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Andy Rhodes
Teaching Block named after Past Master
On 5 January this year the President of the
United States of America was pleased to award
the USA Meritorious Service Medal to Lieutenant
Commander Andrew Rhodes RN for
distinguished accomplishments which reflected
great credit upon himself, the Joint Program
Executive Office for Chemical and Biological
Defense, the Royal Navy and the United States
Army.
Following service at sea as Weapons Engineer
Officer on HMS Cumberland, at the time when
she became a vital component of the Libya
Emergency of 2011, Liveryman Lt Cmdr Andy
was seconded to the United States for a period
of two years. During this time, along with his
other duties, he participated with the USA in the
destruction of the Syrian Chemical Weapons
Program! He clearly represented his country and
the Royal Navy very well indeed.
We now welcome Liveryman Andy home to the
United Kingdom and congratulate him on
receiving such a prestigious award. Well done
Andy!
Past Master, Geoff Morgan has been honoured by
one of the largest and most successful mixed
comprehensive schools in the country by naming
a new £1.7m teaching block after him. Geoff
served as a governor of St Martin's School,
Brentwood for 27 years and was Chair of the
governing board for some 5 years.
The new block, which will be used to teach
English and Maths at the school which is rated
"outstanding" by OFSTED, was formally opened
by Geoff pictured on the left outside the building
with Head Teacher, Mike O'Sullivan. Geoff said at
the ceremony, "I was staggered when I heard the
building was going to be named after me. It is a
great honour. I thought I was making a
contribution to the school and they have
rewarded me more than I could have ever
anticipated".
Having worked in Human Resources, Geoff has a
life-long interest in education in both the private
and public sectors. He was Chairman of the
Education and Training Committee of the
Firefighters Company for some 3 years before
standing down at the end of 2013. He is now a
governor of Havering College of Further and
Higher Education which has 10,000 students. He
is also active with charities and is currently
Chairman of the Board of Brentwood Citizens
Advice Bureau and was a trustee of a national
charity concerned with the employment of
disadvantaged people.
Geoff, who was Master Firefighter 2009-10, was
attracted to livery because of its extensive
contributions to charities and to education and
development.