Graeme Turner 2009-2013

McClure was my very first Housemaster role. When I arrived there were clear structure and numerous systems in place following on from housemistress Berinda Banks and later Paulo Duran’s time which made for a smooth transition in my first term. There was a distinct McClure culture; a robust family feel which involved the pupils leading very much from the front; I was keen to continue nurturing this vibe.

My first Head of House, Sofia Calzavara, was a positive and cheery presence, this rubbed off on those around her. McClure was a joyful house and it gave the pupils a clear sense of belonging whilst providing a platform from which pupils were able to step out of their comfort zone and try new things. I would always strongly recommend pupils getting involved with as many activities in the school as they could. How do they know they don’t like it if they don’t try it!

stepped up to direct DNA the first House Play under my reign. I still have the play poster and pictures on the wall in my Burton Bank office with then pupils Gilles Geary (now an actor in the US), Olivia Bernstone (currently an actress in the UK) and young Max Traeger (now a History teacher at MHS!). We won of course, and I knew it the moment the play endedyou could have heard a pin drop. It was a dazzling performance from all, I felt

Amy Green, an Upper very emotional and my first really proud moment. There would be plenty more to follow.

There was healthy competition between the Houses and it didn’t take me long to try and raise our game both within the House and performing outside of it. We needed to create our own House identity and small things like putting pictures of the pupils on the walls, (the new Fourth Form would always have their portraits in their form room), having our own McClure polo shirts for inter-house competitions, awarding House pens for individual achievement all seemed to help in bringing us closer together as a team.

Over time, I wanted to generate more opportunities for the staff and pupils to spend time together outside school hours and so House Teambuilding events in McClure quickly became the norm. Fourth Form and Mentors bowling trips, Pizza nights, Black Tie Dinners in the Refectory for the Fifth and Upper Sixth, the annual Mud Assault Course, paintballing and the list goes on. Some of the best memories were made in those trips and many McClurians remind me of those.

Whether it made a difference or not, we managed to win the Five and Ten Mile cup on a few occasions, an event Daniel Bingham’s Atkinson now dominate. Winning the House Music competition, always a highlight of the year was another proud moment with Emily Glassberg, Lindsey Fransman and Sophie Loizou leading the way in 2014. The ensemble gave a wonderful performance of Mika’s ‘Happy Ending’ and received a standing ovation. The House song, Matilda’s ‘When I grow up’ was also great fun.

My relationship with the pupils and parents only grew stronger during my six year tenure and that family feel extended to the form tutors Mark Jennings, David

Woodrow, Patricia Newsome, John Barron, Sara Martinez, Gavin Saint, Nick Cheeseman and Amy Ellerington to name a few. Morning coffee with the team would be a highlight of my day with pupils coming into the office now and again to purchase their Tunnocks caramel wafers. Nick Cheeseman was our McClure Team social secretary and every half term we would venture into Central London to try out a new restaurant. I am sure the bond that we created with each other was picked up by the pupils and added to the lovely atmosphere within the House. Parents’ Socials were also popular; I would put together photo presentations from the term for them and ask pupils to perform by either singing or playing music.

House Hogs were an enormously popular event and continue to be a lovely opportunity to reflect on the successes of the House at the end of a busy term. It was a great opportunity for me to recognise achievements from certain individuals and I would often present the house tie (we had two; one for girls and one for boys and I never knew why?) to all those new pupils in the House, the House scarf, The Penguin ‘Poems for Life’ book as a Housemaster’s award; an idea carried on from Paulo’s days and, the Head of House would receive an original Routemaster 240 Bus Blind many of which are hung on walls all over the world. Seb Daly recently sent me a picture of his from his flat in San Francisco! The Christmas Hog was always a themed event with ‘Tube Stations’ in 2013 being one of the popular ones.

The success of a House shouldn’t be how many inter-house events you have won but as Housemaster/Mistress you want everyone to feel part of a journey. My aim during my time in McClure was for my pupils to be able to look back on their time after five years at the school having stepped outside their comfort zone, taken on some kind of responsibility and in doing created some wonderful memories along the way.

When I stepped down from McClure in 2015 I was genuinely upset at leaving the House and everything it stood for, many will remember me in tears at the leaving do with all the parents and pupils in attendance. I had made some wonderful friendships with all those involved with McClure and I count many of them today as my good friends, parents, staff, and pupils included.