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One of the UK’s best-known PR men, Lord Bell (OE 1953-1959), still remembers his School days with affection.

Baron Bell of Belgravia , who is Chairman of Bell Pottinger public relations, has worked with some of the greatest names of modern politics, business and media.

He won particular renown as Margaret Thatcher’s PR adviser and is famous for the successful general election campaigns he developed for the Conservative Party in 1979, 1983 and 1987, each of which put Margaret Thatcher into Downing Street. In many senses, he was the original ‘spin doctor’ and his Labour Isn’t Working poster in 1979 has earned its place in UK political history.

Born in 1941 in wartime Britain into a middle-class family living in Southgate, he grew up with his mother and sisters after his father walked out when he was only five. He passed the 11-plus examination at Osidge Junior School and won a place at QE. In his memoir, Tim Bell, Right or Wrong, published in 2014, he remembers his time with fondness: “It was a traditional, well-run and disciplined place, but I enjoyed it: there was camaraderie, it was good fun, and I don’t have any tales about being bullied or riddled with angst.”

He was good at cricket and adds: “I could play rugby to a decent standard, and was in the School’s First XV – but wasn’t really interested.”

Music, and particularly modern jazz, was a greater love – and for a brief spell he made a living of sorts as a professional trumpeter. He is, however, characteristically honest about his motivation: “I didn’t want to be …cannon fodder. I wanted success – although I wasn’t yet sure what ‘success’ meant, and possibly I’m still not. But I did, even then, measure it by visibility and success. That, I suppose, was a presage of my subsequent career.”

In fact, many facets of his later life emerged during his years at QE. “My early taste of leadership was in running the smokers’ club behind the sheds”. He remains, famously, a keen smoker to this day. “I wasn’t an outright rebel as such, but, for example, the school uniform rules annoyed me (as I liked quite flashy clothes, and I was the first person I knew to get an Italian suit) so I would try to get round them. And I hated to be told by the teachers that they disapproved of my hairstyle…Yet I respect rank and title and order and authority, and I respect wisdom and experience. And I see no inconsistency in holding these two positions, because I’m not anti-establishment so much as anti-authoritarian. Maybe that’s not surprising, being the child of an Australian mother and Northern Irish father.”

Several significant figures in the School’s history stick in his memory. Of the Headmaster, Ernest Jenkins, he remembers especially his hatred of anything modern, including television and cinema. “He would openly criticise all parents for their awful, useless, idle boys. Can you imagine a teacher doing that now?”

PE teacher Eric Shearly “always seemed to like the boys who were not only good at sport but also the most noisy and obnoxious”. As both pupil and teacher, Eric Shearly (1920-2005) devoted 76 years of his life to QE: the modern Shearly Hall is named in his honour.

But his warmest sentiments are reserved for his Latin teacher, John Finnett. “I admired [him] because he was such an unusual man. He actually spoke in Latin. He was a very sensitive, modern, switched-on guy who understood adolescent boys, and if you had a problem, you went to see him and he would talk to you in proper human-being language. But then he’d revert back to speaking Latin for most normal occasions.” John Finnett died in 1971, aged just 43.

Given the family’s straitened financial circumstances, university was not an option for Tim – a fact which never bothered him. “I don’t think anybody sat me in a room and told me, but I just understood that I’d had a good grammar-school education, and now the moment had come to go out and get a job.” (And when he turned 18, his mother made it clear that, regardless of his earnings from music up to that point, this should be a ‘proper’ job.)

So he joined ABC Television as a ‘chart boy’, putting labels on a board to say who had booked each commercial. “I was the lowest of the low, but I didn’t care, because I felt that I was at the centre of a vibrant new world, and had no doubts at all that I was on the road to somewhere modern, glamorous and exciting.”

He later thrived in the burgeoning West End advertising industry and in 1970 became a co-founder of the Saatchi & Saatchi agency.

His career eventually took him to the corridors of power and the world of international big business. In his book, as the dust cover puts it, “Bell applies his acerbic wit and resolutely right-wing sensibility” to his dealings with Ronald Reagan, F W de Klerk, the Saatchi brothers and his late friend, David Frost, and to key political events such as the miners’ strike, the Cold War, the poll tax riots and the end of Apartheid.

Tim was knighted in 1990 after nomination by Margaret Thatcher and made a Life Peer after nomination by Tony Blair in 1998.

He remained close to Baroness Thatcher after she left office. When she died in April 2013, it was he who made the official announcement.

The visit of the US Ambassador, Matthew Barzun, to Queen Elizabeth’s School on the first day of term ensured that we enjoyed a truly memorable start to 2015. His talk proved both informative and thought-provoking in equal part.

Mr Barzun’s visit [pictured] was followed by the publication of the Government’s league tables of school performance, which placed QE in first position nationally among both state and independent schools for its GCSE results. The School also ranked among the very best performers across the country at A-level. Whilst individual journalists selected different measures to interpret the data, the overall picture was clear: QE was among the very highest performers nationally at both Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5.

Even within this context of strong academic results across the board, there are, of course, pupils who excel and shine among their peers. Our recent Senior Awards ceremony purposely rewards such boys, but as a School we do not focus narrowly on examination results, nor even solely on performance within academic subject disciplines: the prizes bestowed on boys during Senior Awards encompass areas such as chess, public-speaking and commitment & service, to name just three. In my speech, I highlighted a famous quotation attributed to Hillel the Elder, a Jewish religious leader born around 110 BC: “If not me, who? If not now, when?” His was a life characterised by gentleness, patience and service. Voluntary service is very much a part of the fabric of our School community. A very large proportion of Year 11 now sign up each year to The Challenge, part of the National Citizen Service, which runs a programme during the summer holidays. Social action is an important component. Our thriving Combined Cadet Force constitutes another activity in which boys devote themselves to a cause greater than themselves. I am always impressed and gratified that so many of our parents set their sons an example by selflessly giving their own time to the Friends of Queen Elizabeth’s. I know that FQE’s preparations are now in full swing for the Founder’s Day Fete on Saturday 20th June, to which Old Elizabethans are, of course, cordially invited.

An illustrious visitor this term was Professor Sir Nigel Thrift, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Warwick, who was our Guest of Honour at Senior Awards. His university is second only to Cambridge as a destination for our Year 13 leavers. I was therefore particularly interested to read the findings of a recent commission led by Warwick examining the value of culture in society. The commission called for evidence of ‘excellent cultural and creative education’ to be made a prerequisite for an ‘outstanding’ rating from an Ofsted inspection. Such a requirement would, I believe, hold no fears for QE. I greatly enjoyed this year’s major drama production, Oliver Twist, and music performances including the Food, Glorious Food! concert – evidence aplenty, I suggest, of excellence in the creative sphere.

Moreover, the growing prominence of our old boys in the arts suggests that our efforts to inculcate creativity and original thinking are bearing fruit well beyond our pupils’ School years. Poet and performer Anthony Anaxagorou (OE 1994-1999) featured in the last Alumni News, while in this issue, we report on the remarkable success currently being enjoyed by his fellow poet, George Mpanga (2002-2009).

Also in the previous Alumni News, we appealed to Old Elizabethans to donate books to the new Queen’s Library through Amazon’s ‘wishlists’ facility. I am pleased to report that this proved successful, with books worth some £1,500 donated in the space of a few weeks across a range of subjects. I am most grateful for the generosity of so many of our former pupils.

My best wishes to all old boys of the School and their families for a pleasant Easter break.

Neil Enright

Distinguished international surgeon Kamran Baig returned to QE to give a speech at the Sixth Form Luncheon – and explained that it was his way of saying ‘thank you’.

Kamran (OE 1984–1991) has performed more than 2,000 heart operations, published 30 papers and delivered numerous international presentations, as well as lecturing at some of the world’s leading medical schools.

Yet, as he explained when he wrote to the School after the event, it had long been an ambition of his to return to QE – an ambition that had previously been thwarted only by his busy work schedule. “As I alluded to in my talk, gratitude is an essential quality and this was my way of expressing gratitude to QE for providing me with a platform on which to go on to greater heights.”

“It was an absolute pleasure and privilege to come back and share my experiences and reflections with the boys and staff.”

Now a consultant cardiac surgeon at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, Kamran lives in Barnet with his wife and four children.

Kamran’s speech covered many areas, but one of his observations was that he has learnt the importance of family and that he recognises the debt he owes this country for educating him and enabling him to qualify. As a result, he has turned down a number of opportunities including some very well-paid jobs in the US.

Around 150 Year 12 boys and staff attended the luncheon, during which he gave an entertaining and inspiring speech about his career.

When Kamran was at QE, the School was a very different place, with few boys progressing to degree-level disciplines such as medicine. He was a cross-country champion, representing Barnet in the All London Championships, and was Chess Captain, as well as representing the School at cricket.

After leaving QE, he obtained a first in Cardiovascular Science at King’s College London. He also excelled in cricket – his passion – captaining the King’s Cricket team.

After qualifying in 1997, he began his medical career as House Physician at Northwick Park Hospital, followed by the Professorial House Surgeon post at King’s College Hospital. After trying his hand at neurosurgery in Cambridge, he opted instead for cardiothoracic surgery in Southampton. He completed his Basic Surgical Training at University College & The Middlesex Hospitals and was awarded his Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons in 2000 (when he became Mr Baig again, instead of Dr Baig).

He then embarked upon a research scholarship at the leading surgical research institution in the United States, Duke University in North Carolina. He won the Bayer Fellowship Prize in 2002 – one of only two awarded in the United States – and was the first British recipient. He conducted pioneering basic science and translational research on cardiac surgery, which formed the basis of his Doctorate of Medicine, awarded by Imperial College London. He completed his higher surgical training across London at King’s, Royal Brompton & Harefield, Barts and Hammersmith Hospitals.

He has lectured and tutored students at the following medical schools: Oxford & Cambridge, Duke, Imperial, UCL & Bart’s and King’s.

In 2010 he co-founded the London Core Review Course in Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons London, attended by surgeons from around the globe. His latest initiative is a bespoke course for mentoring students for medical school applications and interviews.

After his visit, he offered to help boys individually who are seeking advice and to return to talk to the boys in the future on science and medicine-related topics.

Five QE old boys have teamed up to run the Paris Marathon for charity next month – the first time any of them have competed at such a distance.

Adeel Haque, Alister Heywood, Simon Nikolov, Jake Sittampalam and Jonathan Bradshaw, who were all at QE from 2005–2012, hope to raise £4,000 for The Children’s Trust, the UK’s leading charity for children with brain injury.

“As keen sportsmen who continued to remain active and play sport after leaving QE, we decided in September last year that we might like to complete a marathon at some point, despite our collective shortage of long-distance running history,” said Adeel.  “We were inspired by The Children’s Trust, a cause close to Simon’s heart in particular.” After an exchange of emails, the aspiration very quickly became a reality, with the charity offering the QE contingent, plus another friend, Parisian Clément Chenut, six places in the marathon on Sunday 12th April.

“Training has been hard through the winter months but is going pretty well and we are all quietly confident of finishing in at least respectable times. However, there does remain some trepidation for all of us as this is the first-ever marathon that any of us have attempted,” adds Adeel. Jonathan, Jake and Adeel went on a pre-season tour with the University of Warwick Men’s Cricket Club in Barbados and so were able to continue their training in warmer climates.

“Having known each other for almost ten years now (since September 2005 when we joined QE), our friendship goes back a long way. Simon, Alister, Jonny and I became friends whilst playing rugby together for the School, and Jake, Jonny and I all represented the School at cricket. We were, of course, also in many of the same classes together.”

“Despite the challenge ahead of us, we remain motivated by knowing that we are raising money for an excellent cause. We hope to reach our £4,000 fundraising target before long and so any donations from fellow QE alumni would be greatly appreciated!”

The group’s fundraising page is http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/QEParisMarathon

Adeel also provided an update on each of the QE runners. All are in their final year at university, with four of them at the University of Warwick and the fifth, Alister Heywood, at York.

• Adeel Haque and Simon Nikolov are both studying History. Adeel is due to commence his training contract with multinational law firm Baker & McKenzie in September 2017 after the completion of legal qualification courses at the University of Law, Moorgate. Simon aspires to become a commercial lawyer upon completion of his degree.
• Alister Heywood and Jake Sittampalam are both reading English Literature. Alister plans to go into marketing/PR.
• Jonathan Bradshaw is an Economics undergraduate and upon the completion of his degree, he will take up a position with FTI Consulting.

Pictured left to right are four of the group: Alister, Jake, Adeel and Jonathan.

2015 is fast becoming an annus mirabilis for George Mpanga, or George the Poet, as he is now better known. Already a favourite on youtube, George has soared to new heights in his career in the past three months.

His politically and socially motivated work earned him a runner-up spot in the 2015 Brits Critics’ Choice Award. Soon after, George (OE 2002-2009) came fifth in the prestigious and influential BBC Sound of 2015 competition and tenth in MTV’s Brand New for 2015 competition. In each competition, he was competing as a poet against a field that comprised largely musicians: previous winners of the Brits Critics and the BBC awards include Adele and Sam Smith.

His first poetry collection, Search Party, was published in February. George appeared at the Penguin Random House 2015 conference and discussed the book on BBC Radio 2.

His first headline tour, to venues from Glasgow to Brighton, completely sold out, so he has added an extra date, at the London Scala venue at King’s Cross on 14th April.

He was invited on to BBC Radio 4’s Broadcasting House programme to discuss the day’s news and has also featured in several broadsheet newspapers since the start of the year.

George’s video for the Prince’s Trust highlighting the emotional problems faced by young people has been published. The video features his poem, Only One You, which was written in response to the Prince’s Trust 2015 Youth Index, which found that one in every ten youths felt so anxious that they were unable to leave the house and more than half worried about everyday situations.

And in February he featured in a BBC Radio 1 documentary. He hit the headlines after calling people who joke about autism “ignorant” in the radio programme. George’s own brother, Kenny, was diagnosed with autism at the age of seven. “It’s not something that should be cured or fixed. It’s a point of difference which should be appreciated and understood. The rest of my brothers and I had to realise that the way we tease each other might not be fair for Kenny,” he added.

After gaining A grades in English Literature, Sociology and Politics A-levels, George won a place at King’s College, Cambridge, to read Politics, Psychology and Sociology (PPS). He was elected Chair of King’s College Student Union.

His early career high spots included winning a £16,000 prize from The Stake competition, sponsored by Barclays and Channel Four. The prize funded a series of poetry workshops called The Jubilee Line (TJL) aimed at empowering underprivileged young people.

George’s work is forceful and uncompromising, turning a spotlight unflinchingly on a society which he sees as intrinsically unjust and tackling issues including marginalisation and dysfunctional family life.

MTV’s head of music, Anna Karatziva, who voted for George in the Sound Of 2015, called him “engaging and mesmerising”.

“No matter what he is talking about, you find yourself clinging to his every word and the venue always erupts when he breaks into song.”

George previously performed as MC Shawalin, before deciding to focus on the spoken word.

Only four years after graduating from Oxford, Andrew Kramer has already put his desire to help young people develop their skills into practice in three different countries.

He has developed an e-learning app, taught in China and, in his current role with global business consultancy McKinsey & Company, has worked with clients focusing on education and young people.

Andrew (OE 2001-2008) got in touch with QE after being impressed at the calibre of current QE Year 13 pupil Bilal Hussain, whom he met at the McKinsey Leadership Academy.

He wrote to the Headmaster: “I was thrilled not only to hear about how QE continues to thrive, but also because of a wonderful conversation I had with Bilal about what leadership means.” He and Bilal compared notes on their respective ambitions for the future. The academy involves a two-day residential workshop for sixth-formers, followed by another residential the following year and the opportunity to enter a competition for a leadership award.

After leaving QE, Andrew read History at Jesus College, Oxford, from 2008 to 2011. He then spent ten months teaching and lecturing English Language and British and American literature at Hengshui University, Hebei, northern China.

In 2013, he worked at a technology start-up in Berlin to develop Unlock Your Brain, an e-learning app for Android phones.

Later that year, he joined McKinsey in London as a consultant. “I have served a real mix of private, public and social sector clients. I have tended to focus on clients in the City, in Whitehall, or those with a focus on education and young people, reflecting my interest in building young people’s skills.”

Andrew, who has offered to visit the School to speak to current pupils, is currently on an assignment in Trinidad & Tobago, working with a client in oil and gas, and “exploring the beauty of the Caribbean”.

QE contemporaries Joseph Masters and Priyank Patel have amassed a remarkable collection of accolades during their medical studies.

The pair, who were both at the School from 2004 until 2011, have won no fewer than eight awards and scholarships between them, with a record of success that began as early as their very first term.

Joseph and Priyank are at ‘Barts and The London’ (The London School of Medicine and Dentistry), which is the medical school faculty at Queen Mary University of London.

Priyank has passed all three years of his medicine course so far with distinction, which means he is in the top 10% of students in the year. He is intercalating this year in Medical Education, having completed the third year of the medicine course last year, which was his first clinical year. (UK medical students are permitted to intercalate, that is take a break from studying from their main medical degree, in order to pursue a separate but related research degree, normally for one year).

“This year, as part of my Medical Education BSc, I am undertaking a research project evaluating the current patterns and practices of educational supervision in postgraduate medical education in England,” he says.

Joseph intercalated in Neuroscience last year, gaining his BSc, and has now started his first year of clinical medicine. “I am thoroughly enjoying the clinical placements and the more practical side of things, which gives me the opportunity to apply the knowledge built in the first two years of the course,” he said. “I’m looking to pursue a career in academic neurology, combining research with clinical practice.”

After their first-term examinations, both OEs secured recently established scholarships that are awarded according to a combination of merit and financial need – specifically, for the top two medical students whose household income was less than a certain level. They are worth £3,500 for each of the five years of the course, subject to the holders’ satisfactory progress each year.

Joseph won The John Abernethy Scholarship, which commemorates the founder of the Barts Medical College, who lived between 1764 and 1831. Priyank gained The Dean Rees Scholarship, which is named after Dame Lesley Rees, the emeritus Professor of Chemical Endocrinology and Consultant Physician and the first female Dean of the Medical College of St Bartholomew’s Hospital, who led the College to its merger as part of Queen Mary University of London in 1995.

The pair also won merit-based awards from a City of London livery company, The Worshipful Company of Tallow Chandlers, to support their year intercalating.

In addition, Priyank has gained these awards, based on his academic performance over the past three years:

• James Knott Family Trust, Intercalated Award.
• Barts and The London Alumni Association Intercalated Award.

And Joseph has won the following:

• Association of British Neurologists’ Intercalated Degree Award – which is awarded to just two medical students nationally.
• A merit-based award from the Eleanor Rathbone Charitable Trust, again for his year intercalating.

Antony Pink has realised a long-standing ambition to become an entrepreneur with the launch of his own mobile start-up company, Laundrapp.

Antony (OE 2000–2007) was a keen rugby-player at School and was then known as Kishan, having subsequently begun using his middle name, Antony, instead.

Since leaving QE to study Business Management at Nottingham University, a fascination with business has been a constant theme of his life. While at Nottingham, he was involved in business start-up societies and says it was already in his mind that he would one day like to launch a business of his own.

After university, Antony joined multinational management consultancy Accenture as a strategy consultant, where he worked in financial services.

Nearly four years later, he took the decision to leave a secure job and instead start Laundrapp with two business partners. They have raised £1.5million of seed funding from well-known investors Rupert Hambro (former Chairman of Hambros Bank) and Dominic Perks.

Laundrapp offers customers a door-to-door laundry and dry-cleaning collection and delivery service. It is currently operating in London and moving into five other UK cities.

“The business has only been trading for five months, but is already doing well and is the market leader in its field,” says Antony, who is Laundrapp’s Chief Operating Officer. One of Laundrapp’s strategies has been to advertise heavily and to invest in PR. A six-figure marketing investment has resulted in TV and radio commercials, online and outdoor advertising, posters on the Underground (in stations and in trains). Features in the Daily Telegraph, Guardian and Daily Mail, as well as articles in the specialist business and technology press, have also formed part of the marketing mix.

Laundrapp is available on iOS (iPhone/iPad) and Android.

Matteo Yoon (OE 2003-10) sent Alumni News this photo of a recent meal which brought together a number of Old Elizabethans all studying at Cambridge.

Organised by Yemi Ogunyemi and Bilal Khan, the meal was held at Bilal’s college, Sidney Sussex. All of those pictured were at QE in broadly the same period as Matteo.

Since the meal a few months ago, Matteo, School Captain in 2009-10, has spent time travelling in Australia. Having graduated in Law from Pembroke, he has now started the post-graduate Legal Practice Course at BPP Law School, through which he will qualify as a solicitor. Matteo is due to return to QE in July this year to be the guest speaker at the Junior Awards Ceremony.

Also among those pictured are:

• Adam Kuo, the son of current QE Chemistry teacher Dr Elizabeth Kuo, who, Matteo reports, is completing his Master’s degree at Christ’s College
• Pawan Katta, who is on the Assurance Graduate Scheme at professional services firm PwC and is working towards becoming a chartered accountant
• Nicholas Niem, who is currently Publicity Officer for the Association of British and Chinese University Students (ABACUS).

From left to right, the diners are: Adam Kuo (Christ’s – Natural Sciences); Sagar Thanki (Selwyn – Economics); Pawan Katta (Trinity – Economics); Alastair Macfarlane (Fitzwilliam –Natural Sciences);  Charlie Scutt (Girton – Geography); Rowan de Souza (Clare – Medicine); Nicholas Niem (Homerton – Engineering); Eigo Takeda (St John’s – Mathematics); Yemi Ogunyemi (Pembroke – Engineering ); Bilal Khan (Sidney Sussex – Theology and Religious Studies) and Matteo Yoon (Pembroke – Law).

Daniel Isenberg (OE 1999-2006), who has won a string of law prizes and academic scholarships, is now working towards becoming a barrister after a brief spell as a civil servant.

These include first place in a competition run jointly by the Guardian and the influential UK Supreme Court Blog for his essay entitled Do we need more or fewer dissenting voices in the UK Supreme Court?

“So far, so good with the career change (perhaps chiefly because I’m yet to start properly!) – and it’s always reassuring bumping into another OE around the Inns of Court,” he says. These legal alumni include Daniel’s QE contemporary, Peter Morcos, as well as barrister Tom Cleaver.

While at QE, Daniel achieved 12 straight A* grades at GCSE (including being in the top five in the country for German and in the top ten for History and Mathematics) and then earned a distinction in his English Advanced Extension Award before going on to gain straight As in his A-levels.

Daniel’s legal interest was stimulated during his 2006-2007 gap year, when he studied Jewish Law at the Yeshivat Har Etzion, a seminary in Israel.

He went up to Pembroke College in 2007, where he took a double first in History, focusing on the history of political thought. He gained a number of accolades at Cambridge, including being elected as a Scholar. (He was twice awarded a Foundation Scholarship.)

Daniel then spent two years as a fast-stream graduate Civil Servant at the Ministry of Defence, before deciding to switch careers to go into Law.

He excelled at City University London, coming first in his year studying for the Graduate Diploma in Law, then going on to the Bar Professional Training Course, also at City. During this period, he has again stood out among his peers: his prizes and awards include the City Law School Prize for Excellence (Highest Mark for an Intending Barrister) and the City GDL Mooting Competition, in which he beat 100 other entrants in the mock judicial proceedings, with the final judged by Lord Mance, a justice of the Supreme Court.

Currently a member and scholar of Middle Temple (Inn of Court), after some further post-graduate academic legal studies, he will be starting his pupillage in September 2015 at Brick Court Chambers, which specialises in commercial, EU/competition and public/human rights law.