The Blue Coat School, Birmingham - Old Scholars - True Blue - Issue 4

E BLUE C O AT SCHOOL TH D SCHOLAR S ’ ASSOCIATION OL

TRUE

Blue THE NEWSLETTER OF THE BLUE COAT SCHOOL OLD SCHOLARS’ ASSOCIATION

www.thebluecoatschool.com

2017

A welcome from the OSA President Until I arrived here at The Blue Coat School, the words ‘True Blue’ would have meant only one thing to me as a devout football follower, albeit one from north of the border. And how appropriate it is that, as I write these few words of introduction, it is Chelsea FC who are riding high at the top of the Premiership.

This is a Premier League school now, and it is our avowed aim to be champions in the longer term, too. My wife and children have settled in happily in Birmingham. Like me, they wish our alumni all the very best, and want them to feel welcome here whenever they have the time to visit.

Everywhere I look at The Blue Coat School there are symbols of excellence, past and present. And this magazine is a great example of the loyalty and the dedication that the School inspires. I commend it to you. Have a good read!

Noel Neeson Headmaster

Letter from the Vice President of the Association Saturday, 14th May 2016 was a very special day for Helen and me: the Special Reunion saw a considerable gathering of Blue Coat Old Scholars, all of whom I had taught in some capacity, and the assembled company included representatives from each of the four decades in which I had been at the school. First of all, then, a big thank you to everybody who made the effort to come (some from London and beyond): we were deeply touched that so many had taken the time to come back to the school. It was great, too, to have the opportunity to catch up with people and discover their diverse and burgeoning careers.

The event was superbly organised: Lindsay Lucas, Ruth Elphinston and the Committee had spent hours delving into the School Archives, and mounted a most evocative series of displays capturing school life in the 80s, 90s, 2000s and 2010s. They had also arranged for the weather to be warm and sunny, which helped considerably when the assembled party set forth on tours of the School - no doubt muttering under their breath, “What on earth has he done, putting St George’s on top of St Philip’s?” or “If only there’d been a Sports Centre in my day I’d be an Olympic Medallist by now!” It was altogether a quite remarkable get-together, and Helen and I have a lovely Photo Book to remind us of a unique occasion.

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But, Lindsay being Lindsay, saying goodbye to the old Music/Headmaster wasn’t of course the sole purpose of the day. Yes, it was lovely to remember times past - but what is now more important is to think of the future of the Association, and of the School. I have been researching Blue Coat’s history again recently, and the message that rings out loud and clear is that, but for the grace of God, there were periods when the school would simply not have survived. For over 200 years it was constantly at the mercy of voluntary subscribers; after the Second World War it was in a parlous state: when the new Preparatory School started in 1956 there were precisely 12 pupils. And in 1971 the Governors were obliged to increase the fees twice in the course of a single year. Rollercoasters at Alton Towers have nothing on Blue Coat’s many and varied vicissitudes! Clearly, things are better today - but even so, we should never take for granted the blessing that God gives; nor should we fail to play our part in ensuring the success of the school that nurtured us in our formative years.

This is where the Old Scholars’ Association plays such a vital role. Almost all those who have passed through the School in recent years have elected to become members, and it is to Lindsay Lucas’s immense credit that the Association is today such an active and vibrant force. Brian Bissell’s eloquent testimonial gives fuller details of Lindsay’s outstanding contribution to the Association and the wider life of the Blue Coat family;

I would simply want to add my personal thanks for her loyal and prayerful support over the years of my Headship, and to wish her equal success as she moves on to undertake a similar role at Edgbaston High School. She will be greatly missed.

So, with all that in mind, please give the Committee, and Noel Neeson, our new Headmaster, every encouragement. It is my hope - as it is Lindsay’s - that last year’s Special Reunion will kickstart greater commitment to the Association, with active Committee members representing every decade of the past half-century or more. Blue Coat is a remarkable institution: we need to get out there, celebrate that fact and, in an uncertain and precarious world, make sure that the School has every opportunity to flourish and fulfil its Godgiven mission of ‘training up’ the coming generations of pupils!

Alan Browning Headmaster 1998-2016

Message from the Chair of the Old Scholars’ Association With the retirement of the headmaster, our main reunion was focused on this. We held a very successful reunion which was attended by members, former parents and colleagues.

Light refreshments were provided and a presentation made and the event was very well attended.

reunions. We are also setting up our own over-18 Facebook page through which we aim to announce reunions and events.

One exciting development is a “Drinks in London” event sometime in the near future which is in its planning stages. This will be open to any member of the Association.

We continue to contribute to the Annual Leavers’ Yearbook, which is presented to every Year 6 leaver, and we run the Leavers’ Disco: once again, the disco in July 2016 was very successful.

You will be notified of other reunions via our new Facebook page, so I recommend you join that at your earliest convenience.

In addition to this we run a stall at the school fete which sells merchandise where members can update contact details.

We are always interested in your news and what you’ve been up to. You can keep in touch using the email address oldscholars@thebluecoatschool.com Our request for new members has resulted in several additions to the committee, which will hopefully widen the range of potential

I want to conclude by welcoming Jenny Dredger to the Committee whilst adding our deepest and most sincere thanks to Lindsay Lucas on behalf of us all - she has envisioned the Committee and we would like to pay tribute to her inspiring energy and commitment for the last twelve years.

The Committee and I hope to meet more of you, our members, during the next year and are working hard to create more such opportunities. Looking forward to it all!

Richard Buttle

Dear Members of the Old Scholars’ Association It has been an honour, privilege and true pleasure to serve you as Secretary for the past 12 years; I am leaving the role knowing that I will never truly leave The Blue Coat School family and will still visit friends on campus and Trevor’s tree outside Chapel.

However, as you now won’t be able to contact me via Blue Coat, I thought I’d ask you to keep in touch, perhaps via Facebook (where I’m ‘friends’ with many of you already!) and of course, via email lindsayjanelucas@aol.com Bethany and I will look forward to the opportunities of meeting up with you all in the future - I’m still hoping for those drinks in London, Paris, Australia, New York… !

All my most sincere and warmest wishes for the future; may the Association thrive and grow as you can now all contact each other via the new Official, OS Facebook page and LinkedIn. To quote Shakespeare: ‘…the best is yet to do.’

Lindsay Lucas

Committee Members 2017 Richard Buttle – Chair Lindsay Lucas – Secretary and Editor of True Blue Greg Peace – Co-editor of True Blue Sam Howells Kathryn Dixon John Mills Mark Judd Philippa Butler Geoff Still

The Committee meets three times a year at School on a Monday evening and we plan events that will enable members to keep in touch. We are desperately in need of younger members (before we become consigned to dinosaur status) and we appeal to anyone who lives within easy travelling distance of the School to consider sitting on the Committee for one year. Please contact Jenny Dredger who will reassure you that it’s your ideas we need, rather than huge quantities of time! oldscholars@thebluecoatschool.com

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INTO THE

A Tribute to Alan Browning

On May 15th 2016, over 100 Old Scholars, their families, past teachers and parents gathered in the School Hall to pay tribute to, and say farewell to Alan Browning, the departing Headmaster and his wife Helen. The occasion was an opportunity, organised by the Old Scholars Committee, of which Alan had been a member, and President, to mark the huge contribution that he had made to The Blue Coat School over the 34 years that he has been teaching there - firstly as Director of Music, then Deputy Head/Director of Studies, and then Head.

It was a hugely successful and enjoyable event and a fitting thank you to Alan and Helen for their many years of service, and their support and encouragement of the Old Scholars’ Association. Lindsay and the Committee were warmly thanked for all of the hard work that went into organising this successful event.

Kathryn Dixon

It was a wonderful afternoon for Old Scholars of all ages spanning four decades, and some with their own children, to talk informally with Alan and Helen, past teachers, and their own peer groups, over tea and cakes. The Committee had painstakingly trawled through the Archive room for photographs and memorabilia of Alan’s time at school, and these were displayed on boards in the Hall and surrounds.

As many Old Scholars had not returned for many years, tours of the school were carried out by current pupils and staff, to demonstrate the many new and excellent facilities on the campus.

Changes to Old Scholars From September 2017, the School’s involvement with the Old Scholars will be managed by Mrs Jenny Dredger as part of her new role as Director of External Relations. This will allow for a co-ordinated approach to Alumni Relations, Admissions, Marketing and PR. Jenny is looking forward to working with Richard Buttle, our Chair, and the OS committee members. She can be contacted via email: oldscholars@thebluecoatschool. com or Tel. 0121 410 6800. Jenny has set up The Blue Coat School Birmingham Old Scholars’ LinkedIn Group if you would like to contact her that way and stay up to date with alumni news - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8618645. We also have an Old Scholars Facebook page…

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New memorabilia are now in stock for sale to members (plus balloons) bearing our new Old Scholars’ crest.

Members from five different decades visited and were reunited with former staff and old friends alike.

Loyal parents of Old Scholars also visited (where it was impossible for their ‘children’ to attend)! Other Old Scholars brought their own children a really harmonious blend of several generations!

The hall was buzzing with chatter and laughter.

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Blue Coat Around the World

Interviews with Old Scholars now around the world: Asenso Ampim, Akosua and Ama Osei, Daniel Voyce and Nina Zamani.

Q) W hen did you attend Blue Coat and how old were you when you left?

Asenso: I attended Blue Coat in September of ’96 when I was 7 years old and left in July of ’02 when I was 13.

Ama: I attended Blue Coat from the age of 9 where I was lucky enough to have Miss Drage as my home room teacher and graduated at 13 (1993-1998).

Daniel: I attended Blue Coat from age 7 until 13 from the years 1990 - 1995 (I think). I boarded in St George’s House under the venerable (and scary) Mr Moore followed by Mr Jones.

Akosua: I attended 1992-1994 until Year 8 when I was 13 years old.

Nina: I attended Blue Coat from 1988-1990. I was a weekly boarder in St Monica’s House and I was 13 years old when I left.

Media at Staffordshire University before completing my Honours degree in French and English Literature with Business at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Nina: After I left Blue Coat, I went an all-girls school in North Wales called Howell’s School, Denbigh. I studied a BA Management Studies & French at Leeds University. I was fortunate to have been able to spend the third year of my degree living and working in Paris; shortly after that I headed off on a travel adventure Gap Year before entering the workforce.

Q) Where do you live now and what do you do there?

Asenso: I am based in New York; however, my job keeps me out of the country most of the year. I have been playing basketball professionally overseas for 5 years and I am currently in Lithuania for the season.

Ama: I currently reside in Tokyo. I came here to pursue a career in design but fell in love with teaching and I am now currently head teacher at a school in the suburbs. I hope one day to combine my teaching skills and design knowledge, build schools in my ancestors’ home of Kumasi, Ghana, and help nurture future creators of African descent.

Q) Where did you attend school/college/uni afterwards?

Asenso: Upon leaving BCS, I moved to America where I attended The Groton School, a private Episcopal college preparatory boarding school in Massachusetts. After Groton, I matriculated to Columbia University in New York where I graduated after 4 years.

Ama: I went on to attend The Royal Wolverhampton School until 18.

Then entered The University of Manchester to study Architecture.

Daniel: After Blue Coat, I entered Old Swinford Hospital School, followed by Cadbury College in Birmingham for my A-Levels. I attended university at Aston to do a BSc Hons in Computer Science.

Akosua: I attended the Holy Child School (now The Priory), then The Royal Wolverhampton School. I took a year out and travelled around France and Europe and then returned and did a year studying

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Daniel: I currently live in Melbourne, Australia where I work as Chief Technical Architect for an L&D Company.

Akosua: I live in the most beautiful city in the world, Paris!

Nina: I live in Australia now. I arrived in Oz in the year 2000 as a backpacker. I work as a Manager (people leader) in a large Australasian Insurance company called Suncorp.

Q) W as anything you learned or anyone you knew at Blue Coat a major influence on what you have chosen to do?

Asenso: I was very active in sports at Blue Coat and I’m thankful for the exposure it gave me to discover my talents in various sports from Football, Cricket, Rugby, Swimming to Athletics and Basketball.

There wasn’t anyone that necessarily influenced me into getting into playing basketball specifically, but I will say this: my journey in what I’m doing now and going to do is ongoing. Therefore, there were certainly a crew of teachers, my House Heads, and two Headmasters I was fortunate to have during my tenure that taught me valuable lessons of respect, integrity and leadership that I continue to carry with me today in everything I do. To those individuals, I have never forgotten and I’m eternally indebted.

Ama: I learnt many things as a boarder and thoroughly appreciate the grounding and etiquette bestowed on me by Miss Drage, my first home room teacher, Mrs H my beloved art teacher and Mrs Lucas my Quest leader, all of whom instilled my passion for thinking as an individual. I’m 99% sure that my love of art and design was stimulated by all the hours I spent in the art room learning and experimenting with different media.

Daniel: I found the boarding at Blue Coat to be both fun and nurturing in its extended education: being in constant contact with some of your teachers meant that they could nurture specific interests outside of working hours, and the then Head of ICT was a huge influence on me technologically - offering support and advice while I was trying to write programs on the ageing BBC Micro in the House.

I would certainly not be as interested in Computing now had it not have been for my foundation at Blue Coat. I also want to pay my respects to Mr Ansell (the pottery teacher) who sadly passed away in my final year there. Saturday morning pottery lessons were something I looked forward to each week both for his brusque joviality and the cathartic beating of clay.

I also enjoyed English! I always enjoyed reading and writing from a very young age. My mother would have me type important letters for her on weekends when I returned home. After the death of my father, I found it hard to verbally express myself and found solace in poetry and writing stories. Mrs Lucas always supported my work and pushed and inspired me to delve deeper. I did delve and develop and create, so much so that after I left university I created a bilingual publication supporting emerging talents within the Fashion and Arts Industries (French and English)!

Nina: At Blue Coat I was fortunate to be made Head Girl in 198990. This early experience of leadership has definitely shaped the person I am today. My previous work roles include sales, relationship management and leadership.

In terms of major influences on my life, there were many. If I had to pick, my Form Tutor and drama coach, Miss Farnath (now Mrs Lucas) tops the list for me. Headmaster Mr Bissell, I remember his warmth as a leader of the school. I remember Mr Browning for giving me a go in the choir, I remember his bobbing hair whilst conducting and his contagious love of all things musical. I remember Mr and Mrs Aldred who provided a home away from home for the lucky girls in St Monica’s.

Q) What were the main things you remember about your days at the school?

Asenso: Being enrolled in Mr Jones’ Science class. While I was at BCS, this class was notorious for how challenging and demanding it was compared with any other subject.

Ski Trips/French Trips: I took advantage of these trips to do something new and experience a different culture. I was fortunate to be culturally enriched by going to France, staying with a family during our French Trips and learning some French words (which I now speak proficiently). As for our Ski Trips, being able to say now as an adult that I used to ski down the French Alps when I was younger is always a good one to have in your back pocket.

Sports Day: A whole day dedicated to Athletics where you can compete for bragging rights against your friends from other houses while having a day off from school, no complaints there!

Akosua: Absolutely! I fell in love with language thanks to Mr Lucas (Qu’il reste en Paix). I always remember obtaining 19/20 and wondering why I could not achieve 20/20 even with all the effort I was putting in. When I final did get my first 20/20 I was elated!

France and its language became a passion. I could not wait for the French Trips at school. I could not sleep the day of depature. I would already write my mother a note telling her how I loved and would miss her, in what I thought must have been my best French (I was in Year 6 at the time!)

House Singing Competitions: Each House would literally practise these songs for weeks leading up to a competition, in hopes of winning a first place prize.

Being Elected Head Boy: Simply because it was the highest honour a student could receive from the Headmaster and all the teachers so I was honoured to be selected.

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Ama: The beautiful chapel and Wednesday services where as part of the choir we would sing and welcome parents. My first school play...

Bugsy Malone - even though I joined in April I was still welcomed into the cast. The bell ringing for the silence at the beginning of lunch to say grace. I remember countless times being nursed back to health by Mrs Horton and Miss Chadwick in the sanitarium due to my asthma. I remember the bus rides for the hockey and netball ball games away at other schools. So many countless memories and for all these reasons if I return to Birmingham I would love my children to study at Blue Coat.

Daniel: The main things I remember about Blue Coat were summer nights playing on the front field with my friends, losing Frisbees on roofs, sneaking grapes from the wall that grew up St George’s dangling out the window, and learning to become a light-footed ninja so the matron / housemasters wouldn’t hear our pillow fights!

Akosua: Friendships. Mr and Mrs Bissell. Walking to the School Chapel and the late Rev Jenkins’ accent. Chapel Readings... “Lights Out” in the boarding house. Staying out late with the other Houses after dinner on summer evenings. Going to Harborne High Street and buying pick ‘n’ mix and Smash Hits Magazine on Saturday mornings after sewing class. Last but not least the School Plays! What fun we had in rehearsals and those videos still live on!

Nina: I remember building great friendships with a diverse range of people; my friends at BCS were my extended family. We were a supportive and fun-loving peer group and I cherish many fond memories. We loved to play chase outdoors in the summer evenings, or play tricks in the dorms at night. My key memories revolve around Miss Farnath, as she was my form tutor in 5F and also ran the drama group. Rehearsing and putting on such well-crafted productions as Sweeney Todd and The Royal Astrologers hold a special place in my heart alongside my lead actor and good friend Simon Underhill.

I loved being on campus, surrounded by such beautiful buildings and playing fields and able to take part in so many extra-curricular activities so easily at the end of the school day.

Q) Have you any advice for current pupils?

Asenso: My advice for current pupils is to truly take advantage of the resources at your disposal. Many quality teachers I was fortunate to have during my time at BCS are still there, so I urge students to soak up as much information from them as possible. Truly value the time you spend with your friends whether it is in the classroom or on the sports field for after all these years, I’m still in contact with my former teachers and peers from Blue Coat.

Ama: Simply enjoy your youth, be yourself, take every opportunity to go on adventures and embrace others and their cultures. There’s a place for everyone and we can all make a difference if we believe and work towards our goals together.

Daniel: My advice to current students is to take advantage of all of the extra-curricular activities that Blue Coat offers.

Akosua: Enjoy your time at BCS! You will create some unforgettable memories!

You have a wonderful opportunity of attending such a school. Not everyone will have this chance. Remember that.

Listen to your teachers! They have experience behind them and are there to help you find your way. Work hard and in the right way. I know sometimes it may not be easy, that you may feel like you are not the best you can be, so ask questions. Ask for help. Do not be afraid to dream or to be different - and Grow in Grace!

Nina: Cherish your school days: they really are some of the best days of your life. When I reflect on my education, it is generally not the facts that I learnt that have equipped me in life, but more the values and ethics by which I live my life. These define me as a person and set me apart from others. Try your best, take advantage of the opportunities presented to you, learn to take an informed risk, learn and grow from mistakes, find a passion and have the courage to follow it.

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Mark Aldred made an oar-some visit to Blue Coat!

Recently returned from Rio, Mark Aldred paid a special visit to school. Much had changed in terms of buildings since he left, but Mark was able to see that the opportunities in sport and other areas of the curriculum are still going strong and his visit was a great way to inspire pupils to strive for their goals.

Mark spoke in assembly to the children in Prep about his sport and the value of perseverance, something that we hold as an important BCS value as we ‘Cheerfully Persevere’, or in the case of Pre-Prep, ‘Cheerfully Try Hard’ in all that we do at school.

The children were fascinated to learn more about the discipline of rowing and the effort it takes to make Olympic selection. Mark was a terrific role model and illustrated what can be achieved through hard work and determination. Everyone was very grateful for his sharing the morning with us and presenting school with a signed 2016 Olympic rower’s vest which now takes pride of place in the Sports Centre.

We are sure that the children went back home to their parents proud to have met a real-life Olympian and hope to see him compete in Tokyo in 2020.

Mrs Dredger

Update on Olympian, Mark Aldred First a bit of background: every year there are rowing World Championships (with the Olympics taking its place every four years).

In 2014 I won a bronze in the lightweight 4 at the World Championships. Then the 2015 season was a disaster - we didn’t medal in any races and ended up 9th at the worlds.

This was enough to qualify the boat for the Olympics (i.e. Team GB could select a lightweight four to send to Rio), but my confidence had taken a battering!

So selection for the 2016 boat was very stressful, as obviously something had to change! Selection is a difficult process as you have to race against your friends in order to ultimately race with them in the selected boat. The intensity was definitely increased as well for Olympic year. Anyway, to cut a long story short, after many internal tests and races (as I did end up in the boat most of these went well, but there was one particular one which didn’t and meant a very uncertain and anxious few days for me!), I was selected for the 4, which was as much a relief as anything else!

In fact the four was the same as the previous year, so we were going to have to do something different to change our result from the previous year. We put a lot of effort into making our technique as effective as possible, and played around with the seating order. We ended up coming 2nd at the European Championships, and then 5th and

3rd at the warm-up races leading into Rio. Getting back onto the podium after 2015 was definitely a highlight!

As for the Olympics itself, 7th was an incredibly difficult result to deal with, especially after our much improved season in the run-up. Looking back I can see a few things that we could have done better, but on the day of the semi-final (where we came 4th with the first 3 progressing to the medal final), I don’t think we could have done much more, and I genuinely believe that on another day the row we produced could have won that race. That makes the result *slightly* easier to stomach.

I must admit that I was ready to jump on the plane home after the rowing finished, but I would never have forgiven myself if I hadn’t stayed and had the full “Olympic experience” - staying in the athletes’ village, using your accreditation to your advantage(!), going out in Rio etc., and indeed I’m glad I stayed.

Moving on to highlights, as I mentioned, getting back on the podium was great. Kit collection was amazing too - this was when I really started to feel part of Team GB. I spend about 5 hours trying on kit ranging from a three piece suit to lycra to light-up shoes and made a real effort to try to enjoy it - this was a childhood dream coming true!

Although the result wasn’t what we wanted, obviously being part of the Games was also incredibly special and something I’ll always remember.

Personally, having my family come and support me in Rio was amazing, and I won’t mind admitting that it’s something I’d daydreamed about many times (but with a different result!).

I also got married!

Getting married (and knowing throughout the year, especially in the dark times, that you were going to get married) was really helpful in putting everything in perspective at the end of the day, even at the Olympics, it’s only rowing!

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2017

A Tribute to Mrs. Lindsay Lucas What follows is a tribute to Lindsay Lucas as she leaves The Blue Coat School. It is in grateful recognition of her thirty-two years of service and has been written for “True Blue” by the headmaster who appointed her in 1985.

Looking back recently on my published Annual Report to the Governors of The Blue Coat School in 1985, I came across two consecutive sentences in the context of that year’s staff appointments. “Miss Farnath” (now Mrs. Lucas), the report said, “was appointed as our new teacher of English.” “Mr. Lucas came to teach French.”

In addition to her teaching, Lindsay was also responsible as a resident assistant with boarding duties in St. Philip’s House, while Trevor Lucas had similar duties next door in St. Martin’s. For the boarding pupils at that time, actually living at school was like belonging to a wonderfully large family, the Blue Coat family. There were up to eighty boarders, with up to twenty in each of the four Houses, about whom today’s children can know nothing, of course. How could I have known myself that the closeness of Lindsay and Trevor in their boarding responsibilities would preface the soon-tobe closeness in their personal lives as well?

They simply fell in love and were married in 1990. Their wonderful daughter, Bethany, educated at The Blue Coat School and later the Head Girl of Edgbaston High School, has this year been offered a place at Keble College, Oxford, to read Theology. Trevor, who died suddenly in April, 2011, only a few months after we had celebrated his fiftieth birthday, would have been so proud. He was very proud of Lindsay, too, as are all of us who knew her in those early years or who know her now - and for the very good reasons that follow.

Lindsay was always an engaging and inspiring teacher and her teaching of English was exceptional from the start. Technically exact and full of meaningful content, it was delivered with warmth and interest towards each of her pupils. Learning something new could be really exciting with Lindsay and it usually was! She soon became Head of the English Department, producing programmes to meet the needs of the more-able and less-able children alike, whether for the Common Entrance Examinations to a

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wide range of Senior Independent Schools throughout the United Kingdom or the eleven-plus selection tests to the day-schools of the King Edward Foundation and to other day-schools nearby. The quality of written work by Blue Coat pupils on their move to secondary education, the extent of their subject knowledge, reading comprehension and speaking ability were greatly valued by these senior schools, because on these high levels of attainment so much of their subsequent education relied. The abilities that the leaving children took forward year by year were the gift of Lindsay and her teaching colleagues to them all.

Outside the classroom, Lindsay’s contributions to the life of the school were equally notable. Drama was just one of them. Whether working with Trevor or with a team of her own, Lindsay produced or co-produced well over twenty senior school plays or musicals, some of which she had written herself. Spoken English was in its element here, delivered confidently and well, together with the clear enunciation of it in the form of so many memorable songs. Children’s early fears of facing a large audience were also overcome, through the appropriate practice that Lindsay and her colleagues were always ready to provide. The outcome of it all was to be seen in outstanding group and individual performances, evidenced by productions such as “The Prodigious Snob” with Sarah Manners in the lead or “The Happiest Days of our Lives” with Jonathan Shaw dressed up as the School Matron. Much more could be said here about Blue Coat drama under Lindsay’s guidance or about her later work as a “make-up artiste extraordinaire” but, because it would be out of proportion to the rest of the text, I very much hope that space will be found in this publication or elsewhere for her own interesting and amusing recollections. Let me simply add one more item of interest.

Undoubtedly, one of Lindsay’s greatest triumphs in the field of drama came with the charity production of her own musical, “The Magic Jigsaw”, to a packed and highly appreciative audience in Birmingham’s Town Hall in 2008. A short story written by the young and life-limited Edward Dent, after whom the Birmingham Charity,

“Edward’s Trust”, is named, was brought to life by Lindsay’s dramatic version on the public stage. The leading parts were played by former Blue Coat pupils, Lawrence Sharman and Noel Newman, both of whom sang the adult solos, while television news-reader, Mr. Nick Owen, himself a Blue Coat parent, was the narrator. The entire Blue Coat Choir, trained by former Director of Music, Mr. Nick Hill and with solos by Bethany Lucas and Arpan Sharma, contributed further to a musical of the highest quality. All of us who watched it were entranced and Edward’s Trust received the benefit of a substantial return to its funds.

With her own Christian faith as a guiding light and within a school founded on Christian principles, Lindsay established the senior and junior Quest Groups, meeting on a weekly basis to discuss aspects of life, both locally and further afield. Enhancing the messages delivered in Chapel and in line with the work of the Chaplain, these groups promoted personal standards of behaviour and a sense of responsibility towards others as foundations for adult life. Lindsay was herself a valued member of the school’s adult prayer-group.

Some time after the arrival of Bethany, Lindsay relinquished her full-time teaching role in favour of a part-time teaching engagement, with tutorials offered in English and mathematics and short-term replacement for absent members of staff.

Her training and ability in music led to the formation of a successful company of her own under the banner of “Music with Mummy”. The earlier sessions for very

young children were hosted by the school, leading to the interest of their parents in what the school offered and to a number of enrolments being made. Lindsay was also available for general consultation and advice, leading most recently to the possible professional counselling of others in the future who have met tragedy in their lives.

Above all in recent years it has been Lindsay’s work as Secretary to the Blue Coat Old Scholars’ Association, in succession to Mrs. Nancy Moore and Mrs. Sue Aldred, which has commanded most attention and which has been so richly rewarded with the further development of facilities and reunions for young and old. From children who have just left at eleven years of age to members who are now in their eighties and nineties, the management of this role demands flexibility, personal contact, good recordkeeping and forward-planning. It was with great reluctance at the end of the most recent academic year that we saw

Lindsay leaving the role that restructuring has changed. Edgbaston High School has now invited her, as a former pupil of EHS herself, to become both the Chair of the Association of Old Girls there and thus, a Governor of the school. She will do well in both relationships and will certainly not relinquish her love of The Blue Coat School which she has served so responsibly for the past thirty-two years. We very much look forward to seeing her again at future reunions.

I was able to discuss with Mr. Alan Browning, my successor as headmaster of The Blue Coat School, some of the details above and am so much aware of our joint appreciation of Lindsay, with whom Jennifer, my wife, and I have been pleased to retain friendship during the eighteen years of our retirement. We join now with Lindsay’s past and present colleagues, her pupils and her friends, in thanking and wishing her every continuing happiness and success.

Brian Bissell Headmaster 1979 to 1998 and Vice-President Emeritus of the Old Scholars’ Association.

Welcome to our new Members in 2017 Ibrahim Afzal

Jovan Dhillon

Saru Karanam

Rufus Powell

Hasan Ahmed

Paola Dietrich de Pablo

Nivid Kharwadkar

Kieran Sanghera

Aruya Ahmed

Lazara Do

Sofia Knight

Hridya Sharma

Ayaan Ali

Fintan Dowling

Tanya Leech

Nitara Sharma

Qurrathulain Ali

Cody George

Henry Martin

Abdullah Sheraz

Kibria Awais

Eesaa Gafar

Jessica McGuirk

Rosabella Sung

Roshan Bahia

Ria Gokul

Aminah Munir

Shai Thompson

Avneet Bajwa

Usmaan Hassun

Rohan Narayan-Hull

Henry Trevis

Katie Baker

Matthew Holland

Pranoy Nishanth

Elizabeth Wigg

Sofia Begh

Ines Iliff

Maia Noonan

Gibson Wilkie

Junayd Butt

Tom Isaac

Stephanie Otite

Zoe Willcox

Ashwin Chandar

Aled James

Benito Pagliuca

Amy Wilson

Evie Crow-Marcetic

Monique James-Thomas

Ryan Parekh

Ben Woodward

Karishma Dar

Amrita Kang

Gevé Pereira

Esa Yaqoob

Raghav Deb

Easher Kang

Oliver Poole

11

2017

Scholarship Awards and Examinations Success to Senior Schools 2015–2016 Academic Year – External Scholarships, Exhibitions and Awards In total, 37 awards were offered to Blue Coat School children, reflecting their high performance, but 27 were declined in favour of alternative offers.

Lydia Jin

King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls

Academic & Music

Samuel Reason

King Edward’s School

Music

Sean Russell

King Edward’s School

Academic

Aurelio Lencioni

King Edward’s School

Academic

Aryan Sudeshkumar

King Edward’s School

Academic

Praan Moodley

Rugby School

Academic

Abigail Tomlinson

Edgbaston High School

Academic

Melanie Page

King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls

Academic

Entrance to Senior Schools Yusuf Aftab

King Edward’s School

Gabriel Lins

King Edward’s School

Fahad Ahmad

Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School

Shyan Marrie

King Edward VI Five Ways School

Zainab Ahmad

King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls

Praan Moodley

Rugby School

Zayd Ahmad

King Edward’s School

Alex Murdoch

King Edward’s School

Zaki Almallah

King Edward’s School

Phoenix Murphy

Old Swinford Hospital School

Philip Angelopoulos

King Edward’s School

Kieran O’Hara

King Edward’s School

Aravind Binuraj

King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys

Melanie Page

King Edward VI High School for Girls

Louis Brook

King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys

Jahnvi Patel

Edgbaston High School for Girls

Nathan Chatha

Queen Mary’s Grammar School

Samuel Reason

King Edward’s School

Julian Chen

King Edward’s School

Zahra Riaz

King Edward VI High School for Girls

Henry Coombes

Kingham Hill School

Tom Roberts

King Edward’s School

Ruby Couzens

King Edward VI High School for Girls

Sean Russell

King Edward’s School

Humzah Dar

Solihull School

Fahad Saeed

King Edward’s School

Savannah Dass

Edgbaston High School for Girls

Jessica Scurlock

Edgbaston High School for Girls

Dileep Dhanda

King Edward’s School

Naarain Sharma

King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys

Gian Dhillon

King Edward’s School

Ronav Singh

King Edward VI Five Ways School

Simran Dhinsa

King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls

Diya Sohal

Edgbaston High School for Girls

Helena Dietrich de Pablo King Edward VI High School for Girls

Joseph Southall

King Edward’s School

Mia Dolan

King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls

Aryan Sudeshkumar

King Edward’s School

Thomas Evans

King Edward’s School

Dhiren Tandon

King Edward’s School

Lotti Gabriel

King Edward VI High School for Girls

Simran Thandi

Wolverhampton Girls’ High School

Harman Garcha

King Edward VI Handsworth School

Abigail Tomlinson

Edgbaston High School for Girls

Daya Gill

Edgbaston High School for Girls

Cameron Tuck

Highclare School

Chloe Graham-Major

King Edward VI High School for Girls

Miriam Tucker

St George’s School

Cicely Hodge

Edgbaston High School for Girls

Aaryan Tyagi

King Edward’s School

Charles Hubbard

Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School

Simi Uppal

King Edward VI Handsworth

Muhammad Ibraheem

King Edward’s School

Mohammed Uraijah

King Edward’s School

Aahana Jain

King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls

Edward Whitehead

King Edward’s School

Sahana Jain

King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls

Libby Whitehouse

Edgbaston High School for Girls

Lydia Jin

King Edward VI High School for Girls

Jessica Whitlock

Bromsgrove School

Rahul Kanda

Harborne Academy

Kelvin Yau

King Edward VI Five Ways School

Amanpreet Kaur

King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls

Amelia Zaman

Saint Martin’s School

Arpita Kaur

Edgbaston High School for Girls

Marie-Eve Kavanagh

Edgbaston High School for Girls

Harian Khera

King Edward’s School

Aurelio Lencioni

King Edward’s School

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