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Student Days |
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This newspaper announcement of the Oxford University degrees in Philosophy,
Politics and Economics, summer 1976 (first half) shows JRT Lewis (bottom
right) in good company with at least one future prime minister.
Benazir Bhutto (left side, middle, circled), first female president
of the Oxford union debating society, later became the first female prime
minister of Pakistan. A certain A. Blair of St. Johns College, is
found on the left below her (arrowed in margin). However, Tony Blair the
future prime minister, was a member of St. Johns the year above.
(Right-click any image to view it in full scale.) |
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Matriculated at Oxford, I joined the Union debating society (identity
card photo, left) and enjoyed the Thursday evening debates. The speakers
included not only students but also celebrities and cabinet ministers.
Arrayed in the chamber are statues of former members who became prime ministers.
I usually hung my overcoat over the bust of Gladstone.
My tutorial partner, Andrew Ferguson Smith, became an officer of the
Union alongside one Benazir Bhutto. |
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Secondary School Days |
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A somewhat painful blister inspection on a windswept Tor (granite hilltop)
on Dartmoor in Devon. We set out early Saturday to conquer ten tors
in a day and a half, carrying the required 50 pounds of camping gear and
a compass each. The weather varied constantly from blazing heat (and
thirst) to instant, disorienting fog, rain and even hail.
Notice the two officers in civilian attire pretending not to notice
the aroma and blisters at foot check rendez-vous. We were cleared
to continue. (I'm second from left, in dark shirt.)
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In between the steep tors lay peat bogs, in one of which Tony Hall
fell. It took three of us to pull him out, during which one of his
army boots was sucked off his foot. (He left that part out of his report,
left).
The whole team of six 16 year olds, from all three cadet services, crossed
the finish line Sunday afternoon.
Feeling slightly faint and weak after the 36 hour forced march, I emptied
my combat jacket pockets to find I had been too busy to eat half my 24
hour rations. |
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I'm lurking top right of the group. My brother Roger (an architect)
is in second row, second from left. Colin Leach (oil drilling consultant),
now also married to an American and living in Houston, is bottom left.
Among the others I can spot a Hampshire county rugby player, at least one
UK lifeguard champion, and Oxford athletics blue, an Oxford varsity football
blue, the CEO of Shell UK. One was a frogman from the Special Boat Squadron,
Royal Marine Commandos who later (for a change of scenery) served in the
Parachute regiment. After his chute failed to open, he became an
English teacher. |
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Aged about 14 - 15 at Bournemouth School. Judging from the baggy
eyes it could have been time to revise for "O" level exams at 15. |
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Primary School Days |
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Thorns Primary School at Kenilworth: photo at
ten years old (with National Health glasses, school uniform and natty class
captain's badge.) |
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Kenilworth castle (our local attraction) had already survived a year's
more conventional seige in mediaeval times. Then Dudley, Earl of Leicester
and suitor to Elizabeth I, built the gatehouse at Kenilworth castle to
impress her majesty. After two weeks of feasting, she still declined
to marry him. |
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