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Eminent Old Pocklingtonians
Richard Annand VC 1925-32, awarded the Victoria Cross in 1940 during the battle for France. He visited the School in 2002 and unveiled a copy of his citation. This can be seen in the Senior School Reception entrance. He died December 2004.The new CCF Centre, opened in 2009, is named after him.
Jason Carr 1980-1985, Composer, lyricist, arranger and musical Director. Studied composition at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. Directed music for many Chichester Festival productions. He has composed music for over 40 plays, including London productions of Tennessee Williams’ “Glass Menagerie”, “Rose Tattoo” and “Camino Réal”. Other compositions include songs and dance numbers for the recent Paris Lido world tour. He opened the refurbished Music School in 2003.
Sir Edward Clay KCMG 1955-1963, Diplomat. Known as the “hottest” Diplomat to ever grace the Foreign Office, his most recent posting was as British High Commissioner to Kenya where he became an outspoken critic of that country’s corruption. Currently co-Director of the FCO's principal programme of training for British diplomats.
Prof. Mark Child, FRS 1947-1955, Coulson Professor of Theoretical Chemistry, Oxford. Publications: Molecular Collision Theory, Semiclassical Methods with Molecular Applications.
Sir James Cobban 1920-1929, Double First in Classical Tripos at Jesus College, Cambridge. Lieutenant-Colonel in Directorate of Military Intelligence in WW2. Educationalist, Headmaster of Abingdon School 1947-1970. Principal architect of the independent schools assisted places scheme.
Martin Crimp 1968-1974, Playwright, his play “Cruel and Tender” and his translation of the 18c French comedy “The False Servant”, starring Charlotte Rampling were both on in London, summer 2004. His new plays “Fewer Emergencies” and “The City” were recently at The Royal Court. His adaption of Moliere’s play “the Misanthrope” is at the Comedy Theatre, London early 2010.
Jack Daniel 1931-1937, Artist and Illustrator in “The Eagle”, “London Illustrated News” and “Field”. Sculpted the war memorial in Chelsea Barracks. Drew the “Wheelbarrow Hero,” a scene depicting Richard Annand’s heroism. It is displayed in the foyer of the Stoppard Centre. He died in August 2009.
Adrian Edmondson 1969-75, Actor, comedian, writer and musician. Co-author and actor with Rik Mayall of “Bottom” and “The Young Ones”, married to Jennifer Saunders.
Stewart Eldon CMG OBE 1966-71, graduated with a 1st from Cambridge and joined the Diplomatic Service. British Ambassador, Dublin until 2006. He was then appointed the UK’s permanent representative to the UN. In 2009 he delivered the annual Eisenhower lecture to the UN Defence Council.
Christopher Elliot CB MBE CVO 1960-1965, Major General, was Director General, Development and Doctrine, Ministry of Defence and Defence Services Secretary.
Michael Elsworth 1941-1951, Actor, “Gondorian Archivist” in “Lord of the Rings” and “Cirdan” in “Fellowship of the Ring.”
Andrew Farquhar CBE MBE DL 1966-1972, Major General, commander land forces, UK. Awarded “The Legion of Merit” by the USA in 2005. Deputy Colonel of the Yorkshire Regiment, Deputy Lieutenant for County of Staffordshire.
Brian Fenwick-Smith 1943-1954, Entrepreneur and School benefactor.
Mark Fisher 1958-1965, has an international reputation for creating spectacular live entertainment. He has designed some of the most memorable rock concerts, including for Pink Floyd and every Rolling Stones show for twenty years. He was Chief Designer for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.
David Fleeman 1943-1951, Oxford don and the leading authority on Samuel Johnson. His publications were numerous and culminated in his thousand page bibliography, charting Johnson’s career, reputation and literary output. He died in 1994.
Robert Horner 1947-1955, President of the Rugby Football Union 2003/2004, presiding over England’s historic World Cup win.
Malcolm Hutchinson CB 1946-1953, Major General, responsible for defence equipment procurement 1958-90. MD of London Dockland Light Railway 1990-94. Chairman of UK Atomic Weapons Establishment 2001-05.Runs Consultancy company doing procurement reviews for the Government, including for 2012 Olympics.
Kyffin, Prof. Steven, 1970-1977, Director of Design Research at Philips in the Netherlands. Won UN Innovation Design Award 2008. Appointed Dean of School of Design at Northumbria University.
Ted Maidment 1951-1961, Headmaster of Shrewsbury School 1988-2001.
Lord Moran MC 1895-1899. Born Charles McMoran Wilson. Dean of St.Mary’s Hospital Medical School 1920-45. He was knighted in 1942 and created Lord Moran in 1943. Personal physician to Sir Winston Churchill, author of “The Anatomy of Courage” and “Churchill: The struggle for survival”, his personal accounts of looking after Sir Winston. He died in 1977.
Eillie Norwood 1875-1879, Actor. Born Anthony Edward Brett in York, he took his stage name from a girl friend. His stage debut was in “Romeo & Juliet” in 1884, but it was his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes for the cinema that made him a household name. He played the detective in 47 films, Conan Doyle himself admired Eillie’s portrayal, saying:”his wonderful impersonation of Holmes has amazed me.” He also produced over 2000 crosswords for the Daily Express. He died on Christmas Eve 1948.
Xavier Pick 1982-1990, Artist. Studied at Glasgow School of Art and the RCA. Widely acclaimed for visual story telling through his art, he draws thousands of sketches to produce multi-media art works that tell a story, whether it be the Iraq war or London life. In 2008 he was chosen to be an official war artist.
Sir Charles Reece 1938-1942, formerly Research & Technology Director ICI & Chairman of committee for European Dev. of science & technology.
Sir Stephen Robson CB 1955-1962, one time Permanent Secretary HM Treasury and non-executive Director, RBS. Director Cazenove Group Plc & Xstrata Plc.
Sir Percy Simner KCB, DSO, DL, TD 1892-1897, held the post of Queen’s Remembrancer 1947-57 – the most senior and ancient judicial position in the UK legal system. He was also a founder member of the OP Association in 1897.
Robin Skelton 1937-1943, Poet and Literary scholar. Author of more than 100 books of criticism, biography, novels and poetry.
Frank Smailes 1924-1927, Yorkshire and England cricketer. Took all ten wickets v. Derbyshire in 1939.
Martin St.Quinton 1965-1975, Telecommunications entrepreneur (Danka plc and then founder of Azzurri Communications). Became a Director of Gloucester RUFC in 2008.
Sir Tom Stoppard OM CBE 1950-1954, Playwright. His play “Henry 1V” was in London, summer 2004. Films include “Shakespeare in love” and “The Enigma Files.” His play, “Rock ‘n’ Roll” opened in London in 2006. His portrait, presented to School by Peter Stoppard (49-53), hangs in the senior School Reception entrance.
Peter Walker CB CBE 1959-1968, Air Marshall, is Director-Joint Warfare Centre-NATO.
William Wilberforce 1771-1776, Slave emancipator and Statesman. A statue of a freed slave sculpted by OP Peter Tatham (1983-1993) is in St.Nicholas Quadrangle and one of Wilberforce as a pupil is in Wilberforce Court and was recently unveiled by the Archbishop of York.
Sir Dawson Williams CBE, MD, Hon.LL.D, D.Litt.,DSc., FRCP, 1867-1872, after several years as a consulting physician took up medical journalism on the BMJ, eventually becoming its longest serving editor. The magazine’s scientific standing became much enhanced under his influence of campaigning journalism. His death in 1928 was marked by a leading article in The Times.