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www.abingdon.org.uk 23 Abingdon OA Club www.abingdon.org.uk/oa/forthcoming_events Any questions, please call: 01235 849074 Lt Col Tom Perkins MBE – The Royal Scots In January Lt Col Tom Perkins MBE (OA 1989) returned to Abingdon to visit the CCF Headquarters, where his own involvement with the military began. Tom delivered a fascinating presentation to the cadets about his unique experiences training at Sandhurst and serving within the Infantry, and also spoke of his love of completing extreme marathons across the world. He has already raced on Mount Everest, through the Gobi Desert and in the Volcano Marathon in the Atacama Desert, Chile, and now hopes to conquer the North Pole Marathon this May. Damian Sutcliffe – Former CIO and Partner at Goldman Sachs In February more than 60 fifth year and sixth form students grasped the valuable opportunity to hear from OA Damian Sutcliffe (1987), a senior technology executive with vast experience running complex, global organisations and delivering large-scale digital transformation initiatives. Damian, whose family background is in science, worked as a consultant for Accenture before spending 23 years at Goldman Sachs in various roles that have taken him to Asia, New York City and London. Pupils were thoroughly engaged by his presentation about the technological revolution in financial services, and the many career opportunities that this continues to bring. Dr Richard Wilson OBE – CEO of TIGA Following a strong tradition of OAs being recognised in New Year’s Honours Lists, Dr Richard Wilson (OA 1986) was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) this year for his services to the UK video games industry. In 2008 Richard became CEO of TIGA, a non-profit trade association that represents and champions the games development and digital publishing sector and its members. Since taking on this role Richard has been instrumental in fuelling TIGA’s expansion and making the UK video games sector the largest in Europe, having won 25 awards and commendations over the years for industry best practice. Gap Year Talk Many thanks go to OAs Sam Dent (2008), Joshua Ogle (2008), Michael Shortis (2012), Michael Chilcott (2004) and Felix Newman (2012) for speaking with fifth year and sixth form students and parents at a special careers event about gap years. The OAs spoke about their own gap year experiences and how they have influenced and contributed to their subsequent careers and lives as a whole. Sir Kim Darroch KCMG – British Ambassador to the United States The OA Club was delighted to receive this photograph from the British Embassy in Washington, DC of Ambassador Sir Kim Darroch KCMG (OA 1972). The Ambassador was presented with an OA tie by Emily Oliver, Senior Education Research Manager at the British Red Cross, after he kindly hosted a dinner for Red Cross volunteer delegates. Emily, a St Helen and St Katharine alumna and sister of Tam Richmond (OA 1990), commented afterwards that “Abingdon School can be proud of the Ambassador who spoke fondly of his time there, and also demonstrated strong regard for the humanitarian purposes of the Red Cross Movement”. Forthcoming OA Events: Tuesday 15 May – OA Golf Friday 18 May – OA 50s/60s Dinner Saturday 9 June – Class of 76 Reunion Lunch Saturday 16 June – OA Croquet Saturday 16 June – OA Club Committee Meeting Saturday 16 June – Year Group Reunions: 48, 58, 68, 78, 88, 98, 08, 16 Friday 22 June – OA Tennis and OA Twenty20 Cricket Friday 6 July – HRR Strawberries and Pimm’s