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Robert Rinder’s genuine enthusiasm for dancing was clear from the outset of the primetime BBC show’s 14th series – and continued all the way through the autumn.

Robert (OE 1989–1994), who performed under his TV name of Judge Rinder, clearly relished the opportunity to entertain huge audiences in the weekly dancing extravaganza. He proved to be one of the best performers, too; it was not until the start of December that he was eliminated in the quarter-final – the 11th contestant to leave the show out of the 15 who started in September.

“You are never too old to try something new – and everybody should try dance,” he said at the end of his last show.

Another theme that ran throughout his appearances was his appreciation and generous praise for his professional dance partner, Oksana Platero, who was responsible for choreographing their performances. In his final comments, he thanked her again, describing her as a “truly extraordinary person – this teacher, who has led me from somebody who could barely walk to music with no dance experience at all and given me a passion and a love for dance”.

His fellow competitors included former Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls, Olympic gymnast Claudia Frangapane and singer Will Young.

He told the Radio Times: “Strictly is one of those rare things in broadcasting, a show that the entire family can enjoy together, regardless of age or background, which is – above all – the reason I agreed to take part.”

Robert’s stated motivation for taking part also included making his grandmother proud of him; he credits her with giving him a love of dancing. His grandparents, Frances and Harry Rinder, were in the audience when he performed a foxtrot in November.

There were many other memorable moments, both among his actual performances and in the ensuring banter with the four judges. He danced the Charleston dressed as Fred Flintstone, delighting the audience with some over-the-top facial expressions. For the show’s eagerly awaited outing to Blackpool’s famous Tower Ballroom, he and Oksana danced the salsa to the Spice Girls’ Spice up your life. And even when he was eliminated, his impressive ‘hip action’ in a samba performed to the song, December, 1963, from the musical, Jersey Boys, drew praise from the judges.

Robert became famous in 2014 with the launch of his daytime show in which he presides over cases such as disputes over consumer issues, personal and business fall-outs and allegations of negligence.

Although not a judge, he is a highly successful barrister who has focused mainly on international fraud, money-laundering and other financial crime. He was instructed by the British Government as counsel to the Turks and Caicos Islands’ Special Investigation and Prosecution Team, which was established by the Foreign Office to prosecute allegations of bribery, international corruption and fraud. In the UK he has advised on and appeared in cases involving fraud against the NHS, counterfeit medicines, multi-million-pound money laundering and pension fraud.

He has also appeared as counsel in high-profile murder cases and other cases of serious violence, usually for the defence.  These included the manslaughter of detainees in Iraq by British servicemen and the New Year’s murders of 17-year-old Letisha Shakespeare and 18-year-old Charlene Ellis in a drive-by shooting in Birmingham in 2003.

Former pupils, senior staff and other guests gathered in the Main Hall to enjoy sharing memories of QE in the recent and not-so-recent past, while the Headmaster reflected on the five years that have passed since he first spoke at the annual dinner.

The guest speaker was Dominic Roberts (OE 1989–1994), who works as a GP in a socially disadvantaged area of London and is an influential clinical director with the NHS, as previously featured in Alumni News.

Headmaster Neil Enright introduced the doctor, who was a Form Captain and Prefect while at School: “In many ways, Dominic embodies the QE spirit of learning, having gained numerous medical qualifications after graduating, including diplomas in child health, obstetrics and gynaecology, primary care, Ear, Nose & Throat, and, most recently, a postgraduate certificate in medical education from the University of Westminster.”

Dominic’s parents came along as his guests, as did a former QE Biology teacher, Helen Karamalakis.

Other leading figures from the School’s present and its recent past who attended the dinner included:

• • Assistant Head David Ryan (representing the current Senior Leadership Team)

• • Eric Houston (longstanding Second Master and Governor and Trustee of both the Foundation and the Friends of Queen Elizabeth’s)

• • The two most recent former Headmasters, Eamonn Harris (1984–1999) and John Marincowitz (1999–2011).

• • Current Chairman of Governors, Barrie Martin, who was joined by his two sons, Piers (OE 1987–1994) and Giles (OE 1992–1999).

The ten-year leavers (the class of 2005–2006), who traditionally attend the dinner, were represented by Zaid Belbagi, who has established a distinguished career as an expert in Middle Eastern affairs and has appeared on the BBC’s Newsnight and on Channel 4 News.

The Headmaster noted the changes in the world of education in the past five years, which, he said, had made “the quality aspect” of education increasingly important. “I’m pleased to be able to say that QE now sends more students to Oxbridge and Russell Group universities than any other state school.”

He explained to the gathered alumni how the School had embraced new technology in those five years, with eQE, the online “virtual School”, now extensively used by boys, staff and parents. He highlighted the strength of the arts and sport at the School, noting that the continued investment in the swimming pool has engendered a resurgence in swimming and water polo, which has resulted in three boys representing their country in water polo in recent years.

And he pointed to the improvements in the physical environment of Queen Elizabeth’s School, including the current work on the Heard Building, as well as the opening of the Dining Hall, The Queen’s Library and Café 1573.

Mr Enright concluded: “In the midst of all this change, one thing that I strongly believe has not changed is the ethos of the school. QE remains as strong and dynamic as ever. In 2016, QE is still by any measure one of the best schools of any type in the country, remaining in the top echelons of league tables, and just as importantly, produces well-rounded young men who are equipped to meet the challenges of a changing world.”

Artist Stephen Walter has already achieved considerable international success – particularly through his characteristic work exploring 'the glory of maps'.

But he remains ambitious – an ambition founded on his high view of Art: “I still believe that Art can make the world a better place, and that the best examples of works of Art can elevate the human species towards the beauties and wonders of the world that we have inherited.”

Stephen (OE 1987-1994) works in two forms – finely detailed semi-abstract landscapes and, secondly, maps and plans. Prints of his maps have become particularly sought-after.

His most famous work is his 2008 map of London, entitled The Island. This features tiny pencil notes indicating locations’ public and private associations, and is part-oral history, part-folklore and part-personal homage. The capital is shown as being adrift in a Home Counties sea: Stephen grew up in New Barnet, and Barnet is depicted as a coastal town.

The Island gained him some renown in 2010 when it was displayed alongside early hand-drawn maps of London at the acclaimed British Library exhibition, Magnificent Maps: Power, Propaganda and Art. Then last year, the same map was published in book form, which brought him further public attention, including an interview in The Guardian.

Both maps and London have long been subjects of fascination to Stephen, who lives and works in the capital. His studio is at Fish Island on the River Lea close to the site of the 2012 Olympic Park. As a child, he enjoyed pondering over Tolkien’s map of Mordor, imagining what the landscape this represented was like.

At QE, Stephen, who is of English and German heritage, was taught by both the current Head of Art, Ashley West, and by Art teacher Stephen Buckeridge. “I have good memories from QE, especially from the Art Department,” he says. He remembers particularly the emphasis on Art History and the opportunities provided, such as the School arranging for his A-level class to set up studio for a week in the Slade School of Art. “QE formed the first segment and the foundations of the world-class education that I was so lucky to receive.”

Mr West – “a fine teacher and an important influence” – later arranged for him to return to the School for a period as an artist-in-residence, during which time he was commissioned to produce the collages which remain displayed in the front entrance to this day.

After School, he went on to study a Foundation course at Middlesex University, before taking a first in Fine Art at Manchester Metropolitan University. He progressed to The Royal College of Art (RCA) for his Master’s degree in 1999–2001 and then later to a fellowship at the Royal Academy of Arts. He has won a number of awards, including the RCA 2001 Drawing Prize. His most recent shows have included one at the Shapero Modern gallery in Mayfair.

Stephen's own website describes his work as “an investigation into obsessive drawing techniques, semiotics, the glory of maps, and where landscape is seen a receptacle for meaning. Each work is an intricate world in itself. The maps are a tangle of words, symbols and drawn elements where cultural residues inhabit certain locations.” He mainly works in two dimensions on paper through drawing, painting, photography, and reprographics and print.

In recent works, Stephen has gone on to include sculptural forms such as his Hagioscope Frame, an interactive display case designed for viewing his own artwork, Nova Utopia.

In addition to his own work, Stephen continues to enjoy Art in all its guises, especially painting, drawing, sculpture and photography. “I’m still playing football, trekking and making expeditions into the wild places and enjoying long-distance cycling,” he says. He also enjoys Music – he was for many years a DJ – and reading (mainly non-fiction), which he describes as an essential pastime for an artist operating in the world of the arts and ideas.

Policy expert Matthew Jaffa is not only a familiar face for TV viewers in London, but also knows his way around the corridors of power.

Since graduating in Economics from Birmingham University in 2002, Matthew (1992–1999) has developed a career as an external communications professional with a solid understanding of the workings of Westminster and Whitehall.

He worked for nearly four years in the Cabinet Office, before joining the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in 2006 – an organisation devoted to helping smaller businesses achieve their ambitions. He is now the London Senior Development Manager for the FSB.

His skills include developing and implementing communication and public affairs strategies. He advises senior executives, has appeared at Select Committees and is the federation’s chief spokesperson on TV and radio, promoting the interests of its 7,000 members in the Greater London region.

His publications include Passing the baton – a report looking at how small businesses had been affected by the legacy of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics in and around the capital.

In 2013, his team achieved extensive media coverage with the launch of Parking Crowdmap, a social media platform designed to enable small businesses to let their borough councils know directly how helpful, or unhelpful, their parking policies are.

Matthew returned to QE to speak at the School’s thriving Politics Society in autumn 2016 and is pictured here with Liam Hargadon, Head of Politics. He discussed the controversial world of lobbying, outlining his organisation’s recent successful campaign over the revaluation of business rates. The FSB believed the rates were far too high for small and medium-sized businesses, and were consequently making them less competitive than larger businesses. However, under the revaluation announced in September 2016 following the FSB campaign, smaller firms will now pay no business rates whatsoever, and a new category has been introduced for medium-sized companies in order to differentiate between them and larger firms.

Matthew, whose visit was arranged and hosted by Year 12 pupil Rehaan Bapoo, discussed the need for greater transparency among those attempting to influence Government policy-making: he believes there is too much dishonesty in lobbying.

Asked about the possible effect of Brexit on small and medium-sized businesses, Matthew responded that leaving the EU will have a significant impact, particularly on the ability of firms to access talent and trade with other countries.

He gave the boys advice on how to enter both the world of lobbying and the Civil Service, as well as giving a few practical tips on progressing as a professional: he stressed the importance of keeping a well-maintained LinkedIn page.

In his spare time, Matthew is a keen golfer – “playing off a measly 20 handicap”. He also continues to play tennis regularly, as well as the odd game of football, when his knee allows.

Ian Stern has reached the summit of the legal profession, appearing in some of the highest-profile court cases of the 21st century.

Named Professional Discipline Silk of the Year by the legal directory, Chambers & Partners, in 2014, he has since further cemented his reputation as a leading Queen’s Counsel in cases such as the Old Bailey trial of retired specialist firearms officer Anthony Long, who was accused of the murder of Azelle Rodney, a 24-year-old suspected armed robber. Mr Long, whom Ian represented, was acquitted.

After leaving QE, Ian (OE 1968–1975) read Politics at Warwick and then went on to gain his Diploma in Law from City University. He was called to the Bar in 1983 and became a Recorder in 2000. He took silk (gained the award of Queen’s Counsel) in 2006.

In addition to cases involving professional discipline, his specialisms include judicial reviews, cases of murder & manslaughter and of fraud, coroners’ inquests and High Court appeals. Ian’s Chambers, 2 Bedford Row, are ranked in band 1 for professional discipline and band 2 for crime. He is a member both of the London Bar and the New South Wales Bar in Australia and is the Head of Chambers Regulatory team. Alongside his work as a barrister, he sits as a Recorder of the Crown Court, that is, a part-time judge.

In 2014, Ian was involved in a large number of cases in the field of professional discipline, including conducting the Andrew Mitchell ‘Plebgate’ misconduct hearings on behalf of the Metropolitan Police. Recent cases include that of Dr Lyndsey Thomas, who faced an allegation of gross negligence manslaughter arising from the death of a patient. Mrs Justice Nicola Davies allowed the submission of ‘no case to answer’ put forward by the defence, which Ian led.

He also has been at the forefront of several high-profile inquests in which he represented armed police officers. These include:

• Mark Duggan: The 2013–2014 inquest followed the death which started the London riots. (Ian was also involved in the judicial review launched by Mr Duggan’s mother, Pamela, following the inquest’s verdict of lawful killing.)
• Jean Charles de Menezes: Ian represented the officers who fired the shots that killed Mr de Menezes on 22nd July 2005 at Stockwell Underground Station after he was wrongly identified as a fugitive terrorist involved in the previous day’s failed bombing attempts.
• Chandler’s Ford robbery: He represented the officers who fatally shot two men as they robbed a security guard outside a bank in the Hampshire town.

Chambers and Partners is fulsome in its praise, bestowing on him plaudits including:

• “A highly regarded silk who is consistently involved in the highest-profile and most complex regulatory cases. His expertise covers a breadth of areas, and he is particularly regarded for his knowledge on police and healthcare disciplinary matters
• “Instructed by top solicitors and major prosecuting authorities alike” he is armed with “bags of common sense” and “excellent judgment” and has “the ability to handle the most complex of fraud trials”
• “Impressive advocate with a measured style and a delicate touch who always makes the right decisions”
• “Absolutely first class” and a silk “who will fight his corner for the client”
• He is noted for his advocacy, and for his ability to win over clients by “dealing with them with the necessary level of respect for their professionalism”.

Ian has recently renewed his links with QE, meeting the Headmaster. Since he is keen to support the development of advocacy skills in schoolchildren, he is liaising with the School over initiatives such as the Magistrates’ Court Mock Trial competition.