Andrew Jennings (I 1998-03), Chairman of the recently revived Old Salopian Rugby Club, has been turning his life-long interest in vintage watches to good use.   In partnership with a Swedish friend, Joakim Larsson whom he met on a skiing trip when still a student, he has launched a specialist watch design company called Larsson and Jennings.

Andrew (pictured, right) has managed to achieve this while holding down his day job as an investment manager.  His entrepreneurial flair was already in evidence while he was at Shrewsbury:  His contemporaries will doubtless remember that he ran an eBay business, buying and selling mobile phones.  Andrew is also using the internet, including social networking sites, to good effect in developing his new project.

Andrew says: ' I have always been particularly fond of vintage watches and I think this shows through with our design.  The process was a lengthy one with Joakim and myself negotiating and developing every design feature. He wanted to make it as minimalistic as possible whilst I wanted to show my particular love of vintage watches - hence our catch phrase "British heritage with Swedish minimalistic style".  We think the watches look great when worn with more formal attire and wouldn't look out of place accompanying a suit.

Captain of the England Lions team, Jimmy Taylor (R 2003-2008), is featured in The Mail in a moving article about his friendship with Alex Wilson who died so tragically in his first year at St. Andrew's. Jimmy returned to The Schools earlier this term for a fundraising football match in Alex's memory to watch the match and draw the winning raffle ticket.  The Mail Online: James-Taylor-determined-make-Alex-Wilson.

Since the inaugural football match last November, the Shrewsbury School Foundation has been working with the Wilson Family to raise sufficient funds to create an athletic bursary in the name of Alex Wilson. The appeal targets donations from a variety of events including an annual football match and reception. All funds raised are matched by generous support from the Kruth family. If you would like to support this effort please contact the Shrewsbury School Foundation at foundation@shrewsbury.org.uk.

This year's football match and reception is scheduled for the 23rd of September 2012 at Shrewsbury School.

Henry Southern (G 2003-08) who leads the a capella singing group 'All the King's Men' reports another success.

Henry reports:

'To add to our recent success in becoming Voice Festival UK 2012 Champions, we are delighted to have been awarded Third Place at the International Championship of Collegiate A cappella Final in New York. If you want to pre order our new EP, featuring our multi-award-winning set, you can do so by sending us an email.'

Their website is at: http://www.all-the-kings-men.com/

This is the text of the latest e-newsletter from The Salopian Club Director, Alex Baxter:

Dear Old Salopian,

The start of the cricket season at Shrewsbury coincided with the wettest April in Shropshire in recent years thus little action has taken place on top common.  The damp weather has had less of an impact on the Old Salopian social calendar however, with two successful events being held in recent weeks.  Over 100 young Old Salopians attended a party at the Bunga Bunga nightclub in Battersea on Sat 21st April, while a smaller group of 42 Old Salopians and guests attended a more formal black tie dinner at the St Paul’s Club in Birmingham.  Reports on both events appear on the Club website:  http://www.shrewsbury.org.uk/page/os-news

Old Salopian Careers
Following on from the previous e-bulletin, there has been another super response from Old Salopians and parents who work in the legal profession with many offers to come to talk at the Schools on 26th June.  We will be firming up the details for this event over the next few days and will write to all who have been in contact on this topic.  As a follow-up to the successful medical talk and dinner in March, the Office contacted all medical professionals with an e-mail address, with a view to forming an OS Medical Society.  Again, we received a very positive response from OS and parents, with many offers of assistance with future talks at the Schools, professional advice, mentoring and work experience. 

Old Salopian Sport

Football 
Rarely out of the headlines this season, the OS 2nd XI has capped a terrific run of 9 consecutive victories to earn promotion to Division 2 of the Arthurian League.  This is certain to ensure lively celebrations at the forthcoming OSFC annual dinner on 17th May!  Many congratulations to the team.  The OSFC website can be accessed via the following link:  http://www.oldsalopianfc.com/default.aspx

Alex Wilson Foundation – Football Match
The squally conditions on Easter Sunday afternoon did not dampen the spirits of the crowd that witnessed the class of 2008 (in Barcelona colours) take on the mighty class of 2009 (garbed in Real Madrid kit).  An entertaining football match ensued with the latter side winning by 2 goals to 1.  The event was organised by Hugo Tapp (PH 2003-08), James Trelawny (G 2004-09) and Henry Wilson (brother of Alex Wilson).  The event raised the sum of £1500 towards the Alex Wilson Foundation.  The organisers wished us to extend a big thank you to the 150+ spectators that turned out, despite the damp conditions and also to the Butter Market nightclub for its generous contribution to the eventual total, secured by Jimmy Wallace (PH 2003-08).

Fencing
After almost 40 years’ association with the Schools, Ken Holding, the fencing coach will retire in the summer.  To mark Ken’s departure, current Salopian Chris Williams and George Lane Fox (Rt 2005-10) are trying to raise money for a gift to ensure that Ken goes out in style.  They are also hoping to arrange a fencing match between Old Salopians and the School, on Speech Day, 7th July and would like to mark the occasion with a presentation to Ken.  George has set-up a Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/groups/370713092967850/ to promote the event.  If you are interested in making a donation, Chris Williams can be contacted at chriswilliams14.williams@gmail.com.

Hunt
Those with an interest in RSSH will be pleased to learn that Kukri, the kit provider for the RSSH and the School, has made a video about the RSSH, featuring contributions from Peter Middleton, Master in Charge, the Huntsman and the Senior Whip.  This can be accessed via the following this link:
http://www.youtube.com/user/KukriSports

Golf
The Golfing Society’s Devon Tour has been postponed until October – details will be promulgated on the Golf Club web-page and on the sports news pages in the near future.  http://www.shrewsbury.org.uk/page/os-golfing-society

Forthcoming Events 

Sat 9th June - England vs. West Indies (Edgbaston, Birmingham) – The 3rd Test between these two sides should be a great occasion.  Tickets are just about sold out, but we may be able to arrange extra places provided we hear from interested parties by 14th May.  Tickets cost £125 providing spectators with a private dining area, viewing balcony, dedicated seating, morning coffee, lunch, afternoon tea and a free bar throughout the day.

Sat 16th and Sun 17th June – Mary Sidney Hall reunion weekend - to mark Sara Hankin’s departure as housemistress.  This will take the form of an evening function and will possibly feature a sports fixture the following day.  Details will be posted on the MSH Facebook page.

Sat 30th June – Churchill Hall Reunion Dinner – details can be obtained via Richard Hudson, Churchill’s Housemaster on rth@shrewsbury.org.uk. Tickets are selling fast.

Sat 30th June – Henley Royal Regatta – Sabrina Club drinks, canapés and food at Henley Cricket Club – more details will be promulgated when known.

Sat 22nd Sep – Old Salopian Day at the Schools.  An insert giving details of the OS Day programme will be included in the forthcoming edition of the Salopian magazine.  In addition to the thanksgiving service for Richard Raven, Old Salopians will be competing against School sides at football, fives and cross country.  The new boathouse will be opened during the afternoon and the day will conclude with a supper in Kingsland Hall. 

work in progress: the new boathouse (April 2012)

29 Nov – City Drinks – 2012 marks the return of this event to its spiritual home of the City of London Club – details will be posted on the Club web-pages soon.

29 Nov – Birmingham Christmas Drinks – details to be announced in a future e-bulletin.

7 Dec – Christmas Drinks – The Schools, Shrewsbury – details will be provided in the near future.

Also In the Pipeline – During Oct and Nov 2012 we hope to confirm details of events in Yorkshire, Herefordshire and Somerset.

Link to events page:  http://www.shrewsbury.org.uk/page/os-events-0

News
We are still seeking short news items concerning Old Salopians for the forthcoming edition of the Salopian magazine.  We are working to a slightly amended deadline for copy, which has to be received by 11th May 2012.  Please contact us if you have any news items that you feel might be of interest.  These can be sent to admbaxter@shrewsbury.org.uk, mwalton@shrewsbury.org.uk or annabelwarburg@uwclub.net (deputy editor of the magazine)

Following on from the success of our RSSBC video, made by our friends at Kukri Sports during the Lent Term, we are now delighted to have a short video of the RSSH that shows how The Hunt operates, how proud we are of our cross-country heritage, and how hard we are working to train the next generation.

PG

Note to members of School staff: Clicking on the Play arrow below may not work if you are accessing the website from the School site (due to our proxy server settings).  You should be able to view it without any problems by following this link to the YouTube website.

On a squally Easter Sunday afternoon Barcelona took on Real Madrid on the Astroturf pitch at the Schools.  The class of 2008 in Barcelona colours played the mighty class of 2009 disguised as Real Madrid.  The latter side ran out 2-1 winners in an entertaining game. 

The event was organised through Hugo Tapp (PH 2003-08), James Trelawny (G 2004-09) and Henry Wilson (brother of Alex Wilson), to raise funds for the Alex Wilson Foundation.  Approximately 150 spectators showed up for the occasion and a whopping £1500 was raised through gate sales, a raffle and a donation from the Butter Market nightclub, via Jimmy Wallace (PH 2003-08). 

There are a wide variety of fund raising activities for the Alex Wilson Foundation taking place later this year including:

21st July – John O Groats to Lands End cycle ride

Sept – Cycle ride to  and marathon in Munich

23rd Sept – Annual Alex Wilson memorial football match at the Schools.

More details will be published when available.

The 2012 Boat Race will go down in history as one of the more difficult meetings to umpire.  John Garrett (Rt 1976-81), pictured L, umpiring the race for the 3rd time, is unlikely to forget this particular race.  With the aid of the eagle eyes of Sir Matthew Pinsent John was forced to call a halt when a protestor was spotted in the water close to the Oxford boat. 

The race was eventually restarted at the halfway point and more controversy ensued following a clash of oars between the two crews, leaving Oxford with a broken oar.  Cambridge went on to win the race comfortably.  Afterwards John told the BBC “There was something in the water.  We thought it was debris, then we realised it was a swimmer.  It was clear he was waiting for the boats, so I had to stop the race." 

Another Old Salopian involved in this year’s race was Jonathan Legard (O 1974-79), a sports reporter, who shared the coverage with the BBC’s Dan Topolski (a former Oxford rowing coach).

All the King's Men, an a cappella singing group founded by Henry Southern (G 2003-2008) at King's College London in September 2009, was declared the winner of Voice Festival UK on 10 March.  The Group also toured California in February.

Henry says, 'This means that we are officially the best collegiate a cappella group in the UK.   What's more, we will now be representing the UK and Europe in the ICCA (International Championship of Collegiate A cappella) Final in New York on Saturday 28th April. Following our summer tours to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August (which will be our third successive appearance at the Fringe) and Asia (visiting Hong Kong and Singapore) in September, we are planning a concert at Shrewsbury School in October too (t.b.c)'
 
For more information about All the King's Men, please visit their website: http://www.all-the-kings-men.com/
For more information about the competitions, you can find their websites here: http://www.thevoicefestival.co.uk/ http://www.varsityvocals.com/acappella-events.html#ICCA%20Finals

We are sad to report the death of Roger Marsh Blomfield, at home in Shrewsbury on 20th March 2012, aged 86 years.   He was on the staff at Shrewsbury School from 1958 to 1986 and was an RSSBC coach until 2005, a total of over 45 years. 

He was Housemaster of Churchill's Hall from 1967-77 and taught History, English, French and Latin.

He  was a hugely successful RSSBC coach  from 1958 to 2005, a total of over 45 years, including  the 1st V111 1965 to 1968,  GB selection  and World Junior Championship medals,  numerous Second Eight  wins in the Elsenham  Cup and Third Eight wins in the West Cup.  In his later years he wrote the History of Rowing  at Shrewsbury School, established  the Shrewsbury  Regatta, and as President of The Sabrina  Club, he led the fundraising and redevelopment  of the School rowing tank and many other initiatives.

His funeral service will take place on 3rd April at 3p.m. in St Chad's Church,  Shrewsbury.  His family would love to welcome Roger's friends and colleagues to refreshments afterwards at Kingsland House, Shrewsbury School.

Family flowers only:  Donations to WaterAid, if desired c/o Pughs Funeral Directors, 113 Longden Coleham, Shrewsbury  SY3 7DN.

Enquiries to 01743 409450

OS Philip Wood (M 1992-1997) has been selected for the Cressage leg of the Olympic Torch Run on 30th May.

During his time at Shrewsbury, Phil was an active sportsman and was House Captain of Rowing.  More recently, he has become involved with the Bridgnorth Rowing Club both on and off the water.  His enthusiasm has brought the club many new members, and much needed funds.

Torch bearers will carry the torch for an average of 300m each, and many of them are charity fund-raisers, community leaders, and people who have played a major part in improving the lives of people in the region.

In the annual Varsity Fives Match that took place at Eton on 3rd March, Old Salopians were out in force.

In the Men's Blues match, 4 of the 12 players were Old Salopians - and the three playing for Oxford all won their matches!  In the Ladies Match, Old Salopian Alice Walker (MSH 2008-2010) captained the Ladies' Oxford team to victory in tremendous style!

A full report is available on the Eton Fives website: www.fivesonline.net.

On the evening of 7th March the Salopian Club, in conjunction with the Careers Master and the School’s Medical Society, piloted the first Old Salopian careers talk and dinner. 

On this occasion, we invited OS medics to Emma Darwin Hall, and 25 sixth formers heard inspirational talks by Dr Piers Dixey (O 1999-2004) and Dr Dan Morris (PH 1987-92).  Piers concentrated on life as a junior doctor on a stroke unit, while Dan presented the challenges of a busy ophthalmic specialist and wilderness medicine.  Also attending the talk and dinner were Dr Terry West (parent of 3 Shrewsbury educated doctors) and medical student George Jarvis (PH 2004-09).

Afterwards at dinner in the Peterson Room our sixth form prospective medics sat and talked with the professionals, gleaning all sorts of valuable ideas, anecdotes and perspectives. We very much hope that the success of this pilot event can be repeated every two years or so and that the network will continue to build, helping both current pupils and Old Salopians.

We hope to repeat this type of event on a regular basis, providing careers talks by Old Salopians from different disciplines and professional backgrounds.  Although Old Salopians have been coming back to the School for many years to give careers talks, the difference with this new programme is the format, which allows pupils and Old Salopians to mix freely after the event, and the follow-on activity by the Salopian Club in developing professional groupings that will help to mentor and advise pupils once they have left the School.

Within a month of leaving Shrewsbury in 2010, Sam and his jazz band 'The Quarter' were playing at The Big Chill and then at Edinburgh Festival. 

He and another 2010 leaver, Kit Schutzer-Weissmann (PH), then completed cycling The Freedom Challenge - an off road route covering the 2300km between Durban to Cape Town. It runs over the Drakensberg mountain range, through the wilderness of the Baviaanskloof and the desert of the Karoo.  For more info see www.freedomchallenge.org.za.  They made it into Cape Town on foot, with a sprained wrist and no gears!

Sam's latest challenge is to cycle from Leeds to London (via Paris, for added interest) in aid of the Haven Breast Cancer charity.  He will be leaving on 19th March 2012.

Please see http://www.justgiving.com/Sam-Wilson3 for more information.

Laurie Cottam (M 2001-06) and his Oxford all-male a cappella group (and stars of 'Britain’s Got Talent')  will take to the stage in the Britten Theatre at the Royal College of Music on Saturday 25 February.

The evening promises 'an incredible, all-vocal evening extravaganza! Providing an internationally multi award-winning combination of vibrant vocals, outrageously unprofessional choreography, and occasionally intentional comedy, Out of the Blue guarantee to hit the right note with their blend of ardent professionalism and amateurish, boyish charm. From Stevie Wonder to Jessie J, join them as they serve up taste-defying modern mash-ups, intimate ballads and stunning solos, all with their own original twist!'

TIckets are priced at £15 and £10 for concessions.
To book please ring: 020 7591 4314 or visit https://www.boxoffice.rcm.ac.uk

There will also be a workshop for schools running from 16:00 before the concert, for more information regarding this please call: 07587072000 or email ootbmail@googlemail.com

The Shrewsbury Saracens Dinner on Thursday 15 March at Lord's Media Centre is now sold out.

If you wish your name to be put on the waiting list in case anyone has to cancel, please contact Miriam Walton mwalton@shrewsbury.org.uk.

For more details, visit: http://www.shrewsbury.org.uk/page/os-sport and scroll down to 15 March.

Retired Cumbrian vicar, Christopher Jenkin (I 1950-55) and his wife Mary (pictured, right, with Mrs Margaret Sentamu, wife of the Archbishop of York) have sent us this update of their work with their Kasese Street Kids Charity for street children in Western Uganda:

Hostel Opening

We have just received confirmation that the Street Kids Hostel is to be opened, and the children invited in, on
Saturday 24th March.  The Jenkins' are planning to be there.

Enos Kyibibi, the Project Director, is planning a day of “Sensitization Workshops” for local community leaders, church leaders, business people, and NGOs (non-government organizations), as a way of publicizing the work of SKILL to the local community. (SKILL is Street Kids Information and Learning for Life.)

Building Progress

All the internal plumbing work is now completed and the project is preparing a final budget for the expensive job of providing concrete floors

Chris says: 'The money is waiting in UK banks until Alan gives us the OK to send it out. We take very seriously our responsibility to make sure that money donated is wisely spent on properly budgeted jobs!'

Fund raising activities have included a photographic Exhibition (pictured, left) in Holy Trinity Church, Kendal, in October-November, 2011.  Guest speaker at the preview was Margaret Sentamu who spoke on the theme, 'How Much is Enough?'. The photographer, Carol Allen Storey also attended and spoke passionately about her concern for the helpless and voiceless of Africa.  The exhibition attracted several donations and will also be displayed in Carlisle Cathedral during the last two weeks of March.  A raffle of patchwork also raised £1300.

You can find out more about the charity at http://kasesestreetkids.blogspot.com

The re-scheduled quarter-final of the Arthur Dunn Cup took place at Borehamwood last Saturday.  A quick double from Hamish McKenzie (O 2000-2005) and some world class saves from Richard McGarry (Ch 2001-2006) put Shrewsbury into the semi-final with a 2-1 win over Haileybury.

The semi finallists are Tonbridge, Winchester, Shrewsbury, and either Charterhouse or Repton.  Fingers crossed for a home draw!  The venue and draw details should be made later this week.

The School Shop has produced a new booklet of merchandise.  This includes many items of interest to Old Salopians such as ties, scarves, cufflinks etc. 

The booklet is available to view here.

Shop contact details:

Email: Michele Hignett

Tel:     01743 280868.
Fax:    01743 243107

The RSSBC have produced some wonderful Maltese Cross umbrellas, which are now on sale in our School Shop (see details below).  They are plain navy, with a white Maltese Cross on each quadrant, and a full colour Shrewsbury School Crest on a button on the handle.

The picture in the background of our umbrella poster is of the 1st V111 wining the final at Henley in 1980 beating Radley College by 2½ lengths (on a rainy day), coached by Nick Bevan and stroked by Mark Yale . Another member of the crew was John Garret who later competed in a number of Boat races and in the Olympic Games on three occasions.

Background to the Maltese Cross
The eight-point cross of the Knights Hospitallers became known as the Maltese Cross when  Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, gave the Knights Hospitallers the island of Malta in the 1550s, after they had been kicked out of Cyprus by the Ottoman Turks.

The eight points of the cross are said to symbolise the eight points of courage: Loyalty; Piety; Generosity; Bravery; Glory and honour; Contempt of death; Helpfulness towards the poor and the sick; Respect for the church.

The Maltese Cross is now used by a number of institutions and establishments, perhaps most notably in this country by St John Ambulance, and it is also on the crown of Shrewsbury School's crest.

In 1866 the Royal Shrewsbury School Boat Club (RSSBC) was founded as a club, run by the boys, for rowing at Shrewsbury. In the original constitution, it stated that the dress rule was, “a straw hat with a dark blue ribbon and a white jersey trimmed with dark blue with a blue Maltese Cross on the front of the jersey.”

Around the 1870’s when the newly formed football clubs were being established around England, many of the first uniform kits to appear were those of the Public Schools and sports clubs with which the game was originally associated. Blackburn Rovers first wore white jerseys adorned with the blue Maltese Cross of Shrewsbury School, as several of their founders had been educated here.

The Boat Club has continued to use the Maltese Cross and although the white lycra trimmed with dark blue with a blue Maltese Cross on the front is now the preserve of the 1st VIII only, the Maltese Cross itself is used in a variety of ways by the boat club.

The umbrellas are available to buy for £30 (+ £5 P&P) from the School Shop 01743 280868 / mhignett@shrewsbury.org.uk, or direct from  Paul Manser, Master in Charge of the Boat Club,  pmanser@shrewsbury.org.uk.

Enterprising young Salopian and recent leaver, Rupert Harvey-Scholes (R 2006-11), has come up with an enterprising scheme - silk knot cufflinks in House colours!  Rupert says:

'Since leaving Shrewsbury last summer and after two years of careful research, I had the perfect opportunity to launch my latest business venture.

Whilst I was at Shrewsbury I thought it would be novel to have a pair of silk knots in the Riggs colours. I could never find any in the high street shops, hard as I tried.  I thought if I wanted a pair then there were bound to be other Salopians and Old Salopians who desired a pair.  Hence Alumni Links was created.

Finally I have found the correct supplier who can actually deliver the correct colours of all the eleven boy’s houses and the Old Salopian Colours.

Having had such a positive response I would love to be able to supply other clubs and societies in the future throughout the United Kingdom who like the idea.

Get in contact!'

 Click here to contact Rupert about Alumni Links.