OLD GUILDFORDIANS
News
In year order
Barry Ninham (St 1945-1952) was awarded
an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for
distinguished service to physical sciences
through landmark theoretical and practical
advances in colloids and surfaces, and as an
academic, educator and mentor.
Michael Steele (St/He 1946-1953) travelled
from the United Kingdom to Perth in October
2014. While he was in Perth, he and Alexander
‘Jim’ Magnus (SG 1944-1954) visited the
School for a nostalgic tour of the grounds and
a visit to the archives, followed by morning tea
and some time spent in the museum.
Gilbert “Gil” James (SG 1954-1955) sadly died
on 21 July 2013. Gil had the privilege of only
spending two years at Guildford, but he always
maintained that his education gave him a solid
grounding for his future. He gave many hours
of voluntary work, both in sport and business,
to the Hyden and Karlgarin communities, and
he could draw on the confidence learnt at
the School. Farming was his life and he, as a
pioneer, built up a legacy of which his wife,
Ann, and family are proud to continue into the
future. Gil went to Guildford along with his
brothers Francis ‘Frank’ James (SG 19531955), Barry James (Sc 1958-1959), Lindsay
James (SG 1966-1968) and Murray James
(SG 1968-1970). His son Christopher James
(Raynor) (SG 1987-1990) also attend the School.
Gil’s nephews Stephen James (SG 1980-1984)
and Jeremy James (SG 1984-1987) have
decided to educate their sons at Guildford and
continue the family tradition started by Gil’s
father Stephano James (Boarder 1917-1918).
While Gil was satisfied to know the family
tradition has been continued, he was also very
proud of his grandsons receiving an education
at Wesley.
Old Guildfordian
Memorabilia
Alan ‘Jughead’ Rossiter (Sc 1960-1963)
recalls a time in 1961 when he had a nosebleed outside the School House recreation
room. There was a toilet nearby so Alan went
inside to use one of the hand washing basins
to try and stop the bleeding. He was not having
much success, but then Francis ‘Paul’ Magnus
(St/Sc 57-62) walked in. Paul asked Alan if
he was okay and as Alan looked up from the
wash basin to respond, he saw a look of real
compassion on Paul’s face. Paul then handed
Alan a freshly laundered handkerchief (probably
with “P.M.” embroidered on it) and instructed
Alan in the best way to staunch the flow.
Then Paul, as he left, asked Alan to drop the
handkerchief in the laundry basket, which Alan
duly did. The whole event lasted minutes, and
although it took place 53 years ago, and Paul
will have likely forgotten it, that one kind act
has stayed in Alan’s mind ever since. Years later,
when Alan saw Paul on television as ‘Doctor
Magnus’, it seemed a natural progression for
Paul. For coming to his aid all those years ago,
Alan says, “thank you Paul Magnus”! Some
other outstanding people come to mind that
Alan says he had the pleasure of knowing
Reverend William ‘Harry’ Hyde (Staff
1954-1962), the circumstances of whose tragic
passing still reminds Alan of the man he was – a
Christian. The second on the list of gentlemen
masters is Mr Lindsay Hillbrick (Staff 19621966), who never gave up on Alan as far as
academic studies were concerned. Likewise Mr
Richard Honter (Staff 1957-1973) who offered
Alan many words of encouragement. If those
men weren’t enough to show Alan how decent
people can be, he has many tender memories
of Mr Ronald Flett (Staff 1960-1961), one
of his housemasters, who still remains in his
memory as one of the most caring men he
has ever known, at Guildford and beyond. In
closing, Alan wishes to pass on his fond regards
to some of his mates, they are Arnold ‘Stick’
Green (Sc 1955-1963), Alan ‘Frog’ Riley
(Sc/Wb 1961-1965), Angus Richardson (Sc
1960-1962), Andrew ‘Andy’ Waylen (St/Wb
1962-1964) and Raymond ‘Ray’ Shenton (Sc
1959-1962). He sends his apologies to any that
he has missed naming. Alan couldn’t make the
50 Plus Reunion Day, but he hopes everyone
had a happy reunion.
George Cheng Yeoh (Ha 1961-1964) has
been selected as the 2014 Old Guildfordian
of the Year. See the article on George in this
publication.
Robin Long (SG 62-67) having spent most
of his life since leaving the School working
in banking, finance and commerce in Perth,
Melbourne, Sydney and Asia, he has now
retired to a 5 acre property in Bridgetown where
he was born.
Geoffrey Davis (Ha 1962-1968), at the Annual
General meeting on 15 October 2014, was
elected as an Honorary Life Member of The Old
Guildfordians Association for his exceptional
service to the Association and the School. See
the article on Geoff in this publication.
Carl Vine (Wb 1967-1971) was awarded
an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for
distinguished service to the performing arts as
a composer, conductor, academic and artistic
director, and to the support and mentoring of
emerging performers.
Edward ‘Michael’ Doncaster (Ha 19711977) is a Lieutenant Commander in the
Royal Australian Navy. He assumed his current
appointment, as Executive Officer of the Darwin
shore establishment HMAS Coonawarra, on
8 July 2013. After service of more than 30
years in Navy, Michael was honoured in the
2010 Queen’s Birthday List and awarded a
Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM).
Ashley ‘Graham’ Castledine (St 1977-1981)
is a lawyer, mediator and principal in his own
firm called “Castledine Gregory, Law and
Mediation”. He is married with 2 children.
Old Guildfordian memorabilia can be now be purchased online. To view all the items
available go to www.oldguildfordians.com.au/#h_Memorabilia otherwise you
can contact David Williams on [email protected] or (+61 8) 9377 8522. Postage and
packaging fees are applicable for all mail orders. (items marked * available to members only)
$25 hardcover
$20 softcover
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