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pragmatic outlook have been invaluable these past three years. Dario has been a great problem solver, stepping up to take on extra responsibilities when the department needed it most. Outside of his fantastic lessons, Dario has mentored new staff and has produced invaluable resources. As a valued member of the department, he also took on the challenge of providing CPD, via evening masterclasses, to help other teachers upskill their Physics to improve teaching throughout the department. No one will miss Dario’s efficiency more than the technicians, Peter and Sandy, as he is the only teacher in the department to receive consistent gold stars for organised requisitions. Dario’s students hold him in incredibly high regard. They are in awe of the extent to which he can go beyond the syllabus, and of the level of dedication and enjoyment he has for the subject. He presented on String Theory at Further Physics and it was, by far, the most well-attended meeting. His A level plus option, Quantum Mechanics and Relativity, is one of the most popular choices among Year 12 students. Dario’s ability to
engage and stretch students is something they appreciate and will remember fondly, as Gabriel De Almeida, Year 13, testifies:
‘Dr Duo really brought out the best in us all in Physics with his clear passion, devotion and energy for his subject. It was always his aim to stretch the boundaries of our knowledge and understanding, to make us better, more rounded physicists, and to promote inquisitiveness and inspire further exploration into the topics we were most captivated by. He was always on hand to give advice, motivation and direction when needed, and his dedication to helping every one of us realise our potential was what made him such an amazing teacher and mentor. His knowledge and diligence is unparalleled, and his dedication and enthusiasm will be sorely missed by everyone who had the pleasure of being taught by him.’
Alexander Hawes MALCOLM COCKS
Westminster is incredibly lucky to have Dario join their ranks, and we wish him the best for the future.
2015, the year in which Malcolm interviewed for his position at the College, seems a long time ago now. However, I still remember the first time we met quite vividly. Obviously, he stood out for his striking dreadlocks, but there was more to him than that. His genuine warmth, sincerity and friendliness, which so many of us are now familiar with, were apparent, despite our meeting being limited to a few moments in the cacophonous Christison Hall and the contrived situation of an Interview Day lunch. Little did I then know what a monumental impact this smiley would-be Dulwich teacher would go on to have. Academically, Malcolm is astonishing. Clearly, there are his credentials from Oxford and King’s College London to consider, but – more than that – there is the fact that he doesn’t even ‘ just do’ English: he teaches History of Art and lectures for RADA too. To pick up one of his handouts at the photocopier is to feel simultaneously in awe of him and woefully inadequate in comparison. To have a conversation with him is to be staggered by his breadth of knowledge and to wonder how he has come to know so much in such a relatively short period of time (he’s only just turned 40!). The pupils who have been lucky enough to be in his classes have doubtless benefited not only from his incredibly deep subject knowledge but also from his visible passion for and enjoyment of English. Outside the confines of the classroom, Malcolm’s contribution has been quite simply phenomenal. He has run Debating with great success for several years now, which is no easy feat when one considers Dulwich’s high profile in that particular arena and the evenings and weekends it demands. Working alongside Angela Cartwright, he founded the Gothic Society and has run regular meetings and even an amazing trip to Bran Castle, Transylvania. In collaboration with Jo Akrill, he has spent time nurturing the talents of the College’s emerging creative writers through the Upper Case writing group. In conjunction with the Library, he has set up and run a Victorian literature reading group. Perhaps most notably, however, in terms of societies, Malcolm created and has run Dulwich’s African and Caribbean Society, which has proven immensely popular with the students, and has offered a valuable forum for
important, engaging cultural discussions – as well as the best tie I have ever seen! Furthermore, he has been instrumental in making the school a much more inclusive environment through his invaluable work in events such as LGBTQ+ week and his recent time as Director of Diversity and Inclusion. In short, Malcolm’s absence is certainly going to be felt on campus from September. However, perhaps the real compliment – and the true mark of him as a person – is how he is going to be missed by so very many as a really close friend and as immensely good, down-to-earth, fun-loving company to have nearby. Angela will doubtless miss having him by her at the wheel for early morning trips to buy plants; Jo and Neil will miss having him over to their house for dinners; Richard will lament no longer having him as a companion for the theatre; and Nathalie will now be in need of a new kindred spirit when it comes to rum. Of course, I shall also miss him terribly. Aside from being an amazing colleague to both work alongside and learn so much from, he has been a great friend to me and someone I have travelled the world with during the holidays. He has been the person I have roamed around late-night Medellìn with, in search of one last cocktail bar, the person I have spent hours exploring Mexico City’s anthropology museum alongside, and the companion who has reassured me that it is actually fine to have brunch at Tulum’s Burrito Amor for a fifth consecutive day. Yet it has to be said that in some ways we have been lucky to have Malcolm for as long as we have. His lust for life is well known to his friends and his ‘itchy feet’ – which have led him to live in Berlin, New York and Atlanta, as well as around the world as a researcher for the Globe Theatre – have done well to stay planted in South London for as long as they have. Part of Malcolm’s considerable intelligence is valuing the variety that life can offer and never forgetting that experiences are to be actively sought out; it’s one of the many things that make him so interesting and which I doubt will ever change. Thus, it is with some reluctance, yet ultimately with understanding and respect, that we bid him farewell, consoling ourselves with the thought of seeing him again and enjoying his company once more, before too long.
James Wisson JOE HALLAM
Back in September 2016, a fresh-faced, enthusiastic teacher of Economics moved to Dulwich, eager to get stuck into everything that the College and South London had to offer; fast forward to the end of his stint at Dulwich College, four years and two terms later, and it is safe to say that Joe did exactly that. When I think of Joe I think of the old adage ‘if you want something done, give it to a busy person’, and it is safe to say that he made a real, all- round contribution to the school. Joe loves ‘Sport!’ and was fully involved in the Games programme, whether that was taking the U16C rugby team, marshalling the 6th XI in the football season or turning out himself for the Dusters in the summer. He is an intensely competitive sportsman, and it is said that his biggest sporting regret while at Dulwich was losing the prized Economics Department Yellow Jersey in the 2019/20 season to Mr Hullett. Joe made a genuinely impressive contribution to Upper School life during his time at the College, both as a superb form tutor and an animated supporter of all the boys in Drake as their Upper School Housemaster. Above all else he contributed hugely to the Economics Department. Not only an exceptional classroom teacher, he was also our finance guru (whether extra-curricular
provision or organising the A level plus course) and simply has an incredible capacity for knowledge of economic theory. Joe is a 21st-century man, but his wide-ranging contribution to Dulwich life epitomised the image of a classic ‘school master’. Overall, Joe has been a first-rate colleague. He is a superb professional, always looking for ways to improve his teaching and also the way the department operated. His obsession with becoming ever more efficient led him to be known affectionately as ‘Mr Efficiency’ within the Economics Department! He is also a kind and generous colleague. His willingness to go out of his way to help others was of great benefit both to his students and to staff, particularly to those colleagues like myself who joined the school after him. Finally, he is simply someone who is always fun to be around. Whether in the office, or in the classroom, his infectious sense of humour made working with Joe a joy and never a chore. He now leaves Dulwich to join Surbiton High School, where I have no doubt that he will be an absolutely superb Head of Department. I know that I speak on behalf of everyone at the College when I say that we wish him all the very best in his new role.
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