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Harry Peto (OE 2005-2012) has been elected President of the undergraduate student body at his Cambridge college.

Harry, who is reading Politics, Psychology and Sociology at Clare College, is juggling his studies alongside his responsibilities as President of the Union of Clare Students (UCS), the equivalent of other colleges’ Junior Common Room.

“Being President is a very varied and dynamic job,” said Harry. “My regular responsibilities include chairing meetings of the UCS Committee, which is great fun, and liaising regularly with college officers to make sure everything they do is as much in accordance as possible with students’ interests, as well as discussing any ideas of mine that might help to improve the lives of students at Clare.”

Harry is just entering his second year at Clare, where he will be specialising in Politics and International Relations. In addition to representing the interests of Clare College at the university-wide students’ union meetings, he has also discovered a host of less formal duties.

“At the moment I am working hard to organise Freshers’ Week. Basically I’m responsible for making sure they have a pleasant transition into university life.”

He is uncertain as to what the future holds once he graduates. “I have my eye on potential postgraduate opportunities abroad, as well as TeachFirst and a career in journalism or something politics-related!”

Award-winning academic and Old Elizabethan Mustafa Sarkar returned to QE for the 51st Annual Dinner Debate as a special guest.

In his toast to the Elizabethan Union, QE’s formal debating society, Mustafa (OE 1997–2004) emphasised the importance of luck – and, in particular, of making your own luck. A sports psychology specialist who last year gained his PhD from Loughborough University, Mustafa has won a number of awards for his work over the past few years, including, most recently, the British Psychological Society (BPS) Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology (DSEP) PhD award for 2015.

Drawing upon his academic research, Mustafa offered his audience of Year 12 boys, guests and staff advice around a number of themes. These included: always saying ‘yes’ to opportunities when presented with them (and working out how to do something afterwards); turning adversity into advantage; listening to your inner voice and making good use of social support networks. In this last connection, he spoke about the importance of his family, including his wife.

After enjoying a three-course formal dinner in the Dining Hall, which featured Moroccan chicken tagine, the assembled company moved to the Shearly Hall for the debate. This pits two old boys of the School against two current pupils.

Proposing this year’s motion, This House believes that marriage is an outdated institution, were Year 12 boys Ché Applewhaite and Ridwan Uddin. They were opposed by Gabriel Gendler (OE 2007–2014) and Ethan Axelrod (OE 2007–2014), with Adrian Burbie, of Year 12, in the chair.

The QE proposition started with only 30 or so votes and there were a great many abstentions. At the end, there were no abstentions and Ché and Ridwan had increased their share to 45, while the OE opposition had also increased their share of the vote, but by a smaller amount. The swing is crucial in determining the result, so although in absolute terms more people voted against the motion, the two current pupils won the debate.

Head of Academic Enrichment, Nisha Mayer, said: “Both sides were enormously persuasive and some excellent oratorical skills were seen from all four speakers.

“The debate touched on the progressive nature of gay marriage, the comparative merits of civil partnership and the global context, including arranged marriages, as well as the nature of romantic relationships today defined by technological advances such as the Tinder dating application. The evening was a great success.”

Three Old Elizabethans have been honoured for their achievement by Trinity College, Cambridge, by being formally admitted as Scholars to its Foundation.

Gabriel Gendler (2007–2014), Andrew Hui (2008–2015) and Bhavik Mehta (2008–2015) all took part in the special ceremony, which dates back to 1560 – just 14 years after Henry VIII founded the college, which he dedicated to the “honour and glory of the Holy and Undivided Trinity”.

Scholarships at Trinity are awarded only to students who gain a first in university examinations or are strongly recommended by their Director of Studies. In becoming Scholars, the three OEs join the college’s Master, Fellows, Chaplains, Librarian, Regius Scholars of Divinity, Hebrew and Greek, and other Scholars, who together comprise the Foundation.

Gabriel was awarded a Senior Scholarship for achieving a first in Mathematics in his second-year university examination. Andrew and Bhavik were awarded Junior Scholarships for achieving firsts in their university examinations in Medicine and Mathematics respectively.

Before their admission as Scholars and their entry into the Admission of Scholars’ Ledger, held in Trinity’s Wren Library, the candidates first had to sign a declaration of loyalty to the college, which is the largest college at the university.

Ninety-nine Senior Scholars and 63 Junior Scholars were then admitted at the candlelit ceremony held in the college chapel, which was attended by guests including parents. After a welcome by the Senior Tutor, Professor Catherine Barnard, the gown-clad candidates were presented to the Master, Professor Sir Gregory Winter, by their tutors.

Professor Barnard said: “I feel immensely proud of all our students. They excel academically, as demonstrated by the number of scholars being admitted, but many excel in other ways: on the sporting field, as writers, musicians and artists. Trinity is a place which recognises and rewards students’ ability to fulfil their potential.”

Senior scholars received a copy of broadcaster Edward Stourton’s 2011 book, Trinity: A Portrait, and the Junior Scholars a copy of the history of the college by the historian G M Trevelyan, who served as Master there from 1940 to 1951.

Ian Stern has risen to the very top of the legal profession, forging his reputation as a leading Queen’s Counsel in some of the country’s highest-profile court cases of the 21st century.

Ian (OE 1968–1975) returned to QE this term for a meeting with the Headmaster and, since he is keen to support the development of advocacy skills in schoolchildren, has agreed to host a visit to the crown court by the School’s entrants in this year’s Magistrates’ Court Mock Trial competition. (In addition to his work as a barrister, he sits as a Recorder of the Crown Court, that is, a part-time judge.)

After leaving QE, Ian read Politics at Warwick and then went on to gain his Diploma in Law from City University. He was called to the Bar in 1983 and became a Recorder in 2000. He took silk (gained the award of Queen’s Counsel) in 2006.

His specialisms include professional discipline, judicial reviews, cases of murder & manslaughter and of fraud, coroners’ inquests and High Court appeals. Ian’s Chambers, 2 Bedford Row, are ranked in band 1 for professional discipline and band 2 for crime. He is a member both of the London Bar and the New South Wales Bar in Australia and is the Head of Chambers Regulatory team.

In 2014, Ian was named Professional Discipline Silk of the Year by the legal directory, Chambers & Partners. He has been involved in a large number of cases in this field, including conducting the Andrew Mitchell ‘Plebgate’ misconduct hearings on behalf of the Metropolitan Police. Recent cases include that of Dr Lyndsey Thomas, who faced an allegation of gross negligence manslaughter arising from the death of a patient. Mrs Justice Nicola Davies allowed the submission of ‘no case to answer’ put forward by the defence, which Ian led.

He also has been at the forefront of several high-profile inquests in which he represented armed police officers. These include:

• • Mark Duggan: The 2013–2014 inquest followed the death which started the London riots. (Ian was also involved in the judicial review launched by Mr Duggan’s mother, Pamela, following the inquest’s verdict of lawful killing

• • Jean Charles de Menezes: Ian represented the officers who fired the shots that killed Mr de Menezes on 22nd July 2005 at Stockwell Underground Station after he was wrongly identified as a fugitive terrorist involved in the previous day’s failed bombing attempts.

• • Chandler’s Ford robbery: He represented the officers who fatally shot two men as they robbed a security guard outside a bank in the Hampshire town.

Among the murder cases he has been involved in is last year’s Old Bailey trial of retired specialist firearms officer Anthony Long, who was accused of the murder of Azelle Rodney, a 24-year-old suspected armed robber. Mr Long, whom Ian represented, was acquitted.

Chambers and Partners is fulsome in its praise, bestowing on him plaudits including:

• • “A highly regarded silk who is consistently involved in the highest-profile and most complex regulatory cases. His expertise covers a breadth of areas, and he is particularly regarded for his knowledge on police and healthcare disciplinary matters

• • “Instructed by top solicitors and major prosecuting authorities alike” he is armed with “bags of common sense” and “excellent judgment” and has “the ability to handle the most complex of fraud trials”

• • “Impressive advocate with a measured style and a delicate touch who always makes the right decisions”

• • “Absolutely first class” and a silk “who will fight his corner for the client”

• • He is noted for his advocacy, and for his ability to win over clients by “dealing with them with the necessary level of respect for their professionalism”.

Award-winning vlogger, filmmaker, online personality and former monk Jay Shetty (OE 1999–2006) has now been named in the 2017 Forbes European 30 Under 30.

The influential magazine’s 30 under 30 lists recognise people aged under 30 who are seen as the brightest, most innovative game-changers in their industry, and Jay certainly fits the bill in the media category: since launching his Facebook channel in 2016, his wisdom videos have garnered over 150 million views and gained more than half a million followers globally.

Jay has a daily show on HuffPost Live #FollowTheReader, where he has interviewed the likes of entrepreneurs Russell Simmons and Tim Ferris, and Deepak Chopra, author and prominent figure in the New Age movement. The show has a daily audience of 1 million. He says his aim is to “share wisdom at the pace we want entertainment and make wisdom go viral”.

Jay has, to say the least, had an interesting journey since leaving QE and going on to Cass Business School in London, from which he graduated with a first-class degree in Management Science.

Yet he retains great fondness for his School. “I have great memories of my time at QE: I think QE has some interesting memories of me!  I want to personally give a huge thanks to two teachers who had a big impact on my growth.

“The first is Mr Buckeridge [Stephen Buckeridge, Head of Art]. A phenomenal teacher and life mentor – without even knowing it. He was always making me think more deeply about my art work and what it meant and stood for, and he really helped me express myself and articulate creatively. His ability to challenge me and get the best out of me has really helped me mentally since that time.

“The second is Mr Ryan [David Ryan, Assistant Head]. He tolerated all my immature tendencies, helped me grow without judging me, and supported me through some of the most formative years of my life. He was always a champion, supporter and advisor.

“I also loved playing rugby for our School A team and, of course, the public-speaking classes changed my life,” he added.

Inspired to make a difference in the world, at 22 Jay went to live as a monk in India. Then for three years, he travelled the world, during which time he helped build a sustainable village and create food programmes.

Wanting to ‘pay forward’ what he had learnt, Jay began sharing his experiences as a monk in universities and the world’s largest corporations, including EY and Nasdaq.

At the same time, he noticed that the world was rapidly going digital, so Jay went on to become professional services company Accenture’s social media coach for executives, working in online branding and digital strategy.

His talent was spotted by Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington, who made him the Host of HuffPost Lifestyle in New York.

He has been invited to give keynote speeches at leading companies, including Google, Facebook and HSBC, about finding purpose, harnessing collaboration and driving change. Jay won the ITV Asian Media Award for Best Blog 2016 and came third in the Guardian Rising Star Award in 2015.

Jay advises several well-known brands on spotting and nurturing new talent, with the emphasis on helping people find a purpose and use for their passions in the workplace.

Aaron Tan is not only an experienced public speaker himself, but also trains others in this most valuable skill – and he traces his success squarely back to QE.

Aaron (OE 1996–2003) has followed a varied path since university and is currently enjoying a portfolio career which includes running two businesses as well as lecturing at Greenwich University.

But it is in passing on his abilities in public speaking that he has found the greatest satisfaction. “Having worked in companies of all sizes and also been self-employed, I discovered that what I really found rewarding was helping others,” he says. “After finding out that public speaking is the number one fear amongst adults, I knew that if I could tackle this, I would be helping the highest number of people possible.”

Aaron has learned from world-class speakers who have shared the stage with the likes of Lord Alan Sugar, James Caan and Sir Richard Branson, and has himself spoken to audiences of up to 200 both in this country and abroad. And, he says: “It all started by taking public speaking classes during my time at QE, which took place after School hours.”

Aaron, who lives in Dollis Hill, went from QE to UMIST (now part of the University of Manchester), where he read Management with a Marketing Specialism.

He has since worked for diverse businesses including a company specialising in reinstating roads after work has been done, and an aerospace & defence company. In 2013, he took over management duties at his father’s restaurant in Clacton-on-Sea and has since doubled its revenue.

In his new business as a speaker trainer, which he launched in October 2016 on returning from a public-speaking trip to Vietnam, he focuses on both technical and mental processes. “I help people overcome their fears and deliver presentations at the highest level, through webinars, workshops and seminars.

Public speaking is, he points out, a useful skill for “anyone who deals with people on a daily basis”, from those in the corporate world to people in education: he has already worked with clients including YouTube personalities, sales people and personal development coaches.

“I will be travelling to Malaysia in April to speak and train others.  I will also show them how this can help people rise up the corporate ladder and open up more opportunities.”

Since the start of this year, Aaron has been a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Greenwich, where he teaches both undergraduates and postgraduates from different countries. He draws on his experience of working in companies of different sizes to teach the students about business concepts, offering a practical perspective on the theories taught in textbooks.