3 minute read
A Word from the Principal
01 Introduction
A word from the Principal, Rick Cross
Welcome to another edition of @RHB, the magazine which gives us the opportunity to reflect and celebrate the tremendous range of opportunities and achievements across the school. Last year, my first as Principal, began with us still very much on a war footing with Covid. By the end we had sat the first set of public exams since 2019, successfully played sport fixtures (winning most), held numerous live performances, renamed our theatre, and taken trips all over the UK and abroad. I hope you enjoy reading all about it.
Over the course of much of the year, I regularly finished the weekly newsletter with a quick round up of my preparations for the Marathon des Sables (MDS), a self-supported multi-stage ultra-marathon in the Sahara Desert. I think here would be a good place to tell you a bit more about it and how it has influenced me and what I want to see for Reddam students.
Having booked my spot before I joined the school, I kept quiet about it for the first term, determined to make sure I started my time well at Reddam House. Coming back in the new year, I announced my plans to the school, started fundraising and stepped up my training.
The MDS is billed as the ‘toughest footrace on earth’. It is one of the oldest events of its type, beginning in 1986, and attracts about 1000 competitors from around the world. It is generally accepted that there are now tougher races, but it is a significant challenge in varied desert conditions which demands respect and remains a life affirming experience. The race schedule is basically three marathons, followed by a double marathon, then another marathon before a charity stage half marathon. Life is wonderfully simple. You carry all you need for the duration of the race, sleep under a woollen sheet held up by poles, making sure your body and especially your feet are looked after, and of course do lots of running. Sand dunes, desert mountains called Jebels, long dried out plains combine with scorching sun during the day and cold temperatures at night. Every race is different, and this year was known as the windy one because of ferocious sandstorms on day 2 and 3 which led many to drop out. The highlight of the race is the infamous ‘Long Day’, the double marathon, a monster of a challenge which took me 14 hours. Tactically I broke the whole race down into checkpoints; just
get to the next one, hydrate, eat something (usually some fruit pastilles) and get moving again. Running by headlamp in the desert night, with a sky full of stars, is a memory I will cherish forever.
In the end, I finished in a respectable 179th position. Preparation was key, as was knowing the Reddam community was willing me on. Every night messages were delivered to camp from our supporters, and thanks to my extended Reddam family, I always had about four times more than any of my other tent mates. The Reddam community also helped me raise £6000 for charity, split between Camfed and First Days in Wokingham. Thank you sincerely for your support. When things get tough, you need to know why you are putting yourself through it, and I was determined not to let you down.
So why am I telling you about the MDS? Why is this relevant to our school magazine? I have absolutely loved my time so far at Reddam House and I feel privileged to work in a school which offers such a rich buffet of skills and pursuits for our students to try. Our school values are evident in everything we do; ambition, responsibility, integrity, kindness, respect, and courage. I felt like I was embodying these values throughout my MDS journey and wanted to model my best self. Our school is one of opportunities, of adventure, of giving back. The MDS is one example of what we can do in this wonderful world; there are many more. A Reddam education is all about students aiming high, pushing the limits of what they think they can do. Pull back the curtain of opportunity and fulfil your unique potential.
