The 1705 MAGAZINE ISSUE 01
www.dameallans.co.uk
The Dame Allan 1705 Magazine
One of the great strengths of Dame Allan’s lies in its rich history, traditions and values. Our alumni are the living connection to that history and a powerful reminder that while the school continues to evolve, the spirit of Dame Allan’s endures through the people who have passed through its doors. This magazine is a celebration of our Allanian community: your achievements, your stories, and your continued relationship with the school. It also offers a snapshot of some of the highlights of 2025, reflecting the energy, ambition and sense of purpose that continue to define Dame Allan’s today.
Whether you left the school recently or many years ago, we hope you enjoy this 1705 Magazine.
2
www.dameallans.co.uk
Contents
4
Introduction
6
Sir Bryan Sanderson OBE
8
Dame Allan’s Connect
Elaine Fiddaman: Safeguarding a rich legacy 10 Margaret and Fred Wilkinson’s legacy to support transformational bursary awards 12 Peter Batey: How Dame Allan’s shaped a global deal-maker 14 Jo Larby: Inclusive by Design 16 Jen Jones: finding her passion in floristry 18 Back to school 20 Reunion groups 21 Allanian events 21 Obituaries Sandra Rickaby 24 Peter Fenwick 26 Other mentions 27
3
The Dame Allan’s 1705 Magazine
I am delighted to welcome you to the very first issue of 1705, our new alumni magazine. Timed to coincide with Founders’ Day, this inaugural edition feels especially fitting as we reflect on 2025 - 320 years since the founding of Dame Allan’s, and celebrate the remarkable community of alumni who continue to shape our story. Welcome to the first issue of 1705 Magazine
In my almost four years at Dame Allan’s, it has been a real pleasure to meet so many of you, whether in person at events, over the phone, or through emails and handwritten cards. The number of Allanians in touch with the Schools continues to grow, and our events programme and communications have evolved to reflect the breadth, diversity and energy of this far- reaching community. It felt like the right moment for an alumni-focused magazine. While much of our communication now takes place digitally, I know many of you will enjoy sitting down with a hard copy to read, perhaps with a cup of tea, and I hope this magazine becomes something you look forward to each year. Please do send us your news for future issues; we would love to share more alumni stories and milestones. 2025 was a busy and memorable year for our events calendar. We welcomed back Allanians from 1965, 1975 and 1985 for reunion tours, who kept me thoroughly entertained with schoolday stories (some of which are probably best left in the past)! We also remembered the much-loved Sandra Rickaby with the return of her own Staff Tennis Tournament, this time inviting former pupils to take part alongside staff. The highlight of the year was undoubtedly our London Drinks at Coal Drops Yard in November, attended by alumni ranging from the 1950s right through to our most recent leavers. It was wonderful to see so many generations together, and I am very much looking forward to our first Newcastle Drinks in May.
Our 2025 Giving Day saw tremendous support from alumni for our bursary fund. It is incredibly heartwarming to see the Dame Allan’s community come together to help future Allanians access a Dame Allan’s education. Many of you also gave your time to inspire the next generation, including at our first Dame Allan’s Connect event, an Engineering Breakfast, and we look forward to expanding opportunities for mentoring, connection and support as young graduates navigate an increasingly competitive job market. I’m excited for another busy year for the Development Office and hope to connect with many more of you soon.
Katherine Leonard Development Manager
4
www.dameallans.co.uk
A New Chapter I am proud to have been involved with the Society and its previous incarnations for nearly 60 years, and to have had the privilege to work with many inspiring Allanians, young and old. I would like to take the opportunity to thank them all. In that time the world has welcomed computers, the internet and social media, and the way we need to interact with the Dame Allan’s family needs to keep up with how the world works now. Schools and alumni continues to develop and thrive. As a former Chair of Governors I can confirm that the Schools place great value on our alumni community, and in recognition of that, alumni relations are a key part of the overall strategy and integrated into the Schools via the Development Office. In the same way, the relationship between the Alongside this new chapter in our own development, we have a renewed calendar of social and networking events which allow our alumni to support the School’s in a meaningful way. In turn, this gives us more opportunities than ever to remain connected with Dame Allan’s. Please keep connecting, and I look forward to seeing you at one of the events in 2026, and hopefully beyond! Brian Adcock 2025 Allanian Society Chair
5
The Dame Allan’s 1705 Magazine
Having grown up in the mining village of Boldon, Dame Allan’s Schools (DAS) opened Bryan Sanderson’s eyes to a new world, leading to a long and illustrious career in banking, chemicals and finance. The President of the Allanian Society talks about his recent Knighthood, his charitable work and the advice he’d give today’s pupils. Sir Bryan Sanderson CBE
Growing up in post-war Boldon, there were not many options for young men other than to work alongside fellow villagers down the local pit. It was a place and time where people lived simple lives and pit work was regarded as ‘men’s work’. For the son of a rent collector, who wasn’t particularly ambitious, Bryan Sanderson thought differently and knew deep in his bones that village life wasn’t for him. Fortunately, he gained a scholarship to Dame Allan’s Schools. “It’s hard to understand today how enclosed we were in the village. There was no Internet, and my knowledge of the outside world was very restricted,” he recalls. “I had a poor but happy childhood, and I wouldn’t have gone to Dame Allan’s were it not for the scholarship. It opened my eyes to a whole new world, and they did it in a very kind way. I wanted a different life, and I was encouraged in that. I owe them a great deal.” While his environment among predominantly middle-class pupils was new to him, he didn’t feel uncomfortable. “It was a very friendly school,” he says. “I learnt to value education for its own sake and community outside of family; the importance of good relationships with colleagues and those around you. That’s been very important to me.” There were several good masters, he says, but geography master Don Walker stood out. “I took Geography at A Level and Don Walker had been through North Africa and Italy and he really opened my mind. He was a remarkable teacher. There was no nonsense in his class, but he was inspirational. He was very open minded and encouraged you to think outside of the box. He talked a lot about North Africa and Italy, and I knew then I wanted to spend part of my life outside of the UK.”
The experiences of a good education with inspirational teachers gave Bryan the foundations and springboard to begin an outstanding career which began by studying at the London School of Economics (the first pupil from DAS to do so) and went on to span the energy, chemicals and financial sectors. He was a Managing Director and CEO of BP Chemicals; Chairman at Standard Chartered Bank, Northern Rock (having been asked to take over the stricken bank on its collapse in 2007/8), the Learning and Skills Council, BUPA and his beloved Sunderland Football Club. He has sat on numerous boards and is renowned for his charitable work, as Chairman of the Florence Nightingale Foundation charity and The Home Renaissance Foundation. He’s been the recipient of a CBE and, more recently, he was Knighted in the King’s New Year’s Honours list for his services to the labour market as Chairman of the Low Pay Commission, which has overseen an increase in the National Minimum Wage. “I was always interested in politics and Government,” he says. “I joined the Young Socialists party when I was 16 – the entire school was Tory so I wasn’t popular for doing that. “The Low Pay Commission was comprised of three trade unions, three businessmen and three independents. It was a powerful group. We pushed the minimum wage up to two thirds of the average and improved the lives of around 5-6 million people, many of whom were women.” Asked what he’s learned over his years dedicated to industry and public service he jokes: “Well I’m rather bruised.” He adds that the need for physical fitness and stamina is paramount when working (and staying) at the top.
6
www.dameallans.co.uk
“My last year at BP, I made 52 round trip flights – 45 of them outside of Europe. I went to China three times without staying overnight. It was a way of life which required great stamina. You have to look after your health, and of course, you have to be lucky too,” he says. “The second thing you need is total application, and you can forget about work/life balance. I worked at least six days a week and most evenings. You have to love it to do it. It’s back to what I learned at Dame Allan’s, you have to generate community around you. The biggest achievement was that I kept my wife and family together because there was an awful lot of people who didn’t. “You also need a lot of courage to get to the top. You have to force yourself to go into very uncomfortable places, such as if you’re having to make cutbacks and jobs have to go. It’s not a nice thing to do but it has to be done.” Reflecting on advice he would give pupils thinking of their next steps, he says to choose a career that they love. “Don’t do it because there’s a lot of money in it, because you’re going to be doing it your whole adult life and you have to look forward to going into work in the morning,” he says. “It’s going to be miserable if you don’t enjoy what you do in an area which interests you.”
Today, Sir Bryan still lives in London with his Finnish-born wife, Sirkka, and loves nothing more than spending time with children, Peter and Christina, and their five grandchildren, alongside tending to his beloved garden. At almost 85, he is incredibly active still with charitable and board work (and watching too much football, he says), and, of course, is President of the Allanian Society. And while he’s come a long way from his Boldon roots, it’s clear he remains incredibly passionate about the North East. “The North East has that sort of identity to it, you’re just born with it and when I return to it, I still feel at home there. I’ve had the same sense of humour and the same contempt for upper class southerners since I left,” he says laughing. “It’s deeply ingrained!”
7
The Dame Allan’s 1705 Magazine
Launched in December, Dame Allan’s Connect is a targeted mentoring initiative that brings Allanians and pupils together through subject-specific engagement. Beginning with engineering, the pilot reflects a deliberate move towards focused, experience-led guidance in a continually evolving careers landscape. Dame Allan’s Connect Engineering futures, built on experience
Dame Allan’s Schools has launched Dame Allan’s Connect, a new mentoring initiative designed to strengthen links between Allanians and Allanians and current pupils through targeted, discipline-led events. Piloted in December, the first Connect event brought together sixth formers with clear ambitions in engineering and related STEM fields and recent leavers studying engineering at university. The decision to begin with engineering was intentional. As one of the more popular pathways for high-achieving pupils — and one of the fastest-evolving sectors in terms of skills, applications and career routes — it provided a clear test case for a different kind of engagement. Rather than a broad careers talk, Dame Allan’s Connect is designed as a focused forum for conversation, with recent leavers supporting pupils through insight and direct, lived experience. The guest speaker was Dexter Bell (2024), now a second- year engineering undergraduate at the University of Cambridge. Returning to school less than two years after leaving, Dexter delivered a short presentation on his own route into engineering before spending the majority of the morning in discussion with pupils. “Coming back to support the school felt like a meaningful way to give something back,” he says. “I would have really valued the opportunity to talk to an engineering student at Cambridge when I was a pupil, so being able to share advice and answer questions felt rewarding.” That sense of immediacy — advice offered by someone only a few steps further along the same path — was central to the format. Dexter was joined by a group of recent Allanians studying engineering in different forms and at various institutions, including Lauren Rolfe (2025), a first-year engineering student at Newcastle University with ambitions to work for the European Space Agency; Lucy Marsden (2023), a mechanical engineering student applying her skills to biomedical research; and Elizabeth Pattison (2024), currently studying chemical engineering with a growing interest in sustainable fuels.
Collectively, they represented a wide cross-section of engineering pathways — from aerospace and thermofluids to biomedical devices and renewable technologies — demonstrating both the breadth of the discipline and the value of hearing directly from those navigating it in real time. For Dexter, the relevance of this kind of encounter is clear. “When I was in Year 13, I hadn’t met somebody who had studied engineering at Cambridge,” he reflects. “I had many questions about what the application process involved and how to best prepare for it. This kind of engagement would have been extremely beneficial to me as a pupil.” That gap between aspiration and access is something Dame Allan’s Connect is designed to address. While university admissions are based on academic merit, the reality of preparation — from understanding course structures to securing meaningful work experience — is often shaped by informal advice and personal networks. “Opportunities to do work experience placements can often be provided by family friends,” Dexter says. “These placements can be very valuable for engineering applications. For those who don’t have those connections, it's great to know the school could help build a network of people able to offer them.” It’s this kind of thinking that underpins the programme. Run by the Dame Allan’s Schools Development Office, Dame Allan’s Connect aims not only to support current pupils, but also to offer continued value to young alumni as they transition from school into higher education and employment. Katherine Leonard, Development Manager at Dame Allan’s, explains: “We’re very conscious that the careers landscape is changing constantly. Our aim with Dame Allan’s Connect is to create something that feels relevant, focused and mutually beneficial — where Allanians can give back their time in a productive way, and where pupils and recent leavers can access insight that’s current and specific.”
8
www.dameallans.co.uk
The format of December’s Engineering Breakfast reflected this ethos. Following Dexter’s talk, the emphasis shifted quickly to informal discussion, supported by short biographies of each Allanian attendee circulated in advance to encourage conversation. Pupils came prepared, and the questions came thick and fast — from course choices and application strategies to the realities of university workloads and internships. Among the pupils were Year 13 students considering mechanical engineering at Edinburgh, Nottingham and Bath; aspiring aerospace engineers targeting Imperial College London and Bristol; and those already setting their sights on Cambridge and Oxford. Others were exploring degree apprenticeships, research-led routes or emerging sectors such as space technology, motorsport and robotics.
For many, hearing directly from Allanians only a year or two ahead offered reassurance as well as realism - a clearer sense of what lies beyond the prospectus and how different routes can unfold. Year 13 pupil Ayaan Hussain, who hopes to study mechanical engineering at university after completing A levels in Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and Physics at Dame Allan’s, said: “What I found most useful about the breakfast was hearing from students studying at a range of universities across different engineering fields. It gave me a more holistic view of engineering as a whole, and of the collaboration required between engineers working in different specialisms.” Cerys Soutar, who is studying the same A level subjects and wants to pursue aerospace engineering after school, added: “It was insightful to speak to other women at different stages of their courses, and it has given me a lot more confidence for my future in engineering.”
“The most valuable thing was definitely the informal chat afterwards,” Dexter says. “That’s where I could answer all the questions pupils had. What really stood out was how keen they were — they’d actively chosen to be there, which made the conversations much more engaging.”
Mrs Leonard adds: “Dame Allan’s Connect is designed to act as a catalyst, providing the structure and shared purpose that allows relationships, mentoring and professional networks to develop organically over time.” The December breakfast was always intended as a pilot, and it marks only the first stage of Dame Allan’s Connect. The next planned step will bring attendees together with more established Allanians working across engineering and related industries, creating a layered mentoring model that supports pupils, undergraduates and early-career professionals.
For the School, the initiative reflects a broader commitment to lifelong connection, recognising that the Allanian community is at its strongest when experience flows both ways. For alumni, it offers a clear, practical way to stay engaged and open conversations that can genuinely shape someone else’s journey. “I definitely see this kind of alumni network as something that could be really useful for young Allanians once they leave school,” says Dexter. “It’s a positive way to give something back - and even small contributions can make a meaningful difference.” If you are able to host an event at your workplace for Sixth formers or recent leavers then we’d love to hear from you at development@dameallans.co.uk.
9
The Dame Allan’s 1705 Magazine
Elaine Fiddaman, former Head of Dame Allan’s Girls’ School and dedicated Chief Archivist, still safeguards the rich legacy of Dame Allan’s Schools. Here, she shares the responsibility of her work, the engaging projects led by the Archivist Club and the exciting efforts to digitise the archives. I have the privilege of being the guardian of our Schools’ collective memory
Dame Allan’s’ archives are a treasure trove of materials spanning centuries and I have had the great pleasure of retaining my role as Chief Archivist even after retiring from the Schools in July 2025. I have the privilege of being the guardian of our Schools’ collective memory. It’s a position of great responsibility but one that brings much satisfaction and pleasure. I’m entrusted with the care of our Schools’ history, from the earliest available admissions registers dating back to the 1870s, to the programmes from events as recent as last month. My role involves cataloguing these invaluable artefacts, ensuring their protection and making them accessible to anyone who wants to explore our heritage. This work is not merely about storing old documents, it’s about curating the essence of our Schools’ identity and ensuring that the voices of the past continue to inspire the future. The 2022 development of our Jubilee Building saw the creation of a new, dedicated archive room to preserve and celebrate the Schools’ then-318 year history. It’s home to an eclectic collection of memories and milestones, including photographs from bygone eras, items of old school uniform, sporting caps, letters from soldiers and their families during World War II, historic newspaper clippings, paintings and fascinating log books.
Our archives play an integral role in enriching the educational journey of our pupils. They provide pupils with a tangible connection to the past, enhancing their understanding and appreciation of Dame Allan’s’ heritage. This connection is especially evident during the Year 8 trip to Saint-Omer, in France. Before visiting historical sites like Tyne Cot and the Menin Gate, pupils are shown archival records of former pupils commemorated there. This powerful experience allows them to see the names on memorials and understand the personal stories behind them, deepening their engagement and reflection on history. Beyond the current student body, the archives are valuable to the wider school community, and photos, documents or artefacts are regularly displayed during events for visiting alumni. They’ve also played a role in community engagement, having helped when I gave a talk to the Women’s Institute on the history of Dame Allan’s Schools, and when collaborating with local historians.
10
www.dameallans.co.uk
We’ve dug out some gems from the archives for you to enjoy, including some 1960s memories from the Girls’ Logbook, and snippets from the 1955 Scout expedition to Norway.
11
The Dame Allan’s 1705 Magazine
Margaret and Fred Wilkinson
Legacy Donation from Former Headmaster’s Family to support Transformational Bursaries.
In October of 2024, the Schools learned of the very sad passing of Margaret Wilkinson, beloved wife of former Principal Fred Wilkinson, who himself passed away in 2002. Now, their family has ensured that their chosen legacy will support even more pupils to attend Dame Allan’s Schools, as Margaret kindly chose to leave £10,000 to support transformational bursary awards. Fred was Headmaster at Dame Allan’s Boys’ School from 1970 - 1988, paving the way for a closer joining of the then very separate Boys’ and Girls’ Schools before his retirement. He is remembered by his colleagues for his conscientiousness and great attention to detail in all that he did, but above all as a man they trusted in and for whom they held a great respect. At a recent school reunion, former pupils reminisced fondly about “Fred the Head”, remembering that he was always very fair.
Fred and Margaret doing what they loved most (outside teaching!), that is climbing mountains.
12
www.dameallans.co.uk
Dame Allan’s Schools Development Manager, Mrs Katherine Leonard said: “The Wilkinsons made a deep impact on Dame Allan’s and a generation of boys. Both Fred and Margaret were long- standing supporters of bursary awards and it was heart- warming to learn that Margaret wanted to help pupils come to Dame Allan’s through her legacy to the bursary fund.”
Despite leading her own teaching career - Margaret was Deputy Head of Durham High in the 1980s - Margaret was committed to her role as Headmaster’s wife. She was very involved in Dame Allan’s and was a known figure to the boys. Margaret and Fred visited the school Scout troop’s camp every year without fail and Margaret would insist on getting stuck in, whether that was in a kayak or setting off down a rope aerial runway! Along with her husband, Margaret would host staff at their home for a summer tea party which was held in their beautiful garden. They hosted a similar annual event for the prefects and Margaret would re-tell with delight the story of the time embarrassed Sixth Form boys had to tell her that the family’s elderly dog had had an accident on the carpet! Fred was an ardent supporter of the Direct Grant scheme and was very saddened when it ended, meaning that children from less affluent backgrounds would struggle to come to Dame Allan’s. He was therefore particularly enthusiastic about developing the new Assisted Places scheme at the Schools and widening access. After Fred’s passing, Margaret wrote a book about his life, Just Fred, which she sold at the most recent Allanian Dinner, kindly donating proceeds to the bursary fund at Dame Allan’s. That Margaret remembered the bursary fund in her will, taking a final chance to make a difference to something so important to Fred, is typical of her and a testament to her love for the Schools. Margaret remained in touch with many former Dame Allan’s staff until her passing, a group warmly referred to as ‘The Gallery’. As well as meeting The Gallery for lunch on a regular basis, Margaret also returned to the school for many events and dinners. Even with declining physical strength in later years, Margaret made it her business to attend as many Allanian events as possible to show her support for the school. Residing in Gosforth, she had a very strong faith and was an active member in her church. During her last few months, she was cared for in a care home near her sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren in Guildford.
It was Fred and Margaret’s son, James, who facilitated this legacy donation, as well as sending on a box bursting with memories, such as Allanian Magazines, Speech Day programmes, and photographs, from the 1930s onward. James said: “Our parents were deeply committed to Dame Allan’s from the day we arrived as a family in Newcastle in 1970. Fred, as Headmaster and Margaret, as the Headmaster’s Wife, were fully engaged with the school, its staff, the boys and the wide range of activities of the school. They undertook this full engagement as a couple. Our mother’s contact with the school continued long after our father’s passing in regular meetings with staff and old boys. “It is further testament to our parents’ deep commitment to the school and to a lifetime of hard work and endeavour in the teaching profession that they made provision for bursary awards for Dame Allan’s pupils in mum’s will - supporting the school and its pupils meant so much to them.” Margaret’s contribution to the bursary award fund has also been very gratefully received, and will go towards supporting future pupils to access a transformational Dame Allan’s education.
If you or a family member would be interested in leaving a legacy donation to Dame Allan’s Schools, please contact Katherine Leonard at ke.leonard@dameallans.co.uk or call 0191 275 1513.
13
The Dame Allan’s 1705 Magazine
How Dame Allan’s shaped a global deal-maker
When Peter Batey walked back through the doors of Dame Allan’s nearly half a century after leaving, it wasn’t lost on him how far the journey had been — from the buses that carried a shy boy from Consett to the boardrooms of Beijing, where he would later advise ministers, negotiate multimillion-pound deals and build bridges between Britain and China. He returned this autumn to talk to Business students about leadership, diplomacy and the power of trust in business. Before his talk, he took a tour of the school and reflected on the impact Dame Allan’s had on his life and career. Peter’s years at Dame Allan’s Boys’ School, from 1969 to 1976, were formative in ways he only came to appreciate decades later. The daily 90-minute commute each way from County Durham was gruelling for an 11-year-old — “two buses and a long walk home” — but, he says, it built resilience. What really stayed with him, though, was the teaching. “Don Walker, the Head of Geography, was brilliant — one of those teachers who just enthused his pupils and made you think,” he said. “Nick Glover was also a good teacher — a thoughtful man, fresh from university.” Though initially determined to study science and medicine, Peter had what he calls a “Damascene conversion” in the Sixth Form. “At 16, I’d almost decided on biology, physics and chemistry,” he said. “Then at the last minute I switched to history, geography and French. I’d decided my lifetime ambition to be a doctor had changed.” That decision sparked a fascination with people and politics. He also found his voice on stage, performing in school plays — culminating in the role of Henry IV in his final year. “I was too wooden to be an actor,” he laughed, “but perfect material for a politician.” Business leader Peter Batey CMG OBE returned to Dame Allan’s to inspire Sixth Form students with tales from a career spanning politics, diplomacy and three decades in China.
14
www.dameallans.co.uk
That realisation came into sharper focus in 1974. “I watched the general election on TV and thought, I’d like to do that,” he said. “We even ran a mock election at school. I stood as the Liberal candidate and came second — not bad, given the Tories always won here!” From Dame Allan’s, Peter went on to Keble College, Oxford, to read Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE). He was President of the Oxford University Students’ Union, and went on to join Citicorp’s merchant-banking division in London. Yet it was his next move that truly shaped his path: an invitation to serve as Private Secretary to former Prime Minister Edward Heath — a role he describes as “remarkably wide-ranging for someone in their twenties”, involving everything from overseas visits to dealing with senior political figures. “It was an incredible apprenticeship in diplomacy,” he recalled. “I learned that in politics — and in business — trust is everything.” Heath, who had restored full diplomatic relations with China in 1972, was regarded in Beijing as a lao pengyou — an “old friend” — which meant Peter found himself with rare access to a country on the brink of dramatic change. Travelling with Heath, he saw first-hand the beginnings of China’s transformation and began to sense that the great opportunities of his generation might lie there. By the mid-1980s, as Thatcherism dominated British politics and China began opening its doors to foreign trade, Peter made a decision that would define his career. “I thought, I’ll go now, before politics ties me down,” he said. “I’ll learn about a country that’s going to matter.” He moved to Beijing in 1986, joining Arthur Andersen, one of the world’s leading professional-services firms, to help establish its China practice. “It was the start of something big,” he said. “Nobody in the West really knew how to do business there — in the kingdom of the blind, the one- eyed man was king.” He went on to co-found a government-relations consultancy before launching Vermilion Partners Ltd in 2004 — a specialist mergers-and-acquisitions advisory firm that became one of the most respected British-run businesses in China, navigating the delicate intersection of commerce and politics.
Over more than 30 years in China, Peter oversaw some of the country’s most complex cross-border transactions. One of his proudest moments was leading the acquisition of the distillery Shui Jing Fang, one of only a handful of Chinese-listed companies ever to be taken over by a foreign investor. “It was highly politicised — the sort of deal normally done by Goldman Sachs or Morgan Stanley,” he said. “But we were seen as more subtle, more capable of handling the politics.” Behind every success, he said, lay the same foundation: trust. “In China, if something isn’t explicitly permitted, it’s forbidden,” he explained. “Everything runs through government and relationships. Once you’ve earned their trust, doors open — but it takes time.” Now semi-retired, Peter continues to advise the Government of Oman on its relations with China and chairs the Sir Edward Heath Charitable Foundation. He is also a trustee of Engage with China, a charity helping young people understand the significance of the world’s second- largest economy. Looking back, he credits Dame Allan’s with giving him the foundation for everything that followed. “It gave me a jolly good education, firm discipline and the freedom to think for myself — all underpinned by a sense of decency,” he said. “That’s stood me in good stead everywhere I’ve gone.” Addressing the Business students, he urged them to take the same open-minded approach to their own futures. “You don’t need to have your life mapped out,” he told them. “I started out wanting to be a doctor, then a diplomat, then a lawyer and ended up doing business in China for 30 years. My overriding ambition, however, was to become a Member of Parliament and to serve in government. Business was meant to be a prelude to politics. I never achieved that. Life takes you on unexpected paths — and that’s the adventure.” For today’s pupils, it was a powerful message — that the values instilled at school, from resilience and curiosity to integrity and trust, can carry them anywhere in the world.
“I used to get irritated when people asked, ‘What are you going to do with your life?’” he reflected. “Now I tell young people: work hard, stay curious and don’t be afraid to change direction. That’s where the opportunities lie.”
15
The Dame Allan’s 1705 Magazine
Inclusive by Design
Jo Larby (Class of 2015) is shaping a more inclusive digital world - leading accessibility strategy for global tech products, championing women in the industry and proving that the most powerful technology always starts with people.
When Jo Larby talks about technology, she doesn’t begin with code. She begins with people. Her perspective has been shaped by years of building large-scale digital systems, by navigating an industry that still struggles with representation and by caring for her mother while maintaining a demanding career. But its foundations were laid much earlier, in classrooms at Dame Allan’s Schools, where her path into technology was not clearly mapped out, but revealed itself through a series of quietly influential moments. Today, Jo is one of the North East’s leading voices in accessible technology. As Accessibility Community Lead and Technical Product Manager at northern software consultancy Leighton, she shapes accessibility strategy across the organisation while managing complex technical products for global clients. Alongside this, she is an award-recognised advocate for women in tech, whose work spans mentoring, community leadership and hands- on action to widen access to the industry. At Dame Allan’s, Jo was not a pupil with a fixed destination in mind. What she did have was curiosity and teachers who opened doors. Having joined in Year 7, she says it was her form tutor, IT teacher Mrs Dunne, who made technology feel accessible rather than exclusive. “That early exposure really mattered,” she says. “It made tech feel like something I could belong in, even before I fully understood what it could lead to.” At A level, she studied Biology, Maths, Computing and Business Studies – a combination Jo now knows was pivotal. While Computing developed her technical thinking, Business gave her a wider lens on how technology operates in the real world. “Business showed me how systems exist within organisations – how decisions are made, how users interact with products and why some things succeed while others don’t,” she explains. “That was the hook. I realised tech wasn’t just about sitting and coding all day.”
A Dame Allan’s STEM placement scheme, arranged by Mr Downie, proved equally influential. Jo spent several weeks at Newcastle College working on a computing project – her first sustained experience of technology outside the classroom. “It wasn’t just observing,” she says. “I was learning, contributing and seeing what studying and working in tech actually looked like day to day. That experience made it feel real and gave me confidence when applying to university.” Jo went on to study Computer Science at Northumbria University, graduating with First Class Honours. Out of around 200 students on her course, only a small handful were women. “The imbalance was very apparent,” she says. “And comments about getting opportunities ‘because you’re a woman’ really fed into imposter syndrome.” She completed a placement year with global professional services firm Accenture, which proved decisive. “That’s when everything clicked,” she says. “I realised how collaborative and varied tech careers actually are.” After graduating, Jo returned to Accenture full-time, working on large-scale Government digital services and progressing from application developer into senior technical architecture roles. By 2020, as her career gathered pace, Jo was also caring for her mother during cancer treatment. Balancing high-pressure projects with the emotional and practical realities of being a carer was challenging, but she says it shaped her. Supporting her mum through appointments, dense medical language and inaccessible information brought Jo face to face with how easily people can be excluded. “You realise how much is taken for granted,” she says. “When systems aren’t built with real people in mind, everyday life becomes so much harder than it needs to be.”
16
www.dameallans.co.uk
That insight now underpins her work in accessibility. As Accessibility Community Lead, Jo ensures the systems her teams build meet WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) standards and work seamlessly with assistive technologies - but her focus goes far beyond compliance. She brings the same care and attention to colour contrast, language clarity, screen readers and neurodiversity as others do to speed, scale and efficiency. Sometimes, it’s about the smallest details. Jo uses the example of hashtags on social media. “If they’re written all in lower case,” she explains, “screen readers can’t break them up, so they’re read as one long, meaningless word. Add capital letters, and suddenly the content becomes accessible.” It’s a tiny change, but a powerful one. “Accessibility is about understanding impact,” she adds. “Once you truly understand it, your approach changes.” That instinct to make things fairer defines Jo’s leadership. Alongside her role at Leighton, she mentors women retraining into tech through the TechUp programme, volunteers with Smart Works North East to support women returning to employment and works with organisations such as TechSheCan to introduce young people to the breadth of careers technology offers. She has seen how quickly perceptions can shift. During a recent primary school assembly, only a handful of pupils initially raised their hands when she asked if they might consider a career in tech. By the end of the session, more than half did. “That’s what sharing knowledge does,” Jo says. “It opens minds and makes new possibilities feel achievable.” Jo has also returned to Dame Allan’s to deliver careers talks, keen to challenge outdated stereotypes for both girls and boys. Her message is deliberately broad: technology is not just coding, but design, testing, communication, problem-solving and leadership. “There’s a role for every strength,” she says. “And you don’t have to fit a mould to belong.” Asked about success, Jo doesn’t list job titles or awards, even though she has earned national recognition, from being named in the Tech Women Celebration 50 curated list of inspirational women in tech to being shortlisted as a Rising Star in national industry awards. Instead, she talks about influence.
“If I can make someone’s life a little easier,” she says, “or help them see they belong - that’s success.”
17
The Dame Allan’s 1705 Magazine
Dame Allan’s encouraged me to just follow my passions We caught up with Allanian Jen Jones about her memories of Dame Allan’s sport, her multifaceted career path, and finding her passion in floristry.
I have such happy memories of my time at Dame Allan’s, it was mainly having some great friendships, playing lots of sports and generally enjoying all my different subjects. Mrs Donald and Mrs Rickaby in the sports department were absolutely key to my Dame Allan’s journey. I also really loved my English lessons with Mrs Brown, who sparked my interest in English Literature. I absolutely loved sports and anything co-curricular. I played with some amazing girls, and loved nothing more than competing against other teams in the Dame Allan’s uniform. I was captain of the hockey team, went to the National Championships with the athletics team, played on the netball team, and regularly played tennis and swam for Dame Allan’s. There was nothing I didn’t want to participate in. I went on some amazing tours, particularly to Canada to play netball which was an amazing experience. The excitement of sewing another colours badge onto my red sash was the best! My introduction to hockey by Mrs Donald and Mrs Rickaby really did change my life. Having never picked up a hockey stick before Year 7, I soon fell in love, captaining the County team and playing for the North East Regional academy. It also had a massive impact on my decision to go on to study Sports Science at Loughborough University and play hockey alongside my studies. I think Dame Allan’s gave me the confidence to give things a go and not be afraid to try something different. I also felt that I was able to have different sides to me, as someone who loved art, English and sport, I was able to explore lots of different subjects in depth, with lots of opportunities in all subject areas. Dame Allan’s encouraged me to just follow my passions, choosing subjects that I was interested in rather than having a specific career path in mind. This is partly why I have worked as a PE teacher, NHS manager and now a Florist! I wouldn’t change anything because I have enjoyed each new experience, and I really feel like all of my skills are being brought together in the work I do now.
As part of my day job, I run a wedding business with my Mum called Jones & Jones Flowers, which we started at the beginning of 2021. Since it started, we have won North East Wedding Florist of the Year, and a Silver-Gilt medal at Chelsea Flower Show for a floral lamp post that we designed and made, which was an amazing experience. We do around 40 weddings a year at a variety of amazing venues across the North East, including Newcastle Cathedral, Bamburgh Castle, Newton Hall, Wylam Brewery and many others. We have also worked on some amazing corporate events for customers like Rolex and Harrods. There was a really exciting period In September last year when we acquired the Newcastle and Gosforth branches of Katherine’s Florists, after the previous owners decided to retire. This was a really exciting moment for me in my career, having grown up in Newcastle and knowing that they are such a well regarded and historic name - they’ve been in business since 1970, originating in the Grainger Market. I now manage 19 staff members including florists, administrators and drivers. My day-to-day life is extremely varied! I still like to do some floristry when I can, so I will often help with some of the more complex corporate events, funerals or weddings. We do on average between 40-50 deliveries a day all across the North East and we also have some really exciting corporate clients, such as Newcastle United, Malmaison, Newcastle and Northumbria Universities. Our staff really enjoy creating bouquets, especially for NUFC - they normally take it in turns to do the deliveries so they can meet the players - one of the perks of the job!
18
www.dameallans.co.uk
Jen Jones said: “Dame Allan’s gave me the confidence to give things a go and not be afraid to try something different.”
I think running your own business brings together a massive range of skills, so it’s important to be well rounded, which I think my education at Dame Allan’s definitely helped with. I never formally did economics or business studies, but you need to be willing to learn and really passionate about your business area to want to succeed! My day can involve putting together quotes for customers, responding to queries, staff management and meetings, social media updates, ordering flowers or making some bridesmaids bouquets! I also have an 18-month-old daughter, with another one on the way, so I am always busy running around - I secretly love the chaos! I think if you love art, are a creative person, want to use your hands and don’t like sitting at a desk all day, then floristry could be a great career for you! However, I wouldn’t have given up my university experience for the world, and it played a really important part in who I am today. I’d say to Dame Allan’s pupils today: don’t worry if you think everyone else has their career path nailed and you aren’t sure. Loads of people change careers over their lifetime, and lots of florists come to floristry slightly later in life - and that’s fine! As for what I’d put in my ideal bouquet, that is a hard question and it changes each season we go into! At the moment, I’d like some Tulips, Butterfly Ranunculus, Narcissus, Clematis and Hyacinths for the scent! However, I am an absolute sucker for a big bunch of sweet peas.
19
The Dame Allan’s 1705 Magazine
Back to school
With nearly 20 Allanians now back at school to work, it was time for a photo! We didn’t manage to capture everyone, but maybe you can spot one or two familiar faces?
“I’m thrilled to be back! The MFL teachers I encountered as a student at Dame Allan’s inspired a life-long love of languages in me, and I feel privileged to be shaping the next generation of Dame Allan’s linguists.”
Louise Richardson (Allanian ‘03, Head of Modern Foreign Languages)
“It’s been great to come back. It is very familiar, but also very different, and some of the new additions to the school, like the Sixth Form centre, look amazing. At the same time, it can be quite strange to be back as a teacher in rooms where I used to be the student!”
Chris Wilkie (Allanian ‘97, Head of English)
20
www.dameallans.co.uk
Reunion groups If you left Dame Allan’s in a year ending in 6 (i.e. 2016, 2006, 1996, 1986, 1976, 1966) then we’d love to welcome you back to school for your milestone reunion year. We’ll be hosting tours and lunch at Dame Allan’s in October. Get in touch with the Development Office if you would like help tracking down old friends.
Allanian events Save the date 2026
MAR 18
SEP 10 & 11
Spring Concert at Newcastle Cathedral
Giving Day
MAY 21
OCT 10
Newcastle Drinks, at above Vermont Hotel rooftop bar
Reunion tours and lunch at Dame Allan’s
Scan the QR Code to find out about our upcoming events or visit www.theallaniansociety.co.uk
JUN 24
NOV 12
Coffee morning at Dame Allan’s
London Drinks, location TBC
21
The Dame Allan’s 1705 Magazine
2025 events snapshot
22
www.dameallans.co.uk
23
The Dame Allan’s 1705 Magazine
In Memoriam: Sandra J Rickaby (1954-2025)
Sandra J Rickaby – a tribute to her legacy as a lifelong school friend, family friend, teacher and work colleague
Where to start? Well as suggested by Mary Poppins - ‘let’s start at the very beginning’. I first met Sandra at Gosforth Grammar School at the impressionable age of eleven. We became friends because we had something in common – something that we shared throughout our whole lives. We loved giggling. It was no surprise then that the first time I ever saw Sandra, she was giggling. I remember thinking, I want to be her friend, she looks as though she would be ‘fun’ and so this marked the beginning of a long, treasured friendship that spanned decades and two families. It became increasingly obvious throughout our school days that Sandra was a gifted sportswoman. Whilst she excelled in all sports, her exceptional ability lay in hockey. She played first team hockey when she was only fourteen, progressing onto and captaining the U18 Northumberland County team, culminating in her selection as both player and captain of the U18 North of England team. As a player, I would say Sandra was most akin to David Beckham with her ability to orchestrate the game from mid-field with great strategic insight. Not only did she have advanced physical skills but also the intelligence to understand how and when to use them. The similarity to Beckham does not end there. Beckham has always been described as a team player who always looked to pass the ball before shooting, a player who always played for the team and not for himself. Whoever wrote those words could also be describing Sandra. It was all of these qualities that led to her selection for the U18 England hockey team, thus achieving her first England ‘cap’. She was the pride of our PE teacher, our school, our County and the North of England. Despite the many accolades and huge successes, Sandra remained as she always had been – ‘down to earth’, a typical fun loving, giggler who was simply our friend.
Unsurprisingly, Sandra’s chosen career path was to train as a PE teacher. Not only did her prowess as a sportswoman continue, but this was the beginning of a career that would produce a teacher who was ‘inspirational, nurturing and gifted at developing exceptional sporting talent. Sandra’s role as Head of PE and her growing reputation as an outstanding hockey coach at a neighbouring independent school meant that once she returned to teaching after maternity leave she was highly sought after - especially by Dame Allan’s! Sandra was appointed to the PE department and was to become my work colleague. Here, we were reunited at school as teachers, no longer as pupils. They were really happy times, full of laughter, especially when we reverted to our schooldays selves. The PE department at Dame Allan’s thrived under Sandra’s leadership. She understood that leadership was not about a position or title but based upon whether or not people were willing to follow. She believed in the importance of leading by example, by working collaboratively within a team built upon mutual respect and trust. As a result of this ethos Sandra led a happy, forward thinking, successful department. Not only did her staff flourish but so too did the teams achieving success across all sports at county, regional and national levels. Additionally, she organised or facilitated her staff in their organisation of many trips and tours that travelled locally, nationally and internationally. She knew that these opportunities were going to provide lifelong memories and experiences for all involved.
24
www.dameallans.co.uk
In 2011, the PE department embarked on a tour to Singapore. Somewhere along the line Sandra’s true status was lost in translation. Much to her delight, the hosts welcomed her in the belief that she was a dignitary and was actually in fact Dame Eleanor Allan herself. Mrs Rickaby was no longer – she returned from Singapore as a dame who was over three hundred years old and not a wrinkle in sight.
As befitting a dame, Sandra had high standards. She was a stickler for abiding by the rules – however, despite being a newly acclaimed dignitary, there were times when her emotions got the better of her. One such occasion arose during a Wimbledon trip. Sandra was explaining to the group how important it was to respect the players’ privacy and not under any circumstances were they to ‘chase after’ or ‘ shout after’ a player, no matter how excited they were. As she was explaining this, out of the corner of her eye she saw Boris Becker (for those of you who are too young to remember, Becker was the youngest player to win the Wimbledon Men’s singles title when he was only nineteen), she shrieked at the top of her voice – ‘it’s Boris’ and much to everyone’s amazement set off at an impressive speed in pursuit of him. She claimed that she was merely demonstrating how not to behave. Teaching alongside Sandra was not only fun but also a real insight and a privilege. That she was gifted in terms of teaching PE was a given. However, it was Sandra as a person, as a role model, as a human being that inspired and generated the love that she was given by her students. She was a true educator who valued each and every one of her students. She had the ability to make everybody feel like somebody. This was not exclusive to her students. Sandra valued everyone with whom she worked which was one of the many reasons why she was so popular, admired and respected. She was intuitive, nurturing and caring with an innate understanding that there were times when what her students needed the most had nothing to do with what was included in her lesson plan. Sandra would always give of her time unselfishly. These qualities are what her students remember. Each has their own memories and stories of how their interactions with Sandra shaped and changed their lives – each remembers her warmth, care and loyalty, her ability to listen. They said she was a wonderful role model. Her interpersonal and social skills highlighted the importance of being kind, caring and unselfish in a world that sometimes forgets these things. They all felt they became better people because of her. There is no greater accolade and one that Sandra herself would treasure. Sandra’s legacy is clear for all to see. Those of us who knew her, worked with her, spent time with her, were taught by her were lucky. She made a difference. I feel privileged to call her my friend. She was brave beyond compare and courageous in the face of adversity. She made us laugh and she made us cry but most importantly she enriched our lives.
25
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28Made with FlippingBook - PDF hosting