Paul Montgomery P84

I was a Pageite (1980-84) when Timothy Lewis was Housemaster. Some of my top memories probably centre around overseas trips. Paul Dinkenor organised a brilliant football tour to Bermuda – our host families were incredibly hospitable and we had the freedom to explore the island on mopeds when we weren’t playing matches or socialising! Robert Bogdan led a hockey tour to the Hague. Again, one of the highlights was staying with Dutch families and the joy of playing hockey at the Klein Zwitserland Hockey Club. The diving trip led by Dr Tyrer and organised by Major Peter Ormerod to Gibraltar was another incredible experience. Looking back now, I probably didn’t realise at the time just how fortunate I was to be able to go on such trips.

In 1984, I headed off to Pembroke College, Cambridge to read History where I was fortunate to be taught by historians such as Hew Strachan, Jay Winter and Eamon Duffy.  College sport was great fun (especially the hockey and being part of the victorious 4^th VIII when we won our oars!). In my second year, I came to faith in Christ during the C.U. Mission Week and got involved in the Christian Union and life at the Round Church. After graduation, I did a short stint in Hong Kong working for a stockbroking firm and came back to the UK aware that the City was not for me.

After 3+ years doing a variety of jobs, I did my teacher training at Nottingham University and in 1991 accepted a post as a History Master and Resident Tutor at Dean Close School in Cheltenham. 
It was during my first term of teaching that I literally bumped into Charlotte (Charlie) one Saturday afternoon and we later married in 1995. I am still at Dean Close and we have three gorgeous daughters aged 20, 16 and 12; all of whom have either been to or are currently at Dean Close.

I have also been a Day Housemaster for nearly 15 years. I really enjoy hockey umpiring and manage to umpire the majority of the Dean Close 1^st Boys’ and Girls’ matches. I believe school overseas trips are very important – I have led and co-led History trips to Russia and Munich plus two diving trips so far (Egypt and Oman). In 2019, our eldest was playing in her first Varsity hockey match for Cambridge and I happened to bump into Rob Bogdan and Charlie Atkins – a very pleasant surprise after all these years! I have enjoyed meeting up with Toby Gilks (1979-84) and his wife recently. I am sure Carthusians will continue to make the most of the opportunities on offer – being part of such a School is a real privilege. If anyone who remembers me would like to get in touch, I’m at montgomeryclan@btinternet.com.