Old Princethorpians

The College's roundhouse, with its tarpaulined roof and bricked up windows, long a bit of an eyesore at the top of the drive, has undergone an amazing revival.

Work began several months ago to restore the building to its former glory and is now near completion. The building now boasts a new slate roof and eyecatching panoramic windows around its circumference, internally the space is now flooded with light and the decorative pillars have been sympathetically restored.

Comments, Alex Darkes, "We are tremendously pleased at how well the restoration has gone. The shape of the building lends itself to gatherings and events and as such the intention is to use it as an extension of the Music Department. We hope to unveil it in all its splendour later this term."

A bumper number of candidates sat the College's entrance examinations over two busy sessions at the end of January. 

Comments, Alex Darkes, Assistant Head - Marketing and Operations, "We played host to over 230 prospective pupils across four year groups, a similar level to last year's record year. Feedback from parents and candidates alike has been very favourable indeed, which bodes very well for next September's intake."

"The marking machine swung into action, even before candidates had left the building and the Admissions Panel sat the following week to decide on the 130 or so boys and girls who will be joining us in September 2012."

Those interested in a place at the College in September 2013 can download our flyer below which includes key open events and admissions dates, like the forthcoming Open Evening on Wednesday 13 June from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

J1479 PC Mailer Feb 12 Web.pdf

Just before Christmas Princethorpe welcomed a small party from Warwick Ladies Bowling Club to its Chapel for a 'private' concert and talk on the history of the Chapel.

The lady organiser was none other than Mary Wheildon, sister of OP, John Wheildon and herself a past pupil of St Mary's Priory. An impromptu visit to the College earlier in the year with fellow past pupil Maria Cecilia Cordoba from Columbia had inspired the visit.

Mary, now the Captain of the Bowling Club, was keen to share the delights of the Chapel with her group, which also included fellow past pupils, Jane Harrison and Marianne Horne. OP Sean Philpott gave the ladies an illuminating talk on the Chapel including the relevance of all its angels and music teacher Adrian Moore played the magnificent Binns organ beautifully, including some well-loved carols in his extensive repertoire.

With coffee and festive mince pies to round off the visit, the ladies were all set for their Christmas lunch at the Red Lion in Hunningham.

Click here to download a copy of the latest Our Lady of the Angels Chapel booklet by Dr Simon Peaple.

Old Princethorpian, Rob Mackenzie was the deserving recipient of the Old Princethorpians Cup at the College’s annual Prize Giving Ceremony held at Warwick University’s Butterworth Hall on Friday 4 November. Rob received the award for his ‘notable contribution to the Dramatic Arts and Entertainment’, having been a stalwart of the backstage, lighting and sound team for many College productions and events.

Mrs Margaret Robinson, Head of Sixth Form who read the citation commented,” I think a great many of us, staff and students alike, owe Rob a tremendous debt of gratitude for his tremendous service to so very many social, cultural and dramatic events over the years.  Rob was our maestro of the lighting and overseer of sound technology and he was utterly reliable and competent in these roles.”

Justin King, Chief Executive of J Sainsbury plc, who was the guest speaker at the event, presented Rob with his prize on behalf of the Old Princethorpians.

Seventeen-year old Rob from Dunchurch, Rugby, left the College in July 2011, and is now studying Sports Science at Moulton College, as well as busily preparing for the Cycling Road Season in which he competes at national level.

Commenting on how things have changed for him since leaving Princethorpe Rob said, "I had a great six years at Princethorpe, it's a hard place to leave. But in order for me to make a big push in my development,  it was a step that had to be taken."

"Having the extra time is allowing me to make further steps in my cycling training, I have had a good winter of preparation, 2012 is going to be a big year for me and I can't wait for the races to start." 

We wish him all the very best for the future.

As part of the OPs ongoing Skills Bank initiative a number of past pupils gave of their time in November to put current Sixth Formers through their paces on an Interview Skills Day.

The day organised by Mrs Margaret Robinson, Head of Sixth Form and Careers, brought some 20 OPs, current and past parents from a wide range of professions together with the Upper Sixth to give them a taste of what to expect from some of the tricky interviews that lie before them.

Every Sixth Form pupil prepared their personal statement beforehand and where possible was matched up with a professional closely linked to their intended career choice. This statement was used as a prompt to pose challenging questions to the pupil about their plans for the future. Each interview lasted approximately 20 minutes allowing enough time for pupils to practice honing their communication and interviewing techniques. Full written feedback was given to each pupil indicating what they did well and what could be developed in time for those all important and fast approaching university interviews.

Head of Sixth Form Mrs Margaret Robinson commented, "Our Sixth Formers take these mock events very seriously. It provides them with a vital chance to practise selling themselves. This is a skill that for some individuals doesn’t come naturally. Fortunately our interviewers were very impressed with the calibre and conduct of their interviewees."

One OP who gave of his time was Ade Fashade, who comments,"The interview skills day went really well. I enjoyed doing it and I was very impressed with the students I spoke with, which included the Head Girl. It was my first time back since 1985, a year after I left!"

"One thing that struck me was the consistent answer I got from the students about what they will miss about Princethorpe when they leave. They all said the community and family environment. I believe they all have very bright futures.  

"During our break, I got a tour of the old school. It has changed a lot since I left! Also, it all looks quite small to me now, unlike when I was there when it all looks quite huge! I must say I was very impressed with the modern 6th Form wing - a far cry from when we had just the common room as the main luxury for the Sixth Form!  I really enjoyed the day and it was a privilege to help."

Our thanks go to Ade and fellow OPs Jean-Pierre Parsons and Toby Goddard (pictured interviewing Sixth Former, Josie Higman) for their help on the day.

More OPs are set to get involved in the next careers related initiative at the College, an inaugural Careers Fair which is due to take place on Saturday 28 April. 

We've had reunions in many a glamorous location -  Leamington, London and even Hong Kong, and OPs are now looking to gauge interest in an American Reunion.

We realise its a 'big country' so may have to start with a 'west coast' or 'east coast' reunion.

If you are based in the USA and would be interested in meeting up with some fellow stateside OPs then let us know by emailing Old Princethorpians.

Facebook fans out there may have spotted that the Princethorpe College group has drastically dwindled in numbers recently from over 900 to 9!

This is something to do with how Facebook manages groups now, so we are looking to create a new Princethorpe College page and will keep you all posted as to when it goes live. In the meantime you can rejoin the group if you would like.

Elsewhere on the electronic communications front Princethorpe's Assistant Head and OP, Alex Darkes has recently ventured into the wonderful world of social networking.

Not of the Facebook generation, Alex has dipped his toe in with the slightly more business orientated LinkedIn, with some quite surprising and pleasing results.

Alex comments, "My first contacts were with Kevin Elvin and Tony Johnson, both of whom were in my form and both of whom are doing very well indeed, I'm proud to say.  I've had some really nice conversations with them and others now and it has given me a fascinating insight into their lives and also the value of this new media."

Look Alex up on LinkedIn, he'd love to hear from you!

The Old Princethorpians are adding to their range of corporate merchandise with a new Tower inspired pin badge. The 2cm high badge in nickel with recessed metal detail is based on the Tower logo. 

Priced at £8 including postage and packing (UK only, other destinations please enquire), it is hoped that the badge will appeal to both male and female OPs.

Stocks should be available by April, to pre-order your pin please use the attached order form.

Steve White, OP and long standing Head of Physics, has announced that he is set to retire at the end of this academic year after an astounding 30 years on the Princethorpe staff and seven as a pupil.

Steve was a pupil at Princethorpe from 1970 to 1977 and started working at the College in September 1982.

"I have had a great time at the College, but really want to leave while I am able to enjoy a hopefully long, active and healthy retirement. First stop I'll be heading for some hills, as walking and travellling are my absolute love."

As a 'Farewell and Celebration' of Steve's time at Princethorpe, he is to be our 'guest of honour' at the Open Supper Meeting on Tuesday 19 June, 7.00pm for 7.30pm in the College's Sixth Form Centre.

Former pupils and members of staff are invited to come along to help give Steve a send off to remember, please RSVP to Old Princethorpians by Friday 1 June so we can cater for you. There is no charge for this event.

Friday 15 June - 6.30pm onwards

Advance warning of the popular Old Princethorpians' Summer London Pub Meet which will take place on Friday 15 June 2012 at The Guinea, 30 Bruton Place, Mayfair, W1J 6NL (off Berkley Square, nearest tubes Bond Street and Green Park) from 6.30pm.

All are welcome to come along for a drink and a catch up!

Sunday 13 May - 12.00pm to 4.00pm

Plans are afoot for the next OPs Festival Day, this year's event will take place on Sunday 13 May. All OPs, their partners and families are welcome, no matter when they attended the College.

The day will start with a mass in the Chapel, followed by a buffet lunch, tours of the College and sporting, fun activities for all the family. This year guests will also be able to try out their skills on the College's new indoor climbing wall.

If you would like to come please email Old Princethorpians by Monday 30 April with the number in your party and any special dietary requirements so we can cater for you.

Saturday 24 March - 10.30am to 12.30pm

Crackley Hall and Little Crackers, Princethorpe's junior school and nursery in Kenilworth, is opening its doors for a Spring Open Morning on Saturday 24 March from 10.30am to 12.30pm.

There will be fun activities for children to participate in and Crackley pupils will be involved in sport and musical performances.

The nursery is now open 48 weeks a year and is carefully structured for two-year olds, three-year olds and pre-school, based on the exciting Reggio Emilia approach to learning.

All are welcome to look round the school, and to meet staff and pupils. No need to book.

For more information call 01926 514444 or visit www.crackleyhall.co.uk.

Tuesday 20 March - 6.00pm to 9.00pm in the College Library

The Archive Project Team need your help as information on names, dates and events is still sketchy on many of the College photographs we have in our possession.

If your memory is good, please come along to the second of our Archives Soirees on Tuesday 20 March, from 6.00pm to 9.00pm, refreshments will be available.

Please contact Celia Scott by Tuesday 13 March if you would like to come along.

Sixth Form Scholarship Examination
Thursday 8 March 2012 - 9.15am to 12.45pm

Sixth Form Academic Scholarships are open to all external candidates who are expected to be top achievers at GCSE.

The Sixth Form Scholarship Examination will take place on Thursday 8 March from 9.15am to 12.45pm.  Each candidate will sit examination papers in two of their preferred choice of subjects to be taken at AS-level, plus a verbal reasoning paper. They will be invited to submit a personal portfolio of achievements to support the application.

Those who wish to be considered for the Sixth Form Scholarship need to register for the examination by Monday 27 February 2012.

A letter of application should be sent to the Registrar, Mrs Loretta Curtis. She can be contacted on 01926 634201 or email Loretta Curtis.

Sixth Form Sport Scholarship

Senior Sport Scholarships may be awarded to internal and external candidates entering the Sixth Form. The candidates should submit a portfolio and detailed account of their reasons for the application supported by references from their coach/activity leaders.

The final document should be submitted to Mrs Loretta Curtis, the Registrar by Friday 2 March. A Sports Scholarship Assessment Day will take place on Friday 9 March.

Sixth Form offers and Academic and Sport Scholarship offers will be made on Monday 26 March 2012.

Friday 2 March - 6.30pm onwards

The next OPs Leamington Pub Meet takes place on Friday 2 March at The Star and Garter, Warwick Street, Leamington Spa, CV32 5LL (near the Fire Station) from 6.30pm.

Comments, OP Chairman, Peter Rollason, "We know a lot of OPs still live locally and would love to see more of them at this very sociable event. We always have a good time, quite a few staff come along and it really is a case of the more, the merrier!"

All are welcome to come along and reminisce!

All OPs, past parents and staff are welcome to participate in any or all of the events which range from pub meets, to picnics and the popular annual OPs Festival Day for all the family.

Click here to download the calendar or visit the Past Pupils section at www.princethorpe.co.uk
for more information. 

Age: 

I just turned 53

When were you at Princethorpe - years from and to?

1970 thru 1976

At school I was known as "yank" or "yankee" or more recently as 'seppo' as in septic tank, in the cockney language.

What have you been doing since leaving Princethorpe?

While at Princethorpe my parents lived in Detroit, Michigan,  I went back to live there in 1976 after O levels.  

A few of us at school, Marc Marot, Simon Venus, Andy Frain and Michael Smith had started a band.  We also played a few gigs outside school as well.

At that point it seems I was well entrenched in the music biz, HA!  So when I returned I met up with some other mates here in the States and formed another band, THE PLUGS.  we gigged around Detroit at night while I worked as a runner for a film company.

The hours I would spend in the car everyday punching around the radio dial made me miss the depth of radio on the BBC, especially John Peel.  radio in the States is very segmented.

I have two sisters and one brother, in 1976 they were all still living in England and my sister, Cathy, had started working for the Virgin record label.  she would send over care packages of records that Virgin had just released.  i would take these records to local radio stations and try to get the 'hip' DJs to air them, most of these folks told me to get lost, but one guy, John O'Leary told me how to break into radio.

I followed his advice and slogged my way into a gig at the local public radio station.

It took a while but I finally landed a super-late night show in Detroit.  Population 4.5 million, most were asleep at 1am till 3am but I got my chops.

Eventually they gave me a Friday afternoon show, and then another early evening show.
It was on this programme that this little Irish band called U2 came by and hung out to do an interview.

I was also playing REM and others that would go on to greatness. This itself led to other jobs on radio that actually paid me enough to survive.

I eventually ended up in San Diego, California, where I have been for the last 25 years.

In that time I have helped to launch the careers of JEWEL, BLINK-182, JASON MRAZ and a few others you will be hearing from later.


Here are links to a TV programme that ran here in SD a few years back.

part one:
http://youtu.be/ZN8Bti8CX2w

part two:
http://youtu.be/MLjfh1KLf6c

part three:
http://youtu.be/sn6BTtWlYWc

part four: 
http://youtu.be/bEvlSuqTeQM

part five:
http://youtu.be/NdK8fgVqGZ8

part six:
http://youtu.be/_SELUZYo72M

It pretty much sums up my career to that point, and this link is the part where the musicians I have helped talk about the early years.

http://vimeo.com/27516320

What was the school like in your day?

It was very different for me considering I had come from school in the States,  it took me a while to adjust, but I feel that the school was wonderful and helpful.

How did Princethorpe affect the person you are today?

Mainly it is the other students that became my lifelong friends that really made me who I am today.  The education on many different levels was great, but the non academic stuff, friendships, school trips, trips to the continent to visit mate's parents and being invited by various day boys to see what real British families were like.

I learned all of the necessary lessons at school(except Chemistry), but I was given a better run at life with the knowledge I gained from actually being in England at that time.

Punk was just about to rear it's head and it was a very exciting time to be there.

What advice would you give to your teenage self?

Invent the Macintosh. I keep in contact with so many people using my mac, with photos and the like. In fact I was trying to have a video chat with Michael Nagaur the other day but his PC is useless, so no video. DRAT!  But it's always the same advice I see from bands I have watched make it big.  You need to take the time to actually see your surroundings and enjoy them.  Smell the roses, smell the coffee, drink the coffee, hang out.

Who or what has been the greatest influence on your life?

Music, music, music and my friends.

What keeps you awake at night? 

Nothing really, I tend to pack enough into a day that I sleep right through any worries. Maybe that's a problem.

What has been your proudest moment/greatest achievement so far?

My children.  There is no greater reason to live a full life than that.  It keeps you young, and having an amazing wife, who is also a school-teacher.  She keeps my feet on the ground.  

What’s your biggest indulgence?

Motorcycles.  Patrick Cox another former Princethorpian and I have taken a few excursions together on our bikes.

I love getting away from it all. The mobile doesn't ring, you are in the middle of nowhere. Soon I hope that Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman will invite me on their next adventure.  I will bring a solar powered ipod.

If you had to have one last meal, what would it be? 

The meal wouldn't be important, but the people I have it with would be.

What is your favourite TV Show and why? 

The one I am developing.... http://vimeo.com/25005118

If you could be anywhere right now, where would it be and who would be with you? 

I would be right here in La Jolla, California, I love it here.... but I would invite all my friends from school to see it, some have been here, but not all.

Lasting memories of Princethorpe:

All of the teachers really, Mr Rex, Ms Devries, Madame Jones, Mr Clarke, Ted, Bernie, Taff, Cluck, Alex Darkes.... i could go on forever.....Rugby in the cold, but mainly the lasting friendships, they will go on 'til my last breath.

Are you in touch with any other Old Princethorpians, if so whom? 

Yes, Peter Rollason (my first true friend ever), Marc Marot, Patrick Cox, Andy Frain, Michael Nagaur, Simon Venus, Richard Winn, Michael Smith, Marcus Smith, Ernie Springley, Nigel Keckford, Mick Glynn, Anil Patel, Dinu Patel, Wayne Olerenshaw, Stephen Coyle, Warren Lamond, Bill Franklin, I am running out of space...

Is there anyone you would like to track down?

Mickey Hindley.  I saw him in London ages ago... but he has gone underground..... such a nice guy.  One of the best humans on the planet.

Hey Mickey! Where are you?

Andy Davies, who was at Princethorpe from 1991-1998 is set to marry his fiancee, Sonia Bassan this April in the Chapel at Princethorpe.

During his time at the College Andy was a keen member of the rugby team and Junior School Prefect when in the Sixth Form. After leaving Princethorpe he originally qualified as a Mechanical Engineer but has since retrained as a Financial Accountant and now works for a French logistics firm. Fiancee Sonia is a Forensic Accountant at an engineering firm.

The couple met working at a pub together in Atherstone back in 2003 and have been together since 2006. Andy proposed whilst they were on holiday in Malaysia back in 2008.

We wish them all the best for their big day!

Old Princethorpians have been terribly saddened to hear of the untimely death of fellow past pupil John Hindley. John was just 52 years old when he died of H1N1 virus (Swine Flu) in hospital, after a few days of being unwell, on 7th January 2011.

John came back to Princethorpe with his lovely wife Alison for the Festival Day in Spring 2010 and it was our priviledge to spend time with them both on this happy day.

Alison has been in touch to share some thoughts and memories of John with us.

John was warm, generous, kind, gentle-hearted and had a great sense of fun. Like his Headmaster, Fr Clarkson, who he looked up to enormously, John was a great influence for good in many lives.

When I came with John to the Festival Day I discovered new things about him (which is quite something after 25 years of marriage!). I discovered what a great impact Princethorpe had had on John and how happy he had been there.  He felt very loved there and very much part of a community. I think that being at Princethorpe really shaped who he was, he was a man of faith and loved nature. I realised that this must really have been shaped by Princethorpe when he told me about life there, the positive influence of the priests and Father Bill.

He told me also how the boys would run out into the woods in free time and play for long and happy hours. He explained how he would sit and observe nature. John had a love of birds, he had a particular interest in birds of prey. I think that this passion was ignited at Princethorpe.

Initially after leaving Princethorpe and training as a Police Cadet he worked in Preston as a Police Officer, which he did for about seven years. Following this he made a move into social work and at the time of his death was working for a Jewish Charity in Manchester - The Manchester Jewish Federation. John loved working for 'the Fed', he served the local Jewish community in Manchester providing culturally sensitive social work support to those in need.

John served in a pastoral role in our church, leading a Pastoral Team and enabling them to meet pastoral needs.  He also served on the core leadership team helping set direction and provide strategy in taking the church forward and fulfilling its role in the community.

John was a fantastic husband and father. He has made us who we are. Our children Laura (23), Joseph (20), and Abigail (16) will always remember his godly example, his loving kindness, faithfulness, loyalty and brilliant sense of humour.

We'd like the last word to go to John himself who wrote in July 2009 about the passing of Fr Bill...

I am sure that you have had a significant flow of comments from past pupils following Fr Clarkson’s sad passing. I hope I could add another contribution to the previous ones. As an OP I do occasionally look at the school website so the news of Fr Bill’s passing was a shock since I was looking for news about how he was and trying to guess how old he must be at that time. When I did see the news so many memories came flooding back about the time at Princethorpe and him in particular.

Many of his qualities have already been recognised by others. One was his ability to be almost omnipresent! Just when you when you were hoping you would not bump into him or he catch you up to something perhaps not part of the regular curriculum, there he was! He was a warm, generous and an incredibly fair man at all times and even when discipline was required there was never any sense of injustice on the part of the pupil afterwards!

One major aspect of his character was that he was just so full of life! With incredible  energy. I can still see him laughing on the rugby pitch as we boys had a chance to tackle him with very limited success and him just running on to score an imaginary try for Ireland and all of us having fun in the process. Once on a cold Friday night, he got two other boys and myself into the  kitchen to make sandwiches for a trip the following day, with him helping, and on the Saturday taking us down to England versus the All Blacks (Jan 1973) at Twickenham, getting us our first whisky, and driving us all the way back and being up for mass the following day.

I think above all he was a deeply spiritual man whose faith was at the core of everything he did. For us who were fortunate to have him in our lives we had that opportunity to see that and take from him that example and take it out with us into the world.

We were incredibly fortunate to have his abiding influence in our lives for those years. It would have been great to have had the chance to say thank you to him personally but I am sure somehow he knows now what a great influence he sowed into so many lives and is enjoying his reward for his faithful service. Thank you Father Bill.

OP Antony Vickery, who is now based in the States, had a brief, but colourful spell at the College in 1970, here he looks back on that time..

When the Franciscans announced that they were closing the boarding school I was attending in Buckinghamshire, my parents sent me to Princethorpe, and when I arrived (in, I believe, 1970) I discovered to my delight that several other boys I knew well from the Franciscan school had also signed up.

I was a conscientious student and did well at first, even being appointed a trainee prefect or assistant prefect or whatever it was and being permitted to wear a stripe (gold? red?) on the sleeve of my blazer.

Then came the fall. I and two other boys, all three of us imports from the Franciscans, got into mischief that resulted in us being expelled (I think the term they used was “asked to leave”). Although our sins were many and included hot-wiring the car the school used for driver training and driving it and the lawn mower tractor around the playing fields in the middle of the night, eating comestibles we'd stolen from the tuck shop, I believe that rather in the manner of Watergate, it wasn’t the crime that did us in, it was the cover-up we attempted after being discovered (by Matron, of all people).

I ended up at St. John’s College in Southsea where I once again discovered several boys I’d known at the Franciscan school. It all ended happily. I covered myself with glory at St. John’s, even becoming a prefect again (instead of armbands we wore a special tie), and left in 1973 for university.

Some Princethorpe memories:

• The secret panel in the church
• Army Cadet Force drill in the school yard and shooting .303s at Bisley
• The beastliness of compulsory rugby
• Opening up the trapdoors in the upper floors of the church tower and jumping through them onto a stack of unused mattresses placed on the ground floor
• The tiny door at the back of the study hall that opened onto a spiral staircase

In 1978 I moved to New York to work as a computer programmer, and somewhat to my surprise, what I’d originally planned as a two- or three-year stint has turned into a lifetime. I became an American citizen in 2001 and live near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with my wife Susan and our ten-year-old twins Alexander and Emma.

I travel to England often, and when I’m there it’s my habit to visit my old schools and the houses my family lived in (there are a lot of the latter as my father was an officer in the British Army and we moved often). On one such visit to Princethorpe, some twenty-odd years after I’d been sent packing, I entered the school and was taking in the display cabinets in the cloisters on my way to the church when I was approached by a gentleman - I can’t recall whether he was a brother or a lay teacher - who politely and very correctly asked me who I was. I explained that I was an old boy of the school and that nobody had answered the door. It was only when I mentioned my name that he interrupted: “And you were expelled, weren’t you?”

If not fame exactly, perhaps infamy!

Great progress has been made on the College's archive by College Librarian, Celia Scott and Archivist David Hodgkinson.

The industrious pair have now catalogued the contents of the College archive, including key documents such as the deeds, the admissions registers and Year Books, plus information on the Benedictine period, St Mary's Priory and St Bede's. A pdf of the catalogue will shortly be available on the website, with further detail available in the longer term.

Having a full collection of whole school photographs in the cloister gallery has also been a major aim of the project. Celia and David are having copies made of seven photographs that have been missing from the collection, mostly from the St Bedes era and it is hoped that by May, the full collection will be complete and hanging back where they belong.

Over the course of the archive project spare copies of some whole school photographs have come to light. These are now available for purchase at £20 unframed plus postage and packing:

• 1969-1970 -3 copies
• 1979-2 copies
• 1980 - 1981 - 5 copies
• 1981 -1982 - 4 copies
• 1982-1983 - 2 copies
• 1985 - 5 copies
• 1986 - 1 copy
• 1988 - 2 copies
• 1989 (Sixth Form only) - 12 copies
• 1990 - 13 copies
• 1993 - 2 copies

A few of the photos are framed, these will cost £30, and are available for collection only. If any OPs are interested in purchasing them please email Melanie Butler for more details. 

Information is still sketchy on many of the College photographs, so a further Archives Soiree is planned for Tuesday 20 March, from 6.00pm to 9.00pm, if you would like to drop in to help shed some light on the matter, please contact Celia Scott by Tuesday 13 March. Light refreshments will be available.

Adrian Watts (1974 - 1979) posted on Facebook recently that he is keen to know what has happened to fellow classmates Simon Yates, Phil Callan or Jonathan Edwards.

If anyone can help please email Old Princethorpians.

Ade Fashade who left Princethorpe in 1984 would like to get back in touch with Richard Relton.

He takes up the story, "I remember Richard 'Ricky' Relton as a 'jack of all trades, master of all sports' in his time at Princethorpe! He was a brilliant sportsman - played rugby, golf, football, tennis, everything for the school. He was games captain when we were there. 

The last time I saw him was a year after we left, when he lived in South Kensington, West London. If I remember, I think he hails from Hartlepool."

Ade now works with Shelter, one of the largest Housing Advice and Campaigning charities in the UK, as the Head of Equality & Diversity. He works in London, but lives in Chelmsford, Essex, where he is married with three girls aged 21, 18 and 11.

Guy Gnudi is also interested in tracking down Ricky, a popular chap it would seem.

If anyone can put Ade and Guy back in touch with Ricky please email Old Princethorpians.

I started my studies at Princethorpe in the year 2000 and continued through to the Sixth Form completing my A-Level studies in 2006. During my time at Princethorpe I was honoured to have been selected to serve as Deputy Head Boy and extremely flattered to have been awarded the Princethorpe Shield in 2006. I enjoyed my time at PC immensely and as a result I have hardly left the place since finishing my studies here!

Throughout the course of my Undergraduate degree I consistently returned to the school during the busy holiday periods to help out in the Estates Department. This was an experience that taught me a great deal and was certainly handy in topping up the coffers!

Upon graduating from the University of Birmingham in 2010 I returned to the College and was offered a more senior role within the management team. I currently work as Foundation Estates Administrator for the Foundation alongside Mark Johnson - the Foundation Estates Manager – and carry out a number of tasks. On a day-to-day basis my most important tasks are to act as a liaison between teaching and support staff and to manage the work-flow for the Estates Department at both Foundation sites. This can range from arranging for a replacement light bulb to be fitted to organising large-scale events such as the National ESAA Cross Country Finals that were held at the College last November. I am also partially responsible for managing Health and Safety both at Princethorpe College and Crackley Hall which can be rather exciting at times!

Alongside my work for the College I am currently studying for an MA in International Security at the University of Warwick, on a part-time basis. It’s going very well and I’m enjoying being back in academia once again – although balancing work with my studies has been a steep learning curve! With any luck I shall graduate in July 2013.

My experience of Princethorpe throughout my time as a student was, I am sure, very similar to many of yours – full of very happy memories. The school allowed me to develop not only my academic and sporting talents but, most importantly, my overall character. I think that my time here has stood me in extremely good stead for the future and I owe a great deal to the College for supplying me with such a well rounded education. This has continued into my daily job with the Foundation and I look forward to what the future holds with great anticipation!

OP Shaun O'Hara (left 1974/5) has recently launched a "free to use" business support website. The ulr is http://cohort-business-support-helpme.co.uk/

It has a "Panel" of Businesses who are willing to give advice to those from the business community as well as a monthly newsletter from the Panel Members to any site visitors that register on the site. (Sent at the end of every month)
 
Shaun comments, "It is early days yet, but in six weeks there has been some 2,000 odd hits on the site."
 
He thinks it may be of interest to any Old Princethorpians who are running their own businesses.

I was at Princethorpe from around 1985-1989.

I remember some of the teachers well, we had Mr McGreavy for woodwork, Mr O'Grady for Maths, he was funny, always swearing, making jokes, smoking in class and had a finger missing.

I recall that we had a lady English teacher who I used to fancy. Then there was Mr Harwood for History, a strange fella he was, with his clumpy ginger hair and beard. And of course not forgetting Mr and Mrs Skiffington, Pricey, the games blokey. Father Whelan, Father Lee and Father McManus etc.

After I left, I went to Mid Warwickshire College of Further Education to study Art & Design for a year and got a Diploma.

I then worked for the Hilton Hotel at Warwick as a Trainee Live-in Manager. After which I moved away to Eastbourne and lived there for a few years, then worked up and down the country in various locations and establishments, working up to a qualified Sous Chef.

Since then I have moved to Surrey, bought a house, sold a house, got married, got divorced and worked in various hotels and restaurants in roles ranging from Chef De Partie/Sous Chef/Head Chef. I also worked for a Fine Dining private airline as a chef to the rich and famous.

My claims to fame include working alongside Jamie Oliver and the winner of the TV Programme 'FIFTEEN' and being taught a few tricks of the trade by Italy's most famous chef Gennaro Contaldo and Gareth Clarke, Gordon Ramsay's Sous Chef.

I now live with my girlfriend and three children in a rural village near Guildford. I am not working at the moment as I am awaiting a hip replacement.

I left Princethorpe in '94 and decided to take a year out. Shortly afterwards I was informed by my parents that my year out would not be spent loafing around the house so I took a job with Bass Taverns. I ended up staying with them for four years and managed various Ale Houses around Warwickshire.

Then came a two year stint with Calor Gas before I ended up in the delightful world of recruitment. The next 10 years were spent with the likes of Blue Arrow, Toner Graham and Michael Page recruiting everything from an HGV Driver to Financial Directors across the Midlands.

At the start of 2011 I decided to set up my own company (chrisfollyltd). We offer Social Media Management services to businesses across the UK and it's the best thing I've ever done.

Away from work, I've been married to Emma for five years and we have two sons, Max and Harry. We live just a few miles from the College in a small village called Draycote. In my limited spare time I enjoy Rugby Union, shooting, cooking and property renovation.

I'm pleased to say that my best friends are still the same guys that I went to Princethorpe with and I have some very fond memories of the old place.