October 27th 2002 The October 2002 re-union at the Princess Hotel, Eilat was a great success as we knew it would be. The attendance was disappointing (which we rather expected) but the atmosphere and bonhomie were wonderful (much better than I expected). The hotel was full of lovely Israeli families (largely of pre-school age) having a great time away from the hurly-burly of further north , and being in their midst was a real delight. They were presumably satisfied with the price of what they were given and some nights the hotel was 100% booked !! Most of th 20+ Whitniks in attendance with their families were survivors of the 1964-7 cohorts, but one welcome pre-1939 representative was Dennis Goodman (ne Guttman) who was packed off to Australia by the government as an "enemy alien" and was resuming his contact with Whittingehame after a lapse of 63 years! He very quickly found the typical Whittingehame esprit de corps, and looks forward to the next reunions. There was, naturally, much discussion of the next re-union venue, and as there is, clearly, real Brighton nostalgia, Paul Marks offered to reconnoitre the ground --so more of that later. But one thing is clear- we will never get future hosts as hospitable as Sasha Tesler and his staff. Breakfasts (and all other "feeds") were excellent, but the banquet, (with 30+ in attendance, enjoying a scrumptious menu and unlimited drinks) was quite breath-taking -- and I am not saying that merely because Ella and I were seduced into participating in an exhausting hora. There was a brilliant three-piece group who kept people ridiculously buoyant in a private room until ages after "lights out", and which would really command an impossible fee anywhere else. I can't report on the fun enjoyed at the pool and beach, because Ella and I were too tired after our recent (and seemingly endless) house moves to participate very much --but we are looking forward to the next opportunity !! But that's enough for now, I feel. SO Love to you all L'Chaim
Eldon & Ella September
7th, 2002
May the year ahead be
one of happiness, jovial company, good health, and peace.
Everybody who has been to the Princess knows how lucky we are. Please reserve through either a) Ms Ute Negenborn,TESDI TOURS TOURISTIK GMBH, Ziegelhuttenweg 43 - Frankfurt 605898 Germany.Tel 49.69.96.36.49.51 Fax..49.69.96.36.49.55 email Tesdinegenborn@web.de or b) Ms Sharon Zohar-Zaslover, Owner's Office, Eilat Princess Hotel, Taba Beach, P.O.Box 2323, Eilat 88000, Israel. Tel 9728 6365572, Fax 9728 6374007 email : owner@eilatprincess.com Yet another change of address. From September 23rd we will be at 8 Furnace Rd., Carmarthen SA31 1 EU email and phone unchanged
LOVE AND BEST WISHES TO
YOU ALL July 22nd, 2002 PLEASE NOTE THAT UNLESS YOU PARTICULARLY REQUEST IT YOU WILL NOT BE SENT A POSTED COPY (snail-mail)
WHITTINGEHAME CLUB,
Dear Whitnik We have recently been in happy contact, by letter, phone or in person, with a number of former members of staff, including Trefor Bolton, Irene Cockshott,Peter and Eileen Copson,George Gush,Tim Hannagan, Kirsten and Simon Hatchwell,Molly Howard,Mary Howell, Jean Hughes, Richard Humphries,Eli Mukammal,Marjorie Needham,Barry Roach,Freddie Smith (evening duty master),Jean Thew and Hubert Williams - the last-named, I am sorry to report, in poor health. The average age of those listed exceeds 70 years - but the average age of Whitniks themselves must exceed 55 years. Who claims to be the youngest ? We must see he gets to the next re-union !! I get, via e-mail, many pictures of grand-children, and am awaiting the first Whitnik great-grandchild. I know lots of you missed my PS and PPS in the last circular reporting the very sudden deaths of John and Ruth Murry. They both taught with us for many years until 1967, and contributed enormously to many extra-curricular activities. John was a splendid chess player, and under his guidance our standard rose splendidly; he was a first-rate art critic and artist (after he retired he took up painting, and sold many paintings); he helped Barry Roach a great deal in play productions (and performed hilariously in "True Blue", which he co-wrote with Gerald Cockshott); "Vox Populi", our unofficial and intermittently iconoclastic newspaper, owed its foundation to his encouragement of journalistic aspirations among a handful of sixth-formers; after his retirement he wrote two volumes of reminiscences, in which his time with us is described very amusingly. If you look up our web-site (www.whittingehame.com) you will find some of the newspaper obituaries. At the end of the winter we lost Leon Golomb (1933-38), one of the German group at Surrenden Road when the building was brand-new. He was artistic, quiet and retiring by disposition but a very loyal Whitnik who always read news of his contemporaries with avidity. A little later we lost Neville Labovitch (1936-43), who, also, was artistic but very out-going. At Edwinsford he had his own gramophone and a large collection of 78 r.p.m. records, and he would give frequent recitals in the "Stone Hall". From Edwinsford he went Oxford, and then into business, but his interest in the arts remained. As the "Independent" obituary noted (06. 04.02) he became "one of the greatest impresarios of special occasions in twentieth century London. His works ranged from the Pavarotti concerts in Hyde Park to the greatest children's party ever produced, in 1979 during the International Year of the Child. The queen relied on Labovitch to stage manage the great events of the Silver Jubilee Year" This exceptionally talented Whitnik, famed for his industry and integrity was made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order in 1993. Jake, unfortunately, did not live long enough to know what many of his pupils achieved. If you are doing any spring-cleaning, or moving house, remember to send Whittingehame memorabilia either to the web-site (Dr Louis Mandel, 211 Lorraine, Baie D'Urfe, Quebec H9X 2P9 (Canada, of course ! ! ) or to The Librarian, Hartley Library, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ, who has agreed to look after all our archives when no Whittingehamian wants them any longer. Before you send to Louis please check the web-site :www. whittingehame.com to see whether what you have has already been dealt with by Louis, who has done an incredible job. He has put on www some of the obituary notices of John Murry, some of which (including the New York Times, mentioned Whittingehame). Dan Gillerman, president of the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce, was in London recently , co-chairing a meeting of the British-Israel Business Council (with Sir Trevor Chinn) which was addressed by Tony Blair and many other luminaries. At present his contemporary Professor Jacob Israelachvili, F.R.S. is undertaking research at Imperial College, London, (where his cousin Mordecai was a student 50 years ago), Professor Amos Yahil is in New York, Professor A.P. Cohen F.R.S.E. in Edinburgh, Professor David Singerman in Southampton, and Professor Ezra Suleiman in Princeton. There were some bright chaps in that 60-63 bunch - I haven't listed a half of them ! Eddy Clein (42-50) has finished his term as Lord Mayor of Liverpool, so will be less involved wth the numerous royal, governmental, sport, entertainment and business figures who have filled his diary in recent years. I send correspondence for Ian Burton (62-64) to Burton Copeland, described by the Times last week as "the leading firm of solicitors in white collar crime" , but I think Ian has a London pied-a-terre, and hope he'll be with us next June. Those of you who hoped to visit Ernest Sinyor at the Three Gorges Dam in China will probably be unlucky, as he now spends less time on the site. On the other hand, he will be glad to correspond with Whitniks who are China-bound - advice on how to avoid gaffes like bawling "Att...en... Shun " at the terra cotta warriors
LAST BUT
NOT LEAST Everybody who has been to the Princess knows how lucky we are. Quite a number of us were there a few months ago celebrating the marriage of the daughter of Robbie and Linda Cohen -we included several Tel Aviv Whitniks as well as family members and friends. Please reserve through either a) Ms Ute Negenborn,TESDI TOURS TOURISTIK GMBH, Ziegelhuttenweg 43, Frankfurt,D.60598 Germany.Tel 49.69.96.36.49.51 Fax...49 69 96.36.49.55 email Tesdinegenborn@web.de or b) Ms Sharon Zohar-Zaslover, Owner's Office, Eilat Princess Hotel, Taba Beach, P.O.Box 2323, Eilat 88000, Israel. Tel 9728 6365572, Fax 9728 6374007 email owner@eilatprincess.com SO LET US JOIN OUR ISRAELI FRIENDS -AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT YOU ARE THINKING. July 16 th, 2002 Well, here we are, in the middle of July 2002, having endured a summer as wet and disappointing as any Whitnik will remember of schooldays. BUT, we have decided on an official re-union in London next year !! The unofficial get-together on June 30th did not produce mobs in Trafalgar Square or Piccadilly, but there were representatives of all the cohorts between 1942 (Harold Huberman Hilton), to the sixties, and the unanimous decision was that we should organize an official RE-UNION IN LONDON AT THE END OF JUNE NEXT YEAR 2003. The Londoners are already at work. So let us know what you think Cheers and L'Chaim Eldon June 11th, 2002 You are all aware of the importance of the date FIRSTLY a football match SECONDLY an informal WHITT get-together on June 30 at the Cassit Restaurant 225 Golders Green Rd at 2.45 for 3.15 . This time is dictated by the TV programme on the match. This game may be discussed, so your loved ones will be very welcome. Love to you all, whether you can attend or not L'Chaim E&E, who will be there to consider the ref's decision to ....... May 22nd 2002 Helen and Jacky, daughters of John and Ruth, wish to thank
the very many Whittingehamians who sent messages of sympathy and appreciation to
them in recent weeks, and to the
Club for the very beautiful floral tribute. April 29th 2002 I regret having to report that John Murry died last night, less than a month after his loving wife Ruth. Apparently he had a massive stroke. Helen his daughter phoned me with the sad news, and I expressed the sympathy of the very many Whitniks who benefited from his help. Ella and I hope to go to Brighton next week. Love and L'Chaim to all. E&E Please click on newspaper below to read obituaries on John Murry in the Guardian and Independent. April 10th 2002
26 Barn Road
email: Eldon_Smith@whittingehame.fsnet.co.uk Dear
Whitnik Please read as far as the PPPS It's so long since the last circular that I really can't remember what was in it Unfortunately international affairs more or less overwhelmed our activities, and we could not hold our Princess Hotel Re‑union in October 2001. Interesting small‑scale events were very welcome, and many Whitniks made their worthwhile marks. Aryeh Tenne (Tenenbaum) is now Israeli Ambassador in Venezuela and would be glad to get Whit‑callers, Jack Beatson has been elected a Fellow of the British Academy. A copy of "Jake's Legacy" (which is now out of print) can be consulted at the British Library. 'The head of Modern English Collections called it "a fascinating bit of history"! and said he'd be glad to organize a tour of the new library building for interested Whitniks. So if you want that (if you're resident in London )please let us know. And, by the way, if you would like a copy of "J.L." the best thing to do is to consult Joe Brim who made such a fine job of the printing, for if 10 or so request them, he could possibly re‑print a batch. Gilbert Benzakein continues to win prestigious wine‑production prizes (I knew he'd get into trouble). Dan Spiro after a life‑time in Swiss watches, decided in retirement to diversify into ski chalets ! Basil Mann still a keen cricket umpire, was recognized by the Chief Rabbi for services to the community. Gerald Godfrey QC, who has returned to London from Hongkong, has been made a CBE. Sam Tiano has appeared as an extra in several films, but hasn't yet won an Oscar nomination. David Warner, nominated strongly for several Oscars in the past, is resuming his acting career. Lord (Harry) Woolf , Lord Chief Justice, is so much in the limelight that it is impossible for me to begin a summary here. Contemporaries and other friends of Eli Harari should consult the web‑site Sandisk.com to try to follow his achievements. David Singerman is now Professor of Mathematics at Southampton At that university, too, there is a very special library dealing with Jewish History ‑especially education. I have been in touch with the Head Archivist there and he would be very glad to keep in safe custody (for ever) any Whittingehame items. I’m arranging for the lots of stuff I have accumulated to be sent there, and if you have anything which you don't want to be destroyed please send them directly to The Archivist, Hartley Library, Universi!y of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, S017 1131. Louis Mandel (who would be glad to receive interesting items for the web‑site: Whittingehame. com) moved house twice last autumn, so had no chance to work on the web‑site virtually twenty‑four hours a day, which had been his routine; but he is now back on the job. We are terribly indebted to him By the way. has anybody got the panoramic pictures of '58, '59 or '62? or Handcross 62-65? All others will soon be on the web‑site ‑‑ keep looking. I have recently been re‑perusing the pictures in Vol 60-67, and various volumes of "The Whittingehamian" and "Vox Poluli" which are truly fascinating. We had a very enjoyable Lunch at the Cassit Restaurant to celebrate "Jake's Legacy", with interesting representation of many school generations. It was our last glimpse of Korky, who was in his usual happy mood. Leslie Brown turned up with a forgotten memento ‑ the Junior Dining Room bell, which he was the last to use before the junior school was transferred to Handcross. He said he suspected that his retention of that trophy might explain why earlier lists of long‑term Whittingehamians had omitted him ‑ a sort of retrospective expulsion. But I must not go on with more about the splendid function arranged by Mike Howard, as there is a lot for you to read ! LOSSES We have unfortunately suffered some major losses in recent months. Raphael Sharnmah (brother of Baruch and Joseph) died quite suddenly in Switzerland after years of bravely‑borne excruciating arthritis; he was an outstanding captain of Balfour House in the mid 50s, particularly remembered for his achievements on the stage and in sports. Ivan (Korky) Landau, brother of Gerald (Bungo) and Barry, died of cancer (but mercifully very suddenly) in London early this year; he, as several Whitniks have recently said in emails to me was a gentle giant with a guffaw laugh which shook the classroom. He was a vital member of the Edwinsford community. We were also sorry to learn of the deaths of other friends: Miss Norah Cooper, (who was our bursar for several years in the sixties), Andrew Burton (brother of Ian), Shlomo Hadary (Pomeranz), Alev Soryano, and Neville Ziff will be missed. RECENT CONTACTS since the last newsletter include three Whitniks from long ago: David Foreman(43‑44); Mark Schnur (1943‑7); and Keith (Martin). NEW ADDRESSES Sam Wine , one of the very first Whitniks, and secretary of the Old Boys for untold years, has moved. Harold Winton, the only Whitnik whose sons were also Whitniks (though they transferred to Carmel College, which is now also defunct). Richard (Divvy) Davidson, one of the Whitniks involved in the 1939 evacuation to Wales and who left Edwinsford in 1943 has an extra digit in his Brazilian tel no ‑the 21 has become 212. He will be in London at the start of a European tour on Junel5th. Izy Rozov has moved Can you help the treasurer by sending him some extra cash ‑to pay for your place/ circu I ars/ messages or simply to indicate support? Please send to Raphael Attar, 35 Herbert Crescent, Knightsbridge, London SW1X OHB_ A SAD POSTSCRIPT. We have just heard the sad news of the death of Mrs Ruth Murry, John's wife, who taught with us for 15 years. She was, a very great friend, and will be sadly missed. Our deepest sympathy goes to John and his daughters. PPS Please note a simplification of our postal address to 26 BARN Road, Carmarthen, Tel & Fax number, e‑mail address (as above) are unchanged. Because of the turmoil of our move, after 30+ years in this house, we will not be able to post this circular until after April 24th Post PPS A rebel group are organising an unofficial GET‑TOGETHER IN LONDON on the week‑end of JUNE 30th 2002. They already appear to have been singularly successful in securing support, including Jack Melroy, Raymond Shayo, Albert CKohen, Haim Zukerman, Michael Alfasi, Edward S Cohen, David Azagury, Tony Lev,Dan Gladstone and a host in the UK. By the time you get this there will undoubtedly be many morc Please ask me for details L'Chaim Please keep in touch ELDON March 28th 2002 I am letting you know, with great regret, of the death earlier this week of Mrs. Ruth Murry. She and John began her association with Whittingehame in the early 50s but probably the Whitniks who knew and remember her best are the Handcross boys who benefited from her friendship and tuition until the closure of 1967. For four years she had carried on a brave fight against leukemia, wonderfully supported by John and her two daughters Jackie and Helen, to whom we extend our deepest possible sympathy. Carmarthen March 20th 2002 Tel/Fax 44 (0)1267 234347 Dear Whitnik March 18th, 2002 It is not possible to organise a re-union under present circumstances, and we have reluctantly put things on hold for the time being. A circular will be sent out as soon as possible, but meanwhile could you please pass on this sad news to those without e-mail February 26th, 2002 It is now clear that the London Lunch Re-union etc will take place on Sunday June 23rd 2002, Details are not yet finalised, but the London Whitniks, led by Mike Howard and Fule Attar, are busy, and we will send all necessary information as soon as possible,
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