HOUSE LIFE Denson House Report While 2016 fairly quickly, and justifiably, garnered a reputation for being a somewhat bleak one for the annals, on a personal (and, therefore, admittedly rather selfish) level, it figured two considerable highlights. It would be entirely remiss of me not to namecheck the birth of my and Victoria’s baby daughter Saffron in February last year – a truly memorable and uplifting experience. But through the ensuing haze of soiled nappies and sleep deprivation, another beacon of jubilation shone out in May: that of becoming Head of Denson House. Having been a Denson tutor for four years already, it was a great honour and fortuitous coincidence that it was a post in this House. It was much easier leaving my role as a tutor with a group who I have come to admire and care about greatly, knowing that I was still to be part of the same House as them. In taking on this role, I was, of course, to fill the large shoes (size
12, in fact) of the well-established and popular Mr Hill, who had done a great job with a wonderful set of students for seven years previously. I have much to thank him for in terms of guidance and support, both in the previous years, and in the transition period last summer (as well as the memory of a house assembly of his, in which unwitting participants consumed chocolate-coated Brussel sprouts – enthusiastically, at first. There was a moral in there somewhere). Since September 2016, through to July 2017, it has been a wonderful first year as Head of House, and I can honestly say I have loved every moment of it. In short, it is a superb opportunity to get to know the students beyond the classroom, and for them to develop on a personal level in the forum of friendly competitions. Well, mostly friendly. I was lucky, too, to have support this year from some great Head Boys of House – Ben Haigh, James Maddern and Declan Miller, together with the might of Denson 13, featuring such
talented luminaries as Josh Jamieson, Will Robinson and Connor Mulholland. Having last been with them as a group in English, when they were Denson 9, including studying Lord of the Flies, I was glad to see they had largely all matured more into a group of ‘Ralphs’ than ‘Jacks’. Of course, it may well have proved to be a rookie error – of gross overenthusiasm winning over cool-headed reserve – when I was reminded of the fact that Denson has been suffering a prolonged period of ‘a-trophy’. That is, we have not won one in quite some time – not the Brodie nor Watson overall, at least. Since 2005 and 2001 respectively, to be specific. I used this as a basis for one of my first House assemblies – including listing the top films and pop songs of this era (the first Harry Potter film, in the case of 2001). In my time here, we have always placed well in each event – in the top half for the Watson, and usually mid-table for the Brodie. Very respectable, therefore – but just missing that top spot. And, alas, so that legacy continues! For another year, at any rate. We came a decent 4th in the Brodie (one point behind Phillips in 3rd) and 2nd in the Watson – crucially, just one point behind deserved winners Paterson – to my knowledge, our closest result yet in these last 16 years! In retrospect, it was perhaps wildly optimistic to hope to win one of these coveted trophies in my first year in the role – but I am exceptionally proud of the boys’ fantastic efforts and determination here; and it has once again proved that we are absolute contenders. We ended the year with four individual event trophies on the main corridor board (only one fewer
The Aylesburian 2016/2017
13
