Concordia

Concordia Winter 2023

Valete At the end of the summer term we say goodbye to members of the SCR, and this year we saw the departure of Caron Evans Evans, Charlotte Drew and Jon Rippier, who had given a combined 59 years of service to Merchant Taylors' School. Extracts from Caron Evans-Evans and Jon Rippier’s valedictories, taken from the Taylorian, can be read below. While we miss our much-loved colleagues, we are grateful for the indelible mark that they have made on so many lives and wish them all the very best in their next endeavours. The full list of leaving teachers follows and their valedictories can be read in the Publications section of the website: https://mtsn.org.uk/life-at-taylors/ about/publications/taylorian Thomas Lyall – Economics Dan Westcott – Geography Stacey Pearson – Head of Politics Joshua Coren – Mathematics Michael Hetherington – English Andrew Duffey – Head of Design, Engineering and Technology James King – Religion and Philosophy Ben Oxenham – Biology Matt Flower – History and Head of Phab Philip Harrison – Head of Classics and Director of Scholarship Charlotte Drew – Teacher of Classics Jon Rippier – Director of Communications and Teacher of French Caron Evans-Evans – Senior Master

he became an Australian-accredited rugby coach. As well as inspiring the boys at Sandy Lodge, Caron coached Middlesex, London and South East England U18 sides, with some of his charges going on to represent England and the British & Irish Lions. Caron never lost his hunger to play either, making his final appearance for London Cornish at the age of 50. Caron always enjoyed the camaraderie of sport and the company of his many PE colleagues. While his Theology degree may have seemed unusual preparation for locker-room badinage, it did equip him with a remarkable ability to move from the unvarnished to the refined when the occasion demanded. Jon Rippier SCR 2003-2023 Whether in Durban, away to St Paul’s or at home on Flagstaff, Mr Evans-Evans always found a way to do two things at once. He stressed the importance of the immediacy of the experience, while also creating moments that would last, providing young men with memories they could call upon whenever needed. This made Mr Evans-Evans a rugby coach we wanted to play for, a coach we trusted and a coach we loved; on reflection, this instilled a similar sense of steadiness in each of the young men who benefited from his leadership. Some of the fondest memories of my time at MTS were forged on the tours which Mr Evans-Evans organised; such diligence in everything he did provided us with wonderful opportunities. While these memories were not created by mirroring his measured approach – hence why I cannot share any! – we never took the work that went into organising the tours and managing us for granted. Mr Evans-Evans, thank you for giving so much to the boys you led; thank you for creating an environment which forged such strong fraternal bonds; thank you for giving us the opportunity to learn about the depths of our own passion and our ability to channel our aggression, guile and talent as individuals and as a team. Most importantly, thank you for embodying

an unusual combination for a languages teacher, but one that gave him useful insight into French social and cultural affairs that always infused his lessons. It also enabled Jon to offer a popular General Studies course in International Politics for several years. Jon joined an experienced team as the impressionable rookie after two placements in inner-city schools in East London, but he soon settled into his new surroundings; his exceptional spoken French and his command of European and world politics immediately ensured his kudos among some genuinely heavyweight linguists. Jon’s congenial manner and easy rapport with the boys meant that he got the most out of any set, be it a top Sixth Form literature class

or a bottom set IGCSE class which needed careful handling and gentle

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encouragement. Richard Bailey Head of Modern Languages

Caron Evans-Evans Caron is the sort of person you would happily follow into battle and who would, even then, find time to check on your wellbeing before his own. Possessed of a fierce work ethic, a prop forward's instinct for action and a keen sense of moral purpose, he has done everything and more over 26 years at Merchant Taylors'. Caron joined in 1997 from Latymer Upper, having previously coached sport at Sydney Grammar School on an exchange year. As Director of Sport at MTS he was instrumental in its transformation: he helped professionalise the Department and coached the rugby 1st XV as well as hockey and cricket teams drawn from across the age groups. Caron was a strong believer in inculcating values of integrity and sportsmanship on the Games field, while still pushing the boys to realise their full potential. He looked back with particular pride on his last season in charge of the 1st XV in 2007 when the team set a record in its history by winning twelve, drawing one and losing two. Their fixture list included Harrow, St Paul's, Epsom College, Berkamsted and Merchant Taylors' Crosby. Caron's rugby expertise was honed in his time Down Under, where

Jon Rippier 2003 was a memorable year for many reasons: the exceptionally hot European summer when 'la Canicule' broke temperature records across Europe, the original London Congestion Charge was introduced by a Labour London mayor, and the UK public fretted about the ethics of getting involved in foreign wars. How little seems to have changed since then, but how much has changed in the world of education and at MTS in the intervening years. 2003 was also the year that Jon Rippier joined MTS after completing his PGCE in Modern Languages at the Institute of Education. He had graduated in Politics with French,

the behaviours we all endeavour to demonstrate as fathers, sons, colleagues and friends. Marcus-Alexander Neil Head Monitor 2007-08, 1st XV Captain 2007

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