John Bellamy (1956-1964)
As can be seen from the above dates, I spent a third year in the 6th Form as I wasn’t sure what to do for my future. I had been offered a place at Exeter to study chemistry but decided it was too far and too expensive to travel back to Dorking each weekend to play football for the Old Boys. It was during my extended stay at the school that it was suggested that I discover what a life in accountancy could offer. I contacted Ian Bayer from my year who had started in that world in the previous year, and he sparked my interest.
I joined the same firm of London accountants as Ian and generally enjoyed the work and travelling to their clients but not the lowly pay of an articled clerk. Although I spent seven years there and was well versed in the discipline, my Achilles Heel is that I’m hopeless at examinations and failed to qualify.
I left the firm as I had promised to marry a Swedish girl and needed to earn a much better salary to sustain a reasonable standard of living. I have worked for many and varied companies and have served as honorary treasurer or auditor for various amateur sports clubs.
My football playing days for the Old Boys finished when I reached 57 but I had the game of squash to fall back on. I have cycled for most of my life and now am a life member of and for some years have been a group cycle leader for the SW London division of Cycling UK.
Nick Ridley, the ADA chairman, approached me to join the committee at the end of 2022 in order to bring in some younger blood, even though I am 78 now. I told him that I have always felt grateful that I had had an education at Dorking CGS which has stood me in good stead throughout my life and if I could help to further the aims of the committee, I would be willing to try – as long as I don’t have to take any exams!
John Wallis (1972 – 1978)
I joined the ADA committee at the end of 2022 having been introduced to our new chairman, Nick Ridley by Nick Goddard, a fellow pupil from my year group.
I had vaguely been aware of some kind of ex-school association but never actively sought it out, let alone join. As such the ADA has found me.
What to say? Where do I start? How much do I tell? I’ll keep it brief and hopefully be able to expand further if and when we might meet.
I joined the then Dorking County Grammar School in September 1972 just after my 12th birthday, making little me one of the oldest in our year. Myself and several others would travel by train from the east to Dorking Deepdene. I came from Reigate with many others from Redhill, Merstham or Horley.
I am still in contact with at least 20 ex-pupils and a few teachers from those days and pre-pandemic days we were having regular gatherings of various sizes. I am also still a Vets Playing Member at Dorkinians FC, formerly Old Dorkinians, in Pixham Lane. So my links back to the school have been maintained since leaving halfway through the Lower 6th, year 12 in ”new money”
I’ve had a varied working life, starting in Westcott at NEL, now UNUM, for two years and studying for a Business Studies ONC at the same time. I then went to London at the age of 19 and stayed there off and on for 35 years. For the majority of my time in the smoke I worked in a variety of computing/IT jobs for various companies both large and small. Amongst those were BT, EDS/HP and the last and longest being Universal Music International. I lived mostly in South West London, Wandsworth and Merton but also had stints in Bloomsbury , Highbury and West Kensington.
Myself, my partner and son moved from Wimbledon to Bookham in 2004 and I commuted back into central London until 2011. Since then I’ve been following a few personal development projects and taken on a variety of casual part-time employment roles. I now describe myself as 70% retired and occupy my time with various voluntary football-related activities, riding my motorcycle or recreational driving. I’ve recently started as a casual driver for the Mole Valley District Council Community Transport service which gets me out of the house.
I’m hopeful that the Association can be reinvigorated and attract a new generation of members. In these ever polarised days I feel that we need to develop a range of events and facilities to reconnect ex-pupils to the school and each other. In other words, an environment to build a framework to share memories and offer support to each other and to the current school population.