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one A level but I spent two terms largely doing non-academic things as a prefect and helping with various extra-curricular activities. I was one of the Dulwich College team, which featured in a one-off Sixth Form Challenge, like University Challenge, on television. Did you have any particular memories that stand out? A mixture: cold late autumn evenings playing Rugby on the ‘tank’ fields and getting very muddy; the poor stodgy quality of school meals (infinitely better now); playing conkers each autumn in my early years; later, the quality of the History teaching (up to undergraduate level); in my first year having to learn a chapter of the Bible each week for a Monday lesson ( taught by the stern Head of the Lower School, who I later learnt was human); always being uplifted when walking from West Dulwich station, seeing the Barry Buildings and looking across at the pavilion. What did you do after leaving Dulwich College? Immediately, I went to the then West Germany to work on a vineyard to learn German (a failure) but that coincided with the 1966 World Cup, so I was the only Englishman in a bar of 80 Germans when England won. Not many boys did gap years then and we couldn’t afford it anyway, so I went straight to Cambridge for four years- reading History and Economics— before starting my journalism career at the Financial Times after graduating in 1970. What was your experience of returning as Chair of the College’s governing body? I first became a Governor in autumn 2009 as Joe Spence arrived as Master. My first reaction – after several decades of little involvement with the College – was ‘it’s very different from my day’. My second reaction was that most things were much better – the range of pastoral care and support for the boys and the quality of teaching (governors occasionally sit in on lessons). I also welcomed the efforts to give opportunities to all boys and not just to focus on the elite. I have sometimes felt, however, that the range of options can be too wide. Throughout my twelve years as a Governor, six as Chair, I appreciated the high quality of my fellow governors, all volunteers giving their time, and the College’s committed and hard-working staff. What are you currently reading, watching or listening to? I am a keen follower of cricket and rugby on television – and I remain a political obsessive, watching news and current affairs programmes and reading several papers, both print and online. I normally read at least a couple of books at a time – something historical or political – recently Ian Johnson’s Sparks on China’s underground historians. I have finished the latest Ian Rankin novel and am reading Nick Harkaway’s continuation of his father John Le Carre’s Smiley series. If you are not at home… My wife and I like the theatre, concerts and occasionally opera – plus talks (most recently by Michael Palin on his diaries). In the summer, I love going both to the Oval, my favourite cricket ground since my schooldays, or to Lords. At my age I try to keep up with old friends and go to my Club, the Garrick.
What do you hope to achieve in your year as President? Generally, to encourage and support the change in approach of the OAA in the last few years. I want to highlight and celebrate the achievements of OAs in all fields, as in the new alumni awards. Specifically, in a year of transitions for Dulwich – with the retirement of a long-serving and very successful Master and the arrival of a new Master, and the big changes in taxation –I want to act as a bridge between OAs and the College. What was your time like at the College? Dulwich was the key building block in my life and career, developing my academic skills and enabling me to go on to Cambridge. There is a tendency to look at the first half of the 1960s as a golden age for Dulwich with outstanding academic and sporting success. But it could also be a harsh, rather cold place – fine if you were in the academic or sporting elite but tougher for the majority. Some of the teachers, damaged by their wartime experiences, certainly wouldn’t be employed now. Moreover, personally, it was a tough since my father was very ill for quite a lot of time and died when I was 15. Because of my father’s illness and the associated collapse of his single practitioner business as a solicitor, my family certainly couldn’t have afforded to send me to Dulwich. So I was, and am, a grateful beneficiary of the Dulwich Experiment era where, after passing the 11-plus exam, my place was paid for by the old London County Council. There was more of a social mix than subsequently, though boys were still predominantly middle class in background. However, social distinctions hardly feature in my memories. That is one reason why I am so keen on expanding bursaries and a needs blind approach to admissions. Overall, though, I look back on my time with pride and affection. I enjoyed my work and made some lifelong friends. What subjects did you particularly enjoy and why? History was my prime interest and speciality. There was an astounding History Department at the College then, a tradition which has been maintained since. That ties in with my fascination with politics and government, which dominated my career as a journalist. By contrast I was hopeless at languages and merely adequate at the sciences. What were your main interests outside the classroom? I enjoyed Cricket and Rugby—and still keenly watch them now- but I was a mediocre performer, banished to the remote pitches across the road. I was rejected for the choir in less than 10 seconds (several seconds too long my wife and daughter say) in contrast to the much more extensive involvement of boys in music and the arts generally now. I got involved with non-sporting societies: Debating (rather awkwardly and unsuccessfully) History and The Union (more productively). Did you have any positions of responsibility? I became a Senior Prefect in my last two terms which were in many ways my happiest time at the College. My birthday is in October and I was always among the youngest in my year. I was allowed to compete for the Cambridge entrance exams in December 1965 at just 17 on condition that, if successful, I would stay on until the summer. Those were the days when O and A levels were staggered so I already had History A level. I won an Open Exhibition and was told by my Cambridge College that I didn’t need to complete my other A levels since I had satisfied the entry requirements. So not only do I have just
MEET YOUR OLD ALLEYNIAN ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT
Bridging the gap, Sir Peter, one of our oldest alumni was interviewed by one of our youngest students, Bram in year 3.
Peter Riddell is a British journalist and author. He worked for the Financial Times from 1970-91. From 2016-21 he served as the British government's Commissioner for Public Appointments and is the former director of the Institute for Government. Born in Torquay, Peter’s father was a solicitor who served in the RAF during the Second World War. Peter lived in Streatham, London during his early life attending Dulwich College, becoming a Senior Prefect in 1966. He then graduated from Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge with a BA in History and Economics and an MA. Peter served as a Governor of Dulwich College from 2009, initially on the Education Committee, before stepping down in 2020 after five years. Peter was made a Fellow of Dulwich College in 2021. RT HON SIR PETER RIDDELL CBE 1959-1966
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