The Rossallian Newspaper - Issue 3 by Rossall School

Edition 3: December 2023

www.rossall.org.uk

CELEBRATING THE PAST BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE Collectively and individually, these buildings constitute a gloriously powerful manifestation of the cultural, intellectual and spiritual soul of our wonderful community.

he cultural identity of our School community is hardwired into the spectacular architectural heritage of which we all serve as custodians. We pass through the School but for a short time and yet we have a moral responsibility to preserve the fabric of our beloved buildings for future generations. Our most iconic buildings date from the mid-nineteenth century and symbolise the hopes and dreams of those brave pioneers who sought to establish a seat of learning here on the Fylde Coast. The Sumner Library, Big School (situated on the north range of the Square) and the Chapel of St John the Baptist are all listed buildings, noted for their architectural importance.

These buildings inspire our enduring affection because the relentless march of time appears to be suspended within their midst. The spaces contained therein have a remarkable capacity to bestow that most sought after of privileges - the privilege of belonging. Their familiarity provides a sense of certainty within an ever-changing world. There is something unique about the intense emotional hold that these places have on Rossallians. It defies rational explanation and those of faith may discern the guiding hand of God at work. Others will attribute their attachment to these buildings to a nostalgic yearning for the past and a lively appreciation of institutional traditions. As Rossallians, we are conscious of the tremendous sacrifice offered by those who went before us. We continue to honour the memory of those Rossallians whose lives were cut tragically short in the maelstrom of twentieth century conflict. For many of these young men, there was precious little of life left to be lived beyond Rossall. Our responsibility to them is eternal.

Of course, time has not stood still and these buildings are now in need of urgent repair. The depredations of a hundred and eighty winters on the Fylde has reduced some of our buildings to a parlous state. Wind, rain and salt (that most corrosive of minerals) have exerted a terrible toll on the physical fabric of our listed buildings. It is the case that crumbling masonry, corroded metal, rotten roof beams and leaking pipes threaten the very existence of our buildings. Unless we intervene to save them, our most iconic buildings will enter a spiral of managed decline. Collectively, Cassidy and Ashton’s detailed surveys of the Chapel, Sumner Library and Big School do not make for an easy read. The forensic detail contained within these recently commissioned reports serves as a devastating catalogue of problems. However, the surveys also serve as a timely call to arms and detail what must be done in order to safeguard the buildings for the long term future. Thankfully, all is not lost but we must now act with a sense of urgency if we are to successfully turn the tide and return these buildings to their former glory.

Safeguarding the future of these buildings will cost well in excess of £1.5 million and this does not take into account the work that needs to be carried out in order to ensure that the Sumner Library becomes a modern study space within which children can work together collaboratively. Similarly, it does not take into account the enormous amount of work that needs to be accomplished in order to transform Big School into a flexible performance space capable of supporting our rapidly expanding performing arts programme. Over the last decade or so, Rossall Foundation has supported a number of projects that have enabled the School to develop the quality of its offering. In October 2023, Harrison and Harrison will begin the long-awaited refurbishment of the Chapel Organ. This is a project that is being funded almost entirely by the Foundation. Restoring the organ to its former glory is a labour of love that would have been impossible without the energy, vision and dynamism of Rossallians committed to preserving all aspects of the School’s heritage. - Jeremy Quartermain, Headmaster

CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

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FROM THE PREPARATORY HEADMASTER ROSSALL BECOMES REGIONAL HUB FOR EARLY EXCELLENCE

arlier this term, Rossall played host to an engaging and informative Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) conference, bringing together practitioners, EYFS leaders, headteachers, and experts in the field. The event, held in conjunction with ‘Early Excellence’ on 29th September, provided a platform for the exchange of ideas and best practices in early childhood education. Rossall’s commitment to fostering a nurturing and stimulating environment for our youngest learners is clear to see in the outstanding provision that has been developed over recent years. Attendees were treated to a series of enlightening sessions and presentations, each focusing on key aspects of EYFS education. A highlight of the conference was the opportunity to better understand ‘continuous provision’ through exploring an EYFS classroom that had been set up in the Reece Seminar room. Throughout the day, attendees were able to explore the EYFS provision at Rossall, as well as sample the delights of our wonderful School Dining Hall.The Early Excellence conference at Rossall not only served as a platform for learning and collaboration but also as a testament to the School’s commitment to providing the best possible start for young learners in their educational journey. - Matt Turner, Headmaster of Preparatory School and Nursery CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

ROSSALL SIXTH FORM JOURNEY TO GHANA TO SUPPORT THE YOUNG SHALL GROW INTERNATIONAL WRITTEN BY HEAD OF SIXTH FORM, MR NICK CROMBIE

arly morning on the 8th July 2023, nine Sixth Formers and two staff left Rossall to travel to the Volta Region, a beautiful agricultural and fishing district in East Ghana, on the border of Togo. Ten days of teaching, building, coaching, craft-making, singing, dancing and travelling were in store, and our team, supported by African Adventures, were raring to go (if a little tired on account of the 1am departure time). After two smooth flights, we touched down in Accra, the capital of Ghana, and were met by the smiling faces of our local support team, captained by the legendary Elulu, ably supported by his colleague and brother Destiny, and we were whisked away for our first dinner in a mall, where we were introduced to the project Director, a man named Siva. After a quick dinner, we headed to our accommodation for the night, taking the ‘short’ drive through the backstreets of the city. For anyone who has ever visited Ghana before, you will understand exactly what we would have seen: people everywhere,

market stalls, goats wandering across the streets, women carrying extraordinary loads on their heads, football shirts, noise, vibrancy. Welcome to Ghana. Our team stared at the spectacle, a long way away from the Fylde Coast, whilst Emma passed the time counting the number of car horns she could hear as our driver weaved skillfully through the seemingly non-existent rules of the road. But arrive safely we did, and into a little pocket of paradise with palm trees and a few local lizards scattered through the picturesque guest lodge. A good night’s sleep followed, and then our first day – travelling East to the volunteer lodge and Little Roses School. After another beautiful and enthralling drive, during which the landscape transformed from the built up city outskirts of Accra to the idyllic green trees and rich red soil of the Volta Region, we arrived at our main base for the trip: a volunteer lodge built on the sands of the nearby beach, founded and run by Siva, as a way of supporting his own charity, The Young Shall Grow International. As soon as we stepped out

of the bus, we were greeted by smiling excitable children, who immediately took us under their wing and wanted to play football, dance, sing and ask endless questions. It was a wonderful introduction to life in the Volta Region, typically one of the poorest areas of Ghana, but also one in which education is taken so seriously – it is their ticket to success. Whilst we waited for dinner, we took a community walk through the local village to a lighthouse – one of the tallest in Ghana – which we climbed to witness the most spectacular views of the ocean on one side, and the lagoon on the other. A quick dinner followed, and then it was down to some lesson planning as we had been told that the next morning we would be teaching for the first time. As a School, we had chosen to partner with Little Roses for a variety of reasons: it shared the obvious connection to our own Rose House, as well as our School’s emblem; but, it is also one of the least supported schools in the area and is in need of significant financial injection if the students there are to

receive anything like the education they desire. In Ghana there is little to no free education – even the government schools require payment – and as such, a number of families cannot afford to send their children to school. We saw this first hand back at the lodge with a number of ‘street children’ spending their day in the immediate area, rather than heading to one of the many schools that surround the place. But despite Little Roses’ lack of investment, it was a beautiful school in many ways – again, built on the sand, under the shade of stunning trees, the open classrooms and metal-sheet roofs add to the character of the setting that was our base for the next week. But the buildings are just a superficial way of describing this place; what makes this really special is the people. The welcome we received from the school will stay with us forever – we were treated to drumming, singing and dancing, from students dressed in traditional Ghanaian clothing, and then invited to join the students by dancing as well. Let me tell you this… we were not quite as good as them. But in this moment, communities from two continents, separated by

thousands of miles, were joined together and we felt so incredibly humbled by their generosity of spirit. This continued throughout our time and the happiness and warmth these children showed was infectious – you could not fail to be uplifted by even ten minutes in their company. Over the coming days, our students taught a range of fantastic lessons: James led in Mathematics; Chris taught Shakespeare; Emma illustrated the muscles and bones of the body; Sophie took on Psychology and long term memory; Alice explained the working of the heart; Martina bravely explored political thought and doctrine; Suzanne presented the ethics of the Trolley Problem; Leona introduced German, whilst Anna took on the challenge of Chinese – indeed it was both impressive and surreal to walk around the school listening to children repeat phrases, sing songs, and demand more teaching, all on the account of our own students stepping outside of their comfort zone. This was a real challenge – some of the classrooms had over forty students in them, no whiteboard, no electricity, and in a space significantly smaller than we take for granted. And to control a group of this size, with no formal training, in 30 degree heat (with extreme humidity), is no easy feat. I cannot tell you how proud Miss Goodes and I were. On our penultimate day at the school, we took a break from teaching to help build part of a classroom that needed urgent attention on account of damage caused by flooding. This was gruelling work, but together we mixed concrete, lifted heavy bricks, helped lay foundations, and all had a go at building a wall (we were not very good and the local builder

decided he would take over), but by the end of the day, the school had a fully equipped classroom and we had laid the foundations for an enduring link between our two schools. On our final day we organised (a word that juxtaposes the chaos of the event) a sports day for the whole school, consisting of football, netball, egg-and-spoon races, sack races and general relays. And then it was time to say goodbye, but not before the traditional send-off and it was back to singing, drumming, and more dancing. I have been told never to publish the video footage of this, but I make no promises. As a team, we donated school supplies, clothing, sports equipment, and craft materials, but the biggest donation came from our students directly. Through fundraising from Rossall’s Sixth Form Bakery, and other charitable events (including the 24 hour Sporting Event), we were able to donate five whiteboards to the school to help the teachers in delivering education. With more money raised we hope to continue to support the school in other ways over the coming months. A massive thank you to all those in our community who helped to contribute to this project.

Outside of the teaching days, we spent time at the beach (much needed after the physical fatigue on show after a day’s teaching); took a tour around the local market; received a drumming lesson and even learnt some of the local dialect. Our evenings, back at the lodge, consisted of local Ghanaian food and entertainment, and the group were such good company to be around. On our final night at the lodge, Siva organised a special send off to say thank you, and he hired a famous drumming and dancing troupe who performed for us, before making us dance once again. Yes, there

is footage. Again, I make no promises. Siva then took the time to tell us the history of his charity and a bit about his life. I cannot stress this enough, but at the very heart of this community is Siva. He is the figure who is determined to change the lives of those children who grow up in difficult circumstances. Siva’s mother was wife number four of sixteen, to his father, and when the family hit financial difficulty, Siva was abandoned at age 6 and forced to live on the street. After some incredibly tough years, he had found work on a farm and by the age of 13 had been given his own piece of land and had even employed two other street children to come and work with him. It was around this time that he met a British man who took him under his wing, eventually flying him to the UK aged 18 and encouraging him to tell his story at schools and businesses across the country. This raised enough money for Siva to return and to increase the size of his offering, eventually building the volunteer lodge we stayed in on this trip. Siva’s charity focuses on providing food, clothing, shelter and education to street children, orphans and any children who grow up in hardship. He is determined that no other child should go through the challenges he did. As such, his long term aim is to build an orphanage, with a classroom attached to provide free education to the children who need it the most. This is a fifteen year project and one predicted to cost around £150,000. We were fortunate to see the plot of land that this building will eventually be built on, and it is a stunning place to be educated. With the proposal that this trip will become an annual venture for Rossall, it is our hope that the links between Siva and Rossall will grow and his kindness was an inspiration to our team. As we said our goodbyes to Siva and his team, we were presented with yet more gifts – this time in the form of personalised and embroidered sashes (once again, their generosity was truly humbling) – and then it was off to the other side of Ghana to take in some cultural and historical landmarks. The

first came in the form of Cape Coast’s Slave Castle, a hugely significant landmark in the history of Ghana and the United Kingdom. The statistics around the castle are staggering, and the atrocities that occurred there are truly shocking. I know how powerful the team found this experience and it was a vital part of the trip. After our final dinner, and a few awards, it was off to Kakum National Park and a Canopy Walk. By this point, tiredness and a little bit of illness had crept into the group, but we all successfully completed the hike through the trees and then slept most of the four hours back to Accra to board our flight home.

The trip was a huge success and it could not have happened without the brilliant attitudes and genuine good company of the students we took. Special thanks must be given to Miss Goodes who accompanied the trip, but led from the front in all that she did. We will launch the Ghana Trip 2024 early in September and I would encourage anyone in the Sixth Form to apply – it is a physically and mentally demanding trip, as far away from a holiday as you can get, but it will provide you with life-long memories and cultural understanding that belies your years.

SCAN THE QR CODE TO SEE OUR PHOTOGRAPHS FROM GHANA

STUDENTS OFF TO PURSUE THEIR DREAMS AFTER ACHIEVING EXCELLENT RESULTS Sam Easterbrook, a current England International, has been awarded a full Golf Scholarship to Purdue University, Indiana and top footballers Francesca Sarsfield and Sophia Woods have set off to the USA on full scholarships in order to pursue their sporting dreams. Seven students, including Keito Lipovschek, (who achieved the equivalent of A*AA) are now in receipt of professional footballing contracts from teams in the UK and abroad. Keito has begun playing football professionally in Dubai.

ossall School’s commitment to academic excellence continues to yield outstanding outcomes for its students with yet another set of fantastic public examination results. These results have been achieved against a national backdrop of grade deflation. Earlier this Summer, students enrolled upon the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme received their results. They achieved an average diploma score of 34 points which, from both a national and global perspective, constitutes a very strong performance. This morning it was time for those students who have spent the last two years studying for A levels and/or BTEC qualifications to celebrate their successes.

In terms of UCAS points, almost 50% of the Upper Sixth Form cohort at Rossall come away from their examinations with the equivalent of AAB (at A level) or above. Furthermore, as expected, an impressive number of students have achieved a clean sweep of ‘A’ and A*’ grades. Every year Rossall students progress to some of the most prestigious university courses here within the UK. This year is no exception, and this autumn Rossall students have begun undergraduate studies at Oxford, Cambridge, Manchester, Warwick, Durham, Edinburgh, Leeds, UCL, King’s College London, Loughborough, Sheffield, Queen’s Belfast and countless other Top20/Russell Group universities. They study an extraordinarily diverse range of subjects including Architecture, Biochemistry, Mathematics, Engineering, Music, Physics, Psychology, Graphic Design, Economics and Management, English Literature and Aviation Management. In addition, a growing number of our students have moved on to study at some of the most academically sought after destinations around the world including Australia, USA, Spain, Japan and the Netherlands. Two thirds of those opting to go to university within the UK have gone to Top 20/ Russell Group universities.

Additionally, a record number of students have secured places on highly competitive degree apprenticeship programmes. Six students are taking up training positions with companies as diverse as JP Morgan, PWC, and BAE Systems. Their success is reflective of an industrious culture amongst the student body as well as the multiple opportunities available at Rossall to develop the social and communication skills necessary to succeed in some of the most successful international companies.

INDIVIDUAL SUCCESSES Whilst many students will be celebrating achieving the ambitious goals they had set for themselves, Hoang Tu Duong’s outstanding achievement of 3 ‘A*’s and 1 ‘A’ marks her out as one of the top performers in the country. She has headed off to Cambridge University. Students that attained a clean sweep of ‘A’s and ‘A’s include Ewan Bagwell who has taken up a place at Southampton to study Medicine whilst Tran Anh Minh Dang and Hannah Preston set off to UCL to study Management Sciences and Physics respectively. Both Alice O’Brien, who achieved ‘A*A*A’ and Joe Davies who served as School Captain 2022-2023, have embarked upon highly sought after and exceptionally competitive degree apprenticeships at BAE Systems whilst Tom Shuttleworth, one of the School’s elite football players, achieved ‘AAB’ and has joined PricewaterhouseCoopers. Within the IB, Kai Wagner scored 41 points (out of a possible 45) – equivalent to just short of 5 A*s at A-level in terms of UCAS points. Kai is pursuing his dream to study Physics at UCL whilst Milicia Blagojevic, another top IB student, has been awarded a full scholarship to study Economics and International Relations at IE University, Madrid. Creativity and design is a real strength of Rossall students; Hannah Byrne, who achieved A*AB has gone on to study Film at Warwick University, whilst Nicole Chan and Ashley Poon, both of whom secured an A* in Graphic Communication, are studying Architecture at UCL and Liverpool respectively. Uliana Pisha, who has thrived, despite exceptional challenges posed by the war in the Ukraine, is pursuing her dream of studying Film at the London Film Academy – the top institution in the country for this popular course.

Jess Sanderson, who achieved A*AB is delighted to be pursuing her dream of studying Psychology at Edinburgh and Harry McAleer, who achieved the equivalent of 2 A*s in his BTEC Sport is excited to now pursue a degree in Sport and Exercise Science at Loughborough University. Of her time at Rossall and her results, Jess said:

I am very happy with my results, I’m very grateful to my teachers for their support both in class and out – helping me develop my passion for Psychology and grow during my time at Rossall. COMMENT FROM THE DIRECTOR OF SIXTH FORM Nick Crombie, Director of Sixth Form added:

We are very proud of this cohort who began their Sixth Form journey in the immediate aftermath of the Covid pandemic. As such, they have had to show real resilience and determination; the result of which is evident from the incredibly exciting and diverse range of national and international destinations that our leavers are moving on to. This group of aspirant, compassionate and caring young people have helped to shape the future of our School and we wish them all the best for the next chapter of their lives.

HEADMASTER’S COMMENT Reflecting upon this year’s results, Headmaster Jeremy Quartermain commented:

These fantastic results are indicative of the intellectual vigour and cultural dynamism of a Sixth Form that is resolutely committed to the holistic development of each and every student. Across three very distinctive curricular routes (IBDP, A level and BTEC), these excellent results reflect the outstanding commitment and tireless dedication of our teachers. Our staff go to extraordinary lengths to enrich the lives of all of our students and we owe them an enormous debt of gratitude We celebrate the hard work and courage demonstrated by all of our students; especially those who have experienced adversity during the course of the last two years. Obviously, the performance of the cohort is very impressive but it is the personal stories that lie behind each and every set of grades that really moves and inspires us.

ANOTHER BUMPER YEAR OF TOP GCSE GRADES D espite the government’s resolve to ensure the number of top GCSE grades (7-9s) returns to pre-Covid levels, the tally of top grades has seen an impressive year-on-year increase at Rossall. Well over half the cohort achieved a grade 7-9 or A*/A grade in a number of subjects including Art, English, Food and Nutrition Science and German. The number of top grades (7-9s or A*/As) achieved at Rossall is almost a staggering 70% higher than the national average – despite the fact that a good number of students within the cohort were taking examinations in their second, or even third language. Headmaster Jeremy Quartermain observed:

These GCSE results follow on from an outstanding crop of A level, BTEC and International Baccalaureate Diploma results. Today, we are delighted to celebrate the hard work, resilience and determination of this outstanding group of young people. They have achieved superb outcomes despite the challenges of Covid and grade deflation. We are incredibly proud of them and it has been our privilege to support and encourage them over the years. I should pay tribute to the dedication of our wonderful teachers. They motivate and inspire our children to fulfil their potential. At Rossall we strive to build children’s confidence and nurture their creative faculties. Our vision is holistic and so what happens outside the classroom is as important as what occurs within. Examination results such as these are reflective of an intellectually dynamic and culturally enriched learning environment. Finally, I am incredibly grateful to the highly effective leadership of Richard Catterall who has served as our Head of Year 11 since September 2022. His ambitious and inclusive vision has served this year group extremely well. Director of Sixth Form, Nick Crombie, is looking forward to welcoming this year’s incoming Year 12 cohort. He contends that, ‘the phenomenal success of Rossall Sixth Form is attributable to a remarkable body of staff who are completely invested in the lives of our students.’ He continues, ‘The superb quality of relationships between staff and students is an important part of the equation; we pride ourselves on knowing each student well and we tailor our provision to meet the needs of each individual.’ An impressive number of pupils achieved a clean sweep of top grades with Alina, Mia, Madhav and Louisa all amassing 10 or more grade 7 – 9s. A significant proportion of the cohort boast over half of their grades being nothing lower than a grade 7. Of course, it is the individual success stories that matter most; we are incredibly proud of our students who have shown exceptional resilience and courage in the face of challenging circumstances such as familial bereavement or the impact of war and nevertheless, have achieved excellent results. For many pupils these results sit alongside extensive commitments beyond the classroom, contributing to our rich cocurricular programme and taking part in the school’s

signature programmes including the Piano Academy, the Broadway Performing Arts Academy, as well as Football and Golf. Louisa Bradburn achieved an impressive eleven grades at grade 7 or above with 9s in Biology, Chemistry, English Language, English Literature, Maths, Physical Education, Physics and the HPQ. Louisa is planning to study Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Maths at A-level – a combination that promises a wealth of pathways at university and beyond. Louisa could not stop smiling as she reflected:

My teachers have been on hand to support me at any time, which has really helped me. The Rossall experience is more than exam results. I have been able to achieve my results, which I am very happy with, whilst also playing sports, and being part of CCF and the Rossall community. Scarlett Knight, who celebrates having secured seven excellent GCSEs at grade 7 or above will be going on to pursue the IB Diploma programme and she will continue to develop her interests and develop her strengths across a wide range of subjects including English, Spanish, Psychology, Chemistry, Maths and Biology. Mia Seed achieved superb results with an impressive ten grades at 7 and above whilst contributing to virtually all aspects of School life beyond the classroom. An excellent role model for her peers, Mia is excited to be pursuing a Sixth Form programme that will open doors to careers as diverse as Medicine, Neuroscience and Psychology. Mia commented:

I am so proud of myself and my results. Rossall is like a second family to me. My teachers have supported, encouraged and helped me throughout my time in Senior School, which I really appreciate.

TRAVEL THE WORLD THROUGH ART

JAPAN BY RYAN LIU

ear 13 students have produced some exceptional pieces of artwork. Many of their individual A level projects are related to various cultures, including those of Thailand, Hong Kong and Japan. Students’ travels home and their family holidays have allowed them to conduct their own first hand research as a basis from which to work. This research and first hand images has inspired them to create these wonderful pieces.

RYAN LIU (YR13, DR)

Originally, my project centered around modern Japanese street scenes. However, through further development and research, I’ve gravitated towards old Japanese architecture. I’ve been particularly fascinated by the intricacies of carvings, temple rooftops, and doorways. This interest has been heavily influenced by artists such as Ian Murphy and Direk Kingnok. My artwork has certainly encouraged me to apply for fashion and textiles at University next year.

PREPARATORY SCHOOL NEWS

RECEPTION READERS FANTASTIC FOOTBALLERS Our Reception children thoroughly enjoyed their book character dress-up day Helping reading to come alive is most certainly on the agenda from an early age and I know our pupils relished explaining about their characters and why they chose them!

WIN THE CUP

“You can’t win anything with kids,” said Alan Hanson a mere 28 years ago! How wrong he was then and although we are only working with children, how wrong he was recently at Rossall! Inspired by the Senior School boys’ and girls’ teams’ successes over the past few years, huge congratulations go to our U11 Prep Football team who, for the first time ever, won the Wyre & Fylde district primary schools cup. The team were incredible, only conceding one goal in 8 matches. The semi final went to a penalty shoot out in which we prevailed due to some accurate shots and a penalty save. This led us into the final where we once again showed some wonderful football skills in a 3-0 victory. The team will now go on to represent Wyre & Fylde in the district cup, as well as Fleetwood Town Community Trust in the EFL North of England final. We are all very proud of you!

MENTAL HEALTH DAY AND FEEL GOOD FRIDAY Before half term, we observed World Mental Health Day. To honour the occasion, the children in Prep and Pre-Prep wore an item of yellow with their uniform to raise awareness for mental health. The funds raised from this are donated to Counselling in the Community, to support their new young persons mental health centre. We also had an assembly learning about mental health and what we can do to look after our wellbeing. We also observed a Feel Good Friday! This had a focus on wellbeing and doing what makes us feel good. Each teacher offered a different wellbeing activity that the children signed up to. We enjoyed yoga, mindful art, making gratitude jars, making self-confidence fans, games, self-regulation bottles and more! The children truly enjoyed these restful, mindful activities and it was a nourishing end to the half term!

BEYOND THE CONFINES OF THE CLASSROOM Trips and visits have a profound impact on the pupils’ holistic development. Beyond the confines of the classroom, educational outings offer invaluable opportunities for real-world learning, fostering a deeper understanding of academic concepts and cultivating essential life skills. It is great to see that the Prep School staff are continuing to plan and offer experiences that create lasting memories, stimulate curiosity and contribute to the enrichment of each child’s educational journey. Following on from the successes of the residentials towards the end of the Summer term, we have already seen the children across the School having a number of exciting experiences: playing Vikings at Martin Mere, understanding war at the Imperial War Museum, learning of the history of entertainment through the visit of a Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist.

CHARACTER IS NOT TAUGHT THROUGH ACADEMIC STUDY BUT DEVELOPED THROUGH LIVED EXPERIENCE WRITTEN BY HEADMASTER, MR JEREMY QUARTERMAIN

here was a time, not so long ago, when the concept of ‘character education’ was spectacularly unfashionable. For some, I would imagine that it conjured up dire images of an authoritarian approach towards education championed by enthusiastic advocates of muscular Christianity. No longer do our independent schools educate children for careers as colonial administrators in far-flung and inhospitable corners of the world. Similarly, we no longer prepare children for the wretchedness of trench warfare or the moral strictures of ecclesiastical life in Victorian England. Where once we boasted of our ability to develop mental and physical toughness (cold showers and all that), we now focus on nurturing compassion and promoting an understanding of well-being. I believe that the progress that we have made since my own School days has been almost entirely positive. We all know elderly people who chose to reminisce fondly about the brutality of their school days but such people will always remain something of an enigma to me.

Of course, it is possible to throw the baby out with the bathwater and lose sight of the enormous benefits of adventure education. Membership of organisations such as the Scout movement has plummeted in recent years. This decline has been accelerated by the pandemic and atrociously lax approaches towards safeguarding. I doubt the movement was helped by the nightmarish World Scout Jamboree that took place in South Korea this summer. Described as ‘a survival game gone wrong’, images of overflowing toilets and flooded tents did little to promote the joys of camping or life in the great outdoors. Anxious parents must have wondered if they had mistakenly signed their children up for an episode of the Squid Games. It is not just concerns about health and safety that have stymied efforts to take children away on school trips. Risk assessments, consent forms and mountains of administrative tasks have resulted in some schools refusing to continue offering such activities. Stressed

teachers grumble about excessive bureaucracy and, post-pandemic, we are in danger of children growing up without ever experiencing the fun and magic of school trips. It is sad that many children’s only experience of adventure is virtual. A whole generation of children are growing up being able to scale a rock face on a PS5 controller but are entirely ignorant of the adrenaline rush and pure joy that accompanies the sense of accomplishment you feel when you overcome your fears and reach the top of a real climb. I had the privilege of accompanying Maltese Cross (MC) House on their weekend trip to the Lakes. It was fantastic fun and the boys enjoyed rock climbing, paddle boarding and gorge scrambling (ghyll walking). Arguably the biggest children on the trip were myself and Simon Baker (MC’s Houseparent). We laughed a good deal and threw ourselves into the activities with a great deal of enthusiasm. It turns out that the boys quite enjoyed watching us capsize our kayaks in Coniston and wrestle with the physical demands of climbing. Simon is a fierce advocate of such activities and suggested that I should write a blog in celebration of such trips. As we clambered up a gorge in our wetsuits and buoyancy aids, Simon pointed out how supportive the boys were of one another. Older boys in the house helped younger boys navigate obstacles. Those who were a little hesitant were reassured and encouraged by those with greater confidence. We were only as fast as the slowest member of our team and the boys were incredibly attentive to the needs of their friends. Our expedition was enjoyable precisely because of the huge generosity of spirit that existed between the boys. Simon, and his deputy James Gregory, faultlessly model the values that they wish the boys to embrace. It was wonderful to see leaders emerging within each group. Those who assumed such roles did so with a gentleness and a clear desire to share rather than to dominate. Anton Lam, House Captain, showed

incredible fortitude when wrestling with a particularly difficult section of a climb. He refused to be defeated and he provided us all with a masterclass in resilience and humour. The boys responded by providing encouraging cheers and applauding his steadfast refusal to give up. Our children are amazing and they thrive in the great outdoors. Real life scenarios such as gorge walking provide a safe context within which young people can learn important life lessons; lessons every bit as important as what they learn in the classroom. The CCF, the Duke of Edinburgh Award and House Residentials, all provide opportunities for young people to grow in confidence through the physical and mental challenges they provide. This year, a number of our Sixth Formers will participate in a World Challenge Expedition to Morocco and others will accompany Mr Crombie for a return trip to Ghana. Life should be full of adventure and wonderment. There is nothing in the virtual online world that compares with the miraculous beauty and extraordinary variety to be found in the real world. It is the case that such activities are ‘character building’ but not in an austere or old-fashioned way. Outward bound trips support our physical and emotional wellbeing. It is difficult to think of a better way of developing the soft skills that are so sought after by future employers. We returned to School exhausted but with a renewed appreciation of this most important aspect of School life. One of the distinguishing features of schools like Rossall is our strong focus on adventure education. Its continued provision is dependent upon the dedication of our amazing staff who go above and beyond to ensure that our children benefit from experiences that they will doubtless remember throughout their lives. Above all else, such activities build trust. I trusted the boys who belayed for me though I did fear that they might struggle with my weight should I lose my grip and suddenly slip. The new ISI Inspection framework places great emphasis on pupil wellbeing and the development of character.

Thankfully, character education is back in vogue and perhaps this is because we are mindful of what we are in danger of losing. It is possible to teach ‘character’ through the medium of literature, drama, religious studies and other aspects of the formal curriculum and my colleagues and I can give improving lessons in

Chapel or share inspiring life stories. However, these lessons may well be forgotten. In truth, character is not taught through academic study but developed through lived experience.

HOUSE RESIDENTIAL PHOTOS

TRAVEL THE WORLD THROUGH ART HONG KONG BY LAURIE CHANG LAURIE CHANG (YR13, DN)

Growing up in Hong Kong, I have always been fascinated by the contrast between the towering skyscrapers and the old remnants of Hong Kong. I have completed a series of works incorporating the contrasting elements of these architectural styles. I have enjoyed working on this project so much that I have decided to embark upon an Architecture degree course for next year, after I have finished at School.

MR LIM DEBUTS WITH

THE BBC PHILHARMONIC

n Friday the 8th of September the members of the Piano Academy were honoured to attend a concert by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Together with our Headmaster Mr. Quartermain, we traveled to MediaCity in Salford, Manchester. Our piano teacher and Head of Keyboard Studies Mr. Lim and Leon Frantzen performed with a professional broadcast orchestra. Mr. Lim performed Granite, a modern piece with a wide range of contrasting emotions. The composer Graham Fitkin was also present in the audience.

All in all, the concert was an amazing experience and a great opportunity to broaden our musical horizons. For me, it was great to see my teacher perform and to listen to a piece from a modern composer as well as Wagenaar’s classic. I am incredibly proud to be a member of the Piano Academy and I am very much looking forward to new trips and would encourage everybody to join.

ALYSSA B (YR12, R) PIANO ACADEMY STUDENT

Leon Frantzen conducted Wagenaar‘s Cyrano de Bergerac Overture. The special expression of these performances aroused great enthusiasm among the audience. It made a great impression on me and inspired us to listen and look more into modern music.

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TRAVEL THE WORLD THROUGH ART

VIETNAM BY THU NGAN DO THU NGAN DO (YR13, DN)

My project is about Vietnam, my home country. The reason why I chose this is because of the beauty of nature and the beauty of our local people and our unique culture in Vietnam. I have included a variety of themes within my project, including architectural styles, local people and their traditional dress, the lotus flower, farming and street scenes. I look forward to seeing all my pieces come together to form my exhibition, later in year. I have enjoyed my A level project so much, that I have recently decided to opt for a Design and Engineering course at University so that I can continue with my art studies.

MY JOURNEY TO ROSSALL MR HALL BY CARLOTA PASCUAL-SIMPSON (YR12, R)

o begin our exploration of the rich and varied ‘Journeys to Rossall’, where the School newsletter team speaks to a variety of students and staff within the Rossall community, we decided to interview Mr. Hall, teacher of Politics and History. Mr Hall grew up with dual nationality, spending his younger years in Sweden speaking Swedish as a main language. Therefore, when he moved to Rossall, Mr. Hall found that there were many students ‘going through those same issues that [he] had been going through’ in terms of living in a community that doesn’t speak one’s first language. This allowed him to empathise, understand and help students who were struggling, something he stresses he wouldn’t have been able to do quite so well if he hadn’t experienced the same challenges himself. Rossall provided Mr Hall with his first experience of boarding school teaching. He notes that his initial impressions were simple; it was ‘very international’. Coming from a Grammar School background, which he describes as ‘homogeneous in terms of its ethnic groups’, and after working in several other schools in the local area such as

Lancaster Grammar School, he ‘very quickly realised that [Rossall] was where [he] wanted [his] career to be’. After joining, he became a Deputy House Parent and a Head of Year, and became involved with the pastoral roles which he ‘really enjoyed’. One of the reasons he has been at Rossall for so long is because he enjoys having that ‘other’ connection with students helping to support them in a more holistic manner. One big change since moving to Rossall that has been especially noticeable is the variety of cultures and nationalities that he encounters and that he hadn’t previously been exposed to during his education - one that was divided between English and Swedish cultures. ‘As a teacher, there were certain mannerisms and ways of dealing with things from different cultures that he had to adapt to very quickly. Mr Hall’s favourite part of life at Rossall is the ‘everyday interactions with students’, and how Rossall is able to ‘build strong connections’ with students that last for a lifetime. He enjoys seeing students outside of School in passing, such as seeing current students in a supermarket, or even meeting a previous student on a residential trip. Such moments highlight the long-lasting bonds that Rossall helps to forge.

HANNAH BY JOE HAYES (YR12, DR)

ithin the next instalment of our ‘Journeys to Rossall’ series, we explore the life of a new Lower-Sixth border from Wren House. Hannah has travelled here from Copenhagen, Denmark, in order to study A-Level English Literature, Art and Psychology for the Michaelmas term. Compared to the bustling Copenhagen, Fleetwood is definitely a stark contrast in terms of both culture and environment. Initially, Hannah discovered Rossall through its ‘amazing’ Astronomy Centre, led by our on-site astronomer Dr Lister. His vast knowledge of this subject has truly ‘fascinated’ her and helped her become increasingly immersed in the world of astronomy. Astronomy wasn’t available as a subject to study at Hannah’s previous school, and so she feels incredibly lucky to be able to further indulge in something which has always felt innately of interest to her. Having quite the gift for art, Hannah has truly excelled in her art classes since she arrived at Rossall. For example, one of her pieces has been released onto The Rossall Blog, which can be found via the Rossall School website. She is undoubtedly fond of, not only the subject itself but also the department as a whole. This is something which Hannah spoke about in her interview: “The Art department is full of teachers who are experts in their passion and also inspire us all to achieve our best.” Although Hannah has proven her enthusiasm, we can’t forget her

charismatic nature and bubbly persona, something very evident when spending time with her day to day. Her contagious personality really shone through when Hannah spoke about how she ‘has learned to make really good toast’ which I hope not only sparked a chuckle out of me at the time, but also you reading this. In addition, the connections our interviewee has made whilst being here have also been a highlight of her Rossall experience.When I asked Hannah about her most positive experiences at Rossall so far, she replied, “The bonds between the people in the girls’ houses has been probably the best thing so far.” However, moving away from home during your adolescent years can most certainly be challenging and these hardships can come in different varieties and intensities. The most challenging thing Hannah experienced upon arrival was the quick change in cuisine: from traditional Danish meals to English meals. It’s interesting how much of a person’s identity can be associated with the meals which remind us of our roots. However, we did discuss how the wide range of food available here at Rossall does attempt to pay homage to the 61 nationalities that reside here. All in all, Hannah’s journey to Rossall is not only a warm-hearted reminder of how the interests which ignite an ember within us can take us anywhere in the world, but also how unique, perhaps unexpected skills, can be learnt at any given time. If you see Hannah around school, be sure to say hi! That’s this week’s ‘Journey to Rossall’ complete, be sure to stay alert for our next entry.

SENIOR SCHOOL PRESENT

PREP SCHOOL PRESENT

Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter Original Book by P.G. Wodehouse & Guy Bolton and Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse New Book by Timothy Crouse & John Weidman

1ST FEBRUARY 2ND FEBRUARY 3RD FEBRUARY 13TH MARCH 14TH MARCH

This amateur production of ANYTHING GOES is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd. on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC.www.concordtheatricals.co.uk

EXPERIENCING NATURE THROUGH ART

SUCCULENTS BY IVY ZHOUFAN JIA IVY JIA (YR13, R) My project is centered around succulent plants. I chose them because they are usually very colorful with so many varied shapes, so I thought they would be lovely things to study and draw. Their beautiful varied shapes and colours have lent themselves to so many techniques. In addition to drawing and painting, I have been able to work with other disciplines such as textiles, ceramics, printmaking and collage.

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TIMESED

NEWS WORTH KNOWING

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ROSSALL’S BIG KICK A

s the leading independent school for girls’ football, Rossall has been instrumental in nurturing young talent and promoting the sport. With our U18 Headmaster’s XI clinching the ISFA national championship for two consecutive years, we continue to demonstrate our commitment to fostering excellence in girls’ football.

On Friday 22nd September, we invited four local schools to join us for a training day, extending our licensed coaches, national champion girls’ players, and state-of-the-art facilities to local girls. ‘Rossall’s Big Kick’ provided an exciting opportunity for girls from local schools to engage in a day of immersive football activities. The morning featured a carousel of activities designed to enhance skills, led by our inspiring first team. In the afternoon we hoped to host the first of an annual Big Kick tournament, though the rain had other ideas. Despite

protests from the enthusiastic visiting schools, the tournament was called off. Rather than present a winning school with a trophy, we presented three promising young players from each school a medal to celebrate the potential shown throughout the day. The Headmaster’s XI spent a short time taking photos with the visiting schools and even signing autographs for the young girls who were inspired by their training sessions earlier in the day and their impressive footballing achievements including appearances for U17 England Lionesses. By collaborating with local schools, Rossall School is able to foster a vibrant and inclusive football community for girls, inspiring them to pursue their passion for the sport. Director of Football, Mr Joseph Newson, provides free football coaching to local schools and grass roots teams, both developing skills in young children and training PE teachers in the delivery of football.

ROSSALL FOOTBALLERS OPEN STANLEY PARK PITCH

n Wednesday, Beth Strutton and Emma Siddall (Y13, Dolphin) were invited to Stanley Park to open their brand new 3G pitch facilities. Beth and Emma are two of Rossall’s top footballers, with a pair of ISFA National Championship titles to their names. Outside of Rossall and our Elite Football Programme, both are signed to Manchester City Football Club, on loan to AFC Fylde. Beth has even appeared for the U17 England Lionesses.

Over at Stanley Park’s sports and leisure facilities, Beth and Emma cut the ribbon for the fantastic new facility before announcing the kick off of the first primary school tournament to take place on the 3G pitch. There was lots of excitement from the youngest aspiring footballers at the event, many eager to get photos with Rossall’s inspirational players. Beth and Emma know just how important it is for young players to see home-grown talent achieving their goals

and striving for excellence. Recently, the pair hosted Rossall’s Big Kick alongside their champion teammates, bringing together local primary schools for a day of training to increase opportunities for girls to access the game. The session has already inspired grass-roots sign-ups from the visiting girls. Rossall’s Elite Football Programme does not just build exemplary players. Rossall Football take a holistic approach to the game, preparing players for all aspects of the sport, including, but not limited to,

personal presentation, public speaking, and leadership.These skills were put into practice as the morning rounded off with numerous interviews and photoshoots. Well done to both players for achieving such a fantastic opportunity, and inspiring other young footballers.This is going to be another exhilarating season of football for Beth, Emma and their teammates and we cannot wait to watch their progress.

Upcoming Concerts A4 BRASS QUARTET

SATURDAY 13TH JANUARY

ADAM SWAYNE & ROSSALL PIANO ACADEMY PIANO FRIDAY 15TH MARCH

KATHRYN STOTT PAVEL FISCHER PETR PRAUSE TICKETS

PIANO, VIOLIN, CELLO SATURDAY 11TH MAY

SAMUEL MOORE OLD ROSSALLIAN FLAMENCO GUITARIST SATURDAY 15TH JUNE

MORE INFO: concerts@rossall.org.uk

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE ROSSALLIAN CLUB GILLIAN KING (DN 1985-92)

can’t believe how quickly the months are passing – I am now almost half way through my 3 year tenure! It’s been great so far and I am starting to see some fantastic progress in our networking. We have had a busy few months behind the scenes planning future events and holding one or two too. The first event to talk about is the German Dinner, held in Munich earlier this year. We had an amazing evening with new friends and old. Kai Wagner was there before he had received his IB results and we also had attendees from the 1960s. A huge thank you to Richard, Doris and Emma for organising it all. The food was great and the company was even greater. We enjoyed a beautiful evening in Munich in the sunshine and were also treated to a festival. This has definitely got us thinking about more events and we have a programme coming up over the next year which will hopefully give you a chance to join us wherever you are. The next event was the Yorkshire Afternoon Tea hosted by the inimitable Jim Cowpe. I was unable to attend, but Ian Preston ably held the fort! One of the attendees was Edna Fayle, accompanied by daughter, Sally. Ian was delighted to see Edna in sparkling form and said it was fantastic to reunite with her, having always looked up to her from when he was an 11 year old in James House. Finally, one of the big events next year will be the 180 year celebratory Anniversary Ball. We also have a number of other Old Rossallian events and dinners which will run throughout the year which we hope to see you there. If any of you are interested in attending or have any ideas for events, please do reach out to one of the team who will be happy to help. Hoping this message finds you all safe and well, Best wishes, - Gillian (DN 1985-92)

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OLD ROSSALLIAN GERMAN DINNER

t was fantastic to get together in Munich for our Old Rossallian German Dinner in June 2023. There was a lovely three course meal held at Zum Franziskaner, based in Munich city centre. Dr Doris Dohmen and Mr Richard McDowell attended the event which was really well received by all Old Rossallians. It is great to see the relationships that our Old Rossallians still have with these two amazing teachers, as demonstrated by the standing ovation given to both teachers. It shows that Rossall is more than just a School and friendships with fellow Rossallians and teachers last for years to come following leaving Rossall. One of the newest members of the Old Rossallian Club, Kai Wagner (SE 2018-23) was in attendance, having only recently left Rossall this year. Kai expressed his gratitude that he was able to meet such interesting people at the event and also form very valuable contacts for the future. Rossallian Club President, Gillian King (DN 1985-92) thanked everyone for attending and led a traditional rendition of the Carmen which was enjoyed by all. We are hoping to host the 2024 event in Berlin during the summer months. To register your interest for our Berlin Old Rossallian event, please email development@rossall.org.uk.

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SAMUEL MOORE CASE STUDY (PE 2000-05) What attracted you to a career in music? I wanted to do something I loved. For me, music has long been a way of life and an integral part of who I am. As such, I don’t think I chose this career path, it chose me. Please can you tell us a bit about your musical career and journey? My journey began at Rossall in the School’s Chapel Choir. I fell in love with music as a result. Soon I discovered the guitar and from there I never looked back. During my early studies, I attended workshops with the great flamenco guitarist Paco Peña. Subsequently, I became a one-to-one student of the world-renowned guitarists Juan Martín and Grisha Goryachev. Collectively, this laid the foundation upon which I’ve built my career. To date, I’ve had the privilege to perform across the world. Solo performance highlights include prestigious concert halls such as New York’s Carnegie Hall, alongside more intimate venues such as Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London. Notably, I was recently honoured as a first category prizewinner in the 2023 Manhattan International Music Competition and hailed as “a fantastic flamenco guitarist” by BBC Radio 3. Did Rossall influence your career choice in any way? Very much so! I would not be doing what I do now were it not for Rossall. Many of my tutors, notably Mr Cassidy and Mr Corrie (who ran the Music Department when I was at School) set me off down the path I’m on today! What would you say to anyone who is considering studying at Rossall? Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. You never know where it might lead! What skills did you learn at Rossall that have helped you later on in life? • Being a good team player. • Developing a strong work ethic. • Understanding the importance of taking responsibility. What advice would you give to someone who is considering learning the guitar? • The quality of your practice time is more important than its quantity. • Don’t aim to be a guitarist. Aim to be a musician. • Find a good tutor as soon as possible. • Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today. • Aim for small incremental improvements in your playing every day. If you’re just 1% better each day this will scale quickly: 7% better by the end of the week, 31% better by the end of the month, 365% better by the end of the year. • Music is meant to be shared, so make performance part of your musical journey from the outset.

Which venue has been your favourite to perform at? Without a doubt New York’s Carnegie Hall! I’ll never forget walking out onto that legendary stage to perform solo! Many of the greatest artists in history have played Carnegie Hall: Tchaikovsky, Dvorák, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, The Beatles. I know it sounds strange but it’s like part of their spirit stayed in the building after they left. Thus, when you walk out to perform, it’s like they’re all there with you! How can that not inspire you to perform at your best? Check out Samuel’s performance here:

TOM GREGORY (MF 2007 - 14) W e would like to congratulate Old Rossallian Tom Gregory (Mitre & Fleur de Lys 2007 - 14) who played OVO Arena at Wembley this year as part of his European tour with One Republic!

Since leaving Rossall, Tom has had a hugely successful career. He released his debut single ‘Run To You’ in 2017 and racked up 25 million streams, #26 in the airplay charts, scoring one of the biggest radio hits of 2018. In 2020,Tom’s collaborative effort with DJ/Producer duo VIZE sealed the deal with their ‘Never Let me Down’ single (certified Platinum in Germany, Switzerland and Poland, and triple Gold in Austria – a #1 hit in Austria, #1 in Poland and #3 in Germany) with over 140 million streams on Spotify.

“The chapel has always been jaw dropping to me and I look back fondly at the times we would spend singing the classics there every week. I have been lucky to play in some of the best concert venues in Europe, but can say absolutely that there’s still something that doesn’t beat both the grandeur and intimacy of our wonderful Chapel.” “There is a mystery inside Big school that I still can’t quite put my finger on. It’s simply magical. It was my first and still my most nerve racking musical performance to date! It really beats any arena or festival I’ve played anywhere in the world ! We are so lucky to have this as part of our DNA at Rossall.”

Tom is still very much engaged with Rossall having judged Rossall’s Got Talent earlier this year. Here is what he had to say about Rossall: “My time at Rossall was one of the best times of my life, it has no doubt helped shape the course of my career through the lifelong friends and connections made here. I wish that I could do the eight wonderful years all over again.” We also spoke to Tom about the Rossall Heritage project, a project to help restore three of our iconic buildings on site here at Rossall. Tom spoke of his fond memories of the Chapel and of Big School.

RICHARD PILKINGTON (SE 1979 - 89), CONSULTANT ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGEON

ichard Pilkington (SE 1979 - 89) has become a Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon following three fellowships at the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Please take note of his OR tie proudly displayed in his picture. We would like to congratulate Richard on his achievement.

JOSH LANDMANN (SE 2002-13)

W slalom.

e welcomed Old Rossallian Josh Landmann (SE 2002-13) back to Rossall school in June to lead an inspiring talk for our Year 12 students. Josh is a talented para-athlete in the disciplines of para-triathlon and para-alpine

In 2014, Josh sustained a spinal cord injury whilst on holiday in Ibiza. Before his injury, Josh was a very athletic person who enjoyed participating in sport. He did not let the adversity that faced him affect his love for sports and instead looked to pursue a para discipline. Josh found particular talent in sit-down skiing, after spending only 20 days learning the sport. His talent for skiing was ultimately proven when he competed at the Giant Slalom in 2017 and claimed the title of British Slalom Champion. Alongside his talent for skiing, Josh also found that he excelled in the triathlon too. People were surprised that Josh would want to get back into swimming after his accident, however, he proved people wrong. He competed in the 2018 British Triathlon Championships, where he excelled in the swimming portion of the triathlon and claimed the bronze medal. Josh also managed to claim a Guinness World Record, completing the fastest marathon in a non-racing wheelchair. Our Year 12 students really enjoyed listening to Josh and it was great to hear about his fantastic achievements.

ANDREW MA (J, PE 1989 - 04)

was at Rossall between the years 1989 and 2004, from Nursery to Sixth Form. I was in James House from years 7 to 8 and Pelican House from years 9 to Sixth Form. I’m currently an architect based in Hong Kong. I did both my undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the University of Brighton. After graduating from my undergraduate I spent a year in a small architecture practice in Twickenham before going back to do my masters. After graduating with my masters degree, I thought I’d give myself a challenge and move to Hong Kong. I was born in the UK so this was an entirely new experience for me and now I’ve spent 11 years here and registered with HKIA as an Architect. I had always excelled at art and design at Rossall so I based my career choice on this aspect and chose design as a career. I had a good experience at Rossall and made some good friends during my time there. I was able to experience a wide spectrum of sports such as RossHockey and Fives. These were particularly interesting as they are unique to Rossall. The teacher’s support during my time at Rossall was really good too. House Singing was hilarious and memorable and a great memory. Rossall is a fantastic place and I highly recommend other students to study there.

HARVEY STANSFIELD (MF, 2011-18)

ORGAN SCHOLAR

huge congratulations to Harvey Stansfield (MF 2011-18) who, following his graduation from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire has been appointed Organ Scholar at Peterborough Cathedral. He stated, “I am very pleased to announce that I have been appointed to the post of Organ Scholar at Peterborough Cathedral from September 2023.”

SIR THOMAS BEECHAM

ld Rossallian Harvey Stansfield (MF 2011-18) visited the house where Old Rossallian conductor Sir Thomas Beecham (F 1892-1897) once lived. Harvey is best known amongst the Rossall community for playing a selection of Percy Whitlock’s organ music on his debut CD. There was an impressive blue plaque dedicated to Sir Thomas Beecham displayed and it was a perfect photo opportunity for Harvey.

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OLD ROSSALLIAN AFTERNOON TEA

he atmosphere was vibrant and friendly at our Old Rossallian Afternoon Tea Party at the Buck Inn, Thornton Watlass in July. A fantastic group of Old Rossallians joined together to connect, reminisce and meet their friends and fellow Old Rossallians. The venue was perfect for the event and the selection of savoury and sweet stands were enjoyed by all. The event finished with a question and answer session hosted by Ian Preston, Secretary of the Rossallian Club, Emma Johnson, Director of the Rossall Foundation, and Joe Davies, last year’s School Captain. The weather

was beautiful for the event and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.We would like to thank Victoria for hosting us at the Buck Inn and hope to make this an annual Old Rossallian event.

Alan Godfrey (DC 1954- 61)

Alan Priest (F 1955-60) & Jan Priest

“The afternoon tea was one of my first events as an OR and it didn’t disappoint. The Old Rossallian network is one of the major benefits of a Rossall education and as a relatively new member of the OR community, this event provided the opportunity to meet other ORs and make new friends over good food. A great afternoon was had by all!”

“We have not been to one of these events since before Covid but as it was a local event we wanted to attend. It has been fabulous to catch up with people from my contemporary times and see some old faces but also some new ones too. It has been very well organised and a well run day.”

“This is the first event that I have been to for a few years. I have found it thoroughly relaxing and enjoyable.

Joe Davies (SE 2016 - 23)

MARIE MELSHEIMER (R 2021-22)

a year ago, I was able to participate in an Old Rossallian event in London. That event was fantastic as I got to see previous teachers, old friends, and also meet new people. Rossall really prepared me for life, not just University. The skills learned in my studies and in the Rossall community have helped me to make friends at University and make the whole transition so much easier. The amazing atmosphere at Rossall and the caring and compassionate community has inspired me to look beyond my own life and see what I can do for others. Rossall School is more than a school and provides an excellent education with fantastic teachers who make lessons really interesting. I have come back to Summer School because I really love the atmosphere here at Rossall. When I lived in a boarding house, the houseparents made Rose House a real second family for me. Therefore, Rossall always feels like family and I have left with selfconfidence. Rossall really encourages you to try new things, for example, I had the chance to participate with a small role in a musical, something I’ve never done in Germany before. Music has always been a huge part of my life and I was able to join the chapel choir, the orchestra here, and also take flute lessons with a fantastic teacher.

y name is Marie and I’m from Germany. My time at Rossall started with a study abroad experience in the Michaelmas term in Year 11. I really liked Rossall and so I wanted to come back. Mr. Quartermain supported my wish and in 2020 I came back to study the IB. Currently, I study Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University of Southampton. I chose this degree at the suggestion of one of the fantastic teachers here at Rossall. Rossall prepared me well to study a degree with three subjects.The skills learned in my IB studies have helped me academically, but also helped to keep a balanced lifestyle at University. It is a great privilege to be an Old Rossallian.You are able to leave school being part of a big network and there are a lot of opportunities. Even though I only graduated

INTRODUCTION TO LISA

e are delighted to welcome Lisa Squire as the new Rossall Foundation and Rossallian Club assistant. Lisa brings a wealth of knowledge and energy to the role and has already started to build great relationships with our Old Rossallians. Lisa will be assisting in event planning for our 2024 OR events and helping to promote our alumni networking opportunities. As part of Lisa’s role, she will also be supporting the launch of our Rossall Foundation Heritage Project. It is great to have her on board and we know she will make a fantastic addition to the Alumni and Foundation team.

Rossall School makes it really easy to have a balanced lifestyle, I was able to keep up sports as well as creative arts next to my academics and music. Rossall School also focuses on the social aspect of life and we were always encouraged to do something for the community and participate in volunteering. Studying P.P.E at University gives me a broad range of options for professional future careers. I’ve always been interested in international relations and last semester I was able to take a module in international relations, which I really enjoyed. Take a look at what Marie had to say about her enjoyable time at Rossall:

OLD ROSSALLIAN FESTIVAL OF CRICKET

The second fixture of the weekend involved a team of slightly older Old Rossallians pitting their skills against the Girls 1st XI.The ORs batted first and as a result of heavy early morning rain found the going tough as the girls exploited the stickiness of the wicket to make it tricky to score.

n June, we had a fabulous day as we hosted the Old Rossallian Festival of Cricket. It was brilliant to welcome so many Old Rossalians and their families back to school for a day of cricket. Both our 1st XI Boys and Girls were in action across three games on the main field, with a fantastic crowd of parents, grandparents, past & present staff, and students in attendance supporting all involved in the games. The 1st XI Boys had a comfortable win against a strong OR team with Nate W (Y8) taking 4-17 before Harry M (Y13 MC) (57*) and Luke P (Y12 MF) (43*) put on a 102 run partnership to lead them to victory. The 1st XI Girls who had previously won the School’s first ever girls’ hardball game of cricket against Giggleswick played in a fantastic game against the Old Rossallian team. The game was played in great spirits and gave a platform for the girls to showcase their skills after a busy season of training and playing. A superb afternoon for the 1st XI Girls squad who will move from strength to strength into the next summer term season. The day was finished off with a mixed T10 game that was played in fantastic spirits. Thank you to everyone who came down to play, officiate and spectate. A wonderful occasion that we look forward to hosting annually! - Josh Boyne, Head of Rossall Cricket

The bowling was, on the whole tight and a number of wickets fell throughout the 20 overs. Jonty Arundel and Paul Williams were able to declare on 25 and other players chipped in with cameo knocks.The final total was 125 for 6, which was a competitive total for the girls to chase. The girls’ innings started brightly with some strong hitting and runs accumulating quickly. The ORs were certainly rattled in the early overs but unfortunately, wickets began to fall regularly which halted any momentum and in the end, their 20 overs were some way short of the target. The match was played in great and true Rossallian spirit, if time and weather had allowed, an immediate return fixture would have been perfect. All involved thoroughly enjoyed the game and are looking forward to next summer when we can host another great Rossallian cricket event. - Jonty Arundel (AN 1972-79)

BOB COOKE (PE 1956-61) CRICKET VISIT

ob Cooke (Pe 1956-61) visited Rossall School on 2nd June to show us an interesting book by Gerry Wolstenholme. The book, titled ‘More Firstclass Cricketers from Rossall School 1868-2012’ includes details of 30 players including the second Old Rossallian to play for England and the first one to captain the national side: Lancashire’s Nigel Howard. Bob is also featured in the book on page 62, it details his impressive record whilst at Rossall, topping both the bowling and batting averages in 1960 and 1961. Following Rossall, Bob went on to play cricket professionally in a variety of teams including Fleetwood and Essex. It was great to meet Bob and we are always keen to host any Old Rossallian alumni visits and hear about Rossall memories. Please email development@rossall.org.uk to book your Rossall alumni visit now.

OLD ROSSALLIAN CRICKET CLUB - TOUR 2023 to bat we made 272 for 8 declared having lost 3 quick wickets on a track offering plenty of movement to the bowlers. At 44 for 4, Harry McAleer and Charlie Clark had to dig in and bat long which they did with a partnership of 112 before Charlie was dismissed for 53. Harry went on to make an outstanding century of 124 with further support from Henry Fajemirokun, making 23. A genuine belief that we could record our first victory over the OJs in 10 years was scuppered by the weather that came in too wet for the game to be completed and the match was abandoned as a draw after 8 overs.

9TH AUGUST 2023

7TH AUGUST 2023

t was perhaps a normal British summer as the Old Rossallians ventured south with more weather checks than usual.The dry spell in the previous couple of days allowed the wicket to be prepared for our T20 fixture at Hawkley CC. Batting first, having won the toss, the ORs amassed a huge total of 185 for 8. Maiden tourists, Harry McAleer and Charlie Clark scored 34 & 15 respectively. Matt Dryden scored 29 and John & Tom Morrison scored a quick fire 40 runs each, posting a difficult score to chase in 20 overs. Hawkley made a great effort to chase the score down but ran out of steam finishing on 140 for 6, finding it difficult to hit the boundaries needed. The ORs used 7 bowlers with Luke Williams, Matt Dryden and Harry McAleer taking 2 wickets each. We were delighted to welcome Mike Openshaw as a spectator, who I believe attended Rossall in the late 1940s!

8TH AUGUST 2023 Heading from Hampshire to Sussex to play the Old Hurst Johnians at Hurstpierpoint College, a fixture they have been the strongest in for some years as their cricket continues to flourish. I make this point as Rossall Cricket is on the rise and electing

A short drive east to Worth School, with its ancient Abbey to face the Old Amplefordians in what became a 30 over fixture due to the late arrival of the opposition. Again, batting first on a pitch with variable bounce and an outfield being prepared for the coming rugby season made scoring quick runs difficult. In fact, running everything was the fatiguing order of the day.We were losing wickets quickly, trying to force the runs and were struggling at 63 for 6 but great striking from Luke Williams (49), Charlie Ardon (41), Henry Fajemirokun (16 not out) and Charlie Clark (10 not out) allowed us to complete our innings at 177 for 8. The OAs who have traditionally chased our totals to victory in the last few years were unable to do so on this occasion and collapsed to 68 all out in 20 overs. The wickets were shared around with Josh Hamnett being the pick with 3 for 9 runs in 5 overs. A great tour with new faces appearing and looking forward to more next year. The tour will run from 4th to 7th August 2024. Old Rossallians in attendance: Charlie Ardron, Jonty Arundel, Charlie Clarke, Bob Cooke, Matt Dryden, Henry Fajemirokun, Will Gair, Howard Green, Josh Hamnett, Harry McAleer, John Morrison, Tom Morrison, Scott Whitaker, Luke Williams. - Southern Tour Report by Jonty Arundel – August 2023

NORTH WEST WEDDING & FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER

HELLO@LOVEANDLUNA.CO.UK LOVE_AND_LUNA_PHOTOGRAPHY LOVELUNAPHOTOGRAPHY

ROSSALL SCHOOL 1ST XV RUGBY BACK ROW OF 1977

ere is a picture of the Rossall School 1st XV Rugby back row of 1977. The 3 individuals met up at a special day at Twickenham earlier this year. The picture includes Peter Winterbottom (Pe 1971-78), Doug Smith (M 1971-78) and John Olver (M 1974-79).

FOOTBALL

ongratulations to Sherman, Jaydon and Khalil who have all signed football contracts upon completion of Year 13 and our Football Programme.

Sherman Wong (Pe 2020-23) has been called up to the Hong Kong U18 National Team & has signed a professional contract at Sham Shui Po Sports Association, Hong Kong. Jaydon Mcfield (MC 2020-23) and Khalil Vanderpool-Nurse (MC 2021-23) have both signed for City Football Club in Dubai for the 2023-2024 season.

The Second round was against Liverpool College, another potentially strong side who had beaten us twice in recent finals. The opposition’s team included Bill Bickerstaff from Birkdale known to a couple of us. We all played steadily and unbeaten to secure a 2.5 - 0.5 victory. On Thursday afternoon in the quarter final we played Trent, which was a lot closer. Unfortunately, the Captain and Al struggled against a fine pairing including Nick Peplow, a Blackwell member and a good pal of Noel’s who won 2 & 1 but Rossall were rescued by Noel and Ronni making it 1-1. Finally, the Smith brothers sealed the deal with another victory winning 2&1. On Friday morning, there was a semi-final against Whitgift. After an early night for us, this match was surprisingly comfortable with the Captain and Alasdair winning out in the country, followed by the Smith brother’s winning 4/3, which meant Ronni and Noel could call it a half. This allowed the team a long rest on a scorching day at lunchtime before the final, which we believe was a factor in our success.

CYRIL GRAY 2023 WINNERS (From left to right) Jonathan Smith, Ronni Schrevel, Christian Butler (Captain), Worplesdon President, Noel Muscutt, Alasdair Bowman, and Jeremy Smith.

GOLF MATCH REPORT

n June, the Rossall team won the Cyril Gray for the first time since 1996. The pairings for the tournament were Christian Butler & Alasdair Bowman, Noel Muscutt & Ronni Schrevel, Jeremy & Jonathan Smith, which we left unchanged through-out. In round one we were drawn against Epsom, to whom we lost in the final of the plate last year. Epsom are always strong and not shy of coming forward so we were delighted to get our revenge, beating them 2-1. This was a very close start to the tournament with the Captain and Alasdair winning on the 19th in sudden death.

ARTHUR STEPHENSON PODCAST

H Society.

ave a listen to our school podcast featuring Arthur Stephenson. Arthur is a life governor, Old Rossallian and also Hon Secretary of the Rossallian Golf

In the final we were going to be playing either Wellingborough or Dulwich who were battling it out in the other semis. We were rather hoping it would be Wellingborough as Matt Allen (OR)’s father, Martin, was in their team which would add to the competition.There was further stress for their team when the second Wellingborough match also went down 19. Fortunately, they won both to get into the final to face Rossall! However, we did feel the longer route to the final for them might impact on the fatigue if the final was a close run affair, as well as the fact the lunch for Wellingborough was very a brief respite. In the Final in Match 1, the Captain and Alasdair played finely in the afternoon to win the top match easily. Ronni and Noel were having a very close battle in match 2 and were all square going down the 18th. Match 3 was also close with the Smith brothers also all square on 16th tee, it was seemingly going to be very close. In Match 2, both were looking to make 4 on the 18th, meaning we were, in all likelihood, going down to extra holes.Then news came that the Smiths had won back to back holes to win 2/1. Overall, a very tight finish to the final, not reflected in the 2.5 – 0.5 record, but in the end it didn’t matter as Rossall had won the Cyril Gray for the first time since 1996! Particular credit must be given to the Smith brothers, who were unbeaten all tournament which is no mean feat indeed. - Christian Butler (R 1972-83)

LONDON LEAVERS

n November, we held our annual London Leavers Event at Sway on Great Queen Street, London. Everyone had a fantastic time and enjoyed themselves and it was great to see this event become an annual tradition amongst Old Rossallians. Look out for the pictures in the next edition of The Rossallian!

SPRING MEETING AT ILKLEY GOLF COURSE

seemed to be missing most of it, and after a lunch of soup and sandwiches, when we were joined by eight boys from the School’s Golf Academy, and their two coaches, all of whom were excellent and well mannered company, our Society was ready to face the elements of steady, but not heavy rain. My plea, in a previous email, for everyone to be in position near the first tee, five minutes before their tee-off time, was completely disregarded, except for our three ladies, who were on time, and drove impressively down the centre of the fairway. Unfortunately the rain was unrelenting, and everyone got pretty wet for their first nine holes, before in mid afternoon, the skies brightened, the rain stopped, and most of us could enjoy the delights of this lovely course. However, after many days of heavy rain, the course was saturated, and without much run on the ball, conditions for good scoring were extremely difficult, and so a winning score of 36 points by Guy Cunningham, his first win in Society colours but surely not his last, was a very good effort.The Ladies’ Prize was won by Tiffany Fielden with 26 points. Despite the damp conditions, everyone seemed to enjoy the golf, and once dry and assembled in the Clubhouse, the delights of Ilkley’s natural camaraderie embraced us all. The speed of play, which had been so sluggish at Silloth last Autumn, was so much improved here, that an extra half hour was allowed in the bar , before we enjoyed an excellent dinner in the Dining Room, where as a finale, Chris Holt, a Society member and exceptional Chairman of the Rossall Council, gave us a short review of our School’s performance. In all respects, academically, athletically, and artistically, the school is making waves that are being noticed throughout the land. Finally, I must thank Nick Young, one of several OR senior members at Ilkley, who did most of the organising for this meeting.The fact that everyone enjoyed themselves wholeheartedly, both on and off the course, had his infectious stamp all over it, and I am most grateful to him.

Front Row L to R: Tiffany Fielden, Jenny Cheetham, Michelle Walmsley. Second Row L to R: Toby Stephenson, Grant Wilson, Bob Cooke, Charlie Hurst. Third Row L to R: David Wilkinson, Martin Craven, Spencer Cheetham. Fourth Row L to R: Nick Young, Liam Morrow, Neil Corlett, Arthur Stephenson. Back Row L to R: Charles McCain, Chris Holt, Andrew Graham, Will Goodwin, Peter Walker, David Holroyd, David James (hidden) Nick Ellaby, Richard Marriott, Ross Newton (hidden), Robert Fox, Guy Cunningham, Andrew Millar.

s we drove from the sun lit Lancashire coastal plain towards Ilkley, the clouds were already looking threatening, and we wondered whether the long run of benign weather for our meetings was about to change. Reports from our members driving up from the South, mentioned torrential rain, but fortunately Ilkley

I have almost completed the process of arranging next year’s fixtures, which I hope will be as follows: • Spring Meeting at Ganton on Thursday 09/05/24 • Autumn Meeting at Delamere Forest on Tuesday 24/09/24 Delamere was a very popular venue two years ago, and Ganton, one of the finest inland courses in the land, would have been, had it not suffered a freak mid afternoon downpour, which soaked many of us! Hopefully lightning doesn’t strike twice. Sadly though, all clubs have raised their Green Fees alarmingly, which will mean our Entrance Fee at Ganton, for Lunch Golf and Dinner, will be £175.00 each, and at Delamere £140.00 each. I dearly hope these increases don’t cause our entry numbers to drop too much. If you would like any further information, please email arthur@stephensoneng.co.uk - Arthur Stephenson (Hon Sec Rossallian Golf Society)

OLD ROSSALLIAN CAROL SERVICE BOOKING

e are delighted to invite you to the Old Rossallian Carol Service on 16th December at 5pm. It will be a fantastic opportunity to get together as an Old Rossallian community and celebrate Christmas.We will have mulled wine and mince pies in the Dining Hall following the service. If anyone would like to be in the choir, please let us know. To book, please scan the QR code. We hope to see you there!

s your Old Rossallian Management Committee, we have been busy behind the scenes working to build on the OR network in a bid to drive up numbers coming back to visit School, as well as joining Rossallian events elsewhere around the Globe. After a brief ‘recruitment drive’, we now are proud to announce the first of the Old Rossallian Ambassadors. The role of an Old Rossallian Ambassador is key to the future growth and continuity of the Rossallian Club. This is something that has been discussed for

many years, and now with the enthusiastic support and energy of Lisa Squire, we have been able to make it happen. We set out looking for Decade and Year Ambassadors, and so far, the response has been excellent.The candidates ranged from recent leavers in 2023, all the way back to 1955! Along this process, we had some very interesting conversations, and it is clear there is a real appetite to drive the attendance to OR events and the annual dinners, as well as branch events and International meals. We also found that this would be an ideal opportunity to re-introduce our more seniors ORs that have lost touch with one another.

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The aim of the OR Ambassadors is to utilise current networks and spread the word regarding events via a variety of channels. As this is an ongoing process, and positions will be reviewed on a bi-annual basis, we are always looking for people to help us fill the vacant decade roles, as well as all the Year Ambassador positions. These roles are not overly taxing, and will only take up as much of your time as you feel it deserves. So, with all this in mind, if you feel you would like to give something back to Rossall, please do not hesitate to get in touch with development@ rossall.org.uk

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1940-1949 Decade Ambassador - Julian Hall (J&A, 1948-1955) and VACANCY 1950-1959 Decade Ambassador - VACANCY x2 1960-1969 Decade Ambassadors - Mike Davies (F, 1959-1964) and Tom Moses (MC, 1963-1970) 1970-1979 Decade Ambassadors - Christopher Bush (A, 1972-1977) and Chris Eccles 1980-1989 Decade Ambassadors - Andrew Efiong (F, 1975-1983) and Tim Gartside (FN, 1970-1983) 1990-1999 Decade Ambassadors - Neil Hunter (FN, 1983-1990) and VACANCY 2000-2009 Decade Ambassadors - Tario Ashler (PE, 2007-2009) and VACANCY 2010-2019 Decade Ambassadors - Lauren Stephens (DN, 2009-2016), Valerie Taylor (R, 2010-2014) and Daniel Robson. 2020 - 2029 Decade Ambassadors - Marie Melshimer (R, 2020-2022) and Anastasia Guledani (DN, 2019-2021)

We will be completing profiles for all of our Ambassadors in the next edition of The Rossallian and look forward to telling you more about them. - Dave Gee (Fn, 1970-83)

We are pleased to announce the following Ambassadors:

ROSSALLIANS ONLINE CALLING ALL OLD ROSSALLIANS!

Would you like to keep in touch with your old classmates? Do you want to hear about OR events, current school news and how Rossall is developing?

This will then give you access to Rossallians Online where you can: • • • • • • •

Post a question for the community. See upcoming Old Rossallian events under news. Browse pictures from previous events and see if you can spot yourself! Get in touch and book a tour of Rossall to revisit the school. Learn how the Rossall Foundation is supporting the school and make a donation. Search for your classmates in the search bar and send them a message. Post a request for professional support such as a career question or mentor.

Remember: fill in as much of your School information as possible to make it easier for your classmates to find you.

www.rossallians.org.uk

LIME PLASTERERS LANCASHIRE LTD.

ALF TANSEY (FLEUR DE LYS 1949-54)

lf Tansey (Fleur de Lys 1949-54) is a legend amongst Old Rossallians, known especially for his contribution to Rossall Foundation over the years as Chairman. Alf has supported Rossall since joining the School in 1949, he still attends all Old Rossallian events, Rossall Foundation events and also is a member of LORD & travels from Warwickshire to London twice a year for their dinners. Rossall had a fantastic reputation throughout the country in 1949 and following a recommendation from Alf ’s Prep School Headmaster, his parents enrolled him at Rossall to start on 23rd September 1949. This was a recommendation that Alf has said he is grateful for as it started a 74 year friendship with the School. If you were to look up his name in the Rossall registers, you will see that he was a School Monitor and Captain of the Rugby XV. He also spent time in the CCF, and was the Lead Cadet in the “Beating Retreat” Parade, which took place each year in front of a very high ranking Army Officer. Alf was in the Rugby XV for three years and was captain of the unbeaten side in 1953. But it was his cricketing highlight at Rossall that he has fondest memories of. His cricketing career peaked in 1953 when he partnered Mick Timms, also in Fleur de Lys, in an opening partnership of fifty runs against the M.C.C. He scored seven and later on, dropped two catches. Alf captained an unbeaten second eleven the following year. After leaving Rossall, Alf chose to attend The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland to study medicine. He played Rugby for Lansdowne Football Club, and captained the side in his last year. Whilst studying over there he met his wonderful wife Sandie. Alf has said that living in Ireland was a fantastic experience and he has a great fondness for it. He went on to be an Orthopaedic Surgeon, followed by an Orthopaedic Consultant in Warwick in 1972. He also became chairman of a local group of consultants in Warwick and Coventry who raised over £1.5 million for a private charitable hospital which they ran until 1994. It was then sold to Nuffield Hospital in order to start a local charity for those in medical need. As a result of his experience in fundraising, he offered his support to Hazel Trapnell and she invited him to be the first Chairman of the Foundation, a position he held for 17 years. Alf has shown great support over the years to the Foundation. Most recently, his determination has been the driving force behind the Chapel Organ Restoration project, which started in October this year and will be completed by April 2024. We are very proud that Alf is a member of our Old Rossallian Community and would like to thank him for his contributions to the School and the Rossall Foundation.

CHAPEL MEMORIAL WINDOW

n May, we hosted a visit from Peter Jones and his wife, Alison. Peter wanted to find out a bit more information about a memorial window in our School Chapel that was dedicated to his late father Mr William Tunstall Jones who went to school at Rossall. Mr William Tunstall Jones was in Spread Eagle and did indeed have a stained glass window dedicated to him in the Narthex to the right of the Chapel door. The stained glass was designed and installed by Abbotts of Lancaster in the early 1960’s and the picture of St. Christopher commemorates Peter’s father who died in Northern Nigeria in 1962. During the visit, Peter was happy to see where his father had spent his school days commenting on the beautiful location, impressive grounds and historic buildings. Peter was only one when his father passed away during a traffic accident while serving in Nigeria. Peter and his family had wanted to see the memorial window for quite some time as this had been a discussion point in the family over the years. It wasn’t until the death of his mother last year that Peter decided to book a visit to Rossall School and see the memorial window in person. Peter stated “Upon actually seeing the window we were both in awe of the scale and craftsmanship. I was glad to see it had been kept in good condition and I feel confident that the window will be looked after for many years to come. It was an emotional moment after all this time to visit and I will fondly recall the experience. I will keep safe all the documentation that I was given in relation to my father’s time at Rossall.”

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14/10/2022 10:18

KEN PYWELL (J 1943-45) ALLEYN AND ROSSALL MEMORIES

en was a pupil at Alleyn’s School in London during the Second World War when his entire school was evacuated to Rossall for the period September 1943 to March 1945. 200 boys from the Alleyn’s Junior and Senior Schools were evacuated to Rossall School in Lancashire to start a new chapter of their education, away from the dangers of wartime London. Ken Pywell, a student at Alleyn school was evacuated to Rossall at age 11. We featured a picture of Ken in the second edition of The Rossallian when he visited Rossall with his family. He has since been in touch to state how much he enjoyed the visit and provided us with some memories from his time at

Rossall School.

My Visit to Rossall School Our visit lasted for about two hours, during which time we had the opportunity to tour the grounds and also enter some of the buildings which Alleyn’s boys had access to at the time of my stay there which was from September 1943 to March 1945. Memories came flooding back, in particular of James House, which was home for Alleyn’s Juniors. It had four dormitories and accommodation for Mr Spring, our Housemaster. Every Sunday evening we would gather in our common room for him to read us

ROSSALL PICTURES 1936

e have had a kind donation of a Rossall School booklet that contains Rossall School pictures which will now be kept in the Rossall Archives.The booklet had been sent to us from Mrs C. Nisbet, whose husband, Richard Nisbet attended Rossall from 1951 - 1952 in Fleur de Lys House. It features pictures from Edward Chambre Hardman. We hope Edward Chambre Hardman’s fabulous images from 1936 will delight you as much as they do us. Hardman’s studio and extraordinary archive of images is now owned by the National Trust.

adventure stories. King Solomon’s Mines and Prester John both come to mind. After the story, one of Alleyn’s prefects would come to the House and serve us cocoa just before ‘lights out’. There were also rare invitations to have afternoon tea with Mr Spring and his wife in their sitting room. The tuck shop was situated just a short distance from the House. There were few, if any, sweets, just paper, envelopes and stamps so that we could write home. On our recent visit, I was amazed at the size of the Chapel, it is much bigger than I remembered and has very impressive, fine windows. We then proceeded to the great hall (Big School), in which I recall that Alleyn’s choir and its orchestra

rehearsed and performed Verdi’s Requiem and Holst’s ‘Hymn of Jesus’ among other works with our music master Mr W J Smith. This was also the location for an occasional film show put on by one of our masters. Our recent visit finished with a look inside the Dining Hall, a place of mixed memories for me. Well, it was wartime after all, and food was scarce. Of course, the visit was also of great interest to my family, who all have considerable experience of music teaching in schools, although I think it intrigued them to observe me in surroundings I had often spoken to them about but had not visited for nearly eighty years!

PHASE 1 The Heritage Project will safeguard our most iconic buildings for future generations of Rossallians. The project provides an opportunity to come together as a community to ensure we leave an enduring legacy, one that will serve to inspire our boys and girls to develop a life-long appreciation of the architectural beauty that we have the privilege of enjoying. The Heritage Project will also ensure that the buildings are fit for purpose long into the future.The Foundation is launching an appeal to ask for support to safeguard the Chapel and Big School. These buildings have been identified as having the greatest urgency and so will form the first stage of the appeal.

1. THE CHAPEL OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST The Sumner Chapel only seated three hundred and so it was that the expanding pupil roll rapidly outgrew its limited capacity. The celebrated Lancaster architect, Edward Graham Paley (18231895) was tasked with the design of a grand new chapel which was to be on an altogether different scale. The Chapel was consecrated in 1862 and the guest of honour on that occasion was the great polymath and Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, William Whewell (17941866).

HOW TO DONATE: Call us on 01253 774284 Email us at foundation@rossall.org.uk Write to us: The Foundation Office, Rossall School, Fleetwood, Lancashire, FY7 8JW SCAN THE QR CODE BELOW TO FILL IN OUR ONLINE DONATION FORM

From its earliest days, the Chapel has contained memorials to Rossallians who have served both their school and country. The lives of those who fell in the colonial conflicts of the nineteenth century are remembered alongside heroes such as the Reverend Thomas Byles (1870-1913) who prayed on the rear deck of the Titanic as the ship was sinking. After the First World War, the prolific Scottish architect and furniture designer, Sir Robert Lorimer, was commissioned to extend the south transept of the Chapel so that it would become a fitting War Memorial to the 298 Rossallians who lost their lives during the four long years of conflict. The refurbishment of the Chapel extended beyond the South Transept

and a new organ was commissioned from the Durham builders Harrison and Harrison at a cost of £3,381. The organ reused pipes from the old Father Willis instrument. The East Window was replaced by the Fletcher family in memory of the father and son who had died from the burden of running the family colliery throughout the duration of the war. The window, like the new windows in the South Transept, was designed by J.C.N.Bewsey. The pulpit was designed by the famous sculptor, painter and stained glass window designer, Meredith Williams (18771934). The Chapel has been the place where many Rossallians have discovered their faith or found comfort in times of sadness. It is the case that those of no faith, or still searching, tend to retain an enormous affection for a building within which they find peace and a sense of community. Many Rossallians return to the Chapel to celebrate baptisms and weddings. In times of crisis, Rossallians are inclined to seek the divine within this extraordinary building. During Covid, the Chapel played an enormous role and projected a sense of ‘school’ which transcended our physical apartness.

WHAT THE CHAPEL MEANS TO ROSSALLIANS The importance of the Chapel is highlighted by the Canon Chancellor of Exeter Cathedral, the Reverend Canon Deborah Parsons (J & Dn 1977-84)

The Chapel of St. John the Baptist stands on the edge of the school campus and yet at the heart of what it means to be a Rossallian. Whether we profess to have a faith or not, we are united by core values of love and care for others and in our unique ways, we endeavour to make the world a better, kinder, more equitable place.

It was in the Chapel of St. John the Baptist that I was confirmed, along with a large cohort of my year. It was there that I witnessed the joy of friends marrying and it was there where we occasionally gathered to bid a fond farewell to friends or members of Common Room, who had made an indelible impression on our lives. Quite simply, Chapel was always there – in all weathers, whatever the season, if not in the foreground, then as a backdrop to our lives.

ESSENTIAL REMEDIAL WORK (PHASE 1) Overall the Chapel is in poor condition as a result of the defects detailed below. The timber roof structures and internal plaster has been damaged by water ingress. Roof timbers have suffered significant decay and failing plaster work constitutes a safety concern. • • •

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The roof needs to be replaced The external facades and spire needs repointing in order to make the structure watertight The internal plasterwork and decoration needs to be made good and this will improve the overall appearance of the building The cracking in the rear elevation, boiler room and chimney needs to be repaired The glass in the East Window cannot be fully reinstated until the surrounding masonry and metal work is repaired

This restoration and refurbishment project will ensure that the Chapel retains its role as the primary focal point of our community. It will ensure that it continues to provide a haven within which the emotional and spiritual wellbeing of our pupils and staff may be nurtured.

2. BIG SCHOOL Big School was designed by the Manchester architect, Edwin Hugh Shellard and completed in time for Prize Day 1853. Most of his work is in the Gothic Revival style and includes such architectural gems as St John’s Minster in Preston. Big School is a slightly whimsical affair with its castellated tower and mediaeval style windows. The singularity of its design lends a distinctive character to the northern range of the Square. Historically, a good deal of teaching took place in Big School although it has always been a venue for theatrical and musical performances. On the occasion of the School’s Golden Jubilee, Thomas Beecham took to the stage with an orchestra of musicians drawn mainly from the Hallé Orchestra. He would return to the very same stage more than fifty years later for the belated centennial celebrations. In 1954, it was the venue for a recital performed by Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears. The visit of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is commemorated within the building and so too are the university scholarships won by generations of Rossallians.

WHAT BIG SCHOOL MEANS TO ROSSALLIANS The chart topping singer-songwriter and Old Rossallian, Tom Gregory (MF 2007-14), remembers taking his first tentative steps towards stardom on this stage.

There is a mystery inside Big school that I still can’t quite put my finger on. It’s simply magical. It was my first and still my most nerve racking musical performance to date! It really beats any arena or festival I’ve played anywhere in the world. We are so lucky to have this as part of our DNA at Rossall.

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Replace the roof in entirety Repoint stone window and wall reveals Replace leaded window frames showing signs of corrosion Replace existing plaster with a limebased conservation plaster Repair flooring

OUR FUNDING Rossall has a proud tradition of benefaction and the Foundation has been able to play its part in ensuring that the excellent education that Rossall has provided over the years will continue to benefit generations to come. This has been due to generous donors like you and we are truly grateful.

ESSENTIAL REMEDIAL WORK (PHASE 1) The slate pitched roof, windows and stone window reveals are in poor condition. As a consequence of this there has been considerable damage to the internal plasterwork. Water ingress has resulted from failed pointing.

As part of our master plan, we are looking at safeguarding the future of the Library, the Chapel and Big School buildings, this will cost in excess of £1.5 million. The Foundation would like to raise funds towards phase 1 remedial repairs to both Big School and the Chapel. These buildings have been identified as having the greatest urgency and so will form the first stage of the appeal.

CHAPEL ORGAN

he Harrison & Harrison Organ, in the Chapel of St John the Baptist, was built in 1925 and is dedicated to the 289 Old Rossallians who lost their lives in the First World War. The Organ has, unfortunately, fallen into a state of disrepair over the years and it is in desperate need of a major overhaul to secure its very being for years to come. The Rossall Foundation is really proud that due to the generosity of a number of ORs we are able to assist the School with this project and help secure a historic facility that has always been at the heart of the School. The Foundation would like to thank these donors and also Alf Tansey (Fleur de Lys 49-54), without whose dedication and support this project would not be taking place. The Rossall Foundation is very pleased to announce that the work to the Chapel Organ has commenced as of October and is being undertaken by Organ experts, Harrison & Harrison. They have already dismantled the organ and taken the parts back to their workshop in Durham, where they will continue to work on restoring our beloved Organ. Harrison & Harrison will then return to school and rebuild the Organ with the work due to finish at the end of March 2024. Owen Woods, from Harrison & Harrison attended our Future Heritage launch day and gave a fantastic talk about the history of the Organ and the planned work that will take place. We are very much looking forward to this work being completed and will be holding a celebratory event following the completion of the work. Look out for details of the event on Rossallians Online in the coming months: www.rossallians.org.uk.

FUTURE HERITAGE LAUNCH DAY

arents, Old Rossallians and also members of our wider Rossall community came together on 6th October to celebrate the launch of our exciting Future Heritage Project here at Rossall School. People travelled from all over the country to hear how we plan to raise funds to help restore our beloved buildings. These listed buildings; Big School, the Chapel and the Sumner Library are a key part of the Rossall School and its rich history and the project aims to help to preserve these buildings for future generations of Rossallians.

“As new parents, I feel extremely privileged to be invited to this day to soak up all the history of this incredible school. The renovation of these buildings is vital for future Rossallians to enjoy and appreciate.”

Attendees were able to take a tour of the School and also listen to interesting talks from the Headmaster and guest speaker, Owen Woods from Harrision and Harrison. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the day and the feedback was fantastic.

- David Bowker (A 1978-1983)

- Mia Davies, Parent “The day has been very good with a rich informative account of our history and a good insight into the challenges which lie ahead.”

If anyone would like further details on the project, please get in touch by emailing foundation@rossall.org.uk

FROM THE ROSSALLIAN CLUB SECRETARY, IAN PRESTON (J & PE 1966-73)

e are all very excited about our new Ambassadors. You can read elsewhere in this publication the details of the Ambassadors initiative which is being introduced to help take forward the activities of the Rossallian Club. It is proposed the Ambassadors will become members of the main Club committee in addition to the branch secretaries.This will, of course, require a change to our rules and regulations, which we hope will be endorsed by the full membership at our next AGM. The Ambassadors initiative will broaden the scope and reach of the Club and ensure that there are representatives of all ages included in Club activities moving forward. At the moment, there is a small management committee, which reports to the larger main committee. The management committee meets on

a regular basis and the main committee less frequently. The importance of the main committee is to be there as a safety net in the event that the management committee requires direction from the larger body. I’ve had a fantastic time during the last 4 years being a Rossall dad and getting to know so many of the senior students.They are a great bunch, and I am sure they are going to become very active members of the Club and take full advantage of what is on offer. I am particularly pleased that Joe Davies, previous School Captain has agreed to be co-opted onto the management committee, a particularly valid appointment considering Joe is staying on the Fylde, having taken an apprenticeship at BAE and so able to be available to be directly involved. What the last 4 years has highlighted to me is the benefit that the Rossallian

Club can have when supporting current students, whether it be playing sport, careers workshops, or networking. As an example of this, we are, with the assistance of Pelican Houseparent, Mark Dixon (renowned international Backgammon guru) and Guy Haslam (Anchor 1986-91), hoping to set up a regular Backgammon evening for Old Rossallians and students. Details will be published on Rossallians Online.

might be having and any upcoming celebrations, births, achievements or marriages. Please share your photos, celebratory stories and news by emailing development@rossall.org.uk. We are looking forward to hearing from you all. Floreat Rossallia

Please do use our dedicated alumni website; Rossallians Online, https://rossallians.org.uk. We use this website to advertise events, news and celebrate our Rossallian community. All upcoming events are advertised here so please sign up to ensure you don’t miss out. On a final note, we would love to hear about any gatherings Rossallians

THE OLD ROSSALLIAN FREEMASONS LODGE: A RICH HISTORY OF BROTHERHOOD AND CHARITY

s a result of the First World War, in common with many Public Schools in the UK, the Old Rossallian Freemasons established a Lodge in October 1928 to promote the Brotherhood, not only through the common bond of Rossall School but also internationally, to foster friendship and humanity everywhere. One recent memorable event was the successful Third-Degree Ceremony for Brother Matthew Baldwin (Pelican 2008 – 2015) held at the Fleetwood Masonic Hall on Saturday, 8 July 2023. The Third Degree, or Master Mason Degree represents the pinnacle of initiation and serves as a profound moment in a Freemason’s journey. It signifies the passing of knowledge, the embracing of wisdom, and the commitment to serve humanity. The Fleetwood Masonic Hall, a venue for Masonic gatherings, provided the perfect setting for this significant ceremony. The solemnity and reverence that permeated the hall on that occasion were a testament to the lodge’s dedication to preserving the timeless traditions of Freemasonry. The lodge’s charitable work extends beyond financial contributions. Freemasons are committed to making a tangible difference in the lives of others, offering their time, skills, and support to those in need. Whether it be organising community events, volunteering at local shelters, or mentoring young individuals, Freemasons demonstrate their dedication to improving the well-being of their fellow citizens. During the Pandemic, Freemasons throughout the UK helped their communities in many ways. For example, in Shropshire, we manufactured, free of charge, over 3,000 visors for staff in Care Homes. If you would like to discover more about Freemasonry or would like to join the Old Rossallian Lodge, please contact John Adam, Secretary. (email: johncadam@hotmail.com, tel: 01948 880887). For any women interested in Women’s Freemasonry, there are separate Women’s Lodges. Anyone interested can contact Rosalind Adam on 01948 880887. John Adam Pelican 1963-1968

S AV E T H E D AT E OLD ROSSALLIAN MALE HOCKEY 3RD MARCH, 2024

OLD ROSSALLIAN CAROL SERVICE 16TH DECEMBER 2023 We are delighted to invite you to our Old Rossallian Carol Service on 16th December 2023 at 5pm. It will be a fantastic opportunity to get together as an OR community and celebrate Christmas. The service will be in our historic chapel at 5pm with mulled wine and mince pies to follow in the Dining Hall. Please use the link below to register your attendance. If you would like to be part of the Choir, please let us know using the form. We are looking forward to seeing you there.

OLD ROSSALLIAN LONDON GATHERING 9TH MAY 2024

We will be hosting an Old Rossallian Hockey event with school teams playing against Old Rossallians. Everyone is welcome, please book now to register your place to either spectate or play in the OR Male Hockey event on Sunday 3rd March at Rossall School.

We will be hosting a dinner at The Garrick Club in London on 9th May 2024. Tickets for the dinner will be priced at £40pp and will include a fabulous meal. We would be delighted if you could join us for this fantastic event.

OLD ROSSALLIAN FESTIVAL OF CRICKET

OLD ROSSALLIAN BERLIN DINNER

2ND JUNE 2024 We would like to invite you to save the date for our fantastic upcoming Old Rossallian Festival of Cricket on 2nd June 2024 at Rossall School Cricket Pavillion, Fleetwood, Lancashire, FY7 8JW. We will be celebrating all things Rossall Cricket with our school team and old Rossallian teams who will be taking part in a fantastic day of Cricket action. Whether you would like to sign up to play in an Old Rossallian team or would like to come and spectate, everyone is welcome.

JULY 2024 Our 2023 Old Rossallian German Dinner was a great success. As a result, we will be planning our 2024 Old Rossallian Dinner in Berlin in July. Please register your interest now if you would like further details nearer the time.

ROSSALL CELEBRATES 180 YEARS

In 2024, Rossall Celebrates its 180th Anniversary. To mark this we will be holding a ball on Saturday 1st June, which is also a fundraiser for the Rossall Heritage Project. The Heritage project is aimed at preserving our three iconic buildings, the Sumner Library, Big School and the Chapel of St John the Baptist. Tickets will be on a first come, first served basis and initially will be sold as tables of 10 at £80 per person. The event will be a casino theme, with live music, a wonderful meal and much more. Book now to secure your table.

We are creating a special Ball brochure for the occasion, this will be given to attendees on the night and will be available to view on our website for six months after the event. 300 28page, A4 brochures will be produced for the evening, and promotional activities. Attendees’ names will be listed in the brochure making this a memorable keepsake for them.

If you would like to advertise your business the price is: • • • • •

£125 for a quarter page £200 for half a page £300 for a full page £500 inside front cover £500 inside back cover

All inquiries, email - rossall180@rossall.org.uk. To book your table or secure your advertising, scan the QR code.

IN MEMORIAM BRIAN DIBBLE (ROSE 1936-1945) 1927 TO 2021

Scott Hanson (SE 1980- 1985) Maj. John Dumella Rose (An 1944-1950) John Phillips (SE 1941-1949) Nick Koster (SE 2005-2005) Eric Foster (MC 1943- 1947) William David Aspinall (R 1943-1948) John Broome (MC 1955-1961) Mark Phythian-Adams (An 1952-1962) Brian Dibble (R 1936-1945) Richard Farrell (SE 1956-1959) Geoffrey Raymond Cunliffe (MC 1955-1958) Robert Benbo (F 1948-1952) passed away in 2021

Brian was born on 18th May 1927 and followed his father and grandfather to Rossall with his brother Hugh in 1936. Brian left the Prep School that year, but returned to Rose House in 1942 and spent the early part of his return at Naworth Castle. On his return to Rossall in 1945, he became Head Boy and he was a popular and kind figure.Tragically, he was about to read the lesson in the Chapel when he was told of the death of his brother who had been killed in the war. After leaving School, Brian worked in building before joining the family firm, S. Dibble and Son. In 1965, he was able to buy Building and Plumbing Supplies in Leamington, which has become a very successful business. He was so proud to have his son and daughter as part of the business. On his retirement, his employees gave him “A lifetime Achievement Award”. Brian also helped the Birmingham community as a J.P. for thirteen years, and was Chairman of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, raising money through charitable events. He enjoyed sport, particularly tennis and spent many years sailing dinghies off Sandbanks. He also bought a sleek Scandinavian boat which would do over 40 knots and when using it he was so relaxed and happy. He also had a passion for fast cars, of which he had several, but his favourite was a Jenson interceptor. Returning to Rossall, Brian was on the Midland Branch committee for many years, sometimes as secretary and sometimes as treasurer. Following this, we made him an Honorary President. He loved music; both jazz and classical and he had a huge record collection. Above all Brian was a family man who had a lovely wife and a very close family. It was an honour to know him.

- Alf Tansey (Fleur de Lys 1949-54)

George Alastair Charles Cooke (MC 1956-1960) passed away in 2022 Frederick Louis Peter Costeloe (An 1952-1960) Michael Bridgett (SE 1949-1957) Michael Munby (J & SE 1947-54) Derek Scrivener Former CCF Peter Mason (R 1958-1962) Frank Moss (MC 1942-1945) Garry Passam Former Common Room

TOURS GEOFF LEVINE (SE 1974 -79)

e were very pleased to welcome Geoff Levine (SE 1974 -79) for a school tour on 15th September 2023. Geoff brought his son Zak to view the school and reminisce about his fond memories of Rossall. Geoff and Zak travelled all the way from Canberra, Australia to visit family and come and see Rossall.

JOHN WATSON (MITRE 1969-73)

e welcomed Old Rossallian John Watson (M 1969- 73) and his partner, Carol Sage to our school on Tuesday, 11th July 2023 as he came to reminisce over his time spent at Rossall. John said of his visit: “It’s good to see that despite the many changes that have taken place in the world over the last 50 years, Rossall’s main features remain largely unchanged. Importantly, the School continues to develop and prosper.”

PETER JENKINS (MITRE 1964-68) The Rossall Foundation hosted a visit for Peter Jenkins (M 1964-68) as Peter was considering an invitation to become a Foundation Trustee. One of the key projects this year is the Heritage Project and it was great to show Peter how the project will impact our three iconic buildings here at Rossall. We toured Big School, the Library and the Chapel followed by a lovely lunch in the Dining Hall.We are pleased to announce that he has agreed to become a Rossall Foundation Trustee and will bring a wealth of experience to the role.

TIMMY YUEN (MC 1986-88)

n September, we welcomed Timmy Yuen (MC 1986-88) and his wife Miranda to Rossall almost 40 years after he left the school. Timmy and Miranda travelled from Hong Kong to Rossall tying the visit in with family commitments.

MALCOLM BOWDEN (DC 1951-54)

n June 14th we welcomed Malcolm Bowden (DC 195154) back to Rossall for the first time since he attended the school 70 years ago. He brought along some friends with him, Phil and Val Dutton and Maura Mulligan. Malcolm commented on how lucky he felt to have attended Rossall and how his education set him on a path for a very enjoyable life.

MICHAEL POLLITT (MITRE 1947 -56)

e were very pleased to welcome Michael Pollitt (M 1947-56) for a school tour on 25th May 2023. Michael was given the tour by Foundation Director, Emma Johnson and Foundation Chairman, Henry Shepherd.We also had a fabulous lunch in the Dining Hall and it was great to meet Michael and discuss his fond memories of Rossall.

MAXIMILIAN THYSSEN (MC & A 1995 - 97)

n July, we welcomed Maximilian Thyssen (MC & A 1995 - 97) to Rossall for the first time since he graduated exactly 25 years ago. He brought his wife, Judith and his five children. Maximilian commented on how lucky he felt to have attended Rossall and how he never really appreciated just how beautiful the grounds and buildings were. Maximilian gave us an insight into his life post Rossall: “After graduating from Rossall, I did a banking apprenticeship in Munich, Germany. After that I moved back to the UK, to European Business School in London and did my undergrad in International Business and Management Studies with a major in Finance. After that I started off in Mergers and Acquisitions which I left in 2006 to start investing and co-founding tech startups in Germany. In 2016, I moved to the US to expand my investment focus to the US. Rossall is a beautiful place that gives you a sound foundation for your life. It prepared me for my independent life that made the experience priceless for me.”

CONGRATULATIONS

ELLA WILSON (DOLPHIN 1998 - 2012) ld Rossallian, Ella Wilson (DN 1998 - 2012) held a beautiful Christening for her youngest son Joey in the Rossall Chapel. Ella also was married in the Chapel to her husband, James and also held the Christening of their eldest son, Louis in the Chapel too.We would like to congratulate the Wilson family on a beautiful Christening and these lovely family pictures!