Arnold House Spring Assembly 2014

ASSEMBLYSPRING 2014 From the Headmaster

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ince Lombardi, the highly successful American Football coach of the Green Bay Packers, who won the first two Super Bowls in the late 1960s, famously said “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing”. As you will see in this latest edition of Assembly, Arnold House boys have experienced success in recent months on an unparalleled scale and across an impressive range of disciplines; chess, debating, football, gymnastics, history and rugby. It has been a joy to hear of the boys’ victorious exploits on their return to School; the excitement brought about by winning needs to be enjoyed. It has, in contrast to Vince Lombardi’s view, been just as pleasing to know that our boys learn quickly to treat Kipling’s two impostors, triumph and disaster, just the same.

The School’s motto, penned by the 17th century poet Robert Herrick, and chosen by Miss Hanson when she founded the School in 1905 reads as follows: ‘Conquer we shall, but, we must first contend! It’s not the fight that crowns us, but the end”. Herrick’s mantra was that life was short, the world beautiful and we must resolve to make the most of each moment. Our boys have certainly lived up to this ideal and crowned “the end” by virtue of their enthusiasm, spirit, sportsmanship and sense of pride in representing their School.

A snapshot of the spring term. Clockwise: Y1 Materials Workshop, Y8 Trip to Stratford, Y7 Trip to Paris, Shrove Tuesday Pancake Race, Y6 Art and Maths Exhibition, Y6 Trip to the National Army Museum, Rugby & Hockey Festival, Chapel Choir Concert, Y4 Arts Festival and Pyjama Day for ActionAid. Top Left: House Captains for Nelson and Brunel receiving the joint winners House Cup for the spring term.

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Arnold House Victories!

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ver the last term, Arnold House teams have been triumphant in a number of tournaments and competitions bringing home a constant flow of silverware.

The winning streak started at the end of the autumn term with the Colts and U13 Football teams winning the Durston House six-a-side tournaments. The first time in either age group since the tournament began in the 1980’s. This was closely followed by a strong win by the AH team at the London Chess Classic Tournament involving twenty schools at Olympia.

This term, the boys have met with a great deal of success in Rugby, Gymnastics, Debating and History.

In February Mr Sanjay Sharma (Teacher of Latin) took the junior debating team to take part in the Haileybury Debating Competition. In competition with nine other prep schools our boys H. Cross and O. Vogel (Year 6) and J. Jacobs and F. Rhodes (Year 5) handled the occasion with flair and maturity holding their own to win in style.

The Gymnastics team (J. Flaherty (C), H. Davis, A. Wolfe and J. Naggar) went down to Lady Eleanor Holles school in Hampton, to compete in the London Schools U11 Gymnastics Tournament. As the only team of all boys, they had a lot to prove but had a strong start with a variety of perfected vaults before the floor routine. With a number of complicated moves including an elephant lift from James and a front handspring from Harrison the boys were very proud to be awarded gold and to be told that they had passed the mark to go through to the Nationals, representing Arnold House and London schools in May. At the Durston House Colts Rugby

Sevens Tournament in March, Arnold House won for the first time and did so without conceding a single point! Following convincing victories over Orley Farm and Durston House in the first round the team were in prime position for the semi-finals where strong performances from every boy on the pitch gave us a 47–0 win and advanced us into the final against Hill House.

Flaherty and Frisby ran the show in the middle of the field while Naggar, Douglas and Stannard guarded around the ruck.

Somerville and Widdowson were ruthless in defence and Sieff, Shingles and Boateng were tireless in their efforts. The match ended with a victorious 40–0 win. Team: A. Stannard, J. Frisby, J. Flaherty, F. Somerville, R. Naggar, O. Boateng, M. Douglas, M. Sieff, W. Shingles and J. Widdowson.

We entered two teams into the annual Year 2 Falcons School Football Tournament in Chiswick. Every boy gave of their best and both teams played some excellent football and one team made up of D. Illing, R. Collier-Wright, L. Nouril, J. Edsberg, L. Cyzer, O. Murdoch, B. Mendelsohn, T. Barnet and J. Brotherton secured the trophy for AH for the first time.

The School looks forward to continuing its success next term with the European Bee & Bowl History Competition. At the end of the spring term, A.Horder, S. Lewis, I. Lockwood, L. Cross, J. Toledano, O. Sykes, M. Brown, S. Stacey and C. Austin displayed knowledge of history beyond their years as they spent a whole Saturday in competition answering over 300 questions. They did so well they were crowned UK champions and will proudly represent AH and the UK in the European finals in May half term.

Images from top to bottom – London Schools U11 Gymnastics Tournament, Haileybury Junior Debating Winners, Falcons Tournament Year 2 Cup Winners, Rugby 7s Durston House Cup Winners, UK Winners of the Bee & Bowl History Competition and London Chess Classic Team.

Obituary: Mike Jerrold Mike Jerrold, a retired prep school headmaster, worked at Arnold House in two capacities. Mike will probably be best remembered in his role as Temporary Head of Games in the Michaelmas Term 1995 when Rick Martin had been incapacitated by a cycling accident. Mike soon won the loyalty and affection of all his pupils, but ASSEMBLY

especially the First XI’s who had a particularly successful season under his management.

At the end of that term, the School and his winning team gave Mike a great send off with a special signed card and particularly warm applause in the final assembly.

Mike was to return to AH over the next ten years or so as the Invigilator for Common

Entrance. His calmness, authority and efficiency in the exam hall was much appreciated by me as Head at the time and, I hope, by the examinees in his charge.

Mike died in January 2014 at the age of 76 after a long illness, bravely borne.

Nicholas Allen

The Bursary Cabaret

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n 6th March, 255 parents, old boys and staff gathered at the American School for the Arnold House Cabaret held in aid of the School’s bursary fund.

The evening brought together a variety of acts performed by parents and staff. Gordon Singer started off the evening, setting a fun tone with his country style performance of ‘Parking Witch!’ which was closely followed by the Bursar’s Choir and their rendition of ‘Delilah’. John Prosser brought an air of sophistication to proceedings with – ‘Reflections on a boyhood in Wales’, whilst Lydia Gosnell astounded the audience

by playing two recorders and singing simultaneously. The finale from ‘Les Girls’ had everyone on their feet as realisation set in that the group was in fact made up of a number of the teaching staff, not all of whom were mademoiselles! All the performances were brought together by Sindhu Horder who provided much hilarity in her performance and introductions as she proves to be a comedienne to watch out for in the future.

The evening was a great success raising a total of £50,000 from the auction, raffle and general donations. The funds will be used to support our next intake of bursary boys this September.

Throughout the evening, guests were enticed to bid on the silent auction using Kindle tablets provided on each table.

Stephanie Miller Director of Development

We would like to thank everyone for their continuing support of the bursary fund and the Board of Friends and Bursary Ambassadors for all their help in putting together a great evening.

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Interview with AH old boy Charlie Watson (1988-96)

What have you done since leaving AH? Having left Arnold House, I went onto Bradfield College where I stayed until 6th form before moving back to London and Mander Portman Woodward Sixth Form College. After completing my A-Levels I went to Exeter University to study Sociology. Following three happy years in Devon it was time to move back to London which I was hugely looking forward to and finding a job in the city I love. I’d always had a passion for music, loved going to gigs and festivals and was keen to pursue a career in the industry, but wasn’t sure how to go about it. Through a chance encounter with an acquaintance I was offered the opportunity to enter a work placement at Sony Music, an opportunity that I jumped at! For the next 6 months I was working as press and marketing assistant on some of the musicians and bands that I’d spent years following. My work placement finally became paid work and I spent the next 8 months working for a certain Mr Simon Cowell and his record label, Syco Music. As you can imagine, this was an interesting experience where every day threw up new and unexpected situations, a time in my life I will never forget!

Looking for a new challenge, the opportunity arose to work at the home of music television, MTV. I worked within the talent management team. We were responsible for booking and managing artists as they arrived for interviews and performances as well attending video shoots and artist documentary shoots. I eventually moved across to the Programming department and coordinated their new video content acquisitions system. Having spent 2 ½ happy years there, the opportunity arose at a company that I’d been working very closely with during my time in the programming department of MTV. Fastrax provide a delivery platform for record labels to

submit content to the UK broadcast networks and work closely with MTV among many other UK broadcasters. I have spent 4 years managing a team of operational staff providing a unique service to the broadcast and music industries.

My role includes developing the business itself, looking for areas of growth as well as improving our existing product and maintaining relationships with clients across the music and broadcast industries.

It has been an interesting journey to this point so far, and one thanks really to an initial invitation to an internship which set me on my way.

What are your overriding memories of AH? I have so many fond memories. Rushing out at break time to play football every day, or cricket nets in the morning before school. School dinners, (people always complain about these but I always loved them – Curry day was always a winner).

Sports day was always a highlight of the year for me and representing Brunel with pride! Also, reciting extracts of Shakespeare in the verse speaking competitions but often coming off second best to Jeremy Saunders…not bitter at all!

What has been your greatest achievement?

Over the past three years I have completed four Marathons and last year I competed in the UK Ironman Triathlon. Consisting of a 2.4 mile swim, 118 mile cycle ride, finishing off with a Marathon run, which was quite tough to say the least…I think there are more of these challenges to come in the future too, as I’m starting to think that I may have lost my marbles a bit!

Describe an average day in your role in the music industry?

My day consists of speaking to record labels and production companies about their video projects, helping to rectify technical video issues and ensuring the team meet Broadcaster’s deadlines. We’re also building a new website which has been fun to be a part of, watching it grow from just an idea to a fully functional interface that will be used across the entire industry has been great!

How has being an Arnold House pupil impacted your life?

I really did have a great time at Year 8 Leavers 1996 - Charlie sitting on the bench far left AH. It was the perfect balance between great friends, great teachers, What advice would you give someone education, sport and fun. AH really helped who would like to follow in your footsteps to build up my confidence whilst growing and pursue a career in the music industry? up and gave me some great memories. I’ll Being persistent is the key. Due to the always be proud to have been a part of its nature of the industry, the competition history. for positions at entry level is fierce. Work experience is a great way of getting your What was your favourite subject foot in the door and you never know, you at School and why? may just be in the right place at the right I think my favourite subjects were History time when a new role becomes available. and P.E. History was brought to life by the What any record label is looking for is teachers of AH, something which stayed someone who shows a passion for the with me throughout my school life, (I industry and is willing to go the extra mile. remember some great field trips too.)

It may be hard work but it will pay off in the end!

I was also always a keen long distance runner during my time at AH and I have Rick Martin to thank for getting the best out of me and showing so much encouragement and enthusiasm for sport in general at the school.

Arnold House School 1 Loudoun Road St. John’s Wood, London NW8 0LH Telephone: 020 7266 4840 Email: office@arnoldhouse.co.uk Website: www.arnoldhouse.co.uk Arnold House School Ltd (Limited by Guarantee). Registered in London Number 889424. Educational Charitable Trust Number 312725

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