Ben Wood by Rachel Porter
Alex Brown by Chris Sewell
and cricket, where his knowledge, competitive spirit, and rapport with the pupils have been clear for all to see. The pupils will undoubtedly miss his enthusiasm — on the field, in the classroom, and in every aspect of College life. This said, not everything at the College will miss him. The Sports Centre washing machine, having endured years of relentless use, may finally get the rest it so desperately deserves. Alex has played a key role in the organisation and success of the cricket team The Dusters. Under his captaincy, the side has gone from a group of hopefuls in need of direction to a semi-cohesive unit capable of the occasional moment of brilliance — usually celebrated far more enthusiastically than warranted. Whether rallying the troops, padding out the batting order, or issuing tactical advice that may or may not have involved sending himself in early, Alex’s leadership has been a defining feature of many memorable Summer Term evenings. Alex has overcome the odd obstacle during his time at Dulwich, none more memorable than the career-threatening knee injury he sustained on the Lower School Ski Trip — a moment that, for a brief time, looked set to derail the entire expedition. Thankfully, after some active recovery Alex was back to full fitness and carving up the slopes within a matter of hours. Outside of the classroom, Alex has an undeniable talent for karaoke. Whether at staff socials or end- of-term gatherings, he has never been one to shy away from the stage. You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) has become something of a signature anthem. Alex has been a wonderful colleague, and we will miss his drive and good humour immensely. Our loss is KCS Wimbledon’s gain. Alex leaves us to take the lead of the Rugby Programme at KCS — a role in which he will no doubt thrive. ◎
Alex joined the department in 2019, arriving from Eltham College and bringing with him a wealth of knowledge, a clear sense of purpose, and no shortage of enthusiasm. From the outset, Alex hit the ground running, quickly establishing himself as a dynamic presence both in and out of the classroom. Alex’s arrival did, however, bring with it a new challenge — how to distinguish between the two Mr Browns we now had in the department. The pupils initially opted for ‘Old’ and ‘Young’ — a system that, while accurate, perhaps lacked some of the necessary tact. After some deliberation, and to Alex’s great delight, the name “Bicep Brown” emerged and stuck. Rarely has a nickname been worn with such pride. Over his time at the College, Alex has made a lasting impact, not least through his work with the High Performance Programme. Taking the lead with characteristic energy, he has helped to shape the programme into a cornerstone of our sporting offering. Alongside this, he has been deeply involved in the coaching of rugby, football
Ben and I joined DC together an unbelievable 11 years ago. Although, looking at Ben, you would have thought it was yesterday. Insert fine wine analogy, with a healthy dose of PT. I had the honour – and indeed joy – of learning the craft of teaching with him, and through that we became firm friends. However, this is not and ode to me and Ben; I’ll do that in my own time. Perhaps set to some cheesy Spanish pop. Ben has enriched the lives of so many of us at Dulwich, both teachers and students alike, thus making the writing of this vale bittersweet. In the wonderful words of Cath Juyol, ‘Ben, our resident grammar pedant, IT Guy and valued colleague, has left a gaping hole in the department. He is a colleague who brings not just skill and dedication, but genuine care and attention to everything he does. Whether it’s a beautifully crafted teaching resource or a handwritten card in his elegant calligraphy, Ben has a way of making everything feel thoughtful and intentional.’ This sentiment is echoed by Richard Sutton who informs me that ‘no recalcitrant youth was allowed to dawdle over his personal statement, and Ben would make it a point of principle to drill down into the fine detail of every thorny question on the application form. More than that, he was also a delight to work with: genuinely collaborative, entertaining, and blessed with such intelligence and perspicacity’. Kate Cutler echoes this in her comment that ‘Benjamín is a wise head on youngish shoulders’ who she misses working and laughing with every day. The list of names and accolades goes on and on, but I haven’t the space here. All the more inspiring and revealing is the impact that Ben has had on hundreds of DC students. Whether it was teaching Spanish, French, Italian, Linguistics and WellBeing, mentoring trainee
teachers, or on the multiple foreign trips that he ran and attended, he always made sure that every student felt listened to and included. Señor del Bosque will live long in the memory of OAs as a calming, intelligent and passionate presence inside and outside of the classroom. Ben will not be far away, thank goodness. His effortlessly chic, meticulously curated, country patch of paradise, will have many demands on his time. Gertie, the one and only girl of his dreams, will make sure that his days with partner Murray are always full of adventure. Although, I am concerned for their pristine planting with Gertie’s fondness for chasing and catching. Squirrels of East Sussex – watch out! Therefore, it is not an adiós to my ‘ media nara nja’ ( other half for those non Spanish speaking heathens) but hasta luego . For my life (and the lives of many others) would be incomplete without him. ◎
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