Andrew Clunies-Ross (Class of 1961) Notice Board
Having read about Noel's chair class of 1961 (Mr Byford's first class) Andrew emailed to say the carved notice board at the entrance to the lower school classroom block was carved by himself.
"I was quite humbled to see that it has remained hanging on the wall for so many years!" (The two side panels have been added at some point).
About Andrew after leaving Michael Hall:
I began my career by "carving" out a position as a cellist with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, after studying at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and the Royal College of Music.
During that time, I also established a publishing company to publish the works of my grandparents, Eugen and Lili Kolisko.
After 16 years in music, I changed direction and set up a computer and software company. We eventually supplied more than 1,000 Apple Macintosh computers to over 50 newspapers, including Lloyd’s List, the Financial Times and the Kronen Zeitung in Vienna and to most of the journalist training schools in the UK and one in Holland. This was during the fascinating period when newspapers were making the transition from typewriters and traditional production methods to computer-based publishing systems.
After eventually selling the business — or selling up "as it were" a phrase Jim Byford was fond of saying — I moved into the leisure industry, running two holiday parks: one in West Wales and the other in the New Forest.
These days, I am semi-retired and continue to look after a small property portfolio, which keeps me pleasantly occupied alongside playing principal cello with the London International Concert Orchestra consisting of retired professional musicians and other gifted musicians.
It is extraordinary how quickly 84 years have passed by!
My wife Fiona who raised our seven children and who studied Eurythmy in Ringwood and London and was in the London Stage Group and is also a qualified curative eurythmist.
We have seven children — one son and six daughters — who have followed a wonderfully varied range of careers:
• A deputy head teacher, now bringing up her own family
• An interior designer with offices in London and New York
• An interior designer and architect, working with her sister
• A consultant anaesthetist working in Vancouver
• A GP working in Vancouver
• A musician and social media specialist, also working with her sister
• A concert pianist, who also works with her sister.
A little more family background can be found here:
https://www.koliskoarchive.com/
https://www.helenacluniesross.com/
