Memorable OWCs
SOME MEMORABLE OLD WEST CITS
This is by no means the definitive list of OWC high achievers. Just a random selection of some of Westminster City's higher profile students:
ANDY MACKAY - Saxophonist with Roxy Music, a hugely successful band of the early 1970's. Andy was born in Lostwithiel, Cornwall but grew up in Pimlico from where he attended WCS. He first played oboe at the School and won a weekly scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music. He was the co-founder of Roxy Music with Brian Ferry. In association with playwright Howard Schuman he created the memorable "Rock Follies" T.V. musical which won a BAFTA award in 1976. He has numerous albums to his credit and is also a top class session musician. A WCS contemporary remembers him as being 'very quiet with an anarchic sense of humour. Very keen on art and music and a bit of a favourite of Mr. Puttick. His elder brother Chris was at LSE with Mick Jagger. Andy's name was famously carved into a desk in room 11.'
ROB Le MESURIER - Paul Wheatley OWC remembers from the 1960's that Rob Le Mesurier, the son of famous actor and "Dad's Army" star John Le Mesurier and "Carry On" star Hattie Jacques, attended WCS. 'Rob had a band at a School disco which filled the main hall with smoke. He went on to be a Womble and I believe he toured with the Stones and Rod Stewart.'
PAUL HEARD - Paul Heard joined WCS in 1971. He is remembered as a keen musician at School and first came to the public's attention playing bass for punk band Orange Juice in 1984. He is best known as a founder member of the band M. People, who enjoyed massive success in the 1990's. In the year 2000, Paul's new London home was featured in the Sunday Times magazine.
ISAAC ANOOM - Ghana born Isaac Anoom OWC a student at WCS in the 1990s, was recently honoured and presented with a British ‘Teacher of the Year Award’. His creation, 'Mr Numbervator', was invented nine years ago to teach the key skills and concept of mathematics to all people who feared the subject. He now works on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills in England, presenting a range of activities to schools and colleges highlighting mathematical skills. His fun approach goes down well in school assemblies with individual classes and year groups as well as teaching staff training. “Mr Numbervator” also features in his own television programme called ‘Lucky Numbers’.
ROOM 11 - Not so much a famous person as a famous WCS room. Apparently it appeared on the cover of Led Zeppelin's album "Presence". The use of a WCS classroom as a location was arranged by English teacher Avril Hardy, whose husband was an album sleeve designer!
GIDEON SAMS - Gideon Sams joined WCS in the mid 1970's where he showed an obvious talent for languages. At the age of 14 he wrote "The Punk" as part of a School project. Gideon had an "unorthodox'" approach to class discipline, which may well have led to this work being rejected by a teacher. Fortunately, it was rescued literally from the dustbin by his mother and published in 1977. "The Punk" is now acclaimed as the first punk novel and the definitive insight into the punk era. Sadly, after a short and troubled life, Gideon Sams died in Greenwich Village New York, in February 1989 aged 26.
MARTIN BROUGHTON - In the world of big business Martin Broughton is, without doubt, the highest achieving OWC. He joined British American Tobacco in 1971 as an auditor and rose to be its chairman. In 2004 he became chairman of British Airways and was appointed Chairman of the CBI in January 2007. As well as these momentous achievements, he found time to be Chairman of the British Horse Racing Board along the way. In a recent Daily Telegraph article his earnings for 2004 were estimated at £2.4 million. He attended WCS through the first half of the 1960's with his twin brother Stephen, who has also been extremely successful in his business career. Martin did not set the world alight academically at WCS, but this hardly held him back. The Telegraph article talks about his early life in Fulham: 'his father, who was disabled, used to repair car upholstery and had little ambition for Broughton. "Nobody wants to know a failed accountant," he said when his son decided to join Peat Marwick as an auditor. Yet he thrived in bean-counting, joining BAT as an auditor in 1971.' The rest, as they say, is history.
ANDY HAMILTON - Fulham born, Andy joined WCS in 1965 going on to read English at Downing College, Cambridge. He first came to prominence as a script writer in the 1970's contributing to a huge range of TV programmes including "Shelley", "The Marti Caine Show" and "Not the Nine O'Clock News". His radio work included "Week Ending" and "The News Huddlines". In 1984 he produced and wrote for Channel 4's "Who Dares Wins" and created the sit com "The Kit Curran Radio Show", working with Guy Jenkin. Andy achieved national recognition creating with Guy Jenkin the 1990's hit show, "Drop the Dead Donkey". Andy is a regular performer on T.V. and radio shows such as "Have I Got News For You", "The News Quiz", "QI ", "I'm Sorry I haven't a Clue" and many others. He has the extraordinary achievement of being nominated for 6 BAFTA awards, winning one outright for "Drop the Dead Donkey". He has won the coveted Top Comedy Writer award at the British Comedy Awards and also been honoured by The Royal Television Society and the Writers' Guild of Great Britain. Along with Guy Jenkin, Andy created the TV series 'Outnumbered', which has received enormous acclaim. In 2009, Outnumbered won the Royal Television Society Award for Scripted Comedy and two Broadcasting Press Guild Awards for 'Best comedy/entertainment' and 'Best Writers.' Outnumbered won three awards at the British Comedy Awards for 'Best Sitcom,' 'Best British Comedy,' and 'Best Female Newcomer,' (Ramona Marquez.)
Prof SIR CYRIL HINSHELWOOD O.M. FRS - Attending WCS from 1909 to 1916, Hinselwood came from a humble home, being brought up by his widowed mother. He won a place at Oxford and later became a Professor of Chemistry. He was advisor to the British Government and his discoveries in the field of bacteria had great importance in the development of anti-biotics. He was made a fellow of the Royal Society in 1929 and knighted in 1948. He received the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1955. He also received numerous awards and doctorates throughout his career. A gifted linguist, he was fluent in six languages, including Chinese, and a connoisseur of Chinese porcelain. He died in 1967 aged 70.
STUART DAVIES CBE - Stuart Davies attended WCS from 1918 - 1923. He was chief aircraft designer for A.V. Roe and Sons (AVRO) during the Second World War. Davies played a part in the design of the war's most famous bomber 'The Lancaster' and its post war civilian adaptation, 'The Manchester.' He was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Aeronautical Society in 1958 becoming president of the Society in 1971.
G.H. ELY - George Herbert Ely was one of the original pupils at WCS joining in 1877. He went on to become a prolific writer of children's annuals under the pen name of Herbert Strang. He also published collections of stories for girls edited by "Mrs." Herbert Strang. Five of these annuals published between 1914 and 1931 are considered collectors' items and very valuable today. He died in 1958 at the age of 92.
ROGER LIVESEY - There were three Livesey brothers at WCS during the First World War. All three became actors but Roger was the most successful. Roger Livesey made his stage debut in 1917 and starred on Broadway in 1936. He is most fondly remembered for his screen roles in "The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp" (1943), "I know Where I am Going" (1945) and "A Matter of Life and Death" (1946). Other notable roles include the lead in Peter Ustinov's "Vice Versa" (1948), the bogus clergyman in "The League of Gentlemen"(1960), "The Entertainer" (1960) and the Gravedigger in "Hamlet" (1969). His last major role was for television in 1974 in "The Pallisers". He was married to actress Ursula Jeans. Roger Livesey died in 1976 aged 75.
H.H. GEORGE MC CBE - Leaving WCS in 1909, he obtained a degree at Cambridge and saw Army service during World War One, winning the Military Cross. He entered the Civil Service and rose to Under Secretary in the Ministry of Health.
JOHN HACKETT - John Hackett entered WCS in the mid 1960s and went on to study music at Sheffield University. He is a top British flautist, the younger brother of revered guitarist Steve Hackett, who played in superbands Genesis and GTR. Although John's primary instrument is the flute he also plays guitar, bass and keyboards. John comes from both classical and rock backgrounds and has played with ensembles such as The English Flute Quartet and the Westminster Camerata, as well as appearing in concert and on albums with his brother, Steve. John has recorded numerous albums covering a wide range of styles from Rock to Classical. His classical flute recordings include the critically acclaimed "Sketches of Satie with Steve Hackett on guitar and "Velvet Afternoon," an album of John's own compositions with Sally Goodworth on piano. He also explored improvisation with the ambient group Symbiosis which has led to several recordings and commissions for the B.B.C. In recent years John has returned to the world of rock music with the release of a solo album "Checking Out of London" with lyrics by Nick Clabburn. Incidentally Nick is another Old Westminster Citizen who played several seasons for OWCFC in the 1970s and was John's contemporary at school. The John Hackett Band also played live concerts throughout the U.K. including appearances at The Boardwalk, Sheffield and The Astoria, London.
TERRY MARSH - Terry Marsh was a pupil at WCS from 1969 to 1971. Whilst boxing as an amateur, he was a Royal Marines Commando and then a fireman. On turning professional he went undefeated for 26 fights, winning the World Light Welterweight Title in 1987. Sadly, his career was cut short when he was forced to retire through illness at the age of 29, only 4 months after winning the World title. He is the only British boxer ever to retire as an undefeated world champion.
Lord LAYTON CH CBE - At WCS from 1897 to1902. A lecturer in economics at Trinity College Cambridge, he worked for the Ministry of Munitions during the First World War. He was made a CBE in 1917 and a Companion of Honour in 1919 in recognition for his war work. He married in 1910 and had seven children. He was knighted in 1930. Layton was chairman of the News Chronicle newspaper from 1930 to 1935 and appointed Head of the Joint War Production Staff in 1942, playing vital roles in the Ministry of Supply and Ministry of Production. He served as Vice President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe at a most difficult time following the war, from 1949 to 1957. He was Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party from 1952 - 1955. He died in 1966, aged 81.
T. HEBRON CBE - At WCS from 1907 to 1912. As registrar and Chief accountant at the Chapter House, Westminster Abbey, Hebron served as Gold Staff Officer at the Queen's Coronation in 1953. Made a CBE and MVO the latter being a personal gift of the Queen. He retired in 1964 as Receiver General.
A.V. DESCLOS MC - He joined WCS in 1889. Desclos was born in France and educated at WCS, having both British and French nationalities. He founded the British Institute in Paris and was awarded the Military Cross and the Croix du Guerre for his exploits in the First World War. In the Second World War he helped organise an escape route for British airmen from under the noses of the German H.Q. in Paris. He was a Member of the French Legion d'Honour.
Dr. MALCOLM STUART PhD - He was at WCS from 1957 to 1964. A pioneering herbalist, whose brands of tea are widely available in Tesco's.
STEWART THOMPSON - He joined WCS in 1961. In 1984 Stewart pioneered and patented the idea to create small personalised sugar packets, which would allow independent organisations to portray the same image as multi-national corporations. As co-founder of Europe's largest single portion supplier, Stewart's company "Single Service" became the sole supplier in the U.K. to Macdonald's, Burger King, Pizza Hut, KFC and thousands of pubs, hotels and restaurants. In 1995, H.J. Heinz acquired Single Service. Not wishing to relax, Stewart formed Sugar Stix Inc in Orlando, Florida and invested some four million dollars in equipment. In December 2001 Stewart bought back his original U.K company from Heinz and created Single Source, which is now one of the fastest growing food service companies in Europe. Meanwhile Sugar Stix expands in the USA at an incredible rate. In 2006, Stewart further expanded the Sugar Stix business by adding additional factory capacity in Dallas Texas.
EDGAR MOUNTAIN - At WCS from 1912 to 1915 and extremely fleet of foot. According to the Olympic records archives he competed for Great Britain in the 800m in both the 1920 and 1924 Olympics, coming 4th in the 1920 final and 4th in the semi-final heat of the 1924 games. He also won the AAA 880 yards competition in England in 1921 with a time of 1min 56.8 secs and 1922 with a time of 1min 55.6secs.
A.D. MUNROW - At WCS from 1919 to 1927, he became director of Physical Education at Birmingham University. He was a member of the Wolfenden Committee on Sport which recommended the setting up of the Sports Council and was appointed the first Head of the Sports Council. A.D. Munrow died in 1975.
IAN PICKFORD - On leaving the School, he entered the antique silver trade. Just six years later he had become lecturer for the Universities of London and Surrey, the National Association of Decorative and Fine Art Societies and the National Trust. Ian's writings include the now standard reference book on silver flatware and he is the editor of Jackson's "Silver and Gold marks". In 1981 he was made freeman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths and a freeman of the City of London. He is a regular expert on BBC TV's Antiques Road Show.
ALAN REECE - A pupil at WCS from 1936 to 1940, he was geologist to the British-Norwegian-Swedish expedition to the Antarctic exploring Maud Island in 1950. He sustained a facial injury on this trip and lost an eye. He was awarded the Swedish Kongens Fortienst Medajie. Alan Reece was killed in a flying accident in the Artic in 1961.
Sir JAMES CASSELS - A pupil at WCS from 1887, he began his working career as a press reporter in the gallery at the House of Commons. He qualified at the bar in 1908 and became an MP in 1922. He was appointed a High Court Judge in 1939 and knighted. He died at the age of 96 in 1972.
CHARLES DREW MVO - A pupil at WCS from 1928 to 1935, he was a gifted surgeon and consultant at Westminster and St. Georges Hospitals. He was called in for diagnosis during the illness of King George VI and assisted in the subsequent operation on the Monarch in 1952.
PERCY LAMBERT - He joined WCS in 1892. Lambert became the first person ever to cover a hundred miles in an hour on 15th February, 1913 at Brooklands' race track. He achieved this feat in a 4.5 litre "side valve" Talbot, successfully covering a total of 103 miles in sixty minutes. The record was soon broken but Percy was determined to better it again. He promised his fiancée that he would give up his record breaking after 'one last attempt to get the record back'. He went for the record again at Brooklands on 21st October, 1913 and for the first 20 laps averaged a world record 110 mph. Sadly, on the 21st lap, a rear tyre disintegrated and the Talbot crashed. Percy died on the way to Weybridge Cottage Hospital.
SIR DENIS ROOKE OM CBE FRS FREng - He entered WCS in 1935. Sir Denis Rooke's remarkable technical achievement and lasting legacy was to build the U.K.'s gas distribution network and unite the gas industry, making domestic gas a cheap and convenient fuel source for millions of people. President of the Royal Academy of Engineering from 1986 to 1991, he acquired an awesome reputation as "the lion of British Gas", as the then Conservative Government threatened to break up and sell off British Gas. His devoted employees saw him as the great defender of the industry. He was famously quoted as saying 'whilst I have to deal with politicians, that does not mean I have to like them'. Eventually he struck a deal with the then Energy Minister, Peter Walker, and British Gas PLC was created. Lord Lawson of Blaby, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer, reveals in his memoirs an awe of Sir Denis, describing him as 'a large craggy overbearing man, treating Ministers and officials alike with a mixture of distrust, dislike and contempt. To break up the Corporation in any way was a negation of his life's work'. Since retiring from British Gas, Sir Denis has served on many national advisory committees and been involved in numerous engineering education programmes, including being made Chancellor of Loughborough University, a position he held until 2003. Amongst numerous honours he was awarded the Prince Phillip medal for engineering achievement in 1992. He died on the 16th September 2008 aged 82.
ROBERT SIMPSON - Leading classical musician Robert Simpson was born in Leamington in 1921, and entered WCS in 1932. He wrote his first Symphony in 1951 going on to compose 11 symphonies and 15 string quartets amongst numerous other works. A major force in classical music, he died in 1997 at the age of 76.
BREBIS BLEANEY - Born in London in 1915 he won a scholarship to WCS and the grounding in Science he received at the School enabled him to secure entrance to St, John's College Oxford, in 1934. He was a member of an elite group working in the Clarendon Laboratory during the Second World War on the development of microwave techniques for radar. At the end of the war he realised that these techniques could be further applied and lead world wide development in the new field of electron paramagnetic resonance of solids. (Microwave technology!)
SIDNEY COLE - Entered WCS in 1919. He became a major film producer and editor working on such classics as 'Went the Day Well?' (1942), 'Dead of Night,' (1945), 'The Antarctic' (1948), 'Train of Events'(1949), and the masterly Ealing comedy 'Man in the White Suit' (1951). In the 1950s, Sidney Cole embarked on television production for the new commercial stations producing 'The Adventures of Robin Hood,' ,'The Adventures of Sir Lancelot, 'The Buccaneers' and 'Danger Man.' He was still involved in film making and television up to the 1980s. He died in 1998 aged 90.
REVd. DR. PETER GALLOWAY OBE, JP, PhD, FRSA - An author of books on British Orders of Chivalry and former vicar of Hampstead, he is now Chaplain of the Queen's Chapel of the Savoy and Chaplain to the Royal Victorian Order. A past trustee of >OWCA.
JOHN BAXTER CBE, BSc, FR. - Left WCS in 1933 at the age of 16 'because he wanted to get on and build things.' A gifted engineer and designer he built up the firm of Maunsell from a small U.K. organisation of 45 employees to an international force employing over 2,000. He designed the Hobart Bridge in Tasmania, a concept which put British engineering in the forefront of design. However he is remembered for the both reviled and applauded A40 elevated Westway which he designed. A visionary concept running from Marylebone to the White City, it dramatically eased traffic congestion but was damned by the conservationists. He is past president of the Institution of Civil Engineers. He died in 2003 aged 86.
PETER HENSHALL - Entered WCS in 1961, his sudden death on 16th January 1992 robbed journalism education of one of its great practitioners and champions. Graduating from University with an honours degree in English and Philosophy, Peter went as a School teacher to Uganda specialising in teaching English as a second language. He narrowly escaped from that country, literally just avoiding life threatening detention by General Idi Amin. Returning to England he worked firstly for the Carlisle Evening News but soon landed a job at the prestigious Birmingham Post as leader writer and wine editor. The urge to travel returned and he was recruited by the University of Papua New Guinea to teach journalism. Peter stayed for seven years in that part of the world becoming co-ordinater for UNESCO's enormous Pacjourn programme, giving media training to 13 participating countries in the South Pacific. His innovation and methods became the template for UNESCO's future education programmes. At well over 6ft Peter was a towering figure both intellectually and physically. He collapsed and died whilst playing basketball and is survived by his wife Felicity and two children Abi and Jamie.
MIKE GRANATT CB FCIPR - Entered WCS in 1961. Mike Granatt, a former senior British Civil Servant was the first head of the Civil Contingencies Secretariat of the Cabinet in 2001.For nearly 20 years Granatt held a range of the most senior communication posts in British government service and was press secretary to five cabinet ministers, both Conservative and Labour. Alongside his management roles he specialised in crisis and counter terrorist issues. In his final posting he simultaneously created and led Britain's civil crisis management unit and the professional grouping of government communication specialists. He made numerous media appearances as 'the official spokesman.'
WESLEY STREETING - Entered WCS in 1994. Wesley "Wes" Streeting (born 21 January 1983) is the National President of the National Union of Students (NUS). He has been a member of the NUS National Executive Committee since 2005 and held the post of Vice President (Education) from 2006-08. Streeting is a graduate of the University of Cambridge where he served as President of the Cambridge University Student's Union during 2004-5. He read History at Selwyn College where he also served as Entertainments' Officer before becoming Junior Combination Room President..
PHIL SPALDING - Born London 19th November 1957, Spalding entered WCS in 1968. Now a world renowned bass player, he came to public notice playing for the Bernie Tormé Band and Original Mirrors, before joining Toyah in December 1980, where he recorded and co-wrote material for studio albums and toured with the band until 1983. Since then he has been a member of the superband GTR and also with Mike Oldfield's band. Spalding is also a much in-demand session bassist. Lately, he has played on albums for Robbie Williams, Mick Jagger, Celtus, Axel Bauer and Kylie Minogue amongst many other huge star names.
JOHN EDWARD TOMLINSON - Entered WCS in 1950. He is currently a life peer in the House of Lords having been previously a Member of Parliament from 1974 to 1979, and an Member of the European Parliamanent (MEP) from 1984 to 1999. During his five years in the Commons, he held a series of government posts: Parlliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Prime Minister Harold Wilson (1975-76); Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foriegn and Commonwealth Office (1976-79); Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Overseas Development (1977-79). In 1984, Tomlinson was elected as Labour Co-operative MEP for the new euro constituency of Birmingham West. He was re-elected in the 1989 European election and in the 1994 election. In 1998, he was made a life peer as Baron Tomlinson, of Walsall.
ANATOLE KALETSKY – Is a journalist and economist. He is Editor-at-Large and Principal Economic Commentator of The Times, where he writes a thrice-fortnightly column. Born in 1952 in Moscow, Kaletsky also spent his childhood in Poland and Australia. He has lived in England and the US since 1966. On arriving in UK, Kaletsky was educated at WCS going on to Cambridge where he graduated with a first class honours degree in Mathematics and at Harvard University where he gained a masters degree in Economics. He was voted ‘Newspaper Commentator of the Year’ at the .BBC’s ‘What the Papers Say’ awards for 1996. He has twice received the British Press Award for Specialist Writer of the Year; has won the Wincott Award for economic journalism and was first recipient of the coveted Cernobbio-Europe prize.
