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A.O.S.A. 2002 ANNUAL REPORT |
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[Page fifteen]
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PAUL VODDEN (1961-66) sent the following e-mail concerning a 1980s’ old scholar; “I moved with my family to Southwater near Horsham in West Sussex some 12 years ago. Andrews Lane is a dead end with eight houses initially built at the turn of the last century for workers of the now, defunct, local brickworks. We live in number seven and about four years ago a young couple moved into number 1. As there are such a small number of houses, it will not surprise you to learn that we all know one another quite well and hold the occasional street events (BBQs, Christmas parties etc). Anyway, I introduced myself to the newcomer and was interested to hear a broad North Riding accent, I asked where the young man came from and he told me Staithes. I said that I had gone to a Quaker school nearby and he said so had he, it was of course Ayton! The couple are Mr. and Mrs. CHRIS JACKSON.” Chris was at Ayton from 1980-85, he and his wife, Julie, have a small son, George who is two. EMMA WILSON (1980-87) has been in touch several time this past year …. “I am working in ‘The Furniture Cave’. a large antiques’ shop with 22 dealers on New Kings Road, London SW10. I work for Christopher Preston Limited on the corner (if anyone is passing). I also have continued singing and writing and do many concerts with my band. I actually sang at an Old Scholars’ summer reunion in 1988 (and we hope she will be singing for us again at this year’s summer reunion –Ed.) There is a video somewhere!” On 7th November, Emma also sent a ‘flyer’ advertising her various appearances on radio and TV to publicise the Band. On 10th November, Emma was a guest on the BBC Radio Cleveland’s Stewart Macfarlane Show in the morning, where she discussed her music and the forthcoming TV appearance. In the evening she was guest on the Doctor Rock Show on BBC Radio York. Emma played a song from her new album, talked to Doctor Rock about her career and played a selection of music from artists who have inspired her as a vocalist and song writer. On Thursday, 15th November, Emma and the Band appeared on the late night popular TV music show – ‘Young, Gifted and Broke’, they sang their song ‘Deluded’ and Emma had a short interview with the presenter. I recorded and later watched this programme, I was most impressed with the band and with Emma’s performance. Since November, they have launched their own, very impressive website. ED PARRISH (1981-86) who moved back to Cleveland in 2000, was due to marry his girlfriend Kirsty Semple last September. We need details for the Mag, (G.J.) Ed’s brother JIM (1985-92) is currently travelling in Australia. In a recent e-mail, BEN SESSA (1983-85) sent details and current plans… “I am living and working in London. Having qualified as a doctor four years ago, I am now at the end of my special training for psychiatry (and have recently become a member of the Royal College.) I am getting married in London in February to my girlfriend, Sarah, who is a physiotherapist. (We met at medical school ten years ago.) She is a Catholic (though not especially devout) and we are getting married at our local C of E church because we like the romance of a white wedding. My dad (FRED Headmaster – 1975-84) is going to give a short introduction to Quakerism as part of the church service and then the congregation will have a short silence. It will be interesting for those (the vast majority) who have never heard of Quakers! I will be leaving my current job in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in February as we are going to India for a three month honeymoon. We are travelling all over with a view to staying longer if anything exciting comes up. On return to the UK I will probably be continuing in child psychiatry (I find the these troubled adolescents a great challenge…..)”….. “ I am not in touch with anyone at all from Ayton. I would love to know anything about the PETTIT twins (we were good friends when I was at Ayton).” Details of Ben’s sister HEP (HEPZIBAH 1980-85) came from their father Fred….. “Hepzibah is living in Sussex with her husband Alan. He is a musician, former keyboard player with ‘D’Pechmode’, a well known pop group in the 80s and 90s, though he left them four or five years ago. Alan runs his own studio, recently released his own album and is now working on music for a forthcoming film. Hep assists him at times (she played the violin on his recent album) – they have two children, Paris who is 5 years old and Stanley who was born in March 2001. They are a happy couple and we try to see them once a month or so.” Now if we had Hep’s surname, we could include, at least, the latest birth in the BMD column. Ed. DANIEL SMITH (1983-88) married Teresa Swift in Bristol on the 11th August 2001; his mother WENDY (ARNOLD 1959-65) sent some further details: “It was a splendid day, on the outskirts of Bristol. The showers managed to hold for the bits we wanted outside. They went to Kenya for their honeymoon. Teresa is just finishing a 3 year European research project about Virtue Ethics – how people cope with long term, debilitating but not life-threatening diseases (she is a psychologist by degree.) After reading the 2001 Annual Report, JOE ESSEX
(1985-89) got in touch with Dick Dennis: “Loads have happened in
the 12 years since leaving Friends’; as you say, we do design
websites, but my main core of business is in the print sector.
Brochures, magazines, exhibition systems, corporate identity etc. The
websites have ‘evolved’ in the past 2/3 years due to current clients
asking me to develop them on their behalf and rather than lose their
custom, I/we have branched into that area…….With regards to catching
up with people, BILL HO (1985-90) is someone I would like to
re-establish contact with as I was very friendly with him when I was at
school. I notice from the Annual Report, that PETER (1986-93) his
brother, is working for a firm of accountants, perhaps I could contact
Bill that way. Someone else I would like to contact is DAVID LAMERTON
(though I cannot find any record of him –Ed.) who came to the
school in ’85 and left in perhaps ‘87/88. He had an older sister at
the school, DAWN (1985-86). I have heard nothing of either of
these two since leaving school…Dad (MARTIN music staff 1974-94)
as you know has retired and returned to the village with Denise and the
two kids, Helen and Rachel, it really is good to have him back. Mum JONI
(1977-78) has retired from ‘Room for Design’ in 1994,
unfortunately due to ill health, she has been diagnosed with Meniere’s
Disease, but still helps out here as and when she is feeling fit. Mum
taught art at the school in the PETER HOLMAN (1971-81) era. She
also did work with some drama in Rosehill Theatre, and as a kid living
in Leven Hall, I have very vivid memories of mum taking dancing in the
quiet common room of Leven Hall. The pictures on the website bring it
all back.” Joe has given us a most competitive quote for the printing
and publishing of the Annual Report, and as a result, will taking on the
job for us this year. |
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