On 21st January, Bloomsbury Continuum will publish Dostoevsky in Love by alumnus Alex Christofi, a highly original telling of the life of the author of Crime and Punishment. By weaving carefully chosen excepts of the writer’s work, the historical context and his own perceptive insights, Alex immerses the reader in the grand vista of Dostoevsky’s world, from his mock execution to his Siberian exile, and his three love affairs that were overshadowed by epilepsy and gambling.
Alex was guest speaker at the 2019 Association Dinner.
Author David Miller has got in touch in the hope of finding any memories of Anthony John Angel (later Anthony John Allen), who is believed to be an Old Boy of circa 1946-1951, as part of his research for a book. He writes:
The name [Angel] will probably ring a bell with you as he was eventually found guilty of murder and died in 2015 while serving a life sentence.
The reason for contacting you is that I am now fairly familiar with his long list of crimes and misdemeanours, but am completely baffled by the reasons or causes. He came from a respectable middle-class family, had a good education, and served with distinction in the Army. But he then seems to have gone completely off the rails. He committed theft, fraud, bigamy and treated the women in his life very badly, which included abandoning his first wife and her two children and murdering his second wife and her two children.
So, what I am hoping to find is any background information on his early years, which might help me to understand him better or would give me a lead for further research. I would be particularly grateful for any photographs.
A brief outline might help…
Father, John William Angel. Born in London 1895. Served in the Army in WWI. Got married and settled in Bournemouth in 1927, employed as some sort of commerical traveller. Served in WWII. Died in 1954 in Bournemouth, cause unknown.
Mother, Katie Stokes. Born 1904. Came to Bournemouth as her father joined the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Married John in 1927. Lost four babies until one survived, Anthony John Angel, born 1934. Known addresses were Markham Road in 1930 and 26, The Avenue from the 1930s until 1984.
Anthony John Angel. Born 1934. Attended a nursery, presumably local. Attended a Wimborne prep school. Passed the 11+ and attended ‘the local grammar school’ (though this is not named, it is presumabed to be Bournemouth School). Apparently was good at tennis and cricket. Articled to a local architect for a short time after school, but soon enlisted in the Royal Engineers… changed his identity to Anthony John ALLEN in the 1970s…
Responses can either be left below or directed to David via email, petard249@btinternet.com
David James (OB 1960s) has got in touch with some photographs and memories from his time at School.
The first, from 1967, depicts Milford Harrison (L) and David James (R) in front of their work as school poster artists.
Before Photoshop: the two School poster artists 1967, Milford Harrison (L) and David James (R) send up their work.
The second is from a CCF camp in 1965.
RAF South Cerney, 1965, annual camp
David has identified some names as:
Back row: Christopher Challenger extreme left, Michael Gething 3rd from left, David James 5th from left, Philip Yates 4th from right, Norrington 6th from right Middle row (officers): Flt. Lt. Sephton (Woodwork) centre, P.O. Hopkins (Mathematics) right Front row: Geoffrey Dickinson extreme left, Kuflik 3rd from right
The third and fourth are from the School Play – Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 1 (1967).
The School Play, Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 1, 1967
Graham Ford as Captain Fluellen (centre), David James as banner bearer.
The Assembled Cast
If any other members have memories they’d like to share, please get in touch.
It is with regret that we have decided to cancel the 2020 Annual Dinner due to concerns related to the COVID-19 outbreak.
We have however set a date for the 2021 Dinner which will be held at the Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott Hotel on Saturday 20th November 2021. We hope to see as many of you there as possible.
There must have been a time in late 1981 when I decided: “I’m not going to read this thing, but I’ll put it away in case I have time in future”. And here we are, 39 years later, and I’ve dusted it down and taken a look. Even the adverts are interesting!
A new initiative is to post a periodic “News of OB’s” section to keep the Association and its members up-to-date, so please, dear alumnus, get in touch!
The type of information we’d like to share is: careers, locations, degrees / qualifications, family, news of other OB’s, dates & memories at school, etc. All generations of alumni are encouraged to contribute!
Below are extracts from the 1913 and 1974 editions of The Bournemouthian (clearly pupils didn’t have Christian names until the seond half of the Twentieth Century). Sadly the practice of publishing OB news died along with the magazine in the early 2000s, but hopefully this can be changed.
OB Geoffrey Giles has been in touch with pictures and memories of Mr. Pettoello and Mr. Coward from a picnic tea at Bradbury Rings, in June 1963.
Mr. Pettoello (L) and Mr. Coward
Mr. Pettoello
He writes:
Tu 11 All the Latin set went out to Badbury Rings with Mr. Pettoello & Mr. Coward for picnic tea, i.e. Cyder & Fruit Salad, with white wine. Afterwards went to see “Caesar & Cicero” at Bryanston School.
The play at Bryanston was performed in their outdoor amphitheatre. Petters was a rather strict disciplinarian, and I had him for 6 years of Latin. This was the first time we’d experienced him as a very jovial, off-duty teacher, and so was regarded as a great occasion. I’m sure he provided the wine, which was seen as quite daring. Would teachers do this nowadays? I do hope it would still be seen as acceptable sociability training!
I think Mr. Coward may have been new that year, and I have only a vague memory of him.
In the last few months I’ve also enjoyed a vigorous correspondence with the three friends who attended last years OBs’ annual dinner with me, sharing information about some of our teachers, and doing a bit of research. It turns out that Mr. Pettoello served with an SOE political intelligence unit in Italy during World War Two, of which we knew nothing when we were at school. We’ve found mentions of distinguished service by other teachers as well, and it would be fascinating to know more about their war activities.
Does anyone know of other wartime stories involving their former teachers?
