The Rossallian Newspaper - Issue 2

Edition 2: June 2023

www.rossall.org.uk

ROSSALL ROCKS CHIGAGO! stepped into a leading role for the first time, revealing her developed singing prowess. While Anandappa had previously chosen to remain in the background in productions and the Chapel Choir, her strong performance as Mama Morton astounded the crowd. Her captivating delivery left the audience eagerly anticipating her future endeavors.

Nathan Chikwama (Year 12, MF) made a striking debut on the Rossall stage as Amos Hart. Interestingly, he secured the role without an audition, as news of his self-written song performance reached Mr. Newell but he was unable to find a time for Nathan to audition.

Chikwama’s undeniable talent hints at a promising future and his potential as a leading performer is undeniable.

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ossall School’s performance of Chicago Teen Edition was a remarkable showcase of talent, with students from Year 7 through to Year 13 taking the stage under the direction of David Newell, Head of Drama, and Dawn Harris, Head of Dance. The live band, led by Adam Dobson, Director of Music, added an electrifying energy to the production, enhancing the overall experience for the audience.

Leona Dixon (Year 13, Rose) delivered a stellar performance as Roxie Hart, marking her first leading role at Rossall. Dixon demonstrated her exceptional vocal abilities and a profound understanding of Roxie’s fame-hungry character. She seamlessly switched between personalities, skillfully manipulating those around her to suit her goals. Her portrayal was a testament to her dedication and talent.

Joe Davies (Year 13, SE) portrayed lawyer Billy Flynn with finesse and charm. Known for his impressive vocal skills as the Chapel Choir Captain, Davies showcased his talents on stage.

What truly impressed was witnessing his growth in confidence throughout the three-night run. On the final night, he even added his own adlibs, fully embracing the charismatic persona of Flynn. Davies left an indelible mark on his final musical production at Rossall.

Alicia Anandappa (Year 13, Wren)

Leonie Beswick (Year 12, Rose) once again dazzled the audience in a leading role, this time as Velma Kelly. As one of Rossall’s first pupils to study BTEC Performing Arts, Beswick proved to be a triple threat in performance. She left no crowd disappointed, delivering flawless renditions of iconic tracks like the “Cell Block Tango.” Beswick’s embodiment of

Kelly and her execution of Bob Fosse’s choreography were nothing short of captivating.

The entire cast, ensemble, and orchestra delivered an unforgettable show, with each student giving their all. The performance showcased the incredible talent and potential of Rossall’s younger students, who demonstrated their readiness to take on leading roles as they progress through the School and into Sixth Form.

With such a remarkable production, the anticipation for the next show from Rossall’s Performing Arts Department is palpable. The dedication, skill, and enthusiasm displayed by the students and faculty involved in Chicago Teen Edition have set the bar high for future performances. Audiences eagerly await the next opportunity to witness the exceptional talent nurtured at Rossall School.

CHICAGO PHOTOS

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from the headmaster

because of the success that we enjoy in such a diverse array of activities. It is because of the excellent quality of teaching and learning provided by a supremely talented body of dedicated educators. Finally, and most importantly, it is because of the warmth and friendliness of our community.

We are much more than a school; we are a huge family bound together by kindness and compassion.

We are much more than a school; we are a huge family bound together by kindness and compassion. In an uncertain world, the sense of belonging that this provides for Rossallians both far and near is more important than ever.

We do not stand still and our strategic plan is designed to future-proof us from the external threat posed by unfavourable political and economic headwinds. Long term, ensuring a greener and more sustainable future is key to addressing affordability issues and providing excellent value for money for our current parents. Watch this space!

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ear All, It is extraordinary to think that six months have passed since the publication of the first edition of this paper. During this time our pupils have won national sporting titles and put on a showstopping performance of the musical Chicago.

We have welcomed a huge number of visitors to Rossall and we have enjoyed sharing our beautiful campus with our local neighbours here on the Fylde. Since its inception just fourteen months ago, the Rossall Rose has raised nearly £30,000 for local charities and we have been delighted to support The Boathouse Youth and Brian House Children’s Hospice. The Ukrainian Hub established here at Rossall now receives significant support from Lancashire County Council and has been profiled in several national publications. We have been endlessly and gloriously busy!

There are many reasons why the pupil roll at Rossall is the highest that it has been in almost a hundred and eighty years. It is because of the outstanding quality of pastoral care and the diversity of co-curricular opportunities available for our children. It is

At the start of Summer Term, I had the pleasure of watching our First XI beat the Marylebone Cricket Club for the first time in over thirty years. Cricketing aficionados will know that this is a tremendous achievement.This year, we have enjoyed showing off our cricketing provision to both Freddie Flintoff and Ian Botham. The quiet resurgence of Rossall Cricket has been led by Josh Boyne and we enjoyed the opportunity for Rossallians to join us on Saturday 17th June for an action-packed afternoon of matches between School and the Rossallian Club. The cricket pitch is in great shape and the newly painted pavilion looks quite splendid. All is set for a wonderful Rossallian summer just so long as the weather holds!

Thank you to all Rossallians for supporting us throughout the year. Your passion, interest and investment is never taken for granted and the success that we enjoy would be impossible without you.

All best wishes, - Jeremy Quartermain

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footballers on tour

However, I was starstruck when the Vitesse manager walked by us, the Barcelona legend, Phillip Cocu. We were supposed to have a second session however, typically Dutch weather, rain, had prevented this. Mr. Newson and the rest of the staff spent their lunch organising an Easter egg hunt for us, and other games. The Easter egg hunt created chaos around the hotel, however all in good fun.The night ended with a music quiz, and it turns out everyone has a thing for One Direction. After an eventful night of games, ping pong, and spike ball, Day two was over.

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he excitement began to build up as I could hear my alarm blasting. The phone read 11:30pm; at this moment the excitement was overrun with exhaustion.

However, seeing everyone as sleepy as I was when I hauled my suitcase to the Sports Centre made me feel more anticipation for the days to come. We entered the bus enthusiastically, which was overshadowed by the 3 hour journey to Newcastle.

Arrived, 3:30 AM. The bus sign dimly lit up amidst the dark and lethargic energy on the bus. Boarding begins after an exciting Greggs breakfast at 5:30 AM. Finally, we landed at 8:30 AM. We’ve made it, kind of, we’re in the country at least. Customs seemed to fly by, however, that might’ve been distorted by the delusional state that consumed us. Energy has risen once again as we arrive at Johan Cruyff Arena, the home of Dutch powerhouse, Ajax.We toured the phenomenal stadium, with a chance to exit the same tunnel the players do. After a quick stop to the gift shop we were on our way to our home for the week, Vitesse. After another hour’s bus trip, we finally arrived at our hotel at 12:30. In desperate need for a nap, everyone went their separate ways to try and make up for the lack of sleep over the past 24 hours. Not too much time to rest, as we had matches to play this evening. Running on pure adrenaline at this rate everyone’s ready for their established kickoffs. An eventful evening of matches as our Headmaster’s XI won convincingly against a local Dutch side. Our 1st XI once again had beaten a very friendly vvKesteren side. We, the girls and juniors, had played two games, one against a Dutch side and another against Montrose, a very good Scottish side. 10:00 PM almost 24 hours since we had left school, the adrenaline had finally worn off. I couldn’t put into words the relief of being able to go to bed that night.

Day two began with a much needed lie in: team breakfast was lively as everyone was fully rested from the day before. Off to our first session of the day at the Vitesse training centre. The newly renovated facility was incredible. Getting to work with coaches of that standard and level of professionalism was truly an unreal experience.

With training session one in the books, we were able to tour the facility. I was even fortunate enough to meet some first team players and get a picture with them.

Day three was more than eventful. Beginning the day with a training session at Vitesse.

Once again the facilities we had access to were incredible. Of course it rained all throughout, therefore soaking wet, we were able to watch the Vitesse U18s play Excelsior U18s. Back to the hotel for downtime, and some lunch. However, Yacoub and I had a surprise in store as today was Mr. Newson’s Birthday. We had to secretly get 45 kids to sign a card for him without his knowledge, easy right? Not exactly. We had fortunately got it done and were ready to celebrate tonight. In the afternoon, the 1st XI mixed with three girls had a match against a local U19 academy. Terrified, I was excited for the challenge of playing against boys my age. The game finished 9-2 to Rossall. Those not involved were fortunate enough to have another session on the first team grass with the Vitesse staff. Football done for the day, it was now time to celebrate. Mr. Moreau had kindly gotten a birthday cake and we all came down and surprised Mr. Newson by singing happy birthday to him. A late night of karaoke and ping pong deemed a very enjoyable way to end day three.

Day four, unfortunately our final day is upon us. Another game in the morning saw Rossall win once more! Another mixed side had the opportunity to play on Vitesse academy first team pitch. All packed and ready to go, everyone was able to explore the local town. An exciting way to end our time in the Netherlands. Finally, my phone read 10:30 PM as we took off from Amsterdam. Landing and eventually getting back to school at 12:30 AM. It’s almost as if time has gone full circle to when we had left the previous Wednesday. The experience was incredible and an unforgettable way to bond with my teammates and others in the programme.

- Ellie Knouse (Girls’ Football Captain, Year 13, Dolphin)

mr turner hits the slopes

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he two trips I remember most from being at school took place 30 years ago in Zell am See and Wengen, in Austria and Switzerland respectively. I can only thank my parents for finding the money to send me, and the staff who organised two ski trips that opened my eyes to a whole new world of opportunities.

We travelled by coach and ferry from Lytham, on both occasions for around 20 hours! I distinctly remember falling asleep at some point in Germany, waking to see the Alps for the first time. The colossal size of the mountains had a huge impact on me and even now, thirty years on, I still have that same feeling (although those two trips did instil a stoicism for travelling by air!).

These incredible residentials were my first steps onto the slopes and I still treasure photos from them - cue the grainy images from a disposable camera. Some things were better and some worse. From a safeguarding perspective, we were pretty much left to our own devices... something that would simply not happen today. Equally though, we had no devices - no phones or connection to the internet - the world was somewhat easier to navigate. Social media can certainly be a great tool but from a safeguarding perspective, can be the bane of our lives.

From those original experiences was born a real determination to offer opportunities to develop similar amazing memories, to allow children to experience different cultures, and to foster a love of a sport that we simply aren’t able to offer on real snow in England.

Easter 2023 saw me run my second ski trip at Rossall, a wonderful excursion to Jay Peak, Vermont, USA. This was the third time I have visited Jay, the previous two being with my last school; this was the first time I had led the trip to the USA taking senior students.

The next Prep School trip is booked (and filled) for 2024 to Tonale in Italy. All being well, that will be my 8th ski trip organised for children.

What makes a great ski trip? Firstly, snow! One previous trip saw me head to Bardonecchia, Italy in early April, to be greeted by slush and mud on the lower slopes - never great for our beginner skiers!

Then of course you need the children. With increasing prices and an economic squeeze, I completely understand the difficulties and dilemmas faced by parents. Thirdly, the resort - whilst you may have the snow, a resort may not always be the greatest for the age range you are taking, and then there is the hotel - let’s just say some are better than others! The staff team comes in next - picking a team that offers skiing ability, organisational skills, and an ability to laugh... a lot, is absolutely crucial! Finally, the tour company - expertise and experience here are absolutely vital. Clearly, there are a lot of elements that are involved in the execution of a successful overseas excursion. And for those of you who may have spotted - at no point have I used the term ‘holiday’. For the children, it absolutely is! For the staff, whilst it is great fun, for weeks after, you are still looking around you to count your group!

I still think back to my initial forays onto the slopes as part of the trip I went on as a young adult. They still make me smile. My aspiration now is to provide those very same smiles on the faces of our children when they reminisce in 30 years. If the smiles and enjoyment seen on the last few Rossall ski trips are anything to go by, we stand a very good chance!

- Matt Turner, Headmaster of Preparatory School and Nursery

c u rio u s by nature

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lay supports the foundations of children’s wellbeing for life.

Children are curious by nature and driven to learn. Our marvelous staff work together in unison and enhance learning opportunities by adding appropriate resources and setting up daily challenges, which the children lead with gusto. Each day is therefore a little bit different, recent opportunities have been investigating magic beans and their growth, exploring our wonderful campus and doing yoga in the Square, having teddy bear picnics in our woodland area, creating crowns and flags using a variety of collage materials for the Coronation, making healthy and nutritious meals in the Rossall Kitchen and pretending to be a dentist whilst learning about oral health.

Pre-School have also begun their exciting transition phase to our Reception Class, ensuring that each child is able to build on the learning and development fostered within the Nursery, providing them with a strong foundation from which they can flourish in all areas of the curriculum and beyond.

Successful transition between Pre-School and Reception can strengthen and support learning and wellbeing. This is why we involve the Pre-School children in many whole school events and have regular timetabled sessions in the Reception Class such as PE, Swimming and Dance, where the children are adapting to new environments, expectations and routines.

We wish all the children making transitions all the best for the future and for those moving into Pre-Prep, I personally can not wait for the exciting adventures we will have together.

- Alison Trippier, EYFS Lead and Reception Class Teacher

national champions

Back Row (Left to right): Jessica Okonji, Sophia Hill, Emma Siddall, Grace Pilling, Ellie Knouse, Olivia Guenot, Frankie Sarsfield, Alice O’Brien, Beth Strutton. Front Row (Left to right): Keren Allen, Grace Sutton, Vera Olivares Arce, Maya Hansen, Diti Kanungo, Isabel Gast, Sophia Woods, Cloe Warbrick.

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n a freezing wet April day, the team that tests your ability to use an apostrophe, Rossall’s Girls’ Headmaster’s XI, travelled down to Hertfordshire FA to take on Surbiton High School in the final of the ISFA U18 Cup competition. The ground was a place of happy memories for most (or no memories for Alice, who suffered a concussion in last year’s final) as we had seen the girls triumph in 2022, and all of the pre-game discussion was around whether this team of outstanding players could repeat the performance. Reader: they did. And some.

The similarities between the two games were remarkable: 0-0 at full time, with chances at both ends; a goal in the first half of Extra Time (in the exact same minute as the goal last year); and a nervy final few minutes until the final whistle was blown. National Champions has a nice ring to it: retaining their title sounds even better. But more of that later.

As it was, Rossall arrived en masse as a number of students chose to miss whatever academic lessons they had that afternoon in order to support the girls, knowing that the near 500 mile round trip would result in a 1am return. But days like this need supporters, and days like this create memories. None more so than the pre-game moment for outstanding captain Ellie, whose Dad flew in from America to surprise her and to watch her for the first time – if you haven’t seen the video, then do jump onto @RossallSixth on Instagram,

but be prepared to cry. As the supporters arrived, the players came out to warm up and you could just tell they were fired up for this game. And what a game it was.

The first half was electric with chances at both ends. Grace pulled off two stunning saves and Sophia H cleared off the line to help keep the clean sheet intact, but we also went close through Keren, Cloe and Diti.The real battle was in the middle of the pitch where Emma and Sophia W came up against their best player, a tall, strong and graceful student from the Chelsea Academy and there was a feeling that whichever side won this tussle might go on to be successful.

Equally, Surbiton’s pace up top caused some issues at moments in the first half, but some crunching tackles from Maya, and strength from Frankie really kept the chances to a minimum. The half time whistle came at the wrong time for Rossall who had been enjoying their best period of the game, but it sent the girls into the huddle full of confidence, and the crowd into the cafe full of frostbite.

Enter Mr Newson, the Fleetwood Arsene Wenger, with some words of inspiration, and the girls came out flying. A sustained period of pressure resulted in a series of repeated corners for Rossall, one of which saw Diti attack the ball on the edge of the box that must have bounced near head-height for her, drawing a superb save from Surbiton’s keeper.

This was followed by Emma’s 30 yard free kick that hit the crossbar, and some

chaotic goalmouth scrambles, where we just failed to make that decisive touch.

Grace was busy too, saving twice with her feet from close range, and plucking the ball from the darkening sky to relieve some sustained Surbiton pressure.

With time ticking down, the voices of the crowd increased with Ashton leading the supporters’ club in their songs and Will commentating on a livestream to parents and students from all over the world – both boys doing what they do best: talking a lot. But the full-time whistle blew and we were thrown back twelve months to exactly this feeling: can we find one moment, one piece of skill, that extra bit of bravery, to take the trophy back to the North once again.

Reader: we did.

It happened seven minutes into the first half of Extra Time.

Siddall picked up the ball (in exactly the same part of her own half as last year), drove past a couple of tackles, cut out to the right, and then, almost from the exact place she scored from last year, she chose to slip a reverse pass into Keren, who drove the ball past the onrushing keeper into the corner of the net. Cue pandemonium.

But this was the time for cool heads and in-game discipline. The outstanding-

on-the-night Isabel and the infatigable Sophia W tightened up the midfield, and all eleven players got nasty, and tough, and intimidating, and resilient, and just showed the type of spirit that has made them back-to-back National Champions.

As the final whistle sounded, the players collapsed to the floor in ecstasy, tiredness seeping through their veins. A fantastic final played between two excellent teams. Let the singing begin.

Of the success, Headmaster, Mr Jeremy Quartermain said: “Football is more than just a game. The phenomenal success of this trailblazing group of girls is an inspirational story that contains so many personal triumphs.

However, a team is more than the sum of its individual members and the bond that unites these talented young players is one forged in close friendships, and a courageous competitiveness that knows no limits. Mr Newson and his team deserve to be congratulated on another superb season. Their guidance and support has created a unique dynamic that propels the girls to success. We are incredibly proud of these girls.”

What’s better than a team with two National Titles? See you next year.

notes wowed the crowd and added an extra layer of excitement to the production. Molly Mayson, as Miss Honey, embraced the warmth of the young teacher.

Despite being the same age as the entire cast, Molly’s understanding of the character allowed her to appear more mature alongside Xanthe’s Matilda, adding a fantastic depth to a number of emotional scenes.

THE REVOLTING CHILDREN OF ROSSALL PREP

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ossall Preparatory School’s Lent Term production of Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical! JR was an absolute delight to watch. Performed by a talented cast featuring everyone from Years 3 to 6, with the leading roles taken by Year 6 and a few Year 5 pupils, this production showcased the immense talent and dedication of the young performers.

Xanthe Rhodes, who played the lead role of Matilda, was a standout performer. Her portrayal of Matilda was simply outstanding, demonstrating her exceptional acting and singing abilities. Xanthe’s stage presence and emotional depth brought the character to life, captivating the audience with her performance.

Kieran Charlton, in the role of Bruce Bogtrotter, was another star of the show. His impressive vocal range and control were evident in both his solo performances and group numbers. Kieran’s ability to hit fantastic high

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The entire cast of Rossall Preparatory School proved that they were a force to be reckoned with, truly embodying the rebellious spirit of the “revolting children.” The energy and enthusiasm they brought to the stage was infectious, creating a vibrant and engaging atmosphere throughout the performance. Each and every member of the cast showed off their skills and put on an incredible performance.

A unique aspect of this production was the double casting of the role of Miss Trunchbull. On the first night, Oscar Newell portrayed Miss Trunchbull as a stern headmistress, with thoughtful acting that emphasized the character’s manipulative and cunning nature. On the second night, Jessica Smith took on the same role, offering a nod to Pam Ferris’ iconic portrayal of the charater in the 1996 Matilda movie. Jessica’s Trunchbull was intimidating, loud, and exaggerated, adding a

different flavor to the character. This clever decision to have two young actors play the role left the audience who managed to see both nights feeling like they had witnessed two entirely different shows, a testament to the versatility of the cast.

Under the direction of Mr. Andrew Veitch, the Senior School Performing Arts team once again demonstrated their ability to create a perfect show for the cohort.The direction played to the strengths of the students, allowing each individual to shine and showcase their unique skill sets. The abundance of true musical theatre talent within Year 6 was apparent, and the entire production was a testament to the hard work and dedication of the pupils, Prep and Senior staff.

Rossall Preparatory School’s musical theatre production of Matilda the Musical! JR was a resounding success.

The exceptional performances demonstrated the incredible talent and versatility within the school. Rossall School’s performing arts program continues to impress and inspire with their incredible performances.

THE ARCHITECTURAL KITCHEN

MATILDA PHOTOS

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famous faces

DESTINATION ART

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number of our Art & Design students exhibited their work at the Fylde School and Colleges Art Exhibition ‘A Celebration of Art’ at Lytham Heritage Centre in Lytham.This exhibition was organized by Lytham Heritage Group and showcased some of the very best artwork from across the Fylde Coast.

Rossall students attended the presentation evening with Miss Heap, to collect their prizes, which were awarded by the Mayor and Mayoress of Fylde.The winning pieces of artwork were selected by a panel of judges. These included Ramneet Kooner who was awarded ‘Best Year 7-9’, with her painting of Harry Potter. Bloom Anurakvongsri, was highly commended with her pencil drawing of ‘Old Shop Fronts’, Seren Takashima won ‘Best Sculpture’ and ‘Best Set of Work’ with her ceramic pieces, based on fruit, together with her hand painted silk cushions to form the set, and Thumbel Sit Chin was awarded ‘Best Painting’ with her portrait of our late Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh. Finally to top off these tremendous accolades, Rossall Art Department was awarded the prize for best Art Department!

We are all thrilled to have received these awards and hope you had the chance to see the exhibition.

OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES

upils in Year 9 have worked hard to complete their portrait paintings of famous actors and actresses. They were introduced to using Acrylic on a large scale and have been encouraged to adopt artists’ styles and techniques in their work.

Pupils were really proud of their achievements in creating such fantastic likenesses of these famous faces!

This artwork was later exhibited at the Blackpool University Campus Gallery Building for the Young Seasiders’Art Competition.

Congratulations to our three prize winners Alice Daniels with her painting of Cary Grant, Felicity Roe-Cambers and Mia Shaw with their paintings of Charlie Chaplin.

Ramneet Kooner, with her portrait of Harry Potter, Amelia Porter Bailey with her portrait of Audrey Hepburn and Alyssa Evans with her portrait of Lawrence of Arabia also had their work selected to represent Rossall School at the Lytham Heritage Centre in Lytham. Congratulations to Ramneet Kooner who was awarded ‘Best Year 7-9 artwork’.

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ear 10 have started off their coursework projects with observational drawing.

They have worked with the application of tone, together with blending and contrast. Many of these initial studies went on show at the Lytham Heritage Centre and were very well received.

ART FIT FOR A KING

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rt Club pupils have started off the term with a new technique of embossing. They have created wonderful embossed foil imprints of King Charles’s Coronation emblem.

The pupils were excited by the prospect of learning this new skill and were really pleased with the results.

EGGCELLENT ART

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rt Club pupils made ceramic Easter Eggs, decorated with brush on glazes for their final pieces earlier in the year. They really enjoyed decorating these with intricate detail and pattern. They later wrapped them up and made Easter Cards to accompany them, to give to family for Easter.

sixth form news W W

piano academy

hen you reach the business end of your school career, a lot of focus can be taken up with exams, and universities, and the big life questions such as: what on earth am I going to do with myself when I leave school? It is also really important to pause and celebrate the moments that create memories, the successes, the achievements of our community.We hope that these updates bring a bit of a flavour of life in the Sixth Form and reflect the diverse talent on show every day.

We hope you enjoy reading about our students.

- Nick Crombie, Director of Sixth Form

inspiring youth

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eputy School Captain, TaylaDaisy Hoyle was awarded the HMS Sheraton Trophy for being an inspirational young person by Councillor Julie Robinson, Mayor of

VITRA DESIGN MUSEUM

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ur annual visit to the Vitra Design Museum in Rhein, Germany, allowed our Sixth Form students to experience the work of a diverse range of Pritzker prize winning architects, from the fire station

OXFORD DEBATING COMPETITION

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ossall entered two teams into the Oxford Schools Debating Competition at Manchester

Wyre at Wyre Council’s Annual Meeting in May. TD truly is an inspiration to us all. Earlier in the year she teamed up with OR Riley Harrison to film ‘Alopecia: My Story’. designed by Zaha Hadid to the Design Museum building of Frank Gehry and the conference pavilion of Tado Ando. It is a long and distinguished list of some of the world’s most famous architects, and our tour guide always takes the time to give a real insight into the thinking behind the buildings.

Grammar School. Will Bowden, Yemi Ajiteru, Nastia Bolkhovitina and Gabriel Bateson took part in two debates and did the school proud. Although they didn’t progress to the finals in Oxford, it was a superb experience and they performed well.

e extend a huge congratulations to Laurie and Bozhen, our talented Year 12 Piano Academy students, who received joint 3rd Prizes in the Advanced I category of the prestigious European Piano Teachers Association (EPTA) National Piano Competition

EXEMPLARY ROSSALLIANS

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e were very proud of Nathan, Dawn and Chelsea (Y12), who gave a fantastic assembly to Year 9 about the power of language and the damaging impact of racial slurs, speaking from the heart and with a maturity that belied their years.

- Cloe (Y13) raised money for the Teenage Cancer Trust by completing 100 squats a day in February.

- Will, Finn, Gio and James (Y12), Tom and Keito (Y13) represented ISFA England, winning National Caps in the process.

- Emma (Y12) who signed for AFC Fylde on loan from Manchester City.

She also represented the Manchester City Women’s Team in the FA Cup - an extraordinary achievement for someone so young.

- Will, Yemi (Y13), Nastia and Gabriel (Y12) represented the school in the Oxford University Debating Competition in Manchester.

Final. Victor Lim, Head of Keyboard Studies, commented: “The competition took place at City Lit in London and attracted young pianists from all over the country.

Both pianists gave outstanding performances in the competition and we are very proud of their hard work and achievements”.

- Lucia and Ian (Y12) received Highly Commended awards for an external essay competition.

- Yemi (Y13) performed a piano concert in order to raise money for Cancer Research UK. - Holly (Y13) presented on ‘Animals in Literature’ to the Farrell Society, where even Mr McNab’s dog made an appearance.

- Adnan (Y12) represented Lancashire Cricket U18s.

- Hannah (Y13) donated the produce from her knitting club to a local hospital charity.

- Kai and Yemi (Y13) went to Buckingham Palace to receive their Gold Duke of Edinburgh award.

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ROSSALL ROSE SOCIETY race night

Winners Liberty Kirszanek (Year 8, Dolphin) and Harry Morgan-Hayes (Year 8, MF) with judge Tom Gregory (MF, 2007-14)

ROSSALL’S GOT TALENT

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n Saturday 11 March, Rossall’s Got Talent made a triumphant return, starring children and members of staff from across the School, raising money for the Boathouse Youth.

Our MC for the evening was Nick Crombie and our judging panel included Tom Gregory. Since leaving Rossall in 2014, Tom has carved out a fantastic career as a bona fide popstar. His songs have been streamed over 350 million times and he charts across Europe with songs that are classy, clever and catchy. This summer he will play the OVO Arena with One Republic.

Events such as Rossall’s Got Talent provide us with an opportunity to come together as a community and enjoy the incredible talent of our fabulous children. I think we all love the exciting atmosphere at such events and, alongside House Music, RGT has now become a fixture in the School calendar.

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ith the evening sun casting long shadows across the lawns and buildings around The Square, over 180 visitors were welcomed to Rossall for what promised to be a fantastic night.

Ticket holders came dressed for the occasion and enjoyed an evening of good food, entertainment, racing and dancing packed with endless fun!

to facilitate a safe space to improve mental well being, offer a variety of physical, creative and educational programmes to help the young people become the best version of themselves through increasing their aspirations and relationships; an ethos very dear to Rossall’s heart.

Wanting to continue supporting worthwhile charities on our doorstep, Rossall Rose Society were touched by the efforts made by The Boathouse Youth. This organisation works with children and young people from deprived areas across Blackpool to help tackle the challenges they face in day to day life.The charity aims

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oday, Rossall School was privileged to be in the presence of an icon of cricket: Lord Ian Botham. With a sensational career in sport that shaped the nature of the game itself, we were also able to get an insight into the mind of a truly amazing person; his courage to raise millions for his charity to fight leukaemia was fundamental for the development of support for patients suffering across the globe and equally, with all his achievements, on the inside he was a truly pure and wonderful person. Ian is an inspiration to young cricketers across the country and time and time again, he expressed to the students how important it is to enjoy and to take all opportunities you are given: to make the most out of life, which he certainly has.

After the talk, I was lucky enough to talk to him, in which he told lots of interesting and entertaining stories, some of which I will cherish and remember forever. Rossall thanks Sir Ian for coming and enlightening the students and wishes him all the best for the future.

- Evan Martin (Year 12, Dragon)

lord ian botham inspires pupils with guest speech

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he children in Year 5 and 6 were extremely excited to meet the former England Cricket Captain, Lord Botham, on his return to Rossall. I felt so privileged to listen to him speak about his life in sport and all his amazing achievements on and off the cricket field. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to ask Lord Botham a question in front of everyone; it was truly an amazing experience.

- Jessica Smith (Year 6, Assheton)

a hole in one for rossall golf continues to thrive as a leading institution for nurturing young golfing talent.

Throughout the year, our Academy players have displayed extraordinary skill, determination, and sportsmanship, not only on the golf course but also in their overall development as individuals. Their achievements both in local and regional tournaments have solidified Rossall’s reputation as a breeding ground for golfing excellence.

The growing popularity of the Golf Academy can be attributed to its comprehensive and tailored programmes that cater to the diverse needs and aspirations of our students. Whether they aspire to be future professionals or simply enjoy the game as a recreational pursuit, Rossall Golf Academy offers a range of specialized programmes designed to nurture talent at every level.

A

s the school year draws to a close, the remarkable successes of Rossall Golf Academy deserve celebration. With only a handful of fixtures remaining, it is evident that this year has once again been nothing short of exceptional for our Academy players. Moreover, the ever-increasing popularity of the Golf Academy is a testament to the dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment of our students and coaches. With an enrollment of over 80 students in our diverse Golf Programmes, Rossall Golf Academy

As a team, Rossall Golf has secured titles at the ISGA Junior Schools Cup, ISGA AQ Invitational, ISGA Northern Schools Cup, ISGA Scottish Open and ISGA Home Internationals. Runners up positions at the ISGA North East Links Competition, HMC Strokeplay Championship, and ISGA National Finals are also incredible achievements. With just 6 weeks of term left to play at the time of writing, Rossall Golf also eagerly anticipates the HMC Foursomes area and National finals, Lancashire U16 and U18 Championships, and the Lancashire Schools Team Championship.

Cup - Gross Winner (Overall); HMC Strokeplay Championship (54 Holes) at Fairmont, St Andrews Gross Winner (Overall).

Gabriel Ridgeway: ISGA Scottish Open - Gross Winner (U13’s).

Ben Ramsdale: ISGA Scottish Open - Nett Winner (Overall).

Ollie Thwaites: ISGA Scottish Open - Nett Runner Up (Overall).

Joey Hornby: ISGA Northern Schools Cup - Gross Runner Up (Overall); ISGA AQ Invitational - Gross Winner (Overall).

Theo Upton: ISGA Northern School Cup - Nett Runner Up (Overall).

The future of Rossall Golf Academy shines bright, and we eagerly anticipate the continued success and growth of our exceptional golfing community.

samuel easterbrook video

Individual congratulations are extended to: Samuel Easterbrook: ISGA Scottish Open Gross Runner Up (Overall); ISGA Northern Schools

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Rossall has been a home to me

M

y Rossall journey started when I first arrived here as a Summer School student in 2017. It had been my first time in the UK, and only the second time away from home without my parents for an extended period of time. It was at Summer School where I fell in love with Rossall. Arriving for the first time, seeing the tremendously huge campus, being overwhelmed by the vast site with its perfect English lawns, walking to the beach for the very first time, entering the Dining Hall, the largest anywhere in the country, it was overwhelming in so many regards. As an international student from Germany, my idea of a British Boarding School was rather vague, I was expecting perhaps people wearing suits and ties, as this was something I had been told from a young age in school to be a “British

thing“. After 4 weeks at Rossall Summer School, I had a new, better idea of what a British Boarding School was like.

I had seen only a few people wearing suits, granted it was the summer break, but I was still somewhat disappointed by that, as it was something I had been told so many times to expect. The lack of formal dress during the summer aside, I gained many new experiences, besides continuing to learn English every morning in 4 lessons, the afternoons with activities and trips had a big impact on my later journey through Rossall.

Particularly the Astronomy activities with Dr. Lister stuck in my memory.

When I joined Rossall half a year later as a full time boarding student in Spread Eagle House, Astronomy was something I was very keen to continue. During my GCSEs I had this opportunity, and picked GCSE Astronomy as one of my 15 subjects. It was among the subjects I most enjoyed over the two years, not least due to the particularly engaging and inspiring teaching by Dr. Lister who I had first met in Summer School.

Captain of Spread Eagle, and Deputy School Captain in my final year. Such opportunities allowed me to continue to develop skills vital for the world outside of Rossall and demonstrate leadership skills and management skills effectively and in a professional environment.

Over the years before being Upper Sixth myself, the Captains of my House, the School and the Upper Sixth more generally have always been people I looked up to. They were the role models to my younger self, and seeing them parade down the aise of Chapel on Mondays and Fridays, hearing their speeches at House events and on Prize Days made this something that I always wanted to achieve myself. Thus being appointed with the honour of Spread Eagle House Captain, and Deputy School Captain were one of the stand out single events of the Rossall Journey.

The year following this, I was able to put into action ideas and development plans, discuss them with the responsible people and build towards developing different areas of the school.

Opportunities such as Astronomy are what really made my Rossall time stand out and perfect. Through my 5 years as a full time border, I had countless opportunities presented to me where I had a chance to get involved in extracurricular programs such as Debating and the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Program, but also chances to lead areas of the school in student leadership roles such as becoming House

Sixth Form more generally was another very shaping experience of my journey, I chose to study the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBDP) which is internationally recognised as a Sixth Form qualification. I choose Science subjects with Further Maths and Physics as my focus. However, the IBDP also pushes you towards choosing at least one Language and Humanity besides Maths and one Science. Thus I also studied

History, Geography, German Literature and English Literature over the past two years. This allows me to hold a diverse, balanced and internationally recognised qualification today with which I can pursue university education both at home in Germany or in my second home the UK. Next year I will be studying Physics at university in London, either at UCL or Imperial College.

With this, I hope to work in research for a couple of years after my Masters, and then hopefully work in the private sector, either in finance or in consulting.

Rossall has been a home to me from the first time I set foot on campus, and continues to be a home for me today.

Over the years that I have been lucky enough to be a student at Rossall I have grown more and more connected with the school, and today it is very much part of my identity. I could not have wished for a better education and place to spend my teenage years than I have had here, the experiences I was able to make, the friends and connections I was able to find, Rossall has been a home to me in every regard. Before moving on to university next year, I will be ending my Rossall journey (for now) just the way it began, in Summer School, however this time as a member of staff.

Floreat Rossallia!

- Old Rossallian Kai Wagner (Deputy School Captain and Spread Eagle House Captain 2022-2023)

PRIZE DAY, GRADUATION AND LEAVERS’ BALL

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rize Day and Graduation was once again an incredible celebration here at Rossall.

We were honored to have Steve Curwood, CEO of Fleetwood Town FC, as guest speaker for our Prize Day ceremony. His inspiring words and unwavering passion left a lasting impact on all of us.

Our exceptional School Captains, Alice Christy and Joe Davies, delivered heartfelt speeches that touched our hearts and filled the room with emotion.Their words truly resonated with their classmates, teachers and guests, and we couldn’t be prouder of your leadership and dedication throughout the year.

One hundred and sixty seven awards were presented, and one hundred and two graduates celebrated. Each and every one of them displayed exceptional talent,

determination, and perseverance across the School year. Their achievements inspire us all and remind us of the limitless possibilities that lie ahead. Congratulations to all award winners on their well-deserved recognition.

During his speech, Mr Quartermain commended the Year 13 graduates: “Year 13 - you are the living embodiment of the ethos and values of this school.

Progressive and liberal but with a healthy appreciation of tradition and community, you think more of what you can do for others than what others can do for you. The age-old ideal of service to others is hard-wired into the DNA of this community but it is not a concept that is desperately fashionable in an age which counsels us that, in order to truly thrive, we must prioritise our own happiness and wellbeing above all else. In a society which is increasingly fragmented and inward looking, the importance of community has never been more apparent. The feeling of connectedness that comes from being part of a global community comprising almost seventy different nationalities provides an outstanding preparation for adulthood.The ideals of equality, diversity and inclusion are not simply taught at Rossall; they are lived with a vibrancy and honesty that is manifest in all that we do.

Today is always tinged with sadness because we say goodbye to Year 13.

They have been superb role models for our younger students.

Today is always tinged with sadness because we say goodbye to Year 13. They have been superb role models for our younger students and I would like to pay tribute to our fantastic team of senior monitors. Our school captains, Joe Davies and Alice Christy have provided phenomenally strong leadership and they have been ably supported by their deputies; Kai Wagner and Tayla-Daisy Hoyle. We could not have asked for more from you.

The day concluded with our Leavers’ Ball, a celebration for our departing Year 13 students.The James Bond themed evening in our Dining Hall featured mouthwatering catering from Twelve, and music from The Funtime Frankies.The Ball was the perfect opportunity to celebrate with friends, family and staff, and toast well done and good luck to an incredible cohort that will be long remembered and missed.

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14,448 days and the trials of ‘adulting’

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o you ever feel like an imposter? I spent three years at Cambridge wandering along King’s Parade feeling like a bit of a fraud. Perhaps there had been some mistake in the admissions office. Perhaps they had meant to offer a place to Jeremiah Quince, a straight ‘A’ student from Eton. It was obvious that our letters had become muddled and my poor college had ended up with me; an awkward and shy state grammar boy from Essex. I imagined a hushed conversation in the Director of Studies office, something along the lines of, ‘Well it would be too embarrassing to back out now.

We will have to grit our teeth, and go through with it.

Imagine the adverse publicity if we withdrew his place!’.

Naturally, I presumed that my peers were intellectually brilliant and it never occurred to me that they too might have been plagued by crippling self-doubt. Years later, it was comforting to read that Stephen Fry also suffered from imposter syndrome whilst studying down the road at Queen’s College. Mind you, he arrived at Cambridge having completed a short stretch at Her Majesty’s pleasure after getting himself into a pickle with someone else’s credit card.. These days, returning to Cambridge feels a little strange because, on one level, I struggle to believe that I was ever there. It feels like a dream sequence that is now lost in the mists of time.

When it comes to being an adult, I still feel like a bit of an imposter. As I hurtle towards middle age (and ignore those who unkindly point out that I have already arrived), I still feel childlike in many regards. I laugh at puerile humour and enjoy losing myself in activities that might best be described as trivial. I have not embraced the adult colouring book craze as we all have to draw a line somewhere, but I do delight in completing puzzles and building complex Lego kits. If I possessed a Playstation then I would probably develop an unhealthy addiction.

The older I become, the more I value the ability to laugh and be lost in the moment. Achieving ‘flow’ is the perfect antidote to the stresses, strains and mundanities of everyday life. Dealing with mortgages, life insurance, school fees, tax returns and domestic chores is boring.

By contrast, playing with Lego, singing Karaoke or arguing over Monopoly is fun. Fretting about one’s health, professional development and the growing pile of admin sitting on the desk is miserable – there has to be more to life than tasks to be completed.

time to grow up and I applaud my father-in-law for still acting like a bit of a lad despite being well into his eighties. I do not think of him as old and the fact that he still farms and enjoys a bit of a session (in the Irish sense) makes him something of a legend in my eyes.

The subversive twinkle in his eye has not diminished with age. We can safely presume that he is never going to ‘grow up’.

It is almost forty years since my father died with a suddenness that is still difficult to contemplate. On Monday, Teigan will be precisely the same age as I was when I bid goodbye to my father at the school gates for the very last time. In an instance, our lives were blown apart and I have spent the last 14,448 days adjusting to that loss. Once the initial shock of grief has subsided, one learns to live alongside loss. My father continues to be a fundamental cornerstone of my existence and I do not resist the sadness that accompanies thoughts of what could or should have been. However, as I look at Teigan now, I am reminded that being six years and eleven days old (as I was on 23rd May 1983) is really very little.

I try to resist the superstitious impulses that tend to accompany dates that seem significant to me. Of course, on one level, Monday is just another day. It would be tempting to tell you that I will hug Teigan just that little tighter and perhaps I will do just that but I hug her pretty tightly anyway. For sure, I will breathe a sigh of relief when the day has passed. The day matters to me but I think that when you lose a parent at the age of six, you never take anything for granted – the uncertainty of life is impressed upon you with a force that is inescapable. Not a day goes by that I do not reflect upon the privilege of parenthood and the suddenness with which our lives can be turned upside down. I am not paralysed by such thoughts but it is always there – hardwired into my psyche. If anything, my intrinsic drive comes from a realisation that life is finite. I am energised by the frailty of our existence.

So on Monday, I will make sure that I am the one to pick Teigan up from School. We will laugh, play and enjoy spending time together. For once, I will turn off my phone, ignore work pressures and focus upon a little girl who is six years and eleven days old. That is all.

Retaining our sense of childlike fun is essential for our well being. I do not want to grow up – not entirely at least. I would rather play at adulting – busk it and fake it. It is the case that much of our lives are given over to serious issues and our responsibilities to others only multiply with age.

Of course, like me, Teigan will one day have to learn how to ‘adult’ Perhaps she too will just pretend. On reflection, I deserved to go to university but I will never feel that I deserve to be taken entirely seriously as a bona fide adult. That is not necessarily a problem…the older I get, the more I realise that immaturity is something to be cherished but shush…don’t tell the children!

Those foolish enough to tell you that ‘it is time for you to grow up’ should be resolutely ignored. It is never

- Jeremy Quartermain, Headmaster Written on 10th March 2023

English & EAL Library Week

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s part of the English and EAL Library Week, coinciding with World Book Day, numerous activities took place in the Sumner Library and around school.

The Inter-House Spelling Bee was won by Dolphin House’s ace spellers: Damia and Prisha. I wonder how you might have fared with these 15 words: Connoisseur; Indubitably; Chivalry; Onomatopoeia; Zucchini; Camouflage; Foreign; Chiropractor; Simile; Sentence; Separate; Bureaucracy; Manoeuvre; Fluorescent; Paraphernalia.

The Inter-House Literary Quiz was keenly contested by teams of four, with Rose and Mitre Fleur-de-Lys finishing tied on 20/25 points. A tense tie-breaker ensued: How many words are there in total across all seven of the Harry Potter series of books?

Answer = 1,084,170 words!

Congratulations to Rose House’s team of Irene, Reem, Alice and Lucia who emerged victorious.

FARRELL SOCIETY POETRY COMPETITION

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he Farrell Society organised a Poetry Writing Competition in Lent term. This drew a fantastic range of intelligent, thoughtful and of course very poetic entries across all three categories: Spring, Relationships and Toast. The poems, which were written by students from years 7 to 13, were all read by the Sixth Form members of the Farrell (Literary) Society, with Nhi and Miranda the chief judges.

After much discussion and passionate debate amongst themselves and with teachers from the English department, the following poems were declared the winners: - In first place overall is Mary (Year 10), with her clever, entertaining and exceptionally well-written poem in the ‘Toast’ category.

- In second place is Alicia (year 7) with her ode to spring which was full of striking imagery.

- The third place is Jessica (year 9), who wrote a cleverly crafted and purposefully structured poem in the relationships category.

Many congratulations to the winners and also to all participants who entered the competition, it was tough to pick just three winners!

T

the piece of toast

model united nations

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n January, Rossall attended the Stonyhurst Model United Nations, representing the United Arab Emirates. With a focus upon sustainability, our team of 8 debated for the whole day and earned several awards, including ‘Best Junior Delegate’ for Dani Madanat and ‘Commended Delegate’ for Ian Lalic. It was a fantastic experience, and the team is already hungry for more!

Dani Madanat reports:

he pressure’s on, Meteors crashed and lashed against my mind, The knife stood untouched, ‘Do something!’ my thoughts cried, Yet nothing was said, I was crushed.

The red flaming glow brightened from the machine, I begun to sweat, The school boarder tightened up her tie, It felt like a threat.

The food began to heat up, And so did my panic, The atmosphere was almost dead, Neither of us had spoken, this felt manic.

‘Bing!’ popped out the toast.

‘Er, excuse me? I think your toast is done’ The stranger said nervously, I should just grab the toast and run.

- By Mary Morcos (Year 10)

“The MUN experience at Stonyhurst was an immensely positive and memorable experience.The MUN conference lasted only one day which was a bit unusual as most MUN conferences I had been to in the past would last about 2-3 days which meant that the depth of the debates were limited and there was a particular emphasis on time. Nonetheless, the conference gave me the chance to meet new people which is always a great opportunity as it provides a possibility to learn something new which is especially true when the circumstances of meeting new people are in a debate as it can be particularly eye opening and develops important life skills such as public speaking as well as generally increasing knowledge about a wide range of issues. The Rossall School delegates were collectively representing the United Arab Emirates in the various different committees.

I was in the Political Committee and did fairly well as I was awarded the best junior delegate of my committee which was certainly a good pay-off for the long day of debating. One of the most interesting and valuable parts of the MUN experience is that as a delegate you must represent the view of your country based on rigorous research of your country’s policies. This skill is incredibly valuable as the views/policies I was defending were often views that I did not completely agree with and having to defend what may sometimes even be seemingly indefensible positions increases my critical thinking skills and makes me a more flexible debater.

All in all, it was an unforgettable experience with fond memories and I seriously recommend any interested students to take part in the MUN society even if it may be a bit out of their comfort zone.”

relationship I

am as deadly as poison, but as healing as medicine, As secretive as a spy, but as chatty as a barking dog.

I keep you alive, but I drown you I keep you warm, but I burn you I bring you sight, but I blind you I bring you sleep, but I fill you with nightmares.

I help you up the mountain, but push you down it.

I give you the key, but bar the door.

I break you out of jail, but kill you anyway I give you a discount, but steal your wallet.

I’m like running backwards on a treadmill,

And like a sword that stabs you in the back.

I am like a laugh that stifles a cry, And a forgiveness that throws every blame on you.

I am hate I am love I am joy I am grief

I am fake I am real I am lonely I am crowded I am smaller than an ant And bigger than the universe.

I am a relationship.

- By Jess Gardiner (Year 9)

NURSERY · PREPARATORY · SENIOR · SIXTH FORM

OPEN DAY SATURDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE

Rossall School offers scholarships for entry into Years 7, 9 and 12.

Application opens mid-September for entry in September 2024.

Scholarships available: Academics, Art, Drama, Football, Golf, Music, Performing Arts, Piano, Sport.

PRIVATE TOURS AVAILABLE ALL YEAR ROUND. CONTACT ADMISSIONS@ROSSALL.ORG.UK

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Message from the President of the Rossallian Club Gillian King (Dn 1985-92)

W

elcome to another edition of the Rossall Newspaper. The first few weeks of this year have been busy, with us having the reinstated London get together at the Oriental Club in February and the annual Old Rossallian weekend at the beginning of April. It was fantastic to have over 100 Rossallians joining us for dinner and as ever the catering team produced a wonderful feast. We took full advantage of the new sound system that the Club donated to the dining hall and it sounds really good.

found myself feeling like I was back at school watching the kids who were any good at sports competing while I froze on the touchlines! A particular “thank you” to Joe Davies, school captain, for rallying the school team to compete against the ORs. The winners were the School with a score of 3-2. Thanks also to Father John Hall for conducting the Chapel Service after I “dragged him out of retirement” and to OR Harvey Stansfield (Clifton & MF 2011-18) for playing the organ so beautifully for us.

Another reminder of the tremendous talent that comes out of the School.

The weekend activities included talks at the observatory, the OR vs School hockey match, Fives and even a trip to the petting zoo. In a thrilling final against Charlie Rowe, Scott Merrick won the Fives singles competition, and was again victorious with Johnny Lee in the doubles final against Jonathan Bullen and Guy Haslam. I

We have a number of other events coming up and I truly hope to see many of you there. Floreat Rossallia.

- Gillian King

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14/10/2022 10:18

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e have had some fabulous Old Rossallian guests over the past few months on RosCast. Callum Baxter (JS & PE 1997-11) spoke about his time at Rossall and the impressive career that he has built in the 10 years since he left Rossall Sixth Form.

We had Ian Preston (PE 1966 - 73) who discussed his favourite memories of Rossall and his involvement with the Old Rossallian Club.

School Captain Joe also sat down with Alastair Horabin (Old Rossallian, Parent & The Boathouse Youth Ambassador) to discuss his time at Rossall and the Rossall Race Night charity event held on Saturday 15th April.

There are also many more episodes with special guests such as students, staff and friends of the school. Have a listen to all episodes by scanning the QR code here:

old Rossallian Club G e r m a n di n n e r

O

n 17th June, we reserved the private dining area König Ludwig Saal in Zum Franziskaner, Munich to host our Old Rossallian German event. Look out for the next edition of The Old Rossallian for the pictures from this exciting event!

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lieutenant colonel elaine walker (J & DN 1997-02)

MBE Award by King Charles III at Windsor Castle

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he MBE was awarded for Services to Women in Defence. My main role in the Army is as a General Practitioner, looking after military personnel and their families in the UK and overseas, including operational deployments.

Since 2016, I have been the Chair for the Defence GP Specialist Interest Group for Women’s Health, which is a group of keen volunteer healthcare professionals who support activities across Defence.

The group supports Defence policymakers with specialist advice about women’s health matters.

The MBE was awarded in part to recognise a specific sub-project I chaired, which introduced women’s health physiotherapy into Defence Primary Healthcare facilities. Service personnel now have access to specialist pelvic floor physiotherapy if they have problems with incontinence or pelvic floor concerns, after or during pregnancy.The project also ensured that all personnel are now able to access support to continue exercising during pregnancy, from a trained physical training instructor. There is also now a Defence policy so everyone understands how exercise can be safely continued during pregnancy. The project was 2 years in the making and delivered in December 2020.

People can find out more information about exercise during pregnancy from The Active Pregnancy Foundation who I met during the course of this project, and who I am now an Ambassador for.

Photos are credited to British Ceremonial Arts and Palace Photos.

- Elaine Walker (J & Dn 1997-02)

Dr Maxwell Christopher Graham Manley (DC 1968-72) MBE Award

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r Maxwell Christopher Graham Manley (DC 1968-72) BDS DDPH MSC PHD FDS MBE received an MBE in 2022 in the Queen’s Jubilee honours list. The award was in recognition for providing dental care to people with disability over his career. Before his recent retirement Dr Manley’s final position was as the Head of Dental Department, Royal Hospital for Neuro-Disability Putney, London, a national medical charity providing assessment, rehabilitation and care for adults with complex disabilities caused by brain injury or disease. He said: “This recognition was a complete surprise. It was rather a pleasure at the age of 73 and 50 years in dentistry. I was also invited to the state funeral which was something special.”

OLD ROSSALLIANS the oriental club event

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he Oriental Club is a private members’ club established in 1824, currently situated at Grade I listed Stratford House in London. It was the perfect venue to host an Old Rossallian event.We had a fantastic turnout and everyone enjoyed talking to other Old Rossallians from a variety of year groups!

rossallians online career and mentor support W

e recently launched a campaign to seek out Old Rossallians who are willing to help, support and mentor other Rossallians. There was an outstanding response and it is fantastic to see the Rossallian community in action. It is the sense of support and community that makes being a Rossallian so special.

Have a look at some of our mentors available who are on hand to offer help and guidance in a variety of specialities and worldwide locations. To get in touch, please contact development@rossall.org.uk.

“I left Rossall in 1990 and spent my gap year in the British Army. I then took an Army sponsorship to attend Dundee University where I read an MA before returning to Sandhurst for a year and then joining the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards for a Short Service Commission. My time in the Army took me to Germany, Canada and Bosnia. Upon completion of my Army service, I returned to University, this time in Glasgow, where I read Scots law on their accelerated LLB course. Since qualifying as a lawyer, I have worked in Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders, and have specialised in farming and agriculture. I am accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in this area, and recently passed my exams as an agricultural valuer.”

- Andrew Linehan

Mining Engineer, Professional Engineer and a Chartered Engineer and has specialised in the coal mining sector since 1979 and in the metalliferous and heavy minerals sector since 1999. He has worked on coal mining operations both in the UK and South Africa in various levels of operational management. He is currently a Board Member of the Mining Technology Division of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3), a Strategic Advisor to the Board of the IOM3, a representative of the IOM3 for the Global Minerals Professional Alliance, and a representative on the PERC Committee.

- Andy Birtles

“I have 35 years experience, both in primary and secondary and state and independent sectors; my main subject is Classics but I also teach Geography and RS. I also have meteorology as a very active interest and have won several awards in this area. I can therefore also advise anyone who is thinking about careers in meteorology and weather forecasting, in particular.”

- David Charles Bowker (MA, PGCE, DipRE, FRMetS)

Doctor specialising in Obstetrics and Gynecology with a sub-specialty in Gynaecological endocrinology and fertility medicine.

- Dr Alexandar Andrejevic (Location: Frankfurt, Germany)

Dr Layla Hamadi is a clinical psychologist and studied for her MSc and doctorate at Oxford (Exeter college and Harris Manchester college respectively). She is happy to talk to students about careers in this area.

- Dr Layla Hamadi

A high-performing senior marketing leader with over 15 years experience in B2B sales and marketing. Known for her focused strategic approach and execution power. She has extensive experience in: Defining and executing efficient go-to-market strategies, optimizing internal operations, implementing effective marketing-, sales- and channel- programs to support strategy execution; setting growth goals and increasing the profitability of B2B technology, Marketing Agencies, Retail/ECommerce and Brand licensing firms.

- Jessica-Karin Felix (Location: Munich, Germany)

Ken has recently retired after 40 years at IBM. He now runs his own consultancy offering short-term executive advice to start-up companies.

His career spanned deep technical roles, sales, dealmaking, client management and a multitude of management and leadership roles.

- Ken Fayle

Michael had a 40 year career in tech industries and lived in 3 different countries in the process. He was an international HR Director at Analog Devices for almost 20 years and Head of Human Resources for Axcelis Technologies for 5 years. He is very happy to mentor, support, or advise Rossallians.

- Michael Davies

A seasoned professional, with an extensive proven track record in Business Development.With deep knowledge of the Financial and Commodity markets. Rob was Head of European Gas trading at GFI Brokers and Head of Derivatives at BRS in Geneva.

- Rob Dennis (Geneva, Switzerland)

Russell Kett is Chairman of the London office of HVS, the leading global specialist hotel valuation, consulting, asset management and brokerage firm, which he joined in 1995. Russell has 45+ years’ specialist hotel consultancy, investment and real estate experience, focused on providing valuation, feasibility, property, brokerage, investment, asset management, strategy and related consultancy services, advising hotel, serviced apartments and hostel companies, banks, developers and investors on all aspects of their hospitality industry related interests, throughout Europe, Middle East and Africa.

- Russell Kett

“I was at Rossall from 1968 to 1975 in James and Rose houses under Fred Fayle and Norman Illet. After taking 7 term Oxbridge, I won a place at Cambridge University to read Chemical Engineering through the Natural Sciences Tripos at ST. Catharine’s college.

That led to a forty year career in the Oil and Gas industry, which saw me working exclusively in the upstream segment of the business (exploring, developing and producing oil & gas), in numerous technical, operational, commercial and leadership positions in numerous countries on six continents. After five years working for Schlumberger in the Middle EAst and Asia, I returned to university to obtain a Masters degree in Petroleum Engineering at Imperial College London. From there, I joined the US Corporation Chevron, where I spent over 30 years. While in London I completed an MBA in business studies at London’s City University.”

- Steve Wilson “It was during my time at Rossall that I discovered my passion for technology, and the internet which resulted in me learning the basics of web development in my spare time. My passion for technology and design grew stronger, and I pursued an education in graphic design, going on to achieve a 2:1 in Graphic Design from the University of Huddersfield. I am a freelance web developer with the hope of working small contracts for big clients or agencies.My job is so varied, and running everything through my limited company has taught me a lot about how everything works. I’d be keen to offer my advice, knowledge and experiences to any Rossallians.”

- Tom Walsh

Rossallian Golf Society

Rossallian Golf Society Autumn Meeting at Silloth on Solway Golf Club

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fter bombarding you all for years over the merits of this course, I was anxious, come the day, lest some horrid South Westerly gale with driving rain should arrive, and render the course unplayable, but I needn’t have worried, for once again the Golfing Gods were kind to us, and we drove into town, along the beautifully cobbled High Street, past the quaint little dock, adjacent to the clubhouse, home to half a dozen shell-fish trawlers, with blue sky and sunshine all around. Everything about Silloth is delightfully understated, which is part of its charm. The clubhouse, perched on a small grass knoll at the end of the High Street, is a motley collection of wooden buildings, which put together serve their purpose perfectly well, and by 11.30am its bar, overlooking the 18th and 1st holes, was humming with excited chatter from the 25 assembled ORs from all parts of the country to compete for our Autumn Meeting Trophy, presented by Col Boyle in 1903 to the Yorkshire Branch of the Rossallian Club, but more recently ‘borrowed’ by your Hon Sec for our Society! We were joined for soup and sandwiches by eight boys and girls and their two masters, from the school’s Golf Academy, who as always were delightful company. With handicaps 18 to 5, they represented the school’s second division, the first team being away at Saint Pierre, competing in the British Schools Championships, which they won by a country mile, for the second year running.They are a very fine team, with three of them having handicaps of +4! From the safety of the bar, the course now bathed in sunshine, looked straight forward enough, but as our first three drove from the 1st tee, there was a stiff North Westerly breeze over their right shoulders, which spiced things up a bit. The first two holes, though blind, are relatively easy, provided you keep to the fairways, but thereafter the course bares its teeth.

To find the flat part of the third fairway, allowing you sight of the plateau green, you must first thread a long drive between tall sandhills right and left, all covered in thick heather. Not easy to do! The fourth hole, perhaps the hardest on the course, is played from a high tee beside the third green, and both the fairway and the green are completely blind. Happy days! From here though the views are spectacular - to the North, across the Solway Firth to the Scottish southern shore, in the opposite direction stands the mighty Skiddaw and the Lakeland Hills, reminding us of CCF Field Days past! Our partner, David James,

with his faithful wife and caddy, Anne, overcome with all this grandeur, suggested we sing a verse of that old Ross favourite, ‘Hills of the North rejoice, river and mountain spring’, but had we done so, our other partner, 14 year old Alvaro from Madrid, only three weeks into his Rossall career, and already looking cold and perplexed, having just smacked his drive into a deep ravine in front of the tee, would have thought we were bonkers as well as geriatric! On the 5th hole, at last, all three of us hit our drives onto the fairway, but very sadly at this point, I had to return to the clubhouse to attend to some admin matters. I learned later that free of my company, both David and Alvaro really got to grips with the course, and played some excellent golf.

Safely back in the bar, collecting the cards, and listening to tales of rounds completed, it was clear that everyone had found the course to be very difficult, but wonderful. There was special praise for the greens, which many thought were the best they had ever seen. Despite the course difficulty, there were some excellent scores: Neil Corlett won Col Boyle’s Trophy with 38 pts, second was Robert Fox (Foxy) with 36 pts, which off his 2.8 handicap, was a brilliant score in those conditions, and explained why he is a leading player in Rossall’s Halford Hewitt side. The evergreen Richard Henriksen was third with 35pts, with Ross Newton, this year’s Captain at Ilkley Golf Club, where we shall be playing our Spring Meeting next year, was fourth with 33pts. Anne James won the Ladies Prize. Altogether, we had a most successful day.We were privileged to play this magnificent course on such a day, and everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy it. It is a pity then, that I have to mention one aspect that went badly wrong. Nearly all of us played far too slowly. Four and a half hours to play a round of golf, is at least an hour too long, even on a very difficult course, and caused our supper to be delayed by that extra hour, which was unfair to the clubhouse staff, who made no complaint, and produced a marvellous plate of Gammon Egg and Chips for us all, which we scarcely deserved. We really must play more quickly next year, please. Finally, I owe you all a big thank you for your wonderful support, which keeps me going.

Best Wishes, - Arthur Stephenson (Hon Sec Rossallian Golf Society)

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lumni Seb Cave (MC 2020-22) has been named in this year’s England Golf Men’s Squad for season 2022-23. Here is what he had to say about his time at Rossall:

My experience at Rossall really supported me in what I have achieved in my career so far. Being able to practise golf every day on site, whilst still being able to keep up with my work has given me the opportunity to go and play golf and study in America. Without Rossall, this wouldn’t have been possible. My aspirations are to become the number one player in the world one day and have a very successful career on tour.

My greatest achievement is representing my country at both boys’ and men’s level. It’s a great experience and one that I am very proud of. I loved my time at Rossall. My best Rossall memory would be winning national champs in my last year. Playing the way that we did and winning it for Rossall was a great feeling.

I would definitely recommend Rossall, not just to golfers, but to anyone looking for a great education and a great experience.

(Left hand side – front to back) - Ronni Schrevel, Nick Roberts, Tom Pace, Jimmy Jones, Christian Butler, Richard Jones (Caddy!)

Rossall Halford Hewitt Campaign 2023

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ounded in 1924, the Halford Hewitt Cup is competed for by the Old Boys of 64 English and Scottish Public Schools, with each fielding 5 foursome pairs, totalling 640 competitors in all, making it the largest amateur golf competition in the world!

This year the much-revered David Tonroe was unable to make the trip from the USA and also the current Captain of the Oxford University Golf Team, Josh Fallows, was unavailable. Both pledge to return in 2024!

The team however had two newcomers fresh from Rossall’s Golf Academy, Simon Holt (handicap Scratch) and Tom Pace (1) together with another newcomer and Sussex senior golfer, Ronni Schrevel (1). The Rossall Team this year was as follows; Matt Allen, Christian Butler, Robert Fox, Simon Holt, Jimmy Jones, Noel Muscutt (Captain), Tom Pace, Nick Roberts, Ronni Schrevel and Jeremy Smith. In addition, irrepressible supporters Chris Holt (Chairman of Governors) and Jimmy Jones’s brother (and team caddy), Richard, were in attendance.

This year we had the toughest first round draw against Scottish rivals and ‘Hewitt’ champions for the past 2 years, Loretto at Royal St George’s Golf Club. However, with our 3 new debutants, together with the remaining team possessing a combination of skill, experience and guile, we were confident we could be the “banana skin” to stop Loretto in their strides. The match commenced in windy inclement weather. In the first game, Muscutt and Fox made two birdies but still found themselves trailing at 2 down.This trend in this game unfortunately continued, and the top match became Loretto’s first

(Right hand side – front to back) - Matt Allen, Robert Fox, Simon Holt Jeremy Smith, Noel Muscutt

point. In match two, Matt Allen and Simon Holt, also found themselves down after six holes, but then played extremely well to level the match at 1-1, with a solid 3 and 2 victory. The last three matches were all very close affairs all going down the 18th hole. In match number three, Christian Butler and Nick Roberts played excellently to arrive at one up on the 17th tee.

After a somewhat calamitous 17th hole by both sides, the Loretto pair ended up winning it. The last hole was playing directly into a stiff wind and both hit very good drives but Rossall’s tee shot was very much shorter.

Butler hit an excellent three wood to the front edge of the green some 45 feet from the hole. The Loretto man then proceeded to strike a fine 7 iron (showing their power advantage) to about 15 feet. Sadly, the Rossall pair took 3 more to get down and the point had slipped away.

Jimmy Jones and Tom Pace played some fine golf to record another win for Rossall and again took victory winning the last hole (1up).The match was now poised 2-2 with everything down to the last game, and the Rossall pair Jeremy Smith and Ronni Schrevel. This match was one down coming down the 18th and again the Rossall pair did not quite have the Loretto power and were hitting an all-out second shot as opposed to another 7 iron second by Loretto, who played a fine shot to 12 feet from the flag, which proved sadly good enough to win the game and in doing so, the match.

As bitterly disappointed as the whole team were, after time to reflect, we knew we had put up a very good fight against the best side in the competition with 3 games going down to the 18th hole. Loretto were very sporting after to admit we gave them a big scare, and all this without Tonroe and Fallows!As a point of note, just before lunch after the match “skipper” Noel Muscutt, who had reached a significant milestone with his

100th match in the Halford Hewitt for Rossall against Loretto that morning, was presented with two very welcome bottles of champagne for the team during a short ceremony. He was handed the Halford Hewitt Centenary Salver upon which four other Rossallians names appear; Malcolm Lee, Michael Reece, Arthur Stephenson and Geoff Henney. Michael Reece is by far the most capped having played an amazing 151 games over 51 Halford Hewitts.

The following morning, all first round fallers competed in the Prince’s Plate. Sides were now reduced to 6 meaning that some weaker sides in a 10 man ‘Hewitt’ side, became stronger with only 6. We prevailed in our first-round encounter against the Leys. Next we faced a strong Bedford side. Matt Allen and Simon Holt proved comfortable winners again with some exceptional golf (Holt impressively preserving his 100% winning record).

In game number two, Christian Butler and Robert Fox unfortunately succumbed leaving the match at 1-1. In a deciding very tight match Jimmy Jones and Tom Pace finally lost a very close battle, yet again on the last hole.

Bedford went on to win the plate, and Loretto the Halford Hewitt again, meaning that Rossall had lost to the winners of the main competition (this year and the previous two) and the Plate, and lost to both by only the narrowest of margins.

The team felt we were going home too early this year but nevertheless there was an upbeat mood and amongst the squad, having played a lot of high quality golf, and in the knowledge that the near future may well hold very exciting times challenging the best.

Floreat Rossallia!

- Noel Muscutt (MC 1975 - 80)

patrick dunn (MF 2019 - 21)

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atrick Dunn (MC 2019-21), Jackson Scholar was School Captain, Hockey Captain and MC House Monitor during his time here at Rossall.

Current Focus I am having a great time at the University of Birmingham playing lots of hockey and attending a variety of interesting lectures in politics and international relations.

Career Plans I am hoping to join the RAF as an officer or would like to work for the Home Office. Rossall made me realise there was far more to the world than the little village I grew up in.The friends that I made during my time at Rossall helped me develop an understanding of different cultures. My time at Rossall also helped me clarify and understand beliefs and interests through intellectual conversations, which has really helped me in my studies.

Skills Rossall helps you really well to prepare for university. My politics class especially taught me to engage, discuss and challenge the things that you learn. This is very similar to the structure of seminars at University. Rossall also helped me organise myself, with lots of classes, sports and activities and I learnt how to prioritise. I enjoy having structure and management skills which I developed at Rossall. Rossall is an enabler and a bridge to so many different people, opportunities and destinations. Boarding was some of the best fun I’ve ever had. The teachers care about your education and want you to succeed which creates a great environment to be in.

Greatest Rossall Memory My greatest memory is sitting on the seawall looking at the fantastic view or playing basketball with friends. I also really enjoyed our Hockey tour and made some fantastic memories. I also made lifelong friends with different people from different backgrounds, something which is essential at university.

sam ayoma (MF 2008 - 22)

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e are very pleased to present this interview with Sam Ayoma, one of last year’s School Captains, where he reflects on his journey at Rossall. Sam remains an ambassador for the School and is clearly carrying the Rossall ethos out into the world. We look forward to following his journey.

Scan here to see the video interview: Here is a snippet of what Sam had to say: I was a Rossall for 15 years, starting in nursery in 2008 and then graduating in the summer of 2022. I was in Hesketh House through infants, juniors and middle School and then I was in MF (Mitre Fleur-de-Lys). I’m currently studying Classics at the University of Cambridge and chose classics because the teachers I had at Rossall, particularly Mr. McDowell and Mr. Clark for Latin, were so enthusiastic and really gave me that love of the subject that I wanted to carry through to University.

My greatest achievement would be getting to Cambridge University, but particularly I think the manner in which that was achieved and being able to be head boy of Rossall which is something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I enjoyed choir and sport, being able to do all of that and still achieve that long standing ambition of mine to get to Cambridge was really great.

I attended the Old Rossallian London Leavers event. It was a really great opportunity to see people at Rossall who I’ve known for a long time, but also an opportunity to meet people who I might have seen but didn’t know very well at all, to converse with them and engage with them and to talk to them to get to know them. I think that’s something that the Old Rossallian community does particularly well, it gives you that chance to build your connections past what your year or friendship groups were at school. In the wider Old Rossallian community you can meet so many more people and build those connections which really help you going forward in life.

Key Achievements I have become captain of my University Hockey team, and have also been invited back to the Wales men’s development program for the 2023/2024 season. My biggest achievement whilst at Rossall was playing and captaining for my country in hockey. I participated in ‘The Diana award’ and was also mentored by a local member of parliament. In the summer of 2021, I achieved good grades and was also School Captain, Hockey Captain and house monitor.

jerome schmidt (MF 2017 - 18) Can you tell us a bit about your career and current role?

I am currently a student at Hult International Business School, where I also serve as the student body president. In addition, I balance my studies and leadership responsibilities with a full-time internship at Snap Inc., as well as being the Director of a management consulting firm focused on placing CPG in the UK market. I am also a co-founder of a technology firm that develops software. I am grateful for the work I do, which brings me genuine joy and fulfilment. This sense of purpose and satisfaction is what motivates me to pursue multiple objectives and maintain a balance in my various responsibilities.

Can you tell us about your life post Rossall e.g. University/ focus areas?

My time at University has been characterised by periods. I spent my first year getting to know London and its people, which has been an amazing and rewarding experience. That year was followed by business pursuits and setting myself up for the person I wanted to become. In this period I was baptised in the Anglican Church and received life-changing guidance from my community, mentors, and God. This allowed me to see the path ahead of me more clearly and make more of the correct decisions.

I am filled with gratitude for the skills and experiences I gained during my time as a boarding student at Rossall School. The institution, its staff, and faculty, including dining hall chefs and ladies, professors, and my housemaster, all played a role in shaping me. Before attending Rossall, I had aspirations, but lacked direction. The school illuminated the path for me. Attending Rossall was a sovereign choice that has greatly impacted my personal and academic growth.

Teachers such as Mr Bradley & Mr Moore, were role models in education that I was able to look up to and learn from. An important point here is that these teachers taught me their disciplines extremely well, but at the same time have done an incredible, unique and admirable job at teaching me life-lessons and showing me how a gentleman behaves.

At Rossall, I was able to apply and develop my people skills and my educational ones. An anecdote that I like to tell is that I had dropped Chemistry in my previous school due to having no interest in it. When I came to Rossall, it was a mandatory subject. I learned from the brilliant Mr Huthchinson, who was able to ignite in me a liking for Chemistry and enabled me to become an A student in chemistry. All of this was achieved whilst studying the subject in a new language.

I developed discipline not just through its structured practices, such as prep-time, but also through its traditional environment.The school uniform, stunning campus, secluded location, and exceptional faculty all contributed to creating an environment that fostered growth and development. An important side note here is that the admiration and respect for your teachers is a driving factor that comes from within, I think this is the largest contributor in creating Rossall’s success stories.

Did Rossall influence your career plans in any way?

I can confidently say it enabled me to make plans in order to get to my goals. I have founded both of my companies with fellow Rossallians.

Key achievements since leaving Rossall?

My life’s biggest achievement is my baptism.

Key achievements whilst at Rossall?

Developing as a person. I also received a few academic awards for attainment in several disciplines.

What would you say to anyone considering studying at Rossall?

Embrace opportunity and don’t let fear hold you back. Take a careful and sincere evaluation of what Rossall has to offer and pursue it with confidence. Start a new chapter of your life without hesitation.

lex bilby (MF 2014 - 20)

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can here to see an interview with OR Lex Bilby (Pe 2014-20) who is currently studying Classics at Durham. It is clear that Lex loved being part of the community at Rossall.

Scan here to view the interview.

I’m currently a third year student at Durham studying Classics with Arabic. One of the main reasons I chose Durham was because they have a collegiate system, which is very similar to the house system that we had at Rossall.

As a Classicist, lots of the skills that I have learnt at Rossall have helped me and I’ve built upon those at University. I’m fortunate enough to have secured a training contract at the law firm Clifford Chance and I’ll be pursuing a career in commercial law after University.

My greatest achievement at school is being made Head boy in my final year. It was something I was really proud of and I felt it reflected all the hard work that I’d put in into all areas of the school. To anyone considering studying at Rossall, I would say definitely go for it! I think it’s a place that really offers you anything you could ever want really and it’s just a matter of grasping all the opportunities that are presented to you.

old Rossallian london leavers event

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e hosted the first of our annual London Leavers events in November. We had a great turnout and the Rossall Bear was very popular! Sign up to Rossallians Online and join our mailing list to get details of future events https://rossallians. org.uk/home

old rossallian weekend R

ossall alumni gathered for the annual Old Rossallian Weekend. The activity-packed day concluded with a drinks reception and dinner, with speeches from our Headmaster, and the President of the Rossallian Club, Gillian King (Dn 1985-92).

It was amazing to see so many school friends and members of the OR community reconnect over their shared love for the School.

To find out about future events and stay connected, alumni can sign up to Rossallians Online https://rossallians.org.uk.

Scan the QR code below.

the history of fives

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he history of Rossall Fives goes way back into the earliest years of Rossall, the courts being built in Victorian times, and there were indeed other courts within the School grounds which have since been demolished. In times gone by the courts were fully used both during the afternoon games period and “choice” in the evening. I remember having to book a court to avoid disappointment!

There was a period when the courts were enjoyed by a small band of Old Rossallians who played weekly. Thanks to the efforts of Common Room member Tom Root, he brought together both Old Rossallians and members of Common room to play together. This has been kept going today by Lee Hodgetts and an ever increasing number of Common Room.

Our courts are unique, being a hybrid of the Eton court, with buttress but no back wall, and the four walled Winchester court. It is for this reason the Rugby Fives Association, for several years, chose Rossall to host the Independent Schools Fives Tournament, bringing young players from all over the Country to play a wonderful weekend long tournament. There are currently plans to hold a National Open Fives tournament at Rossall later this year.

The same band of Old Rossallians and friends are still enjoying a weekly game, now happily joined by several members of Common Room and students. The competition over the O.R.Weekend was fiercely contested, the might and power of Scott Merrick overcoming the skill and dexterity of Charlie Rowe in the singles, the doubles being won by Scott with Johny Lee against Guy Haslam and Jonathan Bullen.

If any other O.R. or parent would like to come and join us and have a go at this unique game,we would be absolutely delighted if you would like to join us for our Thursday night Fives sessions. If you require any more information, you are welcome to contact me on 07831 862136 or ian@prestonswelding.co.uk Floreat Rossallia, - J Ian Preston Rossallian Club Secretary (James and Pelican. 1966—1973)

save the date

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o book your place, go to: https://for m.jotfor m.com/ rossall/or-afternoon-tea or scan the QR code.

Car Care

Van Hire

Rossall Foundation Heritage Project C e l e b rati n g th e past, b u ildi n g f or th e f u t u r e terrible toll on the physical fabric of our listed buildings.

It is the case that crumbling masonry, corroded metal, rotten roof beams and leaking pipes threaten the very existence of our buildings. Unless we intervene to save them, our most iconic buildings will enter a spiral of managed decline.

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he cultural identity of our School community is hardwired into the spectacular architectural heritage of which we all serve as custodians. We pass through the School but for a short time and yet we have a moral responsibility to preserve the fabric of our beloved buildings for future generations.

Our most iconic buildings date from the mid-nineteenth century and symbolise the hopes and dreams of those brave pioneers who sought to establish a seat of learning here on the Fylde Coast. The Sumner Library, Big School (situated on the north range of the Square) and the Chapel of St John the Baptist are all listed buildings, noted for their architectural importance. Collectively and individually, these buildings constitute a gloriously powerful manifestation of the cultural, intellectual and spiritual soul of our wonderful community.

These buildings inspire our enduring affection because the relentless march of time appears to be suspended within their midst. The spaces contained therein have a remarkable capacity to bestow that most sought after of privileges - the privilege of belonging.Their familiarity provides a sense of certainty within an ever-changing world. There is something unique about the intense emotional hold that these places have on Rossallians.

It defies rational explanation and those of faith may discern the guiding hand of God at work. Others will attribute their attachment to these buildings to a nostalgic yearning for the past and a lively appreciation of institutional traditions.

As Rossallians, we are conscious of the tremendous sacrifice offered by those who went before us. We continue to honour the memory of those Rossallians whose lives were cut tragically short in the maelstrom of twentieth century conflict. For many of these young men, there was precious little of life left to be lived beyond Rossall. Our responsibility to them is eternal.

Of course, time has not stood still and these buildings are now in need of urgent repair. The depredations of a hundred and eighty winters on the Fylde has reduced some of our buildings to a parlous state. Wind, rain and salt (that most corrosive of minerals) have exerted a

Collectively, Cassidy and Ashton’s detailed surveys of the Chapel, Sumner Library and Big School do not make for an easy read. The forensic detail contained within these recently commissioned reports serves as a devastating catalogue of problems. However, the surveys also serve as a timely call to arms and detail what must be done in order to safeguard the buildings for the long term future. Thankfully, all is not lost but we must now act with a sense of urgency if we are to successfully turn the tide and return these buildings to their former glory.

Safeguarding the future of these buildings will cost well in excess of £1.5 million (May 2023) and this does not take into account the work that needs to be carried out in order to ensure that the Sumner Library becomes a modern study space within which children can work together collaboratively. Similarly, it does not take into account the enormous amount of work that needs to be accomplished in order to transform Big School into a flexible performance space capable of supporting our rapidly expanding performing arts programme.

Of course, there is a distinction between restoration and refurbishment and we need to do much more than simply prevent the buildings from falling to the ground.

However, Phase 1 of the project is remedial while Phase 2 is developmental.

Over the last decade or so, Rossall Foundation has supported a number of projects that have enabled the School to develop the quality of its offering. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the realm of sports. Indeed, the current renaissance of Rossall Sports on the national stage coincides with the provision of outstanding new facilities which were, in part, funded by the very generous donations of Rossallians. David McKee’s

extraordinarily generous gift to the Foundation enabled us to open our brand new Performing Arts Studio in the autumn of 2018. In October 2023, Harrison and Harrison will begin the long-awaited refurbishment of the Chapel Organ. This is a project that will cost in excess of £180,000 and it is being funded almost entirely by the Foundation. Restoring the organ to its former glory is a labour of love that would not have been impossible without the energy, vision and dynamism of Rossallians committed to preserving all aspects of the School’s heritage.

So the purpose of this project is twofold: to preserve the past and to support the future. Please join us in ensuring that the legacy we leave future generations is one of which all Rossallians can feel truly proud. The Foundation is launching an appeal to ask for support to safeguard the buildings of the Chapel and Big School.

These buildings have been identified as having the greatest urgency and so will form the first stage of the appeal.

For more information, please email us on foundation@rossall.org.uk or call us on 01253 774286. You can also write to us at The Foundation Office, Rossall School, Fleetwood, Lancashire, FY7 8JW. Please follow the qr link below to donate: - Jeremy Quartermain - Headmaster Emma Johnson - Director of the Foundation

the chapel restoration project example of the genre. Most of the pipework was derived from an organ built by Fr Henry Willis in 1862 and is housed in a Sir Robert Lorimer case.

The organ itself is situated in the Chapel of St John the Baptist, which was built in 1862. The Chapel is one of a number of Grade II listed buildings on the 160 acre campus.The Organ has, unfortunately, fallen into a state of disrepair over the years, not helped by the storms of 2008, and though some work was carried out at the end of 2018 it is in desperate need of a major overhaul to secure its very being for years to come.

Comments by Harrison & Harrison about the work which needs to be carried out include:

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he Rossall School Chapel Organ was installed in 1925 as part of the Chapel reconstruction, which was a memorial to the 289 Old Rossallians who died for their country in the Great War. The Harrison organ is an excellent example of an important class of organs effectively invented by Arthur Harrison, in the earlier years of the twentieth century, known as multum in parvo. In these organs, often of only two manuals and pedal, a relatively small number of stops were designed to produce the effect of a much larger instrument. The Rossall organ is a rare example of a three manual organ with these characteristics and is considered to be an especially fine and successful

“Our work to the pipework will restore the sound of this instrument, enabling it to once again function as a musical instrument to support singing voices in the choir. It will also give it a cohesiveness and integrity that is necessary for the performance of solo organ repertoire, making it a more effective teaching instrument. Presently, the organ is not serving the School community to its full potential, and is of limited use as an accompanying instrument or as a teaching instrument. The interventions proposed will improve both its effectiveness and its reliability. Whilst the instrument is functioning at the moment, over the short term it will become increasingly erratic in operation and could fall again into disuse. Our work is designed

to protect this important asset for the future.”

The Rossall Foundation is really proud that due to the generosity of a number of ORs we are able to assist the School with this project and help secure a historic facility that has always been at the heart of the School.

The Foundation would like to thank these donors and also Alf Tansey (MF 49-54), without whose dedication and support this project would not be taking place.

The current project is to be completed by the original builders, the well renowned Harrison and Harrison Ltd, who having completed the original build in 1925 went on to carry out works in the Royal Albert Hall, King’s College Cambridge and Westminster Abbey. The work to our Rossall Chapel Organ will begin in October 2023 and carry on into 2024.

This project looks to the future by safeguarding the past.

If you would like to know more about this exciting project please email the Foundation Office at the following address - foundation@rossall.org.uk and a member of the team will get back to you. Or telephone the Foundation Office 01253 774286 and we would be happy to discuss all the details with you.

tours Valeriya Taylor (R 2010-14) Surprise Tour

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aleriya Taylor (R 2010-2014) hadn’t seen her brother, current Year 6 pupil Hryhorii Pylypenko for a number of years. We asked him to meet at The Hall in school in order to help tour a prospective family. Little did he realise that he would be touring his own family as a surprise!

Valeryia and her husband Trip were visiting the UK and took this opportunity to meet up with Valeriya’s best friend, fellow Old Rossallian Mary Murray (R 2004-2010) to have a tour of Rossall school. They were also accompanied by Larysa Gorbovtsova, Valeryia and Hryhorii mum who was also surprised by Valeryia’s UK visit, Hryhorii provided a great tour of Rossall for his family and it was a fantastic photo opportunity!

Ken Pywell (J 1943-45)

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en was a pupil at Alleyne’s School in London during the Second World War when his entire school was evacuated to Rossall for the period September 1943 to March 1945. Now aged 91, Ken was very keen to visit Rossall again and thoroughly enjoyed his tour especially seeing James House. He was accompanied by sons Jim and Richard and Jim’s partner Sally.

Thomas Schneider (SE 1998-00)

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homas Schneider (SE 1998-00) and wife Julia visited Rossall.

Revd. Canon Deborah Parsons (neé Hills J & Dn 1977-84)

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`ve recently been installed as Canon Chancellor of Exeter Cathedral, a role which compliments my parochial ministry in Totnes and weaves together my love of pastoral care, my passion for nurturing people who would describe themselves as spiritual but not religious and my love of alternative and creative worship.

I`ve known since I was a teenager that I was called to spiritual life. It was never a case of if but when and perhaps that call into leadership was discerned by my appointment as a Rossall Award Leader, Head Chapel Warden and School Monitor.

A pioneer at Rossall School, I was one of the first eleven girls to be admitted to the school at the age of eleven: Bells, chapel, study, music, sport and prep punctuated my life for seven years. The daily rhythm of corporate prayer was to be formative. It taught me to go to work from a place of rest and enabled me to discover from the inside out what gives me life.

As a Newell Scholar, I benefited greatly from an all-round education and it instilled in me a curiosity and commitment to being a life-long learner and to break glass

ceilings. I was taught by some inspirational teachers, amongst them Tony Reeves, Geoffrey Lee,Tim Roper and Graham Canham, who instilled in me a love of English and Divinity, fostered my creativity and encouraged me to enter the Baker Memorial Prize for Public Speaking.

As a timid eleven-year old, I was selected, in my first term, to read a lesson at the Carol Service. Little did I appreciate what an important skill it would be in my adult life. I don’t know who was more nervous, me or my parents, particularly as I didn’t walk around the lectern to read the lesson but squeezed through the gap between the lectern and a pedestal which housed a very large floral display. Apparently, the large floral display wobbled but didn`t topple!

My calling to ordination wasn’t possible for women in the Church of England initially, so for twenty years, I taught English at Epsom College and served on the Senior Leadership Team. My experience as a pioneer at Rossall proved invaluable when I was invited to bring in co-education at 13+ and became Epsom College`s first Housemistress.

I am fortunate to love my work but the downside of my vocations is that I`ve always worked on weekends, which makes it more difficult, though not impossible, to nurture friendships and to join O.R. events.The different pace of work during the pandemic, gave me the opportunity to reconnect with school friends and to discover that the friendships forged many years ago still stand the test of time.

What did I enjoy most at Rossall? Playing rounders after prep on balmy summer evenings; cross country runs along the prom; camping & cooking with Rossall Award; choral comp; chats over coffee in Rev Canham`s house after Thursday evening communion; theatre trips. And if I had one piece of advice to offer my younger self, I`d say: “Your soul knows the geography of your destiny.Your soul alone has the map of your future. Therefore, you can trust this indirect, oblique side of yourself. If you do, it will take you where you need to go, but more importantly, it will teach you a kindness of rhythm in your journey.” (John O`Donohue – Anam Cara – A Book of Celtic Wisdom) - Revd. Canon Deborah Parsons (neé Hills J & Dn 1977-84)

old rossallian carol service

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In Memoriam W

e have sadly said goodbye to the below fellow Old Rossallians.

• Gerry Simister (An 1945-1951) • Howard Broomby (An 1956-1961) • Christopher Alan Madge, (Mitre 1959-1965) • Roger Ellis, Former Headmaster (1967-1972) • John Coulson, (R 1967- 1972) • John Darbyshire, (Mitre, 1949 -1956) • Michael Elliot (JS and SE 1956-1965) • Nicholas Nugent (DC 1945-1949) • John Charles Richards (DC 1960-1963)

Howard Broomby 1942 – 2023 (An 1956-1961)

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oward attended Rossall from 1956 to 1961 and was in Anchor House. Howard joined the family business in 1961, when it was trading from depots in Sandside and Ulverston.

Howard took over as Managing Director in 1978 after the death of his father Jack Broomby. He grew the Company to a total of nine branches with a turnover of £31 million by 1999. In 2000, Broombys was purchased by Travis Perkins PLC. He leaves behind his wife, Angela, two sons, Paul and Andrew and five grandchildren.

The late 1960s was a period of rapid social change and the student riots that swept across Europe in the Summer of 1968 were an expression of the post-war generation coming of age. Existing hierarchies were challenged and, in some cases, overthrown and as Derek Winterbottom points out in excellent history of Rossall, ‘The Tide Flows On’, this anarchic countercultural spirit is exemplified perfectly in Lindsay Anderson’s cinematic masterpiece ‘If ’ . The dramatic climax of the film perfectly captures the prevailing zeitgeist.

Wilson’s government did not provide a favourable political landscape for public schools but Roger was a reforming headmaster and one with his eyes firmly focused upon the future. Work on the Jackson Schools commenced in 1968 and the refurbishment of the Museum Theatre was completed soon after. It was Roger who created the post of Director of Studies which helped bring organisation and clarity to the academic side of school life. He elevated staff on account of their skills and aptitude as opposed to their longevity of service. This might seem an obvious modus operandi now but, at that time, it was daringly radical. He introduced a new curriculum which provided Sixth Formers with a much greater sense of choice. The School Magazine was abandoned and replaced with a more tabloid style journal which openly questioned traditions such as fagging and the school’s single sex status.

Walter Clegg, MP, lays the foundation stone of the Jackson Schools in the company of Roger Ellis, Dermot Molloy and the Mayor of Fleetwood on November 18th, 1968

Roger Ellis CBE (1929-2023) - Headmaster of Rossall (1967-72)

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number of years ago, I had the immense good fortune to meet one of my predecessors at a dinner held in the Royal Air Force Club in Piccadilly. A sprightly and highly erudite man in his late eighties came over and introduced himself as Roger Ellis. He exuded both warmth and energy and I was captivated by his engaging manner and obvious wisdom. Although Roger had left Rossall almost fifty years ago, his demonstrable love for the place had evidently not diminished with the passage of time. He was keen to discuss the future direction of the School and, above all else, I felt that he understood better than anyone he challenges that faced me at that moment in time.

Roger’s long and dazzling successful life drew to a close on 14th February at the grand old age of ninety three. He was born in Paddington in October 1929. His father Cecil was a successful solicitor and his mother, Pamela, was descended from William the Conqueror. Roger attended St Peter’s School, Seaford before moving on to Winchester College. Contemporaries at Winchester included the banker Raymond Bonham Carter and former Foreign Secretary, Geoffrey Howe. Academically he excelled and, upon leaving Winchester, he won a scholarship to study history at Trinity College, Oxford.

In 1952, Roger was appointed assistant master at Harrow School and he eventually became the boarding housemaster of the Headmaster’s House. At the time, the Headmaster of Harrow was Dr R.L. James who was himself an Old Rossallian. In 1964, Roger married his wife Margaret and their eldest daughter was born in 1965.

A twin boy and girl followed in June 1967 - just months before Roger assumed the Headship of Rossall. Roger was a man of indefatigable energy for while he was at Harrow he found time to serve on the local borough council and edit a version of Winston Churchill’s History of the English-Speaking Peoples.

The Asian flu epidemic of 1969 resulted in over three hundred children becoming ill and a fire in the middle dormitory of Dragon-Crescent House provided an additional challenge. Roger dealt with such calamities with a resolute spirit and real sense of courage. Schools tend to be traditional and conservative institutions and some within the Common Room grumbled about the sweeping nature of Roger’s reforms. Of course, the more discerning realised that he was a much needed breath of fresh air. In any case, he was always on the right side of history and many of his innovations, such as the creation of a Sixth Form Centre, were welcomed by pupils and parents.

In 1972, Roger was appointed Headmaster of Marlborough College where he remained until 1986.

In due course, Roger was elected Chair of HMC and he joined the governing body of various schools including St Edward’s School, Oxford where he served as Chairman from 1992-1999. He published several books including ‘Athleticism in the Victorian and Edwardian School’ (1981). Upon retiring from Marlborough, Roger served as Barclays Bank graduate recruitment manager.

His farewell notice in The Rossallian recorded that he believed that Rossall was an illustrious and unique school. He was celebrated for his lack of pretentiousness and his sense of style and fun. A member of Council told me the other day how he would quietly slip out of prep in order to meet Roger on the tenth hole of Fleetwood Course for a quick round on the back nine before sunset.

Roger demonstrated a real concern for the spiritual life of the School but was not a prisoner to tradition. The School benefited enormously from his headship and it is clear that he was the ideal appointment given the nature of the challenges of the time. He is remembered by Old Rossallians with a real sense of affection. Kind, resolute, principled and relatable, Roger was the very model of a ‘modern’ head. Our thoughts and prayers are with Roger’s family at this time and we send them the love and gratitude of the community that he served so well. . Roger was the right head at the right time and although his tenure was relatively short, his legacy will endure for generations to come.

- Jeremy Quartermain (Headmaster)

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erhaps Mike’s most notable public appearance was his last, when he was honoured with a military funeral by his regiment.

It was their first since the second war, at St Benet’s in Cambridge, a few corners from his college with uniformed officers and men as pallbearers and a yeoman trumpeter in dress uniform to fill the church with a virtuoso rendering of the Last Post. Thus, the two main strands of his life came together, academic science and engineering and the military.

Michael Elliot 1948-2023 (JS and SE 1956- 1965)

Mike was born in Britain’s Ismailia base in 1948 to an army officer father and an officer mother on evacuation from Palestine. He was despatched to board at Rossall aged eight becoming Junior School Head Boy and Drum Major of the Cadet Force’s marching band. Put up into the next year’s class, he had to choose as he turned just 17 between offers from both Oxford and Cambridge as well as whether to go in 1965 or 66.

Engineering placements with the Bundesbahn in Stuttgart and with Marconi, who sponsored him through Cambridge, duly came his way. As a 1966 first year Exhibitioner, he obliged Queens with a First and then decided on a business career. A member of the Cambridge OTC, he then joined the Sherwood Rangers in Nottingham, but as his business career took off he could not combine both, so in 1979 he retired from the Sherwoods as a Captain. Having already added an MBA from INSEAD in 1974, he went into shipping and was promoted into ever increasing responsibility moving to live in Norway and then New York as President (Chief Executive) of Barber Blue Sea Line which was an Anglo-Scandinavian joint venture operating cargo vessels between the US, the Middle East and the Far East.

He had the misfortune to suffer ill health in the early 1980’s involving major abdominal surgery, which forced his premature retirement and finding his options

much narrowed, there followed a period of reappraisal and unexpected life altering change including a permanent retreat from paid employment. So in 1994 he became the Hon Secretary of the Sherwood Rangers and was still in post when he died. The Cold War had ended and the role of the serving Sherwood Rangers was changing to providing reinforcements to the regular army when on live operations like Iraq and Afghanistan. This meant that volunteers were being sent into harm’s way for the first time since the Second World War, which called for live welfare responsibilities not necessary in peacetime volunteer soldiering.

There was another change evolving. Fate had decreed that the Sherwood Rangers in the Second World War had been a highly acclaimed tank regiment, as a result saw more heavy fighting than most and endured heavy casualties, more than its strength in killed or wounded.When families of those who had died were included along with the survivors this was a large scope of responsibility for the Association.

By the late 1980s the survivors were retiring and now had time to spare. Some dealt with their emotions best via a need to avoid all contact which could bring back memories they did not want. Others felt the need to re-gather and formed a Branch of the Association with whom Mike had the closest contact and began to return to NW Europe as a form of therapy or out of a need to rationalise their recollections.

They were not alone and in 1994 there was a huge National commemoration of the D Day Landings in which the Sherwood Rangers had played a role in the first wave.

It was the Association’s duty to support and assist them. As Hon Secretary, Mike saw it as his job.

What he did over thirty years for those war time Sherwood Rangers who needed the therapy of a regular return to the battlefields or were just the usual run of veterans needing the support of their regimental association was simply extraordinary. If they had not been in the Yeomanry, they would have had the support of a home headquarters fully funded by the government because they would have had formal links to the regular army. Mike did everything that a paid HQ would have done and more and all entirely voluntarily. As an obvious highflyer in a conventional sense in his younger days, brought low, he was able to reinvent success turning it into a life of service. Returning in the 2000’s to live in Cambridge Mike was able to re-engage with his interest in science and engineering, this time not employed in the day to day, but as an investor in startup businesses, with a view to supporting new ventures not just with funding, but with his incisive and well informed combination of business and science. It may be fair to say that the two strands of his life informed each other and came together via his organisational and presentational abilities honed in the military.

As a small investor he joined with others of comparative scale, but disproportionately larger insight to mentor and ginger those in the sometimes lonely position of pushing innovation boundaries.

- Written by Simon Elliot (JS and SE 1958-1967) Schoolboys XV. The 1964 edition of The Rossallian described him as ‘easily the best footballer on the side who has got through a tremendous amount of work. He deserves every praise for his untiring efforts, both as player and skipper’. In fact these words could be used to describe Chris’s attitude to life in general; he was a hard worker and did not give up on difficult challenges, often putting into practice the school motto of ‘Mens Agitat Molem’.

After leaving school, Chris moved to London to embark on a career in business.

Whilst building his career, he managed to fit in playing for Richmond RFC too!

Chris married Colleen in 1972 and work commitments led them to set up home in Oxfordshire. They went on to have two children, Philippa and David. Later in his career, Chris became a lecturer in business studies at the École Supérieure de Commerce de Paris, a French business school with branches in Oxford and London.

Christopher Alan Madge, 1945-2023 (Mitre 1959 - 65)

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hris “Fred” Madge passed away peacefully on 10th February 2023. Chris attended Rossall from 1959 to 1965. He thoroughly enjoyed his time at the school and it had a hugely positive impact on the whole of his life.

Chris was in Mitre house. He wouldn’t have minded me saying that he excelled at sport rather than the more academic subjects! Although he particularly enjoyed studying Geography at Rossall, inspired by being brought up among the mountains of the Lake District. But where Chris really stood out at school was his sporting ability, regularly captaining the many sides he played in. He particularly distinguished himself at rugby and in 1964, Chris was called up to represent England in the England

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Although work (and getting older!) meant that playing rugby had to take a back seat, Chris continued his association with the sport by joining the Oxford Society of Rugby Football Referees (OSRFR), something from which he gained a huge amount of pleasure. There were many rugby playing schools around Oxford who needed an OSRFR referee and Chris also enjoyed refereeing Oxford University college matches and the Oxford vs Cambridge women’s rugby varsity match in 2002.

Chris’s family hope that today’s Rossallians see the school as a catalyst for their own future success, just as Chris did.

- Written by his daughter, Philippa

e would like to give a mention to Frederick Gordon Hardman, 1918–2006. (SE 1928 - 36). Frederick has been credited with providing advice to OR Richard Pilkington (SE 1979-89) when he was studying. Frederick and his generation were said to be pioneers in maxillofacial surgery.

f ro m th e archiv e s An Unrepentant English Man

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t is a curious fact that ORs appear often appear where least expected. The end of year quiz in the Times Literary Supplement featured a quote to be identified from his phenomenally successful memoir ‘My Father and Myself ’ published posthumously in 1968. A casual stroll along Richmond embankment will bring you to a Blue Plaque dedicated to him!

.P.B.Mais: Rossall Master, Novelist, Broadcaster, Newspaper Editor and inveterate Traveller.

Joe Randolph Ackerley arrived at Rossall in the Summer term of 1908 to become a member of Anchor House which he kept liberally supplied with bananas all his time here for his father held a senior post in the Fyffes company!

‘That man makes me feel tired’, such was Winston Churchill’s reaction to the verve and energy of this extraordinary man throughout his very long life.

In the memoir he says little about his time at Rossall but it is clear that he fell under the spell of the extraordinary English master S. B. Mais who taught at Rossall between 1909 and 1913.

Stuart Petre Brodie Mais, known to all as SPB was born in 1885 and died in 1975. He joined Rossall as a Master after an indifferent degree result from Christ Church College, Oxford, but with a blue in Athletics and Cross Country, a fact which played no small part in how he was seen by the boys. He wryly recalls his interview with the then Headmaster Rev. Canon Houghton: ‘I was asked if I had taken a diploma in education. Rather shamefacedly I replied that I hadn’t. The headmaster’s brow cleared. He said, ‘if you had, I shouldn’t have had you’.

Mais’ account of his years at Rossall teaching English, some Maths and Games is the longest and most detailed there exists of life at Rossall between 1909 and 1913 when Mais was obliged to give up his post at Rossall to marry (only the Headmaster was permitted to marry). Some 31 pages of his autobiography ‘All The Days of My Life (1937) are devoted to his time at Rossall. It is of note that D. Winterbottom in his account of the school ‘The Tide Flows On (2006) describes him in one sentence as ‘a rather rebellious master’, in the context of his review of the Walker-Smith novel ‘Out of Step’ (1930) whereas Peter Bennett in his history of the school devotes several pages to Mais.

His account of life at Rossall is both cheerfully honest and informative: ‘My time was very fully occupied. In the whole working week I had only three hours off, and these were filled with correcting exercises’. The school day began with a wake-up call at 6.30 and ended after the last chapel which began at 8.35! ‘But I managed to escape to Blackpool on Saturday nights either to see a play or dance with mill-girls in the huge ballroom of the Tower or the Winter Gardens’.

He was a Master with a deep love of literature and an equal desire to enthuse the boys with such an interest. He set up a literary and debating society on a Saturday evening which meant he had, on occasion, ‘to forgo the delights of dancing in the Winter Gardens’.

After his marriage in 1913 he joined the staff at Sherborne School where he remained for four years before being asked to leave after the publication of an early novel, a thinly veiled and not entirely flattering portrait of Sherborne. He was immediately recruited by the well-known and progressive Headmaster of Tonbridge, Charles Lowry and allowed to teach as he wanted.

Following four years at Tonbridge, he was appointed professor of English at RAF Cranwell which he found stifling in its rigidity. By this time he had written novels, essays and some travel pieces as he began to make his living from writing.

He then turned to mainstream media, becoming a newspaper editor, novelist, reviewer, commentator, broadcaster and travel writer.

He is best remembered today both as the forerunner of Alastair Cooke whose series of talks for the then Home Service ‘ Letter from America’ he anticipated by some thirteen years and as a prolific travel writer and social commentator in the manner of G. Orwell and H.V. Morton.

Mais died in 1975 with more than 200 books to his name. A remarkable man and educator!

- Richard McDowell, Archivist

Failing to pass the exams for Cambridge entry, he joined the East Surrey Regiment in 1914, spent two years in the trenches sending occasional poems for the Rossallian magazine.1917 saw him wounded and captured but through his father’s influence released into internment in the Swiss alpine resort of Mürren.

Here he gathered more of the ideas for his first serious literary venture, a play ‘Prisoners of War ‘ which was produced in 1925 at the Royal Court Theatre. The play, a chamber piece, is set in a hotel housing internees, explores the interplay between a diverse group of army officers., the was very well reviewed and remained in the repertoire for many years, its most recent production being in 1993. It was astonishing, as Bennett points out in his history of Rossall: ‘that it was put on at all for the dark days of the war were still a powerful force’. Through this work he began to gain entry into London literary and theatrical circles.

After resigning his commission in 1919 he attended Magdalen College Cambridge where he began to write seriously as a poet with regular publication. Around this time he became a friend of the famous English novelist E. Forster who persuaded him to spend some time in India as Forster himself had done. It was this time in India that gave Forster his inspiration for his most famous novel ‘A Passage to India (1924). He took the novelist’s advice and spent five months in 1923 as the private secretary to the Maharajah of Chhokrapur, a fictionalised version of Chhatrapur. His journal relating to that time ‘Hindoo Holiday’ was not published until 1932 after the Maharajah’s death. It was described by the novelist Evelyn Waugh as ‘‘radiantly delightful’; it is a witty, acerbic, yet affectionate and moving portrait of a very lonely man and those who surround him. It is of note that it is has been reprinted several times and is readily available as a Penguin Modern Classic.

In 1935 he began to work for the BBC and became literary editor of ‘The Listener’, a post he held for the next 24 years. With respect to this role W. H. Auden talks of his wish:’ to publicly acknowledge a debt which not only I but many writers of my generation owe to Mr Ackerley.’

After his death in 1967 his memoir ‘My Father and Myself ‘was published which received unadulterated praise in many quarters. It was described by Truman Capote as‘the most original autobiography I have ever read’. In his introduction to the NYRB edition W. H. Auden remarks: ‘even though he only published four books in his lifetime, all were enthusiastically received by the reviewers, and are just as good reading today as when they first appeared.’ A fitting tribute to a fine writer and literary editor, as is the blue plaque dedicated to him in Richmond.

- Richard McDowell, Archivist

wedding bells Thomas Schneider (SE 1998-00) married Julia on 22nd October 2022

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ulia and I (SE 1998-00) got married on 22nd of October this year.

The celebration took place in Tegernsee, Bavaria. It was a typical Bavarian wedding and a great party with family and friends.We were very grateful that Roman Davydov, my best friend at Rossall, and his wife Lena managed to attend our wedding travelling all the way from Moscow.

Greetings to everyone we know.

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18/10/2022 16:23