In Touch with St Hugh's - St Hughs

In Touch with St Hugh’s
2009 Leavers
Carswell Manor, Faringdon, Oxon, SN7 8PT
Email: pastpupils@st-hughs.co.uk
Tel: 01367 870700 Fax: 01367 870707
www.st-hughs.co.uk
Congratulations go to this year’s leavers,
all of whom succeeded in getting into the
schools of their choice. We had a vintage
year for scholarships: 14 were awarded,
including 5 Academic, 2 Art, 2 DT,
2 Music, and 3 Sports. We continue to
feed a wide range of schools and the list
this year numbered 20 overall: Abingdon,
Bloxham, Bryanston, Canford,
Cheltenham College, Cokethorpe, Henry
Box, Leckford Place, Magdalen, Malvern,
Marlborough, Our Lady’s, Abingdon,
Radley, Rugby, Shrewsbury, Sibford,
St Helen’s & St Katharine’s, St Edward’s
Oxford, Tudor Hall and Wells Cathedral
School.
The Headmaster Writes
As Sarah and I begin our fourth year at
St Hugh’s, I am delighted to report that
the school is in very good health and
this term we welcomed 58 new children
– more September new arrivals than
ever. During the holidays, a great deal
of work was accomplished and we now
have a superb
new performing
arts
facility in the
Barn, two
new Maths
classrooms, a
brand new ICT
suite and new
showers, washrooms
and
lavatories in the sports hall and boarding
accommodation. The Bursar and his
team worked very hard in the holidays
to ensure everything was ready for the
start of this term and it was lovely to
hear so many ‘wows!’ from the children
as they excitedly discovered the various
improvements and new buildings.
Autumn
Autumn
2009
These improvements follow hard on
the heels of the building of our fantastic
new all-weather pitch which,
with the Barn conversion, were the
two projects for which we raised
funds through the Centenary Appeal.
We have enjoyed several visits from
former pupils this year and as a relative
‘new boy’ I have found their
re-collections of the past fascinating
to hear and their fondness for the
school particularly striking. I am also
pleased that we have welcomed this
term the children of three former
pupils and I am sure they will be as
happy here as their parents were.
As you will be aware, both the economic
downturn and the so called
‘Public Benefit’ tests are impacting on
the independent sector across the
country. St Hugh’s is weathering the
financial storm well – though we are
not complacent – and we have put in
place a generous bursary system
which I am confident will help us
comply with the expectations of the
Charity Commission.
As is the way of things at St Hugh’s,
we rise to the new challenges which
present themselves and keep our eyes
fixed firmly on developing ourselves
for the future, building on the work
of previous generations and retaining
the characteristics which continue to
make this such a popular and highly
regarded school.
Andrew Nott
Pupils enjoy a drama lesson in our
new Barn performing arts facility.
Hi-tech
equipment
is a feature
of the new
facility.
We are
grateful
to all the former pupils and parents
who have contributed to our recent
development projects.
(See page 3 for photo of the all-weather pitch.)
The Marriage of Zanah Jarvis
We are delighted to announce that
Zanah, who was resident matron at
St Hugh’s from 1993 to 1999 was
married on 17th July 2009 to Nick
Coram-Wright. The couple met at St
Edward’s School, where Nick is
House Master of Cowell’s and where
Zanah, until
her marriage,
was
House
Matron of
Segar’s.
The marriage
took place in
Z a n a h ’ s
home village
of Noss
Mayo in
S o u t h
D e v o n .
Among the
guests were former Headmaster,
Derek Cannon and wife, Verena, and
Iona Smith, former Head of Pre-
Prep, with her husband Norman.
There was great excitement as the
couple left the reception in style -
by helicopter!
We wish them every happiness.
Don’t forget to check the Former
Pupils pages on our
website: www.st-hughs.co.uk

Former Pupils
in print …...
We recently enjoyed a visit from
former pupil, Leander Deeny (left
‘93), who has had his first children's
novel published: Hazel's Phantasmagoria.
Leander came back to talk to pupils
about his new book and the process
of writing it. He also shared
memories of his time at St Hugh’s.
Reviewed on
the Lovereading
website, the
book was described
as: ‘a
stunning first
novel with exceptionalquality
writing and
a uniquely
i m a g i n a t i v e
plot’.
on stage …….
Former pupil Olivia Davies (left ‘05)
wowing audiences as Killer Queen in
a production of the musical 'We Will
Rock You' at St Edward’s School.
Three former pupils of St Hugh's,
Mathew Copson (left ‘05), Dan
Harris (left ‘04) and Tian Ji (left ‘05)
took part in a joint Abingdon School/
St Helen and St Katharine production
of The Crucible by Arthur Miller
last December.
on track …...
Harry Cubbage (left ‘97) recently
graduated from Bath in Automotive
Engineering and was part of the team
which came 4th in the Formula Student
competition at Silverstone,
against 105 universities from 23
countries, making them the highest
ranked team from the UK.
and also on screen …….
SKIN
Based on an
extraordinary
true story
SKIN is a new, award-winning film,
directed and co-produced by former
pupil Tony Fabian (Antony Fabian-
Reinstein—left ‘78), which was released
in the UK at the end of July. It
stars Sophie Okonedo, Sam Neill and
Alice Krige and is one of the most
moving stories to emerge from apartheid
South Africa.
Sandra Laing is a black child born in
the 1950s to white Afrikaners, unaware
of their black ancestry.
Her parents are rural shopkeepers
serving the local black community,
who lovingly bring her up as their
‘white’ little girl. But at the age of ten,
Sandra is driven out of white society.
The film follows Sandra’s thirty-year
journey from rejection to acceptance,
betrayal to reconciliation.
We hope Tony will come back to talk
to pupils about his new film. If you
haven’t caught it by the time you read
this, do look out for it.
Announcements
Forthcoming Marriages
Lydia Kerley (left ‘90) to Eric Zurrin
in June 2010.
Fiona Wilson (left ‘91) to Simon
Probert in April 2010.
Marriages
Dom Haigh (left ‘88) to
Julie Warren—7th August 2009
Births
To Philip Kinch (left '89) & Jo
(married on 15th Sept 2007), a daughter
Esme Zenia on 6th June 2009
To Polly Cubbage (left ’97) & James, a
daughter Aurora May (7lb 11oz) on
26th March 2009
The christening of Isla Norton -
daughter of Natalia Norton (left ’96)
and Philip Harris (left ‘95) who first
met whilst pupils at St Hugh's. Included
in the photograph are Isla's
godparents, Peter Sommerville (left
‘95) and Amalia Harris (left ‘97) and
uncles, Peter Harris (left ’93) and
Tommy Norton (left ‘94), all ex-St
Hugh's pupils.
Other News
Louisa Cromie (left ‘05) who is
well remembered at St Hugh’s for,
among other things, her wonderful
Irish dancing, has been made a
Chapel Prefect at Malvern College.
This effectively makes her one of two
Deputy Head Girls, alongside two
Deputy Head Boys.
Eleanor Johnson (left ‘07) has been
awarded an Honorary Art Scholarship
and a Drama Exhibition at St
Edwards.
Many congratulations to them both.

Old Boys’ Rugby v Pinewood Old Girls’ Netball
Under 16s: A single try gives
Pinewood victory!
v Pinewood
The cold, crisp conditions on the day,
very soon turned into a fiery furnace of
an encounter, as both teams came out of
their corners determined to take the
afternoon’s honours. This was a thrilling
encounter with no quarter given.
The solitary try highlights what an
intensely close match this was.
Seniors 18+:
St Hugh’s 10 v Pinewood 7
An enthusiastic crowd of 200+
gathered at Carswell on Sunday, 19th
October, to enjoy the 2nd match in this
annual fixture against Pinewood.
The players travelled from far and wide:
Edinburgh, Leeds, Nottingham, Exeter
and the Blue Boar, Longworth. This old
boys’ squad, with an average age of 23
years, adopted a typically Barbarian approach.
We were treated to a match that
was physical and full of excitement.
The new all-weather pitch in action
St Hugh’s 34 v Pinewood 10
Sunday, 19th October, brought together
the first ever old girls’ netball
fixture v Pinewood. In spite of no
team practice and some not having
played the sport for 5 years, the girls
were in good spirits and played a
terrific match. They all enjoyed
playing together again as some had
been in the same team in their days
at St Hugh’s.
See website for full reports
Old Boys’ Rugby 2009
Over 18s v Pinewood
Sunday, 18th October, 2.30 pm
at Pinewood
U16s v Pinewood
Sunday, 6th December, 2.30 pm
at St Hugh’s
Do join us for what are great social as
well as sporting occasions.
We hope to have
Derek & Verena Cannon back with us
for the U16s match on 6th December
for the unveiling of a
Headmaster’s Board.
Cricketing Success
We are delighted to announce that
Chris Sandbach (left ‘99) and
Richard West (left ‘02) both played
regularly for Oxfordshire last season.
Onward & Upward
(On re-visiting St Hugh’s for only the
second time since leaving in 1950.)
There it was, familiar sight,
of days from long before.
The light grey stone and leaded light -
but no sole Rover on the right,
of my time, just post-war.
Boy boarders few, we echoed round
St Hugh’s at Carswell when
Mr Tootell could be found –
who terrified me when he frowned –
but I was not yet ten.
And now? The Hall with stairs of oak
and open fire remain
as ever. But these ‘smaller folk’
learn in classrooms, now bespoke,
to their eternal gain.
No barns, both dusty and forlorn,
but classrooms, bright and clean;
so much seemed old & tired & worn
yet now is cheerful and reborn
from what it once had been.
The food was grim for Forties boys–
we ate it, anyway;
yet now the children have a choice –
a fact to cause them to rejoice.
If only – in my day.
And numbers; almost up ten-fold
to what I can recall.
Girls! Unlike the ‘days of old’;
daily pupils, all enrolled
to benefit them all.
Arts and music, happy noise,
are part of every day.
Balsa wood and Dinky toys
occupied the post-war boys
when given time to play.
Computers? Gym? And Swimming pool?
Tennis courts and more?
Ideas and innovation fuel
so much in this progressive school
old pupils hold in awe.
John Turner

Obituaries
Derek Newton
Former Pupil, Parent and
Chairman of Governors
It is with great
sadness that we
report the
death of Derek
Newton on 6 th
February 2009.
Derek joined St
Hugh's as a
pupil in Bickley
in 1933, leaving
in 1940 after a
distinguished
academic and
sporting career and having won a
scholarship to Repton, from where he
went on to Cambridge and conspicuous
later success in business. Derek’s
son, Christopher, followed him to St
Hugh’s.
When the school became a charitable
trust in 1967 Derek was appointed the
first Chairman of Governors, a post
which he held until his retirement in
1996. During his time as Chairman he
presided over some difficult periods in
the school’s history. Whilst as an old
boy he was steeped in the traditions of
an earlier time, Derek always impressed
those around him with his ability
to see ahead. He was always open
to ideas, although he could be firm
when sure of his ground! During the
1970s there were enormous financial
pressures on independent schools.
These, combined with changes in education
and a decline nationally in full
boarding, meant that small prep
schools had to adapt and grow if they
were to survive. It was under his chairmanship
that the brave decision to admit
girls was made. The school also
moved to admit day pupils and opened
a Pre-Preparatory department. In these
changes, St Hugh’s was way ahead of
‘the field’ and this was in no small way
due to Derek’s vision as Chairman of
Governors. The school soon regained
its strength and began to grow signifi-
cantly. There followed a period of
ambitious development in facilities,
including the Tom Young Building,
the Sports Hall and the re-building
of Pre-Prep.
Sadly, in recent years, Derek had
been unable to make the journey to
Carswell from his home in Harrogate
but we kept in touch, not least
through his daughter, Sally, who
until last year was also a Governor
of St Hugh's. Derek was also enormously
helpful in our research into
the history of the school at the time
of our Centenary in 2006. He donated
lots of material for our archives,
including 12 of the beautifully
bound
book prizes
with which
he was presented
on
various
Speech Days.
In his
1936 school
report, the
Headmaster’s
comment
was ‘Nothing but praise!’ and, asked
to make a comment on Derek’s continued
contribution to St Hugh’s, the
subsequent Headmasters would,
without doubt, say the same.
John Hereward Allix (Herry)
1922 - 2009
Sadly, we also announce the death of
former pupil, John Hereward Allix,
on 10th July 2009.
Herry (as he was known in later life)
was born in Cleadon, Northumberland
in 1922 and spent his prep
school days in the mid 1930s at
St Hugh’s in Bickley.
The war cut short any idea of attending
university and he started as a
pilot in the RAF, later flying in the
Royal Navy. The passion he discovered
for flying lasted his lifetime.
After the war, he found work in the
shipping industry in post-war India.
On a trip home
to England, he
met his wifeto-be
Louise.
They married
in 1954, began
their life together
in India,
and emigrated
to Canada in
1957. Upon
retiring in 1980, Herry and Louise
travelled extensively, took up sailing
and spent their summers aboard
their boat Windrush.
Herry was a published author of
poetry and fiction, and a long time
local newspaper columnist. He was
a man of extraordinary scope. He
loved his family, the ocean and
Vancouver Island. He lived near the
beach and swam every day in the
summer until his 86th year, when
his health started to fail.
During our Centenary year Hereward
Allix was back in touch with
St Hugh’s and clearly had fond
memories of his time here.
We are grateful to all those former
pupils who have contributed news and
articles to this newsletter. Special thanks
to John Turner for his wonderful
cartoons.
Please keep in touch and let us know what
you are doing or simply share your
memories of your time at St Hugh’s.
Contact Mrs Suzy Robinson at the
school—01367 870700
email: pastpupils@st-hughs.co.uk