On the 19th August a group of 20 OKC members from the year 1979 gathered for a reunion. Organised by Steve Bradshaw, they met at the Sun Inn in Richmond-on-Thames for a buffet lunch before moving onto the Cricketers on Richmond Green and finishing at the White Cross on the Thames for an evening meal.

Steve said ‘There was genuine joy and unbridled excitement as connections and friendships were relit after 44 years. Those from the class of 79 were more than pleased to see each other.’

Rugby: British Lions ‘Origin’ Club of the Month

In July 2020 1XV captain George Taylor (OK 2012) climbed the height of Mt.Everest (8848m) via the clubhouse stairs over 24hrs, attracting significant sponsorship which was split between the club and NHS Charities Together. In recognition of the charity fundraising, and other community focused activity, the rugby club was awarded the British Lions ‘Origin’ Club of the Month for June 2021.

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The King’s College School archivist, Dr Lucy Inglis, gave an introduction to the records under her care at a well attended Zoom talk.

The school and Old King’s Club archive contains a variety of documents, artworks and objects all of which help to shed light on the history of King’s, revealing its rich heritage. From 19th-century admissions registers to current school magazines, from early accounts to films of science experiments (one involving radioactive materials), almost every aspect of day-to-day life at the school is captured. There is a large collection of photographs – evocative images of the site and its changes, of students and of staff. There are programmes for theatrical, musical and sporting events and information about school societies. There are even items of uniform, silver trophies and old equipment from the science labs.

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Members joined together for a chance to catch up and socialise at the Naval & Military (In & Out) Clubon on St. James’s Square, thanks to Major Neeraj Shah RAMC (OK 2006). SEE FACEBOOK

Members of the Old King’s Club met at the King Harald V room at the Naval and Military (In & Out) Club to commemorate the anniversary of the duel fought in March 1829 between the Duke of Wellington and the Earl of Winchelsea. SEE FACEBOOK

Members of the Old King’s Club participated in King’s longest standing tradition: the re-enactment of the Duel between the Duke of Wellington and the Earl of Winchilsea over Catholic Emancipation and its founding. SEE FACEBOOK

The 2016 AGM was held at the Collyer Hall at the School. Micky King was re-elected as President, Paul Mansell as Hon. Secretary and Richard Criddle as Hon. Treasurer. Heather McKissack and Chris Day were elected Vice-Presidents in recognition of their contributions to the Club. Drinks were served after the meeting.

We are delighted that Honorary Life Member Heather McKissack has been awarded a well-deserved MBE for services to education in the New Years Honours List. She was instrumental in the creation of Wimbledon Independent-State Schools Partnership.

The Old Boys finished their league season in 5th place in London 2 SW – which was the highest finish of any alumni club in our RFU area, which comprises South West London, Surrey and Hampshire.  The Club has enjoyed one of its more successful seasons ever.

We defeated fellow Old Boys Team Old Reigatians by 60-7 in the semi-final but were defeated by our final opponents, Guildford RFC, from the league above KCS Old Boys (London 1 South/RFU level 6).

They narrowly won the unofficial SW alumni clubs’ contest, with Alleynians ending in 6th place just 5 points behind, and Old Reigatian in 9th. It’s worth reflecting with some pleasure on our comparative performance versus other London alumni rugby organisations: Midwhitgiftans, Tiffinians, PJF and Tonbridgians and all in mid-table in London 3SW, whilst the Whitgiftians, Paulines and Wimbledonians are two divisions below in Surrey 1; and the Old Wellingtonians have now been relegated to Surrey 2.

Last year’s 3SW champions Farnham have been relegated along with Tadley, having been pipped by a point by Portsmouth.

I’m sure our supporters will join with me in expressing our appreciation of the King’s team’s Corinthian style which we have enjoyed all season long – even during the cold and damp of winter, when some might have preferred a more conservative approach. The playing of running, handling rugby was always the team’s preference, so thanks to Captain Kiddle and coach Sam Richards for delivering this in most of the league games. At its best, this squad has the speed and skill to stretch and break higher level defences, and the pack has becoming increasingly effective at delivering the required quality possession and try-scoring support.

• Hand beaded in Kenya
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The belt is in a vertical design and replicates exactly the old school tie in the correct proportions of red, navy blue and gold. All the belts are hand beaded in Kenya by the Maasai, using an average of 6000 beads. The highest quality leather is used to ensure the belts are extremely long lasting and durable.

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Effingham & Leatherhead 19 Kings 1XV 25: Effingham & Leatherhead 2XV 6 Kings 2XV 38

With both teams playing away the atmosphere at Effingham was electric, well it was busy anyway. Another mild day saw the 2XV comprehensively outplay the opposition. The 1XV on the other hand had a very tough task. I thought that Effingham had the upperhand for most of the match and they were always ahead and led 19-18 with just 5 minutes to go. Kings had hung on to the game with sheer willpower and the boot of Stoppani. We then created a little space for Stoppani to score contentiously in the corner. Whilst our touch judge, who just happens to be our coach, did not see any part of his body touch the try line, the crowd ungraciously screamed that his back foot had in fact done so. I happened to be right on the spot and can confirm that it was a valid try. A wonderful conversion gave us the win. Well done for efffort!

We sit comfortably at 5th in the league with Winchester and Alleynians just above us by virtue of more bonus points and because of a remarkeable win by Alleynians at home against Tottonians.

There is a free week so far as league rugby is concerned next week, but we play Farnham at Motspur Park on 15th November. A game not to be missed, it would be great to beat them following last year’s race to the title that Farnham won.

Darryl Druckman

Christopher James Gladstone Bishop died on 28th February 2013 of heart failure in Chesterfield, where he had lived and taught for 45 years. He was still preaching and teaching over the weekend just three days before his death, which came quite suddenly and unexpectedly.

Chris had a health problem from an early age, so when he joined King’s Senior School from Rokeby in September 1949 he did not participate in games or the Corps. Joining a group already well established from Junior School days, Chris was quite quiet and retiring, but also fairly tall, with a deep voice, and a steady and friendly seriousness; he soon made friends and was well respected. He was a hard working and intelligent student, and in 1954 he won an Exhibition in Classics at Jesus College, Cambridge.

In that era an organisation known then as the Crusaders Union (it would be a problematic title today!) ran a widespread group of Bible based interdenominational services for teenage boys for an hour on Sunday afternoons, and many King’s boys attended them. Chris and I were two of four contemporaries who spring to mind who were members of the Wimbledon Crusader class, where Gerald Askew (OK 1943) was the youngest of four leaders, and it was through the Crusaders that Chris came to the Christian faith, which became the mainspring of his life.

After graduation at Cambridge and a PGCE teacher training year at Leeds, he taught Classics at Westminster City School and became head of department. In 1967 he married Christine, they moved to Chesterfield, and soon were the parents of Rebecca and Philippa. Chris joined the staff of Staveley Netherthorpe grammar school and taught Latin to ‘A’ Level, and he continued there when the school became comprehensive, teaching Classical Civilisation right through the ability range until his retirement as senior master in 1998.

On moving, Chris continued with Crusaders, teaching in the Chesterfield class, and he and Christine were very active in Holy Trinity church. He became a lay-reader, run the Sunday school with over 100 children each Sunday (“not like today”, Christine comments) and helped with the “Pathfinder” group (teenagers up to 18). From 1988 Chris and Christine changed the centre of their Christian work to a “house church” meeting in the village hall of Holmesfield, about six miles from Chesterfield. Chris is much missed by this active fellowship as he came to be looked upon as their unofficial pastor.

Chris’s hobby from early days was all things to do with transport, especially railway carriages. In retirement he spent many happy hours researching their history from the LNER Society, and had become the leading authority on this subject, leaving to the Society seven volumes of this work.

Within the constraints his health allowed, Chris served faithfully where he saw the greater need, and was much loved by his friends, family and very many of those taught.

John Chick (OK 1954), with much help from Mrs. Christine Bishop