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An Interview with the Rt. Hon. Sir Christopher Chataway by Angus Cater (c 70)

Christopher Chataway has led an extraordinary life. He will be known to many Old Shirburnians as the world record breaking runner who helped Sir Roger Bannister to break the 4 minute mile barrier in 1954 but he was also a successful broadcaster, politician, businessman and charity leader. He was Captain of Boxing and in the … Read more

Childhood Leukaemia Charity in Italy, Martin Pugsley (m 89)

I have set up a charity in Italy called Comitato Fiori di Lavanda Onlus to raise funds for research into childhood leukaemia.  I attach a recent article that appeared in the British Chamber of Commerce for Italy review which sets out details of what the charity does.  Further details are also available online at www.comitatolavanda.com.  HM Ambassador to Italy, Christopher Prentice CMG, is the charity’s patron. 

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What’s Your Life Like.com

WHAT’S YOUR LIFE LIKE.COM Pilgrim Jimmy Adams is part of a small band to feature on a new social blogging network set up by another Pilgrim Nick Southwell.  www.whatsyourlifelike.com has been set up as a currently exclusive platform to allow people to blog through video, text and pictures about what their life is like in their … Read more

Eleventh Hour Rescue of Turing Collection

Alan Turing (h 1931)

Public support and National Heritage Memorial Fund secure precious collection for new home in Bletchley Park

Almost nothing tangible remains of genius Bletchley Park codebreaker, Alan Turing; so when an extremely rare collection of offprints* relating to his life and work was set to go to auction last year, an ambitious campaign was launched to raise funds to purchase them for the Bletchley Park Trust and its Museum.  The Trust is today delighted to announce that the collection has been saved for the nation as the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) has stepped in quickly to provide £213,437, the final piece of funding required. 

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John le Carré to gift his entire literary archive to the Bodleian Library

John le Carré, one of the world’s most celebrated authors, has offered his literary archive to Oxford’s Bodleian Library with the intention that it should become its permanent home.

Le Carré said, ‘I am delighted to be able to do this. Oxford was Smiley’s spiritual home, as it is mine. And while I have the greatest respect for American universities, the Bodleian is where I shall most happily rest.’   

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The Carmen and its History

The School sings The Carmen in Latin at Lists at the end of each term. Some decide to commit it to memory, others may be consoled by the fact that it is printed in the Blue Book.