Julian Whittaker, Director of Music writes:
Please join us at 7.00pm tonight on the school’s youtube channel for our virtual Senior Concert.
Here is the link: https://youtu.be/cdrvLJga8k8
It features some amazing performances from students from Y10-13, mostly recorded under lockdown!
You will be impressed by their enthusiasm, musical skill and determination.
I gave the students the challenge to learn a new piece for this concert and some of them have certainly taken themselves out of their comfort zones!
If you are unable to join us, the concert will remain on our youtube channel for you to enjoy when you are able.
We are saddened to learn that former Cryptian and stunt driver Dick Sheppard, who once held the record for having the most entries in the Guinness Book of Records, has died aged 90. The following is extracted from his obituary published in Punchline Gloucester.
After attending Calton Road Junior and Crypt Grammar School, he earned a place at Cambridge University but opted for a job in a motorcycle shop instead.
He said: “At school I was caned quite frequently and threatened with expulsion more than once for being a rebel. I accepted that because it was usually quite true.
“The few masters who owned cars used to hand me the keys during the morning so that I spent the lunch hour cleaning the plugs and points and generally tuning their cars at the out of bounds area in front of the school, while my pals played football in the playground.
“This I did more for the love of engines than any fondness I felt for the teachers. The happiness this gave me continued throughout my life whenever I got the maximum performance out of an engine, whether it was to win a stock car race or achieve a new world record.”
We are saddened to learn of the death of Old Cryptian Derek Pearce who we heard from last year when he wrote to tell us of his meeting a fellow Cryptian in his care home in Norwich.
Despite leaving school aged 14, without any qualifications, he won a scholarship to the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester – and won the best student of the year award. In 1961, he went to the United States and became the first farmer in Britain to graduate from the advanced management course at Harvard University’s Business School.
The Eastern Daily Press has a full obituary of Derek who lived an interesting life and was well respected in the farming community.
From the ins and outs of remote teaching to some fun extracurricular activities, this SoGlos finds out more about the realities of online learning from two students at The Crypt School Click To Tweet in Gloucester.
As Year 7s, Theo and Marianne (pictured left) are in their first year at The Crypt School, a leading co-educational secondary school in Gloucester. Like many students across the county, they have been logging into online school and learning remotely during lockdown.
https://www.soglos.com/children-family/49429/The-Crypt-School-A-day-in-the-life-of-two-students-in-lockdown
We are saddened to hear news from America of the passing of Barrie Sims, a longstanding member of the OCC.
Barrie Gordon Sims, 78, a resident of Columbia, Maryland, died of Covid 19 on Friday, November 27, 2020 at Gilchrist Hospice in Towson, Maryland.
Barrie was born in Gloucester, on May 16, 1942, to Gordon and Lillian Sims. He grew up with his sisters Julie and Heather and attended the Crypt Grammar School.
After graduating, he began a long career with GCHQ as a computer scientist. While working, he achieved a Bachelor of Science degree in Maths.
Barrie’s family was his source of pride and joy. He married Patricia Murrin of Gloucester in 1963 and their marriage was blessed with three children, Colin, Philip, and Jennifer. The marriage ended in divorce. In 1986, he married Tracey Taaffe Manning of Columbia.
In 1983, Barrie moved to Columbia, Maryland, to coordinate intelligence work with his U.S. counterparts. Later he worked as a program director for Computer Sciences Corporation and subsequently, Eagle Alliance, both in service to the National Security Agency. He always took satisfaction in his contribution towards making the world safer for his two beloved countries.
Barrie’s faith was important to him and he was very committed to his Baptist churches, both in Gloucester and in Columbia. As its treasurer, he helped to shepherd Brunswick Baptist Church in Gloucester through growth and the building of a new facility. He later served as treasurer for over 20 years to the Columbia Baptist Fellowship (CBF) in Maryland. For many years, he represented CBF on the Oakland Mills Interfaith Center (OMI) board of directors where, during his term as president of the board, he oversaw a major building expansion and renovation.
He is survived by his wife Tracey Manning Sims, his three children, Colin Sims (Annette Beattie) of Hampshire, Philip Sims (Michelle Sullivan) and Jennifer Sims (Graham Wollington) of Essex, his two stepchildren, Laura Manning Attridge (Andrew Attridge) and Elizabeth Manning, and his grandchildren, Matthew Sims, George Sims, Margaret Attridge, and Sean Attridge. He is also survived by his sisters Julie Briffett (Gerald Briffett) of Hereford, Heather Harvey (Robert Harvey) of Gloucester, and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Gordon and Lillian Sims.
Donations may be made in his memory to Parkinson’s UK (www.parkinsons.org.uk/donate).
The School are delighted to announce the Department for Education’s approval of a new and innovative free school for the children in Gloucester.
The Wheatridge Primary School aims to work closely with the community providing local children access to a world class, academically focused education to prepare them for the demands of a secondary school curriculum and help them aspire to achieve highly in all that they do.
There is more detail on the School’s website about this important and exciting announcement.
We have a couple of vacancies on the OCC Committee from March. Click To Tweet
The only requirement is a willingness to continue the work of the committee in maintaining the links with the School, identifying areas where the Club and the School can work together and generally being interested in the School.
Of particular interest we are looking for someone to engage with younger members (and potential members) and to improve the use of communication channels available to us.
email president@oldcryptians.org or admin@oldcryptians.org to register interest and more details.
All shop items are discounted by 20% for all of February Click To Tweet (while stocks last!).
Enter discount code OCC2021 at the checkout stage and the discounted cost will be applied. This code can be used as many times as you like until 28th February 2021.
Committee member and wannabe president of the Old Cryptians' Club, Matt Cass, has published a paperback version of his heavily subscribed and highly amusing* Lockdown #1 Facebook updates. Click To Tweet
The book gives a fascinating insight into the daily life of our ambitious and intrepid Old Cryptian as he negotiates the daily grind of lockdown living and disappearing children.
Unfortunately he has already started posting Lockdown #2 updates which may portend a second volume.
Proceeds from the sale of the book (should there be any) will be donated to NHS charities.
Howard Allen writes with sad news.
“I much regret to inform you that my very dear friend B.A. ‘Brian’ Jones passed away on Thursday in hospital of CV 19. He was aged 86.
Brian was President of OCC, a member of OCRFC and played for GRFC in early 1960s. A tremendous back row forward and popular for his dash with the Shed.
He was commissioned in Royal Artillery in mid 1950s-short service commission with his National Service.
He was for many years an outstanding presenter and commentator in motor racing at Brands hatch and other circuits. He possessed a wonderful command of the spoken word and a memorable voice.
He is the only brother of Gordon Jones – former president OCC- now approaching his 90th birthday.
We grew up in The Oval in the war and post war years – Brian at 33 – me at 23-such happy times-from cowboys to sport!”
The Club extends its condolences to Gordon and Brian’s family.
A number of online obituaries have been published:
For an overview of his many broadcasts, please see his website.
Website supported by Cass Stephens:-
Julian Whittaker, Director of Music writes:
Please join us at 7.00pm tonight on the school’s youtube channel for our virtual Senior Concert.
Here is the link: https://youtu.be/cdrvLJga8k8
It features some amazing performances from students from Y10-13,
We are saddened to learn that former Cryptian and stunt driver Dick Sheppard, who once held the record for having the most entries in the Guinness Book of Records, has died aged 90. The following is extracted from his obituary published in Punchline Gloucester.
We are saddened to learn of the death of Old Cryptian Derek Pearce who we heard from last year when he wrote to tell us of his meeting a fellow Cryptian in his care home in Norwich.