Bunyan

Houses

BUNYAN HOUSE REPORT

WORDS BY Mr Matt Allen, Bunyan Housemaster

I’ve tried to start every Bunyan report I’ve written with the line from a song, so which song do I use this time?! There could be so many, but how about this one…

‘And now the end is here. And so I face that final curtain’

Apt? Well the end is now here for me. And I certainly think that I managed to do it My Way! I could probably include a few more of Frank Sinatra’s wonderful lyrics too!

Of all the challenges that Covid posed, building, and maintaining, a strong House spirit was one of the more difficult aspects this year. The weekly get-together didn’t happen, the House Officers weren’t able to take pride in setting the assembly rooms up, and we weren’t able to formally meet the twenty five new Bunyanites. Sport was a challenge, Drama was a challenge, House Singing didn’t happen, and watching dozens of rambling Mr Allen assembly videos must have been interminable!

Despite all of this, we built a spirit, new Bunyanites introduced themselves to me whenever they could, and we did get some sport, drama and music competitions (thank you Mr Phillips, the sports department, Mrs Turton and Mrs Gedye!), along with numerous academic competitions. Sadly, we rarely saw the Bunyan flag fly for the weekly Merits competition but, thanks to a flood of sporting wins at the end of the Spring Term, we won the termly cup and enjoyed starting the Summer Term with the flag flying high. It wasn’t to be seen again until the last week of term, when we finally won the weekly Merits competition, and we waited patiently, to see who would be the winners of the House Cup.

More about that later but first, I want

Houses

to thank the trusty band of Bunyan teachers - Miss Bamber, Miss Bowis, Mrs Lee, Mrs Turton, Mr Guest and Mr Lee, and Mr Maitland, before he headed off to pastures new. Whilst I know that they were disappointed that they weren’t able to get to know the boys, as a House, they would regularly check in with me, and celebrate any Bunyan victories. I was also hugely grateful to the members of staff that offered to provide assembly videos - I know that the boys were very pleased to see a different face on a Friday….even though Mr Guest was a bit disappointed that the boys appeared to prefer my ‘Sharks’ assembly to Mr Guest’s ‘James Bond’ one - sorry, Mr Guest!

And so, we came to Final Assembly. First up, the announcement of the Summer Term Cup - surely, the results in the Summer Term would have a big effect on the overall result. Bunyan, 4th - not looking good, boys! At this point, I need to say farewell. As I move on to Dragon School, I will take fond memories of my time as Bunyan Surely the fairytale ending wasn’t going to happen! Could it? Surely not! Come on Mr Mallalieu - put us out of our misery! And the winners are…..BUNYAN!! It did happen! I was so pleased for the boys, and proud of all of their efforts - what a way to sign off!

Good luck, Miss Bamber - no pressure!

Let’s Go Bunyan, let’s go!

Housemaster with me. I’ve loved every minute of it. I wish Miss Bamber well, as she takes the mantle on - I know that she will be fab!

So...back to the final House Cup announcement...it went down to the last two Houses - only ten points between them! Who would it be - Bunyan or Whitbread?

2020 2021

BUNYAN!! It did happen! I was so pleased for the boys, and proud of all of their efforts what a way to sign off!