1646 - Issue 1

NEWS OF OLD BLUES Peter Barnett (1951) retired to Kingston, Ontario in May 2000 after 36 years in Montreal. Prior to arriving in Canada, Peter worked for seven years in London, England for a wine importer – importing wines and spirits from around the world. Between golf and skiing activities, he finds time to volunteer at the Seniors Centre where he teaches computer skills. He is currently a director at the Queens’ Computer Club and a member of the Canadian Club of Kingston. Peter is also active in two Kingston organisations, Vision for Kingston and The Frontenac Heritage Foundation. Thank you to all those who updated us on their news this year. If you would like to let us know about any specific achievements or births, deaths and marriages, then please contact Sarah in the Development Office at spy@rbcs.org.uk . To let other Old Blues know about more general updates, please head to Reading Blue Coat Connect ( readingbluecoatconnect.org.uk ) and post an update. Ali Bagshaw (2001) took part in the musical Spamolot for Maidenhead Operatic Society in November 2018. NEWS Chris Clarke (1998) won an award for his Telematics Hub, which has revolutionised the way rental companies access their assets GPS tracking data, from within their operational business system. Chris also runs Sonning Fireworks along with Old Blue John Field (1995) . They recently put on a stunning display at the school which was enjoyed by 2,000 people! Myles Dyer (2005) has launched a brand new podcast The Quest for Global Empathy which was an impact project Myles set up as UK Ambassador for YouTube’s Creators for Change initiative. Have a listen on Myles’ YouTube Channel and be sure to subscribe if you like what you hear! Craig Hunter (1978) is the founder of the Berkshire Banshees WRC. The Banshees are a wheelchair rugby team and Reading Blue Coat School are delighted to support the team as they train using the School’s facilities. Congratulations to Old Blue Mark Borlase (1967) for receiving a Doctorate in Philosophy award in Archaeology from the University of Bristol for his thesis – ‘Way of Saints’: socio-economic continuity across the Camel/Fowey corridor between the Late Iron Age to AD 700. Ara Sarafyan (1978) was interviewed for the ITV programme The Ottomans: Europe’s Muslim Emperors . Ara is a professor of history and was speaking about the 1915 Armenian genocide. David Woodward (1979) helped raise funds for the refurbishment of Eye and Dunsden village hall, which included an evening with Dame Judi Dench raising £20,000. An adaptation of Old Blue Peter Strickland’s (1991) award-winning film ‘Berberian Sound Studio’ will be playing at the Donmar Warehouse in 2019. Time Out London has named it one of the top 19 shows to catch this year! Luke Darracott (2005) is the co-founder of Spanish Wine Experience – a blog, podcast and tour specifically designed to help people from around the world discover Spanish wines. He has published two books about Spain; The Sun Struck Upwards2 and El Camino , as well as being the presenter for the TV series Finding Little Italy . Tom Rosenthall (2006) returned for a fifth season of Friday Night Dinner and presented a new MTV reality show, Re-Freshers Week . Congratulations to Edward Hicks (2009) who passed his viva at St Anne’s College, Oxford last September, and has been awarded his doctorate (D.Phil) for his dissertation entitled: Christianity Personified: Perceval and Pittism . Naomi Thomas (2009) has been doing some exciting work in journalism since leaving RBC. She is currently working for CNN and before that with the Georgia News Lab, who carried out a year- long investigation (and the first of its kind in the state) about deaths in custody. You can also check out Naomi’s website here: naomirthomas.com 2 4