The Savile Club is a truly exceptional venue established in 1868 first under the name of the ‘New Club’ by a group of distinguished writers and artists of the time. It has since been frequented by writers such as Robert Stevenson, William Yeats, A.A. Milne, Rudyard Kipling, and the OB Pioneers! To read more about the fascinating history of the Club click here. Also lunching were Gavin’s sister Jackie Fitzgerald, their father ‘Jock’ having been for many years the Housemaster of Durnford House, and Piers, son of Peter Gough, Second Master from 1957 to 1964, who looked every inch his father’s son.
After the meal, Mervyn Dunhill (Br 1959-64), who was attending his first ever OB event, regaled the assembled company with his recollection of his friendship with Gavin, who he had not seen for 53 years, generated through their mutual passion for motor sport. Together they had organised two racing car shows, one in the Great Hall and one in the quadrangle by the then new science block. He recalled that Gavin’s trademark wearing of a bow tie arose from his hero of the day, Mike Hawthorn, Britain’s first F1 World Champion, who habitually wore one, even when racing.
Although Hawthorn had attended Ardingly College, he recalled three OBs who had made a name for themselves in the world of motor sport; these were the late Alan Mann (Le. 1950-53), successful team owner of the ’60s and builder of the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang cars for the film of that name, Jonathan Palmer (Al. 1969-74), F1 driver in the ’80s and motor sport entrepreneur, and the late Duncan Hamilton (no relation to Lewis) who won the Le Mans 24 Hour race in 1953. Most importantly, Mervyn expressed his amazement that Gavin could still recall the registration number of his mother Sybil's ‘mushy-pea green’ Ford Popular, often seen around the College, TPO 743.
Although Brighton has somewhat changed since our Pioneers attended the College some years ago, many things have stayed the same, and one of these, as Mervyn underlined, are the strong friendships and the sense of community formed at Brighton College. In his speech updating guests on news from the College, Adrian Ford also reflected on his role as Housemaster of Head's House:
"I think most sane people would find the prospect of living with 75 boys quite daunting but not only have they taught me a lot about what boys are capable of and how important having a strong community is, they have also been great older brothers for my daughter. As you are well aware it does have its challenges but I do not have my marketing hat on when I say they are a fantastic set of boys who are genuinely kind, well rounded and occasionally quite amusing."
If you have any questions regarding OB events, or would like to visit the College, please contact Veronika Neroj in the OB office at ob@oldbrightonians.com or by telephone on +44 0 1273 704 250.
Attendees:
Anthony Arnold-Boakes (Hampden, 1957- 1962)
Jeremy Barrett (Leconfield, 1954- 1958)
Keith Best (Hampden, 1962- 1966)
Michael Bishop (Chichester, 1960- 1965)
David Bowen (Durnford, 1957- 1961)
Stephen Cockburn (Leconfield/School, 1953- 1958)
Judy Cockburn
Mervyn Dunhill (Bristol, 1959- 1964)
Jeromé Freedman (Aldrich, 1949- 1952)
Louise Freedman
Peter Gareh (Durnford, 1962- 1967)
Christian Gilfillan (Aldrich, 1960- 1963)
Piers Gough
Martin Harman (Durnford, 1960- 1965)
Gavin Henderson (Leconfield, 1960- 1965)
Michael Hill (Durnford, 1948- 1953)
Jeremy Hutchins (School, 1960- 1965)
Miles Hutchins (School, 1961- 1965)
Jeremy Hutchins (School, 1960- 1965)
Graham Leathes (Aldrich, 1957- 1967)
David Leuw (Durnford, 1949- 1952)
Tim Loadsman (Leconfield, 1951- 1957)
Roger Mason (Chichester, 1956- 1959)
Margaret Mason
Jeremy Miles (Chichester, 1951- 1956)
Penny Miles
Barry Moore (Leconfield, 1963- 1967)
Richard Muir (Leconfield, 1958- 1968)
Colin Nicholls (Chichester, 1946- 1950)
Robin Ormerod (Leconfield, 1964- 1967)
Linda Ormerod
Malcolm Paris (Aldrich, 1954- 1958)
Angela Paris
David Pincus (Durnford, 1950- 1957)
Anne Pincus
Tony Reading (Leconfield, 1956- 1961)
Mike Rees (Durnford/Bristol, 1967- 1972)
Nick Rees (Durnford, 1962- 1965)
Tom Salmons (Leconfield, 1957- 1961)
Andrew Symonds (Aldrich, 1955- 1959)
Michael Thompson (Leconfield, 1962- 1967)
Stephanie Thompson
James Thring (Bristol, 1955- 1961)
David Wagg (Aldrich, 1965- 1969)
Julie Wagg
Grant Whytock (Durnford, 1960- 1965)
Nigel Wratten (Leconfield, 1962- 1967)
Christopher Wray (Leconfield, 1966- 1970)
Alistair Wray (Leconfield, 1963- 1967)
Adrian Ford (Housemaster of Head’s House)
Scott Sheridan (Director of Development and Engagement)
Veronika Neroj (Old Brightonians)
Angelina Papadopoulos (Old Brightonians)