Carter Croft (FN 60-65) has sent in the following update on his career since leaving the school:
 
“After leaving St Bees with modest A levels I was accepted by Guys Hospital Medical School to read dentistry; I imagine rather to the surprise of other candidates and the teachers, but in spite of this I managed to graduate, again possibly more by achievements on the sports field rather than in the classroom. This was followed by a postgraduate degree in dentistry. After graduation I went to South Africa, where I worked in private practice as well as the Addington Hospital on the Durban waterfront. Having returned to England to my birth place, I opened a practice in Kendal as well as working within the Lancaster and Preston Hospitals group. After fourteen years I decided to return to London’s West End and started a practice in Harley Street as well as working in a number of private hospitals. 

During this time my passions for rugby and cricket were pursued. I captained Guys Hospital rugby team to Hospitals Cup successes, followed by playing spells at Blackheath, London Irish, Kendal and Fylde, where I played alongside W.B. Beaumont. During a county playing career with Kent, London Counties and Cumberland and Westmorland, I played alongside former OSBs, P.J. Dixon (FN 58-63) and N.J.V. Curry (SH 60-65). I retired from first class rugby in 1977.

Cricket involved playing for Kendal CC in the Northern League, where I teamed-up with another OSB, H.J. Corrie (FN 58-62). While in London I was with Brondesbury CC in the Middlesex League. I decided to retire in 2002 when I found I was unable to bend while fielding (as well as not being good enough to keep wicket). A particular highlight at this period was playing in Courtney Walsh’s Benefit XI, fortunately on the same side with that fast bowling trio of Walsh, Garner and Holding.
 
1999 brought another change for me, a brief television career, thanks to my aunt, who was a Royal Shakespearean actress. It came about through being asked to take part in a fly on the wall documentary for the BBC; this was to follow the life and times of two contrasting males, clients of an upmarket advertising agency. It turned into a nine part series after the nine o’clock news. I was the ‘rogue’, my co-actor was the ‘golden boy’. The series created a great deal of discussion along the lines of ‘can you buy love?’ and this led on to a number of chat-show appearances etc.

In 1998 following qualifications with the Welsh RU, I embarked on a career as a rugby coach, which has been a voyage around the world. I coached the Bank of England side to the Tetley Vase finals, then migrated to Australia to work with the Queensland University rugby team in the Brisbane premier competition; two spells followed in New Zealand at the Hurricanes and next a spell with the USA National team and Brown University, Rhode Island, side. Next there were two seasons in Pro 2 France with Oyonnax and now I am with the Swiss National team. As a player and a coach I have been involved with the game in some 40 countries of the world over some 50 years. The wanderlust has not yet abated.
 
Another playing career commenced in 1995 representing the House of Commons and Lords Rugby Club, as well as playing in the Parliamentary World Cups of 1995/1999/2003. These were happy years playing alongside many of this country’s politicians as well as those from other nations. In 1999 I played in a formidable back row alongside JPR Williams. A particular high was meeting Nelson Mandela in the 1995 World Cup in South Africa. When I made my debut for the Commons and Lords side, I had the good fortune to meet a junior Treasury minister and we struck up an immediate friendship. In the spirit of Ernest Hemingway, we decided to have a look around Cuba, and a decision was made to open a Cuban restaurant in Waterloo, a cheap and cheerful, buzzy music bar called Cubana. We are now about to open our third one, in Smithfield. We even offered Fidel Castro a share along with the possibility of his becoming an entrepreneur. We were immediately declared enemies of the state! He did not even try the delicious cocktails! Well, you win a few and you lose a lot. I can assure you there have been many failed enterprises.
 
I made my home in the French Alps in 1997, not least because I formed a passion for mountains following two trips to the Himalayas. A love of skiing took me to La Clusaz, where I built a chalet whilst living in Australia. Integrating into French culture has been interesting and I now live on the shores of Lake Annecy. I have not lost contact with Nick Curry since we share share a boat on the lake. Who would have thought I would ever speak French after my attempts at GCE! There was a time when I had a brief but unspectacular fell-running career, usually finishing in the last group as the marshalls were going home! I attempted the Bob Graham marathon on several occasions though never managed to finish, but I did complete the London Marathon in 1988. 2011 brings a new challenge, the Clipper Race, a circumnavigation of the world, and my training is well underway. Believe me, trying to pass the yachtmasters is not easy for a geriatric! 

I married in 1972 and have three children. My son lives in France quite near to me and one daughter lives in Berkshire, while the youngest lives in Melbourne, Victoria. Sadly my marriage did not survive. Looking back I can say that St Bees undoubtedly gave me the drive, independence, courage and self-confidence to undertake challenges. If any OSBs are in Haute Savoie or Switzerland, please make contact with me.”