The Ronian - Issue 48 - Summer 2011 by Saint Ronan's School

The Ronian ISSUE 48 - Summer 2011

Inside:

Childrens’ Farm • A Midsummer Night’s Dream • Alumni • Bushcraft, Dinan & Bude

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

Coming up... Autumn Events NPP Parents’ Breakfast

8th Sept

Autumn Fayre (Prep School)

24th Sept

FOR Meeting

27th Sept

Class 3 & 4 Parents’ Breakfast

29th Sept

Harvest Festival

30th Sept

Jeans for Genes

7th Oct

House Shout

14th Oct

Half Term begins

14th Oct

Half Term ends

31st Oct

Fleet Street is an unforgiving world these days and The Editor

FOR Meeting

1st Nov

has cut me down to a hundred words with no ‘phone hacking

Upper & Remove Parents’ Breakfast

3rd Nov

permitted!

Bonfire Night

4th Nov

Granparents’ Tea

9th Nov

Christmas Fayre

11th Nov

Armistice Service

11th Nov

Informal Concert

25th Nov

Summer 2011 began with a celebration (the Royal Wedding) and ended with one (Leavers’ Day). A lot has been achieved between the two but, above all, we’ve had a lot of fun this term.

School Exams

21st-24th Nov

The pages that follow capture some of the action and

ABRSM Exams

28th/29th Nov

excitement and I hope make you feel involved.

The Feast

6th Dec

NPP Christmas Performance

9th Dec

Term ends

9th Dec

Carol Service

9th Dec

Here’s to a long hot Summer.

The thirty four leavers in Remove (Year 8) have done exceptionally well and are destined for twelve different schools. All passed Common E

Art, Academics, Sport and Music), ten achieved at least Grade Five in music and seventeen gained entry to Cranbrook, two with awards. An

follows:Battle Abbey, Benenden, Claremont Senior*, Cranbrook*, Eastbourne*, Highworth Girls, King’s, Canterbury*, St Edmund’s, Canterbu

STOP PRESS! Frescoes uncovered in Front Hall

During the redecoration of the Front Hall (AKA the ‘Red Sea

In this issue... Some sleep achieved at camping night

New Staff and New Trustee

NPP at the Seaside!

Valete

FOR help establish childrens’ farm

Community Links

Boarding Awards

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Upper visit Park Farm

Postcards from the Music Dept

Sailors make headway at IAPS sailing regatta

Gappers

We all like to be beside the seaside

Midway learn to survive the bush

Leavers trip to Bude

Summer Term Prize Giving

Behind the plasterboards were a series of beautiful frescoes.

Artist-in-Residence Appointed

We called in our local expert, former parent Alice Munro-

Carnival, Samba and Fajitas - Cross Curricular Week

Faure, who was able to identify the artist as Dutchman Nico

Upper French trip to Dinan

Jungmann, who was active in Britain from 1893.

Leavers service an emotional end for Remove pupils

New biography of Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, OR

Updates from Class of 2007

‘Bicton Generation’ reunite at Tower of London

Carpet’ area) some plasterboarding was removed with the intention of replacing it, however we were in for a big surprise.

The good news is that the frescoes should all be restorable.

Sports Reports

18-20

Entrance many with very high grades indeed (35% A*/A, 68% A*/B), twelve of them amassed a total of sixteen scholarships (four in each of

n impressive year for Remove and we wish them all continued success at their chosen senior schools. The list of schools this year is as

ury*, St Leonard’s-Mayfield, Stowe, Sutton Valence*, Worth (* Donates scholarships won).

New Trustee

Some Sleep Achieved at Camping Night!

Dr Sara Butler-Gallie has been invited to join the School’s governing body and

At the end of a busy cross-curricular week on Latin America, Class 3, Class 4 and Shell scrambled to find the best spots to pitch their tents for the annual camping night.

thus serve as a Trustee. She will work alongside Dr

The tent collection was wide and varied, ranging from the tiny pop-ups to one vast

Blundell in the Health, Safety

pleasure dome resplendant with blow-up sofas and even a pool table!

and Welfare Committee and bring considerable

After all the tents were up the barbeque kicked off, with burgers and hot dogs providing a

experience to the Board, not

warming meal. There was a chance to swim for those who wanted before bedtime, which

least as a parent of five

was sounded by Mr Hill’s trumpet.

children all at differing stages

In a break with tradition it is reported that at least some of the children even achieved a few hours of sleep before waking for breakfast!

New staff William Bennett will take on DT in September. After graduating with an Engineering degree, William worked in industry for ten years, including a spell running his own furniture making business, before training at Goldsmiths, London to become a DT teacher. He is currently Head of DT in a large secondary school but could not resist the challenge of setting up a new department. He confesses to be something of a ‘petrol head’ and enjoys restoring vintage motorcycles. He has two teenage daughters….lucky chap!

Angela Saunders will become the new teaching assistant. She is currently working at MHS helping on a one-on-one basis a Y2 child with behavioural issues. She has three children, the younger ones are twins.

of their education.

NPP at the Seaside! The Nursery and Pre-Prep all enjoyed a week of seaside fun without ever leaving Saint Ronan’s. This was the theme for the Summer term cross curricular week when all learning is related to the one topic. The children drew detailed sketches of shells, sewed collage fish, wrote seaside stories and even solved seaside maths problems. Just when the children were about to say ‘not the seaside again’ in came an amazing lady from ‘History off the page’ and taught them all about seaside holidays through the ages.

atmosphere of the pier with the fortune tellers and Punch and

While children giggled at the old fashioned swimming

Judy shows.

costumes, staff reminisced about wearing them! Ten old, battered suitcases full of artefacts were handled by the children who became museum curators for the morning. Then they made train tickets, seaside souvenirs and flags and after lunch set off to the pretend pier set up in the Great Space. The children became sellers and buyers enjoying all the

Valete

The week ended with a sandcastle competition in the enormous sand pit, a swim in the sea (well school pool with added salt!) picnic lunch and a good old Friday afternoon sing song. Ben Clarke judged the Squirrels class as the best sandcastle builders being particularly impressed with their crenellations.

FOR support helps to establish Children’s Farm

We are fortunate to be only saying a few farewells but with do so with much gratitude and best wishes for the future. Ann Hanish-Oates (Reception) begins her retirement after seven years with us, Jenni Foley (English) steps down after five years as does Jeremy Hart (History) after four. Fiona

The Friends of saint Ronan’s (FOR) have been busy supporting the School again this term

Stuart (Teaching Assistant

and, with funds raised, are having new curtains made up for the Library and have pledged

and Alumni Secretary) also

£5,000 towards the cost of new equipment for the DT Department. The proceeds from the

moves on to work closer to

Christmas Fayre are going towards the children’s farm being established in the Old Orchard

home and Stephanie Morris

by the Founder’s Hall over the next 4-5 months.

starts her maternity leave. We say farewell to Michaela Kossuth who has so ably covered for Rebecca Gossage (Biology) during her

We will buy chickens, but be lent pigs and sheep from Park Farm and help rear them before returning them to Anne & Andy Clarke for the holidays. Each term different animals will take it in turns to be pampered by the children but will only visit once (!). The chickens will be ours and will need names. Farmers Buckles and Andrew will mastermind this project and we hope the “Green Team” will be involved in making it very eco friendly.

maternity leave.

Background artwork by Jessamy Coulson

Harry MacLeod was awarded 3rd Place in the Hawkhurst Flix and Pix photographic competion.

Boarding Awards Boarding this year has been great fun and Mr Fox would like to thank all the pupils, the staff, especially Julie who has survived her first year and Sam – a wonderful gap student. To mark the end of her first year Julie handed out a few fun awards. Congratulations to Sonali Balch who was given boarder of the year and Ginny Dearn and Hugo Millns who were Year 8 boarders of the year.

Community Links Once again, Saint Ronan’s has played an pivotal role within the local community. Within the 'Flix and Pix' event hosted by the Hawkhurst Partnership, Saint Ronan’s organised the schools’ part of this event with seven local schools and over three hundred children being transported to viewings of ‘ Bridge to Terabithia’. From the letters we have received it is clear that this has become a very popular event and enables Saint Ronan’s to become closely involved with local schools, who can attend such ventures at minimal cost. The photographic side of the event was also well received with a photo exhibition at Hawkhurst Village Hall, in which Harry MacLeod was awarded third place for his photograph of a negative of the water fountain. As part of the post-examination programme the leavers carried out over twenty hours of gardening at the Almshouses opposite Jempson’s in Hawkhurst, whilst at Bowles Lodge Care Home a number of them visited to chat to residents and perform a concert. This was hugely well received - as one resident put it, ‘it's made my month'! The children were extremely humbled by their time at the care home as they spent the remaining two hours talking to the residents about their childhoods, which allowed them to put their own in context. Both groups were a real credit to the school and their parents. As ever, Sandhurst Primary School continue to join us on a Friday afternoon for Games and Art. Year on year the benefits of this are highlighted by the interaction of our children with the Sandhurst pupils, with many friendships, improved skills and good art work apparent.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

The weather leading up to our production may not have been

Theseus and Hippolyta found marital happiness, whilst the

a dream, with much of the last Wednesday rehearsal held

rustics performed ‘the most lamentable comedy and most

inside a tent approaching lift off, but the day itself was at least

cruel death of Pyramus and Thisbe’ to much amusement.

dry, if not sunny, the setting, glorious, and the cast gorgeous in

Despite fears of being typecast, Hattie, who had been

their Edwardian costumes.

unavailable for our dress rehearsal - apparently re-negotiating her Dentistix fee - put in a superb performance as Starveling’s

Before the magical backdrop of the Maples, Titania, Oberon and the four lovers disentangled their affairs of the heart to find ‘reasonable’ love, no easy task, for, as the wise buffoon Bottom says, ‘reason and love keep little company together

dog. Puck was energetic and impish, and our musicians provided the perfect musical accompaniment, written by our very own, very talented Mr Witham. Thanks to all who assisted and supported the production.

nowadays.’

Upper visit Park Farm As part of their Geography fieldwork studies, Upper made a trip to neighbouting Park Farm, which encompasses part of the school’s estate and on which the majority of the school’s meat is reared by farmer Andy Clarke and his wife Anne. Anne met us at Saint Ronan’s and we walked down to a field called Eight Acres. This is a stunning wildflower meadow. We counted up to fourteen species of wildflower in a quadrat and there were hundreds of grasshoppers, bees, butterflies and dragonflies. We walked through the woods to the grazed land and Anne showed us the livestock. Being in the yard with the pigs and the bulls was great.

of the farm. Andy explained how important a factor rain is for the farm. Park Farm care deeply about our environment. We

Then Andy took us over to Oylers to look at the arable section

enjoyed our visit immensely.

Postcards from the Music Dept

Clockwise from top left: The Chamber Choir in concert; members of the Brass Band preparing a piece; Mrs Williamson leads the Intermediate Strings group in rehearsal; the Woodwind Ensemble pose for a group shot. The Music Department has enjoyed an exciting jam packed

Baritone Saxophone and we will take delivery of this during

term, this Summer. Our string players visited Eastbourne

the Summer holidays….Our Sax players can’t wait to get their

College in the first week and had a wonderful day playing a

hands on it!

wide repertoire of music with six prep schools in the area. Our Intermediate String Orchestra went on to produce a lovely breakfast recital under the baton of Mrs Sophie Williamson later in the term.

The Chamber Choir really excelled in their Friday evening recital with the Brass Band. Their choice of songs was lovely and there was a memorable solo by Roo Withey-Stevens. It was really sad to hear the wonderful Remove girls and boys

Our Flute Choir under the leadership of Mrs Effie Sparkhall

for the last time. We shall miss their talents and enthusiasm!

has excelled this term too. Their Breakfast recital was wellreceived by parents and friends. They made a recording which will soon be available on the school website. Do please keep an eye out for it!

We held a lovely Informal Concert once more in the Great Space and for the first time featured the drumkit! Mr Adam Tanner our drum specialist will dissect the drumkit and play for the children next term as part of the Friday evening lecture

It was lovely to hear both the Brass Band (Mr Hollamby and

series.

Mr Hill) and the Wind Ensemble (Mr Rutland) on the Terrace on Founder’s Day. These groups have made such excellent progress over the past few years, their repertoire is wide and varied and we are grateful for the tailor-made arrangements Mr Witham provides for these groups. We are so grateful for our parents’ generosity… the Saxophone fund has more than covered a second hand

After school exam week we all let our hair down in Battle of the Bands – where every child had a chance to perform within their classroom band. Great fun was had by all We ended the term with a wonderful ‘Morning at the Proms’ concert. The Saint Ronan’s Orchestra excelled with their superb playing….and great fun was had by all.

Sailors make headway at IAPS Sailing Regatta Despite a slightly more select group than last year, we have had a very successful sailing season. With excellent windy weather on our side, Harry Kindersley, Josh Palmer, Finley Plugge and Roo WS have excelled, and with a really ‘gung ho’ attitude have gained three RYA stage 2 and one stage 1 awards between them. Our more experienced sailors, Robert Davidson and Cecilia Wallace, trained together in preparation for the IAPS U13 sailing regatta at Portland, the home of the Olympic sailing venue. A couple of miles out to sea they came 4th out of 16 in the silver group. Being only U12 I am very proud of them for working together and achieving such a result, and look forward to seeing them compete on a level playing field next year. Next year we will be moving our Tuesday sailing slot to Friday evenings, which will enable us to spend more time on the water. Pupils will be taken via minibus from school to Bewl where they will be picked up by parents later on in the Robert & Cecilia at Portland

evening.

Gappers We have been very fortunate to have enlisted the services of Jamie Harris (OR), Sam Depoel Wood and Mike Churchill this year. We are looking forward, at various stages, to welcoming Julius Carter (OR), Olivia

We all like to be beside the seaside!

Backhouse, Polly Startin (OR), William Langer (OR) and Tilly Randle in 2011-12.

The Nursery and Pre-Prep drew on this term’s theme of ‘The Seaside’ as inspiration for their

It is great to have Old

concert on Founder’s Day. The concert began with all the children performing ‘Oh I do like to be

Ronians back with us in this

beside the Seaside’, and we made use of the fantasic new screen so that the audience could

capacity so do get in touch if

join in!

you are planning your gap year.

Each class and year group showcased the work that they have been doing in their class music lessons; clearly there is some real musical talent developing which bodes well for future generations of musicians. Well done to all the children and many thanks to Mrs Hill.

Midway learn to survive the bush All thirty one children in Midway joined Mrs Lloyd, Julie Gillam

and trap animals, light fires, administer First Aid, shot arrows

and Mr TV for a challenging Expedition Week with the

and, above all, work as a team. Highlights of the week was the

Bushcraft Company on the Pylewell Estate near Lymington.

talent competition in the Yurt, rescuing a pilot from a ‘crashed’

The group was split into three tribes and built camps in the

aircraft and playing games of Splat and Ping. For many

woods to sleep in and learnt how to cook on an open fire

children this was the longest they’d been away from home but

(salmon and lobster were on the menu!!), remove ticks, track

all triumphed.

Summer Term Prize Giving Senior Prefects

Prizes

Head Prefect

S. Statman

Ross Cup for Performing Arts

J. Blick

Second Prefect

E. Ulmann

Reading Prize

I. Stevens

Scales Cup

C. Morris & D. Law

Langer Cup

W. Wotton

Challenge Cup

H. Darby

Graham Langridge Prize

T. Trelawny-Vernon

Harris Cup

J. Wooff

Carpentry Prize

J. Crawley

House Captains Bicton

M. Swinburne

Pembroke

W. Chatterton

Selden

M. Joyce

Pembroke

A. Hall

Academic Prizes Roxburgh Scholarship Prizes

J. Hsuan, D. Hutton, F. Atherton, F.Katis, H. Darby, H. Millns, T. Underhill, T. Trelawny-Vernon, W. Best-Sahw, J. MacLeod, I. Roestenburg

Cricket Prizes Outstanding Contribution

H. Millns

Weston Cup for best 1st XI

D. Atherton

Neame Cup for most improved A. Miles Fielding Cup

H. Bunting

Batting Cup

D. Atherton

Bowling Cup

O. Clark

Classics Cup

H. Darby

Farrow Cup for best Colt

L. Goodacre

ICT Prize

H. Cadman

1925 Cup for most improved

T. Gadd

Nourse History Cup

A. Maclean

House Leagues

Bicton

Franks French Cup

T. Underhill

Half Colours

H. Darby, W. Chatterton,

Stuart Geography Globe

C. Morris

C. Foley, J Pryke, C. Bird,

Hatfield RE Prize

H. Bunting & F. Plugge

L. Goodacre, H. Bunting,

Barker English Cup

J. Wooff

C. Hudson, A. Miles,

Helme Maths Cup

J. Hsuan

W. Simpson, H. Darby,

Bridge Science Cup

J. MacLeod

F. Katis, J. MacLeod, T. Trelawny-Vernon

Music Prizes

Full Colours

D. Atherton, W. Wotton,

Outstanding Contribution

G. Dearn & F. Katis

Most improved instrumentalist

J. Martin

Senior Prize

H. Darby

Rounders Prizes

Intermediate Prize

H. Pearson

Outstanding Contribution

F. Atherton

Junior Prize

G. Campbell-Wilson &

Best U13 player

I. Roestenburg

L. Stephenson

Most improved U13 player

P. Thomas

Aaran’s cup for Chapel Choir

C. Morris & D. Hutton

Best U11 player

H. Eva

Sight Reading Prize

I. Charlesworth

Most improved U11 player

A. Butler-Gallie

S.R. Music Scholarships

H. Pearson, M. Cotter,

House Leagues

Bicton

H. Darby, E. Hart, H. Knight,

Half Colours

T. Underhill, A. Freeman,

J. Leadsom, O. Clark

A. Kennedy, I. Roestenburg,

P. Thomas, D. Hutton,

L. Russell, S. Statman,

M. Joyce, E. Ulmann,

M.Joyce, H. Taylor,

H. Eva, T. Curtis, M. Reeves

A. Maclean.

Full Colours

F. Atherton, H. Taylor, A. Kennedy, I. Roestenburg,

Art Prizes

I. Stevens, J. Wooff,

Outstanding Contribution

T. Trelawny-Vernon

Senior Cup

W. Best-Shaw

Junior Cup

J. Coulson

X. McDonald

Sports Prizes Tennis Cup

J. Hsuan

Sailing Cup

R. Davidson

Sailing Awards

R. Withey-Stevens, F. Plugge, H. Kindersley, J. Palmer

Most improved sailor

C. Wallace

Golf Prize

Z. Barker

Most improved golfer

O. Milbourne

Fencing Prize

D. Hutton

Judo Prize

H. Franklin

Kennedy Vereker Equestrian

A. Freeman

House and Form Prizes Senior Form

Upper DB

Junior Form

3 AH

House Cup

Bicton

Bicton Prize

H. Darby

Pembroke Prize

D. Hutton

Selden Prize

O. Clark

Tongswood Prize

C. Hudson

Remove GV

B. Booth & J. MacLeod

Remove JNH

H. Kindersley & J. Leadsom

Remove KK

X. McDonald & A. Kennedy

Upper SAS

J. Trelawny-Vernon

Upper DB

A. Kent

Upper BC

N. Curtis

Midway SC

A. Russell

Midway IP

V. Honychurch

Shell JF

O. Dent

Shell VC

M. Shaw

For the first time, and in recognition of our strength and local

Shell RH

H. Jones & S. Knatchbull

reputation in Art, we have appointed Saint Ronan’s first ‘Artist-

4 RVS

N. Easton

in-Residence’, Cathryn Kemp.

4 LL

L. Mickelborg

3 AH

A. Moore

3 RT

R. Pringle

A design in clay by Henry Jones inspired by the architecture of Saint Ronan’s.

Artist-in-Residence Appointed

Cathryn will be setting up a studio in the Art Department in September and work alongside Sally Rhodda and Karen Stickney offering yet a further dynamic to this flourishing department.

Pre-Prep Prizes Lin Smith Cup

S. Young

Woodmansee Cup

M. McDonald

Cathryn is an award-winning artist making large but delicate abstract paintings. She studied at Central St Martins in London and completed her MA at Winchester School of Art’s Barcelona studios. She has exhibited her work in Russia, Europe and won a London Arts Board award for installation work completed as Artists in Residence in Moscow. See her website: www.cathrynkemp.com

Carnival, Samba and Fajitas - Cross Curricular Week

While the older pupils were away on their expeditions, children in Years 3 to 5 enjoyed an

making Mexican skeletons – as well as a week’s worth of delicious exotic food

exciting Cross-Curricular Week, starting on

cooked by our catering team: the

Monday 27th June.

chicken enchiladas were truly memorable!

The concept, which we have been running at this time of term for several years, is to focus on one broad

The week culminated in our very own Brazilian

topic (Latin America, this year – following Africa last

Carnival, on the Friday morning, in which all

summer), to abandon the usual timetable, and to

pupils performed – and dressed up. It was an

schedule tailor-made activities to increase the children’s

absolutely wonderful sight, and quite possibly

awareness and understanding of the world.

one of the best parties ever held in the Great Space! Some of the performances would

The following were on offer this year – among others: a Samba workshop (delivered by a professional dancer from Brazil), some Brazilian drumming,

certainly not have been out of place on the streets of Rio – and not just Mr Andrew’s dancing!!

mask-making, Spanish lessons, a talk about life in Sao Paulo (by a native… now living in Tonbridge!),

Beyond the fun and excitement, though, much

some cookery, a talk on Mrs Kossuth’s work researching

excellent learning took place, and it was a most

monkeys in Peru, some Inca and Aztec Maths, Art sessions

valuable experience for all pupils involved.

Upper French trip to Dinan Upper’s annual trip to Saint-Cast in Dinan, France, was a great success. Activities ranged from sailing, tree climbing and bread baking to spending time in the local markets and organising the buying of their own lunch. Some photographs and quotes from the children say it all!

Ella: “I enjoyed the wheel barrow races”. Eddie: “Bread baking was my favourite”. Joe-Joe: “I am really enjoying experiencing the French culture and the architecture”. Millie: “The sand sculpture we made was awesome; it was a Jake Dealtry mermaid!”

Leavers’ Service an emotional end for the Remove pupils

If the summer term ends on the Friday afternoon for the great

as “bloodsucking aliens”!), memories of Saint Ronan’s, two

majority of pupils, those in Year 8 have one last school day to

other texts written by the children themselves, and an array of

look forward to – although, thankfully, not one where lessons

musical performances, which included beautiful renditions of

feature! Instead, children invite their parents and all members

some touching songs, but also a wonderfully entertaining

of Staff to a unique Chapel Service, to which each one of them

instrumental number, arranged by Mr Witham, and entitled…

contributes, through a reading or musical performance. This is

Indiana Simpson and the Last Cracking Sandwich!

how the Head Prefect put it, in her customary introduction: “This special service, unlike any other, is our own. Through it, we will show off a fragment of what the teachers here have taught us.”

In truth, the occasion is a deeply meaningful and emotional one, and embodies for many of the children (who wear their Old Ronians’ ties for the very first time) the realisation that their time at the school has come to an end. This summer’s

Among the items this year were poems (from W.B. Yeats to a

Leavers were truly a “vintage year”, and their service was a

more modern and humorous piece, which describes teachers

fitting tribute to what they have achieved.

New biography of Sir Richard Rodney Bennet (Old Ronian)

Rodney Bennett, as evidenced in the enormous diversity of his activities, can be acknowledged as one of the most complete musicians of recent times. Not only does he have a remarkable 300 commissioned concert works to his name – establishing him among the leading British twentieth-century composers – but he has also contrived to lead several completely different musical lives. For cabaret and jazz club devotees, Bennett is one of the finest and most knowledgeable of all exponents of the ‘Great American Songbook’, a much-in-demand singer and accompanist over the past thirty-five years and, as such, the stage partner of some of the most glamorous performers in the business. Film and television buffs will be interested to know that he wrote the original score for Doctor Who and the soundtrack to Anthony Meredith, a former colleague of WTV from his days at Stowe, has recently written the 600 page authorised biography

Murder on the Orient Express amongst many other famous works.

of Sir Rodney Bennett entitled ‘Richard Rodney Bennett: The

This year Richard Rodney Bennett celebrates his seventy-fifth

Complete Musician’ and published by Omnibus Press.

birthday.

Updates from the Class of 2007 Our congratulations to Luca Bertoli-Mitchell and Ollie Sheakey who have been appointed Head of School and Deputy Head of School respectively at Cranbrook.

Tickets are £15 from southeastappeal@nspcc.org.uk Holly Kerr directed her house to victory in their House Shout competition, is the captain of Cranbrook’s 2nd XI Hockey, will

Olivia Honychurch achieved straight A* grades at GCSE! Harrow sports scholar Hamish MacIntyre dislocated his

be house captain of Horsely House next term and is now busy directing and producing The Wizard of Oz!

shoulder on the second day of the school year which put him

Sophie Millns has been working in the props workshop at

out of action until the football season; thankfully he has made

Glyndebourne, and is hoping to move on from Eastbourne to

a full recovery. He has been made a member of the

RADA to train for a career in this industry.

philathletic club and is amongst the top 4 atheletes in the school.

Tanzania beckons for Robert Garnier who is off to spend the summer holidays there before completing his A levels.

Another Harrovian, David Griffiths has represented the school in almost every sport imaginable and finished second behind OR Jack Stow in the ‘Long Ducker’ 20 mile run.

Autumn Withey-Stevens continues to flourish at King’s and was Viola in their production of Twelfth Night. She also sang a solo (My Funny Valentine ) in the Jazz Concert in King’s

Grace Johnson has been appointed head of Walpole House

Week.

at Kings’ Canterbury. Keep us up to date with your news by e-mailing Musical scholar Thomas Harris is to perform a charity concert in the Great Space in aid of the NSPCC on 30th August.

alumni@saintronans.co.uk

‘Bicton Generation’ reunite at the Tower of London The Headquaters of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers at the Tower of London was the perfect setting for a reunion of Saint Ronan’s old boys who were at the school during its time at Bicton Park in Devon, to where it was evacuated during the Second World War. Around forty old boys were present, many with their wives, along with a ‘home team’ of four members of the current staff and six pupils who helped to host the event. Some of the Old Ronians had not seen each other since the day they left the school while others have been in contact ever since. Aside from the opportunity to reconnect with old friends, the highlight of the occasion was the launch of a new book, compiled by Gospatric Home and Henry Stapleton. “The War Years: St. Ronan’s at Bicton Park” is a living history of the time that the school spent in Devon, with contributions having been made by many of those who were at the school at the time. It also contains photographs and letters from the era, including many written by W. B. ‘Harry’ Harris himself. Sir John Vassar-Smith had prepared a DVD of footage from the era, in which many of those present were able to identify themselves! However there was also much debate as to the identities of others in the film. After a delicious buffet lunch Gos Home and the Headmaster gave speeches to thank all those who had contributed to the book and to welcome everyone to the reunion, and each Old Boy was presented with a copy. The children present then left for a guided tour of the Crown Jewels and, to their delight, the Torture Museum! Many thanks must go to Gos Home who was the driving force behind both the book and the event. He worked tirelessly to track down many ORs and to edit all the contributions that came flooding in.

“The War Years: St. Ronan’s at Bicton Park” is available to anyone who would like a copy, while stocks last! Please e-mail alumni@saintronans.co.uk with your name and address and we will gladly send one out to you.

Sport Saint Ronan’s Sports Day Report

Hannah’s IAPS Athletics On Monday the 4th of July Hannah Eva travelled all the way to Birmingham for the IAPS National Athletics Championships, having won a place during trials at Ashford. The Championships were held at the Alexandra Stadium, and Hannah was to compete in the 200m. The day went very well. Up against stiff competition from around the country and another twenty-three 200m hopefuls (3 heats of 8 runners), Hannah successfully won her heat (2) in 29.71. Heat 1 was won in 30.48 and heat 3 in 30.28. Hannah’s time was to be the fastest 200m track time of the day, and a personal best for her, so things were looking hopeful for the final. Unfortunately Hannah got off to a bad start and very narrowly missed out on a medal position (on the dip) coming 4th in 30.18. The 1st three times were 30.00, 30.00 and 30.14; so she was less than a fifth of a second behind the gold medal winner. An extremely close and exciting finish.

With the clouds disappearing and the Pimms flowing (adults not athletes!) the pupils gathered in the centre of the track for the annual inter-house athletics competition.

Huge congratulations must go to Hannah for her fantastic achievements in athletics and cross country running this year. She really is a promising athlete with a very exciting future

Despite some impressive performances only four records

ahead. Well done.

were broken this year. India Roestenburg beat the U13 girls 75m hurdles record and Hannah Eva beat the U11 girls 100m time. In the field events Maddie Joyce threw the javelin a record 25.64 m while Charlie Bird beat the U11 boy’s long jump record with a jump of 4m. This record has been held by

Long Standing Athletics Records

Oscar Richards since 2004. Well done to all the athletes that took part and congratulations to Tongswood for winning the house competition. Victor and Victrix Ludorum

U9 Boys 75m

G. Katis

2004

12.07s

U9 Boys Long Jump

O. Richards

2002

3.08m

U9 Boys Cricket Ball

O. Nobay

2003

35m

U11 Boys 75m

O. Richards

2004

13.69s

U13 Victor Ludorum

O. Clark

U11 Boys Long Jump

O. Richards

2004

3.94m

U11 Victor Ludorum

C. Bird

U11 Boys Cricket Ball

C. Carter

2004

45.23m

U9 Victor Ludorum

A. Yates

U11 Boys 100m

W. Dinger

1991

14.65s

U13 Victrix Ludorum

T. Wyatt

U11 Boys 200m

P. Chapman

1994

27.63s

U11 Victrix Ludorum

H. Eva

U13 Boys 100m

P. Chapman

1994

12.53s

U9 Victrix Ludorum

D. Holden-Crauford

U13 Boys Long Jump

H. Elias

1998

4.72m

Sport Saint Ronan’s A Great Season on the Rounders Pitch The Saint Ronan’s girls have enjoyed a great season of rounders and have really come into their own against other schools. Out of 46 matches played we were victorious in 30, with most of our A teams practically unbeaten. One of our most enjoyable afternoons was a clean sweep of wins for all 6 senior teams against Claremont. The U13 As had a particularly impressive season. They have only lost two matches and comfortably won all their others by some margin, a fitting end to their last games season at the school. Our batting was always good, placing the ball effectively, but it was on the field where they took no prisoners and quite often made it impossible for the opposing side to

sharp and accurate; Tia Curtis has bowled calmly throughout

score. The whole team were instrumental in this success with

the season, and Hannah Eva at second has collected in

consistent bowling from Flossy Atherton, and a brilliant

everything directed at her. Emilie Hart, Millie Butler-Gallie,

relationship between Hettie Taylor (back stop) and Jessica

Allana Russell and Storm Pleavin have worked well in the

Wooff (1st base). India Roestenburg held the fort on 2nd base

deep delivering the ball quickly to 2nd or 4th base. Emily

taking 6 catches in one match and stumping numerous batters

Freeman has been described as a magnet at 4th base!

out. Bella Maclean was superb at 2nd deep. Alice Freeman,

Eugenie Dawlings played well off 3rd, taking some tricky

Amy Kennedy, Imogen Stevens and Xavia McDonald also put

catches, and Maddie Reeves (backstop) has played a

in solid performances in their positions. Likewise, there were

faultless game all season sending the ball speedily to Harriet

some outstanding performances from the Bs, most notably

Cage (1st base) who calmly caught and stumped out

Tabitha Underhill (backstop/4th base), Daisy Hutton (1st

numerous players. Well done.

base), and Phoebe Thomas (2nd deep). The U10 A team enjoyed a string of convincing wins (6 out of The U12s competed well this season, lead from the front by

7), keeping cool heads and showing good decision making

Maddy Joyce whose batting and fielding skills are quite

under pressure. The girls’ fielding has been very slick and

outstanding for her age. She often hit the ball into the fielding

decisive, getting key opposition out with great work on the

area of neighbouring matches, and prevented other schools

posts by Savannah Knatchbull, Lucy Martin, Emmy Shaw,

from doing the same by taking great catches or fielding the

Kate Woodford, and catches from Charlie Chatterton, Tilly

ball back with her huge over arm throw. Juno Platt-Higgins

Hastilow, Bindi Vereker and Savannah. They quite often

and Emma Simpson worked tirelessly to perfect the art of

managed to dismiss entire teams before their batting time or

back-stop. Cecilia Wallace, Thoma Wyatt, Emily Ullman, Ant

ball allocation was up. Our batting has also been superb in

Hall, Issy Charlesworth and Hannah Ellis also worked hard to

particular from Charlie Chatterton. Many umpires from other

secure good results for the team. The Bs also showed

schools commented on the girls’ high skill level both in bat and

promise and great improvement this term, in particular Leonie

on the field. The Bs have also improved a great deal and there

Russell, May Swinburne and Ella Dewberry.

have been very promising performances from Georgiana

The U11s have had an outstanding term and should be very proud of their achievements. Unbeaten all season, they lost to

Crawley, Kitty Allison, Sonali Balch, Polly Hutton and Megan King. Well done to you all.

Rose Hill in the final weeks. However, they put this right when

Daisy Holden-Craufurd, Elsa Doig, Jenny Clarke and Charlotte

they went on to win the U11 rounders festival (competing

Goodacre have lead the U9s to several victories. Megan

against 11 other schools) beating the same Rose Hill team in

Hopper, Beth Colley, and Olivia Hancock have excelled in the

the final! It is how they connect as a team, especially when

U8 team. Everyone has made huge improvements and show

fielding, which has made them so successful. Their fielding is

lots of promise for next season.

Sport Saint Ronan’s Owzat? The 1st XI played nine matches this season, winning four, drawing two and losing three. The highest run-scorer was Digby Atherton, with 213 runs for the season (he also scored the only half-century, with 81 against Solefield). The highest number of wickets taken was twelve, by Christian Hudson – closely followed by Oliver Clark, with eleven, who had the best bowling economy (3.7 runs per over on average). The highest number of fielding dismissals (catches and run-outs) was nine, by Harry Bunting. The “catch of the season” was probably Digby Atherton’s against Vinehall, earning us a victory at the end of a glorious afternoon. GV’s personal highlights were, perhaps surprisingly, our two draws, in the home fixtures against Marlborough House and Dulwich. In both cases, we managed to bat to save the draw, having to rely on our last two batsmen, who were Archie Miles and Freddie Plugge on these two occasions. This was, on the whole, a really good season – well done to all the players! The 2nd XI also had an exciting season under the leadership of Hugo Darby. Will Kember opened the bowling with a bit of pace and swing and he was well supported by the captain. On occasions the team gave away a few too many extras which made chasing totals more interesting than it should have! Lucky for us Connor Foley, Freddie Katis, Michael Cotter and Will Chatterton all contributed well with the bat and enabled us to secure some good victories. The innings of the term went to Will Chatterton for his 73 against Rose Hill. The 3rd XI had a mixed season. Defeat early on was soon

Even though the Colts Buccaneers have not won many

turned around by a 3 wicket win against Ashdown House,

matches, they have always risen to the occasion were often in

where Harry Dakin carried his bat for the whole innings,

with a fighting chance. Their fielding was good, especially

scoring 48 not out. Erratic bowling against Dulwich put paid to

Mathew Dale as wicket keeper and Patrick Prince and Josh

our chances of keeping runs down and was a bit of a problem

Palmer with their ‘blink you’ll miss it’ catches! Our bowling was

throughout the season. That said, the boys did improve and

also a strength with Elliot Johnson, Alex Bartleet and Mattie

always had a smile on their faces.

Simpson troubling the opposing batsmen. It was however our “free spirited” attitude, that let us down at the crease! Some

The Colts A narrowly lost their opening game at Claremont before beating Northbourne Park, Vinehall and Rose Hill. Another narrow loss to New Beacon was followed by a big win

good runs were scored by Archie Wooff however many others left the stumps exposed with this ‘gun ho’ spirit and therefore the bails often fell.

over Skippers Hill. The boys lost a very exciting game at Dulwich and then went on to comprehensively beat St Aubyns

The U9s had a very successful season and Richie Vassar-

and Sutton Valence. Overall it was a very successful season,

Smith has been delighted with the way they have all applied

with Charlie Bird, Jamie Pryke and Archie Butler-Gallie all

themselves in each aspect of the game. Their tight bowling,

scoring 50’s and Oscar Miles picking up a hat-trick!

sharp fielding and impressive batting bodes well for the future.