On 13 November 2022, 25 OTs gathered for the 3rd instalment of the annual charity football match in memory of Suanu Saro-Wiwa (PS 13-18). Two teams were assembled to play some dubious quality football against a (regretfully) superior staff team who ended the round-robin victorious. It was a fantastic day out, provided this group with a rare chance of a reunion and raised £1,050 for Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).

The event followed the return of Alfie Shankland (FH 13-18), Ben Yonge (PS 13-18), Hugo Flower (Sc 13-18) and Meurig Shotton (CH 13-18) from their trip “20,000 Leagues across Eurasia”. This saw the OTs drive their van from London to Tbilisi, Georgia, voyage over the Caspian Sea, and spend a month in Central Asia before pulling a hand-break turn and motoring back home. The fundraising from this year’s game took them to a total of £10,656.

Leading heart charity CRY aims to give all young people (aged 14-35) across the UK the choice to be screened for undiagnosed heart conditions. Every year in the UK, 624 apparently fit and healthy young people die from a previously undiagnosed heart condition. 80% of these deaths will occur with no prior symptoms and research has shown screening reduces the incidence of young sudden cardiac deaths by 89%.

In October 2018, Suanu tragically suffered from a cardiac arrythmia while playing football on his gap year. He was a naturally talented sportsman who was a key member of the 1st XI football and 1st XV rugby, where he played an indispensable role in securing our schools maiden NatWest Champions Trophy in 2016. He was his own man, loved to push boundaries, and always sought adventure.

Ben Yonge (PS 13-18)

Staff Team

From top left to right:
David Robinson, Christopher Thompson, Robin Docherty (PS5) , Adam Sixsmith, Sam Cleary, Oscar McIlwham (PS4), Ed Middleton (PS5), Kurt Seecharan, James Burbidge, Nick Waite, Luke Masters

From bottom left to right:
John Bleakley, Ollie Grant (PS5), Colin Swainson, James Fisher, Henry Swales

OT Team

From top left to right:
Dylan Taylor, Sam Meakin, Alex Perry, Max Warner, Ben Devaney, Hugo Kulak, Henry Forster, Ben Yonge, Charlie Spawforth, Nico Bryan, Ashkon Javadi, Henry Morss-Davis, Declan Sinclair, Luke Masters.

From bottom left to right:
Guy Collins, Ellis Winsper, Hugo Flower, Harry Hind, Harry Forbes-Nixon, Alfie Shankland, Drew Dainton, James Wiffen, Harry Griffiths, Meurig Shotton, Peter Fentiman, Matteo Petrozzi