The Cranleigh School Newsletter Issue No 39
Cranleigh School, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8QQ Tel: 01483 273666
Lent 2011
Head s Up RIDING HIGH Dear Parents,
As I write this, I have just returned from hosting a thank-you lunch in honour of members of our support staff who have worked here for over twenty years. There were no fewer than thirty-nine invitees a remarkable accolade, I feel, for the Cranleigh community as a whole. Longevity is important to a community because it provides the very foundations upon which it is built. It may have made saying goodbye to some longstanding retirees all the sadder, but it has made saying hello to our first Old Cranleighan Interns young OCs whose presence with us is bridging the past, present and future all the more exciting. There are more details on pages 6 and 8. At the other end of the spectrum, and yet equally important to a community, is dynamism a sense of progress, of continuous improvement and of vigour. That, I would say, is a pretty accurate summary of this term, with pupils packing as much as ever into every day. There s been the academic work, focused from the outset on the January modules for the Sixth Form, which I hope gave a good indication to all who sat them what they need to do in order to fulfil their potential in the summer exams. There s also been an extraordinary succession of outstanding sporting performances, some enjoyable co-curricular activities, from Debating to Duke of Edinburgh, and, of course, the Performing Arts such a core part of School life. This term s School play, The Suicide, was thoughtprovoking, combining both humour and tragedy, and we were treated to a truly remarkable performance of the Verdi Requiem, involving over 150 pupils and staff, supported by four internationally renowned soloists. And this letter would be incomplete without mentioning Cranleigh s first Charity Fashion Show, which raised an outstanding £5,000 thanks to the enthusiasm of all involved. It s impossible to cover everything here but I hope that, if nothing else, this issue manages to encapsulate both the longevity and the dynamism of Cranleigh. Enjoy your break: rest well, revise well and return refreshed and ready for the demands and delights of the Summer Term.
Guy Waller Head
As our young riders celebrate their new title of National Show Jumping Champions, Chris Allison (Head of Riding) looks at what goes into creating such a successful competition team.
When you are on a great horse, you have the best seat you will ever have. (Churchill) Almost every sport that Cranleigh pupils take part in involves a ball of some shape or size: I can only think of swimming and athletics/running that don t. That is apart from riding, of course, where the ability to co-ordinate eye and hand (or foot) is replaced by the ability to control half a ton or more of horse (usually with a mind of its own) with two disproportionately small leather reins! With established riders making it look fairly easy, a general bystander could well assume that the rider is simply a passenger on board a compliant beast who likes jumping over fences that are, at times, almost the same size as it.
Well, I think that the riders who carried the name of Cranleigh to the National Schools Equestrian Association Championships, and returned as National Show Jumping Champions, might see things slightly differently. One sturdy beast, capable of becoming their best friend and getting them out of ridiculous situations in front of big fences, is certainly a good start but it is only the start. Any rider needs a full measure of support from a trusted backstage team (aka Emma, Fran and Katie, our Equestrian Centre team, in the case of Cranleigh riders) who are prepared to turn out in the dark depths of the morning come sun, rain and snow (plenty of that this winter) to make sure that said sturdy beast is fed, watered, mucked out and turned out into the fields. On top of this you need a good instructor, or team of instructors, who are prepared to work with horse and rider, often through many frustrations, and who turn up at competitions with their broad shoulders squared, ready to take the blame for every fence that is reduced to poles on the floor. Though they ll have to wait until the end of the round to do so: with riding, once the competitor is in the ring no outside assistance (instruction) of any kind is allowed. There is no DRB shouting encouragement from the sidelines, it is horse and rider on their own and getting lost around a long course of jumps is an occupational hazard. It takes a horse and rider about a year to establish what the equestrian world refers to as a partnership : during this
time, and even beyond it, it is inevitable that there will be many disappointments and setbacks. Indeed, even in the week running up to the Nationals our riders, with the help of our Director of Riding, Sophie Spear, were still ironing out problems that months of winter training in the School s arena, on both the flat (the boring bit for many, but essential) and over jumps, with freezing fingers and toes seemingly the only thing to show for the slog, had not fully resolved. Add to this the fact that most competitions are on a Sunday and involve ridiculously early starts to get to some out-of-the-way muddy venue, when most selfrespecting teenagers are enjoying a lie-in, and you will begin to appreciate the dedication of our Equestrian Team (and their unpaid drivers and grooms.) This sort of dedication is not unusual in any sport, of course, and the better the competitor the more training and dedication is likely to have gone into his/her performance. The difference is that a rider has to train both themselves and their horse. They also have to present both themselves and their horse for competitions to an immaculate standard and turning out a horse, especially a grey one, working against ingrained mud and horse pooh, is no mean feat (and that s before you ve even started!)
Then, after everything, all it takes is just one mistake and you can be eliminated just like that. Rules are part of any sport (many fathers, particularly, find netball Continued over.....
For full details of all School and House news, please visit the website at www.cranleigh.org/community
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extremely frustrating to get their heads around!), but with most sports an infringement of the rules tends to mean that, albeit rather annoyingly, you simply give away a penalty to the other team, from which they might score. If, however, you get it wrong once you ve started a round of show jumping or cross-country the result is often elimination. Worse still, one rider s elimination can spell doom for the whole team which makes it tough mentally as well as physically, despite its seeming glamour.
GRIFF S GRIPES There are a couple of general appearance issues that are creeping back in... Please ensure that hair is kept tidy, tied back (Lower School girls) and at the requisite length (above the collar for boys) and that the uniform colours of black, navy and grey are worn at all times when in working dress: brightly coloured (and often odd) socks are not acceptable. Please also note the rules with regard to wearing make-up in the Lower School. On a completely different note, please do not ask permission for pupils to drive their cars. For carefully considered safety reasons, it will not be given under any circumstances. Thank you. Andrew Griffiths, Deputy Head
SAVE THE DATES
And then there s the nail-biting waiting around. Once you ve finished a game of hockey you know the score and whether you ve won or not. With riding you could be the eighth competitor to go in a field of eighty: you get through approximately twenty competitors per hour, and no one knows the results until after the last one has gone. So you simply have to wait. And riding venues don t tend to offer warmth, or even much shelter, beyond the car that has trailed horse and rider there in the first place! Such was our experience at Addington Manor International Arena over two days in January: the only difference for our show-jumping team of Lizzie Wait, Tom Lane, Imogen Way and Fourth Former Fred Philips, one of the youngest competitors in this competition, was that on this occasion it was more than worth the wait. Super rounds from the team put the last team to go under pressure and as they cracked and made some crucial mistakes, and it became clear that Cranleigh had won, the team s faces said it all. To be crowned National Schools Show Jumping Champions makes all the mud, toil and sweat worthwhile and was no mean feat against the strongest equestrian school teams in the country, all of whom had qualified through regional competitions to win the right to contend the crown. Can we do it again next year? Who knows, but our riders are certainly aiming for it.
PURELY ACADEMIC
This has been a comparatively long term for all of us at Cranleigh, and a great deal of academic work has been taking place. There is another side to that though: as this has been a long term of work, so next term is shorter especially in the period between returning to School on 26th April and the full start of AS and GCSE exams on Monday 16th May.
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For pupils in the three Senior years, this means that there is less than three weeks teaching time before the onset of these major exams: and those three weeks will contain language orals and practical exams in several subjects. So members of the three Senior years of the School are very strongly encouraged to use the holidays wisely for personal revision.
SUNDAY 1st MAY: ZAMBIA WALK. We have been
delighted with the response from the pupils, with currently over 80% taking up the challenge, and would be even more delighted to see as many parents and brothers/ sisters as possible joining them on the day, to help raise money for the new Beyond Cranleigh initiative, starting with the classroom building project for the Kawama School in Zambia. The walk will be an all-day event, covering either 10 or 20 miles around the Surrey Hills, and it is very much hoped that we can raise the majority of our overall target of £35,000 for the project. Cranleigh master Stuart Block s Beyond the Bike tandem cycle ride, back from the building project, is also raising money for the charity. Please do join us the more the merrier. You should have a copy of the sponsorship form in your end-of-term mail-out but should you require another one, or further details, please see the School website (http://www.cranleigh.org/workingcommunity/beyond-cranleigh/20-mile-sponsored-walk) or email Stuart Block at saab@cranleigh.org.
TUESDAY, 31st MAY: OLD CRANLEIGHAN ROBERTS CLUB. Please join us for this very special
event at which Andrew Roberts, distinguished and awardwinning historian and author of many critically acclaimed books, will be giving the Old Cranleighan Roberts Club s inaugural talk on Why Hitler Lost . The event will be held at 69 Leadenhall Street, with drinks at 7.00pm, with the talk commencing at 7.30pm. Those that would like to stay on for refreshments afterwards are welcome to do so. For details, please email wgr@cranleigh.org.
14th-17th JUNE: OLD CRANLEIGHAN ART EXHIBITION. We are delighted to announce the first
ever Old Cranleighan Art Exhibition, taking place at The London Strand Gallery, 32 John Adam Street, WC2N 6BP (close to Trafalgar Square). This event will exhibit the works of 15 or so professional Old Cranleighan artists, some of whom have achieved significant success and acclaim, and will include oils, water colours, photography and sculptures. The event will also celebrate the imminent landmark of Peter McNiven s 100th term at Cranleigh, with some of his own work being displayed. All work will be on sale, with a percentage being donated to the Cranleigh Foundation. Please do come along and support this groundbreaking event, which will include an exclusive viewing on the evening of Thursday 16th, with champagne and canapés to which parents are welcome. For details, please email WGR@cranleigh.org.
SUNDAY 3rd JULY: SPEECH DAY & OC DAY: the
annual gathering of current pupils and parents and OCs, complete with Speeches, pupil exhibitions, exciting sports matches and family fun throughout the afternoon plus a Chapel Service with the School Choir followed by a hog roast/picnics (as preferred) around the School v OC cricket match on Jubilee.
The Term in
PICTURES
A selection of highlights from all that has gone on at Cranleigh this Lent Term, intended to give just a taste of Cranleigh life Please refer to the website/The Cranleighan for a more detailed review of all news and events. Pictures, from left to right, working across: Marcus Pashley conducts Verdi s Requiem CCF 24-hour camp Charity Fashion Show Classics Society Lecture Climbing Club Canoeing: Weyside Canoe Race, Guildford Careers Evening House cross-country Basketball v Reids Conor McCormack, British Schools Modern Biathlon Championship Henry Taylor, England U18 squad 1st XI Indoor Hockey Finalists Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award training Elmbridge Swing Band Concert LVIth Business Studies Lecture: Mr Tom Mercer, Founder of Moma Food Loveday Play: Up N Under Junior School s Challenge (won by Loveday) Loveday UVIth Dinner Devizes-Westminster Race Team 2011 Young Enterprise competition School Play: The Suicide Indoor Lacrosse U18 Tournament Springtime at Cranleigh Inter-House Hockey National Show-Jumping Champions Girls County Swimming Championships LVth Mixed Hockey Tour to Holland Verdi s Requiem including 150 Cranleigh pupils and staff Public Speaking Rotary Competition Mufti Day Ben Allon-Smith and Albert Ellison: Waverley Trials Catherine Hobbs, Helen Wareham Pat Dixon Woodwind winner (Junior) Netball v Bradfield West House Cake Sale House Debating Competition U14B Hockey v Eastbourne OC James Harpour (poet) talking to pupils, now studying his work Science lesson Loveday & West Charity Walk Girls swimming team collecting Silver at the Bath Cup Design work in progress Interact Club: St Joseph s disco Lenten Addresses team Ellie Ayling at the Merriman Orchestra Concert Hattie Allison, Helen Wareham Dashwood Piano Performance winner (Junior) Hampton School U18 Sevens Tournament winners Junior Lunchtime Concert Lunch for support staff who have been at Cranleigh for over 20 years! Football v Eastbourne
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For weekly updates of all of CranleighÂ’s news and events, please visit the website at www.cranleigh.org/community. For House News, please visit the Houses section
CRANLEIGH FIRSTS
There is somewhat of a sporting theme to the firsts for this term and it is exciting to see Cranleighans not only competing, but doing so successfully in an increasingly diverse range of sports. Perhaps inspired by the Formula 2 success of recent OC Jolyon Palmer, Cranleigh entered two teams for the British Schools Karting Championships this year and Alex Tolley, Mark Czajkowski, Alex Jefferies, Will Palmer, Alex Woodman and Dom Coy achieved a creditable tenth place (with Will Palmer coming third in his race). Cranleigh was also represented in the National Schools Real Tennis Tournament for the first time, with two Loveday boys, Milo Maxton (LVth) and Angus Barrett (Fourth Form), coming second in the U15 Senior Colts event at Merton College, beating Charterhouse, Abingdon and Radley, and losing 5-6 to Bradfield. Then there s the team of Cranleigh boys who took part in the School s first U18 National Indoor Hockey Championship; the hosting of Cranleigh s first rugby tournament U13 Sevens, at which 350 children from 27 schools competed and finally, rounding off the sporting theme, the first prep school boys Master Class held at Cranleigh, in rugby, cricket and hockey. Perhaps the Cranleigh sports stars of the future?...
FAST FACT
High Upfold, now part of Loveday, was originally Cranleigh School s own farm, where pupils learned the essentials of animal husbandry and were also required to help grow the School s vegetables.
FLYING COLOURS
Well done to the following, who have been awarded their School Colours this term: Riding:
Tom Lane (L)
Squash:
Ollie Davies (L), Jeremy Slynn (C), Alex Knox (E)
Fives:
Luke Hall (L), Ollie Davies (L), Tom Batchelor (C), Matt Storey (C), Alex Knox (E), James Cordy-Redden (L)
Cross Country: Ben Allon-Smith (C), Maddy Austin (W) Lacrosse:
Chrissie Hoolahan (S), Kelly Hughes (W)
Rugby Sevens: Seb Sharpe (E) 4
Football:
Luke Hall (L), Zac BaynhamHerd (L), Will Dean (E), Elliot McLean (L), Mike Mockford (E)
Hockey:
Tom Batchelor (C), Oliver Davies (L), Jonny Gall (C), Josh Hughes (N), Gus Powell (E), Hugh Jolly (N)
BEHIND THE SCENES
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE OC INTERNS This year saw the arrival of the first Old Cranleighan Interns, a new role that enables departing Cranleighans to gain some invaluable work experience working for the OC Society, in partnership with the School, before they head off travelling or on to University. We catch up with this year s dynamic duo, Rosie Smith and Will Graham-Rack... Please briefly explain what the internship entails. W: The internship is a brand new initiative, co-funded by the Old Cranleighan Society and Cranleigh School, which aims to strengthen the relationships within the Society, and between the Society and the School, by building up the various OC clubs (City, Law, Media, various sports etc) and re-engaging with each of the members through various media. The longterm aim is to have a comprehensive database detailing the contact details and interests of each Old Cranleighan, so that s been an important part of our role as well as working on a number of new initiatives and events. We are also hoping to promote the OC Club at Thames Ditton to younger members. What was it that interested you about taking it on after you left Cranleigh last year? R: It was a job close to home which gave me the opportunity to get some useful work experience before going travelling. The hours were consistent but flexible, and it was nice to know I d be surrounded by so many people I knew. Have you enjoyed the experience (and why)? W: It s been really interesting meeting a large number of OCs, many of them influential people, as well as being given the new opportunity of thinking of and planning events from scratch R: At the beginning it was quite odd being back at school, yet on the other side essentially... But as the job has gone on I ve got used to it. Updating the OC database has taken more time than I had anticipated, as there are always plenty of other things requiring attention, and at times it s been quite hectic. I ve particularly enjoyed helping various OCs with different events and being able to make my own suggestions and see them put in place. Summarise the various areas that you have been working on, and why you think they are important: R: My favourite part of the job has undoubtedly been organising the OC Art Exhibition in London (14th-17th June at The London Strand Gallery); as art is a passion of mine, I felt strongly that this was an area that should be developed much more within the OC Society. As already mentioned, we ve also been involved in the OC database (a vital tool in helping the OC Society to understand the needs and interests of its members, to enable the Society to contact them more easily, and to help OCs keep in touch) and we were sent on a week-long course which has given us some valuable qualifications. Another highlight was the OC Ball, at which we got together a table of ten OCs from our year group and had a great time. We also helped Mel Williamson (this year s OC Ball Chairman) with various tasks on the evening itself. And we re now working on the Midsummer Ball, and more specifically with helping to raise money through advertising space, and sourcing items for the Silent Auction and Raffle. In the future, we will be digitising the Cranleigh School archives from the new office in the old Bookshop. Rosie, you are the brains behind the OC Art Exhibition. What was it that inspired you to set it up? I wanted to expand the focus of the Society to include something which in the past hasn t been particularly well recognised within it. Having done lots of research on past Cranleighans, and in particular what they had gone on to do, I also noticed that there were lots of well-established artists in the Society. As a result, I felt the best way of showcasing the success of these OCs, and to celebrate Cranleigh Art in general (after all, Peter McNiven, current Director of Art at the School, probably taught all of them!) was to hold an Art Exhibition and invite everyone in the OC Society and currently at Cranleigh. Will, you are the brains behind the new OC Roberts Club, with its first talk hosted by Andrew Roberts himself. What was it that inspired you to set it up? I was keen to build on the strengths of the Society s sports clubs and professional societies and offer something new to OCs. The current clubs and societies focus on offering OCs a chance to further their career and play sport. Given the strength of the Purvis Society within the School, it seemed that the OCs should have something that mirrored it, and offered them the chance to listen to distinguished speakers, which is why I thought it would
be worth inviting the acclaimed historian Andrew Roberts to address the first-ever such meeting (31st May, 7.00pm, 69 Leadenhall Street). He has been asked to commentate on the Royal Wedding this year. We think that in the future there may also be an OC House Challenge event. What have been the highlights in the months you ve spent here? W: Some of the events I ve attended, such as the OC Dinner, getting to know some interesting OCs and lunches with Rick Johnson! R: Coaching netball to the U15B team and getting to know some of the OCs through various contacts and events. I also had a great time at the OC dinner in London in November. What improvements would you like to see in the OC Society? W and R: An increase in younger members amongst the various Clubs, specifically sporting. This in turn would strengthen the School s relationship with the Society and hopefully lead to more Cranleighans going on to be OCs who are very involved in the Society. Hopefully we will have gone some way towards achieving this by the end of the year. Why would you recommend to your friends that they join the OC Society? W and R: It s a really close-knit Society and it is obvious that many friendships have been forged through its various activities. The ExCom (Executive Committee) and those working for the OCs care a lot about its members and as a result do put on lots of really good events. Beyond this, there is the chance to further your career through joining one of the professional societies, such as the OC City Society. The Society can also offer you lots of good connections with influential OCs who will perhaps be able to assist you with your career later in life, and the various clubs and societies unite like-minded people. As part of this job we have been offered two weeks work experience at good international firms: ESPN and Headstart Hedge Fund. What is it about Cranleigh, in your opinion, that makes the friendships made here last so long? W: People in Loveday rarely left the House... I think there is enough on offer that you can easily find other people with similar interests, and the House system keeps you in close contact for five years. R: When you live with the same people for such a long time, it s only natural that you form friendships which will last. Having also played a lot of sport, I feel that the teamwork involved in sports like netball and tennis also lead to very strong friendships... Which OC societies can you see yourself joining in the future? R: When I ve left Uni and have more time on my hands I ll be looking at joining the OC Tennis Society and the Lacrosse Society if it ever gets off the ground. W: The Roberts Club, and hopefully the City Society.
ADVERT?
What have you learned from the OC Internship? W: I ve learnt a bit about working in a professional environment, and a lot about dealing with unfamiliar situations and new people. Most importantly, I ve learnt to appreciate the time you have at school and university, time when you re not in fulltime employment! R: I have also nearly conquered my fear of calling people, which previously I hated doing! I have realised that unlike at School, where most of your aims are short-term and you have to concentrate on the same thing for a maximum of only a few weeks, in a job the majority of your aims are long-term and subsequently you have to wait longer to see results. But in the end the results are more rewarding. What are your own plans for the future? W: I m going to read Economics next year. R: I am going travelling, then on to Durham to study Sport science and from then on who knows....
For weekly updates of all of Cranleigh s news and events, please visit the website at www.cranleigh.org/community. For House News, please visit the Houses section
CREATIVE CORNER
14th-17th June 2011 sees the first ever Old Cranleighan Art Exhibition, being held at The Strand Gallery in London to which all parents and pupils are warmly invited. In celebration, we have brought together some of the best of current OC work (on sale at the Exhibition) and the best of current Cranleigh School work....
OC EXHIBITION WORKS:
Pamela Graham
Paul Hobbs
Ellie Good
John Haysom
Nicholas Dimbleby
Marco Crivello
Ryan Durrant
Marsha Balaeva
CURRENT SCHOOL WORKS:
Tori Prew, UVIth
Tash Large, LVIth (work in progress) Charles Alston, UVIth (work in progress)
Sixth Form Painting Studio
Tommy Lyster, LVIth
Jessica Haller, LVth
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Gus Powell, UVIth (work in progress)
Abbi White, LVIth
Rosie Duncan, LVth
Rosie Singleton, LVth
For weekly updates of all of Cranleigh s news and events, please visit the website at www.cranleigh.org/community. For House News, please visit the Houses section
SPORTS ROUND-UP by Tim McConnell-Wood, Assistant Deputy Head
It has been unbelievably busy this term, with teams representing Cranleigh at riding, squash, fives, basketball, real tennis, climbing, badminton, water polo, swimming, lacrosse, cross country, canoeing, rugby sevens, football, netball and hockey. Not only have they been representing the School but they have been phenomenally successful as evidenced by the sports highlights featured in the Personal Bests section, right. The achievements in inter-School competitions and also at county and national level has been quite extraordinary. Yet this is only half of the picture. Of particular pleasure has been the fact that each week over 400 pupils were involved in some form of competitive sport. Equally pleasing was the fact that some of the more junior sides (the U14B & E netball teams, the 4th XI football team and a whole host of Junior hockey sides) only lost one game all season. The 1st XI football team also deserve a mention, having only lost their last game while George Black scored five goals in the U16s 6-2 victory over Glebelands. The winners of the Orrorroo cup for the best hockey side in the School went to the U15Cs, who were unbeaten in their eight games. And then, of course, there is the intra-School sport, which is often equally hard-fought and none more so than the cross-country, which was won yet again by Cubitt in the boys competition (12 wins in 13 years) and by South in the girls competition. The Bray Shield for commitment to cross country went to Vicky Weeks. And in squash, the School Champions were Alex Knox (Senior), Connor McCormack (Junior) and Mara Waters (Girls). I am constantly inspired by the number of pupils who are up early training or still going late into the afternoon. The success you see here comes from hard work both on and off the pitch, and the pupils should be rightly proud of their achievements.
PERSONAL BESTS
This term has again seen some outstanding performances by Cranleigh pupils (individuals and teams) competing or performing at the very highest level, who undoubtedly deserve a special mention:
ACADEMIC
Royal Society of Chemistry s Top of the Bench competition: having led going into the final round, the Cranleigh team eventually came 4th. ESU Debating Regional Finals: well done to the team who made it to the Final. ESU Public Speaking: well done to the team who were county runners-up. International Young Debaters Championship: Mark Czajkowski, LVth, came 9th out of 160 speakers in the Cambridge round an outstanding personal effort, and the best ever Cranleigh performance.
SPORT HOCKEY
National Indoor Championship: the U18 Boys Indoor Hockey team made it to the Final of the National Championship, where they were beaten only on penalty flicks by Whitgift following a 1-1 draw. U18 County Championship: the 1st XI, captained by Tom Batchelor, beat RGS Guildford 3-1 in the SemiFinal and Charterhouse 5-0 in the Final. U16 County Championship: the U16A team were runners-up, qualifying for the U16 South regional heats. Regional Championship: both the 1st XI and the U16As were Regional runners-up, and have qualified for the National Finals (best 8 teams in the country) in May. Boarding Schools Cup: the 1st XI beat Felstead 7-2 in the Final at Southgate HC, to take the Cup for the third year in a row. St George s Sixes Tournament: the 1st XI took the title. England U18 Hockey Squad: Tom Batchelor and Jonny Gall have been re-selected Surrey Junior County Hockey Squads for 2011: Girls U17 Katie Batchelor, Katie Richards Boys U17 Giles Rozier-Pamplin, Adam van Schaik, Owen Quant Girls U16 Georgia Lord, Emily Robinson, Ellie Sutherland Boys U16 Jonny Pike, Alexi Yakas Boys U15 Will Calnan, Charlie Thompson Girls U14 Chloe Nicholls Boys U14 Weston Lord
RUGBY
England U18 squad: Henry Taylor (LVIth) has been selected (a year young) to play scrum half against Ireland in April. Hampton School Tournament: the U18 1st VII rugby team took the title, beating the host school in the Final 41-5 with a combined tournament points tally of 255 points from five matches, and only 17 points conceded. Surrey Tournament: the U16 Sevens team made it to the Semi-Finals, narrowly losing to the eventual winners. South-West U18s: Henry Taylor played for the SouthWest U18 side against London and the South-East. Harlequins Academy U17s: James Thompson, Harry Elrington and Dave Forster played for the side against London at Guildford Sports Park.
RIDING
National Schools Equestrian Association 2010 Winter Championships (Show Jumping, Indoor Arena Eventing and Dressage): Lizzie Wait, Tom Lane and Fourth Former Fred Philips, one of the youngest competitors, won the Open Show Jumping Championship. Fred Philips, Imogen Way, Indi Thompson and Hattie Allison came third in the Intermediate Show Jumping Team (with over 20 teams competing).
NETBALL 6
Surrey Finals: three Senior School teams (U14s, U15s and U16s) all made it through to the Surrey Finals this season more than ever before! with the U14s coming runner-up.
CANOEING
New School records: the two pairs of Euan Johnston & Jamie Huttly and Will Larwood & Louis Charlton both broke the record for one of the pre DevizesWestminster races a 12-mile course from Guildford to Godalming and back.
SWIMMING
Bath Cup: Maddy Austin, Katie Batchelor, Ellie Connor and Sophie Kinally became the first female Cranleighans to take a medal at this prestigious event, narrowly missing Gold (by 0.79 seconds) but bringing back Silver medals in the 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay. Boys Surrey Championship: Ben Durston (100m Breaststroke) knocked seconds from his PB to earn a Bronze medal and a place on the Surrey team in the Inter-Counties Gala on 1st April. Bradley Skillicorn set a School record in his first-ever 100m Butterfly. Oliver Taylor set a new PB and finished in the top six in the 100m Backstroke. Ben Steffens skimmed seconds from his PB to collect a Bronze medal in the 100m IM. Girls Surrey Championship: Hannah Wallis broke the School record in the 100m Breaststroke; Freddie Dicks in her first-ever 100m Fly broke the School record and took a county Silver medal; Maddy Austin took Gold in the 100m Freestyle and Sophie Kinally took Gold (and broke the School record) in the 100m Breaststroke. Maddy and Sophie were picked to represent Surrey in the Inter-Counties Gala.
BIATHLON
British Schools Modern Biathlon Championships: after a series of regional and national qualifying competitions, Conor McCormack (IVth Form) has been successful in reaching this competition, organized by Pentathlon GB at Crystal Palace on Sunday 27 th March 2011.
CRICKET
ICC Cricket World Cup: OC Seren Waters has been selected for the Kenyan cricket squad. In a recent warmup game against the Netherlands he scored 126 not out and batted throughout the whole 50-over innings.
MUSIC
HELEN WAREHAM COMPETITION, DASHWOOD PIANO PERFORMANCE (JUNIOR): 1st prize: Hattie Allison (South) 2nd prize: Oli Harris 3rd prize: Elinor Morgan HELEN WAREHAM COMPETITION, DASHWOOD PIANO PERFORMANCE (SENIOR): Ruby Joy, Hebe Westcott and Izzy Simpkin all won a place in the next round. HELEN WAREHAM COMPETITION, VOICE (JUNIOR): 1st prize: Tim Ayling 2nd prize: Harriet Trundle 3rd prize: Bruno Broughton HELEN WAREHAM COMPETITION, VOICE (SENIOR): Ellie Ayling, Paddy Cahill and Ollie Metcalfe all won a place in the next round. HELEN WAREHAM COMPETITION, WOODWIND (JUNIOR): 1st prize: Cathy Hobbs 2nd prize: Hannah Lock 3rd prize: George Wilkinson HELEN WAREHAM COMPETITION, WOODWIND (SENIOR): Chloë Allison, Giles Rozier-Pamplin and Ellie Ayling all won a place in the next round. Merrie England Concert: Ellie Ayling (Saxophone) and Sam McCagherty (Violin) joined the professional orchestra. Verdi s Requiem: the Chapel Choir and other staff and pupils created a 150-strong chorus to sing with international opera stars. Chichester Festival: Emily Hill won the Open class and was overall Winner of the Woodwind Competition. Grade 8 Distinction: Peter Westcott (Horn) Grade 8 Distinction: Tom Hollister (Percussion) Grade 8 Merit: Giles Rozier-Pamplin (Alto Saxophone)
DRAMA
Although the play was not an external event, the cast and crew of The Suicide should be credited for their outstanding performance please do take a look at PJL s extended review on the Cranleigh School website.
OUTDOOR EDUCATION
Duke of Edinburgh: record numbers have enrolled and are preparing for expeditions. CCF: Henry Graham-Rack achieved an outstanding score in his Methods of Instruction Cadre.
PERFORMING ARTS ROUND-UP FOUNDATION by Peter Longshaw
The Suicide by Nikolai Erdman was the Lent Term School Play, directed with style, purpose and intelligence by Martin Allison, aided by Mark Jenkins s superb set and lighting designs. The audience were in stitches at many points, not least with the hilarious Ben Durston as the unorthodox priest, but at other times there was the hushed silence that pays respect to the seriousness of great theatre and fine acting. The curtain call rightly allowed a final bow for central character Podeskalnikov, Jon Oldfield, one of those rare actors who has only to smile to have the whole audience in the palm of his hand. Other notables in the cast included the excellent Izzie Simpkin, the blustering Paddy Cahill and the charismatic Rosie Peters. Three of the finest comic impersonations came from the lisping Angus Peters, the extrovert Tommy Lyster and Charlie Moulton as the voyeuristic Marxist postman. In February we were promised and got 90 minutes of fun in Loveday s production of John Godber s Up n Under. The play s coarse humour was spiced in Alex Forsdike s production with apt Cranleigh School rugby references. The Welsh accent of Eddie Hamilton and the remarkably convincing Scottish accent of Max Hager were a vital part of the evening s success, and Charlie Humberstone was outstanding as Arthur Hoyle. It was refreshing to see a mixture of familiar and less familiar faces in major parts. Friday January 21st s concert in Speech Hall was the annual showcase for the best of the School s musicians. Sam McCagherty was the violin soloist in The Lark Ascending by Vaughan Williams: his pianissimos were especially ravishing and his tone exquisitely sweet, with the rhapsodic solo ending especially pure and light as air. Ellie Ayling performed the Saxo-Rhapsody by Coates with a real sense of nostalgia, a warm and powerful tone and virtuosic fingerwork. Cranleigh School Chapel Choir joined forces again with the Cranleigh Village Choral Society to perform Verdi s Requiem on Sunday 20th March in Speech Hall. This huge choir had been clearly inspired as well as well-drilled in three months of rehearsal and the tuning and musical tension in the hushed opening set the tone for the whole evening. Conductor Marcus Pashley has the
ideal credentials to interpret this much-loved work and his shaping of phrases and incisive punch at key moments made for a truly memorable wall-shaking interpretation. The world-class soloists were Meeta Raval, a rising star; mezzo Kathryn Harries (Cranleigh pupils are immensely fortunate to have her as one of our singing teachers); tenor Adrian Thompson and bass Brindley Sherratt. I cannot commend highly enough the sheer accuracy and choral attack in the singing: a credit to Marcus Pashley and his training. One of the finest chamber ensembles in the country, the Primrose Piano Quartet, played Bridge, Fauré and Brahms on March 2nd. Their cellist Andrew Fuller teaches at Cranleigh and we were fortunate indeed that this connection brought this fab four to the Cranleigh Concert Series. The Dashwood Piano Performance evening saw three Seniors sent through to the next round: Hebe Westcott, for a beautiful Brahms intermezzo; Ruby Joy for her compelling Rachmaninov; and Izzie Simpkin for her quietly commanding reading of the same composer. The third prize in the Junior Performance went to Elinor Morgan, second prize to Oliver Harris, and first prize to Hattie Allison, whose haunting interpretation of Turina s Conchita Reve drew all the audience in with subtle pianism. In the Pat Dixon Woodwind Performance evening the Junior third prize went to George Wilkinson on clarinet, second prize was awarded to Elinor Morgan for her stylish oboe playing and the winner was Catherine Hobbs for her ethereal reading of the slow movement of Bach s E minor flute sonata. The three Seniors to go through were Chloë Allison: a Weber clarinet concerto nicely balanced her melancholic recorder playing in York Bowen; Ellie Ayling, who earned her place with a characterful rendition of the Tango and Charleston for alto saxophone by Trevor Hold; and saxophonist Giles Rozier-Pamplin, whose ear-grabbing performance of the Blues Concerto by Bill Holcombe was utterly compelling.
IN FOCUS
The Foundation has been as busy as ever this term, with the indefatigable efforts of the Trustees (for which the School offers the sincerest of thanks) focused predominantly on three main areas. Work has continued apace on the two key projects. Bluett s, the 1st XV rugby pitch, and the cricket square have been completed, with grass now sown on both. The second rugby pitch is still a work in progress, with work anticipated to be completed by the middle of May. Fundraising for this project is going well, with over £345,000 having been donated so far thanks largely to the outstanding generosity of Old Cranleighans which just leaves another £80,000 required to complete the facility. The Chapel is back in full use, and the Mander organ has already transformed the experience of pupils, staff and guests alike with its incredible sound. The next stage is the seating gallery, upon which vital work will progress over the summer, enabling the whole School to be housed more comfortably although at this stage the seating gallery will remain looking somewhat functional, and further funds will be required in order to clad it in oak and implement the finishing touches befitting of this beautiful building. And finally there is the Midsummer Ball, raising funds for Foundationers now sold out, and set to be one of the most exciting events the School has hosted, complete with a private Red Arrows display, dinner by Rhubarb with Cottage Caterers and wonderful entertainment. We look forward to seeing you there!
In the Vocal Performance Junior section Bruno Broughton sang Tosti and was awarded third prize; Harriet Trundle sang Lloyd Webber to gain runner-up spot, but the clear winner was Timothy Ayling, who sang the very challenging Sweeter Than Roses by Henry Purcell. The three places in the Helen Wareham Competition went to Ellie Ayling, as Puccini s Musetta; Ollie Metcalfe, for his vocal acting in Jesus Christ Superstar and Patrick Cahill, who had all the qualities needed to bring Mozart s Figaro to life. A short term at Cranleigh does not mean less culture, just shorter gaps between events!
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For weekly updates of all of Cranleigh s news and events, please visit the website at www.cranleigh.org/community. For House News, please visit the Houses section
BLAST FROM THE PAST 1947 photo of Farm, grooming the bull!
DATES FOR NEXT TERM S DIARY
A quick-glance round-up of some key events (in-school and out) to which parents are warmly invited or at which their support would be, as ever, extremely welcome! Sun 1st May
9.30 am Zambia Sponsored Walk
Fri 6th May
7.00 pm Helen Wareham Competition Grand Final (SH)
Wed 11th May 7.30 pm Summer Concert (SH)
A WARM WELCOME THIS TERM TO
James Brookes, OC English and Tutor in North Oksana Burt Politics, History, Business Studies and Tutor in South Felix Hill Maths, IT and Tutor in Cubitt Nikki Lockwood Theatre Studies and Tutor in North Jane Underdown Director of Finance
GOOD LUCK IN THE HOLIDAYS TO ALL THOSE VISITING, TOURING OR COMPETING IN THE: The VIth Form Physics Trip to CERN, Switzerland UVth French Trip to Antibes Devizes-to-Westminster International Canoe Race CCF Easter Camp to Harlech Gold Duke of Edinburgh Practice Expedition to the Black Mountains Cricket Tour to Cape Town Rosslyn Park National Rugby Sevens LVth Mixed Hockey Tour to Holland National Student Drama Festival 8
...and finally, Cranleigh Staff would like to wish everyone a Happy Easter
FOND FAREWELLS TO Alan Lovell, Finance Bursar, who retires at the end of term after fifteen years at Cranleigh. During his time here he has kept the School s finances on track with good humour and a ready wit. He has enjoyed the many aspects of School life, participating in Common Room v Bursarial cricket, football and golf matches and even involving himself in Common Room revues. He has always been willing to help others, especially those who fail to understand the complexities of the accounting system(!), and has been a friendly, cheerful and delightful colleague around the Bursary. We wish him a long and happy retirement. Jenny Cretella, a hard working and highly valued member of both the Senior and Prep School Catering departments, who is retiring after an extraordinary 38 years at Cranleigh. Jenny s devotion to the job has been outstanding and always first-class, and her cheerful presence will be sadly missed by all who have worked with her over the years. Jenny leaves with the sincerest of thanks and very best wishes for a long and happy retirement. Pam Broadbent, Fees Controller, who arrived at Cranleigh School almost twenty years ago as Purchase Ledger Clerk, but soon took over processing the fees when the vacancy arose. She has during her time here sent out quite literally thousands of termly bills, and provided the first port of call for all parents queries and has done so with flair and good humour, representing a vital part of the Finance team. Pam is retiring at the end of April and is relocating to Somerset. We wish her all the best as she departs for the West Country.
For weekly updates of all of Cranleigh s news and events, please visit the website at www.cranleigh.org/community For House News, please visit the Houses section at www.cranleigh.org/school-life/houses
Fri 13th May
7.30 pm Tom Avery Society Lecture: Around the World by Bike, by Alastair Humphreys (ALT)
Sun 15th May
6.00 pm Confirmation Service: The Bishop of Guildford
Thu 19th May
3.15 pm House Athletics
Fri 20th May
7.30 pm Concert Series: Helen Wareham Winners Concert (MMS)
Tue 24th Thu 26th May
7.30 pm Junior Play: The Odyssey, by Hattie Naylor (VCT)
Wed 25th May 7.30 pm Piano Duet Recital: Jocelyn Waller, OC and Benjamin Charleston (MMS) Tues 31st May 7.00 pm OC Roberts Club: Andrew Roberts, Why Hitler Lost (69 Leadenhall Street, London EC3A 2DB) 13th-16th June Old Cranleighan Art Exhibition (The Strand Gallery, 32 John Adam Street, London WC2N 6BP) Wed 15th June 7.30 pm Concert Series: Winterreise Jazz Concert (MMS) Sat 18th June
2.00 pm Athletics (K2 Crawley)
Wed 22th June 2.00 pm Cricket: Girls 1st XI v MCC Wed 29th Thu 30th June
7.30 pm Spanish Play: La Casa de Bernarda Alba: la Continuación, by Robert Clarke (VCT)
Sun 3rd July
10.45 am Speech Day and OC Day
Sun 3rd July
1.00 pm Cricket: Boys 20/20 match v Old Cranleighans
Thu 7th July
11.30 am Cricket: Boys 1st XI v MCC
N.B. Some events do require tickets. For full details of all of next term s events, including individual teams sporting fixtures, please refer to the School Calendar and to the Events Guide (also available online at www.cranleigh.org).
For comments and requests for content you would like to see featured in Cranleigh Matters, please email egmd@cranleigh.org A sincere thank you to Stephen Owen for providing the photography featured within, and to Nick Smith at Andesign for all the design and artwork.