Honorary Patron Fasha Mahjoor Welcomed Back to RGS Worcester
It was a great pleasure to welcome back our Honorary Patron, Fasha Mahjoor (RGS 1967-72), and to meet, for the first time, his family, who had travelled from California for the occasion. For Fasha’s wife, Fariba, their children, Farran and Fiona and son-in-law, Trent, it was a chance to visit the School where Fasha was a pupil and boarder in Whiteladies House. When they were children, after Fasha’s description of the School, Fiona and Farran said they imagined RGS as the Worcester version of Hogwarts!
Fasha was thrilled to show the family his schoolboy home and the place where some of his strongest lifelong friendships were forged. He frequently credits the opportunities and successes he has enjoyed in his life to the time he spent at RGS. However, RGS is more than just nostalgic reminiscing for Fasha; his extensive philanthropic support over many years reflects his belief in what the School provides to the community.
Fasha’s family took school lunch with Lower Sixth Form students and, during the visit, met pupils, staff, parents and alumni who were able to explain how well RGS is doing – across its academic subjects, with the forward-looking approach to digital technology and AI education a very topical highlight. The family also discovered the incredible breadth and depth of Co-curricular opportunities on offer at RGS from Drama and Debating to a wide range of 23 Sports.
As a native of Australia, Trent was especially keen to hear about Cricket at RGS and was impressed by how girls enjoy coaching and fixtures alongside the boys. Farran is a composer and was fascinated by the sheer number of opportunities to study and perform Music at RGS. Fiona is looking at schooling options for her young children and thoroughly enjoyed visiting RGS The Grange, where the Headmaster, Gareth Hughes, was able to show her all that pupils can experience as they embark on their education journey. Fiona confided that The Grange surpassed all the schools she and Trent had visited in the US and Australia. Fiona added that, while it may not have the towers or tunnels at Hogwarts, it still feels like a magical place.
Fasha served as a trustee of the Outward Bound Trust for nine years and he is especially passionate about creating opportunities for young people beyond the classroom. Meeting CCF and DofE leaders in the rifle range under Perrins Hall was a highlight of the tour and reinforced the School’s commitment to preparing its young people to be citizens of the world. He has always recognised that his family has supported him in all of his volunteering and philanthropic activities, which is why it is important that they see the beneficiaries and the impact of his support.
The tour ended with Fasha visiting what would have been his bedrooms in Whiteladies and a visit to the Anthony Wheeler Boardroom. Anthony Wheeler (ARW) was Fasha’s Housemaster and mentor in Whiteladies, so it was a fitting end to take tea under ARW’s watchful gaze. After thanking the Headmaster and asking that thanks be conveyed to everyone who contributed to the day, Fariba summed up the visit to RGS succinctly by declaring, “Now we all really get it and understand why the School means so much to Fasha!”
We look forward to welcoming Fariba, Farran, Fiona and Trent back when they are next in Worcester – Fasha will be back in September for the Old Elizabethans Reunion Weekend, when he and some of the friends he made at RGS over 50 years ago will join him in Perrins Hall for the annual OE Dinner.
Mr Scott MacDonald, Foundation Director
