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Introduction

In this issue

Concordia Winter 2022

An introduction from the Head Master:

4 Current OMT Society President Andy Rose (1973-1977) reflects on the enduring association between OMTs and the school 6 OMTs Lanre Ige (2007-2014) , Andrew Gold (2002-2007) and Simran Kumar (2009-2016) look back at their time at MTS and their respective career paths 14 David Farthing (1953-1957) reflects on the many connections between Merchant Taylors’ and Winchester Cathedral 20 Registrar Jonny Taylor looks back at the history of the Merchant Taylors’ Company in the Lord Mayor’s Show and Senior Master Caron Evans-Evans describes the role of MTS boys in this year’s event 28 Registrar Jonny Taylor relates the story of Merchant Taylors’ and the Royal Family over the past century 34 The Platinum Jubilee Concert 36 Tributes from OMTs to Queen Elizabeth II 38 Diplomat and author Ameer Kotecha (2005-2010) writes of the importance of fine dining in the world of diplomacy 40 News fromMerchant Taylors’ and Merchant Taylors’ Prep 44 Development 54 Class Notes 58 Obituaries We have made every attempt to locate copyright ownership of archive photography but have not always succeeded in doing so. Any owner of copyright of individual images is invited to contact the editor.

A great deal has happened at Sandy Lodge since my last update. We had a successful return to a normal exam season. It was very gratifying to see that at both A Level and GCSE, the boys’ exam results are the best MTS has ever attained. The A Level candidates deserve a special commendation as these were the first public exams they had ever sat – their GCSEs had been cancelled by Covid. Our sport this term has been very successful as well. This year, the rugby programme comprises 12 teams (U14A-D, U15A-C, U16A-B, 1s, 2s, 3s) that have so far played 62 matches, winning 48. Rugby Week was a huge success (you can watch the video on the school’s YouTube channel), with 22 fixtures played from Monday to Friday and just under 1000 players running out under the lights. This included all of our teams from U14D to 1st XV - we are the only school in the country where every rugby player gets that experience. The week concluded with the 1st XV game which featured the CCF band, Phab fundraising and approximately 450 pupils, staff and parents in attendance with many more tuning into the NextGenXV live stream on YouTube. After an exciting conclusion to the county cricket season, we were all delighted to see Middlesex promoted to the top tier of county cricket. Our existing links with MCCC are already strong, and they will be yet stronger when MCCC and the school begin to share the elite Julian Hill Indoor Cricket Centre. The centre will further secure our place as one of the top cricket schools in the country and will ensure that every pupil has a place to practise and hone their skills. Indeed, you can read more about our campaign progress on page 46. In addition, MCCC have also installed new grass nets at the end of the Long Drive. These nets replicate the slope of the wicket at Lord’s and will provide a useful training area for the team as they use Lord’s less and less and move to make MTS their main site. You may well have seen MTS pupils performing in the Lord Mayor’s Show. The Merchant Taylors’ float was full of music and celebration as the school supported the Merchant Taylors’ Company in acknowledging the achievement of Nicolas Lyons, a member of the Merchant Taylors Company, as he became the 694th Lord Mayor of London. Our Bhangra group danced beside the float and we were all led by the Chairman of Governors atop a well-behaved camel. It is always a joy to connect closely with our Livery Company and put the talents of our pupils on a wider stage. I believe that the Company were delighted with the contribution and enthusiasm shown by the school in supporting this important occasion. Of course, no school, company or individual is exempt from the implications of the current levels of high inflation and the soaring energy prices. As a consequence, we are further enhancing our commitment to sustainability and reducing wastage. We have installed electric car charging points and all of the school’s waste goes to a biofuel facility, so we are a zero-waste site. Further, all cooking oil is made into biofuel and all waste food is composted. Our development plans are ambitious; we intend to harvest rainwater, protect the grounds from the increasing summer droughts and develop the use of renewable energy, thus saving money and helping the school thrive in the future. Finally, and on a more formal note, I should acknowledge the way in which the school mourned the loss of Queen Elizabeth II. As the news broke on the evening of 8th September, our flag flew at half-mast and our website carried a tribute. On the following morning the school gathered in the Great Hall to commemorate her life of constancy and public service with a special assembly. A Book

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of Condolence was placed in the Undercroft; it has been signed by staff, pupils, OMTs, governors and visitors. Now closed, it has been placed in the archive as a permanent memorial of the school’s gratitude to an exemplary national leader.

Supporting MTS To find out more about how you can support the school, please go to: https://development.mtsn. org.uk/supporting-MTS