Old Gregorian Medal
This award was conceived with the aim to recognise the outstanding contribution an OG has made either to society as a whole or to St Gregory’s Society and where an award is due, it is announced at the School’s Prize Day in Summer Term. The Medal acknowledges people with exemplary service, which may be paid or unpaid, who have implemented change, with an emphasis on practical achievement; have demonstrated innovation and entrepreneurship; are examples of the best sustained and selfless voluntary service or have delivered in a way that has brought distinction to Christian life.
Nominations are accepted throughout the year and will be reviewed by St Gregory’s Council in the Lent Term meeting.
Click here for the nomination form.
OLD GREGORIAN MEDAL WINNERS
2023 - John Scanlan (S54)
John Scanlan is a Papal Knight: Knight Commander of the Pontifical Order of St Gregory the Great, awarded for his charitable work for the church. John is also a Knight Grand Cross of the Equestrian Order of Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, working to support Christians in the Holy Land. In addition to the above, John has been awarded Cross of Officer of the Royal Order of Isabel la Católica: CRIC which was awarded by HM King Juan Carlos and the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in recognition of his contribution to better relations between Spain and England.
2022 - William White (B14)
William has dedicated so much of his time to helping local and regional charities. He took part in an Iceland trek and other challenges and marathons. He exudes service and kindness to others. More recently he joined 2 Para as a non-commissioned officer and was involved in the Kabul evacuation
2022 - Fr James Hood (B72)
Fr James has given his life to the Community of St Gregory the Great and inspired so many of Downside’s pupils in his time. He has enriched the lives of so many. He is also heavily involved with the Downside Fisher Youth Club and the Order of Malta Volunteers Pilgrimage to Lourdes.
2020 - Fr Timothy Radcliffe (S63)
Fr Timothy was ordained in 1971, he is a distinguished preacher and writer. He was the first Englishman to serve as Master of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans). He founded Dominican Volunteers International, playing a key part in establishing the Franciscan-Dominican representative offices at the United Nations. In 2003 he was made an honorary Doctor of Divinity at Oxford University and from 2014 to 2016, was the Director of the Las Casas Institute, focusing social justice and human rights. Based at Blackfriars, Oxford, he continues to be a member of the Institute’s Advisory Board and is also a Consulter for the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace.
2019 – John Pontifex (U93)
John was awarded the OG Medal for all of his outstanding work on behalf of Aid to the Church in Need, the Catholic charity which supports persecuted and other suffering Christians in 140 countries around the world. John has raised awareness of the plight of persecuted Christians in Syria and elsewhere in the world and continues to do so on a daily basis. Although John’s work has been the focus of media attention, it is characteristic of him that the focus is always on the vital people and issues, and never himself.
2018 – Chris Dick (C53)
Chris was nominated for the decades he has spent working hard to support and help those from disadvantaged backgrounds. First with Centrepoint and then with Training for Life. From 2006 he was a Trustee and was then appointed as an ambassador of the charity Depaul International that helps the poorest in world-wide projects. In 2001 he became a Trustee and Chairman of the Downside Fisher Youth Club, and after retiring in 2010, still actively supports the Club. He is gentle, humble and has worked tirelessly to fundraise and introduce new ideas, including the change to admit girls as full members to Downside School.
2017 – Edward Fitzgerald (B70)
Clearly the star of his year and a great participant of the Abingdon when at Downside and even then something of a legend. He was Silk of the year in 2013 and has since made a name for himself as the leading QC to defend human rights. This includes the right to a fair trial and the abolition of the death penalty. He has defended the indefensible, Myra Hindley, John Venables and Abu Quatada and although not pleading for their innocence, making sure that they are treated fairly in a modern democracy.
2016 – Martin Appleby (S50)
Martin has used his sound business and financial knowledge to help a wide range of charitable and other organisations in a way that never seeks to draw attention to himself. He has been one of our governors, chairman of the Amazon Trust, the Van Neste Foundation, St James’ Priory and a Trustee of the Clifton Diocese and the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood. Declan, Bishop of Clifton, has written: ‘In all of this Martin showed his great love for the Church and the mission of the Diocese. It was indeed an expression of his faith put into action.’
2015 – Emmanuel de Merode (C88)
Prince Emmanuel de Merode, who does not use his title, was appointed Director of Virunga National Park by the Congolese government on 1st August 2008. He has led a team of rangers on a project to preserve this refuge of Mountain Gorillas and other remarkable wildlife in the middle of a civil war and at great risk. In recent years 120 Rangers have been killed and Emmanuel was himself shot and seriously injured in April 2014. In spite of being shot in the abdomen and chest, he was back at work next month.
2015 – Martin Kochanski (U72)
Martin has used his gifts and education as a mathematician and computer expert to bring the Prayer of the Church and the Mass and the Scripture readings for each day into easy reach for everyone. Professional religious people might have been expected to do that, but didn’t, so this year’s recipient of the Old Gregorian Medal did it himself. If you don’t know the site Universalis go and find it today; better still, purchase and download the beautiful App and you will be sponsoring our Polish scholars.
2014 – Jake Francis-Jones (B55)
Jake single-handedly built up the contact list, developed an electronic newsletter, and sought every opportunity to develop the Old Gregorian network through individual contact and the sheer power of his personality. In his work with the society, Jake also learnt about some OGs who had fallen on hard times. Over time this work, became known as the ‘Bruised Reeds’ and Jake took an immense amount of the work on himself, as well as mobilising other OGs who could help.