The Ronian issue 62 spring 2016 by Saint Ronan's School

The Ronian ISSUE 62 - Spring 2016

Inside: How to be a Ronian • Musical News • Alumni • Sports Reports

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

The Headmaster writes...

We have had an especially busy and fruitful term. Our 100% Cranbrook pass rate and the twenty scholarships won by Year 8 are mentioned elsewhere in the magazine. The Senior School destinations of our leavers are broad and varied and include Battle Abbey, Bedes, Bethany, Benenden, Brighton, Claremont, Cranbrook, Eton, Harrow, Highworth, Judd, King’s, Lancing, Mayfield, Sedbergh, Sutton Valence, Tonbridge Girls and Uppingham. Three children have gained entry to Grammar Schools via the 11+. Boarding is gaining in popularity and 84 children regularly spend part of the week with us. 70% of the music grades awarded at Christmas were Merits or Distinctions. We look forward to the breakfast concerts next term and to the Founder’s Day performances. The musicians are delighted with the gift of a brand new grand piano for the Great Space, which had its debut in the terrific production of ‘Into the Woods’. Next term will see an exhibition of the children’s work in Art and DT, themed to celebrate the 150th anniversary of ‘Alice in Wonderland’. Work is progressing well on the replica Fokker Eindecker which, I hope, will take to the skies before long! It has been a highly successful term in sport and our most successful cross-country season, culminating in a silver medal at the National Prep Schools Championships in Malvern. The U11A netball team lost only one match and the U11Bs were unbeaten, as were the U9A and U8B girls’ hockey teams. The best of boys’ hockey was in the Colts, which augurs well for the future. Finally, congratulations to the five children chosen to represent the County, be it in cricket or cross-country. Barney Hall has been chosen to play for SE England in U12 football and his team will represent England in Gothenburg in July. Since I joined Saint Ronan’s, the School community has raised £112,113 for charities other than the School itself. This term further funds have been gifted to Great Ormond Street and in April Matthew Bryan is running the London Marathon for Whizz Kids, a charity which helps disabled children. I hope that everyone has a restful Easter break and that those going to Naples have the best of times. With kind regards, William Trelawny-Vernon

In this issue...

The mountain biking club!

Leavers already doing us proud

We’re playing flute, sax, and all that jazz!

‘Into the Woods’

How to be a Ronian

Class Four trip to the George

Roman Funeral Procession

Chapel Choir

This term in Bicton

Scottish Reels

Visiting Speakers

Musical Breakfasts

Class 3 in the woods

Sevenoaks Innovation Week

Having fun raising money

From Farm to Fork

Chicks for Easter

Shell visit Penshurst Place

The Roman Painted House

Environmental Issues

World Book Day

Prizes

Sport

18-20

Coming up... Next Term Term begins

21st April

FOR meeting

26th April

Art & DT Exhibition

29th April

Class 4 to Harry Potter World

3rd May

Upper to Canterbury & Dover

10th May

Sizzling Strings

13th May

Year 1 to Dungeness

17th May

Class 3 to Matilda

18th May

Shell to Ashford Solar Farm

24th May

Half term begins

27th May

Half term ends

6th June

Common Entrance Exams FOR meeting School Exams (Years 3-7) Informal Concert ABRSM Exams

6th-9th June 7th June 13th-17th June 17th June 20th-22nd June

Budding mime artists entertained us with

Leavers trip to Bude

26th June

their pop-up living statues demonstration.

Upper trip to France

27th June

Sponsored Walk

1st July

Term ends

8th July

Leavers’ Day

9th July

Leavers already doing us proud

This is a busy time of year, especially for the 44 children in

Congratulations to the following who have won awards so far

Year 8. So far this talented cohort has amassed twenty

this year: India Black (Academic & Art, Mayfield), Issy Bolton

scholarships to senior schools and all our Cranbrook

Ferret (Academic, Art Exhibition & Sports Exhibition), Ella

applicants once again gained their places for September. We

Brady (Drama, Battle Abbey), Orlando Copplestone (Music,

have three further candidates sitting for academic awards

King’s), Aisling Cotter (Performing Arts, Bedes), James

early next term and then all will progress to Common Entrance

Crawley (Sports Exhibition, King’s), James Crombie

in June. As in previous years, CE marks the end of the various

(Academic, Sutton Valence), Caspar Cubitt (Music, Battle

courses they have been studying.

Abbey), Joe Dale (Music, Sutton Valence), Luc Doane (Music, Cranbrook), Barney Hall (Sport, Lancing), Megan

The expected destinations of this year’s leavers are broad and varied: Battle Abbey, Bedes, Bennett Memorial, Bethany, Benenden, Brighton, Claremont, Cranbrook, Eton, Harrow, Highworth, Judd, King’s, Lancing, Mayfield, Sedbergh, Sutton

Hopper (Art, Battle Abbey), Dizzy Loxton-Barnard (Sport, Sutton Valence), James Mason (Academic, Battle Abbey), Ruairi Pringle (Music, Harrow), Ollie Skeet (Academic & Music, Battle Abbey).

Valence, Tonbridge Girls, Uplands and Uppingham.

We’re playing flute and sax... and all that Jazz! In January the Great Space was transformed into an impromptu jazz club for our first ever Jazz concert. The Flute Choir, Brass Band and Guitar Ensemble had all been exploring the funkier areas of their repertoire and contributed some lively numbers that had the school tapping their toes in appreciation. The Chamber Choir sang two swingy arrangements of spirituals to the accompaniment of a trio of drums bass and keys, and the Jazz band contributed two punchy numbers characterised by some commendably tight ensemble playing. The ensembles were supported by excellent solos from songbird Louisa Hudson, covering Vance Joy, and improvisation guru Joe Dale playing alto sax with a pro band formed from among the Peris. Hot stuff, and very cool!

Into the Woods - a very special production

Surrounded by woods, Saint Ronan’s has a magnificent setting and this year we were able to harness its unique landscape for our production. The woods really did come to the Great Space, with three silver birches brought in as set dressing from outside. Lynne Page helping us with choreography was a highlight and Juliet came to rehearse the chorus in the lead-up to the performance. The cast tackled a very tricky score and carried it off with such style and assurance that audiences were very impressed by the quality of the show. Hidden talents were given a chance to shine and, though I wondered at times during rehearsals if we had bitten off more than we could chew, I was thrilled by the way everyone, on stage and off, gave their best for the performances. Now the tricky task of choosing the next one!

How to be a Ronian - building resilience This term, as part of our ‘Intellectual Character’ programme,

whatever they are - be it a father, mother, doctor, banker or

we launched a new initiative in the Pupil Planners. When the

author – they will be better for it. To reinforce this we also had

pupils show one of the six characteristics we are looking for,

an Assembly, with the six characteristics championed by six

they can have it signed off and thus work towards

members of staff. It is important to be able to

a Show or a Show Up. The idea is to keep

allocate time to something like this: we are good

reminding the children to show the qualities of

at the ‘bread and butter’ side of getting pupils

Curiosity, Cooperation, Empathy, Perseverance, Awareness and Imagination so that they build up a resilience for when life becomes difficult (and the

through their exams but we still make sure we concentrate on the whole child. Being kind, gentle, honest, hardworking and respectful (the qualities

wherewithal to support others when the same happens to

listed on the ‘what really matters’ page of the Blue Book) are

them). It is hard for us to predict what the pupils will be in the

also key to being a successful Ronian; there will be more of

future, but with a resilient attitude, built on these six bases,

this to come in the future.

Roman Funeral Procession Remove pupils treated the Prep School to a surprise reenactment of a Roman funeral procession on Thursday morning, complete with musicians, singers, professional mourners, slaves, flaming torches and litter bearers (to carry the body!). Inspired by our study of the CE background topic Death and Burial, we paraded along the academic corridor in full costume, with drums, musical accompaniments, mournful wailing and the customary beating of breasts.

Sacré bleu! Class 4 eat snails

The reception we received from the Prep School was so wonderful that we continued the procession onto the Terrace and down to the tennis courts at Little Break (dodging footballs

What a wonderful opportunity for Class Four to sample French

and curious onlookers!). We concluded with a ‘laudatio’ (a

delicacies such as snails, frogs’ legs, chocolate pancakes and

speech in praise of the dead person), delivered passionately

the traditional French Epiphany cake called La Galette des

in Latin and English by Fraser.

Rois.

Well done everyone for pulling it off! Mrs Morrell was

The warmth of the welcome that we receive every year at the

extremely proud! Take a look at our Facebook page to see a

George in Rye matches the amazing taste! Merci infiniment!

video of the event.

In February the Chapel Choir presented a concert for parents and friends drawn from the repertoire sung so far at this year’s Friday Evensong services. Two works by the popular Cambridge tunesmith John Rutter provided the prelude and postlude to the programme, namely All Things Bright and Beautiful and the wonderfully weepy Gaelic Blessing, which had the required effect on a number of the mums present. Another contemporary composer, Peter Aston, was represented by his setting of I Give You a New Commandment and the moving They Gave Their Bodies to the Commonwealth, a version of Pericles’s stirring funeral oration of 431BC, which was sung at the Armistice Service. Luc Doane sang the treble solo in William Byrd’s Teach Me O Lord, which was accompanied on a chamber organ designed to recreate the sounds of a sixteenth century instrument. Other solos were beautifully presented by Olive Clarke, Ben Bonner-Davies and Aisling Cotter. The biggest cheer of the evening, however, was reserved for the wonderful Arran Keith, who accompanies our rehearsals and services with such sensitivity and dedication.

The term in... BICTON Each house takes a turn to showcase what they’ve been up during the course of a term. This term has gone so quickly and much has happened. We have been lucky to have had fascinating assemblies, incredible achievements and exciting competitions and done well in many sporting events. We had a talk on ‘Imagination’, where we played John Lennon’s song, ‘Imagine’ and spoke about people who showed imagination, especially David Bowie. We also had talks on Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras), Archimedes and his inventions and Orlando spoke to us about Phillip Petit, the man

Scottish Reels

that crossed the Twin Towers on a tightrope. The pupils in Bicton have

On Saturday 6th February, The Friends of Saint Ronan’s

worked extremely well as

hosted a fabulous Evening of Scottish Reels. Guests arrived

individuals and as a team. Some of the Year 8s have won

wearing a hint of tartan and were piped into the school by

scholarships to their senior schools and everyone got into

Angus Hay’s grandfather, Mark Tennant, who kindly travelled

Cranbrook. Barney represented the house in the debate: ‘This

down from Scotland especially for the event.

house believes that Britain doesn’t need nuclear weapons’.

The Great Space

Barney argued that they were justifiable, and a good

looked beautiful,

protection from other countries, and was placed 2nd. We

thanks to the

mustn’t forget the Brodie, especially the Years 3 and 4 race,

creative flair of

when we came first, second and third. Well done to Archie

Camilla

McDonald, Jack Kirkland and Billy Bolton-Ferret.

Macdonald. The

Mr Bright led the Location Knowledge competition and many

evening was a

people were proud of their score. The U11 Rugby team went

great success,

to Ashdown House and made it to the quarter finals. We’ve

with dancing to The George Buchanan Scottish Dance Band.

had a very successful cross-country season, including the

The dancing appealed to all levels of experience:

Kent College Run, and in the Nationals the U13 boys’ team

accomplished, complete beginners and nervous alike. Miranda

was placed 2nd.

Hay kindly and patiently talked the guests through the dances so all abilities could join in the fun. There was a delicious

Emma Beart and Bertie Lambert went up to London for the

supper of kedgeree and chocolate brownies supplied by the

Leon Paul Fencing competition and did very well. The U9s

brilliant Peter in the kitchen. This was accompanied by ‘The

had a hockey tournament at Ashford where they only lost one

Haggis’ which was magnificently and dramatically “addressed”

match and beat the hosts twice.

by Neil McConachie, sword in hand. A hugely successful and fun evening was had by all and we look forward to dusting off

We’ve had a magnificent term due to all of you: thank you and I hope we have an equally good summer term.

our dance shoes for next year’s frivolities! A massive thank you to all involved.

Matilda Clarke and Barney Hall

Visiting Speakers discuss inspiration and love

No haggis but great reels On Wednesday 3rd February, the children celebrated Burns’ Night. After a few weeks of practising with our patient parent helpers and superb callers, Miranda Hay and Jamie Macdonald, the evening finally arrived. The children began their festivities in a tartan-clad dining room for a hearty supper of sausage and mash. The haggis was mentioned but certainly not addressed! They then headed up to The Great Space, fully fuelled for some energetic dancing. The children embraced the evening wholeheartedly, with much spinning, swirling and loud counting of steps. They ended the evening with a rip-roaring rendition of Auld Lang Syne! Thank you to everyone involved for a magical evening.

Our first speaker of the term was our Chaplin, Iori Price, who

Music with your cereal...

christened Anya and George Rasalingham in the Chapel and spoke about Baptism. This was lovely service and all the children enjoyed it (as did the grown ups!). Following him came Dr Betts from Lancing College, who talked about inspirational people. The Chapel Choir anthem was ‘Brother James’ Air’. Ben Figgis, the Headmaster of Ardingly, came to talk about ‘Questioning’ and the Anthem for this was ‘A New Commandment I give unto you’ by Peter Aston.

Eight of the peripatetic music staff presented Breakfasts

James Shone came to deliver his message of ‘I can and I am’.

featuring the ongoing work of their pupils this term. With tea,

His recovery from an operation to remove a brain tumour led

coffee, bacon rolls and croissants on offer as a culinary

him to found his eponymous charity which aims to inspire

incentive, we were delighted by the splendid support shown by

confidence in every individual to help them reach their

the many parents who came along to see their offspring in

potential and, as James does, inspire others.

action. Annie Chesters used the opportunity to educate the parents on how best to support their children in their practice,

We also had Hugo Chittenden, aka ‘The Volunteer’. Hugo,

and Richard Lakin demonstrated the benefits of duet work with

pictured above, ran successful businesses until his life was

pianists. Rob Leake’s clarinet and sax session included some

changed by illness. Hugo re-dedicated his life to work as a

excellent ensemble pieces, and Ingrid Sellschop focused on

volunteer. He has worked on many projects including building

just how much pupils in the early stages of learning the violin

a school in Kenya. Hugo aims to inspire a spirit of

can achieve. Sophie Williamson and Jane Dawson showcased

volunteering and has definitely planted a seed here.

violinists at a more advanced stage, working on interpretation

Finally Chris Parkinson came to the Chapel to talk about Love

and presentation, and Effie Sparkhall’s flautists provided

and Kindness to all. He based his sermon around 1,

examples of the wonderfully varied and characterful repertoire

Corinthians, ch 13, verses 1-7 and 13. The Anthem sung by

that she finds for them to explore. The final session was run

the Chapel Choir on this occasion was ‘A Gaelic Blessing’ by

by Ed Bingham and his senior guitarists, who filled the Albert

Rutter. We had extra sound effects courtesy of the Norovirus,

Hall with fine examples of music and demonstrated a wide

which were not so pleasant!

variety of styles and techniques.

Class 3 spend a day in the woods

Sevenoaks Innovation Week

Class 3 spent a day in Tongswood, led by Phil from Badger

On 1st March two Year groups went to the newly-renamed

Bushcraft. Under his watchful eye the children learned how to

‘Innovation Week’ at Sevenoaks School. Although fog

make a fire, using everything from matches to potassium

prevented the expected arrival of the Duke of York, Upper did

permanganate, and were able to toast marshmallows to stay

manage to battle through the elements to attend a talk on

warm! They also learned about the different flora and fauna

‘Engineering for Life’. Here we were taken though some of the

that we have in our wonderful woods: fungi, herbs (important

ways engineers have improved our lives, from pregnancy

to tell the difference between delicious sorrel and yucky dock

tests, nappies (which frankly I’d seen enough of that morning)

leaves!) and even a dormant queen bumble bee.

to cryogenics. This was shown through a number of demonstrations and will hopefully have inspired some

We finished with delicious hotdogs and a story around the camp circle before returning to School covered in mud and big smiles.

engineers of the future. In the afternoon Remove went for a talk entitled, ‘Beyond the Rainbow’. See Matilda’s report below. RVS

Having fun raising money In classic Saint Ronan’s style, we raised lots of money this term and had fun along the way. In total, over £1,700 was raised, not just for Great Ormond Street through our Bad Hair Day, but also for Sports Relief, where the whole school ran, rolled and skipped for a mile or more. Year 2 raised funds for Bushbells School in Watamu, Kenya, with their Cake Sale. This brings the total raised this year to just short of £5000; roll on the Sponsored Walk!

From Farm to Fork

Concert at Lunchtime

As part of our topic, ‘Healthy Eating’, Year 2 visited Furnival’s

The Lunchtime concert is a chance for our younger musicians

Farm to discover more about farming. Kate and Olly Furnival

to cut their teeth as performers in front of a small audience of

showed us the range of beef cattle they have, including

friends and teachers. This term we had some wonderfully well-

Belgian Blue, Hereford, Simmental and Limousin. We were

prepared performances on piano, violin, cello, trumpet and

surprised to learn that each cow drinks 80 litres of water per

voice, all of which were announced with strong, confident

day! The cattle eat a varied diet, including grass or silage,

voices and included a big bow to the audience. The Junior

protein supplements and a huge range of fruit, including

Strings played us a complex round based on Kookaburra

apples, pears, melons, and even passion fruit. The farm

Sings in the Old Gum Tree before joining forces with the Class

receives a delivery of 30 tonnes of imperfect fruit per week for

Four choir for a performance of Alleluia to finish the concert.

animal feed. We were lucky enough to see some of the new

Excellent work from everyone!

born calves, including twins born the previous night. After that, we took a tractor ride to the other side of the farm to see some of the machinery and arable crops. The crops grown on

Chicks for Easter

the farm include potatoes, wheat, peas, oil seed rape and also grass for animal feed. We saw a huge potato harvester which harvests, washes and grades the potatoes before they go into the cold store. We saw fields of wheat and the grain store and learned how the ventilation system keeps the grain at optimum temperature for storage before it is sold for milling in flour mills worldwide. On our return we stopped at Jempson’s, Peasmarsh to see locally-produced food on the shop’s shelves. A super trip which has grown the children’s knowledge of the route our food takes from ‘Farm to Fork’.

Reception welcomed nine beautiful Light Sussex chicks this Spring! The children had an enriching time learning about the life cycle of the chicken and were broody for 21 days waiting (patiently) for the eggs to hatch. What fun everybody had weighing and cuddling chicks. There were a few ‘mistakes’ during cuddling sessions and a little bit of messy manure found its way on to the carpet! Overall a happy time was had by all. Cheep cheep!

Shell visit Penshurst Place

The Roman Painted House

We went to Penshurst Place for a school trip. The first place

On Tuesday 22nd March, Year 3 went to the Roman Painted

we saw was the courtyard. Here, some men showed us some

House in Dover because we have been learning about the

armour and weaponry that would have been used to fight in

Romans.

the Spanish Armada. First, Millie, Edward, Bertie and Marcus (George) dressed up We visited the kitchen where we learnt that the spitboy had to

as a wealthy woman, a gladiator, a slave and a senator. They

turn the spit ALL DAY. We also learnt that the peasants didn’t

looked like (funny) Romans.

drink water but they drank BEER! The cutlery was like that too, wooden plates for peasants, pottery for the rather well off and silver for people like the Queen!

After that we looked at the five discovered rooms and Brian told us what the rooms were used for – the Painted House was a hotel with 96 rooms in the Roman town of Dubris

After that, we climbed the stairs to the Baron’s hall. There we

(Dover). It took 69 days to excavate the five rooms, then they

saw a man play an Elizabethan recorder and bagpipes! He

had a party!

then taught us how to bow and curtsey. Then we examined and drew the different ‘finds’: oyster shells, We visited the barber-surgeon, where a man showed us the

wall plaster, Tudor pottery, cooking pot, Samian (posh) pottery

medical procedures that were used - some were very

and tesserae. Next we made mosaics with beautiful coloured

barbaric!

tiles that made pretty patterns. We nearly all finished them, except Anya and Bertie who did!

We then went for an audience with Queen Elizabeth herself. We bowed or curtsied so low that I almost fell over, before she

Later on we went upstairs to do brass rubbings: some of us

rather curtly told us to ‘stand’. She answered our questions

did one and some did two.

and was really quite strict! Then we listened to a talk and felt lots of old bones. We then went down to where the Queen got dressed. It was

Meanwhile we took it in turns to go to the shop and choose a

fun seeing the range of clothes.

Roman artefact.

The last place we visited was the torture house, where a man

Finally we had lunch outside and got back on the coach.

talked to us about different types of torture. By 3RF Finally we all trundled back to the bus, bundled on and drove back to school, just in time for lunch! Old Ronian Phoebe Katis (1997-2006) and her band recently By Evie Shimmin, Shell LS

headlined a gig at the Trinity Theatre in Tunbridge Wells. The band also played live on BBC Radio Kent to promote the gig. Phoebe studied music at Leeds University and is now in London where she is writing, performing and teaching.

Envionmental Issues During the course of this term, the Prep School children have been learning more about their environment, both locally and in the wider world. Class 3 took a trip to Forest School, lead by Anna Day, where they lovingly created a whole host of natural treasures made out of forest floor materials for the Nursery children to discover the following day. Meanwhile, Class 4 learnt how to appreciate their local countryside with Sarah Underhill (who used to volunteer for the Forestry Commission). This involved ageing trees by measuring their girth, playing games to learn about seed dispersal, considering man’s influence on the landscape and reflecting on the use of colour by birds, animals and plants to either

Tradecraft, who shared their expertise on Fair Trade. Midway learned more about Deforestation and Upper tackled Recycling. Finally, Remove focused on Conservation, with guest speaker Angus Wingfield from Africa Wild Trails. Angus fittingly concluded his session by saying, "Conservation is just a conversation unless you decide to do something about it. It is not so much what you learn and know in your head, but

camouflage or display.

what you feel in your heart, that will inspire you to make a During their SHAPE sessions, Shell were visited by

difference.”

St Ronan takes to the skies with Aer Lingus

Aer Lingus has a long tradition of naming planes using saints’ names, thought to be for safe carriage and to honour Ireland as the land of saints and scholars. On one side of the aircraft is the Irish saint name and on the other is the English translation. St Ronan came in to service in Feb 2009. Its registration is EI-EAV, or ‘Alpha Victor’ to Aer Lingus staff. It’s one of four Airbus A330-300 aircraft operated by the airline, with 30 seats in Business Class and 287 seats in economy class. It predominately flies to the east coast of the United States. 12

World Book Day 2016

On a fine Spring morning, Mole decided to leave the springcleaning and head off to the river in search of an adventure. He found an adventure and a whole set of new friends too! It was a challenge to judge our Book Fair Character Catwalk

Big Art in the Nursery

from a boat but the boarding staff were not deterred and did a marvellous job. The Great Space was packed with familiar book characters, and some we’d never heard of too, but that is the pleasure of the day. There were so many prize-winners that we needed a special wide-angle lens to get them all in shot. Lots and lots of fun was had by all! We created Big Art in the Nursery! The idea was to produce It was an exciting week and the Book Fair was a great success too, with great feedback from all Year groups about the range of books on offer.

art in different forms to encourage each child to participate and feel part of something bigger – but most of all, to have fun! The picture shown was part of our Nursery Rhyme project depicting ‘Jack and Jill’.

ORs from 1969 to 1973

Name the Team Competition

We are hosting an OR reunion lunch, for those who left between 1969 and 1973, at Saint Ronan’s on Saturday 14th May 2016. The idea was suggested by Dominic Houlder (OR 1966 - 1971) and we would be delighted to welcome ORs from that era. Please email clareoconnell@saintronan s.co.uk if you would like to come.

Can you name the members of this Cricket 1st XI? They played 10 matches, winning 1, losing 6 and drawing 3. Submit entries to clareoconnell@saintronans.co.uk - first correct answer wins a Saint Ronan’s mug.

SS Saint Ronans A major player in the 19th Century transatlantic trade in timber was the Scottish Firm of Pollok, Gilmour and Co. Throughout the first few decades, when the Baltic was cut off as a source of timber by Napoleon, the forests of New Brunswick, Canada, provided much of Britain’s timber. By 1838, Pollok, Gilmour owned 130 ships. In

sheep, oatmeal, oak wainscot and barrels of lard !! On the

1851 William Strang opened a London office and started to

voyage it says ‘Some sheep lost, number uncertain’.

trade in timber, cotton and anything that paid.

Sadly the Saint Ronan was shipwrecked off Newfoundland in

By the 1850s, however, the days of the ‘windjammer’ were

June 1899, so lasted just 18 years. The firm of Gilmour,

almost over, replaced by iron ships and steam. The London

Rankin, Strang was late in its move to steam and slowly

partnership, Gilmour, Rankin, Strang bought its first three iron

disappeared in the 1920s.

ships in 1865, and then in 1881 the S.S. Saint Ronans. It was 402 ft long, the length of a large football pitch, and had sixty crew. It crossed regularly from New York to London, Liverpool or Antwerp. We have a list of a cargo taken from Liverpool to New York on January 1st 1882 which lists 314 cattle, 500 14 14

William Strang is the great, great, great grandfather of Max Strang Taylor-Young, a Frog in the nursery, keeping a family name alive. By Simon Taylor-Young (father of Max)

Thomas Edward Harris (1993-2015) We were profoundly saddened to learn of Tom’s death on the 28th December 2015 at the age of just 23. His precocious musical talent will long be remembered, as will his kind, caring nature and generous spirit. Tom started at Saint Ronan’s shortly before his fourth birthday. He loved the freedom and support he was given to pursue his music, whilst at the same time also enjoying the best possible guidance academically. He started playing the piano at just three. At the age of six, inspired by Prokofiev’s ‘Peter and the Wolf’, and as a special tribute to his grandfather, Tom took up the bassoon. Shortly afterwards he began learning both the descant and treble recorders and the flute, as well as having singing and organ lessons At the age of eleven he performed the solo treble role in Mendelssohn’s ‘Hear My Prayer’ with the Cranbrook Sinfonia Orchestra and Choir. With two years still to go at Saint Ronan’s, Tom achieved Distinctions in all his instrumental and singing examination results to Grade 8 level. In his last year here he gained the ATCL Diploma (Associate of Trinity College London) on the piano, normally awarded at the end of the first year of undergraduate study at a Music Conservatoire. Some weeks later he was awarded a Music Scholarship to Eton College and, in addition, scooped first prize in all twenty classes he entered at the Hastings Music Festival. He was

Wind Band, Senior Flute Group, Wind Quintet and Recorder

further awarded the European Piano Teachers’ Association

Consort.

Cup for the Most Promising Pianist of Any Age, still aged only 13.

In February 2010 he made his debut at the Cadogan Hall, London, in a charity concert, playing Balakirev’s ‘Islamey:

During his time at Eton, Tom continued to flourish, winning the

Fantaisie Orientale’. He received a standing ovation from a full

Advanced Woodwind, Singing and Piano Competitions and

house.

being invited to take lessons with Joan Havill, Senior Professor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He was also awarded an Oppidan Scholarship. In his second year at Eton he was awarded the LTCL (Licentiate of Trinity College of Music) with Distinction for piano, normally awarded at the end of a three year graduate course. The following year he was

In 2012, he won a Choral Scholarship to Trinity Hall, Cambridge and went on to study at the Guildhall. During his gap year he returned to his old school to perform a solo concert and talk about his music. The audience was spellbound by his playing and charmed by his gentle humility.

awarded the ATCL, again with Distinction, for his performance

Tom’s Memorial Service will be held in the School Chapel at

on the descant and treble recorders and, astonishingly, a

11.30am on Friday 10th June, when we can pay tribute to a

Fellowship of Trinity College London (FTCL) for the piano,

great soul and a phenomenal talent. If you would like to attend

again normally achieved only at post-graduate level. Thomas

please contact the School Office

sang in the College Chapel Choir under the direction of Ralph

(clareoconnell@saintronans.co.uk). The charity concert the

Allwood and studied organ with David Goode, Head of

next day, in aid of Riding for the Disabled and at which he was

Keyboard. He played in the Eton School Orchestra, Senior

due to play, will go ahead in his honour.

Spring Term Prizes Senior Prefects

Boys’ Hockey Prizes

Head Prefect

B. Hall

U13 Player of the Season

F. Kirkland

Second Prefects

E. Hastilow, A. Moore

U13 Most Improved

F. Connell, B. Lambert

U11 Player of the Season

A. MacLeod

U11 Most Improved

G. Kidd

Heads of Houses Bicton

O. Copplestone

Pembroke

A. Cotter

Netball Prizes

Selden

J. Crawley

U13 Player of the Season

O. Hancock

Tongswood

I. Bolton-Ferrett

U13 Most Improved

O. de Winton

U11 Player of the Season

C. Milborne

U11 Most Improved

G. Coulson

School Appointments Captain of Cricket

A. Moore

Captain of Rounders

O. Hancock

Lacrosse Prizes

Captain of Athletics

J. Crawley

U13 Player of the Season

D. Loxton-Barnard

U13 Most Improved

M. Hopper

U11 Player of the Season

G. Bartleet

U11 Most Improved

N. Zitzelsberger

Headmaster’s Special Prizes M. Macleay, D. McCollum, C. Baker, J. Ellison Most Shows Remove

H. van Buer

Upper

G. Penny

Midway

M. Peacock

Shell

A. Geens, E. Hues

Class 4 Class 3

House and Form Prizes Senior Form

Upper BC

Junior Form

4 RT

House Cup

Pembroke

B. Wyatt

Bicton Prize

O. Copplestone

W. Wood

Pembroke Prize

M. Peacock

Selden Prize

A. Moore

Tongswood Prize

C. Redmayne

Term’s Effort Remove

O. Skeet

Upper

T. Tweedie

Form Tutors’ Prizes

Midway

M. Peacock

Remove EG

T. Marsh

Shell

R. Redmayne

Remove KK

I. Bolton-Ferrett

Class 4

F. Shimmin

Remove PG

J. Funnell

Class 3

M. Davidson-Houston

Upper DB

F. Balcomb-Hellier

Upper BC

C. Redmayne

Upper JG

C. Nieto-Parr

Midway SC

H. Morrell

Midway LL

A. Wormington

Midway IP

G. Bartleet

Remove Exams Best average

O. Skeet

Most improved

O. Bartleet

School Prizes Sight Reading

A. Ramyead

Shell RVS

A. Braxton

Acting Cup

W. Woodhouse

Shell LS

A. Taggart

Ross Cup for Performing Arts

A. Cotter

Shell NH

M. Routledge

Jevons Prize

E. Cooper, 2: J. Groom, T. Tweedie

4 DG

D. McEvoy-Gould

Harris Cup

A. Clapp

4 RT

L. Allchorne

4 EM

J. Simpson

3 RF

T. Ure

3 EGJ

A. Burrows

3 TT

D. Green

Rugby Prizes U13 Player of the Season

E. Hastilow

U13 Most Improved

W. Woodhouse

U11 Player of the Season

K. Bottle

U11 Most Improved

J. Whiteley

Midway take a trip to Rochester and Chatham On the last Friday of term, the medieval city of Rochester

impressive 900 years of history. Revitalised after our packed

thrummed with Midway feet as the children dashed around its

lunch we went on to the Historic Dockyard at Chatham and

many attractions. First up was the recently-opened Hugenot

visited the RNLI Historic Lifeboat collection, HMS Cavalier (a

Museum, where we listened to Old Ronian Gospatrick Home’s

Second World War destroyer); HMS Gannet (a sail and steam-

brilliant talk on the history of the Hugenots, with particular

powered Victorian warship) and, best of all, HMS Ocelot, the

reference to his own family. Next was the magnificent Castle,

Cold War submarine built at Chatham in 1962. The children

where the children climbed right to the top of the massive

were amazed by the cramped living conditions on board – no

Keep; then the Prison Hulks at the Guildhall Museum and

washing, no clean clothes and a diminutive bunk with a rock-

finally the Cathedral, where we were guided around an

hard mattress – but only if you were lucky!

Rehearsals for the Pre-Prep Drama Club ‘Annie’.

Sport Saint Ronan’s Cross Country team secure second place at IAPS nationals

The Brodie Shield

The Cross Country season drew to a close with some sensational performances from the Saint Ronan’s athletes, many children wearing the blue-hooped vests of the school for the first time – every one of them to be commended on their performances. Bea Wyatt took a bronze medal in the U8/U9 Hilden Grange Cup in February. The combined scores of the U9 and U11 Boys’ teams resulted in 2nd place overall at the inaugural Kent College Trophy in March, with Archie McDonald, Barnaby Dear and Connor Gorman all coming in the top ten; Hope Rutter and Bea Wyatt placing well in the girls’ races. March 8th saw the U13 squad travel to Northbourne Park to defend the Stevens Cup. In a superb afternoon of running, the six-to-score team of Wilf Wyatt, George Kidd, Dillon Gorman, Charlie Godden, Archie MacLeod and Kaspar Bottle secured first place, bringing the trophy proudly back to Saint Ronan’s. The girls ran equally well, Lizzie Wooff taking the bronze shield and Maddie McDonald coming eighth, the team placing second in the Wainman Cup.

Once again the Brodie Shield provided an entertaining morning, with some wonderful performances from the pupils. Every racer had to run to the best of their ability because each finishing place earned vital points for their House. After the U8/U9 race, Bicton was in first place, but Pembroke followed by winning the U10/U11 race. This meant that it all rested on the final race. Selden triumphed but some good grouping by the Pembroke pupils enabled them to gain second place, which was enough to turn the Brodie Shield green. In the U8/9 race, Bea Wyatt and Archie McDonald both flew around the

Undoubtedly the icing on the cake was the U13 boys’ amazing

Junior Brodie course to take gold, closely followed by Mathilda

performance at the National Prep Schools Cross Country

Featherstone and Jack Kirkland (silver), and Lettice Allchorne

Championships in Malvern on 13th March. The scoring team

and Billy Bolton-Ferrett (bronze). Lily Stewart took gold in the

of James Crawley, James Crombie, Carlos Nieto-Parr, and

U11/10 girls’ race, with Hope Rutter just behind in second

Dillon Gorman secured second place, James Crawley taking

place and Kate Lazarides coming home in third. Following a

double silver as he led the team to the end of a superb

sprint up the final hill in the boys’ U10/11 race, Kaspar Bottle

season. In only our second appearance at the event, Saint

just pipped George Kidd into second place and Connor

Ronan’s fielded scoring teams in each of the four races, every

Gorman into third. The final race of the morning saw Lizzie

child demonstrating grit, courage and determination to

Wooff win the Meyer Trophy in the U13 girls’, with Maddie

compete amongst some of the top young athletes in the

McDonald and Catherine Redmayne taking the other two top

country.

spots. The boys’ race was a very quick run, with James

Congratulations also to James Crawley and James Crombie on representing Kent and Sussex at club level; to Lizzie Wooff

Crawley taking the honours just in front of James Crombie and Carlos Nieto-Parr. Well done to all the runners.

and Carlos Nieto-Parr on gaining their Kent vests and competing at the KSAA inter-counties match, and to Hope Rutter who was part of a victorious Kent team at the first ever

Sports Newsletter

National Junior Schools’ Cross Country Championships. A truly successful season!

Don’t forget our weekly Sport Saint Ronan’s Newsletter. Check the Extranet for back issues.

Sport Saint Ronanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Netball An exciting season for our flourishing teams, who recorded 42 wins and scored 419 goals! The U11A team continued their success this year and almost went unbeaten for a second season running, only losing one match 10-11. So close! The U11B team also performed superbly and were unbeaten, winning all 9 matches. Both teams demonstrate excellent team work and strategic awareness; certainly a key to their success. The U11C team also put in a strong performance, winning 4 of their 7 matches, often against B team sides. The U13 and U12 teams have endured some gruelling matches. Although often vertically challenged by much taller opposition, the girls never lost their spirit and should be thoroughly commended for their perseverance, excellent sportsmanship and gritty determination, constantly finding ways to reinvent their game to work around towering opponents. The U10 girls have thrived this season. The U10Bs, in particular, have proved a lot to themselves, winning all but one of their matches.

Lacrosse With such a short season in which to embrace this exciting game, it is always a frustration when the weather doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t quite play its part! Persistent rainfall resulted in waterlogged pitches and many matches being cancelled. However the girls continue to embrace the sport, despite the boggy conditions and mud flying around with every pick up! It has certainly encouraged us to improve the quality of our passing game! Despite the brief encounter, the girls still managed to win 21 and draw 5 of the 39 matches played, scoring 222 goals! The Senior girls enjoyed several victories and competed in the U13 and U12 Kent tournaments. Lower down the School, the girls in Years 3-6 also enjoyed much success on the pitch, in local

U8/9 Hockey

triangular fixtures. They continue to develop their skills and tactical understanding at a very encouraging level.

The girls had a fantastic season, recording 15 wins and 2 draws out of 23 matches played. The girls all-round confidence and ability has improved dramatically, thanks to the Astro. This has been particularly evident in our assertive attacking play, with the girls hitting a total of 60 balls into the

Breaking News

back of the goal, compared to 28 last year. The U9A and U8B teams were unbeaten. The U9B and U8A teams only lost one

Breaking news: Guy Kennedy, OR 2005-13, has been

match a piece, and the C teams won half of their games. An

invited to train with the Harlequins Junior squads.

exciting improvement on so many levels. Well done!

Sport Saint Ronan’s

Rugby

Hockey

With a small and inexperienced 1st XV, this season was

This season the boys were able to use the new Astro straight

always going to be a tough one. If this is to be the case you

after Christmas to start their hockey training and what a

need players who will battle and play with their hearts and

difference it made. During their matches all the boys have

characters and this team was a real credit to Saint Ronan’s.

looked so much more comfortable in possession, allowing

Bear Hastilow, the captain, led by example, taking the game to

them to move the ball onto their strong side, pass effectively

the opposition and being fortunate enough to have Archie

and, best of all, to create lots of scoring opportunities. The 1st

Plugge, Anik Moore, Ed Watson and Ruairi Pringle close

VII have played some very good attacking hockey. Finn

behind him. Joe Dale was on hand to whip the ball away, and

Kirkland has been a wonderful outlet on the right hand side

outside him Barney Hall, James Crombie, Freddie Cutler and

and has learnt to drive effectively along the base line, before

James Crawley looked to take advantage of any holes in the

pulling the ball back to Wilf Wyatt, who has been hungry for

opposing defence. The boys managed to put together some

goals. It’s a simple but very effective tactic. Sam Holden-

very good phases of play and now need to be more clinical

Craufurd, at centre-midfield, and Anik Moore, at right back,

when the try line is in sight. The new continuum Rugby rules

have won a lot of possession and it is their willingness to

for all player U11 have created a very open, fast and flowing

utilise the right hand side that has been instrumental in our

game which all the boys have enjoyed. Our lines of running

attacking play. James Crombie stretches play out on the left

are getting smarter and we are learning to move the ball more

and is quick to attack the back post when the ball is fired

effectively. The new game puts much emphasis on one v one

across the goal. In defence, Barney Hall anticipates well and

tackling and there is no room to hide. Fortunately all the boys

Roddy McDonald has been outstanding in goal. This style of

have displayed good technique and been prepared to go for

play has been reflected by all the teams, even the U8s in the

their opposite man. Well done to all the boys who have

final matches of the season. Well done to all the boys.

represented the school this season.