Alan Duncan was educated at two independent schools: Beechwood Park School in Markyate, and Merchant Taylors' School in Northwood, at both of which he was 'Head Monitor' (head boy).
Beechwood Park is also the title of a song from The Zombies 1967 album, Odessey and Oracle, however this refers to the place of the same name in Markyate, Hertfordshire as the group's bassist grew up nearby.
Incidentally, Markyate has a Slype Lane which may or not also be connected.
The story was based on the novel The Life and Death of the Wicked Lady Skelton by Magdalen King-Hall, which in turn, was based upon the (disputed) events surrounding the life of Lady Katherine Ferrers, the wife of the major landowner in Markyate on the main London - Birmingham road.
Markyate |
Beechwood Park gave its name to a song by The Zombies, written by the group's bassist Chris White, who grew up in Markyate.
Markyate Cell was built on the site of a 12th-century Benedictine Priory and takes its name from a cell, or smaller structure, that served the monastery.
The priory of Markyate was founded in 1145, in a wood which was then part of the parish of Caddington, and belonged to the Dean and Chapter of St Paul's Cathedral, London.
Opened in 1956, it currently has around 1200 pupils, most of whom live in the local area and surrounding villages (e.g. Markyate, Southdown, Whitwell, Kimpton, Flamstead, Redbourn, Breachwood Green and Wheathampstead.) The school has specialities in mathematics, computing and languages, and is a designated RM Pioneer School.