Occasional Universial Register - December 2025

Engagements

Tom Falkner (OS, 2002–07) and Rosanna Trower (13/11/23)

Alexander Clarke (OS, 1998–2003) and Marina Connolly (9/12/23)

Charles Hirst (OS, 2001–06) and Nina Etherton (30/5/24)

Digby Beatson-Hird (OS, 2002–07) and Antonia Curtis (31/5/24)

Alexander Peake (OS, 2001–06) and Margot Davies (1/6/24)

Capt. William Coleridge (OS, 2005–10) and Alice Scott-Barrett (20/12/24)

Tom Rundall (OS, 1989–94) and Cristina del Rio Tordera (14/1/25)

Charlie Robinson (OS, 2004–09) and Natalie Hennessy (30/1/25)

Ralph Chamberlen (OS, 2005–10) and Phoebe Studdert-Kennedy (8/3/25)

Alexander Windsor-Clive (OS, 2001–06) and Eleanor Warrington (27/5/25)

Thomas Faber (OS, 2000–05) and Lucy Lyall Grant (7/6/25)

Nico Macauley (OS, 2001–06) and Lady Marina-Charlotte Windsor (21/6/25)

Dr Tom Chatfeild-Roberts (OS, 2001–06) and Meisha Micklewright (11/8/25)

Louis van Zeller (OS, 2001–06) and Laura Gane (21/10/25)

Guy Cabral (OS, 2006–11) and Iona Fielding (3/11/25)

Jack Collins (OS, 2000–05) and Matilda Stanton (21/11/25)

Births

James Bickford-Smith (OS, 1986–91) and Sahar, a daughter, Nour Margaret Ismat (2/4/25)

Samuel Swire (OS, 1988–93) and Poppy, a daughter, Matilda Carolyn, sister to Gabriel (22/5/25)

Harry Townshend (OS, 1992–97) and Alice, a son, Edmund Francis, brother to Florence, Jemima and Wilbur (4/12/24)

James Troughton (OS, 1995–2000) and Clementine, a son, Cosmo Kerr Geoffrey, brother to Jude (30/4/25)

Fergus Gifford (OS, 1998–2000) and Anna, a son, Apollo Taeho Oh (25/5/25)

Nico Gaisman (OS, 1997–2002) and Lizzie, a daughter, Allegra Tessa Leonora, sister to William and Hermione (1/6/24)

Jamie Laing (OS, 1997–2002) and Sophie, a son, Ziggy (4/12/25)

Alasdair Thong (OS, 1998–2003) and Erela, a son, Leopold (22/2/23)

Luke Faber (OS, 1999–2004) and Stella, a son, Nicholas (Nicky) Mark Percy (29/4/24)

Jasper Henson (OS, 2002–07) and Isabel, a daughter, Gabriela (5/11/25)

Congratulations to all the above!

Deaths

Sir Malcolm Chaplin (OS, 1943–47), on23/9/23

Adrian Slade (OS, 1943–49), on 24/1/25

Hon. Alastair Hoyer-Millar (OS, 1945–50), on 20/5/23

David Backhouse (OS, 1947–52), on 23/6/25

John Montagu, Earl of Sandwich (OS, 1951–56), on 1/2/25

Lady Fox (Former SF Governor, 1969–98), on 12/7/25

Edward ‘Ned’ Harris (OS, 1994–99), on 26/8/25

Sir Richard Carew Pole, Bt (OSSL, 1946–51), on 1/12/24

Hon. Nicholas Tollemache (OSSL, 1949–54), on 28/11/24

We send our condolences to the respective families.

Appointments

John Barclay, DL (OS, 1962–66) has been appointed Vice Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex. He was formerly a Deputy Lieutenant of that county. He has recently stepped down from his position at the helm of The Arundel Castle Cricket Foundation, a charity he established over 30 years ago.

Publications

Veteran publisher Anthony Cheetham (OS, 1951–56) has written A Life in Fifty Books: A Publisher’s Memoir (Head of Zeus, March 2025). The best bits are reportedly in the early chapters, one of which covers Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring, which the young Cheetham “devoured by torchlight beneath the bedsheets” while at Summer Fields.

Published in August this year, Return to Styria (Troubador Publishing) is the second novel by Henry Poole (OS, 1957–62). His son, Henry Poole (OS, 1991–96), proudly shared the synopsis with us:

Frank Stratham has finally retired. His Greek-born wife, thinking it may be a useful therapy, encourages him to look back and write about his professional adventures in the paper industry. During this retrospective journey through his complex working life in the financial world, we learn how he retired after an unsuccessful end to his career but was then suddenly asked to help his former best client, Papierfabrik Wallen in Styria, Austria.

The fate of the company and the many strands of Frank’s own domestic life in London, Greece and Austria are cleverly intertwined. Frank’s career is re-launched after he is asked to become chairman and float Papierfabrik Wallen on the Stock Exchange. However, troubling disclosures emerge about the company’s founder, Prince Heinrich von Wallen, who seems to have had a dubious wartime past, not to mention the existence of a possible illegitimate child. This is not purely a professional assignment for Frank, as his Greek sister-in-law has married into the mysterious von Wallen family and Frank’s destiny seems inextricably bound up with both Greece and Styria, despite his longing for a comfortable life in London and Kent with his wife and his beloved Leonberger.

Boys Don’t Cry: The A-Z of everything we need to talk about (Bloomsbury, October 2025) is by Jamie Laing (OS, 1997–2002) and is “a handbook about growing up in today’s society”.

Court Circular

Ollie Jones (OS, 2001–06) made his comeback to Eton fives in September this year – after a break of a dozen or so years – by appearing in a league match for North Oxford EFC (and winning).

Toby Bush (OS, 2003–08) continues to be a keen member of North Oxford EFC’s division three squad. He is gainfully employed by Columbia Threadneedle Investments in the UK Equities section.

Rupert Swallow (OS, 2006–09) plays fives for the Old Etonians and recently entered the Graham Turnbull Trophy, partnering a current Etonian. He is a lawyer with Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, specialising in financial crime (committed – or not – by others!).

Alfred Backhouse (OS, 2013–15) has added another sport to his repertoire. Earlier this year, he took up boxing and, with just three months of training, he competed in the ring in Oxford town hall, representing Oxford University Tennis Club and raising money for the Oddballs Foundation, a cancer charity.

Fred Prickett (OS, 2011–16) is at Exeter University but regularly returns to the London area to play fives for the Old Harrovians or North Oxford. He won the 2025 national Under-25 championship.

Beau Swallow (OS, 2013–16) was on the winning Oxford University teams for both real tennis and Eton fives in the 2025 varsity matches. He also led the dark blues to victory in the Universities fives championship in October 2024. Off the courts, Beau was also busy with his singing at Oxford as a member of the University College chapel choir and as a soloist specialising in the songs of Flanders and Swann (a performance of which can be found on YouTube).

Beau Swallow singing Flanders & Swann for the Eglesfields Musical Society at The Queens College, Oxford in February 2025.

Albert Sitwell (OS, 2012–17) left Rugby in 2022 and is now in his fourth and final year at North Carolina Wesleyan University, where this summer he was named as NC Wesleyan 2024–25 Male Student Athlete of the Year. His performance on the tennis court helped propel his college to a USA South Conference title and NCAA Tournament appearance.

Shilo Wu (OS, 2016–18) was Captain of Squash at Winchester and is now captain of the Oxford University team. Having learned to play Winchester fives at school, he was recently selected to play Eton fives in the university’s match against North Oxford EFC.

Oliver Coulcher-Porter (OS, 2016–19) is now in his first year at Bristol University studying engineering. He is now a qualified World Squash Federation coach and is the university’s number one player. Previously, he was captain of squash at Winchester and then at d’Overbroeck’s, Oxford, where he moved for his sixth-form years and reached the ranking as England U17 no. one.

Laszlo Garson (OS, 2021–23) has continued to make an impact on court, in both real tennis and rackets. In the latter, he won the Jim Dear Cup in 2024 for the second year in a row and also became the first Under-15 to win the U18 First Pair Doubles title. This season, he has just won the Foster Cup in the National Schools Singles Championships at Queen’s.

Joshua Adeboye (OS, 2018–24) played at U14 2nd pair for Eton and was defeated in the final of the National Schools 2025 U14 Competition.

Henry Ashworth (OS, 2019–24) is enjoying his sport at Marlborough and still finding time to play Eton fives. He played in a match against North Oxford in October (including an extra game partnering his former coach, APWB) and paired up with Old Marlburian and former SF Gapper Freddie Kottler (2021) in the Graham Turnbull Trophy at Eton earlier this month.

Gus Floyd (OS, 2018–24), now in his second year at Eton, continues to play fives and has added rackets to his portfolio. He reached the 3rd round of the 2025 Jim Dear Cup at Queen’s.

Anthony Shi (OS, 2021–24) played at U14 1st pair for Eton and won the National Schools 2025 U14 Competition.

Gus Floyd (OS, 2019-24), APWB, BM, Teymour Driver (OS, 2019-24) Rackets Match at Eton.

Music, Stage, and Screen

Opened last month at the Birmingham Rep and running until mid-January is Sherlock Holmes and the Twelve Days of Christmas, a new musical originated and developed by Donald Rice (OS, 1985–90) and his sister, Eva. They have both been directors since 2007 of Heartaches Ltd, the production company set up by their father, Sir Tim Rice.

Daniel-Konrad Cooper (OS, 1991–96) and his film production company, Rather Good Films, have completed The Butler, starring Tom Hollander, son of Clare Hollander (CEH, 1980–86). The film should be in cinemas in 2026.

Charlie Parham (OS, 2000–05) and his production team at Antic Productions have further refined their acclaimed musical Starter for Ten, and the show enjoyed a successful autumn season this year at Bristol Old Vic and Birmingham Rep. Earlier, in September one of the songs (‘Weightless’) featured as part of Magic at the Musicals at the Royal Albert Hall, alongside numbers from Mamma Mia, Wicked, The Lion King, Hamilton and other well-known shows.

Paddy McPherson (OS, 2020–23), currently in his third year at Radley, has won a place in the National Youth Theatre.

Other News

Tom Etridge (OS, 1980–85), a long-time member of the Old Radleian Golf Society, won the President’s Putter in January, the third time he has achieved this feat (2002 and 2016 being the other two occasions).

James Parry (OS, 1992–95) reacted to the May 2024 newsletter article ‘Fingers on Buzzers (Part 2)’ with a comment pointing out that he had also appeared on television’s University Challenge, representing Churchill College, Cambridge, in the 2001–02 series. APWB humbly apologises for this omission.

Patrick Massey (OS, 1991–96) is Division Director (Legal) at Macquarie Asset Management, a group he joined over 13 years ago. Last year he enjoyed a six-month sabbatical, during which he focused on music and travelled widely. He is still principal conductor of The Pico Players, the amateur symphony orchestra that he founded in April 2014.

Richard Massey (OS, 1993–98) did a law conversion course following his 2006 graduation from Oxford with a degree in theology. Since 2013 he has worked in Auckland for Bell Gully, the leading New Zealand law firm, where he was appointed partner at the beginning of last year. He and his wife, Laura, have two children (Hope and Hugh), two dogs, and assorted chickens and ponies.

Freddie Ryecart (OS,1995–2000), accompanied by his wife and two young children, was one of several Old Summerfieldians who attended the Founder’s Fayre in June 2024. He is hoping to arrange a reunion for his year group at a London location sometime in 2026. Please contact him or APWB if you are interested.

Jamie Laing (OS, 1997–2002) has almost completed two years as the co-host of BBC Radio 1’s afternoon show Going Home. He and his wife, Sophie, also have their popular podcast NewlyWeds – now called NearlyParents (with another name change due very soon, we suppose). Whether on live radio or recorded podcast, Jamie quite often mentions his schooldays, referring especially to his sporting prowess as a youngster.

Edmund Massey (OS, 1998–2003) is a chartered accountant and Head of Finance at CQS Investment Management in central London. He married Connie (née Walker), Deputy Head Teacher at the Hammersmith Academy, a couple of years ago.

James Windsor Clive (OS, 1998–2003) graduated from Newcastle University with a degree in Economics in 2012 and, following several years as a management consultant and as a campaigner in Westminster, now works as a consultant for Montfort Communications. His skills at political public communications were evident in a Times article in August this year, in which he defended the legacy of his ancestor Robert Clive (‘Clive of India’).

Jonty Robinson (OS, 2006–11) had a busy summer as the Honorary Secretary of the Radley Rangers Cricket Club. One of his players was Christian Hollingworth (OS, 2005–09), who took 5 for 31 in the Rangers’ victory over the Romany CC.

Daniel List (OS, 2010–11), who proceeded from SF to Wellington College with an honorary sports scholarship for his golf, has been making a name for himself in that sport. In 2024, he came through the last of the three stages of Qualifying School and thus earned his card to play on the DP World Tour in 2025.

Hugo Eyre (OS, 2007–12) is captain of the Radley Serpents, the school’s alumni rugby team.

Tade Ojora (OS, 2008–13) represented Great Britain in the 2024 Olympics, reaching the semi-finals of his event, the 110m hurdles. This year he triumphed in the UK Athletics Championships, regaining the title he won in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Harry Salter (OS, 2008–14) completed a solo swim across the English Channel in July, taking just over 11 hours.

We were delighted to welcome a group of 19 of the 2014 leavers when they returned to Summer Fields for a reunion on Saturday, 13 September. It was a pleasure for some of their former teachers to note the differences (and some similarities) between the remembered 13-year-old adolescents and the fully grown adults now two or three years out of university and launched on their adult working lives. The OS visitors watched the 1st XI beating Papplewick 2-1 and then enjoyed match tea before RBL conducted them on a tour of the school to inspect the developments of the last decade. The newly relocated Archives Room attracted much interest, as did DCP’s display of photographs from the year 2013–14. The gathering concluded in the evening with beer and curry. We tried to gather as much news as we could from these Old Summerfieldians, some of which follows below.

From Eton: Cassian McDonald, who was responsible for rounding up as many of his Summer Fields cohort as he could (and what a great job you did, Cass!), completed his Classics degree at Oxford last year and, after a few months’ travelling, started work in London at Capgemini, a digital transformation consultancy. Oscar Fanti graduated in 2022 from Warwick University with a degree in Classical and Ancient Studies and now works full time for Clover Group, a shipping and logistics company based in Shepperton. Guy Berry attended Dartmouth College in the US, where he gained his degree in Economics and Classics; he is in his second year of employment with UBS in London as a quantitative developer. Bart Savage did a Philosophy and Politics degree at Durham and is now an investment analyst at Lincoln Private Investment Office in central London. Edgar Strugar followed up his engineering degree with a Master’s in Business Analytics, both at Bath University, and is an implementation consultant at Xceptor, a financial data automation company in London. With an Edinburgh University MA in Business Management, Xander Watt started work in London this year at data consultancy JMAN Group, where he was recently promoted to a senior associate consultant position. With a Neoroscience degree from Edinburgh, Archie Barrington spent a year at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland to gain a Master’s in Acting and he has recently started work as a Mentor at Oppidan Education. Having graduated in History from St Anne’s College, Oxford, Louis Manson is now taking a law conversion course, after which he will become a trainee solicitor at Kirkland & Ellis in London.

From Winchester: Max Bruce took his degree in Mathematics at Southampton University and has since 2022 been at the London Metal Exchange, where he is currently involved with investment and liquidity. Takanori Sano also came over from Tokyo to attend the reunion. Harry Gujadhur (OS, 2009–15) graduated from Edinburgh last year with a degree (1st) in Mechanical Engineering and then completed his Master’s at Imperial College London. He has just launched his own company, Terabora Ltd, which aims to make ground-source heat pumps more easily installed.

From Radley: William Dunhill Turner left EHL Hospitality Business School in Lausanne in 2023 with a degree (1st) in Hospitality Administration and Management and is now in the business development team at AtonRâ Partners in Geneva. Usman Ladan read Mathematics at St Peter’s College, Oxford, before proceeding to Warwick University, where he is a second year PhD Probability student in the Department of Statistics. After graduating in 2023 from Exeter University with a degree in Marketing and Management, Tom Sweetnam joined Red Bull Racing, where he is a Relations and Events Executive.

From Oundle: Guy Halstead gained an engineering degree (1st) from Bristol University and an MSc from Oxford, and he is now a graduate management associate at Viridor, a UK recycling and renewable energy company. Following family relocation to California, Hamish McAlpine transferred to Monte Vista High School in Danville and then took a degree in Political Science and Government at the University of Oregon. Earlier this year, he started work as an investment analyst at GreenArch Energy in London.

From Charterhouse: Ajibola Shasore is pursuing a career in law and hoping to add a Queen Mary University London LLM to his LLB from the University of Buckingham.

From Marlborough: Having finished up as Head of House, Hugo Rolls went on to Newcastle University and gained a degree (1st) in Business Management. Following a year at Edinburgh to do his Master’s in Climate Change Finance and Investment, he interned at Cygnum Capital, where he is now a full-time analyst.

Damian Hurley (OS, 2010–15) returned to Summer Fields in June 2024 with his mother, Elizabeth Hurley, to judge the dog show that was a major highlight of the Founder’s Fayre. They performed their duties with panache and obvious enjoyment, and the school was most grateful. Damian is pursuing his film career as an actor and director.

Ollie Newall (OS, 2011–2017) proceeded straight from Harrow to the University of California, Berkeley, where he has made his mark on the rugby field. His college team, the California Golden Bears, reached the final of the 2025 D1A National Collegiate Championship, the premier competition in the US for university rugby. Fullback Oli scored the try that, with 12 minutes to go, took the Bears from 36-38 to a lead that they retained and then increased, finishing 50-38 and thus winning the title.

Harry Nell (OS, 2014–19) is in his second year at Newcastle University, studying Chemistry. At Eton he was 2nd XV rugby captain and secretary of the Motorsport Society.

William Giffard (OS, 2014–19) has just started at Newcastle University, where he is taking a science degree in Sustainable Land and Business Management. He was Captain of Beagling at Marlborough.

William Barlow (OS, 2014–19) was Head of House (K Social) in his final year at Radley, where he enjoyed rugby and rowing. He has now begun a four-year History degree at UCL.

Toby Rooth (OS, 2014–19) has embarked on an Accounting and Finance degree at Durham University. At Radley he ended up as Captain of Shooting and Deputy Head Sacristan.

Elliott Regazzacci (OS, 2014–19) was Head of House (Tilly’s) at St Edward’s and is now in his second year of European Studies and French at King’s College London.

Nicolas Carcelle (OS, 2015–19) developed a keen interest in engineering and motorsport while at Wellington College, and he is now in his second year of his Engineering degree at Exter College, Oxford. He has recently taken up padel.

Pablo Peña Chapa (OS, 2017–19) returned to Spain when he left Summer Fields, but having completed his schooling at the International School of Madrid, he is now back in Oxford at Jesus College, where he is in his second year of a degree in PPE. He is events director of Oxford Finance Society.

Pictured above Nicolas Carcelle and Pablo Peña Chappa

Hugo Bucher (OS, 2020–24) competed in the Under 15 Javelin at the English Schools Track & Field Championships at the Birmingham Alexander Stadium in July this year. His winning throw of 69.89m (a PB and Championship Record) was 11 metres further than the silver medallist) and ranks him 2nd in the British U15 all-time listing. Hugo is now in his second year at Harrow (Druries), where he has already set a new school record in the U15 javelin, breaking one that was set in 1986.

Wolf and Milo Kelso (both OS, 2018-25) are in their first year at Abingdon School, where they are enjoying their rowing. In the summer holidays this year they claimed victory for their club (Upper Thames Rowing Club) in the J13 double sculls event at Staines Regatta, a feat that was covered by the Henley Standard.

Staff News

At the end of the 2024 Summer Term, the school said goodbye to retirees Johnny Bush (JHB, 1980–2024) - you can read more about him elsewhere in this newsletter - Hugh Randolph (HCTR, 2003–24), and Andrew and Ann Snow (ARAS and ACS, 2012-24). Joe Porter (JJP, 2003–24) relocated with his family to Australia, his wife’s homeland. At the end of the 2024–25 year, Richard Bradwell (RHB, 1986–2025) retired, and we intend to write more about him in the next alumni newsletter.

Jeremy Houghton (JCWH, 1997–2000) has forged a successful career as an artist over the last 25 years, with recent exhibitions in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and the Yarrow Gallery in Oundle. His home, studio, and gallery are in Broadway, Worcestershire, where he recently married Sophia.