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NEWS OF OLD BRUTONIANS OB CRICKET 2003 Well, having been asked to cobble together a brief report on the Old Boys (OBs) vs. School cricket fixture in 2003, I find myself almost nine months down the line with nothing but some scores and figures hastily scribbled on the back of a beer mat (found in the bottom of the cricket bag in the loft) and some memories of a great day. If memory serves correctly it was the day after the Old Brutonian Annual Dinner, which supplied the OBs with a much-needed eleventh player in the form of a slightly dazed and bemused Mark Lloyd Davies. Having rolled up to sit back in the sun, relax and watch some cricket while recovering from the previous night, Lloyd Davies found himself opening the batting against some fairly quick and hostile bowling from the School. After some time at the crease seeing off the new ball, he was dismissed for 1 and returned to his bench, and the sunshine, for the remainder of the innings. The morning session belonged to the school, who bowled tightly on a wicket that should have yielded more runs than it did. As ever Aidi produced a great match wicket with a little bit in it for the bowlers but a good hard surface which allowed the ball to come through onto the bat if you set yourself. While nobody from the OBs ever really went on to get a big score, there were contributions from Weir (18), Nick Price (11), Green (17), Dunn (29), Cuthbert (27) and a cracking 19 not out from Ally Lund batting at number 11. Next year, my friend, you will be batting higher up the order! In the middle of these proceedings the usual excellent lunch was taken down at the school, with the OBs being encouraged to enjoy the wine. Personally I am totally in favour of this as the scorebook doesn’t lie and it will tell you that 84 of the 148 runs scored off the bat came from the last four batsmen. (That, however, may have been the result of getting the batting order completely wrong!) From the school, Ball with 4 for 30 and Masters with 3 for 50 were the pick of the bowlers. In reply the School were always there or thereabouts, finally clinching victory off the penultimate ball with a few wickets in hand, making for a very exciting finale to the day. Price (2 for 22 off 13), Fleming (2 for 28 off 6.5), Lund (1 for 43 off 15) and Dunning (1 for 38 off 6) all bowled with some reward and Williams (19 runs from 5 overs) and Willbur (18 runs from 4 overs) were particularly miserly. Without doubt the highlight in the field for the OBs was an absolute blinder of a catch made at gully by Dave Cuthbert, who promptly left the field – possibly in fear of a similar bullet-like chance coming his way. What was particularly good news for the OBs fixture this year was the number of “new” faces involved and the enthusiasm about the fixture that was generated throughout the day. Thank you to all involved on both sides for making it such an enjoyable day, as well as to the school for the usual excellent facilities and hospitality. Next year we will have our revenge! John Kai Fleming Sports Co-ordinator OB VETERANS HOCKEY 2004 The Veterans Hockey fixture against the School 2nd XI this year was, as ever, a very interesting and tight affair, with a number of very slick and professional moments interspersed with the usual assortment of comedy moments. The goals came thick and fast at both ends of the field and in both halves. There were so many in fact that it is virtually impossible to remember who scored what, or even what the score was at half time. It looked like the Veterans were in for a serious pasting when they were 2 - 0 down after about 5 minutes, but after shaking the stiffness out of the legs they began to stand up and be counted, pulling back to 2 - 2 after about fifteen minutes. Thereafter the goals flowed and while the Kenyan contingent of Craig and Jason Rogers and Sam Jenkinson were netting 6 goals at the other end, John Fleming in his new and alarming role as “Keeps” was doing his best to keep the school in the game, letting in 8 in all during the game. It would have been a lot more had it not been for Chris Upton and Colin Coutts in defence. The excuse heard after the game however was that the Veterans were playing an attacking game with only two men at the back, and four up front! The tactic succeeded marginally as the aim of the game really is to score more than your opponents, and the Vets did that with 10 in all. This was largely due to the industry from Al McEwan, Duncan Stewart, Rob Scott and Tom Taylor who scored 4 between them and ranged all over the pitch from defence to attack. David Harris was back for another year and fed Big Mac with some useful ball up the left. At the final whistle the rather amazing scoreline of 10 - 8 was in favour of the Veterans. Breaking from the tradition the Veterans had a very sociable lunch in the school dining hall along with all the supporters, this was a very nice development from previous years. Thank you once again to the school for extending such great hospitality and for making the game possible. OB HOCKEY 2004 Sunday, March 2, 2004 - After an exciting and closely fought match, a younger OB team (mainly last year's 1st XI) just pipped the 1st XI by one goal. Final score 2-3. THE COMMITTEE OF THE ASSOCIATION Presiden t Christopher Rhys-Jones (O45/49) Vice-Presiden t Richard Sullivan (N58/62) Honorary Secr e ta ry David Hindley (Staff 63/00) Honorary Treasur er Colin Hughes (L56/61) Trevor Albery (B83/88), Sinead Costello (W92/94), James Holland (O83/88), John Longman (P57/61) Francis Luard (P92/97), William Newton (L73/75) Jamie Reach (L91/95), Kate Sedgman (W95/97) By invitation: Harry Witherby (B63/67), John Kai Fleming (B88/93) 32 OLD BRUTONIAN ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER 2004
HEADMASTER'S LETTER Very often during the year friends and supporters of the School ask me: “How is the school, Headmaster?” It is always a difficult question to answer because there are a variety of tests to apply. Do they mean how many pupils are there in the School; whether the 1st XV is winning; or the Art, Music and Drama are flourishing; or how good were the academic results in the Summer? I usually hesitate. The ultimate test in my view is whether a school nurtures each individual pupil and is able to release the talents and potential of that particular individual during their time at King’s. How do you measure that? How do you measure if he or she has developed selfesteem or integrity? How can you measure spiritual development, kindness and sensitivity? The hallmark of an excellent, all round education is to nurture young boys and girls from 13 to 18. That process is not a science. It is a creative experience which makes this Headmaster hesitate before answering such a well-wisher’s question. This year we have been able to deflect the question by offering the report that was produced after King’s was inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate in October. Every six or seven years, an independent HMC School will be inspected by ISI. Ten inspectors duly arrived at King’s on 20 October, six years to the day since the last inspection. All the King’s pupils were new to an inspection and so were 10 of the 19 Heads of Department, and over 50% of the staff. For four days the teaching and learning in each of the academic departments and a very broad range of school issues ranging from boarding to behaviour, ethos to extra curricular activities, came under the microscope. Present parents are canvassed in advance via a questionnaire for their opinions about the School, and the inspectors are sent a mountain of information before their arrival, ranging from set sizes, academic results and other number crunching data to policy statements, minutes of meetings, departmental schemes or work, and job descriptions. A lot of work by the Senior Management, Heads of Department and Housemasters and Housemistresses goes into preparing and updating that documentation. The teaching staff are vigorously inspected when teaching and fulfilling their pastoral and extra curricular duties. The pupils themselves are the centre of the inspection. They are interviewed singly and in groups. Their written work is carefully analysed and the progress of their learning observed in and out of lessons. It is an interesting experience for a Headmaster to see 10 inspectors - under significant time pressure to collect and evaluate evidence for their reports - invading the School. I should like to take the liberty to highlight from the report two of the strengths of King’s which the Inspectors outlined and would provide an answer to that question, “How is King’s, Headmaster?” They thought that our pastoral care at King’s was excellent. We have had much recent movement among the Houses. With the retirement of Terry Johnson, Rob Lowry has moved up to Lyon from Priory House after six successful years on the High Street. Ann Crowcombe has moved over from Arion to Priory on its conversion to a girls’ House. Rose Vigers has taken over as House Parent of Arion House for 6th Form boys. James Shone has come from Kenya to become Housemaster of New House after Jim Roebuck’s reign of six years. Housemasters, Housemistresses and tutors give of their time and care beyond the call of duty. They nurture their charges with sensitivity and consideration. Inspectors were very impressed with the way those in loco parentis were carrying out their responsibilities. In the view of the Inspectors, another major strength of King’s was the personal and social development that our pupils enjoy THE SCHOOL during their time at the School. Again, this is very satisfying to know that the opportunities beyond the classroom in terms of physical, emotional, cultural and spiritual development, are a particular strength. The Inspectors will have appreciated the making of this judgement with the explosion of music at King’s in the last three years. Over 170 pupils now take individual music lessons per week. There is a plethora of music making ranging from the orchestra and military band, to jazz band, show band, flute, string and brass combinations. The military band marches annually around Bruton on Remembrance Day, and it is going on a tour to Belgium in the Summer. Drama has grown in the number of productions we enjoy at King’s. Last year we had twelve to enjoy and a group of our pupils took one production to the Edinburgh Festival. Seven productions have been offered this Easter Term and the School’s aim is to encourage all pupils during their time at King’s to participate in a School drama production. Central to the School must be the academic work and we were again delighted with our A level results, with an excellent A/B pass rate of 53% and 42% A’s and A* at GCSE. Again, the Inspectors were very complimentary about our teaching and learning. Some outstanding teaching was observed, and the ICT provision, which contributed significantly to the standard of teaching and learning, was named as another strength. Further academic improvements are in the pipeline. We are delighted, for instance, that the whole floor above the Dining Hall will be developed by September into a library/learning centre. A new staircase from the entrance to the Dining Hall will bring access into the centre of the School, and the centre will retain the Norton Library name. It will be an important improvement in developing the facility for our pupils to undertake individual study and research so important in academic work. Such success has not been at the expense of our sport. The 1st XI cricket had its best season for some years and are enjoying the benefits of a newly laid square. The 1st XV won six and lost three, and beat Sherborne for the third time in five years and King’s, Taunton for the third time in four years. The girls’ hockey teams won more matches than they lost in the Christmas Term, and both boys and girls have won representative honours at hockey. King’s has been blessed with a core of long-serving and loyal staff in its recent history. They bring continuity and stability to a school. One of these is Colin Jones who came to King’s in 1975. We will be saying good-bye to Colin in June when he retires from King’s as Director of Studies. Mrs Emma Kent moves on after four years in the Music Department to become Director of Music at West Buckland School, a promotion richly deserved. The Headmaster is also moving after eleven years and two terms to become Headmaster of St Peter’s, York. He thought King’s was a special school when he came for interview, and he still believes that to be the case. King’s is a full boarding school, committed to the highest academic, cultural and sporting standards. Surrounded by beautiful countryside, it is an exceptional place in which adolescents can grow. King’s is also thriving in terms of numbers. For 13 out of the last 20 terms King’s has been above 350 in number, a figure never previously breached in its history. The A level and GCSE results this summer were the best the School has ever celebrated. The extra curricula life of the school is varied. May King’s continue to flourish. King’s for the first time since the late 1970’s sung the School song at the beginning of February at the start of the House singing competition . May I end with my own wish for the School, taken from the last line of the song: “Floreat Brutonia”. Richard Smyth March 2004 OLD BRUTONIAN ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER 2004 33
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