Introducing the new President- Paul Wickham (57–66)

Paul Wickham (57–66), who was elected President at the
November AGM, writes:
The opportunity provided by the Editor to introduce (or reintroduce)
myself to John Carpenter Club members enables me to
say how privileged I feel to be your President for this year. I do
hope I can contribute to the well-being of the club and all of you,
its members. I should also like to express, via the Gazette, my
thanks to Geoff Coulson, last year’s President, for all that he has
done during his year of office.
My connection with the school started in 1957, in Old
Grammar and as a member of Hale. I left from the Classical Sixth
with A levels in Greek, Latin and Ancient History (there’s not
many of us!) en route to read Law plus some economics and
accountancy at Nottingham University.
I enjoyed participating in a range of sports, with a preference
for athletics and cross country, although I was also in the School’s
First XV. I was Head Boy in my last year at CLS, which was James
Boyes’s first year as Headmaster.
In 1969 I started work in National Westminster Bank on its
management development programme. My first posting was to a
branch in Soho, where I learned more about strippers’ assets than
about asset stripping! During a 28-year career in the bank,
finishing as one of its General Managers, I covered a wide range
of roles, including the launch of the Access credit card and
corporate financing for the aircraft and oil and gas industries.
In 1997 I took early retirement from NatWest and made a major
change in my life by becoming the Director of Surrey Wildlife
Trust, a nature conservation charity. I’m still there six years later.
Away from work I have been very happily married to Janet for
33 years, and we have two sons. I am a Life Dining Member of the
John Carpenter Club, a past Assistant Secretary, and have been a
Committee Member over a number of years but in two separate
spells. I am also a Past Master of both the John Carpenter Lodge
and Chapter, and a Liveryman of the Bakers Company.
By way of other activities I have run three London Marathons.
I enjoy watching rugby, and suffer as a Crystal Palace season ticket
holder. The garden and a love of travel fill any remaining time.
Please get in touch on pljr.wickham@btinternet.com if you
want to talk about the Club and its activities, or if you just want to
re-establish contact. It will be good to hear from you.