Page 21 - Demo

Last year an old friend suggested I attend the annual LWC luncheon in London. I had first entered LWC on a grey autumn day in September 1963, and other than a very brief visit in the mid 70’s, I had never been back. Somewhat hesitant and with great trepidation, I decided to attend the lunch. It proved, quite unexpectedly, to be an enormously gratifying experience. Samantha introduced me to Adam, and I had the pleasure of sitting next to him at lunch. I soon learned how dramatically the school had changed since I had attended! After lunch they invited me to spend an afternoon at LWC.As I drove through the gates of LWC after all these many years the emotional experience was quite overwhelming bringing back so many memories. I had left LWC in 1968 with mixed feelings. English boarding schools of the 60’s were challenging places in general, but for an Iranian child, coming from a very sheltered and somewhat privileged life, they were traumatic! The ethos of the school at that time seemed primarily focused on enforcing rigid and arbitrary rules, rather than fostering a positive and supportive learning environment for the students. The sparse, cold facilities were a material manifestation of this philosophy.On the other hand, I made some good lifelong friends, I loved cross country running and delighted in the opportunity (to my great surprise) to win the school drama award in my final year. It was also LWC that kindled my passion for economics. It enabled me to get accepted at UCL, which led me to Oxford and a career in economics and finance.I left the UK in 1974 from Oxford to join the World Bank as an economist. The 1979 revolution in Iran sadly ended any plans to return home to Iran. After 12 very fascinating years in Washington I decided to move from the public to the private sector and spent the rest of my career in investment banking in New York and London with the last 15 years as a Vice Chairman at Barclays in London. Since retiring I have been on the board of a number of for and non for profits institutions. The LWC that Adam and Samantha showed me was an LWC transformed. The grounds are as exceptional as ever, but now impressive facilities such as the new Flowers Science Centre and sports facilities augment its natural beauty. The student body is also more diverse; enriched by being co-ed and having day students. I even had the chance to visit Sutton House. I had spent my last year as a school prefect in a room at the top of the old house. We searched, initially in vain, to find my room and eventually realised to our great surprise that it has been converted into a bathroom!!I was deeply impressed by the relationship Adam has cultivated with the students: collegial and empathetic rather than hierarchical and autocratic. Most significantly, the philosophy of the school, is positively student centric and compassionate. The school is fortunate to have Adam as its Headmaster and under his guidance, I am certain the school will go from strength to strength.I am delighted that I took up my friend’s advice last year and reconnected with LWC. My wife Juni and I visited the school again for LWC’s centennial. I look forward to many more visits to LWC and watch it continue to produce many happy, productive and well-educated well-balanced members of society. The UK is now our home and we could not be happier. It is a journey that all started with LWC and for which I have a great deal to be thankful for. CYRUS ARDALAN(1968, Sutton, A621)ALUMNI UPDATE Reconnecting with LWCSternian Cyrus Ardalan reflects on his return to LWC.The Sower review of Cyrus’ performance of 1968 Cyrus performing in The Lark, 1968The solemn, doctrine-ridden clergy had a difficult task to keep the play moving with little action and much argument, but Cyrus Ardalan well deserved the Old Sternians' Acting Award for 1968. He maintained a thoroughly convincing characterisation throughout—even when not directly concerned in the action, though this was not often, as he had the longest part of all. 19