Linda Oliver
David Hutchins
Linda joined the staff of the Wodehouse Library in April 2005 following a number of years in advertising and a career break raising her two sons, both now Old Alleynians. She quickly got to grips with the myriad tasks required of a Library Assistant, staffing the Issue Desk and being the first point of contact for many of the Library’s users. She particularly enjoyed the constant interaction with boys and staff that is an integral part of the job, contributing with relish to some of the more robust debates amongst boys sitting in the Periodicals Room or IT area, particularly those on American politics. Perhaps Linda’s most lasting legacy to the College however, was her enthusiastic promotion of literary gems to boys and staff and she had a particular skill in matching boys to books that they would enjoy. It was a joy to see boys in the Middle School reading titles as challenging as Herman Wouk’s Caine Mutiny and John Irving’s A Prayer for Owen Meany , whilst many of us have a favourite novel that we first read on Linda’s suggestion. Linda leaves us to spend more time with her family in the UK and the US and with her charity work at Athol House. We will miss her very much but she has promised to return to keep us abreast of her latest literary discoveries.
Dave Hutchins arrived from Australia to take up a position as Form Tutor in Year 4 of the Junior School in January 2007. He quickly became a much respected colleague and a true inspiration to the boys in his care, and spent the ensuing six and a half years working in Years 3 and 4 and latterly taking charge of Gifted and Talented provision across the Junior School and leading Jonson House in their continuing drive not to come last in the Junior School House competition. His classroom was always awash with colourful, interactive and innovative display ideas to motivate the students in his care and there will be many boys now further up the school who will remember vividly – and with great fondness – the time they spent there. A talented cricketer and Aussie Rules footballer, he was also valued by the PE department for the passion he brought to Junior Games and PE. His cricketing skills will certainly be missed by the ‘Dusters’, a team which he represented with great distinction. While there are many colourful and varied memories of Dave, it is his consistency as a colleague that will really endure in the collective Junior School memory: always kind, always ready to help out where needed, always thoughtful to the needs of others. Dave left Dulwich College for Austria, where, along with his wife, he is running a guest house and restaurant high up in the Austrian Alps and we wish them the best of luck in this exciting venture.
PAUL FLETCHER
THOMAS QUILTER
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