Brambletye Magazine 2022

Who’s Who At Brambletye

JULY 2022

GOVERNING BODY

Philip Lough, M.A., P.G.C.E. (Autumn Term) Chairman

Nick Perry, M.A. (Spring and Summer Terms) Chairman

Lorne Armstrong, M.A.

Christopher Beazley, B.Sc.

Sarah Curra, B.A.

Tom Dawson, M.A., P.G.C.E.

Ben Dunhill, B.A., Q.T.S.

Virginia Finegold, B.A., G.S.R.E. (Autumn and Spring Terms)

Mark Lascelles, B.A.

THE COMMON ROOM

William Brooks, B.A., P.G.C.E., M.B.A. (Ed.) Headmaster

Amelia Brooks, B.A. Marketing and Communications Manager

Nick Holloway, B.A., P.G.C.E. Deputy Headmaster, Head of P.S.H.E.E.

Dawn Atkinson, B.A., P.G.C.E. Head of the Pre-Prep and EYFS

David Finch B.Sc., P.G.C.E. Assistant Head (Pastoral), Head of Science

Charis Wightman, M.F.A., B.A., P.G.C.E. Assistant Head (Academic), Head of English

David Brundish, M.A., P.G.C.E. Head of Lower School, Year 3 Teacher

Nick Mason, M.A., B.Sc., P.G.C.E. Assistant Head (Co-Curricular), Head of Geography

Claire Clabby, B.A., P.G.C.E. Deputy Head of the Pre-Prep, Key Stage 1 Teacher

Michelle Clark, M.Sc., P.G.C.E. Year 4 Teacher, Housemaster of Nelson

Sam Connelly, M.A., B.A., P.G.C.E. Acting Head of History (Spring Term)

Will Denny, B.A., P.G.C.E. Mathematics, Housemaster of Wellington

Erika Eastcott Teaching Assistant (Lower School)

Caitlin Ferris, B.A., P.G.C.E. Year 4 Teacher, Housemaster of Drake

Josh Franco, B.A., P.G.C.E. French and Spanish, Housemaster of Marlborough

Justin Gomm, B.Sc., P.G.C.E. Master of Scholars, Mathematics

GAP STUDENTS AUTUMN TERM

Eliza Burcham

Zyggy Cobcroft

Jim Earwicker

Rebecca Nicol

Rhys Skinner

THE HOUSES HOUSEMASTER

Drake Caitlin Ferris

Marlborough Josh Franco

Nelson

Michelle Clark

Wellington Will Denny

THE PREP-PREP DEPARTMENT

Elizabeth Atkinson, C.A.C.H.E. 3 Stay and Play Manager

Gemma Coldwell, B.A., P.G.C.E. Key Stage 1 Teacher

Sophie Deane, B.A., Q.T.S. Key Stage 1 Teacher

Karen Ellis, B.A., P.L.A. Dip., Cert. Ed. Pre-Prep & Nursery Assistant

Ben Fulton, B.A., P.G.C.E. Key Stage 1 Teacher

Emma Foster, BTEC, NVQ Level 4 Nursery Practitioner

Sarah Langridge, C.A.C.H.E. 2 Year 2 Teaching Assistant

LEARNING

DEVELOPMENT & CURRICULUM SUPPORT

Nicola Robinson, B.A., P.G.C.E., M.F.A. Head of Additional Pupil Support

Bridget Cope, B.A., Dip. T.E.F.L. EAL Teacher

Rebecca Henderson Additional Pupil Support (Autumn Term maternity leave)

Simon Leefe, B.A., A.C.A.

Miles Marten, B.Sc., MRICS

Robert Mason, B.A.

Dr. Alexander Peterken, B.A., M.A., EdD (Autumn Term)

Rudy Porter

Lucy Watts, Mont. Dip.

Nick Hollamby, B.A., F.C.C.A. Clerk to the Governors

Dominic Harlan, Dip.R.A.M., A.R.A.M. Assistant Director of Music

Rev’d Karen Higgs, B.Ed., B.A. Chaplain, Head of Religious Studies, English

David Holden, B.A., P.G.C.E. Head of Art

Katja Hoyer, B.A., P.G.C.E. Head of History (Autumn Term)

Lucas Ingen-Housz, M.A., B.A., P.G.C.E. Classics Teacher (Maternity Cover)

Lara Kennedy, B.A., M.Sc., P.G.C.E. Head of Classics (Maternity Leave)

Lauren Levy, B.B., Q.T.S. Art (Maternity Leave)

Jonathan Lush, B.Ed. English

Naomie McKie, B.Ed. Head of Modern Languages

Gary Mitten, B.A., M.A.(Ed.) English

Freddie Piper, B.A., iP.G.C.E. Head of History

Ian Purcell, B.A., F.G.A., F.E.T.C. Head of Engineering, Science

Rachel Selleck, B.A., P.G.C.E., Cert. G.S.M.D. Director of Music

Rhys Skinner Art (Maternity Cover)

Christopher Walker BSc., P.G.C.E. Maths (Autumn Term)

Sam Walker, B.Ed. Director of Sport

Robbie Williams, B.A., iP.G.C.E. Head of Maths (Spring and Summer Terms)

Arabella Young, B.Sc., P.G.C.E., Q.T.S. Year 3 Teacher, Head of Data and Digital

SPRING AND SUMMER TERMS

Jim Earwicker

Albert Joscelyne

Kate Law-Whitting

Sophie Moore

Billy Ridley

Rhys Skinner (Spring Term)

Annie Calf (Summer Term)

HOUSE TUTORS

Gary Mitten and Arabella Young

David Brundish and Naomie McKie

Sam Walker and Lucas Ingen-Housz

David Finch and Rachel Selleck

Lucilla Lunn, B.A., P.G.C.E. Reception Teacher

Ami Martin, NQV Level 3 Year 1 Teaching Assistant

Keira McColl, B.A., Q.T.S. Nursery Room Two Leader

Lynda Milham, P.L.A. Dip. Nursery Room One Leader

Katie Miller, B.Ed. Year 2 Teaching Assistant

Angela Morton-Smith, C.A.C.H.E. 3 Teaching Assistant

Donna Simpson, C.A.C.H.E. 2 Reception Teaching Assistant

Michele Keville, Cert. Sp.L.D. Additional Pupil Support

Zena Sargent, B.A., P.G.C.E., Cert. SpLD. Additional Pupil Support

BOARDING, MATRONAL AND MEDICAL STAFF

Peta Andrews, G.Mus., P.G.C.E, LL.B., LL.M. Head of Boarding

Dr. Jonathan Andrews, M.B.B.S., F.R.C.A., Houseparent

Keeley Connelly Residential Matron (Spring Term)

Julia Corbin, B.Sc., R.G.N., N.D.N. School Sister

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

Nick Hollamby, B.A., F.C.C.A. Bursar

Amelia Brooks, B.A. Marketing and Communications Manager

Rachel Duthie, B.A. Head’s PA and Head of Administration (Spring and Summer Terms)

Kate Barratt Admissions Registrar (Spring and Summer Terms)

Katharine Field, B.A. Alumni Relations and Development

SUPPORT STAFF

Annabelle Price-Ingham Catering Manager

Alexander Thomas Chef

Judith Nappo Dining Room Supervisor

Monserrat Torvisco Dining Room Assistant

ESTATE STAFF

Lee Simpson, Dip. NEBOSH, Tech. IOSH: Head of Estates and Health and Safety Advisor

Alex Blackmore Deputy Head of Estates

Ian Bishun Site Team Member

Lorraine Gardiner Lead Gardener

Trevor Baker Gardener

Bryony Morris, BSc Estates Team Member

Andrew Phillips Estates Team Member and School Bus Driver

Dawn Green School Bus Driver (Spring and Summer Terms)

Uzi Pinkerfeld School Bus Driver

Kevin Weaver School Bus Driver

Sue Gallagher School Seamstress

EXTRA-CURRICULAR STAFF

Lee Bassett Prep School Swimming Coach

Paul Beasley Fencing Coach

Ben Brooke Football Coach

Jon Clifford Carpentry

Caroline Crichton Pre-Prep Mini Notes

Rosemary Cronin, FISTC Pre-Prep Swimming Teacher (Autumn and Spring Terms)

Collette Cubberley Netball & Cricket Coach

Simon Davis Sailing

Alison Dawson, B.A., L.R.A.M., C.Ed. Speech and Drama

James Gott, 2nd Dan, British Taekwondo Instructor Taekwondo

VISITING MUSIC STAFF

Will Collier, B. Mus. Drums (Autumn Term)

James Geer, M.A., M.Mus., P.G. Cert. PGVD Singing

Colin Hughes, G.T.C.L., P.G.C.E. Violin (Autumn Term)

Victoria Isfryn, Pg. Dip.Mus Trumpet

Elisabeth Holman, Dip. A.B.R.S.M., LNCM, FNCM Violin

Sarah Price, G.R.S.M., L.R.A.M. Clarinet, Saxophone

SCHOOL APPOINTMENTS

SCHOOL CAPTAINS: Sophie Kelso and Obiaku Wilson-Iwuji-Eme

SCHOOL PREFECTS: Thomas Adams, Mimosa Barker, Olivia Blades, Thomas Garrood, Honor McQuitty, Sophia Sneddon

HOUSE COMMANDERS

Drake: Olivia Blades, Pumpy Addison Smith

Marlborough: Ophelia Jelowicki-Henwood

Nelson: Thomas Garrood, Sohie Kelso

Wellington: Mimosa Barker

HOUSE OFFICERS

Drake: Pumpy Addison Smith, Oakley Rawner, Amelia Simons, Clemmie Warde

Amanda Hearn Evening Matron (Summer Term)

Claudia Kingsley Senior Matron

Jo Roberts Night Matron (Autumn Term)

Paula Talman, M.Sc., A.P.N.P., R.G.N., R.C.N. Dip. School Sister

Karen Garner Bursary Assistant

Rachel Hollamby, B.A. School Uniform and Shop Manager

Julie Leman Deputy Bursar

Claire Stacey, B.A., M.Sc. Pre-Prep Secretary

Harriet Tarnoy, B.A. Headmaster’s Secretary and Registrar (Autumn Term)

Heather White, M.Sc., Assoc. C.I.P.D. H.R. Manager & Compliance Officer

Giovanni Inserra Kitchen Porter

Patricia Young Catering Assistant

Lynn Frisby Catering Assistant

Charlie Tyler Kitchen Porter

Edina Potor Cleaning Manager

Trevor Draper Cleaner

David Kingman Cleaner

Robert Lesslei Cleaner

Hannah Wells Cleaner

Mirella Bartfai Cleaner

Kelly Maguire Cleaner

Teresa Edwards Cleaner

Julie Tyler Cleaner

Iain Sharp Cleaner

Sarah Gott, BWY Qualified Pre-Prep Yoga Loves

Callie Green, AF IDTA Dance

Ben Knight, PGA Advanced Professional, UKCC Level 3 Pre-Prep and Prep Golf

Anthony Morley, 4th Dan, British Taekwondo Instructor Pre-Prep Dragonfire Taekwondo

Alexander Over Squash

George Ross Tennis

Amy Ryan

David Simpkin

Pre-Prep Mini Notes

Pre-Prep Chess

Donna Simpson, A.I.S.T.D. Pre-Prep Modern Dance

Jonathan Tuck Chess

Helen Pye, B.A., M.Mus. L.R.A.M. Oboe

Judith Rae, B.Ed., C.T. A.B.R.S.M., I.S.M. Cello (Autumn and Spring Terms)

Ceri Stenner, A.N.C.M., A. (Mus.) N.C.M. Guitar, Piano

Claire Taylor, G.T.C.L., L.T.C.L. Singing

Jane Tuff, A.L.C.M., L.L.C.M. Woodwind

Tim Wade, L.G.S.M., P.Dip.(Jazz) Trombone

Bridget Wilcox, L.T.C.L. Piano

Marlborough: Ivan Brooks, Charlotte Burgess, Olivia Chilvers, Enzo Jacquemard, Theo Wing

Nelson: Alex Al-Qaq, Ella Clowes, Thomas Curra, Bennett Horner, Honor McQuitty

Wellington: Damali Duncan, George Foster Kemp, Peter Johnson, Ryan Luu, Sophia Sneddon

CAPTAINS OF BOARDING: Alex Al-Qaq and Enzo Jacquemard

HEAD CHORISTERS: Olivia Chilvers and Honor McQuitty

LEADER OF THE ORCHESTRA: Carlota Parras Esteban

LEADER OF BIG BAND: Clemmie Warde

LEADER OF STRINGS

(The Bramble Bows): Amelia Simons

CAPTAINS OF SPORT:

Football: George Foster-Kemp

Hockey: Olivia Blades

Rugby: Ivan Brooks

Netball: Olivia Blades

Cricket (Boys): Ivan Brooks

THE FORMS

(2020-2021)

(Tutor Groups in operation in Years 7 & 8)

8E 8N 8W

Thomas Adams

Mimosa Barker

Olivia Chilvers

Ella Clowes

Thomas Curra

Bennett Horner

Ophelia Jelowicki-Henwood

Peter Johnson

Sophie Kelso

Coco Peng

Amelia Simons

Sophia Sneddon

Rory Thomson

Obiaku Wilson-Iwuji-Eme

Theo Wing

Pumpy Addison Smith

Ivan Brooks

Charlotte Burgess

Colombe de Mitry

Damali Duncan

Edith Franklin-Stables

Thomas Garrood

Christian Hope

Edouard Holst Van Gogh

Ryan Luu

Algernon Mahon

Honor McQuitty

Alexandra Al-Qaq

Olivia Blades

Teddy Dean

Reggie Fernandez Brooke

George Foster-Kemp

Lorenzo Jacquemard

Jorge Lerma

Oakley Rawner

Willow Smither

Iria Valero Rodriguez

Clemmie Warde

7W 7N 6W Mr Williams

Claudia Armada

Grace Brincat

Luca Brugnoli

Isabella Buxton

Coco Carnegy

Billy Charoenpitaks

Elodie Eliott Lockhart

Hamish Henderson

Katya Kebadze

Lily McGairl

Alfie Prior

Elizabeth Reeves

Manuel Sánchez-Cascado

Poppy Skinner

Jacoby Womersley Smith

Robin Chapman-Hinge

Álvaro Davila Pariente

Manilla Dean

Jessica Field

Arsenii Gerasimov

Marta Gil Echarri

Eli Hall

Adriana Montes

Carlota Parras Esteban

Kenna Patel

Flora Smythe

Kuvertas Subacius

Ada Sung

Oliver Ward

Orlaith West

Vladislav Zaitsev

Henry Burton

Bertie Dean

Annabel de Chassiron

Sienna Duncan

Max Evans

Charlie Fox

Rose Garrood

Oliver Hart

Ewan McCabe

Willem Orgill

Milly Rowe

Harry Southon

Pippa Vickers

6M Mrs McKie 6Ma Mr Mason 5D Mr Denny

Florence Bland

Rory Calvocoressi

Ben Clark

Oscar de Mestre

Scarlet Dennison

Alexander Irens

Ethan Lake

Belle Lee

Freddie McGairl

Tabitha McQuitty

Tom Moody

Katherine Pearce

Tresaanth Ruben

Otterley West

Ida Akker

Bibi Calvocoressi

Fred Carruthers

Mackenzie de Mestre

Teresa Guzmán

William Hart

Archie Jaques

Emilia Johnson

Jack Mills

Joe Sato

Charles Simpson

Oliver Twyning

Seraphina Weston

Felix Biddle-Guerrier

Georgie Carnegy

Milo Curra

Max Duthie

Margot Eliott Lockhart

Bobbie Foster-Kemp

George Fraser

India Henderson

Saoirse Longfield

Cástor Olascoaga

Cicilia Olascoaga

Romilly Skinner

Arthur Smythe

George Stenhouse

Rosanna Warde

Eva Whittome

Mariella Wilkinson

George Wormull

5M Mr Mitten 4C Mrs Clark 4F Miss Ferris

Nyamekye Ampofo

Edward Brincat

Wilbur Chapman-Hinge

Henry Chilvers

Archie Donaldson-Cramer

Tina Dong

Marcel Fernandez Brooke

Harry Fox

Lorcan Jones

Jasper Lee

Arthur Li

Annabelle Sully

Hermione Thompson

Eleanor Twyning

Evie Vranic Britten

Carter West

Emilia Weston

Wilfred Chicken

Bumble Clarke

Oscar Clark

Clara Collcutt Deghaye

Marina Davis

Ben Goldingham

Joshua Hingston

Frederick McLean

Beatrice Mordaunt

Sam Murphy

Abayomi Oshinowo

Ava Petrova

Benjamin Selleck

Cricket (Girls): Mimosa Barker

Athletics: Alex Al-Qaq

Sailing: Thomas Garrood

Cross Country: Algie Mahon

Senior Chess: Thomas Curra

Junior Chess: Josiah McKie

3B Mr Brundish 3Y Miss Young 2F Mr Fulton

Jacob Crichton-Williams

Elise Duthie

Hugo Field

Maximillian Jaques

George Johnson

Rose Kelso

Otto Mills

Ella Vickers

Jasper Weston

Milly-Ellen Brugnoli

Benjamin Brundish

Frederick de Silva

Joshua Gilbert

Leo Li

Molly McCabe

Josiah McKie

Air Plengvanit

Sibylla Thompson

Myla Vickers

Archie Chicken

Sofia Clabby

Padma Colwill

Silvia Davis

Aurelia de Mestre

Eliza Foster-Kemp

Sienna Jacquemard

Mian Li

Evan Lloyd-Smith

Rosie Maxwell

Nuno Nardini

Matilda Norris-Jones

Rory Selleck

Zachary Vranic Britten

2C Mrs Clabby 1D Miss Deane 1C Miss Coldwell

Edward Fraser

Ethan Gilbert

Fox Lyne

Freddie Mason

Tallulah McGairl

Amy McKie

Clementine McQuitty

Camilla Norris-Jones

Annabel O’Gorman

Matilda Olascoaga

Orla Rowlands

Alfie Scott-Thorne

Flora Stenhouse

Megan Weston

Sofia Zhao

Isaac Akker

Poppy Bowman

Poppy Brincat

Rufus Burgess

Axel Burnham

Amelia Fulton-Lowes

Elena Hunt

Lily Mather

Hugo Warodell

Scarlett Young-West

Rafe Coakley

Frederick Eddleston

Darcy Gilbert

Miriam Goldingham

Douglas Holloway

Xanthia JelowickiHenwood

Cicely McLean

Hector Smythe

Andrew Yang

RL Mrs Lunn Nursery 2 Miss McColl Nursery 1 Mrs Milham

Emilia Brundish

Arabella Cave

Arrez Ciftdal

Isla Finch

Darcey Fulton-Lowes

Barnaby Holloway

Oscar Lamport-Crichton

Georgina McCarthy

Rocco Nardini

Oscar Nixon

Poppy Ramsden Foster

Aoife Rowlands

Olivia Sherwood

Henry Thomas

Jonny Warner

Zac Zhao

Luca Allegretti

Arturo Burley

Dillan Ciftdal

Albert Durrant

Hunter Hamblin

Araminta Harrison

Darcy Hellaby

Florence Johns

Zak Lyne

Adaline Major

Olivia McKie

Adriano Minerva

Rex Murphy

Raife Rawner

Isabella Scott-Thorne

Lilia Steulet

Charlie Williams

Hugo Yim

Felix Young-West

Lysander Blackmore

Xenia Black

Oliver Bowman

Arabella Carroll

Emilia de Hann

Albert Eddleston

Hector Hamblin

Louis Harper

Wilfred Holloway

Sofia Hunt

Alaia Iledare

Elijah Khan

Arthur Maddocks

Leonora Major

Oliver O’Toole

Cassian Rogers

Mae Sherwood

Archie Smyth

Poppy Thomas

Lucy Warodell

Clara Williams

Aimee Bruce

Clemence Longfield

James Maxwell

Emmeline McCarthy

Mila Nardini

Alexander Nixon

Emily Norris-Jones

Edward O’Gorman

Jayden Ogungbesan

Faramade Oshinowo

Charlie Rowe

William Warde

Headmaster’s Foreword

It has certainly been a year of two halves. We started this academic year with COVID-19 still hanging over us and ended it in glorious sunshine at the first proper Sports Day in three years. Normality now seems to have returned and I am absolutely delighted that we were able to crack on with providing a rich and varied programme for the children at Brambletye. There have been some bumps along the wayhaving to close the school due to a lack of fresh water was a moment we could have well done without!

The pupils of Brambletye have won a total of 16 scholarships across all the disciplines - an extraordinary achievement and it takes the tally of scholarships won by pupils at Brambletye to 111 in the last 5 years. Those pupils sitting Common Entrance were similarly impressive - 46% of all grades awarded were A*s or A. The leavers of 2022 will now move onto an incredibly impressive selection of Public Schools; they are as follows:

Ardingly College, Benenden School, Caterham School, Charterhouse, Eastbourne College, Epsom College, Gordonstoun School, Hurstpierpoint College, King’s Bruton, Sevenoaks School, Sherborne School, Sherborne School for Girls, Stowe School, Tonbridge School, Tudor Hall School, Uppingham School.

The purpose of a school is to provide a rich academic establishment that sets out to impart knowledge and to provide a conducive environment for learning to take place. This is important but I feel that Brambletye prides itself on shaping and developing the character of each individual child in its care. What makes me so proud is watching

the development of all of the pupils at Brambletye but particularly our Year 8s who we said goodbye to at the end of the Summer Term having spent, in some cases, 7 years or more at this wonderful school. They are fundamentally a fabulously kind group of children. They are independent, eloquent and cogent and they are interesting and interested in the world around them. These are all skills that will serve them well in years to come.

At the end of every school year our leavers and the remainder of the school attend a Leavers’ Service in the Chapel and we sing the traditional hymn ‘God Be With You Till We Meet Again’. As this year’s leavers fly from the Brambletye nest they can do so with courage, they can do so with a great deal of pride in what they have achieved during their time here and they can do so safe in the knowledge that we will all meet again and I for one will very much look forward to that day.

Thank you to the children of Year 8 - you have been a vintage year. They have set the tone for the whole school and we wish them all the very best as they move onto another very exciting chapter in their lives.

My thanks go to all the staff of this school. They are a remarkable team and I am indebted to them on a daily basis. Thank you also to Jonathan Lush for pulling this wonderful record of school life together – it is certainly a monumental task. I am also hugely grateful to all of this year’s contributors to the Brambletye Magazine, 2022.

Will Brooks

Prize-Giving

Autumn Term 2021

Verse Speaking Competition

Sladen Cup (for Senior Verse Speaking): Thomas Curra

Year 7: Hamish Henderson

Year 6: Tabby McQuitty

Year 5: Evie Vranic Britten

Sport

House Football Cup: WELLINGTON

1st XI Player of the Season: Reggie Fernandez Brooke

Most Improved Player of the Season: Edouard Holst Van Gogh

The ‘Golden Boot’ award: Ivan Brooks (for 12 goals)

Outstanding Attitude Award: Thomas Adams

House Hockey Cup: NELSON

1st Team Hockey Player of the Season: Olivia Blades

Most Improved 1st Team Player of the Season: Sophie Kelso

Music:

Doubleday Chapel Choir Cup: Luca Brugnoli

Senior Progress in Music Cup: Elodie Eliott Lockhart

Music Award: Rafe Bamford (ABRSM Copper

Academia:

Stars Prizes – Golds

3B: George Johnson

3Y: Molly McCabe

4C: Abayomi Oshinowo

4F: Jayden Ogungbesan

5D: Mariella Wilkinson

5M: Evie Vranic Britten

6H: Milly Rowe

6M: Scarlet Dennison

Send-up Prizes

Music Medal, Cello)

6Ma: Teresa Guzmán

7W: Bella Buxton

7N: Jessica Field

8E: Coco Peng

8N: Alejandra Artero Siragusa

8W: Alex Al-Qaq

Top individual Golds total: George Johnson (94 Golds)

Myla Vickers, Benjamin Selleck, Aimee Bruce, Clemence Longfield, Alexander Nixon, Emily Norris-Jones, Jayden Ogungbesan, Arthur Smythe, Mariella Wilkinson, Tina Dong, Evie

Vranic Britten, Henry Burton, Carlota Parras Esteban, Olivia Chilvers

Most Improved Year 8

Player of the Season: Sophia Sneddon

Most Improved Year 7

Player of the Season: Katherine Chai

Middle Girls’ Player of the Season: Milly Rowe

Middle Girls’ Most Improved

Player of the Season: Pippa Vickers

Junior Girls’ Player of the Season: Bea Mordaunt

Junior Girls’ Most Improved

Player of the Season: Emily Norris-Jones

Dormitory Prizes

The Harvey Brooks Dormitory Cup (for the tidiest dormitory): Boys: Tulip Girls: Cherry

Christmas Decorations Prize: Boys: Willow and Cypress Girls: Lime

Ballroom Dancing Cup: Edouard Holst Van Gogh, Sophie Kelso, Coco Peng, Obiaku Wilson-Iwuji-Eme

Stars Prizes – Pinks (prize for helpfulness, kindness and good citizenship)

Year 3: Molly McCabe

Year 4: Edward O’Gorman

Year 5: Milo Curra and Max Duthie

Year 6: Teresa Guzmán

Year 7: Orlaith West and Millie Dean

Year 8: Oakley Rawner

The Callender Cup for Pinks (for the top individual Pinks total): Molly McCabe (25 Pinks)

Top Individual Overall Star Total: George Johnson (94 stars)

Accelerated Reader Winners

English Classes Most points achieved Most improved reader

3B Jasper Weston George Johnson

3Y Freddy de Silva Josiah McKie

4C Benjamin Selleck Wilfred Chicken

4F Aimee Bruce Edward O’Gorman, William Warde

Yr 5 JL Margot Eliott Lockhart Raffi Phillips

Yr 5 GM Evie Vranic Britten Arthur Li

Yr 6 JL Tresaanth Ruben Tom Moody

Yr 6 KEH Rory Calvocoressi Rory Calvocoressi

Yr 6 GM Ewan McCabe Charlie Fox

Yr 7 CW Orlaith West Flora Smythe

Yr 7 JL Hamish Henderson Arsenii Gerasimov, Vlad Zaitsev

Oliver Ward

Yr 8 CW Bennett Horner Coco Peng

Yr 8 JL Olivia Blades Pumpy Addison Smith

Yr 8 GM Álvaro Davila Pariente Iria Valero Rodriguez

Millionaires Club: Elodie Eliott Lockhart, Flora Smythe, Rory Calvocoressi, Archie Donaldson-Cramer

House Cups

Star Prizes

Inter-House Golds Cup

1st DRAKE

2nd Marlborough

3rd Wellington 4th Nelson

Inter-House Pinks Cup 1st NELSON

2nd Marlborough 3rd Wellington 4th Drake

Inter-House Stars and Minuses Cup

1st MARLBOROUGH 2nd Drake

3rd Wellington 4th Nelson

Inter-House Good Conduct Cup (Awarded to the House with the lowest minus score. This does not count towards the House Shield.)

1st DRAKE

2nd Nelson

3rd Marlborough 4th Wellington

Inter-House Sports Cup 1st NELSON

2nd Drake

3rd Wellington 4th Marlborough

House Shield

1st DRAKE

2nd Marlborough

3rd Nelson 4th Wellington

Spring Term 2022

Art and Design Technology

Progress in Art (Senior): Ella Clowes

Progress in Art (Middle): Ewan McCabe

Progress in Art (Junior): Jayden Ogungbesan

Progress in D.T. (Senior): Teddy Dean

Progress in D.T. (Middle): Oliver and William Hart

Progress in D.T. (Junior): Myla Vickers

Drama

Junior Drama Cup: Evie Vranic Britten

Music

Progress in Music (Senior): Coco Peng

Progress in Music (Middle): Marcel Fernandez Brooke

Progress in Music (Junior): George Johnson

Most Promising Newcomer: Flora Smythe

Inter-House Music Competition (House Shout): DRAKE

Dormitory Prize

The Harvey Brooks Dormitory Cup (for the tidiest dormitory): Boys: Willow Girls: Maple

Sport

Butler Rugby Cup (Outstanding player of the season): Algie Mahon

Ripley Rugby Tankard (Most improved player): Ryan Luu

Cox Cup (Year 6 player of the season): Ethan Lake

Most Improved Senior Netball Player: Damali Duncan and Millie Dean

Netball Shield (Outstanding senior player of the season): Olivia Blades

Most Improved Middle Netball Player: Sienna Duncan

Middle Netball Cup (Outstanding player of the season): Milly Rowe

Junior Netball Cup (Outstanding player of the season): Emily Norris-Jones

Senior House Netball Cup: DRAKE

Middle House Netball Cup: NELSON

Junior House Netball Cup: WELLINGTON

Senior Boys Hockey Player of the Season: Thomas Garrood

Middle Boys Hockey Player of the Season: Ethan Lake

Junior Boys Hockey Player of the Season: Charlie Rowe

Senior Boys House Hockey Cup: NELSON

Middle Boys House Hockey Cup: NELSON

Junior Boys House Hockey Cup: MARLBOROUGHAcademia

Junior Progress Cup:

Year 3: Ben Brundish Year 4: Abayomi Oshinowo

Stars Prizes – Golds

3B: Max Jaques 3Y: Molly McCabe

4C: Bumble Clarke 4F: Clemence Longfield and Emmeline McCarthy

5D: Mariella Wilkinson 5M: Emilia Weston

6W: Rose Garrood 6M: Otterly West

6Ma: Seraphina Weston 7W: Katya Kebadze

7N: Jessica Field 8E: Coco Peng and Ella Clowes

8N: Pumpy Addison Smith 8W: Olivia Blades and Oakley Rawner

Top individual Golds total: Max Jaques (52 Golds)

Stars Prizes – Pinks (prize for helpfulness, kindness and good citizenship)

Year 3: Molly McCabe Year 4: Emmeline McCarthy

Year 5: Ellie Twyning Year 6: Teresa Guzmán, Bibi Calvocoressi, Mack de Mestre

Year 7: Elodie Eliott Lockhart, Year 8: Theo Wing Elizabeth Reeves

The Callender Cup for Pinks (for the top individual Pinks total): Molly McCabe (27 Pinks)

Top Individual Overall Star Total: Molly McCabe (71 stars)

Inter-House Good Conduct Cup (for the House with the lowest number of minuses. This does not count towards the House Shield.)

1st NELSON

2nd Drake

3rd Marlborough 4th Wellington

HOUSE SHIELD

1st DRAKE

2nd Wellington 3rd Nelson 4th Marlborough

Send-up Prizes

Bumble Clarke, Annabel de Chassiron, Thomas Garrood, Bennett Horner, Enzo Jacquemard, Ryan Luu, Emmeline McCarthy, Emily Norris-Jones, Oakley Rawner, Milly Rowe, Emilia Weston HOUSE CUPS

Inter-House Golds Cup 1st WELLINGTON 2nd Drake 3rd Marlborough 4th Nelson

Inter-House Pinks Cup 1st DRAKE 2nd Marlborough 3rd Wellington 4th Nelson

Inter-House Stars and Minuses Cup 1st WELLINGTON 2nd Drake 3rd Nelson 4th Marlborough

Inter-House Sports Cup 1st NELSON 2nd Drake 3rd Wellington 4th Marlborough

End of Term Prize Giving, Friday 8th July in the Theatre

Junior Progress Cup: Faramade Oshinowo

Pinfold Good Spirit Cup: Freddy De Silva

Best Junior Musician: Alexander Nixon

Best Middle Musician: Tina Dong

Best Senior Musician: Carlota Parras Esteban and Luca Brugnoli

Junior Progress in Music Cup: Benjamin Selleck

The Brambletye Music Cup: Coco Peng

Dunn Art Cup: Coco Peng (All Coco’s prizes were awarded at this Prize-Giving as she wasn’t going to be at the Year 8 Prize-Giving)

Year 8 Self Portrait Prize: Coco Peng

Harris Art Prize: Elodie Eliott Lockhart and Jessica Field

The Weston Cup for Junior Art: Aimee Bruce

The Weston Cup for Junior Design and Technology: Ava Petrova Year 6 Landscape

Drawing Competition: Belle Lee

Renshaw Cup for Junior Drama: Bumble Clarke

Middle Drama Colours: Alexander Irens, Emilia Johnson, Tom Moody, Katherine Pearce, Milly Rowe, Seraphina Weston

Junior Drama Colours: Bumble Clarke, Clemence Longfield, James Maxwell, Emmeline McCarthy

Junior Verse Speaking Prize: Year 3: Ben Brundish Year 4: Emmeline McCarthy

Geography Photograph Competition

Years 3 & 4 - ‘Nature’s Wonder’: Clemence Longfield

Years 5 & 6 - ‘People and Place’: Max Duthie

Year7 & 8 – ‘Resilient Earth’: Thomas Adams

Academia

Stars Prizes – Golds

3B: George Johnson 3Y: Molly McCabe

4C: Sam Murphy

4F: Clemence Longfield

5D: Cecilia Olascoaga 5M: Henry Chilvers

6W: Pippa Vickers 6M: Katherine Pearce

6Ma: Teresa Guzmán 7W: Coco Carnegy

7N: Millie Dean

8N: Damali Duncan

8E: Mimosa Barker

8W: Oakley Rawner

Top Individual Golds Total: Max Jaques (70 Golds)

Stars Prizes – Pinks (prize for helpfulness, kindness and good citizenship)

Year 3: Molly McCabe

Year 4: Edward O’Gorman

Year 5: Henry Chilvers, Lorcan Jones

Year 6: Sienna Duncan, Thomas Moody

Year 7: Claudia Armada

Year 8: Thomas Adams, Sophie Kelso

The Callender Cup for Pinks (for the top individual Pinks total): Molly McCabe (15 Pinks)

Top Individual Overall Star Total: George Johnson (70 stars)

SPORT

Cricket

Boys U9 Player of the Season: Wilfred Chicken

Girls U9 Player of the Season: Ava Petrova

Boys U9 Most Improved Player of the Season: Jayden Ogungbesan

Girls U9 Most Improved Player of the Season: Clara Collcutt Deghaye

Boys Colts Cricket Cup: Alexander Irens

Girls Colts Cricket Cup: Annabelle Sully

Boys Colts Fielding Cup: Bertie Dean

Girls Colts Fielding Cup: Tina Dong

Inter-House Cricket Cup (results from both Boys and Girls competitions): WELLINGTON

Athletics

Inter-House Relay Cup

(The Blue Ribbon Event before lunch on Sports Day):

Inter-House Athletics Cup:

Tennis

Chambers Tennis Cup (Senior): Manuel Sanchez Cascado

Middle Tennis Cup: Milly Rowe

Junior Tennis Cup: Josh Hingston

Dormitory Prize

The Harvey Brooks Dormitory Cup: Boys: Oak Girls: Cherry

Chapel Wardens Prize:

Thomas Adams, Pumpy Addison Smith, Enzo Jacquemard, Algie Mahon

Lighting Team (Mr Purcell’s last ever Lighting Team):

Thomas Adams, Pumpy Addison Smith, Bennett Horner, Thomas Garrood, Peter Johnson, Oakley Rawner

Send-Up Prizes

Henry Chilvers, Thomas Curra, Colombe de Mitry, Damali Duncan, Hamish Henderson, Enzo Jacquemard, Coco Peng, Ava Petrova, Air Plengvanit, Elizabeth Reeves, Arthur Smythe, Ada Sung, Leo Li, Saoirse Longfield, Tabitha McQuitty, Jayden Ogungbesan, Ellie Twyning, Evie

Vranic Britten, Emilia Weston, Jacoby Womersley Smith

Times Tables Progress Cups

Year 3: Elise Duthie

Year 4: Charlie Rowe

Year 5: Romilly Skinner

Reading

The most words read this academic year: Orlaith West

Duolingo School Competition Winner:

1st Sam Murphy

2nd Tina Dong

3rd Milo Curra

Cow Latin Prize: Coco Peng

Marstrand Prize for Mathematics: Coco Peng

Coco Peng: Charterhouse Art and Academic Scholarship Awards

HOUSE CUPS

Inter-House Golds Cup

1st WELLINGTON

2nd Marlborough 3rd Drake

4th Nelson

Inter-House Pinks Cup

1st MARLBOROUGH

2nd Drake

3rd Nelson

4th Wellington

Inter-House Stars and Minuses Cup

1st WELLINGTON 2nd Drake 3rd Marlborough 4th Nelson

Inter-House Sports Cup 1st WELLINGTON 2nd Marlborough 3rd Drake 4th Nelson

Inter-House Good Conduct Cup 1st NELSON 2nd Drake 3rd Wellington 4th Marlborough

Davidson Duty Cup (awarded for the first time since COVID-19 began in 2020) 1st = WELLINGTON NELSON

3rd = Drake Marlborough

HOUSE SHIELD 1st WELLINGTON 2nd Drake

3rd Marlborough 4th Nelson

Summer Term Sports and Speech Day, Saturday 9th July

Prizes presented by: Mrs Heather Kelso and Mrs NneNne Iwuji-Eme

SPORT

Senior Captains’ Prizes:

Football: George Foster-Kemp

Hockey: Olivia Blades

Rugby: Ivan Brooks

Netball: Olivia Blades

Cricket (Boys): Ivan Brooks

Cricket (Girls): Mimosa Barker

Athletics: Alex Al-Qaq

Sailing: Thomas Garrood

Chess: Thomas Curra

Cross Country: Algie Mahon

1st XI Fielding Cup (Boys): Algie Mahon

The Leefe 1st XI Fielding Cup (Girls): Olivia Blades

The Coleman 1st XI Batting Cup (Boys): Ivan Brooks

The Bonnar 1st XI Batting Cup (Girls): Alex Al-Qaq

1st XI Bowling Cup (Boys): George Foster-Kemp

The Brealey 1st XI Bowling Cup (Girls): Mimosa Barker

The Chambers Tennis Cup for Improvement: Oakley Rawner

The Edu Athletics Cup: Mimosa Barker

The Sailing Cup: Thomas Garrood

The Donald Golf Cup: Algie Mahon

EXTRA-CURRICULAR

Head Choristers:

Olivia Chilvers, Honor McQuitty

Senior Drama Cup: Thomas Curra

Year 8 Music Prize: Ella Clowes

Dunn Art Cup: Enzo Jacquemard (joint winner with Coco Peng)

Yorke Prize: Amelia Simons and Ophelia Jelowicki-Henwood

Most Improved Artist: Thomas Curra

The ‘H’ Prize for Art; Teddy Dean

Year 8 Sketch Book of the Year Award: Olivia Chilvers

Year 8 Self Portrait of the Year Prize: Colombe de Mitry, Christian Hope, Sophia Sneddon, Iria Valero

Rodriguez, Obiaku Wilson-Iwuji-Eme

The Ridgway Rock (Awarded to someone who shows great perseverance and determination to succeed on the Leaver’ residential trip): Damali Duncan

Leaver’s House Trebuchet Challenge: DRAKE

ACADEMIC

Panichewa Cup for the best Year 8 C.E. Results: Peter Johnson

Shankland Prize for Creative Writing: Thomas Adams

Thompson Modern Language Prize: Thomas Adams

The Bullock Science Prize: Peter Johnson

The Yarrow Geography Prize: Peter Johnson

The Babtie History Prize: Honor McQuitty

The Parke Prize for Religious Studies: Sophie Kelso

The King Prize for Design: Thomas Adams

The Horner Reading Prize: Awarded to all those who attempted an Academic Scholarship

Scholarship Prizes

Academic:

Sophie Kelso (Benenden), Thomas Adams (Tonbridge), Coco Peng (Charterhouse)

Art: Olivia Chilvers (Ardingly College), Thomas Curra (Sevenoaks), Enzo Jacquemard (Stowe), Ophelia Jelowicki Henwood (Gordonstoun), Amelia Simons (Caterham), Sophia Sneddon (Eastbourne College), Coco Peng (Charterhouse)

DT: Thomas Adams (Tonbridge)

Drama: Honor McQuitty (Sherborne Girls)

Sport: Alex Al-Qaq (Charterhouse), Olivia Blades (Benenden), Algie Mahon (King’s Bruton), Honor McQuitty (Sherborne Girls)

Headmaster’s Prize: Charlotte Burgess, Bennett Horner, Rory Thomson, Clemmie Warde, Theo Wing

The Lloyd Prize for Endeavour: Peter Johnson

The Robin Lewis Award: Pumpy Addison Smith

The Spencer-Jones Bowl: Oakley Rawner

School Captain Prizes: Sophie Kelson and Obiaku Wilson-Iwuji-Eme

Salvete / Welcome

STAFF

Heather Kelso

Annie Calf

Frederick Piper

Emily Sargent

Kate Barratt

Sam Connelly

CHILDREN

Arthur Maddocks NSRY1

Olivia Sherwood RL

Mae Sherwood NSRY1

Leonora Major NSRY1

Archie Smyth NSRY1

Luca Allegretti NSRY2

Hermione Thompson 5M

Sibylla Thompson 3Y

Georgie Carnegy 5D

Emilia de Haan NSRY1

Elena Hunt 1D

Poppy Ramsden Foster RL

Robin Chapman-Hinge 7N

Xenia Black NSRY1

Felix Young-West NSRY2

Alaia Iledare NSRY1

Cástor Olascoaga 5D

Cecilia Olascoaga 5D

Amanda Hearn

Lucas Ingen-Housz

James Earwicker

Albert Joscelyne

Kate Law-Whitting

Sophie Moore

Matilda Olascoaga 2C

Lucy Warodell NSRY1

Charlie Williams NSRY2

Clara Williams NSRY1

Oliver Bowman NSRY1

Albert Eddleston NSRY1

Darcy Hellaby NSRY2

Nyamekye Ampofo 5M

Claudia Armada 7W

Lysander Blackmore NSRY1

Milly-Ellen Brugnoli 3Y

Luca Brugnoli 7W

Arabella Carroll NSRY1

Billy Charoenpitaks 7W

Padma Colwill 2F

Annabel de Chassiron 6H

Albert Durrant NSRY2

Marta Gil Echarri 7N

William Ridley

Robbie Williams

Dawn Green

Bryony Morris

Bridget Clayton

Trevor Baker

Hector Hamblin NSRY1

Louis Harper NSRY1

Araminta Harrison NSRY2

Joshua Hingston 4C

Christian Hope 8N

Sofia Hunt NSRY1

Archie Jaques 6MA

Maximilian Jaques 3B

Rose Kelso 3B

Elijah Khan NSRY1

Jorge Lerma 8W

Mian Li 2F

Lily Mather 1D

Josiah McKie 3Y

Adriano Minerva NSRY2

Adriana Montes 7N

Edward O’Gorman 4F

Annabel O’Gorman 2C

Sophie Deane

Dominic Harlan

Katherine Miller

Oliver O’Toole NSRY1

Carlota Parras Esteban 7N

Air Plengvanit 3Y

Manuel Sánchez-Cascado 7W

Ada Sung 7N

Henry Thomas RL

Poppy Thomas NSRY1

Oliver Ward 7N

Andrew Yang 1C

Sofia Zhao 2C

Zac Zhao RL

Arturo Burley NSRY2

Álvaro Davila Pariente 7N

Colombe de Mitry 8N

Teresa Guzmán 6MA

Eli Hall 7N

Iria Valero Rodriguez 8W

Valete

Ian Purcell

At the end of the academic year we were extremely sad to say goodbye to Ian Purcell. He embarks on a well-deserved retirement, bringing his tenure of thirty years of loyal service to Brambletye to an end.

Ian arrived in August of 1992 and moved into South Lodge with his family, having spent five years at the Cavina School in Nairobi, Kenya. He was appointed as Head of Science by the then Headmaster Donald Fowler-Watt. Ian remembers there being one large laboratory and one small one, in addition to a large quantity of gerbils! Meanwhile, Claire arrived in the Pre-Prep in 2000 to set up the Nursery.

As a Science teacher, Ian understood the great value of teaching the subject with a focus on practical experiments and over one thousand Old Brambletyeans have benefited from his guidance and wisdom. He remembers the pride he felt at one boy getting the highest Science mark in the Winchester Election scholarship paper and numerous old pupils saying that they were inspired in future life by Ian’s Science lessons and trips to Kenya.

During his time as Head of Science, Ian oversaw the redevelopment of the Science Labs which were opened officially by former Brambletye parent and land speed record holder, Richard Noble. Ever since then, Ian has been the force behind the annual Bloodhound Rocket Car Competition here at Brambletye. Ian has a great love of both launching and detonating things - exploding pumpkins, launching watermelons across the lower terrace using home-made trebuchets, shooting ‘elephant’s toothpaste’ out of Coca-Cola bottles using Mentos, much to the delight of Pre-Prep children, and he also loved igniting methane bubbles on children’s palms (all with a strict Health and Safety element of course!). He organised many Science trips to the British Wildlife Centre, Herstmonceux, the Lancing and Haileybury Science Competitions and the Millennium Seed Bank. He obtained a grant to develop a wildlife garden (now part of the ‘Dump’) where wild flowers were planted and a terraced path put in. He hosted many holiday courses and activities, including a Survival Camp and a Yurt Building Course. He introduced the annual Technology Competition which has included the building of rocket cars, battering rams and safe egg landings and he even oversaw a visit from the real rocket car, Thrust SSC, where the front gate at Brambletye had to be removed in order to get it down the drive! He says, “The best thing about Brambletye is that you can come up with wacky ideas that are then supported by the Headmaster and you then discover a child who is brilliant at it. At Brambletye we give every pupil a chance to hang their hat on something.” Ian also supervised two major Leavers’ projects - the Outdoor Classroom and the building of the Camp on New Field.

Ian’s love of Kenya led him to arrange six school trips to climb Mount Kenya and he has promoted and supported two African annual school charities, the Gogar Primary School and the Flames of Hope School. In the early days he and Dave Holden also championed the First Vanessa Grant Trust ‘Practical Action’. Ian also ran numerous events here at school, including the famous 4x4 Safari Challenges and the Dog Shows. He has been a form and personal tutor, Housemaster of Nelson for twelve years, helped build the Brambletye assault course, instructed our Year 8s in ballroom dancing (since 2013) and initiated the very popular Burn’s Night Supper. On the sporting front, Ian has been fully involved in coaching games and taking teams, including Under 8 tag rugby and canoe polo (one of Ian’s canoe polo teams

reached the National Semi-Finals). He has taught children how to climb on the indoor climbing wall in the Sports Hall and also, until recently, on the outdoor climbing wall in the woods. He was also instrumental in setting up the zip wire across the golf course. In 2014 he introduced sailing to Brambletye and this has been a resounding success with the Brambletye Sailing Team regularly taking part in the IAPS regatta in Weymouth. The Headmaster reports that, much to his relief, even after retiring, Ian will continue to run this hugely popular activity! In fact, Ian will turn his hand to absolutely anything as long as it doesn’t involve umpiring a cricket match!

Ian is a technical wizard and it should come as no surprise that he ran the Theatre Sound and Lighting desks for many, many years. He is not only a reliable and knowledgeable colleague when support is needed for dramatic productions, but he also makes it his responsibility to mentor groups of senior pupils on how to operate the sound and lighting desks in the Theatre. This is a skill many have found useful when they move on to their senior schools. Ian’s expertise and skill have been essential, not only for JL and JVG’s big theatrical productions but also for music concerts, weekly assemblies, talks, the House Shout and Verse Speaking Competitions. It was thanks to his know-how and willingness to learn and adapt that we were able to invite so many Brambletye families to watch performances in real time during Covid-19 when social distancing meant that our Theatre was empty of its usual audiences. Donald Fowler-Watt saw this skill in Ian right from the start as he had already ‘lit’ fashion shows in Kenya. In fact, Ian thinks that this swung it in his interview and got him the job! Ian has also organised the purchase of much needed theatre equipment including sound desks, lighting boards and LED lighting and has assisted with musicals aplenty - “Mr Lush gives me a new challenge every time.” In fact, Ian was known as the Brambletye Stuntman and once, while in charge of special effects for the Lush musical, ‘For Now and for Always’, he sent a life-size dummy down a zip-wire from the Theatre balcony, down onto the stage and through a fake wall built into the set. However, in the final performance the fishing wire, which had held strong for numerous rehearsals and performances, snapped at the very last moment as the dummy ploughed through the fake wall, ending up, thankfully, where it was meant to be with disaster averted!

Ian always enjoyed the wonderful Brambletye boarders’ event ‘Carols Around the Christmas Tree’, and who could forget his annual reading of Benjamin Zephaniah’s poem “Talking Turkeys”, in a broad West Indian Accent. I shall close with an amended verse:

“Be nice to your Ian dis Christmas, ‘Cos Ians just wanna have fun. Ians are cool, Ians are wicked An’ every Ian has a mum!

Be nice to your Ian dis Christmas, Don’t eat him, keep him alive. He could be yu mate, an’ not on you plate, Say, Yo! Ian I’m on your side!”

We wish Ian all the very best for his retirement and exciting bucket list of travels. We shall greatly miss his energy, loyalty, kindness and willingness to have a go at (or explode!) nearly anything. His dedication to this school is almost without equal and many, many Brambletye pupils have been extremely lucky to have benefited from his tutelage and wisdom. He is a true Renaissance, ‘Old School’ schoolmaster who always puts the children first. Thank you for everything, Ian - you will be sorely missed. Oh, one final thing before I forget. Ian, I have taken the liberty of booking you in for a cricket umpiring course in the autumn. Don’t worry, you’ll love it!

Justin Gomm

Philip Lough

Chair of Governors 2015 - 2021

Philip Lough retired as Chair of Governors in November 2021. He completed 13 years of service as a Governor and 6 years as Chair. Taking over this role shortly after the arrival of our then new Headmaster, Will Brooks, Philip combined a lifetime’s educational expertise in both prep and senior schools with his skill at drawing out others’ experience and enthusiasm. In doing so, he has provided close and invaluable support to Will and Amelia, and the Senior Management Team.

Under Philip’s leadership, we have seen a period of impressive development at Brambletye. His vision has supported the development of the academic curriculum and the school’s commitment to providing the broadest possible educational experience. Boarding provision has become more varied and flexible and we have seen great improvements in infrastructure. The Centenary Development Campaign, resulting in the provision of the all weather pitch, fantastic new library and art facilities, was a standout achievement during his tenure.

Philip had been due to retire as Chair in 2020 but as the Covid situation broke, he offered to stay on in order to provide the continuity and stability in the leadership which turned out to be so valuable in helping Brambletye through some very difficult challenges. This may not have been popular with his wider family who had been hoping to see more of him. However, he had foreseen very quickly how challenging the situation could be for the whole Brambletye community and very much wanted to play his part in ensuring a successful outcome for everyone. In particular, Philip’s passionate support and encouragement for Brambletye Digital not only saw our pupils able to access the best of the school from home during the pandemic but has also laid the foundations for the growth of our on-line capabilities. Throughout this period, Philip made himself continuously available and we benefitted from his broad knowledge of the prep school world, a determination to face up to difficult decisions and a sense that he had “seen it all before”.

Harriet Tarnoy

Harriet Tarnoy started her career at Brambletye in September 2011 as Headmaster’s Secretary to Hugh Cocke. Although she joined initially on a temporary basis as Maternity Cover, she quickly established herself as an invaluable member of the Administrative Team. Happily for Brambletye, Harriet remained in place beyond this first year - not only as the Headmaster’s Secretary but she now took on the mantle of School Registrar as well!

Harriet has been a warm and welcoming presence for countless new Brambletye families over the years, guiding them through the sometimes bewildering process of starting at a new school with sound advice about a multitude of different points, from school uniform to school bus routes and sometimes even house hunting and the required contents of a pencil case! Our international families in particular have benefitted from her kindness and willingness to go the extra mile to help them navigate the requirements of the UK Visa and Immigration systems. Her care for these families did not end with their admission to the school - she remained the ‘go-to’ person for help and advice for many Brambletye parents over the years in her other important role as Headmaster’s Secretary.

Harriet worked under three Brambletye Headmasters, ably supporting each of them with her dedication and attention to detail. During her time with us she was also a friend as well as colleague to many of the staff at Brambletye. She is missed enormously by those members of staff here at Brambletye who knew her and she is missed in the School Office as a colleague, sounding board, advisor and friend. We all wish her the very best with her future endeavours.

Rachel Duthie

The whole Brambletye community has benefitted immensely from Philip’s selfless service, commitment, humanity and his lifetime of experience in education. We are extremely grateful to him and we shall miss him sorely.

Nick Perry (Chair of the

Governors)

Pete Andrews

There once was a lady called Pete Whose music was incredibly neat, She wore a pink hat

Well fancy that

Ten years at Brambletye - what a feat!

Pete arrived at Brambletye in 2012 to do maternity cover for RHS and has stayed ever since. In her first role as Director of Music she had something of a baptism of fire during the Spring Term when JPL staged the senior musical ‘South Pacific’. She soon learned that his West End production values meant a 10-piece orchestra fully miked up in the under-stage orchestra pit, 24 radio mics for leading members of the cast, hours of rehearsals and the delights of a massive low level smoke machine that threatened to asphyxiate the musicians as the smoke wafted across the stage and down into the pit through the section of the stage opened up for Mrs A to conduct both the orchestra and the cast! Many a child was also warned of the dangers of falling into the opening in the stage, known affectionately as Mrs A’s hole. Nevertheless, I am glad to report that during Mrs A’s four JPL musicals; ‘South Pacific’, ‘Oliver!’, ‘Guys and Dolls’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast’ no member of the cast was ever lost or made a sudden or unexpected exit through Mrs A’s hole in the stage!

Pete became full time Director of Music when RHS returned on a parttime basis. They became a great team complimenting each other in their roles. When she joined Brambletye Pete’s musicality was never in doubt as she is an accomplished player of the trumpet, the double bass and the piano, and now also the bassoon that she learnt to play during lockdown!

Mrs A was busy enough in the Music Department with not only the biennial JPL musicals and the Autumn, Summer and Pre-Prep concerts but also a myriad of music lessons, music exams and peripatetic music teachers to organise. Pete also took over the running of Drake after JPL had completed his 12 years as Housemaster. During her five years in charge, Pete saw Drake win the House Shield no less than nine times in fifteen terms. She then stepped down from the role when she became Head of Boarding.

Pete took on her exciting new role as Head of Boarding in September 2019. Over the next three years she was ably supported by Joe, aka Dr A, and together they were a ‘dream team’ making boarding enormous fun so that even many of our local children wanted to board so they could join in the fun and excitement.

Pete has been involved with so many aspects of school life and she has also been a tremendous support to other departments. Over the years she turned her hand to coaching various netball and rounders teams as well as scoring for the 1st XI and the Colts cricket teams. She has taught English and has directed plays - who can ever forget the inhabitants of Toad’s wild wood Kung Foo fighting on stage! She has preached in Chapel and, as tasked by the boarders on one occasion, she also succeeded in including the words ‘Pink’, ‘Chocolate’ and ‘Winnie the Pooh’ in one of her sermons.

Pete is one of life’s enthusiasts and now, as she and the family move to Eastbourne, she will have so much more time to enjoy being with her family, to enjoy her hobbies and taking Billie and Bramble for walks along the prom. She will also have time to perhaps get involved in the Eastbourne music scene and she will certainly be able to make more use of her Spurs Season Ticket!

We wish you and Joe, the boys and of course Billie and Bramble all the best for your move to the South Coast and trust that you’ll be able to pop back and see us from time to time, perhaps even for the next JPL senior musical?

Karen Higgs

Karen Higgs joined the Brambletye community in September 2015 as a Year 3 teacher in one of the portakabin classrooms on the site of what will be the Centenary Garden, having moved from Pennthorpe Prep School in Rudgwick. Whilst the classroom temperature was closely matched to the seasons (it was freezing in winter and boiling hot in the summer), Karen quickly made it into a space that was always warm and welcoming for the children in her care. Pupils delighted in the wonder of books (her book corner was a favourite space for many a Year 3 pupil) and her classroom always embraced the cross-curricular approach Karen brought to learning whenever the opportunity arose.

During her time in Year 3, Karen was as busy outside of school as she was in it due to her work with the Church and this was reflected by a move away from Year 3 to become the Head of Religious Studies, today known as Theology, Philosophy and Religion (TPR), in 2019. She was officially licensed at St. Swithun’s Church in East Grinstead as The Reverend Higgs by Bishop Ruth Bushyager on 18th July, 2021 and thereafter became Brambletye’s official School Chaplain although this was a job that she had been carrying out for some time.

Karen’s Christian influence has had a profound effect on the school and its pupils. As well as having an organised and relevant Chapel schedule, she has linked the school to much good work in the local community, such as supporting the East Grinstead Food Bank and visiting the elderly residents at the nearby Truscott Manor in cocurricular slots. She has also been a mainstay at the Pre-Prep, leading Harvest and Easter assemblies as well as being at the centre of Brambletye’s Christmas Carol Services at St. Swithun’s Church.

Karen retires from Brambletye this Summer having left a deep and hugely appreciated mark on the school. She is looking forward to spending more time with her family, walking the dog and becoming more heavily involved in her church work. She has always made time to support staff when required and her compassion and empathy will be much missed in the Common Room. We thank her for all the work she has done during her time at the school and hope to catch up with her at least each December at St. Swithun’s.

David Brundish

Charis Wightman

Charis Wightman joined Brambletye in September 2018 after a stint working in Dubai setting up and managing various schools for a number of prestigious British institutions. Her first role with us was as a member of the English Department. She then became Head of the English Department following Jeff Gallagher’s retirement. Her passion for this subject was clear for everyone to see. It was not long before she began to implement some subtle changes throughout the school and she made sure that her influence was felt right down to those pupils in the nursery. As a published author, creative writing was a particular passion that the pupils benefitted enormously from. As part of the Centenary Campaign the school opened its new library and Ms Wightman was the perfect choice to lead this new venture. In fact, she did far more than this and spent many hours reviewing old stock and replacing it with new titles. Under her care, the Centenary Library became an oasis of calm and the children clearly enjoyed spending time there. The Accelerated Reader programme was managed by Ms Wightman and new word millionaires were welcomed on stage during our weekly assemblies. Her first role outside the English Department was that of Assistant Head, Pastoral, a role that she embraced wholeheartedly. When the role of Assistant Head Academic became available she was a natural fit and she put her considerable energy into this demanding role. A lot of the work in these management roles goes on behind the scenes but the time and dedication she committed to this role was considerable. She was incredibly dedicated to pupil outcomes and was an enormous support to me and to the Headmaster. Drama was another passion and she produced and directed three short plays and a Leavers’ Showcase during her time at Brambletye. My personal highlight was the 2021 Leavers’ play, ‘Cronus-19 and the Earthly Heroes’, a hilarious parody of life under lockdown involving the Greek Gods. It was delivered with sensitivity and there was an undercurrent of the seriousness of the global situation.

Meanwhile, Ms Wightman was also a dedicated personal tutor, and was involved in sport, boarding, trips, talks and co-curricular amongst other things. She leaves to take on the Headship of a new school in Dubai. This is a role that fits her experience perfectly and we wish her all the best. She leaves many big boots to fill and we will miss her enormously.

Nick Holloway

Christopher Walker

Christopher Walker joined us as a temporary Head of Maths bringing with him a wealth of experience from prep schools across Norfolk, Kent and Berkshire. He quickly became an integral part of Brambletye and a firm favourite with the children.

He set about his work with enthusiasm and this quality was much appreciated by the pupils whom he taught. He loved teaching Maths and he was also very generous in sharing ideas with colleagues. As such, he was a true ‘team player’ and his contribution during his tenure at Brambletye was much valued.

His kindness and warmth went a long way with the pupils. During his time with us, he involved himself in many areas of school life from the classroom, to the sports field, via the Theatre, where he could be seen beating a healthy, pulsating rhythm on a drum during the opening Samba Band number in the Autumn Chamber Concert.

Christopher was always reliable: his duty attendance was exemplary and he brought his extensive knowledge of football (garnered through faithful support of both Southend and Lewes FCs) to his coaching of the mighty Colts D football team.

He brought magic (literally!) to after school clubs, and was a friendly face wherever he was in the school. Christopher also never failed to mention his role as an extra in the 2011 film, ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2’, where his back can be seen quite clearly at 1 hour and 52 minutes into the film!

Christopher’s unfailing sense of humour and quick wit made him a popular character amongst staff and pupils alike. We wish him well as he continues his career as Head of Maths at Lambrook Prep School.

Pete Andrews

A huge ‘thank you’ also goes to our GAPS Zyggy Cobcroft (who spent 2 wonderful years at Brambletye), Eliza Burcham, Rebecca Nicol, James Earwicker, Albert Joscelyne, and also Jo Roberts, Keeley Connelly, Lara O’Connor (OB), Katja Hoyer, Sam Connelly, and Emily Sargent for all their hard work and dedication during their time at Brambletye. We wish them all the very best for the future and hope they keep in touch.

Valete, Discipuli

Thomas Adams

House: Nelson, School Prefect

Sports Teams: 1st XI Football (Senior Football Colours), 1st XV Rugby, 1st XI Cricket Golf Team, Tennis Team, Sailing Team.

Creative Arts: Year 7 Top Set English production of ‘The Hunger Games’. I played Haymitch Abernathy. Year 8 Showcase. I played a Grumpy Gent called Fred. DT Prize in the Autumn Term, Year 8 Lighting Crew Prize. Senior Maths, Senior DT(re-awarded) and Senior Languages Colours. Scholarships: Academic Scholarship to Tonbridge School, DT Scholarship to Tonbridge School. Best Prizes: Academic Scholarship Prize to Tonbridge School, DT Scholarship Prize to Tonbridge School, Bronze Certificate in the Intermediate Maths Challenge (Yr. 8), Olympiad Certificate in Junior Maths Challenge (Yr.8), Shankland Prize for Creative Writing, Thompson Modern Languages Prize, King Prize for Design Future School: Tonbridge School

Pumpy Addison Smith

House: Drake, Joint House Commander, House Officer Sports Teams: 2nd XI Football (Captain), 2nd XV Rugby (Captain), 2nd Team for Hockey, 1st XI Cricket, Shooting Team

Creative Arts: Grade 1 LAMDA (Distinction), Grade 1 trumpet, I played the Presenter in The Hunger Games play, I played a Grumpy Gent in the Year 8 Showcase, I was in the Lighting Team for the Pre-Prep Nativity Play and Charity Concerts, I appeared in our House Shouts. Best Prizes: The House Trebuchet Challenge Prize (with Obiaku), The Robin Lewis Award

Future School: Charterhouse School

First memory of Brambletye:

Walking in through the Pre-Prep doors on my first day of Nursery 2 and into the Hall with my brother and being introduced to Theo Wing, my shadow, and who then came to be one of my best friends.

Alex Al-Qaq

House: Nelson, House Officer

Sports Teams: Hockey 1st Team (Colours), Netball 1st Team (Colours), Girls’ Cricket 1st Team, Girls’ Football 1st Team (Colours), Athletics Team (Captain of Athletics)

Creative Arts: Mr Lush’s play, ‘The Friday Club’ in which I played Bianca. Year 8 Showcase.

Scholarships: Founders Scholarship to Charterhouse, Sports Scholarship to Charterhouse

Best Prizes: Winner of Senior Victrix Ludorum in Year 7 and Year 8. Came 9th overall at The Nationals in the 100m. Winner of the Bonnar 1st XI Cricket Batting Cup, Captain of Athletics Prize, Sports Scholarship Prize, Joint Captain of Boarding Future School: Charterhouse School

First memory of Brambletye: Picking up a tea pot at my first ever breakfast at Brambletye and burning my hands really badly.

Mimosa Barker

House: Wellington, House Commander

Sports Teams: Girls’ 1st Team

Cricket (Captain), Hockey 1st Team (Colours), Netball 1st Team (Colours), Tennis Team, Athletics Team

Creative Arts: In the The Hunger Games and I played Glimmer. Year 8 Showcase

Best Prizes: Captain of Girls’ Cricket Prize, The Brealey Girls’ 1st Team Bowling Cup, The Edu Athletics Cup Future School: Sevenoaks School

Olivia Blades

House: Drake, School Prefect, Joint House Commander

Sports Teams: 1st Team Hockey (Captain and Colours), 1st Team

Netball (Captain and Colours), Girls’ 1st Team for Cricket, Athletics Team, Girls’ 1st Football Team

Creative Arts: In Year 7 I was in Mr Lush’s play ‘The Friday Club’ and I was Florence. Year 8 Showcase.

Scholarships: Sports Scholarship to Benenden

Best Prizes: Best Hockey Player of the Season award, Best Netball Player of the Season award, Captain of Netball Prize, Captain of Hockey Prize, Sports Scholarship Prize

Future School: Benenden School

First memory of Brambletye: In Reception Amelia and I thought it would be a funny idea to put Honor’s wellie boot in the bin, but then later that day the cleaner found the wellie boot and someone told on Amelia and me and we lost two Crystals for our House and our parents also got a call from the Head of Pre-Prep.

Ivan Brooks

House: Marlborough, House Officer

Sports Teams: 1st XI Football (Colours), 1st XV Rugby (Captain and Colours). Boys’ 1st Team Hockey, 1st XI Cricket (Captain), Tennis Team, Athletics Team, Golf Team

Creative Arts: In ‘The Friday Club’ I played Aubrey. Year 8 Showcase

Best Prizes: Bronze Certificate in Junior Maths Challenge, Captain of Cricket Prize, Captain of Rugby Prize, Coleman 1st XI Batting Cup Future School: Uppingham School

First memory of Brambletye: Thomas Adams and I were pretending to be Ant and Dec in the Pre-Prep and we both thought we were really cool.

Charlotte Burgess

House: Marlborough, House Officer

Sports Teams: 3rd Team Hockey, 1st Team Netball, 2nd Team Cricket, Tennis Team

Creative Arts: Grade 1 Singing, Year 8 Showcase, Senior Choir

Best Prizes: Library Assistant, Headmaster’s Prize

Future School: Epsom College

First memory of Brambletye: My first memory at Brambletye is arriving at school on my first day in Year 6. My parents had left and I was alone and I had no clue where to go or where to find someone to help. I then found a girl in a year above and she showed me to Mr. Parker’s room, who was my Form Tutor. It turned out that I was half an hour late and everyone was leaving for the first lesson.

Olivia Chilvers

House: Marlborough, House Officer Sports Teams: Captain of the second team netball, 2nd’s hockey, 2nd’s cricket.

Creative Arts: Senior Art Colours, Music Colours. Grade 4 Singing and Grade 2 Clarinet, Head of Senior Choir, Member of the Orchestra, Member of the Concert Band. Year 8 Showcase I played a witch Scholarships: Art Scholarship to Ardingly

Best Prizes: Ardingly Art Scholarship Prize, Sketchbook of the Year Award, Head Chorister Prize

Future School: Ardingly

First memory of Brambletye: In the Pre-Prep Ben Ballantyne asked me to prick his finger with my pencil to see how sharp it was so I did and he told on me and I went on the Bad Cloud and got sent out of the classroom.

Ella Clowes

House: Nelson, House Officer

Sports Teams: 1st Team Netball, 2nd Team Hockey (Captain), 3rd Team Cricket

Creative Arts: Senior Music Colours, In Year 7, I was in The Hunger Games and I was Presenter 2. In the Year 8 Showcase I was a Compère. Grade 6 Harp, Grade 5 Singing, Grade 5 Music Theory

Best Prizes: Progress in Art Prize (Easter Term Year 8), Year 8 Music Prize (Summer Term Year 8)

Future School: Benenden

First memory of Brambletye: Walking down to swimming when I was in Reception and getting pushed into a bush by my friend because we were arguing.

House: Nelson, House Officer

Sports Teams: 2nd XI Cricket Team, 2nd XI Football Team, 2nd XV Rugby Team, 2nd Team Hockey

Creative Arts: Macbeth in Year 8 Showcase. Awarded Senior Art Colours. Did Grade 2 LAMDA, Captain of Chess

Scholarships: Art Scholarship to Sevenoaks

Best Prizes: The Sladen Cup for Verse Speaking, Senior Maths Colours and Senior Languages

Colours, Captain of Chess Prize, Senior Drama Cup, Most Improved Artist Prize, Art Scholarship Prize Future School: Sevenoaks School

First memory of Brambletye: I remember walking through the 5D classroom door on my first day at Brambletye and sitting next to another new boy called Tim who didn’t speak a word of English! Of course I didn’t know this so when I tried to start a conversation by asking him which school he came from, I was rather confused when he just replied, “Yes.”

Colombe de Mitry

House: Nelson

Sports Teams: 3rd Team Hockey, 3rd & 4th Team Netball, 2nd & 3rd Team Cricket, Girls’ 2nd Team

Football

Creative: Member of the Orchestra, Member of the Strings Group

Best Prizes: Send Up Prize (Summer 2022), Year 8 Self

Portrait of the Year Prize

Future School: Returning to France

First memory of Brambletye: On my first day at Brambletye we all had to do a Covid test and then I went into the Sports Hall with everyone else to wait for the result. This was when I met Carlota for the first time and she became one of my first friends at Brambletye.

Teddy Dean

House: Marlborough

Sports Teams: 1st XI Football, 1st XV Rugby, 1st XI Cricket, Athletics Team, Golf Team

Creative Arts: In Mr Lush’s play

‘The Friday Club’ I was a grumpy teenager called Colin who always thought life was so un fair. Year 8 Showcase. Senior DT Colours, Bronze Certificate in the Junior Maths Challenge

Best Prizes: The ‘H’ Prize

Future School: Eastbourne College

First memory of Brambletye: During a Colts cricket training session a boy called Isaac Gordon got hit on the head by a cricket ball!

Damali Duncan

House: Wellington, House Officer

Sports Teams: Girls’ 2nd Team Cricket (Captain), 2nd Team Netball, 3rd Team Hockey, Girls’ 2nd Team Football (Captain)

Creative Arts: In Year 7 I was in Mr Lush’s play ‘The Friday Club’ and I played the part of Lavinia Terrence. Year 8 Showcase.

Best Prizes: In Year 7 I received the Most Improved Hockey Player of the Season Award, In Year 8 I received the Most Improved Netball Player of the Season Award, Passed Grade 1 Singing, The Ridgeway Rock Award Future School: Tudor Hall School

First memory of Brambletye: I was in my dorm with Eliza, Tabby and Georgie and I were trying to find my new calculator.

Reggie Fernandez Brooke

House: Marlborough

Sports Teams: 1st XI Football (Vice Captain and Colours), 1st XV Rugby (Colours), Boys’ 1st Team Hockey, 1st XI Cricket, Athletics Team.

Creative Arts: Year 7 play ‘The Friday Club’, I played Mr Terrence’s Chauffeur. Year 8 Showcase.

Best Prizes: 1st XI Football Player of the Season, Man of the Match prize Future School: Sackville School

First memory of Brambletye: Being abandoned by my Shadow, Tom Lamb, in the senior diningroom and then wandering around the school for the rest of the morning. (I eventually asked someone to tell me where to go).

George Foster-Kemp

House: Wellington, House Officer

Sports Teams: 1st Xl Football (Captain and Colours), 1st XV Rugby (Colours), Boys’ 2nd Team Hockey (Vice Captain), 1st Xl Cricket, Athletics Team.

Creative Arts: In Year 7, I was in the play ‘The Friday Club’ by Mr Lush. I played the part of Mr Terrence. Year 8 Showcase.

Best Prizes: Captain of Football Prize, 1st XI Cricket Bowling Cup Future School: Sherborne School

First memory of Brambletye: Going into the dump when it was Dark with Benji, Enzo and Millo and being terrified. I never went back in!

Edith Franklin-Stables

House: Wellington

Sports Teams: 3rd Team Hockey, 2nd/3rd Team Netball, 2nd/3rd Team Cricket

Creative Arts: Year 8 Showcase

Future School: Benenden

First memory of Brambletye: Having an argument in Year 2 about who would be going on the mini bikes and scooters at break time.

Thomas Curra

Thomas Garrood

House: Nelson, School Prefect, Joint House Commander

Sports Teams: 2nd XI Football Team, 1st XV Rugby Team, 2nd XI Cricket (Captain), Boys’ 1st Team Hockey, Sailing Team

Creative Arts: Senior Music Colours. In Year 7. I was in Mr Lush’s play ‘The Friday Club’. I played the part of Charlie. Year 8 Show Case.

Best Prizes: Captain of Sailing Prize, The Sailing Cup

Future School: Hurstpierpoint

First memory of Brambletye: Going into the dump in Year 3 with Teddy Rowe and making a base.

Edouard Holst van Gogh

House: Wellington

Sports Teams: 1st XI Football (Colours), 1st XV Rugby (Vice Captain and Colours), Boys’ 1st Team Hockey, 1st XI Cricket

Creative Arts: In Year 7, I was in Mr Lush’s play ‘The Friday Club’ and I played Mr Berenger, the Headmaster. Year 8 Showcase. Best Prizes: Most Improved Football Player of the Season in Year 8. Ballroom Dancing Cup in Year 8.

Future School: Charterhouse

First memory of Brambletye: Getting a double Yellow Minus during my first prep session for having an ink fight with Algie and for eating gum.

Christian Hope

House: Nelson

Sports Teams: 1st /2nd XI Football Teams, 2nd XV Rugby Team, Boys’ 3rd Team Hockey, 2nd /3rd XI Cricket Teams

Creative Arts: Year 8 Showcase. I played the part of Lieutenant Faddy. I was in the Summer Concert playing junk percussion.

Best Prizes: Year 8 Self Portrait of the Year Prize

Future School: Returning to Michael Hall

First memory of Brambletye: My first memory was on my first day at Brambletye and we had an English lesson and Edouard made me laugh and we got told off by Mr Lush.

Bennett Horner

House: Nelson, House Officer

Sports Teams: 3rd XI Football Team, Boys’ 2nd Team Hockey, 2nd XI Cricket

Creative Arts: Senior Music Colours, Grade 4 Saxophone, Grade 1 Jazz Piano, The Hunger Games as Presenter 2, Year 8

Showcase I played Judge Collins

Best Prizes: 10-million-word club prize, Headmaster’s Prize, The Horner Reading Prize, Lighting Team Prize

Future School: Tonbridge

First memory of Brambletye: In the Pre-Prep everyone wanted to play with a red tri-scooter because no one could really ride a two wheeled bike very well.

Lorenzo Jacquemard

House: Marlborough, House Officer

Sports Teams: 3rd XI Football Team, 2nd XV Ruby, Team, Boys’ 4th Team Hockey, 3rd XI Cricket Team

Creative Arts: Senior Art Colours, In Year 7 I was in Mr Lush’s play ‘The Friday Club’ and I played the part of Oswald. Year 8 Showcase I was Third Apparition. I was in the Summer Concert, and the Charity Concert Scholarships: Art Scholarship to Stowe

Best Prizes: Send Up Prize, Joint Captain of Boarding Prize, Library Assistant, Chapel Warden Prize, Joint winner of the Dunn Art Cup, Stowe Art Scholarship Prize

Future School: Stowe

First memory of Brambletye: Going over to Darcey in Nursery 2 and annoying her so she bit me and I started to bleed!

Ophelia Jelowicki-Henwood

House: Marlborough, House Commander

Sports Teams: Girls’ 3rd Team Cricket, 2nd /3rd Team Hockey and 3rd Team Netball

Creative Arts: Year 7 I was in The Hunger Games and I played the part of Caesar Flickerman. Year 8 Showcase I was the Tinder Girl, Hettie. I played in the Brambletye Concert Band, the Orchestra and I was in the Senior Choir and the Brambletye Big Band Scholarships: Art Scholarship to Gordonstoun

Best Prizes: Senior Art Colours, the Harris Art Prize in Year 7, Art Scholarship Prize, Joint winner of the Yorke Art Prize in Year 8

Future School: Gordonstoun

First memory of Brambletye: Playing with shaving foam in Nursery 1

Peter Johnson

House: Wellington, House Officer Sports Teams: 1st XI Cricket Team, 2nd XI Football Team, 2nd XV

Rugby Team

Creative Arts: Year 7 Hunger Games. Year 8 Showcase

Best Prizes: Lighting Crew Prize. The Panichewa Cup for the Best Results at Common Entrance. The Bullock Science Prize, The Yarrow Geography Prize, The Lloyd Prize for Endeavour

Future School: Tonbridge

First memory of Brambletye: Getting told off for running around wildly and being told that if I kept on running around then I would be put on a lead.

Sophie Kelso

House: Nelson, Joint School Captain, Joint House Commander Sports Teams: 1st Team Netball, Girls’ 1st Team Cricket, 1st Team Hockey (Colours), Tennis Team

Creative Arts: Year 7 play ‘The Hunger Games’ I played Katniss Everdeen, Year 8 Showcase Mrs Rawsten in ‘The Tinder Girl’. Drama Colours, Grade 3 Cornet (merit) LAMDA grade 2 (distinction), Senior Music Colours

Scholarships: Academic Scholarship to Benenden Best Prizes: Most Improved 1st Team Hockey Player of the Season, The Parke Prize for Religious Studies, Academic Scholarship Prize, Ballroom Dancing Prize, School Captain Prize

Future School: Benenden

First memory of Brambletye: In Year 3, I went to a New Pupils’ barbeque and we played on the Jolly Rodger but we got shouted at by Miss D for being in the wrong place and I was scared of her from that day.

Jorge Lerma

House: Marlborough

Sports Teams: 1st XI Football (Colours), 1st XV Rugby, Boys’ 1st VII Hockey, 1st XI Cricket, Golf Team Athletics Team

Creative Arts: Year 8 Showcase. I played the part of Tench. I was in the Summer Concert and played junk percussion

Best Prizes: 1st XI Football Man of the Match Award

Future School: Returning to Spain. First memory of Brambletye: Trying to find the boys dorms on my first ever night at Brambletye because George (my shadow) had ditched me.

Ryan Luu

House: Wellington, House Officer

Sports Teams: 1st /2nd XI Football, 1st XV Rugby, 1st XI Cricket, Boys’ 1st Team Hockey, Athletics Team

Creative Arts: I was a narrator in ‘The Hunger Games’ and also 2nd Lieutenant William Faddy in The Year 8 Showcase

Best Prizes: Senior Maths Colours, Gold Certificate in the Junior Maths Challenge, Most Improved 1st XV Rugby Player of the Season Future School: Charterhouse School First memory of Brambletye: Going down to the rope swing, which was out of bounds and then being caught by Mr Parker for being out of bounds and trying to run away to get out of trouble.

Algie Mahon

House: Drake

Sports Teams: 1st XI Football (Colours), 1st XV Rugby (colours), Boys’ 1st Team Hockey (Captain), 1st XI Cricket, 1st Tennis Team, Golf Team, Athletics Team, Cross Country Team (Captain)

Creative Arts: In Year 7 I was in Mr Lush’s play, ‘The Friday Club’ and I played the Caretaker, Mr Grim. Year 8 Showcase.

Scholarships: Sports Scholarship to King’s Bruton

Best Prizes: Butler Rugby Cup (Outstanding Player of the Season), 1st XI Cricket Fielding Cup, Donald Golf Cup, Sports Scholarship Prize

Future School: King’s Bruton

First memory of Brambletye: My first memory was having an ink fight with Edouard and getting a yellow minus during my first prep session.

Honor McQuitty

House: Nelson, School Prefect, House Officer

Sports Teams: 1st Team Hockey, 1st Team Netball, Girls’ 1st Team Cricket

Creative Arts: Grade 5 LAMDA, Senior Music Colours, Drama Colours, Grade 5 Singing, Head Chorister. In Year 7 I was in Mr Lush’s play, ‘The Friday Club’ and I played the part of Gwen. Year 8 Showcase.

Scholarships: Sport Exhibition and a Drama Exhibition

Best Prizes: Joint Head Chorister Prize, The Babtie History Prize, Drama Exhibition Prize, Sports Exhibition Prize

Future School: Sherborne Girls

First memory of Brambletye: In the Pre-Prep I was an hour late for the Teddy Bear Day because we had locked ourselves out of our house and we had lost our car keys, so we had to get a taxi to school.

Coco Peng

House: Marlborough

Sports Teams: 2nd Team Hockey, Girls’ 2nd Team Cricket, 3rd Team Netball, Tennis Team

Creative Arts: Year 8 Showcase

I was a witch, Senior Art Colours, Senior Music Colour, Grade 6 Piano (distinction)

Scholarships: Internal Music Scholarship, Charterhouse Art Scholarship and the Charterhouse Foundation (Academic) Scholarship

Best Prizes: Prize for the Best Senior Musician, Joint winner of the Dunn Art Cup, Marstrand Prize for Mathematics, Chow Latin Prize, IMC Silver Award, UKMT Junior Kangaroo (Merit), Joint winner of the Year 8 Self Portrait of the Year Award

Future School: Charterhouse

First memory of Brambletye: I remember arriving in the Girls’ Boarding House on my first day and two really tall Year 8 girls were helping me with my luggage. I thought they were GAP students and I called them ‘miss’ the whole time. It turned out that I was in the same dorm with them!

Oakley Rawner

House: Drake, House Officer

Sports Teams: Tennis Team, Senior Sailing Team, 3rd XI Football (Captain sometimes), 2nd XI Cricket

Creative Arts: In Year 7, I was in ‘The Hunger Games’. Year 8 Showcase I was the Revd. Johnson

Best Prizes: Send Up Prize, Golds Prize, Pinks prize, Lighting Team Prize, The Spencer Jones bowl, Chambers Tennis Cup for Improvement Future School: Ardingly First memory of Brambletye: In Year 4, Theo had just got his braces fitted so we all crowded around him in our classroom and he told us all about them being fitted.

Amelia Simons

House: Drake, House Officer

Sports Teams: Girls’ 3rd Team Cricket, 2nd /3rd Team Hockey, 3rd Team Netball

Creative Arts: ‘The Hunger Games’ I was Effie Trinket, Year 8 Showcase I was a Witch, Art Colours, Music Colours, Maths Colours, Grade 3 Violin, Grade 5 Piano, Grade 5 Music Theory, Orchestra, Big Band, Senior Choir, Leader of the String Group Scholarships: Internal Music Scholarship, Art Scholarship to Caterham

Best Prizes: Leader of String Group, Harris Art Prize, Yorke Art Prize, Art Scholarship Prize, Pinks Prize. Future School: Caterham

First memory of Brambletye: When Olivia Blades and I were in Reception we decided to clean the cloakrooms. We found a boot that wasn’t named so we put it in the bin. It turned out the boot was Honor’s and Liv and I cried the whole day after we were told off by Mrs Lunn for throwing it in the bin. An email was also sent to our parents saying that they had to replace the boot.

Willow Smither

House: Drake

Sports Teams: 1st Team Hockey (Colours), 1st Team Netball (Colours), Girls’ 1st Team Cricket, Tennis Team

Creative Arts: In Year 7 I was in Mr Lush’s play, ‘The Friday Club’ and I played the part of Miss Trench. In the Year 8 Showcase I was a compare Future School: Benenden

Sophia Sneddon

House: Wellington, School

Prefect, House Officer

Sports: 2nd Team Hockey, 3rd Team Netball, Girls’ 2nd Team Cricket, 1st Team Football

Creative: In Year 7 I was Prim in The Hunger Games. Year 8 Showcase I played the Tinder Girl. Grade 5 LAMDA, Grade 4 Singing, Senior Chapel Choir, Senior Music Colours Scholarships: Art Scholarship to Eastbourne College

Best Prizes: Stars Prize, Art Scholarship Prize, Year 8 Self Portrait of the Year Prize

Future School: Eastbourne College

First memory of Brambletye: When Honor and Sophie K were showing me around the school before I joined, it was raining hard. When we went to walk across the grass on the top terrace, Kelso slipped and got all muddy! I didn’t laugh because I didn’t want to be rude, and Kelso, Honor, my mum and Mrs. Brooks were all laughing. I didn’t laugh until Kelso said, “It’s ok, you can laugh.”

Rory Thomson

House: Drake

Sports Teams: 1st Xl Football (Colours), 1st XV Rugby (Colours), Boys’ 1st Team Hockey, 1st XI

Cricket (Vice Captain), Tennis Team

Creative Arts: Announcer 1 in ‘The Hunger Games’, Governor Arthur Phillip in the Year 8 Showcase.

Senior Language colours

Best Prizes: Silver Award in the Junior Maths Challenge, Headmaster’s Prize

Future School: Tonbridge

First memory of Brambletye: Being fed to the lion in 6G on my first Form Tutor Period with them; (this is a process where you are fed to a hungry Peter lying on the bean bags while everyone else chants, “Feed him to the lions, feed him to the lions!”)

Iria Valero Rodriguez

House: Wellington

Sports Teams: 3rd Team Hockey, 2nd Team Netball, Girls’ 3rd Team Cricket

Creative Arts: Year 8 Showcase I was a second apparition

Best Prizes: Year 8 Self Portrait of the Year Prize

Future School: Returning to Spain

First memory of Brambletye: It was my first day at Brambletye and I went to supper. There was a girl called Alejandra who jumped out of nowhere. She asked me if I was Spanish and she told me that she was also Spanish. We sat together at supper and we became amazing friends.

Clemmie Warde

House: Drake, House Officer

Sports Teams: 2nd Team Hockey, 2nd Team Netball, Girls’ 1st /2nd Teams for Cricket

Creative Arts: In Year 7, I was in Mr Lush’s play ‘The Friday Club’ and I played the part of Cordelia the Goth. Year 8 –Showcase I was a compare. Leader of the Big Band, Grade 2 Saxophone, Senior Music Colours

Best Prizes: Library Assistant, Leader of the Big Band Prize, Headmaster’s Prize

Future School: Sherborne Girls

First memory of Brambletye: On my taster day in Year 3 Amelia and Honor were my Shadows and at break someone else started showing me around instead of Honor and Honor went into the changing rooms and cried because she was so upset.

Obiaku Wilson-Iwuji-Eme

House: Drake, Joint School Captain

Sports Teams: 1st XI Football (Colours), 1st XV Rugby (Colours), 2nd XI Cricket Team

Creative Arts: In Year 7, I was Marvel in ‘The Hunger Games’ play. Year 8 Showcase

Best Prizes: Year 8 Self Portrait of the Year Prize, Ballroom Dancing Award, School Captain Prize

Future School: Sevenoaks

First memory of Brambletye: When I came to school in a blazer thinking it was an everyday uniform.

Theo Wing

House: Marlborough, House Officer

Sports Teams: 1st XI Football, 1st XV Rugby, 1st XI Cricket, Sailing Team (Colours)

Creative Arts: In Year 7 I played Peeta Melark in ‘The Hunger Games’ English set play. In the Year 8 Showcase I played 2nd lieutenant Ralph Clark, Grade 3 Piano

Best Prizes: Maths Colours, Headmaster’s Prize

Future School: Ardingly College

First memory of Brambletye: In Nursery 1 there was a slope on the nursery playground. I got in a toy car and rolled down the slope in my car and had a head on collision with the nursery building wall.

2021/2022 Scholarships

Many congratulations go to our 13 Scholars who between them achieved 16 awards this year across a variety of disciplines. Congratulations also go to Ella Clowes who won a special Science Award to Benenden. This takes the tally of scholarships won by pupils at Brambletye to 111 in the last 5 years!

Sophie Kelso Academic Scholarship Benenden School

Thomas Adams Academic Scholarship Tonbridge School

Coco Peng Academic Scholarship Charterhouse

Olivia Chilvers Art Scholarship Ardingly College

Thomas Curra Art Scholarship Sevenoaks School

Enzo Jacquemard Art Scholarship Stowe School

Ophelia Jelowicki-Henwood Art Scholarship Gordonstoun School

Coco Peng Art Scholarship Charterhouse

Sophia Sneddon Art Scholarship Eastbourne College

Amelia Simons Art & Design Caterham School Scholarship

Thomas Adams Design Technology Tonbridge School Scholarship

Honor McQuitty Drama Exhibition Sherborne School for Girls

Alex Al-Qaq Sports Scholarship Charterhouse

Olivia Blades Sports Scholarship Benenden School

Algie Mahon Sports Scholarship King’s Bruton

Honor McQuitty Sports Exhibition Sherborne School for Girls

Ella Clowes Special Science Award Benenden School

Brambletye Scholars 2022

Leavers 2022

Our Leavers depart to an incredibly impressive array of Senior Schools, 16 in total. We are not a feeder for one or two schools and because of this we are able to tailor the needs and desires of individual families to ensure our pupils go the right schools for them.

This year our Leavers are moving on to the following Senior Schools:

Ardingly College, Benenden School, Caterham School, Charterhouse, Eastbourne College, Epsom College, Gordonstoun School, Hurstpierpoint College, King’s Bruton, Sevenoaks School, Sherborne School, Sherborne School for Girls, Stowe School, Tonbridge School, Tudor Hall School, Uppingham School

Brambletye Leavers 2022

A Word from the Pre-Prep

Another fun-filled year has passed at the Pre-Prep! At Brambletye we pride ourselves on the breadth of our curriculum and the happiness of our children, something that visitors to the Department seldom fail to comment upon. Meanwhile, the children come to school to learn, and whether that is citizenship, P.E. or Maths we strive to ensure that every individual achieves their full potential.

As we know, for a school to be successful, its leaders, teachers, pupils and its parents all strive to work together. This approach has ensured that Brambletye remains a very special, inspirational place for your child to begin their learning journey.

As of last September we have welcomed children from their second birthday! It is such a privilege to welcome children and their families into our flourishing Nursery. Walking into our Nursery classrooms is like entering a cocoon of loveliness with its nurturing environment, shrieks of excitement and the wonderful interaction between the staff and children, as the children take their first steps into the wider world. Learning has to be fun. Whether you are 2 years old or 92 years of age, if we make learning exciting it is memorable and if it is memorable we can use this learning to inform further learning across the curriculum, creating a love of learning and a growth mind-set.

Teachers have a vital role to play in this. They are integral to the happiness and success of every child. The role of the teacher is no longer to simply impart data or to teach a set of predetermined skills. In a world positively flooded with information we need to ensure that every child has the ability to make sense of what is happening around them, to have a voice that they know will be heard and to draw together each strand of information to allow themselves a broader understanding of the world around them and their place in it.

A successful school needs a broad and varied curriculum. ‘School in the Woods’ continues to be a very popular part of our life at Brambletye, from our ‘Bramble Babes in the Woods’ every Wednesday morning to lively curriculum lessons across the Pre-Prep. Every aspect of the curriculum can be enhanced and explored as children come together in the ‘great outdoors’. Communication skills along with critical thinking, leadership and the ability to see a task through to a successful conclusion are all enhanced and developed. Working in groups, the children have high expectations and raised aspirations and this leads to success, tangible achievement and very happy children.

Sport, Art, French and Music are also an important part of life at the Pre-Prep. Whilst in the Early Years children enjoy a busy curriculum that fully embraces all of the above. In Years 1 and 2 every child enjoys specialist sports’ teaching 4 afternoons a week, covering Games, Dance, Swimming and P.E.

Equally, every child from the age of 2 enjoys specialist teaching in Music each week led by our Director and Assistant Director of Music in the Prep School. The highlight for me this year was our ‘Musical Extravaganza’ and in particular the Year 2 children, ably assisted by the magnificent Mrs Selleck, singing an extract from ‘Carmen’ - never has the ‘March of the Toreadors’ been performed with such gusto!

Creativity is vital to a healthy life and Art, Music and Drama are valued as much as every other subject taught. If we want every child to ‘shine’ we need to nurture their talents and provide opportunities for them to take part and have fun.

We are however, a ‘place of learning’ and rigour, agility and joy are the habits of great teaching. The word ‘rigour’ is an old fashioned one that might suggest rote learning, constant testing and stressed children. Rigour, however, is alive and well at Brambletye, yet our pupils

positively skip into school each morning and you would struggle to find a happier place of learning. Our rigour comes from teachers who are experts in their field. They are strong in their subject knowledge and they display excellent classroom management. Lessons are always pitched at the right level - ‘they look to push up the ceiling as well as the floor’. Mediocrity is never acceptable and everyone is encouraged to strive for personal excellence at their level. This is modelled and celebrated every day by every member of the teaching team and each child is valued for their contribution. The children then enjoy seeing their best efforts celebrated - be it in the classroom, my office or at our weekly ‘Celebration Assembly’.

Our teachers are not afraid to challenge your children. As professionals, we recognise that in school our pupils are generally compliant and will seek to please. It is the rigour and caring expertise of the staff that ensures every child is appropriately challenged. Our children are still ‘learning to learn’ and it is an important part of our job to help them to understand that it is normal not to understand everything straight away, and that sometimes learning a new skill will be a struggle, but to recognise that there is always someone who will support their learning and celebrate their successes with them.

In addition to our wonderful mainstream teachers, our extremely dedicated and caring Teaching Assistants support your child’s learning every day. These are also people who take the time to get to know every child in their year group. They are all well qualified professionals who work closely with the class teacher to ensure that every child enjoys the challenge and success at their own level. They are also there to turn a rope at playtime or put a plaster on a scraped knee. They are an integral part of the teaching team and they touch the lives of your children with their kindness, patience and understanding.

Agility is another important skill possessed by our teachers. At this point I must reassure staff that I am not envisaging them running around the field or jumping through hoops! I am referring to the excellent methods of teaching I see every day as I visit the classrooms. The teachers are responsive to your child, able to change the flow of the lesson to support an interesting idea or possibility, often suggested by the children. You will see the staff moving around the room or working with small groups. Added to this, why ask children to put their hand up when you can get everyone to show their answer on a small whiteboard ensuring the maximum involvement of all. Interactive boards and iPads are used to support learning and where appropriate to enhance the varying learning styles and possibilities.

I began with ‘the end of another fun filled year’ and what fun we have had! From ‘International Week’ to the magic that is ‘Christmas Week’ and of course ‘Book Week’. We have enjoyed ‘Feelings Friday’, three Grandparents’ Days and three Sports Days. Visitors to the Pre-Prep have included the Fire Brigade, Zoolab and an amazing Multicultural Music Workshop!

The education that your children receive at Brambletye will undoubtedly ensure proficiency in all academic subjects. Nevertheless, deeply embedded in all of our teaching is an understanding that we are preparing our children for a rapidly changing world and the skillset that we are looking to nurture - right from the Nursery, is crucial to their success and happiness. I can say with complete confidence that the Brambletye staff care for every child. They take the time to understand their idiosyncrasies - we all have them - and to value their unique talents, ensuring that every child that passes our way is well equipped to meet the challenges of an exciting future. This is the ‘Brambletye Way’.

Dawn Atkinson

The Queen’s Jubilee Celebrations

We began our Pre-Prep celebrations early in the term – a statement of intent! We all enjoyed an amazing Street Party feast complete with golden crowns, fluttering Union Jacks and music from the 1950s. This was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. We then adjourned to the Top Field where we enjoyed a typical 1952 Sports Day. This featured an egg and spoon race, a sack race, a running race and a potato race. The children were all great sports, cheering the racers and entering every race with enthusiasm.

At the end of term, we joined the whole Brambletye family on Lower Terrace for a picnic in the sunshine fit for all our Kings and Queens. This was followed by a whole school photograph on Top Terrace –positively GLORIOUS!

The Bramble Babies

Every Wednesday morning in our beautiful ancient woodland and every Friday morning in our sunny Pre-Prep hall, we sprinkle the fairy dust and welcome the youngest members of the Brambletye community.

Nursery

A wonderland of fun and exciting learning opportunities!

Free play and the children’s own imagination and interpretation bring endless possibilities and magic to planned activities.

There have been so many memorable events this Year: hatching chicks, watching the life cycle of butterflies, looking for treasure that pirates hid in the woods, making and flying kites, water and construction days, a teddy bears’ picnic, a Jubilee street party, ZooLab, firefighters’ visits to the Pre-Prep, Sports Day and the End of Term Concert. It has been a truly amazing group of children and they have all made us laugh every day.

Angela Morton-Smith and Lynda Milham

Reception

What a marvellous year we have had in Reception! We like to be outside as much as possible and so much fun and impressive learning has taken place in the Reception Garden and Brambletye grounds. The Seasons and Climate Change have been recurring themes and the class are all keen gardeners and have thoroughly enjoyed planting, nurturing and feasting on the beans and peas we have grown. The Top Field has seen many happy hours of racing and games, especially in preparation for Sports Day and of course The Woods have provided endless opportunities for finding out about nature, building dens and working together in teams.

Lucilla Lunn

Trips and Visits

Sharing experiences and making memories both in school and out have provided some of the highlights of the year. School trips and visits have brought learning to life. For example, Year 2 had an amazing time at Preston Manor as Victorian children whilst some of the other children got close up and personal with a centipede and a giant snail!

Year 1

This year has been a year packed with fun and adventure! After two years of restrictions it felt wonderful to mix freely and interact with our friends in a normal way again. Science has been a very popular subject with the Year 1 children this year and we have taken every opportunity to get outside and plant seeds and observe the changes in the weather. A definite highlight has been witnessing the children’s confidence grow day by day in all areas of the curriculum, especially socially and emotionally as we have all got used to life steadily getting back to normal.

A Year in the Life of Year 2

There’s been hard work and fun

And so much to be done,

From dress-up days to Fire of London plays, Victorian School and how Joseph’s brothers were cruel.

We’ve made houses on Pudding Lane in 1666, Learnt our times tables, column sums and made 3D shapes with sticks.

We’ve sewn coats of many colours for Joseph teddies and other toys, Debated the gunpowder plot with every girl and boy.

We’ve made clay faces, strong bridges, houses and boats, Tested strength, elasticity and guessed when things would sink or float.

We’ve learnt all about Victoria and Elizabeth our Queen And the work of Elizabeth Fry

And our play I’m sure you’ve seen.

So as the end comes to this year

We give Year 2s a great big cheer, For their hard work, spirit and all they have done

And wish them good luck each and every one.

Claire Clabby

Senior Verse Speaking Final

It was wonderful to return to having a live Verse Speaking Final after the hiatus of Covid and where the children could once again perform to a real, in-house audience with boarders, parents and teachers all excited and ready to listen to the finalists on stage.

Milo Curra opened the evening with an engaging performance of ‘The Tiger’ by Willam Blake. Raffi Philips then took to the stage to perform the humorous poem, ‘Ducks Don’t Shop at Sainsbury’s’ by Gary Boswell, eliciting laughs from everyone watching. Zooming in from his living-room at home was Arthur Smythe who was having to self-isolate. He gave a fabulous rendition of ‘A Blade of Grass’ by Brian Patten. Quite some feat to perform at such a level when surrounded by the distractions of home. Evie Vranic Britten brought the attention back to the stage with her confident performance of ‘Strict’ by Michael Rosen, an impressively long poem that she remembered very well. Mariella Wilkinson concluded the Year 5 section with a super performance of ‘The Midnight Skaters’ by Roger McGough.

We then welcomed Mr Simon Earwicker, a member of the English Department at Marlborough College, to the stage to deliver his adjudication. It was the first of four very tricky decisions for him but Evie was given the accolade of ‘Winner’ for Year 5.

Ida Akker was first up for the Year 6 finalists with ‘The World’s Most Popular Mother’ by Lindsay McCrae and, quite frankly, we were all convinced of the validity of the claims due to

her emphatic performance. ‘Gran Can You Rap?’ By Jack Ousbey was Rose Garrood’s choice and I wasn’t the only one nodding my head to the rhythm of her recital. Alexander Irens then recited ‘The Trouble with my Sister’, another of Brian Patten’s poems. His recital was engaging and expressive, as was Tabby McQuitty’s ‘The Anxious Dead’ by John McCrae. This a was poem that changed the mood in the room and was recited beautifully. ‘The Trouble with my Sister’ was clearly popular this year in Year 6 as Milly Rowe chose it too and her recital was as equally engaging as Alexander’s. Another tricky choice for Mr Earwicker but the prize went to Tabby McQuitty.

Billy Charoenpitaks was our first Year 7 finalist. He chose ‘Kisses’ by Ron Hull. This was his very first time on stage and his performance was thoroughly entertaining. Luca Brugnoli followed with ‘What If’ by Shel Silverstein; a lovely poem and well delivered. ‘Sheep’ by W.H. Davies was performed by Hamish Henderson and it was delivered with his usual joy and humour. We were then zoomed back to the Smythe’s living-room for Flora’s rendition of ‘The Horse’ by Laura Allen. Flora managed to enthral the audience and was commended for her achievement. Nevertheless, it was Hamish whom Mr Earwicker crowned the winner for Year 7.

Thomas Curra stepped onto the stage for his first Verse Speaking Final and captivated the audience with an earnest performance of John Donne’s ‘Death Be Not Proud’. You could have heard a pin drop at the end. He

was followed by Reggie Fernandez Brooke who recited the ever-popular ‘The Road Not Taken’ by Robert Frost; a beautiful poem and it was well-delivered. Bennett Horner followed with the extremely ambitious ‘Untitled Poem on Tanks’ by A A Milne. It was an epic poem and it showed Bennett’s commitment to learning such a long poem. Honor McQuitty continued the theme with another war poem ‘Square Dance’ by Roger McGough. The satirical nature of its message was well communicated. Theo Wing ended the night with another war poem and another popular choice: ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’ by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Again, this was another example of the level of commitment and determination to learn such a well-known, complex poem. No one in audience envied Mr Earwicker’s task. He echoed our thoughts when he said this was an extremely difficult decision as he had been so impressed by the exceptional standard in performance. In the end he chose Thomas Curra as the winner for Year 8. Thomas therefore also became the proud recipient of the ‘Sladen Cup’ for Senior Verse Speaking.

Our thanks go to Mr Earwicker for joining us and adjudicating such a close competition. Thanks also go to all the children in Years 5-8 for learning a poem this term and especially to the finalists. Our thanks also go to the English Department for guiding, rehearsing and advising all the children in their English classes as they prepared their poems this term.

CW

‘Wow! What a Year!’ The Year 4 Musical

Directed by Michelle Clark and Caitlin Ferris

It was fantastic to see the Brambletye stage back to its former glory as the Year 4s were finally able to tread the boards and step into the spotlight after the Covid hiatus! And what better way to celebrate than to perform a musical entirely about Covid and the nightmare it caused us all! From witty jokes about Tesco food shortages to Covid superheroes in the form of doctors and bus drivers, this show really had it all.

The children all had a wonderful time on stage, singing their hearts out to songs in such as ‘We’re Going Round the Twist’ and ‘Put That Mask on Your Face’ - I think the whole audience could certainly relate to so many of the songs!

Huge congratulations go to the whole of Year 4 for their performance and to Year 3 for their fabulous singing. Finally, our thanks and congratulations go to the directors, Miss Ferris and Mrs Clark for producing such a timely and enjoyable musical, and also to the musical directors Mr Harlan and Mrs Selleck who worked so hard helping the children learn the songs. Thanks also must go to Mr Purcell and the Lighting Crew for their technical wizardry on the lighting and sounds desks. This really was a marvellous production that saw some genuine acting and singing talent on the Brambletye stage.

Cast

Teacher

Children in classroom:

Emily Norris-Jones

Ben Goldingham, Charlie Rowe, Wilfred Chicken, Edward O’Gorman, Faramade Oshinowo, Bea Mordaunt

Mum Marina Davis

Dad Jayden Ogungbesan

Son Benjamin Selleck

Daughter Emmeline McCarthy

Iris the Virus

Superheroes

Oscar Clark

Aimee Bruce, Josh Hingston, Clara Colcutt Deghaye, Mila Nardini

Mum Ava Petrova

Dad

Sons

James Maxwell

William Warde, Fredrick McClean, Benedict Parker

Government Experts

Rock Band

Abayomi Oshinowo, Emmeline McCarthy, Aimee Bruce

Josh Hingston, Clara Colcutt Deghaye, Mila Nardini

Professor Hans Facenspace Sam Murphy

Professor Pam Demic

Scientists

Ensemble

Bumble Clarke

Clemence Longfield, Alexander Nixon

All of Year 3

‘Lola’s Gold’ The Year 5 Play

Written and Directed by Jonathan Lush

Ominous smoke drifts across the dimly lit stage. It is 1940 and the foreboding wail of an air raid siren warns all of the possible fear and destruction that will follow. The whistle and crump of exploding bombs fills the air; first distant but slowly, almost menacingly, creeping closer and closer and louder and louder. Britain is under attack and the mass evacuation of school children from Britain’s towns and cities has begun.

With the shrill blast of a steam engine’s whistle, the stage lights slowly reveal school children huddled together in over-crowded train compartments, outward-bound of course, accompanied by their poor teachers fielding pressing questions in uncertain times: “Miss, are we going to be away from home for a long time?” and “Where is Devon, Miss?”

A shift in scene and the audience are taken back in time to just before the start of the evacuation. A time of bombing raids and rationing but also, for the children, an exciting time of exploring bomb sites. Even the children’s school has received a direct hit and this prompts a collective cheer from the on looking children. In a bomb crater next to the school some Roman gold coins are discovered by one of the schoolchildren, Lola, much to the amazement of her younger sister, Sally, her brother Roger and their friend, Percy.

Cast

Lola Evie Vranic Britten

Roger Henry Chilvers

Sally India Henderson

Mr Carter Arthur Smythe

Mr Johnson Milo Curra

Percy Wilbur Chapman-Hinge

Miss Chapman Eleanor Twyning

Miss Dryden Annabelle Sully

Daisy Romilly Skinner

Henry George Stenhouse

Mum Margot Eliott Lockhart

Dad Archie Donaldson-Cramer

Director Carter West

Teddy George Wormull

George Castor Olascoaga

Brian Max Duthie

Tommy Bobbie Foster-Kemp

They plan to hand the gold coins over to the police and hopefully receive a reward for their incredible discovery. However, their plan is overheard by a shady looking spiv complete with trench coat and trilby who quickly decides to get hold of the Roman gold coins for himself and by whatever means possible.

Evie Vranic Britten was superb in the starring role of Lola, a precocious, inquisitive and ultimately tomboyish character. She was supported brilliantly by Henry Chilvers, India Henderson and Wilbur Chapman-Hinge and together they led the audience on an exciting journey as they faced being evacuated whilst also battling to recover the Roman gold coins from the shady crook, played magnificently by Jasper Lee, complete with Dell Boy accent!

Arthur Smythe, Milo Curra, Ellie Twyning and Annabelle Sully also deserve a special mention for their tremendous portrayal of the school children’s long-suffering teachers as they endeavour to negotiate the rigours of evacuating the children by train. Other standout performances were Margot Eliott Lockhart and Archie Donaldson-Cramer who played Lola’s hardworking and anxious parents and Carter West who played the Director of the British Museum. Carter’s portrayal of the learned director of the museum also saw him act out a long speech that was absolutely word-perfect.

Lizzie Tina Dong

Poppy Saoirse Longfield

Basil George Fraser

Susan Eva Whittome

Margot Rosie Warde

Maisie Mariella Wilkinson

Louisa Emilia Weston

Madge Cicilia Olascoaga

Audrey Nyamekye Ampofo

Jack Edward Brincat

Spiv Jasper Lee

Photographer Arthur Li

PC Fred Harry Fox

PC Arthur Lorcan Jones

Mr Hamilton Marcel Fernandez Brooke

Guard/Stanley Felix Biddle-Guerrier

Despite the serious nature of the backstory, the dialogue was punctuated with moments of wonderful humour, a product of the author’s understanding of how children think. Skilful characterisation also saw some witty cameo parts played by Lorcan Jones and Harry Fox as two bumbling policemen and Marcel Fernandez Brooke who played a rather pompous Chairman of the School Governors. The other members of the cast who played the school children and other adult characters acted with real confidence and skill.

Huge thanks go to the Stage Managers, Mr Mitten and Mr Denny, who also doubled as the Special Effects team complete with numerous smoke machines around and under the stage and also Mr Purcell and the Lighting Team for all their hard work on the lights and sound effects. Thanks also to Mrs Gallagher who costumed the large cast brilliantly.

This was another fabulous Lush production that saw his script combine both immaculate historical research and wit and humour. A last word must be for the amazing cast – well done to you all on a marvellous production!

SPC

SPC

‘The Bramblewick Murder’ A Year 6 Play

Written and Directed by Jonathan Lush

The whole of Brambletye gathered in the Theatre in eager anticipation as we awaited the Year 6 production. As the house lights dimmed the audience were transported back in time to the 1930s for a tale of mystery, suspense and murder.

In the sleepy village of Bramblewick an amateur dramatics group has met to rehearse their annual play but very quickly it becomes clear tensions were running high amongst the villagers. ‘The Bramblewick Murder’ was written by our very own Mr Lush. It is a classic Agatha Christie style murder mystery and boy did the Year 6s leave us wanting more!

The Year 6s showed real flair on stage, luring the audience into believing they knew who the murderer was only for their ideas to be dashed in the final reveal. Right from the start Max Evans and Milly Rowe commanded the stage with such ease and confidence and

they lulled us all into a false sense of security as the audience were introduced to the apparently pleasant members of the amateur dramatics group. However, all misconceptions were swept aside on the arrival of the melodramatic diva that was Rosie Wingfield! Seraphina Weston played the villainous role quite brilliantly! So sickeningly lavish and impertinent was her characterisation of Rosie Wingfield I am surprised the whole company wasn’t suspected of her eventual murder! However, when she was murdered by a mysterious and shadowy figure just off stage, the gun shot made us all jump out of our seats!

A special mention must also go to Tom Moody who, in the role of Inspector Maclane, solved the murder with one of the longest monologues I have ever heard. It was an absolute triumph to remember so many lines for someone so young!

Oohs and ahhs were aplenty throughout the performance as the audience listened and attempted to work out the identity of the murderer. But what a show! The cast of Year 6s should be enormously proud and we saw some fabulous acting talent on stage. Well done to you all!

Huge thanks go to the Rev’d. Higgs and Mr Skinner for their roles as Stage Managers, Mrs Gallagher for all her work on the costumes and Mr Purcell and Coco Peng for all their hard work on the lighting and sounds desks. And of course special thanks go to the author and director, Mr Lush for writing and staging such a wonderful murder mystery.

It really was a riveting performance!

CF

Mrs. Geraldine Price Milly Rowe

Mr. Charles Price Max Evans

Rosie Wingfield Seraphina Weston

Brian Wingfield Alex Irens

Inspector Maclane Tom Moody

Anne Protheroe Rose Garrood

Sue Banningford Ida Akker

Mrs. Potts Otterly West

Doctor Haydock Henry Burton

Mary Williams Tabby McQuitty

Simon Green Freddie McGairl

Nelly Wilks Florence Bland

Bob Norton Tresaanth Ruben

Millie Dransfield Bibi Calvocoressi

Percy Flower Archie Jaques

Archie Protheroe Rory Calvocoressi

‘Patsy’ Kent Teresa Guzmán

‘Babs’ Jenkins Pippa Vickers

Brenda O’Marley

Stephanie Powers Emilia Johnson

Poppy Taylor

Jasmine Coppola

The Year 8 Showcase

The show opened with a performance of ‘Me Ol’ Bamboo’ from ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’. This up-beat performance was well choreographed and the appearance of the Leavers in all their different costume gave the audience a sense of what was to come.

The first sketch was a scene from ‘Our Country is Good’ which transported the audience to a British penal colony where a group of colonial settlers drunkenly discussed the merits of allowing the convicts to put on a play in order to help ‘humanise them’. Their high-minded arguments were comically undermined by the drunken outbursts from an army captain, played superbly by Peter Johnson. In fact, I was impressed by the acting talent of a number the Year 8 boys on stage.

Three witches and various apparitions then appeared on stage in the caldron scene taken from Shakespeare’s Macbeth. In arguably the most difficult sketch of the four, the cast delivered Shakespeare’s words eloquently and their performances gave both a sense of eerie foreboding and of the bloodshed to come. The use of the smoke machine was excellent and gave a sense of actors being isolated in the fog.

‘Gents’ was a scene that depicted three old men on a park bench. I loved the visual comedy in this piece; the fudge getting stuck in false teeth, the man on the end dozing off, the old men struggling to stand up and the three old men waving to a ‘widower’ walking past. This scene was great fun to watch. The chemistry between the three actors was

evident and the timing of the jokes was perfect.

‘The Tinder Girl’ was another tremendous performance and the all-girl cast acted out a scene in which a ghost haunts a house, seemingly lighting and then extinguishing the fire in the hearth to the horror and confusion of the women living and working there.

The final act was a lively reprise of ‘Me Ol’ Bamboo’ by all the Leavers.

Well done to all the cast and to the directors Ms Wightman and Mrs Dawson and thanks also to Mr Purcell and the Lighting Team and to Mrs Gallagher for organising all the costumes. JF

Cast

‘The Tinder Girl’

Sophia Sneddon, Sophie Kelso, Honor McQuitty, Ophelia Jelowicki-Henwood and Mimosa Barker

‘Our Country is Good’

Algie Mahon, Obiaku Wilson-Iwuji-Eme, Rory Thomson, Thomas Garrood, Bennett Horner, Teddy Dean, Peter Johnson, Ivan Brooks, Jorge Lerma, Theo Wing, George Foster-Kemp, Ryan Luu, Reggie Fernandez Brooke, Oakley Rawner, Christian Hope

‘MacBeth’

Coco Peng, Olivia Chilvers, Amelia Simons, Alex Al-Qaq, Iria Valero Rodriguez, Enzo Jacquemard, Thomas Curra, Damali Duncan ‘Gents’

Thomas Adams, Edouard Holst Van Gogh, Pumpy Addison Smith

Compères

Charlotte Burgess, Ella Clowes, Clemmie Warde, Olivia Blades, Willow Smither, Edith Franklin-Stables, Colombe De Mitry.

Brambletye Wins Awards!

Over the course of the year we were all extremely proud to hear that Brambletye had been presented with a number of different prestigious awards.

Early on in the academic year the school won the ‘Best International Pupil Experience’ award at the Independent School of the Year Awards 2021. We were later presented with the award for ‘The Most Nurturing Independent Co-Educational School’ at the Lux Private Education Awards 2022. At the Muddy Stiletto Awards 2022 we were shortlisted as a Finalist in the ‘Happiest Boarding School of the Year Award’. Brambletye has also been shortlisted in the Independent School of the Year Awards 2022 for the ‘Independent Prep School of the Year Award’. The result of this particular award has yet to be announced and we are keeping our fingers crossed.

Brambletye Pupils Perform at Glyndebourne

In recent months we have been enormously proud of two of our talented Year 8 girls who have performed in different operas at the world renowned Glyndebourne. In the Spring Term Honor McQuitty was asked to perform in a brand new opera called ‘Pay the Piper’. Meanwhile, in the summer, Sophia Sneddon was selected as one of sixteen children to perform with the Glyndebourne Youth Chorus as part of a production of La Bohème on the famous Glyndebourne stage.

Many congratulations to both girls!

In the meantime, Brambletye has also received enormous praise in a number of other publications this year. An excellent review was written about Brambletye by Tatler Magazine earlier this year, while in the Independent School Parent online magazine we appeared in a feature entitled ‘21 of the Most Beautiful Private Schools in the UK’. In fact, in this article we were the only Prep School to be mentioned alongside other schools including Stowe School, Wellington College, Sherborne School, Radley College, Wycombe Abbey and Charterhouse. Other publications who went on to write lovely features about Brambletye included Talk Education in their Top 250 Schools in the country, The London Magazine in their ‘Pick of the best Prep Schools for boys and girls outside the capital’ and School Notices Magazine in their feature entitled ‘What do Prep School children gain from boarding?’

Tina Hits the Right Note!

We are exceptionally proud of Tina Dong who has been accepted onto the National Children’s Orchestras of Great Britain 2022 Project. Tina is a hugely accomplished violin player and recently achieved a Distinction in her Grade 8 Violin exam. Many congratulations, Tina!

Charity Up-Date!

The Huracan Foundation

On the 17th September everyone at Brambletye was enormously proud to present a cheque to last year’s chosen charity, the Huracan Foundation, for the sum of £57,261.00. Despite the best efforts of Covid this was a phenomenal amount of money raised by the school community and we hope it will go a long way to help the Huracan Foundation.

The Huracan Foundation, founded by Old Brambletyean Henry May, is a charity that will remain close to our hearts. We are also delighted that Mr. Holden, who spearheaded our fundraising, is the first recipient of an award created especially by the charity for dedicated fundraisers. In honour of the occasion, the award was named after Mr Holden himself. Well done H and the whole Brambletye community!

Grandparents’ Day

One of the highlights of the year was Grandparents’ Day that took place on 17th May. We hosted 99 grandparents to lunch, tours of the school, a concert and tea. The sun shone and they were able to see Brambletye and its grounds in full bloom and looking at its best.

The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity

Brambletye’s Chosen Charity for 2021-2022

I was delighted that this year our pupils voted to support The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. I was inspired to champion the charity by a pupil who is very dear to me and who has left a lifelong impression on me. Three years ago, I was fortunate enough to teach Pippa Vickers, although we did not see nearly enough of her as we would have liked as she was undergoing treatment for lymphoblastic leukaemia. I remember that on occasions, when she was well enough to attend school, a ripple of excitement would run through the class. During that year, Pippa and I made a deal; when she was able to return to school full time, I would support her. And so it was, after being honoured to attend her ‘Ringing the Bell’ ceremony at The Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton in November 2019 to mark the end of her treatment (quite simply one of the best days I have been lucky enough to experience in my teaching career) and also following discussions in 2021, Pippa and her family decided we should put forward The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity as a way of thanking and repaying them for the support they had shown throughout her treatment.

The fundraising year started quite literally on ‘the start line’, as a number of pupils lined up for the Hever Triathlon in late September. They swam, cycled and ran their way to raising the first fundraising sums of money. Not to be outdone, a month later Messrs Fulton, Holden, Akker and I found ourselves at the start line of

the Brighton Half Marathon in hope of adding to the pot. We were delighted and relieved to all cross the finish line some two hours later. As we approached Christmas, the Norris-Jones family spearheaded Brambletye’s version of ‘A Star for a Star’ with families invited to name a star decoration in memory of a loved one and for this to be hung on the Christmas trees in both the Pre-Prep and Prep school. Meanwhile, Raffi Phillips also made a contribution with sales from his ‘Spike the Dragon’ comic. A festive evening spent ‘silent auctioning’ artwork at The Red Lion in Chelwood Gate, along with the retiring collection at the Autumn Concert saw us to a healthy total of around £12,000 by the end of the first term.

A spike in Covid numbers somewhat stalled fundraising in the Spring Term but Benjamin Selleck took this as an opportunity to practise his trumpet every day for 100 consecutive days. Meanwhile, Mr Akker, who had clearly enjoyed the Brighton half marathon so much, continued to run a half marathon each month to keep the fundraising ticking over.

The Summer Term saw the Brambletye community re-group and fundraising once more became a major focus. The Spring Dinner and Dance was a joyous evening of raffle prizes and country dancing. After a couple of years when Covid had forced the cancellation of such events, there was much celebration and fundraising that evening. That kick-started a run of events such as the 100km in May, the Art Auction, Mrs Clark’s Wing Walk, Mr

Mitten’s 100 Press-Ups a Day in May, the Dog Show, the Craft and Bake Sale, the Pre-Prep Summer Fun Day and the Summer Concert. Luca Brugnoli also contributed his vocal talents to the effort with sales from his solo CD album. The members of Year 4 then became Alan Sugar, forming companies that peddled goods and games to the parents on Top and Middle Terraces. This was a happy event in the sunshine and brought our fundraising for the year to a close.

I am hugely indebted to every pupil, parent, member of staff and friend of the school who has supported Pippa and me on our fundraising journey this year. Without the support and goodwill, not to mention sense of humour, of everyone involved, there is no way that we would have got anywhere near to raising our final total of £48,000 for this great charity. The monies raised will go a long way to help The Royal Marsden to not only support patients in their care, but the money raised will also fund life-saving research that will extend, improve and save the lives of people who are diagnosed with cancer. From the bottom of my heart, thank you, from Pippa and me, if you have fundraised or donated anything this year – we simply couldn’t have done it without you.

DB

Year 6 Success at the Lancing Science Competition!

A team of talented Year 6 Scientists took part in the Lancing Science Competition in May. The schools participating in the competition were split into teams and they went on to tackle challenges in all three science disciplines. Many congratulations go to Jack Mills who took part in the team that came 1st in the Physics Challenge and to Seraphina Weston whose team came 1st in the Biology Challenge.

The Birds of Prey display was another highlight of the day and Annabel de Chassiron was chosen to act as a perch for the eagle to land on!

Mrs Clark Reaches New Heights!

Mrs Clark not only deserves huge congratulations but also a bravery award when she volunteered to take part in a Wing Walk in aid of this year’s School Charity, The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. She even managed a wave for the camera as her aeroplane landed following her successful and daring flight!

Miss Ferris Gets Engaged!

Huge congratulations to our very own Year 4 Teacher, Miss Ferris, who became engaged recently! Her class were certainly very excited!

Annabelle’s Match Teas are Back!

After a two-year absence due to Covid, Annabelle’s famous Match Teas in Walnut made a welcome return in The Spring Term! Enormous thanks go to Annabelle and her team for all their hard work in the kitchens.

Under 11 Girls’ Netball Success

Huge congratulations go to our Under 11 Netball Team who came 2nd in the Plate Competition at the IAPS Netball Competition held this year at Framlingham College. It was a tough day’s play but their exceptional teamwork and skill on the court was rewarded with Silver medals. Well done to the whole team.

Success at the Lancing College 6-a-side Football Tournament

Congratulations to our Under 11 Boys’ 6-a-side Football Team who were Silver Medal winners at the Lancing College 6-a-side Football Tournament in September.

Under 13 Girls’ Cricket Success!

Our Under 13 Girls’ Cricket Team performed brilliantly in the Sussex Cricket Tournament held at Bede’s Senior School this summer. Some of our brightest cricketing talent from the Colts A also represented the team on this occasion and the side went on to take 2nd place, losing only to the eventual winners of the competition! Well done girls!

Summer Hockey Takes Off at Brambletye!

The Friday evening hockey League was very popular during the Summer Term and attracted a large number boys and girls. The teams were mixed and the standard of hockey on display was excellent!

Congratulations to ‘Team Earwicker’, who were the winners of the inaugural ‘Denny Summer Hockey League Shield’. In the final, ‘Team Earwicker’ defeated a very impressive looking ‘Team Skinner’ side.

Special thanks go to Mr Denny, Mr Earwicker, Mr Skinner, Mr Williams and Mr Holloway who coached and managed the teams. Well done to all the children who took part this summer.

Old Brambletyean Dinners

After a two-year pause due to Covid, it was lovely to be able to reintroduce the tradition of inviting Old Brambletyeans who have just completed their A Levels to dinner at Brambletye. As a result of Covid, this year we were playing catch-up and so on Sunday 26th June we welcomed back a wonderful group of OBs who had left in 2015 and 2016. A week later we were delighted to welcome

back a fabulous group of OBs who had left in 2017. Both occasions were very special indeed and OBs and members of staff who had been at Brambletye at the time were able to catch up on news and reminisce. It was marvellous to see them all again and we wish them all the very best of luck as they begin the next exciting chapter in their lives.

Outstanding Achievements by Some of our Old Brambletyeans

We were all delighted to hear the following news from some of our recent Old Brambletyeans:

Many congratulations to Charlotte Lester (2018) who has been made an Honorary King’s School Canterbury Scholar. Charlotte’s GCSE results were outstanding and she has started the Sixth Form studying Maths, Chemistry, Biology and Latin. The very best of luck, Charlotte, for your final two years at King’s.

We were thrilled to hear that Fiona Rodgers (2021) has been offered a place as bassoonist in the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain! Fiona started playing the bassoon in Year 1 here at Brambletye and went on to be awarded Academic and Music Scholarships to Woldingham School. Many congratulations, Fiona, and we hope you enjoy your time with the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain.

Congratulations go to Alice Butt (2018) who was recently awarded an Honorary Academic Scholarship at The King’s School Canterbury for her achievements in her GCSE exams. At the end of the Summer Term Alice was also awarded an Honorary Sports Exhibition. These are both incredible achievements and we wish Alice the very best of luck for her final two years at King’s and beyond.

Many of us will remember the incredible wildlife photographs Brooke Haycock (2020) took during his time at Brambletye. We were delighted to hear recently that Brooke’s photography has been recognised nationally as he was awarded RunnerUp in the 12-15 age group category in the ‘RSPCA Young Photographer of the Year’ competition. Brooke’s competition photograph featured a Tawny owlet being fed by its mother. Brooke’s prize was presented by nature photographer, television presenter and author, Chris Packham. Many congratulations, Brooke! awarded

News came through earlier in the year that Isla Sully (2020) and her pony, Toti, had been selected to ride for Great Britain in the International CDI at Keysoe in March! We send Isla huge congratulations from us all here at Brambletye on this outstanding achievement and hope the event went well.

Recently, Brambletye’s Head of Art, Mr Holden was delighted to receive an invitation to attend the opening night of the Ardingly College A’ Level and GCSE Art Exhibition. Seven former Brambletye Art Scholars had their work showcased. Mr Holden met some of his former pupils and was given a guided tour by former Brambletye Art Scholar, Sophie Miller whose work was also on display. Many congratulations to all the Brambletye Art Scholars whose work was featured in the exhibition.

We were delighted to hear recently that Isabelle Green (2021) came 1st in her age group for her painting ‘Drop Self-Portrait’ in the ‘IAPS International Prep School Art Competition: iart 2022’.

Many congratulations also go to Aimee Bruce (Yr 4) who won third place in her age group for her painting ‘Save the Elephants’. Both children were awarded their prizes at the IAPS Prize Giving Ceremony at The Nave, St. Ethelburga’s, Bishopsgate in London in May.

This was a fabulous achievement by both girls!

We much enjoyed seeing Tsola Temi-Omatseye (2019) when he visited Brambletye at the end of the Summer Term. He has done incredibly well during his time at Eastbourne College having played Basketball for 1st Team, having also played with the U.16s A Team for Rugby and having worked with the Honorary Drama Scholars’ Group. On the day he visited us he had also just been awarded the Eastbourne College Victor Ludorum Athletics Prize! He is now moving to the USA (Virginia) and hopes to become a professional basketball player. Many congratulations Tsola and we wish you all the very best for the future.

Congratulations also go to Abbie Coleman (2017) who has just left Eastbourne College after five very successful years. Two of her absolute highlights were winning the National Under 18 Hockey Finals at the Olympic Hockey Centre in London and being awarded the prestigious Simon Green Cup, awarded every year to the pupil who best epitomises College vales in relation to sport. Here at Brambletye, Abbie was Mr Lush’s final Captain of Hockey before he relinquished the reins. He remembers with enormous delight and pride not only Abbie’s phenomenal hockey skills but also the hugely talented 2017 1st VII Hockey Team who won or drew 17 out of their 19 indoor and outdoor hockey matches.

Many congratulations, Abbie, and we wish you every success for the future!

Brambletye Celebrates the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee,

Brambletye came together and celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee on Friday 27th May. The Queen had graciously agreed to be on hand with a royal wave from Top Field as the Day Pupils arrived at the start of the day. Meanwhile, the Grounds Team had been busy decorating parts of the school with balloons and bunting. The Front Door, Front Hall along with Walnut and the front entrance to the Chapel all looked wonderful in red, white and blue! In Walnut there was also a fascinating display of photos and memorabilia of Brambletye in the early 1950s, at the time of the Queen’s accession to the throne. Our thanks to Katharine Field for all her hard work in putting this display together. Later in the

morning the Revd. Higgs led the Prep School in a special Chapel Service of thanksgiving for the Queen’s long and continuing reign. At lunch time the Pre-Prep, sporting Kings and Queens fancy dress, joined the Prep School for a Jubilee Picnic on Lower Terrace in the sunshine. To record the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Day at Brambletye we also had a whole school photograph on Top Terrace. In the afternoon the Prep School enjoyed various Wide Games around the grounds and this was followed by tea and ice creams on Top Terrace and a Prize-Giving from the afternoon’s events. The memorable day ended with a Craft and Bake Sale outside the Theatre in aid of the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

Friday 27th May

Sport at Brambletye

The 2021/22 school year has seen a return to near normality on the sporting front. The fixture calendar was packed with fixtures in all the major sports and only a small number of matches were lost due to Covid.

The year began with Football for the boys and Hockey for the girls. The boys started well on the football front with all teams seeing success in their matches. The Under 9 boys looked strong throughout the season and their skill on the pitch and strength in depth shows enormous promise for the future. The same is also true of the Colts who had a successful season winning well in excess of 50% of their matches across all four teams.

The Colts A also played three 6-a-side tournaments over the course of the term with varying degrees of success. The first was the Lancing College 6s where they finished runners-up. The second was the Brambletye 6’s which they won convincingly and the third was the IAPS Tournament where they narrowly missed out on a place in the National Finals.

The girls also had a wonderful hockey season with all the teams going from strength to strength under the guidance of Mr Denny. The juniors played in and hosted a number of enjoyable mini-hockey festivals during the term. The middle and senior girls also enjoyed some fabulous success, again winning in excess of 50% of fixtures played. Meanwhile, the 1st Team narrowly missed out on getting through to the IAPS National Finals. Nevertheless, they had more success locally winning the Copthorne Indoor Tournament.

The changing seasons saw the return of Rugby and Netball fixtures. The boys played and trained with great determination and many coaches spoke of how proud they were of the progress the boys made throughout the season. The Under 8s were unbeaten in their tag rugby campaign and the Under 9s lost just the one match. The 1st Team finished their campaign with a doubleheader versus Duke of Kent School and Belmont School. The boys knew that victory in both games would mean a winning season and despite coming up against some stiff opposition the 1st Team ran out winners in both matches!

Our Netball teams were equally impressive. The girls trained and progressed well and although neither the Under 11s or Under 13s made it beyond the regional IAPS Qualifiers they still performed well. The senior girls finished the season in great style with a fantastic win against local rivals Cumnor House.

The Summer Term arrived with great anticipation as both the boys and girls looked forward to their cricket seasons alongside athletics and tennis fixtures.

The girls continue to make excellent progress on the cricket front. A number of the middle girls are particularly talented cricketers and these girls opted to play hardball cricket with the Colts boys’ teams this season. Meanwhile, the junior girls enjoyed lots of competitive gameplay in both training sessions and fixtures. Despite some of their stronger players representing the boys’ Colts Teams, the middle girls had a number of good performances and they also had the opportunity to battle for positions in the top girls’ teams. The Girls’ 1st XI continued last summer’s success with another sensational season! The team won all their matches bar one. They also finished Runners-Up in the Girls’ Under 13 Sussex Cricket Tournament which was a tremendous achievement. A special mention must go to Alex Al-Qaq who scored two half centuries during the season. She also took 7 wickets for six runs in just three overs against Great Walstead.

The boys cricket benefited greatly from their Winter Training Programme and in particular the Colts who won the majority of their matches across all teams from A to E! The Colts A had a superb season winning nine out of their ten fixtures which was hugely impressive. It was lovely to see tennis back on the fixture card this summer with many schools opting out last year due to the challenges of Covid. The Girls’ Under 13 Team had a super term winning all of their matches with our first pair of Olivia Blades and Mimosa Barker remaining unbeaten throughout the summer!

Summer 2022 brought with it several athletics matches including the return of the Brambletye Local Schools Meet. There was some genuine success in both field and track events and eight pupils qualified for the National Athletics Finals in Birmingham. Captain of Athletics, Alex Al-Qaq, remained unbeaten in the 100m sprint in school fixtures and at the National Finals she finished 9th overall in the country, which was an incredible achievement. Meanwhile, Obiaku Wilson-Iwuji-Eme was equally impressive in the boys’ sprints winning the County 200m final and finishing 2nd in the County 100m final. He went on to finish 9th and 13th respectively at the Nationals. Our top performers at the Nationals were Mimosa Barker who finished 4th in the High Jump, Orlaith West who finished 5th in the Girls’ Under 13, 200m race and Oliver Twyning who, although relatively new to the shot put, finished a hugely impressive 5th in his competition.

Sports Day was back this year in all its glory. Nevill Field was looking at its very best thanks to the amazing efforts of the Grounds Team. The weather was perfect for the athletes and picnickers alike and there were a number of exceptional performances on the day. Mimosa Barker achieved a new School Record in the High Jump with a height 1m 41cm and Bea

Mordaunt broke the Junior Girls’ High Jump record with a height of 1m 10cm. Meanwhile, Oliver Twining, fresh from his success at the Nationals, broke two records running 13.1 seconds in the 100m and throwing 10m 16cm in the shot put!

It has been a hugely successful and enjoyable year of sport at Brambletye. There have been some stand-out performances by teams and individuals alike and a large number of the pupils have ‘punched above their weight’ across all the major sports. Four of our Year 8s went on to be awarded Sports Scholarships this year (Alex Al-Qaq, Olivia Blades, Algie Mahon and Honor McQuitty) and all the pupils had much to celebrate and be enormously proud of.

SPW

Sports Day Athletics Prize-Giving

Victor Ludorum

Senior: Jorge Lerma

Middle: Ewan McCabe

Junior: Frederick McLean

Victrix Ludorum

Senior: Alex Al-Qaq

Middle: Rose Garrood

Junior: Bumble Clarke

Inter-House 4 x 100m Relays

(The Blue Ribbon Event before lunch)

Senior

1st DRAKE

2nd Wellington

3rd Marlborough 4th Nelson

Middle

1st MARLBOROUGH

2nd Wellington 3rd Drake 4th Nelson

Junior 1st DRAKE

2nd Marlborough 3rd Nelson

4th Wellington

Inter-House Relay Cup

(The Blue Ribbon Event before lunch)

1st Drake

2nd Marlborough 3rd Wellington 4th Nelson

Inter-House Athletics Cup

1st WELLINGTON

2nd Marlborough

3rd Nelson

4th Drake

Boys’ Football

Girls’ Football

Girls’ Hockey

Boys’ Hockey

Cross Country

Shooting

Sailing

Boys’ Cricket

Girls’ Cricket

Sports and Speech Day

Despite being on the last morning of term, Sports and Speech Day was back to normal this year! The day began with a Leavers’ Prize Giving in the Theatre. This was followed by the reinstatement of a wonderful Brambletye tradition, the House Parade from Top Terrace down to Nevill Field. We then then enjoyed a morning of hotly contested sports in the sunshine. Congratulations go to Drake who won the Blue Ribbon event before lunch, the Inter-House Relay Cup. Congratulations also go to Wellington who won the Inter-House Athletics Cup this year.

Brambletye Athletics School Records

Boarding

As I type this I can hear the sounds of the boarders playing outside and it seems that we have come an extremely long way since the start of the academic year. The first two terms saw us Covid testing the boarders twice a week and it is only as we revel in the relative luxury of NOT testing that we remember how much time was spent undertaking this safety procedure for two thirds of the year. Nevertheless, our wonderful group of boarders dealt with it as they continue to do with the other, shall we say more mundane but necessary boarding routines like linen night (!), all with good humour and stoicism.

The boarders have been tremendous company this year and at the weekends and we have all enjoyed getting involved in a huge number of different activities.

In the Autumn Term we got into a lovely routine of going for a walk either along the old steam railway or on the glorious Ashdown Forest on a Saturday or Sunday. We also enjoyed a Giant Sleep Over, BBQs on Top Terrace, a James Bond Lazer Quest Evening, a Roller Disco, Ice-Skating in Brighton, Cake Decorating, Birthday Suppers, a trip to London (the Tate Modern and a trip on the River Thames), a trip to Hever Castle, a trip to Watch Mr Denny Play Hockey for East Grinstead, an Outdoor Bouncy Castle on Nevill Field, the Year 8 Christmas Ball and a trip to Harry Potter World!

In the Spring Term we enjoyed a trip to Airsoft, Hungry Hippos in the Sports Hall, a trip to a Trampoline Park, a Quiz Night, a trip to the West End to see Matilda the musical, Bowling in Crawley, Celebrating the Chinese New Year, Pizza Making, a trip to the Cinema, Mountain Biking at Deer’s Leap Park, and a Hawaiian Themed Disco!

In the Summer Term we enjoyed Zorbing on Nevill Field, Nerf Guns, Dodge Ball, a trip to Bewl Water Aqua Park, a trip to Eastbourne for ‘Ninja Wars’, sun bathing and ice-creams on the beach along with a visit to the shopping centre (!). We also enjoyed a trip to the Escape Rooms at Tully’s Farm, an England vs The Rest of the World Cricket Match on Nevill Field, Crazy Golf, a trip to Herstmonceux Observatory and Science Centre, Kayaking, a trip to Thorpe Park and a Boarder’s Camp on New Field!

Phew! We have had so many amazing activities this year!

These incredible activities have been a constant source of enjoyment for us at the weekends. All of the boarders have been involved and the lovely feeling of the ‘extended’ family’ has certainly come to fruition over the course of the year.

Forest, followed by ‘bread with holes’ (crumpets to you and me!) to cricket on Nevill Field in the blazing summer sunshine.

The boarding team has been supported by some excellent GAP students this year including Zyggy, Jim, Rhys, Albert, Sophie, Kate and Billy. Dr Andrews and I have also been supported by the marvellous matronal team, ably lead by the wonderful Claudia Kingsley, with Annie Calf, Jo Roberts and Amanda Hearn aiding her superbly! My grateful thanks also go to all the residential staff who carry out endless duties and work tirelessly looking after and entertaining the boarders up in the dorms during the week and around the school and out on trips at the weekends. With so many wonderful members of staff around it means that there is always someone around to support the boarders whenever the need arises.

The atmosphere within the Boarding Houses this year really has been one of fun and enjoyment for all and long may this continue.

There are many endearing qualities regularly demonstrated by our boarders, but none more so than their tenacity and keenness to get involved in whatever we are doing, be it a Sunday afternoon walk on the Ashdown

May God continue to bless the Brambletye boarding community and all who reside within.

PA

Kyaking, Paddling and Croquet in the Ashdown Forest

Nerf Gun Wars Pizza Making Weekend Walks

Camping Out Under the Stars on New Field

Harry Potter World Food Glorious Food!

Mountain Biking at Deer’s Leap Park

Art & Design Technology

Art and also Design Technology at Brambletye continues to develop the children’s creativity and gives them confidence to aim high in a curriculum designed to challenge them. The curriculum also encourages them to go on to investigate, experiment, respond and produce works of art in a broad range of media. Drawing is key to the visual communication process and every pupil has been taught the skill of mark-marking using both wet and dry media in a controlled and self-disciplined way.

Year 3 have expressed themselves using the starting points of fossils. They have used mixed-media relief construction methods and hand painted designs. These have been mounted and displayed beautifully in the School Hall. Year 4 have exhibited their ‘Wildlife’ work in the Junior Art Studio. Their work has highlighted their advanced watercolour painting skills and the enormous potential in the junior part of the school. The work created by Year 5 focused on ‘Conservation’ and their drawings and paintings have focused on endangered species and animal welfare. Meanwhile, Year 6 pupils have been challenged with the difficult process of creating ‘Movement in Sport’ using the Mathematical approach of adding and subtracting media. They have developed their ideas to a high level and this, once again, has highlighted the creative talent in this year group. Year 7 have worked on given and selfinitiated starting points ranging from Still Life, Landscape, and Portraits. Some have produced units of work in their own free time based on ‘My Passion’. The list of Potential Art Scholars for 2022-2023 is once again in double figures with some outstanding talent coming through the ranks!

This year our Year 8 pupils achieved nine Art and Design Technology Scholarships, bringing our total to 238 awards in 25 years, a record of which we are all extremely proud. This particular year group have worked through a pandemic and have shown stamina and perseverance to conquer the educational challenges of the disruption caused by Covid. Some of our Year 8s decided to focus on the theme of ‘Lockdown’ and created visual statements in response to Covid using pencil, charcoal, watercolour, acrylics and printmaking media. Many congratulations go to our nine Scholars: Ophelia JelowickiHenwood, Amelia Simons, Sophia Sneddon, Enzo Jacquemard, Katherine Chai, Olivia Chilvers, Coco Peng and Thomas Curra.

Thomas Adams, our Design Technology Scholar (Tonbridge) deserves full credit for creating a body of work which combined traditional design and production skills with contemporary computer aided design methods. Thomas’ personal development plan included CAD, Architecture, Product Design, Sculpture, Typography and most importantly, a sense of humour.

To the pupils who sat Art and DT Scholarships but did not ‘win the game’, you have earned my full respect and you take with you the skills that will help guide you in the coming years.

The IAPS iart competition was held in London this year and I am delighted that Brambletye past and present produced two winners. Aimee Bruce came 3rd in the Year 3 and 4 age category for her beautiful painting ‘Elephant’ and Isabelle Green (OB, 2021) won 1st place in the Year 9 and 10 Category with her painting ‘Double Exposure’. Many congratulations to both girls.

Art remains a vital part of the learning process here at Brambletye and is valued highly. It offers a unique vehicle for selfexpression and creativity and gives children the green light to create a personal narrative which breaks down all preconceptions that youngsters have of themselves.

In the words of the artist Michael Armitage, ‘ “Art has given me the confidence to be the person I am today” ’, while the artist Orhan Pamuk is quoted as saying, ‘ “Painting is the silence of thought and the music of sight.” ’

DH

Music

It’s been an action-packed year for the Music Department with new developments including the Brambletye Symphony Orchestra, the Big Band and the Samba Band. We began our series of Informal Concerts in the Theatre Foyer and have enjoyed solo performances from a huge number of children across the Prep School. No fewer than 69 pupils took and passed ABRSM exams from the Prep Test all the way up to and including a Distinction for Grade 8 Violin. Over half the results were merits and distinctions.

The Autumn Chamber Concert and Summer Charity Concert, were particular highlights, raising over £2000 for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

Pupils in the Pre-Prep have also thoroughly enjoyed their Music lessons this year with

a particular highlight being the Music Extravaganza which included a staged extract from Bizet’s Carmen, complete with kazoos and a baritone soloist. Other memorable moments of the year included Remembrance Day, our Platinum Jubilee Concert and the whole school and parent body performing a pop mashup in the Summer Concert.

RS and DH

Internal Music Scholarships (2021-2022)

Coco Peng Piano

Amelia Simons Piano

Ella Clowes Singing

Bennett Horner Alto Saxophone

Honor McQuitty Singing

Tina Dong Violin

Eastbourne Orchestra Day

A number of our musicians were invited to join the Eastbourne College Orchestra Day in May. The day was thoroughly well organised and all the children loved it. The pupils arrived and were presented with six pieces they had never seen. They rehearsed as an orchestra with three other Prep Schools (St. Andrews, Holmewood House and St. Michael’s). They then rehearsed in sectional groups, supported by some Old Brambletyeans including Florrie Gates and Gabi Dixon! The progress was audible hour by hour!

The children were well fed and they enjoyed the activities on offer including a swim and basketball after lunch. The final concert was an absolute triumph!

RS

Autumn Concert 2021

As the lights went down the anticipation in the audience began to build and from the first blast of the samba whistle we were instantly transported from a frosty and festive Brambletye to the humid streets of Rio. The Year 8 Samba Band certainly blew away any cobwebs left in the Theatre after Lockdown and possibly blew a few eardrums too!

The newly formed Brambletye Symphony Orchestra were next to take to the stage and what a debut! They began with the atmospheric theme from Gladiator and this was followed with two upbeat pieces by Haydn and McMahon. The quality of musicianship was exceptional and the final piece ‘Shut Up and Dance’ had some in the audience desperate to do just that.

The festive spirit returned with the small but perfectly formed Junior Choir who sang a beautiful and haunting version of ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’.

Next up were 3Y and 3B who, in a Brambletye first, had been learning the trumpet in their class music lessons. Supported by some of the older and slightly more experienced trumpeters, Year 3 were fantastic. This was a wonderful opportunity for some of our youngest pupils to play together on a stage and you could see how much they enjoyed it.

The Bramble Bows arrived on stage and stunned the audience with pieces by Jenkins and Beethoven. These were played with real maturity

and it was wonderful to see string players aged between 7 and 13 playing together.

The Beginner Band is another new initiative and a lovely opportunity for those at the lower end of the school, and just starting out on their musical journey, to play together. ‘Skat Cat Swing’ and ‘Here Comes Trouble’ were played with a wonderful sense of fun and had the audience chuckling into their face masks.

The middle choir then sang an extraordinary arrangement of the Keane song ‘Somewhere Only We Know’. I think everyone would have been happy to listen to it on repeat as it was staggeringly beautiful.

The Senior Choir came next and were, quite frankly, spectacular. They sang a faultless rendition of 4 chords. It was such fun and the enjoyment the singers were clearly having flowed over the parents and children watching.

The concert was closed by the big sound of the Brambletye Big Band who ensured that we all

Mrs Selleck and Mr Harlan led our musicians with enthusiasm and energy and the pupils all responded in kind. The final word has to go to the performers who were, quite simply, brilliant.

NH

left the Theatre with a spring in our step and perhaps the odd spin as their final piece was the theme from Strictly Come Dancing.

Summer Charity Concert

On Friday 17th June the Theatre once more vibrated to the sound of the annual Brambletye Summer Concert, this year in aid of the school’s chosen charity, The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. The audience were treated to some glorious singing, some catchy, foot tapping tunes by the Orchestra and The Big Band, some extraordinary percussive work and an array of quality musicianship.

The concert got off to a rousing start with the Combined Choirs and the Brambletye Symphony Orchestra performing the first movement from ‘Gloria’ by Vivaldi and ‘Belle Mama’. This was a lovely opportunity for the Parent Choir to come together with the Senior Choir after the Carol Service at St. Swithun’s had to be cancelled due to Covid. The Orchestra then remained on stage and the audience were transported back to a time of pirates and skulduggery on the high seas with a magnificent rendition of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’. What followed was a very proud moment for Peter Johnson when his own orchestral composition entitled ‘At Peter’s House’ was premiered on the Brambletye stage. The haunting strings at the beginning of the piece then gives way to a catchy rock rhythm with a pulsating bass drum beat. What an achievement and quite rightly Peter stepped onto the stage at the end of the piece and took a bow to the rapturous applause of the audience.

There followed, what was for me, the absolute highlight of the concert. Carlota Parras Esteban (Year 7) enchanted the audience with her exquisite performance of the ‘Ashokan Farewell’ by Jay Ungar. Although the piece is not that old, the American film director Ken Burns was

greatly moved by it and he went on to use it in his television mini-series ‘The Civil War’. The folk lament is typical of much of the music played at the time of the American Civil War and Carlota’s beautiful performance, supported magnificently by the String Group, emphasised the sense of loss and longing and genuinely brought a tear to eye of many in the audience.

We were then treated to a joyous performance of ‘The Lambeth Walk’ by the Junior Choir. The piece certainly highlighted the singing talent coming up through the ranks. The soloists were superb and the choir not only sang brilliantly but I was impressed by their expression and obvious enjoyment in performing on stage.

the Jackson 5. I am sure there were members of the audience who were secretly singing along and remembering a misspent youth on the dance floor! The Middle Choir then went on to sing an uplifting version of ‘Yonder Come Day’.

The Senior Choir’s performance of ‘Like a Singing Bird’ was absolutely captivating and it was a wonderful opportunity for the Senior Choir to demonstrate the quality of their singing. Their performance of this delightful song was both joyous and incredibly moving.

The concert ended with the whole school on stage and in the aisles singing a remarkable ‘Pop Mash Up’.

The audience then enjoyed some stirring and foot tapping pieces brought to us by the Beginner Band, the Brass Group and the Brambletye Big Band. Year 8 then took to the stage with their junk percussion and this was followed Years 3 and 4 singing an upbeat piece entitled ‘Eh Soom Boo Kawaya’.

The audience were then entertained by the four Houses, Wellington, Marlborough, Nelson and Drake as they repeated their songs from the House Shout earlier in the year. This included the popular, energetic and flamboyant winning performance of ‘Be Our Guest’ by Drake, from the film and musical ‘Beauty and the Beast’.

The stage was then taken over by all of Years 5, 6 and 7 as they performed an impressive, syncopated plastic cup song! The Middle Choir followed this and got our feet tapping again with a fabulous version of ‘Blame it on the Boogie’ by

Huge thanks go to Mrs Selleck and Mr Harlan for all the hard work they put into staging this glorious concert. Thanks also go to all the peripatetic music teachers who gave up their time and accompanied so many of the instrumental pieces. Many thanks also go to the members of staff back stage who were in charge of scene changes and crowd control, and of course, to all the children. The depth of musical talent on display was a joy to behold!

JL

ABRSM Exam Results

AUTUMN 2021

Name Instrument Grade Result

Bumble Clarke Singing Prep Test N/A

Evie Vranic Britten Singing Prep Test N/A

Mariella Wilkinson Singing Prep Test N/A

Margot Eliott Lockhart Singing Prep Test N/A

Rosanna Warde Singing Prep Test N/A

Jessica Field Singing 1 Pass

Camilla Rowe Singing 1 Pass

Katya Kebadze Singing 1 Merit

Bibi Calvocoressi Singing 1 Merit

Emily Norris-Jones Trombone 1 Merit

Annabelle Sully Singing 1 Distinction

Tabitha McQuitty Singing 2 Pass

Milo Curra Piano 2 Pass

Isabella Buxton Flute 2 Merit

Alexander Nixon Piano 2 Merit

Olivia Chilvers Singing 4 Distinction

Ella Clowes Singing 5 Pass

Coco Peng Piano 5 Distinction

SPRING 2022

Name Instrument Grade Result

Eleanor Twyning Singing Prep Test N/A

Clemence Longfield Singing Prep Test N/A

Jack Mills Piano Prep Test N/A

Arthur Smythe Singing 1 Pass

Damali Duncan Singing 1 Pass

Thomas Moody Oboe 1 Pass

Evie Vranic Britten B Flat Cornet 1 Pass

Jayden Ogungbesan Piano 1 Pass

Henry Chilvers Singing 1 Merit

Margot Eliott Lockhart Singing 1 Distinction

Emily Norris-Jones Singing 1 Distinction

Jacoby Womersley Smith Piano 2 Pass

Benjamin Selleck B Flat Cornet 2 Merit

Emilia Johnson Singing 2 Merit

Olivia Chilvers Clarinet 2 Distinction

Sophie Kelso B Flat Cornet 3 Merit

Flora Smythe Singing 3 Merit

Sophia Sneddon Singing 4 Merit

SUMMER 2022

Name Instrument Grade Result

Air Plengvanit Singing Prep Test Present

Aurelia de Mestre Piano Prep Test Present

Milly-Ellen Brugnoli Singing Prep Test Present

George Johnson Piano Prep Test Present

Jayden Ogungbesan Cello Initial Merit

Mariella Wilkinson Singing 1 Merit

Poppy Skinner Alto Saxophone 1 Merit

Flora Smythe Alto Saxophone 1 Merit

Evie Vranic Britten Singing 1 Merit

Bumble Clarke Singing 1 Distinction

Florence Bland Singing 1 Distinction

Oscar De Mestre Flute 2 Pass

Jessica Field Singing 2 Pass

Bibi Calvocoressi Singing 2 Merit

Clementine Warde Alto Saxophone 2 Merit

Emily Norris-Jones Piano 2 Merit

Ida Akker Singing 2 Distinction

Emily Norris-Jones Singing 2 Distinction

Annabelle Sully Singing 2 Distinction

Tresaanth Ruben Piano 3 Pass

Isabella Buxton Flute 3 Merit

Henry Burton Trombone 4 Pass

Alexander Nixon Violin 4 Distinction

Bennett Horner Alto Saxophone 5 Pass

Honor McQuitty Singing 5 Merit

Tresaanth Ruben Violin 6 Pass

Coco Peng Piano 6 Distinction

Tina Dong Violin 8 Distinction

DRUM EXAM SUMMER 2022

Name Instrument Grade Result

Rose Garrood Drums 4 Pass

ABRSM EXAMS 2021-22

It’s-a-Knock Out

Leavers’ Course 2022

With the end of Common Entrance, we welcomed the Leavers’ Course, 2022. This year was slightly different due to where the exams fell, and the Leavers enjoyed 4 weeks of challenging, fun and inspirational activities.

The first week saw the group start with a cultural trip to London followed by a Music and Art workshop back at Brambletye. The week also saw some parental guest speakers join us to discuss Careers. The Leavers also learnt about what the Brambletye Alumni involves.

The following week, 38 pupils and 4 staff set off in glorious sunshine for their Residential Week in Wareham, Dorset. Some of the highlights of the week included a full day at Dorset Water Park with the amazing backdrop of Corfe Castle. The children loved running over the inflatable obstacles and bouncing and sliding round the course. The pupils, and their footwear, were also put to the test on the ‘Mud-Run’: a land based obstacle course featuring plenty of oozing mud. The Leavers also got to experience being whizzed down zip wires, climbing high towers and being vertically challenged on the ‘Gauntlet’. When the group returned, you could tell that not only had they had a great time but they had made some incredible memories for years to come.

Week three saw rehearsals for the ‘Year 8 Showcase’ begin. They also began rehearsals for the ever popular Leavers’ Entertainment. Meanwhile, the Leavers took part in the House Trebuchet Challenge which saw Drake coming out on top! I was also delighted to welcome back two guest speakers, Patrick Foster and Chris Rash. Patrick spoke honestly about a gambling addiction he once had and this captured

everyone’s attention. Chris Rash spoke to the Leavers about his own experiences with addiction and I think it goes without saying how much the group learnt from both talks.

One of the newer aspects of the Leavers’ Course is the One Day Film School followed by a formal Oscars’ Evening. This year, the group got fully involved and produced some wonderful short films in a very short time frame. In the evening the boys and girls looked the part in their DJs and party dresses as they enjoyed ‘mocktails’ and a fabulous buffet supper on Top Terrace followed by an Oscars’ Ceremony in the Theatre. The evening ended with an energetic disco in the Sports Hall.

One of the highlights of week four was the traditional Leavers vs The Parents cricket matches on both Top Field and Nevill Field. Following the cricket matches, Annabelle and her team laid on a wonderful BBQ on Top Field in the late evening sunshine. Perfect!

The final activities enjoyed by the Leavers were the Leavers’ Entertainment, a fabulous and emotional evening of sketches and songs put on by the children themselves, and the ‘Year 8 Showcase’ on the Friday evening.

I would like to thank all the academic staff, the Grounds Team and the Catering Team for making the Leavers’ Course so successful. I would also like to thank the Leavers themselves for making the last four weeks of the Summer Term so enjoyable.

Good luck to all the Leavers of 2022!

DF

Oscar’s Night & Boarders’ Disco

Leavers’ Matches

Leavers’ Entertainment

Brambletye, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH193PD. | Tel: 01342 321004 | schooloffice@brambletye.co.uk | www.brambletye.co.uk