College News Autumn 2016 by Cheltenham College

COLLEGE NEWS Autumn 2016

Impressing the Dragons Third Formers win GCHQ entrepreneurs competition

From coast to College Pupils and staff run 200 miles for the Afghan Connection

Jamie races with Paul Hollywood GT4 champion races with The Great British Bake Off star

When cricket met chocolate Celebrity chef creates chocolate masterpiece for the cricket festival 1

Bishop of Gloucester officiates at Confirmation

Twenty candidates were confirmed into the Church of England by the Bishop of Gloucester, the Rt Reverend Rachel Treweek, at the annual Confirmation service in College Chapel. Bishop Rachel is the first female diocesan bishop in the Church of England and it was a joy to welcome her to College. During the service, the choir sang the first full performance of the new College Mass setting composed by Director of Music, Mr David McKee.

Dr Alex Peterken Headmaster

Celebrating College’s best ever GCSE results

We start this term and new academic year with great enthusiasm after receiving very strong examination results over the summer. We celebrated pupils achieving College’s best ever GCSE results: 41% of all GCSEs were graded A* and 71% were graded A*-A, with around 50% of pupils achieving at least five A*s. Thirty two of our pupils gained seven A*s or more, with ten pupils earning an outstanding ten or more A* grades. I am also delighted that one in three A Level pupils attained an A* grade and 75% of all grades were A*-B. All of our Oxbridge candidates were successful, securing places to read Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, History and Classics. Furthermore, over 75% of our Upper Sixth successfully gained places at Russell Group universities alongside top universities including St Andrews and Bath. Whilst of course exam results and academic focus are at the core of our College ethos, it is important to remember that these outstanding results were achieved while maintaining a commitment to the rich co-curricular programme we offer, encompassing sports, music, drama, charities, Duke of Edinburgh and CCF training. We don’t want to ensure that our pupils are just stretched academically, but that during their time at College they flourish in a richly diverse range of activities outside of the classroom. This not only leads to a happy and purposeful experience at College, but helps equip our boys and girls with the skills they need for the next phase of their lives. I am confident that a Cheltenham College education does just that; as you can see from the sheer breadth of events our pupils participated in last term.

Dr Alex Peterken, Headmaster

College News Autumn 2016

The Upper Sixth say goodbye For many of us, it seemed far too recently that we were walking over to our introductory Lower Sixth drinks. But almost two years on, the time for our leavers’ drinks had arrived.

During the barbecue, small groups sat in front of the camera and recorded thoughts about our time at College. We spoke about our favourite memories, what we will miss about College and our plans for the future. This video will be replayed to us in 25 years’ time when hopefully the answers to these questions will be far more apparent. After five years at College, the evening highlighted the friendships that have been forged and also the ease at which pupils and staff mingled amongst one another. The prospect of leaving College provoked a whole host of emotions. Predominantly, there was a mixture of both

nervousness at leaving the comfort of College but also excitement at facing a whole new set of experiences and challenges. College teaches pupils how to handle new situations and I feel most leavers are looking forward to putting into practice the life skills we have been taught here. Our time at College has been fast-paced, varied and fulfilling. Be it time spent on the hockey pitch, on the stage at the variety show or cramming revision before an exam, we have experienced these five years as a group and come through stronger for it. Friendships made here will last well beyond College, along with a fondness of memories for our time here. For more photos, visit the Upper Sixth leavers’ barbecue Facebook album at www.facebook.com/cheltcollege.

Antonia Stuckey (2016, Q)

College pupils win ‘Dragons’ Den’ competition at GCHQ A group of Third Formers won the GFutures Gloucestershire Young Entrepreneurs’ Inter-Schools Competition with a design for a multifunctional helmet called the Helm-i. The group, consisting of Edward Ferris (4th, NH), Anna Kuptsova (4th, A), Gus Milton (4th, Xt), Piers Morgan (4th, Xt) and Duncan Pinchen (4th, Xt), was selected to represent College at G CHQ following the D ragons’ Den competition at College in October 2015. Helm-i is a multifunctional helmet for both sport and travel by cyclists, motorcyclists, and even skateboarders. It integrates

with your phone to make calls, play music or give directions. It also uses a voice command system (such as Siri™ or Cortana™) and can display various information, including GPS maps, on an interactive visor.

The team stood up confidently, handed out a detailed flier designed by Anna and then delivered a slick presentation covering target market, styles of marketing, costing, and future possible developments before dealing well with some tricky questions from GCHQ staff. Deputy Chief Technical Officer at GCHQ and the head judge said, “This is one of the most enjoyable things of the year I do because to see the enthusiasm and entrepreneurial spirit of the youngsters makes me really optimistic for the future.”

Cheltenham College recognized as a leading school by Sandhurst

The Headmaster and I were invited to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as guests of the Commandant, Major General Paul Nanson CBE, in recognition of Cheltenham College’s role as one of the leading providers of Officer Cadets to the Academy over the previous three years. After a briefing from the Assistant Commandant we watched the incredible spectacle of the Commandant’s Parade, which is the final dress rehearsal before the Sovereign’s Parade. This is where the Senior Division march up the steps of

Old College, followed by the Adjutant on horseback, to begin their career of service and leadership. After the parade, the Headmaster and I were joined by Rishi Ahluwalia (2010, L) of the Light Dragoons, and Will Charlesworth (2012, BH) of the Household Cavalry Regiment, for lunch and an insight into the world of resilience, endurance, closed weekends, Sunday Chapel and sport (rugbyfor Will, British Army polo for Rishi). There were many similarities in both ethos and outlook between the Academy and College, which recently provided eight young officers to a single tour of operations in Afghanistan.

The military link at College remains very strong, in terms of the success and variety of the CCF, our recent award of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Award and not least through the 40 or more Armed Forces families that make up the College boarding community. The Officer Cadets were fantastic ambassadors for both the British Army and for College, and we look forward to seeing them explaining the Sandhurst experience and the life of a young officer at a future College talk.

Major Richard Penny, CCF Contingent Commander and Housemaster of Boyne House

The Tallis Scholars sing with College’s Chamber Choir Cheltenham College was privileged to host the world-famous group The Tallis Scholars for a magnificent concert as part of the Summer Arts Programme. Arguably the best, certainly the most famous, professional chamber choir in the world, The Tallis Scholars specialise in performing music of

the Renaissance. The group has been nominated for three Grammy Awards and have been called “the rock stars of Renaissance vocal music” by The New York Times and “one of the UK’s greatest cultural exports” by the BBC.

They performed Thomas Tallis’ 40-part motet Spem in Alium. This seminal work is considered by

some to be the greatest piece of English early music. Written for eight choirs, each comprising five parts, this is rarely performed due to the numbers involved. Given that there are only 10 members of The Tallis Scholars, they were joined for this item in the programme by members of the College Chamber Choir. This was an amazing opportunity for our talented students to rehearse and perform alongside some of the finest consort singers in the world, as well as The Tallis Scholars’ director, Peter Phillips. Opportunities for school choirs to perform Spem in Alium do not often present themselves, so it was a once in a lifetime experience for College’s singers. In addition to this exhilarating performance, the rest of the programme was sublimely performed in this group’s iconic style, with purity of tone and amazing precision. College hopes to form lasting links with this world-class ensemble, so there will be other opportunities to experience their performance in College’s stunning Chapel.

Musical talent on display at the Jazz and Rock Concert This year’s Jazz and Rock Concert featured the Jazz Band, the new amalgamation of JIG and Big Band, an acoustic band and a solo performance by Annabelle Rigg (5th, Q). Annabelle sang an incredible version of Photograph by Ed Sheeran, accompanied on the piano by Henry Parsons (5th, BH). The acoustic band, featuring Ankita Mediratta (U6, W) on vocals, Jack Burns (U6, NH) on guitar, and Tiger Chan (U6, NH) on drums, slowed the tempo with great versions of Ho Hey by The Lumineers and Stitches by Shawn Mendes. The Jazz Band was a real delight and performed four pieces; Honor McFarlane (5th, W) made her vocal debut with the band, singing Pack Up by

College News Autumn 2016

Eliza Dolittle. Notable soloists were Rafal Dovgialo (5th, L) on saxophone, Gaurav Mediratta (4th, L) on saxophone and Charlie Meecham-Jones (5th, Xt) on trumpet. JIG played a variety of pieces including The Flik Machine from the film, A Bug’s Life, Forget You by Cee Lo Green and sung by Arabella Knowles (2016, A), and finished with the duet I Wan’na Be Like You sang by Freddie Foster

(U6, NH) and I. It was very entertaining evening, with jazz takes on lots of popular songs.

Fergus McNeile (U6, NH)

When cricket met chocolate!

Celebrity chef, Samantha Rain – part of the winning team on BBC’s Two’s Bake Off: Crème de la Crème – worked with Cheltenham College’s chefs to produce mouth-watering desserts for the Cricket Festival, hosted on College’s campus from 13 – 24 July. The delicacies included chocolate cricket balls filled with gin and tonic mousse, Pimm’s jelly with elderflower foam and White Russian trifles. Sam also designed a centrepiece consisting of a cricket bat, ball, wickets and grass made entirely from chocolate, which was then created by Cheltenham College’s chefs. “There’s no limit to what you can make with chocolate” explained Sam, whose enthusiasm and creativity know no boundaries. For the stumps and bails, Sam explained how she created the bespoke moulds purely from gelatin. “Winning Bake Off: Crème de la Crème gave me so much confidence and the conviction that there really is no limit to what you can make with chocolate. I love being experimental and projects such as this enable me to try out new concepts.” She worked closely with College’s Executive Chef, Mike Rooke and Head Pastry Chef, Steve Lee to design and produce theses delightful cricket desserts on campus in the College kitchens. Mike said “The whole team was excited to work with Sam and has benefitted from her skills and infectious creative drive. We are truly pleased with the exceptional desserts our team produced.”

BBC Radio Gloucestershire visits College

Cheltenham College welcomed BBC Radio Gloucestershire DJ Dominic Cotter for a tour of Chapel in June. Mr Nick Nelson, Head of History of Art and Director of Internationalism and Culture, is a regular on Dominic’s radio programme, rounding up the arts events in Gloucestershire and further afield. They toured the interior and exterior of the Chapel with Mrs Christine Leighton, Head Archivist, pausing at the Wilson window, to discuss the legendary Old Cheltonian, Edward Adrian Wilson, poring over his original sketchbooks. Given the numerous references in the Chapel to the former Cheltonians who lost their lives in the Great War, discussion inevitably turned to commemoration and reflection in another key centenary year. In November 2016, College will host a significant First World War exhibition, which will be the third in a series of remembrance at the College, in respect of nearly 700 Old Cheltonians who died in the First World War. Dominic’s visit concluded with a tour of College with Lower Sixth Form students Milly Fair (U6, A) and Jack Burns (U6, NH) who proved to be excellent hosts for Dominic and ambassadors for College.

Cricketer who inspired PG Wodehouse’s butler honoured

A cricketer who unwittingly inspired author PG Wodehouse to name is unflappable valet ‘Jeeves’ had a poplar tree planted in his memory at Cheltenham College during the Cheltenham Cricket Festival. Percy Jeeves was playing in a cricket match on the Cheltenham College campus in August 1913 when PG Wodehouse saw him play. Liking the cricketer’s bowling action, the young author would remember his name in 1916 and immortalise it. Comic novelist Wodehouse brought the Reginald Jeeves character to life in a series of short stories and books in which the knowledgeable and perceptive butler helped his master Bertie Wooster cope with life’s vagaries. While the character became famous, sadly the cricketer died in the Battle of the Somme in 1916, without ever realising he had inspired Wodehouse. Hilary Bruce, chair of the PG Wodehouse Society, said, “We wouldn’t have Jeeves the famous character unless we’d had Jeeves the cricketer. It was purely by chance that the author PG Wodehouse was at Cheltenham cricket ground watching a match in which Percy Jeeves was playing.” While living in New York in 1916, Wodehouse was looking for the right name for an “all-knowing valet” and recalled the young cricketer. “Names were always important to Wodehouse and suddenly Jeeves floated into his mind and he thought ‘that’s it - that is the name, that is the one I’ve been looking for’,” said Ms Bruce.

England’s U14 hockey champions Two pupils, Frankie Russell (4th, S) and Seb Blake (4th, BH), were crowned national champions as their Cheltenham team won the U14 Boys England Hockey Championship at the Olympic Park in London in May.

and winning with three penalties (flicks) to none. Seb commented, “Playing at the Olympic Park was very special. I have been playing for Cheltenham since I was eight and we got to the national final at U12 but lost on flicks, which made the win this year that bit more significant. There were lots of tense moments: in our first match, we went 2-0 down and managed to come back and win 3-2.

In the final we scored the first goal but then Surbiton scored two quick goals. At halftime, it was 2-1. At the very end of the second half, we won a short corner and we scored taking it to flicks. I was going to take the fifth flick but our keeper saved the one before me meaning we had won! Cheers went up from the crowd and Cheltenham took the title of U14 National Champions!”

Head of Hockey, Mr Gwyn Williams, said, “This is a great achievement for Frankie and Seb, and a day that they will remember for many years to come. Both boys are very committed to the hockey programme here at College and this is a great reward for all their time and effort they have put into their training, both here and at Cheltenham Hockey Club.” Cheltenham played three matches in the lead up to the final, winning two and drawing one. They then played Surbiton in the final, drawing 2 – 2

Golf Trio Reach National Finals

Harrison Ottley-Woodd (2016, L), Parth Patel (U6, H) and Intouch Ruckpanich (U6, L), represented College in the Independent Schools’ Golf Association National Finals at St Andrews - ‘the home of golf’. Having progressed through the regional qualifiers by beating Malvern College, Bromsgrove and St Edwards, Cheltenham, the boys headed north to compete in the finals against 20 other schools from across the UK. On the first morning’s play, Harrison took full advantage of the relatively benign conditions to shoot an incredibly impressive 71 (-1), including a near miss for eagle on the eighteenth hole. At the end of the day’s play, the team was eighth overall with Harrison holding third place on the individual leader board. The following morning, conditions were far from ideal and 40-50mph gusts off the North Sea were always going to provide a stern golfing test. A measure of the severity of the conditions was Intouch’s 370-yard downwind drive on the ninth hole! At the conclusion of the tournament, the boys were placed in twelfth position nationally, a wonderful achievement and a reflection of the strength of golf at College. The boys were great ambassadors and even seemed to enjoy the seven-hour drive home!

College pupil wins English boxing championship

Sophie Morton (4th, Q) became the national champion of the England Boxing Schools and Minors Championship in her category, where over 140 boxers fought for a coveted pair of golden gloves. Here, she tells us more about her success: “I won the ABA national title in June, the highest title I could win at this stage and I am very proud of my golden gloves. My parents bought me a punch bag for my birthday two years ago as a fun present but they did not anticipate that I would enjoy it so much. I spent hours in the basement practising my jabs and my hooks; from there I went to my first session in Droitwich Amateur Boxing Club. I am one of two girls in a predominantly male club from all ages and I like the challenge and breaking the sexist stereotype. I train four times a week for two to three hours each time where we do a range of physical activities from skipping to sparring. Each session ends with either an abdominal circuit or a fitness circuit. It was tough at first but my muscles have now adapted to the pressure and I enjoy the intensity of the training. My coach really believes in me and pushes me to the max, which is great. As the champion in England, I now have matches coming up against girls in my category from Wales and Scotland. When I win those, I will then become part of Team GB and start training with them to go to international contests. My ultimate goal is Tokyo 2020. Mr Bates promised that if I make it to the Olympics, he would commission a bronze statue of me to put in Queen’s drive, just like Rocky in Philadelphia - I look forward to it!”

College News Autumn 2016

Equestrian team through to nationals!

Cheltenham College’s equestrian team has done exceptionally well this year in various competitions. Tom O’Bryan (4th, S), Archie Garbutt (4th, S), Belle Channing (5th, W) and Alicia Lee (U6, Q) competed in a National Schools Equestrian Association (NSEA) dressage competition in May, in preliminary, novice and elementary tests. Tom and Alicia qualified individually for nationals and the team finished a close second to King’s Worcester (who had won the nationals only two weekends previously), and qualified for the nationals in October. They will be joined by Poppy Pitt (4th, W) who competed against 27 other schools at the National Inter-Schools Equestrian Competition in June to win the 80cm showjumping competition on her pony, Blue Blaze. Honor MacFarlane (5th, W) did fantastically to qualify for the Badminton Horse Trials on her horse, Ziggy Stardust, in dressage, showjumping and crosscountry, and came in the top third of a very competitive class. Cheltenham College also placed third as a team at the Inter-Schools One Day Event at Stonar School, their highest placing, and the team also came first in the dressage at the Gloucestershire Schools Games at Hartpury College.

Colts cricket team tour York The Colts cricket team, consisting of 12 boys, Mr Gwyn Williams, and Mr Richard Moore, undertook a short tour of the north of England. They were hosted by York Cricket Club and played a coloured clothing T2O match against a strong York District U19 team. Mr Gwyn Williams commented, “The boys are not used to this format of the game and took their time to get into the match but managed to post a respectable 129-3 from their 20 overs. Although the opening bowlers took two quick wickets, the district team proved strong and reached their total with three wickets down.” On the second day, the team returned to the longer format of the game and played St Peters in a picturesque setting right in the middle of the school. The match was reduced to 30 overs due to rain. College posted 232-3 with Olly Hill (L6, L) scoring 89, George Wells (L6, S) scoring 68, and Theo Taylor (L6, Xt) scoring 40 supporting him. The boys refused to allow the dark and wet conditions to dampen their spirits and an opening spell of pace attack bowling from James Webb (L6, H) reduced St Peters to 38-3, from which they never recovered and eventually College ran out winners by 29 runs.

The Boat Club at Henley Royal Regatta On Friday 24 June, the boys 1st VIII and girls 1st IV competed at the Henley Royal Regatta qualifying races. With the most entries that the regatta has ever seen, over 400 crews battled it out for 99 places. The girls IV made College history by becoming the first ever girls’ crew to enter the qualifying races for the Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup at Henley Royal and with only 24 seconds off of a qualifying place, the girls made a debut of which we are very proud. As an extremely young crew, our girls IV have made progress that indicates there could be a very bright future ahead for girls’ rowing at College. The IV also raced at Henley Women’s Regatta, finishing less than 10 seconds from the top 16, with a top 20 placing.

In an extremely tough and competitive field, the boys VIII made good progress throughout their week training on the course prior to the event but unfortunately did not qualify for the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup. This was a huge learning curve for the entire crew and with seven from the eight, plus the cox, returning next year the boys will come back hungrier than ever to make the cut. Head of Rowing, Miss Vicki Huckle, commented, “Although disappointed to not be racing at Henley, I, along with the rest of the coaching team are incredibly proud of the development that has been made within Cheltenham College Boat Club this year. We will take this opportunity to celebrate the progress and look forward to developing College Rowing even further over the coming year.”

College pupil races in Formula 3

Jeremy Wahome (U6, Xt) competed in the 2016 Formula 3 championship this summer, despite being only 17 years old! Jeremy started his motorsport career in karts aged eight. He subsequently raced in the Formula BMW Asia Cup Series last year, competing in the Super-Six category before taking part in one round of the full Asia Cup in August, claiming three top rookie awards with two runner-up finishes and a third place finish in five races. Jeremy commented, “It feels great to be in the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship with Chris Dittmann Racing. My performance is improving in terms of speed and time with each race.” We wish Jeremy the best of luck in the future!

Two College pupils hit the target After competing against other schools at a Target Sprint qualifying event at College, six pupils were selected to compete in the inaugural national finals at the Wales National Sports Centre, with Harry Stevens (2016, H) coming first in the Men’s Open and Ali Pearce (5th, Xt) coming first in the Men’s U18s championship. In the U15 category, Rob Caesar (5th, S) came fourth and Tommy Haddock (5th, H) placed fifth.

Head of Shooting at Cheltenham College, Mr Jon Cload said, “The event was a resounding success for all the pupils that participated. We were very lucky that so many GB Shooting coaches and athletes were available to impart their knowledge and experience at the qualifiers at College in March, and this was evident in the rate of progress that was seen in the standard of shooting. I am delighted that our pupils did so well.”

Target Sprint is a relatively new shooting discipline, with the official rules released by the International Shooting Sport Federation in 2013. It combines middistance running and rifle shooting, so participants need to have precision as well as high levels of fitness. In the competition at Cheltenham College, pupils had to run three 400m distances, stopping in between each at a 10-metre rifle range to knock down targets. The first one to cross the finish line won!

Student selected for England Cricket Josh Dell (2016, H) was selected to play for the England U19 cricket squad, to play two four-day matches and a Royal London One-Day Series against the Sri Lanka U29s. Josh was selected for the England Cricket U19 Development Programme back in September 2015 and made fantastic progress to be selected for the team this summer. Congratulations Josh!

Jamie Chadwick racing with Paul Hollywood

Reigning British GT4 champion Jamie Chadwick (2016, Ch) has been racing alongside The Great British Bake Off’s Paul Hollywood, a newcomer to motorsport, in the British GT4 Championship. In 2015, Jamie became the first female and youngest ever driver to win a British GT title at just 17, before she had even passed her driving test! Jamie’s commitments to her A Levels and Paul’s TV appearances meant that the pair first raced together in Round 4 at Spa-Francorchamps in July, before going on to Snetterton in August and Donington Park in September, rather than racing the whole tournament. Jamie commented, “You always want to be out in the car but my priorities lay elsewhere this year!”

College News Autumn 2016

From coast to College At the start of the summer holidays, a group of staff, pupils, parents and Old Cheltonians ran 200 miles from Prestatyn on the coast of North Wales back to Cheltenham College in support of the Afghan Connection.

They followed the Offa’s Dyke Path and Wysis Way, averaging a marathon a day (over eight days) and raised over £5,500 for the charity, which funds and supports schools, teachers, and sports opportunities for children in Afghanistan, particularly in rural areas. They have built 43 schools that educate over 50,000 children. Mr Richard Penny, who organised the run, commented “What an amazing week and team! 200 very hilly miles complete, plus a few more for the odd wrong turn. There were blisters, flies, hills (lots), laughs, tears, pork scratchings, and lots of nettle rash - all worth it to build the new Siaab School for 352 girls to get an education.”

Students shine at the Art and Design Show For the first time ever, the Art and Design and Technology departments have collaborated to produce a fantastic end-of-year Art and Design Exhibition. This included Fine Art, Textiles, and Resistant Materials. There was a brilliant atmosphere on the opening night and the exhibition was full of students, parents, and staff. The exhibition displayed GCSE, AS, and A2 final pieces and was spread

over the ground floor of Thirlestaine House, with pieces in the Thirlestaine Long Gallery, the Rotunda, the White Gallery and the senior art studio.

The Art exhibition included 3D sculptures, abstract paintings, prints and political pieces. The feedback from those who attended was extremely positive and people were interested in finding out the story behind the final piece. The Resistant Materials pupils had created desks, tables, wine racks and

more, and all the pieces were finished to an extremely high standard. The opening night also showcased the Textiles pupils’ work in the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Forms in the form of a fashion show, with atmospheric music, lights, and commentary. Overall the night finished on a high and really emphasized the quality of work that is produced in the Art and DT departments.

Georgia Taylor (2016, Ch)

Studying in Salamanca I was part of a group of Third Form pupils who travelled to Salamanca to study Spanish and soak up the culture, and it was such a fantastic trip! The lessons were very valuable and, as someone who hadn’t studied Spanish before, I was amazed at how much I learnt about both Spanish culture and the language.

There was a great balance between lessons at Colegio Delibes and cultural activities; we were able to make some real progress with our Spanish as well as embracing the busy atmosphere and beautiful medieval architecture of Salamanca as

we explored the city in a number of ways. We went on a historical tour, paid a visit to a bullfighting museum and ate delicious tapas in the evening, absorbing the cultural differences between Spain and England. We were able to put our language into practice by spending time with our host Spanish families, which immersed us into daily Spanish life. The weather was beautiful and meant that we were able to take a trip to the lido.

that pupils attending the trip next year will be able to expand their Spanish knowledge as much as I did and enjoy all that Salamanca has to offer.

Beth Jenkins (4th, Q)

It was a real honour to be invited to visit the Salamanca town hall on our final day to celebrate College’s five-year partnership with Salamanca. It was a privilege to have first-hand experience of the beautiful stateroom which is normally only visited by dignitaries, politicians and heads of state. I hope

Rome’s history comes alive Having landed in Rome on Friday evening, and been driven, Italian style, at warp speed 9 to our hotel, we started the trip by wandering to the supposed spot of Julius Caesar’s assassination, gawped at the stupendous Four Rivers Fountain in the Piazza Navona and then marvelled at the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world, before

calming down with a small glass of prosecco facing the mighty Pantheon. Many of the students are studying History of Art and were seeing several of the case studies that they were required to write about in their summer exams. I took this moment to remind them that this was not a holiday, but a study trip!

We focused on Classical sculpture and architecture at the Capitoline Museums, Forum, and Colosseum, lunched in the antique flower market, and saw breathtaking sculpture by Gianlorenzo Bernini and the realistic painting of Caravaggio at the Galleria Borghese. We gazed at the mammoth works in the Basilica of Saint Peter, saw the Trevi fountain by night, then stumbled across an ice cream shop with over 100 flavours. Supper in a cheap and cheerful Roman trattoria brought the students face to face with a proper carbonara and the waiters helped them to refine their pronunciation of “bruschetta”. On the final morning, we laughed at the Renaissance innuendos at Villa Farnesina, and heard the magical story of the love of Cupid and Psyche, found a couple of hours for some shopping and then headed back to the airport, this time at warp speed 10. Overall, Rome was stupendous, the students brilliantly behaved and very culturally aware.

Mr Daniel Evans, History of Art

The Three Peaks Challenge

A group of 30 Third Form pupils and three members of staff set out at the end of term to climb the three highest peaks of the UK with a degree of trepidation. After a five-hour journey, the team arrived at Snowdon and loaded up the backpacks. The group walked up the Pyg Track and as we approached the top, the mist descended so that the final 30 minutes were completed without many views. At the top, they enjoyed a warm drink in the café before descending. The team was in good spirits throughout and afterwards headed to Conwy Youth Hostel for the night. Unfortunately, they were quite late getting to the hostel which meant that they only saw the last bit of the England game against Iceland but that may have been a blessing in hindsight! The next morning, a four-hour drive followed before ascending Scarfell Pike from the National

College News Autumn 2016

Trust car park in Wasdale. This time, however, there were several pupils that were starting to feel tired as they approached the top. The mist descended again, just before the summit and then the heavens opened and it rained heavily for the entire descent. The food in ‘The Woolpack’ was excellent and raised the pupils’ spirits. The final climb of Ben Nevis was potentially going to be a very difficult day as tiredness was setting in and the forecast was horrendous. A 6.00am start, followed by a five-hour drive, did not help but the team was fantastic and after arriving shot

up and down Ben Nevis in between five to six hours. As the team approached the top they had to walk over snow and have a third photo taken in thick mist. The final evening was spent in Fort William Youth Hostel in which the mountains of spaghetti bolognese that were eaten had to be seen to be believed! After the nine-hour return journey to Cheltenham, there was a general consensus that this new trip provided a challenge whilst being very enjoyable and that Jelly Babies, Minstrels, and Werthers’ Originals are all essential for any major walk.

Geography students study Snowdonia

At the beginning of the Easter break, the Geography department took 45 Lower Sixth students up to Snowdonia National Park in North Wales to complete the AS course by studying its spectacular glaciated landscape as well as the beautiful River Conwy. Based in a field study centre just outside of Betws-y-Coed, we were led by two very experienced instructors who helped bring to life the case study areas that had been taught in the classroom. Highlights of the trip included Mr Bates and Mr Dobney showing off their incredible ‘corrieography’, demonstrating their signature moves that helped illustrate the glacial processes that form a corrie and adventuring along the iconic River Conwy, which is known for its diverse provision of opportunities for human activities. We also had a very pleasant lunch at the Conwy Falls where we debated the different stakeholders’ viewpoints on the proposed hydro-electric power scheme planned for the waterfall, and stopped off at Llanwrst where we assessed the flood risk and investigated the effectiveness of some of the flood defences that were installed in 2010.

Duke of Edinburgh students face wild weather

A group of 28 Lower Sixth students and six members of staff travelled down to the Brecon Beacons for the three-day Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award practice expedition in April. There was an air of trepidation on the buses as we crossed the border into Wales; Cheltenham’s blue skies and dazzling April sun became a distant memory as glowering cloud stacks accumulated in the distance and the peaks of Pen-y-Fan and Fan-y-Big disappeared behind a cloak of hill fog. There was clearly some ‘interesting’ weather in the post! Trepidation turned to grim dread as we reached the start point for the expedition; a sudden and prolonged flurry of snow was driven into the windscreens of the buses by a vicious wind, which gave way eventually to a barrage of hail and then, finally, to thundering rain. The whole violent episode lasted half an hour, during which time the windows on the buses misted up as staff and students alike struggled into every item of waterproof clothing they possessed. And then the sun came out!

On the last day, we were able to clear up any queries we had during one-on-one sessions with our teachers about anything covered in the course, making sure we were fully prepared to carry out our own revision during the Easter break. Everyone agreed it was a fantastic trip and was a really useful start to revision.

This was the maddening meteorological pattern for the next three days, during which time the students covered approximately forty kilometres carrying on their backs everything they needed to survive in the wild. They learnt much about mountain walking and navigation, about camp craft and cooking on portable stoves, and, of course, about Welsh weather in April! Every girl and boy performed superbly, demonstrating robustness and determination, and doing their bit to make sure that their teams stayed strong. It was certainly not an easy expedition, by any means, but that made the sense of achievement and satisfaction all the sweeter when the end point hoved into view and the finish line was crossed.

Charlotte Ball (U6, Ch) and Kiara Munn (U6, Ch)

Mr Tim Brewis

Naval cadets practise their skills on water

before and it wasn’t long before they capsized! It was very rewarding to see the same cadets paddling away confidently by the end of the training session.” The cadets thoroughly enjoyed the session, despite getting wet.

The Fourth Form Naval CCF cadets have been practising their skills on the water in South Cerney, taking part in kayaking and paddle boarding. Afloat training is a requirement of the Naval syllabus and will help them progress to the next qualification. They learnt to work with each other and greatly improved their water skills. Lt Harrison, Officer in Charge of Naval CCF, commented, “Some of the cadets had not kayaked

Four Fourth Formers, Robbie Carson (5th, S), Chloe Degnan (5th, Ch), Judith Gibitz (5th, Ch) and Army cadet Rory Pleydell (5th, S), also undertook a day’s sailing from Portsmouth across the Solent to Bembridge on the Isle of Wight and back. There was enough wind to make the trip in time; it was a beautifully sunny day and the cadets stopped for lunch on the Isle of Wight. As novice sailors, it was a great opportunity for the cadets to start yachting and they are keen to try again. They learnt how to rig the sails, handle them, adjust the sails to the wind strength and helm the boat, all under the instruction of a qualified Yacht Master.

Zoo Quest

Lower Sixth biologists were fortunate to attend a conservation talk by Bristol Zoo, a popular destination for families that also gives outreach talks on conservation. In doing so, the zoo plays a key role in educating the public about more than four hundred animal species. Even more impressively, it runs 75 endangered species breeding programmes, therefore greatly contributing to world conservation. Miss Charlotte Knowles, Head of Biology commented, “It was important for the students to hear about in-situ and ex-situ conservation projects and the role of the zoo in these. Analysing the reasons behind the reduction in species diversity was also fascinating, provoking discussion on what can be done to tackle the issues.” The knock-on effect of species extinction was explained, the importance of which became clear

when it was described how a dying crocodile population eventually resulted in a malaria epidemic. A further surprising example was the need to use manual labour in certain parts of the world to pollinate flowers, by brushing pollen from plant to plant, as pesticides have eradicated their bee populations. Personally, however, I found the most fascinating example of conservation at work was the reintroduction of wolves into the Yellowstone National Park. A few years after their introduction the meander patterns of rivers shifted, largely due to decreased populations of herbivores in the area. This allowed trees to grow next to riverbanks, thereby supporting the banks with their roots and minimising soil erosion. Furthermore, bird and bear migrations into the park also increased. Henry Fong (U6, H) really enjoyed the talk and commented, “Aside from the live animals, what really interested me was how the addition of one species of predator into a national park can make such a positive impact on the food chains, physical environment, and also the local ecosystem as a whole.”

Dylan Adlard (U6, S)

Fourth Form biologists among best in the country

Cheltenham College’s Fourth Form Biology pupils took part in the Royal Society of Biology’s Biology Challenge competition in March and an incredible 64 pupils gained an award, including seven gold medals, eight silver, and thirteen bronze. Over 33,000 people took part in the competition this year, with the gold medallists scoring in the top 6 percent of the nation, the silver medallists scoring in the next 11 percent and bronze medallists scoring in the next 17 per cent. This is a fantastic achievement for those who gained an award and congratulations to all who took part. Head of Biology, Miss Charlotte Knowles, commented, “The competition aims to encourage and interest pupils in Biology before they make their crucial choice of subjects to study post-GCSE. It pushes their understanding further and encourages them to read articles outside of the syllabus.”

Yakety Yak: a talk on the textiles industry The Textiles department welcomed Julian Wilson, the founder of Khunu, to relay his experiences of setting up a business in the textiles industry. As the founder of a company with a strong social purpose, he talked about his career path, from starting in the military to discovering a gap in the market while travelling in Tibet. Khunu, one of the world’s first brands to focus on clothing made from yak wool, was started by Julian in 2010 to help nomadic yak herders realise extra income from their traditional ways of life. Yak wool is warmer and softer than merino wool and more durable than cashmere. Julian said, “The idea to use it came during a freezing trip to the Tibetan plateau, where it became obvious that the fibres capable of keeping the animals alive at 4,000 metres would have the technical properties needed to make great clothing.” Within his talk, he also spoke about the inspiration behind the company, the processes and challenges of working in such remote parts of the world, and shared some insights into what entrepreneurs should consider when starting their own company. Jessica Powell (2016, W) commented, “I found Julian’s talk really inspirational, it gave us an insight into the fashion industry and how to process an idea from paper to reality. Although we are taught about different processes in the textiles industry within lessons, it was fascinating to hear a firsthand experience of setting up a business and the stages required to do so.” For more information or to view Khunu’s products, visit www.khunu.com

College News Autumn 2016

Questions are set on the topics covered in most general biology courses for pupils of this age but the Biology Challenge also rewards those students whose knowledge of the subject has been increased by reading books and magazines, watching natural history programmes and taking notice of the news and media for items of biological interest, and students who are generally aware of our natural flora and fauna. Finbar McConnell (5th, Xt), who scored the highest in the year, commented, “I found the whole of the competition quite challenging, and some of the questions were very complex, particularly those to do with topics that we haven’t been able to study at school yet. “I enjoy studying Biology because it is relevant to our daily lives. I find it fascinating to learn about things that can affect us directly. I also find Biology fascinating because it is a field that is always changing and very active. Biology also often incorporates elements from other sciences as well, which I find very interesting.”

A living legacy to honour our fallen Senior CCF cadets from the Fifth and Sixth Forms spent an afternoon in May under the watchful eye of Christine Croton, Head of Gardens at Cheltenham College. Between them, the cadets planted 30 young trees, which had been awarded to College by the Woodland Trust as part of its ‘Living Legacy’ memorial to the fallen of the First World War. This is a fouryear programme in which cadet units are encouraged to plant the commemorative trees within school grounds, and this was

a fitting way to remember the 692 Old Cheltonians who lost their lives in the First World War. Will Jury-Simpson (U6, BH) of the Royal Navy section said, “Given the sacrifice our OCs made for our country, it is only right that we honour them to create a living legacy.” The trees were planted out on the bank between Upper and Lower Reeves to provide a natural windbreak and will be visible for years to come by the cadets who were involved in the planting project.

College Air Cadet trains in Cyprus I was lucky enough to be one of 100 cadets selected to attend an Air Cadets training camp in Cyprus. Our first day consisted of a series of leadership tasks and we were split up into flights (like Army platoons) of 20 cadets and I was put into Kronos Flight.

The second day was when we really got into the swing of the camp and for our first exercise we visited the UN buffer zone at the NorthSouth border in Nicosia. During the morning we were shown around the abandoned airfield and terminal building, which due to strict UN regulations had been left untouched for the past 43 years. I learned all about the history of the Turkey-Greek war over Cyprus and was shown some of the key battle points around the zone, such as the disabled Tristar plane which was scavenged for parts to enable another Tristar to take off. This was very poignant as it was the scene of some of the most ferocious fighting the war had seen and the plane itself boasted some very obvious bullet holes to show for it.

The fourth day was one of the days that I personally enjoyed the most as we visited some of the sections at RAF Akrotiri. First we visited the EOD or bomb disposal section; they showed us around their robots and all the kit they use to assess and diffuse bomb threats. I was lucky enough to try on the kevlar and steel plate suit that the operator wears. After that we visited the Chinook and Hercules squadrons who gave us guided tours and answered all questions that we had to ask. We were able to look into the cargo hold and sit in the cockpit as

they explained to us what every part of the aircraft was used for and why. All in all, the trip was a great experience and I definitely developed my communication and leadership skills. The aircraft visits were extraordinary and have surely motivated me to stay within the CCF and further my education about how the RAF operates and what kind of full time jobs it has to offer.

Tom Hartley (5th, H)

The next day we arrived at RAF Akrotiri for our swim tests as much of our activities during the latter stages of the camp were in the water. This was over quickly and we began what the RAF call Force Development. This was basically a round robin of leadership tasks in which a low ranking member of the group had to lead the group in completion of a task. Lower ranking cadets were chosen to try and break us out of our comfort zones.

The life and times of Harold Macmillan Cheltenham College hosted the Great Britons Foundation lecture on Harold Macmillan, Prime Minister from 1957 to 1963. Known as ‘Supermac’ for his pragmatism, wit, and unflappability, he presided over a time of prosperity and easing of Cold War tensions. He is perhaps best known for distancing the UK from apartheid, speeding up the process of decolonization and for his involvement in negotiating the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Prestigious guests attended, including Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Graydon and Alex Chalk MP. However, the evening was focused around the

lecture given by the Earl of Stockton, Alexander Macmillan, Harold Macmillan’s grandson. The Earl offered a deeply personal account of Macmillan himself. He was a charismatic speaker with an admirable ability for impressions and accents, making his various anecdotes most enjoyable. As a member of the audience who only knows of public figures such as Margaret Thatcher or Jackie Kennedy from history books, it was extremely interesting to hear from a man who had met these people first hand. The Earl, for example, was present during Macmillan’s negotiations of the Cuban Missile Crisis, but he focused more on the personal decisions and motivations of Macmillan. Overall, everyone who attended was left with not only a greater understanding of Harold Macmillan’s career but also a deeper

College pupils invite Heathercroft Home to tea A group of Cheltenham College pupils hosted residents from Heathercroft Retirement Home in Cheltenham for afternoon tea at Ashmead at the start of the Summer Term. The pupils served tea and talked about their plans ahead of their forthcoming exams. They also treated the residents to a short video of the College production of Les Misérables, to the residents delight! During the last year, pupils have been completing lots of different activities with the residents, including playing charades, violin recitals, who’s who, card making and Cluedo, as well as hosting them at choral evensongs and the carol service. Most recently, the pupils have been helping the residents to weed their garden, which has been hugely appreciated. Katie Stanton (2016, A), who has been visiting the retirement home for the past three years, said, “I have learnt so much from the residents

College News Autumn 2016

of Heathercroft and it has been a joy to be able to help. I will really miss my weekly visits and the residents”. Mrs Sarah Ramsay who has been running the placement since it began said, “It is rewarding to see how close the relationships have grown between the residents of Heathercroft and the pupils. This is all down to the dedication of the pupils and their willingness to put in the time and care. I feel privileged to have been part of something so special from the beginning.”

knowledge of the great public figure’s private life. Everyone at College is grateful for being able to attend such a relevant and insightful event.

Antonia Stuckey (2016, Q)

Celebrating internationalism at College

One hundred and sixty staff and pupils gathered in the Dining Hall for the annual International Dinner, a chance to recognise and celebrate the diversity that international pupils and staff members bring to College. The dress code detailed either black tie or national costume; the MFL staff arguably provided the most eye-catching of outfits, with Mrs Powell’s Eiffel Tower dress and Mrs Leach’s flamenco attire making the students look relatively sombre! After a three-course meal, there were speeches by Mr Nelson as Director of Internationalism, Iurii Kovalev (2016, Xt) as the Chair of Internationalism and Ashley Yu (2016, W) as an international representative for Westal. The common thread that ran through all three speeches was that internationalism continues to thrive at College and that our overseas pupils feel well supported in their various endeavours. We celebrated the fact that several new overseas pupils have been awarded prizes for Speech Day. Futhermore, we recognised the positive and growing trend of more overseas pupils signing up to House activities and plays, and contributing more readily to music and sport than ever before. Inevitably, the evening provided an opportunity to thank key staff, such as Head of EAL Miss Davies and her team of Mrs Nishimura and Mrs Hornsby. We reflected on a very welcoming international induction back in September, in addition to an interesting array of events over this academic year.

We know there are no better ambassadors for Cheltenham College than our parent community, so please spread the word and tell your friends and neighbours about the opportunities to visit: Group Visits – Saturday 3 December and Saturday 6 May at 9.00am A smaller version of our Open Morning, join us to chat informally with staff over coffee before enjoying an individual tour of College and Houses with one of our current pupils

Open Houses Morning – Saturday 4 February at 9.00am Our boarding and day houses are at the heart of College life. Discover what gives each house its unique character and which is right for your child

Open Morning – Saturday 11 March at 9.30am A chance to see our school in action, meet pupils and key staff, and tour our beautiful grounds and facilities

To register for any of these events, please email admissions@cheltenhamcollege.org

01242 265600 www.cheltenhamcollege.org 15

A talk on post-crash banking Old Cheltonian, Mr Mike Smith OBE (Leconfield, 1973-75), visited College to take part in an interview-style talk for the Economics and Business Studies students. Mr Smith recently retired from the position of CEO at ANZ Bank, having previously been the President and CEO of HSBC, and is Chairman of the Australian Bankers’ Association and a member of a number of international, economic, and financial advisory councils.

Mr Smith delivered interesting and thoughtprovoking answers to the students’ questions, including a few about his career choices and what it was like to meet Vladimir Putin. He also recalled his time at College, explaining how it still has the same special atmosphere but the buildings have been rejuvenated and there are now many more girls in a truly co-educational environment.

Mr Smith also described to the students how he did not know what he wanted to do when he first tried banking but was lucky to find that he immediately liked it. His overall message to students was to do what they enjoy and that a traditional education at College provides students with the experience and curiosity that will help them find interest and opportunity in whatever they do.

Four Sixth Form students Chuen Leik Low (U6, Xt), Catriona Zimmern (U6, Ch), Ellie Jones-Perrott (U6, A) and Dan Stoianov (U6, Xt) asked questions about the causes and ramifications of the 2008 financial crash, the regulation and behavioural economics of banking, and the possible implications of Brexit on the UK financial sector. Dr Graham Mallard commented, “College is immensely privileged to host the eminent Old Cheltonian, Mr Mike Smith. It was a rare opportunity to hear from such a leading figure in the world of banking, which was thoroughly enjoyed by the audience of over 130 students and staff.”

Remembering the fallen

The Cheltonian Association and Society Events Calendar 17 November - London Drinks Join us from 6.00pm at Davy’s Wine Bar, Crown Passage, 20 King’s Street, St James’s, London, SW1Y 6QY. We look forward to seeing you.

27 November - The Christmas Fair Now in its fifth year, this fair is a fantastic opportunity to start or continue your Christmas shopping or treat yourself. Tickets £5pp (free for U16s) and come with a complimentary glass of fizz if bought in advance.

16 December - The Association Carol Service Join us for the end of term Carol Service at 2.00pm followed by mulled wine and mince pies in the Dining Hall.

14 March - Cheltenham at the Races Bring along family and friends to enjoy a day at the National Hunt Festival and use the Association and Society’s private marquee as your base for the day. To RSVP to these events, please call Rebecca Creed on 01242 265 694

College’s First World War centenary programme concluded this year with a service on Friday 1 July to commemorate the Battle of the Somme. Students, Old Cheltonians, representatives from The Royal British Legion, and other friends of College attended the service that started at 7.30am – the time that the whistles blew ordering men to climb out of their trenches and to go ‘over the top’. It was an opportunity to pay tribute to and remember 692 Old Cheltonians who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Great War. On that day alone in 1916, seven OCs died. By the end of the battle in November, a further 59 OCs had been killed.

Upcoming Term Dates

Note from the Editor

Spring Term begins: 20.00 Tuesday 10 January Exeat: 13.05 Friday 27 January - 21.00 Sunday 29 January Half Term: 11.00 Friday 10 February - 21.00 Sunday 19 February

Claudia Parry, Editor

Half Term: 11.00 Friday 21 October – 21.00 Sunday 6 November Exeat: 13.05 Friday 25 November – 21.00 Sunday 27 November Autumn Term ends: 11.00 Friday 16 December

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I would like to thank all members of the Common Room and the College pupils who contributed to this publication, in particular, Andy Banks for most of the photography and the Young Journalist group, led by Jane Brodigan.

T: 01242 265 600 E: c.parry@cheltenhamcollege.org www.cheltenhamcollege.org