Peter Rollason - Chairman of The Old Princethorpians
For this very first issue of The Old Princethorpian we have chosen, Peter Rollason, Chairman of the Association as our inaugural interviewee.
Peter has been active and a supportive member of the association for several years and is a regular attendee at events and OP meetings.
Age
50 at present but on the first day of the Autumn term I will be 51.
What are you doing now?
I am a solicitor and run a law practice in Daventry and, shortly, Leamington Spa. The firm employs 16 staff who deal with all areas of legal work. It was founded in 1994 from scratch (the product of the last but one recession).
I am married to Moira and have three children, Catriona (22), Alasdair (18) and Robert (12).
When were you at Princethorpe - years from and to?
1970-1977
What was the school like in your day?
Very different. Boys only of course and much smaller. I was a day boy and therefore in the minority as I recall. About two thirds of the school were either full or weekly boarders. There were many more priests teaching and, again as I recall it, they seemed to outnumber the lay staff. This might just have been an illusion as they made more of an impression in clerical garb. Discipline was fairly strict and robustly enforced. We probably needed it, however.
How did Princethorpe affect the person you are today?
As with many of my fellow members of the “Class of 77” I feel that Princethorpe gave me a unique outlook on life. Unlike many people from other schools who I met later in life, I think that from a character perspective, we all left Princethorpe as what I would call “the finished article”. Further education and the wider world generally obviously shaped our outlook but the school prepared us for what was to come in a very special way.
I rarely meet past pupils of the College who are in any way arrogant or standoffish, but at the same time past Princethorpians seem to have a quiet and gentle confidence and I think this is a fairly unique balance to achieve. From what I have seen the school continues in this way.
What advice would you give to your teenage self?
Not to take life so seriously and worry so much about things I had no chance of influencing. Above all, I would try and persuade my teenage self not to become a lawyer!
Who or what has been the greatest influence on your life?
Apart from my parents and family while growing up and my own wife and family, (while I still continue to grow up), the school was one of the major influences in my life. I was very lucky to grow up in the middle of the Northamptonshire countryside and between there and my school, my formative years were pretty idyllic. This has given me a passionate love of the countryside and an absolute aversion to working within anything approaching a large town or city.
What keeps you awake at night?
The fear that I may have let a client or friend down in some way, or that I have forgotten to do something I should have done.
What has been your proudest moment/greatest achievement so far?
After some pretty indifferent A levels getting my degree from Lanchester Polytechnic and subsequently qualifying as a solicitor was a very proud moment.
After that I think my proudest moment came last year when we celebrated, like all our “annus horribilis" which was a combination of my 50th birthday, Moira and my 25th wedding anniversary, Catriona’s 21st birthday and Alasdair’s 18th birthday and Robert getting into Princethorpe all at the same party. The moment I looked at them all while I made a little speech probably made me as proud as I have ever felt.
I try not to "do” pride however as it comes before a fall in my experience.
What’s your biggest indulgence?
Extravagant entertaining – I love to cook and I must admit I like to show off my culinary skills as much as possible. I usually go “over the top” when it comes to a dinner party for friends.
If you had to have one last meal, what would it be?
Starter - smoked salmon with prawns and a garlic mayonnaise followed by coq-au-vin mashed potato and weaned spinach with raspberry sponge and custard to follow (my mum made this for me on my 21st birthday).
What is your favourite TV Show and why?
Cooking programmes generally (especially Jamie Oliver) and although I don’t have Sky TV, the fishing programmes on Sky, which on the few occasions I can get together with my brother, we watch for hours, much to the disgust of our lady partners.
If you could be anywhere right now, where would it be and who would be with you? Somewhere in the south-west of France sitting outside, about to eat a large leisurely lunch with all my family and as many as my close friends as could be there.
Lasting memories of Princethorpe
Father Clarkson has to be one of my main lasting memories. In saying that Princethorpe had a huge influence on my life, Father Clarkson was the focal point of that influence. He managed to combine a very strict discipline with a wonderful sense of humour and a great sense of justice. He could not stand anything sneaky or unkind and I suppose I must be slightly older than he was when I first met him and I tend to react as he used to - quite often small unkindnesses or meanness produce a greater reaction in me than major crises which I tend to take in my stride.
Are you in touch with any other Old Princethorpians, if so whom?
I have stayed in touch with many people in my year and in fact, as time has gone on, the list has grown. Being involved with The Old Princethorpians has enabled me to see them more often, but I have probably been in touch with 10 or 12 of my year on a regular basis. Now being involved with the school, several teachers (I will protect their privacy by revealing how old they are), were at the College during my time there. Through The Old Princethorpians I am now meeting more and more people who are of my era or before.
Is there anyone you would like to track down?
I would like to track down the Binney Brothers. Michael and Paul who were in my class – we spent two years trying to master A-level European History, from the Peace of Paris to World War 1 I believe, under the watchful eye of Mr Rex.
Dick Williams was also in that class and I have lost touch with him recently. I would like to get in touch with him. We nearly spent a weekend together 10 years ago but got our wires crossed!
What are your ambitions for Old Princethorpians?
I think there is scope for us to provide a wide-ranging support system for all current and past pupils of the College.
I would like to see us establish a charitable foundation which could support pupils in extra-curricular activities and further education where funding, for example, for research could be given. This is some way away however, and we must think carefully of how we can take this forward. We must be inclusive and it would be nice to be a conduit for those who wish to, to keep in touch with staff and fellow pupils they met while at the College.
