In Conversation with our Oldest OV

Following a great reunion in Singapore, Headmaster Gareth Doodes travelled onwards to Australia. First port of call was Manly to meet with a particularly special OV, one who has been hoping for an OV event in Australia for over 60 years: Peter Watson (S 38-41).

At 98 years old, we believe Peter is our oldest living OV, so Gareth was very pleased to have the opportunity to meet with him – a lovely juxtaposition as the School is getting ready to welcome the newest generation of OVs into the community in the summer.

Peter had been a boarder at King’s and shared with Gareth how much he loved his time at school. This despite being there during a very tumultuous time when the school was evacuated to Criccieth during the war, after the Government had planned to commandeer the school site. Peter’s house, School, moved into the Caerwylan Hotel along with the Hostel boys, while Castle House went to the Pines Hotel. A slightly different school life ensued, until the return to Worcester and an unblemished school site in September 1940.

Ties with the school remain strong, having made lifelong friends at King’s. Peter had returned to the School for the Annual OV Reunion Weekend in 2006, where he was awarded the Chappel Memorial Award – given to the oldest OV present who has not previously won.

Following King’s, Peter became an RAF Gunner, flying in Lancaster Bombers. He keenly remembers how his first crew went out while he was in hospital, and all perished. A lucky escape for Peter, of course, but tinged with the loss of his friends.

Peter moved to Adelaide in 1949 along with his first wife, moving to Sydney 18 years later after the tragic death of their second daughter. Sydney has remained his home ever since.

Back in the present, as Peter’s house is on a steep hill, Gareth took the private funicular on the outside of the property to join Peter in his living room on the top floor. Peter introduced Gareth to the joys of ‘Tim Tams’ while they enjoyed coffee and a long chat. They both agreed they could have talked for hours, but Gareth needed to return to the city in time for OV dinner. Having arrived in Manly via the ferry, Gareth was kindly given a lift to the train station for the return journey so he could experience the incredible views across the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Gareth added, “It was an honour and a privilege to meet with Peter, who is a true gentleman. We only wished that there had been connections with OVs earlier, as this visit has helped Peter connect with an OV living just a few hundred yards from him! We were delighted to hear that the two have now met up, as a direct result of our Sydney reunion.”

Following Gareth’s visit, U6 student George C jumped at the opportunity for a video call with Peter – both of whom have a love of Maths.

Peter gladly shared his own experiences of King’s with George, discussing the differences between ‘then’ and ‘now’. The most distinct change is, of course, that from an all-boys boarding school in Peter’s day, to today’s fully co-ed day school. Peter noted that the facilities are also marvellous compared with 50 years ago. He added, “The whole world has changed and fortunately there’s so much more equality than when I was a child. More people are getting a much fairer go in the world now than they did then.”

Peter’s concluding advice to George and all King’s students was, “Work as hard as you can and be kind to one another.”