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The Association regrets to announce the passing on December 13th 2023 of Alan Townend.  Alan attended the School from 1947 to 1954.

The Association is saddened to hear only recently of the passing of Professor John Salter, FRSA FRHistS FRGS on October 1st 2023, at the age of 91.  John was a pupil at Queen Elizabeth’s from 1941 to 1959.

The Association is sad to announce the passing last year of David Lundie, of which we have only just been made aware.  David was a pupil at the school from 1951 to 1957.

The Association is sad to announce the passing of Bruce MacEacharn on December 11th at the age of 91.  Bruce was a local lad whose house backed on to the playing field and attended Queen Elizabeth’s from 1941 to 1950.

The Association is sad to announce that Steve Rogers passed away on November 26th.  Steve was a pupil at the school from 1958 to 1966.

The Association has only recently become aware of the passing of Michael Cheek on January 21st this year.  Michael was a pupil at the School from 1954 to 1960.

The Association regrets to announce the passing of Noel Davies MBE, RAF Flt Lt (ret’d) on May 24th at the age of 95.  Noel worked for IBM for more than 20 years and was the Treasurer of RAF 68 Squadron Association.

The Association is sad to have to report the passing of Bob Paget on June 20th following a long battle with serious illness.  Bob was a great friend of the Old Elizabethans, in particular an enthusiastic supporter of the 200 Club and until recently never failed to attend Founders’ Day.  He was a great character whose presence will be sorely missed.

Building on excellence: “Highly impressive” GCSE results continue QE’s ever-upward path

Huge success at the top GCSE grades have made 2023 another vintage year for QE as it celebrates its 450th anniversary.

With no GCSE examinations taken in 2020 and 2021, and last year’s results adjusted because of the pandemic, all eyes were on this year’s Year 11 to see how they would compare with the 2019 cohort.

They did not disappoint: no fewer than 1,556 of the examinations taken at QE this year were awarded grades 9 or 8 – equivalent to the old A* – a 3.5% increase on 2019. The increase took this measure to 82.9% of all results, comfortably breaking through the 80% threshold. For grade 9 alone, there was a 3.1% increase, and for grades 9–7 (previously A* and A), the increase was 2.5%.­­

Results from all departments were strong, with especially shining performances in Mathematics – where 84% of the 190 students gained a grade 9 (with no results lower than a 7) – and the sciences, with 86% of those taking individual Biology and Physics securing 9s, and 79% for Chemistry.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “My heartfelt congratulations go to the boys for a highly impressive set of results: like our A-level candidates last week, they have done us proud in our 450th anniversary year.

“GCSE results in recent years have been very strong here, so they had a lot to live up to, but thanks to their hard work and to the dedication and detailed approach of their teachers, they have not only held their own, but have made incremental improvements on the record of their predecessors.

“This consistency of excellence sets our Year 11 pupils up well for Sixth Form studies and for exciting future opportunities at university and in their careers.”

Figures in this article were updated following the outcome of re-marks in early October 2023.

The Association has just recently been advised of the sad passing of John Lewis (OE 1944-1953) on April 1st at the age of 88.  John played rugby for the OEs and later became a referee, which will no doubt feature in the tribute to be published in the next edition of the Elizabethan.