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THE SUTTONIAN 1998

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Volume 36

Number 1 Cover design based on Form 1 Art work

The Suttonian 1998

GOVERNORS AND STAFF 1997-98 Visitor:

The Lord Archbishop of Canterbury

Foundation:

United Westminster Schools Director and Clerk: F.V. Morgan, Esq., B.Sc., M.Ed. (till March 1998) L.A.Smy, Esq., M.A. (from March 1998)

Governing Body:

Commander F. Barber, R.N. (Retd.), M.I.P.M. (Chairman till March 1998) B.F.W.Baughan, Esq. E.R.P. Boorman, Esq., M.A. Mrs. S.B. Bracher, M.B.E., M.A. P.Cockburn, Esq., F.C.I.B. Ven. P. Evans, Archdeacon of Maidstone T.F. Godfrey-Faussett, Esq., M.A., F.I.P.M. (Chairman, Foundation Board) M.A. Maberly, Esq. (Chairman from March 1998) Miss M.O'Mara, B.A., M.Sc. F.V.Morgan Esq., B.Sc., M.Ed. (from March 1998) Prof. A.F.Stevens, M.A., M.Sc., Ph.D. R.G. Stubblefield, Esq., LL.B. J.W.WTaylor, Esq. (till March 1998)

Academic Staff:

Headmaster:

N.A.Sampson, M.A., F.R.S.A., Selwyn College, Cambridge (English)

Deputy Headmaster:

C.R.G.Shaw, M.A., Clare College, Cambridge (English)

Director of Studies:

D.E.Clarke, B.Sc., C.Biol., M.I.Biol., Bristol (Director of Studies, Head of Biology)

Senior Master:

C. F. G. Parkinson, T.D., B.A., St.John's College, Durham (Economics, Mathematics)

Assistant Staff: (Latin, English; Tutor to Founder's) J.McCormick, M.A., University College, Durham W.K.Piper, B.A., B.Ed., A.M.B.D.A., Monash, Australia (Head of Special Needs, English) P.J.Harcourt, M.A., M.I.L., Selwyn College, Cambridge (Modern Languages;Tutor to St.Margaret's) J.L.R.Posnette, B.Ed., Goldsmith's College, London (Sport Studies, Biology, P.E.) (Head of History; Housemaster of Bennett) C.WWWilson, B.A., Exeter G.R.Piper, B.Sc., M.Inst.P., C.Phys. Newcastle (Head of Science, Head of Physics) E.L.Stanley, B.A., Leicester (Head of Economics; Careers Master; Tutor to Lambe's) I.S.Hendry, M.A., Edinburgh (Head of Modern Languages; Housemaster of St.Margaret's) Revd.J.H.Watson, Dip.Th., M.A., Ph.D., F.R.A.S., Westcott House, Cambridge (Chaplain; R.S., Theatre Studies) N.B.V.Jones, B.Sc., Birmingham (Head of Mathematics; Housemaster of Lambe's) S.D.Broome, Dip.C.D.T., Griffiths, Australia (Head of Design Technology) M.P.Dunn, M.A., M.A., A.D.E.M., St.Edmund Hall, Oxford (Head of Geography) R.A.Rothwell, B.Sc.(Eng), B.A., A.C.G.I., M.Inst.I.T.T., Imperial College, London (Head of Computing) M.D.Willdridge, B.A., Ravensbourne College (Head of Art; Tutor to St.Margaret's) Mrs. S.C.Rawlings,B.A., Montpelier, France (Modern Languages; Housemistress of Cornwallis) P.J.Horley, B.A., A.R.C.O., A.L.C.M., College of Ripon and York St.John (Music, Mathematics; Tutor to Westminster) S.K.Schofield, B.Sc., Goldsmiths' College, London (Biology; Head of Games; Tutor to St.Margaret's) A.J.Leang, M.A., A.R.C.O., Christ's College, Cambridge (Director of Music)

The Suttonian 1998 D.A.Cooper, B.Ed., M.Coll.P., Dundee (Head of Chemistry; Tutor to Founder's) Mrs. K.L.Jackson, Cert.Ed., Elizabeth Gaskell College (Head of Home Economics; Housemistress of Valence) P.P.Collins, B.Ed., Sydney, Australia (Mathematics, Sport Studies; Housemaster of Founder's) Miss S.A.Boddy, B.A., Kent (History, Games; Tutor to Valence) J.H.Kittermaster, B.A., Froebel College, London (English, Humanities, Games; Tutor to Bennett) Mrs. A.J.Jefferson, B.Sc., B.A., Leicester (Mathematics, Head of P.S.H.E.; Housemistress of Holdgate) A.R.Cruttenden, M.A., Ph.D., Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (Head of English; Tutor to Lambe's) S.F.Stebbings, B.A., Queen's College, Oxford (Physics; Tutor to Westminster) (Chemistry; Tutor to Founder's) S.P.Hiscocks, B.Sc., Ph.D, C.Chem., M.R.S.C., Essex (Modern Languages, Games) W.D.Buck, Cert.Ed., St.Luke's College, Exeter (R.S., Humanities, Games; Housemaster of Westminster) R.H.Carr, B.A., St.John's College, Durham Miss F.H.Clayton, B.A., Leeds (English; Tutor to Holdgate) Miss E.L.Rankin, B.Sc., N.Dip.M, M.Inst.B., Dundee (Biology; Tutor to Sutton) (Art) Mrs. B.J.Piper, B.A., Kent Institute of Art & Open University M.E.F.Pettman, M.A., Edinburgh (Examinations Officer) D.Pickard, B.Sc., Queen Mary College, London (Geography; Tutor to Bennett) (Girls' Games) Mrs. A.F.F.Wilkinson F.L., Calder College, Liverpool M.J.Jillians, B.Ed., Reading (Modern Languages) Mrs. E.P.Cornell (Girls' Games) Mrs. J.P.A.Fletcher, B.Sc., Thames Polytechnic (Chemistry, Biology; Tutor to Cornwallis) (E.F.L. Mrs. E.S.Gourlay, B.A., C.E.L.T.A., Nottingham Mrs.E. Hutchins, B.Sc., M.Inst.P., C.Phys., Surrey (Physics R.Williams, B.A., Kent (Mathematics) Mrs. M.THall, B.Ed., Kent (Modern Languages, Geography; Tutor to Valence) Mrs. C.J.Kitchen, B.Eng., M.Sc., Bradford & Open University (Mathematics; Assistant Examinations Officer; Tutor to Holdgate) F.B.Oliver, B.A., A.F.I.M.A., M.B.C.S., Open University (Design Technology; Work Experience) Mrs. P.V.Shaw (Housemistress of Sutton) Mrs A.M. Buck (Home Economics; Tutor to Cornwallis) Mrs C.George (Girls' Games) Miss T.Kurucova, B.Sc., Komenius University, Bratislava (Mathematics; Tutor to Sutton) F. Boudry (French Assistant) Mrs S.Ansty, C.E.L.T.A. (E.F.L.)

Visiting Staff:

Miss T.Davies, B.A. M.Eden, L.R.A.M. (from April 1998) Mrs.E.Field, G.R.S.M., L.R.A.M., A.R.C.M. D.Holmes, L.R.A.M. M.Hunt, G.G.S.M. Mrs.A.Hutchinson, M.A., M.Sc., Cert.Ed. V.J.Hyland L.R.A.M. (till April 1998) Mrs.S.Marshall, L.R.A.M. Mrs.S.D.Martin, L.L.C.M. Mrs.C.Saunby, G.R.S.M., L.R.A.M., Dip.R.A.M. R.Scarff G.T.C.L., L.T.C.L.

(Brass) (Guitar) (Singing, Piano) (Violin, Viola) (Clarinet, Saxophone) (Flute) (Guitar) (Oboe) (Cello, Piano) (Piano) (Percussion, Piano)

Mrs.L.Rylands Mrs.P.Stileman M.A., F.Coll.P. Mrs. R.Faulkner, B.A., Cert.Ed., B.D.A.(D.I.) M.F.Beaman, M.A. A.R.Day C.Chalmers-Stevens Mrs.K.Lewis

(Typing) (Dyslexia) (Dyslexia) (Fives) (Cricket Professional) (Judo) (Basketball)

The Suttonian 1998 Administrative Staff:

Bursar: Estates Bursar: Bursar's P.A.: Book-Keeper: Estates Manager: Clerk of Works: Domestic Controller/C.C.F. Adjutant: Catering Manager:

A.J.Hutchinson, M.A., F.C.A. Mrs.R.Harrison Mrs.A.Smith, Dip.H.E. Mrs.C.Box M.N.Dodd (till April 1998) M.Shewbridge (from April 1998) Capt.B.W.Miller J.R.Devine

Headmaster's Secretary: Admissions Secretary: Assistant Secretary: School Secretary:

Mrs.M.Noar Mrs.D.Neeves Mrs.A.Humphrey Miss J.Norton (till April 1998) Mrs.J.Holderness (from April 1998) Mrs.R.E.Searle (Biology) Mrs.G.A.Oliver, B.A., B.Sc. (Physics) Mrs.T.James (Chemistry) Mrs.M.Horley (Computing) Mrs.M.Knowles (till December 1997) Mrs.C.Carter (from January 1998)

Technical Support:

Librarian:

Head Gardener: Head Groundsman:

P.Atkinson G.Baker

School Medical Adviser: School Nurse: House Matron & Deputy School Nurse: House Matrons:

I.Roberts, M.B., B.S., D.R.C.O.G., M.R.C.P. Ms.L.Bispham, R.G.N., Dip.App.Sci (Nsg.Ed.) Mrs.A.Niblock, S.R.N. (Westminster) Mrs.D.Russ (Sutton)

SCHOOL PREFECTS

4

Heads of School.

G.H.Horton Joanna M.Woods

St.Margaret's

Westminster

Lambe's

Founder's

M.Slattery

M.G.J.Wooderson D.T.B.Stiff

G.H.Horton S.A.Watson

T.G.Jordan B.Shahrad

Valence

Sutton

Holdgate

S.Katie Simmonds Clare D.Shaw

Eloise R.Doorey Joanna M.Woods Lucy-J.Willmott

Rebecca L.Lacey Georgina A.Mear Juliana L.de Trute

The Suttonian 1998

EDITORIAL Every year in the life of any school has its own special significance; hopefully, and usually, the events which make the year significant are good and memorable.

1997-98 was an important year at Sutton Valence primarily because there was an HMC Inspection, the first full inspection of the school for over forty years. The inspectors remarked on the friendliness and the humanity of Sutton Valence; how well these attributes square with my own experience of the school. As I come to my retirement, some forty-nine years after arriving as a pupil, I recollect how friendly and human the place was even in the austerity of the years after the war. I was a pupil during the last inspection, but I remember absolutely nothing about it. I do remember various characters on the staff at the time, senior boys who had a significant impact on the life of the school, my own peer group many of whom I meet regularly at Old Suttonian dinners, but above all I remember, alongside the friendships, the wonderful views of the Weald, the autumn mists, crisp winter mornings and balmy summer days. Little seems to have changed in much of this; there are still characters on the staff, the senior pupils continue to have their impact on school life, the various peer groups still meet regularly when they have left and the scenery and the cycle of nature remain as glorious and magnificent as ever.

Yet much has changed in many other ways. The school in 1950 was predominantly boarding and smaller than it is now with boys only. There were fewer buildings, there was little traffic on the roads, there were many more shops in the village, hockey was still five years away and Biology was not on the timetable. The increasing number of day pupils, the better facilities and accommodation, the wider choice to pupils and, above all, the arrival of girls fifteen years ago have all had a significant effect for the better, in my opinion. It is easy to grumble about more traffic on the roads and fewer shops, as well as other changes which we may think of as detrimental in the last few years of the twentieth century, but most of these are changes of the society in which we live, not the school.

As long as friendship and humanity remain key elements in the framework of Sutton Valence, and I see no reason why they should not, the school will prosper. Floreat Suttona.

C.R.G.Shaw

THE SCHOOL YEAR The Autumn Term brought its quota of staff changes with the arrival of W.D.Buck to teach French and Games and to take a close look at the Marketing of the school; his wife, Mrs A.M.Buck, joined the Home Economics department on a part-time basis. Mr R.H.Carr came from Underhill to take over Westminster House from Mr C.F.G.Parkinson and to teach some R.S., Humanities and Games. He was succeeded as Head of Underhill by Mr A.M.Brooke. Miss F.H.Clayton joined the English department and became House Tutor in Holdgate while Miss E.L.Rankin joined the Biology department and became House Tutor in Sutton. We also welcomed Miss T.Kurucova from the Slovak Republic as our Eastern European teacher for one year to teach Mathematics and be an Out-Tutor in Sutton; Mr F.Boudry came as French Assistant. Mr D.E.Clarke was appointed Director of Studies and Mr Parkinson became Senior Master. Mrs P.V.Shaw became Housemistress of Sutton House in succession to Mr and Mrs WK.Piper. Mr S.K.Schofield was appointed Head of the new Games Department.

We had a new School Nurse, Ms.Linda Bispham, to run a new Medical Centre, converted from part of the ground floor at the back of St.Margaret's.

It was also a term of some tension and anxiety as the Inspection approached - it took place just after Halfterm. The inspection team of ten, led by by Mr David Bird, former Headmaster of Stockport Grammar School, were extremely thorough, but also human, and, despite the understandable worries, most people in the school took it all in their stride. The findings did not produce anything too unexpected and praised the atmosphere and friendliness of the school. Some changes will inevitably take place as a result of the inspection and some began to be implemented during the rest of the year.

We had also put into place some changes to the Curriculum and Timetable which had thrown up some teething troubles. However, the timetabling of games had enabled better use to be made of our facilities and the coaching expertise of staff. The movement of certain academic departments had also taken place so that Centre block now houses Maths, Languages and Geography, whilst English, History and Economics are based in Lambe's. The mobile classrooms are used mostly for examinations, second-hand clothing and storage.

5

The Suttonian 1998 We said goodbye at Christmas to Mrs M.Knowles who had been Librarian for a number of years after starting at S.V. as Lambe's matron, then working in the Bookshop and acting as Assistant San Sister. In her place we welcomed Mrs C.Carter as Librarian.

The Lent Term passed peacefully enough. At the end of the term Miss Joan Norton retired; she had been working at the school since 1970, first as Appeals Secretary, then as Bursar's Secretary and finally as Systems Manager and School Secretary. Another leaver was Mr M.Dodd, who had been Groundsman for a number of years before taking over as Estates Manager. He was replaced as Clerk of Works by Mr M.Shewbridge who had been working at Underhill. There were some changes on the Governing Body: Mr M.A.Maberly (O.S. 1955 F) became Chairman in succession to Mr F.Barber, who remains a Governor; Mr F.V.Morgan retired as Director and Clerk of the Foundation and became a Governor in succession to Mr J.WWTaylor, whilst Mr L.A.Smy became the new Director and Clerk We said goodbye to several staff at the end of the year. Mr C.R.G.Shaw (O.S. 1955 W) retired as Deputy Head, Mr N.B.V.Jones left to return to New Zealand, initially on a term's exchange and then permanently from January 1999, Mr S.K.Schofield (O.S. 1974 W} is moving on to train as a missionary, Dr A.R.Cruttenden goes to be Head of English at Barton Court School in Canterbury, Mr M.J.Jillians retires to live in Bath, Miss T.Kurucova returns to the Slovak Republic, Mr F.Boudry returns to France, and Mrs T.James leaves as Chemistry Lab.Assistant. Tributes to all these leavers follow in these pages.

Mr T.J.Wilbur, at present a Housemaster at Millfield School, has been appointed to become the new Deputy Head in September 1998, interestingly this is the first external appointment of a Deputy Head this century.

Colin Shaw Colin Shaw first encountered Sutton Valence School back in 1949, when, fresh from Aberdour Prep School and in possession of a scholarship, he entered Holdgate House, under Mr A.B.Derrick. After a year he transferred to Westminster House under Mr N.P.Bentley who had a significant influence on his life, as he did on so many. He remembers - then as now - a "friendly place", but also one a little tougher and more rugged, still affected by post-war austerity.

When he left the school six years later (not knowing that he would ever return), he had a distinguished record: Head of House, Sergeant in the CCF, Chorister, King's Scout, member of the Orchestra, occasional player for the 1st XV, chairman of the Hunting Society - and A levels in English, Latin and French.

After school came two years of National Service with the Royal Sussex Regiment; this took him as far as Korea. They were interesting years: "good for me," he says.

At Cambridge, Clare College, Colin read English and History. He also found time for refereeing rugby, for rowing in the College 2nd VIII and for acting. In 1960 he went to Exeter University to take his Certificate of Education, where he also played a lot of golfi In 1961 he started work at Wells Cathedral School. Like all new and enthusiastic schoolmasters he seems to have taken on everything - house tutoring (of course), English, Latin, junior Maths (what else?), the cadet force, Rugby, Cricket and pastoral responsibility for the Cathedral Choir.

He also got married; Pauline at the time was a junior matron at Wells. In 1966 he became Head of English and also Librarian at Bearwood College near Wokingham. Then in 1971 the Headship of English became available at Sutton Valence; though it had not been his intention to return, it was the right career move.

The years away were important, not least in his appreciation of the place. Men who taught him were still there, but were now his colleagues. At Sutton Valence his range of activities and interests continued: CCF, shooting, various teams as coach and referee. For 15 years he was Housemaster of Lambe's, during which time he oversaw the house's transition from a boys' boarding house to a fully day house, reflecting the demographic shift generally affecting boarding education. Until his retirement, he was a stalwart of the choir, always to be seen in that position near the organ.

The Suttonian 1998 For a time he produced plays and Gilbert & Sullivan operas. In 1976 it was "A Madrigal for Master Lambe", the Quatercentenary Pageant; in the early 80s it was G & S. During "The Mikado" Colin stepped into the role of Nanki Poo at a fortnight's notice. He also edited "The Suttonian".

With the change of management methods in schools, Colin became Sutton Valence's first Director of Studies in 1987 and then Deputy Head in 1996.

Retirement? Colin now devotes his time to O.S. affairs and the archives, having been on the O.S. Committee for 20 years already. He is even the editor of this magazine again (a one-off! - Ed). He lives on the campus, in Sutton House, where he holds another innovative appointment; Housemistress's Husband!

You cannot meet Colin without being aware of his affection for Sutton Valence. He has lived through times of many interesting developments. Of perhaps greatest significance, not only did his son Adrian attend, but also his two daughters, Amelia and Clare. The times of change, he believes, have made the school more civilized, both physically and culturally.

All who meet Colin respect his kindness, his even temper and his dedication to others. Those of us who have been taught by him, and those of us who have worked with him, have reason to be grateful.

W.K.Piper

Nigel Jones Nigel came to Sutton Valence as Head of Mathematics in 1998, replacing Brian Little, who, by coincidence, had been appointed Deputy Head at Welbeck College, Nigel's previous school.

An old boy of Latymer Upper School and a graduate of Birmingham University, Nigel quickly made his mark in both the classroom and, as a very keen sportsman, on the games field. As a teacher he was as patient and encouraging with the unconfident or slow learner as he was challenging and inspiring with the gifted A level candidate, and he led his department with quiet competence and an unselfish willingness to share the ability range. Not only did Mathematics enjoy enviable year-on-year success at both GCSE and A levels, but through his introduction of inter-schools competitions saw its profile raised and pupils encouraged to view the subject as an exciting, enjoyable cerebral activity. The school's teams and individuals acquitted themselves with credit at these events.

As a games coach Nigel was characteristically painstaking and thorough, demanding high levels of fitness, commitment and fair play, qualities he never failed to demonstrate himself as referee and umpire. Enjoyment of the game was always his paramount objective. He has a deep and wide-ranging knowledge of many sports, although his especial love is rugby. When the All Blacks were in England, however, Nigel's loyalties, as the husband of a New Zealander, were strangely ambiguous. His contribution to games over the years was enormous and, in this area, as in many others, his unstinting involvement will be greatly missed. In common with a number of colleagues Nigel combined leading a department with the voracious demands of running a house, Lambe's, from 1989. Although by any known logic, time, energy and all the other ingredients necessary for the performance of this double act, must be infinite supply, he met all challenges with untiring inexhaustible commitment, good humour and patience. As a neighbouring housemaster, I can scarcely recall a single occasion when he raised his voice; whilst no martinet, he gave up on no-one, however unco-operative, disobliging or uncouth. His knowledge of the boys in his charge, their interests, relevant family details, options, results (academic and sporting) and of the minutiae of house and school administration and arrangements was phenomenal, though occasionally regretted, especially when some abstruse erratum formed the substance of Other Business at Common Room or Housestaff meetings. Nigel's many talents were always understated, and as his paper-shuffling skills amply and endearingly advertised, he was as unbureaucratic a person as one would wish to meet. People came first.

With Margaret, he was a great supporter of Common Room events - their offer of help with arrangements was often the first - and he was a very generous colleague. For a number of years the Queen's Head Quiz Team was regularly put together by Nigel, and his amazing knowledge of geography, as well as his memory for sports facts, won the evening's round on more than a few occasions.

The Suttonian 1998 For all his time at Sutton Valence Nigel was an officer in the CCF and there were few camps which he did not attend. His trousers came second to none for the sharpness of their crease. With a house at Broughton, he gained a knowledge of the Lake District without rival, planning and walking all the routes for Adventurous Training. They were never less than suitably challenging for a particular group and his attention to safety ensured total confidence that no avoidable risk would be taken. Additionally, he carried the heavy responsibility of obtaining the first evening's provisions: once his otherwise reliable numerical faculties, overwhelmed by unprecedented numbers, went awry, with the result that steak and kidney pie, cooked in every possible way, was on the menu for the whole week! Even Tarne, the much-loved Jones' dog, lost interest.

Nigel and Margaret could always be relied on to support any school performance and his contribution to dramatic productions was more than passive, being for many years in charge of the a succession of highly competent and dedicated lighting crews. Needless to say, any Lambe's boy's involvement received due acknowledgement.

Nigel's departure has also entailed the loss of Margaret to the school community. A successful and very popular primary schoolteacher, latterly Head teacher at Frittenden, she possessed none of the caricatured school-mistressly qualities and all of those which put her among the best in the profession. Her down-to-earth approach to people and issues was suffused by a Christian kindliness and generosity, and her effervescent good humour ensured that nothing was taken more seriously than it deserved to be. Despite her own heavy professional responsibilities, she gave Nigel total support, knowing well many of the boys and their parents herself. Together they formed a committed and dedicated team, contributing enormously to the life of the school.

As they had always intended, the Joneses have returned to Margaret's native New Zealand, Nigel initially as an exchange teacher at St.Kentigern's College in Auckland and Margaret as a primary school headmistress.

We wish them both every possible happiness and fulfilment and hope to see them again before too long.

John Harcourt

John Posnette John Posnette left in the Lent Term 1998 after teaching at Sutton Valence for 15 years, arriving in September 1983 with his wife Ellen. All his children have attended the school, the eldest, Peter, having just completed his A levels. On his arrival he was appointed Head of Physical Education and was an out tutor in Westminster till 1985 when he became a tutor of Founder's. In 1984 John took over as Master i/c Boys' Hockey which he ran until his departure. In his time he coached some outstanding sides and ensured the name of Sutton Valence maintained a high profile in one of the toughest counties. He was an excellent coach and motivator. His most successful period was in 1992-93 when the 1st XI won the prestigious Frank Mason Trophy for two years in succession under the Captaincy of Will Waters. In 1992 he took over Girls' hockey and also started the John Taylor Trophy which the school won in 1993. At one time the Girls' 1st XI was undefeated for nearly two seasons. John on his arrival was also appointed Master i/c Athletics which saw the senior squad win the Duke of York's trophy on numerous occasions.

But to talk of only of John's successes would be to miss the great personal devotion and loyalty that he fostered in the pupils that he taught. He was always successful in turning around the more boisterous pupils who often found it difficult to fit into school life. His door was always open to pupils present or past for a fatherly shoulder to cry on. He was a loyal friend and colleague. Judging by the numbers of past pupils that attended O.S. Hockey day his friendship has not been forgotten.

John was a valued member of the Science department, teaching Biology and Agricultural Science to GCSE and he also introduced A level Sport Studies to the curriculum.

We wish him and his family well in the future.

Shaun Schofield

The Suttonicni 1998

Shaun Schofield When Shaun Schofield left Sutton Valence in 1975, I thought that, as so often happens, apart from one or two occasions in the first few years after he had left, I would be unlikely to see him again, despite very regular contact with him, in Westminster House (I still have the House photo of Summer 1970 in which he sits, cross-legged, on the ground at the end of the front row, looking little different from nowadays, I add with envy), in the classroom and on the sports field and squash court.

He had enjoyed considerable sporting success at school, being Captain of both Tennis and Squash and playing for the 1st XV and 1st Hockey XI, and went on to Goldsmith's College to do a degree in Biology.

It was, therefore, with delighted surprise that I learned that he was to return in Autumn 1991 to become a teaching colleague. After working for many years in accountancy, latterly with American Express, Shaun had in 1990 taken the brave decision to train as a teacher, a decision which entailed selling his house to finance himself and moving his young family to Hull for a year, while he took the P.G.C.E. course at the University. The completion of this course coincided with Sutton Valence's need for a Biology teacher and Shaun, it seemed, had come full circle. From the start he was far more than just a teacher of Biology, a job he fulfiled with his personal brand of commitment and enthusiasm. As a still-keen sportsman and coach he immediately had a heavy involvement in School Sport in all three terms of the year, with rugby, hockey and tennis - for longer or shorter periods of time he was master-in-charge of each of these games. He was a non-resident House Tutor in St Margaret's House for several years and helped with the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, particularly on the expedition side, for most of his time here. In 1997, when the structure of sport in the School was re-organised, Shaun became the first-ever Director of Sport, a post involving overall co-ordination of sports, both boys' and girls'. We imagined that such a role would provide him with fresh, stimulating challenge for several years, but Shaun and his wife, Joy, found a challenge in a different direction and we learned, to our selfish regret, during 1997, that they would be leaving in Summer `98 to train as missionaries - a second very brave decision, which again involved considerable family upheaval.

We shall remember Shaun for his deep concern for people, pupils and colleagues alike, his cheerfulness and almost perpetual optimism. I often wondered how he could remain positive during some rugby seasons, when the disappointment seemed to pile up relentlessly, yet he always believed that improvement and success were just round the comer. It was, therefore, a fitting reward for his skilful and committed coaching that in his last season in charge of the 1st XV, helped by the Aussie know-how of Paul Collins, the team enjoyed the success for which he had hoped for so long. He was always willing to put himself out to oblige colleagues and pupils, whether it was serving as Treasurer on the Common Room Committee or accompanying the rock-climbing group on outings as a most welcome adult support (complete with Joy's fruit cake to bolster flagging energy).

What epitomised for me his approach to people was the "Former 1st XV" rugby dinner which he organised for Bob Chance, after Bob had retired in 1993. He felt that the contribution Bob had made to Sutton Valence rugby over such a long period ought not to go unrecognised. That occasion will live long in my memory.

We wish Shaun, Joy, Hannah, Miriam and Naomi the best of fortune and fulfilment in the future and thank him for the wide-ranging contribution he made to life at Sutton Valence during his "second term" here.

John McCormick

Mike Jillians Mike Jillians arrived at Sutton Valence School in the summer of 1989 from Mascall's School in Paddock Wood. As a Maidstone boy himself he must have wished to be working even closer to his roots. It quickly became clear that this was as close to a human dynamo as it is possible to get. Throughout his years with us he taught French with tireless vigour and enthusiasm and with a love of the language, people and culture of France which is second to none. Much of his spare time - of which there was little enough - was spent helping individuals through the complexities of the subjunctive or to prepare them for oral exams at all levels.

Mike was also a firm believer in the value of exchanges to the teaching of Modern Languages and ensured the continuing development of the School exchange with Bergues in his capacity as Master i/c the European Dimension.

The Suttonian 1998 His dynamic approach to teaching was only matched by his almost manic approach to running. He would often be seen arriving at the Common Room in a welter of perspiration having run round BM several times in as many minutes, only to appear shortly afterwards in blue pin-stripe ready to teach. As well as his running, Mike organised the Soccer activity, arranging matches for those in the school who favoured the round ball which were much appreciated by those who participated. If time permitted he would join departmental and other colleagues in attempting the Times crossword - often succeeding where others failed.

A new departure for Mike during his years at SV was his time as an out-tutor in St.Margaret's where his boundless energy and commitment were appreciated by the boys and House staff alike. He will be missed in any number of ways and on many levels. I will miss him as a member of department, as a friend and as someone who could always make me laugh. Our best wishes go with Mike and Annie to the West Country where quiet retirement seems a remote possibility.

Ian Hendry

Aidan Cruttenden Aidan Cruttenden joined Sutton Valence as Head of English in 1995 after spending four years at Bournemouth School. He contributed an original and imaginative flair to English, successfully steering us through the HMC Inspection early this year, while coping with the demanding task of organising the new location of the department in the Lambe's building.

As well as being a caring and very knowledgeable classroom teacher, Aidan contributed a great deal to the extra-curricular life of the school. He was a House Tutor in Lambe's and master in charge of the Hunting Society. His main contributions, however, were to Music. Aidan will undoubtedly be remembered for his commitment to the Orchestra and, above all, to the Choir. I and others could often hear his singing and giving a lead as we stood at the back of the Chapel on a weekday morning. He also ran "The Fat Lady Swings", a musical successor, with girls, to the Male Voice Chorus of past days which was a light-hearted addition to the many activities provided by the Music Department.

He has now begun a new challenge as Head of English at Barton Court in Canterbury, where I know he is preparing to implement a new Media Studies `A' level course; happily last year's practice as Editor of the 1997 `Suttonian' should stand him in good stead for this. We wish him all success in his future career.

Fiona Clayton

Liz Hutchins Liz came to Sutton Valence School to work for us for one year as a part time physics teacher - we were all very pleased that she in fact stayed for three years. Liz was very good at physics and was a professional - always one to set and collect preps on time, she also spent much of her spare time thinking up new ways to teach topics.

She often made new demonstration models which she brought into her lessons. Liz was very supportive of the science department in general and the physics department in particular, and it was sad when internal reorganisation for this year meant that we did not require a part-timer. Liz has obtained a physics post at Bedgebury School I hope that she will enjoy her time there and that Bedgebury will benefit from her experience.

Geoff Piper

10

The Suttonian 1998

Tania Kurucova We were delighted to welcome Tania Kurucova to the school from the Slovak Republic to teach in the Mathematics Department for one year under the HMC Eastern European Teacher Exchange programme; as an experienced teacher she quickly settled into life at Sutton Valence. With her lively and enthusiastic outlook, she soon became a valued member of the Common Room, always willing to help and spend time with the pupils. She was very much involved in all aspects of school life including running her own maths club, supporting a number of school productions, helping on theatre trips and accompanying the Geography Department on their annual field trip to York. She has recently married Phillip Evans and has returned to her former post as the Head of Mathematics in the English Bi-lingual Grammar School at Sucany in Slovakia.

Fiona Clayton

Joan Norton After working part-time for the last couple of years, Joan Norton decided it was time to retire fully at the end of the Lent Term after almost twenty-eight years at the school.

Joan first came to Sutton Valence to be the Secretary for the Appeal that the school was holding in 1970/71.

When her work on the Appeal was completed, the Bursar at that time, Peter Hall, was looking for a new secretary and Joan was appointed. Joan became far more than just a secretary: she ran the stationery store, issuing exercise books, rulers etc. to the pupils in break, she helped to issue internal exam papers to staff, she ran the new clothing shop in the school, she collected lost watches and pens and her office became a focal point for members of staff and pupils who needed information or help.

As computerisation began to develop in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Joan became the Systems Manager and was initiated into the mysterious world of the new Dolphin system. She was responsible for the billing of all the extras within the school and had to liaise with the Foundation Office in London more and more. After Peter Hall's retirement she worked with John Hodgkinson, John Pratten and finally Andrew Hutchinson as Bursars, or their equivalent in title.

She and Peter Hall always worked well together, especially on such things as the Antiques Fair which was held each Easter holidays to raise money for the Sutton Valence Music Society. Much of the work for this was done voluntarily over and above the normal routine of school work. Nor did Joan simply do the secretarial work involved, she would move desks and chairs or whatever else needed to be done. After Peter Hall retired, she continued with the work on the Antiques Fair.

She was an indispensable part of the various Charity Walks which the school has held over the last twenty years. Herself a keen walker, she would willingly walk the route of the walk in various stages during the months prior to the day; she would write to or visit land-owners to seek permission from them for or to notify them of the walk. Apart from her walking, she was also a keen badminton player in her younger days and played regularly in a club team.

One was always assured of a friendly welcome when knocking on Joan's door; she would listen to grumbles or give advice to those who needed it. She knew the routine of the school backwards and was a mine of information for new members of staff and pupils alike. Above all she would often do things without being asked because she knew they needed doing. It soon became clear after she retired that she had been an important, if not vital, cog in the workings of the school, as the question, "Who does this or that?".was frequently heard. The reply invariably was, "Oh, Joan used to do that."

We wish Joan a long and happy retirement; I am sure it will be a busy one as she walks her dogs and spends time with her sister and nephews at the bottom of Chart Hill.

Colin Shaw

11

The Suttonian 1998

Margaret Knowles In December 1997 Margaret Knowles retired from the post of School Librarian, thus concluding a long association with Sutton Valence School, although with characteristic unselfishness and concern she returned for several days at the start of the Lent Term to help her successor, Mrs Christine Carter, settle in to her post.

Margaret first came to the school in 1983 as non-resident Matron in Lambes's when it was still partly a boarding-house, for amongst her battery of skills were those of a qualified nurse. She aroused the interest of her charges by frequently arriving for her duties on a motor cycle, in full leathers. With Lambe's ceasing to be a boarding-house in the summer of 1985, Margaret went to work in a residential home for a short while in the spring, but she soon returned to us in September 1985 to succeed Bridget Snow as Librarian. Although this was a new kind of work for her, she settled to it with the minimum of fuss and, since she also commanded typing and other secretarial skills, she soon found herself Common Room Secretarial Assistant as well. With unfailing good humour and imperturbability she produced exam papers, notes, articles for this magazine, letters and other typed material for members of staff, too often required at unreasonably short notice. This was work frequently interrupted by requests for help or information from pupils and by sudden demands from teachers for the almost instant accessing, covering and making ready for borrowing of newly-purchased books.

Margaret juggled all these requests with consummate skill, so that seldom were people kept waiting long.

When, in 1992, the Library moved from what is now the James Conference Room to its superb new location in the Lambe's building, Margaret played the major part in supervising the moving of the books to the new premises and the planning of the shelving of them there, as well as carrying out a great deal of the tedious and tiring job of actually putting the books on the shelves. Installed in her new cosy office she exercised her freshly-acquired word-processing and computing skills with her usual efficient verve. Probably few of us knew how many and how varied were the favours asked of her in her secretarial role, yet these were secondary to her responsibilities as Librarian, which were increased by the arrival of computers in the Library, something more for which supervision and advice were frequently needed.

Great reserves of patience, an ability to keep several tasks on the go at once, a wide knowledge of what information could be obtained in the Library and the capability to maintain easy relationships with all but the most recalcitrant library users, all these qualities Margaret brought to her dual role at Sutton Valence for 13 years. As Master-in-charge, I am deeply in her debt for all she did in the Library - as I often said, when introducing her to visitors to her domain: "Margaret does all the tedious, hard work, while I have the fun of spending the money". My abiding memory of her will be her last Speech Day in May 1997, when the usual Library exhibition took on an Ancient Roman flavour, with large posters of the Roman army in action, Roman food served up in Roman dishes, other representations of Roman life and, to cap it all, a live Roman legionary - M. CLUVIUS VIATOR of the Ermine Street Guard (Margaret's husband, Mike) - who explained his weapons and equipment and their use to the many interested visitors, all this organised by Margaret in the unassuming and self-effacing way which we had all come to expect of her.

We wish Margaret a happy retirement, with Mike, at their new home in Ashford and proffer our deep gratitude for all that she has done for Sutton Valence School over many years.

John McCormick

Mick Dodd Mick was with the school as its Head Groundsman (in charge of all things to do with the hundred odd acres that surround our buildings) between 1989 and 1998, in the last year taking on additional responsibilities as Estates Manager, when the responsibilities extended into the care of the buildings as well.

During this time two trends became clear; the quality of surfaces on which to play improved significantly, and the appearance of the whole school grounds became considerably more attractive. Paul Atkinson and the gardeners take the greater responsibility for the latter developments but there is no doubt that Mick's contribution to the development of grounds, in general and sport in particular, overseeing the installation of the Astro surface, and in a thousand and one other ways, was of great significance. Of course, in the last couple of years we were setting up a fully-fledged sports department in the school. It is much to the credit of the groundsman that the physical resources we have now are in tip-top condition. During the last ten years the school has become increasingly aware of the opportunities to be had from allowing its spacious grounds to be used by visitors. Confidence in the quality of those grounds has enabled us to take those opportunities.

12

The Suttonian 1998 For visiting games players the smartness of the grounds and the efficiency of their preparation, and the good manners of the groundsman enhanced an atmosphere of high regard for sport among the pupils and staff of the school. The impression was created that we would be good at playing the sports and hard to beat. This same high quality of preparation led us at school to believe our abilities were worth the effort of good preparation, and such is the power of positive thought our performances did indeed rise.

Mick, the curator of the grounds, is no less a man than Mick, the trusted intimate of teachers in charge of sports. Indeed, it is this role in which lies his greatest strength, I believe. I walked miles along the boundary trying to articulate how I wanted sport in the school to progress finding that my way forward was being smoothed by the co-operative contribution of my friend. He was quite capable of debunking the more outlandish ideas and substituting more sensible alternatives. Mick's quiet intervention once prevented me from committing grievous bodily harm on a pupil from another school and whenever Sutton Valence was struggling in the field his suggestion that we go and stand at square leg "for a chat" invariably seemed to coincide with the school taking a couple of wickets.

If I miss Mick, the Old Suttonians will also be saddened at his departure. Together with Annie his efforts made "cricket week" all the more pleasurable for players and spectators alike. However, what made the tenure of that post so memorable, not only to me, but also to the many others with whom he had to deal was his ability to anticipate what was required and to supply that need as a part of his job and not as a bonus to the teacher in charge. This rather "old fashioned" attribute comes about because Mick has a love of sport, has played sport and understands sport. I well remember the first "kicking competition" afternoon that Mick had to prepare. I was full of detailed instructions, but Mick needed nothing more than a general indication of what was required - and when I took the late Raymond Wickham out to watch, there were arrayed flags and balls and marshals and it was a grand spectacle.

Mick has gone to be Head Groundsman at the City of London's Freeman's School. We wish him well in the search for new challenges and the happiest of times with Annie whom he married early in November, this year.

David Pickard

Frederic Boudry Frederic joined us in September 1987 to spend the academic year giving conversational French lessons to our senior pupils, teaching a little French at Underhill and coaching and playing hockey. All these things he did with a Gallic panache surprising as his home town is a mere fifty miles distant. On many occasions he proved Calais to be nearer and more accessible than many of us ever thought. We enjoyed his brief yet lively presence with us and, indeed, the rich variety of his hair colouring.

Ian Hendry

Tizzy James Tizzy James was the Laboratory Technician for the Chemistry Department for five years, during which time she became very much part of the Sutton Valence community. Apart from making life easier for those who taught Chemistry, the main part of her job, she built up good relationships with the senior pupils with whom she came into contact. She was always happy to be involved with social events in the Common Room and will be missed. She was reluctant to leave us, but her new post at Cornwallis School fitted her family commitments more conveniently. We wish her all success and hope we may se something of her from time to time.

Colin Shaw

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The Suttonian 1998

SALVETE Autumn 1997 Form 1 N.F.Adjaye D.J.Beorby W.A.P.Brander G.R.Brett C.M.Button J.P.Cockburn W.T.Davison Claire L.Dawson D.B.Froud H.N.Ho R.D.Hollands P.J.Hunt P.J.Lawrence

B W B W B B B C B W B W B

Fiona C.L.Leckie Emma L.Manchett Elizabeth A.Mannington M.O.Margot Jennifer L.Martyn D.C.McLaughlin J.R.Newnham G.J.G.Palmer Georgina J.Pragnell R.M.Raye B.H.Reynhart Phillippa S.Scott M.J.Searle

C C C B C B B B C B B C B

WG.Selway S.Seredzinsky D.Sims Anna Stanford I.H.Stoneham J.H.Tobin J.D.Tolhurst T.J.Wesely Charlotte L.Wilding S.P.Wilkinson B.E.Winterbottom D.C.Worsfold

B W B C B B B B C B B B

S S

Elizabeth B.Goodbun M.Muradian

C W

Alexandra J.Reader P.May Taechanarong

S S

A.Abdulai Susan A.Adams M-N.A.Ali P.TF.Bush N.E.Chatburn O.B.Clarkson D.V.F.Corless C.J.Cornwall T.J.Crane

W S W W W L M M F

B.T.WDaking P.N.Green O.Hadi Laura J.Jordan Rosemary M.Lubbock M.L.Melbourn Virginia L.Minter Maxine J.D.Nelson

L M L H S M S S

A.Nichols WTD.Page TE.Poulton E.C.Revell P.R.Sargent Gemma M.Sharp TP.Walford B.Withers-Green

L F L M L H M W

Ka Yan Fung G.R.Griffin Alice I.Howard A.Ivanov

S L H M

R.H.Joseph D.J.Martin S.A.Patel

W M M

P.D.Phillips C.D.Savage Angelique S.Smit

L W H

M.P.F.Nardini

W

C-M.Catherine Yeung

WC.Lau P.K.Okoh J.Paetzel C.Seifert I.Sennikov

W M M M M

J.L-WTan K.Tohver K-YCrystal Wan J.D.Watson

Form 2 Babafunke Abdulai Gina P.Fuschillo Form 3

Form 5 Claudia Bek

S

S

Lower 6 Lilian Becker P.F.Butters S.P.Fuschillo H-G.Kim Laura Klingemann

14

S M W W S

M W S F

The Suttonian 1998 Upper 6 C.K.Watts

M

Lent1998 Form 1 A.A.Chahal H.R.Stacey

Form 2 B B

Form 4 A..Cheng L.Sungayi

Form 3

A.WGorringe

W

W S V

Lower 6

Form 5 M F

S-H.Lin L.Jane Lyons Claudia G.Stacey

A.Marshall-Rodger

M

J.H.C.Lee

M

Summer 1998 Form 3 H.WLai

Lower 6

Form 4 W

G.St.J.Butler-Aust J.Le Pavec J.R.Varney

W M F

S.Imamura Linn S.Melamies

M S

VALETE Autumn 1997 Claudia Bek J.Choi P.S.Y.Chong Anna Collins Naoko Nagai J.H.Park J.H.Park C.Seifert W.Shelley

1997 S. (Goes to Gymnasium in Germany).

1997 M. (Goes to college).

1995 M. (Goes to college).

1995 C. (Goes to school in Maidstone).

1997 S; Senior Play. (Goes to drama school).

1995 W. (Goes to St.John's School, Leatherhead).

1995 W & M; U/15 XV Rugger. (Goes to St.John's School, Leatherhead).

1997 M. (Goes to Gymnasium in Germany).

1992 B & F; GCSE. (Goes to college).

Lent 1998 P.F.Butters S-H.Choi Amy Choi J.H.C.Lee Sarah Schoeller Mihoko Tanaka C.K.Watts

1997 W. (Goes to Gymnasium in Germany).

1997 M. (Goes to school in South Korea).

1997 S. (Goes to college in London).

1998 M. (Goes to school in South Korea).

1996 S. (Goes to Gymnasium in Germany).

1997 S; Senior Play. (Goes to school in Japan).

1997 M; ESU Scholar. (Gap term travelling, then goes to university in the U.S.A.).

Summer 1998 Kathryn Barker

Lilian Becker L.P.Binstead Catherine Birch Jade Bisram

1996 S; A levels; Music Scholar; House Prefect; Senior Play, Orchestra, Choir.

(Gap year working with disabled people, then to university to read Music Therapy).

1997 S; Senior Play. (Goes to Gymnasium in Germany).

1994 H & M; GCSE. (Goes to West Kent College).

1995 V & H; GCSE; 1st XI Girls' Hockey, Half Colours; 1st VI Girls' Tennis, Full Colours; Kent County Tennis U/15. (Apprenticeship at Maidstone Tennis Centre).

1996 C; Effort Prize. (Goes to Cranbrook School i.

15

The Suttonian 1998 K.Boon

J.A.Bourne Josina von dem Bussche-Kessell A.A.Chahal Sally Cloude Juliana de Trute

Eloise Doorey

P.C.Drake Rebecca Duffell

Rosemary Forster I.J.Fraser M.D.Groom

N.Harman

Jessica Harvey T.Hashimoto Liberty Haynes H.K.Ho W.J.E.Hodson

Stephanie Holland G.H.Horton

S.J.Iles A.Ivanov

16

1992 H & M; GCSE & A level; Effort Prize; House Prefect; 2nd XV Rugger; Captain of Boys' Hockey; Senior Basketball team; CCF Sgt; Junior Play. (Goes to Croydon College).

1991 B & F; GCSE & A level; House Prefect; CCF (RAF) CWO; Senior Play, Orchestra, Choir. (Goes to University of Portsmouth to read Business Studies).

1996 S; A level; House Prefect; Girls' Cross-Country team; 2nd VI Girls' Tennis; Senior Play. (Goes to Kent Institute of Art & Design).

1998 B. (Goes to Eltham College).

1993 C & V; GCSE; U/15 Girls' Hockey. (Goes to West Kent College).

1991 C, V & H; GCSE & A level; GCSE Exhibitioner, Achievement Prize, Distinction Prizes; School Prefect; Senior Swimming team; Senior Play. (Goes to U.M.I.S.T. to read Civil and Structural Engineering).

1991 S; GCSE & A level; Junior Scholar, Music Scholar; Achievement Prize, Lower School Music Prize, Lower 6 English Prize, Lower 6 French Prize, Wheeler Prize for French; Music Prize, Richard Horn Prize for Contribution to Music; National Youth Choir, St.Martin's-in-the-Field Choir; School Prefect, Head of House; Girls' Cross-Country team; CCF Sgt; Senior Play, Orchestra, Choir, Hunting Society, Editor, Arts Magazine. (Gap year working in London, then goes to University of Manchester to read Music).

1996 M; GCSE; Maberly Prize for Special Achievement. (Goes to East Kent College, Canterbury).

1991 S; GCSE, City & Guilds, A level; Distinction Prizes, Home Economics Prize; House Prefect; 1st XI Girls' Hockey, Full Colours. (Gap year in Spain, then goes to St.Martin's, Lancaster to read Tourism).

1996 V; GCSE. (Goes to Cranbrook School).

1993 B & L; GCSE; U/15 Boys' Hockey; Intermediate Cross-Country team; Golf team. (Working as an apprentice golf professional).

1991 B, L & M; GCSE & A level; Junior Scholar, Drama Scholar; Distinction Prize, Form Prize, Lower 6 Theatre Studies Prize, Richard Horn Prize for contribution to Drama; House Prefect; 1st XV Rugger, Half Colours; Senior Cross-Country team; Senior Athletics team; CCF (Signals) Cpl; Senior Play, Hunting Society. (Gap year in the theatre, then goes to University of Manchester to read English).

1994 W; GCSE & A level; House Prefect; 2nd XV Rugger; 3rd XI Boys' Hockey; 2nd XI Cricket; CCF Sgt; Senior Play. (Goes to University of Leeds to read Colour Chemistry).

1996 V, H & S; GCSE; Girls' Swimming team; Senior Play. (Goes to West Kent College).

1996 W; GCSE. (Goes to Friends' School, Saffron Waldron).

1995 V & H; GCSE; Senior Play. (Goes to Kent College, Canterbury).

1996 M & W; GCSE; Orchestra. (Goes to Kimbolton School).

1992 W; GCSE & A level; Effort Prize, Lower 6 Design Technology Prize, Maberly Prize for Special Achievement, Design Prize, OSA Enterprize Award; School Prefect; 1st XV Rugger, Full Colours; 1st XI Hockey, Full Colours; U/15 XI Cricket; 1st VI Boys' Tennis, Full Colours; Senior Basketball team; Senior Athletics team; CCF Cpl; Senior Play. (Gap year travelling and working in the Far East, then goes to Sheffield Hallam University to read Finance).

1996 S; A level; House Prefect; Senior Play. (Goes to Kent Institute of Art and Design).

1993 L; GCSE & A level; Foundation Scholar; Effort Prize, Coles Prize for AllRound Contribution in Fifth Form; O.S.A. Prize for All-Round Contribution in Lower Sixth, Wheeler Prize for French, Headmaster's Prize; School Prefect, Head of House, Head of School; 1st XV Rugger, Full Colours; 1st XI Boys' Hockey; 1st XI Cricket, Full Colours; CCF JUO. (Gap year, then goes to university).

1993 B & F; GCSE; U/15 XV Rugger; 3rd XI Boys' Hockey; 1st XI Cricket; CCF. (Goes to Homewood School).

1997 M. (Goes to school in Moscow).

The Suttonian 1998 T.G.Janes Charlotte Jasper J.N.Jones

T.G.Jordan

S.A.Kent H-G.Kim Laura Klingemann Rebecca Lacey

H.K.R.Law Sarah Leggat

D.C.Loft

Kerrie Loft

Nelly Lozinskaia A.L.McNaughton

Georgina Mear

Benilde Moreton B.A.Morrison

A.O'Donovan

J.Paetzel J.M.Park T.R.B.Parkin Digna Patel M.Y.Patel Jasmine Pender

1991 B & F; GCSE & A level; 1st XV Rugger, Full Colours; 1st XI Boys' Hockey; 1st XI Cricket. (Goes to Agricultural College).

1993 C, V, H & S; Music Scholar; CCF L/Cpl; Senior Play, Orchestra, Choir, Hunting Society. (Goes to Maidstone G.S. for Girls).

1991 B & L; GCSE & A level; Distinction Prize; CCF (RAF); Junior Play, Orchestra, Choir, Hunting Society. (Gap year recording music, then goes to Goldsmiths' College, University of London to read Music).

1991 B & F; GCSE & A level; Junior Scholar; Achievement Prize, Form Prizes, Junior Art Prize, Coles Prize for All-round Contribution in Fifth Form, Lower 6 Mathematics Prize, Clothworkers' Prize for All-round Contribution; School Prefect, Head of House; 1st XV Rugger, Half Colours; 1st XI Boys' Hockey, Half Colours; U/15 XI Cricket; Senior Athletics team; CCF (RE) Sgt; Junior Play. (Gap year, then goes to university to read Medicine).

1994 M; GCSE & A level. (Goes to college).

1997 W; A level. (Goes to college in Seattle, U.S.A.).

1997 S; 1st VI Girls' Tennis; CCF. (Goes to Gymnasium in Germany).

1993 V & H; GCSE & A level; Sports Exhibitioner; Effort Prize, Clothworkers' Prize for All-round Contribution; School Prefect, Head of House; 1st XI Girls' Hockey, Half Colours; Captain of Netball, Full Colours; 1st VI Girls' Tennis, Full Colours; Captain of Rounders; Intermediate Girls' Athletics; Captain of Horse Riding team; CCF Sgt. (Goes to Warwick University to read French Studies).

1995 M; GCSE & A level; 1st IV Fives. (Goes to University of Hong Kong).

1992 C & V; Lower 6 Economics Prize, Geography Prize; House Prefect; 1st XI Girls' Hockey, Half Colours; 1st VII Netball, Full Colours; Captain of Girls' Swimming; CCF Sgt. (Gap year, then goes to Loughborough University to read Human Studies).

1990 H & M; GCSE & A level; Distinction Prize; House Prefect; 1st XV Rugger, Half Colours; 2nd IV Fives; Captain of Boys' Swimming; Judo team; CCF (RE); Senior Play. (Goes to Christchurch College, Canterbury).

1992 S; GCSE & A level; Effort Prizes; House Prefect; U/15 Girls' Hockey; 2nd VI Girls' Tennis; Girls' Swimming team; CCF Sgt; Senior Play, Hunting Society. (Goes to University of Plymouth to read Maths Education).

1996 S; GCSE; CCF. (Goes to college in London).

1991 B & F; GCSE & A level; House Prefect; 3rd XV Rugger; 3rd XI Boys' Hockey; Senior Boys' Swimming team; Senior Boys' Athletics team; CCF (RE) S/Sgt. (Gap year working in London, then goes to University of Salford to read Product Design).

1995 V & H; GCSE & A level; GCSE Exhibitioner; O.S.A. Prize for All-round Contribution in Lower Sixth; Grizelle Prize for History; School Prefect; 2nd VII Netball; Senior Play. (Goes to Durham University to read Modern History).

1992 V & H; GCSE; 2nd Girls' Hockey; Horse Riding team;CCF; Senior Play.

(Goes to West Kent College).

1991 B, L & W; GCSE & A level; Distinction Prizes, GCSE Prize; House Prefect; 2nd XI Boys' Hockey; 1st XI Cricket; Golf team; Junior Play, Hunting Society.

(Goes to Newcastle University to read Zoology).

1993 M; GCSE & A level; Effort Prize; House Prefect; 1st Xv Rugger; 2nd XI Boys' Hockey; U/15 XI Cricet; 2nd VI Boys' Tennis (Captain); Senior Play. (Gap year, then goes to university).

1997 M. (Goes to Gymnasium in Germany).

1994 M; GCSE & A level; Judo team. (Goes to University of Manchester to read Engineering).

1995 L; GCSE; 1st XI Cricket. (Goes to college).

1996 V; GCSE. (Goes to Maidstone G.S. for Girls).

1995 W; GCSE; 2nd XV Rugger; 3rd XI Boys' Hockey; 2nd XI Cricket; CCF (RE).

(Goes to Bromley Sixth Form College).

1996 C; Performing Arts Exhibitioner; Junior Play, Choir. (Goes to school in the U.S.A.).

17

The Suttonian 1998 P.S.Posnette Rebecca Pragnell

B.C.O.Pratten

T.Richards

Megan Russell Hannah Schofield

B.Shahrad

Clare Shaw

Katie Simmonds

M.Slattery

M.K.Stevens D.T.B.Stiff

Victoria Summers

K.Tohver M.S.Vankov M.J.H.Walker

R.D.G.Walker S.A.Watson

1991 B & F; GCSE & A level; Sports Scholar; 1st XV Rugger, Half Colours; Captain of Boys' Hockey, Full Colours; CCF. (Goes to Camborne School of Mines).

1994 C, V & H; GCSE; Effort Prizes, Intermediate Master Class Singing Prize; CCF L/Cpl; Senior Play, Chamber Choir. (Goes to the Arts Educational School, Tring Park).

1992 H, L & M; GCSE & A level; Effort Prize; House Prefect; 2nd XV Rugger; 2nd XI Boys' Hockey; 2nd XI Cricket; 2nd VI Boys' Tennis; Shooting VIII, Full Colours; CCF Sgt; Junior Play. (Goes to the University of the West of England to read Sociology).

1996 W; A level; Lower 6 Geography Prize, Economics Prize, Geography Prize; House Prefect; 3rd XI Boys' Hockey; 2nd VI Boys' Tennis. (Gap year, then goes to university).

1993 S & H; GCSE & A level; Art Scholar; Theatre Studies Prize; House Prefect; CCF Sgt; Senior Play, Choir. (Goes to Kent Institute of Art and Design).

1993 C & V; GCSE; Effort Prize, Prize for Academic Excellence; 2nd XI Girls' Hockey; 2nd VII Netball; 2nd VI Girls' Tennis; U/15 Rounders team; CCF L/Cpl; Junior Play. (Goes to King Edward VI Sixth Form College, Nuneaton).

1991 B & F; GCSE & A level; Effort Prize; School Prefect; 1st XV Rugger, Full Colours; 1st XI Hockey; Senior Athletics team; Junior Play. (Goes to Queen Anne College, London to read Zoology).

1993 V; GCSE, City & Guilds, A level; GCSE Prize; School Prefect; 1st XI Girls' Hockey, Full Colours; 2nd VI Girls' Tennis; Senior Girls' Cross-Country team; U/15 Rounders team; CCF Sgt. (Gap year at Perth College, Australia, then goes to Oxford Brookes University to read Exercise and Health with History).

1991 C & V; GCSE, City & Guilds, A level; O.S.A. Prize for All-round Contribution in Lower Sixth, Edward Craven Prize for Contribution to Sport, Rickets Prize for All-round Contribution; School Prefect, Head of House; Captain of Girls' Hockey, Full Colours; 1st VII Netball, Full Colours; Captain of Girls' Tennis, Full Colours; U/15 Rounders team; CCF Sgt; Junior Play. (Goes to St.John's, Durham to read Education).

1993 M; GCSE & A level; Sports Exhibitioner; Edward Craven Prize for Contribution to Sport; School Prefect, Head of House; Captain of Rugger, Full Colours; Kent U/18 Rugger, Scottish Exiles Schools Rugger, Scotland U/18 Rugger; 1st XI Boys' Hockey, Full Colours; 1st XI Cricket; 1st VI Boys' Tennis, Full Colours; Intermediate Athletics team; CCF (Signals); Hunting Society. (Goes to de Montfort University, Leicester to read Marketing).

1994 L; GCSE & A level; 2nd XV Rugger; 2nd VI Boys' Tennis;CCF (RE). (Goes to Oxford Brookes University to read Architecture).

1992 H & W; GCSE & A level; GCSE Scholar; Biology Prize, Clothworkers' Prize for All-round Contribution; School Prefect; 1st XV Rugger, Full Colours; 2nd XI Cricket; Senior Boys' Cross-Country, Half Colours; Senior Athletics team; Judo team; CCF Sgt; Junior Play, Hunting Society. (Goes to Imperial College, London to read Civil Engineering).

1993 V; GCSE, City & Guilds, A level; Lower 6 Home Economics Prize; House Prefect; 2nd XI Girls' Hockey; CCF, Senior Play. (Goes to Kent Institute of Art and Design).

1997 W; Eastern European Scholar; 3rd XI Boys' Hockey; 2nd XI Cricket. (Goes to school in Estonia).

1995 .W. (Goes to Eastbourne College).

1991 B & L; GCSE & A level; GCSE Prize; 2nd XV Rugger; 2nd XI Boys' Hockey; 2nd XI Cricket; Captain of Boys' Tennis, Half Colours; CCF; Junior Play. (Gap year, then goes to college).

1993 B & F; GCSE; CCF. (Goes to college).

1991 B & L; GCSE & A level; Junior Scholar; Distinction Prizes, Lower 6 Maths Prize, Lower 6 Physics Prize, Lower 6 Chemistry Prize, L6 Computing Prize, Kitchener Prize for Mathematics, Wood Prize for Physics, Winstanley Prize for Chemistry, Fry Prize for Computing; School Prefect; U/13 XV Rugger; U/14 XI Boys' Hockey; Senior Boys' Swimming team; Captain of Shooting, Full Colours, Ashburton Cadet Hundred; CCF S/Sgt; Junior Play, Orchestra. (Gap year working for DERA, then goes to University of Strathclyde to read Forensic Chemistry).

The Stittonian 199S O.J.Watts Lucy-J.Willmott

M.G.J.Wooderson

J.M.Woods

M.Yamazaki Catherine Yeung Atti Yue

. [li

1994 F; GCSE; CCF. (Riding professionally).

1996 V & S; A level; Angell Prize for Mathematics; School Prefect; 2nd XI Girls' Hockey (Captain); 2nd VII Netball (Captain); 2nd VI Girls' Tennis (Captain).

(Goes to Bristol University to read Zoology).

1993 W; GCSE & A level; Lower 6 Sports Studies Prize, Ricketts' Prize for Allround Contribution; School Prefect, Head of House; Junior Colours for Sport; ViceCaptain of Rugger, Full Colours; 1st XI Boys' Hockey; Captain of Cricket, Full Colours; Kent U/19 Cricket; Captain of Boys' Cross-Country, Full Colours; Judo team; Head of CCF, W02; Senior Play, Hunting Society. (Gap year, then goes to Christchurch College, Canterbury to read Sports Science).

1992 S; GCSE & A level; Junior Scholar; Distinction Prizes, Form Prizes, Junior Religious Studies Prize, Intermediate Reading Prize, Coles Prize for All-round Contribution in Fifth Form, Lower 6 English Prize, Lower 6 History Prize, Lower 6 German Prize, Lower 6 Biology Prize, O.S.A. Prize for All-round Contribution in Lower Sixth, Bossom Prize for Chapel Reading, Bloxham Prize for English, Garside Prize for History, German Prize, Headmaster's Prize; School Prefect, Head of School; 1st XI Girls' Hockey, Full Colours; Senior Girls' Cross-Country, Half Colours; 1st VI Girls' Tennis, Half Colours; U/14 Rounders team; CCF JUO; Senior Play. (Gap year on Short Service Limited Commission in the Royal Engineers, then goes to Downing College, Cambridge to read Law).

1994 C & W; GCSE, City & Guilds, A level; 3rd XI Boys' Hockey; 1st VI Boys' Tennis. (Goes to Ritsumeikan University in Japan).

1997 S; GCSE. (Goes to college in the U.S.A.).

1995 S; GCSE & A level; House Prefect. (Goes to West Kent College).

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19

The Suttonian 1998

4

Su-Ming Wild in '1001' Plastic Bags

Acrylic on Board Jacob Tobin (Form 1)

The Upper Sixth 1997-98

RE

Katy Barker

Chris Boon.

James Bourne

Josina Bussche-Kessell

Juliana. de 1'rulc

Eloise DoorcV

Matthew Groom

Nick Harman

The Suttonian 1998

Will Hodsuii

Stephanie Hollanc(

George Horton

Tom Janes

I.

Tim Jordan

Simon Kent

Hak Kim

Rebecca Lacey

Ryan Law

Sarah Legg at

Damon Loft

Kerrie Loft

Georgina Mear

Ben Morrison

Andrew O'Donovan

Mo Puy 1,

21

The Suttonian 1998

22

The Sattonian 1998

Jo Wovd

Ma.sa.'hi Yama>aki

Headmaster's Speech on Speech Day, 23rd May 1998 Chairman, Miss Widdecombe, Ladies and Gentlemen, members of the school, it is indeed a pleasure to welcome Miss Widdecombe, a politician of principle who refuses to conform to the identikit uniformity demanded by party managers, and a public figure who appreciates the value of the spiritual element of life, as our Guest of Honour today. I would like to pick up these two worlds, of parliament and religion, and offer two anecdotes which help to shed light on the past year at Sutton Valence School. These anecdotes concern a wooden leg and a handkerchief.

At the height of Empire, the Reverend Mr Elija Fawcett lay dying, far from home, in the Admiralty Islands.

He insisted that his wooden leg be buried with him. His wish was honoured; surprisingly, the leg took root, grew and, in time, gave the inhabitants of the islands `abundant material for cricket bats'. The moral of this tale might be an ironic comment on Imperialism that it is difficult to foresee the consequences of our actions, or that our gifts to future generations might be a surprise to ourselves or, perhaps, that God is, after all, not only an Englishman but also a member of the MCC. The handkerchief concerns Parliament and takes as its subject an incident from the life of another distinguished parliamentarian, George Thomas, later Speaker of the House of Commons and Viscount Tonypandy. He was a schoolteacher long before he went into Parliament.

His mother used to keep him in great order: she hated to see any bulging pockets spoil the smart line of his clothes and so she insisted that he always wore his handkerchief tucked into his sleeve. One day he was teaching, and writing on the blackboard with his back to the class, when there was an outbreak of sneezing this condition can be surprisingly contagious in classrooms. At first Mr Thomas ignored the noise, but it just grew. Finally he lost patience and wheeled around and said, `Boys, for goodness sake, blow your noses'. All of the boys in the class took their handkerchiefs from their cuffs, and blew their noses. For all of the silliness and distraction they indulged in from time to time they modelled their own behaviour upon the example set by their teacher.

This level of influence is the greatest reward offered by teaching: it is immeasurable, unquantifiable. That is why the personal qualities of teachers are of the highest importance. I will return to this point shortly.

Turning to the past year it has been both momentous and eventful: we expect the latter at Sutton Valence, but why the former? In November last, we were subject to a full inspection for the first time since 1952. We can all agree that the inspection process is an important and helpful one: it is, nevertheless, daunting in prospect. It can, indeed, seem on occasions to be a form of vivisection practised by an eager modern inquisition without anaesthetic. Luckily our own experience proved to be much more amenable. The process was thorough, calm and highly professional. Preparatory visits began in June of last year and continued throughout the period before the chosen week: then a team of ten inspectors spent a full week with us, looking at everything we do, assessing the quality of teaching and learning we offer, observing extra-curricular activity, sampling pastoral provision, assessing the sporting profile, talking to all elements of the community, including pupils, teachers, parents, non-teaching staff ..... it was an exhausting week for all of us, both the inspected and the inspectors.

Before coming to the team's findings a little historical context might be useful. By chance, the reports compiled by teams of inspectors in 1907 and 1911 have recently been returned to the school from London.

Processes were then very different. In those days, for example, pupils were graded according to social class.

1907 saw the following analysis:

23

The Suttonian 1998 Professional, independent etc Merchant, manufacturers Retail Traders Farmers Commercial managers etc Service (domestic and others) Postmen } } Artisans

39 24 1 5 2 1

I rather hope that the individual from the latter category outshone all the others.

Health and Safety was also a concern: `There are no fire appliances in either boarding house, but the means of escape are generally satisfactory, except in the case of one of the rooms in Valence House, where the replacement of the iron bars by slender wooden ones is suggested'. What of Academic standards? `It has been wisely decided not to take any external examination for the present'. A balanced curriculum? `Gymnastics and Swedish drill are taught by a sergeant resident in the village who was trained at Aldershot and is now attached to the Territorials. It was not possible during the inspection to see any of the work done.' More worrying was the financial state.

The inspection report on the free grammar school of William Lambe carried out in October, 1907 contained the following: `For this year the prospect is still more serious as, owing to a reduction of numbers it appears likely that for this year the headmaster will not only have to sacrifice his salary, but will also have to draw considerably on his boarding house profits to meet the expenses of school maintenance.' I am glad to report that, by 1911, a similar report stated that ithe headmaster is no longer financially responsible for any part of the maintenance of the school' and I am, now, even more grateful for the support of the Bursar and his team.

It was, of course, a very different world then, as New Zealand Government Rules for Women Teachers demonstrate: 1

You will not marry during the term of your contract

2

You are not to keep company with men.

3

You must be home between the hours of 8 pm and 6 am unless attending a school function.

4

You may not loiter downtown in ice-cream parlours.

5

You may not travel beyond the city limits without the permission of the Chairman of the Board.

6

You may not ride in a carriage or automobile with any man unless he is your Father or your Brother.

7

You may not smoke cigarettes.

8

You may not dress in bright colours.

9

You may, under no circumstances, dye your hair.

10 You must wear at least two petticoats, and your dresses must not be any shorter than 2 inches above the ankles.

11 To keep the school room clean you must: sweep the floor at least once daily * scrub the floor with hot soapy water at least once a week clean the blackboard at least once a day start the fire at 7 am so that the room will be warm by 8 am.

I am delighted to report that, from September next year, two major departments will be led by women. No doubt they will reflect upon these rules with interest.

Returning to the 1997 report, it is pleasing to reflect upon its major conclusions: that `Sutton Valence is a happy school with confident, pleasant, helpful and courteous pupils. That the pupils feel secure and content in the school environment and respond to the obvious care and concern of the teachers. Much has been achieved in recent years. The school is to be complimented on these changes.' The full report is a lengthy document which will, above all, help us to improve further our academic and pastoral performance. We know we have work to do to ensure that momentum is maintained. It was, however, both heartening and a salutary reminder of our responsibilities and privileges that the following informal comments were made by inspectors: "you have one of the most beautiful sites in the country; the system for pastoral care is both concerned and strong and is based upon knowledge of each of the pupils; you have no right to expect this quality of extracurricular achievement from a school of this size."

24

The Suttonian 1998 Most pleasing of all was the remark contained in a letter written by a most experienced inspector which chimed resonantly with all previous inspection reports: `Sutton Valence is a remarkably human place.' It is good to note that the spirit of the school is both strong and consistent with its history and heritage. Above all, the quality of human relationships at Sutton Valence is both high and healthy: this gives the school the opportunity to follow the example set by Viscount Tonypandy's handkerchief in encouraging strong personal qualities in our pupil body.

Turning to the eventful nature of the year, I must be aware that the secret of being boring is to leave nothing out. Here follows, then, a necessarily selective attempt to summarise the nature of life here over the last twelve months. External examination results were highly pleasing. Our GCSE results were, once again, our best ever and, whilst the same could not quite be said for our A' level results, particular congratulation must be made to Alex Long who secured five grade As at A' level and who is now reading Classics at King's College, Cambridge.

In July the 1st XI competed in a cricket tournament in Barbados and became only the second English side ever to qualify for the semi-finals. More important was the fact their behaviour, sportsmanship and appearance received particular praise from Sir Garfield Sobers. Six Sutton Valence marksmen qualified for the Bisley 100, and the shooting team won the Devon Cup and the Queen's Regiment Cup. The 1st XV enjoyed an excellent, if abbreviated, season, recording their first victories over old rivals Cranbrook and Emanuel since 1991. The Captain of Rugby, Martin Slattery, gained selection for the Kent A' XV and the Scottish Exiles.

Girls' hockey witnessed undefeated seasons for both the U/14 and U/15 XIs, whilst the U/13s were runnersup in the Kent Schools' Championship. County representation was won by Jenny Vincent, Alexa Carmichael, Kate Richardson, Sarah Lacey and Laura Jordan. Excellent performances continued to characterise netball.

Turning to tennis we currently hold the U/15 Midland Bank Kent championship for girls' teams; Jenny Vincent, Katie Horne and Catherine Birch represent the county; Catherine Birch and Jenny Vincent are Kent Schools' U/16 champions. Nathan Chapman won the National U/13 Fives championships. George Harding finished second in the IAPS national judo championship. John Arthur's fencing career continues to prosper.

Nicholas Kember has won county selection for the 400 metres in a group two years above his age. The current cricket season is prospering: the junior sides promise much and the 1st XI is, at the moment, undefeated.

Robert Joseph took eight wickets against Dover College; James Watson hit a century against strong opposition. This afternoon offers a splendid match on Upper when the Suttonians CC takes on the Cricket Club of India: the match begins at two o'clock and you would be most welcome to call in after lunch. Cultural activity has also been at a high level. The Chapel Choir shone, especially at Christmas; the orchestra has continued to improve and impress; Emma Mehrabian gained membership of the National Youth Training Choir; Eloise Doorey won a Choral Scholarship at St Martin-in-the-Fields; Charles Piper was joint winner of the Kent Music Schools' Composers' competition. Individuality and teamwork have continued to shine in the fields of Art, Design and Drama.

These have been some of the outstanding performances, and I am conscious of balancing the sin of omission against the hypnotism of recitation.

The liveliness of the culture here is, indeed, difficult to capture. The past few days alone have, for example, witnessed the following: Matthew Day's century against the MCC (Robert Joseph took five wickets in the same match); Laura Jordan's selection for the East of England U/16 hockey squad; a dramatic highlight in the form of the Summer Review; a `String Sensation' in which musicians from the ages of 6 to 18 performed with confidence, panache and considerable ability, giving testimony both to the results possible through committed, inspirational teaching, in this case by David Holmes, and the improving standard of music at Sutton Valence and Underhill; the victory of the girls' cricket team, in their first competitive outing, in the Maidstone and District Championships; the presentation of CREST Gold Awards to the Lower Sixth Engineering Team; the selection of James Watson for an England U/17 trial at cricket. All of this - and more - has been achieved alongside the major business of the school - preparation for examinations, teaching, learning, the beneficial exertion of influence over young people. It is, indeed, striking how some of the achievements which I admire most and of which I am most proud cannot be exhibited in a speech such as this. Incidents of personal, private bravery; acts of kindness; efforts made to change and improve; healthy and praiseworthy examples set; gestures of support. Many of the finest achievements here fall into Wordsworth's description of: `The best proportion of a good man's life, His little, nameless, unremembered, acts Of kindness and of love'

25

The Suttonian 1998 They cannot easily be assessed. It is a tribute to the sensitivity of our recent inspection team that they perceived the strong humanity of Sutton Valence. In Dominic Milroy's words, `the encounter with the moment of trust and the response to is, is essentially a moral act': so many members of this community, not only pupils and teachers but also non-teaching staff and parents, have impressed by the way in which they have reacted to such moments of truth. The grounds and gardens are always spectacular on Speech day this year they are particularly resonant. There is a generosity of spirit here which cannot be quantified yet which must be prized and cherished.

Indeed, the modern mania for measurement can sometimes turn a useful process into an all-powerful idol.

It is, for example, astonishing that the shape of the school year has, continually, to be distorted by the petty tyrannies of examination boards. External examinations creep ever earlier; the pressures upon teaching, and other, valuable school activities, increases steadily, school terms become uneven and the pupils suffer. The requirements of the necessary bureaucracy are elevated above the educational needs of young people and, indeed, the nation. Certain obvious steps would help solve the problem: the introduction of a different application system to universities, for example, which would operate after the publication of `A level results would relieve stress and pressure and avoid the current lottery caused by muddle and sheer volume. Some vested interests would need to be challenged but the benefits would be enormous. Some iron in the political soul is called for!

A day like today offers the opportunity to visit classrooms and to admire the skills and enthusiasms acquired by young people: it gives us a rare chance to exhibit the quotidian academic excellence which is pursued by so many pupils and staff throughout the year and which adds ballast to the outstanding achievements in other areas which, perhaps, steal the limelight. A community such as ours also holds memories and celebrates lives: we have, in the past year, celebrated Richard Horn, Brian Day, Gareth Lewis, Shannon Atkinson. The warp and weft of school life is delicate, rich and marvellous.

The year has also witnessed important aspects of the continuing programme of development which aims to make the most of our unique site. I hope that you will have taken the chance this morning to walk through the Lambe's building which is, gradually, being brought back into life; the fine Victorian architecture now houses an expanded number of excellent classrooms as well as improved accommodation for the senior day houses. The CD-Rom suite opened in November complements the traditional library. We are, therefore, continuing to seek to refresh our history in both an innovative and a sensitive manner and the union of tradition and new thinking gives grounds for both optimism and confidence.

The past year has seen a good deal of change and it is right to mark some outstanding contributions to the life of the school. In March, Felix Barber stepped down as Chairman of the governing body after a period of eight years in office. It has been a privilege to work with him: his capacity to understand complex issues in a rapid and comprehensive manner has been both astonishing and humbling. He has been at the helm throughout some difficult times and he has steered with a light but decisive touch. I am heartened both by the fact that he will remain with us as a governor and by the high quality of his successor, Mr Maberly. Michael Maberly is an Old Suttonian: he lived, for a time in the village, and understands the school very well. He, quite rightly, has high ambition for its future and I look forward to co-operating closely with him. We have also lost Frank Morgan as Clerk and Receiver of the United Westminster Schools' Trust. He has time and again shown himself to be a man of both exceptional wisdom and broad experience: he wears his expertise lightly and has been a fund of strength and help. It is, then, excellent news that he will translate into a governor and that his support will continue to be available to us. We are very lucky that Laurence Smy, a man of extremely high calibre , will succeed him. Desmond High has just stepped down from his post as Chairman of the OSA. He has performed Herculean tasks and has initiated a number of exciting ventures typified by the Membership Directory and the Skills Directory. We have been fortunate to benefit from his enthusiasm and his loyalty and I hope that he, too, will continue to be associated with the school in a close way.

Turning to the teaching staff, Tania Kurucova has spent a year with us. A product of the highly competitive HMC Eastern European Teacher Exchange Scheme she has impressed with her professionalism, adaptability and good humour. John Posnette has now moved on and we remember his high achievements in the spheres of hockey and athletics. Aidan Cruttenden goes to Canterbury after two years with us as Head of English: a highly knowledgeable and thoughtful man, he possesses a rare combination of intellectual insight and genuine sympathy for the dilemmas facing the young. He has produced an outstanding edition of `The Suttonian' and will, no doubt, enjoy a bright future. Shaun Schofield has made the brave and praiseworthy decision to train as a missionary. A committed teacher of Biology and an enthusiastic coach of both tennis and rugby, he has achieved high success in establishing a new Games Department which has, since September, delivered stronger coaching within a well-organised framework. We wish him, Joy and their family every success.

26

The Suttonian 1998 Nigel Jones leaves us to return to New Zealand. His own contribution over 11 years has been of the highest order: he has been an excellent Head of Mathematics, a knowledgeable rugby coach, a consistent presence in the Chapel and, above all, a sympathetic and utterly committed Housemaster of Lambe's. He and Margaret have been at the heart of Suttonian life in many, many ways and deserve our very best wishes for their Antipodean future.

Colin Shaw steps down as Deputy Headmaster at the end of this academic year. Old Suttonian, Head of English, Housemaster, games coach, editor of `The Suttonian', Director of Studies and, latterly, Deputy Headmaster, his has been a career dedicated to that archaic ideal, Service, and he has carried his heavy load with courtesy, a twinkling eye, absolute loyalty and a deep, deep understanding of all aspects of school life.

Highly respected by all of his colleagues, he fully deserves a little well-earned relaxation. I am delighted, however, that he will not allowed too much rest and that he will continue his work here in a number of areas, not least as Keeper of the Records and as a willing support to Pauline in Sutton House. On behalf of the School, thank you.

Looking ahead, there are many encouraging and uplifting signs. Interest in the school continues to rise; through the efforts of teachers and taught our reputation continues to grow. In this first post-Assisted Places year we registered an increased entry for our Junior Entrance examination and there will be a larger number of children in next September's first form. Links with Underhill continue to strengthen. The Governors and the Foundation are moving ahead with exciting plans to advance the school's development. The quality of the staff joining Sutton Valence in the coming year is high. We will give a particularly warm welcome to the new Deputy Head, Mr Wilbur, who will join us from Millfield: he is, at this moment, representing England in the Veterans' World Hockey Cup in Holland. (The qualification for veteran status in hockey is 35). We will continue to harvest the riches provided by the thoughtfulness of past generations, just as, in the Admiralty Islands, they harvested cricket bats born of Mr Fawcett's leg; we will continue to value achievement, made by young Suttonians, whether they are measurable or note; we will, in the manner of Mr Thomas' handkerchief, continue to remember the multifariousness and the magnitude of the task with which we are charged; we will continue to promote, in the phrase of one of our inspectors, the humanity of Sutton Valence. I can conclude, Mr Chairman, that your school is in good heart and that we are all relishing the opportunities and challenges offered by the future.

The Prizes were presented by the Right Honourable Ann Widdecombe, M.P. FORM PRIZES FORM 1

Year Prize for Academic Excellence Achievement Prize Effort Prizes

William Selway Jacob Tobin Jennifer Martyn Ian Stoneham

FORM 2

Year Prize for Academic Excellence Achievement Prizes

Freya Faulkner Jonathan Massam Robert Worrall Jade Bisram Jessica Dudley-Smith Kathryn Horne Sophie Hutchinson Louise Rowson Holly Stamp Louise Rowson Philippa Thomas

Effort Prizes

Lower School Music Prize Junior Art Prize

27

The Suttonian 1998 FORM 3

FORM 4

FORM 5

Year Prize for Academic Excellence

Thomas Poulton

Junior Religious Studies Prize

Sarah Lacey

Achievement Prizes

Sarah Lacey Jane Mansell Laura Jordan

Effort Prizes

Harriet Blest Zara Hosford Ellen Rothwell Jason Rungassamy Hannah Selway Gemma Sharp

Junior Chapel Reading Prize

James Young

Year Prize for Academic Excellence

Caroline Woods

Achievement Prizes

Colette Davey Monica Khanna

Effort Prizes

Edmund Adams John Arthur Charlotte Foreman Katie Gornall Sarah Hosmer Steven Johnston Sophie Moore Alexandra Pugh

Joyce Drayson Art Prize

Christopher Lee

Year Prize for Academic Excellence

Simon Knowles

Achievement Prize

Holly Fletcher

Effort Prizes

Felicity-Jane Morgan Rebecca Pragnell Charles Piper

Middle School Music Prize

Charles Piper

Daler Rowney Art Prize (GCSE)

Elizabeth Talbot

Maberly Prize (Special Achievement)

Philip Drake

The James Poole Prize (Short Story)

William Richardson

The Coles Prize (All-round Contribution to School Life)

(Holly Fletcher (Simon Knowles (William Richardson

LOWER SIXTH PRIZES Achievement Prize

Margarita Nechaeva

Effort Prizes

Laura Nesfield James Parrett Gbadedo Sijuwade Gavin Stiff

Home Economics

Clare Parkinson

Sport Studies

Neil Bennett

Music

Melissa Saggers

Theatre Studies

Su-Ming Wild

Bossom Prize (Chapel Reading)

Su-Ming Wild

Design Technology

Romy Hukins

Daler Rowney Art Prize (A level)

Romy Hukins

The Sit ttonimi 1998

History Geography Economics French German Art Biology Mathematics Chemistry Physics OSA Prize (All-round Contribution to School Life)

Paul Everett (Kirsty Johnston (Klaire Webber Christopher Holmes Anna Blest (Anna Blest (Belinda Long Gvantsa Chkuaseli Kayoko Koga Umang Patel Tom Chantry Tom Chantry Tom Chantry (Andrew Johnson (Melissa Saggers

SIXTH FORM PRIZES Edward Craven Prize (Outstanding Contribution to School Sport) Theatre Studies Prize Home Economics Prize Maberly Prize (Special Achievement) Design Prize Biology Prize Derrick Prize (Verse Speaking) German Prize Bloxham Prize (English) Garside Prize (History) Grizelle Prize (History) Wheeler Prize (French) Music Prize Richard Horn Prize (Outstanding All-round Contribution to School Music or Drama) Geography Prize Economics Prize Angell Prize (Mathematics) Kitchener Prize (Mathematics) Wood Prize (Physics) Winstanley Prize (Chemistry) Fry Prize (Computing) Clothworkers Prize (All-round Contribution to School Life) Ricketts Prize (All-round Contribution to School Life) Headmaster's Prize

(Katie Simmonds (Martin Slattery Megan Russell Rebecca Duffell William Hodson William Hodson Duncan Stiff Joanna Woods Joanna Woods Joanna Woods Georgina Mear (George Horton (Eloise Doorey Eloise Doorey (Eloise Doorey (Matthew Groom (Sarah Leggat (Toby Richards Toby Richards Lucy Willmott Stuart Watson Stuart Watson Stuart Watson Stuart Watson (Tim Jordan (Rebecca Lacey (Duncan Stiff (Katie Simmonds (Mathew Wooderson (Joanna Woods (George Horton

29

The Suttonian 1998

CHAPEL NOTES The visiting preacher for the First Eucharist of the Academic Year was an Old Suttonian. Reginald Yue was a boarder in St.Margaret's in the early 1990s. He comes from Hong Kong and involved himself in School Drama, a rare Chinese actor in Shakespeare.

Reg was the organiser of the Saturday night Bible Study during his time as a School Prefect and a supporter of School Chapel as an occasional speaker, reader and server.

He read Computer Science at Imperial College, London, where he obtained a First Class Honours Degree. He is a member of the Chinese Community Church in Baker Street, London.

Brother Bruce Paul of the Society of St. Francis came to live in School for a week in October 1997. He is an Anglican Franciscan priest from Australia. For his week in school he took over the Religious Studies programme, conducted morning chapel and celebrated the Eucharist. For most of the week he developed a programme to explain why he was celebrating the weekly Eucharist in the School and what the Eucharist meant to him. He impressed everyone with his friendly, open manner and his easy approachability.

In the Summer Term a group of about fifteen pupils went with the Headmaster and the Chaplain to the monastery at Hillfield in Cerne Abbas, Dorset Brother Bruce Paul with some of Form 3 where Brother Bruce Paul is based. They spent two days walking, talking, in silence and praying with the members of the Franciscan Order.

_

. ,_

At the Leavers' Service just before the end of the Summer Term, the address was given by another Old Suttonian, the Venerable Amaro Bhikku (formerly Jeremy Horner), who had left Founder's House twenty-five years before. He had gained a degree in Zoology from London University before travelling to South-East Asia where he became a Buddhist monk. He has been a familiar visitor to the School over the past few years. It has been customary for an Old Suttonian to speak at this service and the quiet dignity and wisdom of this year's speaker was much appreciated.

Rev. Dr J.H. Watson

Memorials During the course of the year, two memorials were put in place: one of these was a plaque which was dedicated in the Chapel, the other was a tree planted in the gardens.

The plaque in the Chapel is in memory of Gareth M. Lewis who was a pupil at Sutton Valence as a boarder from 1973 to 1980, firstly in Holdgate House and then in Lambe's House. His life was cut short in a traffic accident in 1987 when he was 25.

A tree was planted in the garden between St. Margaret's House and the new Science building in memory of Shannon Atkinson, the infant daughter of Fran and Paul Atkinson, who is the Head Gardener at the School.

Shannon had fought courageously against a serious illness for all of her brief life, she was twenty months old at the time of her death.

The tree planted `In memory of Little Shannon'

30

The Sttttonian 1998

TRIPS AND TOURS Geography Fieldwork to Snowdonia The sixth form Geographers, a school minibus and three staff- Mr Dunn, Mr Pickard and Miss Kurucova - set off for the Kent Mountain Centre, Llanberis in late October. We visited well-known coastal, mountain and river locations, only to find that fitness proved wanting in some cases.

A strange tendency to sample every hill stream was observed in some of the group and this resulted in quite a soaking. The placid upland sheep must have been surprised!

We enjoyed mild, damp weather and the trip was very successful.

M.P.Dunn

Girls' Hockey tour to Scotland - October 1997 On Saturday 25th October the girls set off on the first leg of their tour to Scotland. Having introduced Miss Boddy and Miss Clayton to the delights of the Barbie Song, which Miss Clayton failed to appreciate as it was not as trendy as Scottish country dancing, we journeyed to Salisbury. We had a straightforward but uninspiring victory against New Sarum hockey club, winning 2-0, but in places it was extremely embarrassing as some players in their team who were over 40 ran faster than us! We spent an entertaining evening at Pizza Express in Salisbury where we entertained the other diners at Miss Boddy's expense because it was her ?th birthday. On Sunday we played far better against their under 19s, but managed only a 1-0 win. Nevertheless we set off for Scotland with two wins out of two.

We travelled to Cumbria on Sunday afternoon, stopping in Carlisle for dinner and staying in a Youth Hostel on the way to NEWCASTLE which holds numerous attractions for the Simmonds sisters. Despite the fact that Katie got wrinkly fingers from the washing up (another new experience!) she had recovered enough by the time we reached Strathallan. Unfortunately they were a very strong side, and despite a second half' comeback where we played some outstanding hockey, we lost 6-2.

Our next port of call was only 20 minutes of Barbie song around the corner, and we arrived at Glenalmond fully warmed up and ready to contribute loudly at the school chapel service. Having eaten and unpacked we spent a delightful evening at the only public house for miles and failed miserably to demonstrate our Pool prowess. However, we remained confident that we would experience victory the following day. On the Tuesday morning we went on a cultural visit to the oldest and smallest distillery in Scotland at Glenturret, where Katie sampled the produce very swiftly. On the return to Glenalmond we stopped a couple of times to admire the fine scenery, although it was not nearly as impressive as the scenery at the school! The final game proved to be something of an anti-climax, but nevertheless an injury-affected team managed a 2-2 draw. Never mind, we'll beat them in Holland!

Players: Katie Simmonds, Clare Shaw, Lucy Simmonds, Hannah Schofield, Holly Fletcher, Sophie Moore, Jenny Vincent, Suzy Day, Hannah Selway, Kate Richardson, Laura Jordan, Emma Cockburn.

Miss S.A.Boddy

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SITORS REC

At the (;l, ltu-iel Di.slillcn, 31

The Suttonian 1998

Holland 1998 This year we took a party of boys and girls to the annual VCL tournament in The Hague. Both boys' and girls' teams were a good mixture of 1st and 2nd team players, along with four players from Cranbrook school and the boys' captain, Matt Wooderson, who was making his debut appearance for the school as goalkeeper.

The Dutch hockey proved to be of its usual high standard and the girls, despite their best efforts, were outclassed. The boys, however, did not let the side down, and by the end of the first day were at the top of their group. Unfortunately they lost to the eventual finalists, but won both their play-off games and finished a very creditable 7th out of 18.

As usual, we were looked after exceptionally well by the VCL committee. The newly-built youth hostel was a great improvement and the trip to Amsterdam proved as educational as ever! A good, social time was had by all.

Miss S.A.Boddy

Tennis Trip To Portugal, April 1998 The tennis trip to Portugal was once again a great success, with a familiar group of people hitting Gatwick airport. We were happy to welcome a few new faces, especially Mrs Buck. Madame Rawlings unfortunately had to pull out at the last moment owing to examining commitments.

There were also some new faces at the David Lloyd Tennis Centre, which was very busy this year. Nick and Enrico were still there (much to Katie's delight) and there was a new coach, James, who has taught at Sevenoaks for a number of years. As with last year, the girls all had coaching in the mornings and then played in tournaments in the afternoons. Katie and Alexa did very well to win the girls' doubles and Katie also retained her singles title, having beaten Alexa in the final.

Vale Do Lobo was as wonderful as ever. Our villa was larger this year, with its own pool, and far closer to both Barringtons and the tennis club. The weather was superb, and as usual Katie came back even paler than when she went away! These trips are always an opportunity to find out a great deal about people that you think you know quite well; Mrs Buck treated everyone who wanted it to a spot of reflexology, and we discovered that Liz and Sophie have a worrying addiction to white Magnums!

Those who attended: Lucy Simmonds, Anna Blest, Belinda Long, Katie Gornall, Suzy Day, Alexa Carmichael, Harriet Stainton-James, Georgina Ferris, Sophie Hutchinson and Elizabeth Seale.

Miss S.A.Boddy

The Second Year Visit to the Lake District So much happened on the Second Year trip to the Lake District in the last week of the Summer Term that it is hard to know where to start. One thing, however, is for certain and that is that everyone enjoyed him/herself.

Those who had never contemplated climbing, canoeing, abseiling, sailing or, in some cases, walking all had the opportunity to experience both the thrill and personal satisfaction of taking part.

I for one had never sailed before and was pleased that I liked it. I was also quite relieved to have stayed in my boat, something others failed to do on a number of occasions. I also know that Mr Horley had a go at capsizing his canoe; he, however, was not as proficient in this as Philippa Thomas who seemed to have more water in the canoe than in the rest of the lake at one point. Climbing was also a challenge that Greg Julians took to like a mountain goat, along with a number of other budding mountaineers, not least Mr Cornell who proved himself to be very flexible. Other activities included problem solving; although a team effort, Elizabeth Goodbun was a most competent leader and Piers Roberts showed his ingenuity and elasticity when confronted by the "nuclear active spider's web". The archery was also great fun, Sam Wroclawski proving to be a great shot, although no one would volunteer to hold an apple on his head for him.

All those on the trip would agree that there was so much to do and see that there was something for everyone. At night it continued. The most memorable moments were probably the Wednesday when World Cup mania hit the camp-site, or the last night when everyone lay outside in their sleeping-bags watching the stars with Mr Stebbings. I think my most amusing memories of the week were during meal-times watching Omar Kivrak steal the famous pegs from the adult instructors, without their knowledge, and the resultant "gunge" contest after dinner. All I can say is that I was glad it was after dinner.

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The Suttonian 1998 This trip was a most enjoyable one, not least because everyone got on so well together, having to live and work as a team for the five days. Thanks must go to Mrs Wilkinson for all her hard work in organising it.

Miss F.H. Clayton

THE ARTS School Music It is pleasing to be able to report on another extremely busy and musically demanding year in the musical life of Sutton Valence. Standards in all areas have again risen and the composition of the main performing groups has remained strong. The effort that goes into music-making by the pupils is enormous and this is, I hope, a good opportunity to communicate to them how well they have performed this year.

To review a year's music is a daunting task and, with the best will in the world, will inevitably finish up as a list of what we have done and when, with the usual epithets that the performance was `good' and the `audience were appreciative' etc. There is nothing wrong with this method but I hope individuals and groups will forgive me if I depart from this format and don't congratulate all-comers in person. As I said earlier all groups and individuals have worked and performed extremely well throughout the year and the challenges of venues and repertoires have all been most ably overcome.

The first term in the year is the longest, but not always the busiest - we tend to squeeze the same number of events into the Lent term though it is three weeks shorter! It is, though, the term when new pupils are introduced into the main groups and it is an important and necessary time of consolidation after the too long (musically speaking) Summer break. The Chapel Choir always has the unenviable task of drawing the short straw with a service on the first Sunday of the new term/year. This is necessarily a daunting task but one which is usually successfully negotiated and which sets the tone for the rest of the term - i.e. a lot of work and learning to be done in too short an amount of rehearsal time. The choir then set about, true to form, learning one of the most difficult of all Requiem Masses for Remembrance time in November, that is, the setting by Maurice Durufle. The performance of this was approached with the normal routine of weekday and Sunday/Friday services and, after a very successful rendition, we moved on to Christmas and again gave two excellent carol services in All Saints Church, Maidstone and in our own Chapel the next day. In between was a trip to the Great Room at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane for an annual outing to sing carols for the Association of Circulation Executives (of magazines and newspapers, not blood). This as always was a memorable occasion for all sorts of reasons and was much enjoyed by choir and, apparently, executives alike.

The School Orchestra

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The Suttonian 1998 During the term the orchestra gave a splendid concert, negotiating some difficult repertoire (Haydn's Military Symphony) most ably, whilst the Junior concert featured a performance of "Frankenstein" sung by all pupils in years 1 and 2, along with various members of staff in leading roles. The chamber choir visited Bodiam Manor school as part of an evening where local senior schools were invited to give a musical presentation to Bodiam pupils and parents. Of the half dozen schools represented, the chamber choir accounted themselves admirably and many congratulations to them.

In addition to these school groups, two external organisations with links to the school featured highly in the term. The Music Society presented three marvellous concerts - the Schidlof String Quartet (who also led a string masterclass with our own string players), the Marianne Olyver Gypsy Orchestra and the Zanfonia Trio. The concerts are always of an extremely high standard featuring professional artists who are usually seen and heard in the London concert halls on a regular basis. The concerts are free for all SV pupils and remain excellent value for subscribers. In the Lent Term we were visited by Haruko Seki (piano) and a quartet of singers from the Royal College of Music who presented an opera evening.

Finally in the Christmas Term the Sutton Valence Choral Society with eighty singers from Sutton Valence village and the local area gave a concert in St.Dunstan's Church, Cranbrook, with the Rossini Petite Messe Solonelle on the programme, accompanied by an original 19th century harmonium hired for the occasion.

After Christmas the focus fell mainly on the annual large scale choral work which this year was Handel's Messiah performed in March. In fact there were two performances on consecutive weekends, one in the School Refectory for the Music Society's end-of-year concert and another for a special evening to mark the end of the Shrieval Year at St. Luke's Church, Maidstone. The High Sheriff of Kent, one of our governors Mr.Edwin Boorman, and other dignitaries, including Terry Waite who gave a short address, were in attendance and the performance was, like the weekend before, given to a capacity audience.

The rest of term featured excellent concerts by the Music Scholars, a Singing Soiree and a Jamboree orchestra/band concert to mention only a few of the numerous activities staged - and this before any of the Chapel Choir routine activities.

In the Summer Term May Day was celebrated with the usual early morning Madrigals sung by the Chamber Choir even though the weather was abysmal - wet, cold and windy. Thoughts then turned to the two days set aside for recording the second CD of the Chapel Choir. In 1996 we made a CD of Carols and Anthems on the Priory Label and, following the success of this venture, a second CD of purely Christmas Music was made. The recording sessions went well and the result is an excellent CD of seasonal favourites - available from the school at ÂŁ7.99 on Priory Label - PRCD 623.

After this intensive start to the term a new venture featuring string players from SV and Underhill took over. Under the title "String Sensation" an evening of string groups, orchestras, quartets, etc. showed, amongst other things, the extent of interest in string playing at both schools with performers as young as 8 through to 18. Congratulations to David Holmes, our string teacher, who masterminded the whole event.

So it was a busy year and no doubt next year will be even busier! I rely heavily on Philip Horley, our Assistant Director of Music, and Deborah Smith, Head of Music at Underhill; thanks to them - as well as to all the peripatetic team who coach individuals so ably. Fianlly, thanks to all those boys and girls in both Junior and Senior schools for making it all possible - your efforts really are very much appreciated by me and many others both in and out of school.

Adrian Leang

The SVS Theatre Workshop Season 1997-1998 It was a genuine pleasure to have the chance to witness another season of productions by the school's Theatre Workshop. As I have pointed out before in the pages of this journal, it can be very tedious attending many productions in many schools. At Sutton Valence I especially enjoy the pace and variation in the shows, and this is obviously true for the small audiences supporting these ventures.

The highlight of the academic year, in the Autumn term of 1997, was, without doubt, the production of Ariel Dorfman' s Death and the Maiden in the James Room, the old library. This is an excellent space for a studio production, as I recall from the delightful presentation of The Bald Prima Donna some years ago. Su-Ming Wild as Paulina Salas-Escobar, Edmund Adams playing Gerardo Escobar and Matthew Groom portraying Dr. Roberto Miranda were a perfectly balanced chamber ensemble. It was easy to forget their ages and to become deeply involved in the frightening tale. The final manoeuvre with the hand-held mirror-lamps was a very clever device, articulating the writer's and the production's intentions without loss of narrative. The audience was both uncomfortable and elated by the use of this skilful apparatus.

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The Suttonian 1998 The giant production of the Theban Plays of Sophocles, which actually preceded the Dorfman, was a spectacular event, I imagine with an eye to the Inspectors who happened to be in School at the time. Robert Parham' s masks were highly effective and, although clearly derived from the work of Jocelyn Herbert, they were beautifully produced to a standard which many professional companies would envy. Matthew Groom was again in powerful vocal and physical form and commanded the drama with persuasive support from SuMing Wild, this time as Antigone. It seems to me that the future of the company is being secured with the memorable cameos of Edmund Adams, James Young and Alexander Coutroubis; the last-named with a most beautiful and musical voice. The use of the Library and production in traverse was once again effective, as it had been in Anna Karenina.

It has often been noted that Chekhov's The Seagull is essentially a quartet of voices for Treplev, Trigorin, Nina and Irma Arkadina. This notion lay behind the adaptation presented in the Music School one night in the Lent Terni of 1998. The appropriate parts were played by Edmund Adams, Matthew Groom, Liberty Haynes and Megan Russell. But the adaptation was entitled Quartet Plus One and this alludes to the contrapuntal ingenuity provided by a fifth role - that of Masha Iliayevna - played with exceptional delicacy by Katy Barker, a sensitive and truthful artiste. This was a good-looking staging, well-lit. neatly dressed and with believable seagulls at the right moments. Megan Russell gave us the last of her luminous performances, since she was to leave in the Summer at the end of her Upper Sixth year. Anyone who saw her performance as Anne Frank will be grateful for her contribution to the Workshop.

The Junior play in the Lent Term was a lively adaptation of the Scheherazade story with diligent and pleasing performances from Fiona Leckie telling the story of the Old man of the Sea, Stephen Wilkinson as Aladdin and Sophie Hutchinson as the heroine of the tale. Kendrick Watts, a tall and heavily - built American sixth-former was the Genie, wearing a remarkable ensemble devised by Kayoko Koga. This was a happy occasion with clear signs of careful preparation and self-possessed celebration.

Megan Russell & Edmund Adams in `Quartet Plus One'

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The Suttonian 1998 The Lent Term productions continued with an adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula. In the preparation for this production it was discovered that a dozen stage versions of the famous Gothic novel already existed but the workshop continued with its own innovative account. Robert Parham helped to prepare the script, assisted the Director in some rehearsals, designed the entire show and played the eponymous anti-hero. A highlight of the production was Robert's entry in his coffin. His hand appearing over the side practically brought the house down on the night I attended. Robert is a talented young man studying both Art and Design and Theatre Studies. He has undeniable flair in theatrical design and it is a joy to see his work.

The final offering of the academic year was 1001 Plastic Bags, a revue in which all the performers appeared in costumes created by Su-Ming Wild from plastic bags collected by pupils over a period of years. Many of the bags were provided by TESCO who sponsored the show with a grant of one thousand pounds, which was used to build a circular stage on the main floor of the School Hall and to present a fully coloured, glossy programme. Shakespeare stole the show, which he has a habit of doing. Alex Coutroubis, Edmund Adams, Jasmine Pender, Dan Sayer and Louise Rowson gave convincing readings in a pot-pourri of Shakespearean scenes. They must be congratulated upon their clarity of speech and smooth, controlled movement. Su-Ming provided an amazing range of fascinating designs. It was often difficult to believe that these gowns were made from ordinary shopping bags. I have been watching the Workshop for some years now. At times there are gifted children in the school who carry the productions by their commitment to one role, but in general it seems that this is an excellent training ground for anyone interested in the Performing Arts and there is a strong feeling of collaboration. The company of SVS Theatre Workshop is correctly taught and thoroughly trained for public performance.

Zoe Grierson

PUPILS' WRITING Worship All visions are as one in holy rite No lines are drawn and no confessions bought.

They hold the key to truth and all that's sought Through life; that fallen idol of our time.

Their skin and soul as pure as virgin dew As if in perfect harmony with all.

They live in visions in my mind and call And beckon with an air of futile love.

This worship can be just a fantasy; Unlived, unknown, unreal; no trace of fact.

A madman's paradise or furtive pact.

No need to feel a sense of shame or grief, Instead look to the future and the one Whose eyes can speak much more than minds have done.

Matthew Groom (U6)

Sweethearts in the Gutter "And you can get out there and do it now. I'm not having that mess cluttering up the place any longer." George sighed and gently heaved himself out of the rocking-chair, placing his half-cold tea on the mantelpiece as he walked to the window. He pulled the net-curtains aside and surveyed the pile of odds and ends it had taken him fifty years to collect, now lying in the mossy gutter. "They're not harming anyone in the garage," he muttered to himself. But his wife caught the words and turned back from the door. "I'm fed up with falling all over it every time I have to go into the garage. I want the car in there now, I'm not putting up with your mess any more. There's going to be changes around this place."

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The Suttonian 1998 George limped to the front door, pulling on his overcoat, peaked cap and old university scarf: It was a damp, foggy November day. One of those winter mornings when the city felt close and dirty as smog hung in the air and the last few leaves clung to their branches like dirty washing. The damp air was always bad for his arthritis and George pulled his coat collar up, doing the grey buttons up to cover the faded stripes of his scarf.

As he stood surveying the heap in the gutter from the doorstep, Gilbert came slowly over the threshold, placing his paws thoughtfully one by one down the step as if he too disapproved of venturing forth in such weather.

George pulled the door to with a mild click and walked deliberately to the garage.

He propped his bike up against the kerb and bent down to look at his belongings, his life lying in the gutter.

He went first to the tiny tin bath, now filled with papers and old documents and rusting underneath each handle. He recalled his first vague memory. The cloudy picture of a little boy standing naked, knee-deep in the water, clenching his toes to feel the cold of the tin through the hot water. The squeals of anguish as his smiling mother poured hot water over his head and the suds slipped from his hair, over his eyes and into his mouth. Then when he stepped onto the rug he was enveloped in a rough towel and stood dripping, his goosepimpled body shivering and his mother would rub him vigorously with the coarse cloth.

He slowly bent back down over his bike. Gilbert meanwhile sniffed the clutter on the ground and unceremoniously cocked his leg over a little milk-churn. George swiped at the dog and swore gruffly, throwing a little stone at him. "Get out of it you old bugger." He limped across to the little milk-churn and affectionately picked up the thin rope attached to its lid. He was a lad again, running over to the farmer each morning, the milk-churn catching every so often in the dirt and bruising his left ankle. Then the struggle back home, his puny arms shaking, the rope digging into his sweaty palms, and each time he changed tired arms, a slop of the creamy yellow froth would stain the stony dirt and seep into little cracks between the dung. George put the milk-churn down, now no bigger than his forearm and turned back to the tin bath.

He delved into the mass of brown damp paper with his aching fingers. He pulled an envelope out and straightened himself gently. The address, with carefully-formed writing, was faded and on the last line "London" was obliterated into a water-stained blob. The post-mark read the 26th January 1919 but the stamp had long since disappeared. He turned the envelope over and saw the eager tears in the top torn by his young hand. He carefully reached in and pulled out the letter. He glanced at the small piece of rose-coloured paper.

There was a large patch of brown damp mould on the left of the sheet and words had been partially lost.

George frowned and placed one cold hand into his pocket, the other, veins standing out, the skin rough and wrinkled and fingers bent, held onto the small rose piece of paper. His mind suddenly cleared and he was a young man, hair swept fashionably off his face. He lay between the starched sheets of a field hospital. Far-off whistles and shots could be heard. And she would be there, a hovering face, a candle as he slipped in and out of feverish nightmares. He would dream of Robert lying face up, his hair matted together with mud, blood trickling out of his mouth. Otherwise his face was perfect, his boyish eyes still open and his boyish cheeks still fresh and pink from the run. He would hear the wails and screams or the desperate cries for help. He would see the rats, the lice, the mud, the trenches, the sky, the blood but always her face, those caring eyes, that calm porcelain-like face and through the endless nights he felt her reassuring presence.

Three weeks later he was sitting, supported by pillows, his browned chest against the white sheets and she would sit with him in her white uniform, exhausted but always friendly. He would practise his halting English and she, laughing, would take off her nurse's cap for a moment, letting him finger her curly hair. He stayed for months. He loved her, she loved him. But then he was sent back home.

She wrote every week on rose paper, always with that faintly discernible whiff of antiseptic, professing her love. But then the war ended. The letters stopped. He took the sepia-coloured photo out of his wallet and opened a bakery, marrying a Parisian girl.

Now he drew the photo from the envelope. She was facing away from the camera, her head turned towards the photographer, her lips parted slightly and her eyes smiling from under the fringe of curls. He looked up and saw his wife watching him from the a corner of the net-curtains. He sighed and carefully put the photo and the letter back into the envelope. He gently placed it on top of the milk-churn and limped across the soggy leaves back into the bakery. Gilbert followed.

Jo Woods (U6)

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The Suttonian 1998

The Photograph Bewitching eyes in a smiling face of wonder hold me. I see skin like satin, sweet.

I know the taste, I feel the heavy heat which smarts at me like vicious stifling thunder.

His skin is finest silk, which festers under my frozen skin. It's beautifully neat, like always. How we two were so complete, though incompleteness slices me asunder.

My love! Yes you would tell me who to blame and who to hate and who to turn to now But only savage tears of anger maim my lonely cheek, and sting my sanguine brow.

Your photo's all I have now, in its frame which splinters at me like a marriage vow.

Eloise Doorey (U6)

The Village The church vicar walks through the grave-yard, catching his cassock on the cobwebs that glint in the early morning sun as they stretch from gravestone to gravestone. His keys jingle as he walks to the doorway, his tortoise-shell cat by his feet. The keys clank in the lock, a pigeon flies from the gutter. Stain-glass windows tell the morning story. The spire reaches high into the honey-kissed clouds, which form pictures as they float across the sky. The air feels cool and damp upon the skin.

The vicar raises a hand to wave to the little old man who slowly pushes a rusty roller across the green ready for the midday cricket. His cap tilted upon his forehead and his tattered brown woollen sweater covers his hands. The roller lets off a high-pitched squeak and starts a dog barking, which causes the postman to wobble as he sets off on his bike, laden with letters and parcels.

He turns the corner to confront the butcher's stationary van, narrowly missing the doors that fly open as the butcher clambers out leaving the corpses hanging, feet tied and blood dripping on to the red-washed floor.

The bucher starts to unload.

The apprentice strolls up to the door in his knee-length white coat with blue and white apron, loosely tied around his waist. He pushes the door open and hooks it back onto the wall. He steps aside to allow a little old lady to pass through, carrying her shopping in a small white polythene bag, her hand gripped tight around it. She takes tiny, cautious steps, sways from side to side on every pace and sets off through the village, with her walking-stick in her hand. Her brown leather gloves keep her skin from the damp air. She wears small brown leather shoes, low-cut at the front so she can slip them over her red, swollen feet. Her tinted stockings wrinkle around her ankles. Her woollen, stiff, shapeless brown skirt hangs just below the knee. The frills on her cream blouse collar keep her neck warm and a long, thick coat stops the damp from prevailing.

She passes a young lady sweeping her front door-step. The dust forms a cloud around her, causing her to cough. Her husband, looking distressed at the cloud of dust, frantically polishes his racing-green vintage car.

The chrome radiator-grill, headlights and bumper gleam in the sunlight. He bends down to polish each spoke of the wheels and looks up to smile at the little old lady who walks up the garden path to her red-painted wooden door.

The keys clank in the lock and a pigeon flies from her gutter. She steps in and closes the door behind her.

The distant droning of the cows drifts across the open fields to where the church bells chime for twelve.

Alexa Carmichael (Form 4)

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The Sitttomai 1998

Grey Within love's hue there is a shade of grey that clings to every word and smothers each devoted glance or tender touch, a leech exhausting love of beauty day by day.

And sometimes it's as if love's lost its way somehow, somewhere, and nothing left can teach forgiveness, nothing left can help it reach the end of darkness now it's gone astray.

Yet eclipses aren't eternal, grim obscuring billows clear away to light the murky path, and dissipate the dim indifference of stale remarks. The fight. to love is never done, because for him I shed my pride, and make my soul contrite.

Eloise Doorev (U6)

A Helping Hand My headlights broke through the mist as it finally began to clear, a dense mass like a cat that is slowly and unwillingly moving from his favourite chair. My hands loosened their grip on the steering wheel and my mind began to wander from the road ahead. The blackness of the night had enveloped my car, coming from nowhere.

My headlights flashed brightly on a familiar road sign. Home in less than twenty minutes.

The lane narrowed as I turned off towards my cottage, my lights now vivid, bouncing off the hedgerows. A fox's eyes glinted out of a bush, a startling yellow in the black. As I drove on I saw the friendly lights of Mrs Childen's house on the other side of this narrow valley. She was a sweet old lady, widowed last winter, who lived alone with her cat. I had attempted to take her out more frequently, but she was content with my occasional visits and the radio for her company.

As I drove down the steep lane into the valley, I saw the chimney-pot of my cottage peeking through the treetops. My foot automatically reached to the brake as I pulled around the last corner to home. I had had a hectic few days of work in Edinburgh on a business conference, but my boss, impressed with my work, had released me a weekend early. Finally I was starting to relax. I saw my drive up ahead and changed gear to turn onto it. In the same breath my headlights caught the eyes of a cat, standing motionless in the middle of the road, appearing apparently from nowhere. My right foot slammed down on to the brake and my steering wheel jerked to the left, but I still felt the sickening thud of a small body hurtling into my bumper. The car ground to a halt; I sat, eyes shut, praying fervently for the little creature.

After what seemed like hours, I opened the door. I walked to the front of the car, a small patch of blood was splattered on the bumper, but the cat was nowhere to be seen. I got onto the ground and looked under the car, the hard, rough gravel pressing deeply into my knees. Nothing.

"Here, puss, puss!" I muttered hopefully. A quiet scratching in the bushes caught my attention and I slowly peered into the thorns. My headlights, still on, reflected a pair of bright eyes from the hedge. While making soothing noises, I stretched out my hand towards the cat. A thorn caught on my flesh and tugged a layer of skin back, my hand retreated automatically but the quick movements startled the animal and he scrambled as fast as he could onto the road and away. His back leg was trailing behind him, like a sledge, as he hobbled up the side of the road.

Suddenly it dawned on me, I should have recognised the cat before, the tortoiseshell fur, the red collar with the green tag on. I hadn't got close enough to read it, but I knew it was Mrs Childen's. His frail little body had been shaking in agony, so I ran up the road after him.

The night soon caught up with me, as I squinted to keep sight of any movement. I stumbled up the road, my heels catching in the ruts and forcing me to slow down. The sky was overcast, the moon's yellow glow almost totally filtered out, the blackness just seeming to stretch onwards. The road curved sharply to the right. The cat couldn't be too far ahead, I decided, his injury must have slowed him down a lot. I strained my eyes to survey the hedgerows and I peered in the ditches. Nothing. Again I started up the road, my nightvision improving with each passing minute. As I approached the next bend I saw a small hump swaying from side to side by the roadside ditch.

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The Suttonian 1998 Slowly, almost invisibly, I crept my way towards him, a metre away he looked up and set off again. But this time I kept him in sight, waiting for him to tire. He walked, sometimes ran, on his tripodial set of legs, towards his home. Every two minutes he would look back at me, glaring eerily into my eyes. He finally arrived at his home and I strode determinedly towards him as he lay quivering on the front step, his leg lying awkwardly under him. As I approached him the front door eased open, the weight of his body pushing against it, and, when realising he had no escape route, he turned inwards and ran.

"Mrs Childen," I called out in surprise, "Mrs Childen are you in here?" The door opened wide as I pushed it into the hall. The air inside felt damp but cold, as I walked towards the lounge.

I found her lying at the bottom of the stairs, her head twitching as if in a bad dream and a thin trickle of blood dribbling from her nose. The `phone was standing on a table in the lounge and my fingers couldn't hold it steady as I dialled.

"Ambulance," I said. "Please hurry..." After what seemed a dangerously long time, I got through and gabbled out the address.

"I think she may have had a stroke," I guessed, asking them to hurry for the fourth time. After the promise that the ambulance would be here soon, I hurried back to her frail, cold body lying at the foot of the stairs and waited anxiously.

The sun dazzled me as I clambered out of the driver's seat, I leaned back in to retrieve a small bunch of daisies and then made my way to the front desk, through the cars parked erratically around me.

"That's the fourth floor, miss," the young receptionist smiled, "and I'm sure she'll appreciate the flowers." I smiled a "Thankyou" and walked towards the elevators, the antiseptic smell drifting through my lungs.

She was sitting up among the crisp, white sheets, propped by a stack of pillows and I was greeted cheerfully. "I should be back home before the week is out," she nodded. "The doctor thinks it was very lucky that you came along, because minor strokes often lead to serious ones."

We talked pleasantly for a while, until she looked at me questioningly.

"Why was it that you were over at gone midnight though?" she asked. "I've been wondering that and I can't seem to work it out." I breathed deeply, I'd have to tell her about her cat some time, so now would be good enough, I decided.

"I'm very sorry, Jeanie," I winced, "but.... well.... on the way back from Edinburgh, I hit a cat with the car. It turned out to be Timber. He was OK to begin with, but his back leg was hurt," I understated. "I followed him to your house and that's when I found you and I forgot about him. But when I went back to look for him yesterday, I couldn't find him anywhere." I looked round the room sheepishly, "I'm sorry, but I can only assume the worst." I felt guilty just recalling the story. I glanced up at her face and saw her eyes filled with tears.

"What do you mean? she asked meekly. "You couldn't have found me by following Timber to my house. Timber died last Thursday!"

Caroline Woods (Form 4)

Freya Faulkner (Form 2)

40

The Suttonian 1998

L

Photographic print Andrew Lyon (Form 4)

The Suttonian 1998

COMBINED CADET FORCE Our best news is that we have been given the final go-ahead to `float' a Royal Navy Section and will do so in September 98. This makes us more truly `combined' in that we represent all three services. Lieut. Paul Collins and Sub-Lieut. Fiona Clayton have already exchanged their green uniforms for Navy blue and have begun their qualifying courses, as indeed have two cadets, Nick Hoult and Will Willdridge. A group have already been to HMS Bristol in May where they did some sailing and were shown round a Naval Frigate by Lieut.

Charles Evans (1991 L), one of the officers, an ex-CCF cadet at school.

We have had a very young shooting team this year as the nucleus of the old team left at the end of last year. Despite that, some good results in small-bore matches from Ben Pratten, Caroline Woods, Colette Davey and Katie Gornall were followed by a third place in the Kent Schools and second in the Kent pairs at full-bore.

William Richardson and Caroline Woods won the Cadet Pairs at the London & Middlesex meeting. We came seventh and ninth in the Cadet Target Rifle competition and Peter Sargent was fourth in the Under 16 individual match. At Bisley we took two silver spoons, Charles Hayzelden came third in the Reserve Man match, whilst Stuart Watson and Caroline Woods were in the Cadet Hundred in the Ashburton. S/Sgt Stuart Watson was a great Captain of Shooting who did much to encourage the development of the team.

In the Cadet Skills competition we were the fourth CCF team, fifth overall and second in the Assault Course. Our thanks, as ever, to Brian Miller and Mrs Wilkie.

The Drill competition was won yet again by Sutton House, the Boys' Assault Course by Lambe's in a very fast time, and the Girls' Assault Course by Sutton. The Becky Norris March and Shoot was won by Westminster.

The CCF has acquired a hovercraft in kit form, which is now being built. Test flights on BM will be followed by an attempt to validate Flt Lt Geoff Piper's claim that he can `walk' on water. The RAF section is looking after the hovercraft, but there is no truth in the story that 15cm is the highest they can go nowadays.

JUO Jo Woods and JUO `Gentleman' George Horton have led the Infantry and Junior Company with intelligence and good humour. C/Sgt Katie Simmonds, as 2 i/c of the Infantry, S/Sgt Alex McNaughton, as the last SNCO of the Royal Engineer Troop and Cadet WO James Bourne of the RAF Senior Flight all did well.

Matt Wooderson was an enthusiastic and humourous Cadet CSM, whose personal drill was the best that we have seen for some time, whilst S/Sgt Eloise Doorey, assisted by Sgt Kerrie Loft, ran the stores with style. All the above and many others will be missed and leave school with our best wishes. As for the officers not so far named, I am grateful to Flg Off Kay Jackson, Lt David Cooper and Lt Emma Rankin for all their efforts over the year, and for courses and camps attended.

Our great loss at the end of the year is Capt Nigel Jones who is returning to New Zealand. Nigel ran the Royal Engineer Troop in his own quiet but very effective manner and gave many cadets with a practical bent a taste of construction and watermanship. His brand of leadership was equally appreciated by everyone on Army camp for several years. Having a house in the Lake District and being an ardent walker, his expertise on expedition routes and weather were great assets in helping to build up Adventure Training to the very popular event it has become. It is bad enough to lose Tarne, his dog, from this event, but heart-breaking to lose Nigel. He is a self-effacing man, whose very real interest in the cadets, technical expertise and levelheadedness inspired real affection.

News of military Old Suttonians includes that of Capt. Jake Scott (1991 W), now a company second-incommand in the Coldstream Guards, Jon Holroyd (1993 L) who is an officer in the Fleet Air Arm, James Evans (1995 L), brother of Charles, accepted for officer training in the Royal Marines, Katie Woods (1995 S) and Dan Willdridge (1997 L) who have both completed short service limited commissions before studying medicine, Eddie Copland (1995 L) and James Roberts (1996 L) who have gained TA commissions and Captains Rupert Farrant (1987 M), in the Parachute Regiment, and Justin Bradburn (1987 L), in the Prince of Wales Royal Regiment, who have recently retired from the army. Jo Woods who leaves this year is about to start a Short Service Limited Commission in the Royal Engineers before going up to Cambridge.

We restart in September with JUO Andrew Johnson and Cadet WO Melissa Saggers at the helm and look forward to our first tri-service year.

Lt. Col. C.F.G.Parkinson

42

The Sitttonian 1998

Polystyrene, Car(I (ut(1 Paint Richard Best (Form 5)

Charcoal nn Paper Jenny Jung (Form 4)

Do, CC]' (Army) cant') cuittiagent at Cattee'tcl;

43

The Suttonian 1998

IL L• Jam.

Wire & Screen-printed Fabric Romy Hukins (L6)

Paper mache, Card & Paint Rosemary Forster (Form 5)

Ist XV S Knowles, W Hodson, N Bennett, A Johnson, PPC, C Boon, T Janes, M Groom, B Sijuwade, B Shahrad, A Christie, SKS, D Loft, T Jordan, G Horton, M Slattery (Capt), P Posnette, D Stiff, M Wooderson 44

The Suttonian 1998

U/14 Hockey H Selway, A Sargent, F Posnette, S Lacey, Z Hosford, H Blest, E Cockburn, Mr R Carr, C Blunsdon, S Adams, K Richardson, L Jordan, I Clague

Oil on Canvas Kayoko Koga (L6)

Carved Brick & Paint Christy Best (L6)

45

The Suttonian 1998

1st XI M Dumenil, M Day, T Janes, J Watson, I Fraser, P Green (Scorer) R Joseph, G Horton, M Wooderson (Capt), J Parrett, T Parkin, S Iles, R Bradstock, B Morrison

Form 4 Geography & Science Field Work - June 1998 Langdon Heights - Dover

gy

The Suttoncan 1998

C.C.F. Summer Camp - Wathgill, Yorkshire The morning of my first summer camp dawned bright and sunny, meaning I was to have a pleasant journey north with the cadets as we set off for camp. I made my way to the Quad and was surprised to find a small gathering already present, waiting for the transport to turn up. During the journey several cadets showed that they were obviously going to be characters of some sort during the period of camp, and were to earn themselves some nickname. Among these cadets were Andy Johnson who was a bit of a "Sleep Monster" and Tom `Marge" Morgan who had an obsession with a set of plastic Simpson toys in the kiddies meals from Burger King. The journey passed off relatively free from trouble until Kirsty Johnston had a gritty contact lens which needed to be removed, cleaned and replaced at an unscheduled stop. Kirsty was again to come to attention later in the week when she developed a rather deep and husky voice which she then passed on to Laura Jordan.

On arrival we were greeted by Mrs Wilkie and Brian, George Horton, Stuart Watson and Rebecca Pragnall, who had travelled up earlier in the day by minibus, and we were quickly shown to our accommodation and sent for dinner. The travelling seemed to have worn out most cadets and they were soon in bed. The next morning gave rise to the cry "I hate mornings, especially this early!" from old and new cadets, including John Arthur, Hannah Selway and Ross Montagne. Praise was mentioned for the accommodation, which, I believe, was much better than than the previous year, as was the standard of food and quantity of tea available throughout the week.

The first day's training saw section tactics and a lesson in camouflage and concealment from regular soldiers. It was the first time the cadets came face to face with "Captain Keen and the Keen Team", a group of rather keen cadets who amused Sutton Valence cadets immensely; however by the end of the week telephone numbers were being exchanged. The cadets also had an enjoyable visit to the tanks at Catterick, arranged by Mr Kittermaster. They were shown around by the Queen's Royal Hussars and were able to experience the cramped confines of a fully-equipped tank and life as a gunner using the latest technology simulators.

The day on the open range included firing the L.S.W. and the March and Shoot Competition. The "A" team, although beaten by Caterham in the 3-mile march, eventually came out in front because of their accurate shooting. Later in the week there was a day spent out on exercise doing a platoon attack; Paddy Bush, Ben Daking, Nick Parkinson and James Varnals had passed their shooting and safety test so they could participate. This day gave rise to two memorable incidents. The first was when Charlie Foreman earned her title, "Boghopper", after a spectacular fall into a bog during the assault. It also led to the one and only court martial of the week when Tom Morgan lost his rifle magazine. On returning to camp a court session was held, Kirsty Johnston was Defence Lawyer, Brian was Prosecuting and Mr Kittermaster was the Judge. In order to make the trial fair the jury was an all-female representation. Verdict: shooting by Bow and Arrow at dawn the following morning. During the penultimate day of camp, the signals stand was provided with much amusement after a rendition of the Sutton Valence Infantry song, and Colette Davey seemed to experience "extremely, localised, heavy downpours" from fellow cadets who obviously thought she needed cooling off. The Engineering stand also provided great entertainment, with many trying to cross the cobweb and forming the giant ant. Evening entertainment was often in the form of football to the tune of `The Great Escape', the exception to this was the drill competition led by George Horton, which went very well as all agreed.

The final day saw the camp concluding with the Adventure Training programme where cadets either spent the day rock climbing or canoeing. The canoeing provided most of the memories including a mud fight, sliding down a weir and throwing Mrs Wilkie in twice, the second time for a photograph. This was a pleasant memory after the previous evening's assault course which made several cadets quiver in their boots, but also rejoice after successfully completing obstacles which they believed impossible. The day culminated in a Bar-B-Q cooked by Brian's fair hand, aided by Charlie Hayzelden and Alan Archibald. This evening also saw promotions and fun awards, and finished a demanding but enjoyable week.

Lt.E.L.Rankin

47

The Suttonian 1998

RAF Section Report It has been another busy year for the RAF Section..... The summer camp 1997 was at RAF St Athan in Wales, a huge engineering station. It was interesting that our most senior cadets remember St Athan as their first camp at the end of their 3rd Form year. As usual there was plenty to do there and everyone had the opportunity to fly bulldogs, and gain plenty of work experience in different engineering branches.

Field Day at Brize Norton After last academic year, when we were "top heavy" with senior NCOs this year provided an interesting contrast. Flt Sgt James Bourne led the Senior Flight with great enthusiasm, humour and organisation. He was very ably assisted by two Lower Sixth Formers, Melissa Saggers and Spencer Theobald.

We have been disappointed over flying, since the demise of the Chipmunk, and all the schools in the South East have to squabble over a limited number of flying slots in Bulldogs (often offered in the holidays when nobody is around!). Nevertheless we managed to get one group of 10 airborne from Manston. We achieved some more flying by visiting RAF Benson on the Sunday of our October Field Day and all cadets flew. We stayed overnight at RAF Uxbridge and had a day visit to RAF Odiham, the home of the helicopter. Most cadets got a flight in a Puma helicopter.

In the Lent term we visited RAF Brize Norton, the home of the VC10 and Tristar. We were shown all over a VC10 tanker, and were scheduled to have a flight..however the timing was bad..... there were very few aircraft around because a certain Saddam Hussain had caused a problem, and the RAF apparently took the view that the Gulf was more important than Sutton Valence Cadets - Senior Officers, please review this situation!!!

The summer Field Day was great fun, we were based at RAF Uxbridge and did raft building and assault course/leadership exercises at the Hillingdon Outdoor Pursuits Centre all properly supervised of course.

We also had booked a visit to the school by a Chinook helicopter from RAF Odiham, we were looking forward to that but it was cancelled at very short notice because of that Saddam again!.....If I ever get my hands on him!!!!!

The other bit of excitement this year was Melissa Saggers "going solo" in her aircraft on her 17th Birthday (as seen on telly!!) and obtaining her private pilot's licence later during the school year.

All cadets passed their RAF Basic exams and their RAF Proficiency exams, so well done everyone.

Towards the end of term a new exciting project began. .we took delivery of a one-person hovercraft in kit form. Under the expert help of Mr Stebbings this should be running during the Autumn of 1998, giving the cadets a great home-spun bit of excitement!

The season ended with RAF Camp at RAF Lyneham.

FI Lt.G.R.Piper

The Suttoni:ui 1998

RAF Section Field Day at Hillingdon (I didn't think we had a Naval section then! - Ed.)

RAF Summer Camp There was slight apprehension felt by many, having to spend a week with strangers, but the long bus journey gave us a chance to become acquainted. The drill, soon after arrival, made us really at home and soon everyone got on really well as card games were made up and played furiously by all - these games made time fly by whilst waiting for a wide variety of fantastic flying experiences. Everyone flew in a Bulldog and a Hercules and experienced real training in a Hercules simulator. We got on well with the other two schools which saved the embarrassment of the sergeants as they walked through an obstacle course with pillow cases over their heads and bright blue socks on their hands! There were loads of activities apart from the flying, including shooting (with some of our cadets winning "marksman" awards).

Once the inter-flight competition neared its end, everyone seemed to take things more seriously: there were some superb displays at drill (why can't we do it like this at school!). Everyone threw themselves into the night exercise (some literally) but Lt. Cooper was the only one to encounter a hostile low-flying branch. Steven Hebblethwaite deservedly won the "best cadet" award of the whole camp, so well done to him. At the end of the week as "goodbyes" had to be made there were a few tears, however, later that night everyone enjoyed the luxury of going home to bed without having to fold up their sheets and blankets at some ridiculous hour of the morning.

Our thanks go to Flying Officer Jackson and Lt Cooper for looking after (putting up with) us for the week.

Melissa Saggers

Shooting This year has been a development year for the team. Back in September we had only three remaining members from the previous year. But within three weeks a new team was formed from people who had very little experience of shooting. This makes their achievements even more remarkable.

Small-Bore Shooting With the completion of the new .22 range the previous year we were able to start shooting small-bore competitions this year - something that has not been done for many years. In the Spring League organised by the Kent County Small Bore Rifle Association the top three places were taken by Ben Pratten, Caroline Woods and Colette Davey.

At the end of last year Katie Gomall held first place in the Summer League after seven rounds and we were lying third in the team event.

49

The Suttonian 1998 Full-Bore Shooting We started the full-bore season with the Kent Schools competition in April. The team of eight came third overall with the pairs coming second.

The following weekend organised by the London and Middlesex Rifle Association was held at Bisley ranges.

This was only the second time that many of the team members had ever shot on the open range and Bisley can be a very daunting place for new shots. However, everyone did very well and particular congratulations go to Will Richardson and Caroline Woods who won the Cadet Pairs event.

The Southern District competition is a very large competition held at Ash ranges. It is attended by approximately eighty teams of cadets from the south. Both teams shot well in this competition and came 7th and 9th overall. Peter Sargent just missed out on a medal for Best Under 16 by one point.

The major event of the year is held at Bisley during the summer holidays. The team spends four days on the ranges shooting competitions every day. This year's team was the youngest that Sutton Valence has entered for a long time with eight of the twelve being under 16. Silver spoons were won by Caroline Woods and Ben Pratten for their scores of 31 out of a possible 35 in the Iveagh competition (300m). A few others narrowly missed out with scores of 30 and 29.

The Shooting team after the Ashburton The climax of the week is the Ashburton competition held on the Thursday. This competition attracted around eighty schools from all over Britain - and some from Canada. This year we entered a team of eight, a cadet pair, and a reserve man. Charles Hayzelden did well in the reserve man competition and won a bronze medal for coming third overall with a score of 41 out of a possible 50. Caroline Woods and Stuart Watson both came within the Bisley 100 - the top 100 individuals on the final day - with scores of 61 and 63 respectively out of a possible 70. Overall the VIII came 22nd. Every member of the team has done very well this year, but particular congratulations must go to Peter Sargent and John Davies who, in their first few months of shooting, have scored consistently well and are constantly improving.

Special thanks must go to Brian for his coaching and sense of humour which has kept everyone relaxed and focused throughout the year and to Mrs Wilkinson for her help and feeding us well. Overall we have had a very successful season and I hope that the team continue to improve in the years to come.

Stuart Watson (Captain of Shooting)

50

The Suttonian 1998

Sports Council This year has seen great changes in the life of Sport at Sutton Valence. For the first time all games have been timetabled enabling the best coaching staff to be available to all age groups. More importantly, however, we have seen a steady development from Bob Chance as Chairman of the Sports Council, followed by David Pickard to myself as Head of Games and finally next year the appointment of Bill Buck as Director of Sport.

Thanks to the pioneering efforts of Bob Chance which were then continued by David Pickard excellent foundations were laid down allowing sport to have a firm place in the school curriculum and the appointment of Bill Buck can be seen as a culmination of theses efforts. The debt to Esther Cornell and John Posnette in the development of girls games over the past few years should not be underestimated. Excellent Netball and Girls' Hockey results have ensured that Girls' sport is now taken seriously. The present Headmaster has also ensured that when making academic appointments sporting contribution were also considered and as a consequence RHC, SAB, JHK, PPC, WDB, CG and SFS have all added to the strength of the games department over the past years. Next year we see the arrival of Tim Wilbur and Andrew Hall. The department is growing from strength to strength.

This year has also seen great success on the sports fields. Junior girls' hockey has been outstanding with the U/14, U/15 and U/13 sides leading the way. A number of the girls now play for the county teams. Boys' rugby also had an excellent season. This was followed by a very good netball season by all age groups. The cricket under the guidance of JHK and WDB is reaching new standards and the school is becoming one of the best in the county. CG has put swimming back on the map and it is hoped that this sport will continue to develop. Brian Miller and AFFW have again produced outstanding shooting results. The Girls' tennis team is on the verge of being the best in Kent. We have dominated rounders in all age groups. School sport is on a high at the moment and it is hoped that with careful management of our resources we will continue to prosper.

One cannot underestimate the importance of Sports Scholarships to our continuing success.

As I depart I wish the department well and, in particular, hope that WDB will be successful in his new role.

Awards for 1997-98 Amy Lovegrove Trophy

Mathew Wooderson

Edward Memorial Sports Prize

Martin Slattery and Katie Simmonds

Senior Valence/Holdgate Trophy

Katie Simmonds and Rebecca Lacey

U/16 Valence/Holdgate Trophy

Catherine Birch

Junior Games Trophy

Katy Horne

Junior Colours

Tom Wroclawski, Alexa Carmichael, Katie Gornall, Jenny Vincent

Sports Person of the Year (boys)

Martin Slattery and Mathew Wooderson

Sports Person of the Year (girls)

Katie Simmonds S.K. Scho field

RUGBY 1st XV Rugby Played: 7

Won: 6

Lost: 1

This promised to be another fine season with a number of key players returning from the record equalling side of 1997. In fact I saw no reason why the team should not equal or even surpass the record of the 1991 and 1997 sides; however the weather robbed of us three key fixtures all cancelled owing to the lack of rain which meant the ground was therefore rock solid till just before half term. Together with the fact that the Old Suttonian game had been cancelled because of the death of Princess Diana this meant that only three games were played in the first half of term.

51

The Suttonian 1998

The season began with an easy victory over Sir Roger Manwoods by 61-7 in which 11 tries were scored by nine players. The team clearly showed the potential to play total rugby in which the backs and forwards interchanged positions and were also capable of both sustained passing moves and also keeping the ball alive through a number of phases. It was a good team performance to start the season. There is nothing better than a victory over our local rivals Cranbrook School which had not been achieved since 1991. Last year's team had managed a draw and going into the game I knew that we had a realistic chance of winning. It was a tight affair and in the first half we had created more chances but owing to lack of support we failed to score. In the second half Cranbrook applied most of the pressure but we defended outstandingly well and took a 9-0 lead thanks to three very well struck penalties by our captain Martin Slattery. The game had finished according to my watch and I should think most of the spectators but the referee's watch had failed and the game continued to be played for a further 10 minutes! In this time Cranbrook scored and nearly rallied to win the game except for some very stout defending. The Bob Chance Trophy returned to Sutton Valence at last. May it stay there for a few more years.

A tired but happy team went played their last game before half term against Dover College. There was very little to report of worth about the match except that we defended well in a very scrappy game. Dover as usual played their disruptive "Irish" type game but thanks to the boot of Martin Slattery and a timely try by Billy Sijuwade we won 13-12. The next three games were cancelled owing to the hard pitches which left the coaches the difficult task of keeping 40-odd squad occupied for the next three weeks.

At last a match! We travelled to Chatham House to play the fixture for the first time at the school. In patches we played some of the best rugby I have seen by a school 1st XV. The handling and interchange between the forwards and backs was excellent and our attacks frequently went through four or five phases.

Mathew Wooderson played one of his best games of the season and was well supported by Bijan Shahrad.

Matthew Groom also had an outstanding match with his close quarter handling skills. We eventually won 463 scoring 8 tries. We then travelled to Rochester to play King's School and with a similar display on a wet and windy day won by 46-0 scoring 8 tries. The side were looking in good form for the last two remaining games which I knew would be their toughest.

I was expecting to beat Kent College as last year we won 28-0 and I felt that this year's team had been performing at a higher level. How wrong can you be. We were well beaten by a much better side who controlled all aspects of the game. The whole team played without any sense of conviction and deservedly lost the game 3-21.

We now moved to the last game of the season and again I had high hopes of beating Emanuel School for the first time since 1991. There have been some close encounters but with home advantage I was expecting a win. I was not disappointed and, with most of the school watching, for the first time in a number of years we won 20-10. We controlled most of the match and played some very exciting rugby and scored 4 good tries. So for the first time since 1991 three trophies resided at the school: the Abbott Cup for the game against Emanuel, the Bob Chance Trophy and the Palmer Cup (for the O.S. match, won in 1996). It was a fitting end to the season and a fair tribute to an outstanding side.

Martin Slattery captained the side and controlled the game well from inside centre. He played with great confidence and flair and was responsible for creating much of our attacking play. He was a talented player who fully deserved his selection for the Scottish U/18 National squad and he also captained the Scottish Exiles side.

Mathew Wooderson continued as he left off last year playing with great determination and tackling anyone that moved with the ball on the opposition side. His decision-making enabled the backs and forwards to play with confidence and therefore allowed the side to play with both flair and structure. Bij an Shahrad played well with Martin Slattery and his outstanding pace broke the first line of most defences. He also was also a much stronger player physically than last year and combined with the forwards in a more meaningful way. Will Hodson was a strong runner and when confident was willing to use his strength and speed to counter attack from full-back with great purpose. Though often tackling high he was rarely beaten in a one-on-one situation.

George Horton again controlled the game well at fly-half allowing Martin and Bijan to play to their full potential. His kicking game also improved towards the end of the season. Matthew Groom played well above his weight and won a large amount of line-out ball. He played more like a flanker in open play always ensuring that the next phase continued, while his close-quarter handling was a delight to watch. Duncan Stiff, a fitter model than last year, was a great work-horse in defence always playing with great determination and guts.

Peter Posnette was a fit and very tough competitor who was consistently first to the breakdown. He tackled ferociously but his good handling skills also enabled the team to keep their attacks going. Timothy Jordan had great pace on the wing and as a consequence scored 3 tries; his defence was also sound. Damon Loft hooked well and his throwing-in improved throughout the season. The most improved player of the

52

The Suttonian 1998 season, in my opinion, was Tom Janes. He was a great asset as a number one runner and my fears that he would not keep the ball alive were unfounded, showing that he had matured as a player. To boot he also scored 3 tries and therefore certainly should be cast out from the front row union!

For the future Andrew Johnson continued to improve and read the game well. Billy Sijuwade is a strong and powerful player who could, if he put his mind to it, make the Kent squad. Neil Bennett shows a promising burst of pace but needs to improve his handling. Simon Knowles, a fifth former, is developing into a good number one runner but must also develop his handling skills.

Many thanks to PPC for yet again working so well to produce an excellent set of forwards and for the tremendous improvement we have seen in school rugby over the past three years. Much of the credit must go to him. WDB and SFS did well to produce such a promising 2nd XV. Finally Mr. Wooderson must be voted supporter of the year turning up whether we played or not. Thank you.

Team: Will Hodson*, Neil Bennett, Bijan Shahrad*, Martin Slattery (Capt.)Y, Timothy Jordan+, George Horton*, Mathew Wooderson*, Andrew Johnson*, Peter Posnette+, Duncan Stiff*, Matthew Groom+, Billy Sijuwade+, Simon Knowles, Damon Loft+, Tom Janes*, Adam Christie, Chris Boon, Matthew Day, Full Colours *; Half Colours + Full Colours were also awarded at the Rugby club dinner to SKS and NBVJ for their contribution to school rugby.

Competitions Senior House Trophy Middle School House Trophy Senior House Sevens Middle School House Sevens Junior House Trophy Master i/c Trophy

Boarders Day Boys St. Margarets Lambes Gold Martin Slattery

Representatives U/18 Kent Schools and U/18 Scottish squad

Martin Slattery

SKS' XV As is customary the departing Master i/c Rugby has the difficult task of selecting his best XV from all the players that played during his tenure; in my case from 1993-1998. As RMS pointed out comparing players over the years, as the game has changed, is difficult. I have tried to select a team that would play the type of rugby played today and in the positions they played at school. Some, I know, will disappointed they have not been selected but I have also selected 8 reserves who are now an important part of any team and could be used if ever a game were to take place v the Lynxes, for example for the same years. See if you can organise it Woody!

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

Reserves: Tom Janes (1997) Bobby Pawar (Capt) (1996) Graham Lloyd-Bennett (1994) James Vincent (1996) Matthew Groom (1997) David Hayman (1994) Tom Kelly (1994) Alex Winter (1993) Mathew Wooderson (1997) Mark Critchley (1995) William Hodson (1997)/ James Roberts (1993) Martin Slattery (v/capt) (1997) Bijan Shahrad (1997) Tim Watts (1996) Ric Hodson (1993)

Phillip Kunath Ian Harrison Rory Slater Billy Sijuwade Andrew Johnson Gregoire Hambourg George Horton

Prop (1993) 2nd Row (1996) 2nd Row (1993) 2nd Row/Back row (1998) Back row (1998) Back row (1993) Fly-half (1997)

S.K. Schofield 53

The Suttonian 1998

2nd XV Rugby This season was one for laying down the foundations for future successes. The 1997 2nd XV was young and, in places, lacking in physical presence. Several regular members of the team were new to the game altogether.

All these reasons contributed to the disappointment of only one win during the term, against Ursuline College 1st XV. However, the results do not do justice to the improvement in skills and to the tremendous character of the team. After an uncertain start to the term, when many players were reluctant to play if the losses of the previous year were to be repeated, the team began to show some determination and outstanding courage in adversity. Particular mention must go the astonishing bravery of Ben Palmer, the smallest member of the team; he showed everyone what could be achieved and the others followed suit.

The highlight of the season was possibly the second half against Kent College, when, facing a 0-26 deficit at half-time and with injuries to several influential players, the team rallied to shut the opposition out in the second half. The final whistle went as Sutton were pressing and threatening to score. A good foundation has been laid for next season.

Team: C.Boon (Capt), J.Parrett, A.O'Donovan, B.Pratten, M.Kuo, B.Palmer, U.Patel, E.Christian, J.Watson, C.Holmes, P.Chong, R.Bradstock, M.Dumenil, WRichardson, A.Hargrave-Smith, M.Patel, M.Day, J.Park, N.Harman.

S.F.Stebbings

Under 15 Rugby The side improved steadily throughout the term and by the end of the season they were capable of playing some good fifteen-man, running rugby, scoring some outstanding tries along the way.

Unfortunately no matter how they improved offensively they let themselves down defensively which was a great pity as they had the potential to be a very good side when they all played together as a team and adopted a positive mental attitude. Too often they believed that a game was lost before a ball was kicked because of the previous year's results. However, we gradually overcame this and they recorded four victories which was three more than the previous year.

One of the reasons for this was the addition of two outstanding players in the backs. Tom Wroclawski is a very talented player who reads the game well and creates chances for himself and for the team through good vision, speed and skill. The other player is Robert Joseph who, although he had never played before, adapted quickly to it and used his speed and strength to great effect.

Other players who deserve a mention are William Willdridge whose attacking flair matched his sound defence, Adam Whyte whose tackling was always courageous, Steven Johnston and Steven Groom for their industry and Sam Jones who has great potential as a prop.

Team: J.Park (Capt), T.Wroclawski, A.Dennison, R.Joseph, J.Richardson, R.Hunt, D.Sayer, A.Hatch, G.Griffin, S.Jones, S.Johnston, W.Willdridge, A.Whyte, A.Lyon, A.Ivanov, D.Martin, S.Groom, E.Boyle, B.Russell, J.Arthur.

JH.Kittermaster

Under 14 Rugby With the expansive style of the Super 12 as a benchmark for today's rugby players, the format required to help young amateur performers reach even embryonic professional levels of technique and skill presents something of a challenge to most coaches - never mind sleek ones like Messrs Buck and Vincent and the characters of the Sutton Valence U/14 squad!

The players were made up from last year's U/13 age group plus an intake with some promise. They were all new to the coaches and the coaches were new to them. A squad of 34 "ought" to have provided enough depth to unearth some talent and to give competition for places: it did both.

54

The Suttonian 1998 Sutton Valence needs to build up some rugby self-confidence throughout the age ranges and, at U/14, the self-discipline, the awareness of other players, the willingness to accept criticism and use it constructively to work on and overcome weaknesses, must be crucial ingredients for progress.

Progress was undoubtedly made and, when the team, and individuals, listened, we saw both personal improvement and team spirit produce some impressive and encouraging performances.

The season began on the hard grounds of Sandwich and the immediate concern, which was never really completely resolved, was that the first-up tackling lacked bite. The responsibility for a channel, a player, a fringe or a line of cover, was missing and the technique was poor; we were 0-19 down at half-time. That we won 20-19 was remarkable and was due to some strong running, excellent handling and support play as well as a determined lead from an extremely promising captain who played with personal pride in, and demanded pride for, the Sutton Valence badge.

That second half performance was the brick to build the season on and that opening victory helped give confidence to work for a cohesive style.

The next fixture, away at Dover College, saw a pack take shape and two ball-carrying competitors point the way forward up front. Sean Sousa was proving an aggressive No 8 going forward and Jo Wyatt-Jones not only brought solidity to the scrummaging, but was much in evidence taking the ball at the opposition and laying it back well to allow an increasingly cohesive back-line the opportunity to stretch the opposition with some good rugby and a solid win. The defence out wider, however, was still too tame and Dover's No 8 proved a handful when allowed to gather pace.

Oliver Clarkson, the captain, suffering from the hard grounds, came on late and showed his all-round abilities as a footballer; we had found a hooker in Will Page and a full-back in Paddy Bush, who was providing a sterner line of last-ditch defence. A half-back partnership was developing with Tim Walford at fly-half making the position his own for the season. The link between forwards and three-quarters was on its way, but it was a little too slow and the space needed to release strong-running centres like Ross Hukins, James Varnals and Barnaby Withers-Green was hard to come by Our nadir, which I did not see, was our third successive away fixture in East Kent at Duke of York's where the Kent Cup finalists hammered us on rock-solid ground. We were worn down by injury, poor tackling technique and a good side.

The grounds, in fact, took their toll and further games had to be cancelled before we met King's, Rochester at home where we lost in the narrowest of manners by two points. It was an evenly-matched struggle and many of our weaknesses had been addressed. At the final whistle we had been pressing for the last ten minutes and could consider ourselves unlucky not to have won on a fine second-half performance.

The scoreline that took our season into deficit, a final 0-22 defeat at home to Kent College, was, in its way, a very commendable finale. The opposition were a good side with powerful centres who made the early difference. In the first half their strength, our positional naivety and the tightness to which the visitors played to the off-side line (something NBVJ will enjoy in New Zealand!) meant that we conceded two soft tries.

However, the tackling stiffened and the resolve was a welcome feature. The forwards competed and the backs started to cause problems with slick handling and intelligent support running.

Next season will present more challenges to the character of this promising group and I believe they have the talent and depth to rise to them. I was greatly encouraged by the depth in the squad and the determination that the boys showed in seeking places, keeping places and eventually wanting to learn. We will need to keep working on the tackling and defensive organisation, and the line-out too needs work.

However, they were a team well led, proud to represent their school, invariably against bigger opponents with deeper reserves to call on. Well done.

Team (from): *O.Clarkson (Capt), *J.Wyatt-Jones, *T.Walford, W.Page, B.Daking, P.Sargent, M.Ali, R.Ali, A.Abdulai, N.Parkinson, S. Sousa, M.Melbourn, C.Cornwall, B.Withers-Green, J.Varnals, P.Bush, R.Hukins, D.Corless, T.Brandreth. * Colours Played: 5

Won:2

Lost: 3

v Sir Roger Manwood's (a) v Dover College (a) v Duke of York's (a)

W W L

20-19 27-15 0-69

v King's, Rochester (h) v Kent College (h)

L L

5-7 0-22 WD.Buck 55

The Suttonian 1998

Under 13 and Under 12 Rugby Once again the team found winning their matches a difficult task. Each year the reason for the losses is different. This year they included problems associated with an unwillingness to tackle the opposition, with one notable exception, whose defensive game was absolutely first class. Of more concern than this, to me, were the weaknesses - of an inability to learn quickly enough from mistakes made, and a reluctance to put techniques and tactics developed in training sessions into practice during matches. Boys, whose aggression and commitment were exemplary when playing in the trials became mere shadows of themselves whenever opponents from other schools loomed over them. Confidence to take on opponents increases with the appreciation that techniques are being improved - and this happens only with unrelenting practice and an enthusiasm to develop personal skill.

It is not enough merely to want to play the game. A good number of the team were concerned to improve their ability but an influential minority could not find the maturity to accept guidance and instruction. This was a great shame since, for the first time ever, we had assembled a very formidable array of coaching staff whose combined knowledge and skill far outstripped anything we had ever been able to produce. My gratitude to Messrs. Buck, Kittermaster and Carr is great, as it ought to be for the boys.

There is a lot of good news, however. The quality of play in the round of matches performed within the school at the end of term shows a strength in depth that we never had, and this bodes well for next year. The development of `B" fixtures has given many more boys the honour of representing the school. Some individual pupils made considerable progress in their abilities - sometimes in contradiction to their own beliefs - such that increased confidence levels and developing maturity were a greater reward than playing in a winning team might have provided.

The teams were supported, magnificently, by a veritable army of parents and other relatives. I am sure they witnessed development during the season, and I hope they can feel confidence that the future has potential for better results. Touchline comment can be bruising to the coaches and counter-productive to improvement in pupils. Our parents had too much knowledge and understanding of the game to fall in this trap and their constructive criticism was greatly appreciated.

"A" team: B.Cole* (Capt), E.Stretton, A.Wragg, C.Coltella, N.Chapman, P.Hunt, G.Julians, G.Palmer+, P.Roberts, O.Kivrak, J.Vooght, M.Collins-Saffery, J.Tobin+, N.Chapman, N.Kember*, W.Selway+, G.Harding, A.Gough, G.Olson, M.Muradian, R.Raye, D.McLaughlin, N.Adjaye. * U/13 Colours; + U/12 Colours.

"B" team: H.Foreman (Capt), D.McLaughlin, D.Sims, I.Stoneham, R.Worrall, S.Wilkinson, P.Hunt, H.Boorman, J.Friend, B.Reynhart, J.Cockburn, R.Hollands, J.Tolhurst, D.Worsfold, D.Beorby, M.Margot, R.Worrall, N.Adjaye, B.Winterbottom.

D.Pickard

BOYS' HOCKEY 1st XI Boys' Hockey Played: 12

Won: 3

Lost: 7

Drawn: 1

The team was very talented on paper including players from two very successful years but the side never recovered from the sad departure of JRLP from the school in the first two weeks of term before the first game had even been played. The side's equilibrium was disturbed from that point and only on occasions did they play anywhere near their full potential. Peter Posnette resigned as Captain and Chris Boon kindly agreed to take over.

The first three games were lost on the trot. The side did not play too badly but were unable to convert their short corners or the chances that they had created. The first positive side of the season was 0-0 draw with Dover College, a very boring and tedious affair in which neither side deserved to win. After four games came our first victory of the season, a hard fought battle against Norton Knatchbull which we only just won 2-1. In the next game against Cranbrook we played well for the first ten minutes and were then unlucky to concede a penalty flick from which they scored. From this point on Cranbrook took control and eventually won 6-2.

Things only got worse and with the absence of key players (Peter Posnette and Chris Boon) the team were crushed 13-2 by a rampant St. Lawrence side. In a thrilling encounter with Caterham School we nearly drew the match but for the outstanding performance of their Goalkeeper. With two late goals they won 5-2. Skinners School had had a very good season having lost only one match but for once the school played to their full 56

The Suttonicfn 1998 potential and won 3-1. Perhaps things were looking up for the Frank Mason Tournament, but the side played very poorly in the first two games, only to lose narrowly to the eventual winners Simon Langton's and then against all predictions beat Cranbrook School 2-1 to send them into the wooden spoon group. Sweet revenge.

Inter school matches finished with a very exciting contest with King's School Rochester which we narrowly lost 5-3 . The result was uncertain until the very end.

The season finished with a 5-3 victory over the Old Suttonians. This was a special day to commemorate the contribution of JRLP to both boys' and girls' hockey at the school. After matches we moved to the Swan where John was presented with full colours for both boys' and girls' hockey.

Team: Umang Patel, George Horton+, Tim Jordan+, Will Hodson*, Chris Boon (Capt.) , Matthew Day: , Peter Posnette*, Tom Morgan+, James Parrett, Tom Chantry, Ian Fraser++.

Full Colours*; Half Colours+; U/16 Colours ++ Results v Chatham House v Hurstpierpoint College v Langley Park (Kent Cup) v Dover College v Norton Knatchbull v St.Edmund's School, Canterbury v Cranbrook School v St.Lawrence College, Ramsgate v Caterham School v Skinners School v King's School, Rochester v Old Suttonians

.

L L L D W W L L L W L W

1-2 0-3 1-6 0-0 2-1 2-0 6-2 2-13 5-2 3-1 5-3 5-3

House Competitions Senior House Trophy Middle School House Trophy Junior House Trophy

Lambe's Lambe's Dark Blue S.K.Schoffield

2nd XI Boys' Hockey Overall the 2nd XI had a very satisfying season, winning six out of the nine matches that they played. We were fortunate in having a strong but small squad of players who played well as a team, whilst some players displayed individual excellence. The team got stronger as the season progressed and there were some very notable victories over strong opposition - Caterham 3-1, Kings Rochester 3-1 and Hurstpierpoint 3-0. We also had the better of a battling 1-1 draw away at Cranbrook. These fine results coming after a very disappointing last-minute defeat in our first match of the season against Chatham House. On occasions one felt that we failed to play to our full potential and did not `kill off' our opponents in the fashion that we should have done.

This was certainly the case when achieving victories by close margins having dominated the games. The matches against St Edmunds (2-0), Skinners (2-0) and Dover College (2-1) highlighted this trait. Some individual players were guilty of showing a lack of self-discipline and respect for officialdom which did not help our cause. However, team morale throughout the season was exceptionally high and there was a consistently good approach towards training and practice games - especially when the 1st XI were the opposition!

In goal Simon Knowles had a very sound season, producing some crucial, high-quality saves to deny the opposition. The fact that he has another two years at the school is significant for the future. The defence as a unit was quite secure with only nine goals being conceded during the season. Neil Bennett, the team captain, led by example and he was ably supported by right back Allan Archibald and sweeper Chris Holmes.

Allan's game improved as he grew in confidence and as he appreciated the necessity of not diving in at the first opportunity. Chris was a model of unflusterbility as he calmly dealt with any scares created by the opposition forwards.

57

The Suttonian 1998 The outstanding defender, however, was Nick Hoult, who had a marvellous season. His stick-work was excellent and he displayed very good anticipation as he invariably intercepted the ball, much to the frustration of our opponents.

The link between defence and midfield was sound. Once the ball was in the midfield the player who consistently had the biggest impact and who caught the eye, was James Thorn. He has the ability of working the ball equally well to both the right and left whilst his dribbling is of a high standard. James clearly has a very promising future ahead of him in the game.

Tom Chantry joined us from the 1st XI and he proved a valuable and hard-working addition to the team.

I was hoping for a few more goals, expecting that he would push forward a little more but we had to be content with just one excellent strike against Caterham.

Ben Palmer playing wide on the left, grew in stature as he got more involved in each game as the season progressed. He became more vocal as he increasingly made his team mates aware of when he was available to receive the ball. Ben also scored a couple of valuable goals; one against Cranbrook being especially well received. Christian Santo who played wide on the right had a relatively quiet season. He was not helped but the fact that more often than not the ball was moved to the left. He found this somewhat frustrating; when given the opportunity, especially against King's, Rochester, he showed what a good player he can be. Andrew O'Donovan had an interrupted run in the side, but proved very adaptable as he played in all three key areas of the pitch.

James Watson was generally on the fringe of the side but remained cheerful throughout. He eventually became our short corner specialist, a la Calum Giles. I doubt whether anyone in the school hits the ball has hard as James, although his accuracy leaves a little to be desired. His sense of humour lifted team spirit.

Up front the team had the dual strike force of Tom Janes and Tom Parkin; both strong-running and aggressive players, who are adept at unsettling opposing defenders. Both scored a number of goals with Tom Janes' brace against Hurstpierpoint being quite outstanding. At times he spent too much time moaning with the opposition and the umpires rather than letting his stick do the talking. This was frustrating because he is a player of undoubted skill.

Tom Parkin appeared somewhat unkempt but certainly had a clear knowledge of where the goal was, being our top scorer. He is an out-and-out attacker who possesses terrific pace and a fierce shot.

In conclusion, a successful and enjoyable season. Whilst they were the 2nd XI they were determined not to be `second best' and they certainly were not. It is also very encouraging to note that the majority of the side still have another year or two at the school and therefore the future is looking very promising.

Played: 9

Won: 6

Drawn: 1

v Chatham House v King's School, Rochester v Dover College v St.Edmund's, Canterbury v Skinners v Caterham v St.Lawrence, Ramsgate v Hurstpierpoint v Cranbrook

Lost: 2

Goals For: 18

Goals Against: 9

1-2 Lost Won 3 - 1 Won 2 - 1 Won 2 - 0 Won 2-0 Won 3 - 1 1-3 Lost Won 3 - 0 Drawn 1 - 1

Team: N.Bennett (Capt), A.O'Donovan, J.Thorn, S.Knowles, B.Palmer, N.Hoult, T.Parkin, C.Holmes, JWatson, TJanes, A.Archibald, C.Santo, T.Chantry.

R.H. Carr

3rd XI Boys' Hockey The 3rd XI enjoyed some notable successes this season and only once did they fall away when something of a mismatch took the gilt off the tightness of their hard-earned results.

:3

The Suttonitrn 1998 The striking duo of Seb Iles and Toby Richards produced some fine goals and the combination of Richard Bradstock, James Gulland, Will Richardson and Mike Dumenil grafted and provided impressively from midfield.

The defence led with purpose by Ben Morrison, the captain, had the consistency and strength of Minesh Patel and the mobility of Nick Harman and the versatility of Hak Kim to provide a commanding back flour but the goal-keeping of Billy Sijuwade was often the difference with its courage, agility and reflex.

Other contributors to this nucleus added their strengths or guile, and the squad in general terms practised and worked to improve.

Sam Fuschillo, Kristo Tohver, Edward de Trute, Ed Christian and Philip Butters all enjoyed their moments of glory and the team, bar one blip, only ever lost by one goal.

Results:

P: 7

W: 3

v Chatham House v Hurstpierpoint v St Edmund's, Canterbury v Cranbrook v St Lawrence, Ramsgate v Caterham v King's, Rochester

L: 3 H H H A H H A

D: 1 Won Won Lost Drew Won Lost Lost

Goals for: 14

Goals against: 13

3-0 5-0 1-2 3-3 2-1 0-1 0-6

Team: B.Morrison (Capt), B.Sijuwade, H.Kim, S.Fuschillo, N.Harman, M.Patel, B.Pratten, S.Iles, K.Tohver, W.Richardson, M.Dumenil, T.Richards, J.Gulland, R.Bradstock, E.Christian.

W.D.Buck

Under 15 Boys' Hockey If only I were a Premier League soccer manager I could ask the directors of the club f'or some money to buy a striker or two. Unfortunately I am not, so goals were always hard to come by throughout the whole season for this year's U/15 team.

Our best chance of scoring goals, as with most sides, was through short corners, but even if the shot was on goal, we lacked the predatory instincts that a good goal-scorer needs. This meant that if we managed to score one goal, it was unlikely that we would score a second.

The lack of goals from the attack meant that the defence was expected to keep a clean-sheet in every game.

Clearly this was not going to happen despite the heroics of Steven Johnston in goal. Alex Hatch played with great consistency as sweeper, timing his tackles well and distributing the ball with good vision. Adam Whyte, Steven Groom and Ben Russell could all play well, but were a little leaden-footed against a quick and skilful attack. In midfield Dan Sayer, Dave Martin and Tom Wroclawski worked industriously, but all too often they held onto the ball for too long and their passes went astray. In attack our options were limited and, although William Willdridge and Robert Hunt played soundly on the wings, Sam Jones was unable to finish off their good work. It was not his fault; many people were tried as striker, but we lacked a fast skilful attacker with a keen steely eye for scoring goals.

Team: S.Johnston, T.Wroclawski, B.Russell, S.Groom, A.Whyte, D.Martin, D.Sayer, WWilldridge, R.Hunt, S.Jones, A.Hatch.

J.H. Kittermaster

Under 14 Boys' Hockey Coaching a boy's hockey team was a new experience for me, and one approached with some trepidation. As it turned out, I was blessed with a large group of enthusiastic but inexperienced hockey players, most of whom could play with a very straight bat! Much of the term was spent drilling basic skills into the boys, and all in all 17 boys represented the `A' team; next season there will be more `B' team fixtures so that enthusiasm can be maintained.

59

The Suttonian 1998 The season began with great promise, with early wins and draws against Hurstpierpoint, St Edmund's and Dover College. However, two particular games stand out as being memorable, Cranbrook and Caterham, even though the results were a draw and a loss respectively. Away at Cranbrook, although with the amount of support we had you would have thought we were at home, we managed a 2-2 draw. Having been 2 goals down within 10 minutes against a side with 5 county or higher standard players, we fought back with enormous determination and demonstrated the enormous potential of the side. The Caterham game was memorable for different reasons: the outstanding goalkeeping of Tom Poulton, who appeared at times to fly, making one marvellous save after another, and the defence of Ross Hukins, Nick Parkinson, Jo Wyatt-Jones and Barnaby Withers-Green who never gave up despite being under tremendous pressure. Oh - and Caterham were off to the National schools play offs the following day!

Individual mentions must go to Ben Daking, the captain, for his enthusiasm and determination, and Oliver Clarkson, who as vice captain provided valuable support for Ben both on and off the field. The player of the season without a doubt though was Poulton who, in his first season in goal, demonstrated that he has a bright future indeed.

Team: B.Daking*(Capt), T.Poulton*, R.Hukins*, B.Withers-Green*, J.Wyatt-Jones*, W.Page, N.Parkinson, O.Clarkson, J.Richardson, G.Griffin, A.Dennison. * Colours Top Scorer: W.Page.

Miss S.A.Boddy

Under 13 and Under 12 Boys' Hockey This was a very successful season with the highlights being good victories against Hurstpierpoint, Norton Knatchbull and Skinner's, a thrilling fixture against St Ronan's in which fortunes fluctuated throughout and we eventually lost by the odd goal in eleven, a very creditable draw against DCPS and a narrow defeat against a strong Chatham House side. In the U/13, Cole, though injured for some of the season, was outstanding at sweeper, whilst Palmer (an under 12) worked hard in midfield and also came through to score important goals.

Roberts also did very well in midfield; in particular he produced some excellent passes from the left of the field to the right wing. Our main attacking forces were Kember on the right wing, whose pace, control and ability to hit crosses cleanly all made him a force to be reckoned with, Wragg, who scored some beautifully-taken goals at key moments, and Vooght. Olson also showed considerable promise and skill on the left wing. Julians proved himself to be a very useful player anywhere on the left side of the field, while Harding showed plenty of commitment in goal. Coltella and Chapman also performed usefully in defence.

The U/12 side was very ably led by Palmer in midfield, with Selway well organised in defence and Cockburn skilful in attack; all of these performed regularly for the U/13 side. Stoneham also made appearances for the U/13 side, showing considerable promise. The highlight of the season was probably the victory against St. Lawrence, with Winterbottom showing promise in goal and Beorby emerging as a useful performer in attack; when he is fully fit he should become a real asset. Sims also showed skill in midfield, as did Worsfold and Froud, while Tobin became increasingly authoritative in defence as the season progressed.

Raye was also a tireless worker in defence and midfield, and Wilkinson showed pace and potential on the wing.

The performances in these age-groups would suggest that the future of hockey at Sutton Valence is bright; well done, everyone.

U/13 Team: B.Cole (Capt), A.Gough, G.Harding, G.Olson, G.Palmer, J.Sage, G.Julians, S.Wroclawski, N.Kember, W.Selway, J.Vooght, H.Foreman, C.Coltella, A.Wragg, P.Roberts.

U/12 Team: G.Palmer (Capt), D.Worsfold, B.Winterbottom, J.Tolhurst, J.Newnham, I.Stoneham, R.Raye, D..Froud, D.Sims, J.Cockburn, W.Selway, J.Tobin, D.Beorby, P.Hunt, S.Wilkinson.

C.W.W.Wilson

60

The Siittoniaii 1998

GIRLS' HOCKEY 1st XI Girls' Hockey After what seemed a rather slow start, the team finished with a very successful season. Victories became common as the girls realised that the way to win was to make short but precise passes. Precision became a key element, particularly in the victory over Ashford School when five stunning goals were scored and the ball rarely came out of their half.

In defence Clare Shaw proved to be a real asset; she was labelled "scary", but we are still unsure whether it was a reference to Clare's jokes or her fine play. Her combination with Jo Woods, Klaire Webber, Pippa West and Holly Fletcher, who were also in defence, formed a sturdy framework which created numerous problems for opposing attacks. Jo became very accurate with her passing and often created spaces in the centre ready for striker Lucy Simmonds to take the ball. Lucy's silky skills and drive left her as top scorer. Throughout the season the team relied on her increasingly so that the midfield almost started to become lazier than they already were!

Catherine Birch at right midfield adjusted to 1st XI hockey very quickly and became essential in the organisation of play. She backed up Sarah Leggat on the right wing who seemed to spend more time on the floor than on her feet. It seemed to be a Leggat trait to stand their ground and to show the opposition who was boss, even if it was not always within the rules. Nicola Leggat could always be relied upon to "pick up" floating players and had an amazing knack of being in the right place at the right time. Together with the captain who contributed her fair share of skill and effort, Catherine and Nicola made up a powerful midfield.

Sarah Leggat and Becky Lacey, as the wingers, fulfilled their roles vigorously and, on many occasions, scored good goals through their positioning. Becca Duffell must not be forgotten, as, although it may not sound like it, we did have faults and we did make mistakes which the goalie had to try to rectify. Thanks go to Emily Roberts who played for half the season, scoring a number of goals.

Finally it must be said that we started the season with problems of technique and skill which we were able to overcome through the motivation and coaching of Mr Posnette. The whole team was extremely grateful for all his hard work.

Team: *Katie Simmonds (Capt), *Clare Shaw, ' Jo Woods, ' Becca Duffell, 'Lucy Simmonds, +Sarah Leggat, +Catherine Birch, +Becky Lacey, Nicola Leggat, Klaire Webber, Holly Fletcher, Pippa West, Emily Roberts. * Full Colours; + Half Colours.

Katie Simmonds (Captain of Girls' Hockey)

2nd XI Girls' Hockey The Second XI had quite a successful season playing eight matches, winning four of them and drawing one.

Melissa Saggers was a solid goalie with Hannah Schofield, Clare Parkinson, Lucy Willmott and Romy Hukins backing her up in defence. The midfield comprised a combination of Anna Blest, Jane Wallis, Crystal Wan, Liberty Haynes and Pippa West. They provided a through route to the team's forwards, Sophie Willdridge and Beth Hukins.

As always happens, there were many new players in the team and by the end of the season we were playing well together, scoring some very good goals. Thanks go to Mrs Wilkinson for her coaching and for driving us to away matches. A fun season was enjoyed by all.

Team: L.Willmott* (Capt), M.Saggers*, R.Hukins*, H.Schofield+, C.Wan, C.Jasper, P.West, A.Blest, E.Talbot, J.Wallis, S.Willdridge, C.Parkinson, L.Haynes, B.Hukins.

2nd XI Colours; + U/16 Colours.

61

The Suttonian 1998

Under 15 Girls' Hockey The U/15 girls had a highly successful season, and remained undefeated. At the start of the season they had high hopes and expected to have a good season. By the end of term, they had proved their potential, having totally out-classed many of the teams they played against. The first of their matches was a 6-0 victory against Christ's Hospital which started off the season in style. This was probably due to the extensive fitness training in the last few days of the holidays. We followed this win with another excellent victory over Dover College, beating them 12-0. The season continued with many more impressive wins against schools like Cranbrook, Kent College, Ardingly and King's Canterbury, but most notable was the game against the county U/14 side which resulted in a 4-1 victory.

It is always difficult in a team sport to pick out individuals, but there are two players who deserve special mention: Jenny Vincent and Alexa Carmichael. Jenny is an outstanding goalkeeper, and her talent has often been called upon. She has already been selected for the Kent Under 16 side, and I am sure she has a bright future in the game. Alexa Carmichael is not only a fine player, also in the county Under 16 side, but she has been an inspiring and organised captain. She has a rare ability to enthuse and encourage all around her, even when those of us old enough to know better are beginning to lose patience! The success of the team this year would not have been possible without her.

Team: A.Carmichael* (Captain), J.Vincent (vice captain), C.Foreman, S.Day, S.Moore*, C.Woods, G.Ferris*, H.Stainton-James, K.Gornall*, L.Hendry, C.Davey*, L.Vooght and E.Mehrabian.

Colours.

Miss S.A.Boddy

Under 14 Girls' Hockey This was an outstanding season for the girls U/14 team and, whilst a successful season was predicted, the fashion in which they took apart strong opposition did nevertheless come as some surprise.

We were greatly helped by the fact that we had a very settled and well-balanced side. There were consequently no agonising decisions to make, as to who should play, in what position. Each individual player was used to her position and therefore felt comfortable on the ball.

Not only did we have highly skilful individuals, the team also worked very well as a unit. There was also a remarkably buoyant team spirit throughout the season and an excellent attitude was displayed towards training and practice routines.

The season produced some quite outstanding victories over much larger schools - most notably Christ's Hospital 6-1, Ardingly 6-1, Ashford 6-0, King's, Canterbury 5-0 and Cranbrook 8-1. Four of these victories were achieved away from home following long journeys.

The closest game of the season was against Kent College Canterbury. A nail-biting finish seeing the team just hold on for a 2-1 victory - once again away from home.

Although in some games they were not put under much pressure the defence worked well as a unit and got stronger and stronger as the season unfolded. Only four goals were conceded the whole season - a quite remarkable statistic. Isabel Clague's goalkeeping got better and better as she grew in confidence with the consequence that she was awarded the medal for the most improved player of the season. She also was given a county trial.

Hannah Selway marshalled the defence from her position of sweeper. She did indeed sweep up any errors at the back and always gave 100%. Zara Hosford and newcomer Susie Adams played effectively and Harriet Blest was a patient replacement who played soundly when given the opportunity. Frederique Posnette was very assured and hardly put a foot wrong the whole season. She linked very well with the midfield and displayed excellent stick work.

The midfield itself was very strong and well balanced. Charlotte Blunsdon's low centre of gravity was a huge benefit, her superb back-stick work confused and frustrated the opposition. Her infectious sense of humour was also tremendous for team spirit. Sarah Lacey operating at right midfield proved an excellent tackler and she also was a good distributor of the ball, linking particularly well with her right wing. In the centre of midfield we were very fortunate to have Laura Jordan. She soon became the lynch pin or `playmaker' of the side. She is a fine player who has a really strong future ahead of her in the game. Her bubbly character was a constant tonic throughout the season. She also scored some high quality goals when breaking forward and also from short corners.

62

The Snttoniaii 1998 Up front we were well served by Emma Cockburn, Alice Sargent and the captain, Kate Richardson. Alice scored many important goals. She developed the knack of being in the right place at the right time - usually on the far post, having got ahead of the defenders. Her positional sense proved very sound throughout the season.

Emma Cockburn, operating at centre forward also scored a good number of goals. She became more aggressive and determined as the season progressed and this helped complement her excellent stick-work.

She has the ability to go a long way in the game.

Kate Richardson led the team by example from her position on the right wing. At times she could and should have been given more of the ball because once it was on the end of her stick and she was running at the opposition she was quite devastating. This was especially the case against Ardingly and King's, Canterbury. She crossed the ball well and also scored a number of well-earned goals. Kate was a popular captain who effectively made sure that team spirit was high throughout the season.

This was not only a hugely successful season but also an immensely satisfying and enjoyable one. The team should go from strength to strength next year. I am sure that opposing schools will already be dreading coming up against them next season, whilst their new coach should be saving up in order to finance their visits to the sweet shop after future victories.

Played: 7

Won: 7

Goals For: 44

v Christ's Hospital v Ardingly v Invicta G.G.S. v King's, Canterbury v Ashford v Kent College, Canterbury v Cranbrook

Goals Against: 4 a a h a h a a

6-1 6-1 11 - 0 5-0 6-0 2-1 8-1

Team: K.Richardson (Capt), L.Jordan, E.Cockburn, A.Sargent, S.Lacey, C.Blunsdon, F.Posnette, S.Adams, H.Selway, Z.Hosford, H.Blest, I.Clague.

County Representation: Kate Richardson, Emma Cockburn, Laura Jordan Goal Scorers: A Sargent 13; E Cockburn 10; K Richardson 10; L Jordan 8; S Lacey 5; C Blunsdon 4 R.H. Carr

Under 13 Girls' Hockey Played: 8

Won: 6

Lost: 1

Drawn: 1

I was unsure how the side would perform since the nucleus of the previous U/13 side had moved on and only one or two of the current side had played in that team, the remainder in the U/12 side; however the side quickly developed a strong team spirit and were determined not to lose. Their defence was excellent but as the season progressed the attack also improved. As the record shows they had an outstanding season losing only once. The season began with three wins on the trot and an excellent draw with a very strong Sevenoaks side. Even better was the 3-0 victory over Vinehall. All good things must come to end and we were soundly beaten by a very good Wellesley House team. Next was an easy match against Aylesford which we won 15-0.

We then moved on to the Kent Schools' Championship. We were runners up in the group therefore qualifying for the semi-finals in which we outplayed Tonbridge School, failing to score but going through on short corners. It was a three-way final with Wellesley House, St.Lawrence College, Ramsgate and ourselves.

We played Wellesley House and it looked as though the game was going to end in a 0-0 draw but with three minutes left they scored a well-taken goal. Wellesley House then drew with St.Lawrence College which meant that St.Lawrence had to beat us to win the competition, but we played very well and deservedly won 1-0, thereby finishing runners up. Well done to the whole team.

The team made great progress under the careful eye of CG and it was good to see so many of the team developing their skills match by match. Holly Stamp proved to be a good right wing but must learn to keep the ball closer rather then play too much hit and chase hockey. Both Anwen Cornell and Freya Faulkner

63

The Sutton ian 1998 improved their basic skills. Katy Horne was excellent at centre back reading the game well, intercepting the ball with great timing and then passing with good precision. Alex Reader was the most improved defender of the season. Both Amy Fowler and Jade Bisram have good stick skills which I am sure will continue to improve.

Louise Rowson is the sort of player who, because of her tough physical approach, will always score goals. I am sure that other players such as Fiona Leckie and Claire Dawson will continue to improve next season. Sophie Hutchinson has great potential; her stick-work is very good and her all-round vision is improving.

My thanks to CG and AFFW for helping to run the side and also to the many supporters that appeared to be at every match. I am not sure that Mrs.Stamp missed a game !

Team: Holly Stamp+ (Capt.), Tanya Johnson, Jasmine Pender, Anwen Cornell, Freya Faulkner, Fiona Leckie+, Alex Reader, Sophie Hutchinson+, Jade Bisram+, Amy Fowler, Louise Rowson+, Katy Horne+, Claire Dawson+ + Colours

The following represented the school in the U/13 Kent Schools' County Championship: Isabel Clague, Anwen Cornell, Freddie Posnette, Freya Faulkner, Alex Reader, Katy Horne, Sarah Lacey, Amy Fowler, Jade Bisram, Louise Rowson, Kate Richardson, Sophie Hutchinson, Holly Stamp.

U/13B Team: V.Willams (Capt), T.Johnson, G.Pragnell, P.Thomas, C.Wilding, E.Goodbun, J.Martin, P.Scott, E.Manchett, E.Seale, B.Abdulai, I.Losinskaya.

Results Dover College Maidstone Girls' G.S. Invicta G.S., Maidstone Sevenoaks Vinehall Wellesley House Aylesford Kent Schools' Championships Kent College, Pembury

W W W D W L W 2nd W

1- 0 2-0 3-1 0-0 3-0 0-5 15 - 0 2-0 S.KSchofield

CRICKET 1st XI Cricket The 1st XI had an impressive season, winning 7 matches, losing one and having 6 draws. Unfortunately the poor weather meant that a total of five games were affected. However when the sun finally shone, the team were ready and eager to play after practising hard throughout the winter in the nets at Canterbury.

St.Bede's were the first to feel the force of our batting with James Watson scoring 100 not out in his first game for the school, whilst Matthew Day stroked 72 not out. Sadly we were unable to bowl them out. The next game was against King's, Rochester, when we were without both Captain and Vice-Captain. On a wet wicket we were bowled out for 100, but still managed to bowl them out for 59.

We were far too strong for Dover College where once again James Watson was in the runs before foolishly running himself out for 93. Robert Joseph was far too quick for their batsmen, finishing with 8 for 43 as they were skittled out for 60.

The Band of Brothers, despite scoring 226 for 3 declared, ran into a side in good batting form and the school knocked off the runs for the loss of two wickets with George Horton scoring 80 not out, Day 73 and Watson 54 not out. The game against Maidstone G.S. was exciting as they posted a target of 164 for 3 declared and we scraped home having lost eight wickets to record our fourth victory.

The match against the Mote was badly affected by rain and no play was possible after tea. This was followed by a thrilling match against the M.C.C. who batted first and were restricted to 228 for 7 declared, with Joseph taking 5 for 54 in an excellent spell of fast bowling. Day with 102 and Horton with 81 gave the school every chance of winning the game, but unfortunately wickets were lost at the vital time and we had to settle for a draw 8 runs short.

64

The Suttoniart 1998 The team went to Bethany and once again won convincingly, bowling them out for 130, with Joseph taking 6 for 53. Day was once more in imperious form scoring 83 not out as we won by 9 wickets.

A poor batting display against King's, Canterbury, resulted in a total of 111, though we made them work for their victory by bowling accurately and fielding well. Kent College felt the backlash of this result and were bowled out for 59, with Joseph taking 6 for 18; the batsmen ensured another 9 wicket success.

We had a good two-day game against Cranbrook School, Australia which was sadly rain-affected and drawn, despite both sides trying hard to secure a win. Joseph again bowled impressively in the first innings with 5 for 57 as Cranbrook were dismissed for 134. After heavy overnight rain, the school declared on their first day score of 143 for 5 with Watson 79 not out. Cranbrook scored 164 for 8 declared in their second innings; the team chased hard, but we were still 20 runs short at stumps.

The penultimate match was played on a beautiful batting wicket against a very strong side from Keaney College, South Africa. They batted first and scored 247 for 3 declared to which we replied with 156 for 4 in a game that always seemed destined for a draw.

The final match against the Headmaster's XI, who scored 238, enabled the team to end on a high note. The school reached their target for the loss of only 4 wickets, with James Parrett scoring 67 and Joseph 60 not out.

Next year promises to be even better as the nucleus of the 1st XI remains. Although we shall miss this year's Captain, Mathew Wooderson, as well as the solid start given by opening bat George Horton, there is lot of talent coming up from the Under 15 team. Matthew Day and James Watson will return, hopefully to add to their impressive totals of 1st XI runs. Add to them the fast bowling of Robert Joseph who will be a year older and stronger, as well as the support of Richard Bradstock, James Parrett and Michael Dumenil amongst others, who have gained valuable experience this year.

Team: M.G.J.Wooderson* (Capt), G.H.Horton' , M.J.A.Day', J.D.Watson , R.Joseph:', J.E.G.Parrett+, TG.Janes, R.J.C.Bradstock++, M.P.Dumenil, T.R.B.Parkin, S.J.Iles, I.J.Fraser. * Full Colours; + Half Colours; ++ U/16 Colours.

J. H.Kittermaster

2nd XI Cricket It is becoming increasingly difficult to arrange a worthwhile programme for the 2nd XI; the proliferation of examinations in the Summer term and the need for practical subjects to be completed by half-term. This year's 2nd XI is noteworthy for its overseas "stars"; I suspect not many schools would include an Estonian and a South Korean in any of their cricket teams.

Team: T.Janes, T.Parkin, A.Archibald, M.Dadd, A.Hargrave-Smith, M.Patel, H.Kim, K.Tohver, S.Iles, J.Thorn, B.Palmer, S.Fuschillo.

Under 15 Cricket The inclement nature of the weather meant that the side was able to play only four fixtures during the season and one sensed that the resulting lack of continuity caused by cancellations did affect the overall development of individual players.

The season can be summarised in the following way: two highly convincing wins, one crushing defeat and one match in which we contrived to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

We began with a highly impressive victory over King's Rochester. Marcus Husbands did the damage with his mesmerising orthodox off breaks as he took 4 for 30. He was ably assisted by Adam Whyte who took 3 for 13.

Kings were consequently dismissed for just seventy three. An excellent partnership between the `correct' Paul Phillips, 36 not out, and the `unorthodox' Ben Russell, 30, saw us to a convincing winning margin of six wickets.

Away at a very windy Dover College, a devastating opening spell of bowling by Steven Groom, who took five for twelve, helped us to bowl the opposition out for just thirty-one. The batsmen quickly polished off the runs despite losing three unnecessary wickets and we romped home to a seven wicket victory inside an hour and a half. Maidstone Grammar School provided us with a much sterner challenge. Our bowling was to prove

65

The Suttonian 1998 highly unpenetrating and Maidstone finished their innings on 211 for the loss of just two wickets. In reply only Tom Wroclawski with an excellent 46 got into double figures; their Kent representative bowlers ripping through our non-competitive batting with embarrassing ease.

It was particularly painful to lose to Bethany because we produced our best batting display of the season when reaching 200 for 4. Alex Hatch scoring a chanceless 70 not out, Paul Phillips 39 and Tom Wroclawski a really superb hard-hitting 54. We then contrived to produce our poorest fieldingibowling performance of the season. To their credit Bethany went all out for victory and they scored their winning run off the last ball of the match to secure victory by 6 wickets. It was a frustrating way to end the season but lessons will have been learnt from it - I hope!

I feel that six players are worthy of particular mention because they have natural ability and are likely to contribute strongly to the future development of cricket at Sutton Valence.

Alex Hatch must have felt similar to Alec Stewart, as he opened the batting, kept wicket and captained the side. One sensed that his team mates did not always pay him the respect he deserved, which was a great pity.

His batting only blossomed against Bethany, but he is a player of undoubted talent. His captaincy was sound, but he found it tough to set a field when the opposition was on top of our bowling. I am sure that he has learnt a lot which will stand him in good stead for next season.

Tom Wroclawski has a huge amount of natural talent and he is already a genuine all-rounder. His fielding shone out like a beacon throughout the season and his left-arm bowling got better and better as the season progressed mainly owing to the fact that he began to move the ball successfully both ways - enough anyway to bamboozle his coach in the Headmaster's Match, clean bowling him second ball! His batting is highly effective, because he has an excellent eye for the ball and his timing is good. On occasions he tended to play a bit too much off the back foot, with the consequence that the ball was in the air a little too often. Tom is keen to improve and will go far in the game.

Steven Groom proved to be a very reliable and hard-working opening bowler, as well as a very fine catcher and he was the player who really stood out in the nets. He rarely wasted time and gave the batsmen every opportunity to improve their technique. He should be applauded for this; Steven tends to bowl `up and down' and therefore needs to add more variety to his armoury in order to put more doubt into the batsman's mind.

Adam Whyte bowled quite quickly on occasions, but he also had the tendency to be somewhat wayward.

He will need to sacrifice a bit of speed in order to improve his accuracy. His most dangerous delivery proved to be his yorker speared in at the batsman's feet and bowled from the edge of the crease. Adam also proved an extremely hard striker of the ball. He has a good eye and with hard work next season he will become a highly competent all-rounder.

Paul Phillips played some impressive opening innings, especially against King's, Rochester and Bethany.

He tends to be a somewhat nervous starter, but, once settled, he plays with increasing confidence; being particularly disdainful of deliveries pitched short and outside the leg stump.

Ben Russell's unorthodox batting technique frustrated opposing bowlers as he plays very much `inside out'.

Ben has an especially good eye, but tends to play the ball off the pitch rather too much. Against quality bowling he can suffer, because he fails to get forward enough. He will nevertheless prove to be a useful addition to next season's 2nd XI. Other players showed potential but never really came off successfully against other schools. They have ability, but need to work harder at getting to grips with the complexities of the game, these include David Martin, Steven Johnston, Michael Knowles and Henry Nickolls. Gordon Griffin, whilst not blessed with a huge amount of natural talent, did however make a determined effort in the nets, and was rightly rewarded with a regular place in the side.

In conclusion, a mixed season with progress being hampered by lack of match practice. Overall, however, the positive points outweighed the negative and the majority of players will go on to contribute strongly next season.

Team: A.Hatch (Capt), A.Whyte, T.Wroclawski, H.Nicholls, S.Johnston, M.Husbands, P.Phillips, S.Groom, B.Russell, M.Knowles, D.Martin, G.Griffin.

R.H. Carr

66

The Sutton ia i 1998

Under 14 Cricket Having met these young men in other sports, my main worry was not so much about their potential talents as players, but more whether their temperament, both collectively and individually, was going to be able to match the concentration span required in cricket.

They had wintered well in the Canterbury nets, seemed keen during a wet start, and were fun to coach.

Sadly the `fun' element was too much in evidence in the field in the opening fixture at King's, Rochester. The captain, Patrick Stileman, who did marvellously well as the season progressed, was under pressure from ebullient team mates to let them show him what they could do.

The upshot was that we elected to field and chase, on what turned out to be a deteriorating wicket of uneven bounce. We were not concentrating as we should have in the field and 8 catches went down during the host's innings! Eight bowlers were used, seven of whom took wickets - highlighting the captain's problem of who to put on and who to take off - and 115 (including 14 wides) looked a difficult target on a worsening surface. So it proved. Walford and Varnals batted well enough, but the ball keeping low accounted for three of our middle order and we succumbed for 64.

Rain put paid to several fixtures and we played only three more matches. However, the boys won all three convincingly. We posted 211 for 6 declared (Stileman 50) in two hours against Dover College, bowling them out for 92 in an hour. We bowled out Maidstone G.S. for 62 in 21 overs, winning by 8 wickets in 15.5 overs.

Finally we bowled out Bethany for 107 (Stileman 6 for 5) and passed their total with 7 wickets down and 20 overs to spare.

We had a settled side with Walford, who averaged 36, and Bush usually looking both solid and positive as an opening pair. Melbourn and Daking looked players of promise, though neither really did themselves justice until they joined their clubs later. The hitters, Varnals and Corless, looked dangerous customers and Varnals (average 31) enjoyed two lively knocks against King's, Rochester, and Dover before injury cut short his season.

The captain, Stileman, averaged 36 and played two match-winning innings and his off-spin (9 wickets) was the find of the season. Walford could turn his off-breaks too and might have been used more, but the battery of seamers: Daking (7 wkts), Corless (4 wkts), Melbourn (5 wkts), Clarkson (5 wkts) and Cornwall (6 wkts) all proved successful on various days.

Bush's slow left arm came on later in the season with a couple of wickets and the two Toms, Brandreth and Poulton, fought for the wicket-keeping slot with Brandreth's nimbler footwork giving him the edge. Clarkson was the best fielder close in, but the fielding generally was of a good standard - after that first match.

We played a further game against Eastbourne College `B' which we should have won more comfortably than we did; but it was magnificent to play on their 1st XI pitch on the Close and to be royally entertained by the Headmaster and his wife, Mr and Mrs Bush,

Team: P.Stileman (Capt), B.Daking (V-Capt), P.Bush, T.Walford, M.Melbourn, J.Varnals, D.Corless, O.Clarkson, C.Cornwall, T.Brandreth, T.Poulton, W.Page, M.Husbands, B.Withers-Green, T.Crane and N.Parkinson.

WD.Buck.

Under 13 and Under 12 Cricket Both U/13 and U/12 teams enjoyed a fine season. We have struggled in the past to find fixtures for U/12s, but, pleasingly, they seem to be developing nicely. We hope to have more next season. We did not enjoy the best of weather and we might have played a few more games but for its interference.

Under 13 The U/13s had the better of a draw against St.Ronan's. Julians took on the task of opening with Chapman and scored 37 to Chapman's 45. This fine start paved the way to a declaration at 123. St.Ronan's batted steadily, but wickets tumbled. The last pair was at the wicket when the final over was called and they bravely held out.

Most players contributed runs to the score of 156 against Bethany, but our bowlers could not contain the opposition batsmen and they were winners by two wickets. It had been an exciting and close-fought game.

67

The Suttonian 1998 Cole was well enough to play in the game against St.Michael's and scored a polished 35 not out. He and Chapman put on 108 for the first wicket. Julians joined in and scored the winning runs, having earlier picked up two cheap wickets at the end of the opposition innings. It was a good all-round performance from him and a super victory for the team.

We beat Maidstone G.S. in a 20 overs thrash, largely as a result of excellent fielding and tight bowling, Wroclawski performing particularly well. We lost to Bickley Park as once again runs had been difficult to make. However, the opposition were made to work really hard for their runs and, at last, we looked a proper cricket side in the field.

Team: N.Chapman, B.Cole, G.Julians, N.Kember, R.Worrall, J.Vooght, P.Roberts, S.Wroclawski, G.Olsen, E.Stretton, H.Foreman.

Under 12 The U/12 team beat Bickley Park and Holmewood House. Cockburn, Sims and Palmer were the main run scorers and Tobin took a lot of wickets, whilst Adjaye bowled well when asked. This is a side that has a lot of potential. They work together well as a team, giving each other a lot of support in the field.

Team: J.Cockburn, I.Stoneham, G.Palmer, D.Sims, J.Tobin, N.Adjaye, D.Froud, W.Selway, R.Raye, J.Newnham, T.Wesely and D.Beorby.

D.Pickard

During the season we have fielded eight teams, ranging from the Under 12s to the Under 18s or 1st VII. The U/12 and U/13 teams have their netball in the Autumn Term, playing their matches on a Wednesday afternoon.

Under 12 They had a reasonably successful season, doing well when one considers that there were only nine girls in the age group to choose from.

Played: 10

Won: 6

Lost: 4

Goals for: 104

Goals against: 80

Team: Emma Manchett, Anna Stanford, Pippa Scott, Claire Dawson, Fiona Leckie, Jenny Martin, Georgina Pragnell.

This was one of the tallest teams I have had in my time at Sutton Valence and height is a Under 13 great asset in this sport. They had a very successful season and look a very promising team.

Played: 12

Won: 9

Lost: 1

Drawn: 2

Goals for: 158

Goals against: 70

Team: Holly Stamp, Freya Faulkner, Anwen Cornell, Jade Bisram, Amy Fowler, Louise Rowson, Vicki Williams, Alex Reader.

This was another very good season for this team with a lot of new talent coming in. We fielded Under 14 an A and B team as there was such great enthusiasm for the sport.

The season culminated with the Maidstone Schools' Tournament in which ten schools took part. The team beat four other schools, one of which was Invicta G.S. whom we beat 11-5, to reach the semi-final which we won 10-2. In the final we played Maidstone Girls' G.S. in a nail-biting match until the last few seconds; unfortunately we lost 10-12.

Played: 11

Won: 9

Lost:1

Drawn: 1

Goals for: 297

Goals against: 94

Team: Emma Cockburn, Hannah Selway, Sarah Lacey, Laura Jordan, Kate Richardson, Jane Lyons, Freddie Posnette, Alice Sargent.

This team almost achieved their fourth season without defeat, but they lost once to Invicta Under 15 G.S. They had a superb season and are a very strong side. In the Maidstone Schools' Tournament they reached the semi-finals, only to lose to Invicta G.S., the overall champions.

Played: 11

Won: 10

Lost: 1

Goals For: 256

Goals against: 80

Team: Caroline Woods, Harriet Stainton-James, Sophie Moore, Alexa Carmichael, Katie Gornall, Colette Davey, Charlotte Foreman, Jenny Vincent.

68

The Suttoniaa 1998 2nd VII Played: 9

This team had a mixed season with a narrow credit in terms of wins and losses.

Won: 5

Lost: 4

Goals for: 128

Goals against: 102

Team: Lucy Willmott (Capt), Jane Wallis, Georgina Mear, Holly Fletcher, Hannah Schofield, Pippa West, Clare Parkinson, Christy Best.

1st VII I had a close affinity with this team as I have coached fotn• of them since the age of 8 and it was a season I thoroughly enjoyed.

Played: 12

Won: 9

Lost: 3

Goals for: 172

Goals against: 103

Team: Rebecca Lacey (Capt), Sarah Leggat, Katie Simmonds, Nicola Leggat, Klaire Webber, Catherine Birch, Lucy Simmonds.

Mrs E.P. Cornell Captain's Report The netball season of 1998 proved to be as successful and eventful as the previous year's at Sutton Valence. The first team was made up of some experienced and invaluable players who were complemented by some up-andcoming, talented netball players from the lower years. The whole team showed great enthusiasm, commitment and team spirit all season, winning nine and losing only three matches.

Throughout the season we played against schools of a high standard and, with each player giving 110'7(, the team effort and spirit shone through. With the killer instinct and aggressive defence of Nicola Leggat at one end of the court and with the skill and precise shooting of her sister, Sarah, at the other end, we were a force to be reckoned with. The speedy and sharp players of the team, Lucy Simmonds and Catherine Birch, gave another dimension to our attack and yet another problem to the opposition. Klaire Webber's speed was as valuable as her sturdy support in defence. Finally Katie Simmonds' determination and speed together with her ability to shoot from long distances in the circle formed a formidable shooting partnership with Sarah that has lasted throughout their school life at Sutton Valence.

We were fortunate enough to take full advantage of the knowledge and experience of both Mrs Cornell and Mrs George, the latter a new coach to S.V. Mrs Cornell is well-known for her enthusiasm, commitment and spirit for the game of Netball and these qualities have certainly been transferred to the netball players of Sutton Valence School. The coaches' efforts are evident in the results of matches against schools which are considerably larger than us.

I should like to thank the team for all their hard work and support throughout the season and for making it an enjoyable one. We are also very grateful for the efforts of Mrs Cornell and Mrs George, whose high spirits and efforts were both encouraging and relentless. Good luck to next season's teams.

Rebecca Lacey (Captain of Netball)

Girls' Cricket

Alexa Carmichael, Emma Cockburn, Hannah Se/way, Richie Richardson, Katie Gornall, Caroline Woods, Sophie Moore

69

The Suttonian 1998 For the first time ever a Sutton Valence Girls' team has played Cricket competitively. An Under 15 side took part in the Maidstone Schools Six-a-side Tournament at the Mote Cricket Ground. Not only did they take part, they won the tournament convincingly.

Nine teams took part and SV won all their matches in their section, going through to meet Aylesford in the final, which they won by 35 runs. Of the team that played, Hannah Selway now plays for the Mote Club Ladies team and has represented Kent in a South East match.

The team was encouraged by David Folb (1974 F), the Chairman of the Suttonians Cricket Club, who described the girls' efforts as "awesome". The winners received the congratulations of Richie Richardson, the former West Indies Captain; someone was heard to remark that the girls didn't need him in their team!

Let us hope that this is the start of things to come as far as Girls' Cricket at Sutton Valence is concerned.

Mrs E.P Cornell

CROSS-COUNTRY This year the Cross-Country teams competed more as individuals than as teams. Mathew Wooderson, the Captain, was the most successful of the boy runners, whilst amongst the girls, Anna Blest and Jo Woods showed the best form.

Teams: (Boys) M.Wooderson (Capt), D.Stiff, G.Stiff, A.Christie, A.Johnson, R.Montagne (Girls) J.Woods, C.Shaw, E.Roberts, B.Long, A.Blest.

1

Vii_

(iii c,' Watts, Sarah Lacey and Ross Montabne with their rosettes at the National Schools' Championships, Hickstead 70

The Suttoiiicnt 1998

FIVES Those of you who have read my reports in recent Suttonians will know that I have been trying to build the game up from the bottom again. Imagine my frustration, therefore, when I discovered that this season I would have little access to anybody below the fifth form in games time. This is sad when we used to have six of the best Fives courts in the country and have produced a number of very fine players, including the National Schools' Singles Champion in 1939 - John Gray. In 1964 and 1965 the first IV were unbeaten, winning a total of 22 matches - some of them against pretty good adult opponents.

Since then, for a variety of reasons, the game has fallen on hard times and we are unlikely to be able to play matches against other schools at any level, unless more opportunity is given to juniors to take up the sport and for senior boys to keep it up.

Fortunately one or two of the juniors who had started the game last year were able to come to my Wednesday afternoon fives activity and one in particular, Nathan Chapman, was a very regular attender.

Nathan is now the National Under 13 Singles Champion and Sutton Valence has again got its name on a Fives trophy after a gap of 59 years. His achievement was all the more remarkable because before the championships he hadn't played a single competitive game under match conditions all season; the only competition he got was in his regular games with me and my old man's game is very different from the sort of game 12- and 13-year-olds play.

When I entered him, I hoped he would do well, but I never dreamt that he would come away with the trophy and couldn't really believe that the Nathan I was watching so masterfully dominating his opponents round after round was the same boy I had been playing week after week. As if by magic everything came together on the day: he served superbly and, during such rallies as there were, made very few of those careless mistakes to which I kngw he was all too prone. Furthermore, he suddenly realised that there was something in what I had been saying about not always running round his left hand and getting pinned up against the left-hand wall; not only did he use his left hand, he played several winners with it. Such was his overall superiority that he won the final 11-2, 11-1. He also reached the semi-finals of the doubles event with a far less experienced partner before losing to the eventual champions.

As for fives in games periods, there is little to report. Half a dozen boys in the Lower 6th turned up regularly for what might best be described as social fives; there were no takers in the fifth form. Although no one below the 5th form was allowed to opt for the game, I found myself having to cope with a small bunch of middle school girls for whom there wasn't room on the netball courts and, a few weeks later, they were joined by a number of boys rejected by the hockey staff. The girls made a good effort and, if they play again next year, it may be possible to get them a match or two; the boys, on the whole, were less satisfactory.

The future looks as bleak as ever. If Nathan can find time to come to the courts regularly this coming winter, he must have a fair chance of winning the National Under 14 Singles Championship next March, but, unless I can get a group of youngsters playing regularly in games time again, there will be no school matches for boys in the foreseeable future.

M.FBeaman

TENNIS Boys' Tennis This has been a season very much affected by rain, in terms of both practice and matches. We experienced some good early victories against Dover College and King's School, Rochester, but rather disappointing results against King's School, Canterbury and St.Lawrence, Ramsgate.

For the first time, Under 13 and Under 15 teams entered the Midland Bank competition and a number of younger boys, cricket permitting, represented the school in these age groups. We played some exciting tennis against fine opposition, and although we failed to go beyond the group round at either age level, it is clear that the experiment was a popular one. Particular mention must go to Ross Hukins, who as an under 14 represented the 1st VI, won all his matches, and was awarded colours.

Miss S.A.Boddy

71

The Suttonian 1998

Girls' Tennis 1st VI The 1st VI played 3 and won 3. The 1st pair of Catherine Birch and Rebecca Lacey played some excellent tennis and did not drop a set in any of their matches. Katie Simmonds, who captained the side well, could play some very good hard-hitting tennis when confident, but could also play some very poor tennis. Jo Woods was her usual very consistent self, keeping the ball in play and trying to make the opposition make the mistakes. Lucy Simmonds, like her sister, could play well or badly as the mood took her, but well more often than not. Laura Klingemann was a very good player but was handicapped by an injury to her wrist. Romy Hukins made her debut for the team and as her confidence grows so will her standard of play.

The small number of matches was mainly owing to it being the Summer, exam, term and the fact that we had entered the Aberdare Cup and were hoping to do well. We were not disappointed. We beat St. Edmund's, Canterbury in the last sixteen and then were given a bye in the quarter finals by Langley Park. We then had to play Benenden in the semi-final with a team of Catherine Birch, Katy Horne, Jenny Vincent and Laura Klingemann. Catherine dug deep to win her singles, Katy Horne won her singles quite easily, but both Jenny and Laura had very tough matches which they won. So after the first round of singles we had already won 40. In the final we played Sevenoaks. It was a very closely-fought match and could have gone either way, but Sevenoaks just won the crucial first pair doubles and went on to win the match 4-2. Both Catherine and Katy played some excellent singles, Katy beating a Kuwait international by 6-1 and 4-1 (retired).

Three of the above players plus Katie Gornall represented the school in Kent Schools LTA U/16 championships. Our first round match was against Newstead Wood and, though we won 6-0, it was one of our toughest matches. Catherine won her singles easily and Jenny put in one of her best performances of the season to win her singles which included a very exciting tie-break in the final set. Katy Horne won easily but Katie Gornall won after being 5-1 down and looking well-beaten. I now understand that this is her forte. We then had a bye into the quarter finals and played Farringdon which we also won 6-0. The semi-finals and final were to be played at Benenden School on June 26th. We won through to the final, without too much difficulty, where we played against a much-fancied Sevenoaks team. Catherine Birch won her singles, as did Katy Horne, but Jenny Vincent and Katie Gornall lost their doubles playing a mixture of good and bad tennis.

Jenny Vincent played heroically to win her singles and Katie Gornall played well though she lost. We were leading 3-2, needing Catherine and Katy to win the last doubles; they did not disappoint us and won a very tough match. Well done to the whole team, Kent Under 16 Champions.

The following represented the 1st VI: Katie Simmonds* (Capt.), Catherine Birch*, Rebecca Lacey*, Laura Klingemann, Lucy Simmonds, Jo Woods+, Romy Hukins.* Full Colours; + Half Colours The following played in the U/18 Aberdare Cup team: Catherine Birch, Katy Horne, Jenny Vincent, Katie Simmonds, Laura Klingemann, Rebecca Lacey.

The following played in the U/16 KSLTA championship: Catherine Birch (Capt.), Katy Horne, Jenny Vincent, Katie Gornall.

2nd VI The above events should not overshadow the excellent 2nd team who played 3 and won 3. They were well captained by Lucy Willmott. Josina Bussche-Kessell played with her for most of the matches. Hannah Schofield and Beth Hukins were a very reliable first pair who did not lose a match, whilst Nicola Leggat and Holly Fletcher always played with great determination.

2nd Colours: Lucy Willmott and Romy Hukins; U/16 Colours: Hannah Schofield and Beth Hukins.

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The Suttonidn 1998 Competitions Girls Singles Championship: Girls Doubles Championship: Mixed Doubles Championship:

Catherine Birch Catherine Birch and Jenny Vincent Mr. S. K. Schofield and Hannah Schofield

Under 15 VI The team were occupied for most of the season by rounders but they did win all three matches they played.

Jenny Vincent captained the side well. Both Alexa Carmichael and Katie Gornall have improved a lot since last season and Suzi Day and Harriet Stainton-James have also made good progress as players. Caroline Woods proved to be a valuable member of the team as both as a singles and doubles player and Sophie Moore is a more consistent player than last year.

The team also competed in the U/15 Midland Bank Competition. We won through our league to play in the semi-final against Sevenoaks, whom we beat last year in the final; however we were well beaten this time.

Katy Horne and Jenny Vincent won the Kent Schools' LTA Under 15 Championship at St.Lawrence College, Ramsgate. Jenny has been in the winning pair for the past two years and therefore made it a hattrick this year. Well done.

U/15 Colours: Jenny Vincent, Katie Gornall, Alexa Carmichael.

Under 14 team The team played only two matches, but nevertheless many of the players have shown that given more time and coaching they could develop into good players. Both Sarah Lacey and Kate Richardson need to spend more time practising in order to reach their full potential. Gemma Sharp is a promising player who has a very natural forehand.

U/14 Colours: Sarah Lacey, Kate Richardson.

Under 13 team The U/13 Midland Bank team of Katy Horne, Amy Fowler, Kate Richardson and Sarah Lacey won the round robin league to meet Tonbridge School in the semi-final, where we were well beaten by a very good side. Katy Horne easily won her singles and, together with Amy Fowler, played very well to win her doubles. In the end we lost 2-4. This is a promising squad for the future.

U/13 Colours: Katy Horne, Amy Fowler.

S. K. Schofield

ROUNDERS Even though this tends to be a junior team game, the senior girls enjoy the odd match especially against the staff. To me it is a game that is under-rated as the ball skills involved are a great basis for other sports such as cricket.

This year we fielded Under 12, Under 13, Under 14 and Under 15 teams though the last-named played only two matches.

The teams were very successful and the U/13s won all but one of their matches, also winning the Bedgebury tournament in which sixteen schools competed.

Katie Horne scored the most rounders during the season, closely followed by Alex Reader, Anwen Cornell and Amy Fowler.

The U/14s also won the Bedgebury tournament in which six schools took part. The team played exceptionally well, beating Bedgebury 6-4, Walthamstow Hall 5-2 , Kent College 2-1, Mayfield 5-1 and drew with Roedean 6-6; an excellent day's play. During the rest of the season, they won all their matches.

U/14 team: Hannah Selway (Capt), Susie Adams, Charlotte Blunsdon, Emma Cockburn, Laura Jordan, Sarah Lacey, Jane Lyons, Maxine Nelson, Kate Richardson, Alice Sargent.

Mrs E.P. Cornell

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The Suttonian 1998

SWIMMING After one or two years when very little competitive swimming took place, Mrs C.George, who joined the games staff this year, has encouraged the girls sufficiently well for them to raise a senior and a junior team. It is hoped that the boys may soon follow suit.

Senior Girls' Team: S.Leggat (Capt), J.de Trute, R.Lacey, N.Leggat, G.Chkuaseli, K.Webber.

Junior Girls' Team: C.Foreman, J.Lyons, S.Thomas, S.Lacey, H.Selway, A.Fowler, E.Manchett.

JUDO The Judo club has met in Thursday activities under the guidance of our coach, Mr Colin Chalmers-Stevens, often with the help of Mr Jeremy McLaughlin. Both seniors and juniors have taken part in local competitions.

George Harding was our most successful player, gaining a Silver medal at the National Prep Schools Championships. Others who have gained higher grade belts include Martin Kuo, Ian Stoneham, Donal McLaughlin, Ben Winterbottom, Richard Hollands and Chris Button.

Young Judo Players at practice

EQUESTRIAN TEAMS 1997 Last year; Sutton Valence sent teams and Individuals to various Show-Jumping, Dressage and Horse Trials Competitions. The events were as follows: Show-Jumping March 2nd, 1997.

Limes Farm, Folkestone. Teams.

14 Teams took part in this competition. Sutton Valence sent two teams, one senior and one junior. The senior team comprised Ellie Hoult, Oliver Watts, and Katie Gornall. All performed very well and were sixth overall with Oliver Watts finishing 3rd in the overall individual placings. The senior team were at a disadvantage as they only had three in the team and all the others had four. The junior team comprised Tanya Johnson, Holly Stamp, Alice Sargent and Sarah Lacey. They also all performed very well and came fourth overall. Sarah Lacey was 1st in the open individual section and 2nd in the overall individual placings. The winning team was from Simon Langton School for Girls.

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The Suttoniun 1998 August 23rd, 1997.

Hickstead, Sussex. National Schools Teams.

The team for this competition was to have consisted of Ellie Hoult, Rebecca Lacey and Oliver Watts.

Unfortunately Rebecca Lacey broke her wrist two days before the competition, and so Ross Montagne, who had been busy eventing during the summer stepped in at very short notice. The team did extremely well with two clears and just one pole down between them. This meant they just missed reaching the final in the main ring, but finished very well up in the competition.

Dressage August 24th, 1997.

Hickstead, Sussex. National Schools

We had just one individual competitor, Sarah Wyatt, at this competition. She performed her dressage test very well to come 11th out of a large entry. Perhaps we can field a team next year!

Horse Trials September 7th, 1997.

Stonar School, Wiltshire. British Schools.

We also had just one individual competitor, Ross Montague, for this competition. Because of the Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, that weekend the dressage section of the event was cancelled, and so only the showjumping and cross country were held. Ross Montague did very well to finish in the top third of a large entry after an excellent Cross-Country round.

September 28th, 1997.

Borde Hill, Sussex. National Schools.

We sent an intermediate team to this event comprising Ross Montague, Oliver Watts and Sarah Lacey. There were 15 teams competing plus 24 individuals. The team competition was won by Stonar school from Wiltshire.

Sutton Valence did very well to come 5th overall especially as they only had three in their team. Individually Sarah Lacey came 1st in her section of the competition. Ross Montague came 2nd in his section. Also in the open event Ross Montague competed as an individual and came 2nd in his section. Oliver Watts did very well as he has not competed in a Horse Trial for two years as he has been concentrating on showjumping.

The Equestrian results last year were very encouraging. I would like to congratulate all those who have taken part in them. A very big "Thank-you" to all the parents and helpers who put in a lot of hard work, time and effort to ensure that the teams (including the Horses and Ponies) arrive fit and ready to compete at the vanous events. Also to Mrs Cornell who drove all the way to Hickstead to cheer on the showjumping team so enthusiastically. We are now all looking forward to next season.

Rebecca Lacey (Captain of Riding)

O.S. Girls' Hockey Team

O.S. Netball Team

The Suttonian 1998

OLD SUTTONIAN NEWS MARRIAGES BROWNING - HAYWOOD In May 1998, Marcus Browning to Sarah Haywood (1986 V). Sarah is the elder daughter of Michael and Stella Haywood (Headmaster 1980-94 and Teacher 1983-94 respectively) and sister of Rebecca Moore (nee Haywood 1987 V), Nicholas Haywood (1988 M) and Oliver Haywood (1993 F).

CARTER - HARRISON On 8th August 1998 at the Church of St.Peter and St.Paul, East Sutton, Andrew John Carter to Kate Harrison (1989 V). Kate is the daughter of Peter and Ros Harrison (1960 F and the school Estates Bursar respectively); she is also the sister of Robert Harrison (1987 L), who was an usher at the wedding, and niece of David Harrison (1954 F), Noel Harrison (1960 L), Jonathan Harrison (1958 F) and the late Philip Harrison (1965 F).

The bridesmaids were Arwen Burnett (1989 V), Abigail Evershed (1989 V) and Lara Fallon (1989 V); one of the other Ushers was Ben Parker (1989 L). The service was conducted by the School Chaplain, the Rev Dr John Watson, the organist was Philip Honey (Assistant Director of Music since 1990) and was attended by a large number of Old Suttonians.

HEWITT - FORD In April 1994, Jonathan Hewitt (1987 M) to Rosemary Ford.

JOHNSON - BELLO On 8th August 1997, Ladipo Johnson (1986 M) to Yetunde Bello.

EVANS - KUROCOVA On 24th September 1998 at the Evangelical Church in Svaty Kriz, the Slovak Republic, Philip John Evans to Tania Kurucova (European Exchange Teacher 1997-98).

SMITH - JONES On 3rd January 1998 Robin John Smith (1965 M) to Christina Jane Jones (nee Oldham).

WILLETTS - ORGILL On 5th September 1998 at St.John the Baptist, Netherfield, Robin Willetts (1990 L) to Penny Orgill. Amongst the guests were Adrian Shaw (1991 L) and Clare Shaw (1998 V).

WATERMAN - KRAUSOVA In August 1998 in the Czech Republic, John Waterman to Kveta Krausova (European Exchange Teacher 199697). Kveta and John are now living in Marden.

WORSFOLD - WHYTE On 3rd May 1887 at St Peter and St Paul's Church, East Sutton, Jonathan Glen Valentine Worsfold (1987 L) to Sarah Margaret Whyte of Tunbridge Wells. Jonathan's father is John Worsfold (1952 M). The Best Man was Ian Betts (1987 L) and five of the Ushers were Old Suttonians: Robert Harrison (1987 L), Guy Lister (1985 L), Simon Palmer (1987 W), James Stewart (formerly Bills, 1987 W), and Matthew Warner (1985 F). There were many other Old Suttonians amongst the guests.

BIRTHS HEWITT On 21st January 1995 to Rosemary (nee Ford) and Jonathan Hewitt (1987 M), a daughter, Alexandra, and on 3rd November 1997, a son, Samuel.

JOHNSON On 31st May 1998 to Yetunde and Ladipo Johnson (1986 M), a daughter, Abigail.

PROPHET On 30th September 1997, to Linda (nee Gentle) and Richard Prophet (1979 L), a daughter, Olivia Lauren.

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The Sutton ion 1998 SMITH On 29th March 1998 to Christina (nee Oldham) and Robin Smith (1965 M. a son, Oliver William, a brother for Jessica and Harriet.

TORSTEINSRUD-SMITH On 17th April 1993, in Norway, to Ragnhild and Nicholas Torsteinsrud-Smith (1976 L. a son. Magnus, and on 18 February 1995, a second son, Oscar.

DEATHS ANDREWS On 10th May 1998, Peter Marshall ANDREWS (1929 W), aged 85. After leaving school he trained as a Chartered Surveyor and was elected as a professional associate of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors in 1936. In the same year he joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. During the Second World War he served as a Pilot Officer in the Middle East and as a Squadron Leader in South Africa. In the early fifties he worked as a District Valuer with the Colonial Service in what was then the Gold Coast, now Ghana. On his return to the United Kingdom, he worked in Yorkshire, London and Bath for the Valuation Department of the Inland Revenue until his retirement. He spent the last twenty years of his life in Bath with his wife bringing up their young family.

ASHBY On 9th August 1996, Robin John ASHBY (1955 M), aged 58. After leaving school Robin went to the Kent Farm Institute before his National Service in the R.A.F., spending some of the time in Germany. He returned to work for the rest of his life on the Romney Marsh with pigs, sheep and corn. He always enjoyed his sport and social activities: tennis, shooting, cards, snooker and bowls.

Robin was well-known for his hospitality, a large joint with plenty of vegetables and home-made wine, rounded off with a home-made liqueur. He was a man of the country who knew the names of birds, trees and plants; a gentle man in every sense of the word.

1314DII7 On 23rd June 1997, Colonel Alan Peter BAKER (1943 W), aged 71. Alan joined the Royal Signals in 1946 with an emergency commission, which converted to a regular commission two years later. He served in Egypt, Germany and Malta before going on the Staff College course in 1957.

After this he served as commander of a brigade HQ and signal squadron before being selected in 1966 for an exchange tour in Canada at Defence HQ, Ottawa. On his return from Canada he was given the task of forming a new volunteer signal regiment, a challenging task he enjoyed and took pride in. A variety of postings followed before he became OIC Royal Signals Manning and Record Office.

He retired from the Army in 1980 and moved to Cornwall where he spent the rest of his life sailing, swimming and fishing as well as travelling the world.

BASSER We have been informed of the death of Peter David BASSER (1964 C), in his 40th year. David went to the City University to study Optics, but also managed to travel widely in South-East and Central Asia, as well as in Russia and the near East. He was a director of the Holborn Optical Company.

BURTON On a date unknown, Stanley George Witterick BURTON (1933 M) who would have been 80 in 1996. Before coming to S.V. he had lived in Argentina.

CHAMBERS Several years ago, Percival William CHAMBERS (1937 F). Bill Chambers lived near the school all his life at Langley Park Farm.

COLLINGS On 29th August 1997 peacefully after a long period of ill health, Alfred Grizelle Pennington COLLINGS (1926 W), aged 88. Alfred Collings was a life-long supporter of the School and the O.S.A. He had been a very good athlete whilst at school, winning the Public Schools 100yds in 1925. He was the nephew of Herbert GRIZELLE (1902-04; Master 1920-32). On leaving school he drove a bus during the General Strike with another O.S., Frank DARTON (1924 W). He went to London University with his twin brother and both joined the Senior OTC. He worked in East Africa for five years before returning to London where he worked in a coaching establishment.

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The Suttonian 1998 During the Second World War he served in the R.A.F. in security at Biggin Hill. After the war he joined Hawker Siddeley and travelled widely in Argentina, Canada and Europe on security matters. In 1953 he emigrated to Canada and set up his own Security business; this also took in work in South and East Africa.

Alfred retired to Woodbridge in Suffolk in 1969 where he ran a Free House for three years. After suffering a heart attack he finally moved to Hampshire where he spent the rest of his life, not always in the best of health.

COTTLE On 2nd September 1998, after a short illness, Ian Geoffrey COTTLE (1954 W), aged 62, elder brother of the late Graham COTTLE (1958 W) who died in 1992.. Ian was involved in the Wine trade for his whole career, following in the footsteps of his father who worked for Peter Dominic and Rawlings. Ian joined Grant & Co after his National Service, later becoming Marketing Director and then Managing Director of Grants of St.James'. During this time he gained a degree from Harvard Business School. In 1976 he left Grants to become Managing Director at Martini & Rossi. In 1984 he set up Maisons, Marques et Domaines in an innovative venture in which top quality agencies combined. The idea has since been widely copied. Ian was one of the first Champagne Academicians in 1957, he was a member of the Vintners Company, a Trustee of the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and was on the Council of the Wine & Spirit Associastion. Ian's job involved much travelling which he enjoyed; he also played golf and in his earlier years rugby and cricket.

Sadly he died unexpectedly just a few weeks after his retirement. We extend our sympathy to his wife, Inge, and their family.

D'ALBERTANSON On 17th March 1998, Nigel James D'ALBERTANSON (1945 W), aged 69. Nigel worked for Norwich Union from 1945 ti111968, initially in Portugal, then West Africa where he was manager for Ghana and finally in London.

He worked for then Sena Sugar Estates Ltd as Office Manager which entailed working between London, Portugal and Mozambique. When the sugar estates were nationalised in 1978 he joined the Central Selling Organisation, an arm of de Beers, in Angola for three years. After this he returned to manage the London Office until stomach cancer forced early retirement in 1984. For the last fourteen years he has fought a long battle against recurring illness whilst also enduring other personal tragedies.

DAVIS On 4th July 1998, after a short illness, Peter DAVIS (1932 W), aged 83, father of Richard James DAVIS (1964 W) and brother of John Marshall DAVIS (1938 W). Peter worked in the family business, Francis Davis (Haulage) Ltd., in Faversham after his service in the Second World War He had remained active in the business right up to the time of his death. He had been happily married for 58 years when his wife died in March 1998.

DIXON On 19th May 1998, peacefully after six months illness, John Francis ("Peter") DIXON (1932 W), aged 84. John Dixon was Head of School in 1932 and is remembered as a fine pianist at school under the tutelage of Dr Leslie RUSSELL (Music master 1925-34, 1939-40). After learning his trade at department stores in Croydon and LIverpool, John returned to Southend where he succeeded his father as head of the family business, Dixon's, the department store. For the next 27 years the shop grew and prospered under the leadership of "Mr John", supported by his sisters and brother. Aside from work, he immersed himself in music, politics and sailing. He travelled extensively; his first visit to America was on the maiden voyage of the Queen Mary which, unlike The Titanic, did get to New York, in record time to claim the Blue Riband. He was married for 56 years to Joan and they are survived by three children. His brother Eric DIXON (1940 W) continues to enjoy reasonably good health.

FAIRLEY On 5th August 1998, Peter Alan FAIRLEY (1949 M), aged 67. Peter was Head of School in his last year at Sutton Valence. During his National Service in the Royal Tank Regiment he was said to be the youngest Captain in the Army. After this he went to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge to read English. He started his career as a journalist on the London Evening Standard as a science reporter. It was his ability to make complex ideas understandable to ordinary people that became his hallmark, particularly when he became the ITN Science correspondent in the mid-1960s. His reporting was always based on detailed knowledge which he acquired by hard work and by having good contacts. His relationships with NASA scientists stood him in good stead during the Apollo flights to the moon and he became a household name with his television commentaries during the moon landing and on subsequent flights. He continued his work as a journalist for the rest of his life, writing books about space and as a travel writer.

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The Suttonian 1998 He spent the last part of his life in Bethersden, having moved from London to the Weald of Kent where he had spent happy years at school. In typical fashion, he had involved himself with village life as a governor of the local school, with Neighbourhood Watch and with Millennium plans. He also had the time to found an Old English Pub Games Society.

Many Old Suttonians will remember Peter as the host for Edward Craven's (1924W; Master 1928-69) "This is Your Life" at the O.S. Dinner to celebrate 'Tubby' s 75th birthday in 1981.

HEATH In August 1998, Sir Maurice Lionel HEATH, O.B.E., C.B., C.V.O., K.B.E. (1926 M), aged 88. Maurice Heath spent much of his early life in India before coming to Sutton Valence. On leaving school he went to the R.A.F. College at Cranwell where he was commissioned in 1929. After a spell at Old Sarum, he served on the NorthWest Frontier of India until 1932. He specialised in armaments on his return home, training bomb aimers and air gunners. He continued with this work in the Second World War as Chief Instructor at the R.A.F.'s No 1 Air Armament School.

In 1944 he took command of Metheringham, in Lincolnshire, a Lancaster bomber station; his leadership of the station earned him a Mention in Despatches. He was appointed O.B.E. in 1946 and was posted to the Air Ministry as Deputy to the Director General of Armament and then commanded the Central Gunnery School.

In 1950 he went to New Zealand as senior air liaison officer in Wellington. After two years he returned to lead the Bomber Command Bombing School, returning to the Air Ministry the following year as Director of Plans and then as Deputy Air Secretary.

In 1957 he was appointed C.B. and became the first commander of Navy, Army and Air Force operations in the Arabian Peninsula, based in Aden; his command extended to East Africa and to the Gulf. Amongst his tasks was to direct SAS operations in Oman in support of the Sultan. The operation was successful, but the withdrawal of Iraq from the Baghdad Pact after the revolution and murder of King Faisal II brought an end to his mission. He was appointed Commandant of the R.A.F. Staff College at Bracknell in 1959, was appointed K.B.E. in 1962 and retired from the R.A.F. three years later.

On his retirement he worked for a London estate agency for a while, but also carried out a large number of official duties. From 1966 to 1979 he was a Gentleman Usher to the Queen which involved organising functions at Buckingham Palace. When he reached 70, the retirement age, he became an Extra Gentleman Usher. In 1977 he was appointed Deputy Lieutenant for West Sussex and a year later he was appointed C.V.O. He worked as an appeal director of King's College Hospital and Medical School from 1980 and retained his links with the R.A.F. through his presidency of the Storrington branch of the Royal Air Forces Association. In addition he served as chief honorary steward at Westminster Abbey.

HIGGINS On 5th September 1997, after a short illness, Alec Wilfred HIGGINS, M.B.E., M,C., T.D., J.P., D.L. (1931 W), aged 82. Alec Higgins was the father of Colin HIGGINS (1958 W) and Nigel HIGGINS (1961 W), brother of John HIGGINS (1941 W), who died in 1995, and uncle of Philip HIGGINS (1970 F).

He started in the London insurance market with the Excess Company before joining Woods & Maslen, the brokers at Lloyds in 1937. He went to France with the British Expeditionary Force in 1940 and was awarded the Military Cross for his part in the evacuation from Dunkirk. He then went to the Middle East where was a Battery Commander in the 8th Army and fought at El Alamein. He was posted to Special Operations Europe, serving in Yugoslavia and Greece where he was awarded the M.B.E. He also served as a Staff Officer in Italy and was Mentioned in Despatches. He was demobilised in 1945 as a Major and rejoined Woods & Maslen, becoming Chairman in 1963.

He was an Underwriting member of Lloyd's from 1948, being elected to the Committee of Lloyd's Brokers' Association in 1959 and on several occasions after that. He was Deputy Chairman of Lloyd's on four occasions between 1975 and 1981 and was on the Council of Lloyd's in 1983. In addition he was a vice-president of the Insurance Institute of London and a member of the Chartered Insurance Institute.

Alec had been Captain of Rugby at school, a dashing stand-off half, and he played for Sidcup Rugby Club 1st XV before the War, later becoming a Vice-President. For ten years he was an Alderman for the London Borough of Bexley, he was Liveryman of the Needlemakers' Company and a Founder Member of the Worshipful Company of Insurers, becoming the Master in 1984.

He had found time to be Chairman of the Old Suttonians' Committee during the early 70s. In 1990 he retired to Cooden, near Bexhill-on-Sea, where he lived until his death. He was married to Denise (nee Philcox) for nearly 58 years and had two sons, a daughter and nine grandchildren.

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The Suttonian 1998 HOPTON About ten years ago, James Russell HOPTON (1953 M). On leaving school Jim Hopton joined the Royal Navy for his National Service. He took exams in Chartered Accountancy and worked for a number of Air Companies: Anglian Air Charter, Silver City Airways, British United Airways and British Caledonian Airways until his early death from cancer.

HUKINS Two years ago in Canada, Harold Stacey HUKINS (1946 M), aged 66.

LATTIMER In March 1997, Douglas William LATTIMER (1929 M), aged 86, brother of the late Nevill Hugh LATTIMER (1925 M) and uncle of Robert William LATTIMER (1961 M) and Nevill John LATTIMER (1963 M). He was Head of School in his last year and had been a member of the 1st XV Rugger team and the 1st XI Cricket team.

On leaving school, Douglas went to Christ Church, Oxford on an Open Scholarship to read Mathematics. He worked for twenty-five years in the Overseas Audit Service, when he became a schoolmaster in 1957 until his retirement.

LATTIMER Suddenly on 13th July 1998, Robert William LATTIMER (1961 M), aged 54, nephew of the late Nevill LATTIMER (1925 M) and the late Douglas William LATTIMER (1929 M - see above) and cousin of Nevill's son, John LATTIMER (1961 M). Robert went to Peterhouse, Cambridge where he was awarded an Exhibition in Mechanical Sciences. He graduated in 1965, taking his M.A. four years later. He spent three years working for B.I.C.C. who had awarded him an Industrial Scholarship. He then joined British Railways.

He was seconded to Transmark to work for Pakistan Western Railways dealing with Electrical Engineering problems, later working for Sealink and finally the Overseas Development Agency which took him to various parts of the world. He took early retirement from British Rail in 1995 as privatisation approached and was immediately employed by H.M. Health and Safety Executive as a Principal Railway Inspector.

Robert gained a Territorial Commission with the Royal Corps of Transport, rising to the rank of Major commanding the 275 Railway Squadron R.C.T.(V) for three years. Having completed his railway connection, he resigned his T.A. commission and was commissioned as Lieutenant Commander with the Royal Naval Reserve, serving with H.M.S. Northwood as Head of Logistics in the Naval Control of Shipping Branch and with the London Flotilla. He had the unusual distinction of being awarded the Territorial Decoration for twelve years of T.A. service and the Reserve Decoration for twelve years service in the R.N.R. He also gave service as a Freeman and Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Carmen.

On 16th June 1998, Nicholas Howard Ian MARKS (1968 M), aged 46. He had spent most of his working life with the Alfred Marks Ltd. which was founded by his father. Our sympathies go to his wife, Elizabeth and their two young children.

MARTIN We have been notified of the death of Alan Randall MARTIN (1928 M). He was part of the family who have run F.W.Randall, better known as The Golden Boot", the shoe shop in Gabriel's Hill, Maidstone. Allan was a keen member of the O.S. Golf Society.

MARTIN In May 1998, Robert John MARTIN (1935 M), aged 79. The younger brother of Allan Martin whose death is notified above and father of Lawrence MARTIN (1966 C), he too was closely associated with "The Golden Boot" and like his brother a staunch member of the O.S. Golf Society. He was a member of Bearsted Golf Club for over fifty years and was a Past Captain and Trustee of the club. He was a keen Rotarian and a member of the BlueBell Steam Locomotive Club in Sussex.

MOLISON We have been notified of the death of Arthur Grahame MOLISON (1927 M), in his eighties. Grahame Molison worked briefly in the City before joining Imperial Airways, based at Croydon. He later moved to Wilson Airways in East Africa, a subsidiary of Imperial, before the outbreak of the Second World War. He had been a member of the Honourable Artillery Company, T.A. and the Kenya Regiment before joining the Royal Artillery in 1939. He was awarded the Military Cross during the Tug Argon engagement in May 1940. After the war he worked for the East African Airways Corporation until his retirement in 1964.

The Suttoniun 1998

MORRISH On 16th November 1997, John McLaren MORRISH (1939 M), just before his 75th birthday. John Morrish was the father of David MORRISH (1969 C) and the elder brother of Peter MORRISH (1943 M). During the Second World War he served in the Royal Navy, mostly in Motor Torpedo Boats in the English Channel, the Middle East and the Far East. He spent his career in Public Relations, eventually as Chairman and Managing Director of Leedex Ltd. He also served as a councillor for five years on Twickenham Borough Council.

PARIS We have learnt of the death of Pierre Joseph PARIS (1925 W), father of Pierre Robert PARIS (1958 W). Pierre served briefly with the French Army at the outbreak of the Second World War. He worked for thirty-six years

for the British American Tobacco Company in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil until his retirement in 1964.

PHILIPS About four years ago, Osborne David PHILIPS (1927 M), aged 84. Having trained as an engineer, David spent his career raising cattle in County Wicklow, Eire. He also spent a good deal of his time in the U.S.A. with his cattle interests. His younger brother, Robert PHILIPS (1929 M) lives in Canada.

POULTON On 9th July 1998, Ivor Francis POULTON (1933 M), aged 81. He joined the T.A. before the Second World War and served in the Royal Artillery as a Captain during the war. He qualified as a Chartered Surveyor and worked for the Alliance and City Prudential Building Societies, later the Alliance & Leicester until his retirement in 1976.

SILLARS In 1996, Austen Bensted SILLARS (1944 M), aged 70. Austen was the brother of Group Captain Robert SILLARS (1940 F) and John SILLARS (1946 M), and uncle of Robert SILLARS (1968 M), Andrew SILLARS (1968 M) and David SILLARS (1969 M). Austen was a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Surveyors and was a Partner in G.W.Finn & Sons and Finn & Petley before becoming a Partner in A.& J.Sillars of Sittingbourne.

SIMMONS On 15th July 1998, after a long illness, Peter SIMMONS (1935 M), aged 79. He was the youngest of four brothers who were at Sutton Valence in the early years of the century; the others were: Leonard SIMMONS (1920 M), who died in 1969; Geoffrey SIMMONS (1923 M), who died in 1971; and Hugh SIMMONS (1926 M), who died in 1969. Peter joined the Artists Rifles when he left school and in 1939 transferred to the Buffs, the East Kent Regiment. He served as a Major at H.Q. in the 21st Army Group of the British Expeditionary Force.

From 1946 to 1948 he was a Lt.Colonel at the H.Q. of the British force in Palestine. He was Mentioned Despatches, became a Chevalier of the Order of Leopeid Ii with P:iIin: quid way %vim (led tIi(, ( e(miv (IC (~u~ with Palm; both these last awards were from Belgium.

After his war service he became a Sales Manager in India timid Sotah l;<m~t ;\~i,e hehem settlin:; in V'icturi,[, Australia as a self-employed consultant.

SPARKS On 29th December 1996, Owen John Ellerton SPARKS (1915 M), aged 97. Owen was at the time of his death the oldest surviving Old Suttonian. He had lived in Australia most of his life, working as a Farmer, Business Manager and Technical Adviser (Fruit), mainly concerned with the export of apples, first with the Westralian Farmers Cooperative and then farming in his own right.

STAVELEY In October 1997, Admiral of the Fleet Sir William STAVELEY (Governor 1989-1992), aged 68. Sir William was only on the Governing body for a short while, but made a significant contribution. He became Chairman of Chatham Historic Dockyard in 1991 and resigned from the Governing body as he felt he could not give enough time to the school. He joined the Royal Navy in 1942 and retired as First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff from 1985-89.

TYACK On 22nd February 1998, suddenly, Samuel Arthur TYACK (1928 M), aged 86, younger brother of the late John TYACK (1924 M). His son, Graham, writes: On leaving school, he joined Stephenson Clarke, a coal selling and distribution company as an office boy. By 1937 he had gained experience of many facets of the coal industry - from shipping to railways, buying and selling, from inspection to accounting - and was appointed Commercial Manager of Ellistown Colliery in Leicestershire, at the time the youngest colliery commercial manager in the country.

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The Suttonian 1998 Sam played rugby, captained the company tennis and swimming teams and also played golf. He worked for the Coal Trade Benevolent Association and was a staunch member of the West Bridgford Conservative Club.

He retired as a Director of Stephenson Clarke in 1976 and pursued his hobbies of stamp collecting, reading, jig-saw puzzles, gardening, snooker and watching sport. Tragically he lost his sight three years ago, but met this challenge with characteristic fortitude and squeezed the most out of his remaining years, keeping in touch through the radio.

He was happily married to Sheila for over 58 years and left many happy memories in his wake."

WEARE We have heard of the death of Philip Hugh WEARE (1932 M), elder bother of the late Rev.Sidney WEARE (1933 M).

We have also heard of the death of Arthur George WHALEY (1931 F) who for many years worked for the Police Force through the Kent County Council.

NEWS OF OLD SUTTONIANS We have heard news of Mrs Harriet HAWTIN (nee Holdgate) the daughter of F.W.HOLDGATE (Headmaster 1912-31) and mother of James HAWTIN (1952 W). She had to move into a Nursing Home soon after her 90th birthday over a year ago, but she is still able to enjoy reading The Suttonian and the News of Sutton Valence.

We have had an interesting letter from Professor Eric BYWATERS (1928 W) who is now aged 88. He recalls his time at Sutton Valence School as being a happy time; his housemasters were H.F.GRIZELLE (190204, Master 1920-32) and T.M.JAMES (Master 1913-31, Headmaster 1932-50). He particularly enjoyed Science with W.G.GARRARD (Master 1922-33) for Physics and A.L.THOMAS (Master 1923-28) for Chemistry. The latter introduced him to Biology and also to some distinguished people in the world of Biology. After leaving school Professor Bywaters studied medicine at the University of London and Middlesex Hospitals. He went to Harvard for eighteen months, before engaging in Research at what is now the Royal Post Graduate Medical School on the Mechanism of 'Crush Syndrome'. He later became Professor of Rheumatology there and at the Canadian Red Cross Memorial Hospital at Taplow (MRC Unit) which he created. On his retirement in 1979 he spent nine years at the London Hospital studying spines. He is particularly proud of his family and of the doctors from all over the world whom he has trained, about 200 of them.

One of many who use e-mail to contact the OSA is John BURTON (1949 F). John retired from a Corporate Management position with Dow Chemical Canada Company about eighteen months ago. He has thoroughly enjoyed his career and keeps up contacts as a Life Member of the Canadian Society for Industrial Security and by sitting on the Advisory Board at the Lambton College for Law and Security Management. He is enjoying retirement which has given him a chance to do many things he has wanted to do, but in a less stressful environment.

We had a fleeting visit from Bill BENTLEY (1950 W) and his sister, Ann VERNON-SMITH, whose father Norman BENTLEY was on the staff from 1921-64. Ann lives in Canada and does not often have the chance to catch up on changes at Sutton Valence.

We should have reported earlier that Michael BEAMAN (1952 W, Master 1963-92) has been the Secretary of the Rugby Fives Association since 1993. This involves hint in organising various tournaments around the country and also striving to ensure that Rugby Fives continues to be played in schools. Michael ran the Fives at S.V. for twenty-seven years as a master and has continued to run it during his retirement. It gave him immense pleasure this year when Nathan CHAPMAN, a Day Boy at the school, won the Under 13 National Championship.

Tony MILLARD (1953 M) has been indulging in his love of trains by visiting Cuba, where he saw his first humming-birds - another of his hobbies - and watched the sugar harvest being gathered with the help of some 100 old American-type steam locomotives. He has also been in Ireland.

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The Suttoni-an 1998 Richard MANT (1961 M) is Head of the Careers Department at the Royal Grammar School, Guildford.

Last Autumn 1997, he managed to come down with his son to watch the 1st XV for a match and had quick look round the school with Colin SHAW (1955 W).

One of our American E.S.U. scholars, John COX (1963 C) is working in Hong Kong as Director of Brightwise Ltd, a project development and construction management company which is doing extensive work in China.

Hong Kong holds one of the two largest groups of OS outside the U.K., a total of 60, the same number as in Germany.

Richard DAVIS (1964 W) wrote to give us news of his father's death (see Deaths). He also gave us his own news; he is a Chartered Accountant working in Ashford. He was a partner in Reeves and Neylam, but in April was one of the founders of Chavereys who have a large number of clients in the Agricultural and Horticultural sector; some of these are Old Suttonians.

Ian HUTCHINGS (1970 C) wrote to give us the address of Adrian SPEER (1970 C) who lives in Surrey with his wife, Alison, and four children. Ian himself has left the Parachute Regiment and works as Director of Business Excellence in the Property Business of the Post Office. He is married to Christine and lives at Fordcombe, near Tunbridge Wells.

We have regained contact with Stephen TITUS (1970 L), another of our many E.S.U. scholars. He and his wife live in Portland, Oregon with their two daughters. He is working as a computer programmer and contacted us via e-mail.

As he reported in the Newsletter, Malcolm MARKS (1972 F) has moved back from France to Northampton with his family in order for his children to complete their education in England. Malcolm will continue to travel as an environmental consultant; countries on the agenda include Madagascar, Senegal, Guinea, Ghana, Uganda and Malawi. Much of his work is for the US government.

Philip HOAD (1976 W) has contacted us to say the 1998 Newsletter has linked two O.S. who have been working together without knowing it. Nick LAWLEY (1968 M) has been the travel agent for Philip's firm for the past five years. Hopefully the publication, in due course, of address lists for countries abroad will ensure that links are established earlier in future.

We offer our best wishes to Andrew BETTS (1977 F) who started his stint as a Housemaster at Lancing College in September 1998.

Another OS who travels a lot is Roy TAYLOR (1974 L). He is a Chartered Accountant specialising in Corporate Recovery. He was interested to see in the Newsletter that David CLEAVE (1974 F) was working for RZB in Kiev, Ukraine. Roy's work in corporate recovery and insolvency takes him to Eastern Europe and some of his time has been working with the National Bank of Ukraine in Kiev. He hopes to meet up with David next time he is out that way.

Martin BENNETT (1982 W) has moved to the mining town of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia where he works for Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines who own the 'Super Pit which is an open cut operation on the Golden Mile. He has moments of nostalgia thinking of the green features of the Weald when the flat, hot and dusty Western Desert becomes too tedious.

Ladipo JOHNSON (1986 M) has spent two years in Victoria, Australia where he married and had a daughter (see Marriages and Births). He returns to Nigeria in December 1998 to continue with his legal practice and also to run an Information Technology company he and his wife have formed.

Jonathan HEWITT (1987 M) went to Bristol Polytechnic for two years after leaving school. He then joined a reinsurance company in London for six years before joining The Cologne Reinsurance Company. One of his main responsibilities is supporting the development of the company's business in the developing economies of South East Asia, which necessitates his working three months a year from the Singapore Office. Having married in April 1994, he has a daughter who is four in January 1999 and a son who was one in October (see Marriages and Births).

Having graduated in Business Administration at the University of Sunderland in 1995, Richard DYSON (1989 M) is working in the City in Headhunter Banking Operations and is getting married on 2nd November 1998.

Nina HARTMANN (1992 S) is working in London for Price Waterhouse Coopers as a consultant.

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The Suttonian 1998 Andrew BUCKMAN (1993 F) has completed his HND in Computer Studies at South Bank University and is studying for his Honours degree.

We have heard from Lucy BURBRIDGE (1993 V) who has recently qualified as a Dental Surgeon. She will be following a vocational course in Teeside under an experienced dental surgeon and then hopes to move to a London hospital to gain further experience in oral surgical procedures. At that stage she may travel abroad; she was able to undertake a two-month elective in South Africa during her training.

William SLATER (1994 M) spent a year working as an engineer for Ericsson Communications in Brighton after leaving Durham Unversity (see University News). He is now working as a Human Resources Consultant in London for Inbucon. He tells us that his bother, Richard SLATER (1990 M) is also working in London for WorldTelecom in telecommunications, whilst his sister, Lucy SLATER (1991 S) has left nursing to work for Virgin Atlantic. All three are the children of Charles SLATER (1955 M), who has been working as a Civil Engineer in the Republic of China.

Having graduated from Edinburgh University (see University Results), Tim STILEMAN (1994 F) has gone to the Far East for six months, from Thailand to Australia and New Zealand. His sister, Sally STILEMAN (1995 V) has also graduated, from Southampton University, and is now at the University of North London working for an M.A. in International Tourism Policy.

Amelia SHAW (1995 V) graduated from the University of East Anglia, becoming a Member of the Society of Chartered Physiotherapists and is now working at the Medway Hospital in Gillingham.

Johnny TSE (1996 M) is studying for the Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Sydney.

Daniel WILLDRIDGE (1997 L) has spent a year on a short-term commission in the Light Infantry, spending most of the time in Cyprus. He is now embarking on a degree course in Medicine at the University of Manchester.

O.S.A. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND DINNER 1998 Officers and Committee President:

P.W.Grafton (1933 M)

Hon. Secretary:

C.R.G.Shaw (1955 W)

Hon. Treasurer:

T.C.Smith (1974 M)

Hon. Dinner Secretary:

E.J.Evans (1953 W)

Hon. Auditor:

T.A.S.Butler (1960 W)

Hon. Keeper of Records:

C.R.G.Shaw (1955 W)

Committee:

E.D.G.Bunker (1954 M); S.Townshend (1981 W); P.J.Higgins (1970 F); N.G.Swaffer (1971 F); D.J.McBride; (1987 C); Mrs E.C.Perks (nee New, 1991 V).

The AGM of the OSA was held at Leeds Castle on Friday, 8th May 1998. D.C.F.High (1973 F) was in the Chair.

Members stood in silence for those who had died in the previous year. All the Officers were re-elected except D.J.McBride (1987 C) who had resigned as Hon. Secretary because of work commitments; his place was taken

by C.R.G.Shaw (1955 W), the present Hon. Keeper of Records who is retiring as Deputy Headmaster at the School and will be working on the Archives and O.S. matters. Reports were made on the Finances, Membership, Sport and Social Events.

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The Suttonion 1998 After the AGM some seventy-five members and guests sat down to dinner.

A splendid evening was enjoyed, during which Joanna Woods (Head of School) proposed the Toast of the School, the

Headmaster responded with a report on the year. The Guest of Honour was Dr. Neil Townshend (1973 F), Vice-Chairman of the British Olympic Association and himself an Olympian, who gave a fascinating talk on the problems of drugs in sport.

The School Prefects at the OS Dinne-

A presentation was made to Ian Kay (1941 M), a Vice-President of the Association, who has retired from the Committee after forty years service to the Association, in particular as Hon Dinner Secretary fbr many years.

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Young OS at the Dinner, Leeds Castle

Desmond High makes the presentation to Ian Kay at the OS Dinner; Leeds Co.,/le PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:

FRIDAY 7th MAY 1999

O.S.A. AGM and ANNUAL DINNER at the Savile Club in London (see separate notice).

FRIDAY 5th MAY 2000

O.S.A. AGM and ANNUAL DINNER at Leeds Castle in Kent.

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The Suttonian 1998

THE SUTTONIANS CRICKET CLUB The Suttonians Cricket Club is Lashings under a new name. Lashings was a Cricket Club formed by David Folb (1974 F) when he owned Lashings Restaurant in Maidstone. When David sold the restaurant, he wanted to keep the cricket club going and approached the Headmaster with a view to using the school ground, when it was available. He proposed changing the name Lashings to Suttonians and suggested that he would select members of the school for the team when they were available. This would enable promising school cricketers to play club cricket with experienced adults.

The Club Captain is Richie Richardson, the former West Indies Test Captain, through whose good offices the school recruited Robert Joseph, a highly promising fast bowler, from the West Indies who has had a very successful season for the 1st XI. The Hon.President of the club is Mark Benson (1977 M), the former Kent Captain and England Cap. The Headmaster agreed to the proposal in the Spring of 1998 and the Suttonians Cricket Club came into being in time for the 1998 season. The club plays its Saturday matches in the Kent Central League 1st Division and its Sunday matches in the East League, as well as playing a number of Mid Week and Evening fixtures. School pupils in term-time are usually available only for Sunday fixtures.

The season went extremely well and there is little doubt that those boys who played for the Suttonians benefited by playing alonside Richie Richardson and the other adult members of the club. It is to be hoped that the initial success of David Folb's initiative will develop in the years to come, enabling the standard of school cricket to be raised even higher and also fostering the school's links with the community.

O.S. ADDRESSES & THE MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY We are extremely grateful to those O.S. who wrote in with addresses and other information about those on the list of Missing OS. We have been able to relocate over 60 of those who were missing which is very pleasing. I think we can probably trace another 30 or 40 by various means, but this still leaves a large number unaccounted for.

It is also worrying that we had about 25 Newsletters returned after the last mailing. It is important that that Old Suttonians who are changing address should let us know, so that we do not waste postage sending out material which is then returned.

We are in the midst of reprinting the Address list which was last published in 1995. I have received a great deal of information through fax and e-mail which is most satisfying. Please let us have details of your address if it has been incorrect on this mailing; we are especially keen to have all the Post Codes correct. If there is any extra detail you would like published: e-mail, telephone or fax number etc., please let us know.

Under the Data Protection Act 1984 we are on the Register of Data Users and Computer Bureaux. No information held on the Association Database will be given to anyone other than another member requesting an address or telephone number of a contemporary. Lists of Old Suttonians by country, area or career will similarly be circulated only within the Association or School (e.g. the Skills Directory, the Membership Directory). Please let us know if you do not wish any of your details to be published.

COLIN SHAW, c/o SUTTON VALENCE SCHOOL, SUTTON VALENCE, MAIDSTONE, KENT, ME17 3HH.

Any information should be sent to:

TEL:

01622 843877 (Home) 01622 842128 ext.165 (Office)

FAX:

01622 844208

e-mail: crgs@sys.org.uk

The Suttonian 1998 OLD SUTTONIANS OVERSEAS

Names and addresses of those who live outside the UK have been prepared and will be sent to those living in the respective countries and are available to any OS who is travelling abroad; a list of countries where there are OS is printed below with the number of OS resident:

Europe

North America

Africa

Middle East

Belgium (2)

Canada (39)

Botswana (1)

Bahrain (2)

Czech Republic (5)

U.S.A. (48)

Ivory Coast (1) Kenya (5)

Iran (1)

Croatia (1) Eire (2) Estonia (1)

South America

France (27)

Brazil (2)

Egypt (1)

Liberia (1)

Israel (1)

Libya (4)

Jordan (3)

Malawi (1)

Lebanon (3)

Germany (60)

Nigeria (8)

Holland (5)

South Africa (15)

Saudi Arabia (1) U.A.E. (6)

Hungary (1)

The Caribbean

Zambia (2)

Italy (1)

Barbados (2)

Zimbabwe (1)

Luxembourg (1)

Bermuda (1)

Asia

Norway (2)

St Vincent (1)

Brunei (1)

Poland (2)

Trinidad (1)

Burma (1)

Portugal (3)

Hong Kong (60)

Russia (8)

India (1)

Slovak Republic (1)

Oceania

Indonesia (2)

Spain (17)

Australia (44)

Japan (12)

Sweden (1)

New Zealand (13)

Malaysia (9)

Switzerland (8)

Papua New Guinea (1)

Pakistan (1)

Turkey (1)

Philippines (1)

Turkmenistan (1)

Singapore (5)

Ukraine (1)

South Korea (9)

Yugoslavia (1)

Taiwan (2) Thailand (10)

CHARITY BIKE RIDE Two young Old Suttonians, Greg JEFFES (1992 L) and William SLATER (1992 M) have been accepted by Guide Dogs for the Blind to do a charity bike ride across Cuba in November. They hope to raise ÂŁ2000 each in sponsorship to make the ride worthwhile. Any Old Suttonian who would like to contribute to this challenging enterprise is asked to send his/her contribution to: William Slater/Greg Jeffes, 35 Merton Avenue, Chiswick, London, W4 1TA.

THE OLD HALL SCHOOL We have had an approach from the Headmaster of The Old School, Wellington, Telford, Shropshire, TF1 2DN, Mr Ronald J.Ward, to ascertain whether we have any pupils of that school on our list of Old Suttonians.

He has found that there is a lack of information about the old pupils of his school and is anxious to trace as many as he can. I do not think that there will be many, if any, on the O.S. list, but if there is any Old Suttonian who was at the Old Hall prior to joining Sutton Valence, he is asked to write to Mr Ward at the school address above.

The Suttonian 1998

UNIVERSITY RESULTS OF OS Emily Baldock (1995 S) BA (Hons)2.2

Leeds

Adella Brooks (1995 V) BA (Hons) 2.2

Kent

Lucy Burbridge (1993 V) BDS (Hons)

Newcastle

James Drury (1993 M) BSc (Hons) 2.1

Aberdeen

Richard Dyson (1989 M) (Hons) 2.2

Sunderland

James Evans (1995 L) BSc (Hons) 2.2

Southampton

Thomas Griffin (1994 F) BSc (Hons) 2.1

Imperial, London

Katie Harper (1995 V) BA (Hons) 2.1

East Anglia

Katie Horton (1995 V) BEd (Hons) 2.1

St Mary's Twickenham

James Ryan (1993 M) BSc (Hons) 1

St Andrews

Richard Sankey (1995 F) BSc (Hons) 2.1

University College, London History,Philosophy and Social Studies of Science

Cassian Scott (1993 M) BSc (Hons) 2.1

Hatfield, Durham

Amelia Shaw (1995 V) BSc (Hons) 2.1

East Anglia

Tom Slater (1995 Student) BA (Hons) 1

Queen Mary, London

Geography

William Slater (1994 M) BA (Hons) 2.1

Durham

Psychology

Sally Stileman (1995 V) BA (Hons) 2.1

Southampton

Geography

Tim Stileman (1994 L) BSc (Hons) 2.1

Edinburgh

Geography & Management Economics, Politics & Government Dentistry Agriculture Business Administration Geography Biochemistry Modern Languages & European Studies Education Experimental Pathology

Geography Physiotherapy

Zoology

Other university news Victoria Burbridge (1992 V) is in her final year at Teeside studying Marketing.

Alexander Long (1997 L) gained a First in Classical Tripos Prelims at King's College, Cambridge after his first year and has been awarded a College Prize.

FRIENDS OF S.V.S. The Friends of Sutton Valence School are holding a MILLENIUM BANQUET AND BALL at the School on Saturday, 3rd July 1999.

The Banquet and Ball will be held in a Marquee and will feature the following:

Champagne Reception

Dancing to the Wallace Collection

Survivors Disco 2.00 - 5.00 am

Additional Entertainment

Mouth Watering Menu

Early Morning Breakfast

Black Tie

ÂŁ40 per ticket

Carriages 2.00 am

Tickets available from Mr Andrew Hutchinson, The Bursar (Millenium Ball), Sutton Valence School, Maidstone, Kent, ME17 3HL. Please give your name and address; the number of tickets required at ÂŁ40.00 each; enclose your cheque made payable to F.S.V.S.; to be seated on same table as..........; say if you want a vegetarian meal.

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