A Welcome Return for OV Roger

It was wonderful to welcome OV Reverend Dr Roger Latham (Br 85-87) back to King’s last term. Roger had not returned to see his ‘alma mater’ properly since leaving school and heading to Leicester University to read English.

Although only at the School for the Sixth Form, Roger found his time at King’s transformative, and made the most of the co-curricular opportunities, including some very memorable trips!

His fondest memories of his time at King’s were of No 12 College Green, where he had many of his A-level classes. When Roger was at school, No 12 was divided between classrooms and Eliot House: a girls’ day house. There were definitely areas where boys were not welcome! He enjoyed seeing No 12 as it is today, and kindly took the time to describe the differences between ‘then’ and ‘now’ to Alumni Relations Co-ordinator, Amanda Sutcliffe, who was accompanying Roger on his tour.

Edgar Tower similarly held some great memories, climbing up the recently refurbished but still winding stairs to what had been the Library in his time and is now home for Classics.

The Keyes Building, opened in 2015, was new to Roger, but he was keen to take a look, especially at the Wightman Drama Studio on the top floor. A former Drama teacher, Roger thought the facilities excellent and was pleased to see current A-level Drama students getting ready for their practical sessions.

The New Block, or the Annett Building, is where Roger’s House, Bright, had had its Sixth Form Room and study areas. Now a Maths classroom, Roger had a lovely chat with Maths teacher and Hon OV Andy Swarbrick and his Upper Remove class. While there were clearly some physical changes to the layout, it still felt very familiar and quite emotive for Roger being back.

Following a turn around the School Gardens, which Roger noted had not changed, he and Amanda popped in to the newly opened Café 1541 in School House. There they saw Hon OV Tom Sharp and Roger and he swapped some stories about the King’s teachers they both knew!

Roger added, “I hugely enjoyed seeing King’s as it is today, its evolution, but particularly how it is managing to evolve while retaining so much of the core historical aspects.”

Roger’s love for learning founded at King’s has never left him; in addition to his Bachelor’s degree in English, Roger also holds a Masters in the subject. He then began his teaching career in 1993, having completed his PGCE in English and Drama. Roger then found his calling to the church, continuing his education with a Theology degree and subsequently a PhD in Theology. With his teaching experience, it was a natural progression for Roger to continue his career in the church by supporting those in the early stages of their journey. He has recently joined the Diocese of Worcester and is delighted to be back!