The Cheltonian 2014-15 by Cheltenham College

Academic Year 2014-2015

The Cheltonian 2014-2015

for the hoop-jumping of exam after exam. That is not to say exams do not matter – they very much do – but we have got to see the precious years that pupils have at College as the opportunity to build an array of personal characteristics and skills for adult life, not only for the workplace, but also for later family life. That is really important.

Dr Alex Peterken, Headmaster

The academic year 2014‑2015 has been the best overall year that I can remember in my time at College, and yet again I must pay compliments to the hard work of so many Cheltonians and the dedicated professionals of the Common Room. College is about individual success – in a hugely broad and richly diverse range of areas – within a framework of collegiality, support and encouragement. As well as our continued academic success at both GCSE and A Level, we are focusing more and more on giving our pupils the characteristics, stamina, wisdom and balance that they will need to succeed in the modern and competitive world which awaits them beyond these walls. As I said on Speech Day, I firmly believe that we are in the business of providing a rich and broad education for life, a full education, not just preparing our young people ‘We have been granted a Censor Permit, which enables us to send The Cheltonian to all except enemy countries and to prisoners of war in enemy countries.’ [The Cheltonian, 1940, p.6]

It is always the perfect end to the summer holidays (if there can be such a thing!) when we return to see the rewards of so many Upper Sixth Form students as they secure their places at the UK’s elite universities to read the subject of their choice. With over three quarters of A Level grades at A*‑B and 16% at the top A* grade, the 2015 leavers had considerable successes in entry to the most selective universities and courses. At GCSE, we followed up last year’s record-breaking results once again with two thirds of grades at A* or A. 44 pupils gained five A*s or more and 31 seven A*s or better so their prospects for the future look very bright indeed! Over the summer the Estates team were as busy as ever upgrading our facilities as we continue to use parents’ hard-earned money to recruit the best teachers and invest in the future. The opening of the university-style accommodation in Chandos Cottages gives us much needed additional Sixth Form girls’ accommodation and the Medical Centre has been upgraded – and also renamed as the Health Centre reflecting its broader remit in taking a proactive approach to lifestyle choices and emotional wellbeing as well as physical health. The Prep School has a new Science and Technology Centre which will bring huge benefits, including the knock-on effect of creating extra space and facilities for the Senior School in those all-important subject areas. So College continues to flourish. This September we will welcome around 160 new pupils and, as ever, we will ensure they are all given a good chance to settle in and pick up College’s routines throughout their first month or so, and I wish them the very best of luck and enjoyment at this friendly and exciting school! We also have 12 new staff joining us, including three new Heads of Department (in Chemistry, Biology and Textiles) and two new Housemasters (in Newick House and Christowe). I do hope you enjoy the magazine.

Dr Alex Peterken, Headmaster

Contents Introduction from the Headmaster. . . . . . . . . . . . 01 Reflections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02

Academic Academic Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 05 Oxbridge News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 06 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 07 Classics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Design and Technology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Economics and Business Studies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 English. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Geography. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Government and Politics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 History. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 History of Art. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 ICT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Mathematics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Modern Foreign Languages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Music. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Psychology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Science. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Sports Science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Theatre Studies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Theology, Philosophy and Ethics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Speech Day Prizes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Co-Curricular CCF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Clay Pigeon Shooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Community Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Debating. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Drama. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Duke of Edingburgh’s Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Leadership and Coaching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Music. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Societies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Sports Leaders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Third Form Challenge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

College Community Archives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Chapel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Charities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 International News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Chatfeild Roberts Library. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Houses

Ashmead. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Boyne House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Chandos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Christowe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Hazelwell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Leconfield. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Newick House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Queen’s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Southwood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Westal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Sport

Editors

Miss Jane Brodigan and Mrs Christine Leighton

Pupil Editors

Many thanks to the following for all their journalistic work through the year: Matthew Chye (L6, NH), Karina Lai (L6, Ch), Lucy Hall (5th, Ch), Ashley Yu (L6, W), Ankita Mediratta (5th, W), Katherine Stanton (L6, A) and Jonothan Jamieson-Black (5th, H). Thanks also to the pupil House editors, who are credited on their House pages.

Athletics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Badminton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Cricket. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Equestrian and Polo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Golf. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Hockey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Netball. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 Rackets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Rowing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Rugby. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99 Shooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 Squash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 Swimming. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Tennis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Water Polo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

Valete Our fond farewells. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 3

REFLECTIONS

Pupil opinion on life and learning at Cheltenham College The conversation proceeds like that until you both realize that there are many things that you will miss about being here. The all-round education and support is exactly why we feel ready to leave. At the point of departure, I feel confident in my abilities, have developed an outlook that embraces change, and a mind-set that tells me in the face of adversity, work conquers all. Wanting to move on is not a negative indictment of College, but is testament to exactly what it tries to achieve: 138 well-prepared and confident individuals, ready to tackle the next chapters of our lives.

Head Boy, Edward Robbins (U6, L) considers: Head Girl, Francesca what has College ever Ball (U6, Ch) reflects done for us? The amount that College has changed in on time well spent the last five years is remarkable; we have and lessons learned seen the refurbishment of the ChatfeildRoberts Library, dramatic changes to Big Classical, an extensive modernization of the Science block, and the opening of our new girls’ boarding house, the new Westal. That is an astonishing amount of change to see in what is a relatively short period of time at College. At a dinner back in September I asked one member of Council why College had done so much. He said to me, “In an establishment like this, if you are not moving forward you are not sitting still, you are moving backwards”. That, I think, is an incredibly apposite summary of an underpinning philosophy of our school and one that applies not only to our facilities, but also extends to the staff and their practice. Attending College day after day and year after year can lead to taking our good fortune for granted. It is a conversation that goes very much like the famous scene from Monty Python’s Life of Brian where they are asking, “what have the Romans ever done for us?” It goes like this:

“I really can’t wait to get out of here.” “Yeah me too; you know it’s just time we moved on.” “Although, I am going to miss it in some ways.” “Mate, are you insane, what are you going to miss?” “Sport?” “Oh yeah.” “The support we get here from teachers, House parents and tutors?” “Oh yeah.” “Living within about five minutes from all of your friends?” “Oh yeah.”

The Cheltonian 2014-2015

As I prepared to sit my exams, I worked out that in the last five years I have: attended 5,495 lessons; spent 4,122 hours on prep; and run 66 miles on the hockey field. That really gave me perspective on how much time we have spent here at College. So I began to think about what I have learned and how College has shaped me to be the person I am today. I remember my first week as a Third Form pupil, making my way to my Maths lesson, confident and raring to get there. My hair was straightened, my new uniform was still pristine and ironed, thanks to mum, and my shoes were beautifully polished, thanks dad. With my backpack tight on my back, I was ready to go and shine. Of course I thought I knew the place pretty well having been to The Prep. Turned out not well enough. Slightly late, I rushed up the stairs, found my classroom and strolled in; I sat in the first seat I saw and got out all my new stationery. Smiling and pleased with myself I turned to look at the boy sitting next to me. My smile quickly vanished. He was not a Third Form pupil as I had expected, but a boy in the Upper Sixth. My face had never been so red as I realized I had got the wrong classroom and was attending an A Level Maths lesson – certainly beyond my ability and intention. Jokes aside, that taught me on day one that confidence was not the way forward but humility and readiness might get me more prepared. What I love about College is that when we all unite as one, we are the strongest group of people I know. The aim of education is the knowledge, not just of the facts, but perhaps more importantly of the values. There have been numerous occasions over the past five years when we have all had to come together to congratulate, to grieve, to commemorate. It is when times have

been at their hardest that you can see clearly the amount of strength and support we have for one another. That is something I believe is crucial in a community and something that we should be most proud of as a school. It would not happen without the friendship we develop between the boys and the girls, the individual support that we get from our tutors, the unconditional love of matrons and the incredible devotion of House parents. I know this is a cliché but there is a good reason you repeatedly hear this from anyone about to leave, “because you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone”. Take advantage of all the opportunities handed to you and find your niche. But still, go further, do not be scared to try out new things. You will essentially be far happier achieving something that scared you than if you had not tried at all. I would never be the person I am today without taking advantage of all of the things College has provided for me. Final advice to pupils: you will not realize it now, but try not to take for granted having your friends around you, whether they are just across the road or in the dorm next door, because you will never be in another situation where you have so many friends, so close. Time is limited and therefore precious. Though it is farewell for us Upper Sixth, as Charles Dickens said, “The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again”.

‘Where was there in College a place where a boy could express his opinions. The columns of the Cheltonian are, of necessity, closed to such outbursts ... And so an idea was born: to have a board in the Library where sixth formers can put forward any opinion they wish to air. ... Prefects have been castigated for the way they ride their bicycles, societies have been criticised for their dull single-mindedness and lack of purpose, poems and articles have received their first public attention on the Broadsheet, and advertisements have appeared for members of a new society. Such are its contents; what of its influence? The facts are simple: prefects’ bicycles are well-lighted and their knowledge of the Highway Code improved; societies are showing a fresh sense of purpose ... and so on.’ [The Cheltonian, Spring 1965, p.2]

Dr Luke Davidson on the power and importance of words Whatever your religious persuasion, value beautiful words and all those who cherish them, for it is through beautiful words that we best make sense of the experiences that define our lives, through beautiful words that we can find captured the most intense, most special moments of our existence. We witness an exquisite sunset embroidered with shades of pinks and burnt tones; we watch the subtle play of light and lines on a loved one’s face; we struggle to digest the reality of death; all these experiences blow winds through our sheltered sense of self, they ask us to grant them their place in our story of ourselves. We need to make them count, and so we try to represent them through words. For those of us who do not draw or paint or who are not gifted in other modes of artistic expression, it is words that we draw upon to hold our experiences in our memories, and to communicate with those from whom we wish to see the affirmation of recognition and acceptance. Therefore, I say again, value beautiful words, for it is in artful words, in eloquence, that you will find a resource that helps you feel at home in the world. But what might I mean by ‘beautiful words’? By ‘beautiful words’ and ‘eloquence’ I do not just mean ‘pretty’ or pleasing but something more profound: words that present a perfect match between thought and expression, whether that thought be inspiring or ugly, charming or base. Eloquence should not be a smoke screen, or a way of ‘dressing up’ ideas – that is a kind of dishonesty – but a way of capturing to the best of our ability things as they really are. This is what sustains me in my role as an English teacher. No matter how limited I am as a teacher, or how constrained I feel by exams, I go back into the class seeking to share this conviction, either by communicating the language of great poets or by revealing the techniques behind artful writing. Of

course, eloquence is not to be found only in poetry; we find it in great drama, in powerful speeches, in great prose, and in the magisterial verses of the King James Bible. Now 400 years old, the King James Bible is a treasure trove of wisdom not simply because of the subject matter, but because the translators had an unerring ear for the melody of great writing, and because they, like Shakespeare, were fully conversant with the art of rhetoric that emerged in the Renaissance. Believers – and unbelievers – return to the words of this Bible because its words feel charged with a sacred presence; they appear to convey something of the transformational nature of God that other translations do not. However, what can I possibly mean when I say we ‘need’ beautiful words? We all know we need food, shelter, and water, but ‘words?’. What I mean is that our spiritual lives, our souls if you like, require beautiful words. Even now I am struck how in this day of declining church attendance in the UK, many people still want the church ceremonies of marriages and funerals. It seems to me, that it is the words of church services they are seeking. At times of great significance, the words of ordinary journalists, bureaucrats, and academics, simply will not do; we need, desperately, eloquent words that speak to the sacred in us, that allow us to share communally matters that touch our souls in an unpompous solemnity. That is why, in the long-standing radio programme, ‘Desert Island Discs’, all those who are sent to the desert island are given as a matter of course copies of the Bible and the complete works of Shakespeare. To believer and non-believer, those represent English at its most expressive, most eloquent – word hordes that can provide delight and instruction in equal measure. And, surely, that is why thousands of inexpert writers attempt poetry in their Valentine’s cards when, under the mask of anonymity, they try to say exactly what the loved one means to them. Last term, the psychotherapist Diana Hedges came to talk to Lit. Soc. about the work poetry does to help repair the wounded

Isabelle Winstanley (L6, Q), Prefect Chair (elect) for Pupil Voice, argues the case for hearing pupils’ opinion at College “The voice of Scotland is going to be heard more loudly at Westminster than it has ever been heard before.” (Nicola Sturgeon) Although I am in no way suggesting that my aims, as Prefect Chair for Pupil Voice, may be aligned with those of the leader of the Scottish National Party, I too am passionate about creating a forum, a forum in which the voices of those whom I represent will be heard. Undoubtedly, the last general election revealed much about the opinions of the British people and, here at College, we too

had an election, albeit on a smaller scale. Pupils campaigned, debated and voted for their own representatives, and thoroughly enjoyed themselves in the process. The feeling that you have had your say, and that your vote has made a difference, creates a satisfaction like no other. I aim to foster such satisfaction in the 2015‑2016 academic year. It is crucial to me that every pupil, across all years, feels that their voice will be heard, their opinions communicated and their concerns not only listened to, but acted upon. Of course, it is not simply a one-way street, but also a means by which the Senior Management Team can communicate with the pupil body to review College practices. Ultimately, by hearing our pupils’ voices, we can make Cheltenham College an even happier place to live, learn and study.

spirits of her patients. I came away reminded how vital it is to see poetry as a repository of words that touch us precisely because they speak to our secret selves, our spiritual selves, in the way that no other art form can quite do. Beautiful words heal. Since a good society needs the free circulation of beautiful words, it follows that we must stand up and challenge the enemies of eloquence. The world is full of them. Let me mention just two. Politically, authoritarian and totalitarian regimes cannot tolerate the complex pluralism of beauty and dissent; they try to create a simple eloquence of their own both by celebrating the unfixable greatness of their leaders and the Party, and by censoring and prosecuting writers whose words cannot be made to fit their shallow and perverted ideals. It may surprise many of you that people as apparently meditative as poets should be exiled, imprisoned, or tortured for writing their verses, but the last 100 years is full of poets who upset governments and have paid the penalty. Secondly, the division of intellectual life between the ‘arts’ and the ‘sciences’ encourages the unhelpful view that beautiful words are the preserve of ‘the humanities’ and discourages scientists from believing that great writing either belongs to them or could serve them. Instead scientists are presented with a view that truth cannot be expressed other than through a wholly transparent, apparently artless, written English, one that never for one moment pretends to even try to give pleasure. Do not believe it, scientists! Darwin was a great writer! I am perfectly aware, of course, that there are times when words, no matter how well crafted, are not called for, when silence is the most eloquent expression we can make. During Remembrance Sunday, for example, for two minutes we relinquish the burden of speech and hand ourselves over to recollection. I remember an old acquaintance telling me that, having been to comfort many friends who had recently lost a loved one, he had given up trying to find the right words and would simply place a hand on a shoulder as they gave themselves over to grief. In the first spasm of sorrow, these sufferers did not need words; they needed not to feel alone. Then there are exhibitions of behaviour by human beings of such limitless depravity, such barbarism, that eloquence of any kind can appear in such a context to be a grotesque solecism. The German critic Theodore Adorno expressed it well when he wrote, ‘After Auschwitz, no poetry’. For Adorno, the smoke drifting over the kilns of Auschwitz signalled the end of the hopes of humane, poetic speech. Indeed, it needs to be words of unerring sensitivity to capture the desolation of that historic catastrophe. But, in the end, no matter how far human beings abuse one another, and no matter how special interests try to restrict what is deemed sayable and thinkable, there will be a continuing longing for words, honest words, truthful words made memorable through art, that can speak to our thirsting spirits, that can, through their very existence, jolt us into heightened states of appreciation and feeling for our sorrows, our afflictions and our hopes. This is why, as students, as citizens, as fellow inhabitants on this planet, value the literary resources of your language, cherish the work of poets and translators, battle to help protect the rights of writers to work unafraid. Long after your exam results are covered in dust, there will be calls on your powers to speak. Whether they be in joy or sorrow, let the language of the poets and the great writers inform your speech and make it truthful.

The Cheltonian 2014-2015

Academic Review What you are about to read chronicles the impressive breadth and depth of academic achievement during the past year. Inevitably, youngsters these days are judged by the grades that they achieve at GCSE and A Level, but, as this section of The Cheltonian demonstrates, what goes on around taught lessons can often offer the most stimulating learning experiences. College made the decision this summer, following the example of dozens of similar schools, to opt out of the official newspaper league tables. There are several reasons for this. We have long stated that league table positions do not measure the quality of a school, rather merely its selection policy. However, two further factors have combined to make league tables increasingly misleading in recent years. Firstly, political expedience has meant that IGCSE examinations, which College in common with most independent schools has adopted for many subjects, are no longer counted in the government’s official performance tables. This is a shame, as our sector has embraced them precisely because they are a better

preparation for A Level than the mainstream GCSE, which has become bogged down in an endless and repetitive cycle of non-stop assessment. Secondly, there are real problems with the quality of exam marking. The number of exams that are re-graded after re-marking in September grows seemingly exponentially year on year. College has therefore decided that it will publish full exam results when these anomalies have been ironed out in late autumn. A Level results in Summer 2015 maintained the level seen in the two previous years. As ever, some of the most pleasing results were obtained by students who may not previously have seen themselves as academic stars. However, through an impressive work ethic and a determination to work with their dedicated teachers, countless students are proudly holding As and Bs that they would not have believed were possible a year beforehand. This is what schools refer to as their ‘Value Added’, something that College excels in (and this is validated by a national project that measures such things) each year. The percentage of students awarded the top A* grade increased to 18%, with no fewer than 17 achieving two A*s or better. Maths and Physics were the most successful departments in that respect with 14 and seven A*s respectively. College does not publish its AS grades, as they represent merely the halfway point of the two-year A Level course. However, the Lower Sixth students’ results were our best ever at this point, which augurs well for their university ambitions in 2016.

The 2015 Fifth Form must also be commended for their outstanding GCSE results, which are the second best set ever for College, following 2014’s pace-setters. That came as no surprise to the teaching staff, as it was obvious that the year group was focused on its goals from a very early stage in the academic year. Again the hard work of pupils can be seen throughout: many achieved results far beyond their original expectations, and the number of top grades continues to grow, with Latin impressively achieving A* or A for all of its candidates. A record-breaking 44 pupils achieved five A*s or better (‘only’ 39 in 2014), headed by Harry Byrne (5th Xt), William Hardy (5th, S), Serena ReeveTucker (5th, A) and Alexander Thorpe (5th, BH), all of whom achieved ten top A* grades.

ACADEMIC

College’s Independent Projects are now wellestablished in their fifth year. The Lower Sixth Project was won by William Moss (U6, Xt) for his essay entitled ‘A Complete Guide to Bitcoin’. William’s ability to explain difficult mathematical concepts in plain English marked out this piece of work: one might say that he comes from the same line as Professor Brian Cox or other scientists renowned for their communication skills. The Fifth Form essay prize was awarded jointly to Emily Morton (L6, Ch) for her essay entitled ‘What is Infinity?’ and to Douglas Spencer (L6, S) for a technical and ethical exploration into the ramifications of 3D printing technologies for medicine. Finally, the Third Form Headmaster’s Project saw its usual eclectic and imaginative mix of entries in all possible media. James Wheeler (3rd, S) was the overall winner, but the work of dozens of participants was showcased in an exhibition in the Art Department’s White Gallery in late February. The development of the White Gallery has been a real boon for College, as Miss Juliet Wallace-Mason (Head of Art) seeks to involve as many pupils (and staff) in artistic endeavour as possible. A key message is that one does not have to be studying the subject to be able to enjoy creating art. The White Gallery has become a vibrant space to celebrate a wide range of activities, as you will read below. ICT was another creative department to thrust itself into the limelight through a highly ambitious Day of Code, where the entire Third Form spent a day programming in small groups, supported by some industry experts, who were extremely impressed by our pupils’ resourcefulness and imagination. 2014-2015 was a particularly momentous year for the Science Department. Not only has the re-opening of the much improved Science Block stimulated even greater excitement in

the laboratory, but a group of lucky Cheltonians travelled to the Galapagos Islands during the October half term: an unparalleled experience that will remain with them throughout their lives. At home, the intellectual cut-and-thrust of academic societies has intensified still further. The General Election in May was replicated at College level with ten constituencies representing each House and a further five reaching out to teaching and support staff. A Conservative victory prefigured the actual results some hours later, but political debate and a broader understanding of the issues around College were the real victors. Among subject societies, it was excellent to see the Economics and Business Society attracting big names (such as a member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee) and even bigger audiences, while the English Department’s newly-inaugurated A. C. Bradley lecture welcomed A Level students from several local schools to hear Professor Tiffany Stern address us on Shakespeare. Finally, debating goes from strength to strength, and the Autumn Term saw the first inter-House Model United Nations competition, with all Houses debating in a complex format, designed and organized completely by Lower Sixth students Katherine Stanton (A), Antonia Stuckey (Q) and Annabella Köhler (Ch).

Hattie Bevan

Sophie Caws

Tom Dowley

Ludo Millar

Mr Duncan Byrne, Second Master

Oxbridge News Many congratulations to the following four students who have been offered places at Oxford and Cambridge: Hattie Bevan (A), to read Natural Sciences at Gonville and Caius, Cambridge. Sophie Caws (Q), to read French and German at St Edmund Hall, Oxford Tom Dowley (L), to read Mathematics and Computer Science at Somerville, Oxford Ludo Millar (BH) to read French and Linguistics at Exeter College, Oxford

Katherine Stanton (L6, A), Prefect Chair (elect) of Academic and Library, argues the case for intellectual pursuit 2014‑2015 saw four College students gain places at Oxbridge to read various subjects across the spectrum of the arts and sciences. However, what those subjects have in common is that reading and research are required in order to succeed. A few years ago College instituted the Independent Project for the Lower Sixth to embark upon during their long summer holidays. It stresses the importance of developing ideas and hypotheses through reading and research, and also develops referencing skills. In that way students can remove themselves from the mechanical hoopjumping of public exams by allowing ideas planted by great works to germinate and flourish. Amongst the tools of the researching student the internet will undoubtedly be found. The merits of the internet are wide-ranging and

The Cheltonian 2014-2015

largely self-evident, and in many ways it has challenged the hegemony of its predecessor, the library, in its ease of use and transportability, which have become the hallmarks of modern life, with the computer the ultimate device of discovery. Having taken that into consideration, the virtue of the humble book, with yellowed page and light-worn print, bright dust-jacket and thumbed corners, must not be forgotten. The printing press revolutionized the way ideas are spread as the internet has done in the past few decades, yet having the physical manifestation of an idea has never been so important. When e-books are stored on obsolete devices, or age clogs the computer’s arteries, the written word, or more accurately the printed word, remains.

Looking back over the past year, I have been delighted with just how much excitement has been generated during the extensive exhibitions the Art Department held in The White Gallery (TWG). I would like to spotlight a selection of experiences to give you a flavour of their energy and diversity. As in the previous year, we began by welcoming our second annual temporary Artist-inResidence, printmaker and installation artist, Linn O’Carroll, who worked with Upper College students. She made a real and long-lasting impression upon their studio practice and their understanding of how to generate and create artwork. After just three weeks, each Sixth Form student had produced a significant personal piece responding to their time spent with the inspirational artist. The show, held within TLG and TWG, was a real knockout, with visitors praising the group for their exciting, varied and stimulating work. The next exhibition saw the Art Department take part in the ‘The Big Draw’, the world’s biggest drawing festival. TWG was turned into a magical, theatrical, space; the walls were black, the gallery in darkness, lit only by fairy lights hung from a tree. Pupils from College and other local schools searched for objects to draw by torchlight and displayed their pieces on the walls. Our Art Scholars must be thanked for covering the walls with intricate paper cut-outs and silhouettes based on the theme of fairy tales. The Art Scholars and Exhibitioners continued to have fortnightly workshops and produced weekly designs for the front cover of the Chapel pew sheets. That is proving such a success that pupils from across College are now asking to become involved. The year saw another first, the running of an annual College-wide photographic competition. Sponsored by the Cheltenhambased travel company Red Savannah,

77 students entered a single photograph, and all images were put on exhibition. The winner, Tara Wasdell (5th W), won £350 to spend on photographic equipment, and her image features in their annual travel brochure. We continued to run annual trips for each of the exam groups to ensure that, by visiting national galleries and museums, pupils enhance their understanding and enthusiasm of both historical and contemporary art. The combined Fifth Form and Upper College trip to both London Tate galleries was punctuated by a leisurely boat trip between the two sites. It proved to be a very valuable educational experience and a great number of pupils were directly influenced by the huge range of artwork on display. The Fourth Form trip to the Ashmolean Museum and the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford was a highlight for many and the record of the event in their sketchbooks proved incredibly worthwhile. Not to be left out, we also held a second All Staff Exhibition, where staff from across College and The Prep were invited to exhibit something that they had created. There were entries as diverse as a striped crocheted moose’s head, chemical mind-maps, dry-point etchings, and a hand-built bicycle. It was a delight to see how creative our staff members are. Once again TWG put up an exhibition to showcase how pupils individually responded to the Headmaster’s Project for the Third Form, the theme being ‘Harmony and Reconciliation’. Each entry was displayed and the standard was incredibly high, showing the enormous effort and time that had been taken. The Third Form also saw the revival of their own Art Activity, where pupils can opt to take extra Art classes where they learn a wide range of processes and new techniques not taught in their regular class lessons. They were also able to attend thematic art workshops in pumpkin carving and card making. Each year group continued to have its own weekly specialist Art Activities. Especially successful was the development of the extra-curricular programme for very talented

‘Photography is booming.’ College had its own darkroom, which pupils could use for a fee of 6d [2.5p] a term. There were only enough lockers for 33 members, but the Bursar offered to have more built. Four of the six boarding houses also had dark rooms. In the Spring Term, 1965, there were no less than five photographic competitions. The then editor of The Cheltonian offered to pay a guinea (£1.05) for each fullpage photograph used [the current editors are making no such offer!]. From Speech Day 1964 to Speech Day 1965, a team of photographers embarked on a project to record the College Year. An ambitious exhibition of their work was shown in TLG on Speech Day, 1965. Some 130 large prints filled the gallery; most had been enlarged from 35mm to 10”x12”. The developing, printing and mounting were carried out entirely by the boys themselves. They were of first class tonal quality and it was suggested that they be published. The enthusiastic Master-in-Charge was Mr Mike Miller. Spurred on by some of the pictures appearing on BBC TV, and by College Council asking them to provide pictures for a new prospectus in 1969, the Society worked on getting photographs of those areas not already covered. Thus, in 1970, a book of 161 photographs: FLOREAT: A Photographic Impression of Cheltenham College was produced by the Practical Photographic Society at Cheltenham College, copies of which can be seen in Archives.

‘In the Royal Military Exhibition, now open at Chelsea, there is a picture of considerable interest in the Historic Loan Collection, lent by Cheltenham College: 936, ‘Battle of Aliwal, Jan 28th, 1846. Representing the attack of the 16th Lancers, and the capture of the Sikh guns. This picture was painted about the year 1850, by William Riviere and H.J. Williams, drawingmasters at Cheltenham College, assisted by some of the boys then at the College, among whom was Briton Riviere, (now RA) who painted the horses.’ The article goes on to mention several other paintings lent by Old Cheltonians.

ACADEMIC

Art

Incidentally, Briton’s son, Hugh, was commissioned to paint the large portrait of Edward Wilson (1886‑1891, Day Boy), which hangs in the Common Room. Acknowledging that his father was a better animal artist, Hugh asked Briton to paint the dogs for him. [The Cheltonian, 1890, p.141] Sixth Form students. They were invited to attend fortnightly life-drawing workshops, and a number of amazing one-off drawing masterclasses – one with the portrait artist Jacob Sutton and the other with Jack Southern (Course Leader BA Fine Art, School of Art and Design, University of Gloucestershire). They attended a lecture from Sandra Smith from the Slade School of Fine Art, on ‘How to Build a Successful Portfolio, and Interview Techniques’, and were able to attend an outstanding masterclass on how to cast body parts from plaster, then press moulding-clay to build figurative sculptures. We continue to develop the Sixth Form syllabus, and are delighted to see numbers grow significantly for 2015‑2016. An area that saw real growth was printmaking, with pupils taking real advantage of the new printmaking facility. To boost their exam and coursework units they created the most fabulous limited editions of prints, many of which were on show at the end-of-year Speech Day Exhibition. We were proud that each candidate had at least one piece exhibited. Once again the Art Department upgraded its facilities by creating a new Visual Resources Area, where banks of multifarious still life objects are displayed for pupils to draw. We look forward to using our newly-remodelled area for photography in 2015‑2016. Congratulations to Harriet White (5th, Ch) who won the Anthony James Art prize at Speech Day, and special congratulations to Jack Burns (5th, NH) who was awarded an internal 16+ Scholarship into the Sixth Form.

Miss Juliet Wallace-Mason

[The Cheltonian, Spring 1965, p.20; The Cheltonian, Summer 1965, p.20]

Alexander Cove

Harriet White

Lavinia Fairlie

Intouch Ruckpanich

Jasmine Ng

Alicia Lee

Elle Sawamiphakdi

Jack Burns

Edward Johnston

New 3rd Year Art Activity. Fired clay bowls with leaf impressions, using oxides

The Cheltonian 2014-2015

ACADEMIC Emily Wilford

Kristy Chan

Rosie Pratt

Georgia Taylor

Tashia Suleyman

Hei Yi Tam

Anna Kvasnikova

The Staff Exhibition

Peter Lelliott, Art Teacher, Permanent Artist-in-Residence

Linn O’Carroll, Art Teacher, Temporary Artist-in-Residence

Linn O’Carroll

The Big Draw. Paper cut-outs produced by Art Scholars & Exhibitioners

The Big Draw in The White Gallery

The Big Draw in The White Gallery entrance

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Imogen Barnes

ACADEMIC Francesca Ball

Francesca Ball

Caitlin Christopher

6th Form Ceramics Masterclass

Francesca Ball

Liza Klepikova

Sunny Lu

6th Form Ceramics Masterclass

Imogen Barnes

Olympia Olympitis

Imogen Barnes

Hugo Parnell-Hopkinson

Classics

The Resistant Materials pupils enjoyed visits to both the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Science Museum to investigate the key factors behind good design in order to inform their choices for their own products. The AS group also visited Castings PLC in the Midlands, which is the UK’s largest steel-casting facility. They saw first hand the process from raw materials through to machine-finished parts, and also saw the automated process of finishing metal parts. The Textiles work was, as always, fantastic; the work displayed at the exhibition being truly exceptional. The A2 garments looked very professional and demonstrated incredible levels of skill. Fourth Form pupils really pushed themselves with their decorative waistcoats, producing garments that look like works of art. The Department was sad to lose both Miss Bronwen Kaja, who moved to France to run Sunny Lu Hugo Parnell-Hopkinson

Alisa Gunina

2015‑2016 looks set to be busier than ever: our first A Level Classical Civilization class reach their Upper Sixth, President Izzi Winstanley (L6, Q) and Vice Presidents Ines Oliver and Dmitrii Usynin (L6, NH) lead a Classics committee for the first time, and we offer residential trips to both Greece and ‘Roman Provence’. We wish Rob Madeley, Ines Oliver and Izzi Winstanley all the best with their applications for Classical degrees, and hope that all our pupils will continue to maintain Cheltenham College’s traditional interest and success in Classics.

The year brought new challenges for the Design Technology Department, with the staff being involved in the delivery of DT at The Prep. That saw us adopting new projects, new teaching styles and learning to build projects on very small workbenches. It enabled us to expose the pupils to areas of modern Design Technology such as 3D printing and laser cutting. Hopefully The Prep’s pupils’ homes will be adorned with a variety of products such as mechanical door signs, whirligigs, pinboards and cuddly monsters.

Thomas Maclaren

Following two years with the Department, during which he was a stalwart of the Classics Society and a huge influence on our university applicants, we said farewell to Dr Duncan McCombie. We welcome the arrival of Mr Antonio Leonardis to teach Latin, Greek and Classical Civilization at all levels, and the expansion of the roles of Mr Beren-Dain Delbrooke-Jones and Mr Nick Nelson, to teach Classical Civilization to the Third Form and Sixth Form respectively.

items of furniture were produced, such as garden swing seats and a number of desks and chairs. However, the Department’s first grit spreader, and a training device for working dogs, certainly had both staff and pupils thinking outside the box!

The Resistant Materials projects were again wide and diverse, ranging from lamps and jewellery boxes at GCSE through to wet suit storage and tennis training machines at A2. Some quality Kieran Connolly

We were pleased to see increasing academic involvement from our Lower Sixth Classical Civilization students, as Iurii Kovalev (L6, Xt), Rob Madeley (L6, Xt), Ines Oliver (L6, A) and Campbell Gaston-Penny (L6, NH) all took the lead in Classics Society presentations. High points included Classics Society Presidents Alex Hall (U6, L) and Xavier Houben (U6, L) securing places to read Classics at Durham University and University College London respectively, 3rd places for Iurii Kovalev, James Wheeler (3rd, S) and Evie Webb (3rd, Ch) at the Gloucestershire Classical Association Reading Competition, and a 2nd place for the highly dramatic duologue of Max Pemberton (3rd, H) and Rob Caesar (3rd, H). Greek tasters, mosaic-making and theatre trips to Medea and Oedipus Rex kept the troops entertained, while professional lectures on Latin poetry, Greek tragedy, Delphi, and Roman Emperors meant that even our keenest Classicists were given new leads for extra reading.

Design and Technology

Mr Tom Lambert

[The Cheltonian, 1889, p.222]

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Imogen Barnes

The Debating Society’s motion before the house in the Autumn Term 1889 was: ‘Mathematics are superior to Classics as the basis of a system of Education’. It continued to be debated over four weeks, with many people speaking for and against, before being defeated 35 votes to 26.

Frederick Fenton

Jasmine Ng

Isobel Salmond Smith

Chloe Ward

Jack Forrester

ACADEMIC

Milly Fair

Tobias Mathews

Kwok Hei Li

Benjamin Pickles

James Thorley

Oliver Goodrick-Clarke

Textiles’ workshops and holidays, and Miss Hetty Hubbard, who moved to set up her own Textiles Department at Pittville School. Their contributions have been amazing and both the Department and the pupils will miss their talents.

Mr David Lait

Economics and Business Studies 2014‑2015 was an exciting year for the Economics and Business Studies Departments. The new joint Society grew tremendously, attracting increasingly large audiences both from within the Departments but also from College as a whole. Professor Andrew Sentance, CBE, (Senior Economic Adviser at Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) and former member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee) examined the state of the UK economy and the current role of monetary policy in its management; Alex Rose (Managing Director of Beards Jewellers, Cheltenham) introduced the Society to the jewellery industry, exhibiting a number of items that caught the attention of the audience; and Tom Ellis (Managing Director of First Class Products, Oxford) inspired students with his experiences as a young entrepreneur in the growing champagne industry. The Departments’ Bank of England team of Neil Hacker (L6, H), Alex Hewer (L6, S), Oyinkansola Oladapo (L6, W), Alison Lau (L6, W) and Conor Stuart (L6, L) worked hard throughout the year preparing for entry into the national competition in 2015‑2016. Their efforts culminated in the delivery of an excellent presentation of their views about the Bank’s future use of monetary policy, judged

by College’s Senior Management Team, and rounding-off the Society’s events on a real high. The year ended with a Departmental trip to the University of Bath (to meet and hear talks from academics in both the School of Management and the Department of Economics), and the soft drinks manufacturer, Bottlegreen Drink Company (to receive a guided tour of the production plant and an introduction to the business and the industry). With equally interesting talks and events being planned, and with an impressive group of Lower Sixth students progressing into their final year, 2015‑2016 promises to be even more exciting.

Mr Jon Mace and Dr Graham Mallard

English It is often lamented in the press that the hoop-jumping culture of public exams robs children today of the opportunity to develop a simple love of learning for the sake of learning; it is also frequently argued that the narrowness of GCSE and A Level courses prevents young people from exploring academic subjects widely, for pleasure. Acutely conscious of that fault in the education system, our work in the English Department has been underpinned by a reinvigorated desire to present our pupils with more opportunities to have fun with our subject and to explore beyond the syllabus. Thus, in the Autumn Term we launched the Cheltenham College Creative Writing Prize. Entries – poetry or prose – were invited from any current pupil on any theme. Over 60 girls and boys entered, and their work was judged by the English Department. The standard was extremely high; there is enormous talent within the pupil body. Eventually, after much deliberation, Eric Robinson (U6, S) was named the winner from Upper College, and from Lower College it was Harry Byrne (5th, S); the runners up were Izzi Winstanley (L6, Q), Tiffany Too (U6, W), Georgina Thorpe (U6, Ch), Edward August (4th, H), Eleanor Davies (3rd, Q) and Lucy Hall (5th, Ch). The 2015 competition now looms large and we very much hope for another rich display of the creative talent within our community. Also in the Autumn Term, we once again took full advantage of the fantastic Times Literature Festival, which every year sets up its camp right on our doorstep. Throughout the ten-day duration of the Festival, forays were launched from the

English Department; groups of students broke free of the strictures of the timetable and beetled down to Montpellier Gardens and Imperial Square to enjoy lectures on everything from representations of love, sex and death in Classical tragedy, to Edward Thomas’s place in the canon of War Poetry; from the portrayal of gender in Early Modern drama, to why The Tempest is one of Shakespeare’s finest plays. All told, it was a wonderful experience; students were genuinely inspired and stimulated by what they heard. Even better was to come, however! A.C. Bradley was a leviathan in the world of Shakespeare scholars; he was also an Old Cheltonian (1864‑1869, Day Boy). And so, on Friday 27 February, we staged the inaugural A.C. Bradley Memorial Shakespeare Lecture. Professor Tiffany Stern from University College, Oxford, delivered a fascinating, vividly illustrated address – ‘Bitter, Black and Tragical: Staging Tragedy in the Shakespearean Playhouse’ – to a Big Classical packed with

Andrew Cecil Bradley (1864‑1869, Day Boy) was the youngest of 21 children of Rev. Charles Bradley of Cheltenham. At College he was ‘a neat and steady bat’ in the 1869 cricket XI, before gaining an exhibition to Balliol College, Oxford in 1869 (where he also played in their XI). By 1874 he was a Fellow of Balliol; he won the chancellor’s prize for his essay, ‘Utopias, ancient and modern’ in 1865; was a lecturer at Balliol, 1876‑1881; Professor of Modern Literature at the newly-founded University College, Liverpool, 1882‑1889; Professor of English Literature, Glasgow University, 1889‑1889; Professor of Poetry at Oxford University, 1901‑1906; Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, 1910. He died in 1935. [OC/Bradley; Cheltenham College Register, 1927]

students and staff from not only College, but also The Cheltenham Ladies’ College, All Saints’ Academy, Pate’s Grammar School, Dean Close School and St Edward’s School, Cheltenham. It was a superbly entertaining, intellectually challenging lecture that germinated, in its wake, many extremely searching (off-syllabus) discussions in classrooms throughout the Department. Regular meetings of our English Department Literary Society complemented the aforementioned ‘one-off’ events. Presided over by the inimitable Dr Luke Davidson, Lit Soc gatherings tackled an eclectic mixture of topics, including: love poetry, satire (with Mr Duncan Byrne), Seamus Heaney (with Mrs Anna Cutts), the value of difficulty and a complete reading of T.S. Eliot’s master-work, The Waste Land. The highlight was perhaps Mr Jonathan Mace’s passionate advocacy of the work of Emile Zola and, in particular, his Germinal, which impressed all who attended with its forceful drama. And so another year drew to a close, at the end of which we felt content that we had struck

The Cheltonian 2014-2015

Mr Tim Brewis

Geography Geography continues its growth and popularity at College, with numbers of pupils going to read Geography and results across all year groups at a high. The news is full of geographical content, but reflecting and engaging upon the history and personal tragedy of incidents closer to home in Aberfan in June provided many with an experience never to be forgotten. On Wednesday 17 June the Lower Sixth geographers went to the site of the 1966 disaster in which 116 children from Pantglas Junior School lost their lives, and were able to hear first-hand accounts from two survivors who lost so much and who continue to suffer. Essays and extended answers in public examinations draw heavily in ‘Assessment Objective 1’, which is factual evidence in support of answers, and the visit was a useful reminder that behind every statistic is a life changed and a story to be told. In College we continue to rely on many external speakers to bring to life the education, research and careers offered through Geography, and we joined with the Lower College Society for a lively debate entitled ‘When is Child Labour

a Good Thing?’ Accepted wisdom may reply ‘Never’ but, guided through the discussion by Dr Peter Mackie from Cardiff University, he showed through his research in Cusco, Peru, that employment can be an enabler, not just economically, but also in terms of accessing education, the internet and quality of life for many of the street children. The Geography Society is fortunate to hear from many students every year, and a particular highlight was Lucy Gray (U6, A) reflecting on her summer travels to Nepal with Darcey Edwards (U6, Q), where both girls worked in Shamrock School in Pokhara. Lucy reported that evening duties involved putting the pupils to bed, at which point they had to be ordered to stop working. Clearly they value the College motto of ‘Work Conquers All’. Cheltenham College has become heavily involved in Shamrock School in recent months, most recently raising significant funding through a relay on the Cotswold Way after the April 2015 Gorkha earthquake. Debating is a critical enabler of classroom discussion, allowing evaluation of essay titles, and we all enjoyed our annual Upper Sixth Geography Leavers’ Dinner and Debate night. The dress code was as creative as ever and the two debate titles (‘Poverty is the real killer when hazards strike’ and ‘Rising population and standards of living are unsustainable’) both provoked fierce discussion. Much of the content for the hazards debate had been provided by an earlier lecture by James Watson of Risk Management Solutions entitled ‘The Crystal Ball of Hazard Prediction’ in which he explained how earth hazards are modelled, modified and insured in those countries with the expertise and finance. As ever, the Lydney, Birmingham, Cheltenham, Snowdonia and Gower field trips provided opportunities for primary data collection, with the latter trips also seeing the Lower Sixth ‘geoggers’ out on their morning runs with Antonia Stuckey (L6, Q) and Jana Bourhill (L6, Q) to the fore. Congratulations to the Speech Day

prize winners: Georgina Blumer (L6, Ch) and Araminta Lawson-Smith (L6, Ch), with best overall geographer awarded to William Wong (U6, S), who was one of three geographers to secure full marks at AS Level. Best of luck to all those geographers departing for Russell group universities and geographicallythemed gap years, and we look ahead to the next Iceland expedition in October 2015.

Mr Richard Penny

Government and Politics

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more successfully than ever the difficult balance between achieving excellent results and fostering a love of carefree exploration of the world of literature. Hearteningly, the new A Level, scheduled for first teaching in September 2015, looks set to make striking such a balance much easier; watch this space!

The Government and Politics Department continued to enthuse and engage the student body. The academic year was bookended by the Scottish Referendum, the rise and fall of UKIP and the excitement of a General Election. It is without doubt a deeply stimulating subject and the Sixth Form students were immersed in the most recent political developments. What with visits to local hustings events and visits from prospective Cheltenham candidates, the pupils benefited hugely from the exposure to contemporary local and national issues. The real highlight for the Department was the College-wide election. Every main party was represented and what followed was a highly informed and passionate campaign. Edward Robbins (U6, L), representing the Conservative Party, won the popular vote and the majority of the constituencies (spread across the Houses, Common Room, administrative staff, catering staff and the Estates Department). Antonia Stuckey (L6, Q), standing as an independent candidate, won the Common Room vote with her well-informed and passionate campaign for her self-styled Peelite Party. What was also encouraging was that the pupil and staff turn-out was in line with national figures; but most importantly there was whole College participation, the pupils had made politics fun and there was a real sense of engagement. The Morley Society ‘Rodney Risk Challenge Cup’ was once again a key feature of the academic year. Archie Charlton (U6, NH), President of the Society, ran out the eventual winner. There is of course a degree of speculation as to how that happened, as he had originally been an early loser in the group stages of the competition. What the 2015 competition brought was a

higher level of tactical application and new, previously untapped, levels of cunning and alliance making. The lesson that we all learned was to never trust a man of the cloth! As it turns out, Father Adam Dunning is not only a real Risk aficionado, but he is prepared to win at all costs. Mr Jon Morton also got the Risk bug and was quickly renowned as a ruthless empire builder leaving the other finalists, Francesca Ball (U6, Ch) and Oliver Thorley (U6, BH) in his wake. It is certainly the case that enemies have been made ahead of the 2016 competition. As the Department has enjoyed a strong year and at least 11 out of the 2015 cohort of 18 A Level candidates are off to read Politics at university, it is only apt that the final mention must go to highlight the hard-working members of the Department. Mrs Alex Eldred has been a real addition to the Department and she has worked College’s first mock election, arranged by the Debating Society, was held in Big Classical in October 1926. ‘Besides the speeches, which reached a high standard, we were entertained by costumes and wigs that delight the eye. College attended in full force as well as a fair smattering of visitors, and as pamphlets had been freely distributed, feelings ran high. Rosettes of all three colours, with a Union Jack and several red flags, horns, whistles and rattles were in evidence, to say nothing of several instances of individual make-up.’ Various telegrams received from notable absentees were read: the Headmaster was ‘unavoidably detained at Twickenham’; Major Gurney [Commanding Officer of the Officers’ Training Corps (OTC)] ‘at the War Office on urgent business concerning the footwear of the contingent under his command’; the Conservative candidate by a burst tyre; and the Socialist supporter had been detained ‘on secretarial duties by a bourgeois form master’. The three candidates (Liberal, Conservative and Socialist) spoke. Amongst other promises, the Conservative candidate stated boxing would be ‘done away with, and rugger abolished in favour of shove-halfpenny’. The Liberal candidate declared ‘the OTC absolutely essential to the maintenance of our empire … For it was a fact that if Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton, then the Marne was won in the mud of Lake House’ [now Southwood]. [The lengthy and full report of the amusing proceedings, and to find out who won, can be read in The Cheltonian, 1926, pp338‑42, or the Debating Society Minute Book, vol. II, pp562‑62.]

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hard to deliver engaging lessons. Mr Chris Reid has been his usual indomitable self and has worked tirelessly in helping deliver great lessons. The coming academic year will however be a very different year. Dr Richard Woodberry, who has taught in the Department for over 20 years, has decided to up sticks and move closer to his beloved White Hart Lane and he has taken a job at Godolphin & Latymer School in London. He has given a great deal to the Department; he has certainly given added academic weight, and his Government and Politics lessons have been delivered through a ‘Disraeliesque’ prism. I cannot thank him enough for his insight, diligence and undoubted hard work. He has been a pleasure to work with. Those taught by him hold him in the highest regard and his familiar clip-clopping down the corridors of New Block will be sorely missed. We wish him all the best for the new adventures that he has in Chiswick.

Mr Richard Moore

History We are lucky in History that our academic year starts with world class intellectual inspiration as offered by the Cheltenham Literature Festival. Students lapped up talks from well beyond the A Level curriculum. A highlight was Izzi Winstanley (L6, Q), Katherine Stanton (L6, A) and Harry Ferris (L6, NH) meeting with Hannah Topping (2007‑2011, Q) on a Sunday morning, for an ‘archaeological dig’ through the ‘histories of the unlettered’, exploring how far it might be possible to write an emotional history of the 1.4 million Indians serving in the First World War. In coursework, William Weston (U6, BH) drew upon that new scholarship to investigate how far the sepoys’ experience was the fatal catalyst in the eventual loss of the Raj. Further titles showed, as ever, great range, including

Ollie ‘Red’ Cookson’s (U6, L) piece on the British Empire being established primarily as a capitalist ‘rip off benefiting fat cats like Rhodes and Rothschild’, through to Julia Schaff’s (U6, Ch) analysis of the lure of the ‘sola-topi experience’. Watching Tristram Hunt illustrate his Ten Cities that Made an Empire with panache at the Festival was just one of the ways in which those major essays were enriched. Back at College, the Morley Society benefited too. Katie Stanton discussed Neil McGregor’s Memories of a Nation with a touching faith in the Brechtian reading appetites of all attending (“Now towards the end of Mother Courage and Her Children, what happens is … well … I don’t want to spoil the story for you but …”) while Annabella Köhler (L6, Ch), gave a paper on ‘being German and not a Nazi’, explaining the beautiful resistance identified by McGregor in having the inward facing ‘Jedem das Seine’ on Buchenwald’s gates (figuratively, ‘everyone gets what he deserves’) crafted by an inmate – in Bauhaus script. President of the Morley, Archie Charlton (U6, NH), set fiendishly hard quizzes on a regular basis up to and including the annual Morley Dinner, which was exceptionally well attended. With a dress code of black tie or ... come as your favourite historical figure, Dr Richard Woodberry and the President were to be seen discussing matters of social justice with the Black Panthers, whilst Marie Curie and The Great Dictator also graced us with their presence. Father Adam Dunning and Mr Jon Morton were honorary transfers from TPE and Maths respectively for the evening, in recognition of their

Departmental walk

Brigadier Parritt asks Annabella Köhler whether she can spot any differences at all with the 1954 cover image of himself, as featured on his book jacket!

The plaque project underway on the Western Front: Cheltenham College 1914‑2014

The Black Panthers with our Dr Woodberry and the President of the Morley Society for the Annual Dinner

Visiting the fallen was a focal part of the first of four years honouring our 675 Old Cheltonians lost during the First World War. Technically assisted with frames made for us in DT by Mr David Lait, the pupils took the fruits of class research to the battlefields as memorial ‘plaques’ for 140 of our 675, in some cases carrying out an act of remembrance which relatives at the time simply could not afford. Putting faces and personal details to the names led almost immediately to others sharing in the project, and pupils were told by one gentleman, “Well done, indeed,” for remembering eight Cheltonians at Tyne Cot, whilst another lady was seen inspecting one of our plaques within minutes of it being left at the Ploegsteert Memorial, for Captain Kenneth Forbes-Robertson (1895‑1899, Day Boy), the brother of James (1897‑1902, Day Boy), one of our six First World War Victoria Cross winners. Our superb guide Mr Tony Eden tells us that the plaques are still there months later, and still occasioning comment amongst subsequent tour parties. Current pupils also paid respects to their own ancestors: Felix Watson-Smyth (3rd, Xt) found his own great-great-uncle, Captain Edward Watson-Smyth (1896‑1899, Teighmore and NH), at Mory Street Military Cemetery, St Leger; and at Dud Corner Cemetery, Loos, Oscar Bromage-Henry (3rd, Xt) found his great-greatgrandfather, Private Aloysius Henry, who died in the same 1915 battle as 17 of our old boys. A war which should have been different, coming some forty years later, yet which still featured the grim attrition of trenches, was

illustrated for the Morley most memorably by Brigadier Brian Parritt, speaking on ‘Korea: “The Forgotten War”? You Must Be Joking!’ The Brigadier flew through 68 pages of personal photos, and his anecdotes held Lower and Upper College alike gripped through an hour and a half. The high point for many was when Brian arrived at an image of an entertainer on stage, re-tying her garter, at which point he yelled, “SEX!” to the huge delight of the Fifth Form. Brian’s book Chinese Hordes and Human Waves sold out afterwards, and the Morley officers loved his wit and wisdom over dinner in town; Brian brings both a breath of fresh air from a different age, whilst also possessing a personal style that very much endears him to all. Finally, in mentioning those who have endeared themselves to College, there has been much wailing and gnashing of teeth amongst the pupil body, particularly amongst the Upper Sixth, who rate themselves as appreciators of a noble vintage, at the news that after 25 years Dr Richard Digby Anthony Woodberry is leaving us. Having presided over the Sixth Form with a degree of success that saw 71 Oxbridge places secured within four years of his stewardship in the early 1990s, it is appropriate that they should mourn his departure (and the daily displays of sartorial flair that honour his hero Disraeli) so volubly. We are joined in Richard’s stead by Mr James Hayden, coming to us from his role as Head of Humanities at Stowe School and also taking up the post of Housemaster of Newick House, and Mr Nick Hands, from Cambridge. We are reassured that (some of) the Persian rugs will remain in place in Room 1, a legacy of that civilized kingdom over which Richard presided, to soften our new colleagues’ entry into New Block.

Miss Jo Doidge-Harrison

History of Art Cheltenham Literature Festival: Izzi Winstanley, Katie Stanton and Harry Ferris are joined by Hannah Topping, University of Bath, for a coffee before a Sunday morning lecture

It was a prolific year for History of Art, culminating in a very positive takeup at AS Level from September 2015, enabling us to expand to two sets in the Lower Sixth.

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sterling if somewhat Machiavellian attendance at the 5th annual ‘Rodney Risk Challenge Cup’, which played out in Room 2 to the strains of the Coldstream Guards’ Hymn to the Fallen.

Earlier in the academic year, Anne Lyubareva (L6, Ch) submitted an excellent article on Rothko and Rubens for the Art History Abroad Sir Trenchard Cox essay competition; a winning prize submission would have warranted a scholarship to Italy. Dan Lee (U6, NH) took 2nd place in the regional heats of the annual ARTiculation Prize (the Roche Court Educational Trust’s speaking competition) at the Arnolfini in Bristol. His informative presentation was on the extent to which Umberto Boccioni’s Unique Forms of Continuity of Space epitomizes the Futurist Movement’s ideals. It was a high coup indeed, only to be followed by the news that Olympia Olympitis (U6, Ch) gained 3rd place with her talk entitled ‘Mythology & Metamorphosis’ based on Bernini’s Baroque masterpiece Apollo and Daphne. Presenting in front of artworks is an art form we showcase well at College; in September a group of Sixth Form Art Historians paralleled poems and paintings as part of an initiative to forge cocurricular links in ‘like’ subjects. Putting Tennyson alongside the work of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood strengthens the abundant symbolism inherent in Victoriana as a whole.

The plaque project underway on the Western Front: Cheltenham College 1914‑2014

The Cheltenham Literature Festival provided excellent stimulus, with talks by hard-hitting historian Simon Schama on Rembrandt’s Eyes, and presentations, ‘Art from the First World War’, and ‘Curating Picasso’. To honour the bicentennial commemorations of Napoleon, Mr Nick Nelson delivered a lecture to the Cheltenham NADFAS entitled ‘Power, Patronage & Propaganda: The Napoleonic Adventure’. Mr Dan Evans presented on ‘Animals in Art’ at The Prep and Leonardo’s approach to anatomy to College’s Sixth Form. We benefited too from Dr Simon McKeown’s knowledge of patronage during the Baroque period as part of a series of reciprocal talks with Marlborough College. Our students enjoyed invaluable gallery experience, in viewing a super show on Rembrandt at The National Gallery and on Sonia Delaunay at Tate Modern. Sadly, our much-anticipated Easter trip to Rome was thwarted because of an airport strike. However, we intend to re-run the trip in the near future. The academic year ended with news that a Picasso hit the record books for the highest amount ever paid for an artwork on the open market; meanwhile College hit the 50% take-up mark for History of Art at university. Congratulations to History of Art prize winners Dan Lee and Katie Woodford (U6, A) and my thanks to Mr Dan Evans for his unerring enthusiasm.

Mr Nick Nelson

ICT The jewel in the crown for the ICT Department was the hugely successful Day of Code. Held in conjunction with the regular Third Form programme, which focuses on essential ICT skills, it was an opportunity for pupils to get a taste of the creative, computational and logical demands of key software development tools. Eight sessions were run throughout the day, led by experts from industry, College staff and, in some cases, pupils themselves.

The Cheltonian 2014-2015

The day was organized to give pupils a chance to choose one of the activities to work on for the rest of the day. The element of choice was a key element of the programme, allowing a range of activities that appealed to all pupils. Sessions on offer included: • programming in Java – a workshop in creating a clone of a popular game with an industry standard programming language • programming in Python – investigating Rapid Application Development, using the world’s most popular programming languages for beginners • programming with Scratch – entry level coding using a drag and drop interface with the latest version of this well known web tool from MIT • designing in 3D with AutoDesk – designing 3D models on iPads and then arranging, laser-cutting and assembling their creations • Web App Prototyping using Balsamiq – using industry-standard software to develop templates for their own website and app ideas • non-linear Stories using Twine – Twine is a tool for writing stories with multiple viewpoints and multiple endings; it uses simple markup language (like HTML) to format and publish the work as a webpage; Twine is in the press for disrupting traditional video game models and for empowering female voices in the gaming industry • soundtrack Design – using the latest Apple music-recording software, pupils recorded multi-track soundtracks to accompany popular video games • interface design using Makey Makey – working with a series of simple tools, pupils planned and designed new ways for people to interact and control their computers Kieran Connolly (U6, Xt) and Henry Dowding (4th, NH), were selected to run courses themselves. Henry, who has been a keen coder for years, ran the session on interface design. “Once the Third Form pupils understood the principles of the device, they were hooked,” said Henry. Kieran has a passion for creating digital music and leapt at the opportunity to help Mr David McKee with the Soundtrack Design session. “Once I realized how well Kieran was doing with the pupils, I stepped back and gave him full control. The Third Form

produced some excellent music under his guidance, I was really impressed,” reported Mr McKee. The Activities on the day were really well received by the pupils, and the experts from GCHQ, RedPixie and Raytheon UK were very impressed by the pupils’ efforts and abilities.

Cyber Games 4.0

After months of programming and code-breaking exercises as part of the Senior Computing Club, our team of four pupils Henry Dowding (captain), Alisa Gunina (5th, Ch), Dmitrii Usynin (L6, NH) and Clement Hathaway (U6, Xt) made it to the final, along with five other teams from around the UK. The final was held at College for the second time, in conjunction with the Cheltenham Science Festival. The Cyber Games is a great extension to activities on offer at College. It is so much more than just a chance for our most gifted pupils to show off their programming skills; they are also getting the opportunity to rub shoulders with other young people with similar ambitions and talents as well as top technical experts from high profile organizations from the technology sector. Our pupils got a real taste for the industry and also had a great time doing it.

Mr Alex Isaachsen

Maths The Department continues to enjoy success in national Mathematical Challenge competitions. Every year we enter the UK Mathematics Trust challenges; the papers are designed to test not only mathematical skills but also ingenuity. At the senior level, 45 received certificates for creditable performances, an all-time record for the Department, comfortably beating last year’s record crop of 35. Top place at College was achieved by Tom Dowley (U6, L) who, along with five others, gained gold certificates for being placed in the top 6% nationally. At the intermediate level an

The Department continued to support the Gloucestershire Maths Association at talks given by academics; the highlight being a talk held at The Cheltenham Ladies’ College by Jennie Davies (Office for National Statistics) on aspects of time series and, in particular, how weather conditions affect human behaviour. AS and A Level Mathematics remain very popular indeed and, in response, a new member of staff, Mr William Packer, was appointed last September. Mr Packer has made an excellent start to his time at Cheltenham; he is a first-class schoolmaster and we are very lucky to have him.

Maths Society

The College Maths Society is going extremely well, with talks from pupils, members of staff

50 years on, the ghost is still walking … ‘Attacks, official and unofficial, on the apathy which has lately been evident in some of the College Societies have resulted in a revival. Four new societies have been formed [Folk Club, Radio Society, Film Making Society and Motor Society]; one, the Maths Society has died.’ [The Cheltonian, Spring 1965, p.19] But all was not lost. ‘One evening last term the Maths Society arose, phoenix-like, to hear a series of lectures originally intended for UpperV Maths. Whether this ghost will walk again we cannot tell.’ [The Cheltonian, Summer 1965, p.20]

Enriching pupils’ understanding of other cultures continues to be a priority for the Department through film showings, trips and exchanges. Third and Fourth Form pupils enjoyed screenings of Les Choristes and Le Hérisson, while French, Spanish and German A Level students relished the challenge of studying fascinating novels, plays, film and poetry in the original language. We also played an active role in a number of Taster Days for prep schools, running sessions on beginners’ Spanish and Italian, and French poetry! Lower Sixth Form French students went to Montpellier in October, at Easter pupils studying German welcomed their exchange partners from Berlin and, in the last week of the Summer Term, Third Form pupils visited Salamanca. In addition, two Lower Sixth students, Ludo Millar and Will Talbot-Rice (U6, Xt), were awarded the College Calvert Memorial Award to undertake a research project in their country of study. Over the summer a number of pupils attended language schools or went on exchanges of their own. We look forward to continuing to promote language learning in 2015‑2016.

Mrs Ester Leach

The new problem solving and programming activity, Project Euler is going from strength to strength and has introduced pupils of all ages to computer programming.

Mike Zollo The Associate Tutor at Exeter University and former AQA Principal Examiner for Spanish gave a seminar on A Level examination technique.

Dr Brendan Enright

Modern Foreign Languages Cheltonian linguists have a whole host of rich and varied opportunities to boost their language learning in a positive way. There is so much on offer in College, both inside and outside the classroom, to allow pupils to experience the joy of communicating in another language successfully and to open windows on to other ways of viewing the world.

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unprecedented 80 achieved recognition with the award of certificates, of which ten featured in the top 6% nationally and received gold awards. Particular credit and congratulations must go to Alexander Thorpe (5th, BH), Kenny Tanakulthon (4th, H) and Archie Butler (3rd, L) who were placed first in their year groups in College, with scores which put them in the top one quarter of a percentage nationally. Three of those pupils were also invited to compete in the follow-up rounds in which they did very well.

and external speakers. We were lucky enough to have Dr Jim Simons (formerly GCHQ) give an outstanding talk entitled ‘Footballs are More Interesting than Football – The Orbifold Approach to Symmetry’. The talk introduced the pupils to many new concepts in Geometry; in particular, we met the 17 spherical symmetry patterns, and the 17 ‘wallpaper patterns’ in the plane. The talk finished with a remarkable proof of the Magic Theorem, which enumerates those patterns. Over 20 pupils gave talks too on a very wide range of topics, including: quantum mechanics, mathematical fallacies, cryptography, and the hardest Sudoku puzzle in the world. The highlight of the pupil presentations was a talk by Tom Dowley on Ramanujan summation. I would also like to thank Jacky Lei for a series of very entertaining talks, including one on how to remember the shapes of graphs through dance moves! Also, special thanks must go to the outgoing president, Tom Dowley, who has done a good job of promoting the Society and Mathematics in general at College. He also needs to be congratulated on winning a place at Oxford to read Mathematics and Computer Science.

GCHQ A GCHQ linguist discussed with Fifth Form pupils from College, Dean Close School and The Cheltenham Ladies’ College (CLC), the career paths opened up by skills gained in the study of Modern Languages.

Debating

We are immensely proud of our academic record. Several of our Upper Sixth students have received offers to read languages at top UK universities, including two offers to Oxford: Ludo Millar (U6, BH), French and Linguistics at St Hugh’s College, and Sophie Caws (U6, Q), French and German at St Edmund Hall. In order to extend our pupils’ academic breadth, 50 Fifth Form pupils and 30 Lower Sixth Form students tested their language skills in the Intermediate and Advanced rounds of the UK Linguistics Olympiad competition, in which pupils are required to get to grips with complex and unfamiliar languages using their understanding of language structure. Commendably, at the extremely demanding advanced level, Katherine Stanton (L6, A) missed silver by only half a per cent. Our Sixth Form students also attended lectures on A Level topics (‘L’éthique: où en est la France aujour d’hui?’, ‘El medio ambiente’, ‘Gleichberechtigung in dem heitigen Deutschland’) at Bristol University.

College took on CLC, Dean Close and Pate’s Grammar School in the annual Modern Languages Debating evening. The competition was fierce and students defended motions as diverse as ‘In today’s society it is better to be a man than a woman’ and ‘Private education should be abolished’. Genevieve James (L6, Q) and Boo Bruce-Smith (U6, Q) won the French competition, with Charles Bond (U6, S) and Georgina Thorpe (U6, Ch) winning the German. Our Spanish teams also gave a great account of themselves.

European Day of Languages

Salamanca trip

Teaching and learning

The Dining Hall was festooned with flags, tables scattered with flyers giving greetings in ten different languages, and international music played to celebrate the European Day of Languages on 26 September.

During the Summer Term, Third Form pupils (accompanied by Mrs Ester Leach, Mrs Sarah Checketts, Mrs Alex Eldred and Mr Simon Brian) had the opportunity to opt for a trip in Activities Week to Salamanca. Pupils were treated to a week of immersion in Spanish culture, food and, last but not least, language lessons in Colegio Delibes.

The Modern Languages Department continued to focus on innovative teaching and learning styles, from Upper Sixth students making calligrams on solar energy, to using Jenga to encourage spontaneous speaking, and using iPads and ‘flipping’ the classroom.

Salsa Fourth Form pupils learned some groovy moves in one meeting of our Modern Languages Society.

Skype project Open morning Throughout the year the Modern Languages Department also played an active part in Open Mornings, running a multi-lingual café for prospective families in the Thirlestaine House entrance, with pupils serving coffee and traditional breakfast fare including croissants and churros.

Spanish students in the Lower Sixth and Fourth Form pupils were able to take part in an inter-school innovative Skype exchange project with a Spanish secondary school – a rare chance to chat with real natives! For further information on our interactive ICT learning projects, please visit our website www.cheltenhamcollege.org/modern-languages

Montpellier Over 20 Sixth Form linguists, accompanied by Mr Simon Brian and Mrs Helen Powell, visited the historical town of Montpellier with the aim of encountering opportunities to use oral French at an advanced level. Students enjoyed 20 lessons of intensive French and enjoyed a wide range of cultural experiences.

Mind your language!

German exchange In the last week of term we welcomed the German exchange pupils from Berlin who enjoyed an action-packed schedule, including visits to Oxford and Stratford upon Avon. College pupils joined their partners in Germany over the summer.

The Cheltonian 2014-2015

The idea of a language lab had been mooted by the Headmaster at Speech Day in 1963. Funded largely by Old Cheltonian donations, the equipment came into full operation 50 years ago. ‘The modern languages staff are grappling with the greatest enthusiasm with the technical problems of handling the apparatus. … The preparation of ‘master tapes’ is a time-consuming operation and members of the faculty may be seen muttering into microphones at all hours of the day or night. There is however, no basis of fact in the rumour that once sufficient material has been recorded language teaching will be handed over to a lab boy, while the staff enjoy a succession of sabbatical terms. Nor is it entirely true that recently a senior master took to his bed after a particularly heavy recording session, and that in spite of this

the lesson he had prepared took place next day, without his absence ever being remarked.’ ‘Strange things find themselves recorded on the tapes, and more than one unfortunate, who has muttered a sotto voce comment into his microphone when wrestling with a particularly intractable French or German construction, has been dismayed to find that this was registered as evidence against him.’ [The Cheltonian, Summer 1965, pp16‑18]

The Music Department continued to flourish with a large GCSE cohort and some new talent complementing the existing skills in the Sixth Form. A highly enthusiastic and musical Third Form intake saw the opportunity for great development and diversity across the board. The facilities have been significantly enhanced throughout 2014‑2015 through the generous support of College and Council. Studio 1 now provides an intimate performance and recording space, and has been the venue for the majority of our increasingly popular Thursday lunchtime concerts. The new ICT suite has revolutionized the delivery of composition and coursework tuition and enabled students to access an extensive range of musical software catering for all levels of musical experience and genre. We have built a recording suite of two ‘live rooms’ connected to a state-of-the-art digital desk and control room. The recording facilities will open new doors to pupils across College and The Prep and bring the Music Technology provision in line with the most forward-thinking schools. Music Technology is now a viable peripatetic lesson choice, including studio and sequencing as activity options. Building on the success of the previous year’s superb exam results, the academic study of Music pushed forward, continuing the good work in traditional pursuits such as harmony and counterpoint, historical study and analysis

together with composition. The superb facility provided by the new Recording Studio and Music ICT Suite have engendered and inspired new levels of music making, broadening the curriculum and increasing accessibility to pupils through a wide range of industry-leading software and media. That enabled large groups of pupils to experiment with writing music for television and video, both in the classroom, as well as part of cross-curricular activities such as the ICT Department’s ‘Day of Code’. The arrival of world music instruments enhanced the delivery of the GCSE syllabus, as well as enabling the creation of percussion ensembles using the African drums and Indonesian gamelan. They proved hugely popular on the Prep Schools’ Music Day, when College hosted some 150 prep and junior school pupils from the surrounding area in a day of singing, orchestral, and world music workshops. The Music Society enriched learning in the classroom by attending a number of inspiring external events and performances, most notably the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and The Tallis Scholars. Looking forward, the addition of Music Technology as an instrumental option, with its state-of-the-art equipment, is an exciting development in the Department’s already broad offering. Not only will it complement the existing composition and performance coursework requirements for both GCSE and A Level, but it will also open new doors for our many singer-songwriters and composers who want to record and produce their own music.

Mr David McKee

Psychology Psychology has now been studied by College students for three years and continues to be a very popular choice of A Level. It provides an excellent foundation for those choosing to study it at university and I am pleased to report that seven of our first cohort of students achieved places studying Psychology degrees following their results in 2014. Psychology has come a long way from the murky days of being seen as a pseudoscience and part of the course has taught our students how Psychology is a Science and they have developed skills as practical psychologists, learning how to design and carry out research. The current Upper Sixth studied a range of topics including Relationship Formation and Breakdown, Explanations of Aggression, Causes of Anorexia and Obesity, and Explanations and Treatments of Schizophrenia. The Lower Sixth have been able to put their subject learning to good use across their studies as, during their course, they learned how to use a variety of mnemonic techniques that will hopefully have aided their revision in all their AS exams. They also studied some useful stress management techniques. Teaching takes a varied and practical approach and students found themselves as participants in replications of famous research and also had a variety of opportunities to carry out and analyse their own research.

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Music

The Psychology Society met once per half-term and students benefited from some excellent talks from a variety of in-house and external speakers. In particular, the talk on Forensic Psychology was very popular, interesting and highly informative – especially as a number of our students are considering criminology or careers within that field. Two of our Upper Sixth students led an excellent talk on the effects of privation and the case study of Genie, a girl who had been locked in a room at the back of her house for 13 years, discussing the impact that such lack of socialization has on development. We also had an event where we explored the area of animal behaviour and how that related to Psychology by watching The Secret Life of the Dog an excellent BBC documentary that allowed us to move beyond the traditional A Level curriculum. We said goodbye to our Upper Sixth students, some of whom were going on to university to study Psychology; we are delighted to have enthused so many of them to continue their pursuit of this essential subject, the study of Human Behaviour.

Dr Tricia Norman

Science As I sit and write this article, I reflect on an exciting and busy year in our newly-refurbished facility. Teaching in the modern laboratories has been a stimulating experience with practical work again becoming the focus of lessons. The arrival of the new interactive periodic table display has been the culmination of an immensely exciting development project and my sincere thanks must go to College Council, donors, the Estates Department, and the Science technicians for their hard work, and the Science staff for their forbearance and patience. The highlight of the year was the Science expedition to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Visiting Quito for two days gave us a brief insight into the history and culture of the country. Having the experience of seeing wildlife up close on the islands has given us all an appreciation of the need to conserve those fragile and beautiful species. Taking 30 pupils on an overseas expedition can be a daunting experience; however it was a privilege to lead the trip – the pupils’ enthusiasm for life, curiosity, and enjoyment of nature was infectious and they are to be commended. My sincere thanks must also go to the staff who accompanied me – Miss Charlotte Knowles, Mr Dominic Faulkner and Mr Nick Nelson. Apart from the normal academic evenings, which occur every year, the Fifth Form pupils

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again attended a GCSE Science Live Conference in Birmingham. Furthermore, we hosted our second Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) Careers conference in which all Third Form pupils heard Mr Jim Elliott (1991‑1996, L) speak about his life as a marine engineer. Scientists, in various career fields, addressed pupils, which highlighted the diversity of careers available in Science. Once again, College actively supported the Cheltenham Science Festival. Hosting a talk entitled ‘How Your Life affects your Genes’ gave the audience a fascinating insight into the newly-emerging field of epigenetics. Working in conjunction with the Prep School on the Cheltenham Science Festival’s Young Scientists’ Day allowed us to undertake exciting activities with Year 6 pupils from local primary schools in Cheltenham. Special mention and congratulations must go to all Sixth Form students who have been successful in their application to read degrees in the scientific field and we wish them all the very best. It was an exciting and stimulating academic year and I look forward to building on the progress we have made.

Mrs Isabella Mech

Biology

Starting the academic year in the newlytransformed Science building provided excellent opportunities to develop the practical work in Biology, and enable outstanding work to take place throughout the year. The Autumn Term saw several academic evenings take place in the new facility. The Third Form pupils enjoyed an interesting evening looking into the

private life of plants, with various activities set out to further their knowledge and practise microscopy work. Two lucky students also took home the fascinating ‘Venus Flytrap’ as prizes in the quiz. A Fourth Form academic evening focused on the central nervous system, giving an insight into how the brain functions and how neurological disorders can arise. The brain dissection was especially well received and sparked much interest in the subject! Our Upper College Biologists gained a wider understanding of the world of Biology on the trips that took place. Lower Sixth students attended a DNA seminar at the University of Warwick. The speakers, who are experts in the field, focused on the technological breakthroughs and issues that surround this cutting-edge area of research, giving much inspiration to students and an insight into many developments – from emergency medicine to epigenetics to the resurrection of extinct species through modern genetics. In September, the Upper Sixth embarked on a residential trip in Dorset to investigate sand-dune succession and rocky shore ecology, using practical techniques practised by biologists to analyse species distribution, population sizes and biodiversity. During the Spring Term, our Fourth Form pupils took part in the Society of Biology’s Biology Challenge competition and results were outstanding. Ten pupils achieved gold, 18 silver and 11 bronze awards, with 18 more being highly commended and 16 commended. In addition, 26 College students also took part in the British Biology Olympiad, which the Society of Biology runs annually to stretch participants beyond the A Level syllabus. More than 6,000 students from schools and colleges across the UK took part in the competition. Special mention must go to Hattie Bevan (U6, A) who was awarded a gold

In the summer, our Third Form pupils undertook a forensics challenge to solve a mystery using a combination of fingerprint technology, pollen grain analysis, and investigations into the soil content on trainers. The event allowed pupils to appreciate the wider uses of Biology, and generated much interest. The Biology Department also contributed to the highly successful 24 Hours, with pupils extracting their DNA and capturing it in a DNA necklace to take home. We also played host to the Cheltenham Science Festival’s Young Scientists’ Day which focused on the topic ‘Space’ by analysing the nutritional value of dehydrated food, conducting tests for biological molecules, and investigating the energy content of the nutrition packs. University applications in the field of Biology and Biochemistry continue to grow. As part of UCAS preparation week, Lower Sixth students who are reading degrees in those subjects went to At‑Bristol Science Centre to analyse their DNA and test for the bitter taste gene. The day enabled students to use University laboratory equipment and stretch their knowledge of DNA technology.

Lower Sixth Competition. The demanding exam explores chemical ideas in context, well beyond the confines of the standard specification. Hattie Bevan (U6, A) and Marketa Stibalova (L6, Ch) achieved gold awards, putting them in the top 8% of an already select group of Year 12 students nationally. Tom Dowley (U6, L) achieved a silver award, and Cameron Campbell (U6, L), Christian Johnston (U6, L), Matthew Finan (U6, S), Josh Yiu (U6, NH), Will Donlan (U6, S) and William Moss (U6, Xt) all achieved copper [bronze] awards. Such achievements contribute significantly to our efforts to propel students to good university places, notably, this year for Hattie who holds an offer for Natural Sciences at Cambridge. On 1 September we had moved into the refurbished Department – transformed from the ‘old’ into a light, modern and business-like facility; welcoming and conducive to work and study. Whilst building work continued around us for the first few weeks, we quickly moved equipment and resources back in and got teaching underway to all classes without delay. It is with great pride that the Science Department now welcomes students

and guests with a wonderful Periodic Table display – the cornerstone of Chemistry and a real ‘head‑turner’ in our foyer. Both the opening ceremony on 13 April and Speech Day were hugely enjoyable occasions when we were able to chat informally with past and present parents and pupils with a confident eye to the future. Whilst Fifth Form pupils and Sixth Form students were busily finishing courses, honing practical skills and starting the arduous revision task we welcomed Dr David Read of the University of Southampton to our Chemistry staff training session in January. David offered a modern insight into Chemistry education and gave a lecture on sustainable Chemistry to our Sixth Form. Dr Stuart Warriner of the University of Leeds visited in March and spoke to our students specifically about UCAS applications for Chemistry and other Sciences. It is our hoped that we can continue to forge fruitful links to both Southampton and Leeds to complement our already extensive connections with the University of Bristol School of Chemistry.

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award (scoring within the top 7% of the UK) and Marketa Stibalova (U6, Ch) who came in the top 11% and was awarded a silver award; both fantastic achievements. In addition, many A Level and AS Level students were highly commended and commended which is very promising.

Mr John Jones

Miss Charlotte Knowles

Chemistry At the beginning of the Autumn Term the Chemistry Department celebrated its best results in the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge

Physics

The Physics Department is officially in clover. Although we have few spring chickens amongst our number the brand new laboratories have given us all a spring in our step. The numerous visitors on Open Days, the Cheltenham Science Festival’s Young Scientists’ Day and Speech Day, as well as at the official opening, have appeared suitably impressed. The pupils are clearly inspired too as nigh on half a century of them have opted to study the new linear Physics A Level.

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In terms of personnel, Miss Amy Haddock has moved on to Bradfield College and we welcome to the Department Mr Tim Ash, a recent Cambridge graduate. We are looking forward to the launch of Mr Steve Rice’s Young Scientists’ high-altitude balloon. The balloon will beam back pictures and other scientific data from the edge of space. Other Cheltonians have been aiming high too, with healthy numbers entering and achieving success in the fiendishly difficult Challenge and Olympiad competitions; Will Hardy (5th, S)

missing out on a coveted gold award by only one mark. College also placed three students in the top 35 in the country in the brand new Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad, with Christian Morton (L6, L) scoring highest. The Physics Society continued to meet, with lectures on Geophysics and Exoplanets amongst others. The space theme continued as students viewed the recent eclipse on numerous Heath-Robinson style eclipse viewers. It was a memorable experience for all concerned.

Mr Stuart Cooper

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Sports Science

of Buckingham in 2015‑2016, we have every confidence he will continue to enhance the Sports Science Department in the future.

It was yet another exciting year for the Sports Science Department. The highlight was undoubtedly the Lower Sixth trip to The National Cycling Centre, an Olympic velodrome in Manchester. The students toured the facilities and had the chance to see and talk to Team GB about their training regime and cycling techniques. Their favourite part of the day was having the opportunity to ride on both the Olympic BMX and the velodrome track. The 42‑degree angle was apparently very daunting to ride and sadly cost one student a fairly nasty injury! The trip far exceeded expectation and will not be forgotten any time soon.

Mrs Rebecca Faulkner

Theatre Studies It was another fulfilling and successful year for Theatre Studies.

Mother Said I Never Should. We also experienced great success during the GCSE moderation. Our production of Polly Teale’s Bronte, exploring the difficult lives of our most beloved female novelists, and Arthur Miller’s classic All My Sons, were particularly praised. Overall, all pupils achieved a practical mark of 87% or over. As always, excellent learning in the classroom was enriched and developed by an extensive programme of trips. We saw over 20 high-quality live performances, which served as an invaluable

The A Level practical moderations effectively showcased the outstanding talents of our many students. In the A2 moderation, some exceptional creative adaptations of the novels Room, Shock of the Fall and Dark Places were presented. All students gave thoughtful and mature performances, with many being awarded full practical marks. The AS performances were equally accomplished. A diverse range of plays was performed from Simon Stephens’ thoughtprovoking Punk Rock to Charlotte Keatley’s My

With trips of that sort we continue to show the students the larger world of Sports Science and the importance it has in elite sport. In addition to trips to enhance the curriculum, we enjoyed a number of lectures as part of the Sports Science Society. Speakers included Dr Mike Rossiter, who focused on Sports Medicine and his involvement in the concussion concerns that surround all sports, and James Hudson, Gloucester rugby player, who discussed sports nutrition and the importance of food for sport and hydration. In the Department we continued to grow in numbers and look to have more students studying Sports Science at A Level in 2015‑2016, which is fantastic. The introduction of Weightlifting and Health Related Fitness into the Fourth Form scheme of work was a huge success. We also ran Mountain Walking for the first time. Hopefully we will be able to develop that further along with skiing and snowboarding which have both been popular during the year. Mr Henry Davies brought a huge amount to the Department with his involvement in Strength and Conditioning. He qualified as an Accredited Strength and Conditioning coach (ASCC) with the UK Strength and Conditioning Association, and implemented a huge amount into the Sports Science programme, College Sport and TAP (Talented Athlete Programme). As he undertakes a PGCE at the University

inspiration for our pupils as they embark on the process of devising their own work. We saw traditional Greek tragedies, musicals, comedies and cutting-edge modern theatre. We travelled to the West End, Malvern, Oxford, Coventry and Bristol, and saw the Royal Shakespeare Company, to name but a few. Highlights included the innovative adaptation of Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Kneehigh’s Rebecca and Frantic Assembly’s Othello. Learning was further supported by visits from outside practitioners including a physical workshop led by Frantic Assembly and a workshop exploring our set text A View From the Bridge from Touring Consortium Theatre Company.

Mrs Sian McBride

Theology, Philosophy and Ethics Upper College Theology, Philosophy and Ethics (TPE) students attended a conference at The Cheltenham Ladies’ College (CLC) in February. The first keynote speaker was Professor Simon Blackburn whose lecture centred on human ideas of moral knowledge. Challenging those who believe in the objectivity of moral judgement, the atheistically-inclined professor argued that morality is ultimately reducible to a series of inputs and responses. Next to speak was philosopher Julian Baggini who spoke about the advances in science on the subject of free will and determinism. The Philosophy Club met weekly and Upper College students grappled with the so‑called father of modern philosophy, René Descartes.

The Cheltonian 2014-2015

Going through his seminal work, The Meditations, page by page, they got a real taste for undergraduate study. Having grasped Descartes’ arguments, they went on to present his thinking to students at CLC, answering their questions insightfully. The Philosophy Society, organized in conjunction with CLC, introduced students to a spectrum of important philosophers, ranging from the political thought of Hobbes through to the existentialist thought of Nietzsche. Speakers from Gloucester, London and Oxford universities introduced students to the latest developments in their fields. The Society also organized trips to Oxford and Cambridge universities to help interested students better understand what it would be like studying there. The TPE trip took place on 12 June when the Fourth Form pupils journeyed to Coventry Cathedral. The striking architectural splendour of the new cathedral, designed by Basil Spence and consecrated in 1962, is set alongside the bombed-out ruins of its medieval predecessor. With its unique place within the narrative of

20th-century warfare, the cathedral has become an international centre for the promotion of peace, reconciliation and forgiveness. The stark reminder of that is carved on the remains of the medieval high altar: ‘Father, forgive’. College pupils were given tours of the cathedral and tower, and enjoyed workshops on the themes of Reconciliation and Sacred Architecture. We welcome a new teacher to the Department from September 2015. Mrs Beki Mace comes to us from CLC and is the wife of the new Housemaster of Christowe. Having undertaken postgraduate study at the University of St Andrews, Mrs Mace taught at St Edward’s School, Oxford, Malvern, and Princethorpe College, before moving into the boarding house at Warminster School. Her current doctoral research considers the role social media and new technologies play in modern self-understanding from an existentialist philosophical perspective. Alongside that she is particularly interested in digital pedagogy and the role of technology in the classroom.

Dr Adam Dunning and Dr Adrian Samuel

ACADEMIC

Speech Day 2015 - Prizes House Academic Shields

Lower College Girls’ Shield (Robertson Shield) Westal, collected by Theresa Grafin Pachta

Lower College Boys’ Shield (H.L.A. Hart Shield) Boyne House, collected by Alexander Thorpe

Upper College Girls’ Shield (Lldarin Shield) Queen’s, collected by Darcey Edwards

Upper College Boys’ Shield (Marsden Shield) Southwood, collected by Will Donlan

The Duleepsinhji Cup (girls) Harriet Bevan - Ashmead

The Stidworthy Cup Paddy Milton - Christowe

The Sloan Cup Rebecca Perry - Ashmead

Games

The Duleepsinhji Cup (boys) Oliver Thorley - Boyne House

CCF prizes

The Army Leadership Prize Jack Grimwade – Newick House

Academic Excellence

The Millennium Trophy Tom Dowley - Leconfield

All-round contribution

The Cadbury Cup Francesca Ball - Chandos

The John Bowes Cup Alexander Hall - Leconfield

The Galahad Cup William Moss - Christowe

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As College commemorates the 100th anniversary of the First World War, the cadets of the Combined Cadet Force have been central to the acts of remembrance. In addition to the services at College and at the National Memorial Arboretum, we were honoured to represent the Combined Cadet Force Association at the Cenotaph Parade in London. Selected from our three Sections, 28 cadets stayed overnight in barracks in Clapham before a very early start in order to make it through to Wellington Barracks before the roads were closed. After a stroll past Buckingham Palace and down The Mall, we assembled in Horse Guards ready to step off. As the majority of veterans were in regimental blazers we were one of only four units marching in uniform and the applause that greeted the cadets as they marched through Whitehall and up Horse Guards Road will live long in the memory. As ever, the cadets were engaged in a wide range of activities. Jana Bourhill (L6, Q) spent four weeks in Kenya on an expedition; Harry Steel (L6, Xt), Anna Birkett (L6, A) and Antonia Stuckey (L6, Q) attended a week-long ski expedition with the Gloucestershire Army Cadet Force; and ten staff and cadets went on a four-day bushcraft instructor course in Cornwall. We were also delighted that Jana Bourhill was appointed Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet and was awarded an Army Sixth Form Scholarship. At the end of the Spring Term we held the annual Sword of Honour parade and the Back Badge Dinner night. We are very grateful to current parent and Chief of Staff, London District, Col. Hugh Bodington, for joining us as Inspecting Officer. The Sword of Honour was awarded to Head of Corps Cadet RSM Jack Grimwade (U6, NH), the Adjutant’s Cup went to William

Jury-Simpson (5th, BH), and Col. Bodington had the great pleasure of awarding the Rifle’s Bugle to his own son, Cadet WO2 (CSM) Humphrey Bodington (U6, BH). The year saw the departure of two staff from the Army Section and we wish Captain Sarah Proudlove and Second Lieutenant Lulu Watson the very best in their new schools.

yacht. The senior cadets organized a Trafalgar supper for the evening before the Field Day; the cadets, dressed as pirates, were entertained by a naval quiz and enjoyed singing sea shanties. The following day all the section had a successful day afloat at Portsmouth using the yacht, motor cruisers and smaller powered boats.

Major Richard Penny, Contingent Commander

For the Spring Term Field Day we visited HMS Collingwood at Gosport, where the cadets completed physical leadership tasks on an extensive low ropes course and learned the value of teamwork. The senior cadets were invited to the Bridge Trainer, a £2.5 million computer simulation of a ship’s bridge. The port and the weather can be changed, so we ‘entered’ Plymouth in gale force 9 and then ‘flew’ a Harrier, did a barrel roll, and landed on a new aircraft carrier in time for lunch! Later, at Portsmouth, we had a guided tour of a frigate, HMS Lancaster, where the cadets could imagine the reality of life at sea. It was a memorable day.

Naval Section

The Naval Section had an active year with a varied programme of training. Weekly parades included kayaking, first aid, communication, drill, knots, map work, leadership tasks and chart-work. All the new recruits completed their basic proficiency test and many of the cadets increased their skills by attending CCF camps and courses; the Lower Sixth completed contingent leadership training. S/Lt Bob Wells and I have been joined by S/Lt Phoebe Aitken and S/Lt Amy Haddock, who both completed the Initial Officer Training course at Dartmouth at Easter. The section is grateful to Dr Paul Gibson, Physics Technician, for his continuing support and expert kayaking instruction. In the Autumn Term, two sailing crews enjoyed a Sunday sail on The Solent in the Sigma 38 CCF

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In the Sword of Honour parade, Chief Petty Officer Phoebe Mathews (U6, A) was awarded the Anthony Nash Sword of Honour for her leadership of the Section, and Petty Officer Jack Forrester (U6, BH) was awarded the Nelson Bust. PO Eoin Hughes (U6, S) and PO Rupert Cook (U6, S) also gave invaluable service to the Section. Jack and Eoin have

The King’s Camp A report by Ian Edye (1935‑1939, H) who attended the old ‘Duke of York’s Camp’ which had, at the express wish of the king, changed its title. It was decided ‘that the King could not assist actively in running the Camp if it was still held at Southwold. So he decided to hold the Camp on his own grounds at Balmoral; this move made it necessary to cut the numbers by half, from 400 to 200. A hundred public schools and a hundred factories each sent a representative and all of us were between 17 and 19.’ On the first evening, waiting to be shown their quarters, the king, dressed in the hunting Stewart tartan, moved with ease in their midst. ‘On Sunday we all trooped down to Balmoral for tea. The King and Queen insisted on shaking hands with every boy as we entered. The princesses stood shyly by.’ Activities included scaling the heights of Lochnagar, seeing sheepdog trials and Highland games, visiting a whisky still and talks by Peter Scott and Ernest Shackleton’s son. ‘A detailed account of each day might annoy the Editors with their economy drive for less paper.’ [The Cheltonian, 1939, pp309‑310] Without the restrictions of blank firing with the

cadet assault rifle, they made huge progress with

their fieldcraft and tactics in an intense 24 hours.

completed their Yachtmaster qualification, and their practical sailing expertise will be missed. Over the Easter holiday, seven recruits attended a week-long Powerboat Level 2 course at HMS Raleigh, and S/Lt Bob Wells became a Powerboat Instructor. During the Summer Term the recruits enjoyed sailing at South Cerney and completed their basic proficiency test. At the end of term, they had a productive and very enjoyable week at the Sea Cadet Training Centre, Weymouth. All the cadets achieved a RYA (Royal Yachting Association) Level in sailing, powerboating or windsurfing. We also visited two RN patrol boats, crewed by university students, when they moored alongside the quay at Weymouth. The cadets found out about the opportunities at many universities for continuing their involvement with the Royal Navy. An additional nine cadets attended CCF courses in leadership, scuba-diving, powerboating, yachting and pool lifeguarding over the 2015 summer holidays. The courses are heavily subsidized by the Ministry of Defence and are held at Dartmouth, Plymouth and Portsmouth. They provide excellent opportunities for cadets to increase their skills, have fun and become independent. All CCF cadets are eligible for the courses and they are highly recommended.

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S/Lt Amy Haddock is moving to Bradfield College, so we thank her for the energy and enthusiasm for CCF, and wish her well in her future career.

Lt Christine Harrison (RNR), Head of the Naval Section

Army Section

The Army Section again had a very busy year with a number of cadets attending courses, both internally and externally, gaining qualifications in first aid, navigation, bushcraft, instructional techniques and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Therefore, more than ever, the

cadets can take ownership of training and lead the parades, lessons and Field Day so that they can benefit from the experiences of preparing and teaching lessons on a variety of topics. That was put into action on the first Field Day in Caerwent, where the Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth NCOs ran stands on ration packs, camouflage, observation and patrolling skills, whilst also trying to maintain order in the overnight hangar where 160 cadets were snoring, midnight feasting and crawling over each other like camouflage caterpillars in their sleeping bags! The Recce Company spent the day making the most of our paintball guns so that they could conduct numerous attacks in pairs, building up to a section assault at the end of the exercise.

The jewel in the crown of the year for the Army Section is the annual camp at Longmoor. A mixed military and adventurous training programme saw the Recruit Company enjoying mountain biking, climbing, kayaking, paintballing, archery and a range package firing the assault rifle at 300 metres and many cadets missing clays at a lot closer range! The final day saw the competition package where the cadets were joined on the march and shoot by Brigadier Andrew Hughes (1976‑1981, BH). The three College teams set three of the four fastest times of the day with The work of the Corps has been somewhat disturbed owing to the War Office having commandeered half of our rifles. Since there are not sufficient arms for all, the two companies have usually to parade at separate times. To meet this difficulty the last hour of morning school on Tuesdays and Thursdays has been dropped. [The Cheltonian, 1914, p.271]

Leonora McCaldin (L6, A), Prefect Chair (elect) of Co-curricular, flies the flag for College life beyond the classroom Drama events were plentiful. The musical Oh! What a Lovely War showcased some wonderful talent from both Upper and Lower College, and The Variety Show was as popular as ever and raised much-needed money for our links with schools in Romania and Nepal. Music at College thrives. Chapel hosted a variety of performances, ranging from choral evensong and a tranquil service of compline, beautifully sung by the choir, to the annual House singing competition. Big Classical became the new venue for major concerts and the year finished with a superb performance by College’s Symphony Orchestra.

The diverse range of co-curricular events during the year was fabulous. From the Lower College play, The Railway Children, to performances of the very best musical talent in Chapel including College’s quartet and soloists, College’s co-curricular life seems to be growing ever stronger. the all-girl group beating many of their male counterparts. For their sustained effort and leadership over the course of a challenging but rewarding week, Max Taylor-Baggs (4th, BH), Cameron Terry (4th, NH), Amber Beachus (4th, W), Isobel Turner (4th, A), Oliver Pritchard (4th, Xt) and Libby Barnes (4th, W) were all promoted to LCpl. Grace Wackett (4th, W) was also promoted to LCpl as the top female on the camp and Oliver Ruthven (4th, L) was the unanimous choice for Top Cadet and was awarded the Rifleman Trophy.

In Art, The Big Draw allowed for creative exploration among the pupils and it proved a huge success. The staff were also involved, contributing successfully to the biennial Staff Exhibition.

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Barely 48 hours after our return from Field Day, a number of staff and cadets departed on a four-day bushcraft instructor course in Cornwall. Having learned how to light a fire with percussion and friction, they moved on to using wire wool and mobile phone batteries in order to prepare signal fires and to cook a variety of pre-prepared wildlife. Axe throwing, trapping, shelter building and foraging made up the remainder of the weekend and everyone passed with flying colours. More importantly, they were then able to use their new-found skills to run stands during the February Field Day at Nesscliffe, which focused on navigation, fieldcraft and marksmanship.

Overall, co-curricular activities have enjoyed a vibrant and exciting year, and we very much look forward to the vast array of coming productions, showcases and events. The show will go on! At the end of another year it is only right to thank our senior cadets who put so much into making the Combined Cadet Force a success. Cadet RSM Jack Grimwade (U6, NH) did an excellent job as Head of Corps and was a worthy recipient of the Army Leadership Prize on Speech Day, and Cadet WO2 Humphrey Bodington (U6, BH) led by example all year as Head of Army. Over their four years with the CCF the Upper Sixth developed their resilience, leadership and teamwork immeasurably and in the process gave

a huge amount back to the organization of which they had been a part. A number of cadets were hosted by the Oxford University Officer Training Corps for a Special-to-Arm briefing evening and a number of quality candidates will no doubt add to the long history of military Old Cheltonians. We were particularly pleased to hear that Tom Gossage (2008‑2013, BH) has been accepted for the September 2015 intake for Royal Marine Officer training at the Commando Training Centre in Lympstone, and that Rishi Ahluwalia (2005‑2010, L) is currently at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and representing the Hackett Army Polo Team before commissioning into the Light Dragoons, joining Captain Charlie Dunn (1997‑2001, L). Many thanks, as always, to all the Army Section staff who give up so much of their time, energy and sleep to make the Cheltenham College CCF such a success.

Major Richard Penny, Contingent Commander

RAF Section

September 2014 saw the change of command with Major Kirk Steel (ex Royal Irish Regiment) assuming the mantle of Flight Commander. What Major Steel lacked in air knowledge he made up for with enthusiasm and a vast array of (incomprehensible) army-based military colloquialisms! Mr Will Packer and Mr Beren-Dain Delbrooke-Jones completed the command team for the RAF Flight. Sergeant Tom Dowley (U6, L) was an excellent Head of Service for the year and 15 new Fourth Form pupils joined five Fifth Form pupils and three Lower Sixth students in the Flight. With Tom preparing for Oxbridge examinations (and congratulations to him on being offered a place at Oxford), Corporals Yuri Kovalev (L6, Xt) and Alexander Grutter (L6, Xt) took on early responsibility as the Fourth Form started their training syllabus. Initial training in drill, saluting and lessons on ‘how to iron your uniform and wear a beret’ led to the first Field Day at Caerwent. The Army recruits joined us as we developed those skills common to self-reliance in the field. Cooking with ration packs, fieldcraft, camouflage and concealment, building improvised shelters, judging distance and target identification were all practised and the

cadets learned a little about how to administer themselves in the field and a lot about themselves and how to work in a team. Map reading and first aid are life skills taught in CCF. The cadets learned the basic principles of maps, how to read them, how to march on a bearing, and how to determine their location. Further, they learned the basics of first aid and how to treat injuries such as broken bones, minor burns and how to resuscitate an unconscious patient. They also practised putting a patient into the recovery position and treating shock with warmth, rest and reassurance. The Field Day in the Spring Term saw the Flight visit RAF Brize Norton. Here the cadets jumped 35 feet from the parachute trainer, visited 47 Squadron RAF and clambered over a Hercules C‑130J. They also had ‘hands on’ a vast array of in-service weapons and some weapons recovered from recent conflicts. The ‘summer camp’ was actually a series of day trips. On days 1 and 2, the Flight deployed to the Wye Valley and, in beautiful weather, paddled ten miles down the River Wye for 4½ hours and also took to the mountains on bikes. Day 3 saw the Flight visit Bristol University Air Squadron, based at Colerne, where most of the Fourth Form pupils took to the air in the Grob Tutor. The next day they visited the RAF Museum in London and, courtesy of two parents, Group Captain Nick Hartley and Wing Commander James Hill, the cadets visited the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, at Shrivenham, where the highlight, and a fitting end to the year, was a presentation by Group Captain Andy Bowen on the RAF and what the future might hold for military aviation. In between times the Flight had a shoot on College’s 25-metre indoor range, practised personal survival in the swimming pool, conducted planning exercises, discussed leadership, and competed in the College crosscountry championship with Lance Corporal Tom Hill (5th, BH) coming in a very respectable 7th. In addition, Lance Corporal Sam Mendis (5th, Xt) represented College at full-bore shooting at Bisley. Congratulations go to Sergeant Tom Dowley (U6, L) who was awarded the Millennium Trophy for all-round leadership and outstanding contribution

Helping the national war effort ‘Every half-holiday 30 or 40 cyclists set out for a hard afternoon’s work in the fields; … week-end parties have been cutting pit-props in the Forest of Dean; the Dramatic Society … raised nearly £20 for the Red Cross by their performance of Twelfth Night; over 100 boys are giving up part of their holidays to go farming.’ There are longer articles on some of those activities in the 1940 edition of The Cheltonian [pp 143‑44; 170-72]. [The Cheltonian, 1940, pp 97, 105] to the CCF, and to Corporal Alexander Grutter (L6, NH) who was the envy of the Flight as he marched out in front of the whole contingent to collect the Battle of Britain award. Alex is also to be congratulated on his promotion to Cadet Sergeant and appointment as Head of Service in 2015‑2016.

Major Kirk Steel, Head of the RAF

Clay Pigeon Shooting Clays is currently an activity that introduces pupils to the sporting discipline of Clay pigeon shooting. Regardless of ability, pupils get the opportunity to represent College in at least two competitions throughout the year. Practice time is limited by the light during Greenwich Mean Time and the fact that our training ground closes at 5pm. It must be remembered that all the schools we compete against run Clays as a sport with the requisite practice time that goes with it. After the initial training period, where our internal High Gun and Novice Gun competitions begin, the first competitive shoot was the Marlborough Sporting Clay Shield. The team of Killian Hughes (4th, S), Philip Edwards (5th, S), Alexander Thorpe (5th, BH), Edward August (4th, H) and Pat Euarchukiati (5th, BH) started our season off well with a 4th place – our best result ever in that competition, with joint High Guns being Killian and Edward. The next sortie into competition was the Millfield School Challenge. Two teams competed: Charlie Brooksbank (L6, L), Henry Johnson (4th, H), Kieran Thorley (4th, BH), Philip, Ben Southall (3rd, BH), Christian Campbell (3rd, BH), Alfie Weston (3rd, BH) and Nicholas Hill (3rd, BH). A tough course in difficult conditions saw the A team come 10th and the B team 12th. The High Gun for the A team was Charlie and for the B team was Ben. The winter season always proves difficult for Clays as we lose the light on a Monday and have to switch to snatching limited practice time

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In that context, the next two results should be seen as very good indeed. The Fido May Trophy Competition, hosted by Harrow School is always a test as it is the first competition after the winter break with the challenges of restricted training. The team of Edward, James Drysdale (4th, BH), Alfie and Ben did really well to come 15th, beating teams from Millfield School and Wellington College. High Gun on that occasion was Edward. The final competition of the regular season was the Warwick Challenge and it is traditionally one of the toughest courses of the season. The team of Pat, Kieran, Alexander, Killian and Henry all shot fantastically to place themselves 8th, with the High Gun being Kieran once again. After Easter, preparation turns towards the nationals and we have time to shoot in just the one preparatory competition at Rugby School. The team for the nationals – Pat, Charlie, Alfie, Christian, Ben and Philip took the advantage of getting their eye in and came third with Pat being the High Gun. The culmination of the sporting target season is the British Schools and Young Shots Championships, held at the West Midlands Shooting Ground. A fair but tricky course saw the boys come a good 6th place, beating strong teams from Cokethorpe School, Strathallan School and Kimbolton School. High Gun was Philip who scored 31/50, placing him 33rd in the country at that level of shooting. With the season over it just remained to calculate who was the Club’s internal High Gun and Novice Gun. Killian won the High Gun trophy and medal with a score of 230/259, with Charlie and Christian tying for the Novice Trophy on 188/259. For the second year running British Shooting ran the Schools Olympic Experience Day at Ian Coley’s Shooting Grounds at Chatcombe Park. It was an opportunity to introduce shooters to the Olympic disciplines of Down the Line (DTL) shooting. They also ran an air rifle and pistol competition to highlight any potential rifle and

pistol shooters. We took defending champion Oliver Palmer (L6, L), Kieran, Christian, Ben, Alfie and Thomas Hartley (3rd, H). The boys did really well, with Ollie, Christian and Kieran making the final with scores of 42, 41 and 40. Tom narrowly missed out with 36, and Alfie and Ben, with 28, put in strong performances for their first attempt at that discipline. After another round of shooting, Ollie was left defending his title in the gold medal match. Unfortunately he was not able to repeat his triumph of the previous year and had to settle for silver, but it was still a great achievement for him and the Club. In the team competition, Ollie and Kieran picked up a silver medal and Ben and Christian picked up a bronze medal. Tom impressed with a gold medal position in the air rifle competition which, when combined with his pistol score, saw him come 3rd overall. As a result, he was asked to attend a GB shooting selection course. I would like to thank all the parents for their continued support of the Club; Ian Coley for all his support and help at the ground and with tuition; and above all Mr Michael Farquhar (1957‑1962, Xt) who has been our coach for over 20 years – and I hope will continue to be so for many more yet. After such a successful season I can only see the Club going from strength to strength; things certainly look very bright for the future of College shooting.

Mr Chris Reid

Community Service Over 60 pupils at College volunteered to take part in the ever-growing Community Service programme. The five placements on offer enabled College to give a wide range of support to people and children across Cheltenham. Here are some of the highlights.

Windsor Street Care Centre

Pupils went through a comprehensive training programme where they learned how to deal with, and help, patients suffering from dementia. Each week they visited the home and talked to the residents, enjoying hearing stories from their past. The residents also came to College for a Christmas meal that was very much enjoyed by all.

Abbeyfield Care Home

Abbeyfield is a small residential home for elderly people with room for only a few pupils to visit. Mrs Sarah Ramsey and the pupils involved have been extremely creative in producing enjoyable activities for the residents, ranging from playing music to playing charades. The residents attended the carol service at the end of the Autumn Term and Mrs Anna Cutts also invited them to Ashmead where they had afternoon tea with teachers and pupils. The residents and staff at Abbeyfield are very grateful for the link made with College over the past two years.

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between main games on a Tuesday afternoon. Attendance at training therefore drops from an average of ten a week to about one a week, with some weeks no training at all.

Hop, Skip and Jump

Located in Severn Springs, Hop, Skip and Jump is a centre for children with learning difficulties. Each week, Miss Jo Doidge-Harrison took a group of Fifth Form pupils and Lower Sixth students to the centre to help the children build their confidence by involving them in active play and activities.

Naunton Park Primary School

Fifth Form pupils helped to help run an afterschool care club for children aged from three to 11 years. Miss Helen Davies worked with the centre devising innovative games and craft activities for the children, who all enjoyed playing games with College pupils and valued our support.

Thirlestaine Park Care Home

College pupils enjoyed meeting the new residents at the home which opened during the year. They learned about modern day care for the elderly, including those who suffer from dementia. Most of the time was spent speaking to the residents. The staff and pupils enjoyed talking to them and taking an interest in the activities that they had been doing during our visits, including painting and playing music. Hopefully the residents from Thirlestaine Park will be able to visit College in 2015‑2016.

Mr James Stubbert

Debating Debating had a full and successful year, with several major events. At the beginning of November, College held its inaugural Model United Nations event in TLG. With each House representing a country, the delegates gathered to negotiate a response to the spread of Ebola. After long consideration and much debate, consensus was reached and the delegates passed the resolution. Involving over 50 pupils from all years in the school, it was heartening to see so many so thoughtfully engaged in politics and public speaking. Special mention should go to Charlie

The motion debated in February 1890 was: ‘That the construction of a Channel Tunnel or Bridge would be injurious to the interests of the British nation’. It was passed by a small majority. [The Cheltonian, 1890, p.34] ‘Owing to the Great European War, which broke out in August 1914, the Debating Society at first ceased to meet for about twelve months, chiefly because nearly all the speakers left to take up Military Service.’ [Debating Society Minute Book I, p.366] Having returned from Shrewsbury, there was a joint debate with The Cheltenham Ladies’ College in the Neame Room, followed by refreshments in the Boyle Room. ‘It was generally considered that the whole affair had been most successful and ought to be repeated.’ [Debating Society Minute Book II, p281; The Cheltonian, 1940, p.279]

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Brooksbank (L6, L), Emily Morton (L6, Ch), Abigail Aitkin (3rd, Ch), Ben Schallamach (4th, BH) and Neil Hacker (L6, H) who were commended for their excellent contributions and won valuable points for their House towards the House Academic Shields. The second highlight in the debating calendar was the English Speaking Union Schools’ Mace debating competition, which College hosted at the end of November. The College team of Antonia Stuckey (L6, Q) and Katherine Stanton (L6, A) were joined by five schools, Stroud High School, Marling, Cheltenham Bournside School & Sixth Form Centre, Cotswold School and The Cheltenham Ladies’ College (CLC), for an evening of high-level debate on a range of challenging topics from the place of alternative therapy in the NHS to inheritance tax. Hosted, chaired and timed entirely by the Debating Society, it was a wonderful evening, showcasing talent from a wide diversity of schools. College was doubly pleased and proud to be selected alongside CLC to progress to the next round where our team was nobly beaten by CLC in a closely-fought contest. February saw the Debating Society competing in and hosting both rounds of the Davies and Partners’ Gloucestershire Schools’ Debating Competition. In the first round, Harry Ferris (L6, H) and Anne-Marie Bowring (L6, Q) competed with gusto in the debate: this House believes that if you are old enough at 16 to marry and join the army, you should have the right to vote at 16 as well. Facing fierce competition from local schools (CLC, St Edward’s School, Cheltenham, Cotswold School, Crypt School and King’s Gloucester), we were knocked out. However, we were very proud to host the fantastic final which saw Cotswold School going on to beat CLC. As part of the Lower Sixth Leadership Programme, each student was given the task of

delivering a presentation to their tutor group on ‘their inspiration’. The winning presentations went forward to the Presentation Final in front of the Third Form and a judging panel. The audience were treated to a range of interesting and thought-provoking presentations from Charlie Brooksbank, Annabella Köhler, (L6, Ch), Marco Rodriguez-Novas Puls (L6, NH), Araminta Lawson-Smith (L6, Ch) and Bertie Bent (L6, NH). However, first place was awarded to Izzi Winstanley (L6, Q) for her beautifully-crafted speech: ‘Pit Boy’ ‑ the inspirational story of her grandfather. Second and third places were awarded to Ashley Yu (L6, W) and Katy Stanton respectively. Finally, Modern Foreign Language students were also involved in debating against local schools. Boo Bruce-Smith (U6, Q) and Genevieve James (L6, Q) did especially well to win the regional round of Les Joûtes Oratoires inter-school debate, beating CLC in the final. Of course, Debating Society took place every Monday through the Autumn and Spring Terms with a strong and enthusiastic body of pupils from the Fourth Form to the Upper Sixth. Other than short-prep, fun and formal debates, favourite oratory challenges included ‘Just a Minute’ and ‘Would I Lie to you?’ With such a hearty ‘house’ of members, Debating Society can look forward to another year of rigorous and vigorous debate!

Miss Jane Brodigan

It was another busy and exciting year for extra-curricular Drama. It began in early October when we staged the first of our House plays The Happiest Days of Your Life, performed by a talented cast of pupils from Ashmead

and Leconfield. The hilarious farce about a girls’ and a boys’ boarding school being forced to share premises was met with many laughs by the audience who recognized the many joys of co-education. In December we took on the daunting task of staging the musical Oh! What a Lovely War as part of College’s centenary commemorations of

the First World War. The historical and satirical review posed many challenges for our cast, not least learning over thirty songs and representing over a hundred different characters from Haig to the nameless Tommies in the trenches. The production was a sell-out, and played to a highly appreciative audience of nearly 1,000 staff, pupils and parents. It also showcased the abilities of our most talented pupils.

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Drama

That success was followed by a highly-effective performance by the pupils of Westal and Southwood of the Willy Russell classic Our Day Out, which explores the class system and the impact on children of poor education. The production highlighted everything that is so important about the traditions of the House play, with pupils of all ages and abilities working together under the excellent leadership of directors Louis Taylor Baggs (U6, S) and Aiym Kopbayeva (L6, W). During the process they not only learned about producing great drama, but also learned about the importance of teamwork and, of course, House spirit and pride. In late March we staged what many consider to be the highlight of the extra-curricular calendar, our annual charity Variety Show. It saw the most diverse range of acts yet – ranging from ballet to hip hop, and featured our first College ‘X Factor’. It was another sell-out event and the generosity of pupils, staff and parents saw the event raise thousands of pounds for the residential school for children with special needs in Bradet, Romania, and our new partner school, the Shamrock School, Nepal. For our final production of the year, 25 Third Form and Fourth Form pupils worked together to bring to life for a whole new audience the classic children’s book The Railway Children. In an innovative new adaptation by Mike Kenny, the cast must work together as an ensemble to rise to the huge challenge of creating a working railway on stage. Other challenges for the cast included staging a landslide and conveying to the audience the moment when brave Bobbie averts a rail disaster, just moments before a crash. The pupils certainly enjoyed working on such an exciting piece of theatre, with one saying, “When I first read the script I couldn’t even imagine how we would stage the scenes, but I have learned that with some imagination and creativity anything is possible on the stage”. We celebrated all our many successes on an evening in early May at the annual Upper College Drama Dinner. Our theme was a 1990s dance party. Great fun was had by all, and it was a highly fitting way to end a year of which we can all be proud.

Mrs Sian McBride

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award It was a busy year with Mr John Jones taking over the reins in September 2014. College is now directly ‘licensed’ to manage the award locally and does not come under the auspices of the Local Authority but is overseen by the DofE South West Regional Office. Our pupils, of course, see little change but the ‘behind the scenes’ organization has now bedded in. The award sets young people a challenge of their own design in areas of life that involve personal development, teamwork and service

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to the community. It is a challenge undertaken, necessarily, over an extended period of time – either twelve or eighteen months – thus persistence and personal organization, naturally, become key aims. The ov erall objective in any of the four (bronze level) or five (gold level) sections is for significant improvement – no matter what the starting point. Therein lies the challenge!

Bronze

Over 50 Fourth Form pupils signed up to take on the challenge of the bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. As with gold, the level of award demands sustained effort from the participants, and a great deal of time during the year went in to Physical Recreation, Skills, Volunteering and Expedition Planning. They completed their Physical Recreation section by completing two terms of sport and meeting specific training goals. Many used College activities in their quest to develop a skill, such as playing a musical instrument or weapon handling skills undertaken in the Combined Cadet Force. They are all in the process of their Volunteering section via a combination of charitable activities, and there will be other charitable opportunities such as Operation Christmas Child during the Autumn Term 2015. At bronze level the Expedition section consists of a two-day planned journey assessed against twenty criteria. Self-sufficiency in planning and execution is a key criterion; navigation skills were introduced through CCF, route-planning and map-work during evenings and tea-time sessions and menu-planning and safety as the training part of the June practice expedition in the Forest of Dean. Most participants successfully completed

their practice in a hugely successful event. Tired souls reported how difficult forest navigation is and how arduous it is to carry equipment and food for two days (including one individual who carried two rucksacks!) but all enjoyed themselves immensely and can look forward with confidence to the two-day qualifying expedition planned for October 2015. They will need their skills as they contemplate much shorter daylight hours and much cooler nights then. The pupils aim to complete all sections by Christmas 2015; with good personal administration in keeping their online journal up to date, they should achieve their bronze award in January 2016. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award runs alongside all other College activities and requires a great deal of organization and persistence. A great many College staff give of their time to help. Mrs Kate Hornsby, Mr Tim Brewis, Dr Paul Gibson, Mr Jack Kelway and Mr Dom Faulkner have played significant parts in bringing the award to College pupils. Miss Elizabeth Rawkins, Mr Henry Davies and Miss Betsy Willey have also staffed our expeditions.

Gold

In the packed calendar of academic and extracurricular priorities it would be easy for our students to allow their lives to be managed solely by their busy schedules. But the DofE participants were, in addition, busy designing challenges in their chosen activities in physical recreation, volunteering, skills development and expedition training. At any level the highlight of the scheme for the vast majority is the expedition section.

In Brecon at the beginning of the Easter holiday the changing season, too, took our breath away as bitterly cold, dark days gave way to warm, nay hot, sunny, blue-sky weather in just a long weekend. Both groups learned the importance of team-work and morale, honed their campcraft and navigation, and experienced the tranquillity of a social-media-free zone. Our gold DofE qualifying group experienced even greater variations in the prevailing conditions – not unexpected [and entirely planned-for] – in the Great British climate.

Hattie Bevan (U6, Q), Hugh Gunn (U6, L), Freddie Baker (U6, H), William Weston (U6, BH), Tom Dowley (U6, L) and Alexander Braithwaite-Exley (U6, H) proceeded plain-sailing for two days before hitting hail, driving rain and 60 mph gusts of wind. They had to dig deep in their reserves of determination and resourcefulness to keep going, but carry on they did to complete successfully, if cold and sodden, at the North Wales coast another two days later. Ella Campbell (L6, A), Iurii Kovalev (L6, Xt), Dmitrii Usynin (L6, NH), Katherine Stanton (L6, A), Orlando Giuseppetti (L6, BH), Dan Beachus (L6, BH), Oliver Palmer (L6, L), Robert Madeley (L6, Xt), Siji Abudu (L6, L) and Clarence Koo (L6, L) followed in their footsteps in June and July for the second qualifying expedition – in much fairer (but at times oppressively hot) weather. Long arduous routes had been planned and rocky terrain with long ascents and descents took their toll on feet and morale. Three wild camps for each of our two groups in stunningly beautiful countryside made the journey worthwhile.

As with our Easter group it was with a sense of relief and achievement that we headed back to Cheltenham on 2 July. All our participants enjoy the Expedition section and in hindsight it almost always forms the highlight and most rewarding part of the award. And quite rightly so! It comes as the culmination of weekly planning and training from November onwards, enabling self-sufficiency (no outside help or shopping is allowed) and the meeting of twenty expedition assessment criteria, emphasizing the ethos of the scheme as being underpinned by sustained effort. As we departed from College for the summer there was much talk of residential projects [the fifth section of gold DofE] and it is greatly hoped that those young people have been motivated to complete the award and receive their certificates in summer 2016. We look forward to hearing their postexpedition presentations in September. Usually award participants start their journey at the beginning of the Lower Sixth but in 2014‑2015 a new initiative began in offering gold enrolment to Fifth Form pupils who

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At the gold level there were two qualifying expeditions (one being a re-arranged trip from 2014) and one practice expedition. Those in the Lower Sixth went to the Brecon Beacons in March to endure frosty mornings in camp and gusty summits in the ‘Fans’ – but those new to the area never fail to be awestruck by the beauty of those windswept mountains, even in the bleak months; such natural grandeur, along with the exhilaration of reaching the end, is the greatest reward.

have reached the age of 16 before the summer holiday, provided they have concrete plans for an organized summer residential project of at least five days away from home. Thus they will start Sixth Form with one section complete – a most useful and motivational head start to their award. Five Cheltonians have begun their challenge in that way.

Mr John Jones

Leadership and Coaching ‘Leadership isn’t about title. It’s not about position. It’s not about the size of your office (‘room’). Leadership, more than anything else, is a mindset. It’s an approach. It’s a way of occurring in the world.’ – Robin Sharma, a Canadian leadership expert and author of The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari. All too often leadership at school is about title, doing duties and following delegated instructions from teachers. It is no wonder pupils become disillusioned and take little action. On top of that students are encouraged to become leaders without any guidance on the practice and purpose of leadership. Although we have had limited time with the Lower Sixth, the seeds have been planted and the foundations put in place for College Prefects and Upper Sixth students to become influential and adaptive leaders in a fast-changing world. Underpinning College’s leadership philosophy is servant leadership and a coaching approach: to be a good leader you need to be a good ‘coach’ and good leaders should look for opportunities to help others realize their potential. The main leadership training was promoted through the following activities: • Lower Sixth tutor group presentations and Finals evening • College Prefect Leadership and Coaching Training Day held in June • House-based leadership and coaching training facilitated by College Prefects in partnership with their Housemasters and Housemistresses in June; the content was influenced by what was covered at the College Prefect Leadership and Coaching Training Day • Sessions held in period 7 on a Friday facilitated by staff and with the Lower Sixth grouped in their Houses

Lower Sixth presentations

As part of the Lower Sixth leadership programme, each student was given the task of delivering a presentation to their tutor group on a source of their inspiration. The winning presentations then went forward to the Finals evening in front of the Third Form and a judging panel, similar to ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.

The audience were treated to a range of interesting and thought-provoking presentations from Charles Brooksbank (L), Annabella Köhler (Ch), Marco Rodriguez-Novas Puls (NH), Araminta Lawson-Smith (Ch) and Robert Bent (NH). The first place was awarded to Izzi Winstanley (Q): ‘Pit Boy’; with second and third places going respectively to Ashley Yu (W): ‘Rosa Parks’; and Katherine Stanton (A): ‘Brian Patten’s poem, You Can’t Be That.’

Mr Mike Todd

College Prefect Leadership and Coaching Training Day

At the beginning of the day, all 25 of us were feeling sceptical about spending a full day learning how to ‘coach’. However, within the first five minutes it became clear that coaching was far more than we thought. We quickly learned that the basis of a good leader is knowing yourself and the kind of leader you are. Through looking at Simon Sinek’s ‘golden circle’ we developed our group purpose for the year ahead. Part of that entailed discovering the types of leaders we were and the types of leaders we hoped to be. Within the group we found a range of leaders from visionary, collaborative and, most commonly, influential – showing that we all had the ability to lead in different styles. One of the most challenging exercises of the day was the ability to self-assess our strengths both as leaders but more importantly as individuals. With excellent guidance from Quinn Simpson and Mr Todd, we managed to break that down into manageable steps and open up as a group. We began to truly understand what coaching was and how it differed from both teaching and mentoring. The new perspective was best summarized in the ‘heart, head and step coaching model’ in which we practised how to facilitate self-development within others by using truly purposeful questions – often beginning with ‘how’ and ‘what’. After lunch each Prefect Chair presented their ideas to a simulated board meeting, excellently chaired by Freddie Lyle (S) and Arabella Knowles (A). Those present, including senior staff, were encouraged by the engaging visions brought to our attention by our fellow College Prefects. We concluded the day with a session with Housemasters and Housemistresses discussing possible solutions and procedures for a range of ‘tough calls’ – pastoral and disciplinary issues that we could potentially face. All 25 of us are now united with a clear vision for 2015‑2016. Our new skills in coaching and leadership will be invaluable to creating a College environment that we will all be immensely proud to leave behind.

Yvie Seville (Ch) and James Battishill (NH) 40

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Reflection on the day

To begin with I think the whole group felt slightly apprehensive, being unsure what exactly was in store for us. We had never met the lady running the day, nor spent time together as a group of Prefects. As soon as Mr Todd and Quinn Simpson introduced the programme for the day, we could tell it was going to be different to anything we had experienced previously. I was amazed at the confidence with which Quinn introduced herself to a group of 25 students she had never met. She had the amazing ability to keep a group of students in the same room all day, and yet keep our interest and attention for the duration. The way in which she opened up to us was hugely admirable and is something I feel I should definitely learn to do more often. Quinn talked about the 10% everyone sees, but the 90% we keep hidden. That is certainly true and she encouraged us to go beyond that 10% by initially demonstrating her ability to do so. The group quickly broke down previous barriers and I think we all realized that, for coaching to truly take effect, we must open up to each other. By the end of the day I think everyone felt that, as a body of Prefects, we had gelled massively. We left the room as a much more unified front, or as Quinn would call us, ‘beautiful people’. Huge thanks must go to Quinn and Mr Todd for organizing such a memorable day.

Antonia Stuckey (Q) The vision behind what we aim to do at College in the area of leadership is to give students opportunities: to serve a greater purpose, contribute, be remembered, live a life of their own design, and leave the College community better than they found it. Leadership (and that includes doing something when something needs to be done) should provide our students with unique and powerful challenges to grow and contribute. It makes people aim their efforts, give of themselves and create meaningful relationships and changes. It should also improve their well-being. To that end, College will be introducing a broader and more vertical (down the year groups) approach to leadership from September 2015. Thank you to all colleagues at College who provide leadership guidance to so many pupils on a daily basis.

Mr Mike Todd

Music Orchestral music flourished throughout the year. The Symphony Orchestra performed two major concerts, concentrating their main efforts on Beethoven’s monumental Symphony No 3, the Eroica. It was performed in its entirety in the recent Summer Concert, which also saw finalists from College’s instrumental competition perform concerto movements in a ‘Young Musician of the Year’ style final. The adjudicator, Mr William Ings from Bryanston School, said, “I have been truly overwhelmed by the standard and professionalism of these young players and see bright futures ahead for all of

It was wonderful that we were able to invite advanced players from The Prep to join the College Symphony Orchestra. Their contribution has been superb, and bodes very well indeed for the future! The Chamber Orchestra expanded to include wind and brass sections, and throughout the year delivered performances of Haydn’s Symphony No 104. We introduced a new chamber music initiative on Saturday mornings which has been highly successful in providing performance and ensemble opportunities for advanced players – from string quartets to piano trios. It also provides vital ensemble experience for Third and Fourth Form pupils who are developing those essential musical skills. We will build on that by increasing the number of groups and encourage rehearsals to be primarily pupil-led.

for improvisation at College’s performance at Cheltenham Jazz Festival was a particular highlight. The Big Band made huge strides, embarking on some really challenging and ground-breaking repertoire. The highlight, as ever, was their performance in the Cheltenham Jazz Festival which was greatly enjoyed by all who attended. Jig performed on numerous occasions, as part of concerts and at various functions and events. Jig remains hugely popular to both College and external audiences alike. The Chapel Choir continues to work tirelessly to provide music for the weekly services and has been highly successful in learning some new and challenging repertoire. They continue to sing regular choral evensongs, notably as ‘visiting choir’ at Gloucester cathedral at the beginning of the Summer Term. Other highlights were their moving performance of the Fauré Requiem on Remembrance Sunday, Allegri’s Miserere for the Passiontide service and Eric Whitacre’s Sleep in Gloucester cathedral. We will

125 years ago, in 1889 ‘A meeting was held on Tuesday, Dec. 17. The idea of starting a brass band in the School was brought forward, and the Senior Prefect asked whether any influential prefects would be willing to take it up; he requested them, if willing to join, to give their names to Mr Tanner. The prefects were also reminded of their duties as stewards of the concert, and Oswald proposed that the stewards should discontinue the practice of wearing gloves on that occasion. However this did not meet the views of the majority of the prefects.’ [Prefects’ Book, p.164]

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them”. The overall winner was Lois Short (4th, Q), who performed the 2nd movement of Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No 2.

The Sixth Form trio: Taya Sellers (L6, W – flute), Christine Cheng (U6, W – violin) and Marketa Stibalova (U6, Ch – piano) met every Saturday morning and covered some incredibly exciting repertoire including Promenade I and Promenade II by Bohuslav Martinu, and the Trio Sonata BWV 1038 by J.S. Bach. The trio performed to great acclaim at the Ensembles Concert in November, the Orchestral Concert in January, Chapel in the Spring Term and, of course, on Speech Day. The Wind Band, under the direction of Mrs Sue Mills, delivered some terrific performances throughout the year, including both orchestral and jazz concerts. The very large ensemble rehearses and performs a wide range of repertoire, covering a variety of styles and difficulties to suit all players. Jazz continues to flourish. The Jazz Band’s various concerts have showcased significant emerging talent in the Third Form, alongside experienced players from the Fifth Form. Rafal Dovgialo (3rd, L) demonstrating his talent

miss the raft of talent from the Upper Sixth, who provided leadership, musicianship and discipline to choir members. The two Head Choristers, Amy Hinc (U6, W) and Charles Bond (U6, S) performed memorable solos on several occasions as well as being instrumental in the smooth running of the ensemble so integral to the regular life of College. Matthew Finan, a stalwart of the tenor line, is to be congratulated on gaining a Choral Scholarship at Exeter cathedral for the three years of his degree. Caitlin Christopher (U6, A) has also been awarded an Alto Choral Scholarship at St David’s cathedral, Pembrokeshire, for the academic year 2015‑2016. The Chamber Choir delivered two hugely ambitious performances, in addition to their continued support of the Chapel Choir for choral

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evensongs. In November, they provided the music for a sell-out event in the Cheltenham Literature Festival. Interspersed with lectures and associated readings, the music was written for or pertinent to the First World War, and included a commissioned piece by Ruth Matthews (2011‑2014, A). On 1 March the Chamber Choir delivered an electrifying liturgical performance of Bach’s St John Passion. That seminal and technically challenging piece was performed in its original context as part of a Sunday evening worship. Pupils from College took the stage to sing ‘character roles’ alongside world-class professional soloists. Frederick Foster (5th, NH) and Matthew Finan (U6, S) had the largest roles of Jesus and Pilate respectively. International soprano soloist, Amy Haworth said, “I

was impressed with the standard of performance, dedication and teamwork from these outstanding young people. I’ve had a wonderful time!”. The accompanying orchestra was a blend of professional musicians and College pupils, with particularly outstanding performances from Isobel Salmond Smith (5th, A) and Theresa Grafin Pachta (5th, W). The production of Oh! What a Lovely War involved pupils from across College, some of whom had not sung in public previously. It was very well received and provides a strong platform for the ambitious performance of Les Misérables, which will involve a large number of College musicians, both on stage and in the orchestra pit.

At the start of Advent, Cheltenham College Choral Society gave an exhilarating and crowd-pleasing performance of Handel’s

ever-popular Messiah. The chorus was lucky enough to include staff, parents and pupils from both The Prep and College, as well as members of the local community. Choir and audience alike were impressed with the outstanding pupil contribution. The talents of College’s musicians were showcased in the superb solo performances of the challenging arias and recitatives. Particular kudos goes to Freddie Foster for performing in the orchestra and singing an aria whilst on crutches! In the 2015‑2016 academic year, the Choral Society will perform Brahms A German Requiem, with Handel’s Messiah being revisited in future years.

There were a huge number of superb performances throughout the year, made possible only by the hard work and determination of a wide range of pupils from across College. The sheer variety of styles and repertoire covered demonstrate the great talent that exists within our community. Grateful thanks of course go to the team of visiting music teachers who deliver the individual music lessons as well as help with regular ensemble rehearsals and performances. There is a huge amount of which to be proud, and a great deal to look forward to as we look to build on the plethora of successes from the year just past.

Mr David McKee

Trinity College London Diploma examinations Piano

ATCL (Associate of Trinity College London)

Societies

Francesca Ball (U6, Ch)

Singing

Distinction

Lower College Society

Alex Hall (U6, L)

Saxophone

Pass

Christine Cheng (U6, W) Grade 8 examinations

Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) Grade 8 examinations Christine Cheng (U6, W)

Violin

Distinction

Lois Short (4th, Q)

Piano

Merit

Amy Hinc (U6, W)

Singing

Merit

Sam Mendis (5th, Xt)

Piano

Pass

William Hardy (5th, S)

Cello

Pass

Caitlin Christopher (U6, A)

Singing

Merit

Lois Short (4th, Q)

Flute

Merit

The Lower College Society got off to a flying start with a fascinating investigation of the idea (the subject of Christopher Booker’s recent hefty tome) that all stories, from the Upanishads to Spiderman, can be said to fit into one of seven basic plot types. Pupils researched the thesis in relation to a genre of their choice, presented their findings in varied and engaging ways to their peers, and then helped design some practical group ‘experiments’, involving all sixty attendees, to test the idea further.

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The Prep Schools’ Music Day saw nearly 200 pupils from local prep and junior schools joining with College pupils and staff for a day of orchestral and choral workshops. They also attended a performance given by Jig, and experimented with some of the Department’s new world music provision, including African drumming, Indonesian gamelan and South American samba. In 2015‑2016, College will host a Les Mis workshop, after which pupils will attend a matinee performance given by College.

Other equally lively and well-attended events have covered topics as diverse as the brain, Pompeii, and colonialism. Questions have included: Does the brain have a gender? How does music affect the brain? What happens to the teenage brain? How do we evaluate the legacy of the British Empire? What was the contribution of the British Colonies to the First World War? Who were the citizens of Pompeii and how did the volcano kill them? One highlight of the year must have been our collaboration with the College archivists, who showed material from the days when College educated boys in one of two streams: Military or Classical. Few of us knew that College had a giant sand-pit room in which future civil servants, fresh from their Sanskrit lessons, were taught the art of building fortifications. The rather grisly hundred-year-old elephant tail, a conquest presented by an Old Cheltonian, was the pièce de résistance that really brought to life the tales of some of the great explorers as presented by pupils!

Society events have been an enriching, challenging, stimulating and broadening crosscurricular experience for all staff and pupils involved. The programme has been enhanced by a series of highly interactive Lower College lectures given by our own teachers and visiting speakers on Conquering Everest, Philosophical Paradoxes, Child Labour, and Synaesthesia: the Relationship between Music and Art. The academic leadership, independent project design and delivery, and above all, spirit of intellectual enquiry shown by the pupils have been consistently outstanding and a privilege to enjoy.

Dr Liz Gerry

Upper College Society

political terrorism. Judge Chambers clarified legal proceedings and pronounced sentence. He also generously agreed to give legal work experience to interested students. Another highlight was the Society’s hosting of a debate between College and The Cheltenham Ladies’ College, with more than 100 students attending. It was judged to be a draw by the Deputy Headmaster of Dean Close School. Our final evening was the hilarious ‘Have I Got News For You’ event organized and led by students. The well-informed and quick-fire humour of Eric Robinson (U6, S) and Cameron Campbell (U6, L) in particular had us all roaring with laughter. It was a lovely way to end an interesting and engaging year.

Upper College Society is an extra-curricular academic society, giving Sixth Form scholars and other interested students excellent preparation for university life. The society’s Presidents, Tom Dowley (U6, L) and Sophie Caws (U6, Q), coordinated a wide range of activities.

Antonia Stuckey (L6, Q) and Harry Ferris (L6, NH) took on the Presidency of the Society for 2015‑2016. It should prove to be another very successful year.

The year began with students giving a series of academic papers, which was excellent preparation for their university applications. Given a theme to talk about (e.g. patterns), each student approached that theme from a specific academic discipline (e.g. Psychology). Having presented their papers, students then answered questions from the floor. At the end, an Old Cheltonian gave feedback on the quality of the presentations before awarding a financial prize for the best paper.

Sports Leaders

On another evening, the Society staged a full-costume courtroom drama, presided over by His Honour Judge Michael Chambers, QC. Students in the roles of witnesses and lawyers played out their parts in a courtroom case on

Dr Adrian Samuel

Four pupils from the Fifth Form and Lower Sixth took up the challenge of completing their Sports Leaders Level 1 award: Marmite Leng (5th, NH), Hugo Bradshaw (5th, L), Max Dymoke (5th, NH) and Azfar Bazli Bakri (L6, H). They attended sessions on Wednesdays and Mondays to complete the course. In the Wednesday sessions they learned the theory behind becoming a Sports Leader and developed

skills such as planning, organization, leadership, decision-making, how to deal with bad behaviour, and how to keep younger pupils interested in sport. In the Monday session they worked with pupils from The Prep and helped to coach them in their after-school clubs. They were given the responsibility of planning the sessions, deciding what equipment to use, making sure it was in the right place, leading the sessions, and then evaluating their coaching and that of their peers. The young pupils built good working relationships with the boys which was all credit to how they interacted with the younger pupils. At the end of the Spring Term, I submitted their files for verification and I am very pleased to say that they all passed and are awaiting the arrival of their certificates. Sports Leaders Level 1 is a nationally recognized qualification that can be added to a CV or personal statement.

Mrs Kate Hornsby

Third Form Challenge (3FC) The year’s programme began with swimming galas for the first two weeks and fitness tests which will be conducted twice a year to help keep track of the overall fitness of pupils. Since then the year was based around a rota of activities. In the Autumn Term the Third Form experienced everything from a look at College’s history in Archives to leadership tasks, and juggling to climbing. The first Field Day was the annual ‘Dragon’s Den’ in which teams worked with local business people to design and market a product that they had designed. The winning team of Mollie Lyle (Q), Georgia Mitchell (Q), Aryia Patel (H), Max Pemberton (H), Zac Robertson (NH) and Alexander Sharam (NH) with their invention of a travel coffee machine, represented College at the regional final at GCHQ in May. The Spring Term saw a new initiative with pupils focusing on ICT skills. After an initial test, several groups worked on basic skills whilst others

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The Summer Term focused on the skills of camping and orienteering needed for the Forest of Dean trip in the final week of term. Interspersed with that programme, pupils were also given lectures ranging from code breaking to Upper Sixth travel adventures.

Headmaster’s Project

The Third Form again embarked on an independent project in the Christmas holiday to encourage self-driven research and learning. The theme was ‘Harmony and Reconciliation’. The pupils were given an introduction to the theme by several Heads of Department.

projects to name a few. The winner was James Wheeler (S) with a fantastically crafted film, ‘Our Harmony with Nature’. Huge congratulations to all those who took part.

Third Form Camp in the Forest of Dean In the last week of term, 74 Third Form pupils enjoyed an action-packed five days. As there were so many, the pupils were divided into two groups and ran parallel programmes. Three days were spent in the Forest of Dean spending half days orienteering, high ropes, climbing, abseiling, archery, cycling and a full day of kayaking. The orienteering proved to be very difficult but the group of Paige Baker (A), Isabella Barber (A) and Romy Boddington (A) were outstanding, fighting through brambles to find the most points of all. Micro-navigation skills dramatically improved overall. Many pupils enjoyed reaching great heights and tested their nerve in the ‘leap of faith’, which involved throwing yourself off a ledge in the treetops in an attempt to grab a hanging bar. In the cycling, professional guides took our pupils off the traditional tracks onto routes that are not normally used.

All pupils handed in their project by the deadline in January. The array of projects and ideas was staggering and included board games, books, dresses, essays, documentaries, mobiles, models, paintings, poems, presentations and woodwork

were a few excellent meals produced. Luckily a barbecue had been booked for the final nights to make up for some disastrous efforts. Another day was spent at College moviemaking, which built on the ICT development that occurred earlier in the year in the Third Form programme, and many new skills were learned in an entertaining scenario. Finally, a day trip to Thorpe Park allowed the pupils to relax and have a bit of a ‘buzz’. The whole week was a great way to finish the Third Form as pupils developed teamwork and built on the skills they had learned in Third Form Challenge.

Mr Simon Conner

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were pushed to improve their presentation skills, manipulation of images, and coding. It culminated in a hugely successful coding day in which external experts gave a day’s instruction on a range of skills from web design to a range of coding.

The day kayaking saw the pupils travel from Huntsham Bridge to Monmouth, through rapids, and most managed not to fall in. The evenings were spent camping at Biblins Youth Campsite and the pupils had to cook their own meals, having been given money beforehand to purchase their own ingredients. Most pupils were not too adventurous although there

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Archives: lest we forget ...

... a phrase usually associated with those who lost their lives in war. Archives spent a lot of time researching First World War stories, but that was not all we did. Two of the core functions of an archive are to preserve and make available the record of our present for the future. Thus it could be said that the raison d’être of an Archive is ‘Lest we forget’. Indeed, looking through old copies of The Cheltonian for this edition’s Archive snippets, I came across the following in an editorial 75 years ago. Having mentioned many things that had been happening, it added ‘one hundred and one little things that … we shall be delighted to call to mind in years to come’1. Over the past year we have been supplying the Marketing Department with little ‘Did you know’ facts – a new initiative which they published on Facebook. Interesting facts come to light in the course of routine work – but what is that routine work over the course of a year? It begins with new staff and Third Form pupils being given the briefest of introductions to 1

The Cheltonian, November 1939, p335

Archives. It would be good if more of the College community could explore Archives and discover their own ‘Did you know’ snippets about College’s unique heritage. The Lower College Society discovered some interesting facts when Mrs Jill Barlow spoke at one of their meetings and showed them various artefacts from the Archives – including an elephant’s tail! In September we participated in the national Heritage Open Days. During the morning, about 200 people were given guided tours of the Chapel, Library, Big Classical and the Dining Hall, led by one of the Archive staff or Mr Stephen Friling. In the afternoon, nearly 100 people were guided around the ground floor of Thirlestaine House. Part of working in an archive is researching and mounting exhibitions. One such was a small display in Chapel about Capt. Sydney Trevenen (1908‑1911, Day Boy) for the Cheltenham Literature Festival event on Wilfred Owen. Archives holds Trevenen’s five-volume war diary, words from which were used by Ruth Matthews (2011‑2014, A) in her composition, premièred at that event. The Trevenen research was extended for the Remembrance Week Exhibition and included photographs he had taken – a hazardous activity as it was illegal to have a camera on active service. For a school with such a strong military tradition, it is important to commemorate the First World War. Archives are organizing a series of free public Remembrance Week exhibitions during the centenary. The first, in November 2014, covered the run-up to the War and events, as they affected College people, from the outbreak of war until 11 November 1914. Part of our

Harry Steel (L6, Xt), Prefect Chair (elect) of Anti-Bullying and Peer Mentoring speaks up against bullying Whilst bullying does seem to be a rather sombre topic for The Cheltonian, it is incredibly important to discuss and monitor in a school, especially in a boarding school like ours, and it is my role to continue the excellent work done by the previous Prefect Chair, Caitlin Christopher (U6, A). With a really successful year epitomized by the #saysomething campaign during the anti-bullying week, Caitlin and the rest of the anti-bullying committee, who met regularly, outdid themselves during anti-bullying week, with cupcake sales and posters all over College. To make it more accessible, Caitlin uploaded a newly-written policy onto the new College website, and created an email address that anyone can contact if they have any issues. The enjoyable Chapel talk from Caitlin and Sophie Caws (U6, Q) was a personal highlight, and I hope I emulate her success in my talk in the first week of the Autumn Term. Looking to the future, my main goal is to use the peer mentoring system to look out for problems in the House. We hope to have fortnightly meetings and I hope to make more use of the #saysomething campaign to keep awareness high. Of course, those aspirations are all combined with not falling over on my way up to the altar for my talk!

Prefects Prefect Chairs may be a new idea, but Prefects have been around a long time. Indeed, a favourite volume in the Archives is the large Prefects’ Book, covering the years 1876 to 1939. Each year the new Prefects were sworn in and the book then records some of the miscreants and their misdemeanours. For example, at their first ‘court’, on 29 September 1876, Langley was convicted of wearing a felt hat in the town and made to write out, 20 times, Rule 3 (page 4). In June 1878 two Muglistonites and one Greenite were sent to the Principal for organizing House lotteries on the Derby, contrary to strict order (page 40). A Porcherite was expelled from the Engineer Corps in October 1894 for having secreted some ammunition from the Field Day at Malvern and given it to two small boys to make a grand explosion in their House yard. The explosion took place and caused some excitement. He was caned by the Principal and given four strokes by the Prefects (page 238). In 1901 two fellows from Christowe were reported for letting off crackers in the library and making as much noise as possible with the aim of annoying the librarian – they were given 10 strokes each (page 310). After an away match at Clifton in 1928, the Under 16 Colts told the bus driver to leave without telling the Master-in-Charge. He gave chase in his car and found the boys in a public house. ‘The affair was rather annoying’ – the prefects seemed for once reluctant to punish the offenders (page 504).

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In 1879 there is also a definition of ‘fagging’ (though I do not suppose they stuck to it). It was to include ‘only fetching and carrying and light porterage’. Nothing in the nature of domestic servants’ employment such as cleaning studies, brushing articles of apparel, or calling a Prefect early in the morning (page 52). [Prefects’ Book, 1876‑1939]

Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) bid ‘Old Cheltonians go to War; 3,540 served, 675 gave more’, funded the digitization and A6 printing of over 600 photographs from our War Memorial Albums. One of the main features of each exhibition will be the ‘Growing Wall’ depicting those Old Cheltonians (OCs) who made the ultimate sacrifice. For the first exhibition, that meant 67 images. Although we only had photographs for 61 of them from the Albums, we were able to find five more amongst team and House photographs. However, we had to leave one space – Brevet Colonel Robert Page had left College in 1874 and the only photographs earlier than that are 1st team ones and, not being sporty, he did not feature. But it is not just about those who died, the exhibition also featured stories of survivors, and the effect of war on College and the local community. Pupil work was also well represented by examples of Third Form work: History projects on the War, ‘War and Peace’ artwork, and pieces from the 2013 Headmaster’s Project on ‘Conflict and Memory’. Archive volunteers working from home are helping to research over 3,540 former pupils who served. Many discoveries are being made, not least that the traditionally-accepted number of 675 deaths is too low. It is a huge task – by the end of the Summer Term we were still on ‘D’. If you would like to help, please contact me: (c.leighton@cheltenhamcollege.org). Several volunteers worked in Archives through the year, including a parent and two external students considering careers in archive work. One

The Terror from Above In 1940, the following letter was sent to the editor of The Cheltonian: Dear Sir, It was not considered necessary by the architect to provide sound-proof ceilings in the new Class-room Block, and it is unfortunate indeed that the question should arise at all, especially beneath the Sixth Form Library. Nevertheless, the occupants of the rooms immediately below this playroom of the illustrious, but perhaps not so industrious, members of the 1st division find themselves at certain hours waiting, in quite as much suspense as if they were in an air-raid shelter, for the next crash, bump or rattle. Ths is all very well for steeling the nerves in preparation for the real thing, but is hardly conducive to their efforts to race time and escape the wrath of a threatening form-master. Geoffrey Neame (1937‑1941, Xt) We hope those working in the Archive Department above those classrooms do not cause the same terror! [The Cheltonian, 1940, p.187]

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parent (who is also one of our home volunteers) helped with the Remembrance Week Exhibition. Throughout the year, Archives also hosted a constant stream of researchers: staff wanting information on various topics, pupils wanting to know about College tie designs and House Pots; and members of the public (including different visits by six Australians). Many also wanted to view the Chapel or Thirlestaine House as part of their research. Administrative departments regularly asked for help: the Bursary requiring information on old scholarships or College property (to satisfy planners regarding proposed changes to a listed building or to answer legal questions); Development for information on OCs; and Marketing for historical facts and photographs. Most correspondence during the year concerned the First World War – either people enquiring about their ancestors, or groups researching the names on various war memorials; but other subjects included non-War OCs, staff, and sporting records. Archives also dealt with numerous enquiries from past pupils or employment agencies requesting proof of attendance at College.

staff also attended professional ARA training days on Copyright, and on Digital Preservation, plus a British Library course on Oral History. As ever, the year ended with records being sent to Archives. They had to be sorted and accessioned over the summer holidays as we looked forward to the next round of induction tours, Heritage Open Days, Remembrance Exhibition, etc. At the end of the holidays Mrs Jill Barlow retired and Mr Beren-Dain Delbrooke-Jones left Archives to become the full-time Librarian; in their stead we prepared to welcome Miss Danielle Joyce, who will split her time between Archives and the Library. As College prepares to celebrate its 175th anniversary, the proposal to write about ‘175 things that reflect College life’ provides another opportunity for further research in the Archives. Lest we forget College’s rich and varied past – a story of people who made it what it is and those who were moulded by it – come and discover for yourselves the amazing stories hidden in our Archives and be inspired! It is time for more to echo part of ARA’s ‘Explore your Archives’ advocacy:

The Archivist continued to serve on the national committee of the School Archivists’ Group (which now has over 260 members representing some 230 schools); organized their annual regional Training Day at College in February; and helped with the annual conference at Bolton School in June. The Conference of the Archives for Learning and Education Section of the Archives and Records Association (ARA), attended by the Archivist, raised some interesting points about Records Management and digital preservation. Archive

Mrs Christine Leighton

During the past academic year College Chapel has been an arena that witnessed celebration, innovation and sorrow. In January we celebrated the generous gift of two magnificent altar palls, one for the festal seasons of Christmas, Epiphany and Easter, and the other for ordinary time. The two adornments to the beauty of Chapel will mark the passing church seasons for decades to come. Our other main celebrations centred upon the 24 candidates who were confirmed in May by the Rt Rev. Anthony Priddis, retired Bishop of Hereford. Nearly 400 friends, relatives, teachers and supporters poured into Chapel on Sunday 17 May to witness that significant rite of passage. The same month saw a ‘radical’ innovation for Chapel – the first ever ‘Gospel’ service. The choir sang a collection of spirituals, the congregation The following appeared in the October edition of The Cheltonian, soon after College’s evacuation to Shrewsbury. ‘We were saved a collection one Sunday because, as the Padre put it, the offertory bags could not be found. But we knew something suitable would present itself the Sunday following, and sure enough it did.’ [The Cheltonian, 1939, p.297]

were dressed in ‘smart casual’, a band led the singing of Shine Jesus Shine and the service concluded with Francesca Ball (U6, Ch) leading Oh Happy Day as the congregation clapped in unison. Something to be tried again, but perhaps only once every year! A very different kind of innovation took place earlier in the year on the eve of the feast of Candlemas when, illuminated only by candlelight, the boys of the Chapel choir led a service of Compline for the whole school community. In the last academic year pupils and staff spoke on the following themes: Love of Neighbour, Community, Prejudice, Humour, Rights, Pessimism, the Humanity of Jesus, Remembrance, Reconciliation, Silence, Longing, Feasting, Peace to all Mankind, Journeying, Courtesy, The Word, Sabbath, Salvation, Hypocrisy, Gentleness, Life after Death, Love of Enemies, New Life, Kindness, Marriage, Ambition, Memory, Attentiveness, Wonder, Shalom, Martyrdom and Conscience. With his forceful sermon on the theme of Conscience, Cameron Logan (U6, BH) won the Jackson-Matthews Chapel Prize for the best address by a pupil. And we can not forget that four members of the Common Room – Mrs Anna Cutts, Dr Graham Mallard, Mr Fergus Llewellyn, and Mr David McKee – bravely volunteered to sit in the ‘Chapel Island Discs’ chair and were interviewed about their lives, their passions and their favourite pieces of music.

the Venerable Robert Springett (archdeacon of Cheltenham). The Rt Rev. David Jennings, formerly bishop of Warrington, preached at the Remembrance Service in November, which had, at its heart, the centennial anniversary of the start of the First World War. A most moving aspect of that service was the procession of House wreaths adorned with the names of Old Cheltonians who fell in the first four months of the War. And, just before Easter, Chapel welcomed Rev. Richard Coles, former pop-star and host of ‘Saturday Live’ on Radio 4. Replacing the normal Sunday evening worship format, he was interviewed for an hour and shared the story of his life, his call to faith and the priesthood, and his selection of favourite hymns.

Back in Cheltenham in the Summer Term, ‘At two evening services this term there has been an organ recital ... instead of a sermon. The innovation was very much appreciated and we hope that we will not have to wait for the indisposition of other preachers before we are given similar opportunities of listening to one of the finest organs in the country’. [The Cheltonian, 1940, p.101]

Chapel also welcomed the following visiting preachers: Rev. John McHale (Chaplain, Wycliffe); Rev. Dr Peter Waddell (Dean of Chapel, University of Winchester); Mrs Rowena King (Ordinand); Mr James Righetti; Rev. Alison Waters (Pioneer Minister in the parish of Sonning); Rev. Canon John Green (formerly Diocesan Director of Ordinands in the Worcester diocese); Rt Rev. John Flack (formerly bishop of Huntingdon); and

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Chapel

During the year Chapel also sadly heard the cries of those grief-stricken by loss. November saw the funeral of Mrs Pam Cadbury, former Council member and mother of several OCs. In February the Chapel was filled with those who had come to remember and celebrate the young life of Abigail Kelly a Third Form pupil from Westal who had passed away suddenly at the end of the Christmas holiday. And in May a large congregation gathered for the memorial service of Brigadier David Martin, a current member of College Council. Those services reminded us that College is a supportive and compassionate community, and that the Chaplaincy is at the heart of pastoral and spiritual care.

Dr Adam Dunning

Jacqueline Nussbaum-Lapping, Prefect Chair (elect) of Chapel, sings the praises of our sacred space Having been Keeper of Chapel for the last year, I had the privilege of seeing Chapel develop. We had much variety in the Chapel talks, with a great number of pupils ranging from the Fifth Form to the Upper Sixth. They were brave in voicing their opinions and experiences, and we enjoyed engaging with their fresh perspective. Chapel played host to the Rev. Richard Coles, who spoke frankly about his life as both a musician and a homosexual priest. Pupils also enjoyed listening to a younger speaker from Australia during one Sunday Chapel Service. All of those developments have led to greater engagement with the issues and topics explored during sermons. We have also listened to some inspiring and well-known music under the direction of our new Director of Music, Mr McKee. Chapel Choir gave beautiful renditions of Handel’s Messiah and Bach’s St John Passion. As we commemorated the start of the First World War, an evening of remembrance was held in Chapel in conjunction with the Cheltenham Literature Festival, with pieces sung by the Chamber Choir. Adolescence is definitely a time when people should be exploring their faith or belief and should be asking some deeper moral questions as they approach adulthood. As part of College’s commitment to spiritual exploration, the Confirmation classes provided a relaxed atmosphere in which pupils could further develop their spiritual selves. Chapel is a large part of the Cheltonian pupil’s life, and as such it provides a place for reflection, contemplation and self-exploration.

Cameron Logan (U6, BH) speaks on the theme of Conscience and was awarded The JacksonMatthews Chapel Prize (for best address)

When I was about ten and going to a London state school, there was a boy who had immigrated from India. His name was Anurag. He was the type of person who wore his heart on his sleeve. He was trustworthy, loyal, intelligent, down to earth and funny. But because of his skin colour and his accent, he did not fit in. Boys would insult him and be racist; his day started with abuse and ended with abuse. But not once did he retaliate. Eventually, his father had had enough

and decided to move the family back to India. I did not see myself as someone who was to feel guilty or responsible for his departure. It was not until my brother told me that Anurag had said to him before he left, “I wish Cam had let me feel like I belonged to something”. Because you see, Anurag would speak to me and ask to join with us in anything, absolutely anything. But the majority of the time, my friends pressured me into saying no. I was aware that he was asking for help, but I did not listen to my conscience and I did not help him. My point is, that those moments define who you are as a person. When we follow our conscience, it tends to always keep us along the path to becoming a good person. That was a lifelesson for me and today I strive always to be nonjudgemental and kind; to be of good conscience. The words of Martin Luther King are testament to the transformative power of conscience, “there comes a time when you must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but you must take it because your conscience tells you it is right”. Do not be pressured into conforming to others, but follow your conscience. Listen to that feeling you get when you are about to do something that could have negative consequences. It could be joining in with others when they are teasing someone, or ignoring someone who needs your help. Try to step into the other person’s shoes and see it from their point of view. The New Zealand All Blacks have two words that help them become better people. The first, from the Maori and Polynesian tribes is ‘manu’, which means to have great personal prestige and power. Your conscience is a compass that will point you in the direction of becoming a good person; but it is your actions that will define you and take you there. The second word, from the Bantu language of Central Africa, South Africa and the African Great Lakes, ‘ubuntu’ means the essence of what it means to be human. To listen to your conscience is to be human. We will inevitably fail our conscience, and we will feel guilt, but as I learned with

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Anurag, perhaps it is that pricking of conscience, manifesting as guilt, that piques us into striving to be better people. I would like you to remember three rules. The first is to listen to your conscience, because when all else fails and you feel lost, your conscience will help you find your way back. The second, is that your conscience helps create the person you will become by making the future ‘you’ an honest and good one. The third is that it is OK to be wrong; it is OK to fail your conscience, so long as you learn from it and try again. Your conscience is a valuable tool, your compass that points you in the direction of becoming a good person. However, it is your actions that define you and take you there.

Deputy Head Girl, Sophie Caws (U6, Q), on Ambition

Those of you who know me well will know that I am an ambitious person. For example, aged five, I wanted to be the first female Prime Minister, without even knowing that the late Mrs Thatcher had beaten me to it. Of course, at times I have been over-ambitious, and let arrogance or complacency get in the way of achieving my goals, but I have actually learned faster due to those failures. Nelson Mandela once said, “don’t judge me by my successes, judge me by the number of times I fell down and got back up again”. That, to me, is true wisdom! Ambition does not mean you aim high and you get there bruise-free: nothing gets in your way, you aimed, you scored! No. Ambition is when you keep going and grow from all the bumps on the way. Problems will not let you look away from your goals, you will not tame them, nor aim lower; you may have to take the longer route but you do not give up. On the other hand, it is so easy to underestimate yourself, and let your doubts get in the way of your ambition. Although ambitious and self-motivated, I have always struggled with low self-esteem, until I realized that there is no shame in being proud of your achievements. There is no shame in acknowledging that you have reached your goals and overcome your failures to do so. As nice as it is to get prizes, or applause, the most important approval comes from within. What do you want? What do you really want? When I am feeling like I am far off from achieving my goals, I think back to the time two years ago when I was making my application for College’s Sixth Form. I was terrified. I had so many questions in my head, making me doubt myself. What if they do not want me? What if I do not make friends? What if everyone is more intelligent than me, sportier than me, more talented than me? What if I leave the familiarity of my old school, and all for nothing? Finally, interview day arrived and, again, I was terrified. The same questions popped up in my head: What do they want me to say? What if I am not good enough? What am I doing here? When do I speak? When do I not? Am I natural enough? Am I fake? I will not go into details, but clearly it was not as disastrous as I had thought, and I lived to tell the tale today. The dreaded first day of school arrived and guess what? The same questions came back to me. What

And that is, I think, what is so special about College. We have a supportive environment where we can try our hand at anything without feeling embarrassed or ashamed if it does not go too well. There is a very unique culture of pride here that does not cross the line to arrogance. Think of your motivation, whatever it may be, and your pride in achieving your ambition. In short, my message to you is simple: grab every opportunity you can and take advantage of it with the drive and ambition that you know you have.

Charities

The first Prefect Chair of Charities and Community Service was Issy Dickson (U6, A), ably supported by her deputy, Bethan Morris (U6, Q). if I do not fit in? Who shall I have lunch with? Why did they let me in? Walking into Queen’s on that first day, I was relieved to find five other similarly nervous girls, none of whom disliked me, nor asked me what I was doing there. Staff and older girls were welcoming and wanting to know us for who we are. Within my first two weeks at College, my fears had disappeared, and I felt like I had never been anywhere else. That was not the ‘new me’, that was the ‘real me’ – the mask and fears could drop. Compared to girls like Malala Yousafzai (who is just four days younger than me but has survived a Taliban attack, addressed the United Nations, and been awarded the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize), my tale of going to a new school seems pretty insignificant. But that little voice in my head pops up again. Compared to the likes of Malala, my ambitions seem, well, not even like ambitions. But, when I think back two years to the shy, quiet, mousy girl lacking in confidence and about to walk through those Chapel doors for the first time, a little bit of me deep down feels proud. That is my motivation that drives my ambition.

The College charity for 2014‑2015 was Gloucestershire Nightstop, a charity that works directly with single young homeless people aged 16‑25 across the county. They arrange temporary and emergency accommodation for them in the homes of trained and vetted individuals (or hosts). It is a community response to a community issue. College Prefects ran around College Field for 24 hours and slept ‘rough’ in late September raising over £12,000. It was also decided to support a military charity because of the First World War centenary commemorations, and the chosen charity was

Cotswold Relay – 25 years ago In 1988 the Cotswold Hash House Harriers had set a time of just over 15 hours to run the entire length of the Cotswold Way, from Bath to Chipping Campden. A local athletics club had failed to beat that time so, in 1989, College pupils decided to take up the challenge. Six pairs of runners would each run four legs of between three and five miles, interspersed with about three hours rest in one of the supporting minibuses. Despite losing their way on the southern section, and running at least a mile on ‘diversions’, they nonetheless completed in 14 hours 28 minutes and 10 seconds, beating the record by some 36 minutes. They also raised over £1,000 for Multiple Sclerosis – well in excess of their more optimistic forecasts. [The Cheltonian, 1989, pp36‑37] ‘I suppose it was inevitable that the ‘never again’ feelings after last year’s inaugural effort should be replaced when the time came by an enthusiasm to beat the 1989 time. We remembered the exhilaration rather than the exhaustion. As everyone who had been involved then was still here and a year older, stronger and wiser, it became a matter of pride to improve on one’s own performance.’ Despite ‘the heat of a cloudless May day, in which temperatures soared to 26°C’, they completed the relay in 13 hours 21 minutes and 28 seconds at an average speed of 8 minutes per mile. Their target time was thus bettered by nearly 40 minutes and the previous year’s record beaten by over an hour. The Cancer and Leukaemia in Childhood Trust also benefited by c.£1,000.

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incredibly grateful to the College community for allowing me not only to achieve but also to surpass my ambitions.

[The Cheltonian, 1990, pp30‑31]

Another motivation of mine is my family. My mum comes from Mauritius, a tiny island in the Indian Ocean where many of you have probably been on holiday, but the reality of life for those who live there is a world away from the tourist tracks and the luxurious Four Seasons hotel. She grew up as the youngest in a family of eight with little money and commuted four hours a day to her school where she gained an academic scholarship. Her ambition was to get a job in Europe as a doctor and to provide the best education she could for her family. She made it and I have made it. College may sound like a chore for some of you but to me, coming here was ambitious. I praise myself for pushing myself out of my comfort zone, performing on stage in my first term and debating when, before, I would have preferred to blend into the background. Two years ago, I would never even have imagined myself standing up here talking to the entire school. I would never have imagined I would be trusted to be Deputy Head Girl. But we are not ambitious on our own, we are made of people’s trust and beliefs too. I am

The Royal British Legion (RBL). The Gatsby Ball on Friday 26 June was the main event for RBL fundraising but, before then, a total of £2,100 had been raised (poppy sales and the Remembrance Sunday collection, Christmas Jumper Day, Valentine’s Day red carnations and the Sixth Form Masquerade Ball).

As a result of the earthquake in Nepal it was decided to stage a Cotswold Run for Nepal. On Sunday 31 May, a College team ran the length of the Cotswold Way (102 miles) in relay legs. There was representation from pupils, staff, Old Cheltonians and parents. It was done in support of the Shamrock School in Nepal at a critical time

for the country and education in particular. The event raised over £1,400, with an additional £812 raised from the retiring collection on Speech Day. Shamrock also received £8,000 from the Fees Lottery Fund, which has secured the future of the school until at least the end of their academic year.

establishing a mission’ in South London in connection with College. Much useful work had been done for the Industrial School, but it had ‘not aroused that keen and living interest among past and present Cheltonians’ so it was decided ‘to withdraw from the Industrial School as a College institution, and to take steps for the formation of a Mission in some poor part of London, if possible in the diocese in which Bp Barry is now working as suffrage’. A parish had been identified which ‘within the last 20 years the population ... had risen from 4,000 to 13,000’ and there was no longer adequate infrastructure; ‘something had to be done to improve the material conditions of life of the poor. ... Great as the benefit which the Mission would confer on South London undoubtedly was, yet it might confer an even greater benefit on College itself seeing that they had learnt that if there

was a blessedness in receiving, there was a higher blessedness in giving. ... Probably there were some [at College] who could not conceive what the material conditions in their districts were, but to take up such work was the simple unanswerable moral logic of our Lord’s command ‘Freely ye have received, freely give’. ... It was not enough to teach boys Latin, Greek and Mathematics; they wanted to teach them something more than that to open their hearts to the needs of others. A public school was a great reservoir of energy and their object was to apply some of this energy to good works ... it should fire and stimulate the imagination of the boys.’ Thus the resolution was carried and the new College Mission inaugurated. The parish was Nunhead. College support for the Nunhead Mission would continue until the 1950s.

In at the start ‘The Star Centre is a home for handicapped children which is to be opened next year near Cheltenham ... [and] will eventually take 125 children and young people aged two to 20. ... We can plan, build and run it but we need £300,000.’ The Centre asked College to help by organizing a ‘half-crown appeal’. One Sunday, each boy delivered an envelope to about 30 homes; in all about 2,000. The following Sunday they set out once more ‘for the enlightening task of collecting the money’. It was an education in people’s responses! Nonetheless they raised £116 11s. The boys further contributed to the appeal with the proceeds from the 4th edition of ‘Approach’, a magazine produced jointly by editors from The Cheltenham Ladies’ College, Pate’s Grammar School, Cheltenham Grammar School and College. [If anyone has a copy of any of the issues, please contact Archives.] [The Cheltonian, Winter 1964, p.6; The Cheltonian, Summer 1965, p.3]

College’s support of an Industrial School and Mission in London Letter to the editor: ‘Now that the members of our Rifle Corps are about to become Engineers, everyone is saying: “What shall we do with our old uniforms?” May I make a suggestion? Why could not those fellows (who do not wish to keep their grey uniforms as relics of their military service) have the braid taken off the trousers and tunics and give them to the Industrial School? This would be turning old goods – which would otherwise be thrown away – to a useful and charitable purpose.’ [The Cheltonian, 1889, p.187] At a large meeting in Big Classical on 15 March 1890, Rev. Herbert James (Principal, 1889‑1895), Bishop Alfred Barry (Principal, 1862‑1868) and others spoke to consider ‘the propriety of

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[The Cheltonian, 1890, pp36, 46, 56‑62, 108‑112, 161]

In June Miss Jane Brodigan and Miss Hetty Hubbard led another successful post-GCSE trip to Bradet, in which 20 Fifth Form pupils had five fantastic days of play, DIY, craft, cuddles and of course – the hokey-cokey! College is also tremendously grateful to Mr Chris Rouan, Mr Crispin Dawson, Mr James Chaloner, Miss Elizabeth Rawkins, Mrs Fiona Parry of the Medical Centre, Mr Steve East and Mr Peter Svolis, whose expertise and good humour facilitated a superb trip for all involved. For a full report, see the Autumn Term edition of College News; and to find out more about how you can support the children of Bradet, please contact Miss Jane Brodigan: J.Brodigan@cheltenhamcollege.org For those interested in gap year opportunities at Gogar Primary School and the Vanessa Grant

Speech Day supports the Red Cross

Trust, Kenya, please contact Mr Karl Cook: K.Cook@cheltenhamcollege.org There was a dress-down day for Red Nose Day which raised £764 for Comic Relief and, as usual, a number of pupils were involved in commendable charity fund-raising activities across the various Houses (see House pages for details). As it does every year, charity and service to others plays a large part in the lives of most Cheltonians. We try to instil in the pupils the notion that it is better to give than receive, and even more so when it is your time and not simply your money. We also feel strongly that one of the best ways to improve your own well-being and positive experiences is to do something for others. Thank you to all those people across the College community who have been involved in Charity and Community Service over the last year for their support. It is greatly appreciated by the College charities team, but more so by the beneficiaries. Well done to Issy Dickson and Bethan Morris for their leadership of a busy portfolio.

‘They were holding a prize giving without the prizes. The reason was that the boys who had won prizes had done the same as they did with the sports prizes at Easter, and had requested [the Principal] to take away half the value of the prizes and that the money should be sent to the Red Cross Fund. The result was that there had been considerable correspondence regarding the reduction of the value of the prizes, and this has caused the delay. The reason of the reduction in value of the prizes was inscribed in each of the books. Each of the boys who had won prizes would receive a card indicative of the prize he had obtained.’ [The Cheltonian, 1915, p.217]

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The Variety Show, in aid of the residential school for children with special needs in Bradet, Romania, and the Shamrock School, raised £4,500 through ticket sales and the bar. Happily, the proceeds went to ensuring that Shamrock School remained open for the next academic year, and to a range of donations for Bradet including: 100 pairs of new trainers, clothes, a lawnmower, essential tools and resources for renovation, bike repairs, craft equipment and dental care.

Mr Mike Todd, with some information from Miss Jane Brodigan

Gianluca Mech (L6, Xt), Prefect Chair (elect) of Charities and Community Service, trumpets the place for charity at College It was a very successful year in terms of raising money for Gloucestershire Nightstop, College’s chosen charity. Among others, the 24 Hour event was extremely successful in raising awareness for the local teenage homeless

population. The charity fair attracted 200 people for a day full of enjoyment. The actionpacked Sunday included numerous activities and stalls, with all of the money raised being donated to Nightstop. Throughout the course of the year, numerous charity socials also added to the enormous amount of money raised, most notably the masquerade ball which was a huge success and enjoyed by everyone. I would like to extend my personal thanks to Issy Dickson (U6, A) and Bethan Morris (U6, Q) for their superb efforts in raising a substantial amount of money for charity during the year. We strengthened our links with the community enormously. College now has links with several care homes including the Windsor

Street Care Centre and the newly-built Thirlestaine Park Care Home, both of which provide care for dementia patients. It is part of our intentions to establish a ‘Dementia Aware’ programme. Additionally, each week our pupils visit Hop, Skip and Jump, a charity organized to assist children who have severe learning difficulties. College also upheld its weekly visits to Naunton Park Primary School. As Chair of the Charities and Community Service portfolio, it is my intention that we undertake an extremely successful fund-raising campaign and surpass the money raised in 2014‑2015. I anticipate a very successful 24 Hour event, numerous charity events in the Houses and collections in Sunday chapel.

Development It was another fantastic year for College with over £800,000 donated by parents, OCs and friends of College, following on from an amazing £2.5m given in the previous year. Over the last five years College has invested over £11m to improve and develop its estate. Over £4m of that investment was made

possible through generous donations and we are hugely grateful for all the support received. Throughout the year we continued our phased improvement of facilities in College; not to spend money for the sake of it, but to enable us to provide the best education we can, with pupilorientated gains always at the heart of what we are trying to do. The refurbishment of Science was completed with the installation of our stunning periodic table

display by RGB Research Ltd (www.periodictable.co.uk) in the entry lobby. The display is more than just a collection of elements; along with the samples themselves, it also includes interesting examples of each element’s application in the world. The installation is also interactive, with a built-in screen displaying text, photographic information and video footage on some experiments. Some elements are still available for sponsorship at £250 per element; please take a look on our website (www.cheltenhamcollege.org/supporting-college) to find out more. Both Astroturfs, as well as the tennis courts, were resurfaced and we are still fund-raising to relocate Old Cheltonians like to eat! 125 years ago The first OC Dinner in China was held on 14 November 1889 in Hong Kong. Attended by 11 OCs, ‘the solid part of the dinner was much enlivened by the many and varied reminiscences of the old school, some of which came to light, after a lapse of over 30 years, under the kindly influence of the excellent menu’. It was decided that they should present a cup ‘the Hong Kong Cup’, to be competed for at the next Annual College Sports for an event at the discretion of the Playground Committee. The committee decided on a team of six from each House running the Shurdington fivemile course, and the team with the lowest aggregate score would win. The fastest time was 34 minutes 55.75 seconds and Leconfield beat Christowe by one point. Other OC Dinners 125 years ago were held at Calcutta on 1 March 1890 and Ceylon on 21 August 1890.

Anne-Marie Bowring (L6, Q), Prefect Chair (elect) of Environment, shares her thoughts on the College environment We can make such a difference to the environment: not only on a global scale but also on a very local scale. Therefore, I feel it is vitally important to invest as much time

and effort as possible supporting the College environment and reducing the school’s carbon footprint. Even the small changes to our daily routine really do add up and make a difference. Consequently, raising environmental awareness and implementing schemes to reduce our carbon footprint as a school will surely add up over the coming years. Cheltenham College is constantly seeking to improve our impact on the environment, and the new science labs are equipped with advanced control systems and LED light bulbs, as is the new girl’s boarding house, Westal. It is wonderful to see areas such as the lake and its surroundings at The Prep, the CCF assault course and the Southwood meadow being allowed to grow naturally. With its beautiful birdsong and abundant flora and fauna, the natural environment of College gives us so much. Therefore, it is only right that we return the gift with responsible custodianship.

[The Cheltonian, 1890, pp52‑55, 106, 190] 100 years ago Despite the War, OC Dinners were held in India in the autumn of 1914 (Belgaum) and on 8 March 1915 (Rawal Pindi); and in Bermuda on 11 May 1915, where ‘many old familiar names were mentioned, and some strange tales in connection with them were told’ [some detailed in the report]. [The Cheltonian, 1914, p.295; The Cheltonian, 1915, pp188‑90, 242‑45] 75 years ago However in 1940, ‘Owing to food restrictions it will not be possible to offer Old Cheltonians the usual luncheon in the Gymnasium on Speech Day, but there will be vacant places in the new Dining Hall’. [The Cheltonian, 1940, p.72]

The Cheltonian 2014-2015

School fees pay for the running costs of College alone. For us to be able to develop our facilities, expand into new areas of teaching and learning and to provide increased extra-curricular opportunities, the support and involvement of parents and OCs is crucial and most welcome. Please do contact me, Christiane Dickens, Development Director, on 07881 850 206 or email c.dickens@cheltenhamcollege.org to find out more or if you would like to get involved. We are also always keen to show some of our recent developments to parents so please do not hesitate to contact us to arrange a tour.

Mrs Christiane Dickens

International News

The year began with Cheltenham College’s annual International Induction, put together to help our many international pupils settle into the life and routine at College. A number of current pupils were involved in assisting the EAL (English as an Additional Language) Department to organize the activities, which included quizzes, trips into Cheltenham town and Oxford, as well as an impressive movie competition, where pupils were able to devise short clips using their new laptops, and battle it out for a variety of prizes. Despite Chinese New Year falling during the Spring half term break, two College events were arranged to celebrate the festival. Before the holiday, a number of students accompanied the EAL Department to a delicious Chinese buffet 4

“E

mpowering children to become Responsible Citizens, Independent thinkers and Leaders of tomorrow”

Excellence

springs

young

a unique place

r o o k i nt e r n at i o n a l School (BIS) located on the banks of the beautiful fresh water lake of Sasthamcotta is owned and managed by the VIVA Trust under the chairmanship of Rev. Dr. Abraham Thalothil. The school, established in 2005, was affiliated in the year 2007 to the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi as per CBSE Code – 930717. Academic year 2015-16 will mark the 10th year of excellence and qua lit y education.

Brook International School Wisdom to Win - We teach for life

Distinctive Features O

ur state-of-the-ar t, i n f r a s t r uc t u r e i ncludes, spacious and scientifically designed classrooms, well equipped Science Labs, Wi-Fi connected Library, Audio Visual centres (E -L abs), Networked computer system, Conference facilities etc. In keeping with the current educational thinking, E-learning has been assimilated as part of the

teaching/learning process. We also have a very spacious play ground where children are trained in football, volleyball, basket ball, badminton and roller skating. Regular Yoga and Karate classes keep our st udents menta lly and physically fit. As an English medium

school english speaking and vocabulary is given special emphasis and as such writing the ‘Word Bank’ book and the ‘Weekly Diar y’ has become a habit with the Brookites. Reading a quality English Newspaper is made compulsory for Std III to XII to inculcate English f luenc y and a joy in reading.

Vision

‘G

ive light and people will find the way’. Our vision is to mould our future citizens in such a manner that they become exemplary torchbearers to other people. Hence we have adopted unique international cognitive processing methods and techniques in teaching – keeping in mind our traditional and ethnic values.

From small beginnings the school has flourished and now numbers 1600 students from classes LKG to XII. An exciting new building project will provide accomodation as the school expands to 2000 students. This building block will be inaugurated in the academic year 2015-16 as a part of the 10th year Jubilee Celebrations.

biology lab

entrance oriented learning

rom 7 th standard onwards we motivate students for profession orientied coaching and learning and entrance oriented classes are strongly encouraged. Brookites are proud of their school and we take pride in the success of all our students.

chemistry lab

e-lab

Faculty O

ur team consists of experienced, dedicated, enthusiastic post graduate and graduate teachers with training in education and excellent command of English. Guest Faculties from foreign institutions in Europe, U.K., & U.S.A., open up a wider vision and perspective. The regular, timely refresher courses enable the teachers to keep up to date with the ever changing technology and education systems.

International Approach Mr.

John Bland joined us this year from U.K. and as the Vice-Principal he has a special interest in developing excellence in English for both students and teachers.The school is successfully developing friendship links with English and German schools

Co-curricular activities

and encourages opportunities for Pre-University English students to share their cultural and linguistic heritage with our students.

Brookite’s education is enriched by a wide variety of activites.

indo german interaction

Video Conferences are frequently conducted with the partner school, KSM, Germany.

german interaction

Brook is committed to impart:

Excellence without distress | Discipline without fear Fluency with good communication skill | Due opportunities for co-curricular activities 10th year of glorious existence.. Free education scholarship for 10 students on the 10th year.. Entrance for scholarship- 4 April Admission continues to LKG-XI ............................................. If you would like to appreciate the unique atmosphere in Brook International school and its delightful lakeside environment please contact the school (0476-283199) A few more seats available from LKG to Std X continues

The four houses and the various clubs like G.K., Reading, Energy, Nature, Maths, Drama, Elocution etc. that function in the school, help in the all round development of the child and

On 7 March, the International Society held its crowning event of the year, the International Dinner. Over 200 staff and students attended the black tie event in the Dining Hall, which had been decorated beautifully to mark the occasion. A delicious three-course meal was provided by the Catering Department, offering a range of international cuisine. The event was organized by the outgoing Head of EAL, Mrs Sarah Proudlove, who was helped by Xavier Houben (U6, L), Prefect Chair of International. A number of International Committee members gave heartfelt speeches, giving their thanks and praise to Sarah for all her work and dedication to Internationalism at College over the years.

Miss Helen Davies

Over the course of the academic year, the International Society has been thriving, with many exciting events and celebrations.

all students in the first batch of plus tWo successfully passed out With distinction. the school is justly proud that sandra.s, of the same batch, bagged national topper in biology and mhrd scholarship for 5 years.

in Cheltenham. Following the break, Tiffany Too (U6, W), Jacky Lei (U6, NH) and Gordon Lam (U6, L) organized and hosted an informal party, including traditional Chinese snacks as well as current popular Chinese music, and Jasmine Ng (4F, W) created some wonderful traditional calligraphy and decorations for the event.

offer a range of opportunities to the students which enhance their individuality and personality. Brook is also socially committed and shows its concern for others in numerous and practical ways.1500 books were collected from the students and

donated to the Juvenile Home. The school recently hosted a free medical camp for the local community in association with Holy Cross Hospital, Kottiyam. Every year the school celebrates Christmas with the inmates of Ashraya, Kalayapuram by providing financial assistance.

Brook International School Wisdom to Win - We teach for life

Cbse Aff.No. 930717 Rajagiri, sasthamcotta 690 521 Ph: 0476 2831999, 2836211 e-Mail: brook.international.school@gmail.com Website:www.brookinternational.wordpress.com

It is very exciting to be taking over the reins from Miss Sarah Proudlove as Master-in-Charge of Internationalism at College. There is huge scope to both build upon the excellent foundations she has established, whilst looking to the future also. During 2014‑2015, I nurtured a new partnership with Brook International School in Kerala, South India, created an annual pupil exchange with Groton School in Boston, Massachusetts, and forged a partnership between College and Staten Island Academy in New York. Plans are afoot to explore an exchange with The British School Quito in Ecuador for post-GCSE 2017. Naturally, that sits alongside the superb charitable aid work Mr Dom Faulkner and Miss Jane Brodigan already do in support of our Nepal and Romania projects. Our new International Committee will, I hope, flourish, striving to support our pupils who join us from overseas. As

an outgoing Housemaster and Resident Tutor of 11 years, I feel that I have a good understanding of that process, having also produced a thesis on ‘The Induction and Integration of Overseas Students into the UK Boarding Community’ for the Boarding Schools’ Association. During the Autumn Term 2015, we will recognize the United Nations’ International Day of Peace, the European Day of Languages, the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival and United Nations Day. A new initiative will mean that, in late November, we will celebrate our new International pupils’ endeavours via a recital in Thirlestaine Long Gallery, featuring musical and verbal presentations. As ever, our EAL (English as an Additional Language) Department will be instrumental in developing our International pupils academically, and our Housemasters and Housemistresses, pastorally.

Mr Nick Nelson

Chatfeild-Roberts Library It was another busy year for the Library as we continued to build on the success of the refurbishment. New initiatives included ‘College writes’, an area where members of the College community contribute their own original writing for reading and comments. It can be anonymous or named. Content has included poetry, short stories and sports writing.

COLLEGE COMMUNITY

rowing from Tewkesbury to a canal-side location in Gloucester, as well as the planned Sports Hall extension which will incorporate additional teaching areas as well as a café and viewing gallery.

The second Third Form House Literary Quiz resulted in a win for Chandos although there was only one question between them and

Iurii Kovalev (L6, Xt), Prefect Chair (elect) of Internationalism, reflects on the year and his new role Becoming the Prefect Chair of International came as a thrilling surprise to me when it was announced. Since I came to College in the Third Form I always looked up to Prefects, especially those from overseas. The likes of JJ Ball (2007‑2012, Xt) inspired me to work towards succeeding at College. I see my

prefect position as a great opportunity to improve many aspects of internationalism at College like my predecessor, Xavier Houben (U6, L) whose highlights included helping in the organizing of the international induction programme and the International Dinner. The work that he and Miss Proudlove did was greatly appreciated: the 2014‑2015 induction programme was a great success, whilst the International Dinner saw an improvement with the addition of music and more international students giving a speech. It is sad to see both of them leave and I wish them the best of luck. As the new International Prefect, I have several plans. As well as fulfilling the main duties that I have to carry out in my area of responsibility, I will achieve the targets Mr Nelson and I have formulated. Some of our targets include modifying the international induction programme with the main addition being an opportunity for new international students to experience the various College sports. I am really looking forward to doing my duties next year and I hope that it will have a good impact on the school.

the boys of Boyne House, their very worthy opponents. It was such a successful event that plans are in motion for heats to replace the current method of finding the finalists. At the end of the year we invited the entire Year 8 cohort from The Prep to visit the Library for a morning of activities. Three separate activities were available, and groups moved from activity to activity until they had completed them all. First, there was an opportunity to collect data for Top Trumps cards to be made, looking at all the graphic novels in the Library. The books were weighed, measured, the number of pages counted and a score was given for illustrations, story and cover. The data was turned into Top Trumps cards for The Prep. The second activity was playing book charades, acting out the titles of well-known books. Two teams competed against each other and, if the title had not been guessed by the end of 2½ minutes, the book’s author was given as a clue. Finally, we had a treasure trail around the Library using iPads and the app Aurasma, which works by using an item as a trigger to show another form of media. We used book jackets as triggers and once the iPad was held over the cover it connected to a movie of clues to a question. For example, holding the iPad over the cover of one of the books in the Hunger Games trilogy triggered a movie of stills from the film, plus pictures of the Mockingjay brooch and drawings. Within those pictures was a question ‘Who was the girl on fire?’ followed by

the classification number of the next book to find. That then triggered a further movie and so on. Lastly, the initial letters of each answer provided a library-related anagram. The treasure trail was made using two free apps, Aurasma and Replay and the pupils enjoyed trying to find all the clues.

Mrs Ginette Doyle

New Library? ‘On Speech Day last, the College commenced its Jubilee year, and we hope the attainment of its 50th birthday will be suitably marked. … It is the celebration of the golden wedding of the College with the town, a union which has produced incalculable benefits to the latter. The Principal’s wish that a thousand out of the six thousand old pupils of the College should help to celebrate the day is certainly moderate. We should like to give a twelve months notice … to all Old Cheltonians resident in the British Isles to keep themselves absolutely free of engagements during the end of next June.’ The following year, at Speech Day in 1890, the Principal ‘hoped that the Jubilee Year would leave its mark behind on the buildings of the College. They wanted three things ‑ a library, a larger museum and a chapel. … That sounded a large programme, but if they could only get a new chapel they would get the other two things, because the present chapel would serve excellently as a museum, … and the present museum could be utilized as a library.’ [The Cheltonian,1890, pp 117‑18, 157‑68]

The Cheltonian 2014-2015

Evacuation to Shrewsbury Because government had requisitioned College buildings at the start of the Second World War, College was evacuated to Shrewsbury School, whose Headmaster, Mr Henry Hardy, had previously been Headmaster of College (1919‑1932). The boys were billeted in homes in the surrounding area and shared the school premises with the Salopians by means of a specially devised interlocking of timetables. Meanwhile, the Junior School went to Stowell Park, near Northleach, and day boys to Fairholme, Montpellier Drive. ‘There is a certain grim humour to the fact that as its entry for Friday, September 8, the day on which the news of the commandeering of the College could first be made public, Whitaker’s Almanac records ‘L. Hore Belisha born 1893’. Editorial restraint and the dictators of a Ministry of Information which muzzles even parish magazines prevents us from rubbing the irony in. But if any wartime occupant of the centenary classrooms has time for a glance at the outside of his retreat he may chance upon a certain stone and be led to believe that his change of habitation was planned not, as some cruel critics of the government suggest, on September 7, 1939, but on an unlucky day of an unlucky month of 1938. We had a fortnight.’ That fortnight, leading to the start of term on 22 September, saw masters, boys, porters, groundsmen and all and sundry enlisted to help with the move. What could not be taken was stored in the Swimming Baths [see 2 photos] and Racquets Courts. ‘We were told we must confine our baggage to essentials. Were bedsteads essential? The representative of the government’s Office of Works was not sure. In the end the baggage train comprised sixteen railway containers.a And the bedsteads were all in, somewhere. To describe the move in detail would require an unpatriotic expenditure of paper.’ On arrival, everything was put in

College soon settled in with much improvisation; stacked orange boxes made good bookshelves. The Bursar’s staff, ‘in the Shrewsbury School Boathouse, are well off for space and wharfage’, and the cricket pavilion was turned into a common room for Cheltenham staff. It was only meant to be for a term; plans were to go to Doddington Hall, south of Nantwich, in January 1940. However, the government announced that it would be building ‘hutments for the use of the departments which may be evacuated from London in the event of air raids there’. It was hoped that College could return home in the Summer Term, so it seemed expedient to accept Mr Hardy’s offer to stay another term at Shrewsbury rather than move again for just one term. College Council also decided to reduce the boarding fee from £174 per annum to £153 on the return to Cheltenham. The weather in Spring Term 1940 provided some diversions. On the first day of term pupils were ‘walking over the Severn instead of calling for Fred or paying a penny in the usual way’. That was something that had not, in living memory, been done before. Then The Times reported: ‘Cheltenham College beat Shrewsbury School at

ice-hockey on the Shrewsbury Cricket wicket by 15 goals to 5. The pitch did not have to be flooded’. There was more snow and rain, then frost, and they were still skating in mid-February. ‘The toboggan run combined the thrills of the Cresta and the Grand National [or the Kingston by-pass on August bank holiday!]. The Severn and a barbed wire fence were the chief natural hazards and various masters who had come to direct the traffic made quite good artificial ones. The timing of most performers reached a high standard. It was well it did or there would have been more than the one solitary pioneer to get out of the river! … On account of the weather none of the 1st XV matches could take place.’ ‘All being well, … next term will start on Friday, May 3. When we get back it will be to conditions somewhat different from those of last summer. … Because the Government are at first only giving us back five of the College Boarding Houses, Boyne House and Leconfield will be taking up quarters in Leconfield for the Summer term. Leconfield cannot take all the members of the two Houses, but fortunately Linton House will be available, and will provide the necessary extra accommodation.’ ‘The Library will have been converted in to a Dining Hall for the use of the whole College, and here all meals will be taken. … Cooking is done by gas and various culinary robots enable the human staff to be reduced to

half a section instead of the platoon that would otherwise be necessary. There are machines for peeling, chipping and frying potatoes, for boiling vegetables, for grilling and fish frying, for maintaining a constant supply of tea. There is a most ingenious contrivance into which all dirty plates pass, to emerge later clean and dry. Overhanging all are the various canopies of the ventilation system, which is guaranteed to change the air of the kitchen every three minutes.’ The boys took turns as orderlies, laying the tables, serving and clearing up after the meal. Another change was that ‘boys now make their own beds and clean their own shoes … a change that many people not still at school have had to make long before this and in future years we can imagine readers of The Cheltonian being as surprised at the mention of it as they would be if we added and brush their own teeth.’

COLLEGE COMMUNITY

Alington Hall (Shrewsbury’s Big Classical). ‘We had accounted our staff as honest and virtuous folk, yet here they plundered with great skill.’

Finally, on Sunday 5 May, the first service back in Chapel was one of thanksgiving, and the President of Council, the Rt Rev. Gerald Allen, Bishop of Dorchester (1896‑1903, Day Boy) based his sermon on Haggai 2:9 – ‘the glory of this latter house shall be greater than the former’. [The Cheltonian, 1939, pp 293‑99, 334‑35; The Cheltonian, 1940, pp 1‑3, 34, 69‑70, 75; Cheltenham at Shrewsbury: September 1939 ‑ April 1940]

Ashmead

House Editors: Rosie Pratt (L6), Inés Oliver (L6)

Social Events

We have been incredibly lucky here at Ashmead to live in such a vibrant and amicable House. Throughout the year we had the privilege of taking part in social events, such as summer barbeques with the boys at Boyne House, as well as the humorous Ashmead and Leconfield play The Happiest Days of Your Life. We never had a dull weekend at Ashmead, as there are just so many fun things to do, such as watching films together outside and having House pizza nights. We cannot wait to see what exciting events 2015‑2016 will bring.

The Community House Trips

One of the wonderful things about Ashmead is that there are so many exciting activities available. In November the Upper College had the immersive experience of watching The Woman in Black at the Everyman and in December we had a much-anticipated whole House trip to Cabot Circus for some Christmas shopping. Some other great opportunities included trips to the local cinema, going to Westonbirt to see Tom Odell, taking part in the House Quiz, and our annual Christmas Dinner.

Christmas Dinner

We celebrated Christmas with the spirit that everyone always talks about. Preparations started in November, with the Upper Sixth in charge of allocating year groups their fancy dress theme. Each year group had something different but, of course, related to the main theme of Christmas. The event itself took place in a private room of a fancy restaurant, with our very own DJ Pete. It was definitely what they call ‘the party of the season’. Around the tables sat elves, reindeer, Christmas trees, presents and angels. The evening was spiced up by speeches from our Head of House Rebecca Perry (U6) and of course our Housemistress Mrs Cutts. All in all, our Christmas celebration turned out to be a fun and rather loud social gathering.

Ana-Maria Grant (L6)

The Cheltonian 2014-2015

In the Spring Term, we warmly welcomed the ladies from Abbeyfield Care Home to Ashmead for some afternoon tea. We were fortunate enough to have the lovely House Matron, Miss Taylor, who offered us Earl Grey tea, butter scones and freshlybaked victoria sponge. It was delightful to see the Third Form girls getting along so well with the guests and we hope to have more events like that in the future.

My First Weekend

On my first weekend at College we had a weekend unlike any other. Our in-house barbeque consisted of a sumo wrestling pit and a large bouncy castle. After having an afternoon of introducing ourselves we then had our very first movie oudoors on beanbags.

Sumaya Dowling-Membrado (3rd)

Prefects

We congratulate Annabel Mundy (L6) on becoming the new Head of House, as well as Anna Birkett (L6) and Sophie Mathews (L6) on becoming Deputy Heads of House. We are also proud to announce that a remarkable number of Ashmead girls earned College prefect ties: Arabella Knowles (L6) as Deputy Head of College, Leonora McCaldin (L6) as Prefect Chair of Co-curricular, Jacqueline Nussbaum-Lapping (L6) as Prefect Chair of Chapel, and Katie Stanton (L6) as Prefect Chair of Academic and Library. We thank the 2014‑2015 Prefects and the whole of the Upper Sixth for their contribution to the House and we wish them the best of luck as they leave College.

CCF Achievements

It was a memorable year for members of Ashmead, as the Head of the Navy in the Upper Sixth, along with girls from the Lower Sixth and Fifth Form, were chosen to be part of the platoon of 30 to march past the Cenotaph as part of the parade on Remembrance Sunday. The group consisted of Ella Mayes (5th), Eleanor Jones-Perrott (5th), Zoe Robbins (5th), Beth Adams (5th), Phoebe Mathews (U6) and Anna Birkett (L6).

Anna Birkett (L6)

HOUSES

Speech Day prizes

Headmaster’s Award for Outstanding Commitment: Isobelle Dickson (U6) Rebecca Perry (U6)

Fifth Form Attainment: Alena Gorb; Isobel Salmond Smith

Marcan Prize for Music: Caitlin Christopher (U6); Jacqueline Nussbaum-Lapping (L6)

Third Form Attainment: Isabelle Kemp

Lower Sixth Subject prizes: Katherine Stanton ‑ Hornsby French; Ronald Guthrie Bedford History

Wilson prize for best travel award: Caitlin Christopher (U6)

Upper Sixth (named prizes): Ian Marsden Chemistry ‑ Harriet Bevan

Duleepsinhji Cup (games): Harriet Bevan (U6)

Sixth Form Endeavour: Harriet Lacey (U6) Leonora McCaldin (L6)

Sloan Cup (games): Rebecca Perry (U6)

Cheltonian Endowment Trust Prizes: Katie Woodford (U6) ‑ History of Art Lucy Gray (U6) ‑ Theatre Studies

Boyne House

House Editor: Simon Oliver (L6)

up to represent the House in House cricket. In the House Pots hockey Boyne House came 1st. Congratulations to Ollie Thorley (U6) who won the Duleepsinhji Cup for games on Speech Day.

Academics

As well as our sporting victories, Boyne House also made great gains in the field of academics. Alex Thorpe (5th) and Jeffrey Kwong (L6) won gold medals in the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust. They also won significant prizes on Speech Day: Alex the Fifth Form Attainment Prize, and Jeffrey the Lower Sixth Subject prizes for Design (Resistant Materials), and the Abbott Mathematics for Science prize. Other winners on Speech Day were: Ben Schallamach (Fourth Form Attainment); James Drysdale and Frederick White (Fourth Form Endeavour); Leo Shen (Fifth Form Attainment); James Palmer (Fifth Form Endeavour); Ludo Miller (Cheltonian Trust Endowment Prize for Spanish); Sean Wilson (Sixth Form Endeavour); Cameron Logan (Jackson-Matthews Chapel Prize for best address). Overall, it displayed Boyne House to be one of the most all-rounded Houses, with further wins such as the Boyne House lower years winning the Hart Shield – the Lower College House Academic Shield.

Bushcraft Sports Day

Boyne House came a stunning 1st in the senior Athletics competition; there were significant victories from Dan Beachus (L6) in the 100 metres, with an amazing 11.15 seconds, and Cameron Logan (U6) winning the 1,500 metres with a school record-breaking 4 minutes 38.68 seconds! With rising stars like Eduardo Capelastegui (4th) winning the 1,500 metres in 5.09 minutes and Jason Soames (4th) coming 2nd in the high jump, Boyne House was particularly strong in the senior races.

Sport

Rowing is one of College sports that requires significant commitment and the investment of a lot of free time and effort, which can always be found in Boyne House. That is highlighted by the fact that there are three Boyne House rowers in the Henley VIII: Fernando Capelastegui (L6), Orlando Giuseppetti (L6) and Ben Schallamach (4th) – one of our very own Fourth Form stepping up to the challenge. There was a great turn-out in House cricket with six non-cricketers stepping

Autumn Term 1914 In the first round of the House Pots, Boyne House beat Hazelwell 15‑0. However, ‘Two cases of Scarlet Fever were discovered after Lunch on the Day of the semi-final. This prevented our playing Leconfield, whom we ought to have been capable of beating. It was a disappointing end to a term in which we gradually had lost several of our 1st XV’. [Many had left College to take up commissions.] [Boyne House Minute Book, II]

The Cheltonian 2014-2015

In June 2015 Boyne House ventured out into the wilds of rural Cheltenham with the Lower Sixth leading the Third Form and Fourth Form in a brilliant survival course. It involved building and sleeping in our own shelters, made of old parachutes, rope and pebbles! It also involved learning how to build signal fires, and drinking water from woodland streams – yet some would say our biggest challenge was cooking our breakfast!

Boyne House Dinner and Cooking

The Boyne House Dinner was a huge success; each Lower Sixth boy invited a girl from one of the other College Houses but, more impressively, they cooked the entire dinner for everyone under the guidance of Mrs Penny. Throughout the year she has given us the opportunity to learn and have fun cooking, by providing cooking nights for all, further demonstrating how the Pennys have been some of the first Houseparents to open up the private side of the House to all boys, which has brought a massive sense of home and unity to the House.

House Singing and Music

Boyne House is the unchallenged and notoriously loudest House in Chapel. Noticeably loud voices, such as Ollie Thorley and Humphrey Bodington (U6), come in handy for House singing; although we did not win, we still sang Hooked on a Feeling incredibly well. Furthermore, Boyne House proved itself to be even more musical with rising stars such as Chanaphol Santhudkijkarn on the drums for Jig.

Paintballing

Paintballing was one of the most exciting on record, ranging from new rifle upgrades to extra smoke grenades and newly-developed tactics. It was partially due to Mr Penny’s military role in helping develop the tactics for

the blue team, which gave them the edge on the red team, leaving them far in the lead by 450 points to 50 at the end. It was also due to Kieran Thorley (4th) making a suicidal charge in the second round, wiping out four opponents in one fatal blow, as well as a brave diversion by the Third Form atop a hill in the final round; they drew the red team’s fire and focus from the blue team’s flanking manoeuvre.

Rugby

The rugby season yet again was a success for the boys in Boyne House. Despite being the smallest House in terms of number, we managed to have six boys play in the 1st XV, with Ollie Thorley being captain and Humphrey Bodington his vice-captain. It is now the second time in three years that Boyne House has provided both captain and vice-captain of the XV and it is a credit to the House that we have such talented and passionate rugby players. Added to that, a special mention should go to Willie Weston (U6) who was awarded Colours for his brilliant season in the 2nds. In the House Pots semifinals we lost to Newick House, who went on to win, but the House played very well and showed a lot of spirit in their performance. Hopefully next year Boyne can go one more, win the title and do the House proud!

Monty Chapman (L6)

Reflection

Having almost chosen to go to Abingdon School before choosing College, I can say that I could not have been happier about my decision. What I think makes College such an incredible experience is the diversity and standard of the activities and hobbies you can pursue while here. It is a school which is competitive on every front and, whether you are a competitive person or not, you can not help but be impressed by such an ability. The intensity, however, of a typical school day at College is something of which it can be very proud as it helps to make the school a much more vibrant and dynamic place.

Ludo Miller (U6)

Thanks

Boyne House would like to say a heartfelt thank you to Mr McKegney for his dedicated years of service to the House as Resident Tutor. Happily, of course, this is not ‘goodbye’ as he remains a Boyne House tutor.

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Chandos

House Editor: Yasmine Ellis (L6)

House Singing

It is without a doubt that the greatest achievement of Chandos, as a House, was a glorious victory in the House singing competition! We sang a catchy Disney medley, which was skilfully arranged by Fran Ball (U6). The rehearsals were attended in high spirit and everyone was excited to show off our hard work in front of the school. The end result was a 1st place trophy and lots of smiles in the House, particularly from Mrs Poulain.

The Cheltonian 2014-2015

Our Housemistress

Nicola Francombe (L6), Jamie Chadwick (L6) and Annabella Köhler (L6) were victorious for Chandos in House squash. House tennis was also a huge success, with Chandos gaining 2nd place. Thanks to our Third Form pupils’ knowledge, we won 1st place in the Library’s World Book Day Quiz.

Mrs Poulain arrived in September 2014, but has already made such a huge impact on the House, making it such a happy and friendly environment. Visibly, she has spiced up the interiors with an accumulation of photos dotted around the House. She also kept us positive and was a calming influence when exam stress kicked in, or when the amount of work to be done became a looming mountain. As we leave Chapel in the morning, Mrs Poulain greets all 68 girls with a smile, and she always has time for anyone who needs her. We are so glad to have her as our happy Housemistress.

House Events

Prefects

House Pots

Despite a busy year, Chandos continued to be a happy environment that felt like a home away from home. The arrival of our new Housemistress, Mrs Poulain, created a fresh start to an exciting and successful year.

look as if they had just returned from a rather tropical holiday. The Upper Sixth thoroughly enjoyed their Disney-themed Leavers’ Dinner; the costumes were creative, the food was delicious and the conversation just did not stop flowing.

Christmas time in Chandos saw the acquisition of a giant blow-up Santa and snowman in the common room and everyone’s spirits were high. The whole House went out for Christmas dinner at Brasserie Blanc and everyone had a lovely time doing what Chandos does best: eating and laughing. That was followed by a hilarious night in House where each year group performed a sketch, song or dance. Throughout the year Mrs Poulain individually invited every year group to join her for an evening of Thai, pizza, karaoke or ice cream. Each year group was also treated to a fun night out with a Chandos tutor with a range of activities, such as dinner, bowling, climbing and a hilarious visit to the cinema to watch Pitch Perfect 2. We also had yoga sessions and even a spray tanner visited to make some girls

Our Head of House and Prefects have done an excellent job keeping the House running smoothly. Head of House, Isabel Tudsbery, and her deputies, Georgie O’Reilly and Georgie Thorpe led the Prefect team consisting of Tasha Cresswell, Polina Nerentina, Liza Klepikova and Marketa Stibalova. Annabella Köhler takes over the role of Head of House for 2015‑2016.

Congratulations

Jamie Chadwick (L6) is a Chandos girl as well as a successful racing driver for Beechdean Aston Martin and won the Dunlop Britcar 24-Hour race at Silverstone. At the time of writing she is also impressively leading the British GT Championship.

It is also a great achievement that one of our girls is the only girl in the cricket teams. Evie Webb (3rd) plays in the Yearlings’ A cricket team alongside the boys at cricket matches. She also won the prestigious Victrix Ludorum trophy for the female in Lower College who gained the most points at Sports Day. Carman Ma (L6) only joined College in September 2014 but by January she had became the Gloucestershire Ladies’ Champion in badminton. Limpy Olympitis (U6) has had some of her artwork commissioned and displayed at a hotel in London. And finally, Yvie Seville (L6) – the new Head Girl. Well done one and all!

Speech Day Winners

The hard work of Chandos girls was evident in the impressive 17 prizes awarded to our girls on Speech Day. Congratulations to them all. Abigail Aitken (3rd) and Aiko Fukuda (5th) both won prizes for Attainment. Endeavour prizes were awarded to Ing-Tarn Ruckpanich (3rd) and Tara Percival (5th), and Harriet White (5th) won the Lower College Anthony James Art prize. In the Lower Sixth, Georgia Taylor was awarded the Design (Textiles) prize; Minty Lawson-Smith the Bingen Human Geography prize and the Spanish prize; Georgie Blumer the John Morse Physical Geography prize; and Yasmine Ellis the Theatre Studies prize. In the Upper Sixth, Marketa Stibalova was presented with the Tanner Biology prize whilst Georgie Thorpe worked hard for Cheltonian Endowment Trust Prizes in both English Literature and German. Kate Onslow received not only the Cheltonian Endowment Trust Prize for Politics but also the Upper Sixth Adams Prize for Achievement (£1,000 for her improvement from GCSE to A Level). As Head

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Chandos are very proud that two of our Lower Sixth girls, Lissy Williams and Minty Lawson-Smith, are the only girls in the College 1st polo team. They competed at the College Polo Day and were victorious with a 9‑2 win against Stowe School.

Girl, Fran Ball received the Bateman-Champain Prize for Head of School; impressively she also won the Upper College Anthony James Art prize, the Davenport Drama Award, and the Cheltonian Endowment Trust Prize for History – as well as the Cadbury Cup for All-round contribution.

Christowe

House editors: Paddy Milton (U6), William Talbot Rice (U6)

the annual Gloucestershire Classical Association Reading Competition, with Yury Kovalev winning an award. Similarly in the UK Mathematics Trust challenges and British Biology Olympiad competitions, we have been very successful. Our Third Form in particular have picked up the majority of the academic plaudits, consistently out-performing all Houses in their year group, and contributing greatly to our heightened position in the Lower College House Academic Shield. Academically, the year was capped off well with William Moss winning the Galahad Cup for Academic Excellence.

Co-curricular

September 2014 saw two new members of House staff: Miss Emma Wakely as Resident Matron and Mr Will Packer as Resident House Tutor. Both fitted in seamlessly, and are already wellestablished members of our thriving community.

Academic

Following some stunning results in public examinations at GCSE, AS and A2, the academic year began with the customary awarding of scholars’ ties; several in our new Third Form cohort, I might add. Finbar McConnell (3rd): Prain Scholarship (Science and Mathematics); Thomas Ladds (3rd): Design & Technology Scholarship; Charles Meecham-Jones (3rd): All-Round Scholarship; Alister Pearce (3rd): Sport Scholarship; George Cook (L6) and Alexander Grutter (L6): Sixth Form Academic Scholarships; and Guy Beynon (L6): Sixth Form Music Scholarship. That was followed by the awarding of Academic Colours: Half Colours to Alex Grutter, Gianluca Mech (L6), Yury Kovalev (L6) and William Talbot Rice (U6); and Full Colours to William Moss (U6) and Toby North (U6). William Moss won 1st prize in the Sixth Form Independent Project with his academic paper, ‘Bitcoin: A Complete Guide’ and Nick Liban (U6) was specifically commended for his paper, ‘How Safe is Propofol?’ We were well represented at

The Cheltonian 2014-2015

Christowe thrives in the co-curricular arena of College life, and 2014‑2015 was no exception to the trend. Notable achievements were Art Scholar Alexander Cove (5th) submitting his artwork for the National Star College’s charity exhibition (only to have his work on Edward Wilson (1886‑1891, Day Boy) exhibited in the Beechwood Arcade in Cheltenham), and William Moss winning the Upper College Society’s public speaking prize. Via the auspices of the College Combined Cadet Force, Robert Madeley (L6) and Harry Steel (L6) took part in the First World War centenary commemorations at Westonbirt Arboretum, and were joined by Sam Mendis (5th) to participate in the Cenotaph March Past in London. We thrived in music, with noteworthy contributions from Sam Mendis, Guy Beynon (L6) and Peter Uttley (U6). On Speech Day it was great to see Guy win the Lower Sixth prize for Music, and Harry Steel the Marcan Prize for Music. We contributed admirably to College’s Jazz Band and Wind Band, notably at the annual Cheltenham Jazz Festival in Montpellier Gardens. Our performers also did very well in the College music competition, winning several prizes. We hit a record number of pupils participating in College Choir, yet found time to contribute towards secular music via College Unplugged, the Variety Show, and our own House concert. Further highlights were Harry Byrne (5th) reading war poetry in Chapel as part of the Cheltenham Literature Festival; our annual House debate with Queen’s, when the topic

was Hitler’s qualities as a great leader; our key contribution towards the Model United Nations House Debate; and the House Quiz, in which we came 4th out of the ten Houses. In CCF, Alexander Grutter and Yury Kovalev were both promoted to Corporals in September 2014, and are now 1st and 2nd place respectively in the RAF Section. As ever, we performed well on the stage in Oh! What a Lovely War and The Railway Children. Christowe’s involvement in the Run for Nepal was admirable, epitomizing that distinctive Christowe spirit. We gained several awards in the Headmaster’s Project, including the runner-up prize won by Tommy Ladds.

Charity

The Autumn Term featured our annual House charity event in aid of Cancer Research – a day of yard football comprising House family teams based on World Cup representatives. Members of our Upper Sixth contributed keenly to the Gloucestershire NightStop sleep-over in the Quad as part of the Prefects’ 24 Hour event. Gianluca Mech’s contribution in producing a charity calendar of his wildlife photographs was particularly notable. For his kind act of service in helping a member of the public, Clement Hathaway (U6) was hailed as ‘the Good Samaritan’ by the Headmaster. On a lighter note, we enjoyed our annual charity hockey match on Red Nose Day – parents versus pupils, as per tradition. William Talbot Rice hands over the mantle of Chair of the Committee of Anti-Bullying and Peer Mentoring to Harry Steel for 2015‑2016.

Sport

In addition to success on the big stage, Christowe excelled in pockets of the more minor sports, notably Harry Stevens’ (L6) outstanding equestrian endeavours and performance at the Pony Club’s National Tetrathlon Championships – he is within the country’s top ten performers. We are very proud that Christowe fielded several captains: hockey, rugby, rowing and squash. In badminton we were the losing finalists in House Pots and we enjoyed success in rackets also, putting forward players for Queen’s Club competitions. In rugby, Paddy Milton (U6) enjoyed a great run in the Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens, where College’s senior VII performed admirably. Paddy went on to captain the hockey 1st XI, winning Full Colours also. It was no huge surprise that he was awarded the Stidworthy Cup on Speech Day for his all-round sporting prowess. He also captained both our senior House hockey and House cricket teams. His leadership qualities will be sorely missed, both in the sporting arena and as our outgoing Head of House. Our shooting success took us to the final of the House Pots competition, in which we lost narrowly to Southwood. In rowing, captain of boats Kieran Connolly (U6) is pursuing a sports’ scholarship to university in the United States. It has been super to see Guy Lloyd (L6) follow his lead in joining the 1st VIII. As a House we have enjoyed further success in water polo, been Eminson Cup semifinalists (football), come 2nd in the junior House cross-country, 4th in the House triathlon and were losing semi-finalists in the squash House Pots competition. Genuine success came in the form of retaining the senior tennis Pots title by winning the competition for the second year running.

Activities

As ever, we enjoyed an eclectic array of House activities, from archery to falconry and badger-watching. The rugby trip to Bath stands out as a real highlight; a training session with Bath players and tickets to a match was a gift from the Napier family. Mr Will Packer took the boys to watch Gloucester also. We continued our connection with the girls from Westonbirt School via reciprocal events for the Lower Sixth, and enjoyed polo and a picnic with Malvern St James Girls’ School. Further House activities included a trip to the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, a really popular Upper Sixth Casino Night and a trip to watch 12 Angry Men at The Everyman. We have kept up our fiercely competitive House risk competition, with Theo Penney (5th) emerging as reigning champion.

Concluding thoughts

Christowe was very well-represented at Speech Day, winning the following prizes: Finbar McConnell and Charles Meecham-Jones, Third Form Attainment; Tommy Ladds and Boris Pustoshinskiy, Third Form Endeavour; Alexander Grutter, Lower Sixth Chemistry; Guy Beynon, Lower Sixth Music; William Talbot Rice, Hornsby French; William Moss, Borchardt Mathematics, and Lionel Wells, Physics; Paddy Milton, Headmaster’s Award for Outstanding Commitment; Harry Steel, Marcan Prize for Music, Paddy Milton, Stidworthy Cup for Games; and William Moss, the Galahad Cup for Academic Excellence. That seemed a fitting, encapsulating tribute to the boys’ collective endeavours over a busy and prolific academic year. Of course, it goes without saying that Christowe owes an enormous thank you to Mr Nelson for his six years as Housemaster. We wish him, Mrs Nelson and the boys, all the best for a (quieter?) future!

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Elms School superstar Alister Pearce is our new sporting hopeful, having already captained the Yearlings’ A teams in both rugby and cricket.

Note from Mr Nelson

As I stand down as Housemaster of Christowe, I wish my successor Mr Jonathan Mace and his family good fortune as they take up the mantle of the Christallion Battalion from September 2015.

Hazelwell

House editors: Neil Hacker (L6), Patrick Christopher (4th)

Hazelwell has gone through significant changes with Mr Coull taking over as Housemaster. As a House we saw many successes during the year in a wide variety of fields, from rackets to Third Form drama performances in the Lower College play. Hazelwell’s Lower College had a great year. During the long Autumn Term, we managed to reach the final of the rugby House Pots where, after a closelyfought performance, the boys came out second best to a very strong Southwood side. Other activities that term included paintballing, with newly-appointed Housemaster Mr Coull (sorry about the friendly fire, sir!!) on his debut with the Third Form. It was a great day out; despite many Easter Term, 1915 ‘In Pots we have had rather a curious experience. In the first round we were beaten after a very close game by Leconfield. It was subsequently discovered that Leconfield had played with fifteen men instead of fourteen and they were disqualified. We then played against Boyne House in the semi-final and won. In the final we were opposed to East Day Boys but we were beaten.’ [Hazelwell Minute Book, 1911‑1925] 1940 ‘The question in point was that R.E.C. Price of the Hazelwell 1st XI had left College at half term to join the Army. The Chairman told the Committee that there was no definite ruling on this point in the Playground rules, but that, in similar cases during the last two terms, he had decided that the boy leaving should be considered as non existent. After some discussion it was decided unanimously that ‘A boy who leaves College during the course of the term should not be considered as existent for the making out of College or House sides after the date of his departure’.’ [Playground Minute Book, 1939‑1957, p.20]

The Cheltonian 2014-2015

returning with bruises, it did not seem to affect the respect and friendship on which Hazelwell pride themselves. During the Spring Term we had more success, with victory in the swimming, which took a gutsy whole House performance. We also came 2nd in House football, as well as raising a large some of money in the Parents’ and Sons’ Hockey morning in aid of Maggie’s, the cancer caring centres. The Summer Term, which came as a shock to some but relief to others, brought the most victories for Hazelwell. We had a great win in the House tennis, House squash, and both senior and junior triathlon. We also came 2nd in the junior athletics and found our way to the Maths final. Moreover, that term saw many weekend trips. Frequent movie nights to Cineworld were a pleasant means of relaxation at the end of exam weeks. We also had a day trip to London to watch the Twickenham Rugby Sevens competition, which was an exciting, sunny and enjoyable day out. Our sincere thanks must also go to Mrs Coull for all that she has done for us on the social front – the hot chocolates, pancake evenings, and organization of the various suppers: Burns’ Night, Fifth Form Black Tie evening at The Cheltenham Ladies’ College, International Dinner and ‘Ready Steady Cook’, to name but a few! Meanwhile the Upper College in Hazelwell thrived on the sporting fields with multiple successes. Starting in the Autumn Term on the rackets court, there was an all Hazelwell final: Josh Dell (L6) and Jamie Jamieson-Black (U6) pipped Jonothan Jamieson-Black (5th) and George Key (U6) 2‑0. Moving into the Spring Term, after some very convincing victories in the earlier rounds, we comfortably won the squash with a 5‑1 victory over Southwood. The Summer Term saw much success. Starting with the House golf, the team of Alexander Braithwaite-Exley (U6) with the Hickman brothers Max (L6) and Harry (U6) secured the winning scores. In the House triathlon, the senior team of Henry Fong (5th), Oliver Severn (U6) and Harry Hickman won by a margin of 25 seconds over Boyne House. A few days later Henry had further success in the swimming pool, leading Hazelwell to victory and achieving a personal achievement of a new school record in the process. The final House competition of the year was Sports Day, which is always a good occasion for College and particularly for Hazelwell in 2015 with Alex Brathwaite-Exley winning the senior Victor Ludorum. That summed up a

good sporting year for Hazelwell, which showed success across many different College sports. Hazelwell was also involved in many inter-House competitions both sporting and academic. Teams were involved in the House Quiz and the Model United Nations (MUN). For the MUN, Hazelwell were tasked with the difficult role of representing South Africa during an outbreak of Ebola launched by fundamentalists; we had to argue our case to keep the borders open and try to find a peaceful solution to the problem. In the end Hazelwell were announced the winners of the event, beating off tough competition from other Houses. Members from every year contributed towards our victory. We did not come out so well during the House Quiz but everyone involved enjoyed themselves a great deal and it was an entertaining night. As a House we now have more people than ever getting 3.5 or over in their cards, adding even more to the pizza bill for the 3.5 party. The Fourth Form had an especially fantastic few terms coming 3rd in the junior House Shield for their year. Hazelwell would like to thank Mr Richardson and Mr Kelway for their wonderful work as Resident Tutors.

Max Pemberton (3rd) reflects on his first year at College

When I first entered through the doors of Hazelwell, I admit that I was feeling quite timid and intimidated, as I had never boarded before. However, the warm welcome by the Housemaster and other housemates immediately made me feel welcome and a true ‘Greenite’. During the first week I got to know my way around the House, and knew that my upcoming year in Hazelwell would be one to remember. With a traditional and friendly spirit, the first term went by without a single problem in the House. That was largely thanks to our fantastic Matrons, Mrs Tracey Hopson and Mrs Helen Bloxham (wonderful smoothie bar!), who warmly looked after us from day one. During the second term, I realized, quite happily, that Hazelwell was going to be my home for the next five years of my life, and that my companions would grow even closer throughout that time. With support from the upper years, I was able to complete revision notes and have an understanding of uncertain academic areas. Finally,

Speech Day prizes Fourth Form Attainment: Patrick Christopher

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as the last term approached, I appreciated that everybody was becoming more anxious and fatigued as exams drew near. But, with the Hazelwell morale, we all co-operated to make what would have been a tough three weeks a joyful and respectful experience.

Lower Sixth Subject prizes: Ben Parker ‑ Business Studies Neil Hacker ‑ Ronald Guthrie Bedford Economics Upper Sixth (named prizes): Sir Frederick Page Fellowship of Engineering ‑ Freddie Baker Sixth Form Endeavour: Revie Wood (L6) Cheltonian Endowment Trust Prizes: Alexander Braithwaite-Exley (U6) ‑ Design (Resistant Materials) Alex Chiu (U6) ‑ Economics John Lam (U6) ‑ Psychology

Leconfield

House Editor: Oliver Palmer (L6)

Autumn Term saw the new Third Form introduced into the House and the campaign for the rugby House Pots’ title begin for both the juniors and seniors. The juniors, led by Ollie Ruthven (4th), unfortunately lost their first-round match against Christowe but they did win against Newick House and, although spirits were lowered, the squad pushed on to win the Plate final. The seniors, having reached the final the previous year, started their pursuit of the rugby title in the semis. They faced a strong Hazelwell side but, despite that, the team put in a workmanlike performance which saw Matthew Ward (L6) get himself two tries, thereby showing his importance to the team as Leconfield moved on to the final which lived up to everyone’s expectations. It was a tough match; Leconfield opened the scoring House Football XV, 1889 ‘It was decided by the Playground Committee that a goal should count 3 points and a try one point, touchdowns not being reckoned. In the case of a draw, the match should be continued beyond the fixed time (1 hour & 10 minutes), each side playing for 10 minutes each way. Well, in the 2nd round, at the call of time, Leconfield had drawn with Christowe (2 tries each). So they played on 10 minutes each way. It was still a draw, & the game was then abandoned, & it was decided that they should play on the next day 10 minutes each way, and if it was still a draw another 10 minutes each way. So they played & after the first 20 minutes, the game was still a draw, neither side having added to their previous score. However, towards the end of the second 20 minutes Leconfield scored another try & thus won a very prolonged match.’ [Newick House Games Records, 1871‑1906]

The Cheltonian 2014-2015

through Harry James (L6) with a great solo try but, as the saying goes, you are most vulnerable when you have scored – and that proved to be true as Newick scored a try fairly quickly afterwards and the teams went into the break 7‑5. When the action resumed Newick grew in confidence and eventually, after a penalty kick, they scored their second try of the afternoon. It did not dampen our spirits as we tried to claw our way back into the match but, despite our best efforts, we were unable to change the result. Regardless of the loss, both the team and its supporters never let their heads drop, which pays tribute to the House spirit and determination that Leconfield has. Another event in the Autumn Term was the House singing which, despite our best efforts, we were unable to win. However, our song did highlight the musical talents of the House – especially those of Rafal Dovgialo (3rd) on the saxophone, who bravely accompanied the House. At the end of the term there was the annual House Dinner where the House comes together as one to congratulate those who have achieved great things during their time at College. It is also a time to thank those who support us in the House, such as Mr and Mrs Reid, the matrons and tutors, for all they do to make Leconfield the House that it is. The Spring Term saw the beginning of mocks for the three older years and the atmosphere became more focused on exams, as proven in a somewhat unsuccessful hockey House Pots. Mention must go to Nikita Lazarev (U6) who managed to become top scorer for the House even though the results did not go in our favour. However, a small amount of retribution was given as the team beat Newick House 3‑1. Despite the senior House Pots’ result, the juniors were not affected and showed the rest of the House that Leconfield’s hockey is in safe hands as they won their competition. Away from the sports field the Leconfield quiz team deserves some credit as they managed to come 2nd in the annual House Quiz as a result of a tie-break with Newick – a theme which seemed to translate from the other House Pots. In the Summer Term, with exams on the very near horizon, the House became a lot quieter. Unusually, the tennis and golf House Pots played very early in the term. The senior tennis team initially had a convincing win against Newick with all three pairs winning their matches. They

then faced Christowe and, despite the 1st pair of Clarence Koo and Ethan Dowling-Membrado (both L6) securing a great win against Christowe’s 1st pair, Leconfield was unable to obtain the House tennis title. The golf House Pots saw Xavier Houben (U6) and Intouch Ruckpanich (5th) lead the team. Both had represented the school’s golf team during their College careers but, despite their presence, it was not enough to see Leconfield claim the golf House Pots’ title and we finished a proud 3rd. The result could be down to the absence of Harrison Ottley-Wood (4th) who showed his prowess in golf by winning not only the county title but also the south-west title. One thing is sure, Leconfield golf is in very capable hands. Approaching half term the school held its Sports Day. It was great to see pupils from the House participating in an event even if it was not their first choice. A special mention must go to Jack Ward (3rd) who won all his events but was just pipped to the Victor Ludorum trophy. House Cricket brought about a few surprises as some of the House were unavailable to play because of exams. However, a strong performance from those called up at the last minute and also Ben Frisby (5th) helped overcome Southwood. The team followed that by another win, with a strong performance from Matthew Ward (L6). The team then went on to win the competition. A mention must go to Fabian Chess (L6) who helped drive the team with an inspiring performance in the final. Overall the year was solid as it saw the House cement its position in the rugby House Pots and move forward in the academic field and in both golf and cricket.

Oliver Palmer (L6)

A word from the Third Form

Leconfield Third Form has been incredible fun. The House is great and is filled with nice people. Boarding has been easy to adapt to and I see it as a home away from home. Strong relationships are formed with people and you can never be found lonely. There are a lot of fun activities which keep us entertained and I could not ask for a better House.

Diben Dodo (3rd)

Leconfield felt like a home from the first day. I can confidently say that the House has had a huge impact on me and my peers, and being selected as Head of House is a huge privilege. It is a truly honourable role, and I hope to spark positive change throughout the House in order to enhance even further the ‘home from home’ feeling Leconfield is proud to provide.

As always, we were a formidable force in the rugby House Pots and, having come second yet again to Newick House, I am confident that 2015‑2016 will be our year and we will be able to steal back the title. Alongside that, I hope that all our House teams prosper and that we lift Leconfield to the top, where it deserves to stand.

Upper Sixth (named prizes): Ronald Marsden Classics ‑ Alexander Hall Saville Classics ‑ Xavier Houben Allen Divinity ‑ Thomas Dowley

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A statement from Ethan Dowling-Membrado, Head of Leconfield (elect)

Cheltonian Endowment Trust Prizes: Thomas Dowley (U6) ‑ Mathematics Christian Johnston (U6) ‑ Science Headmaster’s Award for Outstanding Commitment: Oliver Cookson (U6) Hannam Clark Reading Prize: Jack McClure (4th) John Bowes Cup (All-round contribution): Alexander Hall (U6) Millennium Trophy: Tom Dowley (U6)

With Mr Reid, the House Prefect body and, of course, the unforgettable matrons, I hope to have a successful and enjoyable year, not only for the Upper Sixth, but also for all years in Leconfield.

Speech Day prizes Fourth Form Endeavour: Oliver Ruthven Fifth Form Endeavour: Bogdan Shulzhenko Lower Sixth Subject prizes: Clarence Koo ‑ Sports Science

Lord Lee Towards the end of 1939, for reasons of health and after serving for 22 years, Viscount Lee of Fareham resigned as President of College Council. He had entered Leconfield as a Classical Scholar in 1880, was President of the Cheltonian Society 1908‑1909 and elected a Life Member of Council in 1911. Away from College he had a most distinguished military, then political career, and gave Chequers to the nation in 1921. In recognition of his service to College, the area between Old Junior, Little Classical and the Centenary Block has been named Lee Close. [The Cheltonian, 1939, pp369‑70; The Cheltonian, 1940, pp 9, 66]

Newick House

House editors: Dmitrii Usynin (L6), Harry Ferris (L6)

It is difficult to imagine a more constrained platform than two sides of A4 from which to broadcast the triumphs and successes of College’s best and most noble institution: Newick House. 2014‑2015 was another block-buster year for the men in cornflower blue and, with the Llewellyn era drawing to a sad but fruitful end, the House continues to prosper and thrive. In September 2014 that sense of progress and prosperity was reinvigorated with the arrival of a new Third Form. A mixed and talented bunch, they can boast amongst their members Gloucester Academy rugby players in Angus Thomson and Alexander Sharam, Head Chorister in Henry Foster, county cricketer in Yusuf-Ali Perwaz and West Bromwich Albion Academy footballers in Max Williams and Charlie Carpenter. There were also 12 new Muglistonites able to quickly settle in and throw themselves vigorously into College life whilst, of course, developing an intrinsic House loyalty. Highlights of the yearlings’ terms include Henry Foster’s participation in Chapel Choir for difficult pieces such as Bach’s St John Passion, Oliver Baker’s performance in the Cheltenham T20 cricket blast and Angus Thomson’s joint selection with Alex Sharam for the NatWest finals rugby team.

Several books have quoted (or misquoted) the case of 50 out of 51 Newick House boys serving in the First World War. The topic was first mentioned in the January and February 1915 edition of The Cheltonian, where it refers to the recently published list of Old Cheltonians killed, wounded or missing, and the numbers who had enlisted. ‘As an instance of how general the response has been we take the case of the 51 boys who were at Newick House in September, 1910. They have all been traced. The youngest is just old enough to serve, and is up for Sandhurst. Of the other 50, 49 are now serving with the forces or have died while serving.’ In fact, one, who had left in 1912 and joined the Army, died of appendicitis in February 1914. The remaining 50 all served, and ten, including the Head of House, were killed. [The Cheltonian, 1915, p.2]

The Cheltonian 2014-2015

This year Newick’s sport performance has been more successful than ever before. Led by Patch Main (U6), our House Pots rugby team had a tremendous victory in a tough final against our rivals Leconfield. The final score was 15‑7. Another cup in the House collection was won by our badminton squad, captained by Tiger Chan (5th). The junior athletics team came top on Sports Day, held in the Prince of Wales Stadium. The team was captained by Matthew Burke (4th) and achieved some great results in both running and field events, with Angus Thomson (3rd) winning the Victor Ludorum trophy. Four Newick boys were selected to represent the top teams (1st IV and 1st VIII) in the prestigious National Schools Regatta, where they managed to qualify for the 1st VIII cup for the first time in three years. Some more news on the rowing front: Daniel Sham (L6) was selected for national trials in Hong Kong, where we all wish him much success. Other mentions go to our junior swimming squad, captained by Oliver Ferris (4th), and our junior water polo team, led by Jim Lewin (4th), who won their respective competitions; and finally, Jonjo O’Neill (L6) had considerable success in horse-racing; he was the leading jockey in his age group, and came 3rd in the national finals. Speaking of horses, Newick’s fourth annual Race Night was an equestrian occasion that would prove to put Ascot and the Derby to shame. The evening brought with it the usual stampede of tweed, ill-advised racing tips, and fantastically overpriced auction cakes kindly prepared by House mothers and nobly but discreetly brought by their respective husbands. Of course, the event was in aid of a good cause and the £1,100 raised will go to Maggie’s, a brilliant local cancer charity. It has come to our attention as a House that there have been some dastardly rumours going around with regards to our academic ethos. If certain Southwood murmurings are to be believed, it would appear that we are an institution which does not work hard, nor, heaven forbid, one which does not always put its academics first. However, in addition to the 2014 pleasing exam results, perhaps the highlight of Newick’s academic year in winning the House General Knowledge Quiz for the third time in four years will silence those critics. The efforts of the team, Nick Avery (3rd), Ollie Ferris (4th), Benjamin Wood (5th), Harry Ferris (L6), Ben Traas (U6) and Archie Charlton (U6) subsequently helped to make us the most successful House of all time in that event. However, responsibility for that esteemed record perhaps lies on one man’s shoulders, and it is therefore fitting that, from henceforth, all victors of the competition will be presented with the newly-inaugurated Archie Charlton Cup. Aside from the academic success of recent times, Newick has also been privy in the past few years to a cultural renaissance of professional musicianship and fine drama. The performing arts side of the House reached new and unprecedented heights with boys participating in every major College production and concert. Thomas Bond (L6) and Angus Sinclair-Maddocks (L6) having taken part in the commemorative production of Oh! What a Lovely War, took the Variety Show by storm, mesmerizing stunned audiences with a masterful wizardry that left even the most senior

members of College’s magic circle aghast with pure amazement. Jack Mitchell (4th) also graced the limelight on stage in the Lower College production of The Railway Children. On the musical front, Ben Ketley (U6) and Dan Lee (U6) shone through at the inaugural College ‘X Factor’ competition, gliding effortlessly through to the finals on a symphony of romantic guitar and seasoned vocals, whilst Newick’s army of classical musicians played the House down on many a great occasion. Harry Ferris is College’s only viola player who, along with Freddie Foster (5th), Luke Knudsen (5th), Fergus McNeil (5th) and Oliver Ferris (4th), plucked, strummed and blew through symphonic events such as the recital of Bach’s St John Passion and Beethoven’s Symphony No 9. It has long been said that behind every great man stands a great woman; that aphorism is also pertinent in the truth that behind every great House stands a great Housemaster. Mr Llewellyn has led Newick House with resilience, pride and revitalizing gusto, making the House the family it is today. The outstanding commitment he and Mrs Llewellyn have demonstrated over their five-year tenure has been hugely impressive and instrumental in ensuring that Newick retains its place as College’s premier boys’ House. Be it cheering us on at House Pots, supporting us in our drama and musical performances, or simply being there at the end of the day, his presence at the heart of the House has been felt by every Muglistonite entrusted to his care and has earnt him a thoroughly well-deserved cornflower tie. The House is forever in his debt and it is with both sadness and goodwill that we say a final goodbye and wish Fergus, Tamsyn, Tommy and Josh all the luck and success in their new life at St Andrew’s Prep School in Turi, Kenya. All in all the year was a resounding success for Newick House with a tremendous array of achievements spanning the length and breadth of College life. Special thanks must go to Mr Llewellyn, Miss Yiend, Miss Chetin and of course Matron (Mache) whose ‘firm but fair’ hand on the tiller has kept us all on the straight and narrow and helped Newick stride from strength to strength.

Speech Day prizes Fifth Form Endeavour: Jack Burns

Lower Sixth Subject prizes: Harry Ferris ‑ Rea English Literature Dmitrii Usynin ‑ Abbott Mathematics Sixth Form Endeavour: James Battishill (L6); Jacky Lei (U6) Cheltonian Endowment Trust Prizes: Daniel Lee (U6) ‑ History of Art Army Leadership Prize: Jack Grimwade (U6) Elmslie Drama Prize: Jack Mitchell (4th) Marcan Prize for Music: Harry Ferris (L6); Matthew Finan (L6) The Adams Prize: Third Form (for progress): Charlie Carpenter

HOUSES

Queen’s

House editor: Isabelle Winstanley (L6)

Pippy Kohler and Chloe Holliday (L6). Many thanks to all our performers and the parents who came to watch, it was an evening hugely enjoyed by all.

Antonia Stuckey (L6)

The Garden Olympiad

Every summer, Queen’s girls gather to enjoy our Garden Olympiad. A competition between the six ‘families’ within Queen’s, the Olympiad consists of a number of fun games ‑ and some can get quite messy! Apple bobbing, followed by finding the marshmallow in flour, proved hilarious – and egg throwing was definitely a highlight. The ‘water juggle’ ended a lovely afternoon: families had to race each other to fill buckets with water. The Olympiad was great fun for everyone, and thanks must go to Antonia and her team of House Prefects for such a well-organized event.

Ella Owens (4F)

House Triathlon

The Performance Evening The Queen’s performance evening proved to be yet another impressive display of talent. As always, we had a huge variety of acts on show, from a ‘dubsmash mash-up’ by the Fourth Form to a ukulele performance by Pippy Kohler (L6). We were also entertained by a High School Musical style performance by the Third Form, which was closely rivalled by the Upper Sixth, who certainly went out on a high with their impressive Pitch Perfect dance. The evening was brilliantly hosted by Darcey Edwards (U6) and Boo Bruce-Smith (U6), who announced their successors as Head of House Music and Drama:

The Cheltonian 2014-2015

The College Triathlon event also saw Queen’s enter junior and senior teams; three individuals swam, rowed and ran against the other Houses. The support from the Queen’s spectators was astounding; it was clear that the strong House spirit really encouraged those competing in the event. Overall, the junior team came in 3rd, while the senior team managed to beat Chandos to 1st place, thanks to Catch Brown (U6). Particular commendation should go to Amalie Dons (5th) for her rowing performance, as well as to Antonia Stuckey and Jana Bourhill (L6), who participated in the individual triathlon.

Jana Bourhill (L6)

Sports Day

Sports Day, the highlight of the Summer Term’s sporting calendar, brought Queen’s two superb victories – both the junior and senior cups. The sun shone and we had a wonderful day.

Special mention must go to Ella Owens (4th) and Charlotte Woodman (U6), who both won all three of their events and broke school records. College watched the 100-metre final with bated breath, whilst on the lighter side a three-legged race, a welly-wanging competition and a staff relay brought plenty of amusement. Overall, the day was fantastic for Queen’s, and enjoyed to the full by both supporters and participants.

Anne-Marie Bowring (L6)

House Pots

The Queen’s junior team were delighted to win the hockey House Pots (for the second year running)! It was a great chance to get everyone involved and representing the House. We played well as a team, and overall the event really showed that we can come together in supporting and encouraging one another. House netball was extremely successful for Queen’s as well; we won the senior A and B plus the junior A team matches. We faced some tough opposition but pulled through, thanks to some amazing shooting and defensive play. There were some strong individual performances – credit must go to Rheanna Hopkins (5th) for some excellent interceptions – but the skill and determination shown by all participants proved a winning combination. House swimming also saw Queen’s enter both a junior and senior team, and we were delighted that the seniors managed to secure 1st place. Special congratulations go to Ella who, just five minutes before the event, offered to replace someone and managed to win her backstroke race. We would like to thank everyone who came to support; it was lovely to see so many nonparticipants cheering us on.

Stephanie Symcox (4th), Emily Lowde (5th) and Anne-Marie Bowring (L6)

Over the course of the year, Queen’s girls proved themselves to be a talented bunch of individuals! We are all delighted that Sophie Caws (U6) received an offer from Oxford University and wish her the very best of luck. Georgina Gardner (U6) has been accepted to train as a prestigious Norland Nanny, and Jana Bourhill (L6) has been awarded an Army Scholarship. Beatrice Martin-Harrington (U6) and Amalie Dons (5th) also deserve special praise for their acquisition of rowing Colours, as does Zara Wynne (5th), who was awarded music Colours. Chloe Holliday (L6) raised money for the Little Princess Trust, and Izzi Winstanley won the Lower Sixth Leadership presentation, speaking about how the determination of her great-greatuncle inspired her. However, the massive victoria sponge cake baked by Annabel Merheim-Kealy (4th) for the 24 Hour Prefects’ Fair was perhaps the greatest individual achievement of the year!

as College Prefects for 2015‑2016. Special mention, however, goes to Pippy Kohler (L6), who was awarded the prestigious Upper Sixth Adams Prize for Progress. Although Speech Day gave rise to many congratulations, there were a few tears to be seen during the speeches. With new and exciting appointments invariably come farewells, and it was with great regret that we said goodbye to the Upper Sixth. They made a huge contribution to life in Queen’s, and will be sorely missed.

Isabelle Winstanley (L6)

HOUSES

Individual Achievements

Follow Queen’s on Twitter: @queenshousecc

Isabelle Winstanley (L6)

Speech Day

Queen’s enjoyed many successes during the course of Speech Day, not least winning the Upper College Academic Shield, the Lldarin Shield. Ellie Davies (3rd) won an attainment prize, and three Lower Sixth students won Subject prizes: Anne-Marie Bowring (Tanner Biology); Antonia Stuckey (Politics); and Philippa Kohler (TPE). Cheltonian Endowment Trust Prizes were awarded to Sunny Lu (U6) for Design (Textiles) and Sophie Caws (U6) for Modern Languages, and Boo Bruce-Smith and Bethan Morris (U6) won the Headmaster’s Award for Outstanding Commitment. Congratulations also go to Izzi Winstanley, Antonia Stuckey, and Anne-Marie Bowring, who were all appointed

Southwood

House Editor: Rhodri Hande (L6)

We congratulate Joel Stevens (U6) on winning the Victor Ludorum trophy for his success on Sports Day. Moreover, during the Spring Term, Southwood reigned victorious over the House shooting with Eoin Hughes (4th), Rupert Cook (U6), Thomas Maclaren (5th) and Tom Anderson (4th), claiming the title. Southwood’s swimming team, led by Isaac Gibbard (U6) who was also captain of College swimming, narrowly came 2nd in the House swimming competition, but it was a great performance by everyone on the team. Southwood also reaped the rewards of academic success, winning the Marsden Shield (Upper College Boys’ Academic Shield) for obtaining the most academic points of all the Houses. It was collected by William Donlan (U6) during Speech Day. Furthermore, our own James Wheeler won the Third Form Headmaster’s Project for his fantastically crafted film.

Southwood has been one of the leading Houses in both academics and sport for many years, and again it has not disappointed. Southwood being the only day boys’ House has represented College in countless ways and is as much part of College as any boarding house. September 2014 greeted us with a large Third Form who have adapted extremely well to life in both Southwood and College. Soon after joining College they proved their worth on the sports field. When joined by the Fourth Form, Southwood’s Lower College managed to win House rugby and reach the finals for House tennis. Both Upper and Lower College displayed their sporting talents by reaching the finals of House squash and, in a nail-biting Sports Day, narrowly coming 2nd by a single point.

The Cheltonian 2014-2015

Unluckily, Southwood came 2nd for the second year in a row in the whole school House singing competition, which was a disappointing loss for pupils and staff alike. Despite missing out on 1st place, we were all proud of the performance that we gave in Chapel. We will not forget the enthusiasm and encouragement of Charles Bond (U6) who led us to perform a medley of Radioactive and Pumped Up Kicks in an undeniably professional and well-rehearsed manner. The Variety Show was an outstanding success featuring Isaac Gibbard, who acted as presenter and singer; our own Head of House, Louis Taylor-Baggs (U6), who performed Fly Me to the Moon, and Rhodri Hande, winning the ‘X Factor’ competition. The Southwood and Westal play was a great performance with Eric Robinson (U6) acting one of the main roles. As you can see, Southwood has been blessed with a great variety of many-talented individuals which continue to raise the status and profile of the House and day pupils of College. As Head of House, Louis Taylor-Baggs, always a welcoming presence in the House, made an outstanding effort to make Southwood more of a community. The Prefects, Will Henty, Eoin Hughes, Harry Boyce, Isaac Gibbard and Peter Marchant, along with Louis, worked with Mr Coley and Southwood’s two matrons to keep the House

in order and to assist in day-to-day life. The next Head of House, Patrick Payne (L6), will surely act as a role model to all year groups, just as Louis did in 2014‑2015, and we are proud that Freddie Lyle (L6) is to be Deputy Head Boy in 2015‑2016. Our matrons, Mrs Clements-Yapp and Mrs Thomas continued to keep the Southwood pupils in order throughout the year. They are always friendly and available to talk and discuss College life, or offer a helping hand to any pupil in need. Southwood’s former matron, Mrs Cole, who left after the Autumn Term is sorely missed and we wish her all the best for the future. Southwood’s Housemaster, Mr Coley, has worked tirelessly to improve the House in as many ways as possible. Since he joined Southwood in 2012, the House has undergone many refurbishments which have served to enhance its homeliness. In addition, he has continued to support Southwood in House events and competitions and never fails to deliver praise when it is due.

Speech Day prizes

Third Form Endeavour: James Wheeler; Taliesin Kauffmann Fourth Form Attainment: Aiden Ali; Oliver Message Fifth Form Attainment: William Hardy Lower Sixth Subject prizes: Douglas Spencer ‑ German Patrick Payne ‑ Physics Sixth Form Endeavour: Peter Marchant (U6) Cheltonian Endowment Trust Prizes: Louis Taylor-Baggs (U6) ‑ Business Studies William Wong (U6) ‑ Geography Dagely-Morris Prize (Chapel Music): Charles Bond (U6) Marcan Prize for Music: Mathew Finan (U6)

HOUSES

Westal

House Editor: Ashley Yu (L6)

How would you describe the people in Westal? Bold. Friendly. Close-knit. The kind of people you would want to get locked in a room with. What will you miss most about the leaving Upper Sixth? The failed baking attempts every Friday night and the stories they tell. Mrs O’Bryan needs to get Mary Berry for a masterclass!

Westal Barn Dance

Now an annual tradition, the Westal Barn Dance was a night of square dancing, cowboy hats, and rowdy conversations. Held as a fund-raising activity for the Meningitis Research Foundation, the Barn Dance incorporated all year groups. It was a celebration of Westal’s unique dynamic, where neither age nor dancing ability is an obstacle in forming friendships.

Another fantastic year in Westal has come to an end. Here are a few highlights that we would like to share.

What do our current Jacksonites think? What is the best thing about Westal? The wide variety of people from across the world; but mostly the ensuite bathrooms and the new paddling pool. How did you settle in? Chatting over a cuppa over the island in the kitchen and nightly kitchen duty with the penguin families.

The Cheltonian 2014-2015

All the proceeds from the dance were channelled into researching the cure for meningitis in the wake of fallen friend – Abigail Kelly (3rd), who succumbed to the disease in late December 2014. We chose to support the Meningitis Research Foundation’s cause in memory of Abi to try and prevent such a tragedy from affecting another family. At the end of everything, Westal unites in joy and in mourning. On that cold night where the sound of country music, giggles, and the clinking of glasses echoed around College, it was more evident than ever.

Our Day Out

A theatrical collaboration between Westal and Southwood made its grand debut in February. The House play followed a group of deprived, illiterate children going on their first school trip and showed their ensuing antics. Mainly directed by our very own Aiym Kopbayeva (L6), the play plucked a tear or two out of the audience as we realized the meaning of being children and the necessity of education. Ankita Mediratta (5th) and Belle Channing (3rd) gave superb performances with a convincing Liverpudlian accent by the latter. Kristy Chan (L6) created the magnificent set and

all sounds and effects were handled perfectly by Georgina Oates (4th). After days of having paintstained hands, yelling at the crew for chatting, and painstakingly directing every move on stage, the play received a standing ovation on the first night. For some, the stage is a familiar home, especially for those who love drama. For others, it was a novel experience. Our Day Out was one of the best ways not only to reveal the myriad of artistic talent in House, but also to test out the girls’ courage for acting in front of an audience without needing to go on Broadway.

Sport

Westal, particularly Lower College, maintained their reputation as one of the most athletic year groups in College. In the House cross-country competition, Westal were placed 1st and 3rd thanks to Lower College and Upper College respectively. Gracie Wackett (4th) and Martha Elliot (4th) each won individual prizes. Meanwhile, on Sports Day, Gracie won by a landslide in the 1,500-metre race, while Emily Drysdale (3rd) got 1st place in javelin. Jess Powell (L6) also won champion for shot put, despite it being her first time participating. Once all the scores were totalled, our Lower College pupils commendably gained 2nd place. Our girls not only achieved success in College, but also across the county. Athletes Liv Mitchell (3rd) played for the regional netball team and India Deakin (3rd) played for the county tennis team. Millie Broom (5th) was also up for selection into the national team. In the meantime, Flo Needham (3rd), Liv and Tara Wasdell (5th) represented Cheltenham College nationally – a huge achievement. Special congratulations to Jemma Robson (5th), Millie Broom and Flo Channing (5th) for each being awarded a Cheltenham College Sixth Form Sport Scholarship. Their steadfast commitments to first team hockey and netball have paid off in the past few years.

Academically, Westal is no underdog. At the end of the day, we had the most prize winners for the annual Speech Day. Westal also gained the Robertson Shield for the best Lower College academic performance throughout the entire year. Congratulations go to the following prize winners:

Third Form Attainment: Florence Needham Third Form Endeavour: Tilly Fletcher

Lower Sixth Subject prizes: Kristy Chan ‑ Art Ashley Yu ‑ Psychology Sixth Form Endeavour: Tiffany Too (U6) Cheltonian Endowment Trust Prizes: Christine Cheng (U6) ‑ Music Lauren Bennett (U6) ‑ Sports Science Lower College Hannam Clark Orchestra Prize: Theresa Grafin Pachta (5th)

Fourth Form Attainment: Martha Elliott; Georgina Oates

Upper College Hannam Clark Orchestra Prize: Amy Hinc (U6)

Fourth Form Endeavour: Libby Barnes; Birdie Cheng; Tusmo Ismail

Marcan Prize for Music: Taya Sellers (L6)

Fifth Form Endeavour: Theresa Grafin Pachta; Jasmine Ng

The Adams Prize: Third Form (for progress): Varvara Konyaeva

HOUSES

Speech Day Prizes

The Cheltonian 2014-2015

Daniel Ali, Prefect Chair (elect) of Sport, cheers College on

Although rugby was first played at College in 1844, the earliest surviving record of a rugby match is that for Classical v. Modern in 1852, believed to be the oldest regular annual rugby match played. Originally there was no such thing as ‘foreign’ matches. Instead, many ideas were used to create matches: A‑K v. L‑Z, Chapel pulpit side v. lectern side, and countless other combinations. Inter-House matches began in 1866, the first Challenge Cup being won by Boyne House; in 1873 a 2nd XX House Challenge Cup was started and in 1893 the House 3rd XVs started. (Twenty a side was reduced to 15 a side in 1876.)

For nearly two centuries, Cheltenham College has enjoyed an exceptional sporting history. Perhaps the most significant event in the school’s sporting story was when Cheltenham participated in the first ever inter-school rugby match that Rugby School played – in 1896. This fixture still remains to this day and is subsequently one of the most historic schoolboy fixtures in the country. Over the generations, this has inspired many pupils to excel in sport here at College and has been proven during 2014-2015 through a number of individual and team successes. To name but a few: the girls’ 1st IV crew did exceptionally well to win their class at the Bedford Regatta, and the rugby sevens team reached the semi-finals of the Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens tournament, which was a great achievement. To add to that, there were many individual successes: Hattie Bevan (U6, A) represented England Hockey in the annual home nations games, where her team finished 3rd; Evie Webb (3rd, Ch) recently made her cricketing debut for the Gloucestershire

U15 team and Morgan Williams (U6, H) made his debut for Welsh Rowing, whilst competing in the Home International Regatta just before the start of the year. Those are all outstanding achievements that act as a source of inspiration for the entire school. To every pupil here at College, sport is a significant part of everyday life. Consequently, this has created a sense of being extremely proud of our sporting heritage. As the new Chair of Sport, I too am extremely proud of the achievements of College sport, but I am also aware of aspects that could be developed further to enhance the sporting experience pupils receive during their College careers. For example, to name two of my goals, I will strive for parity between girls and boys sport in terms of achieving a quality sporting experience, and to ensure that the excellent links being made with clubs and associations can benefit pupils of all abilities. I am extremely optimistic and excited about the future of sport at Cheltenham College, and I look forward to helping pupils reach their sporting potential.

Cheltenham always adopted the system of scoring by points, and was the only place that did so for many years, until the somewhat despised plan was universally adopted by those playing under Rugby Union Rules. At every other place, a goal used to count more than any number of tries.

went to Rugby and played Rugby School, thus becoming the first school that they played against. We won that first match 13‑5 (2 goals, 1 try‑1 goal) and, in December 1896, the return match, at home, 3‑0 (1 try‑0). The match became an annual fixture and it was not until 1899 that Rugby beat us, 9‑0 (3 tries‑0). Of the first 100 matches, Rugby won 51 of them and five were drawn. On Saturday 21 September 1996, the Rugby match centenary was marked by playing the 101st match on College Field. Rugby won on the last kick of the match, 20‑19.

College’s first match against another school was in 1892 – against Wellington College during their temporary migration to Malvern; we won 29‑0 (4 goals, 3 tries‑0). We then played Sherborne School in 1893, winning 11‑0 (1 goal, 2 tries‑0) and Haileybury in 1894, winning 14‑0 (1 goal, 3 tries‑0). It was not until 22 February 1896 that we

Athletics

athletes were for the upcoming season. There were some fantastic individual performances, and overall we came a pleasing 3rd.

The Athletics squad had a very successful season, with over 70 pupils taking part in various fixtures. In a short term, there were ten competitive events against some very strong opposition sides.

Team highlights of the remainder of the season were the performances at the Millfield Super8 competition against tough opposition, and the performances at the Marlborough events. With a relatively small squad, we punched above our weight in all competitions, and our performances are progressing positively each season.

For the first time ever, we were able to host our own fixture. Competing against St Edward’s School, Oxford, Stowe School, The Cheltenham Ladies’ College, Malvern College and Rendcomb College, it was a great success. As the first fixture of the season it was a good opportunity to gauge how prepared our

For the first time in recent memory we were able to take part in the Gloucestershire Schools Athletics Association Year 9 Championships, and we were also able to take part in both the ESAA (English Schools Athletics Association) Track and Field Cup and the prestigious Achilles School Relays, which gave the Third and Fourth

SPORT

[Records of Cheltenham College Matches against Public Schools, 1856‑1900, pp 98‑104] Form a great opportunity to participate in highly competitive events. Our junior boys’ relay team in particular, narrowly missed out on the 4x100m final at the Achilles Relays, which is a fantastic achievement, and we fared very well as a team at the ESAA Track and Field Cup, sadly missing out on further progression in the competition. Individually, there were some outstanding performances, notably Dan Beachus’ (L6, BH) time of 10.9 seconds in the 100m, and Angus Thomson’s (3rd, NH) 11.3 seconds in the 100m on Sports Day. Both showed talent and application in equal measure, and have bright futures ahead of them. In the national competition, thirteen athletes made it through to the county championships, with four progressing through to the regional rounds in Exeter. Alexander

Braithwaite-Exley (U6, H), Jack Ward (3rd, L), Patrick Christopher (4th, H) and Angus Thomson were all chosen to represent the county, which is credit to their talent and determination. Leading from the front in competitions, Charlotte Woodman (U6, Q) captained the girls’ squad brilliantly. Oliver Thorley (U6, BH) was also superb as boys’ captain, leading squad warm-ups even though, sadly, he was unable to compete himself. Sports Day was a huge success, and there were a number of new records set on the day. Angus set a new junior boys’ 100m and 200m record, Paddy Christopher a new junior boys’ 300m record, and Hazelwell’s junior boys’ relay team set a new 4x100m record. There was a fantastic atmosphere around the stadium, with great House spirit and athleticism. We were also helped by some much welcome sunshine on the day! The season ended with strawberries, cream and scones in Chapel Quad to celebrate a season that was successful in so many ways. Special thanks must go to the brilliant staff team for all of their efforts. A special mention also to Issy Tudsbery who, at the end of her time at College, had completed five excellent years as part of the Athletics team. Moving forward we are excited to be adding a full cross-country fixture list into the calendar, which should provide a fantastic opportunity for our budding runners. Furthermore, we hope to include more mid-week fixtures to allow a greater number of athletes to participate throughout the season. Huge thanks to all of the athletes and staff who gave so much during the year, in particular to those who have left, and we all look forward to an exciting season ahead in the Olympic year of 2016. Half colours awarded to Cameron Logan (U6, BH); Isabel Tudsbery (U6, Ch); Anne-Marie Bowring (L6, Q); Alexander Braithwaite-Exley; Dan Beachus, Arabella Knowles (L6, A) and Charlotte Woodman.

Mr Henry Davies ‘The Sports were notable for the presence on the grand stand of a large number of wounded soldiers and some Belgians. It was a pleasure to see how much they enjoyed themselves.’ [The Cheltonian, 1915, p. 122]

The Cheltonian 2014-2015

Badminton It was the Club’s most successful year for many years. First, our results were outstanding. The Club is in an enviable position of having a young side of exceptionally talented players. The core of our 1st team, Andrew Chan (5th, Xt), Tiger Chan (5th, NH), Carman Ma (L6, Ch), Nicholas Siu (4th, Xt) and Tree Nimsakul (U6, L), led us to victory over all our usual competitors. Carman, who arrived from Hong Kong in September 2014, delighted us when she became the Gloucestershire Ladies’ Champion. The greatest moment had to be when we conquered our arch-rivals, Abingdon School, who have beaten us for 11 years on the trot, and who finally capitulated both at home and away. It was a sweet experience for all, and it came from hard work. We awarded the Bygrave Trophy, for the most improved player of the year, to Tiger Chan, who headed off the strong challenges of Jasper Leung (U6, Xt) and Ken Leung (4th, NH). Now College has a challenge to find opposition that can give those players a good match. Mr Sol Griffiths did well to set up a thrilling match with

the University of Gloucestershire. Alas, it did not go our way, but it suggested that we can beat a university side when we are at full strength. The season was also a lot of fun. House Pots was a highly enjoyable occasion. Tiger’s excellent leadership of the Newick House team was also heart-warming; against the odds, he masterminded a victory against a formidable Christowe. With Carman leading Chandos, the girls’ winner was something of a foregone conclusion, but the games provided good entertainment nevertheless. Overall, John Lam (U6, H), as captain of the Club, led admirably and we are grateful for all he has done. Finally, we said goodbye to Sunny Lu (U6, Q), who has been a loyal member of our Club for four years, and who was the captain of the girls’ team for two years. My thanks to all our players and Mr Griffiths for his excellent coaching. Onwards and upwards! Full Colours awarded to Carman Ma (L6, Ch); Tree Nimsakul (U6, L); Sunny Lu (U6, Q); John Lam (U6, H) Half Colours awarded to Gordon Lam (U6, L); Jasper Leung (U6, Xt) It was a happy year; both I and Sol Griffiths, our coach, enjoyed it enormously.

Dr Luke Davidson

1st XI

Record: played 18; won 11; lost 6; abandoned 1

Squad: James Palmer (5th, BH), Matthew Ward (L6, L), Josh Dell (L6, H)*, Jamie Jamieson-Black (captain, U6, H)*, Jonothan Jamieson-Black (5th, H), Edward Cutler (L6, S), George Key (U6, H)*+, Max Dymoke (5th, NH), Paddy Milton (U6, Xt), Gianluca Mech (L6, Xt), Joe Warner (L6, S), Benedict Frisby (5th, L) * denotes Full Colours; + denotes keeper

Preparation for the 2015 season started in the darker months of the Autumn Term and moved in to the colder months of the Spring Term. Every Sunday saw a well-attended nets session in The Barn, as the squad prepared for an intensive summer of cricket and the further challenges of managing the increased academic pressures of the exam season. As the cricket term approached, Mr Mark Briers professed that he did not think

that any XI in the past had spent such a period of time hitting balls, and bowlers being put through their respective paces. It certainly was the time spent in preparation that allowed a number of the XI, namely Gianluca, Edward and Joe to stake strong claims for starting spots in the first competitive match – against Radley College in April. An intensive indoor programme was followed by what has now become an established and highly useful pre-season series of games against St Peter’s School, York, the University of Bristol, the University of Exeter and the Gloucestershire U17 side. Wellington College were also added to the warm-up games. It was a highly productive and intensive series of games in which the XI were able to put all their hard winter work into effect. From the outset Jamie led well and certainly managed the side well in the field with his placement of his field and rotation of bowlers. Across the board the runs were scored by a variety of players and the bowling unit was well led by the trio of seamers in Joe, Ben and Edward, competently supported by the spin department of Jono and Jamie, alongside Gianluca’s leg spin. Radley is a tough start to the season, both as a block and for the XI, and it was also the opening game of the John Harvey Cup. George and James were dismissed cheaply and, whilst Josh and the skipper gave us some stability towards lunch, Jamie (41) fell to an unnecessary run-out in the over before lunch which allowed Radley to nip Jono out the ball before lunch. With Josh (60) straight after lunch and at 146‑7, the game looked to have gone Radley’s way. But as was the case for much of the season, the XI rallied and in true cricketing terms the tail

100 years ago There had been discussion with the Principal on the subject of Swedish Drill or gymnastics, old style. ‘After prolonged discussion and some opposition the proposal that Swedish drill take the place of gymn’ old style from this time forth was carried’ at a meeting on 7 February 1915. Swedish Drill, or Free Standing Educational Gymnastics, was directed more towards improving general health than muscular development. Most of the exercises were to correct the effects of bad posture. Exercises were done to commands, helping pupils to develop important mental qualities as they learned the power of quick and correct responses to commands. It involved concentration and quickness of thought, alertness of action, and effort of will.

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Cricket

[Playground Committee Book, 1906-1939, p158; MH Spalding and LL Collett: The Swedish Drill Teacher, 1910] wagged. Breezy innings from Gianluca (32), Edward (33) and Paddy (22) saw College post a total of 240‑7. A shaky batting display was then a distant memory as the bowlers set about rolling the opposition for 109, a 131-run victory. The Old Cheltonians was a competitive game and Josh (91) looked in decent nick until he was outsmarted by the guile of Archie Brooksbank’s (1999‑2004, L) occasional ‘off-spin’. Runs flowed freely and the XI posted 252‑6. An eventual win for the XI by 24 runs suggests that it was a close game but the OCs were gifted 33 in Although the Athletic Sports started in October 1853, the first surviving details are for 1861 when one of the events was for the cricketers. ‘Members of the XI or XXII run with pads on and bat in hand 100 yards. The Prizes for it were given by James Lillywhite who was for twenty-five years our Cricket professional. … No other School professional can say that he coached as a boy … a father and … a son for the XI of the same school.’ William Tonge (1853‑1856, NH) in the 1st XI in 1856, and his son William (1875‑1880, NH) was in the 1st XI in 1878, 1879 and 1880; the son was also in the Gym VIII and was Racquets champion those three years. [History of the Cheltenham College Athletics Sports, 1882; edited by William Vassall (1871‑1876, Beaufort; Housemaster of Christowe, 1882‑1883)]

extras and that was an issue that was to become a problem over the course of the season. Abingdon School saw a 3‑wicket win for the XI. Chasing a paltry 203 at home and with a decent top six should have been more than manageable but at 110‑7 the XI were in dire straits. Again it was a moment for Matthew (50) Edward (46*) and the everdependable Paddy (21*) to see the side home. What was now becoming apparent was that they were a side that was developing a knack of winning in adversity and becoming less reliant on the runs that the senior batsmen should have been scoring. That was certainly the case in the game against Clifton College that saw the XI win by one run in what was a nail-biting encounter against a decent side. One of the most exciting individual efforts in recent memory at College was the innings by Josh against Sherborne. Sherborne, bowling first, did a tremendous job in getting through 36 overs before lunch and the XI were 120‑2. What then happened after lunch in a mere 14 overs was simply brutal, destructive, and a display of rare talent. Josh (holder of the College record of the highest individual score of 201*) set about quite an onslaught. He got to his 100 at almost a run a ball. He then moved through the gears, hitting the ball very hard and predominantly through his favoured leg side, registered his 150 in 127 minutes and finished unbeaten on 168*. He went from 100 to 168 in 28 balls (his innings including six sixes and seventeen fours), and College finished on 261‑4. Sherborne put up a spirited display with the bat but College won by 53 runs. Speech Day saw College end the first half of term undefeated. In a bizarre day of cricket, having bowled a strong Gloucestershire Gipsies side out for a mere 85 (the highlight of which was the wicket of Mr Mark Briers, sharply stumped on his first ball, by George off a leg side wide), the XI struggled to chase down the small total, but eventually won by three wickets. With the highs of the first half of term behind them, the XI were then to learn a very salient lesson against Bradfield College in the first game back. Bradfield elected to bat and at 64‑4 in the 22nd over, College should have closed out the game. Instead, the team radar went awry and in a period just before and after lunch, when the game should

have been dead and buried, the XI conceded 45 extras allowing Bradfield to scramble to 241‑9. That was the opportunity for the batters to perform and make amends for the poor bowling display. The top three could not have done more, and indeed Matthew (31), James (93) and Josh (88) could not have put the XI in to a better position. At 220‑2, with 6 overs to go and a mere 21 runs for victory, how could the XI possibly fail? Sport, cricket and schoolboys (no matter how talented) is a heady mix and often hugely entertaining; on that occasion the XI plumbed the depths. To lose by one run and to suffer such a batting collapse was a significant lesson for any cricket lover. As the adage goes, ‘it only takes one ball’; how true that was, that afternoon. The St Edward’s School, Oxford, game was to be a further challenge for the XI and, following a wash-out against Marlborough College, and only being capable of 45 overs against St Edward’s, we were left with only one John Harvey game – against Winchester College. Cricket week began with a depleted XI fielding three newcomers and, thanks to a spirited 79 from the younger Jamieson-Black, the XI crept up to 207. On paper the Free Foresters had a strong batting line-up, but an exemplary reaction catch from the skipper, Joe (3‑30) and Jono (4-33), the XI managed to turn out eventual winners by 39 runs. It was a welcome return to winning ways. The MCC were sent to College with strict instructions from the MCC committee to win, quite an accolade, and the XI had their work cut out to defend a consecutive run of victories stretching back 12 years. The MCC batted first and top knocks from Mr Guy Mitchell (2006‑2011, L) (83) – playing with the freedom of a man who had just finished his finals, and Mr Ben Ringrose (2008‑2013, L) 79 off 74 balls, allowed the MCC to post an imposing 315 off their 50 overs. The XI needed someone to take the innings by the scruff of the neck and ‘bat time’ but sadly wickets fell with regularity and the pressure was always on the boys. The moment of the match was the seventh wicket partnership of George (57 off 58 balls) and Paddy (44 off 17 balls). Batting with freedom, a great sense of style and fun, they very nearly manufactured an unlikely victory; sadly they fell 32 runs short. The XI enjoyed a strong victory against an Australian touring side and then the last phase of the cricket week saw the XI hit the road, heading to Winchester for their last John Harvey Cup game. It was a

low-scoring game. Although Josh scored another ton, the XI did not bowl consistently well enough to apply consistent pressure and, despite taking wickets, victory was sadly elusive. The final game of the season was the traditional two-day game at Haileybury which saw a dominant display from the XI and a fitting end to the season. Batting first, College scored 346‑5 with Josh (130) taking the opposition apart. Haileybury were then dismissed for 150, leaving the XI plenty of overs to set up the game; at 213‑4 they declared to bowl Haileybury out for 147 with Jono the pick of the bowlers with 5‑28. As ever it was a hugely enjoyable season and the XI performed exceptionally well in a short but hugely challenging term with exams, revision and hard cricket. My thanks must go to Mr Christian Brain for his excellent attention to detail in preparing wonderful wickets and grounds to play on across College; to Mark Briers for his ongoing commitment; and to the coaches of all of the cricket sides who give up an enormous amount of time ensuring that the Cricket Club remains a successful and highly regarded ‘block’ for other visiting schools.

Mr Richard Moore

2nd XI

Record: played 8; won 5; lost 2; abandoned 1 Squad: Ben Trass (captain, U6, NH), James Battishill (L6, NH), Monty Chapman (L6, BH), George Cook (L6, Xt), Max Hickman (L6, H), Barnaby Napier (L6, Xt), Humphrey Bodington (U6, BH), Ollie Cookson (U6, L), Hugh Gunn (U6, L), Alex Hall (U6, L), William Henty (U6, S), Christian Johnson (U6, L), George MacDuff (U6, NH), Patrick Main (U6, NH), Ludo Millar (U6, BH), Sam Outram (U6, Xt), Sean Wilson (U6, BH) The 2nd XI were thrown in at the deep end with a tough opening fixture against Radley College, only two days after the start of the Summer Term. Radley won the toss and elected to bat but our bowlers hit the ground running and restricted Radley to 122 for 8 at lunch, Ollie claiming the wickets of their top four batsmen. I am not quite sure what happened during the lunch break but Radley then proceeded to take advantage of some sloppy bowling and fielding to amass a total of 244 for 9 from their 50 overs; a century from their ninth batsman rubbing salt into our wounds. Having let the opposition back into the game we then faced a challenge with the bat but unfortunately we lost wickets at regular intervals and despite a spirited 43 from Monty we were bowled out for 197 after only 45 overs. A tough first game but a good lesson in not thinking a game is already won too early in the day. We then faced an extremely tough game against a University of Bristol XI, packed with players all keen to impress their coach for a regular 1st XI spot. It was a tough assignment but the bowlers worked hard to restrict the opposition to 226 for 4 from their 35 overs. We then gave chase; a spectacular innings of 88 from Will kept us in touch but he was running out of partners and overs and we were eventually bowled out for 201. Despite the first couple of losses the boys were in good spirits when we travelled to play Dean Close School’s 1st XI, feeling that we had learned from the previous two matches. A close match saw us win by 9 runs and that began a run of four excellent

The Cheltonian 2014-2015

Unfortunately the final two games against Marlborough College and St Edward’s School, Oxford, were rain affected but it was a very enjoyable season with a large number of players who had played two seasons of 2nd XI cricket. Colours were awarded to Ben, Will, Humphrey, Hugh and Ollie.

Mr Matt Coley

3rd XI

Record: played 5; won 3; lost 1; abandoned 1 Squad: Fabian Chess (L6, L), James Battishill (L6, NH), Sam Outram (vice-captain, U6, Xt), Patrick Payne (L6, S), Piers Norton (captain, L6, S), Harry Steel (L6, Xt), Guy Beynon (L6, Xt), Sean Wilson (U6, BH), George Cook (L6, Xt), Harry James (L6, L), Thomas Bond (L6, NH) Despite it being a very short term and only having four out of the seven fixtures go ahead, the 3rd XI had a very good season. Radley College were first and the boys did well to keep them down to 165 off their 35 overs; a great bowling effort by George, Patch and Sean. Sadly the batting was a struggle and the boys were dismissed for 60. The remaining fixtures saw an eight-wicket victory over Dean Close School, a one-wicket victory against Sherborne School and a sublime five-wicket victory over Bradfield College. There were some fine contributions with the bat by Fabian, Barnaby and Guy, while George and Sean accounted for the majority of runs with some delightful cameo spells from Guy,

Piers and Sam. Harry Steel was magnanimous behind the stumps all season and contributed well, opening the batting, while Harry James developed into a nice leg-spin bowler and was excellent in the field all season. The boys played with great spirit and developed well over the term. I hope to see many of them pushing the 2nd XI or 1st XI next season. I would like to thank them all for their dedication and hard work throughout the season.

Mr Thomas Richardson

4th XI

Record: played 3; won 2; lost 1 Squad: Freddie Baker (U6, H), Thomas Bond (L6, NH), Joe Borkowski (U6, H), Charlie Brooksbank (L6, L), Edward Brown (L6, S), Jack Burns (5th, NH), Archie Charlton (U6, NH), Oskar Elliott (5th, L), Alex Humphreys (U6, Xt), Ben Ketley (U6, NH), William Lait (5th, H), Daniel Lee (captain, U6, NH), Marmite Leng (5th, NH), Peter Marchant (U6, S), Merlin Miller (5th, L), Elliott Napier (5th, Xt), Oliver Thorley (U6, BH), Freddie Watson (U6, H) It was a short yet memorable season for the swashbuckling tiroes of the elite 4th XI. Early season nets hinted at promise; has ever a cricket ball been hit so far and so hard? The pedestrians along the A40 learned early in the season to watch the skies as they scuttled past the nets. Yet, such hard-hitting was not to be seen when the team met Radley College for their first fixture. Marmite was bowled first ball and Daniel was likewise bowled for 7; the innings was improbably held together by plucky Archie. He saw several comrades come and go and, at 69 for 7, the situation looked bleak. But cometh the hour, cometh Peter, who, with some sterling assistance of the lower order, helped the team to reach an almost respectable 124. But in Radley’s innings, wickets refused to fall and, despite Alex’s six overs of artful leg spin, the opposition overhauled our total in the 19th over. However, a first-match defeat did not shackle the team with a crisis of self-belief. Dean Close School came to Lower Reeves and were asked

‘A school cap has long been a need at Cheltenham, and we are glad to say that a cap has been designed for use in the playground – black with narrow red piping, to be worn by those who have got no House Colours.’ [The Cheltonian, 1890, p.128]

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performances with wins against Abingdon School, Sherborne School, Gloucestershire Gipsies Cricket Club and Bradfield College. Will was the pick of our batsmen throughout the season, striking the ball to all parts and racing to four 50s off very few balls. He was supported by some great knocks from Ben (67 and 66), Humphrey (75), Patrick (54) and Hugh (68), who all reached half centuries during the season. Ollie bowled very well with the new ball and our two-pronged spin attack of Hugh and Patrick put sides under pressure with very quick over rates and an accurate line and length.

to field. They then experienced a ferocious batting display, with Ben leading the assault and retiring on an unbeaten 50. The score rattled along quickly to 200 and then, perhaps as a sign of ‘victory disease’, the captain made the unprecedented decision to declare. Remember, that decision was taken in the 23rd over of a limited-overs match! At first, Dan’s decision looked safe; Dean Close slumped to 66 for 5. But then they rallied, and came within just 30 runs of reaching their target. Wickets were shared between Jack, Freddie, Thomas and Merlin. The result was a little too close perhaps, but it was what the team morale needed as they prepared to face their final opponent of the season – Sherborne School. It was a match that deserves to pass into College legend. Asked to bat first by Sherborne, the top order were all quickly back inside the pavilion. Freddie made an impression with the bat, scoring 29, but in the 20th over only a very disappointing 116 had been posted. What was worse, Sherborne gained a bonus three overs in which to score their runs. Only a miracle, it seemed, could save the 4th XI, and perhaps it was providential that the College Chaplain was with them! The 4th XI took the field with an extremely confident and vocally provocative attitude. An inspired bowling performance from Alex (4 for 14 in 5 overs) and a relentless outpouring of a self-supporting commentary were all it took for Sherborne to whither to 58 for 6. The atmosphere became tense as Sherborne saw their chances of reaching their total slowly disappear. When their last wicket fell at 110, the 4th XI rightly celebrated. Tense stuff, for sure, but the sort of match that lasts long in the memory.

Dr Adam Dunning

Colts A

Record: played 6; won 2; lost 3; cancelled 1 Squad: Max Dymoke (captain, 5th, NH), Benedict Frisby (5th, L), Frederick Foster (5th, NH), Jasper Windsor Clive (5th, H), Max Deakin (5th, H), Marmite Leng (5th, NH), Edward Johnston (5th, L), Jamie Thorley (5th, BH), Jack Burns (5th, NH), Sam Mendis (5th, Xt), William Lait (5th, H), Charles Holloway (5th, L), Hugo Bradshaw (5th, L), Finlay Milton (5th, Xt), William Clayton (5th, H) Radley College was the first game which is always a strong challenge but one the team accepted with confidence. Max batted through the innings to his 83, only to run out of balls and partners to fall 3 runs short of their target. Restricting Abingdon to 184-9 in 30 overs was a good achievement and allowed the batsmen to go out and play their games. Freddie impressed throughout the season with his fluency in batting and his ability to attack bowlers and accelerate the run rate. Unfortunately he was run out on 51 which initiated a collapse from a comfortable 123-4 with 8 overs to go, to being bowled out 20 runs short with still 3 overs to spare. Sherborne School were next, the first home match of the season, and the team responded to the previous disappointments and came out all guns blazing. A positive style of cricket emerged and a colossal score of 222-4 in 30 overs was posted, with Max batting beautifully to get to 82 – only to hole out when a well-deserved 100 was on the cards. William Lait also contributed 56 not out and Sherborne never looked like getting anywhere near the total, being bowled out for 160. The next set of bowlers to suffer the punishment of the Colts’ batsmen were Bradfield College. Freddie again posted a free-flowing 86 and Hugo finally showed his hitting capabilities with a quickfire 44 which contained nine boundaries. With runs on the board, the spinning attack of Fin, Charlie and Max ensured Bradfield never got going and were well beaten by 98 runs. The season saw a Colts’ Cricket Festival return as part of College’s Cricket Week. The boys had two T20 evening fixtures, losing to a very good Charlton

The Cheltonian 2014-2015

Kings Cricket Club U19 side, but bouncing back to beat Cheltenham Cricket Club’s U16 team in the last over. To round off the mini festival the team played a touring U18 Australian team, the Wanderers Cricket Club. Despite making a good account of themselves, they lost out to the more experienced team. Although there are more losses than wins, the statistics do not reflect the levels of commitment and improvement made by the group as a whole. It must be said that, in an important exam year, they impressed continually with their love of the game. There was not only a desire to perform on match day but also a desire to excel and enjoy the game through their training.

Mr Gwyn Williams

Junior Colts A

Record: played 16; won 11; lost 5

Squad: Jason Soames (captain, 4th, BH), Sam Cook (4th, NH), Barnaby Harris (4th, H), Oliver Hill (4th, L), Tom James (4th, L), Jack Mitchell (4th, NH), Thomas Stanton (4th, H), Benedict Sutton (4th, H), Daniel Ward (4th, NH), James Webb (4th, H), George Wells (4th, S), Edward Winstanley (4th, S), Theo Taylor (4th, Xt) Customarily at College, a typical Under 15 A side would be dominated by a star player around whom the game plan would revolve and on whom the hopes of the season would rest. The Junior Colts’ A team, however, was very much the opposite. Instead, it contained a group of strong, talented cricketers, who loved the game, worked hard, and who all contributed to a positive brand of cricket, and ultimately a very strong season.

The season’s statistics make good reading. They won all but one of their regular season matches, notching up impressive wins against Radley College, Dean Close School, Clifton College, Abingdon School, Bradfield College, Wycliffe and St Edward’s School, Oxford. They also played a series of county and district sides on Sundays, winning all but their game against the Gloucestershire Under 15 team. Perhaps the one disappointment came in the Lord’s Taverners national competition, where College normally features strongly, but where we came up against a very strong side from King’s College, Taunton. A glance at the team’s averages underlines the strength in depth of the team. Dan topped the batting list, with 353 runs at an average of 70.6, but others also made telling contributions, most notably Jason (303 at 43.3), Ollie (232 at 33.1) and George (109 at 36.3). Sam’s injury-hit season began well with a match-winning 51 not out, whilst Theo’s strike rate of 73.6 showed that he is capable of strong hitting, without yet putting a big score together. All of the batsmen looked to play positive cricket, vital in limitedovers games. If there were to be one criticism, it would be that none of the top six went on to make a century, something that they will need to improve upon over the next few seasons. The bowlers formed a similarly potent group. Seamers topped the wicket-taking charts, with the ebullient James being top wicket taker (18 wickets at an average of 12.5). He was followed by Jason (14 at 17.64) and Barnaby (13 at 22). The spinners (Jack and Theo) proved increasingly effective as the season went on: they and their captain began to understand their roles more and, with the right field, bowled with increasing assurance and purpose. Mention must also be made of Ed, Tom James and Ben, who bowled with accuracy and intent, picking up 7 wickets apiece, and who gave the captain important control at vital stages of the game. It was also a side that played and fielded with energy and vibrancy. Although he missed the first half of the season, Tom Stanton’s fielding and genuine athleticism added much to the team’s performance. Mention too must be made of Oliver, whose keeping and general chirpiness

There are three final mentions to be made. The first is to the captain, Jason, a player who loves his cricket and whose enthusiasm for the game lifted his team. His knowledge and understanding of the game is improving all the time. His inclination is always to be attacking, so we rarely had sweepers out or no slip in place. He will point to the number of victories as vindication of that policy, and he has a point; experience might teach him to be a little more adaptive in the future. The second mention is to the groundsmen, who have produced superb wickets. Only those of us who have played at a range of university and club grounds can really appreciate just what our boys get to train and play on; it really is a privilege. Finally, huge thanks must go to Mr Matt Walton for his excellent coaching. He is the epitome of the modern coach: energetic and enthusiastic; technically astute; a natural man-manager; and keen for players to take responsibility. He really has developed this group of young talent superbly.

Mr Fergus Llewellyn

Junior Colts B

Record: played 6; won 4; lost 2

Max Taylor-Baggs (4th, BH), Oliver Ruthven (4th, L), James Lewin (4th, NH), Benedict Sutton (4th, H), Gus Roberts (4th, Xt), Kieran Brown (4th, Xt), Roger Mortimore (4th, S), Edward Winstanley (4th, S), Freddy Horlock (4th, L), Oliver Pritchard (4th, Xt) It was clear that the Junior Colts’ B team was full of potential. The first fixture, against Radley College, was a strong performance, including a 50 by Tom, but unfortunately the result was a loss to a team that were already well into the stride of their season. An encouraging win against local rivals Dean Close School again showed what the team was capable of, but a loss to Abingdon School by 3 wickets in a very close game showed there were still areas for improvement. The match was the turning point of the season. An extremely challenging away fixture at Sherborne School was next. A fantastic team performance, especially in the field, produced a solid win. Bradfield College lay ahead, producing the highlight of the term. Bowled out for 83, the team came out after tea and produced some of the most concentrated, energetic and sometimes hostile bowling attack and fielding seen. Bradfield were dismissed for 30 with special credit going to Cameron, with bowling figures of 4.0‑1‑10‑5; Charlie, for stepping into the position of wicket-keeper; and Jimmy, for astute captaincy. The team played King Edward’s School, Oxford, in a 20-20 fixture to round off the season. The game format suited the batting style of the team and it was a very solid start from the top four batsmen who set an imposing target of 149. Accurate bowling from Jordan and Oliver, who bowled a hat-trick wicket, ensured a comfortable win.

Squad: Charles Turk (4th, NH), Jimmy Daly (4th, H), Charlie Boyce (4th, S), Cameron Terry (4th, NH), Joshua Pimlott (4th, S), Jordan Pemberton (4th, H), Tom James (4th, L),

Junior Colts C

Record: played 4; won 1; lost 3 Squad: Oliver Pritchard (4th, Xt), Dougal Rees (4th, Xt), Freddy Horlock (4th, L), James Lewin (4th, NH), Harrison Campbell (4th, L), Jack Gibson (4th, L), Jago Skelding (4th, BH), Oliver Message (4th, S), Pumi Su-Ngan (4th, BH), Toma Zinovyev (4th, NH), Theo Hunt (4th, H), Sam Hamilton (4th, S), Matthew Burke (4th, NH), Joshua Berry (4th, BH)

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was consistent throughout and who formed a very good partnership with Theo at first slip.

The Summer Term started with a great deal of optimism and enthusiasm pervading the squad. The enjoyment of the calypso free-hitting style of the game became evident in the earliest squad practice sessions and it was clear that, win or lose, the team would enjoy the experience. It was unfortunate that poor weather meant that only four games were played in the final analysis. The games against Radley College, Abingdon School and Sherborne School all ended in narrow defeats, with 900 runs being scored and 50 wickets falling in the three afternoons of cricket. The season ended on a high note with a fine victory away at Bradfield College. The home team batted first and scored 139 all out. James contributed a fine 51 runs to the victorious Cheltenham reply. It was a fine and deserved six-wicket win which completed a short but entertaining summer of fixtures.

Mr John Wheeler

Yearlings A

Record: played 22; won 17; lost 4; abandoned 1

The team should take great confidence from their performance. A buoyant team spirit throughout, with a will to improve and win, will ensure the team have another fantastic season next year.

Mr Ben Rees

Squad: Ollie Frisby (3rd, L), Jonnie Gunn (3rd, BH), Alister Pearce (3rd, Xt), Jack Ward (3rd, L), Oscar Butcher (3rd, H), Alexander Sharam (3rd, NH), Oliver Isherwood (3rd, L), Yusuf-Ali Perwaz (3rd, NH), Thomas Styler (3rd, H), Jude Parsons (3rd, L), Felix WatsonSmyth (3rd, Xt), George Elliot (3rd, NH), Harvey Edwards (3rd, S), Oliver Baker (3rd, NH) With 22 games, 3,071 runs, 142 wickets, 14 half centuries, four centuries and one hat trick, our season in numbers makes very impressive reading; it will be hard to do it justice in the word count allocated, but I will try! It started away to Radley College, in what would be the first of three encounters over the season. Alas, in a game that ebbed and flowed, we were second best on the day. Jonnie anchored part of the innings well with 38, but a score of 126/9 was always going to be tough to defend. Radley started well, but a clutch of wickets

in the middle started to swing the momentum back our way until a very mature knock from the Radley keeper ended up seeing them home, by 3 wickets. That would be our only loss for the next six games, and notable wins included Dean Close School by 6 wickets (with Jonnie (56) and Jude (4/17) both performing well); Clifton College by 8 wickets (with Alex claiming 4/12) and Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan (where Ali (67 off 64 balls) hit his maiden half century for College). The highlight was without doubt the game versus Abingdon School, and it arguably produced one of the most exciting finishes in schoolboy cricket. Abingdon batted first and posted a challenging score of 187/6 off 30, with Thomas picking up 3 wickets. College then got off to the worst start imaginable and were reduced to 3 for 2 in the second over; victory looked an unfeasible feat. Ollie Frisby then started to recover the situation and had an important partnership with Alex. However, when Alex fell, and the hard-hitting Oscar followed just 5 balls later, College were now 53/4 in the 14th over and staring down the proverbial barrel. In walked Jack. After taking his time to get going, a swept boundary triggered him into action and he, along with Ollie Frisby, started to take the attack to the Abingdon bowling. The sixes started to rain, but College still found themselves needing 46 off just 3 overs. It was in the 28th over that Ollie took the upper hand and lambasted 20 runs from it, including one massive six. That still left 26 in 2 overs, but amazingly College would only need one of those remaining overs. Jack hit two towering sixes and ended the game with a one-bounce four over cover. Ollie carried his bat with 87* off 81 balls and Jack ended up on 71* off just 53 balls, giving College a remarkable 6-wicket victory. The run of wins came to a grinding halt, away to Sherborne School, and then again in the return fixture to Radley. The Radley fixture was a brilliant game, and we once again saw fireworks from that man Ward. It was his contribution that helped Cheltenham post 190/5 off 30 overs. His brutal knock saw him hit 11 fours and 7 sixes, and off the final ball of our innings he needed one more maximum to reach his first College ton. Sadly, he could only manage a four to end on 98*. Radley chased it down in impeccable fashion and, with an opening stand of 129, laid the platform. Their captain and opening batsman ended up 83* and Radley ran out victors by 7 wickets. It is never good to lose, but those two defeats were a timely wake-up call and the boys knew hard work was still to be done, especially the art of taking wickets and restricting the opposition in the field. In the second half of term, the team played a further 13 games, with the highlights being the 104-run defeat of Bradfield College and the 85-run win over Rugby School. The game versus Bradfield was set up with three terrific knocks from Ali (103*), Jonnie (59) and Oscar, who struck his first 50 (54*). It included a 120-run partnership between Ali and Oscar, and Ali’s 100 came on the final ball of the innings having faced just 61 deliveries. In reply, Bradfield never got going and Oliver Isherwood bowled superbly, taking 4/16, and Jude once again bowled well taking 3 wickets. The Rugby School fixture took on a similar model with College batting first, and batting them out of the game. Ollie Frisby cashed in with his first ton for College (110* off just 89) and Ali, now in a rich vein of form, struck 78 in a 161-run partnership with Ollie. With the ball, two different bowlers did

The Cheltonian 2014-2015

the damage. Alexander’s leg spin was too much for Rugby to deal with, and he ended up with 3/33; Yusuf-Ali, smelling rabbit blood, cleaned the tail up, with figures of 4/14 in just 3 overs. Alongside the normal school fixtures, the team also progressed to the County Cup final and, out of the four games we played, the biggest win came against Sir Thomas Rich’s School. Alexander opened and scored a patient half century with Felix and Yusuf-Ali both having cameos with the bat towards the end. The 130-run win was sealed with Harvey, George and Jack all bagging 3 wickets apiece. Sunday 7 June saw us host the inaugural U14 Twenty20 Quadrangular competition. A separate report has been published in College News, but the day was a massive hit with boys and parents alike and included: coloured clothing, black sightscreens, pink balls and free hits. Our season drew to a close in the annual U14 50 Overs Festival hosted, extremely well, by Stowe School. We won all three games comfortably with Ali and Ollie Frisby both notching another ton each, and Jack and Ali again recoding big, quick half centuries. Again Jack, now know as the ‘The Hawk’, fell painstakingly short of his first ton, hitting the final runs of the festival to end up on 97* to beat hosts Stowe, by 7 wickets. Throughout the Festival, Jude and Alex both took 6 wickets each and bowled with superb control. Ollie was our top run scorer with 666 runs; Ali claimed the highest average of 49.4; and the team’s leading wicket taker was Alex with 28. Oliver Isherwood captained the majority of the games with a mature and calm manor, and he eventually mastered the art of winning the toss! We have both thoroughly enjoyed coaching the boys and look forward to seeing their successes in the future, but they must keep working hard, both on and off the field.

Mr Charlie McKegney with Mr Will Packer

Yearlings B

Record: played 8; won 2; lost 5; abandoned 1

Squad: Harvey Edwards (3rd, S), Christian Campbell (3rd, BH), Joseph Hughes (3rd, L), Jonnie Kite (3rd, H), Max Pemberton (captain, 3rd, H), Robbie Carson (3rd, H), Aryia Patel (3rd, H), Angus Thomson (3rd, NH), Evie Webb (3rd, Ch), George Elliot (3rd, NH), William Dyke (3rd, NH) It was a very enjoyable season. Although we did not achieve a huge amount of success against some much bigger schools, the boys certainly developed hugely as a team and individually. The

first match of the season saw us overwhelmed by a very strong Radley College side. However, we bounced back with a resounding victory against Dean Close School where we won by ten wickets. The highlight of the season had to be the win against Sherborne School where we won by 40 runs. Furthermore, despite losing narrowly to Rugby School, we put up a very strong performance and Harvey should be mentioned for his quick-fire half century. It was a huge shame that we lost the last two games of the season to the weather as it felt that towards the end of the season we had really got some momentum. I would like particularly to thank Max for his leadership throughout the season. It was a huge pleasure coaching the boys and I am sure they will go on to be a very successful side next season.

Mr Will Bates

Yearlings C

Record: played 7; won 2; lost 5 Squad: Charlie Carpenter (3rd, NH), Danyaal Choudhary (3rd, Xt), Ben Southall (3rd, BH), Alfie Weston (3rd, BH), Sebastian Lee (captain, 3rd, NH), Edward Shaw (3rd, L), Robbie Carson (3rd, H), Max Williams (3rd, NH), Henry Foster (3rd, NH), Edward Nelson (3rd, BH), Rafal Dovgialo (3rd, L), Charles Meecham-Jones (3rd, Xt), Kevin Cheung (3rd, H), Tom Maber-Jones (3rd, H) As a coach you always hope to start the season with a win; however, when I saw that we were to face Radley College, away, in our opening fixture I became slightly less optimistic! As is typical of a cricket fixture played in mid-April, the wind was quite gusty and the temperature cool. Radley won the toss and chose to bat first and set a strong score of 185 runs for 6 wickets. Up stepped our opening batsmen to begin our innings and within 2 overs they were back outside the boundary trying their best to avoid my stare of disappointment! However, all was not lost as in true College spirit Charlie Carpenter and Seb both dug in and began establishing some sort of rhythm, which allowed me to breath a sigh of relief. As the overs ticked by it became more and more obvious that we could win. In fact it came to the very last ball of the match and Charlie had to score 4 to secure a famous victory. As soon as the ball left the bowler’s hand I knew Charlie was going to happily dink the ball toward the boundary to secure the points needed. A great fixture to begin the season and one I hoped would set the team up for the rest of the season. Unfortunately, we lost our next two fixtures against Dean Close School and Abingdon School by 119 runs and 84 runs respectively. Our next, and last, win came against Sherborne School where, after a lengthy journey, we won by 5 wickets. On the return fixture against Radley, both schoolmasters were treated to another tight game but unfortunately College lost by 11 runs. It was a real pleasure coaching the boys and I felt that they all developed into betterequipped cricketers. I look forward to seeing them improve further next season where I hope they can become more clinical in their play and really push teams all the way to the end.

Mr Fraser Dobney

Squad: Tabitha Burt (4th, A), Jaime Carter (4th, A), Isla Flint (4th, A), India Deakin (3rd, W), Cordelia Shorthouse (4th, A), Emily Drysdale (3rd, W), Evie Webb (3rd, Ch), Elodie Mathews (3rd, A), Martha Elliott (4th, W), Abbie Whybrow (Year 8, Prep), Florence Needham (3rd, W)

Girls’ cricket at College continues to grow and the central feature of their season was the success that the U15 enjoyed in the Lady Taverners Cup competition. That is played indoors and College won their initial county group stage with some outstanding performances with the ball from Evie and Flo. They were well skippered by Tabitha and got through to the south west regional knock-out stage in which they performed exceptionally well, coming second. The girls continued to net on a weekly basis and the enthusiastic coaching from Mr Matt Walton saw a marked improvement in their fundamental skills. They played in an excellent 20/20 fixture against a strong Gloucestershire side which was a valuable experience. Evie became the first girl to represent College in a boys’ XI team and found she had great success in opening the bowling for the Yearlings’ B team. With Gloucestershire keeping their eye on her, she could, no doubt, continue to make cracking progress in the game and at College.

Mr Richard Moore

Equestrian Well it was a busy year for horse riding at College with some notable successes and lots of laughing! Throughout the year we train in activity time on Monday evenings at various locations depending upon the upcoming

competitions. I would like to thank the parents who support us so loyally, come rain or shine, and transport horses to competitions – often at unearthly hours! We are very fortunate that those pupils who do not have their competition horses locally, are frequently lent quality ponies by Mr Robert Buck at Steepleton Farm, Andoversford. That certainly enabled Eleanor Jones-Perrott (5th, A) to continue riding in the UK and earn a fabulous 2nd place in the south west region’s Jumping with Style competition held at Hartpury College. It was an amazing feat with hot competition. Honor McFarlane (3rd, W) and Isabella Channing (3rd, W) represented College with panache at the Inter Schools One Day Event Championships held at Stonar School with strong placings. One day events feature three phases: dressage, requiring precision and balance; show jumping, requiring technical riding ability; and cross country, requiring real bravery. Octavia Slatter (3rd, W) also earned a creditable 8th, with Annabelle Slatter (3rd, A) and Tom O’Bryan (Year 8, Prep) competing too. Honor had a wonderful (if rather soggy!) time at Windsor Horse Show; her consistency in training has reaped rich rewards on her lovely horse Ziggy. At the recent Gloucestershire Equestrian School Games we had a very successful day both individually and in teams. A combined team from The Prep and College came 2nd in the combined training and dressage competitions. Tom won the dressage competition and Harry Stevens (L6, Xt) came 2nd individually in the combined training as well, both ably supported by Isabella and Annabelle. Florence Channing (5th, W) also represented College in the show jumping.

also competed. Annabelle did a lovely round too, but our times were not as fast as the other competitors. Our team of Harry, Honor and Isabella came 6th in the 90cm competition after two stunning rounds by Honor and Belle.

Mrs Jenny O’Bryan

Polo

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Girls’ Cricket

The summer season for Cheltenham College Polo Club was successful and great fun. The weekly practice sessions were popular and enjoyable with the novice players and the more experienced continuing to improve. College entered three major tournaments, beginning with Denis Antonov (3rd, Xt) and Danyaal Choudhary (3rd, Xt) playing in the Schools’ and Universities’ Polo Association (SUPA) National Junior Schools Arena Championships at Longdole in a combined team, and finishing as runners up in Division One. In the SUPA National School Girls Tournament in June, College’s Araminta Lawson-Smith (L6, Ch) and Alicia Williams (L6, Ch) joined up with Tamara Gibbons and Rosanna Turk, from The Cheltenham Ladies’ College, to create an unbeatable team that became national champions. Later in the month, our two girls were joined by Oliver Severn (U6, H) and Thomas Severn (5th, H) and the team took on Radley College and Stowe School in the Open Division at the SUPA National Senior Schools Championships held at Kirtlington Polo Club. The team played extremely well throughout the day, winning three chukkas

At the NSEA (National Schools Equestrian Association) regional Show Jumping qualifier held on 28 June at Rectory Farm, Duntisbourne Abbots, College and The Prep fielded four teams – which was our most ever! At her first inter-school competition, Laura Bingham (Year 6, Prep) came 2nd which was a fabulous achievement and bodes very well for the future. Martha Llewellyn Palmer (Year 4, Prep) and Tom

and drawing the fourth to become national champions. The highlight of the tournament was Ollie’s superb final goal against Radley. Our novice three-man team of Dany, Ben Kinsman (4th, S) and Benjamin Hilditch (4th, S) took on the girls from Rugby School over three chukkas. The boys improved dramatically as the day progressed but were narrowly beaten into 2nd place in their division. As always the annual College Polo Day at Longdole Polo Club was a fabulous display of polo and a great family day out. The Prep beat Summer Fields School, the Old Cheltonians beat the Old Etonians and the College team completed the trio of victories with a solid performance against Stowe School. Minty and Lissy showed that the girls were more than capable of playing in the elite league and Ollie was a worthy winner of the Most Valuable Player award in his final match as polo captain.

Mrs Sarah Styler

Golf Record: played 17; won 11; drew 1; lost 5 Squad: Will Donlan (captain, U6, S), Toon Luanguthai (L6, NH), Intouch Ruckpanich (5th, L), Joss Edwards (5th, H), Harrison Ottley-Woodd (4th, L), Max Hickman (L6, H), Xavier Houben (vice-captain, U6, L), William Henty (vicecaptain, U6, S), Alex Braithwaite-Exley (U6, H)

College Golf had another very successful year. The highlight was undoubtedly winning the south west region of the ISGA (Independent Schools’ Golf Association) Matchplay Tournament for the first time. That qualified the three-man team of Harrison, Intouch and Joss to play in the national finals, held at Prince’s Golf Club and Royal St George’s Golf Club, Sandwich, Kent, on 26 and 27 April. Over 130 schools across the UK had entered the regional events and College finished a creditable 8th out of 19 schools in the finals; the event being won by Wellington College. In the individual event, Joss (T18th), Harrison (T21st) and Intouch (T28th) all put in commendable performances. It was a really encouraging performance by a young team. Please refer to www.isga.co.uk/national-finals-2015/ for more details.

Every year, the West of England Public Schools’ Tournament at Burnham on Sea is the flagship event and the boys go there with eager anticipation. The team of Harrison, Intouch, Joss, Will and Max made it through to the final against Radley College after good wins against Monmouth School (3‑2) and Canford School (5‑0). In a cracking encounter, the match was tied at 2‑2 and Harrison needed to hole a putt on the 18th to take the match into extra time. We lost 3‑2 in a match which ebbed and flowed. With four of the team back in 2015‑2016 they are determined to get their names on the Club honours board! Time will tell. In September 2014, the inaugural ‘Morgan Cup’ (Ryder Cup type event) took place against Radley College on the Radley course. The event has been named after Richard Morgan, who was the Headmaster of both schools. It was a great pleasure to have Richard present at Radley to meet the boys, watch some exciting golf, and present the trophy. After a typically close encounter, College came away winners. Hopefully the event will grow and become one of the highlights of the season. Matchplay golf is team golf at its best.

Mr Mike Todd

Boys’ Hockey

House Pots (the Wild Cup) was won by the Hazelwell team of Max, Alexander and Harry Hickman (U6). Will played in the HMC final in 2014 at Luffenham Heath Golf Club and was in the team that qualified

The Cheltonian 2014-2015

Where College Golf is at the moment is a tribute to the players who work particularly hard on their games during term time and in the holidays. To the leavers, thank you for your contribution. Golf is a game for life – make sure you join the Old Cheltonian Golf Society; they enjoy a wonderful fixture list at great venues. Thank you to Dr Brendan Enright for his keen assistance and to Mr Gary Pendell for his help with transport. Colours were awarded to Will Donlan for his performances and contribution to College golf.

We are fortunate to have a strong fixture list with matches outside the HMC and ISGA against Radley College, Stowe School, Marlborough College, Monmouth School, Malvern College and St Edward’s School, Cheltenham. Hopefully we will have the depth to play Wellington College and Millfield School in the near future.

for the final at Burnham. It has been particularly pleasing to watch Will’s game improve over the years; from the first time he represented College in a junior match to his last fixture in the Summer Term, he has displayed a gutsy determination and sporting manner. Another significant achievement was Harrison’s success in winning the South Western Counties Golf Association Under 16 Championships and the Gloucestershire Golf Union County U18 Boys’ Championships. Mention should also be made of Joss and Intouch whose games improved significantly over the year.

In what is perceived as a compact and short term, the Boys’ Hockey Club certainly delivered in its programme, with 109 fixtures completed by the 17 teams. There are not many schools on the hockey circuit that can put out around 255 boys for a Saturday fixture. Of the fixtures completed, 55% had a positive result for College. The Independent Schools’ Hockey League (ISHL) is certainly ensuring the standard of play is increasing and the bar continues to be raised. College hockey players continue to excel outside of school hockey, with individuals involved in England Hockey’s Junior Development system. One such player, Roger Mortimore (4th, S), was

of 2‑1. Most encouragingly, the Yearling teams secured a clean sweep with the B team winning 3‑0 and the C team 6‑0. The Junior Colts’ A team were again involved in a seven-goal thriller and managed to demonstrate a sound resolve to come out on top again by a scoreline of 4‑3.

this opportunity to thank all the hockey coaches and staff involved in taking a team. A lot is asked of staff at times but the level of commitment is unprecedented. A great strength of hockey is the staff taking the teams, and I thank you for your dedication to the programme and its aims.

House Pots still remains a fiercely-contested occasion and Boyne House was able to win the senior competition for the first time – but only after the game went to penalty shuffles and Boyne House emerged as victors over Christowe by two goals to one. The junior competition was indeed close and the composition for the final was only decided in the last few minutes of the final group match. A late strike ensured Boyne House also progressed through to the junior final but they could not complete the double, losing 1‑0 to the victorious Leconfield.

At Colt level the A team, who had lost two prominent players to the 1st XI, were struggling with their results. In contrast, the C and B teams were quietly going about their business with three tremendous wins early on, notably 2‑0 over Wellington College, 4‑2 over Dean Close School and a 5‑1 victory over Abingdon School. What was encouraging from the Colts was that over 20 players had the exposure to A team sport, which will put them in good stead as they make the transition into senior hockey. That age group certainly has potential and that was evident not only in the consistency of performances from the B team, but also in two results for the A team: a 6‑3 win over Bradfield College and a 5‑1 win over Marlborough College. The Bradfield fixture unfortunately was affected by snow, resulting in only eight games beating the weather. College won four and drew one, with three wins coming from the senior ranks. Unfortunately the 1st XI lost 3‑1 to the eventual ISHL champions but the 2nd XI won 1‑0, the 3rd XI 3‑2 and the 4th XI 8‑0. In fact the performances by the 4th XI showed a good level of consistency throughout the term, even recording a 2‑0 win over the Pangbourne College 2nd XI along the way. One team though did produce its own moment of magic; the 5th XI played a two-match series with Radley College. In the away leg the 5ths went down 6‑3 but they remained upbeat about the return leg; under the guidance of Dr Brendan Enright, the captain, Will Moss, calculated what was needed by the team and they produced a resounding win of 4‑0 to win 7‑6 over the two legs.

Mr Gwyn Williams

Outside of the ISHL fixtures there was success in the National Sixes for the U18 and U14 teams. As county runners-up, the U14 team managed to qualify for the West regional finals. The ISHL concept has added some spice to the block fixtures and College performed well on a number of occasions. The first block of the season was with Wellington College and, of the 12 fixtures, College recorded seven wins and two draws. The Junior Colts’ team produced a clean sweep of victories: the A team won a close-fought battle, coming from behind to win 4‑3: the B team won comfortably 4‑0; and the C team drew 1‑1. It was a great start from the Yearlings’ A team, who demonstrated what potential they possess; despite players missing they produced a resounding 6‑1 win. The 3rd XI also got their campaign off to a flyer with a 5‑0 win, followed by a 5‑1 win over Dean Close School, and a close-fought 3‑2 win over Bradfield College. They were certainly playing with some flair and looked a good bet for an ISHL title. A tough fixture with Abingdon School beckoned and the teams certainly rose to the challenge. Of the 11 matches, College recorded seven wins and one draw. There were notable wins for the 1st XI and the Yearlings’ A team by the same scoreline

Hockey is entering an exciting new era at College. With an investment in two new surfaces, the players will be exposed to a premier surface which will allow them to develop their skills and enhance their play. I would like to take

1st XI

SPORT

selected a year early to attend the Junior Regional Performance Centre Tier 1 at U16 level. His consistency of form and excellence in performance on the hockey pitch was rewarded internally with elevation from the Junior Colts’ A team to the 1st XI.

Record: played 9; won 3; drew 1; lost 5; goals for 14; goals against 21 ISHL Standing: 4th Squad: James Palmer (5th, BH), Alex Hewer (L6, S), Humphrey Bodington (U6, BH), Alexander Braithwaite-Exley (U6, H), Ben Croft (U6, BH), William Henty (U6, S), Jamie Jamieson-Black (U6, H), George Key (U6, H), Patrick Main (U6, NH), Ludo Millar (U6, BH), Paddy Milton (captain, U6, Xt), Benjamin Traas (U6, NH), Monty Chapman (L6, BH), Hugh Gunn (U6, L), Roger Mortimore (4th, S) There was plenty going on for the 1st XI in the 2015 season. In addition to the normal Independent Schools’ Hockey League (ISHL) fixtures, there was a pre-season training camp in Barcelona, the ISHL National Sixes competition, and the involvement in the schools’ match of the Oxford and Cambridge Varsity Hockey clash. In early January, 18 boys headed to Barcelona for a four-day training camp in preparation for the forthcoming hockey term. The squad was based at the picturesque setting of Egara Hockey Club, situated below the mountains just outside Barcelona. As well as training, the boys had fixtures with local clubs including Egara Hockey Club, Junior FC Barcelona and Castelldefels ‘In the early years of the century, a few hockey matches were played, and in 1907 College colours were awarded for the first time: from that year steady improvement followed.’ Mr Sidney Stevens (staff, 1911‑1950) came to work in the Science Laboratories and helped promote his beloved hockey. ‘He was the best centre half-back in the country and frequently played for England. He soon proved himself a consummate coach, and for many long years since then he has continued to devote his time and energy during the winter months to the development of Hockey at the College.’ He also took over College cricket when Mr Charles Pigg (1900‑1906, Teighmore, BH; staff, 1909‑1940; Secretary and Treasurer, Cheltonian Society, 1945‑1960) went to the War in 1914, and continued that responsibility for the next 20 years. Day Boy ‘Stevenites’ are named after him as he was also East Day Boy Housemaster from 1930 until the East and West Day Boy Houses combined in 1939. [The Cheltonian, 1940, pp 76‑77]

Hockey Club. An added bonus was a coaching session with the current Spanish International and London Olympian, Gloria Comerma Broto. It was a fabulous opportunity for the boys as it allowed the various elements of their game to be reviewed and broken down and to develop strategies for the forthcoming term. Unfortunately the season did not start as we had intended, going down by two goals to Wellington College in the first five minutes. The character of the team became evident as they fought back to get to 2‑2. They had numerous opportunities but were thwarted by the Wellington goalkeeper, the post and a disallowed goal, and the game ended 3‑2 to Wellington. Next was a daunting trip to the inform Abingdon School, but the boys took a major step forward, not only in their play but also in the development of their team culture. Even though they went down to an early goal and, defensively, were put under considerable pressure, goalkeeper James Palmer produced a number of saves that kept them in the game. He would demonstrate his agility and capacity to pull off save after save throughout the whole term. The 1st XI hit back with a well-taken goal from Jamie Jamieson-Black. It was an open game and both teams were going at each other producing an entertaining game; either team could have become dominant. The resolve demonstrated by the 1st XI was fantastic and they were able to pull through with a good period of pressure near the end of the game which resulted in a number of penalty corners that Alex Braithwaite-Exley was able to finish off after the initial save. A great deal of confidence came from that victory and the team looked forward to the next few games that would be played back at College. Unfortunately they were not able to find the finishing to their play that they had demonstrated at Abingdon and they got themselves into a rut. What was admirable with the group was their determination to play the game of hockey properly, and the belief that they could get themselves out of that losing streak. Paddy, as captain, was a major part in ensuring the boys remained focused and kept the faith that their training would pay off on match day. It did, and the final four games of the season saw only one loss. That loss was against Charterhouse in the schools match before the varsity game, The 1st XI had exerted a lot of physical and mental energy in defeating Marlborough College the day before, and that epic display had taken its toll on the players. They were fatigued but still put themselves in good positions from which to win the game. Radley was a turning point for the team. The game was played in a very cagey manner until the second half where it opened up again; even though they were 2‑1 down with little time left, they managed to find a way to get the equalizer. That led on to Marlborough and a real sense of determination that the team would finish the ISHL season on a high which they certainly did, producing a complete performance and showing what they were capable of. That confidence and continuity was taken through to their final game against an Old Cheltonian side and it was fabulous for the boys to finish with a win and reap the rewards for all the hard work they had put in throughout the term, both on and of the pitch. I would like to take this opportunity to thank a few people. Firstly the XI for buying into the team

The Cheltonian 2014-2015

ethos and always striving to better themselves no matter what was thrown at them. Secondly to Paddy Milton for his role as captain and the members of his leadership group; he was able to fulfil all the necessary attributes a good leader needs to ensure the players will follow him. Finally to Mr Matt Fairburn for all his efforts and work with the squad in what was his last term with us as he moves on to pastures new with his coaching company. Full Colours: Paddy Milton; Will Henty Half Colours: George Key; Ben Traas; Ludo Millar; Jamie Jamieson-Black; James Palmer Player of the Year: Ludo Millar Players’ Player: James Palmer Most Valuable Player: James Palmer

The 2015 ISHL season proved to be as competitive as ever but there was an added element with the inaugural ISHL National Sixes competition at U18, U16 and U14 levels. There were 14 titles to be decided amongst the schools, and College teams were in the running for four titles going into the last games of the season. Unfortunately only the 4th XI, under the guidance of Mr Henry Davies and their captain Freddie Lyle, managed to secure a title – winning their league on goal difference. Notable performances throughout the other leagues were from the Colts’ B team, who secured the runner-up spot, and third place finishes for the 3rd XI, and the Junior Colts’ A and B teams.

4th XI ISHL

Record: played 5; won 3; drew 1; lost 1; goals for 15; goals against 5 Squad: Henry Kirk (L6, Xt), Revie Wood (L6, H), Max Hickman (L6, H), Freddie Lyle (captain, L6, S), William Wong (U6, S), Alex De Wesselow (L6, Xt), Patrick Payne (L6, S), George Cook (L6, Xt), Fraser Neal (L6, H), Harry James (L6, L), Peter Uttley (U6, Xt), Sam Outram (U6, Xt), Douglas Spencer (L6, S), Thomas Harney (L6, L), Guy Beynon (L6, Xt), Hugo Parnell-Hopkinson (U6, S)

National Sixes

The National Sixes is a new concept to help aid the development of the game of hockey in schools. The teams consist of six players: a goalkeeper and five outfield players playing on half a full-size hockey pitch as per prep school hockey. The rules have been modified to encourage high scoring attacking play, and to allow players to express themselves. College adapted well to that format. In the U18 competition held at Repton School, the boys just missed out on qualification to the main Cup competition and instead went on to win the Plate Competition beating Radley College, Wellington College and Pangbourne College (in the final second of the match). The U16s did not make it out of their pool stages. The U14 team qualified for the main Cup competition with victories over Bradfield College,

Abingdon School and Princethorpe College. A 3‑0 win over Oakham School in the semi-finals led to a final appearance and a tough match with Repton School who were clinical and ran out winners by a margin of 5‑1. The hope is that the competition will develop into a major part of the hockey calendar.

Mr Gwyn Williams

Girls’ Hockey Girls’ hockey continues to push back the boundaries expanding from 11 to 13 teams with the creation of two new squads: 5th XI and Colts B. There was also the addition to the coaching staff of Miss Charli Roberts, who is a National League player with Cheltenham Hockey Club. As a prominent member of the Independent Schools’ Hockey League (ISHL), the reputation for College hockey is as strong as ever and the performances are consolidating that position. Another ISHL title was secured by a College team, the Junior Colts’ B team. As a Club the girls performed magnificently. They completed 125 fixtures of which 67 were a win or draw, giving the Club a positive outcome of 54% and scoring 218 goals in the process. The Club went through a regeneration process during the season. The link with the local National League club saw many girls out training at College with Cheltenham HC players. A success of that network was Hattie Bevan (U6, A) who has been a part of the Cheltenham HC 1st XI squad. Many College girls also represented Cheltenham at junior level and enjoyed success at a national level at both indoor and outdoor hockey. The link also ensured a visit from Maddie Hinch, a London Olympian, to run a goal-keeping clinic at College. Hattie was also selected for England at the Sainsbury’s School Games held in Manchester in early September 2014. The season saw a lovely milestone as Hattie followed in Emma and Laura’s footsteps and became the third and final Bevan sister to captain the XI. In terms of representative honours, College has a number of girls involved in all areas of regional development at the Gloucestershire Junior Centres and Junior Regional Performance Centres (JRPC). The indoor season was not as successful as previous years. The U18s went out on goal difference in their qualifiers for the west regional finals. However, the U16s were runners up in the county rounds, and went to the regional finals where they performed strongly, only to lose out in the quarter-finals on sudden-death penalty strokes. The U14s won through as county champions, only to lose out like the U16s in the quarter-finals, again on sudden-death strokes. They were under the leadership of Emily Drysdale (3rd, W), a talented prospect who is already training with the 1st XI. The junior teams are certainly raising the levels of expectations in terms of performances and results; all junior teams averaged a win/draw outcome of 62% from their matches, scoring 164 goals.

In the block fixtures, there were some very good displays by College. Against St Edward’s School, Oxford, College only lost one match in the 11 played, and against Bloxham School again only suffered one loss in the eight matches. College managed to win eight out of the nine games against Bradfield School, with the Junior Colts’ C team recording the best scoreline of 6‑1. Against Dean Close School, College only lost three of the nine matches and against Malvern College there were clean sweeps of victories for all the junior teams, with notably victories of 7‑0 for the Junior Colts’ B team and 4‑0 for the Junior Colts’ C team. Although the Wellington College fixture was split over two days, the Colts’ A team managed to produce a fantastic display and came out 6‑2 winners. They backed that up with another good display to win 4‑2 against Rugby School. The Clifton College matches, always a close affair, managed to fall in our favour winning six of the 11 matches. Although the fixture against Repton School was not as successful, there were some notable team performances with the Yearlings’ B team winning 1‑0, Yearlings’ C team 4‑1 and the Junior Colts’ B team 5‑2. The first fixture of the season, against Marlborough, was symbolic as it saw the first competitive games for the newly-formed 5th XI under Mrs Phoebe Aitken. The result was a 1‑1 draw but more important was the level of excitement shown by the girls, for some of whom it was the first time they had picked up a hockey stick. That continued throughout their season due partly to the great leadership of Sophie Caws (U6, Q) and Isobel Tudsbery (U6, Ch). The girls were great ambassadors for College and demonstrated how hockey can be of benefit to all levels of players. The other senior teams not to be outdone by their junior counterparts, managed to get a win/draw outcome of 44%. The 2nd XI managed to settle down to win four out of their last five fixtures,

producing a good set of scorelines of 4‑0 over Rugby School and 3‑0 against Malvern College. I would like to say a big thank you to all the staff involved with the Hockey Club. A great success of the Club is the commitment shown by the teaching and coaching staff no matter what the weather or what other pressures they face. Their desire and passion allows each pupil to perform at their level and experience the joys of playing team sports. The Club remains in a very healthy position and will look to continue its development.

Mr Gwyn Williams

1st XI

Record: played 11; won 4; drawn 2; lost 5; goals for 18; goals against 20 ISHL position: 3rd

Squad: Bethan Morris (U6, Q), Francesca Ball (U6, Ch), Rebecca Perry (U6, A), Antonia Stuckey (L6, Q), Darcey Edwards (U6, Q), Yvie Seville (L6, Ch), Araminta LawsonSmith (L6, Ch), Jamie Chadwick (L6, Ch), Hattie Bevan (captain, U6, A), Millie Broom (5th, W), India Blake (5th, Q), Georgina Gardner (U6, Q), Arabella Knowles (L6, A), Ella Upton (U6, Ch), Venetia Schofield (U6, A), Charlotte Woodman (U6, Q), Jemma Robson (5th, W), Juliette Lamden (5th, Q) There was a great sense of purpose and excitement from the XI at the end of their threeday pre-season training camp that included a tournament at Rugby School. Within the matches a new formation was tried out to great success; the group all responded to the challenges laid

down, and a competitive training environment began to emerge. The XI also welcomed back Mrs Rebecca Faulkner after her time away on maternity leave. The squad had a nice feel to it with a good balance of experienced players blending with the emerging younger talent. The first game was against Marlborough College; always a tough start but one to which the girls responded well. In a very tight game they emerged winners, 3‑2 – even after Marlborough had taken their goal-keeper off for the final five minutes to have 11 outfield players. The girls displayed great determination and resolution in their defence to hold on for that important win to set the tone for the rest of the season. What was more pleasing was that the group did so despite missing some key players, notably Hattie who was away with England at the Sainsbury’s School Games in Manchester.

SPORT

House Pots returned to a Saturday with both the seniors and juniors playing a round-robin format. To ensure all 160 girls were involved and had the chance to represent their House, there were A and B competitions, both of which produced some fiercely competitive hockey. Ashmead retained their Senior Pot and Queen’s, on goals scored, managed to sneak away with the Junior Pot.

The group had now gained a new sense of belief and looked positively towards the next few games. Another tense game with St Edward’s School, Oxford, saw a 1‑1 draw. There was then a distinct shift in momentum for the group and, in sport these days, once you have lost momentum it is hard to get it back. All credit to the girls as over the next few fixtures they suffered three losses purely down to the fact that they could not finish off their chances. All the work on the training paddock was being seen out on the pitch on game day but they could just not get that goal to ignite them and energize that performance. The last fixture before half term became an incredibly pressurized event. The XI needed some reward for their training and continued belief in themselves. The game was away to Rugby School and the girls found themselves down 3‑0 within ten minutes, not a good start by any means. The girls did not panic; instead they found an inner strength and a sense of focus that they would not lose the game and at 4‑4, with only a few seconds to go, it was College that had a chance to snatch the victory. That game demonstrated that the XI were on the right track and back to finding their form. Although the first game after half term was a loss, there was a change in their outlook and performance. The next match was against Repton School – a massive challenge in itself and the XI put in a workmanlike performance. There was a plan and they stuck to it to ensure that victory was achieved. It was an U16 Repton team that was preparing to defend its national title. It was another tense affair that saw the XI come out winners 1‑0. The final two matches of the season showed how far the XI had come, and an observation was made by an opposition coach of how much they had improved from the start of the season. Away wins over Bradfield School (3‑0) and The Cheltenham Ladies’ College (5‑0) demonstrated how good the team really are. It also ensured they finished a creditable 3rd in what is now a very competitive ISHL group, with a positive result score of 55% from their 11 matches. I must take this opportunity to thank a few people. Firstly, to the players for ensuring that in each session they pushed each other and us as coaches. Secondly, to Hattie as captain; she led the group admirably through what was a difficult middle period of results and combined that with her hockey commitments outside of College with the National League and England Development. Thirdly, to the coaching staff of Mr

Matt Fairburn and Miss Charli Roberts who both added value to the emergence of the group and their performances. Lastly to Mrs Rebecca Faulkner; it was great having her back as she brings with her a sense of enthusiasm, and is invaluable to the girls in terms of her sporting experience and advice. Colours Re-Award: Hattie Bevan Full Colours: Yvie Seville; Bella Perry; Bethan Morris; Fran Ball Half Colours: India Blake; Millie Broom Player of the Year: Bella Perry Players’ Player: Bethan Morris Most Valuable Player: India Blake

Mr Gwyn Williams

The 2014 season for the ISHL saw the leagues once again expand to incorporate the B teams at U14 and U15 level, therefore pushing the total number of leagues up to six. Bloxham School entered the league too for the first time. Once again College performed to a consistent level and the lowest finish of the six-team league was a 5th place by the 2nd XI. As I mentioned in the 1st XI report, they finished 3rd along with the Junior Colts’ A team. Both the Yearlings’ A and B teams came runners up whilst the plaudits go to the Junior Colts’ B team, under the management of Miss Emily Hartley, who were joint winners of their league.

Netball Netball at College has gone from strength to strength and we have seen more teams representing College than ever before. We have been lucky to have a refurbished indoor surface to play on, and sunken posts installed across all College netball facilities. The addition of Welsh and Celtic Dragons player Rosie Pretorius as a netball professional made a huge impact on all girls at College; during the course of the season she coached all squads from all year groups. Her enthusiasm and love of the sport was infectious and that was evident by the enjoyment of the girls during weekly training sessions. Rosie ran position-specific workshops during the term which were well-attended and helped progress individual players to a great extent. Her wealth of experience helped develop the standard of netball at College across the board and we are looking ahead to a very bright future.

1st VII

Record: played 12; won 4; drew 1; lost 7; goals for 250; goals against 294; goal difference 44

Junior Colts B

Record: played 10; won 7; drew 1; lost 2; goals for 35; goals against 16 ISHL Record: played 5; won 3; drew 1; lost 1; goals for 12; goals against 1 Squad: Libby Barnes (4th, W), Chanelle Moller (4th, A), Jess Steel (4th, Q), Sascha Taylor (4th, Ch), Arabella Johnson (4th, A), Isobel Turner (4th, A), Annabel MerheimKealy (4th, Q), Imogen Williams (4th, Ch), Georgina Pinchard (4th, Ch), Phoebe Janes (captain, 4th, W), Genevieve Alltimes (4th, A), Lucinda Gardiner (4th, Ch), Cordelia Shorthouse (4th, A), Georgie Fowler (4th, Q) The first match was against Marlborough College and they suffered a 0‑6 loss; not a great start, but from then on the group played some attacking and energized hockey. They were very vocal and positive to each other, always competing for every inch on the pitch. A great credit to Miss Hartley and Phoebe for ensuring the group maintained their focus and played the game with a competitive edge. Some superb performances resulted in big wins over Wellington College (4‑0), and Bradfield School (5‑0). Outside of the ISHL the group also handed out some hefty defeats, beating local rivals Dean Close School (6‑1) and then, as part of their fourgame unbeaten run into the end of the season, they beat Malvern College (7‑0), Repton School (5‑2) and Clifton College (4‑1).

Mr Gwyn Williams

The Cheltonian 2014-2015

Squad: Charlotte Woodman (captain, U6, Q), Venetia Schofield (vice-captain, U6, A), Georgie Gardner (vice-captain, U6, Q), Francesca Ball (U6, Ch), Katy Law (U6, A), Boo Bruce-Smith

(U6, Q), Anne-Marie Bowring (L6, Q), Yvie Seville (L6, Ch), Jessica Powell (L6, W), India Blake (5th, Q) Coaches: Rosie Pretorius and Poppy Hoskins The 1st VII made excellent progress and achieved a pleasing level of success against some tough opposition. During the Autumn Term there were evening pre-season training sessions in preparation for the U18 county tournament held at The Cheltenham Ladies’ College. A training match against the regional champions and U16 Hucclecote netball squad highlighted flaws in our matchplay but evoked some fight in the girls. The U18 tournament had not been entered by College for a number of years, and we did well to come 4th in our group of nine strong schools, beating Dean Close School comfortably in our final game. Netball professional Rosie Pretorius bonded quickly with the girls during pre-season training and the girls benefited from her high-intensity speed, agility and quickness (SAQ) and ball-skills sessions. The season started with a triangular fixture against Bromsgrove School and Malvern College. It was clear that the team had a lot to work on with a strong Bromsgrove side beating us 23‑13 and a distinct lack of fitness meaning College only drew against the weaker Malvern side in the final round of matches. We spent the next few weeks working on a range of position combinations and using the versatility of Venetia, India and Boo to our advantage. After a disappointing result against Clifton College, we had it all to play for against a new opponent, King’s Worcester. The score was level pegging at quarter time with our usual slightly sluggish start to the match affecting our progress. The squad picked up the pace during the second quarter and started to pull the scoreline in our favour. Impact player Venetia came on as centre in the second half and her quick-release style of play enabled us to move the ball swiftly down the court, not enabling the opposition to set up their defence quickly enough. The final score was 41‑26. Katy was the stand-out player of the match with shooting stats of 93%. The season continued with a pleasing win over Wycliffe and a few narrow losses to competitive sides. Just before half term the 1st VII helped run

The short second half of term saw the 1st VII really come into their own. We beat the incredibly strong Marlborough College team 27‑22 and the also strong Dean Close School 35‑17, which both highlighted the outstanding progress made by all girls during the course of the season. Charlotte lead the team through some difficult matches and played as a true athlete, turning over countless balls in defence and bringing the ball steadily down through court. Fran worked with Charlotte as a formidable duo for two years and their team-work and fight will be sorely missed. New players to the squad have included AnneMarie (with her extendable arms) who was a consistent player at wing defence and turned

over countless balls when defending up court. She listened well to advice and will be a key player moving into the 2016 season. Likewise India came into the squad and held her own in the attacking circle. Her agility on court is outstanding and she performed well under pressure. Jess came into College as a fantastic defender who listened well to the advice of coach Rosie (also a goal-keeper); she fought through injury and developed enormously during the second half of the season.

2nd VII

Record: played 9; won 3; lost 6; goals for 176; goals against 151; goal difference 21

SPORT

the Prep Schools’ Netball Festival at College which culminated in an outstanding display of talent when Wales U17 played our 1st VII in the annual spectator match. The girls played some of the best netball I have seen them play and the final scoreline (44‑14) did not reflect the competitiveness of the game.

Full Colours re-awarded: Fran Ball; Venetia Schofield Full Colours: Charlotte Woodman; Georgie Gardner; Yvie Seville Half Colours: Katy Law; Boo Bruce-Smith; Anne-Marie Bowring Coaches’ Player: Katy Law Players’ Player: Anne-Marie Bowring Most Improved Player: Anne-Marie Bowring

Miss Poppy Hoskins

Squad: Darcey Edwards (U6, Q), Georgina Blumer (L6, Ch), Mimi Haycraft Mee (L6, Q), Arabella Knowles (L6, A), Araminta Lawson-Smith (L6, Ch), Leonora McCaldin (L6, A), Annabel Mundy (L6, A), Jess OttleyWoodd (L6, Q), Katherine Woodford (U6, A), Jessica Powell (L6, W), Harriet Lacey (U6, A), Cordelia Shorthouse (4th, A) The season started with a challenging home fixture against Bromsgrove School and, despite a number of promising performances from players such as Jessica Powell, Georgie and Annabel, the 2nd VII eventually lost 7‑15. The second fixture, against King’s Worcester, saw a slightly changed team take to the court as Jessica Powell was promoted to the 1st VII, while Katie was snapped up from the 3rd VII. The team really gelled during the match and put together some well-worked passages of play, culminating in a 26‑7 win. That was swiftly followed by another convincing win, 30‑7 against Wycliffe, where the girls produced fast, flowing netball and quickly took command of the match. The girls started brightly against The Cheltenham Ladies’ College (CLC) and it was seven goals apiece after the second quarter. However, a change of shooters enabled CLC to pull away in the third quarter, despite the best endeavours of Darcey and Annabel in defence, and the team lost 9‑21. The team slightly lost their overall form for the next three matches and that, combined with playing outside in windy conditions and our short shooters having to contend with some very tall goalkeepers, led to defeats against St Edward’s School, Oxford, Rugby School and Marlborough College. The penultimate match of the season was against local rivals Dean Close School and the team were determined to put in a winning performance. An injury sustained in training ruled Leonora out of the final two matches of the season, which led to future shooting star Cordelia being temporarily promoted to the 2nd VII. She quickly formed a strong shooting partnership with Katie and, combined with brilliant court-play from Minty, Georgie and Arabella, and rock-solid defending from Darcey and Annabel, led to an emphatic 52‑5 win for the team. Their last match saw the girls travelling to Bradfield College for the most closely-contested fixture of the season. The teams were very evenly matched and despite College edging ahead in the second quarter, some erratic

moments of play cost the team dearly in the third quarter. The girls rallied brilliantly in the final quarter, with Mimi scoring several fantastic goals; however time was not on the girls’ side and sadly the match ended 18‑20 to Bradfield. Although it was a very mixed season with regard to results, the girls should take pride in their strong winning margins and their resilience during the more challenging matches. Players’ Player: Georgie Blumer

It was a joy to coach the team and I hope that the Upper Sixth students will continue to play and enjoy their netball skills at university or socially in the future.

Miss Lara Beere

4th VII

Record: played 5; won 2; lost 3; goals for 113, goals against 106; goal difference 7

Most Consistent Player: Annabel Mundy

Miss Claire Rowland

Mrs Phoebe Aitken

3rd VII

5th and 6th VII

Record: played 8; won 5; lost 3; goals for 141; goals against 121; goal difference 20

Squad: Adelaide Sheilds (L6, W), Aiym Kopbayeva (L6, W), Charlotte Ball (5th, Ch), Emily Wilford (L6, W), Gabi Lushington (U6, A), Georgina Hacker (L6, Ch), Isabel Tudsbery (U6, Ch), Issy Dickson (U6, A), Izzi Winstanley (L6, Q), Milly Fair (5th, A), Poppy Alltimes (L6, A), Sophie Baillie-Hamilton (5th, Q)

It was a joy to work with the 3rd VII; the girls were passionate about their games and really pulled together as a team. In training they always stepped up to train hard and gave the 2nd VII a good fight, showing that they were never the 3rd VII by much! The initial few games saw some excellent displays of netball and a hat trick of wins, comfortably beating King’s Worcester, Wycliffe and The Cheltenham Ladies’ College (CLC). In many of the girls’ minds their greatest win was that against CLC, coming back from losing in the first quarter to a final 14‑12 win, in very windy and cold conditions. Sadly from there our winning streak was broken by matches against St Edward’s School, Oxford, Marlborough College and Bradfield College. Final wins however against Rugby School and Dean Close School meant that we celebrated until the end of the season. The Players’ Player award went to Catriona for her coverage of the centre court, her dedication and her excitement for the game. The Coaches’ Player award went to Tashia for not only being a nominated Players’ Player, but also for her ability to change the game and turn the ball around repeatedly in centre court, putting us back into an attacking position. Taya was also highly commended by being a third nomination for Players’ Player and for being incredibly versatile, playing goal-keeper, centre court and in attack, depending what was needed, and holding a strong position in all cases.

The Cheltonian 2014-2015

Our next fixture, home against Dean Close School, was a convincing 38‑3 win. The final fixture away against Bradfield College, was a closely-contested match. Poppy defended well and Isabel, in her debut for the team, added to the goal score. The final quarter saw College come within one goal of drawing the match but Bradfield prevailed 25‑19. The girls should take great pride in their overall performance. They worked with commitment and enthusiasm throughout the season and their team spirit and exemplary attitude was a credit to all of them.

Coaches’ Player: Minty Lawson-Smith

Squad: Imogen Barnes (captain, U6, Q), Catriona Brown (vice-captain, U6, Q), Genevieve James (L6, Q), Tashia Suleyman (L6, Q), Taya Sellers (L6, W), Harriet Lacey (U6, A), Lucy Gray (U6, A), Chloe Holliday (L6, Q), Millie Powell (U6, A), Sophie Mathews (L6, A), Jana Bourhill (L6, Q)

skilful opponent. The girls kept their heads high and persevered throughout the game; the final score was 49‑12.

Most of the squad had not played together as a team until their first fixture, against St Edward’s School, Oxford, and Aiym, Adelaide and Emily represented College at netball for the first time. The squad gelled immediately, and excellent team-play was evident, resulting in a 28‑7 win. Izzi, Emily and Milly played extremely well in the centre, getting the ball powerfully and swiftly up the court. Sophie and Charlotte, as goal attack and goal shooter, were a force to be reckoned with, scoring from every goal attempt. In the match against Rugby School at home, Issy, Georgina and Gabi defended strongly to keep the Rugby shooters at bay but Rugby achieved a final 22‑16 win. The Marlborough College away fixture was a challenging match and the team played extremely well but was outclassed by a stronger and more

5th Squad: Florence Jacobs (L6, A), Isabella Firth (L6, W), Pippy Kohler (L6, Q), Alicia Williams (L6, Ch), Oyinkansola Oladapo (L6, W), Ines Oliver (L6, A), Sophie Caws (U6, Q), Louise Underwood (L6, W), Chloe Ward (L6, W), Tabitha Gillett (U6, W), Yulia Ovchinnikova (U6, Ch), Isabel Tudsbery (U6, Ch), Rosie Pratt (L6, A) 6th Squad: Anouska Ashmead-Bartlett (5th, Ch), Zoe Boulton (5th, Q), Lucy Kirkpatrick (5th, A), Alicia Lee (5th, Q), Ankita Mediratta (5th, W), Jasmine Murphy (5th, Ch), Raphaella Parker (5th, Ch), Amy Small (5th, W), Isabelle Stannett (5th, A), Georgia Whittal (5th, A) The senior girls managed to fill a 5th and 6th team, with training sessions designed to develop and enhance their netball skills. The girls benefited from expert coaching, and took part in conditioning, and speed, agility and quickness (SAQ) sessions. The 5ths were captained by Isabel Tudsbery and played a match against Marlborough College. They narrowly lost in the last quarter of the game but throughout showed determination and excellent team-work. The improvement made to the girls’ game was so good that some of the girls were moved up to the 4th VII. The ability to field a 5th and 6th team demonstrates how College ensures all abilities are catered for and are enabled to develop to a competitive standard.

Mrs Annette Poulain

Record: played 10; won 7; lost 3; goals for 250; goals against 187; goal difference 63

Squad: Florence Channing (5th, W), Lavinia Fairlie (5th, W), Holly Graveney (5th, A), Rheanna Hopkins (5th, Q), India Kirkness (5th, Ch), Juliette Lamden (5th, Q), Ella Mayes (5th, A), Zara Wynne (5th, Q) Before the season started the team entered the county rounds of the National Schools Competition. It was an opportunity for the girls to play against various schools from the county with the tournament winner and runner up moving on to the regional heats. The team made it to the semi-finals but narrowly missed progressing to the next stage in the competition. It was a great opportunity to see how the girls performed as a team, and to identify areas that needed improvement. The first fixture was a triangular against Bromsgrove School and Malvern College. The team played well, with some great movement down through the court; that strength was reflected in the scores: 23‑11 (Bromsgrove) and 27‑13 (Malvern). The following week saw a much tougher match at home against Clifton College. The team lost by six goals in a close match because Clifton capitalized on the girls’ inconsistency. The team worked hard in training the following week and gave a fantastic team performance against King’s Worcester, winning 36‑13. That was followed by another fantastic win – against Wycliffe 27‑19. The first match back after half term saw a very close match against St Edward’s School,

Oxford. The girls showed great resilience and determination to win by one goal. From defence through to attack, everyone played a key role in the match and it showed in the result. Unfortunately the following week our fortune was reversed when Rugby School beat us by one goal – but again the team’s determination was great to see. The next match was going to be the toughest of the season and the girls worked hard in training to make sure that we put pressure on the ball carrier to force the opposition to make mistakes. However, Marlborough College were clinical. They made very few errors and it was they who forced our team to make mistakes. The girls needed to pick themselves up and move forward because our next match was at home against our local rivals Dean Close School. The girls put on a fantastic display and dominated the game, winning the match convincingly 37‑14. The final match of the season was away to Bradfield College, where the girls put on another fantastic performance and came out 22‑8 winners. The whole team should be proud of their performance. Whenever we lost the girls came to training with a determination to improve. There were some excellent results and the squad as a whole should be proud of the way that they conducted themselves as an A team.

Miss Betsy Willey

Colts B

Record: played 6; won 4; drew 1; lost 1; goals for 123; goals against 78; goal difference 45 Squad: Serena Reeve-Tucker (captain, 5th, A), Eleanor Jones-Perrott (vice-captain, 5th, A), Molly Caesar (5th, Q), Tara Percival (5th, Ch), Zoe Robbins (5th, A), Jemma Robson (5th, W), Joanna White (5th, Ch), Millie Broom (5th, W), Harriet White (5th, Ch), Leah Shiu (5th, A)

match and easily overcame our opposition 21‑6. Victory buoyed our spirits and we were eager for our next fixture, scheduled against Malvern College that same afternoon, but sadly they could not muster a team. Indeed we did not have a chance to capitalize on our opening performance until February as The Cheltenham Ladies’ College also failed to provide a team. Despite the unintended break we trained seriously, knowing we could perform well at St Edward’s School, Oxford. They were feisty opponents: Molly experienced that early on after an altercation with her opposite number. The girls maintained the pressure and we cruised to a 22‑14 win and a well-earned break.

SPORT

Colts A

After half term we had a thrilling encounter against Rugby School at home. The lead changed hands several times and support from parents kept competitive spirits high. With 20 seconds remaining, College was winning 19‑18 but disastrously Rugby gained possession and brought the scores level just before the final whistle. We then encountered a strong and pacey Marlborough College side away. That led to our only defeat, a respectable score of 12‑21. Two further fixtures and victories followed to close the season. The home win against Dean Close School (26‑4) saw many playing out of position, such was the need for chivalry against a weakened Dean Close side. Credit must go to Millie and Joanna who tried shooting. The last match was a victory away against Bradfield College, 23‑14. Despite Ellie moving up to the A squad, the girls played excellent netball, particularly Leah whose shooting was flawless.

Mrs Alex Eldred

Junior Colts A

Record: played 11; won 6; drew 1; lost 4; goals for 248; goals against 227; goal difference 21

It was a successful season; the team spirit and leadership of Serena was excellent, leading to strong results and a fabulous atmosphere. The season commenced against Bromsgrove School in mid-January on the College outdoor courts. We incorrectly expected a difficult

Squad: Cordelia Shorthouse (4th, Q), Louise Hall (4th, W), Martha Elliott (4th, W), Amber Beachus (4th, W), Maddie Moorsom (4th, Ch), Sascha Taylor (4th, Ch), Phoebe Janes (4th, W), Rose Jones (4th, Q) The season proved to be a successful one for the Junior Colts’ A team. Winning a superb seven out of ten matches, the girls showed that College netball is in safe hands for the next three years. The term started with a triangular tournament against Malvern College and Bromsgrove School. After a close win over Malvern, the girls were unlucky not to win against Bromsgrove who beat us by just one goal. That loss proved to be just what the girls needed. It gave them determination and drive to focus on their future matches and prove that they were an able group of netballers.

The girls then enjoyed a run of five victories over Clifton College, King’s Worcester, Wycliffe, The Cheltenham Ladies’ College (CLC) and St Edward’s School, Oxford. The shooting combination of Louise and Cordelia proved hugely successful with a total of 141 goals being scored. Their shooting statistics were extremely impressive and both girls comfortably slotted into senior fixtures against Dean Close School. Sascha and Phoebe were a strong defensive pair and turned over an outstanding number of balls throughout the season. Their defensive strength proved unbeatable against Rugby School and Bradfield College who tried their hardest to break their tight marking. Martha earned her A team place and developed into a very impressive wing defence. Her outstanding ability to read the game helped her single-handedly turn over a number of balls and furthermore feed our attackers to score from our opponents’ centre passes. Maddie, Amber and Rose were extremely impressive carrying the ball in centre court; they were agile, accurate and fast moving. Their calmness through the court meant we were able to dominate many games and feed the shooting circle. Their energy and positivity was hugely appreciated. The season finished with an outstanding performance in the May Dent Tournament at CLC. They won their group convincingly, beating some very strong netball schools, including The Cotswold School, Dene Magna School and Farmor’s School. After seven games in the pool round, the girls began to tire. They were unfortunate to lose to a very strong side from Chosen Hill School who went on to win the tournament.

Bromsgrove (who had themselves just defeated Malvern). A tense 14‑15 loss to King’s Worcester followed the week after, inspiring the team to fully do themselves justice in their next fixture against Wycliffe, which they duly did. After being level until the third quarter, College stole ahead to win 14‑6 as a result of their excellent focus, controlled passing, and flawless shooting from Georgie Bailie‑Hamilton. Unfortunately, College did not manage to sustain that focus as the season progressed, going on to lose five out of the six subsequent fixtures. A series of illnesses and injuries also went some way to accounting for those frustrating defeats. A convincing victory over Dean Close School, however, was among the highlights of the season: even with three players out of position, College won convincingly, 29‑11. All players demonstrated their strong potential in netball during the course of the season, but special mention must go to Jaime whose attitude and commitment was exemplary throughout.

Miss Elizabeth Rawkins

Junior Colts C

Record: played 9; won 2; drew 1; lost 6; goals for 119; goals against 142; goal difference 23

together and a lot was learned. The following week saw the girls travel to King’s Worcester where, despite a number of absences due to illness, the girls narrowly lost 14‑15. Itching for a win, the team travelled to Wycliffe where they were delighted to learn that, because of the snow, they would play indoors. The girls played exceptionally well and won the game 14‑5. The Cheltenham Ladies’ College were next and, despite cold temperatures and strong winds, the girls carried on their strong play to draw the game 7‑7 in the last three seconds. The following week the girls had on their game faces and with good teamwork, concentration and flawless shooting, they had a strong victory of 26‑4 over Dean Close School. Sadly, that was the end to the winning streak. Although the last four games of the season were losses, some were very close, including the final game against Bradfield College (12‑15). The girls played beautifully throughout the season and were full of positive energy. A special mention to our captain, Chanelle, for playing exceptionally well, and to Ella who worked hard and earnt her place in the team.

Miss Lulu Watson

Junior Colts D

Record: played 5; drew 1; lost 4; goals for 36; goals against 131; goal difference 95

It was an absolute pleasure to coach the girls. They really were a joy to coach and their dedication and determination to win and develop can only be commended. I look forward to seeing many of them appear at pre-season with the 1st VII next spring.

Mrs Rebecca Faulkner

Junior Colts B

Record: played 10; won 3; lost 7; goals for 135; goals against 198; goal difference 63

Squad: Jaime Carter (4th, A), Georgie Baillie-Hamilton (4th, Q), Libby Barnes (4th, W), Lucinda Gardiner (4th, Ch), Jess Steel (4th, Q), Chanelle Moller (4th, A), Georgina Pinchard (4th, Ch), Stephanie Symcox (4th, Q), Grace Wackett (4th, W) The season began with a triangular fixture against Bromsgrove School and Malvern College which extended as long as daylight permitted. College narrowly lost to Malvern in the first match, but went on to secure a satisfying victory over

The Cheltonian 2014-2015

Squad: Isla Flint (4th, A), Georgie Fowler (4th, Q), Tusmo Ismail (4th, W), Chanelle Moller (4th, A), Ella Owens (4th, Q), Lois Short (4th, Q), Olivia Talbot-Rice (4th, A), Imogen Williams (4th, Ch) The first game of the season saw the girls face Malvern College. The team had barely trained

Squad: Annabel Merheim-Kealy (4th, Q), Alina Baranova (4th, Ch), Kiara Sakaguchi (4th, A), Darina Shutina (4th, A), Lucy Thompson

Although wins were sadly non-existent, the girls were never short of team spirit. They always battled through to the end, even in extremely difficult matches and conditions. They played exceedingly well against some challenging teams, with sound sportsmanship. Some of those matches, despite facing extremely talented teams, were very close. In particular, Dean Close School just managed to pick up a few final goals in the last quarter, bringing the final score to 14‑10 in their favour. Later in the term, Bradfield College scored a goal in the last 20 seconds of the match, stealing the win from College to make the final score a draw at 14‑14. All the players should be commended for their wonderful spirit and adversity in the face of difficult matches. For some girls, it was their first encounter with netball. There were several players of particular note: Annabel, a strong player, able to adapt to different positions; Jemima, who had honed her shooting skills by the end of the season and rarely missed her shots; Daria who adapted her basketball skills to the game and always put in 100% effort to both the practice and matches, being awarded Player of the Match on more than one occasion; and Paola, who always played with such dogged determination, which was recognized and also earned her the title of Player of the Match. Those girls are by no means the only remarkable players; everyone on the team was outstanding in both performance and manner, and all should be extremely proud.

Miss Helen Davies

Yearlings A

Record: played 14; won 12; lost 2; goals for 322; goals against 208; goal difference 114

Bromsgrove squad take victory against both teams. However, the team’s new combinations were tested out and they did well to take their first victory 28‑18 against Malvern. Losing Olivia, their captain, through injury earlier on meant other combinations needed to be re-worked and the group continually worked hard to please. It showed in their games, where they demonstrated some fast-paced and exciting netball. They went on to secure some excellent wins against tough opposition such as Clifton College, King’s Worcester and competitors in the South West Regional Schools Competition: Wycliffe, The Cheltenham Ladies’ College and Dean Close School. Precision feeds by Emily and Flo ensured the shooters Paige and Annabelle were well supplied. The shooters did not disappoint and produced some excellent conversions with Annabelle really stepping up game by game. Defensively, the new unit combinations at the back of Abby, Mollie, Yasmin and Kaela worked tirelessly at times to shut down the oppositions’ opportunities and they did that well. It helped them to secure more wins: against St Edward’s School, Oxford, where they had their biggest victory of the season (42‑16); and against Marlborough College, a school that had made it through to the National Schools’ netball finals (27‑16). Their final fixture, against Bradfield College, saw the welcome return to full fitness of their captain. That gave the team a real boost to end the season, and more options to put out. Whatever the combinations, the team continued to dominate and played some really exciting quick-release netball. Their understanding and team processes developed strongly as the season progressed, with a great understanding on attacking centre passes and defending the oppositions. The squad has huge potential with Olivia being selected for England Netball’s South West Regional Academy, and Paige, Emily and Flo being selected on to the Gloucestershire Netball County Academy programme. They are a team who have excelled and should be very proud of their results.

Honor McFarlane (3rd, W), Verity Peterken (3rd, W), Annabel Slatter (3rd, A), Octavia Slatter (3rd, W), Evie Webb (3rd, Ch) The season proved to be a mixed one for the girls and one where they were on a rather steep learning curve. I cannot fault the girls for their enthusiasm and determination to do well, often in the face of tough opposition. At no point on the court did they allow their heads to drop or their level of commitment to fail.

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(4th, Q), Paola Ramos Contreras (4th, W), Libby Haddock (4th, Ch), Jemima Cooper (4th, Q), Laura Morris (4th, W), Lola-Lou Torode (4th, W), Elisabeth Trachtmann (4th, Ch), Daria Romanyuk (4th, W), Daisy Wildman (4th, Ch)

Over the season we played in ten fixtures and scored an impressive 134 goals, confidently put through the net by Honor, Verity and Annabella. We put together a hat trick of wins in the middle of the season, beating The Cheltenham Ladies’ College 15‑10, Dean Close School an impressive 21‑9 and St Edward’s School, Oxford, 27‑20. We were narrowly beaten by Bromsgrove School by one goal (with the rivals scoring in the last nine seconds of the match) and Malvern College by three goals. In the matches against Rugby School and Marlborough College we started really well and were in the lead after the first quarter, but were unable to maintain that when they started to play with more fluency. In both of those matches the defence positions of Annabel, Georgina, Evie and Phoebe were certainly worked hard. A final close match against Bradfield College, which went to the last quarter, rounded off an enjoyable and fulfilling season for all concerned. Players’ Player: Phoebe Barnes Coaches’ Player: Honor McFarlane Most Improved Player: Annabel Slatter.

Mrs Kate Hornsby

Yearlings C

Record: played 9; won 4; lost 5; goals for 100; goals against 154; goal difference 54

Miss Gilly Salter

Yearlings B

Record: played 10; won 3; lost 7; goals for 134; goals against 181; goal difference 47 Squad: Georgie Elliott (3rd, A), Rebecca Smith (3rd, A), Poppy Pearey (3rd, Ch), Lanta Thynne (3rd, Ch), Georgia Mitchell (3rd, Q), Valeria Popeta (3rd, Q), Gemma Taylor-Baggs (3rd, Q), Isabella Channing (3rd, W), Caroline Daly (3rd, W), Tilly Fletcher (3rd, W), Eva Palmer (3rd, W)

Squad: Olivia Mitchell (captain, 3rd, W), Florence Needham (3rd, W), Emily Drysdale (3rd, W), Annabelle Rigg (3rd, W), Abigail Aitken (3rd, Ch), Kaela Wilson (3rd, W), Mollie Lyle (3rd, Q), Yasmin Mayes (3rd, A), Paige Baker (3rd, A) The team had an excellent season, demonstrating great work ethic and being highly motivated; they were a great squad to coach. Their first fixture was a double header against Bromsgrove School and Malvern College, and it was a hard-fought game that saw a very strong

Squad: Phoebe Barnes (3rd, Q), Annabella Bifulco (3rd, Q), Ellie Davies (3rd, Q), India Deakin (3rd, W), Georgina Grimwade (3rd, A),

Despite a close loss against Malvern College (11‑13), the season started strongly with convincing wins against King’s Worcester (32‑8), Wycliffe (6‑4), The Cheltenham Ladies’ College (12‑3) and a narrow victory against St Edward’s School, Oxford, (19‑17). The first half of term saw significant improvements made in shooting (particularly Rebecca), defence (Valeria was formidable at preventing opponents into the D), and teamwork for the entire squad.

The second half of term saw our luck change significantly, with very tough matches against Dean Close School (9‑18), Rugby School (1‑32) and Marlborough College, who were always going to be very strong opponents, (1‑42). The girls must be congratulated on maintaining such a strong fighting spirit despite those disappointing results. Training sessions were taken in good humour, yet were incredibly productive thanks to the help of Miss Betsy Willey and Mrs Rosie Pretorius. Our final game, against Bradfield College, saw the girls play their best netball of the season. I was incredibly impressed with the Yearlings’ C team’s magnanimous behaviour, enabling the Yearlings’ D squad to play half of that match so that they too got a final game of the season. The final score of a 9‑17 loss does not reflect the incredible efforts made by the C team, who actually beat Bradfield 6‑5 in the half they played. Such selfless attitude sums up the team, and every girl should be congratulated for the great improvements they made throughout the course of the term.

Miss Emily Hartley

Yearlings D

Record: played 4; won 2; lost 2; goals for 38; goals against 76; goal difference 38

Squad: Ronke Adetona (3rd, Ch), Ellen Currie (3rd, W), Victoria Edwards (3rd, Q), Sima Kheyfits (3rd, Ch), Varvara Konyaeva (3rd, W), Olivia Ladkin (3rd, Ch), Kaelan O’Toole (3rd, Ch), Regan O’Toole (3rd, Ch), Ing-Tarn Ruckpanich (3rd, Ch), Jilly Woodward (3rd, Ch) The season started with two cancelled matches – against Bromsgrove School and The Cheltenham Ladies’ College. Despite the disappointment, all of the players worked with both determination and a strong sense of team spirit to improve their matchplay. Under the excellent captainship of Victoria and Olivia, they showed tenacity in the match against Dean Close School, despite being behind in the second quarter, and went on to win the match 17‑11. That winning streak continued against St Edward’s School, Oxford, in which their newly-learnt passing skills, excellent defending, and Ellen’s shooting were the highlights. The next two fixtures, away against Rugby School and Marlborough College, proved to be too challenging and they were outclassed by stronger opponents. The team should be congratulated on their resilience and commitment to the sport. The improvement in the skill levels of individual members is to be commended as many of them had never played netball before. In many respects they have been a dream team and provided

The Cheltonian 2014-2015

an excellent example of true sportsmanship at College.

Mrs Sarah Ramsay

Rackets After the trials and tribulations of last year’s 25th anniversary year, the College Racket Club’s season was a little more down to earth. That is not to say, however, that there were not one or two notable events and achievements. Under the leadership of Jamie Jamieson-Black (U6, H), the first pair was an ever-changing feast. Josh Dell (L6, H), Rhodri Hande (L6, S), Ollie Cookson (U6, L), George Key (U6, H), and our captain all represented College at the top level. Even as we approached the Public School Doubles Championships in March, we were not convinced that we had the correct College Pair. However, we won the lion’s share of games at that level, suffering defeats to Eton College, Harrow School, Winchester College, Tonbridge School and Clifton College. We were often in commanding positions but against the better schools we did not seem to know how to win. It did mean, however, that we were relatively strong at 2nd Pair, 3rd Pair and 4th Pair level, and that was born out with the results at Queen’s Club at the end of season. As ever, success is often monitored through one’s performance in the Public School Doubles

Championships at Queen’s Club and Josh and Rhodri, our eventual choice at College Pair, were drawn against the 2nd seeds, Wellington. We never quite showed the confidence or intensity, perhaps; despite a bright start, we went down 2‑4. Our 4th Pair (Ethan Dowling (L6, L) and George Cook (L6, Xt) failed to trouble the scorers, but both 3rd Pair, Jonothan Jamieson-Black (5th, H) and George, and 2nd Pair, Ollie and Jamie, got through to the semi-finals; the former succumbing to a very strong Eton pair, the other to Wellington – the top two seeds. Nevertheless, it was a bright end to the season for the players concerned. In Lower College, Jono and Max Dymoke (5th, NH) suffered many bitter-sweet moments. They won more than they lost, and at times they were excellent, but it seemed that all too easily they lost concentration. It was unfortunate that Max was injured for the Doubles. Lower down, Theo Taylor (4th, Xt), Sam Cook (4th, NH), Oliver Hill (4th, L) and Charlie Boyce (4th, S) all competed for a Junior Colts’ pair but never really convinced in their performances against the better pairs. There is still much promise, and victories over Malvern College, Rugby School, Charterhouse and Clifton College were good to see. Unfortunately, at Queen’s Club in March, a 2-3 defeat to Tonbridge School meant that Theo and Oliver fell at the first hurdle. Other Fourth Form pupils need to make some bigger improvements as there is an encouraging crop of Yearlings who managed to get, and use, a decent amount of court time, culminating in Oscar Butcher (3rd, H) and Ali Pearce (3rd, Xt) playing at Queen’s Club in both the

The Public Schools’ Singles Tournament before Christmas saw a number of College players go out in the early rounds; however, Theo progressed to the last 16 in the country at U15 and our captain nearly went all the way in the Renny Cup, reaching the final before losing out to a doggedly determined and reliable Harrovian. It was a superb effort by Jamie and one which earned him his Colours. Particularly pleasing progress was made with girls’ rackets, culminating in College’s first girls’ rackets fixture against Haileybury. Catriona Brown (U6, Q), Rebecca Perry (U6, A) and Charlotte Woodman (U6, Q) fought valiantly in a 1-2 defeat. Some excellent enthusiasm and improvement took place throughout the season and we entered a record number of girls into the U16 and U18 singles where Annabel Mundy (L6, A) progressed to the quarter-finals of the Senior Girls’ Championships at Queen’s Club before losing to the eventual finalist. Domestically, Josh won the Bridgeman Cup for College Singles, Hazelwell won the KA Cook House Doubles Cup (beating Hazelwell II in the final for the second year in succession), and Yearling Oscar Butcher won the COAL Plate for Junior Singles. The 15th Old Cheltonian Gold Racquet was won by Mr Richard Owen (2006‑2011, L) and Mr Al Gourlay. The Cheltenham Masters Rackets Club (CMRC) played Manchester, Lords, and Queen’s Club, with Mr Mark Briers and Mr Richard Moore emerging as Club champions. That prompted a wave of enthusiasm to play on Rackets courts the other side of the Atlantic and in March the 25th anniversary celebrations were properly

concluded as seven members of College rackets-playing masters toured North America, notching up victory in Philadelphia, but losing out to some excellently arranged fixtures in Chicago and New York. What was evident was that the Cheltonians who have been chosen for Fellowships at those North American Clubs in their gap years, are outstanding ambassadors for College, and Cheltenham College is warmly received at every Club; what was also evident was that CMRC needs to ensure they are a little more match fit ahead of the next tour! As ever, we continue to appreciate the support of other sports, and their Heads of Sport and, inevitably, Mr Mark Briers as the core of our success.

Mr Karl Cook

Rowing 1st VIII

Squad: Luke Knudsen (5th, NH), Daniel Ali (L6, NH), Benedict Schallamach (4th, BH), Orlando Giusseppetti (L6, BH), Kieran Connolly (U6, Xt), Fernando Capelastegui (L6, BH), Euan Bourhill (4th, S), Guy Lloyd (L6, Xt), Isobel Salmond Smith (5th, A) Having finished their exams, the College 1st VIII arrived in Henley excited about their week of training leading into the qualifying races for Henley Royal Regatta. With many of our rowers training on the famous Henley stretch for the first time, the crews made good progress whilst also having the opportunity to train alongside international athletes. The 1st VIII, coached by Mr Tristan Mayglothling and Mr Dan Evans, went on to compete in the

qualifying races against the best junior crews in the country. After giving their best and putting in a tough performance, they narrowly missed out on a place in the regatta. With seven rowers and cox Isobel all returning to College for the 2015‑2016 academic year, the young crew are sure to be back stronger and hungrier than ever – with qualification being high on the list of performance goals in the Boat Club next season.

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singles and doubles. In addition, the promising improvement of Oliver Baker (3rd, NH), Max Pemberton (3rd, H) and Felix Watson-Smythe (3rd, Xt) and others all bode well for the future.

Senior Girls

Squad: Georgina O’Reilly (U6, Ch), Amalie Dons (5th, Q), Isabella Highton (U6, W), Beatrice Martin-Harrington (U6, Q), Tara Wasdell (5th, W), Olivia Clayton (U6, A), Freddie White (4th, BH) The senior girls’ crew made considerable progress during the 2014‑2015 rowing season. They improved their technique, fitness and understanding of what rowing at the highest level entailed but they were not in the end quite able to achieve the breakthrough result at national level to which they aspired. The coaching team was strengthened significantly by the addition of Mr Arran O’Dell from Abingdon School and, under his training regime, work began well in September 2014. There was considerable focus on technique and the squad was able to take advantage of some unusually good water at Tewkesbury. That improved technical work translated into wins in Novice IVs and Junior IVs at Monkton Bluefriars Small Boats Head in October and was an excellent start to the season. The momentum carried through to some reasonable results at the City of Bristol Head, losing out to some excellent crews from the Oxford University Lightweight Rowing Club, and onto Wycliffe Small Boats Head in December. There the squad were able to put in a dominant performance,

100 years ago It was decided not to have a College Boat as five of the six masters who coached had joined the army. Of the previous year’s crew there was only the bow left and none of the Trial IVs and ‘as Thursday is now taken up by the Corps we can only have two days a week on the river. … As the Railway Company refused to allow us our usual reduction, and said our numbers were not enough for the special, Mr Towers obtained two charà-bancs from the Blue Taxi Company to take us over. This is a great improvement.’ One of those masters who had left to serve in the war, Mr Henry Reed (staff, 1909‑1915), was killed in France on 2 May 1915. [Boat Club Minute Book, IV; The Cheltonian, 1915, pp 166; 332‑335]

again winning Novice IVs and Junior IVs but also finishing in the top three places in the Pairs event. A successful camp was held at Gloucester Rowing Club in the first week of the Easter holidays and preparations for the summer season were proceeding well when key crew member Isabella was unfortunately again struck down with the illness that had dogged her all season. However the crew rallied well with promising young rower Tara stepping into the three seat at late notice for the Bedford Regatta. That race was perhaps the high point of the season, despite an early setback losing to a good crew from Lady Eleanor Holles Boat Club in J18 IVs. The crew dominated the Novice IVs, winning the three rounds in some style including the final by an ‘easily’ verdict. At the National Schools’ Regatta, the crew of Amalie, Tara, Georgina, Bea and Freddie raced well to qualify out of their time trial. They were in contention in their semi-final after 500m but were not able to stay in touch in such a competitive event and slipped out of contention for the final.

Junior Colts Boys IV

Squad: Edward August (4th, H), Benedict Schallamach (4th, BH), Euan Bourhill (4th, S), Sebastian Villars (4th, S), James Drysdale (4th, BH) From January, the crew showed impressive commitment to improving their boat speed. Giving no less than 100% to every session, and requesting extra outings, the boys, and their coach Mr Edward Fenn, prepared both their technical skill and fitness well. At the Bedford Regatta, the boys won through their initial rounds to reach the semi-finals where they lost in a close battle with Norwich School. At the National Schools’ Regatta, the boys upped their game and qualified through the time trial into the semi-finals. The boys narrowly missed out on a place in the final, losing a fantastic semi-final race to Aberdeen Schools Rowing Association by only 0.15 seconds. Two of the squad, Benedict and Euan went on to compete at Henley Royal Regatta as part of the College 1st VIII. The squad of five exceeded

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expectations on the water and look to make up a solid part of the senior squad moving into the next season.

1890 ‘In the Spring term Mr [Theodore] Falle [staff, 1880‑1922] sent round circulars to old members of the Boat Club & others interested in it, appealing for subscriptions to aid in purchasing a new boat for the College Four as the old one was utterly unserviceable. The appeal was promptly responded to & the necessary money was subscribed.’ [Boat Club Minute Book, vol. III, 1889‑1905]

Junior Colts Girls IV

Squad: Isobel Turner (4th, A), Arabella Johnson (4th, A), Charlotte Burnett (4th, Q), Louise Hall (4th, W), Olivia Clayton (U6, A) The crew had a mixed season of competition on the water. The four girls, coxed by Olivia and coached by Miss Victoria Huckle, significantly improved their technical ability on the water, learning how to paddle and compete in a sweep oar boat. At the beginning of May the girls travelled to the Bedford Regatta where they won through initial rounds before losing narrowly to St Edward’s School, Oxford, in the semi-finals. At the National Schools’ Regatta, in rough conditions and against tough competition, the girls missed out on a place in the semi-finals by only seconds as the fastest non-qualifier. Although not the result they were hoping for, the racing experience at national level was invaluable, and their enthusiasm, passion, and motivation to succeed on the water is sure to return to the Boat Club next season.

Yearlings Boys VIII

Squad: Lucas Tanir (3rd, S), Henry Parsons (3rd, BH), Boris Pustoshinskiy (3rd, Xt), Stephan Axen (3rd, S), Parker Frandsen (3rd, S), Rory Pleydell (3rd, S), Oscar Keene (3rd, S), Thomas Ladds (3rd, Xt), Zac Robertson (3rd, NH) The Yearlings boys’ octo, led and coached by Dr Duncan McCombie, recorded the best results for their age group in the history of College rowing. The crew of eight, coxed by Zac, made huge progress both technically and physically, developing a good understanding of how to move a boat effectively.

Double Duck ‘On May 17th [1890] there was a heavy wind blowing upstream & in consequence a very heavy swell. College crew were in a white cross boat which on reaching the bridge coming home shipped water over the bows at every stroke, Mr Falle who was coaching us from the bank easied us at the bridge as he thought we were sinking. Perceiving we could go no further without being swamped Mr Falle told us to get in to the shore as best we could, but before we could get there we were swamped & had to swim for it. An event unparalleled, as Mr Falle says, during the 14 years he has been in the boat club.’ According to a press cutting from the Tewkesbury Register, the Club took to the milder waters of the Avon a few days later, but with no better result as another ducking ensued. After running back to the boat house and a change of clothes they spent the remainder of the afternoon doing ‘some spirited canoe practice’. [Boat Club Minute Book, vol. III, 1889‑1905]

Yearlings Girls VIII

Squad: Florence Needham (3rd, W), Olivia Mitchell (3rd, W), Isabelle Kemp (3rd, A), Paige Baker (3rd, A), Abigail Aitken (3rd, Ch), Sumaya Dowling-Membrado (3rd, A), Chloe Degnan (3rd, Ch), Penelope Salmond Smith (3rd, A)

Miss Victoria Huckle, with Mr Dan Evans, Mr Edward Fenn, Mr Richard Jones, Dr Duncan McCombie, Mr Tristan Mayglothling and Ms Heidy Parks

Rugby 1st XV

Record: played 11; won 5; lost 6; points for 168; points against 211; points difference 43

The Third Form girls’ octo started their rowing careers with an outstanding first season in the Boat Club. A committed, motivated and very enthusiastic group of girls, along with their coach Ms Heidy Parks, formed a solid technical and physiological platform to use to improve their rowing. Following a friendly with St Edward’s School, Oxford, and Pangbourne College in early May (from which they gained some valuable sideby-side racing experience), the girls went on to race at the National Schools’ Regatta held at the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham. Exceeding everyone’s expectations, they became the first female junior crew in College history to qualify out of the time trial, narrowly missing out on a place in the final after a close semi-final race. It was an outstanding performance from the girls, which they are sure to build on next season.

Squad: Daniel Ali (L6, NH), Joel Stephens (U6, S), Monty Chapman (L6, BH), Harry Boyce (L6, S), Humphrey Bodington (vicecaptain, U6, BH), Oliver Goodrick-Clarke (U6, L), Jonjo O’Neill (L6, NH), Ben Pickles (U6, S) Benjamin Traas (U6, NH), Christian Johnston (U6, L), George Key (U6, H), Alex Hall (U6, L), Patrick Main (U6, NH), Joe Warner (L6, S), Alexander Braithwaite-Exley (U6, H), Matthew Baker (L6, NH), Oliver Thorley (captain, U6, BH), Ludo Millar (U6, BH), Paddy

Milton (U6, Xt), Henry Morshead (L6, BH), Oliver Severn (U6, H), Dan Beachus (L6, BH) Pre-season was more extensive than normal as 28 lucky boys went on a two-week tour of South Africa. There were five rugby matches, with good wins against Wynberg Boys’ High School, Bergvleit High School and Langa Township. The boys got a real taste of tough South African rugby in the final two games against Paarl Boys’ High School and Grey High School, Port Elizabeth. One could not fault the boys’ focus and dedication throughout the tour and they were amazing ambassadors for College. I was very proud of each and every one of them and the way they stuck together throughout the whole incredible journey.

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With very little racing experience, the boys headed to the National Water Sports Centre in May to compete at the National Schools’ Regatta, and achieved a result which exceeded all expectations. In a fantastic day of racing for College rowing, they were the first junior boys’ crew from College to ever qualify from the time trial through to the semi-finals of the competition. It was an outstanding performance to conclude a strong first year of rowing.

It was a great season opener on a glorious day with a fantastic crowd. Sadly things did not start well as College lost Joel in the warm-up with an injury that would keep him out for the season. With a quick reshuffle in the pack, the game commenced. Rugby School were a big physical side and took the lead with an early penalty shortly after the kick-off which put College on the back foot. However, College responded well and, after a sustained period of pressure, drew level with a well-struck penalty by Patrick. For most of the first half College looked the

The motion before the Debating Society in November 1889 was: ‘That Football [i.e. rugby] is superior to Cricket.’ Carried 26:7 [The Cheltonian, 1889, p.223]

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most threatening, with a couple of strong runs by captain Ollie Thorley and effective ball carrying by the forwards, notably Humphrey and Ben Traas. Sadly, College’s inability to look after the ball in contact let them down at key stages and it was not until the last ten minutes of the first half when they broke the deadlock. A poor kick from the Rugby full-back landed in the hands of Ollie Thorley who broke through two tackles before drawing the final defender and sending Dan Beachus off down the touch-line to score. That seemed to spur on the boys and more pressure was poured on the Rugby defence. With little time left in the first half, Patrick extended the lead to 11-3 with another well-struck penalty. The second half was a war of attrition as College failed to keep hold of the ball and Rugby created more and more opportunities. However, College’s defensive efforts were Herculean at times with try-saving tackles from Ludo, Patrick, Ollie Severn and Christian. Sadly, with the last play of the game, Rugby finally broke through to score and make the score a lot closer than it should have been. It was a great advert for school rugby, a fantastic day all round, and a great way to kick off the season. The next two fixtures, against Monmouth School and Abingdon School were two of our poorest performances all season. For some reason the defence, that had been fantastic against Rugby a week before, vanished for both of those games. College seemed to lose all ability to work together and defend as a unit. The three enforced changes because of injury go some way to explain it, but all in all they were two hugely disappointing displays. In both games College showed glimpses of quality play in attack only to then turn the ball over through simple mistakes and lack of concentration. There were some individual performances that stood out; Humphrey was immense and did well stepping in as captain. He was supported well by the consistent force of Christian and Jonjo, whose tackle count was in the mid twenties for both fixtures. Both Monmouth and then Abingdon were well organized and kept hold of possession well, but the score flattered them as our performance was nowhere near what it should have been. A quick turnaround for the midweek fixture against Pate’s Grammar School meant that the boys were under pressure to raise their performance levels. To their credit, that is exactly what they did for large

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parts of the game. Some good goal kicking by Alex Hall kept College in the hunt for the first half as they struggled to get into a rhythm. However, that quickly changed with two quick tries: one by Joe, after a great offload by Ollie Thorley, and the other a well-worked driving line-out allowing Jonjo to dive over. That seemed to put College in charge but sadly, a lack of composure allowed Pate’s to score two tries and narrow the lead to just three points. Then with no time left, and College in possession ten metres out from the Pate’s line, a Pate’s player intercepted a pass and ran the length to score under the posts; a gut-wrenching end to the game. Despite losing in a close battle with Pate’s, there were high hopes for the fixture against Malvern College. The performance had been better and training during the week had been focused. College delivered a workmanlike display to run out comfortable winners against a surprisingly physical Malvern side. There were stand-out performances from Henry, Dan Ali, Oliver Goodrick-Clarke and Paddy as College displayed some great free-flowing rugby, which gave the boys a confidence boost heading into arguably their hardest game of the season against an unbeaten team from Sherborne School. It was a fantastically heroic display by College, largely down to a faultless defensive performance. Ben Pickles and Oliver GoodrickClarke led the charge with some fantastic tackles, creating a number of turn-over opportunities. Alex Hall showed huge maturity with his kicking at goal and his ability to turn the Sherborne defence. College made excellent decisions and were patient once in possession. Ollie Thorley proved the x-factor once more, scoring the only try of the game from a kick ahead by Joe and then Alex Braithwaite-Exley. Paddy was faultless in only his third game playing at full-back. The boys will remember the victory for a long time, especially as it was so convincing. Momentum continued only four days later, away against Radley College. Although there were some defensive issues in that game the never-say-die attitude of the boys was fantastic. Despite scoring first, College found themselves 22‑7 down midway through the first half and the writing looked to be on the wall. However, the boys found some continuity and a well-worked driving line-out allowed Christian to score, which was converted by Alex Hall, who then added a penalty just

before half-time to make it 22‑17. Radley extended their lead after half-time and again, through silly mistakes, College looked as if they would end their winning streak. College responded with a great set-piece move finished off neatly by Ben Pickles. That was then followed up by another try from Ollie Thorley that started in the Cheltenham 22 and went through at least six phases where almost every College player touched the ball. The score was 27‑27 with just two minutes left to play. College secured the kick-off and decided to go for the win. A mesmeric pass from the ever tenacious and consistent Matthew put Ollie Thorley away on a 60‑metre dash. He was caught and offloaded to Joe who finished under the post with the winning score! George deserves a mention for a very impressive performance off the bench which got College on the front foot in the last 15 minutes. The second half of the season left St Edward’s School, Oxford, Marlborough College, Bromsgrove School and Clifton College a very tough run. After a long break there was a little rustiness in the performance at St Edward’s. But College’s aggressive defence came to the forefront with impressive performances by Matthew and Monty. College ended 8‑7 winners in a hard-fought battle which could have gone to either side. Marlborough was next and there were high hopes of the winning run continuing. Sadly it was not to be. A lack of composure by College meant that they never quite had control of the game, despite working immensely hard and having the lead up until the final two minutes. College did play some great rugby at times and produced four excellent scores, the pick of which was a ten‑metre dash off the back of a maul by Jonjo. But sadly that was not enough and agonizingly College lost 23‑28 as Marlborough scored in the final seconds. The Marlborough game seemed to knock the wind out of the sails for the boys; their performance against a well-organized Bromsgrove side lacked a cutting edge. The passion and desire was there but sadly the performance went missing. With limited opportunities on offer, College needed to be clinical with their attacking play, but yet again the final product was not there and too many turn-overs proved costly. The boys defended with plenty of heart in the first half, and at 6‑0 down there was everything to play for. Sadly College

Clifton was the final game of the season and after a much better week of training there seemed to be a good feeling in the camp. The performance in the first half was much improved and College threatened the Clifton line on numerous occasions but could not quite finish. Patrick was called up for that game and looked comfortable at fly-half, playing the ball in behind at the right times and getting the College attack rolling down the Clifton slope. There was some fantastic ball carrying by Joel (back from a long lay-off), the rumbling Dan Ali, and Harry – who had his best game of the season. However 7‑3 at half-time was never going to be enough and College struggled to get anything going in the second half, playing up the slope. The defence was again sensational with a number of amazing

cover tackles but Clifton finally broke the line and took the lead 8‑7. Sadly College never managed to get back into the match and the one-point loss was gut-wrenching. I would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to Mr Trevor Woodman who has been working with me. Trevor has been an inspiration throughout the season, and I hope the boys realize how lucky they have been to have him as part of the coaching team. It was a true honour working with him and I have benefited hugely from his support and vast wealth of knowledge.

2nd XV

Record: played 11; won 7; lost 4; points for 215; points against 128; points difference 87

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never really fired, and struggled to get into any attacking rhythm. Although they defended bravely, they could not prevent Bromsgrove crossing the line twice to run out comfortable 20‑0 winners.

Re-Awarded Colours: Ollie Thorley Full Colours: Humphrey Bodington; Christian Johnston Half Colours: Jonjo O’Neill; Matthew Baker; Joe Warner

Mr Tom Richardson

Squad: William Weston (U6, BH), George Cook (L6, Xt), Thomas Yenbamroong (U6, Xt), Archie Timmis (L6, H), Fernando Capelastegui (L6, BH), Okker Leenart (L6, NH), Cameron Logan (U6, BH), Louis Taylor-Baggs (captain, U6, S), Hugh Gunn (U6, L), Patrick Main (vice-captain, U6, NH), Harry Hickman (U6, H), James Battishill (L6, NH), Jamie Jamieson-Black (U6, H), Barnaby Napier (L6, Xt), Ethan DowlingMembrado (L6, L), Sean Wilson (U6, BH), Harry James (L6, L), Cosimo Khairy (U6, Xt), Toby North (U6, Xt), Freddie Watson (U6, H), Matthew Ward (L6, L), Ollie Cookson (U6, L) Half-time oranges; they are back! That forgotten citrus injection was perhaps the catalyst for some of the sensational rugby the 2nd XV demonstrated at times during the season. Apart from that, the attitude the squad showed, from 2 September until the very last whistle against Clifton College, was second to none and it was a pleasure to coach them. All season we worked closely both with the 1st XV but also with the 3rd XV which led to constant competition for places. That, without a shadow of a doubt, got the best out of all concerned – both in terms of commitment and development. Performances that stand out were the emphatic 35‑14 victory over Monmouth School, winning away at Marlborough College, and an opening-day win, at home, to Rugby School. It was though, the second-half performances against Sherborne School and Bromsgrove School that will live longest in our memories. In those two games, the boys showed they could win in two very different manners. Against Sherborne, College trailed 0‑3 at the interval; in the second half, through adversity, College played some of the finest schoolboy rugby: marrying power at the break-down, slick hands, and excellent control of territory. College opened the scoring through James and then Harry Hickman demonstrated great finishing skills to put College further ahead. Jamie subsequently sealed a fantastic win, latching on to the end of a mazy Cameron run, and capped off a fantastic second-half performance. The game against Bromsgrove was a different kettle of fish altogether. On a wet and muddy day that saw some very interesting interpretations of the line-out laws, a game of cat and mouse unfolded. Two very different teams contested the intense game where the lead kept changing hands. At times, Bromsgrove nearly took the

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game by the scruff of its neck but, back in full flow from injury, Patrick and his 40‑metre boot kept College within striking distance. With the game seemingly slipping away, the forwards found another gear and showed dogged determination to win us ruck after ruck, ball after ball. Mr Utility himself, Harry James, was then reintroduced into the game. With his first touch he slid over in the corner and put College up, but only three points. In the final play of the game, with Bromsgrove on the attack, that man again intercepted to score and mark a truly phenomenal victory to spark jubilant scenes from both boys and parents.

Re-awarded Colours: Jamie Jamieson-Black

As a whole, it was a very successful season and the boys should be proud of what they achieved; but on paper the season did not look quite as good as it deserved. We let a winnable game against Abingdon School slip away by just two points and that was followed by a bizarre defeat to Pate’s Grammar School. A good win (35‑0) away to Malvern College, and the game against Sherborne put the season back on track but we then fell short to Radley College in the one game all year in which we were thoroughly beaten: 24‑0. They played a simple yet effective game, using the wind far better than we did. It did however give the boys a real wake-up call and three good wins were to follow after half term: pure dominance brushed aside St Edward’s School, Oxford, (12‑32); stout and resolute defence in the second half ensured a 17‑3 win away to Marlborough College; and the win against Bromsgrove School set up the final game of the season, away to Clifton, on The Close. Sadly, despite our best efforts and with the away element against us, we lost out 12‑10; but the boys walked off with their heads held extremely high indeed. As stated earlier, the boys can be very proud of their efforts, winning seven games and, bar Radley, the other defeats were by single-figure margins.

Record: played 8; won 6; drew 1; lost 1; points for 187; points against 47; points difference 140

As coaches we are extremely proud of how the boys developed and want to say thank you to the Upper Sixth who gave 100% throughout, and hope that those in the Lower Sixth will push for 1st XV places. We capped off the season with a very enjoyable awards’ night, but the last mention must go to our talisman and leader from the front – our captain Louis. He led impeccably on and off the field and never took a step back all season; he was unlucky not to play more 1st XV rugby.

Colours: Louis Taylor-Bagg; William Weston; James Battishill; Archie Timmis; Patrick Main; Ethan Dowling-Membrado Top Try Scorer: Harry James Most Improved Player: Hugh Gunn Players’ Player: Archie Timmis

Mr Charlie McKegney

3rd XV

supporters to enjoy on a weekly basis. The team bonded well and were a pleasure to coach which helped them to achieve all of the goals that they had set at the beginning of the season. Those goals ensured that they remained focused, and had a target to aim for throughout the season. The squad was full of characters and, needless to say, occasionally some of the training sessions proved a challenge to say the least; but we worked hard to find a training routine that suited everyone so that we could build towards match day and be ready when it really counted. It was unfortunate to have one slip-up against Radley College and the team know that they underperformed in that match. However, their response on returning to College after half term was outstanding and an emphatic win against St Edward’s School, Oxford, saw the team record their biggest win of the season (53‑3). The squad was all about the team, and the desire for the team to be successful. The commitment, effort and focus that the group displayed throughout the term was commendable and it all culminated in the 3rd XV having a successful and enjoyable season and one that they should cherish. Well done, you should be proud of yourselves!

Mr Matt Walton

4th XV Squad: Freddie Baker (captain, U6, H), Edward Robbins (vice-captain, U6, L), Freddie Lyle (L6, S), Piers Norton (L6, S), George MacDuff (U6, NH), Thomas Bond (L6, NH), Will Talbot Rice (U6, Xt), Jack Grimwade (U6, NH), Gianluca Mech (L6, Xt), Sean Wilson (U6, BH), Rupert Cook (U6, S), Patrick Payne (L6, NH), Max Roper (L6, H), Barclay Leng (U6, NH), Peter Marchant (U6, S), Fabian Chess (L6, L), Simon Oliver (L6, BH), Patrick Portsmouth (L6, NH), Lincoln Mok (L6, L), Okker Leenart (L6, NH), Matthew Ward (L6, L), Fernando Capalastagui (L6, BH), Guy Lloyd (L6, Xt) The 2014 3rd XV rugby season was a fantastic one, as our record suggests, being unbeaten in seven of our eight games. The team on match day were completely committed to the task ahead of them and it is safe to say that their on-field performance showed a good brand of attacking rugby, and provided a great spectacle for all the

Record: played 9; won 6; lost 3; points for 189; points against 127; points difference 62

Squad: Orlando Giuseppetti (L6, BH), Archie Charlton (U6, NH), Jack Forrester (U6, BH), Eoin Hughes (U6, S), Sean Lee (L6, H), William Timmis (U6, H), William Moss (captain, U6, Xt), Thomas Harney (L6, L), Guy Lloyd (L6, Xt), Guy Beynon (L6, Xt), Oliver Palmer (L6, L), Edward Cutler (L6, S), Alex de Wesselow (L6, Xt), Daniel Brown (L6, S), Peter Uttley (U6, Xt), Oscar Allaway (L6, H), Edward Brown (L6, S), Alex Humphreys (U6, Xt), Melchior Evers (U6, BH), Revie Wood (L6, H), Henry Kirk (L6, Xt) The first match of the season was against Monmouth School and it was a typical beginningof-season affair in which both sides were rusty. Monmouth had already played one match and were considerably bigger than us and that told. Towards the end of the game they made their superiority pay with a few well-worked tries. The match against Abingdon School was superb and of the highest quality; both sides were committed throughout. College started very slowly allowing Abingdon to score within the first few minutes. The lead changed hands throughout the match; College had less of the possession but played the most attractive rugby. One try in particular was outstanding: starting with a line-out, several

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After half-term the team won against St Edward’s School, Oxford, despite not playing as well as they could. Too many times the first tackle was beaten and then the ball was either spilled, tied up or passed forward. The moment of the match was a superb covering tackle by Alex de Wesselow who then got up on his feet and turned the ball over. Strong running was seen again by Oscar, Oliver and the occasional player Ben Boultbee-Brookes (L6, H). The team generally played too narrow and missed chances out wide or were vulnerable. A strong win overall. Away to Marlborough College, the 4th XV came straight off the bus and had very little preparation time. That may have explained the sluggish start against a well-organized and sizeable opposition who were slightly more dominant over the whole match and caught us out for being too narrow in three of their tries. In the second half the team lifted its work rate and pulled back to 22‑21 but a soft try allowed Marlborough to pull away to safety. There were glimpses of brilliance and in particular Guy Beynon hit a superb line from full-back but unfortunately did not have the pace to get to the line. The second half was a superb standard for the team and they left the pitch with head held high. Against Bromsgrove School the team received the kick-off and ran through about 15 phases to score; that incredible start continued with Dan slicing open the defence for a second try within two minutes. After that, the less that is said about the performance the better as every player, except Guy Beynon, seemed to forget how to play rugby. Somehow we hung on to a

75 years ago For the third time in recent years the 1st XV had won all their matches, despite having to play all matches on a strange ground at Shrewsbury. But the XV had ‘no monopoly of triumphs. It has been possible to arrange a good number of 2nd XV, 3rd XV and Colts matches … and in all these we have only been defeated once’ [the Colts lost to the Wrekin College 2nd XV]. ‘And the Junior School XV showed such good form … that chickenpox alone … has deprived them of further conquests and a record as good as that of their elders.’ [The Cheltonian, 1939, p.372; The Cheltonian, 1940, p.53]

win. As a result the coach was full of trepidation as the team headed to Clifton College to play a team who had won most of their matches. There was no need to have worried because the team turned up with a committed and determined approach and took the game to Clifton. We played some ‘champagne’ rugby and in fact should have scored several tries to close out the game. The passing, rucking and counter-rucking was the best of the season. On several occasions, moves started in our own 22 and a last-minute mistake cost us as the try line approached. Instead of putting away the game we passed it to their strongest runner who finished off the try under the posts. Our winning try came from Melchior who, in a comical moment, ran through the opposition who had stopped, thinking the ball was dead, and scored in the corner. A superb way to finish off a very enjoyable season.

David Lait, the combined team felt unstoppable. Unfortunately our opposition had other ideas and both games saw losses, but not without some strong defence and some imaginative attacking play. Congratulations to the players for putting in the effort to stay committed.

Mr David Lait

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passages of play followed with quick hands allowing the wing to score in the corner. The third match, against Malvern College, saw us put out a team of only Lower Sixth Form students who gelled quickly and played some great rugby to record our first win of the season. The game against Sherborne School was a one in a hundred result. Sherborne were the stronger team and played with about 80% of the possession. Dogged defence and poor decisions by the opposition, and College taking the two chances that they had to score, allowed us to win. That confidence took us into the Radley College match where the team played flowing rugby to run out comfortable winners.

Colts A

Record: played 10; won 3; lost 7; points for 159; points against 250; points difference 91

Mr Simon Conner

5th XV / Colts C

Record: played 3; lost 3; points for 54; points against 138; points difference 84 Squad: Siji Abudu (L6, L), Revie Wood (L6, H), Ramiro Medina Morales (L6, S), Alexander Grutter (L6, Xt), Clarence Koo (L6, L), Harry Corbett (L6, Xt), Plai Sukhum (L6, L), Henry Kirk (L6, Xt), Campbell Gaston-Penny (L6, NH), William Preece (U6, BH), Nikita Lazarev (U6, L), Harry Steel (L6, Xt), Samuel Burgess (L6, NH), Peter Uttley (U6, Xt), Simon Hazeldine (L6, NH), Simon Oliver (L6, BH), Daniel Wong (5th, L), Benjamin Wood (5th, H), Edward Courtman (5th, NH), John Marabayev (5th, H), William Jury-Simpson (5th, BH), Finlay Milton (5th, Xt), Oskar Elliott (5th, L), Jasper Ng (5th, Xt), George Stubbs (5th, NH), Matthew Chye (L6, NH), Finlay Milton (5th, Xt), AJ O’Neill (5th, NH), Harry Corbett (L6, Xt), Angus Sinclair Maddocks, (L6, NH) Life in the 5th XV is tough. The team could easily become downtrodden because players who show promise catapult themselves up the ranks. Many schools struggle to offer opposition, or withdraw from the match a couple of days before the game. The final challenge is watching your peers disappear off to games on a Saturday afternoon knowing that you just have another training session. However, the 5ths took that with great spirit and rose to the challenge, inspiring the dwindling numbers of Colts Cs so much that they begged to join the fold. The matches were limited to three fixtures against The King’s School, Gloucester, Bromsgrove School and Clifton College. Unfortunately results did not go our way with three losses. However, at no point did the scorelines display the spirited performances put in by the team. King’s solid 2nd team saw a true Cheltenham 5th team put up a valiant fight. Despite the first two tries being conceded in less than three minutes, Cheltenham clawed their way back into the match. Unfortunately, a flurry of late second-half tries took the game away from them again. The games against Bromsgrove and Clifton saw the emergence of the 5th/Colts’ C hybrid tream. With the coaching might of Mr David McKee joining forces with Mr Nick Nelson and Mr

Squad: Thomas Severn (5th, H), Harry Potter (5th, S), Oliver Cook (5th, S), Christiaan Bruins (5th, BH), Benedict Frisby (5th, L), Roderick Philips (5th, L), Jasper Windsor Clive (5th, H), Luke Knudsen (captain, 5th, NH), Nikolay Alexandrov (5th, NH), Marmite Leng (5th, NH), Edward Johnston (5th, L), Fergus McNeile (5th, NH), Lucas Bonfante (5th, H), Joshua Stanton (5th, NH), Jonothan JamiesonBlack (5th, H), Jamie Orme (5th, S), Michali Asprou (5th, S), Jamie Thorley (5th, BH), Andrew Chan (5th, Xt), Joss Edwards (5th, H), Olly Evans (5th, S), Charles Holloway (5th, L), Max Dymoke (5th, NH), Jack Burns (5th, NH), Maximilian Hindmarch (5th, S) Following two difficult seasons, firstly as Yearlings and then Junior Colts, the Colts’ A team can be proud of their efforts throughout the season. Injuries were a big challenge throughout the term and the team was left especially thin on the ground in the front-row department. As one can see from a very large squad list, no less than 25 players were utilized and only four players were an ever-present during the whole season. Although the team only won three of their ten matches, there were moments in a few of the closer defeats when better decision-making would ultimately have yielded more victories. The season started with the Colts playing their Rugby School counterparts on the famous ‘Close’ pitch. Despite impressing for periods of the game, and tries by Ben and Joss, the team lost to the opposition who made the most of the wide playing surface by executing their opportunities. Despite losing a tight game, the Colts certainly did not lose heart. Impressive showings against powerful teams from Monmouth School and Abingdon School sent the message to the circuit that this Cheltenham side could no longer be classed as a walkover. The first victory of the season came in emphatic fashion against local rivals Pate’s Grammar School. The Cheltenham derby was a one-

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sided contest which was fairly reflected by the 57‑0 scoreline. College ran in nine unanswered tries, with the pick of them coming from hooker Thomas, who beat numerous tacklers during a 40‑metre charge up field. That morale-boosting win was quickly followed by a second success at Malvern College and confidence began to grow. The biggest highlight of the season for me was the home encounter versus Radley College. The fixture is always ferociously competitive and that one was no different. The lead changed hands on numerous occasions throughout the contest and some last-ditch heroic defence by the hosts in the last few minutes saw the side claim a famous and deserved win. A trademark score from Jasper, sandwiched by a brace of tries from right-winger Andrew, paved the way for a magnificent victory. With both teams scoring three tries, it was the boot of Joss which proved to make the difference on the day. The success of the Colts was mainly down to an excellent team ethic and a never-say-die attitude, but there were some individuals who consistently produced notable performances: the team was captained fantastically by the inspirational Luke; abrasive centre Jamie Thorley scored some superb individual interception tries; and Jasper gave the team excellent ‘go-forward’ from number 8 as well as crossing the whitewash on seven occasions.

Mr Will Packer

Colts B Record: played 10; won 2; lost 8; points for 80; points against 276; points difference 196 Squad : Merlin Miller (5th, L), Elliott Napier

The term began with three strong fixtures against Rugby School, Monmouth School and Abingdon School. Rugby was a fairly even game in its nature, but the opposition had too much pace out wide, and pulled away in the second half on a wide pitch. Our original captain, Max Hindmarch, was unlucky to pick up an injury after that game, and that was a theme all season with 13 players suffering some form of injury during the term. Monmouth and Abingdon were both stereotypically physical and, with significantly stronger packs, were able to retain a lot of possession to put pressure on the defensive line. The first victory came against Malvern College, which boosted the confidence of the squad enormously. Slick handling, great support play and some superb line breaks from Merlin were the difference. The boys were unlucky not to get another win, against Radley College, following the try-of-the-season in the first half from Freddie Foster who showed his pace, scoring from 80 yards out. However, in a clichéd game of two halves, Radley took their chances following sustained bouts of pressure. At that point in the season the boys dug deep and continued to train hard, with everything finally coming together in a super win against St Edward’s School, Oxford. A victory was a just reward for a determined and physical performance. A desperately unlucky loss to Marlborough College followed, with one score making the difference between the two sides in a 10‑5 loss on a windy Saturday afternoon. In the next game, against Bromsgrove School, where the score probably did not reflect the nature of the game, the boys allowed the momentum to swing back in favour of the opposition. Following some lovely passages of play and an excellent interception try from Jack, Bromsgrove pulled away in the final 20 minutes. The last game of the season came against a very good Clifton College side. It was a shame to end the season with defeat, but the boys can be incredibly proud of their grit and desire in every game. On a personal note, it was a pleasure to coach this group of young men and it has been brilliant to

(5th, Xt), Edwin Kwok (5th, H), Sam Mendis (5th, Xt), William Hardy (5th, S), Grigory Karagulakov (5th, Xt), Fergus McNeile (captain, 5th, NH), Frederick Foster (5th, NH), Jack Burns (5th, NH), Olly Evans (5th, S), Laurie Davies (5th, S), Toby Mathews (5th, H), William Cresswell (5th, BH), Charles Tombleson (5th, L), Intouch Ruckpanich (5th, L), Henry Fong (5th, H), William Lait (5th, H), Darren Hague (5th, BH), Frederick Fenton (5th, Xt), Edward Flower (5th, Xt), Maximilian Hindmarch (captain, 5th, S), Marmite Leng (5th, NH), Hugh Roper (5th, H), Maximilian Deakin (5th, H), Max Dymoke (5th, NH), Oliver Cook (5th, S), Michali Asprou (5th, S), Oskar Elliott (5th, L), Jasper Ng (5th, Xt) The team can take a great deal of pride from the way in which they displayed strength of character throughout a tough season. Although they played against some strong sides, they always showed determination and resilience in abundance. 106

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see them develop their skills so much. I wish them the very best as they progress onto senior rugby. Player of the season: Jack Burns

Mr Henry Davies

Junior Colts A

Record: played 16; won 11; lost 5; points for 551; points against 133; points difference 418 Reached the last 16 of the national Natwest Cup Tournament, losing to Northampton

School for Boys 8‑7 Squad: Max Taylor Baggs (4th, BH), Tom James (4th, L), Aiden Ali (4th, S), William Cooper (4th, L), Benedict Schallamach (4th, BH), Oliver Ruthven (4th, L), Finlay Logan (4th, BH), Charlie Boyce (4th, S), Edward Winstanley (4th, S), Cameron Terry (4th, NH), Jordan Pemberton (4th, H), Oliver Hill (4th, L), Zeno Burchi-Khairy (4th, Xt), Thomas Stanton (4th, H), Barnaby Harris (4th, H), Daniel Ward (4th, NH), Patrick Christopher (4th, H), Joshua Pimlott (4th, S), Jason Soames (4th, BH), Angus Thompson (3rd, NH), Jonnie Kite (3rd, H), Jack Ward (3rd, L), Alister Pearce (3rd, Xt), Alexander Sharam (3rd, NH) The season was always going to be something of a challenge for the team. Having enjoyed an undefeated season as Yearlings there was no doubt that they were a side to be targeted by

The season started at Rugby School and saw the boys play all the rugby, winning 64‑0. Whilst it was fantastic to watch, it was nothing more than a light session in comparison to the game against Monmouth School the next weekend. A bitterly fought game was played out on the guests’ XV pitch. The scoreline of 12‑22 did not necessarily reflect the opportunities College were denied or indeed the run of play, and a salient lesson was learned. Losing a game was tough and the mantra had to be how the boys would respond to losing. The following three games against Abingdon School, Pate’s Grammar School and Malvern College saw yet more champagne rugby played by College, scoring 162 points and only conceding 15. Whilst a run of wins was pleasing, another stern test was needed and that came against a strong and fired-up side from Sherborne School. The team lost 14‑26 but it was undoubtedly the game of the season. The boys needed to string together a series of wins but they stumbled against Radley College (who played ten-man rugby) 5‑10, and St Edward’s School, Oxford, produced the defensive display of the season to defeat the boys 5‑21.

game against a Bromsgrove side bolstered by their strong U14s. Needless to say, true College character emerged in the face of a big powerful Bromsgrove side. It was a pleasure to see the joy on the muddied faces of the College JCA XV at the final whistle as they won the game 17‑5. That left the last game of the season: the Natwest Cup competition took the side to play Northampton School for Boys. On a chilly day in the Spring Term we found ourselves losing 7‑8 and ruing the missed penalty in front of the posts. What could have been? It was a total pleasure to coach the team and they will go on to provide the mainstay of a very successful XV in a few years time. My thanks also go to Mr Oli Morgan who imparted a great deal of knowledge and passion to the season.

Mr Richard Moore

Junior Colts B

Record: played 10; won 5; drew 1; lost 4; points for 222; points against 120; points difference 102

One thing that the U15s still had was a run in the Natwest Cup and they demolished Dean Close School 36‑0 on the smallest pitch in Cheltenham which gave them some real impetus. The fixture against Marlborough College, a cracking 19‑14 win, was defined by fantastic defence and moments of collective and individual brilliance that put the direction back into the season. The season started to come to a head with a Natwest warm-up match in a regular College fixture against Bromsgrove School. The boys were exemplary and played with real discipline, executed their chances with aplomb, and won 38‑0. Clifton College provided little opposition being dismissed 58‑0 as the boys looked at the final game of the Autumn Term: the Natwest

Squad: Jack Mitchell, (captain, 4th, NH), Jimmy Daly (vice-captain, 4th, H), Lev Ovchinnikov (4th, H), Sam Cook (4th, NH), Benjamin Hilditch (4th, S), Oliver Pritchard (4th, Xt), Theo Taylor (4th, Xt), Harrison Campbell (4th, L), Charles O’ Bryan (4th, BH), Edward Winstanley (4th, S), Euan Bourhill (4th, S), Roger Mortimore

(4th, S), Oliver Ferris (4th, NH), Benedict Sutton (4th, H), Rodrigo Peralta Martin (4th, L), Joshua Berry (4th, BH), Tunku Latif Tunku Nasiruddin (4th, Xt), Eduardo Capelastegui (4th, BH), Jago Skelding (4th, BH), Freddy Horlock (4th, L), Killian Hughes (4th, S), Dougal Rees (4th, Xt), Henry Johnson (4th, H) The statistics, as always, only tell half the story. Judging the season by its averages, it was a success – with 38 tries scored overall.

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a number of schools. As it was pointed out from the outset, a College scalp is always highly prized and therefore the need to outplay and outperform the opposition certainly had added emphasis.

The first match, away to Rugby School, set the tone. An insatiable desire to attack, and resilience in defence, gave Cheltenham a 22‑5 victory. Victories against Abingdon School (14‑5), Malvern College (56‑7), St Edward’s School, Oxford, (34‑0), and Clifton College (57‑0) would follow. That said, it was not how prolific the group was that was so impressive, but rather how much they clearly loved to play the game; how much they appreciated being part of, and contributing towards, a team. They rarely needed extra motivation but were always positive, always staunch, and a pleasure to watch. That was evident in their defeats as much as in their victories, with the losses against Radley College (narrowly!) and Marlborough College (our heaviest defeat at 5‑32 against an extremely accomplished outfit) standing out. The defeats at Monmouth School and Sherborne School were also hard-fought, those opponents being particularly strong in this age group. Neither side was happy with the 17‑17 draw against Bromsgrove School, though in truth it was a fair result in a brutal match. Too many errors cost Cheltenham the win against a Bromsgrove side that was low on confidence. By contrast, Bromsgrove’s side was well-drilled and alert enough to capitalize on our mistakes. Therein lies the lesson: if the team can learn to be more technically proficient (something that unfortunately only comes through application at training), they may well become a force to be reckoned with. They are not far off!

Mr Beren-Dain Delbrooke-Jones

Junior Colts C

Record: played 8; won 4; lost 4; points for 235; points against 151; points difference 84

Squad: James Lewin (4th, NH), Max Chan (4th, H), James Webb (captain, 4th, H), Petr Porkhun (4th, Xt), Theo Taylor (4th, Xt), Benjamin Kinsman (4th, S), Henry Johnson (4th, H), Felix Stevens (4th, Xt), Jago Skelding (4th, BH), Freddy Horlock (4th, L), Jack Gibson (4th, L), Kieran Brown (4th, Xt), Kieran

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Thorley (vice-captain, 4th, BH), Harry Piggott (4th, Xt), Pumi Su-Ngan (4th, BH), Killian Hughes (4th, S), Dougal Rees (4th, Xt), Nikita Chernov (4th, L), James Drysdale (4th, BH), Sam Hamilton (4th, S), George Wells (4th, S), Thomas Maddinson (4th, S), Andrew Jenson (4th, Xt), Zeno Burchi-Khairy (4th, Xt) Reeves Field, dubbed by many as the field of dreams, welcomed a new troop of boys ready to take on the challenges offered by Junior Colts C team rugby. The weather was warm and dry, the ground hard – not ideal conditions to prepare a team full of College passion for what was going to be a long exciting season full of drama and moments of JCC brilliance! Our first fixture of the season saw us take on Monmouth School. The team knew the importance of getting a result early on in the season but they also realized that it was going to take a huge performance to achieve that goal. After only having a few training sessions leading up to the fixture, the boys pulled together and put in a stunning team effort and managed to secure a 52‑0 victory. Man of the match, Zeno, scored five tries that quickly got him noticed by the JCA coaches and saw him leave the JCC camp and move up to the A squad. The following three fixtures were unfortunately losses but provided probably the best fixture of the season – against Sherborne School. It became clear early on that it was to be no ordinary match and became a battle of epic proportions. The boys played with the hearts of lions, with stunning performances coming from Freddy, Killian, Henry and Ben. Cheltenham had Sherborne pinned on their 22 for most of the second half but could not find a way to penetrate the well-organized and disciplined Sherborne defence. Although the final score was a 10‑5 loss, it was a fixture that gave the boys belief that they could compete with the very best. The second half of the season saw the team win three out of the four fixtures, with impressive results against Bromsgrove School (52‑5) and Clifton College (51‑0). Coaching the boys was made easy by the fact that they all just wanted to play the game, fearlessly throwing themselves into

both training sessions and matches, and making the 2014 season one to remember. I wish them all the luck as they progress up to Colt level and I look forward to seeing them build on what they have achieved.

Mr Simon Conner

Junior Colts D

Record: played 4; lost 4; points for: 22; points against 179; points difference 157 Squad: Edozie Ajogwu (4th, NH), Thomas Anderson (4th, S), Matthew Burke (4th, NH), Giuseppe D’Istria (4th, H), William Hamilton (4th, S), Theo Hunt (4th, H), Vladimir Kolev (4th, BH), Nathan Lau (4th, H), Oliver Message (4th, S), Rachata Peerapairoj (4th, L), Wyii Pornpipatpaisan (4th, NH), Viktor Reznikov (4th, L), Nikita Shpirt (4th, NH), Thomas Smith (4th, BH), Charles Turk (captain, 4th, NH), George Wells (4th, S), Shakhin Zamani (4th, NH), Artem Zinovyev (4th, NH)

The team had a challenging season because of a tricky fixture list against schools with much larger year groups. Nonetheless, the boys remained enthusiastic and highly committed throughout the autumn. We welcomed several new international students into the squad and they formed a third of the team in our first match against Abingdon School. The team found it difficult to match the physicality of the opposition, conceding a few early tries, but

gained confidence in the second half as Thomas Smith burst through for two brilliant tries before Viktor crashed over in the corner at the end. Unfortunately the tries were hard to come by in the next fixture, as the team suffered a heavy defeat away at Sherborne School. The three-hour coach journey certainly did not help and again it was the physicality of the opposition that posed the biggest problem for our team. Matthew deserves a mention for an outstanding tackling display and for never giving up. A trip to Radley College the following week resulted in a similar scoreline but did bring about the try of the season for Wyii. Thomas Smith broke from underneath the team’s own posts before offloading to Wyii on the touch-line. Despite having three defenders in front of him and 70 metres to run, he evaded the opposition players with several mesmerising sidesteps and scored in the corner. Chapeau! The team progressed really well after half term and it was a great shame that several games were cancelled. The final match for the team was against Bromsgrove School on a blustery afternoon. An attritional game presented few opportunities for tries as both sides’ defences held firm. A try on the break from Bromsgrove sparked a long period of pressure from College, but the team was unable to make the breakthrough and fell agonizingly short. The improvements from earlier in the season were stark, however, and it was great to see players involved in the C team the following week. Throughout the season, Charles captained with authority, and created an excellent team spirit. Thomas Smith, Viktor and Vladimir impressed with powerful carries, whilst Oliver, Artem, Wyii and Edozie produced the creativity and dazzling runs in the backs. Despite the defeats it was a highly enjoyable season and the boys will develop their skills further as they become Colts.

Mr James Chaloner

Yearlings A

Record: played 10; won 9; lost 1; points for 437; points against 89; points difference 348

Squad: Alister Pearce (captain, 3rd, Xt), Steffan Axen (3rd, S), Oliver Baker (3rd, NH), Oscar Butcher (3rd, H), Jonathan Gunn (3rd, BH), Yuwakar Gurung (3rd, L), John Kite (3rd, H), Sebastian Lee (3rd, NH), Aryia Patel (3rd, H), Boris Pustochinskiy (3rd, Xt), Alex Sharam (3rd, NH), Ben Southall (3rd, BH), Lucas Tanir (3rd, S), Angus Thomson (3rd, NH), Jack Ward (3rd, L), Felix Watson-Smyth (3rd, Xt), Max Williams (3rd, NH) Losing only one game, 2014 was a successful season for the team. It was a side blessed with several outstanding talents but, as a team, they

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The Cheltonian 2014-2015

It was clear from the first week that the team had a great deal of pace. Angus, John and Max were very sharp; the first two, in partnership, looked very threatening and went on to be our major attacking threats. Right from the first game against a physical Monmouth School team, Angus and Jonny dominated the midfield, and scored three quick tries which were enough to seal a first victory. Although we scored a large number of tries, the team’s success was built on our defensive organization. Perhaps our best performances, against Radley College (55‑15) and Marlborough College (33‑0) were characterized by fearless tackling against two big packs. The back row of Jack, Alister and Ollie was immense, making multiple tackles and key turn-overs. They were aided by enormous work rate from Sebastian, Boris, Felix and Ben, who bought into the defensive system and executed it well. Alex gave crisp, intelligent service at scrum half, and with the pace of Angus and Jonnie, we were able to counter-attack with great threat. The one loss of the season came against an aggressive and highly physical Bromsgrove School side. The players will have learned a huge amount from that game in terms of how they handle themselves in that kind of atmosphere away from home, and how they calmly put their game into action amidst difficult conditions. They will face difficult tests next season, as sides will have worked out how to play against them. Developing problemsolving skills, and a variety of attacking options will be vital for them as they progress through College. My thanks must go to Mr Nick Runciman who was a superb coach. Bringing his professional standards and understanding of the game to a young group of players really moved them on quickly; but it was his philosophy of keeping the game organized yet simple, playing to our strengths, that certainly made for a very successful term.

Mr Fergus Llewellyn ‘There will be no Haileybury match this year, and no Liverpool match. We hear that of the thirteen players who took part in the Liverpool tour last year one has been killed in action, and ten are serving with the Colours, while the number of other playing members of the Club has been very greatly reduced because of the war. This year’s would have been the fiftieth match with Liverpool, a jubilee which must await the return of happier days.’ Sadly, we have found no reference to the 50th game ever being played. [The Cheltonian, 1915, p.121]

Yearlings B

Record: played 11; won 6; lost 5; points for 219; points against 240; points difference 21

to coach. If they can improve their concentration in defence and learn from the physicality of the best sides we faced, they can be a force to be reckoned with higher up the school.

Mr Tom Lambert

Yearlings C

Record: played 9; won 6; lost 3; points for 241; points against 141

Squad: Steffan Axen (3rd, S), Tommy Birch (3rd, Xt), Oscar Bromage-Henry (3rd, Xt), James Burden (3rd, BH), Oscar Butcher (3rd, H), Rob Caesar (3rd, S), Charles Carpenter (3rd, NH), Diben Dodo (3rd, L), Rafal Dovgialo (3rd, L), George Elliot (3rd, NH), Parker Frandsen (3rd, S), Ollie Frisby (3rd, L), TJ Gittens (3rd, S), Thomas Hartley (3rd, H), Joseph Hughes (3rd, L), Oliver Isherwood (3rd, L), Taliesin Kauffmann (3rd, S), Oscar Keene (3rd, S), Tommy Ladds (3rd, Xt), Charles MeechamJones (3rd, Xt), Lamar Moller (3rd, S), Edward Nelson (3rd, BH), Henry Parsons (3rd, BH), Jude Parsons (3rd, L), Aryia Patel (3rd, H), Max Pemberton (captain, 3rd, H), Rory Pleydell (3rd, S), Naut Rodanant (3rd, BH), Ben Southall (3rd, BH), Thomas Styler (3rd, H), Lucas Tanir (3rd, S), Robbie Yan (3rd, BH) In a terrific start to the season, Cheltenham’s pace and aggression saw Monmouth School blown away in a tough-looking away fixture, despite being camped in our own 22 for most of the first half. Oscar Butcher set the tone with some excellent tackling; as Monmouth tired, Rory and Tommy Birch proved unstoppable. A narrow away win against Abingdon School was even more impressive. Ben tackled everything that moved; Steffan carried powerfully; and Lucas bulldozed his way under the posts in a nail-biting conclusion. Momentum continued to build with thumping wins over Pate’s Grammar School and Malvern College; forwards like Ariya were making yards, and a backs division marshalled by captain Max was cutting some great lines. The handling involved in a counterattacking try, finished by Rob, provided the season’s champagne moment. Illness and injury coincided with the hardest fixtures of the season. Stand-out commitment and determination by Henry and Oliver were not enough to prevent losses to Sherborne School and Radley College, while man-of-the-match performances by Lamar, our most consistent forward all season, could not save us against Marlborough College or Bromsgrove School. Nonetheless, highs remained, with TJ, Parker and Naut outstanding as we crushed St Edward’s School, Oxford; and Oscar impressive in a swashbuckling win against the A team from St Edward’s School, Cheltenham. As we lined up for our final fixture against Clifton College, the team’s rucking, handling and attacking organization were looking really sharp. I can only hope that the heartbreaking loss, in a match settled in the final seconds, will prove a spur to future improvements. It was a fun squad

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grew in their ability to play for each other and turn defence into quick counter-attack.

Squad: Benjamin Anton-Smith (3rd, S), Hugo Bailey (3rd, BH), Oscar Bromage-Henry (3rd, Xt), James Burden (3rd, BH), Christian Campbell (3rd, BH), Charles Carpenter (3rd, NH), Robbie Carson (3rd, H), Diben Dodo (3rd, L), Rafal Dovgialo (3rd, L), William Dyke (3rd, NH), George Elliot (3rd, NH), Parker Frandsen (3rd, S), Timothy Gittins (3rd, S), Thomas Hartley (3rd, H), Nicholas Hill (3rd, BH), Joseph Hughes (captain, 3rd, L), Taliesin Kauffmann (3rd, S), Thomas Ladds (3rd, Xt), Thomas Maber-Jones (3rd, H), Finbar McConnell (3rd, Xt), Charles MeechamJones (3rd, Xt), Edward Nelson (3rd, BH), Zac Robertson (3rd, NH), Naut Rodanant (3rd, BH), Vincent Rogers (3rd, H), Edward Shaw (3rd, L), Lucas Tanir (3rd, S), Alfred Weston (3rd, BH), George Wilford (3rd, Xt), Robbie Yan (3rd, BH) Small in stature but great of heart, they produced the finest Yearlings’ C team record for many years. Often pared to the bone by illness and injury, they nevertheless always delivered a performance to be proud of, with flair and exuberance against weaker teams, grit and courage against stronger. For Monmouth School, Malvern College and St Edward’s School, Oxford, the display was delightful: domination of the scrum and the break-down allowed the backs to wreak havoc. In Monmouth, Charlie Carpenter and Lucas both scored hat tricks, in a devastating centre pairing unfortunately not seen again as Lucas played his way up to the A team. At St Edward’s, the day belonged to the back three: Ben, Ed Nelson and Robbie profited from the excellent movement of Jo and Tom Maber-Jones to finish off finely-wrought tries. Sherborne School and Radley College were tougher and more proficient. The contest in the ruck and maul was decisive: James, Charlie Meecham-Jones, Tommy Ladds and Oscar led the grind, while Robbie, Zac and Rafal tackled and pillaged relentlessly. Sherborne eventually faded, allowing Naut to strike an excellent hat trick down the wing. Radley were more resilient, scoring first and staying within two points, until Christian surged over the line to seal the win. In contrast, the match against Clifton College was tedious and fussy, alleviated only by a wonderful, rumbling hat trick from Diben on the crash ball.

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Against Abingdon School and Bromsgrove School, the team was heavily overmatched by very powerful and skilful sides. A typically aggressive Marlborough College team ground us down to a 19‑0 loss. But, to their great credit, throughout those tests the boys displayed dauntless character, led especially by Tom MaberJones, Christian and indomitable captain Jo.

would surely drop, the energy that would wane, the spirit that would ebb. We looked in vain. Indomitable determination proved the team to be heroic in defeat and, as the team’s valiant captain, Nick, pointed out, “If their try-line had just been a bit closer, we’d have scored”.

Cheltenham was unable to compete for medals in the Bisley matches but instead had to shoot alongside for honours. That being said, the team shot superbly and the VIII’s scores would have placed Cheltenham 1st in the Sawyer Cup and 6th in the Clayton Challenge.

Mr Jack Kelway

Congratulations to the whole squad: a season to cherish.

Shooting

By then end of the Summer Term the team were as prepared as they could be and were all looking forward to a week of competition at Bisley.

Dr Duncan McCombie

Yearlings D

Record: played 3; lost 3; points for 22; points against 129; points difference 107

Squad: Nicholas Hill (captain, 3rd, BH), Alfred Weston (3rd, BH), Will Dyke (3rd, NH), Hugo Bailey (3rd, BH), Thomas Creed (3rd, H), Matthew Fuerst (3rd, S), Rauf Aliyev (3rd, H), Denis Antonov (3rd, Xt), Kevin Cheung (3rd, H), Vincent Rogers (3rd, H), Archie Butler (3rd, L), Ernest Lau (3rd, L), Danyaal Choudhary (3rd, Xt), Michael Wong (3rd, Xt), Nicholas Avery (3rd, NH), Diben Dodo (3rd, L), Thomas Maber-Jones (3rd, H), Christian Campbell (3rd, BH) The team endured a bracing season with commendable spirit and resilience. An unfortunate combination of injuries and absences restricted the team to only three outings, but each occasion afforded its moments of glory. In their first match, the well-fed Abingdon School team towered over the pupils from the start; their power and pace proved too much for our inexperienced side. Nonetheless, etched into the minds of all spectators will be the galumphing runs of Diben, the crunching tackles of Thomas Maber-Jones and the incessant running of Christian – all players who were swiftly nabbed by the C team. Next up was the game of the season: a wellmatched clash against Sherborne School where the team played some truly impressive rugby. Multiple phases were worked left, then right, then back again as we, at times, laid siege to their 22. Thomas Creed punched holes in their defence, Vincent slalomed through, and Ernest, in his first ever match of rugby, found himself embroiled in a rolling maul that saw us gain 40 metres of territory. The narrow margin of defeat was testament to a hard-fought team performance where each player proved his worth. The final outing of the term was against Marlborough College and, within five minutes, the gulf in class was painfully evident. Three tries in swift succession made plain to the team that it would be an arduous afternoon. On the side-lines, parents and coach alike looked for the heads that

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The Cheltonian 2014-2015

It was a busy year on College’s shooting range. The return to College of Miss Lulu Watson saw the range open four days a week during the first two terms for pupils to ‘drop-in’ and shoot when they had free time. For their Monday activity, 20 pupils chose shooting and a few of them chose to continue shooting in the summer and join the shooting team. The House Pots format was changed to allow every House to enter at least one team of two shooters. It was fantastic to see some new faces on the range and have a House Pots where boys and girls can compete against each other in the same competition. The final was a shoot-off between Southwood A, Southwood B, Leconfield A and Christowe A. After a tense wait for all shooters to finish, Southwood A clinched victory over Leconfield A, the previous year’s champions. In the Autumn Term, College competed in, and won, two .22 matches against Marlborough College and Dauntsey’s School, and another home match against Marlborough. The wins encouraged the team to keep training in their free time ready for the Summer Term matches at Bisley. Unfortunately, without using the Cadet Target Rifle,

Results of the 2015 Schools’ Meeting and Imperial Meeting Bisley squad: Joshua Dowley (captain, 5th, L), Rupert Cook (U6, S), Jack Forrester (U6, BH), Eoin Hughes (U6, S), Molly Caesar (5th, Q), Thomas Hill (5th, BH), William Jury-Simpson (5th, BH), Andrew Luk (5th, Xt), Thomas Maclaren (5th, S), Sam Mendis (5th, Xt), Thomas Anderson (4th, S), Tommy Maddinson (4th, S) A week into the summer holidays, the shooting team were back at the range preparing to embark on the annual trip to Bisley to shoot in the Ashburton Schools’ Meeting. College was represented by 12 pupils at Bisley – one of the largest teams in the last few years. Monday was a practice day and the team were finally able to pick up the Cadet Target Rifle and practise. Because of problems beyond our control, College had been unable to use the Cadet Target Rifle but the team were not going to let that stop them from shooting well. Tuesday and Wednesday were days of individual competition. In tricky wind conditions the team all shot well and the coaches were able to get some good practice in their wind-reading skills. The pinnacle of the shooting calendar for cadets is the Ashburton Day. College entered an VIII, a Cadet Pair (U16) and a Schools Pair (over 16).

Miss Lulu Watson

Squash Girls’ Squash 1st V

Record: played 11; won 6; lost 5

The pupils put their best efforts into the whole day and really came together as a team. Unfortunately not everyone had their best scores of the week and despite some excellent shooting, focused wind-reading, and slick team-work, Cheltenham could only manage 15th out of the 33 schools that had entered. The day was enjoyed by all, including Mr Andrew Gasson who came and showed his support for College shooting. A big thank you to all the parents who came to support as well.

Results:

Cadet 300x Aggregate: Josh Dowley 76th Cadet 600x Aggregate: Will Jury-Simpson 33rd, Rupert Cook 73rd Cadet Wednesday Aggregate: Rupert Cook 47th, Andrew Luk 88th Cadet Grand Aggregate: Josh Dowley 85th Schools 100: Josh Dowley Spencer Mellish: Josh Dowley 21st The Ashburton VIII: Cheltenham College VII 15th

throughout their group matches, losing narrowly to Wycombe Abbey but defeating Nunthorpe Academy. That gave College an opportunity to finish 3rd, but Bryanston School proved too strong. The very creditable 4th place was particularly pleasing as the team featured India who had never represented College at squash, but went on to win all of her matches in style against U19 opponents. It was a great conclusion to a successful season. Mention should be made of the consistently positive attitude shown by the girls, particularly Annabella, whose tenacity, enthusiasm and sporting attitude was noted by many opposition players and staff.

Boys’ Squash 1st V

Record: played 18; won 8; lost 10

Squad: Hattie Bevan (U6, A), Nicola Francombe (L6, Ch), Jamie Chadwick (L6, Ch), Annabella Köhler (L6, Ch), Georgia Taylor (L6, Ch), Katy Law (U6, A), India Deakin (3rd, W)

Squad: Jamie Jamieson-Black (U6, H), Jonothan Jamieson-Black (5th, H), Sam Outram (captain, U6, Xt), Douglas Spencer (L6, S), Ben Croft (U6, BH), Ben Ketley (U6, NH), Edward Cutler (L6, S)

Autumn Term 2014

The 1st V had a confident start with good wins against The Cheltenham Ladies’ College, both home and away. They came unstuck against very strong teams from Wycliffe and Cleeve School, but then bounced back to beat St Edward’s School, Oxford, at home. They then progressed to the second stage of the National Schools’ Trophy Competition.

Spring Term 2015 Our great closing form in the autumn continued with an impressive victory against Marlborough College, including wins for Hattie, Nicola and Jamie. That was followed by the news that the girls had qualified for finals day at the National Schools’ Trophy Competition.

National Schools’ Trophy Competition It was the girls’ first appearance on finals day for several years and they showed great spirit

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Four pupils (Josh, Will, Sam and Tom Maclaren) stayed on after the Ashburton to shoot in the Imperial Meeting, which is one of the largest individual shooting competitions shot over the course of a week and attended by over 1,000 from all over the world. Josh and Will both shot the entire event, Will finishing 540th in the Grand Aggregate and Josh finishing 586th – a fantastic week from both pupils who were competing against competitors of all ages.

The senior boys had a mixed start to the season, largely because of the pressure of competing demands upon our better players. The highlight was the performance in an important National Schools’ fixture against a strong Cleeve School team, and the great 4‑1 victory would help us in the spring when it came to the draw for the second stage. Wycliffe proved too strong for us and prevented our progression to the National Schools’ Championship draw, but we entered the draw for the National Schools’ Trophy Competition. Frustration returned in close defeats against Marlborough College and Radley College, but we returned to better form and beat St Edward’s School, Oxford.

Spring Term 2015 Early in the term we gained our revenge against Marlborough with a great win, but frustratingly lost to St Edwards and again to Radley. Our good showing in the autumn gave us a favourable draw and then a bye through to the National

The Schools’ Pairs: Cheltenham College 6th The Cadet Pairs (Closed): Cheltenham College 15th Half Colours awarded to Sam Mendis; Andrew Luk; Thomas Maclaren 1915 ‘This year, owing to the war, shooting was disorganized, ammunition being difficult to procure; and there was no Bisley meeting. We did not shoot our matches with Marlborough and Clifton. The few post matches arranged did not come off owing to other schools’ lack of ammunition.’ [OTC Shooting Records, 1910‑1931]

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Schools’ Trophy Competition finals day at the Manchester National Squash Centre.

National Schools’ Trophy Competition After a disappointing start against Bedford School, College were placed into the lower half of the draw. Hence, the best that could be achieved was 5th place, which is in fact where they finished, due to much improved performances from all in the wins against Hymers College and The King’s School, Canterbury.

U15

Record: played 5; won 1; lost 4 Squad: Rodrigo Peralta-Martin (4th, L), Barnaby Harris (4th, H), Oscar Butcher (3rd, H), Roger Mortimore (4th, S), Jason Soames (4th, BH), Theo Hunt (4th, H)

The boys came very close to some impressive victories against strong opposition, falling short by the narrowest of margins against King Edward’s School, Birmingham. However, they finished the term well by defeating Wolverhampton Grammar School in an important National Schools’ match. The highlight was Oscar’s performances. However, disappointment came in a vital deciding match for the National Schools’ Trophy Competition finals day. Barnaby came very close in one match and Roger had opportunities to level another, but we went on to lose overall 3‑2.

U16

Whilst the boys had a relatively quiet season, many of the players made appearances in senior U19 matches, gaining valuable experience which we hope will pay rewards next season.

Mr Steve Rice

Swimming The beginning of the new school year saw the introduction of a girls’ House gala and a boys’ House gala as part of the Third Form Challenge programme. They were a great success, with plenty of enthusiasm and talent on display. Christowe and Westal emerged victorious in close contests and we look forward to it becoming part of the early induction for the new intake on an annual basis. Moving forward in the season, we were delighted with the introduction of two new fixtures into our gala schedule. We hosted Wellington College in a close match, in which our boys won their section, but we narrowly lost overall. We also travelled to Monmouth School for another close encounter, with College scoring 85 points to Monmouth’s 90 points. We were pleased to reintroduce Dean Close School fixtures to the swimming calendar, as it has been a number of years since that fixture was last held. In the first match, College emerged victorious with 186 points to their 174 points. The Spring Term saw us travel to two high-profile competitions: the Otters’ Relay Championships at the London Aquatics Centre and the Warwick 100s. Bearing in mind that our teams had many junior swimmers competing as seniors, and that

‘College has distinguished itself lately in a new branch of Athletics, JP Milton having won the Amateur Swimming Championship of Cornwall.’ [John Milton (1889 1891, Cheltondale)] [The Cheltonian, 1889, p.201]

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The Cheltonian 2014-2015

In House Pots we saw senior success for Queen’s and Hazelwell and junior success for Westal and Newick House. Other noteworthy results were that Southwood lost to Hazelwell by just one point and that the junior girls’ competition saw a tie for second place between Ashmead and Chandos. Winning all our galas (against Stowe School, Marlborough College, Dean Close School and Gloucester City Swimming Club) and our

senior girls retaining their District Champions status, the last part of the year saw some very promising and praiseworthy results. Credit needs to go to our coach Mr Andy Osborne, but also to our keen, motivated and, in many cases, young swimmers; they are really producing excellent times and results and we are excited about what may be achieved as they progress through College. We would also like to thank Georgina Thorpe (U6, Ch) and Isaac Gibbard (U6, S) for their captaincies; they were actively involved and supported the Swim Club from the word go.

Mrs Zoe La Valette-Cooper

75 years ago The Headmaster had decided that swimming should be given the status of a College game so the Master-in-Charge of swimming asked the Playground Committee to appoint a Captain of Swimming. After considerable discussion the Committee decided ‘that it would prefer the appointment of a representative of Swimming for the first year and the question to be reconsidered in the light of what happened this year.’ At the next meeting the chairman informed the Committee ‘that the Headmaster was on the whole in favour of the appointment of a Captain of Swimming this year. The point was again discussed but the opinion of the Committee did not appear to have changed.’ However, at the next meeting they reluctantly agreed: ‘since the Headmaster was in favour, the Committee decided to appoint a Captain of Swimming’ – but it was ‘with the proviso that the matter should be reconsidered next year in the light of this term’s events’.

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we faced competition rich with club swimmers, we had some excellent results. Our boys in particular notched up a number of new school records and personal best performances and we are very encouraged by such progress.

[Playground Book, 1939‑1957, pp 16, 18]

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Tennis Boys 1st VI

Record: played 8; won 4; drew 1; lost 4; games for 28; games against 32; game difference 4

did begin to show a tactical understanding of how to manipulate the opposition. That was certainly evident in the 2nd VI against Bromsgrove School in our last match of the season. Overall it was a great season and one where all the players can be proud. I am very much looking forward to seeing the Lower College develop as I am sure we will have a very competitive team.

Mr Olly Morgan

Junior Colts

Record: played 5; won 2; lost 3; games for 18; games against 27; game difference 9

to secure the overall win. A tight contest against Radley College saw us narrowly defeated, but a proud victory over a very strong Malvern College team showed just how talented and resourceful the team could be.

Mr Jack Kelway

Girls 1st VI

Record: played 6; won 5; lost 1; games for 45; games against 9; game difference 36

Squad: Rodrigo Peralta Martin (4th, L), Guiseppe D’Istria (4th, H), Vladimir Kolev (4th, BH), James Orme (5th, S), Charles Boyce (4th, S), Jack Mitchell (4th, NH), Theo Hunt (4th, H)

Squad: Freddie Baker (captain, U6, H), Clarence Koo (L6, L), Rhodri Hande (L6, S), Nicholas Liban (U6, Xt), Henry Ng (U6, Xt), Thomas Yenbamroong (U6, Xt), Xavier Houben (U6, L), Daniel Stoianov (5th, Xt)

2nd VI

Record: played 8; won 4; lost 4; games for 29; games against 37; game difference 8 Squad: Jack Grimwade (U6, NH), Henry Morshead (L6, BH), Oscar Allaway (captain, L6, H), Freddie Baker (U6, H), Harry Boyce (L6, S), Archie Timmis (L6, H), Ethan Dowling Membrado (L6, L), Alex de Wesselow (L6, Xt), Jeffrey Kwong (L6, BH), Guiseppe D’Istria (4th, H), Charlie Boyce (4th, S), Jack Mitchell (4th, NH), Rodrigo Peralta Martin (4th, L) For both teams the season did not get off to the best start, losing to Marlborough College and St Peter’s RC High School, Gloucester – the latter being one of the strongest tennis schools in the country. Individually however, Clarence had an outstanding day beating their 3rd seed in a gruelling singles match that went into three sets. That then set the tone for the remainder of the season and both the 1st VI and 2nd VI, led wonderfully by Freddie and Oscar, went on to win the next four matches. Radley College proved to be one of our toughest fixtures and just showed how important partnerships are in doubles. There were some noticeable individuals: Freddie, whose serving kept our 1st pair in the game, and Rhodri, who showed some lovely touches at the net. However, the boys soon put the loss behind them, and a clean sweep against Dean Close School meant confidence was high going into the latter part of the season. With the academic programme taking its toll on many of the Upper Sixth, there was an opportunity for some of the Fourth Form pupils to showcase their talents. Charlie and Jack were forming a fine pair that I am sure will challenge for honours in the 1st team next season. With the help of Tennis Professional, Mr Chris Warner, during our weekly programme, the boys

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The season contained many wind-swept matches, and it is fair to say that the team’s tennis could be equally as blustery – full of power and energy, but lacking the patience and consistency that could have provided more victories. At 1st pair, Rodrigo and Guiseppe were capable of destroying the opposition, with power being the most prominent facet of their game but, sadly, the unforced error count frequently told its tale. Vlad and Jamie played some fantastic tennis over the course of the season, and their tactical awareness developed well. Our cricketers, Charles, Jack and Theo, all performed admirably when purloined from their cricket teams for match days. Charles and Jack were particularly proficient at notching up 40-shot rallies that they invariably won, and Theo’s title of The Comeback King was well earnt when, in a pair with Vlad, they came back from 5‑1 down to win a crucial set 7‑5 against Malvern College. Matches against Marlborough College and Shrewsbury School provided tough days for the team, and they learned that a fighting spirit needs to be matched with clever tactics if success is to be achieved. A comfortable result against St Edward’s School, Oxford, perhaps belies how hard-fought the contest was, with each pair winning crucial matches

Squad: Hattie Bevan (U6, A), Rebecca Perry (captain, U6, A), Katy Law (U6, A), Annabel Mundy (L6, A), Tabitha Burt (4th, A), India Blake (5th, Q), Charlotte Ball (5th, Ch), Georgia Taylor (L6, Ch) There was such enthusiasm, endeavour and commitment amongst the girls; throughout the winter months the attendance at training was outstanding. The girls have always trained and played with a smile on their faces and it is that attitude that will serve them well, in both sport and whatever career they choose to take when leaving College. By any measure, the team had an extremely successful season. A prolonged run in the Lawn Tennis Association Senior Students’ Competition gave a wonderful focus to December, January and February, a highlight of which was certainly the away win against The Red Maids’ School at

Charlotte and Georgia started the term in the 2nd VI but, very quickly, their standard of play and performances merited the deserved promotion to the 1st team and the pair became an integral part of the side. Annabel and Tabitha were a revelation as a pair during the year. Playing in their first year of 1st‑team tennis, neither girl was overawed by the weight of expectation and they were the most consistent and dependable pair on the circuit. The three leavers, Bella, Hattie and Katy all added so much to sport at College and leave a huge void in terms of talent, application, good humour and natural ability. Bella, as captain, set the standard in terms of commitment, drive and focus on court. She has been a very fine leader who led from the front at all times, notably against Bloxham, and has been a hugely positive role model for our Lower College pupils. Hattie and Katy were hugely flexible throughout the term and played with a number of partners, often securing positive results and always providing the necessary support and advice as the senior player. The senior House Pots competition was won by Ashmead, with Westal upsetting the form book to win the junior competition. I would like to thank the parents whose support, humour and company I greatly appreciated courtside. Finally, my thanks must go to Mr Chris Warner for his company, tactical nous and support in coaching the squad. Full Colours awarded to Bella Perry; Hattie Bevan; Katy Law

Half Colours awarded to Charlotte Ball; India Blake; Tabitha Burt; Annabel Mundy; Georgia Taylor

Mr Steve McQuitty

2nd VI

Record: played 5; won 5; games for 38; games against 7; game difference 31

The girls can feel very proud of their achievements and all will feature in the 1st‑team plans for the 2015‑2016 academic year. With all of the squad due to return to College in September, there is a great sense of optimism and anticipation at what the girls can accomplish with the same focus and determination in training.

Mr Steve McQuitty

SPORT

David Lloyd Bristol, enabling us to reach the last 16 of the national competition. We only lost one block fixture in the Summer Term, winning eight matches, with Annabel and Tabitha the most successful doubles partnership, winning 14 out of a possible 15 matches. The season’s highlights included comprehensive wins over The Cheltenham Ladies College (8‑1), Dean Close School and Bloxham School (7‑2) and Malvern College (9‑0). Above those scorelines, however, the impressive thing about the girls was the way they conducted themselves on court, their support for one another and willingness to always offer help if required.

3rd VI and 4thVI

Record: played 4; won 2; lost 2; games for 19; games against 17; game difference 2

Squad: Georgie Blumer (captain, L6, Ch), Nicola Francombe (L6, Ch), Mimi Haycraft Mee (L6, Q), Ellie Jones-Perrott (5th, A), Annabella Köhler (L6, Ch), Araminta LawsonSmith (L6, Ch), Sophie Mathews (L6, A) The 2nd VI was one of only two teams to finish the Summer Term with an unbeaten season. Indeed, such was the girls’ standard of play that there was little to choose between the 1st VI and 2nd VI. The combined squad trained with such purpose over the winter months, for which the girls deserve real credit. St Edward’s School, Oxford, were swept aside 7‑2 in the first fixture of the season and that momentum continued with two emphatic wins: over The Cheltenham Ladies’ College (8‑1) and Dean Close School (9‑0). Key partnerships were starting to develop, with Georgie and Minty hugely impressive in the way they took the game to their opponents. Sophie and Nicola forged a fine understanding of each other’s play and proved extremely difficult to beat. Bloxham School were dispatched 8‑1 before the strongest challenge of the season from Malvern College was overcome 6‑3.

Squad: Mimi Haycraft Mee (L6, Q), Annabella Köhler (L6, Ch), Sophie Baillie-Hamilton (5th, Q), Eleanor Jones-Perrott (5th, A), Serena Reeve-Tucker (5th, A), Isabella Firth (L6, W)

Record: played 4; won 3; lost 1; games for 22; games against 14; game difference 8

Squad: Matilda Hopkinson (U6, A), Ella Upton (U6, A), Claudia O’Riordan (U6, Q), Millie Broom (5th, W), Rosie Cooper (U6, W), Pippa McKerron (L6, Ch), Theresa Schäff (5th, Ch) The season started with a home fixture against St Edward’s School, Oxford, and although there were several impressive victories, notably for Serena and Isabella, both teams lost overall. Illness and injury meant some new pairings had to be created for the next home fixture against local rivals The Cheltenham Ladies’ College. The new pairings were hugely successful as the girls discovered their competitive edge and wracked up some impressive 6‑0 and 6‑1 scorelines. The Thirds went on to win seven out of the nine games, while the Fourths dominated proceedings and won eight of their nine games. The girls’ penultimate fixture was against Dean Close School. Both teams were involved in a number of close matches and there were good wins for Millie and super-sub Holly Graveney (5th, A) who was promoted up from the 5th VI. However, despite playing some great tennis, the

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Thirds eventually lost the fixture 3‑6. In the Fourths, Tildy and Claudia won two of their matches 6‑3, 6‑3, in their inimitable graceful style; while Georgie and Jess, who were also playing up from the 5th VI, defeated their opposite 6‑0, 6‑4 to help College win the fixture 5‑4. For the final fixture of the season the girls travelled to Bloxham School where the Thirds and Fourths triumphed 6‑3 and 7‑2 respectively. The girls have played some super tennis over the course of the season and have all worked hard to develop their all-round games.

Miss Claire Rowland

5th VI

Record: played 2; won 2; games for 12; games against 6; game difference 6

5‑4. (And the latter involved our team playing against its own coach since the Ladies’ College team was one woman down so he was brought in as the ‘extra man’!) Bloxham School cancelled their match against College because they could not raise a team. However, many of our 5th team ended up playing for other College teams against Bloxham, helping to achieve decisive victories. Overall, it was a fun and successful year for the team. The whole squad was very positive and supportive and made the most of some fantastic weather, and the opportunity to play tennis together and to grow in skills and friendships.

Dr Adrian Samuel

Junior Colts A

Record: played 11; won 8; lost 3; games for 67; games against 35; game difference 32

The following weekend saw the girls take on The Cheltenham Ladies’ College (CLC). Another closelyfought game, with Martha and Georgie at 5‑5 in the final set at four rubbers a piece. Unfortunately a few carefully-placed winners by CLC saw us miss out 4‑5. That was the end of our losses. The girls took on board all the advice to improve their footwork, volleying and attacking play and won the remainder of their matches. They had a 5‑4 victory over Dean Close School; Martha and Georgie held up under the pressure at 5‑5 in the final set to win 6‑5 and take the team to victory. The remaining weeks saw victories over Wycliffe (5‑4), Bloxham School (9‑0), Malvern College (8‑1), Clifton College (7‑2) and Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls (9‑0). The skill shown by the girls throughout the term was excellent and their attitude towards training and matches was superb. I thoroughly enjoyed watching them develop, both as individuals and as a squad.

Miss Poppy Hoskins

Junior Colts B

Record: played 7; won 4; lost 3; games for 35; games against 28; game difference 7

Squad: Georgina Gardner (captain, U6, Q), Jess Ottley-Woodd (L6, Q), Emily Wilford (L6, W), Holly Graveney (5th, A), Zoe Robbins (5th, A), Tara Percival (5th, Ch), Zara Wynne (5th, Q) One of the great strengths of Cheltenham College is to involve pupils of all abilities in competitive sport. Although the girls in the 5th VI were not selected for higher teams, they were a focused and determined group of players who played extremely well. Captained by Georgina, they won both their matches. Georgina played 1st pair with Jess; Emily and Holly played 2nd pair; and Zoe and Tara played 3rd pair, with Zara often standing in to support the team when needed. First defeating St Edward’s School, Oxford, 7‑2, they went on to defeat The Cheltenham Ladies’ College

Squad: Rose Jones (captain, 4th, Q), Sascha Taylor (4th, Ch), Martha Elliott (4th, W), Georgie Baillie-Hamilton (4th, Q), Cordelia Shorthouse (4th, A), Jaime Carter (4th, A) The team had a fantastic season with six wins out of eight matches. The VI played a total of 72 sets between them and won 51; an outstanding achievement. We had a tough start to the term against St Edward’s School, Oxford. The girls fought hard, but lost out 4‑5 to a very strong opponent. Sascha and Rose (1st pair) fought back from 0‑3 down to win 6‑5 against the opposing 1st pair in a nail-biting finale.

Squad: Isla Flint (4th, A), Amber Beachus (4th, W), Imogen Williams (captain, 4th, Ch), Stephanie Symcox (4th, Q), Paola Ramos Contreras (4th, W), Georgie Fowler (4th, Q) Throughout the term, the team improved enormously. They had a tough first match against St Edward’s School, Oxford, (1‑8) where the majority of the team were representing College at tennis for the first time. The girls then took on The Cheltenham Ladies’ College the following weekend and played some outstanding tennis. Unfortunately we missed out on a win in a close 4‑5 defeat. The following weeks saw the girls go from strength to strength in training, taking on board advice from coaches and improving their consistency and basic ground strokes. Serving practice helped the girls in their attacking play and we started to win more of our service games which led to more rubbers won overall. Significant wins over Dean Close School (5‑4), Bloxham School (8‑1) and Malvern College (7‑2) boosted their confidence enormously. A tough Clifton College team put a halt to the winning streak with too many unforced errors because of a lack of concentration. Those little mistakes meant that we missed out on our win 4‑5. Our final weekend was against Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls and we made the journey to Wales in the sweltering heat. The girls

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Always smiling, enthusiastic and motivated – the girls were a joy to coach!

Miss Poppy Hoskins

Junior Colts C and Junior Colts D

Record: played 4, lost 4; games for 8; games against 28; game difference 20 Squad: Georgie Fowler (4th, Q), Lucinda Gardiner (4th, Ch), Maddie Moorsom (4th, Ch),

game at home against Bloxham School when it came down to the last three sets; just losing out 2‑1 in the final sets, they lost 5‑4. As there were no games for the D team, I was able to mix each pair in the C team so that everyone had a chance to represent College. The girls have improved on many aspects of their game, whether it be serving, volleying, or their position on the court. Each girl learned something, tried really hard and was a joy to work with.

Miss Charli Roberts

Yearlings A

Record: played 8; won 1; lost 7; games for 30; games against 42; game difference 12

opposition to make the error. Our next home fixture saw the girls play Bloxham School which we comfortably won 8‑1. It was a much better performance and as a coach I was pleased to see the girls’ consistency improving. The second half of the season was more difficult and not as close as the earlier matches. The first two matches resulted in 3‑6 losses to both Wycliffe and Malvern College. The final two matches of the season were played in hot and sunny conditions against Clifton College and Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls. It showed that the girls were not used to such conditions, and they lost 2‑7 in both matches.

SPORT

played well to win 6‑3 with Immie and Steph winning 3/3 of their matches.

The team should not be disheartened; they are a talented group of girls and I wish them all the best in their next season.

Miss Betsy Willey

Yearlings B

Record: played 7; won 3; lost 4; games for 30; games against 33; game difference 3

Tusmo Ismail (4th, W), Chanelle Moller (4th, A), Louisa Schmid (4th, W), Phoebe Janes (4th, W), Alina Baranova (4th, Ch), Daisy Wildman (4th, Ch), Genevieve Alltimes (4th, A), Jemima Cooper (4th, Q), Annabel Merheim-Kealy (4th, Q), Laura Morris (4th, W) The season for the U15 C and D teams was cut short to just four games. Unfortunately, oppositions were unable to make up a team and some were cancelled because of the weather. However, all of the girls were on the team sheet and played at least one game for College. Despite losing the first three games (Marlborough College, 8‑1; The Cheltenham Ladies’ College, 7‑2; and Dean Close School, 8‑1), the scores did not reflect how they performed and how close each game was. The progress the team made throughout the term was shown in their last

Squad: Romily Bodington (3rd, A), India Deakin (3rd, W), Georgina Grimwade (3rd, A), Mollie Lyle (3rd, Q), Elodie Mathews (3rd, A), Kaela Wilson (3rd, Ch) The team had a tough season. Our opening games were very close against St Edward’s School, Oxford, The Cheltenham Ladies’ College and Dean Close School. The losses were because the girls struggled during crucial moments in games. Despite those close losses the team continued to train well, and listened to feedback so that they could improve for the next fixture. The main focus was to remain consistent during groundstroke rallies, to not make any unforced errors but instead force the

Squad: Georgia Mitchell (3rd, Q), Rose Pearey (3rd, Ch), Honor McFarlane (3rd, W), Caroline Daly (3rd, W), Isabella Channing (3rd, W), Eleanor Davies (3rd, Q) The team had a successful year but a difficult start. They lost 2‑7 to St Edward’s School, Oxford, but there was some good play and it gave us some points to work on before the next fixture, which was against The Cheltenham Ladies’ College. They were a very strong team and it was a very tough match; the girls were outplayed but showed real spirit and fought until the end, losing 0‑6. After two difficult fixtures and some hard training the team finally reaped the rewards against Dean Close School, where they won 8‑1. That was followed by an emphatic 9‑0 win against Bloxham School. It was the highlight of the season with every pair playing some fantastic matches, mixing up excellent groundstrokes with punchy, attacking volleys. The next couple of matches were not as consistent from the girls. They lost to Malvern College 3‑6 and then to Clifton College 1‑8. The final match of the season was against Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls and the team were determined to make up for their previous two defeats. They played brilliantly to come out as 7‑2 winners. I really enjoyed coaching the team and they should be pleased with how they conducted themselves during the season. I wish them every success looking towards next season.

Miss Betsy Willey

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Yearlings C and Yearlings D

Yearlings’ C record: played 5; lost 5; games for 11; games against 34; game difference 23

had 31 games and we had 30 – so another close match that could have gone either way. In summary it was a term of close matches and near misses. For some fixtures the scores were not a fair reflection of the matches, as they were often closer than the scores would appear.

Mrs Kate Hornsby

Water Polo

Yearlings’ D record: played 2; lost 2; games for 4; games against 14; game difference 10

As a squad we experienced some impressive wins in a somewhat challenging year as well as a promising glimpse into the future for our younger players. As usual, both U18 and U16 squads entered the English Schools’ Swimming Association (ESSA) water polo championship, and a host of friendly matches were also played in what was a busy year for the Club.

U18

Squad: Piers Norton (L6, S), Douglas Spencer (L6, S), Archie Timmis (L6, H), Daniel Brown (L6, S), Dan Beachus (L6, BH), Fernando Capelastegui (L6, BH), Nikita Lazarev (captain, U6, L), Harry James (L6, L), Joe Warner (L6, S), Thomas Bond (L6, NH), Ben Santhudkjkarn (L6, BH), Patrick Portsmouth (L6, NH)

Squad: Annabella Bifulco (3rd, Q), Yasmin Mayes (3rd, A), Ellen Currie (3rd, W), Varvara Konyaeva (3rd, W), Valeriya Popeta (3rd, Q), Olivia Ladkin (3rd, Ch), Verity Peterken (3rd, W), Georgina Elliott (3rd, A), Gemma Taylor-Baggs (3rd, Q), Rebecca Smith (3rd, A), Victoria Edwards (3rd, Q) It was a challenging year for the two teams who came up against some fierce opposition and found the going tough. The first match was against St Edward’s School, Oxford. Despite some spirited games, the C team lost 7‑2, but the D team had a much closer game losing 5‑4. Indeed, the match for the D team was very close, with St Edward’s only wining one more game, the total games won being 44‑43. The winning pairs were Verity and Georgina, Yasmin and Laura, Victoria and Valeriya and finally Gemma and Rebecca. The next match was against The Cheltenham Ladies’ College. Although there was some good tennis and long rallies, the final score was a 0‑9 loss for the C team and a 1‑8 loss for the D team. The only winning pair was Annabella and Yasmin. Dean Close School was another very close match. Most of the games went to deuce, but the final score was 6‑3 to Dean Close. Matches were won by Annabella, Yasmin and Ellie with Varvara. Malvern College were next and, despite some close matches with lots of deuce scores, we lost overall 7‑2. Winning pairs were Valeriya with Olivia, and Verity and Georgina. Clifton College again proved to be a close match with some good long rallies and some exciting net play. The final match score was 6‑3 but again, when the total number of games was added up, Clifton

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It is undeniable that the squad is tightly bound; having started playing as a group in the Third Form, we have progressed greatly. The year was physically demanding as most of us, being Lower Sixth students, were playing in the U18 category of the ESSA water polo championship – which is rather more aggressive than we were accustomed

to. Nonetheless, we learned a great deal which we hope to take with us into the future. The first round of the English Schools’ included a narrow 3‑4 loss away against Eton College, though that was clouded by strong sides of Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet, and Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School who beat us 1‑8 and 0‑11 respectively, consequently sending us into the plate competition. We had hoped for better, but at Charterhouse we played some good water polo drawing with King’s College School, Wimbledon, 5‑5 and narrowly losing to Charterhouse 4‑6. Unfortunately our ESSA campaign ended there, but not all was lost as it was invaluable experience to our evolving style of play. At home however, there was success. There must have been some magic from the home crowds as we always played much better with fans; we truly appreciate them and must thank those who come to watch, particularly the parents who always give us a boost! A memorable match was our 9‑8 victory against Gloucester University, not only because of our great team-work and confidence in going forward, but also for the great goal Thomas scored in the last second after lobbing the goalie with a perfectly weighted shot, with the buzzer sounding as the ball hit the net. Moreover, our 7‑6 win against Cheltenham Club really sums up our squad as a whole. Having learned to move the ball around the ark when attacking goal, and training hard to improve our counter-attack, we had a fantastic win compared to the start of the season where we were soundly beaten 18‑4. For water polo at College it was amazing, as it was the first time that we have beaten Cheltenham Club in over a decade! It was great to step up and feel the benefits of our hard work. Our away matches were also impressive. Despite losing 9‑10 to Warwick School, and 5‑6 to Radley College, we showed composure and good retention of the ball, which was promising, but also frustrating as we knew how much better we could have played during the ESSA championship.

Full Colours awarded to Nikita Lazarev, who has played for the U18s for the last four seasons, scoring 75 goals in total for the Club.

Player

Goals scored

Archie Timmis

Thomas Bond

Harry James

Dan Beachus

B. Schallamach

Player

Exclusions

Nikita Lazarev

Harry James

Fernando Capelastegui

Joe Warner

Dan Beachus

U16

Squad: Tom James (4th, L), Felix Stevens (4th, Xt), Hugo Bailey (3rd, BH), Darren Hague (captain, 5th, BH), Ben Schallamach (4th, BH), Harrison Campbell (4th, L), Boris Pustoshinskiy (3rd, Xt), Jack Ward (3rd, L), Daniel Ward (4th, NH), James Lewin (4th, NH), Victor Reznikov (4th, L), Zeno Burchi-Khairy (4th, Xt) The season was difficult in particular for the U16 squad as we welcomed many new players, which was great to see, although naturally the team lacked confidence and experience. Like the U18s, the team was entered into the

ESSA water polo championships, facing strong teams from Eton College, Warwick School and Stowe School. After losing 6‑0 to Stowe and 8‑0 to Eton, the boys, like the U18s, were in the plate competition. Unfortunately the road ended in the semi-finals after impressive sides from Brentwood School and Bedford Modern School played well to force them out of the competition. Away from the tournament, great optimism and excitement for the future of the team can be expected. With a 9‑12 victory over the Gloucester University women’s side, the team felt a surge of confidence, which could be felt during their rapid counter-attack and time on the ball. Special mention should go to Daniel who scored seven of the goals, and to Boris who scored three. That boost was enough to see a good victory over Radley College away 7‑10, which is particularly impressive considering the limited preparation time the team had. It is a promising thought to think that in future years the team will flourish and progress into a solid team. Keep up the hard work! Darren captained the team with a dedicated style and we look forward to him being permanently in the U18 squad next year.

Player

Exclusions

Darren Hague

Zeno Burchi-Khairy

James Lewin

Boris Pustoshinskiy

Ben Schallamach

SPORT

Half Colours awarded to Piers Norton; Joe Warner; Archie Timmis; Fernando Capelastegui

Although water polo is mainly a boys’ sport at College, it was fantastic to see a girls’ U15 team playing against The Cheltenham Ladies’ College. Despite losing 6‑0 it really is a step in the right direction as we wish to diversify and make water polo more accessible for everyone. Within College, the highly popular inter-House competition saw Lower College play short games against each other. It is fantastic to introduce water polo to people who have never played before, as well as make the Summer Term activity slots more enjoyable. Newick House won the tournament, with Christowe as runners up.

Player

Goals scored

Daniel Ward

Boris Pustoshinskiy

I would like to thank Mr Carpenter for his coaching and dedication throughout the year. It would also be fitting to say farewell to Nikita who has been an integral part of water polo over the five years he has spent at College. He is a true team player and our top goal scorer. Undoubtedly we will look to take all our experience into next year and have a lucrative 2015‑2016 season.

Darren Hague

Fernando Capelastegui (L6, BH)

Jack Ward

Ben Schallamach

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Cheltonian Association & Society Cheltenham College Bath Road Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL53 7LD Contact Details: Tel: 01242 265694 Email: r.creed@cheltenhamcollege.com www.cheltonianassociation.com Contact: Christiane Dickens, Development Director Rebecca Creed, Association Manager Malcolm Sloan, OC Administrator

Chris was with us for just over 11 years. After completing his course at the University of Gloucestershire he joined us as a junior technician with little experience of Apple computers, their operating system and programs. However, it became apparent very early on that his technical ability and adaptability would be just what College needed. It also became apparent that his sense of humour is somewhat unique but very amusing. After a while Chris started attending various social and College events, that is when his ability as a Karaoke performer was revealed to the world. He is also an excellent imitator - but was kind and not cruel in his gentle mimicry of colleagues. He is fearless and dogged in his pursuit of a solution to any problem. He has taught himself - to a high level of proficiency - a host of different programs, and has been able to help many colleagues master complicated programs when they hit the technology wall. It is not just in working with applications that Chris is a master; he is quite at home writing scripts that will make systems and processes run better and has developed many timesaving shortcuts for members of staff. Chris made a huge contribution to College during his time here. The fact that many members of staff from all areas of College have expressed their sadness at his leaving shows the high regard in which he was held. He was great fun to work with and will be hugely missed on both a personal and professional level. He is moving on to a new, exciting challenge – I am sure that he will be a great success.

Mr Graeme Stuckey

Jill Barlow

The adage ‘if you want something done, ask a busy person’ certainly fits Jill.

If it is Tuesday or Thursday morning, it must be College Archives; but on other days she can be found working (as a volunteer) on the Account Rolls of Edward II in the archives at Berkeley Castle, or in Gloucester cathedral archives. Or she may be found researching or editing records for publication at Gloucestershire Archives (two volumes on apprentices, 16th‑19th century) or The National Archives, where her palaeographical skills and knowledge of medieval Latin are put to good use. Currently she is also working on the Cheltenham volume of the Victoria County History for Gloucestershire. Friday mornings finds her at home at least once a month, teaching a medieval Latin class in her kitchen. Her paid employment began at GCHQ (where, incidentally she met her husband Peter on the

first day!). Seven years later she took a career break to raise a family. Returning to employment she worked for a translation agency and was a director of a market research company. In 2004, at an age when most people would have been thinking about retiring, Jill joined College Archives, working two days a week. People half her age arrive in Archives out of breath, having climbed the stairs (42 or 44, depending which way they came). But not Jill; that is chicken feed compared to the 269 steps to the top of the tower at Gloucester cathedral – where she also acts as a tower guide! She has a phenomenal memory for facts (but not for where she has just put something down!) and her unrivalled knowledge of local history will be greatly missed. An active member of several groups, such as the Cheltenham Local History Society and the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society, she serves on numerous committees, and wears several hats (besides that of Cheltenham College) when she goes to Heritage Open Day meetings. After leaving Archives on a Thursday, she goes to a former College property, Linton House, where she joins a band of volunteers making charity greetings cards for the Cobalt Unit there. I just hope they do not ask her to cut anything; her inability to cut a straight line is legendary in Archives! Although retiring from formal employment at College, she will be back as … yes, you guessed – a volunteer! It has been her long-held wish to list the contents of the scrapbooks which date back to the formation of College. We wish her all the best in her retirement and look forward to seeing her from time to time.

Mrs Christine Leighton

Ginette Doyle

When I first toured the Chatfeild-Roberts Library in the autumn of 2010, I was drawn in by the sense of calm purposefulness. Pupils sat in plush surroundings and worked with studious intent. The Library was the heart and soul of College, and what is more it had the wow factor. As the librarian emerged from her office just at the moment I walked past, I showed her that I was utterly impressed with such a wonderful place of learning and research. College welcomed Ginette in January 2007, and she set about transforming the library from day one; she has always held the firmest of beliefs in the importance of our library and she has moved swiftly with the times. She has pioneered wireless and touchscreen technology, brought the Library online, and has shown that she can tweet like a canary. She has worked relentlessly and invested thought, care and energy to make the library the remarkable facility it is today. Ginette’s links to numerous librarian associations have allowed us to benefit from excellent practice from around the world. Ginette is an expert in the field and, through her work with

the School Library Association, she has accrued national influence and has worked extensively on her visits to schools of every type. College has gained much from her library leadership, and her colleagues have benefited from her unwavering support. Ginette has shown how important looking after people is to not just the success of a venture, but to the happiness and fulfilment of the striving. As we say farewell to Ginette, she retires with our warmest and fondest wishes.

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Chris Alcock

Mr Simon Brian

Matt Fairburn

Matt arrived at Cheltenham for the 2012‑2013 season to undertake the role of Hockey Professional on both sides of the road with College and The Prep. Previously he had been coaching at Wycliffe, as well as at a number of clubs within Gloucestershire. He was able to bring his experiences of playing top-level club hockey from his time in the national Premier League with Guildford Hockey Club, and had an immediate effect with the players at all levels – especially in developing their technical core skills. As a player he was creative, which came out in his coaching. Once he had settled into the routine of College, Matt was able to transfer his experiences of junior international hockey to the running of College’s Talented Athlete Programme (TAP), as well as then taking a team in the cricket term. Matt certainly became immersed in the sporting aspects of College. His creative talent was not only in hockey but also in design and that soon became apparent with the creation of various logos for the Hockey Club and also the Independent Schools’ Hockey League. We wish him well as he moves on to pursue other business interests with his own hockey coaching company.

Mr Gwyn Williams

Amy Haddock

During the last two years Amy Haddock has made a huge impact in many areas of College life. Having completed her Engineering degree at Durham University, she joined College as the graduate Rowing Assistant. Her spreadsheet and culinary skills were put to good use as she organized all the rowing sessions, regatta entries, Boat Club Dinner, and the holiday training camps, culminating in the Henley training camp and a most enjoyable race day at the Royal Regatta. In 2014‑2015 Amy taught Physics and completed her PGCE training. She shared

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new resources and brought her enthusiasm for learning to the Department. Amy has been a violinist in the Orchestra and, as a loyal member of the Chapel Choir, she assisted with the 2014 summer tour to Tuscany. She continued to coach rowing, tutored in Westal, and completed her Initial Officer Training course for the CCF Naval Section. Our loss will be Bradfield College’s gain and we wish her success in her career.

Mrs Christine Harrison

Hetty Hubbard

Starting as a textiles technician in 2009, little could Hetty have known what awaited her at College. Moving into teaching in 2011, by 2013 she was teaching all year groups from the Third Form to A2 Textiles at Upper Sixth, and by 2014, she was also teaching Year 5s to wield saws at The Prep! From the expert handling of cutting-edge technology with the laser-cutter, to pewter-casting and facilitating gorgeous design (including dresses with in-built disco systems), there is no doubt that Hetty loves enabling creativity in her pupils. As a highly skilled and creative artisan, Hetty’s fantastic exam classes’ results are testament to her ability to enable her pupils to achieve their design ambitions. But nowhere is that better expressed than in the words of one of her students, “thank you for helping me to get to where I wanted to go and to achieve what I wanted to achieve”. Other than her teaching, Hetty fulfilled a vital role oiling the cogs behind the scenes in the DT Department and, as a dedicated tutor in Chandos since 2011, I know that she has derived great satisfaction from seeing her charges flourish into accomplished young women. In her early days at College, Hetty also enjoyed drawing on her own experience, as her school’s highest ranking officer, to become one of the first female members of staff contributing to CCF. Personally, I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Hetty for her commitment to the children of the residential school for children with special needs in Bradet, Romania. From designing beautiful PowerPoint slide shows for the Variety Show and the wonderful commemorative T‑shirts, to fundraising, moral support, leadership and even sorting and heaving heavy boxes laden with donations, Hetty has channelled her love for those children in such positive and constructive ways: four years of Cheltonians and many children at Bradet have benefited from her dedicated love. I know that Hetty leaves with a heavy heart, but she can go secure in the knowledge that her commitment played an integral part in securing the uniquely special partnership for many more Cheltonian and Romanian children in years to come. It is therefore with great happiness that, on our behalf, I wish Hetty every joy in her exciting new ventures: her marriage with the wonderful Steve, and at Pittville School, where she will be setting up her very own Textiles Department. Here’s to you HH! Naroc!

Miss Jane Brodigan

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Andrew Hussey

Andy joined College as Marketing Manager in the Autumn of 2013 having previously been Creative Director of a Gloucester-based brand consultancy: Lost & Found Creative Communications. A brave man joining a Department full of feisty ladies, he swiftly settled into life at College and held his own with both wit and much aplomb. Although only with College a relatively short time, Andy rapidly gained the respect of staff throughout College with his friendly, calm and professional approach to everything he did. Amongst his many achievements are the recently re-launched and vastly more responsive website, as well as the bedding down of the College and The Prep rebrands, both of which will be lasting visual reminders of his tenure at College. Andy has now returned to his roots in brand and communications consultancy. He will be spending the next year or so rebranding a nationally known classical music venue in London as well as working with Gloucestershire County Council and a number of other clients in both the educational and cultural sectors. He will be greatly missed by all at College but most of all by his Admissions and Marketing colleagues; we all wish him the very best of luck and the success he so richly deserves personally and professionally.

Mrs Caroline Wood

Richard Jones

When Richard joined College in the new full-time position of Head of Rowing in 2011, it was clear quickly that College rowing was entering a new era. With his tireless energy and a meticulous attention to detail, the Boat Club was soon running like a well-oiled machine, which was appreciated by both pupils and coaches – unless, of course, they happened to be late or absent! Boys and girls knew in advance of the session which crew they were going to be in and who was going to coach them, buses turned up on time, launches were on the water and ready to go, and morale developed as everyone responded to the tight discipline and confidence in achievement. Richard was everywhere; for instance barking orders from the top of the landing stage when the sessions were over, with no one daring to slope off before everything was put away. Everyone knew what they should be doing and no time was wasted. With the use of new stretches of water, and new training regimes and testing, results improved relentlessly, and continued so to do, year-on-year. The 1st IV winning at the Schools’ Head of the River, the 1st VIII qualifying for Henley in 2013 for the first time in many years, and an VIII rowing at Women’s Henley in 2014, were three important milestones. The Boat Club more than doubled in

size during his tenure, particularly on the girls’ side, but Richard was not a man to sit back, content. His continued drive and ambition for the Club’s success has been infectious, enthusing all with his professionalism and determination; he knew intuitively just how each rower was performing at every level and was able to give shrewd advice to any crew. Richard leaves the Boat Club in a much stronger position than he found it, and we owe him a great debt of gratitude. Having increased his Chemistry teaching during his time at College, Richard leaves for Bedford School to take up a position as a Chemistry teacher and, of course, as a rowing coach. We will miss him greatly and wish him well for the future.

Mr Graham Cutts

Tony Jones

Tony, who in recent years has undoubtedly been one of College’s ‘characters’, joined in January 2009 as Assistant School Staff Instructor. He worked very closely with Major Stephen Clark but made his own outstanding contribution to the success of the College CCF contingent. A former soldier, Tony soon proved to be a great one for ensuring that the stores were maintained to the highest standards and that ‘rules and regulations’ were followed to the letter. I found that out to my cost (not to mention embarrassment) when I realized I had left my entry ticket for a College Polo Day at Cirencester Park on my desk. Of course I did not imagine for one moment that my wife and I would have any trouble getting in – not that is, until I saw Tony manning the entrance gate! It took lengthy and very careful negotiation to convince him that he really should let the Bursar in without charging him a second entry fee, and all the while Mrs Bursar was growing increasing less convinced that I held any sway around College at all. From the moment my blushes subsided I always held Tony in great affection for standing his ground; what is more, I have always made a point of carrying my entry ticket to any event where I might encounter Tony at the door! Following a restructure of the CCF in summer 2011, Tony took up the role of Head Porter and brought his considerable organizational skills to the rest of the portering team. In the years that followed he became well-known for initially insisting that a requested job was impossible, or that the notice given was completely inadequate, but then, just as predictably, he and the team would find a way of getting it done. Rather like Jim of ‘The Vicar of Dibley’ fame, Tony’s response to requests was invariably ‘no, no, no, no… yes!’ Whatever the project, and however lacking in clarity the request may have been, Tony delivered on time, frequently going above and beyond what was asked, sometimes (!) with a smile and always with constructive feedback for how things might be better handled in future. I would like to thank Tony for all his hard work, often against the odds, his commitment and

Mr John Champion

Bronwen Kaja

Meticulous planning, bright wall displays, highly creative garments and the desire to see her pupils achieve the very best are the characteristics that have typified Bronwen’s time at College. Having joined the Department from Wellington College, she quickly set about updating the schemes of work for all years. The pupils responded to her infectious nature and were inspired by her teaching. Many trips were planned to exhibitions and shows as Bronwen was keen to expose her pupils to the world of fashion and textiles. Many pupils since leaving her tutorage have gone on to study textile and fashion-related courses at university and are now working in the industry, be it as shoe designers or buyers for large high street chains. In summary, Bronwen made a huge contribution to the Department and to College and she will be missed by both pupils and staff. Her kindness, energy and talent have been shared with many. A highly supportive tutor who set extremely high standards for her tutees, she was respected by them all. As a new chapter in her life begins in France, with a good glass of wine, we wish her all the very best!

Mr Barry Lambert

Fergus Llewellyn

In losing Fergus Llewellyn at the end of the Summer Term, we said goodbye to a schoolmaster of real pedigree. He arrived at College from King’s School, Bruton, in 2004, and with boyish enthusiasm and commitment entered into the full gamut of College life. No class felt unloved or untutored; no team felt unmanaged or unmotivated; and no stage felt unlit or unprepared. Fergus’ infectious desire to get to know his charges, in the same breath as guiding them to achieve results beyond their beliefs, is a true gift. On both academic and pastoral plains, that was acknowledged; he was appointed Head of English in 2009 and, one year later, along with Tamsyn, the Llewellyns took on Newick House.

As an English and Drama teacher, he brought texts alive: Chaucer was unravelled; Emily Dickinson was unfolded and Shakespeare was unbridled; in both disciplines he was a master at moving texts from the page to the stage. He oversaw College’s decision to offer Theatre Studies at A Level, with a rare talent for showing students how they might tap hitherto unknown realms of thespian potential. Texts varying from Brecht to Hitchcock were thoroughly explored and produced. As boys’ and girls’ Houses began to increasingly combine, he directed Museum, Mixed Doubles and Role of Three as House plays where emotion, timing and simple inclusivity rode strong. He sat well in the director’s chair. As his first pastoral position in College, Fergus was Resident Tutor in Leconfield in 2005. His tutees knew that there would be little escape from both correction and praise, and for that he was respected enormously – rather more so than his laugh which would not be out of place on an East Anglian nature reserve. In all seriousness, his support to both Porcherite and private side was unswerving in those five years. Be it the formal report or the quick word in the corridor – each student knew that his assessment was honest, insightful and constructive; character was just as important as performance. With gentle memories of his own Sherborne schooldays, I am sure, Fergus was an everpresent on the games field; he loves sport. ‘A’ teams knew they had a coach whose understanding of teamwork and industry was unfailing. His stewardship of Yearlings and Junior Colts, in rugby and cricket in particular, once again showed pupils how they might unlock skills not only for themselves, but also in each other; his impassioned debriefs after each battle simply reaffirmed a commitment College will miss enormously. Of course the community is everything for Fergus: his nurture of Christian Union (or TCP) as it was called until recently), ensured that as a body it was rewarding and uplifting for those present – both love (and soft drinks) were in evidence. He is always very willing to speak in Chapel and to preach a confident, well-crafted sermon. In that forum he was unafraid to present his beliefs and convictions squarely before pupils and colleagues. And it always amused him that, in recent years, Newick House would present few or no candidates for confirmation. God’s little joke on a Christian Housemaster. Newick House for Fergus, Tamsyn and family was the pastoral prize: in taking over from the Stovolds in 2010 – not insignificant shoes to fill – Fergus worked tirelessly with his charges. A number of initiatives put in place, as well as a few old favourites, ensured that it was indeed a home, not a House, for each and every pupil. From House Pots to House concerts; from Induction Day to Speech Day, Fergus was ever the Housemaster – links with parents and prep schools were, and are, strong. So it seems fitting that in his move to St Andrew’s School, Turi in Kenya, as Headmaster of their Prep School, he enters a world which has been blossoming for the Llewellyns for some time. We wish them the very best in their new East African home.

Mr Karl Cook

Duncan McCombie

Thoroughly Hellenic in philosophy, outlook and coiffure, with careers as an academic and a senior diplomat in the Foreign Office already under his belt, Duncan brought a calm but steely presence to the Classics Department. He was instantly a hit with the Sixth Form, establishing the highest academic standards and contributing hugely to the Oxbridge programme. Duncan’s brain-twisting vocabulary tests rapidly became the stuff of legend, variously inspiring admiration, bewilderment and despair; as one departing student put it, when asked if another teacher was pushing the class hard on vocabulary, “Don’t worry, Sir; she’s unleashed Dr McCombie on us”. With the lower years, Duncan was adept at combining high expectations with a real sense of fun; the rousing ‘bam bas bat’ which filled the Department owed as much to the amphitheatre as to the schoolroom. Infectious in his wider interests, Duncan also made enormous contributions to music, rowing and rugby, all three of which will miss his tenacity and expertise. Though sorry to lose Duncan, we wish him all the best in his exciting new opportunity at Westminster School. He has been a ferociously hard worker, a dedicated supporter, and a genuine standardbearer for Classics.

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loyalty to College, and for his determination to make sure that everything was right for every event. I would even like to thank him for his very endearing ‘curmudgeonliness’! On behalf of everyone at College, I wish him a very long, happy and healthy retirement.

Mr Tom Lambert

Sarah Proudlove

Sarah Proudlove left us after five years of outstanding contribution to College life. Many people will be unaware of the scope and range of how she was involved in the lives and education of so many pupils. Even before many pupils arrived at College she had made contact with them as part of her work supporting the Admissions Department, conducting web-based interviews with overseas pupils. As Head of English as an Additional Language (EAL) and as a result of her role in charge of international pupils she led them through their carefully crafted induction programme to ensure that they settled well into College life. In addition to their induction days she provided both support and teaching for those pupils throughout their time at College. In her three years as Head of Third Form she played a huge part in establishing the first Headmaster’s Project. That has been a fantastic addition to the academic prizes

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available at College, giving Third Form pupils the opportunity to research themes as varied as The Elements, and Conflict and Memory. Over the years she has tutored in Boyne House, Chandos and Westal, offering her skills and support to many a Cheltonian. Sarah also played a huge role in extracurricular activities and her position as Captain in the Army Section of the CCF ensured that she spent her fair share of nights on duty under canvas. Personally, she will be greatly missed for her loyalty and friendship, and we wish her well as she takes on her new role as Deputy Head of The Mount, Mill Hill International.

Mrs Sarah Checketts

Rachel Pryce

Rachel Pryce joined us in January 2014 as our second Director in Residence. She brought with her a genuine passion for encouraging pupils to create original theatre. That led to her directing the first ever production at College that was entirely devised by pupils. She led 40 Lower College pupils as they produced an adaptation of Belloc’s Cautionary Tales and it is hoped that it will establish a tradition of pupilled drama at College. She went on to co-direct our highly successful production of Oh! What a Lovely War, which was part of our centenary commemorations for the First World War. It was a highly challenging production and Rachel supported our 40-strong cast as they honed their performance skills in order to meet the challenges.

Mrs Sian McBride

Tom Richardson

It is hard to write in such a short space about a member of staff who has been so dedicated to College. Tom came to College as a pupil in 1993, and left as Head of Christowe. Whilst at College he played top-level sport in an outstanding and hugely successful sporting year group. In 2005 he started working at College as a sports professional and was able turn his expertise to all the main games. The 2nd XV, 2nd XI hockey

and U14 cricket sides were immensely successful under his leadership because he is technically superb, able to pass that across to the pupils effectively, and exudes enthusiasm. He is excellent at diagnosing a technical problem, whether in stance or positioning, and quickly putting it right. He has also been a full-time coach at The Prep and is able to switch from those high levels and train the Under 11 D teams with equal enthusiasm and effectiveness. In his first years here, Tom represented England Counties in South Korea and Japan at rugby whilst playing professional rugby for several Midlands clubs. Such was his success on the coaching front that he was appointed Head of Rugby at College in 2009, beating international players in the process. Rugby has flourished under his leadership and the coaching staff now has two ex-England players in its squad. He has become adept at running hugely successful tours. He is a great tourist himself, making do with sometimes little to no telephone connection right from the moment of landing. He ran a fantastic tour in his final year in South Africa, leading by example with his legendary drinking prowess (elderflower pressé, anyone?) and knowledge of Cape Town’s hotspots. In addition to his team coaching he has helped move College into a more professional era and is one of the architects behind TAP, the Training Accreditation Programme, which now offers individual support to our elite athletes. Despite his gourmet appreciation of puddings, he retains his youthful demeanour. He is known as ‘Peter Pan’ as he is often still mistaken for a pupil by parents. He has always retained pride as a Cheltonian – his displays on College Field for the Old Cheltonian side are legendary, and there is no one that comes close to his speed around the boundary. It is in the House that I saw what a great schoolmaster he is. As a Resident Tutor, Tom’s ability to get the right tone with an issue is superb and he was a great support. He sets high standards for himself and the boys. It is not only his sartorial standards which are impeccable; he is a man of great charm and courtesy, an excellent role model for students. Without ever being stuffy, Tom always appreciates a ‘little decorum’. The boys in the House regard him highly and appreciate his willingness to give so much of his time. Indeed, his generosity with his time has occasionally encouraged him – with limited success – to challenge the laws of physics: Tom likes to be in twenty places simultaneously. He is

OC pirates! When Mr Simon Conner and Dr Luke Davidson mentioned Peter Pan, I wonder if they knew that the story includes an Old Cheltonian? ‘The children are carried off … and many others who bit the dust were George Scourie, Chas. Turley, and the Alsatian Foggarty. Turley fell to the tomahawk of the terrible Panther, who ultimately cut a way through the pirates with Tiger Lily and a small remnant of the tribe.’ Charles Turley Smith (1883‑1887, Garth Garmon) was a very good friend of J.M. Barrie, and was thus immortalized in the children’s classic. He was also an author, and one of his books was Godfrey Marten, Schoolboy, first published in 1902 and based on Cheltenham College. In 1939 a ‘centenary’ edition, with cartoons by Fougasse (Cyril Kenneth Bird, 1902‑1904, H), was published to raise money for the College Centenary Fund. If you would like to read it, copies are available to borrow from Archives. In Archives there is also a collection of letters written to Turley from several authors, including E.V. Lucas, Compton Mackenzie and A.A. Milne. The collection also includes c.200 letters written by J.M. Barrie. [Acc. 1278: Turley papers; The Cheltonian, 1940, p.6, p.10]

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an unassuming man but with huge pride in what he does. He contributes enormously to College and will leave a huge gap. We wish him, and his wife Katie, all the best for their future in London.

Mr Simon Conner, with Dr Luke Davidson

Ross Spry

Ross began life at College in 2006 as a temporary gardener. His potential was quickly recognized and he was offered a permanent job at the end of the summer with the Estates Department. Over the next two years Ross worked within the building section, alongside Mr Bernie Davies andtogether they completed many projects around College. In 2009 he was appointed Head Groundsman and, with his team, worked hard to improve the sports pitches over the next six years. During his time as Head of Grounds, Ross has been recognized by the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) for his work on the county cricket square. He won Groundsman of the year twice, as well as being runner up and receiving a commendation. Ross was promoted to Head of Grounds and Gardens in 2011 which allowed him not only to maintain College grounds but also those of all of our boarding houses. We wish Ross all the best, as he undertakes his new challenge as Grounds Manager at Brighton College.

Mr Andy Banks

Judith Todd

Judith recently said that she wished she had discovered College and worked here much earlier in her professional life. That mirrors my sentiments exactly; it would indeed have been wonderful to have had the benefit of her expertise and her personal contribution for more than the three all-too-short years she has served in the Learning Support Department. It has been a privilege to work with Judith. Her diversity of skills has increased the breadth of support the Department has been able to offer. Judith is skilled in working with pupils who have specific learning difficulties as well as helping pupils with French, Spanish and Mathematics. Judith has helped in some of the Third and Fourth Form Maths classes. Her expertise has been greatly appreciated by many who find aspects of learning difficult, especially those preparing for exams that they find daunting. Her caring and calm manner has given pupils much-needed assurance whilst skills have been developing. Pupils have also appreciated Judith’s flexibility in arranging lessons around their many commitments. Her Fourth Form Boyne House tutees have benefited from her interest and

Richard Woodberry

Dr Mary Plint

Caroline Wood

Caroline Wood joined College as Director of Admissions and Marketing in May 2008 following a career with BP, where she held a variety of posts in strategic marketing, sales and customer service.

She immediately brought her business acumen to College’s admissions processes, so that parents and prep schools quickly knew that they could rely on efficient and clear communication. As a parent of a son and a daughter (who would both eventually come to College), Caroline has always had an instinctive understanding of what parents want from College, and has the rare skill of coming across as caring and sensitive, yet business-like at the same time. Having spent her first career in an entirely different industry, all of Caroline’s colleagues, whether they had academic, pastoral or extracurricular responsibilities, were impressed by the speed at which she gained a complete understanding of education. As someone who was used to travelling with her work, Caroline has represented College on countless occasions, whether at a local prep school fair, or indeed abroad as we seek to find the overseas students who are best placed to benefit from a College education. Her knowledge of College is encyclopaedic: Caroline’s ability to retain and recall intricate details of academic courses, and sporting and cultural events meant that she was a one-woman marketing whirlwind. Caroline has brought a professionalism to College Admissions and Marketing that has been vital at a time when the number of students has increased to an all-time high. She will be missed hugely by her dedicated team and by the close friends she has made in the wider College community. Lastly, her incisive brain, lateral thinking and loyalty have been huge assets to the senior management of College. Caroline’s broad skill set and personal integrity will make her invaluable to a range of schools as she takes up her new role as a senior consultant for RSAcademics, and we wish her the best, knowing that she will remain close to College, both geographically and emotionally.

Mr Duncan Byrne

Richard came to College in 1990, attracted by the outgoing Headmaster, Richard Morgan, the beauty of the buildings, and what he remembers as ‘a very nice Sixth Form’. First as Director of Studies, and subsequently as Head of that Sixth Form, he masterminded university applications in the UK and overseas, and arranged a glittering programme of General Studies speakers that included Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London; the writer and politician Conor Cruise O’Brien; Lord Robertson, Secretary General of NATO; Nigel Farage of UKIP fame; the historian David Starkey; and Professor Anthony Grayling, the philosopher. Richard came also to teach History, and went on to provide unforgettable memories for generations of colleagues and pupils over the following 25 years. He brought a wealth of experience from Badminton School, The King’s School, Canterbury, City of London School for Boys, and Colfe’s School, and the academic rigour of the Neale scholar of the Queen’s College, Oxford: it was quickly apparent that he would not suffer fools at all, although this dour disdain was tempered by humour and humanity. Bemused by the unrealistic ‘target’ under Richard’s management to make College the equivalent of Winchester College, nevertheless, the number of places offered to Cheltonians by Oxford and Cambridge was usually in the upper teens in the 1990s, with thirteen offers secured in 2008 against a stronger headwind. In 2007 Richard completed his PhD on the impact of the 1867 Reform Act. He has published articles on ‘Politics in Bristol, 1865‑86’, ‘Suffolk and the Reform Acts, 1867‑68’, and has books and other articles in mind or in preparation. That academic engagement has informed all his teaching with passion, insight and authority, which made his lessons masterclasses of the craft. He has earned the heartfelt thanks of generations of pupils who have taken down his every word, enabling them to write with confidence and aspire to follow his example of measured discrimination. Over the years he has taught A Level courses on Renaissance and eighteenth century Europe, the Stuarts, eighteenth and twentieth century British history, and shown his expertise by adding to his repertoire the Third Reich, the history of the United States from Independence to the Cold War, and contemporary Government

and Politics. However, Britain’s nineteenth century, with its wealth of modern source material and features, and his hero, Benjamin Disraeli, remains his favourite area of study and teaching. Richard is in so many ways a man of the Victorian epoch: modern teachers are more ephemeral, and his colleagues know that he is irreplaceable. His pupils sense this also: ‘the good Doctor’ is their sage, ready to answer ‘What Would Woodberry Do?’ on any topic. To others, perhaps of a romantic disposition, his charms resemble those of Harrison Ford with a much more sophisticated sartorial taste, while to one he is simply ‘the internet on legs’.

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guidance. Judith has been fully immersed in the College community, and colleagues will miss her friendliness and genuine interest. Suzanne and I will especially miss her resourcefulness, professionalism and sense of humour. It goes without saying that we wish her fulfilment in the work she does in adult education and thank her sincerely for all she has given to College.

For the pupils who were lucky enough to be taught by Richard, he is a fatherly figure who wielded absolute authority and blended that with wit and repartee; his word in class would command silent and affectionate attention. Older colleagues may recall him being more vocal in the hard-fought soccer games that he played so ruthlessly. To more recent colleagues who penetrated the overcoat of the Victorian patriarch, he is affectionate, perceptive, an exceptionally engaging conversationalist, avuncular and charming by turns, and blessed with an elephantine memory. All the attributes will be deployed as Richard continues to peddle his trade next year, part time, at Godolphin and Latymer School, enjoys Middlesex and Surrey county cricket, galvanizes his constituency Conservative Party, takes courses in History of Art, and German, and wins the crossword and quiz contests in his many ‘locals’ in ’ammersmiff and Chiswick. So many Cheltonians, on both sides of the desk, owe Richard a huge debt of gratitude for his unique and innumerable contributions to College. Our warmest good wishes go with him and his wife, Jill, for a long and happy semi-retirement.

Dr Martin Jones

Stop Press

We also would like to thank and bid farewll to Miss Natasha Mason, who manned the desk on Reception so elegantly! Also, we say goodbye to Post Grad coaches Miss Lulu Watson (Shooting) and Mr Tristan Mayglothling (Rowing). Many thanks to you both for all you have contributed to College life and especially for your brilliant work in your areas of expertise. We wish you all the very best for the future!

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Editorial note

ize / ise suffix: please note that the ‘ize’ suffix has been chosen in this publication following OED and Chambers’ spelling guidance.

Acknowledgements and thanks

The editors would like to thank all the contributors for their timely, well-crafted and interesting content. For this year at least, we are therefore pleased and somewhat relieved not to have to resort to such desperate measures as suggested by the editors of 1889 and 1890:

The editors would like to thank the following for allowing the use of their photographs in this publication: Mr Andy Banks Mrs Julia Campbell

‘This is a season of strikes, whether of dock labourers, tailors or school boys; but there is yet one much aggrieved and long-suffering body that has not yet had recourse to this weapon. Could not Mr Burns [one of the leaders of the 1889 London Dock Strike] put himself at the head of a strike of Editors and formulate some such demands as these: That regular correspondents should send their contributions by the fixed date and not keep the Editors waiting That when punctuality is unattainable the Editor should not be grumbled at That correspondents should not write on both sides of the paper and should not leave the punctuation to the printer That the constant reader should not constantly grumble at a magazine to which he has never sent a contribution’ [The Cheltonian, 1889, pp.193‑94] ‘We hope our readers have not been seriously incommoded by the late appearance of this number. If they feel disposed at all to grumble at us we should suggest that they should try editing a School Magazine during the holidays, when all the regular correspondents of the paper are disporting themselves hundreds of miles away from the scene of action, and are quite ungetatable. We should then have the pleasure of seeing them give up the task in despair, and wait the re-arrival of term. Punctuality may be a virtue, but had we been punctual this time we should have heard many more complaints at the unavoidable omissions than we shall hear now at the postponement of what is perhaps not such an amazing treat - the appearance of the Cheltonian.’ [The Cheltonian, 1890, p.69]

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Mr Rob Hall Mr John Jamieson-Black Dr Martin Jones Cheltenham College Archives The Cheltonian Association Bromhead Photography Gillman & Soame UK Ltd* McPherson Stevens Photography Sports Leaders UK *Note: the photographs on the Speech Day Prizes page have been reproduced by kind permission of Gillman & Soame UK Ltd and can be ordered by contacting Gillman & Soame on 01869 328200 Our gratitude also goes to Mr Matthew Jolly of Jolly Good Design for his excellent graphic design.

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Cheltenham College Bath Road Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL53 7LD Tel: +44 (0) 1242 265 600 Fax: +44 (0) 1242 265 630 Email: admissions@cheltenhamcollege.org www.cheltenhamcollege.org Registered Charity No. 311720

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