The Club and the Bursary are deeply saddened by the passing of past president Peter Hobbs.
The recent news that Peter Hobbs had died came as a big shock to me. I knew that he was unwell (cancer had been mentioned) but I was unaware of the seriousness of his condition. From far away in Kent news travels slowly and only those with recent knowledge of Peter’s wide-ranging projects, including those for the Old Cryptians’ Committee could know that we were about to lose one of the most steadfast and loyal of Colin Ewan’s star performers.
When I, as a young sprog, joined the Crypt School in the 1950s, it quickly became clear that, although difficult to articulate, Headmaster Colin Ewan was on a mission to produce well rounded and cultivated young men fit for the highest position in society. Peter (P.T.G. Hobbs) Hobbs easily adopted the role of excellence in all things, taking forward the magnificent traditions of the Gloucester school founded in 1539. Peter glided through attainment levels in academia, sport and, above all drama. The long-lamented figure of Charles Lepper, appointed by Colin Ewan in a stroke of genius, started a tradition of Shakespearian drama which brought many fine productions to the first-rate scale of the architecturally perfect proportions of the recently completed Podsmead building. Peter Hobbs was chosen to be the young Arial. He and the Company received many plaudits and the “Citizen”s glowing reviews helped to generate big audiences for 10 live annual productions. Charles Lepper left to re-join his alma mater in Berkshire (Radley College) where he could develop his talent for more purist classical productions.
From Head Boy at the Crypt, Peter gained a place at Exeter College, Oxford and soon carved a career in the Government’s Forensic Science Service. There followed a distinguished career in industry and was able to use his influence to acquire for the school the magnificent boardroom table that stands today in the Crush Hall.
Over the decades Peter played a tremendous part in the maintenance and development of the Old Cryptians’ Club (founded in 1901). He served twice as President and through his encyclopaedic knowledge of Procedure shaped the future health of this ancient institution. Specifically, Peter can be credited with:
- With Howard Allen ensuring succession planning in particular the vital role of Club President
- Supporting the continuation and success of the main social events – March Dinner, Pembroke Dinner, Founders Day Social Evening and may more.
- Taking part in the Remembrance Day Parade and March in Whitehall
- Contributing in generous measure to the 2001 Centenary Bursary Fund
- Supporting, with enthusiasm the OC digitisation programme to bring the mountain of longhand and other historical documents to all interested in Old Cryptians’ history so that is available instantly on home devices and computers. (This work continues.)
Peter’s record at Committee was tireless. He would travel from London or Kent and stay overnight in order to attend evening meetings and discuss important issues. He had a reputation for always knowing how to proceed in novel situation.
Our thoughts go out to his wife Victoria and daughter Katharine and other family members and his many friends and former colleagues.
Richard Briggs – 13 March 2025, Cape Town
Hobbs, Peter Thomas Goddard was born on March 19, 1938 in Gloucester, England. Son of Reginald Stanley and Phyllis Gwendoline (Goddard) Hobbs.
Education
- The Crypt Grammar School, Gloucester 1949-1956
- Master of Arts, Exeter College, Oxford, England, 1962. Doctorate (honorary), International Management Centres.
Career
- Manager Imperial Chemical Industries, England, 1962-1979.
- Board director Wellcome Foundation Ltd., Wellcome Plc, England, 1979-1992.
- Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary, England, 1993-1998.
- Member, chairman Employment Affairs Board and Council, Chemical Industries Association, England, 1979-1993.
- Deputy chairman Pharmaceuticals and Fine Chemicals Joint Industrial Council, England, 1979-1989.
- Member education and training committee confederation British Industry, London, 1989-1994.
- Chairman Education Centre, University York, England, 1992-1994.
Achievements
Peter Thomas Goddard Hobbs has been listed as a noteworthy Inspector of constabulary by Marquis Who’s Who.
Membership
- Member, chairman Learning From Experience Trust, London, since 1988.
- Deputy Chairman. Roffey Park Institute, Horsham, England, 1989-1993.
- Founder, chairman Employer’s Forum on Disability, London, 1990-1993.
- Member Edexcel Foundation, London, 1995-1998.
- Board directors Forensic Science Superior vena cava syndrome United Kingdom, since 1996.
- Past country member Management Centre Europe, Brussels.
- Captain Royal Logistics Corps., Territorial Army, 1957-1968.
- Fellow Royal Society Arts United Kingdom, Institute Dirs. United Kingdom (member employment affairs committee since 1989).
- Member Institute Pers. and Development (companion, international v.p.1987-1989, 90-91),
- United Oxford and Cambridge Club.
Interests
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Hello from your new president,
Some years ago, a close school friend of mine organised a reunion for our year and his brother’s year.
It was very successful and almost 30 people turned up from the two years, some of whom I had not seen since my school days. We all had a great time catching up and finding out what everyone had been up to, finding out how well people had done, who had married, who had kids, reminiscing about the good old days and our time at school and as much as I enjoyed it, I couldn’t help feeling that we were actually missing a trick!
To me the perfect time for a reunion is the annual dinner when everyone from all the different years turn up and catch up with each other. It’s made for it. So, this year I plan for the annual dinner to be a ‘reunion dinner’ and hope that you as an Old Cryptian will do your best to come and catch up with other members of your year. Try and get as many of your school friends to come along to represent your year and we can all have a great time finding out what we’ve been up to and next year we can do it all over again. Let’s make it an annual event.
Since I’ve become President of The Old Cryptians, I’ve bumped into at least 2 friends who I haven’t seen since school and have enjoyed immensely finding out about their lives. They said they would come to meet up with fellow school friends from our year and would tell those that might not be on social media or on the email list of The Old Cryptians’ Club.
This year the annual dinner will be on Saturday 29th March 2025. It’s also the same day as Gloucester play Bristol Bears; so, if you’re into your rugby, you can make a day and night of it.
Our AGM takes place at 6.15pm, drinks 6.45 and meal at 7.30.
As part of the reunion theme, we are holding the event at the school in the school hall and I’ve organised for several tours of the school, so you can see just how the school has grown since you were last there. Please get in touch if you would like a tour of the school.
So please come along, if only to catch up with friends you haven’t seen since your school days.
Let’s make this reunion dinner a success and continue for many years to come.
I’ll see you there.
Matt Cass
OCC President 2024-2025
pr*******@**********ns.org
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From the President
Dear Members,
Welcome to another eNews. Last week we had our AGM and I had hoped to have had an “in person” AGM at the school but covid got in the way as myself and Nick Dyer, the head, both succumbed to it. Hopefully 2023 will see us all be together again for an AGM.
The OCC and the 1539 Foundation
For those of you who didn’t tune in online I wanted to let you know about the work that has been going on over the future of the club in light of the school creating the 1539 Foundation. This has been set up with an education charity to act as a hub for students, alumni and members of the OCC. It works in a similar way to Facebook and connects students and alumni with each other. The initial plan was for it to publicise job opportunities, mentoring from alumni in careers with all of the contacts in one place. Different groups within the foundation can be set up – such as year groups, sports groups etc and members can choose to part of whatever they wish.
There will also be 2-3 social events organised throughout the year based on what different groups emerge. This all sounds a familiar setup and obviously faced the committee with a challenge.
I met with the head a couple of times and along with other members of the committee we undertook a good deal of work to see what that meant for the OCC and how we would have to respond. That culminated earlier this year with the publication of a paper to the committee with three options about the future. One would be to let the 1539 Foundation effectively take on the work of the OCC and for the OCC to fold, another was for the OCC to create a new organisation that would bring the OCC and The Bursary Fund together with paid subscriptions.
What next?
In the end of the committee decided on an option where we will continue as the OCC and effectively become a group within the Foundation hub. The Foundation itself offers resources as it has a part time paid administrator who works for the school links with other schools organisations and the technology platform that simply is not possible for the Old Cryptians as a standalone organisation. That will offer:
- Mentors and links for new foundation members
- A managed communications hub for OC’s members
- Support for organising social occasions such as the annual dinner that may or may not include non-OC foundation members.
- The Presidential ceremonial role will continue, as now, within school services as well as provide editorial/publication of The Cryptian.
- We have no subscriptions but aim to break even on the annual dinner. This would have little impact or change on what we do now apart from how we organise membership.
Actions
So, this is a potentially big change for the club but it’s not a final done deal yet. There is still a lot of work to do before this all happens. We need a more formal proposal and guidelines about how it will work which will then be put to the membership. I’ll report back in the coming months as we progress.
Annual dinner
Finally a reminder from me that the annual dinner is still planned for June 18th at St Mary de Crypt. We’ll have full details and ticket information as soon as we get everything sorted. So please keep the date free!
Steve
OCC President
pr*******@**********ns.org
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