OSA Committee

The Old Shebbearians' Association (OSA) is led by a committee of Alumni.  

Oliver Sinden - President

I attended Shebbear College between 1995 and 2002 and went on to study Mathematics at Imperial College London. I now work as a Data Analyst. 

Jamie Sanders - Vice President

Chris Blencowe - Treasurer 

I was at Shebbear between 1961 and 1968 and went on to study at Reading University and Kings College, London. I had a full career as a Royal Air Force officer and retired in 2005 after a four and half year stint as the Defence Attaché in the British Embassy in Paris. After the military, I spent 9 years as Treasurer and Bursar of Pembroke College, Cambridge where I am still an Emeritus Fellow, although I believe this to be a rather grand term for simply being old! 

As a former school cricket captain, I am proud of still playing when I was sixty five, even if I had to organise my own team to get a game. 

I have been a committee member for over twenty years. I was President of the OSA in 2007 and have been the association’s Treasurer for the last 13 years. 

Andy Bryan - Secretary 

I am only an honorary OS, I taught at Shebbear full time (English and Games) from 1989-2009 and then part time from 2009-2019 since when I have been fully retired and have moved to Gloucestershire. I took on the role of secretary of the OSA in 2009. I am always keen to be involved especially with cricket, whether that be arranging games between Old Shebbearians and current College students or convincing young Barbadian players to come and spend a year at school in Shebbear! 

Amy Bernstone - Secretary

I hope one day to be an honorary OS like Andy! I started working at Shebbear in January 2020 as school receptionist.  I am involved in much of the day to day life at the school and so it made perfect sense to extend this to the OSA.  Before having children I worked for a defence logistics company so anything involving organising is a good fit for me, Andy and I make a great team! 

Philip Daniel 

I was at Shebbear from 1958 to 1966 (following my father, 1929-1935, and grandfather under Tommy Ruddle in the first decade of the twentieth century). After Shebbear, I went to Oxford (St Catherine’s College) to read Philosophy, Politics and Economics, much thanks to Dick Birch at Shebbear, then to the University of East Anglia to do an MA in Development Economics. 

My first proper job was as an Overseas Development Institute Fellow posted as an economist with the East African Community in Arusha, Tanzania, living there from 1970 to 1974. After this, I continued to work in development economics, finishing at the International Monetary Fund (Fiscal Affairs) in Washington DC from 2006 onwards, retiring from there in 2015. I have published a number of books, including the editing of two standard texts on the taxation of extractive industries (mining and petroleum). 

I am now Honorary Professor at the University of Dundee, where I teach occasionally. I also teach at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford. I have continued to do economics consulting and, in recent years, have been an “expert witness” in arbitration cases. 

Mike Tucker 

I was at Shebbear from 1959-1967 I studied English, History, Economics and Education then entered the teaching profession where I stayed (at West Buckland ssshhhh!) for over 40 years.  

Of my interests it is revealing how many were initiated or developed at Shebbear, these include literature, history, politics and international affairs, film, sport (especially rugby and cricket) natural history, walking (especially the moors of Devon and the Lake District)  

As on Old Boy and born and bred North Devonian, I feel Shebbear is a school to be respected and proud of. Since 2015 I have stepped down from full-time work, although I seem to be quite busy still, keeping myself fed, fit and healthy (including on the cricket pitch), developing my house, playing a part on several committees.

Jim Hancock 

I was at Shebbear College from 1962-67. I then headed north to Manchester University where I graduated, before becoming President of the Student Union in 1972. 

I embarked on a career in political broadcast journalism. Firstly with Piccadilly Radio in Manchester, then as a Lobby Correspondent with Independent Radio News at Westminster. I returned north to become Political Editor of Granada TV 1987-94 before returning to Westminster as a national BBC Correspondent. It was back to Manchester to host the BBC local radio breakfast show with Victoria Derbyshire, before I ended my broadcast career as Political Editor of BBC North West 1997-06 

In semi retirement I was honoured to be President of the OSA 2013-14. I blog and podcast on politics, do media training and am currently Pro Chancellor of Manchester University. 

Dick Corbett- Winder