HOUSE REPORTS CLIFTON The start of the academic year saw the House receive Mr. Harvey as the new Housemaster. It was the first time in living memory that the Senior School had had a Chaplain-Housemaster and it has been a challenging experience for both the House and the Housemaster! There have been sixty-two pupils in the House, including seven third form girls and three lower sixth girls. For the first time in its six-year history, Clifton has had girls in the Middle School. We have begun the process of becoming a fully co-educational day House. The small number of girls has meant that, for games, we have joined forces with The Grove. This has worked well, although we look forward to fielding our own teams next year. Clifton is working hard to build up its games-playing ability. Although we were knocked out in the first round of the Senior Rugby and Senior Cricket Competitions, we did much better at junior level. We got to the semi-finals of the Junior Rugby and Junior Cricket Competitions, and came second in the Junior Rugby Sevens Competition, being beaten only by School House. In the Junior Rugby there were some particularly good performances from Jamie Beaufoy, Ben Councell, Michael Hunter, Naithan McBride (Captain), Robert Pugh, Michael Helme and Nicholas Wight. We are optimistic about our potential at senior level rugby. The Five-a-side Soccer Competition is always keenly contested and we managed to win the junior competition in the Summer Term. We enjoyed considerable success in the Inter-House Swimming. Clifton finished third in the competition, and was first among the day Houses. The U. 14 Medley Relay team (Daniel Leveson, Oliver Marlow, Julia Toms and Grant Williams) set a new record time, and Ben Councell created a new record in the U. 15 Breaststroke. Jon LacyColson, Ben Councell, Naithan McBride and Oliver Marlow came first in the following events respectively: U. 16 Individual Medley; U. 15 Breaststroke and Butterfly; U.15 Backstroke; U.14 Breaststroke. The House also came first in the U.15 Medley Relay and U.15 Freestyle Relay (Ryan Allworthy, Ben Councell, Michael Hunter and Naithan McBride). The House performed well in the Inter-House Crosscountry Competition. Jon Lacy-Colson came seventh in the Senior Boys category; Naithan McBride eighth in the Junior Boys; and Julia Toms twelfth in the Junior Girls. We were particularly pleased with Clifton's performance in the Athletics Sports Competition. The House was represented in every event and came fourth overall — but first among the day Houses! Particular congratulations must go to Michael Hunter for coming first in the Intermediate 200m; to Scott Bradley for coming first in the Junior Javelin; and to Nicholas Wight for coming first in the Junior Long Jump. Members of Clifton have represented the School at senior level in various sports: Robert Crossley and Edward Savage at 1st XV Rugby; James Harding and
Naithan McBride at 1st XI Cricket; and Michael Hunter at 1st VI Tennis. James Harding has also been the School's Captain of Squash for two years. It has been good to see several Cliftonites taking a keen interest in Rowing: Alistair Birch, Caroline Murphy, John Crisp, Dugan Jackson and Jon Lacy-Colson have all represented the School successfully. Alistair Birch was a member of the crew which competed at Henley this year and is to be warmly congratulated for his achievement here. Academically, members of the House have enjoyed some success this year. Jason Ayers won the Chemistry Prize and the B.M.A. Prize for Biologists going into Medicine. Robert Crossley won the Economics Prize. Matthew Williams was awarded the Senior Latin Prize and the Toyne European History Prize. The Junior Latin Prize went to John Crisp and the Junior Arthur Craven Memorial Prize for Spoken French to Robert Emsley. Samantha Carter won one of the third form prizes. Cliftonites have contributed to many other areas of School life: Robert Crossley had a major role in Ian Lowe's Dragons; Samantha Carter, Vanessa Jelbert, Julia Toms and Roger Lakin were in Alan Ayckbourn's Confusions. Jason Ayers masterminded our Egg Race team and Top House team. Paul Cove, Matthew Williams, Rupert Gregory, Caroline Murphy, Juliet Stephenson, Andrew Mawby and Ryan Allworthy all made significant contributions to School music. Denzil Jelbert served as Head of the Army Section of the C.C.F. Other members of the House have participated in the Community Service programme. In May, just before the upper sixth left, we had a Clifton Sixth Form Dinner. This was a very enjoyable evening, with all members of the sixth form attending, together with House staff. We were given a fine afterdinner speech by Mr. Neil Malherbe, a Master from Selborne College in South Africa, who has been visiting the School this term. Edward Savage, the out-going Head of House, and Alistair Birch, the new Head of House, also spoke. I have greatly enjoyed my first year in Clifton. For staff and pupils alike it has been a full and busy, and I hope, very enjoyable year. I would like to end my first House report by expressing my thanks and best wishes: to Edward Savage and James Harding, our two School monitors, for their help and support; to M. J. G. and A. J. H. for their invaluable roles as assistants; to K. G. C. (whose wise counsel we sadly lose this term), K. R. P. and D. J. S. for their support as tutors; and to Alistair Birch as he assumes the responsibilities of being Head of House. I am pleased to award House Colours to Jason Ayers, Kinshuk Garai, James Harding, Edward Savage, Naithan McBride and Robert Pugh. I wish all those who are leaving the best of good fortune in the future and thank them for their varied contributions to the life of the House. I look forward to those who will return in September continuing to play a committed and enthusiastic role in Clifton's life. S. C. Harvey
