The Ronian - Issue 47 - Spring 2011 by Saint Ronan's School

The Ronian ISSUE 47 - Spring 2011

Stunning Spring Day for Brodie Shield

On a wonderful sunny morning the whole school met up for

race the pupils were asked to run into the woods around the

the annual running of the Brodie cross country races. The Pre-

Dinosaur Bowl rather than through Plantation Wood. This year

Prep ran first on the Pinetum. They had been training hard

there were some very close finishes and as all the pupils ran

and produced some wonderful performances. John Paul Shaw

extremely well recording some fast times. The first to run were

was the fastest Year 2 boy running the course in 2 minutes

the U8/9s. Laurence Reeves and Freddie Joarder-White

and 21 seconds just beating Wilf Wyatt into second place. In

battled it out for first place and ran neck and neck all the way

the Year 2 girls’ race Lizzie Wooff just pipped Daisy Dent into

around. With the finish in sight Laurence just managed to ease

second place running the course in 2 minutes and 39

himself in front to win. The future for next year looks bright as

seconds.

the third place boy was James Crawley, currently in year 3 and the winners of the girls race was Megan Hopper also in Year

On the other side of the house the Prep School children ran the traditional courses with one small change. In the senior

Inside:

Continued on page 14...

Sizzling Strings • Squirrels at Manston • Alumni • Joseph • Clocktower Restoration

w w w. s a i n t r o n a n s . c o . u k

The Headmaster writes... The ‘harvest’ is not yet all in but already 2010/11 is

least one instrument by the end of the year. The

showing signs of being a vintage year. Whether the

various concerts this term have been testament to the

vintners declare a vintage will, of course, depend on

breadth and depth of musicianship in the school and

what is achieved next term but there is much to be

we all look forward to next term’s Founders Day

proud of already.

concert.

Seventeen children have gained offers for places at

The children have had a particularly full sports

Cranbrook with eight of the candidates scoring more

programme this term and, fortunately, the weather was

than 80% in the entry test. So far nine children have

kind so few afternoons were lost. We have made good

been awarded a total of sixteen scholarships to

progress in all sports be it rugby, hockey, lacrosse,

independent senior schools with several academic,

cross country, biathlon, judo or fencing and the

art, music and sports awards achieved. There may be

benefits of the new Sports Hall are being felt daily. We

some more in the pipeline with both Tonbridge and

have already started saving for the astroturf!

Cranbrook still to declare. The curriculum has been enriched by ‘trips out’ and Work has begun on the restoration of the parts of the

‘speakers in’ and the term so vibrantly concluded by a

main mansion and, over the holidays, the builders will

fine display of Easter bonnets in the Nursery and Pre-

be on site refurbishing the workshops to provide for

Prep and an energetic performance of Joseph by the

the new Design and Technology department due to

Prep School. Dr Campbell, once again, worked her

open in September. We were delighted that kind

wonders with the children.

generosity has enabled us to have the organ completely rebuilt and ‘in action’ once again in the Chapel.

Emma and I hope everyone enjoys the holidays and comes back ready for a bit of flag waving for the Royal Wedding.

We all enjoyed the Japanese Art exhibition and work is currently being exhibited at the two major prep School exhibitions around the country. It is expected that fourteen children will have achieved at Grade 5 in at

Coming up... Summer Events Term begins - 27th Apr Bushcraft talk for Midway Parents - 3rd May Eastbourne College Strings Workshop - 5th May Squirrels Trip to Bedgebury Pinetum - 18th May Chamber Choir & Brass Band Performance - 20th May Whole School Photograph - 24th May Class 4 Trip to Maidstone Art Gallery - 25th May Half term begins - 27th May Common Entrance Examinations - 6th to 9th Jun Nursery Trip to Mill House Farm - 16th Jun Informal Concert - 17th Jun Squirrels Trip to Drusillas - 20th Jun ABRMS Exams - 21st Jun Founder’s Day / Sports Day - 25th Jun Remove trip to Cornwall - 26th Jun to 1st Jul Midway trip to Lymington - 27th Jun to 1st Jul Upper trip to Dinan - 27th Jun to 2nd Jul LAMDA Presentation - 5th Jul Term Ends - 8th Jul Leavers’ Day - 9th Jul

Congratulations, Scholars! Well done to all those who have successfully gained places to their senior schools, especially to the nine children (so far) who have between them won sixteen awards! Flossy Atherton

Claremont (All Rounder, Sport)

Daisy Hutton

Sutton Valence (Academic & Sport), Claremont (Sport)

Hugo Darby

Eastbourne (Academic & Music)

Hugo Millns

Eastbourne (Sport)

William Best-Shaw

St Edmund’s (Art)

Tabi Underhill

Walthamstow Hall (Academic & Music)

In this issue... Staff Appointments

Second IT Room comes online

The Great Chistmas Flood

Authors and Illustrators visit during Book Week

Sizzling Strings

The School in the Community & Fundraising

Having a flippin’ good time in boarding

Squirrels fly off for the class trip of a lifetime

Friends of Saint Ronan’s

Restoration, Restoration, Restoration

Interview with Matron Karen

Wind Ensemble Breakfast

Spring has Sprung on the Farm!

Having a cracking time in the Reception classes!

Restored Chapel Organ returns

Joseph

Remove GV Girls take on the World

Bang goes the theory for Upper Scientists

Sir Oswald Lancaster

Love Letter found in the eaves

Peter Dickinson

Tongswood Cricket Club

Pooley’s Fireplace

The Rockery

Local Fundraisers

Bicton Memories

Girls’ Hockey Report

Rugby Report

Stop Press! ABRSM Results Minutes before going to press the ABRSM music exam results arrived. 33 children sat exams, with over a third sitting their grade 4 or grade 5 exams.

King’s Canterbury (Music)

All the children passed, with eight earning merits

James Macleod

Sutton Valence (Academic)

and four gaining a distinction.

Tommie T-V

King’s Canterbury (Art)

India Roestenburg

King’s Canterbury (Art)

Well done everyone!

Second IT Room comes online Staff Appointments We are delighted that Rachel Bennett will be returning for one year as the teacher of a new Class 3 class. Conca Goyder will also be coming back to cover Emily Best-Shaw’s Teaching Assistant role in the Pre-Prep. Philippa Gibson will be joining the English department in September. She is a highly qualified and experienced teacher of both English and Drama and has a Postgraduate Diploma from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in addition to her degree in English & Drama. Joining the Pre-Prep from a prep school ‘up North’ will be Katie Hampton, an experienced teacher with a raft of letters after her name!

We are delighted that our second computer suite 'Colossus' is now open for business! Based in what used to be the Girls' changing rooms and showers on the ground floor, the room has had a total revamp and looks fantastic. Consisting of 18 workstations, it will enhance the pupils access to IT across the curriculum. Mr TV says: “I am very pleased that we have managed to utilise a previously grotty area of the School for such an exciting purpose”. Colossus, names after the Bletchley Park’s main war time computer, can be found opposite the second hand clothes cupboard.

Philippa Gibson

Katie Hampton

The Great Christmas Flood A lazy Sunday morning and some late minute Christmas shopping were interrupted by the strangled voice of Robert Hill on my mobile phone. “You had better come to School quickly…your office is under water!” No sooner said than I arrived at the School to find a very wet Robert, and my office completely flooded with more water than I thought possible. The walls were dripping, my books and sofas were saturated. After drying. work to repair the Zoo is underway A new pipe in the Girls’ dormitories had split and water had

on the return train from his holiday in Norfolk and the Insurers

been running out for at least 24 hours. It had soaked the Zoo

were telephoned.

and then made its way to my office. With a solid floor its path was blocked…hence the swimming pool effect. One of the

So, we are now three months on. The rooms are still

great things about Saint Ronan’s is the willingness to

uninhabitable and I have been evacuated to the Sick Room.

help……within moments of the plight being announced, I had

Work is going ahead and, hopefully, we should be up and

a band of helpers desperately trying to save the archives and

running as normal in September. Hopefully the historians will

move everything out of the affected rooms. John Buckles got

be back in the Zoo sooner than that.

Authors and Illustrators visit during Book Week The children in the Nursery and the Pre-Prep became book worms for a week enjoying an assortment of books written and illustrated by Rhonda and David Armitage. The children were enthralled when both these people arrived in the Harris building to talk to them and draw the much loved characters of Mr and Mrs Grinling who look after the lighthouse by the cliff. David’s original drawings, inspired by the children’s comments, have been framed and hung in the corridors of Pre-Prep. The children also enjoyed coming to school in their pyjamas and snuggling down under the duvet for stories after the Hedgehogs’ class had entertained them all with a musical adaptation of the much loved story ‘Peace at Last’. The week concluded with everyone dressing up as their On World Book Day more stories were read by the Prep

favourite book character and the staff performing ‘My uncle is

school children who bought their favourite tales to share with

a Hunkle’ to the astonishment of the children.

their young friends.

Sizzling Strings!

What a wonderful concert the String Department presented

The Concert culminated in a 32 piece String Orchestra

with their Sizzling String recital one Friday evening this term.

playing Turkey in the Straw conducted by Sophie Williamson.

From beginners to the most advanced players we experienced

Thank you to Felix Buser, Sophie Williamson, Chris Hamblin

a wide range of musical genres. It was a valuable learning

and Andrew Witham for their nurturing of our string players.

experience for the Class 3 children who study the String Family every year. The Violin, Viola, ‘Cello and Double Bass were all present and the various solos and duets highlighted

Next term will see 12 children in Year 2 take up the offer of free taster lessons on the violin and ‘cello.

each instrument.

The School in the Community and Fundraising This term we have continued to invite Sandhurst Primary into school for such school events as Joseph and the French play as well as every Friday afternoon to take part in games with the Colts and Art with Shell VC. As this relationship continues to strengthen so have the numbers of those attending and the friendships in the classroom and rivalry on the pitch, especially with the boys, which has been good to see. We have also had fun this term raising over £500 for Comic

A black rhino - nor Monduli!

Relief, with children wearing something funny for money, and the cookery club putting on a stall after school; were at one

It has, in fact, gone one step further my adopting a 1 tonne 5

point they were raising £10 per minute. It was brilliant to see

year old male who lives at Port Lympne.

the sea of red around the school, not just during break and at lunch but also in the Great Space during the music concert that afternoon.

‘Monduli’ was born on the 7th January 2006 and shares a paddock with a female called Damara. They enjoy each other’s company, and frequently lie in the sun napping and

We have also raised funds for the Aspinall Foundation to

snoring! It will take about 10 years before Monduli is fully

support its conservation work on the endangered Black Rhino.

grown.

Having a flippin’ good time in boarding The boarders have had another fun packed term. Fresh from our success at making Japanese pots the boarders decided to tackle Valentine Cards. Under the leadership of Karen once again we embarked on a mission to make our nearest and dearest a card they would not forget! In most cases this was indeed the case! A misprint in the Blue Book that put Shrove Tuesday in February set everyone’s pulses racing however the children managed to wait until the more traditional date and we had a “flipping fun night”. Many races were run and the pupils flipping ability was of a very high standard. The most important competition of the night was who could fling the pancake highest into the night air and then catch it again. Antonia Hall has many talents and this is another one she can add to the ever growing list. Practice will be required if anyone wants to wrestle the crown from her next year. Towards the end of term the Year 8s were lucky enough to go and watch Tess of the d’Urbervilles at Benenden School which was a wonderful production. Thanks very much to all the staff and children who are involved in the boarding.

Squirrels fly off for the class trip of a lifetime!

Friends of Saint Ronan’s keep up the ‘Fun and Funds’

On Tuesday 8th March the Squirrels class had a school trip to

FOR have been busy raising fun and funds and generously

remember. As part of their topic on Transport, they visited

supporting a number of projects this term. The children had

Manston Airport and the Spitfire and Hurricane Museum

great Burn’s Night party and our thanks go to Clans MacLeod

nearby. Manston was closed to flights that day so the pupils

and Maclean for their great enthusiasm. The Quiz Night was

had the run of the place and were allowed to ‘check in’, have

packed out and Chris Parkinson joined Emma as the quiz

their passports stamped and were given boarding passes.

master as WTV was hundreds of miles away on a school

Once through security they were treated to a spectacular

inspection in deepest Devon. Katie Wyatt was instrumental in

display from the Airport Fire and Rescue Service. Later, whilst

organising the Restaurant evenings too, each of which was a

climbing on the fire engines and sounding the sirens they

success. Our thanks to masterchefs Vereker, Doig and Ryan.

witnessed a private jet taking off from the runway. All of this activity has meant that the FOR shopping trolley has Shortly afterwards they visited the fascinating Hurricane and

been filled with lots of goodies for the school. The Music

Spitfire Museum nearby where they were able to contrast the

Department took receipt of a new euphonium and xylophone,

commercial aircraft they had just seen with fighter planes from

the Art Department got more embellishing equipment, the

World War 2. They were beautifully behaved and impressed

Sports Department are soon to take receipt of a new bowling

all the airport staff with their sensible questions. The day was

machine and the Great Space projection equipment. Work

a flying success!

soon will also be completed on the jetty for the Lake.

Restoration, Restoration, Restoration Bit by bit work continues on the restoration of the buildings and the estate. Most notable this term, and especially exciting, are the works just started on the external stonework of the Great Space and, at last, the Clock Tower itself. In the Spring 2010 edition an article about the Clock Tower finished ‘all it needs now is a lick of paint’ and we are delighted that it is about to get just that.

Interview with Matron Karen

Wind Ensemble Breakfast

Q. What have you enjoyed most about your new job?

The wind ensemble delighted an early morning audience with a wide repertoire of pieces in their annual breakfast recital. A

A. I have enjoyed meeting everyone and I have lots of

wonderful beginning to the day for audience and players alike.

different things to do, it is very varied. I have also enjoyed being so energetic and “running” all over the school grounds.

Spring has sprung on the farm!

Q. How does it feel to be responsible for all the First Aid at school? A. Well, lots of people are First Aid trained in the school, so we are very lucky as lots of people are capable of doing things if I’m not around. But I’m ok with it as I was a nurse, so it comes easily to me. Q. Have we had any funny injuries at school since you have been here? A. No funny ones really, on the whole just bumps and bruises. Q. When is the busiest time of week? Why is this?

Some of the Nursery children were lucky enough to see some new born baby lambs at Angley School Farm. This is a trip we

A. The busiest time of the week is either Wednesday or Thursday afternoons because there are lots of fixtures so people tend to get injured. Afternoons in general as people throw themselves around at break time!

take every year to visit Mr Cooper and all his spring baby animals. A set of twins had just been born before we got there and were just getting to their feet when lots of little people arrived gazing down at them. Along with the lambs the

Q. What is it like to work with Amanda and the girls in

children got the chance to see two little pigmy kids, tiny chicks

the office?

and some very noisy ducklings.

A. They are lovely! They have been really kind to me.

One of the highlights was getting into the pen with about

Everyone at school has helped me a lot and made me feel

thirteen tiny piglets who nibbled our clothing excitedly playing

really welcome.

tug of war with our coats. Barnaby Dear was especially popular with the soft little pigs who thought he was a great

Q. What is the strangest part of your job?

playmate and happily climbed on and played rough and

Being responsible for the flag on the flagpole and making

tumble with him. Luckily Barnaby thought this an excellent

sure I don’t let the rope slip so Mr Parkinson has to climb up

game too. It was a great trip which allowed the children first

with his very tall ladder!

hand experience of what happens in Spring.

Having a cracking time in the Reception classes! There has been great excitement in the Reception classes at the arrival of two chicks. The eggs were placed in an incubator and we counted down the twenty-one days until hatching time. We did lots of chicken and egg based activities as part of our ‘Food and Farming’ topic. We used non-fiction books and models showing the development of a chick to follow their growth in the egg. We cooked with eggs, did observational drawings and we wrote a chick diary. Hatching day was a mix of excitement and disappointment as only two chicks hatched from the sixteen eggs that had been incubated. The first chick arrived at night and its hatching was eagerly observed by many followers on the ‘ChickCam’ live

The growth of the chicks is plotted with a daily ‘weigh in’ and

stream on the school’s website. The children were fascinated

there is amazement at their swift development with their

by the little wet exhausted chick. One child observed ‘I can

feathers appearing after just three days. The children have

see its meat. Do you like roast chicken? You need to eat the

helped to care for them by cleaning them out and checking

chicken when it is really old!’

they have food and water. It has been a lovely way to end the term.

Restored Chapel Organ Returns

Earlier in the term Paul Rayner-Brown and his team brought

manufacturers William Hill, making parts of it over 250 years

the organ back to school and have been rebuilt it in the

old. Originally it was part of an instrument approximately

Chapel. Since taking it away in the Summer they have fully

double the size but in the 1880s it was split into two separate

serviced, restored, and repaired the instrument as well as

organs - one of which is the one we have today and has been

added several new functions including a pedal-board and a

in the school's possession since the 1920s, when it was gifted

variety of new pipes.

to us by some generous parents.

Mr Rayner-Brown gave two short talks to the Prep School

The organ plays a vital role in the musical life of the school

about the way the organ works and the history of our

and we are delighted that this work should help it continue to

instrument. The organ was built in 1740, by famous organ

thrive for a long time to come.

With over seventy pupils performing and more behind the

singing clearly and showing off some nifty moves in the

scenes, this was a large-scale production, complete with its

‘Benjamin Calypso’.

very own camel (Mr Fox and Sam de Poel-Wood), led by Michael Cotter made a superb Joseph, and Freddie Katis

Ishmaelites, Charlie Morris and Joe-Joe Blick.

sang and acted well as Jacob. Both seemed to enjoy The off-stage chorus sang well, and danced through the

their chariot ride through the audience!

colours of Joseph’s coat in brightly coloured t-shirts, silk fans twirling. Their accompaniment to ‘Close Every Door to Me’, staged as candle-lit vigil, was particularly effective. The onstage Year 8s performed admirably in a number of different roles, taking the numerous costume changes in their stride. Imogen Stevens prowled the stage convincingly as Mrs Potiphar, and Hugo Millns, resplendent in tailcoat and monocle, did a splendid job of Potiphar himself.

Charlie Morris rocked the house as a suitably Elvislike Pharaoh - a role which earned him the Drama prize and our four Narrators led the audience smoothly through the story, with excellent performances all round. Our musicians Sam Statman and Maddie Joyce played beautifully. Special thanks go to Mr Witham on the keyboard and to Mrs Hill, without whose skill and dedication the musical would not have been possible. After a lot of hard work, the show really

The Brothers were moody and marvellous by turns,

went off with a bang (and not just from the confetti launchers)! Thanks must go to the staff involved in the production, from Mr Palmer leading the Front-of-House team to the Mr Clarke and Richie running the technical crew, Mrs Foley the wardrobe mistress and Mrs Morell ably assisting Dr Campbell in her first Saint Ronan’s musical. Well done to all involved!

Remove GV Girls take on the World On Monday 13th December – the first day of our Christmas holiday – four of our Year 8 girls spent the afternoon at Benenden, representing the school (for the first time ever) in a Model United Nations Conference. These prestigious events happen in many places across the world, and have been taking place virtually since the United Nations came into existence. In 1998, the Model UN Conference that gathered in Geneva was invited to report to the “real” UN (Economic and Social Council), having been granted Special Consultative Status. Although the occasion

The Art Department held an exhibition of the children’s work in the Great Space earlier in the term.

was not quite so daunting, the Benenden conference was very

This year’s theme was Japanese Art, and the exhibition

well attended, with about 150 delegates from six different

was an opportunity to showcase all the hard work that

schools (of which we were the only Prep School).

goes on in the Art Department - by children in their Art

The students who attend Model UN conferences represent a country – in our case, Brydie Booth and Tabitha Underhill “were” Austria; Ginny Dearn and Imogen Stevens, Haiti. The girls all attended the General Assembly; they also took

lessons as well as by those preparing for Art Scholarships. The exhibition was a real success, enjoyed by all who saw it, and we look forward to staging more in the future.

part in discussions within two commissions: the Political Committee and the Human Rights Committee. The issues that were debated were “The Question of Political Prisoners” and “The Question of Same-Sex Relationships” (Political), and “The Question of

Bang goes the theory for Upper Scientists at King’s

Eliminating the Use of Torture” and “The Question of the Rights of Aborigines in Australia” (Human Rights). Each member had to make an opening speech to state their country’s position, and was subsequently able to intervene publicly to raise Points of Information. All our delegates did this to good effect, and it was remarkable that one of them (Tabitha Underhill) was awarded a “Highly Commended” certificate, especially as this was our first participation. The debating was of a high standard; moreover, the number of people in attendance and the average age of the other speakers made this all the more intimidating – our pupils were indeed the youngest present.

A minibus full of budding scientists were treated to a science extravaganza by King’s, Canterbury in February. The party

The experience was highly valuable and will have taught the

were split into three groups and, on rotation, investigated

girls much. Ginny wrote of her time at the conference: “We

habituation in the garden snail (Helix pomantia), generating

went up to the podium shaking, to deliver our Position Paper.

electricity from metals of different reactivity and designing

Later, everyone was pushing during the lobbying, and it was

structures with an optimal weight: strength ratio.

bewildering. Overall, we had an exhilarating day and it was a unique and rewarding experience. I was very honoured to be part of it and it helped me to develop many new skills.”.

Sam Statman, Jago TV and Charlie Brasnett all won awards and everyone had a very worthwhile day. At tea they meet up with a number of ORs who were all looking very grown up!

Autumn Term Prizes & School Positions Senior Prefects

House and Form Prizes

Head Prefect

H. Millns

Senior Form

Remove GV

Second Prefect

C. Morris & I. Stevens

Junior Form

Shell VC

House Cup

Tongswood

House Captains Bicton

I. Roestenburg

Bicton Prize

E. Shaw

Pembroke

D. Hutton

Pembroke Prize

W. Wotton

Selden

D. Law

Selden Prize

A. Yates

Pembroke

B. Booth

Tongswood Prize

F. Atherton

Remove GV

T. Trelawny-Vernon

Prizes Harris Cup

T. Trelawny-Vernon

Remove JNH

C. Hudson

Senior Fencing

1. D. Hutton

Remove KK

H. Bunting

2. X. MacDonald

Upper SAS

M. Swinburne

1. A. Statman

Upper DB

E. Morris

2. C. Stewart

Upper BC

E. Dewberry

Conker Competition

P. Prince

Midway SC

H. Eva

Golf Prize

Z. Barker

Midway IP

E. Freeman

Saint Ronan’s X Factor

KRH

Shell JF

W. Honychurch

Drama - House award

I. Stevens

Shell VC

M. King

Music - Sight Reading

1. T. Underhill

Shell RH

H. Wyatt

2. E. Ulmann

4 RVS

G. Jones

4 RG

T. Wilmoth

3 AH

O. Hancock

3 RT

C. Stewart

Junior Fencing

General Knowledge Remove

H. Milns

Upper

A. Thomas, A. Hall, J. Trelawny-Vernon

Midway

H. Eva

Shell

K. Jordan

Class 4

L. Reeves, A. Hsuan

Class 3

J. Hamilton

Spring Term Prizes & School Positions Senior Prefects

Art Prizes

Head Prefect

J. Wooff

Second Prefect

W. Wotton

Bicton

H. Bunting

Pembroke

C. Morris

Selden

A. Miles

Pembroke

J. Leadsom

Prizes Harris Cup

H. Millns

Drama Cup

C. Morris

Golf Prize

Z. Barker

Most Improved Golfer

N. Easton

Potu Cup for Judo

G. Kennedy

Music - Sight Reading

J. Martin

Shell

Class 4

Class 3

Upper

J. Trelawny-Vernon, E. Ulmann

Midway

H. Pearson, M. Reeves

Shell

K. Allinson, S. Knatchbull, H. Trelawny-Vernon

Class 4

A. Taylor, E. Sayers

Class 3

L. Carnell

House and Form Prizes Midway SC

Junior Form

3 RT

House Cup

Tongswood

Bicton Prize

M. Swinburne

Pembroke Prize

A. Butler-Gallie

Selden Prize

E. Dawlings

Tongswood Prize

E. Hart

1= I. Charlesworth

Remove GV

H. Darby

1= C. Foley

Remove JNH

W. Wotton

1= T. Wyatt

Remove KK

A. Kennedy

1. V. Honychurch

Upper SAS

S. Statman

2= A. Butler-Gallie

Upper DB

M. Sidebottom

2= H. Macleod

Upper BC

W. Chatterton

1= O. Dent

Midway SC

H. MacLeod

1= J. Palmer

Midway IP

H. Pearson

2= E. Johnson

Shell JF

L. Watson

2= F. Carver

Shell VC

S. Balch

1. A. Balfour

Shell RH

K. Jordan

2= A. Yates

4 RVS

R. Flynn

2= E. Doig

4 LL

F. Campbell-Wilson

1. B. Hall

3 AH

F. Dear

2= O. Hancock

3 RT

J. Hamilton

1. J. Hsuan 2. F. Plugge

Midway

W. Best-Shaw,

Senior Form

Handwriting Competition

Upper

T. Trelawny-Vernon,

I. Roestenburg

House Captains

Remove

1= F. Allinson

2= D. Judd 2= B. Colley 2= A. Durtnell Headmaster’s Prizes Remove

T. Underhill, D. Law

Upper

R. Davidson

Midway

M. Reeves, H. Eva

Shell

G. Campbell-Wilson, O. Dent

Class 4

C. Goodacre

Class 3

C. Stewart

Sir Osbert Lancaster

WWII Love Letter found in the eaves During the war, Tongswood was requisitioned by the army. The soldiers slept where the dormitories are now, before being sent over to France. From time to time, we come across remnants of that time. Recently, whilst scrambling about in the eves, the electricians came across some old letters. There was one written in 1941 by the wife of a soldier called Jack who was from Tyneside. It was an old fashioned love lette, carefully written and beautifully preserved in its wartime envelope. It was full of every day details about life back at home. I felt a little intrusive reading it and decided that it really should be back with the family- although I didn’t know if Jack was alive or

Sir Osbert Lancaster was educated at Saint Ronan's School and then at Charterhouse and Lincoln College, Oxford, where he became friends with John Betjeman, drew cartoons for the University magazine Cherwell, and developed his trademark

dead. I sent it off to a local history group in Tyneside. I kept my fingers crossed that there would not be a sad ending to this story! Eventually, after about a year, I got this reply:

upper-class persona. I am writing to thank you for the letter you found in your attic .

In 1939 he became cartoonist at the Daily Express, where he

The events leading up to us receiving the

pioneered the Pocket Cartoon, a topical single-panel single-

letter were bizarre. It was unbelievable.

column drawing appearing on the front page, since imitated in several British newspapers. In these he sympathetically mocked the British upper classes, personified by his characters William (8th Earl of Littlehampton, formerly Viscount Draynflete) and his wife Maudie. During his Express career he drew some 10,000 cartoons over a period of 40 years.

Our son saw a notice in the local butcher’s window regarding a meeting about Bank Top, Woodside, where my husband was born and brought up. We went along assuming it would be an exhibition or photographs.. It was the first time either of us had attended a history group. Leaflets were distributed regarding relevant subjects. About half an hour into the meeting we were stunned to read a section of the letter in the leaflet. My embarrassed husband had to stand up and talk about it and his family. We found out that that day was the first time the letter had been mentioned in their leaflet – how strange was that to walk into the meeting, by chance, to discover a 70 year old letter written by your mother. My father-in-law was born in Ryton, one of nice children. Prior to joining the army he earned his living as a lorry driver. He was a 5’11” tall physically powerfully built, curly haired handsome chap. He was in the Royal Engineers during the Second World War, serving in Egypt, Suez, Italy, Greece, Palestine. He began his service as a Sapper and was later

He died in 1986 and the Times obituary recorded that he was

promoted to Sergeant Major of which he was very proud.

"the most polite and unsplenetic of cartoonists, he was never a crusader, remaining always a witty, civilized critic with a

Jack ended his career driving coaches of holiday makers to

profound understanding of the vagaries of human nature."

BlackpooI-I wonder if he ever thought of us down here in Kent!

Peter Dickinson Peter Dickinson is a prolific and award winning writer who has enjoyed working in many different genre. Philip Pullman

Recording the Memorials

places him as "One of the real masters of children's literature" whilst the crime writer P.D. James regards him as ‘the true

Information about the various war memorials in Saint Ronan’s

original, a superb writer who revitalises the traditions of the

have been submitted to the Imperial War Museum who are

mystery genre . . . incapable of writing a trite or inelegant

building up an online UK National Inventory of War Memorials.

sentence . . . a master."

There are now memorials in the Chapel to those Old Ronians

A work of particular interest to us is Hindsight first published in

who were killed in the Boer War as well as World War I and

1983. This detective novel is part inspired by his own wartime

World War II.

evacuation to Bicton Park in Devon whilst a pupil at Saint Ronan’s. The dust cover tempts the reader into the book by saying. ‘France has fallen, London waits for the Blitz, but the war seems far away from twelve-year-old Paul Rogers as he

In the Pinetum there is Charles Gunther’s dramatic memorial to the ‘Men of Tongswood’ which lists not only two of his sones (Norman and Chalres) but estate works that fell in the Great War.

roams the autumnal, deer-haunted park of Paddery, the great Devon house to which his prep school has been evacuated. In

One day we will find out what happened to the WWI memorial

his wanderings he meets and makes friends with ‘Mad Molly’

which was erected in 1920 but disappeared in 1945.

Benison, a famous and notorious beauty of the Twenties……’ Nowadays Peter Dickinson describes himself as ‘...is a tall, elderly, bony, beaky, wrinkled sort of fellow, with a lot of untidy grey hair and a weird hooting voice — in fact he looks and sounds a bit like Gandalf’s crazy twin, but he’s only rather absent-minded, probably because he’s thinking about something else. Day-dreaming, mostly.’ His website:www.peterdickinson.com is well worth a visit.

Our missing memorial

Tongswood Cricket Club

Pooley’s Fireplace

A century ago Charles Gunther laid the cricket ground at Tongswood and founded the Tongswood Cricket Club (The ‘T’ rather than ’M’CC!). A local newspaper reporter at the time elegantly described the ground as being on ‘a velvet plateau, bordered by lofty trees and commanding a glorious view across the rolling Weald to some distant tower. The nearest lane is fully half-a-mile away, the nearest road of any importance a mile or more. The song of the traffic is out of hearing, and only the lazy hum of insects and quiet noises of the countryside vie the smiting of bat against ball and the strange accents of cricket folk. The ground is smaller than some; but this lovely stretch of green amid the little, intimate beauties of the Weald, is surely one of the prettiest nurseries of the game.’ In its early years the club fielded a very fine all-estate team but several were killed in World War One so the membership was widened to include the surrounding villages. In 1921 the Head Gardener, Ernest Hardcastle, became captain of the team, a post he relinquished to his son in 1933.

For the last dozen years or so the former Master’s Common Room in the 1870’s wing has been used as a classroom. For five years it has been known as the Jam Palace, a name thought up by Jake Dealltry when he was in Year 3 in true ‘Great Space’ naming tradition. The room has a most distinctive fire surround and one that was clearly not original to the building or, it would seem, installed by the Gunthers when they extensively refurbished the house. Henry Stapleton’s article in the April 1983 school magazine explains all. Ex WWI veteran, Home Guard sergeant and Maths teacher Fred Poole made it! It is very fine and of particular note are the biblical inscription and the two heraldic crests. A bit of ‘googling’ reveals one to be that of the Poole family with a bold motto of ‘Pro libertate’ (For freedom). The second is still a mystery.

A century later the same ground is still ‘one of the prettiest nurseries of the game’ and we still field an all-estate team albeit the School’s First XI who eagerly await the start of the new season.

The Poole Family Crest

The Rockery The article about the Rockery published in the last issue of The Ronian has provoked interest. Mrs Porter, grand-daughter of Head Gardener Ernest Hardcastle, has been in contact with the school and came visiting clutching some fascinating photographs and a charming painting. Mrs Porter remembers visiting her grandfather and being allowed to play in the gardens. In fact she is the little girl seen exploring the Rockery in the photograph below.

Local Fundraisers Bicton Memories There has been a terrific response to the call from Gospatric Home and Henry Stapleton for those with memories of the school in its time in Bicton Park, Devon, during World War II. The memories are now being compiled into a book (some 90+ pages already) which will be launched at an event to be held at the Tower of London on the 7th June. Oliver & mum Emma

Harry Paul ORs from the period will receive an invitation shortly.

Emma Dent, mum of Oliver and Daisy, is to run the London Marathon on April 17th on behalf of Alpha-1 Awareness UK, a charity raising money for research into Alpa-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, a common cystic fibrosis that affects both her and Oliver. Old Ronian Harry Paul is raising money for a World Challenge project in Ecuador where he will help with local construction projects as well as wildlife conservation. He is willing to do odd jobs, babysitting, mowing etc to raise funds! Sponsor Emma at www.justgiving.com/EmmaDent1 and contact Harry on hazzapaul@hotmail.com or 01580 753055.

Sport Saint Ronan’s The Brodie Shield

Girls’ Hockey prizes awarded Spring 2011 U13 Player of the Season

F. Atherton

U13 Most Improved

J. Wooff, P. Thomas

U11 Player of the Season

H. Eva

U11 Most Improved

T. Curtis

U9 Player of the Season

E. Doig

U9 Most Improved

A. Taylor

Full Colours

F. Atherton, A. Maclean, A. Kennedy

Half Colours

X. MacDonald, D. Hutton H. Taylor, I. Roestenburg, E. Ulmann, M. Joyce, C. Wallace, A. Hall, H. Eva

...Continued from page 1 3. Megan has a lovely neat action and she seemed to jog

Lacrosse prizes awarded Spring 2011

effortlessly around the course. Close behind her racing for U13 Player of the Season

A. Maclean

U13 Most Improved

I. Roestenburg

U11 Player of the Season

M. Butler-Gallie

The U11 boys race was just as exciting as the pocket rockets;

U11 Most Improved

H. Eva

Archie Butler-Gallie and Finley Plugge charged around the

U9 Player of the Season

C. Goodacre

course. Once again there was only five seconds separating

U9 Most Improved

E. Sayers

the two with Archie taking the gold medal in 7mins 50s. In third

Full Colours

F. Atherton, A. Maclean,

second and third place was Lily Marsh and then Francesca Perrett.

place there was a very impressive run from Archie Bunting

A. Kennedy, I. Stevens,

who has trained hard and thoroughly deserved his medal. The

H. Taylor, E. Ulmann

girls’ race was also of a very high standard. Hannah Eva, fresh

Half Colours

from her success at Crystal Palace, led from the start and was

A. Hall, C. Wallace, T. Wyatt, M. Joyce

able to maintain an impressive pace throughout. Millie ButlerGallie and Maddie Reeves chased hard but were not able to get close enough to challenge for first place.

Brodie Shield Results Brodie Shield

A. Miles

F. Plugge ma

The two senior races also produced some very quick times.

Meyer Shield

T. Wyatt

I. Stevens

Thoma Wyatt flew around the course leaving all others in her

Fish Shield

A. Butler-Gallie F. Plugge mi

wake to finish in first place. Imogen Stevens and Xavia

Under 11 Girls

H. Eva

M. Butler-Gallie

McDonald gritted their teeth and ran hard however Thoma

Under 9 Boys

L. Reeves

F. Joarder-White

was not to be caught. In the boys’ race Archie Miles changed

Under 9 Girls

M. Hopper

L. Marsh

tactics and went out in front from the start of the race. Freddie

Barker Shield

J.P. Shaw

Plugge and James McLeod tucked in behind him and they all

Hanish-Oakes Shield

L. Wooff

looked comfortable as they completed the first half of the race.

Otters

J.P. Shaw

J. Pleavin

As they disappeared around the pitches Archie started to build

Badgers

W. Wyatt

F. Kirkland

up a small lead. By the time they had completed their lap of

Squirrels

G. Chatterton

L. Stewart

the Dinosaur Bowl it was slightly bigger and Archie powered

Rabbits

C. Palmer

B. King

up the hill to take secure first place. Freddie and then James

Hedgehogs

G. Andrew

T. Hall

followed close behind.

N2 Frogs

J. Kirkland

S. Webb

N2 Caterpillars

C. Parker

A. McDonald

N1 Frogs/Caterpillars

R. Morris

N. Taggart

Well done to all those that ran.

Sport Saint Ronan’s Girls’ Hockey Season Report The girls have performed well this Hockey season against some tough opposition, and with many outstanding individual performances. A number of our opponents undertook hockey during the Autumn term so were already well drilled and practice. This did not deter our girls who showed great strength in defence and drive in attack to hold their own in closely fought matches. This term we enjoyed wins in against Skippers Hill (U12), Vinehall (U8/U9), Claremont (U11), Beechwood (U12/U13), Sacred Heart (U10), and Rose Hill (U10, U11). There were also a number of draws. Play flowed up and down the pitch during the U13 games which were very evenly matched throughout. Ultimately, it all

created many goal scoring opportunities. The U10B’s also

came down to getting the ball past the keepers. Bella

created good match play. Spirited performance in attack came

Maclean, Flossy Atherton and India Roestenburg worked as a

from Kitty Jordan, Isabella McKenzie-Sanchez and Lucy

formidable force up front firing shots into the goal, many

Stephenson. The defence was also sound, led well by Sonali

successfully, the drills focusing on footwork and movement

Balch who tackled and cleared consistently.

around the ball really paying off. Xavia McDonald, Amy Kennedy and Daisy Hutton proved to be a rock in defence. There greatest success was a 9-0 victory against Beechwoodl.

The U9 girls got off to a slow and slightly uneasy start to the season. With a lot to learn, such as spacing and positional roles on a very large pitch, they quite often looked

The U12s played extremely well as a team, uniting from goal

overwhelmed. Confidence was quickly restored when they

keeper right through to the forwards. Emily Ullman, Maddie

won their first match against Vinehall. However, against

Joyce and Antonia Hall worked tirelessly to drive the ball up

Claremont we failed to respond promptly enough to what was

the pitch. Their confident stick work and effort rewarded by

happening around us. With some changes to positioning the

many goals. Cecilia Wallace was a consistent strength in

girls made a much better impact in subsequent matches;

defence clearing the ball with confidence, and Emma Simpson

Daisy Holden-Craufurd was an energetic force in mid-filed and

was frequently named player of the match for her effective

attack, Jenny Clark played well crossing the ball in from the

performance in goal.

wing, Elsa Doig was confident in mid-field, and Charlotte

The U11s were strong in all areas of the pitch. They moved

Goodacre became an assertive player in defence.

the ball well, passing accurately and maintaining possession.

The U8s really enjoyed their matches and the opportunity to

The forwards meant business in the circle and battled hard to

test their new found skills. They have all progressed

create goal scoring opportunities. There were inspiring

tremendously this term and can now pass the ball with

performances from Hannah Eva, Maddie Reeves, and Millie

accuracy, although a little more power is now required. Special

Butler-Gallie. The team’s efforts were rewarded with a number

mention goes to Alice Durtnell who was chief goal scorer, and

of victories, including the only team to win against Claremont.

in one match almost scored a double hat-trick!

The U10As demonstrated very positive and composed performances on the pitch. They rallied round under the

On the website...

leadership of Lucy Martin, who showed excellent and calm

Weekly match reports

captaincy if the team ever lost its shape. There were also

Boys’ Hockey report

determined performances from Savannah Knatchbull who

Lacrosse season report

showed great skills and speed, Bindi Vereker for her tireless

Biathlon news - Archie Miles & Hannah Eva

work in midfield to win the ball and turn defence into attacking

IAPS Netball Competition

opportunities, and Kate Woodford who’s pace and agility

U13 Lacrosse Masterclasses

Sport Saint Ronan’s

Rugby Season Report The rugby season has seen some wonderful team

matches bar a hard-earned draw against local rivals MHS.

performances this term. The 1st XV had a difficult fixture list however with Hugo Millns, Freddie Katis and Harry Bunting on hand in the forwards they were always going to be competitive. Impressive offensive wins against the likes of Rose Hill and Claremont were mixed with some determined defensive displays against DCPS and Holmwood House.

The U8 boys have been working hard to develop their passing, tackling and rucking skills ready for next season. They did have a few tag rugby matches and it was lovely to watch some impressive handling and running skills. Well played to all those boys that have played for the school this term.

The 2nd XV has a similar season and it was great to see Charlie Morris and William Best-Shaw attacking the opposition and they score some good tries. These were converted by Christian Hudson whose success rate was almost 100%.

Rugby Prizes awarded Spring 2011 U13 Player of the Season

H. Millns

U13 Most Improved

W. Best-Shaw

U11 Player of the Season

J. Pryke

The Colts A team utilised virtually every boy in Midway and

U11 Most Improved

A. Wooff

they won all but three matches which they lost narrowly. Jamie

Full Colours

F. Katis, A. Miles, H. Bunting

Pryke, pound for pound, could be the best tackler in school

Half Colours

W. Best-Shaw, H. Cadman,

and he was very well supported by Guy Kennedy and Archie

W. Wotton, E. Walker,

Wooff in the forwards. In the Ashdown sevens tournament

W. Chatteron, J. MacLeod,

they played extremely well to win the plate event with Oscar

R. Davidson, C. Hudson

Miles and Charlie Bird enjoying the space to run in. The Colts Buccaneers team was an U10 side and they were

Hockey Prizes awarded Spring 2011

probably the team of the season losing just once to an U11 /10

U13 Player of the Season

J. Leadsom

mixed side from Holmwood House. Their closest game was

U13 Most Improved

H. Kindersley

against DCPS whom they beat 25-20 with very tense finish!

U11 Player of the Season

G. Kennedy

The other matches they won comfortably with Josh Palmer,

U11 Most Improved

F. Bonner-Davies

Finlay Carr and Edward de Winton making a formidable pack.

Full Colours

H. Millns, F. Katis, F. Plugge,

They won plenty of good ball and Archie Butler-Gallie took full

J. MacLeod, H. Kindersley,

advantage to run in a number of hat-tricks.

W. Wotton Half Colours

The U9s also made an impressive start to contact rugby. Once again under the leadership of Richie they won all their

H. Bunting, O. Clark, D. Atherton, M. Cotter, C. Hudson