years ago! After School, Max received medical training
at University College Hospital, London before becoming a surgeon and
specialising in cardiac surgery. He has written many articles and papers on
bureaucracy in the National Health system, on the miracles of Jesus, private
medical provision and psychiatry for political purposes. He thoroughly enjoyed
his first visit at this Year's Reunion.
News has been received from a number of ex-Bethany staff: Richard
NEWITT who taught in the 60s and much admired Phoebe Douglas, lives now in
New Zealand and hopes to revisit shortly. David McINTOSH who was
ordained deacon and priest with Colin ROOKWOOD in the Liverpool diocese
in 1971 writes to say that he has thoroughly embraced the computer age through
an 0.U. course! His son, Huan, is seeking a career in computers, Alastair is a
greenkeeper and his daughter Rachei, is still at school. Su ROPER
writes from the jungle swamps of Brunei where rats eat the telephone exchange
and email is not a possibility. She was keen to invite the Pengelly Society
for its May outing but could only muster four bathrooms for a party of thirty
Sixth Formers and after their 'en-suite' at The Orchard fears this may be a
deterrent! The LANZERS celebrated forty years of marriage last August
with a good party and write that they have continued to enjoy much culture, a
good range of holidays, lots of family events and even some home improvements
at Crowborough! The HARVEYS thoroughly enjoyed the challenges of a new
home, a new neighbourhood, a new church and working from home. Bill has done a
lot of visiting other schools in his work for the Woodard Corporation but
admits it doesn't have the buzz of being at Bethany's helm! Angela DEVLIN
who taught in the Dyslexic Department some years ago has been investigating
links between poor education and crime. This led her into contacts with the
prison world and her first book 'Criminal Classes'. She thoroughly enjoyed
returning to Bethany last year when she talked to the Pengelly Society on the
Bowler Case. Philip and Valerie LAVER went to Spain in mid
October where Philip is to assist in the leadership of an interdenominational
church. They were looking forward to this new venture. Ewart BRASS the
OBS's retired auditor, and his wife Sally, were sad to part with their narrow
boat earlier in the year, having found it increasingly hard work maintaining
it. They are both in pretty fair health however and were thrilled to read of
last year's visit of Bethany's History students to the battle fields in
Northern France and their discovery of the grave of Ewart Brass M.C. Jim
and Ruth KENDON travelled to New Zealand earlier in the year to visit
their son Philip who, has been teaching there for the past two years. They
enjoyed some good trekking on the north coast of South Island and found Donald
WATSON in good spirits when they visited him. Graham MAISEY who
visits Bethany regularly, continues to work as the Training Officer for
security at Kingston University. He expects to be a grandfather at the end of
December! John STAMMERS became a grandfather in June, having four
children, the youngest being thirteen. John works for the police force in
Folkestone, living nearby at Lyminge but had not been back to Bethany for a
long time and brought his whole family over for the Reunion. Tim HUGHES
who was also at the Reunion and living at Folkestone, keeps in regular contact
with John Stammers. He has worked mostly in Catering and in financial services
but now enjoys a semi-retirement, working for Kent Air Ambulance. Bill
PARDOE is also semi-retired from his dairy farm in Lingfield where he has
now diversified into golf courses and horses. Michael COLE who left in
1948, is fully retired from accountancy in Horsham. Alastair SEALY
works- hard with fitted furniture, having been inspired by that able teacher, Stan
GRIGG, at Bethany. He lives in Guildford, was divorced two years ago, but
has a keen interest in antiques and old cars. His brother Richard SEALY,
who studies computing at Kingston Poly, is freelance in software training and
does some work for the Stock Exchange. Tony PICKUP was at the June
reunion with his family, living at Borehamwood, and has worked at B.T. for the
last ten years. He reports that his brother Trevor PICKUP is married
with three children and works with the homeless in Southampton. Their
contemporary Angus WALKER sold his estate agency, Pierce Walker, very
successfully some while back and now works in ICT in Bromley. He has been
happily married for the last eighteen months. Two other brothers were at
Bethany for the Reunion: Tracey DEAKIN who left in 1973 and his brother
Tim. Tim manages the family clothing business in Canterbury, very near
the Cathedral, but lives at Pegwell Bay, Ramsgate. Tracey lives with his
family: two boys of twelve and four, in California, where he runs an air
charter company, supplying aircraft for 150 different airlines. He says he has
always enjoyed flying, flew a Learjet himself, and started his own company ten
years ago with an office in Shannon. David POCKNALL continues his
career as a chartered civil engineer, having worked in the planning and design
of the Channel Tunnel. Currently he is responsible for the main roads and
motorways in the South East, including the M25. He is a keen windsurfer. Barry
ROBBINS also enjoys his work as a Bethany governor. Spending a day at the
School during the Summer term trying to be better informed about the School's
activities, he was bowled over by how busy a place it was! He has three
rapidly growing children aged 12, 10 and 7 and what little time is left after
family duties he devotes to the local amateur dramatics. He recently had the
lead in a thriller which he modestly admits had good reviews. His work for
Chase Manhattan Bank takes him to many overseas locations. Bob WOODHEAD
who left Bethany in 1970, lives in Portsmouth and returned for the first time
this year! He read Law at Reading University but now works for BBC local
radio, broadcasting across nine counties. As a result of school enthusiasms he
now considers himself something of a Rock and Pop expert and has a weekly
hour's programme. He has two step-children of 18 and 13. Anthony RICE
who was a contemporary of Nell POLLARD, has three daughters, the eldest of
whom is 21 and lives now in Goudhurst! He was a keen sportsman at School as
well as a member of the motor club but is now a lighting consultant,
specialising in saving electricity and works from Dover docks. In his spare
time he enjoys carriage driving. Guy HOLLOWAY, at School with Alex
THORPE, now works for his father in his architects office at Hythe.
|
James
EMSON who left in 1990 lives in Bearsted but works in
Folkestone in his father's auctioneering practice. He was a
contemporary of Rowan TINN who is the National Sales
Manager for his father's packaging firm. At twenty six, he seems
a confident young man who has worked in the Netherlands, now
lives in Milton Keynes and keeps in touch with Jake BARRIE.
All three were contemporary with Neil FIFIELD at whose
wedding in the Summer James was best man. Matthew LAVER
was also married in the Summer Steven SMITHERMAN, who
first worked for American Airlines based at Heathrow and then in
Canada, now works in the city in investment management. Terry
RIDGEWAY who left in 1984 has three sons of whom Matthew,
the eldest, is 5. He works as a quality engineer for the
plastics and tool making firm, Boddingtons, in Horsmonden. Jeremy
KENYON-SLANEY also still lives locally in Tenterden and
works in garden and woodland management. He appeared, albeit
fleetingly, in Channel 4's Fifteen to One recently. Jamie
DAVIS who left in 1992 to go to Kingston Poly, still lives
in Kingston, working for Rolls Royce in 'facilities, management
building services'. He still keeps very much in touch with Ross
ANDREW. Adam BARNES is thoroughly enjoying his naval
training at Dartmouth. He recently spent six weeks in the Gulf
on HMS Boxer but managed some leave to attend the OBS reunion in
June. He impressed Upper Sixth leavers when he attended their
Leavers' Ball in his 'No 2 Mess Undress' uniform. James
PROCTOR who was recently 21, has just finished his second
year at Southampton in real estate valuation. He hopes
eventually to work in London but at present shares a house with James
LONGMUIR who spends much of the Summer teaching windsurfing.
Another keen windsurfer Richard NEWITT, who went to
Leicester, now works for a Tunbridge Wells solicitor which
involves much part-time study. Robert NOBLE has still two
years to go at U.C.L. reading Chemistry but has some diversions,
sharing a house with Ed MCCARTHY who has one more year at
L.S.E. He is still very much involved with the Duke of Edinburgh
Scheme with Simon DEVEAU, both of whom went to the
Pyrenees with the School party in the Summer. Bitu WILLIAMS
has been living and working in Exeter for a year. He has
completed two years of his Business Studies course at
Southampton Institute and very much enjoys his music making and
singing at a local church and with a local band. He keeps in
touch with Ross TURNBULL who has completed his second
year at Bristol reading English. He lost a whole year through a
nasty cycling accident when he was knocked over by a car. He
seems fully recovered however, and has thoroughly enjoyed his
course which provides a complete overview from Chaucer to the
present day. Geavin MASSEY who played for various Kent
rugby clubs after leaving School, has been studying Business
Computing at Roehampton Institute. He plans to travel in Africa
when he has his degree and then to settle in the States working
in computing. Jonathan RUPERTI worked as a tree surgeon
for South Bucks Tree Services. He studies at Merriot Wood
College in Guildford and has started an outdoor pursuits and 4x4
off road company with James MACFARLANE. James joined the
Army on leaving School but after a nasty accident which took him
two years to recover from has now left and hopes for better luck
with the new outdoor pursuits company. Martin KING who
married several years ago, damaged his back and after
physiotherapy, osteopaths and acupuncture, had to have surgery.
He remained cheerful however and shares the same church in
Cheltenham as the Harveys. Marc THOMPSON works in Zambia
for Bell Equipment who supply machinery to the Copper Belt
mines. He expects shortly to be moving down to South Africa and
hopes to take a Microsoft qualification. Marc TAYLOR who
spent six months of his Gap Year on the coast of the South of
France has completed his first year at the Cheltenham and
Gloucester College. He is studying marketing and multimedia but
finds enough time for a vigorous social life and plays for the
College 2nds. Mark SIPPE, Simon HERRING and George
MACDONALD are also at the college. Michael WRIGHT is
halfway through his training to become a scuba diving
instructor. He also hopes to study under-water photography in
Australia or Hawaii! Mark KATES who was a contemporary of
Raj RAO (last heard of as a dentist in Merseyside) has
recently moved to Melbourne, Australia. He has a three year
contract in the production engineering field. He is married with
a daughter, Samantha, aged three and still enjoys a game of
golf, with his handicap creeping slowly down to 10. Roger
KIMBER started a new job with Total having previously moved
to Scotland, managing to sell his house in Colwyn Bay. He and
his young family moved into a brand new house at Kemnay in
lnverurie and seem to be enjoying themselves. Nigel GOLDUP
who featured in Barry Robbins' editorial last year, writes from
South Africa. He and his wife, Yupha, have three boys and
entertained lots of their family from the UK with visits to the
game park. He describes the problems that the South African
economy creates for his mining company and his visits to
neighbouring Mozambique, where life seems to have stood still
for the last twenty years. Simon CHATTETRON graduated
last year and now works in media marketing in Northampton. John
JOHNSON graduated from the Camborne School of Mines in
Cornwall this year and started work for an engineering firm on a
new sewage outlet at Hastings! Jared ALUM writes from
Singapore where he remembers his time at Bethany with great
fondness. Rezal RAHIM lives in the Far East. He is a
practising advocate and solicitor in a legal firm in Jahor Bahru,
in Malaysia. He has been married since 1994 and has a four year
old son. He is sad to have lost touch with his contemporaries
and managed only a fleeting visit to Kent last year. Matthew
LAWRENCE took degrees in industrial design at Leeds and
Aston Universities to become a member of the Chartered Institute
of Designers. He lives in Birmingham. His brother Jonathan
studies finance and accounting at London University and has just
completed part one of his Chartered Accountancy exams. He lives
in Tunbridge Wells. Paul GRIST hosted a huge party in
August to celebrate his fortieth birthday. The large number of
friends gathered seemed to reflect his restlessness in changing
firms quite regularly and Paul is currently looking to move out
of the Fire and Security market. His Bentley standing in the
drive provoked many comments about his driving skills. Amongst
others at his party were Robert FORSYTH expanding
steadily with his book publishing business in Tunbridge Wells, Robert
PILBEAM expanding his antique business in acquiring the next
door shop in St. Johns, Charlie BROOKING still dabbling
in the art world and specialising particularly in Dutch 17th
century pictures in London and James HINCKS working for
the Halifax as an estate agent in Tunbridge Wells and who has
the unenviable task of trying to sell Paul Grist's house! Alex
DALE graduated in the Summer from the University of Kent
with a Science degree in Physics and Astrophysics. Daniel
ROOKWOOD also graduated from Pembroke, Cambridge, with a
degree in Geography. He thoroughly enjoyed his spell as the
sports editor of the University newspaper, The Varsity, and
plans a career in journalism. He is travelling in the Southern
hemisphere gaining as much experience as possible in different
newspapers. Derek WOLSEY has also just completed his
university course at Stafford University where he read Geography
and has gained a BA with Honours. Robin GALLIE who worked
in hotels after leaving school, notably in London, moved up to
Chester twelve years ago. He is the Conference Officer for
Chester College, a 5000 student strong college of higher
education. He is married with two girls aged nine and eleven.
His brother Sandy GALLIE was, for fifteen years, in the
Army reaching the rank of Major. He is now the Bursar of a
girls' school, is married and has two girls aged ten and
thirteen. Christopher NICHOLSON was married to Armani at
Guildford on August 28th. They have a flat there and both
started courses at the University in October. Matthew LAVER
was also married during the Summer to Katherine in Bexhill on
one of the hottest days of July. Their service gave guests a
marvellous opportunity to sing some real favourite hymns.
Matthew's knee injury has healed and now allows him to play some
non-contact sport. PSH |
Back in London
by popular request for our members, it was a fine elegant,
evening with the torches burning outside the club's elegant
frontage overlooking St. James Square. The pale blue Luncheon
Room was intimate and the food splendid; Roast Loin of Pork with
fresh apple sauce followed by Raspberry and Vanilla Crème
Brûlée accompanied by a most pleasing Club Red. It was good to
see such a mix of generations - from the (very) young to those
of more respectable age. There was also Christian and Juliet
Lanzer and Roger Vickers. We listened, transfixed following each
occasion that Paul Holmes banged his pudding spoon against the
table to introduce the speakers. Robert spoke of how
"...Bethany has progressed in leaps and bounds... Bethany
is a successful school business and I think it has spurred our
Society to succeed with it." 