Marcus Hember, Captain Royal Navy

Clockwise from above: MCJS Scouts (Price archive, undated); MCJS 3rd Bath Wolf Cubs, summer 1939 (J G Wood album); MCJS Cubs after snow tracking, Christmas 1939 (J G Wood album)

From the Archives

The 3rd Bath Scouts

One of the most exciting ways to develop leadership and team skills at Monkton Prep School has always been through the extremely popular Scouts and Cubs, an important part of school life since our Scouts were first set up in 1909 as the 3rd Bath, over 110 years ago.

The national Scout Movement was established in 1907, so the Monkton School Scout troop was one of the oldest in the city, and probably in the country. It was officially recognised in Summer Term 1913, by which time it had already produced three King’s Scouts, the highest award in scouting.

The Magpie Magazine for Christmas Term 1910 records the three patrols as the Curlews, Otters and Woodpigeons. There was also a Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, a Corporal and a Signaller as well as two Cyclists, a Bugler and a four-strong Band! Activities included fire drill, hand signal practices, semaphore, life-line throwing, skirmishing, band practices, first aid and knot tying. Attacking the school was a popular and often-repeated activity which required the Headmaster and “the Rest” to act as defenders!

During WW1, at the request of the authorities, the 3rd Bath Scouts were responsible for guarding (all day and occasionally by night) the local water supplies against possible damage by saboteurs. In 1959, one of the scouts received the Cornwell Badge (the “Scout VC”) for his courage during a serious illness.

A Wolf Cub pack was established in 1929 and was run by the School Matrons, titled Akela and Bagheera. The school archives hold some wonderful photographs of happy groups of Cubs standing proudly under their own banner or getting out in the surrounding countryside doing tracking or just having a great time together.

Wide games, with pupils roaming freely across the Monkton valley and the woods above Claverton and cooking sausages and “porridge” on open fires, were part of the weekly activities, and an annual camp at Sway in the New Forest was always a highlight, with river swimming a particular favourite.

Every edition of the Magpie contains a report on activities, written by one of the many members of staff who have devoted their time to running the Scouts over the last century. In recent years, up until his retirement, the MPS troop was run with enthusiasm by Mr Sibley, Head of Music.

Jacqueline Burrows

Archivist July 2022

OM & OC News

Find out what some of our Alumni have been up to over the last year

James Arney (OM 2011) won Britain’s Fittest Farmer for the second year running. The competition is tough to say the least! James carried the equivalent of one small adult in each hand over a fair distance, skied 500m followed by throwing a 50kg bag over a 5ft wall, ran 3km carrying 20kg with a few rope climbs thrown in along the way and deadlifted ridiculously heavy weights amongst other rounds.

Elles Bailey’s (OM 2006) latest album ‘Shining In The Half Light’ secured a place in the UK Top20 album charts earlier this year reaching number 11. A remarkable achievement for a blues/rock grassroots Americana artist. Jon Bradshaw (OM 2011) has recently had an article published in “Concrete magazine”. With the emphasis in construction on sustainability and carbon reduction, the repair of historic and listed concrete is becoming increasingly common to not only keep these structures in use but also bring them up to modern-day standards. Jon who works for Concrete Repairs Limited reported on the works being carried out to the Grade II-listed Cleveland Bridge in Bath. https://www.concrete. org.uk/magazine-archived-content. asp

Olivia Caesar (OM 2018) Bruins’ Junior, has secured All-Pac-12 Team honours for the second consecutive season. Olivia stroked a Leander/Tideway Scullers VIII in the Remenham Challenge Cup at Henley this summer.

John Delafield (OM

1955) published his autobiography A Flying Life this year. The book covers his RAF career, RAF Volunteer Reserves and his passion for gliding. It is a rich account of his flying career, from boyhood aeromodelling to designing and manufacturing modifications to enhance the performance of various gliders and later in life, business enterprises.

Ben Garrod (OM 2017) umpired the Tier 1 Under 18 Schools hockey semi final between Whitgift and Repton held at the Olympic Stadium in London. He met up with Tim Davenport (Hon OM) who is now Hockey Development Officer at Whitgift. The game finished 3-3 but Repton won 2-0 on penalty shuffles. Ben returned to Monkton to umpire the annual OMs hockey matches at the end of the month.

Tom Griffiths (OM 2020) is at Hartpury University studying for a degree in Equine Sport Science and has already been voted secretary of the Hartpury Equestrian Club. He has recently been selected as the winner of a special bursary in memory of Archie Lowe (Archie Lowe Foundation). Archie was a talented young rider who tragically lost his life in 2020, aged 21, in a riding accident. Archie’s mum set up the training bursary in his memory so that other boys who have a special talent and bond with their horse may benefit. Tom was nominated by existing British Eventing coaches and will receive a year’s mentorship from William Fox-Pitt, and two other very experienced coaches at British Eventing.

Andrew Lightbown (OM

1984) has been appointed Canon Residentiary at Newport Cathedral. He says that members of the Monkton community would be very welcome to drop in to the Cathedral and say hello. James Pritchard (OM 2015) is a Youth Worker in the field of serious youth violence. His service accepts referrals for young people aged 1021 who have been victims of gang violence, child sexual exploitation, criminal child exploitation, modern day slavery and severe cases of bullying in schools. They aim to prevent re-victimisation by equipping young people with coping mechanisms, enhancing their protective factors and support networks as well as supporting young people through the court process. Ben Wells (OM 2018) made his first class debut for Gloucestershire CC in 2021 then in 2022 he began by making 139 off 86 for Bath CC in a 40-over match against Bashley CC. Playing for Somerset Second XI he made an unbeaten 111 off just 61 balls in a T20 against Northants. Having completed his BSc in Physics at Exeter University where he was also captain of the first XI he has now signed for Gloucestershire.