Reflections Mag FINAL.indd - Handcross Park School

REFLECTIONS 

2009-2010 

1

Copyright 2011, Handcross Park School 

All rights reserved. 

Photos: Beverly Hipkin, Jane Brookes, 

Mark Harrison, and various staff. 

Editor: Mark Harrison

FROM THE HEADMASTER 

‘Reflections’, the Handcross Park School Magazine, 

always lives up to its name and looks back over the 

previous academic year. However, I find myself writing 

this introduction only weeks before I leave the school 

and move forward into retired life. Over the 17 years 

I have been Headmaster of this wonderful school 

I have always eagerly awaited the next edition of 

Reflections appearing on my desk and this year 

brings no exception. As I’m sure you can imagine, I 

have built up quite a collection of our magazines, the 

pages of which are often thumbed in order to retrieve 

the many happy memories of the pupils, teachers, 

parents and occasions that have played such an 

important part in my working life. 

All good things come to an end and as I drift off into 

the sunset I can look back with pride at everything that 

I have achieved, both for the school and personally. 

Handcross Park is a very special place and I know 

that the future editions of Reflections will make 

excellent reading as the school moves onwards and 

upwards under the expert leadership of Mr Owton. 

I hope that Mrs Rouse will ensure that I remain on the 

mailing list. 

You will be aware that this edition is rather late in 

arriving. That is brought about by the fact that we 

didn’t have an editor able to follow in the footsteps of 

last year’s incumbent. It looked like I would have to 

take on the task myself (even though my expertise in 

this field is rather lacking), when Mr Mark Harrison, 

our terrific Chairman of the Friends of Handcross 

Park, stepped up to the Mark (excuse the pun) and 

offered his services. I’m sure that you will agree he 

has done a remarkable job particularly as he had only 

a few weeks to complete the project. 

As you will see, last year was a splendid year for the 

school. We were particularly pleased with our record 

Scholarship results, but they formed just one part of 

the many successes that we enjoyed throughout the 

academic year. I certainly don’t want to pre-empt 

your enjoyment of the magazine by going into detail 

here, so why not settle down in your favourite chair 

and enjoy the latest edition of ‘Reflections’. 

All that remains is for me to say a fond farewell 

and thank you to everyone who has made the past 

20 years so special and to wish Handcross Park and 

everyone associated with it all the best for the future. 

I look forward to seeing you at the Summer Ball! 

Warren Hilton (February 2011) 

1

2 

CONTENTS 

From the Headmaster 1 

From the Chair of the Governors 3 

From the editor 3 

Pre-Prep and Nursery 4 

Art 6 

Chess 9 

Drama 10 

A Christmas Carol (Upper School play) 10 

Blue Crystal (Middle School play) 11 

Alice in Wonderland (Lower School play) 12 

English 13 

Year 3 - Pirates 13 

Year 4 – Recipes for Enjoying School 14 

Year 5 - Iron Man 15 

Year 6 – The Breadwinner 16 

Year 7 – Rain Poems 17 

History 18 

Latin 20 

Library 22 

Maths 24 

Modern Foreign Languages 26 

French Breakfast / Petit-Déjeuner Français 26 

Concours d’Art Oratoire at Lancing College – French Speaking Competition 27 

Harry Potter Y La Piedra Filosofal 27 

Music 28 

Music-Examination Results during the year 30 

Organic Life 32 

Science 33 

Wisley 33 

Science Show 33 

Sport – A Year In Pictures 34 

Friends of Handcross Park 36 

Goodbye to Staff 37 

Valete 38

From the Chair of the Governors 

When my husband and I were taken on a tour of 

Handcross Park 22 years ago, we saw a typical, 

rather old fashioned but friendly, boarding/day 

school. There was no sports hall, swimming pool, 

music school or Secret Garden. In the meeting room 

next to Miss Lane’s classroom were four baths with 

no cubicles or curtains. That was where the boys 

washed after games! 

The buildings beyond the music school, over the wall, 

belonged to the school. There were flats for staff, 

classrooms and a lovely old theatre that doubled as 

the chapel. 

The Secret Garden was under construction in a walled 

kitchen garden and this was to be the beginning of a 

huge change for the school. To take children into a 

Pre-Prep to feed the Prep was a bold move. 

Next came the Music School that enabled the children 

to enjoy a more diverse curriculum. Selling off the 

redundant buildings behind the wall gave the Trustees 

From the editor 

The Magnificat, or Song of Mary, starts (in the King 

James English translation) with the line “My soul 

does magnify the Lord.” The meaning of this has been 

the subject of many an undergraduate theology essay 

– how can any human actually make God bigger, 

since God is already omnipotent? The best answer 

I’ve heard is that a magnifying glass doesn’t actually 

make anything bigger – it just causes us to zoom in 

on a particular aspect, and gives more space to that, 

at the expense of removing the focus from the other 

things that surround it. 

The role of an editor is similar – there are so many 

things that one could include about Handcross Park, 

but strong limitations of either space or, in the case 

of this edition, time. 

The focus, therefore is on the Glory of the school 

– its pupils. Thanks to all those who contributed 

different views of Handcross life in the academic 

year 2009-2010, but the thing that we will magnify is 

last years’ leavers. 

the ability to invest in major improvements to the 

main school. 

The Sports Hall was an exciting venture that has kept 

Handcross Park up with its competitors. 

So many children have passed through the school 

over the last twenty years; members of staff, too, 

have left their mark on what is truly a remarkable 

place. Despite the changes over the years, it is the 

people that have made the school what it is today. 

Let us look forward to the next twenty years with 

anticipation and confidence. 

- Emily Hutchings, February 2011 

That having been said, I need to thank two people 

in particular. Firstly, Beverly Hipkin for helping get 

together so many contributions in so short a time. 

Secondly, to Lottie Brookes for proof-reading this 

(several times) and picking up many mistakes – Lottie 

- I hope I corrected them all. 

3

4 

PRE-PREP AND NURSERY 

What a busy year we have had in the Pre-Prep and 

Nursery, I cannot believe that I have only been here 

for three terms! During that time we have squeezed in 

lots of exciting activities. As well as working within 

the classroom, children went out on educational visits 

to stimulate their interest. First out were the nursery 

children who went to Tulley’s Farm to pick raspberries 

as part of their preparations for Harvest Festival, 

coming back to make jam and also bread. At the same 

time Pre-Prep children took part in an assembly to 

celebrate harvest. Rev. Ian Philips from the Easter 

Team, a Christian charity providing care for those in 

crisis, spoke to the children and accepted their gifts. 

Little Owls joined in with the celebration by making 

a scarecrow. 

Other trips out included visits to Sainsbury’s to 

buy ingredients for shopping, Sussex Wildlife Trust 

at Woodsmill, Warnham Nature Reserve, Worthing 

Museum and beach, a local library and Holmbush 

Farm as well as lots of walks in the grounds. 

The children’s other charitable work included fund 

raising for orphans in Romania, earthquake victims in 

Haiti and a local hospice as well as donating shoes to 

children in Zambia and nearly new items for the Eco 

‘recycle to make someone smile’ sale. 

We introduced Spanish into the Pre-Prep this year 

with Senora Nagle teaching through songs and 

games. We also enjoyed a few themed weeks in which 

all children participated. One particularly overcast 

week in the autumn term saw all our children travelling 

around the world! Each teacher set up their 

room as a different country and gave the children a 

flavour of what it is like through cookery, art, and 

much more. At the end of the week all children had 

a ‘stamped’ passport with the flag of each country. In 

the Spring Term our themed week was ‘People who 

help us’ and we had visits from a dentist, a nurse, and 

a police officer who all reminded us how to stay safe 

and healthy. 

Our musicians kept us entertained with violinists, 

recorder players and pianists taking part in informal 

concerts and assemblies as well as our newly 

formed choir performing for us. We had two major 

performances during the Year 1 of the catchy tunes 

in our Christmas show, ‘The Magic Box’ appeared 

again with new words in summer’s ‘The Magic Key’ 

– I am still humming it now! Our children gave such 

confident performances and as always I was incredibly 

proud of them and of our teachers who bring out the 

best in them.

6 

ART

8 

ART

Our chess team began the season with a 4-0 win over 

Wivelsfield. However the games were closer than 

the scoreline shows, and it is credit to our boys that 

they stuck to their task well. Thomas Rowell was the 

first to win on board four, and then Adam Sowton 

claimed a checkmate on board two. Luca Marin had 

a fascinating game on board one, but despite an 

obvious lack of match practice, kept his composure 

to secure the win. Meanwhile Toby Rayward on board 

three succeeded due to his patient and skilful play. 

After our win over Wivelsfield, our chess team 

went to Great Walstead in a confident mood. This 

confidence was increased when we heard that 

Wivelsfield had beaten Great Walstead 2½-1½. 

However we soon fell behind on boards one and two 

where both Luca Marin and Adam Sowton did well 

to stay in their games as long as they did. Meanwhile 

Thomas Rowell on board four was dominating his 

game, and Toby Rayward seemed to have the upper 

hand on board three. Unfortunately Thomas allowed 

his opponent to get away with a stalemate, and then 

Toby had the tables turned on him in an exciting 

climax to the match that was to decide the group 

placings. The final score of 3½-½ gave Great Walstead 

5 points while we ended on 4½. So by the narrowest 

1. e4 

2. d4 

3 Nc3 

4 Nxe4 

5 Ng5 

6 Bd3 

7 N1f3 

8 Ne6 

9 0-0 

10 Bg6+ 

c6 

d5 

dxe4 

Nd7 

Ngf6 

e6 

h6 

Qe7 

fxe6 

Kd6 

CHESS 

of margins we came second in our group and were to 

play in division two in the spring term. 

We hosted the division two group in March. Milton 

Mount and Ashurst played first and produced a hard 

fought out draw. They both looked good and we knew 

we would be in for a hard couple of matches. In our 

first game, against Ashurst, Adam Sowton won a quick 

victory on board three and Luca Marin also squeezed 

through on board one. However the opponents who 

had won in the first game repeated the trick and 

another 2-2 draw resulted. So it was all to play for in 

the final match with Milton Mount. Our winners in the 

first game were brought back down to earth with two 

defeats, but Thomas Rowell triumphed on board four. 

So it was down to Jack Duggan, playing in his first 

game for the team, to give the competition organiser a 

headache by winning his game. Unfortunately he was 

not able to do so in a close finish. So we lost 3-1 and 

it was Milton Mount who went through to the finals. 

The following week we did very well to come eighth 

with 8½ points out of a possible 18 in the Cottesmore 

Chess Congress. Well done to our senior players: Luca 

Marin, Jacob Lawrence and Charlie Cooper. 

Quiz question: The following moves are from what is regarded, in some circles as the 

most historically important chess game of all time. Who were the players? 

11 Bf4 

12 a4 

13 Re1 

14 Bg3 

15 axb5 

16 Qd3 

17 Bf5 

18 Rxe7 

19 c4 

b5 

Bb7 

Nd5 

Kc8 

cxb5 

Bc6 

exf5 

Bxe7 

 

9

10 

DRAMA 

A Christmas Carol 

(Upper School play) 

As the lights came up the audiences’ eyes were fixed 

upon the little old man shuffling around in his cold 

dingy office. Harry Day was the epitome of meanness 

and misery as Scrooge and it was clear that we were 

in for a good performance. This was not a production 

for the faint hearted. 

Milo Harper as the Ghost of Jacob Marley clanked 

onto the stage complete with a mask that terrified 

everyone – he’d obviously been in the grave for several 

years! The three spirits played by Louis Holwell, 

James Hebbard and Bethany Lickiss were all 

well crafted cameo performances and their scary 

presence was beautifully contrasted by homeliness 

of the Cratchit family scenes. The Cratchit children 

played by Rebecca Nielson, Isabella Soames, James 

Rayward, Amelia Jaffe and Isobel Cottrell were 

played with energy and clear definition of character 

as was the pleasantly affable Mr. Cratchit played by 

Scott Nicholls. However the star of the Cratchit family 

show must go to Leah Barney who brought a wonderful 

mix of pathos, good hearted jollity and sternness to 

the role of Mrs. Cratchit. 

The main characters were wonderfully supported by 

the rest of the cast and everyone performed to their 

very best. This year has been excellent for drama and 

special congratulations must go to Harry Day, Isabella 

Soames and Leah Barney on their drama scholarships. 

Well done.

Blue Crystal 

(Middle School play) 

During the Spring Term, Handcross Park parents 

were treated to a dazzling performance of ‘The Blue 

Crystal’, by Years 5 and 6. 

Set in the year 4029, the Zarcon warriors from the 

Planet Zarcon have come to Planet Earth to steal 

the life-giving Blue Crystal. The show opened with a 

rousing performance of “Zarcon Warriors” sung by 

the warriors (leader of whom was Lizzie Mailer) and 

they were ably supported by a chorus of menacinglooking 

Year 5s, in full war-paint. A dark, smoke-filled 

stage set the scene. 

It was clear however that the Blue Crystal was not 

leaving the Earth without a fight, and Captain Tor 

(played by Jim Bruges) and his merry crew (Luca 

Marin and Elizabeth Brooks), a hologram (Lillie 

Shelley), clones and aliens would fight to the bitter 

end. The audience were treated to some exciting, 

catchy, musical numbers such as “Planet Nine” and 

“The Crystal is Ours”, with the chorus joining in with 

gusto. Alex Tozzi performed a wonderful solo of, 

“Take Me to the Stars” and Lachlan Martin’s robotic 

dance as Co-dot the robot was mesmerising 

Jim Bruges won the acting prize for his performance 

as Captain Tor. He demonstrated his acting range 

when he was finally confronted by the Zarcon princess 

(played by Liberty ‘what a voice’ Macfie) - and a 

dilemma! The high–tempo songs were enacted against 

a stunning set, from the space ship to the hologram 

service. Mr Haddon was in charge of the pyrotechnics, 

ensuring that the production went off with a bang! 

The last number, “Shine out”, had the audience on 

their feet, calling for more. 

Headmaster, Warren Hilton, congratulated the cast 

on a “stunning show”, and said that the performers 

should be proud of their self-discipline. He added that 

he was delighted to be named after a spaceship, the 

Starship Hilton; saying that it was “definitely a step 

up from hotels and celebrities!” Mr Hilton went on to 

express his gratitude to Mrs Lickiss who had worked 

so tirelessly on the show, and to all the parents and 

staff who contributed to such a successful night. 

As Jeremy Jones said, “It was a performance that will 

live long in the memory; out-of-this-world!” 

Tara McParland 

11

12 

DRAMA 

Alice in Wonderland 

(Lower School play) 

As the curtain went up we were in for a treat. The 

stage set was, as usual, fantastic with Rosemary 

Gooderham and Joan Hill pulling out all the stops. 

The roses adorning the banks of a beautiful river gave 

the butterfly dancers an atmospheric backdrop. The 

rowing boat, built to last by Gerald Heath, looked so 

real you could almost hear the splash of the oars. 

The cast headed by Esme Bertelsen, Sophie Mills and 

Georgia Roff as Alice brought Lewis Carrolls’ classic 

tale to life. Lewis Carroll, played by Alexander 

Goodman, narrated the story with the help of a variety 

of Wonderland creatures all of whom demonstrated 

excellent characterisation skills. 

Everyone gave a fabulous performance but special 

mention must be made of the Maddest of Hatters 

played by Sterren Botha and his sidekick the March 

Hare played by Daniel Topple. A fantastic double act 

who made you feel quite concerned for the fate of the 

Dormouse played by Laura Russell who had a pot of 

tea poured over her! 

Another mention must be made of the scary Queen of 

Hearts, played by Joseph Endacott, who was a mix of 

prancing prima donna and brutal dictator. 

This show had everything from street dancing 

lobsters to smooth talking Caterpillars (Sebastian 

Lewis) as well as more chopped off heads than you 

could shake a stick at. The students sang their hearts 

out with memorable numbers like The Caterpillar 

Blues and The Croquet Song which, of course, the 

Queen of Hearts insisted the audience sang. 

Anyone who didn’t sing loud enough was executed – 

we are still looking for some members of staff. I could 

White Rabbit (Toby Rawlings) on about the cast’s total 

brilliance but unfortunately I’ve just remembered 

something………I’m late!

Year 3 - Pirates 

Pirates, pirates, pirates, 

Dallying, dancing, daft pirates, 

Lovable, lonely, loafing pirates, 

Pirates, pirates, pirates! 


Gorgeous, girl, gossiping pirates, 

Clinging, capable, clown pirates, 



Gorgeous, girl, gossiping pirates, 

Dozing, dazzling, daddy pirates, 

Smelly, sleepy, silly pirates, 


- Pippy Harrison 


Funky, funny, French pirates, 

Dumb, dumpy, daft pirates, 



Scary, scruffy, silly pirates, 

Careless, chatty, cheeky pirates, 



Cautious, crafty, cunning pirates, 

Fake, fat, fair pirates, 


- Jodie Rogers 

ENGLISH 


Sleepy, sick, smelly pirates, 

Punky, punished, puny pirates, 



Tubby, ticklish, trustworthy pirates, 

Galloping, gossiping, golfing pirates, 



Daft, disrespectful, deaf pirates, 

Alert, annoying, argumentative pirates, 


- Kian Nunn-Garside 


Scared, scorched, sad pirates, 

Dumb, disgusting, drunk pirates, 



Funky, fast, footballing pirates, 

Rich, rude, rocking pirates, 



Gruesome, grey, gorgeous pirates, 

Weak, worried, whipped pirates, 



Cardboard, cartoon, Chelsea pirates, 

Bodyguard, bossy, brainwashed pirates, 


- Edward Brookes 

13

14 

Ingredients: 

Chatting 

Playtimes 

Good food 

ICT 

Games 

Lessons 

Feeling wind in my hair 

ENGLISH 

Year 4 – Recipes for Enjoying School 

Method: 

Get an ice cream machine and add, a speck of chatting, 

a spoon full of playtimes, a 13 cm ruler of ICT and 

a bin full of feeling wind in my hair. Then add a tiny 

bit of games, a tick of good food and a lens size of 

lessons!!! 

Tip into an ice cream cone and its ready to eat! 

− Tomas Panto 

Ingredients: 

Friends 

Sport 

Break 

Lunch 

Teachers 

Art lessons 

Adventure playgrounds 

School plays 

Multiplication tables 

Maths lessons 

Method: 

Take a milkshake machine and put in 1 gram of sport, 

a tablespoon of art. Then add a teaspoon of lunch and 

1ml of timetables. Stir up with a fraction of maths. 

Leave to blend for 10 minutes in the milkshake 

machine. Then add a flicker of break with a school of 

kind, caring teachers. Scatter on a stage full of school 

plays and a climbing wall of adventure playground. 

Mix up with a piano full of music. Put into an enormous 

glass and ice the top with friends! 

− Zac Robertson 

Ingredients: 

Art 

English 

Lunch 

Trampoline 

Big trees 

Friends 

Method: 

Into a blender put 5 grams of art and 1 gram of 

English. Blend together and add a dollop of lunch 

with a bounce of trampoline, sprinkle on some big 

trees. Pour into a jelly mould, place in the fridge for 

10 minutes. Take out and decorate with friends. 

− Greg Taylor 

Ingredients: 

Art 

Lunch 

Friends 

Handwriting 

Tea break 

Learning things 

Method: 

Take a huge mixer and add some delicious school 

lunch. Put in a teaspoon of friendship mixed with a 

handful of writing. Add a spoonful of tea break with 

six cm of art lessons. Sprinkle on some learning 

things. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Put on a plate 

to cool. It is now ready to eat. 

− Nicole Trevalion Turnbull

Year 5 - Iron Man 

In the Spring term of Year 5, we studied the Iron 

Man by Ted Hughes. Following the description of the 

landing of the grotesque Space-Bat-Angel-Dragon 

on Australia, we wrote a BBC News newspaper report 

on this terrifying incident. 

Dingoes in Darkness 

The Space-bat-angel-dragon crashed down on 

Australia yesterday at 11.30am. This shock was felt 

around the globe and measured 10 on the Richter 

Scale. It caused posters and displays to fall off the 

walls at Handcross Park School in England, and the 

vibrations knocked down half of the Great Wall of 

China. It demands living food now! 

It all started when a tiny star unnoticed and forgotten 

with all the others in the constellation of Orion, 

suddenly started getting closer and closer and closer. 

After a couple of days, a black spot appeared and started 

moving around. The next day it landed on Australia. 

Professor Archibald Guthrum VII said, “We think it’s a 

UFO from Mars.” Mr Lomu of the New Zealand Rugby 

team said, “I was near a billabong, cooking a Barbie, 

singing Waltzing Mathilda, while on tour with the All 

Blacks in the Tri Nation tournament. One of the sheep 

wandered off, and suddenly it got squished!” Mr Stern 

said, “It was scary, especially when all the lights went 

out and I heard this huge thud. My sister screamed; I 

was grief–stricken.” 

Tune in tomorrow for more news on the Space-batangel-dragon. 

Jack Duggan 5A 

The Daily Ice - PLUNDER DOWN UNDER 

A mysterious Space bat, angel or dragon (we are still 

not sure) has landed on Australia causing havoc all 

around the world. 

It all started when the dim forgotten star (no 1254 of 

the YZX124X variety) at the point of the arrow on the 

constellation Orion, started growing dramatically, 

and everyone started panicking and going berserk 

everywhere. A tiny, black speck appeared in the star 

and after all this suspense .... WHAM! CRASH! 

WOLLOP!! The SBAD appeared. 

Here to tell us all the details is Professor B. Scared: 

“I noticed it first. I’ll get all the credit. Oh er, where 

was I .. ah yes! The star! It was amazing. The star 

was amazing, the speed was amazing, the dragon is 

amazing, the BOOM was amazing. Quite frankly I’m 

amazed!” 

Two more eyewitnesses saw the SBAD landing; 

Mabel (aged 128) and Margaret (aged 127 3/4 ) 

“Oooh Mabel, it was er .. come on you old noggin! Yes, 

I’ve got it! It was scary!” 

Mabel said, “Yes deary it was, but why are we here? 

Television is a young whippersnapper thing. I 

remember when it was invented!” 

This is BBC news. Watch tomorrow to find out more 

about the SBAD and how it’s terrorising Australia. 

Andre Bennett 5A 

15

16 

ENGLISH 

Year 6 – The Breadwinner 

In Year 6, we studied The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis. 

At the end of the book Shauzia is leaving Afghanistan 

and aiming to flee to Europe. She tells Parvana that 

she will meet her in twenty years time on the 1st day 

of Spring at the top of the Eiffel Tower. We imagined 

the reunion scene. 

21st March 2023, a warm spring evening in Paris, at 

the top of the Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel Tower is packed 

and there is virtually no room to move 

SHAUZIA: (To the crowd) Parvana, Parvana, where 

are you? 

PARVANA: Shauzia, Shauzia, is that really you? 

SHAUZIA: Dur! Course it’s me. 

PARVANA: “But what are you holding? A pug in a pink 

coat? 

SHAUZIA: Oh her, she’s nothing special, I have 10 billion 

other dogs in coats in my mansion down in the 

South of France. 

PARVANA: Why are you wearing Abercrombie and 

Hollister in the same outfit? 

SHAUZIA: Because I can! 

PARVANA: I suppose you have a swimming pool the 

size of 20 double decker buses too!! 

SHAUZIA: Actually no but thanks for the idea! I can 

add it to my 30 tennis courts, my 10 squash courts, my 

gym and my state-of-the-art sauna. 

PARVANA: Wow! How did you earn so much money? 

SHAUZIA: That’s the best bit ...... I didn’t! 

PARVANA: What! You stole millions of euros!?!? 

SHAUZIA: No, no, well not exactly. I got my dogs to 

do most of the work. They ripped the guards to pieces 

and I jammed the security cameras, and from then on 

it was easy. 

PARVANA: So basically you robbed a bank? 

SHAUZIA: No, of course not, I’m not that risky. I stole 

the Mona Lisa! 

PARVANA: Not risky! Not risky! You must be crazy! 

SHAUZIA: I’m not risky! Just a GENIUS! 

PARVANA: (To herself) More like evil genius! 

SHAUZIA: I beg your pardon. 

PARVANA: Oh nothing. 

SHAUZIA: I’m not stupid, I heard that. 

PARVANA: All I ‘m saying is, you’ll be caught sooner 

or later. 

SHAUZIA: Never! 

PARVANA: See what I mean, you are an evil genius!! 

Rachel Downes 6A

Year 7 – Rain Poems 

It is as loud as thunder and as quiet as snow. 

It can be as brutal as a hurricane and as giving as life. 

The pitter patter of rain on the roof is like a 

stampede of elephants charging along. 

The barrage of rain drops hitting the windscreen of 

the car is as never ending as the life of a tortoise. 

The little kids splash around in the puddles like pigs 

in mud. 

The big black dog shakes itself like Elvis to get the 

rain off. 

Chris Endacott 

Rain, rain, it’s raining again 

Rain, rain, it tastes like champagne! 

Pittering, pattering a tap on the shoulder 

And yet it keeps on raining as I get older. 

It’s like ice cream without any flavour 

‘I like it,’ says my neighbour. 

I don’t quite know what it smells like, well 

A bit like leaves decaying and there’s something else 

to tell 

It looks like somebody’s crying up in the sky 

Or maybe tears falling from an invisible eye. 

When I was small my mum used to say, 

‘Doesn’t that rain look so grey?’ 

But I don’t think so, 

I think it looks ..just… like 

RAIN! 

Amelia Jaffe 

Rain, rain you can hear it on the roof 

As it tears down on you and lashes out 

Just like a wild horse with its hoof. 

Rain, rain will mend a badly, broken heart 

Just like a good angel sent down from God 

It also comes at bad times and takes away your heart. 

Rain, rain will never ever tell you a lie 

Like a patient animal waiting for a command 

But at the same time it can be as noisy as a fly. 

Most people would say rain, rain go away 

As if it was a fox eating from the rubbish bin 

But I say rain, rain please will you stay? 

Alex Stone 

Rain is like the sparks of a colourful sparkler 

shimmering in the dark night sky. 

As loud as can be, the rain bangs against my window 

like a lost child looking for shelter. 

In a quiet room the baby wakes up crying like the 

sky howling on a wet and windy night. 

Not the sound or the sight but the smell of rain 

approaching is definitely a farmer’s chocolate delight. 

Shweta Chauduhri 

Sounds like the constant beating of a drum 

Or the footsteps of a dog running. 

Looks as dull as a picture frame yet to be filled 

Or a plain piece of paper yet to be written on. 

Feels as miserable as the day after your birthday 

Knowing you have to wait another year until it 

comes again. 

Grace Hanna 

17

18 

HISTORY 

This has been an exceptional year for examination 

results with over two thirds of our Common Entrance 

candidates gaining A or B grades. Then there were our 

magnificent scholars who gained their rewards from 

digging deeper into historical studies and learning 

how to analyse and evaluate information. Another 

highlight was Ryan Day being chosen as a winner in 

the 2010 Randstad Education History competition. 

This year’s crop of leavers will be a hard act to follow 

for those children coming up through the school, but 

I’m sure they’ll give it a good go! 

For the younger children there was a slight change in 

the organisation of our trips, which resulted in there 

being no visit to Bodiam Castle and Battle Abbey this 

year. Year 3 enjoyed their traditional trip to Newhaven 

Fort, while year 5 again went to Singleton and had 

a great time seeing where people in the past lived. 

But we decided to take Year 6 to Lewes as it fitted 

in with their study of the Tudor Times. They went in 

April with Year 7 having gone there in March. Both 

groups enjoyed the newly refurbished facilities at 

Lewes Castle as well as the usual dramatic activity 

at the Anne of Cleves House. We hope to resume 

going to Bodiam and Battle with Year 7 next year, 

which will be a great way of preparing for that 

‘popular’ Common Entrance essay on the Battle of 

Hastings. 

I’m often asked what the point of learning History is 

and find it a very difficult question as there are so many 

different and wide-ranging answers. At one end is the 

“Knowing where we came from can help us know 

where we are going”. Then there is the mastery of 

the skills that are taught nowadays in History that are 

such important life skills; how to evaluate evidence 

and distinguish fact from opinion, etc. There are so 

many other aspects to the subject, but one evening in 

the Summer Term put everything into perspective. I 

got back home one evening to see Gordon Brown live 

on the television in Downing Street giving his resignation 

speech. Then we followed the progress of his

car to Buckingham Palace, before watching David 

Cameron make a similar journey. Although it is us, 

the people, who decide when it comes to elections, it 

is the monarch who appoints the Prime Minister and 

part of my job is to show children how we have got to 

this situation over a period of over a thousand years. 

Many share my enthusiasm, fascination and passion 

for History, but all are touched in some way by our 

journeys into the past. 

Paul Nicholl 

19

20 

LATIN 

On Tuesday 22nd June, pupils from Years 3 – 7 went 

back in time to the days of the ancient Romans. 

The school was visited again by the excellent Legio 

Secunda Augusta, an organisation which vividly 

recreates life in Roman Britain in schools to tie in 

with the curriculum. 

Pupils learnt about domestic life, the weapons and 

dress of a Roman legionary and the life in the army 

camps. A wonderful lady with the Roman name of 

Diana Augustina, told us some fascinating things 

about cosmetics, hygiene, slavery, medicine, music, 

jewellery and much more. She came equipped with 

some very interesting props, including a skull and 

some leather knickers! 

Both pupils and some of the more adventurous 

members of staff decided to truly enter into the spirit 

of things by dressing up in Roman clothing for the 

day. Most people made an effort to look the part and 

there were some very eye-catching costumes to be 

seen around the school. 

Viv, our excellent chef, who is always up for a 

challenge, produced a magnificent lunch with all the 

ingredients carefully researched for their authenticity. 

We had a pork and apple stew (suila malumque 

pulmento) with and asparagus (asparagi), a selection 

of cold dishes including olives (olivae), salads, cheeses 

(casei) and flat bread followed by fruit and a type of 

cheesecake with honey (mel) from an Ancient Roman 

cook book. Delicious! 

Everyone agreed that they had had a most informative 

and entertaining time and we enjoyed looking at the 

photographs which captured the mood of the day. 

Luckily, we had beautiful weather and we were able 

to enjoy the sunshine outside for some of the activities. 

Mrs C. Gherardi

22 

LIBRARY 

The last year has been another fruitful and enjoyable 

one in the library with a good variety of activities taking 

place including some new initiatives. 

The Autumn Term got off to a flying start with the 

popular Book Week, now in its 6th year, taking place 

at the beginning of October. The week was fuller than 

ever opening with a dressing-up day, which raised 

£564 for the Stupini Kids charity, and concluding 

with the visit of well-known children’s author Marcus 

Sedgwick. In between there was a distribution of free 

bookmarks, pencils and stickers in the library and a 

book swap for Years 5-8. This was the first time a book 

swap had been held and involved children bringing in 

their unwanted books and exchanging them for those 

brought in by their peers. This was a fun event and a 

good opportunity for pupils to acquire new reading 

material at no extra cost. 

The highlight of the week, however, was Marcus Sedgwick’s 

presentations in the Chapel for the older pupils 

during which he explained the processes involved in 

writing and researching his novels. In particular, pupils 

were riveted by his exploration of the vampire genre 

as exemplified by his story ‘My Sword-hand is Singing’. 

Pupils also had the opportunity of buying a signed 

copy of one of Marcus’s books. 

Another special event towards the end of term was the 

annual Christmas Book Fair held in the Small Hall. An 

excellent range of books was attractively displayed

y our established suppliers, Wells of Winchester, 

and many parents and children enjoyed browsing and 

choosing some early Christmas presents. 

The usual work of the library continued throughout 

the year with the facilities being available to classes 

and also to pupils in their free time to choose books, 

read, do homework, use the computers and play 

quiet games like chess. Plenty of new books were also 

purchased and put on display. In addition, the 

educational focus of the library was maintained with 

weekly library lessons being held for Year 3 with a 

new extension of this structured programme being 

made into Year 4. 

Activities in the Summer Term were particularly 

directed towards the Lower School with great excitement 

being aroused by the holding of the biennial 

Library-Art Competition, which is run as a collaborative 

project with the Art Department. Mrs Gooderham 

spent many weeks coaxing the best out of the 

children while they designed book covers of their 

choice. It was difficult to choose the winners but 

Poppy de Salis’ illustration of ‘Born to Run’ by Michael 

Morpugo and George Gilbert’s ‘Captain Underpants’ 

by Dav Pilkey finally carried off the honours. All the 

most outstanding pictures were used to create an 

attractive frieze along the library wall. 

Years 3 and 4 also enjoyed participating in their very 

own book swap in the library towards the end of 

term. It took a while for some children to get the hang 

of what was going on but all those who took part 

thoroughly enjoyed swapping numerous copies of 

‘Horrid Henry’, Daisy Meadows’ fairy books and Enid 

Blyton’s adventure stories, amongst other offerings. 

All in all it has been another happy and successful 

year in the library. 

Mrs. Knights 

 

23

24 

(ACTIVE) MATHS 

At Handcross, mathematics is not all about fractions, 

long division and solving equations - we also like our 

maths to be practical and relevant to every-day life. 

To give some examples of practical maths - amongst 

many other things the Lower School have been making 

symmetrical patterns with their bodies whilst the 

Middle School created some beautiful polyhedra out 

of paper. 

Meanwhile the Upper School got into the World Cup 

spirit by calculating the speed at which a football 

travels. In this way our pupils have learnt to use a wide 

variety of tools including computers, metre sticks, 

clinometers and trundle wheels in a way that is 

relevant. These are just a few examples of the way we 

make maths lessons more interesting at Handcross.

26 

MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES 

French Breakfast / Petit-Déjeuner Français 

The other day, our Year 7 enjoyed an authentic “petitdéjeuner 

Français” or French breakfast during their 

morning French lesson. Studying the topic of food, 

it was the perfect opportunity for our students to 

discover the rich flavours of France. On the menu 

were the popular pains au chocolat, croissants, home 

made French crêpes, jam and fruit. As for drinks 

they had the choice between orange juice and milk 

with or without Nesquik chocolate. “Bien-sûr”, they 

had to ask for the food in French, paying with Euros 

while listening to typical French music and enjoying 

French games around food. The whole lesson was set 

in the Handcross Park Café Rouge where English was 

forbidden and served also by the fantastic “French 

for the day” waitress Madame Mathewson! Everyone 

thought the food was “délicieuse”! 

L’autre jour, nos Sixièmes ont bénéficié d’un authentique 

“French Breakfast” (petit déjeuner français) au 

cours de leur leçon de français cette matin. Étudier le 

thème de la nourriture, il a été l’occasion idéale pour 

nos élèves à découvrir les saveurs riches de la France. 

Nous mangions les douleurs au chocolat (populaires!), 

croissants, crêpes maison française, de la confiture et 

des fruits. Pour boire, ils avaient le choix entre jus 

d’orange et du lait avec ou sans chocolat Nesquik. 

“Of course”, il faillait demander de la nourriture en 

français, et payer avec des euros - tout en écoutant de 

la musique typiquement française et s’amuser autour 

de la nourriture française. La leçon se passait dans le 

Café Rouge d’Handcross Parc (defense de parler en 

Angais); et etait fournis par le fantastique «française 

pour la journée» serveuse Madame Mathewson! Tout 

le monde pensait que la nourriture était “lovely”!

Concours d’Art Oratoire at Lancing 

College – French Speaking Competition 

All preparatory school pupils studying French in 

Years 7 and 8 were invited to take part in the second 

annual French Public Speaking competition in 

Lancing College. And indeed it was over 80 students 

and 10 prep schools who participated in this 

competition. 

So it is with our eight enthusiastic contestants 

representing Handcross Park School: Philip Binns, 

Beth Crocker, Annabelle Livingstone, Matei Marin 

(Y8), Fiona Andrew, Isobel Cottrell, Darcie Fowler 

and Grace Hanna (Y7) that we went to Lancing and 

rose to the challenge. 

Our pupils prepared and performed a presentation of 

their own choice as well as a French classical poem 

– some of them to the equivalent of William Shakespeare-all 

in French! 

We had the honour to be judged and appreciated by 

the Head of Languages from Lancing who was 

extremely complimentary - and rightly so! - towards 

the high standard of French our students had 

produced and compared their level to a strong GCSE 

and even A-level standard. 

The standard was extremely high throughout and 

the competition was fierce, and although prizes were 

not awarded to our competitors, they were truly 

all winners in our eyes and I was very proud of their 

achievements. That being said, Matei Marin was 

publicly awarded a “high commendation” quite 

deservedly for his presentation and poem. 

We had a great afternoon and Lancing College were 

excellent hosts. We are very much looking forward to 

next year’s event! 

Laurianne Gayler 

Harry Potter Y La Piedra Filosofal 

27

28 

MUSIC 

Review of the year 

The leadership offered by almost all our Year 8 girls 

has made this year in the music department a special 

one. Leaders are those amongst us dedicated to doing 

their best and it seems that musicians in particular 

enjoy and expect to do this for the benefit of others 

in the school and the wider community. Thus, leading 

musicians rarely come singly and we embrace musical 

ambitions in the context of our friends, our families 

and our parents. So a big vote of thanks is due to all 

that this year group and their parents have given to 

the music at Handcross park, especially to our three 

music scholars: 

 

and Piano to Roedean, 

 

Hurstpierpoint, and 

 

Hurstpierpoint. 

The Senior Choir has greatly benefited from the 

dedicated service of eight Year 8 girls and began the 

Year with All Things Bright and Beautiful at Harvest 

Festival, and at the Autumn Concert ‘Gonna rise up 

singing’ and ‘You raise me up’. The Junior Choir 

contributed equally memorably at these events. The 

Senior Choir were thoroughly inspired by the eight 

singers of ‘Voces8’ at the Ardingly Choral Day in 

October and, together with members of the Senior 

Orchestra, presented a memorable Charity Concert 

at Handcross village hall in December, raising 

about £400 for the Cherry Tree Hospice in Worthing 

and the Handcross Village Hall re-building fund. 

Our annual candle-lit carol service in Cuckfield 

Parish Church began with our endearing Head 

-chorister, Yasmin Ziyada, with her beautiful voice, 

singing the first verse of ‘Once in Royal’. It included 

some beautiful and polished performances by 

the Senior and Junior Choirs and various readers 

and was again accompanied by former pupil and 

organ-scholar at Exeter College, Oxford, - Alistair Reid. 

The Senior and Junior Orchestras have both been 

performing to a good standard in the Autumn and 

Summer Concerts. Isobel Goodman, our leader 

and captain has given a good example and we have 

enjoyed an excellently balanced and wide range 

of instruments in the Senior Orchestra with a 

particularly memorable performance of music from 

‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ featuring our outstanding 

percussionist, James Watson. Six of our Year 6 and 7 

musicians supported the Lancing College Prep. 

Schools Chamber Music Day in June, whilst the Year 

8s were camping. However they returned to support 

the memorable production of ‘Alice’ by our Year 3s 

and 4s with some lovely playing in the orchestra 

‘pit’. The Senior Orchestra also found time to give 

their usual half-hour concert to a very appreciative 

audience made up of our year 1 and 2. The fifteen 

piece Junior Orchestra has been largely violinists 

and cellists and its excellently balanced sound was 

particularly impressive in May.

These standards of performance are a reflection of 

the conscientious and gentle teaching and example of 

our exceptional team of fifteen visiting instrumental 

and singing teachers, whose inspiring competence 

is illustrated by the typically excellent exam results 

listed at the end of this article. However, keeping 

them all furnished with pupils is not always so easy 

and predictable. This is one reason behind their great 

kindness in presenting unforgettable concerts in the 

Chapel for parents and pupils every other year. Nine 

of them kindly contributed to this year’s presentation 

in April in a packed Chapel, which ended with 

us all – audience and teachers, - giving a rousing 

rendition of ‘Rule Britannia!’ Special thanks must 

go to our two wonderful piano teachers – Mrs. Reid 

and Mrs. Carey, - for accompanying all the dazzling 

performances as well as contributing a couple of 

duets. Sadly we say ‘good-bye’ to Mrs. Childs our flute 

teacher, as she retires to Seaford this year and look 

forward to welcoming Mrs. Sherlock in her place. 

In March, we held another Music Festival to which 

all pupils contributed in the house songs. This event 

allows some of our less prominent stars to shine 

including for example, James Hebbard and Danielle 

Butler who encouraged the Vikings to perform ‘You’re 

the one that I want’ so well. The Britons worked 

out an effective choral arrangement for ‘Don’t stop 

me now’ and there was some excellent fancy-dress 

supporting the Normans’ performance of ‘Welcome to 

the Sixties’. The Saxons very rhythmic performance 

of ‘You can’t stop the Beat’ with the irrepressible James 

Watson on the drums, featured an awful lot of red 

‘hairspray’!! Mr. Morgan-Williams, Director of Music 

of Lancing College, kindly presided over proceedings 

and awarded prizes to Francesca Amewudah-Rivers 

for her piano-playing as the best performance of 

the afternoon and to Poppy de Salis on her violin as 

the second best performer, but enthusiastically 

commending also Bethany Lickiss’ and Liberty 

Macfie’s singing and Becky Robinson and James 

Watson. 

The Summer Concert brought the year to a rousing 

climax. Then, towards the end of June, time was 

found to include a performance by the Senior Choir 

and our Year 5s of ‘Captain Noah and his floating 

Zoo’. This may have had minimum rehearsal, but its 

musicality and confident humour was enjoyed by 

singers and audience alike. As a charity money-raising 

activity, £153.50 was given after this performance 

to the Motor Neurone Disease Society, which is 

ministering to a sufferer known to a number of 

the choristers. The term concluded with our usual 

service to celebrate the achievements of our leavers 

as well as the rest of the school, in St. Mary’s Church, 

Slaugham, for which the Senior Choir performed 

Barry Rose’s 150th Psalm, Howard Goodall’s ‘Love 

divine’ and John Rutter’s ‘Clare Blessing’. 

29

30 

Passes – 

MUSIC EXAMINATIONS 

Results during the year 

Zac Cisotti, Grade 1 piano 

Sophie Burstow, Grade 1 piano 

Olivia Cottrell, Grade 1 singing 

Lucas Young, Grade 1 piano 

Joseph Endacott, Grade 1 piano 

Oliver Rogers, Grade 2 ’cello 

Sophie Mills, Grade 2 violin 

Elizabeth Mailer, Grade 2 singing 

Charlotte Brookes, Grade 2 piano 

Ella Broome, Grade 2 piano 

Jim Bruges, Grade 2 piano 

James O’Dell, Grade 3 jazz saxophone 

Charlie Cooper, Grade 3 singing 

Alena Morris, Grade 3 singing 

Isobel Cottrell, Grade 3 singing 

Oliver Rogers, Grade 3 piano 

Charlotte Tasquier, Grade 3 piano (TG) 

Eleanor Longman, Grade 3 piano 

Laura Connell, Grade 3 piano 

James Watson, Grade 4 singing 

Emily Longman, Grade 4 piano 

Annabelle Livingstone, Grade 4 singing 

Rebecca Robinson, Grade 5 jazz clarinet 

Jim Bruges, Grade 5 french horn 

Louis Holwell, Grade 5 jazz saxophone 

Faith Wilder, Grade 5 clarinet

Merits – 

Caitlin York, Grade 1 singing 

Jennifer Rowell, Grade 1 piano 

Jennifer Rowell, Grade 1 singing 

Georgia Roff, Grade 1 singing 

Lillie Franks, Grade 1 singing 

Laura Russell, Grade 1 french horn 

Becky Robinson, Grade 1 jazz saxophone 

Philippa Cunningham, Grade 1 ’cello 

Sophie Adams, Grade 1 flute 

James Watson, Grade 1 piano 

Luca Marin, Grade 1 double bass (TG) 

Finlay Stewart, Grade 1 drum-kit (TG) 

Emily Brookes, Grade 2 violin 

Rebecca Nielsen, Grade 2 jazz saxophone 

Anna Scott, Grade 2 singing 

Nathan Young, Grade 2 violin (TG) 

James Mathewson, Grade 2 trumpet 

Emily Brookes, Grade 2 piano 

Louis Holwell, Grade 3 jazz saxophone 

Beth Crocker, Grade 3 singing 

Alison Crocker, Grade 3 flute 

Elizabeth Brooks, Grade 3 flute 

Anna Scott, Grade 3 oboe 

Bethany Lickiss, Grade 3 trumpet 

Alexander Tozzi, Grade 3 singing 

Grace Hanna, Grade 4 violin (TG) 

Isabella Soames, Grade 4 violin (TG) 

Yasmin Ziyada, Grade 5 piano 

Isobel Goodman, Grade 5 violin (TG) 

Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, Grade 6 singing 

Distinction – 

Poppy de Salis, Grade 1 violin 

Nathaniel Amewudah-Rivers, Grade 1 piano 

Poppy de Salis, Grade 2 violin 

Liberty Macfie, Grade 2 singing 

Joseph Endacott, Grade 2 violin 

James Watson, Grade 3 singing 

Elizabeth Brooks, Grade 3 piano 

Bethany Lickiss, Grade 3 singing 

Fiona Andrew, Grade 4 flute 

Isobel Goodman, Grade 5 singing 

Yasmin Ziyada, Grade 5 singing 

Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, Grade 6 piano 

31

32 

ORGANIC LIFE 

In the first week of June, Handcross Park saw its 

newest entrants, and work starting on a new accommodation 

block. Not a new boarding house, but a 

chicken house. The chickens, which quite literally 

arrived in embryonic form are the first part in a 

major project that will see the repurposing of the old 

Victorian rubbish dump.

Wisley 

In the Root Zone we learnt all about roots. Did you 

know that liquorice and sugar come from roots? In 

the tropical rainforest zone there were a lot of exotic 

plants. We looked at the plants in the desert zone and 

drew some of them. 

After lunch we went back to the glass house to look 

closely at the plants and to learn about the adaptations 

that the plants used to survive the different conditions. 

My favourite adaptation was the drip tip leaf. 

In the desert the funniest cactus was the old man 

cactus with the long white hair. Another interesting 

adaptation was the fly catching ‘pitcher plant’. The 

pitcher shape has slippery sides so animals that 

go in can’t come out. Insects are attracted to the 

pitcher plant because it has yummy nectar which 

lures in the insects which provide nutrition for this 

carnivorous plant. 

None of the flowers in the glass house looked anything 

like the ones in my back garden! 

Later in the afternoon we went into the schools area 

and planted cuttings of pepperomia in some soil. 

– Jemma Murphy 

Science Show 

On Tuesday 16 March, Year 7, Mr Hilton, Mrs Lawrence 

and I had the delight of attending two science 

shows put on by the London Science Museum at 

Sevenoaks School in order to celebrate ‘National 

Science & Engineering week’. We arrived for the 

‘Supercool Show’ where we were enthralled by the 

properties of liquid nitrogen and its effect on other 

materials. The show explored how the properties of 

materials can change drastically depending on their 

temperature; we were captivated to see a frozen 

banana being used as a hammer, whilst a previously 

malleable plasticine character was shattered into 

numerous tiny pieces after it had been given the 

‘liquid nitrogen’ treatment. Later in the show, our host 

made and ate fresh ice cream; by freezing it before 

our very eyes. And, of course, just witnessing liquid 

nitrogen evaporate instantaneously was a real treat. 

The latter show, ‘Material World’, looked at specific 

elements & compounds. Pupils were delighted to see 

a hydrogen balloon blown up, along with numerous 

SCIENCE 

other explosions! A jelly baby was placed into 

potassium chlorate resulting in an exothermic, fiery 

show along with a whole new compound being made. 

Pupils were captivated by the sublimation of solid 

Carbon dioxide, as well as observing a liquid polymer 

that can be physically poured and then cut! There were 

many other compounds, which all exhibit strange 

and wonderful properties; many of which cannot 

be classified as either solid or liquid. Many of our 

pupils volunteered answers and a brave Bethany was 

selected to participate in naming the properties of 

unknown compounds, whilst blindfolded! 

Our sincerest thanks go to our hosts, Sevenoaks 

School. We all had a wonderful day and thoroughly 

look forward to ‘National Science & Engineering 

Week’ next year! 

– Mrs Killip 

33

34 

SPORT - A YEAR IN PICTURES

36 

FRIENDS OF HANDCROSS PARK 

Two weeks before the year started, we, as a new 

family to the school, - received our first introduction 

to the Friends of Handcross Park. In came an email 

from a pair of mums, introducing themselves as our 

year co-ordinators, and inviting us (and more 

importantly, our daughter) to come and have afternoon 

tea, and meet a fair few future class-mates the 

week before term was due to start. 

The afternoon in question was, to put it mildly, an 

impressive start. 

The rest of the year made it clear that the Friends 

work incredibly hard at three things – providing social 

events for the whole school (parents and children), 

providing social events for individual year-groups, 

and fund-raising. 

The three “big events” - the fireworks, the disco, and 

the summer faire, are good examples of the extremes 

to which so many people throughout the school are 

willing to help. However, it’s all the other things – 

the coffee mornings, the end of term get-togethers 

different year co-ordinators organise, the lunches 

that are just as important. 

So, as a new parent to the school in Autumn 2009, let 

me thank the Friends for all they did for the school 

over the year. 

− Mark Harrison

Mrs Jill Franklin. (HXP 2004 – 2009) 

Firstly an apology that this article was omitted from last 

year’s edition of Reflections. How could we possibly 

overlook someone who made such an amazing impact 

on Handcross Park during her four years and two terms 

as a Year 4 teacher. Jill was a wonderful friend and 

colleague to all who worked with her. She was knowledgeable, 

warm, friendly and also a terrific teacher 

Those children who were lucky enough to have Mrs 

Franklin (formerly Mrs Hancock) as their class teacher 

were very lucky indeed and without doubt, would 

have benefited enormously from their time spent with 

her. MrsFranklin will also be remembered for her role 

as Brown Owl, organiser of the highly successful 

Annual Brownie Bazaar and for conducting the Junior 

Choir amongst many other things. We all miss her very 

much and wish her continued success and happiness 

in her latest role of Vicar’s wife and a supply teacher in 

the Swanage area. 

- Warren Hilton 

Nicola Lawrence. (HXP 2003 – 2010) 

It will come as no surprise to most of you to hear me 

describe Nicola Lawrence (formerly Nicola Finlay) as 

highly popular with everyone she came into contact with. 

That is, of course, providing that you managed to get a 

word in edgeways. Mrs Lawrence was well known for 

her eloquent use of the English language and also the 

electrifying rate at which she delivered it. If you were lucky 

enough to be in her company there is little doubt that you 

would end up laughing. Nicola’s sense of humour was 

outstanding and her laughter infectious. Having been 

appointed to the role of Head of English and Year 8 

Tutor in September 2003, Mrs Lawrence was about to 

move into the realms of Senior Leadership when her 

desire for an overseas adventure over came her and 

she ultimately landed a terrific position at the Jerudong 

School in Brunei, where she and her husband Vince, 

are working hard and having a wonderful time. 

Mrs Lawrence was an outstanding teacher and tutor 

and every child that had the good fortune to be taught 

or Tutored by her, has been truly privileged. Thank you 

for everything, Nicola and best wishes for the future, 

wherever that may take you. 


Christina Gheradi. (HXP 2001 - 2010) 

Mrs Gheradi joined the school at a time when Latin was 

not a popular subject and in fact, many Prep-Schools had 

made the decision to drop Latin from the curriculum. 

That was not to be the case at Handcross Park and I 

say with great pleasure that Mrs Gheradi breathed 

GOODBYE TO STAFF 

life into the subject by using a new introductory 

scheme called, ‘Minimus’, and in no time at all Latin 

and Classical Studies were once again a big hit with 

the children. Under her expert guidance the subject 

moved from strength to strength and this was reflected 

in some excellent results in Common Entrance and 

Public School Scholarship. Her Roman Days, where 

the children attended school dressed in Roman 

costume and learned so much about life in Ancient 

Rome, were highly educational and also great fun. Mrs 

Gheradi’s contribution, albeit part-time, was much 

appreciated by all of her pupils and we as a school 

are very grateful for her efforts. We wish her all the 

best for a long and peaceful retirement, although she 

continues to teach some Latin privately. 


Celia Berggreen. (HXP 1991 – 2010) 

I originally met Celia Berggreen when I first came to 

Handcross Park about twenty years ago to work as ‘Head’s 

Relief’ for Sue Harper. We discovered we had several 

mutual friends from our days of living in Brighton and 

soon became better acquainted during our break-time 

chats. She was by then Deputy Head of the Pre-Prep 

department, leading by good example through excellent 

classroom practice and the kindness and sensitivity 

shown in her relationships with both children and 

staff. She had a wonderfully dry sense of humour, 

whichgot us through many a difficult situation and 

lengthy staff meeting! When she decided to step down 

from her role as Deputy, she was a great support to me 

when I took up the reins, which made the transition as 

smooth as it could possibly be. 

As well as being an outstanding Reception and Year 

One teacher, inspiring a thirst and love of learning 

in generations of pupils, Celia was also our P.E. and 

Science Co-ordinator, organising exciting and stimulating 

Sports and Science days for many years. Amongst 

her many, perhaps more hidden talents was her 

ability to keep an audience of children (and adults!) 

spellbound when telling a story, and also her skill as a 

writer, both of fiction and even lyrics, as was evident in 

Mrs. Harper’s leaving song! 

We will all miss Celia very much, but would like to thank 

her for everything she has done during her years at 

Handcross Park and wish her every happiness in her 

well-deserved retirement. We look forward to hearing 

about her future ventures and ever-growing brood of 

grandchildren, when we meet as ‘ladies that lunch’ in 

the school holidays! 

- Sue Goodall 

37

38 

VALETE 

Aimee Taylor, now at Burgess 

Hill School for Girls 

Memories of Handcross 

I joined Handcross Park in the Nursery, and left at the 

end of Year 2. I came back in Year 5 though but now 

I am leaving at the end of this term! I have had some 

fantastic times at Handcross like playing Granny 

in the school play, Cinders, and the brilliant times I 

had at Blacklands farm! I have made some amazing 

friends, and would like to thank them for being so 

fantastic. I’d also like to thank the teachers for the 

learning opportunities they have offered. I was so 

nervous about Common Entrance, and the teachers 

really supported me through it! 

Hopes for the Future 

I hope that I can keep in touch with all my Handcross 

Park friends, and continue on with drama. I hope 

that I have as much fun at Burgess Hill as I have 

had at Handcross! 

Alena Morris, now at Duke of 

Kent School 

Memories of Handcross Park 

I joined Handcross Park in Year 7 and have really 

enjoyed my time here. I remember on the first day 

and everyone was so kind and encouraging. It’s 

gone so quickly last year only feels like yesterday. 

I’ve met so many new friends and I wish to stay 

friends with them. I managed to get through one 

of the most difficult times Common Entrance with 

the help from Miss Hunter and Mrs. Lawrence. I’ve 

made really good friends and wish to stay in touch 

with them. 

I will never forget some of the weird and fun things 

we did at Blacklands farm with the best water fight 

which lasted an hour we also had a lot of fun doing 

all the activities, we got put down to do like the all 

aboard a huge pole that you had to climb up and stand 

on a tiny square on the top with four other people 

- that was so scary. We also did a huge zip wire that 

was really fun and Scramble where you run around 

the woods and climb rocks and free run. Post C.E. 

has been really fun and we have had many talks by 

parents and I think I have learnt a lot. I also joined 

the choir while at Handcross Park and have singing 

lessons and had fun doing sport on a Wednesday. I 

hope all my memories will stick for a long time. 

I will miss all of Year 8 and even the boys! The 

year has been really nice and I have really enjoyed 

being here. 

Hopes for the future 

My hopes for the future are I’m going to Duke of Kent 

until Year 11. I hope I will make lots of new friends 

and I will hopefully enjoy myself. I have enjoyed my 

time here and I‘m sad to go but happy as well. 

Annabelle Livingstone, Head 

Girl, Academic Scholarship to 

Hurstpierpoint College 


I came to Handcross in Year 3 and have enjoyed every 

minute of my time here. Yes, sometimes it’s been 

hard, but the brilliant teachers have helped me get 

through it. One of these times was in the lead up to my 

Academic Scholarship. Although the papers are hard, 

the teachers helped me immensely and as a result 

of my hard work I gained an Academic Scholarship 

to Hurstpierpoint College. I have also been Head Girl 

this year.

At Handcross I have made friends for life. One of 

my best friends is Beth Crocker. Beth was my pilot 

when I first arrived at Handcross and we were friends 

almost straight away. My other good friends are Isobel 

Goodman and Isabella Soames and we have spent 

several nights in boarding in fits of laughter. One of 

my best moments of Handcross Park is the leaver’s 

trip to Blacklands Farm. The Life Line game was 

my favourite as Danni and I laughed the whole way 

through. 


I hope that Hurst will be just as successful for me as 

Handcross has been and I know that in the future I 

will be able to look back on Handcross and remember 

good times. 

Austen Waite, now at 

Ardingly College 

(Photo - see Philip Binns) 


I joined Handcross Park in Year 7. I came from a small 

village primary school and did not know what to 

expect. When I first walked into the school I was 

blown away and after my first day at Handcross Park 

I already knew that my two years would be marvellous. 

I have many memories from Handcross that I will 

treasure for ever like being asked to perform and 

juggle in front of the school many times. I remember 

when we were in the non-French group and were 

asked to do a memory test. Ned wrote all the answers 

on his shoe and did not get caught until he did it again 

the week after. 

I think that Handcross has helped me in all my 

subjects and my confidence has grown. Coming to 

Handcross was definitely the right thing to do. 


I am going to Ardingly College next year and I feel I 

now have the confidence to follow my dreams and to 

hopefully manage a well-known circus. 

Ben Meyerrratken, now at 


Memories 

I have had such great times at Handcross Park like 

Blacklands where we went for a week doing lots 

of activities and having fun like climbing, abseiling 

and more. We went out for a day out to the Ardingly 

reservoir and that was one of my best times in Year 

8. In Year 8, I also became Sports Captain which is a 

great memory. I have made lots of friends at Handcross 

like Tom, Sam, Harry, Louis, Ned and James and I will 

never forget them. I have really enjoyed Handcross 

but I’m ready to move on to a bigger school. 


I hope that I have a great time at Hurst like Handcross; 

I hope I make lots of friends at Hurst. I can’t wait to 

go to a bigger school with lots of older pupils and 

even better subjects. 

Beth Crocker, Academic and 

Sports Scholarships to 



I have had an amazing experience at Handcross for the 

past 11 years and have enjoyed all of it. The teachers 

have been so supportive all the way through and 

especially in Year 8 where all the teachers helped me 

to get up to the standard of an academic scholarship 

which I was lucky enough to receive. I would like 

to thank Mrs. Lawrence and Miss Hunter for all the 

help and support leading up to my scholarship also 

Madame Gayler who completely saved my French. 

Through my time here I have really enjoyed the sport 

at Handcross especially netball and the athletics and 

both have helped me to get my sports scholarship. I 

am very sad to be leaving and wish I could just start 

at the beginning again but I am really exciting to be 

moving on to Hurst with all my amazing memories 

from Handcross. I will miss all my friends so much 

although I am going to Hurst with a lot of them and 

am glad not to just be moving on, on my own! 


In the future I hope to do something to do with sports 

injuries and physiotherapy as it combines sports 

and science and I hope Hurst will be able to help 

me achieve this dream. If it supports me in the way 

that Handcross has then I am sure I will be able to 

achieve this. 

Charlotte Tasquier, now at Milliais 


I joined Handcross Park at the beginning of Year 6 

and I made some good friends almost straight away. I 

will never forget the ski trip in 2010 which helped me 

make deeper friendships with people in my Year (and 

of course improve my ski-ing)! 

39

40 

VALETE 

The teachers were really helpful especially Miss.Hunter, 

Mrs.Lawrence and Madame Gayler who helped me 

in my maths, English and French. They have all been 

really good to me. 

I left during Year 8 as a place became available at 

Millais school in Horsham. I was very sad to leave as 

everything fun was going to happen at the end of Year 

8 including Blacklands Farm. However, just before 

I went to Millais I had a really good time because 

everyone got together to make a card for me with 

really lovely memories on it. This I will never forget. 


When I leave school I hope to be a teacher or someone 

who works with young children because I enjoy being 

with the little ones I already know. I already look after 

some little ones and I hope to look after more. 

Thank you HXP for all you’ve done to help me! 

Chynna Edwards, now at Brighton 

College 

Memories of Handcross Park 

I joined Handcross Park in Year 3, almost five years 

ago. I remember looking up to all the Year 8s and 

thinking how far away Year 8 was and how I wished 

to be them. Now I am in Year 8 I don’t know where the 

time has gone as I have had so much fun and enjoyed 

every moment of this school. I remember last year 

worrying about Common Entrance but thanks to the 

support of all the teachers, willing to give time and 

effort to help me get through, I managed to get in to 

my chosen school. After Common Entrance I really 

enjoyed all the post Common Entrance activities we 

did including Blacklands Farm which was amazing. 

I am really going to miss all the great friends I have 

made at Handcross Park. I have learnt so much from 

this school and now my time is over I don’t want 

to leave. 


My hopes are that I can succeed in the future and get 

a great job which I now have the privilege to get as I 

had a great start in life at Handcross Park. 

Danielle Butler, All-rounder 

Scholarship to Hurstpierpoint 

College 

Photo - see Harry Day 


I have had a great experience at Handcross Park. I 

first arrived here at nursery and have enjoyed every 

minute of it. The teachers have been supportive and 

have made my time at Handcross the best it can 

be. It’s going to be sad leaving Handcross but I am 

really excited to move onto Hurstpierpoint Collage; I 

was even lucky enough to be awarded an All-Rounder 

Scholarship there. I’m never going to forget the 

people I have met here; they are friends for life and 

Handcross has made it possible. I would advise 

everyone in the lower Years to stay until Year 8. 


My aims in the future are to be a photographer and 

Hurst will support this. I would like to thank Miss 

Hunter for being a caring tutor and helping me to cope 

with the exams. I would also like to thank Madam 

Gayler as she has greatly improved my languages. I’m 

sad to leave this school and I’ve had some regrets but 

over all I wouldn’t change it for the world. 

Faith Wilder, Academic 

Scholarship to Burgess Hill 

School for Girls 


I have been at Handcross Park since Year 1 and have 

made some amazing friends and have unforgettable 

memories here. I will never forget our scholars’ trip 

to Thorpe Park and our water fight at Blacklands 

Farm (Harry Gorman and I are legends for starting 

that!). Trips like this and others I’ve been on with the 

school, such as the ski trip in 2010, have helped me to 

form strong bonds with other people so that hopefully 

I can stay in touch for years to come. The teachers 

have all been amazing, giving me help and support 

when I needed it especially Miss Hunter and Mrs 

Lawrence, this year in particular.


When I finally leave school, I’m hoping to go to 

University and eventually become an engineer. However, 

for now, as hard as it’s going to be for me to leave 

this school, I’m really looking forward to moving on, 

meeting new people and finding new opportunities. 

Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, 

Academic, Sport and Music 

Scholarship to Roedean 


Handcross has been like my second home for 11 years. 

On my journey through life I have made loads of great 

friends, who I hope to keep in touch with, and have 

achieved more then I could have ever hoped. However 

I will especially miss Faith my fabbity fab friend, Aimee 

and our love for the tweenies, Yaz and her sudden 

laughing fits, Bella and her Dandini laugh, Izzi, my 

harmonising pal, dashing Danni and I can’t forget 

Laura who has been there for me since Nursery. Year 

8 has by far been the best year at Handcross as the 

whole year is close and we all get along. As I moved 

up the school, us girls discovered that there was no 

such thing as boy germs and that the boys weren’t 

so bad - well, sometimes! I will never forget all the 

laughs I’ve had with the boys. 

At the start of Year 8, I was very excited to have been 

made Normans House Captain, Prefect, Captain of the 

Orchestra and Netball Captain, and I was even more 

excited to be awarded 3 scholarships, Academic, 

Sport and Music, to my next school Roedean. 

Handcross wouldn’t have been the same without 

the great teachers and amazing facilities. I would 

especially like to thank Miss Hunter who has been a 

great tutor and has helped me a lot. 


Although I will be sad to leave, I think I am ready to 

move on and look forward to making new friends and 

stretching myself further at Roedean. 

Harry Day, Drama Scholarship to 

Lancing College 


I started this school 4 ½ years ago after Christmas in 

2005. I started in Year 4 to find myself in Mr. Morgan’s 

class, 4AM, alongside Laura Connell and Philip Binns. 

Year 4 zoomed past and before I knew it was in Year 

5 in Mrs. Hobbs’ tutor group. It was Mrs. Hobbs’ tutor 

group assembly in which I took a liking to drama 

where I played the part of a lion which couldn’t do 

anything! This was when I started to volunteer in 

short chapel assemblies such as ‘The Burning Bush’. 

Drama took me all the way to Year 8 where I played 

Scrooge in ‘The Christmas Carol. This got me the 

drama cup and before I knew it I was at Lancing 

College auditioning for a drama scholarship! The 

results came and I got it! 


To be honest, I think that it’s too early to think about 

what job I would like to have when I’m older, but I 

do have ambitions to work in theatre productions. 

41

42 

VALETE 

I am now going off to Lancing College with a drama 

scholarship, all thanks to Handcross Park School – 

for the best start in life! 

Harry Gorman, now at 



I’ve enjoyed my stay at Handcross starting with Miss 

Lane in Year 3 to Miss Hunter and Mrs Lawrence in 

Year 8. 

I have been at Handcross Park for 6 years which have 

helped me in Common Entrance, and I will miss 

this school. 

The Facilities have been very good and helped in my 

work. The sport has been very fun and we have had 

many laughs. Year 8 has been my best year, giving me 

very funny memories. 

Isabella Soames, Millennium 

Scholarship to 

Brighton College 


I have been at Handcross 

Park for 4 years so it will 

be really hard to leave, but 

I am really excited to move 

onto Brighton in September. 

The teachers here have been 

great and have supported 

me all the way to achieving 

a Millennium Scholarship to 

Brighton. Drama became a 

big part of my time here, as I won the acting cup in 

Year 7 playing Dandini in Cinders, Drama also played 

a big part in my scholarship. I was also thrilled to be 

selected for the Sussex Netball Academy, and I am 

really looking forward to carrying on with my sport 

and drama at Brighton. 

I have so many friends here, it’s going to be really 

hard to go, all the girls are really close friends to me, 

especially Izzi who probably knows me better than 

anyone. I have also become really close to the boys, 

and I really hope we will still be in touch in the years 

to come. Year 8 has been the best year by far. The 

Leavers Trip was particularly special (as it was the 

last time the whole year would be on a trip together), 

as was the ski trip which to Civetta in Italy. Handcross 

has played a big part in my life, I’ve made so many 

friends and so many memories it’s going to be so hard 

to leave, but I look forward to a new challenge and a 

new school in September. 


In the future I would like to become a professional 

horse rider, journalist and actress. If Brighton supports 

me in the way Handcross has, I know I will be able to 

achieve these dreams. 

Isobel Goodman, Music and 

All-Rounder Scholarships to 



I’ve been at Handcross for eleven years now and it 

has all gone by so quickly! I remember being in the 

Nursery with a few of my friends; Beth in particular 

who I have known for the longest out of everyone at 

Handcross Park. And the many different memories I 

have had in the prep school with all of my friends and 

with Bella especially who probably knows me better 

than anyone else! The leaver’s trip to Blacklands 

Farm was particularly special as it was a final opportunity 

for us all to be together as Year 8! I will always 

remember finding out that both Yaz and I had got our 

music scholarships and the many fun times in the 

music department with Fran and Yaz. I know that I 

will miss everyone at Handcross and that I have made 

so many great friends who I plan to stay in touch with 

all my life. 

Hopes for the future: 

In September I will be going to Hurstpierpoint College 

with a few of my old friends from Handcross. I have

so many ideas of careers I would like to have when 

I’m older, however I think being a photographer, lawyer 

or a movie director/writer would be very interesting 

and something I would enjoy a lot! 

James Hebbard, Now at 



Looking back at my time at 

Handcross Park I have so 

many great memories and I 

hope to keep my friends for 

a long time. Handcross Park 

has given me good foot hold 

in my sport and in my academic 

subjects. 


My hopes for the future 

are to raise a family and 

become a military surgeon. 

James O’Dell,now at 



I first joined Handcross Park School when I was in 

the Wise Owls. (This was when I was about two years 

of age). Now I am 13, so I have been at HXP for about 

11 years. I am really looking forward to moving on to 

my next school Hurstpierpoint College because it will 

be the first time I have moved school. Throughout 

my time in Year 8 I have worked very hard and managed 

to pull my maths percentage up by 50%. I would 

definitely encourage any younger student at HXP to 

carry on until Year 8. Although for most of the year 

you have to work very hard, after CE you will have 

the time of your life. 

My main highlight of Year 8 was the ‘Black Lands 

Farm trip’ this is when the Year 8 goes camping for 

a week. My highlight of that was the ‘all aboard’ 

activity. This is when you have to climb up a telegraph 

pole and have to stand up on a 1 foot by 1 foot 

platform. And after you are up there, you still have to 

get 3 other people on. I was with Milo, Ned and Matei. 

This was a massive problem because I have size 10 

feet, Milo size 11, Matei size 9 and Ned size 8. So that 

counts as 8 feet altogether. As we leave so does Mrs. 

Lawrence. And so I hope that the new senior English 

teacher will be as good as her. 

James Rayward, Sports 

Scholarship to Lancing College 


I first arrived at Handcross Park nine years ago and 

I can remember running up the Secret Garden path 

getting ready for my first day at the Prep school, it is 

a very strong memory and I shall never forget it. 

Handcross has been a great starting point for me and 

has held interesting surprises for me and my year 

group. Our year has been a strong year at sport and 

we have won most of our football, rugby and cricket 

games. I will miss the beautiful grounds, everyone in 

the year and all of the teachers, I am lucky to go to a 

school with others from Handcross, but I will miss the 

rest of the year group and wish them all lots of luck. 


I hope that my next school, Lancing College will be 

just as good as Handcross. I hope I will make lots of 

new friends and keep in touch with the friends I have 

made here. 

James York, Now at 

Cranleigh School 


I joined Handcross in Year 3 and have really enjoyed 

my 6 years here. I made new friends, did well in sport 

by earning my rugby colours as I was vice-captain of 

the 1sts, and I also played for the 1st XI cricket team. I 

got great grades in C.E., even in the subjects I used to 

find hard like French which, with help from Madame 

Gayler, I really improved in. After C.E. we went on 

a fantastic trip to Blacklands Farm and I also learnt 

about architecture and many new things like circus 

skills. All the teachers have helped me a great deal in 

and out of lessons and I would like to thank them for 

their support. 

43

44 

VALETE 


I have many hopes for the future but my two main 

ones are that I do well in my next school, Cranleigh, 

and that I keep in touch with all the friends I made at 

Handcross. I also hope that everyone else does well 

in their next schools. I know that I can use the things 

I learnt at Handcross to help me succeed in later life 

whatever I decide to do. 

Laura Connell, Now at 



I joined Handcross 

Park School in 

around 1999, when 

I was at the age 

of two. I was in 

the Nursery along 

with many of the 

friends I have today. 

During the eleven 

years I have been 

here I made great 

friends that I wish 

to stay close with. 

A great memory that I have was when I broke my 

foot when I was about three, my mum had to carry 

me round in the nursery if I wanted to go anywhere. 

A great memory I have is the sports matches we have 

played, getting better and better as we went up in the 

school. We started to play touch rugby for about two 

weeks and went to a tournament. We were told that 

the muddiest team would get a prize, so we covered 

ourselves in mud, only to find out that they were joking. 

We had trouble going home in other people’s cars, 

but we won the tournament. 

In Year 8, we went on a trip to The South of England 

show, it was a great place to go, and it gave us an 

opportunity to spend time together away from 

school. We also went sailing and windsurfing for a 

day, I think that most people were deafened by my 

screaming every five minutes, although I began to 

decrease the amount of screaming I did. 

The three ski trips formed amazing memories for 

my friends and me. On the third ski trip we had a 

LEGENDARY instructor - Thomas. He taught us well 

and we had a great and funny time with him. 

At the end of Year 8 we all went to Blacklands farm. We 

did many memorable and extremely funny activities; 

I managed to do all of them. We spent our time in 

groups and mine included James O’Dell, who helped 

me fall during low-ropes, simultaneously with him. It 

was one of the best school trips I have been on. 


I hope that in the future I will enjoy my next schools 

just as much as Handcross, also I hope that I will make 

many great friends as brilliant as mine at Handcross. I 

also hope to keep in touch with all of my friends. 

Leah Barney, now at 

Millais School 


I started Handcross Park in Year 3 and have had a 

wonderful time here. I have built up friendships along 

the way and have made achievements that I could not 

have done without the support of Handcross. 

When I first started Handcross, I was the last person 

you would expect to have a strong interest in sport! 

But, with the support of my classmates, peers and 

teachers from the sports department, I excelled in 

this area and really enjoyed doing it. 

I was then involved in 

the swimming team and 

due to my commitment 

to this sport, I won 

awardsand certificates 

for this. 

Throughout my time at 

Handcross, I have had 

a burst of confidence 

and with this I got 

involved with School 

Productions. With my

ole as Mrs Cratchit in ‘A Christmas Carol’, it 

was the final production I would ever be doing 

at Handcross and I really enjoyed playing this role. 

I was offered a Drama Scholarship to Worth School, 

which I am very proud of. Also, I was pleased to have 

the role as Prefect. 

I also loved the Fireside Concerts that were held at 

Christmas time. At the last Fireside Concert, all of us 

made a ‘High School Musical’ Inspired dance routine 

with the gap students! This was definitely a moment 

to remember! 

Handcross Park have given so many brilliant opportunities 

and experiences that I will never forget. 

Handcross, it has been great! 

Editor’s note: Unlike most of the Valetes, Leah’s 

entry was written after Mr. Hilton’s retirement was 

announced. Hence she has included an extra section. 

Goodbye to Mr. Hilton 

I would just like to say that you have been an 

incredible Headmaster, Mr Hilton. You have really 

made this the best possible time we can have at 

school.Thank you for all of your excellent support 

and encouragement throughout my time at Handcross 

- I really couldn’t have done / achieved some of these 

things without you! Goodbye Mr Hilton, we will all 

miss you very much! 

Louis Holwell, Ken Shearwood 

Scholarship to Lancing College 


I have been at Handcross Park since the tender age of 

three. It has become a huge part of my life as I spend 

more hours in the school than I do at home (during 

term time that is), consequently I have had some of 

my funniest and happiest memories. I remember my 

first day in the Wise Owls Nursery which is now our 

current Art Studio. Mrs Goodyear (Nursery) and the 

staff from the Secret Garden often see me when we 

collect Bertie and Henry and always ask how I am 

getting on. To this day I remember running down 

the Secret Garden path towards the water fountain, 

thinking how big and amazing it looked. 

Four years later I was going to the Prep School for 

‘Change-Over Day’ and seeing how giant the Year 8 

looked, wishing I would be like them one day. Now 

here I am, at the top of the school having finished the 

all important Common Entrance exams and having 

the time of my life. 

I have made amazing friends, Tom and Francesca 

whom I have known from the beginning, and my two 

best friends, Matei and Philip, pals forever. I have 

had some really proud moments, being elected as 

Prefect, especially as I was one of just three boys, 

it felt a huge honour. Achieving both my Sports Bar 

and Shield was another great feeling, and to top it 

all, getting a scholarship to Lancing College. I have 

had such wonderful times, such as the choir trip to 

sing at the Menin Gate, the French trip, skiing with 

Mr McKeown, and finally the ‘Leavers’ camping trip to 

Blacklands Farm, without a doubt the pinnacle of my 

time at HXP. Thank you Miss Hunter, Mrs Lawrence, 

Mrs Martin and Mr Heath for putting up with us, along 

with the cold nights and the luxuries of camping! I 

feel ready to move onto Lancing College, but equally 

sad to leave the life at HXP and my everyday friends. 

However, I leave with my name proudly on the Scholarship 

board and I can’t ask for more than that, Can I? 


I am moving onto Lancing College where I hope I will 

be equally happy. I am hoping to become a doctor or 

perhaps an architect in the future. We’ll have to see! 

Luke Sowton, now at 

Ardingly College 


I joined in Year 2 and I have been here for 7 years. I 

45

46 

VALETE 

have made great friends during my time at Handcross 

and I will always remember them. I am also proud 

to have been part of the 1st XI Football team, 1st XI 

Cricket team and 1st XV Rugby team. I have really 

enjoyed myself here at Handcross and one of the 

highlights was definitely the Blacklands farm trip. 


I hope for my future is to have a family and carry on 

playing cricket. I am moving onto Lancing College 

next year and I hope that I will meet up with my 

friends again and look back at the fun times we 

had Handcross. 

Matei Marin, Head Boy, Academic 

Scholarship to Ardingly College 


I joined Handcross Park late, in Year 6, but this didn’t 

stop me from having a great time and learning loads. 

One great memory was learning to play Rugby, which 

has become my favourite sport. I hadn’t been taught 

how to play at my old school in Houston, Texas but I 

learnt quickly and even managed some games in the 

As. Friends are always important and I have great 

memories of bizarre games we used to play when we 

were younger, and all the fun things we did together. 

The French trip has implanted memories in my head 

that will last forever. James O’Dell losing his glasses, 

everyone dropping their plates at a circus workshop, 

playing rugby with a teddy bear and having friendly 

grudge matches (if there is such a thing) against Milo, 

Ned and Louis. Vividly, I recall the time when Mr. 

Hilton talked to us about who was to be a Prefect and 

I was amazed to find I was to be Head Boy! Leaving 

will be very sad especially since I might not see many 

of my friends often. 


I’m still not sure about what I would like to do in 

the future. I would like to have a job that is maths 

and physics related but, who knows, I may change 

my mind when I’m older. I’m hoping to run for an IB 

(International Baccalaureate) at Ardingly and I hope 

I will get into a good University. At University I may 

choose to get a PhD like my mum but I’m not sure 

about that either. I also hope to meet up with some 

of my friends from this school when I’m older and 

maybe even some from my old school in Houston. 

Milo Harper, Now at 

King’s School, Canterbury 


I have had some brilliant memories during my time at 

Handcross Park and I will look back on this period of 

my life with joy. I have made a lot of friends, whom 

I hope to keep for a long time. I am glad to have met 

some great people who have helped me to learn a lot 

of general life skills. 


In the future I hope to become a trauma surgeon in 

the army. I would also like to move to Canada, where 

I hope to do a lot of skiing and continue my rugby.

Ned Burrell, 

now at Millfield School 


Over the eleven years I’ve been at Handcross, there 

has been challenging times but, with the brilliant 

teachers, I have managed to pass C.E. The sport at 

Handcross has brought many close friends and memorable 

times such as, under Milo’s captaincy and Mr. 

McKeown making us run what seemed like hundreds 

of laps around the pitches, we won the seven aside 

rugby tournament. The Year 8 trips such as Blacklands 

farm stand out in my memories at Handcross. I 

will not forget the funny and sometimes tough challenges. 


As I move to my next school I hope to make new 

friends and take part in more sporting challenges. 

One day I hope to join the army as an officer having 

gone through the training. 

Philip Binns, Academic 

Scholarship to Ardingly College 


I’ve been at HXP since Year 3 and I have enjoyed 

myself thoroughly. I’ve made a lot of good friends at 

HXP. I’ve had a lot of good times and I’ve had some bad 

ones, and very frustrating ones like revision for scholarship, 

my exams and then waiting for the results. 

Luckily, I passed. Some of my best times have been 

on school trips like Blacklands and Thorpe Park and 

mucking about with lots of my friends. I will miss this 

school, its grounds, teachers and all of my friends I 

will have to leave behind. I will stay in contact with 

them just not as much. I’m sad but excited about my 

next school and on that note here it is. 


My next school is Ardingly, I’m very glad that I got an 

Academic Scholarship there and I’m also glad that a 

few of my friends from Handcross are going there. 

Presumably I will be in the top set because of my 

scholarship which unfortunately means hard work 

but I’m always up for a challenge. It will be hard in 

the first week navigating the school, lessons, homework 

and making new friends and then keeping them. 

Then the next major challenge GCSE, then A levels 

and maybe an IB. By that time I should be set up 

in the school with an arsenal of friends and good 

experiences, past and then ones for the future. My 

next school should be a great experience. 

Ryan Day, 

Now at St. Bede’s School 


The memories I have of Handcross will be all the fun 

times I had with my friends at the school. My other 

good memory is the sport as I really enjoyed rugby 

and athletics. My favourite subject would have to be 

history because I enjoy all the war, discoveries and 

success. I’ve enjoyed my time at Handcross. 


The ambitions I have for the future are to do well at 

my next school and join the army cadets. Then to do 

well in my GCSEs and join the army to get some life 

skills then come out and try to become a Politician. 

What I look forward to at my next school is a new 

start and making new friends. However, I’ll try to 

keep in contact with my friends from Handcross and 

also my other old school. That’s what I want to try 

and achieve in the future. 

Sam Illingworth, now at 


Memories 

I have been at Handcross Park since Reception and 

had great memories in the Pre-Prep and Prep school. 

I have made some great friends at this school who I 

47

48 

VALETE 

will never forget and will keep in touch with. I have 

enjoyed Post Common Entrance and had great fun at 

Blacklands farm on the leavers’ trip. We have also had 

some inspiring talks about our future. The funniest 

moment is when Milo and I had to meet guests at the 

front door and only one guest came after one and a 

half hours. 


I am going to Hurst and I will enjoy it a lot. I am hoping 

to become a mechanic and spend a small time in the 

army, so maybe an army engineer is right for me. 

Tom Manvell, Sports Scholarship 

to Ardingly College 


I have had some great memories of being at Handcross 

like on the Year 8 trip to Blacklands farm. Although 

there has been great times, there have also been 

challenging ones like doing C.E but with our fantastic 

teachers I managed to pass! Sport at Handcross has 

been great. One of the best moments was in the rugby 

season when we won a sevens tournament with our 

fantastic captain, Milo leading the way. We must have 

done about 100 laps around the sports fields. Thanks 

to Mr McKeown who has been a great coach. 


As I move onto Ardingly, I hope I will make loads 

more friends and keep up the amount of sports I 

do there. 

Yasmin Ziyada, Music Scholarship 

to Hurstpierpoint College 


I’ve been at Handcross for 9 years so I’ll be really sad 

to leave but I now feel ready to move on. Year 8 has 

definitely been the best year but it’s gone too fast. 

During my time I’ve made really good friends who I 

hope to stay in touch with. 

My friends will never let me forget in the Pre-Prep 

when I came dressed up as a bright red parrot ... on 

the wrong day! Another memory was when we went 

to a tag rugby match; we were told that whichever 

school was the most muddiest would win a prize. We 

all covered ourselves completely in mud only to find 

that they were joking! 

I’ve really enjoyed the leaver’s trip to Blacklands 

Farm, especially when we climbed up a wobbly pole 

and had to get four people on a small platform. Only 

Bella’s toes were on the platform as I was taking 

over the whole space screaming! (I felt so bad). 

Another memory was when we went sailing at Ardingly 

Reservoir. I’ve never heard anyone scream so loud 

until Faith found a fish in her wet-suit! I’ve also been 

on the ski trips which I’ve really enjoyed especially 

when we straightened Austen’s hair and dressed Sam 

up as a girl! Another memory was going to Gordonstoun 

with Fran, Annie, Milo and Matei. 

I will miss all of the girls so much and however ‘boyish’ 

the boys may be they’ve been great friends and have 

always made laugh. The gappers have been amazing 

and I would like to thank Mrs Lawrence and Miss 

Hunter for making the build up to Common Entrance 

much less stressful. 

At the start of Year 8 I was made head chorister and a 

Prefect. I think this helped me gain a music scholarship 

to Hurst where I’m off to with 10 others. I would like 

to say a big thank you to my teachers in the music 

department for helping me get my scholarship. I’d 

also like to say thanks to Fran and Izzi and I’ll never 

forget some of the musical times we had together 

like when we performed three little maids in the 

summer concert. 


I think it’s a bit early to decide what to be when I’m 

older. However I’m thinking of being a lawyer and 

if there’s time also a harp teacher. The future holds 

so much for us all but I hope that we will all stay 

in touch.

The children in the Learning 

Support department have been 

writing stories. 

We hope you like them − SB 

I was walking with my horses named Hedgy, George, 

Snowball and Claudia. I saw a foot mark like a horseshoe 

in the woods. I let my horses out into the field 

and in the forest. When I left the forest and the field 

and went into the house, the horses saw a strange 

animal. The horses bucked. The strange animal 

was half fox and half horse. It said “You are not 

welcome here.” 

The horses did not like the strange animal and they 

galloped to the gate. When I heard them neighing I 

ran out into the field and saw the animal. 

I went to my horses and took them out of the field. 

The strange animal tried to follow me and my mummy 

suddenly came and grabbed it. She threw it into the 

pond and it splashed around and it was about to 

drown but then one of the horses dragged it to the 

side and pulled it out. It was very wet. 

Suddenly, it vanished in a puff of smoke. Mummy and 

I were so amazed to see it go puff into the air. The 

horses looked surprised and said “Where has that 

strange animal gone?” I was surprised because my 

horses were talking. 

Then it came back in a puff of smoke. The horses then 

became friendly with it. 

One horse said “Wake up.” I woke up and found 

myself in my bed. It had been a dream. 

LEARNING SUPPORT 

Emma, Chloe, Katy and Jessica went to the shopping 

mall and Chloe said “Look! A shooting star.” 

They wished on the star that they would be famous. 

Katy said “That was useless.” Then Emma replied 

“Wait for a little while, Katy.” “Let it do its magic,” said 

Chloe. 

Then suddenly they were in a limo drinking Coca 

Cola. Then the car stopped and they got out to 

millions of fans who were screaming and would not 

leave them alone. 

Suddenly they were on a stage and they were all 

puzzled about what to do. “Should we sing?” said Emma. 

They started singing but they sounded amazing and 

they surprised themselves. 

Suddenly, they were in a plane getting ready to 

parachute. “Three, two one, JUMP,” shouted Katy. 

Their parachutes went up and they were floating in 

the air. 

The landed with a thump in Australia. As they landed, 

I fell out of bed and woke up. 

Handcross Park School wish all former pupils the best 

success for the future, and hope you'll keep in touch. 

49

WWW.HANDCROSSPARKSCHOOL.CO.UK 

TEL: +44 (0)1444 400 526 

FAX: +44 (0)1444 500 527 

HANDCROSS PARK SCHOOL 

HAYWARDS HEATH 

WEST SUSSEX 

RH17 6HF 

FROM MANAGED FORESTS, (FSC) PART RECYCLED.

Reflections Mag FINAL.indd - Handcross Park School

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?