Mike Oliver (centre) with Head of Mathematics Andy Wilson (left) and Jud Drinkall, who joined Epsom at the same time as Mike in 1981

Common Room says farewell to College stalwart

At an emotional drinks party held in his honour in Main Hall on Wednesday, members of the Common Room said a fond farewell to Assistant Head and Senior Master Mike Oliver.

Mike, who joined Epsom as a maths teacher in 1981, is leaving at the end of this term to take up a new position as Deputy Head and Head of the Senior School at Epsom College in Malaysia, the College's new sister school under construction in Kuala Lumpur.

After an introductory speech by Head of Mathematics, Andy Wilson, Mike - affectionately known as Slaps or Mato - took the stage to recount all the meaningful moments of his 30 year career at the College, thanking the various groups and individuals who have accompanied him along the way.

Mike was Housemaster of Granville House for 15 years and has taught Mathematics from GCSE through to Further Maths and Oxbridge Applied Maths. As Assistant Head, he has been responsible for many of the tasks that keep the school running smoothly. Key amongst these has been the overall staffing of the extra-curricular programme, responsibility for the College calendar arrangements and the introduction of the e-calendar, the new style pocket calendar and student planner. He also ran hockey at the College for many years.

"Mike is a big character and has been an unbelievably important part of Epsom College. He will be very sorely missed. We wish him every success in his future role," said Andy Wilson