Denis Andreev (EG 1992-1998)
After working for almost 10 years in the Financial Products sales team focusing on the Russian market I have taken on the challenge to manage the Swiss buy-side team covering German-speaking territory in Switzerland. I will still be based in London and this change will take place mid-August. To date I have worked in sales for 14 years since graduating from the University of Manchester in 2007.
My linkedin profile can be seen here: linkedin.com/in/denisandreev
Mark Yarrow (EG 1970-1976)
I'm still working on a copywriting contract for Workplace from Facebook, but I've not yet met any of my colleagues or been to the office because of Covid. I started in May 2020 and my boss used to go to school about half a mile away from where I live in Chester. My eldest daughter Jennifer is following her love of all things practical by gutting the house she's moved into and now working as a Joinery assistant technician at a college in Widnes.
In December 2020 my son Christopher got married to Holly in the chapel in Jesus College Oxford, Covid-19 having postponed the wedding from September. I gave them an A2 watercolour painting of the chapel which took 6 weeks to draw and 5 weeks to paint. Christopher still works for Freshfields Bruckhaus Derringer, but on a secondment in Amsterdam until September 2021.
My youngest daughter Lauren was delighted that she didn't have to take A levels, but not so pleased that internally the school replaced them with their own 'tests'. She's just been accepted to work for Apple.
Plus, my brother Philip (Gills '73 ?) has recently moved with his wife Julie from Birling in Kent to near Corwen, North Wales, so they're only about 45 minutes away from me now and 30 minutes from Julie's daughter Heather. Philip and Julie are now bordering the River Dee and most of the sloping fields around offer some gentle blue runs, a bit of red and a severe black run drop, so we're all looking forward to some snow!
Nigel Miller (EG 1959-1963) Still retired but working part time for the largest bulk carrier shipowner in the world. Three children, 4 grandchildren and a new member of the family arrived recently, a 12 week old Scottie bitch called Truffle. We resisted calling her Nicola! Hay crop bumper this year. Some sailing on our Cornish Crabber.
Paul Orchard-Lisle (EG 1946-52)
I can think of just two scraps of news that may be of interest:
Robin Stafford-Allen (EG 1958-63)
My news is that after doing some occasional lecturing for Oxford Brookes University, I have been taken on as a staff lecturer for the Undergraduate Engineering courses despite being well beyond the usual retirement age. Oxford Brookes is particularly strong in Motorsport Engineering courses. This is a photo of me at home...during lockdown.
Adrian Smith (EG 1964-1968
Adrian went to Haileybury on leaving Edge Grove, and then on to Cambridge University where he studied veterinary medicine, graduating in 1979. In 1980 he emigrated to Norway with his Norwegian wife, and worked for 30 years at the Oslo Veterinary School where he held the Chair in Laboratory Animal Science. Since 2007 he has been Secretary of Norecopa an organisation working to replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in research. Last year he received the Charles River Award for his work on refinement. The award will be presented at a World Congress at the end of August.
John Hubbard (EG 1966-1971)
When my parents moved to the New Forest in 1969, Jimmie Pratt suggested that I try for a scholarship at the oversubscribed Sherborne School. Despite Tony Whitehouse's best efforts (and the reluctant sacrifice of Stanley Milnes's Thursday afternoon Singing classes) my Greek did not pass muster, but I got a place, and fifty years ago in April I left Edge Grove, a school that had helped me really enjoy learning. This was the start of a long, happy and rewarding relationship with the very beautiful and mostly tranquil county of Dorset which I have only left to study at university. Cycling from Sherborne I came to know all the highways and byways of the centre of Hardy country. I have spent all of my career here, working first at Bryanston and then teaching in the Boys' and Girls' grammar schools in Bournemouth. Although now retired I still teach English and Drama (for the U3A where some of my students are in their eighties) and lecture occasionally on local architectural history, which I also tried to interest my students in. My husband and I marked the thirty-fifth anniversary of the day we met with a wonderful picnic in the valley looking back to Milton Abbey - a landscape shaped by nature with a helping hand given by Capability Brown, and which features in my favourite novel 'The Woodlanders' - which, appropriately enough for this little jotting, starts on the road from Sherborne to Cerne Abbas. I still remember Edge Grove with real fondness and gratitude. David's on the left, that's me on the right.
Giles Ellis (EG 1958-64)
Still retired from Berry Bros & Rudd Ltd. Freeman of City of London. Liveryman of Worshipful Company of Distillers. Keeper of the Quaich. Best wishes to all at EG !
Robin Bavington Jones (EG 1946-54) Two years ago I got remarried to a charming and very clever Portuguese/Brazilian lady and at the age of 80 have relocated to the Algarve where we are building a house on 5000 square meters of land in the middle of beautiful countryside. Modern technology enables me to continue working as a Chartered Accountant. Chris Evans (EG 1980-85) Chris is now living in Turkey mixing his time between playing on boats and writing books. His first children's book - "It's A Stray Dog's Life" is scheduled for publication in early 2022. It's based on the lives of the stray dogs he spends much of his time feeding and playing with.
Chandan Jusrut (EG 2005-07) Well there's been quite a few changes since the last time I wrote...I am currently in Mauritius and my partner Melanie gave birth two months ago to our beautiful daughter Hailey Dilara Jusrut. I must say it was not easy as it happened during confinement. I have also just launched my new brand and shop online called Atelier-cashmere.com. I wanted to have something of my own on the side after working for my dad for so many good years. I must say it was quite a challenge as Mauritius had a second lockdown earlier this year for a period of 2 months and kept the borders closed. Luckily everything is getting back to normal slowly slowly.
Jeremy Newsum (EG 1968)
Some old friends may be interested in my new career as an artist. I paint mainly landscapes in oil and have a website www.newsums.co.uk and am on Instagram @jhmnewsumart. Sample picture attached - “Flooded Fens”.
Dominic Selwood (EG 1979-1984)
I do miss coming to Edge Grove now Inigo has left. He is now in his second year at university!!!
I have a new book coming out: Anatomy of a Nation: A History of British Identity in 50 Documents It will be published by Constable on 23 September 2021. Details can be found here.
Glenn Hickman (EG 1957-1962)
In this strange world of Covid Lockdowns, I am happy to report that I/we are staying safe, well, normal and busy! No longer busy at work, however! After over 50 years in the advertising business with dominant global firms: Masius Wynne-Williams, Darcy MacManus & Masius, Masius & Benton & Bowles, Omnicom, etc, etc., I have spent the last 20 years running my own (very small) advertising business. Sadly, nobody wants ‘old-fashioned’ advertising any more. The digital, social media, internet, ad. age is taking over! Happily retiring in Wiltshire, I have a healthy interest in Classic cars and Historic car racing, and I am now concentrating, amongst other things, on my new Labrador youngster, Frank, with a view to training him for picking-up at shoots and for keeping me fit in old age! Our son, Charlie (EG 1990-1996), after making his mark at Marlborough College and then Liverpool and Buenos Aires Universities, has been pursuing a successful career in the insurance business at Lloyds, firstly as a broker with R K Harrison and, more recently, as an underwriter with Ascot Insurance, specialising in Political Risk Assessment. He is married to Alicia and lives in East Sheen, West London, with their two sons, Hugh & Doug. Riley Levene (EG 2011-2020)
Riley is currently revising (amongst other things) for his upcoming December trials (internal exams). Starting at Eton College in the middle of the pandemic wasn't easy but luckily everyone at Eton from the boarding staff and teachers as well as the older students made the new 'starters' (F Blockers) very welcome and at home from day one. Unfortunately due to all the restrictions, Riley is currently unable to enjoy everything that Eton has to offer such as all the different sports, societies, social events etc. Fingers crossed it won't be too long before they are allowed to do so! Riley wears his Eton uniform with great pride (pic attached), although it took a few attempts to get his tie and collar 'assembled' correctly, it is now a second nature for him. He has also become a member of the College Chapel Choir for which he auditioned on the very first day and got in! Regarding singing, Riley was honoured to perform for our town of Elstree & Borehamwood Virtual Christmas Lights Switch On 2020. Here is the YouTube video where Riley performs two Christmas songs along with festive messages from the Mayor and two EastEnders cast members as well as music from the Borehamwood Brass. Hope you enjoy it!
Laura Hussey (EG 2000-2006)
I was in the second year of girls at Edge Grove in 2000. I truly look back at prep school as the happiest times. I loved the teachers, outdoors, doughnuts by Fernando and flexi boarding which felt like a sleepover each week. Weird to think I spent over a decade in the grounds both there and at St Christophers. These days I'm now 28, married, with two doggies called Patch and Scotty. I've chosen an alternative career after studying business management at university. I'm a youth worker and I adore it. I currently work 1/1 with young people alongside the police to help prevent them from getting into gang and knife crime. I see the sharp reality of what goes on in this country. I do often think of Edge Grove and regularly come back to the fireworks. Forever I will treasure my time when I just got to be a kid.
