BVGS Termly Newsletter Jan 2013

Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School Newsletter January 2013 Happy New Year!

Farewell to Bill Potter - Deputy Head for over 23 years.

Welcome back to life at BVGS and to our new style of enhanced newsletter for the New Year!

This 12 page edition carries special features about the Old Veseyan Association and The Vesey Foundation. Both organisations work in the interest of and for the welfare of the school, connecting with the alumni community and wider Vesey Community, which now includes the Friends and Sponsors of BVGS. We are indebted to so many who are affiliated to the school for helping to fuel our ambitions for the many future developments we have in mind. By the end of this term we should see more new work completed to bring even more opportunities and better facilities to our students.

Sincere thanks to all involved in helping to maintain the momentum of our wide-ranging developments here at BVGS .

Bill Potter retired last term to a standing ovation in Big School after just over 23 years of loyal and distinguished service to the school. His presence around BVGS will be sorely missed. He was an outstanding teacher, a dedicated Senior Leader and a devoted servant of the Vesey cause in so many different areas of school life. He steered the curriculum design, wrote the timetable and led on assessment and site management. A gentle man who was a real gentleman, kind, caring, considerate, efficient and effective. All in all a great supporter of all members of the school, be they staff or student. As Teacher i/c Cross Country, he provided a wonderful platform for the development of BVGS runners and for students across the Midlands and in We wish Bill and his wife Margaret good health, local schools. Mr Vesey himself! good fortune and a long and happy retirement.

Together we are making it happen!

Vesey’s Got Talent - It certainly has!

On 14 December Vesey students displayed their talent to a packed audience in Big School in aid of charity. The winner was Abrar Biswas (top, third from left) with his version of the ‘One Pound Fish’ song. Others pictured here are (top left to right) Madeleine Comber, Alex Beedle, Abrar and Hamdan Arifeen (bottom left to right) Ryan Evans, Richard Slater, Alex Seal and Sebastian Heley. £343.60 raised for ‘The Release Project’.

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The official Bishop Vesey’s Twitter account is @BVGS1527

January 2013 TARGET 2.0

Winners of their Regional Heat

The Team of 2012 repeated the success of the Team of 2011 by winning their Regional Heat of the Bank of England / The Times Target Two Point Zero Interest Rate Challenge held at Aston University Conference Centre on Friday 23 November. The team of four U6 A Level Economics students - Jack Merrix, Alexander McAleavy (Captain), Arjun Palak and Louis Ng - recommended an interest rate of 0.5% and a total of £375bn of asset purchases. They also suggested the need for a Government Business Bank. The team was accompanied by Kathryn Wright, Head of Business Studies and Economics and Mel Harvey the former HoD. The chair of the judging panel, Graeme Chaplin, Bank of England Agent for the West Midlands, said it had been “a really strong heat”. The students will now compete in the Area Final in Bristol this February.

Art Visit to London Galleries and Museum Lower and Upper VI Art students accompanied by Emma Neville and Anne Fitton spent a day in London last November attending exhibitions at the Victoria and Albert Museum, The National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery. Later the group enjoyed live opera at Covent Garden.

French Exchange Programme 2013

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Oxbridge Interview Jamboree

On 13 November we hosted, for the tenth season, the now annual interview jamboree to help students applying for Oxbridge, medical schools or similar to prepare for the application process. We are enormously grateful to the 43 interviewers from the Vesey Community, who so kindly gave of their time to assist in this way. Each student had five interviews during the afternoon with different interviewers, who gave feedback at the end of each session as a means to development. We are confident that our students are increasingly well prepared to face the rigours of the interview process at top performing universities and wish them well over the coming months as they begin to receive offers and make their final choices. Oxbridge results are not known at the time of going to press and will be published in the next newsletter. Interviews pictured here in Big School in full flow.

Jane Broughton says that there are just 6 remaining places on the French Exchange to Dreux, available to students in Years 9 & 10. The dates are as follows: The French party comes to BVGS from 16th-23rd March and we go to France from 8th-15th June 2013. Cost: £290.

David Graham ‘Natural High’ - School Tours On 4 December David Graham returned once again to BVGS with his performance road show for Yr 7, denouncing drugs and promoting a natural high which can be achieved in life in so many ways. Leaving us with a feel-good factor through his message that using our talent can create a natural high for us and those around us, David emphasised how ‘fake highs’ from drugs are both dangerous and damaging to individuals and others. A forthright drugs awareness presentation and indeed demonstration which brought energy and life to participants through song and movement. Prizewinners pictured were rewarded for their efforts in the three strands of the session: SPORT - MIND - FAME. The anti-drugs slogan competition was won by Ryan Potter 7BL A most valuable lesson in how to resist the temptation of involvement in drugs.

BVGS Newsletter

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Library News On the 5 December popular author of teenage fiction, Alan Gibbons, gave an informative and very entertaining talk to students. Alan talked about his own education and experiences as a teacher that inspired him to start writing books for young people. Thirty students were invited to attend a writing workshop, where they were taken through the creative writing process to produce excellent work, using a series of successful writing techniques as demonstrated by Alan. Congratulations to the Alan Gibbons Competition winners: (below left) l-r Eben Gutteridge, Roan Farley, Hiwa Khalis, Daniel Baker, Alan Gibbons, Himmat Sidhu, George James (to the back), Matthew Hayden and Edward Stanley.

Hamza Siddiqui Year 9 interviewed Alan. Do listen to the podcast on the BVGS website – http://www.bvgs.co.uk

The Lord Mayor’s Super Quiz

English Trip to Stratford-upon-Avon

Bishop Vesey’s entered a team in the inaugural Lord Mayor’s Super Quiz which was held in the Great Hall at the University of Birmingham. The quizmaster for the event was the ‘Beast’ from the television series ‘The Chase’. Vesey’s team comprised of Chris Nowek, Chris Godbehere, Caitlin Thornton, Matt Bell, Joe Davies and Alex Heckels. From the 36 teams entered the Vesey team finished in third place, only three points behind the winners from KE Camp Hill Boys.

An event which we hope will now become an annual feature of the B’ham scene.

Question Time with Andrew Mitchell MP

Andrew Mitchell MP joined Year 8 on a charity non-uniform day for a Q&A session and discussion about how to improve our locality and about world issues.

On 1 November, accompanied by English Department members Claire Callan and Sarah Slater, 30 students from Years 7 and 8 visited Stratford-upon-Avon, former home of William Shakespeare. They visited three 'Shakespeare' houses, beginning with Anne Hathaway's cottage, then on to Shakespeare's birthplace where they listened to a talk on the playwright and acquitted themselves very well in a post-talk quiz.

The final house was Mary Arden's Farm where the group learnt about life on a Tudor farm and witnessed a falconry display.

The ‘Link Bridge’ is dismantled for restoration work……..The New Link bridge below!

January 2013 CHARITY

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Raising funds with muscle power - arm-wrestling!

We have had a very successful term of fundraising, with a total of £4476.95 being raised for a variety of charities including Children in Need, Cancer Research UK, Macmillan Cancer Support and Burnaid (Enzos Friends).

Students of all year groups have shown great enthusiasm, creativity and independence in organising and participating in events.

Non-uniform day lunchtime tutorial Friday 5 October - Year 7 took park in a fun Boxercise workout for LEPRA raising £837.35, a fantastic achievement and sufficient money to cure 33 children of leprosy.

On Tuesday 13 November, Thomas Hooper and Daniel Leyva 8G organised a teacher arm wrestling event raising £55.26 for Crohn’s & Colitis UK. There were solid performances from teachers including Peter Cragg, Alan Jones, Ralph Brocklebank, Alex Jones, Daniel Everett and Alex Davis although no one was able to beat the mighty Zak Feaunati.

On Monday 19 November Daniel Phillips with the help of his form 8G and Year 7 hosts Archie Sansome and Christian White organised BVGS’s second ‘Would I lie to you? – Teacher special’ event raising £49.97 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

The Sound of Silence - Sponsored!

On Thursday 18 October, 19 members of 11G participated in a sponsored silence to raise money for the Birmingham Children’s Cancer Centre. This ‘Silent’ day was a huge success and £374.86 was raised from one day! Since then the form has raised in excess of £500 for the charity. The fundraising has been led with great enthusiasm by Oliver Hobin and his target to raise at least £1000 is well on the way to being reached and hopefully exceeded. Well Done!

Members of the Sixth Form took part in the £10 challenge this term, in which forms had to turn their £10 in to the biggest profit possible for a charity of their choice. This year’s winning form 6JB raised £292.81 by organising a whole school fancy dress day on Thursday 18 October with students from each year group dressing up according to a different theme. There were also impressive performances from many other forms.

On Friday 23 November we held a whole school nonuniform day in aid of a local non-profit organisation based in Kingstanding called ‘SOS Focus on Therapy’ who offer advice and counselling services to those in need. All those involved in the organisation work for free and the £850.52 raised will help pay the rent on the small offices they work from.

Working the Microphones for Charity Dariusz Paszkowski and Alex Comfort compèred Vesey’s Got Talent with poise and aplomb, keeping the audience and judges entertained between the acts. Kasia Czepiel and Caitlin Thornton, Charity Officers, opened the event thanking everybody for supporting the nominated charity.

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BVGS Newsletter Celebration of facial hair this Movember - all in a good cause!

Jon Holden proudly sports his downturned handle-bars, for which he receives the staff prize - a copy of ‘The Moustache Grower’s Guide’ from staff organiser and expert in facial hair, Julian Whiting.

6th Form Charity officers Caitlin Thornton & Kasia Czepiel led the school to raise £325.98 this year through the efforts of staff and students who, on the last day of November, joined in a celebration of facial hair grown throughout the month. Valuable funds have been provided to raise awareness of men’s health issues, specifically prostate cancer and testicular cancer. Ka sia Czepiel, Deputy Charity Captain joins in the fun for the day!

On Wednesday 17 October Josh

Bosnan 9B bravely had his long golden locks shaved off by his Head of Year, Tom Williams and members

of the audience, raising a highly remarkable £412.96 for Acorns Children’s Hospice.

Vesey Sports Teacher runs to raise awareness and raise funds.

Sudden cardiac arrest struck PE teacher and keen athlete Alex Davis at the peak of his physical fitness. Alex, who suffers from the heart rhythm disorder, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, had severe palpitations and an abnormal heart rate and was taken to hospital. While there he suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. His heart was stopped for around five minutes before he was resuscitated. After surgery to his heart Alex has gone from strength to strength and he is now determined to raise awareness of the UK’s biggest killer - sudden cardiac arrest. His efforts to increase awareness about AEDs and CPR have already started with students at BVGS who are supporting Alex’s plans to run the Paris Marathon and climb Mount Kilimanjaro in 2013.

“Training is going really well in preparation for Paris and I am feeling confident” said Alex.

Visit www.justgiving.com/alexdavisendurancechallenges2013 to sponsor Alex.

PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY

January 2013

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Over 60s Computer Club Tea Party

on Monday 3 December, Sixth Form students hosted members of the local community who had been engaged in our special Over 60s Computer Course this term. Certificates were presented to all those who completed the course and students entertained our guests for tea and cakes with a number of musical items which were much appreciated. We are delighted that the Over 60s Computer Course is now firmly embedded as a feature of our outreach programme to the local community.

Moseley Violins - Electric String Instruments Workshop On 27 November David Bruce Johnson, Director of BVGS sponsors Moseley Violins, joined BVGS string players for lunch and then for a presentation and demonstration of electric string instruments, including an example of his own craftsmanship.

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Busking Week & Christmas Concert Busking week returned in November to offer BVGS musicians the opportunity to display their talent in different contexts. Pictured above is Sebastian Heley 11G who entertained diners in the school canteen, playing keyboard. We are grateful to the Patrons and Friends of Vesey Music who continue to support our developments and turned out in force to support the Christmas Concert on 11 December. BVGS Musicians treated us to a rich and varied programme. They showed considerable expertise with a wide range of instruments and in so many musical contexts from full orchestra to solo, from Blur to Tchaikovski from Hark the Herald Angels Sing to Slade’s version of how to bring glad tidings in the season of good-will. An eclectic mix which delighted the audience and brought great credit to our young musicians.

Parents’ Association News On 9 Nov. the PAC held a Yr 7&8 Disco in Big School which raised £583. On 29 Nov. a special Year 7 Parents social event was organised at Sonali Spice with the emphasis on parents meeting up in a relaxed atmosphere. The PAC supported a themed School Reunion Evening in Big School on 15 December raising £355 for school funds from the bar. Chairman Phil Stanley reports that 70 places are available in the PAC 200 Club which raises funds for the school. Simply pay £12 per year via cheque, standing order or direct debit and have the chance to win a cash prize each month which represents 50% of the monthly income from the scheme. 50% of the income is used to fund school projects and to enhance the ‘Vesey Experience’. For a chance to win, join the scheme by contacting Vesey Parent Anne Troman on actroman@live.com Coming soon: Yrs 7&8 Disco 8 Feb 2013. PAC Quiz Night 8 March 2013

PAC

Parents' Association Council

200 Club The 200 Club is run by the Parents' Association to raise funds for school activities and capital projects.

BVGS CHESS We are delighted to report that Chess continues to thrive as a lunchtime activity and on match days - Friday evenings after school. Special thanks to Alex Morgan, Teacher of Mathematics, who is now in charge of this important feature of Vesey life. Our Division 3 Senior Team, captained by Leo Tsoi 11R remains undefeated, having won 2 matches out of 2. Division 4 Senior Team captained by Nikhil Madamsetty 10W has won 1 game and lost 1 game. Year 7 & 8 Team captained by Edward Stanley 8B has lost both matches so far.

January 2013

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Attain Travel is a proud sponsor of Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School Sports

U13 & U14 squads set off for Dublin

Matthew Heller, Captain of Hockey, and Oliver Boyle, Captain of Rugby, pictured here in celebration of the kind and generous sponsorship by Attain Travel, who provide us with a most efficient and reliable service week in week out. Special thanks to Directors Dave Costello & Janet Mauremootoo.

50 students from Yrs 8-9 enjoyed a weekend in Dublin over October half-term, during which 5 staff gave junior players the opportunity to experience how rugby is played in another country and to enjoy playing together in a setting different from the Midlands circuit.

A precursor to the Senior Tour to places like New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

Matches were organised against Dublin High School and Naas Rugby Club, both offering tight and competitive games in which we were narrowly defeated. BVGS players responded with attractive free-flowing rugby and competed bravely to the end of all matches. Whilst on tour the squad visited the Aviva Stadium, which was a great experience - who knows perhaps one day they will run out on that pitch again! Special thanks to Zak Feaunati and his team of coaches for this tour. Next year’s Junior Rugby Tour is to Edinburgh.

In rugby the U15s have made good progress this term, with four victories, one draw and two defeats from seven games. Three of the victories have been in the Daily Mail Vase, where the side drew 5-5 with KES Five Ways (and progressed as the away side), beat King Henry VIII Coventry 29-12 and then Kenilworth School 26-24. The return from injury of Adam Spinner has galvanised the team, with Ben Jesson, Oli Wem and Taranjit Dhillon also performing well. Sadly with only three matches to go before a Twickenham appearance, our U15 squad bowed out of the U15 Daily Mail Vase competition losing 24-26 in a thrilling match against Old Swinford Hospital School, conceding the lead in the dying seconds of the game.

The 2nd XV have continued their hard work after the half term break, with a narrow 19 - 10 defeat against Oldswinford Hospital, a disappointing performance against Adams 5 - 48 , being flooded off against King’s Worcester but a good response by beating Bablake 50 - 0 and Princethorpe 70 - 0.

Team spirit remains strong: P9, W6, D0, L3 F276, A103.

Left John Clarke U15 Captain in action and below inspecting video footage of his performance during a RFU referees development day, leading to the Entry Level Stages 1&2.

Above and below U12s in action against King’s School Worcester in home matches in which the U12As won 25-5 and the U12Bs won 21-19.

January 2013

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U14s say farewell to team-mate bound for the USA

Cross Country

The Senior team has been very successful in the latter half of the year, winning league races and achieving great success in the Greater Birmingham League Individual Race held in Cannon Hill Park on a very wet Wednesday afternoon in November. Ben Topley L6 was the winner, the first since Simon Bond in 2004, with runner-up Sam Lacey U6 in close pursuit. Megan McBrien U6 was the top female runner and overall the team won the race.

David James, Sam Simper and Alistair Crofts of Yr11 have joined the team and they are ably supported

by Rachel Smith, Katy Warren, Mark Poniatowski , Nicole Parsons and Jack Robinson.

A fine end to the Sutton Coldfield Schools’ league for the Juniors with Leo Karski winning all three Yr 7 races supported by Leighton Palmer-Whyte 2nd, Louis Hanlan 3rd, Aidan Bishop 5th, Arif Mohamed 7th. Also running have been Joao Cariata, James Davey and Christian White. The Yrs 8&9 races were won by George Beirne of Yr9 with Dan Carruthers always in the first three, ably supported by Zach Davison, Matt Price, William Poland, Ishaq Rob and Charlie Fellows. Sam Davis of Year 10 won two of the Yrs10/11 races and the team of Rohan Takhar, Dan Scott, Raumel Bowes, Bruk Abraham and Callum McDonald packed together well. Once again sincere thanks to Deputy Head, Bill Potter who has done so much for CrossCountry at BVGS over the years. We offer every good wish to Daniel Everett who takes over as Teacher i/c Cross Country.

On Saturday 17 November, Kaiden Hall played his last game for the U14s before moving to America. U14s played Bablake winning the game 41-0 and their behaviour and discipline were exemplary. Kaiden, pictured here in this farewell photo in relaxed mood, will be sorely missed as a sportsman and a very well liked and respected member of the Vesey community. We wish him well in his new school in USA.

Rowing BVGS rowers competed at Wycliffe Head on Saturday 1 December and the best results came in the double sculls categories. At J18 Oliver Higgins and Steven Mapp came third beating RGS Worcester. The two J15 double sculls also beat RGS in what was a very competitive category. Oliver and Steven were in the medals again in J18 double racing at Wycliffe on 14 December. Congratulations to all involved!

1st XV Rugby Round-up Our 1st XV continues to make good progress towards a highly successful season, despite losing to KES, B’ham in the U18 Daily Mail Cup. Having beaten KES Five Ways earlier in the term, they then went on to defeat Bablake School 17-13 and Princethorpe College 32-10 but succumbed to an outstanding Adams’ Grammar School side. They were applauded for the strength of their defence, despite the score. Penetration in critical parts of the field remains the development area this year.

Prop forward Luke Gough L6 wrestles with the opposition defence in an U18 Daily Mail Cup match v KES B’ham. Will Curwen L6 blasts a penalty into touch in the same game.

Hockey Round-up Victories over QM Walsall and King Henry VIII for the 1st Team. Captain Matt Heller scored a magnificent hattrick against Bablake School but the team slipped to a 3-4 defeat. All in all a great season in progress with 2nd XI wining their last two from three games. U15, U14 & U13 teams are enjoying similar success with U15A beating Loughborough Grammar 4-0 in a match worthy of note.

VESEYANS RFC - A GREAT PLACE TO BE! Veseyans RFC are starting to compete in their new league, winning against their local rivals Aston Old Edwardians. Veseyans went on to beat a very good Bridgnorth team and then had to settle for a losing bonus point in a tight game against Silhillians. Next were Tamworth another local rival game played in awful weather conditions. Both teams still wanted to throw the ball around but the conditions did not really make it a spectacle. However Veseyans came out on top. Good to see the link between school and club is strong with Veseyans RFC supporting our school rugby.

The photo shows Ali Booth OV 07 storming towards a try.

Photo: Stu Small OV

January 2013

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Old Veseyan News Roger Crees Chairman of the OVA Roger joined the Old Veseyan Association as a Life Member on leaving School in 1955 and over the years has attended many Annual Dinners and several London Reunion Dinners. In 2000 he was elected onto the OVA Committee and took over responsibility for magazine advertising. At the AGM in March 2009 he was elected Chairman, and organised his first annual dinner. During his time in office a Memorial to Old Veseyans who died in the two World Wars has been erected at Little Hardwick Road. He has supported the OVA Sports Appeal, Netball and Tennis Appeal and become a Patron of Vesey Music. Thanks to Roger’s excellent chairmanship, the OVA Dinner this year was one of the best ever with an attendance of 140. It was particularly pleasing to see a large group of younger Old Veseyans, which bodes well for the future.

1966 Leavers return to BVGS with partners - Saturday 24 November

The Eddowes Prize, endowed in memory of Thomas Storer Eddowes, Clerk to the Governors for 46 years, is awarded to the student, who in the opinion of the Staff of the School, has made the greatest contribution to the good of the school by example and participation throughout his/her school career. First awarded in 1910, the list of winners since 1968 is on an adjacent oak panel. Adding his name to the list in 2012 is Charlie Greenwood, Red House Captain 2011-12, who undertook a complete overhaul of the House system and has left an invaluable legacy to the school. He was ever present at school events, volunteered his services at every opportunity, played 1st XV Rugby and appeared in ‘Guys & Dolls’. The Eddowes Prize remains one of the top awards amongst an array of endowed prizes for scholarship and good service.

Pictured above are 1966 Old Veseyans who returned to BVGS for a tour of the school with present–day Officers. Organised by John Partridge, OV 66, Prefect 65-66. Other attendees were Peter Farley, OV 66, School Captain 65-66, John Brookes, OV 66, Deputy School Captain 65-66, Peter Cowley, OV 66, Ed Cranswick OV 66 and Professor Elspeth Garman, widow of the late John Barnett OV 66, who sadly died in 2010. A very pleasant event which has inspired us to open the School on Saturday 16 March for more such visits for leavers from 1960-65.

More visits of this kind are envisaged and can also be arranged to suit needs, so if you would like to gather a group of leavers together for a tour of the school, please contact David Iddon, Executive Head via his PA Sharon Weblin on Tel 0121-250-5406 or e-mail s.weblin@bishopveseys.bham.sch.uk The Old Veseyan News magazine is published by Peter Randon OV twice yearly and keeps members informed of the activities of the Association. It is a platform for articles about the life of the school in days gone by, as well as informing OVs about present day BVGS. Membership which includes the magazine is currently £8.50 per annum. For details or to join the OVA contact Roger Crees, Chairman of OVA Tel: 01543-481722 r.crees@talktalk.net

Old Veseyan Association Events in 2013 Saturday 16 March 2013 Open Morning at BVGS for those who left between 1960-65 Monday 25 March 2013 OVA Annual General Meeting 7pm Veseyans Sports & Social Club Sunday 30 June 2013 OVA v School Cricket and Tennis Matches at BVGS 1pm start Wednesday 17 July 2013 Old Veseyan Tours of BVGS from 11am. Lunch with the Headteacher.

Wednesday 17 July 2013 Shaggy Dogs Tea Party 2.30pm at 64 Hardwick Road Streetly For details please contact John Whittaker (1948-54) Tel: 0121-353-2102 johnwhittaker@uwclub.net Saturday 28 September 2013 OVA Annual Dinner at BVGS in Big School.

January 2013 Distinguished 17th Century Old Veseyan Francis Willughby 1635-1672, who studied at Bishop Vesey's Grammar School and Trinity College, Cambridge, was an English ornithologist and ichthyologist. He was a student, friend and colleague of the naturalist John Ray who taught him at Cambridge University, and shared some of his expeditions and interests. Willughby died suddenly from pleurisy during the preparation of his work Ornithologia libri tres which was seen through the press after his death by John Ray. This is considered the beginning of scientific ornithology in Europe, revolutionizing ornithological taxonomy by organizing species according to their physical characteristics.

Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School VC Award

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Memorial Unveiled

The Memorial Ground at Little Hardwick Road was purchased by the OVA in 1955 to honour the memory of Old Veseyans who gave their lives in the Great War 1914-18 and the Second World War 1939-45, and although it has always been known as the Memorial Ground there has been nothing to indicate what it is a memorial to. On 9 April 2011 a memorial plaque commemorating the fallen Old Veseyans was unveiled by John L Whitworth DFC OV (BVGS 1929-1938) (above centre) in front of an audience of approximately 60 guests representing all sections of the Vesey Community. A memorial stone has also been placed in the north east corner of the playing fields.

Clive Richards OBE DL OV (right) who has most generously offered this wonderful silver-gilt Monteith bowl and stand for the school as a special award from 2013. Dave Phillips, (left) BVGS Biology Teacher, School Representative on the Old Veseyan Association Committee and author of BVGS Pro Patria Mori admires this magnificent piece of Vesey memorabilia. The bowl was originally presented by the Staffordshire Territorial Force to Lieutenant Alan Jerrard in honour of his VC award in WWI. Not necessarily awarded on an annual basis but as the occasion befits, this splendid trophy will be presented at Speech Day to members of the Vesey Community who have made an outstanding contribution through distinctive service to the school and its wider community. We are enormously grateful to Clive, who has retired this year as Chairman of Governors, for this splendid gift to the school. This forms part of an ever expanding collection of Vesey archival material in Old Big School.

Commemoration of Victoria Crosses won by Old Veseyans

The two commemorative plaques featured above were erected by the Governors in Old Big School and dedicated to the Old Veseyans Lieutenant Charles Bonner and Lieutenant Alan Jerrard who were both awarded the Victoria Cross for conspicuous bravery in action in World War I. Alan Jerrard, son of Herbert Jerrard, Headmaster at BVGS 1902-26, was renowned for his capability as a fighter pilot. He fought during the long and bitter campaign on the ‘Italian Front’. He distinguished himself over a three week period before 30 March 1918, the day on which he was involved in an operation which led him to a fearless act, launching a courageous attack on an enemy aerodrome flying as low as 50 feet, successfully strafing aircraft as they tried to take off. He had already shot down three enemy planes, only withdrawing on the command of his patrol leader and subsequently being captured. He escaped from a POW camp in Salzburg. Charles ‘Gus’ Bonner, son of a Staffordshire farmer, received the nation’s highest award for bravery in the face of the enemy for an encounter between Q-ship Dunraven and a German U-boat in August 1917 which saw Gus stay at his post and continue to do his duty despite the terrifying conditions in which he and his men found themselves.

January 2013

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Remembrance Services at BVGS - Friday 9 November 2012 Lest We Forget

On Friday 9 November we staged the annual Remembrance Day Assemblies simultaneously in three locations around the school and drew on the musical expertise of (left to right) Holly Frazer-Morris, James Fleming and returnee Callum White OV 2010 who played The Last Post and Reveille. Observing a two minutes silence across the school, we paid tribute to all those members of BVGS who gave their lives in war and all those who have been injured or in any way affected by war. ‘Remembrance is the easy duty of those who remain’.

The Vesey Foundation The Vesey Foundation was established in 2008 as a separate charitable trust to bring together all who are associated with Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School and to preserve the distinctive ethos and excellent resources at the school through fund-raising efforts amongst all members of the Vesey Community.

Vesey Foundation Vacancy at BVGS We seek to appoint from April 2013 an ‘Alumni Manager’ who will take over the work undertaken by David Iddon, Executive Head, who has been instrumental in developing the wider Vesey Community. It is expected that there will be a 3-4 month overlap with David before his retirement to ensure that the existing platform is further developed in line with the aims of the Vesey Foundation as described above. The ‘Alumni Manager’ will work closely with the Senior Executive Team, providing initiative and drive at a crucial point in the school’s development. To receive further details of this post, which are now ready in advance of an imminent formal advertisement, please contact Graham Swindells, Finance Director/School Business Manager Tel: 0121-250-5434 or g.swindells@bishopveseys.bham.sch.uk. The successful candidate may well be appointed from the Vesey Community and/or with experience from another alumni community or have related experience. Do please send for details or alert others who may be interested or suited to this very important rôle in the school.

BVGS Sports Development Project: inspiring the next generation Our sincere thanks to Peter Randon, OV, current Editor of the Old Veseyan Association News magazine and former Chairman of the Governors, for initiating the OVA Sports Appeal in 2011, through The Vesey Foundation, in support of further development of our wide-ranging platforms for sport at BVGS. We are grateful to all those in the wider Vesey Community who have already donated to this ambitious project and we are delighted to announce that we are ready to go ahead with certain elements of our plan and hope that the final pieces of this funding jigsaw can be in place early in the New Year. We await the outcome of two grant applications and hope to raise the final £50k to complete the envisaged £300k investment from funding sources other than the school budget share. Coming soon with your support…..

Floodlights on Middle Field

Tennis Courts

Additional Specialist Coaching

Outdoor Cricket Nets

Indoor Rowing Machines

Electronic Scoreboard

Netball Courts

Coxless Four Rowing Boat

Outdoor Table Tennis

We look forward to welcoming benefactors to the opening ceremonies of these wonderful sporting platforms at intervals during 2013 as we complete the project in stages over the coming months. More news to follow shortly.

Netball/Tennis Courts Appeal Update As previously reported, the above Appeal was launched as a discrete part of the overall BVGS Sports Development Project with a target of £50k.

We await the outcome of a grant application which will edge us near to completion if successful. The running total stands at £37,950 as of 20 December 2012. We expect to complete this element of the project early in 2013 with the help of additional support from members of the Vesey Community.