Issuu

OPUS • Issue 1 • Autumn 2009

Portsmouth Grammar School • www.pgs.org.uk

Coming of age? You know you’ve been at a school a long time when ……. you turn out to have taught a parent of a pupil (which normally surfaces at Parents’ Evening) or younger colleagues cautiously ask ‘So how long exactly have you been at PGS?’ Well so far only the latter has happened, but as I clock up 21 years at PGS perhaps some reflection is called for. As a historian though I am only too aware of my own subjectivity as a historical source as an eye witness. How many times have I told classes that an eye witness is not necessarily the most reliable source to use!

If I had to identify any one constant theme about my time at the school it is the fact that rather like Dr Who, I feel as if I have been re-generated several times, multiple incarnations of the non religious kind as it were. My formative years were spent running some debating and taking a full (and hopefully useful) part in the Naval Section of the CCF under the tutelage of the indomitable and greatly missed Roger Harris. Newtown Camps and Adventure Training in the Cairngorms still hold many happy memories for me.

I also tried my hand at teaching some RE and still contend that the trip by my GCSE class to Portchester Crematorium was one of the most insightful I have ever run as a teacher. They also let me loose to teach some History, and even Politics for a couple of years as Thatcher gave way to Major. Jack Reger the then Head of History instilled in me the need to teach in a style that I was happy with. He quoted Kipling and nine and ninety tribal ways and every single one of them was right. That approach to teaching has never left me. Well that then can perhaps be ‘The Apprentice’ phase of my PGS life. The next stage involved taking on the History Department and seeing ‘what could be done’. My main colleague in the Department quit in the December after I started in September, although it was just a coincidence she assured me. Well from then on, new appointments ensued, the ever-energetic Tim Hands fed me some

project ideas to keep myself and the department out of mischief, so research projects into aspects of the school’s history and pupils took place. Oral history now suddenly came to the fore, and so did the trips. D-Day 60th, Gallipoli, plus annual history trips to some fairly exotic locations such as Russia and China. This year it was the USA, and next Easter Cuba. So where am I now? Since September I have also been lucky enough to take charge of the Politics Department as well, just in time for the US elections and a mock presidential election in PGS where the result turned out to be a pretty convincing copy of the real result. I’m trying now to pass myself off as some kind of expert on US politics, having in previous guises mugged up on Early Modern history, 19th century British political history, 20th century Russian history, and so on. That last bit is genuinely not meant to sound blasé and cynical. It is a real privilege to read around, mug up on new topics and make sure I don’t teach the same material year in year out. Apologies to any readers out there who from personal experience might beg to differ. I can honestly say that life at PGS has never ever been dull. Hectic at times yes, stimulating certainly, but boring not a chance. Much has changed since I joined; colleagues, gender balance, facilities, size in terms of both buildings and pupil body and the fact that now I very rarely write memos or notes to colleagues (emails uber alles!), but kids are still young people with great potential, irritating habits and often sharp minds. I still learn much from

them and that’s not just a platitude. It’s still good fun most of the time, that’s why I’m still here trying to juggle and keep all the balls in the air. Well that and the fact that I am just about to join the parent body myself, as my eldest child starts at PGS in Year 7. Yes, very much a coming of age in all senses. Simon Lemieux Head of History and Politics

OP matches Netball Matches – 28 March 2009

Cricket, Tennis and Rounders Matches – 26 June 2009

Over the years many OP netball matches have been played at Hilsea, but this year’s match was different. This was the last time Mrs. Di Spencer would be attending as a member of PGS staff before retiring in July 2009. Rachel Blewett, one of the OP netball players said: “When thinking of netball at PGS, Mrs. Spencer springs immediately to mind. There was nothing quite like tackling the opposition with Mrs Spencer present providing inspiration, determination and dedication.”

The annual OP vs School Cricket, Tennis and Rounders matches took place this year on 26 June. A large number of OPs, pupils and staff assembled at Hilsea to participate in their chosen sport or simply to spectate. Simon Udal, OP, provides a summary of the event from a tennis player’s perspective.

OPs from across the years attended and remarkably, almost the entire 1998 team was present. Many OPs arrived in their old school red netball skirts – the current PGS netball kit was considered to be far more fashionable! Emily Copsey, another OP player said: “The competitive nature of a PGS pupil lives on forever, so although the event was billed as a get together as much as a chance to play some netball, each player wanted their team to win and all put in a reasonable individual performance. Mrs. Spencer was able to tell individuals apart immediately from their playing style and it was clear that most had continued to play netball after leaving PGS.” The event was a happy gathering with PGS staff and family members of all ages providing support from the sidelines. OPs valued the opportunity to play netball with former friends and team mates and to reminisce over past challenges and achievements. “Getting together with old team mates was brilliant and I hope that the Reunion will take place again,” said Emily.

“Having had sunshine and a week of temperatures of around 32˚C, it was somewhat disappointing to awake on the morning of the OP Tennis, Rounders and Cricket Matches to find it was overcast and drizzling. Perhaps the school should consider installing a retractable roof over the tennis hard courts, as Wimbledon has done, to ensure that these momentous encounters can take place! Fortunately, no roof was required, as the drizzle and cloud soon disappeared to be replaced once again by glorious sunshine. At 2pm, the tennis playing OPs assembled to talk tactics, compare wooden rackets, laugh at each other’s tennis gear and to reminisce! It was decided that the three OP pairs would be Simon Udal & Nick Gauntlett, Tim Clark & Richard Cunningham and Stefan Filip & A Ringer (a PGS year 10 student to make up the numbers!). There were three opposing School pairs. Each pair played against the other and the total number of games won were totted up at the end of the match to determine the winners. The first rubber was a close affair with the OPs ending up slightly ahead. By now the first innings of the cricket match had just finished, so this was an opportune moment to break for tea with the cricketers. Everyone talked tactics, reminisced and consumed several rounds of sandwiches and cream cakes. In hindsight, this may have been the downfall of the OPs as the School players started the next rubber with a greater spring in their step and managed to draw level at the end of that round. Unfortunately, the heat, lack of fitness and the thought of more food at the end of the match caused the OPs to fade in the final rubber, with the School team eventually winning by a total of 36 games to 29. The School’s first pair of Andy Furness (Year 13 and captain) and John Melville (Year 10) won all of their rubbers and helped secure the win for the School. Afterwards, more food, cakes and ice cream were consumed.... and of course, there was much more reminiscing!”