Dunottar Society Magazine March 2024

Reflections

THE DUNOTTAR SOCIETY MAGAZINE

SPORT

Cricket and Netball Tour to South Africa

THE REUNION

100 alumni members are welcomed back for a nostalgic afternoon

BUILDING THE ARCHIVES

Illustrating the rich history of Dunottar School

Next reunion - Sunday 28th April 2024

THE HEADMASTER’S WELCOME

WElCOME fROM MR TOTTMAN

2023 was a great year for Dunottar. A full schedule of residential trips gave pupils the opportunity to travel to South Africa for our Cricket and Netball Tour, while others soaked up French culture in Paris or visited the historical sites of Berlin. Our talented young singers took part in the first Open Mic Nights and 90 pupils rocked the Castle Theatre with an outstanding production of “We Will Rock You”.

In the summer, our pupils achieved the best ever GCSE results for Dunottar, with 12% of all grades attained being grade 9 and 53% the top grades 9 to 7. This is particularly impressive as our pupils comprise a range of academic abilities.

We were delighted to announce that Dunottar has been awarded the prestigious ‘Wellbeing Award for Schools’ for its outstanding commitment to fostering the mental and emotional health of our pupils and staff. This achievement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire school community. We were also shortlisted at the Independent Schools of the Year Awards for “Co-Educational Independent School of the Year 2023”, an indication of our continuing success as a first-choice school for many families in the local area.

Chair of Governors, Andy Porteous and I were delighted to welcome so many of our Dunottar Society members to the annual reunion in April and we hope to see many of you again at this year’s event.

We aim to continue to reconnect with former pupils, old and new, and to grow the Dunottar Society over the next few years. Please do spread the word and encourage anyone interested in joining the Dunottar Society to register their details on the Society pages of our website (www.dunottarschool.com/dunottar-society-alumni).

With best wishes

Mr Mark Tottman HEADMASTER

We hope you enjoy this publication and we would welcome any feedback or feature ideas you may have for future editions.

”

REUNION DUNOTTAR SOCIETY

On Sunday 30th April 2023, we welcomed back nearly 100 Alumni members to Dunottar School for a nostalgic afternoon in the beautiful sunshine. Guests were welcomed into the school’s dining hall by some of our talented young musicians, before hearing the latest update from Headmaster, Mark Tottman and Chair of Governors, Andy Porteous.

Guests were treated to a delicious afternoon tea of sandwiches, scones and cakes, whilst catching up and reminiscing with classmates and teachers.

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The reunion was a wonderful event and we appreciate all the effort that was given to it

“What a wonderful day to celebrate Dunottar School. Thank you to the current staff who created a very special afternoon for alumni to reunite, reminisce and look around the school. Beautiful effort and thought put into the table decorations, afternoon tea, slideshow and display of photos. Great update from the Head, Mr Tottman. The school is well and truly thriving as we also heard from Andy Porteous, Chair of Governors.”

“It was a wonderful afternoon - great organisation, a lovely atmosphere, and the right balance of refreshments, input, and freedom to tour the school, which looked fantastic. Some from my era and older had not been back since leaving and were thrilled to see it again. They were particularly appreciative of the respect given to history and the older parts of the school, and excited by all that is happening now.”

REUNION fOR RECENT lEAvERS

Did you leave Dunottar between 2018 and 2023? Would you like the opportunity to catch up with some of your classmates and teachers back at Dunottar? If so, we will be hosting a Recent Leavers’ Reunion on Thursday 5th September in the Sixth Form Centre, with drinks and pizza from 6:00-8:00pm. We look forward to welcoming you back to Dunottar!

Book here.

REUNION

“It was a memorable day - thank you!”

“Thank you so much for the alumni event on Sunday. I thought it was beautifully done, with the archive photos on display, delicious afternoon tea and freedom to roam and reminisce!”

DATES fOR YOUR DIARY

Guys and Dolls – whole school musical - 21st, 22nd and 23rd March 2024

Dunottar Society Reunion – 28th April 2024

Dunottar Live Lounge – 30th April 2024

Summer Showcase – 29th June 2024

100 Year Anniversary – 2026 – Watch this space for a programme of events to celebrate this important milestone in the School’s history

More details can be found on the Dunottar Society webpages.

The next reunion will take place on Sunday 28th April 2024. Details will be posted on the Dunottar Society webpage and invitations will be sent out shortly.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

ARE THEY Where

now?

Ch ARL o T T e Bo D en Dunottar School 1999-2014

What have you been up to since leaving Dunottar?

I went to the University of Edinburgh to study History and had the best four years. I didn’t know what I wanted to do careerwise (was always slightly envious of my friends who knew they wanted to be doctors or dentists as the career path is so defined) so I chose a subject I enjoyed rather than one that would inspire my future career.

When I graduated, I started a part-time job at Sweaty Betty to make some money whilst I was job hunting. I was also told ‘it’s easier to get a job when you have a job’ - as much as I didn’t want to believe it then, there is some truth in that. I was an intern at a PR & Marketing agency for three months (unpaid) before being offered a full-time account manager role at the company, although I soon realised that agency work wasn’t for me.

I then moved into Business Development & Marketing for the global law firm, Slaughter & May - this wasn’t a job I’d even heard of before! I now work in Client & Market Development at Clifford Chance, another law firm.

What has been your highlight since leaving school?

There have been many highlights across my different rolesfrom trying on all the new season leggings at Sweaty Betty, to sampling the food at the photo shoot for a restaurant’s new menu, to running full-day event programmes for corporate clients in my current role. Who knows what the next one will be, which is what makes it exciting!

The people and the friendships I made whilst I was there - I’m lucky enough to still have a lot of them in my life today

What advice would you give to pupils completing their A-levels at Dunottar this year?

“You don’t have to have it all figured out now.” Don’t worry if you don’t know what you want to do careerwise, a lot of people I’ve met still don’t know what they want to do! Choose something that interests you, that uses your skills and strengths, but most importantly, make it something that you enjoy.

Rejection is just redirection! You won’t be offered all the jobs you apply for, and the process can feel overwhelming at times, but, don’t give up. You’ll learn something from every application and interview.

Most importantly, enjoy it! It might not feel like it now, but one day, when you’ve done your A-levels and you’re in your first job, you’ll look back and wish you were sat in the common room on a Thursday morning with your friends, complaining about all the work you’ve got to do.

What is your fondest memory from Dunottar?

I started at Dunottar when I was three and left when I was eighteen, so a lot of my childhood memories involve Dunottar. Looking back, my fondest memory (aside from the school trips and dressing up as nuns on our last day in the Sixth Form) is probably the people and the friendships I made whilst I was there - I’m lucky enough to still have a lot of them in my life today.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

h ARV e Y CR o SBI e Dunottar School 2016-2021

What are you most proud of since leaving school?

My ambition on leaving Dunottar was to work in the automotive industry as I am a firm believer that if you do something you love, you’ll never work a day in your life again. After taking a gap year where I coached sport in a school and also taught swimming at the weekends, I’m now in the second year of a three-year apprenticeship scheme at Rolls-Royce and really enjoying it!

There are also many, smaller things that I do day-to-day that add up to create my life balance which I am actually much more proud of than anything else. I like to keep active, regularly going to the gym and have broken several Personal Records over the last couple of years – it’s been great to see my hard work and commitment paying off! I highly recommend making time to stay active as it does wonders for your mental health.

I also make sure I come up to my hometown when I feel I need to reconnect with friends and family who always support me - I play video games and FaceTime with friends online who I can’t see more often and make sure I have the occasional night out partying to celebrate the years’ events. Something else I’m also proud of is not being afraid to ask for help when I need it.

Trying to figure out a balance after leaving school is possibly the most difficult thing I’ve done, which is why I’m so proud of the effort I’ve put into getting my life together. This is a never-ending journey, and I am always trying to improve my life balance but wouldn’t be able to do it without friends, family and mentors.

What advice would you give to pupils completing their A-levels at Dunottar this year?

Try not to worry too much about the outcome - just work as hard as you can and make the most of the advice and support on offer from all the staff around you. Take

time to take advantage of all the other opportunities at Dunottar - whether you want to play sport, sing, dance, play music, write code, act, create art, do outdoor activities or volunteer - some downtime and fun is also important alongside hard work. It is all about the balance.

A quote I like to tell myself when I need to work hard is “There are two types of pain in life, the pain of discipline (doing your work to the best of your ability) or the pain of regret (not doing your work to the best of your ability and regretting the result)”.

Remember that there are many different options for you out there, University is not the right route for everyone. I would highly recommend a productive/constructive gap year and would urge people to consider apprenticeship schemes.

What was your favourite subject / who was your favourite teacher at Dunottar?

It’s tough to choose my favourite subject. I did the same in school as I did in life in general. I chose to do things I loved - primarily sports, art and computer science. Sport allowed me to release a lot of stress and art enabled me to have a creative release. In hindsight, I found it very therapeutic and still like to create art now as it is something I am very passionate about.

Even if they set me “ridiculous” amounts of homework, I really liked all the teachers at Dunottar but, my greatest thanks go to the entire sports department. They always supported me and pushed me to be the best sportsman I could be, as well as a good role model for the younger students. During my GCSEs I had a great mentor, Mrs Davison who helped me stay organised and, on my feet, and I can’t forget to mention Mrs Wintle, Mrs Boden and Mrs Jackson who supported me all the way and Mr Kerr who helped me a lot during my last few years at Dunottar.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

TALL u LA h W IL k I n S on Dunottar School 2018-2023

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I think my fondest memory of being at Dunottar, and also the thing I miss most, is the strong sense of community

During her time at Dunottar, Tallulah brought style and grace to the stage, not only performing but also superbly choreographing many of the musical numbers in Sister Act, Grease and We Will Rock You. Since leaving Dunottar, Tallulah has now progressed to be ranked the number 1 ballroom dancer Under 19 in the UK, and she and her dance partner Kirill are ranked 4th in the world Under 19 Ballroom dancing category.

What does a typical day look like for you now?

or is there no such thing?

To be completely honest, there is no such thing as a “typical day”, however, in a typical week we have five competitive practices, which involves going to a dance studio and practising amongst other dancers to gain stamina and improve floor craft. We also try and have at least one private practice so that we can go through everything we have learnt thoroughly and consolidate it into muscle memory. We then also have lessons with our professional coaches, to build our knowledge and improve our skills. In order to be strong enough and also to prevent injury, we also work out twice a week. Lessons and practice times constantly change, meaning a routine is basically non-existent!

how do you balance dancing and studying?

Balancing studying and dancing is definitely not easy, especially when there is not really a fixed schedule, so everything is down to self-motivation, which is easy with dancing, but, not so easy with studying. In general, I try to stick to studying for a certain number of hours each week, and, if I have a particularly busy week, then I will do extra hours to not fall behind.

What is your fondest memory of being at Dunottar?

I think my fondest memory of being at Dunottar, and also the thing I miss most, is the strong sense of community. Everyone knows everyone and everybody looks out for each other too. The wide range and breadth of opportunities available means everybody gets a chance to succeed in whatever they choose to do, and they are totally supported by the school.

What are your aspirations for the future?

In the short-term, I aspire to be the international U19 and U21 champion, then long-term, to go on to become Amateur World Champion and finally International Ballroom Champion (preferably at least three times). I would also love to open my own dance studio and share my passion for dance with my students.

If you would like to share your news or feature in our “Where are they now?” section, we would love to hear from you, so please do get in touch: dunottar.society@dunottarschool.com

DEATHS &

OBITUARIES

Ruth Macintyre (1965-2023)

Ruth’s enthusiasm, positivity and ambition will be sadly missed by all of us at Dunottar

We were all saddened to learn that our former Head of Food and Nutrition, popular teacher and colleague, Ruth Macintyre, passed away in May following her long battle with cancer. Ruth was Head of Food and Nutrition at Dunottar School for four years from 2015-2019. She left the school to fulfil her lifelong dream of starting her own cookery school and micro bakery called Ruth’s Little Kitchen which she ran from her home in Surrey. Ruth went on to become a food editor at Yours Magazine, an award-winning baker, a judge at both the Fine Foods Great Taste Awards and World Bread Awards and an occasional tutor with Bread Ahead.

Ruth’s enthusiasm, positivity and ambition will be sadly missed by all of us at Dunottar. In her memory, a bench has been installed outside the window of the Food and Nutrition room at the back of the school, looking out at the view that she loved.

Mrs kathleen hoskins, taught Chemistry at Dunottar from 1979 - 1989.

As well as her teaching duties, Mrs Hoskins also organised outings to the ice rink, and was involved in several school ski trips. She left Dunottar School to continue teaching at Woldingham, but for the last part of her career she worked as an Industrial Chemist, something she enjoyed until well after retirement age. In later life, she continued to travel and enjoy her garden, eventually moving to Kent to be near her daughter Emma (who also attended Dunottar and left in 1991) and her two grandchildren, Iris and Jarrod. She was predeceased by her husband, John. Kath was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia but managed to live independently with support from her family, and she died peacefully at home on 24th January 2024, aged 82.

We were touched to discover that we were bequeathed two watercolour pictures, one of St. John’s Church in Redhill and one of Dunottar School, by the late Miss Frances Bailey. The artist, Alison Croxford, was a former pupil of the School. The paintings are on display in the Mansion House building at the School.

DUNOTTAR SOCIETY NEWS UPDATES&

Antonia Walt, née Redgrove

Antonia is photographed here (far left) with the late Mr Allen and many wonderful DOGs, from the Class of 2002, many of whom are still in close contact. These days, Antonia is working as an Executive Director at AND Digital, where she has pioneered AND She Can, a dedicated initiative inspiring women and girls into technology careers.

Living in London SW2, Antonia has two children, aged four and one.

Lesley Jones, née Hill

Susan odell, née Baker

On 4th September, we were delighted to welcome Lesley Jones and her family back to Dunottar for a visit. Lesley was a boarder at Dunottar between 1948 and 1956, joining the school aged 10, and has been living in Australia since 1959. Although she has been to the UK many times in the last few years she hadn’t returned to Surrey until 2023.

“We can’t thank you enough for taking the time to show us around Dunottar and reviving so many memories for me. It was remarkable to see the original building as I remember it! This visit really was the highlight of our trip. My daughters were fascinated to see the place where I spent so much time as a child.”

Such happy years! Susan started at Dunottar in 1960 and left after finishing her A-levels. She was Head Girl and in St Andrew’s House. Miss Shepherd was the Headmistress at the time and Susan recalls how she had Latin and possibly Greek lessons in her sitting room, with her cat!

Now 74 years old, Susan was a teacher and ended her career in Guildford at Lanesborough after 24 good years!

Susan came back recently to Dunottar with Mary Newson-Smith (Pharaoh). They enjoyed a real trip down Memory Lane, exploring the school, and meeting past teachers and friends. She would be delighted to hear from any other fellow DOGs! Please contact the Dunottar Society to be reconnected with Susan.

Margaret Gubbins, née Struthers

Margaret, also known as Maggie, attended Dunottar as a boarder from 1954 – 1957. She has been retired and living in Christchurch, New Zealand for the past 22 years. She married her husband David in 1964, and has two sons Robin 54, and Patrick 52.

In 2011, two strong earthquakes caused damage to their house in Christchurch, and they moved into an apartment in a very active retirement village, where they have made some wonderful friends. Sadly, David passed away over four years ago.

In April this year, the whole family were reunited for two weeks in Bali and had a wonderful time.

Margaret is in her 80s, but still goes to the gym three times a week, and walks two-three kilometres most days! She would love to hear from anyone who remembers her from their time together at Dunottar. Please contact the Dunottar Society if you would like to reconnect with Maggie.

Class of ’98 meet up

Tracey Blackwell, née Larg

Tracey attended Dunottar from 1968 to 1976 and has been a professional waller in Yorkshire for 23 years since relocating there. In 2021, Tracey was invited to Akashavana, a remote retreat centre situated up in the mountains of Aragon where Buddhist nuns are ordained, and was asked to build them a stupa.

Being a dome shaped structure containing relics, the stupa is revered as a focus for ceremony and contemplation. Each part is deeply symbolic. All stupas in the world are connected spiritually and the builder is assured good karma.

Class of ’88 meet up

Some of the girls from the class of ’88 met up recently in Reigate.

“This was without a doubt my most meaningful experience with stonework. On the last night I stood alone in the clearing with one hand on the Stupa looking up at the Aurora Borealis. My time was given voluntarily; some things in life are more important than money and I left a piece of myself behind.” Tracey is pictured here on top of the stupa.

Rev. Prudence eliapenda, née Galbraith

Rev. Prudence Eliapenda attended Dunottar School from September 1963 to July 1972, going on to study to be a Dietitian. Since 1985, she has been living in Tanzania with her Tanzanian husband. They have three children, one daughter and two sons and five grandchildren. In 2010, she was ordained as a Pastor in the Lutheran church in Tanzania. She retired officially on her 65th birthday and then started a new parttime post in Moshi near Mount Kilimanjaro. Prudence would be happy to hear from anyone who knew her at Dunottar. Please contact the Dunottar Society if you would like to reconnect with Prudence.

A few girls from the class of ‘98 met up recently.

Left to right: Claire Cline (O’Donnell), Charlotte Holfert (Howes), Natasha Heath (King), Lucy Mowatt, Rosie Hyde (Budden), Rebecca Hicks (Hodgkinson).

The Spring Term saw the Music Department holding the very first open Mic night, and boy, what performances we were treated to! At Dunottar, we are always encouraging pupils to be involved and the open Mic night was a wonderful way to hear from some of our singers who enjoy performing in a more informal setting.

MUSIC DEPARTMENT

OPEN MIC

Nights

Pupils took to the stage to share their talents with an incredibly receptive audience and there was even a special performance by some of the staff in the music department. We were treated to the music of Amy Winehouse, John Mayer, Adele, Billie Eilish and The Lumineers to name but a few. Thrown into the mix were some musical theatre numbers and even a song from The Lion King.

In October and February, we saw the return of this popular event. The evening was once again filled with amazing performances ranging from pop to musical theatre; we were also treated to a debut performance from the incredible Ukulele Club.

2023 MUSICConcerts

on Saturday 30th September, the Music Department hosted Dunottar’s annual Summer Showcase.

A large audience gathered to watch pupils put on a wide variety of performances, ranging from a Les Misérables duet to Beethoven’s groundbreaking Fifth Symphony at our Summer Showcase. Our wonderful soloists captivated the audience with their poised performances, and the Training Orchestra and Dunottar Chamber Ensemble delivered a challenging repertoire.

The Autumn Concert was once again full of talent and we were treated to solos from many of our pupils,

some of whom were performing for the first time. Not long after, we enjoyed listening to more budding performers at the Saturday Music Academy concert, which is always a highlight of the term as musicians as young as five take to the stage.

The term finished with the traditional Carol Service which was such a wonderful way to end what had been an incredibly busy term for the music department and all of our talented pupils!

DRAMA

DRAMA WE WIll

RockYou

Whole School Musical is a Rocking Success

In March 2023, 90 pupils from Years 7 to 10 took part in our annual whole school musical. Pupils rocked a packed Castle Theatre over this year’s three-night run of We Will Rock You. The production had everything – non-stop Queen hits, futuristic staging, dazzling performances and an amazing tech crew.

The cast’s energy was contagious. Audiences could not resist stamping their feet, clapping their hands and singing along with this powerful and sometimes emotional production.

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The cast’s energy was contagious. Audiences could not resist stamping their feet

DRAMA

SHAkESPEARE’S

AS YOU lIkE IT

On Thursday 23rd November, the cast of ‘As You Like It’ took part in the Shakespeare Schools Festival at the Leatherhead Theatre.

The play began in the dark, sinister, cold world of the court, with themes of fighting and banishment. The wrestling scene was a standout moment with the whole cast creating an amazing atmosphere and the fight was expertly delivered!

We then continued the journey to a new world of the forest, a chilled-out place of colour, freedom music and song.

As one of Shakespeare’s romantic comedies, love was in the air. Love letters in the trees were beautifully brought to life by the cast with living trees and sprites.

Our Alumni are welcome to attend all our Music and Drama concerts and performances. For details of our upcoming events, please visit dunottarschool.com/events

DUNOTTAR

The drama highlight of the summer term was the Lower School show Dunottar TV.

Directed by the fabulous Mrs Clark, pupils took on roles from across iconic TV history, including Stranger Things, Fawlty Towers and The Muppets. The show was put together in a remarkably short period of time, just five weeks and we were so impressed by how hard all the cast worked. Luckily, all their efforts paid off and pupils were able to enjoy a successful culmination to all their work.

“

We laughed, we cried, we danced for joy and members of the audience had smiles etched on their faces from start to finish

”

Mrs van Duijvenvoorde, Director of Drama

BUIlDING THE

ARCHIvES

We are continuing to build our digital archive, showcasing a wonderful collection of historic literature, artefacts and photographs illustrating the rich history of Dunottar School. Items are scanned and made available to search and view via the online archive.

You can find the archive on the Dunottar Society pages of our website, where among other things, you will be able to search for old school programmes, look at air-raid reports, and reminisce at old photographs of the school grounds, year groups and school productions dating back to the 1930s. dunottarschool.com/online-archive

We are continually adding to the archives so if you have any photos or other items from your time at Dunottar, that you would like to share with us, please contact the team: dunottar.society@dunottarschool.com

You can find the archive on the Dunottar Society pages of websiteour

Old stables

1940s Lacrosse

1971 1st netball team

OvERSEAS

Trips

It has been fantastic to be able to return to a full trips schedule again, following the break in such activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, pupils from across the school took part in some memorable and enriching experiences.

SENIOR PUPIlS vISIT THE HISTORIC SITES Of BERlIN

During October half term, 40 students accompanied by five members of staff, spent five days in Berlin learning more about the history of the Holocaust and the Cold War. At many of the sites visited, pupils were fortunate to have knowledgeable guides who gave great insights into the historical significance of these sites. Amongst the sites visited were the German concentration camp of Sachsenhausen, the House of Wannsee, the Holocaust Memorial and the Topography of Terror.

Those pupils studying the Cold War at GCSE were able to see the location of one of the confrontations between East and West during the Cold War at Checkpoint Charlie, along with the Berlin Wall Memorial, the interactive DDR Museum, as well as enjoying the amazing views of Berlin from the TV Tower.

PARIS AT HAlf TERM - C’était Magique!

Our five-day school trip to Paris was an unforgettable adventure for both pupils and staff alike, filled with cultural enrichment and exciting experiences. The itinerary was carefully crafted to include visits to key monuments, offering a glimpse into the city’s rich history. Pupils marvelled at iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Arc de Triomphe, absorbing the significance of each. The action-packed itinerary saw pupils embarking on a magical night-time boat cruise along the Seine River, exploring the renowned Musée d’Orsay, visiting the Pantheon as well as the opulent Palace of Versailles. The trip finished with a day spent at Disneyland Paris where even the teachers rode a few roller coasters!

TRIPS

CRICkET AND NETBAll TOUR TO SOUTH AfRICA

On Saturday 21st October, 75 pupils travelled to Cape Town, South Africa for a once in a lifetime adventure. Pupils were involved in 13 exhilarating cricket clashes and eight gripping netball fixtures, proudly showcasing their skill, talent, hard work and commitment.

The tour wasn’t only about the thrill of competitive sports. Beyond the arenas, pupils immersed themselves in the diverse wonders of South Africa’s natural beauty. A mesmerizing game drive safari brought them face-to-face with the beauty of the African wilderness. Ascending Table Mountain provided awe-inspiring panoramic views, while the Cape Canopy Tour added a thrilling adventure, displaying the breath-taking terrain from a unique perspective. A fantastic tour of Langa Township, one of South Africa’s longest standing townships and a trip to Robben Island were the educational highlights of the tour for many.

“This tour was a fusion of sporting excellence and cultural immersion,” remarked Mr Myers, Director of Sport. “It wasn’t just about the matches; it was about the bond created through shared experiences on and off the field. South Africa provided the perfect backdrop for an amazing journey.”

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This tour was a fusion of sporting excellence and cultural immersion

A fOCUS ON

GIRlS’fOOTBAll

In September 2022, shortly after the Lionesses rose to victory in the Euros, girls’ football was introduced as a core sport at Dunottar.

The provision for football is led by Mr Matt Everett, with support from professional football coaches with a wealth of playing and coaching experience. This includes ex-professional footballer and Fulham U23 coach Mr Mark Pembridge. The sport has really taken off at Dunottar since its introduction and our teams have gone from strength to strength. Many of our girls have now taken up football outside of school, playing for local teams on Sundays. We also have two girls who are in the Chelsea Development Squad and one who has gained a place in the Surrey Schools FA U14 District Team.

During their first season, our U13 team was entered into the English Schools Football Association (ESFA) Small Schools’ Girls’ National Cup where players enjoyed a superb cup run to reach the Quarter Final. They also made school history on 20th March by winning Dunottar’s first ever girls’ football cup in a district 7-a-side football tournament. Our U15 girls were crowned district champions after they won the 7-a-side football tournament held at Reigate School.

In the 2023-24 season, our U13 girls made it through to the semi-finals in the ESFA National Cup and our U15s reached the last 16 of the ISFA (Independent Schools Football Association) National Cup but were narrowly beaten by Farringtons.

Our newly formed partnership with South Park Football Club includes the use of their new 3G pitch, which pupils have benefitted from both at pre-season training and in games afternoons. We are very excited about the future for girls’ football at Dunottar!

U13 team who reached last 16 in the ESFA National Cup

RUGBY

“ ” SPORT

Dunottar Hosts First Ever Rugby 7s Tournament - March 2023

On 1st March, the Sports Department made Dunottar history, playing host to our first Rugby Sevens tournament.

Since becoming co-educational in 2015, Dunottar has enjoyed many firsts when it comes to boys’ sport, but this event was a particular highlight, taking place on home ground at Old Reigatians Rugby Club. The conditions were great for rugby as the minibuses transporting 32 teams from a mixture of state and independent schools began arriving for the U16 Surrey Sevens competition.

Players, coaches, parents and supporters enjoyed a memorable day with some great rugby being played, topped off with a win in the shield competition for our U16 team.

We are delighted to be hosting this event again on 8th March 2024.

DUNOTTAR

h ow well do you kno w the grounds at Dunottar?

?? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Have a go at our short quiz to test your knowledge of the beautiful buildings and grounds at Dunottar School. The answers to the quiz can be found at the bottom of the facing page.

1 This architectural feature on the roof of the Pelican building is called a cupola and was built in 1935. Cupolas were added for a variety of reasons but, this one, being above the original school gym (now classrooms P1, P2 and P3), would have been installed to provide constant ventilation inside the building. Sometimes they are just added for decoration.

DO YOU kNOW:

a. What is this cupola made of?

b. Why did they choose this material?

c. Why is it green?

d. There is something missing on the top of the cupola as it had to be removed for restoration. Can you remember what it was?

2 Did you know Dunottar’s Mansion House has a large cellar with a network of tunnels? This old boiler from the 1930s is underneath the staff room. It must have been a difficult job to fuel the boiler all day during the winter months to keep the house heated.

DO YOU kNOW: What kind of fuel would have been used? There is a clue in the picture of the structure with a grey lid outside the Pastoral Office.

3 Part of the cellar has large, cool storage bays that are labelled with Victorian age ceramic numbers.

DO YOU kNOW:

What would have been stored in these numbered bays?

4 Our famous Dunottar clock tower still has the original clockwork winding mechanism. It needs to be wound up by hand every week.

DO YOU kNOW:

How many turns of the winding handle it takes to do a full wind up?

a. 54

b. 238

c. 156

5 These Bath stone carvings are called bucranium and the practice dates back to classical Roman times. In those days, carvings like this were used to represent sacrifices made to the gods but it became fashionable during the various architectural revival periods of the 18th and 19th centuries to use these features again. The skull most likely was that of an ox. The dove’s carving was probably meant to represent peace and harmony for the house.

DO YOU kNOW where these carvings are?

6 These mighty trees can all be seen in the grounds and were part of the original landscape design, making them over 153 years old!

CAN YOU identify both of them?

How did you get on with our Dunottar Quiz?

The answers can be found opposite

a: Copper. 1b: Copper is waterproof and does not deteriorate. 1c: The chemical reaction of copper and the elements causes a green patina to form.

1d: A wooden sphere. 2. Coal (the structure outside the Pastoral Office is a coal chute added during the 1930s). 3. Numbers were used to identify the bays with batch numbers and ages of wine and cheeses. 4. The answer is C, 156 turns. 5. The ox head can be found above the front entrance to the Mansion House. The doves are located above the back of the Mansion House conservatory entrance. 6. a: Cedar Tree, b: Monkey Puzzle (Araucaria).

H E l P US GROW THE D UNOTTAR S OCIETY ACROSS THE DECADES - WE NEED AMBASSADORS

It is our ambition to continue to grow the Dunottar Society, reconnecting a greater number of former pupils, staff and friends of the School. To help us reach out to as many former pupils and members of staff as possible, we are looking for volunteers from across the Dunottar Society to be Dunottar Society Ambassadors, to provide a valuable connection between these groups and the School. If you would be interested in becoming an Ambassador, please email dunottar.society@dunottarschool.com

– We would love to hear from you!

GET INvOlvED...

Our alumni are incredibly important to us. We are here to keep the Dunottar Society community up-to-date with the latest news, and to provide events, reunions and volunteering opportunities. We would love to know where you are and what you are doing. Whether you have taken a new direction at work, gone abroad on an adventure, got married, or had children; your news and photos will be warmly received for inclusion in the next magazine. here’s how you can get involved in the Dunottar Society:

• Reunions and events

• Become an Ambassador

• Dunottar Society Magazine “Reflections”

• Careers and networking

Join the Dunottar Society or update your details – scan the QR code and register your details

www.dunottarschool.com

Dunottar School, High Trees Road, Reigate, Surrey RH2 7EL

kEEP IN TOUCH

Your news and photos should be sent to: dunottar.society@ dunottarschool.com

Remember to let us know if you move on in your personal or professional life – we would really like to stay in touch with you.

PASS THIS ON...

Please pass this publication on to friends and family who are former pupils or staff.

Tel: 01737 761 945 Email: dunottar.society@dunottarschool.com

W: dunottarschool.com/dunottar-society