News
Please see below the latest news from alumni members:
Dan Butcher (1993-2000) regularly meets up with NKS friends and will be attempting the 3-Peaks challenge in June. His sister Vicky (2004-06) is now living in Australia. She is married with two children and is a Warranty Officer for a car company.
Reverend Asa Humphreys (1990-97) is working for the Church of England in Oxford.
Aaron Dehara (1998-2005) has a background in system design. He recently completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering and is now the UK Regional Director for Staticus, one of the largest specialist façade contractors in the UK and Europe. He keeps in touch with several OAs, one of whom is Joseph Timms (1998-2005). Joe trained at RADA and starred as Icarus in Atlantis (BBC). In theatre, roles have included Flamineo in The White Devil (Globe), Sidney Carton in Tale of Two Cities (Royal & Derngate). Other work includes Taming of the Shrew, Henry IV Parts 1 and 2 (Globe), Richard II (Belasco Theatre, Broadway), Twelfth Night (National Theatre), The Hudsucker Proxy (Nuffield Theatre).
Congratulations to Karen Thatcher (2006-08) on her marriage to Emmanuel in January.
Neil Collins (1984-89) graduated from Liverpool John Moores University with a 2:1 in Business Studies. He joined British Steel as a Commercial Graduate Trainee based in the Midlands before returning to Ashford as Brake Brothers’ first ever Management Trainee!
He spent almost 10 years there, working within logistics and Supply Chain until he qualified professionally as a Project Manager. He then joined P&O Ferries as a Project Manager, operating across all areas of the business and at a Senior level to implement change. Neil decided to step away from the corporate life 12 years ago and has since spent his time as a part-time delivery driver for Sainsbury's, doing some consultancy work, bookkeeping, event planning, stock management & for the past 5 years working with fellow OA Richard Strode (1984-89) several days per month. Neil is married with 1 daughter. When he isn’t working, he focuses on reducing his golf handicap (currently 8.1)
Garry White (1992-99) reports that he, his friends and parents still often refer to 10 and 11 Burra as the lovable rogues that no-one else really wanted! He is in touch with some of the old form. Ben Cooper (1992-97) lives and runs a business in Hong Kong. Lloyd Gray (1993-99) lives in Sydney. Both Simon Plummer (1992-99)’s and Tom Vince (1992-99)’s daughters dance with Garry’s, so he sees them regularly.
Gary Spratt (1984-89) lives in West Kent with his family. He has had a 30+ year career in various forms of commercial lending and currently works for a bank in real estate finance. He enjoys walking the dogs, going to the gym and playing golf. He still uses his A-level French on regular holidays to the Dordogne!
Oliver Davis (1998-2005) is living with his family in Hythe and is currently managing an environmental science project which is focused on improving the water quality of the River Stour. Ollie has a good close group of friends from his year group. His brother Ben Davis (1996-2003) is Managing Director at Autoquip GB Garage Equipment Ltd, and with 30 staff is keeping himself busy! He too is in contact with friends from his NKS days.
Karl Terry (1981-84) continues his highly regarded work in the building industry, alongside his rise to prominence in the Fine Art world, predominantly working en plein air producing a large annual volume of oil paintings from the British land and seascape and various venues abroad. In recent years his highly regarded work has brought him deserved recognition through his election to full membership of The Royal Society of Marine Artists and most recently to the Royal Institute of Painters in Oils. He has also been made a Freeman of the City of London through his contribution to the work of the National Federation of Roofing Contractors and the Worshipful Company of Tilers and Bricklayers. This news of Karl is offered by Chris Daynes, (Head of Art 1976-2001) with whom he exhibits at Rye Art Gallery, which he has also done elsewhere.
Philip Palmer (1989-94) is living in the Worksop area near Sheffield, with his wife of 19 years, Claire, and his two children. He is currently working as a Data, MIS and Exams manager for a school Trust of schools in Leeds, not what he saw coming when he left school. Phil studied Biochemistry at university, followed by a research PhD. He then went into Cancer Research as a Postdoc. He became disillusioned with life in research and took a sideways step into data management in schools in 2005. He then took his family to the Caribbean and Singapore, working in Education overseas for 12 years. They are now back in the UK. He has really fond memories of his French lessons! His nephew is currently a NKS student.
Congratulations to Dean Spiers (1983-86) on his marriage to Alison in February 2024, and Matt
Dolman (2006-2013) on his recent marriage to Amy.
Tony Padfield (1984-1989) is Headteacher of Burstow Park School for students with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Chris Kasap (1988-93) is an MRI Clinical Expert at Siemens Healthineers. His work involves travelling in the UK and Germany. He also does some teaching and did a lecturing stint at the University of Lancaster a few years ago.
Mark Godden (1990-97) has been Managing Director at Deepdale Trees Ltd since March 2024. He has three children.
Jon Stubbins (1993-2000) qualified as a Chartered Accountant and is now a partner at Grant Thornton in London. He specialises in financial due diligence, working with sectors including marketing services, software, professional consultancies and motorsport. Recently, Jon advised Box to Box, producers of Netflix’s Drive to Survive, on their successful investment from a US sports marketing agency.
Andy Burwell (1996-2003) is Global Head of Government Relations at Worley, a world leading
engineering and professional services firm in energy, chemicals and resources. Before joining Worley, Andy was the International Director at the Confederation of British Industry. Andy has also worked for the Department for Business, the Cabinet Office, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the National Security Secretariat. He sits on the Advisory Council to the International think tanks Chatham House and Wilton Park. His brother, Jon (1996-2003) is Chief Digital Officer for the Salisbury NHS Trust in Wiltshire.
Jon Salt (1997-2004) is still enjoying teaching in Yate. He has recently climbed Mount Snowdon with his two children.
Jamie West (1997-2004) has returned from living and working in Canada for a number of years.
Dr Oskar Jensen (2000-2007) carried out research to help actor, presenter and deaf rights campaigner Rose Ayling-Ellis confirm a rumour that she had an Italian connection (4x great grandfather) in a recent episode of Who Do You Think You Are.
Nathan Wilson (2000-07) is Head of the Inclusion Unit at Homewood school. His brother Sam (2006-13) is a freelance musician.
Adam Kydd (2004-2011), our Deputy Chair, has set up Huntly Tutors, a tutoring and education agency. His brother Malik exhibited at the recent Dubai Art Fair, selling all his pictures.
Tom Snare (2006-2013), the Staff Representative on the OA Committee and Annual Dinner organiser, teaches History and Politics at the NKS. He has recently become a father.
Dan Stanyon (2006-13) has recently returned to London, after spending five years in Japan.
Karen Thatcher (2006-08) is a Freelance Creative and Communications Consultant, specialising in Church/Charity communications. She also runs an empathy/encouragement card business. Her
brother Shane Thatcher (1998-2005) is teaching at a primary school in Folkestone.
Emi Mulgrew (2017-19) is studying for an International Joint Masters in Peace and Conflict Studies at UKC and Philipps University in Marburg, Germany.