Good to catch up with Simon Beattie (Hampden '93) this morning to talk all things AGS including his involvement in the legendary Barbershop Group (later known as Doctor's Orders under the management of Dr Robin Greyson).

We're about to add Simon to our wall of achievement to celebrate his career setting up his own business as an Antiquarian Bookseller and his translation of Friedo Lampe’s banned 1933 novel At the Edge of the Night.

Simon went to the University of Exeter, where he took a double first in German and Russian, before studying for an MA in Lexicography (passed with Distinction).  Whilst at Exeter, he also held a choral scholarship in the Cathedral Choir.  After a brief spell working at Oxford University Press on the Oxford Russian Dictionary, he became an antiquarian bookseller with the leading London firm, Bernard Quaritch, in 1998.  A dozen years later, he set up his own business, the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association soon describing him as ‘a dealer to watch’.  His printed catalogues have won seven design awards to date, on both sides of the Atlantic, and in 2012 he was included among the winners of the Smarta 100 Awards for ‘the most resourceful, original, exciting small businesses in the UK.
 
As a keen supporter of our School in 2015, Simon founded the Brooker Prize for German and Beattie Cup for Musicianship, both awarded annually at Senior Prizegiving. He dedicated his translation of Friedo Lampe’s novel to former AGS German teachers Jackie Brooker and Andrew Ormanroyd.  There is a copy in the School Library.

Interesting interview here with Simon by Rare Book Hub

https://www.rarebookhub.com/articles/2674

Another wonderful example of the breadth of career paths our OAs take.