True Blue - 2020 Edition

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The Blue Coat School Old Scholars

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

New Archive Room created to commemorate Blue Coat history

www.thebluecoatoldscholars.co.uk

2020

From the OSA President…

Dear Old Scholars, As I write this article, I am looking across the site, reflecting on the generations of children who have been through the portals of Blue Coat, and on the School’s remarkable evolution.

I believe that, with the generous help of alumni and with the total dedication of the staff here, we are providing an extraordinary education for our children.

Here, now, the panoply of the past is inextricably linked to the excitement of the present.

offers and how it is throwing light so brightly on our past. For us, as you may imagine, this is hugely rewarding.

To our generous benefactors who have given individual donations, made grants and established trusts, we cannot thank you enough for your support. Those Old Scholars who have signed up by making a commitment to our legacy fund have helped us to fund bursaries and have supported site developments. Please do contact us if you would like to support the School in this way.

At our annual Christmas lunch for Old Scholars, we celebrated the opening of the new archive room, a space which tracks the fascinating history of the School. This magical environment is one that current children like to visit; they love to learn about our heritage.

This year we have been short-listed for the TES Prep and Pre-Prep School of the Year and Strategic Innovation awards. In addition, we were short-listed for the i25 award, which identifies and celebrates the top 25 innovators and influencers in independent education. I must commend the team members at BCS. They go above and beyond for the children in their care.

Those Old Scholars who have visited the room have been bowled over by what it

So, while I shun the concept of complacency, I am proud to be building

Noel with former St. Monica’s House Head, Sheila Still ,(left) and Catherine White in the new Archive Room strongly on the foundation of almost 300 years.

As we approach our major anniversary in two year’s time, there are a number of events to which we welcome as many former pupils and staff as possible. Please do come and join us to celebrate this milestone.

With every best wish, Noel Neeson | OSA President

From the Chairman…

I have been involved with the Old Scholars for more than 30 years and it continues to flourish with the tireless help of Jenny Dredger who organises the reunions. We are growing our presence online via the Old Scholars’ website and social media channels.

The Christmas meal/veterans event continues to be a great success and each year we delight in adding to the number of returning pupils who have not visited for some time. At the younger end, the recent leavers thoroughly enjoy the annual fixture of hockey versus the current pupils.

Note from the Editor Apologies for the delayed printing of this edition. As you will see later on in the magazine we have been busy completing the Archive Room so there has been lots going on behind the scenes! If you are interested in contributing to future editions please contact Jenny Dredger E: oldscholars@thebluecoatschool.com or T 0121 410 6863.

The principal purpose of the Association is to continue and renew friendship amongst members whilst retaining the ethos of The Blue Coat School.

As such we are always looking for suggestions for future reunions to run along with our annual events.

I look forward to seeing you at future events or you could always join the committee to bring a fresh perspective?

Richard Buttle | OSA Chair

Social Media The Blue Coat School Birmingham Old Scholars Association (Official) Facebook Group continues to grow and welcome new members. Please remember to answer the 3 joining questions so that we can match you to our records. Parents of old scholars under 18 years may join on their behalf.

We also have a LinkedIn group known as The Blue Coat School Birmingham Old Scholars.

Alternatively, many of our parents and Old Scholars prefer to use Instagram so we are delighted to announce that we have recently set up a School account - bcsoldscholars!

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Save the date!

It may be a couple of years away but we know that time flies so please make a note of some important dates for our 300th Anniversary Year!

We would like as many Old Scholars as possible to be involved and celebrate this incredible milestone with us.

Friday 14 January 2022 Chapel Service to mark the beginning of the tercentenary year: School Chapel Friday 12 May 2022 Founders’ Day Service: Birmingham Cathedral Friday 8 July 2022 300th Birthday Party and Outdoor Concert: School Lawn Sunday 10 July 2022 Anniversary Lunch: Marquee on the School Lawn Please make sure we have an up to date email contact for you in order to stay informed regarding the above. We will also post updates to our Old Scholars’ Portal - www.thebluecoatoldscholars.co.uk

Commemorative stained-glass window As part of our anniversary commemoration we will be adding a stained-glass window above the altar of the School Chapel.

We would like to ask pupils past and present to suggest images important to them in relation to The Blue Coat School to include in the final design. Please do contact us with your suggestions.

Staying in touch – www.thebluecoatoldscholars.co.uk In our last edition we introduced you to the Old Scholars’ Portal which is a great way to stay in touch and find old friends. We would like to highlight two areas of the portal which you may like to use going forward.

A digital Archive Timeline is available under the ‘News and Photos’ tab, with images from the School’s history. Once registered you also have the facility to upload images to this timeline. This is an ongoing project and we will continue to upload photos, newspaper cuttings, production programmes and so on, as the year progresses.

Musicians wanted!

As you will read above, we are planning to hold an outdoor concert. This will include performances by current pupils but we would also like to involve Old Scholars. If you are musically minded and would like to participate then please email us. It could be that you are part of a band that would like to perform or that you would like to play or sing in a massed orchestra or choir? E: oldscholars@thebluecoatschool.com or T: 0121 410 6863. We look forward to hearing from you.

The second area on the portal is a Business Networking Hub under the ‘Directory’ menu. You can upload your business details, offer discounts to Old Scholars and use it as another avenue to promote your business.

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2020

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INTO THE

Celebrating our history

Thanks to the generous support of the Loppylugs and Barbara Morrison Trust and the John Saville Trust, the School has now been able to create a permanent exhibition of its archives.

Of course this special project would not have been possible without the sterling groundwork of our interns, Paramjit Sehmi and Helen Nethaway, who spent many weeks sorting through crates of old papers, dusting off photographs, medals and memorabilia to rediscover many hidden gems - thank you!

Donald Kynaston, (pupil 1935-1940) with son David

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Mr Brian Bissell (Headmaster 1979-1998) with wife Jennifer

Adrian with Mark Judd (pupil 1965-1972), Jenny Dredger and Richard Buttle (pupil 1965-1970)

Raj Sethi (pupil 1983-1986) and Jon Procter (pupil 1982-1988)

Geoff Still (pupil 1968-1972) and Adrian Blakeley (pupil 1967-1971)

Many old scholars enjoyed seeing the Archive Room at the annual Christmas lunch and we extend an invitation to you all should you be in the area and wish to come and have a look.

Amongst those returning to Blue Coat, we managed to reunite two former St. George’s boys who hadn’t seen each other for 54 years and were pleased to be back in touch after such a long time.

Julia Jennings née Corry (pupil 1956-1961) and Peter Holland (formerly Sadler, pupil 1957-1962) James Thorne (pupil 1963-1968), Anthony Drewitt (pupil 1967-1971), Chris Graham (pupil 1968-1972) and Philippa Butler née Ackroyd (pupil 1970-1973)

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Hugo Gilmore (pupil 2003-2007) and Jasmine Rahman (pupil 1999-2002)

2020

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INTO THE Xièxiè Mike!

Thanks to Old Scholar Mike King (pupil 1958-63) who arranged for a cultural visit by thirty-nine students from Bao-Lai Junior High School and seven Year 6 pupils from Jian-Shan Primary School to BCS back in May. The children were members of an Indigenous Taiwanese Choir based in Kaohsiung, Southern Taiwan.

Bao-Lai Junior High has only 72 students but over half of the children are from the indigenous Bunun community. The Bununs are famous for their eight-part polyphony (simultaneously combining a number of parts, each forming an individual melody and harmonising with each other).

This was the Choir’s first trip to the UK and Blue Coat was lucky enough to be chosen as their first venue. The children really ‘raised the roof’ in Chapel with their joyful singing and dancing.

We are working with Mike again this year and hoping to take our senior choir to sing at the Birmingham Military Tattoo in November.

If you have any links that you think might be of benefit to current pupils please do not hesitate to contact us!

Childhood memories We are grateful to Mike Bere (pupil 1948 -53) and Doreen Gent (pupil 1943-49) who kindly gave up a morning to speak to our Year 1 pupils. The children had been learning about the history of the School as part of their Humanities curriculum, hearing first hand accounts really brought the topic to life for them.

Doreen and Mike, who were pupils at Blue Coat during the 1940s and early 1950s told the children many amazing things about their way of life as boarders at the School. Doreen brought her old school report and a picture from a production of HMS Pinafore in 1945. She also found a picture of her late sister in the new school mural. Mike brought in a newspaper cutting from 1951 which documented life

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at BCS and a photo of him in the 1952 football team. The children learnt how much life has changed and were relieved to hear that they had escaped the cleaning chores and early mornings! The thought of walking to a swimming pool at Monument Road (roughly two miles away) wasn’t very appealing either and they realised how lucky they are with the facilities at School today.

Doreen was in St. Monica’s and Mike was first in St. Martin’s, where he was the last house captain before it closed, and then he became a St. Philip’s boy. Doreen was the first BCS girl to get into a grammar school, but she remained at Blue Coat until she was 18 years-old, returning to board at night but going to King’s Norton Grammar in the daytime. Mike recalls being captain of the cricket team and holding a big shield aloft in front of the whole school.

BEYOND THE Valete

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Since our last edition we said a fond farewell to several long-standing members of staff who amass over 156 years of service between them!

Leaders Scheme that she set up with Mr Hill (left in July ‘18 after 18 years); Mrs Taahirah Ebrahim, a great servant to the school, offering invaluable support to the children and her colleagues (retired July ‘18 after 13 years); and finally Mrs Ruth Elphinston our former Chaplain (retiring Dec ‘18 after 13 years) who was given a special ‘This is your Life’ send-off by her colleagues, friends and family.

Mrs Jen Price, will be especially remembered by the boys of St. Philip’s for whom she was a caring and fun House Head (left in March ‘18 after 27 years); Mrs Catriona Merrill is greatly thanked for the incredible service she gave to the School from the days of boarding and 13+ to more recent times (retired in July ‘18 after 34 years); Mrs Nicky Lambert-Green, was a wonderful Head of Art and will also be remembered for her outstanding pastoral care, not to mention her dedication to the staging of each Prep production (retired July ‘18 after 22 years); Mrs Sheila Hopson, gave unstinting efforts with, and commitment to the children of Pre-Prep (retired July ‘18 after 29 years); Mrs Bláithín Burns, who will be remembered not only for her inspiring maths teaching, but also for her passion and the Digital

George goes stateside Life after Blue Coat can be varied for both staff and pupils. The Morris family have upped sticks from their long-time Edgbaston home, and have relocated to a new base. Andrew Morris, the former St. George’s House Head is now enjoying a more sedate time amongst the rolling countryside of rural Wales!

In contrast, son George (pupil 2003– 2013), has swapped the familiarity of B17 to move 10,000 miles away; choosing to study abroad in the part of the world favoured by Prince Harry and Meghan.

Now in his final year of the IB at UWC Pearson in Canada, George reflects below on his time in Victoria, British Columbia.

“There is nowhere on earth quite like UWC Pearson, located on the most southerly tip of Vancouver Island overlooking Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. A community of two hundred 17 to 20-year-old IB students from over 150 countries live here, study and grow together in the forest in beautiful British Columbia, on the Pacific Coast.

Not to say the challenges aren’t immense; with 95% of students on full financial aid and many arriving barely speaking a word of English, our mission is to make ‘Education a force to unite people, nations and culture for peace and a sustainable future’. Students are entrusted with freedom because of the amount of respect we have for each other. I have developed passions for Ukrainian dance, Canadian provincial politics and environmental activism during my time here.”

Hasan becomes an Etonian “After leaving BCS in July 2017, I attended a small Prep Boarding school for two years before joining Eton College last September. Life at Eton is busy and full of activity.

It feels like I’ve walked more steps since September than the rest of my life! Apart from the occasional driver shouting, ‘You’re a bunch of charlatans!’ at us, we go about our school day like any other pupil would, at any other school. With the delights of Eton Fives and the array of societies (after-school clubs) you can always bet on the fact that no matter how refreshed you wake up, you will always go to bed with legs feeling like lead and a spinning head!

Without BCS, and the amazing experience it offered me, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. Whether it be the academic stretching or the amazing music or sport coaching, BCS formed a springboard - a base to which we could achieve great things and become role models to a future generation of pupils. Those ‘long’ 8am to 4pm jampacked days enabled us to grow into the adolescents we are now. How those long days seem a walk in the park today! The exceptional teachers, who I clearly remember and am grateful to, along with all of us kids, formed a Blue Coat family, one that shared an amazing experience for all those years, before branching out into the world. Whether it was for two years, or eight, we all forged friendships and made memories to last a lifetime, that is something we can all be grateful for and know that BCS remains there for us to return to and visit.”

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BEYOND THE

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Sandra Finn (née Phryce-Jones) – now living in NSW, Australia

I was a boarder in 1954 and can be seen in the photograph printed here of my painting class along with others. I remember so much about my time with such fond memories plus a few funny ones, such as when the housemaster played an April fool on both the boys and girls’ dorms and said to dress warmly because it had snowed overnight. Also rich memories of night time feasts of naughtily kept lollies and biscuits from holidays and home visits which we were meant to share and hand over but sometimes we hid them! Such a long time ago but memories do not seem to fade. Mr Faulds was the Headmaster and Miss Write my housemistress and maths teacher. I’m grateful for all the care and nurturing after my mother died in East Africa. My Aunt advised my father to send me to BCS - such a great decision even though at the time one misses family life.

I for one am a direct product of my art in school and it has shaped my life since. I have been teaching art for the past 35 years, after years in advertising as a graphic artist. Thank you to the board of governors past and present that this wonderful institution is still there for future generations.

Sandra remembers and would love to be in contact with: Jenny Jones, Anne Vale, Terry Bevington and Nicky Fox. You can view Sandra’s art under her maiden name Sandra Phryce-Jones on fineartamerica.com.

Michael Wright – St Philip’s House 1962-1964.

We were delighted that Mick has registered with our portal, the first one of his former educational alumni groups!

He is keen to see if he is remembered and be back in touch with BCS friends.

“As I remember I won an assisted place at Blue Coat. My parents were Salvation Army Officers and for some of my time at Blue Coat they were in charge of the Salvation Army Hostel in Jamaica Row, Birmingham.

From there they were posted to Derby and Kings Lynn. I attended the school for nearly 3 years, played in all three school teams, sang in the choir and boxed for house and school.

Some of the old photos of the school houses and dorms I saw yesterday brought many memories flooding back. I would very much like to share the photos and documents I have and see what, if any, response I get from anybody from my generation who might see them. Thank you in anticipation.”

(Mick is pictured front left in the XI football team and 2nd row right in the middle of the choir photo.)

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um, Adam, a trip back to Br on in d lle ca ily fam n 2005 and The Tepperman ort time betwee sh a r fo ls pi pu were Joey and Jacob anada. e in Ontario, C liv w no d 2006 an

Thanks agai n to Scarlett Brunning wh poetry works o returned to hop to Year deliver a 4.

They particul treasure hun arly enjoyed t around the the poetry classroom!

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Hugo Gilmor e (pupil 2003 -2007) has re in the Prep H turned to BC ouses. Here S to help h e is supporti House Char ng St. Monic ity Day. a’s on their

t current pupils. urned for a match agains Class of 2018 scholars ret referee. to g pin hard Buttle for hel Thanks to OSA Chair Ric

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2020

Class of 2019 We will soon be welcoming back our latest cohort of old scholars who ‘graduated’ from Blue Coat in the summer when they return for the old scholars v current pupils hockey match in the Trinity Term. The Class of 2019 celebrated another bumper crop of offers and scholarships to senior school and have been settling in well to senior school life.

Save the Date Class of 2019 v Current Pupils Hockey Match

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Wednesday 17 June 2020 from 5.30pm www.thebluecoatoldscholars.co.uk

Scholarship Awards and Examination Success We congratulate our most recent OSA members on their senior school entrance.

164 Senior School offers were awarded including 45 scholarships and awards (recognising academic, music and sporting excellence) and 34 Grammar School places.

Entrance to Senior Schools Hassan Afzal Amy Agadagba Syeda Mahshami Ahmed Muhammed Ahmed Syed Zuhair Ahmed Faaris Alam Ehsan Ali Luke Allen Arjun Bajwa Yuvraj Binji Amelie Black Joanne Bobin Ishan Bradstock Maya Bradstock William Brett Rohan Cherukad Lauren Claridge Lucy Coleman Lily Cook William Cowley Lily Cunney Emma Daniel Alexander Dass Narayan Dhillon William Do Luke Dolan Daisy Drake Isaac Evans Amar Gill Matilda Goodrham Storm Henshaw Alexandra Hubbard Phoebe Hughes Felix Iliff Imaan Iqbal Anashe Jindu Phoebe Jones Jaya Kanda Harkeerat Kang

King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys King Edward VI High School for Girls King Edward VI High School for Girls King Edward’s School King Edward’s School King Edward’s School King Edward’s School Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School King Edward’s School Shireland Collegiate College Lordswood Girls’ School King Edward VI High School for Girls Old Swinford Hospital Edgbaston High School for Girls King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys King Edward VI Five Ways School King Edward VI Five Ways School Edgbaston High School for Girls King Edward VI High School for Girls Solihull School King Edward VI High School for Girls King Edward VI High School for Girls Priory School King Edward’s School King Edward’s School King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys Edgbaston High School for Girls King Edward’s School Solihull School Edgbaston High School for Girls King Edward VI High School for Girls RGS Worcester Edgbaston High School for Girls King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys King Edward VI Five Ways School King Edward’s School Queensbridge School King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls King Edward’s School

Taranvir Kang Danai Karaiosifidi Joshua Lavelle Daniel Le Quelenec Chloe Liew Angela Luo Kavya Maganty Karen Mao Elspeth Martin Flynn McLoughlin Nahom Mehari Jake Meyer Amir Mirza Beatrice Neeson Ava Nicholas Kieran O’Reilly Michael Ogunlola Natasha Page Gargi Paneesha Tara Ramachandran Ojal Rao Arjun Reddy-Kolanu Gracie Roberts Luca Romano Serena Sall Rajan Sall James Scurlock Ishani Shetty Oliver Smith Pardeep Sohal Shakthi Sreevats Kate Stockton Dhruv Susarla Caitlin Thornewell Arya Vemuri Daphne Xuan Ruoran Yu Liang Yu Zhao

King Edward’s School Edgbaston High School for Girls King Edward’s School Old Swinford Hospital King Edward VI High School for Girls King Edward VI High School for Girls King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls King Edward VI High School for Girls King Edward VI Five Ways School Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School King Edward VI Five Ways School Priory School King Edward’s School Solihull School King Edward VI High School for Girls Old Swinford Hospital King Edward VI Handsworth School for Boys King Edward VI High School for Girls King Edward VI High School for Girls King Edward VI High School for Girls King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls King Edward’s School Edgbaston High School for Girls Solihull School King Edward VI High School for Girls King Edward’s School Solihull School King Edward VI High School for Girls King Edward’s School King Edward’s School King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls Edgbaston High School for Girls King Edward’s School Kings Norton Girls’ School King Edward’s School Wycombe Abbey King Edward VI High School for Girls King Edward’s School

Congratulations Year 6!

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2020

NEW

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BCS dining room gets a refurb!

The dining hall has had a superb refurbishment this year and our caterers Holroyd Howe have ensured that not only do the children enjoy eating in a wonderful environment, but that the school lunches have never tasted better!

The old IT room has been transformed into a classroom and computing is now located in the Bissell Building in a brand new media suite, with green screen technology and a recording booth. In turn, the Prep library has relocated to the Viney Building!

The Blue Coat School, Somerset Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B17 0HR Telephone 0121 410 6800 Email oldscholars@thebluecoatschool.com The Blue Coat School Birmingham Limited is registered in England, Registration No. 8502615 and is a Registered Charity No. 1152244

www.thebluecoatoldscholars.co.uk

Follow us on: @bcsbirmingham @bluecoatbirmingham @bcsbirmingham

We need your email!

Please help us to keep in touch electronically by providing your current email address. This saves paper and postage and helps us to communicate with an ever increasing number of old scholars. Contact us via oldscholars@thebluecoatschool.com