The Plummer family connection to the Dragon dates back to 1947, when Ma and Pa Plum started Plum’s Boarding House at No.6 Bardwell Road. Elizabeth Groves née Plummer (OD 1956) joined the School followed by John Plummer (OD 1959) and then finally both born Dragons, Christopher Plummer (OD 1965) and Sarah McClelland née Plummer (OD 1967) both born right here on Bardwell Road. From 1986 until now, Sarah has continued at the Dragon, through various roles, School Secretary, Estates, Second Hand Shop and working in the beloved ‘Dungeon’ (the School’s costume cupboard.) It’s where she met her husband Peter McClelland (Former Staff 1986-2011), together known as Ma and Pa Roo and was joined by her children Alistair McClelland (OD 1999) and Lucy Pollock née McClelland (OD 2000). In this edition we take a Walk Down Dragon Lane with Sarah, her brother Chris and Sarah’s children and compare a history of Dragons spanning over 40 years.
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My time at the Dragon School in three words
Lucy: Bustling, shaping, precious…(and home!)
Sarah: Playground of Opportunities
Alistair: Sociable, unique, challenging.
Christopher: Fulfilling, inspirational, energetic
When I was a young Dragon, I wanted to be
Lucy: News correspondent/broadcaster or philanthropist
Sarah: Whatever I might have thought of; it didn’t happen!
Alistair: I don’t think I had particular aspirations as a child. I was more focused on the moment than the future..
Christopher: Marine biologist. Not a clue!
The superpower I wish I had
Lucy: Immortality
Sarah: Slow down time….
Alistair: Super speed.
Christopher: Exactly as now, happy, healthy and loved
Eggy or marbles? Squares or Pin? Snakes or Rubix Cube?
Lucy: Marbles and conkers…that was a hard one as yo-yo was a firm favourite too!
Sarah: Conkers & Marbles
Alistair: Diablo and Yo-Yo.
Christopher: Marbles and conkers
My inspiration growing up
Lucy: Mother Theresa
Sarah: Plum, my father, for his care, understanding and wisdom.
Alistair: Probably my father, grandfather and Eddie Jordan.
Christopher: my father ‘Plum’
At the top of my bucket list
Lucy: Centre court tickets for all the Tennis Grand Slams or stay at best wellness/yoga retreat.
Sarah: Keep ‘my marbles’ and a sense of humour, for a long as possible
Alistair: There are a fair few countries i’d like to go to – India, Japan, Canada, Central America, Sweden…
Christopher: I don’t have one. How boring of me.
My most memorable moment at the Dragon
Lucy: Trip to India (Future Hope charity). Also, as a child who was born and raised at the Dragon due to my parents hard work in education, I was privileged to not only school there but also live there. I had an extremely happy time growing up in No.28 with many memorable memories running around the Boy’s boarding house!
Sarah: Certainly one of my most is learning to swim in a murky Cherwell river with a canvas bubble on my back or Parni holding a pole and rope, ready for me to grab if sinking! Also the weight of a full wet woollen B suit blazer, shorts and a leather belt as I climbed out of the river up the steps beneath the high diving board after successfully passing my clothes test.
Alistair: Plenty – Gimbles trips, boating on the Cherwell, sports day, Dragon sale, rollerblading and hitting a ball against the wall in The Rink, Dragon lane…
Christopher: Too many but being out first ball when playing for the Snapdragons. Now member of the Primary Club.
My biggest achievement
Lucy: My three daughters: Aurelia (5yrs), Xanthe (3yrs) & Yasmin (9months)
Sarah: My two children and I suppose still being at the Dragon!
Alistair: 2:56 marathon.
Christopher: Working hard and enjoying whatever I did and bringing up a lovely family
The advice I would give to my younger self
Lucy: Believe in yourself
Sarah: As A. A. Milne wrote: ‘You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think’
Alistair: Be tenacious.
Christopher: Keep calm, think carefully and carry on, even if the odds seem challenging
In one sentence, what does it mean to be a Dragon?
Lucy: A person with eyes wide open to opportunity, adventure, challenge and diversity. But overall, personally, I just feel very proud to be a Dragon!
Sarah: Being a member of this unique family that has connections round every corner and continues to grow worldwide
Alistair: A very fortunate child.
Christopher: Continuing life long friendships and very happy memories of being brought u with 17 other boys in the house
Since my Dragon days…
Lucy: I went to Gordonstoun school for my Secondary education.
Leeds University for my Undergraduate degree in Latin and then Cambridge University for a PGCE in Classics. Lived around the world in America, Africa, Australia, Asia and the UK. Teaching in schools and furthering my training as a Tennis coach and Yoga instructor. Also, spending sometime doing charity work as a Care Worker. Currently living island life in Brunei with my husband and three daughters. Soaking up time as a Mummy and doing some Language teaching at the International school.
Sarah:I attended Headington School (big shock being all girls, after the Dragon!) Took a secretarial course which led me on to working as a medical secretary at the Radcliffe Infirmary; then College Secretary to the Rector of Exeter College, Oxford (Greig Barr, father of two ODs, Andy and Robbie). During this time I came to the Dragon to assist Ma Esau with the dancing; Harry Lynam on the piano. Also under my father’s direction helped with make-up for the plays. In the staff Common Room I met Peter McClelland who was on a teaching exchange from Melbourne. We married in 1981 and returned to Australia. In 1986 Inky invited us to run 28 Bardwell Road; this we did for eleven years as Ma and Pa Roo; bring up two two children along with twenty boys. My involvement in drama and dancing continued and drama still to this day, I became full time School Secretary under Roger Trafford and John Baugh for twelve years, In addition to involving myself in other roles within the school, I am now back in the school office. Since I was born in Plum’s boarding house, I have spanned the life of eight Heads.
Alistair: -Gordonstoun school
-Duke of Cambridge, Oxford
-Wine industry
-Married with a 5 year old daughter and 2 year old son.
-Career in Wealth Management, City of London.
Christopher: The Plummer family, as sister Sarah, are still working at the school, as did my parents between 1947 and 1981 and beyond. After my time at the Dragon, I eventually studied more science, as a degree and then working at oxford Polytechnic, before moving into IT. I worked for the MOD then a private computer software company, before working for the Oxford Delegacy of Local Examinations scoping and installing a new computer system. After 10 years I became the IT project manger of a £2m project at CABI, before deciding at 51 to ‘retire’. At least that was the theory. I worked for ISIS Ceramics briefly near our home in Horton-cum-Studley, before we moved to Carmarthenshire and purchased a small holding with a very old farmhouse, sheep, pigs, hens and lots of wild life. Since 2004 I have worked part-time mostly restoring and maintaining old buildings, using my IT experience and working as Finance Officer of the local town council. and managing the accounts of a number of clubs. Music Festival, Sports Association and particularly our successful local Community shop, in support of my wife who raised a staggering £1.2M for a new build. Finally a note: I have my dear father and teacher ‘Plum’ for keeping cool with numbers and for his example in giving back time to the community as a volunteer for as long as you can. I feel strongly that we should all do that. It is rewarding and in true Dragon tradition supporting the community whatever and where that might be.
Would you like to take a ‘walk down Dragon Lane’? Please get in touch with the Development team; we’d love to hear from you.
