Beyond King’s

We have reached the final week of the summer term and we are delighted to feature museum consultant and writer on science history, Dr Rob Huxley (Cr 65-70) as our former pupil of the week. At King’s, Rob was involved in the Science Society, the school scouts and the school choir. To this day he retains a passion for choral singing initiated by the inspirational conducting of King’s former Director of Music, Harry Bramma (Hon OV).

Rob studied Botany at the University of Liverpool before undertaking a PhD in Marine Science at the University of London. Rob began a career in marine science as a research assistant at Bangor University before moving into the museum sector. He was Head of Botanical Collections at the Natural History Museum, London for over twenty years and then Principal Curator leading UK and European Union projects.

Rob now has the honorary role of research associate at the Natural History Museum and also holds several other positions including Honorary Curator of the World Museum, Liverpool and visiting research associate at the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin.

This week our former pupil is Paul Rostand (Ca 73-82) who was our Keynote Speaker at the Business Skills Workshop for Lower Sixth students last week. Paul has over 35 years’ experience in the food industry, both nationally and internationally and so it was a treat for the pupils to listen to him and learn from his experiences. At King’s, Paul was actively involved in sports and he took advantage of the many extra-curricular activities that King’s offered; he was known as a great team player.

Paul started life working in France, developing exports for the Miko/Ortiz Food Group before returning to the UK to join S Daniels Plc as a Trading Manager for their confectionery and coffee divisions. After seven years, Paul joined food sales and marketing company, Brand Innovations Ltd as a Trading Manager before taking over the role as CEO. Here Paul worked with major supermarket chains including Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury as well as food service wholesalers.

In 2015, Paul co-founded the Great British Biscotti Co Ltd which offers a wide selection of hand-crafted biscotti products made in Dorset. The company has won several food industry awards including one at The Caterer Product Excellence Awards earlier this year.

This week we were delighted to welcome several OVs back to school as well as other guests for the Lower Sixth Business Skills Networking event run by our superb Careers department. Among the OVs involved included Luke Weaver (S 98-03) who has often given of his time to support King’s pupils with careers advice. Back when Luke was a pupil he was always very involved and took part in Young Enterprise, was a House Prefect and played in the 1st teams for football, rugby and cricket.

After leaving King’s, Luke headed to New Zealand for 9 months to play rugby in the North Harbour Premiership. Following his gap year, Luke studied Leisure and Sports Management at Cardiff Metropolitan University going on to work in sports marketing in London. Luke changed career paths in 2011 and completed an MSc in Real Estate Management going on to join Halls (Midlands) LLP in 2012 as a graduate surveyor and then joined Fisher German in 2016 when the two companies merged. Luke is now a Chartered Surveyor and works in the commercial agency team advising Landlords, Tenants, Vendors and Purchasers.

This week the new Monitors had great fun training for their exciting new responsibilities, and our former pupil, treasury specialist Annabel Murday (Co 82-84) also shared this important role whilst a pupil here. At King’s Annabel also took part in lots of activities including drama, choir and rowing. Annabel then studied Genetics at the University of York before entering the world of banking.

Annabel amassed a huge amount of experience and knowledge as Managing Director for Wholesale Funding and International Treasuries at Lloyds Banking Group where she worked for over 23 years. Following this, Annabel used her expertise to begin her own consultancy service, Murday Ltd, before moving to TSB Bank where she is now Deputy Treasurer and Head of Treasury Risk.

There are some fantastic school productions coming up this term including the Fourth Form show Little Shop of Horrors. Our former pupil this week is Bart Borchardt (Cl 83-93) who really enjoyed drama, theatre and debating when he was a pupil, as well as getting involved with writing for the school newspaper and with the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. Bart went to Anglia Ruskin University where he studied European Politics and Languages before starting his career in business strategy and management.

Bart recently left Vodafone after fifteen fantastic years working around the world, becoming their Head of Transformation and specialising in driving growth, cultural change and removing cost and complexity. Recently Bart founded Bartholomew Consultancy, helping develop high growth and start-up businesses. He still uses his debating, language and economics skills on a daily basis, and is grateful to Mr Thompson, Dr Leah and Mr Mason for the early encouragement. Outside work he shares his passion for sailing and skiing with his two boys (aged thirteen and fifteen) and is very active in Supporting Wounded Veterans who use the power of sport and mentoring to rehabilitate mentally and physically injured veterans back into employment.

Many Old Vigornians have enjoyed the opportunities on the river here, including our former pupil this week, Kirsten Wrigley (Co 87-89). Kirsten was a boarder at school in the Sixth Form and studied English, Classical Civilisation and Art. She went on to the University of Liverpool where she read Archaeology, and was an active member of the Boat Club, before starting a career in advertising.

Kirsten worked for specialist financial advertising agency Doremus before taking her expertise in-house where she ran the investment banking advertising for Barclays Capital and Credit Suisse. Following six years at Credit Suisse, Kirsten is now a full-time mother and is embarking on a portfolio career with projects that include furniture and lighting restoration.

This week the Upper Sixth Art students visited the Museum of Royal Worcester where this week’s former pupil, John Sandon (Br 69-75), is a trustee. The museum is a stone’s throw from King’s so John spent a great deal of time between and after lessons helping at the museum.

John left King’s in 1975 to join Phillips, one of London’s leading auctioneers, as a porcelain specialist. After fourteen years, John became head of the ceramics department, and soon afterwards became an auctioneer, conducting the sales from the auctioneer’s rostrum. Phillips later merged with Bonhams and John directed the international ceramics and glass departments here. In 1985, John become an expert on the Antiques Roadshow where he is now one of their longest-serving experts. Among numerous discoveries, John is proud to have found two of the most valuable items of antique pottery, both valued at an incredible £50,000 each.

John recently retired but he remains a consultant to Bonhams and still works as an occasional auctioneer. A prolific writer, John writes for many antiques magazines and is the author of eleven books on porcelain including guides to collecting antique porcelain and a dictionary of Worcester porcelain.

Last weekend we celebrated the one hundred and sixteenth Annual OV Reunion Dinner in College Hall and welcomed our new OV Club President, David Ogle (K 76-86). David contributed to many aspects of school life including the First rugby team, swimming, the CCF and athletics as well as being a Monitor. David was the Victor Ludorum in his Lower Sixth year. David represented the Midlands in a rugby match against the touring Australian team and gained an England Trial in 1986.

Following King’s, David gained a BSc and now runs local pharmacy, D. L Ogle Ltd, which has been in his family since 1969. David also co-owns a property development company, St John’s Developments.

This week’s former pupil is Anthony Lock (W 05-11). While at King’s Anthony was Head of House as well as being hugely involved in rowing; he was also Keeper of Boats. After taking his A Levels in Mathematics, Further Mathematics and Physics, Anthony went on to study Physics at the University of Manchester.

Following university Anthony went to work for DAI (Digital Applications International) as a software engineer for three years before beginning his current role as an associate consultant at software consultants, Infinity Works. Outside work Anthony is a keen cyclist who races in time trials; he also competes in and coaches trampolining.