The Tettenhallian 2011 by Purely Creative

The Tettenhallian

2011

The Tettenhallian 2011

Contents From the Headmaster

The Drive School Head of Drive School Report Autumn Term Spring Term Summer Term

4 5 7 9

Lower School Head of Lower School Report ICT

11 12

Themed Weeks Maths House

13 14

The Arts Art & Design The Musical - Princess in Peril Half Term Concert

15 17 18

Sport Athletics Football Cricket Cross Country Boys' Games Swimming

19 19 19 20 00 20

Visitors & Visits Author Blists Hill Carding Mill Valley Tettenhall Wroxeter Cranedale

21 21 21 21 21 22

School Council Charities Harvest Festival

23 24 24

Extra Curricular Activities Chess Hallowe'en

Upper School Academic Art & Design Business Studies & Economics Science Sixth Form Tour Drama EAL English French Music & Disney Tour Sport Athletics Biathlon Cricket Cross Country Sporting Stars Football Hockey Rugby Netball Tennis

37 37 38 38 39 40 41 42 43 44

Sixth Form

Boarding Houses School House Boys' Boarding House Thorneycroft Girls' Boarding House

46 47

House Competitions The Musical – Once upon a Mattress The Library

47 48 50

Charities

Extra Curricular Activities Geographical Association Quiz Cookery Club Parents’ Association

52 52 52

The Old Tettenhallian 25 26

The Old Tettenhallians’ Club A Letter from The President Where are they now? Letters from O.T.s Club Functions Golf Society Lives Remembered 150th Anniversary Celebrations

Editorial Team Margaret Johnson: me.johnson@tiscali.co.uk Annabelle Addison: AA @tettcoll.co.uk Stephen Corns: s_corns@blueyonder.co.uk Front cover The Upper School Debating Team

27 29 29 30 31 33 34 34 35-36

53 54 55 56 59 61 62 63

From the Headmaster I hope that by reading this magazine you gain a flavour of both the academic year 2010 2011 and the wider ethos of the school. I have thoroughly enjoyed my first year as Headmaster of Tettenhall College and I look forward to many more happy years, working with the young people in our care and with the wider community. The mark of a truly successful school is where the philosophy and character of the school copes with and embraces not only the changes in our own society, but those worldwide. Tettenhall College has always been able to blend traditional values, such as academic excellence and outstanding individual development, with the best aspects of new ideologies and technologies. I am fully committed to ensuring that in the exciting years ahead this vital balance remains, as the college moves forward and embraces new ideas and strives for continual improvement. In July we said goodbye, not only to our Upper Sixth students, but also to some staff. Mrs Gloria Whitmore retired after 20 years in the Science Department6Mrs Charlotte Hope left in order to take up a new post as a Year 4 teacher in a Hertfordshire Preparatory school6 Ms Teul moved on from her role as Head of Modern Foreign Languages and Mr Robert Parry stepped down as a full time teacher, but continues to support some Upper Sixth students. I thank them all for their contributions both inside and outside the classroom and on behalf of the school community wish them well for the future. We welcomed Mr Thomas Clark who joined the Maths Department and Miss Jodie Griffin who was appointed as a teacher of French and Spanish in January. Mrs Helen Woodman and Mrs Hilary Wright joined the staff of The Drive School in September. I would like to thank all who have contributed to the production of this magazine and especially the Editor. It is through their efforts that we are able to reflect on the vibrant and successful year enjoyed at Tettenhall College. Martyn Long Headmaster

The Drive School

Head of The Drive School Report

Autu mn Term

There is no such thing as a typical day in The Drive School, as every day is varied and different. We relish our independence and by not being tied to an over-prescriptive curriculum we can make the most of every day by offering our children varied and exciting experiences to enhance their learning and development. Activities to promote literacy and numeracy, creativity and thinking skills, the ability to get on well with others or to learn independently take place in each class every day. The photograph gallery which follows demonstrates how we continually seek to bring new ideas and activities into our pupils’ school day to cater for every child’s interests, learning styles, strengths and skills. In addition to all this we offer a much broader, enriched curriculum. We visit the theatre and go on educational visits. Our curriculum also includes opportunities to perform at concerts as a member of the school choir, as well as offering a themed week each term. This year our themes included: Mathematics is Fun, Oxford Reading Tree Week and The Royal Wedding. From the photograph gallery you will also see that the children’s selfconfidence and high self-esteem are of paramount importance to us. We offer every child a chance to experience success and be valued, whether by achieving highly in academic learning, sport, music, art or the “hidden curriculum” including kindness, good manners, high standards of behaviour, thoughtfulness and caring for others. This year has also seen a great deal of financial investment too. Reception and Kindergarten now have their own exclusive outdoor play areas with specialist equipment for a range of abilities and interests. This £35,000 project was made possible due to funding secured from government sources through Wolverhampton’s Early Years’ Service. Similarly, the children in Nursery and Kindergarten returned in September to newly refurbished rooms with over £13,000 being spent on natural wood furniture and new play equipment. Again, the funding for this was secured on the basis of our relationship, as an early Years setting provider, with the Wolverhampton Early Years’ Service. The children in Reception, Year One and Year 2 have also benefited enormously from the school’s recent purchase of a brand new reading scheme. The school invested a significant amount of funding to purchase the January 2011 edition of the Oxford Reading Tree, which includes 678 titles and over 2000 new books. If you look at the illustration left you will be able to see just how up to date the new books are! As you can see, The Drive School has enjoyed yet another very successful year. I would like to thank everyone in The Drive School family who has contributed in so many ways – academically, musically, dramatically, cheerfully, willingly, energetically, charitably and financially, in making our school such a busy, thriving and happy place to be. I would ask everyone involved in The Drive School to keep aiming high! Sarah Fisher

Making pirate punch in Year 1 during Maths themed week.

E V I L R O D HO C S

Harry learning mouse control in Reception

Wise Man and Joseph in Reception

Year 1 enjoy the snow on the sports field

The Drive School

mn u t u A Term

Cake decorating in Year 1

Benas enjoys starting Nursery

Let's go camping in Reception Harry and Bronya

Maths Challenge Puzzle day

Nursery SingA-Long

Petra plays with plasticine in Kindergarten

Red water play in Kindergarten

The Hoity Toity Angel Key Stage 1 Christmas Production

The Drive School

mn u t u A Term

Year 1 and Year 2 P.E. in the Sports Hall Year 2 'Spotty' Maths for Children in Need Day

Tigger visits Nursery

Tiffany shows her butterfly which she brought to school in Kindergarten

Reception out in the woods Year 1 explore Tettenhall Village

Year 2 children help Reception children in a maths sweet challenge

Sofia mixes porridge oats in Nursery

Year 2 make a snowman

The Drive School

Exploring soil in Kindergarten Olivia and Amelie

Sprin g Term

Charlie - Year 2 works as illustrator for the new Oxford Reading Tree

Dilkaran enjoys puppet play in Reception

Imaginative play in Kindergarten Lewis and Manraaj learn road safety awareness in Nursery

Nursery go on a bug hunt

NSPCC 'Care and Share' badges - Theo, Amar, Joe and Morgan

Nursery enjoy frog play in the 'Tuff' spot

Reception meet the new Oxford Reading Tree characters Pizza making in Nursery

The Drive School

g Sprin Term

Year 1 Design and Technology - Henry and Umber show off their work Scientists at work in Reception

Srinivas - Learning to use scissors in Kindergarten

Year 2 Mother's Day presents

Year 1 visit Weston Park to find out about toys in the past

Reception visit a Yurt

Tom practises letter formation in Kindergarten

Year 2 Artist in Residence clay day Year 2 - Comic Relief dress up day

er m m u S Term

The Drive School

Joshanvir - Creative construction in Kindergarten

Hospital role play in Reception Karac and Harry

Freedom of expression in Nursery - Splatter painting

Mehaa holds a giant spider - A visit from the animal man Molly talks to the judges of Wolverhampton in bloom

Miolly explores the light box play in Reception

Bring a bear to school day

Miss Hope's class on the beach - come rain or shine

Ballet Class in The Drive School

Reception explore the school grounds

Mrs Kane's class on the beach - true British holiday makers

The Drive School

Ryan and Year 1 boys on Smile Factor day

Summ e Term r

Year 2 Design Technolgy - Joseph's - Dream Coat for a teddy Sports Day racing

Year 1 visit Shugborough to learn about cooking in the past

The Drive School Royal Wedding street party

Year 2 learn about Victorian children working in mines

The Drive School Summer Concert - Rainbow Spectacular

Year 2 visit Birmingham Art Gallery - Hemal Year 2 Prizegiving

Robert learning about the world through play in Nursery

Lower School

Head of Lower School Report Another very busy, but ultimately a thoroughly rewarding year, has flown by and once again I find myself with the near impossible task of trying to sum up these successes and thank everybody involved in just a few paragraphs. It is vital of course that as providers of education we ensure each pupil receives a good academic foundation on which to build in later life. In addition we must also offer opportunities for children to experience and develop in ways beyond the classroom. I believe that we have once again fulfilled both of these requirements admirably and to a very high standard. Our academic scores are the best for many years and have continued to improve year on year. Our focus on Maths and the introduction of the new scheme has certainly paid dividends. For the first time since I took over the Headship the Maths scores in Lower School have outperformed the English scores. The opportunity for extracurricular development, as demonstrated by the wide variety of reports and photographs on the following pages, I believe is second to none. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my staff personally for the professionalism and dedication they have shown over the last academic year. In particular Mr Wass deserves a special mention for the magnificent musical and drama events he has organised throughout the year. Once again the whole school community is indebted to the Parents' Association for their continued efforts to support the school by organising a variety of exciting fund raising events. I continue to be extremely proud to be associated with such a successful school and such hard working and friendly pupils. P Kay

Lower School

ICT It has been a very busy year for ICT. Each year group is given the opportunity to create an animated project using digital cameras and software. For Year 6, this was their T Show entitled â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;News of our Livesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; looking back at the stories which have hit the headlines in the last 10 years. This included 9G11, the death of Michael Jackson, the World Cup 2006 and many more. The T show was presented wonderfully to the parents and Headmaster at the end of the Autumn Term. Elsewhere, Year 3 pupils have used the digital movie creator to make an animated storyboard. Year 4 have used stop motion animation linked with their literacy topic to create a Wallace and Grommit style short film. Year 5 have created BBC style television documentaries about the Ancient Greeks.

Pupils and Parents working together during ICT Club

Yr Y6 pupils re-enacting famous moments from the World Cup 2006

The after school PupilGParent ICT Club goes from strength to strength with activities including Podcasts, animation and core ICT skills for the younger pupils. Mr Foster

Tomoya Suganuma using DigiBlue cameras to become an Olympic gymnast

Sam Hawkins is Bond, James Bond!

Lower School Children from The Drive and Lower School worked together to solve a variety of problems during Maths Themed Week in the Autumn Term. Dr Mark investigated some extreme shapes during his visit.

s h t Ma med Theeek W

Lower School House Themed week was once again enjoyed by all the children, who during the week competed in numerous events, a few of which are featured below. Congratulations to Bantock who ended up as overall winners.

Haydon getting involved in the Art project

HOU THEM SE WEE ED K The climbing wall was as challenging, but as popular as ever

Year 6 start the planting for the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;flower powerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; challenge

Officials from Wolverhampton Council judge the finished flower bed

Children battle it out during the playground games challenge

Zone ball was once again very keenly contested.

Two pupils from each House were chosen to receive medals for outstanding effort during the week.

Lower School

Art and Design Technology In the AutumnTerm Year 5 created expressive portraits using pastel and watercolour. Year 6 made giant bird sculptures. Millie and Ellie’s was the tallest on record ! October saw the annual Lower School concert which this year took the theme of music and songs from the movies. Pupils painted large posters of images from films such as Jungle Book and the 007 series which made a great backdrop to the singing. Autumn Term also saw Maths Week. In Art the pupils constructed “number Art” pieces which when completed made a colourful display. In the Spring Term Year 3 undertook golden egg mobiles, inspired by the jewelled eggs of Carl Faberge. In DT Year 5 made instruments and Year 4 created exciting pop up books based on the theme of strange creatures. In Art club pupils made colourful withee lanterns. Summer Term saw Year 3 drawing and painting shells using wax resist. In DT Year 5 made tasty and highly decorated biscuits to their own recipe. A highlight of the term was House Week. The pupils made large Phoebe Nicholls Yr 4 pop up book

withee sculptures and decorated them in their House colours using woven fabric, tissue paper and card. Pupils also created designs for a flower bed using tissue paper on paper plates. The designs were used to inspire a real flower bed outside the Lower School entrance and helped towards making the school look great for Wolverhampton in Bloom. A few final trips took place at the end of the year: Year 3 enjoyed their joint trip with Year 2 to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. They had a role play session based around the paintings and also had time to draw some of the exhibits. Year 5 went on an Art and Geography field trip to Carding Mill Valley where they drew the landscape and observed some of the geographical features. Once again a busy and exciting year ! Mrs K. Stone.

David Naylor & Ben Ward Yr 3 drawing exhibits at the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery

Mirella Gambone & Ellie Rhodes-Williams Yr 6 bird sculpture

Rajanvir Basi & Luke Anderton Yr 4 with the Pearson withee sculpture Arita Aujlay Yr 3 golden egg mobile based on jewelled eggs of Carl Faberge

Madeline Baugh Yr 4 Art Club with her lantern Paper plate flower bed designs displayed as a colourful tree

Lower School

Art and Design Technology Continued

Yr 5 pastel & watercolour portraits

Yr 3 role play at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery

Zoe Oakley Yr 5 DT musical instruments

Ronan Bagry Yr 3 shell wax resist painting

Year 5 sketching in Carding Mill Valley

Yr 4 with Haydon's withee sculpture

Samuel Hawkins & Dylan Sodhi Yr 6 create an 007 poster

l i r e P n i s s e c Prin

Lower School

Lower School Musical 2011

he curtain rose on the tenth wedding anniversary celebrations of Cinderella ,played impressively by arriet Tilley- and her handsome Prince Min ,Jasvir ayer-. irst to arrive was Snow White ,Giselle Jones-, who now had to resort to botox and husband Charmy ,Mitchell Porter eele-. Next was a dramatic entrance for the Adam and the ants family, complete with bac ing trac , yan Boyd and ebecca oberts-. The laid bac hippy apun el ,Shanel Johnson- and her Prince ,Lisa Obi- also oined the servants for Come Celebrate. Phoebe Nicholls impressed everyone with her triple bac flip, performed not once but twice! The ugly stepmother ,Maddie Baugh- and her two very ugly loo ing daughters ,played sportingly by Mr Bulloc and Mr oster- drew gasps from the audience with their high heels! To complicate matters further, seven ex convict dwarves were stal ing Snow. Not only were they

cross, they could express their anger through dance. The next revelation was that the ugly step sisters were not actually ugly at all, they were really rather nice! This involved split second timing from Alisha all and Christy Lloyd and a rather large screen.

Cinderella was ust about to sign a new will produced by the most efficient fairy Godmother, Miss Uttley, when a cunningly disguised ed iding ood , oe Oa ley- arrived. Surely no one else would interrupt, when who should burst in but Princess Golden ,the fabulous Mrs Taylor- and bedraggled frog ,Gurnam allaith-. Disaster struc as Cinderella fell to the floor dead! Still the cast celebrated with the cowboy song' Cinderella s Dead and Gone'. Mc enna Maddox sang a solo of which Dolly Parton would have been proud. The second act brought the arrival of the ear

police with a rather overgrown Mr ay on the end of the line. Who was in charge of this bunch of walt ing policemen Why Detective Ian Becile of course ,Mr Jones- and his wor experience assistant Julian ,Sam aw ins-. After much improvisation and lots of red herrings the murderer of Cinderella turned out to be .Cinderella! Everyone was reunited on stage for the' appy Ever After Jive'. The Lower School Musical would not be the success it is without the wonderful support from the parents. ours are always spent, preparing costumes, building sets and creating fantastic hair and ma e up. My heart felt than s go out to all who helped and a plea for next year to all who would li e to oin us! We couldn t do it without you! Mrs

hitin

Lower School

l i r e P n i s s Prince

continued

Autumn Half Term Concert The theme of this concert was' An Afternoon at the Movies' and the whole of Lower School were involved in choral renditions of 'The Candyman', 'The Bare Necessities' and 'Nobody Does It Better'. Mrs Taylor choreographed some fabulous Bond inspired PE routines and Phoebe Nicholls was outstanding with her spectacular gymnastics. We were also treated to a variety of confident solos from violinists, pianists, drummers, guitarists and singers. Special choir sang angelically led by Mr Wass and the Lower School recorder group gave an excellent debut of' Old Macdonald'. A special treat was a demonstration of dance by Georgina Spooner and Charlotte Jones from Upper School. The girls were magnificent in their dance routine inspired by 'The Good, The Bad and the Ugly'. Well done to everyone who performed, you all deserve an Oscar! Mrs C Whiting

Lower School

Boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Games The Lower School have enjoyed a large number of football and cricket fixtures this year. This will increase further next year with the introduction of rugby fixtures for the 2011-2012 season. We have been very privileged to have some very talented individuals who help to encourage the other very enthusiastic players. Their attitude to training has been superb. They have managed in a short time to be able to participate in competitive matches.

Sport Girls and Boys from Lower School competed in the Under 11 City Athletic finals.

Football In football we have been able to run two sides: the U11s and U9s played a number of fixtures with the best results occurring against Castle House School. During Games lessons the boys have worked really hard to improve their individual skills, which they have then put into practice in matches, learning to play as a team. Cricket We faired even better in Cricket, only losing one match. There were three convincing wins against, Priory School, Edenhurst School and Castle House School. There were some excellent performances from the boys in Year 6, but the strength of the players coming through makes next year a very exciting prospect! M. Jackson

A fine shot from Mark Saul

The Under 11 Cricket Team in action

Sport

Lower School

Wolverhampton Cross-Country Competitions

Wolverhampton Primary Schools Swimming Championships

Both boys' and girls' teams were entered for all the City competitions which took place in the Spring Term. In the team relays held at Aldersley Stadium, primary schools from all over the city compete; each school had a team of four runners. Tettenhall entered three teams. The girls ‘A’ finished 10th, girls ‘B’ finished 14th and the boys' team finished 20th. With over twenty-five teams, these results were very pleasing particularly when some of our runners were from Year 3 and 4. All good experience for next year! The Tettenhall Area competition was held at the college. This meant all local primary schools were able to attend. The results were good again with both teams coming 5th out of eight participating schools. Runners were:- Rohan Aggarwal, Emily Aston, Cameron Bagry, Sachin Basra, Serina Basra, , Ryan Boyd, Elizabeth Core, Jabari Douglas, Ava Durnell, Adam Inglett , Giselle Jones, Shanel Johnson, Beatrice Love-Lowe ,David Naylor, Joseph McKaig, , Zoe Oakley, Lisa Obi, Mitchell PorterKeel, Ellie Rhodes-Williams and Oscar Trump.

A full complement of Under 11 swimmers represented Tettenhall College in the primary schools swimming heats held at Aldersley School. It was a good competition with the T.C. team winning eleven of the finals against Palmers Cross and Woodthorne. To bring home the area trophy on the last day of the Easter term was great! All the swimmers performed excellently. Tettenhall competitors were:- Rohan Aggarwal, Cameron Bagry, Mirella Gambone, Jasvir Hayer, Giselle Jones, Molly Laight, Beatrice Love-Lowe, Mitchel Porter-Keel, Ellie Rhodes-Williams, Rebecca Roberts, Lawrence Sutton and Oscar Trump. The pupils who won their races qualified for the City Championship at the Royal School where all the primary school winners from Wolverhampton competed. Well done to all the swimmers!

Mrs J. L.Taylor

Under 11 Boys' Cross Country Relay

Under 11 Girls' Cross Country Relay

Haydon ready to bat during House Rounders

Lower School

Visitors and Visits

Author Dan Taylor visited Lower School in the Autumn Term

Year 3 preparing a mummy for burial on their trip to Birmingham to learn more about the Egyptians

Year 5 take a well earned break during their Carding Mill Valley field trip

Mr Raine took Year 6 to Blists Hill to learn more about the Victorians

Year 4 on a very cold Geography research trip into Tettenhall

Wroxeter Roman Trip

Year 4 pupils visited Wroxeter Roman City in line with their History topic on the Romans. During the day they were shown around the remains of the Baths by a Roman Centurion, trained to become Roman soldiers and given a guided tour of the recently built replica Roman Villa.

Lower School

Visitors and Visits

Year 6 pupils enjoyed the annual residential visit to Cranedale Activity Centre in Yorkshire. Pupils and teachers arrived at tea-time on Friday 20th May. The first activity was the Low Ropes, testing pupils' team building and physical skills. On Saturday pupils used map techniques with the orienteering trails. In the afternoon we took a short drive over to Flamborough Head for some rock pooling, cave walking and of course an ice cream. Survival in the Wild was the game on Sunday morning with the pupils re-creating the food chain in the local woodland. We arrived back tired, but everyone thoroughly enjoyed an action packed weekend. Mr Foster

continued

Lower School

School Council The School Council had a very productive year, with the suggestion boxes for each year group working overtime! Suggestions were made on all sorts of things from where to go on school trips to what to have on the menu at lunchtimes! Many of the suggestions were taken forward by Mr Kay and improvements to Lower School were made in terms of equipment for the playground, games to play during wet breaks, the type of races for Sports Day, and the introduction of a cycling proficiency test to name but a few. The School Council also worked hard on charity fundraising events. There was a mufti day held for Comic Relief in November and in July the team organised a fundraising day for Pump Aid. The School Council created a wonderful assembly telling fellow pupils all about the need for clean water and what happens when Pump Aid install an elephant pump in villages in Malawi and Liberia. The assembly obviously struck a chord with everyone, as in one day Lower School raised over £300 for Pump Aid. This included a Mufti day, a cake and sweet sale, café in the reading room (which served slushies, milk shakes and squash). There were also fun

Lower School Council and extra helpers from the OPump Aid Cafe

competitions to try out including Ping Pong Pandemonium (won by Lawrence Sutton), Name the Pig (Wilbur – chosen by William Fletcher-Taylor) and Play Your Cards Right. The school will now be able to sponsor an elephant pump in a village. The School Council also quizzed the Bursar on the current traffic policy around the school and also gave him suggestions on how to improve the dining room with new blinds. Letter writing skills were also put to the test, with the

representatives having to write letters to parents, Sonia in the School Kitchen, the Bursar, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Mr Kay – in the hope that their suggestions would be carried forward. The year highlighted all aspects of being part of a team and the democratic process of being part of a School Council, but most of all the pupils had a great time too!

Year 6 revved up and ready to go during Cycling Proficiency

Lower School

School Council continued

Charity Giving in The Drive and Lower School Bring A Bear to School Day - Action Medical Research - £150 Jeans for Genes Day

- £123

Give Poverty the Boot

- £126.82

Barnardo’s

- £1288.29

Supercamps Climbing Wall Challenge - £659.00 Unicef - Lower School Cake Sale - £107.52 Lower School and The Drive also helped with the Samaritan’s Purse Christmas Shoe Box Appeal.

The Head Prefects, Jasvir Hayer and Lisa Obi, help to sort the shoe boxes after our Christmas collection.

Harvest Festival

provoking service from Mr Parry in the school Chapel. The children sang beautifully and Year 6 provided a dramatised reading of the “Feeding of the 5000”.

Drive School and Lower School Joint Harvest Festival.

A fantastic total of £126 was raised on the day by the children for our chosen charity, ‘Give Poverty the Boot.’ During the school day, in return for wearing a colourful pair of boots, pupils were encouraged to bring a donation from their own pocket money into school.

Once again this year’s Harvest Festival was a joint affair between the Drive School and the Lower School. The occasion was well supported by parents who enjoyed a thought

Lower School

Extra-curricular activities

CHESS Competitions.

Individual Success

Unfortunately there were no city competitions this year, although this situation should be rectified for next year. We did however play two matches against other schools, winning both convincingly: 4 – 1 against Castle House and 5 – 0 against Lanesfield.

Adam Inglett deserves recognition for reaching the ‘Gigafinal’ stage of the national tournament that we enter each year, as does Jasvir Hayer for representing the school at county level for Staffordshire.

For the first time ever we also challenged Upper School to a match. They put out a strong team but fortunately for us not strong enough to beat the mighty Lower School chess warriors. The final score ended up as 6 – 3 to Lower School. I’m sure Upper School will be after revenge next year.

Internal Tournaments

finals set up a very evenly matched final between Jasvir Hayer and Adam Inglett. Jasvir, however, proved just too strong for Adam in the end, to become the Individual Knockout Champion for 2010-11. Mr Kay

This year’s House Chess tournament was closely contested. Pearson were 4th, Bantock 3rd, and after the closest final I can remember Haydon just edged into 1st place in front of Nicholson. The annual Lower School Open Individual Knockout Tournament was particularly exciting this year. Two hard fought semi-

Board 1 and Board 2 battle it out in the first Lower School versus Upper School challenge

Lower School

Extra-curricular activities

continued

o c s i D n e ’ e w o Hall This year’s Hallowe'en disco was once again a really enjoyable evening for all of the children who attended. The standard of the costumes was better than ever and made the judging of the competition extremely difficult. The children took part in various games and dancing competitions, as well as working their way through an amazing amount of sweets and fizzy pop! Thanks must go to the Parents’ Association who made the evening the success that it was.

Year 3 took advantage of the cold January weather to investigate ice as part of their Science curriculum.

Upper School

Art & Design I

n order to contextualise project work and encourage a broad appreciation of the Art and Design the year began with numerous field trips for all groups. Timing the trip with the Liverpool Biennial the GCSE and ‘A’ level groups visited 4 cultural venues. The Year 8s visited The Barber Institute and Birmingham Art Gallery and Year 7s spent the day exploring and learning from Wolverhampton Art Gallery’s collection of Pop Art. In October the ‘A’ level group spent a packed three days in central London where they attended lectures and galleries, hearing speakers such as Ceramicist Grayson Perry and Photographer Martyn Parr enthuse about their work. This year’s House Art competition invited entries from each House to submit designs and final pieces to represent their House as a shield; these are now proudly displayed in the Dining Hall. Also many thanks to the numerous individuals who submitted work into their House Art folders. The Department continues to be a hub of practical activity for all who pass through its doors; with outcomes in paint, graphics, ceramics, stone, wire, plaster, willow, bricollage, airbrush/aerosol art, textiles, traditional black and white photography, digital graphics, intaglio and lino printing, The Art department ran a Christmas Card competition, not only was it to find a card to represent the College but also for

Scott Place, year 10, sketching at The Tate, Liverpool.

Twins. GCSE work by Eloise Hammond Beatrice Pemberton (Year 7) with Graphic Designer Nick Edwards

parents to purchase copies of their son/daughter’s design. The profits accrued from this enterprise were sent to ‘Action Aid’ to continue the sponsorship of our two children. Another whole school competition was to design the College Logo for its 150th Anniversary. The pupils voted on their favourite design; Year 7 Beatrice Pemberton’s logo was chosen from amongst 150 submissions. As a reward she spent a morning with a professional print studio improving and adapting the design ready for print. The culmination of the academic year is a very professionally mounted Art exhibition hosted by the exam classes. The external moderators were very complimentary stating, ‘the range of materials encountered and the engagement with the themes was impressive, the course on offer was exciting and stimulating for the students'. Mark Leighton

Guom Lake, by GCSE student Trang Trinh

Upper School

Art & Design

Some of the Year 7s in the basement of Wolverhampton Art Gallery

Intaglio print by AS level student Alex McCreath

Mystery and Imagination by AS level student Tuan Ahn

Art Department trip to Liverpool, behind we can see the rota

Red Phone Box, by GCSE student Aimee Fisher

Upper School

Business Studies and Economics Report As most will appreciate, change is not always comfortable and the retirement of Dr Mottershead last year meant an inevitable period of transition. However, I am pleased to report a very happy and successful year for the department. I welcome the arrival of Mr Groom, who has been an enthusiastic, supportive and dependable colleague and teacher. One could not ask for more than that as a new Head of Department! The importance of good examination results continues to be one of the key criteria for measuring the success of a school and its departments. Our GCSE students continued to perform well and whilst the introduction of controlled assessments denied the opportunity for the popular enterprises, our Year 11 students produced work of a very high standard, with Radhica Ohri achieving full marks. The modular nature of the course means that pupils now take modules throughout their 2 years of study, with the

opportunity for some re-sits. This inevitably results in on-going pressure and stress and they have managed this well. At AS and A level, gaining full marks on any module is something to celebrate. Holly Winwood achieved full marks in the January Business Production (A2) module, evidencing her hard work and continued commitment. Tom Murray also achieved full marks in his January retake of Business Functions (AS), as did Bhadar Sandhur in his re-take of Markets in Action (AS). The continued healthy percentage of A and B grades is both comfort and reward for all the hard work undertaken.

continue our subjects beyond A level than we will be satisfied! Enrichment continues to play a major role in ensuring such interest and the Sixth Form visit to Barcelona was a huge success (please see separate article). Greater opportunities for enrichment at GCSE are planned in the coming years. Mrs A J Nash

Business Studies and Economics remain popular subjects at GCSE and A level and many of our students continue to choose subject related courses at university. If we can continue to stimulate a level of interest such that pupils wish to

Science Over the summer holidays James Isbister and Ross Pickstock have secured a place on the Nuffield Science Bursary Award Scheme. This award is highly competitive and will cumulate in an award dinner at the end of this year. Hard work permitting, both students will receive the Crest Skills Award for Science. May I congratulate James and Ross and wish them luck for what will be an interesting, but hardworking six weeks.

Ross and James

Mrs Vanessa O'Neill

Upper School

Sixth Form Tour – Barcelona Our annual Sixth Form Tour this year was to Barcelona and, as is usual on such occasions, a very early start was necessary. A 5.15am meet is ambitious for anyone, particularly those of the ‘teenage persuasion’!

Park Guell

The hotel, though very basic, was only minutes walking distance to ‘Las Ramblas’, so there was no need for using public transport in the evenings and walking was the order of the day; a bit of a shock for the average teenager, but most managed well! The late afternoon of our arrival and we went straight into visit mode. La Boqueria market was our first destination. A typical example of a Mediterranean market and located just off ‘Las Ramblas’, this was a perfect opportunity for the students to look at a real market in action. Business studies students analysed the impact of stock control issues and waste management.

Cordonui winery. The tours presented a fantastic opportunity for the students to see businesses in action and to learn about the Spanish economy ‘first hand’. Such opportunities help to enhance the learning for our students and enable them to excel in the examination room.

Over the next two days, the group was able to enjoy an excellent variety of visits to a number of factories including SEAT car plant, Helados Dinos ice cream factory and the Cava

Our final evening meal together took place in the upstairs area of an excellent Las Ramblas restaurant. We were really well catered for and the traditional end of tour speech was

Barcelona 2011

made by all three teachers taking part in an alternative speech day/prize giving, which we all thoroughly enjoyed. Worthy of special comment and thanks are my colleagues on tour – Mr Groom and Dr Mottershead, who gave up their time to enable 28 students to go abroad, learn some theory and hopefully enjoy themselves. Next year’s venue is hopefully Prague.. Mrs A J Nash

The Drive School / Autumn Term Upper School

Drama

Drama at Tettenhall College thrives both as an academic subject and as an extra-curricular activity. Pupils in Year 10 and 11 achieved excellent external results in their GCSE modules and examinations with 100% of pupils gaining grades from A* - B and 67% achieving an A* or A grade. Pupils continue to create highly accomplished pieces of drama. Year 11’s final performance of Neil Duffield’s The Minotaur combined expertly choreographed dance, physical theatre and music to create a breathtaking adaptation. This was ensemble theatre at its most energetic and thrilling and the audience were on the edge of their seats throughout.

squeezed in time to rediscover her long-lost father! In July, packed audiences were welcomed into the court of Queen Aggravaine in our glittering production of Once Upon a Mattress. Castles, curses and a cast and crew of ninety ensured that this fairytale and indeed this school year certainly had a very happy ending. M.D Uttley

Year 10 produced extremely heart-warming and moving performances of Don Taylor’s The Roses of Eyam. This play requires highly naturalistic acting to bring to life the tragic but uplifting story of the villagers of Eyam, as they strive to cope with the effects of the plague. Theatre visits continue to play a vital role in inspiring pupils. WYMT’s production of Thoroughly Modern Millie, starring Tettenhall College’s very own Aimée, Chloë and Isabella Fisher, was an excellent way to start the season. On two very chilly December evenings Towers Theatre was transformed into ‘Grangewood School for Young Ladies’ for our Christmas production of Daisy Pulls It Off. The talented cast took us on a hilarious journey full of school-girl pranks, missing treasure, breathtaking hockey matches and mysterious strangers during which our energetic heroine Daisy Meredith (Aimée Fisher), teamed with best mate Trixie Martin (Courtney Hawkins), still

31 1

Upper School

EAL The EAL department is regularly enriched by international pupils who come to Tettenhall College to study for their GCSE, AS or A level examinations. Other pupils come simply for one or two terms or weeks and enjoy it so much that they stay longer if at all possible! This year we have welcomed pupils from France, Germany, Spain, Hungary, Russia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, India, Korea and Japan. This range of nationalities makes for lively debates and exchanges. Independent work and personal initiative are encouraged in the form of a variety of different projects in each year group. The Year 9 EAL group completed a project on Tettenhall Village, which included interviewing a member of the business community and a family. The visit to the Fire Station was very popular and gave a wonderful insight into the daily routine and equipment of the fire fighters.

Year 9 EAL visit to Fire Station

Another appreciated visit was to the Severn Valley Railway, with subsequent cross-curricular work in science and history. The Pantomime â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Aladdinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; at the Grand Theatre is always greatly enjoyed, with the spectacle of dazzling costumes, expert dancing and slapstick humour. External examinations for Cambridge KET and PET, the International GSCE and IELTS, are a regular feature of our work and the majority of pupils achieve at a very high level. Regular social events such as trips to the cinema are scheduled, partly for the film itself and partly for the social interaction. A Chinese and Vietnamese New Year meal at a local buffet restaurant was a wonderful opportunity to chat in a relaxed environment. We welcomed an additional part-time staff member into the department, Ms Minaker, who has contributed valuable insights into aspects of the use of IT and psychology. My warmest thanks go to my colleagues for their dedicated hard work. D. Stone

Dexter & Terry, Yr 10 on the train

Kim Mo & Savva Avdonin in the Fire Engine

Group at the station Vito, Yr 10 at Bridgnorth

Upper School

English This year has seen some significant changes in the GCSE specification, requiring a total overhaul of our schemes of work for Key Stage 4. English Language, for the last few years simply known as English, has been reinstated, and with it a greater emphasis on the speaking and listening element of the subject. A new unit, the Spoken Word, has been introduced, in which students analyse the speech of a prominent public figure. Throughout the early part of the Summer Term therefore, the rooms of the English department resounded with the voice of Barack Obama, as Year 10 students familiarized themselves with some of his most famous speeches before analysing them in their controlled assessment. This is in

itself another innovation for this year, replacing coursework as a means of assessment. The study of Shakespeare has also been propelled into this century, as now students have to discuss a film or stage version of the play they are studying alongside the original text. We held two film evenings during February, which were very well attended, offering students the opportunity to view two different interpretations of Romeo and Juliet, by the directors Luhrmann and Zeffirelli. The resulting assessment essays were very encouraging and the students appeared to enjoy this method of studying Shakespeare. Speaking and listening is also an important aspect of the Key Stage 3 work, and this year set 1 in Year 9

Visit from French pupils A flair of France arrived at Tettenhall College in June when six pupils arrived for a fortnight. They came from 3 different schools, in Poitiers , Bordeaux and Paris and embraced life at the College very happily. They enjoyed the variety of lessons, especially Art and Drama which are not taught on the French curriculum. Their visit to Ironbridge, Bridgenorth and the Black Country Museum allowed them to get a sense of the local history and they went back having improved their English. The opportunity for any pupil to spend time in a school in France is available. Helene Compain-Holt

Our French visitors

went to the Drive School to read fairy stories to a group of five year olds. All of the stories were very well received, and the youngsters sent us some delightful thank-you letters, illustrated with characters from the tales. Exercises of this kind build useful relationships between the different areas of the school, and certainly helped to build the confidence of the Year 9 students, many of whom were surprisingly nervous of sitting in front of their young audience! All in all this has been an interesting and successful year for the department, and I should like to thank my colleagues, Miss Uttley and Mr Bullough for all their hard work and commitment. A. Ridyard

Upper School

Music Another busy musical year with the usual programme of Carol Service, termly concerts and the two annual musicals, along with two big events; providing the children for the professional production of 'Joseph' at the Grand Theatre and a 4 day tour to Disneyland Paris.

Instrumental Lessons These continue to be popular with 120 pupils having lessons each week. The exam results have been outstanding again, with 40 children taking exams, achieving 100% pass rate, 15 with merit and 13 with distinction. Particular congratulations to Aimee Fisher in Year 11 for obtaining her Diploma (Dip.LCM) in Music Theatre. Carol Service This was recorded again this year - our 4th CD. The usual mix of old and new carols were performed by choirs across all age groups and it was a splendid occasion.

Community Concerts A new initiative where local churches and senior citizens were invited to have lunch, served by the pupils, and then enjoy the lunchtime concert. School minibuses collected them and the occasions were a great success. We also performed a concert at St. Peter's Church, Wolverhampton, to raise money for their organ fund. 'Joseph' For the 9th time we were invited to provide the choir for the professional tour of 'Joseph' at the Grand Theatre. Two teams of children, 32 on stage for each performance, did 12 shows during the week to mostly packed audiences. The children performed to the high standard expected and I am sure all parents were very proud of their children. They were a credit to the school.

Annual Musicals These are featured elsewhere, but I would like to thank the many parents and staff who helped put these ventures together. So much has to be done as part of a team to create the success we have; something which TC is very good at. IFW Oliver Rudge finalist in Open MicUK competition

The choir singing at Disneyland, Paris

Upper School

In the Summer Term we went to Disneyland Paris (our 4th time). The four day trip highlight was a half hour performance on the huge stage in the Park. What an experience! 'Happy and successful' was one of the things the Headmaster promoted at Prizegiving and this trip was just that. The atmosphere and team spirit were there for all of us to enjoy with parents, staff and children of all ages mixing together, fully supporting each other. The choir lived up to the professional standards that Disney show and expect. Our party of 86 pupils and parents enjoyed a full day in Disneyland and a day sightseeing around Paris.

Highlights: hearing the nuns sing and the organ play in Notre Dame, the fantastic view over Paris from the Cathedral, the choir performance and the amazing weather. A few thoughts from some parents and children: 'The concert was brilliant - I was so proud of them all.' 'I was really excited about singing at Disney. The children who had been before told me what to expect, but it was so much better - brilliant!' 'We were quite emotional when we heard the children. What an amazing experience!'

'I never thought that I would see my daughter singing on the same stage as we saw 'The Lion King'. The older children really look out for the younger ones and are such good ambassadors for the school.' 'This trip was another example of what the school offers so well in terms of performing opportunities. They all sang and performed so confidently you can tell they absolutely love and thrive on their experiences.' We are booked to return in 2014! IFW

Upper School

ATHLETICS UPPER SCHOOL SPORTS DAY This year we were able to hold our annual Sports Day at RAF Cosford again and use the superb facilities provided at the base. It was a lovely day and the weather was kind to us. The standard on the track and in the field events was excellent. Several records were broken which was testament to the talent of the children and their determination to win. The Headmaster presented the trophies to all the winners. Our thanks go to all colleagues who helped on the day and to all the competitors who performed so well. Team-work by staff and pupils equals enormous success!

WOLVERHAMPTON SCHOOLS GIRLS' ATHLETICS HEATS The results were excellent. Beatrice Pemberton (100, 200m and Long Jump), Madison Jones (Javelin, Shot), Mahirah Mir (Javelin), Amber Mir (100m, High Jump) and the team qualified in second place for the relay. This was a fantastic achievement considering there were much larger schools participating. Mrs J.L.Taylor Under 12 Athletics Team

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS DAY CHAMPIONS Junior Boys - Dominic Allsopp (B) Junior Girls - Beatrice Pemberton (N) Intermediate Boys - Oliver Pemberton (N) Intermediate Girls - Grace Birch-Bastock (H) Senior Boys - Jamie Robinson (P) Senior Girls - Lauren Hall (B) OVERALL HOUSE CHAMPIONS 2011 1st PEARSON

West Midlands Biathlon Competition In October 2010, two pupils from school Oliver Pemberton (Under14) and Laura Burke (Under 15) entered the regional biathlon competition held in Birmingham. This competition involved each pupil taking part in a long distance swim and run according to their age-group. Both pupils performed extremely well and qualified for the West Midlands team for the National Finals held in March 2011. My thanks to Mrs Burke who helped to organise the administration details for the pupils on the day.

Ollie and Laura

Upper School

CRICKET

U 15

1st X1 Cricket is a passion of mine and has been from a young age. It has been a great honour captaining this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cricket team. I had a great group of players who were willing to play every game and put in 100% effort into each performance. I have thoroughly enjoyed being able to share my enthusiasm for the sport with the squad. We started off with a comprehensive win against Thomas Telford, which included a great half century from Tom Kimberlin and four wickets from Alex Grant. Unfortunately we lost the next two matches, due to a loss of key players, but still managed a good performance. There was great banter during a match against Old Swinford Hospital School when an ex Tettenhall College player, Jack Biddulph, was batting. I was fortunate to have two England ladies cricketers, Kathryn and Charlotte Whyle, in my attack. Joseph Schubert was a key to my bowling attack especially with the new ball. I enjoyed watching the development of Harry Jones' batting; he seemed much more comfortable at the crease, in particular against the short ball. Robin displayed good discipline with his line and length and picked up valuable wickets. Although Jai Ja is a big unit he managed to show great agility in the field, stopping everything that came his way, similar to Jonty Rhodes. A special thank you must go to Georgina Spooner for scoring the matches and the non cricketers for their efforts in the field and with the bat. Overall it has been a fantastic season!

The team was led by Kieran Mehta and mainly made up of Year 9 players. They displayed good batting skills during early games lessons. However, the bowling, whilst good at times, lacked consistent line and length. Many of the early matches were postponed due to poor weather, and on one occasion we got to a mile from Stafford Grammar School before the game was called off. The opening game was an U14 game against the George Salter School. Tettenhall at times bowled quite well and George Salter wickets fell at a regular rate. However Tettenhall also bowled too many wide and short pitched deliveries and the opposition posted a fair total in the seventeen overs. We believed the total to be in reach and Charlie Mackleworth with good support from many players set off in pursuit of the total. However George Slater had some good bowlers and Tettenhall were very narrowly defeated in a tense final over. The next game was lost to Priory School, who bowled with the consistency that the Tettenhall boys were trying to achieve. The third game was against a very good Wrekin College side. We bowled well in patches, but the opposition posted a very large total. Tettenhall College batting then collapsed and we quickly lost seven wickets for 30 runs against good accurate bowling. We were just beginning to pack the bags to leave when Lewis Price joined Jake McGoldrick at the crease. One and a half hours later they were still there having put together a partnership of eighty runs and brought Tettenhall close to Wrekin Collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s total. However the final wickets were taken by Wrekin and the high total was just too much. The final game was against Wolgarston. Tettenhall College batted first and made an excellent total on a bumpy pitch. All batsmen made good contributions and set a total that we should be able to defend. However, our bowlers were taken apart in the early overs and Wolgarston were easily on target, with their opening batsman looking strong and confident. However, we broke through with accurate bowling and once the opening batsman was dismissed the rest soon followed to give Tettenhall a well-earned victory.

Bhadar Sandhur 1st Team Captain

CROSS COUNTRY

U 12 Cross Country Team

s r a t S g n i t r o p S Upper School

Prep School Athletics Heats Beatrice Pemberton in Year 7, travelled to the Dragon School in Oxford to participate in the above competition. She competed in the 100m and 200m and achieved personal bests in both events. Beatrice is an up and coming young athlete who is training hard in the sprint races. She was the schools U14 Champion and qualified for three finals in the City Athletics championships. Well done Beatrice!

Hat-trick for the College Identical twins Kathryn and Charlotte Whyle and Chloe McIntosh have all been selected to play for England in their designated sports. Kathryn and Charlotte who have both just finished in the Upper Sixth have been playing Cricket since the age of eleven. They represented the school in the 1st X1 and also play for Staffordshire’s County Women’s team. The girls have been selected for the U19 England squad and will be touring South Africa in October 2011 before starting University. Chloe McIntosh, presently in the Lower 6th and studying for her ‘A’ levels, has been playing competitive Hockey since the age of twelve. In addition to the school teams, she also plays for Cannock Hockey Club. Chloe has represented Staffordshire and Birmingham Midlands for four years at county level. She regularly attends the training camps that are set up around the country and in July travelled with the squad to play against Germany where she scored the only goal. Chloe is currently focusing on keeping herself at the top of the game and her eye on future international competitions. We are all very proud of the girls at TC and the dedication that they have to both their sports and their studies.

Swimming Star! Joseph Kinsell (Year 10) is currently training to improve his individual times so that he can compete in National events. Joseph, who swims with Chase Swimming Club, trains seven times a week and has just embarked on the first year of his GCSE subjects. He has to juggle his training around his studies and his commitment to do this is commendable. We hope to see Joseph compete one day at the Olympics! Mrs J.L.Taylor

Upper School Recreational football

FOOTBALL 1st X1 Football With some talented U16s making their way into the 1st team, this year has proven to be a very successful one for Tettenhall College. Mr Groom who joined us last year has added a new dimension to the coaching. The boys have been able to take on-board the movement patterns that were required from them at set pieces allowing us to exploit the opposition’s inferior tactical awareness. There have been some real class performances shown by the boys; most notable were by Captain Joe Schubert - his ability to control the midfield with some very competitive tackling and pin point accuracy with his passing to the strike team of Bhadar Sandhur and Jamie Robinson served us very well. Alex Grant’s pace, vision and individual skill was something to marvel at, both on and off the ball. Next year looks set to be even better; with us only losing three of the starting team, who are going to university and with the 2nd team putting in some very good performances, along with a couple of the present under 15s who are looking to feature , this will undoubtedly put pressure on the 1st team regulars. Thank you to all the 1st and 2nd team footballers for their efforts this season. Mr Bullock

U15 The team was enthusiastic and contained many young players from Year 9. It was clear that the most of the Year 10 boys were rugby players, rather than footballers, so a hard season was quite likely. The first game was against Old Swinford Hospital School. The first half saw a rather lacklustre display and we were lucky to be losing by only one goal. However a good second half saw the team win 2-1. The second game was against Denstone. A few inexperienced players were given match time and the team suffered a heavy defeat. The following game was against Denstone again and Tettenhall were only narrowly defeated. The next six matches were against stronger sides and Tettenhall

were soundly beaten in all of them. However the team rallied in the last two matches to draw against Priory School and they won the final game with the best performance of the season. The team had some excellent players with James Winwood showing good pace and aggression and Thomas Habgood led the team from the front. A lot of praise must go to the Year 9 boys who made up the bulk of the team with George Harvey, Charlie Mackelworth and Jake McGoldrick putting in committed performances throughout the season. G Evans

U13/12s The 2010-11 season unfortunately produced no victories in our 4 fixtures. Nevertheless it proved a useful time to try and test our future talent with many of our new Year 7 pupils being drafted in to the Under13 XI. Luke Jones, Cameron Isbister, Peter McMahon, Ryan Brown, Harrison Maddox, Dominic Hoare and Ajay Sharma all played well for the older team as well as representing The College at the ‘Wolves’ 5-a-side tournament held at Aldersley in December; they were ably assisted by Cameron Bagry from Year 5!. From the Year 8 squad Sam Squire captained and led by example throughout as he fought hard in every match to try and maintain an honourable score line. Daniel Jones anchored the midfield and defence as usual. The finds of the season were the potential future goalkeepers in Sam Smallwood and Joshua Hill Harding who were outstanding in every game they played. Other squad members who tried their best throughout the season were; Dominic Allsop (who returned after injury to be very effective in defence), Mufaro Katakwa (midfield), James Alder (defence), Tommy Chang (frightening in defence!) Subaru Onitake and Rajan Kundi (both speedy wingers), Michael Broom (midfield) and Joe Lee (defence). Well done to all who made up a small but loyal squad and to parents who supported them at fixtures this year. G J Raine

Upper School

LADIES HOCKEY 1st XI The season was completed with an excellent match against the Old Tettenhallian’s in June. Sadly, the 1st team lost 1-0, the match typifying the season in that the girls were unable to convert some excellent play into goals. We remain ‘goal shy’ and that has resulted in a disappointing set of results this season. Our one notable success was against Oswestry in January where we won 1-0. This was a very entertaining match and the girls did well to achieve the win. The harsh winter again devastated the fixture card and all December matches were cancelled as a result. Otherwise, it was a very busy season with competitive matches played every week against our usual rivals including Wrekin College, Newcastle under Lyme, Wolverhampton Grammar and Chase Academy. As previously mentioned, we unfortunately recorded narrow defeats in each case. However, the standard of play was excellent and the girls represented the school admirably. Special thanks go to Lauren Hall for her captaincy and to Kathryn and Charlotte Whyle for their excellent assistance as vice-captains. In addition, Chloe McIntosh is to be congratulated on her success in being selected for the National Squad. U15 As with the 1st XI, the girls had a very busy fixture card playing against teams including Wolverhampton Grammar, Wrekin College, Oswestry and Stafford Grammar. There was some excellent play; however we were unable to convert these efforts into success. Inevitably, our opponents tend to be much larger schools where there is a greater number of girls from which to select teams. Nevertheless, the girls battled hard in each case and enjoyed their hockey. There were some excellent individual performances from Kiranpreet Rai and Rachael Whalen, both players showing considerable potential for the future. Thanks are also extended to Olivia Nash and Rebecca Mitchell for their captaincy and vice-captaincy respectively. U14 With such a small year group, the team squad consisted of a mix of Under 14s and 15s. This resulted in a less busy fixture card for the U14 squad, but nevertheless the team put out some good performances. A 2-2 draw at Chase Academy in September was the notable success of the season, although other matches were played against Wolverhampton Grammar, Oswestry and Stafford Grammar. Natsumi Suganuma continued to show excellent potential on the pitch and performed her role as captain well.

1st XI Hockey

U16 Hockey

U15 Hockey

Mrs A J Nash

U14 Hockey

Upper School

RUGBY Rugby 1st XV

U 15 The team demonstrated enthusiasm from the first training session. However, the forwards lacked size and experience, so a fast moving game was essential for success. The backs had some talented players who displayed pace and strong tackling throughout the season.

The season started off with an excellent training weekend where the former England U16 Rugby Coach Mr. Gareth Rees put our boys through their paces. However, this season has been a very hard fought campaign due to the lack of rugby experience.

The first game was a win against Denstone B with Oliver Pemberton scoring two excellent tries. Adam Ling also had an impressive debut as a flanker. In the next game Wolverhampton Grammar school failed to field a full team.

We had a very full fixture card, playing 12 games before Christmas, winning 1, drawing 1 and losing 10. There were some excellent performances from Alex Kibble who had to captain the side after Jordan Hill’s knee injury during the first game against Wolverhampton Grammar School. Alex Grant, with his electric pace and determination to tackle, rarely came off second!

The season progressed well with some good victories, but a few narrow defeats. However, during the third victory against Denstone B Oliver Pemberton suffered a serious leg fracture which ended his season. His absence was felt in the last game where Wrekin College played a fast moving game and displayed some excellent finishing.

To try and develop the boys' fitness and understanding we entered a team in the Wrekin College 7s Tournament during the Spring Term, which proved to be a very successful first outing, with the boys gaining a lot from the experience. We hope to enter more 7s tournaments next season.

Overall the season was most positive with good performances from James Winwood, Joshua Hill and Adam Long. The rest of the Year 10 players made great progress that will allow them to make significant contributions to the 1st XV next year. The Year 9 players stepped up to produce good performances against bigger and stronger players. G Evans

With the introduction of the Tettenhall College Rugby Academy we are very confident that results will be better next season.

Under 13 Rugby Tour This year as part of the Tour to Cokethorpe School, we obtained tickets to watch the Gloucester v Bath game from the 'Shed'. It was undoubtedly one of the best games of the Premiership season and the atmosphere was amazing. Tourists in front of Heythrop Park Hotel

In last year’s Tettenhallian I mentioned the following boys: James Alder, James Hawkins, Josh Hill-Harding and Sam Squire as ones who would be instrumental in the team’s performances for this year. I would like to congratulate them on their performances as all of them stepped up to the challenge that the older boys left when they moved up to the under 15s. Players coming through and developing their skills form this season have been Peter McMahon, Cameron Isbister and Luke Jones. Well done to all the boys who have represented the Under 13s this year. James Bullock

Following the match the 33 boys travelled to a 5 star hotel where they enjoyed the leisure facilities, followed by the Rugby Dinner where 1st team ties and awards were presented. The Tour match against Cokethorpe was exciting to watch; TC losing the 1st third convincingly; the 2nd was drawn; the 3rd won by 2 points! James Bullock Lineout

Upper School

NETBALL

U 16 ‘B’ Team

The Tournaments The City Tournament took place in October 2010 for the U14 and U15 agegroup. Whilst not reaching the final both teams worked hard. The Under 12 tournament was played in March. Three matches were won, 1 drawn 1 lost. A special mention goes to Shanel Johnson and Lisa Obi from Year 6.

South Staffordshire Netball Tournament Due to bad weather the tournament was eventually played in January. There were ten participating teams in the age group. We won 4 games, lost 3 and drew against our old rivals Wolverhampton Grammar, finishing 4th overall. The team included 2 Year 10 girls who had stepped up from the U 15 team. Netball Leagues The school continues to thrive in this sport and, at U16 level hold the title of Wolverhampton League Champions. Seven teams took part in competitive matches from Under 12 to Under 18, including two teams at Under 15 level, in total playing over 55 matches.

U 13 Team

U 13 This season Year 7 and 8 combined together to make an Under 13 team. They played six fixtures in the local league. They did had tough games but they made vast improvements during the season. Players in the team:- Daljinder Birring, Chloe Fisher, Avaani Grewal, Madison Jones, Amber Mir, Marihah Mir, Beatrice Pemberton, Isabel Proffitt and Grace Pugh. U 14 This season we have been learning the skills in preparation for GCSE PE., looking at on court tactics, team skills and drills also learning how to umpire and coach. We played seven games, losing five and winning two. Players in the team:- Hanisha Cheema, Charlotte Holden, Charlotte Jones, Savreena Kaur (cpt), Natsumi Suganuma, supported by Chloe Fisher and Madison Jones. Savreena Kaur (Captain) U 14 Team

U 15 This year my team has had a challenging season. We have played some very tough opponents but this has only made us work harder and learn to be more successful as a unit of players. We have played a series of matches against many local large comprehensives and some selective school too. We have won a few of the games because as a team we do use the space well on the court but when up against very strong opposition who play fast we all have to ‘up our game’ and play our very best. I think my team have done well this year and I would personally like to thank everyone who played and supported us. Courtney Hawkins (Captain)

U 16

U 15 Team

Wow! What another fantastic year for this squad winning all but one of their twelve matches. The highlight of the year was the victory in the town league final against Wolverhampton Grammar where we won 17 -14. Congratulations to all the team and thank you sincerely for all the work you have put into training and in the games. Players are:- Aimee Fisher, Ellie Hammond, Sophie Jones, Victoria Kibble, Lauren Lovell, Chloe McIntosh, Charlotte Perry and Ekta Saini. Victoria Kibble (Captain)

U 16 ‘B’ So many girls love to play Netball and it has been wonderful to make another Year 11 team to play in matches and tournaments. Some of these players had never really been part of a sports team before and I was very proud of their friendly approach playing for fun, yet with a competitive edge. All the girls pulled together and worked hard. Players were:- Navpreet Aujlay, Hannah Birch, Faye Bradley, Isabella Fisher, Amanda Hughson, Rachel Lawton (Captain), Radhica Ohri and Jade Sahni Mrs J.L.Taylor

Upper School

NETBALL continued

U 16 League Champions

U 18 For most of our team this year has been our last time playing together. As we go off to university we are all determined to carry on playing because we love the game. Mrs Taylor's words during the matches meant that out of all the eight games we played, we only lost two. Thank you team! Enjoy your Netball wherever you are. Players were:- Lauren Hall, Parminder Rai, Nicola Smith, Jade Sahni, Georgina Spooner, Holly Winwood, Charlotte and Kathryn Whyle. Georgina Spooner (Captain)

STAFFORDSHIRE ACADEMY Victoria Kibble has been involved with the Staffordshire academy at Senior level this season. Victoria is a highly talented player who has been recognised by coaches and selectors from a number of high profile clubs and regional squad ‘West Midland Warriors’. We wish her the best of luck at forthcoming trials next season. 1st VII U18 Team

1ST TEAM SQUAD v THE O’TETTENHALLIANS June 12th The weather was atrocious so the game took place inside the sports hall. Twelve school players from across the teams took on a talented group of Old Tettenhallians. It was a fast, high scoring and very entertaining game. The level of fitness and skills of the OT team captained by Fiona Taylor was impressive. Old Tettenhallians: Janine Andrews, Emily Beddoes, Katie Cork, Catherine Gough, Victoria Liu, Kelly Paterson, Becky Rice, Linsey Swinburne (Andrews), Bethan Stoll and Charlotte Taft (Taylor). School : Aimee Fisher, Lauren Hall, Ellie Hammond, Sophie Jones, Victoria Kibble, Chloe McIntosh, Charlotte Perry, Niki Smith, and captain Georgina Spooner. ‘The John Dale Memorial Trophy’ was awarded to the School Team for the second year in succession for a win of 34-16 and the ‘Players Player’ was awarded jointly to sisters Janine Andrews and Linsey Swinbourne. Congratulations! Mrs J.L.Taylor

TENNIS City Competitions Two teams were entered into the competition this year. The Under 15s played two matches. Against Wolverhampton Girls' High the team lost 1-5 but they won against Ounsdale 5-1. The Under 13 team played three matches. Against Wolverhampton Girls High ‘A’ they lost 1-5 but were victorious against both St Peter's 6-0 and the Girls' High ‘B’ 5-1. In the City tournaments, the Senior players Victoria Kibble and Georgina Spooner got through to the semi-finals. In the Under 12 tournament Madison Jones and Grace Pugh from Year 7 were the eventual winners of the competition. Players in the Under 15 team were:- Harriet Dodd, Charlotte Holden, Rebecca Mitchell and Laura Saul. In the Under 13 team the players were:- Madison Jones, Shanel Johnson, Lisa Obi and Grace Pugh. Well done girls! Mrs. J.L.Taylor

U 12 Tennis Team Under 12 Tennis Team

Upper School

This year proved to be another dynamic and exciting year in the life of the Sixth Form.

exciting challenges involving giant skipping ropes, egg towers and several dozen blindfolds.

Our enrichment programme offers a broad variety of opportunities to learn about the wider world. This year’s events began with a twilight session, hosted by Lattitude, exploring gap year and volunteering opportunities. In December ‘Strictly Tettenhall’ came to Towers as fifty sixth-formers took their partners for a ballroom dancing lesson with astonishingly co-ordinated results! In March we were visited by ex- professional golfer John Hoskison who spoke frankly about his life experiences on the professional circuit and of his time in prison following a drink-driving accident.

Two day-visits to the University of Birmingham and the UCAS University Higher Education Fair, provided valuable opportunities for pupils to gather information from numerous universities, seek guidance on personal statements and experience firsthand the life of a thriving campus.

Leadership Events in the Summer Term are designed to prepare Year 12 for the challenges of Year 13. The Leadership day, hosted by The Royal Navy, enabled pupils to develop teamwork, leadership and communication skills via a range of

Induction Prospective sixth formers attending the Year 11 Induction enjoyed a highadrenalin, adventure-packed day at ‘Closer to the Edge Aerial Ropes Adventure’. It is awe-inspiring to see our pupils’ courage, team-work and communication skills put to such excellent use both on the ground and then 45 feet in the air! Having Fun In May we bade farewell to Year 13, all of whom have played an integral role in the

Year 11 Induct ion

running of the school as Prefects and Team Leaders. After the wonderful Leavers’ Lunch we enjoyed an afternoon of sunshine and showers accompanied by a bouncy castle and numerous cricket, frisby and football matches before heading back to the Sports Hall for Prizegiving. As always, the school year drew to a close with the annual Summer Ball. This was an exceptional evening where pupils from both year groups danced ‘til they dropped and enjoyed their last evening as a Sixth Form together. I am very proud of the Sixth Form at Tettenhall College. We are a happy, vibrant, multi-cultural and caring community where pupils are supported and challenged to achieve their goals. Farewell to all pupils leaving us this year and a special ‘thank you’ to Elliott Cooper and Holly Winwood for their help and support as outstanding Head Prefects. M. D. Uttley

Summer Ball

Leavers Lunch 2011

ion Year 11 Induct

Year 12 Leadership Da y

Summer Ball

Upper School

School House Boys’ Boarding House This has been a very busy year for both the staff and pupils in the Boarding House. The increased number of module exams through the year has meant that examination year groups have been under constant pressure to work hard academically. Staff have been supportive and understanding to the pupils needs and trying to encourage all boarders to experience a broad education. The number of weekend and evening outings that have been generously organised by the boarding staff has simply been amazing this year. The range of experiences available to the boarders is a great balance of fun, cultural, active and exciting. A big thank you to all staff who have given their time to make these outings happen. Charity Committee The Charity Committee established itself in the House and started their first event with a sponsored 12 hour swim; 15 pupils took part, swimming a number of sessions throughout the time. They were backed up by the generous staff and lifeguards who gave up their time to help the event. The swimmers showed great effort, enthusiasm and determination. The Charity Committee deserve great praise for their organisation and planning of the event which was carried out with military precision. Another charity event was the Dragon Boat race which helped to raise over £400. The team was again successful by winning the Schools Cup with the fastest time of the day and finishing 3rd overall. Staff and pupils enjoyed a BBQ with good friends and some family support to make a fun but competitive atmosphere during the boat races. Boarders have taken an active part in other school charity events. During the Easter holidays there was an addition to the Boarding House. Molly Grace Jackson was born on the 24th April. She has settled in to supervising the boarders and reporting for duties very quickly. Her calming influence on the boys has been recognised and it has been a great experience for some of the older boys to show their parenting skills. From Easter there have been on-going developments to the Boarding House studies. A major overhaul of the rooms has seen new showers and bathrooms, carpets, beds, cupboards and

wardrobes, blinds - a total redecoration. The Royal Weekend proved to be a very busy one. Fun activities and swimming was enjoyed in the morning, followed by an afternoon at Wolverhampton Cricket Club where several boarders were involved in running stalls and helping serve food. The evening was spent at Cosmo restaurant and bowling. A big thank you to all the staff who helped throughout the weekend. Prefect Team Throughout the year a great team of Prefects has worked hard to help keep the Boarding House running smoothly, their time, efforts and enthusiasm has been appreciated by the Housemaster and the duty staff team. Each term the Prefect team is invited to a meal in the Housemaster’s flat. This year two of the meals were cooked by the Prefects. This was a great opportunity for the boys to show their cookery skills and introduce traditional foods from their home country. The desserts were cooked by Mr Jackson, a particular favourite was the Eton Mess. The new House Prefects for next year are Sam Stevenson, Albert Ha, Robin Barrow, Jack Lloyd, Tommy Chan and Tuan Anh Tran. The Head of House is Ibrahima Conte.

The Dragon Boat Te

Housemaster’s fam

ily

Prefects’ dinner

At the end of the Summer Term the Boarding House will be losing two important members of staff. Mr Bullock has been a Resident House Tutor for five years. He is finishing his House duties due to his commitments towards his continuing success as a rugby referee. Mr Parry also leaves Tettenhall College after two years of committed service to both the Boarding House and the College. Mr Parry has led Boarding House services every Sunday morning. He has also been a regular member of staff prepared to take boarders on weekend outings and he also helped a number of boarders start Air cadets at Cosford. We wish him well in the future.

The Team

Mr Jackson

The Trophy

Upper School

Thorneycroft Girls’ Boarding House From the new Heads of House We are rather privileged to be selected by Mrs. Compain-Holt to be joint Heads of House next year. We believe that to be given this role of maturity is a wonderful opportunity to give back to the Boarding House that has helped to shape us ever since we first came to study at Tettenhall College. We believe that the fact that we are overseas students is going to bring a new experience to the Boarding House as we are inclined to be very understanding and supportive towards our overseas peers. This may improve the communication and interaction within the Boarding House, which has always been one of the Boarding House’s major objectives. We are truly looking forward to next year and hope that this is going to be beneficial for both us and the Boarding House. Mai Do & Alice Lau A Note from Thuy It has been two years since I came to TC to study and the College has opened many paths in my life. The unique teaching culture has sharpened my leadership, teamwork and creative skills, plus the friendly atmosphere makes me

House Competition Results

feel happy and warm while I am away from home. I am hoping to go to Birmingham City University to do a Business and Management course in September 2011. Hopefully, I will have time to do a Masters course in Management after my undergraduate degree. I am planning eventually to return to Vietnam to work in my dad’s company for a couple of years, which deals with housing stock. Perhaps, in the future I will come back to the UK to do a Doctorate in Management. Thuy Hoang Out and About My favourite outing this year was going to Trentham Gardens. I loved it so much because we could discover the really amazing wild life. The monkeys were so cute, I had to admit. I also enjoyed the barefoot walk where you have bare feet to walk 1 km on stones, hay and mud. You might play ‘hide and seek’ in the forest and have a nice walk along the river. The garden was so beautiful with a wide range of sparkling colours. It looked like an explosion of the colour world. Besides all this, you were able to enjoy exceptional ice- creams near the huge

playground. Life in the Boarding House is always filled with a lot of activities that enable me to be more sprightly and sociable. Keely Hill-Harding (Yr 8) From Hanoi to Wolverhampton. This is the first time that we have been to England. Our feelings at first were quite strange because Wolverhampton is so different from Hanoi where the weather is really hot and people never seem to get rid of their hectic pace. As time passes by, we have really enjoyed our new life with our new, open minded friends and helpful teachers. We are provided with a structured environment which helps us develop our individual thinking rather than people telling us what or how to think. We are from different parts of Hanoi but share joys at Tettenhall College every day and intend to spend time together in Hanoi. How funny it will be to speak about TC there and then! We would like to thank our exceptional Housemistress, Mrs Compain-Holt and all the other members of staff who help make the Girls' Boarding House and Tettenhall College our home. Aristy Trinh & Lilly Pham

HOUSE SWIMMING Individual Championship Winners Year 7 Girls – Grace Pugh (P) Year 7 Boys – Sam Middlemiss (H) Junior Boys – James Hawkins (B) Junior Girls – Chloe Fisher (P) Intermediate Boys – Joseph Kinsell (P) Intermediate Girls – Laura Burke (P) Senior Boys – Harry Westwood (B) Senior Girls – Georgina Spooner (P)

HOUSE NETBALL Juniors (Year 7 & 8) 1st Nicholson/Pearson 2nd 3rd Bantock/Haydon 4th Seniors (Year 9-6th Form) 1st Nicholson 2nd Bantock 3rd Haydon 4th Pearson

HOUSE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS 2011 1st – PEARSON 2nd – Haydon 3rd – Bantock 4th – Nicholson

OVERALL WINNERS 2011 NICHOLSON

House Competitions

WORK Overall position in effort grades

SPORT Overall position

CULTURE Overall position

Overall RANK position

BANTOCK

HAYDON

NICHOLSON

PEARSON

Upper School

The Plot Everyone loves a fairytale – prince meets princess, villain intervenes, good triumphs over evil and everyone lives happily ever after - simple? Think again! Anything can happen at the court of Queen Aggravaine! Having decreed that no-one can marry until Dauntless does, twelve hapless Princesses have failed the Queen’s ‘marriage’ tests; no-one is good enough for her ‘good, sweet, nice, beautiful baby-boy.’

her mates) who unceremoniously clambers from the moat. Hey nonny nonny! Dauntless likes her (she swam the moat – twice) the court warm to her, the King really likes her (behave Sextimus!) but Queen Aggravaine is unimpressed and, with as much grace as a dead bird, the queen acquiesces, cunningly cooking up a test that ‘looks fair and sounds fair and seems fair and isn’t fair’ – aha the old pea under mattress trick eh?

Fear not, as dashing-but-dim Sir Harry (ooooooh) vows to journey ‘across the Badlands’ to seek a true princess for Dauntless (thus solving his own little problem; that he and his beloved Lady Larken need to get hitched...pronto!)

Chaos ensues with a blazing row, a cunning disguise, a thwarted escapeplan, a right-royal telling-off, an allnight ball and a banished minstrel! Phew! In the midst of this medievalmayhem the jesters and minstrel visit the Wizard and discover the secret of the test – Sensitivity!

His quest discovers unconventional, but charmingly-quirky Princess ‘Winnifred-the-Woebegone’ (Fred to

Meanwhile the queen is leaving nothing to chance, employing twenty

downy mattresses, a hypnotic mirror, magical incense, a sleeping draught and the curious Nightingale of Sammarkand to send Winnifred off to beddy-byes – will she ...won’t she....yawn? Hurrah! Winnifred arrives at breakfast still counting sheep; the pea kept her awake! Dauntless can marry. Harry can marry. Everyone can start living happily ever after! Plus, the King can finally talk and the Queen can’t! Yeehah! Then, curiouser and curiouser, what should emerge from under the mattress - a traffic-cone, a French horn...a headmaster? So it wasn’t the pea, it wasn’t the pea at all! The Cast Crew Life is grand indeed! What a show, what a cast, what a crew! Aimée Fisher sparkled with wit and charm as Winnifred, Robin Barrow bounded bashfully as Dauntless while Olivia Nash stunned all into silence as the calculating Queen supported by her not-so-efficient Wizard – Matthew Wickens. Harry Westwood mimed majestically as King Sextimus and Isabella Fisher gracefully skipped through the court corridors as Lady Larken pursued by the obnoxiouslycharming Oliver Rudge aka Sir Harry (ooooooh). Amanda Hughson and Courtney Hawkins ‘jestered’ jovially, Jacob Elcock ‘minstrelled’ magnificently and Chloë Fisher’s ‘Nightingale’ made mellifluous music with the odd screech for good measure! Supported by a spectacular cast of gallant Knights and elegant Ladies

Upper School

the stage was awash with colour (thanks to Mrs Spencer and her ‘medieval-machining services’), energy (headdresses off to Mrs Taylor - court choreographer and mistress of the Spanish Panic) and music (Lord Wass, we salute you). Team Isbister, experts in medieval stagemanagement and castleconstruction, ably assisted by Teams Belcher, Hammond, Jones, Fisher, Beddoes, Hawkins, Laight, and Hamilton, created our magnificent multi-coloured castle whilst expert support from Holly Winwood and Jasmine Nash kept the troops and curtain in order. Dead birds and upside-down owls fell under the watchful eye of Misses Nash, Gwilt

and Minaker from ‘ParchmentPProductsPR-Us.com’ A massive thank you to our fantastic team – on set building, props, banners, lighting, catering, publicity, make-up, front-of-house, Gala night and pea key-rings and to all those wonderful parents, pupils and audience members who supported the show (starting to sound like an Oscar speech now!) without whom the magic would never have happened. Musical 2012 – we are ready when you are! Till then ‘good night everybody...sleep well!’ M. D. Uttley

Upper School

A Year at TC Library From the new Heads of House Another busy year in the TC library saw a new arrival, in the form of Library and Resources assistant Miss Wright. She soon fitted into the varied world of library life and had great enthusiasm for all of the lunchtime activities like Marvellous Monday Bingo and the Wonderful Wednesday Craft Club. October saw the annual Scary Stories sessions for Lower School and Miss Stone’s EAL students. There were spooky tales and pictures of TC ghosts and the ultimate test of bravery for wannabe ghost hunters! October also saw a visit of the author and illustrator Dan Taylor, who told pupils all about the process of creating a story and illustrations for picture books. He was the library’s most popular visitor of the year with The Drive and Lower School pupils. November was the month of Lower School’s Amazing Maths themed week and the library joined in the fun with a numbers based quiz for all year groups. February saw the library organise their first author event in conjunction with the Wolverhampton Children’s Book Group. Over 200 pupils from local schools and TC came together for the visit of Johnny O’Brien, who explained how his historical based fiction is researched and written. The school is a member of this excellent book group and pupils from TC were invited to meet other authors throughout the year including Becca Fitzpatrick and Charlie Higson. A visit to see Patrick Ness, Carnegie Award winner, was amazing and listening to him read the opening chapter of 'A Monster Calls' was breathtakingly good.

Charlie Higson Author Visit

Patrick Ness and Keely

World Book Day in March was a great success with all classes in The Drive and Lower School having special events and a superb book fair.

Baggy

June saw “The Chase Quiz” take place as part of the Lower School Themed week, with the final between pupils and teachers taking place in the Library at the end of the week. The teachers won, but only just. The library’s year came to a spectacular end in June with the annual Bring A Bear to School Day with The Drive pupils. A bear hunt for Mrs Liddle’s lost bear ended in the discovery of Baggy Bear in the Reading Room, where bear stories were read and an invitation to the Teddy Bears’ picnic was located. The library continues to be a hive of activity and it is great to see the reading habits of pupils improve. The Drive pupils enjoyed 'What’s in the Witch’s Kitchen' and 'Turn it up Doris', whilst in Lower School the pupils enjoyed' Diary of a Wimpy Kid' and' Captain Underpants', to name but a few. The final book in the Alex Rider series was one of the most popular reads in Upper School. Let’s hope the new academic year brings as much variety and enjoyment as this one did!

Johnny acting out a scene

D Liddle

Upper School

Charity Committee From the new Heads of House The 2010-2011 academic year has been an amazing one for charity fundraising. A pupil -based charity committee was created after an appeal for volunteers in September. A brilliant group of lads came together with one aim – to help raise as much money as possible for selected charities throughout the year. The committee consisted of: Joe Tanton (Chairman), Matthew Wickens (Vice-Chairman), Barnaby Ellis, Elliott Gwilt, Oliver Jones, Albert Trinh Ha, Harjeevan Kandola, Tim Metcalfe and Louis McEvoy. Later in the year the team were joined by Aimee Fisher and Rachel Lawton. The Charity Committee, with the help of all pupils, staff and parents, helped raise an amazing £9615.43 over the year; the highlight being a joint fundraising effort for Comic Relief and the Red Cross Japanese Tsunami Appeal. The committee had already planned events such as a Mufti day, cake sale and five a side tournament for Comic Relief, when the tragic events in Japan unfolded. The team were spurred into action (via Facebook messages) over a weekend and came up with lots of ideas to raise money for the combined appeal. A crazy two weeks of events saw the creation of Starbooks Comic Relief Café in the library, selling hot drinks and donuts each break-time, a charity car wash after school, a mufti day, cake and sweet sale, a photo shoot with celebrity friends in the library, a five a side tournament and a girls-v-boys netball tournament. There was also a grand prize draw raffle, where parents and local businesses donated prizes – the first prize being an amazing family holiday in Cornwall kindly donated by Mrs Lawley. The team’s hard work paid off and an astounding £3,000 was collected and duly sent off to the charities. A big thank you goes to all those who kindly donated prizes. The other charities supported throughout the year included:Macmillan Cancer Support (£300), Royal British Legion (£227.60), Help for Heroes (£227.60), Children in Need (£1,000), Birmingham Children’s Hospital (£120), Age UK (£50), UNICEF (Day for Change) (£200), Beacon Centre for the Blind (£250), Orang utan Rescue (£50), Compton Hospice (£85.00), Pump Aid (£500), County Air Ambulance (£150), Red Cross East Africa Food Crisis Appeal (£250), Operation Smile (£250) The Charity Committee also purchased £500 worth of Christmas toys and games for the New Cross Hospital Children’s Ward. There was also a whole school collection of clothes, books, games, bric-abrac for Compton Hospice, which will help raise funds through a sale of the items collected in the Compton Hospice Charity Shop. The Charity Committee will continue into the new academic year with fresh ideas from new members, but huge thanks must go to the inaugural team for their excellent work and enthusiasm. Goodbye to Joe, Matthew, Barnaby, Louis, Harjeevan and Aimee - Good Luck to Oliver, Elliott and Albert as they take over the reins of the committee. D Liddle

Charity Netball Teams

Sixth Formers Charity Photo Booth Comic Relief

Coffee Shop for Comic Relief

Charity Committee Hard At Work

Upper School

Extra Curricular Activities Geographical Association Quiz As a new venture this year The College entered a team of budding Year 8 geographers into a regional round of the Geography Association Inter -School quiz held at Red Hill School Stourbridge in March. The team selection, made after weeks of general knowledge quizzes in Mr Raines’s geography lessons, comprised James Alder, James Hawkins, Daniel Jones and Joshua Hill – Harding. They acquitted themselves really well on the day but their inexperience at ‘quizzing’ was exposed when playing their ‘joker’, worth double points, on the current affairs round where the questions were very obscure; for example: 'Can you state how many countries share a border with Libya?'

Pupils at the GA quiz in March

I thank the boys for their commitment and hope they are a little more world and quiz wise as a result. G J Raine

Cookery Club The ‘Perfect English Afternoon Tea’ was the aim of the Cookery Club in the Autumn Year 7-9 boarders’ activity. Each week we took a different aspect of an afternoon tea and managed to produce delicious scones, gingerbread men, chocolate truffles, sandwiches and crumpets! For the final session we invited some special members of the staff to enjoy an English afternoon tea served by the group. In the Summer Term we invited the Senior Management Team to a Midsummer Tea Party and entertained them with sweet music and delicacies such as Krispie Marshmallow Squares, Smoothies, Meringue Delights, Peppermint Creams, decorated Gingerbread Men and Waffles! So far all the staff have lived to tell the tale! D. Stone

Parents’ Association Chair: Mrs Vickie Jones Vice Chair: Mrs. Clare Baugh Treasurer: Mrs. Sarah Houghton Upper School Rep.: Mrs. Catharine Hammond Lower School Rep.: Mrs Sarah Isbister Drive School Rep.: Mrs. Clare Baugh

The Parents' Association has had a productive year with various events being held. The support which we have within the school community is always most appreciated and as always the children reap the rewards of the dedication and hard work of all committee members. Our main event the 'James Bond' themed Ball was very well attended and enjoyed by all, the band were superb and have been booked again for this year's ball on Friday 18th November, 2011. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our new Headmaster Mr. Martyn Long for all his support and enthusiasm. Vicke Jones (Chair) Tettenhall College Parents' Association

Old Tettenhallians

The Old Tettenhallians’ Club Event Dates for 2011 – 2012 Remembrance Sunday Service Sunday 13th November 2011 at 10.30 a.m. Venue: the College Chapel The service supports the ‘Help for Heroes’ and the Royal British Legion charities. The Headmaster extends an invitation to lunch afterwards.

London Reunion Dinner Saturday 19th November 2011 Venue: Victory Services Club, Seymour Street, London W2 2HF For tickets contact Graham Aston: Tel: 01932-229001 or email: grahamaston@hotmail.com President:

Keith Grant-Pearce

Vice President:

Stephen Corns

Chairman of Committee:

Peter Pingree

Hon. Secretary:

Stephen Corns

Hon. Treasurer:

Robert Russell

Hon. Chaplain:

John Bates

Hon. Auditor:

Julian Gronow

Hon. Editor (acting):

Stephen Corns

Magazine content submissions: Steve Gordos email: steve.gordos@btinternet.com Committee Members: Graham Aston, Julian Bown, Deb Brook, Andy Mottershead, Graham Foulkes, Tim Rowe and Tej Baden.

President’s Evening – dinner at a good class restaurant amongst friends (partners included) Friday 16th March 2012 Venue: Thornescroft Restaurant, Bridgnorth Road, Shipley, Wolverhampton WV6 7EQ Please contact Peter Pingree for tickets: Tel: 07966-686932 or email: petepingree@yahoo.co.uk

The Vernon Cup Golf Competition Thursday 14th June 2012 Venue: South Staffordshire Golf Club, Tettenhall commencing at 2.30 p.m. The golf will be followed by dinner in the clubhouse. If you wish to take part please contact Keith Grant-Pearce. Tel: 01562-884601 or email: keithgp27@yahoo.co.uk

Annual Reunion Weekend Saturday 16th June and Sunday 17th June 2012 All OTs will receive an invitation by post or email before the Reunion Weekend.

Updates about our various events will be shown on our website: www.oldtettenhallians.co.uk Please notify us of any change in your postal or email address through the website.

Old Tettenhallians

A Letter from the President Dear Tettenhallians – past and present It was my Godfather’s vision that brought me to Tettenhall College and I am forever in his debt for persuading my mother that I should go to TC. I was 9 years old when I first saw Main School as we drove into the Quad, and I recall being a little nervous and thinking that it was an awfully big place as I was ushered in through the main entrance. I remember that a rather bewildered start quickly turned into quite an adventure as I began to explore and learn about my new surroundings and make new friends, many of whom are still friends today. Like all young new boys in the Boarding House I was in ‘D’ Dorm, and the chance to chat long after ‘lights out’ frequently brought the wrath of Prefects and Staff down upon me, and indeed, many others. I can honestly say that I had a great time at TC which got better with each year. Looking back I realised just how good the rounded education was, both academically and pastorally. The Summer School Camps at Salcombe organised by Messrs Pine, Jobling, Frank Brown and others, ably assisted by some of the Senior Scouts were the beginning of many happy memories. They were brilliant whatever the weather and, like so many of my contemporaries, Salcombe remains a special place for us. I joined the Scouts under Jim Baxter’s leadership and enjoyed many a Scout Camp in the damp of North Wales! During my time the troop was very strong and successful and I recall we had two Queen’s Scouts. If you were fortunate enough to be good at sports, the opportunities to excel and develop the competitive edge so necessary in the modern world were there for all, from interhouse competitions and matches against other schools to regional events. I am delighted to see that this continues today. I was lucky enough to play for the 1st Teams for Rugby and Cricket, and I captained the Hockey and Swimming Teams. Sport has been, and still is, an important part of my adult life. I have been happily married to my wife Hilary for nearly forty years and we have lived in Hagley for the past twenty seven years. We have two children, both in their early thirties now. Emma is a teacher who has lived on the island of Jersey for the past twelve years and is Head of Humanities. Richard is a programme manager working in the automotive supply industry in the Midlands, and is currently studying for an MBA at the University of Warwick. Work-wise, I enjoyed a successful career in the Pharmaceutical Industry. Initially I joined Reckitt & Colman, then DuPont Pharma, Bristol-Myers Squibb and finally Lantheus Medical Imaging. It is very rewarding to see how the investment in research continues to benefit so many. Now that I am ‘retired’, I have a little more time to myself. I have always been a keen golfer, and am proud to be actively involved with the OT Club’s Golf Society, of which I am the Honorary Secretary. I have joined the Parish Council in Hagley and was recently elected a District Councillor in Bromsgrove, which I am rapidly learning occupies a lot of time! I am looking forward to my year as your President and attending as many College and OT functions as I can. I hope that you will be able to support the Club’s various functions and I look forward to meeting many OTs during the year. Keith Grant-Pearce (1953-1963)

Old Tettenhallians Emily Beddoes (2001-2006) She gained a degree in Early Childhood Studies at Worcester University, before shifting her career path when she worked as Assistant Manager of The Crown at Wergs, Tettenhall for a year. After five months working in a private day nursery Emily moved to the Drive School Nursery, and she is delighted to be back at the College. Christopher Conlon (1980-1990) After leaving the College Chris qualified as a dentist in 1995. He is married to Rachel and in 2009 their daughter Hannah was born. He has lived in Bristol for some years and keeps in touch with other OTs, Andy Cheetham and Sam Elshafey. Bill Eaton (1961-1971) Initially pursued a career as a solicitor with Manby & Steward of Wolverhampton (which has now become FBC Manby Bowdler). In 1988 Bill moved to Plymouth and practised with a firm of solicitors there. He has retired from the legal profession and now concentrates his efforts on his property and marketing businesses. Bill lives near Plymouth with his wife – they have two grown-up children. Ashley Foster (1987-1989) Living in Ware, Hertfordshire, Ashley writes about his cycling group’s wonderful fundraiser for Orchid Research into Male Cancer – a 400 mile ride from London to Edinburgh in just 37 hours! “A team of 19 cyclists met at Buckingham Palace early on Friday 17th June at 7 a.m. ready for the challenge ahead. The whole team set off in high spirits heading via Edgware, north to St. Albans for the first check point. On arrival in St. Albans the teams split into two with one team member continuing en route and the second team member loading their bikes onto the vehicle and having a rest in the minibus. Throughout the challenge team mates alternated one stage on and one stage off their bikes. The route continued north, skirting Peterborough and Lincoln where the rain set in and unfortunately followed us North! Plenty of cups of tea and food were supplied to keep everyone’s energy levels up and wet weather gear was a must! Before hitting York the rain cleared for a short period to allow a hot warm meal to be enjoyed before the team went into the night stages. The adrenaline kicked in through the night stages where guides joined the team to ensure everyone stuck together and completed the stages safely. Darkness fell for a very short period and by 3.30 a.m. the team were able to enjoy the beautiful countryside of the north of England. The team crossed the border into hilly Scotland at lunch time on the Saturday. Tired legs and general fatigue were starting to kick in but the rain cleared and the excitement of nearly completing the challenge kept everyone going. At 5 p.m. on Saturday 18th June the whole team cycled into the heart of the Scottish capital to Holyrood Palace with a huge sense of pride. The whole team had been tested mentally and physically but everyone had made it in under 37 hours!

After a well deserved hot shower everyone enjoyed a celebratory meal and took away some great memories, great friends and a great sense of achievement! On top of all of this the team raised over £33,000 to go towards the valuable work of Orchid in fighting male cancer – a truly worthwhile cause.” John Freeman (1967-1973) John lives in Wolverhampton and writes “After many years of running a small business and having six children and to date seven grandchildren, I have been fortunate in a change of direction and now work for the ambulance service. I currently work on one of the Rapid Response Vehicles, and am really enjoying working life at the moment. My best wishes to anyone who can remember me from all those years ago.”

Where are they now? Roger Furness (1943-1953) He has been living in Buxton since 1988 after various moves from Willenhall to Compton and thence to Haddenham in Bucks. He writes: “I was a regular visitor to the 'Towers' in the 1960s, when I visited Frank Brown (Bursar) to play ‘Bridge' with other OTs, and depending on who was available we would make a four from: - Graham Aston, Ian Ward, John Whitten, Brian Dockerty, Frank and myself (I may have missed at least one other person out). Viewing the last magazine 'online' I saw the letter from Jim Frew and the picture of him in 1952 that I took and I also get a mention in the text. I am going to make contact with Jim - I last saw him in 1957. I just have to search for a few pictures to send him. I was in regular contact with Frank Brown until the last time I saw him in Bath (2002). Frank gave my contact details to Tony Carroll, with the idea of meeting up but we never made it – there is still time! I am an only child but I have married into a big family - my wife Margaret is one of ten! My best friend, Derek Stephens was the tax accountant for Goodyear in the 1970s. We met when serving on the PTA at Smestow. I attended the 'Centenary' in 1963 and have many pictures of it.” Jonathan Hart (2005-2009) Jon tells us that he left TC in 2009 to study BSc. Hons. Physical Education at Leeds Metropolitan University. He wants to teach and returned to the College earlier this year to gain some experience in the classroom. On returning to University Jon was one of thirteen students to be selected for a voluntary project in Brazil. Based in Belo Horizonte, Brazil’s third largest city, the students immersed themselves in the Brazilian culture whilst being hosted by fellow students from the Pontifical Catholic University. Jon assisted projects located in many of the favelas (Ed. – shanty towns) designed to keep children off the dangerous streets. He and his team mates introduced activities and

shared interests with the children, teaching English and many sports. He even managed to obtain 15 Norwich City football shirts and took these with him to give away (well, after all the Norwich club colours are the same as the Brazilian national football team!) There were further opportunities to see Brazilian life and culture, taking them (as visitors) to a prison and senior citizens’ centres. The trip ended with sightseeing around South America – overall a wonderful experience. Alex Liu (1988-2003) Alex’s message to our website reads: “This summer I have completed my D.Phil. in Earth Sciences at Exeter College, University of Oxford, in the process becoming a fullyfledged palaeontologist - probably not a great surprise to my teachers at the Drive School! The past few years have seen me travel extensively on fieldwork (particularly in Canada), and have even included TV and radio interviews promoting my work. I am about to take up a three year position as a Junior Research Fellow at Girton College, University of Cambridge, to continue my research into the evolution of life on Earth. If the school is interested in bringing pupils to see what either Oxford or Cambridge is like, I am happy to give informal tours in the future. Oxford in particular has given me so many amazing opportunities and experiences, and it would be nice to see more Tettenhallians applying to go there.” Neil Wadsworth (1968-1978) Neil says: “After leaving TC in 1978, I went to work for my father for several years and then the computer industry beckoned. I spent a year at technical college followed by two years at Wolverhampton University (only a Polytechnic then!) and after qualifying I began work at Sperry Systems in Birmingham and London. In early 1986 I joined Electronic Data Processing Group PLC, living in Milton Keynes - initially working in the field installing Computer Systems & Networking Infrastructures throughout the U.K. and on the continent. Promotion followed to Production Manager & then to Purchase Manager. I still work for EDP - now the Contracts Manager for the Group - based and living in Sheffield, married to a lovely wife of 22 years - Elaine and two daughters Vicki & Zoe (20 & 17 years old).

Old Tettenhallians

Letters from Old Tettenhallians Rodney Andrew (1948-1956) writes from Vancouver, Canada “It is now 55 years since I left Tettenhall and as it is about 25 years since I last penned a few lines for the ‘Old Tettenhallian' I am sure my class mates have long since forgotten what I wrote. I did note that some of my contemporaries are still active in the Old Tettenhallian Club, notably Graham Aston who succeeded me as Head Prefect in 1956 and Peter Pingree who lived in the same avenue in Claregate as I did. After serving as a medical officer in the Army, I emigrated to Canada in 1966 and have practised as a Family Physician in Vancouver for the last 44 years. I am a member of the medical staff at St. Paul’s Hospital and practised as a part-time surgeon, delivered about 1200 babies and was President of the medical staff in the 90s. As the years went by, I was increasingly involved in teaching medicine at the University of British Columbia and am now Clinical Professor of Medicine at UBC. I have acquired an expertise in evaluating and training foreign trained doctors and work closely with the Medical Council of Canada in establishing national and provincial policy for doctors training abroad. I keep threatening to retire but haven’t yet because I really enjoy the work I do with medical education. I have tried to keep fit and healthy and have run marathons (including the Boston Marathon), won a competition for ice dancing, played squash and ten years ago discovered the fascinating and challenging game of golf. My major challenge is that I think I can get better and it may take another 25 years before I am convinced otherwise. I have very fond memories of Tettenhall and the opportunity I was given to become a doctor. My decision to pursue medicine as a career was based on a shoulder injury I sustained playing for the College rugby team and being examined in Emergency at the Royal Hospital. I was in the waiting room for 3 hours and watched the young gods (interns) going about their business. My job now is teaching these young folk and the wheel has come full circle.” Philip Mould, Major (Retired) Pearson House (1963-1971) Philip recounts an unusual OT Reunion in Morocco in 2010 (abridged by the Editor). “An OT in his late fifties and too much time on his hands is potentially a dangerous combination. In 2009 an idea

came to me whilst on holiday walking in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains of Morocco where I met other holiday makers enjoying the breathtaking scenery on mountain bikes. Local enquiries revealed that there would be no problem in cycling across the Atlas Mountains and procuring mules to overcome the ‘hilly’ bits – so they said. I needed to find a group of able-bodied school friends forty years after having left the College to whom this unlikely OT Reunion appealed. In the event, selection was not an issue as the provisional itinerary not surprisingly narrowed the field of willing volunteers. Three other like minded souls ‘took the bait’ and the planning and preparation got underway. The reunion team joining myself consisted of Roger Pendrill, Burnie Cambidge and John Hockaday (now living in New Zealand) and we all attended TC during the 1960s up until 1970. We were all now in our late fifties and I am pretty sure that not one of us had ridden a bike in years. The plan involved a 5 day cycle ride from the Sahara Desert over the Atlas Mountains and onto Marrakesh - a trek covering some 350 miles. The map indicated a never-ending series of hairpin bends over the Atlas Mountains and so to add a little ‘spice’ to the plan a route was devised to go ‘off piste’ and climb over Mount Toubkal (3,614m) and return to Marrakesh through the village of Asni. The climb over the tallest mountain on the Atlas Range would need to be done on foot with mules to carry the bikes and associated equipment. The finish in Marrakesh was to be celebrated with an OT Reunion Dinner. Copious emails flowed for months as individuals purchased bikes and all manner of camping accoutrements. Training progressed over the preceding year and all became fitter and less prone to saddle sores. I arrived in Marrakesh three days in advance of the team in order to secure accommodation and transport for the initial trip to the Sahara. Amazingly the others came on the same flight on October 12th 2010 with bikes and equipment intact. We had much to talk about on our initial evening, especially as it was the first time we had all met together since leaving TC in 1970. There was a degree of apprehension about the trek at the dinner table. The following morning we squeezed all bodies, bikes and equipment into a large mini-bus which over the next 8 hours took us to the Dunes of Tinfou and a welcome cold beer in the only building and hotel for miles around. Cycling in Morocco can be a challenging affair as generally no one stops and the biggest vehicle on the road appears to have automatic right of way. We managed well with only one puncture

Sahara arrival - Philip Mould, Burnie Cambidge, John Hockaday and Roger Pendrill

Roger Pendrill, Burnie Cambidge and Philip Mould at Ait Ben Haddou (location for the film 'Gladiator')

The daunting ascent of Mount Toubkal - mules carried our equipment

Roger Pendrill (with OT tie), Burnie Cambidge, John Hockaday and Philip Mould in front of Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakesh

Old Tettenhallians

Letters from Old Tettenhallians between us all throughout the whole trip. It was hot and there was a need to constantly hydrate. The climb over Mount Toubkal was the most demanding part of the expedition. We managed more by luck to arrive at the village base in the dark with no idea of how to tackle the route and mule hire necessary for the following day. It is fair to say that there was some tension in the camp that night until eventually a guide and mules were procured. At 6 o’clock the following morning the sun was up and together with our mules and guide we crossed the high Atlas by 7 o’clock in the evening - the climb was a physical challenge. The walk down to the French Alpine Lodge accommodation on the north side of the mountain was memorable as it was completed, with difficulty, in the dark. Burnie Cambidge was quite vocal about the lack of a decent path and constant tripping over rocks. After cycling into Marrakesh we found our Riad (private townhouse) situated in the medieval quarter through a myriad of back alleys. The first evening consisted of a traditional bath and hammam massage followed by a ‘cut throat’ shave from a dubious roadside saloon. Our OT Dinner was taken at a suitably upmarket traditional Moroccan establishment and thereafter sightseeing and placating wives and families with purchases from the souks (markets) was the order of the day. All too soon it was time to pack up our belongings and return to the UK and reality. To have completed the trip with all objectives accomplished gave the reunion party a real sense of achievement and camaraderie that will be cherished for years to come. John Sidebotham (1942-1951) John writes about his time at the College during the War years of the 1940s (abridged by the Editor): “I went to Tettenhall College at the beginning of summer term 1942 at the age of 8. Mr. Field-Hyde had only been Headmaster for one term; there were 90 boys at the school and the day-boy fees were £7 per term. Craig Ward and I were the only new boys and we looked so alike that the staff got us mixed up and we were often held responsible for the other’s misdeeds. I travelled to school by trolley bus from Wednesfield to Tettenhall via Wolverhampton. We carried our gas masks with us at all times and were permanently hungry – food and essentials being strictly rationed. We looked forward to our one-third of a pint of milk at break. We all wore short trousers which resulted in sore knees from the cold in winter and nettled knees in summer due to the neglected gardens and grounds. The autumn term of 1942 saw an influx of

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new boys and a complete new form was created which Craig Ward and I joined. Sports facilities were limited with no new equipment being available. The playing field was situated on the other side of the canal at Newbridge which was quite a walk away. Tettenhall College was expanding rapidly under the new Headmaster and the Junior School was moved to the newly purchased Towers. Our classroom was a pleasant south facing room with full length windows overlooking lawns and garden. A family of evacuees, comprising a mother and four children, was billeted in part of the Towers and were often playing in the garden. They were from London’s East End and we boys could hardly understand their Cockney talk – they seemed a race apart. Our new classroom and the corridors had been given a coat of paint by teams of boys from the Senior School as professional help was almost non-existent. Lunch was served on long trestle tables on the balcony of the Towers Theatre, the food coming in stainless steel double walled containers. The theatre had a proper stage and scenery which was worked from overhead pulleys and it even had a complete stage waterfall with real water used in its heyday. There was an entire set of lighting equipment and switchgear. Over the years it had been neglected and looked very tatty. However the theatre auditorium was excellent for meetings, lectures and speech days which together with the spacious lawns lent a very upmarket atmosphere. We also used the theatre as an outstanding gymnasium, boxing and handball arena. I remember the indoor swimming pool at the main school – it was always cold as heating the water was not allowed. It was pleasant in the summer but the water soon went as green as pea soup. During the war years a total blackout was enforced – no one wanted to become a bomb target. This meant we lived our lives in a perpetual gloom as all windows had to be blacked out before putting a light on. Vehicles also had the lights heavily shrouded and most street lights were off. The buses were dimly lit inside and the bus conductor had a small light over his ticket machine.

All able-bodied young teachers had been recruited into the forces, so a few retired masters were brought in to teach us, often with little enthusiasm. We boys enjoyed our time in The Towers as we had little supervision. We climbed all the towers, found all the roof walkways and thoroughly explored the grounds, outbuildings and extensive woodlands without anyone noticing. When the war ended in 1945 there was even more austerity and life became harder. During the dreadful winter of 1947 fuel was unobtainable as all the canals were frozen solid. We boys spent

Henwood Lane (acquired with The Towers) into playing fields and cricket pitches. This was a big undertaking and after a lot of bulldozing and levelling we older boys spent afternoons de-stoning the ground and piling up the stones for collection later by tractor and trailer. I am fascinated how friendships and attitudes at Tettenhall have influenced my life and in particular my lifelong friendship with John Kennedy and his family. His father was a doctor in Claverley and after my father’s death he took an interest in me and offered

CE (O Levels) Swotting for G wers 1950. outside the To (front 2nd rt) s fith rif G Brian edy nn and John Ke

afternoons sawing up the fallen trees in the Towers’ woods to keep the essential boilers going. There was no heat in the classrooms and we sat in our coats and did physical exercises between lessons to keep warm. There was a huge depth of snow and I remember large scale snowball fights. We also made a long slide from the top of the slope down to Henwood Lane – a distance of perhaps 75 yards. Some quite high speeds were achieved! As conditions eased it was decided to convert the fields along

John Kennedy at School Camp, Salcombe in 19 51 am John Sideboth 52 19 ll wa Corn

Old Tettenhallians

Letters from Old Tettenhallians us some land he owned at Claverley where we built our home.” David November (1949-1953) “Much of TC life for me revolved around Scouting, sport and music. Malcolm Davy gave me a love of singing that is still with me and Jim Baxter, the Scout Leader of the day encouraged me in that pursuit. So having done not very well at ‘O’ levels I went to a Hotel School in

London for three years when I left TC in the summer of 1953. This proved to be a course that I thoroughly loved and performed well on. Throughout that time I lived in a hostel in Hampstead, was able to continue Scouting as I had at TC, had a couple of girl friends, indulged in listening to classical music of all sorts and played soccer in the hostel team! Inevitably after ending the course, National Service claimed my presence in the Army Catering Corps. That too proved to be a great experience, having been commissioned as a 2nd Lt after the usual square bashing induction and posted to an Engineer Regiment to oversee the kitchens et al! The Adjutant taught me to play squash (which I continued to do until I was 55), I took part in the Regiment’s athletics team, started to play hockey again and passed my driving test in a Bedford 4ton truck! Civvy street meant I had to find a job, so I worked in London restaurants until I landed a job at the Ritz Hotel. I moved on to the Hotel du Rhone in Geneva as a receptionist for the whole of 1960. However many of my co-workers were German speaking – also there to learn French but chatting always to each other in German! 1961 proved to be a key year in my life as in August I married one of my original girl-friends, Margaret Kinver, who by then was a qualified music teacher. Earlier that year I had joined J. Lyons & Co as a trainee in their Work Study outfit working on food production,

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then Lyons Corner Houses and Steak Houses. Two years later I joined Strand Hotels, JL’s hotel company as an assistant manager in a coffee shop, moving on at regular intervals to other departments in Strand’s London hotels. March 1967 I became General Manager of the Regent Palace hotel and a year later the GM of the Cumberland (Messrs Sage and Carter may well recall those days too!). By this time Margaret and I had two boys and were living in Twickenham. In my spare time I played squash and hockey for Hounslow HC. I recall making it to a couple of TC London dinners and once stayed at my parents’ home in Wolverhampton for an Annual Dinner! Margaret meanwhile continued to teach music. Strand Hotels held my working attention for the next 16 years as I became Operations Director of their London Hotels and later the Group’s Sales and Marketing Director. This came to a crashing halt in 1977 when financial trouble forced Lyons to sell its hotel interests to Trust House Forte. I went with the hotels to THF picking up where I had left off some years earlier as Operations Director of the 9 previous Strand hotels in London..... I must have done some things well enough to satisfy Sir Charles (later Lord Forte) as in 1979 I was appointed Sales Director for THF hotels which kept me pretty busy for the next 2 years! From April 1981 until mid 1992 I worked for the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group based in Hong Kong, first as Sales Director and for the last 6 years as Operations Director in charge of all the MOHG hotels. At the outset our boys were then 16 and 17, attending St. Paul’s School, Hammersmith, so to maintain their schooling, Margaret found them a Housekeeper to enable them to stay in our latest Twickenham house until they went to University. Hong Kong turned out to be more significant than one could have imagined. Most importantly my various tentative attempts to have a relationship with God came to a head, roughly in the middle of the 12 years we spent there. Having a relationship with Jesus and following his teaching meant some very straightforward changes in my lifestyle! In 1981we joined a large Anglican church in Kowloon and now go to church in Barnstaple. In Hong Kong Margaret learnt to play the organ and to teach music privately. More importantly she went to work as a volunteer for a lady called Jackie Pullinger, who housed drug addicts and

alcoholics and freed them of their addictions through prayer. This was to be a big influence on both of us when in 1994 we felt led to start a small such ministry at our Devon farm. Before leaving HK we worked briefly for Jackie Pullinger in a Macau rehab, made a two month tour of OZ and NZ , then received missionary training at the Youth With A Mission (YWAM) base in Hawaii and in South East Asia, ending up back in UK in December 1993. The men who came to the farm over the next 8 years just showed up whenever someone left, so having started with one on an October Sunday in 1994, there were usually 4 men in residence and occasionally women. In 2001 we found an organisation called House of the Heroes Trust to take on the farmhouse and its residents, although we have a house there too and sharefarm with another Christian farmer. The ministry which is aimed at homeless men and women who mostly have drug and alcohol problems, has grown with a house elsewhere for 10 women and 15 men in the farmhouse, as well as two houses in a local town. In 2001 our younger son took his family as missionaries to Sierra Leone in the aftermath of a ten year civil war, working

with a school and a home for excombatants. We visited them twice and since 2005 have annually taken a group there. Our last visit in January 2011 was used to rebuild a transport business to make them independent for food, while finding support to pay for their education is still a preoccupation! Five years ago our elder son Andrew bought a riverside property in Lot and Garonne, France where we spend part of each year maintaining it, working with a local church and speaking French. How could I have imagined that Mr Battersbee’s efforts at TC would lead to this! As our African friends would say ‘God is good – all the time. All the time God is good!’”

Old Tettenhallians Remembrance Sunday 2010 The College Chapel was filled to capacity with pupils, parents and OTs who remembered those Old Tettenhallians who lost their lives in the two World Wars of the last century. The family service was conducted by the College Chaplain, Robert Parry and the Roll of Honour was read by the Club President Graham Foulkes. The lessons were read by Dennis Beddows (1938-1943) and Head Prefects Elliott Cooper and Holly Winwood. The rendition of “Song of Peace” by the combined school choirs was impressive. An excellent lunch was served in the College’s Main Dining Room and our thanks go to the Headmaster for his hospitality. There was good opportunity for reminiscing by OTs, some of whom had not been to the College for many years – we were all pleased to see them.

Club Functions (l-r) Patrick and Joan Wellsbury,Sue Corbett, Jeremy Walters, Jean & Alan Beaumont

(l-r) Roger Dallow, Tim Rowe, Jim Minett, Mo Bates, Paul Whitehead, Ben Bates, Casilda Vega-Bogarin, Graham Aston and Stephen Corns

London Dinner 2010 Our reunion in London took place on November 20th at the Victory Services Club and was attended by OTs and partners intent on a good weekend. The guest speaker at the dinner was OT Keith Porteous (1957-1962).

Graham Aston receiving a silver salver from Peter Pingree in recognition of many years work on committee

Annual Reunion 2011 Held on June 11th the dinner this year was back in the College Dining Room and most of the 62 attending thought the meal was excellent. There were speeches from our President Graham Foulkes and the new Headmaster Martyn Long who outlined pupils’ achievements during the year and stressed the important links between the College and Old Tettenhallians. Graham Foulkes handed over the President’s chain of office to Keith GrantPearce and wished him a happy year. Peter Pingree presented John Chown with a fountain pen, thanking him for his many years of service to the Club Committee.

Graham Aston, Keith Porteous (main speaker), Graham Foulkes, Peter Pingree, Martyn Long (Headmaster) and Steve Gordos at the London Dinner

The evening was rounded off in the usual way chatting over old times and meeting OTs, some at their first reunion. Chapel Service on the Sunday was conducted by Robert Parry and included a memorable anthem “The Prayer” sung by Aimee and Chloe Fisher and Amanda Hughson. The new ‘PA’ system was used for the first time in chapel, kindly donated by our outgoing President Graham Foulkes. The cricket match was unfortunately cancelled due to the horrible weather, but

Old Tettenhallians

in spite of this the hockey match went ahead at Aldersley Stadium and the OT team edged a win 1-0 in the driving rain. The netball match was thankfully played under cover in the Sports Hall and the College team showed their superiority by winning 34-16.

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(back row) David Holloway, James Bullock, Andy Mottershead, Bhadar Sandhur and Elliott Cooper. (front row) Georgina Spooner, Lauren Hall and Holly Winwood.

Everyone enjoyed a buffet lunch courtesy of the Headmaster.

Outgoing President Graham Foulkes, Headmaster Martyn Long and new President Keith Grant-Pearce

Peter Pingree, Annabelle Addison, Harvey Trump and Rod Seivewright

OT and College hockey teams after a good soaking.

OT President Keith Grant-Pearce presents Player of the Match award to Chloe McIntosh (College) and John Dale Trophy to Catherine Gough (OT's)

Netball winners were the College ( 4-16) and Players of the Match Linsey Swinburne and Janine Andrews (OT's)

Old Tettenhallians against Oxley Wanderers. The Society’s hopes of avenging last year’s narrow defeat were emphatically dashed by a 6-0 drubbing. The combination of powerful opposition and a weakened OT team could not be disguised. The spring meeting was held at Ladbrook Park Golf Club in Birmingham on May 5th. My two year stint as Captain has been a very rewarding and enjoyable experience, but was overshadowed a few months ago by the sudden and untimely death of Paul Whitehead, a member of the society since 1976. He will be sorely missed. The autumn meeting in 2010 saw the society return to Blackwell Golf Club, Bromsgrove. Tony Corkindale, Miles Jackson and I won the morning 9 hole team event with 50 points, just one more than Nick Parr, Roger Ashton and Mark Wainwright. The prestigious Centenary Cup was won in the afternoon by Mark Wainwright with 36 points with Derek Sage second, followed by Nick Parr. Tony Corkindale was awarded the ‘Golfer of the Year’ trophy not only for winning the Rosebowl knock-out competition (beating Rod Seivewright by one hole in the final) but also for his consistent performances throughout the year and his wins in the two matches. 2011 began with the annual fixture

The morning team event played over 10 holes was won by Max Seivewright, Keith Grant-Pearce and I with 53 points. With the same score, but losing on count-back over the last three holes, was the team of Iain Seivewright, Roger Ashton and Philip Jennings. The highlight of the morning was a hole-in-one by Max Seivewright at the 150 yard 8th hole which he aced with a 9 iron. Astonishingly it was his third holein-one in Society events and his ninth overall! The afternoon Captain’s Prize (an individual medal competition) was won by Iain Seivewright with a net 71 followed by Nick Parr (72) and Phil Jennings (74). The annual Vernon Cup competition, held as usual at the South Staffordshire course, was won by Burnup Cambidge with a net 71. One shot behind were Geoff Hopkinson and Chris Whitehouse. Burnup also won the best gross prize with 81.

the player with the lowest combined gross score on the four par 3 holes was awarded to Geoff Hopkinson – the only golfer to secure a gross par on all four short holes.

Note: any golfers who wish to join the society will be most welcome. Please contact the Secretary Keith Grant-Pearce on 01562-884601 or email keithgp27@yahoo.co.uk

The last fixture before going to press was the annual match against the Old Wulfs in July. As in 2010 another narrow defeat ensued by 3½ points to 2½. In the top match Rob Holland and Rod Seivewright secured a half and wins were achieved by Phil Jennings/Dave Lycett and Chris Whitehouse/Miles Jackson. I thus have the unenviable record of presiding over losses in all four matches during my two year watch.

John Dove ( Captain)

Building on the success of last year’s ‘fun’ event at Izaak Walton GC (Stone), this year’s outing will be at Chesterton Golf Club in August.

Tony Corkindale receiving 'Golfer of the Year' trophy for 2010 from Captain John Dove

Burnup Cambidge receiving the Vernon Cup

A new trophy, kindly donated by the society’s President Derek Sage, for

Competitors for the Vernon Cup June 2011 at South Staffs Golf Club

Old Tettenhallians

Lives Remembered PAUL WHITEHEAD 1939-2011 Malcolm Cox writes: “Paul was born in Wolverhampton in 1939 and went to Tettenhall College in 1947 where he gained a reputation as an outstanding sportsman. He played rugby for the 1st XV, cricket for the 1st X1 and hockey for the 2nd X1. Paul was also a Prefect and an enthusiastic member of the College Scout Troop.

Due to Paul’s knowledge of the German automotive market he was seconded from Lucas to work for the British Overseas Trade Board – part of the Department for Trade & Industry. Based in London and making regular visits to Germany his brief was to gain automotive enquiries for British component manufacturers. In 1975 Paul decided to capitalise on his automotive connections on the continent and set up his own company – European Marketing & Sales – distributing automotive components. In 1966 Paul married Sue, sister of OT John Dudley and after living in Germany they returned to England and moved to Wightwick. They have three children and three grandchildren. Paul was blessed with a wide circle of friends gained through the College, his career, and his many other activities which included Tettenhall Round Table, President of 41 Club, Tettenhall Rotary, South Staffs Golf Club, Oxley Wanderers Golfing Society, Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis and Squash Club and his walking Club - the Gobblers. Paul worked very hard at his friendships and offered unfailing support when needed. He liked nothing better than to be in the company of his friends many of whom he had known since school. In turn his friends loved Paul and especially his great sense of humour. After leaving the College, Paul continued to play rugby for many

launched his own venture named Tractor Spares Ltd.

Caroline Flood (née Dale) writes:

Immediately recognizing the potential of the emerging earthmoving machinery market, Charles set about manufacturing undercarriage replacement parts.

“Siobhan died in October 2010 after a dignified and brave struggle against cancer. Although she was never a pupil at the College, she and her family were an integral part of College life. Her father Tony McCormack was head of Lower School for many years whilst her mother Joan was Matron. The family lived in the flat in the boarding house.

Paul left the College in 1957 and joined Leyland Motors in Lancashire as a Student Apprentice and studied Mechanical Engineering at the Harris Institute in Preston. Later Paul moved back to the West Midlands and joined Lucas Industries in Birmingham, working in their Sales Engineering Department. He then moved with Lucas to Germany for some 3½ years and this was followed by a six month stint in Spain.

SIOBHAN STYLES (née McCormack) 1962 - 2010

Paul Whitehead doing his 'Max Miller' party piece for charity.

years with the Wolverhampton Rugby Club. He was a member of South Staffs Golf Club for 35 years and was Captain in 2001. He also played squash, tennis, skied and, as a keen sailor had crossed the Channel several times. He also enjoyed shooting, fishing and walking. Paul always felt a great debt for the rounded education he had received at the College and the fellowship of his school friends and former masters. He maintained strong links with the College and served for many years as a committee member of the Old Tettenhallians’ Club and was President in 2004/5. He was a founding member of the OT Rugby Club and a very early member of the OT Golfing Society. Paul invariably attended the various reunion dinners and other OT events and was a stalwart of the Club. Paul was diagnosed with cancer in late 2010 and underwent treatment. Never complaining he was greatly touched by the love and support of his many friends. He passed away with Sue at his side on Good Friday, 22nd April 2011. At a Service of Thanksgiving held at St. Michael and All Angels Church, Tettenhall over five hundred of Paul’s friends attended to give thanks for the life of a very special person who will be greatly missed.”

Siobhan and I were close friends throughout our schooldays and were frequently mistaken for sisters. We were often out and about together in the school grounds during weekends and holidays and until I joined the College 6th form, we could be spotted every school day morning heading across the quadrangle in the direction of the Regis School. Siobhan was fun loving and intelligent. She was also musical she had a lovely soprano voice and was a member of the College ‘Gilbert & Sullivan’ society for a few years. She played the clarinet and was in the Wolverhampton intermediate concert band for a while. Being the eldest of five children, Siobhan was a competent babysitter and often babysat for members of staff who lived in college accommodation. After leaving school Siobhan qualified as a nurse and she and her husband Michael Styles, who she met whilst he was boarding at the College, settled in Liverpool. Their son is Daniel and Siobhan was immensely proud to tell me shortly before she died that she was a grandmother twice over.” CHARLES GEORGE WEIGHT 1914 - 2010 Charles Weight (Junior) writes: “My father Charles studied at Tettenhall College from 1926 to 1930 (Ed. – during Horace Pearson’s early years as Headmaster). His first insight into industry was at the Briton Car Factory in Wolverhampton followed by a period at his father’s company selling parts. By 1936 he persuaded his father to provide funds and a building situated at Chillington Fields. He purchased the stock of Tractor Traders and

From 1953 to 1976 he went on seven world tours to ‘drum up’ business. 1954 saw him move to a 17 acre plot at Strawberry Lane, Willenhall which he developed as an industrial estate. During this period he had agents as far afield as Singapore, Canada and Australia. In 1960 he launched a joint venture manufacturing parts in India. To enable him to visit his domestic and European market customers he purchased and piloted a ‘Messenger’ aircraft. Charles developed Tractor Spares Ltd. into a company renowned throughout the world as a leading supplier of non-original crawler tractor undercarriage parts. Visiting his customers enabled Charles to indulge his passion for cars which stretched from Briton, Star, Clyno, Jaguar, Bentley and Rolls Royce. In fact he owned twelve Rolls Royces which ranged from a Silver Cloud to the limited edition Centenary model. One of his Bentleys had previously been owned by the ukulele virtuoso and comedian George Formby, a personal friend. Charles married Sheila Elizabeth Lewis in 1952. They both shared a love of food and boxer dogs – in particular “Huckles”. He will be sadly missed by his daughter Bettina, twin sons Charlie Jnr. and Peter and grandchildren Fay, Samuel, Tiajh and Emma. Charles conducted himself with dignity and was the definitive gentleman.”

Preparations for the College’s 150th Anniversary in 2013 A committee consisting of Parents, Staff, Governors and OTs has met a few times to discuss suitable events to celebrate this important milestone in the College’s history. Whilst nothing is yet cast in stone, the committee is considering a wide range of events with suggestions so far including a main Celebration Week consisting of: Prize Giving and Founders’ Day; a Gala Ball and a fashion show – all in a marquee in the ground; tours of the College woods in spring and autumn; a Heritage Weekend; a Memorabilia Exhibition, and a Photo History of TC. There is an idea to install new stained glass windows in the chapel with a formal ‘unveiling’ early in the year. The OT Club is planning to finance this project. We foresee the OT Reunion Weekend being expanded to include the usual dinner (but with partners invited), a concert and an art exhibition/workshop. When the programme is decided, we will keep you informed on our website www.oldtettenhallians.co.uk and by post.

Tettenhall College, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, West Midlands WV6 8QX Tel 01902 751119 Fax 01902 741940 Web www.tettenhallcollege.co.uk