Alan Fitzgerald

Alan (Tulley’s, 1953-61) came to the Pensioners' Party on Founder's Day and met colleagues he hadn't seen for 46 years. This prompted him to write in with an update: he’s been married 36 years to Gill (from Trinidad, WI) and has one daughter, one grandson, and a second grandchild on the way. Alan lives in Bluntisham, Cambridgeshire and his main interests are golf, table tennis (playing & coaching), running, and musical drama – including a Buddy Holly tribute act! He is researching for a book he’s writing on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, including all the protests against destroying Kent's countryside up to the current line from St Pancras via Ebbsfleet. If anyone would like to get in touch with Alan, please contact me.

Paul M. Collins

Paul (Tulley’s, 1954-61) has recently retired and has been living and working in Benin, West Africa, where he has a school.

The English International School is ‘an international school in the true sense of the word,’ explains Paul. ‘Teachers and pupils come from all the continents of the world and, although we use English as a common language, it is a truly multicultural environment. We are members of the Cambridge Primary Programme and at 16 our students take Cambridge University IGCSEs. In the last few weeks we have heard that we have been issued a "Titre Foncier" for five hectares of land we purchased about five years ago adjacent to the city of Cotonou, the commercial capital city of Benin. This piece of paper gives us the right to design and build a new school surrounded by playing fields and gardens. You can probably guess where my inspiration to do this grew from!’

Tony Chu

Another Tulley’s man, Tony (Tulley’s, 1962-69) left Alleyn’s to go Guy’s Hospital Medical School and was a Consultant Dermatologist at Hammersmith Hospital. The Club sends congratulations on his appointment as the Chair of Dermatologic Oncology at Buckingham University.

Trevor Jones

An Old Boy who flew Albion’s shores to Australia is Trevor Jones (Brading’s, 1969-76). He wrote in giving his news and recollections of Alleyn’s in the 1970s. ‘This [1970s] was a time of great change for Alleyn’s with girls being accepted for the first time, and major renovation works. I wasn’t the best of students (as I’m sure Chris Liffen can corroborate if he remembers me) but I received a great education and have done well in life. I live in Australia now, on the Central Coast about 50 miles north of Sydney. I work for a large software company (CA), and lead a team of programmers writing mainframe software. Barry Banson’s maths classes have served me well here. The money’s good, the work frenetic, and the Aussie lifestyle is great. I have fond memories of life at Alleyn's and all the friends I made in those formative years. Should any old acquaintances wish to catch up, feel free to drop me a line.

Daryl Vaughan

Former School Captain, Daryl (Dutton’s, 1969-77), now based in Texas, crossed the Atlantic with his family to visit the Pimm’s Tent this year and caught up with some old friends and teachers.

He writes: ‘We all had a fabulous day at Townley Road. It really was wonderful to wander round the campus and to catch up with so many erstwhile fellow students, staff and their families. Boy, after some thirty years, did it bring back memories!
‘Since our return to the States, we've been busy dealing with Hurricane Ike (yes, a direct hit!), the presidential elections and, of course, the global financial meltdown. What a year! In the face of such monumental worldwide events over which we have little control, it's comforting to look back at our schooldays, keep in touch with old friends and yearn for simpler times. Am I getting old or what?!?!

‘There's an article in me somewhere – about my generation struggling to bridge the divide across the 20th and 21st centuries, between an analogue and digital world, from simple cold war confrontation between two superpowers to a complex new world order, constantly and rapidly shifting – trying to make some sense of it all.’

I’m not sure if it’s just an article – I think there’s probably an essay in there! I wonder if there’s one of Daryl’s teachers willing to mark it?

Erica Denman

Erica (Brading’s, 1990-97) is a quantity surveyor in London and is currently working on ‘a high quality, private residential refurbishment’ for a billionaire!’. Erica lives in Reading but will soon be moving back to London.
 

© Alleyn’s School, Townley Road, London SE22 8SU