Sharing your news and marking those who have passed away this term
Thank you so much to everyone who has shared their news with us.
Over the last lockdown – in the autumn of 2020, I wrote a book; well, more of a large booklet, I suppose, at 34 A4 pages with many coloured illustrations. This was all about EASTWOOD HOUSE, a very fine Regency building in Keighley, West Yorkshire. I live in Ilkley, so this was close by, and I had always been fascinated by its history. I discovered all sorts of things about the house and park, but I was interested to learn about the original owners, and then to ‘meet’ the family members from 1819 to 1911. William Sugden, the builder, was a successful woollen mill owner. Keighley had 36 more textile mills at this date!
If anyone would like me to send them a copy of this Essay, via email, I would be happy to do this. Also if any old school chums would like to get in touch for a general ‘chat’, I should love to hear from them. I am on jennings258@btinternet.com.
I attach a photograph of “the class of 1978” partying a few weeks ago in Cumbria. Some of us started at Prep School in 1968, some joined at the Senior School in 1973 and we all left in 1978. The first girls were just arriving, and a couple of them are in the picture.
We meet every year or two and this year we took over a huge air b&b for two nights, some good walking, some scratch lawn tennis and black tie do on the second night. Seems only yesterday we had the Sixth Form Leavers Ball!
The class of '78
Peter became recently accepted as an accredited Local Preacher within the Methodist Church as well as a Marriage registrar during the last few years. As he approaches retirement thoughts he thought life would slow down to prepare for his "pipe and slipper days." However with new church commitments, in Sutton Coldfield, and grandchildren the exact opposite has occurred. Anyone else discovering the same?
I have been retired in Mallorca since 2006. I have just had a stent inserted in my heart and am making good recovery. I doubt whether many of my school friends will be alive now but maybe a small claim to fame is that I can say that I attended when a well known actor, Bill Roach who everybody knows is still with us.
I was at Rydal from 1948 till 1954. First at Oakwood Park, Conwy, then Senior School, Colwyn Bay. The eldest of four brothers Brian followed me then the twins Marcus and Keith, Three cousins were also there during our time, John, Edward and Robert . Now... 71 years later my wife and I have just celebrated our diamond wedding anniversary. We have been farming in Wirral all this time. How time flies! But I still look back at my time at Rydal with many happy memories. Is anyone else out there who remembers?
Joy Hendry wrote a book called An Affair with a Village about the research she has been doing in a Japanese village over a period of 45 years, published by Extremis Publishing in February 2021. There is also a film made in the village by her son and his partner that can be viewed free on YouTube at https://youtu.be/x7qptoXqnhE.
Grace Dugdale has just co-authored The Fertility Book: Your Definitive Guide to Achieving a Healthy Pregnancy with Professor Adam Balen, published by Vermilion (Penguin Random House). The book offers an evidence-based approach to fertility and preconception care.
Grace is a reproductive biologist and nutrition scientist who has spent many years researching biological function in sex and fertility and has a number of research special interests in relation to fertility. As a member of the Fertility Education Initiative, she works to promote good-quality education in sex, relationships and fertility, as well as gender equality and healthy attitudes towards sex and reproduction in young people. She is also a member of The All Party Parliamentary Group for Sexual and Reproductive Health.
In 2017, Grace founded Balance Fertility. She recently shared a fascinating blog post with us from the site – 'Diet and lifestyle to support immune function during the COVID-19 crisis'.
Thank you to Martyn Bennett (RS 54–64), who has provided us with some more information about Chris Jennins (RS 49–59), mentioned in the last newsletter – ‘Sporting greats throughout Rydal Penrhos history’. The middle of three brothers, Jennins was capped for England in rugby while playing for Waterloo FC.
We were interested to read that Waterloo FC, Martyn’s old club, had in those days a 'tremendous fixture list' that included Harlequins, Leicester Tigers, Richmond, and Northampton Saints, names which will be familiar to many of you!
In August this year, four of us met up for dinner bed and breakfast in Beeley and a tour of Chatsworth house We told several of the guides that we were Old Penrhosians and fortunately none of them asked how we had found it being schooled there during the war!
We felt it was only right to try and reproduce the iconic images of the dormitory and the ice skating on the lake.
Present (all Penrhos 75–82):
Ice skating on the lake
The dormitory in Chatsworth
We have also been saddened to hear of the deaths of several alumni since the last newsletter.
Christine Gething Brown (PC 43–50) passed away on 3 July 2021. Christine was hugely involved in the life of the school, being president of the Old Penrhosians Association.
Margret Ann Britton (née Nardi) died peacefully in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, on 24 September 2021. Margret arrived at Rydal School in 1955 as a school nurse. She met and married Doc Britton in 1957 and together they ran New House until 1973. Their three children, Anna, Iolo, and John all attended Rydal School.
Keith Mawdsley (RS 53–60) has died.
Martin Kay (RS 78–83) has died.
Brian Wallace (RS 44–88) passed away peacefully on 23 October 2021, having celebrated his 91st birthday with his family the day before.
