121st REPLY

NAME: James (Jas) Cowen    Then & Now

DATE: 15 February 2016

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1956-63

Picking up on Nick Dean's reference to Carol Vorderman in reply 120, according to the Wikipedia entry on her, she is a member of the 9s club, having earned a third in all three years of her time at Sidney Sussex. In regard to her getting her job on Countdown she has this in common with her successor on the programme, Rachel Riley, that both their mums pushed for them to get the job. Rachel Riley is apparently an ex-pupil of Oxford University at the college currently famous in the Cecil Rhodes statue controversy. Her Wikipedia entry says she got an Upper 2nd in Maths as against Carol's 3rd in Engineering. Countdown is not a programme that I would ever dream of appearing on. That clock drives me crazy when working out words and numbers. In one respect Carol has much in common with my old school friend Tim Fawdry in having a private pilot's licence and supporting air cadets. Tim is helping air cadets in Yorkshire learning to fly. In regard to the Right Hon. Lord Briggs we do have some joint connection to the man, Nick. Besides being a Fellow of Worcester College from 1945-55, an Honorary Fellow there since 1969 and Provost from 1976-91, he has been a student at Sidney Sussex studying history (whilst at the same time doing an external London University degree in economics) and an honorary fellow since 1969. He is also an honorary fellow of St Catherine's College, Cambridge since 1977. Greedy or what? I do not know if you have conversed with or even seen the man but I was sitting next to him at our college's History Confrat 100th Anniversary and talked with him for some time including about Bletchley Park. I was actually on the top table, an experience not had before or since, as I am usually down at the bottom of one of the lower tables. I felt maybe "shurely shome mishtake" but no - the place setting had me placed there "with dons on the dais supreme".

122nd REPLY

NAME: James (Jas) Cowen    Then & Now

DATE: 29 February 2016

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1956-63

Reference was made in this thread to the famous architects and designers of Catholic churches [replies 87-88] in connection with Shrewsbury's Catholic Cathedral. I enjoyed listening to a service on Sunday a.m. on Radio 4 from the Shrine Church of St Augustine's (Roman Catholic) in Ramsgate in Kent. The service was enjoyable for the hymns sung and the message about pilgrimages and our pilgrim's journey in life. It was also interesting in respect of the creation of a new shrine for St Augustine there to replace the one destroyed in Canterbury by Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell. Of interest also was the fact that the church was a personal project of Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin, who lived next door after his third marriage. For any who may be interested further in this there is much onWikipedia in regard to both Pugin and his Ramsgate church. He died at the fairly young age of 40 but achieved so much as did his father and son Edward Welby Pugin.

123rd REPLY

NAME: James (Jas) Cowen    Then & Now

DATE: 22 March 2016

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1956-63

In reference to my reply 121, if you have not yet talked with Lord Briggs, you will not now be able to on this current earthly planet, as he has now died at over 94 years old. He was the grand old man of the History Confrat at Sidney Sussex College and as I mentioned he was talking with me at the 100th anniversary. Bletchley Park has been mentioned on the site in thread 164 and Lord Briggs has written one of the books about the place. The title is Asa Briggs. Secret Days. Code-Breaking in Bletchley Park. It was published by Frontline Books, an imprint of Pen & Sword Books Limited, and I have my own personal copy at home. Professor Derek Beales, the second oldest Confrat man and the person who interviewed me for a place at the college, is currently still alive and continues to write history tomes. See obituary in the Idependent

124th REPLY

NAME: James (Jas) Cowen    Then & Now

DATE: 25 March 2016

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1956-63

I enjoyed reading the obituary you referenced, Vic. I note that Asa had 4 children (2 boys and 2 girls) and I wonder how they feel in regard to their father being such a great achiever in life. He had such a varied life with such a wide amount of achievements. I expect that there is to be a large memorial service somewhere and wait to hear more about this.

125th REPLY

NAME: Nick Dean   

DATE: 26 March 2016

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1964-71

Oddly enough, I've heard nothing (yet) from my college about the passing of Asa Briggs and only learnt of his death when I saw his obituary in The Times. The only other (secondary) obituary that day was of Sylvia Anderson and I did wonder which made the more significant contribution to our lives. It would make a good exam question. A few days later the announcement of Cliff Michelmore's passing was quickly "overtaken" by that of Paul Daniels, though I'm fairly clear where I stand on that one. Michelmore was one of those figures (like Richard Dimbleby, Eamonn Andrews, David Coleman, Peter Dimmock, etc) who seemed ever-present on our screens in the late '50s and into the '60s. Even looking at clips now, it's clear that, in its content and presentation, "Tonight was a programme of real significance. And I did rather like this gentle little snippet (from 50 years ago this week) of CM resuming, in the morning, the BBC's coverage of the 1966 general election.

126th REPLY

NAME: Nick Dean   

DATE: 17 April 2016

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1964-71

An interesting take on Oxford-Cambridge rivalry in Oxford Today from an alumna of St Anne's: "Our [Oxford's] arms have an open book of knowledge crowned in glory whereas Cambridge has a locked book and four fierce lions preventing anyone from opening it." It's of little consequence, but this particular alumna, Ann Spokes Symonds, happens to be the sister of John Spokes QC, who, in the 1980s, chaired a public inquiry into the death of a social worker, of which I was the secretary. Just two degrees of separation ... [Nick's reply follows on from a number of references to Oxford-Camridge rivalry throughout this very wide-ranging thread.]

127th REPLY

NAME: James (Jas) Cowen    Then & Now

DATE: 21 April 2016

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1956-63

In regard to Oxford/Cambridge rivalry I enjoyed the final of University Challeng on BBC 2 with Peterhouse College of the Cambridge manor beating St John's College of the Oxford manor by 215 to 30 points. Jeremy Paxman, that ex-Cambridge man, showed such delight nevertheless when St John's got positive points to counter those early minuses from wrong interruptions. He seemed genuinely glad that they would not be ending with nil points or even a minus score, not I think experienced before. A Cambridge college has now won for the last three years but I may not gloat over much as the score since 1963 is 15 Oxford college wins to Cambridge colleges 10.

128th REPLY

NAME: Nick Dean   

DATE: 23 April 2016

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1964-71

Yes, I rather enjoyed the final of University Challenge too and, to the extent that I was bothered either way, am rather glad that Peterhouse won because they were the more entertaining team. I got the sense that Paxo probably thought so too and and that he had taken a bit of a shine to their captain, Hannah Woods, who appears to have become a hit on the internet by virtue of her laid-back, what-on-earth-am-I-doing-here demeanour, but more especially because of her distinctive left eyebrow. I gather that even Sir Roger Moore has been tweeting about this, having detected a resemblance to that famous glance of his as Simon Templar and James Bond. Another reason I like Peterhouse is that the college is almost always open for visitors to wander round (as I think is Sidney Sussex, isn't it, Jas?)

129th REPLY

NAME: James (Jas) Cowen    Then & Now

DATE: 27 April 2016

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1956-63

In regard to the University Challenge final, Nick, I was myself a little bothered in regard to both teams. St John's Oxford does have the status of being twinned with Sidney Sussex and in recent times the Sidney Sussex Society organised a visit to St John's with a full programme of events for the weekend. However my wife persuaded me that I should cheer on Peterhouse more, as being a Cambridge college. I believe that Paxo did smile a lot at the amount of answers Peterhouse piled up besides being enthusiastic when St John's Charlie Clegg at last got some answers to put St John's on the score sheet. I wonder why St John's did score so low. Was there something other than the fact that questions may have fell more favourably for Peterhouse than for St John's? Hopefully, as has happened with betting in certain sports, there was no nobbling beforehand. Suspicion arises due to the mere 45 point gap in their previous meeting (195 v 150). I was glad to see that the University Challenge final did appear for various of the family comments on the last edition of Gogglebox on Channel 4. I was fretting a little that it was not going to appear but then yes at the end of the programme it was featured. I enjoyed Scarlett's comments on that Peterhouse man, Oscar Powell, the one with those gorgeous facial expressions. Certainly his mum should be proud of him with all his many correct answers, even as she would have laughed at his mannerisms. I also enjoyed seeing Amy Tapper's joy when she actually got one of the answers correct herself, just as the contestant did. I may boast a little myself that I got some correct answers where the contestants did not. In regard to Hannah Wood's captaincy of Peterhouse I have admired her skill as the captain of her team over the different rounds. Some of the girls in teams have contributed nothing at all, though not to be sexist in this neither have some of the blokes.

130th REPLY

NAME: James (Jas) Cowen    Then & Now

DATE: 29 April 2016

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1956-63

In regard to Oxford/Cambridge rivalry I know the non ex-Oxbridge folks might choose one or other of the two in the Oxford/Cambridge annual boat races for all sorts of reasons and it is good that there is still affection for the two old universities by the general public with no great demands, as far as I can see, for widening the field. It was a step forward to have the women's race now on the Thames, though I am glad that the Cambridge crew did not completely sink in the stormy weather. I am happy to say I always supported Cambridge, the light blues, whilst my brother John supported Oxford, the dark blues. At least when getting a place at Cambridge I did not have to change allegiance. I suspect many may support the different Oxford and Cambridge colleges in University Challenge for similar capricious reasons, that is unless they went to a different place represented in the competition. Oxford and Cambridge colleges do of course have to compete with other entire University teams.

131st REPLY

NAME: Nick Dean   

DATE: 03 May 2016

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1964-71

A piece in the "Times Saturday Review" suggests that Oxford has generally been slower than Cambridge in embracing change. For example, what became Girton was originally intended for Oxford, but was established on the outskirts of Cambridge because its founder thought the atmosphere at Oxford uncongenial. This is accompanied by a joke: How many Oxford dons does it take to change a light bulb? Change??????? Returning briefly to Ms Woods [replies 128-9], and joking apart, I agree with Jas about her contribution. In addition to commanding - effortlessly, it seemed - all that she surveyed, she was, unusually for UC, an historian who actually appeared to know some history (the date of the Forster Education Act, for instance). She appears also to have enjoyed with wry humour her 15 minutes of fame. This includes re-tweeting various adoring messages, including one, after Peterhouse won their very first match, from a lady who proclaimed, "I should like her to run the country, please".

132nd REPLY

NAME: James (Jas) Cowen    Then & Now

DATE: 03 May 2016

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1956-63

With all the other points to add regarding University Challenge and Oxford v Cambridge rivalries I have not said anything yet, Nick, about your aside [reply 128] regarding Sidney Sussex being open to visitors to wander around. You are right, though the college does not have quite so distinguished architectural jewels as many of the colleges. I still return to the dining hall for the college's old boy dinners and to the rowing club ones and to the chapel to listen to the current choir and some addresses from various speakers. The gardens, including the Master's Garden, continue also to be well tended and do have some very beautiful flowers. I am glad too that some colleges do not charge admission fees to walk around but seek to get added finances in other ways.

133rd REPLY

NAME: Nick Dean   

DATE: 25 June 2016

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1964-71

I was staying in Shrewsbury recently and took the opportunity to re-visit the Music Hall cafe [reply 87]. There was no courgette and lime cake on offer this year, but I can recommend the chocolate Guinness cake.

134th REPLY

NAME: James (Jas) Cowen    Then & Now

DATE: 29 June 2016

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1956-63

I hope when next we go to the Shrewsbury music hall cafe that the courgette and lime cake will be available. This was much enjoyed when we last visited the cafe. They did not have it out on the counter the first day we went but we were told to try on the following day. Again this was not out on the counter but recourse to the fridge by the manager produced the item. I am not sure of the idea of the Chocolate Guiness cake, not usually drinking Guiness, but I may try it.

135th REPLY

NAME: Nick Dean   

DATE: 10 July 2016

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1964-71

Seeing that a new season of University Challenge is about to start, I was reminded of the comment made early in the last one about the captain of Peterhouse, which went on to win the series: "I should like her to run the country, please" [reply 131]. I suppose it's not too late, is it?

136th REPLY

NAME: James (Jas) Cowen    Then & Now

DATE: 21 July 2016

CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 1956-63

Of course events have overtaken your reply above Nick, and we now have a second female prime minister in Theresa May. Whether she will be as good as Ms Woods [reply 131] we will have to wait and see.

137th REPLY

NAME: Nick Dean   

DATE: 04 September 2016

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1964-71

Further to a number of previous replies [18-20, 50, 105 et el], I see it's reported that, this year, 59.2% of places at Oxford have been offered to people from state schools, apparently the highest percentage for some 40 years (in fact, just after I was there!). The figure last year was 55.6%.

138th REPLY

NAME: Nick Dean   

DATE: 26 September 2016

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1964-71

Regarding the original message on this well-used thread, the President of the OEs, writing in the new issue of the The Elizabethan, refers to the Dinner-Debate as "a joint School/OE event that we revived in the 1990s". So, it appears that, after its revival in 1971, it fell, once again, into abeyance at some point. The earlier revival did not involve the OEs as such, although a number of old boys were invited (including me for a while).

139th REPLY

NAME: Nick Dean   

DATE: 20 October 2016

CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1964-71

The recent announcement that Bob Dylan is to be a Nobel laureate reminded me that, a couple of months ago, there was an cartoon-type sketch in The Oldie of Wilfred De'Ath, OE [see green footnote], based explicitly on Dylan's video for "Subterranean Homesick Blues - the one in which he discards a succession of cue cards. I don't still have my copy of the magazine, but, a little sadly perhaps (though fully in keeping with his articles), the words on the cards littering the floor related to the medical, social and other aspects of De'Ath's itinerant lifestyle. There are quite a few references to W.De'Ath in this thread. To find them, use the internal search engine at the top of the page. (Just put 'Wilfred' to avoid the problem of spelling variations!).