Our Schools' Archivist, Mr James Buckman, shares the memories of John Culley, a former teacher at the Schools, considering the SES Russian Exchange trip. John has previously shared his memories from the German Exchange trips, which can be explored
here. Background
"Before the Russian Exchange, in the days of the Soviet Union, Keith Bell, Russian Master at Stamford School, and Mike Ward, Biology Master, ran the Endowed Schools’ summer trips to Moscow and Leningrad (St Petersburg) every two years. When I joined the staff in 1985, they had just returned from one such trip. The explosion in Chernobyl meant that the next trip was not until 1988. Keith Bell had left before I started, so I joined Mike and two High School teachers for the 1988 and the 1990 trips.From 1991-4, I spent 3 years at Westcliff High School for Boys. These were tumultuous years for the Soviet Union, and a time of mixed emotions and fortunes for me too. However, at least Russian was taught at Westcliff, and together with another Russian teacher there, we established a Russian Exchange. This was probably one of the first British school exchanges with the new post-communist Russian State.In recognition for my work on their Exchange, Westcliff invited me to join them on their first visit to Moscow in April 1995."
Origins of SES Russian Exchange
"I returned to Stamford in September 1994, working with Alan Crombie and Vera Filonova, teaching Russian, although a lot of my teaching timetable was German and French, as before.In the previous academic year, Nelson Renner (OS) had invited some Russians to the School. In this group was at least one teacher from “School No. 4”, Khimki. They talked to Alan about establishing an Exchange, and the seeds for the Russian Exchange were sown. The Russians made a video film of their reception in the Reading Room.In the Autumn of 1994, Alan Crombie received a letter by Fax from the Russian school, stating that they were looking forward to visiting England in May 1995, and to receiving Stamford School boys later that year in October. Whilst in Moscow on 11th April, I took a train to Khimki and had a meeting with the Headmistress to confirm the arrangements."
First Exchange Trip (1995)
"On 29th April 1995, the first exchange party from Khimki arrived at Stamford School. They stayed until Tuesday 9th May visiting London, Cambridge and the Duxford Air Museum, as well as having a guided tour of Stamford. It was boys only in those days, partly because Russian was not taught at the High School, and partly because Alan thought it would be easier if our boys hosted boys and vice versa.In October 1995, Alan and I went to Khimki for the first Stamford School Exchange Visit (from 23rd October – 1st November). I stayed with the Geras’kov Family and I’m still in touch with them to this day. Our party visited central Moscow, including Red Square and the Kremlin, the Tretyakov Gallery, the Old Circus, the Lavochkin Factory and Space Museum in Khimki as well as Sergeev Posad, the centre of the Orthodox Church. "
"We also had a reception at a modern integrated school (“Uchebniy kompleks No.18”) with pupils from nursery to sixth form. There, we were told about the Russian school system and were entertained to lunch. For me and Alan, there was a night at the theatre, seeing “The Cherry Orchard” and a night at the operetta too.From then on, the Exchange became an annual event."
1996 Exchange (27th October–5th November)
"A party of boys from Khimki came to Stamford from 30th April–8
th May 1996. I missed some of the activities this time, because I had to travel down to Essex for a couple of days. On 27th October, we went back to Khimki. That year, I stayed with the Headmistress and her husband. Simon O’Grady joined me as the member of staff from Stamford School (as it was Alan Crombie’s sabbatical term). One of the more unusual excursions that year was a visit to a dolphinarium in a shabby building that had once been an indoor swimming pool."
1997 Exchange (26th October–4th November)
"In 1997, we hosted the Russians from 12th–22nd May. Apart from the usual group visit to London, there was also some ten-pin bowling in the programme. I also accompanied one of the teachers to London on a private visit on the Sunday, visiting Westminster, St Paul’s and the National Gallery.The 1997 visit to Khimki was from 26th October to 4th November. Apart from the usual group excursions, our hosts organised a number of concert and theatre visits for me and Alan. Unfortunately, the programme was so intense, that I fell asleep in a performance of “The Marriage of Figaro”. This was to be Alan’s last trip on the Khimki Exchange. He was succeeded by Caroline Legard from March 1998."
1998 Exchange (25th October–3rd November)
"From 2nd–12th May, we hosted the Khimki party in Stamford. There were day trips to London and Lincoln as well as a “Soiree” at the School. Two of the highlights for me on the trip to Khimki were a private visit to the Sheremetyev Palace and one of the Theatre Museum with some Russian colleagues. We also visited the studio of a porcelain artist."
1999 Exchange (12th–20th December)
"In May 1999, the first girls from Khimki came to Stamford, though the Exchange remained a Stamford School event. In December, there were three trips into Moscow: a sight-seeing tour, the Kremlin and the Tretykov Gallery. There was also a visit to Sergeyev Posad, with an extremely long-winded guided tour of the icon displays. Even the staff were flagging during this one!"
2000 Exchange (22nd-31st October)
"In the Autumn Term of 2000, I stayed with Lena Zybina and family, and we became firm friends. One of the highlights of our visit that year was a day trip to the beautiful old town of Suzdal, which included lunch in a restaurant where the menu was claimed to be 300 years old (see picture below). Caroline and I saved what we thought was cream till the end to go in our coffee. Imagine our surprise (and the Russian students’ amusement) when we poured it into our coffees, only to discover it was sour cream, intended for the cucumber starter!"
"Lena Zybina and her daughter, Dasha, were in the party in 2001 (19th-29th June). Highlights included a day trip to Lincoln and a performance of “Romeo and Juliet” at Tolethorpe.Apart from friendship and cooperation between the staff of the schools, the students have also been able to forge links between themselves and their Russian counterparts. There has even been at least one Anglo-Russian wedding."To read more stories from our archives, please browse the digital archive -
found here. 
