- The President's Reception will be held at The Clubhouse, Fenley Field, from 6.30pm on Friday 10th July. All OLs and their partners are extremely welcome to join Iain Wallis for the evening. As well as the usual food and the occasional tipple, entertainment will be provided by the School Jazz Band. Come along and enjoy the company of friends old and new.
- It is with great sadness that we report the sudden death of Ron Gusterson (41-48) on Wednesday 10th June whilst undergoing an operation at Coventry University Hospital.
Ronald G Gusterson was born in Rugby on the 3rd January 1931 and attended Lawrence Sheriff School from 1941 to 1948, leaving with an Oxford School Certificate. He had played on the wing for the School 1st XV and thereafter played in the same position for the OLs 1st XV - contemporaries recalled that he was very adept at scoring a drop-goal or two. When he finally retired from playing Ron remained an ardent supporter, and a VP, of the Rugby Club for the rest of his life.
Ron joined the Society Committee when he returned to Rugby from National Service and was President of the Society for two years from 1959-61. But perhaps his greatest contribution to the Society was his twenty years service as Treasurer from 1979 during which he was almost single-handedly responsible, through his adroit management of investments, for the robust financial position the Society currently enjoys despite the present gloomy economic climate. Ron also served as a Trustee of the Society and as a Governor of the School for many years.
For his commitment to the Society Ron was elected a Life Vice President in 1998 - it is fact that such was the esteem in which he was held that when he finally retired from the committee five years later he was actually nominated for the honour a second time (it was pointed out to the proposer that such a motion was meaningless since one only has one life).
Ron leaves his wife Chris, a son, daughter, step daughter and 5 grandchilden - the thoughts and condolences of everyone in the Society and the OLRFC are with them.
Ron was a quiet, good humoured and witty man who was capable of helping younger and lesser beings to understand the errors of their ways with an almost whispered aside; he will be sadly missed by all of us who knew and greatly respected him.
- Mike Cowham has provided a photo of Class IV C from '56/57. He has provided some names but some are missing or questionable - can you help? You can find the photo in the archive section.
- The Society receives communications from many members around the world keeping us informed of their activities - occasionally some of it is even fit to print. Here some messages received over the last year:
- Colin Latchem (Westen Australia): I was surprised, pleasantly surprised, to find I'd been tracked down and invited to the Old Laurentian Meeting as I now live in Western Australia and left the old school in 1949! Well done somebody! After leaving Lawrence Sheriff, I studied art in Birmingham, then did two years' national service, and then went to work in Northern Ireland as a teacher and later lecturer in art. I then moved into the field of educational technology and media. In 1982, my wife, two children and I emigrated to Perth where we still live. I was head of the centre responsible for academic staff development, instructional technology and open and distance learning at Curtin University until I retired in 1997. Since that time I have been consulting around the globe from the West Indies to Saudi Arabia, Korea and Japan, researching and writing. We come to the UK most years as our married daughter lives in Hampshire and occasionally we drive through Rugby on the way to somewhere and I am always pleased to see the old school looking so well.
- Arthur Darlington (Wales): There must be very few left who remember the headship of Cordy Wheeler. Few who remember the "extra" carol concert on the Sunday before Christmas 1940 for OLs on leave from the forces or otherwise prevented by war service from attending the other two concerts. The air raid siren blew and Mr Kemp asked those wishing to go to the shelter "leave now". As I remember almost nobody did and we sang our hearts out as the german bombers droned overhead on their way to Coventry. As we walked home afterwards Ack-Ack guns, searchlights, etc. were still very busy and by the noise they made plenty of bombers were overhead.
The global news today makes me question "What progress have we made in the past 65 years?". However, I have learnt to grow good organic vegetables - Is that progress?
- Miles Maxted (New Zealand): I'm informed by Auckland Grammar School that it is now 60 years since I was plucked from the pleasant halls of Lawrence Sheriff and deposited among Grammarians innocent of air-raids, air-forces and Churchillian endeavour. (AGS is a major nursey for the NZ All Blacks - Captain Wilson Whineray was a contemporary. Their extreme disappointment in getting an Rugby emigre who weighed in at less than 10 stone is still held against me....)
- Richard Foxcroft (France): I'm writing to you for a rather strange reason. I've just been looking at the Old Laurentian website and found your contact address. I'm an Old Laurentian myself -- I entered the school in 1963 but left in 1965 when I won a foundation to Rugby School. The Headmaster at the time was Alan Staveley, and on the whole I have very happy memories of my two years at the school. In April 1965 I went on a school trip to Italy, which was a very exciting experience at the time and made a big impact on me. There were about 20-25 boys, chaperoned by two masters. The chief organiser was Mr Whittaker, the art master, seconded by Mr Lay ("Eggy"), whose son was at the school at the same time as me (and I believe on the trip). I was wondering if you would have any contact details for Mr Whittaker or Mr Lay. I haven't seen either of them since I left the Sheriff, and have no idea even if they are still alive. The reason I'm asking this is that I'd like to know a small detail about our rail route to Italy across France and maybe Switzerland. On the way back we stopped at a place that has always intrigued me; and I think one of them (Mr Whittaker, probably) would remember where it was. This is of no importance whatsoever if you are unable to help!
- John Batch: I'm an OL myself but wanted to write to let the OLs know that my Uncle, George Maxwell
- Gregory ("Max"), another OL has died. He was born in October 1923 but I'm not sure of his exact dates at the School.
He served in the RAF during the Second World War at home and abroad. Later he became a District Auditor, a position he held until retirement. In 1956 he married his first wife, Lucienne from Fontainbleu in France.
In his later years he married Annabelle and retired to Bledington near Stow-on-the-Wold. He Was an active member of the village, being Parish Clerk for many years.
Max was widowed in 2004 and died on the 25 September 2007 a few days short of his 84th Birthday. He collapsed at his home from a heart attack and passed away instantly.
- Don Luker (USA): As it is over fifty years since I had much contact with Lawrence Sheriff School it is overdue that I should at least update you and my contemporaries with my life and career since leaving those hallowed halls for life at Cambridge.
- LSS from 1948 - 1956, head of house and prefect.
- Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge 1956 - 1959, Masters in Mineralogy and Crystallography.
- Royal Navy 1959 - 1962, Lieutenant. Naval School of Meteorology then aviation forecaster with the Fleet Air Arm.
- Kimberly-Clark Corporation 1962 -1998, Various assignments around the world in operations, engineering and management and in later years Vice President Corporate Procurement.
- Industrial Engineering Diploma East Kent Technical College 1963.
- Henley Management College 1975.
- Moved to the US at the end of 1975.
- US citizenship 1992.
- Retired 1998 in Wisconsin, USA.
- First marriage to Gwen, a primary school teacher from Norfolk,1963 - 1978. Two children.
- Second Marriage to Lynne, an accountant from Milwaukee, 1994. Three children of a prior marriage.
- Eight grand children.
- One great grand child.
I can be contacted by e-mail, or at P O Box 255, Ellison Bay, WI 54210, USA. See also our web site link below. Sincerely, Donald R. Luker.