and covert operations in several of my previous novels. The Sec-
was himself diagnosed with Par- kinson’s 14 years ago and is one of the presenters of the Movers and Shakers podcast for people living with the condition. He has also regularly performed his one-man show, Incurable Optimist , around the country, helping to raise funds for Parkinson’s UK. Tim McHenry (Pennell 1973–78), known at school as Tim Cross , is the curator of the Mandala Lab at the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art in New York City. He previously served as the deputy executive director and chief programmatic officer at the Rubin. The Mandala Lab is an interactive space that draws inspiration from a Tibetan Bud- dhist mandala, a teaching aid that Buddhist practitioners use to gain a clearer understanding of the world. Within the mandala, five difficult mental states (kleshas) are encountered. Tibetan Bud- dhist practitioners believe these feelings – pride, attachment, envy, anger, and ignorance – obscure understanding and limit growth and potential. When investigated further, each emotion can give way to a unique wisdom. The Lab is a travelling installation that has toured the world. Lulu McNally (Blackwater and Arnold 2010–15) joined Royal Marines Commando training as the only female in early 2024 and was hoping to become the first woman to complete the course. She told us at the time: ‘After a lot of hard work transforming my body throughout the year, in January I completed the physi- cal and mental resilience tests allowing me to join Royal Marines Commando training. I’ve now completed a month and passed the ROP [Recruit Orientation Phase], being the third woman
ever to reach this stage and still the only woman in sight (kind of cool, but I’d so so love to see more women attempting it and wouldn’t complain about a little more female company). It’s been an utterly surreal experience. I’ve got 32 weeks of training left but we’re taking each day as it comes and really enjoying the process! I was in charge of Eastbourne College Royal Navy CCF (as CPO) towards the end of my time there (as well as being in the U21 England karate squad at the time).’
gone through in recent years and the rise in mental health related issues.’ Maia raised over £16,000, easily beating her target of £5,000. N Rob Newman (Wargrave 1959– 62) wrote with his news and an update to the Roll of Honour regarding his uncle, Robert (‘Bobby’) Turner (Wargrave 1930–33). Bobby is one of the youngest entries on the Roll, having died on active service in 1940, aged 22. After leaving the College in 1962, Rob worked as a farm student near Tidworth on Salisbury Plain. This was a pre- requisite for entry into the Royal Agricultural College (now Uni- versity), Cirencester. The farm was a large arable and livestock business. He notes that the freez- ing winter of 1962-63 was a good character test, especially when caring for livestock, and riding a motorbike! Maybe attendance at three army cadet camps while at the College, one being in remote Scotland, also helped with survival skills. Following graduation in 1966, Australia beckoned and an agri- cultural career in government based in New South Wales and then Canberra. To overcome any possibility of boredom Rob did a business degree, then a post- graduate management diploma. This led to part-time tutoring in business studies at university. Rob and his wife Carol still live in Canberra. Having children and grandchildren in both Australia and UK means they have kept up contact with relatives and friends, including visiting the College. For several years Rob was one of the OE representatives in Australia and still gets to reunions in Sydney when possible. He also mentioned that his brother Anthony Newman (War- grave 1963–67) is well. After a career teaching, both in UK and Sri Lanka, Anthony now operates two businesses where OEs would be most welcome. The Kandyan is a Sri Lankan restaurant in Bristol (www.thekandyan.co.uk). The other is Rangala House, a hotel near Kandy in Sri Lanka (www. rangalahouse.com). o Gearoid O’Callaghan (Reeves 2014–16) – see the entry for Josh Curryer in this section.
retary is based on the diary my late mother Joy wrote in Moscow in 1958, a tiny book meas- uring eight centimetres by twelve
that contains 41,000 tightly packed words.’ However, she says that although the spy story is a work of fiction, ‘in the domestic details, there is a great deal that is absolutely authentic. The diary provides a fascinating insight into how a single young British woman lived day to day in Moscow at that time, from the relentless hard work and socialising to the dif- ficulties of surviving in a state of almost constant tension without privacy.’ Chris Lewis (Wargrave 1952–57) told us that, over 50 years since he qualified from the Royal Veterinary College in 1963, his granddaughter has started her first year at Aberdeen Vet School. He said, ‘Like me she is intent on aspects of farm/equine veterinary medicine.’ M Paul Mayhew-Archer (Reeves 1967–71) is hopeful that a new film he has written will go into produc- tion in 2025. He told BBC Radio Oxford he had been working on But When We Dance for the last ‘five or six years’. He described it as a ‘rom-com drama about two people who both have Parkinson’s and fall in love at a dance class. The film has been commissioned by the BBC, and we’ve got a top director attached and hopefully once the casting is all sorted, we will make it later this year.’ Paul
Johnny Mercer (Pennell 1995– 2000) was invited to address the whole school in a talk at All Saints’ Church on Thursday 18 January. At the time Johnny was MP for Plymouth Moor View, a seat which he had held since 2015, as well as being the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs. He spoke about a wide variety of subjects, from his time at the College, serving in the military in Afghanistan, and life as a minister and an MP, in a talk which was inspirational for many of the pupils present. In the 2024 general election, Johnny lost his seat, placing second after the Labour candidate. Maia Mountain (School 2020–22) ran an ultra-marathon in February 2024 along the coastline of Costa Rica, aptly named the Coastal Challenge as it’s run nearly entirely on sand. It’s a 138km run with an incline of just under 5,000 metres. She said before embarking on the run: ‘I’m doing this in order to raise money for the charity Mind, a cause very close to my heart. During my time at Eastbourne and for a large portion of my teenage years I struggled with depression. I’m grateful to say that after a lot of work and support it’s a lot better now and I’m able to appreciate and try to give back to other net- works that have helped me. So it’s a very personal topic but I’d love the opportunity to raise as much money as possible to help those who are still struggling today, who may not be fortunate enough as to have had the same access to resources as I had. It’s such a great charity and I think so relevant given the tough times pupils have
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