The Shirburnian 2015-16

THE

SHIRBURNIAN 2015/16

1969 saw the release of MGM’s Goodbye Mr Chips.

On the eve of the 50th anniversary of filming, the colour cover wrap by David Ridgway pays homage to the black and white photograph on the inside covers; one of the iconic stills taken on set for the film, and one of the many

internationally acclaimed productions that have favoured Sherborne as a mainstage backdrop.

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WELCOME TO

THE SHIRBURNIAN When I arrived at Sherborne at

levels of dedication,

When I tell people that I want

the start of 2016, I already knew

commitment and tenacity. Many

Sherborne to be a kind school,

the School to be possessed of

excel intellectually, or in sport or

this is what I have in mind. I want

great intellectual, creative and

drama, whilst others have

it to be a place where boys strive

sporting energy. I knew, too,

outstanding gifts as musicians,

to achieve personal success and

that it is a place where boys

artists, debaters or

where everyone has the chance

grow into kind, compassionate

outdoorsmen. A good number

to excel. But I also want them

and generous young men who

can boast all of these attributes

to appreciate the importance of

are ready to venture forth into

and yet I have found them all to

supporting and helping others.

the world and make positive

be engaging, kind and modest.

contributions to the lives of others.

I also knew that Sherborne is a place where I would be kept busy, with all too few opportunities to step back and savour the great privilege of serving in such a wonderful environment. Fortunately, the publication of The Shirburnian provides just such an opportunity. It is a chance for us all to consider the astonishingly wide-ranging achievements of our boys and to celebrate the rich diversity of our strong and vibrant community.

The pages that follow amply demonstrate how interesting our pupils are, how varied their talents, and how great their

The Shirburnian bears witness to our success in that endeavour. It

These are values that we will continue to treasure and promote at Sherborne. Brilliance does not permit arrogance.

Whilst we should celebrate our individual and collective achievements and always seek to improve upon them, we must also understand that what really

is a snapshot of one year in our life, which gestures beyond itself to reveal something of our innate character. This is the character that made me want to become the School’s Headmaster. It is what I hope we can continue building upon in the months and years ahead.

matters is who we are, not what we do. Success at Sherborne is not just about academic, sporting or creative achievement. It is at least as much about each boy becoming the best that he can be and growing as a person within a strong, caring and supportive community.

Headmaster and Chief Executive

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2015/16...

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Academic Creative Co-Curricular Features Houses Overview Music Sport Valete

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The Year in

2015-16 was characterised by achievement, enjoyment and a profound sense of community at Sherborne School. Here are a few highlights of the year:

September Ed Smith (U6c), Will Vitali (U6f), Tomos Evans (U6e) and Fuad Hasan (U6e) perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Their reworking of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart receives critical acclaim.

Michael Treneer (5m) represents the GB Pony Racing Team at the Shergar Cup. Despite being outpaced early in the race, he wins the Stayers Open Championship by six lengths.

Sherborne’s 1st XV Rugby Team retains the Centenary Cup, in an impressive 15-0 victory over Radley.

Tom Crinks (L6b), Alan Hughes-Hallett (L6a) and Toby Smith (L6c) are awarded Honorary Academic Scholarships, in recognition of their consistently high academic performance.

A group of Shirburnians takes part in the Camelot Challenge, a cross country half marathon, in preparation for their expedition to Bolivia in the summer of 2016.

George Case (3m) wins the British Modern Tetrathlon Championships (U15), beating his closest rival by 110 points.

October Sherborne School is named the Best Independent School for Music in The Week Independent Schools Guide.

Rory Coughlan (U6e) is unveiled as Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadet for Dorset, distinguishing him as the county’s leading CCF cadet.

The Duke of Edinburgh Canoe Team takes part in a three-day canoeing expedition. They cover more than 80km of river from Ironbridge to Upton-upon-Severn.

Sherborne reaches the Quarter Finals of the RFU Super Cup. Nine intrepid Fifth and Sixth Form CCF cadets take part in the Pringle Trophy. The annual inter-school cadet competition, overseen by serving Royal Marines, includes a 10-hour marathon, military skill-based exercises and the gruelling RM Commando endurance course.

Sherborne is one of the few groups to finish together – a testament to their camaraderie and team spirit.

Lyon House stages a magnificent performance of Godner’s Bouncers, with standout performances from Alex Warren (L6g) and Henry Dennis (L6g).

Sherborne’s 1st XV Rugby Team is named Team of the Month by the Fifteen Rugby website, with an overwhelming share of the votes.

Abbey wins a close-fought Literary Quiz final against Harper.

Sherborne School hosts its inaugural science festival. High-profile scientists give a series of lectures, attracting nearly 2,500 students from five schools.

Review

2015-16:

November A group of Sixth Formers brings home eight Gold, 17 Silver and 19 Bronze certificates from the prestigious UKMT Senior Mathematics Challenge.

Sherborne’s tennis players defeat Millfield School to win the group stage of the Winter Senior Students Team National Tennis. Charles Morris (U6a) and Sebastian Szapary (L6e) are named Sherborne’s players of the match.

Abbeylands stages a riotous performance of The Ladykillers, with outstanding performances all round.

The Chamber Choir sings Evensong at Salisbury Cathedral, delivering superb renditions of music by Howells, Henderson and Marlow.

Will Shardlow (L6m) becomes the first Shirburnian to reach the final of the Fives Colquhoun Trophy Senior Competition.

December The Mini Colts A Rugby Team wins the Dorset and Wilts County Cup, with an impressive 29-7 victory over The Thomas Hardye School. Felix Connolly (3e), Sam Reynolds (3c), Christian Johnson (3d) and Rob Hoare (3c) score the team’s five tries.

Shirburnians take part in a macabre, yet highly moving, Joints Schools’ production of Sweeney Todd.

Roger Fidgen is named as the School’s new Chair of Governors, as the Reverend Gordon Parry retires from this role.

Some beautiful performances mark the School’s annual carol service and other musical celebrations of Christmas with soaring beauty and technical brilliance.

Ralph Barlow’s period as Acting Headmaster comes to an end, after 18 months leading the School with vision, grace and a thoroughgoing commitment to excellence. Mr Barlow takes up the role of Usher (Senior Deputy).

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The Year in January The School welcomes Dr Dominic Luckett, former Head and Chief Executive of the Mill Hill School Foundation, as its new Headmaster.

Five Sherborne boys receive Oxbridge offers. Congratulations go to Chris Bocz (U6f), Charles Howard (U6c), Oliver Rose (U6f), Edward Pyman (U6e) and Archie Wing (U6e).

Sherborne’s Cross Country Team battles fierce competition and a notoriously tough course to win the Downside Trophy.

A group of chemistry students wins the regional heat of the Top of the Bench competition – an event organised by the Royal Society of Chemists to test pupils’ chemical knowledge and practical skills.

Josh Cook (3f) wins the Halliday Cup Music Competition – an outstanding achievement for a Third Former. Concert pianist and organist Philip Fowke judges the annual musical competition, commending its high standard.

Sherborne’s Skiing Squad excels itself at the DHO British Schoolboys Ski Championships.

George Case (3m) and Will Perkins (4a) win their classes, while Ben Nokes (L6m), Ben Pugsley (L6d), Tom Perkins (5a) and Will Perkins claim gold in the unregistered team competition.

February The Mini Colts A Hockey Team wins the Dorset County Hockey Championships. The boys win all five of their matches to qualify for the regional round of the National Schools Cup. A group of Lyon House boys pedals a gruelling 692.4 miles – the distance from Lyon House to Lyon, France – on indoor bikes, in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Sherborne celebrates its best results to date at the UK Linguistics Olympiad, with pupils claiming eight Gold and four Silver awards.

Shirburnians enjoy success at the HMC Judo Nationals Competition. They bring home two Gold, two Silver and three Bronze medals.

Sherborne’s Swing Band performs a sell-out concert to a 200-strong dining audience.

Following exceptional performances at November’s Senior Mathematics Challenge, a group of Sixth Formers participates in the UK Mathematics Trust’s Senior Kangaroo. Oliver Rose (U6f), Will Shardlow (L6m) and Max Vinycomb (U6f) score marks within the top 25 per cent of participants, and gain Certificates of Merit.

The Cross Country Team claims three medals at the Studland Stampede. Sam Reynolds (3c) wins the Junior race by a margin of more than a minute, while Charlie Hickling (L6d) and Harry Reynolds (U6e) finish the Senior race in second and third places respectively.

Review

2015-16:

March Boys, tutors and the domestic team from School House complete a 10-mile walk from Abbotsbury Hillfort to Maiden Castle, in aid of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. They walk in memory of Sherborne International’s Sheila Neal, who sadly lost her life in a road accident.

Sherborne’s 1st VII wins the Rugby Sevens Tournament – claiming a 22-7 victory over hosts, Bryanston.

Charlie Smith (5g) is named Sherborne Young Musician of the Year 2016, with Alex Stagg (U6f) and Douglas Mak (L6c) winning the brass and piano classes respectively. All three boys are awarded an expenses-paid trip to the European Young Musician finals in the Slovak Republic.

In a feat of grit and endurance, the boys of The Green run more than 1,600 miles in 36 hours in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support. 45 boys cover a marathon distance or more, with Charlie Symonds (5c) completing a top distance of 40.9 miles.

George Case (3m) shoots, swims and runs his way to victory at the National Winter Triathlon Championships, as he wins the Junior Boys section.

A group of Sherborne musicians enjoys success at the Mid-Somerset Music Festival. The Sixth Form Piano Trio wins a cup and a distinction, and the Third Form Wind Quartet is commended for its performance.

April Ben Childerley (5f) is selected for the British Under-18 Sailing Team, to represent the country at the World Under-18 Championships.

Sherborne’s musicians make their mark at the Sherborne Abbey Festival. Highlights include outstanding opening performances from the Piano Trio and Horn Quartet, uplifting numbers from the Close Harmony and Barbershop groups, and toe-tapping renditions of Big Band classics from the School’s Swing Band.

A group of Shirburnians sets off to Rotterdam for an Easter hockey tour. They receive training from top coaches, and put this to good use in a successful string of matches against their Dutch hosts.

Gus Johnson (L6d) wins the CCF Iron Cadet Challenge; earning him the title of 2016’s fittest CCF cadet. Jack Fitzpatrick (U6f) and Rory Coughlan (U6e) come second and third respectively.

Sherborne celebrates 10 years of its Triple Languages Programme – a programme for top French, German and Spanish linguists. Students are treated to a multicultural meal, featuring German, French and Hispanic cuisine.

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The Year in May A group of Buddhist monks makes a rare appearance at Junior Chapel – leading worship with calls to prayer on the long horn, a purification dance, a peace litany and a Buddhist blessing.

The monks also give a series of fascinating classes on Buddhist dance, mudra prayer, debate and meditation.

Intrepid boys from the CCF and Lyon House take part in the gruelling Ten Tors Challenge.

Both teams battle heat, exhaustion and blisters to cross the finish line in the allotted time, in a remarkable demonstration of leadership, teamwork and endurance.

Tom Hoare (5e) sets two new School swimming records. He shaves an impressive three seconds off the previous 100m freestyle record, and attains the 50m backstroke record – previously unbroken for 30 years.

School House stages an outstanding House Concert. Highlights include the School House Band’s rousing rendition of the Star Wars theme tune, the Third Form Band’s spellbinding performance of Boulevard of Broken Dreams, and the pitch-perfect delivery of Sandman and Bermuda Buggy Ride by the School House Barbershop Group. Not forgetting, of course, a number of impressive vocal and instrumental solos, and the patriotic performance of this year’s School House Song.

June A plucky team of students from Sherborne School and Leweston completes the Three Peaks Challenge: a feat that involves climbing the highest mountains of England, Scotland and Wales within 24 hours. They raise more than £1,600 for the Children’s Charity World Vision.

100 years after the Battle of the Somme, a group of history students visits the battlefields that hosted this bloody conflict. The boys visit sites such as Ypres, Beaumont Hamel, The Vimy Ridge, and the Ring of Remembrance memorial. In a poignant gesture, they lay a wreath at the Menin Gate – remembering the 221 Old Shirburnians who died in the Great War. Overcast skies do nothing to dampen the spirit at the Fourth Annual Parents’ and Sons’ Clay Shooting Competition. Tom Pope (5m) wins the boys’ trophy and the high gun, with Roger Clough claiming the parents’ title. Meanwhile the Pope family claims victory in the parent and son contest.

Sherborne’s CCF cadets take part in their annual field trips. The Royal Navy cadets visit the Britannia Royal Naval College and HMS Raleigh, while the Army and Royal Marines cadets are deployed to a wet and windy Mid-Wales. While the naval cadets practise sailing, powerboating and swinging on low-ropes, their Army counterparts undertake live and blank firing, laser-tag, and nocturnal escape and evasion exercises.

Ollie Dixon (3g) wins the Patterson Recitation Cup, with an impressive recital from memory of Robert Hayden’s Those Winter Sundays.

Alan Turing’s nephew, Sir Dermot Turing (h 78), unveils a plaque at the School in his uncle’s honour. He also gives a fascinating talk on Alan’s life, based on his recent book, Prof: Alan Turing Decoded.

Review

2015-16:

July The School celebrates success at the 2016 Itchenor Schools’ Sailing Championships. Ben Childerley and Nick Burt (5f) retain the 420 Class Championship, with Harry Guy (L6b) and Tima Malikov (4f) coming second. Meanwhile, Ben Poe (U6d) and Ollie Dudgeon (L6d) achieve seventh place in the highly competitive Firefly Class.

Shirburnians take part in a mini-music festival as part of the 2016 Commem celebrations.

Highlights include performances from this year’s School leavers, the Swing Band, the Barbershop Group, the Wind Band, the Concert Orchestra, and the Close Harmony group.

Sherborne’s Swing Band heads for sunnier climes, on a tour to Barbados. They perform at venues including the Hilton Hotel, the Almond Beach Resort, the Ocean Two Resort, and the renowned Frank Collymore Hall.

CCF cadets take part in a summer camp in Norway’s beautiful Setesdal Valley. Their activities include hiking through the mountains, canoeing down a fjord, learning bushcraft skills, and catching fish to supplement their evening meals. The boys also visit the Commonwealth War Graves of six allied servicemen, killed when their aircraft was shot down over the fjord in 1941.

August A group of 16 boys eschews the traditional summer holiday pastime of relaxing on a beach in favour of a three-week adventure in Bolivia. They work on an urban community project to build greenhouses for disadvantaged families and undertake a five-day trek on the TransCordillera, summiting Mount Tarija along the way. A final few days in the tourist resort of Copacabana gives the boys a chance to reflect on their experience – and they finally get to spend some time on the beach.

Sherborne’s musicians continue to impress, with two more boys gaining Associate of Trinity College, London (ATCL) Diplomas. Harry Reynolds (U6e) gains a Distinction for his clarinet Diploma, and Douglas Mak (L6c) receives outstanding marks for his mastery of the saxophone.

Publication of the year’s A Level results brings good news for the school and its pupils.

51 per cent are graded at A* or A, setting a new school record. More than a quarter of the year group score straight A* and A grades, with Noah Chillingworth (m), Harry Reynolds (e), Max Vinycomb (f) and Olive Rose (f) all achieving at least three A*s. Meanwhile, Chris Bocz (f), Charles Howard (c), Edward Pyman (e), Oliver Rose (f) and Archie Wing (e) secure their places at Oxbridge.

Following record-breaking A Level results, boys celebrate with the School’s best ever GCSE results. 28% of the year group awarded ten or more A* and A grades, 33% of papers graded A*; 66.8% A* and A; and 89% A* to B.

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A Sequence of Poems The following sequence of poems is the winning entry for the Sir John Weston poetry prize. It is by Hugh Johnson (U6e), whose work during his time at the School has earnt him the Holiday Prize for writing.

THE LIFE OF SIGMUND AND MARY

GREY BAKED TOWN I saw her first in a coffee shop window

We planned a thousand trips abroad

Every Saturday afternoon

With a scowl across her brow

But always stayed right here.

We’d drink tea by the pine

And she caught my eye, disinterested

We heard the world in jazz and song

All but silent for a while

At this man across the town

We played all day and night

So I could know you’re mine.

She took me to a theatre show

In bars we’d kiss and drink and smoke

It was never much more than that

About some dying man

Until the mornings light.

No flowers or candy hearts

I didn’t remember a single line

But then we were forced to grow,

But it was good enough for me

Because I held her hand.

To act an age more dull

A simple piece of art.

We walked down by the river’s edge

But you didn’t mind, still moseying,

It was strange that you should pass

Underneath a cloudy moon

Ironic through the lull.

Before I said goodbye

We shared a kiss that seemed amiss

My son was born in a ward

Strange that such a simple word

A flicker on the flume.

A light was flickering

Is said after you die.

I asked her for her hand in marriage

I hummed a tune to his small ears

My cottage is smaller than it was

On that Christmas eve

Because I could never sing.

In that grey-baked town

And in the morn a snowy dawn

I got a job and a house

I think of a girl in a coffee shop

Blank canvass for our dreams

In some grey-baked town

With a scowl upon her brow

She gave me a poets works

And she seemed enclosed again

And with my morning whiskey

With a cowboy hat

Like her wedding gown

I read my obituary

She laughed that I had only got her

Ten years passed until I took her

Three lines long seems short to some

A tattered ‘welcome’ mat.

Down to the town’s stream

But it was good enough for me.

Years went in blurred fancy

Where I cast a word upon the water

As we trekked within our sphere

To sew up all our seams.

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FIRST ENCOUNTERS It’s hard to open I find Like trying to summarise See I make bad impressions Anxiety and depression Don’t judge my stuttered first line.

You didn’t hear me at first Sipped coffee before I burst ‘Hello my name is Sigmund’ Looked up as your lips bend A smile to quench aromas thirst.

She said her name was Mary

GOOD MORNING, DREAMER

And that her day was glum

She gets up every Sunday morning

She asked me if time was scary I stammered, deaf and dumb.

She rambled like a typewriter With a cynic at its leash But I pushed through like a fighter Till she laughed, set fret at peace.

‘Is there any magic in this life’ She asked with her pursed lips.

I said ‘it can shine forth through strife, Like coral on a sunken ship.

The world is all a fairy-tale But facts replace the myth.’

She said that the milk tasted stale Expired, November fifth.

At exactly five past nine, And she will walk to the open window To watch for worldly signs She stares at birds caught in the breeze To the cars that swim on by She hears the trees call her name And I think that she might fly.

Come back to bed and we will talk About New York in snow While people roll past our open window And the buses go to and fro.

I always love her most of all When she’s reading in the morn A face of hope until the book closes And alas, the dreams are gone.

But let us sit on our small bed With a sheet around your waist And breath out mist into the air From pine-fog we can taste, You will read and I will smile As I sip at my green tea She dreams for us both when I’m awake So fly, my dear Mary.

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The Writers’ Room

Head of English Rebecca de Pelet reports on

a clandestine gathering of fledgling writers

Salon

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SALON (NOUN); the

elegantly furnished reception room of a Parisian lady of fashion, hence a reunion of notabilities at the house of such a lady; also a similar gathering in other capitals.

It wasn’t until I moved to Somerset from London 11 years ago that I fully appreciated that I had married into a clan. A French clan.

Although I had already been granted the title of Comtesse Louis de Pelet on marrying my husband, I had never given it much thought, other than noting how useful it was for booking hotel rooms.

What I had already given some thought to was the notion of a salon. Ever since having read Frances Burney’s journal of her time with the court of King George III and Queen Charlotte as “Keeper of the Robes”, and of Lady Gregory’s soirées with W. B. Yeats and his chums, I had harboured a desire to host a society where people could meet and share their work. But it wasn’t until I became Head of English here at Sherborne, nine years ago, that I began to see the potential in both my parents-inlaws’ very French drawing room and, more importantly, in the work of the young men I was teaching.

Salon takes place roughly four times a year and I host a group of about 15 Sixth Formers spending the evening off-site at my parents-

in-laws’ home. They sit by the fire and either read their own work aloud or listen to the work of others.

It is, by necessity, a rather clandestine meeting in that many writers, and particularly young male writers, are notoriously private. Indeed every year it takes me some time to learn who they are and I’m sure there are some that I never know about. By asking and listening and gently encouraging, I slowly come to discover who in the Sixth Form is writing and I formally invite them to attend. Then I set about inviting people to listen to them. The meetings have little to do with A level English and everything to do with recruiting those boys who have a desire, even perhaps only a nascent one, to write, to listen, and to appreciate good writing.

Going public about your writing is still a challenge for some at Sherborne. Only recently a writer insisted on being anonymous, although on receiving an overwhelmingly warm reception to his work when it was read by someone else, he came clean in the next meeting. But boys still often present me with their work on tightly folded-up sheets of A4 in exchanges redolent of dope deals.

Nevertheless, every time Salon meets a kind of alchemy makes for some of the most wonderful evenings I have experienced in my life. It is the most extraordinary privilege to listen to what are often the first steps of young writers.

During the last eight years, boys have read poems, short stories, comedy sketches, film scripts, lyrics, speeches, translations, extracts from novels and plays, autobiographical pieces, essays and even some pages from an already published work of graphic fiction. All written by them.

Members of staff have had their turn, too; including Dr Wild, Mr Winter, Mr Rogerson (who, in one of the very highest points of Salon’s history, read from his own searing translation of Primo Levi) and Mr Payne, who has read his extraordinarily poised and modest work at every one of our meetings.

So yes, Salon is kind of French and kind of elegant. But more importantly it’s about the boys.

Boys who write and boys who care about good writing.

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There you are again.

Quietly, Sliding Out Of Your Hole.

I knew it was only a matter of time, Before you’d come back.

What woke you up?

Was it the sound of rain?

Or have the fallen leaves Blown into your hole?

The smell of mud The cry of the storm What was is it That brought you back out?

You’re now bigger, longer, stronger than before.

Maybe this time you’ll win.

Like the last visit; You

The Snake

Crawl Up My

Alex J. Warren (L6g)

Leg. Wrap Around My Chest Bite Into My Neck.

But quickly.

Unlike the last attempt, When you gave me, Too much time.

When you tired yourself out.

This time Do it quickly.

Paralyze My Body Crush My Lungs Poison My Blood.

Turn my breath In, To, Air…

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• Giles Cook (5g)

Music Sherborne was recently named as the UK’s number one school for music. But even that accolade doesn’t do justice to the variety of opportunities available here…

There have been no fewer than a remarkable 76 concerts this year – four of them within just days of the Autumn Term starting. The new Third Form proved to be a particularly musical one with a record number of instrumentalists and, with Choir membership swelling at peak to 106, the statistics for musical involvement have never been higher.

JAMES HENDERSON

DIRECTOR OF MUSIC

The Wind Band, not far short of the Choir in its magnitude, achieved a Gold Award in the National Concert Band Festival in November under the able directorship of Andy Fawbert, Head of Brass, and Clare Jackson, Head of Woodwind. Meanwhile, five individuals took ATCL diplomas – Charlie Smith (5g) flute, and Ally Collins (L6f) piano, who achieved Distinctions, Theo Beeny (U6c) french horn, Harry Reynolds (U6e) clarinet and Douglas Mak (L6c) saxophone.

A very talented Third Form Wind Quintet achieved a ‘highly commended’ in the MidSomerset Festival in Bath – George Jefferson (3e), Nathanael Fagerson (3c), Cassian Blackburn-Enever (3e), Benedict Mercer (3b) and George Lewis (3d) – and the impressive Senior Piano Trio – Ally Collins (L6f), Matthew Cann (L6e) and Finnbar Blakey (L6a) – won First Prize in the same competition.

The Chamber Choir sang Choral Evensongs in Salisbury Cathedral, with five ex-Salisbury choristers in its ranks, and in Exeter College, Oxford. There was also a plethora of Grade 8 exams throughout the year, with many of them resulting in Distinctions for our students.

Wells Cathedral was the venue for this year’s Choral Society performance of Handel’s Messiah, where some 60 boys joined forces with pupils from Sherborne Girls and members of the local community to give a memorable performance of a work that has been performed by Sherborne just five times in the last 40 years. Next year’s concert (Berlioz Te Deum) is in the Poole Lighthouse, because audience numbers mean we have outgrown the Abbey.

The hard-fought competition for the prestigious Halliday Cup for pianists, organists and singers, adjudicated by international concert pianist, Philip Fowke,

have been no fewer “ There than a remarkable 76 concerts this year – four of them within just days of the Autumn Term starting.

“

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20 | was won by Music Scholar Josh Cook (3f). This is the first time it has been won by someone so young. The winning singers were Bently Creswell (4a) and Finnbar Blakey, and Henry Delamain (U6c), usually known for his outstanding Grade Eight flute playing, won the organ category. Sam MacDonald (5c) and Ally Collins came out on top in the piano.

The 2016 Patrick Shelley Music Competition for Advanced Instrumentalists, adjudicated by composer and conductor Paul Drayton, was of a remarkable quality. The winners were Ally Collins, piano, Charlie Smith, woodwind, Theo Beeny, brass, Jack Miller (U6a), singing, and Freddie Knott (L6m), strings. Peter Folkes (5a) won the overall competition for his performances in four different disciplines: piano, voice, clarinet and saxophone.

Commemoration 2016 Since 2010 – the year that the Music School opened – the music during Commem. has evolved into something of a mini music festival. The Leavers’ Concert started things off on the Thursday evening, and Alex Stagg (U6f) shone as a singer who retires as Head of Choir and leaves very big shoes to fill.

Next on the programme of events came Music for a Summer’s Afternoon – small ensembles, duos, chamber music groups and Barbershop – this year again held in the Tindall Recital Hall. This was followed by the Gala Concert during the evening, involving the School’s larger ensembles. Highlights this year included the Chamber Orchestra’s Brandenburg Concert No. 5 with Edward Pyman (U6e) on violin, Henry Delamain (U6c) and Charlie Smith (5g) playing flute and Edward Smith (U6c) on ‘cello, as well as the

Jazz Jazz has enjoyed a huge resurgence in recent years, with the Swing Band riding the crest of the wave. Talented bass player Hamish Woodland (U6f), joining backline forces with Charlie Smith (5g) on guitar, exceptional drummer Billy Slim (5m) and extraordinarily versatile pianist Ally Collins (L6f), provided the framework for a Swing Band which included spectacular contributions from leavers Alex Stagg (U6f) on the trumpet and Jimmy Fisher (U6m) on the tenor saxophone.

newly formed Radio Orchestra performing

In the course of the year, there were three Dinner and Jazz

standards by Henry Mancini, Nelson Riddle

occasions, with superb catering from Adrian Williams and his

and Frank Sinatra with vocalists Jack Miller

team, and two charity concerts. The culmination of it all was the

(U6a) and Jacob Hughes-Hallett (U6a).

Swing Band’s Barbados Tour (the third in four years) in July,

The Jazz Tea in Abbey Grange garden was also very popular among Leavers and their

where Shirburnians impressed audiences with their kindness and hospitality as much as with their wonderful jazz.

parents. And, of course, there was music in the

A similar but smaller line-up to the Swing Band, with William

Abbey and the Swing Band in the Courts

Ashley Miller (U6c) on the bass and Ollie Dudgeon (L6d) on the

immediately prior to the prize-giving

drums, also impressed audiences throughout the year, not least

ceremony.

at the Commem Jazz Tea.

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Strings and Charity Work The opportunity for Grade Eight

School in Bristol. Through a series of

been and it was very good to feel

candidates to work with London-

fundraising events – including

that we had made a small difference

based coach Abigail Dance was

selling a large number of ‘Krispy

to the lives of others through our

provided early in the year during an

Kreme’ doughnuts in the rain! – it

music-making.

inspiring Sunday masterclass.

became possible to invite 43 of the

Violinists Matthew Cann (L6e) and

primary school children to a day of

On a more local basis, a group of

Jamie Hewitt (L6a), together with

enjoyable and varied musical events

Sixth Form musicians showcased

‘cellists Finnbar Blakey (L6a) and

and joint performances in the Music

their instruments to members of

Freddie Knott (L6m), worked on

School.

Sherborne Pre-Prep in the Tindall Recital Hall, and then gave each

their major solo repertoire ahead of their examinations, discussed

For some of the children, this was

child the opportunity to try out one

interpretive and technical detail, and

their first time travelling on a coach,

of the instruments demonstrated. I

were coached with the Chamber

and the first time they had left their

believe that the boys proved that

Orchestra in preparation for a

local area. The day included a tour

they are not only excellent musicians

Christmas performance of one of

of the town and Abbey that was

but also wonderful music

Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos.

accompanied by an interactive quiz.

ambassadors with a natural gift for

Such masterclass occasions provide

relating to younger children. It is Both schools learnt much from this

particularly gratifying, then, to hear

joint venture and so in June the

that Old Shirburnian violinist/viola

same four Shirburnians and I spent a

player Alfie Heath (a 07), now

A project of particular poignancy

day in Bristol on a return visit,

working at PwC, has set up his own

was the involvement of four

volunteering with the music

amateur orchestra in London.

musicians on the Duke of Edinburgh

programme at the primary school

scheme – Joss Nelson (5e), Henry

and taking with us a gift of four small

Sarah Drury

Jones (5g), Olly Minchin (5g) and

violins and other musical accessories

Head of Strings

Benj Miller (5f) – in setting up a

paid for by the fundraising activities.

music charity project with Ilminster

Ilminster teachers commented on

Avenue E-Act Academy Primary

how helpful the Shirburnians had

students with an unrivalled preparation for the future.

22 |

88 mechanical keys and only 10 fingers - the pianist’s challenge!

Some of the greatest music ever written has been for the piano, or at least depends upon the piano for its effectiveness. Just think of the sonatas of Beethoven, Schubert, Prokofiev and Liszt, the complete oeuvre of Chopin, and the preludes of Debussy. And that’s not even to mention all the concertos and chamber music that rely on the piano for their overall sound.

How can the piano, the mechanical instrument that it is, excite the musical intellect or reduce the listener to tears? That is the challenge to which Sherborne’s

The Lent term saw two wonderful

pianists rise.

achievements. Douglas Mak (L6c)

It says much about the future of piano playing at Sherborne that the new pianists in the Third Form were keen to show off their talents in the three piano recitals that took place in Cheap Street Church this year.

Josh Cook (3f), Nathanael Fagerson (3c) and George Jefferson (3e) played in two of the three. Of their performances, particularly memorable was the clarity of Josh’s Scarlatti Sonata, the delicacy of finger-work in Nathanael’s performance of an Allegro by Krebs and George’s poetic account of a Chopin’s Mazurka in G minor.

Another to have played twice was Will Thorne (5e) who used the opportunity to air his Grade Five pieces. He subsequently received a high distinction in his examination.

Not to be outdone by the younger players, Alexander Stagg (U6f) made his surprise debut at the piano in this concert series in his final term at Sherborne, playing Esquise by Glière.

won the Sherborne Young Musician Competition for the second time: his performance of Rachmaninoff’s virtuoso transcription of Kreisler’s Liebeslied was very impressive, capturing the facile, saloon nature of the original coupled with an effortless mastery of Rachmaninoff’s highly complex and chromatic piano writing. By the end of term we also had the news that Ally Collins (L6f) had been awarded a distinction for his ATCL diploma examination playing Beethoven, Schubert and Brahms.

Benjamin Davey Head of Keyboard Assistant Director of Music

| 23

Unplugged, RocSoc and DJSoc In November, the first of two Unplugged events saw collaborative music-making with Sherborne Girls and Leweston to a mixed audience from all three schools. Guitarist and Head Boy, William Vitali (U6f), delighted the audience with his version of the Foo Fighters Everlong while the duet of vocalist/trumpeter Alex Stagg (U6f) and pianist Jacob Hughes-Hallett (U6a) was one of the night’s many highlights.

Ten bands played in the BSR for the first of the three RocSoc Live evenings with Henry Harding (U6a), Head of RocSoc, joining Billy Slim (5m) and Charlie Smith (5g) for a particularly impressive set that got the crowd ready for DJ’s James Garrow (5e) and Ben Clark (L6c).

In March, the second RocSoc concert was held with a variety of new bands starting throughout the year, including a rock band from Harper House that played a furiously energetic set, led by guitarist Hector Lea (5d). Guitarists Benedict Pugsley (L6d) and Thomas Sherratt (L6d) finished the night with their band playing songs from Muse, while lead vocalist, Jordan Berry (5a), amazed the crowd with his stunning vocal range.

The annual Concert in the Courts in May saw more than 800 boys and girls from five different schools attend. The weather throughout the day was brilliant as the School House rock band started their set, playing songs by Green Day and The Kinks. Once again Will Vitali (U6f) proved that his stamina and expertise on the guitar could whip up the crowd. Joining him was James Hague (L6f) playing bass on a mix of rock and rap songs.

Their set was quickly followed by another band led by vocalist Holy Serukenya (U6 SG) and her brother, Hosanna Serukenya (4c) on bass.

Finishing the night were the Upper Sixth band formed of guitarists Jack Miller (U6a) and Henry Harding (U6a), William Ashley Miller (U6c) on bass and drummer Albert O’Rourke (U6m) who played a variety of crowd-pleasing songs, including one by Old Shirburnian Chris Martin (m 95) from Coldplay.

The number of Shirburnians who compose and perform electronic music has considerably expanded with the new ‘DJSoc’ hosting 15 Saturday-night discos throughout the year. DJ James Garrow expanded his fan base by playing most of the discos this year while Kit Delamain (L6c) and Ben Clark provided music for the Upper Sixth Form JCR

‘

Stick nights. The junior school saw a new group of young DJ’s join DJSoc: Daniel Berry (4a), Jasper de Pelet (4e), Matthew Tse (4e) and Jack James (4d) provided music for three discos towards the end of Trinity Term, playing a mix of progressive house, trap music and electro house. End

Mike Lehnert Master of Music Technology and Rock/Pop

24 |

The Ten Tors Challenge This year, Sherborne entered two teams into the Ten Tors Challenge: one from Lyon House, and the other from the CCF. Over the course of the weekend, as

by 8pm. The Lyon team started well,

the Team Managers waited

but had slowed up by lunchtime.

anxiously for news of their teams’

This kept the staff back in

progress, they were introduced to a

Okehampton on edge: was the

professor from the University of

team making good enough

Oxford’s Institute of Cognitive and

progress to reach the finish line in

Evolutionary Anthropology. At next

time on Sunday? But they needn’t

year’s event, the professor intends

have worried. The Lyon House boys

to conduct research on how working

battled through wind and high

as a group affects one’s ability to

temperatures to arrive at their sixth

deal with pain and suffering. The

Tor, where they set up camp for the

2016 Sherborne teams may already

night.

have some answers…

On Sunday, the teams were up early.

Both the CCF and Lyon House

The boys forced each other out of

teams set off in good spirits and –

their sleeping bags, had breakfast,

not that they’d admit it – with some

packed away, and started walking

nervousness: rucksacks were

by 6am. The CCF team continued to

adjusted unnecessarily, and final

make very good progress through

questions posed to the staff about

their remaining checkpoints. They

how to use the satellite trackers.

crossed the finish line at 1pm, led

They began their journey with 400

by their captain Tom Stagnetto (4a)

other teams of six young people;

through the huge crowds that had

walking for 13 hours on the first day.

amassed to clap the teams home.

What kept them going? As one

The CCF team moved at a

team member said, “I couldn’t have

consistently good pace throughout,

done it without the team, Sir, I’d

and reached their seventh Tor

have given up”.

| 25

I COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT

WITHOUT THE TEAM, SIR, I’D HAVE GIVEN UP.

“

“

The Lyon team slowly but surely edged closer to their

checkpoints, the effects of the heat, the horribly

goal, but had little time to spare. Staff made and re-

blistered feet, physical exhaustion and painful chafing.

made calculations, as they checked the ‘Information

But the staff were proud, very proud, of their teams. The

Hanger’ once again. Could the team make it? Why

boys could have given up. They could have dropped

hadn’t they made another Tor? Phones were kept on

those who were struggling the most, and carried on. But

loud, awaiting a call from the Army’s ‘Fallout Cell’ – a

they didn’t. I had told them before they left that I

refuge for those who have to drop out. But the call

wanted them to cross the line as a complete team, and

never came. And then another time appeared on the

preferred them to be five minutes late as a team of six

board, and everyone could breathe again. For now.

than five hours early with members missing. The Lyon

This pattern continued through the afternoon, but as the times kept on appearing, hope began to grow.

team possibly took the timing a little too much to heart – but they made it!

Perhaps they could just do it. With only 15 teams left on

When one of the Lyon team started to suffer from heat

the Moor, the crowds had gone home. But at last the

stroke and had no water left, the captain had taken

Lyon team appeared – finishing with only 10 minutes to

water from everyone else’s water bottle, filled up the

spare. They crossed the line as a complete team, with

empty one and marked on it a series of lines – showing

team leader Will Bond (4b) in front carrying someone

the suffering team member how much to drink at 10-

else’s tent under his arm.

minute intervals. That’s teamwork and leadership. That is

“How was it?” received immediate replies of, “I’m never coming here ever again!” and, “when can I have that free pasty?” The walk to the medal presentation

what the Ten Tors is about. And that is perhaps part of an answer for the professor.

Well done to them all.

area, cookhouse and back to the bus was a painful one.

The boys recounted stories that explained the slow

Nicholas Scorer

The CCF Team - Team Leader: Thomas Stagnetto (4a) . Hunter Strand (4b) . Johnny Stanford (4c) Hector Fiennes (4a) . Sam Lawson Johnston (4b) . Archie Fairclough Wood (4m) The Lyon Team - Team Leader: William Bond (4b) . Harry Case (4g) . Maurice Inigo-Jones (4g) Christian Jones (4g) . Oliver Soanes (4g) . Archie Tennant (4d)

26 |

EXPLORING NEW DEPTHS

Tim Filtness, introduces scuba diving to the boys…

As one of the more exciting sports around, scuba diving requires a rigid theory and practical exam.

That is why Will Barker (4m), Ben Carter-Savigear (4d), brothers Tom (5d) and Ollie (L6d)

Dudgeon, Patrick MacDonald

(L6d), Alex McGinty (4f), Malhaar

Shah (4a) and William Shelley (5c) all braved the chilly waters of

Vobster Quay to complete their PADI Open Water course this academic year.

Vobster is the Somerset village where the racing driver Jenson Button was brought up. The pools in which scuba diving is practised constitute part of the flooded coal mines – many of which supply the iron works of James Fussell, who

skills, such as removing and

chance to explore submerged

replacing a mask, hovering, and

motor-cruisers, wheelhouses and a

simulating an out-of-air emergency.

concrete-lined tunnel. The boys

The boys successfully descended

concerned all performed very well,

12 metres to the upper quarry

as did Mr Lehnert and Mr Crouch,

system.

floor, and had fun navigating the

who joined the group in becoming

‘Crushing Works’ – a towering

fully-fledged divers!

Initially, the candidates had to

structure the size of a two-storey

promoted Britain’s early canal

undergo a rigorous theory exam, to ensure safety at all times. They then proceeded to five increasingly demanding pool dives in an openwater environment. These involved a range of challenging underwater

house – and exploring a wrecked commercial aeroplane.

Vobster Quay is a popular spot for certified scuba divers, with 36 acres of fresh water diving in depths of up to 36 metres. It also offers the

| 27 The summit is empty; shrouded in a swirling, disorientating smog; clouding sight and mind. The ghostly outline of the cairn, which should be standing bold against the skyline, is a pale grey silhouette.

In this gloom, even the orange of our “World Vision” tee shirts, thrown over the top of fleeces and waterproofs for the summit photograph, is as monochrome as the grey world we have entered. Noone wants to stay in this inhospitable

On Top of the World The highest mountains of England, Scotland and Wales prove no match for Sherborne’s Three Peaks

place; which is odd, after we have given

participants, who scale them in style – and all for a

so much time and expended so much

good cause.

energy to arrive here.

We’ve trained and trudged the last hours and days wondering whether we can achieve our goal. Each one of us has secretly questioned: Am I fit enough? Will the weather hold? Is the route navigable?

Are the logistics manageable?

Uncertainty and hope flood our thoughts and swirl within our minds like the mists around the summit.

The Three Peaks Challenge (climbing the three highest mountains of England, Scotland and Wales) is a demanding physical, logistical and mental feat. It was one we had undertaken to raise money for, and create a greater awareness of, the work of World Vision: a charity “working to bring real hope to millions of children in the world’s hardest places”.

Our moments in the mists pale into insignificance by comparison with those children whose lives are stuck in a world where there is no hope, and uncertainty is permanent. Our real purpose in ascending the Three Peaks was to bring a chink of light, a ray of hope, to those who are far less fortunate than us.

Reflecting on the experience, Fin Purchase (L6b) said, “The trip was completely worthwhile. Tackling the summit via scrambling made the experience even more special, and something I would strongly recommend.”

Simon Tremewan

28 |

DofE

Going for Gold ...

LAURIE PHIPPARD REVIEWS THE RECORD-BREAKING YEAR

| 29

The GOLD Award The Sherborne Gold Award team made history this year. It was the

The BRONZE Award

The SILVER Award

first time in 17 years that a team

A high level of enthusiasm has

Deviating from the standard type

Edinburgh Gold Award whilst still

characterised Third Form participation in this year’s Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. Over half the year group took part, with 10 teams of boys out on training exercises, practice trips and qualifying expeditions – generally enjoying adventure and fun in great weather.

Giving back to the local community is a major theme of the Award. Some Third Form boys have worked twice weekly as Chapel Sidesmen in the Abbey, while others will do so during the next academic year. Lower Covey Forest School has been particularly grateful for the digging, planting and fenceconstruction carried out by teams of Fourth Form boys this year.

As the year drew to a close, almost 30 Fourth Form boys received their Bronze Award – many having already signed up for Silver in the next academic year.

A few Fourth Form boys have undertaken some particularly interesting, and quite individual, volunteering tasks this year. For example, Jack James (4d) worked as the official School photographer, and Malhaar Shah (4a) started a film club. It is inspirational to see individual ambition working for the School community in this way.

of exercise, certain Fourth Form Silver Award expeditions this year have showcased ingenious ideas.

A group of boys canoed twice in Dartmoor, and will have the opportunity of doing so again on the River Wye in the autumn.

Another group sailed out of Poole on the Delphia 4 Vecindis Secundis, an eight-berth yacht, hoisting their sails and navigating their way along the picturesque Dorset coastline.

Meanwhile, Fifth Form boys were able to complete the Silver Award that they had started the previous academic year. Many were employed as volunteers on the Stourhead Estate, while others trained young school groups within the town of Sherborne itself. In addition, a merry band of musical volunteers raised funds for a music-themed day out in Sherborne for young disadvantaged children. Other boys have been campaigning through the Amnesty International Group on issues such as drone strikes in Syria and regimes complicit in torture. And one group learnt first-hand about the British legal system by visiting the London Supreme Court, where they viewed a case involving alleged complicity in torture by the United Kingdom.

had completed their Duke of here at Sherborne.

For this achievement, congratulations go to Rory Coughlan (U6e), Henry Delamain (U6c), Charles Morris (U6a), Ben Poe (U6d), Harry Reynolds (U6e) and Archie Swann (U6b). Credit must also go to James Thorne (U6e), who is due to complete his Gold this summer.

Persevering strongly this year, two teams of Gold Award participants have trained in mountainous areas such as the Lake District, Dartmoor and the Brecon Beacons.

“I feel privileged to have seen Sherborne boys and staff at their best, out in wild weather and terrain. There has been superb teamwork, and tremendous spirit and daring, as boys have come together to meet with new challenges and prevail as a team.

Thank you to all the staff and boys involved in the Duke of Edinburgh Award over the last few years. It has been a particularly rewarding and enjoyable few years for me personally. Particular thanks this year go to Miss Southall, Mr Ewart-Smith, Mr O’Donnell, Mr Warren, Mrs Drury and the Reverend Mercer. The best of luck also to Mr Dillow, who becomes the Duke of Edinburgh co-ordinator.”

30 |

Smiling in the face of adversity:

MY TIME in the CCF

Rory Coughlan (U6e) reflects on the highs and lows of his career in Sherborne’s Combined Cadet Force The CCF is not the most normal of institutions. There is certainly some peculiarity attached to

handing a teenage boy a rifle and a full magazine, and sending him off in the direction of a field.

Yet the instruction I have received and the experiences I have had through the CCF have taught

me a lot, and built my character immensely. Thanks to the CCF, I have tried my hand at activities that I would never otherwise have had the opportunity to experience . Naturally, some of these have been more appealing than others.

I tried surfing for the first time while on a CCF summer camp in Cornwall, and it’s certainly an activity that I intend to repeat. Although my original ideas of powering through waves looking like the cast of Point Break were swiftly put to rest, I and everyone else had a proper laugh, and we all trundled up the beach at the end of the day with smiles on our faces.

A less agreeable experience involved participating in the Royal Marines’ infamous endurance course, at their training centre in Lympstone.

The run commenced with the ‘sheep dip’: a submerged tunnel, chilled by Mother Nature, that your teammates manhandle you through. This was then followed by a three-

| 31

mile sprint up hills, and through partially submerged Smartie tubes.

By the end of the challenge we were muddy, soaked to the bone, and had steam evaporating from our bodies.

But, as with the surfing, we emerged with massive grins on our dishevelled faces.

It is this ability to laugh in the face of adversity that defines the CCF, and it’s a skill that can only be learnt the hard way. This was epitomised when, after an abysmal attempt at a section attack on Woodbury Common, the Royal Marines told us not to be so ‘Para Reg.’ in our attack.

demonstrated in dealing with us. It

Instead of breaking down in tears, as

showed me how they had accepted

we saw some of the other teams do,

their weaknesses and used our

we simply broke down in laughter.

strengths to counter them; how they

Through these various experiences, I

motivated us to do tasks that we had

have certainly grown as a person and

most vehemently opposed (like

learnt what it means to lead. Before

walking to our harbour areas when

joining the CCF my idea of

the Army section was driven); and

leadership was a basic

how they had hidden their fatigue

understanding of a hierarchical

and discomfort when walking miles

structure, experienced in the

over typically Welsh terrain, with

classroom. The teacher knows best

loaded rucksacks, in ‘character-

because of their elevated position –

building’ weather.

how hard could leading people be?

It was only after I joined the CCF as a

It was only when I was in their shoes

Fourth Former that the fullness and

that I truly respected what they had

complexities of command really

done. This is a quality that, despite

struck me. Here the leader didn’t

all the various character-building

always know best, his command was

opportunities available at School, is

not always willing to follow his orders

most evident in those who have

and, worst of all, sometimes he

participated in CCF.

didn’t want to do what he was being told to do.

I therefore leave School with only fond memories of the CCF, and

When faced with the same issues

would highly recommend it to

two years later, I realised the true

anyone.

skill that our NCOs had

32 |

| 33

FINDING YOUR NICHE Benedict Mercer (3b) found the confidence to be himself at Sherborne.

Here, he shares his reflections.

Fear can be a strange thing. When I first came to Sherborne, one of my greatest fears was not fitting in.

My anxiety was due to the fact that, unlike the stereotypical 13-year-old schoolboy, I preferred listening to Mozart to being beaten around on cold, muddy and wet rugby pitches in torrential rain. I believe that Mozart, along with others of his kind, enables you to think on a larger scale, and revitalises you with the energy you need for life. On the other hand, I have never liked or understood the concept of rugby – to me, it is brute force and pain.

As a result, I was elated to discover that, when half-term

evening stalk to try to get the roebuck in the bottom field.

came, I was allowed to choose from a whole range of

Have you ever really enjoyed watching Great British Railway

different (less painful) sports ranging from shooting to

Journeys? Would it not be better to find solitude, with the

sailing. This wide variety of sports included some I had never

chance of a delicious wild salmon and fresh air to clear the

played before, and my eye was particularly drawn to the

mind?

word Fives on the list. I had heard many stories about how, many years ago now, my father used to play for the 1st Fives Team at Uppingham. At last, I had a chance to see what this sport was all about. So I joined the team, and was immediately relieved to discover that a few of my friends, for more or less the same reason, had also decided to join.

One more thing that concerned me was my free-time activities: they simply did not cohere with those of many of my contemporaries. Computer games, ‘YouTubing’, and other forms of electronic recreation were commonplace in my House. I, on the other hand, enjoyed nothing more than an afternoon’s salmon-fishing on the riverbank, or an

After just a few days at Sherborne, though, when everyone had overcome their shyness, I realised that my fears were unfounded. Here, there is a very diverse mix of people, and everyone is encouraged to be himself.

It is fulfilling to be part of a rich, distinct community, where we all enjoy life together. It is rewarding to be different in your ambitions, your hopes and your interests; to stand up for what you enjoy, and allow yourself to live life to the full.

All of this enables us to be ourselves, and to achieve our ambitions – whatever they may be.

34 |

STANDI N G

UP FOR

The School’s Amnesty International movement has been more active than ever this year, with education,

campaigning, and a visit to the Supreme Court.

When Richard Warren left Sherborne last year, the Assistant Chaplain, Reverend Nicholas Mercer, took over the running of Amnesty International at the School. In doing so, he ensured

Sherborne’s

continuing

support of a global movement of more than seven million people, across 150 countries, campaigning to end Human Rights abuses.

We began the term by considering what

Human

Rights

are,

and

examined the 15 Articles in the European Convention on Human Rights/the Human Rights Act 1998.

This gave us a greater understanding of the Human Rights that we are privileged to enjoy in this country, and made us realise that we were ignorant of a large number of them – along, indeed, with much of the population. Our right to a fair trial, privacy, to found a family, freedom of expression and religion are all

violation of Article 2 of the Human

Rights. We were delighted when the

matters we daily take for granted.

Rights Act (Right to Life). We wrote

Joint Committee on Human Rights

Who, we wondered, could possibly

to

reached a similar conclusion that the

object to these rights?

Honourable Oliver Letwin MP, who

our

local

MP,

the

Right

legality was not clear.

kindly provided us with the legal After learning about the Human

justification from the House of

We then looked at Article 3 of the

Rights Act, we began to campaign to

Commons library. We were not,

Convention

end abuses. We started by looking at

however,

the legality of drone strikes in Syria in

justification.

convinced

against

the

Torture), and possible complicity in

Mercer

rendition and torture by the UK

2015, which the Government had

argued the case on Newsnight, as

security services. After reading an

described as “a new departure”, and

well as making written submissions

article by a former MI5 agent about

which we thought could be in

to the Joint Committee on Human

UK security services at Guantanamo

Reverend

by

(Prohibition

| 35

HUMANIT Y

Bay, we wrote to Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller – the

and the compatibility of the guidelines with the UN

then head of MI5 – to ask what she knew about the

Convention against torture and the Human Rights Act.

allegations. Only on the third time of writing did we receive a reply, in which Dame Manningham-Buller

We have been very busy, and it has been a fantastic two

explained that she could not help us any further, as the

terms. We ended the academic year by going to Yeovil to

matter is sub judice.

watch The Eye in the Sky, starring the late Alan Rickman. It is an amazing movie that captures all the tension and

The highlight of the year was when we visited the

the emotional introspection of an officer when defending

Supreme Court in London, to watch the case of Belhaj v

the country from half a globe away.

Straw and others. The case concerns the rendition to Libya of Abdul Hakim Belhaj and his family, with alleged

Next year, we will continue to monitor the state of Human

involvement from the UK and US. We were fortunate

Rights in the world, and to stand up for those who cannot

enough to be briefed by Martin Chamberlain QC, acting

stand up for themselves. We must thank our local MP,

on behalf of Redress, as well as hearing legal submissions

Oliver Letwin, for always answering our letters so promptly

from James Eadie QC and the UN Rapporteur on torture.

and courteously.

As well as Article 3 cases, we looked at surveillance by GCHQ and the NSA in possible violation of Article 8 (Right to Privacy). We examined the case of the FBI v Apple, and the attempt by the FBI to force Apple to unlock the phone owned by the San Bernadino killers. We also wrote to David Cameron about Jeremy Corbyn’s decision to deny Jack Straw a knighthood for his part in possible rendition and torture, as well as for his alleged role in the Iraq war. Lastly, we wrote to the Home Secretary about Immunity Certificates issued to diplomatic visitors,

Vuk Mijatovic (L6a) and Reverend Nicholas Mercer

• Ed Sprague (U6e)

CONGRESS ON BRICKS

CAREERING TOWARDS A BRIGHT FUTURE John Harden introduces the Old Shirburnian Society Careers Service, and the assistance it offers to young OS. The Old Shirburnian Society has, for

experience and internships, the

planning to hold separate property

some time, offered a fully

OSS offers a CV clinic and practice

and ICT events later in the year.

integrated careers service for young

interviews. Once we are sure about

So far, these events have taken

OS.

what they are looking for, and we

various formats. We have had

feel that they are up to scratch, we

panels of experts hosting tables on

The process starts with John

introduce them to OS and parents

a rotational basis, or introducing

Harden, the OS Secretary, and Anne

already working in their area of

themselves and then taking

Macfarlane, the Alumni Officer,

interest. We are fortunate to have

questions, and straightforward

visiting them as undergraduates at

several thousand OS and parents

drinks receptions where

university, and discussing how the

worldwide, who are happy to offer

experienced OS have mingled with

OSS can help them. John and

advice and, on occasion, work

their younger counterparts. All

Anne try to visit all the popular OS

experience to our young OS.

have proved very successful, with

universities on a three-year cycle.

the youngsters gaining lots of

This year they hosted lunches or

The OSS also holds a series of

advice, ongoing mentoring and in

drinks at Newcastle, Loughborough,

events for graduates and

some cases offers of work

Oxford, Cirencester (home of the

undergraduates in a wide range of

experience or a job interview.

Royal Agricultural University) and in

careers. In the last year, we have

London.

organised events for those hoping to embark upon, or who have just

When the boys start to think

started, their careers in the law, the

seriously about finding work

City and the media. We are

?

| 37

Should we stay or should we go O

n 23 June 2016 the UK electorate voted to leave the European Union, a result that was expected by no-one.

At Sherborne School, however, the picture was an altogether different one.

The day before the Referendum, I hosted a

debate on the issue of our membership of the EU. Bently Creswell (4a) and Vuk Mijatovic (L6a) argued for the Remain camp, while Rory Millar (L6m) and Toby Scandling (L6b) fought the corner for Leave. The debate was well attended and lively, with ideas and opinions bouncing between the audience and the debaters. Many thanks go to Mr Donnelly, who allowed us to use the Powell Theatre as our debating space.

The next day, the whole school community

went to the polls. A total of 431 people voted, with 294 (69%) voting to remain, and 131 (39%) voting to leave. Yet, as we have seen, the result was nowhere near as decisive as that in the real Referendum.

A huge thank you goes to all of the boys and staff who voted, to the catering staff for accommodating the polling station and supplying the ballot box, to Mr McGinty for helping Bently Creswell and me to organise the event, to all of the debaters, and to all those who attended the debate.

Matthew Cann (L6e) reveals the results of the Sherborne School Mock EU Referendum

38 |

MICHAEL EWART-SMITH ASKS FERGUS HAMILTON (U6C) AND SEBASTIAN SZAPARY (L6E) ABOUT THE ENTREPRENEURS’ SOCIETY MEETINGS OVER THE LAST YEAR What is the Entrepreneurs Society?

Fergus: The Society meets three or so times a term for an informal chat with entrepreneurs. These people have had the real-life experience of founding and running their own business. We get to hear all about the positives and negatives.

What kind of activities have these entrepreneurs been involved in?

Fergus: The variety is enormous, stretching from a chair supplier, a niche international merchant bank, an upmarket travel business, an office design and fitout business, a schools insurance business, and an office supplies business.

Perhaps the most unusual was a consultancy business specialising in the funding sources of international terrorist organisations such as IS. This was started and run by Old Shirburnian Tom Keatinge (h 89), who set up on his own having worked at JP Morgan in international finance. As you can imagine, Tom has governments banging on his door asking for ideas about how such funding can be cut off at source.

What were the most interesting quotes from the visiting guests?

Sebastian: “Emotional intelligence is probably the most important thing in the business world today.”

Fergus: “All entrepreneurs have to have some luck but the most important thing is recognising that luck has come to your door and grabbing the opportunity.”

I hope to have put this into action by following up on a fantastic offer made by Jonnie Goodwin, who finished his talk thus: “Look, if any of you would like some experience, I have got lots of contacts who like to help the young.” I have now arranged to spend several weeks at Lepe partners this summer, and I can’t wait to get stuck in.

What memorable concepts came up?

Fergus: One thing I remember was from Ben Richards who set up and subsequently sold Whitegrove Group, an office supplies business. He delivered the following quotation in a polished northern accent: “Where there’s muck there’s brass, lad.”

Initially I did not understand what this comment meant but he went on to explain that just because an industry is not very glamorous or the classic career path for a Shirburnian, it should not be ruled out. In fact quite the contrary, since the competition is often less in such industries.

What struck you about the talk given

by Jonnie Goodwin (the founder of an international merchant bank called Lepe Partners, and jointly set up The Founders Forum, which networks successful and budding entrepreneurs)?

Sebastian: Timing. I asked him the question of where he was in 2008, to which he told us, “I was sitting in front of the TV, having just sold my business, and watching the crash. I breathed a huge sigh of relief.” He managed to sell just before the market went pop.

What stood out to you the most about Alastair Poulain and his experience of setting up Original Travel, an upmarket bespoke travel agency business?

Sebastian: The company’s policy is: “The customer gives a seed and you make a rose out of it.” You are creating what the marketing director for the company would call a dream holiday. So you have to be completely and utterly flexible.

This business is completely customerbased, with the hope that it yields high loyalty and trust. Each holiday you plan is unique. This requires a deep relationship with the customer, which is a key point of difference with the mainstream travel sector.

END

| 39

Getting Down to Business

40 |

AN INTERvIEw wITH

MIKE SLADE Mike Slade always knew what he wanted to do, even from the age of 16. His determination to work in property “made life very easy. You follow the path”.

Laid-back

and

charming,

he

understates

his

considerable achievements in the commercial property market in the UK and Europe. It’s an exciting and fulfilling path, but success requires risk-taking, timing and strong nerves in a high-stakes game.

As we speculated on abstract concepts like “what makes the man”, he felt one key element was coping with the “ups and downs, the ups and downs”.

As a passionate, long-time competitive sailor, he has plenty of experience of challenge and risk; perhaps a metaphor for sailing the waves of the London and European property market over many years.

v

Michael, (c 65) BSc (Est

Born in 1946, Mike Slade was one of the gilded

Man) FRICS FSVA, recently

generation of baby-boomers who, in retrospect,

became non-executive

attract some envy for their excellent timing. In

Chairman of Helical Bar

recalling his days at Sherborne, you get the clear

after 30 years at the helm of

impression of an entrepreneur in the making, rather

the company as Chief

than a future dutiful employee. Yet he achieved high

Executive. He is President

office as Head of House and Head of School.

of Land Aid, the property industry charity, a Fellow of the College of Estate Management, a Trustee of Sherborne School Foundation and ViceAdmiral of the Marie Rose

“I wasn’t a swot, with lots of C’s and the occasional D, so I would not have been high on the favourites lists of many masters. I was always in trouble with the prefects in the house”. His sporting success in Colts rugby and cricket contributed to his popularity. He also relished his time as RSM of the CCF, “because it

Trust.

allowed me to shout at everyone”.

Educated at Sherborne

One could define him then as a potential Renaissance

(1960 – 1965) he was Head

v

of House (The Green) and Head of School.

man with a mixture of talents, including excellent sporting ability, playing the clarinet well enough to be offered a place in the National Youth Orchestra, acting (the lead in a Terence Rattigan play when a slipped disc stopped more energetic pursuits), all underpinned with a robust streak of mischief.

| 41

42 | His father chose Sherborne for him because of the

“Weymouth, just down the road, has come on

family’s West Country connection. Mike Slade was born

enormously as a sailing centre – that in itself has helped

in Cornwall and learned to sail dinghies in Rock as a child,

Sherborne sailing to grow”, he says.

thus inculcating his life-long love of sailing.

The

connection with Cornwall has remained strong all his life

Mike Slade’s chosen career was property and property

and he has a house there.

has proved a totally satisfying choice; a heady mixture that combines considerable creativity, the satisfaction of

“My father wanted me to have the private education

seeing a project through to completion and the pleasure

which he, for certain reasons, was unable to have”.

of making a profit. It’s very much a team effort, with specialisations involved in every stage, including the

Every school has its own ethos and he sees Sherborne as

architecture, design, building, financing and marketing

successful in producing normal, well-rounded individuals.

of the building.

“A Shirburnian is still a Shirburnian – the ethos of the School has been maintained”. He is still very close to the

“It’s the journey – you see an empty building and you can

School so well-positioned to make the comparison

give it a new purpose. You live with the scheme for five,

between then and now.

even seven or eight years before you finish it and there

WHO’S IN BLUES?

is a great element of satisfaction in seeing the final building”.

To illustrate the ups and downs of the property world, he mentions one project close to Lloyds of London, 300,000 square feet, due for completion in October/November this year. “That’s been on the books for – you know – 10 years. We were ready to ready to go and then 2007, 2008, 2009 came along. So it was STOP! In 2011-2013, we started it up again. Two years later, in 2016, we are finishing it - we’ve got a lovely building and we are just about to start letting it and all this hits the fan. One is continually knocked back!”

He goes on to say: “Things will be fine and it will let well, but next year rather than right now. I feel like saying bloody hell, why did I deserve this?”

Many see the property business as a one way ticket to fortune, but he warns that it is strewn with bodies; for every success, there are failures. With the vivid turn of phrase that is so characteristic of him, he compares it to one of those computer games where you are bashed here, bashed there and then finally get to the top and a large boulder comes crashing down on your head, smashing you to bits. “That’s rather like doing a property deal”.

The fact that many public schools, including Sherborne, have made sailing readily available to pupils is, in Mike

As an entrepreneur, describing himself modestly as a

Slade’s book, nothing but good news. Sailing is in his

“Jack of all trades, master of none”, what advice would

blood and serious sailing at that. His mighty yacht,

he give to current Sherborne boys planning their next

Leopard, was back on the 2016 start-line of the Round

steps in life?

the Island Race to defend her Monohull record of 3 hours 43 minutes and 50 seconds (this time, she did not break it). He is also a veteran of the Fastnet Race, the Transatlantic Race and many others. Leopard currently holds five World Speed Sailing records and seven course records, ratified by the World Sailing Speed Record Council. (WSSRC)

This might surprise, even dismay, those responsible for preparing them for the world.

“A lot of boys and girls – including Shirburnians – will just go to university for no other reason than it’s the next thing to do. A gap year is good, but should not be wasted. But the actual step from school to university

| 43

... But the actual step from school to university doesn’t necessarily help at getting kids into careers and jobs. Better to go straight to work and learn on the job.

doesn’t necessarily help at getting kids into careers and

invest some energy and time in developing it. The charity

jobs. Better to go straight to work and learn on the job”.

is now concentrating on homelessness. “Around the country there are a myriad of small, struggling local

When he interviews young people aged 23 and 24, he

charities that do this and we back them. Help them to

finds those that have worked since leaving school are far

buy a house and turn it into a Centre; donate money;

further ahead than those who have been at university.

whatever is needed. It’s direct to the person who needs

And if university is their choice, he would prefer to see

the help – and you can save a whole life”. While Mike

someone who has done an intellectually demanding,

Slade does not pretend he is working out on the streets

brain-stimulating degree such as History or English

himself, on a day to day basis, he is clearly very pleased

Language and perhaps a one-year Masters in preference

that the charity now has offices and a pretty solid base,

to something “vocational”. We agreed on how much

much of which is down to him. “It’s just like building a

harder it is for young people today – those of us entering

new business and you have to apply the same criteria and

the job market in the ‘sixties just asked for a job and

effort”.

got it.

I suspect it is typical of the man that his fondest Another surprise that might not go down well with his

memories of Sherborne are humorous, self-deprecating

alma mater is his view of single sex education. “I am not

incidents – such as getting confirmed with a broken nose

convinced that the concept of a single sex education is

and smashed up face after a Colts match against

right for today’s world… but Sherborne has a big

Downside. He also recalls walking down the hill to find

advantage – you have a boys’ school and a girls’ school

the remains of Abbey House smouldering, burned down

together. For many, this might be the best of both worlds.

overnight as a result of boys smoking in house. The

It’s a good selling point for the school – if you have one

unfunny part of that was while the fire brigade were trying

of each, you can send them both to the same place and

to account for them, they were holed up in the swimming

yet have an element of same sex education”.

pool at 2am in the morning with female company.

What aspects of his career is he proudest of? “There are

“The Abbey and the square are gorgeous, but we were

very few cities I can pass through without having fond

completely immune to all that. But when I came back to

memories of a particular building. There are certainly

School after the holidays – I was always happy to return

buildings in the West End of London that one can be very

and get stuck in. There was always plenty going on”.

proud of. We re-developed the old JWT building at 40 Berkeley Square; it’s a fabulous building. Three or four

One feels pretty certain that Michael Slade always likes

buildings in the City I have a warm feeling for – and there

“plenty to be going on”. This year, he has changed roles

are one or two that are complete shockers that I should

from Chief Executive to non-Exec Chairman, but I doubt

be ashamed of”.

he’s putting his feet up just yet.

He also believes in giving back and feels he has been

“This new role is quite nice, because I am still the major

able to make a real difference with his support and

shareholder and would wish to stay interested in what’s

transformation of Land Aid, which helps disadvantaged

going on”. As he points out, “what’s going on” has

young people. Land Aid was set up 30 years ago at the

suddenly got a whole lot more complicated. I calculate

same time as Band Aid and has morphed into a charity

that Mike Slade’s curiosity and zest for life will ensure he

within the property industry. He was introduced to it

takes a keen interest as this story unfolds.

around 2000 by an old friend Clive Lewis and decided to

Lauren McMullen

• Ollie Minchin (5g)

• Carl Fletcher (U6a)

School House

T

his year has certainly been one of achievement for the School House boys.

Musical accomplishment has been a feature across the year groups.

Standout performances include those by the Third Form Band at the School House Concert and Concert in the Courts, and the School House Barbershop at our Christmas Supper, House Concert and OSS Dinner.

Individual successes have also abounded. Peter Folkes, Jordan Berry and Bently Creswell (all 5a) achieved the top three places in the Junior Singing section of the Halliday Cup, while Finnbar Blakey (L6a) won the Senior Singing Section, and Jacob Hughes-Hallett (U6) received special mention.

In Associated Board music exams, Jamie Hewitt (L6a) and Finnbar Blakey received Distinctions for their Grade 8 Percussion and Cello respectively, with Charles Roberts (L6a), Benjamin Orton (L6a), Jordan Berry and Jack Miller (U6a) all receiving Merits in their disciplines.

School House has also demonstrated its sporting prowess this year, with an excellent cohort of determined and ambitious players. Charles Morris and Alastair Findlay, Captains of Tennis and

BENTLY CRESWELL (4A) Fives respectively, have executed their roles with pride, energy and skill. We have also had strong representation on the 1st VI Tennis, 1st XV Rugby, 1st XI Hockey and 1st XI Football teams.

In individual sports, too, School House boys have excelled. Thomas Stagnetto (4a) achieved landslide victories at multiple Golf matches, and Malhaar Shah and Bently Cresswell triumphed at national shooting events.

Jordan Berry was on top running form: he came first in the InterHouse race, set a new record in the Downside Cross Country Race, and won the Leweston U18 10k event.

As a result of these achievements, Jordan received the DISCO Trophy for being the best intermediate runner in Dorset.

Last but not least, huge congratulations go to Hector Fiennes and Thomas Stagnetto (4a) for their completion of the Ten Tors Challenge, in which Tom served as team captain.

As ever, the drama in School House continues, be it in the corridors or on the stage. We saw boys this year take LAMDA exams,

and hearty congratulations go to Fred Downham (5a), who was awarded a Distinction in his Grade 8 Gold Medal Award for Solo Acting.

After hearing the heartbreaking news that the wife of our Houseman, Steve, had died in a motorbike accident, we decided to complete the Hillfort Challenge Walk. We raised a total of £4,449,69 for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, which provided invaluable assistance to Steve and his wife at the time of the accident.

In May, we welcomed the School House OS – and, as ever, they had plenty of stories to tell about their past. It was remarkable to meet some men from the 1940s, and humbling to hear what they had to say. As a House, our heritage is clear, and we shall use it to bring about a greater future.

In the words of Mr Jackson: ‘School House is what we are’. But without Mr Jackson, Mrs Jackson, Mrs Cant, the Tutors, the Matrons, the House Staff, and of course Barty, we would not be able to fulfil that ambition. Thank you to them, and thank you for our future.

Abbey House THE ABBEY HOUSE PREFECTS

A

bbey House has enjoyed continued success in all aspects of Sherborne life.

But it is perhaps better known for its family community, good humour, and cheerful house spirit.

Before the Abbey House year had even begun, its true soul was demonstrated by the charitable efforts of three of last year’s leavers – Tom James, Rory McMillan and Hugo Bromell (b 15) – who cycled 1,500 miles around the UK to raise money for the RNLI. Sport within the House has bloomed this year, with George Crane (U6b) representing the 1st team in rugby, tennis and football. House Hockey saw the best result: a solid fourth place with the help of Josh Skipsey (U6b) as our 1st XI representative.

Other first team appearances include Dom Bell (U6b), GianMarco Hammond (U6b) and Luke Besse (U6b) all making an appearance for the 1st XV Rugby, with Luke moving up three teams over the course of the season.

Dom Bell also made an appearance for the 1st Cricket Team. Although we have no silverware to show for our efforts, our ubiquitous team spirit is a great achievement in itself. We have seen bags of enthusiasm in music this year. Mr Henderson has already inspired a handful of the Third Form to join the choir, and

Felix Cairns (U6b) and Gian-Marco Hammond ably conducted the Abbey House Concert. After some excellent solo performances, we gathered to sing a rousing rendition of The Purple Submarine – Abbey House’s remix of The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine. Ed Guinness (U6b) missed no opportunity to get out his bagpipes, with his most memorable performance being at 6am in a deep dark wood on Salisbury Plain, during a CCF field trip. When it comes to leadership, Abbey House has a lot to be proud of. It now has the highest number of CCF NCOs, with Luke Besse, Arthur Drake, Archie Swann and Edward Guinness (all U6b) all leading the way as sergeants.

Edward has also been awarded his Level Two marksmanship.

Congratulations must also go to Archie Swann, who gained his Gold DofE this year – the first to be awarded in Abbey House for 18 years. Hunter Strand, Sam Lawson Johnston and William Bond (all 4b) excelled in the Ten Tors competition, while Simon Rose (5b) won the House Literary Quiz. This year has seen a change in our House charity. We have chosen to support the Sherborne Rendezvous Charity: an organisation that supports young local people in all aspects of life.

We decided upon this charity as a way of giving back to the town in which we, the Upper Sixth, have spent the last five years. We’ve been so fortunate to attend a school like this, and we understand many lack these opportunities; it therefore seems only right that we help those nearby in a less privileged position.

Miss Southall has been a wonderful new addition to the House – stepping in as our resident tutor.

Although I’m sure we took some getting used to, we hope Miss Southall is now enjoying the company of the boys, the friendly environment of the house, and the laughter that fills it.

The Upper Sixth this year will be sad to leave such a wonderful School, but sadder still to leave such a happy community and supportive House. The friendships, not just between individuals but also between year groups, matrons, domestic staff and Mr McGinty, will be something we will all treasure and hold for the rest of our lives. Abbey House has played such an important role in our growing up, setting us on the right path for future success and happiness, and I have no doubts that it will continue to do so for many more years.

The Green

T

he Green has continued to flourish under the leadership of Mr Hatch and his two Heads of House, Fergus Hamilton (U6c) and Will Ashley Miller (U6c).

In what is quickly becoming a Hamilton tradition, Fergus was announced as Head of School for the second half of the year. The House is incredibly proud to have had five Heads of School in as many years. The future, too, looks bright, with many leaders appearing throughout the year groups.

‘The Cage’ has once again fulfilled its purpose as a nursery for young athletes. It has helped to bring victories in a variety of House sports – notably Sixth Form football, and cricket. Despite the rivalry surrounding House fixtures, no game is as widely contested throughout the House as cage cricket. The garden too, our ‘green and pleasant land’, has seen its fair share of activity throughout the year. It came to particular prominence in the summer term, when it played host to a range of sports.

ARCHIE CRIPWELL (L6C) AND KIT DELAMAIN (L6C) Music is thriving in The Green, thanks in part to the encouraging leaders, Henry Delamain (U6c), Edward Smith (U6c) and Theo Beeny ATCL (U6c) – the last achieving his Diploma earlier in the year. The annual Halliday Cup provided another chance for the boys of The Green to shine: Henry Delamain was successful in the hotly contested organ competition, and Sam MacDonald (5c) fended off the competition in the Junior Piano category. On occasion, when meandering down the Sixth Form corridor, you would be forgiven for thinking you were in Ibiza. This is, of course, due to our two resident DJs, Kit Delamain (L6c) and Ben Clark (L6c), who enjoyed headline performances at RocSoc and Concert in the Courts.

During hall times, however, it is obvious that boys from the bottom of the school to the top know why they are here. A studious, working atmosphere is always observed – due in part to the watchful eye of our brilliant team of tutors. The new Third Form has settled in very well and is already part of the furniture – proving their mettle on the sports, music and academic front. Credit for this must go, in

part, to the Uncles Scheme between the Third and Lower Sixth Forms, with the close attention proving to be as successful as ever.

The scrutiny of the domestic staff ensures that the House is always well looked after. They care not only for its cleanliness, but also for the boys’ wellbeing. Nurse, cleaner, chef, comedian, life-coach and superheroine: Nicky is more than just a Matron and, along with her amazing team, really is there for every boy. The Green would not be the same without them.

With unfathomable determination, the boys of The Green completed the final instalment of their epic three-part ironman challenge, to raise £30,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support. Mr Hatch laid out the devastating news that each boy would have to run a marathon in order to achieve the 10,000-furlong target; and so, it was done. Once the final few miles had been run, everyone reflected on what we had accomplished by coming together as a House. The completion of this final ‘10,000 Challenge’ ends an era that has become part of The Green’s history. We look forward to the challenges that we will set ourselves in the years to come.

Harper House DAVID ARNAL AND JACK BAKER (BOTH L6D)

H

arper’s main and most valuable facet is, undoubtedly, its esprit de corps. From the large sporting events to the literacy quiz, Harper’s sense of unity and camaraderie is unbreakable. This is thanks to every boy’s persistence, and commitment to supporting the House. Each year this is summed up within The Harpoon, Harper’s annual magazine, in which we reflect upon our success.

We very much integrate with, and contribute to, the traditions and occurrences of everyday Sherborne life. One such example is the three members of our Third Form who serve as acolytes at every Sunday Abbey service.

A couple of mentionable successes include Harper’s victory in House hockey. With a side captained by 1st XI player Adam Montgomery (U6d), alongside the 1st team’s Player of the Season, Josh Evans (L6d), Harper gained a muchdeserved victory against The Digby.

In addition to this, Harper once again had a successful water polo season. This is thanks to the tenacity and skill of all members of the House, from Third Former Christian Johnson to Sixth Former Jake Brill. Unfortunately, a loss in the final against Abbeylands

removed our title, but undoubtedly we will have it back next season.

Much credit goes to Hugo Houlton (U6d), who scored an astonishing 26 goals – making him the top scorer in the entire competition.

This exemplifies the strength in unity that Harper possesses as a House, and highlights the abilities we acquire together.

As we have had a ‘Harpoon’ within each of the School’s First Teams, it is only fair that we commend these individuals. In rugby, we had George ‘Wally’ Wallington (U6d), Gus Johnson (L6d) and Dom Prest (5d), who made his debut playing the sport at its highest level. In football, Will McCann (U6d) and, again, Dom Prest made appearances. Cricket saw Sam Hambro (L6d), Josh Evans and John Arundell (U6d) join its top team, while the astonishingly quick Charlie Hickling (L6d) made waves in athletics, swimming for the First Team and coming first in our year group in the senior cross country.

Over the course of the year, Harper is treated to many internal House events. We cherish these, as they enable all year groups to socialise and come together. The events include our infamous ‘Monday Night Football’ down on the

School astros, and the weekend barbecue during the summer term, which allows the boys to de-stress and relax.

On top of this, two members of the Lower Sixth act, each term, as ‘dorm heads’ to the Third Form.

This is a vital process, as it allows bonds to be formed between the two ends of the house, and provides a durable contribution to Harper’s overall concord.

Much gratitude and appreciation go to all those who run the House.

With consistent kindness and care, and often large amounts of patience, the House Staff, Matron, Tutors and, of course, our Housemaster, Jeremy Wadham, have nurtured us – making Harper a second home for us all.

Although the aforementioned successes are not comprehensive, we have all forged life-long friendships within the House. For these, we are eternally grateful.

The words of the Old Shirburnian, Christian Pugsley (d 14), perfectly sum up the family that is Harper House: “a vibrant, allencompassing community bursting with every and any talent, from music to sport to public speaking, every boy feels at home in Harper.”

Wallace House

W

allace House prides itself on its talent in all areas of the School.

And, true to form, Wallace House boys have continued to excel over the course of the academic year.

The start of the Michaelmas term saw the appointment of a large team of prefects, headed by Rory Coughlan (U6e). As RSM of the School’s CCF, Dorset’s Lord Lieutenant Cadet, and a Chapel Warden, Rory has served as an ambassador for Wallace – all trademarked by his own brand of military-inspired humour.

When it comes to academic achievement, congratulations must go to Archie Wing and Edward Pyman (both U6e). Archie secured an offer to study Medicine at Oxford, and Edward to study Classics at Cambridge. With five Oxbridge candidates in the Upper Sixth, Wallace has once more proved itself a House that values academic ambition alongside cocurricular talent.

In the Lower School, George Jefferson (3e), Brandon BraySackey (4e) and Will Thorne (5e) achieved great success in the accumulation of Commendations.

They received awards for exceptional academic achievement, in and outside lessons.

EDWARD SPRAGUE (U6E) The House’s strong involvement with the School Choir and Orchestra has continued, with over a quarter of its members representing the House musically this year. Harry Reynolds (U6e) undertook his ATCL Diploma exam for Clarinet, and Matthew Cann (L6e) and George Jefferson have both accompanied School services on Sherborne Abbey’s organ.

Jointly directed by Mr O’Connor and Mr Robinson, the Wallace House play Dick Barton: The Curse of the Pharaoh’s Tomb was a particular highlight this year. The play embraced Phil Willmott’s tongue-in-cheek humour, and presented occasional innuendo that some members of staff seemed to find a little too funny.

Strengthened by the selection of Angus Huntington (U6e) as the second Head of House, Wallace has seen much development in its sporting status. Angus made regular appearances for the 1st XV and 1st VII Rugby teams, while Seb Szapary (L6e) and Jake Lightfoot became prominent members of the School Hockey 1st XI. I captained the School’s 2nd XI football team alongside Fuad Hasan (U6e) and Hiroki Ogawa (L6e), and Ramsay Dibden (U6e)

led the 1st Squash team in convincing wins at home and away against Blundell’s – ably helped by Archie Wing and Edward Pyman.

Edward also captained the School 2nd XI Cricket team during the Trinity term.

Seb Fender (U6e) was again selected for 1st pair for Tennis, while Maksimovs Jaroslavs (L6e) organised the School’s first InterHouse Dodgeball competition.

Harry Reynolds (U6e) was second in House Cross Country, and continues to excel athletically.

In the pool, Tom Hoare (5e) broke two School records – the 100m freestyle by three seconds (a sixyear-old record), and the 50m backstroke by half a second (a record previously unbroken for 30 years). Wallace also came second in the Intermediate competition.

At the end of this year, we will be sorry to say goodbye to Mr Wake, the House’s resident tutor. His dry sense of humour will be missed when he leaves to teach and become Master in Charge of Cricket at Repton Dubai.

All that remains is to thank Mr Robinson, and the Wallace tutor, cleaning and maintenance teams, for another brilliant year.

Abbeylands BEN HEBER (L6F)

O

ne of the questions most frequently asked by prospective parents is, ‘Why Abbeylands?’ For me, the answer is simple. We are a true community, acting as a backbone to a successful and familyorientated House.

inspirational leader on and off the field. Henry Davies (L6f), Dan Kendall (L6f) and Will Gracia (L6f) all made appearances for the 1st XI Football, while James Hague (L6f) and Ben Heber (L6f) represented the 1st XI for Hockey and Cricket respectively.

This is thanks not only to the leadership of our wonderful Housemaster and Housemistress, but also to our Matron, Sharon, Assistant Matrons, Angie and Rachel, resident handyman, Fred, and the rest of the team who help to manage the house so efficiently.

With the help of the Atwell brothers, Ben (L6f) and James (4f), and under James Kennedy’s (U6f) inspirational leadership, Abbeylands once again won the House Water Polo tournament.

The trophy collection on the Oak Room mantelpiece continues to grow.

During the Michaelmas term, Abbeylands put on a hugely successful House Play. Under the fantastic direction of Mrs Clayton, The Lady Killers saw the emergence of some serious acting potential, with notable performances from Max Scheuner (5f) and Milo Clesham (4f).

Abbeylands has also excelled on the sports pitches. Ed Milner (U6f) completed his second season in the 1st XV, Olly Rose (U6f) and Sam Bruce (U6f) helped lead the 1st XI Hockey team to yet another successful season, and 1st XI Football captain, Will Vitali, was an

Ben Childerley (5f) was selected to join the British sailing team for the World Championships in July, and has been excelling in National and International competitions.

Abbeylands’ future in sport also looks bright, with Felix Harvey (3f) showing his prowess on the sports pitch. He has represented the U14A teams in Rugby, Hockey and Cricket – a huge achievement, of which he should be proud.

Music has proved another great Abbeylands strength. Alex Stagg (U6f) masterminded a fantastic House Concert, which again

showed off the talent we have on offer. Henry Le Cornu (3f) played a beautiful piece on the Cello, while Jack Fu (4f) and Lleyton Sweeny (4f) provided us with some modern entertainment. Alex Stagg’s and Ally Collins’ (L6f) cover of Tom Odell’s Another Love will also be difficult to forget.

The end of the year sees us bid farewell to the Upper Sixth, who have been the epitome of what Abbeylands is all about. We look forward to welcoming them back in the years to come. Huge congratulations go to William Vitali, who undertook the role of Head of School with passion and determination. Ed Milner and James Kennedy have led the House superbly, and their shoes will take some filling – but I will do my best!

Lastly, I would like to congratulate Ally Collins on his appointment as Head of School Designate this year. I have every confidence that he will thrive in this role. The future of Abbeylands looks bright, and it is a pleasure and a privilege to be part of such a wonderful House.

Lyon House

L

yon House has had another busy but successful year, with accomplishments in many fields.

At the start of the Michaelmas term we performed our House Play, Bouncers. Despite having only three weeks to rehearse, the cast of Henry Dennis (L6g), Alex Warren (L6g), Jonathan Franke (U6g), Jack Leigh (L6g), Jack Hills (U6g), Matt Versloot (U6g), Olly Minchin (5g), Tom Minchin (U6g), James Dixon (5g) and Paddy Kerr (5g) put on an entertaining and comic performance under the direction of Mr Winter.

Year after year, our sporting achievements are becoming greater and greater, and this year did not disappoint.

Tom Minchin (U6g) won the Senior cross country, while the House teams came a narrow second in cricket and football, and third in rugby. We also enjoyed success in the House dodgeball competition.

ALEX WARREN (L6G) Our charitable efforts continued with a trial run of a bike ride due to take place in the summer of 2017.

Lyon House boys are planning to cycle from Lyon House to Lyon, France – a distance of nearly 700 miles – to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Participants took turns to attempt this distance in eight hours, using three indoor bikes. So far, the challenge has raised over £300 for Great Ormond Street.

The tradition of entering a Lyon House team in the Ten Tors Challenge continued, with Oliver Soanes (4g), Maurice Inigo-Jones (4g), Christian Jones (4g) and Harry Case (4g) successfully managing to complete the extraordinary feat.

In June, the Third Form took part in a pastoral retreat to the Brecon Beacons. Aimed at developing a sense of team spirit and exploring the idea of consequence, the trip provided the boys with a chance to try their hand at geocaching, canyoning and abseiling, and to

climb Pen Y Fan by moonlight.

More importantly, though, it nurtured their skills of communication and teamwork, and enabled friendships to deepen and flourish.

Individually, boys from Lyon have again proved their worth. Charlie Smith (5g) won the Sherborne Musician Award – a fantastic achievement for a Fifth Former – while Ollie Dixon (3g) won the Paterson Poetry Recitation Prize.

Academically, congratulations go to Henry Dennis (L6g) for his 12 A* at GCSE. Sadly, this year we have to say goodbye to Mrs Phippard – a much-loved tutor in Lyon House.

Her contribution to the welfare of the House and the boys, oversight of the DofE award, maths-teaching and general company will be missed, and we would like to thank her for her work and invaluable support.

The Digby RORY MILLAR (L6M)

I

t has been another successful year in The Digby, and the House can be proud of all of its achievements.

On the sports field, in the classroom and in the theatre, we have enjoyed enormous success.

More than this, though, we in The Digby are proud of the way students from across the year groups mingle and enjoy time together. This breaks down potential barriers, and makes for a warm and happy home.

Individually, The Digby boys have excelled this academic year. Zak Smith (U6m) admirably captained the 1st VII Rugby side, which numbered no fewer than four Digby boys among its members. It proved to be one of the most talented teams Sherborne has had in recent years.

George Pope (U6m) served as Captain of the 1st XI Hockey Team, and led the House side to the final of the Inter-House competition.

And to complete the hat trick of captaincies, Will Caldwell (U6m) ably commanded the cricket, using his wand-like bat skills to guide the team.

Next year, to continue the theme, Ciaran Johnston (L6m) will take charge of the 1st XV Rugby side – a remarkable achievement, given that in the autumn he suffered an injury that almost ended his rugbyplaying days. Gabriel Healy (L6m) will assist him as his Vice-Captain, having been a constant presence on the side last year.

The Digby has made deep impressions in the Drama Department as well, with its House Play, Twelve Angry Men, receiving critical acclaim. Some may have considered it a brave move to attempt such a serious theatrical piece for a House production.

Over the two nights, however, the play astounded its audience – not just for the quality of acting and production, but because it was impressively directed by the boys.

All credit must go to James Allan (U6m) and Alex McNair Scott (L6m) for making the play so entertaining.

It is not just the current Digby boys who are making the House proud, but former ones, too. Will Homer (m 14) has made his breakthrough at Bath Rugby this season, where he scored one outstanding try and

assisted with many others. His talent was obvious to those who played lawn rugby with him (another Digby activity) and all of us wish him the best of luck for next season and the future.

Finally, we are exceptionally grateful for the support and care offered by both Mr Brooke and Mr Oates. Both of these men work exceptionally long hours in order for the boys to work and flourish. It is because of their hard work that we are able to benefit from success on the rugby field, from the friendly spirit within the House, and from the fond memories that all members of the departing Upper Sixth will carry with them for the rest of their lives.

54 |

| 55

THE BEST DAYS OF OUR LIVES Jake Bishop (U6d) contemplates what he will miss about Sherborne, as his time at School nears an end

F

or the last few years, I have spent much of my time and attention at Sherborne planning and working towards what I’ll do when I leave. In

fact, I have been so preoccupied with scouting universities, courses and careers that I’ve spent little time reflecting on what I will miss about the School that has educated me for the last five years.

The support I have received from masters and tutors has been incredible, but I don’t believe this is the only

“

“

It is this emphasis on friendship, empathy, integrity and mutual support that I will miss the most about Sherborne.

the same challenges, opportunities, successes and failures instil a sense of camaraderie – a wealth of friendly faces who can effortlessly empathise with one another. I soon found that removing myself from this camaraderie on evenings and weekends meant removing myself from an invaluable source of support and enjoyment.

Almost every boy at the School seems to recognise the importance of maintaining these bonds. Recently,

thing that I will be leaving behind.

at our Leavers’ Supper, every boy in the House gave a

Unlike many others who board at Sherborne, I live

series of anecdotes, and appraisals of success in sport

locally. In fact, having a house at the bottom of South Street means that I am closer to home than the boys in Wallace are to their Boarding House. Despite this proximity to home, I have seldom been tempted to attend School as a day boy. On the rare occasions that I have, I’ve felt strangely out of place. Initially, I didn’t understand why I felt this way. I could still walk to lessons, career meetings and sport with relative ease, and see my friends on a daily basis. Soon, however, I came to understand that to spend only half a day at

speech about another. Many speeches contained a and academia, that were well received by all in the room. Yet the weight of each speech fell at the end, when each boy proceeded to describe the integrity, helpfulness and emotional intelligence of the other before wishing them the best of luck for the future.

The same pattern is seen on a greater scale during the end-of-year Lists. Throughout the ceremony, boys are congratulated on their successes in all areas of School life, with each achievement being met by enthusiastic

Sherborne was simply not enough.

applause. But none of this applause compares to the

There is a reason that the School places such an

Award. This award is given to a boy who makes an

emphasis on the friendships that boys make during their time at Sherborne. It is because the bonds formed here are unlike any other. The stretches of time spent living with like-minded people who are facing

reaction prompted by the presentation of the Bow astounding contribution to the pastoral welfare of the School. Each year, without fail, it is met by a standing ovation.

56 |

Academic Review

In 2015, we pioneered a new

grading system at Sherborne.

Among other things, this saw the introduction of the 1* grade – a prize awarded to boys who, according to the descriptor,

“Consistently go well beyond what is asked for, both in their effort in class and for Hall”, who “Take responsibility for their own

DEPUTY HEAD (ACADEMIC) TIM FILTNESS

learning” and “Have a positive

impact on the learning of others.”

Since September, 398 effort grades have been awarded at 1* level, a

REFLECTS ON ANOTHER YEAR OF

significant number of which have been achieved by the same boys

ACHIEVEMENT AT SHERBORNE

across a number of subjects. At the moment, the record is held by a Third Former from Abbey House, who achieved six 1* grades in one go with straight 1 grades in everything else.

This is a significant achievement, not simply because we want to praise boys who try particularly hard, but because grit, determination and forming the right mind set are of fundamental importance to academic success.

Studies have identified that characteristics such as calmness and openness, as well as general attitude and conscientiousness, are predictive of roughly a quarter of a pupil’s success at GCSE. For reference, the same studies identified that intelligence was predictive of only 20 per cent of overall GCSE outcomes.

Clearly, the message to the boys is to work hard and to do so consistently because this has a huge potential to sculpt academic success.

(That said, a recent large-scale metaanalysis clearly identified heritability as the main predictor of success at GCSE (accounting for 0.58 of variance). This doesn’t seem a bad point to make in a publication with a predominantly parental demographic!)

Resilience and determination are typically Shirburnian characteristics and there are plenty of examples throughout this publication of boys giving their all.

Consider, for example, the 61.5km walked over 19.2 hours by the CCF during the Ten Tors challenge, or the 1,604 miles run by boys from The Green to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Research (including a contribution of 40.9 miles by one boy!).

Although arguably less visible, boys frequently go the extra mile in their academic pursuits, too. For example, boys have achieved 10,232 effort merits so far this year for work “Above and beyond the call of duty”. Most notable among these is a Fourth Former from Wallace who has earned 70 effort merits over the last 30 weeks of teaching. That equates to 2.3 a week, every week, since September.

On a larger scale, the concerted and ongoing labour of the Upper Sixth has facilitated, collectively, the receipt of more than 400 UCAS offers from a range of first-class (and predominantly Russell Group) universities, including three from Oxford and two from Cambridge.

Equally, the Lower Sixth have worked tirelessly this year, with 59 boys taking on an examined enrichment option (e.g. Psychology AS, Further Maths A Level, Geology GCSE) to complement their three main A Level subjects. A further 18 boys have opted to pursue an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), through which they conduct rigorous independent research to construct a 5,000-word dissertation on a project of their choosing.

Although the final EPQ presentations will not take place until next term, the projects are already far advanced and explore a range of complex themes including, for example, Stalinist expansionism, the influence of

| 57

social media in the Arab Spring, Homer’s writings as evidence of the realities of ancient Greek society or Thoreau’s version of transcendentalism and the extent to which it comprises a specific pragmatic and politically committed reponse to the institution of slavery in the American South.

Overall, then, it has been a busy year and one wholly supportive of the Shirburnian perspective that, whatever you are going to do, you should always do it to the best of your ability.

After all, as the research I mentioned suggests, the hallmark of success may well be the extent to which someone is prepared to graft for their achievements, rather than his or her initial aptitude in that area. As the Maths Department would put it, 0.99365 = 0.03, whereas 1.01365 = 37.8.

58 |

SIEW-CHIANG LIM, HEAD OF MATHS REPORTS ON THE STIMULATING CHALLENGES PRESENTED BY THE STUDY OF MATHEMATICS AT SHERBORNE

More than

mere numbers v

It has been a fascinating year for me as the new Head of

school. Likewise, the

and provides answers to

Mathematics in a highly vibrant and busy school. In

junior event, in February

some of history’s most

addition to the academic work, which is the bread and

2016, saw Richard Pun

intriguing conundrums. It

butter of our existence here and which enables students

(3e) receive the highest

is essential to every-day

and staff to enjoy so many facets of this intriguing

grade of our 10 golds, 15

life, critical to science,

subject, there has been a wide range of enriching

silvers and 25 bronze

technology and

activities to support students’ learning.

medals.

engineering, and

A series of inspirational lectures extended and enriched

Meanwhile, the Regional

the boys’ awareness and understanding of mathematics.

Team Challenge, an

Dr Sara Jabbari delivered a lecture entitled “Fighting

annual event held this

A high-quality

Disease with Maths”, which involved the practical use of

year in Street, enabled

Mathematics education

differential equations in real-life situations. Later, in

two Sherborne boys to

therefore provides a

“Mathematics in The Simpsons”, Matt Parker used prime

join forces with students

foundation for an

numbers and perfect numbers to explain some

from other local schools.

understanding of the

astonishing mathematical ideas linked to favourite

Ollie Lampert (3g) and

world, equips students

stories.

Aaron Kim (3b) both

with the ability to reason

necessary in most forms of employment.

performed very well,

logically, and inspires a

Following this, the eminent Mathematician Dr Simon

helping their team to

sense of enjoyment and

Singh delivered a lecture to students from a number of

fourth place in this

curiosity. It is a beautiful

local schools in a packed Big School Room. During this,

prestigious competition.

language that I believe

he shared a great deal of information about encryption

The Senior Team

should be appreciated

and code-breaking, with some lucky students even

Challenge took place in

and not feared, and which

getting close to an Enigma machine. Coming so swiftly

Poole, with Max

requires the acquisition of

on the heels of publicity about the achievements of Alan

Vinycomb (U6f), Harry

certain basic rules before

Turing, one of the more celebrated Old Shirburnians of

Reynolds (U6e), Henry

progress can truly be

the recent past, this highly topical issue proved

Dennis (L6g) and Will

made. Such journeying is

immensely popular.

Shardlow participating

part of the experience,

strongly.

and makes studying the

Every year, the Mathematics Challenge encourages

discipline a profoundly Mathematics is a creative

ability and put into practice what they have been

and highly

learning. The senior event, in November 2015, earned

interconnected discipline,

Sherborne boys 10 gold medals, 17 silver and 19

which has been

bronze, with Will Shardlow (L6m) coming top in the

developed over centuries,

worthwhile endeavour.

‘

many young people to broaden their mathematical

End

| 59

TESTING TIMES SHERBORNE’S CHEMISTS HAVE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY TO STRETCH THEIR INTELLECTS, SAYS WILL BUCKLEY, HEAD OF CHEMISTRY

T

HE Chemistry Department at Sherborne School tries to push boys to look at the discipline from beyond the restrictions of the various syllabuses studied from 13 to 18.

Junior Chemistry extension is also catered for; the RSC runs the Top of the Bench competition, and Shirburnians performed rather well this year.

Felix Storer (5g) takes up the story:

To this end, all boys in the Upper Sixth are expected to enter the RSC’s Chemistry Olympiad, an event which challenges the brightest with questions at the limit of their chemical, physical and mathematical knowledge.

“On 20 January a team of four from Sherborne School won the

In the same way that a university interview seeks to find the boundary of what a pupil has been formally taught and then tries to push them beyond it, into uncharted and occasionally rather hostile territory, so the Olympiad steers the student over a twohour written paper. Indeed, in last year’s Shirburnian, there is an article by Rory McMillan (late of this parish and currently at St Catherine’s College, Cambridge reading Natural Sciences), who not only achieved a Roengenium Award in the paper, but was subsequently invited to Cambridge to audition for the British Team. This he successfully did, before flying to Azerbaijan to represent his country.

knowledge quiz, followed by a lecture given by Tim Harrison,

The Lower Sixth all enter the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge, another brain boiler of a competition with gold, silver and copper awards on offer, with some expressing an interest in entering the Kelvin Essay run by Peterhouse and the Harry and Margaret Kroto prize for innovative use of technology in science teaching. One can see that the senior boys have plenty to occupy their time and their minds.

South West regional heat of the Top of the Bench Chemistry

Competition at Bristol University. This is a national competition organised by the Royal Society of Chemistry for 13 to 16 year old students. Sherborne was one of 12 teams taking part in the event, which consisted of two practical exercises and a Chemistry Director of Outreach and Science Communication. The point of the lecture was to inspire and entertain. It involved bombs, liquid nitrogen and real magic potions. At the end of the day Sherborne was announced as the winner ahead of Cheltenham College and Cheltenham Ladies’ College.

The national final was held on 16 April at Loughborough University, where the team, Sam Hutchinson (3d) and Ben Fuller (3f), Freddie Robinson (4f) and team captain Felix Storer (5g), competed against 38 other schools, which had won their regional heats, putting Sherborne in the top seven per cent of the country.

The day involved individual theory tests followed by a two-hour practical, in which the tasks included determining concentration, electrical charge and molecular structure. While waiting for the results, all the schools participated in a seminar exploring how the scientific community decides, through peer review, what new ideas to invest in. Four PhD students made presentations on their research projects and each school had to pick the one that they felt had the most potential. Although the Sherborne team did not come first, it was a great achievement to get to the final and they all thoroughly enjoyed the experience.“ So there’s the challenge to next year’s Third, Fourth and Fifth Form chemists: improve on that!

60 |

LEARNING THE HARD WAY Sixth Former Archie Wing (U6e) reflects on his inspiration for applying to read Medicine at university

T

o say that my life at Sherborne has been a roller coaster would be an understatement. My first year at Sherborne went with nothing out of the

ordinary, but, during the summer, I was struck down by a rare immune condition that caused both of my kidneys to fail. I spent huge amounts of time off school, and was in hospital for dialysis and chemotherapy three times a week, as well as spending much longer periods of time hospitalised due to various complications. This treatment carried on for more than two years before I had my renal transplant in the first term of my A levels. As a result, I missed much of both my GCSE and AS years.

With the time I was missing at school, I had to drop several GCSE subjects, instead focusing on the ones that were most important to me. I quickly had to adapt and learn independently, working with teachers via email. It was very hard for me to keep up to date with schoolwork, but in the end with a lot of effort and a huge amount of support from my friends and Housemaster, Giles Robinson, I managed to achieve the top grade on all eight of my GCSEs. I had decided to study a Chemistry and Biology related subject at university and my experiences gave me a particular insight into the medical profession. My interest in Human Biology at the start of my A Levels grew and I began organising work experience and volunteering in medical environments. I worked at Exeter Hospital, Bristol Hospital, and my particular favourite, the Royal London Hospital, where I was thrilled to shadow surgeons as part of the plastics and trauma team, in both the operating theatres and the rest of the hospital.

After these experiences, and perhaps because of my own illness, I decided that Medicine was the career for

me. The School provide a lot of support to prospective medical students as the aptitude tests and personal statement are so important to receive invitations to interviews. There were even several practice interview sessions. One was based around multiple mini interviews, where we had five minutes to do a range of tasks, from origami with Dr Wild, and teaching Mr Rogerson to tie a shoelace using only verbal communication.

After some good performances in the pre-med tests, I was invited for interviews at all of the Medical Schools that I chose, including Oxford University.

Subsequently, after a gruelling two-day interview at Oxford, I secured an offer to read Medicine at St Peter’s College, as well as two other offers from backup universities later on.

A highlight of my Sixth Form at Sherborne has been participating in some of the many societies. DocSoc, run by the Biology department, is for prospective medical students and consists of teacher-prepared discussions about current affairs and student-prepared presentations on specific areas of interest for them.

Meanwhile, the Turing Society has been an opportunity to present to other academic scholars, with a wider range of subject backgrounds. This allowed me to give talks on areas such as MRSA, gene therapy, and MRI, helping me to build up a broader knowledge of the medical world.

Throughout my time here, I have tried to live the most varied life that was possible with my particular ailments, and if I had to give any advice to other pupils, that would be it. Though it may seem important, don’t focus all of your energy on one thing.

Instead, take advantage of all the great opportunities that Sherborne has to offer.

| 61

• James Cordery (5e)

| 63

THE SUBSTANCE A knowledge of Physics helps us understand the world around us, says David Murray, Physics Master

T

his year has seen a flurry of excitement among

Einstein’s work, along with observations and

physicists around the world, the like of which

experiments since 1915, have been able to explain

hasn’t been witnessed since the initial findings

gravitational effects that Newton’s theory of gravity

of data on the Higgs boson in 2012 and early 2013.

could not. 2016 has seen the confirmation of another

That discovery was on a scale so tiny that it is difficult

one of these effects: gravitational waves detected by

for the human mind to comprehend, but it was further

LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave

evidence in support of The Standard Model.

Observatory) in North America. The merging of two

This branch of Physics, being the study of elementary particles and their interactions, aids our understanding of matter and energy. The Higgs boson is a result of the

black holes 1.3 billion light years away resulted in the release of energy in the form of gravitational waves that LIGO detected.

Higgs field, which was predicated by English theoretical

The confirmation of the Higgs boson and gravitational

physicist Peter Higgs in 1964. This field is thought to

waves are grandiose experiments in the world of

play an essential role in giving particles mass, and is

physics. Peter Higgs and François Englert have been

therefore pivotal in our understanding of energy and

awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work

matter. This discovery was the culmination of nearly 50

already, and no doubt similar recognition is just around

years of collaborative work by physicists.

the corner for the team at LIGO.

This year’s announcement may well eclipse even that of

While not everyone who studies Physics will make these

the Higgs boson. Albert Einstein, widely regarded as

defining breakthroughs, they nonetheless show why a

one of the greatest physicists to have lived, published

good base of understanding in Physics is so important.

his Theory of General Relativity in 1915. He spent eight

It not only allows us to gain an insight into how we use

years developing the theory, and his explanation for

Physics to our advantage, such as General Relativity

gravity differed from Isaac Newton’s, which had been

allowing us to develop GPS. It also helps us to make

established for more than 200 years. Einstein proposed

sense of our surroundings.

that the observed gravitational effect between two masses was a result of the warping of space-time. A direct result of this, which captured the layman’s imagination, was the formation of astronomical objects called black holes. These are objects so dense and massive that they curve space-time to such an extent that light cannot escape from them.

In other words, Physics is not something solely for those working in cutting-edge research. It is a subject that can be made tangible and relatable to everyday life. This is the reason to study it: to take enjoyment from stripping away the layers of complexity in the world while all the time relishing its mysteries.

A LINGUISTIC POTPOURRI Stephen Byrne offers six amusing vignettes that demonstrate language’s ability to confound, confuse and inspire

ALL LANGUAGES ARE THIEVES Shampoo comes from Hindi, caravan from Arabic, potato from Haitian and slogan from Gaelic. They’re examples of the rich gilded tapestry that constitutes the English language. UNESCO recognises 7,713 languages, all of them borrowing from others. It is said that the most widely recognised word in the world is “Coca-Cola”.

NO, NO, NO Very sorry to Nick, Nigel, Natasha and Natalie: your initial is negative. Not only in English (never, not), nor even just in Spanish (nada, ninguno), nor German (nein, nicht). No French negative is possible without a “ne”, non! You will find positives nulle part, nirgendwo, nowhere and even Gujarati and Hindi negatives start with an “n”. Not a week passes without my favourite team scoring “nil”.

WHAT’S THIS FLYING AT ME? How come it rains cats and dogs in Manchester, wheelbarrows in Prague, shoemakers’ apprentices in Copenhagen, female trolls in Oslo and tractors in Bratislava? Most wonderfully, in Bwlchtocyn and Dwygyfylchi, it rains old ladies and sticks, using the barely pronounceable “Bwrw hen wragedd a ffyn.” You can make what you will of language games, for those of a certain vintage will remember that the only Test cricketer to be two people was Javed Miandad (work it out …) and the only 1970s footballer to share his name with a German newspaper was Gerry Daly.

SINGH WHEN YOU’RE WINNING Few people are really interested, but some of us have agonised over discovering which words contain all five vowels in the correct order. The answer is that several do, with the two most frequently used examples being “abstemious” and “facetious”. While we’re at it, only one word contains all five vowels in reverse alphabetical order: “subcontinental”.

DOES GENDER REALLY MATTER? Eminent Scotsman James Thomson (1834-82) produced a translation of Heinrich Heine’s “Fichtenbaum” which perfectly captured the alliteration, rhyme and sense of isolation inherent in the celebrated poet’s work, but totally missed the point through ignorance of gendered language. This entire poem hinges on the topic of unrequited love, conveyed through the masculine pine tree (der Fichtenbaum) and the feminine palm tree (die Palme).

CAN YOU SPELL “IT”?

A rough-coated, dough-faced ploughman strode through Scarborough, coughing and hiccoughing thoughtfully. So, how do you pronounce “ough”? Does spelling matter? If not, then you would lose out on triple letters, as seen almost by mistake in French and with great deliberation by the Germans, who might travel down a river on a most wonderful Flussschifffahrt.

| 65

MALHAAR. WHAT LANGUAGES ARE YOU LEARNING AT SHERBORNE SCHOOL? I am actually learning eight languages in all: French and German in normal lessons, Russian consolidation with Mrs Thurman and Norwegian with Mr Oates. In addition, I’m teaching myself Swedish.

DO YOU SPEAK ANY OTHER LANGUAGES? Yes, my mother comes from Kerala in the south of India and speaks Malayalam, while my father has spoken both Gujarati and Marathi since childhood. I am perfecting my Gujarati and Hindi, as everyone must always be aware of their cultural heritage. I don’t think you have to have just one language as your background and we should all be proud of the music, dance and language of our traditions. Language is all about who you are as a person.

HOW DOES THE MFL DEPARTMENT SUPPORT YOU IN YOUR LANGUAGE LEARNING? I think one of the best things is that the department has two French native speakers, a Swiss German speaker and two Ecuadorian Spanish speakers.

As a result, students have access to professionals who are constantly living the language.

There is a great deal of spoken language in lessons and we have access to ICT facilities to expand our knowledge. There is also a language rep in each of the eight boarding houses.

Trips abroad enable us to experience a country’s natural language, not just the theoretical one acquired through academic study.

Interview with a

Polyglot

adjective (Pol-ee-glot)

Stephen Byrne, Modern Foreign Languages Master, talks to Malhaar Shah (4a) about what it’s like to speak multiple languages WHAT INTERESTS YOU MOST ABOUT SWEDISH? I think it sounds endearing, especially its place-names. Swedish doesn’t overcomplicate noun genders and articles. It combines English simplicity with German precision.

WHAT OTHER FACTORS HELP YOU WITH LEARNING LANGUAGES? We are lucky to have our eyes opened to a variety of language-related ideas.

Every year the Sixth Form write and put on a play in Spanish, French and German and there are translation workshops held here, too. We celebrate the European Day of Languages with sessions in various languages, and we have entered the Linguistics Olympiad for many years.

IS THERE ANYTHING ABOUT GUJARATI AND HINDI THAT MAKES THEM STAND OUT FROM ENGLISH? I have always been struck by the character of each language. For instance, Gujarati includes many literal translations, such as saying “come back” when you mean “good bye”. This tells you so much about the Gujarati people. There are also some sounds that are virtually impossible for western tongues, such as the rolled “r” in “panlri”, the Hindi word for water.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU FIND STRANGE ABOUT THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE? We don’t have any noun genders and not having cases means we have to be more precise with our word order. Where we miss out, I think, is in showing differing stages of inter-human relationship through the word “you”. Gujarati has words for “we including you” and “we excluding you”, which hint at feelings. The German version of the TV series Breaking Bad shows Jesse shifting from “sie” in Season One to “du” in Season Two when he talks to Walter, to indicate the progression in their relationship. This is where English lacks linguistic depth.

| 67

A True Classic FEW ACADEMIC

DISCIPLINES OFFER THE ExCITEMENT

AND BREADTH OF CLASSICS, SAYS

ED PYMAN (U6E)

read some seminal and deeply

who helped me prepare (and all my

important literature in the original:

Classics teachers did in their own

studying the exam prescription of

way) and especially to Mr Payne,

Homer, for example, led me to go

who is not strictly my Classics

first to a Summer School at UCL and

teacher but offered to help me in my

then to the Bryanston Ancient Greek

application with enthusiasm and

Summer School, both of which

sharp insight that proved crucial to

presented a sharp intellectual

my chances at interview. If you

challenge, and both of which I

decide to make an Oxbridge

greatly enjoyed.

application for Classics, I can only

Moreover, the Classics department provides the opportunity not only to read about the classical world but

hope that the experience proves as rewarding for you as it was for me, and I’d love to share some of what I’ve learned about the process with

As Shirburnians, we are extremely

also to visit what remains of it in

lucky to study at a school which not

Greece and Rome. The trip to

only offers Latin and Greek A Level

Greece in the Michaelmas half term

I’m tempted to leave you with the

but has such a fine classical tradition

of this academic year enabled me to

conclusion that a friend uttered as I

(and has, after all, produced such

view the classical sites about which I

was writing this: namely that

eminent classicists as Cecil Day-

had read so much in a new light.

“Classics as a subject is like Walkers’

Lewis). To any potential Latin or

Seeing the Acropolis or Delphi, for

Cheese and Onion or a Friday night

Greek A Level students, I’d say the

example, helped to crystallise my

pizza: quite simply a classic”. But

following:

opinions about parts of Classics and

since this doesn’t really tell us

why I wanted to study them, as well

anything about the quoted subject

as allowing me to understand further

or the quoted foods, I’ll resist the

the literary texts that are set there or

temptation.

To provide a full justification of the value of studying Latin and Greek is beyond the scope of this article. But suffice it to say that classical

mention them.

you.

In short, let me say this: Latin and

antiquity laid the platform for almost

The process of preparing for my

Greek have been the major

all that we consider modern, and

Cambridge application challenged

academic focus of my time at school

classical minds are among the best

and inspired me to go beyond the

and I have been very lucky to have

of those throughout history to think

curriculum. I am very glad that I

the opportunity to study them. I

with. The A Level syllabus is

chose to apply and will look back on

hope you will seriously consider

formulaic at points, but rewards a

the preparation period as one of my

doing likewise.

sound knowledge of grammar and

most enjoyable times at Sherborne. I

syntax and offers the opportunity to

am deeply grateful to the teachers

‘ End

What’s the problem with

PORNOGRAPHY? Head of PSHE Seana Cummings poses a challenging question – one of many considered by our students in the course of a year According to recent research, people aged between 12 and 15 now spend more time online than they do watching television. And while there are many positives associated with the internet, including the opportunities it provides for learning, communicating and creating, there are also some risks. Worryingly, for example, 39 per cent of boys aged 14 to 17 admit to regularly watching internet pornography.

This is a concern for a number of reasons. For example, work by the Office of Children’s Commissioner and Middlesex University (2014) has shown that regularly viewing pornography leads young men to form unrealistic attitudes about sex and relationships, including the belief that women are simply sex objects.

The images and scenarios portrayed bear little resemblance to the real world, and repeated viewing has been shown to have links with more sexually permissive attitudes and a greater acceptance of casual sex. This may explain why STIs are becoming more prevalent. This work has also linked children who regularly view such material to other risky behaviours such as multiple partners, sexting and increased use of alcohol and drugs in sex acts.

So what can we do about it? This is not simply about setting filters to maximum, although recent changes by the Government require strengthened filtering in a school’s provision of the internet to help protect children from inappropriate content such as cyber bullying and radicalisation as well as pornography (something we have had in place at Sherborne for many years). Nor is it merely about warning the boys about the dangers of pornography – although both of these prevention measures are vital.

As part of our PSHE provision, we play the light-hearted game of “Planet Porn vs Planet Earth”. In this, we discuss the unrealistic nature and expectations depicted in pornography. We teach the boys what positive and healthy relationships look like (and not just those of girlfriend or boyfriend). We complete activities to promote positive body image (highlighting character skills rather than physical appearance), build confidence and self-esteem through role plays, and continually work to embed resilience through a course designed around a spiralling programme where many issues are revisited in more depth at age-appropriate levels.

In summary, if we can instil in young people a belief that all good relationships are built on respect and not bullying, on equality and not power imbalances, and on trust and good communication, then we equip them to function in the adult world in ways that are healthy, respectful and, ultimately, more likely to contribute to their flourishing. That is our objective in PSHE.

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STEPPING INTO THE DEPTHS Theology at Sherborne is alive and kicking, thanks to the students’ love of debating, says Head of Theology, James Crawford “RIVERS, PONDS, LAKES AND STREAMS THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT NAMES, BUT THEY ALL CONTAIN WATER. JUST AS RELIGIONS DO THEY ALL CONTAIN TRUTHS.” MUHAMMAD ALI The late Muhammad Ali may have been known more as fighter than a theologian, but he summed up an important part of what we try to cover in Philosophy and Theology at Sherborne. Through studying, discussing and sometimes sampling

studying Buddhism in depth for the

comic look at the tension between

revamped GCSE that begins next

science and religion and was well-

year.

received by the boys. There was

Philth, the philosophical debating club, went from strength to

even a discussion with the author about the issues that the play raises.

strength. Highlights this year have

Next year, we look forward to

included Mr Ward and Mr Tatham

getting out of Sherborne a bit more

having a public debate about

to visit religious buildings and meet

whether the Bible or the Harry

faith leaders. We hope to visit some

Potter books are a better source of

places of worship with the Third

ethics for today’s society.

Form and build on the positive

Meanwhile, Hugh Johnson (U6e)

experience of The God Particle by

gave a very entertaining

visiting art galleries and theatres to

presentation on what atheists can

see how artists respond to key

take from religion, and Simon Rose

philosophical ideas.

(5b) shared with us his findings on the importance of infant baptism in the Early Church.

We will also start teaching the new GCSE and A Level syllabuses and are offering for the first time an AS

parts of the various world religions,

What has been really encouraging is

in pure Philosophy for the A Level

we try to evaluate which bits we

the way these debates and

Enrichment syllabus. Heraclitus said,

think are true and which bits are less

presentations have led to wider

‘You can never step into the same

helpful.

discussions among the assembled

river twice.’ Happily, that experience

audience. The Lower Sixth have in

of perpetual unfamiliarity is a sign of

particular been very vocal and

health, growth and wellbeing – both

confident about expressing their

in the department, and, most

opinions and have generally been

importantly, among the students we

very enthusiastic about the society. I

teach.

For instance, this May we experienced Buddhism when ten Tibetan monks visited Sherborne.

They delighted the Third Form boys by teaching them the hand signals involved in prayer and by letting them use their long horns. They

hope this enthusiasm continues next year.

went down so well that we are

Finally, along with Crossfire and the

looking to make them a regular

English Department, we booked a

fixture in the school year,

theatre company to perform the

particularly as the boys will be

play The God Particle. This is a

70 |

Pigs and Parachutes SHERBORNE ADOPTS BOTH A GENERAL AND A PARTICULAR VIEW OF HISTORY, ExPLAINS GILES REYNOLDS

Historians are often described as

classmates on values such as

latter category is a lecture on the

either parachutists or pigs. The

heroism, compassion and

assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem,

former have a bird’s-eye view of

sacrifice.The value of

which played an important role in

the passage of time, while the

commemorating the Great War

the Vietnam War.

latter are in the dirt searching for

was the topic of a lecture by

individual truffles.

Professor Hew Strachan at the

With the A Level syllabus moving towards smaller periods, the Department tries to maintain a wider perspective with its extracurricular activities, and uses the parachute to pick out prime truffle-hunting ground in its choice of syllabus.

The Third Form decamped en masse to the battlefields of Flanders and France earlier in the year. During this memorable visit,

Chalke Valley History Festival. He reminded us that it is not enough just to look back, but also important to think about lessons we can learn for the future. These include the need to watch out for small crises, and the way in which wars can develop very different

Learning from these rich and varied experiences is crucial to the study of history. For example, a trip to Berlin was an opportunity for Fifth Form boys to reflect on what they saw, and the way history has been shaped in the 20th Century. As Archie Macintosh (5a) wrote:

agendas as they progress, and

“On the third day of our visit to

prove almost impossible to end. A

Berlin we went to visit the famous

contemporary example of this is

Reichstag building. It was late at

found in the ongoing Syrian

night and the large building stood

conflict.

proudly at the end of a square, set

the group viewed locations on the

Overall, the festival gave students

Western Front where triumph, but

from the Fourth Form and Lower

more often disaster, occurred,

Sixth the chance to listen to both

adding flesh to the bones of our

parachuting lectures about great

Third Form course. Upon their

empires and topics that truffle

return, the boys gave some

hunters would find more

excellent presentations to their

interesting. An example of the

only a few metres away from the River Spree. The modern dome above shimmered in the moonlight and the immense columns of the entrance towered above us. After a short journey in the lift, we entered the glass

| 71

dome. From our entrance we

topics as diverse as the parallels

reason, however, for Americans’

could immediately see straight

between the Crusades and IS,

enduring fascination with

down into the main meeting room:

Demagogues in history and

Jefferson is his centrality in the

hundreds of purple seats and a

Historical Films, all accompanied

forming of their country. His views

giant eagle sat beneath us, where

by lively debate. Meanwhile, Harry

have later been adopted by an

men and women such as Angela

Clark (L6a) and Tom Brooke (L6d)

uglier side to American politics,

Merkel would soon be sitting.

delivered excellent talks to the

with unsavoury characters such as

Sherborne Historical Society.

Andrew Jackson claiming to be

Thomas’s was based on his

Jeffersonians. This, however, is

Vellacott essay and its conclusion

only an incidental aspect of

on why Thomas Jefferson retains

Jefferson’s wide attraction. He was

huge fascination for Americans

someone who truly embodied the

suggested that: In the end,

United States and many of the

Americans and others admire

contradictions and virtues which

Jefferson as someone who had a

this phrase entails.

Linking to our studies of Germany, we realised how the viewing platform symbolises that the German people should always be able to see what is happening in parliament in order to stop the horrors of the 1930s ever happening again. We had all heard about the building in our lessons, but it was truly amazing to see it in real life and experience the sheer significance of it. Most definitely one of the highlights of my trip”.

clear and noble vision of his country. It was in building this vision that the USA was created by Jefferson. This aspiration has not been fulfilled, nor will it ever be, because of its over-idealised nature. However, Jefferson’s ideas

In the Sixth Form boys are

about self-government, liberty and

encouraged to give talks of their

natural rights continue to inspire

own to the History Boys Society.

because of their adaptability to

This year, they have presented on

any time or situation. The main

The clear and noble vision of America that Thomas wrote about is certainly worth studying at this time when uglier views are surfacing. It is my hope that Shirburnians who study History with both the parachute and the pig will be better equipped to use individual examples to think better about the wider picture.

A new exploration in

Geography MATTHEW ALLEN (3G) TAKES A WALK ALONG THE NILE WITH THE HELP OF LEVISON WOOD’S TV SERIES We have studied a variety of exciting topics in Geography this year. In my opinion, the most interesting and in-depth has been the River Nile.

We watched episodes of Levison Wood’s series called Walking the Nile, which was both intriguing and enjoyable. The first episode focused on Rwanda, covering the Rwandan genocide, and poaching in Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda. The Rwandan genocide was a battle between the Hutus and the Tutsis. We learnt how awful the genocide was for the Rwandan people and about the huge numbers of deaths.

We had to choose whether we wanted to do a project on the Rwandan genocide or poaching, and I chose the genocide. I investigated the causes and the effects that the event had on the country. As Stephen Kinzer said, “Rwanda has emerged from the devastation of genocide and become more secure and prosperous than anyone had a right to expect.”

The next episode on Levison Wood’s journey studied the creation of a new nation state, South Sudan. The southern side of the country split off from Sudan, and, in 2011, became the newest country in the world. We were asked to produce videos explaining the formation of a new nation state and the challenges South Sudan has faced since its independence. I found this quite hard, but I came out of it with a better skill set then when I started the topic.

While studying South Sudan, I remembered a talk from Ash Bhardwaj who was the cameraman for a small portion of Levison Wood’s journey from the source of the Nile to the Mediterranean. He shared his experiences of almost being eaten by a crocodile, the things he ate, the challenges he faced and the struggle of motivating himself to walk every day. It provided a great insight into the expedition and the whole year group was very engaged.

The final episode allowed us to explore water politics. We learnt how people rely on the Nile so much for everyday life. 160 million people rely on it for drinking water, and it is also used for transport, agriculture, leisure, and many other things.

In this section of Walking the Nile we studied the Renaissance Dam series.

This is a dam currently being constructed on the Blue Nile in Ethiopia. This has caused massive disputes about water consumption in the region, revealing the fragility of the desert landscape and the effects of population increase in the area.

Having engaged with Levison Wood’s journey along the Nile, I now have a much better appreciation of how Africa changes and the differences between landscapes, countries and culture. So many people think of Africa as a country. But it is of course a continent, with a rich and varied history, and it’s changing all the time.

TOMORROW’S WORLD

PREPARING FOR

| 73 In relation to the practical aspects of the course, one student spoke about the confidence he had developed in using materials and discovering the processes that shape and form them. He said this helped him design and create props for his House Play, and also develop imaginative three-dimensional components for sculptures in Art. A level sees an impressive array of crosscurricular themes emerge from the study of Design and Technology. For example, pupils learn the chemical principles of metallurgy and consider the historical events of the 20th century and how they influenced commercial design. They are often surprised to see the link between the horrors of the development of technology in the Second World War and their “trickle down” to household products in the 1950s and 1960s.

The new specifications call for the students to gain an appreciation of contemporary design and its influence over today’s society. So in future, students will study the development and application of computing technology by the Pixar Animation Group, and the innovative architecture of the late Zaha Hadid, as well as considering the rise of technology such as that found on the Tesla electric car.

D

esign and Technology equips students with a range of important skills for life, explains Peter Chillingworth. Many academic subjects are now working to reformed specifications, and Design and Technology is no exception. With summer launch events of the new curriculum on their way, I spent some time discussing the subject with Fifth and Sixth Formers, in an effort to see what they found most valuable about studying it.

A major component of Design and Technology is assessed through coursework, which will now make up a half of all marks. When asked how they feel about this, students said they appreciate the progression and confidence developed by handling text, images and colour to help them analyse, condense and present complex information. They all expressed a pride in the presentation of their Design and Technology portfolios and went on to explain how the skills developed helped them present their Geography fieldwork reports, their House Play programmes and their History essays.

Moreover, they will debate the benefits and challenges of the miniaturisation of products, the concept, development and application of artificial intelligence and the ways in which Smart materials are enhancing the products we take for granted.

As one existing student commented, with so much of the specification focussing on how the commercial world of design and manufacture is structured, factory visits such as this year’s trip to see the Carbon Composite manufacture of the Merlin helicopter rotor blades at AugustaWestland become crucially important to the syllabus.

It is clear that the new specifications provide us with an opportunity to offer an exciting and relevant Design education that prepares students for tomorrow’s world, and equips them with skills that can be used throughout their education and beyond.

74 |

Drama A YEAR OF HIGH

| 75

IAN READE, HEAD OF DRAMA looks back on the standout performances of a very full year in Sherborne’s theatrical life It has been another busy year in the life of the Drama department, with a clutch of very high-quality house plays, some inspiring visits and a set of brilliant examination results.

Abbeylands performed a hilarious version of The Ladykillers, with the highly impressive Milo Clesham (4f) absolutely stunning the audience with his careful and beautiful playing of the redoubtable Mrs Wilberforce.

This was followed by Mr Winter’s innovative take on John Godber’s classic play Bouncers, which was framed by a Grotowski-inspired piece of improvisation, involving a group of stage hands building the set in front of us. The Lyon House cast beautifully and powerfully captured the total alienation of the colourful array of characters.

Lent term saw Mr Robinson’s final show as Housemaster of Wallace, The Curse of the Pharaoh’s Tomb. This also received many plaudits for its performers, especially Tomos Evans (U6e), James Foulger (5e) and Will Thorne (5e).

Sweeney Todd by Stephen Sondheim was the Joint Schools’ Musical. Alice Goodearl and Edward Smith (U6c) took the lead roles of Mrs Lovett and Sweeney Todd, playing alongside a host of girls and boys from Sherborne Girls, Leweston and Sherborne School. They received huge applause every night, which was richly deserved. This was a great show to work on: wonderfully gory and with a lovely cast. Mr Henderson’s orchestra played faultlessly and the set design and lighting were brilliantly realised. No more Sondheim for a while though, please!

James Allan’s (U6m) superb direction of Twelve Angry Men thrust The Digby firmly into the limelight during the Lent term, and his cast of highly able actors did not let him down, creating tension and drama in abundance.

This performance was swiftly followed by the Lower School Play, Lord Of The Flies. This is a very difficult piece to do well, but Miss Cant did a cracking job in her directorial debut, really bringing out the energy and savagery of the boys. Milo Clesham again wowed audiences with his accurate and impassioned rendition of the lead role, but was this time accompanied by an equally gifted antagonist, the dynamic and magnetic force that is Tom Wheeler (4m).

While all this was going on in the Lent term, the practical examinations were also taking place.

There were two GCSE pieces of 30 minutes in length, and both were improvised, creative adaptations. The visiting moderator was highly impressed by the work, commenting on the boys’ evident confidence, experience and the zeal with which they approached the work.

| 77

The Lower Sixth performed a

the same Grimm’s Tale, The Girl

longer-than-expected section from

With No Hands. The two pieces

The Pillowman by Martin

could not have been more

McDonagh that was near-faultless,

different, with the first being

with two boys achieving almost 100

played in a very realistic style and

per cent in the assessment. This

the second in the style of Stephen

piece was particularly interesting

Berkoff with elements of Frantic

for me to work on because, for the

Assembly and dance. Both pieces

first time, we employed the ideas

achieved very high grades and

of the great British theatre director,

rounded off the examination

Katie Mitchell. This was slightly

classes beautifully.

nerve-wracking because it involves a whole lot of preparation work before going anywhere near the text itself, but produced superb results. All boys will now be taught this approach, which can be used on scripted and devised pieces.

The School’s drama scene was further enriched with a host of workshops, shows and trips, including Frantic Assembly, Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time, Splendid Theatre’s The Odyssey and

The highly talented and incredibly

Kneehigh’s Dead Dog In A

hard-working Upper Sixth

Suitcase.

produced two fantastic versions of

ROWING INTO THE

RECORD BOOKS v

47 days: it’s longer than a typical GCSE exam period, and greater than the duration of Euro 2016.

It’s also the length of time that it took two intrepid Old Shirburnians to row as a pair across the Atlantic – setting a new record in the process.

On 15 December 2015, Jack Galsworthy (e 13) and Freddie Wright (m 13) set off from La Gomera in the Canaries. They were participating in the 2015 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge: a gruelling rowing race across the waters from Europe to America. They arrived at English Harbour, Antigua in the early hours of 6th February 2016, in 10th position out of 26 boats.

Completing the Challenge in 47 days 14 hours 46 minutes, and at the age of just 21, they became the youngest pair ever to have rowed across the Atlantic.

But what inspires two young men to take on such a challenge? For Jack and Freddie, it was a School lecture they attended in 2010, about precisely this feat. As they left Sherborne – Jack to study Biomedical Science at King’s College, London, and Freddie to read Mechanical Engineering at Bristol University – they did so with adventure in their hearts.

Jack would be the first to admit he was not particularly sporty at school, even though his

motivation and sheer determination are there to be seen. Since leaving school though, Jack has shown his true sporting colours. He has completed the London Marathon, and the 1,200 mile Rome2Home cycle ride from Rome to Winchester – joined in the latter by Freddie, who represented the 1st xV at rugby and 1st xI at football and left school on an Army Scholarship, and another Old Shirburnian, Archie Hamilton (c 13).

As impressive as these sporting endeavours are, for Jack and Freddie they have been about much more than personal achievement. Between them, they have raised an incredible £65,000 for the London based Brain Research Trust: a charity that both boys have family reasons for supporting. Since 1971, the Trust has promoted and supported research into various aspects of neurological diseases – among them causes, treatment, prevention and cure.

Back to the rowing challenge: sounds idyllic, doesn’t it, gliding calmly through serene waters? As Jack and Freddie discovered, though, this notion couldn’t be further from the truth.

For a month and a half, their home was a 6.9-metre boat, the Blue Steel. They kept going

on a rota of two hours on, two hours off; attempting to take on 10,000 calories a day from rehydrated meals. At one point, Jack and Freddie were effectively trapped inside their 2m x 1.2m cabin by storms raging outside – the wind fiercely strong, and the waves 40 feet high. To add to this, their GPS broke and their iPod stopped operating, leaving them to rely on a compass and a handheld GPS. They eventually emerged, hot and exhausted, with their backs having seized up.

| 79

On the other hand, the intense beauty of their surroundings helped Jack and Freddie see through such experiences. In addition to the incredible watery landscape that surrounded them, the young adventurers were accompanied by an array of fauna during their journey. This included a storm petrel named Simon, who adopted them from day one, as well as dolphins, killer whales, a marlin, and even a great white shark.

To say that Jack and Freddie’s task was tough is an understatement.

What is more, until forming the idea of carrying out the Challenge, neither had ever

Two Old Shirburnians row the Atlantic – becoming the youngest pair ever to complete the challenge.

rowed – making their accomplishment all the more remarkable.

Jack and Freddie’s adventure lasted about two years, from the moment the idea first came to them, until they pulled into English Harbour to a waiting crowd. Would they do it again?

“Without question,” answers Freddie, without hesitation. “It’s not just while you’re out there, it’s the whole experience: meeting others, attending events, fundraising”. Next time, the pair would like to take on the longer, tougher, Pacific route, and Freddie also has his eye on a marathon and Iron Man events.

Freddie is keen to encourage others to follow in his oar-marks.

“Try things you wouldn’t necessarily think you would like,” he advises. “You need to have a sense of adventure and the determination to succeed, and you need to go out and enjoy what life can throw at you. My best piece of advice would be to challenge yourself”.

80 |

WHO’S IN BLUES?

FERGUS TAYLOR (c 10) Fergus was in The Green from 2005-2010 playing for 1st XV in 2008 and 2009 and the 1st XI in 2009 and 2010.

He graduated in 2014 from UCL (BA Classics, First Hons.) and completed his Masters in Latin Literature at Oxford University in 2015 where he is now studying a two year Masters in English Literature. He gained rugby blues at lock in both 2014 and 2015, each time playing in the Oxford pack with Ian Williams (f 09). Fergus is now captain of OURFC. He remains an enthusiastic cricketer and is the principal match manager for Pilgrims cricket where his hard-hitting batting and leg-spin bowling are seen to the fore.

| 81

RECENTLY I WAS ASKED BY ONE OF MY YEAR SEVEN PUPILS, JUST AS, NO DOUBT, SO MANY TEACHERS OF LATIN HAVE BEEN BEFORE, WHY WE BOTHER STUDYING THE SUBJECT – what, in essence, is the point? Not wishing to bore him

the ancient world from a

do in preparation for the

with the well worn and, at this age, largely inaccessible

relatively young age.

rugby season. The study of

archetypal reasons for studying the language that one

Indeed, Classics is a very

Classics then, perhaps

so often hears – expansion of vocabulary, exposure to

personal subject with each

paradoxically we might

linguistics, an increased understanding of English

person bringing their own

note, stimulates

grammar, development in logical reasoning, use of

particular perspectives and

independence and free-

praeteritio, etc – I replied by saying that personally the

socio-cultural ‘baggage’,

thinking but also

reason why I ‘bother’ with Latin and, indeed, the ancient

so to speak, to each text.

underscores the

world generally, is because I find studying it fun.

Accordingly, Classics

importance of diligently

proved to be a great

applying oneself to the

I shudder to think of teaching my prep school self. I was

degree to study as an

task at hand.

simply appalling at Latin – inaccurate, badly behaved,

undergraduate with its

lazy, and very uninterested. Having come to Sherborne

wide-ranging content and

In a world in which people

School in 2005, I, fortunately, and largely as a result of

inherently interdisciplinary

seem to increasingly

being awful at both Art and DT, chose to do Latin for

nature – history, literature,

desire instantaneous

GCSE. The increased time now allocated for studying

philosophy, sociology,

gratification and to be

this subject crucially allowed for an amalgamation of the

politics etc - providing a

more focused on the

previously uninteresting language with Roman culture

perfect platform for my

‘obvious applicability’ of

via the medium of its literature. I, and I know my

personal and intellectual

an academic subject to

classmates, particularly enjoyed studying Cicero’s lewd

development. It also

their career and life,

character assassination of Clodia Metelli in the Pro

seems that my interest in

Classics seems to me to

Caelio. It is no surprise that such a slanderous and

the more risqué Latin

be a necessary antidote

obscene depiction of a noblewoman was especially

texts, which was cultivated

and, though it is one that

accessible to a group of fifteen-year-old boys at

at Sherborne, never left

can certainly be

boarding school!

me: I wrote my

legitimised within these

undergraduate

increasingly prevalent

Not having a clue what I wanted to study at university, I

dissertation on Petronius’

frameworks of evaluating

decided to take Latin as one of my A Levels on account

Satyricon and my masters

worth, ultimately is a

of it being generally well regarded by universities. This

thesis centred around

subject that should be

proved a happy coincidence as it was during these two

Catullus’ love poems. Yet,

advocated based on the

years that my interest in Latin and the ancient world was

this is not to say that there

pure enjoyment and

strongly established. In Upper Sixth, I was very fortunate

are no tough aspects to

reward of its study.

to study two authors who were perfect for a group of

studying Classics –

schoolboys – Catullus and Tacitus – and, indeed, had

learning noun and verb

two excellent teachers – Simon Tremewan and John

inflexions or translating

Storey – who gave us the scope to explore and consider

thousands of lines of Ovid

these authors’ works in a discursive and independent

in several days certainly

manner. Indeed, the subjectivity of Classical texts,

stand out to me in this

derived, in part, from the great disparity between their

regard. However, these

environment of production and our environment of

sorts of efforts, though at

reception, is, without doubt, what makes the subject so

the time arduous, are

enjoyable for me. The subject lends itself to innovation

themselves often fulfilling,

and free-thinking, with one being able to draw one’s

much in the same way that

own, valid conclusions about works and aspects of

I find the hours of fitness I

Fergus Taylor (c 10)

82 |

TRADITIONS

OLD and NEW FREDDIE CORRIE-DEANE (L6b)

T

E x A M I N E S T H E S C H O O L’ S C u S T O M S , A N D H O w T H E Y H A v E E v O Lv E D

raditions are formative in all societies. They help

The Good: the one that many of the boys are most

us remember and celebrate the past, control

thankful for avoiding (even if they don’t know it) is

what is happening in the present, and shape the

‘Ginger Week’, devised by a former Lyon Housemaster.

future. But traditions are also fluid constructs. As a

Based on the (in)famous Kitchener’s Test in India, it was

result, traditions change, get discarded and, from time

described as “seven consecutive days of even stricter

to time, flourish – all depending on how we develop as a

discipline, and grimmer austerity than usual in order to

community.

tighten the sinews, shrink the stomachs, sharpen the mind and generally toughen the spirit”, with new and

Among the survivors at this School are its various publications: The Blue Book, The Black and White and, of course, The Shirburnian. All have changed over the years, but nonetheless remained stoically recognisable.

If you visit the archive in The Courts, you will see the vast collection of Blue Books from ages past – all about A5 in size, all containing a list of boys, staff and events, and all, for a short time, a core part of the School’s life. All have helped boys from years past to navigate through their life at a school so different from, and yet so similar to, the Sherborne School we know and love today.

Other much-loved traditions remain with us to this day.

These include the names of the sports pitches, The Upper and The Lower, which derive from the way the hill slants. Except it doesn’t – not any more, at least. The two areas were flattened in 1869, but the name has stuck with us to this day.

More serious traditions to which we still adhere show respect and solidarity with fellow Shirburnians past, present and future. The most notable of these is the upholding of silence on the Chapel Steps, as we file past the names of those lost in the World Wars. On a lighter, but still serious, note is the School Song, The Carmen. It is a much-loved part of School life, traditionally sung at Lists at the end of each term.

Some traditions have not aged as well as these examples. They have either been stopped due to changing images and ideals, or merely fallen out of practice and then into obscurity. I like to put these into the categories: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

interesting methods being thought up each year.

The Bad: this one is currently falling out of practice. It is the tradition that no boy should walk under the Monks Conduit; now be found in the Market Square on Cheap Street. The tradition likely stems from when the Conduit was actually located in The Courts themselves, prior to being moved into town.

The Ugly: or rather, The Hencoop, was the nickname for the secluded curtained pews near the Chapel vestry.

This was a product of different times and different standards, when Housemasters’ wives (the hens) sat in the curtained area of the Chapel during School services.

Suffice it to say, no such tradition exists in the School today.

Some School traditions are experiencing a revival, such as the raising of the School flag when boys are in residence. Traditionally, it was raised whenever the Governors were visiting the School. Then there is the renaissance of the Sherborne Penny – the traditional stamp of the Governors – which now serves as the symbol for the School. It appears on everything from the sports centre, to School publications and the 2016/17 sports kit.

Who is to say whether any of these traditions will still be around in 50 years’ time? What we do know is that, as long as this School exists, it will have traditions to help guide the next generation of OS on their path through life.

| 83

SONGLINE

WALLACE TO DINING HALL VIA THE ABBEY

By Ed Pyman (U6e) Definition of Songline: In Australian Aboriginal belief, a route through the landscape which is believed to have been travelled during the Dreamtime (or Alcheringa) and which features a series of landmarks thought to relate to events that happened during this time.

Click, Clack. (Door-button) Cold-pace-quickening, head-bowing, hand-pocketing cold – or otherwise dark but lit by distant street-lamps; past wooden railings along which he (=I, assuming that a songline is something passed-down) used to run his hands.

Gravel, some parts deeper than others, and hedges on either side, which have for years tempted the many to push in the individual in boyish scuffle.

Roofs, birds. Left, right, left (the road). Hamstone, sun reflects. Polite nods. aggellv aei

anmr auqiV (Third Form vocab test). Right, left, right. “Gentlemen’s Quick Cut, no appointment necessary”. Paprika, Bar 1701 – “they literally don’t ID”. Jerram Gallery.

Steps, two or more at a time; Field of Remembrance (requiescant in pace); “don’t walk on the grass, Dr Hamon says it’s consecrated”.

The Abbey ominously lit: sun dial (“What is it? Why is it?”) near which a pheasant once alighted; “we should never take this for granted”, “what’s the difference between a gargoyle and a grotesque?”, “morning, how’s it going?” Cobblestones splash. “Just do your best and above all play it as a piece of music” (call home night before grade 8 violin,

outside the Abbey). “Welcome to the Abbey Church of St Mary the Virgin”, “Poem of the month”.

West Door smaller door high above it “what’s it for?” “I don’t know but I went up there for Ascension Day and we sang a hymn in each direction and then got a Boys’ School breakfast, which was a big deal at the time.” (ex-Sherborne Prep boy +Sherborne Abbey

Chorister – Harry Reynolds u6e)

Creak, swing. “Thank You.” “Excuse me, are you from Sherborne School? What’s that building there?” “that’s the English department.” “Thanks.” Stychomythia, fear as smooth and black as a staple, post-post-modernism (RdP’s board, visible through the window).

Lamp post – incongruous and a bit anachronistic, but pretty. “mate, you got a card?” “yeah, sure.” Beep.

Wall to the left along which he used to walk. “Good tunes on the way into school, sir?”

“No, podcast on baseball and sabermetrics, actually.” (Chat with Mr Harris, L6-ish) Gravel. “you not coming to lunch, Cameron?” “Morning.” “After you, you’re welcome.”

ElEctric Minds

Our vision is impaired by simulated blinkers, directing our sight at the technology within our palms and around our wrists like handcuffs on a prisoner.

Who is captured by the virtual and barred from the

physical, yet this mechanical convict is a blameless sinner.

social robotics steal his emotion as white light insomnia darkens his brain to the point that memories are all that remain

Of the days that he read books instead of Wikipedia, didn’t watch netflix and went to the cinema.

now he learns his history from multiple authors cloaked in mystery and forms his relationships through online activity.

He has lost his understanding of what existed between him and his senses. When his expression conveyed sentiment, not emoticon faces

that mask him with an online alias, an impersonal being that perverts his emotion into hatred and ignorance, empowered by the faceless.

Yet, this illusion of liberty is broken by the dominion of machinery that controls this sightless and shackled prisoner

As he marches the lonely march towards the secluded enclosure of social media.

Jake Bishop (U6d)

the lynx is waiting, on its bed of grass, for night to fall. Waiting and watching, the prey he sees, is no good,

so he retreats into the trees.

He spies his prey, and ready to strike Jumps out of the bushes.

the small animal retreats in fear, And the lynx closes in.

He makes the kill, with a fatal strike,

lifts up his supper, and walks off with pride.

But in the bushes, the yellow eyes, have sighted the lynx’s supper.

With a stealthy movement,

the secondary killer moves in. the stealth animal, another lynx,

Moves in. ready to steal he watches, and waits. Until the time is right.

Jack James (4d)

tO pUsHkin

thousands and thousands sailed on ships, rode on horses, Walked on feet, crawled on knees; Just to come to you.

Just to say goodbye.

Just to say a goodbye. not expecting: From your lips a reply, From your eyes a glance, From your nose a breath.

You asked for your name to be remembered in one heart. insteadit’s in thousands and thousands and millions.

200 years on you’re still loved.

200 years on, across the country in bronze You’re still living. if your if your if your i’d ask

lips could still move, eyes could still open, nose could still breathe – you one question;

How does a man, who’s long gone Who for so long has not written How does a man, who’s long gone Who for 200 years has not taken How does a man, who’s long gone receive more love, More care, than someone Whose feet still have an Earth to tread.

Alex Warren (l6g)

and dead, a word or said, and dead, a step! and dead,

i thought of writing a sonnet. Why waste the time? it would be a repetitive

list of perfect, perfect – too sensitive! rather i lie down alone, out of place

And awake till the natural light comes through. reduced to one emotion, i wait for

that next evening to come, for then my core is restored simply by talking to you. to be a friend is not to be disposed,

love of a different sort, not a goodbye. i know that i cling to false hope, but i

smile for hope does exist. My eyes closed.

Alex Mcnair scott (l6m)

tHE OnlY MOMEnt WE WErE AlOnE the only moment we were alone i saw a red balloon

lazily swooping over the church the only moment we were alone i heard you say nothing

a cold wind kissed my eyes

the only moment we were alone circles gathered near us

and i knelt where you slept i knew you once

you’d reach behind your ear to keep your wayward hair

while i would sit, bear witness say nothing, only stare

you’d yawn and curl your toes, glance to your glaring phone

and in my room, standing there i’d know who was alone

Gustav Von Weyhausen (U6b)

tHE BOY And tHE FisH the green grey grass sways strong through the crystal water, seeing every small stone.

the ice-cold wind Bites your naked hand, With the rod lying softly, impatiently waiting For the walloping monster From the deep to give your quiet line that tight tug,

Until your heart leaps out of you And the reel screams As the line rapidly races through the arched rod’s hoops.

the struggle begins Between boy and fish, Where your hand clenches the rod And reels the moist line in As fast as a race car On the home straight.

Your heart’s pulse pounds inside As the line screams For the last time While your friend wades cautiously towards the frantic fish.

A stone placed carefully steadies the net Waiting like a puma ready to pounce.

then suddenly i jump for joy!

My rod crashes into the river-fresh water, And i see the glimmering bar of silver in the strong, sturdy net. i know my work is done.

Fred pettifer (3b)

WHO’S IN BLUES? SIR DERMOT TURING (h 78) was educated at Sherborne and King’s College, Cambridge. After completing his DPhil in Genetics at New College, Oxford, Dermot moved into the legal profession working first for HM Treasury Solicitor’s Department and then for Clifford Chance where he was a partner from 1999 – 2014.

Dermot is the nephew of Alan Turing (h 31) (1912-1954), who is well known to have been one of Bletchley Park’s leading cryptanalysts as well as a founder of the science of artificial intelligence. Naturally enough, Dermot has followed closely the gradual revelation of the achievements of the Bletchley codebreakers from the first release of materials in 1975 and the re-opening of Bletchley Park to the public in the early 1990s. He now serves as a trustee of Bletchley Park and pursues interests in history and code-breaking.

90 |

AN UNEXPECTED GUEST HUMPHREY GRAHAM (4M) The night was dark and cold. Tom and Anabelle sat huddled together for warmth. Their evening meal sat in front of them. It was very basic. It consisted of some bread, cheese and half a grape or two. They were finding it hard at the moment to get by. All their wealth depended on Mrs Jones but unfortunately she had gone on holiday so had no means of supporting them.

“Rotten night,” commented Anabelle in a tired voice. “Abysmal,” agreed Tom. It was true they had not had a night like this for a long time. Anabelle took a piece of cheese and sank her teeth into it. “Shame she had to leave”. There was a long pause. “She thought those Virgin Islands more important than us.”

She said as if trying to get a rise out of him. But Tom just sat and said nothing. Look, are you actually going to –“. There was a long rasping bang on the door.

There was a moment’s silence. They both looked at each other. Who on earth could be calling at this time of night? “Who is it?” Tom asked suspiciously. Then the door swung open and he slunk inside. He had a large mean-looking stature with large bony shoulders. He had a nasty white scar above his left eye, and sharp yellow-stained teeth. “Fancy seeing you tonight Eric” said Tom rather coolly. “Well just thought I’d pop in and say hi Tommy” replied Eric with an evil grin. Tom blushed. He hated that name, especially in front of Anabelle. However, he had to be careful: Eric was a lot bigger than he was and had a history of being violent. Eric swaggered over to the food, popped a whole grape into his mouth and placed his large frame next to Anabelle. She grimaced at the smell of his hair, matted with grease. “So why are you here tonight, Eric?” she said with such artificial sweetness Tom was surprised. Eric didn’t spot it. After swallowing the grape and reaching for another piece of cheese, he said “Food I suppose.” Tom could feel his temper rising. “Don’t suppose you have any of your own?” “Do you now?” cackled Eric, showing those terrible teeth again. “Why can’t you scavenge off some others?” blurted out Anabelle. An ugly silence followed. Then Tom realised that if they let him stay any longer he would eat the little food they had. He scurried over and placed himself between Eric and the pitiful amount of food and crossed his small furry paws.

Eric gave them both a contemptuous scowl and slid away his tail sticking up in mock defiance. “Somebody has to take care of rats like him,” proclaimed Anabelle, her whiskers twitching in anger. “I hope Mrs Jones has become bored of those Virgin Islands because we’re running low on scraps”.

FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD

From the horse’s mouth…

Who better to judge the quality of Sherborne’s cuisine, than the Shirburnians who daily enjoy it? Here are just some of the boys’ reflections:

“There is an amazing variety and there are always different options.”

James Le Maistre (3g)

“Sherborne School’s food is exceptionally good; the wide range of food for breakfast, lunch and dinner is huge.”

Toby Whigham (3c)

“The School food is magnificent in presentation and taste, and the staff are kind and helpful.”

Joseph Heber (3f)

Each day, my team is responsible for preparing almost 2,500 meals. As a result, the amount of food that passes through our kitchens is immense: take 180 litres of milk and 125 kilos of meat per day, as an example. In addition to the regular meals, we provide a wide variety of extra catering for School events. These include parental visits and match teas, where we make more than 300 rounds of fresh sandwiches and accompanying homemade cakes. All of this we ferry around campus in the catering van, the window of which displays a sticker demonstrating my stubborn yet proud allegiance to AFC Bournemouth.

A busy timetable of academic work and sporting commitments keeps the boys very busy – resulting in a need for them to be amply fed. If boys use their full meal allowances, there is never a risk of going hungry. Take breakfast as an example, where diners can choose from a Full English, continental pastries, toast, cereal and yoghurt. Then there are the snacks and fresh fruit available in the Boarding Houses, to keep any stomach rumbles at bay.

My team and I cater for a wide range of dietary needs, and offer plenty of meal choices to support a healthy lifestyle. I am always happy to receive constructive feedback, and take pride in the work that goes on behind the scenes to ensure that we stay in tune with the boys’ needs.

I feel privileged that, at Sherborne, boys and staff alike react so positively to their catering brigade. And I am proud that, despite the pressures of serving more than 300 pupils in less than 15 minutes, the Dining Hall is a place of relaxation and welcome.

Catering Manager

I arrived at Sherborne in May 2000 as an employee of Sodexo, who then held the catering contract with the School. Five years later, when the Dining Hall was refurbished and catering was brought back in house, I duly switched my allegiance to the School.

From there, I embarked on a mission to galvanise the catering department, and realise its vast potential.

Today, we have a dedicated team of caterers who are very much part of the wider School community. We pride ourselves on the quality, quantity and variety of the meals we provide, and encourage the boys to understand the basics of cooking and nutrition.

Adrian Williams

FORGET wATERY CASSEROLES, OvERCOOkED vEGETAbLES AND LuMPY CuSTARD. SHERbORNE IS RENOwNED FOR THE HIGH quALITY OF ITS MEALS, AND THE DEDICATION OF THE STAFF wHO CREATE THEM. HERE ARE SOME REFLECTIONS IN CELEbRATION OF THE SCHOOL’S CuISINE.

If there is a corner of Sherborne School where the shadow of

Peter Watts has not fallen, then I have yet to discover it. For

almost 20 years, Peter has been a driving force in the academic,

pastoral, sporting and spiritual life of the School; seeking to

encourage, foster and develop the potential of students and staff alike.

He arrived in 1996 from the world

of research physics – an experience that informed the character of his classroom teaching in its

pragmatic, exploratory and

energetic approach. Students

appreciated the atmosphere of a classroom that resembled a

commercial laboratory, with an

exciting end in view, rather than a dry, syllabus-driven scholarship.

From Peter’s appointment as Head of Physics, it was a small step to Head of Science – a post he

occupied for four years. This

In search of the Aristotelian

found its apogee in his

as Housemaster of School House.

the development of the young,

Professional Development, then as

overlapped with his 10-year tenure Again, his abilities as a team player and team leader came into their

own here, as he gathered a strong and diverse tutorial team around him. The members of the House

responded to a housemastership that was challenging, accepting, and above all inclusive. He was

keen to promote a ‘Ministry of All the Talents’ in the House – a

concept that reflected Peter’s own broad and catholic approach to life.

Peter’s zeal for all sports was

notable. An unbeaten season for the Mini Colts side that he

balance between mind and heart in Peter treasured the opportunities,

both in and outside the curriculum, that led to an enrichment of the

understanding of personal growth.

Examples of this aspiration in action are many and varied

throughout School life. They

include the careful and thoughtful presentation of Junior Chapel

addresses, Peter’s pride in the

achievement of the School House

boys who won the bow Award for service to the community, his active involvement in the

programme for team and

leadership skills on brownsea

appointment first as Director of

Deputy Head Pastoral. To these appointments he brought fine

management skills, and a deep

understanding of the importance of the security and integrity of relationships in the School

community. And this, at a time

when such areas were under the

intense scrutiny of the public. It is also unsurprising that the

Independent Schools Council sought Peter out to lead a

programme aimed at encouraging university graduates to consider teaching as a career.

Island, and his participation in the

Peter leaves Sherborne to take up

reconciliation process in Rwanda.

independent school founded by

preparation for his charity swims in

Peter’s career at Sherborne has

Gibraltar with Diana, william and

an outpouring of his restless

the complete development of all

coached, the high degree of

contact in his basketball, the endless length-pounding in

open water: all were channels for energy.

2009 School trip to observe the

been marked by a desire to foster members of the community. This

the headmastership of a new

the Prior Park Educational Trust in Emily. No wonder the barbary Apes are a little nervous ...

PAUL CARLING

STAFF FAREWELLS

P E T E R W AT T S

94 |

L A U R I E P H I P PA R D

H A R RY S T R A U G H A N

This year we say a mightily fond farewell to

After two years at Sherborne as a respected Physics

polymathematician Laurie, who has lit up the

Master and tutor, Harry Straughan leaves the School to

Mathematics Department in the last four years. She

live and work in Prague.

leaves the School to take up the position of Head of Mathematics at King’s Bruton.

Harry is a dedicated and hardworking teacher, with a

As a classroom teacher, and latterly as second in the

enthusiastically encouraged the students in his care, and

department, Laurie has been a much-loved teacher and

will be hugely missed by the Physics Department.

thorough knowledge of his subject area. He has

colleague. Her innate kindness, strong understanding of and interest in mathematical ideas, and ability to treat both strong and weak students with equal temperance, are qualities she has in abundance. She is forever flying between lessons, extra lessons, DofE meetings and her tutees in Lyon House – generously giving her time and extraordinary energy wherever it is required.

The Duke of Edinburgh scheme has grown in status under her stewardship, and is now extremely well regarded by boys, parents and staff at all levels. A notable recent achievement was helping a team of boys achieve their Gold requirements while still at School – the first group to do so for 17 years. But equally memorable in Laurie’s eyes is the teamwork shown by

In addition to his academic commitments, Harry worked as a rugby coach to the junior boys in his charge – a contribution that they greatly appreciated.

Having turned to teaching after a career in the Royal Navy, Harry was also a welcome addition to the School’s CCF RN section. Here he served as Commander, and used his undoubted expertise to enhance the boys’ allround experience.

The sense of order and timing that served him so well in the Navy was also evident in his duties in School House.

The boys were always in bed punctually, and the evenings passed with military efficiency.

the numerous Bronze Award teams that have gone out

Harry’s help with School House charity work has been

in all weathers to achieve their goals.

greatly appreciated. As driver of the emergency vehicle

Laurie has been an active member of the Cross Country Club. Although not now so active, owing to the built-in obsolescence of her joints, she remains a keen walker with her husband.

Laurie takes her considerable talents (did I mention that, as an accomplished violinist, she used to lead string

for the Hillfort Challenge, he paid characteristic attention to detail and organisation. This left other staff free to enjoy the walk, knowing that all participants were safe and covered.

Harry’s new venture in central Europe is an exciting one, and we wish him well.

KESTER JACKSON

quartets and piano trios, and taught violin as well?) to Bruton with our love, our thanks and our very best wishes for the future.

T I M DAWSON

CAMERON WAKE Cameron joined Sherborne as a Graduate Assistant in

DONALD SHORT

2013, and made an immediate impact.

Donald joined Sherborne from Magdalen College

As a classroom teacher, Cameron showed expertise

School in September 2015, and gave a year’s service to

beyond his experience. He has fostered an enjoyment of

the thriving Art Department.

Geography among all of the boys he has taught, across

A passionate artist, he was keen to impart his knowledge of cyanotypes (blue prints) to his students. It was evident that Donald could develop the visual language of the students in his care to complement the excellent teaching that already took place within the department. His love of architecture, painting and drawing has benefited his students and we wish him well in his future endeavours.

all year groups. His academic expectations have been high, and his contribution to the department has been wide.

Cameron will be remembered for being furiously competitive, and for getting the most out of the boys and teams on a sporting front. Guiding a team to the National Under-15 Cricket final will be one of his proudest moments, but he has also ably coached the 1st

J A M E S WRIGHT

XI Hockey and Rugby teams. Cameron’s passion for

STAFF FAREWELLS cricket has seen him turn out for the Bow House side on

On his return to this country, Alan initially coached at

numerous occasions. He is always prepared to value his

Dauntsey’s before accepting a coaching role at

wicket, unless the Head of Theology can intervene to

Sherborne. When he met and later married Mardeen,

give others a chance. Many of the current boys and OS

they decided to settle down in the UK. He proved a

will remember the captain of the MCC declaring him in

great asset to the School – gradually taking on more

the nineties, much to his dismay.

responsibilities alongside his commitment to cricket. He managed the School Shop, tutored in Harper House,

The boys in Wallace have benefited from his tutoring and care as a resident tutor, where he always put them first. Cameron has always been prepared to give extra time to the boys, and we hope he enjoys the sunshine in Dubai.

T O M M ASON

and coached rugby and football.

Alan’s greatest asset was the enthusiasm and commitment he showed in everything he undertook. His noise level, encouraging and cajoling the – invariably highly successful – Colts C rugby players, is legendary.

The boys have always appreciated his genuine concern for them to do well. Equally, at cricket practices and

ALAN WILLOWS Alan Willows was an outstanding schoolboy cricketer, and played for English Schools at Under-15 level.

matches, he would be on the ground well before anyone else arrived. He would be setting up bowling machines, inspecting the wicket or giving individual tuition, so that boys had the best possible experience.

Brought up in Brighton, it was logical that Sussex

For several years, Alan played minor county cricket for

showed an immediate interest in him – signing him as a

Dorset and club cricket for Sherborne, before being

professional cricketer in 1980.

appointed as Dorset County Cricket Coach. Again, he

Unfortunately, it was a time of financial restraints on firstclass counties, and a period when overseas players were

worked tirelessly to improve the standard of cricket in the County.

admitted to the first-class county scene. Counties were

Alan has now decided it is time to return to South Africa,

prepared to pay huge sums of money to attract the best

and to SACS. This will allow Mardeen, who has

test players from abroad. As a result, young,

supported Alan in England for such a long time, to

homegrown talent suffered.

return to her extended family. We wish the whole family

When Sussex dispensed of Alan’s services, it was their loss. It proved a gain though for a huge number of young cricketers-to-be, as Alan devoted himself to coaching. He spent the English winter in South Africa, and returned to England for the summer months. Most of his time in South Africa was spent at SACS School in Cape Town. And it was from here that a number of boys went on to play a high standard of cricket, as a direct result of his expert coaching.

well, and thank them for their contribution to the School. Above all, so many will miss Alan’s cheerful greeting and infectious laugh. Many boys will be grateful to Alan for instilling in them a love of the game of cricket, and for the outstanding coaching that they received during their School careers.

ANDREW NUR TON

Remembering the Past, Anticipating the Future As Ed Pyman (U6e) bids farewell to Sherborne, he reflects on his time as Chapel Warden. What

follows are highlights from his final address to the School.

“Sherborne has been the major part of my time growing up. It has given me so much: I hope to leave with great friends with whom I remain in

“I already feel nostalgic about my

“If you’re thinking that I’m not

time at Sherborne, even though I

remotely qualified to talk about the

have the best part of a term to go.

future beyond Sherborne, of which I

This nostalgia is triggered by various

by necessity have no experience, I

disparate things – among them

couldn’t agree more. If, though, I

being places that hold indelible

were allowed to speculate, I would

memories for me, and the happiness

say that the future fills me, as I’m

of junior boys reminding me of my

sure it does many of you, with a

own happiness at their age.

sense of trepidation, but also with great excitement and hope. Part of

contact, and a slightly better

At the same time, though, it is nearly

understanding of an increasingly

time to move on. I don’t feel as if it

changing world and my relation to it.

is, because I have so much more to

If anyone asks whether I have

learn in so many different areas –

enjoyed my time at Sherborne, as

academically, socially, culturally,

distant family members often do, I

spiritually. But perhaps there are

reply that I have loved it. And that is

lessons I have to learn that can’t be

no exaggeration. I have been

learned in this sheltered and

“I know that I will miss this School,

extremely fortunate to study in so

comfortable environment.

and miss even more those who gave

brilliant a school, with such inspiring teachers. I have also been lucky in having some outstanding friends throughout, who have been of great support to me during the ups and downs that invariably characterise teenage life. The same can be said of my tutor, and the other teachers I have had.”

And perhaps, if William S. Burroughs was right to observe that “the aim of education is the knowledge not of facts, but of values”, those areas in which I have so much to learn are of lesser importance, and Sherborne has already done its job.”

this hope is that Sherborne will have prepared me, if not for anything, then for as much as a school could have done. And I hope the same for all my contemporaries, when we finally go our separate ways.”

it meaning for me. But I anticipate life after Sherborne with great excitement and, as hard as it is, I need to look more to the future than to the past.”

Ed Pyman (U6e)

Sherborne: A Parent’s Perspective One parent shares their thoughts

today. The Music School, Chapel life

always been there, listening, offering

and Crossfire have been particularly

help but never judging, while the

prominent in our son’s time at

Head of Sixth Form has given

Sherborne. Port, cheese, fine wines

balance and perspective when the

I can still vividly remember that first

and the coffee houses of Sherborne

demands of House and School

Sunday of the first term at Sherborne

town have all added richly to his

conflict.

School. Conversation in the car was

development over the last five years.

on the Sherborne journey, now

their son’s time is nearing its end.

stilted, the mood at lunch pensive –

In a world where parents are

all of us putting on a brave face, not

Members of the Common Room

expected to adopt a hands-on

daring to talk about the inevitable

have, without doubt, also played

approach to their offspring’s

‘goodbye’. Five years later,

their part. They dedicate their time

upbringing, it was a difficult decision

everything is so different: our ‘little

equally to the classroom and to

to entrust our son’s adolescent years

boy’ has thrived and flourished,

nurturing those in their charge. They

and education to a boarding school.

grasping every opportunity that has

are each a modern equivalent of Mr

My wife and I have no regrets in

come his way with both hands. He is

Chips. As a consequence success is

sending our son to Sherborne

at ease with himself, socially

applauded, while failure becomes an

School. The numerous car journeys

confident, and relaxed in the

opportunity to learn and develop.

up and down the A303 have

company of the fairer sex. He has

The Housemaster and Tutor have

provided ample time to embrace

also done well academically.

been instrumental in our son’s

those topics that every parent

progress. Together they have

should raise with their children.

Although not a sportsman,

provided a safe environment where

opportunities have still abounded

difficult questions can be asked and

With the final term’s school fees now

whether on the stage, in the cut and

honest answers given. Matron is an

dispatched and the Commem Ball

thrust of the debating chamber,

unsung heroine. The House has

beckoning, my wife and I are

singing, or on the parade ground. It

been pivotal in providing a sense of

grateful, proud parents: our shy,

is these experiences, together with

collective identity to a year group

blond-haired little boy has matured

many other aspects of School life,

that would otherwise be an eclectic

and developed into a young man of

that have shaped and developed

bunch with little in common. At

distinction – a fine testament to

‘our little boy’ into the person he is

those key moments the Chaplain has

Sherborne School.

98 |

A YEAR ON THIRD-FORMER ALEX MEWETT (3A) REFLECTS ON HIS TRANSITION TO THE SENIOR SCHOOL

| 99

REFLECTIONS SINCE MY FIRST DAY AT SHERBORNE, THE SCHOOL HAS FELT LIKE A SECOND HOME TO ME. ALTHOUGH AT FIRST YOU MAY FEEL LOST AND CONFUSED, A FRIENDLY PREFECT, SIXTH FORMER OR MEMBER OF STAFF WILL ALWAYS BE ON HAND TO ASSIST YOU. IF YOU ARE FEELING UPSET OR HOMESICK (WHICH I AM SURE YOU WON’T), YOUR MASTERS WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HELP. Throughout the whole Third Form year, you learn much

As a resident of

feel long when you first

that will be crucial for both your future tenure at the

Sherborne, I can tell you

join, you quickly get used

school, and your life in general. Especially in the Third

that the town is the perfect

the length, as the masters

Form, you learn to respect the boys in the years above

mixture of rural and urban.

vary the lessons so that

you. And you often make good friendships with these

Even though it is based in

you are never bored.

boys – particularly with those in your house. The older

the heart of the beautiful

boys in School House have been extremely kind, and I

Dorset countryside,

am certain that this is reflected in all of the houses.

Sherborne has the mind of

Although living in a community with nearly 100 other

a city: it has some of the

boys may seem daunting, it is actually a lot of fun;

best schools in the

everyone will be up for a game of football in the barge

country, and the Abbey is

yard or table tennis in the games room.

one of the most beautiful

At Sherborne, you never run out of things to do.

buildings that I have ever

To conclude, I have thoroughly enjoyed my first year at Sherborne School. While the jump up to senior school is a challenging one, it is made fun by the freedom the

seen.

School gives you in the

amazing town of Sherborne, you will never find school

In lesson times, you have

this and are still in two

life boring. For those boys who like sport, the swimming

different relationships with

minds about which senior

pool, the squash courts and the gym are very easy to

masters than you do at

school is right for your

access, and your member card will let you in all of these

prep school. This is

son, I would deeply

places. In addition, many drama performances are

because members of staff

recommend Sherborne as

staged, and music concerts put on, throughout the year.

here don’t just want you to

the one to go for.

Quite apart from the fact that the Music School is one of

learn; they want you to

the most impressive school buildings in the country, and

excel. They won’t do this

that Sherborne is the top senior school for this

by handing out massive

discipline, music is simply a fascinating thing to get

assignments and multiple

involved with at Sherborne.

essays every week. Rather,

Whether this is co-curricular, or experiencing the

they will guarantee that you are having fun learning the topic – that way, you learn more.

Although one-hour lessons

town. If you are reading

100 |

A NEW HOUSEMASTER HAS BEEN APPOINTED FOR WALLACE HOUSE, AND IT LOOKS LIKE HE’LL BE A PERFECT FIT

| 101

WALLACE WELCOMES A FAMILIAR FACE OLD SHIRBURNIAN ANDY NURTON (M 95) HAS BEEN NAMED AS THE NEW HOUSEMASTER FOR WALLACE HOUSE. HE, ALI AND THEIR THREE CHILDREN, DAISY, BEATRICE AND ISAAC, WILL TAKE THE REINS THERE FROM SEPTEMBER 2017. AND, AS IS THE CUSTOM, ANDY HAS ALREADY TAKEN ON THE MANTLE OF GUIDED TOURS AND PARENTAL INTRODUCTIONS. Perhaps it is worth asking why, as an Old Shirburnian,

“Boarding allows us all to

the enabler, the man at the

Andy has returned to his old School – first as an

experience new things in a

helm of the ship, who can

accomplished Spanish teacher, and now as a

safe and happy

offer Shirburnians safe

Housemaster. “I grew up here, in an inspirational but

environment”, he

passage.

safe environment that afforded me security while also

continues. “We can take

allowing me to grow as a person”, he answers. After

on a string of new

moving away to university and working in London for

challenges and make our

three and a half years, he decided to come back to his

own decisions about what

roots.

we pursue further. We also

Not that he had ever really left. For, during all those years, Andy continued to play cricket for Sherborne – spending seven years as Club Captain and three as Chairman. His parents continue to live in the town, too – his father, Mike, being a former member of staff and a Minor-Counties cricketer with Oxfordshire.

positive and negative, of our actions and our interests. Alongside academic progress, all other genuine interests can be supported within

By now, any reader will have detected the sports theme running through Andy’s story. Indeed, cricket offers the perfect analogy for his new role: it allows individual brilliance within a framework of looking out for each other, exactly as life in a Boarding House should be.

As a rugby referee, Andy encounters a wide spectrum of boys beyond the School gates. He is also a huge film buff, and promises to bring his collection of more than 500 films with him to Wallace House.

learn the consequences,

So, what is a Shirburnian?

As one himself, and as the carer for many more, Andy Nurton is in little doubt.

“A Shirburnian leaves School with his feet planted firmly on the ground. He is a peopleperson, who can interact with people from any background and is always

the School structure.”

prepared to give things a

Ambitious for Wallace,

outward-looking view on

Andy hopes to maintain

the world, and supports

the current excellent

each boy’s progress in all

academic standards, while

areas”.

go. Sherborne provides an

embracing talents in areas such as drama and music, and instilling a passion for sport. The Housemaster is

And why, in one word, is Sherborne such a special place?

“Opportunity”

102 |

Sherborne Science Festival

The inaugural Science Festival at Sherborne School was an

Illustrating just how far the realms of science stretch was

unprecedented success; in just two and a half days nearly

Dr Sujata Kundu, who practically demonstrated the world

2,500 students from five separate schools attended seven

of material science. Our Science Scholars were treated to

lectures from a wide range of high profile scientists.

an insight into the critical role of science within industry

Their passion for science was infectious and I’ve got the bug! Batyr Serikov (4a)

The event was opened by Jon Chase who tapped into the enthusiasm of our Junior School and unlocked elements of science through the medium of musical rap.

Concurrently, Emily Grossman, who some will know from her appearances on the Sky1 television programme Duck Quacks Don’t Echo, was inspiring Fifth Form boys. Emily, who holds a triple first in Natural Sciences from Cambridge, helped to break down the old-fashioned and antiquated stereotype that scientists are dull and boring.

from Graham Cole CBE, who explained how his love of mechanical engineering eventually resulted in him becoming the Chairman of AgustaWestland Limited. After this came a lecture from Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt, who opened our eyes to a possible future of ‘the web’. The audience was fascinated to discover just how ‘organic’ the web was becoming. For example, I was astounded to realise that the programme that requires us to prove we are human by determining a distorted sequence of letters and shapes, is being used by certain other programmes to learn how to read the written word, and thus enable all written books to be digitised. It’s wonderful to learn of boys already using such experiences in their UCAS

It made me realise that science was limitless, that

applications for their chosen university.

materialised. Malhaar Shah (4a)

The lectures concluded with the well-known, and highly

The evening lecture saw Sherborne welcome Professor

Her lecture captured the imagination of the boys who were

Bruce Hood who inspired many to think differently about

captivated by her obvious enthusiasm for space

a range of scientific topics - the succession of questions

exploration and astronomy.

there are endless possibilities and dreams can be

from the floor after his lecture indicated that he had left his audience thirsty for more.

Dr Kate Lancaster encouraged us to think about a world after fossil fuels and opened the door to her world of using laser technology to fuse elements together to release energy, or in her words, ‘try to build a star on earth’.

regarded, space scientist, Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE.

Inspiring! Charlie Peele (4a) I must thank all of the speakers who took the time out of their busy schedules to visit us at Sherborne and for the lasting mark they have left. Sherborne has already helped to cultivate one very notable scientist, Professor Alan Turing; perhaps the next is on his way!

Jon-Paul Manning, Master of Biology

Across the Airwaves

104 |

v

I joined Radio Sherborne at the beginning of this academic year, and it has become a part of School life that I really enjoy.

Matthew Cann (L6e) offers words of wisdom to would-be fellow radio presenters…

Being a presenter on the station has taught me a lot about communication, in particular when it comes to interviewing and debating (most notably with Bently Creswell (4a) on the EU Referendum).

The most important part of being on air is learning to keep going, no matter what ‘mother-radio-nature’ throws at you. There have been occasions when the music doesn’t work, or I sneeze halfway through speaking, or the person at the mixing desk forgets to mute the microphones. In all of these situations, you simply have to carry on.

It is also important to understand what can and cannot be said on the show. If you have a quote from somewhere, in particular a newspaper, it is crucial that you check its validity. Fact checking is just as essential; likewise being able to pronounce names correctly.

At one point I couldn’t remember the names of any of The Beatles, which were relevant to the next song. It was very awkward, and made me appreciate the necessity of having notes on standby.

As a presenter, I am in charge of my show and the content I feature on it. My inaugural show, The Matthew Cann Music Show, encapsulated music from all types of genre and performer. With this in mind, I have had shows starting in the Baroque period, and ending up in 2016 South Korea.

I always try to keep my shows current. If there is a particular event going on, I will play a piece that is relevant to it, or if someone has died, I will play a tribute to them.

My final piece of advice to would-be presenters is to keep your cool while on air. You will undoubtedly face lots of challenges, which you will have no choice but to overcome. Do not underestimate the effect of nerves, which will change your tone of voice, and in no circumstances stop – it will disrupt the fluidity of the programme, and reduce its quality.

I thoroughly recommend that you have a go at presenting a show, as you will pick up a lot of skills associated with it. If you want to be interviewed for a show next year, please don’t hesitate to ask.

TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE Will Vitali (U6f) and Fergus Hamilton (U6c) unravel the

Sherborne tradition of appointing two Head Boys.

When we were selected as Head

helping new boys settle in, setting

make mistakes, and understand the

Boys, we both felt nervous as well

the wheels in motion and

benefits of hard work, firm

as excited. Becoming Head Boy is

motivating our team. Fergus, on the

friendships, teamwork and

such an honour, and something

other hand, had to continue to

commitment.

neither of us could have

motivate older students as the

anticipated. But it also a scary

tough external exam season

Being Head Boys has strengthened

prospect to take on a job of that

approached. The emotional and

our friendship, and built our trust in

nature, and at first we didn’t know

physical effort required to carry out

each other. Not only have we

exactly what it would entail.

these two roles would make it very

benefited from sharing our duties

difficult for one person to sustain.

this year, but so, too, has the School.

Unusually, Sherborne appoints two Head Boys each year. Which begs

The role of Head Boy alters

the question: are two Heads better

according to time, needs and

So, in answer to that question: yes,

than one?

changing commitments. We both

two Heads are better than one.

knew that we had just over a term We found the two Head Boy jobs to

to make our mark – and to do so,

be surprisingly different from each

we needed to become role models.

other. Will’s role, in the opening half

This doesn’t involve being a perfect

Will Vitali (U6f)

of the year, was primarily about

person yourself. Rather, you need to

and Fergus Hamilton (U6c)

Sherborne

Sport

wHERE CHARACTERS ARE MADE Sport has a central place at Sherborne School. It is an activity through which our students are shaped for the future. They develop habits of resilience, discipline, courage and fairness that will stay with them forever. That is why it is so crucial to their development. It is a means of their formation.

Even a cursory glance through the following pages will show you the value of sport to our boys. whether they are getting stuck into tackles on the rugby pitch, adopting the rigorous discipline of regular endurance training to improve their stamina on the athletics track, or making daily trips to the pool to build their strength for a gala, they are learning something fundamental about what it is to be human.

They are learning that, if you stick at your task and strive to improve, you will grow as a person. You will become more fully yourself, and achieve all that you set your sights on.

And of course, because so many of our sports involve team work, our students also learn about mutuality and cooperation. For example, consider what Harry Guy (L6b) has to say about the value of sailing alongside people of all ages and abilities.

You learn from each other, he says, and you grow together. The strong help the weak, and the weak help the strong, in different ways. There is symbiosis, shared participation. There is respect.

That is the thing that jumps out at me from the reports of our sporting accomplishments this year.

No matter whether you play for the Firsts or the Fifths, whether you excel in your chosen discipline or simply have fun, your contribution is valued, because you are a part of the whole that makes our School such a special place to live, learn and laugh.

I don’t just mean that you play for the team as much as for yourself, but that you represent the School, of which we are all so proud.

So when I read about the bravery in the tackle shown by Hal Little (3a) from the Mini Colts A Hockey team, I feel a surge of pride. when I think of George Case’s (3m) remarkable achievements in the Tetrathlon, I know that his success is a result of hard work, dedication, and no small amount of encouragement from his friends, family and teachers.

It is vignettes like these that stick with me from a review of our sporting year. Alongside the wonderful successes, the winning of cups or victory over rivals, these glimpses into the personal formation of our boys are deeply inspiring. For they show what sport does at a school like Sherborne: it makes people, and community. It makes us who we are.

Dave Guy, Director of Sport

Rugby Some 329 boys were a part of the Rugby fraternity during the season, and played more than 175 competitive fixtures. The Mini Colts A Team enjoyed particular success by winning the Dorset and wilts County Cup. Preparations for the 2015-16 Sherborne School Rugby season opened with pre-season training on the dry surface of the school playing fields. More than 120 boys attended, and then took part in six fixtures at Monmouth prior to the start of term.

110 |

The 1st XV enjoyed a great season, building on the strength of a well-drilled pack and the inherent pace of the backs.

They won nine out of 12 matches, losing the other three, but one match in particular stands out.

Unbeaten for almost two years on The Upper, in October the team came up against a strong Wellington College side, the last opposition to have recorded a victory there. The opposition fielded several schoolboy internationals and had posted a 40-point victory over Millfield just seven days earlier. However, Sherborne won a memorable match 34-29, thanks to tries from captain Fergus Hamilton (U6c), Carl Fletcher (U6a), James Fenwick (U6m) and Archie Bourne (L6g). The captain was one of four first-team members to represent Bath during the season. Meanwhile, Zak

Smith (U6m), George Wallington (U6d) and Ed Milner (U6f) were key figures in the 1st xV’s on-going success.

The regular season ended with the side putting 67 unanswered points past a beleaguered King’s, Taunton side, with centre Caspar Bailey (U6m) scoring a hat-trick during a ten minute purple patch in the first half. A 22-7 victory at home to St John’s, Leatherhead secured the team’s place in the quarter-finals of the RFU Super Cup, with Tom Lewis (U6a) scoring two first-half tries.

| 111 Unable to find their form for a while, the 2nd XV won just three out of nine fixtures. Nonetheless, the side rallied to record a 36-10 victory over Cheltenham, in a game that saw Marcus McGrigor (U6c) and Rafe Yewdall (L6g) score two tries apiece. While Jeremy Newman (L6c) and James Hague (L6f) were significant discoveries in this match, Archie Maclean Bather (L6f) was the standout player in a strong side led by captain Henry Wilson (U6g). His inspirational form was matched by Angus Huntington (U6e), and the season closed with a morale-boosting 10-3 victory at Downside in the team’s best performance of the campaign.

Enjoying their rugby immensely, the 3rd XV won five out of nine fixtures.

Notable victories were the 62-7 drubbing of Marlborough in October and a 41-7 victory over Ryde on The Upper. One highlight of the Marlborough game, a match that featured plenty of adventurous running rugby, was a well-taken hat-trick of tries from James Kennedy (U6f). The team’s closest encounter was the game against Abingdon, in which both sides cancelled out one another’s strengths and Sherborne lost 8-7. Seb Key (L6a) and Ben Pugsley (L6d) excelled in a side that relied on the defensive kicking of Dan Kendall (L6f). Tom de Montfort (L6a) was also a dominant figure, with Harry Reynolds (U6e) and Alex Copinger-Symes (L6f) both running in useful tries.

Six wins in eight matches represented an excellent return from the 4th XV, who were often indebted to Harry Clark’s (L6a) conversions for bumping up their scores. An outstanding team performance led to a 52-7 victory in October over Marlborough, in which Max Vinycomb (U6f), Tom Pertwee (L6b) and James Martyr (L6m) scored two tries each. The irrepressible Vinycomb, who was to total six tries in all from the second-row throughout the season, scored two more tries, as did Alan Hughes-Hallett (L6a) in the 40-22 victory over Clayesmore the following month. Five players appeared in every match: alongside Vinycomb and Clark were captain Jack Fitzpatrick (U6f), whose versatility enabled him to move from the back row to the front row in the pack, the vocal and persuasive William Ashley Miller (U6c) and the dependable Arthur Drake (U6b).

Nine wins and just one solitary In winning three of their six matches, the 5th XV did themselves proud, tackling with spirit and playing as a team. One disappointment was the severity of the 48-5 loss against a

defeat in 11 fixtures underlines the strength of the Colts A side, who built on their enormous success in

Bryanston 3rd XV in November. However, the 35-0 victory over

2014-15 by taking on all comers this

Wellington College offered great encouragement, with Tom

year. A run of five successive

Minchin’s (U6g) outstanding play enabling him to score one try and

victories included a 44-8 victory over

set up several others. Meanwhile, Jasper Jones (L6m), whose

Clayesmore, in which Sam Pope (5m)

energetic darts in midfield caught the eye, converted all five of the

scored two tries. Such was its

team’s tries. Gus France-Hayhurst (U6c) was an inspirational figure in

confidence in the strength and

the pack while, fighting for every ball, Tom Pertwee (L6b) provided

depth of its squad, Sherborne put

strength at the back of the scrum. The side was also able to benefit

out an entirely different 15 players in

from newcomers Misha Burkadze (L6a), Mark Yuen (L6e) and

each half. An astonishing match on

Damilola Adigun (L6a).

The Upper was drawn 33-33 with Marlborough, Sherborne were a try down on four occasions, until Nick Jonas’ (5f) late effort put the side 33-26 ahead. Marlborough then

Eager to perform well and training with real determination, the

scored a last-minute converted try to

Colts B team recorded six wins in their 11 fixtures. One highlight

level the match.

was the 56-7 win against Bryanston, in which both Jake Jackson (5a) and James Dixon (5g) scored twice. The match against West Buckland proved a personal success for player-of-the-season Guy Deverell (5m), who crossed the line four times, although Paddy Kerr (5g), who capped a great game by crashing over from five yards out for a perfect front-row try, was Man of the Match on that particular

Large victories for the team included a 52-0 win over Abingdon on The Upper, building on an early try from Felix Carey (5f), a 56-7 success against The Gryphon, a 55-10 victory

occasion.

on the final day at King’s, Taunton

Overall, the front row of Kerr, Ollie Palmer (5d) and James Dixon

which Billy Slim (5m) scored a brace

stood fast in the face of much larger packs, supported by the

of tries. Early in December, the side

second-row pairing of Milo Stampa Orwin (5a) and Ben Wiltshire

met Canford at Bournemouth in the

(5f). The back line of Tomas Ackerman Ferreira (5d), Harry Fisher

County Cup Final, only to lose 43-15,

(5m), James Pyman (5e), Johnny Page (5f) and Ali Nathan (5a)

with our tries coming from Dominic

offered pace in attack and a willingness to scrap for the team.

Prest (5d) and Fin McLoughlin (5g).

and a 45-17 victory at Clifton, during

Two wins and four defeats made up the Colts C side’s season. The larger victory was 31-19 against Ryde, Isle of Wight, during the course of which Seb Woodhouse (5b) finished off a memorable team try which had started under their own posts, and the same player also scored after a flowing team move during the 26-12 win against Marlborough. Led by captain James Foulger (5e) and vicecaptain Giles Cook (5g), this side displayed desire and passion, building on their skills set, fitness and understanding of the game.

Archie Macintosh (5a) was the standout player on account of his tenacity, most notably when the side was behind.

Speed, quick thinking and determination characterised the Junior Colts A team.

They completed the season with five wins and five defeats in their 11 inter-school fixtures. The side, having lost their first four matches of the season, then won their final five fixtures, including a finalday triumph against King’s, Taunton. One highlight was the comprehensive 67-7 victory over Poole Grammar School, in which Max Harrison (4m) and Will Westmacott (4c) both helped themselves to a hat-trick of tries. Harrison scored his second hat-trick of the season when Clifton was defeated 26-0. Tom Stagnetto

Despite heavy defeats against Bournemouth Collegiate and Abingdon, the Colts D team did not allow their heads to drop. They played well in losing 27-12 to Radley to finish the season with three games and three defeats.

The Abingdon game featured a try apiece for Cameron Bowden (5g), Oscar Leach (5e) and Tom Irby (5g).

(4a) was a powerful figure at centre, while the pack was dependent on the strength and commitment of both Alex Colville (4m) and Toby Collis (4m). This side also competed in the Langley Tournament, where they defeated Dean Close and Merchiston Castle.

The Junior Colts B team took a simple approach to their season: they just had to score more points than the opposition. Beating Abingdon 35-28, Clifton 35-22 and Bryanston 27-19 showed this to good effect, and the side even led 12-10 in their match against Wellington College, with ten minutes to go. Unsung heroes included Humphrey Graham (4m), always in the thick of the action, Charlie Millar (4c), whose transformation into a tackling machine was one of the season’s surprises, and Tom Munro (4d), who could apparently fold himself in half like a contortionist to steal the ball. The other standout players were captain Barney Stannah (4m), who controlled many a game, and Finn Whitehead (4g), whose solo try against Clifton will live long in the memory. The former scored a hat-trick in the 40-12 win against Cheltenham and the latter did likewise when Clifton were defeated 35-22. The season closed with a convincing 29-10 victory at Downside, during which Brian Tshivhase (4b) ran in three tries. After a frustrating start to the

114 |

season, three straight victories at the end of autumn brought a degree of self-belief to a growing Junior Colts C team. There had been five losses, four of them heavy defeats, as well as an enthralling 22-22 draw with Cheltenham, but the team’s fortunes changed after half term.

Brandon Bray-Sackey (4e) contributed two of the tries that helped defeat Canford 29-10, Hugo Blythman-Rowe’s (4c) sublime drop goal from distance helped earn a 32-12 victory at Clayesmore and, with a plethora of

Clearly indicating how they intend

tries, the side overran Clifton 43-0

to approach sport at Sherborne

in the final home game of the

School, the Mini Colts A side

season. The three try-scorers in the

opened their account with 10

final away game, a close-fought

victories in 11 fixtures. The solitary

encounter at King’s, Taunton,

defeat was a 22-0 deficit at

epitomised the battling qualities of

Wellington College, while 50

this side: George Hutchinson (4c),

points were secured against

Harry Case (4g) and Nick Van Kan

Clayesmore, Cheltenham and

(4b) were all good sources of

King’s, Taunton. Impressively, the

hustle throughout the season.

side kept the opposition to nil on six separate occasions.

A gallant Junior Colts D side struggled this year, notching up five defeats from five matches.

Undeniably the best team performance came in the home fixture against Marlborough on a sunny Carey’s in early October, with Iranola Folorunsho (4b) running in two long-distance tries before substitute Jacky Zheng (4e) scored his trademark bullish try in a 41-19 defeat. Enthusiastic throughout,

Eight victories in 11 matches showed that the Mini Colts B side could play an effective and successful game. They put 40 points past Clifton, Canford, Bryanston, and Gillingham. In these games, Luke McLaughlin (3c) scored a hat-trick as Clifton were defeated 41-5, highly effective prop Freddie Williams (3f) contributed a brace of tries against both Canford and

Many players scored tries

Bryanston, and Hugo Longrigg’s

throughout the season, but the

(3m) two tries helped ensure the

tally of 14 accumulated by Felix

40-14 success against

Connolly (3e), the highest try scorer

Gillingham. However, the team

at Sherborne this year, went some

was unable to score a single

way to explaining the team’s

point during the two defeats,

success. In addition, a strong and

while a home fixture against

well-knit scrum featured Jamie Hart

Radley finished in a 28-28 draw

(3e) as a formidable hooker and a

when the opposition scored a

Herculean back-row pairing of Hal

last-minute converted try.

Little (3a) and Toby Jones (3b). In the backs, Sam Reynolds (3c) ran fine angles at centre.

For sheer excitement, the season’s standout moment came at the end of the fixture at

the side was first captained by Will

Meeting Thomas Hardye’s at

Clayesmore. Sherborne’s early

Jowett (4e) and later by the

Bournemouth in the Dorset and

lead had been whittled away and

flamboyant Hosanna Serukenya

Wilts County Cup Final in

they trailed 19-17 with just

(4c), and benefitted from a hard-

December, the side performed

seconds remaining. Awarded a

working second-row partnership

with guts and determination to

penalty, the side opted to kick

between Barney Miller (4d) and

record a 29-7 victory and become

and, with nerves of steel, Ollie

Jasper de Pelet (4e). Jowett was

county champions. The team’s five

Dixon (3g) slotted it home to

ever-present in the side, as were

tries were scored by Connolly,

secure an enthralling one-point

Barney Trumper (4d) and Will Fane

Reynolds, Christian Johnson (3d)

victory.

Trefusis (4d).

and Rob Hoare (3c).

| 115 In completing the season with four wins and four defeats in their eight matches, the Mini Colts C team was involved in a series of high-scoring encounters. A comfortable 60-0 victory over Clifton saw Oscar Buxton (3a) and Hugo Andrew (3d) both score hat-tricks, while there were seven tries in all as Cheltenham suffered a 41-0 defeat. Yet, when the team travelled to Marlborough, they conceded four tries in each half and lost 48-0.

One highlight was the fixture against Sexey’s in which the team secured a memorable 38-35 victory in the final five minutes. The win came courtesy of Andy Zheng (3e) who, not content with a first-half hat-trick, bustled over for his fourth try of the game.

Match Report

Junior colts B XV 35 clifton 22

Perhaps one of the more unlikely matches played by any Sherborne team this season was the Mini Colts D team’s 50-33 victory over Bryanston. This game, which in reality featured a mixed D/E team, featured eight Sherborne tries, five of them credited to Andy Zheng (3e) and the other three to Jamie Buckley (3f), with Henry Le Cornu (3f) adding five conversions. This side was to win three and lose five of its eight matches, six tries contributing to the 36-0 victory over Canford and Jack Tucker (3c) scoring a couple of tries in the 24-7 victory over Bryanston. Bertie Miller (3f) and scrum-half Tommy Boylan (3c) were key members of the side, as were George Edwards (3g) and Alex Rivers (3m).

Playing just three games, in addition to the Bryanston fixture mentioned above, the Mini Colts E team suffered heavy defeats against Wellington College, Radley and Marlborough. Artie Stickland (3a) scored the team’s only try of the season with a well-worked effort against Marlborough. Ferdie Morgan (3g) put in sustained effort at prop, left-winger Edward Jones (3g) was courageous in his tackling, and Tommy Boylan (3c) was an effective scrum-half.

The School does not put out a sixth-string side every year, but the Mini Colts F team did play three fixtures. Sadly, all three were lost, with oddly repetitive scorelines of 10-35, 10-41 and 10-45. Nick Bai (3e) scored three of the season’s six tries, with Jamie Buckley (3f) adding two and Jordan Mwangola (3e) one. Will Miller (3b) was a keen hooker, and Haruhito Sawata (3e) was eager to impress as flanker in a pack well controlled by Tom Wood (3f). Scrumhalf Bob Verniers (3m) offered options, and the impressive pace of Joe Vandeleur (3m) was a key to unlocking defences.

Winston churchill said, “kites rise highest against the wind, not with it.”

28-5 up at half time, with the wind very much in our favour, the quotation seemed an irrelevance... or so we thought. clifton then used the wind and their considerable bulk to steamroll us with three tries. With just 10 minutes to go and the score at 28-22, the momentum looked hard to shift. But we took a collective deep breath and tried to tack our way up-field, keeping the ball away from clifton’s big bad wolves.

We may lack size but, with four members of the team in the school Wind Band and the rest capable of spouting enough hot air to power a medium-sized generator, we left clifton clutching at thin air for the next five minutes. Just when the coach was beginning to relax, we spilt the ball forward and the huge clifton centre humped another siege gun kick downfield. carried by the wafting zephyrs, it went over the 22, past the halfway line and hurtled like a rocket to the expectant Finn Whitehead (4g) inside our own 22. Finn caught it like a winter cold, but then sneezed into action, heading left, jagging back inside, spinning out of one tackle, evading two others, before accelerating like the wind with clifton and sherborne players trailing in his jet stream. it was a try worthy of winning any match, and then to show we were not a one-man band the team held onto the ball to deny clifton even a sniff of our line. the pessimist complains about the wind, but the realist adjusts the sails. We had sailed pretty close to the winds of defeat but came out on top in the end.

GilEs rEYnOlds

116 |

Match Report

clayesmore v Mini colts B

Following a much-improved attitude during the warm-up in recent matches, it was disappointing that the home team opened the scoring with a well-worked try inside five minutes. the focus of the pre-match talk had been on our response to tries that we knew would be scored by clayesmore’s finest. As such, the small yet fiercely loyal travelling support was heartened by sherborne’s defiant response. the rest of the half was a demonstration of unglamorous yet effective rugby; muddy under foot and with a greasy ball in hand, sherborne played tight around the ruck, sending first Hugo longrigg (3m) and then Felix chillingworth (3m) over for welldeserved tries. With the home team’s morale now draining before our eyes, the bullish boys in blue managed one more try through the lightning feet of roly newman (3c), welcoming the halftime break with the score 17-7 in our favour.

clayesmore’s half-time talk must have been a belter. the home team, wounded at the hands of a mere second-string XV, came out for the second half determined to put things right and the score became 19-17 with barely five minutes left to play. But what a five minutes! sherborne chased the re-start with renewed aggression, a ferocious tackle from chillingworth and the attempted steal from the ever-present longrigg resulted in a penalty for holding on. right in front of the posts and just a few yards outside the 22, many will wonder why it took so long to choose to go for goal. Many will also be surprised that it was the first time we have done so all season, but none would doubt the nerves of Ollie dixon (3g), as he calmly slotted the kick to give sherborne a memorable 20-19 victory.

WilliAM cHAdWick

Try of the Season

Team of the Month

Any aficionado of The

The 1st XV was voted

Barbarians will remember

Rugby School Team of

an astonishing try scored

the Month by the Fifteen

by Gareth Edwards

rugby website in

against the All Blacks at

October. Over a

Cardiff Arms Park in

thousand votes were

January 1973. Well,

cast, and Sherborne

anything the great Welsh

achieved 28 per cent of

backs of the 1970’s can

the vote after winning

do, so too, it appears,

five out of five matches

can the Sherborne Colts

in a hugely impressive

A team.

month of rugby on a very

During the November

competitive circuit.

fixture against Abingdon,

In securing this award,

Barney Humphrey (5m)

the side could point to a

broke from his own ten

talented and dangerous

metre line. As the ball

back-line as well as a

passed through

tough, uncompromising

numerous pairs of hands,

pack. “I am delighted

the side used space, skill

that the hard work and

and vision to retain the

commitment of the

ball and keep the move

players and coaches has

alive. No tackle was

been recognised,” said

made, despite the frantic

Director of Sport, Dave

defending of the

Guy. “The 1st XV squad

opposition, and

has played with courage

Sherborne retained and

and conviction.”

moved the ball at pace.

After a feast of running rugby, Ben Rainbow (5c) crossed the line for a highly impressive team try. Surely the best of the season.

Rosslyn Park Sevens Sherborne was the only school in the country to see all three age groups qualify from the group stages at the 2016 Rosslyn Park Sevens.

The 1st VII then defeated St Joseph’s College, Ipswich 42-14 before losing in the quarter-finals. The Under-16 team won their group, beating King’s, Taunton, Wycliffe School, Kirkham Grammar School and Shrewsbury. They faced a strong New Hall School in the last 32 and unfortunately lost the game. Meanwhile the Under-14 side, having led at half time, lost to Dean Close in the last sixteen.

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Bryanston Sevens Following several years of just missing out, the Sherborne 1st VII lived up to their pre-tournament billing as favourites by winning the Bryanston Sevens in March.

Captain Zak Smith’s (U6m) side won their group against last year’s winners Kingswood School, Wellington School and Exeter Chief’s AASE Academy, Truro College. Despite not playing their best attacking sevens, the strength of the side’s defence proved critical, as they restricted their group opponents to just five tries in these three games. Even after trailing at half time to King Edward’s, Bath in the semi-finals, a place in the final was secured by two tries from Alex Radford (U6a).

The final was against Bryanston, who had seen off Blundell’s in their semi-final and hoped to lift the trophy in front of their home fans. Sherborne had other ideas and, from the first kick-off, won by Tom Lewis (U6a), the scene was set, with Smith scoring after some good handling up the right-hand touchline. Leading 10-7 at the interval, the boys in blue came through to dominate possession and territory. Further tries from Caspar Bailey (U6m) and Radford meant that, at the final whistle, Sherborne had triumphed 22-7 and were declared champions.

SKIING - VICTORY IN THE ALPS After nine years of entering, the Sherborne team became British Schoolboy Ski champions for 2016 at the famous Lauberhorn Downhill World Cup course at Wengen, Switzerland. Overall, the squad excelled through some remarkably high quality skiing, showing that they can perform excellently under pressure. Two individual skiers performed superbly to win their individual classes. George Case (3m) came second in the Under-16 Giant Slalom, which left him in a strong position to challenge on the final day for the overall title. After a phenomenal effort, competing against many skiers a year older than him, George emerged as British Schoolboys Under-16 Slalom champion. Likewise, Will Perkins (4a) won the unregistered Under-16 combined title after two great slalom runs. Just as excitingly, the Sherborne team of Ben Nokes (L6m), Ben Pugsley (L6d), Tom Perkins (5a) and his brother Will won gold in the unregistered team competition. Sherborne put out two teams, led by Ben Nokes and by Matt Versloot (U6g), all impressing with their real purpose and maturity.

BASKETBALL This year’s Sherborne basketball side won six out of seven fixtures, losing only to Dauntsey’s. The most memorable game was against Bishop Wordworth’s where, having trailed by 10 points, the side rallied to secure victory by five.

Tunc Sardan (U6c), the team’s inspirational captain, scored 31 of the 72 points. Along with Sarp Sardan (5c) and Calvin Shu (U6g), Sardan scored freely in the 64-20 victory at Marlborough, before adding a further 30 points of his own as Clayesmore were defeated 59-39 to conclude the season.

118 |

It was another actionpacked football season for Sherborne’s boys.

Here’s how it unfolded...

With Head Boy, Will Vitali (U6f), captaining in goal, the 1st XI enjoyed a varied and exciting season. Prior to Christmas, the side played five times, winning once and losing on three occasions. Three more wins followed in the eight games after the break.

Cup success came against Bedales in the ISFA Cup, with

victory was a 3-1 success at Sexey’s, in which Marcus

first-half goals from Bertie Paterson (U6a) and Will

McGrigor (U6c) scored twice and Albert O’Rourke (U6m)

McCann (U6d) settling the affair. But the team crashed to

once as all four goals were registered before half time.

a 5-0 defeat at St John’s, Leatherhead in the next round.

Victories followed in the second half term against

A December trip to Lisbon took in a tour of Benfica’s

Marlborough and Dauntsey’s, thanks to two excellent

ground and gave the boys an experience of playing

headed goals from central defender Dan Kendall (L6f),

football abroad. The season then resumed, but only

George Crane (U6b) and Hamish Phillips (U6a) provided

three games were played in the first half term. The sole

valuable guile in midfield.

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A fast and talented 2nd XI won three of its seven matches, with an early-season 2-1 victory over Taunton School coming courtesy of Fuad Hasan’s (U6e) dipping volley and an Alan Hughes-Hallett’s (L6a) goal, the tall striker outpacing the tardy defence to fire the winner home.

Heavy defeats followed, with the side conceding nine goals to Downside and 10 against Taunton School, although left-back Ed Smith (U6c) managed to score a goal in each half as Wellington School were defeated 2-0. The season concluded with an evenly-fought game in the idyllic surroundings of Milton Abbey, a strike by Gian-Marco Hammond (U6b) and a bullet header from Jacob Hughes-Hallett (U6a) securing a 2-0 victory.

Meanwhile, four of the 3rd XI’s six fixtures ended in success. A 6-2 victory over Clifton featured a hattrick from top scorer Xandy Dembinski (L6c) and a brace from débutant forward Luis OsorioSuelves (U6g), while Dembinski scored another and the fiery Sam Hambro (L6d) two against Taunton School. A comfortable victory threatened at half time, with Sherborne 3-0 up and four shots ricocheting off the posts, evolved into an exciting second half with Taunton fighting back in style.

Sherborne held on to triumph 3-2, but it was a closely-fought affair.

Two more victories, against Dauntsey’s and Clayesmore, came late in the season. But it was in defeat against Warminster that Tom Minchin (U6g) scored the year’s best goal, powering down the right wing

Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I don’t like that attitude. I can assure them it is much more serious than that.

“

“

Bill Shankly

from halfway before firing viciously into the far corner. This team owed a great deal to the central defensive stability offered by Jacob HughesHallett (U6a) and Alex Stagg (U6f), while twins Fin (L6b) and Max Purchase (L6b) were thoroughly dependable and tough in the tackle.

120 |

Perhaps it is just as well that the 4th XI only played seven times, for their games contained sufficient excitement to brighten an entire season. There was an enthralling 4-4 draw with Millfield, in which Seb Fender (U6e) scored twice and Hiroki Ogawa (L6e) once prior to Sean Williams’ (U6f) dramatic last-gasp equaliser. This was followed by a 5-1

Jackson added further goals in a

victory over Clifton, Ogawa scoring

successful season, his driving

again and Jack Miller (U6a) twice, with

runs from midfield leading to two

Charles Langley (U6e) and the ever-

goals each against Bristol

resilient Toby Trumper (L6d) also

Grammar School and

adding their names to the score-

Marlborough. In defence, Guy

sheet. Trumper marked a Man of the

Pybus (5m) and Hori Byrne (5a)

Match performance against

were dependable and efficient.

Warminster with a goal, and Ollie

During the last match of the

Shale (U6a) completed his hat-trick as

season against Blundell’s, Benj

five second-half goals earned

Miller (5f) scored twice and, at

Sherborne a 6-1 win. The side also

two goals apiece, Symonds

racked up an impressive 9-0 victory

converted a glorious free kick

over Marlborough.

With Christian Robson (L6b) a rock in defence, Ben Nokes (L6m) adding pace on the wings and Ben Orton

from outside the 18-yard box to Following their undoubted

finish the season on a high with a

success across the sporting board

3-2 win.

in 2015, the, Colts A side won four of their six fixtures, with

The Colts C side enjoyed three

winger Harry Fisher (5m)

games this season, two of these

registering a brace to help see off

matches being 3-2 victories over

Clifton 3-1. Luke Watson (5a)

An emerging 5th XI played in just

Dauntsey’s. The home victory was

scored a first-half hat-trick in the

secured through two goals from

three fixtures, defeating Millfield 4-1

4-2 victory over The Gryphon at

Charlie Barker (5b) and one from

before losing 5-0 to The Gryphon.

the start of March. Skilful,

Alfie Jones (5e), while Barker

Henry Delamain (U6c), Henry Field

determined and playing a

scored again away from home to

(U6c), Hugo Bungey (U6f) and Conrad

positive game, the side lost just

add to two goals from James

Fish (L6c) each scored against

once all season, the 4-0 score line

Dixon (5g). The side suffered a

Millfield, and the team relied heavily

against Millfield not representing

9-1 defeat against Sherborne

on the skill of Ben Orton (L6a) and the

the closeness of the fixture, and

International, with Harry Taylor

goalkeeping dexterity of Felix Cairns

rounded the season off with two

scoring from the penalty spot. In

(U6b).

goals from Fisher and one from

a side captained by Toby Hobbs

Dom Prest (5d) to secure a 3-0

(5c), Seb Woodhouse (5b) and Bill

victory over a previously

Shelley (5c) proved pivotal

undefeated Downside team.

figures.

(L6a) strength in the air, this side scored 34 goals and conceded 11 in seven matches.

On the final Saturday of the season, Sherborne recorded a hard-fought 3-2 victory at Blundell’s, after racing into a 3-0 half-time lead. Jake Brill (U6d) neatly latched onto a perfectly weighted long ball and scored in the bottom right-hand corner of the goal,

Mention must be made of the astute captaincy of Tom de Wesselow (5c), who led his team from the front with great aplomb.

Goals proved easy to come by for a fast, enthusiastic Junior Colts A side. Speed was a clear

feature of this team, with Brian

David Arnal (L6d) scored a well-

A well-drilled Colts B side won

Tshivhase (4b) and Iranola

deserved second goal, and Fabian

five of their six matches. The

Folorunsho (4b) providing pace

Stuart Smith (U6f) latched onto a

most significant result was a

on the wings and Brandon Bray-

bouncing ball in the box to finish

comprehensive 5-1 demolition of

Sackey’s (4e) swift responses in

precisely. That the side held on for

Clifton, during which Hamad Al

the centre leading to goals in

victory was in part due to the excellent

Thani (5m), Harry Taylor (5c), Jake

each match. The real speed

last-ditch defending of Man of the

Jackson (5a), Ben Besse (5b) and

merchant, Will Westmacott (4c),

Match, Ben Pratt (L6a).

Charlie Symonds (5c) all scored.

weighed in with a hat-trick

| 121

against Clifton and four goals against a demoralised

dinked the ball over the advancing goalkeeper with the

Millfield side, while Jason Henderson (4e) chipped in

outside of his foot. A heavy loss at Millfield, hastened

with goals too.

by five first-half goals, followed but was succeeded by a

The 5-1 victory over Clifton at Beggar’s Bush was a great team performance and Oscar Jones’s (4m) windassisted long-range goal from centre-back lightened up

9-0 thumping of Sexey’s on their own pitch. Rob Hoare (3c) scored five times from central midfield in this match.

an otherwise wet and muddy 4-3 defeat away to Queen

The team was hampered by the early-season loss of

Elizabeth’s Hospital. After half term, there were only

talismanic midfielder Jamie Hart (3e), but showcased

two defeats to show for the team’s efforts prior to a

the emerging talents of central defensive pairing Harry

final-day victory over a very competitive Milton Abbey

Jackson (3a) and captain Toby Jones (3b), the dynamic

side. This final win added six goals to the total, one of

runs of full-back Harry Boulton (3m), and the focused

which was a stunning team effort, headed home by

midfield play of Marcus Prest (3d) and Ben Wadham

Henderson from a fabulous Folorunsho cross, bringing

(3m). Two defeats against Millfield apart, the side won

the team’s tally to an impressive 33 in just seven games.

four games and drew one, with two own goals securing

Perhaps in the shadow of their A side, the Junior Colts B team nonetheless won one of their three

games before half term. This was a 4-0 victory at home to Clifton, with Josh Paveley (4f) scoring twice and Jack

a dramatic 2-1 win at home to The Gryphon before a resurgent side scored 12 times at Milton Abbey in the final fixture. In a neat twist, the impressive goalkeeper William Andrew (3d) was among the scorers.

James (4d) and James Atwell (4f) supplying a goal

Joe Watson’s (3a) stunning 30-yard free kick not only

apiece. However, despite an Alberto Garza (4e) brace

secured a well-earned 1-0 victory for the Mini Colts B

against Millfield, the team conceded seven goals to

side at Millfield, but was also a sure-fire contender for

lose the match, as it did subsequently against Queen

the best goal registered by a Sherborne player this

Elizabeth’s Hospital.

season. This result followed a 2-2 draw in the quagmire

Leif Reedy’s (4f) two goals, one in the opening moments, paved the way for a 4-3 victory over Marlborough, with Charlie Moss (4d) showing great pace and determination in midfield and Harry Ollis (4a) displaying strength and guile at the heart of defence.

at Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital, Watson and Jack Tucker (3c) scoring late on to secure a draw, the team having earlier trailed by two goals with a disallowed one from Ben Beach (3c). A 6-3 defeat at the hands of Millfield concluded the term, with Watson scoring twice more.

This team owed a great deal to the tenacity in midfield

The Junior Colts C side played four matches, and lost

of Ed Jones (3g) and the energy and enthusiasm up

all of them. Losses to Sherborne International, by 7-0

front of Jordan Mwangola (3e).

and by 6-1, Christian Jones (4g) scoring after the team had trailed 5-0 at half time, preceded a 3-1 defeat against Millfield, in which captain Billy Cripps (4c) led by example in registering a consolation goal. Both players scored again, as did Maurice Inigo-Jones (4g), as the side ran up a 4-2 half-time lead in the third fixture against Sherborne International, before collapsing to a 6-4 defeat. Nick Van Kan (4b) was a constant and efficient player at the heart of the defence.

Five inter-school fixtures came the way of the Mini Colts C team, but they made up for lost time in

thumping Sherborne International 5-0, 10-1 and 13-0.

The goals were certainly shared around, with Lorcan McLoughlin (3g) helping himself to two long-range shots as seven players got their names on the scoresheet in the 10-1 game. Matches against Millfield home and away were both drawn, the more exciting being an eight-goal thriller at Kingweston. Will Cockrell (3a) and

A highly promising and talented Mini Colts A side

Henry Marriage (3g) were responsible for many of the

opened the season in barnstorming fashion, securing a

goals, with Jordan Mwangola and captain Matthew

4-0 victory in the mud and rain at Queen Elizabeth’s

Allen (3g) supplying the creativity and Sam Yorke (3m)

Hospital. The first of Monty Westall’s (3c) two goals was

marshalling the defence.

a contender for goal of the season, as he cleverly

122 |

1st XI Football

J-p Manning looks back on an eventful season for the 1st Xi

the first half of the season was hugely affected by the weather, with block fixtures against QEH, Bristol and Malvern having to be cancelled due to waterlogged pitches. this was a real shame since the boys were ready to start the season with a bang after they had been away to lisbon for a preseason training tour. training sessions were also hampered, requiring impromptu cross country runs and even the use of boarding house barge-yards to keep the boys focussed. i think it’s therefore fair to say that this disrupted our preparation for the match against Millfield and we once again couldn’t find the win that we crave. Mind you, a formidable performance against sexey’s, particularly in the first half, proved that we have some special players this year who are able to create and expose weaknesses in the opposition.

We were unable to take this impetus into our next game. this match, against clifton, was definitely ‘one that got away’an early period of dominance sadly did not result in a goal, a factor that continues to plague us, and clifton changed their tactics, choosing to play long balls in and behind our defence. this game finished 1-4 and left us feeling very frustrated.

A fantastic performance away to Marlborough was a great tonic, especially since we came from behind to win 2-1. this was followed by another win against dauntsey’s, where goals came from set plays. it is always great to see our efforts on the training ground converted in a match scenario.

to use an old, but very relevant, footballing phrase, our last fixture against canford was a game of two halves. We lacked composure and grit in the first half but the boys responded well in the second half to come away with a 2-2 draw. Most recently, the boys managed a resounding win against the pilgrims in a fantastic match that was keenly contested.

Hoare Strikes Five

Top 10 at Millfield

With Jamie Hart (3e) out injured, the Mini Colts A football side travelled to face a Sexey’s team that had just beaten Milton Abbey 9-1.

Any pre-match nerves soon vanished as the side ran up five first-half goals en route to a 9-0 victory. The star of the show was undoubtedly Rob Hoare (3c), who scored four goals before half time and a fifth towards the end of the match.

Few football teams are afforded the luxury of a 10-goal lead on Millfield’s own pitches. But the Junior Colts A side, captained by the redoubtable Barney Stannah (4m), did exactly that in January, scoring seven second-half goals on their way to a 10-0 victory at Kingweston against a Millfield side far stronger than the onesided score-line suggests.

Hoare’s first came direct from a left-wing corner that angled past the goalkeeper and the second from a halfvolley, before he completed his hat-trick with a penalty following a foul on Monty Westall (3c). Before the interval, he struck again with a sweet, low shot from outside the area. In the second half Hoare turned creator, his deep right-wing cross being powerfully headed home by substitute Joe Watson (3a) for an impressive goal. Then he fired his own fifth goal home from distance to cap a powerful and dominant performance.

Striker, Will Westmacott (4c), helped himself to four of those goals, with Stannah claiming two and substitute Jason Henderson (4e) contributing a fine goal from a half-volley when set up by Brandon Bray-Sackey (4e). The raw pace of wingmen Brian Tshivhase (4b), who scored once, and Iranola Folorunsho (4b) was too much for the Millfield defence, with BraySackey also incisive in the forward line, adding two goals in the process.

Save of the Season It was during the Junior House matches that William Andrew (3d) made the season’s outstanding save. In truth, it was not just one but two incredible saves. His Harper team found itself dominated by a strong Lyon attack and yet, when Ollie Lethbridge (4g) broke through, Andrew flung himself to his left to make an astounding save. Following in, Jonty Walliker (4g) looked certain to score, only for the agile goalkeeper to stretch away to his right and tip the ball over the crossbar.

For many present, this represented an amazing save; for some a little longer in the tooth it was reminiscent of Jim Montgomery’s double save in the 1973 FA Cup Final.

Incredibly, against the odds, Harper held on to win the match, while Andrew, having conceded only one goal in School matches at home all season and keeping a clean sheet in three away games, even scored a goal of his own on the final day of the Mini Colts A team’s season.

SAILING In a hugely successful end to the season, Ben Childerley (5f) and Nick Burt (5f) retained the 420class title secured in 2015 at the Schools Nationals. Meanwhile, Harry Guy (L6b) and Tima Malikov (4f) came second, and Ben Poe (U6d) and Oliver Dudgeon (L6d) achieved a very impressive seventh place in the highly competitive Firefly Class. A successful sailing crew enjoyed 12 fixtures in the Michaelmas Term, against opposition including Canford, Milton Abbey, Millfield and Winchester. There were also fixtures at Sutton Bingham, Chew Lake, Spinnaker Club, Farmoor Reservoir and Portland.

17 further fixtures after Easter included the Dorset Schools’ event at Portland and the School Nationals at Itchenor Sailing Club in early July.

Although there were defeats against Winchester and Sevenoaks, the sailors beat several local schools as well as Repton. The squad was even able to benefit from the arrival of a double Olympian to help coach the side. Colours were awarded to Ben Poe, Max Baldwin (L6b), Oliver Dudgeon and Harry Guy have all trained as dinghy instructors.

BEN MAKES THE GRADE FOR GB SAILING Ben Childerley (5f) has been selected for the Great Britain sailing team to participate in the World Under-18 Championships in Dublin this August. He sails a Laser Radial and trains weekly off Weymouth and Portland, where he works on boat speed and tight boat handling, as well as the more conventional training

| 123

FAIR WINDS FOR SCHOOL SAILORS Sailing is one of the longestestablished minor sports at Sherborne, along with rifle shooting and fives. OS who attended the school as far back as the 1950s have clear memories of participating in

Sailing has a distinct advantage in that it is a whole-school team sport, meaning that even those in the younger years have the opportunity to represent the school in a first-level team. It

the sport, and pupils have sailed off the coast of Arne, near Poole, since the 1960s.

also means that those who need more support and coaching can receive it from boys who are instructors or at instructor level.

The sport itself has also been present in the Olympics since 1896. With massive advances in both boats and personal equipment over the years, Sherborne has worked hard to keep up. This can clearly be seen in the recent purchase of six brand-new international 420s, which is the training boat for the 470 Olympic Class. With these boats, the School has been able to field a solid team that has seen action around most of the southern area of the country, from Chew Valley near Bristol to Bray Lake and Farmoor Reservoir near Oxford.

systems such as sailing fitness.

Rightly proud of his achievements so far, Ben came second overall in a competition off Miami over Christmas, and qualified for the British side thanks to a final position of third at Under-16 level (and sixteenth overall) in an event over Easter in North Wales. He is a stalwart member of the School’s sailing team, and is in action shortly in the British Dinghy Racing Southern Area Regatta.

I started sailing in my first term at Sherborne. Third Formers can usually take up the sport after the first half term of the Michaelmas term, regardless of their experience. It’s not unusual to join the team at this age and stay in it right until the Sixth Form, which is what I’ve done.

Even if you do not wish to do sailing as a full games option there are plenty of opportunities to try it, such as Sunday sailing throughout the summer term and the OSSS sailing weekend in early October. If you are a more experienced sailor, or have a strong commitment to school sailing, you can do what I did and apply for the Andrew Yorke Award. This will cover the cost for your entire RYA Instructor Course.

Everyone who sails has the chance to train with the team and learn with them.

I’ve certainly found this valuable, and I’ve much enjoyed learning from those who are older and more experienced and helping to train the next generation of Sherborne sailors.

Harry Guy (L6b)

HOCKEY

Sticks away! The hockey season always brings excitement, and 2015-16 was no exception In winning three early matches, the Hockey 1st XI paved the way for a rich and rewarding season. Over the two terms, the side won 11 out of 21 games, scoring 73 goals and conceding 44.

George Pope (U6m) was a commanding, efficient and strong captain and he was one of the goal-scorers in the most comfortable victory, an 11-0 win against Clayesmore in January. Josh Evans (L6d), who contributed 26 goals in all, scored a hat-trick in the first 15 minutes of that game, as pace, precision and lethal finishing saw the side 8-0 ahead at the interval. In a sign of the team ethos, eight separate players scored in the match.

Evans scored on the opening day as the team, fresh from a 5-2 victory over Bradfield in pre-season, recorded a satisfying 4-0 win against Dauntsey’s, with Sam Bruce (U6f), Barney Humphrey (5m) and James Martyr (L6m) also registering goals. Humphrey’s brace, including a very late equaliser, earned a well-merited draw away to King Edward’s, Southampton. A showpiece day in February saw the 1st xI draw 1-1 with Wales Masters, with the captain scoring, while a high-scoring game was lost 7-6 to England Masters.

Overall, it was in many respects a challenging season, although Ben Rainbow (5c) played outstandingly for the side, ably supported by the very physical style of play of both Patrick Reynolds and George Sutton (5m).

Meanwhile, the Colts B side lost heavily to King’s, Taunton and Canford. Henry Stone (5d) and Ben Led by the persuasive and

being lost as the visitors

powerful figure of Will

recovered to 5-3 before a

Caldwell (U6m), the

final Sherborne goal.

2nd XI won six and drew

Grammaticas and Man of

one of their 11 fixtures. A

the Match, Tom Pentreath

3-0 victory over Canford

(L6m), both scored hat-

featured an outstanding

tricks, while Newton

performance on the right

scored four goals in the

wing from Ben Poe (U6d),

8-2 victory over King’s,

and Leo Sollohub (L6b)

Bruton. This eager and

scored the decisive fourth

committed side was led

goal as Clayesmore were

by the commanding

then defeated 4-1.

William Ashley Miller

Sollohub scored a hat-

(U6c).

Childerley (5f) impressed with their stick-work, perseverance and enthusiasm. Sam Pope (5m) scored an early goal against Clayesmore, only for the side to lose an exciting game. Matthew Hetherington (5b), a pivotal figure to this side’s success, added a final-day goal against Millfield to his earlier hat-trick against Clayesmore.

trick in the 4-2 victory over Bryanston and another in

An enthusiastic 4th XI

the exciting 4-4 draw at

team lost 3-2 to Taunton

Millfield in March. Oscar

before recording a 7-2

Norris (L6m) scored three

victory over Clayesmore.

times and Tom Pentreath

There were three losses in

(L6m) twice as Downside

four games including,

were put to the sword 8-0,

despite a goal from Ed

and a brace of goals from

Davidson-Houston (L6g), a

the irrepressible Patrick

2-1 defeat against local

Reynolds (5c) earned a 3-1

rivals Bryanston. Theo

victory over King’s, Bruton.

Beeny (U6c), James Grammaticas and the

One of the largest wins for

irrepressible Gus France-

several years came the

Hayhurst (U6c) all

way of the 3rd XI side.

captained the side in

King’s, Taunton were the

inter-school fixtures.

hapless visitors on the day this side ran up a 15-0

The 5th XI won its

victory, with Noah

solitary fixture by a margin

Chillingworth (U6m) and

of 5-1.

James Grammaticas (U6f) scoring six goals each.

With a defeat at the hands of Millfield among three

In winning six times and

losses in six matches, the

only losing one of their

Colts A team recorded a

nine fixtures, the team

5-0 win over Dauntsey’s.

achieved a memorable 1-0

The combative Patrick

victory over Dauntsey’s, in

Reynolds (5c) deservedly

which Sam Newton (U6m)

scored twice, and Ben

scored, as well as a 2-2

Wood (5d) burst into the

draw with Taunton. The

D and nutmegged the on-

match against Clayesmore

rushing goalkeeper,

was also very exciting, a

bagging his first goal for

five-goal lead almost

the team.

Goals flowed aplenty for the Junior Colts A side, which won four of its five games during the first half of term.

Tom Stagnetto (4a) scored twice in a comfortable 6-0 opening-day victory over Dauntsey’s and there was an even bigger win against Clayesmore, the 9-0 score-line including four goals from Tadgh Patten (4m). Taunton were defeated 3-2, although the margin of victory perhaps should have been greater, given that the team had 43 attempts on goal and did not score from any of their nine penalty corners. Tom Hague (4c) impressed with his persistent running off the ball, Will Perkins (4a) was a tireless worker and Finn Whitehead (4g), Ollie Lethbridge (4g) and Alex Vardon-Cardy (4f) all made notable contributions to a successful side.

After a resounding 8-1 defeat to King Edward’s, Southampton, the side secured its seventh win in nine fixtures by defeating Millfield 7-0 in the final game of the season.

| 127

128 |

Much as in other sports, the Mini

A persistent and keen Junior

and the side scored their best goal

Colts A side proved a force to be

of the season at this tournament,

reckoned with. Five straight victories

with Sam Reynolds (3c) playing an

from the start of the season

inch-perfect aerial pass that Carr-

indicated that there is great

Smith took in his stride to round the

potential in this squad, and these

keeper and finish off from a very

victories were often by commanding

tight angle.

margins. That said, the defence, with

Colts B side recorded seven

Seb Baldwin (3b) in goal, often had a

Following a draw with Dauntsey’s,

victories and just two defeats to

great deal of work to do. Under the

the Mini Colts B side won their next

Canford and King Edward’s,

stewardship of the brave-tackling

three fixtures. Hugo Longrigg (3m)

Southampton. 17 players were used

Hal Little (3a), various opposition

and Joe Vandeleur (3m) were

as the side produced its best set of

sides found it difficult to make in-

dominant at the back, while Oscar

results in a decade. The largest of

roads.

Buxton (3a) was a powerful figure

these wins was 7-1 against King’s,

alongside Sam Hutchinson (3d). A

Taunton, with Freddie Baker (4d)

Overall, the season’s efforts resulted

4-1 victory over Canford epitomised

registering four goals as the side

in ten wins, one draw and one loss.

the team spirit; the side racing into a

scored five times after the break. In

Luke McLaughlin (3c) was the most

three-goal interval lead through

addition, Jonty Walliker (4g) scored

outstanding goal-scorer, claiming

goals from Charles Stagnetto (3a),

twice in a 4-2 victory over Taunton

four goals in the 7-1 victory over

Bertie Miller (3f) and Nathanael

and Max Mayer (4a) scored two

Taunton and five in the 6-0

Fagerson (3c). David Martyr (3m)

goals as Dauntsey’s were defeated

demolition of Dauntsey’s. However,

scored twice in a 4-0 victory at

by the same margin. Alex Vardon-

much of the success of this side was

Clifton, as the side ended the

Cardy’s (4f) two first-half goals set up

due to the calm presence of the

season with six wins and a draw from

a 4-1 victory over Millfield, while Ru

talented Tom Carr-Smith (3m),

ten fixtures. The Mini Colts C side

Kure’s (4c) inspired goalkeeping

whose stick-work and creativity

won two of its six fixtures: a 2-1

performance against Clayesmore

created openings for others. Harry

victory over Clayesmore and a 1-0

also deserves a mention. This side

Harvey’s (3b) arrival in the side has

win at Warminster. The toughest

owed a great deal to the tenacity of

added an extra dimension.

game was the visit of Canford in

Hunter Strand (4b) in his forward

wind and driving rain, which finished

runs, the guile of Harry Case (4g)

Carr-Smith, Felix Connolly (3e) and

in an 8-1 defeat. Four goals were

and George Hutchinson (4c) and the

Tommy Boylan (3c) scored two each

conceded in each half, with Will

firm strength of the dominant Ben

as King’s, Taunton were crushed 8-3

Joyce (3b) scoring the Sherborne

Carter-Savigear (4d) at the heart of

and there was also a resounding 8-0

goal. Oscar Chandler (3c), who had

defence.

victory over Clayesmore, although it

scored the opening goal in the win

will be the hard-fought victories over

against Clayesmore, Dominic Carter-

The Junior Colts C side fought out

Canford and King Edward’s,

Savigear (3d), whose last-ditch

a 2-2 draw with Clayesmore before

Southampton that live long in the

tackling was a feature of the narrow

losing to Canford and beating

memory. A final-day defeat at the

1-0 defeat against Bryanston, and

Bryanston. Max Mayer (4a) and Harry

hands of Millfield took some of the

Jamie Rawlings (3m) played well

Hall (4d) both took the captain’s

gloss off the season, but the squad

throughout the season.

armband, and the team was

should be proud of the progress

dependent on the reliable and

they have made, being crowned

efficient play of Tom McCaig (4b).

champions of Dorset and reaching

During the final game, against

the semi-finals of the regional

Bryanston, Charlie Peele’s (4a) hat-

tournament, where they lost 2-0 to

trick stood out as the dominant

Canford. George Case (3m) was the

feature.

team’s best player at the Regionals

| 129

Dorset County Champions

With flair and panache, the Mini colts Hockey A team secured the title of dorset county champions early in February, winning all five of their matches, scoring ten times and not conceding.

Victory owed no small amount to Hal little (3a), whose outstanding marshalling of his defence ensured he was deservedly named Man of the tournament.

Of the ten goals scored, seven came from the stick of luke Mclaughlin (3c). three of these came in the final game, as he scored all the goals to defeat Bryanston 3-0. the final, hat-trick, goal was perhaps the best the side scored: a series of slick passes set up tom carrsmith (3m) in space, his through-ball then evaded the defence and allowed sherborne’s top scorer to touch the ball into an empty net.

In the Goals

Goal of the Season

An astonishing display of

After fighting hard to draw

goal scoring was the

level at 1-1 against King’s,

highlight of the Mini Colts

Bruton, the Junior Colts B

performance at the West of

hockey side were relieved

England Regional Hockey

to reach half time during

Championships, held at

their first Saturday in

Millfield at the end of

March.

February.

They should not have

There was a draw with

worried. The first of three

Blundell’s and a reassuring

second-half goals to

2-0 victory over the hosts,

ensure a 4-1 victory proved

but the middle fixture drew

Jonty Walliker’s (4g) coup

most of the attention.

de grâce. A reverse lob or,

Remarkably, the team rattled up 19 goals in 30 minutes to defeat Penzance’s Mount Bay 19-0. Luke McLaughlin (3c), who enjoyed a prolific season in front of goal, managed to score nine times during this half-hour spell.

as his coach stated, “a classy reverse lift”, it took the scorer as much by surprise as anyone else.

“It was quite lucky that it worked, and I don’t think I could do it again,” remarked Jonty. “I got the ball just outside the 25-line, then bounced it on my stick past the defenders. It was quite crowded in the D and the goalie came forward. I kind of flicked it past him from down in the edge of the D by the left corner.”

On Top of the World Down Under Few people can claim to be a world champion in any sphere, but our very own Chris Roberts, Director of Hockey, certainly can. A former England hockey player, he represented his country in the Hockey World Masters’ Championship in Australia at Easter 2016.

Having scored against South Africa in the opening game, Chris managed to add a seven-minute hat-trick against Canada, plus a goal in the quarter-final match with Malaysia to leave him as the fourth highest scorer in the tournament. He also played as England defeated Australia 3-1 in the final to become world champions.

CLAY SHOOTING A group of 26 participants enjoyed the annual Parents’ and Sons’ Clay Shooting Competition at the Dorset Shooting School on the final Sunday in June. Tom Pope (5m) was the winner of the high gun event, ahead of Henry Jackson (U6c), while Roger Clough won the parents’ trophy. The Pope family was also successful in the parent-son competition, while George Clough (g 13) and Harry Case (4g) won the inaugural Open Pair trophy. This event also served as competition practice ahead of inter-school fixtures in 2016-17 against Marlborough and Millfield.

SWIMMING

130 |

GOLF Thriving under the captaincy of Will Caldwell (U6m), the Sherborne golf team enjoyed home fixtures against Downside and the OSGS as well as away fixtures against Truro at Woodbury Park, Canford and the OSGS at Remedy Oak. The primary tournament once again was the West of England Public Schools Invitation at Burnham and Berrow in March.

Sherborne beat Downside 5-0 but lost to a strong Radley side 4-1, with Tom Stagnetto (4a) deserving a special mention for winning both his matches.

He remains unbeaten in this tournament, as he also

Cometh the hour, cometh the man…

Tom Hoare (5e) set not one but two school records in the pool this

won twice last year.

academic year. He took more than three seconds off Daniel MacDonald’s

The School team also

Then he followed this up by swimming 50m backstroke in 31.00 seconds,

contained Tom’s brother Charles Stagnetto (3a) and the Purchase twins, Fin (L6b) and Max (L6b). A resounding victory was recorded against Downside by 5½-½, but the team lost 2-1 to Truro in the HMC Schools Foursomes Championships, despite Jake Brill (U6d) and Ollie Shale (U6a) recording a victory by 3 and 2.

(c 12) 2010 record in 100m freestyle, setting a time of 1 min 02.62 secs. overcoming a record of 31.57 set back in 1986.

It was by no means a one-man band in

Canford Gala. On top of his records,

the pool, however, as the swimming

Tom Hoare won races at each gala.

team put up some fine performances,

Alberto Garza (4e) and Will Gower (3a)

especially in home galas against

won races at two separate galas, with

Milton Abbey, Canford and

Will Banks (4b) and James Atwell (4f)

Winchester, an away fixture at Milton

also winning individual races.

Abbey, and reciprocal matches against Sherborne Girls. One home event was lost 96-79 to Canford, while the swimming team twice came second in inter-school events, two points behind Blundell’s and narrowly behind the victorious Clayesmore team at the

Will Gower and Milo Stampa Orwin (5a) bravely tackled the gruelling Individual Medley event at Canford, The Green were Junior House champions this year and Abbeylands Senior House champions.

JUDO An early-morning start prefaced Sherborne’s participation at the Judo Nationals on the last Saturday in February. Out of a team of ten, which included five Third Formers, seven won medals. Andy Zheng (3e), Felix Harvey (3f) and Tem Tuganov (4b) received a bronze medal each, while Bertie Miller (3f) and Freddie Williams (3f) received silvers. Charlie Culver (3f), arguably the best newcomer, won a gold medal, as did Conrad Cowan (L6m). He won one of his contests with an “Ippon”, the highest grade, just seven seconds into a four-minute bout, by using an impressive “seoi-nage” – throwing his opponent over his shoulder flat onto his back. Overall, Sherborne came fourth out of 14 schools.

| 131

More than 50 boys attended pre-

season training just after Easter and the School fielded 14 cricket teams in April, prior to the onset of

external exams. There were three

centurions and three boys who took six wickets in an innings, plus one hat-trick. Veteran West Indies allrounder Sir Garfield Sobers was

CRICKET It is said that the reputation of a school such as Sherborne can be made on the cricket pitch. Here, boys display facets of their character such as determination,

present on The Upper at the end of June as the final House matches took place.

The 1st XI enjoyed notable victories

over the Free Foresters and Clifton on The upper as well as a win at Millfield, before running a strong touring side, St Peter’s College, Adelaide, very

close. A largely positive season was

team spirit, commitment and focus.

marred by an injury to the influential

It’s a showcase of all that we stand for.

(u6m), who after scoring 234 runs at

It’s what sets us apart from the crowd.

batsman and captain, will Caldwell

an average of 39, was ruled out for the second half of the campaign.

Following a defeat at king’s, Taunton, the team bounced back within 24

hours with a comprehensive 79-run win over Free Foresters on The

upper. George Pope (u6m), will

Caldwell, Conrad Fish (L6c) and Sam Hambro (L6d) all made significant

contributions with the bat, while the

spinners did the damage with the ball.

Tom Perkins (5a) picked up three

wickets and ben Heber (L6f) took 6-34 on his 1st xI debut. Across the

season, ben took fifteen wickets at an average of 16.2, cementing his reputation as a bowler.

132 |

There were two heavy defeats to Marlborough and Millfield; the most damaging coming when the opposition scored 235-4 in the National T20 Cup. This was followed by watching Cheltenham score 123-2, having dismissed Sherborne for 122, to win by nine wickets. Taking on the captaincy role, Tom Mason’s (U6g) 33 helped the team score 129-8 against Clayesmore, who then reached 89-9, with Harry Fisher (5m) taking 3-18.

Marcus McGrigor (U6c) was less lucky, though, his 3-66 being overshadowed by a Canford century in a heavy defeat.

A resounding victory was secured over Clifton, thanks in no small part to an excellent opening partnership of more than 100 between Pope and Mason. Very young sides were fielded by both teams when St Peter’s, Adelaide visited, but this did not detract from the quality of the cricket. An exciting game ensued, with Sherborne falling just a few runs short despite Rafe Yewdall’s (L6g) excellent half-century.

One highlight of the second Saturday of term was the 2nd XI’s thrilling last-over victory on The Upper against a very talented King’s, Taunton side, with Will Shardlow (L6m) and Dominic Bell (U6b) expertly seeing the team home at the end. This was followed by a comfortable victory over Marlborough; a score of 157-6 preceding skittling out the opposition for 116.

Shardlow then hit 90 in a score of 192 against Cheltenham to secure victory; the opposition managing just 151 in return. Marcus McGrigor took 4-20 in this match. Meanwhile, a very exciting game was lost to Canford off the final ball, with Jonathan Franke (U6g) having earlier scored 52 in Sherborne’s spirited 154-3. This proved the solitary defeat in five matches of an encouragingly successful season for the team.

Tom Pentreath (L6m) scored a century at home to Marlborough on the first Saturday in May. His knock of 101 not out was supplemented by 48 from Tom Crinks (L6b) as the 3rd XI scored 238-6 to claim victory.

Alas, this proved the side’s only victory of the summer. Cheltenham were a significantly stronger proposition, their 221-6 proving too high a total, with Sherborne registering just 191-7. Even so, Ben Orton (L6a) scored a good 58 and James Hague (L6f) 41. Canford recorded a seven-wicket victory after Sherborne had reached 112 all out, thanks in part to a score of 37 by Luke Besse (U6b).

| 133

One highlight for the 4th XI was victory over Marlborough; Toby Trumper (L6d) taking 3-17 and Fuad Hasan (U6e) 3-19 as the opposition made 109 all out, before 47 runs from Ben Orton (L6a) and 38 not out from Tom Pertwee (L6b) saw Sherborne home by eight wickets.

Luke Besse’s (U6b) 4-15 helped restrict Cheltenham to 106-8, after which Sherborne’s 111-3 owed much to a score of 47 from Jimmy Fisher (U6m), whose 26 not out had helped defeat Clayesmore. Tom Pertwee scored 43 not out in that fixture, but his highest score of the year was 52 not out. This came in the 4th XI’s solitary defeat in four games: an impressive 197-9 was bettered by King’s, Taunton, who reached 200-6 to claim victory.

Fergus Hamilton (U6c) took 6-21 for the 5th XI at home to Marlborough on the first Saturday in May, as Sherborne scored 147-8 off 25 overs before defeating the visitors by just three runs in an exciting match.

James Thorne (U6e) top-scored for the victors with 40 runs. The following week the side made 116 all out against Gillingham, only to lose by two runs.

With rain affecting most games on the opening weekend, the Colts A side was able to record a comfortable victory over Haileybury Almaty on The Upper. An impressive run total featured 60 runs from Harry Fisher (5m) and an impressive quickfire 52 off 28 balls from Patrick Reynolds (5c), before Toby Grammaticas (5f) recorded a hattrick to ensure victory by 108 runs.

This proved a solitary victory for the side, who registered losses in their

two other games. One was a heavy defeat to Marlborough by 95 runs.

Meanwhile, Reynolds’s 4-10 and James Pyman’s (5e) 3-20 looked to have restricted Cheltenham enough, but their 136 secured victory, Ollie Palmer (5d) hitting 50 as the Colts A were all out for 102.

The Colts B side took on Marlborough at the start of May and, having bowled out the opposition for 151, found themselves bowled all out for 53.

Harry Taylor (5c), Felix Storer (5g), Johnny Hinde (5g) and Toby Hobbs (5c) were key figures in a side that offered the potential of strong and forceful cricket in years to come.

Captained by Tadgh Patten (4m), the Junior Colts A side played some great cricket, winning five of their 11 fixtures and reaching the County Cup Final. Patten scored 388 runs throughout the season, more than any other batsman at the School, at an average of 43.11.

Clayesmore were defeated by 10 wickets, Will Jowett (4e) (whose 14 wickets at an average of 16.71 rendered him the side’s top wickettaker) taking 3-7 as they reached 107 all out in response to Sherborne’s score of 143-0, Charlie Millar (4c) being unbeaten on 73 and Patten on 52. One defeat, though, occurred in early May when, having reached 167 all out against Marlborough, the side could only watch as the opposition reach 169-5. Another defeat, this time by 34 runs, came at Canford in spite of Seb Carty’s (4a) knock of 36, while Patten hit 49 and Jonty Walliker (4g) 40 in a defeat against Cheltenham. The Dorset County Cup semi-final saw the side

rattle up an impressive 222-2 against Poole Grammar, with Millar scoring 104 off just 64 deliveries and Patten 90 off 54 balls, to progress to the final at the Wayfarers’ Club. In scoring 105-4 off 20 overs, Sherborne were too slow and Canford, despite tumbling to 30-3 after seven overs, reached 106-7 comfortably enough, albeit off the penultimate ball, to deprive them of the county title.

Ben Carter-Savigear (4d) took three wickets against Marlborough, but his 3-45 could not prevent the visitors racking up 226-7, after which the Junior Colts B side crashed to 72 all out. There was a much closer game against Gillingham, with Sherborne’s 113-5 being reached in time by a Gillingham attack that plundered 115-4. Cheltenham also proved too strong; their 166-8 surpassing Sherborne’s 120 all out.

Despite these two defeats, the side bounced back to record a momentous victory over Millfield.

The score of 157-9 owed a great deal to Hugo Hurrell (4g), who scored 39 not out, and to Will Fane Trefusis’ (4d) knock of 22, before Carter-Savigear’s 3-10 skittled the opposition out for 106. Meanwhile, Harry Hall (4d) hit 22 against Canford, only for the side to lose by 130 runs.

Keen to impress the successful sides above them, the intrepid Junior Colts C were victorious in three of their seven matches. The first victory, over Millfield, came partly as a result of Hugo Hurrell’s impressive score of 39 not out and partly through Ben Carter-Savigear’s bowling figures of 3-10 followed by a low-scoring duel

with Prior Park; Sherborne securing

In the County Cup, Highcliffe were

(4d) three wickets. The final game

McLaughlin 2-4 and Prest 2-6,

the win through Barney Trumper’s brought about the third success,

with Alex Colville (4m) scoring 71 and Bryn Jones (4e) 66 in an

dismissed for 53, d’Abo taking 3-2, Sherborne reaching the total

required without losing a wicket.

impressive team total of 149, before

The Mini Colts B side opened the

secure victory by 39 runs.

victory away to Monkton Combe,

Oliver Soanes (4g) took 3-8 to

Captain Luke McLaughlin (3c),

whose 299 runs came at an average of 77, led the Mini Colts A side

through a season that saw them

reach the Dorset Cup semi-final, where they lost to Queen

Elizabeth’s, Wimborne. The

campaign opened with a baptism of fire – their first fixture of the season being the Dorset Cup match at

Bournemouth School. Tom Carr-

Smith’s (3m) handling skills at wicketkeeper were an integral part of this success.

season with an encouraging 20-run and they followed this up with

victory over King’s, Taunton. Next came a dramatic victory over

Gillingham, their opponents scoring 120-8 only for Sherborne to rack up 121-7, and defeat by 26 runs to

Marlborough. The team then scored a narrow victory over Cheltenham,

whose 116 all out was insufficient to defeat Sherborne, who won by seven wickets. Ollie Dixon (3g) enjoyed extraordinary bowling

figures in this game of 6-2, before Christian Johnson (3d) hit a six to win the match.

This side won six games in

Overall, this impressive side won

Leading by example, McLaughlin

to Millfield by four wickets. Joe

succession in the run-up to half term. scored 72 in a total of 184 all out

against Marlborough, who were then bowled all out for 153, Marcus Prest

(3d) taking 3-27 – he took 16 wickets this summer at an average of 10.68.

A resounding result was recorded

against Cheltenham: before bowling the opposition out for 54, Felix Harvey (3f) claiming 4-11 and Matthew Allen (3g) 3-12,

McLaughlin’s 77 led the side to 166

seven of its eight fixtures, only losing Heber (3f), Michael Heyman (3c),

Felix Ormrod (3b) and Charlie Culver (3f) were all integral to its success.

The final game, with George Lewis

(3d) taking the reins as captain, saw an 88-run victory over Clayesmore, with the redoubtable Nathanael

Fagerson (3c) hitting an unbeaten 52 and David Martyr (3m) returning

impressive bowling figures of 5-3.

all out and a 112-run victory.

If bowling out the opposition for just

Hal Little’s (3a) 38 eased the side to

side, the Mini Colts C must be one

137-7 against Bryanston, who were

skittled out for 69, Louis d’Abo (3g) taking 4-9. This was also the only side to defeat Canford this time around, Allen with 4-13, before

McLaughlin’s 68 not out helped his side to a six-wicket win. In his only ball of the season, Hugo Longrigg (3m) claimed a worthy wicket.

The season drew to a close with a

game against Clayesmore, in which

Tom Carr-Smith scored 128 not out.

53 runs makes you a good cricketing of the best. An efficient bowling

display led to a comfortable victory

in their opening game of the season.

Unfortunately, the side then lost to Marlborough, scoring 70 all out

before the opposition posted a total of 74-3. The side found runs easier to get in its final match against

Cheltenham, scoring 152-8 – Ed

Stucley (3g) scoring 47 and bowling

the visitors all out for 128, and Finlay McKie (3d) taking 3-10.

TENNIS AS THE wEDNESDAY AFTERNOON RAIN AND wIND GAvE wAY TO A MORE HOPEFuL wESTERN SuNSET, SHERbORNE, wHO HAD EARLIER bEATEN CHEw vALLEY SCHOOL, DEFEATED MILLFIELD IN THE wINTER SENIOR STuDENTS TEAM NATIONAL TENNIS. Charles Morris (U6a) and Seb Szapary (L6e) won their doubles match 6-1 and both comfortably won their singles games, while Daniel Kelly (L6b) and George Clifford (5a) were not so successful. Nonetheless, as darkness fell, Morris and Szapary won a tiebreak 10-6 to take the team through as group winners to the knockout stages of the National Competition.

Overall, nine teams represented Sherborne on the tennis courts during the Trinity Term and each achieved a degree of success.

The 1st VI opened the season with a hugely encouraging 7-2 victory at Marlborough – their first victory over that opposition in 12 years. This victory owed a great deal to the low and piercing ground strokes of opening pair Henry Field (U6c) and Seb Fender (U6e), who won their game 6-2.

It is believed that the fixture with Monkton Combe was the first such between the schools and resulted in a 6-3 defeat, but not without offering some excellent strokes and neat offensive play, with Field and Fender again winning 6-2. Captain, Charles Morris and Hugo Pralle (5a) impressed with their outstanding serving and volleying, while the pairing of George Crane (U6b) and Seb Szapary were dominant in both their groundstrokes and their net play.

A stunning 8-1 victory on Bryanston’s grass courts came in part from Field and Fender dropping just seven games in four sets, while Morris and Pralle dropped eight. Dan Kelly (L6b) stepped up for his first appearance for the 1st VI alongside Szapary. Together, they won a good victory against Bryanston’s second pair 7-6 and their third pair 75, 6-0. An apparently comfortable victory over Canford developed into a tense nail-biting finish, Morris and Pralle winning their decisive game 6-2 to secure a 5-4 victory. Exams eventually took their toll on the team, but the new-look side recorded a 9-0 victory at Warminster, with Alan Hughes-Hallett (L6a) and Archie Cripwell (L6c) enjoying success in their first game.

Having lost their opening game against Marlborough, the 2nd VI won an excellent match on Bryanston’s grass courts 6.5-2.5. This victory was well deserved, as many exceptionally well-played shots were made and there was great effort, in particular, from undefeated pair Patrick Creamer (L6m) and George Vandeleur (L6m).

| 137 Overall, two matches were won out of the five played, the second victory being a comprehensive 9-0 demolition of Millfield in April.

Victory over Warminster by the same score featured strong play from Leo Sollohub (L6b), Oliver Dobbs (L6a) and Fergus Campbell (U6c).

An eager and enthusiastic 3rd VI lost their first three games before recording narrow but thoroughly deserved victories at Bryanston and at home to Clayesmore. Archie Cripwell (L6c) and Jasper Jones (L6m) performed well throughout, notably remaining unbeaten in the Clayesmore fixture, while Matt Versloot (U6g) and Ed DavidsonHouston (L6g) doggedly fought for the vital late point to secure the win at Bryanston.

Training is most effective when matches are on the horizon and, although they had only one fixture, the 4th VI were ready for the challenge. A selection of various boys took on Milton Abbey 2nd VI and secured a 6-3 victory that was never easy. Oscar Norris (L6m) and Charlie Savage (L6f) performed well before being defeated in a suddendeath climax, while Fergus Campbell and Arthur Drake (U6b) won with ease before losing their second game without securing a point. David Arnal (L6d) and Tom de Montfort (L6a) were also enthusiastic team members that day.

George Clifford (5a) and Jake Jackson (5a) proved to be dominant figures for the Colts A VI, who started the season with a heavy defeat against Marlborough.

However, two losses were swiftly followed by encouraging victories over Blundell’s and Bryanston.

Jackson and Ben Rainbow (5c) won all of their games in the Blundell’s fixture, ably supported by the spectacularly entertaining pairing of Charlie Symonds (5c) and Felix Carey (5f), who combined audacious wins with barely believable misses.

Henry Dixon-Clegg (5d) and Hector Lea (5d) forged a fine partnership;

once they began to believe in themselves, they produced some encouragingly positive results.

In their only fixture of the year, the Colts B side lost 7-2 to Marlborough.

Suffering an 8-1 defeat at Marlborough on the opening day did not dampen the enthusiasm of the Junior Colts VI, for whom Wynn Thomas (4m) and Richard Crane (4b) were the dominant pairing. Crane excelled all year, his voice generally being the one heard above all others. In particular, this pairing won all four of their games in an exciting 6-6 draw with Millfield, including the decisive final set, which they won 6-4.

The Dorset Cup campaign opened with a convincing 6-0 victory over Queen Elizabeth’s, Wimborne, with Sam Hutchinson (3d) excelling despite playing a year up. Although the ball was not coming back over the net as firmly as they were used to, the team still managed to dominate the majority of points. With Crane and Hutchinson in excellent form, the side lost 5-4 to Bryanston – victory eluding Sherborne in a tense match that could have gone either way. Barney Stannah (4m) and Freddie Baker (4d) proved a promising pairing, with Niki Dembinski (4c) and Finn Whitehead (4g) playing strongly before conceding defeat near the close.

With most other sides losing around them, the Junior Colts B team enjoyed the opening fixture at Marlborough. In dropping just two games, Tom Hague (4c) and Petch Pibuldham (4a) showed great strength and enthusiasm to secure a notable victory. Having lost only narrowly at Millfield, this side then defeated Bryanston comfortably, Ollie Lethbridge (4g) and Tom Wheeler (4m) leading the way with a 6-1 victory in all three sets.

Max Mayer (4a) and Hugo BlythmanRowe (4c) continued to forge a close-knit partnership. Their

performance at Bryanston, where they lost only two points in the opening set, was especially encouraging.

A 6-3 victory over Warminster featured a fine performance from the new third pair, Alex VardonCardy (4f) and Harry Le Maistre (4g), who received the Pair of the Day award after winning all three matches to ensure a Sherborne victory. Likewise, Pibuldham and Mayer won their opening set 6-1 at Millfield and Vardon-Cardy and Blythman-Rowe won all four of their games, only for the side to be defeated 7-5.

Despite a 10-2 loss at Marlborough, the Mini Colts A side was not embarrassed. William Andrew (3d) and Joe Vandeleur (3m) were a courageous pairing, securing their game with a 6-1 score-line, while Jamie Rawlings (3m) and Fred Pettifer (3b) were also victorious, by a score of 6-4.

This team sprang into action with victories over Millfield and Canford.

The 6-3 victory over Canford was rooted in the extraordinary success of their second pair. William Andrew and Monty Westall (3c) won all three of their games, including a 7-5 victory over the opposition’s top pairing, to secure an overall 6-3 win, sealed when third seeds Jamie Rawlings and Hugo Andrew (3d) won their final match 6-2.

They may have played just the one fixture, but the Mini Colts B side made up for lost time by trouncing Warminster 9-0 in a show of dominant and persuasive tennis.

Fred Pettifer (3b) and Jamie Hart (3e) set the tone as the first pair, playing some strong winners down the line and showing finesse at the net. Joe Vandeleur (3m) and Oscar Buxton (3a) followed this up with a strong ground game, with Charles Stagnetto (3a) and Ralph Loveys Jervoise (3m) defeating the opposition’s top pairing 6-4.

ATHLETICS

It was a gruelling season for Sherborne’s athletes, but they rose to the challenge The season got off to a strong start with some excellent performances at Millfield at the end of April, with several School records coming under threat on the way to winning six events.

Squads competed at King’s, Bruton, Bryanston, Yeovil, Canford and Marlborough, where our boys competed against several international athletes. They also made several return visits to Millfield. Under captain Tom Lewis (U6a), both the Junior and Senior teams enjoyed success, winning at Millfield, Yeovil and Bryanston. The School’s current strength in sprinting was particularly clear, with all three 4 x 100 relay teams coming within a fraction of a second of beating School records.

Meanwhile, the standout individual performance of the season was Will Westmacott (4c), who equalled the Under-17 School hurdles record of 14.0 seconds on his way to winning at Millfield’s 11-school event. Will was just one of three County champions this season, the others being Bertie Miller (3f), in the triple jump, and George Case (3m), over 800m.

These three were joined at the South West Championships by sprinters Charlie Hickling (L6d) and Archie Walwyn (3m), as well as thrower Carl Fletcher (U6a). On the day itself, George Case came closest to being selected for the English Schools championships – missing out by centimetres in the Under-15 800m in an excellent race. As ever, the season’s finale was the Inter-House Athletics competition in which The Digby claimed victory, coming top of the pile in all three age categories.

Athletics colours were awarded to five boys who leave the School after five years’ excellent service. They are: Tom Lewis, Alexander Radford (U6a), George Wallington (U6d), Harry Reynolds (U6e) and Zak Smith (U6m).

Keep it in the Family Harry Reynolds (U6e) knew he had a great chance of winning the Senior 800m on Sports Day. But he will have been surprised to see the field fold so easily, as he strode home comfortably in 2 minutes 19.21 seconds.

On the same morning, two of his younger brothers won in the long jump. Patrick (5c) secured the intermediate event with a jump of 5.64m, while Sam (3c) won the Junior competition with a distance of 5.21m. The Hickling brothers also enjoyed athletics success. Charlie (L6d) held off Caspar Bailey (U6m) to win the 100m in 11.58 seconds, before adding the 400m in 53.75 seconds. Meanwhile, Douglas’ (5c) throw of 39.60 metres ensured he won the intermediate javelin event.

Putting Them in Their Place No one had given Rupert Chetwode (5d) much chance of winning the intermediate shot put on Sports Day. He is without question a fine sportsman, who is fit and willing to turn his hand to most disciplines. But he was competing against many others with a greater pedigree in this event, and had been off games for a year while recovering from injury. Even so, Rupert secured the title, with a throw of 11.19m. That meant pre-tournament favourite William Bailey (5e) had to settle for second place with a throw of 11.04m, narrowly ahead of more experienced throwers such as Felix Storer (5g), Yanis Hammick (4m) and Jake Jackson (5a).

SADDLED UP FOR SUCCESS Few boys have the privilege of representing their country at sport while studying for their GCSEs. But this was exactly what Michael Treneer (5m) achieved when he was selected for the GB Pony Racing Team for the Shergar Cup against their Irish counterparts in County Meath in September 2015. He was one of only three in a team of ten who were not children of racehorse trainers.

Running Away With it There was little doubt about the best individual performance at Sports Day in July 2016. In the Senior 1500m, Will Shardlow (L6m) outstripped a talented field to win with ease in a time of 5 minutes 02.14 seconds.

Moreover, in what the commentator described as “an inspired ride”, Michael won the Stayers’ Open Championship over two miles, riding one of the outsiders All About Chris for the horse’s Irish owner and trainer. Having first sat on the horse in the paddock moments before going down to the start and despite being outpaced early in the race, a patient and tactically astute ride saw Michael keep tight to the inside rail and find a way into the race. He conjured a devastating late run from two furlongs out to take the race by six lengths, despite taking a forceful and wayward blow from an errant Irish whip

in the process. Although the GB Team won all three of the highlight Open Championship Races, and seven of the races on the card, they were unable to wrestle the team cup from their Irish counterparts.

Michael’s dedication to his sport has been absolute. At almost six feet tall, making the weight at 9st 7lbs (including saddle and kit) has meant weeks of careful eating and hours of running and rowing, sweat-suited and hatted. His fitness was well recognised and meant he was one of the few jockeys to ride three races in the day.

In fairness, Will runs a great deal in his own time, perhaps averaging thirty miles per week, but it was widely felt that a lack of competitive practice would leave him out in the cold. He was having none of that, heading out from the front, he came round in first place to secure a comfortable win.

GEORGE IS ON THE CASE FOR TETRATHLON Competing against boys a year above him, George Case (3m) won the British Modern Tetrathlon Championships (Under-15) in Solihull in autumn 2015.

The Tetrathlon is a four-discipline variant of the Modern Pentathlon. It originated from a Cavalry Officer many years ago having to deliver an important message that involved running, swimming, shooting, sword-fighting and then riding a horse across country over any obstacles in his path.

The Modern Pentathlon has long been an Olympic Sport consisting of five disciplines: running, swimming, shooting, fencing and show-jumping. The Tetrathlon features four of these disciplines minus the riding. It is a very exciting sport that demands stamina, rock-solid nerves and a cool head. 18 competitors from around the UK took part in the Championships, and George beat his closest rival by 110 points.

Having achieved this target, George became National Champion for the Winter Triathlon in an event held by the UK Pony Club.

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FIVES For the first time in six years of

competing, a Shirburnian made it to the Colquhoun Trophy Senior Competition

in November. will Shardlow (L6m), who has benefitted from years of coaching

and training, became the first boy from this school to achieve such a feat, only to lose to the national champion in his age group.

After a tough season, victory came at winchester in January when, after

Angus Mayes (L6e), Archie buxton (5a) and benedict Mercer (3b) won their

singles, the side held on through the doubles to record a 72-65 win.

CROSS COUNTRY The CROSS COUNTRY team had an encouraging start to the year, despite heavy rain creating very tough conditions, Jordan Berry (5a) put in an outstanding performance to secure 1st position in the Inters with Freddie Baker (4d) on his heels in 4th. This fixture certainly gave them a real taste of what cross country is all about.

In January, the cross country team took part in the DOWNSIDE TROPHY, a notoriously tough course. The Intermediates, Jordan Berry Will Crosthwaite Eyre (5a), Louis Down (5m), Harry

The STUDLAND STAMPEDE,

Springett (4d) and Billy Slim

in February, took the team to

(5m), stormed home to win

the stunning Dorset coastline

both the team event with four

to race across the golden

top ten finishers and the

sands of Studland Beach, a

individual event with Jordan

formidable adversary for the

Berry winning by nearly a

boys. The team met this

minute.

challenge with gusto and returned home with three medals. Charlie Hickling (L6d) and Harry Reynolds (U6e) finished the senior race in 2nd and 3rd place respectively, while, Sam Reynolds (3c) won the junior race by a clear margin of just over a minute.

The ANNUAL INTER-HOUSE CROSS COUNTRY at

Sherborne Castle was a spectacular sight and was thoroughly enjoyed by students and staff.

SQUASH Having lost their opening seven fixtures either side of Christmas, the Squash team found success in the spring. A resounding 8-0 victory over Sherborne Girls was followed by a 5-0 success against the Baku Oxford School. This team was captained by Ramsay Dibden (U6e) and featured, in various games, Columbus O’Donnell (L6g), Ben Schumacher (4b), Hector Lea (5d), Gustav von Weyhausen (U6b), Archie Tennant (4d), Tom Clough (5f), Sam MacDonald (5c), Johnny Hinde (5g) and Charles Roberts (L6a).

WATER POLO In the absence of inter-school fixtures this year, the highlight of the Water Polo calendar was the Inter-House Competition, competed with predictable levels of enthusiasm and determination.

After 31 House matches, an unbeaten Abbeylands side, captained by James Kennedy (U6f), defeated the holders Harper 4-3 in the final.

Meanwhile, Hugo Houlton (U6d), who scored 30 goals in the tournament, deservedly received his Water Polo Colours after four years of representing the School and his House.

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Four years ten months ago we made one of the biggest and most difficult decisions of our lives - to send our boy away to boarding school to take up a music scholarship.

Sherborne School have given us back a confident, well rounded, self-effacing young man who has achieved such great things and totally fulfilled his potential, having had the time of his life, and is ready to go out in the world and make a difference. Words can’t really explain how I feel at the moment, and despite the heartache I wouldn’t have changed it for the world.

Bursting with pride is an understatement, and so incredibly proud to say that my son is now an Old Shirburnian.

“

“

LEAVING PARENT JULY 2016

144 |

THE

SHIRBURNIAN 2015/16

EDITORIAL bOARD SOPHIE HARRIS STEPHEN BYRNE DAVID RIDGWAY FREDDIE CORRIE-DEANE (L6B)

wITH THANkS THE SHIRBURNIAN WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE OUTSTANDING CREATIVITY AND HARD WORK OF MANY PEOPLE IN THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO ALL BOYS AND STAFF WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS EDITION

PHOTOGRAPHY bY

PETER CHILLINGWORTH, EDUARDO CASTO LA COMERA, BILLY CRIPPS (4C) BEN DUFFY, TIM FILTNESS, JACK JAMES (4D), GILLMAN AND SOAME SOPHIE HARRIS, JAMES HENDERSON, JACK LEWIS, NICHOLAS MERCER NEIL MUNNS, MARK OLLIS, DAMIAN ORTON, GILES REYNOLDS DAVID RIDGWAY, HARRY TRUMP, NICK VINE

DESIGNED AND PRINTED BY SHELLEYS

SHERbORNE SCHOOL

AbbEY ROAD, SHERbORNE DORSET DT9 3AP

T: 01935 812249 E: enquiries@sherborne.org

www.sherborne.org