Harper Life 2019 - Alumni Magazine

Roger Pearson 1952-1954 I am long retired and live in Vancouver, British Columbia. I visit England as often as I can and always stay for several days with fellow Harper colleague, Cedric Hill. John Purchase 1952-1954 Spent two very enjoyable years at Harper. My late wife Shirley, nee Hooper, who was at Sealy Hayne at the same time - so it’s a wonder that we ever met! 56 very happy years together and now 8 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren Don Findlay. Student NDA/ CDA 1956-58 FarmStaff 1958-59 Academic staff 1979-99. I have completed all my yachting duties and thoroughly retired, sadly my wife, Joan, 54 wonderful years recently died after an acute stroke. Still trying to get the 1956-58 cohort together for lunch but sadly diminishing in numbers as it is 61 years since we left Harper. Alastair Warrington 1960-1962 Have been farming in Worcestershire since 1965, but now live near Wentnor, Shropshire. We sold our farm house 5 years ago and moved up here to a 15 acre smallholding. Kept 200 acres in Worcestershire which is contract farmed by a neighbour. Must come over to Harper soon to one of the open days. Recently watched the very good video. Met Chris Goodley in Devon last year. Had not seen him for 52 years ! Carol Clare (nee England) 1961-1963 Can’t believe howmuch Harper has changed over the years - can it be 56 years since we left! Worked up to retirement age, and now very involved in village life, community shop, singing, keep fit, all of which is a help during the last 14 years as a widow. Got a wonderful PAT dog who works in care home for dementia residents and assists with reading in local primary school. Dressage horse now retired and is happy to be an OAP’s hack so we get out most days. Had lunch with Rosie Price (nee Barton) in the summer and in contact with Ursula Gilmore (Barth) and Wendy Nichols (Evans). We Harper ladies do keep in touch. John Parsons 1962-1964 After 25 years as a Poultry Adviser/Consultant with ADAS, followed by 6 years as National Poultrymeat Specialist with the NFU, I retired and undertook two 4 year terms as Secretary of the UK Branch of the World’s Poultry Science Association. Now finally completely and happily retired in Suffolk with an ever-expanding band of grandchildren. Barry Holme 1965-1967 Retired in 2015, now have no time for anything!!!!! Currently renovating family home in Cornwall and have Cambridgeshire home up for sale. Also looking to renovate one of my barns in Guilden Morden, into a 2 bedroom bungalow. Still involved with powerboating and safety work. Next weekend operating as a safety boat for the Great River Race on the River Thames - 300 plus rowing boats and over 30 safety boats. Chairman of Guilden Morden Parish Council for the last 10 years or so. Active supporter of Cambridge RUFC - played until I was 50, (40 years as tight headprop) but body then told me that was enough! Peter Cliff 1976-1979 Left family farm 1995,became self employed working for contractors. 1998 concentrated on agricultural repairs and in 2015 set up Peter cliff and sons Ltd which repairs all types of agricultural machinery from lawn mowers to combines and plant. In 2014 we added hydraulic repairs and so we nowmanufacture and repair hydraulic rams and pumps. We now have 4 employees and my son Jim (Ag engineering 2008) is also involved in the business and his experience has allowed us to add some CNCmachines. Adrian Vass 1977-1980 Retired fromNatural England North East in 2018 after completing 3 years secondment to the UK Squirrel Accord - a four nations project. I am now in my third year training to be a counsellor / psychotherapist working in a GP Surgery in Berwick Upon Tweed. Howard Evans 1986-1989 I worked for Wyevale Garden Centres for two years before undertaking teacher training. I am about to complete my Your updates - Thank you for the overwhelming response to our call for updates. We’ve included as many as possible here and turned some of them into stories elsewhere in the magazine! Donna Tavernor , BSc Hons Countryside Environment Management 2000-2004 and MSc REALM 2006-2009, married Timothy Simmons at Gnosall Church on 30th August 2019, followed by a reception at the Upper House, Barlaston. Our daughter Pippa was one of our bridesmaids. On 2nd September we went to celebrate our wedding with Donna’s Grandad, who is 102, in Herefordshire. We were joined by many family and friends. Donna is the daughter of Peter Tavernor Agriculture HND 1972-1975.