Rhubarb Issue 12: November 2023

and invested so much into the programme, travelling all over Europe to train or play pretty much every weekend during the summer. It was a huge commitment, but I loved the camaraderie within the squad and the togetherness that came from having to sacrifice so much. We weren’t hugely successful but were eventually rewarded

Peter with fellow OSE, Rupert Shipperley (Kendall, 2006-2011), having played together for Wales in a Test match against Spain, June 2014

INTERVIEW

with qualification for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014, which helped pave the way for the remarkable success of recent Welsh men’s squads. If you could invite one former member of staff, dead or alive, to a dinner party, who would you invite and why? There were a number of characters in the Common Room in the 1990s – the late, great, David Drake-Brockman; Robert ‘Stumpy’ Aldridge; Clive Dytor, my HM in Tilly’s, who allowed us a lot of freedom(!); David Wippell; Paul Kitovitz; Charlie Baggs; Phil Jolley; Anthony Kerr-Dineen; Mark Lauder – all of them genuine ‘schoolmasters’ who truly invested in School life. Chris Lush, who taught me History throughout my time at Teddies and was a brilliant Hockey coach; Ben Ryan, our 1st XV coach in 1998 and 1999; Jason Mills, the Cricket Pro in the late 1990's; and Zak Jones, the Hockey Pro who really transformed Hockey at Teddies, were all brilliant coaches and motivators. All of them would make a great addition to a dinner party. However, it would have to be the legendary Joe McPartlin, the former Scotland international who spent his entire 34-year teaching career at the School. He never actually taught me Geography, nor coached me rugby, but he would often make a comment about my performance for the 1st XV the previous weekend and was a fabulous raconteur. Recalling the 1998 1st XV’s season at our end of season dinner, Joe labelled me ‘Fingers Swainson’, as he said every one of my throw-ins was different – like the fingerprints on one’s hand! This summer we’ve embarked on a significant adventure – moving to Harrow International School in Bangkok, where I’ve taken on a school-wide co-curricular role. I enjoyed a wonderful ‘expat’ upbringing myself – living in Thailand, Burma and India until I was about six – and have always wanted to give my children a similar experience. It’s been quite a change, but we’ve adapted quickly, and our three children (Matilda, Huw and Iolo, who all attend the school) are loving the many opportunities available to them, now we’re living in a tropical climate. What is next for you and your family?

Unbeaten 1st XI Hockey 2000

Making my debut for the 1st XI Hockey team in the Fourth Form was also pretty special (especially as I scored both goals in a 2-2 draw against Stowe), as was the unbeaten season in my final year in the 1st XI in 2000. As a teacher the highlight has been seeing the many pupils I’ve taught develop – whether as historians, as sportsmen and women or, most importantly, into well-rounded and engaging young adults. Teddies has undoubtedly evolved into a genuinely co-educational school.The girls are so impressive and have added so much to what was essentially a boys’ school when I was a pupil.The academic and co-curricular opportunities are remarkable too.The popularity – and brilliance! – of dance has been extraordinary.The work in the Beyond Teddies team is fantastic, with the focus on service and the rollout of Teddies Collaborates last year.The facilities at Teddies are impressive too – especially the Christie Centre and Olivier Hall. You have seen Teddies evolve over the years – what positive changes particularly stand out for you?

Teddies was a friendly, unpretentious school, that turned out well-rounded young men and women.

You had a career in Law before making the move to teaching. What inspired this change?

I had an amazing time at both The Dragon and Teddies, and had always thought I'd enjoy working in education. However, I wanted to pursue other interests when I left university, so undertook a law conversion course after my History degree and then trained and qualified at a firm in the City. I found the work very dry, so when an opportunity arose at Tonbridge School in 2014, I felt the time was right to give teaching a go. In my ‘Leavers’ Book’ my great friend Barney Rodgers (Tilly’s 1995-2000) wrote:‘He’ll either become an Olympic Hockey player or a teacher back at the Dragon...!’, so he was nearly right on both counts!

What three words would you use to describe Teddies?

Friendly, kind, down to earth. I always felt Teddies was a friendly, unpretentious school, that turned out well-rounded young men and women.Thankfully, I believe that’s still the case.

You played hockey for Wales – how do you think this experience has shaped you?

To read the full interview, scan the QR code here.

Playing for Wales taught me so much – the importance of resilience, hard work and commitment.We were all amateurs

47