Linton

Having been appointed as the new Houseparents of Linton House in February 2018, my wife and I couldn’t wait for the boys to arrive back after the summer break. Having not lived in a boarding house for over five years, we were not entirely sure what to expect in those early days but the boys, our House Matron and our team of wonderful tutors supported us and guided us through the first few weeks superbly. We welcomed a total of 10 new boys into the House in September and I have been delighted by the way they have adapted to the busy school and House routines. All the new boys have made a significant contribution to a variety of school activities this year and they deserve a huge amount of credit for all their hard work.

The autumn term was a busy one with the Linton boys involving themselves in a range of academic and extracurricular commitments. The Upper Sixth Form, who have been fantastic role models this year, finalised their university choices, completed their personal statements and sent off their UCAS forms. They saw significant success in terms of university offers and if results day goes well in August, they will venture off to some of the UK’s top flight universities. We are very proud of them and thank them wholeheartedly for their contribution to the House and the school over the years.

In September, the House sportsmen committed fully to the new rugby season and it was a great pleasure watching them perform. Linton boys played in just about every team at all age groups, but special credit must go to Ben Poskitt for his role as scrum-half in the 1st XV and to Ben Irvine who was selected, a year early, to represent the school in the U16 team that won the Rosslyn Park Sevens Tournament. House Cross-Country and House Rugby took place and, as has become the tradition, every boy in Linton took part in the cross-country. Whilst we may not have won the overall competition, the sense of camaraderie and House spirit on display was outstanding. Special credit must go to Ben Hobbs who won the senior race by a significant margin. Knowing that we might face some tough day House opposition in the Senior House Rugby Competition, the decision was made to join forces with our boarding allies The Manor. The new team Linor/Manton was created and the boys played some excellent running rugby and only just missed out on the top spot, eventually finishing as runners-up to Clifton.

“The sense of camaraderie and House spirit on display was outstanding.”

In late September, the boys started preparing for the House Singing Competition. Led by Lower Sixth conductor Ben Skelton, the boys

had high hopes with their rendition of The Lumineers song: Ho Hey. Sadly, however, the boys once again missed out on victory and the determination just burns more strongly that the trophy will be ours in October 2019!

During the Autumn Term, boys from Linton represented the House at various national rowing regattas, the Junior and Senior Debating Competitions, School Council meetings, Food Council meetings, the Christmas Concert and the Senior House Challenge Competition. A special mention must go to Joe Raper for his superb acting in the whole school production of Beauty and the Beast, as well as the other boys from the House, including technical whizz-kid Elliott Millman, who supported the production behind the scenes. In early November, Nick New played his pipes with great composure in front of the whole school during the Remembrance Day Chapel Service and the Lower Sixth boys put together a well received and informative Linton House Chapel service, with Yeelok Chan deserving credit for his excellent solo singing performance. The term ended with the annual House Dinner and it was lovely to see all the boys, tutors and other House staff socialising and enjoying themselves after a demanding yet extremely fulfilling term.

The Spring and Summer terms brought more busyness and productivity and the Linton boys threw themselves into a variety of opportunities with enthusiasm. A number of the boys competed, as part of the school’s senior water polo squad, at the National SemiFinals at Manchester Aquatics Centre and we have some talented younger players who will feature for the team again next year. All the boys in the House opted to compete on Sports Day and it was brilliant witnessing the support and encouragement shown by all Lintonites. The rowers continued to take part in a variety of regattas around the country and Elliott Millman, the Head of Boys’ Rowing, became more confident about the squads chances of success at Henley. We have had boys working their way through the Duke of Edinburgh programme and hopefully more boys will sign-up to this next year. Numerous boys took part in the choral and orchestral concert in York Minster in March and many boys have completed music exams or performed at informal concerts over the course of the year.

In House, there have been the annual PS4 FIFA and table tennis tournaments and these have proved an excellent way to strengthen House spirit. My wife and I had the pleasure of hosting boys for form group ‘sausage sizzle’ evenings and Ben Poskitt and Mrs B worked hard to design and order new House t-shirts, jumpers and ties. The introduction of the new raffle ticket awards system for academic achievement went down well and at the end of the Easter Term we held our inaugural prize giving evening. We also held the first House challenge evening and we were amazed to see the boys attempting the Pepsi challenge, the cracker challenge, marshmallow fluffy bunnies and the physically demanding cardboard box challenge. The boys took up the challenge of the bi-annual Red Nose Day fancy dress with their usual gusto and after the application of fake-tan, the ordering of countless hard hats, hi-viz yellow waistcoats and inflatable hammers, an entire team of builders emerged from the House and headed off for breakfast! As the academic year comes to a close it is very clear that Linton House is in very good fettle. The boys have been fantastic this year and I am constantly amazed by the range of talents and skills the boys possess. The boys sitting exams have worked very hard and I am confident that their efforts will pay off dividends come results day. We have a superb group of tutors who support the boys on a day to day basis and this team has been strengthened by the arrival of Mr Bates as Non-Resident Assistant last September. The House Matron, Michelle Richardson, has continued to work hard to help me oversee the pastoral wellbeing of the boys and our team of house cleaners are invaluable. My wife and I would like to thank everyone for their support and encouragement throughout our first year in the House. I would also like to openly invite our Upper Sixth Form leavers or any other past Lintonites to visit the House whenever they are in the York area. They would be made to feel very welcome!

Mr Hugo Battersby Housemaster of Linton House