Lambrookian Autumn 2021

Lambrookian
ISSUE 4
THE
In this Issue:
Remembrance Day
Five Lambrook Families
Creating a Culture of Kindness
From old to new Dining

Contents
3 Headmaster’s Welcome
4 A Year of Highlights
7 Cluture of Kindness
8 Five Victorian Families
10 Remembrance Day
12 Lambrook's Surgery
Past and Present
14 A history of the
Lambrook uniform
16 Lambrook's new
Dining Room
17 The History of our
Lambrook Dining Room
18 Sport at Lambrook
20 Sporting Alumni
22 Old Lambrookian
Rugby Player
24 Performing Arts 2021
26 Old Lambrookian Jake
Simmance in BBC's
Call the Midwife
28 Keeping it in the Family
29 Giving and The Lambrook
Foundation
30 The Lambrook Grounds
32 Catching up with our
Old Lambrookians
34 Saying Goodbye
29 Keeping in Touch – Alumni
Events

The Lambrookian - Issue 4
Welcome
Headmaster’s
It gives me enormous pleasure to welcome you to this edition of
The Lambrookian Magazine.
Although only a snapshot of some of
our former pupils and school life today, I
do hope that as you look back on what
Lambrook was like and what has changed,
it will remind you of happy times when you
were here at the School.
Lambrook is now a Prep School of around
600 pupils and it continues to be an
enormous privilege to be Headmaster
here. Pupils continue to thrive, whether
that be in the classroom, on the stage,
on the sports field, in outdoor leaning,
or as they undertake their co-curricular
activities. Through the breadth and depth
of opportunities on offer here, we aim to
give our children the ‘feathers to fly’ so that
they are prepared for the next stage of
their academic journey and when they leave
us, they truly soar.
We continue to build on the School’s strong
academic history and when our pupils leave
us, they go on to the top Senior Schools
in the country, with some pupils awarded
academic, music and sport Scholarships for
excellence in these fields.
It is always a joy to welcome former pupils
back to Lambrook and in June, some of our
more recent leavers spoke to our Year 8
pupils virtually, as part of our Year 8 leaving
programme. Our Year 8 children were
completely enthralled by the enthusiasm
shown by these Old Lambrookians and
their passion to share their experiences
with fellow Lambrookians.
In May we hosted a virtual Alumni event
for a group of Old Lambrookians who left
in the 1950s and 1960s. For a lot of the
attendees, it was the first time that they had
seen some of their friends since moving on
to their Senior Schools, and it was as if they
had only left last year; the fun that they had
during the evening was, I know, reflective
of the fun that they had when they were
boys at Lambrook. I do hope that similarly,
our current pupils will look back at their
time at Lambrook with an equal level of
happiness and fulfilment from the exciting
and enriching opportunities they have
experienced here.
We are keen to keep in touch with our
former pupils and have been extremely
disappointed that the recent global
pandemic has made it so difficult to be able
to gather groups of Alumni together, in
person. We very much hope that looking
ahead, we will be able to reinstate former
events as well as introduce new ones, and
we look forward to keeping you informed
of these in due course.
In the meantime, if you are yet to sign up to
be a part of the Alumni Community, may
I encourage you to do this, so that we can
keep you up to date with news and events.
Please also get in contact by email or
phone – we would love to hear what you
are doing and what life has been like since
leaving Lambrook.
We look forward to keeping in touch.
Jonathan Perry, Headmaster
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The Lambrookian - Issue 4
LAMBROOK IN 2021
A Year of Highlights
A year of at-home
and in-person
learning
From getting creative at home to
expanding online and technical
knowledge, our pupils kept connected
during their Remote Learning.
Back in the classroom, pupils were keen
to make the most of every academic
opportunity:
Practical Science lessons
STEM Days
Census Day
Lambrook Book Day
When our Pre Prep and Prep
School children returned to School
in March, Spring was in the air (and
the children and staff certainly had a
spring in their step too!).
With the wonderful news of a 100% pass rate and many Senior School scholarships
awarded, we were incredibly proud of our pupils that they achieved during an unusual
and challenging year.
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LAMBROOK IN 2021
House Competitions Trips
The Lambrookian - Issue 4
With team building in Henley, visits to
Windsor Castle and Park and a Year
8 trip to Devon, our Lambrook pupils
made the most of the Summer Term,
despite restrictions.
Christmas at Lambrook School
Above: A visit from Father Christmas
The Christmas Fair raised thousands of pounds for charity with an outdoor market feel
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The Lambrookian - Issue 4
LAMBROOK IN 2021
Boarding
Our Boarding community has
continued to thrive in the summer
term. Whether spending two nights
or five, the pupils have certainly made
the most of an extended school day,
with many an evening being spent
playing cricket, climbing trees, baking
or making smoothies in the kitchen,
working alongside one another,
swimming and generally enjoying
being in one another’s company.
Lambrook across the Seasons
AUTUMN
SUMMER
SPRING
Co-Curricular
WINTER
Lambrook’s Enrichment and Co-Curricular programme continues to go from strength
to strength. The Prep School has a Monday afternoon devoted to Enrichment Activities
where pupils can learn new skills.
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The Lambrookian - Issue 4
Jonathan Perry speaks about creating a
Culture of Kindness
Every school seeks to celebrate its academic, sporting and musical
success, but I hope most importantly, they seek to celebrate
kindness in every possible way they can, and we certainly do that
here at Lambrook. And we do it through three different ways:
First of all, teaching our children to be kind
to others. Of course pupils are going to be
kind to their friends and their classmates
but we want to engender a culture of
kindness towards those who don’t always
fit in, or perhaps those who don’t always
get noticed. We encourage our children
to thank those around them, recognising
the roles that others have, those who don’t
necessarily get celebrated for what they do.
Secondly, we seek to encourage a level of
kindness towards the environment. We all
know that this is a particular focus for the
world at this particular moment in time and
we want our children to have a real passion
for the environment here. Whether it be
plating trees, whether it is picking up litter,
whether it’s being mindful about the waste
that we produce. Having a a more global
outlook, asking the question – what can
we do to make the world that we live in, a
much better place?
Thirdly, we want our children to be kind
to themselves. Children are under a huge
amount of pressure from social media,
to be someone different, to conform to
a particular look or a certain interest and
we are so keen that they learn to love
themselves, to be kind to themselves,
to be gentle and not to be harsh about
the successes that they do or do not
achieve. To love the fact that they are
created uniquely, differently and they have
something to contribute to the world
because of who they are, not who they
conform to be. We really want to nurture
this within each and every one of them so
that when they leave here, when they go
on to their senior schools, not feeling like
they have to fit into a particular group for
the wrong reasons, but that they can fit in
because they are special, they are unique
and they can make a difference.
These three areas of kindness, are far more
important than any other attribute or
success. We want our children to be kind in
all areas – doctors, nurses, lawyers, bankers,
and if they can be kind, then I think our
world will be a better place.
This was published by Talk Education’s ‘View
from the Top’ feature, which showcases
knowledge from Headteachers from across
the Country.
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The Lambrookian - Issue 4
HISTORY
From
Politics Motor Cars
to
- Five Victorian
Lambrook Families
We are keen to share
Lambrook’s History with
our children and one of
their highlights included the
opportunity to become ‘Junior
Archivists’, taking part in a
special Lambrook History trail
led by our very own School
Archivist, John Kimbell.
The children had to find clues around
the school that related to five notable
Lambrook families, who attended the
school during Victorian times.
We are so grateful to be able to re-visit
some of the artefacts and sources that
we have around the School site relating to
these families:
The Asquith Family
The three eldest sons of Herbert H.
Asquith (British Prime Minister from 1908
to 1916) were pupils at Lambrook.
Raymond and Arthur feature on various
honours boards, whilst Herbert
H. Asquith mentioned their schooling in a
book of memoirs.
Gym Six Board
The following are some of the highlights
and historical artefacts found at Lambrook:
Gym Six Board
Another member of the Asquith Family,
Matt (above), worked as a Gappie in the
Lambrook Music Department for a year
(2013-14) before going to university.
The Bentley Family
All six sons from this family of nine children
were educated at Lambrook. Mention of
the eldest and youngest pairs can be found
on artefacts around the school, and the
latter jointly founded the Bentley Motor
Company 102 years ago.
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The Lambrookian - Issue 4
WO Bentley as a boy at Lambrook
Lambrook’s oldest Cricket Scoring Book
You can read more about the Bentley
brothers, written by our School Archivist
here:
W.O. Bentley at Lambrook – Lambrook
(lambrookschool.co.uk)
The Carré and Heath
Families
Of the four Carré brothers and their
cousin R. M. Heath, only one (Meyrick
Heath Carré) survived the Great War. He
later taught Philosophy at the University of
Bristol and his research was published in a
number of books.
The Cruickshank Family
All three brothers from this family
attended Lambrook. Their father was
employed in the Indian Civil Service and
the middle brother, Arthur Henry Prinsep
Cruickshank, died whilst serving in an
Indian Army Regiment during the First
World War.
Bentley Challenge Cup 1904 (The Best
Gymnast of the Year)
The Hind Family
Three brothers from this Nottinghamshire
family attended Lambrook: Oliver Watts
Hind, Lawrence Arthur Hind, and Harold
Ashover Hind. The initials of all three are
inscribed on various artefacts around the
school.
Lambrook Single Fives, awarded in 1896
(located in the Lambrook Library)
Honours Board located in the Lambrook
Dining Room
The Overmantel in the Lambrook Library
Honouring those Old Lambrookians
who fought in the Great War
Gym Six Board
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The Lambrookian - Issue 4
Remembrance Day
On Thursday 11th November, the whole School came together for
its Act of Remembrance.
With readings given by the Headmaster and Head Girl, prayers by the Head Boy and the
service led by our Chaplain, Rev’d Savage, it was a fitting occasion to be thankful for all the
service men and women who have served iin the World Wars and other conflicts, and who
still serve today, in order that we may live in relative peace. In particular, we commemorate
those Old Lambrookians who fought in these conflicts and gave their lives, enabling our
Lambrook children to have such happy times at School today.
Each child, from Nursery through to
Year 8, had made and decorated a poppy
which was then added to a class wreath.
Representatives from each class laid their
wreath as part of the service to create
three larger wreaths.
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The Lambrookian - Issue 4
Old Lambrookians in the Great War
- Refusing to take no for an answer
Three remarkable Old Lambrookians, Basil
Raymond Davis, David Hume Pinsent and
Cyril Holkham Dangar refused to take no
for an answer after being declared unfit
for the Armed Forces in the Great Wat.
Each one found a way of overcoming the
obstacles placed before them and managed
to serve the nation as best they could,
ultimately sacrificing their own lives so that
others could live in freedom.
Cyril Holkham Dangar,
French Red Cross
Cyril came to Lambrook in 1907, rising
to be second in the School and playing in
the Cricket eleven of 1912 – an unbeaten
team. He then went to Rugby School
but his subsequent application to join
the Army during the First World War
was rejected, owing to a heart condition.
Far from deterring him, this setback only
spurred Cyril on to find another means of
making his mark during the Great War. He
was accepted into the French Red Cross
and served continuously on the Western
Front until 1919, driving an ambulance and
repatriating refugees. It was a strenuous
life and his Section was twice awarded the
Croix de Guerre for bravery and devotion
to duty. Cyril later went up to Jesus College
Cambridge but his health failed steadily and
he died in 1920, as the result of a septic
ulcer contracted on active service. He was
21.
A comrade from his section wrote to
Cyril’s bereaved parents:
“You will remember that when Cyril was
in France, nearly two years ago, I told you
something of his work out there – how
careful he was with his wounded, and how
we liked him. I can confidently say that I
have never met a purer-minded lad than
Cyril. His simplicity was his greatest charm,
which made everyone take to him, but he
developed also that deep sense of duty and
responsibility which one would not have
expected in one of his age.”
Basil Raymond Davis, Royal
Flying Corps
At Preparatory School, Basil was never
physically very strong and was remembered
going about in a wheelchair. Struggling
on, he transferred to Bradfield College,
but when war broke out he was declared
medically unfit for military service. Basil
was so keen to fight for his country that he
underwent an operation in order to gain
an Army commission and was then sent
to Egypt with the Royal Fusiliers. Knowing
that he would be more effective as a pilot,
seated in a cockpit, he joined the Royal
Flying Corps and won his wings.
Deployed to France and described by his
Squadron Commander as “a very keen and
reliable pilot with any amount of dash,” Basil
became a thoroughly competent officer
but was tragically killed in action while flying
over Belgium on the 20th of September
1917. He was 22 years old.
David Hume Pinsent, Royal
Aircraft Establishment
David was born in 1891 and named after
his ancestor, the Scottish philosopher David
Hume. He was educated at Lambrook,
Marlborough College, and Trinity College
Cambridge, where he studied Mathematics.
Following the outbreak of war, David
was declared unfit for the Armed Forces
but his determination to contribute in
the war effort led to him serving instead
at the Royal Aircraft Establishment in
Farnborough. His work there involved
research into aerodynamics and in May
1918, as a member of the Experimental
Squadron, he was carrying out pressure
tests on the tail of a plane when it broke
up in mid air and crashed. David was killed
instantly but never officially classified as
‘war dead’, despite dying on active service.
His pilot, Lieutenant Derek Lutyens, was
a nephew of Sir Edwin Lutyens, who
designed the Cenotaph in Whitehall as
Principal Architect for the Commonwealth
War Graves Commission.
A wooden overmantel was mounted above
the fireplace in the School Library, bearing
the names of Past Pupils who had been
combatants during the Great War, whether
they had died or survived. This was installed
to their memory in 1919 and is still in situ
today.
A brass Roll of Honour
was created for the
School Chapel, listing
Old Lambrookians who
had tragically lost their
lives as a result of those
terrible years of conflict.
John Kimbell, School Archivist
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The Lambrookian - Issue 4
HISTORY
Lambrook’s Surgery
Past
Present
With the spotlight very much on our Nation’s health, we thought
that we would take the opportunity to touch base with our fantastic
Medical Centre, and look back at some of the illnesses that the
Lambrook Medical Centre has had to deal with in past times.
Whether visiting the Medical Centre for a
sports injury, a fever or an understanding
and listening ear, the whole school benefit
from the care of our outstanding team of
Matrons – they are also known to have a
rather delicious tin of biscuits, which offers
immediate relief to all manner of aches and
pains!
Above: Matron Fi
Below: Matron Marion
Providing medical expertise, first aid and
pastoral care to all staff and children is
no mean feat, and our Matrons are kept
extremely busy. According to Fi, “you never
know what you might be treating next!”.
But they both describe the highlight of all
of their work as “being able to spend time
with the fantastic Lambrook children –
from being on the sports pitches, having
lunch with them in the Dining Room and,
of course, looking after them in the Medical
Centre – they are a joy to be around.”
Marion
With sport and play being main features at
Lambrook, a Medical Centre is very much
required! One of the earliest historical
references to Lambrook’s Medical Care was
at the turn of the nineteenth century:
“During my first two years, all boys living
within easy reach of the school – say
within a hundred miles – were allowed
to go home for a half-term exeat from
Friday morning to Monday evening.
This was not a good scheme – far too
many boys contracted epidemic diseases
which wrecked the rest of the term – so
this concession was finally withdrawn.”
Reminiscences of Audley Gray (1897-1901)
With epidemics erupting such as Rose Rash
in 1910, followed by Measles the year after,
and then a cycle of further outbreaks of
Measles, German Measles, Scarlet Fever,
Flu and Asian Flu, documented for many
decades, care from the Matrons at the
time was in high demand. Outbreaks and
epidemics often took over a number
of the beds in what was then called the
Sanatorium.
From the 1914 Chronicle: “The Summer
Term was much interfered with by chickenpox.
On May 20th, Cass produced “spots,”
a fortnight afterwards others, and in the
end, some thirty boys all revelled in the
disease. Few were really ill and none caused
any anxiety, which was a comfort. But it was
annoying!”
An excerpt from 1925 “We had a good
XV, and played some matches when
whooping-cough appeared and put a stop
to all outside engagements. It was a blow!”
Sport was often affected by illness. Ten
years later, in 1945, it was recorded, “We
soon settled down for the Summer Term,
but this time our luck didn’t hold, as it
wasn’t long before a case of whoopingcough
appeared among us. This soon
communicated itself to others, and fifteen
boys altogether caught the disease… As
a result of the whooping-cough, we were
not able to play other schools at Cricket
until July.”
The effect on sport continued to be very
much a focus, “It is now eleven terms since
we had a big spell of illness or an epidemic,
and to have had another year of unbroken
work and games is something for which we
cannot be too thankful.” The Lambrook
Chronicle 1945.
In 1957, the then Medical Centre was
overrun with patients, “Nurse’s first duty
has been, of course, the care of the sick,
and she has earned the gratitude of many
parents for the way she has looked after
boys with measles and mumps and a
variety of smaller ailments. This term’s ‘flu
epidemic has been in the nature of a grand
finale. At one time there were 57 boys in
bed simultaneously, and what this involved
for Nurse in the way of organization as well
as nursing can only be appreciated by those
who worked with her. There were 85 cases
among the boys, and about 10 among the
staff.”
To avoid cases of measles, mumps or
chicken pox, a strict period of quarantine
was enforced “The alleged objects of
quarantines are (1) to prevent a large
epidemic with its inconveniences, (2) to
prevent Common Entrance and matches
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The Lambrookian - Issue 4
being compromised by boys at the top of
the school catching a disease at the critical
time. The only way to achieve these objects
would be by importing these diseases
freely so that the numbers who had not
had them would always be small, and that
nobody would get beyond the middle
school without having had them. The strict
observance of quarantines is the best way
of achieving the reverse.”
Our Medical Centre area was updated in 2020 and is
located on the first floor of Lambrook House in our new
Queen’s Building. The surgery has a consulting room, a sick
bay with beds, an office and a counselling room.
Today, we are grateful for our Matrons
and their care, kindness and good humour.
A similar sentiment was shared in 1979,
“Come wind or high weather, epidemic
or mass inoculations, nothing could
disturb Sister’s even temper and cheerful
disposition.”
Medical Care at Lambrook in the early
to mid Twentieth Century was largely
administered from Orchard House and
Brook Cottage, which were both used as a
sanatorium at various points.
Orchard House
Brook Cottage
Orchard House (and Pavilion)
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The Lambrookian - Issue 4
HISTORY
Looking back at the History of the
Lambrook Uniform
As per our strapline, Lambrook has been nurturing potential since
its beginning back in 1860. The School has consistently continued to
educate children throughout its history, however one thing that has
changed over time, is the uniform that its pupils have worn.
At its start, with Robert Burnside as
Headmaster, there was no official uniform
worn by the boys for the normal school day.
As Audley Gray (1897-1901) reminisces, “As
regards clothes, no standard uniform was
worn during the week-days; each boy wore
what his fond mother thought suitable, and
some of the choices were not very clever. Few
of the boys wore long trousers, most wore
knickerbocker suits, made of a great variety of
cloths, blue serge being quite common.”
14
Lambrook uniform today is designed to be
comfortable, but this was certainly not the
case in the nineteenth century: “The coats
were, more often than not, of the Victorian
“Norfolk-Jacket” pattern which is never
seen today. It was an excellent coat for boys,
as it had plenty of pockets and a belt. The
breeches were usually fastened below the
knee by a narrow piece of material which
was buckled. Many of the “shorts” however,
ended with a 3-inch band of box-cloth
which, oddly enough, was worn outside the
stockings (socks).

The Lambrookian - Issue 4
If worn today like that, quite a sensation
would be caused! Whatever the colour
of the suit, all boys wore black stockings
(socks) which were held up by elastic
garters above the knee – very inhibiting to
the circulation!”
The tradition of ‘best uniform’ started
back in Victorian times and was worn for
Sundays and special occasions: “In addition
to the Eton collar, we all sported starched
“dickies” (I am glad to think that no
modern boy can have any idea what these
breast-plates looked like) and black silk
cravats, or rather large ties “made-up” so
that we weren’t faced with the problem of
tying them. Dressed like this we marched
in crocodile formation to Winkfield
Church for morning service, wearing of
course the regulation top-hat.”
“We must have looked a pretty
non-descript crowd when out on
a school walk, but on Sundays
there was a transformation – for
the 60-65 young gentlemen then
appeared in the uniform of the
complete Eton rig-out, which (poor
dears) they had to wear all day.”
Over time, the Lambrook Uniform has
embraced many different colours. The
Victorian black suit was livened up with
colourful ties and caps, “With this collar
we wore a Lambrook tie – black and red
– and we had caps of the same colours.”
During the 20th Century, a standard
uniform was introduced with green as
the school colour, gold being used for
contrast.
Lambrook pupil with Archbishop
Coggan and the Headmaster, Mike
Bickersteth
an L on the front of its sweatshirt and the
tree featuring prominently.
In September 1997, Lambrook and
Haileybury Junior Schools merged to form
Lambrook Haileybury, with a new uniform
design based on a peacock blue colour.
After James Barnes became Headmaster
in 2005, the uniform colour changed
again – this time to royal / navy blue. Both
normal uniform and sports kit can be seen
in the images below:
In 2006, the Westfield Saplings Nursery
was created, with its pupils wearing light
blue, branded sweatshirts.
The final change was introduced by Mr
Perry after he became Headmaster
in 2010 and the photos below show
our current Summer, Winter and Best
Uniforms.
September 8th 1993 saw the Opening
Day of the Lambrook Pre Prep, with
Sheena Stewart appointed as its Head.
The Lambrook uniform was green in
colour with both Lambrook wording and
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The Lambrookian - Issue 4
NEWS
From Old to New
Lambrook’s new Dining Room extension is completed
Whether it be breakfast, lunch, sandwich break, match tea
or supper for our boarders, eating together is an incredibly
important part of the Lambrook School day.
We are delighted that our new Dining
Room extension has recently been
completed, which will not only give pupils
a bright new environment in which to eat
together, but will also offer more space
for our famous match teas and a more
intimate dining area for our boarding
community.
16

The History of our Lambrook Dining Room
The extension beautifully complements the existing Dining Room
and sensitively combines the old with the new.
The history of the Lambrook Dining
Room stretches back for well over
one hundred years to 1887. It started
out as a Schoolroom which provided a
multi-functional space accommodating
academic lessons and Prep, concerts,
assemblies, lectures, debates, magic
lantern shows and films, boxing and
gym competitions and dance tuition, to
name just some of the activities! In 1892
‘Chapel’ services were accompanied by
an organ which was fitted into the corner
of the room. In that year, Arthur Asquith
wrote to his father Herbert (who had just
become Home Secretary), to update him
on the progress of the organ installation
‘they are making the organ with carved
pillars of wood’.
At this time, the Dining Room occupied
the location of our current School
Library.
Old Lambrookian Audley Gray (1897-
1901) described a typical week’s diet as
follows:
HISTORY The Lambrookian - Issue 4
‘At breakfast we always began with
porridge, followed on Mondays by
cold ham – I can see in my mind’s eyes
those two lovely hams now. Tuesdays:
hot grated ham on toast. Wednesdays:
fried bacon. Thursdays: the finest pork
sausages I have ever eaten. Fridays: fish,
herrings, kippers etc. Saturdays, the
only poor breakfast: two oily sardines.
Sundays: boiled eggs…’
‘…The midday meal again was excellent
– both for the meat course and the
‘sweets’. By modern standards, tea
was a quite inadequate repast. The
management provided only tea, bread,
butter, and jam, but we were allowed to
bring back tuck to supplement what was
provided – cakes, biscuits, potted meat
etc…’
‘…We always had a grand Christmas
supper (turkey, plum-pudding etc.) at the
end of the winter term, and Lambrook
must have been one of the few schools
where goose was eaten on Michaelmas
Day. We were not allowed any sort of
sweets, but 2 or 3 times a week each
boy received a thick bar of Cadbury’s
‘Mexican Chocolate’, a particularly pure
variety.’
Leaping forwards through time,
the early 1970s saw some long-laid
plans for re-ordering Lambrook’s
school buildings finally reach fruition.
Implemented between 1972 and 1973,
the scheme’s three phases began with
the construction of a new Assembly Hall
and Classroom Block beside the playing
fields, effectively turning the Playground
into a quadrangle. The completion of this
facility led to Phase Two: Lambrook’s
former big Schoolroom was widened and
repurposed as our now, Dining Room:
The third and final phase of Lambrook’s
transformative project enabled the
former Dining Room upstairs, which had
now been vacated, to be refurnished as
a spacious School Library, which is where
our Library is today.
In 2003, with pupil numbers having risen
dramatically over the intervening 30
years, further capacity was necessary in
the Dining Room. As a consequence,
the School Development Plan envisioned
a means of meeting this increased
demand for seating by widening the
room’s ‘footprint’ again, this time on the
Playground side.
The design for an extension was duly
drawn up, work began during the
summer holidays and, despite a few
finishing touches remaining to be made,
the children all had a cooked meal on the
first day of term in September.
Soon afterwards, Lambrook had
successfully provided sixty extra places
and created a double entry point system
to speed up service. The Headmaster
could rightly declare: ‘Lunch is now a
much more civilized affair!’
Lunch is definitely a civilized affair today
and our Catering Team works incredibly
hard to ensure the healthy, nutritious
values of the school are reflected in all of
its menus.
The quality, selection and choice of food
on offer and the thought and planning
that goes into every menu is evident in
the happy faces in the Dining Room. We
are so grateful to now have even more
space to enjoy our award-winning food,
and look forward to sharing this with our
Lambrook Community over the months
and years to come.
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The Lambrookian - Issue 4
SPORT
Sport at Lambrook
2020-2021
Lambrook has continued to excel in its competitive sport, both in
person and virtually. It has remained a firm part of our Lambrook
curriculum, with competitive fixtures returning in earnest in the
Summer Term. During the course of the year our Lambrook
pupils are involved in a wide range of sports:
Cross Country
Hockey
Swimming
Football
Rugby
Basketball
Netball
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The Lambrookian - Issue 4
Sports Day
And of course, we continued the
Lambrook tradition of our Summer
Sports Days, although sadly this year
without parent spectators.
Cricket
It was a joy to hear the sound of
Lambrook children filling the grounds at
the start of the Summer Term, as well as
hearing one of the most iconic of sounds,
the sound of leather on willow.
For many of our cricket-mad boys and
girls, there is nothing like taking that
crucial wicket, hitting a stunning drive
or diving for a fine catch on Lambrook’s
Edrich Oval, on a beautiful summer’s
afternoon. Lambrook has been playing
cricket since its foundation back in 1860,
when it was England’s national sport, and
it has continued to be enjoyed year on
year by our Lambrook pupils.
Lambrook complete the Around the
World Challenge during Lockdown
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The Lambrookian - Issue 4
SPORTING ALUMNI
Two Old Lambrookians represent
Harrow at Lord’s
Old Lambrookians Jonny Connell and John Koutalides
represented Harrow School at Lord’s on Saturday in the annual
Eton vs Harrow match.
Jonny and John both left Lambrook in
2016 and went on to Harrow School,
having played for the First XI here at
Lambrook.
The highly anticipated ‘Fowler’s’ match is
hosted by the MCC and is always between
two of the most famous Independent
Senior Schools in the country, Eton
College and Harrow School. Apart from
a few years during WW1 and WW2, this
inter-school cricket match has been played
at Lord’s since 1905.
Traditionally attended by fellow pupils
and families of the players, in recent
years, tickets have also been on sale to
the general public. Although this year it
was a win for Eton, the match was a great
one to watch and certainly, a memorable
experience for the boys who played in it.
We are extremely proud of our cricket at
Lambrook knowing that the cricket that
our Old Lambrookians, Johnny and John,
played at Prep School and on our Edrich
Oval ignited their love for the sport and
the beginning of the skills that would take
them to play at one of the most famous
cricket venues in the world. We are sure
that many more Old Lambrookian’s will be
following in their footsteps in future years.
“The best thing about
being at Lambrook was
the amount of time I got
to spend with my friends,
many of whom I’m still very
close with. I also thoroughly
enjoyed the sporting aspect
of the School. I took a hat
trick on the South Africa
cricket tour when I was at
Lambrook that was made
very special because I did
it with all my very close
friends.” John
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SPORTING ALUMNI The Lambrookian - Issue 4
Hockey takes Colette to Yale University
We caught up with Colette Staadecker while she was in her final
year at Wellington College, after she was offered a place at Yale
University, in the USA:
When were you at
Lambrook?
I came to Lambrook in the Pre Prep and
left in 2016, at the end of Year 8.
What did you go on to do
after Lambrook, and what
are you doing now?
I was very fortunate to get a Sports
Scholarship to Wellington College, where
I am currently in my final year. I have
my IB mock examinations in the next
few weeks, which will more than likely,
be taken online! Wellington has been a
brilliant experience and alongside all of
the sporting opportunities, I have really
enjoyed other areas such as the academics,
trying unique sports such as real tennis,
having a go at activities like debating and
even taking up knitting!
As an outstanding hockey
player, tell us about your
hockey journey
I started playing hockey at Lambrook
when I was 6. At the same time, I joined
a local club where I began my love for
all aspects of the game. When I got to
Year 7, I moved clubs and joined Reading
Hockey Club where I played at the
weekends, when I didn’t have matches at
school. When I left Lambrook, I continued
playing hockey throughout my time at
Wellington, where I captained their first
team, both in indoor and outdoor hockey.
I recently got offered a hockey scholarship
to Yale University, and I am looking
forward to starting there this summer.
Tell us about the process of
applying to an American
University
After applying, I went out to the States
and attended three hockey camps at three
Ivy League Universities – Yale, Brown and
Columbia. I was then invited back there
in October for some official visits, where
I spent time on campus taking part in
hockey training, getting to know the sports
coaches and the conditions that I would
be playing in. In the end, I chose Yale, and I
start pre season training this August.
What do you hope to do
after University?
I don’t think that I will take hockey to a
professional level after University, although
hockey has been a great way into an
American University. I love the subjects,
philosophy and journalism and I would
love one day, to be a journalist working for
the New York Times.
What were the best things
about being at Lambrook?
I loved being at Lambrook! The
atmosphere was fantastic, I built
friendships that will last for the rest of
my life, and it really developed my love
of sport, and in particular, my passion for
hockey.
Which sports did you play
at Lambrook?
I enjoyed all sport at Lambrook, but
particularly enjoyed the hockey, netball,
rounders, athletics and swimming – the
new pool was completed in my final year,
which was a real treat. It was also great
to take up several other opportunities
and I played both the guitar and the piano
during my time at Prep School.
Do you remember any of
your teachers?
Yes, of course! I remember Miss Bartlett,
Mr Liddell and Mrs MG very well, as they
were all, especially Miss Bartlett, really
influential in getting me through my sports
scholarship and onto the next stage of my
educational journey.
What has been your
sporting highlight to date?
Definitely becoming National Champions
at both indoor and outdoor hockey two
years ago.
Which sports personality
has inspired you the most
and why?
This has to be Olympic Gold Medallist
Crista Cullen who played for Great
Britain. I had the honour of meeting her
when I was at Lambrook and she was such
an inspiration. She plays a similar game
to me – being one of the tallest players
on the team, she always took the short
corners!
How did Lambrook prepare
you for the future?
Lambrook first introduced me to hockey
and it prepared me brilliantly for my
future school. The time and energy given
by my teachers, getting ready for the next
stage was amazing. Even at a young age,
Lambrook made me realise who I was,
and was the place where my passions
were fostered and developed.
How has the recent
pandemic affected your
training/competing?
It was great to be able to train in
person last term, despite only being
able to play in Year Group bubbles. It
has been tricky recently with no group
sport, but I have been taking part in an
online strengthening and conditioning
programme, looking at body performance,
eating the right things etc.
Do you have any advice for
Lambrook pupils who are
into their sport?
Yes, if you are passionate about something,
take all opportunities that come your
way and practise, practise, practise! Ask
questions all the time and learn all you
can from coaches and staff – teachers will
always be willing to help. It’s so important
to do what you love! It is so important
to just try new things and throw yourself
into anything and everything, even if you
decide it’s not for you. Lambrook is the
perfect time to explore yourself and find
what makes you tick!
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The Lambrookian - Issue 4
Old Lambrookian Rugby Player
After a career working for the World Bank
as an Agricultural Economist, Christopher
Trapman is now a resident of Honduras,
Central America. Trapman has played
Rugby alI over the world with his last
game in 2019 in Belgium aged 73! He also
spent 5 years as Manager of the Belgium
National Rugby 7s.
What did you like about
Lambrook when you were
here?
What I liked about Lambrook were the
friends I made there, especially the ones
with whom I got into a lot of mischief!
Unfortunately, it didn’t do me much good.
When my father asked the headmaster
why I had not been nominated as a prefect
for my last term in school, he was told that
it was because I kept such bad company!
OLD LAMBROOKIAN
Sports Prefects' interview
Our 2020/2021 Sports Prefects, Sylvester and Beatrix, posed
some questions to Rugby player, sportsman and Old Lambrookian
Christopher Trapman, who left Lambrook in 1960.
Obviously, all sports were a great relief
from the time spent in class or doing
homework. My best moment of the week
was putting on my sports kit in the locker
room in preparation for a match against a
visiting team.
What sports did you play
when you were at school?
I played football in the autumn term,
rugby in the spring term and cricket in the
summer term. I remember well the 9-hole
golf course which introduced me to that
excellent sport. A favourite challenge was
on the 9th hole driving up towards the
façade of Chapel and its Rose window.
The trick was to try to hit the window in
one shot, something which was beyond
the reach of most of us! Fives was also a
game I learned at Lambrook as was tennis.
What is your happiest
sporting memory at
Lambrook?
An especially happy moment each year
was Parents’ Day, when we would all
gather around the cricket pitch and watch
the afternoon’s game accompanied
by a large basket of sandwiches and
strawberries and cream.
Who were your school rivals
at Lambrook?
Ludgrove School were always tough
opposition on the Rugby pitch, and it was
always a good feeling to beat Bagshot.
Sunningdale gave us a good run for our
money on the cricket pitch.
What was most inspirational
about Rugby at Lambrook?
I started playing Rugby seriously at
Lambrook when I was about 11. I was
particularly attracted to the sport since I
was a good head and shoulders taller than
other boys of my age.
What position did you
play when you were first
introduced to the sport?
I started in the second row and later
moved to No 8, my favourite position over
the years.
What did you do after
leaving school?
After Lambrook, I went to Charterhouse
and then studied Agricultural Economics
at Reading University. During a visit to
Reading the Kenyan Minister of Agriculture
recruited me to work for 5 years as
Finance and Planning Officer in the newly
independent government. I played a lot of
rugby in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and
toured Malawi, and Zambia with rugby
teams. My last games in East Africa were
with a Kenya rugby side which toured
Texas in 1973. We played 7 matches and
won them all, but I got knocked out a
couple of times (there were no HIAs in
those days so I use those events to excuse
my occasional forgetfulness these days.) As
a further distraction, I was Treasurer of the
East African Rugby Football Union.
From there, I worked in Barbados,
Honduras (Central America) where I
learned Spanish, Tchad where I improved
my French, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory
Coast, Gambia, Liberia, Togo, Zaire
(today Democratic Republic of Congo),
Cameroun, Madagascar and Mauritius.
I was employed by the World Bank,
Washington DC. My work involved
setting up national agricultural extension,
research and training services for millions
of small farmers. I found time to play
rugby in Tchad, Ivory Coast, Togo, USA,
Zaire, Madagascar and Cameroun and
occasionally in England when I was home
on leave.
It was the same fun sport whoever we
were playing with or against, whether it
was the Tchadian Army team or an Ivorian
University team or the Railway Club in
Madagascar. Sometimes we had to share
a pitch with the odd herd of goats (Tchad)
or an evangelical Christian meeting (Zaire).
Everyone forgot very quickly who had
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The Lambrookian - Issue 4
won or lost after the game ended as we
gathered around a few drinks at a local
bar/café.
When I retired to Belgium with my wife in
2001, I contacted the local rugby club in
Namur, the capital of the French speaking
region of Belgium to ask if they accepted
veterans. When the Secretary replied that
they accepted anyone, I knew I was back
in good company! I survived my first match
age 53 and decided that I could carry on
playing as long as my body did not complain
too much. 20 years later, I played my
penultimate game, leaving the door open
for a last game someday, somewhere!
I became President of the Namur Rugby
Club and later Vice President of the
French-speaking Belgium Rugby Union.
I was then asked to manage the Belgium
national Rugby 7s team.
Were you involved in
making 7s an Olympic
sport?
In 2010, the International Olympic
Committee accepted Rugby 7s as a
new Olympic sport. Many rugby-playing
countries quickly scrambled to create and
train national 7s teams to try to qualify
for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Belgium was no exception. We had an
excellent French coach, who himself had
played 15-a-side and 7-a-side rugby for
France.
It nearly worked. After moving from 26th
place in Europe in 2011, Belgium was to
play against the top 12 Rugby 7s teams
in Europe for the first round of qualifiers
in 2014. In what seemed to be the pool
of death on that June weekend in Lyon,
France, Belgium faced up against England
(Champion from the previous year),
Scotland and Wales. Belgium beat all
three and reached the quarter finals the
following day, when they beat Georgia.
Victory over Spain of 33-0 in the semifinals
was conclusive. It was like living a
dream, especially since none of the players
were professionals unlike many of their
opponents. At 7-7 at half time in the final
against France, the atmosphere was too
stressful to imagine. France finally won the
tournament. Two weeks later in Moscow
the Belgian boys walloped the French 43-0.
The excuse was that the French were not
fielding their best team but for us, the
French Goliath had been knocked down by
the Belgian David.
Belgium did not qualify for the Olympics
but World Rugby were so impressed by
the spirit of the Belgians that they were
invited to the famous Hong Kong 7s as
the World Series invitation team for 2015.
They met Olympic champions Fiji in the
first round and many others of the top 16
world class teams. A dream come true!
Of course, there was a lot of pride for
one Old Lambrookian who had succeeded
in getting funding together for the whole
event where the Belgian Rugby Federation
had been unable to produce a single penny
in support of its national team (but that’s
another story!).
What has been your
favourite game ever?
If by game you mean match, then finding
myself still alive after 80 minutes of rugby
at the age of 53, after my first match in
Belgium (which thrilled me in spite of losing
70-3) after an absence of 13 years off the
pitch.
If by favourite game, as in favourite match
ever, then beating England at Lyon, France
in June 2014, as manager of the Belgium
Rugby 7s team
If by game as in sport, then obviously the
answer begins with a captial “R”!
Are you interested in other
sports, or is all your focus
on rugby?
Today, I spend a fair amount of time (too
much according to my wife!) playing golf.
Lambrook gave me a good start in this
sport too but I am still trying to reach my
schoolboy handicap.
How have you kept fit for
all these years?
Jogging has always been my greatest source
of keeping fit. I loathed cross country runs
at Lambrook though!
23

2021
Performing Arts
Lambrook’s Performing Arts Centre (DJC) continues to be a hive
The Lambrookian - Issue 4
of activity and talent filled with Drama and Music performances,
Dance classes in our studio and of course, our usual timetabled
academic Music and Drama lessons and exams.
Pupils are keen to showcase their hard work through a variety of
Music and Drama performances.
Messing about on the River
There was nothing "half so much worth doing as messing around in boats" for our Year 6
pupils as parents were treated to an outstanding recorded production of The Wind in the
Willows put on by the entire year group.
Annual Carol Service
Lambrook’s Annual Carol Service went
online in 2020. We are looking forward to
hosting it back at Eton this Christmas. In
advance of this year's service, the Senior
Chapel Choir has been giving performances
in the local community.
Year 3 Performing
Arts Day is the CATS’
Whiskers
As part of their Performing Arts Day,
Year 3 pupils put on a production of
songs and poems from T.S. Eliot’s Cats,
showcasing the culmination of hard work
undertaken in their Drama and Music
lessons.
24

Showtime in Sherwood
Forest
Year 4 Parents were transported to
Nottinghamshire as they were treated to
a very special online production of ‘Robin
Hood and the Sherwood Hoodies’ written
by Craig Hawes.
Year 7 Learns and
Performs a Play in only
2 Days
Lambrook welcomed Ian Murchie from
The Dragon School to direct the Year 7
pupils in a production of a fast-paced play
written by him, entitled “What You Will”
(a modern telling of Shakespeare’s Twelfth
Night).
The Lambrookian - Issue 4
Year 8 put on a
‘Shrek-tacular’
Performance
Acting workshops
Virtual concerts
Year 5 sang 'I am the Earth' alongside
footage of the pupils taking part in various
environmental activities.
Above: Acting workshop, Below:
The final performance
Bethany Appleton from the Shakespeare
Schools Foundation, reviewed
Lambrook’s performance: “Lambrook
School delivers five star performance . .
. a spine-chilling and moving production
of Macbeth from a mature and eloquent
ensemble
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The Lambrookian - Issue 4
OLD LAMBROOKIAN
Jake Simmance
features in BBC's Call the Midwife
Staff at Lambrook were extremely excited to spot former
Lambrook pupil, Jake Simmance on their screens in Call the
Midwife last week. We caught up with Jake to find out more about
his journey from Lambrook to Call the Midwife.
After Wellington College I fulfilled a
childhood dream of getting into ‘Drama
School’. I studied at The Bristol Old Vic
Theatre School for 3 years, from 2017-
2020.
My mum still loves to tell the story of how
when I first arrived in Year 3, I would go
up to the school bursar 2 or 3 times a
week to ask if I could be signed up to the
after school LAMDA club!
Tell us about your acting
career? How did you
end up acting in Call the
Midwife?
26
When were you at
Lambrook?
I joined Lambrook in Year 3 when I was
7 years old and stayed until year 8 when I
was 13. From 2005-2011.
What did you enjoy about
being at Lambrook?
I absolutely loved my time at Lambrook. I
think I was very lucky in that I had a great
group of friends, many of whom I still call
my best mates now, 16 years after I met
them! The thing that still stands out for
me more than anything, in the few times
I have been back to Lambrook since I left,
is how impressive the grounds are! You
really feel like you are part of a grown-up
school with loads of space and fields and
courts and playgrounds. Lambrook has a
real ‘campus’ feel to it that no other prep
schools have.
Were you involved in drama
when at school? Which
plays were you in? Did you
sing in the choir?
I was involved from Drama from the very
beginning of my time at Lambrook. As
soon as I have been old enough to walk
and talk I’ve been doing what I can to
seek people’s attention – which I suppose
grows into performing as you get older.
The first play I did was the Farago in Year
3; “Nakuro and the magic drum” (if my
memory serves me well!) I played Nakuro.
It was my first ever taste of having a
‘main role’ and a proper number of lines
to learn. Whilst I cannot remember
much about the performance, I know
I must have loved it, because I went on
to do the musical every year thereafter!
I was in ‘Guys and Dolls’, ‘My Fair Lady’,
‘Les Miserables’ and then ‘Joseph and
his Technicolour Dreamcoat’ in my final
year. I still have very, very vivid and fond
memories of doing all of those shows in
the Assembly Hall at Lambrook.
Unfortunately, I’m not blessed with the
best singing voice! Despite numerous
attempts to audition for the school choir, I
never got a place! I was always very jealous
of my friends who would get up and sing
in front of the whole school. I think when
I was doing those musicals at Lambrook I
always thought to myself, as long as I make
the audience laugh enough, they won’t
notice that I’m a terrible singer! (A tactic I
still use today if ever I need to sing in front
of people!)
What did you go on to do
after Lambrook?
After Lambrook I got into Wellington
College with a Drama Exhibition. I studied
there for 5 years and threw myself into
everything I could! Whilst I have known
since I was a little boy that I wanted to
be an actor, I think at that age many of us
had no idea what we wanted to do or be
when we were older, and I think it’s really
important to try out as many things as
you can and see what sparks that little fire
inside of you! You never know what you
may surprise yourself with what you have
a secret talent for!
It seems slightly bizarre to me that I could
even comment on having an acting career!
It is still very early days in my professional
career as an actor, and I know I still have
so much to learn. I suppose my acting
‘career’ really started when I was 11 years
old and I performed in ‘Oliver!’ in the
West End for 6 months when I was in year
6. It was, and still is, the best thing I have
ever done. I will never forget the feeling
of the audience applauding after the first
song ‘Food Glorious Food’ every night,
and it is a feeling I am forever chasing.
But truly, my career as a ‘professional’ only
started in July 2020 when I graduated
from Drama School with a degree in
Professional Acting. My career got off to
a very difficult and slow start. As an actor
is really helps if you have an agent: this is
someone who helps to find you auditions
and puts you in front of directors etc.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many
agencies were not looking to represent
any new actors, as all of the work had
really dried up! So, I had to send hundreds
and hundreds of emails to many different
agents until someone finally decided to
give me a chance and decide to be my
agent. It wasn’t until September 2020 that
this happened for me.
It was a stressful and tough process, and
at times I really questioned whether I
had even made the right choice trying to
pursue this career, but now I can say I am
delighted that I persisted! One day after
I found an agent to represent me, I had
my first ever audition, and one week later
I got my first ever TV job! I really think it
was the universe’s way of rewarding me
for my hard work! That job was a small
role in a TV show called ‘Anatomy of a
Scandal’ which will be released on Netfllix
at the end of this year.

The Lambrookian - Issue 4
A few weeks later I had an audition for
the BBC One show ‘Call The Midwife’.
Although I had never watched the show, I
had heard that it was very popular so I was
super excited when I found out I got the
role playing a young father Glen Roberts
in episode 5. I filmed the episode over a
number of weeks around Christmas 2020,
and the episode finally aired on TV on
Sunday 16th May. It was a dream come
true to see myself on TV for the first time
– even if I watched it through my fingers,
sweating uncontrollably!
What was it like being on
the set of Call the Midwife?
It was a lovely experience! All of the cast
and crew members (the Director, camera
operators, make-up artists etc.) were
super welcoming and patient with me.
I was a bit like a deer in the headlights
when I was filming it. I didn’t really have
any idea what I was doing and felt like
a total imposter! The Theatre School
I had trained at for 3 years was very
theatre and stage focussed, and I hadn’t
had much training on how to act in front
of a camera. I just kind of copied what
everyone was doing around me, and tried
to remind myself that, even if I felt like I
had won the lottery being in that show, I
had actually been chosen by the director
to be there, and I had nothing to prove or
worry about.
Also, the food was delicious - I felt like a
superstar! It’s quite embarrassing really, but
everyone seems to make a big fuss around
the actors. You get put in your own
dressing room and they bring you food
and snacks constantly throughout the day,
it’s a really bizarre experience! Especially
when everyone around you, such as
the costume assistants and the camera
operators work much harder and longer
days than you do.
What has been your acting
highlight to date? What is
your acting ambition?
This is a really tough question to answer.
It sounds like a cliché, but I enjoy myself
an equal amount, no matter what kind
of acting I am doing, or what the scale of
production is. I enjoy making silly faces and
voices in my bathroom mirror as much as I
do performing to a crowd of hundreds of
people! Acting has always been a bit of a
game to me, it’s my favourite pastime and
hobby, even if now I have to call it ‘my job’.
Whilst my very first day on a film set
was certainly an exciting moment – I
actually didn’t enjoy it at first at all! I was
so intimidated by all of the cameras and
people watching, that I forgot to enjoy
myself, and that is the key for me, I just
do this because I love it and it’s all a bit
of fun! Back in Shakespeare’s days, they
called actors ‘players’ and I think that says
everything. For me, acting is playing a
game, no different to football.
I suppose, now that I have ticked off ‘being
on TV’ from my list of career ambitions,
there are three that remain:
l I would love to perform at The Globe
theatre in London. It is the home
of theatre in England and where
Shakespeare used to perform all of
his plays. It is also, above any other
theatre, the theatre with the greatest
sense of ‘play’ between the actors and
the audience! The actors at The Globe
are encouraged to engage with and
talk to the audience members, and
make them laugh, and that inspires me
so much!
l I want to be able to support my
future family through my acting
career. I know that an acting career
is a very hard profession to pursue
– the competition is very fierce, and
unfortunately, it isn’t paid very well. If I
can one day have a roof over my head,
and send my children to a school like
Lambrook, I will be a very happy man.
l I think it would be really cool to be
a ‘household name’! I’m not saying I
want to be a celebrity or anything like
that, but it would be really cool if one
day someone might turn around to
their friends and say “Did you see that
new show with Jake Simmance in?”
Which actor/actress has
inspired you the most and
why?
There are two actors that really stand
out to me as I’ve grown up. The first is
Brad Pitt. I think he is the coolest man on
television. Everything he does, every role
he plays, and every burger he eats on
screen, he looks so effortless doing it.
The other actor I love is Denzel
Washington. His work and preparation
mean that when he plays a role in a film, I
truly believe he is that character, and he is
experiencing all of those emotions he goes
through in the film. He has an intensity
behind his eyes that move me in a way
that I really believe he is feeling hundreds
of emotions at any given time, and only he
will choose which of those emotions you
see. For me, he is the best actor I have
ever watched.
What is your favourite film
of all time?
I will unashamedly say ‘Toy Story’ is my
favourite film of all time. It doesn’t matter
how many times I watch it, or how old I
am when I watch it, every time I see those
opening credits and Andy’s wallpaper of
the blue sky with the little white clouds,
I am transported to the very first time I
watched that film, and I feel like a child
again.
From an acting perspective, I would say
either ‘The Godfather’ starring Marlon
Brando and Al Pacino, or ‘Monster’
starring Charlize Theron. I think the
performances by all three of those actors
in those films are as good as you’ll ever see
in a film.
Do you have any advice for
Lambrook pupils who are
into their drama, or indeed,
into anything else?
I have one motto for this: “It is a marathon,
not a sprint”
If you really want something, you are going
to have to work hard for it and be patient,
it won’t always happen immediately. A
tutor of mine once told me that “we are
all like Popcorn kernels; prepared in the
same pot, in the same heat, in the same
oil, but they don’t all pop at the same
time. Don’t compare yourself to others,
your time to pop is coming.” You must be
patient.
The other thing I think is crucial, is try
not to forget why you started doing
that thing in the first place. I will always
remember that, no matter how hard this
acting journey has been so far for me,
or how difficult it may be in the future,
I do it because to me, I’m just playing a
game. Whether that be sport, singing,
an instrument, creative writing, maths or
science, hold onto that child inside of you
that fell in love with it in the first place.
27

The Lambrookian - Issue 4
OLD LAMBROOKIANS
Keeping it in the Family
It was a real pleasure to catch up over Zoom with father and son
Old Lambrookians, Simon Hill and Tim Clifford Hill, to learn more
about them and their time as pupils at Lambrook.
Whether it be singing in the choir, playing a
musical instrument or taking a role on in a
play, both Tim and Simon were extremely
involved in music and performing arts
when they were at Lambrook. Both very
talented musicians, Tim went on to be a
professional musician and is now a vicar.
As the son of a local clergyman, Simon
was the only day boy when he was at
Lambrook. This did not hold him back in
any way as it felt like he was boarding; he
was in school every day at 7.00am, apart
from Sunday, when he stayed at home
(having clergy as family meant that he could
have ‘religious instruction’ at home!).
Simon had a very happy time at Lambrook
and today, whenever Simon sees mown
grass, he is instantly transported back to
his school days and the wonderful grounds
and fun times that he had when at school;
running around, fishing for tadpoles in the
stream, watching films on an old projector
in the School Hall, to name but a few
highlights.
And when it was time for Simon’s son,
Tim, to go to Prep school, Lambrook
was the obvious choice. Initially, Tim’s
mother was not keen for him to board,
however, with the attraction of 120 other
boarders as surrogate brothers, and some
encouragement from Tim and senior
staff, he was permitted to board and
subsequently jumped into weekly boarding
life without a second look back (there
were also stories of boys escaping from the
Boarding House at night and using the First
X1 pitch boundary rope to write out the
word ‘goodbye’ on the Year 8s' departure!).
To the Clifford Hill family, Lambrook
kept the traditional Prep School feel,
nurturing its pupils whilst at the same time
encouraging them to stand on their own
two feet, ready and prepared for the next
stage. The family line continues – Tim is
now father to Henry, who is three, and
Henry’s godfather happens to be Tim’s
best friend from Lambrook, whom Tim
met aged eight and was in the same
dormitory and form class as him. When
asked if he would send his three year old
son Henry to Lambrook Tim was keen: if
it wasn’t for living too far away, he would
be there like a shot!
Lambrook connections continue far and
wide. Simon and Tim spoke about a time
when they were stranded in Pangbourne
and happened to be passing a Bentley
Garage. On being questioned by staff as
to why they were on the forecourt, they
explained that they had been at the same
school as W.O. Bentley and then followed
a full show round of the car sales room,
whilst being treated like royalty!
Being at Lambrook has had a
massive impact on both of these
Old Lambrookians:
“what you learn there will
be with you forever, what is
instilled in you, going to chapel,
living with other people,
learning lessons from the way
the school runs and works,
already I pass on these things
to my son Henry”
“Lambrook’s arms are always
round you, Lambrook never
leaves you”
We look forward to being able
to welcome both Simon and Tim
back to Lambrook to share their
expertise and wisdom with the
Lambrook Community.
28

The Lambrookian - Issue 4
Giving
Lambrook’s chosen charity for 2020-2021 was local organisation,
First Days. Despite Covid restrictions, the Lambrook Community
was able to raise thousands of pounds through many creative
ways. One of the highlights was a cookbook with recipes shared
from the Lambrook community.
The Crisp Packet Project –
blankets for the homeless
The Lambrook
Foundation
Since its founding as a school in 1860,
Lambrook has been nurturing potential,
offering an outstanding education to all of
its pupils. The school is keen to continue
to offer this legacy of a truly exceptional
experience, and through the development
of The Lambrook Foundation, it has been
able to make improvements to its school
site as well as providing bursaries to those
who truly benefit.
To find out more about The Foundation
and to offer your support, please visit:
https://www.lambrookschool.co.uk/
about-us/the-lambrook-foundation/
Lambrook continued to support the
Christmas Boxes appeal, also for First
Days, ensuring that local children had
something to open on Christmas Day.
The School also supported many other
charities, both local and larger, including
Children in Need, Bracknell Food Bank,
NSPCC, Place2Be, Comic Relief, MacMillan
and the Epilepsy Society.
One of the initiatives that has continued
to capture the Eco Team’s interest was the
making sleeping bags for the homeless out
of crisp packets.
Partnership
Pupils were also able to support other
charities through their own initiatives.
Care home pen pals
Lambrook’s partnership with local schools
continues to go from strength to strength.
During Covid times, Lambrook was able
to offer live online sports lessons to local
children and IT training for staff. When back
at school, the swimming pool was used to
give two schools free swimming lessons. As
well as this, schools in the local area had the
opportunity to take part in a day accessing
sports not necessarily as available in local
stage schools.
Our Year 8 pupils really enjoyed writing
imaginative letters to a local care home,
thoughtfully writing about what would
interest those that lived there.
The facilities at Lambrook are used by the
wider community for free, and groups such
as the Blind Cricketers, are regular users.
29

The Lambrookian - Issue 4
Grounds
The Lambrook
and looking after our Environment
At Lambrook we spend a lot of time outside in our 52 acres of
grounds; planting, collecting and harvesting fruit and vegetables,
looking after our animals, taking part in outdoor learning, playing
competitive sport, alongside there being many other opportunities
to explore, play, learn and of course, to get muddy!
looking after the bees in our Orchard
and animals on our Farm. Hopefully
all of these small actions will add up
and help towards looking after our
Earth.
As a school we are passionate
about sustainability and we teach
our children to be mindful of their
environment and the positive impact
that they can have on it. Through Eco
and Farming schemes, pupils are able
to be involved on both a local and
national level.
These initiatives are led by our
Lambrook Eco Team which is made
up of pupils from Reception through
to Year 8. Over recent months we
have planted close to 300 trees
in our grounds and have been
growing vegetables for our lunches,
ensuring that we are protecting the
environment for our birds, as well as
Lambrook had its first ever Apple
Day in November. Against the
backdrop of harvest and COP26,
this was a wonderful opportunity for
our pupils to learn more about their
immediate environment and expand
their knowledge and appreciation for
our Orchard.
Our Year 8 pupils made their own
apple juice which was then tasted by
the rest of the school.
30

The Lambrookian - Issue 4
Our boarders were extremely excited to name the two new
rabbits – Bubbles and Flopsy.
Giving chickens the
Feathers to Fly
On Easter Saturday, we welcomed
some of our newest recruits to
Lambrook. We are delighted to be
able to give a home to these chickens
who are a mixture of ex caged
hens and free range hens, deemed
no longer commercially viable, but
rescued through the British Hen
Welfare Trust. Although initially
rather scruffy in their appearance, we
are sure that after some Lambrook
air, care and visits from our
Lambrook children, they will begin
re-grow their feathers.
Lambrook Honey
Honey is most definitely at its best
between two slices of bread and a
little bit of butter, and tasted even
more special knowing that it was
made a stone’s throw away from the
Boarding House!
Lambrook feature in
The Field Magazine
Article author Mary Skipworth
writes, “Within their scenic and
spacious grounds, resilience is
built, pupils are equipped for life’s
realities and love and respect for the
countryside are instilled.
A curriculum that emphasises rural
traditions and time outdoors better
equips pupils to deal with what
lies ahead – as these prep schools
demonstrate.”
31

The Lambrookian - Issue 4
OLD LAMBROOKIANS
Catching up with our
Old Lambrookians'
first term at Senior School
We are proud of each and every one of our Lambrook pupils and all that they go on to achieve.
Leaving Lambrook and moving on to Senior School is a big step and as a school, we thoroughly prepare
and equip our pupils for this next stage of their academic journey.
32

After a half term settling into their new
respective schools, we caught up with four
Old Lambrookians to find out how life at
Senior School had been so far.
l Former Head Boy, Seb is now at
Abingdon School in Oxfordshire
l Star of the Stage, Amelie is now at
Marlborough College
l All-round sportsman Sylvester has
headed to Eton College
l Also an all-rounder in the pool
and on the sports field, Emily is at
Charterhouse
What has been the
highlight of your time at
your new school so far?
Seb: I have loved the sporting aspect as
I have been playing loads of rugby for
the U14A team. However, what I have
enjoyed most is definitely making new
friends and getting to know new teachers,
my house mistress and other students in
my house.
Amelie: My highlight of Marlborough
College so far has been meeting new
people and making friends on the sports
pitch, in the classroom, or even around
the breakfast table.
Sylvester: My highlight of Eton so far
must be the first time we arrived. I got to
meet new people who I now have gotten
to know so well, as well as having the
opportunity to explore new interests.
Emily: My highlight at Charterhouse has
to be the sport. It is really fun to play
with people I have known for a couple of
months. I have made so many great new
friends and I can’t wait to make many
more through sport. I have also enjoyed
House singing very much. Particularly
because I've met so many girls in the
older years who are all super nice and our
performance was really fun.
Which academic lessons
are you particularly
enjoying?
Seb: I am loving history because we are
learning about the French Revolution
which is really interesting. I have also just
started Spanish which I recommend!
Emily: During this term, I have really
enjoyed Spanish and French because my
teachers are so kind and understanding.
I have never taken Spanish before but I
am picking it up quite quickly because the
lessons are really entertaining, making me
want to learn more.
What have you enjoyed
getting involved in
outside of lessons?
Seb: I have loved playing lots of sport as
there is so much on offer. At the moment
I am playing rugby, some hockey and I have
a gym session a week. I’m planning to get
involved in the school magazine in the
summer term.
Amelie: Outside of the curriculum, I am
loving ‘Drawing on location’ which is an art
club. This also lets me discover more parts
of Marlborough and made me feel more
at home whilst drawing. As well as this, I
love hockey because I enjoy getting on the
sports pitch and running around. It has
been great to see some of my Lambrook
friends at competitive fixtures against
other schools!
Are you boarding?
What is that like?
Amelie: I am fully boarding at Marlborough
and I'm really enjoying it because you
settle in very easily, since you're with your
friends the whole time. Boarding also
allows you to make better friendships with
your housemates.
Sylvester: At Eton we all have to board,
but I feel like it is the most important part
of school life. It’s a step up because we are
given a lot of freedom and independences.
We are given our own rooms, however,
we still see our housemates all the time. It
feels like a family home to be honest.
What, for you, are the
differences between
Prep School and Senior
School?
Amelie: The differences between
Lambrook and larger schools are that
the campus is much larger so it's easier
to get lost, (I know that from personal
experience!) as well as there being a lot
more people.
The Lambrookian - Issue 4
Emily: Senior School is so much bigger
than my old Prep School, partly because
there are so many age ranges. At Senior
School you are given so much more
responsibility to keep active, eat well and
keep yourself busy. I have made so many
friends at Charterhouse whilst still keeping
in contact with my old friends from
Lambrook.
Is there anything that
you miss about Prep
School?
Seb: Mostly I miss my old friends. As I was
the only person from Lambrook to go
to Abingdon I have had to make double
the effort to keep in touch with old
Lambrookians!
Emily: I definitely miss the sports
fixtures at Lambrook. I also miss my
lifelong friends and teachers who made
my time at Lambrook so memorable.
Being at Charterhouse makes me look
back and see how lucky I was to go
to such an amazing school which then
opened so many opportunities for me at
Charterhouse.
How did Lambrook
prepare you for your
move to Senior School?
Seb: Other than the academic subjects
and breadth of extra-curricular activities,
Lambrook has given me the selfconfidence
and self-belief to go forward
into a new environment and with that, the
resilience to meet the new challenges of
Senior School life.
Amelie: Lambrook prepared me for
Senior School very well. We had various
talks about how to prepare yourself
for Senior School which I found very
useful. I particularly enjoyed it when
old Lambrook pupils came in to discuss
moving on forward to Senior School.
Lambrook prepared me so well for Senior
School and I'm so grateful because it has
made my transition to Marlborough very
smooth - thanks to Lambrook!
33

The Lambrookian - Issue 4
OLD LAMBROOKIANS
Saying Goodbye
Tim and
Alison Potter
Mr Potter retired from full time teaching
here several years ago but has remained
very much involved with the Lambrook
School community in coaching Sport,
driving minibuses, covering lessons and
many other school activities here. In
the same way, Mrs Potter has been the
most wonderfully supportive Teaching
Assistant in the Pre Prep and has faithfully
overseen our afternoon club for many
years, where her passion for Art has
encouraged so many to pursue this
interest enthusiastically themselves.
Marcus Liddell
Mr Liddell moves on to teach Mathematics
at Belmont Prep School. Lambrook's
sporting reputation under Mr Liddell's
leadership has simply gone from strength
to strength under his guidance - our
Sports Day must be one of the biggest
and best run school gatherings in
the country, numerous sports tours
abroad have run successfully thanks to
Mr Liddell's careful management, and
individual teams have enjoyed recognition
at County and National level through
his inspirational coaching. In addition, Mr
Liddell's contribution to the Mathematics
Department and other areas of school life
has been significant.
Looking back: we asked Marcus
Liddell a few questions about his
time at Lambrook School
How long have you been at
Lambrook?
I have been at Lambrook 24 Years - I was
previously working at Haileybury Junior
School when we merged with Lambrook
in 1997.
What has changed since you started
until now?
So much has changed on the Lambrook
site - I remember when the holly bush was
removed and the hole was dug for the Pre
Prep! I also remember the time before the
DJC where plays and assemblies had to be
performed in the old Assembly Hall (now
the AH classrooms).
On the sporting front, the Astro used to
be a redgra surface which was a complete
dustbowl in the summer, and in the winter
the hockey ball used to become a clay ball
when wet. It is fantastic that this has now
been replaced by the current Astro. There
used to be a Fives Court where the new
DT Workroom currently is and the old 15
metre Swimming Pool was replaced by the
new luxury 25 metre pool during my time.
What things were you involved in
whilst at Lambrook?
Apart from being a senior Mathematics
teacher when I first started at Lambrook, I
was also a boarding housemaster and then
moved on to be the Head of Boarding for
ten years. Boarding was very much at a
transition stage as we moved from full to
flexi boarding. I oversaw the introduction
of girls to boarding which initially started
over in Westfield but as it grew, the girls
moved to Lambrook House. I was also
the Head of PE, then the assessment
coordinator before finally becoming the
Director of Sport in 2010.
What was your greatest sporting
moment at the school?
To name one would be unfair as I have
been blessed to have worked with some
fine teams during my time, including
coaching teams which have made eleven
national finals. In these finals, the U13A
Football were runners up in 2000 on
golden goals, and the U11A Hockey
came fourth in 2012. The recent 1st
XI Football team went three years
undefeated, only losing three games in
six years.
Sports Day was obviously a massive
event – was it as fun as it looked?
What did you enjoy about it?
The run-up to sports day was never easy
but once the day started, I thoroughly
enjoyed myself. We used to have family
races and an obstacle race with pupils
taking part in a minimum of three events
plus the tug of war, and possibly a relay.
In recent years I became more ambitious
and went for four individual events.
Watching the pupils going out there
and giving their all gave me so much
pleasure. Al Romanes was always the
star on the microphone, compèring and
commentating. I will always remember
when we had a Victor Ludorum settled
by one point. A boy jumped out of the
end of the long jump pit and we had to
frantically spray-paint an extra board!
Where is your favourite place to be
at Lambrook?
Outside on the playing fields, especially in
the summer.
What will be your overriding
memory of your time at the school?
What will you miss?
Two decades of hard work and fun. I
enjoyed everything about school life
and believe that the more you put in
the more you get out. I painted the
Sports Hall twice! I will miss the staff,
the camaraderie, the jokes, and of
course the pupils who make every day
interesting!
34

LAMBROOK EVENTS
The Lambrookian - Issue 4
Keeping in Touch
We would love to keep in touch with
Old Lambrookians and their families.
Being part of the Lambrook Alumni
Community is a fantastic way to hear
about Lambrook’s news and events and
to re-connect with old friends. We very
much welcome wider family members to
be part of our community too.
imposed due to Covid, we had to
welcome the Alumni guests virtually, but
their message was still warmly received
by all:
To receive news and updates on events,
please follow the link below to enter your
details:
www.lambrookschool/contact-us/
alumni
Events
Unfortunately, due to Covid, we have
been unable to host any formal Alumni
events over the past year. We are very
much hoping that 2022 will be the year
for Lambrookians to re-connect with one
another and so if you are interested in
attending or even hosting your own event,
either at Lambrook or a different location,
please do get in touch:
alumni@lambrookschool.co.uk
Monty Lyman (left 2009)
Morgan Clarke (left 2016)
A Virtual
Alumni Event
It was such a privilege to be able to host
our first virtual Old Lambrookian Alumni
event. Individuals who had left Lambrook
in the 1950s and 1960s, joined together
on Zoom for an evening of reminiscing
– with many of the individuals not having
met or seen each other since they left the
school aged 13!
Back visiting
Lambrook
It was an honour to welcome two of
our very sporty Old Lambrookians
to Lambrook, to hear of their happy
times at the School and to witness their
long-standing friendship. One particular
highlight for Tim was finding the kneeler in
the Lambrook Chapel that his mother had
made when he first started at the School!
Old
Lambrookians
inspire Year 8
Pupils
As part of their Leavers’ Programme, we
invited several Old Lambrookians to come
and speak to our Year 8 about life after
Lambrook and settling into Senior School
and beyond. Due to the restrictions
Elodie Sinclair (2017)
Billy Hobbs (left 2020)
35

Lambrook School
Winkfield Row
Nr Ascot, Berkshire
RG42 6LU
Tel: +44 (0) 1344 882717
Email : alumni@lambrookschool.co.uk
www.lambrookschool.co.uk