Rhubarb December 2025

You’ve been a fixture at St Edward’s for many years – can you tell us how your journey at the School began? I was relatively late to teaching, completing my PGCE in 1994. After four years at King Alfred’s ,Wantage, I applied to join the Teddies Maths Department with the possibility of doing some rowing.This escalated quickly as the Head of Maths was out of school for two months while the Boat Club was unable to appoint a 1st VIII coach - the solution was to give me the job with Mike Rosewell as a consultant.This started a wonderful friendship with Mike. For the 1999 season, I inherited a great nucleus from Bill Sayer’s 1998 1st VIII along with some of Peter Middleton’s very impressive Colts. St Edward’s has a strong sense of tradition – how have you seen the School evolve during your time here? Coeducation has evolved and civilised the School and led to more social inclusivity. Pastoral care has improved considerably.We have moved from prefect-run Houses to having three or more resident staff in each House. Provision of bursaries has increased significantly, broadening access to the benefit of all pupils. It is otherwise very much the school I joined in the last century. You have been involved with the rowing for many years. What has been most rewarding about working with the Boat Club over the seasons? As a coach, seeing my crews exceeding expectations to perform at the highest levels, achieving National Schools’ medals or winning at Henley; then, seeing those I have coached go on to success beyond school – as both rowers and coaches.The same can be applied to those I have taught or tutored who have gone into teaching. Are there any standout races or regattas that still stay with you? My early success at Henley in 1999 was the first of many occasions when I felt immense pride in a crew I had coached, while another great memory that comes to mind is the bronze medal for my 2010 J15 crew at the National Schools’ Regatta.

What values do you think rowing instils in pupils?

I greatly admire those who engage in the high-performance school rowing programme.The demands are high but the benefits invaluable. Discipline is required to fulfil the training and the lessons learned carry over to enable academic success.There are numerous cases where the unique opportunities provided by the Boat Club have transformed the lives of pupils at School. It has been a delight to facilitate this– long may it continue! You have been Honorary Secretary to the OSE Society for 12 years, what have you enjoyed most about working with the alumni network? Those leaving Teddies are people whose company you cannot fail to enjoy. Attending OSE events has always been a pleasure, increasingly possible and enjoyable through the work of the Beyond Teddies Team.The investment by the School to develop this department has had incalculable benefits.The Society is in a much stronger position now with incredible administration but also with a great succession of presidents and an active committee. Have there been any particularly memorable OSE reunions or events? The 2023 Boat Club celebration was unparalleled in its scale and grandeur while the Toby Smith Memorial Dinner was certainly the most poignant. University visits, alongside regional lunches and dinners, have always been great fun, while London’s ‘Rhubarb Reunites: 15 Years’ for younger OSE is a great innovation.

INTERVIEW

As you reflect on your time at Teddies, what are you most proud of? What do you recall with greatest fondness?

The support of my colleagues has kept me at Teddies all these years. Inevitably the common room changes each year, continuing to invigorate the enjoyment of working here and boosting the ever-rising standards of the school. As a teacher, success more often simply comes with the breakthroughs and achievements of individuals. The more public events have been those with the Boat Club while highlights within the MCR are dominated by the many pantomimes, initially under Kendall Williams’s direction but then possibly even surpassed by the staff “plays” created by David Aldred. Completing my time at Teddies by being presented with, first, a rhubarb waistcoat and then a 1st VIII blazer will stay with me forever.

It was an honour having my name on the 1st VIII boat and seeing the crew win in the same boat at NSR, followed by Henley in 2023.

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