Alleyn Club News
The President: Peter Lyon MA (52-60) ..........................................................................................................
to Rome in 1966, organised by Mike Rose (45-53), where, after two victories, one against Rugby Rieti and the other against Rome University, the side finished up being entertained by a somewhat nonplussed Ambassador and his wife at the British Embassy. Cambridge had resulted in Peter developing a serious interest in Economics and his first job was as an economist with the Economic Intelligence Department of the Prudential Assurance Company. The six years spent at Pru’, combined with teaching Economics at night school for the Institute of Bankers, cemented what eventually became a life-long involvement with the subject. In 1975 he joined the stockbrokers Vickers da Costa and by 1981 he found himself as a director and Head of Research. This was a role he also fulfilled subsequently, first as a director of County NatWest Investment Management, then as the Head of Economics and Strategy at Smith New Court and finally as a director of a US Investment Management House, Clay Finlay Inc. Apart from delivering papers at numerous investment conferences around the world, there was also the odd radio and TV interview, on occasions on Budget day. At various times he was an advisor to both the Pilkington Pension Fund and the Phillips Pension Fund in Holland. Between 1994 and 2014 he was a non-executive director of the Schroder Japan Growth Fund plc. On his retirement in the spring of 2008 he resolved to try to re-establish his links with the College, starting initially by becoming a member of the Alleyn Club committee and a trustee of the Club. He is now Chairman of the trustees and is also responsible for the management of the Hollington Club funds. It was, nevertheless, something of a surprise to be asked to become President of the Alleyn Club, a decision that touched him deeply. As yet another beneficiary of the Dulwich Experiment he feels a serious obligation to give back something to the institution that had such a transformational influence on his life. Following the journey of his predecessor Ivor Warburton (57-65) around the world visiting the Dulwich Diaspora, one of Peter’s main aims during his term of office will be to try to re-establish links with those OAs in the UK who do not live in London or the South East. In addition to long-standing reunion lunches and dinners on the south coast and in Tunbridge Wells and Wessex, additional lunches have been confirmed for Cambridge, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Leeds.
Peter Lyon came to the College from Gordonbrock Primary School in Brockley. He was vice-captain of Drake and a prefect. He played on the wing for the 1st XV, captaining the side in his second season, and he also ran the 100 yards and 440 yards in the athletics team. In 1958, in the AAA Junior Athletic Championships, he finished second in the 440 yards final. He represented the Kent and London Schools rugby sides, as well as playing for two successive years in the then traditional New Year’s Day game between Richmond and London Scottish schoolboys. Some misunderstanding with the Latin examiners meant that his arrival at Queens’ College, Cambridge, was delayed for a term but during this period he played for the Kent senior rugby XV. At Cambridge a series of injuries meant that his time spent both on the rugby pitch and on the athletics track turned out to be relatively limited, but he did manage a couple of games for the Cambridge 1961 XV, plus a season in the LX club. At Queens’ he established many life- long friendships, partly as a result of being a founder member of the Bacchanalian Society. It was there also that he met his future wife, Shirley, who became a Mathematics teacher and with whom he celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary in 2016. They have two daughters: Abigail, a director of a design company, and Antonia, who is a barrister. There are five grandchildren. Peter played rugby for the OAs for seven years after leaving Cambridge, receiving his honours cap in the 1962-63 season and captaining them for two seasons, 1964-66. The highlight of his captaincy was a tour
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