Middle

MIDDLE HOUSE

Although the programme of sports fixtures, House competitions, productions, exhibitions and concerts has been much reduced, the year has still felt a busy and fulfilling one.

At the start of the year, we appointed our House leadership team. Edgar Mottershead Davies, Ben Cox and Rohan Chhantyal held positions of Head of House, Head of Boarding and Deputy Head of House and were admirable in their approach. We also had Middle House Year 13s in the PR positions of Head Boy and Deputy Head Boy and both Tomiwo Owoseje and Ethan Hawtin proved to be great appointments in these respective roles. Indeed, the Year 13s were excellent role models for the younger boys and it was great to have good numbers in the boarding house through the year. This was especially true during the periods of lockdown when the boarders made the house a fun and sociable sanctuary.

We welcomed new Year 9s into the House and it was wonderful to spend some time with them in the garden for an abridged House Entertainment including a tug o’ war competition before the Easter break. I know that Mr Brown and Mr Webb were both impressed with how they adapted to the new routines, but it will be nice to integrate them more into the House this coming year. We also welcomed new students into Year 10 and Year 12, not to mention Mr Redman joining us as a Year 10 tutor.

Edgar Head of House

As always, there was some competitive sport and a very large representation of Middle boys in the Senior Hockey and Cricket teams. Joe Gould and Ed Vickery skippered the Hockey U18 and Cricket 1st XI respectively, whilst Ben Cox co-captained the Athletics Squad. On an individual basis there were some impressive performances: Ethan Hawtin continued to represent Bath Rugby Under 18s in the Premiership; Noah Davies played representative cricket for Somerset scoring well with the bat; Freddie Cooper continued to lower his PB for the 1500m and 5k, and his time of 16.13 was enough to win Mr Musgrove’s 5k lockdown challenge. Both Callum and Bailey Voisin continued with their motor racing endeavours. Callum won his first race in the Ginetta Juniors at Thruxton beating a grid of 27 drivers, whilst Bailey won his first professional GT4 race driving a McLaren. We will certainly follow the development of both of their careers and wish Bailey the best of luck as he pursues this full-time next year. It was so wonderful to celebrate Music and Drama at KATS. Ethan was awarded the Drama prize and Dominic Lambert-Rose was shortlisted for the Outstanding Contribution to Music award. Colby Chu, Vasily Alexeev and Alex Kellagher were all part of the Chamber Choir and we all were able to enjoy a superb performance at the Advent Service, albeit remotely. Colby’s violin playing is also set to feature in the School’s new promotional video as he plays Paganini’s Cantibile for the backing track.

Beyond Drama, Music and Sport, the boys were able to take advantage of opportunities as they presented themselves. The House got involved and supported various charity initiatives. Particular mention should go to Tomiwo and Ben who managed to raise £1,619 by growing moustaches as part of the Movember campaign. It was also great that boarders’ activities and house competitions, such as the inaugural Table Football tournament, were well supported. At this point I must thank the Canham family for the donation

of their Football table, which has provided hours of entertainment. In the Summer term, we were able to start expeditions and it was great to see so many Middle boys getting involved with Bronze and Gold Duke of Edinburgh as well as the School’s own Ten Tors competition.

It is always sad to get to the end of the year and say farewell to our leavers. However, it was nice to host a good number of Year 13s in the Middle Garden and we wish them and the Year 11 leavers all the very best for the future. We also said farewell to two of our matrons: Maureen Spurrell and Sarah Hammett, both of whom have had a long association with Middle House. Maureen and Sarah have been instrumental in making the House feel welcoming and a second home for all its residents (including me) and I know the boys have hugely appreciated their efforts alongside our other housekeepers, Timi and Jasper. Samantha Fountain, who has tutored in the House, also left Kingswood and we wish her all the best with her new endeavours and thank her for all that she has done in support of her tutees over the last 4 years. Finally, we say goodbye to Digby Webb in his role as Assistant Housemaster. Although Digby will continue to be a tutor in Middle, the boys and myself will miss his presence in the boarding house. He has been excellent in this role but we hope that he will occasionally find the time to join us for a BBQ on weekends. We are very lucky to welcome Euan Gordon to replace Digby in this role. As always, we encourage all leavers to visit us regularly – it is always lovely to hear what you are up to and so please do stay in touch.

...the boarders made the house a fun and sociable sanctuary.